Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from September, 2022 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 12:54 pm on September 5, 2022 Permalink  

  Another Day 

  This day was another day as we had had yesterday.  Yesterday Dennis and I had our two wheel trailer loaded for the tree dump.  This at one time was a carrier for a plexiglass boat of some kind that Kevin had run across.  Dennis ditched the boat and put a good steel base on the running gear.  It sure has come in handy.

  That trailer is now on the end of our drive until tomorrow afternoon when it goes out to be emptied at the tree dump.  Dennis went to the east end of the acre and hooked onto a trailer that belongs to his friend Dwayne.  It is one heavy implement trailer.  We used it a year ago when we helped Kevin and Kersten amass pallets for their shop’s stove.  Dennis parked the trailer in the drive and slowly but surely us two old timers loaded up the rest of what had been cut down yesterday.  Dennis pulled the trailer into the backyard and it will also be ready for the tree dump ride tomorrow.  Each trip to the tree dump costs $1.00.  The city does have a fellow at the gate to make sure it is used for what it was intended for.  Not a bad idea.

  I got my trustee 6″ rake out and cleaned up all the small branches off of the dirt adjacent to the patio.  We filled a plastic bin and topped off one of the trailers with it.  Once Dennis had used the leaf blower to move the sawdust off the patio, it felt like us again.  Tidy, tidy.

  I admit, Dennis and I had a Tylenol break about ten this forenoon with some soda crackers.  I don’t believe in taking any kind of med without some kind of food.  Crackers count.  Neither one of us did anything to hurt ourselves.  It had just been two very busy “muscle using” days.  We do seem to stay busy and don’t understand when friends our ages say they are bored.  Only boring people get bored.

  I don’t have the heart for any studio time this afternoon.  If anything, I will enjoy sitting in my west bedroom porch and read a bit.  Watching traffic may also be indulged.

  What a sweet project off of our list of things we had thought needed doing.  Be careful what you wish for . . . you just might get it.

   
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  Noreen 12:12 pm on September 4, 2022 Permalink  

  A Day 

  Yes, it is only 12:34 pm, but it feels like Dennis and I have had a full day.

  In passing, we had mentioned to Dennis’ son-in-law that we had some branches that needed trimming.  “No hurry.”  Tom had been cooped up after a surgical procedure and he now had the word that there were no restrictions.  Wow!  Tom has a Husqvarna chainsaw that is his favorite toy. 

  At 6:45 the doorbell was going off.  Tom was on the patio porch waiting for us to get out of bed.  Dennis is quicker at getting dressed than I am.  Dennis put Tom off long enough to get a bite of breakfast down, so he could get his meds taken.

  The first stop for trimming was the east end of the acre where a Black Walnut tree that was planted by a squirrel, now stands at 25′.  It’s hard to mow when low branches insist on knocking off a cap.  By the grace of God, the fellows were slowly moving up towards the buildings as a maple shrub had a dead limb.  This was all giving me a chance to be dressed by the time Tom and Dennis reached the patio.

  The lilacs north of the patio are ancient.  Some needed to be put out of their misery.  From the bathroom window I could see which were baring ends showing nothing but dead leaves and branches.  Tom lit into them like a man that has one speed.  Just like that Tom and his chainsaw were on to the next customer by 9:30.  Dennis and I just looked at each other.  What the hell just happened!

  Dennis and I needed time to sit on the patio to have our coffee and the remainder of a breakfast.  At a slow pace Dennis got a trailer behind the little red pickup and he and I began loading from the east end of the acre where cleanup was needed, moving towards the buildings.  By the time we did get to the garage, the trailer was full and we tied the limbs and branches down.  It being a holiday weekend, they will stay loaded until Tuesday and we will fill it up with lilac limbs and branches.

  What my initial plan was for the day was to fix an oops with my sewing from yesterday afternoon.  Remember me commenting on getting a new Gingher scissors?  I had the latest fabric strip that had been sewn on, still folded over and not even pressed flat yet.  With scissor in hand poised to cut two blocks apart, I heard a loud door slam and the hand jumped and closed.  Yup.  The scissor sliced through the 2.5″ width.  Unfolding the area now makes for a 5″ width repair.  This afternoon with ample breakfast coffee at my elbow as I cool down from the tree trimming, I will pull out my arsenals of repair ideas and supplies.  This block will be saved to be completed.  I know when all is said and sewn together, it will not be the focal point of the purple log cabin quilt.

  Dennis is in his recliner for a well deserved nap.  I have all the time in the world with many deep breaths . . . this too shall pass.

   
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  Noreen 2:21 pm on September 2, 2022 Permalink  

  Playing Around 

  Today it was time to play around with photos and my newly acquired Dell laptop and the photo options.  Though this unit is also a Windows 10, there are significant differences.  It has been a huge help having the HP in the living room to bounce things off of.  I have the photo reduced to the correct size for the blog but still need to work on setting up a new file for which all blog photos will be saved into.  Learning new things keeps the cobwebs at bay . . . I can only hope that rings true.  I snapped a photo of the living room which is now a bit crowded after the teak rocking chair came back into the picture.  I have emails out to Dennis’ grandsons if they are in need of their Grandma Curry’s chairs for their basement rec rooms.

  I knew once I had my walk in, I may not be going back outside again.  Each day with my walking crutches, I am venturing a bit farther to the east.  I do have to be careful as the return trip will have to be made.  Am I as active as others of my similar age?  I don’t know, I don’t ask nosy questions of others.  That question would not have even crossed my mind if it had not been a question on a medical survey that came in the mail today.

  The medical survey was in regard to the fact that June 15th of this year was the one year anniversary of my heart surgery.  I felt compelled to fill in the responses that were asked of me.  I think I am doing well.  Do I have the same energy level prior to the stroke and surgery . . . no.  I am smart enough to go to bed when the weariness hits.  I might stretch it a bit beyond nine in the evening, but I can tell I begin to feel wobbly.  My body does not lie to me.  For the longest time I felt leery of getting up during the night to visit the bathroom.  After all, it was when I got up during the night in February of 2021 that I had the stroke.  As I use my cane for stability, I have since let that fright go.

  Dennis came in at noon and he has all of the five gallon pails of branches emptied.  It was dry enough that as he emptied them into the burning ring, it made short work of it all.  The larger branches we will have to load and take them to the tree dump at some time.

  I stitched on the log cabin blocks until the back told me to close it all down.  Again, the body does not lie.  Once the aches really start to smart, it takes too long to recover. 

  This is the beginning of the long Labor Day weekend.  KNUJ reports it officially begins at six this evening.  Whatever!  Our school here begins the day after.  Dennis and I will let others hit the highways or parks.  We prefer our Stauffer Avenue.

  My hope is that my worker bee kids will kick back a bit and realize that they need some rejuvenation to keep the balance in their routines.

  I will continue playing around with the studio’s laptop.

   
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  Noreen 1:58 pm on August 30, 2022 Permalink  

  Quiet Life 

  Dennis and I got through cleaning up after the summer’s storm of Saturday.  Today, I was ready for my quiet life.  Dennis opted to pick up his friend Dwayne and they motored to McDonalds.  This is one of the healthiest things for my ole cowboy to do.  He is not sitting in his recliner vegging out in front of a television and he is not napping his days away.

  I did get laundry going and in between loads, my favorite chair on the patio beckoned me.  The birds in the lilacs were in abundance.  Something would startle them and they all would take off.  The sound of that many fluttering wings was impressive.  Snuggles was busy waiting out a little red squirrel.  Surprisingly he had caught quite a few over the summer months.

  Dennis got home about noon and after we got caught up with each other, I told him if he needed me I would be in the studio.  Dennis went on to tackle whatever dishes were in the sink.  I am in charge of laundry and Dennis does a bang up job on the dishes.

  We do have an appointment in Mankato tomorrow morning.  Time will tell what Renee, the wound doctor, will have to say.  I have ceased the bales of gauze in dressing Dennis’ foot.  I have had a very personal connection with this foot since October of 2020.  The incision site where the large toe and metatarsal bone have been removed is well healed.  This last spot is on the side of the little toe on the same foot.  I have been using the recommended items for controlling infections.  For Dennis to be walking with foot gear being the same on both feet, he said it felt wonderful.  It has to be better on his back, hips and knees.  The medical boot is clumsy with a sole that is quite thick, thus the steps when walking are uneven.  When Renee sees the adhesive covering I have been using on this wound that is now the size of a well worn nickel . . . Dennis and I have agreed we will go from there.  Worst case being is that we need to stop at the Mayo Store for more gauze.

  I am going to spend some time pressing seams from the last strip sewn onto the ever growing log cabin quilt blocks.  Yes . . . my quiet life.

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on August 29, 2022 Permalink  

  Weary Bones 

  I am not ashamed to admit it . . . today I have weary bones.  The acre was walked with five gallon pails and my picker.  The storm of Saturday night sure cleaned house among the tree’s branches.  I cleared one area at a time to allow Dennis to mow grass rather than branches.  It was a team effort and now the team is weary.  As our little fire ring burns itself down to the bottom, Dennis will add one pail of branches at a time and soon the pails will end up back in the potting shed.

  There was a great breeze and taking breaks on the patio could almost lull me into a nap.  Oh for that hammock back on the farm between the two cottonwood trees.  It was just the best place for my toddlers to be placed into after they had fallen asleep while on my lap as I mowed the yard.  Just the best memories ever!  In today’s world it would have been deemed unsafe due to the noise or the fact that there was no safety belt.  

  I took my weary bones down into the studio.  A change of pace does the trick when the thought of closing down for the day is niggling at the back of the brain.  I am picking away at my log cabin blocks.  All is going well.  By following the printed instructions, I do believe that there will not be any trimming needed.  Taking it slow and using lots of pins for total stabilization, this Grammie is learning a thing or two.  The pattern did have the byline of “Quilt in a Day.” I won’t even try and keep track of how many days this will entail for me.  

  I know later on, a shower will be the frosting on the cake for the day.  I already have the supplies laid out to dress Dennis’ foot after he has his shower.  

  I might be weary, but . . . a good bit of local effort was accomplished.

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on August 28, 2022 Permalink  

  A Whirlwind 

  Last night about seven we had a wind that whirled.  The patio umbrella had been lowered earlier in the afternoon.  We always have a heavy rock sitting on its cast iron base as an anchor.  In a flying second that was literally down being tipped over.  A good sized branch snapped off of the sugar maple and landed on the back patio.  I was in the house watching it all through the bathroom window.  Dennis was in the patio porch getting a very close view of it all.

  The wind whipped and tore with driving rain.  It may not have lasted long but it did do a fair amount of limb and branch damage.  Once we were down to rain falling, Dennis came in for the night.  He had had enough as did the porch kitties.

  I waited until this morning to view the backyard.  Breakfast was the first order of business.  With my yard shoes and cane in hand I went to the farthest branch damage, the east line of the acre.  With using one of the limbs as a hammock, I kept coming west, piling on smaller branches.  Dennis would meet me at the potting shed and begin building a pile.  I made five more trips while Dennis picked up the dead wood that had blown down from on high.  I would not have liked being underneath one of them, as the momentum from on high could have been fatal.  Amazing that they had hid out for so long without us seeing them.

  We may very well have continued with yard work, but I received a text that we were getting company.  My cousin Mark lives near Hastings with family ties in Jackson.  Mark and Tammy had been in Jackson for the weekend and would be stopping by on their way home.  Heck yes, I will put off yard work.  

  We had a great time catching up.  Mark’s dad and my dad were brothers.  Mark works for an industrial printing company. 

  The sun is out this late afternoon with a bit of humidity.

  Tomorrow is another day.  The day will bring a lot of cleaning up of branches and leaf tips.  Enough that it will count as good exercise and the walking crutches will be for another day.  I will be slow and steady . . .  no whirlwind of activity from me.  Besides . . . Stauffer Avenue is really mucky after the heavy rain.

  I am so very thankful that we have leftovers from Dennis’ oven dish of last night.

   
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  Noreen 1:10 pm on August 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Felt Wonderful 

  My walk this morning felt wonderful.  There was a strong breeze from the north with enough cloud cover I didn’t have to walk against the sun.  Stauffer Avenue does run east to west.  I feel safer on it than I do the cemented 11th Street with all the heavy truck traffic.  I tried it once last week and will remain on Stauffer Avenue.  There is a four-way stop north of us, less than 300′, but the need for speed . . . I won’t take a chance of falling off my walking crutches if I were to be startled.

  The cottonwood trees are letting go of their leaves, making the ground take on a sheen from their unique leaves.  As they rustle in the breeze they take on a tune all of their own.

  As I walked east I had to give out a “Hello” to the Hispanic fellow working on his garage.  He was kind enough to take all the extra bricks that we had accumulated as flower bed borders.  Those same bricks are now a part of his exterior to their home. 

  When I came back from my walk, Dennis was in the kitchen.  I was told he would be making an oven dish for supper.  Get out of the man’s way!  It is best that I give Dennis the space and time he needs.  I know if he would need me, I would answer the question that he posed to me and then hands off.  Who am I to question this.  I will take it any day of the week.  Besides . . . he washes the dishes that he used after the round blue speckled enamel roaster is perched on top of the kitchen range ready to pop in the oven at 350 degrees at 4:45.  The digital thermometer was also laid out to make sure it would be done when it hit 160 degrees.  Sweet! 

  In between being busy in the studio and taking breaks reading a few chapters in a novel that has really gotten spellbinding . . . I am having a very fine day.

  Happy, happy weekend!

   
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  Noreen 2:17 pm on August 24, 2022 Permalink  

  Hump Day 

  After today, whatever weeds and clover did not get whacked out with my hoe and rake will get a bit of a spritz with Roundup.  I do know that Roundup is taken in at the surface and travels to the root.  Caution is needed.  I will not be encouraging Dennis to use it.

  Dennis has all he can do to keep the wasp nests at bay.  The favorite place for them to begin nests is in the shelter of our patio umbrella.  I thought it was just our yard.  Not!  I happened to look out of our east bathroom window and took in quite the dance.  Two doors south of us, Mong had spray can in hand and was trying to take the wasps out while they were in flight.  I watched long enough to see him knock down three nests from the eaves of his storage sheds.  The flying wasps were not happy.

  When I came in the house this forenoon, Dennis volunteered to clean my garden shoes.  What a fellow.  Though the ground has gotten hard enough to make weed pulling difficult, thus the Roundup spray, the soil is still ready to stick to shoes big time

  Stauffer Avenue is a gravel alley.  It gets enough use that the city applies dust control.  That happened on Monday.  It is the messiest liquid stuff ever.  For a week or so, Dennis will be using the car for errands.  The pickup backs out onto Stauffer Avenue and the tires will then drag the liquid creosote into and onto the garage floor on the return trip.  It will literally leave puddles on the floor.  I won’t be using my walking crutches on Stauffer for awhile.

  The studio and I were not in harmony today.  The 1/4″ seam allowance was eluding me and could not to be attained consistently.  Try, try again another day.  I hear a book calling me from my bedroom porch.

  Today is not only hump day, it is my day to dig out the alcohol wipes as Dennis just came in with wasp stings on his neck.

   
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  Noreen 1:29 pm on August 23, 2022 Permalink  

  A Summer Day 

  There’s a bit of a summer feel outside.  I was glad to have my outside work done by 10:30.  Dennis continues piling up the vegetation as I get it out of the Hosta.  Who knew we would get rain overnight!  His pile to purge and burn will have to wait a bit longer to dry out.  With the acre mowed and us making strides on weeds and clover . . . it is looking . . . sweet.

  Both of the beds have fresh bedding on for tonight’s slumber.  I think linen closets are a thing of the past.  The beds are stripped, the washer and dryer do their thing and it is back onto the bed.  A very good thing.

  The car has new tabs on it going forward into 2033.  It’s best to do it when the notice comes in the mail.  Why take a chance of forgetting.

  The house directly south of us has been vacated and it is the house that needed to be cleaned out to the tune of three huge roll-off dumpsters.  The property has been sold and the new owners have not decided if they will fix it up to rent or if they will make it their home.  Very nice people.  After the three roll-offs, I am surprised that there is still a pile of discarded items coming out of the house.  I am not surprised that after night settles in, the scroungers are rearranging the pile.

  The day is drawing neigh and I am feeling it.  Tomorrow is a new day and I will be up for taking it in.

   
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  Noreen 1:58 pm on August 22, 2022 Permalink  

  Laundry Monday 

  Laundry indeed!  Three good sized loads and for a short time the basket is empty.  Nothing feels better than putting on clean clothes.  Tomorrow will be bedding laundry, another great feeling to get done.

  My morning routine is one that I like.  Peddling the bike and then on to a walk down Stauffer Avenue.  Out came the garden tools as I was going to lob out a bit more clover under the Hosta.  What?  Not a patio porch kitty in site.  The end result was more greenery to dry out for it to then be burned.  The clover patch is getting less.  As long as the soil remains damp so I can work the hoe, we may get to the end of it.  This time of the year, the weeds aren’t apt to try one more growth spurt.

  Dennis and friend Dwayne were on a road trip this morning.  The 2022 Heston belt buckles are out.  Miller-Sellner in Sleepy Eye handles them.  Dennis’ collection was started at the very beginning in 1974.  It would be silly to stop picking up each year’s buckle after all this time.  I knew I wouldn’t see Dennis until noon, if then.

  I enjoyed a cup of coffee while cooling off from the clover weeding.  I had worked up a good sweat and reading for a bit while enjoying the coffee fit just right.

  Dennis got home after one.  He and Dwayne stopped at LaSalle and had noon lunch.  He let me know that supper would be light if non-existent.  A half portion of a beef commercial plus a piece of strawberry pie can do that to the appetite.  

  I now have enough fabric cut for sewing up two quilt tops in the Log Cabin pattern.  Using the rotary cutting tool, it is best if I cool it for the remainder of the day.  Stopping the use of the hands and arms when it begins to ache . . . it’s too late, the damage has already been done.  I have a booklet from mom, Lena, that is called Quilt in a Day.  When I do start sewing, I may well follow her step by step instructions, rather than doing the willy nilly of times past.  Reading “the rest of the story” is a good idea before beginning.  Read twice . . . stitch once.