Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:24 pm on February 18, 2020 Permalink  

  Clean and Fresh Day 

  With the snow of yesterday, this morning everything looked fresh and clean.  
  We did have cleanup to do around doorways.  Wouldn’t you know it!  A nice layer of ice under the snow.  Foretold is fore warned.

  Before we got too excited to play in the snow, Dennis went to his coffee group at McDonald’s.  It is one of the healthiest things for him to do.  Finding out how other fellows tackle things in stride . . . no one needs to feel like the Lone Ranger.

  By one this afternoon, I rode with Dennis to the Elevator to pick up the pails of shell corn for the deer.  Truth to be told, the ole cowboy had spent three days moving snow with his walk behind blower.  The right knee was letting him know that turning each time in the same direction, manhandling the turning of the snowblower tends to twist the knee without realizing it until . . . you wake up on the next day and it is letting him know in no uncertain terms . . . enough is enough.

  The two of us pretty well have things taken care of outside.  In between time I have been working with the ultra suede fabric from my stash.  It washed up and dried beautifully.  As it has been folded and stored for quite a few years, the fold marks do tell a bit of a story.  With that being said, I am working on stitching out some barn designs on the suede.  I think it will work itself into a wall hanging of some sort.  That is yet to be decided.  I had purchased these designs after I had been to the quilt retreat in September of 2019.  Larry’s wife had asked me to do some pillows for her as she wanted them for gifts at Christmastime.  We did send off a pillow for JoAnn about the same time.  This is my first crack of cranking something out for Stauffer Avenue. 

  Ya know what!  Spending $10.00 on a collection of designs sure can bring about many hours of creativity for me.  My day is balanced.  A bit of support outside with Dennis, an errand here and there, having meatloaf in the oven for supper . . . I deem it a good day.  Best of all we are cleaned out in the driveway.  We can run away from home if the whim hits us.

   
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  Noreen 3:16 pm on February 17, 2020 Permalink  

  It is a Sign 

  It is a sign that today was not to go off as planned.  It was not to be.  Today was my day to get out of Dodge and meet my stitchers at Baker’s Square in Mankato.  I had heard rumors that there was to be light flurries hitting the southeast portion of the state.

  It was a good thing that my stitcher Sharon had a more in depth weather forecast.  Sharon called at 8:30.  The end result is that we will try for next Monday.  I live 45 miles west of Mankato and one of the gals lives 45 miles east of Mankato.  It could have been a very slippery sliding day as the snow began at twelve noon and Dennis reports by three this afternoon we have had at least three inches and it may not be done.  

  The first thing Dennis had going this morning was to take the shell corn pails to the elevator for pickup tomorrow.  The deer vary in number.  There is a doe and two fawns that come as early as 4:30 for supper.  This morning I got up just a few minutes before six and there were three bucks rooting around in the hay bale under the Oak getting the last vestiges of corn.  Never fear, I went back to bed until 7:30. 

  Dennis has been talking about getting the vehicles to the car wash and this forenoon was the time to get several layers of grime off of them.  Just as he drove the car into the garage it began to rain.  Well . . . that didn’t last long.  At noon it began to snow in fine wet stuff and before long we had large beautiful flakes being driven by a north wind. When I think about it, I have had more social events canceled than I can well afford. My hermit status is really getting socked in.   

  My plan was to stay out of the sewing studio today.  That was until one this afternoon.  Dennis kidded me when he came into the house. “That didn’t last long.” I was brave enough to ask him how he would feel if he didn’t get out into his patio porch.  “I’d be lost and be a pain in your stiff neck.”  We both have our favorite hangout.  

  I’ve been rambling long enough and today I will have very little to offer for “local effort.”  By the way . . . that term came about from the Minnesota Department of Revenue while I was working.  Yearly property values were determined by the level of sale value per usage.  The assessor’s job was to attribute each year’s taxable market value per parcel as per what the market indicated.  The Revenue counted on that taxable level being within 90% of what the market indicated during a certain time frame per individual classifications.  “Me” . . . I was the local effort.  If I didn’t put out to maintain that 90% guideline fairly and equitably, there would be a state mandated increase across the line whether it was fair per parcel or not.  That phrase of local effort has become our household humor on keeping Stauffer Avenue up to par.  Tee Hee!

   
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  Noreen 4:34 pm on February 16, 2020 Permalink  

  Gray and Heavy Air 

  The bones felt the heavy air today.  It was a good day to wear a heavy flannel shirt.

  For the last two days, Dennis has been cleaning up some of the snow and getting it away from the patio porch.  It would be great if we had a spring of not flooding the patio porch.  Do the pluses of having the patio porch outweigh the possible flooding . . . absolutely.  

  Our home is small and as it works out, we each have our place where we can be alone and yet together.  I have the sewing studio in the basement. Dennis has his porch where he is virtually outside with three sides of glass slider doors while he is inside in his rocking chair or swivel chair to keep an eye on all that is going on in the back part of the acre.  I don’t fuss about the furnace going to keep it warm enough for him to enjoy his television programs.  At the time in our lives that we are at . . . home and liking to be here is priceless.

  We get pressured to travel to Arizona and spend time in Dennis’ son’s mobile home as his truck routes take him out for three weeks at a time.  I would take Dennis to the airport and send him along his way if he wanted to go.  Neither one of us has that on our bucket list.  In fact we don’t have a bucket list. 

  Often we visit over a cup of coffee just how fortunate we are to have such a sweet life.  I didn’t say it was without issues.  I have a temper.  Dennis has a temper.  We agree to meet in the middle and start over.   Any two people that are together and tout that they never disagree . . . I will call them out on that any day of the week.  God didn’t make any two people alike.  What He did do is give each of us a chance to learn how to live side by side, respecting each other and what makes the other unique.  As I said . . . life is sweet.

  We had an inkling to go shopping today.  Well . . . we did but not by leaving the place.  We had often mentioned how nice the shop vac is that we have in the garage and patio porch.  It is a “Hang-Up Pro.” It is a wet and dry vac.  It is small in shape and it has power.  The heavy Filter Queen that is in the basement is great.  I use it down there often.  It is too heavy for me to safely bring it upstairs unless I know Dennis is close by.  Amazon will be delivering a “Hang-Up Pro” on the 19th for us to keep on the main floor for use.  We have the perfect spot for this 12″ 16 lb. cylindrical vac.  Even with the price of $106.00 plus the $15.00 shipping fee we would not have found what we were looking for by driving to various spots in Mankato.  We knew this would be a good fit for the house as Dennis has brought the vac in from the garage various times.  Shopping . . . completed.

  Tomorrow is a new week and hard telling what is in store.  It sure keeps one guessing.

   
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  Noreen 5:01 pm on February 15, 2020 Permalink  

  Thinking Spring 

  We finally have a sunny day with just a light breeze.  During the night I did pull my blankets up a bit higher as I thought that would be the only protection I would have once the west porch roof blew off.

  Have you ever thought there would be a day when you would do nothing!  Stay in PJs or a bathrobe all day long.  I had the best of intentions.  But . . . there were birds singing.  I found myself dressed before I realized it and I was stripping the beds and heading for the laundry.  

  Once the buttons have been pushed on the washing machine I meandered down into the basement.  I had been thinking about cleaning that small refrigerator long enough.  It was time to pull the plug and do it.  We use it for extra cold storage.  I enjoy a cold bottle of water, a cold bottle of green tea and an occasional cold beer.  Sad to say I don’t utilize the small freezer space like it should be.  Obviously that is where the work needed to be done.  It had more ice in it than should be. When I pulled the plug I put some extra towels in the cavity and let it begin the thaw.  Why not!  It was a thawing day outside.

  Laundry was going, thawing was in progress, I decide to load and look at a design on the sewing machine.  This will be a “what if.”  About 20 years ago I worked with man-made suede and made Dennis’ daughter some western vests. As I have mentioned, 2020 is the year that I am using what is on hand.  Low and behold I found a fairly good sized piece of that ultra suede. The first thing I did was throw it into the light load of laundry to freshen it up.  It was touted to be washable.  With the washing of the product to be done, I decided to finish up a pillow I had been working on.  The suede project is still forthcoming.

  When Megan was a baby, I had made Carrie some curtains for her bathroom.  She provided the plaid fabric and away we went with the project.  Sure enough there was some of that great plaid fabric left in one of my stashes.  I found a spring time design and began working my whiles on it.  Today was the day to get it done.  

  When Dennis’ nephew gets done doing a quilt on his long-arm the extra in width and length of the batting gets stuffed into a plastic bag and when the bag is full I get it in my sewing studio.  There was enough that I could make a pillow out of that batting and then sew a cover over it.  Perfect.  Now to finish the stitched pillow to fit into that pillow form.  Mom always worked with prairie points.  They are folded small squares to form a whimsical addition to a quilt, or in this case to my pillow.  Mom often had prairie points in the binding of the quilts, to take the brunt of the oil from hands when the quilts were tugged up around chubby chins.  When the afternoon shadows began, I was happy with the entire project today.  Yes . . . it made me think spring.

  When Dennis came in for a bit this afternoon it was time for me to keep him close by.  My small refrigerator that sits on the basement floor was ready to be gutted of shelving and cleaned in the inside.  I had all my supplies on hand and they were all at arms length handy for me to work with.  I also knew when I was done and wanted to get up off of the basement floor, I would need moral support from my favorite ole cowboy.  I know my titanium knees and I know how to protect them as I get up and down from a floor.  It would make for a very good segment on “Funniest Home Videos.”  As I type, the ultra clean refrigerator is humming and regaining the temperature for my beer that I may have this evening . . . or not.

  The sun is getting lower in the west.  It’s time to take all that fresh bedding and get the beds made up for a good night’s rest.  Just like in the old days . . . Saturday night baths or showers and then tucked into clean beds.  Lena would be proud.

   
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  Noreen 5:22 pm on February 14, 2020 Permalink  

  Enough for the Day 

  We had decided last week when the new tabs for the license plates of the pickup needed to be purchased to inquire about the “real I.D.”  In case someone of our family was traveling out of state and we had to take a plane for emergency purposes, we would need the new requirements.  We have no plans to get passports.  Then the fun began.

  In the county recorder’s office of our county, Dennis’ birth certificate has his spelling of his name as Denis.  How could Dennis have been drafted into the Army with all of his military paperwork giving his name as Dennis.  His social security card is Dennis.  We were handed a packet as to how WE need to proceed to correct this before the “real I.D.” process could continue.  When we came home, we put the tabs on the pickup and the packet of information that WE needed to work with was left on the corner of the table.

  Today I was brave enough to go through a small strong box that had been Dad’s to see what paperwork we had collected since Dennis and I have been together.  In the collection were title cards to our vehicles, each of our high school diplomas, quite a bit of Dennis’ military paperwork, the abstracts for our real estate and some older envelopes.  I had my confirmation certificate and my birth certificate.  That little envelope from the county for the birth certificate was issued in 1991.  That was the year Dad had gone through his treasure trove of papers and realized my name was misspelled and he and mom had corrected it.  In a yellowed envelope was a card that had been issued when Dennis was baptized.  When I was going to read through the scripture that was inside, a very tattered piece of paper had been folded.  It was “Notification of Birth Registration.”  October 2nd, 1936, one Dennis Howard Curry was born to Thomas and Edith Curry.  It was a record of birth registered.  The baptism card also stated Dennis Howard Curry.

  I think the packet that we were to work through to clean up a spelling of a name is going to be returned and the county will have to work backwards to clean up their record.

  After that, I was on fire.  I went ahead and did our income tax for 2019.  I have it finished and printed out via TaxAct.  All I need to do is . . . of course . . . send money with when I send the returns to the United States Federal Government and the Minnesota State Government.  I also now have a headache.  Go figure.

  For the first time ever, the cat’s water dish had a skim of ice on it in the heated garage when Dennis went outside this morning..  Grant it, the thermostat is set at 40 degrees as the lowest setting, but sitting close to the outside wall makes a difference.  It’s bound to get better.  With what I did today, I can tell you I had quite a head of steam on and I didn’t notice the cold.

   
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  Noreen 6:56 pm on February 13, 2020 Permalink  

  Can’t do Anything about the Cold 

  I put an extra layer of a sweater on today.  The thermostat is set at 70 degrees and Dennis is in agreement.  In the sewing studio today it cleared at 60 degrees.  I don’t mind the cooler area.  I am popping up and down consistently when I am on a roll.

  The York Peppermint Patty candy bar box is empty.  It was one of Dennis’ favorites after supper each night.  This morning the two of us worked on making a pan of brownies.  A few short-cuts and it remains a sweet treat with less sugar.  

  Dennis is on a five day program of Prednisone to take out the inflammation in his right hand.  Prednisone has been around a long time to help for short term issues.  When Kevin needed to take it for an occasional asthma attack it was welcomed.  It is one of those meds that are not to be continued for a long time.  I do remember that Kevin’s appetite increased dramatically while he was on the short program. 

  When I went down to the sewing studio this forenoon, the doorway into the room caught my eye.  Good grief!  Calendar pages do need to be swapped out for people to stay on track.  Apparently the two of us loose track of time by the months.  It seems we don’t miss appointments or important dates.  We are for sure more than those that need to mark off each day in order to maintain their lifestyle.   

  Sadly our neighbors have ceased feeding the deer.  It made me feel very good when Dennis said we would continue.  The young females need our help if they are to have healthy babies in the coming months.  Dennis did tell me we would be doing some yard work this spring as the deer have stepped some of the pavers off of the surround under the Maple tree.  Now there you go!  My thoughts of cutting back on flowers has just had the affirmation of the deer giving me a head start to tidy up the area.  Oh for the seasons that are within us throughout the decades. 

  The good news for the night is that the north winds have settled down.  Last night I felt that we would loose the roof on the west porch.  It is also encouraging that daylight is lasting a bit longer.  We’ll make it through this winter in good stead.  When I watch the news of the weather that other portions of the United States are having .  . . I feel blessed.

   
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  Noreen 6:18 pm on February 12, 2020 Permalink  

  Prepared for the Brunt 

  The wind is from the northwest at 29 mph.  Being sheltered in town, I am sure that those on the open highways have a difficult time seeing as well as watching for slippery road surfaces.

  I was to have company today.  My nephew’s wife, Jennifer, and her mom Rita, were going to come for a visit.  Last night at this time I did text them that perhaps next week would be better.  Many things have been canceled or put off since Thanksgiving.  That was the first time I canceled an event and it seems that has happened quite often since.

  First thing that needed to be done in the sewing studio was Swiffering the cement floor.  Someone sure did make a mess of threads and scraps.  After finishing up the quilt yesterday it was time to take some of the sewing machine apart to oil and clean down under.  With a new needle in place, I poked around in the sewing studio until I found a project that would carry me through the day.  Dennis popped down quite often during the day.  He had a good run of Solitaire on the sewing studio laptop.  Dennis has a schedule that takes up his day.  It would not be my cup of tea, but it works for him.  This winter the Rural Television station has been a Godsend for Dennis.  There is bound to be either a rodeo or a tractor auction.  I do well if I remember to turn the radio on in the studio.

  As of six this evening the blizzard warning is over for our area.  That is not to say that the winds got that message.  I can remain a hermit through the nastiest part of weather, but many are out and about and unfortunately they may not realize how vulnerable they are. 

  Everyone be safe.  I would rather think about you than read about you.

   
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  Noreen 6:40 pm on February 11, 2020 Permalink  

  It is Finished 

  The scrappy quilt blocks I started last summer have been haunting me.  Nothing threatening, just consistent like a bad cough in the spring of the year.  I did get waylaid several times.  It brings balance to the sewing studio.  We sure wouldn’t want anything to become humdrum and boring.

  The entire quilt has 49 blocks, each with a flange border.  Why?  Because I could.  A flange border is a piece of fabric that is cut at 1″ wide, folded in half and sewn in at the same time that the bordering sash is sewn on.  It ends up being a scant 1/4″ wide border, aka: a flange.  I wanted to see if I could pull it off consistently.  Experimenting keeps a passion alive decade after decade.  My mom, Lena, would have been right in there with me.  Mom had her own sewing studio set up in a spare bedroom.  She had the best of the fact that there were windows.  Daylight beats fluorescent lights hands down.  We have one fluorescent four foot fixture to replace with the LED option.  The two LED lights have made a great difference and they don’t hum.  That in itself is very annoying.

  It would have been perfect if I had had enough of the deep teal color that was the outside border of the quilt for binding.  No such luck.  I had to resort to using the lighter blue in conjunction with the back fabric.  Pulling the near black with blue flowers to the top via the binding really was a stark contrast.  I decided to do the flange one more time in the binding.  It gave a chance for the light blue to pull the same blue in the flowers out of the very dark that was used in the backing.

  I believe the extra putz work was worth it.  No one else needs to see that it was what was needed.  I needed it.  If Grammie isn’t happy with a project . . . it may never see the light of day.  Actually . . . I have always come up with a “Hail Mary.”  It’s for the creative side of the brain.  Truth to be told, I am too frugal to throw away good fabric.  I remember how Mom cherished every printed chicken feed sack she had.  Waste not . . . want not.  

  There will need to be time to Swiffer up all the threads that seemed to have eluded the waste basket.  A tidy shop, be it mechanical or sewing, is always a joy to enter into.  With tidy surroundings, those juices in between the ears begin spinning out all sorts of “what ifs.”  After today, nothing is spinning let alone being juicy.  I am counting on that to take hold tomorrow.  It’s time to heat up the beads in my hot-pack for my neck and put the feet up.

   
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  Noreen 4:58 pm on February 10, 2020 Permalink  

  The Rest of the Story 

  I believe we have the rest of the story in regard to the last four weeks of  Dennis’ pain in his right hand.  The fluid draw that was done on Dennis’ hand has an indication of crystals.  Crystals indicate a high amount of uric acid in the system, aka: Gout.

  Gout may be caused by consuming high amounts of red meat in the diet, excess alcohol or excess sugar consumption.  The first two are not in the equation. The last option, I do believe is what may be the cause.  Dennis likes sweets. 

  I am the one who purchases the groceries.  I am the one who does make sweets available within our home.  I am not the one who forces anyone to overdue on what is on hand.  Jelly beans is one of Dennis’ favorites.  Four jelly beans is equivalent to a teaspoon of white sugar. Who counts when jelly beans are taken out of a container?  I think we will need to be counting a lot of items.  Reading labels is the answer.  When the number behind the sugar is given, divide that by four and you have a teaspoon of sugar represented.  It is very scary.

  We have not been given any direction from our doctor in regard to any prescription.  I took my time this afternoon and looked up medications that are prescribed for Gout.  I wouldn’t stick anyone of them in my mouth.  The side effects are numerous and not pleasant. 

  I visited with JoAnn this afternoon as she had been curious as to what we found out about Dennis. JoAnn recounted a situation about a surgeon that she had worked with who had Gout.  At a time he had gone off of the meds and a surgery had to be postponed due to Gout in his hands.  What I took from that was . . . if a doctor went off of a med who did surgery, the side effects must not be pleasant for such consequences to be chanced.

  I believe we will be taking this one day at a time and weaning Dennis off of some of his surgary favorites.  An example of his fondness:  when we eat out, I enjoy a veggie omelet, Dennis will have pancakes as he loves the apricot syrup and the maple syrup and the wild berry syrup.

  Two of my family members have had cancer.  A third member has had a stroke.  Though none of these are connected to one another, the cancer cells know where the weak link is.  The blood clot that lets loose will do so where an artery is restricted.  I do watch what I eat and I don’t eat what I have always enjoyed; baked goods, french fries, and desserts.  I still falter, but I know not to overdue it very often.

  I would hate to see Dennis go through again what he has this last month.  Can I prevent it?  No.  Will I pay a high price if he looks the other way in regard to his food intake?  Yes!  Usual and customary care is normal.  Care that comes from and for such a painful debilitating issue in not pleasant.   

  Time will tell.  Dennis is going to have to wear his glasses a lot more often than he has as those darn fool labels are printed really small.

   
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  Noreen 5:36 pm on February 9, 2020 Permalink  

  It Has Been Measured 

  In the quiet of our patio that is protected on two sides, Dennis measured the snowfall.  His official measurement was 13.5″.  

  Randy and his long green line and Dennis and his walk behind blower put in a long day.  It is now a very bright late afternoon and all has been moved that needs to be moved in regard to the snow.  The last path Dennis made was along the north side of the house so we can get to the vent of the furnace.  Though I am not participating in snow removal it does keep me on my toes checking as to where Dennis is with his snowblower.  Missteps happen in a heart beat. The pickup garage opens onto Stauffer Avenue and the city fellows are very gracious and as the tandem trucks follow each other, all the snow is bladed off to the south away from the garage door.  Surprisingly the back concrete steps with the sun shining on them are down to the bare concrete.  Bless the sun that is quite powerful.

  Late this afternoon we dug out a second flat feeding pan so there is more area for multiple deer to be able to enjoy a snack.  The enjoyment that we have had watching these beautiful beings is so worthwhile. 

  It’s time to get the evening meal together.  Thankfully there was a good amount of pork roast left from last night.  Dennis had made instant potatoes for four on purpose.  Tonight will take patties out of those leftovers and giving them a quick pan fry. 

  I hope everyone stayed safe with the heavy snowfall that no doubt brought less than good road conditions.  Catch you all tomorrow.