Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2018 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 5:28 pm on August 22, 2018 Permalink  

  I want more days such as we have had today. Dennis and I came in for a bite of lunch at noon and headed right back outside. It does pay to stand back and take a look at what has happened over decades in our backyard. What was I thinking of having rocks, some quite huge, amongst the perennials? Out came the aluminum scoop shovel. Get the rock on the shovel and start pulling! My rock pile at the north side of the base of the large Maple still has some class as the arrangement of the rocks was “just right.”

  Autumn Joy plants need full sun to come into their own to bloom and attract butterflies. God willing they will survive the transplant, maybe for not the best of this fall’s showing, but it is all about the roots when it comes to perennials. It’s 6:30 and I am so thankful I have potato salad fixed that can be put with a hamburger patty and call it supper. We may be weary and whipped but a good day on Stauffer makes it all worthwhile.

   
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  Noreen 3:39 pm on August 21, 2018 Permalink  

  When I stitch I do get lost in thoughts. Dennis is always ready to help. After I have whacked shrubs out by the roots, Dennis was right there to load up the debris to head out to the tree dump. A one dollar bill is all it costs to be rid of branches, limbs, etc.

  Today Dennis headed to Sleepy Eye as they had called that the air bags had come in as a direct result of a recall. Before Dennis came home he had stopped at the parts store and picked up spark plugs and a wiring kit for his 1968 Cub Cadet that he is sprucing up. When he came home he checked in with me in the sewing studio. I was his last stop before he was going to check his eyelids out for cracks in his recliner. When I look at Dennis who will be having his 82nd birthday this fall, I couldn’t help but think of Dad.

  Dad was another one that always had an agenda but would take a time out for a nap every day. No matter what he was doing in the machine shed or out in the fields, you could set a watch by him. At twelve noon he was at Mom’s table. If she fixed him a noon meal, it was the least he could do to be on time. After noon lunch, he headed for the living room floor, stretched out and took a 15 minute nap. Again, you could set your clock. At age 73, Dad was taken too early. When I look at Dennis . . . special!

  By the way, when I loose my place in stitching, it means that the seam ripper may be gotten out. A tip: the seam that needs to be ripped out . . . take it to the ironing board and press the seam open. The ripper finds its niche between the stitches and makes short work of it.

   
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  Noreen 5:39 pm on August 19, 2018 Permalink  

  I noticed on Friday that there were no biting bugs outside. Knowing that the last rain may bring a new hatching of mosquitoes in a day or two, I headed to the backyard this morning. Dennis was down for the count for a nap while watching some tractor auctions. The nose alone of the auctioneer I find annoying.

  After a good workout I have said goodbye to a Mock Orange shrub, an Anna Bell Hydrangea shrub, a Spurge shrub and last but not least a worn out Clematis shrub. The square garden is in the process of getting wiped out. The greenery is always there but with little to no direct sunlight the blooms are scarce. The Black Walnut trees and the Maple tree make for a lot of shade. This year with all the rain the shade has kept the soil mucky. The patches of moss growing in the garden was one more indication that a change was needed.

  I am off the clock for the rest of the evening. There is a slight chance that I may feel the use of the shovel, the sharp shooter, and the rakes tomorrow. I feel weary but most of all I feel really good in having had a great workout.

   
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  Noreen 6:10 pm on August 17, 2018 Permalink  

  After having 1.5 inches of rain yesterday I have made an administrative decision. Our backyard was just about to the point that I could walk and not get muddy shoes. The large square perennial garden in the backyard has had its last season. It is about 25′ x 25′ and it has given me much joy over the last twenty years. We have had and will always have a low area to content with and the rain of this year drove that point home loud and clear.

  When nephew Brett does get a cement job done here I will have an area right off of the patio that will hold the perennials that I have an emotional attachment to. The ideal time to move them will be in the spring of 2019. The rest . . . will be going by the wayside. This morning I spent a fair amount of time pulling some plants up and getting them ready to be mulched. Between now and the snow flying I have decorative rock to move, some posts that have held garden art will be taken out, etc. Next spring I know of a fellow and his Ford orchard tractor that has a great garden tiller and the area will be tilled with grass seed following. The area around our huge Maple tree and the patio porch will still allow me to get my fingers dirty.

  The passions that amount to “busy work” do wane followed by new “busy work.” The thread and fuzz that I enjoy has remained with me since I was a child. It endures. It is satisfying. It challenges me. With the condensed gardens and the thread and fuzz, I know that I will remain busy as there are a few challenges that Dennis occasionally brings into my life. All in all I have a balanced life. I like it. I like it a lot.

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on August 15, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Snuggles ( 7 )   

  The True Story 

  

  Our beloved Snuggles is always up for a challenge. He has ridden our patio umbrella like a tilt-a-whirl in times past. Today out of the blue there were branches shaking as I looked out the kitchen window. When I went outside there was Snuggles in the crab apple tree.

  

  The true story of this: You can’t be brave unless you are scared. Snuggles took quite a bit of time checking out the roof of the house. Too bad I didn’t have a nanny-cam on him so I could have done an up close and personal look as to how all the shingles were holding up. Snuggles would stand at various portions of the roof and meow. Snuggles meowed a lot. Snuggles did venture to the opposite end of the house . . . eyeing up the awning for a return descent. In time he decided to come down the same way he went up. Jumping from the tree to the house roof seemed a lot easier than standing on the roof line eyeing up spindly branches for the return flight. I waited him out on the patio drinking my morning coffee. Before long there he was, panting as if he had run a mile. He had been scared once he was aloft but decided the brave thing was to return with all four paws on solid ground. Thinking of my own life . . . I know there were times when it was scary to be brave.

   
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  Noreen 6:32 pm on August 14, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Aunt Lorraine ( 7 )   

  Today we voted in the primary. It was the first thing on our list this morning. Dennis dropped me off and he was off to the parts store for some brushes for the generator on his Cub Cadet. The tractor has been a good project for Dennis, beside the fact that the back portion of the acre doesn’t take him long at all and it is done.

  I headed for Windom with my cousin’s quilt top. Christine had a few minutes to visit with me. Christine works at a drug store that fills prescriptions for over 30 different health care facilities in the area. Christine was appreciative so she could take the quilt top and make plans for it to be quilted sometime in the future. It ended up to be a bit of a story as to how this quilt top got wonkie. Christine didn’t sew the quilt top together. Aunt Lorraine who has Macular Degeneration had her hand in this. It doesn’t matter as the project is back with Christine. The family does worry as to what will happen when Lorraine’s eyesight continues to deteriorate as there is no cure for the Macular eye disease. All the more reason for me to continue taking care of myself as much as possible.

  The skies have threatened all afternoon, but I am afraid the rain has dissipated before it hits the ground. All is good here on Stauffer Avenue. So many blessings abound here in our home. Priceless.

   
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  Noreen 5:29 pm on August 11, 2018 Permalink  

  Dennis and I had decided last night that today would be a quiet day with little to nothing that would need to be done. Dennis enjoys the Rural Farm television channel. It goes from tractor auctions, to insights on farming in various states and the best part for Dennis . . . the gospel and country music.

  It is difficult for me to sit on my hands. I did linger in the patio porch this morning for enjoying several cups of coffee. Not much breeze. Looking out to the east there was plenty of activity. The squirrels were having a hay day. The neighbor’s Oak tree has a fair amount of acorns to be had. The acorns are green as grass and perhaps that is the way for the squirrels to enjoy them.

  Snuggles did catch a squirrel last week. Dennis watched the entire hunt go down. Snuggles feels so heavy when he sits on my lap, but according to Dennis is was greased lightening on Snuggles’ part that was the end of that squirrel. The catch was not to be eaten but to be played with. When there was no more movement by the squirrel, Snuggles sauntered off. Within a few minutes Dennis had the dead squirrel in a plastic bag and into the garbage. Last year we learned our lesson. We did not pay attention to Snuggles’ conquests until we could smell them.

  I finished off the day with getting a far amount done on the t-shirt quilt for Thomas’ daughter.  Thomas had been on site quickly last week when we had a huge Maple branch go done.  The barter system is alive and well on Stauffer Avenue: have chainsaw, will travel . . . for a t-shirt quilt. It’s all good.

   
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  Noreen 4:33 pm on August 10, 2018 Permalink  

  It may be hot and humid, but after a full day here on Stauffer Avenue, I still love my ole cowboy and I love our home. Dennis and I work well together. I went with Dennis to a doctor appointment for a few checks and balances in regard to his meds after his system has adjusted to the carotid surgeries. It takes a bit of time for everything to settle in and adjust to increased blood supply throughout the entire body and the brain. Dennis is on track for a good quality of life.

  We could no longer put off mowing and trimming the front yard. It was getting shaggy, complete with several Black Walnut trees that had sprung up since the last mowing. Obviously the squirrels had forgotten where several of their treasures had been buried. Sewer lines and water lines running under the front yard may not be hampered by tree roots this year or next year, but the future needs to be safeguarded. With a good supply of electric cords the entire drive can be blown off with grass clippings. Yup, you all know me well . . . tidy, tidy.

  I was dirty, sweaty and smelly. Might just as well round out the day with some cleaning. With Dennis’ help of moving furniture in the patio porch, it got a full blown cleaning and vacuuming. Kitty baskets were taken out, shook out and freshened up. It was too bad that the ole Tabatha stayed put in her basket until Dennis literally rolled her out onto the patio.

  Super time is here and neither one of us really don’t care what we put in our mouths for nourishment. I do know that there will be a variety that satisfies the established pyramid for balance. Yup . . . there is no place like home.

   
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  Noreen 4:39 pm on August 8, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis ( 40 )   

  Old Feels New 

  

  Dennis mowed the back 40 today for the first time with his old tractor that feels like a new toy. The 60″ deck made for quick work. Later on we took the two wheel trailer to the tree dump and got rid of all evidence of the wind storm that did a number on the Maple tree as well as the remains of the wild woman next door when Jan used her electric chainsaw on the Lilac. We are tidied up and beans and wieners seems to be the ideal supper. When the heat and humidity spike, fixing food takes on dim appeal. A bit of ice cream with strawberries later on will round out a great day.

   
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  Noreen 4:12 pm on August 7, 2018 Permalink  

  Can’t Take Any More 

  

  The ground just can’t take any more . . . for now. During the evening hours of Saturday and then again Sunday the two inches of rain managed to soak in. This morning there was a brisk thunderstorm and right now the backyard is saying, “Can’t take any more.” By noon the water had soaked in. Squish, squish. I have no reason to venture into the backyard and get muddied up. Dennis commented last week he couldn’t believe that there is moss growing in several large patches in our backyard. On the plus side, moss doesn’t need a lot of tending to look lush and green. Each season is unique. It does look a bit bare in the far back with the huge Hackberry branch that stretched out to the south being gone. If this is all that we have to contend with . . . it’s doable.