Enough for One Day
I will not be putting out a post for this Saturday. There comes a time when the day has been full enough to be thankful it is ending well. Catch ya tomorrow.
Recent Updates Page 168 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
-
Noreen
-
Noreen
Off the Clock
It is the late afternoon and I am taking myself off of the clock for the day.
A trip west this forenoon to Mountain Lake for a Medicare prescription pick-up for myself. I had arranged to pick-up the last four of what would have been a trip every month to fill out the remaining of the prescription. I won’t be needing to travel down the highway as I have since found out that the medical supply store in the Madison East Mal ships out, postage free. This time of year . . . can’t beat that.
Swapping out the linens on both beds today whipped the ole butt. I do not have a linen closet like Lena did with multiple sets of linens. Here on Stauffer Avenue they are taken off, laundered and put right back on. While they are in the laundry it gives me a chance to Swiffer the floors to take down some dust bunnies. With our small home, it is still an exercise in gymnastics to get to all four sides of each bed. Having zero carpeting in the home makes life so much easier to move the beds out a bit. I’m all about easier.
The temps are to be in the 70s next week and Dennis said he would be washing off the house for the last time this season on Monday. Knowing that, I can start tipping in the windows for much needed washing after that sounded like a plan. I will still have to do a boxelder check before leaving a window open. In the forenoon, I could tackle the west windows. As soon as there is sun for them to creep around in, it gets nasty.
Dennis had his eye injection today for macular. He is off the hook now for five weeks. Being able to have it done here in town at our eye clinic is great rather than traveling to Mankato. We are fortunate for the specialized doctors that visit our in-town clinics from Mankato . . . very patient friendly.
May the weekend allow for joy within each of you. Joy in knowing not everyone has the chance to write their own script. My script is filled with self-care and self-love . . . and I still have plenty left for Dennis.
-
Noreen
Not!
We are not turning the furnace on . . . yet. This too shall pass. I believe that warmer clothing is easy to pull on. More times than not, they get stripped off as the day goes on. The secret is . . . move! Nothing like getting the blood to navigate from head to toe than to . . . move. Not everyone in our household agrees with me. I did close the 2 inch opening of the window that is on the west end of the house. I sure slept good. After all, the numerical setting on Dennis’ mattress pad does go to number 8 . . . what’s the issue?
Today a visit to Office Depot next to Hy-Vee gave me all that I was looking for at very reasonable prices. I will be kept busy for some time in the studio. I am cooling it with the sewing and embroidery until I can get to Bird Island for servicing. Kelly has finished with the harvest and I put in a request to him for an appointment sometime during the week of the 18th. There is an upgrade for the options that the machine can offer as well as the firmware being updated. I didn’t realize how much I appreciated the thread cutting option until that cutter needed replacing. The right hand agrees with me. I will patiently wait to get the date and time confirmed.
Dennis’ oven meal last night of chicken and pasta was tasty. Amazing what a little cream cheese could add to the alfredo sauce. Leftovers tonight is sweet.
Tomorrow will be “pick-up” as the brutal wind of yesterday and last night did a number on the acre’s loose branches in the trees. We might have enough for the last of the season fire ring.
Looking into the forecast of this evening and early morning, we could see 39 degrees. It might be a good idea to take the two patio plants into the patio porch. That gives the cats the idea swatting and batting at them is fair game. It seems to be the seasonal way of thinning them out. The blessing is that the pots are too heavy to tip over when one of the cats decide to get an up close and personnel view.
Enjoy being in the midst of fall. It is a most wonderful time of year.
-
Noreen
Quiet
I am having a quiet day, pretty well pulled into myself in the studio. Yesterday with my visit to my friend’s home has given me much to think about.
Though Judy is blind, she is still hoping that in the second bedroom of their town home, she can have her Bernina sewing machine table set up. It would be available for when her daughter-in-law and her daughter have an idea to sew and she could be swept up in that sewing atmosphere. Judy commented that just having it set up would give her a lift and feel as if there were a balance in what her surroundings allow. I would have to agree with her.
The immediate time after I had had a stroke, it gave oh so much solace to come down to the studio and be with and around what I had enjoyed, not knowing if anything would ever come into fruition for me again. I didn’t even need much for lights. Just sitting in my sewing chair and twirling back and forth felt good. Though Judy’s and my situation is worlds apart, I can understand her mindset.
The ability to enjoy my studio is far beyond what I thought I could achieve. Thanks be to my God. What I have come to realize today is that paring down is needed in regard to paper stuff I have squirreled away. Yes . . . that pattern has been quilted, I will never repeat it. No . . . that quilting book that had been handed down to me needs to hit the recycling bin. I know my stitching friends well enough to know they each have their own niche in their interests.
I am on a roll. I have a want list to continue with my organization. What I want, my hometown does not stock. Dennis said just last night, if I wanted to go somewhere . . . to just let him know. I need a trip to OfficeMax. In the meantime, my church tables still have room for some stacks of sorting items.
Today worked out great as I had gotten the gentle hint to stay out of the kitchen while Dennis was working on an oven dish for supper. KNUJ radio was put on loud enough in the studio that I was not privy to what the clattering going on in the kitchen could mean.
We did have a 1/2 inch of rain by eight this morning. Well deserved.
-
Noreen
Friends
Friends are enduring. Being privy to a long-time friend’s life can be quite sad.
I paid a visit to my friend Judy’s home today. They have been in a rental town house since the first of September. Their rural home may either be rented or sold. No decision as yet. Judy is totally blind from Macular. Judy and her husband are the same age as I am . . . 77.
The sad part of my visit was that her husband should go on a hunting expedition and not come home. As I mentioned they moved into the townhouse September 1st. The home was filthy. Every flat surface had dirty dishes on it. Styrofoam cartons on the floor near Wayne’s chair with food remaining. Empty water and pop bottles on the floor. Fruit flies everywhere. Judy’s only daughter has been asked by Judy’s husband to stay away until she can quit telling him what to do. Oh so sad. Judy may not be able to see but she knew she needed to apologize to me for what she knew was about in her home. They knew I was coming, the least Wayne could have done was help Judy to have her shirt right side out.
I got home and gave Dennis a peck on the cheek and a hug. How grateful to come home and have the few dishes that were in the sink, washed and put away. Sweet!
No matter . . . I can still be astonished.
-
Noreen
A Topic
Today is a wonderful Monday. After I got back from my morning walk a topic ensued in regard to “What’s up for supper?” I remained quiet. After giving Dennis’s comment a pause, I put it right back to him as to what he anticipated for supper. His idea was a pork roast, boiled potatoes, gravy and some dessert. I urged him to begin so it would be done by supper.
I am Lena’s daughter. I am not Lena in regard to putting out a three to four course meal seven days out of seven for a supper. Hmm. I could hear Dennis rummage in the refrigerator. Next the freezer was opened and I could hear some items being moved about. Down to the basement pantry was his next move. “Do we need one small can of Dinty Moore stew or two cans.” I assured him one can would work. It’s not my first choice coming out of a can, but I will enjoy Dennis’ preparation of our supper. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. That phrase came about when a horse was given as a gift. When the receiver immediately looked into the mouth of the horse to look at the horse’s teeth and determine the age of the horse . . . thus the value of the given gift. Little known fact. Tee Hee!
Meals can be highly exaggerated when our day of activity is slime to none. It might be a good idea to have several pizzas in the freezer for the next time Dennis trolls through the options. It might just trip the old trigger.
According to the tractors each pulling several grain trailers heaped with shell corn, the harvest is going great guns. Surprisingly many farmers have their own 18 wheelers.
In between time, I am in the studio going through folders seeking and searching a particular one that holds photos of a time when Megan and Nicholas were small tots. I can envision it here in the studio. Three walls of shelves from top to bottom to keep me busy . . . thus comes in the sifting and organization I mentioned yesterday. No one to blame but myself. How long could it have taken to label it!
Enjoy the week of temps that feel oh so good.
-
Noreen
Great Temps
Walking this morning in my kind of weather of 60 degrees . . . does the heart good. Fall is my favorite time of year. Dennis on the other hand has polar fleece and gloves on. The wind is brisk today. The weather for the entire coming week tends to be on the cooler side. I like that.
I am persevering in the studio. Never a bad time for some sorting and organizing. No one but me has been down there. By not returning every single thing to where it belongs once used . . . makes for hunting for it the next time.
Dennis baked out items for his breakfasts . . . scones. His frosting skills for the top of them is getting better. I don’t eat carbs to that degree for my first meal of the day. To each his own.
The slicer worked great last night for raw fried potatoes. We have just moved up in tricking out our kitchen. We may not use it often. It will be there when it is needed. After all, it’s not the type of slicer that I would need eating pizza three times a week . . . I wish. The ole cowboy has won that round . . . along with green veggies and fruit . . . or so he believes. Life is too short to dig in my slipper’s heel.
Not much excitement here today. I have my limits . . . dang. I am the first and only one of me, and more than two of me . . . the world could not handle.
-
Noreen
Endurance
We have become a “throwaway” world. Everything from water softeners to furniture to floor coverings. Don’t get your hopes up for endurance.
I recall that in times past Raymond and Lena would get the cattle chores done so they and dad’s brother and his wife, Lester and Hazel, could take in the Minnesota State Fair. The men spent the day on Machinery Hill while the women took in exhibits under the grandstand. The latest in all gadgetry would be on display.
When Lena came home with the smallest of a box in a bag, it didn’t look as if she had purchased much for a full day of looking. The contents of that box changed everything from canning to everyday cooking for our farm kitchen. It was a small slicer that could easily fit over the edge of a bowl or a kettle. Just slide the food item up to the blade and it was easy peasy. Speed depended upon the user. The slicer had adjustment from thin sliced onions to chunky carrot rounds. I was still in high school and learned early on to reach for the slicer to make some chores easy.
When Mom moved out of her apartment when she was in her early nineties, I beat Elvera to nabbing the slicer. That gem came home with me. Dennis has sharpened the blade several times. The indents in the metal legs were worn smooth. They no longer had the ability to hold the thickness of each slice consistently. One hand had to hold the adjustment while pushing the food product through with the other hand. In truth, the cutting edge just couldn’t hold up to anymore sharpening. Dennis said it was time to buy a new slicer.
I went online and there were countless choices. It had to be compact as we don’t have the cupboard storage nor the counter space for much more than what is already on hand.
Today the new slicer came. For a whopping $19.99, plus shipping we are back in business. It came from a company in Ohio that sells a lot of what had been and is still used in homes. I could not believe that the trustee slicer of 60 plus years of service was still deemed a viable tool. Dennis is going to try it out for supper as he has been waiting for thinly sliced potatoes for raw fried potatoes. I am in charge of sautéing onions. The slicer on the left is Lena’s vintage and on the right is Dennis’ new one with some nice grippers on the feet.
Whether it is a slicer, or two retirees, endurance just can’t be beat.
-
Noreen
It’s Different
In the past, I enjoyed remembering young and some not so young with a favor from my studio. This year will be a bit different. This year my mobility is a bit different.
Today made that difference feel less . . . by quite a bit. Today the mail person brought a package from the Christian Book site. I had ordered a variety of cards by the box. I will again be able to remember those that I have in the past with pop-up cards. Receiving something in the mail at Christmas time that is addressed to little ones can be quite exciting. I know this first hand from the parents of those that have been recipients. All that is required of me is to keep them in the studio until such time to pop them in the mail. I am not one of those that will be sweating it that there are cargo ships not able to unload Christmas cargo.
After the first floor items are taken care of, I head for the studio. I have some dish towels that are being made up. The embroidery hoop needs to be clipped onto the
embroidery module before the sewing machine will do “stitch one.” I can say that working with embroidery has physical 
therapy benefits. For the hoop to engage, two clips need to be pulled together to slip over the module’s hub. For myself, the thumb and forefinger need that strengthening. After the stroke those fingers were happy to be left alone and not engage in any activity. On a good day the forefinger can depress the button on an aerosol can. A nail clipper operation is still in the works. There isn’t any yard work for me. My biggest workout is to get in and out of the house without letting in bugs. Dennis checked, the Boxelder trees are two blocks east of us. Have bug will travel.
The fellows are doing coffee this afternoon and that would include a road trip to check on the farmers in the surrounding area. I am getting a dose of farming by listening to KNUJ and their farm forum.
The weekend is upon us. May everyone have a chance to write some of their own agenda. Everyone’s idea of a good weekend is quite different.
-
Noreen
Thoughts
Dennis and I have been doing some thinking in regard to our forever home here on Stauffer.
Yes, we are in the waiting mode for some new front steps. Yes, we are in the waiting mode for our plumbers to put in a step-in shower. The good news is that the back order of their supplies are now in Fargo. Burke came by yesterday and did a double check on the measurement needed. We may be on track once the supplies hit Mankato and then St. James. Sweet. We will be able to take one cane and one walker out from the bathroom. The chair stays. The front steps are not of importance as in the safety with the shower.
It’s been a cloudy day and the leaves are tumbling. The pull-behind sweeper that Dennis bought for the rider mower will come in very handy this fall.
Our schedule is quite light for the next week. I am planning on a trip to Mankato next week to see a friend, Judy. Judy was the county assessor for Brown County. An additional friend, Doreen, was the county assessor for Nicollet County. We all retired about the same time and spent countless hours together during the working years. Shortly after retirement, Judy suffered a strain of macular degeneration and her site could not be saved. Doreen was diagnosed with cancer shortly after she had retired and she has since passed away. How could I not keep up with Judy.
Supper is Shore Land chicken noodle soup with a fried egg sandwich. Neither of us have had a very trying day.
