Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:30 pm on December 26, 2022 Permalink  

  Monday a Holiday 

  When Christmas Day is on a Sunday, the Monday is then considered a holiday.

  It was a good thing that Lewis Drug was indeed open today.  They had closed on the 23rd in the morning due to blowing snow and the same for the 24th.  Now today being the 26th they were backed up ten deep.  Dennis was one of their customers standing in line.  Not a good day for a new employee behind the counter.  All is well as Dennis did come home with the correct items.

  Grandson Ryan was here this morning with the skidloader.  The pile of snow in our front yard is huge.  Ryan takes the snow from Stauffer Avenue, which is where Dennis needs to back out of with the little red pickup for his errands, and that snow is piled in the backyard.  Oh so much white.

  Who knew that the snow that began to fall Christmas day would continue most of the night.  When I went to bed at ten and looked out, the snow against the street light looked as if glitter were falling from the heavens.  Every color imaginable reflected.

  The storm that we had over Christmas blew snow in drifts that became hard.  We had never had snow pile up at our back door to the depth that this was.  It took quite a push for Dennis to get out of the house Christmas Eve morning.  That push also took off part of the sweep from the bottom of the combination door.  There we had it . . . flopping every time the door opened and closed.  After Dennis cleared off snow from the back door walk to the garage, he was due a break.  With the bitter cold, I rolled up a carpetrag rug to keep the cold at bay.  A short term fix.

  When Dennis was napping, I looked the door situation over.  What would my dad, Raymond, do?  The vinyl sweep tore through from the screw holding it on.  The sweep was kept at bay by that screw length and thus not fitting back under the combination door.  The sweep had u-shaped channel that was now full of frozen snow.  I dressed warm and took one step at a time.  That step was clearing the frozen snow off of the inside door sill.  I got out my pastry brush and cleaned all the snow out of the channel.  I couldn’t get the screw out.  With a side clipper I snipped out just enough of the vinyl sweep so it bypassed the screw and I could get the length of the sweep back under the length of the door.  It’s not the best fix.  With the snow being kept away from the bottom of the outside door, it will do for now.  At least the sweep will keep the cold air from seeping in under the inside wooden door.

  When Dennis got up he couldn’t believe we were back in business.  There is nothing like a DIY Grammie.

  Today with laundry done, I decided to come down into the studio.  It had been dark for far too long.  It also gave me a chance to try out the small heater we purchased to sit under the sewing table.  The remote works great and can be set to oscillate if needed.

  Yes, this is a winter that we have not seen for many a year.  Now . . . if the forecast is correct we may have temps in the 30’s for the remainder of the week.  Go figure.

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on December 25, 2022 Permalink  

  Christmas Day 

  Christmas Day, the birth of our Lord and Savior.  No one’s life on earth would ever be the same again.

  We have so much power over our own life once we are out from the shelter of parent’s love.  It is quite humbling and also quite frightening.

  Little do many of us remember that that shelter lasts as long as God gives them breath.  For myself, my shelter for my children is as large as the biggest umbrella you could find.  I am right here for them, just a phone call away any time of the day.  Moral support is powerful.  I sure had a lot of it from Raymond and Lena.  I try to give as good as I got.

  Today, as Dennis and I are sharing our Christmas here on Stauffer, alone but not lonely.  It gives me contentment that my children and my grandchildren are safe within their homes.  What better Christmas present could I have.  It warms my heart.

  I will add that our home is fragrant with a small beef roast in the oven.  I wrapped it in two layers of foil after I had put a rub on it.  The foil wrapped beef was put in a fry pan at 300 degree at nine this morning.  I am hoping for a steamed tender roast to go with our favorite carrot casserole and cheesy potatoes.  Once the winter dictated we would be two rather than eight, I scaled back the size of the dishes I prepared, but maintained the original menu.  Sweet.

  I did my family responsibility and called my brother in Iowa.  Nothing newsworthy came forth.  I struggle to understand his lack of family feelings.  I have chosen to accept rather than expect.

  Looking outside, the snow is lightly falling.  We have reached nine above zero.  Not bad. 

  Each time Dennis goes out to the patio porch he takes another swipe at some of the hard packed snow that found its way right by our back door.  The deer appreciated the offering of the corn as evident of all the tracks around the patio porch.  A bit of corn for each one offers good body heat for them.

   
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  Noreen 3:47 pm on December 24, 2022 Permalink  

  Christmas Eve Day 

  With the sun shining bright it does make one not immediately need to keep their finger on the pulse of the temperatures.  The wind is not wanting to be stifled.

  Grandpa and I will be spending a quiet Christmas Day.  It does my heart good knowing my children will be safe and sound within their homes, plus . . . with their fur babies.

  I did decide to make some of Dennis’ favorite dishes for our Merry Christmas day.

  It is now in the mid afternoon and we are officially off of the clock.  The dishes are fixed for tomorrow with all the dishes done.  Several loads of laundry have been done and folded.  It is indeed a very good feeling for us two older ones on Stauffer Avenue.

  Many years ago this afternoon would have been an early day of all outside livestock chores.  Our Christmas program would be taking place at the Lutheran church in Stewart.  Our Christmas’ finest clothing would have been prepared and pressed days before.  Dad would have the Plymouth idling waiting for our family of six to get into the car for the 10 mile trip.  Dad was a stickler about being on time.  Christmas Eve, getting ready to leave for church, Dad never complained about Mom being the last one in the car.

  Mom was the Santa that had a small window of getting all the Christmas presents out of hiding and under the Christmas tree for us four kids while we were sitting very patiently in the car.  We didn’t catch on for many years.  Sweet.

  Those memories are still as sweet now, just as they have been over the years.

  We all can make our own traditions and then look back on them as they become sweeter with time.

  My wish for my children is that they know they will always be my little ones in my very own special memories. 

  Love to all and a Merry 2022 Christmas.

   
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  Noreen 3:48 pm on December 23, 2022 Permalink  

  Wow 

  I feel as if I am in a snow globe that continually has enough movement to keep the snow swirling.

  There is no new snow falling, it is just being rearranged with very high winds.  I noticed on the south window where snow had clung to the screen, there is a fine line of dirt.  We are getting somebody’s field dirt from far away.

  Some vehicles are still braving whatever the wind can throw at them on the streets.  The business end of our little town is at a stand still, including the medical clinic and the drug store.  I have no doubt there are some wonderful people manning the ER.  Bless their hearts.

  Where are those little birds finding shelter!  I hope they are huddled in the depth of the evergreen bush northwest of my bedroom.

  With the wind that comes in a gust sounding like a train, my mojo is absent.  There is little to show for local effort today, and . . . I don’t seem to care and that is very uncharacteristic for me.  Perhaps tomorrow will be better.

  Safety is what I pray for everyone.  Our motel is full of those that felt they could travel to their destination.  The rest are being housed in the Presbyterian Church.  A whole lot of uncertainty for those individuals, when all that was sought was getting to that very Merry Christmas.

  Dennis and I feel very fortunate in our snug little home.

   
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  Noreen 2:59 pm on December 22, 2022 Permalink  

  Thursday the 22nd 

  This is the type of day, I am thankful I can stay indoors.

  Dennis’ grandson, Ryan, stopped by with nephew Brett’s skidloader.   It has saved our neighbor Randy from coming over after Randy gets off of work.

  The gusts of the wind from the northwest are fierce.  We have taken our small American flag in to save it from being shredded on the steel stake that normally holds it.  As I sit here in the living room, I can see across the street to the neighbor’s American flag that was whole last week and now has shreds.

  Dennis is spending time in the patio porch this afternoon.  The three Kitties seem to appreciate the company.  In a perfect world we could have a fur baby in our home.  The ultimate word is “a” fur baby.  Now with the three kitties in the patio porch it would be hard separating them and no way am I about putting up with fur baby fur . . . everywhere, in every nook and cranny.  Kitties don’t stay on the floor.  As long as Dennis enjoys his patio porch, the kitties have a good home . . . safe, sound and warm.

  There is more of the oven meal left for us to enjoy for supper.  We do so enjoy leftovers.

  With winds whipping, it sure hasn’t slowed down the traffic past our home.  That does to speak to our heavy duty vehicles.  Our vehicles are doing just fine in our garages.

   
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  Noreen 3:06 pm on December 21, 2022 Permalink  

  We have Snow 

  The snow cometh!  First the snow is fine like thick water and the next moment the flakes look like feathers as fine as those from the breast of a goose.

  The feathers from the breast of a goose made wonderful pillows.  My grandmother Laura had a wonderful summer kitchen.  It was used twelve months out of the year.  It took a lot of wear and tear from the home’s kitchen.  The geese that grandma Laura and grandpa Christ had gave several harvestings of the breast feathers.  Grandpa would catch each goose and those breast feathers were plucked at random in the early fall and the goose could run free.  A little later at actual butchering time, again those cherished breast feathers were kept separate.  As they had gotten wet during the scalding process, they were put in burlap gunnysacks.  Those sacks were pinned ono the clothes line and tipped end for end many times to help them dry.  If the cold was threatening them to freeze in the sack outside, the sacks were taken into the summer kitchen where there was always heat from the corn cob and wood fed fire.  The wings of the geese were used as feather dusters.  Somehow Grandpa Christ could make whistles for us kids out of the hollow base of the large feathers.  Nothing went to waste.

  Goose bed pillows were a treat and well taken care of.  Even today Cuddledown, a well known business, that puts out a catalog for mail order or internet orders, still sells the goose down pillows at a premium price.

  Back to the day at hand.  The snow is intermittent.  Dennis had an errand to run uptown.  Dennis is excited for Christmas.  This excitement has been going on for several months.  At this time of his winter season, I indulge him.  Dennis remembers my dad, Raymond, serving an after dinner drink.  Though most will refuse his offer, he is also offering a non alcoholic look alike.  As I said, his enthusiasm is not to be squelched.

  The comment when Dennis came home was that the grocery store shelves were dang near stripped and each aisle jammed with carts being filled.  I can only imagine what this Friday would be like.

  With a snow day, I do have an oven dish to pop in. 

  I must add an adenium to my comment on Dennis’ winter season.   It can be said our lives are much like the seasons.  With that in mind, I think it might be fair to say that those of us in our mid seventies and beyond are in our winter’s season.  I can feel comfortable about that.  For myself, I feel so appreciative of what I have experienced during my 78 years.

  The snow is now taking a break. It all looks quite wonderful with so little to disturb it as yet.

   
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  Noreen 2:54 pm on December 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Bright Sun 

  The Brightest of the sun rays cannot get the temperature above zero.

  The world keeps spinning regardless of the sun or of frigid temps.  It is consistent.

  What is also consistent is that there is nothing but hype passing for the news of the day.  If there is something Dennis and I need to be aware of, we will be contacted personally.

  My day has been a quiet one.  Even the mailman has passed us by.  

  No news from this end of the world is good news.  All is well.

   
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  Noreen 3:24 pm on December 19, 2022 Permalink  

  A Sudsy Day 

  Laundry day on Stauffer Avenue.  I came late to the show in regard to the Tide pods.  I really like using them.  When Dennis takes heavy rugs to the laundromat, the pods are easier than metering out liquid soap in a pint fruit jar.

  Years ago, the 50s, Duz granular laundry soap had a free dish inside.  If I remember correctly, it was a wheat design.  Amazingly there was no breakage.  What was added to Lena’s laundry was a bit of lye soap that Lena would grate into the wash water.  Lena’s whites were whiter than white.

  The last of our three loads is in the dryer. 

  The snow has been falling and the huge flakes are beautiful.  The forecast isn’t for more than an inch or so.

  Dennis took his six five gallon plastic pails up to the elevator for shell corn.  Tomorrow they will be ready and filled.  The gal at the elevator office is so strong, Dennis says it takes her no time and insists on doing it for him.  Two pails at a time into the back of the little red pickup.  Our backyard is totally imprinted with different sized hoof prints . . . small to large.

  With laundry done, tomorrow may find a dust bunny or two.  I have been staying in bed until eight on most days.  I can look right out to the north and the birds have a hay day in the huge evergreen.  There is just enough snow caught on the boughs . . . priceless.

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on December 18, 2022 Permalink  

  A Winter Sunday 

  The wind gusts have finally given up on themselves.

  Last night the deer were on the back patio by 4:30.  Dennis and Jan, next door, are putting out containers.  What I have also noticed is that a pair of Cardinals are also enj0ying the feast.  The male is not hard to pick out amongst the branches of the lilacs.  The Blue Jays are added to the mix along with many other smaller birds.

  This afternoon I found instrumental music on one of the Samsung channels.  It served me well while I did some tidy, tidy.  A bit of tidy each day counts up.

  The studio is playing second fiddle during this next week.  Its not to say I won’t be poking around once in awhile, but nothing akin to starting a new project.  Being quiet in spirit during this week is important to me.  It brings the peace that passes all understanding.

  The new week awaits.  There is nothing so important that it should cause stress.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

   
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  Noreen 4:52 pm on December 17, 2022 Permalink  

  Gusty Winds 

  Gusty winds with snowflakes.

  Today Dennis and I procured all the fixings for our Christmas dinner.  Surprisingly the four lane was clear after we got past the area between Madelia and Lake Crystal.  It has always been a bugger.

  When we got the word that there would be eight of us for the day, Dennis was giddy.  Dennis has a great “like” when Kevin’s and Carrie’s are coming, more so than when his children come.  Hmm.  I do know there are some favorite dishes for those coming. 

  I have a few items on a to-do list.  One for Kersten and one for Kevin.  Sweet indeed.

  The temps are really going to turn frigid this next week.  I will be happy to hibernate through it.

  Today we bought a small electrical heater for my studio.  I don’t need much sitting under my sewing machine but this will help with the cool air from being in the basement.  I do think of moving above ground . . . some day.  For now I an content and happy.  Never a day goes by that I don’t find myself wandering through my goodies.

  May the weekend bring contentment and enjoy this time.  Before Christmas is the perfect time to pull in and cherish what is in this world that we have carved out for ourselves with determination and care.