Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:28 pm on January 21, 2023 Permalink  

  Dark Sunday 

  How dark can the clouds make it?

  Dennis is on a mission.  He is sitting in his rocking chair in the patio porch with my cell phone, primed to capture a photo of the deer when they come to eat.  They come within two feet of the sliding patio doors.  Time will tell.

  We needed some protein for noon lunch.  A batch of egg salad sounded good to both of us.  I always make mine with a hefty amount of diced onions.  Good grief.  I had five white eggs and one brown egg to boil.  The white eggs were a pick here, a pick there to get the shells off.  Dastardly job.  The brown egg peeled in a heartbeat.  In the end it was all worth the effort. 

  I had planned on a visit to the studio.  Truth to tell, my hands were weary enough that I scrapped that idea.  For all the effort, it was tempting to go to the store for a container of herring, also good protein.

  We will be doing an encore of the oven meal for supper.  I just love leftovers.

   
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  Noreen 1:49 pm on January 20, 2023 Permalink  

  The Grammie on Board 

  The Grammie is on board for wound dressing for Dennis.  This was the first time for me since his surgical day of January 11th.  I had watched very carefully when it was done in Mankato on the 17th.  That was the first dressing change and I was thankful it was done by a doctor. 

  Today, out came the wicker basket with my supplies.  Thankfully I had enough left over from previous that I have it covered until we travel back to Mankato on the 24th.  The doctor had sent over a prescription to the Mayo Store for the supplies to take us into several weeks.  The prescription is for three months.  I hope we won’t need supplies for that long.  We knew there would be a delay from point A to point B, so we came directly home on Tuesday.

  I called the Mayo Store today and asked in regard to the supplies, if I would need to shop the shelves seeking what was needed.  She assured me the supplies would be bagged up ready for us on the 24th.  Sweet!

  With all that has happened over the last month or so, the days seem to fly by.  Where does the 24 hours go?  Just as well that there is nothing in the studio that is on a schedule.  I will have plenty of time after we have seen a month of “Grammie Care.”  Time will tell.

  I remain on livestock chores.  It feels good that Dennis can be out in the patio porch while I am doing them.  You cannot believe the TLC the kitties are requiring.  Short visits is the plan.

  I have an oven meal ready.  I had one pound of hamburger meat that I browned.  1 good tablespoon of Better than Bullion in the roasted onion flavor went into the hot meat.  Several shakes of Soy sauce.  The pasta boxes hold four cups of the dry pasta and I used two cups to bring it to fruition.  A jar of Classico basil red sauce.  When all folded into each other, it will be popped in at 4:15 at 350 degrees.

  The next trip to Mankato will need a stop at Hy-Vee for several different flavors of the Better than Bullion.  It really does add a lot of extra flavor to our oven meals.  It has a long shelf life in the refrigerator.

  I was surprised that we have had a freezing mist all day today.  There goes my nice clean path to the garage.

  The weekend is upon us.  January is quickly being left in what it does best . . . yuck weather and very little sunshine.

   
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  Noreen 4:36 pm on January 19, 2023 Permalink  

  Wet Snow 

  The threats were made good.  We got about four inches.

  Yesterday, I had put salt down so the walk from our back door to the garage door would be free of ice.  It worked quickly and well.  This morning when I was going to clear a path from the house to the garage, the salt I had put down yesterday served me well as I could push the newly fallen snow off to the side and the bare concrete made the path safe.

  Grandson Ryan cleared the drive this afternoon with the skid loader.  He was able to push the alley snow far into the backyard.  He also talked to the fellow that grades the alley and it may be such a thing that that the next snowfall will be plowed to the south so the little red pickup door doesn’t get blocked.  It sure doesn’t hurt to ask.

  Today Dennis got to visit his patio porch for the first time since January 11th.  Dennis had a stool to put his foot up onto.  The kitties were very thrilled.  Short spurts outside, I am sure felt good.  The pain pills are no longer first and foremost.  That is a great thing.

  By all accounts, things are progressing well.  I will be back on board for dressing and wound changes.  I will be using Acetic acid to wash the incision.  It is vinegar and saline solution.  The strange thing is, a prescription is needed to pick it up.  I am sure my kitchen vinegar is not acceptable and then . . . how much to mix with the saline is another question.  The $5.00 for the quart bottle is doable.

  We are not sure what we are hungry for for supper.  It is up for discussion.

   
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  Noreen 2:32 pm on January 18, 2023 Permalink  

  First Come Clouds 

  First come the clouds, followed by the snow this evening.  All is well here on Stauffer Avenue.  We have nowhere we need to be until next week.

  I often talk of or speak to my interest in all thing crafty.  Dang!  I would need some supplies to make flash cards.  Flash cards in big bold print would work.  First flash card: Elevated – Higher than Surroundings.  Second flash card: Limited – Restrictions.

  After one week out of surgery. Dennis may need to have the actual flash card information put on each of his arms with a black Sharpie pen.  My luck, he would get a skin infection from the permanent ink.  There is to be limited amount of walking with the specialized boot that puts heel down before toe area . . . if he had one.  Foot is to be elevated . . . a lot.

  To drive home the elevated need to keep his circulation from taking excess blood to the surgical area, I used a sponge.  It was totally saturated with water . . . but maintaining the water, no dripping.  I carefully placed the sponge in Dennis’ open hand . . . no dripping.  I then ask Dennis to put the sponge in his other hand.  With so little movement, the pressure on the sponge leaked and dripped water.  Moral of the story:  so little pressure is too much pressure for the left foot at this time. 

  Good grief . . . I need to put out a shingle: “Doc Piddy”, aka: a quack on board.  When we were small children, the baby duck were referred to as Piddy.

  I need to leave no doubt in Dennis’ mind that this third time needs to be the charm, the prize, the end of this medical scenario.

   
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  Noreen 4:47 pm on January 17, 2023 Permalink  

  A Long Day 

  We needed to see the wound doctor today in Mankato.  Because of the rain, ice and snow flurries we left for Mankato this morning for a 1:45 appointment.  That was a wise move.

  After seven days since Dennis’ surgery, the reveal was highly anticipated as Dr. Renee unwrapped the foot.  The incision with its tidy stitches looks good.  Dennis needs to continue staying off the foot as much as possible.

  We got home at four thirty.  Dennis stayed with me while I did the livestock chores.  Moral support is always appreciated.

  I am making this short and sweet.  Tomorrow is another day.

   
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  Noreen 2:53 pm on January 16, 2023 Permalink  

  Custom Zippers 

  Digging in my stashes, I found the perfect solution for our latest medical need.

  The boot on Dennis’ left foot is very cumbersome, heavy and specialized.  It is built so when Dennis puts that foot out for a step, the built up heel takes the brunt.  

  Up until yesterday Dennis had a pair of cut off sweat pants to wear.  The boot was to stay on 24/7, but I did take it off Wednesday night to allow him a piece of clothing he could manage in and out of the bathroom. 

  It has been mild outside, but his little white legs even gave the white snow a run for its money. 

  In my stash, out came what is called zipper by the yard.  When purchasing a yard there are several of the zipper pulls included.  Custom zippers can be created.  It is not the easiest to thread the zipper pull on the two sides of the zipper.  Nonetheless, Dennis now has two pair of pants that allow the left leg of each to have a 20″ opening to fit around and over the boot.

  It is time for me to take care of the livestock chores as well as to get the garbage bin out to the edge of Stauffer Avenue.  As soon as I enter the garage, the kitties plop down from the rafters.  It does not get cooler than 51 degrees in the garages, and of course, heat rises.

  May the new week bring all that is needed for all of us.

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on January 15, 2023 Permalink  

  Success 

  As of this afternoon Dennis has a pair of pants that will fit over this humongous boot.  The zipper went in well though it could have been longer.  This boot with tons of Velcro also has the ability to be pumped up . . . or have a release of pressure.  Lefty, loosey.  Righty, tighty.

  Tomorrow, I may take another pair of older pants and do it up with another zipper, so Dennis can have a wardrobe change of two.

  Outside, whatever has something to thaw and drip . . . is.

  I have had a day of sewing success and am going to enjoy my rocking chair before supper.

   
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  Noreen 2:51 pm on January 14, 2023 Permalink  

  A New Challenge 

  Today I am working on some sewing skills.

  Dennis came home from the hospital in what was a pair of good sweat pants that had a zipper on each side of the legs.  The nurses had a heck of a time getting Dennis ready for home as the zipper was not quite adequate.  I got those pants off by hook and crook, but he needs something more than his undies for next week’s appointments.

  Today with using the oldest pants he has, I am opening the side of the left leg.  Some time ago I had bought three yards of zipper length with individual heads to make your own zippers for the length you needed.  Thankfully I have one head already threaded onto the length.  I think I will cut off a 16″ length and make a pair of pants that are doable to fit over this huge clumsy boot that goes up mid point to Dennis’ knee. 

  Pants that have been laundered umpteen times have stitches deeply embedded with navy on navy . . . hard to see.  Enough for that today.  I will hit the studio tomorrow and see how I do.

  I have the livestock chores done for the day and have made a trip to the store for cough drops, carrots, onions and a rotisserie chicken.

  Boning out the chicken will give me a good batch of chicken for an oven dish sometime soon.  Fixing a dish that will provide us with a good nutritious meal for three evening meals is better for me than coming up with something night after night.

  Dennis is doing quite well . . . all things considered.  He is staying ahead of the pain while keeping the leg up at various locations within the house.  He has not asked if he can go out to the patio porch . . . I believe he already knows what the situation is until next week Tuesday when we see a medical team.

   
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  Noreen 3:44 pm on January 13, 2023 Permalink  

  Lots of Sun 

  Chilly it is but the sun has power.

  I am doing well at the livestock chores.  I know the three fur babies would like me to spend more time in the patio porch.  Sorry!  When I opened the east sliding door to put corn out for the deer . . . good ole Honey Bunny made a break for it.  I went ahead and cleaned the litter box, put fresh food and water out and then returned to the door I had left cracked.  She sat out about ten feet in one of the trenches of tracks made by the deer and . . . looked at me.  I slid the door shut with a fairly loud thud.  Bam, she was at the glass door when there was barely a width large enough for her head.  Gotcha!

  Last night I went to bed at nine and was surprised when I heard traffic was moving on the street outside and it was six in the morning.   Dennis and I both got a great night’s rest. 

  The patient has moved from place to place in the house, wherever we can get a stool to keep the leg elevated.  He is doing well and since surgery on Wednesday, he has asked for one pain pill.  I do remind him, it is easier to stay ahead of it than to try and quench it after it is raging.  He tells me he is doing ok and I take him at his word.

  After having Dennis’ heavy quilt outside for most of yesterday, the smell of winter’s cold fresh air filled the house.  It took me back to the farm in Boon Lake Township where we farmed.  Many times, I would hang out laundry and let it freeze dry.  No fabric softener was used and the softness of bath towels exceeded how they had been purchased.  Flannel diapers didn’t take long to freeze dry and when they were brought indoors, they were ready to be pinned on in a very short time.

  I am very thankful for a lifetime of memories.  It is true, they can’t be taken from you and I always have room to store more.  Sweet!

  Happy weekend!  The temps over Saturday and Sunday will be a great reprieve.

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on January 12, 2023 Permalink  

  Home Sweet Home 

  After spending the greater portion of yesterday in the surgical unit of the Mankato Hospital . . . today was home sweet home.  Dennis came through the amputation of toes and metatarsal well.  It was a one day surgery.  I did make good on letting all the kids know when were were home.  I encouraged Dennis’ children to give him a call in the evening.

  Dennis had a fairly good night of rest while wearing an orthopedic boot.  The boot is 99% Velcro with various straps.  I did remove the boot this forenoon so Dennis could get into some comfortable sweat pants plus a totally clean change of clothes.  That boot can be worn for several days at a time.  I may well be doing just that.

  The air was crisp today and fairly breezy.  I took Dennis’ heavy flannel quilt outside and made use of the bench that we have by the back door.  With the bench put in the middle of the driveway the quilt took to fluttering.  I have turned it end for end several times.  My hope is when I take it in, the house will be filled with the wonderful aroma of freshness.  It is washable, but it would take a huge front loading machine in the launderette.  By evening, his bed will be an option and perhaps better than the recliner he was in last night.  

  Bland food is the ticket for the day.  Supper will be either scrambled eggs or breakfast cereal.  Anesthetics can be hard on the system for the next day. 

  The wind is brisk enough that the iced snow is letting loose of the evergreen boughs.

  I have the livestock chores done for this evening and have the corn out for the deer.  Dennis will not be able to visit the patio porch until some time next week, if . . . he gets the wound doctor’s go ahead.

  The remainder of our week is quiet.  Sweet!