Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from April, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:51 pm on April 2, 2019 Permalink  

  Let the Furnace Hum 

  Here we are April 2nd and I cannot think of not having the furnace still in full service.  Granted, it doesn’t run as often, but it does still need to take the chill off. During the night we have it set at the low 60s.  As long as Dennis’ heated mattress pad can pull kilowatts, he is tucked in and content.  For myself, I have always enjoyed a night’s sleep with the house cool.

  Spring can’t be far behind.  Dennis did a thorough check of the situation out in his patio porch.  He has access to check the concrete under the plywood floor.  He came in and give it a thumbs up.  The first step was getting the piece of indoor/outdoor carpeting pulled out of storage.  It will take some time for it to decide to lay flat.  The saving grace is that Dennis has his Korean luncheon tomorrow in Mankato.  That luncheon will take him out of commission and off of Stauffer Avenue for most of the day.  The patio porch needs to be taken slow so we are not apt to repeat anything after the first spring rain. 

  There was a Shepherd’s crook that was listing to the south after the snow disappeared around it.  On the end of the crook is a Dr. Seuss style birdhouse.  Dennis took advantage of the soaked soil and got it sunk in straight as an arrow.  Bit by bit, one can’t help themselves to step up and be a good steward of the yard.  We will have quite the bonfire when we can get at the bulk of the yard for a pick-up day.  Neighbor Bob’s fire ring will get a good workout from our yard as well as his.  Today, with the winds at 30 mph or higher, we can only hope that all branches and limbs that were whipped loose over the winter months and had been hanging on up high will have taken flight for us to pick up.

  Sun always makes the day better.  We are due lots of sunny days.  Doom and gloom needs to take a hike.

   
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  Noreen 4:35 pm on April 1, 2019 Permalink  

  Gloomy and Gray 

  The gloom and gray did not deter me from stepping out and stepping up to get the mittens and stocking cap on for a walk this morning.  The walk was scheduled so I could be at the chiropractor by 10:45.  It was 29 degrees when I left home for the two miles.  So be it.  We are making progress on the stiff neck and I do follow up with an ice pack and exercises in the evening.  It’s either “this or better.”  

  There was a lot of joy in today.  Sometimes it doesn’t include bells and whistles.  Felling good inside is all it takes.  I had a great day.  Dennis had a great day with his checkup.  His INR (blood clotting test) was right on track.  He need not show up for another for weeks.  

  I did do a bit of a walk around in the back.  It was a good check as long as I stayed on the concrete.  There is perennial greenery peeking out.  I didn’t dare step on the area that was tilled as I know my shoes would have had to have been cleaned of mud.  At this time I did not see new spears of grass.  They will need warmer temps to coax them out.  We are patient.  We have all spring to see what shapes up outside.

   
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  Noreen 2:39 pm on March 31, 2019 Permalink  

  My Day 

  In several ways, it’s “My Day.”  There are routines to follow after my feet have hit the floor.  Padding off to the bathroom is the very first on the list.  Having had bladder augmentation surgery some time ago, the first instruction I received from the doctors was to never allow pressure to be felt in the bladder.  Get the business over with before pressure can bring other problems.  Ya, I kind of had that happen years ago.  It took a good stint in Mayo at Rochester.  That . . . I do not have time for that in my schedule.

  But anyway, as I was saying, my day took me on a great two-mile walk in the morning sunshine.  It may have been 30 degrees out, but I didn’t feel the temperatures.  I was feeling good.  Today was my 75th birthday.  I don’t feel my 75 years.  I am not sure how old I feel, but it is not 75!  That does get me in trouble every once in awhile.  Over the winter months I promised myself to act my age in regard to some of the physical things that I think I can manage.  That brings me to my chiropractic schedule for some stiff muscles in the top of my shoulders and my neck.  Yup, I am going to get my neck back in good shape.  Think it through, Grammie.  

  Often on my birthday, I think back on what Mom was doing when she was the age that I am currently celebrating.  There ya go!  Lena didn’t act her age either.  It must be in the genes.  I am going to be careful with spring yard work.  The huge flower garden is either going to sprout grass after being tilled up or it will have more grass seed spread on it.  I have many quests to pursue.  If I keep the physical and the mental activity balanced . . . it’s going to be a good thing.  My children and their families need to feel secure in their own minds that mom is doing good.  Now, that in itself is a quest that I am definitely on.  Their lives and their wellbeing mean more to me than my own.  That . . . may be a telling sign of me being 75 years young.

   
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  Noreen 2:59 pm on March 29, 2019 Permalink  

  A Calm Feeling 

  The sewing studio has been tidied.  Multiple weights and colors of threads have been put back where they need to be.  Extra fabric has been tucked away in the proper bins.  If anyone is in need of a wig or a beard, I do have a few supplies left over.  I had no idea what I needed or how much.  Once you order and are short, you may never receive the exact duplicate with the new order.  The sewing machine has been cleaned, oiled and blown out with canned air.  A new needle will be put in when I know what will be tackled next.  It was a calm feeling having finished up a rather large complicated project.  The last thing I did before letting Santa take a break, was to sew a pocket on the inside of his wide belt.  I inserted a before photo of Santa and a short note documenting the rejuvenation of him.  It seemed like the thing to do.

  It was hard to believe how cold it felt this morning when I was walking.  I hustled it toward the end as even my finger tips felt chilled inside my winter gloves.  Hard to believe that Wednesday I had only needed a single layer of a knit shirt.  Let’s hear it for the Fairfax tulips!  They are about four inches tall under the southwest windows of the house.  Full sun as it reflects off of the siding makes them feel cozy enough to spring forth.  What a winter. What a spring.  Dennis is hoping that we don’t have any hard rains for awhile.  The sponge that we have referred to as our backyard needs a whole bunch of drying days.

  Supper is planned.  By error I purchased chicken tenderloins that are breaded, but raw.  It will be interesting as to how they will turn out in the oven.  Actually, not pan frying sounds kind of nice . . . no splatter to clean up later.  Dennis made a box cake today.  I stayed in the sewing studio . . . the entire time.  It seems to have turned out great.  A peanut butter frosting was the goal.  I kept my hands off.  Dennis found out how little milk it takes to work with powdered sugar.  What to do . . . keep on adding powdered sugar prior to the peanut butter until it is thick enough not to run.  I will say that the amount of frosting on the cake looks mighty thick.  I think that is called, “live and learn.” I will say that Dennis washes up all of his dishes when he is done.  Sweet!

  By the way, the new ceiling fan in the patio porch is humming away.  Bruce is so tall that Dennis could nicely put away a ladder for the install.  We are not rushing into putting anything in the patio porch until we are sure the cement under the floor is dry.  When installed, there were air holes drilled into the entire perimeter.  We have lots of time.  Hey . . . we are the retired folks on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 4:11 pm on March 26, 2019 Permalink  

  Did Hit it Hard 

  After the morning walk, I did hit the sewing studio hard.  I have watched enough YouTube videos to last a lifetime on making Santa beards.  In the end . . . I winged it.  Dennis checked on me several times during the afternoon as he knew I was focused.  Tomorrow may be the culmination of the Santa Project, but I am not prejudging the day until I find out what Dennis has on his agenda.

  Coffee at McDonald’s this morning for Dennis and his buds seems to have been centered around income tax talk.  The hope is that the income tax on Social Security will go by the way-side.  We already paid on it once when it was earned.  There is a very vivid memory of Orlin and I doing income tax, but I have no idea what year it was.  I know I was not working at that time.  I do remember that we had both Carrie and Kevin on board.  The W-2 form that Orlin had was a gross earnings of $14,000.  It must have been from 3M as we were living in a mobile home at that time.  Amazing what the mind can bring forward.  Amazing memory from perhaps 45 years ago.

  Each day Dennis is tickled pink that the cold nights are taking away snow via freeze drying.  I agree.  We had one bad episode of the patio porch floor being under water.  We now need drying time before we move back into it.  Yup . . . it’s been a good day on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 3:42 pm on March 25, 2019 Permalink  

  A Good Feeling 

  We have prepared for our two closets in the basement to have water seeping in.  Nothing was left on the floor and the wet vacuum is standing by.  As they had been part of a cistern at one time, they could not be incorporated with the basement tiling job done by Complete Basements of Mankato.  The snowbanks snuggled up to the east and northeast side of the basement where the closets are located were huge.  So far so good and the snowbanks are shrinking.  The cold nights have been perfect for freeze drying what could have been less than good.

  Today I can feel the long trip of yesterday in the pickup to Eden Prairie and then sitting at the ice show for several plus hours.  Carrie had stadium seats for Dennis and me and that made bleacher sitting very comfortable.  Nothing new in the scheme of my back and hips, just not enough motion yesterday has caught up with me today.  It made me think twice this morning in regard to my walk.  Once the shoes were on there was no turning back.  It was 30 degrees when I headed out.  Dennis commented how red my nose was when I got home.  I do believe I’m working out the kinks.  Staying dormant does nothing more than stove me up.

  It took the two of us to get Santa’s pants on today.  The black lacquer boots were not taken off as we could tell that they had been attached to the main wooden frame at the factory with a means that we could not duplicate.  The second factor of the boots was that the electrical cord was thread down the leg with the cotton batting tied around it and then coming out through the heel of the right boot.  We got it done.  His pants look worthy of him.  I am at a point in the Santa Project that will take much thought.  I have all the supplies for the eyebrows, mustache and beard.  This will need much pondering and planning.  Originally everything had been stapled on . . . not this time!  Take it slow Grammie.  “You don’t have time to do it right, but you always have time to do it over.”  That old saying cannot come into fruition with this last stage of the rejuvenation of the Santa Project.  I may have to take time off for contemplation and read a library book waiting for the inspiration to hit.

  Dennis has done the perimeter walk today and he is very pleased how we are getting through this last bit of winter.  The plywood floor in the patio porch may look dry, but the concrete floor and the 2 x 4s underneath will need a lot more of the furnace heat and fan movement.  We’ll get there, slow but sure.

   
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  Noreen 5:57 pm on March 18, 2019 Permalink  

  It’s That Time 

  It’s that time of the year to get my walking shoes on and . . . do it!  There is a lone evergreen at the far east end of the cemetery on the Hammond Highway that I set my sights on and just keep stepping it off.  It was a good two mile walk.  The shoulders are wide and with me wearing my bright yellow coat and red stocking cap, I feel very safe.  It was interesting to see how high the creek was.  Chunks of ice flowing at a very rapid speed.  

  Today was the fourth treatment at the chiropractor.  The tightness in the top of the shoulders and the base of the neck is feeling much more mobile.  Dennis feels that with us feeding the deer they may very well lend a hand at taking care of the Hostas this spring.  If that is the case, I won’t be too upset and I will not be going out and replacing any if they have been enjoyed.  There is a season for everything.  I need to remember how long it is taking to get mobility back in regard to turning my neck.  It could either be me giving up some of the gardens or getting myself in trouble driving if I can’t look over my shoulders when I need to while behind the wheel.  Good grief.  It’s difficult realizing that what the mind thinks can be accomplished is so different than what the body is willing to do.  Oh . . . no doubt the body will try to make the mind happy, only to have the mind get pissed off when the best activity is sitting and trying to read a book without straining a strained neck. 

  Dennis is working the Watonwan Game and Fish Club’s annual event.  Dennis is in charge of working with the young kids so they all get prizes.  He does a very good job.  The younger club members solicit goodies from near and far so no youngster goes home empty handed just because their ticket wasn’t called.  Good job Grandpa. 

  The nightly freeze drying is going well.  The news brings sad stories of flooding.  Dennis has a nephew in Nebraska and they have really been hit hard.  This is the time of the year for new calves to be born and it doesn’t help that some pastures are land locked due to the water.  What a helpless feeling for the ranchers. 

  Yup, I think that us feeding the deer in our backyard when they have nothing to eat that is above the snow, is a good thing. Last night the two fawns came early.  For once they could eat until they were full.  As our dish has been moved to the edge of our neighbor’s drive,  I could stand at my kitchen sink and watch them 15 feet away from me through the window. Seeing their noses switch and their black marble eyes ever watchful, how beautiful the coloring on their ears is . . . quite spectacular.

   
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  Noreen 4:27 pm on March 17, 2019 Permalink  

  Perfect Thawing Weather 

  Sunny days in the high 30s and cold nights.  It makes for perfect thawing of all the snowbanks.  Each day I see that they are shrinking.  Each day more of our driveway has less ice on it.  It does give me hope of having  a day when we do a road trip.

  Dennis has been quite tame since his month-long trip with nephew Brett.  I think his butt still has a flat side, just off to the right a bit.  A total of 5,720 miles . . . no way for this Grammie.  Heck, I don’t even have a bucket list.  What the day brings is what is dealt with.  Perhaps it is my age.  Perhaps it is my love of my family and home.  Being content is priceless.  Being content sitting on the patio without a jacket on . . . that may well be my bucket list.

  I am using the snow cover of our yard to as much advantage as I can.  Slowly pecking away at the Santa project.  There is a fear that once I can get my fingernails dirty, I may have to show some I.D. to get into the sewing studio.  Today was mitten day for Santa.  Surely, we can’t have mittens that are thread bare.  Yes, I had mentioned pants for the ole guy.  Well, not just yet.  First I’m doing those things that are not the easiest is my plan of action.  Making mitten patterns to fit over the old ones; finding out that his hands have gnarled joints just like mine.

  Kevin had left a can of spray paint here in January when he painted the hands on a clock for me.  I can now see them from across the room.  That can had been in my line of sight for some time.  Today, I used that can, and as it happened it was the perfect color to paint Santa’s bald head.  In times past when Santa’s hat rode up the back a bit in the neck, the most awful color of the fiberglass would show.  He now has the same color neck as the factory coloring in his face.  Much better! Absolutely, I am growing fond of the old fellow.  There is a kinship growing.

  One thought has crossed my mind.  If a service fellow needs to get into our basement, I hope he is not startled, thus causing health issues.  Santa stands tall and for all practical purposes, he is as naked as can be. Okay, Okay, I’m working on it. It is a good thing to keep a photo of the “before” Santa, so I don’t loose my ambition.  

   
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  Noreen 5:37 pm on March 16, 2019 Permalink  

  Tenacious 

  Mom used the word tenacious. I didn’t think Lena even knew what that work meant, let alone to hear her use it.  There were times after Dad died that I would take vacation days from my job and stay with Mom.  I would help her out with yard work, gardening, things within her home, but most of all . . . to spend time with her.   

  On one of those visits, I went with Mom to her Riverdale Quilting Club.  The gals were finishing a quilt for someone who had agreed to pay them for doing it.  The monies that they raised would be donated to a charity of their choice in time to come.  Mom was in the kitchen with Ruth getting the afternoon coffee put together.  I overheard Mom tell Ruth that during my stay I had raked off her flower gardens.  Mom told Ruth I was tenacious.  

  Today I did feel tenacious.  With a good night’s rest under my belt, the sunny day made things just click.  The bed sheets were still warm form the night’s occupants.  The beds were stripped and the hum of the washing machine could be heard.  The Swiffer got a new cleaning sheet in it and the floors didn’t disappoint.  There were dust bunnies to be captured.  

  With all the water in our yard, Dennis and I couldn’t put the deer feed out the last several nights.  This morning with the ice pick in hand to steady myself, I pushed the dish as if it were a hockey puck onto the path that I have used to visit neighbor Jan.  Yup, the path was iced over.  With Jan’s permission the deer food dish will now be on the edge of  their driveway.  A bit later, Dennis and I loaded the two 50lb bags of cracked corn and alfalfa into the back of the pickup and drove it over to Jan and Randy.  We visited a bit, but I didn’t get out of the pickup as their yard is glare ice.  They have been putting out feed as well and it’s not the time to stop feeding them now.  They need fuel just like we do to see this winter come to an end.

  Dennis and I finished up working on the innards of the Santa.  The amount of WD-40 that Dennis has used will either do the trick as any more application would be pointless.  His belly construction is now complete and will be able to hold up his new pants once I get back to the sewing aspect of this project.  We just have a few clamps holding all secure until the final application of glue is dry. We had used the saber saw to work through the engineered vinyl.  Oh ya . . . lots of itty bitty flicks and flakes to clean up. The basement cleanup was the last of the tenacity I had.  

  I will say that there is another gal that has tenacity.  My sister-in-law JoAnn has faced so many challenges these last four months since Michael’s passing.  We keep in close contact to encourage when we can, vent when it’s needed, sending out a high-five via a text . . . being family.  Knowing JoAnn for 45 plus years, there is so much history of family that we can pick up on and many times just giggle.

   
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  Noreen 5:14 pm on March 14, 2019 Permalink  

  It’s Worth a Try 

  Here on Stauffer Avenue, we do give it our best.  We try to work with what presents itself.  It’s always worth a try.

  Dennis has a pump sitting on the patio taking out whatever water he can from the rains and thaw.  Is it a loosing battle.  I don’t think so.  It provides Dennis the satisfaction of doing . . . something.  Keeping the water level low enough that the floors of the vehicle garages may remain dry.  Dennis has set up camp in the pickup garage and he has a good attitude.  What more can you ask.Dennis got into his pickup this afternoon and took a drive around town and the area around town.  That was a good idea.  When he came home he could relay that excess water is everywhere.  It centered Dennis.There is much snow to add to the situation.  There is no point in becoming exasperated.  The heavy rains have stopped with high winds setting in.  Dennis thought it would be a good idea if the wind just blew all the water away.  Ya right!

  I am not kidding myself that we will have a road date anytime soon.  Staying close is what is needed of us right now.  It did bring to mind a project I would like to go forward with.  The Santa project stalled after I had the new jacket done.  There was a piece of well worn cardboard within the belly of Good Old Saint Nick.  It was there for a reason.  It was a good reason.  When transporting Santa, there needs to be a place to take hold that is resilient and firm.  How that piece of cardboard held out for the 55 plus years is a wonder.  That replacement has had me stymied . . . for a short while.  I have stashes that go far and beyond threads and fabric.

  Several years ago Kevin brought over some lengths of engineered vinyl that had been used in livestock construction.  Kevin is like me.  Kevin is like his dad.  Kevin is like his grandpa Raymond.  You never know when something might come in handy.  This vinyl product is sturdy.  It might just work.  My wonderful glue and clamps is the first step to see if it would be a possible replacement for the cardboard.  What did the cardboard in was the fact that it needed to be split to get it around the spine of Santa.  As I said.  Taking it slow and doing some “what ifs” is what is in place right now. I have the time and I have enough vinyl is see which process will work the best.  It surely is worth a try.

  This spring will sort itself out in time to come.  What takes the angst out of all this water is that our basement is protected.  The sump pump is open to the northwest of the house and the pump is putting out a nice looking pond when I look out of the north window.  Not to get too comfortable, I still go down into the sewing studio and check.  Two of our closets were not included in the tiling project and rather than wait until the seepage could get deep enough to flow over the thresh-hold and run into the perimeter tile, Dennis brought in the wet vacuum from the garage.  He commented that he wished he had a hydro wet vacuum to take care of the patio.  It surely would be worth a try.