Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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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.

   
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  Noreen 4:48 pm on July 6, 2019 Permalink  

  One Firecracker Left 

  There was one firecracker left from the 4th of July and I think it landed in my pants.  This morning when the feet hit the floor the day was on full bore.

  It may have been the reduction in humidity and temperatures or it may have been my day to get it done.  Some days just click.  Dennis’ objective for the day was to get one of his prescriptions filled at Lewis Drug.  I was home alone.  The bed got stripped and the laundry was humming.  When the bed is stripped that means that all dust bunnies under said bed are on high alert.  Nothing is as satisfying as checking out all corners of the bedroom for lurking lint.  Yes . . . Dennis still has flannel sheets on the bed.  You would think that eventually they would just give it up and quit shedding . . . Not!

  With laundry going, might as well get a kettle of boiling water going to sterilize a batch of catheters.  They say a watched kettle does not boil.  That is not true.  A boiling kettle of latex catheters can be disastrous if left unattended.  Staying close to the kitchen seemed the wisest thing to do.  I dug out our favorite recipe for sugar cookies and decided that having a batch of dough ready to bake out in the evening hours would be a good treat.  Starting the oven after supper doesn’t heat up the house as much as doing it mid-day.

  The schedule was going according to plan.  I knew . . . I just knew that when Dennis came back from the drug store and had his late breakfast, the lawn mowing would be his topic of conversation.  I was not going to fight him.  We have had 1½ inches of rain this week and yes . . . the grass was in need of trimming.  Dennis sprayed Bug Soother on me from head to foot and I was ready to push the mower.  With all of the rain the pushing was tough as the ground was soft.  I looked as if I was doing aerobic lunges as I dug my feet into the ground and propelled myself forward enough to make some head ways on each swath of the grass. 

  Here we are at supper time and the acre has been mowed and trimmed.  It looks wonderful.  Here is the kicker.  It is supper time! Meal times seem to be highly over anticipated.   I could call a piece of cheese on a slice of bread a meal.  Not so for the ole cowboy.  In the regard of meals, Dennis is way too much like Dad.   If the clock says it’s meal time . . . “By de-God, it’s time!”  I have no idea how Dad came about whipping out that “By de-God” lingo, but he sure used it a lot when he was making a statement.  Gotta love those memories and I can still hear him saying it.

  After the rustled up supper, it will be relaxing baking out those sugar cookies.  There will be just enough of the firecracker fizzle in my pants to pull it off.

   
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  Noreen 4:36 pm on July 5, 2019 Permalink  

  Rain? 

  We did not know that rain would be coming.  Seems a daily occurrence.

  We did make a trip to Mankato this morning.  First stop was Harbor Freight.  Kevin and Kersten had the most comfortable lawn chairs for us to sit in while we took in the Fairfax parade several weeks ago.  Our butts and our knees were at the same height when we sat in the chairs.  Talk about a comfortable chair complete with a side table that flipped up.  Kevin is on Harbor Freight’s mailing list and he forwarded to us coupons for these chairs.  We are now owners of collapsible comfortable chairs when we need to take along our own sitting arrangements.  

  What surprised Dennis was that I had checked out their small electrical chainsaws.  We have a need for a small saw to take care of limbs that have died in our lilacs or our front yard evergreen.  Yup! As of this late afternoon, he is the owner of a 14″ chainsaw and has added the oil.  Dennis and it are ready to do some duty when the yard dries up.  There is a Tiger’s Eye Sumac that needs to be taken out of its misery.  Half of it had died over the winter and what is left is not good for anything but to swat Dennis in his face as he mows.  Chainsaw duty coming.

  This afternoon I motored on to the Old Alley Quilt Shop in Sherburn to pick out the fabric that Megan needs for the backing in her quilt project.  What was sweet was that Laurie, who is the Design Consultant at the quilt shop, had time to lend her expertise.  When we had several choices pulled out, I sent Megan a text with a photo to let her decide which fabric was her choice.  Yup . . . cell phones and their capabilities are quite nice.

  The evening meal is soon to be put together.  Our choice is tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich.  Dennis just came in and is reporting 3/4 inch of rain with gray rumbling skies still deciding if more is coming.

   
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  Noreen 12:54 pm on June 30, 2019 Permalink  

  Summer Steamer 

  When we looked at the temperature outside this morning, it was 82 degrees and the humidity was 82%.  There was nothing to do but call the day a summer steamer.  We also called the day as “not doing anything outside.”  It wouldn’t surprise me if that was subject to change.  Sunday should be a day of rest . . . subject to change.

  On Friday’s post Dennis had declared that the acre would not be mowed until Monday . . . which would be tomorrow.  The heat wave was to last the entire weekend.  I liked that idea as Megan was coming on Friday afternoon and the weekend would be full of “all things Megan.”  Megan is only able to stay for a weekend several times a year and her and I can pack a lot into each visit.

  Saturday Megan and I decided to have lunch at the Encore coffee shop which is adjacent to the Country Collage shop.  It takes us several hours to do both places justice.  Megan and I were close to coming back home when my phone rang. “Do you want me to mow the front yard with the rider mower?”  WTF!  Can’t leave the ole cowboy home alone without him getting into mischief.  The answer was “No.”  The rider mower scalps the front yard to no end. 

  

  The top is 57″ x 76″. Lots of cutting, piecing and seaming. A wonderful project that Megan plans on putting in their basement family room when it is done.

  When us girls got home, Dennis had the mowers sitting in front of the garage.  Dennis’ focus does not allow any portion of the acre to go unmowed if part of it has been started.  I went into the sewing studio and got Megan going on the next portion of her quilt that needed to have fabric cut so she could continue sewing on her project.  She has gotten very good using the rotary cutter on the quilt fabric.   I headed upstairs, changed my shoes, dug out my straw hat and garden gloves and hit the back door ready to mow the front yard.  It was proposed to be a tag team effort.  I knew from the get go that that wasn’t going to happen.  I came in a time later and Megan looked at me.  “Grammie, you are really red in your face.”  Dennis’ goal had been reached.  He retired into the patio porch with a cold bottle of green tea and was content.  Hmm. 

  Today is Sunday and all is well.  After a breakfast of French Toast and bacon, Megan completed her quilt top.  The remaining steps of getting batting and the backing are too involved for this visit.  It will all be here waiting for her when she visits again.  A bit of down time on the tail end of her visit makes for a relaxing time for all of us.  The summer steamer can’t last forever.  Carrie and Nicholas will be coming later this afternoon.  Carrie tells me Nicholas has an agenda with Grandpa Dennis.  Time will tell.

   

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on June 27, 2019 Permalink  

  Dodged the Storm 

  The skies stayed black for most of the morning.  We dodged the storm with no winds and had about a half inch of rain.

  The cookie dough that was stirred up yesterday, has now been baked out with a good portion of the cookies in the freezer.  It’s kind of an “out of sight, out of mind” thing.  With the pending storm, it didn’t get as warm as quickly as they thought for today.  With the oven humping at 350 degrees for several hours, I still felt the kitchen was quite uncomfortable by the time the baking was done and all the dishes and pans returned to their rightful place.  The official sampler, Dennis, gave a thumbs up as he headed out the door.  

  In my mind’s eye, I do not know how Lena kept a family of six in baked goods.  I looked at the amount of cookies from the peanut butter batch, thinking how long would four dozen cookies last with four kids and a hard working farmer dipping into them for two lunches per day.  I kind of remember that there was never a single batch of anything stirred up.  If the oven is already hot and the utensils are dirty . . . go for a double batch every time.  It was the only way a small container could be hidden in the chest freezer in case coffee company came over.

  No matter how my days go, I could never have kept up with Mom, even at the age that I am now and she was then.  I have gotten soft.  I do continue with the home chores just like Mom did.  I take a loaded Swiffer and dance around our floors.  Mom had the Fuller Brush wool dust mop that got a bit of the Fuller Brush furniture oil on it to catch dust bunnies.  We had to shake the dickens out of it multiple times on a Saturday cleaning binge.  No one took shoes off when coming into the house while we were growing up.  That’s what Mom had two daughters for.  For us, nowadays, the debris is minimal.  There are no alfalfa stems or oat chaff that get drug in on chores shoes or in the cuff of the overalls.  More than likely for us, it is the evergreen needles that come in under the shoes or grass clippings after mowing the acre.    

  Secretly . . . I enjoy keeping a home that is tidy.  It is not a chore for me.  I take as much pride in our home as Dennis does in his yard.  We are two fuss budgets, each in our own right.  I like that.  I like it a lot.  Pride in ownership of our home . . . all 720 square feet of it . . . priceless.

  What with this last rain and an inch and a half previously since we last mowed the acre,  I have a sneaking suspicion as to what tomorrow holds.  I will get sprayed down with Bug Soother and we will get it done!

   
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  Noreen 3:15 pm on June 22, 2019 Permalink  

  Success 

  Though it was different for Dennis to not take part in the car show during Railroad Days, he deemed today a successful day.  The acre is mowed and trimmed and looking sharp.  Self satisfaction is hard to beat.  

  We got a late start mowing as the grass was heavy with dew.  Temps at 66 degrees and the humidity at 77 % . . . it was understandable.  Dennis rambled over to the shop to check on the paint he had applied yesterday to his Cub Lo-Boy, with the last being said we would mow after lunch. 

  His last words gave me the go ahead to strip the bed, load the laundry and get the Swiffers out to do the floors.  There are gliders under everything in our home . . . other than the refrigerator.  Today was the day to glide it out and get the dust bunnies underneath.  Hmm,  a crinkled up leaf of the Christmas Poinsettia was under the sofa.  No jelly beans were found.  Occasionally when I hear the jelly bean dish being opened there may be one or two that have escaped.  Dennis will hunt for a jelly bean only so long before it is left to cohabitate with the dust bunnies.  I had started at the west end of the house and just kept that east bathroom window as the target.  Oh so thankful that our home is small.  It can be whipped into shape in no time flat. 

  The day is ending here on Stauffer Avenue.  I did check to see if Dennis wanted to take the Railroad Days Parade in . . .  the nod of the head was a negative.  In times past when Megan and Nicholas would be here during this time, we didn’t miss a beat of all that was offered to enjoy.  I am thankful there are people that will put out their chairs along the parade route and wait it out.  No so for us anymore.  We are content having taken part in it at some time and now it is home sweet home enjoying the success of our labors for our home.

   
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  Noreen 3:52 pm on June 21, 2019 Permalink  

  Stauffer Avenue Persevered 

  With the storm that went through Stauffer Avenue around seven last night, Stauffer Avenue persevered.  We went into the basement when the sirens began blowing.  The winds were horrific but more than the winds was the concern about the hail.  When the hail hit the metal awning over our back door it made me jump.  It seemed to go on for a long time. 

  The hail lasted long after the sirens had stopped blowing.  The size of the hail was between dime and quarter size.  Dennis was brave and went up to check on the skylight in the kitchen.  When he came down he gave the thumbs up on the window.  All but the skylight has screens over the windows and I believe that helped a lot. 

  When all was said and done, no large branches came down.  I think the winter winds had pretty much cleaned out what was loose.  The tree tips look like confetti over the entire acre.  An inch of rain had soak in without any standing water in the backyard. 

  This morning I walked the acre, and yes, the hostas took a beating where there was little overhead shelter from the trees.  They will make it or not.  We felt blessed that we had no damage to take note of.

  This morning Dennis took a drive around in his little red pickup.  A storm can’t go through without a check to see it for one’s self.  I decided to do a load of laundry and start some chocolate chip cookies.  I do say start.  My modus operandi is to get all my ingredients out and measured out.  Cookie sheets have bakers paper on them, trays in the oven are adjusted.  While the butter is getting to room temperature, I played around with the laundry.  It’s a good job done when I haven’t burned the last tray while in the oven and the dishes are all washed.

  Dennis  gave me a pat on the back as he swooped by with several cookies in his fist.   It was a very satisfying day.  As Dennis was eating cookies on his way out the door, he made a comment about checking the lawnmowers over for tomorrow.  Hmm.  If the storm didn’t take it out of me, I am sure I will persevere the mowing for tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 5:32 pm on June 18, 2019 Permalink  

  Success 

  When I went out this morning to water a few plants, the last thing on the list was the area where we put down grass seed on newly tilled soil off of the corner of the house.  That grass seed was put down last Thursday afternoon.  Here we are on Tuesday and there are multiple spears of grass showing.  That is deemed a gardening success.  It did help that it was so close to the water supply that the area did get a sprinkle of water every day.

  Yesterday my trip to Mankato was to have lunch with some fellow stitchers.  Once a month we encourage each other, help each other with some challenges and do a whole lot of chit chat.  Enjoyable beyond belief for me.  I have yet to find fellow stitchers in St. James that are willing to commit to getting together.  

  A recipe had surfaced on Facebook called “Lemon Brownies.”  I printed it off for future reference.  Today was that future.  Dennis made a run for two chubby lemons that we needed for lemon zest and the actual juice.  It could have well been called “Lemon Bars.”  I can tell you that it looks wonderful and Dennis and I have a date at 8:00 this evening to cut into them.  I had not baked anything for a very long time.  I need to do a bit more of it.  It’s very satisfying.  I have been give the gift of a gently used Kitchen Aid heavy duty mixer that takes the heft out of mixing stiff cookie dough.  Stauffer Avenue’s Betty Crocker may be making a come back.