Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from September, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  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.

   
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  Noreen 3:53 pm on August 31, 2023 Permalink  

  We are Home 

  We are home from the big town of Mankato.

  The staining of the spindles on the deck steps went well.  The breeze was hard to leave.  I did have an extra cup of coffee before gathering up the phone and the grocery list to head out.

  Dennis now has a product that should work on all sorts of nuisance vegetation that usual weed killing sprays can’t take out.  Before we came home, Dennis gave me a tour of the blue barn acre.  It is showing definite signs that someone is on board in the tidy, tidy.  When I have finished the deck project, I will be on board to lend a hand.

  The traffic going to and from Mankato was a good indication that this is the last summer holiday.  We will be tucked in here on Stauffer Avenue and leave the last of the summer festivities to others.

  My studio does get a brief visit now and then.  Plans have been in place for projects and will be on hold for a bit.  After taking care of that which is needed to maintain our property, there will be many chilly to cold days to stitch to my heart’s content.  Dennis is always on the same page with me.  If repairs are put off, where do you start when it all falls down around you! 

  Nothing more is going to be started for today.  Before we left Mankato, we stopped at Hy-Vee.  There is a rib, mashed potatoes, gravy and corn meal to heat up.  A $6.00 meal that beats a fast food option.

  Perhaps some reading or stitching will close down this Thursday.

   
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  Noreen 1:25 pm on August 29, 2023 Permalink  

  Tuesday the 29th 

  It is Tuesday and all is well on Stauffer Avenue.

  My stint at staining went well this morning.  The ground level of the spindles has been stained on the north side of our front deck.  Not quite enough of a breeze to keep the black flies at bay.  Ignore, ignore is all that could be done.  If all goes according to plan, I will do the west ground level of the step spindles tomorrow.  Doing only the amount of staining until my known level of discomfort tells me to get that brush cleaned up.

  Dennis came around to show the ground wasp he had taken out.  Its mistake was getting into the patio porch.  They are nasty looking things even when they are dead.

  After sharing a cup of coffee with Dennis, we headed to the blue barn acre for the next quest.  The lot line to the south has been nothing but a dumping site over decades.  Don’t know whose crap it is and we don’t care.  There has been plenty of activity on the lot to allow those on the other side of the lot line to realize . . . no more.  Today my job was to drive the little red pickup along side the south line as close as I could to the point of today’s quest.  Dennis used his fork to snag foam mattresses and drag them out of the weeds.  Sitting on the end-gate of the little red pickup he could then get them drug to the pile that will eventually be hauled away while I was driving.

  Leave it to Dennis and me to stay busy while being safe.

  It is mid afternoon and I plan on doing some stitching and reading until supper time, which we have decided will be Subway.

   
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  Noreen 1:48 pm on August 28, 2023 Permalink  

  Bright Sun 

  The sun being bright this morning had me washing up my brush for staining by 10:30.  I did get the spindles done on the west side of the front deck.  It may have been a bit of a reach standing on the grass, but any additional height would not have allowed for me to get under the top railing.  Tomorrow I may do the north side of the spindles.  Lots of shade with no glare of the rising sun.

  I spent some time stitching after calling the deck work done for the day.  I could not believe my eyes.  I had never seen such a small ant crawling along my fabric.  My bedroom porch has just had a thorough going over and no bugs were seen.  The cloth I am stitching on is sixteen stitches per inch.  You can see the squares of the fabric in the photo.  You really have to look closely to see anything on the fabric.  But . . . the ant is there, barely the size over one of the squares.  Even kitchen grease ants are larger this this one.  I looked the entire cloth over and found only one more.  What a mystery. 

  The afternoon feels warm with that bright sun.  That doggone dewpoint really makes the difference.

  I will check on you tomorrow to see how your Tuesday is going.

   
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  Noreen 1:36 pm on August 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Another One 

  It is Sunday the 27th of August and we are having another great day.  Back to back . . . can’t beat it.

  Another session of staining deck spindles is under my hat.  Everything of the side spindles via my roll away old office chair has been completed.  My bristle 1.5″ brush is cleaning up well.  When I was about to sit on the front deck and cool down . . . yes, my internal furnace heats up fast, real fast, I decided to walk down and around the deck. I was interested in seeing what the reach would be to do the staining on the north and west sides.  The reach is doable for me to stand on the ground and get the staining done.  All I will need is that trusty kitchen stool for the gallon can of stain to sit on.  Sweet.  My plan is to do the west side of the deck first before the sun rises over the house roof.  All is going well.

  As I was finishing my stint of staining, Dennis left with the little red pickup in search of someone with a chainsaw.  A tree on the east lot line on the blue barn acre was tipped over at the root and it had fallen to the west.  Who’s tree is it actually?  Who cares.  It was impossible for Dennis to mow in that area.  Wham, bam.  Dennis returned with son-in-law Tom as they headed for the blue barn acre.  Before I could pour some breakfast coffee into my cup, Dennis was back home alone.  The tree had already been cut up and Tom was back home.

  Dennis checked on my staining of the morning and man . . . can I read that man.  I put my socks and garden shoes on and Dennis and I headed to the blue barn acre.  Tom, with his chainsaw, cuts up minimally and he then he is done.  We are back home and I am cooling down for the second time today.  The nasty tree and cut up limbs that were all over the place have been pulled over to the huge pile that Brett had made when he came over with his skid loader earlier.  Tree hauler, Ryan, already has us on his list to take care of the huge pile.  It did make sense to add one more tree.

  Dennis appreciates the fact that I can do duty with my legs and the bending over.  Dennis doesn’t do the bending without getting dizzy.  There was a trade off.  The sandburs that got onto my pant legs, need to be cleaned off by the time I need those pants tomorrow morning for painting.  I have dedicated only one pair of pants for all things that need painting.  I took care of cleaning the sandburs off that got onto my socks and the Velcro of my garden shoe closures and the Velcro of my walking cane.

  With the area we got cleaned up today on the blue barn acre, Dennis will be able to take another wider swath with the lawnmower.  What follows then is another wider swath with the weed killer.  Slow but sure there is headways being made.

  I don’t mind helping Dennis one bit.  I am not going to see what the temps tomorrow are going to be.  All I know is that our home needs tending even if there is more of it now.  We are in all things together.

   
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  Noreen 2:13 pm on August 26, 2023 Permalink  

  Nice 

  This morning was not even questionable of naughty or nice.  We have been good weathering the heat and are deemed . . . nice.

  It did not take me very long to begin trundling out my supplies to our front deck.  Gallon pail of latex stain plus opener . . . check.  Brush and damp cloth . . . check.  Telephone and cup of coffee . . . check.

  To begin, the breeze did feel a bit cool.  60 degrees to welcome the day was a whole lot better then the several mornings when 80 degrees was the welcome.

  I had my agenda and Dennis was heading east with his Snapper mower to tidy up the blue barn acre.

  As it were, we both checked in at twelve noon.  Dennis was done mowing and had headed for home to change the oil in the mower.  Myself . . . I was in the midst of cleaning my brush.  Cleaning the brush is the least favorite part of any painting project.

  The opaque stain for the deck was much thicker than the stain used as a transparent stain.  This stain was easy to put on.  As I would have an adequate amount of stain on my brush after doing a dip into the pail, it gave me a chance to reach my target without dripping.  As the sun began rising above the gable of the house, the sun was plenty warm and the black flies had found me.

  I am not in a rush to reach this finish line.  Painting the spindles from the deck side, leaves the challenge of being on the opposite side where I will need to have some added height to get that done.  I will do the easy sides first.  I think as thick as this Behr latex stain is, spraying the stain on could present problems in keeping the nozzle clean.  I have a wonderful small brush that will serve me well for some time. 

  Enjoy this wonderful weekend . . . it is well deserved.

   
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  Noreen 2:08 pm on August 25, 2023 Permalink  

  Light Shower 

  Surprisingly we had a shower of rain last night after supper.

  My plan today was to get a load of laundry going first thing.  Yesterday at the grocer’s I brought home a pork steak.  That hit the crock pot as laundry was spinning.  I have a bottle of bold marinade in the refrigerator that covered the surface of the steak.

  I was counting on that shower of rain making the surface of the garden dirt moist enough to pull some unwanted greenery from the area next to the patio porch.  When Dennis came out after a nap, he mixed up some weed spray to catch a path of weeds that was running right next to the patio.  He also hit the weeds coming up in the cracks of the driveway.

  It didn’t take long and both of us were sweating through our clothing.  We had not checked any weather info before heading out.  At noon the tale was told as we had KEYC news on.  Dewpoint and air quality were both pushing the needle of discomfort. 

  The afternoon was mine for reading, stitching and folding that load of laundry.  Dennis has decided to do some mowing, telling me he would take breaks and try and stay out of the areas in the bright sun, aka: direct heat.

  I have a bag of the salad kits in the Tupperware lettuce keeper.  This bag has two types of lettuce, red and white cabbage, bits of green onions and carrot slivers.  In a little bag there were roasted pumpkin seeds.  The bag of dressing was a poppy seeds blend.  I added some finely diced white onion.  Tumbling this mixture together, it should be tasty for supper.  If Dennis wants instant mashed potatoes, that would be in the realm of possibilities.

  This weekend promises nice weather.