Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from September, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:01 pm on September 13, 2019 Permalink  

  When the Light is On 

  I am sure over time you have heard a phrase similar to “When the beer lights come on . . . ”  When the red light comes on on my portable radio in the sewing studio . . . the sewing machine is working.  That portable radio was a Christmas gift from Kevin almost three decades ago.  It was first on the wall in the bathroom.  When I started spending time in the basement creating a niche for myself, now known as the sewing studio, it has been right there tuned in to tunes, news, etc.   Ya, the antenna needs to be given a tweak from time to time to get reception and I may not always get the same station, but it is reliable.

  I started out in the sewing studio this morning, but in time the strong gusty winds dried out the acre so we could mow.  Lush grass this time of year is unusual.  Dennis tried out the Cub-Lo-Boy in the far east portion of the acre.  First time mowing with it since it has been smartened up with paint and the blades have been sharpened. Dennis was surprised when he came closer to the house and saw that I was mowing with the push mower.  I had promised myself if it started on the first pull, it was a go, otherwise I would have to wait until Dennis could start it.  It obviously was a go.

  Here we are in the afternoon and all has been accomplished that Dennis had in mind for the day.  When the temps are in the high 50s with a brisk wind, mowing was actually enjoyable.  With a lot of rain, there is still dust caught near the base of the shrubs.  Maybe, just maybe this will be the last mowing.

  On a gotcha note: this August I again tried the cherry and grape tomatoes for snacks.  I had given them up for over a year as the acidity in them and what I had in me for acidity was not a playing well together.  At first I thought I had been outside and gotten bug bites from no-see’ms or late hatching of mosquitoes.  Then I thought perhaps there was a spider loose in the sewing studio as the irritants were on my legs.  NOT!  The few what was thought to be bites blossomed into hives . . . all over the ole gal.  I had not had hives for a long, long time.   There I was with a 2 lb.  container of the lush beauties.  When I looked up to make tomato jam, the recipe called for 8 cups of sugar for 2 lbs.  of tomatoes.  Dennis took the tomatoes off my hands and I hope the birds enjoy them when they run across them in the far reaches of the acre.  The itching is subsiding and I have moved on to celery for a snack.  What next!

   
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  Noreen 5:45 pm on September 3, 2019 Permalink  

  All is Good on Stauffer 

  A bit warmer than the past few days, but sill doable.

  I will have a spell of personal endurance.  Today was my one month checkup after right eye cataract surgery.  I was excited to get a new prescription and the order for the new lens would be off and running.  Not so today.  

  In the beginning of June my left eye with corrective lens was testing at 20/20 while the right eye that was diagnosed as needing surgery with corrective lens was at 20/60.  Well, well!  Today the left eye with lens tested out at 20/30.  A significant decline in three months.  Next Tuesday I will be seeing my eye specialist to see if it would not be prudent to do the cataract that is on the left eye.  In June there was a speck of a cataract, much different today.

  Dennis and I had talked about it before I left for my appointment.  If it is to be, I will do the left eye as soon as possible.  I have adapted to a degree with each eye with a different focus.  Why spend the money on the new lens for both eyes when in six months, it would need to be addressed.  By the way . . . lenses do run in the the mid $400s to a high as $500.  New frames could push it well over the $500.  Now, our wonderful insurance is great but it does not cover anything beyond the six month eye checkup for vision.

  Hey folks!  I can handle this as I know it is temporary.  No so for some of my friends with more serious life-long situations.  

  On a lighter note . . . tomorrow Dennis will have the mower for his Cub-Lo-Boy put back on the tractor.  The blades have been sharpened and with the new paint and decal job, it’s been give an extended life.

  Life is good on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 4:00 pm on August 31, 2019 Permalink  

  Saturday Evening 

  It is Saturday evening and Dennis and I are home together after a full day of being with family and friends for sister June’s funeral.  It’s now time to let the sorrow meld into sweet memories.

  Now onto my quandary.  Last week I walked across the neighbor’s yard for a quick hello.  I didn’t have my walking shoes on, just a pair of slip-on shoes.  I have since been battling chigger bites on both my feet,  WTF!  In all my 75 years, I have never had chigger bites.  I can just see where the line of the shoe had sheltered the foot, and the rest was fair game. 

  It took several days before I realized what was going on.  We are gaining on it, but I dare not accidentally heed to the wanting of itching any portion . . . I would be hard pressed to stop before I drew blood.  What would we do without the Internet for our general health care information!

  Today is a Saturday that feels like a Sunday that will be followed by another day that will feel like a Sunday.  I hope everyone who has the chance of having Labor Day off from their employment enjoys these wonderful fall-feeling days.

   
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  Noreen 12:53 pm on August 28, 2019 Permalink  

  Today May Be a Clue 

  Is life ever dull on Stauffer Avenue . . . not!

  Before I begin my tirade, this weather is such a gift.  Regardless of what comes during the day, this blessing cannot be taken for granted.

  There may be a clue as to why some elderly people decide to hang up the single family residence and find an apartment.  I made mention of another limb that was hung up in the ancient Maple.  It wasn’t safe to leave it swaying in the breeze 20′ off of the ground.  Addressing it was the next step.  Hmm.  Dennis dug out the 15′ fiberglass ladder and was off to get the Cub Lo-Boy out of the back garage.  The ole cowboy rides again.  Easy peasy! Dennis planned on going up the ladder and lassoing the branch with a rope and then using the Cub Lo-Boy to pull it loose and let it fall to the ground.  Fall to the ground . . . I had visions.  While Dennis headed back to the east edge of the acre to get the rope and tractor, I was on the cell phone. 

  Dennis’ sister’s funeral is Saturday.  No way on earth did we have time to plan a double funeral with the escapades of Dennis.  Son-in-law Thomas was over before Dennis even had gotten the tractor started.  Good man Thomas!  All was not lost for Dennis’ part of the project.  He was able to pull the huge limb out of the tree after Thomas had it all rigged.  Huge drama averted. 

  I usually greet the mail lady as she makes her rounds.  As I walked around the northeast corner of the house there was a puddle of water that caught my eye.  Wait a minute.  We had a hose connected at the house to take the sump pump water out into the street.  Aha! The blue plastic hose had split, letting just enough water to show up at the street with most of it spilling right into the lawn adjacent to the house.  I got Dennis a lawn chair and we began the task of taking off the clamps of the blue hose and reconnecting the water out-take from the pump, allowing it to drain underground.  Why had we disconnected it?  With such a wet spring and summer, we virtually had a swamp as the area with the underground drain had nowhere to go but pond. 

  With two possible problems taken care of, do we really want to give up our forever home with some needed day-to-day maintenance?  No!  Just enough activity to made us mindful of checking out the home from stem to stern consistently.

  With all things calm, it’s time for a cookie and some coffee.

   
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  Noreen 4:52 pm on August 27, 2019 Permalink  

  They are Still About 

  Negative things travel faster than the speed of light.  I had positive blessings come my way today. 

  With the good report of the MRI yesterday, you would have thought my doctor would have been off the hook.  Not so.  He called this afternoon to let me know he had gotten some time slots for me at physical therapy . . . with the fellow that has gotten me through two new knee hardware and two new shoulder hardware surgeries.  Dr Eatwell believes there is more here than scans are showing.  Something is going on with my balance and there may be a solution.  Doctors that go beyond are still about.  Oh my sweet Lord, I so hope there is a solution in sight.  I am so not giving up or in.  

  I find humor is all things great or small.  Dennis loves his oatmeal, side dressed with flax meal, cinnamon. a bit of sugar and milk.  When he is on a mission to prepare his fare . . . look out!  I believe if I had the entire kitchen work surface covered in plastic protective gear to dress out some poultry, he would move aside the entrails to get his oatmeal breakfast prepared for the microwave.  Yes, I agree, that was exaggerated a bit.  Nonetheless, it was the truth of the situation.  This morning it was just a matter of getting the cookie dough prep on hold.  

  As Jan and I were visiting across the backyard fence this afternoon, we both took notice of how many dried branches are showing up in the Maple tree.  As we took a look up farther in the dense foliage, there is a limb that has been sheared off by the storms of late, but is caught in a snag.  Note to self . . . don’t sit on the back patio until that issue has been resolved.  Oh the joys of home ownership.  I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

  Being ever so watchful is still important.

   
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  Noreen 4:41 pm on August 20, 2019 Permalink  

  Pulling in Opposite Directions 

  Dennis has gotten news that is sister at Alexander, age 88, was not doing well.  Cancer was found and she is not strong enough to undergo any type of treatment.  There was an offer of us going along with Dennis’ daughter and her husband to visit. 

  Today was my first appointment to see the eye specialist since the cataract surgery.  I needed to keep that appointment.  Gong forward I know that I will need new lens in my glasses.  This was the beginning of that process. I had to give Dennis a hug and a peck to send him off, with me staying behind.  

  It was planned that the trip would begin at 6:30 a.m. sharp.  At the allotted time it was raining pitchforks.  Surprisingly . . . it had been raining heavily since five this morning and continued until eight.  A total of three inches on top of the three quarters we had gotten from the Saturday storm.  I call that down right soggy.

  We actually had a band of wild turkeys walking across our yards at noon.  Straggly looking things.  Where had they been flooded out of.  Naw . . . none of them would have made even a poor plucking for a roaster.

  Chiropractors do not shake their fingers at patients.  I got the drift from his eyes when I went to see him this afternoon.  They were piercing.  Yes, the branch picking up scenario of the Saturday storm was a lot of repetitive hunching of the shoulders with the neck in a less than good position.  I willingly took an acupuncture treatment.  I will . . . and I repeat . . . I will be good for the next two and half weeks until I go back to see him.  Dennis has an exercise to do with me each evening and I will find that dang old heating pad. 

  Dennis just got home from seeing his sister.  He and I will get caught up from being pulled in two directions for the day.  Dennis and I will be going back to see her this weekend.  I did feel bad for not making the trip today.  His sister has always been a kind sister-in-law. 

  The rest of the week lay ahead and I do believe St. James is off the weather radar for a spell.  Whoopee!

   
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  Noreen 4:34 pm on August 19, 2019 Permalink  

  On to a New Outlook 

  Our acre is back to looking fantastic.  All remains of the Saturday night storm have been taken care of.  All that does remain is taking it easy on the bodies that sucked it up and cleared up the debris.  Dennis and I did well.

  Today was my trip to Mankato to meet with my stitching friends.  I will admit when I rolled out of bed this morning I was slow moving as the body wasn’t in gear as yet.  I did wake up with a new outlook for the day. Being with others that share my interest in all things with thread and fuzz is enjoyable.  In all years I had never put my toe out to be a part of a group.  It does bring additional perspective to my day-to-day life.  It is important to have balance.  All the years I worked, I worked.  All along I kept my passion for sewing intact, but did it solo.  I now realize the wealth that people who share a kindred spirit bring.  

  I will share that the trailer never showed up to haul the remainder of the tree mess to the tree dump.  When I had left for Mankato Dennis was sure the trailer would be here any minute . . . not!  While Dennis was in the patio porch in his favorite rocker, he had noticed a pickup go up Stauffer Avenue slowly.  It turned around in our east drive and came back slower yet.  Dennis’ son-in-law was stopping at all the various piles of limbs and beginning the task of loading them onto his pickup.  Dennis and Thomas worked together and took things slowly and made five trips to the tree dump.  Very special.  Special indeed.  

  Dennis does not hold back when a favor is asked of him by his family.  Today was a great pay-back that was never envisioned.  

  No doubt Dennis is weary this evening, but he takes pride that the acre looks just as smart as it always has.  He had even gotten the rider mower out to chop up the leaf tips that had been left behind.  Priceless.

   
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  Noreen 3:58 pm on August 18, 2019 Permalink  

  A Short Night 

  Our plan was to sleep in this morning.  We had a great family day yesterday.  Great visiting and the best part was we had safe travels.

  I did get up at midnight last night as my cell phone went off warning of a severe storm heading our way.  By one in the morning, I was going from window to window checking the nighttime.  The wind was swirling the rain so hard, I had no chance of being able to look out any of the windows regardless of the direction.  I checked on Dennis and he was sound asleep.  I didn’t wake him, no point in us tripping over each other checking out what we couldn’t even see.

  This morning, the damage was assessed.  The first think I did was check the roof of the house.  Unbelievable that the roof had stayed on.  We have a house width awning on the west side of the house and it had held firm.  I am a strong believer that our over-sized shrub and the ancient evergreen takes the brunt of winds from the northwest.

  When I had first gotten up, I did look out the east window.  I could see from the bathroom window that there was a huge limb that had been torn off of the Maple.  Did it take out the potting shed or brake the patio slider windows?  I let Dennis take the lead.  By the grace of God, there was a tremendous amount of tree damage, but none to our structures.  A fellow came and with his chainsaw and sliced through various sizes.  His deal is he cuts and trims but does not clean up.  That’s fine with us.  

  It is now going on suppertime.  The day has been spent picking up branches and piling them up.  We have a windrow of the large chunks.  Maybe someone will come by and take them for their own use.  Who knows!  The entire back yard was full of twigs and branches the size of my thumb or larger.  Sure can’t mow over them.  I still bend pretty darn good at the waist.  I cleared out the immediate backyard first by making piles next to Stauffer Avenue.  I then ventured east to the rest of the acre.   Once I had cleared an area at a time, Dennis got the rider mower out and took care of all the leaf tips.  It looked as if someone had had a belly full of them in an airplane and continued to sift them out and let them float to the ground. 

  As I said.  The day is soon to be put to bed and I am sure Dennis and I will sleep well tonight.  We have a trailer coming tomorrow to load up all the debris and take it to the tree dump.  That’s for another day and perhaps another story. 

   
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  Noreen 4:00 pm on August 12, 2019 Permalink  

  One More 

  When Dennis comes in and asks for “One more favor” I put down what I am doing and get it done.  His one more could fill volumes. It reminds me of when Megan was little.  In thinking we had her settled, she would come back with “Just one more.”  I have kidded him that some day when my ashes are returned to him in a shoe box, Dennis will open the lid and say “Just one more favor.”  It didn’t take Dennis long for him to come back with a comment.  Yup . . . I will have one more favor. . . “Please can I come with.”  Priceless.

  There was one more Cricut cutout that Dennis wanted.  It had not been included in the purchase packet of decals that we had ordered.  Dennis wanted the shift pattern placed on the tractor.  That sounded doable.  Dennis got the Cricut out and side by side we decided what size, etc.  We got it on and Dennis was pleased as could be.  The next step was for him to take off all the paper that he had used to protect the tires.  Even the seat got a coat of white.  Well done and I believe the tractor is done.

  After we had the Cricut project done, I got back to what I had been doing in the kitchen.  Today was the day to pull the kitchen range out and do some tidy, tidy work under it and around it.  God bless the felt pads Kevin put under it.  It slides out slick as a whistle.

  I think it was time to expand the cookie options.  Molasses and peanut butter are great but enough was enough.  I found a recipe for Mound cookies.  Great!  I had some coconut that needed to be used up.  It was a bit dry but I really chopped it up fine and I knew it would soak and expand in the batter.  Good grief.  It asked for 2 cups of coconut and 5 cups of chocolate chips.  It also asks for 4.5 cups of flour . . . a large batch indeed.  In regard to the chocolate chips, I only had four cups and called it good.  All that is left is to tuck some in the freezer, right next to a bag of molasses cookies.  It is great to have some on standby. 

  It is heading on five in the afternoon and we are having rain showers that are quite strong.  Just when we thought the mowing of the acre was dwindling down.  This will perk everything up.  Who knew!

   
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  Noreen 11:31 am on August 11, 2019 Permalink  

  Checking Things 

  Dennis invited me back to the garage to see what I thought might be missing spots in his wheel painting.  Getting down close and personal I was able to pinpoint a spot or two.  We checked it out good.  I must say Dennis using up the roll of black duct tape to put on his paper shrouds to protect the tires was a great idea.  As in any project he did find a can of paint that had no to little aerosol.  It can happen and there is no indication at the time the purchase is made.

  As we walked back from the garage, we couldn’t help but notice the telltale indications of the visitors we had had this last winter.  The deer had made their own path to the corn and alfalfa pellets.  Yes, the soil and grass has had am impact, but the impact we made with giving the deer and the fawns some help this winter was well worth it.

  My project today was to wash off the kitchen cabinets and use some Murphy Soap wipes on the woodwork.  Even an ole Martha Stewart such as me can splatter where you would least expect it.

  I am not sure but . . . going out for an anniversary meal celebration last night energized me to no end today.  I have no doubt that that euphoria will endure.   Dennis mentioned this noon that with the energy I have today, we may have to have a repeat meal out oftener.  It may very well be.

  In checking out the water that the pump is putting out in the Koi pond, Dennis decided to pull apart the filters for the pond.  Dennis seems to be on top of his game as well today.  As he is finishing up cleaning the filters for the Koi pond, I stick around as he maneuvers getting everything back in line in the water.  Safety 101.

  I have mentioned it often, but it bares repeating . . . life on Stauffer Avenue is sweet.