Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:41 pm on September 3, 2021 Permalink  

  A Break from Picking 

  A well-needed break from picking embroidery stitches presented itself when Dennis told me his CPAP machine quite working during the night.  He is scheduled to have a new one every six years.  This July of 2021 was the date.  The Mayo store, when called, said we would need a new prescription from his pulmonary doctor in Mankato.  After two hours of being on a telephone merry-go-round we were no closer to getting a live one on the phone.  I finally found a line that allowed for me to leave a message.  Time will tell.

  Back to picking stitches.  Right at twelve noon, I finished with the design.  I had had enough and shut off the lights in the studio.  The air is cool outside, perfect for a walk.  When projects have had a huge hiccup, a small break does wonders.  There is no time crunch and I can think the next steps through while walking.

  Dennis was waiting for me with questions.  He wants to repaint a very heavy cement pheasant that has been sitting in the back of the acre for over ten years.  His eagle turned out great.  Of course, my stashes are to be . . . blink, blink and a miracle is to happen for all that would be needed.  Yes, I have paints for the pheasant, and no . . . Dennis is not up to working with them.  I have an idea that my studio lights will remain dark over the weekend.

  It’s great that Dennis notices what needs attention.  It’s great that we have on hand what is needed.  Quality time together.  Which of us will be wearing more paint than the other?  This latest project of painting will be more than I have tackled this year.  Always up for a challenge.

   
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  Noreen 2:54 pm on September 2, 2021 Permalink  

  Rain and Clouds 

  This morning it was dark and gray when I awoke. I so enjoy my first minutes of waking.  Lollygagging and checking out what the huge evergreen is doing on the northwest corner of my bedroom gives me a small indication of what is to come for the remainder of the day.  I hear the coffee pot go off at seven.  Dennis is the first out of bed and I usually give him first crack at the bathroom.  Once I hear him pour his coffee and then the sound of the back door closing, I know he, his coffee and his scone are headed to the patio porch.  No one is as thrilled for the morning as the three kitties.  They tumble over each other to hit the patio via the open doorway.  I never tire of watching that scene as I look out the bathroom window.  Yup, we are going to have a day.  Bring it on. 

  I like to catch some news in the morning.  The rest of the day . . . not so much. The forecast is for rain.  We can surely use the rain.

  Today when I went on facebook, there was a posting that my sister, Elvera, would have been a great grandmother to new baby, Leo Conrad Hoffman.  Elvera’s son Larry would be a proud grandpa.

  At a time when Larry’s mother-in-law became very ill, Rita gave me quite a bit of her fabrics.  I worked most of it up into blankets.  As it happens there were two that made great baby blankets in blues.  At four today, Dennis and I will be going out to the UPS depot to send a package off to Leo Conrad in Hutchinson.  We love lightening the stashes of finished items.

  After lunch I went to visit June in her apartment.  At 80 years young, she is one of the youngest in her building.  There are two vacancies and she is hoping for some younger tenants.  No June, Dennis and I are passing.

  Today Dennis finished the poly coats on his chainsaw Eagle.  It came out great.  The stripping and sanding has kept him busy for some time.  It wouldn’t surprise me if he doesn’t have something else in the wings.  He does manage to stay out of mischief.

  I did get a good walk in before the rain hit.  After several loads of laundry, I have been picking out the stitches of an ill placed embroidery design in Megan’s blanket.  It sure does keep me humble.

  Hard to believe the weekend will be here in a wink of an eye.  Labor Day holiday . . . last chance for families as school begins next week for most.  For those that school does not impact . . . a quiet weekend.

   
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  Noreen 2:47 pm on September 1, 2021 Permalink  

  It is Going to Cease 

  Today Dennis and I agreed the commotion since last Friday needs to cease.  Today is Wednesday and we have been hopping for the last six days.

  The trip up north was followed by family visiting from Arizona that left St. James this morning after breakfast.  In between, I had a stitcher’s luncheon yesterday.  Today after company left, Dennis and I headed to Mankato for the Korean’s luncheon meeting at the VFW.  How could I refuse to go with Dennis!  Many of the spouses have been attending right along.  Today, there was a wife of a deceased Korean veteran that wrote her own songs honoring that forgotten war.  Being in her 80s her folk songs were very timely and creative.

  We did stop for fuel as the price was $2.96 a gallon.  I had noted when we left town it was $3.14 a gallon.  What a difference in price over a 45 mile distance.

  As we were cruising along 169 heading home, Dennis pulled into the Welsh Heritage Apple and Pie Shop.  Dennis felt I have been doing a bang up job this year with very few treats and now as of late with catering to his family, a pie was in order.  Of course I let him pick the flavor.  Had I been left on my own, a Sour Cream and Raisin pie would have been in the back seat of the car.  Having had his share of raisins donated by the Red Cross while in Korea, he no longer eats them.  Who doesn’t like an Apple Pie.  The best part is that they adhere to using the old fashioned lard recipe for their crusts.  You can’t beat the flakey flavor . . . just like Lena used to use.

  As I had mentioned commotion, my body needs to get back to the PT that my home routine allows.  Way too much sitting and being immobile.  The left side of my body takes on the tendencies of mobility much like shortly after the stroke in February.  The saying “if you don’t use it, you loose it” has truth.  Time to buckle down with the walking.  Even the studio has merit with PT.

  I checked our calendar when we got home and September is clear.  No doctor appointments for either one of us.  Yippee!

   
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  Noreen 3:33 pm on August 31, 2021 Permalink  

  Good Group 

  Today seven of us stitchers meet at Perkins in Mankato for lunch.  It was the first time this year.  With the covid and variants that may bring on new restrictions, it was well needed.  Sharing ideas and what life has dealt each of us since last we met, it was such a great day.

  Dennis’ son had traveled to St. James from up north in a pickup he had borrowed, only to discover the tabs were expired.  Hmm.  Yesterday, Dennis let his son, Ken, have the little red pickup as Dennis knew that a few cocktails would be had when old friends meet and he didn’t want Ken to be stopped for expired tabs on top of things.  What was left in our driveway was a GMC Sierra 4×4 with huge tires on it.  The cab of the truck looked like it was three feet from ground level.

  Tuesdays, Dennis and friend Dwayne go up to McDonalds for morning coffee.  I asked Dennis what he was planning on taking for a ride.  I could easily see him taking the Cub tractor with Dwayne riding on the fender.  Nope he was taking the Sierra.  

  As I was getting ready for my Mankato trip I could hear commotion out the back door.  Dang, I never have an option for a photo when I would like.  What I saw was Dennis plunk down the small stool from the patio porch by the open door of the pickup.  Attached to the leg of the stool was a green bungy cord.  Dennis stood on the stool to get into and onto the driver’s seat and then he preceded to reel the stool up and into the truck via the bungy cord.  The stool was parked beside him on the center console and off Dennis went to pick up Dwayne. 

  I knew Dennis would have Dwayne get into and out of the pickup with the same arrangement with the stool.  Gotta love determination and . . . no fear of retaliation by the rest of the gang at McDonalds.

  We both had a good day with friends.  You really can’t ask for anymore than that.

   
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  Noreen 12:58 pm on August 30, 2021 Permalink  

  Back on Stauffer 

  After being gone for just a short weekend, both Denis and I wanted to click our heels in gratitude for coming home safely.  The little red pickup did a great job in assuring a safe trip.  It rained the entire time from Friday through Sunday in the north country.

  Our destination was Silver Bay, which is an hour north of Duluth, for Dennis’ granddaughter’s 30th birthday.  When you hear that fetal alcohol syndrome is for life . . . believe it.  Taylor is a fun loving child trapped in an adult body. 

  A huge family and friend gathering was on board for the event.  Lots of activity and visiting.  Taylor’s family found life in Silver Bay when the Silver Creek Mining company had their own railroad system and Taylor’s dad was a train engineer that took a transfer to that area.  The area has been a home for the family ever since.  Of Dennis’ five children, Sue and her family will forever be the “ones up north.”  As it is a six hour drive, turnaround was fair play as us southerners paid a well deserved visit.

  Today being Monday,  meant life on Stauffer resumed.  Dennis checked out the acre when we had driven into the yard yesterday.  I was surprised that he held off until today to get the mower going.  What helped is that his son had flown in from Arizona for Taylor’s party and is now spending several days in St. James before heading back on Wednesday.  There wasn’t much one-on-one visiting during the up north visit.

  For me, I can’t tell you how much I appreciated getting home Sunday.  I was weary.  It was the first long weekend for Denis and me this calendar year.  I kidded him yesterday when we hit Mankato for fuel and a bite to eat that my left cheek on my butt was dead.  Dennis is an ole 18 wheeler and when the ignition switch makes contact, it’s going to be a long time until we stop.  I actually was willing to tough it out as I was just as egger to get home as Dennis was.  There is no place like home.

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on August 26, 2021 Permalink  

  Quiet Day 

  If you are seeking a quiet day and don’t quite know how to pull it off, I have a recommendation.  I can recommend a comfortable chair that can be pulled up to a table top, a pair of tweezers, a seam ripper and a good radio station.  Pick away.  I did do some quilting today and when that petered out, it was time to pick stitches out of the opposite corner of the quilt.  I had thought that doing embroidered motifs on portions of the quilt would really work well . . . not!  Too dense of a stitch for the look.  Why fight it.  Take one stitch out at a time.  I won’t get either the quilting or the picking done today.  Who doesn’t like to have a project waiting in the wings. 

  Dennis also has a project that is taking patience.  The stripping of the chainsaw eagle is going well but slow.  He can really be proud of the results.  Choosing the type of poly spray is for another day.

  This will be my last posting until Monday.  Tomorrow is Friday and we are heading out to Silver Bay in the northeast corner of the state.  Silver Bay is one hour north of Duluth.  Also close to Highway 2 where the fires are.  Dennis has a granddaughter, Taylor, celebrating her 30th birthday. More times than not that branch of the family does the six hour drive south to see family.  The highway does run both ways..  It has been quite some time that Dennis and I have seen the scenery along that way.

  While listening to KDUZ radio, I learned that my cousin’s granddaughter was crowned Princess Kay at the state fair.  I am sure the Litchfield area is popping their buttons.  Sitting in a cooler for eight hours to have her likeness carved in butter would be not the best of all the accolades coming her way, but still quite the honor.  Knowing my cousin Dorothy, she is close at hand for moral support. 

  Have a great weekend and Dennis and I will travel light and safely.

   
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  Noreen 1:55 pm on August 25, 2021 Permalink  

  No Moss Here 

  There is always something happening on Stauffer Avenue. Dennis picked up his friend Dwayne for coffee this morning.  Dwayne fell and broke two ribs and cracked a third.  Though not feeling too perky he was well enough to get out of their apartment.

  Honey Bunny and I managed to pull a few weeds.  After a good rain, they are hard to ignore as they pull easily.  Honey Bunny, the oldest of the three, has been with us since 2009.  She refuses to be picked up but to be knuckle butted on the head.  She stayed until the last of the fallen branches were pick up from the rain storm and then she was off to points unknown.

  I worked in the studio for a while and then moseyed out to the garage after Dennis was home from coffee.  I knew he was ready to have a second opinion on his project.  Over the years our chainsaw Eagle, which is twenty years old and was purchased in Iowa, has been given a refresher or two in regard to a new poly spray job.  What was telling was the areas that had gotten moisture underneath the poly.  That had turned an unattractive gray.   As I had mentioned, there were products purchased at Menards for Dennis to work at stripping the old finish. I think he is doing well.  After I finish with this posting, I am gearing up to help.  Dennis has the bulk of the old removed, now it is the pin feathers that need cleaning.  We have always taken the Eagle in over winters and it has always been set up on bricks to keep water from soaking in from the bottom.

  There is no moss growing on either one of us.  We always find something to take care of.  It’s a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 2:09 pm on August 24, 2021 Permalink  

  Thunder Boomers 

  There were thunder boomers today that left Dennis’ lap too small as the garage kitties all wanted a spot.  Our rain gauge has a leak, but a good inch of rain over these last several days is a guess.

  Before I forget. Making oven meals with egg noodles not being cooked is not something we will do again.  It wasn’t horrible, just not being the tenderest of noodles.  You know the oven meal will be eaten right to the last of the leftover. 

  I was really beat last night for whatever reason.  Energy levels are not consistent.  I went to bed before nine.  I didn’t hear a thing.  Surprise, surprise this morning.  The kitchen had been tidied down to the last dirty dish in the sink from supper.  What had been in the dryer spinning away when I went to bed was neatly folded on the dining room table.  What a treat.  The start of a new day ahead of the game.  The ole cowboy came through just as on many occasions.

  Though it was dark as the ace of spades sometimes this forenoon, the lights were on in the studio.  After working on sandwiching Megan’s quilt this weekend, the safety pins are holding everything in place.  Getting the quilt under the needle is do or die to begin the finishing of it by actually quilting it.  I did try one small embroidery motif.  I may be ripping those stitches out.  I am not sure.  My main goal is to stitch in the ditch enough seams so as to feel confident that all layers will not shift.  This will be a long process so as to not go beyond my daily limits and have more stitches and seams to pick out.  Nephew Brett has always offered his long arm to me for my projects.  Nope . . . my arms wouldn’t be able to take it.  I like my slow and steady way of doing it.  The turtle wins the race.

  Megan and I texted back and forth last night in regard to her first day of her Senior year.  The first day went great but kind of exhausting and overwhelming with a lot coming all at once.  My advice . . . breathe.  I know she will do just fine.  She has a lot of her Grammie in her.  I am not sure if it is a compliment, but Carrie has often said how much of Megan looks like it has rubbed off from me.  Tee Hee!  I love it!

   
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  Noreen 1:52 pm on August 23, 2021 Permalink  

  A Monday 

  Today we entertained a first cousin of Dennis’ from the state of Washington.  Those cousins are few and far in between for Dennis.  It was great to have John visit.  There is 20 years between them.  John could vividly remember that when he was in high school, the family lived at Waseca, his parents had taken their family to the rodeo in town as Dennis had entered the rodeo, riding the bucking broncos and being strapped onto the bucking bulls.  Dennis was in his late 30s.  That might be the answer to some of his aches and pains today.  The visit meant a lot to Dennis.

  I am fortunate that many of my first cousins didn’t stray far from their parental homes.  My cousins from my mom’s side get together once a year at Darwin, near Litchfield, the home of the twine ball. My cousins from my dad’s side have a gathering every three years or so at a rural site near Brownton.  Several of us from either side email, phone and text. Sweet. 

  With the blessing of almost an inch of rain last night, the humidity is rearing its head today.  There might even be a tinge of green showing in the lawns,  It sure perked up the plot of catnip. 

  This morning, I had mixed feelings.  Megan’s first day of her Senior year.  Hmm.  Megan spent a lot of time with us until she started school.  Though Nicholas tagged along with her for stays, Megan is the one that taught us so much in her tender years. Those memories are priceless.

  Out came Mom’s church cookbook for tonight’s supper.  Yesterday, I picked up a few groceries at Cubs before we left Mankato.  As we had had a full day, I picked up some “heat and serve” supper.  Nope.  I would rather cook. This dish tonight is one of Mom’s recipes that she had submitted.  Sauerkraut, browned hamburger, sautéed onions, one can of cream of mushroom soup and wide egg noodles uncooked.  One half cup of water in the bottom of the dish with the noodles and remaining items going in.  Dish is to stay covered for an hour at 350 degrees.  I am thinking the water allows for good steam to be generated to cook the noodles.  There was another recipe submitted also using uncooked wide egg noodles.  It must work.

  The rest of the week is uneventful.  I need some time in the studio . . . it is beckoning me.  I become totally relaxed around my threads and fuzz.

   
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  Noreen 2:52 pm on August 22, 2021 Permalink  

  What to Do? 

  It was a great day to wake up to today.  Nice temps and our job jar was empty.  But then we didn’t look at it very hard.

  I had gotten an email from Menards that the set of brushes that we had ordered for Dennis’ lawn sweeper had come in.  Why not!  Taking a drive on a Sunday to pick up an order makes for a day out of Dodge.  It wasn’t my idea, but Dennis added on a visit for pedicures.  His nails must have been bothering him.  I didn’t argue.  Since we have been going to Nails Group, over six years, in Mankato, our feet have never felt so good. There is no way I can maneuver nail equipment like they can.  Each time, there has been a women in the shop getting a pedicure, that comments she wishes she could get her husband to come with her.

  Dennis has found a job for himself in the garage and it needs some paint stripper.  While at Menards he went to the service counter for his brushes, I picked out some supplies for him.  Water base strippers are far and few in between.  I am always happy to get the supplies he needs when he finds himself a project and I am not worried about the outcome.  I will take it the way it comes.

  On our drive it couldn’t help but be noticed how some of the corn fields are drying.  God willing the cobs have fully developed with the shortage of rain.  We did get a half of an inch several days ago with a promise of a bit more this week.  In total we are short fifteen inches.

  These last days have been such a gift.  According to the amount of traffic on the highway many others are making the best of the days before school bells ring.