Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 5:15 pm on July 20, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis ( 40 )   

  Lots to Smile About 

  Sometimes my eyes are bigger than my abilities.  I fell in love with a quilt pattern that led to finding wonderful flannel fabrics in a quilt shop in Bird Island.  Hmm.  The snow was flying in January and it seemed like the perfect project.  Dennis is never satisfied with the heft of blankets.  I was sure this would fill the bill.  It is surprising how much weight the threads add to the quilt top.  I chose a flannel for the backing and a poly batting.  I had to wait until July for Sharon to long arm the quilt.  I got it home this week and then I bit myself in the butt.  I don’t like to have UFOs, unfinished objects, in my sewing studio.  Today threatened rain off and on and I went in the sewing studio to work on cutting, ironing and sewing on binding.  Let’s get this done!  It is supper and I am calling it a day.  I have  a lot to smile about as there is one step left to finish this winter project and that is sewing down the binding on the right side of the quilt.  In a perfect world the binding should be sewn on by hand . . . meaning lots of tiny stitches each pulled through one at a time.  My hands can no longer do the hand sewing, thus it is under the needle of the sewing machine.  There is no way I could sleep under anything this heavy.  Dennis will no doubt sneak the polar fleece blanket either under this quilt or over it.  I don’t mind.  I made it for Dennis and how he chooses to use it is up to him.  I am smiling as I am so close to putting this mound of flannel to bed . . .  literally.  I will be smiling right up to bedtime.

   
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  Noreen 4:58 pm on July 19, 2018 Permalink  

  It was haircut day in Mankato. Great Clips does such a great job. We . . . Dennis and I have never had the same hair stylist at Great Clips, but each time we come out with the same cut as the time before. The gals said their secret is the notes that are taken the first time a client comes in and each return visit the note card is reviewed. No matter to me how they do it, it is a win, win.

  Our “to do” list included going to Lowe’s and picking up two down spouts for the patio porch. The five footers that we had didn’t really take the rain very far from the north side of the sidewalk on the north side of the porch. Hmm. Ten feet of down spouts is a lot of spout. Out to the pickup we went with them. Putting them in at an angle still left quite a bit hanging out. Dennis angled them so the excess was on the right side of the pickup, less of a chance of side swiping someone, staying on the right lane of the highway. We could have used them on the porch today as it poured rain to Mankato and on the way home. The spouts are on the porch and they will take the water quite away under the lilacs and allow more dirt surface to soak up the rain before it hits the gutter of the sidewalk.

  We did have to stop at one point in the rain as the wind was working against the angle we had put them in. To the rescue! I had visited the quilt shop that is closing and within the plastic bag was the fabric I had purchased to keep my aunt Lorraine busy when she comes in several weeks. The weight of that plastic bag divided and draped over the spouts made for a secure ride the rest of the way home.

  Dennis commented on the miles left before we reached home that for two old people we do get things done . . . one way or the other. I agreed. I can’t understand how some people similar to us in age or situation complain about being bored. NOT!

   
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  Noreen 5:39 pm on July 18, 2018 Permalink  

  By golly . . . I do believe my ole cowboy is feeling better than in some time. How do I know? He and his life long bud, Lyle, went on a road trip looking at old tractors. There must be a glimmer of an idea for one of the two. I wouldn’t mind if Dennis did find something that interested him enough to bring one home and begin the tinkering. Everyone, young or at the age of 81 needs to have their creative juices wetted.

  We will be having my aunt Lorraine from Arizona coming for a visit towards the end of the month. In times past she has dug right in to helping me with a sewing studio project. Right now I am in need of finding a project or creating a project. Lorraine is 87 and has the zest for all things sewing. Last year while she was here enough fabric was cut for a queen sized scrappy quilt. It took me some time to get it all sewn together and quilted. Dennis’ daughter Sandy took the finished quilt home this early summer. I have some time to get my creative juices going and have something lined up.

   
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  Noreen 6:07 pm on July 17, 2018 Permalink  

  Recently my brother Michael shared a recipe book that had once been Mom’s. Initially it looks as if it was an autograph book. It was interesting to read the recipes . . . those that still could be read on the faded thin pages.

  An entry:
  “Feb. 13, 1934
  I know of a peaceful eventide; and when I am faint and weary, at times with the journey sorely tried, through hours that are long and dreary. Then often I yearn to lay me down and sink into blissful slumber. Dear Lena when you read these lines, think of me as your friend. Mrs. Hans Jensen”

  An entry:
  “Feb. 13, 1934
  Dear friend Lena, I wish you health, I wish you wealth, I wish for you heaven before death. What more can I wish for you.
  For-get-me-not.” Your Friend, Al. Alice DeMenge.”

  Mom and Dad were married in 1937.  Most likely Mom was working as a hired kitchen hand in 1934.  It was almost as if on that 13th day of February in 1934 some friends were together to share recipes and thoughts. Mom was 18 at the time. So many special memories in a tattered little book.

   
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  Noreen 3:44 pm on July 16, 2018 Permalink  

  It Happens 

  

  It does happen when a good project catches a hiccup. No wonder this Bird of Paradise squawked at one point in the stitching. I had the edge of the towel caught under the hoop during the stitching. We don’t throw the towel out any more than we would throw the baby out with the bath water. The portion of the stitching where the hem of the towel was caught is just a bit on the hefty order and the hem had surgery. If there has to be a boo-boo fixed . . . just do it and own it. After the surgery this piece of stitching will go into the water bowl to have the stabilizer washed off of the backing. The surgery came first so as to not fry out the area of cloth that was cut out. The towel will be dried and pressed and from my reckoning . . . as good as new. On the topic of what was to be a yard workout day . . . we got the acre done and trimmed. I did comment to Dennis that there may be some checking out of a new replacement trimmer. The Black and Decker trimmer is great. The problem is that it is old enough that new batteries for the configuration that is needed can no longer be purchased. The battery that it has doesn’t hold a charge long enough to get the entire acre trimmed where it needs it. Of course the battery takes a fair amount of time to recharge. Checking out new trimmers will take some doing. Since the time that this current trimmer was purchased, I have had both of my shoulders replaced and my hands have become more fragile . . . both items have had arthritis as the culprit. I will be taking a few trimmers out on a test in regard to the weight of it and the mechanics of what it takes to keep the trimmer engaged. This will not be a quick choice.

   
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  Noreen 6:29 pm on July 15, 2018 Permalink  

  Home Sweet Home 

  If I still had my shoes on, I would click the heels together and do the “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.” It was a lot of miles, a tank of gas and we gave our support for family. Dennis and I are so happy to be home and we are ready for whatever the week will bring. On second thought, grass mowing is on the schedule for sure.

   
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  Noreen 5:31 pm on July 14, 2018 Permalink  

  The end of the week and there were many positives here on Stauffer.

  The neighbor next door with the dog that I called the police about is okay. He has been out and about with the dog and has not been aggressive about the dog’s activities. Maybe he did realize the difference between abuse and discipline.

  Dennis is on the last day of antibiotics. I did not go into any detail previously. Dennis was in the hospital over the 4th of July. There had been a stone (made mostly of calcium) plugging his saliva gland on the right side of his mouth. Infections in the mouth travel fast throughout the system. Two days in the hospital here and then on Thursday we were in Mankato to have the stone surgically removed via the inside of his cheek. Not common to us but the medical world was well aware of such a situation. My ole cowboy is on the mend.

  The heat seems to be lessening and we would so enjoy a lesser humidity and dew point. Not much fun being outside. With the swarm of mosquitoes there is no such thing to spending a little time outside and then going in, and back and forth. It’s either wearing a heavy spray of repellent and staying out in the heat or coming in and out of house and feeling oily sticky with the repellent. We chose to spend the day either in the patio porch or in the house. This too shall pass.

  Tomorrow we are heading to Monticello for a baby shower. My sister’s oldest grandchild is having her first baby. Her father is Tim, Elvera’s oldest child. When we had my sister’s committal service at the Stewart cemetery, Alexxis came and asked if I would come to her mother’s home for the baby shower. How could I not do that. I should say how could WE not. Dennis is riding shotgun for the three hour trip. We have done it for my brother’s children and after all . . . family is family. Dennis and I step up. It will be a long day and when Monday comes . . . we can take it easy right here on Stauffer Avenue. Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 5:28 pm on July 13, 2018 Permalink  

  More sifting and sorting and I have met my target. My sewing studio no longer looks as if it is getting tricked out for a garage sale. I love “tidy.” The cistern closets have been put back together. It makes sense that two older folks such as Dennis and me wouldn’t need to put anything on the floor for storage . . . for now. In part there was no way I wanted to take a chance of just in case there may be a spot that would like to cure a bit more. I had socks on when I put the shelves back on the wall brackets and there were no indications of socks wanting to stick to the floors. At supper Dennis commented how good it felt to be able to navigate the basement and not wiggle through isles of stuff. Yes, Dennis . . . our basement is back to normal . . . again. Dennis’ comment alluded to the fact that we have thought that many, many times. Hey, if we don’t try to keep our little homestead up to snuff one item at a time, it could be overwhelming. I don’t do overwhelming well.

   
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  Noreen 5:59 pm on July 12, 2018 Permalink  

  I think Dennis could sell ice to Eskimos. Upon cleaning out our cistern closets to get the floors painted, there were 10 viable fluorescent light tubes that we had been storing. Some small round, some larger round and two grow light tubes. Dennis and I have learned our lesson when it comes to our hands and fingers and the dexterity they do not have in putting those tubes correctly into the lamps.

  Dennis was gone for 15 minutes up and down Stauffer Avenue and came back empty handed . . . the bundles of tubes are no longer in need of our storage. Gotta love that schmooze that the ole cowboy can spin.

  We found out going to Lowe’s that it is very cost effective to purchase the LED lights in one complete lamp. Hand it up, plug it in and there you have it. The LED is wonderful in the sewing studio.

  As warm as it was today, that was the entire list of things to do today. Right now at seven in the evening, it is dark. Yes, we are in a storm watch. All down spouts are on, complete with a few extensions on the spouts of the patio porch. Why take a chance!

  We are gaining on the epoxy order. We knew that with two closets with no air circulation of their own, it would take awhile. The Culligan man was here today with salt for our softner and he commented that we must have been doing some painting. Yup, we are gaining and the fans are doing their part. This too will pass.

   
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  Noreen 5:20 pm on July 11, 2018 Permalink  

  Last night before I went to bed, I did something I have never ever done before. I put a call in to our city police department. As I had been closing down for the night, I looked out the south window and there was our neighbor who had let his dog out for evening. As the dog was at the full length of the chain, our neighbor was kicking the dog multiple times. The dog couldn’t get away. The neighbor then drug the dog by the chain around its neck into the house. It was 10:30 when I called and spoke to the dispatcher and allowed her to know that this was not an isolated instance. By the time I went to the west end of the house for bed, there was a police car at our neighbor’s home.

  I have spoken to him several times when he was out in the yard, kicking at the dog for digging a hole in the grass or chewing on the bark of a tree. He always gave frustrated answers like he couldn’t understand why the dog didn’t know better. How about working with the dog and training it and then rewarding good behavior.
  There are some people who should not have pets. That dog has no idea what it is like to run . . . only as far as the chain allows.

  I did call the police department this afternoon and allowed them to know I was making an inquiry. The officer who had been at the house said he gave the neighbor a warning. Any further complaints would have the dog removed. The officer said the neighbor said he was teaching the dog discipline . . . yup, right at the end of a steel toed boot. The neighbor was warned about discipline compared to abuse.

  This afternoon the dog had been outside for most of the afternoon. Dennis put a pail of water at the edge of Stauffer Avenue so the dog and his chain could reach it for a drink.

  I won’t hesitate to keep an eye on the dog. I have been neighbors to his man for 22 years, but I won’t look the other way when he feels the only authority he has is to hurt an innocent animal. The neighbor picked up the puppy at a truck stop where the puppies were being given away. Six months ago, I am sure he thought that tiny little puppy would always stay that way. Now the dog is 70 to 80 lbs, looking like a bit of pit bull in him. If there is retaliation, I will deal with it then. People can be such animals.