Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2020 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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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.

   
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  Noreen 4:09 pm on June 25, 2020 Permalink  

  Last Friday 

  Last Friday saw me putting down 20 bags of Scott’s Lawn Soil complete with fertilizer into truck trenches across the east side of our home adjacent to our patio.  This morning there were thousands of needle fine sprouts coming up.  Man oh man what a site for sore eyes.  I have been giving the areas a good sprinkle every day as Dennis had hooked up a hose on the north side of the house for me.

  By the time I got home from my walk this morning, I could feel the heat that would be coming for the afternoon.  The walk had taken me a bit longer this morning as I stopped to chat with Chuck along the way as he was weeding his potatoes.  When I got home I parked my butt on the patio to cool down.  June from down the way was walking by on her way home and she took a break and sat on the patio for her break.  Stauffer Avenue has groomed some very faithful walkers. 

  My afternoon was spent in the sewing studio.  I had not turned on the machine for several weeks.  I am going to finish a quilt that Megan started when she was here for Thanksgiving break in 2018.  Her world has changed since.  The ice skating had heavy schedules of practice non stop.  That shut down immediately with the virus.  She is pulling 26 hours a week at the Mustard Seed Nursery not far from her home.  I did check with Megan before planning on finishing it.  There will always be another option in a quilt shop if she so decides.

  I have supper under way and I think we will be having a quiet day tomorrow if the heat does what the weather man forecasts.  Take care, stay comfortable and for myself . . . I am thankful I sweat during hot times.

   
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  Noreen 3:03 pm on June 24, 2020 Permalink  

  What’s Not to Like 

  It’s a beautiful day.  I pushed myself to walk a bit farther today.  What made the difference was I had on my good walking shoes.  I tend to fancy them for the entire day.  That means that shoes are no longer taken off inside our home when we come in from the outside.  We have no carpeting in our home.  I am armed with Swiffers for our floors to take care of what may find its way to the flooring.  Mud . . . well that is another item.  No one wants mud drug in.  It’s a pain for us older folks when we need shoe horns to put on our shoes at the drop of the hat.  We are both cautious.    

  When we were in Mankato on Monday, I picked up a bottle of Turmeric Extract, 1400 mg.  Suggested dose is twice a day.  It also contains black pepper.  It is a dietary supplement for heart and joint.  Our family doctor mentioned it the last time Dennis and I were in the clinic . . . before the virus hit.  He is an avid reader and mentioned it to me for arthritis discomfort.  I have waved off taking chemical prescriptions for arthritis due to side effects that I had read up on . . . they didn’t sound good.  Kevin had sent me a video recently that also mentioned Turmeric.  Why not try it? I have used Turmeric in cooking for some time.  I also know that Dr. Oz has made mention of the benefits of Turmeric.  It is a rhizome found in India and other places.  Time will tell.  I have tried many things for the blessed arthritis.  Nothing helps arthritis more than staying active.  I am on that on a daily basis.

  We have each had a slow quiet day.  Soup and a sandwich is all that we will need for supper.  

  Dennis and I have been so blessed this spring.  We tackled what was before us.  Got it done in good stead and good workmanship.  And . . . I had decided to use my stimulus check on the improvements that we needed on our property.  That $1,200.00 bought the lumber that was needed for repairs on the garages, 4 gallons of $45.00 per gallon paint for the garages, the shutters that have been ordered for the three patio porch sliders, the new ridge roll for the garage, the labor for Mr. Moody to put the ridge roll on plus a few hours of his time, and 20 bags of Scott’s lawn dirt to take care of ruts from tree trimming.  Wow . . . I still have $170.00 left.  Talk about stretching the dollar.  Old people sure do get a bang for their buck!

  My hope is that everyone has positive feelings about 2020.  Dennis and I sure do.  Take care and catch you tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 3:18 pm on June 23, 2020 Permalink  

  True to Our Word 

  True to our word.  I slept in until 8:30 this morning.  I went about the house quietly as Dennis was in dream land.  I had promised myself I would take a walk this morning.  With all the busyness of painting the buildings and washing the garage, I had given myself permission that the exercise from walking was being more than made up for with the hours of bending, stooping and reaching.  When I got back from the walk, Dennis had just toddled out to the patio porch.  It was a restful morning for both of us.  There is nothing like walking to keep the joints moving in tandem.  Over the last month or so, there were times when I thought something had missed a cog in the rotation of said joints.

  This afternoon, I went to the west porch and read for a bit and Dennis took a nap in his recliner.  The restful day continued.

  When I finish up this short ditty on my blog, I will be cleaning strawberries.  George and Sheri are neighbors along Stauffer Avenue to the east. George has Leukemia and gardening is what he calls a huge part of his well being and therapy.  Sheri stopped by as she was on a strawberry delivery run.  Sweet.  Dennis will be enjoying strawberries on his ice cream after supper.

  We have had two and a half inches of rain within the last six days.  A downpour last Thursday of the two inches and Sunday brought about the half inch.  Today as Dennis napped we had two tenths of an inch of rain.  This will be very good for the new dirt and lawn seed east of our house. 

  I wished my brother Calvin a happy birthday this morning via an email.  At 73 years young, he is going to catch up with me.  No, not really . . . I can still outrun him. 

  What a great week for the first week of summer for our 2020.  Enjoy each day as you will never have a repeat of what this day has given us.  It may seem like a lot of little things . . . but when they become memories we realize how they have become such a huge part of who we are going forward.  I am speaking from experience.

   
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  Noreen 2:47 pm on June 21, 2020 Permalink  

  Father’s Day 2020 

  The day that we got for this Father’s Day is too great not to be outside.  I knew that I would have a batch of cinnamon rolls in the oven for brunch whenever Dennis wanted them.

  Hmm. I should have asked Dennis first and foremost what his plans were for the day.  After all it is his Father’s Day.  Dennis for sure had plans.  Dennis does do the mowing for Edna.  Edna’s property is adjacent to our property to the northeast.  Dennis already had cleared it with Edna that we could use her outside water faucet.  Her home in relationship to our garage that is on the east portion of our acre is a lot closer than our outside faucet.  There it is . . . Dennis’ plan for his Father’s Day.

  The garage that we have on the far east of our acre is 22′ x 30′.  When Dennis had been mowing he took in the fact that there was algae on the north side of the garage and the east side also had evidence of stuff.  Dennis wanted the garage to be washed off today.  I drove the pickup, Dennis sat on the back end gate allowing him to hold onto the handle of our hose reel so it could tag along behind and off we went.  Oh he was prepared. In the back of the pickup were several handled brushes, a gallon of soap to fill his container that would fit onto the end of the hose for washing, and his coffee cup.

  It was a huge job.  The best bet was to do one side of the garage at a time.  Rinse with water first getting one layer of grime off before changing the container for the soap to be applied and then rinse, rinse, rinse.  We have owned that portion of our acre since the year 2000.  We had done a wash job once right after we had purchased it.  Now it’s 2020 . . . it really needed it.  Dennis maned the hose and I was on brush duty.  I can tell you I got just as wet as the garage did.  Let’s just get in there and get it done.  

  Here we are at 3:30 on Father’s Day 2020.  We have caught our breath and have enjoyed those cinnamon rolls.  Brunch of Stauffer Avenue has no time frame.  Dennis is as happy and satisfied as one of his cats.  In fact, when I was clearing the table and I looked out the window to the patio porch, Snuggles was on Dennis’ lap and I am sure Snuggles is hearing all about the day that we have had.

  Yes, Dennis and I are weary.  Our limbs are weary.  No retiree has been harmed during this project.  Our evening meal is a treat from Carrie’s kitchen.  With our labor intensive projects on Stauffer Avenue, her gift of frozen meals has been very appreciated.

  I think the job jar for us will echo when the lid is taken off.

   
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  Noreen 3:34 pm on June 19, 2020 Permalink  

  Dirt Work 

  We had a day off yesterday when we went to visit my brother, Calvin, and his wife, Lois, in Decorah, Iowa.

  Today we reveled in the fact that we had two inches of rain yesterday in the late day.  Dennis wanted to mow in the eastern part of the acre.  I talked him into first taking me to Fleet and Farm.  We bought lawn dirt.  Dennis would do his thing and I would do mine.

  When the tree trimmer was at our property our neighbor to the north also had them do work on an Oak tree of theirs that had a lot of dead wood.  Ironically the tree guy couldn’t get at the dead wood via their yard.  My gracious ole cowboy spoke up and allowed the heavy truck with the lift basket to come onto our yard to manage their tree trimming.

  There is an old adage that says that “No good deed goes unpunished.”  Hmm.  Today we bought lawn dirt in two different trips.  We thought ten bags at a cubic foot each, thinking that would take care of the trenches from the heavy truck.  Nope.  It didn’t take long, I had used up those ten bags and we went back for ten more bags.  

  The investment of dirt was actually a benefit for my health.  I like to mow around the house with my faithful push mower.  The ruts and trenches were deep enough that I didn’t trust myself walking over them let alone push the mower over them.  I can be clumsy.  My titanium knees and shoulders are worth more than many more bags of dirt to have helped out a neighbor.

  Here we are at the end of a good Friday.  Dennis has 95% of the mowing done and I have the dirt work done.  The twenty cubic yards of dirt have filled in trenches and it is spread with additional fertilizer that was a freebie from Fleet. The grass seed that was spread has been watered down.  Yup!  We knocked it out of the park.  

  It is cleanup time for us two and settling in for a light supper.  Who knows what tomorrow brings!

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on June 17, 2020 Permalink  

  What Day is It? 

  Dennis finally broke it to me that I have been ahead of myself in what day of the week it actually was.  Hmm.  It was humbling.  Nothing serious had happened.  I hadn’t messed up any appointments . . . as I have none.  Being a hermit is quite idyllic.  

  I will admit that the warm weather has tuckered us out a bit earlier in each day as it has gone on.  The winds and the heat . . . we get done what is needed and then kick back.  Today was the day to get all the limbs and branches loaded from the east portion of the acre.  A huge cottonwood on the adjacent northwest lot has a lot of excess to share.  The home has renters dwelling within and they don’t look beyond their back door, so it is . . . get it done and get our yard cleaned up from all the strong winds.  The tree dump charges $2.00  per time.  It was worth it to be able to mow the yard at such time when we get rain.  As much as Dennis enjoys mowing, he has not even hinted at it.

  We did get the house numbers back up on the garage . . . making us compliant with city ordinances.  More important items could be monitored by the guy pulling a pay check from the city as he tools around in a city pickup.  I will not even poke at that.   

  It is 3:15 and our day has been called.  Dennis is in his rocking chair in the patio porch and I am mulling over how to put a quick light supper together.

  We may get some rain tomorrow and it may bring a wonderful weekend to enjoy.

   
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  Noreen 3:36 pm on June 16, 2020 Permalink  

  No Reprieve 

  This last week there has been no reprieve from the winds.  I do remember not too many days ago, Dennis went out of the house wearing a jacket as the north winds made it the right thing to do.  We had had four inches of rain and the grass was lush as the north winds blew through it.

  As of late . . . wham . . . the hot south winds have descended and with not a hint of rain, the grass has responded by crunching under foot.  

  Now that the out-buildings have been painted, it was time to walk the back portion of the acre and take in all the small branches that have come down in the course of this last week.  It was too many to walk back to the burning ring that Dennis has right off of the back patio.  We picked up the large ones that looked good on a pile.  The next size were the ones that were large enough to raise havoc with the mower blades.  Onto the pile they went.  I relied on my rake for the annoying ones as Dennis went to the patio porch to take a break.  The pile is large enough for Dennis to take his pickup to the back and we will need to make a trip to the tree dump.  That was the morning and by that time the heat of the day made us realize the trip to the tree dump would be another day.  There won’t be any mowing in the next several days so the pile will have a chance to settle in as the winds blow over it.  The pile has no chance of blowing away.

  Yesterday after we had cleaned up all things related to painting,  we did take one more thing off of the tick list.  We have mentioned for years that rock was needed in between the pickup garage and the potting shed.  It would surely allow for a layer of drainage with the rain and the melting snow and less black dirt to splash on the siding.  Dennis made a trip to the city shop and cleared the fact that we would be purchasing some rock from the city off of the stock pile not far from Stauffer Avenue.  With the back of the pickup full of pails . . . off we went.  We chose the same rock that is used for street work.  The river rock is such that it is hard to navigate over when it would need to be walked over between the buildings. As I mentioned . . . one more item off of the tick list. 

  I rummaged around in the potting shed and came up with a new look for the newly-painted potting shed wall over the Koi pond.  Re-purposing items from times past . . . you can’t beat it.   Dennis likes it as it looks tidy.

  This afternoon, with the heat having settled in, it is pretty quiet here on Stauffer Avenue.  True to our form, we tackled the worst first . . . that being the branches that needed to be corralled.  We have agreed on Tacos for supper.