Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 12:51 pm on August 10, 2019 Permalink  

  A Glorious Day 

  We had a 1/2 of rain over night.  Just the right amount of rain for the grass to grab onto it and feed those roots.  Mowing has always dwindled down for August.  Thank the Lord for small favors.  In visiting with one of our neighbors who does the mowing for many clients, he agrees a break is needed.

  As we went to Mankato yesterday, the farm fields are a mystery.  There are way too many fields that are black from recent field implement work.  I do believe some never got the planting done due to weather and are doing a great job of keeping the weeds under control.  Other fields have huge vacant spots where harvesting will look like a patch quilt.  Even the fellow who does mowing for hire, tilled his garden up last week as nothing was producing as in years past.  The tomatoes have a blight and the potatoes have generally hollow spots in them.  2019 has been a spring and summer season that most do not want repeated in times to come.

  May the farmers not loose hope and live in faith for a better year next year.

  I know for myself, after we had gotten the hail in the later portion of June, my hosta beds remain looking sick.  The roots are what I am banking on for next year.  Hope does spring eternal.  I will enjoy these glorious fall days and be thankful our area and our family’s areas did not have destruction from summer storms.

   
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  Noreen 7:20 pm on August 3, 2019 Permalink  

  A Busy Day 

  When we get up at 6:30 it is anyone’s guess as to how the day will go.  I can share with you that by 10:30 we had the acre mowed and trimmed. 

  You could say we had the devil at our heels.  Were we moving so fast that we were burning our tracks?  No . . . it was actually the electric leaf blower that Dennis was using that was suffering a malfunction and the smoke began pouring out of the motor.  Dennis sat it down and unplugged it from the inside of the garage.  I don’t think it owed us anything as we bought it some twenty years ago.

  Amazingly Dennis went out to Fleet and Farm and came home with a new Toro at $108.00.  It is as light as a feather and using a battery.  For what we need, it will work just fine.

  When I am asked if I want to go for a drive, I know Dennis has an agenda.  Off to Fairmont we went to purchase Krylon Crystal clear spray.  The Cub Lo Boy is going to get a clear coat.  Our favorite real life Google person told Dennis he needs to use the same brand with the clear coat as the paint he has used originally.  

  A neighbor came by this afternoon and she and I sat on the patio and chatted.  Marsha had lived across the street from us until four years ago.  Marsha remarried and moved out to the country and became a farmer.  As a hobby she raises chickens.  Her chickens lay the most beautiful green and brown eggs and Marsha has shared a dozen or so in times past.  Dennis and I appreciate it to no end.

  Marsha threw out a bargain . . . would I sew some chair cushion covers for her eight old fashioned metal lawn chairs.  You must remember those.  Heavy and yet they had spring in them and you could lightly rock back and forth.  Marsha has painted eight of them in bright colors.  Those who enjoy their patio had commented that a soft cushion would really be enjoyed. 

  The rest of the bargain . . . we will be enjoying farm fresh eggs . . . key word here is fresh . . . nonstop.  I jumped on this.  I have been baking more in the recent past than I have in years.  What recipe doesn’t take eggs!  Marsha will be bringing in the foam cushions and fabric and the sewing studio will take her on as a client. 

  What a great day.  What a busy day here on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on July 31, 2019 Permalink  

  It Feels Like a Vacation 

  This week has had the most wonderful weather we could ask for.  Dennis came in for afternoon coffee and we both commented that considering all the heat, rain and hail . . . this feels as if we were on vacation at the best spot possible.  Stauffer Avenue . . . the most sought after spot in St. James.

  Dennis took to cleaning the plastic patio chairs.  He has caught on to the fact that though we don’t see spiders, they know where to hide and lay their eggs . . . beneath the molded supports of the chairs.  There is nothing that can inflict a more sore, swollen wound than a spider bite.  If there is a spider out there, he will find me.  In between time the chainsaw Eagle had had a fresh coat of sealant.  That should do it for a season or two.  He is not left out beyond summer as I am sure water caught in crevices and then froze would be his undoing.

  It was my day-to-play chamber maid.  Windows open and swaying to the hum of the washing machine . . . perfect.  It has not been determined if we are the dirtiest of people or the cleanest of people, but the washing machine hums a lot.  There is nothing better than after a good night rest to slip into clean clothes.  It would be better still if all was line dried.  Our clotheslines are under some Lilacs and beside our neighbor’s bird feeder.  Ya, you get the jest.

  We often take count as to where the cats are during the day.  They ramble in and out of the patio porch and here and there outside.  This morning I had taken the weed whip and took the top off of the patch of catnip that is growing under the Lilacs.  It didn’t take long and it was one, two, three . . . all accounted for.  Cutting of the stems really puts out the “ya’all come!” They role around in the catnip, they pounce on it and chew on it to their hearts content.  It’s not the prettiest of plants to have near flower gardens, but it sure serves a great purpose.  Getting a little high on life is good for the cats.  When Harriet has had enough, she jumps right up into the moose lawn ornament that Michael made for us.  She sits between the antlers with a dazed look in her eyes and chills.  Funny.

  Yes, today feels like a paid vacation day for sure.  

   
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  Noreen 3:55 pm on July 30, 2019 Permalink  

  How Could I Not 

  With such a beautiful start to the day, how could I not hit the flower beds.  The dew point was 52 and it was a go.  I had not been out into the flower beds since we had gotten hail earlier in the month.  Yup, there was damage control that was needed.  There were lengths of branches that were hiding in the Hosta plants.  Blossom stems on the Hosta needed to be cut off.  Snuggles hung tight until this mid afternoon and then he crapped out and slept under the lilies.

  Neighbor Bob’s fire ring was well fed today.  There can not possibly be any loose branches left on high.  The flower beds look like someone still cares about them.

  While I had my butt up in the air among the flowers today pulling weeds and picking up branches, Dennis was busy on the patio.  The chainsaw carved Eagle that stands about four feet tall got a good cleaning.  Getting the dust out of the crevices via water, suds and a brush made for a good work out.  Tomorrow after it is totally dried out, Dennis has several cans of Rustoleum in various degrees of being full of the clear spray that he will use to give the Eagle a look of a shiny luster.

  It’s a good thing we have leftovers for supper.  Neither one of us will be too perky after we shower up for the night.  It was a great day.  We can both see that we got something done today.

   
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  Noreen 3:31 pm on July 26, 2019 Permalink  

  Success in the Day 

  A Friday can get quite a bit done when we put the heads down and keep at it.

  My first stop was at the chiropractor in Madelia this morning.  I can report that the neck and shoulders are doing well under his treatments.  The headaches are slim to none and it no longer feels like the back of my head has been bruised.  I can turn my neck to some degree without turning my entire body.  I call that success thus far and believe more relief is in sight.  The tip of these treatments is to believe that I have heavy bags on the top of my shoulders to keep them down and not hunch them up and keep my head held up as high as I can when using my arms.  The chiropractor is on vacation next week and the first Monday after that I will be having my cataract surgery.  I did make an appointment for August 8th.

  The front yard was mowed by twelve Noon on the dot.  We took the sump pump hose off of the area where it drained onto the driveway.  I believe our usual area for the sump pump has dried out enough that we no longer will have a driveway that was beginning to have the algae green sheen to it.  Dennis ran the hose and I broomed the drive off . . . with my shoulders down and my head held high.  Big time success there.   Dennis said he would make sure to get another piece of the blue tubing to add onto what we have so we can run the hose over the driveway and onto Stauffer Avenue.  We tried putting it across the lawn to the street but it didn’t take a day or two and the grass burned under the hose.  Oh the lessons for the older ones on Stauffer Avenue.

  Dennis wanted just a few more letters cut out of the cricket vinyl for the tractor.  Got it done and waiting for him to give the O.K. before we put it onto the front side panels of the tractor at an angle.  

  Dennis has gone out to Fleet Farm for some very long screws.  When he opened the back garage’s overhead door this morning to get his rider mower out, the brace for the overhead door frame that was attached to the rafters pulled loose.  No more nails for such an important application.  I texted Grandson Ryan with an SOS that Grandpa needed help.  Ryan will be over after he is done with work.  Grandpa will have the drill, the screws, the ladder and the electrical cord in place for the job.  Ladders and us older ones are taboo.  That will be a successful repair.  Shouldn’t have had nails to begin with when the garage was newly built.  

  We have had many items taken care of today.  When we put our feet up this evening, we will know the week came to an end . . . successfully.

   
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  Noreen 4:34 pm on July 24, 2019 Permalink  

  Very Sweet Day 

  The temperature outside today made it feel super sweet.  I decided to make it a bit sweeter by trying something I had never done in my 75 years.  It was time to try to make a batch of tapioca pudding for our dessert this evening.  It was quite labor intensive for me . . . a lot of stirring to keep the whole milk from scorching.  We had not had anything but 2% milk in the house for years.  After two steps of adding a boiling mixture to beaten eggs slowly so the eggs would not curdle, it seemed to be all about the stirring, stirring, stirring.  Dennis sampled after it had cooled and deemed it good.

  We have purchased a prepared container of tapioca pudding at the grocery store but it was runny and very white.  It obviously isn’t prepared with eggs due to the expiration issue.

  While I was in the kitchen being busy, Dennis was out and working with his Harbor Freight wheels.  Our hose carriage is now sporting white walls.  Two of the older inner tube wheels hit the garbage.  The remaining two wheels seemed to have some redeeming life left in them and have been stored in the garage.

  All in all Stauffer Avenue has had a good day.

   
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  Noreen 4:16 pm on July 23, 2019 Permalink  

  The Aftermath of Storms 

  The chainsaws are still buzzing around town from Saturday’s storm.  The compost site has been open every day allowing people to do the cleanup.  Again, I say, we are so blessed that we could take care of it on our own.  The neighbor to the northeast of us has a licensed crew working on his property.  That counts up when there are multiple pieces of equipment being used.

  Today, Dennis and I bid farewell to the decal portion of the tractor project.  Wouldn’t you know it!  There was one full decal for the dash of the tractor.  I could tell that this decal has laid on the patio porch table for several weeks now.  It was apparently not being put in a box and stored.  Suck it up Grammie.  Try and get it done.  No way was the dash going to be disassembled on the 51-year-old Cub Lo-Boy.  No less than six screws, three knobs, the steering wheel and several plugs that had never been drilled out.  Yuck-a-doddle! The original surface was nicked up aluminium and had the finish of cross hatching when the tractor was new.  In other words . . . it was not a smooth surface.

  The dash decal is not my finest work.  Slash this . . . slash that . . . trim out for screws . . . try not to cry.  There was only one ole cowboy that needed to be happy . . . and he is. 

  Hear comes the rest of the story.  “Maybe in half inch white letters on the front where there is a panel right before the mechanics we could put in small letters “Cub Lo-Boy and have them angle like they are cut out of the steel panel?”  What is this “we” stuff?  I told Dennis I would take it under advisement for another day.  Gotta love the guy. 

  The Dennis project might get done sooner than later as in times past, there is a hover that I detect when I am concentrating in my sewing studio.  Might as well squelch the “what if” and get it done before I let it brew into a storm in my own mind.

   
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  Noreen 4:46 pm on July 22, 2019 Permalink  

  I Ran Away From Home 

  This date on the calendar was highly anticipated. There is a varied group of us that meet at Baker’s Square in Mankato once a month to share stitching tales and sometimes woes.

  I do not believe that if I stitch with my fuzz and thread until I can no longer have the strength to turn the sewing machine on, I will not have learned it all. Fresh ideas and tips and tricks . . . what is not to like.  The best part is that Baker’s Square doesn’t mind us lingering on our Noon lunch.  At three this afternoon we bid each other farewell until next month.

  When I got home Dennis had the two-wheel trailer heaped with limbs and branches from the Saturday storm.  In the far back of the acre a fifteen foot tree top was snapped off of one of the evergreens.  Needless to say the new electric chainsaw came in handy.  I changed clothes just in time to ride out to the compost site and help him unload.  Dennis feels good to have everything tidy, tidy . . . tidy.  On that note, Dennis has become quite the homeowner over the years.  Nothing gets left sitting out.  Nothing gets piled up behind a garage.  It’s a good thing.

  The weather today renewed my belief that summer need not be like living in a cast iron fry pan inches above the corn cob fire.

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on July 11, 2019 Permalink  

  A Good Product 

  It goes to prove when Dennis and I get a bee in our bonnets we had better know what we are in for during the work as well as how to get cleaned up afterwards.  Check the available products that are on hand.

  Today was the day to try out Dennis’ new 14″ electric chainsaw.  Many moons ago we planted a Tiger’s Eye Sumac in the east portion of the acre to mark where the water connection would be for that portion of the yard.  The sumac did great.  In the fall of the year, you could not beat the show of colors.  It all but glowed orange.

  During this last winter a portion of the sumac died.  Of course it had to be a definite death on one half of it.  Very lopsided looking shrub that actually grew into a tree.  It was time to take it out and allow Dennis to mow in that area without getting a whiplash from the branches or getting his face scratched up.

  We could not believe how dense the wood was.  The saw did absolutely great.  The photo is quite dated and now some of the taller branches were head high or a bit above.  The base of the limbs had a circumference much like a sauce dish.  I could see how a 14 lb. chainsaw could become quite heavy.  Dennis took breaks and I hauled wood and branches to the curb so we can get them to the tree dump.  The pair of steel wheels were moved to snuggle up to several evergreens in the yard.

  This was the best day to do this as the warmer temps and humidity are due back by tomorrow.  Both Dennis and I worked up a good sweat.  The sweat combined with our sticky hands made us almost unfit to touch anything afterwards.  The sap of the Tiger’s Eye Sumac was worse than anything we have ever gotten from working with evergreens.  It was tacky, juicy, yellow, and sticky!

  Before Dennis even wanted to clean up the chainsaw, we headed for the sink in the basement.  Out came the Tarkelp Hand Cleaner container.  Kevin had brought us a container in the past and it has proven itself invaluable with grubby hands as well as sticky hands.  The best part is that it leaves the hands so soft. 

  We have called this a good day. I am satisfied spending a bit of time in the sewing studio and Dennis is out in the back garage contemplating painting the mower that will be part of his finished project with the Cub L0-Boy.  We work well together and then we know how to give each other some space.  Priceless

   
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  Noreen 2:45 pm on July 10, 2019 Permalink  

  Reprieve 

  Today was a reprieve from the warmer temps and humidity.  It felt wonderful.  Today was a catch up day.  Now that Dennis’ tractor is finished, well, as of this morning it is.  There were four more decals in the box to be put on the tractor.  Why didn’t we catch that?  After we had the main decals pulled out of the box, Snuggles had made the box his home.  The four decals were the “caution” ones for the safe operating of the tractor. Yup, under the body of a cat napping we realized we had better finish up the job.  Those decals were important for anyone using the tractor.

  After lunch we headed to the far east end of the acre and knew that the back garage needed a good cleaning from the winter and spring.  Lawnmowers drag in lots of grass clippings.  The convertible was taken out as well as anything else that was movable and I stood back while Dennis got the leaf blower going.  Talk about a whirl wind of . . . stuff flying in the air. 

  Dennis’ main objective was to get the two-wheel trailer in the garage with the Cub mower on it, so he could work around the trailer painting the mower.  Dennis has decided on painting the mower red.  Good choice.  When all was said and done, everything fit back into the garage with plenty of painting room.  Dennis commented there was even enough room for another little tractor.  “What?  Did you say something Dennis, I missed that.”  As it is, there are a few tree limbs that need to be trimmed before Dennis is going to tackle more painting.

  On a sidebar.  Yesterday I passed my pre-op physical for my cataract surgery that is coming up the first part of August.  All blood work was well within the suggested boundaries.  The EKG affirmed that my heart . . . yes Dennis, I do have one . . . is also in fine shape.

  All in all today was a wonderful reprieve with all things that needed to be tidied up.