Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:58 pm on April 26, 2019 Permalink  

  It Was Bound To Happen 

  I knew that I was getting by, by the skin of my teeth.  It was bound to happen.  I now have a cold.  This has not happened since the fall of 2018.  It could very well be that the winds that have sifted from the north to the south on an hourly basis this last week has caught my resolve off-guard.  During the winter months of being outside moving snow, I felt great each and every day as JoAnn and I would compare notes on how we were doing.  It is just annoying.

  With eyes that feel more like slits than ovals, Dennis offered to drive me up to the grocery store for a few items.  Oh my gosh!  I had forgotten that tomorrow, Saturday, is St. James citywide clean-up.  There is no charge for the majority of what people can put out to be picked up.  Tickets must be attached for appliances that have been purchased at $15.00 a crack.  I can’t believe there could be anything left in some of the homes in relationship to what is on the curb next to their homes.  Wednesday was the first day to begin putting things out.  The scavengers pulling trailers behind their pickups are fast and furious. 

  What do the older ones here on Stauffer Avenue have out . . . one lowly weed whip with the electrical hookup.  It was hard on Dennis to put it out.  It takes batteries that do not hold a charge.  Batteries can no longer be purchased for this older model.  The nail in the coffin was that with the problems I have had with a crick in neck, I gave notice that lugging around a weed whip was no longer in my wheelhouse.  Dennis does not have the leg power for the walking of the acre . . . so that pretty much tells the story for our acre this summer.  Dennis will trim as best he can when he mows. 

  Tomorrow we may well have a mixture of sleet, rain and snow.  It will be a perfect day for me to sit in the west porch of our home and watch the city crews load up . . . stuff.  There are so many stuffed sofas and chairs that will be oh so heavy when they get wet.  A funny note: our neighbor thought he was going to get new vehicles for free in a recent scam.  Did he put out anything from his home that he can’t walk through because of stuff that would be hauled away for free . . . not one item.  Human nature . . . go figure.

   
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  Noreen 7:29 pm on April 25, 2019 Permalink  

  It’s the Mom 

  It’s the Mom and sometimes the Mom gets a bit confused with technology.  It doesn’t pay to write things on my wrist as I wash my hands too often.  It will be better tomorrow.  It was a good day and it will feel good to put my head down and get a good night’s rest.  Computers get shut down for a good reason to clear all the crap and Moms shut down to clear out all the crap.  Night, night.

   
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  Noreen 5:23 pm on April 24, 2019 Permalink  

  Time Flies 

  Today, I had a doctor’s appointment in Mankato.  Yes, I know.  Rare for me.  It’s usually the ole cowboy.  In 2012 I had a cancerous area removed on my right facial cheek.  Off and on I would take a good hard look at it in the mirror.  Since this last Christmas, the spot has looked downright angry at times.  It would flare up and then settle back to the point of almost not being able to see where it was.

  It was decided to take a biopsy of my chubby cheek.  The numbing shot I thought was just like they said it would be, a hurting sharp prick.  I did see the scalpel as it was nearing my face, but I didn’t feel anything.  What stung like a hot fire were the spots on my face that she decided was going to get blasted with liquid nitrogen.  So be it.  I came for my continued health, not for a kissy, fuzzy hug.  I will get a phone call after the results are back from radiology.  

  It is now suppertime and my face still does feel like it experienced time in the hot sun.  Now there is the thought for the day: Grammie get your Neutrogena 100 sunscreen container and set it right by the bathroom window for the walking, the yard work and the mowing of the lawn.  

  On a bright spot, we had three prescriptions that needed filling and we used the temporary Lewis Drug Store here in town.  $10.12 covered all three prescriptions and they each were for 90 days.  I’ll take that any day.

  What a great day to be here on Stauffer Avenue to end the day.

   
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  Noreen 4:25 pm on April 23, 2019 Permalink  

  Signs of Spring 

  

  Slowly Dennis and I are getting the yard in shape. Old Glory waving in the breeze is comforting. The I-beam now has a bit of well deserved window dressing on it as it held the garage safe during the horrific winter winds. The Moose that Michael made for us stands guard over the patio. It’s been a great day. The Lilac bushes will soon surround and fill in this area of the yard. I am content.

   
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  Noreen 5:47 pm on April 22, 2019 Permalink  

  A Ducky Day 

  How fortunate I was when I stepped out for my walk earlier this morning.  I thought the heavy rain that we received overnight was the end of it.  Halfway home it began to sprinkle.  Here we are at supper and it is still at it.  It goes from sprinkles to rain that looks like it has sleet in it.

  I have been working in the sewing studio off and on.  The “off” was when there was yard work.  I belong to a closed website that specializes in bags, purses, wallets, etc.  When they put out a free pattern, I download it for future use.  I love a good challenge.

  The only supplies I had to purchase were three zippers and a small piece of white cork.  Everything else was in stashes.  I decided to line it with the same fabric as the outside.  There are two zipped pockets in the inside, and the top zippers shut.  This spring green has been in my stash for a long time and this was the perfect pairing for the embroidered Butterflies.  The embroidery was a tight fit to get it in the right spot on the front of the bag.

  Most of the finish work is done working while the bag is inside out.  What a jumble.  Trying to do seams while not catching the zippers makes for happy sewing machine needles.  As the pattern winds down, all zippers must be left in the open stage.  One of the zipper pockets also needs the bottom to be left unsewn.  Yup, going through that open zipper pocket bottom is how the entire bag is pulled inside out. It doesn’t go quickly, but it does eventually all get pulled out to pat it down, pull it straight, and put some steam on it. 

  I deem this a successful challenge.  With the day being as miserable as it was, I did need to turn the furnace back on.  The sewing studio has a heat vent.  With all the spring seepage water running in the interior tile, it felt very cool while I was sewing.  I will admit there were several times I broke a sweat trying to wrangle fabric, foam interfacing, lining and zipper placement.  I chose the white cork on the side panels to tie in with the white embroidery.  I will be on the lookout for their next free pattern.

   
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  Noreen 7:26 pm on April 21, 2019 Permalink  

  Wonderful 

  Holy Week has been wonderful.  Dennis and I are thankful for all we have and for all we are.  We are healthy and safe.  We are working on wise and wealthy.  God speed.

   
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  Noreen 5:23 pm on April 20, 2019 Permalink  

  When a Plan Comes Together 

  Dennis’ plan that he laid out for us today seemed to fall into place.  Dennis got the 2-wheel trailer out of the back garage for picking up the branches I have been stock piling.  That 2-wheel trailer is sporting brand new tires since last spring.  We had made a trip to Fairfax to haul an iron beam home on tires that were a miracle.

  The tree dump was our target with anything and everything that we could rake and load.  The deal I made with Dennis was that I would rake and load the trailer and he could take his time getting the Koi into the pond after spending all winter in a horse tank.  We have seven Koi for the season.  Just the right amount to watch, feed and enjoy.  The garage area where the fish had been got cleaned up.  The pump that was used over the winter in the horse tank, Dennis took right down into the basement and cleaned it for storage until the fall of 2019.  

  We both finished our tasks about the same time.  Dennis’ plan came together.  All the areas where Hosta grow have been raked.  The rider lawnmower won’t be needed to cut up a bunch of nasty twigs. . . picked up and loaded.  I drug my weary, sorry butt into the pickup and away with went with our $1.00 for the tree dump fee.  The trailer has been parked until the next errand.  The acre looks like people live here that appreciate their home. 

  This was the second day that Dennis had a tailwind for energy.  He slept great last night.  I can always tell how calm his sleep was by the amount of water that the humidifier of his CPAP machine has used during the night.  Little details keep me up to speed.

  Dennis and I are looking forward to company from Fairfax tomorrow for Easter.  Yup, there is a job jar.  Dennis fondly refers to Kevin as his favorite wood-tick.  I don’t think Kersten and Keven have ever come for a visit that there was not something that needed the fine tuning of someone who knows what they are doing.  Us? Not so much.  

  This evening Dennis and I are enjoying the peace that passes all understanding.  Praise be to the risen Jesus.

   
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  Noreen 5:58 pm on April 19, 2019 Permalink  

  Dennis is on the Move 

  Dennis has been so busy today.  I sure hope it doesn’t turn on him when he needs to go to bed and rest this evening.  Auxiliary sump pump is running.  Both lawnmowers have had the oil changed out and he left them run long enough that the idle was where it sounded like they could go for one more year.

  Tomorrow I have been made aware that the two-wheel trailer is coming out and we will be making a run to the tree dump.  Yup, we have branches piled ready to load.

  On a follow-up with our neighbor who thought he was going to get new vehicles via a scam:  Today Bob parked his pickup to the farthest south portion of his lot.  It looked as if that transport arrived with the goods, the driveway would be clear.  No . . . Dennis nor I did not make any contact today with Bob.  Leave well enough alone.

  What a great day.  What a great Good Friday.  This is the weekend that God’s children will know that He carries for us what we can’t.

   
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  Noreen 5:49 pm on April 18, 2019 Permalink  

  I Needed a Change 

  This morning I popped my yellow winter coat and red stocking cap that I have been wearing for my walk, into the laundry.  Enough.  I pulled out my pink winter coat and a white stocking cap and headed out for the walk.  I needed a change that would put winter out of my mind.  I felt like an Easter egg.  My nose still got cold.

  We have a neighbor to the south of us.  Bob is younger than I am.  He lives alone with his Beagle dog.  The poor dog has never been able to be outside without a leash on his neck.  Pretty sad.  There have been wellness checks on him from time to time by the city police.  After this afternoon, I know he is a vulnerable adult.

  The doorbell rang and as I opened the door to him, he began telling me he had good news.  Dennis and I were going to each get a brand new car.  Bob was going to get a new car.  He handed me an envelope.  It had $1,500 in it.  He said he had his envelope with $1,500 in it.  He began rattling off that all we needed was to go to a Walmart and purchase ‘x’ number of gift cards with this cash, call a phone number to give them a code from the cards . . . etc, etc. The cars were already loaded ready to be transported and in two days we would get the money back and have each a new car.

  It took me a long time to close him down long enough to explain to him that this was a scam. He wouldn’t buy it.  I got out of him where he banked and he told me the same place he had just come from after getting all the cash for the envelopes.  I handed him back the cash.  I think I did convince him to go back to the bank and have them check this out as their computers were really good.  Whether he did it or not, I do not know.  I did call the bank and yes, he had just been in there pulling out cash.  I asked the gal to please explain to Bob what a hoax this was . . . if he came back.  At this time I have no idea if he was convinced or if he found someone else to give free new cars to.  This scam was just on the news and Bob was walking through this point by point just as how the media had been warning.  Sad.  What an experience. 

  Dennis and I commented to each other that it was a good thing he and I were watching each other’s back.  I agreed.  Even living in our little old farm community town, the wolves are beckoning at the front door.  

  On a brighter note, Dennis had been watching his television in the patio porch.  A commercial that had come on spurred him to ask me if I wanted to go for a pickup ride with him.  I closed down what I had been doing and away we went.  Dennis had seen the DQ commercial of the cherry dipped cones and that is just where we went.  He had his cherry treat and I had a plain cone.  My, oh my . . . quite the life on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 5:59 pm on April 17, 2019 Permalink  

  What a Rainy Day 

  I left home in rain this early morning for a funeral in Hutchinson.  It rained so hard as I was traveling through the New Ulm area I didn’t really have a chance to concentrate of the noise of the thunder over the noise of the rain.

  Of my father’s family of nine children, only one remains.  Aunt Janet is 86.  Uncle Kenneth’s funeral brought nieces and nephews together.  Kenneth had just turned 87.  There was so much visiting going on over the funeral lunch it made the head spin.  Church basements are notorious for zero amount of acoustics.

  I stopped at the old homestead in Boon Lake Township.  I had made off with JoAnn at the funeral that I would stop in for a few minutes.  Everything was greening up as the rain fell.  It was a good one on one.  We both celebrated the end of winter.  JoAnn’s first winter on the homestead doing it solo.  She did it up well.  She had already had all the lawnmowers that had been used on the farm loaded up and she is awaiting a new mower to be delivered.  A mower that she can operate and a mower that will have a snowblower attached to it for the next winter.  For a whopping $75.00 a year, the implement dealer will put it on the unit and take it off when the last storm has passed.  Great deal.

  I stopped at Fairfax to see my Fairfax team.  Not as much time spent there as I would have liked, but I do have to acknowledge the working couple’s hours.  It worked out fine as I was feeling the need to get back home to check on Dennis.  The day had been long and full.  Mostly the day was rewarding.  

  The fields are full.  The ditches are full.  We had a lot of rain during this day.  I know the nighttime will be foggy.  I am so thankful to have had this day.  Every moment of it brought rewards.  I now thank my Lord for it all.