Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2022 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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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.

   
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  Noreen 1:19 pm on July 2, 2022 Permalink  

  Stitching Right Along 

  It was a six in the morning cup of coffee for me.  The three kitties and I walked the acre to check things out.  In places the grass crunched under foot.

  Dennis’ nephew from Windom stopped in for a visit and by nine, I left the fellows to talk shop and I went in and down to the studio.

  I have been stitching on a quilt top called “A Long Time Ago.”  I haven’t rushed at it.  In early spring I was busy transplanting Hosta and then doing some stitching in the afternoons.

  On a side note . . . I so enjoyed the cool temps to be out getting my fingernails dirty.  That was the ultimate for me.  Since the temps have climbed and bugs are out, I am not outside other than in the mornings.

  Back to stitching.  All of the various blocks in this pattern have been sewn.  Blocks today were then sewn together to make up quarters and then into halves of the quilt top.  Dennis would check on me from time to time and give moral support.  So many 1/4 inch seams to match up.  So many seams to press.  So many 1/4 inch seams to press open to make less bulk, without burning the fingers.

  This mid afternoon it was time.  It was time to lay, with the right sides of the project, bringing both halves together.  In my head I was doing a drum roll.  Over the course of months and eyeballing the 1/4 inch seam allowance, how much would I have to fudge to make this union work?  The grid for the top of the church tables that Kevin and Kersten got for me has been priceless.  Laying things out on it for the common good, leaves little to the imagination.  Armed with pins, I pinned each end and worked towards the middle.  I was astounded.  Both lengths of the halves were joined in perfect harmony.   

  That was it!  I shut everything down for the day.  I had achieved my ultimate goal which has been in the works for several months.  When next I return to the studio, the two halves will become one.   A border of 4″ will be sewn on all four sides making for approximately 64″ x 64″.  The folksy orange flowered print that was used in joining blocks as it was called for in the pattern, will also be used in the border as well as the backing.  I knew I had saved this yardage of Mom’s for the perfect project.

  I let Dennis know we now would be going on a road date to Bird Island in the near future.  My gift certificate that has been waiting for me will be used in part for the batting of “A Long Time Ago.”   It will be the prime time to have lunch at the Athman’s Café.

  I have had a great rewarding Saturday.

  Be well my family and friends.  Be kind to yourselves and each other this long weekend.

   
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  Noreen 2:32 pm on July 1, 2022 Permalink  

  A Wonderful Friday 

  Could we please have more days such as this during July?  Cool enough in the early morning to sit on the patio and enjoy coffee before any bugs found me. 

  The patio kitties found the catnip I had crimped the stem of to allow the aroma to waft that would entice them.  If the stem is not broken or crimped, they would and do walk right past it. 

  We have not mowed our acre for two weeks.  I am surprised that Dennis has not heard the whisper of the dew on the grass blades calling him.  I think letting it mellow out in the dry conditions is good.  Over the years, there have been many varieties of grass seed spread over the acre.  KNUJ reported that in the month of June, our area has had a mere .68 inches of rain.  The hot winds pretty much took care of sucking that up.

  Neighbor Jan is busy watering her newly planted flowers every day that she purchased this spring.  She has a red watering can with a sprinkle spout on it.  All of our perennials are well established and are doing well as is.  Once the water regime begins, it can’t be halted as the roots have become trained to rise to the service level for a drink.  We had two inches in the last measurable rain in May.  

  After the mailman had been here, Dennis came down to where I was in the studio.  He had a thankyou card in his hand from Megan.  Megan was thanking us for coming to her graduation party and the gift that she would be using towards college expenses.  Grandpa Dennis didn’t think it was fair that she was growing up.  How quickly we forget the wonderful times we have had of her staying with us before she could even talk, right up until her sixteenth birthday.  Super sweet memories that no one can take from us.  I am quite sure more will follow.  

  I will appease “Grandpa Dense”, (Megan couldn’t get the second syllable out when she first began talking), with some twice baked potatoes and chicken titties for supper.

   
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  Noreen 1:33 pm on June 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Great Visit 

  Today I had a great visit from acquaintance, Linda.  Years ago we worked together on a quilt that we then raffled off to help a mother and wife that was going through a lot of medical things.

  Earlier this year we ran into Linda in Culver’s.  I commented that I had not seen any new stitching from her on Facebook.  Linda is now the head of the missionary quilting in her church and has taken a backseat from her own project.  All their quilts are headed to Lutheran World Relief.  

  That took me back to the times that Lena did a lot of quilting for missions.  Lutheran World Relief had offices in Willmar.  If the church ladies had all of their finished quilts delivered to them by a deadline, they were then shipped off to ports unknown.

  Today Linda picked up all the bolts of fabric that I had been holding for her, until such time that her ladies were ready to get the quilting season going.  The many full bolts of poly/cotton will be earmarked for the backs of the quilts.  One seam and the backing would be ready rather than multiple piecing.  Just as large of a stack was various flannel prints with which to make youth and baby blankets.

  Linda came early in the morning and we visited until noon before her car was loaded.  Linda was headed right to the church with her treasure trove. 

  Sharing what daughter-in-law Kersten had shared with me, gave my heartstrings a tune that will last for some time.  I had been pecking away at using some of this fabric, but realistically, this will make many quilts for many to make use of. 

  Linda was amazed at what I had for a sewing studio.  One of the neatest things was the teak wooden rocker she enjoyed while we chatted.

  Dennis was busy farming today.  The Cub-Lo-Boy was taken for a spin up to the corner gas station.  He is now changing oil in it.  It’s all in a day’s work.

  The skies are cloudy with maybe a hint of a rain shower.  The half inch we got last week sure did help things out.  There is a type of grass that we have that doesn’t take well to the extreme heat of early last week.  It crunches underfoot and has a hint of brown.  So be it.