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  • Noreen 2:39 pm on August 26, 2020 Permalink  

    Slow and Steady 2 

    I did have a plan for this morning and as luck would have it Dennis needed to have the alarm set for an appointment at the VA Clinic.  Getting up before seven, jumping through my usual hoops, I was outside before eight.

    By 9:30, the wheelbarrow was full of nasty Crab Grass, the rich black dirt had been raked, the Kentucky Blue Grass had been sprinkled and the water sprinklers were on.  Dennis came home in time for some patio sitting. 

    Dennis kidded me that this fussing over Crab Grass was granddaughter Megan’s fault.  When Carrie and Megan came in last spring, Megan had kind of shook her head at Grammie in regard to the flower garden that was very evident when someone drove into our drive.  Sure enough, Megan was right on.  It was beyond sad.  She has a job this summer working for the Mustard Seen Garden Nursery.  Megan clued me in on plants to put out there in the full sun.  Thanks, Megan, they are doing great!  It has eye appeal!

    In these last months when someone would pull into our drive, what could be seen was a front yard that had grass that had gone dormant.  But . . . not so the Crab Grass.  It almost looked like a mine hedge growing along the concrete drive for about eight inches into the lawn. 

    Digging a bit each day hasn’t hurt me one bit.  In rethinking the Mantas electric tiller, it would have succeeded in cutting up the roots, but not getting to the nitty-gritty of the depth of the roots.  We are moving onto the area along the curb of the city street. It is doable. Thank the great Lord we don’t have a front yard with excessive lineal feet.  Give that crap of Crab Grass a whack and a dig and soon the “thought about project” will be a “done deal.”  Even this afternoon, it is hot out but the humidity and dew point look favorable for better days ahead.  Dennis has been great moral support and our front yard is getting to look as if those that live here . . . do care. We just needed a “Megan push.”

    Yesterday late afternoon, I did put the sewing studio lights on and twirled in my sewing chair, contemplating a project.  It was the first step in eventually moving from yard work to fun work.  When nephew Larry’s mother-in-law became ill, I was given a rather large amount of her stash of fabrics.  This afternoon, I turned on the sewing machine lights and tried out a few possible scenarios. 

    Yup, I am going to be just fine.

     
  • Noreen 1:32 pm on August 25, 2020 Permalink  

    Slow and Steady 

    There is something within that allows for getting vested into an activity.  Right now, I am not getting a good vibe about spending much time in the sewing studio.  The call of the outside is beckoning.

    I don’t enjoy the hot humidity.  My choice is to get outside in the mornings by eight and then call it enough about 10:30.  My choice then is to cool down and slow myself down by reading for a spell.

    I had mentioned Crab Grass in the last days.  It is nasty and it is as undesirable as a cow pie in the lawn.  Hmm.  Funny, it even resembles the size of a cow pie with it’s center root and the huge spread of greenery from the center.

    Mega-Crab-Grass-MG_1635Slow and steady is my mantra.  With my trusty wheelbarrow and my potato fork, I have a mission.  Ideally Crab Grass is nipped in the bud just before the lilacs pop out blossoms.  Sure missed that deadline.  We have had enough small showers of rain to encourage the Crab Grass.  Ironically, the worst of it is right along the driveway.  Starting slow I tackled it Monday morning.  I pooped out quite soon.  ProgressSo be it!  Today, it seemed as if the plan of what tools I needed for yesterday, made it easier to get going today.  At 10:30 as I called it “enough,” I had the nasty greens loaded, the area was raked, the Kentucky Blue Grass seed was down on that strip and the sprinkler was going.

    Tomorrow is another day and I am not prejudging what I get done.  What I know I have gotten done these last two mornings was to put out some effort and energy, making me feel that I have not wasted the God-given day.  Self satisfaction . . . you can’t beat it for having a quiet soul.  

    For all that is going on in our world, the soul needs feeding.  There are not a lot of opportunities coming from outside sources right now so it’s up to me.  “It is well, it is well . . . with my soul.”

     
  • Noreen 3:01 pm on August 24, 2020 Permalink  

    A Monday 

    Last week at this time, I had a situation with the ole body.  Nothing wanted to feel good.  We had been at a family gathering the Saturday before and there was no shortage of family members from the northern portion of the state.

    Each day had such a nagging feeling of feeling bad all over.  I have not been one to be down and out, sleeping the days away.  Last Thursday Dennis and I decided that I felt ill enough that we were going to be tested for Covid.  We had been out and about and no social distancing was done.  We had to drive to Fairmont, a distance of 40 miles, to the Urgent Care.  Within 24 hours we had a message on the Mayo Portal that both Dennis and I tested negative.  I still felt like crap, but it also was a reassuring feeling that I had not been a carrier to family.  That part just about ate me up, thinking of it.  Dennis put his foot down.  It was great news that I had a bug, nothing serious, but there were to be No More hugging of anyone.  Ya, he said I could still hug him.  What a guy.

    Today, I can say that I feel like my old self.  Dennis wanted to broadcast the news that Attila the Hon was back.   As luck would have it, Dennis has been safe as he has never underestimated me.  Good man.

    We have a few items here on Stauffer Avenue to pick away at on the lawn.  We have the advantage of the Mantas electric tiller.  The Crab grass along the drive wants to take over.  We are in the mode of lawn seed and sprinkling . . . it would be a good thing to clean it up.  The morning hours will be our best bet and then high tailing into the shelter and out of the sun by noon. 

    Today was Megan’s first day of her sophomore high-school year at the Christian Academy.  Grandpa and I are pulling for her.

    Hang tough, people, the heat will not last forever, though it seems so.  It would be nice if we had a gentle autumn.

     
  • Noreen 3:04 pm on August 23, 2020 Permalink  

    Not a Pleasant Day 

    I am hoping that when the end of August comes, it will take with it the threat of so many hot uncomfortable days.

    We were both out this morning before eight.  Dennis needed to clean the Koi pond filters and I wanted to position my sprinkler system for the front yard.  I could have done a bit more outside, but with no breeze and clothes starting to stick . . . nope.

    Yesterday when I was in the front yard getting plenty wet as I figured out the sprinkler, the Media-com fellow was working up on the large post at the end of our drive with their connections.  Alex works our town quite consistently with customer problems.  He is a very good rep for his company.  He commented he was ready for fall.  He likes his work and the days in the hot sun . . . not so much.  When the work day is over for him, he can go home to wind down and cool off at his own pace.  Several of his buddies with families . . . he said those daddies were the ones that were pounced on the minute they got home and there was no wind down for them till dark. 

     Needs put upon us . . . who doesn’t have them.  I didn’t work outside during the time we lived at South Branch until after the town job was done.  I do recall coming home at 5:30 during this time of the year and there was more of the day waiting.  Garden items needed to be gotten in and handled.  Washing items up and either canning it or getting it ready for the chest freezer it needed to get done.  Chickens needed to be butchered.  It was all taken in stride.  Amazingly we take many things in stride and we get through it, knowing there is some bastard out there that has it a whole lot worse.   Funny . . . those words could very well have come out of Dad’s mouth.

    Stauffer Avenue is having a quiet late afternoon.  I am going to fix us some chicken titties, mashed potatoes and veggies for supper.  I had made a pot of chili last week, wanting to use up a lb. of pork sausage and a lb. of hamburger.  Out of the freezer came two frozen packets of baked beans from the Curry picnic held prior and a packet of Barb-B-Q from the same event.  A quart jar of tomato sauce and spices, the soup kettle got quite full.  We finished the chili last night and we both agreed that after having it for five consecutive nights we were ready for a change.  I flew it past Dennis each afternoon and he was all for us being able to heat up the kettle . . . one more time.

    Check in with older people, we are quite entertaining.

     
  • Noreen 2:05 pm on August 22, 2020 Permalink  

    Not a Drop 

    Last night after dark, we had thunder and lightning . . . but not a drop of rain.

    True to form, Dennis and I got the tag team job done of getting the Kentucky Blue Grass lawn seed on the the front yard right before it got dark.  We managed to get about one hour of watering done via the sweep sprinkler before we called it a night.

    The agenda for today, Saturday, was set as being a light one.  My main focus was to move the sprinkler around on the front yard.  The laundry basket had exploded last night after we came in from the yard.  Nothing new to have the washer humming many times during the week.  Dennis had his suspenders pulled on and he was heading out to friend Dwayne’s for more goodies to be loaded on a trailer for an auction next week. 

    It has gotten quite warm out today.  I moved the sprinkler on the front yard from various places starting at eight this morning until twelve-thirty.  Tomorrow it will get another dose.  The raking combined with the watering, Dennis thought the front yard looked a whole lot better already when he came home at noon.  I agreed.  Of course, we are prejudiced.

    RelaxingWe each had an agenda for the day, but we also were going to take it a bit easier on the bodies today.  I had my spot already in mind by the time the last of the clothes was in the drier.  The west porch of our home is my reading spot during daylight hours.  My book prop keeps the pages at a good level that my neck appreciates.  The old green stool that has several levels of emotional attachment to it, carries my snack and my beverage.  Sweet.  In times past, I could read while lying in bed.  I could read sitting in any soft chair.  Those were the good old days.  My hands can no longer hold a book up to read independently.  That neck of mine isn’t in-like of looking either up or down.  I know my porch perch has the best setup ever.  Sweet.

    Dennis and I will meet up for supper and right now I know those two boys are mulling over each and every item before randomly putting it on the auction trailer.  Lots of history to part with on Dwayne’s part.  Lots of history in those two fellows.  Having gone through high school together, going forward, I know one or the other . . . Dennis or Dwayne will make prudent decisions.  Tough calls.  Good grief, if I would have to sort through my sewing studio . . . let’s not go there.

     
  • Noreen 4:23 pm on August 21, 2020 Permalink  

    Friday 

    Often when we catch the Kare 11 news over supper, I don’t think Dennis is zoned in.  Surprise!

    Whatever the garden center specialist, Larry Farr, had deemed as a cure all for a dried out, burnt up front yard . . . Dennis had it down pat.  This morning we were on target to use the old faithful iron rake and rake the entire front yard to drag off the dried grass.  The second pass was to titillate the grass and dirt that remained.  I was really happy that our front yard is only 25′ x 30′.  Dennis gave great moral support after his first five minutes of raking.

    Out of the potting shed came the sprinkler and hose.  We let it run for several hours on the grass that looked like it had enjoyed getting its roots teased.  Larry Farr’s last tip was to put down Kentucky Blue Grass seed.  We did go out to the Fleet and Farm store here in St. James to follow up on the grass seed for blistering hot conditions that our front yard experiences.  Farr’s advice was to not worry about the heat.  He swears August is a great month for seeding. The soil is warm and with consistent watering, it should take hold.  What we found at our local store was pre-bagged products that had fertilizer in it, peat pellets and the last item listed on the enclosed grass seed was Kentucky Blue Grass.  Lots of grass for sun and shade guaranteed.  Nope!

    I called Drummer’s in Mankato.  Yup, off we went.  We have enough for 4,000 square feet.  The gal that waited on me agreed that this is the best time to give the weary yards a lift.  It will be a good thing to have a bit of grass seed to re-do the truck tire ruts east of the house from the tree trimming in June.  I had enough dirt to fill the ruts, but the shade and sun grass seed didn’t take.

    Dennis has had his eye on the weather.  After supper when the sun has gone down, guess who will be working with the Kentucky grass seed.  Dennis has promised it will be a tag team.  I am not proud.  I will tell you straight out the raking of this morning has left me thinking . . . “Ya, it has been said and I heard it,  I can do a tag team.”  I will have Dennis’s coffee cup and a fresh pack of cigarettes right on the front steps. 

    I am totally up for trying to get a front yard that looks as great as the backyard does.  The secret is honoring what the sun mandates.  Our backyard always has dappling shade. 

    Have a safe weekend and I will check in tomorrow.

     
  • Noreen 2:12 pm on August 20, 2020 Permalink  

    Hmm 

    Hmm. I seem to be having a do-over for a Thursday.  It happens folks.  Knowing our week was clear of any appointments, it didn’t seem to be all that important to know what day of the week it was.

    We have avoided all television programming in the house this week due to the politics.  It sure has been quiet and it surely allows for a day to be missed.

    I had put a package of diced rhubarb in the freezer in the middle of June.  I knew I had a cake mix in the pantry in the basement.  What has come together for this evening is a carrot cake loaded with diced rhubarb.  As it was baking, the spices smelled wonderful.  No frosting needed as a mixture of cinnamon and sugar was sprinkled on top.  I remember Lena’s advice about adding fruit to baking mixtures.  Whether it be blueberries, strawberries, or in this case, rhubarb, always coat the fruit with a light dusting of flour in a plastic bag.  It somehow keeps the fruit from sinking to the bottom during the baking. 

    My mom, Lena, was such a great cook and baker.  When I think back of all the donuts she could turn out of a pan of hot lard . . . yum.  The donut holes were put aside for us kids as an after-school snack.  We never bought cooking oil or Crisco.  The lard would be rendered after butchering a hog.  It was snow white and went into crocks in the basement.  We had one container that would be scooped out of the crocks to have ready to use in the kitchen.  Some of the more finicky relatives wouldn’t render lard and mom always took what they didn’t.  The lard lasted us the entire year.  Kept cool in the portion of the basement where there was a dirt floor, we never lacked for that baking ingredient.  It is a true story . . . the only thing that went to waste on a hog was the tail.  Not many did the pork hocks, but our family did.  If Lena put the food on the table there was no question . . . it had been given the award of  “it’s good to eat.”  Hmm.

    I am not a fussy eater.  Dennis has become one in the later years.  His thinks that he has to have one hot meal each day.  Me . . . ? I could care less.  Hotdish tastes just as good to me hot or cold.  Cold pizza works as well.  Our meals have changed a lot.  Neither of us have the appetite as when we worked hard all day.  That being said, it also is just as hard to keep weight off regardless of the size of the meal when we are not very active.  Oh the truth of it all.

    Yes folks, I am on track with the days of the week and I hope that everyone enjoys the weekend whenever it happens to present itself.  Working people have varied hours throughout the weeks.  God willing, everybody gets a day or two to themselves.

     
  • Noreen 2:39 pm on August 19, 2020 Permalink  

    Good Feelings 

    Thursday has brought about me feeling much better than the last several days.  Too much excitement over the weekend brought the ole gal to her knees.

    Dennis has been busy while I had been fluffing off.  Kneatsfoot Oil is Dennis’ go to for keeping leather in tip top shape.  He ran across some old bridles and they have been getting quite the work over.  What ended up was all of Dennis’ favorite rags had been saturated.  Dennis did his best to soak them in his pail of Dawn liquid, give them a swirl and then soak them again.  Once the surface of the water didn’t have oil on them, he knew it was time to get to the laundromat here in town.  One load of his work towels and one load of our rag rugs, Dennis was off and running with his bag of quarters.

    l have a large pot of chili going while swapping out the laundry from the washer to the drier.  What a great thing that every day does bring responsibilities to take care of. 

    Take care and the weekend is in the horizon.

     
  • Noreen 2:13 pm on August 18, 2020 Permalink  

    What is Up! 

    Good Grief.  I finished my blog yesterday a bit after three in the afternoon.  I sat in my chair and slept until it was time to help Dennis get his CPAP gear on at 10:30.  I slept soundly until 7:30 this morning, when the door bell rang.

    I have no idea what hit this ole Grammie.  We were out and about on Sunday. I will admit, my arthritic neck was killing me.  Too many conversations going at one time.  Try hard as I can to keep and focus my head straight forward it doesn’t work.  I should have worn the neck brace for the entire time.  I do know from past experience pain can drain one from energy.  I have been taking my temp and it is normal.  

    Today I have slept for three hours since getting up.  Dennis was mowing the acre . . . solo and I did toddle outside to visit with him for a bit.  Also from experience, when arthritis is aggravated and broken loose to some extent . . . it bucks.  Buck away! 

    There may have also been an underlying thing in the gut.  Dennis could hear my gut rolling and making noises from across the room.  Our thought on that: eat only the food that you take to a gathering.  Better yet, stay home from large gathering for the interim.

    The sleeps can’t hurt me and I am taking fluids and nutrition during intervals.  

    I have not had anything such as this for decades.  

    Be better tomorrow is my mantra.

     
  • Noreen 3:06 pm on August 17, 2020 Permalink  

    Hmm 

    It is not my usual.  I am off my game today.  Such a great outside day but not so much within me.  I sat on the patio for some time this morning with Snuggles on my lap.  We were content watching traffic and having an occasional acorn plunk down on us.

    When Dennis left to help his friend Dwayne he made sure I had my phone and encouraged me to stay quiet.  Me stay quiet!  I think Dennis is on to something.  Tomorrow will be different, just as each day is.  I will check in tomorrow.

     
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