Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from September, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:18 pm on September 6, 2025 Permalink  

  Not Today 

  No trip to Mankato today.  Dennis was not feeling too perky.  There is no point in perusing what the body is not up to.  What items we had planned on picking up can be done anytime, any day.

  The Amazon order was delivered this forenoon.  As well as the vitamin D and calcium, I wanted the order to be as complete as we needed.

  When Sadie cleared all the greenery north of the patio porch, my 20 year old shrub clipper threw its spring out of gear.  We never did find the spring.  Stauffer Avenue is back on track to take out that which chooses to pop up where it is not needed.  The last item in the box was a yard flag holder.  For decades we had had a small USA flag stripped over a steel electric fence post.  During the horrific winds, we have no idea where it took of to or where it may have landed.  We are now back in business with a small lawn flag at the end of the front sidewalk.

  There was no padding of any kind in the Amazon box and I was surprised the pill bottles hadn’t rolled around enough to have self-opened. 

  By the time Dennis put the new lawn flag holder together, he was feeling better.  We may try our trip tomorrow.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 1:55 pm on August 19, 2025 Permalink  

  Job Jars 

  I love it when I can knock off a job jar or even better . . . two.

  With all the rains, there was a small spot where the sidewalk meets the west patio right off of the garage’s service door.  That spot was now sporting thistles, nettle grasses and everything in between.

  I put on my gloves and with Dennis at my elbow, the less than good greens were tackled.  Surprising, a lot of it pulled up by the root.  My favorite hoe is one used by farm workers that work sugar beet fields.  The head is triangular with a long handle.  The closer my hands are to the end of the handle my trajectory will angle the head to slice right underneath the dirt and get at the roots.  Oh yes, it was wet dirt.  After the pile of greenery dries, it will get hefted into the garbage for next Tuesday.  There were some plants that were still showing some green and Dennis followed behind with the brush killer.

  As humid warm . . . hot that it felt outside, I was thrilled to go into the studio and work with Maria’s shop aprons.

  Everything that could go wrong was dealt with yesterday.  When Maria bought the shop on our Main Street during the covid, there was also a shop in Windom that had closed.  Maria’s husband is very handy.  The shop in Windom was called Lilly’s and done in shades of pink.  Those in Windom were thrilled. Even if it meant Lilly’s would only be open three days, Monday, Wednesday and Friday she had eager customers.

  

  Maria loves butterflies.

  Our Main Street shop was closed by the gal looking to retire, so this shop needed some spit and polish.  This shop is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

  Maria is a hard working gal that keeps her LPN license up as well as all the licensing needed for the acrylic nails.  Maria is young enough to me my daughter.  Her youngest child graduates in 2026.  Her two sons have gone on to trade schools for full time jobs.  Where they find time to purchase fixer-uppers is beyond Dennis and me . . . but they do.

  I don’t think there is much that has come easily, including moving her parents, and they are legal, from Texas to live next door to them in one of the homes they have fixed up.  How could I not do something for Maria that she never would have asked for.  The pink shop apron will be worn in Windom.  Her black shop aprons are donned here in the Main Street shop.  Doing something for someone . . . sweet.

  I didn’t count the shop aprons as a job.  I still need to do the second job and that is putting fresh bedding on . . . straight from the laundry.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:26 pm on August 8, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day 

  This is a humid nasty day.  Anything taken out of the refrigerator needs to have a towel, paper or otherwise, underneath it to soak up the sweat.

  No studio lights were turned on today.  Nothing needed t be accomplished.  As is my usual, I don’t leave anything to the last moment.  The cat that has be wrestling around in the bag can now be brought out as I just stated I don’t leave anything to the last moment to thus make a crisis.  Tomorrow Megan is coming!  Yaa!  Megan has ask my help with a sewing project.  Yup, you guessed it.  It is a stretchy sewing project.  All the prep that was possible has been done and now we will find out the rest of the story when she arrives.  Needless to say, we are excited to see Megan.

  It’s not uncommon that the first floor of our home gets the after-thought when it comes to the tidy, tidy when I have juicer items going on in the studio.  This morning with my cup of coffee still half full and me in my bathrobe, I had the vacuum going.  I get my best tidy, tidy done in that garb . . . nothing restricting the movement of diligence.  I happened to glance up and saw my friend Maria park in our drive.  She retrieved a plastic bag from the back seat of her car and was headed for the front door.  I didn’t even get the vacuum shut off as I wanted to greet her.  In the past, not wanting to disturb us she has left a bag of goodies on the front deck.  My pink robe and a very disheveled occupant greeted Maria.  Farmer’s Market had just been greeted at the front door.  Sweet.  Green peppers, cucumbers, onions and cherry tomatoes all in her parcel.  You’ve heard the adage, “only your hairdresser knows.”  Maria was on her way to open her salon and stopped to see us first.  Maria was beautiful in a bright red top with not a hair out of place.  She got a good first hand look as to how much her skills are needed.  We hugged it out and she was on her way.

  It is now the afternoon.  I went off to the grocery store to make sure we had some of Megan’s favorites on hand for tomorrow.  When I got home Dennis already had several cucumbers peeled and sliced and was tackling the onion.  Bless his heart.  Now . . . why didn’t his eyes tear up in doing the onion?  Mine were already watering just by coming into the kitchen.

  All that activity and Tom is mowing the yards.  Much accomplished on Stauffer Avenue.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:19 pm on July 22, 2025 Permalink  

  Some Thinking 

  Graph paper in hand, the studio found me working with ideas as to how to finish the five designs from the Congress of Eagles that I have stitched.  When Carrie’s family was here at Easter, I listened, eavesdropped, on a conversation Megan was having with her fellow, Jarrod.  I am going forward, using the graph paper and some of the goodies Amazon will be delivering.  I no longer am doing items to put into my storage here in the studio.  This totally finished item will not be staying on Stauffer Avenue.

  I am passionate in staying busy.  That is not to say I am either a genius, nor am I crazy.  I know where my level of comfort lays, aka: having something to show for my days.

  Dennis has been busy in the kitchen.  When we had some boiled potatoes last night, I had boiled the potatoes with the peelings on.  My hands don’t do well with the peeler.  Tonight, we are having the remaining of the creamed cucumbers with “peeled” potatoes ready for boiling.  When Dennis gets busy in the kitchen, I stay away.  Why squelch his enthusiasm. When I was invited to the kitchen, I was amazed how many potatoes had been peeled.  Fried potatoes with onions is always a welcomed fare to any supper.  Sweet.

  Dennis’ son-in-law mowed the properties today.  The entire process takes about two hours.  The garage lot of AJ’s, our residential lot as well as the 1.3 acre lot is a lot of mowing, and Tom takes pride in his mowing.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:06 pm on July 17, 2025 Permalink  

  Another Nice Day 

  The birds were loud this morning.

  As I lay in bed, listening, I was putting together my agenda for the day.  I have a notification that an order from Amazon may be here later this week. 

  After my two cups of coffee, I headed to the studio to check out my sewing machine.  It had really done wonders with the last quilt.  Fuzz and loose threads can cause a whole lot of problems going forward.  I had not had the radio on for several days.  Of course the broadcasts are all about the county fair taking place, with Redwood being the first.  Watonwan County fair began yesterday with entry day.  I hope they have a good turn-out.

  Earlier this week, I received notification that my cousin Shirley Wendlandt Hahn had passed at the age of 76.  Her husband, Ron, had passed away several years ago from complications of a stroke.  Prior to passing he knew Shirley was showing signs of dementia.  Everything was in place for Shirley to be living in a health care facility after he was gone.  Dementia is so hard on the organs of our body.  I will not be attending the funeral and I have let my aunt, Janet, know this.  Janet is 93 and is the youngest of my dad’s family.  Her twin brother has been gone for many years.  Janet lives alone in her home in Brownton, Minnesota.

  Shirley’s father, Lester, was one of my dad’s younger brother’s child.

  In the mail yesterday, Dennis received a summons from our district court to report for jury duty.  Refusal can be submitted after the age of 70 with the pertinent date of birth information.  Dennis put the reply in the mail today.  Nope . . . not going to do that ditty any more. 

  I continue looking out the bathroom window and seeing the barren Hosta beds.  I feel nothing but sweet relief.

  I noted on the news the 7.3 earthquake that hit Alaska on it’s southwest side.  Kodiak, Alaska was in its range.  Hmm.  When we lived at South Branch, Orlin had applied for an assessor’s job in Kodiak.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  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.  ♥

   
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  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.  ♥