Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from December, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 6:16 pm on December 4, 2019 Permalink  

  First Time 

  Today was the first time I went with Dennis to his Korean Veterans meeting and luncheon.  There was only one fellow who was younger than 83-year-old Dennis and he has suffered a stroke making his mobility less than he would like.  It was a good experience and the letter of the law, or I should say Robert’s Rules of Order was followed to the “T.”  I do give this group of men and women credit for continuing the comradery.  The gals who are there were nurses in the Korean Police Action.  Yes, it grips them all that it couldn’t be called the Korean War.   Politics had its hand in things then as well as it is now.  

  Our neighbor is going to feed the deer.  Jan puts out a coffee can of corn each night thus far.  Dennis decided that today we would go to Mills Fleet Farm.  Dennis bought alfalfa pellets.  He doesn’t plan on overfeeding this early in the season.  The real deal is that I bought a container of the Old Fashioned Quaker Oats.  Dennis is not in like with it for his morning meal.  That container of oatmeal is out in a pan.  When the deer have eaten that he will pony up the rest of the story.  There is a lot of winter yet to be.  We did also pick up a bag of cracked corn.  With no ice anywhere, this is when we feel we should stock up and not take a gainer when the footing is not secure.  Staying upright is the goal here on Stauffer Avenue.

  After picking up a few groceries we treated ourselves to a piece of pie and a cup of coffee in Baker’s Square.  It felt good to sit down and enjoy the treat.

  We are now safe at home and the groceries are put where they belong.  It is a personal irk of mine when the groceries have been purchased and the contents still cannot be gotten out of the packaging.  Ya, I have irks, I just don’t dwell on them.

   
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  Noreen 2:40 pm on December 1, 2019 Permalink  

  A Five Day Run 

  As of today we have had a five day run of weather issues.  It can’t last forever . . . well, we do live in Minnesota.

  Dennis is back at Jackson today.  Even with the roads being less than good he did arrive safely this morning.  By the time he comes home this evening, it may have been warm enough to clear the ice.  The way our wind chimes have been going at it off of the northwest corner of the house, I would think the glazing from blowing snow could be an issue.  My hope . . . that this has cooled Dennis off for a while of being out on less than good roads.

  I piddled around in the sewing studio, thinking on the UFO that is staring me in the face.  Unfinished objects are not my favorite to have around.  This unfinished item is the highchair of Dennis’.  Right from the start there was no way to get all of the old paint off of the soft wood that was used decades ago.  Dipping it in lye is what it would have taken.  No one around here does that anymore and I don’t think investing in that would make this $5.00 chair any more of a bargain.

  Sometimes with DIY projects you go with what you’ve got.  I have dug around the supplies that we have on hand and tomorrow I will get serious. 

  Taking time for a cup of coffee . . .ya . . . I have cut down but every once in awhile it just seems to be the best solution when trying to find a solution.  I sat in the house’s front porch and watched traffic go by.  Out of the corner of my eye, I caught movement.  In the far northwest a deer was running through the lawns and then onto our street before heading down Stauffer Avenue.  Off to our southeast is a huge amount of tree cover for them.  Dennis knew the deer were about as he saw tracks in our backyard making a bee-line for our neighbor’s bird feeder.  We aren’t sure if we will be putting corn out for them this year.  It’s a bit early and I can’t believe that they don’t have a fairly good supply of food as yet.  A bit later a pair of Cardinals were outside the porch window getting a drink of water from the area where our sump pump pools.  Amazing what can be taken in when you sit still for a bit.

  December is upon us.  Tomorrow Megan will be 16 years old.  Her birthday is on Lena’s birthday.  Mom was very proud of that.  I am happy for Megan as opportunities abound for her.  I am also sad when I think of the world that she is growing up into.  Perhaps the changes that I see as bad have come along in these 16 years and Megan doesn’t know the difference.  Hmm.

   
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  Noreen 4:41 pm on November 10, 2019 Permalink  

  We Show Up 

  Today we motored to Mankato.  Dennis’ great granddaughter Lux was five today.  Last month we were in Mankato for  great granddaughter Luella who was two.   The month before that is was Charlie B’s second birthday.  Oliver turned six in late fall.  There are a total of eight great grandchildren that we are invited to their parties.  When we get invited . . . we show up at every possibility.  Why not!  A chance to see children having a good time, brings a good feeling to us.

  It was good to get home this afternoon.  We drove in snowflakes that fluttered.  We have no idea what the forecast is . . . it doesn’t matter.  We take the days the way they come.

  When I got home I took several Aleve Gel Caplets.  The neck and shoulders can’t wait to get back to physical therapy on Tuesday.  Does the fact that there is pain surprise me . . . no. 

  Last week as I was doing something, a memory of this time of the year, several decades ago, flooded my mind.  At the time we were burning wood in a Warm Morning wood and coal stove.  I was driving school bus for the Buffalo Lake Public Schools in the mornings and in the afternoon routes.  In between times, I was in the backyard chopping wood as we were filling the wood storage for the winter.  I was actually pretty good at it.  Between Orlin and I we would have the storage room filled before the snow would cover the pile of wood, yet to be chopped.

  Bill and Esther Miller lived a stone’s throw across the tar road from us.  It was not unusual that right after their noon dinner, Bill would wave me over for a cup of coffee to share with them.  Bill thought I needed a break.  Both were very fragile and in their early 80s.  Bill and Esther never had a family and visitors to their home were far and few in between.  They were two very sweet individuals.  I digress. 

  There has always been physical activity, and some labor intensive that was a part of my life.  I was a farm kid, I was a farm wife and I have always known how to show up when there was work to do.  There is a promise I hope to keep for myself this winter . . . no snow removal.  My heart tells me “get out there and do it!’  The reality is that I hope my God-given logic will override the heart in this respect.  I don’t bounce back as quickly as I have in the past when I overdo it.  The saving grace is that I do go for help when the pain lingers.  Nothing eats up energy as much as physical pain.  Hell’s bells.  I have plans and those plans are doable.  Those plans do not involve incapacitating myself.  Good grief . . . I hope I have learned my lesson and that includes listening to Dennis when he gives me his warning lectures.  

  It goes to show that Mom knew what she was talking about when she was in her early 90s.  “I’m still watching you for signs of improvement.”  That statement had come to be a long standing comment from her.  She would spout it and have the most wonderful twinkle in her blues eyes the entire time it took her to say it.

  This winter season I will show up to all those things that I can handle while doing no harm.

   
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  Noreen 4:40 pm on November 6, 2019 Permalink  

  They Did Warn Us 

  They did say snow was coming.  I don’t think we were expecting such a huge dump for the first snow.  It started yesterday late afternoon.  It wasn’t quite done yet at lunch time today.  Talk about wet.  Those stalwart leaves hanging on for dear life, didn’t stand a chance.  With brisk winds they danced across the snow.  I could almost hear the Sugar Plum Fairy tune as I watched them.

  Did Dennis wait to see how much of it would stick onto the concrete as it still held some warmth?  NO! He was at it full force.  I didn’t even think of commenting that a warmer cap or waterproof boots might be a good thing.  I let it go.  Just like the Disney’s Frozen movie song . . . “Let it go . . . let it go.”  A guy has to do what a guy has to do.

  It was difficult for me to put my hands in my pockets to resist going out and pushing snow.  I put my energies into cleaning the refrigerator.  Our refrigerator can be gutted like a 20 lb. turkey.  Every shelf and drawer comes out.  All the shelves on the door can be removed.  Suds and hot water was all I needed to get everything washed and swiped.  The difficult portion of it was getting it all back inside. 

  When Dennis came in from blowing the driveway off he had a puzzled look on his face as one of the chairs from the dining room was in front of the open refrigerator.  It was easier sitting and being at a lower level to manipulate some of the interior shelves and such rather than bending the neck and twisting the shoulders.

  Let’s just say, we both met our objectives for the day.  Yup, fair warnings need to be heeded.  Umph!  What . . . no Indian summer?

   
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  Noreen 5:45 pm on November 4, 2019 Permalink  

  Hmm 

  It doesn’t really excite me, when I left for my walk this morning, I noticed snow shovels by the back door.  It cannot be said that Dennis is not prepared.

  I have changed my route in the last several days for my walk.  My knees are telling me, I may need to rethink that.  Walking on gravel is very different than the hard surface of the tar road.  I know I have been given a medical explanation of this in times past.  My ole body doesn’t mince messages.

  Dennis found “people” today.   Dennis has been hinting about having our own burning pit for some time.  One never knows when we have overstayed our welcome with our neighbor Bob when using his fire pit.  We now have a fairly large tire rim for an area east of the patio porch.  Ironically it will fit right over a shrub that Dennis is not in like with.  It seems to be annoying him when he is mowing.  

  I spent some time baking and getting winter coats out so they are handy.  

  Our UPS depot is open from 4 – 6 p.m. for getting parcels out of town.  Larry’s wife Jennifer should be getting her stitched out items in the next several days.  I know the farming is going full bore for them.  After the field work is completed we are at the edge of holiday schedules.  Our schedules may not agree for a personal hand off.  We felt this was the best way to deliver our goods to the farm.

  Each day comes with blessings.  I don’t need to look very hard or wait very long to be in the midst of blessings abound. 

  Hmm, I hope it is a long, long time before we need to use those shovels waiting at our back door.

   
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  Noreen 3:32 pm on November 3, 2019 Permalink  

  Some Farmers 

  Some farmers only pick rock off of their fields after the spring thaw has pushed them up through the soil before the spring field work starts.  Here on Stauffer Avenue we have picked rock on this third day of November in 40 degree temperatures.

  Decades ago, my friends Doreen, Judy and I would go hunting for plants and rocks to do our flowerbeds.  What’s not to like about attractive rocks adorning plants!  

  Last fall when we took down the huge square garden east off of the patio porch, the rocks in that area were removed for the tilling and grass seeding.  Today, as a testament of my hope of lessening the gardens even more so, more rocks were removed from the hosta beds and piled.  At some time, Dennis will use one of his nephew’s handy dandy skid loaders and take the pile off of our yard to a rock cemetery east of our property.  One small step at a time to get my mind set in regard to the spring of 2020. 

  As I was dismantling flowerbeds it brought thoughts . . . Doreen passed away this last summer and Judy is totally blind.  It seemed fitting that some of our yard be put to rest as well.

  Towards the end, Dennis caved and put the battery in the Sears rider mower.  One last pass on the leaves.  Dennis felt it was worth it to hit them one more time as long as they were dry enough to be crushed and mulched.

  All the while we were digging up and picking up rocks, there was a beef soup simmering on the kitchen range.  Beef, beef broth, rice, carrots, corn, green beans, butter beans and celery smothered together for a hearty evening meal.  

  The farmer that dwells in both of us, keeps on finding things to button up before we can’t.  Time is running out.

   
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  Noreen 3:04 pm on November 2, 2019 Permalink  

  Quiet on The Acre 

  Today the sewing studio is closed for the day.  As of yesterday afternoon there are no UFOs in the studio . . . “unfinished objects.”  I have a few ideas in the hopper, but nothing is going to be started this weekend.

  This morning there was a load of laundry started in conjunction with dust bunnies being called out.  Calling it a good start to “local effort” I headed out for my walk.  My day seems to go better with a walk having been had in the mornings. 

  Yesterday a fellow down the way on Stauffer Avenue stopped and ask Dennis if there was any chance of having the bricks that have been piled next to the potting shed.  In times past I had used them to outline flower beds.  Dennis had convinced me that it made it difficult to mow around them as well as till the flower beds.  Dennis gave him the nod and he began loading them up.

  By last night Dennis didn’t know if he had taken as many bricks as he needed as there were still a goodly amount left.  This morning the fellow was back.  The bricks that he took yesterday were already cemented in to the front of his house, and he came back for the remaining ones.  From our point of view it was a good neighborly transaction. 

  There had been broken flower pots that had been used as garden art around some of the hosta.  Today the broken flower pots are no more.  Tidy, tidy.  Yes . . . this Grammie is serious about lessening the gardens.  Perhaps if the deer keep coming back and doing the trimming in the far east hosta bed, they will have assisted me.

  Dennis is making supper tonight.  We are having smorgasbord via Dennis.  It is fried leftover mashed potatoes, cut up Jimmy Dean pre-cooked sausages, diced onions that have been sweated and browned, topped with several eggs that are broken and spread over the fare . . . left just long enough to have them cooked gently.  It is actually tasty.  The Home Town Restaurant here in town started this on their Saturday Night bar menu years ago.  They did the American fries. Dennis is using up leftover mashed potatoes.   Hey . . . any night I don’t have to lift a ladle is great with me.   

  Tonight we turn our clocks back.  It will take me a few morning to get used to it.  

  I think it will be quiet on the acre tomorrow as well.  It’s a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 3:22 pm on October 30, 2019 Permalink  

  I Think Mother Nature Means Business 

  When I looked at the temps before I went walking this morning, I was a bit taken aback when it said the air chill felt like 18 degrees.  I suited up and headed out.  Dressed warmly, I didn’t mind the brisk air.  I always take my phone along in the jacket pocket.  Being safe is what being 75 is all about.

  Dennis couldn’t resist one more swipe at the leaves.  The Hackberry had a blanket of pretty green leaves on the east end of the acre that had chosen overnight to fall . . . no more!  I must say, the yard is ready for the next blanket of covering.  I knew Dennis would put the battery of the Cub-Lo-Boy into the garage for winter’s keeping.  At that point,  I knew . . . Dennis would be calling it quits for being the summer and fall grounds keeper on Stauffer Avenue.  God willing there will be a break before the snowblower has to be brought out.

  Dennis filled the gas tank on the Cub before taking it to the back garage.  I stood by and watched.  It’s what I do.  As Dennis lifted the five gallon gasoline container to the hood of the tractor, there was a dribble that hit the hood of the tractor consistently.  With the weight being what it was, Dennis was leaning onto the hood of the tractor.  I waited until Dennis was finished and then asked for the nylon down-filled jacket as I offered him a trade.  I could just imagine Dennis lighting a cigarette, not realizing how soaked the jacket had become with gas.  Yup . . . Grammie’s ever watchful of the ole cowboy.  I took the jacket into the laundry and sprayed with with Shout and then into the washing machine it went.

  Mother Nature means business, but so do I.  There are plenty of things that can go happen-stance without pushing Lady Luck.

  Dennis and I took all the empty gas cans up to the corner station to fill them.  Dennis added some Sta-bil into each of the three containers.  We are set for a time when the snowblower needs to be  started.  The electric power cord to start the snowblower is right where it needs to be for ease of using. 

  I do believe the older ones on Stauffer Avenue can breathe easy for a day or two.  I am not betting that Dennis won’t come up with something . . . he has been on quite a roll.   Me . . . I’ll always have something going in the sewing studio.

   
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  Noreen 3:45 pm on October 29, 2019 Permalink  

  It Continues 

  I believe it was last Wednesday when I was released from physical therapy by Mike T. for a naughty hip.  I have been walking a bit every day since.  It feels great.

  The first thing that I did when I came home that day of being released was get onto the portal for my Mayo Clinic site and ask my general practitioner for a prescription to be able to have physical therapy for my upper back and neck.  The chiropractor that my GP had suggested who also did acupuncture said he couldn’t help me after several attempts. 

  Today was my first session with Mike T. for the neck and shoulders and upper back.  It does all tie together.  Mike T. has gotten me through a very lot ever since the knees were replaced fifteen years ago.  I know many who have had their knees replaced and are still limping with some discomfort.  Not this gal!

  I believe I am in the best of medical hands possible.  Believing in your doctor is the first step to a better life.

  Speaking of a better life . . . Dennis has had one heck of a great season.  Today the hoses from the sides of the house are being blown out and hung in the potting shed.  May his good days continue for a long time to come.

  Our new Lewis Drug Store is open this week.  It is located out towards the hospital.  I visited out there this afternoon to pick up my one $2.97 prescription and congratulated the staff on having such a nice facility to work in.

  My future continues on to a better life each and every day . . . minding my Ps and Qs.  Oh yes, I remember how that saying came about.  Picking handset type . . . those two lowercase letters could be confused for each other.  It is onto fixing some chicken tenders for supper.

   
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  Noreen 3:22 pm on October 28, 2019 Permalink  

  The Neighborhood is Alive 

  The neighborhood is alive with the sound of lawnmowers mulching.  Several hard frosts have taken its toll on the leaves that are trying their best to hang on to the tree limbs.

  Dennis and I were right out there with the best of them.  I have a wonderful six inch rake that is just my size for my strength to help get the leaves out of their hiding spots.  Dennis and the Cub Lo-Boy did a great job shredding and mulching.  When I took a gander at the trees, we may be doing a repeat of this afternoon . . . several more times.  I don’t mind it and it’s less work for next spring.

  It was amazing how large a pile of branches we had collected over the last month with the high winds beating and whipping tree stops.  All we needed to do was get them down to a size that would fit in our neighbor’s burning pit.  Neighbor Bob has the hub of a semi tire.  It worked great.  Dennis did add a bit extra.  He used our electric chainsaw and cut down the Lilac tree in the backyard.  It has served us well and with the shade that has taken over the back yard, it wasn’t proud of itself anymore.  Without direct sun, the blossoms were lacking.  Dennis put it out of its depression.

  In between time, I have been in the sewing studio with a mending project.  Dennis loves his down filled jacket that he has for everyday wearing.  It’s lightweight, warm and easily slides over shirts.  Shabby weak nylon zippers . . . ugh!  The point of entry for the zipper process to begin is less than desirable.  One mis-slip and the zipper is not anchored and the zipper will not function.  At that point it may have to be pulled off over the head as the zipper is not running on its rails.  Today I replaced the nylon zipper with a stout metal one.  When we were in Mankato, I headed for JoAnn’s as I needed a 28″ zipper.  Ya . . . right.  Coats and Clark had only stocked zippers to the length of 24″.  It took a bit but I wouldn’t feel bad if Dennis did wear the jacket when he is out and about.  More times than not, the zipper is never pulled all the way to the top.  What was disappointing was the cigarette hole that needed attention in the front of the jacket.  Mend it up and suck it up as Dennis isn’t going to quit smoking any time soon. 

  It is left over pork roast made into hot sandwiches for supper with a side of pork and beans. 

  I might add that since the hips have been working, it feels wonderful to get back to taking a walk every morning.  It may not be the two miles that I had been doing, but not having been able to do any amount of walking, I’ll take this and perhaps work into longer walks . . . or not.