Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:48 pm on June 26, 2020 Permalink  

  Megan’s Quilt 

  When Megan stayed with us during the 2018 MEA fall break, her and I went to the Old Alley Quilt Shop.  It was the first time things had worked out that she was visiting us and that the shop was open.  Talk about wide eyes.  

  I spent my time visiting with Laurie, one of the design specialists and Megan wandered.  She was on the lookout for a project to start in my sewing studio while she was visiting.  I put no restraints on her.  Megan touched and felt umpteen fabrics.  What intrigued her were the numerous sample projects that the staff had sewn and had them hanging throughout the shop.  As she circled the shop, she kept coming back to one spot.  As it turned out, in their home was a print that hung in the hallway of their home.  This sample project reminded her of it.  Under that print was usually a bench or a chair.  I believe she could envision this quilted project on the bench or the chair when it was completed.

  Laurie helped her find the pre-cut kit.  Within the kit were numerous fabrics to complete the design as well as the printed out instructions.  The main printed fabric was of the red truck.  Megan would need to cut the fabrics into the needed pieces that would be sewn around the show-pieced center.  Megan found a second kit.  With everything needed, we set off for the sewing studio in St. James.

  Looking back, that was in October of 2018.  All went well and by the time the long weekend was over, the top of the quilt had been accomplished.  We had not given a thought to what the back of the quilt or the binding would look like.  Sometime over the next several weeks, I went back to the Old Alley Quilt Shop after I knew Megan would be home from school and the day that I would call.  We wanted to have a plan in place.  With me in the shop, I sought out several fabrics and took photos of them and then sent them to her.  I wanted her to make the choice of which one she preferred.  That worked out just as if Megan was in the shop with me.

  Fast forward.  Megan’s skating schedule had increased as she worked with a coach.  Weekends became very precious to her schedule.  In December of 2019 Megan turned 16 and that set in motion the number of hours of behind the wheel training that she had been working on to try for her driver’s license.  That blew my mind . . . for sure.  Where had those years gone!

  Megan had her license and soon there was an opportunity for her to apply for a job that would entail after school and into the summer of 2020.  Megan began working at the Mustard Seed Nursery near their home as it was included in businesses that were allowed to open early during the phase two of the virus shutdowns.  Megan . . . pulling on work boots, having sun screen in tow and a face mask entered the world of W-2s.  Megan loves working at the nursery.  All aspects include watering, potting, learning the cash register, rolling sod and anything else that each day presents itself with.

  I carefully asked her if she would mind if I finished her quilt, assuring her that there would be many quilt samples to choose from at times in the future.  I got the o.k.

  I hadn’t been in the sewing studio since the early May days.  I have found it to be quite relaxing and just plain fun.  Working on something that Megan had thrown herself into means the world to me.  The fabric that she chose for the backing is perfect.  She had the eye for what would work with her red pickup quilt.

  Megan had been sewing with me for quite a few years and knew her way around the sewing machine independently.  Now when I visit with her and she is telling me about the dos and don’ts of plants . . . I hear a sixteen year old that will have a good awareness of what the world will have to offer her as she is gaining experiences.

  Good grief!  That girl has taught Dennis and me a whole lot and we sure do miss her as we have grown up with her teaching us a bunch.

   
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  Noreen 4:09 pm on June 25, 2020 Permalink  

  Last Friday 

  Last Friday saw me putting down 20 bags of Scott’s Lawn Soil complete with fertilizer into truck trenches across the east side of our home adjacent to our patio.  This morning there were thousands of needle fine sprouts coming up.  Man oh man what a site for sore eyes.  I have been giving the areas a good sprinkle every day as Dennis had hooked up a hose on the north side of the house for me.

  By the time I got home from my walk this morning, I could feel the heat that would be coming for the afternoon.  The walk had taken me a bit longer this morning as I stopped to chat with Chuck along the way as he was weeding his potatoes.  When I got home I parked my butt on the patio to cool down.  June from down the way was walking by on her way home and she took a break and sat on the patio for her break.  Stauffer Avenue has groomed some very faithful walkers. 

  My afternoon was spent in the sewing studio.  I had not turned on the machine for several weeks.  I am going to finish a quilt that Megan started when she was here for Thanksgiving break in 2018.  Her world has changed since.  The ice skating had heavy schedules of practice non stop.  That shut down immediately with the virus.  She is pulling 26 hours a week at the Mustard Seed Nursery not far from her home.  I did check with Megan before planning on finishing it.  There will always be another option in a quilt shop if she so decides.

  I have supper under way and I think we will be having a quiet day tomorrow if the heat does what the weather man forecasts.  Take care, stay comfortable and for myself . . . I am thankful I sweat during hot times.

   
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  Noreen 3:03 pm on June 24, 2020 Permalink  

  What’s Not to Like 

  It’s a beautiful day.  I pushed myself to walk a bit farther today.  What made the difference was I had on my good walking shoes.  I tend to fancy them for the entire day.  That means that shoes are no longer taken off inside our home when we come in from the outside.  We have no carpeting in our home.  I am armed with Swiffers for our floors to take care of what may find its way to the flooring.  Mud . . . well that is another item.  No one wants mud drug in.  It’s a pain for us older folks when we need shoe horns to put on our shoes at the drop of the hat.  We are both cautious.    

  When we were in Mankato on Monday, I picked up a bottle of Turmeric Extract, 1400 mg.  Suggested dose is twice a day.  It also contains black pepper.  It is a dietary supplement for heart and joint.  Our family doctor mentioned it the last time Dennis and I were in the clinic . . . before the virus hit.  He is an avid reader and mentioned it to me for arthritis discomfort.  I have waved off taking chemical prescriptions for arthritis due to side effects that I had read up on . . . they didn’t sound good.  Kevin had sent me a video recently that also mentioned Turmeric.  Why not try it? I have used Turmeric in cooking for some time.  I also know that Dr. Oz has made mention of the benefits of Turmeric.  It is a rhizome found in India and other places.  Time will tell.  I have tried many things for the blessed arthritis.  Nothing helps arthritis more than staying active.  I am on that on a daily basis.

  We have each had a slow quiet day.  Soup and a sandwich is all that we will need for supper.  

  Dennis and I have been so blessed this spring.  We tackled what was before us.  Got it done in good stead and good workmanship.  And . . . I had decided to use my stimulus check on the improvements that we needed on our property.  That $1,200.00 bought the lumber that was needed for repairs on the garages, 4 gallons of $45.00 per gallon paint for the garages, the shutters that have been ordered for the three patio porch sliders, the new ridge roll for the garage, the labor for Mr. Moody to put the ridge roll on plus a few hours of his time, and 20 bags of Scott’s lawn dirt to take care of ruts from tree trimming.  Wow . . . I still have $170.00 left.  Talk about stretching the dollar.  Old people sure do get a bang for their buck!

  My hope is that everyone has positive feelings about 2020.  Dennis and I sure do.  Take care and catch you tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 3:18 pm on June 23, 2020 Permalink  

  True to Our Word 

  True to our word.  I slept in until 8:30 this morning.  I went about the house quietly as Dennis was in dream land.  I had promised myself I would take a walk this morning.  With all the busyness of painting the buildings and washing the garage, I had given myself permission that the exercise from walking was being more than made up for with the hours of bending, stooping and reaching.  When I got back from the walk, Dennis had just toddled out to the patio porch.  It was a restful morning for both of us.  There is nothing like walking to keep the joints moving in tandem.  Over the last month or so, there were times when I thought something had missed a cog in the rotation of said joints.

  This afternoon, I went to the west porch and read for a bit and Dennis took a nap in his recliner.  The restful day continued.

  When I finish up this short ditty on my blog, I will be cleaning strawberries.  George and Sheri are neighbors along Stauffer Avenue to the east. George has Leukemia and gardening is what he calls a huge part of his well being and therapy.  Sheri stopped by as she was on a strawberry delivery run.  Sweet.  Dennis will be enjoying strawberries on his ice cream after supper.

  We have had two and a half inches of rain within the last six days.  A downpour last Thursday of the two inches and Sunday brought about the half inch.  Today as Dennis napped we had two tenths of an inch of rain.  This will be very good for the new dirt and lawn seed east of our house. 

  I wished my brother Calvin a happy birthday this morning via an email.  At 73 years young, he is going to catch up with me.  No, not really . . . I can still outrun him. 

  What a great week for the first week of summer for our 2020.  Enjoy each day as you will never have a repeat of what this day has given us.  It may seem like a lot of little things . . . but when they become memories we realize how they have become such a huge part of who we are going forward.  I am speaking from experience.

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on June 22, 2020 Permalink  

  Haircut Day! 

  Oh my gosh, it has been a long run since February when we last visited Great Clips.  I had tackled Dennis’ hair once since that time, and he was amazed that the longer it got since that time there was a bit of curl.  I have been self-snipping from time to time, just to get it out of my face.  

  I waited until a bit after ten this morning and went online.  We were given a 101 minute wait.  Needless to say, we left for Mankato almost immediately.  When we got to the shop there was a gal waiting by the door with her iPad.  She has been hired as a temp to usher in clients one at a time.  She confirmed the fact that we were registered and it would be an hour.  We went across the street and I did some grocery shopping in Cubs.  It was a bit different to have the haircut with the face mask that we needed to hold up to our faces as the cut was given.  I still need to get all the hair snips off of my Velcro mask.  Dennis and I felt giddy with our new haircuts.

  The only other place we stopped at was Sam’s Club for some items.  It was then home bound and that felt wonderful.  Each of us was a bit stiff from yesterday’s adventure of washing the east garage.  When we got home today and were going through the mail and, wonder of wonder, Dennis’ enhanced driver’s license was in the mail.  Good deal.  We are now both set for some time to come.  We started on that journey in the last part of January.  With the Covid 19, everything has been backed up.  Even today, the courthouse is not open, appointments need to be made.  When we came back from Mankato, we stopped at the eye doctor so I could pick up my eye vitamins.  The doors were locked and the receptionist came and let me in and locked the door right after me.  I had my mask on and I got my temp taken as well as a questionnaire to answer.  Appointment by phone only.  Hmm. 

  With the world being what it is, Dennis and I are so thankful for our well-tended home.  We are at the point that each of us cannot do some of what needs to be done on our own.  That’s when we pull together and get it done and get it done well.  We actually have a lull for a bit of time.  The property job jar is empty, we have had long awaited haircuts . . . I wonder how it will feel waking up tomorrow and then begin planning what’s next and being excited about it.  My hope and prayer is that everyone can feel like they are climbing Jacob’s ladder, being shoulders of The Cross.

   
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  Noreen 2:47 pm on June 21, 2020 Permalink  

  Father’s Day 2020 

  The day that we got for this Father’s Day is too great not to be outside.  I knew that I would have a batch of cinnamon rolls in the oven for brunch whenever Dennis wanted them.

  Hmm. I should have asked Dennis first and foremost what his plans were for the day.  After all it is his Father’s Day.  Dennis for sure had plans.  Dennis does do the mowing for Edna.  Edna’s property is adjacent to our property to the northeast.  Dennis already had cleared it with Edna that we could use her outside water faucet.  Her home in relationship to our garage that is on the east portion of our acre is a lot closer than our outside faucet.  There it is . . . Dennis’ plan for his Father’s Day.

  The garage that we have on the far east of our acre is 22′ x 30′.  When Dennis had been mowing he took in the fact that there was algae on the north side of the garage and the east side also had evidence of stuff.  Dennis wanted the garage to be washed off today.  I drove the pickup, Dennis sat on the back end gate allowing him to hold onto the handle of our hose reel so it could tag along behind and off we went.  Oh he was prepared. In the back of the pickup were several handled brushes, a gallon of soap to fill his container that would fit onto the end of the hose for washing, and his coffee cup.

  It was a huge job.  The best bet was to do one side of the garage at a time.  Rinse with water first getting one layer of grime off before changing the container for the soap to be applied and then rinse, rinse, rinse.  We have owned that portion of our acre since the year 2000.  We had done a wash job once right after we had purchased it.  Now it’s 2020 . . . it really needed it.  Dennis maned the hose and I was on brush duty.  I can tell you I got just as wet as the garage did.  Let’s just get in there and get it done.  

  Here we are at 3:30 on Father’s Day 2020.  We have caught our breath and have enjoyed those cinnamon rolls.  Brunch of Stauffer Avenue has no time frame.  Dennis is as happy and satisfied as one of his cats.  In fact, when I was clearing the table and I looked out the window to the patio porch, Snuggles was on Dennis’ lap and I am sure Snuggles is hearing all about the day that we have had.

  Yes, Dennis and I are weary.  Our limbs are weary.  No retiree has been harmed during this project.  Our evening meal is a treat from Carrie’s kitchen.  With our labor intensive projects on Stauffer Avenue, her gift of frozen meals has been very appreciated.

  I think the job jar for us will echo when the lid is taken off.

   
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  Noreen 1:54 pm on June 20, 2020 Permalink  

  Worthwhile Reminder 

  Many years ago at the Odin Craft Mill I had picked up a framed poem.  How appropriate this now reads for me.  

  Slow Me Down Lord

  Slow me down Lord, ease the  pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind

  Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time

  Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills

  Break the tension of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing

  streams that live in my memory

  Help me know the magical, restoring power of sleep

  Teach me  the art of taking minute vacations, slowing down to look at a flower,

  To chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book

  Slow me down Lord, and inspire me to sink my roots deep into the soil of life’s

  enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny

  author unknown

   
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  Noreen 3:34 pm on June 19, 2020 Permalink  

  Dirt Work 

  We had a day off yesterday when we went to visit my brother, Calvin, and his wife, Lois, in Decorah, Iowa.

  Today we reveled in the fact that we had two inches of rain yesterday in the late day.  Dennis wanted to mow in the eastern part of the acre.  I talked him into first taking me to Fleet and Farm.  We bought lawn dirt.  Dennis would do his thing and I would do mine.

  When the tree trimmer was at our property our neighbor to the north also had them do work on an Oak tree of theirs that had a lot of dead wood.  Ironically the tree guy couldn’t get at the dead wood via their yard.  My gracious ole cowboy spoke up and allowed the heavy truck with the lift basket to come onto our yard to manage their tree trimming.

  There is an old adage that says that “No good deed goes unpunished.”  Hmm.  Today we bought lawn dirt in two different trips.  We thought ten bags at a cubic foot each, thinking that would take care of the trenches from the heavy truck.  Nope.  It didn’t take long, I had used up those ten bags and we went back for ten more bags.  

  The investment of dirt was actually a benefit for my health.  I like to mow around the house with my faithful push mower.  The ruts and trenches were deep enough that I didn’t trust myself walking over them let alone push the mower over them.  I can be clumsy.  My titanium knees and shoulders are worth more than many more bags of dirt to have helped out a neighbor.

  Here we are at the end of a good Friday.  Dennis has 95% of the mowing done and I have the dirt work done.  The twenty cubic yards of dirt have filled in trenches and it is spread with additional fertilizer that was a freebie from Fleet. The grass seed that was spread has been watered down.  Yup!  We knocked it out of the park.  

  It is cleanup time for us two and settling in for a light supper.  Who knows what tomorrow brings!

   
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  Noreen 7:23 pm on June 18, 2020 Permalink  

  Home Sweet Home 

  We had great trip to Decorah.  There is nothing more assuring than seeing family nose to nose, toe to toe. 

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on June 17, 2020 Permalink  

  What Day is It? 

  Dennis finally broke it to me that I have been ahead of myself in what day of the week it actually was.  Hmm.  It was humbling.  Nothing serious had happened.  I hadn’t messed up any appointments . . . as I have none.  Being a hermit is quite idyllic.  

  I will admit that the warm weather has tuckered us out a bit earlier in each day as it has gone on.  The winds and the heat . . . we get done what is needed and then kick back.  Today was the day to get all the limbs and branches loaded from the east portion of the acre.  A huge cottonwood on the adjacent northwest lot has a lot of excess to share.  The home has renters dwelling within and they don’t look beyond their back door, so it is . . . get it done and get our yard cleaned up from all the strong winds.  The tree dump charges $2.00  per time.  It was worth it to be able to mow the yard at such time when we get rain.  As much as Dennis enjoys mowing, he has not even hinted at it.

  We did get the house numbers back up on the garage . . . making us compliant with city ordinances.  More important items could be monitored by the guy pulling a pay check from the city as he tools around in a city pickup.  I will not even poke at that.   

  It is 3:15 and our day has been called.  Dennis is in his rocking chair in the patio porch and I am mulling over how to put a quick light supper together.

  We may get some rain tomorrow and it may bring a wonderful weekend to enjoy.