Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:12 pm on October 15, 2020 Permalink  

  Ready for Shifting Seasons 

  We enjoyed a slow morning.  I toddled out of bed at eight.  I just caught site of the back door closing as Dennis was heading out to the patio porch with his first cup of coffee.  

  We had made plans for the afternoon to get the push lawnmower out of the front car garage . . . and it had a spot waiting in the potting shed. After having sifted and sorted the contents of the potting shed this summer, what a treat this year to have plenty of free space.  The high winds this week also allowed for the umbrella to call it quits for 2020.  I think for all the twirling it did on the patio in the winds, it is safer in the potting shed.  

  Our walk behind snowblower nicely took the spot that the lawn mower had had.  Dennis made sure the electrical power cord to start it was close at hand.  It is my sincere desire that we won’t need the blower any time soon. 

  Picking up backyard branches was not in the schedule but it was indeed warranted.  Our little burning ring got a workout today.  As cool as it was, the fire felt good to stand next to.  Our temp this morning was in the high 30s.  For sure gloves were needed.

  Nothing says a good day’s local effort like a three o’clock  coffee break in the patio porch.  A couple of cookies rounded it out.  Our small leaf blower is used anytime we want to get into the house without having the windrow of leaves coming right along with us when getting into the house.  

  It is going to be a soup and sandwich supper.  It seems the week went by quickly.  We are not in any way disappointed in our achievements for the week.  Of course . . . we always leave a bit for the next day.

   
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  Noreen 4:09 pm on October 14, 2020 Permalink  

  A Chill in the Air 

  I don’t think it would feel quite so chilly if the dang winds would give us a break.  I did work outside until something in my being called out “Uncle.”

  Daughter Carrie will be 55 this Saturday.  There is the “uncle” thing.  I still think of myself as being 55. If I squint my eyes, I can even recall my birthdays in that era. My mind and spirit says to bring it all on and it shall be so.  Not! 

  Dennis and I sat and had coffee in the patio porch this forenoon.  Yup, the furnace was turned on and we sat in comfort.  The cats each had their favorite pillows to perch upon.  Dennis and I have the prep work done on some yard projects.  We know that we have “people” resources to tap into.  We are tapping one of those resources to finish up what we have prepped for.  Dennis made personal and eye-to-eye contact with said person.  The caulking on the patio and the spray foam for crooks and crevices will be taken care of, working around air temperatures.  Whew!  

  At the point that Dennis and I are, Dennis at 84 and myself at 76, we need to honor our abilities at where they are at today.  In looking over our 2020 year thus far, there were many projects we tackled that were not every year, for sure tasks.  We have a window of quite a few years out before they will be back in the job jar.  Dennis and I need to allow ourselves to kick back, returning to doing some things for fun and true enjoyment.  I think we can make the transition.  

  Making the turn and having these last year-end tasks to be done by hiring someone local feels right.  We have had some family help and it was appreciated to no end.  The advice that family gave on what was still remaining to be done was priceless.  It could have been ignored and left for another year, but the delay could be very spendy.  We do realize that our family’s free time and their weekends are precious.  All in all, 2020 is going to end up to the positive for the well-loved homestead on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 3:43 pm on October 13, 2020 Permalink  

  Oh Let the Sunshine In! 

  When the sun is bright, I don’t pay too much attention to the temps.  It was a day that beckoned me outside.  We had a walk through of the yard when Kevin and Kersten were here this weekend.  I had some work that I could do before winter hit.

  As of today, all of the silicon caulk has been dug out of the patio areas where the concrete was scored when it was poured . . . quite a few decades ago.  When we have a sunny warm day with temps over 55 degree and less wind, I will tackle the new and improved suggestion of caulk to keep water out of said cracks.

  Sunday with the winds gusting horrifically the patio umbrella blew over and we ended up with a slight tear.  Down into the sewing studio stashes and coming up with a scrap of canvas and we were on to patching that tear before putting the umbrella away for the winter. It took Dennis to hold the area taunt and I applied the patch that was laden with glue. It will will hold into the future until the umbrella can no longer flap its vents.

  Dennis took the suggestion of Sunday, and that was to patch up several holes in our vinyl siding.  Never under estimate how far a lawnmower will let rocks fly.  It doesn’t take a very large rock to fly over 25 to 30 feet and still have enough umph to make a hole in siding.  We got all our equipment out and began.  It went so well, that we redid one of the patches I had done earlier next to the octagon bathroom window.  I had glued in the piece that had chunked out.  It didn’t look very good.  Dennis got a piece of siding that was hiding up in the rafters of the garage and we cut out a larger piece than what the hole was.  That type of patch had done so well on the back garage that needed help, we tried to duplicate that.  Worse case, it will fall off and we will try again.

  The last thing that us old farts did was pick out and scrap out the aged foam that badly needed replacing around several of the bases of our doorways.  We had bought a new can of spray foam and after today, our areas are ready.  Again, when the wind doesn’t blow everything into the foam before it sets up.

  It seemed that one thing after another went so well, there was no stopping us.  Dennis is right at my elbow to fetch and get whatever I need.  I stand a better chance of bending over and working with what is at ground level than Dennis.  I often have thought that with his getting dizzy when he bends over to do a task. I should be prepared with a wench to help him if he would topple over.  Naw . . . it’s easier for me to do it.  When I no longer can, I will be thankful that today we got as much done of that type as we did and we should be good to go for quite awhile.

  Enjoy the week.  We sure are going to.

   
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  Noreen 3:02 pm on October 12, 2020 Permalink  

  What’s Not to Like 

  The temps are in the high 60s and there is enough wind to keep bugs away and the sun is shining.

  Dennis has been gone since breakfast.  He and his buddy Dwayne are taking another load of Dwayne’s farm stuff to the Stordon auction house.  Each time Dennis comes home it is, “just one more load should do it.”  Too funny.  Moving with a crunch time can’t be much fun.  I am so thankful we have been shifting and sorting this summer.  Dennis wanted to get some items moved out while it was his choice to do it.  I agreed.

  I tidied up the house and my phone rang.  I was off to the Old Alley Quilt Shop to pick up the Folk Art pieced top.  It was two weeks ago when I took it over.  I thought that was very fast service.  The previous owner charged $.01 per square inch for longarm quilting.  The new owner charges $.0175 per square inch.  I had no problem with that.  The top measured 72″ x 85″ and that is a bit much for me to wrangle under the needle.  I do know my limits with the shoulders, arms and wrists.  The binding in itself is still quite a project.  

  When I came home from Sherburn, I cinched up my pants and decided to do a bit of work outside.  The caulking in saw marks of the blocked off concrete patio needs to be taken out as the age of it is no longer doing its job of keeping frozen snow water at bay.  Out with the silicon and sometime soon . . . in with the masonry caulk.  I decided to dedicate some time each day this week to get the job done.  Hmm, I can still bend over and touch my toes . . . but not for long.  

  It is leftovers for supper.  I can really get into leftovers.  I am so thankful that Dennis enjoys them.  When I was working and some of the gals would share that their husbands refused – and I mean refused – to eat leftovers, hmm. . . they must never had truly been hungry in their lives.  Oh that’s right, they didn’t have Lena as their mom.  Bless their hearts.  

  I think I am really going to enjoy this week of cool weather as we swat away on a few fall projects.  I refuse to put them in a job jar.

   
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  Noreen 5:07 pm on October 11, 2020 Permalink  

  Blessed 

  Not much more to say when the day has been all I could ever have hoped for and to have enjoyed.  It is well within my soul!  Feeling blessed.

   
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  Noreen 3:16 pm on October 10, 2020 Permalink  

  Fall Marches On 

  The computer tells me the temps today were in the high 60s compared to yesterday when it was in the high 80s.  I’ll take everyone’s word for it.  I didn’t have an agenda for the outside today.  I can keep quite busy in our little cabin here on Stauffer Avenue. 

  Yesterday was a bit of a stretch for both Dennis and me.  We didn’t know how weary we actually were until after showering up and relaxing.  Dennis slept until 9:30 this morning.  My usual time is 8:00 and today was no exception.  I did get up at 2:30 a.m. and take something for the weariness in the joints and bones that bucked enough for me not to settle in.  Today, everything felt usual.  The blessing is that we had very little wind today, thus there were no torrents of leaves coming down.  That will give us both a break.  Oak and Maple trees literally shower us with their bounty.

  As I was doing laundry, I happened to look out the octagon window in the bathroom and watch our neighbor’s dog.  Peaches is three years old and has a hard time with her hindquarters.  Neighbor Bob has told us the vet says she has arthritis.  I do pat myself on the back for keeping my mouth shut in visiting with Bob about it.  My insides want to remark that kicking a puppy in the hindquarters with steel toe shoes for tearing up rolls of toilet paper may not have been the best choice of reprimanding a puppy.   I confess . . . I did call the city police on him as it was a repeated situation.  Come to find out, I was not the only person that responded when hearing the dog cry as she was being abused.  Now . . . Bob feels so bad for her as he can’t see himself without her as she is such a loyal companion.  Hello!

  Dennis has been busy in the patio porch most of the afternoon.  I like the fact that whatever he gets involved in, he does hit the rocking chair for a break intermittently.  

  Well, I had better get going in putting the bedding back in place if either one of us want the beds ready when we call it a day.  It has been a great day.

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on October 9, 2020 Permalink  

  Perseverance 

  It’s been a good day.  We have a family member that is back home from a short stint in the hospital.  Many tests were run and shortly the rest of the story will be known.  Always better to be safe than sorry.  Our prayers have been answered when check-out time comes from a hospital and there are no limitations for the present time.  Perseverance with prayers . . . it’s a good thing.

  Dennis and I had a plan for today.  All perennials needed to be cut back, raked off and mulched.  I can tell you that we met our objective.  Dennis went on to mow the rest of the acre.  He tells me it is the last time.  When I sat on the patio for a break and tipped my head ever so slightly . . . there are a lot of leaves yet to sail downward.  Dennis was right.  With the Hosta cut back it will be easier to blow out the leaves of the Oak and Maple under the Lilacs in time to come.  We have not had a killing frost as yet.  The dancing leave that are doing their thing are the impatient ones.  Just like farmers in the spring of the year wanting to be first.

  We did pay an itchy price for getting the yard work done.  The no see-um were relentless.  I checked online.  It is their saliva that brings their blood supply, aka: us, to the surface for them to feed off of.  Accidently I found out they love a wet surface.  After the Hosta on the east side of the house were cut back via the weed whip, I wanted to wash off the foundation of the wet greenery splatter.  Why not veer a bit to the south and wash off the backdoor and knock off a few spider webs.  By the time I had the water turned off and the hose wrapped, the white backdoor was literally covered with the no see-ums.   I think they are going to hang around for a bit, as the internet article offered.  If I want to work on a project outside I will water down something several feet away and let them play in the water to their hearts content . . . away from me.   It will be worth a try.  Once the water had dried off of the back door, there were still no see-ums about, but not to any degree.  I did try Kersten’s bug spray that works well on gnats.  It didn’t phase the little bastards.

  It did get very warm this afternoon with low humidity and dew point.  I need to check in with Dennis, but I do believe we have emptied the job jar in regard to the yard work.  Whew!

  Have a great . . . whatever it is that makes you happy.  You deserve it!

   
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  Noreen 3:51 pm on October 8, 2020 Permalink  

  Situations in Threes 

  I am not ready to push this old wife’s tale that situations come in threes.  Yesterday we lost our grand-pup Sophie.  Today we have a  52 year old son, Sophie’s daddy, . . . waiting to here if he is in the hospital due to a light heart attack.

  There are no promises to each day.  We need to take them on as they come, but be ready with open hearts to be what family needs of us.  Lots of prayers for the patient and lots of prayers for the one sitting by the bedside in God’s waiting room.

  This thankful mom, is thankful to be in her own waiting room, waiting for news.  Thanks be to God.

   
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  Noreen 4:11 pm on October 7, 2020 Permalink  

  Wednesday 

  Wednesday . . . also known as hump day.  I have to remind myself each morning as I open my eyes as to what day of the week it is.  Though I have been retired since 2009, I remember and give credit for worker-bees getting up and hitting each work day.  Dennis had a good outlook, “I get to go to work.” 

  I am all about balance in my life.  Even with the covid I have blocked out certain amount of times for reading, cleaning, checking on Dennis and yard work.  Yard work will soon be traded for keeping the back steps cleaned off.  It is what it is.  I know many have not had the chance to see what the next door brings.  The adage of “live each day as if it were your last” . . . I do work hard at that as Dennis does.

  

  Sophie

  

  Today we lost a special fur-baby family member, Sophie.  Difficult . . . absolutely.  It is too bad that all the devotion that dogs can and do give does not allow us to know how they are feeling.  We have had the best in Sophie and Bell.  Two dogs that wormed their way into our hearts from their wee puppy days to their last.

  One more time the potting shed doors were cracked open as Dennis put his chainsaw Eagle away until next spring.  He did a great job on giving the Eagle extended longevity by a cleanup and a new coat of sealant.  I thought Dennis might have run out of some things to take care of, but this afternoon he was out on the patio cleaning up a metal garden art that resembles a copper boiler.  The item will soon have a new paint job inside and outside.  I wonder if he remembers that there is an actual full sized copper boiler that may like to have a new shine.  Time will tell.

  Ball Park beef hotdogs for supper with the rest of the potatoes that are in need of being used up.  Veggies may be pickle relish.  Some days we just take a look-see to see what is in the refrig.  It works.

   
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  Noreen 3:56 pm on October 6, 2020 Permalink  

  Popped Out at 89 Degrees 

  A bit of a warm up.  Who would have thought!

  We were up to sitting on the patio this afternoon with our break.  Not to be.  Asian Beetles, flies, Boxelder bugs . . . Nope.  We had a sit-to in the patio porch where screens kept most at bay.  Of course we need to have a bit of the doorways open for the four footed fur babies to pop in and out.

  For living in town we sure do have the dust flying this afternoon.  Choke city.  Stauffer being a gravel street and the winds from the south, it would not have been a good day to have the clothes lines full.  We had picked a perfect day on this last Sunday for that.  

  I had put two items on Facebook Marketplace.  I had one success, and then I closed it down.  Too much of a hassle to be tied down for responses.  I realize having a garage sale is “one day” and then it is done.  The only item we are contending with is an old White brand electric sewing machine.  It came to us from one of Dennis’ kids as they were moving on and needed to clear out their home.  No one, including me, has an emotional attachment to it.  Several years ago I opened the cabinet and realized something is amiss.  Don’t want it, don’t need it, don’t want to take the time or energy to see what it would take to get it sewing.  After all, it only takes up several square feet in the back garage.  I am spoiled as what I sew with just takes a flip of a switch and I am off and stitching.

  My emotional attachment with sewing machines is what I have in the sewing studio. Mom’s machine does sew well.  Several years ago I was working on a double sized bed quilt.  Of the blocks that needed to be sewn, I did each half of the needed number of blocks with Mom’s machine to give it a good working out.  There also, it only takes several square feet in the sewing studio to store it.  Time will tell what happens to it eventually.

  I have been giving Dennis his space in the garage.  The chainsaw Eagle has had a good cleaning, rinsing and drying off.  We had cans of clear poly spray on hand.  The only suggestion I gave was that several light coasts of spray is better that one heavy coat that is bound to run.  With the pressure that it takes to hold the nozzle down . . . better his hands than mine.  I have all I can do to hold the nozzle down on my personal deodorant.  The Eagle is, after all, one of our favorite garden art pieces that takes rain and hot sun each summer.  Anything to help reserve it . . . priceless.  

  It has been warm outside, but the humidity and dew point are very low.  Take it the way it comes.