Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from October, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 1:53 pm on October 9, 2023 Permalink  

  A Bit at a Time 

  This forenoon, Dennis and I had an agreement.  

  We would each work under tree areas of the blue barn acre.  Dennis dropped me off at the northern area where a huge tree that had Kudzu vines too numerous to count hanging from on high.  All of the vines have been cut at the dirt level.  They will slowly die while hanging and swinging in the breeze.  Can you believe some of the vines are an inch or two in diameter.  If one were brave and to swing from the larger ones, there might be the sound of our very own Tarzan.

  This huge tree had the galvanized tin going all the way around it.  The tin is gone and with my six inch rake, I was making raked piles of leaves, dried branches and twigs around the base of the tree.  This spot will be a campfire later this fall.  As I raked, I had our Harbor Freight lopper to nip off all of the sucker vines that were entwined in the dirt around the tree, so my rake wouldn’t get caught in their web.  The tin had shored up dirt around the tree.  Talk about mellow dirt from decades of decaying leaves and such, making its own compost.  As I could rake dirt from the tree trunk, my shoes could easily sink into the soil by several inches.

  When Dennis had made his own campfire fire pile towards the south lot line, he came over and we both sat on the tailgate of the little red pickup for a break, enjoying some breakfast coffee that was still hot in his thermos cup.  We may only have worked on it for an hour or so, but we each had made some progress to come back and do another day, a bit at a time.

  Dennis and I enjoy working together.  Only the two of us can appreciate the gains that we have made since the actual blue barn came down.

  We are both off the clock for the remainder of the day.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on October 7, 2023 Permalink  

  Thirty What? 

  It was 37 degrees this morning.  That ought to get everyone’s attention.  Us, not so much.

  We went on with our usual morning routines.

  When I heard Dennis come into the house at eleven, I thought it would be for more coffee.  By the time he had found his way to my bedroom porch where I had been stitching, I looked up.  I looked up and Dennis was in his shoes and shirt and jacket, but no pants.  Hmm.  I think I knew the rest of the story.  Dennis had been over at the blue barn acre and it was either sandburs or burdock that his pants were covered in and he had left them in the patio porch.

  Each day he tells me that if nothing more gets done at the acre, he will be happy.  Curry . . . put your money where your mouth is.  Too funny.  He knows doggone-well, the pants can get cleaned up, but not in the house and not by me.

  It has been cool enough that I decided to put an oven dish together.  Right now, my arms are taking a break.  My blue speckled round roaster is filled to level with goodies.  There are also two glass freezer dishes sitting to the side to be filled, sealed, and put into the freezer for another time.  The ingredients start with medium sized egg noodles cooking to tender.  Two cans of drained white chicken meat loosened with a fork to shredded status in my strainer and then into the roaster.  One can of cream of chicken soup over the chicken and mixed well.  One can of drained white corn and one can of drained green beans that have been chopped and into the roaster both items go.  The pasta is cooked and while it is still hot, two generous tablespoons of Better Than Bullion roasted chicken flavor stirred in.  Folding all the ingredients is a pull on the arms.  All that is left is a portion of a jar of Alfredo sauce poured over.  I always save a bit of the Alfredo, so I can pour some heavy cream into the jar and shake, shake.  More folding over and over and over with my wooden spoon.

  What will ensue is a hearty oven meal heated at 325 degrees for one hour, served about five thirty.  Two frozen dishes of the same into the freezer for another time.

  When I do some dishes, why not make it worth while.  I do spray my roaster and my two freezer dishes with Pam.  The freezer dishes do have snap on lids, but I always stretch over some cling free wrap before the covers go on which will easily be removed before they go into the oven after they have been thawed.  Some foil over the top saves the top from drying out as the oven makes magic.

  Hmm.  That has been my adventure for the afternoon . . . what has yours been?

   
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  Noreen 1:52 pm on October 4, 2023 Permalink  

  A Record 

  We needed to be in Mankato at nine this morning for an appointment.

  After that, it was a stop at Sam’s Club.  I appreciate having a pantry that can go a long time before short trips to our local grocer’s for a little bit here and a little bit there.

  Dennis’ breakfast box contains a banana muffin, three Oreo cookies and a plastic fork.  The muffins are huge and come six to a container.  We purchase three containers and when we arrive home, each muffin is put into a sandwich bag and then into the freezer.  Every night before Dennis goes to bed, he packs his breakfast box.  I don’t care for the muffins but Dennis says they taste as fresh on the 18th day as they did on the first day.  Whatever floats his boat.

  Our freezer space is whatever we can fit into the refrigerator’s freezer.  I do not believe in freezing cardboard boxes.  The Jimmy Dean sausages and the Ego muffins, each serving, is contained in a sealed storage pouch.  Those boxes are emptied into the right hand compartment of the freezer, aka: pick a meal.

  It was also paper product purchasing today.  TP, paper towels and a bag of 300 of our good china plates.    

  My splurge was a fairly good sized jar of herring.  Sweet!

  We were home before twelve noon, a record of being home early in the day.  

  After a noon snack, Dennis got the mower out to do the mowing and I worked with putting our haul of needed items away.  Very satisfying for both of us.  A trip to the big town wins it for the week.

   
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  Noreen 1:24 pm on October 3, 2023 Permalink  

  Changing Direction 

  As the day continues, our little flag on the northwest corner of the house is slowly changing direction.

  When the mail fellow was here at eleven this forenoon in his postal official shorts, he may have goosebumps on his knees by Friday.

  Wild turkeys have been raiding the backyard this week.  Most of them are young from this year’s hatch but still have some of the older taller ones showing them the ropes.

  I found a big fat cricket in the studio this morning.  I did not find him by his chirping.  He just sat there in the quiet being quiet.  He was flushed in a heartbeat.

  Dennis has been home to refuel his mower.  With the strong wind, he is not covered with grass clippings.  A noon break with orange juice did the trick.

  One of the lots that we purchased adjoining ours some years ago, still had a surprise for us.  Why it never was found earlier, is just the way Dennis mowed the yard.  The surprise was a perfectly round hole that would have been a sewer tile for the house that we had the fire department do a training burn.  We had a decorative square patio block large enough, when the grass around the hole was taken away from it, it was even with the surrounding dirt and covered the opening.  As Dennis dug, the copper water line was in close proximity.  We were happy it was not a forgotten well.  We are aware how expensive and detailed it is to handle that. 

  Enjoy the changing of the winds.  We may be back to enjoying the October weather, leaving behind the late summer’s heat.

   
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  Noreen 1:06 pm on October 1, 2023 Permalink  

  The Dance 

  Our large trees felt the dry summer just as everyone and everything else.

  This morning, sitting on the front deck with coffee cup in hand, I watched dry leaves tippy toe, doing their dance across the hard-surfaced street.  Many leaves will not be able to hang on until the first hard frost.

  My ole cowboy is going to have his 87th birthday tomorrow.  Many that we come in contact with, never realize how many candles he has gone through over the years.

  This noon taking an orange juice break, I asked him if he wanted anything special for tomorrow.  Dennis shook his head.  He went on to say that yesterday when grandson AJ was here, he got his early birthday wish.  Not only all the chit chat, but Dennis and AJ went over to the blue barn acre.  There is no longer stray concrete blocks lying about.  The length of galvanized tin is not on the acre and the television lodged in the south lot line is gone.  Grandpa and AJ got everything on the implement trailer next to our back garage.  Items to still deal with, but on our home’s turf.

  Some commented that they were sure Dennis had bit off more than he could chew, taking that acre under his belt.  They didn’t realize that Dennis knew people or how many for that matter.  No matter how much was cleared, the naysayers would make a comment to him about those last items still in the dirt.  Dennis just wanted there to be nothing but trees, dirt and grass.  Dennis got his birthday wish and the best part was working with AJ to do it yesterday.

  I am very proud of Dennis taking each step slowly and achieving his goal.  Several realtors have asked us if they can list the acre with their company.  The reply is that it is not for sale.  Dennis enjoys keeping people guessing. 

  This next week by Wednesday, the temps will be cooler.  We do plan on going to the acre and raking together small piles of branches and limbs under each set of trees.  Who doesn’t like a fall bonfire! 

  For as many lots as we have cleared here next to our forever home, three, we have found treasure . . . zip.  But I will say it has been very satisfying to clean up what lies around us.

  It is chicken titties, green beans and instant potatoes for supper.

  With all things well with my soul, I will do a dance . . . all four slide steps.

  Happy October you all!

   
• 

  Noreen 2:14 pm on September 28, 2023 Permalink  

  The Sun 

  The sun made its appearance at noon and as if Dennis got the green flag at Indie, it was on.

  The Sears mower with new blades did a great job on the grass that got soft where it grew in the shade.

  My intent was to use the weed whip around the house.  I leaned it on the bench by the back door and put on garden shoes.  Hmm.  The weed whip never moved.

  I went to pull up a weed next to the picket fence.  Oh my gosh, with the rain, that weed pulled up great.  And . . . so did the next one and the next one and so on and so on.  

  After several hours I called “Uncle.”  I made huge strides in all that could get pulled.  With my trusty six inch rake I pulled all that unwanted stuff into a windrow to the backyard.  Just as if we had made plans ahead of time, Dennis came and ground my pile of weeds up and the wind did a pretty good job of scattering said stuff.

  Dennis did use the weed whip and the area around the house looks great.

  I took out a package of vegetable beef soup this morning.  Great supper plan.

  By the way, we never made it west to Windom yesterday for supper.  As we were heading west, the A & W sign beckoned us at Mountain Lake.  The burgers were good and the A & W was fantastic.  

  The blue barn acre wasn’t on the schedule for mowing today.  If Dennis breaks up the time he sits on a jiggling lawn mower, his back feels better.  Not to worry, the sun is going to make a return visit tomorrow.

  Also, one more . . . by the way.  Today is international “Son’s Day.”  Let me tell you . . . the kid I have is on my calendar every day as a. . . one of a kind.  He has the heart of a warrior, a mind that knows no puzzle and the soul swelling with kindness and gentleness.  The Old Adam did not spoil what he is.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:53 pm on September 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Mist 

  A mist of rain as late as this forenoon.

  With no mowing for today, we did drive over to the blue barn acre this forenoon.  What looked like a galvanized metal ring buried around one of the older trees, needed a second look.  Sheets of galvanized tin used in grain bins were usually 24″ or wider in width.  Dennis took ahold where he could see the ends overlapped.  Hmm.  The width of this was about 8″.  It pulled out of the wet dirt easily . . . the entire length.  It is still about 20′ of it in length.  Who knows when this was put in and around.  Our small two-wheel trailer will be needed to get rid of it.  Where that location will be, is yet to be determined.  There are also four cement blocks and portions of them next to a group of trees that need to go onto the same load.  Oh yes, there is an older small television in the south line that also needs to go.  Those items are the extent of what will be loaded and out of there this year.

  When we drove into the driveway of the blue barn acre from the Hammond HWY, the acre looked palatial.  Seeing the acre through from all angles . . . sweet.  We have come a long way since the demolition of the actual barn this spring.   All costs of clearing the acre have been paid for.  Tightening our belts did the trick.  We made sure the assessor’s office has taken the barn off of the records.

  Dennis kidded me that all I have shopped for this 2023 year has been groceries.  I did purchase fabric for the two twin sized t-shirt quilts but was reimbursed when they were picked up.  He thought one of these days I would be due for some retail therapy.  Nope . . . I can’t think of a single thing I need. 

  Dennis did decide we’re going west for supper.  West to Windom.  Friend Dewayne has mentioned to Dennis, that he and his wife go there often.  A road date for sure. 

  Sun will be out tomorrow and so will the mowers in our neighborhood.  Dennis has been chomping at the bit.

   
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  Noreen 1:20 pm on September 26, 2023 Permalink  

  The Pattern 

  We waited a long time for rain and now we seem to be in a pattern of it.  The sun does its best, but can’t pull it off.

  We have an awning on the west side of our home.  When we put the front deck on the house, my old office chair is sheltered enough by the awning that the chair’s seat would stay dry during rain showers.  In taking my breakfast cup of coffee out to the deck after a shower of rain, I have three of the decking planks that have remained dry so I can wear my slippers.  Made to order.

  In between the showers, there was a ballet of leaves that fluttered to the ground.  With no wind, there was no hurry into their twisting and turning.  The season is upon us of more such events.  Though we now have rain that is soaking into the lawns and flower beds . . . for some the dry heat took away any chance of recovery.  Famous last words, “There is always next year.”

  This year I had cut back on what needed tending.  Next year may be a repeat performance.  My years of seeking and searching plants to fill out the flower beds is gone.  I am finding joy is the smaller scene.

  The area of he Russian Sage is a total wonder.  The rain has tipped over the heavier stalks, giving way to some smaller ones closer to the house foundation.  The pollinators don’t care. They are in the thick of it and they are on the top of the stalks as well as on the bottoms of the stalks.  Don’t even think of messing with them.  The sage is within three feet of our front deck and it is a marvel to take the activity in.  The pollinators start early in the morning and are still going at it long past supper time.  Even the wasps have been seen checking out the blossoms.

  One thing I have not missed this summer is mosquitoes.  I think we missed the gnat season as well.  The black flies have made up for all of them.  I would have a hard time counting how many fly swatters we have about the place.  Nasty devils.

  This noon Dennis walked the front yard to see if the toes of his shoes indicated if the grass was dry enough to mow.  About that time, a hefty shower of rain fell.  Maybe tomorrow the pattern of rain showers has moved on.

   
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  Noreen 1:23 pm on September 19, 2023 Permalink  

  Tuesday the 19th of Sept. 

  Hello, Hello!

  It may be warmer today, but still a great day.

  I was visiting over our picket fence this morning with neighbor Jan.  She asked me what I had been up to this morning.  Can you imagine how time consuming it is to read reviews of Ott lighting choices.  As I told her that, she asked me to wait a minute.  Out of her garage she came with a box.  In the box were some items that came out Bonnie’s room, aka: mother-in-law, from the assisted living facility in Madelia.  Bonnie passed away this last late winter.  

  Out of the box came an electrical lamp that had been on Bonnie’s bedside nightstand.  Jan insisted to carry it over to see if it would work in my bedroom porch.  What a persistent friend.

  When all was said and hooked up, it was a win, win.  Jan was all smiles as she walked home, happy to have one less box to move about.

  This persistent friend has a hubby, Randy.  Last night after our supper, Randy had come over and offered his green Deere to help Dennis at the blue barn acre.  This was after Randy had put in a day at his job.  These two neighbors had been watching Dennis toil.  Randy went over, followed by Dennis in his little red pickup.  Randy, with his tractor blade, pulled debris from the south lot line and then pushed it onto the huge pile in the center of the lot.  Dennis’ goal was to be able to get farther towards the south lot line with his killer spray.  Jan had been right there giving Randy directions.  If Jan had had her way, they would have worked until dark, and Randy wouldn’t have gotten his supper.  Actually, Randy enjoys playing with his tractor.  Dennis came home totally content that he could now push on killing burdock. 

  This afternoon, Dennis called me and said he was coming to pick me up.  Randy Aspland was taking out the huge pile of trees and limbs from the blue barn acre and taking it to our tree dump.

  How perfect could this all have been.  Last week Bruce cut down the needed trees from the blue barn acre.  Last night Randy worked his magic.  Today all the debris will be gone.  Going forward, Dennis will have little piles of twigs to burn. Going at his rate, no more waiting upon those that can and those that do.

  God has shone His glory upon the owners of the blue barn acre.

   
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  Noreen 2:07 pm on September 17, 2023 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  Every once in awhile, Megan would ask where the Odin Craft Mill in Odin was.  It never went beyond that.  Megan actually contacted them about a vendor she had bought something from many years ago when she was staying with us. 

  What Megan had bought was a candle in a pint jar.  The little paper label tied on with twine string was long gone.  This scent was one that she enjoyed while doing her creative writing.  It must have had an effect as she won awards at her senior awards ceremony.  Megan sent me a photo.  Sure enough her pint jar’s wick was getting pretty short.

  She couldn’t quite remember how the vanilla scent was marketed.  She remembered the scent of the jar next to hers was labeled, “Butt Naked.”

  I went online and looked up various photos in the craft mill’s history.  Gottcha!  A photo of candles in pint jars.  When I enlarged the photo, I could see the printing on the label.  Sure enough, there was a website and their candles were now sold on Etsy as well.  I knew I had the right website as they were still selling the “Butt Naked.”  The “Smoked Vanilla” is still sold with the same brown tin cover on the pint jar.

  There will be a “Smoked Vanilla” candle headed Megan’s way.  Keeping her creativity flowing is the least Dennis and I can do across the miles.  When I told Dennis the candle story, he was amazed what can be ferreted out on a computer.

  Before querying Megan about her candle, I was prepared to visit the craft mill in search of her candle during the tree weekends in October.  This has saved me from visiting the mill.  There are throngs of people in all shapes and sizes with baby strollers, canes and walkers.  I would have been one of the latter ones.  This was a win, win for Grammie.

  Dennis also had a great day.  Whatever Bruce and his chainsaw had cut down on the blue barn acre this past week has now been pushed onto the one huge pile of debris.  Grandson Ryan and Brett’s huge skid loader with a ten foot wide bucket did a great job.  That pile represents the consummate amount that needs to be cleared off that acre.  After Ryan was done, Dennis and I chose a cove of Black Walnut trees to pick up limbs and branches that Ryan couldn’t get under.  That pile that we raked together will make a nice little bonfire one of these days.  As we work under other trees of the little stuff, another bonfire will ensue.

  We have had a great day.  Nothing feels as good as taking care of home and hearth.