Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from May, 2021 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 4:21 pm on May 23, 2021 Permalink  

  Batting a Home Run 

  We are batting a home run as we start a new week.  As the weekdays fill in fast with appointments, Dennis decided to use the Cub Lo Boy for mowing the acre.  It sure cuts down on time with a 60″ swath.  Dennis did trade out the smaller rider for the area around the house.  It all looks manicured.

  I had an overflowing laundry basket that I chose to ignore this morning.  It was to be another hot day and getting the newly-purchased shrubs in the holes I had dug yesterday spoke very loudly to me.  It doesn’t pay for me to say I will take my time.  It takes me an eternity to get my projects going, heading for completion.  I have a lot of time, but a bit short on stamina.  The shrubs, having had their root balls loosened, been sunk into their holes, watered down and tamped in with loving care.  The potting shed project is complete.  Grow dammit! I can check that off my list of things I wanted to see completed this spring.  Going forward, it is maintaining whatever has made it through this questionable spring.

  Though the Lilacs didn’t have much of a showing for blooms, the evergreens are strutting their stuff.  The end of each and every branch has a tuft of new growth.  I don’t think Crayons have any greens in their boxes that would pay tribute to that fresh growth.

  We had fried egg sandwiches for noon lunch.  I’ve got nothing for supper, and . . . everyone for themselves may be on the docket.  I finished the day off with folding the three loads of laundry.  As per Kenny Rogers . . . “Ya gotta know when to hold it and know when to fold it . . .  .”  I am folding right now for the day.  I will be ready for what the new week brings.

   
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  Noreen 5:19 pm on May 22, 2021 Permalink  

  We Had a Day 

  We usually start out slowly . . . stick the nose out to see what the possibilities are.  As usual the three cats can’t wait to escape the patio porch.

  Washing off the rest of the house was on Dennis’ agenda.  Amazingly after he is done, the house gleams.  No . . . it does not last long, but we can start out with new dirt to catch on the siding.

  I watered down the two shrubs we have purchased for the filled-in Koi pond.  I dug around in the potting shed and dug out the manual post hole digger.  I had measured out where in the new dirt they would sit.  Me and the sand shovel do not work well together.  I am too tippy to rely on standing on one leg while pushing the shovel into the dirt with the other leg.  The old heavy post hole digger is perfect.  One end of the handle for each hand and arm, perfect stability.  The holes are dug . . . that is ready for tomorrow.  I dug out granule fertilizer that will be pitched into the hole tomorrow with some water.

  We decided to go to the Home Town restaurant for supper.  It’s the first time we had visited since the covid began.  Next time we will both be ordering half orders.  No one could leave there hungry.

  It is still warm out at six this evening.  Who knows what tomorrow holds.  We’ll stick the nose out and I am sure the day will unravel.  The blessing is that our job jar never seems to let us down.

   
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  Noreen 2:53 pm on May 18, 2021 Permalink  

  Damp and Cool 

  I did head out for a walk and immediately felt a mist.  I finished my walk as I am working on getting my legs as strong as possible for a time when walking will be my best avenue to healing.

  When Dennis finished mowing our front yard yesterday he commented that there were spots that were brown.  What!  The earlier mowing’s left a lush carpet.  When I checked it out, I couldn’t believe it. The spears were  so dry, they took on a copper color.  Admittedly, we have used umpteen types of grass seed over the years.  Last year we went to Drummers in Mankato and bought seed for full sun.  Where I had used it in the areas where it was down to the black dirt from digging up crab grass, the grass looks great.  Try, try and we might get it right.  If not, there is always another year.  Out came the grass seed and the spreader.  With the mist of today and rain in the forecast, the seeds may get a soaking.  When I was done, I welcomed my cane.  Sometimes both hands are needed to execute a task.  It’s not that I need to put a lot of weight on the cane, but in the moment when a small amount of stability might be needed, it is worth its weight in gold.

  Dennis took the car for a fill and also took it through the wash.  When he came back, I vacuumed it and cleaned out some of the winter items.  We will still keep some new masks as each store can set their own guidelines and all medical facilities require them.

  By two this afternoon, I was in my chair for a break.  The eyes went shut for a good 20-minute nap . . . that was my dad’s secret ammunition.  

  Dennis is doing a great job on painting our lawn chairs.  He has his paint booth set up in the pickup garage.  Most importantly, Dennis has a project . . . that is always a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 3:24 pm on May 17, 2021 Permalink  

  A Trade in Duties 

  We knew that the acre was going to be a once a week mowing for the first portion of spring.  That week really goes fast.  I traded pushing the front yard and around the house with Dennis.  If he would use the rider in total, I would do all the trimming with The Works trimmer.  It takes Dennis several hours of mowing the entire area with coffee cup and cigarettes’ on board.  Even with many breaks, pushing and bagging can take the starch out of me.  

  The trimmer is light weight.  I could trim around one tree or two trees and then stop and watch  the clouds before continuing.  The trimmer was comparable to my cane.  Extra stability can never be under valued.  The end result was a great looking yard for us to sit on the patio to enjoy. 

  I was feeling like I had had enough for the day.  Dennis went on to wash off the north and east side of the house.  Again with the cheap Family Dollar laundry soap and the wonderful bubbles that smelled like lavender.  Cloudy days work best for wash jobs of buildings.  The glaring sun can dry the wash cycle too quickly before the rinses can take off all the soap residue.  Dennis has this down pat.

  Super is oven pasta leftovers with a side of apple crisp.  The clouds have hung around all day with the look that they might hold rain . . . not.  We could use a slow, all-day rain.  Even the birds have no water to bathe in as the sump pump drain is dry . . . dry to the bone.

  Don’t forget to say your prayers tonight as a good day of local effort does make the eyelids heavy in short order.

   
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  Noreen 2:39 pm on May 12, 2021 Permalink  

  Feeling Fit 

  
  It may have been brisk this morning, but out came my walking shoes.  I took the longest walk in some time.  I texted my friend June to make sure she was home.  Me and the cane took off.  June lives on the end of Stauffer Avenue.  It gave me the opportunity to arrive at June’s to take a respite before heading back home.  It felt great to do the walk and it felt just as great to get back home and soak up some of the morning sun sitting on the east patio.

  When I got back, Dennis was in the potting shed.  Dennis announced that he would be in charge of putting out some garden art.  I smiled and gave him the thumbs up.  We cleared out a lot from the potting shed last year.  That allowed for an old bushel basket to be viewed.  Oh my gosh!  Years ago Elvera and I had been at the Arts in the park in Hutchinson.  We both came home with ceramic mushrooms that were attached to the narrowest of PVC piping.  The colorful ceramics are attached via a spring to the PVC.  With the slightest of a breeze, the mushroom tops dance and wobble.  Dennis did a great job of decorating. 

  This has been my first photo to insert into a post since February.  I may have missed a step or two.  Practice makes . . . better.

  We are going to enjoy a Subway Tuna for supper.  After having gone through leftovers, it sounded like a great treat.

   
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  Noreen 2:50 pm on April 18, 2021 Permalink  

  Tag Team 101 

  Even with the wind from the northwest, I could hear our Sear’s rider mower in the far north portion of our acre this early forenoon.  It drove home the point that Dennis was in the mowing mood.  First time for the 2021 year.  As spring has taken its time being fully on board, every height of grass could be seen in an uneven patch of green.  When I took a closer look, my push mower was sitting by the garage door. After lunch Dennis proposed a tag team event on the front lawn and also the grass on the north side of the house . . . which is minimal.

  Dennis and I would each take a round and shut the mower off.  It may have taken us longer for the 25′ x 25′ front lawn than the remaining acre.  The time did not matter as neither one of us felt fatigued.  It was good PT.  I sat on the patio as Dennis used the Cub-Lo-Boy to finish our far yard up and also do neighbor Edna’s yard.  Edna just had her 92nd birthday.  

  We had waited a long time for such a perfect day to enjoy being outside.  Spring came slowly and today hit all the marks.  Tag Team 101 nailed it!  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 4:55 pm on January 17, 2021 Permalink  

  A Lazy Sunday 

  I slept late and then joined Dennis in the patio porch for coffee.  The highlight was watching squirrels in the east end of the acre.  The three kitties had their noses pressed against the sliding patio doors with no intent of going out.  Everybody was lazy.

  I will catch you all tomorrow as I am sure I will pick up some steam for the new week.

   
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  Noreen 4:02 pm on January 5, 2021 Permalink  

  It Could go Either Way 

  Our weather may soon change.  Either rain, sleet or snow.  Very well, a little of it all.

  Today the Christmas tree storage box came out of the basement.   My 7′ pencil tree had served us well.  It now needed to be put away until Thanksgiving of 2021.  I am working towards making my days safer within our home.  The walkup attic is wonderful to visit from time to time.  It is not a good thing when heavy items need to be transported.  The steps are very steep.  Our basement incudes my sewing studio and we would be lost without it for extra utility.  It is not a good thing when heavy items need to be transported.  The steps are very steep.  

  Our main floor has one closet.  You got it!  The boxed Christmas tree was headed for the closet.  I don’t wear dresses except for rare occasions and one dress does it.  Our clothes are shirts, many of which are folded in that  7′ tall wooden cabinet.  There are very few pants that are on pant hangers.   The enclosed box holding the Christmas tree slid perfectly under the bar holding my shirts.  The tote holding the Christmas tree ornaments and the Nativity slid perfectly under the bar that holds Dennis’ clothes.  Each bar making a 90 degree union in the closet.  There will be no chance of harming my self in the next Christmas season.  

  Several Thanksgivings ago, Kevin put up shelves, two high, above the clothes bars in the closet on three walls for extra quilts and blankets.  Our basement may implode for the shelves on the exterior walls and the closet would be in for a second possibility.  Nonetheless, it works.  Grammie is happy and Dennis is none the wiser as to where things disappear to.  Ignorance is bliss. 

  We may not be feeding the deer in the backyard, but I am enjoying the deer that are coming to our neighbor’s bird feeders.  Those deer are just as crafty as squirrels.

  I did get my errands done today and will stay put if the weather turns on us tomorrow.  It is winter after all.  I believe that spring will be here in some 70 days.  I like it.  I like a lot about my days and my wish is that everyone finds moments and hours to like in each and every day.

   
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  Noreen 3:55 pm on December 5, 2020 Permalink  

  No Time for Sewing 

  I think it has been a week since I have had the sewing machine running.  My idea is to get all the “have tos” done and then I will play with the sewing machine.  With this Indian Summer, there seems to be odds and ends to do or help out Dennis with outside.  I am more than happy to help.  Whatever can be taken care of in the potting shed, the garage work bench or in the patio porch without getting fingers cold . . . I am all in.  In short time we had Dennis’ tick list completed.  He headed for the rocking chair in the patio porch and I headed in to see what Saturday work needed attention.

  With a forced-air furnace and flannel bedding . . . there is no short supply of lint and fuzz in the house.  Once Dennis was finished outside he came in looking to see what he could help with.  He took a swipe at the new litter of dust bunnies under the beds while I stripped the beds and headed for “day two” in the laundry.  I remember what Carrie once told me about toilet paper.  Charmin is the lintiest of any other brand.  I concur. The sun streamed into the octagon window in the bathroom while I was tending the washing machine that we have in the bathroom. The oak mopboard woodwork had a soft white layer of Charmin lint.  At the time, Charmin was all our local store had and beggars can’t be choosy. 

  We had an abundance of coolers and cold packs that we had used when our new refrigerator was in transit and while it had a chance to cool.  Today was time to take the cold packs back down into the basement refrigerator. 

  What came flooding back to me was about 1974, we were living in a comfortable mobile home outside of Buffalo Lake.  Orlin worked shift work at 3M and there were 3M products available to employees.  With two kids it’s amazing how much Scotch tape can be gone through.  What was also a good product were the gel-packs that could be kept in the refrigerator for aiding when there were boo-boos.  There was a certain day when things went south.  One of the gel-packs had been used on Kevin the night before when we tucked him into bed.  Before I got it retrieved the next morning to put it back in the refrigerator, Kevin decided to see how much pressure could be put on the expandable soft pouch.  We found out that they do not take kindly to having a kid jump off of the bed and onto the gel-pack.  If you don’t experiment . . . it will always haunt you.  A very different product to clean up after.

  Often, in what might seem to be mundane household chores for me, those memories sneak back that make me chuckle out loud. Priceless.

  Our Saturday is winding down and it has been a satisfying day.  Any day that has produced local effort enhances our general well-being.  Dennis does often comment that every day something comes up to keep him busy, and . . . Dennis knows when I spy with my little eye something that has gone undone, I am happy getting after it to the best of my ability.  Hey, if I let one or two items go, and before you know it, I can feel overwhelmed.  Never fear, I don’t run out of things to do, that’s not the way of owning a home.

   
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  Noreen 3:57 pm on December 4, 2020 Permalink  

  ‘Oh Let the Sunshine In’ 

  Thank you, thank you, thank you . . . for such a wonderful day!  We must have been good somewhere along the lines to have this wealth of weather.  

  I do have a situation with being more warm blooded than the ole cowboy.   Today I made sure Dennis was comfortable in the patio porch and then there were two windows that were sprung open . . . one on the east end of the house and the other on the west end.  I was taking advantage of the nice weather and washing up some jackets that we won’t need until spring.  Mom, Lena, would have been doing the very same thing.  Yuck, to tucking away clothing that has not been washed.  I never realize how much I had learned from Mom.  In fact I am still learning at my tender age of 76 and Dennis is not a slow learner by any means.  Bless his heart.

  As me and the washing machine were having a relationship, Dennis offered to peel potatoes for supper.  Now that is romantic.  Dennis’ job jar is quite empty at the moment and I appreciate the help.  Every little bit helps and he knows that I am right there when he needs his shirts buttoned for him.  Hmm.  Both of us should have been kinder to our bodies when we were younger.  

  It does remind me that in life there is no growth without struggle.  I plan on having the marks on my door frame continue to indicate growth.  I am up for the struggle.

  The weekend is upon us and with all that seems to be needed to yet be done for working families, this is the best of the month thus far for mild conditions outside.  I am selfish, I want more of the same.