Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:41 pm on September 3, 2022 Permalink  

  The Last 

  This is the last weekend for camping with school age children.  It is ideal outside.

  Dennis’ daughter stopped in for a visit.  Though she lives only several blocks south of us, the situation at Casey’s where she works has kept her busy enough.  Always short of help and with the main manager sloughing off to Denise, the relaxing visits have been far and few in between.  We did enjoy her visit today.

  The morning was ideal for a walk on Stauffer.  What I am finding out with using my walking crutches, I am taking longer strides.  As Kevin had referred to me walking as Tim Conway had done on the Carol Burnett show . . . short and rapid stepping.  Stepping it off in longer strides has got to help the back, hips and knees.  I am counting on that.  Oh my oh my, I am a work in progress.

  The quilt blocks are coming right along.  As I stitch, my mind wanders to times gone by.  I have had acquaintances comment that memories of times gone by are difficult for them to come by.  Hmm.  I find memories to be very enjoyable.  I also find that there are some memories that can still teach me about behavior that was not the greatest then and what can be improved upon for now.

  My stitching time now may seem to be limited in comparison to times gone by.  I believe I enjoy it more now.  Not everything is as easy now and the self satisfaction is oh so sweet.  I have been following the step-by-step in a booklet of Lena’s.  When I check myself to see if the blocks are holding true to the dimensions as stated . . . thus far no trimming has been needed.  The written word is the proof in the pudding, aka: there is more than one way to skin a cat.

  Dennis and I decided we are going to go to the Home Town Café for an early supper.  That sounded like a great treat to round off the day.  You can only imagine the relief I feel that every other evening does not dictate the extreme dressing of Dennis’ foot.  Since October of 2021 it had become the focus to the close of the days.  That’s just not right.

  With medical insurance and bills, I have always monitored them closely.  I had gotten cocky and was ignoring an email that I would get once a day in regard to money being owed on Dennis’ account to Mayo Clinic.  This morning, I finally paid them the $24.85 owed on the bill of July’s procedure which was $81,424.85.  I am sure now all will be running more smoothly in the accounts receivable department.  They have now heard the last of me.  Tee Hee!

   
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  Noreen 2:21 pm on September 2, 2022 Permalink  

  Playing Around 

  Today it was time to play around with photos and my newly acquired Dell laptop and the photo options.  Though this unit is also a Windows 10, there are significant differences.  It has been a huge help having the HP in the living room to bounce things off of.  I have the photo reduced to the correct size for the blog but still need to work on setting up a new file for which all blog photos will be saved into.  Learning new things keeps the cobwebs at bay . . . I can only hope that rings true.  I snapped a photo of the living room which is now a bit crowded after the teak rocking chair came back into the picture.  I have emails out to Dennis’ grandsons if they are in need of their Grandma Curry’s chairs for their basement rec rooms.

  I knew once I had my walk in, I may not be going back outside again.  Each day with my walking crutches, I am venturing a bit farther to the east.  I do have to be careful as the return trip will have to be made.  Am I as active as others of my similar age?  I don’t know, I don’t ask nosy questions of others.  That question would not have even crossed my mind if it had not been a question on a medical survey that came in the mail today.

  The medical survey was in regard to the fact that June 15th of this year was the one year anniversary of my heart surgery.  I felt compelled to fill in the responses that were asked of me.  I think I am doing well.  Do I have the same energy level prior to the stroke and surgery . . . no.  I am smart enough to go to bed when the weariness hits.  I might stretch it a bit beyond nine in the evening, but I can tell I begin to feel wobbly.  My body does not lie to me.  For the longest time I felt leery of getting up during the night to visit the bathroom.  After all, it was when I got up during the night in February of 2021 that I had the stroke.  As I use my cane for stability, I have since let that fright go.

  Dennis came in at noon and he has all of the five gallon pails of branches emptied.  It was dry enough that as he emptied them into the burning ring, it made short work of it all.  The larger branches we will have to load and take them to the tree dump at some time.

  I stitched on the log cabin blocks until the back told me to close it all down.  Again, the body does not lie.  Once the aches really start to smart, it takes too long to recover. 

  This is the beginning of the long Labor Day weekend.  KNUJ reports it officially begins at six this evening.  Whatever!  Our school here begins the day after.  Dennis and I will let others hit the highways or parks.  We prefer our Stauffer Avenue.

  My hope is that my worker bee kids will kick back a bit and realize that they need some rejuvenation to keep the balance in their routines.

  I will continue playing around with the studio’s laptop.

   
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  Noreen 1:28 pm on September 1, 2022 Permalink  

  Return of Summer 

  This morning, I knew I would have to head out for my walk with no procrastination.  The weather man had told me it would get warm today, and as I walked east against the sun, I could already feel what he had been talking about.  I did take the time to chat with neighbor Bonnie when she came out.  Bonnie and Chuck are my age.  Chuck is not able to be on his feet much.  After catching up with Bonnie, me, with my walking crutches, headed west towards home.  The walking crutches have made a big difference in my stability when walking on Stauffer Avenue, which is gravel.

  Dennis did the errand run up town this morning.  When he came home, he told me to get a postage stamp out to mail in our utility bill.  The area around city hall is so dug up, he wasn’t going to chance the several block hike over less than good walking surface.  Hey . . . we have come too far to have Dennis fall into a construction sight.

  I was content to have breakfast and coffee while reading a few chapters in my history novel.

  By that time the Hanger’s specialty store in Mankato was open and I called and made an inquiry on what the next step would be for Dennis to get shoes with the orthotics he needs.  I got the info and the steps are now in place.

  It had been a day or two since the studio was lit like Christmas.  One more fabric has now been stitched onto the growing log cabin quilt blocks.  Each completed block has a total of ten strips of fabric sewn around the center square block.  Pressing will be the next step as I now have eight strips sewn in place.  Pressing is just as important as the stitching if the block is to retain good dimensions.  I still can chuckle to myself when I remember my sister Elvera not quite getting that step.  It mattered not as long as she was content and satisfied with the end results.

  Super is going to be microwaving some beef tips after having them thawed, complete with a can of corn and instant mashed potatoes.  Easy and sweet.

  Summer will be here again tomorrow with the hope of cooler temps over the weekend.

   
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  Noreen 1:23 pm on August 31, 2022 Permalink  

  Celebration 

  Today is a twofold celebration.

  We are celebrating the fact that Dr. Renee the wound doctor is seeing huge strides in healing on Dennis’ left foot. 

  I am celebrating the fact that Dr. Renee gave me permission to pull back on what is needed for the wound’s dressing to every other day.  All that is officially needed is a 3″ x 3″ Mepilax Border Flex dressing.  No more bales of gauze.  I still need to do a vinegar and saline solution bath each time I change the bandage and then apply an Iodine swab on the wound.  Easy enough to do. 

  The kicker is that Medicare allows 12 of these Mepilax per month, aka: every thirty days.  Every other day may require to use a light gauze homemade bandage.  Mepilax are $14.45 each!  It is a self-adherent silicone Foam dressing.  At this point we are so close to getting this foot healed, I will do whatever.

  Hanger Store in Mankato is a specialty for custom footwear,  orthotics and such.  With so much of Dennis’ left foot having been taken off, his left shoe will need a custom orthotic built up to allow for the foot inside of the shoe to fit properly.  Calling Hanger tomorrow is my next item of business.   

  I am calling it a day.  We needed to be in Mankato at 8:45 and on mornings such as this, I usually am awake way before needed.

   
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  Noreen 1:58 pm on August 30, 2022 Permalink  

  Quiet Life 

  Dennis and I got through cleaning up after the summer’s storm of Saturday.  Today, I was ready for my quiet life.  Dennis opted to pick up his friend Dwayne and they motored to McDonalds.  This is one of the healthiest things for my ole cowboy to do.  He is not sitting in his recliner vegging out in front of a television and he is not napping his days away.

  I did get laundry going and in between loads, my favorite chair on the patio beckoned me.  The birds in the lilacs were in abundance.  Something would startle them and they all would take off.  The sound of that many fluttering wings was impressive.  Snuggles was busy waiting out a little red squirrel.  Surprisingly he had caught quite a few over the summer months.

  Dennis got home about noon and after we got caught up with each other, I told him if he needed me I would be in the studio.  Dennis went on to tackle whatever dishes were in the sink.  I am in charge of laundry and Dennis does a bang up job on the dishes.

  We do have an appointment in Mankato tomorrow morning.  Time will tell what Renee, the wound doctor, will have to say.  I have ceased the bales of gauze in dressing Dennis’ foot.  I have had a very personal connection with this foot since October of 2020.  The incision site where the large toe and metatarsal bone have been removed is well healed.  This last spot is on the side of the little toe on the same foot.  I have been using the recommended items for controlling infections.  For Dennis to be walking with foot gear being the same on both feet, he said it felt wonderful.  It has to be better on his back, hips and knees.  The medical boot is clumsy with a sole that is quite thick, thus the steps when walking are uneven.  When Renee sees the adhesive covering I have been using on this wound that is now the size of a well worn nickel . . . Dennis and I have agreed we will go from there.  Worst case being is that we need to stop at the Mayo Store for more gauze.

  I am going to spend some time pressing seams from the last strip sewn onto the ever growing log cabin quilt blocks.  Yes . . . my quiet life.

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on August 29, 2022 Permalink  

  Weary Bones 

  I am not ashamed to admit it . . . today I have weary bones.  The acre was walked with five gallon pails and my picker.  The storm of Saturday night sure cleaned house among the tree’s branches.  I cleared one area at a time to allow Dennis to mow grass rather than branches.  It was a team effort and now the team is weary.  As our little fire ring burns itself down to the bottom, Dennis will add one pail of branches at a time and soon the pails will end up back in the potting shed.

  There was a great breeze and taking breaks on the patio could almost lull me into a nap.  Oh for that hammock back on the farm between the two cottonwood trees.  It was just the best place for my toddlers to be placed into after they had fallen asleep while on my lap as I mowed the yard.  Just the best memories ever!  In today’s world it would have been deemed unsafe due to the noise or the fact that there was no safety belt.  

  I took my weary bones down into the studio.  A change of pace does the trick when the thought of closing down for the day is niggling at the back of the brain.  I am picking away at my log cabin blocks.  All is going well.  By following the printed instructions, I do believe that there will not be any trimming needed.  Taking it slow and using lots of pins for total stabilization, this Grammie is learning a thing or two.  The pattern did have the byline of “Quilt in a Day.” I won’t even try and keep track of how many days this will entail for me.  

  I know later on, a shower will be the frosting on the cake for the day.  I already have the supplies laid out to dress Dennis’ foot after he has his shower.  

  I might be weary, but . . . a good bit of local effort was accomplished.

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on August 28, 2022 Permalink  

  A Whirlwind 

  Last night about seven we had a wind that whirled.  The patio umbrella had been lowered earlier in the afternoon.  We always have a heavy rock sitting on its cast iron base as an anchor.  In a flying second that was literally down being tipped over.  A good sized branch snapped off of the sugar maple and landed on the back patio.  I was in the house watching it all through the bathroom window.  Dennis was in the patio porch getting a very close view of it all.

  The wind whipped and tore with driving rain.  It may not have lasted long but it did do a fair amount of limb and branch damage.  Once we were down to rain falling, Dennis came in for the night.  He had had enough as did the porch kitties.

  I waited until this morning to view the backyard.  Breakfast was the first order of business.  With my yard shoes and cane in hand I went to the farthest branch damage, the east line of the acre.  With using one of the limbs as a hammock, I kept coming west, piling on smaller branches.  Dennis would meet me at the potting shed and begin building a pile.  I made five more trips while Dennis picked up the dead wood that had blown down from on high.  I would not have liked being underneath one of them, as the momentum from on high could have been fatal.  Amazing that they had hid out for so long without us seeing them.

  We may very well have continued with yard work, but I received a text that we were getting company.  My cousin Mark lives near Hastings with family ties in Jackson.  Mark and Tammy had been in Jackson for the weekend and would be stopping by on their way home.  Heck yes, I will put off yard work.  

  We had a great time catching up.  Mark’s dad and my dad were brothers.  Mark works for an industrial printing company. 

  The sun is out this late afternoon with a bit of humidity.

  Tomorrow is another day.  The day will bring a lot of cleaning up of branches and leaf tips.  Enough that it will count as good exercise and the walking crutches will be for another day.  I will be slow and steady . . .  no whirlwind of activity from me.  Besides . . . Stauffer Avenue is really mucky after the heavy rain.

  I am so very thankful that we have leftovers from Dennis’ oven dish of last night.

   
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  Noreen 1:10 pm on August 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Felt Wonderful 

  My walk this morning felt wonderful.  There was a strong breeze from the north with enough cloud cover I didn’t have to walk against the sun.  Stauffer Avenue does run east to west.  I feel safer on it than I do the cemented 11th Street with all the heavy truck traffic.  I tried it once last week and will remain on Stauffer Avenue.  There is a four-way stop north of us, less than 300′, but the need for speed . . . I won’t take a chance of falling off my walking crutches if I were to be startled.

  The cottonwood trees are letting go of their leaves, making the ground take on a sheen from their unique leaves.  As they rustle in the breeze they take on a tune all of their own.

  As I walked east I had to give out a “Hello” to the Hispanic fellow working on his garage.  He was kind enough to take all the extra bricks that we had accumulated as flower bed borders.  Those same bricks are now a part of his exterior to their home. 

  When I came back from my walk, Dennis was in the kitchen.  I was told he would be making an oven dish for supper.  Get out of the man’s way!  It is best that I give Dennis the space and time he needs.  I know if he would need me, I would answer the question that he posed to me and then hands off.  Who am I to question this.  I will take it any day of the week.  Besides . . . he washes the dishes that he used after the round blue speckled enamel roaster is perched on top of the kitchen range ready to pop in the oven at 350 degrees at 4:45.  The digital thermometer was also laid out to make sure it would be done when it hit 160 degrees.  Sweet! 

  In between being busy in the studio and taking breaks reading a few chapters in a novel that has really gotten spellbinding . . . I am having a very fine day.

  Happy, happy weekend!

   
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  Noreen 2:24 pm on August 26, 2022 Permalink  

  A Good End 

  Today was a good end to the week days.

  The exercise peddling was followed by using the walking crutches down Stauffer Avenue.

  My breakfast was cold leftover chicken tenders from yesterday.  They were just as good today as they had been yesterday.  I am not a fussy eater.

  The sewing studio and I got along great today.  I was tempted to travel to The Old Alley Quilt shop as one of the gals was having her last day of employment there.  Lori has been on hand for any and all that would need help.  I sent her a message allowing her to know that she was indeed a wonderful friend over the years.  At this time, she didn’t know what was going to be in her future.

  As I said I was tempted to visit the shop, but just couldn’t justify it.  Everything is coming together so well working within my stashes . . . why ruin it by purchasing what isn’t needed.

  When I cashed in a gift certificate at Gathering Friends in Bird Island, one of the newly acquired tools was a Gingher 7″ scissors.  This purchase was amazing.  It cuts as if going through air.  When it cuts this easily, it is easier on the hands than the rotary cutter that requires pressure even if a new blade is being used.  Not to overdue on the hands and shoulders, I have a book with which to enjoy when a break is needed from the studio.

  Dennis reports it is sprinkling out.  From the sounds of it, sprinkles are in the possibilities every day going forward.

  KNUJ is about to be shut off as are the lights in the studio.  It feels so much better to quit while I am ahead.  Once I hurt . . . it’s too late.  I deem this a good end to this day in the studio.

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on August 25, 2022 Permalink  

  Preparing for Winter 

  Today, just because we could we went in search of magnetic weather stripping.  As it were we have a metal clad door on the patio porch.  We lucked out and found the last one in Home Depot.

  What we also found out is that there is road construction going on everywhere.  The clock is ticking!

  I did want to find socks for Dennis today.  Nope, I will need to go online.  Crew socks and similar ones have elastic that is too tight in all the wrong places.  These socks have a very forgiving snug on the calf of the leg.  Walgreens said they just did not have enough call for them to continue carrying them.  One of these days Dennis will be able to put shoes and socks on.  Right now there is still too much healing going on for the shoe option.  We tried it for one day and Dennis knew it was not the time as yet.

  The day is still early and at three in the afternoon, I don’t feel like starting anything.  As Dennis is preparing for winter, I am sizing up a lamp that I have over my bed.  Years ago, before eyesight changes, I could read in bed with no glasses on.  Bi-focal lenses squelched that.  I am going to take that lamp and hang it over the reading area in my bedroom porch.  Gray days and shorter days of winter could use a bit more light to read by.  I also need to be prepared.

  Though tomorrow is Friday, it is a new day with new enthusiasm.  I plan to participate . . . how about you?