Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:27 pm on July 25, 2022 Permalink  

  A 55 Degree Morning 

  Waking to a 55 degree morning felt wonderful.

  I made sure I had breakfast and went in search of my weed trimmer.  Dennis had done a great job on the mowing yesterday.  He had trimmed as close as possible with the rider mower.  I knew if I followed behind him, the yard would stay kempt until we got rain.  We are dry.

  Two of the patio kitties followed me to the east end of the acre.  After I would trim an area, they checked it out for any possible critters.  I will try and keep the Hosta area as trimmed as possible on the off chance any of Dennis’ family decide to come and do a dig.

  As I trimmed, Dennis brushed off cotton seed from the AC unit of the house.  The cotton seed from the neighbor’s Cottonwood tree has been flying for weeks.  It clings to AC units and also the radiator of the rider mower.  The brushing was foll0wed by a gentle wash with the hose.  The last thing that would be needed is harsh spraying that would close the fins, causing the AC to freeze rather than cool.

  I wanted to get a photo of the Russian Sage under the southeast windows of my porch bedroom.  I love the blooms and also the smell.  The pollinators are getting their fill as well.  Megan clued me in as to what would work best in that soil and that spot.  The sage fills in to the point that weeds don’t stand a chance.

  I worked myself weary.  Dennis and I shared a noon lunch with each of us ready for some down time for the afternoon.

  Manhandling the weed whip with the arms is one thing.  Keeping a finger on the safety switch while keeping it engaged is another.  No studio time today.

  Tomorrow Dennis will have an angioplasty on his left leg.  Dr. Gio is going to use a stint that has just been approved.  It has medication emitting from it.  Dr. Gio has assured Dennis that it will be the last of such procedures for him.  Hoping for the best for my ole cowboy.

   
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  Noreen 1:46 pm on July 24, 2022 Permalink  

  A Great Day 

  This is a great day for oh so many reasons. 

  When a plan had come together for a family trip that has been had.  When things turn out how they were intended to in the studio.  When Dennis has gotten the acre mowed to his satisfaction.   When this morning there were no cicada wasps guarding the entrance into the garage and the sidewalk to the patio. Yup, my grateful heart deems that this is a great day.

  The entire week is going to be free of daunting heat.

  I checked in with my brother in Iowa.  The storms that skirted our area were felt where he lives.  We have about twelve large drops of rain.

  I do have two loads of laundry under my belt for the day and have a hot supper planned.  I do believe I have a bit of time to step into the studio and check out the next step in my project.  

  I hope everyone is having a great grateful day.

   
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  Noreen 1:28 pm on July 23, 2022 Permalink  

  A Piddle of Rain 

  I am not sure which was less . . . the thunder or the piddle of rain.  There was no KNUJ radio to be had as the static indicated someone, somewhere was getting a thunderstorm.

  Before I went into the studio, I had some local effort to do on the first floor of our home.  Dennis spends the majority of his day in the patio porch and the garages keeping busy and I spend much time in my studio.  By the shear walking through the first floor of our home by the both of us, it needs local effort TLC.

  Grandson AJ spent the morning with Dennis.  Those two can get into deep talks while sorting through grandpa’s treasures.  Sweet.

  I am continuing on the meandering stitching of my scrappy quilt.  Breaks are needed for the arms and hands.  As I get to the mid point of the quilt, it is a lot to maneuver into the 12 inche throat of the sewing machine.  Slow but steady. 

  When Dennis came in for a noon sandwich, he shared that before AJ got here, he had another visitor.  Dennis was enjoying his breakfast coffee in the patio porch and a racoon made his appearance at the east slider door.  Snuggles took off after him and did get in a good lick before the racoon went south.  There are quite a few hiding spots in that lot.  For the longest time Snuggles kept a vigil waiting for getting one more chance at the racoon.  I think it’s best that Snuggles didn’t.  Racoons have horrible teeth.  Snuggles will have to settle on baby rabbits. 

  We are having an egg dish for supper.  Some scrambled eggs and mashed up tater tots with a bit of finely diced green peppers.  A skillet dish for the appetite.

   
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  Noreen 1:37 pm on July 22, 2022 Permalink  

  Last Day of Heat! 

  This is to be the last day of the heat . . . so they say.  I think that would be welcoming and even more so would be some rain.

  Getting up at 4:30 to use the bathroom brings on . . . ME . . . being wide awake.  When Dennis got up at seven, I was just putting the toppings on a bowl of potato salad.

  I did take a cup of coffee to my bedroom porch and read for a while.

  In my slumber, in my awaking, I was contemplating the scrappy quilt and how I would be the most happy with it.  Scratch the sewing of the grids.  I decided to meander the quilt.  A curve here, a curve there, and none of the curves the same.  I dug out my hoop and changed out the hardware on the machine.  An Ecru thread on top and a buff colored thread in the bobbin.  No more changing venues.  It took me long enough to get to the point that I could start up the sewing machine.

  Even with the size being 64″ x 64″, it will be plenty to wrangle under the needle.  One of the first blocks I tried out the meandering was the Trip Around the World.  Yup!  I was happy with it.  I know from past experience, the grid sewing works great going in one direction.  When you come back sewing across the stitches, it is easy to have fabric push a bit, thus causing puckering.

  Dennis’ days of being a livepoultrytransportologist came in handy today in helping someone drive from west to east with the best route.  Interstate #94 across North Dakota isn’t the prettiest of scenery but it does the trick.

  Another week has flown by.  August is right around the corner and seems to be the sunset of summer.  So be it.

   
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  Noreen 10:29 am on July 21, 2022 Permalink  

  What a Great Morning 

  Cool and breezy, with just enough heft for the limbs of the evergreen outside my bedroom window to sway.  That evergreen tree and the evergreen shrub right next to it, take the brunt of strong winds that would beat up my porch bedroom north wall.  In the winter it is a Godsend.

  A habit that is heard to break is looking over to neighbor Bob’s home and expecting to see him outside.  Getting care in a healthcare facility in Mankato, is now his forever home.

  Last night, Dennis invited me out to supper.  We went five miles east out of town and dined at The River’s Edge golf course’s supper club.  The property is under new ownership and they have done a huge amount of improvements.  The food was exceptional.  Dennis and I agreed the next time we go, we order one item on the menu and split it.  The portions were huge.  It was a great treat.

  This afternoon we travel to Mankato for an appointment for Dennis’ foot.  Yes . . . it is redundant but there is no choice.  The 90 mile, round trip, seems to have been as usual and customary as walking to our mail slot for the mail.  The best part is that we do not receive medical bills in the mail.  Let’s here it for insurance!  Medical appointments are met by Dennis with a good attitude.  That makes my job so much easier.

  Enjoy the day!

   
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  Noreen 1:53 pm on July 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Hmm 

  I have everything set to begin quilting my scrappy quilt.  Bobbin and top thread decided to be an orange rust color.  The walking foot in on the machine.  I am going to do a three inch grid for the quilting.  As there are numerous individual blocks . . . not all are square with the world. 

  At this time I am thinking of going diagonal.  Not getting caught up with quilting lines that don’t intersect where there should be within a square . . . don’t even try.  This is my project with nothing to prove to anyone, other than not letting it be an unfinished object, aka: UFO.

  Today there is a brisk wind with 83 degrees. The dew point is higher than the humidity . . . making for a sticky wicket.

  Early this morning, with a pruner in hand, I cut back the yellow lily blossoms hopping to leave nothing for the cicada wasps to be encouraged with.  Oh they were about like crazy.  I got one by swatting at it.  Yup, I stepped on him.  With my task complete I went inside.

  When Dennis came home at noon he commented that he had seen the pile of yellow lily blooms in the trash.  He also counted five of the nasty wasps hunkering around the side door into the car garage.  I give up.  A killing frost isn’t too far away.

  In between time, I have a book I am enjoying.  Reading in my bedroom porch is a good break from studio time.  It also caught my eye that across the street, two young fellows were trying to get a huge sofa into their home.  Push and pull, try hard as they might.  They ended up putting it in their garage.  A trick I learned a long time ago when it comes to moving things in and out of a house . . . take the doors off of their hinges,  It is surprising what a few precious inches can make.

  It is a day, known as hump day.  Much has been accomplished thus far this week, with more to come on the horizon.  Goals are in sight.  Hmm.

   
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  Noreen 3:18 pm on July 19, 2022 Permalink  

  A Corker of a Day 

  Dennis had an eye injection today.  We usually go to our clinic here in town.  Today we motored to Mankato to the clinic.  We were thrilled as our appointment was for ten.  Whew!  We would be home before the brunt of the heat hit. 

  Dennis didn’t get called in until 11:15.  His doctor, Emily, was on vacation.  You would have thought that the Mankato clinic knowing this appointment a month ago, the flow of patients for the day would have been planned accordingly.  Dennis found out that this stand-in doctor had 29 patients for eye injections today.  Oh well.  Next month, we will be back to the usual with our in-town appointment.

  Today was the day that we needed paper and soap products from Sam’s Club.  Forth coming will be all things tidy-whitety.

  By that time, the day was in the heat of it and we decided to do Perkins.  We sat and relaxed over some food items that we would not do at home.  Sweet!

  It is a hot wind blowing today.  What shocked me was that the field corn is tasseling.  Two weeks ago, on the 4th, it seemed so short.  Heat will do that.

  Tomorrow is hump day and we get to stay home.  I do need to get my supplies ready to change the dressings on Dennis’ foot this evening.  Thursday, when we see Dr. Madsen’s second in command, we both are looking forward to good news.  That reminds me of checking out the supplies we have on hand, in case we need to visit the Mayo Store Thursday.  For all the gauze I have gone through since October . . . I could have done up some dandy mummies.

   
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  Noreen 2:46 pm on July 18, 2022 Permalink  

  Studio Weather 

  I didn’t even attempt to be outside this morning.  I looked out the bathroom window and the cicada wasps were thick at the yellow lilies next to the sidewalk going to the patio and into the garage.  I thought, “Okay, you suckers!  Literally, suck up all you can from these flowers as this heat will soon have them wilted and then you can go and find somewhere else to feast at.”

  With the morning taking on a new agenda, I began being busy making sure I was on board with email addresses via text messages.  Gotta love communications.

  I was happy Dennis came in during the forenoon and was content with his Facebook group and their videos on all things important to ole cowboys.  A bottle of water with electrolytes and a sandwich was called for.  Dennis has a history of a slow pulse, so we push liquids that can help.

  With KNUJ on, my time whiled away working with safety pins getting the sandwiched quilt project ready for the next step.  I was surprised how well the pinning went.  I had not intended to do the entire quilt, but slow but sure was all it took.  My teak rocker helps to take breaks.  After the pinning was done, I checked to see what color thread I would use when I machine quilt it.  Choices abound.  Choices to take a wait and see.  This scrappy quilt will be mine to enjoy.  There isn’t a bad choice to be had.  I called it a day and all the lights were turned off in the studio for the day.

  We have been limping along lately when it comes to suppers.  This morning I took out some chicken tenders to thaw and peeled the last four potatoes in the bag.  Hmm.  There was one or two sprouts that needed to be plucked.  Nothing serious.

  Today, I feel the happiness of a contented individual.  All I need is right here at my fingertips.

  Stay safe in this heat and take plenty of fluids with you as you go about your plans.

   
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  Noreen 1:37 pm on July 17, 2022 Permalink  

  Sticky Sunday 

  The nicest part of this Sunday was before nine this morning.

  The traffic has been busy as this is the last day of our county fair.  We heard the fireworks last night and we were content and happy for those in attendance.

  I headed to the studio.  I had cleanup to do from completing the scrappy quilt top.  One thing led to another in the cleanup.  It’s a good feeling when sifting and sorting allows for a few inches of blank shelving to be observed and a few empty plastic containers.  I dug out my baggie of safety pins, getting geared up for the pinning of the scrappy quilt layers.  That was it for studio time.  I have a great novel that I am into in my bedroom porch.  It also gives me a chance for some traffic watching.  It amazes me what I can pick up on.

  Dennis’ grandson AJ was here this morning and spent some quality time with his grandpa.   They have a plan.  When Denis came in for a noon sandwich, I got the full lowdown.  Dennis said AJ had an app on his phone and in pointing it, AJ knew just where grandpa’s small antenna needed to be on the north interior wall of the patio porch.  They rigged it up temporarily and it was all systems go for channels off of the REA tower to the north of us.  As I said . . . a plan is in place for the next visit when AJ has a piece of coax cable that is coming with.  I think its great for Dennis to interact with the grandkids . . . which right now is one out of eight and it is AJ. 

  Quality time with family is fleeting.  We all need it.  We all seek it.  I just had no idea it would involve the little palm sized gizmos.  No matter to me . . . it works for me.

   
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  Noreen 2:24 pm on July 16, 2022 Permalink  

  Sobering 

  Today there was a crew at our neighbor Bob’s home.  My oh my.  A second dumpster was set on the opposite side of the house.

  There was not one person present that wanted a single item that they may have had an emotional attachment to that had been Bob’s.  The dumpsters had a steady trek of people carrying items.  Some items went to the curb.  Soon it became evident that what was there was for the taking.  I knew enough of Bob’s life to know, there may have been unwanted creepy crawlers within the items.  Very sobering indeed.

  I thought of the decades that I have been living next to Bob.  A happy go lucky person that I could visit with across Stauffer Avenue.  We were not close, but neighbors none the less. 

  When the first of the two dumpsters left, there was a large enough load that allowed the tarp to be tented and heaped over the top.  That told a sobering story.

  We all have our likes.  We all have our possessions that we have accumulated.  I am no different than anyone else.  My prayer for myself, is . . . to keep it reasonable.

  Happy weekend!.