Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from April, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 1:58 pm on April 21, 2024 Permalink  

  The Sun 

  The sun has heat.  The sun has the ability to promote yard work.

  Dennis was able to get on the zero-turn with no problems.  The two grab bars were worth the $200.00.  Our acre here around our homestead did need a mowing.  It came up in clumps here and there.  It will be able to take off with a more even growth.  The mowing was with a dirt storm that ensued.  First mowing of the season under the belt.  The blue barn acre for a time in the coming week.  

  We had purchased several pump up gallon sprayers at Harbor Freight.  One is labeled bugs and the other is labeled weeds.  This afternoon I may have sacrificed several Russian Sage perennials.  There was an infestation of Night Shade among the flowers.  That is such a nasty weed.  The roots crawl under the dirt like quack.  If need be, I might have to do some digging to get rid of it.

  Several times over the years we have talked about our flatware in the kitchen drawer.  The forks were always the main topic.  Spearing a well-cooked Brussels sprout would be out of the question.  No can do.  In between time this afternoon the flatware drawer has been cleaned out.  Sifting and sorting what will be kept and what will be no more.  In yesterday’s mail, a service for eight of Onida flatware came to our front deck.  When I ordered it, I chose the widest fork handles available.  We had such a mod-podge in that drawer.  I ordered the set of forks, knives and spoons.  The favorite serving pieces will be returning to the drawer with several of those extras being retired.  I have an emotional attachment to several serving old-time pieces.

  Sometimes we look at what we have for our daily living without actually seeing it.

  The new week is tomorrow and we have no appointments.  Sweet.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:03 pm on April 14, 2024 Permalink  

  Oh the Wind 

  The winds that we had in the winter have carried trough to the spring.  What moisture we gleaned with a bit of rain, will be sucked right of the soil.

  Dennis’ daughter and Tom drove out from Mankato.  Tom had stored his mustang in our back garage.  Dennis always takes batteries off of all things over the winter.  A trickle charger is used when its time for the use.  The mustang started right up and is going to a garage in Mankato for some fix-it items.

  Sandy took charge of the potting shed and our patio looks as though someone does live here.  The patio umbrella is in the stand and getting an airing out complete with a rock on its base when the winds are nasty . . . like today.

  Tomorrow, Monday, we take a trip to the north country to bring home the Cub-lo-Boy.  It has had a badly needed fix-it in Kevin’s garage in Fairfax.  The older ones on Stauffer are getting geared up for the summer season.  We take our jobs as caretakers on Stauffer Avenue very seriously.

  The little red pickup has the trailer hooked up for the trip tomorrow and of course he will be ready and waiting, sitting in the driver’s seat as I am pulling my pants on.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:31 pm on April 13, 2024 Permalink  

  Summer 

  I do believe summer has arrived.

  I had an agenda for today.

  By nine this morning, I was dressed to be outside, complete with my gardening shoes and gloves.  By eleven I was back in the house, mission completion.  Our original yard and what we call the Clark yard, the lot right east of us via a tax forfeit purchase, was clean of winter branches.  The burning ring is full plus with many that Dennis will need to take the loppers to.

  The grass is growing like wild fire.  I do know my ole cowboy well enough that he will not pick up branches.  He will not get off of the Sears rider to pick up branches.  Once the mower is running, anything in his path is run over.  Ah ha!  Let’s hear it for the saving of the mower blades.

  I was rather warm by the time I was done.  It felt good to open the front door and let a breeze come in.

  At this time of the mid afternoon, I have the last of the three kitchen towels done that have a cactus border embroidered onto them.

  Here at 3:30, we are at 83 degrees out.  The skies are cloudy.  Too warm too fast spells the possibility of storms. 

  Dennis put the PVC downspouts on in preparation of more rains.  He bought a new garden hose carrier for the south side of the house at Fleet farm.  One of Brett’s fellows came by with tools so it is solid on the house.  It now has a 100′ garden hose on it.  The north side of the house has the cart reel hoses ready to use as well.

  I say we have had a great day of local effort.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:51 pm on November 6, 2023 Permalink  

  New Week 

  A new Monday complete with empty laundry baskets.  Clean clothes is a remarkable attitude booster.

  I know every morning, the sun is coming up either bright or hiding behind clouds.  Each morning I put my feet on the floor and I too can either have a bright outlook or a dark cloudy one.  I generally choose the bright cheerful outlook.

  I know when I post my blogs,  I do not dwell on the less than good “Me.”  There is no point in harboring negative thoughts, words or deeds.  I do not want to waste a God-given day.

  In our lives on Stauffer Avenue I do have the responsibility of seeing after Dennis’ medical appointments and or needs.  I can handle that.  It may seem as if that could be an undo load besides my own needs.  The key is I have found a way to carry that load without it taking away from my own quality of life.

  Speaking of quality.  This afternoon I have the fun of taking quality sewn quilt blocks to begin laying out my quilt blocks for the quilt top I am building.  Trimming up the blocks was a breeze.  My seam allowance was right on . . . making them quality.  Photo may be posted tomorrow.  

  Today, Dennis has undertaken the job of burning a certain jute-backed area rug from our basement.  He is doing this utilizing our fire ring.  It may seem as if a fire pit would be needed, but carefully he is getting the job done.

  The wind has shifted to the northwest with still promising nice weather.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:56 pm on November 5, 2023 Permalink  

  Time to Build 

  With all my scrappiness, it is time to begin building a quilt top.

  There are four different designs blocks to work with.  Blocks 1,2,3 needed sixteen each.  Block four is the end cap for the eight rows and thus is a half block to ensure staggering, to the right on row one and to the left on row two, etc.  

  I have no name for this soon to be quilt.  I saw it on one of the YouTube channels I have subscribed to.  When I reached out to her, she was gracious to send me information in an email.

  This has been a fun project.  When I come down into the studio and glance over at the array of blocks, it makes me smile.  All of the different sizes in each block with all the different prints is a testament of my passion for challenges.  It couldn’t be a testament if there were no tests and this project did test my concentration.

  More work is yet to come as each of the 56 bocks need to be trimmed for a consistent measurement of 8.25″.  That task will be for another day.

  Dennis has been doing his duty at raking up leaves and burning a small bit before raking up more.  Oak and Maple trees in the yard mean lots and lots of leaves that have fluttered and many more to come.

  I am kitchen bound after posting this to my blog.  I have one fairly large pork steak to prepare for supper.  By the time I am done seasoning it to build a great flavor and putting it into my blue speckled roaster to pop into the oven, Dennis won’t know if it is pork or beef.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:31 pm on October 29, 2023 Permalink  

  A Light Coat 

  We had a light coat and I don’t mean my coat hanging by the back door.

  There is a dusting of snow on the roof tops.  Our concrete around the house and drive is bare.  If the sun could have remained shinning through the clouds, the 35 degrees of this afternoon could have, would have and should have felt warm.

  Dennis continues to stay busy in the garages.  The far back garage is storage for his friend Dewayne’s Farmall tractor plus bucket, son-in-law’s Ford Mustang, grandson  AJ’s Harley, our two lawnmowers plus the Cub tractor.  The Cub is going to the Beckius repair shop north of town in the spring.  Dennis has an agreement with Charlie for the engine repair.  Charlie is kept busy in the winter season with seasonal repairs and the last of the farm equipment that comes in.

  Today, Dennis pulled all the batteries off of the above mentioned items, but not the Sears mower. Dennis will be mulching leaves before too long.  This last dip of temps in the 20s gave the leaves a good chance to flutter and man did they!

  The studio and I have been humming right along.  I have completed 32 of the 8.5″ blocks.  The most complex block was 16 in number, made up of eight pieces in various colors and sizes.  As I tidied up a bit of snippets, I realized I only need to cut 32 of 3.5″ of various colors.  Moving right along at a very causal pace.  I do iron seams as I finish them.  I did smile to myself, as my sister Elvera didn’t practice that in the art of her piecing . . . left to wonder why the end result was not up to par.  Bless her heart.

  Mid afternoon and the studio is being close down in exchange for some reading and catching a YouTube or two.

  Happy new week everyone.  Each day we have two choices: smile and have a cheerful heart or grump and make everyone around us turn grumpy as well.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:05 pm on October 22, 2023 Permalink  

  Harvest 

  The grain elevator is open on this a Sunday.  Every color of tractor possible is hauling in wagons of shell corn.  Not every farm works with their own semis.

  Dennis manned the weed whip and the plants right east along the foundation have been taken out.  I clipped off the spent lily stalks in the area going into the house.  With my handy pail, both sites were raked and added to the burn ring east of the garage.  Small steps toward what each day is leading to.

  When I went outside this afternoon, I went via the front door.  The bugs don’t get direct sun there and I could escape.  Ish!  I have never found what purpose they serve.  Taking my pail of greenery to the burning ring, I noticed a huge wasp’s nest on the south gable of the potting shed.  Ish!

  When I was outside, neighbor Jan and I visited over the picket fence.  She asked how things were going.  I made mention that the bucket list of the blue barn acre was empty for the year.  She remembered all the Kudzu vines hanging from the trees.  Dennis nipped all of them where they came out of the ground so that what went up in the trees has no food source . . . except one.  I just got a text from Jan explaining that her new battery chainsaw made short work of that last vine.  My, oh my!  I did indeed thank her.

  Some time was spent in the studio today, pairing up fabric prints to make 16 of the “Block 2” design.  With that cutting and pairing, the sewing of those blocks will go well.

  It is a tomato soup supper this evening.  Crackers, bread, butter and jam will round it out.  Vanilla ice cream could be the finish.  Dennis did comment that tomorrow might be grocery shopping.  With our summer and early fall having been busy getting our total homestead whipped into shape before cold weather, our pantry in the basement has never been so empty.

  We didn’t have a garden to harvest, but I know some great canned goods to have on hand.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:27 pm on October 21, 2023 Permalink  

  Blustery 

  The winds from the south are huge.  Hmm.  It just came to mind that t0dler Megan’s favorite word for a long time was huge.  She would really draw it out.  Sweet memories.

  This morning when I gazed out to the west, it looked as if I had a screen saver on the windows.  The leaves blowing from the north was a non-stop parade of golden yellow leaves of various shapes.

  One more item I wanted to accomplish before the forecast of cooler temps.  The pail of black paint needed to be opened one more time.  The threshold of our back door gets a beating every day.  A new coat of black paint was in order.  While I had the pail open and a brush dirty, I headed to the front on the house.  The new deck was built over our original concrete steps.  From the south looking north there was visible some badly chipped black paint.  Not any more.  My brush has been washed with the paint pail lid tapped down . . . I am done painting for the season.

  I will say that my escapade of using the zero-turn mower yesterday was satisfying, My legs are telling me that the dismount of the mower did not go smoothly.  Given a day or two, all will be well.  I showed Dennis what I had found on the internet for assists in getting off and on zero-turns.  There are two choices that seemed to be what is needed for the Grammie.  Oh . . . not one or the other.  Both on the mower seemed worthwhile.  Watching Dennis it would be a good thing for both of us.  One was mounted on the frame at the front tire to help in the dismount and the other was mounted on edge of the deck where where one would get onto the mower.  I am not pushing it as the mowing for this season is . . . for all practical purposes, done. 

  May the weekend give you time to regenerate for the upcoming week.  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on October 20, 2023 Permalink  

  What a Day 

  This morning, I beat the bugs.  I had the garden hose unrolled with Dawn dishwater liquid ready to be applied.  The driveway as well as some of the cement going to the front door was caked with dirt, spent blossoms and layers of leaves that had nestled in.  By the time Dennis came home from his VA appointment I had finished.

  Yesterday when we had cut back the Russian sage, all the stalks were facing one way.  This morning with our huge rake, the trail to the burning ring began.  In no time the pile of Russian Sage was rolling over, each time the rake pulled it over.  Now there is this tight roll of foliage that is about five feet long at the burning ring.  A little drying time is needed.

  I have been hinting that I wanted to learn the operation of the zero-turn mower.  Today was the day.  Dennis ran over the particulars and I was on my own.  Dennis used the Craftsmen mower on our original lot’s grass.  I had the lot east of us that is a huge rectangle.  Hmm.  At the end of my run, I had really enjoyed it.  Both of us got home to the garage next to our home so Dennis could blow off the mowers and refuel them.  Here comes the huge “Hmm.”  I could not quite figure out how to get off of the mower.  Left leg and arm had no problem running the mower.  Left leg and arm did not have any strength to assist getting off the mower with nothing static enough for solid handling.  It took quite a while for this Grammie to do the final act.  Bummer.  At that point Dennis admitted he fell the first time he wanted to get off.

  It is now mid-afternoon and I have been on the internet.  Ah Ha!  There are manufactures that make an assist for getting off and on the zero-turn mowers. 

  When Dennis comes in for supper I will share what I have discovered.  I felt it was important to be able to use the equipment that we have to keep our property up to snuff if Dennis is not able, or . . . to help him out with our two acres.

  What a day.  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:48 pm on October 19, 2023 Permalink  

  Thursday the 19th 

  On this Thursday morning, Dennis headed to the VA for his INR check.

  As the little red pickup headed out, I went into the garage for our Harbor Freight lopper.  It was chilly but I was determined to get my work done before the bugs got warmed up.  It was time to cut down the Russian Sage.

  The bees had a great run of taking the best out of the blossoms.  As I began lopping, there was only one bee that protested my work.  The Russian Sage is a perennial and had even put out more plants from root suckers.  When Dennis came home from the clinic he lent a hand.  We used rakes and pushed the huge amount of foliage down the drive.  When there has been some drying time, it will find the burning ring.  It sure did smell good as we worked.

  Tomorrow is going to be fairly warm.  We still have the garden hose connected.  Where the Russian Sage had spilled over onto the drive, it has left a lot of debris of dirt that has blown in as well as spent blossoms.  I was thinking of squirting Dawn dishwashing liquid on that part of the drive tomorrow and hosing it off.  It might very well be the last of playing in the water.

  Noon found us both taking a break.  I decided to do a bit of reading while Dennis checked out his eyelids for cracks.

  By 1:30 I headed down into the studio.  Dennis wanted to wash off the slider doors of the patio porch.  Too cool for getting wet so he used Windex and his squeegee.

  I did use my rotary cutter, getting ready for a day when I would stitch.  I will admit that I didn’t get as much cut up as I had planned on.  My arms were feeling the lopper work.  Knowing when to hold it and to fold it is the key for good feelings and not discomfort.  At this point is when I find my Teak rocker with the last of the coffee to watch a YouTube video or two.

  The afternoon is getting late with full sunshine.  Boxelders and Asian beetles are basking on the south side of buildings.  Getting my project done in the early hours of the morning, was well worth it.  With that I take my leave. ♥