Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from April, 2020 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:54 pm on April 25, 2020 Permalink  

  Snapped 

  Yesterday Dennis and I were going at it like we had had new rubber bands installed in our get-up and go.  I am here to tell you my rubber band has done snapped.

  I do believe if I had gotten up and hit it the mojo would have kicked in.  What we discovered yesterday after the Koi were in the pond . . . we had no food left from last fall.  Those fish had been in the horse tank in the garage all late fall and winter hibernating.  Now they are swimming laps and they need nourishment.  We got the Lincoln out of the garage and headed to Pet Expo in Mankato.  Going for a car ride mellows one out.  This would be our huge excursion since we had left home last weekend.

  We needed the break.  We have been hitting all the marks getting Stauffer Avenue opened up from the winter.  Unfortunately, Dennis also hit the garage floor on Thursday.  He was doing such a great job of cleaning his garage floor to rid it of an oil leak . . . that has since been taken care of.  Shoes with the soles worn smooth was no match for the bubbles and slick floor.  It took a bit to get Dennis up.  No . . . I didn’t dust him off as I needed to first see if he had either broken something or if he would be okay.  Yup, by the grace of God he was on his feet and moving without pain.  The aches came on Friday.  A few black and blue marks and stiffness.  Dennis did keep moving throughout the day on Friday as he knew if he didn’t, he would really get stoved up.  Today was a good day to totally take a break from Stauffer Avenue.

  The Koi went right after the fish food sticks when Dennis threw some into the pond.  There are six fish for the season.  Five Koi and Dorothy.  Dorothy is a transplant.  Megan and Nicolas had gotten Dorothy when she was a mite swimming in one of those small glass bowls that were showcased at the end of isles before the Moms and Dads checked out of big box stores.  A real gimme for the kids, Dorothy is now a good six inches long and doesn’t mind hanging with the Koi.  When Nicolas brought Dorothy from Eden Prairie, she was in a baggie with some water.  The ideal situation is to add some of the new water that will be enjoyed by the fish for some acclamation.  Dorthy went from the warm water of being in a car with sunlight perhaps shining on her to . . . plop, in ya go.  

  It is a bit cool out today and looks as if it could rain.  Tomorrow is a new day with new things that present themselves.  Dennis and I try to live as it is our last opportunity to take care of what we have.  Being good stewards of what He has allowed us, is a mighty big job.

   
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  Noreen 3:59 pm on April 24, 2020 Permalink  

  Not Bedtime Yet 

  It’s 4:30 and no bedtime any time soon.  I think someone has installed new rubber bands in us. 

  Our home is small but we are blessed with a lot of windows to let the sunshine in.  With the house being washed off, Dennis is right.  It’s time to do the windows.  Our west porch has eight of the lovelies.  They all tip in . . . a huge plus.  When Dennis had gone to the dollar store to pick up cheap soap to wash the house down, it was a no brainer . . . the cheapest that there is.  We both thought the house siding looked great with the grime washed off.

  What I noticed today when I started on the west porch windows . . . there were no hard water spots.  St. James has the hardest water imaginable.  In years prior, it took foaming Lime Away to cut the water spots and then the Windex washing could begin to have windows that would let the sunshine in.  Today it was a matter of using Windex and lint free cloths for a quick job of the outside of the windows.  Dennis went back to the store and brought another gallon of “Sun Laundry Soap” home.  As I said, it was the cheapest product.  More than likely in the fall when we do the house again, they will have changed companies to purchase things from.  Who knew!  The west porch is deemed to be cleaned from top to bottom.

  Dennis was no slouch outside, either.  The Koi are in the pond doing laps.  They will begin eating in earnest and get some color back into them.  The horse tank from the garage is out and cleaned from the garage.  The car garage floor has gotten a cleaning with many winter items now being put into the potting shed.  The acre has been treated for crab grass control with an additive of nitrogen, both in a granular form.  

  We have decided to order from the Eagles Club for supper.  They are doing take-0ut via their back door.  

  We are getting close to calling it a day.  Whew!

   
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  Noreen 3:21 pm on April 23, 2020 Permalink  

  4 P.M. Thursday 

  It’s 4 pm . . . is it bedtime yet?  There are some days when the work around our yard is similar to finding a trail of jelly beans.  You take up one bean and oh, look . . . there is another one, etc.  

  After I came back from my walk, Dennis had our small stepladder out next to the bathroom window.  Of all of our windows the bathroom two windows are the only two that need to be done from the outside.  Yesterday Dennis washed the house and it then follows that the windows would be next.  I do not let Dennis up on a ladder, no matter how slight the height.  Windex, rags and me with Dennis at the side of the ladder and those two windows did get done.

  We have taken the sump pump off of the underground tile and have a heavy black hose taking the water to the street.  The area around the underground tile was a huge swamp.  That swamp was now a divot with a hard crust around it as the water evaporated.  It needed to be raked to let the air get to the soil  That was my next task as Dennis was determined to get lawn chairs out of the potting shed.  It is getting nice enough to sit on the patio and catch one’s breath.  We have realized that the plastic chairs have a knack of allowing cobwebs to catch on the underside of the seat.  Where there are cobwebs there are spider eggs.  It has happened to me to have spider bites on my legs.  Dennis had plenty of soap to put through his sprayer and he went to work getting the chairs ready to enjoy.

  The lilacs have signs that we will have beautiful blossoms.  When I looked at the deep purple bush, I noticed that there were Night Shade plants around the base of the bush.  Those plants get nasty and vine to twine themselves to the Lilac branches.  I started on finding their bases and began untangling.  Their roots are very shallow and easy to pull out.  Those nasties plus a huge amount of dried pine needles that pile up next to the sidewalk and small branches are now in Dennis’ burning ring. The front yard has been tidied.

  I kind of thought we had a good day . . . Dennis disagreed.  Out came everything in the pickup garage and the pickup was left in the driveway.  The garden hose needed to be drug through the car garage and the plan became to scrub and wash the pickup garage floor.  There had been an oil leak that has now been fixed on the pickup.  Kevin had given Dennis several gallons of pink degreaser.  Some of that went into Dennis’ sprayer and away we went cleaning the concrete floor.  The city always sprays down Stauffer Avenue twice a year for dust control.  I think it is calcium chloride.  That muck drags into the garage on the tires.  Over time with snow and ice dripping off of the tires and gravel that stick on to the tires . . . it almost makes the perfect confection for a hard clay.  The floor has been brush scrubbed, ice scrapper used on the hardest of spots and rinsed, rinsed and rinsed.  All is drying with lots of air going through the garage.  

  Again . . . let’s call it a day.  Not.  The plants that have been in the patio porch are now out on a shelf of two 2″ x 6″ planks over the west end of the Koi pond.  When I came in, I was assured Dennis was not going to tackle any more for the day.  Dennis has been on a role this spring, but caution still needs to be adhered.  

  Yup . . . whether it is acknowledged by Dennis, bedtime will be sweet.

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on April 21, 2020 Permalink  

  It’s the Prep 

  We have an agenda for when the weather will actually stay over 50 degrees for several days at a time.  Exterior paint was put on the agenda last fall for this spring.  The garages and the patio porch are in need of some new faces.  Now that’s not all bad.  99% of it can be done standing flat footed on the ground.  I know the last time the gable of the car garage, I tackled on the ladder.  I won’t be doing that this year.  We have a grandson to tap for that this year.  

  Dennis was doing prep work today.  The dollar store sells a gallon of soap of some weird brand quite reasonably.  We have saved a Windex window washing container for several years.  The soap goes in . . . it is attached to the water hose and it has the ability to spray out water mixed with soap or turn a small knob and it is plain water for rinsing.  It is amazing how much of the old paint was chipping off by the spray of water and soap.  It will make less scrapping when the time is right.  I know before long the entire house will have a “Dennis Wash Job.”  

  As I have mentioned prior, my ole cowboy has been moving right along.  His energy level I think is wonderful.  To date:  there are no branches that need to be picked up from the winter, the mowers are ready to role and now the first layers of grit and grime are being washed off of the garages.  I did start him on a supplement and he has been on that for a month as of now.  Whether the supplement is working or if he believes it is working, I will take it.  

  By the way . . . the hotdish from last night was tasty.  The quartered brussel sprouts made a windrow on one side of Dennis’ plate.  I let it pass.  The rest of the ingredients were enjoyed.  Yes . . . we will be having leftovers this evening.  I might just pick out the sprouts before they hit his plate and save him that task.

  I may not win each excursion, but . . . I plan on winning the war.  Being in charge of our care is a challenge that is worth my energy, time and scheming.

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on April 20, 2020 Permalink  

  Hang On 

  What a season of winds!  After I had taken care of what needed to be tidied in the house, Dennis mentioned that maybe my walk should be done sooner than later.  His forecast was that the winds would only get stronger as the day went on and there might be rain.  I checked the computer and 45 degrees was doable for walking.  

  I checked before I left home as to what Dennis had on his plate.  Oil needed to be changed in our Sears rider lawnmower as well as the Cub-lo-Boy mower.  Dennis had coffee on board and I knew he would take a break or two during this.  As an ole 18 wheeler trucker, Dennis does know how to take care of the mowers . . . me not so much.  The extent of my portion of the mowers is . . . pushing mine.

  Saturday as we came back into town from our road tip we had stopped at the grocery store and picked up a rotisserie roasted chicken for supper.  For us, it is a lot of chicken, but . . . bones out it speaks to a chicken pasta hotdish within several days.  Today was the day!  I had a package of small egg noodles that would pass for the hotdish.  Lots of cubed chicken.  There was a lonely package of frozen brussel sprouts that was weary of being pushed around.  Those sprouts were quartered and will add great color in the mix with the Alfredo sauce.  Though not Dennis’ favorite vegetable, he will enjoy them when they are outnumbered by the other ingredients in a hotdish.  This hotdish will actually take me out of the kitchen for tonight’s supper as well as tomorrow night’s fare.  I love leftovers.

  As of today my itchy, bitchy hexagons are one.  They have been gathered, paired and rearranged multiple times to find just the right configuration.  There was no one right answer.  Within my stashes, I found a good green to use for the border.  The green border actually made me like this project a bit more.  It mellowed it out.  The backing is sewn together and ironed with a tone of the golds that are within the hexagons.  That is as far as I took it today.  All I have on hand is a king sized package of batting, aka: 12o” x 12o”.  It will take a bit of doing to decide where I take out the 55″ x 65″ to allow the remaining batting is be a good fit for the next project. 

  By the way . . . today the evergreens in our backyard were not whispering . . . they were howling with the 20 mph winds.

   
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  Noreen 2:52 pm on April 15, 2020 Permalink  

  Ice on the Pond 

  Dennis had been gearing up for the Koi to come out of the winter sheltered horse tank.  Not!  The ice has formed a shroud around the bubbles.  In several days, all will be better.

  I am working on hexagons.  I think when my friend had cut out hundreds of triangles and grouped them by six, she had no idea what the end goal would or could be.  I am dubbing it my Coronavirus project. So many seams that need to be pressed open.  Over 80 plus hexagon blocks that do not resemble one to another, all being cut out of the same piece of fabric yardage.  I am determined to forge ahead.  I am not going anywhere anytime soon and I think if I had to sit and look out the window all day long, I could and would be crabby.   I have always enjoyed challenges.  This one will not break me.  Getting the hang of sewing these blocks together was trial and error.  After laying them all out, I realized if I took the top half of one hexagon and the bottom half of the next hexagon in the row, I would eventually have a straight seam to sew one length onto another.  Hmm.  If my estimate is correct, it will be approximately 45″ x 62″ for a border to then be added.   

  It has been noted what a blessing the new Husky sewing table has been as a replacement for the heavy wood table that I had been using for decades. The height adjustment of the Husky has made a huge difference on my neck and shoulders.  After so many years of not having to think about what I slid my sewing chair up to . . . being open to something new has worked out well.  Dennis’ trip to Mankato to visit Home Depot worked out well.

  I canceled on the walk again today.  Too cold.  Too windy.  As with the Koi pond . . . it will be better soon.

   
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  Noreen 2:54 pm on April 8, 2020 Permalink  

  Fleet and Farm Trips 

  Dennis was off for his monthly visit to the VA clinic in our town.  INR, aka: checks on Warfarin to make sure the clotting if cut or injured is on a safe level.  

  I headed out with my red stocking cap and gloves for my walk.  What a difference from yesterday.  As I was rounding the corner coming home, Dennis was right behind me.

  Over lunch we had a visit in regard to our sump pump situation as it pumps out to the north portion of our lot.  We didn’t have a lot of lineal feet before the neighbor’s drive way area.  That underground drainage never gets a chance to dry out and it appears more like a swamp.  It is becoming evident as the lay of the land is . . . a huge divot.  

  Several trips to our Fleet Farm store.  Dennis is now working on taking off the exterior attachment when the water pumps up and out of the perimeter of the tile around the house to the underground tile.  A black hard rubber hose will be attached at the house taking the water out to the curb.  Of course nothing can be bought that works from the get go.  The lengths are 25 feet and it will take several to do the trick.  The piece to attach two of the lengths is taking some time to file down to make the fit work.  Now . . . why wouldn’t they have the correct diameter to match the hoses that they carry. Dennis has the steel wool brush on the grinder and is taking it slow.  Many stops to check, check.  

  Worst case scenario once that portion of the yard is dried out, some bags of garden soil will bring it back up to grade.

  In between time I tackled a pair of jeans to shorten.  It always amazes me how heavy denim is.  It doesn’t like to be corralled and bunched up.  A sewing needle that looks a bit like a mini spear to puncture the harsh fabric finish had to be dug out.

  The hotdish from last night is out of the refrig to take the edge off of the cold to oven temperature.  Leftovers are priceless! 

  The Lena Fern Peonies and the Fairfax tulips don’t know what to make of these changes from day to day.  Should they grow . . . should they take cover until sunny days come one after another.   

  It sure doesn’t feel like Easter week.  Sad times.

   
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  Noreen 2:10 pm on April 7, 2020 Permalink  

  Boon Lake – Part 7 

  Boon Lake Township seemed to be a great fit.  It seemed like our forever home.

  In the spring of 1967, I had a job opportunity.  Boon Lake Township needed a local assessor.  And . . . I was an assessor!  Dad was on the Boon Lake Township board and he came over to sell me on it.  I would be taking my directions from the county office in Olivia.  I would be responsible to contacting all land owners in the township via driving up to each farmstead.  At that time there was a Personal Property tax as well as Real Estate taxes.  There were forms that queried each land owner.  The questions asked pertained to the number of head of livestock, machinery and also some for household goods. 

  For several months of work that included a vehicle to cover 36 sections, 640 acres each, that comprised Boon Lake Township, the pay was $200.00.  I jumped at it.  The work was in the spring of the year.  Orlin and I would hustle to get the morning chores done and then Carrie, in her plastic seat, and I hit the trails.  It wasn’t like the farmers were taken by surprise.  This yearly quest had been going on for years . . . it was just a new face with the old and usual riggers.  Carrie and I did a great job.  At the end of the work, I had $200.00 extra for groceries and we had enough Cheerios on the floor of the car to feed several orphans.  Looking back, that two month ditty turned into a profession that lasted me to the age of 65 when I retired as the Watonwan County Assessor.  Who would have guessed!

  Thanksgiving of 1967 we had news for the families that we would be having a baby in 1968.  I felt physically great.  No morning sickness.  Chores was handled as usual.  The cows had produced calves in the late fall of 1967 and we had a few that Orlin could take to the sales barn in Hutchinson.  We fed back much of the oats, corn and hay crop from the growing season into our animals.  We had gotten better with the farrowing of pigs, saving each and every one of the wiggly pink ones.  We were getting the hang of this farming.  Dad always kidded Orlin that he was too thin.  It was actually all lean muscle mass.   

  In the early days of 1968, with pride, we shipped a runt Holstein calf that had bulked up extremely well. Before Carrie was born, my teeth went seriously bad.  I gave birth to my first child with front teeth missing.  Dad had given us a runt of a calf to feed up and grow up.  That calf was earmarked to finish paying off the dentist.  The dentist in Buffalo Lake did a great job of fitting me with a full top plate of teeth.  We had been paying off a few dollars all along and sometimes got behind.  About the time the calf was going to market, the remaining balance on the dentist bill was turned over to a collection agency.  It was with pride and relief when we could get that cleared up.  Whew!

  —– to be continued.

  Today is April 7th and a great day.  I couldn’t resist going and doing a bit of raking.  If I made the piles, Dennis took the silage fork to beef up his burning ring.   I had noticed a huge amount of flies among some of the leaves.  It looked like there had been something wet put on the leaves.  Hmm.  With my neck brace on I had not looked up very high.  Dennis  realized that our huge Maple tree had a run of sap running down the huge trunk.  In all the years, we had never seen anything like it.   

  Dennis has made a tuna hotdish for supper.  Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 4:47 pm on February 29, 2020 Permalink  

  40s and Sunny 

  This is the type of weather that temps me to dust off my walking shoes.  Close but not yet.  I have managed to stay upright thus far this winter season and my walking trail will still be there if the temps get up in the 50s.

  This morning I heard Dennis get up and I made sure to say good morning to him.  l knew he would take coffee and head to the patio porch.  I stayed in bed and took in the scene outside of the window.  There wasn’t much breeze.  The evergreen boughs gently swayed.  Occasionally the birds took shelter on one of the branches.  It was so peaceful to take in the morning while the world outside was still relatively quiet.  When I did get up I couldn’t believe I had whiled away a half of an hour taking in the new day.  This is the peace that passes all understanding: thanking the Lord for a good night’s rest and a second thank you for the blessings of being able to have another day.  I really do try and do better each day.    

  Dennis and I went to a funeral today of one of Dennis’ friends from times ago.  Paul also served in the Korean War.  Both Dennis and Paul attended a monthly noon luncheon in Mankato on the first Monday of every month.  Family and friends were in abundance today for the memorial of 80-year-old Paul.

  On the way home, I asked Dennis what he thought of the service.  His response was quick . . . “Nope! I don’t want any of that when it’s my time.”  The response didn’t surprise me.  Pulling out all the trivia of a lifetime on this earth for all to stand over and comment isn’t Dennis.  As it was a good friend of Dennis’ today, I needed to be sure I understood and understand what Dennis’ wishes may be in the future.  Both Dennis and I agree that our families are the only ones to be there for each of us at that time.  Dennis and I live quietly and thus we will meet our maker when the time comes.

  May Sunday bring all that you need to feel the grace and quiet that lives within.

   
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  Noreen 4:42 pm on February 19, 2020 Permalink  

  False Positive 

  Some things in life are more difficult than others.  For my ole cowboy it may be believing what I have to offer as advice and not just blowing smoke up his butt.  The diagnose for him was Gout.  To alleviate the pain Dennis was put on five days of Prednisone.  I visited with Dennis that in several days of taking this medication, he would have a false positive in how he felt.  Yup!  On the third day Dennis was at the walk behind snowblower just giving it hell.  When I flagged him down, it was a no go, he was doing fine.  After the second and third day of trying to convince him to leave the snow blowing go, he was getting down right feisty with me. 

  That third day of blowing snow, he commented at supper that his right knee felt tight.  I offered to ice it and follow with heat . . . he blew me off.  Yesterday morning Dennis struggled to get to his coffee group and get the shell corn from the elevator.  By supper last night, he thought about getting the electric 16 lb. chainsaw in and just cut the leg -off.  Today Dennis understands the “false positive” of medications.  My 83-year-young cowboy had totally overdone it.  His three days of blazing trails in the snow may take a bit longer than three days to get over.  It’s a good thing that we had Lena’s four-legged cane for him to use getting from the house to the patio porch.  Inside the house the walker is being used.  The knee is not swollen, nor is the leg, it just got a damn good work out. 

  On a brighter side our “Hang-Up Pro” vac came in the mail from Amazon.  After lunch Dennis got it unpacked and gave it a run on the floors.  It is going to be a perfect fit for the main floor of our home.  The 16 feet of hose makes it easy to cover a huge area without moving the main unit.  Just as we had hoped it fits perfectly on the attic steps.  Luck would have it . . . the unit such as this that we have in the porch and garage is cylindrical, and this one is the same style and weight and it is oblong . . . perfect fit for the step.

  I have had a great day.  My mammogram was this morning and from the nurse it all looks good and I will receive verification in the mail in several days.  I had my paperwork with me and I went back to the courthouse in regard to Dennis’ birth certificate being on record with the wrong spelling . . . “Denise.”  The gal had never seen a “Certificate of Registration of Birth” that we found in Dennis’ baptismal certificate.  The gal made a phone call to . . . somewhere, faxed off a copy of the certificate I had and a minute later I was informed that within the hour a corrected copy of his birth certificate could be had. Wow!  This all started when Dennis and I wanted to get the “Real I.D.” for each of us in case we traveled into Canada or wanted to travel by air within the U.S.A.  How do those who fail to check on their own business fare in life!

  Great day on Stauffer, the cowboy will heal, and we are having leftover meatloaf and stuffing with a side of a freshly baked potato.