Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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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.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:27 pm on July 7, 2024 Permalink  

  The Happiest 

  I swear the happiest of God’s feathered is the Wren.  We have what I call a Dr. Suez copper roofed bird house.  Try as hard as I could to take the mosquitos after we had finished mowing . . . I cried uncle.  Not so the little Wrens that were sticking their heads out of their home.  Cheerful beyond belief.

  The mowing went well.  With me on the zero-turn it cut the total time down in half for Dennis as he was using the trusty Sear’s rider.  I am still on a learning curve in regard to how hard I turn it with the dirt as soft as a sponge from the rain.  Wouldn’t it be something if we had no rain today!

  Dennis and I are both in for the day.  The pork steak will be ready by five.  That coupled with the beefed up Mrs. Gerry’s potato salad and jellied cranberries to make a fine Sunday light supper. 

  I have no appointments for this next week.  I will call the Watson boys to make a house call for a plumbing issue in the studio.  Each time I make a trip to the studio to keep an eye on said issue, I take some extra time to tidy up the church tables.  Yes, I am gearing up to do some stitching.  I had cut fabric up during the winter for several Log Cabin quilt tops.  Will I make them into quilts?  That I do not know.  I surely would if someone would come forward.  If not, I will make a donation to our church for the church ladies to make them up and give where needed.  For me, it is all about using what I have for the greater good.

  The activity in my bedroom porch has three different cross stitch projects going plus a good book.  Variety is the spice of life.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on July 6, 2024 Permalink  

  My Day 

  My day feels full.  At ten we were downtown for pedicures and haircuts.  Both were needed and for me, I can tell you . . . both feel wonderful.  It may take a while with two chairs going at one time, but Dennis loves how the hot soaking bath feels on his feet.

  After the spa treatment we went shopping at our local grocer’s.  No matter how I power shop in Mankato for staples, there is always something that we run out of.  Dennis wanted to make a pie.  Who knew?  He had seen something on television.  He needed a graham cracker crust, two boxes of instant pudding, the same flavor.

  If we are going to have a treat for the day, it is usually at eight in the evening.  Time will tell how the coconut cream pie fares.  All I suggested was to cut back on the two cups of milk to allow for a firmer set up.  We may have spoons handy.

  Dennis’ grandson, AJ, came for a visit from Mankato.  Talk about a shot in the arm for Dennis.  AJ also had had rain seeping into his basement.  AJ helped Dennis set his heavy television buffet cabinet onto the plywood floor.  The little red pickup will be able to be housed again.

  About at two, the sky clouded over and a heavy shower of rain came.  All these little blurbs on the radar have rain in them.

  My day tomorrow may have some grass mowing in it.  I enjoy helping.  I will suit up from top to bottom as much as possible as the mosquitoes are ready for fresh blood. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:09 pm on July 1, 2024 Permalink  

  Day Three 

  Another good day pulling weeds while the soil is still moist.  The yellow flowering clover is on a rage.  The secret is finding where the hair fine root is and then pulling up an amount as large as a dinner plate.  If the south wind had not been so strong, I could have moved about the Hosta giving a lot of it a good weed spray.  Maybe tomorrow.

  Dennis had gone to the blue barn acre with his vegetation killing spray.  He was prepared with two gallons mixed up.  He came home after using one gallon as the mosquitoes were horrible in his face and ears.  The south line fence sheltered the area from the strong winds.  Working around the north area of the patio porch, the bugs didn’t bother me, but then I was zipped up to my nose.   

  Dennis has all of the greenery ready for garbage day tomorrow.  As I raked it along the concrete patio it rolled into itself like a long round bale.  When Dennis made a horseshoe shaped form out of it, it was easily lifted into the bin. 

  We are to get rain this evening.  Maybe tomorrow will be a clover pulling event. 

  I was going to work on my camera for it to work “nice” with my HP, but the battery in the camera needed to be refreshed.  Maybe tomorrow.

  There was an email from the county this morning, that the Madelia school parking lot would be taking items from the flood from one to six today.  Our carpeting is gone.  Thank goodness.  Apparently the St. James site was full up.

  Supper is going to be Johnsonville pre-cooked beef brats and Bush’s pork and beans.  I do tucker myself out with getting the flower beds to look as if someone does live here.  Then again several hours each morning does make a huge dent in things.  I am so thankful Dennis does keep the lawns looking good.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:16 pm on June 30, 2024 Permalink  

  Small and Large 

  The biting bugs are tiny to extra large. 

  Though it was cool outside this morning they rose up out of the soil like mighty armies.

  I did work with more of the nasty vegetation until ten.  As much as I had covered myself, they found their way to this pale sin.

  I have added a new do-dad, literally, to our living room south wall.  Though dad’s favorite foil label has long since fallen off . . . I will always know from whence this came.

  In the mean time, I may well have spent the last hour with no success.  I have my camera manual and another day I will try, try, try to get my canon camera hooked to my HP in my bedroom porch.  I do know when to throw in the towel.  I had the camera on and hooked to WI-FI, but I missed a prompt. As I said tomorrow is another day.

  Dennis was able to mow our backyard now that the water has been gone for several days.  It will take some sunny warm days to allow this grass to be like all the others . . . growing to beat hell.

  I have an oven dish out of the freezer for our supper.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:46 pm on June 29, 2024 Permalink  

  A Short 

  This is a shortie of a blog posting.

  The winds were brisk with cool temps.  I had been looking out the bathroom window since the water had gone down on the patio.  I needed to strike while the soil was soft.  Snuggles and Honey Bunny stuck with me the entire time as I pulled up vegetation that was less than desirable.  Dennis raked up what I had pulled and piled it onto the patio for it to dry out for burning.  My clippers were needed for volunteer trees that were enjoying multiple years of growing.  The dandelion tool was the last to deal with.  Again, soil so wet I could get the root.

  It was time for a break and a bite of noon lunch.

  Dennis was off for his daily ride around town in the little red pickup.

  I used both of my walking sticks and I headed up the street.  I noticed yesterday that the Smith family had a huge dumpster delivered to their driveway.  They live a block and a half from us and less than a block from the creek that had shut down the street for several days due to flooding.  I wanted them to know that I had empathy.  It seemed the thing for me to do.  Yup . . . it had been their basement floor drain that had let water come up from the floor drain.   Been there . . . done that.  Amazingly as they had put some salvageable items to the curb, it seemed to disappear as fast as they put it out.

  A morning of yard work and a good walk, my eyes seem to want to shut.  I may put a YouTube video on the television and see what happens.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:44 pm on June 28, 2024 Permalink  

  The End 

  The end of the work week is near.

  From all forecasts the temps may be doable this weekend if you can take the humidity.

  Dennis and Dewayne went to McDonald’s this morning.  It had been several weeks of those two catching up with each other.  It was definitely a break from their usual Tuesdays.

  While there was a nice breeze, I got out my Roundup.  Plants growing in concrete cracks are not pleasant to look at.  The crab grass has really nestled in where the planter of Russian Sage meets the driveway.  I realized the sun wouldn’t be out today.  I made sure the fine spray followed the base of the plants right into the cracks.

  I walked into the backyard.  I know there would be many plants that could easily be pulled by the roots with as wet as the soil is.  As a well known buzz came close to my face, I decided to look the other way and take in the traffic on Stauffer Avenue and leave the weeds be.

  When Dennis got home at noon he commented that the same crowd of fellows on a Friday as a Tuesday.  I told him he would need to pop in on a Wednesday or Thursday to see if it was a five-days-a-week gathering.

  We did get about an inch of rain from yesterday through the night.  First thing this morning, I was in the basement to check to see if water had seeped into the cistern closets.  The best way to check is to take a piece of toilet paper and put it in the most vulnerable known spots for seepage.  I was thrilled when I could nicely pick up my dry pieces of toilet paper and put it into the waste basket. 

  I have begun a new book to prop up on my stand.  Reading from the book when it is at an angle is oh so much easier on the neck and shoulders.  I am also on my second of the three stitching projects that I have going.  Rotating them keeps my interest going.  I am now on the project that I hope to someday have to put around the wooden box of Ester Schafer’s.  Yes . . . 30 plus inches in length by 2.5 ” in width is the plan.  You can’t finish if you don’t pick it up and work a few threads into it.

  I hope the end of your work week treats you well.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥