Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:46 pm on July 15, 2022 Permalink  

  End of the Week 

  It is a Friday and the month is oh so close to being half over. 

  Good news from the wound doctor, Renee, today.  The wound on the opposite side of the incision on the left foot is growing new pink skin around the circumference.  What had been the size of a quarter is now a bit smaller than a nickel.  We so take the health of our feet for granted.  Dr. Renee did give me thumbs up as she saw my bandage skills when she unwrapped it from the foot.

  It was arranged that after we had seen Dr. Renee Dennis could have all the lab work done for the next angioplasty on the 26th of this month.  That saved us one trip to Mankato. 

  I am not sure what is going on in my stomach, other than my breakfast was skipped.  It sounds like a string quartet is on an audition of some sort.  Two days away from home and my system is rebelling.  We are creatures of habit.  We are now home for the duration . . . until next Tuesday.  Sweet!

  It is a sad day across Stauffer Avenue.  Neighbor Bob had a heart attack in May.  He has not been back to his home since that day.  He is now in some healthcare facility in Mankato.  He has very few close family members.  Today a huge multi-yard dumpster has been put in the driveway. 

  It does give pause.  One minute you could be out cleaning the windshield of your car and the next minute your life as you have known it is gone and uncertain.

  When Dennis saw the dumpster being pulled in across the way, it effected him.  He went on to say that when he saw me taken away in an ambulance after my stroke . . . the things that went through his mind . . . none good.

  We all do live on short strings.

  Today we had good news in relationship to health issues here on Stauffer Avenue.  Dennis and I are never so strong as when we pull together for each other and ourselves.

   
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  Noreen 4:17 pm on July 14, 2022 Permalink  

  The Party is Over 

  The party is over.  That is the party that we had for two days of . . . great temps.  This afternoon the corker of a dew point that is higher than the humidity doesn’t feel that great.  Let’s hear it for those that can call their work day done at five.  Do it!

  Six of us stitchers met today at Baker’s Square for lunch and chit chat about all things relevant . . . and some not relevant at all.

  I tried to keep track of all the web sites that were spoken of today for fabric sales and buys, to no avail.  I know when I need something, I will muddle through.

  I was going to bring supper home for Dennis from the Hy-Vee as I knew I would be home too late to pull something together.  That fare has since been parked in the refrigerator for tomorrow night as Dennis and Dwayne had a late lunch today in the Home Town Café here in town.

  Both Dennis and I had a great day and it feels good to be here in our home.  It’s fun to go but so much better to arrive home safe and sound.

  Tomorrow we meet with the wound specialist in Mankato.  I am hoping we get a good review and maybe a tip as to how to how we can continue taking care of the area next to the little toe on the left leg that had the unfortunate luck to have rubbed raw in the wooden boot that was put on his left foot in October of last year.  Maybe only a half pound of gauze.  We are so close.

   
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  Noreen 1:44 pm on July 13, 2022 Permalink  

  Sweet Day 

  This is a day that would bare repeating.  But the forecast is for more July heat and temps.

  I checked the cicada wasps out this forenoon.  Though their holes are plugged with mothballs, I observed them feasting on the yellow lilies’ stamens.  Hmm.  Perhaps when the blooms are spent and no longer offer goodies, maybe the wasps will disappear.  Just the smell and fumes of the mothballs should render the eggs of the wasps infertile.

  In the first part of June as I was transplanting Hosta from the east portion of the acre, I noticed wasps on the Hackberry tree where a limb had broken off.  There was a huge swarm.  Neighbor Jan came over and she had an app to take a photo of them and then find out what they were.  They were elongated and had transparent iridescent wings.  Those wasps were Ichneumonid wasps that parasitized horntails in decaying wood.  Who knew?

  I tell you . . . there is plenty that keeps me from being outside.  When I am outside, I keep an eye out for icky, yucky bugs.

  Snuggles and I did get a bit of clover pulled up around some of the Hosta.  The clover had made wreaths around the Hosta.  I chose several Hosta to get done and then . . . the black flies were biting.  Of course I did get a few catnip sprigs crimped for the kitties.  I then headed inside.

  Within our small home we have no carpeting.  The Swiffer dry mop does the trick for lint, etc.  Dennis is my major dishwasher and the drip line from the kitchen counters to the floor was evident that I needed to tidy up the floor.  With the skylight that Kevin put into our kitchen ceiling in times past, nothing gets passed what my eye can spy.  I plunked the two lightweight kitchen rugs into the washing machine and proceeded to use the Swiffer floor wet wipes on the bathroom and kitchen floors.  They do have a nice aroma.

  With the weeding and the mopping, I am calling it for “local effort.”  The studio is tempting.  The next step in the scrappy quilt is securing all three layers.  My hands and arms are not up for the barrage of safety pins needed to get the job done today.  There will be another day.

  Tomorrow is not that day as the stitchers are finally getting together at Baker’s Square for lunch tomorrow.  Summer schedules has taken its toll.  Of course, Dennis has several requests while I will be out and about. 

  It is a truly wonderful weather day.

   
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  Noreen 1:40 pm on July 12, 2022 Permalink  

  Pleasant Day 

  I had breakfast coffee on the patio a little after six.  It was beautiful out.

  Today was the day that we were getting haircuts at 11:00 a.m. at The Curry Comb.  I could hardly wait!  When it gets to be a month out, the hair feels like a helmet.  I have fine hair and a lot of them.  Both of my kids have course hair such as their dad did.  At least everyone does have hair.  

  I do need to enjoy the early mornings on the patio.  As the sun begins to warm concrete, plants and dirt . . . we have nasty wasps.  We have the Cicada Wasps in the dirt right next to the sidewalk going to the patio.  They have a bright red band around their bodies.  They have long bodies and bore into the dirt where they lay their eggs.  They are vigilant when we or birds go anywhere near their territory.  Dennis to the rescue.  Tonight at dusk when they settle in, Dennis bought mothballs at Fleet this afternoon.  Those perfect little holes are going to have a mothball plugged into each and everyone of them.   I have watched from afar and I know that under the lilies, there are more holes than I can get to.  It is a two pound box of mothballs, I may put down a nice layer and use my hoe to get them where I hope they will do the best good.

  Underneath the awnings on the north side of the house and under the gutter helmet of the garage, it has kept Dennis busy knocking down the newly formed nests.  When the Mediacom fellow checked the exterior of their coax cable box, he jumped back as wasps had found themselves a tidy hiding spot.  What is it about flying insects that make days less than enjoyable. 

  I will say it again.  I enjoyed the late spring that we had, when the temps were in the 60s during the day.

  I have begun the sandwiching of my scrappy quilt.  I opened the bag of quilt batting and have it unfurled on the church tables.  Getting the kinks out of the tight folds will help in the long run.

  Last Tuesday evening when we had a severe storm with high winds, the back door got away from Dennis.  The closure rod got a nasty bend in it.  When Dennis was at Fleet this afternoon he had “no choice.” There was one to be had and as luck would have it, it would work for us.  Dennis did the pulling to get it to extend to reach the point for the pin to fit in, while I was the one in charge of the pin.  Got that task done.   

  There are good reasons why we have lists when we are in Mankato.  Locally the inventory is less than good.

   
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  Noreen 2:44 pm on July 11, 2022 Permalink  

  A Day to Enjoy 

  It is a Monday!

  Anticipation was high today on Stauffer Avenue.  We were awaiting a service call from Mediacom.  If it had not been for an ethernet cable to allow us to have internet, Dennis would have had his ditty bag packed ready to check into the Super 8 Motel here in town for their internet access.

  Dennis views different sites in groups on Facebook.  Everything from tractors, to horses to the latest reviews on zero-turn lawnmowers.  Since giving up his RFD television channel, Faceb0ok is what has given him satisfaction.

  A young fellow from Mediacom was here at 10:30.  We had purchased Net Gear equipment to supplement us with wireless wi-fi.  As the fellow worked with the diagnostics of it, there was no wireless of anything forthcoming.  We decided to jump back on to Mediacom.  The rental fee for the modem/wireless router, all in one, is $13.00 per month.  I think we can swing that.  The young fellow worked with setting the wi-fi booster that is needed to allow Dennis’ smart television to work in the patio porch.  All is right with the world on Stauffer Avenue.  I will box up what we had purchased of the Net Gear and make a return to Walmart when we visit the wound doctor on Friday. 

  I had a great visit with Linda this morning in the studio.  Linda left with a car full of goodies for their church mission sewers.  The amount of gallon baggies filled to bulging left her speechless . . . but not for long.  I felt joy and relief that what I had to share was going to a great place with some great gals right here in town.  It is a false belief that a body of water needs to be crossed before it is considered “mission work.” It sounds as if this group could be comparable to a chain-gang endeavor.  Everyone has their specialty in the effort of turning out quilts.  Now that the bolts of fabric and the floss has found a home where it will all be put to good use . . . Linda said we need to put our hearts together to pare down the Dueber’s button tree.  Sweet!

  Through all the activity of the morning, I put together a chicken oven meal.  We had purchased some frozen chicken breast meat that was not very tender.  This morning, I thawed until it cubed up perfectly.  I steamed it, added some “Better Than Bullion Garlic” and pepper, a can of corn, cooked pasta and Alfredo Sauce.  Supper will be served in fine fashion.

  It has been a day filled with joy.

   
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  Noreen 12:16 pm on July 10, 2022 Permalink  

  Sunday the 10th 

  What a great morning to have coffee on the patio.  Snuggles thought so too.  It didn’t take long he was sprawled across my lap.  Had it not been for a squirrel taunting him, he would have stayed long enough to have the legs fall asleep.

  Every part of Dennis’ body wanted to get a night’s rest last night . . . except his legs.  Restless leg syndrome is not good.  After his morning ritual, Dennis decided to go to his recliner.

  I had a busy day yesterday bagging up DMC floss.  I knew the tiny bins were full, but I had no idea how full they still were.  Fellow stitcher Lu received two bulging gallon bags and Anita also had gotten quite a bit before Covid hit.  Both belong to the same church in St. Peter.  Cousin Janet had filled a shoe box of colors she wanted when they had visited from Foley.  Dennis’ granddaughter from Silver Bay had taken a box full of the floss for occupational therapy in the veteran’s home that she works in.

  Here some floss . . . there some floss, it was time to make a clean sweep of it.  Linda from the First Lutheran Church will be by in the forenoon tomorrow to take the remaining of the floss.  Kersten and Kevin had passed it on to me after Mr. Dueber had declared the final sale of inventory in his Fairfax store was over.  I have kept the floss safe and tidy offering some of it up to many.

  My arms were weary last night.  I dreamt that just when I thought I had all the floss bagged up, there would be more found in every corner of the studio.  What a realistic dream.  

  When my friend Lorraine passed away from cancer, her daughter had brought over everything her mom had for sewing.  Lorraine had worked for me in the courthouse.  She had retired before I did.  Five of Dennis’ great granddaughters and one great grandson received quilts from Lorraine’s fabric.  Three of his granddaughters were given quilts from that stash.  Dennis’ daughter Sandi has a cold house and she had two that she requested.   All those that received quilts from Lorraine’s fabric were happy customers.

  On the corner of the ironing board in the photo is a bag of thread from Lorraine.  This thread works fine in my Bernina and I am sure the church ladies will make good use of it.  The cost of sewing thread has jumped along with everything else.

  I am now ready to return to my project of the scrappy quilt.  I used up all of Mom’s feed sack fabric that she had saved.  It blended right in.  Dennis and I went to Gathering Friends Quilt shop in Bird Island last week and I am now armed with batting for the project.  It took me back as I reached for the door handle going into the shop.  I read the decal on the door.  Their hours are 9-1 Monday through Friday.  I do not know if they are short of help or if there are other circumstances.  The shop has been for sale for some time.  

  What a great satisfying feeling I have knowing that my studio’s load has been lightened considerably.  I hope Linda’s vehicle’s cargo holder can handle it all.

  Onward to a new week that will take us to the middle of the month.  Time stands still for no one.

   
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  Noreen 2:40 pm on July 9, 2022 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  Last night I got an unexpected text.

  Linda is the gal in charge of the mission quilting in the First Lutheran Church.  Linda picked up the bolts of cotton/poly just about a week and a half ago.  She reported that the gal in charge of making up the backing of their quilts had 42 backs ready for the pieced tops and batting from the bolts of cotton/poly.  Wow.  Linda is in charge of cutting all of their donated fabric into 10.5″ squares.  Linda has a set number of those cuttings that she bags up and the troops that are working on the quilts take home a bag or two and get them sewn together ready as the tops of the quilt.  What an operation.

  Any how . . . the text was telling me that they would use the DMC floss that I had offered to tie their quilts.  They had been using yarn and some of the ladies had commented on the difficulty getting the knots tight.  The troop under Linda does not qualify for spring chickens.  Linda herself is a 70 year young retired teacher.

  This morning armed with breakfast coffee and my box of gallon Ziploc bags, I began bagging up floss by colors.  Each of the DMC drawers have a divider for 12 different colors.  I think when Dennis came down and checked on me, I had 11 gallon bags stuffed to the brink.  When I shared with him the color chart of DMC floss colors, he could not believe the slightest variant in color that would spur a use for one of the twelve dividers in the drawer.  I put hues of each color together in the various bags.

  Dennis got the remaining of the acre mowed today.  It sure looks manicured.  He has the touch!  When he came in for the Dawn to put in his scrub pail, I was curious.  The city puts down a layer of calcium chloride for dust control on Stauffer Avenue.  It is the nastiest stuff to drag into the garage.  It literally will make a liquid puddle on the garage floor.  The city did this about two weeks ago and it had begun to be packed down on the avenue with the traffic.  Today Dennis scrubbed down his garage floor and then hosed it off, hoping for less muck that will find its way into the garage.

  We do seem to keep busy for two old duffers.  I am excited to be parring down the inventory in the studio.  As I had the baggies of floss lined up on the ironing board, I decided to get out several garbage bags.  I went through totes that held fabric from family of friends that had donated fabric to me.  I have decided not to be a depository.  This group of church ladies making quilts for charity will have some additional yardage to use.  As I checked things over in the studio, what I now have for choices in my stashes is what I had chosen to purchase.  Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 3:47 pm on July 8, 2022 Permalink  

  Neck and Neck 

   

  When the humidity and dew point are neck and neck . . . not a good level of comfort.

  Today I was in for a yearly check in with our family doctor.  I had not been a frequent visitor these last twelve months.  I knew I should have had a mammogram in March of 2021.  I was a little busy at the time trying to understand my body after the stroke.  Well, here comes March of 2022 . . . what excuse did I have for that? 

  Even with the healed incision of the heart surgery, the mammogram was a bit uncomfortable.  It gets quite tight.  Got it done today.

  Blood draws will be telling the rest of the story as to what changes will be coming with prescriptions.  I only take one for blood pressure . . . but time will tell.

  In regard to our internet situation . . . I am so over it.  I do have a life.  We have a service man coming on Monday morning to help with the wi-fi.  Dennis and I are using the lap top with the ethernet cable.  I checked our bank activity, paid several bills online and Dennis got to get caught up with his facebook contacts.  Dennis’ porch television is taking in two different channel 12 options from his mini antenna.  We ran through the channels available and it looks like there are quite a few.  Accessing them with the remote is another challenge.  How much sweeter could life be?  Grandson AJ will stop in tomorrow and help out with the porch channels. 

  Dennis mowed 75% of the acre today.  I think he was smart to save some for tomorrow.   By the time exhaustion sets, it is too late to take a break.  Our front yard will be mowed tomorrow.  Right now the cotton seed floating in the air from our far away neighbors, is giving the grass a look of having little snowballs. 

  Whatever we have in the refrig is going to be pulled out for a supper.  Just like in a restaurant, you have choices.  

  Well it has been several hours since the lab work for me.  I am going to access the MAYO Portal and see how things are and how they have changed since last year.

   
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  Noreen 5:39 pm on July 7, 2022 Permalink  

  Back Online 

  Back online via the ethernet cable.  One cable port, one device . . . for now.  Thankful for Kersten and Kevin and their input via the need of us having to have a new modem and wi-fi router.  Good grief.  Old folks do need to step it up and keep up.

  I was doing well with the Net Gear site and having a support person wanting to speak to me.  Nope!  It was a Pakistanian and I knew what rabbit hole that was going down.  I was caught once years ago.  I immediately blocked the number.  There are many videos on YouTube and tomorrow is another day. 

  Dennis bought an antenna for a set in the patio porch to get reception off of the REA tower eight miles north of us.  As long as I could use my laptop, I copied down the channel numbers for him.  We did scan all numbers available via the TV.  The number system they use is numerical followed by a dot and a second number.  That also is for tomorrow.

  Today’s doctor appointment for Dennis had good news and some news for thought.  The incision is healed with a lot of new fresh pink skin.  Very susceptible to rubbing . . . it is still dressing time every other night.  July 26th Dennis will have one more and the last of the angioplasties.  One vein has narrowed and a stint will be put in that.  Dennis never gave it a second thought.  “Get it on the schedule.”

  With having 1.5 inches of rain Tuesday night, the acre will need some TLC tomorrow.  Just think of the gas that has been saved over the last three weeks when it had a sabbatical.   

  Tomorrow I will be having my yearly appointment with our family doctor.  I know I need some checks and balances on my heart, but . . . I don’t even have a cardiologist.  That will get fixed in short order tomorrow.

  Supper is on hold tonight as we enjoyed chicken tenders at Culver’s this afternoon.  They sure were tender and tasty.

  Take care in the July temps.  They can be corkers.

   
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  Noreen 1:39 pm on July 3, 2022 Permalink  

  A Day of Rest 

  I had gotten up at six, and sat down in my chair and napped until eight.  Hmm.

  It is a day of rest here on Stauffer Avenue.

  Dennis has found his recliner and I am doing some reading.

  Catch you all tomorrow on the 4th.