Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 1:57 pm on August 26, 2026 Permalink  

  Busy 

  Home responsibilities can keep us busy.  

  We came home yesterday from a fun day to realize that a tree had gone down on the acre.  Who would have thought that without a storm it said, “I give up.” So be it.  Our tree man will soon be coming up for adoption by us.

  Our tree man is taking down the older house on his acreage and soon will be living in new digs.  I can’t think of anyone I could be happier for.

  There were a few items that I wanted to get done outside this morning before it got uncomfortable.  While in the shade with a breeze from the northwest and Snuggles on my heels, all went well.  Being in the sun for a bit made me hustle and take cover in the house.

  A good Samaritan brought my sewing machine back into the studio this forenoon.  Very special.  It and I are ready for what may come.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:43 pm on August 12, 2026 Permalink  

  An Amazing Day 

  Today, aka: hump day.  An amazing day on Stauffer Avenue.  Things just fell into place for most of the day.  It’s now midafternoon and all has been accomplished.

  The six inch faithful rake of mine, leveled off the evidence that we had internet dug into the house.  Yup, that little house on Stauffer that has 5G is back to normal . . . and just in time as Tom came to mow.

  Tom went on to help Dennis with the end-gate of the little red pickup.  There was a clip that needed to be installed or re-installed.  It matters not.  It’s good to go.

  The kitchen and back entry get a lot of traffic.  It was due for a tidy, tidy via a wet treatment.  Over the decades of this vinyl flooring in the kitchen, there is much evidence that it does not take kindly to having a sharp object dropped onto it.  Around the drip line of the kitchen counter, it is showing its age just like the home operators.  We will let someone else worry about that in the next several decades. 

  I have spoken of the huge rotisserie chickens at Sam’s club.  I had one more bag of diced leftovers in the freezer.  Last night’s supper was cold chicken salad for sandwiches or stand alone on a plate.  It went over so well that there will be a repeat performance this evening.  We love onions and plenty was added along with an ample amount of ground pepper.

  Something has happened here.  Dennis has begun enjoying our one meal a day that need not be hot.  Sweet.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 12:57 pm on August 11, 2026 Permalink  

  No Mercy 

  This morning, I took recycling out to the bin.  Low and behold, under a broadleaf weed, I spied an ant hill.  By the looks of the holes on the top . . . it was not an itty bitty sidewalk ant.  I got my ant powder from the house and it now looks like a flocked ant hill.  Take that!  I showed no mercy.

  While I was outside, I remembered where my favorite 6″ rake was.  Inside beside the east slider door the rake was.  Harriet was sleeping in her favorite chair in the patio porch that used to have pleather on it.  Harriet has taken it upon herself to free the chair of a cheap mockup.  She lifted her head to see what was going on but decided the nap was not over.

  I did tackle some weeds that had bloomed pretty purple flowers.  At one time I knew what the weed was named.  With recent rain, I pulled quite a few of them up by the roots.  Enough seeds scattered that next spring, there will be more pretty purple flowers.

  At that point I realized how humid it was as my shirt was sticking to me.  I headed indoor.  Another day, more bloomed out plants will be tackled.  What I took note of was . . . in the planter under the east house window there was a free rooted elm tree, a cottonwood tree, a maple tree, an oak tree all seeming to like their digs.  I have a plan.  If I cut them off with my garden shears while having some “vegetation killer” nearby, I will use Lena’s trick.  With gloves on my hands, I will use a rag soaked in the liquid and dob the raw newly clipped off stem and let it work its while, showing no mercy.

  On the plus side, the limb in the backyard that had broken off mysteriously disappeared during the night.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:54 pm on August 10, 2026 Permalink  

  Could Not Believe 

  I backed out of the garage to go down Stauffer as the speed and whiz of traffic of Tenth St. S. is horrible.  When I got straightened out on Stauffer going east, I could not believe my eyes.  There was another limb down from a tree next to Stauffer.  WTF!  The deal was that strike three on limbs, we were to be in the clear for a while.  Oh well.  The blessing is that son-in-law Tom will be able to handle it. 

  It’s a good thing Dennis and I have no plans on leaving Stauffer Avenue.  Yup . . . it’s all doable.  The coffee is good, the beds have personalized ruts and its our home.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:49 pm on August 6, 2026 Permalink  

  Thursday the 6th of August 

  So far this entire week, every day, I have had a promise that a router of Mediacom’s would leave our front deck.  The day is drawing neigh.

  Today I met with some gals, some that work at the courthouse and some that did not.  Everyone is enjoying their retirement, each in their own venue.  

  I had one prescription to pick up at Lewis Drug.  I signed up for their automatic text message when a phone-in prescription has been filled and is ready for pickup.

  This morning before I left the tree service fellows were pulling in to take care of the huge Hackberry limb that went down last week.  It had fallen onto the Maple scrub that always shows leaves in deep red in the fall of the year.

  By the time I got home, the tree service guys were gone.  Dennis filled me in on all of what had gone on.  After leaf blowers strong enough to blow Dennis over were done, they then raked the entire area.  The thing is, not much is done by hand.  Randy the young owner of the tree service has every piece of equipment imaginable.  Sarah, who was one of the gals I was with this morning, had commented that their neighbor was having some trees removed  Randy’s business has grown so large, he has multiple crews going at one time.

  In early spring we had need of Randy at our acre.  In June, son-in-law Tom, took care of a large Maple limb.  After today, three strikes and you are out for the need of tree service.

  I have a pork steak in the oven for supper.  It has been a long time since we have had the oven on.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on July 3, 2026 Permalink  

  One More 

  We had been in another storm’s grip last night.  Some wind as per several branches down in the backyard.  There is one more possible storm for this evening.   

  This afternoon, Tom came to mow the yards.  We snagged him off the mower so we could settle a debt with him.  The chainsaw work, here as well at the acre,  I lost count of the numerous trips I saw his pickup full of tree stuff head out to the tree dump.  Gratitude, appreciation and sheer thankfulness . . . there are not enough words to convey that our home can reflect that care is given to maintain the “109.”  Hmm. “humble” that is how Dennis and I live. 

  We were once physically strong, never walking away from what was needed.  Today we feel that we are still capable.  We take a step to get right up and personal to the challenges.  By the grace of God Dennis and I realize that we take two steps back and let those that can . . . do.   Tomorrows are not ours to plan, but to be wise enough to stop and think before acting.

  Life is good.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:51 pm on July 1, 2026 Permalink  

  Early Morning 

  The early morning was very pleasant outside . . . not so much right now.

  Our yard looks much better at this juncture than yesterday at this time.  One large limb on the acre is yet to be taken care of.  Waiting until another snap of good air, I will give our backyard some time tomorrow morning continuing to pick up small twigs that would make the lawnmower bark.

  Yesterday, late afternoon, Dennis took me for a drive around town.  There wasn’t a street that didn’t have evidence of wind damage.  Dennis’ son-in-law, Tom, had several dozen shingles blown off.  AJ came out from Mankato and as luck would have it, Tom had a portion of a bundle in his garage.  It was fixed by the time we had .64 inches of rain during the night.

  Dennis, not feeling up to par this morning, spent time in his recliner.  His Eagle poops on the first of each month.  He decided to go to the bank tomorrow.  I just looked up from my keyboard and the little red pickup caught my eye leaving Stauffer Avenue.  Dennis is definitely feeling better.  Too funny.   

  The street passed our home is still a continuous parade with every type of vehicle touting wind damage to the tree dump that will be open again until 9:3o this evening.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:31 pm on June 10, 2026 Permalink  

  Waiting! 

  Waiting for the cold front to move in that has been forecast.

  Today our tree man came to take care of the huge Hackberry limb.  The tree now does look balanced.  Making sure the portion that landed on Jan and Randy’s yard was cleaned up good.

  The studio work went well today.  The cooler basement air felt good after being outside for a spell.

  Nothing exciting happening here today and that is just fine with me.  Who knows what will pop up tomorrow.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on May 25, 2026 Permalink  

  A Busy Holiday 

  Sweet day with quiet sunshine.

  Dennis had an agenda . . . I had an agenda.  With our breakfasts and coffee we told each other “catch you later .”

  The huge plants that Dennis has tended since I retired have now gone out to the east patio.  Over winter months they sit in pans in the patio porch so when watered, any water that wants to run out the bottom keeps the floor dry.  You have guessed it.  There is a ring around where the pans sat made up of cat fur.  Time for the shop vac.  Not so fast.  The floor of the pickup garage bugged Dennis more as the floor was a gravel mess.  Any type of gravel imaginable had drug in over winter from the tires as Dennis steered the little red pickup into the garage from Stauffer Avenue, a gravel alley.  Pieces of cardboard that had been on the floor were going to be going to the burn ring.  Dennis’ plans, Dennis’ day.

  In the studio sits my wonderful Bernina QE . . . quilter and embroiderer.   The straight stitching it does isn’t half bad either.  Lena had taught me all sorts of tricks of the trade using the treadle sewing machine that had a permanent home under the north two kitchen windows.  It could be called into service as quickly as the leather belt could be strung onto the wheel.   I had a list of clothing items I had planned to alter and they were all on the table next to the machine.  Altering clothing and mending clothing is not the most desirable in the creative world, but a necessary evil.  All lights possible were in service allowing for a bright working relationship.  The Twins were playing in Chicago via KNUJ.  Sewing chair pulled up and head down, I tackled my task.  Not a hitch or a miss as the hours slipped by.  Success.

  I took a bottle of diet Lipton’s Green Tea out to Dennis.  It’s not carbonated and we have enjoyed it for decades.  The only problem is the case comes with 36 bottles and a plan has to be in place to purchase it, get it in the car, get it in the studio for a few bottles at a time in the refrigerator.  Come to think of it, when Megan was a toddler visiting, she got a bang out of sharing my bottle.  No harm was done appeasing a sweet child. 

  The floor for the little red pickup was as clean as a concrete floor that is pitted can get without water and soap.  He was tending a fire of all of the cardboard that he had drug out.  The little shrub that was finally put to rest was brittle as nettle and fed the fire.

  Dennis and I shared the bottle of tea and we did get caught up with each other.  We both had accomplished much with just enough left undone for it to be used as seed for another day.  Sweet.

  Happy Memorial Day!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:34 pm on April 30, 2026 Permalink  

  Brr Chilly 

  It must have been a chilly cool morning as our mail carrier was back to wearing long pants.

  Suiting up as well to stay comfortable and spend time in the studio has been in the cards.  Even with furnace running off and on, there was a chill in the air from water running around the perimeter of the studio going out into the sump pump.  Lots of rain will cause that.

  Today finished the free-motion quilting in the eighteen log cabin quilt blocks.  Another day I will quilt the borders.  Some of my free-motion meandering could have been a bit more polished.  None of my projects are juried.

  Dennis spent the morning over at the acre to watch Ryan and his crew take down the tree that had tipped over.  It was two trees out of one stump.  What remained wasn’t heathy either.  Stump and all has been cleaned up.  It feels good to stay on top of things.

  Prices can be seen being a bit higher in the grocery store.  What felt good was that our next six month premium for our house insurance was the same as the last six month bill.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥