Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:11 pm on April 7, 2023 Permalink  

  Morning Doves 

  The cooing of Morning Doves has always been welcomed.  I had not realized that above and beyond they have a lot to say.  The mix of birds in our yard is telling us spring is here.

  Dennis had an appointment here at our local hospital with Dan the wound doctor this afternoon.  Dan told Dennis there is good tissue up for healing and healing is going on.  The small length needs to heal from inside to the outside.  Dennis can’t see the left side of his left foot without me taking a photo of it and showing him.  Bone, muscle, tendons, and nerves were all cut into and cut out.  We will continue dressing that area for as long as necessary.  Dan, via Dennis, encourages the nurse on Stauffer Avenue to continue doing such a great job on the dressing change every day.  On a day when Dan has seen Dennis, I get the day off.  That is pretty darn sweet!

  We are excited to be getting family for Sunday.  With the winter’s weather, we have sorely missed family.

  The Easter Bunny paid next door neighbor Randy a visit last night.  It has become a yearly tradition that we take over some payment for the snowblowing of the winter.  Randy always insists that payment is not needed.  Dennis insists that those that can’t need those that can and have the right equipment.  Sweet.

  Tonight for supper I am trying out a few select dishes on Dennis to see what he thinks about using those food choices for Sunday.  Gotta love a willing volunteer.  Our favorite salad for Sunday is jellied cranberries.  Ya, ya, I know it doesn’t take long to cook out the actual berries, but this will be my day to offer up what we enjoy.  TeeHee! 

  May this Good Friday be welcomed as soon our Lord and Savior, Jesus, will be among us caring for us body and soul.

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on April 6, 2023 Permalink  

  The Sun! 

  The sun is out and we are six days into April.  Our internal clocks tell us we need to be outside in our yards. Ya . . . right!  The wind with cool temps makes it feel downright raw to be outside.

  I did go and move a few things from the backdoor that we won’t be needing.  Snow shovels need to get a break.  Dennis swept out the back of his pickup from months of having shell corn dribble out of the five gallon pails.  The deer are on their own.  Whatever was swept out will be gone before we realize it.

  This morning we had an appointment five blocks from our home at ten.  Dennis and I had pedicures.  Actually a pedicure and a half.  Dennis knows how important it is to keep the right foot in mint condition.

  Even with my electric heater in the studio, it can’t compete with ice cold water running along the perimeter of the tile around the floor.  Hearing the trickle of the water making its way along the tile to the corner where the sump pump is, makes it seem even the more chilly.

  Today is Maundy Thursday.  I don’t remember the exact date, but I will always remember that my dad, Raymond, passed away on a Maundy Thursday.

  Today, I will dwell on the fact that we had sunshine,  The warmer temps are bound to follow . . . sometime.

   
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  Noreen 3:23 pm on April 5, 2023 Permalink  

  Gail Force Winds 

  Good grief.  A day without sunshine and winds from the northwest that make the house shake.

  Our trip to the Korean luncheon went well.  The current president of the Frozen Chosen is in the hospital with knee surgery.  Of the five that were there, it was decided to get together in May when George could be present for decisions to be made going forward.  Good idea, as there is also treasury money to make decisions on.  This group in Mankato is the only active Korean Veterans in the state of Minnesota.  God bless these older ones still continuing to serve.

  Every field that had ponding water on it had white snow geese too numerous to count.  In the cloudy skies there would be a flock of feathered friends flying in all directions.

  After we got home, there was a message for Dennis to come to the county auditor’s office.  When Dennis returned home, he had the abstracts of the tax forfeit property we purchased in early winter.  The abstracts will be interesting reading for Dennis as he remembers when that property was the first bottling plant in St. James.  I am not sure why there are two abstracts . . . both look ancient.  Might be good reading after supper.  There were also two sets of keys in the same tattered manila envelope.  Dennis said the way the wind blows through the old shed that is on the property it will prove interesting if there is anything inside that would warrant keys.  Time will tell.

  We are ready to put forth a meal for our Sunday guests.  Yes . . . Hy-Vee and Sam’s Club were super busy.

  The wind is not going to go down during the night.  As chilly as it is, it’s hard to see where there could possibly be 50 and 60 degree days for this weekend.  It does keep us on our toes and in winter jackets.

   
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  Noreen 2:18 pm on April 4, 2023 Permalink  

  No Sun 

  Hmm.  The remote for the Samsung television is to be charged by sunlight.  Fat chance.  Hopefully under the light bulb will do the trick.

  Dennis ran the car out onto the drive for some of this rain to take a layer of dirt off.  It may have been a slim chance as I heard the garden hose lend a hand.

  Tomorrow we will be attending the very last Korean luncheon in Mankato.  There are only six members still alive for this group.  I am sure tomorrow we will hear where the next closest group is.  Dennis has enjoyed the Frozen Chosen group.  Nothing lasts forever, especially when the age of the members works against it.

  This evening the Easter Bunny will be paying a visit to Randy next door.  Randy doesn’t like receiving Dennis’ Easter basket gift, but we sure do appreciate the times that Randy has cleared our drive after a snowfall that we couldn’t handle.

  The electric heater in the studio has felt good on the legs and feet these last days.  Basement temperatures are chilly in these transitional weeks.

  Our Sunday dinner is planned and tomorrow Hy-Vee will be visited with my shopping list in hand.  I have no doubt there will be a crowd and only the carts that don’t track well will be left.

  May the peace that passes all understanding settle into our hearts this holy week.

   
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  Noreen 2:31 pm on April 3, 2023 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  This morning I rode shotgun with Dennis to Truman.  We had some supplies to return to the lumberyard and bring back several items.  As the storm door for the front of our home is now no longer the norm, it is needed to be a special order.  It will be about four weeks.  Larsen doors needed to be shortened by the company to retain warranty.  We could not believe how the fields were without snow.  Think what could have happened if the sun had shown.

  If the weather is shy about showing spring, the flocks of birds and geese are not.  The skies were full of all things spring.  The creeks were overflowing.  A sign that the frost may not be out of the surrounding areas.

  It is mid afternoon and our front door project is finished . . . complete with the carpenter blowing off the sawdust from the drive.  A long wait to have this done, but oh so worth it.  As Bryan was finishing up a van pulled up to the curb.  The fellow in the van liked what he saw on the front of our home and Bryan will be stopping in for a possible new client.  When our door is in at the lumber company I told Bryan I would give him a call.  Sweet.  

  It’s been a typical Monday with laundry being done . . . and chasing a few dust bunnies.

  A slow day most likely will call for soup and a sandwich.

   
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  Noreen 3:52 pm on April 2, 2023 Permalink  

  A Chilly Day 

  With the wind, it sure doesn’t feel like it is in the 40s.

  We had a quiet day.  The carpenters were busy on our front door.  Just a bit of finish work for the new week and the project will be completed.  Dennis is making one run to Truman in the morning to return some items to the lumber yard and bringing home a few needed pieces.  Dennis and me are thrilled to have this done and done to perfection.

  Our sump pump is running once in a while.  I did peek to see where the water being pumped out was going.  Right now it is running onto the surface of the yard north of the house.  I had a gut feeling the tile that is under ground was not thawed as yet.  As long as it is puddling, I am fine with it.

  I don’t expect that there will be anymore runs to the elevator for shell corn for the deer.  We are sending them off to a spring season knowing they had corn on a daily basis for it to turn to heat within their bodies.

  The first full week of April.  May we all feel blessed as we enjoy this most holy week.  I know I surely am feeling it.

    

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on April 1, 2023 Permalink  

  Keeping Busy 

  A day to stay busy and let carpenters do their thing.  Bryan and Carlos were here early considering they needed to brush snow off of the tarp of lumber waiting to be used.

  Oh yes.  We had freezing mist and snow with high winds.  Could this be the last of it!

  True to my word to Dennis, I have stayed out of the way of the front door project.

  It seemed like a good day to try out an embroidery pattern I downloaded yesterday.  I don’t want to forget how the downloading process goes.  If I did forget, I would feel that an entire window of possibilities would be closed to me.  Yes, each design does cost about $3.50 each.  I couldn’t even go uptown and have a cup of coffee with a donut for that.  Once I download it, I have ownership of it to use as often as I want.  

  The three towels I embroidered today is an example of my ownership.  We have a towel of a Mackintosh red apple tree, a green Grannie Smith apple tree and one Golden Delicious apple tree.  It kept me busy and the best part is, there are no puckers in the embroidery.  Just as in keeping my hand in downloading, it is also remembering what stabilizers to use for the best outcome. 

  The sun is out and it is bright, but last night’s dumping has kept the temps cool.

  As Dennis and I had been beating the bushes for quite some time to have carpenters on board, I have taken it upon myself to post Bryan’s business card on Facebook.  Bryan and his wife, plus Carlos, moved here from New York last summer to help Bryan’s father-in-law with the huge two story house across the way from us.  Bryan’s decided to stay in St. James, so Carlos did also.  Seeing Bryan’s van in our driveway is good advertising so the business card on Facebook can’t hurt either.

  Our town needs carpenters and repair people.  The Good Old Boys Club has dwindled.

  We have decided on eggs and sausages for supper.  I picked up a package of Jimmy Dean’s pre-cooked link sausages.  If the links are as good as the patties by the same brand . . . I will let you know what the foodies think.

  Have a blessed Sunday.

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on March 31, 2023 Permalink  

  79 Years Ago 

  My mom, Lena, told the tale that seventy nine years ago the team of horses that she was using to feed the young stock at the feed bunk were spooked and she had all she could do to get them under control.  In the hours before supper of that day, Dr. Hovde of Winthrop made a house call out to the farm.  Whew!  I might have been an April fool’s day child.  

  Today has been a wonderful birthday.  I put up the birthday cards from Carrie’s family and Kevin’s family in the studio.  A bit of cheer to warm the heart.  

  We were up early this morning as there was thunder and lightning.  The hail didn’t last long but the rain sure did.  When I looked out the bathroom window it caused some concern as the patio looked flooded.  The next time I looked out the water had gone down.  Does this mean the frost is out of the ground?  Our patio porch has a chance of staying dry this spring.  This was the 25th year of the Comfrey and St. Peter tornados.  Our patio porch had just been completed when we watched the weather as the skies turned black to our northwest in the last days of March.  I was called to help Brown County do the property assessments of the damaged homes.  Not an experience easily forgotten.  We have been enjoying that patio porch for more years that can be recalled if not for a news update of what happened so long ago.

  I plunked around in the studio.  It was high time to put a patch on Dennis’ everyday jacket as there were feathers peeking out of a hole.

  When Old Alley gives a call that AJ’s quilt has been longarmed, I know the lengths of binding needed to be readied.  The 400 plus inches has been sewn together, pressed in half and wound onto a cardboard.  I am prepared.

  I am not prepared for what they say will happen with heavy snow and wind beginning this evening.  Winter needs to go away.  Weather forecasters have been known to call it wrong.

  The first days of April are entitled for spring time weather.  I will say when I look at our backyard that has cleared of snow, the grass is a welcomed shade of green.

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on March 30, 2023 Permalink  

  Cloudy and Raw 

  Hello, Hello!  This is the Eve of my birthday.  I am really feeling good . . . almost giddy.

  We have had two carpenters here since morning.  Having a useable front door is in sight.  For the last while since I have been unable to do a 14″ step either up or down, our backdoor has been the go-to for us as well as anyone coming to see us.  As Bryan was packing up, he bid us goodbye, allowing us to know that concrete needs to harden where he had sunk posts.  If the weather ends up literally doing a “Not this time” Bryan will be back Saturday.  This project is actually happening!

  Knowing myself, I have spent the day in the studio.  Staying out of the way but being close if needed was the plan.  The embroidery module is perking right along.  I like trying things and also trying different avenues to get a polished looking end game.  

  Yesterday one of the Watson boys stopped in to affirm the fact that in time we will have the furnace vent to the south side of the house.  No more ice build up threatening the furnace to a shutdown.  To get this home’s bucket list done would be sweet.

  Supper is going to be light.  Dennis has caught some pretty serious naps in the patio porch today.  All he had going today was a blood draw at the VA clinic here in town for his INR, blood clotting measure.

  Some days the entire kitchen gets a break.

  Enjoy tomorrow as we wind down the last week of March.

   
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  Noreen 2:56 pm on March 29, 2023 Permalink  

  Spring? 

  With what it is like out today and listening to the forecast . . . spring??  I don’t think so.

  What we do have here on Stauffer Avenue is a nice grouping of green treated lumber as well as a new storm door.  Carpenter Bryan was here when the lumberyard of Truman delivered all the goodies.  Bryan check listed all that came off the truck.  All is under a tarp or in the garage.  We have been waiting for our front door to be tricked out for some time.  Considering what the weather will bring . . . we are in this to win it.

  The studio was in for some kitchen towel embroidering.  One item that has been in the studio far too long hit the garbage.  I didn’t realize spray starch had a sell by date.  I was going to put some spray starch sizing on a kitchen towel to give it an additional strong base for the stitching.  Hmm.  I didn’t notice the yellowing when the area was wet.  Live and learn.  A light laundering will take care of the problem.

  Since I gave notice to my friend that I would not be helping her with any sewing help, I have felt lighter.  My time and my energy is priceless.  It is my privilege to wear myself out, I don’t need any help in that department.

  My very first ever cutting mat for fabric cutting has been shit canned.  How long do I think things should last!  I do have a replacement in the wings.  After a while the ruts made by years of use don’t do new cutting blades any favors.  I could use a nice solid bottom for a cork bag I made.  I drew the dimensions on the old mat and did the outline as well.  Dennis can use an opposite corner and try out different cutting tool options.  My goal is to have a 7″ x 14″ finished item.  Dennis is willing and he enjoys helping out for the studio’s needs.

  His wound doctor visit here in our clinic gave a positive report on how I am doing on the daily change of bandaging.  As Dennis saw Dan this morning, I get the day off.  Sweet.

  An offering for supper of the chicken pasta dish in the microwave . . . perfect.

  Take heart everyone, there will be spring eventually.