Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:16 pm on July 26, 2021 Permalink  

  Heavy Air 

  It may be smoke.  It may be a higher than normal dew point in combination with the humidity.  As I was plucking out some weeds this early morning, I felt heavy air as I began to huff and puff.  Enough of that!

  The RFD farm channel is Dennis’ favorite.  I must say I wouldn’t miss their eight in the morning routine for anything.  It is John Wayne’s rendition of “Why I love America” with wonderful music accompaniment.  I never tire of it.  Kind of like starting each day with thankfulness.

  I have spent some time in the studio today.  All four sides of the 82″ tablecloth have their border on . . . complete with the mitered corner pinned ready to sew down.  As I couldn’t find a plausible reason fore the 1/2 difference in one of the four corners, I am writing it off as textile printing error.  The eye will travel to see the braid match.  I doubt anyone will whip out a tape measure . . . well, one whose name does comes to mind.  The day ended in the studio with the threads changed out ready for another day.

  The 7th of August we are planning on going to Darwin, Minnesota.  The home of the largest twine ball. My mom’s family includes all with a link to the name Riebe.  Once a year, in the park, there is a gathering.  All the siblings of the original eight, have passed.  It is now up to their children, my cousins, to continue getting together.  A no fuss type of day, just catching up with each other. 

  On this day, five months since my stroke, with my left hand, I used the fingernail clipper to trim the nails on my right hand.  Not that Dennis hasn’t been doing a good job, it feels better to whack my own nails.  Now . . . if only I had the strength with those fingers of the left hand to push down the button on my deodorant.  Patience is a virtue, and I am still in the waiting room.  

  The days to come will bring more heavy air.  It’s a good thing I have an ample supply of stick deodorant.

   
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  Noreen 1:57 pm on July 25, 2021 Permalink  

  Forecasts are Right On 

  I was outside this morning at seven.  I was determined to get a few weeds taken care close to the east side of the house.  Dennis had just washed off the house, so I knew all the weeds would need was a gentle tug from the damp soil.  I accomplished my mission and had a fair amount of the pulled weeds to show for my efforts.

  I have been cleared as far as my activities around our home and gardens.  Bending is allowed.  It will be my endurance that limits me.  Sure enough.  I knew when I had had enough.  It may be that the weather forecast of higher humidity being right on target or possibly I had run out of steam.  Either way, I was content with my progress of getting some unwanted greenery in the burn ring.

  I settled on the sewing studio.  I took the time to read up on a few tips for using different presser feet.  I was ready to attach the third side of the border onto the tablecloth.  With that accomplished, I was excited to work with two of the four mitered corners. It sure looked as if the seaming of the border print was going to allow for success.  Yup, I had to get out my plastic 45 degree guides.  One corner . . . perfect.  The opposite corner . . . off by a half inch.  I measured from the point of the miter as it traveled to the edge:  Seventeen inches on the miter that had also met the 45 degree test.  The opposite corner . . . seventeen and a half inches.

  Dennis was down checking up on me and said the corners looked great . . . until I laid the tape measure down for a looksee.  This was the perfect time to realize I needed to get out of the studio for a break.  Dennis followed me up the steps to make sure I would leave it be for a time.

  Dennis has settled in watching a rodeo on the RFD channel.  I know if I sit in my rocking chair I will be most likely be checking my eyelids for cracks in a short order. Just what is needed to think things through.  Had I stayed in the studio the temps outside would have been minimal.  Tomorrow is a new day!

   
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  Noreen 2:13 pm on July 24, 2021 Permalink  

  Nothing Special 

  This was a nothing special Saturday.  Now that I am on the downhill side of this Saturday, it feels special.

  I am in my element when I can have a tidy home and a supper to put forth.  I had a lot of energy at seven this morning.  As I got up out of bed, I took the bedding right with me to the washing machine in the bathroom.  Bubbles churning, I put together my breakfast.  One of Dennis’ scones sure was tempting.  Not.  I did do my yogurt, flax meal, apple sauce and blueberries.  Maybe tomorrow morning I won’t be as strong.  I feel better if I lay low on the refined sugar and white flour.

  On to the supper.  I rough chopped the last of an onion and sautéed it to get a good caramelization. Pasta, lean ground beef browned, a cup or so of corn kernels, the onions and then churned with the contents of a jar of Clssico Tomato and Basil.  It is a warm day to have the oven going later on.  Equally, it is a good day to put out a good meal . . . with leftovers guaranteed.  

  By twelve noon the fresh bedding was back on the bed and the older ones on Stauffer will not be going out for supper.  It did feel good to take a break in our west house porch.  We have Thrush  birds that nest under our awning.  It makes for fun to watch them flit from the evergreen to and from their nests.  Their song is a joyful one.  I had a cup of coffee left from breakfast.  Add to that . . . even watching some traffic was relaxing.

  There was one seam stitched and ironed this afternoon.  I am making headway even if the back doesn’t appreciate the sewing studio time. 

  I am not overdoing it in my day-to-day routines.  I am participating in all my usual activities, just not to the max.  It feels special to be on track after six months of . . . not so much.

   
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  Noreen 1:08 pm on July 23, 2021 Permalink  

  Using the Mornings 

  I was out walking early this morning as I knew what the rest of the day was going to be.  Snuggles looked as if he would join me.  When I looked back he was sprawled on the east edge of the patio watching me.  I headed to the far east of the acre and checked on the red lilies that were in bloom.  Everything is doing its best in this drought.  One of our lilacs is showing curled leaves that are as if someone sprayed it.

  As I came back I couldn’t help but notice how clean the house looked after Dennis worked the bubbles yesterday.  He was after all the fly specs as well as the cob webs.  Next time he is talking about getting a brush out.  Take it slow as there are more webs and specs to come this season. ——–Update:  Dennis just came back from the Fleet and Farm.  His current sprayer head with which to switch from soap to clear water is near its end.  Dennis now has a new Scott’s sprayer.  The last one on the shelf.  I am sure they will not be ordering additional seasonal items.  Dennis lucked out.

  I have put in my allotted time in the sewing studio.  I enjoy it so I don’t want to overdue it.  I have one side of the four borders sewn onto the tablecloth.  I really like the contrast of the two fabrics while having it compliment each other with the shared blue.  

  I have noticed a delayed backache from the surgery.  I do remember how narrow the surgical table was that I was asked to get on board to, shortly before “lights out.”  This backache is my signal to change out activities.  It has gotten too warm to enjoy being outside.  I will wait until tomorrow morning’s cooler air.  It’s time to bury the nose in a book.

   
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  Noreen 1:17 pm on July 22, 2021 Permalink  

  One More Time 

  One more blood draw to see how the recovery is going post surgery.  All aspects were mid point.  Way to go!  We are on track, just not a terribly fast one. 

  I did challenge my medical records as they have listed me as having Stage 2 kidney disease.  I wanted to know where and when that had been determined.  Via the computer records at my doctor’s finger tips, all my blood work right up to the time of the stroke always put the items that earmark the kidneys, right at midpoint.  In fact, the blood draw of his morning indicated I was midpoint.  It was found that perhaps after intravenous testing, it may have tipped the scales.  It can’t change past comments on my history, but I feel better knowing it is not going to be in my currant situation.  We may still leave the salt shaker off of the table. 

  When I came home Dennis was washing off the house.  Bubbles everywhere.  He had commented on the abundance of cobwebs on the sides of the house and how the winds had caught spears of grass in them.  Well . . . no more.  It amazes me how Dennis keeps moving and how great it is.  No couch potato here.

  I am rewarding Dennis with homemade potato salad for supper.  He has always said I could put Mrs. Gerry’s deli products to shame.  It was great finding out the onion that I had wrapped in paper towels and had put in the crisper of the refrig was just as solid as when I had put it there in February.  I had bought a fairly large bag of onions and in reading the printed info on the bag that was the suggestion for storing them.  We had not been doing a lot of cooking as of late, so this was nice to know good onions can be kept for a time.  Dennis likes the potato salad with almost equal amounts of potatoes, boiled eggs and onions.

  It does seem that an appointment in the morning sure can take the shine off of the rest of the day.  The rhythm of my day has been broken.  I am not a one-note person, but it screws me up.  I’s a good thing the medical appointments are getting to be far in between.

   
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  Noreen 11:50 am on July 21, 2021 Permalink  

  Beating the Heat 

  We try to beat the heat when it comes to using the oven.  Early morning hours works best as well as running the clothes dryer in the earlier hours.  It all helps in the late afternoons when the sun has heated through . . . everything.

  I had mentioned quite some tome ago that Dennis felt a scone for breakfast outdid a sweet roll or a donut any day.  At a time when I was not as yet mobile, Dennis made the trip to the grocery store.  I had told him just where the scones could be found on the bakery shelves.  The trip to the store took him . . . forever.

  When he came home, I had not expected to hear clunks as he put down some bakery bags.  Dennis had talked to the Hispanic gal in charge of all things yummy.  Dennis came home with two dozen frozen scones so we could bake out as many as we wanted at a time.  I would have liked to have been a mouse in the corner as the ole cowboy broached the request.  Nonetheless, Dennis had been in charge of fixing his scones ever since.  I must say, they beat any other pastry.  

  With the forecast for the day, Dennis had the oven preheating to 350 degrees early.  Six scones were being put on the parchment paper.  One a day with the remaining ones in a container in the refrig.  He has his glaze, powdered sugar and a bit of water, for the top figured out so as it dries, it seals the top after they have cooled.  I must say, as they bake out the aroma of blueberries is quite wonderful.  Thirty minutes and it is a done deal.

  Dennis has achieved more of his own errands as I was not able to these last months.  He knows just where to go in the Family Dollar for his Lemon Heads.  They are a very tart little hard candy to get the saliva glands cranked up.  Meds can dry out the mouth to make it feel like you are choking.  Carrie found these for Dennis in the winter and he has been a fan ever since.  Earlier this week he came home with nine boxes, at $1.00 each, to make sure he would not run out.

  Both Dennis and I have learned much this 2021 year, thus far.  Sweet indeed . . . literally.

   
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  Noreen 3:24 pm on July 20, 2021 Permalink  

  Change in Home-Bound Schedule 

  Dennis and I started some dental work after I had recovered somewhat after my stroke in late March.

  I needed a new partial on the bottom as I lost one of my original teeth that the partial hooked onto.  That partial frame had been with me since I was 21, the year Carrie was born in 1965.  Dr. Wagner of Buffalo Lake was my dentist at the time.  Full top plate and a partial on the bottom all at the same time.  Yippee!  I am a poster person for encouraging women to take Vitimins when pregnant.

  Dennis was in need of also having a new partial.  We decided to both go through the process together.  As it turned out, we both had extractions that were needed.  Not much with menu planning for a while.

  Today we had our two month checkup in Mankato.  Both Dennis and I are on track.  This experience with a dentist is foreign to me.  Both Dennis and I were fitted with temporary appliances immediately after the extractions.  There was no running around with gapping holes in our mouths.  As I said, all is going well.  

  Our schedule here at home for the day was . . . take whatever comes down the pike, and we have.  We made a short stop for some groceries . . . well, mostly taxable items to keep the homestead humming.  As sticky warm as it was, we opted out of eating out anywhere.  A restaurant full of sticky warm people did not interest us.  We are never caught not having food for a meal here on Stauffer Avenue.

  What we did pick up was a package of three Mr. Clean spray bottles.  Here is the story:  Our vinyl flooring in the kitchen and bath has more years on it than it is suppose to last.  In high traffic areas the factory surface has taken a beating.  The Mr. Clean Erasers do a great job, better than a mop and cleanser in the water.  We have no plans of replacing the flooring when we know how to get the beautiful light gray appearance back.  Yesterday I tackled the stove top and Dennis tackled the floors: first with the erasers and then a general mopping.  His back felt it.  A lot of close personal TLC while bending.  I have seen the Mr. Clean Mop in the stores . . . no refills stocked.  I have seen the refills . . . no mop.  We are thinking that with the spray it will take some of the grunt work away, and by using our Swiffer mop and applying soft rags to the mop head, we may end up with the same great results of enjoying that great light gray flooring a bit longer.  Time will tell.  I am keeping a supply of the erasers just in case.

  By the way, our fare for supper is Shore Lunch soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.

   
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  Noreen 2:35 pm on July 19, 2021 Permalink  

  Falling into Place 

  Amazingly, my days are falling into place.  A routine that feels good.  By no means a fast pace, just getting something done for each day that has been given to me.  

  I do plan on going into the sewing studio each morning for a short stint.  The three yards of border fabric yields two sides of the tablecloth.  I had two three-yard lengths.  After doing one such cutting this morning, I realized I need to put a new blade into my rotary cutter. Tomorrow I will have one last cut to make in my decorative border fabric and then all is ready for assembly. 

  Coming upstairs,  the first item was sitting down for a break with water.  The top of the kitchen range was on the slate.  A splatter here, a splatter there and add a kettle of pasta that managed to boil over . . . it cries out for help.  A sink full of hot sudsy water works wonders. 

  This afternoon I made contact with Aunt Janet.  With the heat settling in for the remainder of the week, doing a check-in when you know they aren’t venturing out . . . it’s a good thing.  Dennis on the other hand is quite mobile . . . rain or shine . . . hot or cold.  Dennis is off having coffee with buds.  I think it’s great.  Commiserating allows one to know how others spend their time when there is no grass to mow.

  I am enjoying a Monday feeling optimistic as I know the importance of having a routine that makes for a balanced life.  It takes more patience than I knew I had.

   
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  Noreen 2:03 pm on July 18, 2021 Permalink  

  Cabin Fever 

  Yesterday I felt it . . . cabin fever.  There has not been any reason for me to go anywhere.  Last week we had been over to Kevin for a repair.  It felt great.  What I really noticed at Kevin’s garage was the air flow through the long building via some strategically placed fans from east to west.  That will serve him well this week as another hot spell is on its way. 

  Back to cabin fever.  It was decided that if I could hang out until today, Sunday, we would go grocery shopping.  I had a list going.  Yes, I can drive.  I don’t feel comfortable as yet to trek through the store for a long period of time.  I have mentioned it before, feeling stable in our home and outside on the patios is far different than being in unknown surroundings.  Some days are different than others.  It could be mind over matter or the reverse.

  We did get our groceries.  Dennis said I looked dressed for the occasion.  I had earrings in my ears. The first time since they had been removed by nurses in February.  They have been in a small container with the same info on it as all the wrist bands had.  Yup, they were mine!  I got the right earring in, but Dennis had to help with the left one.  Gotter done.  They are the type and size that can remain in for an extended length of time.  

  Many decades ago my sister, Elvera, and I had gotten our ears pierced together.  Since, I had always worn earrings, Dennis would comment that I didn’t look dressed without them.  Forewarned . . . I am now dressed for whatever may come.

  When I walked this morning I had to stop and admire the Russian Sage next to the west porch.  It is beautiful and the bees are loving the delicate purple blooms.  Last year I had dug out the area and put in new dirt and amended it.  I couldn’t be more pleased.  No fuss . . . just enjoyment of them.  I will not hesitate to add a few plants next year in the backyard.  This is a perennial that does not disappoint.

  Here we are looking at the beginning of a new week . . . less the cabin fever.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 10:40 am on July 17, 2021 Permalink  

  Work in Progress 

  Each day I am a work in progress.  Walking without my cane in constant use is my latest attempt.  It’s hard to do anything when one hand and arm is busy getting the cane to cooperate.  I am very careful and know my limit.  I find the late day hours allow for more wobbling.  That might be the reason I fold up and go to bed at nine each night.

  

  Again, today I visited my studio.  Not for the long haul, but to push myself a little at a time.  The tablecloth is beginning to look as if it might be.  Carrie’s walls in the living area and dining room are navy blue.  When I was given seasonal border yardage, I felt I needed to do something with it.  Last year, Old Al ley Quilt Shop had the perfect 108″ width blue to match what was in the border print.  The bottom of the border print has a band of the dark blue design.  The accurate seaming will be what makes it all come together.  The Process on this project had begun.  I had not counted on it being delayed into 2022.  No matter.  I am here now.

  What I have noticed is that over the last six months I may have missed a step in getting my photos as I had before.  The program may have been updated and I have been downgraded for now.  I just need to play around with it . . . and play with it I did.  It is amazing what can be forgotten when not used consistently.  I need to repeat the steps in upcoming posts.