Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:13 pm on May 12, 2022 Permalink  

  Ishy Feeling Day 

  After a night of rain and some wind, I did check the acre.  All was well.  It was a noisy night as it began about seven and rumbled and rumbled.  Lightning flashes were still going on when I went to bed at nine.  Talk about water standing in the fields!

  Today was a trip to the wound doctor in Mankato.  Dennis’ previous incision showed remarkable improvements since he now has blood flow to the foot.  I received instructions today for the surgery coming up on the 19th.  Though the second angiogram was a success of opening an artery and veins to the left foot, it was not soon enough to offset the bone infection to the big toe on the left foot.  That toe will be amputated on the 19th.  De. Renee commented that Dr. Goe going from the ankle up to the knee for vein opening is not a well known procedure and is not even done in Rochester.  Hats off to the success of Dr. Geo in Mankato.  By the way . . . he looks as if he would be a junior in a Chinese highschool.

  As I was saying.  Usual post surgical instructions are to leave the surgical dressing on until the patient returns in three weeks.  Dr. Renee says they have to do that as most patients have no one at home that would know what to do until that three weeks is up.  Dr. Renee has seen the work I have done in dressing Dennis’ foot since January 21st.  I am to change the dressing out after the first three days.  Cleanse the incision with the vinegar and saline solution and put new padding and gauze on it as I have been doing.  Compression wrap during the day and take it off during the night.  Repeat every third day.  

  Dennis also had a prescription to pick up:  a knee scooter at the Mayo Store.  It was a $1.00 deposit on a credit card for three months of rent.  No weight bearing for a time after surgery.  We talked on the way home and by opening one of the glass sliding patio doors he could make it to the house on the knee scooter and then butt scoot up the three steps into the kitchen and then use the walker that has a seat on it and roll around in the house.  We will get this figured out.  No muckie, muckie on this recovery.  It needs to be done by the book.

  The outside air is horrible.  Of course I had to look at the temps.  It feels like 96 degrees and the dewpoint is 70.  It is an ishy day.  Right now a fan is doing its thing.  If we can hold on for several days it may again feel like a nice spring. 

  I am experiencing Nurse Ratchet sensory overload.

   
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  Noreen 1:39 pm on May 11, 2022 Permalink  

  Slow Day 

   It is a slow day on Stauffer Avenue,

  We had heard many warnings of bad weather but nothing materialized.  The air is as thick as Lemon Margarine pie.

  Dennis did put the plants out that have been in the patio porch.  He is confident that the killing frosts are over with.

  I have been working with fuzz and threads.

  The weather tomorrow may be icky as well.

  Stay comfortable and take things in stride.

  We will see what tomorrow brings.

   
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  Noreen 2:52 pm on May 10, 2022 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  This morning as I was just coming to, I had a fright.  I need to back up.

  Dennis is one to wear clothing that a homeless beggar would think twice about wearing.  He thinks it still has just one more good wearing in them.  After showering last night and PJs were put on, the holy jeans and the tattered chambray shirt were put in the kitchen waste basket.  I tied the bag shut and carried it right out to the garbage bin that gets picked up on Tuesday mornings.  Dennis has plenty of choices in his dresser and on hangers.  

  Back to this morning.  I don’t think I even had opened my eyes when I realized and heard the early bird garbage truck barreling down Stauffer Avenue that had picked up our bin.  Oh my gosh!  The fright I felt.  I remembered pulling out the red hanky from the back pocket of the blue jeans I had pitched but I didn’t check the rest of the pockets!  Dennis wallet!  I laid in bed and got a really sick feeling. 

  Dennis had gotten up early and was dressed in jeans as he had said he was going to mow the acre today.  If the wallet had been in the jeans how would I broach the subject of what I had done, or should say, had not done in checking the pockets.  I was in a pickle.  When Dennis came in the house to refill his coffee cup before heading to the back garage I made light of the fact that he would be farming today and gave him a pat on his butt as he headed down the back entry steps.  Lordy, Lordy the little square wad that I had patted was his wallet.  Relief doesn’t cover the wash that came over me.  Life’s lessons come with a whole lot of humility.  

  The morning was off to a very good start.  Dennis got the Cub-Lo-Boy out for mowing.  This first time it would be to put a good trim on the yard as the mower is set quite high compared to the Sears mower.  We had purchased a very light weight trimmer several years ago.  It is also good for balance for me when in use.  I trimmed the areas around the house that Dennis couldn’t get into with the Cub.  As I said, this first time was to even out what had sprouted sporadically.  Different types of grass . . . different heights.  When we were both putting our respective garden tools away . . . the acre looked smart.

  Wow what a day!  It all turned out great.  There is an oven meal that has allowed for good leftovers from last night.  I know I will sleep very deeply when I put my head down tonight.  Silly ole Grammie.

   
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  Noreen 2:09 pm on May 9, 2022 Permalink  

  Peaceful Day 

  All we had to do today was hang on as the winds whipped everything to a frenzy.  I did go out early and nabbed several yellow looking flowers complete with their roots.

  I am tempering the yard work that requires pushing, pulling or lifting.  I so appreciate the fact that I can take care of our forever home, I will not put that in danger.  I have had decades of yard work when everything was manicured.  I am giving myself permission to take the days as they come. 

  Arthritis doesn’t play favorites.  If my arms and hands stay flexible, I will be able to continue to use disposable catheters for my day-to-day needs.  I remember all too well, just a year ago, when the Foley catheter was banging against my leg with every step I took.  Humbling for sure.  It is my responsibility to stay on track.

  The temp is 84 degrees with the humidity and the dewpoint both in the mid sixties.  Not a good thing.

  There is an oven meal ready for the oven this evening.  I prepared the meat for it and Dennis finished the rest, complete with doing the dishes.  Sweet.

  All I can say about today:  It is well with my soul.

   
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  Noreen 12:59 pm on May 8, 2022 Permalink  

  Hello Everyone! 

  Hello everyone . . . it’s me . . . a Mom!  A great day to get well wishes from my kids via the phone.  I even got a call from Oregon . . . Dennis’ oldest wishing me a Mother’s Day.  A.J. is Dennis’ youngest grandson and was visiting his mom today.  He stopped in to say hello.  I am a very content person today. 

  This afternoon we got back to a project that got put on hold.  It would have gotten done by Tuesday but there was a toolbox that was emptied and the contents taken to Fairfax on Wednesday.  Thursday we had an appointment in Mankato.

  Today, I now have two bricks under each of the eight legs of the church tables.  These are the heavy duty bricks that take heft in even picking up two for me.  This 34″ height will make a huge difference when I stand at the tables cutting cloth.  My sewing machine table is 26″ tall and by the time the bed of the machine is reached it is 30″.  All is as it should be here on Stauffer Avenue.

  Yesterday, I cleaned my friend Judy’s Bernina.  Judy had been classified as legally blind for a long time. Judy had been using the machine off and on until five years ago when nothing would work for her.  The sewing machine has sat out and was not cased until her husband knew I would be taking it with me on Friday.  He had to drive out to their farm home to retrieve it and bring it to the townhome they are now renting in Mankato.  He was put out about the errand to the point that he would not put it in my car from their garage.  I hefted the machine into their laundry cart that has wheels and got the job done . . . right into my car.  Seriously!  The machine was a sorry sight.  Dennis put himself in charge of taking the cloth case out to the garage to clean it.  Out came the old needle that was as dull as a bad pitchfork.  Everything is oiled and as clean as a whistle complete with a newly filled bobbin, a spool of thread, and it is threaded with a new Bernina needle.  Dennis did an amazing job on the fabric carrying case.  It now looks like a Bernina and sews like a top.  Once I return the machine to Judy . . . her girls are on their own.  I just haven’t figured out how to get it back into their home.  It may be via the laundry cart.

  Life is sweet here in our forever home.  I wouldn’t trade Dennis for all the coffee that Folgers has.

  The dew point and the outside temps are very close to each other.  That is weather that feels close and has the 20 mph wind helping.

  New week is coming . . . ready or not!

   
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  Noreen 2:21 pm on May 7, 2022 Permalink  

  Warm Winds 

  This morning had me up a bit before six.  My main goal after coffee was to give the back entry a cleaning.  As I was shaking out the rug, I noticed how matted the grass was off of the sidewalk.

  What ensued was raking the area by the back door and then over to where the recycling and garbage bins were.  I then went to check on the southwest corner of the house and spied several Fairfax tulips that were in bloom.  The Russian Sage is popping up.  I can’t wait to see the abundance of lavender blossoms on their stems.  North of the front steps the Autumn Joy are breaking ground.  As I went from spot to spot I raked out the dead stems from last fall.  By that time my arms were in need of a break.

  The rest of the story from yesterday when I went to see Judy was that I brought home her sewing machine.  Her daughter and granddaughter would like to work with it, but Judy knew it needed cleaning and a once over.  Dennis carried it into the studio for me and in time, I will see what can be done.  From the appearance of the carrying case, it will surely need some TLC.

  After the noon break, I had very little to do to finish a total block other than sew the nine smaller blocks together of the pineapple design.  I am almost sure in nature there may not be perfect pineapples.  Well guess what?  Mine aren’t perfect either, but it sure was a fun challenge.  I have seven more of this design to sew.  Four in one area of the project and three additional ones in another corner.  I am going to ramp up the blocks by using different color combinations. My church tables are full of scraps ready to use.  

  I did break down and tidy up the floor under the sewing machine.  Fuzz and thread abound in the jute back carpeting.  The best tool for getting it done was the Scotch lint roller.

  Dennis has been just as busy as me.  Some of the cat hair is no more.  The shop vac got a good workout.  As the kitties will be spending more time outside, their baskets got an overhaul.  Some items are on the clothesline and I caught a whiff of the fire ring.  Spring cleaning 101.

  The warm winds are nudging 72 degrees.  That is a huge change and it may bring storms.  Hang onto your bloomers gals.

   
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  Noreen 3:59 pm on May 6, 2022 Permalink  

  A Big Fat Kiss 

  Today, I ran away from home solo.

  I have been putting off taking a friend out for lunch for a long time.  At the time I was working there were the three of us gals that had worked our way up to have the license of being county assessors.  Doreen in Nicollet County, Judy on Brown County and myself in Watonwan County.

  In between we shared flower gardening and checking out nurseries to see where the best flowers were sold. 

  I retired in 2009, Judy in 2010 and Doreen in 2011.  Within a year of Judy’s retirement she was blind from macular.  Within a year of Doreen’s retirement, she passed away from cancer.  I had gotten teased about being steadfast with medical appointments.

  I have kept up with Judy over the years traveling to their rural Madelia home . . . when Wayne wasn’t around.  Wayne not being a favorite of mine as I had years to get his number.  Last September Judy and Wayne moved into a rental townhome in Mankato at a time that Wayne needed knee replacement surgery.  Wayne has protested this entire time.  The one story townhome was so much easier for Judy to get around in rather than the old farm home that had steps to . . . everywhere.   

  Today, I did what I thought I couldn’t . . . I managed getting her out of her home complete with her  walker, her white cane and me with my cane.  I had picked up on this for some time, but after today, I know Judy is a victim of spousal abuse.  Wayne goes out of his way to make Judy’s day less than comfortable.  When I came home Dennis got a big fat kiss.  Dennis knows Wayne from the assessor’s conferences that we all attended for decades.

  I can’t do much for Judy other than be there for her.  She has three children with one being a daughter that lives close to her mother in Mankato.  Cindy stays in contact with her mom everyday via the phone.  Cindy and her dad do not get along as Wayne makes sure that he is always present when Cindy comes to visit her mom and he thinks Cindy spoils her mom and takes sides.  Do ya think!  Judy wanted to talk to her doctor about her home life when she was to have a checkup. Wayne insisted and he followed right along in and Judy did not have a minute alone for the visit.  Daughter Cindy called the clinic and read the nurse the riot act about doctor patient privacy.  All I could do for Judy was to let her know if she did get an appointment with her doctor . . . it would be known to Wayne we were going out for coffee.

  It drives the point home that we know so little about the lives others lead.  It only takes a little crack and we feel helpless.  Cracks are not a bad thing.

   
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  Noreen 2:01 pm on May 5, 2022 Permalink  

  Surgeon’s Visit 

  Today we met with the surgeon’s second in command for Dennis’ foot.  Jody commented how well the incision of January 21st is coming along.  It is closing up well.  Halleluiah.  I can hardly wait to  have that surgical boot to be off and stored somewhere far, far away.  She cleaned everything and concurred that it has been well taken care of.  Then it was off to x-ray.  Dr. Madsen was determined to make sure that the area of the metatarsal that he removed would not indicate any more bone infection that had gone on after the January surgery.  I can’t wait until I can read the results on the Mayo Portal.

  We drove in rain and by one it had let up.  Again . . . no field work done from here to Mankato.

  I am off the clock today from here until bedtime.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 2:07 pm on May 4, 2022 Permalink  

  Quiet Morning 

  I awoke to a sunrise with no winds.  Perfect.

  Today was haircut day.  We had not visited the Curry Comb since mid March.  Everything else came first.

  After haircuts we motored north.  We had noon lunch in Sleepy Eye at Hardee’s.  Dennis was right . . . their hamburgers have a great flavor and they are juicy compared to the dry burgers at McDonald’s.

  We caught up with Kersten as she was clocking out of her shift at Casey’s and we went on to join her at Kevin’s garage.  Short sweet visit.  The back of Dennis’ little red pickup is now empty and Kevin will have to sift and sort to put the new, used goodies where he will need them in his shop. 

  It always does my heart good for a quick stop.

  The clouds have taken over this afternoon as we are now enjoying 59 degrees.

  On the 40 plus miles to Fairfax and back, we saw one lone tractor that was hooked to a corn planter but had not made nary ten feet of headway.

   
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  Noreen 2:03 pm on May 3, 2022 Permalink  

  Stranger 

  The sun appeared this afternoon after being a stranger for more days than I can recall.

  This morning, Dennis was up, dressed in old blue jeans and was busy packing a lunch.  Dennis’ friend Dwayne has given up hoping his old pickup can be fixed.  Dwayne’s wife had talked him into having the junkyard come and haul it away . . . as is.  Dwayne bucked at that.  He called Dennis and this morning was the date set that the two old classmates were going to empty the bolted on toolbox.  Dennis was equipped with coffee and doughnuts for the project at hand.  What was inside the toolbox, Dennis had no idea.  I made sure Dennis had his telephone with in case a snag was run into.  Dwayne has moved into an apartment and the pickup would need to be worked on outside.

  I took care of the first floor and I headed for the studio, telling Dennis to call if I was needed.  Both of the fellows are 86 and the unexpected can happen with a missed step.  I had KNUJ radio on and the only company I had was the Culligan man as he delivered salt.  All quiet on the home front.

  Dennis came home at noon and the mission had been accomplished.  Dennis recounted that when the hands got cold, they retreated into the little red pickup to drink hot coffee and have their doughnut.  Dennis said he was disappointed that Dwayne’s wife had not been more accommodating with the project and might have come out to see how things were going or offered more coffee.  Dennis said “she sure isn’t like you.”  I will take that compliment to the bank on any day.

  The back of the little red pickup is quite full of goodies.  Dennis already has asked me to go on a road date tomorrow to Fairfax to see if Kevin can make use of anything.  Dewayne was a mechanic all his life and he liked tools.  I said I was in for the jaunt but only after haircuts at ten tomorrow forenoon.  Kevin closes over the noon hour and that will give Dennis a chance to take me to Hardee’s in Sleepy Eye for noon lunch.  Sweet!

  Tonight we are having pan fried Tilapia fish, instant potatoes and green beans followed by a change of dressing on Dennis left foot. Tomorrow will be two weeks since the success of three veins having been opened in his left leg.  As Nurse Racket doing the changing of the dressing every other day, I can see an improvement.  The foot has blood going to it.  He also has feeling in the foot, another rarity.  Hoping that very soon he will be able to wear a normal shoe on his left foot.

  The sun has allowed the temp of 51 degrees.