Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from October, 2022 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 1:30 pm on October 24, 2022 Permalink  

  Cooler Days 

  For a short time yesterday the sun was out in full force.  The Northern Golden Oak was just that . . . golden.  I planted it when it was a twig of a tree at five feet from the last of the season sale at Pamida store here in town.  The tree now towers and is as straight as an arrow.  I would guess thirty feet.

  There were a number of Black Walnut branches that Dennis picked up due to the strong winds of late.  Those trees are never bashful about dropping off some less than healthy branches.  When I closed my eyes and listened to the howling wind, it could have very well been a blizzard.

  Last weekend Dennis’ grandson AJ brought his bike to our back garage for storage over the winter.  I thought he was busy out in the garage.  Not.  AJ whipped into the basement with a small toolbox under his arm.  Within a few minutes he came upstairs and announced that via a splitter I would now have access to the television tower north of town as well as the Samsung smart television options via the Mediacom router.  For us two old fuddy duddies, we don’t understand the high tech stuff . . . it boggles us.

  I don’t have the television on during the day.  My time is from seven to nine in the evenings.  Upon tweaking what viewing was available, I ran across the 25th anniversary marathon of Midsomer Murders on PBS.  I had missed that program when we gave up cable television.  Thank you AJ.  I am easily entertained with a good mystery.

  My studio is tidy and I am ready for the next embroidery project.  The selection of threads are lined up ready for perhaps a Tuesday’s offering.

  KNUJ has mentioned rain showers for these next days.  It is gray out and not a rain drop to be felt thus far.

  Hamburger patties for supper.  We have not had anything fixed on top of the kitchen range for a long time.  I will be sure to have the horseradish on the table.

   
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  Noreen 3:55 pm on October 22, 2022 Permalink  

  Dust Bowl 2022 

  Could the air get any thicker with the harvest dust!

  The farmers in our area have not had one drop of rain since the fields were opened for the 2022 harvest.  It has been go, go, go from the onset.  Our neighbor Randy works for John Deere and I know from watching him walk across his yard to his pickup, he is feeling his 67 years.

  Yesterday when Dennis was finished with his mowing, mulching and bagging, he looked like he had been standing behind one of those huge combines . . . dust from head to foot.  No, I didn’t make him strip before he came in the house, but it was close.  Of course the Asian beetles had globed onto him for the free ride into the house.  I would think that by next weekend the harvest would be history.

  My brother, Calvin, called this afternoon.  Me thinks he is out of sorts and needs someone to visit with.  It’s the least I can do for him.  Fifty minutes of cell phone time . . . I can do that.

  We have a sweet lightweight shop vacuum that has the best suction.  Yesterday I got it set up and I am leaving it plugged in and sitting in the corner of the living room for now.  It is so handy with its long hose that can reach many areas without moving the actual vacuum.  I do have some plans for that sweet little brush attachment and cold air floor registers as well as the two office chairs we use as dining chairs.

  I was just going to head into the studio when one of Dennis’ daughter stopped in.  When the clock on the wall said three thirty as Sandy was leaving,  my creative spirit had left me.  Too much socializing today.  Maybe tomorrow it will be a quiet day here on Stauffer and the threads, fuzz and me will get it together.

  Temps in the low 80s today.  Another good day tomorrow with high winds bringing in a cold front.  So be it.

  I trust everyone will have a great Sunday tomorrow and find the peace that is all understanding.

   
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  Noreen 1:53 pm on October 21, 2022 Permalink  

  Good Day 

  Dennis and I have really made use of this Indian summer day.

  Dennis headed out to the garages.  I saw that he hooked up the rake behind the rider mower.  As Dennis mulched the leaves by mowing, the rake picked them up and added them to the canvas carrier.  Dennis had chose a dump site for the mulched leaves on the far east edge of the acre.

  I was determined to finish tipping in windows in my porch bedroom for the cleaning that was needed.  I had half a bottle of Windex that I filled to the brim with white vinegar.  The solution worked well to give a streak-free cleaning as possible.  I will admit, I am not as fussy as in decades earlier.  I had moved my bed over to the south and gave the woodwork on the north side of the porch some freshening up with Murphy’s woodwork wipes and then did a damp mop on the floor as well.  Having done the south half of the room earlier in the week . . . I am calling the fall cleaning of this special room done.

  At a time past, my bedroom porch was actually an open porch complete with the slanted floor for rain to run off of.  Our living room has a huge 66″ window looking out to the now enclosed porch.  The old glass with its wavy view is classic.  The very top has an insert of a frosted glass landscape.

  When Megan and Nicholas would stay with us as toddlers and they had been tucked in for the night in the bedroom porch, invariably they would get up and stand on the bed and peek back into the living room, leaving finger prints and nose prints.  I never minded the peeking, but no pounding on the glass.  Today as I cleaned that huge window, it brought back many memories of those cherished visits.  I would have given anything to find one last such print.

  When Dennis came in at noon and we had some Herring with cheese and crackers, he commented that with the window washing using vinegar and the lingering scent and now the Herring in wine vinegar, he thought we might just get a head rush.  Nah!  

  Megan did call yesterday from college.  She is going to make a gift for a friend.  She needed some advise on thread and hand embroidery stitching.  I steered her to a YouTube video. This morning, I got a text from Megan that she found the help she needed.  YouTube has the answers on anything for everyone.

  Dennis had made an oven chicken dish for last night’s supper.  Dennis and I have had a very good day.

   
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  Noreen 1:58 pm on October 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Indian Summer 

  With two killing frosts under the belt . . . here comes the reprieve.  The frosty mornings got our attention to get with the preparedness while we can. 

  Dennis did break out the mower to swipe at some leaves.  I think he decided to wait until he could actually see some results.

  For the last several days I have felt claustrophobic in our first floor living.  Putting something down where I thought it should go, to only pick it up and move it when the item for the intended spot reared its head.  No . . . there is no more physical square footage that is going to appear.  The answer is to sift, sort and eliminate that which I have no emotional attachment to.  Ya, right!  I will deal with this.  I will not carry anything up to the attic.  I will not carry anything into the studio. 

  The problem lies in the closet of the bedroom.  When I put things in the closet after laundry day, my eyes wander.  Kevin put up some wonderful extra shelving over the clothing rods.  Those shelves are now full to capacity.  I am making lists of what is going to go home with a number of people.  Some items have been earmarked decades ago.  Mom, Lena, made a quilt for Carrie and also one for Kevin.  Nothing that would be entered into a quilt show, just miles and miles of hand stitches in scrappy quilts.  I know one of them was started by Grandma Schafer and Lena finished it. 

  Quilts are to be used and abused, the whole while they emit memories of who cared enough to make it.  A quilt does not need to be on a bed to be enjoyed.  Wrapping up in a quilt on a chilly day works, even if the tail ends drag on the floor.  Quilts have been used as wall, window or doorway covers.  I have a quilt made by my grandmother Laura.  It sure does show wear. That only makes it sweeter.   

  With the quality of the fabrics I have used, they will last through wear and tear and also laundry.  The washing machines of today are not as harsh as the old wringer wash machines.   

  I have made quilts for each of the two kids.  One of Kevin’s quilts, he used when we lived at South Branch and somehow it ended up at my home.  Carrie will be receiving a quilt done in my choice of colors.  Kevin’s has a predominate theme of red, white and blue.  Years ago when a quilt was received, there was no thought of “that really isn’t my color theme.”

  I will not make anymore quilts for my two children as there is no need for more.  I don’t plan on ceasing my work with threads and fuzz.  There are some blankets that I have made in using up my stashes that don’t qualify for quilts.  There it is . . . its ready to be used.  I do have two such blankets that will be sent home the next time Dennis’ grandson Ryan comes to help us and also one to grandson AJ as he is always ready to help his grandpa. 

  Having made some decisions with my threads and fuzz stuff, I feel so much better.  Whew! 

  Indian summer will be here for the weekend.

   
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  Noreen 2:46 pm on October 19, 2022 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  Maybe, just maybe the harvest is winding down.  So far the concrete trucks are the ones burning up the street in front of our home.

  With a second morning of temps in the teens, Dennis is eying the back yard, willing more leaves from the Oak and Maple trees to fall. 

  I, on the other hand, am planning to get the remaining four windows tipped in and cleaned that are in my bedroom porch.  

  Old fuddie duddies are always on the prowl for the next thing to conquer.  It keeps us out of trouble with our kids.

  Right now, I do not have anything under the needle in the studio.  Plans . . . there’s never a shortage of those. 

  The patio porch kitties have to escape every morning and check out what has dared to infiltrate their yard during the night time hours.  When they realize how brisk it is, they are standing next to the slider doors wanting back in.  They do know how to work the ole cowboy.

  We got a call this morning from the limb and prosthetic lab that the orthotic and shoes are ready for Dennis to pick up next week when they made the appointment for us.  The special orthotic in his shoe will make up for the amount of loss that has occurred in the actual shape of his foot during several surgeries.  Praise be.  It will also help the stability in walking.  Big toes and metatarsals have been given to us for ease in balance . . . plus it looks better as well.

  Daughter Carrie will be flying to Virginia tomorrow for the college’s “family weekend.”  I know Megan and her mom will enjoy all that is planned.  Nick and his dad will be doing a guy weekend.

  Happy hump day everyone!

   
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  Noreen 2:09 pm on October 15, 2022 Permalink  

  Bright Sun 

  I needed to concentrate on the bright sun and not the strong winds.

  Both Dennis and I slept in this morning until eight.  We had a one hour interruption during the night.  The CPAP machine of Dennis’ had slipped when he turned over in bed and the noise was much like a wounded moose.  I thought it was a great blessing that we could go back to sleep after having been up.  I am so thankful that I do not need to use a CPAP breathing machine.  Dennis has afib which is irregular heartbeats.  When the heart misses a beat and does not start up again, the CPAP machine gives a burst of air to get the heart beating again.  Dennis has been on the machine for about fifteen years.  We take the silent nights with those that may not be so silent. 

  I got my gear and rear going for some window washing.  There are eight exterior windows, two doorways and two windows opening up the porch into the rest of our home in my bedroom porch.  Not much left for wall space.  Dennis washed off the exterior of our home last weekend when it was nice.  Today I wanted to get a start on cleaning the soap scum and hard water droplets off so we can see through them.  The bright sun does quite the job of letting light in, but not seeing through the mess.  I did get four of the exterior windows tipped in and tidied.  Dennis came behind me and got them locked.  It went so well, I was tempted to keep going, but taking it easy on the arms and hands will allow for possibly feeling good enough to do the other four tomorrow. 

  We will have a repeat performance of our oven meal of last night for this evening.  Sweet!

  When I think of how many semi tractor loads of harvest have gone past the house today, that is only from the southeast part of the farming community.  It has been a marathon.  It’s been a dry harvest with no hint of a slowdown with no rain in the forecast.

  Dennis is waiting for a hard freeze so he can harvest his leaves. The strong winds have rearranged quite a few of them that didn’t wait for the frost to knock them loose.

   
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  Noreen 2:42 pm on October 9, 2022 Permalink  

  Sunday and No Resting 

  When the spirit moves one, it may very well be Sunday . . . just no resting.

  There were a few odds and ends that needed to be tucked into the potting shed.  Once I had had my walk down Stauffer Avenue, I was ready to help.  We don’t leave much out in the yard.  Nothing is sadder than having something bite the dirt after blowing snow, heavy tree branches falling . . . you never know where.  Tidy it up and when the spring of 2023 appears, we can then decide if and where our treasures will be put.  The chainsaw Eagle always is put into the potting shed sitting on concrete pavers.  We have had a spring flood that did indeed flood the potting shed.

  It was warm enough today that we took care of the garden hoses.  Letting them get soft and pliable in the sun and then wound on the reel, getting the last of the trapped water out . . . good deed done.

  Of course then the reel of hoses needed to be put in the car garage.  We never put that in the potting shed.  We keep that close and sheltered.  Who knows when it would be needed in the dead of winter.  What ensued was moving a few items out of the way.  The car was backed out of the garage.  The final event was the leaf bower attacking everything that needed to leave the garage that would and could be moved with air.  

  I could not believe it!  Dennis was satisfied that we had gotten the tick list of his done.  As I mentioned, when the spirit moves us, we get it done with no would have, no could have, no should have.

  I felt Dennis needed a break.  I toddled into the house.  We now have an oven meal ready to pop into the oven for later on.

  Monday will soon be upon us and as luck would have it, it is a quiet week for us.  On Thursday we do have an appointment with the wound doctor for Dennis’ left foot.  I think she is going to be very pleased in the healing that has been taking place.  We still do every other day with fresh dressing.  It is paying off.  The bummer . . . I will miss our stitchers luncheon.  The wound care comes first.  It has been one year this week that we have been doing all that has been prescribed.  We are oh so close, and that does beat being oh so close in a game of horseshoes.

  I sure do have a project sitting in my studio.  Maybe tomorrow is the day for fuzz and threads to return.

   
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  Noreen 1:24 pm on October 8, 2022 Permalink  

  Nippy Morning 

  Due to a nippy morning, I had to hunt up some gloves.  I headed down Stauffer Avenue.  Generally walking against the sun is a challenge.  This morning, I welcomed the warmth that I felt.

  Dennis did check and we do have some days in the 70s still to come.  That is what I will target to put the last patio items in the potting shed.

  Our noon snack was crackers and Herring.  We had not had any for some time and it was tasty.

  This afternoon, I spent time on the laptop in the studio.  Seek and you shall find.  I found several exercises for the L-5 and L-6 for my lumbar spine.  Walking is always a plus, but a bit more is needed.  The doctor’s note on the x-rays of last week indicated that the degenerative situation has progressed to some degree since the last checkup for the spine in 2004.  The good news, no surgery is indicated as well as no injections for nerve blocks.  What I am experiencing is normal wear and tear that can be managed with medications of several types and to keep on moving, moving, moving.  It might be better on some days than others.  What is key for me is that I have several interests to continue for a balanced day . . . like getting my library books returned on the due date of October 10th.

  What was a bit more fun to look at, were several sites for machine embroidery.  My intent is to put the embroidery module on before I begin another pieced quilt top.  A little variety in the studio keeps everything fresh.

  This evening we are cleaning out the refrig of a bit of this and a bit of that and calling it supper.  If we did have a pet to help with leftovers . . . they would get pretty darn hungry.  Waste not, want not.  Dennis talked about an oven meal to make on Sunday.  I am all for that.

  The sun is bright this afternoon and does warm coming through the south windows.

   
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  Noreen 2:32 pm on October 5, 2022 Permalink  

  Silent Night 

  We had a very silent night last night that had started in the late afternoon.

  Verizon, CenturyLink and Mediacom were all knocked out due to a cable being dug up or cut through.  I went to bed at the usual time of nine and Dennis said just as he was going to turn in at eleven, all was back up to normal.

  I didn’t really mind the silent night as I was punchy by nine, very ready to go to bed.  With a new reel of thread and two batteries to use in the weed whip, the Hosta and the plants next to the house . . . are no more.  Some of the Hosta stems were like small tree trunks.  Several Hosta were five feet across.  I started at one edge and kept chewing.  My pant legs and garden shoes were covered in green silage of the task.  When the Hosta are not cut back, it is a tangled mess in the spring.  If the weather permits, I will take out the Hosta on the east end of the acre.

  Dennis and I had noon lunch yesterday and when he heard the chilly forecast, that sent his wheels turning.  No, the bathroom window cleaning from the outside was put on hold.  What happened was 100′ of garden hose came out along with the soap container.  The house was washed off for the very last time this 2022 year.  The muddy water ran down the house siding like I couldn’t believe.  We live on a concrete street but also have gravel Stauffer Avenue on the south.  Dennis uses the cheapest laundry soap the dollar store has and then it is rinse, rinse, rinse.  Dennis ran the soap detail and I helped with the rinse.  Holding onto the garden hose for a length of time, I am glad we did the tag team.  The area around the house smelled really good, like many loads of laundry.

  I had made a commitment to go with Dennis to his Korean luncheon in Mankato today.  I slept until 8:30 and then a hustle was needed.  I am glad I went.  There are five of us wives that meet and greet while the fellows have their meeting.  It has been a good experience for me to meet gals from out of our area.  We stopped for a few groceries afterward and there was no way I was going to admit how stiff I was getting in and out of the vehicle.

  There may well be some nice warm days coming, but buttoning up the yard with cold fingers is no fun. The work is done and behind us.  I have many opportunities to tip windows in to wash them.  The dirt has already been washed off of the screen as of yesterday, so that is one less step to do.  If the screens don’t get cleaned, the first smallest of a rain shower, will have the windows wearing their grime.

   
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  Noreen 2:40 pm on October 3, 2022 Permalink  

  One Swipe 

  This morning before the Asian Beetles and Boxelder bugs had the sun to warm them, I headed for the Hosta plants.  We have two batteries for the weed whip.  I exhausted one of the batteries.  That was all I had for strength in my hand.  The safety on the weed whip mandates a button to be engaged while a second button operates the actual weed whip.  As it is, both buttons engaged is a physical stretch of the hand.  Tomorrow morning I will hit it again.

  We had very little garden art out out this year.  Many trips to the potting shed with one hand holding the goodies, with the right hand on the cane.  I am not taking any chances of taking a fall.  Slow and steady.  

  There is a difference between Dennis and myself.  Dennis still thinks as a 50 year old with reflexes of a 50 year old, rather than the 86 year old that he is with reflexes that mirror that.  That is evident with the things he has lying around to trip over in the garage.  I follow behind and pick them up and put them aside.  If he lifts his feet an inch off of his walking surfaces, that would be it.  A fall waiting to happen.  I think like a 78 year old that has had a stroke with mobility of a 78 year old.  I may be a pain in Dennis’ side, but why take a chance of having to heal from a fall when it takes seconds to be proactive.

  Also tomorrow my plan of attack is to wash the east bathroom window.  Dennis is done washing off the outside of the house for the year.  I have a scrubby that has an arm that can be extended.  I don’t need a perfect job done, just enough so I can see outside in the early mornings.  The remainder of the windows can all be tipped in.  Sweet. 

  The purple quilt top has been folded up for quilting at a later date.  I did cut the fabric for the quilt binding this afternoon.  Putting the folded ironed binding with the quilt top, does make things easier in wrapping up a project.  Why put off something that will need to be done anyway.

  Yesterday, I found out that great grandson Oliver is into Pokémon.  He was so proud to show me his cards.  He made a point of telling me that he couldn’t take them to school.  With the quilt project done, I am pretty sure I have some Pokémon printed fabric left from making Kersten some pillow cases.  I will surprise Oliver with getting a pillowcase in the mail.

  The week is off to the air filled with harvest dust from the grain elevator that is five blocks west of us.  It is a dust that represents the farmer’s reward of a farming year.