Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from October, 2014 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 4:00 am on October 28, 2014 Permalink  

  Hopefully the Mowing Season is Over 

  

  Tidy, tidy for the changing of the seasons.

  I know we have said several times, “That’s the last of the lawn mowing.”  Today Dennis and I shook hands on it.  Thankfully, strong winds of the weekend stripped the large Maple and Oak trees down to the bare branches.  After working outside mowing and mulching all the yards, we could have been mistaken for a couple that just crossed the boarder from way down south.  The only thing dirtier than pulverized leaf  dust might be ashes.  Even Butter Ball looked a bit darker as there was no way piles of leaves went unnoticed.  This is a cat that is just a joy to have around.  I do mean around.  Nothing gets by his curiosity.

  

  Butter Ball, right in the thick of the activity.

  We put the mowers away and enjoyed a can of Coke on the patio.  Everything goes better with a Coke.  Wrong move. I looked up and commented on the neat looking clouds and all Dennis was seeing were the eavestroughs full of leaves on the garage and porch.  Out came the stepladder and a garden trowel.  I was amazed how full they were.  If you don’t catch it in the fall, the spring season brings nothing but muck that clogs the down spouts.

  As the late afternoon is settling in, the clouds are quite heavy and we may get the rain that is forecast for tomorrow, coupled with 30 mile per hour winds. Right now, as soon as I dream something up for supper, I could care less. Supper?  After a day like today, I would like to wiggle my ears and have a meal appear.  Dennis has always commented that no matter what we have never gone hungry here on Stauffer Avenue.  Life is always sweet on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 3:10 am on October 10, 2014 Permalink  

  Perfect Partner 

  

  “Enough with the garden dirt.”

  Today Dennis is off to the Sioux Fall airport to pick up son Ken for a family funeral tomorrow.  The plane was to land at 2:00 p.m. and now the arrival time is at 8:00 p.m.  It’s a hurry up and wait.

  I decided to do some gardening, in the method of chopping down the greenery.  It is spent from a few light frosts and no longer has an appeal to me.  It is time, and why not do it before the fingers are getting frostbite?

  There was no way for me to get lonely today.  Kitten, Butter Ball, was with me the entire time.  He is the perfect pet.  He loves to be wherever Dennis and me are at, whether in the porch or outside.  Butter Ball follows along and snips at leaves, bugs and his shadow.

  I don’t stand a chance of overdoing it as Butter Ball inspects the plants as they are lobbed off.  I have to back off as I sure would hate to clip his little feet with the garden shears.  I have never had a cat that liked me enough to stick it out with me as this one does.  Generally, our first garage cat, Honey Bunny, looks very bored and takes off and returns when she darn well feels like it.

  When Butter Ball decided to take time out of the dirt and take “five” on the grass, I got the hint that perhaps I also needed to take a break. It didn’t take long and we both knew it was time to hang up the tools and call it a day of good gardening.  Obviously, I had to find new digs, as Butter Ball claimed my rocker.

  Dennis and I are so enjoying this little addition to our home.  Butter Ball is the perfect partner in crimes of gardening – or just stealing the show.

   
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  Noreen 3:02 am on September 4, 2014 Permalink  

  When It Rains, It Grows 

  Over the last several weeks we have experienced over seven inches of rain.  In the past, August and September were months that the lawnmowers were seldom used.  I walked out to check on my two tomato plants and was overwhelmed as to the height of the grass in the yards.  Dennis had been called to deliver some concrete supplies for his nephew in Jackson, which is 45 miles away to the southwest.  I had not planned on starting to do the yards until he was home, but I knew I had my work cut out for me.

  I enjoy doing our original lot with the push mower.  The small deck makes for a very nice, even look.  Dennis’ rider has a multiple blade deck and it has a tendency to scalp a bit if the ground is not totally even.  We had mowed just a week ago yesterday.  Today, the mower grunted . . .  and I don’t mean my Husqvarna mower, it was me that was grunting.  I had all I could do to get through the real thick spots and did many areas taking only a half swat.

  Dennis got home from Jackson just as I was finishing the raking of the front yard.  I cannot remember a time that I had to rake clumps of grass clippings. Believe me, it did need the raking.  Dennis helped with the piles of grass and blew off the driveway and patio before heading to the back garage to get his mower going.

  I can say, that last fall we fertilized our original lot and a day such as today was proof of the pudding that it took.  It took real well.  For this time of the year, our yard has never looked as nice, though needing mowing oftener.  The areas of clover and Creeping Charlie are slim to none as the grass has overcome the naughty stuff.  We have talked about fertilizing the far east yards this fall after we have seen how much easier the weed control is.

  It’s been two hours and it’s time for me to head out east and check on Dennis.  As weary as yard work can be, I must say, it is very rewarding for the two of us.  You’ve got it.  It doesn’t take much to make Dennis and me happy campers here on Stauffer Avenue.  It’s a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 3:33 am on August 27, 2014 Permalink  

  It Never Gets Old 

  

  Above the bridge and far beyond to the east, Dennis
  is doing due diligence to the last of the yards.

  The satisfaction of having our yards mowed and trimmed never gets old.  Oh yes, when the grass mowing begins in April and then weekly thereafter, August does give us a well-deserved break.  Last week we scored two rainfalls within 24 hours that left us with a total of five inches.  It was amazing how everything perked up and greened up.  Within several days the grass has grown to the point it was seeding out.

  Today the air quality and temperatures were perfect to be outside.  A while back we decided that two individual power packs were the way to go for the weed trimmer.  Today they both were worked down to where there was barely a grunt left in them.  The cool fall air with cloud cover took its sweet time for the dew to dissipate off of the grass.  Nothing looks worse than wet grass clumping as it’s being cut.  It was the perfect time to do all the trimming, first allowing for a polished finished look when the mowers made their pass.  As always some areas are lush, while others can be a bit scant.

  I had finished with the push mowing before Dennis and his rider could call it quits.  It gave me a chance to re-pot a house plant.  I put all the house plants outside once the fear of frost is over in the spring.  Being a bit sheltered they do great, but demand fresh dirt with good nutrients to make it through the long winter inside with drier than usual air.

  The finish to a great day will be two burgers on the grill for supper.  Add to the burgers some American Fries and baked beans and the menu will be complete.  While Dennis is manning the grill he will be surveying his mowed, trimmed and tidy kingdom.  As I said, it never gets old.

   

   
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  Noreen 4:24 am on August 20, 2014 Permalink  

  Moving Day 

  As the years roll by we are becoming sun starved in one of your backyards.  The Oak, Ash and Black Walnut trees all contribute to that feelings of cooler temperatures during the hot months, but it’s bad news for plants that need at least six hours of sunlight to be at their best.  The humidity was low today and that spurred us on to transplant the Fern Peonies that needed more sunlight hours to be at their best.

  

  The beauty of the Fern Peony

  My Mom always stressed that the month of August was the time for any and all Peonies to be moved.  We watered down the four Fern Peony plants in the hope that the moist dirt would allow for the plants to come up in clumps rather than in pieces from soil that is extremely dry, suffering from weeks without rain.  It worked like a champ. I could never have done the deed if Dennis had not been at the business end of the shovel.  A little fertilizer in the bottom of the holes with a bit of water and voilà.

  Next spring will be the rest of the story.  Fern Peonies are some of the first to peek out of the soil and are in full bloom by mid May.  We always give special attention to these Fern Peonies as they were harvested from my grandparent’s farm by my Mom and Dad and shared with the four of us kids.  The plants represent some of the history of my Dad’s family and for me having spent many summers on their farm . . . priceless.

  The plants can be purchased in nurseries around the state, but they come with a hefty price tag.  The going price is generally $40.00 for a sprig in a six inch pot.  The tubers do multiply for a full bush over time, but this plant is not for the impatient gardener.

   
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  Noreen 2:36 am on July 16, 2014 Permalink  

  Just Hanging Out 

  Two wonderful days of mild temps brought bliss here on Stauffer Avenue.  I attended a picnic meeting yesterday and missed out on the time at home.  Dennis made good use of a cool 65-degree day by getting the backyards mowed.  I tend to do a “one note” day. If the majority of the day has been spent away from home, I don’t get into huge projects during the late day here at home.

  This morning it was just tipping  the temps at 60 degrees and the strong breeze made it feel like October.  I had my garden shoes on by 9:30, ready to do my share of mowing grass.  Dennis headed out after he had the push mower running and away we went.  We were done by the stroke of twelve noon and ready to hang out on the patio with some coffee.

  

  The napping kitten found just the right spot for balancing
  itself for a nap. Mama Cat was just a bit off to the side.

  Obviously, we weren’t the only ones ready to kick back.  Sitting on the patio Dennis motioned to me, and when I followed to where he was pointing, the yellow mama cat was sprawled out on a Lilac limb.  I checked the area around her and each of the two kittens had also found a crook in the branches to take a snooze.  It’s really hard sneaking up on them for a photo op.  They truly are their mom’s babies.  You can look, but no touching – yet.  I did manage a photo of one of them.  During a time when the patio is empty, a glance out of the bathroom window tells an entire different story of the two shy kittens.  They are romping on the patio chairs, chasing each other through the blooming yellow lilies, and of course toughing it up with each other to where it seems it is just one ball of yellow rolling around.

  

  Cuddle time and it seemed like one of the
  kittens was elected to keep watch. They are the
  real deal when it comes to tree hugging.

  After a bit I noticed the leaves were rustling and I noticed the chilly breeze was meant for cuddling as both kittens shared one nap area.  I will admit that I am putting out a saucer of milk once a day as mama cat is still letting them suckle.  Mama cat is quite small and she seems to be taking to motherhood with a lot of grace so it seems only natural that we need to give her our vote of confidence.  Whether they stay in our area or not, Dennis and I know that we are helping them off to a good start.  Surprisingly, one out of the four original kittens was black.  Keeping two out of four is perhaps pretty good odds for stray cats.  There is a black Tom cat that comes and has some Meow Mix and the kittens frolic around him and he seems to take it in stride.  This may be a family in the making or those in the wild know when to hold it and when to fold it.

  Oh yes, life of Stauffer is sweet – and it’s a great place to just hang out.

   
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  Noreen 5:03 am on July 11, 2014 Permalink  

  Nothing Like Getting Lost . . . 

  . . . in my own home.  More specific, in my basement.  I went down to shop for an item from our pantry in the basement.  It’s just the handiest to have extra supplies on hand rather than having to make a trip to the grocery store for an item or two.  The pantry used to be the cistern that held a supply of water from a well that was on the property.  Dennis and his cousin, Bruce, via a jack hammer, created this nook than has become our pantry that could very well feed an entire family if need be.

  With the pantry item in hand I stopped to put a few sewing items away that were laying on the table.  Our 4-H gal’s project that we had been working on for the last month was finished and the tidying up had not as yet happened.  I will add that last night at the 4-H style review her project took several well-deserved ribbons and awards as well as Reserved Grand Champion.  Minnesota State Fair here she comes.  Smiles all around.

  As I put the sewing items away I noticed a thick  folder that held some of my Mom’s quilt patterns.  I pulled it off of the shelf and sat down at my sewing table.  Here were her hand drawn patterns along with the fabric samples.  I looked.  I touched. I wiped a tear.  My Mom.  My hero.  So much of my adult life’s skills are from her tutelage. The entire time a sewing project was under way with Mom, came the lessons of managing to have more than one iron in the fire, whether it was keeping tabs on something in the oven or dashing out to the clothes line when a rain shower popped up.   There was never a sewing challenge that left Mom stumped.  Patterns were cut out of sheets of the Hutchinson Leader newspaper if an alteration was needed. Her fingers that had become thick with arthritis could wheel those little stickpins just as if they were an extension of her own fingers.  Priceless.  Reluctantly I put the folder back in good order.  I liked the feeling of calm I had from that folder and it just seemed the natural thing to wander further into my stashes of patterns and fabrics.  Remembering the quilts that had left a few odds and ends of fabrics from each of the projects.  The end result: I need to work up a scrappy happy quilt to use up the wonderful colorful bits of fabric that were left from the larger projects.  Mom would agree.

  It was a good thing Dennis was on the ball and decided to start the grill as supper time was right around the corner.  I had spent the entire afternoon lost in my wonderful world of scraps, threads and more memories than I had expected.  After I had come up from the basement to put the finishing touches on the supper table, I very well had to go back down to the basement for that pantry item that started all of this.  All of this? It brought about the peace that passes all understanding.

  In life, please remember to give and have no memory of it, or take and remember it always.

   
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  Noreen 2:45 am on July 10, 2014 Permalink  

  A Great Time of Year 

  

  The perennial lilies and the annual begonias make for a great color show. Just as the abundant rain allowed for this color show, it has also allowed for a lot of biting bugs to hatch. A quick look around the gardens for a photo op and then it’s heading for shelter from the bugs.

   
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  Noreen 3:01 am on July 9, 2014 Permalink  

  While making a batch of potato salad this afternoon – it took me back to a time as a child when we often had relatives pop in for an unannounced visit on a Sunday afternoon. It wouldn’t take Mom long and she had one kettle boiling eggs, another kettle boiling potatoes with the skins on and an onion ready to dice up. Out of the freezer a ring of homemade bologna was gotten out. Potato salad, ring bologna, pickles and cake made a perfect quick meal. No one ever left our farm home with an empty stomach. Sunday company never stayed late as everyone had a dairy herd that would need tending in the late afternoon. Good memories . . . good times.

   
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  Noreen 4:11 am on July 8, 2014 Permalink  

  I heard the coffee pot go off this morning at seven, and right after that I realized that hubby Dennis was getting dressed. What happened to having coffee in P.J. pants out in the porch? I knew what the morning would hold. Sure enough. By 10:30 the acre had been mowed and both my push mower and Dennis’ rider were in need of being gassed up for next week’s mowing. Gotta bless that man’s heart for enjoying a yard that looks tidy.