Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from February, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:00 pm on February 25, 2023 Permalink  

  An Outing 

  It took the bright sun and the promise of a 28 degree afternoon.  Dennis took me on an outing to downtown Sherburn to the Old Alley Quilt Shop.  Oh my gosh!  I had not visited there since the stroke, aka: 2021.

  Dennis said to take my time as he had the sun coming in his little red pickup window.

  Going to Sherburn, 28 miles from home, the west bound lane of Hwy. #4 was iced over in spots.  The wind was doing its best to keep it that way.  Coming home two hours later, the east bound lane was free of ice.  We could see the sun was doing a number on the iced-over areas of the west lane.

  Now I have fabric to continue working on AJ’s t-shirt quilt.  I did inquire about having them long arm the king sized quilt sometime in the future.  I cherish what my arms and hands can do.  95″ x 105″ is a lot of cumbersome three layers of fabric under a limited amount of real estate, aka: distance from the needle to the right to the hub of the sewing machine.  I did do a king sized quilt five years ago.  Then it was a challenge.  Today it would break my spirit.  Old Alley needs to have customers.

  This morning when I looked out of the bathroom window, there was a frenzy going on in the backyard.  The squirrels were digging out kernels of corn the deer may have left behind and stomped on.  No sooner had the squirrels done their best, the huge crows came and flew away with the treasure.  Oh for the pecking order of life.

  Today gives hope that spring will be coming.  There is slush and under the slush is ice.  This Grammie is thrilled that Dennis took me on an outing, and thankful to be home . . . safe and sound.

  This outing will do me just fine for some time to come.

   
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  Noreen 2:40 pm on February 23, 2023 Permalink  

  The Calm 

  It seems as if this week has lasted forever.  

  I realize the wind may be raising havoc on the roads even if the falling snow has stopped.  Being on the outskirts of town, we are sheltered.

  I have no idea how much snow we had.

  Having shot down Dennis’ plea to use his snowblower, his retreat to the patio porch can be respected.  Dennis wants to do the things as he always has.  I admire that about him.  He is able to run errands in his little red pickup as he hops in and he hops out without too much waking in his Velcro boot.  Walking behind a  snowblower requires digging in the legs and feet to turn the bulky and heavy thing round.  Best to farm that out.

  Next-door-Randy was here at 7:30 and our drive was cleared.  Randy also cleared Stauffer Avenue that runs along the overhead door of the garage for the little red pickup.  All was well until the city came by a bit later and plowed Stauffer Avenue.  No way would the little red pickup leave the garage after that.

  I bundled up and worked the bins for garbage and recycling out of the snow at the corner of the garage.  I pulled them into the drive as I knew grandson Ryan would be by later.  I cleaned up the snow next to the overhead door of the car garage.  Randy had pulled or blown away what he safely could.  He can get only so close.  When I cleared the back door, the snow, when pushed off, showed clear concrete.  It felt good to have gotten the snow moved that I could.  The wind was whipping snow and soon I was covered in a light covering of the wet.  When I came in the house the aroma of so much freshness was if I had brought in clothes off of the clothesline that had been hung out wet and froze dry.

  By two this afternoon Ryan had been here with a skid loader and made short work of the snow next to the garages.  The little red pickup could venture out at will.  Ryan also went into the backyard.  With the bucket of the skid loader down, he scrapped away the snow next to the patio porch and pulled it into the backyard.  Dennis will have a flat surface to put his pans out for feeding the deer.

  No corn was put out last night.  It was mixture of snow, sleet and rain.  Of course there were tracks all over the backyard checking to see if corn had been put out.  I am sure one disappointment will not keep them away.

  I hope everyone made it safe through these last days.  This year’s winter is like a bad houseguest.  It doesn’t know enough to realize it is no longer welcome.  Today’s calm is sweet indeed.

   
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  Noreen 2:25 pm on February 22, 2023 Permalink  

  Off and On 

  With the snow being an off and on thing, it’s hard to tell where this storm is at.  The wet sticky snow has slowed the traffic down.  Dennis’ grandson stopped by with the skidloader and took out some snow.  When Ryan tipped the bucket over to empty it, he had to trip it several times to get the snow to fall out.

  The first floor needed some mundane tidy work.  By noon all had been accomplished.  There are days the studio has lost some appeal.  A good book in my bedroom porch won my attention.  There are options in the refrigerator for supper.  It is going to be a night of “everyone is on their own.” 

  The dressing of Dennis’ left foot is going swiftly compared to January.  If we continue following the doctor’s orders . . . that is all we can.  Patience can be hard to come by.  The Old Adam in all of us wants to be in control. 

  Esther Schafer, I can hear you as if you were sitting at my table; “If life doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger.”  Her strong deep laugh never let anyone think they had a reason to bellyache.  Dennis doesn’t belly ache, he just pushes buttons.  Gotta give the fellow credit for trying.

   
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  Noreen 2:41 pm on February 18, 2023 Permalink  

  Saturday the 18th 

  Spring can’t be far behind when we go from minus temperatures to 35 degrees today.

  I think the patio porch kitties could smell some warmth in the air.  When Dennis went out at six this morning, all three bounded out the slider door to the east.  They may not have stayed out long, but after days being cooped up in the patio porch, they needed to check out the deer tracks and skat, the rabbit poop and where a squirrel had traveled.  It was then nap time.

  Today was the first time we passed on a great grands birthday party in Mankato.  Charlee B’s mom is in the guards and there are a lot of kids invited for this 5th birthday party.  We will stop in another time when we are in town.

  After the first floor got tidied and a load of laundry was in the works, I headed to the studio.  Saturday’s  AM KNUJ radio has sports items on.  I went to FM Minnesota’s 100 for country music.

  The stashes were visited this last week and I have three combinations piled together.  There will be one with predominate green, one in burgundy and one in blue.  I am sticking with the log cabin pattern.  Dennis offered to cut fabric.  What could I say!  I chose the green batch.  With a brand new blade in the rotary cutter . . . why not?  My job was to line up for  2.5″ cuts.  Dennis cut two layers each time and with his strength plus the new blade, it didn’t take long he had 7 yards of 8 different colors cut in 2.5″ strips.  No mis-cuts in the bunch.

  I know that “jelly rolls” are very popular with quilters.  A variety of coordinating colors and prints rolled up cut in 2.5″ strips.  I do not know how many yards are included, but according to the price, I would hope a reasonable amount.

  I will be hiring Dennis again.  Even with a new blade, pressure is needed for clean cuts.

  Today Dennis’ grandson AJ was in town from Mankato.  AJ has done a lot for Dennis to hook up his television so he can watch channels from the Godahl tower, via putting up an antenna on the east side of the patio porch.  He configured good reception via a booster plugged in on one of the outlets in the kitchen.  Dennis has a Samsung Smart television that I had in the studio at the time we were getting cable television from Mediacom.  Dennis also has Hulu and YouTube choices.  AJ also configured the Samsung television in the living room with the same options.  We really appreciated all of AJ’s understanding of getting this set up for us.  The savings in ditching cable television every month was astounding.

  What I had AJ do was to bring me his Harley t-shirts he has been saving.  I will be making AJ a t-shirt quilt from his Harley shirts.  The barter system is alive and well.

   
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  Noreen 2:50 pm on February 16, 2023 Permalink  

  Glad Tidings 

  The surgeon in Mankato had put an order in for Dennis to see Dan Kern here in St. James.  Dan is a certified wound doctor.  This allows us to have someone keep an eye on the progress of Dennis’ left foot without a trip to Mankato.  We may still have those trips, but not nearly as often.

  Tonight Dennis will be able to sleep in bed without the huge heavy Velcro boot.  First night since January 11th.  The stipulation is that he cannot get up in the morning or during the night without having the boot on.  The foot is not yet ready for weight bearing.  Dennis and I shook on that.  I will gladly be rousted out of bed before my time to get us through this.  I always say “us” as we are in this together.  The wound still needs to be dressed every day as the steps we take to keep it clean and dry will serve us well.  It amazed me as I do this every day how much the bottom and other areas of Dennis’ foot sweats.  The gauze does wick it away and that needs to be changed every day.

  Dan commented that the photos he took told a much better story than what had been taken last month in Mankato.  Yippee!

  That was all I needed to hear this forenoon and Dennis’ bedding was stripped before twelve noon.  As hard as one might try, the corrugated sole of the boot was bound to have some grit caught in it.  Where were those darn Morning Doves when they were needed.  The south window was ready for them to tidy up the bottom sheet and get their share of grit.

  Dennis drove me to the grocery store after our clinic appointment.  I could not believe the ice that is everywhere.  The snowbanks glisten with a crust of ice that the sun needs to burn through.  Getting in and out of the vehicle I chose snow-covered footing.  Yup, when I stepped on it, the top crust cracked and the next person walking there will be on ice. 

  Spring will makes itself known just like in all the years past.  It is hard to be patient.

  Dennis has gone to the elevator and picked up the shell corn for the deer.  Their trails through our backyard had filled with rain when we had the inch of rain several days ago.  If I were younger and steady on my feet, I could slide for some distance within their trails.

   
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  Noreen 4:03 pm on February 13, 2023 Permalink  

  Furnace at Rest 

  It sure seems nice not to have the furnace noise.  I know this stage of resting will not last long.  We have a lot of winter left.

  We can’t have what is long past and long gone.  I think of a little house dog we had by the name of Sparky.  Sparky didn’t appreciate being left at home all day long while the rest of us went to our jobs and to school.  Sparky retaliated.  Carrie was so proud of her Nike red and while sport shoes.  She had babysat the Lyndale girls west of South Branch, saving for a pair of Nike sport shoes.

  We came home one weekday afternoon and there was crying and sobbing.  Sparky had chewed off the little thingie on the heel of Carrie’s shoes.  They had not been worn for too many days.  There was nothing to do but continue wearing them.  I can’t remember if Kevin had shoes that were ravages of Sparky as well.

  What makes me think of Sparky is that even with a shoe horn, that I do so need to get my shoes on, I would give anything not to have those thingies on my shoes.  With a shoe horn, the thingies do not want to pop out like they should and then I play heck getting my finger into the already tight shoe to release the thingie so the shoe feels as it should.  Hmm.

  Yesterday evening, Dennis got two large cottontails as they were enjoying some of the deer shell corn.  Today he aced two gray squirrels.  Those two squirrels did not make a dent in what we have.

  I did have a successful day in the studio.  The log cabin quilt top is totally done.  Tomorrow, it gets a press and then folded.  It sure did keep me occupied.  That’s a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 2:04 pm on January 23, 2023 Permalink  

  I Missed It 

  The news at noon said the sun had been out for a short time this forenoon, but I missed it.  I had gone into the studio and tidied up after the segment of putting zippers into the pant legs of several pair of Dennis’ pants.  There is a spot for everything and when everything is in its place . . . all goes so much better.  It is comparable to the tools needed in a repair shop.  If put back when finished with it . . . it will always be able to be found.

  My patient is doing well.  Last night when I dressed the incision, the wound was dry to the touch.  No stitches have been pulled out.  When I was done, there was plenty of padding for protection before setting the foot back in the boot and Velcroing it in.  No rubbing of any sort!  Dennis has been very cooperative.  This morning he asked if he could pick up Dwayne for coffee.  Dwayne no longer drives and was tickled to death.  They picked up coffee in the drive through and drove around the community.   No harm, no foul.  There was very little activity, other than stepping into the little red pickup and then stepping out again.

  This morning I checked out the picket fence.  Dennis thinks two bucks got into a tussle with one jumping the fence, getting its hoof caught.  The bucks have shed their antlers at this time of the year, so it was hard to tell who was what.  We are down one picket.  As luck would have it, we have an extra picket in the garage.  Plenty of time for a repair this spring. 

  Happy Monday everyone.

   
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  Noreen 2:51 pm on January 22, 2023 Permalink  

  Hmm! 

  Yesterday I thought was Sunday.  Hmm.  Basically, I do stay on track 99.9% of the time.

  Yesterday Dennis took my camera to the patio porch and Dennis did score a great photo of a deer feeding just on the other side of the sliding patio door.  I went out for a bit to see if more would be coming to join in for some shell corn.  

  I sent the photo to Megan, Nicholas and Kevin’s.  I received swift replies on all accounts.

  We came in about 4:30 thinking all the traffic on Stauffer Avenue had scared the deer away until after dark.  I was putting supper on at five and I glanced through the bathroom window.  Oh my gosh, talk about a feeding frenzy.  Dennis has decided he would try again this evening to see if a photo could capture a crowd of deer coming for corn.  

  The frost has been on the trees all day.  Though a wonderous sight, it does make me wonder if the frost and the fog has made the roadways a bit slick.

  I took a vacation day and have done squat.  I do have wound dressing to do before supper.  This will be ongoing for some time.  I cannot complain about doing it, as I am thrilled the patient is as good as he is.  I am not sure how many I could vouch for that might have gone through the same thing.

  Perhaps maybe tomorrow I will have a bit of spunk.

  I hope all is well wherever you are.

   
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  Noreen 3:28 pm on January 21, 2023 Permalink  

  Dark Sunday 

  How dark can the clouds make it?

  Dennis is on a mission.  He is sitting in his rocking chair in the patio porch with my cell phone, primed to capture a photo of the deer when they come to eat.  They come within two feet of the sliding patio doors.  Time will tell.

  We needed some protein for noon lunch.  A batch of egg salad sounded good to both of us.  I always make mine with a hefty amount of diced onions.  Good grief.  I had five white eggs and one brown egg to boil.  The white eggs were a pick here, a pick there to get the shells off.  Dastardly job.  The brown egg peeled in a heartbeat.  In the end it was all worth the effort. 

  I had planned on a visit to the studio.  Truth to tell, my hands were weary enough that I scrapped that idea.  For all the effort, it was tempting to go to the store for a container of herring, also good protein.

  We will be doing an encore of the oven meal for supper.  I just love leftovers.

   
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  Noreen 4:36 pm on January 19, 2023 Permalink  

  Wet Snow 

  The threats were made good.  We got about four inches.

  Yesterday, I had put salt down so the walk from our back door to the garage door would be free of ice.  It worked quickly and well.  This morning when I was going to clear a path from the house to the garage, the salt I had put down yesterday served me well as I could push the newly fallen snow off to the side and the bare concrete made the path safe.

  Grandson Ryan cleared the drive this afternoon with the skid loader.  He was able to push the alley snow far into the backyard.  He also talked to the fellow that grades the alley and it may be such a thing that that the next snowfall will be plowed to the south so the little red pickup door doesn’t get blocked.  It sure doesn’t hurt to ask.

  Today Dennis got to visit his patio porch for the first time since January 11th.  Dennis had a stool to put his foot up onto.  The kitties were very thrilled.  Short spurts outside, I am sure felt good.  The pain pills are no longer first and foremost.  That is a great thing.

  By all accounts, things are progressing well.  I will be back on board for dressing and wound changes.  I will be using Acetic acid to wash the incision.  It is vinegar and saline solution.  The strange thing is, a prescription is needed to pick it up.  I am sure my kitchen vinegar is not acceptable and then . . . how much to mix with the saline is another question.  The $5.00 for the quart bottle is doable.

  We are not sure what we are hungry for for supper.  It is up for discussion.