Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from June, 2021 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:15 pm on June 4, 2021 Permalink  

  Great Morning 

  At seven this morning, the coffee never tasted so good as I sat on the west patio.  It was quiet in the neighborhood.  School buses and the traffic that needs to pass our way towards the school is done as of yesterday.  It was just me, the squirrels, birds and of course the patio porch kitties.  I did eventually walk the acre to see if the Roundup from yesterday’s application on some clover as well as a few other undesirables had kicked in.  Clover gives in easily, time will tell on a few others.

  We have a fantastic crop of mint, aka: cat nip, growing adjacent to the patio.  Ironically, the kitties don’t take notice of it until a stem or a leaf is twisted off, and then the pungent aroma is released.  It is ass over tea kettle to get to, to roll around in it and munch on it.  In time, using the weed whip and taking off the very top of this crop will keep the kitties content.  Why would they stray from Stauffer!  They each have their own pillow nest to sleep off their highs.

  I got errands done after a noon break.  Lewis Drug, Dollar General and the grocery store . . .  the latter to pick up one item, a bag of Flax Meal.  It was warm enough that when I got home Dennis was in the patio porch listening to country western music on the RFD television channel.  Perfect spot.

  I have about an hour before getting supper so “the chair” is going to be visited . . . sweet.

   
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  Noreen 1:56 pm on May 31, 2021 Permalink  

  No Denying 

  There is no denying that when the sun greets me in the morning, I know there is lots more good to come. 

  Dennis helped strip the beds and he was off to the patio porch with coffee and raspberry scone in hand.  He has really gotten into those scones.  I am waiting for him to ask me if I would try baking some.  Right now I am picking them up at the store.

  How wonderful that those that make their annual trips to the various grave sites of loved ones have good traveling and good weather.  Special.

  It is now mid afternoon and the older ones on Stauffer have called it a day.  The acre looks manicured.  Dennis mowed and I trimmed the areas that he could not get close enough to.  Close to the trees is off limits.  The tender bark does not like to be scuffed.

  The beds have fresh linens to be enjoyed after bathing and showering this evening.  Does it sound like we had a full and good day . . . we surely did.  I have no doubt we will find something to keep us busy tomorrow.  Life is sweet.

   
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  Noreen 1:53 pm on May 30, 2021 Permalink  

  Plans Squashed 

  The plans for the day were squashed by rain . . . mowing the acre.  That’s okay.  The gas in the tanks will last a little longer.  The new thread in the weed whip will last a little longer.  Tomorrow seems to have a better outlook.

  I did take a walk  into the backyard earlier during one of the breaks of rain.  Yes, the grass is indeed ready for a trim.  I also took note that all the Lilac’s blossoms that had frozen off, also left a length on the tip of each branch that won’t be putting on new leaves.  Nothing but a length of a dead branch.  Too bad.  The harsh winds of the coming winter will most likely snap them off.

  We were both in our favorite chairs this morning and the conversation had lagged.  Dennis asked me what I was thinking about as we had earlier talked about the calendar schedule for the upcoming surgery.  My response to his question as to what I was thinking on was “Not what might go wrong but all the good and wonderful days ahead to make plans for.”  

  I did go down into the sewing studio and unplug my sewing machine in case of the possibility of electrical damage from spring storms.  I pulled out the cover of the machine until a time in the near future.  It will be sooner than later.  That machine and I are better together than not.  It has kept my creative juices alive and in the near future the glass will be ready to be tapped.

   
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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.