Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from March, 2018 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:47 pm on March 24, 2018 Permalink  

  This Must be the Last 

  

  This 10 inches of wet “heart attack” snow will most surely be the last of the winter blasts.  Granted, the scene this morning as it was still snowing was spectacular.  Everything was covered in a blanket of pure white.  Dennis had made one path to the garage when he got up at six.  By the time I got up at eight, Dennis was in his recliner for a nap and the path was totally covered over.  When I took the snow pusher it was like there was a magnet not allowing the pusher to be picked up and emptied.  Believe me the path and right around the back door was all I could manage.  I grabbed a second cup of coffee and sat in the west porch of our home and watched various neighbors working to unearth their cars.  About that time the city plows came by and rolled the snow like the best of cinnamon rolls ever and plugged up all the driveways.  Dennis’ grandson, Ryan appeared out of nowhere with a bob cat.  Here we are at supper time and our concrete driveway if bare and dry.  I can’t say much for the additional snow that has been pushed into our backyard. This too shall pass. Most of our neighbors have gravel and at the least bit their snow blowers were gouging muck.  Whatever plans we may have had for the weekend have changed.  These two older ones do not need to be out on the highways with this much slush.  Even slush blows whispers across the highways when the winds pick up as they are predicted.  There will always be another time to get out and about.

   
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  Noreen 4:03 pm on March 22, 2018 Permalink  

  This morning Dennis carried a box to the end of the driveway for the Epileptic Society drive. I followed behind in my pink bathrobe with a plastic bag. Heck, I was already out and about, I took advantage of the firm frozen ground and headed out to the east lot line to see how the winter had treated it. I have a lot of branches to pick up. Me in my pink bathrobe walking our yard would not astonish anyone living on Stauffer Avenue. It’s just that type of neighborhood. I wasn’t alone. Following right behind me, step for step was Snuggles and Honey Bunny. Even in times past when there wasn’t a cat in site, I wouldn’t have to look. I knew they had sprung out of nowhere and were following. Very good garden buddies. We looked, we sniffed, we touched and then headed back to the patio porch. Though the top ground was frozen enough to walk on, it swished with each step telling me that there was no shortage of moisture. I thought the cats might stay outside as the morning was quite mild, but no, we all ended back in the patio porch where Dennis was enjoying coffee. I stayed for a bit and then decided I had better get dressed for the day.

  We had always had a small USA flag right outside the west house porch. The seamed side had a placket that was then stripped over a steel electric fence post. We always knew which way the wind was blowing. The harsh winter winds shredded it. This afternoon a brand new flag adorns that corner of the front sidewalk. As I was walking back into the house I noticed the Fairfax Tulips are already four inches tall in the flower bed right beneath the west porch windows. That piqued my interest enough that I checked out the east side of the house. Yup, several more Fairfax Tulips as well as the Fern Peony. It made me wonder how tall my cousin’s plant will be this spring. I shared a Fern Peony with her when there was a very small tuber that had a lot of promise. She has sent me a photo each spring to share its growth. Priceless. I also mean that literally: the nurseries don’t bat an eye putting a price tag of $40.00 for the same sized little tuber I gave her and what it could sprout. My original plant came from Great Grandma and Great Grandpa’s farm in Penn Township. That is priceless.

   
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  Noreen 2:32 pm on March 7, 2018 Permalink  

  March Snow 

  

  A week ago today we were awaiting Dennis’s discharge papers from the hospital. Today as we look out of our house windows it feels as if we are living in the Swiss Alps. Pretty to look at as we know it will soon all melt.

   
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  Noreen 5:01 pm on January 28, 2018 Permalink  

  A gray day for a Sunday. We were not expecting snow over the night hours. Out came the snow pusher . . . again. Yesterday towards evening Dennis watched deer navigate across out backyard. Of course today Dennis took me for a drive, right to Fleet and Farm for a mineral block to put in our backyard. Mineral block could not be found but . . . Deer Lick – Apple flavor.

  I had kidded Dennis that we would need a scoop shovel to put the block on and pull it to the spot where he wanted it. Naw . . . he was sure we could drive right up to the spot with the pickup. Hello! We had 12 inches of snow and how many times has the city gone down Stauffer with the blades making the snow fly? On the way home from Fleet Dennis picked up a something or other, it was not a scoop shovel. I got myself over the bank of snow using the something or other to steady myself. With the deep snow and having to keep the handle and the deer block level, it was just easier to do it the old fashioned way. I picked up the Deer Lick and headed north until I got to the spot where we hope the deer will find it. Yes, even in the flat area of our acre the snow was deep. On the bright side, I got a ride around our area and Dennis and I both enjoyed seeing where the deer had been making their trails. There are benefits living as close to rural acres as we do.

   
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  Noreen 6:30 pm on October 25, 2017 Permalink  

  It was a nicer day out than we had hoped for. The Koi are in the tank in the garage, the oil has been changed in the snow blower and all mowers have been tucked away. Dennis was feeling good today and it was hard holding him down. Maybe a bit of fresh air today was just what the doctor ordered. Man, it gets dark out fast.

   
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  Noreen 4:21 pm on October 22, 2017 Permalink  

  Rummaging around in the garage, I found an empty Windex window washing attachment for the garden hose. Filled with Dawn dishwashing liquid I set about to get the summer’s season of grime and grit off of the house. It turned out so good, I went ahead and did the garage as well. Stauffer Avenue is gravel and with a gravel surface there is bound to be a pot hole or two.  After heavy rains, I swear we have several travelers that make sure to hit the pot hole dead center for the gravel that has creosol in the mix to hit the south side of the garage.

  Dennis checked it all out and gave his approval. He will be back in harness before long and I will gladly return some of his duties back to him.

  The Sunday is ending with mild temps and lots of sun. Life is sweet here on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 2:43 pm on October 15, 2017 Permalink  

  A Fond Farewell 

  

  After thirteen seasons, we bid a fond farewell to our patio umbrella. The center wooden hub of this umbrella had wire threaded through it and through each of the wooden ribs. This last season we noticed the wire had worked its way through some of tips of the ribs, detaching them from the center hub. Once Dennis had it opened this late spring, we left it up and opened and decided to enjoy it while it could still give us shade to sit under while enjoying the patio. I know we had paid $99 for it at Sam’s Club. We have gotten our money’s worth. Checking online, our 2018 purchase will be an umbrella not of wood, most likely of an aluminum or such. That should make it so much easier to operate it and also when we put it into storage after each season. This 10′ wide umbrella was very heavy. Our faithful cast iron base will be put in the potting shed, waiting for a new umbrella to flutter in the breeze next spring.

   
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  Noreen 4:03 pm on October 14, 2017 Permalink  

  Cleaning out the gardens after my walk these last several days, I have had some amazing situations in the dead of the night.  A twitch here.  A twang there.  Last night I awoke at 2 a.m. and the toes on my left foot were in dire pain. I know I didn’t drop anything on them. I got up and walked up and down the basement steps several times and they seem to have unkinked.

  As I came to this morning, I had hoped this was the day to finish up the gardens. Rain was threatening via the computer forecast. No walking shoes for me. I got my grubs on and was thankful when the weed whip battery was letting me know we could get this done. I grabbed the loppers, the large shears and the weed whip and made for the far east yard. As the last of the Anne Belle Shrub was coming down, Dennis was on his way to get the rider mower out. Wham, bam, thank you, everything was ground up and out of site. Talk about a team effort.

  Neither Dennis or I had bothered with breakfast before our chores. Dennis decided on Cheerios and I had yogurt and flax meal. As Dennis was pulling his recliner quilt up to his chin, it began to rain. I grabbed the last of the morning coffee and a book and settled in.

  I realize in the scheme of things our days may not seem eventful to most. Perhaps most could knock off in several hours what it may take us most of the day to pull off. At 81, Dennis, at a drop of a hint is ready to help. Neuropathy effects the nerves in his hands and the feet. He has made comments that while he was in Korea, his feet and hands were either cold or wet and many times both. it does take a tole on stamina. For me, I thank the good Lord every night and many times during the day that he has given me what it takes to continue working with Dennis to keep our home up to date, up to snuff (ours that is) and always tidy. The replacement knees and shoulders are amazing. The arthritis in various other places . . . that sucks. I acknowledge we can’t keep at the yard work without a break now and then. Challenged nerves with a bit less blood supply than normal need a chance to rejuvenate.

  The bottom line . . . I have a great life and the last time I checked . . . my ole cowboy agrees.

   
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  Noreen 3:29 pm on October 6, 2017 Permalink  

  Just as in days so long ago, I had made some shelves in my basement using good tidy bricks with a board across and perhaps another stack of bricks for the second shelf. I had gotten modern and used 12 inch patio blocks for the first tier and then bricks for the second. Hey, it worked. When Orlin and I lived in Texas it was “shabby scheek.” Today my Fleet and Farm wagon came out in the rain and loaded bricks from the basement.

  Guess who noticed the back door was propped? Out of nowhere Snuggles was fast enough that I just saw the tip of his tail as he beat feet up the entry steps. I decided to stay on the task and worry about him later. Worse case scenario, Snuggles would jump up on Dennis while he was napping in his recliner and give him a nudge. I got the wagon loaded and pulled into the potting shed for unloading and then went to find our fine feline.

  Snuggles is an amazing cat that was left in a cardboard box next to the Waste Management bin during some very cold temps. If we had not been late putting out our garbage, Snuggles would have frozen to death. The veterinarian thought he was about six week old. Now that he is two, this summer his passion has been catching squirrels, baby bunnies and some rather large bunnies. Neighbor Jan was an eye witness to him stalking a squirrel and catching it. Once the deed is done he leaves the deceased and is satisfied.

  I never have a camera when one is warranted. The day Snuggles took a bunny for a walk was hilarious. He found the bunny and pounced. Rabbits and bunnies have a horrible scream. In a short time, he let the bunny go and trotted right along behind it . . . and then pounced. This went on for a very long time. Trot and pounce, trot and pounce. Talk about hunting for the sport of it. It has kept Dennis and I busy being on the lookout for the deceased critters. Every once in awhile we don’t know that he had been busy until the wind is from the right direction.

  After coming in from the potting shed, I did find him in the basement . . . checking everything out. When I patted my knee he came to me and let me pick him and up and up the steps we went. He has all of his claws and yet knowing he was going to be evicted, the claws didn’t come out. I am quite sure, now that he has had several visits into the inner sanctum, we will need to watch what is awaiting beside the outside door as we come and go.

   
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  Noreen 5:58 pm on September 28, 2017 Permalink  

  The grass is so lush for this time of year. Dennis mowed with the rider on the entire yard. It wouldn’t be a bad thing if this was the last, but with rain . . . who knows? Today I needed 8 fairly small hooks from which to hang small circular curtain rods for the new basement windows. I had lace curtains that were brought out of retirement for such a project as this. Light can filter through while providing privacy. After all, our basement windows on the south are a mere 15′ from Stauffer Avenue.

  Of course, small town retailers . . . six hooks of the same size and I had to settle on the last two having a much larger shank. Putting the screws up above my head was a real challenge. Once I got them going, I used a screw driver hooked into the curve of the hook to use as the force needed to twist them in. The yard looks good, no one can look into our basement windows, and we deem it a good day. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.