Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:40 pm on October 3, 2022 Permalink  

  One Swipe 

  This morning before the Asian Beetles and Boxelder bugs had the sun to warm them, I headed for the Hosta plants.  We have two batteries for the weed whip.  I exhausted one of the batteries.  That was all I had for strength in my hand.  The safety on the weed whip mandates a button to be engaged while a second button operates the actual weed whip.  As it is, both buttons engaged is a physical stretch of the hand.  Tomorrow morning I will hit it again.

  We had very little garden art out out this year.  Many trips to the potting shed with one hand holding the goodies, with the right hand on the cane.  I am not taking any chances of taking a fall.  Slow and steady.  

  There is a difference between Dennis and myself.  Dennis still thinks as a 50 year old with reflexes of a 50 year old, rather than the 86 year old that he is with reflexes that mirror that.  That is evident with the things he has lying around to trip over in the garage.  I follow behind and pick them up and put them aside.  If he lifts his feet an inch off of his walking surfaces, that would be it.  A fall waiting to happen.  I think like a 78 year old that has had a stroke with mobility of a 78 year old.  I may be a pain in Dennis’ side, but why take a chance of having to heal from a fall when it takes seconds to be proactive.

  Also tomorrow my plan of attack is to wash the east bathroom window.  Dennis is done washing off the outside of the house for the year.  I have a scrubby that has an arm that can be extended.  I don’t need a perfect job done, just enough so I can see outside in the early mornings.  The remainder of the windows can all be tipped in.  Sweet. 

  The purple quilt top has been folded up for quilting at a later date.  I did cut the fabric for the quilt binding this afternoon.  Putting the folded ironed binding with the quilt top, does make things easier in wrapping up a project.  Why put off something that will need to be done anyway.

  Yesterday, I found out that great grandson Oliver is into Pokémon.  He was so proud to show me his cards.  He made a point of telling me that he couldn’t take them to school.  With the quilt project done, I am pretty sure I have some Pokémon printed fabric left from making Kersten some pillow cases.  I will surprise Oliver with getting a pillowcase in the mail.

  The week is off to the air filled with harvest dust from the grain elevator that is five blocks west of us.  It is a dust that represents the farmer’s reward of a farming year.

   
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  Noreen 3:35 pm on October 2, 2022 Permalink  

  Sunday Done Well 

  We did the birthday party for Luella today in North Mankato.  The temps were great and many sat outside until the Asian Beetles drove them inside.

  As we drove to Mankato as well as coming home, the harvest dust could choke off a horse.  We could smell the dust in the little red pickup while the windows were closed.  I wondered how well sealed the cabs of the combines with air conditioners were.  With no rain in sight, the farmers will not slow down.  Someone mentioned today that the soybean fields are so dry that if there is rain on the pods and then they dry, the pods will pop and the beans will be lost on the fields.

  What greeted us when we came home were Boxelder bugs clinging to the storm door of the house.  Man!  I can’t believe it is that time of the year again.

  Tomorrow is a new week and for us it will be a slow week.  My plans are to tidy up plants that have been nipped by the frost.  Doing it before the fingers freeze is the plan.  Very little garden art needs to be put into the potting shed.

  May everyone have much to be thankful today as the day winds down.

   
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  Noreen 1:31 pm on October 1, 2022 Permalink  

  Purple Top Finished 

  A Saturday morning on Stauffer can be busy.

  Dennis was planning on making the trip to Windom for the day’s trade show.  Keeping up with friends when Dennis had set up for the weekend, sounded like a good idea to me.  To make sure that he would be able to smooze the isles easily, Dennis decided to take the walker with that one can easily turn around in and sit down.  Sometimes the legs can get weary and why take a chance of missing out on anything.

  When Dennis had pulled out of the drive, I headed down Stauffer with my walking crutches.  A brisk walk and I knew I would be heading into the studio.

  With coffee in hand and my telephone in my pocket . . . I was set.  The telephone in the pocket is sweet.  I don’t and won’t rush to answer the phone.   No KNUJ radio on a Saturday as it is nothing but sports.  Minnesota 100 has good country music on.

  When I would have least expected it, a good phone conversation was had this forenoon.  That set the tone for the remainder of the day and will carry through for many days to come.

  The purple quilt top is finished.  I have used 8.25 yards of fabric out of my stashes and the quilt top measures 77″ x 105″, give or take an inch.  Putting the three borders on it had quite a bit of heft under the needle by the time the last one was done.  I did the borders by the book, 3″, 4″ and 5″.   Adding the 4″ of olive green picked up the greens in the leaves of the grape vines.  I have had that green in my stashes a long time.  There are just as many greens in the color pallet as there are of whites. 

  When this post is done, the lights here in the studio will be turned off.  Dennis is not home as yet and I might just take that last cup of cold coffee and read for a while.

  Needless to say my studio’s floor needs some TLC.  Threads everywhere.  With this project I got my fill of the fabric by the Maywood Studio mills.  The yardage ravels something fierce.  The price per yard is comparable to other brands and the warp and weft are also the same.  I was really happy the third border was from a different company.  Handling the quilt top from this point to actually quilting it, the edges could have been compromised.  The cleanup is for another day.

  Tomorrow is Luella’s fourth birthday party.  Her and Great Grandpa Dennis share the same date.  This calls for a trip to Mankato for a birthday cupcake.

   
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  Noreen 2:43 pm on September 30, 2022 Permalink  

  A Sweet Day 

  A good night’s rest with no getting up during the night for a bathroom break.  That calls for a sweet day.

  I do have unusual breakfasts at times.  I couldn’t see the last of the baked acorn squash go to waste.  After two suppers, Dennis was over it.  Some acorn squash drizzled with syrup . . . a tasty breakfast.  I am not a fussy eater.

  My day has been in the studio.  My purple log cabin quilt top now needs to have three borders attached to it and then it becomes a quilt large enough for a double sized bed.  I do tend to get side tracked in the studio.  Checking this, checking that . . . looking to see if there are some items that could grace the recycling bin or the garbage bin.  It is my goal to pair down wherever I can.

  We had a frost that bit into the greenery of the Hosta earlier this week.  When I look out the bathroom window, the fall season is very evident.  Had not the wind been blowing during the cool morning, I would have gotten the weed whip out to knock down the Hosta.  I did put that off until next week.

  The mail brought a letter that looked as if it should have come from a family member.  What it was, was an estimate of car insurance coverage for our two vehicles.  Glancing at it, from State Farm, I am going to spend a bit more time on it to see if it would be or should be considered.  A penny saved is not a bad idea.

  This evening is our last meal of the chicken oven dish.  Boo Hoo!  So much for good tasty leftovers . . . until the next time.

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on September 29, 2022 Permalink  

  Great Feeling 

  There is no greater feeling than coming from seeing your family doctor and all things are copasetic.  I had mentioned earlier that I had some concern over my right knee.  After all, eighteen years of use, does not guarantee that many more.

  The last CAT scan I had of my spine was n 2004.  Now eighteen years later, the news is not a surprise.  The degenerative arthritis of then has significantly increased.  My knees are fine.  Am I complaining?  No.  If my ole bones could talk, it would fill volumes.  I was a diligent farmer’s daughter and never backed away from the chores on the end of a pitchfork or how many bales needed moving up in the hay barn.

  When my babies were small, I worked side by side with Orlin on our farm.  I recall, Orlin and I went to a neighborhood party.  Johnny Munnes had a band and lived not too far away.  He told me he hardly recognized me as he said I cleaned up pretty good.  Too funny.

  Arthritis may well be in the genes.  I am not sure of that.  I do know that I pray my two children work smarter rather than harder in their endeavors.

  I did come away today with some strengthening exercises that I can do sitting in a chair.  The walking and the bike peddling are good, but the spine and pelvic bones will serve my legs better than anything and in the long run.  It’s all about those lovely ham strings and what they command. 

  I came home feeling great as there had been that niggling in the back of my brain about the titanium knees wanting to give out.  I will say our family doctor stays on top of . . . everything.  I feel very fortunate. 

  By the way, the brussel sprouts in the chicken oven meal went great.  We talked about the tuna dish that Dennis makes.  It really is bland.  It was Dennis’ idea that the brussel sprouts would work in that oven meal as well.  That’s all I needed to hear.  This morning when the house was chilly, I set the oven at 350 degrees and roasted off the remaining sprouts.  I  put a freezer bag of them in the freezer for use at another time.  I think we have a convert.

  There is still time in the day, so I am going to tackle a bit of stitching.

   
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  Noreen 2:10 pm on September 28, 2022 Permalink  

  A Full Day 

  It might have been chilly this morning, but we were on the move.

  Yesterday we stopped at Sam’s Club in Mankato.  Kitty litter and Meow Mix is more reasonable than anywhere else.  One of the wives of the Korean Veteran’s luncheon had told me how much they like the rotisserie chicken from Sam’s.  Yesterday, I plopped one in a bag.  Down the aisle I purchased a 1.3 lb. tray of brussel sprouts.  They were not in the cooked state.  They were marinated in soy oil, basil, garlic, balsamic wine vinegar and grape mustard.  I did have a plan going forward for those goodies.  Dennis likes something with his breakfast coffee.  He is currently hooked on muffins from Sam’s.  Not that the cost is the determining factor, but the flavor whether, blueberry, cinnamon or banana.  By the way they are $.74 each.  Dennis’ daughter thinks they would be better if half the size.  The muffin works for Dennis and there is something in his stomach with the meds.

  This morning, it was monthly haircut time at the Curry Comb.  We don’t see Dennis’ niece in between time and as the snip, snip ensued the two of us were caught up in news, brushed clean of hair and we were on our way.

  When we got home, each of the 1 1/2 dozen muffins were put in a sandwich bag and popped into the freezer.  Breakfast done for some time to come.

  Dennis had told me early on he was going to make an oven dish.  Hmm.  My goal was to debone the 3 lb. chicken and make ready for use in an oven meal for supper.  Needless to say there was enough cut up and diced chicken for our oven meal plus two freezer bags ready to use another time.  Two cups per oven meal is my measure.  I diced up two cups of the fragrant brussel sprouts and nuked them in the microwave for two minutes.  It smelled so good.  By the time Dennis came in to make the oven dish, I had the chicken and brussel sprouts co-mingling in our little round blue enamel roaster.  A sprinkle of soy sauce over the mixture before Dennis came in worked.  I turned the kitchen over to Dennis.  It was his choice of the two cups of pasta and the sauce.  The sauce was determined to be the Alfredo.  Given a single brussel sprout to eat, Dennis would not eat it.  Diced and chopped hiding in the chicken and pasta, drowning in sauce, Dennis thought it was a good idea.  I like a bit more flavor than what canned chicken gives.  The rotisserie chicken has great flavor.  My sister Elvera always made a cold chicken salad using the rotisserie chicken, adding red and green grapes among a few other ingredients.  I stand a better chance with Dennis using the brussel sprouts.  Too funny. 

  While Dennis was in charge of the kitchen and the follow up with the dishes, I wrangled two loads of laundry.  Putting away the summer weight sheets means contending with the fitted sheets.  I prefer getting them to a point where I can roll them up like a small sleeping bag.  Hey, it works and it fits in the cupboard.  For those that can actually get them folded into a tidy little square . . . hats off. 

  It has been a full, satisfying day.  I need to pre-heat the oven at 4:30.  I am not starting anything in the studio, but rather sit in the sun in my bedroom porch and read a bit.

  Happy hump day.

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on September 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Thanks Be 

  Thanks be to God.  We are home safe and sound from a Mankato trip.  The traffic was nuts.  Where are all these people going at such a high rate of speed!

  Dennis has been fit for an orthotic for his left foot.  The orthotic to fit into the shoe will have a big toe and metatarsal built into it so as no sliding of the foot in the shoe is possible.  Dennis’ new shoes, Velcro closures, will be here in a month or so.  No worries . . . the plan is underway.

  The harvest is full bore.  Harvest dust will be in the air for some time.  

  I am getting soft.  One trip to Mankato in the last two weeks, I feel wiped out.  It’s a good thing the three a week is no longer.  Fingers crossed, the next appointment is mid October.

  This post is not very newsie . . . jut a thankful one.

   
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  Noreen 2:14 pm on September 26, 2022 Permalink  

  Local Effort Day 

  The studio is taking a back seat today from what I call, local effort day.

  Both beds needed fresh bedding.  Once the beds are stripped, out come the Swiffers.  It is my joy to do the floors with the dust collectors, aka:  Swiffers. 

  Years ago we did have carpeting in the bedrooms and living and dining rooms.  What a pain.  I knew there was more to the story than what the vacuum caught.  Heavy furniture stayed in place and the areas around them were vacuumed.  When the carpeting went by the wayside and the laminate was installed, it made all the difference in the world.  Felt pads went under all the heavy items in the house. 

  Dennis went for coffee with the fellows today.  Once the washing machine was going, it didn’t take me long to move some of the furnishings with very little muscle.  I do recall someone mentioning that Swiffers were not used in their home as they did have a bit of oil in the wipes.  Hello!  I remember Lena using an oil for her wool dust mop from the Fuller Brush salesman.  It was a deep red color and only a drop or two was needed to help pick up the dust bunnies.  I can use all the help I can get for a day such as was needed here on Stauffer Avenue today.  

  The lightweight sheets were done away with today and the flannel sheets are here for the duration of the cooler months.  As I was doing Dennis’ bed, I did check to see if the electric mattress pad was still working.  All systems go.

  I choose to sleep a bit on the cooler side of the thermostat.  Thus, no electric mattress pad for me.  My bedroom porch has three exterior walls with eight windows and no basement underneath.  My bedroom porch cannot help but be a bit cooler compared to Dennis’ bedroom having one exterior wall and a heated basement underneath.

  By Twelve noon, Dennis was home and I had the local effort done for the day.  Truth to tell, today’s local effort is all that I could handle.  I take my time with multiple coffee breaks and knock off a chapter or two in a book I am reading.  The satisfaction I get from a day such as I have had today . . . there are not enough words.  Isn’t that the wonder of living a balanced life?

  Tomorrow we find out what type of orthotic Dennis will need for his left foot to fill out a proper shoe.  We have come a long way.

   
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  Noreen 2:34 pm on September 25, 2022 Permalink  

  Fierce Winds 

  If anything would be loose outside, it would now be in someone else’s yard.  Days such as these being out in the backyard would not be safe.  We have had too many limbs take sail over the years.

  Dennis in his recliner and me in the kitchen.  I wrangled a beautiful acorn squash getting it ready for the afternoon’s oven . . . in time for supper.  Baked out squash is one of my favorites.  I did take out some extra butter.  Butter, pepper and some scant salt could make squash a total meal.  I do have two hamburger patties to add to it.

  Via the KNUJ’s radio station, I dug around in my stashes for complementary fabrics with which to add borders to the log cabin pieced quilt top.  Two out of the three is not too bad.  More seeking and searching tomorrow.  The third one pictured the farthest from the finished top, next to the green in the photo is not going to cut it.  Short by 1/4 yard.  Over night, a plan may make itself known.  Perhaps a creative bug will hit over night.

  I checked in with Megan this afternoon.  Her and her roommate had slept in a bit this morning and were heading down to the cafeteria for noon lunch.  Lunch here on Stauffer Avenue was a bit scant as the oven roasted squash will be worth the wait.

   
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  Noreen 1:57 pm on September 24, 2022 Permalink  

  Saturday the 24th 

  A breezy cloudy day.  I do know that we had rain last night.  I saw puddles when I got up.

  Today there would have been a funeral in my home church: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stewart, Minnesota.  A classmate of mine, Ronald Penk, lost his battle.  It now makes three fellows, all from the Stewart area and from the class of 1962.  I opted to stay home as we expected company.

  Dennis’ daughter, Sandy, drove out from Mankato.  Sandy is an RN and works for the clinic in New Ulm.  Sandy wanted to check on her dad and most importantly, his foot and how he was progressing in the healing department.  Thumbs up!  Good news from a professional.  Sandy shared that wound care is a huge part of what she experiences at work.  The healing process is a slow one.  Sandy moves from doctor to doctor in her work week and never knows what her day many bring.

  Sandy helped me move a hanging lamp that was above my bed.  Before cataract surgery, I could easily read in bed without my glasses.  Now the glasses are the last thing I take off before getting into bed and the first that I reach for when getting out of bed.  Reading is now done sitting up to a table.

  The hanging lamp is now over the area where I read in my bedroom porch.  Soon the days will be shorter to the point that the daylight I now read by will be a memory.   

  I also had a wall hanging that needed to be swapped out in the living room.  Amid the patchwork the words, “But those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like Eagles; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not feel faint.”  Isaiah 40:31. 

  Dennis is taking a nap this afternoon and I have just shut off the lights in the studio.  I had stitched on the last row of the purple log cabin quilt top when Sandy arrived.  I have not even paged ahead to see what kind of border I will be doing.  The mystery that will wait until another day.