Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:10 pm on May 2, 2023 Permalink  

  More Straight Line Winds 

  The winds from the north are getting old.  Our flag and the neighbor’s stand straight out from the northwest.  Upon reflection . . . it still beats the storms.

  Dennis gave me a car ride to our tax forfeit lot as the crew was loading up their equipment from the demolition.  What a fantastic job was done.  Denis feels relieved that a sad old dangerous building is no more.  As we took a tour via our car, it is amazing the amount of nice green grass.  Dennis always mowed the gal’s lot that was adjacent to this lot.  We now know Edna’s property is for sale as our 96-year-young gal is in Sleepy Eye in a care facility.  One lot that no longer needs Dennis to mow, trading off for our own additional lot to mow.  Did I mention that Dennis got new blades on his rider yesterday?

  When we got home, I did pick up some garbage that has blown into our backyard.  Several branches are now on Dennis’ fire ring.  If ever there were loose branches in our trees, these winds would have brought them down.

  The studio lights came on today.  Working in 45 minute increments, I have 24 firefighter’s t-shirts cut down to what I can work with.  One bag of garbage made up of sleeves, neck ribbing and such.  A second bag is labeled as “cotton rags” from the backs of the t-shirts.  With that . . . the lights were turned off for the day.  Slow and steady will be this project.

  I know the farmers are out and about.  I can imagine the dust storms behind the areas being worked.  My plan is to wait until I can stand upright with little to no wind before I venture into my dirt.

  This week should be a turning point in spring-like weather.

   
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  Noreen 4:10 pm on May 1, 2023 Permalink  

  What a Morning 

  This morning, I sat on the edge of my bed at seven.  Just in time to see Dennis heading down third avenue towards the west.  He was determined to get the new blades on the Sears rider.  Nephew Brett’s garage is on the west edge of town, while we live on the east edge.  Go to where the tools are!

  It was just a bit after eight and here came Dennis grinning from ear to ear.  New blades on and balanced.  He recounted that four of the young fellows put the mower up on ramps and with air compression wrenches, it was a five minute job.

  With a new cup of hot coffee, the patio porch was beckoning Dennis.  As I was doing laundry in the bathroom, I kept hearing sounds of machinery.  I opened the front door and . . . nothing.  Back in the bathroom, I looked out the window to the east and saw a glint of metal reflecting.  I telephoned Dennis and let him know the old blue barn was coming down on our tax forfeit lot.  Now that needed investigating . . . right now.  How sweet that will be to have the building cleared off and no longer tempting kids to play in unsafe conditions.  More needs to be done in regard to trees that need clearing.  Plenty of time to contemplate the next chapter.

  Today began the next step in the prescription of the orthotic shoes Dennis will need to make up in the left foot’s shortcomings . . . literally.  It will be a pair of shoes as the shoe for the right foot has been worn down.

  This evening was a Subway supper.  Very tasty indeed.

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on April 30, 2023 Permalink  

  Math 

  I enjoy challenges in regard to math.  On the dining room table is my graph paper and a good pen.  I only spent one hour in the studio today.

  I dumped out two plastic grocer’s bags of a firefighter’s t-shirts onto my two church tables.  The quest was to see how many t-shirts I had to work with.  Some were two sided.  With the project being two twin sized quilts . . . the graph paper and I headed for the dining room table.  Many different scenarios on how to effectively use 42″ wide fabrics in conjunction to t-shirt fabric.  It will be some time before fabric needs to be purchased . . . for sure. 

  The winds during the night shook our small home.  The wind has continued during this Sunday.  With my bedroom porch on the west end of the home, it does help to have a huge evergreen shrub that we don’t prune on the northwest corner of the home.  It will be nice when our Larson storm door comes into the lumberyard in Truman.  That would snug up the doorway.  Special ordered length takes four to six weeks.  We do have a carpenter that will do the install once the door arrives at the lumberyard and is delivered.

  Each fall at the time of colder weather coming, Dennis gets a new winter down-filled nylon jacket.  The jackets are light weight and very warm.  As our winter temps are dragging along, warmer jackets are still needed. We have noticed a goodly amount of tuffs of ever so fine feathers.  We checked for holes.  Cat’s claws were the number one thing we thought of, next was possible cigarette burnt holes.  Nope.  The seams on the elbows are worn thin to the point that they are leaking.  For a bit more time, I can think of worse things to be floating in the air. 

  Tomorrow morning, Dennis donning his leaky feather jacket will drive our Sears riding mower to nephew Brett’s concrete shop.  Dennis has the blades purchased and the fellows in the shop will swap out the old and dull with the new.  The next step is for Dennis to drive out north of town to Charlie’s shop on Hwy. #4.  The Cub Lo-Boy is also going to get new blades.  As far as Dennis could track, the blades were last changed out fifteen years ago.  Spring may be slow to come, but the grass has a good showing.

  It doesn’t take a math genius to know that 30 mph winds decrease the temps from 50 degrees to 41 degrees.  It feels raw.

   
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  Noreen 4:31 pm on April 29, 2023 Permalink  

  A Brick 

  Today would have been a good day to have your favorite brick in the undies.  The wind at 20 – 23 mph hour makes this 50 degrees feel very cool.

  Hmm.  My sewing tables are bare nekkid.  Some time back a family member had reached out from the family tree about making a t-shirt quilt as he had retired from his local fire station.  This was pre-AJ and his Harley quilt.  Why not!

  Today a car came from Gibbon.  My dad’s sister, Esther. was married to Theophil Opitz.  Their son Wayne settled in Gibbon.  Wayne’s son, Michael, was the retired fireman.  Wayne and his wife Jean had never been to our home and had decided to ride along with Michael and his son Jaden.  What a treat.

  I now have church tables that look busy and happy.  Dennis has already signed up to cut t-shirts apart.  What a guy!  Michael would like two twin sized quilts out of his shirts for each of his two sons, Jaden and Wyatt.  I can do whatever as I go along and there is no timeframe.  Sweet!

  We have come home from a friend’s 87th birthday coffee.  Late day coffee with cake.  What’s not to like.  There will be a light supper of soup for supper.

  I came home to have a chat with the Fairfax team via the phone.  Amazing when your family looks out for items that I may well put into service in the studio.  The studio does after all have a certain standard to uphold.  Dennis and I will do a road trip sometime to the fair city of Fairfax.

  Today is the first day for the Fairfax tulips to open.  They have been gracing our home for some time.  Kevin and Kersten rescued the pots of spent tulips after a Valentine’s day.  The pots came to St. James for the tulip bulbs to be cleaned and dried for planting that fall.  They are the darkest of reds and enjoyed each spring. 

  Have a great weekend and be ready to welcome May on Monday.

   
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  Noreen 1:52 pm on April 28, 2023 Permalink  

  Gray, Wet & Cool 

  Sometime back when we had those few, very few days in the upper 70s, I wondered when I could get a lawn chair out.  That has been the lesser of what has been on my mind since then.  Very little sun and oh so much wind.

  Each year we have had Thrush birds build their nests under the awning on the west side of the house.  Sad.  Not this spring.  A mother Robin has been finding wisps of reeds to ply a nest with.  Hmm.  I would have thought the huge evergreen on the northwest corner of the house would have provided more durability than one skinny metal bracket.

  This morning was a telephone morning.  Sister-in-law Jo called to let me know that a Wendlandt cousin had lost her husband to cancer.  Jo and I did catch up with other news, be it quilting or yard work.  We don’t call each other often . . . but definitely keep in touch.

  With that phone call being had, it reminded me to call my aunt Janet in Brownton.  Janet will be 90 later this year.  She and her twin brother Jerald were the youngest of eight in my dad’s family.  Janet is now the last remaining.  Janet never had a family.  There are several of us nieces that reach out often to her.  Why not.

  Something about today, perhaps just a day that neither Dennis nor I have felt compelled to stay busy.  Funny how that happens once in a while.  It is rare for us but when I listen to those close to our ages, not so much.  We may be the exception to the norm.

  Tomorrow for afternoon coffee, we are going to a friend of Dennis’ in one of the apartment’s common area.  Lyle and Dennis have known each other their entire lives.  Lyle can no longer drive and has very little hearing remaining.  Lyle is happy to have people around him in his apartment home, and . . . smiles a lot.

  We must say goodbye to April this weekend.  For myself, I think time flies.  If I had a lot of days such as today, I know I would feel much differently, as I do enjoy staying busy.  These April showers are obliged to tip their hats off to the  month of May to bring any, and I mean any flowers.

   
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  Noreen 2:23 pm on April 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Gloom and Sprinkles 

  It is a day of gloom and sprinkles.  The donuts that Megan and Nicholas used to like had more sprinkles on them than what our windshield had on it.

  Today was a visit at Dennis’ radiologist.  Dr Gio did the three angioplasty surgeries on Dennis’ left leg getting Dennis ready for the amputations of his left foot’s toes.  Can you believe it?  We were told that he would check in with us next year.  He had photos of Dennis’ foot that were taken Monday of this week.  He is very pleased at how Dennis’ last surgery, January 11th, 2023, is healing.  He brought the photos up on the computer screen and Dennis got to see it in full color and up close.  

  Monday was the 24th and today is the 27th.  Three doctors in three days have given us positive affirmations on the rate of healing.  I told Dr. Gio I had read the clinical notes of that January surgery.  Those notes did not give much hope for healing with the notation that an amputation below the knee would give better healing odds.  I never shared that with Dennis.  Each day the dressings were changed here in our living room with care and a pat given for being a good patient.  Yes!  Dennis is beating the odds.

  With that bit of news, I am looking forward for all to continue as it has been going. 

  I am looking forward to snapping on those lights in the studio and checking out what next will make threads and fuzz.  First things first as the laundry basket could use a bit of relief.  Who doesn’t enjoy pulling on clean fresh clothes.  Friday seems to have come quickly this week.  It has been a good week.  See you all tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 2:17 pm on April 26, 2023 Permalink  

  Gloomy 

  No sun but clouds abound.

  Both Dennis and I are having a quiet day.  In thinking, one might be curious as to why this Grammie needs to burn her shoe leather when Dennis and I are in Mankato with a long list of errands and Dennis snoozes.

  Dennis is still waiting for a prescription for a new set of shoes, once the wound is totally closed.  The shoe for certain being the left shoe that needs orthotics.  It needs to be a new set as the right shoe has wear.  With all of the toes having been removed on the left foot, Dennis’ sense of balance is less than good.  Dennis says after being on his feet, after a time, it is as if he is drunk and begins to weave to keep his balance.  I don’t encourage him to do the basement steps for the same reason.  There is no sense of a step off.

  I think Dennis has done remarkable.  He is doing PT twice a week here in our hospital clinic.  Dr. Dan, the wound doctor, uses ultra sound to encourage blood circulation around that bit of a wound yet to heal.  Dan also used silver nitrate to burn the tissue around the wound for that same reason, getting rid of any tissue that is not of the good stuff.  Dennis never complains.  Keeping that area as clean as possible is done by changing the dressing every day.  I do get a reprieve on the days Dan works his magic.

  There is no sloughing off with Dennis.  He has two mowers that have been worked over.  This morning he copied down the model # of the Sears so he could get the new blades purchased.

  In reality, Dennis and I work well together.  I have the mind set, second to none, with less than great lasting mobility.  Dennis has the willingness with help needed in his short term memory.  So be it.  We get things done, at a pace that is our own.  Dennis’ grandsons, AJ and Ryan pitch in to cover our shortcomings, such as the new lawnmower blades being replaced.

  The Stauffer Avenue team is ready for the spring work, when spring decides to turn up.  As I mentioned, today was a quieter day than the last two.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 1:46 pm on April 25, 2023 Permalink  

  Sound Sleep 

  What happens when I have had a very sound sleep, a bit of a headache accompanies the wakeup time.  There is no doubt that my energy was spent yesterday with the errands that needed to be done.  Today was a repeat of yesterday and I never left the house.

  For us I like shopping at Sam’s Club.  I know the grocery items that we use and I’d rather buy once at Sam’s than making repeated trips up to our grocer’s here in town.  What that means is that one day the isles are combed looking for what is needed.  I go through the checkout lane where I can scan my items and pack them up at my own pace in the bag I want.  Tidy, tidy at the checkout means that there is a reasonable order when they reach our home.  Dennis has had a bit of a snooze and is ready to take the groceries from my cart and load them into the vehicle and they come home with us and then are gotten into the house.  Refrigerated and freezer items are immediately tucked away.  The remainder stays where it was put in the kitchen.  

  The next day the items are put where they belong in our pantry in the basement.  An example: storing eight cans of Progresso soup in the box that came off of the shelf is not my style.  When I want a can of soup, I want to open the cupboard door and pick a can up.  So goes my “second day” of dealing with what was purchased the day before.  It can be quite daunting with trips up and down the basement steps.  The recycling bin is fed a lot of cardboard, and . . . I know where to find a pantry item when I need it or have Dennis bring it up.

  Purchasing in quantity works for us.  As I have mentioned, there are some items left for the trip to Hy-Vee.  I don’t need Oatmeal when it comes in a box of two containers each at five pounds.

  Today Dennis is working on the Sears rider mower.  Oil, filters etc., meant a trip to Fleet Farm.  The blades will be changed the next time a grandson is available.  When we had a ham spread sandwich half for lunch, we both thought we were having a good day that would mean a good night’s rest.

   
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  Noreen 4:18 pm on April 24, 2023 Permalink  

  Pooped 

  This Grammie is too pooped to pop.  The trip to the big town completely cleared all lists.

  The very first stop in Mankato was at the hospital with the surgeon’s second in command.  Jody is thrilled how the wound is closing on Dennis’ foot.  The last 3/4″ can’t come soon enough for Dennis and for me as well.  Dressing is changed every day until there is no need of it.

  We then met Dennis’ granddaughter Sadie at her place of work, MVAC – Minnesota Veteran’s Assistance Council.  Sadie serves veterans in the Mankato area as well all of Rochester.  Sadie had commissioned a framed plaque with photos of the day Dennis got to do the honors of pinning her Sergeant Major achievement on her.  Pretty sweet.  That framed item will be right next to the computer where Dennis plays solitaire and does Facebook.

  Best Buy hit a homerun for me.  Three items I had need of.  We now have a charger for the smart television remote and I have the needed USB cord to download pictures from my telephone to the computer.  I did have one USB item for my camera’s photo card to download onto the computer.  I never know where the camera will end up, either main floor or studio.  I now have a unit for both computers and no need to run steps . . . ya, like I could run them.  As of now this minute, this day, all is still in the plastic Best Buy bag.

  A huge bag came out of the Mayo Store.  A thirty day supply of gauze on a roll and 4 x 4 gauze pads.  I would be thrilled if we didn’t need them all.  I also picked up the 90 day prescription of Dennis’ CPAP supplies.  If that bag would hold air, I could use it for a bean bag chair . . . ya, like I could get down to it or finding a crane to get me up out of it.  Oh for the dreamer that I am.

  One stop at Walgreens for a lotion to use on Dennis’ foot where the healing has done well, to keep the skin supple.

  Sam’s Club had a list to be filled.  Can’t beat the price of the clumping cat litter.  A fair amount gets used when the box for the three gets cleaned twice a day.  Its been too cold for the porch kitties to visit their favorite outside spots.

  Some items that Sam’s carries doesn’t make sense for us of such large containers, so . . . off to Hy-Vee for the last of the needs.

  You guessed it!  Once Dennis was through at the hospital, it was Grammie’s shoe leather for the errands.  My treat was the last stop of the day in the big town . . . Culver’s.  A vanilla shake with a single patty burger.  

  Driving home and then into the driveway felt oh so sweet.  A long successful day and one that won’t need repeating for some time.

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on April 23, 2023 Permalink  

  It Smacks of Cold 

  This Sunday’s air smacks of cold and it is.  The sun is even too ashamed to make a full showing.

  The coffee was hot and aplenty, as the chapters in my latest book were spent.  Sitting in my west bedroom porch, there was even a fair amount of traffic to watch.  Several vehicles making multiple trips.

  Dennis had made the offer to make supper for last night.  Be still my heart.  I didn’t ask any questions.  When he said supper serves, I had my folk and knife in hand.  It was quite tasty.  Instant mashed potatoes with Dinty Moore Stew spooned over the top.  I am sure it met most of our needed food groups.  Some days, putting a meal on the table feels perfunctory.

  Today, I took stock of the refrigerator.  It’s really quite sad.  In fact, it echoed.  I do have a grocery list going as tomorrow we are headed to Mankato for a medical appointment.  The trips for appointments has been maybe . . . one a month. 

  On the list for tomorrow is a trip to Best Buy.  Our Samsung remote uses no batteries.  It is solar fed.  It does have a spot for a USB cable.  I checked to make sure we had not misplaced the cable.  Nope, right in the user pamphlet it states it was not included.  Of the devices we have, none of our USB cables are small enough.  Solar . . . and where has the sun been?  That remote sat under a lamp 24/7 and not juiced up.  Ironically, Dennis to the rescue.  As AJ set up the television for the patio porch, the television set I had in the studio was a Samsung, but not a smart set needed for the tower.  The one Dennis always had had in the porch was a Samsung smart.  Two remotes.  We have now been using one of them in the living room.  You just can’t appreciate enough of those darn batteries that need to be bought.  A remote is a remote is a remote.