Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Noreen 2:39 pm on July 15, 2025 Permalink  

  A Quiet 

  This afternoon, I am in a quiet place.

  Within this last week, there have been closures that brought about this quiet.

  I finished a quilt that needed quite a few hours of contemplation, many hours of application in regard to sewing skills.

  That quilt finish brought about the portion of a barter and the end of any chance that I would do gardening again.  It was a relief.  No more looking out the window and seeing work that was needed but which I could not do.

  I had been concerned about my vehicle driving from home to places I had appointments.  I knew it was not operating correctly.  Monday that doubt was erased by visiting the repair shop.

  This morning, I had a clinic appointment in regard to high blood pressure that I had not experienced since I retired from a rather stressful position.  I was in an exam room with a blood pressure cuff that the nurse put on my right forearm.  She programed it for four individual readings.  She said she would be back in several minutes.  Indeed, I was nervous.  The standing monitor had a screen on it that pulsed as the cuff tightened on my right forearm and then relaxed.  Four times.  After a notification bell, the nurse came back in and programed the monitor.  It then read the average of the four reading.  I was thrilled beyond measure when the monitor read 118/70.  I had been hoping for this and would have been even happier if the bottom number had been 60.  I will check the portal later on if there needed to be a message from my primary

  Within these last two weeks I had cut my caffeine consumption down drastically allowing only two cups of coffee during my waking hours.  I also had been given an additional medication of 2.5 mg of Amlodipine for blood pressure. 

  I came home and decided the remainder of the day would be quiet.  Dennis’ son-in-law is doing the mowing today . . . also a good thing.  For what we pay Tom, knowing that Dennis is not overdoing it, is also a peaceful feeling.  Yup, I like the quietness of it all.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:19 pm on July 14, 2025 Permalink  

  Bit on the Warm Side 

  This morning before Dennis was up for the day, I was on my way to Chuck Spaeth’s in New Ulm.  I had noticed within the last month, that when I was heading down Stauffer Avenue the car would hesitate.  It would do it several times.  I didn’t hesitate when they gave me an early, for me, appointment.

  After about an hour or so of watching other customers in the waiting room, I got a one on one.  It was a wind-something, or maybe an air-something that had not been secured tightly during the last oil change and the sensor for that component was activated.  Believe me, it was over my head.  No charge.  If I notice this same situation again, I am not to hesitate but give them a call and a new sensor will be ordered and it will be under my warranty.  That info is now on my record at their shop.  I was relieved that I would not break down somewhere when I traveled.  Just because we carry Triple-A does not mean it could be very inconvenient.

  About three-thirty yesterday afternoon we got company.  Sadie came to make good on our barter agreement: a tee-shirt quilt for yard work.  I was in charge of keeping Charlie B, a second grader, and Maverick, a four month old dog, out of the biting bugs.  It didn’t take me long to engage Charlie in a computer game that came up on Dennis’ laptop.  It was called “Coin Flip.”  I was tails and she was heads.  She had a paper score card and this was serious.

  Dennis told Sadie where all of our garden goodies were in the potting shed and she went to work.  Using his walker that he can turn around on and sit, he kept his granddaughter company.  Nothing was spared.  From the huge Maple to the far west edge, within ten feet of the house, it all came down via a weed-whip, looper, or a clipper.  Sadie raked it all off and using our wheelbarrow, it is on the burn ring.  When it’s dry, Dennis will burn it.  With all the tours she had had in the military, she was fit for it.  No breaks until it was done.

  After her and grandpa came in the house, Sadie washed up and was ready to see her quilt.  She loved the two sided idea of using the tee-shirts.  This was a wonderful barter.

  When I got home from New Ulm, Dennis had already filled his Harbor Freight pumper up twice with Brush killer.  All the open stems of what Sadie took down will let that brush killer go down to the roots quickly.

  How do I feel about giving up gardening?  I have had the best of it.  Even when Orlin and I lived in Riesel, Texas, I had flower gardens.  It means more to me now that I can be as independent as I am, than putting stress on this body that has done its share.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:22 pm on June 22, 2025 Permalink  

  Warm Wind 

  I dare say the wind is quite brisk.  Everywhere the greenery is being whipped about.  25-30 mph hour winds with these temps could dry out any type of soil. 

  I have been giving the patio kitties fresh water every day.  Their water dish sits on a concrete block and I have no doubt it might feel good to splash about a little.  Yesterday when the carpenters were working in the garage, there was so sightings of them until I went to check on them before dark.  How dare strangers be in their space.

  There is talk of a possible thunder shower cropping up during the night.  I will need to close the small crack of the windows in the little red pickup that is sitting in the drive before bedtime.  As hot as it has been, I didn’t want a window blowing out from the heat.  Do vehicles still have that threat in the heat of the day.

  I was relieved that the carpenters didn’t return today.  Nothing is so important that working in the glaring of the heat reflected off of a white building is needed.

  Dennis called yesterday.  The Duluth event of the race was in full gear.  It’s grandma’s something, something.  One of the tunnels going north out of Duluth towards Silver Bay has construction going on.  Even in the Silver Bay area the traffic was fierce.  He and his son Ken, plan on striking out for home on Monday.

  So . . . how have I been doing on my own for this last week?  Very well indeed.  Dennis’ son-in-law, Tom, mowed the yard and the acre on Friday.  I made sure to imbursed Tom for the agreed amount.  He let me know that two of the three small gas cans would need to be filled before the next cutting.  With this hot dry wind, it may not be in the cards for this next week.

  I was satisfied how the sewing went in the studio.  I will say, even with the woven iron-on stabilizer, some of those tee-shirts are pathetic.  Any respectable out-house would reject them. The perimeter is nailed down but the guts of the twelve inch square is very which way loose.  The tees with the rubberized designs need to have my Teflon sheet put over them to be able to work with.  Breathe.  Note to self:  no more Grammie will do it.  Dennis has three daughters, four granddaughters and five great-grand daughters and none with an ounce of domestic inclination.

  The fellows on the crotch-rockets can pick up so much speed from our four-way stop, they are just a blur.  It is surprising how many are running around in this heat.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:54 pm on June 19, 2025 Permalink  

  Hungry Deer 

  Just a few days ago, I marveled at the one Hasta that was about four feet across.  The rains had done it proud.  This morning, I looked out the bathroom window and I saw stalks of what was left of the proud broad Hosta.  When I went out and checked, there were quite a few that had been munched on.  The greenery next to the Hosta, aka: weeds, were untouched.  We are a short distance from a creek that leads into good coverage for wildlife.  Discriminating tastes.  Oh well.  

  Dennis called last night from Silver Bay.  The three great grands are keeping him and his son Kenny busy and entertained.  Good for them.

  While I was at the church tables in the studio making plans for cutting some one inch strips, I got a phone call from my carpenter, Brian.  He had his list of materials that the lumberyard would be getting ready for him.  The yard will have it inventoried and ready to be picked up Saturday morning.  His question was about the new service entrance door that will be going in.  If I wanted it plain or with primer on it.  I opted for the primer so to have it hung and with time to get paint for it.  Any special finish would make it an order to be picked up later and he assured me, it would add to the cost.  He also mentioned it would be good to put the materials inside.  I assured him, the little red pickup would be put on the concrete drive while he and his partner worked on the project.

  Brian’s Hispanic English is good if not a bit broken.  Not so much broken as hesitant to make sure for the understanding coming and going.  He can make his sketches and measurements very easy to understand. I make sure to speak slower.  I know Dennis and I are very comfortable with Brian on board doing a good job.  It’s still going to be an old garage made up and out of wood pallets . . . just with less maintenance on the outside.

  It is heating up quite nicely outside.  It was forecast, so no surprise there.

  With that I will take  my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:54 pm on June 8, 2025 Permalink  

  Perfect Day 

  With the clouds, mild temps and a brisk breeze, this would be my all time favorite perfect day.

  After a walk, I went right down into the studio.  The first thing I did was to cut open with the Worx scissor the four pack of C batteries I had bought in the grocery store yesterday.  I almost choked on the $13.98 price tag of them.  I had been without a radio for over a week in the studio.  I knew they were on the list for Sam’s Club the next time we went to Mankato for a better price in a larger volume container.  I had waited long enough. 

  The Worx scissor is going to come in handy for the encased plastic containers that are horrible to get open.

  Today was a tidy up day in the studio.  Odds and ends of purple fabric needed to be put away.  Some of the fabric was piecing materials and some of it was leftover flannel that I had used for the backing.  A Christmas placemat that I had embroidered.  I used my eight inch stool to take down the metal box of memorabilia items to add to it.  Wall shelves to the east and church tables to the west.  I had support.  Some of those items were taken down from the attic when Kersten was lending a hand.  Get it tidied up before the tee-shirts would take over!

  I picked out two red, white and blue wall hangings from the totes.  Bright colors for the living room.  Sometime the amount of wall hangings in the totes will need to be addressed with the kids.  Also there are two quilts that I did with Tri-Chem fabric paints.  One pattern is of Sun Bonnet Sue and the other is of Overall Sam.  I have kind of been kicking around selling those two.  Again addressing that with the kids sometime.  Not soon . . . just sometime.

  When Carrie’s had been here the day before Esther, Megan noted a few small ants in the bathroom.  I kidded her about having live entertainment.  Over time, they had been increasing.  Every day I would add another drop of Terro Ant Killer to the two pads in the areas behind the sink and next to the heat run.  I went outside to the east area that the bathroom was on the house.  No sign of ants outside.  Today, there was a lessening.  I have no idea what they were after.  More drops of the Terro for any late-comers.

  Dennis is feeling the day of walking at the acre with his brush killer yesterday.  The ole cowboy still thinks he is in his 20s.  I can’t do anything to change his mind about what he wants to do.  The 500 mg bottle of Tylenol rattled as he headed to his recliner for a nap.  I hope it helps where ever it hurts.

  We are having Manwich sandwiches, potato chips, coleslaw and pickles for supper.   

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 3:15 pm on June 7, 2025 Permalink  

  Cloudy Saturday 

  Gray and cloudy is the day.  That didn’t much bother what we had on the agenda.

  Dennis mixed up a gallon of brush killer so he could in turn go to the acre and do some spraying.  His Harbor Freight pump sprayer is very doable.  The sprayer was full and the gallon jug for easy refill.  For decades there had been a tree that had had a ring of aluminum lawn fencing around it about a foot tall.  The aluminum has been long gone but the ridge of dirt around it has harbored thistles and other weeds.  Dennis got in a good amount of walking.  There was one huge stump of a tree that Ryan’s crew did not take out.  A lot of barb wire grown into the tree.  The stump is about four feet tall and Dennis gave the area around it a good spraying.  In about six days the effect of the spray will be able to be seen. 

  After my morning walk I headed to the studio to do a batch of tee-shirts.  I came up from the studio for a coffee break.  After checking things on the laptop, I decided to do a second batch of the shirts.  Well, well, the tee-shirts have been cut up with a rather huge bag of the cotton and poly leftovers geared for the garbage.  The backs of the shirts I did bag up for Dennis in the garage.  If nothing else to wipe the hands off when working with mower oil.

  Both Dennis and I had a good day of getting things done and kept under control.

  Late on a Saturday afternoon is a good time to visit the local grocery store.  Everyone buying up for the weekend have been through the check-outs.  Dennis gave me a ride in the car and kicked back listening to the radio while I headed in with my list.  Now, all the groceries have been put away in the refrigerator and or in the freezer.  I have a Maria Cullender cherry pie in the oven with the crumbles to be added on later. 

  Fixing our meals here on Stauffer is more desirable than eating out. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:05 pm on May 26, 2025 Permalink  

  Perfectly Clear 

  If Dennis is going to continue carrying a wallet, he is going to need the type of wallet that big dudes carry.  The ones with the log chains attached to the wallet and the pants of said carrier.

  This morning, very early there was a knock on the back door.  When I went to answer the door, there stood a Hispanic of about 35 and in his hand was Dennis wallet.  I asked him where he had found it.  He replied on the Hammond Highway.  That is the street that our acre runs along.  I gave him a $20 reward.  Everything in the wallet was in tact.  Dennis was asleep in his rocking chair in the patio porch.

  I had to immediately contact the two grandchildren that I had requested metal detectors from.  I let his daughter know as she and her husband Tom had helped look for it yesterday.  Come to fine out, Dennis had used the Sear’s mower to mow along the curb next to the Hammond.  Yup.  Out popped the wallet.

  What a lesson learned for the ole cowboy.  

  I tell you, keeping up with what each day asks can be a caution and can suck the energy right out of me.  I did work a bit in the dirt under the huge Maple.  Nothing serious, just getting at some young cocklebur plants that were easily taken out.  Many years ago, Dennis had gotten a bale of wild hay from one of his farmer friends in the hope to provide feed for the deer that would frequent the backyard.  He had plopped the bale up on the dirt under the Maple tree.  Ya all know that those weed seeds can lay dormant for up to seven years.  I think I might be on the sixth year of taking some out.  By the way . . . deer do not much like alfalfa or road ditch hay.  They prefer grains, Hosta plants and plants that may have been purchased in a greenhouse.  My neighbor Jan tells me that.

  So . . .  my day is winding down with some cold breakfast coffee and some stitching.  Dennis is back to the patio porch for another nap, feeling very grateful for not having to replace the ID cards in his wallet.  I feel grateful that that task did not fall on me to do.

  I will remind and make perfectly clear that the wallet does not go out in the pants if yard work needs to be done.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:05 pm on May 24, 2025 Permalink  

  A Quiet Town 

  Out little town is quite quiet for a Saturday.

  There is a whole lot of humming being done by mowers.  Two inches of a needed rain will do that for yards.  Our yards will be in for mowing sometime next week.

  This forenoon, I took my handheld clippers and clipped off a lot of volunteer trees.  I know they will be back.  I just wanted the instant gratification of not having to look at them for a time.  The Elm, Maple, Oak and Black Walnut got whacked.  I took no favorites.  I need to do a Lena.  Mom had her ways.  With rubber gloves on, she would have brush killer full strength.  She would dip a rag in the brush killer and wipe and swipe the leaves of the naughty volunteers.  It may have taken awhile for the effect to get to the stem and then the root.  Lena was a patient person.  The next sighting of a few trees, I am going to try to give them a treatment.

  The sewing machine needed some TLC after a diligent job done well.  A new needle, oil syringe, soft brushes . . . I went to work.  Behind the bobbin case, with a pair of long-handled tweezers, I got a ball of lint that was hiding.  Success!  No sewing today.  I did decide on a piece of tan suede fabric to make the pillow with for Megan’s cat to be appliqued onto it.  I have the name “William” loaded from the Bernina Tool Box onto a flash drive for the embroidery to be done.  As it is a small design, I plan on doing a prototype of the stitching first on a scrape of suede to make sure I have enough stabilizer on the back so it will lay totally flat with no puckering with the applique that is lying flat.  You know . . . don’t have time to do it right, but always time to do it over.  

  Dennis tells me the air feels cool.  It is the type of cool that I most enjoy on this spring Saturday.

  With that I will take my leave.♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:06 pm on May 16, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day! 

  What a difference a day makes.  24 little hours.  I can hear that song in my head.

  Yesterday we went to the Limb-lab for Dennis’ appointment for new shoes.  They give excellent service to the veterans.  Dennis’ shoes will be in the shop for pick-up in several weeks.

  The Limb-lab is right around the corner from the JoAnn’s store that is in the process of closing.  I had to have Dennis stop so I could check it out.  Most of the store was cordoned off.  If there was one packet of upholstery needles, there was 2,000.  The warehouses are circling the wagons to have the retail stores try to clear it all out.  I found three items for mending and spent $7.00.  At that it was ringing up as 60% off.  I looked and was satisfied that I had checked it out.

  We had no groceries to purchase and we headed home.  I have never ever been in such a horrible dirt storm.  It was beyond a dust storm.  There is a huge detour as Lake Crystal is getting a huge overhaul.  The traffic of every type of every vehicle imaginable was caught in coming and going on a two-lane highway with visibility sometimes next to nothing.  The situation did get better the closer we got to home.  I was so happy to be home safe and sound.

  

  Before we left yesterday I took a photo of the east side of our home.  The Hosta, the Fern Peony and some Lilies of the Valley were the backdrop of the Star of David flowers that were blooming in the yard.  They are just too cute for words.  You never know how far or where they will spread to.  In a short time all their greenery dies back and you wouldn’t know they were even something the camera’s viewfinder would see.

  With the horrific winds that were had, by the time we got home, the Fern Peony blooms were wind-whipped and gone as were the Star of David blooms.  The white lilacs had turned brown with the hot, whipping winds.  Not much pretty was left.  The Hosta plants somehow made it.  Well . . . those that the deer haven’t been lunching on.

  The strong winds of this morning did bring a shower of rain.  I missed most of that as I was in the studio.  The For Sale sign that Kevin had put out and up for us was totally bleached out from the sun.  Dennis had brought it to the studio for Grammie to work her magic.  The black oil paint is drying on both sides of the sign.  I did the best I could.

  Yesterday was blistering hot and today it feels like 32 degrees out.  Go figure. 

  For our evening meal, we are having the refrigerated beef tips with gravy, instant potatoes, cranberries and cottage cheese.  I really enjoy the tart cranberries over the cottage cheese.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:55 pm on May 14, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  Today was my six month eye checkup with Dr. Pinke just five blocks up the street.  When my eyes are dilatated, Dr. Pinke can see oh so much more.  In times past, when Dennis had had his eye checkup, that was how Dennis knew his corraded arteries were clogged . . . big time.  I will gladly go in every six months.  I have a hint of macular.  That hint has been there for ten years.  The test for glaucoma was a pass.

  Today there was another change for Dennis and me.  Going forward, Dennis’ son-in-law, Tom, will be using our zero-turn with our gas to do the 1.3 acre mowing as well as our residential home lot.  There was and is an amicable monetary agreement.  Dennis used the Sear’s rider to show Tom the lot lines.  As with me . . . there is a reasonable amount of energy to be expended for our not so young bodies.  Everyone is happy with what has been made off.  Tom is AJ’s dad.  Tom will be using his own zero-turn to keep up with the back garage lot for AJ.

  I knew that grocery shopping was in the cards for this hump day.  Dennis removed several of the glass shelves in the refrigerator so I could work my magic before groceries would be bought.  Something had either gotten spilled or something had leaked to the point that my little jar of minced garlic was not able to be moved.  It was schmucked down tight.  Another day, I will wash out the crisper drawers and also remove the multiple storage pods in both of the refrigerator doors for a freshening.  A bit every day and none of it feels overwhelming.  But . . . as I have said before, what my eyes see the mind cannot ignore.

  I worked in the studio for a time today.  Someone special has asked me for an embroidered item.  I used the Tool Box software program to pull a design together.  I did share the image as I had taken a photo of it.  Today was time spent pulling together stabilizer and various spools of bright colored thread.  Time will tell how it all turns out.

  When I was at the grocer’s, their steam tables of their noon specials were turned off.  At that time each day they portion it out and sell it in the cooler area along with other items such as Mrs. Gerry’s products.  Yup, we are having tater tot hotdish for supper with Mrs. Gerry’s coleslaw, cranberries and cottage cheese.

  Last night was a shot in the dark.  I had bought a bag of Simply Potatoes from the refrigerator section in the grocery store.  It was the option that contains some spices.  I had used half of the bag last weekend.  Last night I put the potatoes on a paper-plate, covering it with a damp paper towel.  While giving it two separate blasts of two minutes each in the microwave, I was heating up a small can of Dinty Moore’s Stew.  The stew spooned over those hot spicy hashbrowns, made a great tasting meal.  The potatoes soaked up the gravy . . . it was a very easy meal.  Of course Dennis liked it as it was a hot meal.

  Not to be surprised if there is no post tomorrow.  At 1:45, Dennis has an appointment at the Limb-Lab in Mankato.  It’s in the old Madison East shopping area.  Once a year, the VA writes a prescription for a pair of leather shoes that the lab makes the orthotics to fit into allowing for the space that toes would generally fill.  They don’s assume to order the shoes from last year’s mold.  They begin the process from step one. They also make sure that the right shoe has the correct innards for stable, even walking.  Sweet.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥