Me, Myself and Memories

Recent Updates Page 197 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Noreen 4:10 pm on November 24, 2020 Permalink  

  Good Deed Done 

  Today we spent the better part of today in the City of Lakes . . . Fairmont, right down HWY 15 to the south.  Dennis, the ole cowboy, pulled it off.  He made it through a colonoscopy.  I know he had so wanted to bug out of it over this last weekend.  Who does want to have 64 ounces of prep to drink!  As soon as Dennis knew he couldn’t have anything to eat for the entire day and night of Monday . . . he was starving.  Dennis began drinking his cocktail at 6 PM on Monday night and finished up the second round by 11 PM.  Neither one of us got much sleep and our water bill for this next billing cycle will be a whopper.  At least we know our toilet is in fine working order.  At six this morning Dennis had to have the last 24 ounces of liquid.  

  We needed to check in at ten this forenoon.  I sat in the waiting room with Dennis’ code number so I could watch on the computer where he was at in the procedure.  It is a neat feature.  When his code came up that he was in the “last recovery stage” I knew I could go back into room#5.  Dennis was having cranberry juice, coffee and toast.  Dr. Kim came in to see him off before he could leave and the report was wonderful.  No polyps!  No obstructions.  I sure hope that is the last colonoscopy for the 84 year ole cowboy.  We got home at 1:30 and home looked oh so sweet.

  I will say Dennis was a trooper through the prep, the pre-op and the surgery.  He was a trooper right up until the time I thought he would take that mandatory wheelchair ride out to the little red pickup and take out everyone that was in his way.  He wanted out and he wanted out right now!  Bless his heart.

  It was raining when we left Fairmont and as dreary as it is I have no doubt that it may be a foggy night.

  A huge item off the tick list and also a huge relief in the results.

  Tomorrow is Wednesday and I am not planning on anything until my eyes flutter open after a good night’s rest.

   
• 

  Noreen 5:14 pm on November 23, 2020 Permalink  

  Victorian Santas 

  The Victorian Santa quilt blocks are in progress.  This is a Log Cabin pattern with a bit of a twist.  There will be three different sizes featured in the center of each block.  I chose the 6 3″ blocks to do first.  The small size takes a total of four logs around the image.  It was quite a bit of stitch a seam, press that seam and then trim that seam.  Slow but sure and it also allows me the opportunity to keep moving and not sit in front of the sewing machine for too long.  This Victorian Santa pattern spoke to me, big time.  In times past, I have ten Victorian Santas that I have done in Counted Cross Stitch.  They have all been framed by Michael’s and are under UV protective glass.  They average 20″ x 26″.  They are tucked away in the attic, right beside the storage box where there are just as many Victorian Santa figurines that stand 10″ tall.  Within my own home I could very well have a truck show of Victorian Santas taking front and center.  

  There was a purpose for me to remain in the sewing studio for the better part of the day.  This morning Dennis began the prep for his colonoscopy tomorrow in Fairmont.  I had no idea that our hospital had ceased doing the procedures.  Dennis has been allowed clear liquids for today.  Coffee and green tea topped with water.  It was easier for me to let Dennis roam at will today and having me remain quite and not asking anything or making any comments.  I am quite sure that after he begins the prep cocktail at six this evening, all thoughts will be centered as to his physical proximity to the bathroom.  I am proud of Dennis for doing the colonoscopy.  Our family doctor did tell Dennis as the age of 84, it could be bypassed.  Dennis is of the mindset of doing what is required to stay on track with health that is as good as possible.  That tells me that he still has dreams to see through, events to look forward to and most of all, he wants to spend as much time in our forever home as possible.

  Dennis has been in the patio porch and I know he has been napping off and on.  What a great way to pass time.  Dennis is adamant in taking his meds and I know he will see this through being just as adamant.  Let’s hear it for the ole cowboy.

  I have fixed myself a bologna sandwich and have it in my sewing studio to enjoy sometime for supper.  I could not eat in front of him. 

  Take care and my hope is everyone is taking good care of their medical checks and balances.  You are worth it.    

   

   
• 

  Noreen 5:20 pm on November 22, 2020 Permalink  

  Darkness Comes Too Soon 

  There is something within that wants to shut down when the darkness comes too soon in the afternoon.  I do fight it.  Going to bed at about eleven seems to suit us well.  When it is five in the afternoon and there are shadows appearing I have a good six hours left in me.  Television doesn’t offer much in the evening hours even if we have lots of choices from cable.  Dennis could have the RFD channel on non-stop.  For me . . . not so much.  I am more inclined to sit at the dining room table and do some reading with good lighting.

  As luck would have it, Kevin and Kersten gave me a stand some time ago to hold recipe books in the kitchen.  It comes in very handy for me to prop my reading book on the dining room table.  So much easier on the wrists, hands and shoulders. What I need now is to get one of my old wooden pencils out with an eraser on the top to help turn the pages.   

  When I went for my walk this afternoon, it was warmer than I thought.  Before I knew it I had to go back and pick up one of my gloves that that slipped out of my pocket.  It is way too early to start donating mittens and gloves willy-nilly.  I should revert back to the times when Carrie and Kevin were in the mitten mode.  The best thing was a crocheted rope of yarn that was run n the jacket from one sleeve to the other.  A handy dandy safety pin attached the crocheted rope to each mitten.  Those mittens might dangle but they would not go missing.  When the kids went to Sunday School, those mittens would also contain one of my lightweight cloth hankies that had their Sunday School offering tied in one corner.  Let’s hear it for tried and true tips for young and old alike. 

  I did spend some time in the sewing studio.  Getting a handle on the start of a new project is a challenge that feels oh so good.  Nothing noteworthy to share at this time, but I think I have nailed the technique.  My studio is down by three yards as nephew Brett was scrounging for some blue fabric to round out one of his projects.  It’s a good deal for both of us.  I am lightening my stashes and he is enjoying his quilting.

  Dennis is hard at it in the kitchen dicing up some onions for supper to add to a few potatoes.  Hey . . . if I don’t ask for help . . . my bad.  May the new week bring something each day that brings a smile.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:41 pm on November 21, 2020 Permalink  

  Sunny Saturday 

  I was very thankful for a jacket this afternoon when I got my walking in.  The back, shoulders and hips are feeling much better and welcome the walking.  Mike T, the physical therapist, has instilled in me that when I honor by central point of gravity during walking, my body will respond.  Everyone’s personal point of gravity is located three to four inches behind our belly buttons.  Had I ever been told that before?  I don’t think so.  Holding myself tall and straight while walking honors that central point of gravity.  When one begins to walk with the upper body leaning forward, it also encourages the penguin walk, side to side, as we fear putting one foot in front of the other as tipping forward.  So much for the physical health tip for the week!

  When Dennis and I went to visit my brother, Calvin, in Decorah this late summer, I was sent home with something from decades ago.  In 1980, myself, Kevin and Kevin’s dad Orlin took some painting classes from Shirley Olin.  Those painting classes were held in the Civil Defense room in the basement of the Watonwan County courthouse.  I had given Calvin and his wife Lois one of my paintings.  As Calvin’s have moved into a much smaller home with little bare wall space, the painting was sent home with us.  

  Calvin’s are both smokers and the surface of the painting did give evidence of that.  I was leery of cleaning it.  With not much to loose, Dennis took the painting out of the frame and the cleaning took place.  The latex paints had a spray finish on it, so . . . I am happy with how it cleaned up.  Dennis gave the soft wood frame a cleaning and then gave it several coats of clear ploy.  Yup, it evoked a lot of memories and worthy of being kept for a few more decades.

  Dennis has had company in the patio porch.  Dwayne the tractor fellow has been checking in and brought with him a trailer that Dennis will keep for him in the back of the acre.  Apartment living doesn’t provide for much extra space in the parking lots.  I think someone backed out of the purchase of that trailer.

  Take the weekend as a gift of great weather and the grace of our Lord.  Each day is such a gift.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:16 pm on November 20, 2020 Permalink  

  A Good Day 

  A good day for a bit of a walk.  Cool enough for a nylon jacket.  The sun has power, the birds are busy and the wind is nothing more than a breeze.  I will take that any day.

  Dennis had good news today.  The eye injections that he has been having monthly has now been deemed to be needed in two months time.  I was very happy for Dennis when he came home touting his black eye patch wearing a huge smile.  The amount of fluid leaking into the back of the retina was minimal.

  I have spent some time in the sewing studio.  Over the last days, I was determined to do fabric cutting for the upcoming sewing project.  Not doing a whole lot before taking a break.  Bending over the cutting table and using the right shoulder to get pressure for that rotary blade to cut through with the first pass . . . could be felt in short order.  Having a good mystery novel for such a break works well.  Each step with the new project gives a good feeling.  I am so hopeful, I took time this afternoon to put in a new needle in the sewing machine, clean out fuzzes from underneath and do a bit of oiling.  The first sewing will be of a 1/8th seam attaching the flanges to the Santa images.  You cannot beat painter’s tape to put on top of the sewing plate for a continual 1/8th stitching to the right of the needle as a guideline.

  I peeked out the bathroom window and Dennis is taking a well deserved nap in the patio porch after his eye injection.  Giving one’s self some TLC time is very smart.  I am going to do likewise by sitting in my favorite chair with the heating pad across my back before thinking about supper.  

  May everyone enjoy these days of a beautiful sunset with mild temps and a lot of pre-Thanksgiving blessing to ponder.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:11 pm on November 19, 2020 Permalink  

  Silence 

  With this bit of mild weather and temps, I so enjoy the silence in the house.  Our furnace, in regard to our size of  home, is noisy.  Channel that with the dehumidifier when that runs in the basement, it’s more than what is conducive to a silent day, let alone a silent night.  Mild temps outside means “nice’ in the house.

  Dennis and I have reached an agreement on the thermostat in the living room.  The majority of Dennis’ day is in the garage shop or the patio porch.  I have no problem how high he sets that thermostat.  For me, being in the house either on the main floor or down in the sewing studio, I like the thermostat set at about 65.  I have winter weight clothing.  I enjoy wearing it and not having to shed such weight of clothing because Dennis has turned it up to 70 or higher as soon as he is out of bed in the morning.  There have been times when I have incorporated him in tasks in the house with his 70 plus degree setting, and . . . guess what?  Dennis is sweating.  Hello!  If you keep moving about, your body makes its own heat, giving the furnace a break from huffing and puffing.  I agree,  that after supper, it does feel good at the 70 degree notch.  I have ceased moving about as if I am running a race and find comfort in my favorite chair and Dennis is doing his thing on the computer with his card games.  Our evenings are a win, win for both of us.  The thermostat, I believe is the most debated topic in couples . . . kick it up a notch or lower it a notch.  

  As I am typing, the concrete trucks are still in motion.  The concrete plant is only a block from us and our street is a main corridor.  There must be new construction somewhere within range.  With that being said, there may still be a small chance that nephew Brett may be able to do new front steps for us.  We are on his list.  I do know he has not closed down for the season.  I also know how much he is itching to get into his quilting season.  Time will tell.

  I am hoping all the restaurants and eating places are jam-packed this evening and tomorrow night.  No more inside dining after 11:59 Friday evening until further notice.  Drive-through pickup business for them can’t be as financially rewarding as having all the tables filled several times a day.  We have many retired couples in St. James and it is not unusual to see the places filled at noon, chatting and visiting with friends even at 6′ apart.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:56 pm on November 18, 2020 Permalink  

  Brick in Bloomers 

  With the wind from the south at 25 mph, a lessor person than I would need a brick in the bloomers to stay upright.  With the temps being warmer, it is wonderful.  Whatever warmth our concrete drive can soak up allows for any new-fallen snow to disappear quicker.

  Physical therapy went well this morning.  Whenever I get home, Dennis encourages me to sit down with feet up and take it easy.  Actually, that is the opposite of what Mike T suggests.  “Keep on track with whatever you have been doing physically just at shorter intervals.”  Mike is an advocate for continual motion and not letting the muscles and tendons tighten up.  I have favorite spots to move from, one by one.  The first is our concrete drive.  A good 90′ to walk back and forth on.  From there, I have a reading chair in our west porch, moving onto going up and down the basement steps, and last but not least, is the 2 x 4 wooden chair that is our computer chair.  Of course a trip out to the patio porch is also in my schedule.  If it had not been for Mike T after I had both reverse shoulders done within 12 months of each other, my arms would have been less than one that suffers from Erb-Duchenne paralysis palsy.  It is the upper trunks C-5 and C-6 nerves.  Nerves regenerate at very minuet degrees.  I think my arms work great.  Mike T goes after me for all I can take and the end result has always been positive.  Whatever is going on right now in my back and across the shoulder blades didn’t come about over night.  Dennis and I have had a good run this summer at a lot of items in the garages and the acre.  A lot of grunt power and a lot of logic.  The recovery of the summer of 2020 will take time and I have a whole lot of it.   And . . . I have good insurance.

  The time I did spend in the sewing studio today, now has all the Santa images cut down to the sizes that are required for my quilt project.  Once that was done, I shut off all the lights and did a few trips up and down the drive.  Windy as it is, it feels good. 

  I did have Corn Flakes for supper last night, yum.  Dennis opted for a can of soup.  The Home Town Café was cheated out of a paying customer.  A bag of chili from the freezer is on the menu for tonight.  I cleared it with Dennis and it was a “go.”  Heavy meals when we have been less than active . . . are not needed.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:56 pm on November 17, 2020 Permalink  

  Unfinished is Done 

  A time ago, I prepared for Christmas.  Certain people, young and old are remembered by me and my sewing machine.  All was stitched up and tucked in a shoe box.  The next step was getting mailers.  There the process had stopped.  I had gone on to get several quilts finished and one ready to seek and search for the backing.  Then there was the quilt pattern I have not put out of my mind.  Prep work on that has been completed with images printed onto 200-thread-count fabric via the ink jet printer.  

  Today the Christmas mailers and the goodies to be put inside were pulled out of storage.  I have come to the conclusion that my address book needs serious work.  My, oh my.  It is a pocket reminder that has the date of 2002 imprinted on the cover.  I have one from Kevin that has a more recent date on the cover and the pages are empty of any notes.  Virgin territory. That sounds like a “need analysis” should be put in place.  What I now have is “no” rhyme or reason. How sweet it would be if the names were by alphabetical.  Quite a few need to be deleted, rest their souls.   Haven’t I, in times past, made mention of not putting things off?  Seriously.  I did get all the mailers addressed, complete with return address.  Right after Thanksgiving I will be toddling up to the post office and feeling good about being on track.  No last minute crisis.  With all the mailers ready to leave my sewing studio, I will feel free to tackle the next project. 

  When I have too many balls in the air, aka: unfinished projects in the sewing studio, it can almost grind me to a halt and I loose focus.  The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.  

  Dennis and I nailed down the drug insurance policy this morning to have a new company for the prescription drugs that we take.  We are changing from Blue Cross/Blue Shield prescription drug policy to WellCare prescription drug plan. The premium of $15.30 premium per month is in lieu of $64.00 that we would have been paying per month.  It will be a savings of over $500.00 during the course of the year just for myself.  Our agent had really done a lot of work to make sure all would be covered for us.  Special.

  This evening is one of the first in a long time. I have no idea what will be the fare for supper.  How brave am I!  I am going to wing it.  Actually, a bowel of Corn Flakes is a possibility.  If needed, I did check for Dennis what the hours are at the Home Town Café.  Everyone should be given a choice.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:53 pm on November 16, 2020 Permalink  

  Full Steam Forward for the Week. 

  Starting off the week with the first step being done in getting Dennis’ pickup on a schedule at the body shop.  It is a 2005 and it needs some TLC on the lower panels.

  Last week our insurance fellow emailed me and asked for a list of meds that we use in prescription form.  Our drug policy with Blue Cross, Blue Shield was going from $45.00 per month for each of us to $64.00 in 2021.   This morning we received a phone call and we will be at Mark’s office tomorrow at nine.  Apparently, he had found a company for the 2021 year that will cover what we use via prescriptions for $15.00 per month for each of us.  Now . . . talk about your home town people going the extra mile. 

  This afternoon we managed to get one of the slider patio door covered with plastic.  It may help with drafts.  It is the one to the north.  I say “we” with tongue in cheek.  Quilters have a way of working with volumes of product quite efficiently.  The service door to the patio porch is off limits this winter.  There was plenty of plastic from one tarp to also do the service door.  Putting on the plastic, I couldn’t believe the fresh air hitting me in the face as I worked with the plastic.  No tape was applied to the paneling in the patio porch.  That wood look of printed surface is so thin, it wares off very easily around a light switch.  Next spring that tape would have left a very sad look as the tape would be pulled off.  Dennis wants to also do the west slider.  This afternoon I begged off to let my neck take a break.  It wasn’t hard work, but difficult maneuvering tape and the plastic as static cling can set in easily.  Snuggles was a huge pain in the butt wrangling around the loose plastic.  I put a piece of tape on his tail and after much racing around the patio porch trying to figure out what was chasing him, Dennis felt sorry for him and took off the tape.  Snuggles jumped into one of the nesting baskets and stayed for the remainder of the task at hand.

  The UPS depot opens at four in the afternoons.  Aunt Lorraine’s dish towels will be in Arizona on Thursday.  Hmm.  The fellow had me spell out Lorraine’s name as he couldn’t read cursive.  A good deed done for a family member. 

  We are on to having leftovers for supper.  I love that type of a meal.

  It was a good day with a few items knocked off the “to do” list.  Taking items in stride is so much better than putting it off for another day.  Do we have “another day” guaranteed?

   
• 

  Noreen 2:03 pm on November 15, 2020 Permalink  

  Horrific Winds 

  All night long the tinkle of the wind chimes could be heard from the harsh north winds that were relentless.  Often I would come out of my deep rem sleep to hear them.  It didn’t take but a few heartbeats and I was back off to Neverland.  

  This morning has not brought any relief from the winds and I dealt with it by not going outside.  As we had been away from home yesterday, the usual Saturday items were taken care of today. Staying on track is important to me.  I do better with structured days.  If something were to come up unexpectedly, my usual and customary would not fall in between the cracks so far that I would loose all interest in tidy, tidy, tidy.  Thank you, Lena!

  My mom, Lena, was not a dust freak.  Living on a gravel road in Boon Lake township in Renville County with heavy equipment charging up the drive and traveling across the gravel dooryard, at best . . . keep the old warped wood framed windows shut.  Mom and Dad had lived in many older homes renting the farm land and taking the house as was.  When my parents bought their own farm in Boon Lake, of course the house was old and drafty.  From day one, bit by bit, Mom was in there pitching to better it.  Window panes were re-glazed, weather stripping miraculously appeared around door frames, and Dad was on board closing up mouse holes.  It was home.  It was a home that made us all proud to be a part of taking each task to improving it.  Pride in home ownership made keeping it up not a chore, but a feeling of self satisfaction.

  I say, “Thank you, Lena,” because I do take pride in what I have as a home.  No big bells and whistles, just a home with high utility and lovingly taken care of from the tiniest crack in the wall to the sweet remodeled bathroom.  

  With the task of making a sweep through the house and having it pass muster, I did go down into the sewing studio.  Taking one photo image at a time, I can now tell you that all the Santa imagines have had a cold water bath and are now drying.  No longer any fear of excess ink to throw a curve into my project.  The Fairfax kids had found a corrugated fold up with a grid pattern of 1″ squares, that when totally opened is 36″ x 72″.  I have used it for so many aspects of measuring fabric, ribbon, paper, etc.  Today it worked out great to lay the wet Santa images on bath towels and anchor them with pins into the corrugated surface.  One more step done. 

  I looked out the bathroom window and Dennis was doing due diligence in his patio porch running the vacuum.  Yup, pride in ownership.