Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2020 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:23 pm on July 11, 2020 Permalink  

  Worth a Try 

  This morning Dennis left home for Sioux Falls to pick his son Kenny up at the airport.  I left for Windom which is 26 miles down the highway to the west.

  I was on my way to Runnings in Windom.  I thought the hanging fly traps were worth a try.  This season the biting flies have been worse than the mosquitoes.  I purchased three of them for the price of $5.95 each.  If one works near our patio and fills the bag, we will have several backups.  As per neighbor Jan, they last about a week and a half.  When the bag is full the cover is pushed down and it goes in the trash.  The label said it would take anywhere from one to three hours for the attraction to begin.  It was more like fifteen minutes and there was a group of the greasy green looking flies waiting their turn to crawl on in.

  It is now the afternoon and we are awaiting some rain as per the warnings for our area.  I do hear thunder.  The fellows are home safe and sound from the airport in Sioux Falls.  Kenny is using the little red pickup to visit some friends in town.  He will have until Tuesday evening to get that job done as his flight is Wednesday morning out of Sioux Falls.  For me there is no crush and rush of any plans yet to be put in place for the picnic tomorrow.  Pre-planning makes all the difference in the world.  

  Dennis is watching a rodeo on the RFD channel and Snuggles is close by.  His three patio porch cats always stay near when there is thunder in the distance.  Maybe they have heard the blurb that if you can hear thunder there is a definite danger of being struck by lightning.

  This evening is the calm before the storm . . . multi family picnics . . . there is no calm.  24 hours from now the calm will return to Stauffer Avenue.  Praise be to God.  I wanted to do this for Dennis.  Dennis’ family needs to realize that making memories with him is in a priceless time frame . . . maybe they don’t realize that.  My thinking is often quite different from others.  

  Right now, it is 3:30 and my newly seeded area of the lawn is getting a good soaking.  There is some wind but it doesn’t seem to threatening.  Time for us to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening.

   
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  Noreen 2:31 pm on July 9, 2020 Permalink  

  Kitchen Time 

  Several decades ago, I would be in the kitchen preparing for a noon courthouse luncheon.  The custodians at the courthouse would clean out the garage where the county vehicles were parked.  There were tables made up with plywood and sawhorses.  All the departments of Watonwan County would be invited during their noon hour for a get-together.  It could well be 100 employees coming together to visit and share a meal.

  Perry, in the auditor’s office at that time, was in charge of the pop machine monies.  With the blessings of the county commissioners we funded a lunch every year.  Goodwill within employees never hurts.  As it was, I was in charge of the menu and the food prep.  Dennis was right there in the kitchen with me preparing food.  Most of my office staff was given permission to help me pull it off on the day of the lunch.  It was fun and it was rewarding to see people from different departments get to know each other.  Of course the highway fellows always looked forward to a hearty hot lunch and passing on brown bagging it.  The last noon lunch I prepared was in 2008 as I retired in February of 2009.  I did host the county’s Secret Pal luncheon in 2009 on our patio, patio porch and garages as my last picnic going into retirement.  Good memories.

  Today, I am in the kitchen working on getting a noon lunch put together for this coming Sunday.  Maybe not a 100 guests, but perhaps 25.  Dennis’ son will be flying in from Arizona on Saturday.  With us having a cozy, comfy small home, Dennis wanted he and me to have his entire family here on Stauffer for a family picnic utilizing the patios, the patio porch and the garages.  Why not!  With Dennis being on the phone and personally inviting his kids and his grandkids over the last several weeks, I trust that they will honor his invitation.  There are always a few that can do or do not give a definite response.  It matters not.  We do know that with 8 great grandkids it will be a lively bunch.

  As we had first talked between the two of us, Dennis asked that I would fix all of the food.  With many families, many hands, one source for all the food would be the best.  I had to agree with him.  Dennis has been on top of cleaning the luncheon areas, which included all the cleaning he has been doing in said garages.  We have it covered.

  Today was my day to begin the baked beans.  The molasses, the brown sugar, the Lipton Onion dry soup mix, a lb. of seasoned pork sausage, pre-cooked chopped bacon . . . and last but not least the huge can of Bush’s beans, plus one smaller can, all co-mingling in the refrigerator, ready for a crock-pot Sunday morning.

  It is going to be another warm day on Sunday.  But . . .  we have coolers, we have crock-pots, we have pans that will hold ice to have the cold dishes sit on.  Dennis is out in the drive this afternoon, cleaning off a rather large squirrel cage fan to move air across the floor of the serving area, aka: the little red pickup garage.  As I said, we have it covered.  As I mentioned, this is not Dennis’ or my first rodeo fixing a picnic.  One day prep at a time.  It works well not to leave too much for the last day.  Nobody wants to be wore out and not enjoy the day.

  Tomorrow will be potato salad day and the ring macaroni salad day, the latter being Dennis’ favorite.  Some use ham in ring macaroni salad, but Dennis and my kids have always liked Spam in it.  Dishes with multiple ingredients need time to co-mingle.  Mom, Lena, was a great picnic fare teacher.  Somewhere in the days ahead will be Bar-B-Q fixings.  We are not grillers.

  Take care everyone.  Today is a bit more desirable outside, but having the yard work done yesterday, I am content making lists and having kitchen time.

   
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  Noreen 2:36 pm on July 8, 2020 Permalink  

  A Day in July 

  July has always had the reputation as being hot and this year of 2020 is right on . . . hot.

  Dennis took his friend Dwayne to Mankato today for a doctor’s appointment.  The fellows left here at 7:30 and I was dressed in gardening clothes and went out the door the same time Dennis did.  The weed that I call a sand burr has just taken off under the Lilacs like crazy.  Left to their own the entire length of the stalk has burrs that fall off and become . . . more burrs.  

  Snuggles and Harriet stayed with me the entire time.  As I was whacking weeds, I did make sure that I cut some stems of catnip for Snuggles and Harriet.  Oh my gosh.  The rolling on and rubbing of those stems was too funny to watch as they got a bit of a high on it.

  I came in at 10:30 with the job completed.  I have several pails of stuff that will dry out in several days for Dennis’ burning ring.  Yup . . . off came the sweat-soaked clothes and into a loose cotton duster.  I had had water with me and it did not matter that the water I had enjoyed was lukewarm.  It was wet and it tasted great.

  Dennis got home at noon, safe and sound from the Mankato trip.  Neither one of us was too hipped up to do much.  Of course the laundry was beckoning me.  Nothing could be more of a punishment than wearing clothes that had been soaked through and having them turn sour.  Get it laundered and ready for the next time I want to be outside for several hours.

  I am thinking of grilled cheese for supper with a cup of soup.  Last week when Carrie and the kids were here we had sandwich fixings out.  Good old Nicholas . . . “Grammie you know this isn’t real cheese.”  Oh my Lord!  The same thing had come out of Kevin’s mouth a short time ago.  I promise once this box of pre-wrapped cheese singles is gone, I will purchase real cheese.  I am just too much of a tight-wad to not use it up.  As it turned out it became the topic of conversation that it reminded Megan and Nicholas of the cheese that McDonald’s uses and it was a trip down memory lane.  Kids!  No matter what the age . . . gotta love them.  

  Dennis checked the temp outside . . . not good . . . 89 and it feels like 101.  The humidity and dew point are neck and neck.  July is having its way.  Get done what is needed and then pamper yourselves.  No one needs to do that “one last thing.”

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on July 7, 2020 Permalink  

  The Early Breeze 

  The early morning breeze was delightful.  I had no care to look at the temperature or the level of humidity and the dew point.  I was content to get my mowing done with the breeze to keep my sweat evaporating.  Even with the hot weather the grasses have got the gumption to grow. 

  The breezes didn’t last long.  As I was doing the trimming and getting the mower put away the black biting flies let me know they were hungry.  Last week, neighbor Jan had shown me a fly bag she had bought at Runnings in New Ulm.  It was a bag to hang up in the tree branches.  There were instructions to fill water into the bag, just enough to cover the crystals in the bottom of the bag.  There was an opening on the top much like what is on top of a bottle of water to allow the flies to enter.  She thought the solution had a weird smell . . . I didn’t notice that.  After getting the yard work done, I went over to Jan’s to see what her opinion of the fly bag purchase was.  As luck would have it, she had just hung up a new bag as the first one had done its job.  With the size of the bag being about ten inches long, even with the solution in the bottom, she said it had gotten quite full of deceased flies.  That may be on our list of needs.  Biting black flies are worse than mosquitoes. At least mosquitoes can be swatted at with the end product being a dead mosquito.  Flies just keep coming back for more feasting.

  Dennis had gone to our Fleet and Farm store, of course not having anything similar to Jan’s take on fly control.  He did come back with a packet of eight cartridges that are then hung up individually.  As time goes by they slowly pull down out of the cartridge and allow a long tale of stickiness for flies to be attracted to.  I honestly didn’t think they were on the market anymore.  Dennis did say it was the last of those on the shelf.  They may well have some age on them.  Time will tell.

  I peeked . . . Dennis’ job jar is empty for outside work.  It doesn’t matter how warm the day is, we seem to get it done.  Now . . . it may be my jar that gets a shaking.  The potting shed is due for some tidy, tidy.  Shovels and such that had spots to be hung up are now all leaning on the east wall in such a lax degree, it takes up one third of the floor space when the door is opened.  Who knows what tomorrow may bring for me.  Dennis is helping friend Dwayne out by taking him to Mankato for a doctor’s appointment.  I think that is a good thing.  Those two fellows have been life-long friends having gone to school together way back when.  Dwayne was the fellow that had the International Tractor dealership here in town and helped Dennis with the Cub-L0-Boy.  It’s for sure a good thing to help each.

   
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  Noreen 4:35 pm on July 6, 2020 Permalink  

  Home from the Mayo Store 

  Home at last from Mankato.  Having to take Dennis’ CPAP in today felt like a cluster f—.  The door was locked and apparently they can only have “x” number of people in the store at one time.  Both Dennis and I had face masks on and I can tell you in the bright sun it felt like a long wait with the glare of the sun off the building and all the concrete.

  Good news, neither of us had a temperature.  I had on my mask that can be worn for long periods of time with comfort and my glasses don’t steam up wearing it.  No . . . it was not acceptable.  I had to take mine off and I was given a mask with the properties of a disposable diaper.  Let’s just get to the task at hand.  The staff ran the CPAP machine through some paces; and in the end it was deemed it would have to be sent in for a full check.  Dennis offered to put the face gear on so they could first hand see what the problem was, but with the covid, they couldn’t allow Dennis to take off the disposable mask to put on the CPAP face mask.  Rightfully so Dennis was insistent that he go home with a loaner.  Four nights of bad sleep . . . he had had enough and his prescription was valid for CPAP 24/7.  It was made off that if we would come back in an hour and their tech fellow would have all of the settings transferred to a loaner.  It was well worth the wait for Dennis’ welfare.  We signed ump-teen papers for the loaner and as we drove out of the parking lot, I read over the agreement.  What caught my eye was the $7,500 value on the loaner.  Hmm.

  Home sweet home and now let the afternoon do with us what it wants.  I believe we are calling it a day.  Dennis does have the acre mowed and sometime tomorrow I will have to work on getting the yard around the house done. 

  The week will be as the good Lord deems it.  Patience in the warm temps and realizing that we have shelter from the heat.  I listen to the news . . . the homeless that are in huge numbers in Minnesota . . . not so good.  Thanks be to God for what Dennis and I have.

   
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  Noreen 3:56 pm on July 4, 2020 Permalink  

  Out With Prickly Pear Cactus 

  Working with granddaughter Megan’s suggestion, the Prickly Pear Cactus bed got dug out today . . . again.  Actually we dug the cactus out several years ago and they were not about to go away.  Each year there were fingerlings that popped up.  This spring there were some coming up in the crack of the drive.

  While Dennis checked his eyelids for cracks this early morning, Snuggles and I got the wheelbarrow out and started digging the dirt out of this bed next to the house.  Dennis said I could dump the dirt in the far backyard and we would make use of it to fill in a low spot.  The Prickly Pear Cactus would become his challenge.

  As I dug I noticed a wasp hanging around.  When I took a break I realized he was protecting a hill of dirt that I thought was an ant hill.  I got out the Hot Shot flying insect spray and tried my aim on hitting him on the fly.  Whether I got him or just scared him off, I don’t know.  I for sure dug that entire area down quite a ways.  When I came in the house to get some water, I checked on the Internet and it seems the Cicada Wasp makes tunnels in the dirt for their nests.  I don’t think she had quite succeeded in making her nest but it is history now.  I did read to use a solution of vinegar and water to get the best of their area.  I didn’t fool around, I used the vinegar full strength.  I was finished with the dig by nine this morning and came inside to put on dry clothes.  The worst part of any project is starting and now that is behind me and . . . my behind appreciated the dry clothes.

  With a huge amount of dirt removed, Dennis and I did a road trip to New Ulm to Runnings.  We now have six bags of Miracle Grow dirt for gardens.  It is complete with fertilizer.  Dennis had a few want items on his list so the trip was very successful.  He happened to find a bag of Circus Peanuts next to the cash register.  I noticed he pinched them through the bag and must have deemed they were fresh.  Yes . . . he shared a few on the way home. 

  When we got home, the day was called “done” due to the heat.  Tomorrow is another day and there are no hard and fast plans.  It all depends on the weather and if Snuggles will lend a hand again.

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on July 2, 2020 Permalink  

  They are Good Photos 

  Yesterday when the kids came for the afternoon, we were able to show Megan that her quilt top is now a completed quilt.  She was happy to have one of her own, as in times past she had made Nicholas a Harry Potter quilt.  Megan and Nicholas are both tall as I am.  Seriously?

  I had planned on taking a quick walk this morning down Stauffer Avenue when I spied a large branch that had come down in the far east of the acre.  Taking care of that, I also spied that the two Hosta beds in the east needed some TLC.  We had been so focused on the garages that there was some serious work to be done with unwanted stuff.  

  Dennis had run errands and he was tucked into the recliner for a nap.  I grabbed a bottle of water and several of my favorite garden tools and headed out east.  Slow but sure the damp soil of the last half inch of rain gave up that which was not wanted.  When I headed to the patio porch, I had no idea that it was almost noon.  Dennis had been up and keeping an eye on me from his rocking chair.  With the water bottle emptied, I headed to the house to peel off sweat-soaked clothes.  It is a good thing that I sweat like Dad.  There had been a slight breeze and it made the morning time go by quickly.  It was a good local effort in the Hosta.  

  When I got back to the house, I had missed several calls and text messages.  I don’t carry my phone with as sure as heck, I would lay it down somewhere and forget where it was.  The squirrels would have a heyday of a time trying to bury it.

  One of the text messages was from Megan doing a follow up on the sad little flower bed area next to the south east corner of the house.  Megan has given me tips on what plants I could try that would do good in direct sun for a large portion of each day.  There was also a thought on amending the soil so plants had a chance to thrive.  There!  I got it from the professional that is up for being promoted to assistant manager of the perennial portion of the Mustard Seed Nursery.  Good Lord, how special is that . . . the advice as well as the work ethic that Megan has.

  I have slowed way down for this afternoon.  Showering and putting on dry clothes was the key for enjoying the rest of the day.  Dennis did shake his head about the morning I had, but he also knew it was needed and that he could not have been any help when it comes to good plants and bad plants.  I had his moral support.  That meant a whole bunch.  The only outside chore left is to water down the newly-seeded lawn area.  The sprouts have really been filling it . . . success!

   
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  Noreen 4:10 pm on July 1, 2020 Permalink  

  Sweet Day 

  It was a sweet day of surprises.  Carrie brought the two grandkids for the afternoon.   Oh my gosh.  Nicholas is as tall as I am.  Is he excited to be turning thirteen this November . . . a shrug is what the response was.  Megan had the day off at the Mustard Seed Nursery.

  When Megan came in she commented on the small flowerbed on the southeast corner of our home.  Yup . . . she didn’t miss the lack of plants in it.  She noticed the small Prickly Pear cactus that were struggling to re-populate the area.  We have worked hard to kill them off and there are many pencil thin ones that are breaking through the soil.  What brought a chuckle from her was the ferns that have since tipped over and are now brown spears.  I admit, that spot of our yard has not had any TLC this season.  Our young women promised to look into what plants would do best in that spot.

  Nichols helped Dennis haul home some rocks for the front of the potting shed.  As Stauffer Avenue’s road surface is now quite a bit higher than the potting shed, Dennis had dug out a rectangle of dirt large enough for the doors to open easily.  The fine rock used for resurfacing city streets has now been put into that rectangle to prevent the dirt that soon becomes mud when we have rain.  I know . . . it is disheartening to see newly-painted surfaces to be splattered by mud.  Dennis said Nicholas hefted the pails into the pickup before he had even thought about it.  Nicholas’ comment was to the effect that Dennis shouldn’t share this experience with his dad, as his dad would realize Nicholas has muscles.  Too funny.

  It was a great visit on this day.  As Dennis and I sat visiting over supper, we couldn’t help remark on how these two kids have grown up so fast.  So many wonderful hours that the dust bunnies didn’t have a chance to collect and were rousted when Megan and Nicholas would visit.

  Today is hump day.  We have had our supper and Dennis is off to find the tree trimmer with funds.  The bill came in the mail today.  A young fellow with a starting business, surely doesn’t need to have any more clients on the books than necessary.  A good job should be rewarded with the payment due.  

  We had a half of inch of rain during the night.  I won’t have to water the grass seed tonight.  Rain water is bound to have a better effect than faucet water.  There will be many a day ahead when the faucet water will fill the bill.

  For those looking forward to the holiday weekend, take heart.  Just a few more days.  Take it slow and relax while taking in all that is coming your way.

   
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  Noreen 4:17 pm on June 30, 2020 Permalink  

  Closing Time 

  It is five in the afternoon and Dennis and I have showered and closed down for the day.

  I finished up quilting Megan’s quilt yesterday afternoon and I kept hearing noise outside.  When I shut all the lights off in the sewing studio and came up the stairs, I looked out the back door.  There was a collection of garage tables out in the drive.  Dennis was cleaning house.  This wasn’t a “lick and a promise” type of cleaning.  It was down to the nitty gritty corner cleaning.  As it was Dennis had wore himself out for a Monday and the cleaning would continue on Tuesday. 

  Continue this morning . . . it sure did.  I heard him get up at five-thirty.  When I got up at seven-thirty there was hardy a square foot of bare concrete showing on the drive.  The car was sitting at the end of the drive.  Snuggles was sitting in the middle of the totally bare garage as if wondering . . . “Are we moving?  Am I coming with?” I was getting myself up and organized and Dennis was heading for his recliner for a nap.  Where naps are concerned, Dennis knows best.

  About nine-thirty the two of us were in sync.  We both tackled the sifting and sorting that was in the drive.  We did have to disappoint two drive-bys that there was no garage sale going on.  It was  humid out and soon everyone was sweating.  We persevered. Blowing out the interior of the garage came first from top to bottom until the battery was dead.  Out came the length of garden hose and the brushes and we tackled the walls and floor.   There were many breaks that were had.  The recycling bin is full as is the garbage bin.  Quite a few things found themselves back into the potting shed where they had hence come from.  It’s so easy to drag items out to use and then plop them in the garage when we are done with them.  Dennis did caution that I needed to be careful how much went into the potting shed as that was the next item to be gutted.  Please, people . . . pray that Dennis will wait for cooler temps.

  My thought is . . . I need to monitor Dennis’ vitamin drink that he takes every afternoon.    

  No monitoring is needed.  Dennis is feeling in good health and there is nothing more satisfying than a good day of local effort.  Younger than us could have whipped this out by ten this forenoon.  It takes the two of us longer but the goal is out there . . . just like the carrot that would have been held just beyond reach of the mule, Fanny, that Dennis tells about from farming days.

   
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  Noreen 3:08 pm on June 27, 2020 Permalink  

  Yoga Class is Over 

  I do compare using my push lawnmower to a yoga routine.  The north side of our home is similar to an obstacle course. It is crouching down to push the mower under Lilacs and an evergreen bush that needs tidying underneath.  Pushing the mower around the central AC . . . lunging it forward to the incline towards the house foundation and then pulling it back numerous times.  We now have duel truck tire tracks full of new lawn seeds to maneuver through and around and the ever twisting of the mower to turn it around.  It’s a blessing when I can mow the front of our home and actually have 50′ of lawn for straight runs.  No . . . I am not belly-aching . . . just making light of a chore that must be done and one that brings a whole bunch of self satisfaction.

  I have not even glanced at the temperatures that are outside on this Saturday.  When Dennis was done with our backyard we both sat on the patio with bottles of cold green tea and cooled down.  There was just enough breeze to get the job done.  By that time it was noon and we each crawled off to do whatever we pleased with our afternoon.

  Dennis caught a nap in his patio porch rocking chair.  Snuggles napped on the table at his elbow, a hint that it was too hot to sleep on Dennis’ lap.  I came down into the sewing studio and have been doing some quilting on Megan’s quilt.

  At three I took out some cold juice for us to enjoy together.  Dennis said he enjoyed seeing the yard looking like two people live here that enjoy taking care of their home.  I seconded that.

  After showering off the residue of dust from mowing and having had a bite for supper, we will both be enjoying fresh linens on our beds when our heads hit the pillows.  It might just be a great Sunday morning for sleeping in.  

  May everyone have accomplished what their hearts and minds led them to today.  There are no demands, just being the best that we can be every day that our Lord gives us.  Being stewards is the best.