Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:16 pm on October 12, 2019 Permalink  

  Crisis Averted 

  Yesterday Dennis’ garage furnace chimney rusted out and off.  Dennis came in and told me to hold supper until he got home.  Dennis in his little red pickup sat in the parking lot of our plumbing fellows until one of their trucks showed up for the close of their day.  Close of their day?  Dream on.  It may have been 5:30, but one of the service fellows followed Dennis home to assess the situation.  Measurements were taken and the furnace is able to run safely with how it has been rigged up.  Not to worry, Dennis will stay on top of their promise to return as soon as the parts are in.  Dennis is in this to win it.  

  Apparently our two man business is now seven men strong and not able to keep up with the customer demands.  Hmm.  Seems no one wants to work, even when it’s on the job training while drawing a paycheck.  Our plumbers are the not the only ones short of help.  Earlier this spring we had a difficult time finding someone to install a Larson screen door.  Grant it, Kevin had totally taken off the old one completed with all the framing.  Not to worry, the fellow that we did get is on our speed dial.

  With having snow showers off and on, it was time for a kettle of soup to be made.  I made my famous “End of the Week Soup.” With a base of Swanson’s Beef Broth, a package of diced leftover roast beef from the freezer, a package of Bird’s Eye Steamable Rice and Vegetable . . . I was on my way towards having a soup for supper available.  I did rummage through the refrigerator.  A bit of grated cheese, some pork and beans left from a night ago, a package of leftover frozen green beans that contain bacon and garlic and a handful of beef bullion cubes.  Just for good luck, several splashes of Balsamic vinegar.    

  Dennis did do a tasting before he left to have coffee with one of his buddies.  If Dennis is not home by 5:30, he can be found at the Home Town Cafe, telling me he passed on my “End of the Week Soup.”  I highly doubt it, but . . . taste buds are very individual.

  Not having had a plan for supper, I think my soup is a crisis averted as well as Dennis’ crisis with a furnace that may not have been able to be used.  Oh my gosh, the cats and . . . Dennis would have suffered in the patio porch.  Ya . . . right!

  I am nestled in for the weekend.  Let the good times roll.

   
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  Noreen 3:05 pm on October 11, 2019 Permalink  

  Rattling a Cage 

  Here we thought we were done with winter prep.  Not so.  Dennis came in and said the chimney for his garage furnace has done fallen of the garage wall.  Dang!  It has shown to be rusty for some time.  It is actually a good time to have this done before we actually had a patio full of snow. 

  Why the rattling of the cage you might ask.  Our favorite plumbers have been a bit lax. Two summers ago, we had them move the AC so Complete Basements could work on putting in new windows and a window well, with the understanding that when we called them, they would move it back to somewhat of an original location.  That didn’t happen.  The AC has now nestled in quite nicely at an odd angle among our new seedlings of grass.  It’s not going anywhere now.  The slope of the yard has been determined. 

  On the list of items for the summer of 2018 was to check the AC as it is a unit that was put in 1991.  At the same time of the request was furnace cleaning for both the house and the garage furnaces.  The boys never showed up.  They have a business office and I know they check in to that location every morning to have the work load divided up.  Catching them when they are in their van at another location is not proper.

  Here we are in 2019 with another call to their business office.  Same request: AC check, two furnaces to check and now, also a kitchen faucet repair.  I have called back to check on the scheduling and I was nice about it.  Nothing.

  Now today with Dennis’ garage furnace chimney issue, Dennis went straight for the jugular.  Not the business office to have this put on the list . . . right down to where the vehicles are kept and where the boys have a bit of a man cave. 

  This is the first time of having a disappointed experience with them that has lapsed two seasons.  We don’t want to be the clients that are serviced when it is a high ticket item.  We are the clients that pay our bill on time.  We are the “steady Eddies” of customers that give out great reviews.

  As Dennis got the little red pickup out of the garage . . . “You go cowboy.”  Let’s see what is gong on with the service that has been given in good faith, on both ends, in the past.  I can hear the cage being rattled!

   
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  Noreen 3:58 pm on October 10, 2019 Permalink  

  Not Much to Report 

  When you awake during the night and the rain can be heard on the west awning, it’s not good.

  Getting up at 7:30 and it is still drizzling, it’s not good.

  I did make a run to Bird Island for some stitching supplies.  Yes, it could be ordered online but small town businesses do need support. Amanda and Kelly have really been great support in the process of me learning the ins and outs of my machine.

  I did favor a stop in Fairfax to briefly see how my Fairfax Team is dong.  On all accounts they are doing well.  I had a bottle of water with me but a maple flavored frosting donut called to me for a breakfast.  Not an excellent choice but it was my road trip and a treat was called for.

  As I was cruising down HWY #4, I recalled that Millner Sellner had the 2019 Hesston Belt Buckles in.  Dennis has bee collecting them since 1975.  It would be a great shame for him to be missing one at this late date.  Without the original 1975 buckle the collection would be and is meaningless.  Dennis is on his second wooden buckle case.

  I drove home in rain.  This wet fare is ours for the weekend.  It was sad to see so many fields totally muddied up, as well as the surface of the highway as some soybeans and the late sweetcorn had been taken out.

  The last portion of my day has been spent in the sewing studio with printed out charts of thread company colors.  I have a plan for some embroidery.  I have the design downloaded ready to go.  The company that I purchased the design from uses Floriani threads.  I have only invested in Isacord threads.  I know too many gals who have multiple thread companies represented.  How many of one color do you need!  Hunting and pecking for comparable thread numbers is tedious but doable.  What’s a stitcher to do, but power on.  It’s not like I am stressed for time. 

  On a positive note, Dennis has put the rain gauge away for the season.  We really do not need to keep track as it only harbors groans.

   
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  Noreen 4:08 pm on October 9, 2019 Permalink  

  A Marathon Type of Day 

  We may start out a bit slow in the mornings but we pick up speed as the day goes on.

  My first task this morning was to walk the length of Stauffer Avenue to visit my friend June.  June happens to live at the end of Stauffer Avenue.  Sitting at her kitchen table we had a great catch up chat.  I had taken my Diamond Willow cane with me just in case the right hip wanted to cause a glitch.  The hip played nice to and from June’s house.

  Dennis had it in his mind that we were going to get some winterizing done today.  The remaining week has been forecast to be anything but nice.  Neither Dennis nor I like to work outside when our hands can get cold.

  Here we are at suppertime and we have had a great day.  Everything that was outside, not meant to be out in the winter weather, is inside the potting shed.  The last item that went in was the patio umbrella.  Amen.  Both Dennis and I have decided that there will be some heavy items offered to family members next spring.

  All of the garden hoses have been blown out, reeled in onto the hose carriage and the hose carriage is now in the garage.

  The bathroom windows needed to be cleaned from the outside and they now sparkle in the late day sun.

  The kitty baskets have been taken apart with the blankets having been on the clothesline for the brisk wind to freshen them up.  Of course Snuggles had to try each of the baskets out after Dennis put them back together to make sure he had done it right. 

  I had a four o’clock physical therapy appointment for the right hip.  Mike T had a chance to see how the hip is doing after having a busy day of being out and about.  My next appointment is the 23rd of this month.  I am to do anything and everything that is usual and customary to see how the hip takes it.  There is one tight ridge of tendon and muscle not playing well together.  Taking it one day at a time with walking and doing what comes about each day will be the tell tale when the 23 appointment is kept.  I am hopeful the hip will take my days in stride with what each day brings so I get a “Get out of Jail” pass for the fall and winter.

  Dennis requested pancakes and Jimmy Dean sausages for supper.  That is a fare that we have not had in a long time and I am just the gal to deliver that request.  Catch you tomorrow and I hope it is a dry day and that the forecasters were being alarmists.  No more marathon days this week.

   
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  Noreen 12:11 pm on October 8, 2019 Permalink  

  Day Two 

  This is day two of having two eyes back in good health.  The right eye had a cataract removed August 5th and on October 7th the left eye was done.

  I will admit, I still have a hangover from the anesthetics that I received yesterday.  There is no pain in the eye.  The stomach still has a nauseous thing going on as well as my head having a slight ache.  It’s all part and parcel of keeping a patient still during the procedure . . . keeping the patient in the loop but the patient not caring what was in the loop.  I could hear what was going on as I was reminded several times to continue looking at the light.  Ya . . . I have heard of people looking at and seeing “The Light” during a “come to Jesus” episode.  Hmm.

  Dennis had me back at Dr. Pinke’s office this morning at eight.  As luck would have it the eye specialist comes to St. James via Dr. Pinke’s office on Tuesdays.  It saved us a trip to Mankato.  The report was a very good one.  All is as was anticipated.  Each day the brain and eye will continue good communications.  In several weeks it will be determined what type of lens I need in my glasses.

  The wind is really whipping today.  Dennis took down the flag to save it from harm.  These winds are still letting loose some branches on high that were damaged some time in the past  The key is to not walk in the backyard today. 

  So . . . I am lying low today but thought I would keep up to date on what is going on at Stauffer Avenue  . . . . day two, signing out.     

   
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  Noreen 5:02 pm on October 7, 2019 Permalink  

  Resting 

  We got home at noon today from the Madelia hospital.  Cataract surgery is behind me.

   
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  Noreen 3:06 pm on October 6, 2019 Permalink  

  Energized 

  Yipee!  The sun is out.  The sun trumps the high winds from the south.  

  I took one look at the hard water spots in our west house porch and I knew I had been energized by the sun.  Actually the sun could barely cut through the spots. 

  Out came the Turbo Foaming Lime-A-Way.  Kevin and Kersten brought over several bottles with the intended use of spraying the foam into the shower head to allow for maximum spray.  It works great on the exterior windows.

  Dennis has bought some Fuller Brush soap cleaning products to hook onto the garden hose.  It claimed that windows would be spot free thereafter.  The house got washed off last weekend and with the Fuller Brush soap, the siding of the house looks good.  Good enough to get through the winter with less grime.

  The windows . . . not so much.  Our house windows are all tip-in.  I tackled the eight porch windows, first with the foaming Lime-A-Way and then several rinses with the final being Windex.  The difference in the windows is just as great as the vision via my right eye after the cataract was removed.  

  One cannot clean windows without taking care of the rest of the story.  The west house porch is and has now been cleaned for the fall season. 

  I was not the only one energized by a sunny day.  Dennis has been in the garages.  I have heard the leaf blower going.   I have heard the vacuum going.  Both left on our own, we have owned this day of local effort.

  Tomorrow Dennis will deliver me to the Madelia hospital by 8:45 for the left eye cataract surgery.  I am thrilled and I am happy to get this done.  

  Catch ya all after both of my eyes will have more to see in regard to what is needed for the fall housework.  The catch word of the day was “energized.”

   
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  Noreen 4:23 pm on October 5, 2019 Permalink  

  I Believe 

  I believe we will still have warm temps and sunny skies.  We had an additional two inches of rain overnight will chilly air for the entire day.  Hmm. Tomorrow it may get into the high 50s with a strong wind.     

  We drove to Mankato for a great granddaughter birthday today. Luella is now two.  As we drove it was sad to see all the bean fields with water standing in the rows.  Dennis commented if we get warm weather and the pods dry out, they may very well burst and the beans will shell out.  The only solution to that according to my ole cowboy is to run cattle into the field and use it as feed.  Ya, right . . . how many farmers have cattle to allow to run in a field with an electric fence to hold them in.  It will be an interesting fall harvest.   

  Our sump pump is running, again turning our yard to the north into a swamp.  Five inches in that many days is not the norm.  Last night Dennis put a pump on top of the drain where our sump pump surfaces and is turning it off and on sporadically to drain more water out into the street.  Quite the fall season.

  We are comfy in our home for the remainder of the weekend.  There is no place like home.

   
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  Noreen 3:56 pm on October 4, 2019 Permalink  

  It Feels Good 

  A session of 45 minutes with physical therapy this morning.  It may sound odd, but it feels good to have both of my hips feeling the burn equally after having gotten the front yard mowed with my push lawnmower.  To not have just the right hip feeling . . . the workout is definitely moving into the right direction.  Mike T has always allowed me to know that pushing a lawnmower is a good thing.  The lunging forward with each step stretches the ham strings in a good way to get that lawnmower moving.  One session next week has been scheduled . . . much better than three a week.  My chiropractor appointment is stretched out two and a half a week . . . also showing signs of good improvement.  The chigger medication is allowing for the legs to be less sensitive to the touch.  Hell’s bells . . . I think we’ve got this ole body under control.  It does give the patience factor a workout.

  Dennis vowed that this mowing session would be the last for the summer of 2019.  More rain may allow the grass the heft to grow a bit, but the blades of the grass are soft and wily.  While the potting shed doors were open I did put a few of the lawn ornaments away.  A bit here, a bit there is better than having a hell bent type of day.

  As I was finishing up outside, neighbor June was wrapping up her daily walk and she stopped for some chatting.  June is several years older than I am.  June is a widow.  I admire her for her determination.  For myself, it helps to have a neighbor that faces challenges with much the same determination as myself.  It’s a good thing. 

  It’s the close of the day and everything feels right and everything feels good.  Bless be this day!

   
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  Noreen 3:55 pm on October 3, 2019 Permalink  

  Late Birthday Treat 

  We had meant for Dennis to try the Mexican restaurant in Madelia for quite some time.  Today was the day.  Not to say that Dennis’ request of his actual birthday meal of tomato soup and a grill cheese sandwich was not a hit.

  Dennis was able to order off the “American Way” menu . . . a hamburger.  I will say that the hamburgers were amazing.  Huge and tasty.  They make their own bun.  Next time we will be “hold the French fries.”This was my second visit, Dennis’ first.  Dennis was in awe of the bright, well done decor.  It may well be a good place for another time.

  With having a total of 3 inches of rain Monday and Tuesday, I am not surprised that I hear Dennis’ lawnmower going on the east end of the acre this late afternoon.  As he headed out of the house in his chores clothes, the comment from him was “everyone’s on their own for supper.”  Dennis remembered I was going to a friend’s open house at 5:30 in  support of her new endeavor.

  Some days fill in without any effort.