I am a retired 44-year veteran of the Real Estate Assessment field. As with real estate assessing and how it applies to real estate taxes, one can make many acquaintances, but not many real friends. It was a great career choice.
It has been nearly 10 years since I reclaimed my home and my real passions within my home. I enjoy it more each day and tip my hat to those who I left behind.
Each day I try to stretch myself with the use of my computer as it relates to this site and using it to print out labels for quilts for trying to incorporate photos into my sewing. Life is so full and I know that I have room for more.
I have so many wonderful hymns that are going through my mind this week. It is Holy Week. I pray that I can take the grace that my Lord has waiting for me and live it each and every day, each and every week. I don’t have all the answers. It’s not my job to have the answers but to be open to what each day brings to me and not judge. How Great Thou Art!
It is not a secret, I do not like looking for, nor purchasing, clothing for myself. Don’t like it. Don’t do it well. Don’t find what I am seeking. Dennis has reiterated what he had heard Kevin say at one point in the past, “Mom, you don’t have a butt.” There it is. Flatness. Without the butt bump, I have always needed to wear a belt with woven pants. And, as all things are totally up and down with no divots, aka: a defined waist, the belt needs to be quite tight. I don’t mind that tight feeling when we need to get all gussied up. For at home, I can get dirty doing yard work in a heartbeat and may well change clothes in the middle of the day to leave the garden dirt outside. Wash and wear and . . . most of all, comfort.
Yesterday at Sam’s Club, a $9.98 sign allowed me to wander over. Yoga pants were $9.98 each. Various colors made of a blend of fabrics, one being a long name meaning . . . stretch. Hmm. A firm elastic waist in my favorite colors: navy and black. I fit them on when I got home and knew I could very well learn to wear stilts as still some fabric in the length of the legs was dragging on the floor.
Dennis was down for a nap in his recliner and I was spending quiet time in the sewing studio working my magic on the length of the pant legs. Knits are not my favorite to sew with. That comes about that when I was at Mom’s elbow learning the craft of sewing and seaming, everything was woven fabric. It’s all about habits and level of comfort. I got my groove going and I now have several more pair of pants to putter around in. Actually, in times past these pants were very well marketed as Putter Pants, long before it was found that Yoga Pants sounded like what the “in” crowd would shop for. Lordy, Grammie is now in the “in” crowd getting dirty with yard work . . . pants are pants. It’s all about my comfort. These bargain pants will serve me well, and when they are worn out, I will handle that when I need to.
Dennis and I took a spring fling today. Today we took a road trip to Mankato. Great Clips needed to be visited and so did the Nails Group for pedicures. Those two items made me feel energized for spring. Koi fish food was down to a few morsels for the season. Though they haven’t been put in the pond yet, it’s best to be prepared. They haven’t eaten since mid-November. Hibernating is soon coming to an end. Pet Expo could have saved having carts out. There was hardly any cart rolling space in the store. The bird seed was everywhere.
As we drove there were bikers, walkers, joggers, and cycles. By sheer willpower the cool temps were ignored. I still wore my bright yellow winter coat, stocking cap and mittens when I walked. The breeze had a bite to it.
Dennis is down to his last two feedings for the deer. Tonight and tomorrow night, and then they are on their own. The area behind the water treatment plant has just as much lush green grass as our yard is showing for them to graze on. We gave them a bit a boost during the worst of winter. It was a lot of fun to see them up close and in person. Watching them at seven feet away as I stood in the patio porch and they were on the patio, it was priceless. We are now on to watching the squirrels as they try and find the nuts that they buried last fall.
Always a lot of activity on Stauffer Avenue.
After missing my walk for the three days of the snow situation, this morning I finally got to suit up and head out on the Hammond Hwy for my two miles. It was chilly, I grant you that. The north wind made sure I knew that walking against it on the way home would make my nose run.
Dennis had had his oatmeal by the time I got home. I needed to catch my breath first. I did wind down by stripping a bed and starting the laundry. Oh yes, my oatmeal was much appreciated when I sat down with the steaming bowl that wafted the cinnamon aroma.
When I reflect on a day such as this one, I am thankful that my Lord has given to His children strong hearts. He has made sure that our heart within us is the strongest muscle that he created. The heart can withstand a barrage of physical challenges, and emotional heartache that could rock us to our core. It continues to beat for us to carry on with the life that He has set out for us. It is an amazing one-ness of the our heart and our soul. He raises us up. With His hand on our shoulder . . . we endure. We seek the path that leads us to Him. We thrive to leave the earthly pain in His hands so we may put it in perspective as we lay our head down in rest to greet the next day.
There is no way I could recall how many times I have used the come-back in a conversation . . . “someday.” Those comments may have been a part of my procrastination era. Much has happened in my life in the recent past. To me the recent past could include anything within the last 15 years. Putting off for tomorrow what can be done today has been over for a time.
If I want someone to know what is in my heart, why would I keep them guessing! Why would I not let them know! If I know a solution for another, and share it, they can then decide its worth. I know I can hopefully tell anyone anything if I use the right words. Maybe foretold is forewarned. No one really likes surprises. They might ooh and aah at the time, but seriously, being prepared feels better than getting caught with your pants down . . . so to speak.
If our home needs a repair, I know from experience it will cost more someday than if I pull up the boot straps and tackle it now. It starts with the little things and perhaps the big things need not crop up.
The real secret is simple. We have been given Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There is no “Someday.” I may catch the situation off guard, but you will always know where I am coming from in thought, word and deed.
We had a taste of nice spring weather on Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday with the snow and storm it was a day that I felt disjointed. Nothing settled me and I couldn’t find anything that warranted my time. I almost envied Dennis being able to sit in his patio porch rocking chair while he smoked the day away watching his Rural Farm television channel.
Today was a day that I acclimated. I felt calm knowing that it was a wait and see day. The day fell into place just fine. The weather is totally crap. We must have had high winds overnight as our backyard looks as if Mother Nature stood on the tree limbs and jumped up and down on them until they gave in and dropped. All day long and even now at supper time, our electrical lights flicker. There has been many power lines that have crippled areas to the south and west of us.
The Bernina embroidery module was put on the sewing machine and a design was settled upon. I had no idea what would happen if the electrical would go out and the machine was in the middle of stitching out a design. I soon found out. The lights in the sewing studio flickered and went out as did the lights on the sewing machine. A deep breath was taken and I sat back on my chair to see what was going to happen. After about five minutes the power was back on in the house and the sewing machine started itself up. It went through all the steps as it always does as it powers up. In time the design showed up on the display as if I had just selected it to begin stitching from point “A.” Several other clicks and noises and the display screen went to the place the needle had been when the power went off. The green light blinked indicating it was ready to stitch . . . and stitch it did. It never missed a stitch. For the time I have had the sewing machine I had often wondered what would happen if a design is interrupted in mid-stitching. I now know the rest of the story.
Neighbor Randy came and took care of the heavy snowfall of yesterday and today which I think has been determined to have been six inches. The end of our driveway was packed from the street department’s work. It for sure would have been deemed a “heart attack snowfall.” It was too wet and heavy for him to use the blower. As he used the front end bucket the snow rolled as if it were going to make a gigantic snow man. I sure hope this is the last time we need him. Randy and his long green line has been a godsend this winter . . . he also will be receiving an Easter basket from us with heartfelt thanks.
It will be several days before it feels like spring here on Stauffer Avenue. I am alright with it. As I mentioned, I have acclimated to having a bit more time for whiling away my days in the sewing studio. Spring will be here when it dries up . . . a whole bunch.
Yup . . . there is all that nitrogen laden snow for the grass seed that was put down yesterday. The Koi pond is up and already making bubbles.
This morning when I awoke and toddled off to the bathroom, I stopped dead in my tracks. Looking out the east bathroom window was the most glorious apricot orange in the east horizon. The trees stood as black silhouettes standing guard over the morning. It was about 6:20 a.m. I had no more than gotten a glass of water drank and then went for my slippers. The floor is always quite cold as the furnace thermostat is turned down to 60 degrees during the night.
The next time I looked up, the roof of the patio porch was totally white. It was now 6:45 a.m. Talk about a fast turn around in my morning. It never did quit snowing. Sometimes it was pellets, sometimes it was huge flakes, didn’t matter. It kept on piling up. Dennis was not a happy camper when he opened his eyes to welcome the morning. Everything . . . and I mean everything was covered with snow.
Life must go on and that included Dennis giving me a ride to my chiropractor appointment at 10:30. The city streets were slippery and the windshield wipers had had a good workout. That appointment was the most pressing thing we had on our agenda for the day and we slipped and slided home.
I had not started anything in the sewing studio for some time and I knew the dust bunnies were just waiting for someone to come down and scatter a bit of fuzz and threads. Starting a project . . . I take that back . . . planning what project to start is always the most difficult. Dennis high tailed it out to the patio porch to watch a rodeo on the RFD rural television channel.
At some point I walked up the steps to peek out to see what was going on with the weather. As I looked towards the patio porch, all I could see through the windows was the tail of a cat waving back and forth as it stood on the table. I then realized that Honey Bunny was getting a good brushing from Dennis and quite enjoying it. This time of the year, that winter coat has got to be thinned out.
These next several days will allow everyone to realize, God and Mother Nature still are at the helm. Us mere creatures just need to remain optimistic.
Snow is said to include a lot of nitrogen. We are told by the weather man that snow will be here within 24 hours. It may be six inches or it may be 24 inches. Well shuckie darn. We do have this huge area in the backyard that we hope will be an incubator for green grass. It was previously a beloved perennial garden that was past its prime. Not so much different than the current groundskeeper.
Last fall after Kevin tilled this garden, we did put down quite a bit of garden seed via the hydro method. Water, plus fertilizer, plus grass seed should equal a green product this spring. That may very well be the case as soon as we get warm sunshine. We did receive heavy rains last fall shortly after that with a few areas that are prone to washing.
Earlier this late spring, actually the first days of March, we had heavy rain while the frost was still in the ground. Our entire yard was under water for a duration. We were hopeful that the heavy snow cover had snuggled each and every grass seed into the soil. Or . . . the seed was afloat. Yard work is always a crap shoot.
Fleet and Farm was visited and we purchased a goodly amount of grass seed. Today with my snowmobile boots on and with my handy-dandy hand crank seeder, I walked the said area in the hopes that this late snowfall would assist in what may have previously not done the trick. As I walked the area I couldn’t help but notice that in the far portion of the yard, we still had several banks of snow that was being stubborn in disappearing. No . . . the area was not dry. Yes . . . my boots were getting heavier with each pass as the seed was springing out of my hand crank seeder. At times I swear I could see my breath.
What came to my mind was a comment that I heard this last weekend. A parent had given advice to a son that in perusing a mate for life; one who had long painted finger nails would most likely would not be willing to push up their sleeves and get dirty. Hmm. Currently my nails are growing out wearing a beautiful shade of pink. My pant legs are pushed up to avoid having them drag in the mug. Dennis commented that I shouldn’t touch my face anymore with my muddy hands. Too funny. I do cleanup pretty good.
Both Dennis and I were wearing boots and both pair were muddy. We did spend some time picking up branches in the far portion of the yard. In time we will have a goodly amount for a fire in the burning ring . . . after they dry out.
We gave it a good shot at local effort today. They are saying the weather could be a little interesting in the next couple of days. We will be taking it easy knowing we did the best we could. As we enjoy our patio porch and look out over the backyard in weeks to come, I know Dennis and I will be muttering, “Grow dammit, grow dammit.”
First things first. I got my two mile walk in and then we headed to Madelia to get a prescription for Dennis. I tagged along as the Lewis Drug Store is in the Sunshine Foods grocery store. I snagged a 32 oz. jar of Olsen’s Herring. The best darn herring ever.
It was close to noon before we were done fiddle farting around to get serious with the day here on Stauffer Avenue. But then . . . Dennis and I were just like two calves that were finally let out of the barn pen to kick up the heels and take on spring.
Without any warning, Dennis was busy with the Koi pond. It got scrubbed and homogenized. Putting city water in the Koi pond means that the filled pond needs to set a few days to allow any chemicals to dissipate. Would it harm the Koi? We do not know, but why take a chance.
We do need to purchase a new plastic rake. Last year, our rake was used to corral a small fire we had started to clean up as many dry leaves that we could before the winter snow would pack them down much like manure in a calf pen. It obliviously could not take the heat. It curled up like a piece of spiral pasta.
What I did find in our potting shed was a rake that has the width of about 8 inches. In reality it was the perfect size for me today. The width allowed me to get under the Lilacs north of the patio porch and the patio. Last fall Dennis had taken the leaf blower under these Lilacs. We had piled them up to the east for him to mulch them with the mower. Today I could definitely tell there wasn’t this hay rake sized pile.
Wouldn’t you know it . . . Wednesday and Thursday our area could get quite the dumping of rain and possibly quite a bit of snow. Dennis and I filled several bins of the leaves I had raked and tucked the bins in the garage to keep them dry until such time our Meadow Lark tree dump is open. It was a huge length of area and leaves taken care of from the Maple and Oak trees that are eons old.
We did frolic in the nice temperatures, but as it was our first day outside to deal with the aftermath of winter, we didn’t overdo it. Two and a half hours had us in the house to shower up. Grubby, grimy old folks taking some time to sit outside all cleaned up . . . with no where that we needed to go. It felt good.
Today Dennis got his pickup back and he is one happy camper. With the return of the pickup came a second vehicle to take daughter Sandy back to Mankato. Granddaughter Sadie has two little girls . . . three and one. Talk about activity too early. Oh my gosh. Dennis slept in this morning and the tribe was here within thirty minutes of that. Dennis needs time to wake up and get himself set for the day. I had understanding of how Dennis has been caught off guard.
I made sure the furnace was turned up in the patio porch and that is where I herded the tribe. Grant it there are no toys in the patio porch. What I found was several ping pong balls and an empty oatmeal canister. I made a game out of throwing the ping ball into the canister for the three year old, while bouncing the second ping pong ball for the one year old to chase. Eventually Dennis joined us and he had a chance to visit with his daughter and granddaughter, while I kept the wee ones occupied. Got it covered.
When one o’clock rolled around we found ourselves alone and also hungry as we had skipped the Sunday morning breakfast we usually take our time at. Both Dennis and I felt satisfied and happy that his family comes for visits. It’s important for the great grandchildren to know where we live and how we have spent time with them. You know dang well that the three year old was not going anywhere until the Koi had been visited. Life is sweet, life is to be dealt with as it presents itself and we adapt. Most of all, family doesn’t need to know if their visit does not jive with our usual schedules. We are flexible more so than young families can be. We understand.