Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 4:12 pm on July 28, 2024 Permalink  

  Warmish 

  The morning breeze continued right on into the afternoon hot-feeling air.

  Today on the agenda, was to make use of the morning breeze on the east patio.  Two plants have been begging to be re-potted.  We were prepared with the Fleet and Farm trailer to get the dirt out of the car.  Dennis had holes drilled into the bottom of the two pots for drainage.

  We were in full combat when company arrived.  My cousin Mark, from the Canby area, had gone to Jackson for his class reunion and stopped in for a visit.  Quite the visit.  The coffee can I had been using to scoop new dirt was replaced by Mark taking the bag of dirt from me.  I did take a scissor and cut into the impacted roots so they would have a chance to nestle into the new soil.  It didn’t take long and the plants were getting a drink in their new home.  I will pick up a smaller bag of potting soil as the dirt will settle as a bit more water will be done.  Sweet.

  The entire time, we had a great visit with Mark.

  As Mark was getting ready to get home, two vehicles pulled into the drive.  Dennis’ daughter Sue, and her daughter’s family were here for a visit.  They had been in Sioux Falls for a bridal shower for Dennis’ youngest granddaughter. 

  When five thirty found our little home cleared out and quiet, I felt weak.  It had been a very full, rather hot day.

  If I think of anything earth shattering, I will fill you in tomorrow.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:10 pm on July 26, 2024 Permalink  

  Struggle and Strive 

  Each morning I strive to begin a new day with a good attitude.  Some mornings it can be a struggle to strive.  

  This morning my struggle and strive ending up with me having my bra on in-side out.  Hmm.  The hooks and eye closures are really tiny.  I wiggled around a bit.  Nothing totally uncomfortable so that is how it has stayed for this day, the 26th of July.  Tomorrow is another day to struggle and strive for a better outcome.

  My morning was going great.  I will have fresh bedding to sleep in this evening.  I don’t do both beds on the same day.  The gymnastics warrant one at a time.

  I have an oven meal for this evening.  After purging the refrigerator for last night’s supper, I was ready to get my supplies out this morning.  Dicing an onion is the closest to being blind I ever want to come.  I literally cannot see through the watering of the eyes.  From the sautéing of the onion things went better.  One pound of hamburger browned and drained.  Two cups of uncooked pasta . . . no elbow macaroni for my oven meals.  I like the elongated ones.  Once cooked there is a goodly amount.  One can of drained sauerkraut.  Those four ingredients combined in my round blue speckled roaster that has been sprayed with Original Pam.  Clean up with Original Pam is a breeze.  Knock-offs leave a burnt residue.  One jar of Alfredo sauce poured over and commence folding the ingredients.  One half jar of heavy whipping cream and continue folding.

  Of course there was enough to fill a glass baking dish for the freezer for another time.  I know that what remained in the round blue speckled roaster will be good for two suppers.  About 4:30 the oven will be set at 325 degrees for a five thirty supper.

  All of this before twelve noon.  That is when we were going to begin mowing the blue barn acre.  I didn’t get one round mowed before the zero-turn died.  As it was there was a loose connection under the seat.  When the mower was with the Park Mode the connection caused the mower to die.  I wasn’t able to help Dennis with the mowing today, but . . . the mower has been tweaked by neighbor Randy and it is in the back garage waiting for me for the next time.  Sweet!

  I felt bad for not being able to help out.  I felt I needed more local effort, so I went to the studio and pressed seams of the quilt top.  The six strips are ready to be sewn on another day.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:54 pm on July 25, 2024 Permalink  

  It Went Well 

  Dennis and I tag teamed today and our original acre was done by 1:30.  It goes very well with the two of us working together.  We have a lot called the “Clark Lot.”  In times past it had a home and a detached car and a half garage.  The home had a serious fire and we purchased it . . . took down the house and called it ours.  It is 100′ x 150″.   That is my lot to mow with the zero-turn.  To the northeast of Clark is a 75″ x 75″ that we purchased on a tax forfeit sale.  Dennis mows that with the Sear’s rider plus our original lot of 50″ x 260″. 

  With all the rain, mowing once a week is pushing it.  A side-rake could be used.

  Dennis has the mowers all tuned up for tomorrow.  Tomorrow the blue barn acre will be mowed.  My area is the east half from north to south.  There are two deep holes that I have earmarked to avoid.

  Dennis used to do it all by himself and when he pushed it, all in one day.  That was unacceptable to me.  I maybe can’t walk a straight line but I can surely sit on a mower to help out.  I believe with me helping he is afraid I will over-do it, so it is now broken down to two days.  Why Not!  

  Our supper is “raid the refrigerator.”  Some hamburger pasta and cold macaroni salad is enough for a half of a beef sandwich, pickled beets and bread, butter and peach jam.  Dennis also enjoys a glass of orange juice with his meals.  There will also be sugar free Mott’s apple sauce in a small sealed plastic cup for each of us.  Tomorrow we start fresh.  Neither of us waste much.

  I did do some sewing on the quilt top in between time.  Getting six strips sewn of four blocks each allows me to know I have kept them in the correct order.  There will be quite a bit of pressing before strips are sewn together.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:41 pm on July 22, 2024 Permalink  

  It Happens 

  It happens that when I need to get up from my sleep and the time is after four, there is already noise out on our street which is a thoroughfare.  Swift Eckrich food processing is only four blocks north of us and there are three rotating shifts.

  This morning, after I had gotten up, going back to sleep was not to be.  It happens.  It happens and it’s not a serious thing.  After we had showered before going to bed last night the laundry basket beckoned me.  I closed the bathroom door and went about my Monday chores, though a bit earlier than usual.

  The coffee pot goes off at six in the morning.  I started it a bit earlier.  When Dennis got up at six, I was on my second cup.

  With the extreme wet, we have had our share of ants in the house of various sizes.  Neighbor Jan north of us has reported likewise.  The best way to not have them is to keep everything tidy in the kitchen and bathroom.

  After the heavy fog lifted and the dew had dried off, Dennis headed out to the blue barn acre with his vegetation spray.  It does take about five days but death by spraying does work.  Dennis was home by 1:30 and he hung is heavier jacket up in the back entry.   It did provide shelter from the mosquitoes.  His winter cap pulled down low helped but when the buzzing about his face got hard to ignore, he called it quits until another day.  I know he will tackle it another day.  His mantra: slow but sure.

  I spent several hours in the studio.  Some containers on the shelf of sewing supplies were able to be combined.  It felt good to take a serious look.  I have three containers left to go through.  

  I am looking out the south window of my bedroom porch and our neighbor is mowing his yard.  Only his eyes are visible from his face mask.  His hoodie is tied tight and he has a straw hat pulled extra low.  He could pass for the Lone Ranger.

  Dennis and I have agreed on Subway for supper.  Sweet!

  I have not napped today and I know sleep will come easily tonight.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:57 pm on July 20, 2024 Permalink  

  Mowing Team 

  The mowing team on Stauffer Avenue has the blue barn acre mowed.  Sweet!  I do enjoy helping with some of the yard work.  The zer0-turn, from starting it to backing it where it needs to be in the back garage is getting easier.

  This morning while I was waiting for Dennis to give the all clear in regard to how wet the grass was, I pulled from my stash.  I pulled deep from my emotional stash.  All these years I have had a Wonder Bread plastic bag among my sewing items that had been Esther Schafer’s, aka: my children’s maternal grandmother.  I would look at the contents from time to time and then zip . . . out came the twister to close it up again.

  I knew what the contents were as a bit of paper no bigger than a paperclip had scrawled on it “silk.”  An entire hank of silk.  Talk about intimidation!  On to booting up YouTube.  The floss was variegated going from bronze to tan to navy to steel gray.  I knew I wanted to cut it in half.  The beauty of a YouTube video is that you can back it up as often as needed.  I now have it contained and in a zip-lock bag.  Will I ever use that entire hank in my stitching?  On the photo with the scissors there is one thread lying across the scissors.  That one thread is 6 ply.  When I cross stitch I use two of the 6 ply.  By following the instruction, I can take my needle at the top where the knot is and snag one thread of 6 ply and pull it free from the braid.  I had to try it and it worked great.  There will be or should not be any tangle whatsoever.

  Dennis has “people.”  Dennis’ friend Jack has live traps.  Dennis knew where the holes were and from there is was a crap shoot.  Woodchucks eat everything that is on the blue barn acre.  When Dennis was at the back garage after mowing, Jack stopped in.  Within one week, one possum and two woodchucks.  Jack is hopeful for more as woodchucks generally have four in a litter.  Wow!

  On a more somber note.  I do post the ongoing situation with Dennis’ son Jeff.  It is reality when people choose not to be responsible in the care of the body and life God has given.  Five liters of fluid were removed from Jeff yesterday.  OMG!  I did go on to Mayo portal for the summery of the appointment.

  I put in a pork steak in the blue speckled roaster for supper.  Dennis said to next time try bone-in porkchops with white sauce to bake out.  For the life of me, pan frying porkchops so they stay moist . . . cannot do.

  I had bought a small container of Mrs. Gerry’s coleslaw.  I fixed it the Lena way.  Minnie marshmallows and a sliced banana.  Dennis sampled it last night as I put it in the refrigerator.  I got a thumbs up.

  I hope everyone had as great of a day as we have had on Stauffer Avenue.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:56 pm on July 17, 2024 Permalink  

  Middle of the Week 

  The days don’t wait for anyone.

  There is no shortage in the laundry basket.  I had it sorted and three loads were on the docket.  My way is to fold it as it dries.

  I kept an eye on Dennis.  Yesterday after getting our home acre mowed, he strung out the long hose towards the patio porch.  With the patio under water for 36 hours, the amount of dried mud is nasty.  Dennis started on the east patio with a broom brush in hand.  That included getting the mud out of the patio door slides.

  Today, Dennis continues with his dried mud job.  Every time Dennis would take a break, I could see Snuggles crawling up Dennis’ belly so he could take a break as well.

  In time Dennis’ grandson AJ and a friend will be coming to put the mower back on the Cub.  In today’s mail a hand-hold assist came in the mail.  It resembles the one Kevin put on at the top of the basement steps at Christmas time.  This assist will be screwed to the top of one of the fenders of the Cub.  It will help getting on and off safely.  The assists on the zero-turn has proven to be a good thing, so more good things ensue.

  Dennis realizes how weak his legs are as per the ultrasounds at radiology in Mankato.  He does push himself by staying active outside but also taking breaks in his routines.

  When I am in the studio with my ever trusty battery-operated radio, when there is music playing, I am apt to do a waltz or my version of the Jitter-Bug around the church tables.  Visualize that for too long and it could cause sensory overload.  I don’t sit for long times at the sewing machine.  I could chain sew pieces of the pattern for a long time, but I choose to cut the chain and get on my feet and do some ironing.

  Both of us realize that we need to keep moving so as to not give up what we enjoy . . . each and every day.

  I continue building my Log Cabin pattern blocks.  The larger the blocks get, the more material and time it takes.  No marathons.  This evening, I will pick up the cross stitch project for the circular wooden box of Grandma Schafer’s.  I am halfway through the alphabet on the band that will go around the belly of the box.  I am also contemplating a few designs to add to each end as the box is a hefty one.  The circular design for the top is quite stitch heavy.  Where am I going?

  This evening it is waffles and breakfast sausages.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on July 16, 2024 Permalink  

  More Please 

  More days such as this one for the remaining portion of July.  The temp and lower humidity and dew point didn’t take care of the mosquitoes.  One out of two isn’t bad.

  I had a dental appointment at 9:30 this morning.  This was a quest that started right after my 80th birthday, March 31st.  Dr. Steve Pitcher said it would be a slow process as not only did I qualify for a full bottom plate but there were four difficult extractions to be.  By golly he and I powered through it.  This morning was the fourth time I had gone back for a minor adjustment on the bottom plate.  Each time he checked to make sure the bite was equal on both sides of the mouth as well as biting as if I were biting off a piece of food with my front teeth.  He offered I could make an appointment for a visit.  I told him I was confident all was going to be fine.  He countered that if anything felt off, to give the office a call.  Sweet.  

  I have known many people with a full bottom plate.  I also know from Dennis’ experience that having Fixodent on hand is a must.  My teeth, top and bottom are in my mouth 24/7 less cleaning time.  My teeth will not be vanity teeth to wear only when leaving our home, like some sweet ole cowboy that lives here.

  I offered to help Dennis mow our home acre this afternoon.  With the temps being so nice he declined and commented he was saving me for when the blue barn acre needed mowing.  That worked for me.

  After three hours in the studio, I am about to head for the first floor.  We had two wonderful suppers of the chicken rueben oven meal.  This evening will be a soup and sandwich night.

  As of now the calendar is free and clear of appointments for several weeks.  I am looking forward to days when the day isn’t broken up needing to be somewhere.  More good days.  That does sound a bit selfish, but Dennis seconded that.  That sounds like a retiree’s dream.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:40 pm on July 11, 2024 Permalink  

  1″ on Wednesday 

  Who would have thought there was that much rain in those clouds compared to areas around us. One inch was the measurement.

  That had spoiled the mowing for yesterday, but it was on the calendar for today after the dew was off.  Sunday we had mowed one of our acres.  Today the blue barn acre was the target.  With nothing but grass and trees, it does take a while.  Dennis used the Sear’s rider among the trees which is on the west side.  He also did the bit of a ditch where the lot borders the Hammond Highway.  Can a zero-turn tip over?  I don’t want to even go there.  Where I did go was the large area from north to south of straight mowing.  Glory be . . . Dennis’ spray did work and perhaps is still working on the weeds that were snuggled up to the trees.  I know he will be back at it when conditions are doable.

  It took the two of us an hour and a half of mowing.  When we parked the mowers in the back garage, I walked home as Dennis lets the mowers cool off before re-fueling.  Yes . . . the two gallon containers are sweet.  As I was cutting across our yards to come home, I wished I could still run.  Some towns spray for mosquitoes.  I wanted to hurry home, but not as such that I would trip and fall.  That would have really been a feast.  All they could get at was my face and ears and wasn’t that enough!

  No studio stitching today.  Dennis and I are both satisfied to wind down for the rest of the afternoon in our home.

  By the way . . . the 12″ tuna from Subway for supper last night was a hit.   

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:39 pm on July 10, 2024 Permalink  

  Extra Heat 

  As if the humid temperatures were not enough yesterday . . . there was more on the local level.  It seems as if Dennis’ son, Jeff, can’t even get cancer correct.

  Jeff’s sister had set up the biopsy appointment for yesterday that Dennis took Jeff to . . . check in at seven a.m.  Apparently when Jeff got a courtesy call to remind Jeff, he cancelled it.  Did he tell his dad?  Had he forgotten?  I kind of knew something was up when Dennis was at Jiffy Lube yesterday when they opened at eight and Jeff was calling his dad that he could be picked up at the hospital.  One . . . Jiffy Lube is quick.  Two . . . biopsy preps and procedures take longer than a hour and a half.  

  When Jeff was picked up, he got into the little red pickup and immediately went to sleep.  What did Dennis know of procedures and how long they take or if Jeff was given a pain med.  It wasn’t until Sandy called last night that Jeff had blown off the appointment as there was nothing on the portal.   The manly thing would have been for Jeff to tell his dad he screwed up and apologize rather than hiding by sleeping, not say a single word even when Dennis dropped him off at this apartment.  Grr!

  As of last night, Sandy told me Jeff was on his own.  She had had made sure that he could get pain meds for himself from his local provider here in town.  Dennis was very quiet until he went to bed.  I got a hug and he told me he loved me.  Sweet.  So be it all.

  It is so difficult when smart drunken farts blow off their family for several years and then come back with all their problems and need help.

  So . . . I had a good run in the studio today.  Dennis came down chewing on a cookie and let me know the last of the railroad-tie cleanup on the blue barn acre has been paid for in total.  Sweet.  It was decided right then and there to share a 12″ Tuna Subway for supper.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on July 8, 2024 Permalink  

  Good Monday 

  After getting in some yard work yesterday, I had a great night’s rest.  It was just the right amount for me on a mower.  No harm done.

  Dennis suited up to spray vegetation on the acre but didn’t last long.  He had long sleeves and a turned buttoned up collar but was no match for mosquitoes.  I welcomed him home and assured him there would be better days.

  I called the Watson boys at noon and we were put on their list for a leaky faucet in the studio.  I went into the basement and moved my ironing board so they could get at the plumbing on the post in the basement whenever our name came up on the list.  Here we are a bit after three and all has been taken care of.  You never know when or if we would want to use water in the basement.

  We have always had good service from the Watson’s.  The dad is now 70, and pretty much has turned the business over to the two boys.  Brandon said this afternoon, his dad had never found a hobby for himself.  That is said often of men after they reach a certain age.

  With the water issue having been fixed, I pulled out an instruction book, got the folder of cut fabric out, complete with choosing thread.  I am getting closer to turning on KNUJ and stitching.

  Our supper last night was great.  I failed to have mentioned that the coconut graham cracker crust pie Dennis had made was a great treat.  As it was instant pudding dumbed down it has a shorter refrigerator life than a baked one.  With that said, this evening will be our third night of an eight o’clock pie date.  Sweet.

  Oh my gosh.  I need to set my alarm clock for five in the morning.  Dennis is taking his son Jeff to Mankato in the morning for a biopsy.  Arrival time is at seven.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥