Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 1:48 pm on August 21, 2023 Permalink  

  Action 

  For every action, there is a reaction.

  This Grammie today is feeling the reaction of being the self proclaimed interior designer, aka: a painter.

  What I am feeling is not unknown discomfort in the ole body.  It is just reminding me that perhaps painting my bedroom porch should pretty much fill the bill to do painting for 2023.  I cannot fail, if I do not try.  Each of the days it took me to open that quart can of paint took resolve.  I had unlimited amount of moral support from Dennis.  I needed every bit of it. 

  I am now on to taking a few days of sitting back and letting my gluts get back some feelings to them from being in the bent over position.

  I am not the only one in this household to push it to the limit.  Each day Dennis does good local effort at the blue barn acre.  Though the lopper we bought at Harbor Freight was not expense, the key is that . . . it is sharp.  Being able to mow beneath trees and not have them slap you in the face . . . priceless.  The huge pile of brush that nephew Brett pushed together, has now had Ryan the hauler look at and give Dennis a price for it to go away.  Sweet.  After that, any small pile of brush we pull together can be burned.  Brett’s pile is too close to homes that are to the south of us.

  We remain in a heat advisory.  Not just for us older folks.  It can sneak up onto anyone like a bad thug.

  Hello Kersten . . . welcome home.  Kluge would have been all over you like a bee wanting to sting you.

  Right back at you tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 1:54 pm on August 10, 2023 Permalink  

  No Deed 

  No good deed goes unpunished.  Dennis had done such a good job of taking the sandburs off of his pants last week.  Yesterday when he was mowing the blue barn acre, he took the weed whip along to take out some of the weeds that might harm the mower if he went after them.  You never know what is hiding in and on a lot that has not been tended in a decade.  Once the weeds have been gone through, the mower can take an extra swathe.  The nastiest area is close to the south lot line.

  After a couple of hours, I heard Dennis and the mower pull up to the garage.  I assumed the mower needed gas.  Dennis usually pops in for a glass of water . . . no Dennis.  About the time I was going to look him up in the garage, I looked out the bathroom window to see Dennis pinning his pants up onto the clothesline.  Dennis walked the patio and came on into the house in his Fruit of the Looms.  The mowing had gone great.  The weed whipping was making headways until he realized the inseams of his pant legs were sticking together.  Yup!  Sandburs.  Dennis is so determined to make a difference on that lot, not realizing where the stuff flies when weed whipped off.  No good deed goes unpunished.  He has decided when he is going over to the blue barn lot to weed whip again, those same pants will be tugged on.  All I could do was smile and snicker.  Dennis did clean off his socks of the burs before putting them in the laundry.

  Last night after supper there were a few large rain drops that ended in a flash of rain blowing sideways for quite some time.  When it thundered the whole house shook.

  The saving grace today is that it is sprinkling off and on and Dennis and the porch kitties are watching television in the patio porch.

  With such a driving rain, I knew the window screens had a good wash.  Screens hold so much grime and dirt.  I got two of the eight bedroom porch windows cleaned.  All the cleaning is done from inside . . . sweet.  Dennis helped me do the bathroom window.  I loaded one of my chamois window towels onto the floor Swiffer’s head.  It worked great for Dennis to spray the vinegar window wash onto the bottom window while standing on the ground and drying the window via the Swiffer mop.  I opened the bottom window from the bathroom as far as I could and reached out with my right arm and hand to spray the outside of the top window with the vinegar wash so Dennis could work his magic.  Slick.

  If anyone ever needs to be entertained, sit back and watch the older ones on Stauffer Avenue.  I will say, we are resourceful.

  With some good local effort today we have decided to have pancakes and sausages for supper.

   
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  Noreen 1:42 pm on August 8, 2023 Permalink  

  So . . . Do Tell! 

  It is official from two sources, one on each end of town, that we got three plus inches of rain in a slow and steady all-day rain.

  The rain is all it took to hear the hum that had not been heard for some time, lawnmowers.  Dennis was right in there with them.  The weeds had continued to grow and they needed to be trimmed back right along with whatever else was green.  Dennis has learned to take two days to get the acreage done as the back and arms sent him a strong message. 

  Today Amazon delivered the last item for my bedroom porch’s reading and stitching corner.  Years back most shops had a clamp-on light fixture that could be angled via springs on the main hub.  My clamp-on unit that was delivered is similar but different.  There is no light fixture at the end, but a clamp to hold my hoop for stitching.  Sweet.  Until it has been used for a time, the clamp is really tight . . . enter stage right . . . Dennis.  My left hand is really going to enjoy not having to hold the hoop.  For the sum of $24.99 it does the job of the expensive wooden standalone hoop holders. 

  For several days this week, Carrie and Megan are in Las Vegas at the largest USA marketing event for 2024’s merchandise.  What a sweet event for them to share.  Later on this month, Kersten will be flying to New York for her endeavor.  My special people do get around.  When Dennis and I talked about it, he was thrilled for them, as he and I couldn’t take it.  

  I did take in some stitching this morning in the studio for my next scrappy quilt.  I realize it. I am admitting to it. I am overanalyzing the scrappiness of it.  Good grief.  It did take my repair man, Dennis, to replace the batteries in the radio for KNUJ to be enjoyed.

  Our oven meal of last night was a hit.  There will be a re-run of it this evening.

  Take care everyone!

   
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  Noreen 1:38 pm on August 4, 2023 Permalink  

  Not Nice 

  It does not feel nice out.  The dewpoint and humidity are very high and neck and neck.

  Tomorrow we leave home at nine in the morning heading north.  My mom’s family, Riebe, are very good at getting together once a year.  Surprisingly, many of the families have stayed close to the Litchfield, Darwin and Dassel area.  We are getting together at the city hall of Darwin, home of the giant twine ball.

  Dennis and I talked over what we should bring for the pot luck noon meal.  It is too far to have a hot dish prepared and stay hot for the trip.  The same could be said about a cold dish.  We decided on three dozen frosted cupcakes.  I did post that on the Riebe Facebook site earlier this week.

  I have remembered the weed that Dennis got onto his clothes earlier this week.  The weed got on and stuck on.  The sandbur is a nasty weed.  The t-shirt has been plucked clean.  As I type, Dennis is working on his pants while in the patio porch watching his favorite television shows.  Bless his heart.  It may mean doing this clean-up job in shifts.

  My hoop for stitching came in the post.  Someone made a fortune using the same PVC tubing as there are so many other uses.  The four sides push together.  Having had a 6″ x 6″ and now an 11″ x 11″, a variety of sizes can be made depending on what you need as parts are interchangeable.  It does work well.  With a push the partial circular add-on clamps the fabric.  The work area is nice and taut.  It takes a bit to get the straight push-on edges used often enough for them to be somewhat relaxed so you don’t loose your fingernails getting them off. 

  Take care my special people as cooler weather is said to be coming. Know that Dennis and I will travel safely.  My next post will be Sunday, the 6th of August.

   
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  Noreen 2:04 pm on August 2, 2023 Permalink  

  A Day that Goes Well 

  The older ones on Stauffer are each having a good day.

  With two half gallon sprayers mixed to do battle with the burdock, he was off.

  I stayed behind and spent time in the studio.  I have been away from stitching for some time.  As I was looking at stashes in conjunction with graph paper, I got a phone call from Gibbon.  On the 12th of this month, two t-shirt quilts will be leaving the studio.  Sweet.  I continued on with what will be a scrappy quilt of every color under imaginable.  All the cotton prints will be petite floral.  Once it is on paper, that is half the battle of making the 8″ finished blocks.  No seams to match in the way that I will lay them down.  I do know that it will be 7 blocks across and 8 blocks down with three different configured blocks to make up the top.  By using a half block on the left of the first row and then using the half block on the right of the second row, staggering down the 8 rows, that will illuminate seams that need lining up.  With my blocks being designed, I also will know how much of each piece of fabric to cut.  Not much waste is going to be had.

  I did snap a photo of my stitching.  Keeping the pamphlet close by for encouragement. I am pleased with the progress.  Yes, it is wrinkled.  As I work, the area under the needle is stretched taunt in a hoop.  Steam pressing is way too far in the future to worry about.  I am waiting for Amazon to deliver a new hoop to me.  The one I had been using was a 6″ x 6″ and needed to be held in my left hand as the right hand worked the needle in and out.  Though the left hand does not operate well, I could tell the pull all the way up to my left shoulder.  The one that is coming is 11″ x 11″.  I will be able to rest the top of it on my book rack and the bottom will sit on my lap, leaving the left hand be at rest.  It takes awhile to get everything on board for the best process.

  Dennis now has a pair of pants dedicated to the blue barn acre work.  Without realizing it, he had brushed against the weed that has little stickers that embed themselves into the fabric.  Dennis tried the shop vacuum and the 3M lint roller.  I will wash them by themselves and we have held the dedication ceremony.

  Dennis and I have each had a productive day with all things going well . . . keeping it reasonable.

   
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  Noreen 1:47 pm on July 31, 2023 Permalink  

  Well, Well 

  Well, well.  The two older ones on Stauffer still have it.  Dennis and I worked side by side on the blue barn acre over the noon.  It was amazing how much we achieved by picking up small sticks and branches and added that to the huge pile Brett had made with the skid loader.

  What will be interesting in time is seeing all the Kudzu vines that will be turning brown.  I and our lopper sniped off countless vines that were rooted at the base of trees.  Many of the vines that have already turned brown since we began working on the lot will need to be pulled out of the trees with the help of the little red pickup.  I think securing the end of vines, with I am not sure what at this time, and having them pulled out of the trees will make a huge impact.  Some of the vines are as round as a quarter with a spindly root going into the ground no larger than a piece of twine.

  So that was our two hour exercise for this Monday.  No one was was injured by this.  It felt good to work side by side in the shade under the canopy of huge trees.

  I am enjoying the last of the breakfast coffee and will soon settle into my bedroom porch, perched on my cherry red chair, reading a bit.  I will admit my hands are weary and there will be no hand stitching this afternoon.

  We have agreed on a Subway supper.  Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 1:20 pm on July 24, 2023 Permalink  

  A Day of Quiet 

  As we were having our last night’s meal of fried egg sandwiches, Dennis and I recapped our day.  Both of us had worked with garden tools to make an inroad on the blue barn acre, and . . . we did.  Neither of us got hurt or fell.

  Today, being Monday, we each pulled into our own selves resting up for a repeat in the near future.

  Shh!  Today felt like the peace that passes all understanding.

   
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  Noreen 12:51 pm on July 23, 2023 Permalink  

  Sweet Sunday 

  An agreement was reached for today.  I would ride along in the little red pickup to the blue barn acre and help refill our gallon pump sprayer with the correct amount of water to the correct amount of Roundup.  

  The areas around some of the trees has a fair amount of volunteer weeds.  There is only so close Dennis can get with a mower for now.   Much needs to be picked up such as pieces of broken off limbs from Brett’s skid loader work.

  Dennis sharpened the lopper yesterday and we were able to take off a lot of spindly new growth from the trees.  Each bit of work does us good and improves the look of the acre from the road.  Anything we cut down is laid in a direction that we can pull it to the larger pile towards the back of the acre easily.

  Now in early afternoon, I can either read or stitch.  The light from the windows aids either one.  I will say, “My Spot” is sweet.  I now have the green project bag completed with the lime green zipper.  The setup allows for my stitching tools to be close at hand near the wooden book holder from decades ago that was sent to the trash when I worked at the courthouse.  It fills my use to the max as I can no longer hold a book to read with my hands.  The cherry red chair has great support for either of my wishes.  The sweet little green metal chair has a coffee cup close at hand.  It came out of Kevin’s shop years ago with the stipulation, that I would enjoy it “as is” with the dents and chips.  Absolutely.  Megan and Nicholas always enjoyed pulling it up to the table when they stayed with us.

  Enjoy this sweet day as the Lord has made.

   
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  Noreen 3:23 pm on July 22, 2023 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  The main objective for the day was laundry.  When Dennis works outside, it doesn’t matter if two t-shirts hit the laundry or a dozen.  Clean clothes is desirable.

  By 10:30, I was ready to ride shotgun over to the blue barn acre.  Lopper and weed whip in the pickup and we were off.  There is a lot of the Kudzu vines in the trees.  We did cut a lot of it off, down to the roots.  The next step will be our little pumper gallon sprayer with a strong mixture of RoundUp to go around the trees.  There is one Black Walnut tree with a crop of nuts in the greenery.  Right next to it is a very old Mulberry tree.  The ground around it is full of berries that fell once they were too ripe to hang onto the branches.  Every time Dennis mows it is looking better.  Once tall weeds are cut, it gives the good grass a chance to stool out.

  By twelve noon we were home, giving legs and arms a break.

  I did go down into the studio and check the YouTube video on what the next steps would be for my project bag.  Watching a video over and over breeds familiarity.  What needed to come first was a good cleaning under the hood complete with oiling and a new needle after the embroidery I had done for Kersten.  Using the machine doesn’t hurt as long as I keep it cleaned and oiled.  Just like a valued vehicle.

  Tomorrow may see some actual stitching.

  When Dennis visited the studio, we agreed on soup with a fried egg sandwich on the side.

  Happy Sunday coming around the corner.

   
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  Noreen 2:13 pm on July 20, 2023 Permalink  

  Thursday the 20th 

  Hmm.  They said if we were not included in the rain showers of last night, we would be in for a long spell of warm, hot and dry days.

  Once I had three needles threaded for stitching in my bedroom porch, I headed into the studio.  It does accumulate more than is warranted.  

  My sister-in-law is a registered nurse.  Her mother does not have Blue Cross Blue Shield Senior G0ld insurance as Dennis and I do.  At ninety plus, her mother battles open wounds from bumping into things.  I offered JoAnn whatever medical supplies we had left from the lengthy bout Dennis had had with his left foot.

  Today what was left of supplies I made a first-aid kit for the Fairfax team of usual items that could be used at home or in the shop.  The remainder is in a tote with a cover and handles of what we may put to use.  Got that cleared off the studio floor.  The pair of hard soled shoes and one knee high boot, all with Velcro, is also stored in a basement closet.  Whew, what a good deed done.

  When Dennis went to the eye clinic yesterday, he came home with an appointment card for October 18th of this year.  Yippee!  This morning the VA clinic needed him for an INR blood draw, clotting check.  That was spot on.  The VA is a monthly check.  Being five minutes away and taking another five minutes to completion is no big deal.  Fewer appointments are always favorable.

  Dennis just came in for an afternoon coffee break.  Nephew Brett had been over with a skid loader and pushed as much of the loose brush together on the blue barn acre as possible.  That allowed Dennis to mow a bit more and then he followed up with the weed whip.  The 1.14 acres looks tidy from the Hammond Hwy.  At some time, there are trees that could be cut down as none of them are keepers.

  Tomorrow, the weekend begins.  The month is flying by.