Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:36 pm on June 16, 2020 Permalink  

  No Reprieve 

  This last week there has been no reprieve from the winds.  I do remember not too many days ago, Dennis went out of the house wearing a jacket as the north winds made it the right thing to do.  We had had four inches of rain and the grass was lush as the north winds blew through it.

  As of late . . . wham . . . the hot south winds have descended and with not a hint of rain, the grass has responded by crunching under foot.  

  Now that the out-buildings have been painted, it was time to walk the back portion of the acre and take in all the small branches that have come down in the course of this last week.  It was too many to walk back to the burning ring that Dennis has right off of the back patio.  We picked up the large ones that looked good on a pile.  The next size were the ones that were large enough to raise havoc with the mower blades.  Onto the pile they went.  I relied on my rake for the annoying ones as Dennis went to the patio porch to take a break.  The pile is large enough for Dennis to take his pickup to the back and we will need to make a trip to the tree dump.  That was the morning and by that time the heat of the day made us realize the trip to the tree dump would be another day.  There won’t be any mowing in the next several days so the pile will have a chance to settle in as the winds blow over it.  The pile has no chance of blowing away.

  Yesterday after we had cleaned up all things related to painting,  we did take one more thing off of the tick list.  We have mentioned for years that rock was needed in between the pickup garage and the potting shed.  It would surely allow for a layer of drainage with the rain and the melting snow and less black dirt to splash on the siding.  Dennis made a trip to the city shop and cleared the fact that we would be purchasing some rock from the city off of the stock pile not far from Stauffer Avenue.  With the back of the pickup full of pails . . . off we went.  We chose the same rock that is used for street work.  The river rock is such that it is hard to navigate over when it would need to be walked over between the buildings. As I mentioned . . . one more item off of the tick list. 

  I rummaged around in the potting shed and came up with a new look for the newly-painted potting shed wall over the Koi pond.  Re-purposing items from times past . . . you can’t beat it.   Dennis likes it as it looks tidy.

  This afternoon, with the heat having settled in, it is pretty quiet here on Stauffer Avenue.  True to our form, we tackled the worst first . . . that being the branches that needed to be corralled.  We have agreed on Tacos for supper.   

   
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  Noreen 3:44 pm on June 15, 2020 Permalink  

  Finished! 

  At 1:30 p.m. I was throwing my two paint brushes into the garbage . . . 2020 paint fest on Stauffer Avenue is finished.  I had washed my white paint brush and my black paint brush to the point that the bristles looked a bit like stubs.  Those brushes didn’t owe me anything.  I had bought new brushes when we bought the paint.  As I had looked around, there were several brushes that were on hooks in the garage and served the project very well.

  Yesterday when we were planning our tomorrow . . . our Tuesday, it pretty much was the trim on the peak of the garage roof and that was all.  Last night after supper, I looked out the bathroom window and I saw the art work that was on the wall of the potting shed above the Koi pond, now laying on the patio.  I didn’t say anything.  Soon the long garden hose was strung along side of the house, onto the patio, around the patio porch and the north wall of the potting shed was getting washed off.  I knew plans had just changed for our Tuesday.

  I will say that this will be the last time that I paint the trim on the garage gable.  Our large ladder is very sturdy as it sits on the concrete.  I had planned ahead and had been painting out of the quart black paint on everything that needed to be painted to lighten the paint can and not have paint wanting to spill out of it as I climbed the ladder.  Dennis was right there holding the ladder that was already sturdy.  The painting of the trim was harder on Dennis than it was on me.  He said my life as his adult day care person flashed before his eyes.  Special! We were out early and the sun had not yet gotten high enough to shine in my eyes for the project.  Sweet!

  With a little break we headed to the Koi pond.  Dennis was right in regard to getting it painted now.  When the Koi come out of the pond in the fall, it is when the temps are cold enough that he can get them netted and into the horse tank in the garage.  In the spring when the Koi come out into the pond the spring temps are still cold.  The planks were sturdy.  What did throw me a curve was bending done to load paint on the brush with moving water catching my eye under my feet as the Koi were swimming laps.  Blink, blink stay focused.  

  All is done.  It is the first time that everything that needs paint has been done at one time.  There is about two inches of white paint left in the can out of the four gallons.  I thanked our Lord for a great safe project.  Dennis and I work like one in our projects.  We may not have the greatest lasting power, but the important thing is we get up, show up and keep the time that we work at things so it is reasonable and doesn’t crush our spirit to do it all over again the next day.  

  For supper we are going to enjoy a loaf pan of Carrie’s meat loaf that needs to be baked for an hour.  Her frozen meals that her and Megan brought from their kitchen in Eden Prairie have really been appreciated when the two of us might not have had the energy to spoon out a dollop of peanut butter.

  I love life and I enjoy taking it on full force.  May the force be with us all!

   
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  Noreen 4:09 pm on June 14, 2020 Permalink  

  Drying Winds 

  It has got to be the windiest spring on record.  It has been a continued crop of tree tips and small branches.  It keeps Dennis’ little burning ring busy.

  By nine thirty this morning, I had my white paint brush in the cleaning water.  That awful west wall of the potting shed looks wonderful with its new coat of paint.  The 24″ between it and the pickup garage wall doesn’t leave much room other than bending at the waist and painting the four foot wall of the hipped roof that the potting shed has.  It’s okay. It is done.  Not everyone gets to have a 12′ x 20′ potting shed and it sure comes in handy.  Early mornings have always been the best to get the worst done.  Tomorrow morning may be a repeat.  I am not saying I will get the entire south side of the garage done that faces Stauffer Avenue . . . but it’s worth a try.  It definitely has had a very light coating from the handyman, I now need to give it a covering coat of paint.  It is working out great as I have a half gallon of the fourth gallon of paint left.

  Dennis thought it was a day worthy of going after our first Dairy Queen of the season.  I didn’t mind one bit that he was heading towards the Sleepy Eye Dairy Queen.  It felt good to take a road trip and relax.  I think today is flag day and there were many out as we drove by.  The sad thing is that with the high winds very few got to fly without getting whipped about.  We took ours down the other day as it was getting whipped into the Lilac bush that is usually too far away to catch it.

  We live in town but it is amazing how much dirt and dust swirls around.  We have the windows shut and shades drawn . . . keeping hot sun beams and dust at bay.

  Enjoy the Monday for whatever it may bring.  There is contentment in routines.  There may be a chance to experience some small difference from the usual . . . we just need to be open to it.

   
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  Noreen 4:27 pm on June 13, 2020 Permalink  

  A Saturday! 

  It’s been a day when our plans have worked out to the letter.  We were at it by eight this morning.  When the forecast has high temperatures coming around the corner, we needed to move.  Yup . . . it’s still about the “the paint.”  A quart of black was on hand for the trim work.  Nothing says satisfaction than seeing the trim paint go on.  Yup . . . it’s fussy work and by gum, I can still do it.  The cross buck doors of the potting shed got lots of the white paint poked into the joints and cracks.  Just a few more years for these plywood doors would suit us just fine.  Dennis had the east side of the potting shed prepped for white paint and I headed that direction after I put the black paint brush wrapped in foil, just in case I would see something after the paint had dried on the trim that would need a bit more paint.  Dennis brought out my neck brace and straw hat, as there was a lot of sun.  By one thirty I was ready to close all paint cans and sit on the patio for a break.  The first thing I did was take my shoes off as my feet felt hot.

  We had been on the patio for just a few minutes when my cell phone rang.  My cousin from the Hinkley area was up the street at the gas station.  Mark and his partner were heading to Jackson on his Honda trike, pulling a fold down camper, for the weekend and pulled in for a quick visit.  What a great surprise.  The breeze on the patio was great for catching up.  By four they were on their way as they still needed to get to the camp site, make connections with friends for the remainder of the weekend.  What a great feeling that they would share their trip with us.

  I had plunged the paint brushes in a tub of water when Mark’s had pulled up and it was time to pay the piper.  Those brushes have a bit more service in them.  I won’t speak as to when they will be used again.  Stauffer Avenue may need a day off and there is no painting that will be done when the bright sun allows for a 90 degree day.  

  Tonight Dennis and I are on our own for supper.  I have yet to catch my breath from the morning than dribbled into the afternoon.  Not to worry, neither of us will go hungry. 

  Days such as Dennis and I have had this entire week are priceless.  Getting local effort done for our beloved home . . . can’t beat it.

   
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  Noreen 3:12 pm on June 12, 2020 Permalink  

  On a Scale 

  On a scale of one to ten, Dennis and I feel we are at a twelve today.  We are free of a handyman that wasn’t quite as handy as he thought.  We bought paint that cost $42.00 a gallon to put on buildings that were in need of sprucing up.  We had the scrapping done before the handyman came.  Yes, the wood has given all it can and now it was asking to be painted over and having its cracks sealed up for this next round.  When our handyman had painted both top peaks and the front and sides of the 40′ long garage, thus using only a half gallon of paint we knew what we needed to do . . . get rid of him.  He needed to come back and paint the peaks a second time putting on a goodly amount of paint, take his pay and his leave.

  We are giving a second coat to all that the handyman painted.  Today with Dennis on duty for moral support, I painted the east wall of the pickup garage that was under the gable peak.  At a time in the past, I think it was ten years ago, that wall had pushed off of the concrete foundation.  The wall was jacked up with a new sill installed and new 2 x 4s put in for the wall.  Dennis had gotten 4′ x 8′ cedar wood panels as the exterior covering of the new wall.  At that time it was painted white.  And at that time, the cedar wood had really sucked up the paint.  Looking at it this morning, we knew it would take quite a bit of paint to seal up the wear and tear.  As luck would have it our small ladder fit right in between the garage and the potting shed.  By twelve noon, the wall had been refreshed and I had cracked open the fourth gallon of paint.  It looks sharp.

  All that remains to this summer painting season is both of the four foot tall sides of the potting shed.  As I painted this morning, Dennis washed the walls of the potting shed off.  Tomorrow morning, I know the east wall will have been given a fresh coat.  Painting the west four foot wall of the potting shed is a tight fit and Dennis wants to get in there and brush off the siding, letting the newly painted east wall of the garage that is 24″ away have a chance of really drying the painting of today.  It’s all about taking the painting in stride and not over doing what the body can take.  This fall when the Koi pond has been drained with the Koi safely in the horse tank, that north end of the potting shed will be tackled.  I think the buildings look as if the owners are proud land owners and good stewards.

  Another good day on Stauffer and supper will be tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.  Sweet!  Soon the blog will be other than paint related.

   
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  Noreen 4:29 pm on June 11, 2020 Permalink  

  Mr. Moody Exit 

  Today Mr. Moody finished up with what we needed of him.  I will admit it was the most painful 10.5 hours over three different days we have had in some time.  What Mr. Moody did was good and passed the thumbs up.  We just never knew when he would show up for what we needed since the first of June.  It was as if we were quarantined.  Mr. Moody will be coming back to paint the black trim on the west peek of the garage as well as putting our copper sunburst back on the gable.  That visit will be . . . who knows!  The paint on the gable was quite fresh when he left with his pay.  

  Over some days in the near future when the temps are cool, we will be painting black trim on the doors over both of the vehicle garages and the potting shed.  Dennis and I are happy to have so much of the garage project done and that we will be on our own.  

  The winds were tough again for most of this day.  

  As stores in Mankato still have varied hours, I called the Mayo supply store in Mankato and they are going to be mailing out the items that Dennis needs for the CPAP machine.  His supplies are covered by our medical insurance.  It will be a good feeling having three months of those supplies on hand.  His prescription was written for three months at a time.  Our clinic is still only seeing those that need immediate attention.  Again . . . on the patient portal, I put in a prescription for Dennis to be picked up at the Lewis Drug.  Good news there, they have opened their doors for pickup.

  We feel like we are back on track taking care of what we need when we need to do it.  Dennis and I are spoiled.  The two of us work well together and take care of what needs to be done on our own time.  Oh yes, very thankful that we had someone to do what we needed when it was more than six feet off of the ground.  Whew!

  Tomorrow is closing down the week.  Time does go by quickly even for two retired older ones.

   
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  Noreen 3:01 pm on June 10, 2020 Permalink  

  Bricks Didn’t Work 

  The winds at 28 mph with gusts much higher . . . bricks in the pants didn’t help.  We didn’t venture east of our patio porch as it wasn’t safe.  There are several large branches in the far east portion of the acre and when the wind dies down, we will take care of them.

  Today I spent some time giving areas that were head high on the garage a second coat of paint.  There were several areas that had nothing left on the surface of the wood after the chipped paint was removed.  I can tell you that there were no bugs.  It is evident that areas of the garage siding higher than my head did not have the wear and tear of chipping.  We don’t want to repeat the “garage project” in just several years.  Our plan . . . fill in the areas to the max.  If the paint, as the wood is covered, doesn’t run . . . it’s a good thing.  My 1.5 inch paint brush is holding up well as are my hands and arms.  For me to hold a larger brush . . . no!  Though Dennis is not a painter, he is the major elf when it comes to taking care of whatever needs to be moved or relocated as I putz along.  It is a team effort.

  Supper this evening is going to be soup and sandwich.  

  I would enjoy another day in mild temps as we had today.  It’s not hard to stay busy outside when we have a reprieve of the 90 plus temps and high humidity.  And . . . besides . . . it’s hump day today.  We are on the down slide of the week.  We need to be content to take each day for what it may present to us.  Nothing that happens today will never ever be replayed in the exact real time.  I for one wouldn’t want to miss out on a “once in a life time event.”

   
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  Noreen 2:40 pm on June 9, 2020 Permalink  

  One More Thing 

  There is no end to the “one more thing.”  I had to set my alarm this morning for 6:30.  Watson Plumbing and Heating was to be here at seven sharp to service our air conditioner.  We had central air put in when we needed a new furnace in the early 90s.  As luck would have it . . . no problem during all of this time.

  When I was reminded that R22 coolant would not be easily available after January of 2020, I knew I needed to have a service call.  When Charlie got everything hooked up, sure enough, we were a pound low.  Now that we are on track, hopefully this service call will take us far, far into the future.  At that time it would call for an entire new AC unit.  We will keep our fingers crossed.  Dennis does a great job of taking the water hose to keep the fins clean.  We did have to learn our lesson on the fins.  Early on Dennis was going to do a great job of cleaning and had the water pressure so hard, many of the thin metal fins were mashed closed.  Yup, the unit froze up during a heat spell.  We now know the gentle setting works just as well.

  It’s trying hard to rain.  We could use it.  The high hot winds of the last two days really pulled a lot of moisture out of the ground.  

  Dennis and I could use a trip to Mankato for several reasons.  Our handyman, Mr. Moody, isn’t on a specific schedule.  There was no Mr. Moody today. I am not one to have any handyman work on our property when we are not home.  Our errands are minuscule and will wait.

  Iowa state opened up in total yesterday from the Covid shutdown.  I sure hope our governor would do likewise.  It would make doing errands so much easier rather than hoping where we need to go has a website letting us know their hours.  Oh well.  Catch ya all later.

   
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  Noreen 3:04 pm on June 8, 2020 Permalink  

  The Stuff I’m Made Of 

  The stuff I thought I was made of, well . . . forget that.  It only takes several day of heat and humidity and I wilt like a dandelion that has been hit with Roundup.

  I did give it a shot outside early this morning.  That didn’t last very long.  It is amazing that as warm as it was, the biting black flies could almost smell my steamy flesh and swarmed in for a bite.  Ish!  I have gotten dehydrated in times past.  Beware.  It can happen fast.  It doesn’t feel good as your heart does some fancy jumping and the black spots that you see are trying to keep in step with the jumping heart beat.  Dehydration hits everyone differently.  For Dennis he thinks he needs a nap.  His napping wants to continue on and on and on.  During that entire while he is hallucinating in his dreams.  Once I had gotten a clue that he hadn’t been drinking water, he was a hard sell to wake up enough to begin drinking water.  The best is to have something really sweet on hand to drink.  That tip came from Dennis’ daughter . . . the nurse.

  So it is in the Minnesota early summer when the heat comes on fast and furious.  Our Mr. Moody, the carpenter, didn’t come today and if he had, I would have sent him packing.  

  For all those who come home today from having to have been at work . . . come home to rest yourselves!  Nothing more needs to be done but to take care of yourselves.  The remainder of the week looks to be quite nice.  We are in a yo-yo type of weather pattern.

  I did go down into the sewing studio and felt like a stranger.  It will take a few day to orientate myself to get into a project.  The first clue I had was I wouldn’t lay my hands on a single scissor.  I must have really tidied up good when last I was in the sewing studio.

  Take care.  Be good to yourselves as you are stuck with yourself for what I hope is a long time.

   
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  Noreen 2:55 pm on June 7, 2020 Permalink  

  Lazy Retirees 

  Dennis and I are having a very lazy day today.  Nothing noteworthy.  The most excitement was spending a bit of time out on the patio early on, watching Harriet and Snuggles attack the cat nip plants.  Be sure to check in with us tomorrow.  Both of us are bound to be moving a bit more tomorrow.