Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2022 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:15 pm on August 21, 2022 Permalink  

  Happy Sunday 

  It is Sunday and a bit warmish out.

  Never to mind as I had my outside work done by 10:30.  The bicycle peddling in my bedroom is the first item on the docket after a cup of coffee.  No, I am not steady enough to slurp while my feet are busy.  With my walking crutches I walked north towards the railroad tracks.  AJ adjusted them while I was in the house.  After a walk in the great outdoors, I realize they need to be made a bit taller by maybe one more notch.  Not to worry, I will nab someone to get that done.  Even AJ had a time getting the clips off for the adjustment.

  I took a cup of coffee with me as I headed to the Hosta to get more clover pulled up.  The dirt is muddy, but the clover pulls easily.  If I would stay out in the gardens for the full days like I used to, the oldest cat, Honey Bunny, would stay close by and play in the catnip.  As soon as my back tells me I need to pull up stakes, Honey Bunny is off across the yard to the vacant house to the east.  She has her hiding spot either in it, under it or by the stuff piled around the foundation.  She comes home every night as if she has a curfew.  Tomorrow morning, I will hit the clover again.  Some here, some there and at least some local effort is being accomplished. 

  The dew was heavy this morning.  Dennis had to wait until noon before he could begin mowing the acre.  Here it is, midafternoon and he has just finished for the day.  The yards look wonderful.  The rain was needed, and the grass knew to grow.

  Tonight, will be chicken tities, mashed potatoes and green beans for the yard’s keeper.  Dennis has earned a hot supper.

  I may cut a few more 2.5″ stripes of fabric before closing down the studio.  

  After I do Dennis’ foot dressing this evening, I think I will see about doing the dressing in such a fashion to allow him to try on a wide width shoe for the left foot.  I know he will know in short order if the pressure felt to too great of an extreme.  It doesn’t hurt to try. 

  Tomorrow is the beginning of a week for us older ones on Stauffer Avenue to have no appointments.  Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 1:20 pm on August 19, 2022 Permalink  

  Wonderful Rain 

  We received a wonderful rain last night.  It came down slow and steady.  Dennis could report this morning that we had 6/10ths.

  Once I had my morning routines done that included the exercise bike, I put on my old shoes.  The last thing I did before I left the house was to make sure the coffee pot stayed hot.  I knew I would enjoy a cup when I took a break from pulling up clover and weeds.  A good rain allows for roots and all to be gotten.

  As a few branches of the catnip were tweaked, Honey Bunny stayed right with me to enjoy that treat.  The lopper took care of a few Lilac branches that were always ready to whoop me in the head.  As big as around as my thumb I can take care of.  If there were larger ones, Dennis could do those when he came home from having coffee with the fellows.  I was able to have a pretty good sized pile of stuff before the FedEx truck had stopped near our front door.

  Taking my time, I got two boxes into the house.  I expected the delivery but I also knew I would not open them until I was totally done outside.  I got back to the clover and just like that a downpour came overhead.  I decided my gardening was done for the day.

  Both boxes were carried into the studio.  One box held a wireless Dell laptop, a Latitude 5520.  The second box was the wireless mouse.  I had kicked around getting a laptop for the studio ever since the Dell laptop I had purchased in 2007 up and left me.  I had called Dell and put out what was important on a new one.  I was accustomed to Windows 10 as the kids had given me an HP Pavilion in 2015. This laptop will have the ability to do an upgrade when the time comes.  No extra bells and whistles from Microsoft.  I very much liked the 15 inch on the HP and this also has it.  All I have done thus far today is unbox it and the mouse. . . and save the boxes until later. 

  No more loading a sewing design in the living room on the HP and making multiple trips up and down the basement steps when tweaking is needed.  Of course the HP was mobile, but I know myself well enough that I do not carry anything with me up and down the steep steps if I can avoid it.  If this Dell lasts me as long as the previous one, it will be sweet.  I can have access at a moments notice and not bother Dennis.

  What has also transpired in our home over time is that Dennis is prone to spending more time in the house and enjoys playing cribbage and other card games on the HP.  What better therapy than eye to hand brain function.  It beats sitting in the recliner and falling asleep.  The HP is set up so the eyes need to lift just a bit and the television can also be enjoyed.  As recent as yesterday Dennis had a physical at the VA clinic and had been given the comment that for his 86 years he is doing well and he functions well.  Music to my ears and I know it bodes well for Dennis to receive positive affirmations from the medical world as well as from me.

  While I was in the studio today, I have made decisions in regard to color pallets for two projects.  There is enough fabric for both double bed sized quilts to be made in the Log Cabin pattern.  I realize the double bed sized quilts may not be sufficient for many of today’s beds, bit it is large enough for covering and snuggling while watching . . . whatever.  I tucked everything else away and off of the church tables.  In time there will be 2.5 inch wide stripes cut.   

  The clouds are thick this afternoon.  More rain would be welcomed.

   
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  Noreen 12:32 pm on August 10, 2022 Permalink  

  Early Afternoon 

  I don’t usually write a post this early in the day.  It feels like I have put in a day thus far.

  Again with the garden shoes to tackle more of the volunteer clover amongst the perennials.  I pulled some by the roots, I hacked some out with a hoe.  I am gaining.  By nine this morning, my arms needed a rest.  I carried my harvest to the burning ring.  As I was heading into the house Dennis was headed to the back garage to check the tire pressure in the rider mower’s tires.  I had had my job planned and Dennis has his plan . . . also to pursue.  The acre will get mowed today.  Using the weed whip is not on my schedule today . . . I checked.

  The studio was also in my plan.  I was curious how a design was going to turn out.  When I had downloaded a design several days ago, I realized that a freebie had been included.  Curiosity got the better of me.  The freebie didn’t have the same amount of stitches as my choice had had.  Nonetheless, we tried it out.  Just as the design was finishing, Dennis visited the studio.  Hmm.

  Dennis’ nephew furnishes Dennis a phone so Dennis can run errands for him.  Dennis was due for a new flip phone.  No smart phone is needed for the ole cowboy.  Besides, who would teach him the ins and outs.  When Dennis took the new phone with his old phone to Radio Shack for the phone numbers to be transferred . . . no dice.  Dennis’ old phone was too old for that process to work.

  Now you all know why Dennis found his way to the studio.  I will manually load the numbers, but it is not going to be a rush, as at 12:30, I had a carpenter arriving looking at doing a job for us.  Nathen came. Nathen looked.  Nathen did not say “No.”  It is the same front door job that many before Nathen have looked at, but no one came back.  Time will tell.

  I did get six numbers loaded for Dennis and then decided to get an oven dish started that I could pop into the oven after my eye appointment at three.  I know by the time the eyes are dilated and such, it will be after four before I get home.  I also need to run one errand while I am out and about.  The phone job is on hold.  For the fellow that doesn’t carry his phone 99.9% of the time . . . the phone job is on hold.

   
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  Noreen 2:39 pm on August 8, 2022 Permalink  

  A Great Morning 

  When I realized the temps were in the 60s, I dug out my garden shoes.

  It has been a long time since the soil around the Hosta was wet enough that weeds could be pulled up by the root rather than breaking off.  As I made piles of clover and sand burr plants, Dennis got them to the burn ring to dry out.  

  A year ago I put pavers around our giant Maple and Dennis filled it in for a heightened flower bed.  It was great not having to bend over and just stand next to it to tackle the weeds.  When it came time to get up onto the flower bed next to the tree trunk, that’s where the choice culprits were, Dennis was standing behind me to give a bit of a heft for me to get up the twelve inches next to the trunk of the Maple.  Success.  Dennis was right there when it was time to descend safely.

  If I had had more physical power than my want power, I could have tackled a bunch more at the ground level.  I settled on taking out all of the Bleeding Heart stalks that were spent.  The pile of greenery to dry out is quite high.

  I know I have spent my abilities when my left foot begins to turn in.  My body has its way of shutting me down when I am too stubborn to acknowledge the smaller hints.

  I have begun stitching out an embroidery design in the studio.  When I realized my bobbin was about empty, I decided on taking a break to fill some bobbins and to also come to the first floor to see what the mail person left.

  With that being said, my blog post has now been completed and I am heading to the studio to push that little green button and work towards finishing that design.  Shutting down the process completely is a shot in the dark, on having everything remain aligned when the sewing machine is powered back up.

  We are having leftovers for supper.  Yippee!

   
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  Noreen 1:27 pm on August 1, 2022 Permalink  

  A Satisfying Day 

  When my body gets me up for a potty call at 3:30 in the morning, there is the small chance that sleep may not return.  That is what happened to me this morning.  I didn’t feel isolated as there were some birds up just as early as me.

  I waited until five before I started the coffee pot.  My plan for this Monday was to strip both beds and let the laundry begin.  The laundry did began with my bedding while the coffee perked.  I looked outside and noticed the flag had gotten wrapped around the holder.  With shoes slipped on, the red, white and blue billowed in the morning’s breeze.  Hmm.  I walked up and down the drive several times.  The air was great.  Checking out the Russian Sage up close and personnel was a treat as the bees were not up yet.  By that time there was a bit more traffic.  I made one more whip up and down the drive and decided me and my bathrobe were due back in the house for a cup of coffee.  I didn’t need anyone phoning in a welfare check for the Grammie out in her nightwear.  I took the coffee out to my bedroom porch and watched traffic until it was light enough outside that I could read without turning on a light.  I was bidding my time to put on hold the Monday’s laundry.

  No. I didn’t whip the bedding right off of the slumbering ole cowboy.  I  gave Dennis a chance to sleep until he awoke naturally.  When he headed out to the patio porch with his coffee, I had his bedding next to the laundry before he had one sip taken from his cup.  Sweet.

  I piled up fresh bedding as the clothes dryer cranked it out.  Our small vacuum has a lot of power and a super long hose.  I began vacuuming in my bedroom porch and didn’t quit until the steps down into the studio were done.  Ready or not, the dust bunnies were hunted down.

  By the time Dennis and I sat down for a noon bite . . . the beds were dressed and the floors were done.  While I was doing the Merry Maid stint in the house, Dennis had been trimming back the Snow Ball shrub in the backyard.  We both had had a great satisfying morning, and . . . we called it.  “Done for the Day.”

  Sure enough.  After five days the head cold has subsided.

  I have had a pan sized pizza in the freezer for some time.  Tonight is my night.  Dennis is having Progressive soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.  Both of us will be happy.  Where did Dennis grow up that he doesn’t like pizza?

   
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  Noreen 1:27 pm on July 25, 2022 Permalink  

  A 55 Degree Morning 

  Waking to a 55 degree morning felt wonderful.

  I made sure I had breakfast and went in search of my weed trimmer.  Dennis had done a great job on the mowing yesterday.  He had trimmed as close as possible with the rider mower.  I knew if I followed behind him, the yard would stay kempt until we got rain.  We are dry.

  Two of the patio kitties followed me to the east end of the acre.  After I would trim an area, they checked it out for any possible critters.  I will try and keep the Hosta area as trimmed as possible on the off chance any of Dennis’ family decide to come and do a dig.

  As I trimmed, Dennis brushed off cotton seed from the AC unit of the house.  The cotton seed from the neighbor’s Cottonwood tree has been flying for weeks.  It clings to AC units and also the radiator of the rider mower.  The brushing was foll0wed by a gentle wash with the hose.  The last thing that would be needed is harsh spraying that would close the fins, causing the AC to freeze rather than cool.

  I wanted to get a photo of the Russian Sage under the southeast windows of my porch bedroom.  I love the blooms and also the smell.  The pollinators are getting their fill as well.  Megan clued me in as to what would work best in that soil and that spot.  The sage fills in to the point that weeds don’t stand a chance.

  I worked myself weary.  Dennis and I shared a noon lunch with each of us ready for some down time for the afternoon.

  Manhandling the weed whip with the arms is one thing.  Keeping a finger on the safety switch while keeping it engaged is another.  No studio time today.

  Tomorrow Dennis will have an angioplasty on his left leg.  Dr. Gio is going to use a stint that has just been approved.  It has medication emitting from it.  Dr. Gio has assured Dennis that it will be the last of such procedures for him.  Hoping for the best for my ole cowboy.

   
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  Noreen 1:44 pm on July 13, 2022 Permalink  

  Sweet Day 

  This is a day that would bare repeating.  But the forecast is for more July heat and temps.

  I checked the cicada wasps out this forenoon.  Though their holes are plugged with mothballs, I observed them feasting on the yellow lilies’ stamens.  Hmm.  Perhaps when the blooms are spent and no longer offer goodies, maybe the wasps will disappear.  Just the smell and fumes of the mothballs should render the eggs of the wasps infertile.

  In the first part of June as I was transplanting Hosta from the east portion of the acre, I noticed wasps on the Hackberry tree where a limb had broken off.  There was a huge swarm.  Neighbor Jan came over and she had an app to take a photo of them and then find out what they were.  They were elongated and had transparent iridescent wings.  Those wasps were Ichneumonid wasps that parasitized horntails in decaying wood.  Who knew?

  I tell you . . . there is plenty that keeps me from being outside.  When I am outside, I keep an eye out for icky, yucky bugs.

  Snuggles and I did get a bit of clover pulled up around some of the Hosta.  The clover had made wreaths around the Hosta.  I chose several Hosta to get done and then . . . the black flies were biting.  Of course I did get a few catnip sprigs crimped for the kitties.  I then headed inside.

  Within our small home we have no carpeting.  The Swiffer dry mop does the trick for lint, etc.  Dennis is my major dishwasher and the drip line from the kitchen counters to the floor was evident that I needed to tidy up the floor.  With the skylight that Kevin put into our kitchen ceiling in times past, nothing gets passed what my eye can spy.  I plunked the two lightweight kitchen rugs into the washing machine and proceeded to use the Swiffer floor wet wipes on the bathroom and kitchen floors.  They do have a nice aroma.

  With the weeding and the mopping, I am calling it for “local effort.”  The studio is tempting.  The next step in the scrappy quilt is securing all three layers.  My hands and arms are not up for the barrage of safety pins needed to get the job done today.  There will be another day.

  Tomorrow is not that day as the stitchers are finally getting together at Baker’s Square for lunch tomorrow.  Summer schedules has taken its toll.  Of course, Dennis has several requests while I will be out and about. 

  It is a truly wonderful weather day.

   
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  Noreen 2:40 pm on July 9, 2022 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  Last night I got an unexpected text.

  Linda is the gal in charge of the mission quilting in the First Lutheran Church.  Linda picked up the bolts of cotton/poly just about a week and a half ago.  She reported that the gal in charge of making up the backing of their quilts had 42 backs ready for the pieced tops and batting from the bolts of cotton/poly.  Wow.  Linda is in charge of cutting all of their donated fabric into 10.5″ squares.  Linda has a set number of those cuttings that she bags up and the troops that are working on the quilts take home a bag or two and get them sewn together ready as the tops of the quilt.  What an operation.

  Any how . . . the text was telling me that they would use the DMC floss that I had offered to tie their quilts.  They had been using yarn and some of the ladies had commented on the difficulty getting the knots tight.  The troop under Linda does not qualify for spring chickens.  Linda herself is a 70 year young retired teacher.

  This morning armed with breakfast coffee and my box of gallon Ziploc bags, I began bagging up floss by colors.  Each of the DMC drawers have a divider for 12 different colors.  I think when Dennis came down and checked on me, I had 11 gallon bags stuffed to the brink.  When I shared with him the color chart of DMC floss colors, he could not believe the slightest variant in color that would spur a use for one of the twelve dividers in the drawer.  I put hues of each color together in the various bags.

  Dennis got the remaining of the acre mowed today.  It sure looks manicured.  He has the touch!  When he came in for the Dawn to put in his scrub pail, I was curious.  The city puts down a layer of calcium chloride for dust control on Stauffer Avenue.  It is the nastiest stuff to drag into the garage.  It literally will make a liquid puddle on the garage floor.  The city did this about two weeks ago and it had begun to be packed down on the avenue with the traffic.  Today Dennis scrubbed down his garage floor and then hosed it off, hoping for less muck that will find its way into the garage.

  We do seem to keep busy for two old duffers.  I am excited to be parring down the inventory in the studio.  As I had the baggies of floss lined up on the ironing board, I decided to get out several garbage bags.  I went through totes that held fabric from family of friends that had donated fabric to me.  I have decided not to be a depository.  This group of church ladies making quilts for charity will have some additional yardage to use.  As I checked things over in the studio, what I now have for choices in my stashes is what I had chosen to purchase.  Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 3:47 pm on July 8, 2022 Permalink  

  Neck and Neck 

   

  When the humidity and dew point are neck and neck . . . not a good level of comfort.

  Today I was in for a yearly check in with our family doctor.  I had not been a frequent visitor these last twelve months.  I knew I should have had a mammogram in March of 2021.  I was a little busy at the time trying to understand my body after the stroke.  Well, here comes March of 2022 . . . what excuse did I have for that? 

  Even with the healed incision of the heart surgery, the mammogram was a bit uncomfortable.  It gets quite tight.  Got it done today.

  Blood draws will be telling the rest of the story as to what changes will be coming with prescriptions.  I only take one for blood pressure . . . but time will tell.

  In regard to our internet situation . . . I am so over it.  I do have a life.  We have a service man coming on Monday morning to help with the wi-fi.  Dennis and I are using the lap top with the ethernet cable.  I checked our bank activity, paid several bills online and Dennis got to get caught up with his facebook contacts.  Dennis’ porch television is taking in two different channel 12 options from his mini antenna.  We ran through the channels available and it looks like there are quite a few.  Accessing them with the remote is another challenge.  How much sweeter could life be?  Grandson AJ will stop in tomorrow and help out with the porch channels. 

  Dennis mowed 75% of the acre today.  I think he was smart to save some for tomorrow.   By the time exhaustion sets, it is too late to take a break.  Our front yard will be mowed tomorrow.  Right now the cotton seed floating in the air from our far away neighbors, is giving the grass a look of having little snowballs. 

  Whatever we have in the refrig is going to be pulled out for a supper.  Just like in a restaurant, you have choices.  

  Well it has been several hours since the lab work for me.  I am going to access the MAYO Portal and see how things are and how they have changed since last year.

   
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  Noreen 5:39 pm on July 7, 2022 Permalink  

  Back Online 

  Back online via the ethernet cable.  One cable port, one device . . . for now.  Thankful for Kersten and Kevin and their input via the need of us having to have a new modem and wi-fi router.  Good grief.  Old folks do need to step it up and keep up.

  I was doing well with the Net Gear site and having a support person wanting to speak to me.  Nope!  It was a Pakistanian and I knew what rabbit hole that was going down.  I was caught once years ago.  I immediately blocked the number.  There are many videos on YouTube and tomorrow is another day. 

  Dennis bought an antenna for a set in the patio porch to get reception off of the REA tower eight miles north of us.  As long as I could use my laptop, I copied down the channel numbers for him.  We did scan all numbers available via the TV.  The number system they use is numerical followed by a dot and a second number.  That also is for tomorrow.

  Today’s doctor appointment for Dennis had good news and some news for thought.  The incision is healed with a lot of new fresh pink skin.  Very susceptible to rubbing . . . it is still dressing time every other night.  July 26th Dennis will have one more and the last of the angioplasties.  One vein has narrowed and a stint will be put in that.  Dennis never gave it a second thought.  “Get it on the schedule.”

  With having 1.5 inches of rain Tuesday night, the acre will need some TLC tomorrow.  Just think of the gas that has been saved over the last three weeks when it had a sabbatical.   

  Tomorrow I will be having my yearly appointment with our family doctor.  I know I need some checks and balances on my heart, but . . . I don’t even have a cardiologist.  That will get fixed in short order tomorrow.

  Supper is on hold tonight as we enjoyed chicken tenders at Culver’s this afternoon.  They sure were tender and tasty.

  Take care in the July temps.  They can be corkers.