Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:26 pm on April 6, 2022 Permalink  

  Brr! 

  There was a Korean luncheon we could have gone to but Dennis was in no mood to go out in the cold and wind.

  What we did get done today is to open the box and let the new Samsung Television out.  I played around with it and what do ya know.  We have choices.  Dennis went out to the patio porch as he was going to stay out of the fray.  Dennis has been out in the patio porch this whole time, so this will be a surprise for him.  We have not yet pulled the plug on Mediacom’s cable option as the next big step will be to take the smart Samsung out of the studio and see what we can do taking it out to the patio porch.  That will need to wait until tomorrow.  It will be different from what we have been accustomed to.  Change and learning is not all bad.

  I do have a chicken oven dish for supper.  There were some leftover pre-cooked chicken breasts in the freezer, some cream cheese in the refrig, some mixed veggies in the freezer, a can of Campbell’s cream of chicken . . . and it all came together with some egg noodles, aka: supper.

  Tomorrow morning, Dennis has a VA appointment right away in the morning here in town and then we are off to Mankato for his eye injection.  This month it couldn’t be done here in town.  Point that pickup to the east and it knows the way.

  Gosh it’s windy and cold.  We did have snowflakes off and on today.  Ish!

   
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  Noreen 4:35 pm on April 5, 2022 Permalink  

  A Long Day 

  This trip was epic for Dennis.  Dennis marched into Best Buy and came out with a 43″ Samsung Smart television.  Son-in-law Tom will be knocked on his forehead for some installation later this week.

  I was more concerned about the report from the wound doctor we met with this afternoon.  It was all good news.  The wounds are healing and the dressings are top notch.  Whew!  The next angiogram is the 20th and we already have the prescription of antibiotic that Dennis will begin taking the day before.  They did try an arterial pump on his left leg.  It would be meant to pull more blood down the leg.  Dennis and I talked about it and Dennis decided to wait until after the angiogram and not pre-judge anything.

  I was very weary when we got home.  More nerves than anything when it comes to digesting medical jargon.  I swear Dennis nodded off during it.  Priceless.

  It rained all the way home and this entire week may be one for the ducklings.

   
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  Noreen 2:24 pm on April 4, 2022 Permalink  

  It’s a Monday! 

  The day started off with the anticipation that June and I would be at Lewis Drug this morning for our 2nd shingles shot.  Not!  The medical supply van delivering the goodies was late.  “We will give you a call as soon as it has arrived.”  We went back to June’s apartment and had a cup of coffee and a cookie.   I then went on home.  I called the Lewis Drug at one p.m.  “Oh sorry, we g0t busy and forget to call you.”  We finally did get the shots.

  As long as I was out and about, I stopped at the courthouse.  I had questions.  We got our value notices in the mail on Saturday.  What a better way than to brighten their day in the assessor’s office than having me visit.  Our home value went up by 56%.  Hmm.  I had checked our information on the computer site before I visited.  Just as I had suspected.  I had run rough-shod on this appraiser for the fifteen years she had worked for me.  Without supervision, she had been in it for the paycheck and benefits since I had left in February of 2009 and had been able to pull one over on the current boss.  Not much good to be said about the boss either.  Checks and balances . . . bosses get paid for being a boss.  This person had retired the last day of 2021 and there was a whole lot of catch-up within the city’s value since.  The value is within reason.  It was my responsibility to look out for our business.  The staff said that the phones had been ringing off of the hooks since they opened this morning.  I was asked if I wanted to take over one of the empty desks and phones to help answer questions.  Silly idea.

  When I got home the gutter helmet fellows were just unloading their equipment.  It is a good feeling to know the garage project will be complete as of today.  It will be comforting to know heavy rains will not be washing out the garage and patio porch foundations.

  On a bright note, I had contacted a fellow to put up an antenna for television reception.  He called and said he would be in the area this afternoon.  I explained to him our children had suggested “smart televisions.”  He said that was excellent advice and would take away from adding anything to the property that could come down in bad weather.  I did thank him for getting back to us.  

  I have no clue as to what is for supper.  Can we pretend that we had it and didn’t?

   
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  Noreen 1:36 pm on April 3, 2022 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  It has been gray all day threatening snow showers or rain. 

  I was very thankful today that we have put up many LED light fixtures in the studio.  The outside world can be kept at bay.  I am moving on to picking fabric scraps for the next series of 4.5 inch blocks.  Nine blocks will be needed to sew into one larger block.  It is amazing how full my sewing tables can get as I pull scraps from all points of the studio.  It is not to be color coordinated but it still is difficult to push that out of the choices.

  Taking a break from sewing and pressing, I do work at taking out a bit of this and a bit of that.  Lightening the load does wonders for the peace of mind going forward.  I had to do a bit of sifting and sorting today as Kevin’s Garage in Fairfax yesterday was evidence that there was more freed up real estate to move vehicles in and out.  Sewing studios are a magnet for clutter.  I fight the clutter all the time.  One of the best ways for me to stay on track is to stand at the base of the stairwell and take a photo of what the camera lens detects.  Not just from one angle, but multiple ones.  Yup, it works every time.

  It is that time of the day that Nurse Ratchet, aka: me, gets Dennis on board to tend to the dressing on his foot, following for him . . . a steaming hot shower and then re-dressing it.  It’s all in a day on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 2:55 pm on April 2, 2022 Permalink  

  Full Sun! 

  It’s been a long time since I awoke to full sun coming up in the east.

  My eyes were barely open when I noticed the little red pickup in the drive.  That tells me that the ole cowboy has plans.  He came in and told me if I wanted to ride along, he would be leaving by 8:30 and he would have hot coffee and cookies along for my breakfast.  Who was I to say no!

  Right on target at 8:30 we were on HWY #4 heading north.  Dennis was weary of leaving our home only for doctor appointments.  He wanted to check in with Kevin and Kersten in Fairfax.  It had been some time that we had done that.  That is just exactly what my dad would have been up to on a moment’s notice.

  True to form . . . we checked in with the kids and took notice of all the improvements that had been made to the automotive shop, aka: Kevin’s Garage.  We bid them a good day, I made sure I got hugs from both of them, and we were back home just a little after 11 am.  Dennis must have mentioned several times on the ride home, he felt good knowing all was going well for them.  I totally agreed.  Gotta love the guy as this road date was my birthday present from him.

  I had the afternoon in my studio and I made inroads stitching together six 4.5 ” scrappy blocks.  This entire project is about using scraps that are on hand.  I am always thrilled, when after much seaming, with a small block the seams align and the correct measurement has been attained.  I knew when I saw stitcher Lu’s finished project, I wanted a try at this pattern.  It was kind of her to make sure I would have it.  There will be a time when she will check in on me as to how I am coming.  Fair enough.

  We are having a Ham and Egg Bake dish for supper that grandson Nicholas sent with his mom when she came on my birthday.  Fantastic.  

  I hope everyone has a great weekend as I know Dennis and I already have had a great start to it.

   
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  Noreen 1:49 pm on April 1, 2022 Permalink  

  My Day 

  My friend June and I were going to head to the Lewis Drug this morning for our second shingles shot.  Not!  It could be given 60 days after the first shot.  Today was day #59.  Both of us had forgotten about February having 28 days.  We will try it again on Monday.  I have heard comments that the second shot causes some less than good feelings.  I did ask this morning if the second shot serum contains different ingredients than the first and the response was that both shots were the same.  Good to know.

  June and I went back to her apartment and had coffee and a muffin.  

  A stop at the grocery store for orange juice for Dennis.  Slowly the intake of nourishment is improving for him.  Actually . . . so is the feeling in his left foot.  Last night when I changed the dressing and cleaned the area he had to fight not to fidget.  Sweet!

  The air today is cool but 41 degrees is a good thing.  After many appointments that have been cancelled since our shingling job of March 16th for the gutter helmet to be put back on,  April 4th is the new appointment.  It began raining the afternoon of that March 16th date, the weather has been miserable with ice and less than good conditions to be on a roof.

  I stopped at the full service store here in town after the grocer’s.  Karen handles clothing, baby items, kitchen fare, greeting cards, jewelry and now shoes.  I needed a pair of new sneakers.  Those that I have are sad.  Yes washable, but after a while it takes a toll on their integrity.  Karen had attended a day at the purchasing market in the metro and had sat with Carrie and Megan.  Small world.  Carrie in the metro and Karen here in town . . . the best of both worlds.

  A short stint in the studio this afternoon . . . that is always a good thing.  I believe that sometime soon, I will be able to have a full day with my threads and fuzz.  Be careful what you wish for . . . you might just get it.

   
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  Noreen 2:14 pm on March 31, 2022 Permalink  

  Wow 

  Wow!  I am having a great birthday!  My best ever phone call came this morning from the laundromat here in St James.  It was Dennis!  He had left early this morning with rag rugs to wash up after a winter’s use and had forgotten about the wish until he was busy watching suds.  Sweet.

  Yesterday there were cards in the mail and one in particular provided for times when I want a nourishing supper for Dennis and me while keeping the kitchen range clean.  Thanks to the Fairfax team for Subways.  Today Carrie drove out from the metro to have lunch with us.  I provided a fitting room and Carrie brought a bright colored top and pants from her store.  Thanks to the metro family.  Being treated to a meal while wearing some new clothes . . . can’t get any sweeter than that.

  I feel so fortunate for this 78th birthday.  I looked back as to what I had written on my blog March 31, 2021.  I was going to PT three times a week working towards mobility from the February stoke while dragging my Foley catheter wherever I went.  I take it back.  I am not fortunate, I am blessed beyond belief.  Each morning I say “Thank you Lord, it’s MY day to make You proud.” 

  Soon the biting cold days are bound to be over.  It’s a good thing the red breasted Robins are covering our back yard believing in spring and checking out what’s for lunch.

   
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  Noreen 1:11 pm on March 30, 2022 Permalink  

  Spring Storms 

  Our spring storm started last night about nine with misting rain.  The lightning and thunder followed with heavy downpours intermittently.  The lightning and thunder not only followed it, but stayed until four this morning.  One large flash after another and you knew the clap that shook the windows was on its heels.  Some time after four it turned cold enough that we now have white on the rooftops and lawns.  What a slush fest.

  It was just my luck to have restless leg syndrome last night after I went to bed.  It doesn’t happen often, but once in a blue moon is often enough.  When Dennis got up this morning at seven, he found me propped up on the sofa with my feet on the foot stool so my legs were higher than my butt, covered with afghans.  Thus far today I have been determined . . . no naps.

  Dennis braved the slush and met up with the fellows at McDonalds for some chit chat.  Dennis’ bud, Dwayne, has found out he can’t carry his phone in his left shirt pocket to access with his right hand.  It is too near where he has had a pacemaker recently put in and it messes with phone calls.  Who knew!  A hard habit for an older fellow to break.  Back hip pocket it will need to be.

  It has been several days that I ignored the studio calling.  Putting in three hours today, I shut the ceiling lights off as well as the sewing machine’s.  The sump pump has begun running and I can hear the trickle of water running in the tile channels making its way to the northwest corner of the basement floor where it egresses up and out.  It also makes for chilly, chilly air in the studio.  I always wear shoes in the studio standing on the concrete floor.  I wasn’t about to overdue it and have a second night of the legs having the hebbie geebies.  I did work long enough to get the lay of the next series of quilt blocks, six of them, ending up with fifteen fabrics stitched together for a 4.5″ finished block.  It will go easier the next time I visit.  

  The last item I needed to check on today was the amount of minutes I have left on my Tracfone.  Having let the landline go, that Tracfone is quite important for medical calls and such.  We really do not miss the landline phone or the robo calls that came with it.

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on March 29, 2022 Permalink  

  All Day Duty 

  On the morning when I awake and decide what my day will hold . . . in time the day’s end cannot come fast enough.  There is only so much energy and then the body feels kaput.

  Stripping both beds of the flannel sheets is all encompassing.  While the washer begins the first load, it gives time to get my breakfast put together.  Our one grocer in town does not have the bestest, freshest produce.  My choice is to stock up on blueberries and raspberries when we are in Mankato at the Sam’s Club and pop a good supply in the freezer.  My breakfast is a dollop of cottage cheese, a sprinkling of Flax Meal, a one serving container of Mott’s unsweetened apple sauce, frozen blueberries to cover all and then top it with a small amount of frozen raspberries.  I never tire of this fare.  When the berries are thawed, with my fare, I enjoy a cup of hot coffee sitting at the dining room table catching some news.  I feel as if I am at a five star restaurant.

  Nothing tops clean bedding than working the Swiffer under the beds and the surrounding floor area for what has been sluffed off of the flannels.  The washer hummed in step with the clothes dryer and alas the laundry basket was empty.

  As weary as I am now feeling, having dressed both beds and tidy, tidied the bedrooms . . . it comes with a lot of self-satisfaction.  Keeping a home at a level of satisfaction . . . I might as well give myself a badge . . . “Well Done.”

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on March 28, 2022 Permalink  

  Wow 

  We are home from a short stay at the radiology surgical ward in the Mankato Hospital.  The angiogram usual and customary route for such a procedure was attempted but could not be competed.  It is usually done going into the opposite groin that the blockage is in, aka: the left leg.  There was a slight aneurism midpoint and going through it would not have ended well. That aneurism will not cause Dennis any harm going forward, it has been on board for some time as per the surgeon.

  More imagery was taken while Dennis was under and the surgeon knows more now as to how to go forward.  Dennis is on board having the next procedure.  All that will be needed before going forward is an echocardiogram of the heart.  That can be done here in St. James.

  Dennis had to lie flat on his back for quite some time afterwards to allow two puncture sites to clot over. We may not have ended the day the way we thought we would when we got up at four this morning, we are home safe and sound.  To celebrate we shared a cup of black Starbuck’s coffee and donut balls on our way home to Stauffer Avenue.  Yippee for the two older ones that take the day for what it holds.