Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from October, 2018 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 5:46 pm on October 18, 2018 Permalink  

  When I got up this morning and looked out the bathroom window to see Dennis pulling up our little utility trailer to the car garage I knew there was not going to be a slow start to the day. Get dressed Grammie; grab a cup of coffee and met him head on.

  Dennis already had all the patio chairs lined up on the south side of the garage waiting for me to decide how and where to store them in the potting shed. The small little trailer needed all four tires aired up so that gave me a bit of time to catch up to him. There was a bit of tidying up in the potting shed and when I turned around, there was Dennis with the umbrella stand and the wooden round patio table on the trailer. He left it for me to unload and he soon came back with the umbrella. I must say, before I had the sleep rubbed out of my eyes that phase of Dennis’ schedule had been completed.

  I had to find my gloves as it was going to be my job to pull out the garden hose along Stauffer Avenue to the total extent as to drain all the water out of it before it was reeled up and stored for the winter. I kid you not there was almost 260′ to be pulled to the east. When I walked back Dennis was sitting in a chair next to the hose caddy ready to start rolling it in. The only problem was that it was too heavy to roll up on his own, I needed to haul back lengths of hose so it could be rolled up correctly. Seriously!

  People always told me I would notice a difference in Dennis after the carotids were stripped. I will say that after the second one was stripped in Feb., I did not see any improvement. About the early part of June, Dennis began perking up. Here we are in mid October and it’s a good thing Kevin has most of the backyard tilled up as grass wouldn’t stand a chance under Dennis’ feet if there were some.

  About this time of the morning I called for a coffee break. Snuggles had just jumped on my lab for a long sit when out of the corner of my eye, I saw the car being taken out of the garage. Next came the pickup. I must have missed something. The next item on Dennis’ agenda was sweeping and or blowing out the garage floors. There was much to move out so corners could be hit. Hell’s Bells! If those floors have been cleaned we might as well clear out the patio porch and get that floor vacuumed. Dennis shook rugs and aired out kitty baskets and sure enough, the patio porch is clean and tidy.

  The only thing I had had on my agenda today was to wash the bathroom windows as they need to be done from the outside. I eventfully got them done after Dennis left to have coffee with his nephew Brett. Thank God, he had left before finding more to get into for the day. As I have mentioned, Dennis is back going full steam. It is welcoming and wonderful. I wouldn’t have changed a single thing about this day. It was heart breaking prior to the carotid surgeries when all that Dennis welcomed was sleep.

   
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  Noreen 5:20 pm on October 17, 2018 Permalink  

  My aunt in Arizona called and requested a quilt pattern. The search was on here at Stauffer Avenue. The sewing studio is much easier to search through since it was organized last October. There are only so many file cabinets to look through. Since last October there have been few surprises that I have run into. Shucky darn!

  Today I found a surprise. A file folder that was filed with lots of photos over the last 18 years. Many photos that had been with me when I worked at the courthouse. So much for looking for a meager quilt pattern. Dennis and I spent quite a bit of time checking out how tiny Megan and Nicholas were in some of the photos. Dennis had forgotten that at one time he wore mutton chops. I didn’t know there was another way of saying mustache. Needless to say we had a great afternoon in the sewing studio.

  Tomorrow Dennis has our day planned. The patio umbrella and all such patio items need to be in the potting shed before supper. We think we have a lot of fall left but that is only IF we have a fall. Dennis has been going from garage to garage always finding something to tweak. Dennis remembered what Kevin had sent along as far as what his convertible needed in regard to anti-freeze. Indeed this ole cowboy is on the move. Exactly one year ago he was in the intensive care portion of the hospital recovering from his first carotid artery surgery. What a difference a year makes. Special!

   
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  Noreen 5:43 pm on October 16, 2018 Permalink  

  True to Form 

  True to form, Dennis and I had a busy day.  The sun and the wind had a hand in pushing us into checking in with each other as to what was needed.  A week and a half ago there was a wet spell.  On the first day of the drizzle and mist Dennis and I were out seeding the backyard via our garden hose and the seed mousse.  The applicator needed refilling quite often.  The supply of seed and mousse was in the patio porch to keep it dry.  We had gotten some of our oldest carpet rag rugs on board for our muddy feet as we were in and out.  After they had dried Dennis shook and shook to get most of the mud off, leaving a grungy gray rug.  Tuesday’s are the best day to hit the launderette here in town.  A pocket full of quarters was needed.  It’s not that I would not wash them at home, but our economy sized stackable needs to last us for some years to come and the launderette has the huge heavy duty front load washing machines.  We dry them just enough on site so when we get home with them it takes just a bit and then they are draped over the kitchen stools to finish off the job.  Even though the sun is out, there is no way they would dry if hung outside.  

  Dennis couldn’t help it.  He has promised that this will be the last time of running the rider mower around clipping the grass that had grown a bit.  Some was tall, some was small . . . it made no matter to Dennis, he whacked it all.

  I had been keeping my ears open when some of Dennis’ family was around. This afternoon I got my scrap box of fabrics out.  I had gotten the flower feed sacks washed yesterday and today I got out a pattern that used various scraps of colorful fabrics to do applique apples.  No rhyme or reason for colors whether of fabric or of thread.  Would they need to be embellished?  Not!  What fun would that be for me! Fun projects that have high utility.  Priceless.  

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on October 14, 2018 Permalink  

  How Bright Can It Be? 

  Waking up and having the outside stream through the windows . . . sunshine was not needed.  The bright white snow told the entire story. 

  Neither Dennis nor I had watched any news on Saturday.  Dennis had been so busy on Saturday, there was no outside influence needed.  His last project for the day had been spreading Lime on the front yard to counter balance the influence the acidity of the evergreen tree that had given the grass under it a beating.  

  After taking in all the white brightness, Dennis was content that the snow had brought a lot of free nitrogen to our newly seeded areas.  He always commented that farmers who plowed after the first snowfall could see the benefits of the nitrogen charged snow come the next spring.  It’s always a good thing to take the positive approach.  I looked out and thought it was quite a peaceful landscape even though I took the photo through the window screen.

  With all the company we had had on Saturday, Dennis had not had a chance to open a package that came from Amazon.  Dennis will now be sporting a heated mattress pad on his bed.  Come on Sunbeam!  Yes, it is for Dennis’ comfort but it is also for my level of ability to make Dennis’ bed.  I am hoping this will eliminate the extra quilts and blankets that Dennis felt was needed to feel comfortable.  Time will tell.  I have had positive comments from those who have used an electric mattress pad.  I tend to sleep on the cool side of life.  For the priceless need of good rest, Dennis and I sleep in separate beds about 10′ apart.  I am thankful that the CPAP machine and all the bells and whistles that comes with it works for Dennis.  He sleeps well and there is no need to worry about his atrial fibrillation of his heart causing him to cease breathing during his sleep.  Dennis’ command center for sleep has just had added to it the control for the electric mattress pad.  We are on point.

  The afternoon is upon us and there is no snow left on the streets or concreted areas.  With the 29 degrees forecast for the night, there will be some left for tomorrow.  Can you imagine how greasy the fields will be for the harvesting!  With this surprise of the snow, Dennis and I are really fortunate that we kept pecking away at what was needed.  We will always find more but the bulk of the heavy preparation had been handled.  Hard to believe that just last week at this time, Kevin had his Ford tractor just a puttering away getting our backyard tilled.  Now . . . that was great timing.

  It was white out . . . surely it must be time to make a batch of fudge!  It is settling as we speak.  As I have said . . . older folks are fun to have around.

   
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  Noreen 5:54 pm on October 13, 2018 Permalink  

  If one stood in a sheltered area where the sunshine would hit, it felt wonderful this afternoon.

  We had visitors from the far north country today. The entire family of Dennis’ daughter, Susie, her husband and their daughter Taylor came calling. Granddaughter Erin and her husband Paul have three girls. I think the tiny town of Silver Bay on the north shore of Lake Superior was quite empty today. Grandson Ryan and his daughter live here in St. James and joined in. Daughter Sandy drove over from Mankato so she didn’t get left out. With Dennis and me it was a group of 13. Lots of visiting, lots of giggling. Lots of sad faces.

  The four great granddaughters have always beat feet for the backyard to enjoy the swing and running off a lot of pent of energy from the long ride. The strict instructions were given in the best of terms that the concrete patio was as far as they could venture. With three inches of rain this last week over the newly tilled backyard, it would have been a situation of kids being muddy right up to the tops of their shoes. We assured the girls that next spring the yard would be ready to play in. Five year old Josie had to be content collecting leaves off of the concrete . . . and there was no shortage there.

  Lots of hugs and goodbyes until a plan can be made towards Thanksgiving. Dennis didn’t miss a beat. He was in the mode of getting the horse tank set up in the Lincoln car garage. The hope is for Indian Summer, but he feels the need to get prepared. No one likes to have all of what is necessary to come crashing down at one time.

   
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  Noreen 5:42 pm on October 11, 2018 Permalink  

  Lots of Freshness 

  Another day that needed to be dealt with in regard to gloom and cold.  How cold was it?  Cold enough that we put in the two plants that have been on the edge of the Koi pond for this summer and quite a few summers in the past.  It would be a shame if we let the frost get them as it might have tonight.  All of the greenery in the patio porch made it look fritzie fresh.  

  After Dennis bundled up he headed to the Koi pond.  The winds of last night had brought the leaves everywhere but most importantly where they were not welcomed . . . the Koi pond.  The water filters needed to be cleaned.  The pond needed scoop after scoop of leaves taken off from the surface of the water and then also those that had gotten water logged and had sank to the bottom.  The water was brown from all the dye in the leaves.  Twelve noon brought us into the house and the heat within the house felt good to cold fingers.  

  It felt like a great time to get some of the pillows and blankets that have been used all season into the washer.  In a perfect world it would have been great to put them on the clothesline.  The clothes dryer did just fine.  Yup, I feel spoiled.  The first years when Orlin and I were married, right up to the time Carrie was not yet two, the laundry was hung out on the clotheslines.  When the diapers froze stiff on the outside lines, Orlin put up multiple clotheslines across the width of the basement.

  During the time that the laundry cycles worked their magic, I checked out the sewing studio.  I had shut the sewing machine off last Thursday.  Seven days of absence was all I could take.  Deciding what to do and how to do it is the best part of the project.  I had purchased for $1.00 each cloth napkins.  I had mentioned this in a prior post.  Fourteen of those napkins that were a plain color left Stauffer Avenue colorfully stitched and folded for a benefit.  It was time to do something with the most undesirable ones.  Plaid in dark colors.  Ugh!  I began pulling out scraps of fabric, a few spools of thread and then hit the library of designs in folders on my computer.  Thank you Kersten!  When Dennis checked on me at four this afternoon, I was in my element.  I was using the applique patterns where a scrap of fabric is then stitched down all under the guise of machine embroidery.  

  It was a great day.  The patio porch got a dose of freshness of the added plants, the freshly laundered blankets and pillows left a subtle fragrance of freshness within the house and my sewing studio has a fresh project underway.  Priceless.

   
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  Noreen 1:25 pm on October 8, 2018 Permalink  

  Landscape Changes on Stauffer 

  

  It was time to make some changes on Stauffer Avenue’s landscape: less than good grass, less than prolific flowers due to a lot of shade. rougher than a plow field in many places. Kersten and Kevin came for a Sunday visit and look what happened? The afternoon brought about a much needed tilling. The Stauffer area has been my address since 1988 and in those years, this backyard had nothing more than the bare minimum of attention. Oh yes, I dug in flowers and bulbs of every sort and left the grass areas to tend to themselves. Over those years the trees have grown and gave the backyard dense shade that kept the soil wet. The soil needed to have some air tilled in and it sure got it. Wouldn’t you know the tractor and tiller were barely on the trailer when it began to mist and that mist turned to a bit more substantial.

  

  Oh yes, we had light rain off and on during the night. The forecast told us it would continue for several days with about three inches when all was said and done. This morning after Dennis and I had coffee, we began the seeding process of our new dirt. Using a product Dennis had seen on television we drug out our mile of garden hose and attached the attachment that held the grass seed and also a small packet that would turn the water green allowing me to see where I had been. Somewhere along the line Dennis said I must have touched my hair as this afternoon I do have a smudge of green in the white. It was chilly out and off course I got grubby. Dennis manhandled the garden hoses as I made my rounds. I tried to step into the dirt to get at the very center. If I had not curled my toes hard, I would have lost my shoe in the newly rained on dirt. We did manage to cover the entire area with the setting on the applicator set at “dense seeding.” Time will tell and as we are in the midst of the forecast of rain for several days, we won’t need to water at least this week.

  

   
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  Noreen 5:44 pm on October 7, 2018 Permalink  

  There has been a plethora of activity on Stauffer Avenue. Dennis ran an errand to Fleet and Farm to get several bags of lime to put around our evergreen tree. This should neutralize the acidity in the soil that the tree gives out. That is on our plate for Monday.

  I had the electric tiller going and thought I was in high cotton. I was working under the Lilacs and getting soil worked up that had not been moved around for a long time. It was time to get some tilth in the soil. I love my little tiller. 18 lbs is just the right amount for me to handle. That project was going to be the “It” for the day.

  That was until Kevin and Kersten drove up with their diesel Ford tractor with an amazing tiller behind it about 1 o’clock. It was a trailer full. The mighty blue tractor sure did a great job on an area that may have been 25′ x 30′. By the time Kersten had helped me with some computer files, the boys . . . Dennis and Kevin, were loading the tractor and tiller.

  By four, us four were sitting down to share a meal. The day was great. Of course, it had to rain about that time. Nothing serious but dang, that was suppose to be the forecast for later on this week. If the weather cooperates, Dennis and I will be doing the grass mousse tomorrow. It should be interesting. Dennis commented when the city puts down grass seed with a water hose, they really don’t care what shape or how hard packed the soil is. The soil that Kevin worked up looked like a sea of finally sifted soil. As I said . . . just a great day.

   
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  Noreen 5:55 pm on October 5, 2018 Permalink  

  This is not what I would prefer for an October fall day. Following a half inch of rain during the night the gray skies settled in for the entire day. Dennis’ son-in-law made short work of the large limbs that had gone down several days ago. Tom does not pick up what his chainsaw has cut. We are thankful for what he does do. What was left was a mess of small twigs. By noon we had everything loaded and ready to take to the tree dump. You cannot tell by the looks of the backyard that we had to play lumberjacks today.

  Decades ago all of the cut up Maple would have found its way stacked into the machine shed to dry for the wood furnace that was in the farm home of my parents. There was no duct work in the farm house. In the center of the living room floor was a metal grate four feet square. Whatever heat the wood furnace could generate was felt coming up through that grate. There was also a grate in the floor of the second floor to take whatever heat could rise. That was the total heat source for our bedrooms.

  Do I feel guilty when our forced air furnace brings heat from various heat registers throughout our home via duct work? No. I enjoy all the memories of times past. I enjoy our comfortable home without all the labor intensity of those days of old. Yup . . . I am spoiled.

   
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  Noreen 5:28 pm on October 4, 2018 Permalink  

  The morning started out early as all of Hwy. #4 traffic is coming past our home for a time due to detours. Jake brakes on the semis are noisy. We were both up and at it by seven this morning. After several cups of coffee I noticed even our neighbor to the south was up and picking up branches from the strong winds we endured throughout the night. Once I noticed he had his fire pit going with a roaring fire, I began picking up our light weight branches to keep the fire going. That went on until almost eleven this forenoon before I was up against the limbs that would need a chainsaw. I didn’t realize how chilly the air was until I quit moving and then I felt chilled to the bone. It was close to a 50 degree difference from yesterday afternoon.

  We had company for noon lunch and the good visiting lasted until 4:30 this afternoon when we bid each other goodbye until the next time. A great day that I thought couldn’t have anything else fit into it. Dennis then mentioned that we would be having company tomorrow.

  I am sure I will barely be out of bed tomorrow morning when I will be hearing Dennis’ son-on-law’s chainsaw tackling the larger limbs of the Maple tree. If the strong winds had been continuous yesterday it would have done less damage than when the additional gusts of winds would hit. By tomorrow at this time all will be taken care of and the mowing of the acre will be smooth sailing with no branches to run over and raise cane with the mower’s blades. That may be happening on Saturday.