Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from June, 2022 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 1:54 pm on June 23, 2022 Permalink  

  Small Towns 

  Every small town in the state of Minnesota is trying to capitalize on a summer celebration to bring in people and money.  I see a change in our small town.  

  The worker “Bs” are getting fewer and older.  It takes a constant push to keep things going at the 110%.  Our celebration is within several weeks of the county fair.  If the pride were pulled in, the two could be combined and there would be a successful turnout.  As it were . . . mediocrity shows through.

  As I went to the library today, after a return trip from Mankato, it struck me as to how many homes are not mowing their yards.  City ordinances cannot replace self pride.  There isn’t a brick heavy enough to park in Dennis’ jeans to keep him from keeping our acre kempt.  We did mow the acre a week ago.  After having received two inches of rain it had turned hot with high winds drying everything out.  We are in for a dry spell and the grass hasn’t budged in height at all.  A heavy dew in the mornings will be a blessing for each spear to take in as much as it can.

  Oh well . . . there are no two people alike, and what a blessing that is.

  My blessing for the day is that we are home safe and sound and that we are of sound mind.  The weekend is soon to be here and here is where I will be enjoying my contentment with the ole cowboy.

   
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  Noreen 1:55 pm on June 21, 2022 Permalink  

  Spring is Gone 

  Spring is gone and now we can look forward to summer.  Do I really want to?  I did enjoy the early days of spring when the temps were in the high 60s and low 70s.  The bugs weren’t paying attention as yet and I couldn’t wait to get outside and dig in the dirt.  I did get some serious transplanting done amide rain showers.  The last so called shower was two inches.  I hope that that would have given all the new transplants enough rain to have settled the roots to soak up the fertilizer that was waiting for them.

  We are enjoying days on Stauffer Avenue that are quiet.  It is my kind of quiet.  No alarms need to be set for early morning doctor appointments.  Dennis always has the ability to run away to have coffee with various fellows.  If all else fails, McDonald’s does not discriminate.

  I worked on some items I call fillers in my sewing project.  It was really important to have the fabrics cut at 1.5″.  I don’t trust my left arm and hand to hold all things steady, so my weights came in handy.  It does go to show that you never throw anything away that you have paid for.  With so many finished blocks of various sizes, these finished 1″ inch pieces will allow for justifying seams.  Dennis came down and checked me out to see if I could still see straight.  I had not rushed with this.  I have my teak wooden rocker in the studio and it serves me well when I need to ponder my stitching.  

  Dennis had told me that our neighbor Edna had called him to help her get some items out for the recycling pickup.  Dennis has mowed her adjoining yard to us for years.  Edna was 98 this last week.  Living on her own and as sharp as a tack.  My, my!  Edna is 20 years older than I am.  It is something to aspire to.

   
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  Noreen 2:02 pm on June 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Up at Six 

  At six this morning, it was nice outside.  I strolled the acre and picked up a few branches for the burning ring.  Two kitties followed me around.  I also heard several lawnmowers in the distance.  Smart fellows.

  I was back in the house by seven seeking the rubbing alcohol for a newly acquired bug bite.

  Dennis announced that he was going to pick up his friend Dwayne and go shopping to Mountain Lake.  Dennis had decided he was going to start using an electric razor.  A few too many nicks of late.  A very wise decision.  Dennis now has a rechargeable Remington.  The White Drug in Mountain Lake is an awesome retail store catering to many needs and it is a locally owned drug store . . . a very rare drug store indeed.

  True to my word of yesterday, I have spent the greater portion of today in the studio.  I took the time to pull out a piece of backing that my mom had put together.  Now that has some age to it.  A folksy print to go with the patterns of “A Long time Ago.”  It is nice to know that things will be coming together. 

  Dennis got home at noon.  From Mountain Lake the fellows went to Windom for biscuits and gravy at Hardees.  Of course there were new faces to visit with.  Those fellows had known Dennis’ brother and his family.  Once they found out that Dwayne had been the owner of the International Harvester dealership here in St. James, the visiting took new life.  What a great day for Dennis and Dwayne.  It did the fellows good to meet and greet others besides the same ones with the same tales to tell.

  No comments are needed for the temps.

  I am thrilled that I can bounce from reading to sewing.  Never a dull boring moment.

   
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  Noreen 1:30 pm on June 19, 2022 Permalink  

  Happy Sunday 

  Happy Sunday, aka: Happy Father’s Day.

  The sun is bright with a brisk breeze for all that like it this way.  I was up before six this morning by the grace of a call for the bathroom.  I started the coffee and decided that I would take advantage of the cooler temps and the wind and enjoy our yard.

  My goal was to take out a few weeds before the bugs knew I was up . . . and it worked until 7:30.  The black flies were at it.  Dennis and I did get a cup of coffee on the patio before it wasn’t fun anymore.  I wasn’t about to put any bug repellant on as I knew I would soon be heading indoors.  I sure didn’t want to feel sticky for the rest of the day.

  Dennis made sure he had his cell phone with as there would be some Curry kids calling hi today.

  I did head for the studio with coffee cup in hand.  Today’s quest was working with 60 degree triangles.  Keeping the angle of the fandangle straight was a challenge to make these blocks work.  Looking at each cut triangle it would appear all sides were equal . . . not!  I had my trusting brass “picker-outer” close at hand.  As evident from my photo, not all tips of the triangles turned out perfect.  But hey?  Who do I have to impress?   Two separate finished blocks of these triangles will be incorporated in the final project.

  When I got this pattern, it was a mix of fabric prints for each old time pattern.  I had a heck of a time finding the older cherished patterns within the 60″ x 60″.  I had decided I wanted to make each pattern quite distinguishable within its own block.  Quilting is all about interpretation per quilter.  So today was my green and cream combo, plus the strip of six in gold and cream.

  Tomorrow if the heat continues, I will be turning the next page in the “Long Time Ago” pattern.  This pattern has kept my interest, much like the novel I have going in my west porch bedroom.

  Take it easy tomorrow.  I would like to think of you all rather than read about you.

   
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  Noreen 1:21 pm on June 9, 2022 Permalink  

  Oh What a Day 

  A balmy 77 degrees.  I was out finishing my Hosta work.  I had a lot of company.  Black biting flies, mosquitoes and gnats.  How fortunate for this company to spur me on to finish my project.

  Is a gardener ever finished?  I think not.  For this year, it has been 150% over last year’s work.  There have been 10 plants that have been given a new home, up close and personnel next to the potting shed and patios.  As much rain as we have had, my shoes did not pick up mud today.  A message that transplanting season is over.

  Dennis mowed the area of our original lot and I got it trimmed.  What a satisfying feeling to have a tidy yard.  Dennis had mowed the east part of the acre yesterday after attending a funeral.  A stroke of luck, we had purchased a trimmer, aka: The Works, that had an easy swapping out of thread when the spool is empty.  We are set for a few days over the weekend.

  I did go to the studio to check out the next block to stitch.  Sixty two three part blocks, called the Flying Geese.  Quilters know it well but that is not saying it is a breeze to whip out.  Time and patience . . . I have a lot of both.

  Tomorrow I had planned on taking friend Judy’s cleaned Bernina back to her for her daughter’s use.  I got a call last night that she would like to go out for lunch first.  How could I refuse a blind person that needs to get out of a less than friendly home.  I said we would go to Perkins.  Drinks are delivered to the table and bathrooms are a few steps away.  Judy had wanted to go to Panera last time and we did.  Unbeknown to me the drinks were self serve and All the way to the back as well as the restrooms.  With one hand at a time managing my cane, I got the drinks.  Getting her past a flood of people that were standing in line to pick up their food at a serving window for access for her to the bathroom . . . I was exhausted.  Judy had a heavy walker that one could turn around and sit on, that was a beast to get in and out of the back portion of my car.

  Here we are at the afternoon of Thursday.  I have the sewing machine in the car as well as an aluminum fold up walker for Judy.  Live and learn.  Who knew how to take a blind person out for an outing!

   Second time should be easier.   I need to use my voice and let her know verbally what I can manage.

  Happy Thursday everyone.  The next time I go out, it will be to put my shovel and spade in the potting shed.  Enough of the dirt work!

   
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  Noreen 12:51 pm on June 7, 2022 Permalink  

  Who Knew? 

  Who knew we would get rain over the early morning hours that has lasted well past noon.

  Today was haircut day at the Curry Comb.  When the calendar fills up with medical appointments, the hair is the last considered.  The blessing is the appointments are not for me.  Niece Brenda does a great job of the cuts.

  We had a few groceries to pick up at Super Fair so I could whip up an oven meal for this evening.  I had the leftover brisket and carrots from the crockpot meal of Sunday night.  My plan was a beef stroganoff with carrots and pasta.  I decided on whipping some sour cream into the hot pasta plus some alfredo sauce.  I don’t think carrots are called for with stroganoff, but they sure had a great flavor to not include them.

  Tomorrow we have a funeral in Windom.  Dennis’ sister-in-law has passed away at age 88.  Dennis is now the lone ranger of his family.

  With the kitchen sink having been cleared of dishes to do and a load of laundry done, I am going to head outside and see how my Hosta transplants are doing with this cool dampness.  Perhaps one more . . . just one more plant may be salvaged from the east portion of the acre.  I do spy a perfect spot for it and it does have leaf patterns that are appealing.  Time will tell for Thursday as the growth with lots of rain will indeed determine how large a hole to dig.  Dennis’ daughter of Mankato has talked and talked about doing a Hosta dig for her yard.  If she does get over here, I hope she has plenty of large containers to take them home in.  

  With the early afternoon left and no need to do more than turn on the oven for supper, the studio may even get the lights turned on for a bit.

   
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  Noreen 2:48 pm on June 6, 2022 Permalink  

  Slowly 

  A few more stitches out by Jody at the Mankato Clinic.  All is progressing well.  

  I know I heard it raining over the night . . . could not tell how much.  As we traveled to Mankato, there were tell-tale signs in the fields.

  When the appointment with a doctor is 12:45, Dennis estimated it would be two before we would return to the car.  He was off by several minutes.

  The day is shot as nothing new feels like its wanting to be started by the time we got home.  Tomorrow is another day.  With the rain that we had, it feels a bit sticky out.

  I will share that yesterday when I was digging my holes for Hosta transplants, a hummingbird was within eighteen inches from my face.  He didn’t seem to be in any hurry.  I stood still and he fluttered in place.  After a time he continued visiting the Columbine blooms that were in the near area.  He all but seemed to disappear in them.  Very special visitor.

   
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  Noreen 1:15 pm on June 5, 2022 Permalink  

  Sunday of Heavy Air 

  A sprinkle here, a sprinkle there.  The air is heavy.  It’s a good thing the birds do not mind it.

  I was determined that the garden shoes would have to do what was needed to get the job done.  Two holes were dug with fertilizer granules added.  After the second hole was dug, I sized it up and realized it could have been better situated in the scheme of things.  Too bad.  A hole dug is a hole that will be plugged with a plant.  In time to come, the plants will fill in and no one but me will know the difference.  I headed out to the east and and after a time and two trips, I had plants for each hole.  This is perfect transplanting weather.

  Whatever plants remain on the east line of our acre has been offered to whomever may need some fillers.  

  I made use of the water faucet on the south side of the house by taking off my garden shoes and cleaning them from toe to heel.  It didn’t bother me to rinse off my bare feet, the bottom of my cane and tip toe into the back entry.

  When I came in, the brisket in the crockpot gave me a great welcome.  I put carrots in the bottom.  I had an onion but chose to leave it on the counter and use some meat rub I had on the pantry shelf.  No potatoes were added.  Though they get tender, they take on an unappetizing dark color.  We had a few potatoes left in a five pound bag and there are now enough peeled with most likely enough for some American fries at another meal time.

  I had all of this done by twelve noon and headed to the studio.  It now feels oh so good to be done with the third and final half square triangle block.  I will call this my pinkish mode using four different print scraps with a peach colored plain.  Sometime soon, I will turn the page of the directions and see what is next.  I have a black and white copy of the finished project, and what a great feeling to put an “X” through each block as I finish it.

  This is deemed as a good day.  I dwell on what I can do and not what I can’t.  Actually, with thought and a plan the “can’t” becomes insignificant.

   
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  Noreen 1:15 pm on June 3, 2022 Permalink  

  Busy Hands 

  Busy hands keep me out of mischief.  Last week it was time to wash the duet cover of my feather comforter.  The comforter was put into the duet and now it was time for the next step in storage over the warmer months.  Yesterday the answer came in the mail.  It was a Hefty seal and store bag that uses the vacuum to minimize the area needed for storage when the excess air is removed.

  This morning, I got the comforter in the bag.  Pressing and sealing the strip was another story.  There is a yellow strip and a red strip to press together.  I didn’t get it done in one swoop.  The left hand needed to hold onto what was pressed together correctly, while the right hand needed to make progress.  When both stripes indicate orange all is good.  That is as far as that project went today.  Tomorrow, I will double check the closure and then get the vacuum out.  One small thing at a time.

  It was too nice to stay in the house any longer.  I headed to the east line of the acre with cane, spade and pink plastic scoop shovel in hand.  I did get the intended Hosta dug up.  It was so easy to put the Hosta in the scoop of the shovel and pull it home.  It was also large enough that it broke in two.  The remaining of my holes got plugged.  It is perfect weather for this kind of transplanting. 

  Dennis got the hand pump sprayer out and checked out the gaskets and such.  It is now loaded, ready for a time when the wind is just a breeze.  Roundup to the rescue on green little plants that are a nuisance.  They can’t be pulled up as their root is no larger than a strand of thread and immediately break off to come back with multiple plants the next time.  We have two old fashioned bushel baskets to put over the plants that will need to be protected.  The plan is set for perhaps tomorrow morning when the air is quiet.   

  It has been a busy day with local effort attained.  The hands are happy and tomorrow is another day.

   
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  Noreen 1:35 pm on June 1, 2022 Permalink  

  Day for Farming 

  It is a wonderful day for getting the fingernails dirty!

  Two previously dug holes next to the patio porch have been plugged with Hosta from the east line of the acre.  They have gotten rather . . . huge.  I put the Hosta to transplant on our Fleet and Farm garden wagon and Dennis pulled the wagon home behind the Sears mower.  That sure saved me some grunt power.  I have two more holes to plug on another day.

  I have so enjoyed being outside this spring playing in the dirt.  It was no fun in 2021 to have the want power but not be able to engage safely.  With caution, I have control over my plants.  In time the only area I will have for the Hosta is right next to the patio porch and the east and west patio that surround the porch.  I may not get it totally accomplished this calendar year, but there is always 2023.

  I do know how Dennis felt yesterday to be able to spend some time on his beloved mower as he has been sitting on the sidelines since winter.

  It was then also time to take all the branches I have been piling up since winter next to the potting shed over to neighbor Bob’s huge fire ring.  I piled the wagon full several times and Dennis pulled the wagon to Bob’s behind the mower.  Dennis is so ready to pitch in, but I believe the foot is not ready for active weight bearing on a full time basis.  Thursday we will have a medical person give their evaluation. 

  Wonder of wonder our giant Maple tree has very few seed pods, aka: airplanes this year.  The two thunderstorms earlier this week took off what there was.  That means fewer volunteer maple trees to contend with.  I swear, if a clump of them fall on any bare soil, there will be a clump of trees showing in a matter of less than a month.

  It’s time for me to go and check on Dennis as he took the rider mower over to Bob’s to burn branches out of the fire ring.  I looked out, and he and the mower are at a very safe distance.