Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:36 pm on January 1, 2026 Permalink  

  Happy 2026! 

  The first day of 2026 and then the days will just keep on rolling.

  Our area of the town was very quiet during the night.  It speaks to the age of those living around and near us.

  Today I felt as if I needed a good walk.  Look out studio here I come.  KNUJ had good music on and around and around the church tables I walked while having good shoes on.  At least I didn’t kick up or pick up any loose gravel on their bottoms.

  I took some time to stitch a bit and then did several more rounds.  It’s the safest place to walk.

  Dennis grandson AJ came to visit Dennis this afternoon.  A very good fellow indeed.  AJ is never in a hurry to leave before they have the world’s troubles taken care of.

  I have noticed a very good thing about having a cover for my cell phone.  It allows for a deeper indent on the side of the phone for answering it.  A plus, plus.  Another plus, plus is the fact that my sewing table can be either lowered or raised depending on how my back feels.  It can go from 21″ to 42″.  I am bound to find something within that range that feels good.

  No one came over to play Pinocle cards today.  That was a New Year’s tradition at mom and dad’s.  As usual it would have been mom’s brother Norman and his wife.

  Dennis and I have never set store in traditions.  We have taken events and special days as they have come.

  What we do put store in is having our evening meal every day about 4:45-5:00.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:26 pm on December 31, 2025 Permalink  

  2025 New Year Eve 

  I got done today what I had planned.  I called my brother Calvin.  We don’t call each other often.  We each pretty well know how our days are spent in this phase of our lives.  It was good to hear his voice.

  I had an unusual night of rest.  It came to a climax at three in the morning.  There was so much discomfort in my left foot, I couldn’t bear to stay in bed.  I got up and rubbed the foot right under the toes and everywhere.  I put slippers on and walked the floor for a bit.  I did get get back to sleep in time to come.

  Before Dennis went out to the patio porch this morning, I had him check my foot for visible signs of something amiss.  In between the toes and under the foot.  I asked Dennis to run his fingernail under each of the toes’ nails.  Nothing unusual.  The foot was warm but not feverous.  I have been wearing my good arch support shoes as well as my good arch support slippers.  A less than good arthritis hit.  This last summer I did have x-rays of my feet to make sure the metal pins had not shifted as there was discomfort in the feet at that time.  All was well with the diagnose of arthritis when the medical wording was gone through via my primary doctor.  Dennis and I do have pedicures once a month with a licensed LPN nurse.  Our feet are in good hands.

  Our shift from 2025 to 2026 will be uneventful.  Dennis and I cannot ask for anything more resurging. 

  With that I will take my leave.

   
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  Noreen 3:42 pm on December 30, 2025 Permalink  

  A Burst 

  Nothing like a burst of energy as the year dwindles.

  The snow that we have had, both at mid December and several days ago had drug in a lot of salt residue under the shoes.  The back door was predominantly free of snow, snirt and salt.  To assure that, I did the Lena thing.  A pail of water to slosh onto the cement and broom away from the door.  I know we are only getting into the mess season, but it felt good to tidy, tidy.

  With a new dry Swiffer Pad, I started at the front door, my bedroom porch, and the floors were taken care of, one square foot at a time.  I had drug in pine needles when I would clean the front deck and they were carried right on in to match up with what was on the kitchen floor. 

  By the time I was done doing the waltz with the mop, the laundry was ready to be swapped out.

  It was noon and just in time to catch a ride in the little red pickup.  I had ordered a phone case at Radio Schack when Dennis got his new phone.  It is a pliable black rubber vinal type.  Nothing fancy and nothing to add a bunch of weight to the phone.

  From there it was to the grocery store.  I had my list that I had done at the dining room table.  My goal was to stick to the plan.  I had checked out our freezer to make sure what I bought would fit.  I am a master at stacking and layering to the max.  That is a gift.  Several avocados and several golden delicious apples were added plus a jar of peanut butter.  Nothing tastes better than a slice of apple with peanut butter.

  The day has been gray with a few stray snowflakes that didn’t last by the time they hit the deck.

  No studio for me today.  I pretty much shot my wad being the handy dandy maid.  My burst of energy done got busted.

  Oh my gosh, there are snowflakes coming down right now that resemble feathers.  Yes, indeed.  We are having winter mysteries.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on December 29, 2025 Permalink  

  Sunshine 

  The sun shines bright on our ole Stauffer home………..

  After we woke it was amazing to see where the wind had made drifts.  This morning, Dennis squeezed out the back door and then could inch to the corner of the home and then catch bare concrete on the driveway to get to the garage door.  Our front deck had snow on it.  I ever so slowly pushed the front door open so I could get myself and the leaf blower out.  The deck and steps took some time with the blower, but I got it done.

  With the winds that blew all night long, it would be hard telling how much snow we actually had.  What had blown in had a hard crust on it.  Neighbor Randy did a great job of clearing the snow at our home.  Jan has often commented how much he loves playing with his tractor, blower and front load bucket.  

  I had not been in the studio very often during Christmas.  Today was the day!  I now have a plan as to what I will do in shortening the sleeves on the jacket I got from Dennis for Christmas.  Having a plan laid down is 99% of the project.  I even have the thread color in place.  Having that plan in place, I did sew a few stitches on the log cabin quilt blocks.  The 24 blocks are laid out for the finished design I am striving for.  It is best to sew several together at a time and put them back on the church tables so as not to screw it up.

  By two thirty, it was time to close down the studio.

  As I am sitting here in my bedroom porch, there are ice sickles forming as the snow is melting off of the awning.  KNUJ is forecasting temps in the thirties for tomorrow, Tuesday.  We have the battery for the leaf blower on the charger just in case we need to call it into service later on this week.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:51 pm on December 28, 2025 Permalink  

  My Oh My 

  We are officially in a blizzard.  I am not sure if we are getting a huge amount of snow or the wind gusts are just arranging it.  It’s a good thing we brought our strong leaf bower into the house for getting out the back door.  No, it is not the complete remedy.  A shovel is standing at attention ready to be used.

  The birthday party that we went to for Dennis’ cousin Sam yesterday was a riot of farmers, young and old.  Dennis knew so many people.  It was great to see and hear the fellows reminisce.

  Having spent most of my adult life in Watonwan County, it was not difficult to spend the time visiting with those I had not seen since I retired.  I will say that that machine shed and shop was the ultimate for an open house gathering.

  We opted to forego the lunch at the party as we have had plans since Thanksgiving to visit the Hometown Cafe’, now called the Hometown Table.  New owners complete with new menu options.  The choices were many.  Pasta dishes being a very new addition.  We left feeling that we would be visiting again.  The food was good.

  The wind is roaring and if I close my eyes, it could easily lull me into a nap, which Dennis is already doing.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 11:49 am on December 27, 2025 Permalink  

  Lewis Drug 

  Our Lewis Drug here in town can be overwhelmed, as it was yesterday, the 26th.  They service the clinic, the hospital and the nursing home.  Dennis patiently waited it out for my meds.  He got home at four.  When he came home with his tails:  there had been four counting out pills, one full time at the drive through window with two with two tills going.  He had found a chair and visited with others that had sought a chair and were waiting.  Holidays bring challenges.

  I slept well through the night.

  This morning as I was having coffee in my bedroom porch perched on my cherry chair, it was like watching a rodeo through my windows.  The same company that does our garbage out of Wilmar, got the bid for our recycling from the county.  We had gotten the new bins delivered on the 24th throughout the town.  The town was filled with yellow-topped bins, old labeled ones and new labeled ones.  Today the old bins were emptied out, our usual recycling day, and then there were removed by trailers picking them up.  Quite the activity.

  This afternoon we are going out north of town for a celebration of Dennis’ cousin Sam turning 90.  Sam’s mother was Dennis’ father’s sister.  The only such relative left for Dennis.  I am sure the shop on Sam’s son’s farm will be warm and tricked out.  Dennis had been a usual visitor at Sam and Maria’s farm home.

  We have been blessed with Christmas gifts from Carrie and Kevin.  When Carrie’s had come in November, our freezer compartment was filled with prepared meat loaf pans to bake, frozen packets of steamed carrots for oven meals, frozen cookie pods to bake and prepared loaves of zucchini and pumpkin bread to thaw.  Kevin’s have given us ample visits to Subway during 2026.  Sweet treats indeed all around.  Very much appreciated by the both of us.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:26 pm on December 26, 2025 Permalink  

  2nd Day 

  This is Christmas’ 2nd day.  Many decades ago, it was revered.  I remember Lena and Raymond had everything done in the line of chores just like they had done for Christmas day.  It was a quiet day on the farm. Lena’s brother, Norman, and his wife Florence, were expected and the day proceeded with many dealt hands of cards.  A relaxed day on the farm.  It became a yearly tradition for the two couples.

  So . . . The happenings on Stauffer Avenue on this 2nd day finds Dennis getting acquainted with his new cell phone.  For more years that I can remember Dennis has been on his nephew’s plan.  Dennis and the little red pickup were on call for errands that Brett needed for the concrete business.  January first Dennis’ phone would be dropped from Brett’s plan.  When a network of phones needs to drop one, I couldn’t comprehend how difficult it would be.  Radio Shack had two working on it.  Brett needed to do work on his end for the drop.  I wanted to make sure Dennis’ phone number would not be changed.  Wow, it took a long time.  As I have added Dennis to my plan, I got numerous text messages to confirm this and that during the arduous process. 

  As I said . . . Dennis is finding his way.  Though it is a flip phone with all his contacts in place, all he wanted was to answer the phone or call someone.  I am sheltering him from some of the buttons that were not like the old buttons.  I assured him that if he could find his way through Facebook marketplace, the phone would soon feel better.

  My 2nd day of Christmas is slow and steady.  No card games going on here.  I did find a movie on Hulu.  It’s the best $6.00 and some cents that I spend monthly. 

  Some of my meds were in line to be refilled on the 24th.  The computers at Lewis Drug dictate to the licensed pharmacists when the month is able to have a refill.  It’s actually Medicare and my insurance. Lewis Drug closed early on the 24th with no meds ready for me.  It’s totally understandable and patients need to be prepared for such things.  It’s not like I opened the bottle and then found it empty on the 24th.  It pays to cut some pills in half a head of time and be prepared to suck it up, put your big girl panties on.  It happens when modern technology timelines aren’t the way we want it.  Dennis is on it. It will all work out.

  During last year, 2025, I was stitching on a large Christmas sampler with wonderful titles of Christmas hymns interwoven in the designs.  On a floss tube I picked up on a chart that is similar but different.  It came today from a shop in Wisconsin.  Oh my gosh. Inside the priority mailer, the design packet was wrapped in Christmas tissue complete with ribbons.  It just so happened that the Christmas movie I was watching combined with the unexpected wrapped present found me tearing up.  Tearing up and letting the tears flow is good for the soul.  All is well in my soul.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:09 pm on December 25, 2025 Permalink  

  Christmas 2025 

  Christmas Eve was a silent night for us.  Getting a good night’s rest tucked under blankets while the house itself was cool.  It’s the best way to sleep.  It brings deep sleep fit for dreams.

  Santa would not have stood a chance visiting here during the night as Dennis and I were still in bed at eight this morning.  It is the best feeling when your body wants to wake but the eyes are still closed.  One last snuggle under the blankets before the feet hit the floor.

  Rituals in the morning bring me to the bathroom after I hear Dennis close the back door.  His breakfast box in hand, his thermos coffee cup jammed into his jacket pocket . . . Dennis’ day has begun.

  A very hot cup of black coffee leads me to the cherry red chair in my bedroom porch.  This morning with heavy fog the street outside was very quiet.  Either no one wants to travel in the fog or they have all gotten to where they needed to go.

  My agenda for this Christmas day is light.  I will be putting out a hot supper for us about five.  We are not ones to watch sports on television.  Dennis has his favorites to watch on one of his three televisions and I have mine.  I enjoy watching movies on Hulu via my laptop or floss tubes from every corner of the world imaginable.

  A sweet day with nothing to stress over.  As I conjure up memories of Christmas’ pasts it brings bitter sweet thoughts that only I can enjoy.

  May everyone in my world have self same sweet memories as well. 

  The Merriest of Christmases and I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:16 pm on December 24, 2025 Permalink  

  Christmas Eve 

  This is Christmas Eve of 2025.

  The world should be getting ready for the biggest birthday party ever.  I can only speak for myself.

  When I think of the events in my life, it takes my breath away.  I could not have come through it alone without that birth in a manger.  I know that my Savior had his hand on my shoulder during the choices I made along the years of my life, during the results of those choices.  I never traveled alone.

  Christmas celebrations are very unique to each of us.  It seems fitting that Dennis and I are home, in our home safe and sound.  We have had the huge events in times gone during Christmas . . . been there, done that.

  This early afternoon, Dennis was having a pre-supper snack of a peanut butter sandwich and I was enjoying apple slices coated in peanut butter.  It was never about what was going on at Stauffer Avenue. Without any discussion, Dennis and I knew we would be doing Christmas the way it felt right for the two of us . . . quietly.  We were and are truly thrilled that the six kids would be doing their thing, making their own traditions.  

  The best gift that we can give our families is that they know we are here, safely and happily at home.

  Merry Christmas from Dennis and Mom.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:26 pm on December 23, 2025 Permalink  

  Hello Tuesday 

  It is a Tuesday.  Grammie is back from the busy world.

  When we were in Mankato Monday for Dennis’ eye injection . . . it was a busy world.  We went to the eye clinic.  The appointment went well.  As usual the eye remained frozen and would until 8 hours later.  It does not impair his driving . . . I checked.   Dennis got a gas fill-up for $1.29 per gallon.  As I sat and waited for Dennis while he was filling the little red pickup, I watched the lineup to get out of Sam’s Club parking lot to get back onto Madison Avenue.  It was frantic.  We took the back door route and took County Rd 90 to get back onto our route home.  Home never felt so good and we hadn’t even participated in any shopping.

  Our plans for this Tuesday had one agenda.  Brett was reorganizing his phones that he was responsible for.  Uncle Dennis . . . no longer covered as of January 1, 2026, as he had been when he ran errands for Brett.

  I made a trip to Radio Shack downtown.  Dennis wanted a plain flip phone.  The gal at the counter was the same gal to help as I had had when I bought my phone in May of this last year.  It all went smoothly.  Dennis and I had checked his contacts just several nights ago to take out the phone numbers he do longer needed.  After his flip-phone has been on the charger and he takes using it for a run, I will go back to Radio Shack on Monday and have them strip it.  At that time, the phone case that I ordered will be in.  I wanted nothing heavy.  What I will have is a very flexible vinal cover . . . just in case I happen to drop it while in the studio.  Phone meeting concrete would not be a good thing.

  I swear the temperature dropped twenty degrees from the time I went into Radio Shack and then coming out.  Brr.

  Our supper last night was a cheater.  A Maria frozen meal for Dennis and I had a salad plate.  It worked!  Tonight is chicken titties, instant potatoes and veggies. 

  The older ones on Stauffer do take care of business in a timely manner.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥