I am a retired 44-year veteran of the Real Estate Assessment field. As with real estate assessing and how it applies to real estate taxes, one can make many acquaintances, but not many real friends. It was a great career choice.
It has been nearly 10 years since I reclaimed my home and my real passions within my home. I enjoy it more each day and tip my hat to those who I left behind.
Each day I try to stretch myself with the use of my computer as it relates to this site and using it to print out labels for quilts for trying to incorporate photos into my sewing. Life is so full and I know that I have room for more.
We now know where we are headed for the future. I will be having open heart surgery on June 15th at St. Mary’s in Rochester. I check in on the 14th at 7:00 a.m. for pre-op work.
So good to know that the plan is in motion. Needless to say I am looking forward to bedtime, which is any time after I post this message. Night, night.
What a great cool morning for sipping coffee on the patio. Cool enough that a sweater was needed.
Yesterday was a long day of travel and waiting. The review evaluation yesterday was the next mandated step towards surgery. Checking to see how far I have progressed since the February 26th stroke is something I can’t be unbiased about.
Today was a day to get caught up on a few things in the home. This weather would not hurt my feelings if it stayed for the summer.
This afternoon, Dennis’ niece and hubby came from Mora for a visit. With the times that there are, it’s always great to check up other than a funeral.
Tomorrow, Carrie, Kevin and I will be returning to Rochester to meet with Dr. Phillip Rowse who is noted for expertise in thoracic surgeries. One step closer to . . . the rest of the story.
I was in bed by 9:30 last night. I may do a repeat this evening.
First pre-surgical done at Rochester today, another on Thursday. Blessed to have my children with. I am pooped.
I did need to take a snapshot of our potting shed. It is relaxing to sit in the east patio and know all is done. All is well.
Dennis will be at the VA by nine am today. Dennis’ eye injection in Mankato at one. We both have dental appointments later in the afternoon. It is a busy day.
Tomorrow Carrie and Kevin will be with me at the Mayo in Rochester for a consult as to what will be done with my heart. Secure feelings to be with family. Two family members are allowed. It would be hard on Dennis for the walking that this trip will entail.
Thank goodness it is five and we are home with all errands in the big town completed.
On to tomorrow and see what we will hear in regard to the future of my family.
We are batting a home run as we start a new week. As the weekdays fill in fast with appointments, Dennis decided to use the Cub Lo Boy for mowing the acre. It sure cuts down on time with a 60″ swath. Dennis did trade out the smaller rider for the area around the house. It all looks manicured.
I had an overflowing laundry basket that I chose to ignore this morning. It was to be another hot day and getting the newly-purchased shrubs in the holes I had dug yesterday spoke very loudly to me. It doesn’t pay for me to say I will take my time. It takes me an eternity to get my projects going, heading for completion. I have a lot of time, but a bit short on stamina. The shrubs, having had their root balls loosened, been sunk into their holes, watered down and tamped in with loving care. The potting shed project is complete. Grow dammit! I can check that off my list of things I wanted to see completed this spring. Going forward, it is maintaining whatever has made it through this questionable spring.
Though the Lilacs didn’t have much of a showing for blooms, the evergreens are strutting their stuff. The end of each and every branch has a tuft of new growth. I don’t think Crayons have any greens in their boxes that would pay tribute to that fresh growth.
We had fried egg sandwiches for noon lunch. I’ve got nothing for supper, and . . . everyone for themselves may be on the docket. I finished the day off with folding the three loads of laundry. As per Kenny Rogers . . . “Ya gotta know when to hold it and know when to fold it . . . .” I am folding right now for the day. I will be ready for what the new week brings.
We usually start out slowly . . . stick the nose out to see what the possibilities are. As usual the three cats can’t wait to escape the patio porch.
Washing off the rest of the house was on Dennis’ agenda. Amazingly after he is done, the house gleams. No . . . it does not last long, but we can start out with new dirt to catch on the siding.
I watered down the two shrubs we have purchased for the filled-in Koi pond. I dug around in the potting shed and dug out the manual post hole digger. I had measured out where in the new dirt they would sit. Me and the sand shovel do not work well together. I am too tippy to rely on standing on one leg while pushing the shovel into the dirt with the other leg. The old heavy post hole digger is perfect. One end of the handle for each hand and arm, perfect stability. The holes are dug . . . that is ready for tomorrow. I dug out granule fertilizer that will be pitched into the hole tomorrow with some water.
We decided to go to the Home Town restaurant for supper. It’s the first time we had visited since the covid began. Next time we will both be ordering half orders. No one could leave there hungry.
It is still warm out at six this evening. Who knows what tomorrow holds. We’ll stick the nose out and I am sure the day will unravel. The blessing is that our job jar never seems to let us down.
There was nothing on the schedule today. Dennis was supplied for painting the last two lawn chairs. The paint brand that we are using, Bher, has a wonderful option of an opening in the cover of the gallon of paint that a funnel, which is a freebie where the paint is sold, can be applied to and the entire open gallon is not exposed to the elements while a smaller amount can be poured out. Perfect for Dennis’ project.
I had drop-in company this morning. A good gab session as we vented about clothes shopping. I have not purchased much clothing since retiring. I lead a very casual lifestyle. I had some success ordering online. Free postage and free returns make it work. Yesterday, we did make a stop at a women’s clothing store. A new pair of white pants was desired. With less than great mobility, that was not an issue as the fitting rooms have remained locked since the covid. I took home two pair of identical white pants in two sizes . . . plans to return the pair that did not fit. Monday when we have an appointment in Mankato for Dennis’ next eye injection and also a follow up at Aspen Dental, both pair of white pants will be returned. Yuk!
At this juncture in my life, my waist does not conform to the waist sizes that are coming out in the brands that are offered. Kevin had commented in years past that I do not have a butt big enough to hold my pants up. True story. I have always had to sew on belt loops for a belt when pants came without loops . . . even the yoga stretchies.
The pant issue was totally bisected with my drop-in visitor this morning.
This afternoon I had a coffee party guest. June, from the end of Stauffer Avenue. will be moving to her new apartment home tomorrow. This was a celebration coffee for her, and I will miss her when my walks take me to the end of Stauffer. Next week, I will be seeing her in her new home. Stauffer Avenue has been her home for fifty years.
Here comes the weekend . . . enjoy taking it as you want.
Today was my yearly scan for skin cancer at the Dermatology in Mankato.
I have been a farm kid that had more sun burns that I can count. Going fishing with the family for bullheads on Waverly Lake gave one whopper of a burn from the reflection of the water. I remember not sleeping well that night. It was a memorable burn.
Several years ago I turned myself in to the dermatology clinic as I had a spot on my right facial cheek that didn’t look too good. It was biopsied and it was put on the surgical schedule
to be removed. It was a sobering experience and thus was the yearly schedule put in place. Today one spot on my right ankle was taken for a biopsy. Normal moles are brown. Moles that are black and rough are looked at, but with not much concern. This little sucker was as black as the ace of spades and totally smooth . . . danger, danger. I will hear in time to come what the outcome tells me. My poor ole but amazingly resilient body.
There was some black paint to be picked up at Home Depot and several items at Sam’s Club. The last stop was at Drummers’ for two miniature Rainbow’s End Alberta Spruce shrubs. One at each end of the filled in Koi pond. Max maturity is 6’tall and 2 ‘ wide.
We have had 6/10ths of rain over several days. Maybe by the weekend we will plant them into their new home. Dennis still has two remaining lawn chairs to paint and this humid air is not the best drying.
At this late afternoon hour. . . I am beat. Dennis is not the errand person. Dennis drives the pickup . . . That’s all folks.
OMG . . . there still is a supper to prepare. It is amazing what I can accomplish within my days. Never underestimate the whiles of . . . ME!
Everyone has heard the saying “get a grip.” It may be said for someone that is experiencing a good amount of angst.
I needed a grip this morning . . . literally. My breakfast is a bowl of plain yogurt, a dollop of Mott’s apple sauce topped with several tablespoons of flax meal. It is my yum breakfast. The 46 ounce plastic jar of sauce has a plastic screw type lid. Due to some previous incidents of various products, I make sure to check for secure closings to the best of my strength.
Getting everything back before eating, I made tracks to the refrigerator to put items back. With the door open, I used two hands to place the newly opened jar to its destination. My grip slipped and before I knew it, the heavy plastic jar took flight. It hit the edge of the stair tread that was to the immediate right. The force of 46 ounces of apple sauce, minus a few ounces, popped the lid. My oh my. I needed to get a grip in deciding the plan of action to get this cleaned up.
Out came the kitchen wastebasket and the roll of paper towels was taken off of the bracket at the kitchen sink. I scooped up globs of apple sauce one paper towel at a time. I was gaining on the floor and then realized the wall, the side of the refrig, the front of the refrig and the first step of the stairs going to the attic needed a lot of clean up. After the paper towels had done what they could, a hot soapy kitchen sink was filled and the rest of the cleanup ensued.
I did eat my breakfast that I had now worked hard for. A long walk down Stauffer Avenue did the trick to catch my breath, get a grip and realize that this had been the first mess that had happened since my left side is not quite working at its ultimate mobility.
Life happens in such a way that hopefully in the future, a small warning sound in the gray matter allows me to know . . . been there, done that. My best needs to be double checked.
I did head out for a walk and immediately felt a mist. I finished my walk as I am working on getting my legs as strong as possible for a time when walking will be my best avenue to healing.
When Dennis finished mowing our front yard yesterday he commented that there were spots that were brown. What! The earlier mowing’s left a lush carpet. When I checked it out, I couldn’t believe it. The spears were so dry, they took on a copper color. Admittedly, we have used umpteen types of grass seed over the years. Last year we went to Drummers in Mankato and bought seed for full sun. Where I had used it in the areas where it was down to the black dirt from digging up crab grass, the grass looks great. Try, try and we might get it right. If not, there is always another year. Out came the grass seed and the spreader. With the mist of today and rain in the forecast, the seeds may get a soaking. When I was done, I welcomed my cane. Sometimes both hands are needed to execute a task. It’s not that I need to put a lot of weight on the cane, but in the moment when a small amount of stability might be needed, it is worth its weight in gold.
Dennis took the car for a fill and also took it through the wash. When he came back, I vacuumed it and cleaned out some of the winter items. We will still keep some new masks as each store can set their own guidelines and all medical facilities require them.
By two this afternoon, I was in my chair for a break. The eyes went shut for a good 20-minute nap . . . that was my dad’s secret ammunition.
Dennis is doing a great job on painting our lawn chairs. He has his paint booth set up in the pickup garage. Most importantly, Dennis has a project . . . that is always a good thing.