Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from May, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Noreen 2:12 pm on May 16, 2023 Permalink  

  Tuckered 

  Today began the washing/damp mopping of hot bleach water on the concrete floors in the basement.  The stairwell closet has ceased with the seepage.  Good deal.  The cistern closet was also dry.  Both were homogenized.  

  I had lowered the setting on our huge dehumidifier Sunday.  In time it will be set to its usual which Complete Basements recommends at 52%.  We are scheduled for them to check the sump pump system later on this spring.  It has been so wonderful to be able to open the basement windows that Complete Basements of Mankato put in at the same time of the tile around the perimeter of the basement and the vapor barrier under the bathroom.  What we really appreciated was going with Complete Basement for everything.  One stop contact if something goes amiss. If the city’s system had not been overwhelmed, we would not have had any water problems in the large basement room, aka: my studio.

  Dennis began mowing at 12:30 today.  He has been by to re-fuel.  I think his hinny will be ready for a break this evening.  It’s easy to think there is another day coming for some additional mowing, but once Dennis starts, not so much.  

  After the damp mop was retired until more of the same tomorrow, it was oven dish prep.  I had one bag of the rotisserie chopped chicken in the freezer.  There was also a bag of pepperoni that was close to the “sell by” date.  A can of white kernel corn and Alfredo sauce was folded into the sha-bang.  One jar of sauce was not going to cut if for this batch.  Pouring on only half of the jar of Alfredo, I poured into the jar some heavy cream and gave the jar several hard shakes.  Folding all ingredients together for a good moist dish.  Between butter and cream, you can never go wrong.  As Dennis doesn’t care for pizza, this oven dish is close to a pizza.  Pasta in exchange of a crust.  In times past, Cassey’s had a chicken alfredo pizza.  To top things off, I threw in a handful of sharp cheddar shredded.  It made a huge batch, so I split the full blue speckled roaster contents in half so the freezer also has an offering for another time. 

  Folding the prep of an oven dish and mopping of concrete, I am going rest the arms to sit on my bright red reading chair for a bit of a break.  It is a partly sunny day with 79 degrees.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:24 pm on May 15, 2023 Permalink  

  At Last 

  At last the sun is out.  

  It was an early morning for me.  The bulk of the water debacle was over by supper of yesterday.  We went down every several hours to vacuum up the water from the closet that had seepage.  This morning I was set to handle the five by ten jute carpet that of course was wet.  Yesterday Dennis and I took turns folding the carpet in half and vacuuming off the back of as it had a backing of canvas.  That worked quite well . . . better than being able to get a lot of water vacuuming the jute side.  

  I used up the majority of our canned goods by folding the carpet over by half and then putting down the cans.  The carpet was tented.  My plan was to get the carpet off of the floor.  I did that with both ends.  The fan that we had running in the cistern closet was set on the north end of the carpet.  A fan that Dennis had had in the patio porch was running on the south end.  Getting air to the top and bottom of this carpet will help it dry.  Once the carpet is dry it can be folded and moved so we can clean the floor with bleach water.  After that I will shampoo the jute surface.  Patience is all it takes.

  By ten I had motored to New Ulm for servicing of my car and the renewal of the warranty on it.  I was amazed the amount of standing water in the fields.  Where there were culverts, the water shot out of them.

  By noon I was back home.  Dennis had checked the yards and the yards are too soft for mowing.  In fact, there is an area that still has standing water.  Did I mention?  Patience is all it takes.

  I do believe this Grammie will be ready for bed by the time the street lights come on this evening.

   
• 

  Noreen 3:52 pm on May 10, 2023 Permalink  

  Sweet Treat 

  This afternoon Dennis and I made a trip north.  The kids had spied with their little eyes when they were out and about, a chair that might fit in nicely into our little home.  Today that bright red cheery chair settled right into my bedroom which is also my reading room.

  When we were settled, I tried out the adjustments on the chair . . . a total of six of those.  I have never had a chair with which to read by that actually fits my body.  In times past, I never gave my body a thought.  Now, I know that teeny tiny voice that can be ever so annoying . . . is my body voicing its opinion.  I now know to listen to it.

  What made our road trip complete was stopping at the Dairy Queen for small sized ice cream cones.  Yum!  Our first of the season.

  Dennis decided to mow our original lot this late afternoon.  He heard of possible weather coming in for tomorrow.  It is the last of the “first of the season” areas to trim.  Dennis mows this first quite high to give it all a leveling out.  He does have a method to his mowing.  Early on, we decided I would not be doing any mowing.  Using the weed whip is a movement of twisting at the waist like waving a wand for success.  The push mower involves hitching up the shoulders as mowing in one straight line isn’t going to happen . . . not a good thing, lots of turning corners. 

  There was a half bag of pasta that I decided to cook up.  Some all beef meatballs were thawed.  A jar of Alfredo, a huge hand full of shredded cheddar cheese from the freezer, the pasta and the meatballs will be put in at 325 degrees at about 45 minutes.  I always use my thermometer to make sure the dish will be piping hot.  Thus is our supper.  There is determination to continue cleaning out the freezer.  Fear not . . . we will not go hungry whilst on Stauffer Avenue.

  Good thing we had our sweet treat early in the afternoon.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:14 pm on May 9, 2023 Permalink  

  Yellow Beauties 

  This morning after Dennis went out to his PT appointment, I went after those yellow beauties that were determined to be in the Hosta bed off of the patio porch.  Our spray on the grass areas seems to have a good carry-over compared to the yard south of us across Stauffer Avenue.  Some of the Hosta are slow to show, so I kept my size nines out of the area.  With all the deer that trampled the snow in this same area, it will be interesting as time goes by.

  I knew Dennis would be picking up Dwayne after the PT appointment this morning for a coffee at McDonald’s.  It’s good for both of those fellows to keep up with the rest of the crew.

  The static on the radio might mean a thunder shower coming.

  A friend of mine called this morning for the information on the fellow that did our front deck.  I was more than happy to give him a great reference.

  After taking a long walk down Stauffer, I went to the studio.  Putting forth effort to make each and every project that comes out of my studio the best that I am able to is very satisfying.  Trying to keep two piles of blocks as similar as possible for the twin-sized quilt can be a challenge.  Michael’s sweatshirt, hmm.  I tried to replicate as much as possible.  I used by Bernina Tool Box to bring my created block a close second.  I am happy with it.

  When I looked out, I saw Dwayne and Dennis with the heavy implement trailer hooked to the little red pickup.  There were ramps engaged.  I knew that before long, the Cub Lo-Boy was going to be driven up onto the trailer.  I stayed on the patio making sure I could punch 911 if needed.  Dwayne was off to the side using hand signals.  Here we had two 86-year-young fellows, doing what they used to do in a heart beat.  After the tractor was loaded and chained down, Dennis stopped at the house to get his wallet.  When he came around the front of the pickup with a wide smile . . . his favorite snap western shirt on, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth,  it took me back thirty plus years when this ole cowboy knew no challenge.  Today, Dennis was in his element.  The Cub L0-Boy is going out to the fixit shop north of town for new blades on the mower. 

  I am quite sure that sometime this late afternoon will find Dennis in the patio porch with Snuggles on his lap.  Snuggles will get to hear all about the day’s activities, well maybe not all of them, as Dennis slips in a nap.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:40 pm on May 8, 2023 Permalink  

  Happy Monday 

  I was wide awake at six this morning ready to have a happy Monday.  With one load of laundry under my belt, the studio was my targeted destination.

  Just as early, Dennis took his breakfast box and coffee out to the patio porch.  His breakfast box holds a banana nut muffin that came out of the freezer last night, several cookies from the counter container and a plastic fork with which to eat the muffin.  The muffins from Sam’s Club are huge.  With very cool mornings, a nap may very well ensue with a cat on the lap.  

  My breakfast is usually an English muffin with jam that can fill all the holes in the English muffin.  All the items on the computer that I check each morning include, Outlook emails, Facebook, the blog site and our bank site.  By that time I had enjoyed two cups of rich coffee with cream.  Studio, here I come!  All the lights that can be turned on . . . are.  I don’t have the radio on every day.  Sometimes, with the dehumidifier going, the occasional running of the sump pump and the embroidery module going . . . enough is enough.

  We checked in with each other over a sandwich at noon.  By that time I had finished all the coffee and settled for a glass of water and Dennis had his glass of orange juice.  Dennis’ plan for the afternoon was to mow the east portion of our acre.  There was a strip of Hosta in this east part that included the Plume grass that comes up every year, much like quack.  Dennis burned off the grass earlier.  The birds had pretty well taken all the seeds off of it during the winter.  I gave him my thumbs up to mow over the strip that might have had Hosta coming up.  I offered the Hosta to two of Dennis’ family members for two years.  Lots of good intentions on their part with nothing forth coming.  I don’t care to take care of anything more than what is around the patio porch and the patios.

  The studio work is really going well.  With what is stitching out today, I will need to find two additional designs for each of the twin-sized quilts, making sixteen blocks for each.  As the stitching was going on, I downloaded one design that included, a fire hydrant, a fireman’s hat and a fireman’s hose.  I also liked a design from another site that had a nondescript heart with the word “Family” in the middle of it.  The jury is still out on that one.

  Enjoy this 8th of May.  My goodness, when I did catch the news of several small tornados that touched down on Saturday, I gave thanks that we and our families were safe.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:59 pm on May 7, 2023 Permalink  

  A May Sunday 

  A cool Sunday, but much going on.

  Dennis and I have been doing some surveying work this afternoon.  One of the lots that we purchased on a tax forfeit is the backyard of our friend Edna’s home.  Edna’s house is now for sale.  Dennis wanted to have a marker where our lot extended to the north.  I agree with Dennis that with Edna having moved, he will no longer mow that lot around the home and to the street.  Dennis has plenty to mow and the realtor getting his percentage when this home sells can nicely mow it or find someone to mow it.

  We went on to check out our lot line of the barn acre.  Dennis was relieved when stepping off going from west to east, there is a whole bunch of mess that is not ours to the south.  We have made strides in this newly acquired acre.  The mowing that Dennis did on Friday made a huge improvement. 

  The studio lights have been on today.  Having worked with my computer software, I will now be able to add a block, actually two blocks, to each twin-sized project.  I had Michael’s dates that he was with the Gibbon fire department and finding a helmet to download, this will make a nifty addition.  The block stitching out at 85% made for little to no puckering.  In time when quilt blocks are sandwiched with backing and batting any puckering is quilted out.  I have one down and the second of the same design is now stitching.  While the module is at work it gives me an opportunity to iron stabilizer and trim those ironed blocks at 16 x 16.  The blocks had to be that large to capture as much of the designs on his t-shirts as possible.

  Supper is going to be tuna sandwiches and soup.  I had a thumbs up on that choice.  Neither one of us have done enough today to warrant anything heavier.

  A new week with new possibilities as to what will present itself.  Enjoy, smile and find something to bring about hearty laughter.

   
• 

  Noreen 3:27 pm on May 6, 2023 Permalink  

  A Welcomed Rain 

  Right along with the welcomed rain was thunder.  It sounded great.  This would have been the first good rain to wash off a lot of the old winter’s dirt.  Just because the snow has melted, doesn’t mean all the snirt is gone.

  I, after some laundry this morning, the studio was my plan.  The fireman’s t-shirts were cut down and with the steam iron on high, I began ironing shape flex on the back of the saved designs.  It is a slow process.  Getting the stabilizer on the back with enough heat so it will withstand lots of handling as we go forward to making a quilt, take that back, making two twin-sized quilts.

  I think my ole cowboy over did it yesterday.  Dennis so wanted to mow some of the greenery on the barn acre.  It’s green but not lawn green.  Getting a jump on it was a good thing.  It would not have had to have been done in one day.  All that I can do is to make sure he stays upright until he himself calls it a day.  Dennis never lacks ambition.  Like myself, the mind tells us we can but the body has the last word.  A good day of rest watching television in the patio porch with a cat now and then allowing Dennis to vent to it . . . it’s a good thing.

  I slept until 7:30 this morning.  My bedtime remains at nine at night.  If I go too far beyond that bedtime, I get really tippy.  There ya go!  My body has the last word and I very seldom go against the ole body.

  Cool temps are here again.  It’s bound to change many times in the month of May.

  Enjoy what is left of the weekend, I sure am.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:30 pm on May 5, 2023 Permalink  

  Rain 

  According to the static on the KNUJ radio, it really would like to rain.

  Dennis and his Sears rider went to the barn acre and mowed what green grass there is.  Sometime, nephew Brett will be coming over with one of his skid loaders to push together what trees have fallen over or what had been pushed aside over the years.  In time when the burning bans have been lifted, we will most likely get a permit for burning.  There is so much that is dried, it could be quite a fire.  If all is pushed into the middle of the lot, there is no chance of neighbor’s homes being in harm’s way.

  My walking sticks and I walked over to where Dennis was mowing, picking up sticks as I went from our house to Dennis.  Many, many wisps that won’t need picking up.  Snuggles followed behind feeling very secure.   

  This morning the kitchen, bath and entry floors felt the kiss of mopping.  As long as Dennis needs to wear a medical boot on his left foot, mopping gets done frequently.  Having a small home . . . perfect.

  The oven meal of last night was a success.  The sauerkraut with the chicken gave it a nice flavor.  There is a bit of it in the freezer for another time, with some for supper.  Jellied cranberries is one of our favorite side dishes with an oven meal.

  My firefighter family member had a sweatshirt with the name of the city, a design of a helmet and ax under that for t-shirt quilts.  Under both of those was “FIRE & RESCUE.”  One sweatshirt for two quilts.  Hmm.  I have a “Toolbox” software program on the computer in the living room.  I was able to get the correct font for “GIBBON” complete with the name outlined in white.  No helmet and ax in any of the websites that I frequent for downloading designs to load into the sewing machine.  I did get a design of a helmet that will go under the city’s name and then finish it out with the fire and rescue.  It will be close.

  There is a lot of enjoyment in working through challenges. 

  A quiet weekend is on the docket for us perhaps listening to the pitter patter of rain on the awning.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:46 pm on May 4, 2023 Permalink  

  News of Stauffer 

  Today is a 77 degree day here on Stauffer Avenue.

  Even a Thursday as promising as this can have some sad news.  Since about 2009 we had enjoyed a cast iron eagle that loved to sit on the patio with the “Red, White and Blue” flying over it.  The eagle had been found when several of us gals were trolling garden nurseries.  It was a good thing, my friend Doreen didn’t know her limit in lifting things.  The eagle tipped in easily at 75 pounds.

  In recent years when our Maple tree got a trimming, the fellow cut one of the limbs totally flat so the eagle could sit eight feet above the ground and keep an eye out.  Last night, some brave varmint stole the eagle from its resting place.  Yes, there is dirt that has been disturbed and a new hunk of the Maple’s trunk that was pulled off where the eagle was.  Someone or somebodies might have had a shock when 75 pounds of cast iron was on its way to the ground in their face.

  We did call the city police and I did put a photo on Facebook.  Nothing may ever come of getting the eagle back, but we will try. 

  This late forenoon, Dennis and I had our pedicures up town.  What a great thing to do for ourselves.

  The lights popped on in the studio today for several hours.  The air is chilly and that is why several hours did the trick.  I now have the t-shirts cut down for this retired firefighter.  As luck would have it, I had enough Pellon Shape-Flex to cut into the number of the blocks that these two twin sized t-shirt quilts will be.  The Shape-Flex will be ironed onto the back of each wrinkled t-shirt making them as easy to sew with as if they were yardage of cotton.  That was enough for one day.

  I do have an oven dish to pop into the oven.  Rotisserie cubed chicken out of the freezer, one can of Bavarian sauerkraut, one can of white kernel corn, and two cups of pasta with Alfredo sauce.  The batch is large enough to tuck a small container in the freezer before I pop our dish in the oven.  Sweet. 

  Enjoy whatever trips your trigger as Friday is soon to be here for the beginning of a nice weekend.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:10 pm on May 2, 2023 Permalink  

  More Straight Line Winds 

  The winds from the north are getting old.  Our flag and the neighbor’s stand straight out from the northwest.  Upon reflection . . . it still beats the storms.

  Dennis gave me a car ride to our tax forfeit lot as the crew was loading up their equipment from the demolition.  What a fantastic job was done.  Denis feels relieved that a sad old dangerous building is no more.  As we took a tour via our car, it is amazing the amount of nice green grass.  Dennis always mowed the gal’s lot that was adjacent to this lot.  We now know Edna’s property is for sale as our 96-year-young gal is in Sleepy Eye in a care facility.  One lot that no longer needs Dennis to mow, trading off for our own additional lot to mow.  Did I mention that Dennis got new blades on his rider yesterday?

  When we got home, I did pick up some garbage that has blown into our backyard.  Several branches are now on Dennis’ fire ring.  If ever there were loose branches in our trees, these winds would have brought them down.

  The studio lights came on today.  Working in 45 minute increments, I have 24 firefighter’s t-shirts cut down to what I can work with.  One bag of garbage made up of sleeves, neck ribbing and such.  A second bag is labeled as “cotton rags” from the backs of the t-shirts.  With that . . . the lights were turned off for the day.  Slow and steady will be this project.

  I know the farmers are out and about.  I can imagine the dust storms behind the areas being worked.  My plan is to wait until I can stand upright with little to no wind before I venture into my dirt.

  This week should be a turning point in spring-like weather.