Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from March, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 5:09 pm on March 13, 2019 Permalink  

  Quack, Quack 

  I don’t think even the Mallard ducks would appreciate this day.  Rain in March has always been a given.  Rain on top of ice is extremely dangerous and hard on the toes as they are curled, trying to keep me upright.  I watched when the gal came with the mail.  I was out the door to warn her that the area of our driveway may look wet, but it is sheer ice under the water.  I met her on Stauffer Avenue to take our mail.  She headed out to the street to go farther on.  I don’t want to think of someone getting hurt on this crap.

  Dennis’ beloved patio porch has water running through it.  How could it not!  It’s not our first rodeo with water and it may not be our last.  We are not alone with excess water.  A porch is a porch is still just a porch.  Our home is safe and dry.  I must admit, I usually do not let weather affect me . . . I am saying Uncle!  “That’s about all I have to say about that,” quoting Forest Gump.

   
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  Noreen 5:16 pm on March 11, 2019 Permalink  

  A day such as this is worse than… 

  A day such as this is worse than a blizzard.  At nine above this morning, the re-frozen slush is treacherous under-foot.  Wherever there has been snow scraped with a blade, it is a shear sheet of smooth ice.  Curling the toes does not help but it makes me feel like I am walking more carefully than not.  I have a mantra: “I will not fall, I will not fall.  My mission today was to get to the chiropractor with a side stop at the grocery store on the way home.  Then . . . home sweet home.

  Dennis was determined to make a trip to the Fleet Farm store this afternoon to check out their inventory.  As of today, Dennis is doing half-cracked corn and half alfalfa pellets for the deer.  It’s labeled as horse feed by the store.  It will be interesting to see if it pleases their fancy.  Our hope is that after our 100 lb. stash of goodies is gone, the deer will be able to forage on their own.  Southeast of our home there is a huge cover of trees, shrubs and the creek that they have used as their hideout.

  Using ice or heat on my neck and upper shoulders, I am taking it slow.  I have a target project, but it may not be tackled with as much gusto as I usually would.  This neck and shoulder issue needs to be taken seriously enough to allow for good range of motion.  It didn’t happen overnight and it’s not going to go away as quickly as I would like.  It all started last fall lugging around a weed whip.  There . . . that’s the rest of the story.  It will take some time before the snow is gone.  I am going to use this time do what is prescribed so I can enjoy all that the spring season has to offer.

   
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  Noreen 2:39 pm on March 10, 2019 Permalink  

  One Last Time? 

  Old Man Winter is going to get a sun burn before you know it, if he keeps this snow crap and cold temperatures up.  The sun has power.  The storm of yesterday had more power.  With so much rain and the experts are saying the frost is four feet down, there was no place for the rain to go.  Oh . . . wait a minute.  It started to snow after several hours of rain and the snow covered all the rain up.  This morning . . . found it!  A fat layer of ice under the snow.  That was at seven this morning.  It was 18 degrees and the wind made it feel like -6 degrees.  Here we are in the late afternoon and the sun is showing us who is the boss.  Slush over ice everywhere.

  One of Dennis’ fellows, Scott, stopped in to chat with Dennis in the patio porch.  I did take notice of the huge red pickup in the driveway.  One thing lead to another.  Before long a second fellow, Dean, stopped in.  He didn’t park in the driveway.  He parked on Stauffer Avenue.  He took up the entire Stauffer Avenue.  It didn’t take long and Dean and his long green line had opened the driveway to our back garage.  Oh my, for the piles of snow we have.   

  While we were having lunch, Dennis made an administrative decision.  After lunch, we were taking the little red pickup and moving the Santa from the backyard garage into the basement.  His reasoning being:  when that snow starts to melt, that yard would be as soft as a sponge, if not a pond.  We had agreed that in order to finish the Santa Project, he would have to be close by and not half a block away for fittings and repairs.  We can check that off of our “need to do” list.  While Dennis had been gone on his road trip, I had moved things around in the sewing studio making room for the visitor.  

  Someone really needs to save us from ourselves at a point.  If . . . I was willing to help, Dennis was ready to evacuate the patio porch.  Hmm.  Had I not had an appointment set up for tomorrow with the chiropractor, for a second treatment on my shoulders and neck, I would have refused him.  What the heck.  Let’s get it done and let the healing begin after the “have tos.” When standing water is seen on the patio, it’s too late to think of the patio porch’s wellbeing.  People buy brand new vehicles and park them outside 24/7.  The little red pickup will be sitting in our driveway until the spring thaw is totally over.   As of today, Dennis’s patio porch is empty and he has set up digs in the pickup garage, complete with cable television.  The carpet has been taken up and let the good Lord do what must be done to put this winter behind us.  

  Stauffer Avenue . . . still the sweetest place on earth for us two old timers.  Hopefully this was the last time for heavy snowfalls.

   
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  Noreen 5:52 pm on March 9, 2019 Permalink  

  Quiet Day 

  It has been a long time since the sound of rain has hit the skylight in the kitchen.  It didn’t take long we heard more than the pitter patter.  Randy and his long green line was in our driveway.  Snowblower on one end of his tractor and a bucket on the other.  Today, Randy stopped to tell Dennis it was playing in the rain.  With the bucket, Randy scrapped off a lot of the packed snow that now showed more slush than snow.  Randy has only gravel on his driveways with no chance of seeing the snow scrapped down to a hard service as he could with our concrete.

  Last night Dennis did a stakeout in the patio porch.  The exterior light was on showing the east patio.  Dennis and the cats sat in the dark in the patio porch.  Dennis was determined to get a photo or two of the deer as they came to the patio for corn.  I think he aced it.  As you can see in the photo, Snuggles was sitting right there taking it all in.  This late afternoon, we had some sleet, some rain and wet snow.  Dennis decided to put out the corn dish, thinking that even if the corn got a bit wet, it would still be eaten.  Sure enough.  Dennis just said he has counted six thus far.  Life is good on Stauffer Avenue for all two legged and four legged creatures.

   
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  Noreen 2:57 pm on March 8, 2019 Permalink  

  The Calm Before the Storm 

  It doesn’t matter what radio or television station I listen to, we are due for a storm that is to take from Saturday to Sunday. 

  Today . . . I enjoyed the calm and went for a walk down Stauffer Avenue to the east.  My friend, June, lives in the last home.  Have not caught site of her since Christmas.  June’s husband has been gone for just two years.  June has two sons that live here in St. James and they look after her for what she may need.  June worked right up until age 70 at the Swift Food processing plant north of us.  June is now 77. She walked to work each morning and again when her shift was over, she walked home.  June has never had a driver’s license.  I admire her to no end.  As we caught up with each other, she thought that perhaps with all the snow that will thaw, she may not put in a garden this spring.  Her home is quite on a hill compared to where her garden spot is.  I also commented that I was happy Kevin had tilled most of our backyard up in the fall, taking away the need to tend a huge flower garden that would be soggy for much of the spring. As I was getting ready to walk back home, we each were thankful for the snow each of us had moved this winter. Our legs were road ready for our walks.  Thinking back, some springs it took a while for our legs to acclimate for the lengthy walks.

  Coming back into the house, it smelled so good.  Using up the last of the roast pork, I had decided to make soup with it.  Mom used to make the best cabbage and potato soup ever.  Our soup consists of the left over pork roast, onions, carrots, potatoes and cut in fourths, brussel sprouts.  The sprouts are as close to cabbage as I had on hand.  Hearty and healthy, coming up for supper.

  The sewing studio is getting a break for several days to let the neck feel better.  Monday, if the weather permits, I am going back for another treatment.  Hey, I have insurance that covers it. I want to be free of the neck pain that does lead to a headache at the base of the skull.  Maybe it had to really hurt that bad for me to perhaps learn my lesson and slack off on that, that does do harm.  The sewing studio did see the stitched out pillow for Carrie’s auction event come into fruition before Dennis had gotten home.  The most difficult part of the project was stitching one side of the pillow closed with needle and thread in hand.  Yup, you would have thought that I was being held up by my fingers and wrists for the challenge it was.  Mobility in that regard is less than good.

  Before coming home yesterday, the last stop was the library.  A good choice of activity for my neck R & R.  We are ready for whatever happens when the calm turns to storm.

   
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  Noreen 4:59 pm on March 5, 2019 Permalink  

  Dennis came up from the basement a bit… 

  Dennis came up from the basement a bit ago and asked how long it would take for me to get ready to go dancing.  Ya right!

  With the snow raking having been done yesterday, our patio was filled with packed snow.  I took the morning slow, as I knew what would be coming for the afternoon.  Settling on summer sausage sandwiches for our Noon lunch I could feel the tension begin to build.  Dennis had a plan and he knew without saying a word, I would be right beside him to the end.

  Nothing packs snow like pulling it off of a roof and it comes down with a thunk with multiple layers added to it.  There is only so much a small snowblower can do once it slices through packed snow the first time.  The solid wall of packed snow could just as well be concrete.  We have a wonderful red plastic shovel that Dennis got when he was buds with one of the fellows who worked in the cleanup crew at our local meat processing plant.  It’s light as a feather and sturdy.  

  After Dennis had made a initial path through, the shovel and me would follow behind and knock down more snow for him to blow to the west.  Our goal was to free the north side of the garage of snow.  With this patio being on the north side of the garage, it would have taken until the 4th of July to melt, thus leaving very soggy siding on the garage.  Perhaps the melting snow would have found its way underneath the sill and we would have had a mess in the car garage.  

  We know the patio porch may flood this spring.  Today was meant to try and divert having a wet garage, as that is where the entire contents of the patio porch will be moved into when the thawing begins in full swing.  Yes . . . in hindsight!  In times past, it was a wonderful idea to have a slab of concrete off of the north side of the garage.  We enjoyed that patio to no end.  It was shaded most of the day and it always caught a breeze.  Well . . . that was then, this is reality.  We built a porch on that concrete slab and no matter how man times it may or may not flood, it is ours and we enjoy it to no end.  We should have elevated the original patio by a good two feet.

  Just to be clear . . . Dennis and I are not going dancing.  We can barely lift our feet let alone our arms after moving the snow.  It was a great workout.  In a perfect world, Dennis could have come home from his road trip and worked on getting the lawnmowers prepped.  Maybe next month the mowers will be able to be gotten out.  For right now, we are satisfied on having had a productive day of good local effort.  It also helps that I had a slow cooking roast with carrots in the oven while we were outside.  Nobody has to cook supper.  We may very well each take a fork with the roaster between us and call it a meal.  No fuss, no mess, no additional dishes.  Hey . . . we are older retired folks, there are no set rules on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 6:33 pm on March 4, 2019 Permalink  

  Snow Raking 

  

  No, you are not having problems with your eyes. This Grammie knows enough to stay far, far away from those who have a job to do. Looking out our bathroom window was a safe place for me.

   
  When Nephew Brett dropped Dennis off last night, he didn’t waste any time getting home to his own family. This morning was a different story. Grandson Ryan was here ready to use the roof rake. Brett pulled up right behind him with a large Bobcat. Ryan works for Brett. When Brett saw our yard and the snow on the garage, Ryan must have felt like someone was pulling him by a choker chain. Yup, it was his boss, Brett. Ryan had been given instructions before Brett and Dennis left.  I am sure he had planned on getting over here, but time flies when the boss is gone. Oh well.

  Today the garage that Kevin has worked so hard on, to continue standing, is free of snow on the roof. Brett took out the 4′ high and 90′ long snowbank that was between what our neighbor Randy had created with his snowblower and Stauffer Avenue.  That Bobcat had push power as well as a huge bucket.  Our backyard is filled with a lot of pushed together snow.  All is well that ends well.

  Oh, for the ass chewing that Ryan most likely got.  It can’t be easy for Brett having a nephew working for him some days.  The best part was that Grandpa Dennis never had to say a word.

   
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  Noreen 6:26 pm on March 2, 2019 Permalink  

  Before I opened my eyes this morning I… 

  Before I opened my eyes this morning, I knew by the sound of all the birds chirping the kind of day that I wanted.  Opening my eyes and seeing all the snow that the boughs of the evergreen held, I knew my day was not going to be what I wanted or needed.  

  Forty nine years ago, this time of the year would have had me raking the yard with two little ones tagging behind me, messing up the piles of dead leaves I had just raked together.  Jackets would have been needed as one can never trust early spring temperatures that had totally taken away the snow to allow so many shades of green to show themselves.  No caps had been issued, rather kerchiefs out of Orlin’s big blue hankies so the ears would be totally covered.  Two large hardwoods to the south of the area was the perfect fit for a hammock.  It wasn’t the type that collapsed and would be hard to maneuver.  Both ends had braces that keep the inviting area ready to plop wee ones into, complete with a snack.  Today I pined for a spring such as that and the memories it evoked.  

  Today the sun was shining.  When it was time to greet the three cats in the patio porch, the snow creaked under foot.  It was a cold sunny Saturday on the second of March, 2019, with just a degree or two above zero.  There had been enough additional snow flurries since late afternoon to coat the east patio.  Without a second thought, I opened the slider door and went out to the patio armed with my Toro electric leaf blower.  By gum . . . the cats were going to have bare concrete to get their morning exercise.  Honey Bunny rolled and rolled until her silver gray fur was standing on end.  Snuggles has put on enough weight over this winter, his roll was more like a “do-over.”  Harriet sat in the open doorway all hunched up.  Not going any farther.  I spent time in the patio porch rounding up all their toys and piling them up on one spot and I hit the vacuum.  Just a bit of a tidy.  

  At five this afternoon, I happened to glance out the bathroom window and mama deer and the two fawns were already at the treat dish on our patio and what the next door neighbor has out.  The two fawns have really gotten big.  I believe mama brings them early to make sure they get some of the good food.  Sometimes later at night, I have tried to count . . . I loose track after seven as the shadows play tricks on my counting.

  The ole cowboy called this evening, warning me they are on their way home.  I know it’s about 1,600 miles from where they have spent the last week.  I told him I would leave the light on!  Isn’t that what Motel 6 has as their pitch line?

   
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  Noreen 6:18 pm on March 1, 2019 Permalink  

  This dense snow fall was not needed by… 

  This dense snowfall was not needed by any stretch of the imagination.  It might have been three inches but at this time of the year, it could have just as well been six inches.  The birds have the right attitude.  They tweet, they chirp and I am almost positive, the Thrush are back.  There have been Thrush bird nests in the anchors and braces of our front awning for quite a few years.  Their reappearance and determination  gave me second winds to get out there and clear off the snow.  On the first wave of energy the back door, front door and car garage doors got cleared.  If that snow is moved and pushed into the driveway about 15 feet west towards to the main street, Randy will blow it all to the south leaving me with not having to pitch it over the tall snow bank that borders our driveway on the south.

  The three cats sat in the patio porch watching . . . and waiting.  Nope, it was time for this Grammie to take a break before heading their way.  A cup of hot tea hit the mark.  I have some tea that has Turmeric and Licorice infused into the tea.  I did use the largish cup in the cupboards and it was wonderful.  My very last second wind was kicking in.  Let’s get this done!

  Yesterday the cats were able to wander onto the bare concrete of the east patio.  Today, all three hunkered in the open doorway waiting for me to clear the area.  One by one they followed behind me and the snow pusher.  It is comical.  It is endearing.  No one wants spring to come more than those three critters.  On second thought, the Thrush are going to seek and search nesting material far and wide.  I am resigned.  Taking one day at a time . . . still thankful that Dennis has not been home this month.  Ya, right!  Like he would take a break from the snow removal and have a cup of tea . . . not!

   
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  Noreen 6:15 pm on February 28, 2019 Permalink  

  It’s Still Up There 

  For a short time today the sun was bright and it made me feel happy.  The sun didn’t last long but I still remain happy.  The sun has power this time of year.  I never miss a chance to open the blinds on the south side of our home and catch those rays regardless of how cold it is outside.  The warmth is there.  When that sun does shine, it doesn’t seem to matter what the temperature is.  There is something to be said for becoming accustomed to our surroundings: it’s snowing, the wind is blowing, it is frigid.  As the snow hit our area over and over, the routines continued and we all acclimated.  

  I have tackled many things in my sewing studio.  Quilts have gone from scrappy, small size, large king size and many intricate.  It is safe to say that within the last three years, Kersten’s and mine were the two quilts that I would label intricate.  Today I worked on a stitching project that I plan on giving to Carrie for an annual event they have coming up that uses the silent auction to raise funds.  Last year, it was mentioned to late, so I decided to jump the gun and get started for the event that is in April.  True to my pledge, to myself, I am not purchasing any yardage for what I want to do.  I think in the days to come, my stashes will be turned inside out, upside down, measured, ironed and handled until I find just what I need.  Stay tuned!

  Friday promises to bring snow.  I have enjoyed these last several days of leaving the scoop and pusher leaned up against the back  door.  Thursday evening is one of my favorite evenings for watching several PBS shows.  Unfortunately they tend to have plenty of re-runs just like the rest.  I have a book waiting in the wings that I can take up.  With that being said, it’s time to role out the robe and slippers.  The bad side of that is, the eyelids take advantage of that and tend to want to close.  When that happened to Dad, he would disavow that he was napping, “Just checking my eyelids for cracks.”