Recent Updates Page 308 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Noreen 5:37 pm on November 14, 2017 Permalink  

    It may have gotten to high forties today, but with rain, drizzle and enough gray to make huge elephants it left something to be desired. Fog is setting in over the supper hour. We have a road date tomorrow, heading for Bird Island. Every six months the sewing machine is taken in for a grease job and oil change . . . so to speak. I do clean it often and oil it to the degree that I can. I know Al will have it all but turned inside out working his magic. With the fog setting in this evening, I am happy about our 11:30 appointment. Of course we need to leave home early enough to stop along the way for a cup of coffee and a “Hi.”

    My track phone was needing the 365 day air time to be bought. Locally if the brand is not Verizon, track phones cannot be worked with. I surprised myself by getting the job done via the Internet with just a few prompts and just as many minutes. My original program allowed 400 bonus minutes every year when I bought 400 minutes for $97.00. Humph . . . I now have 3,025 minutes. That is not to say I use our land line phone to any degree. I am not a phone person but the cell phone is more of a safety precaution to have on my person when I am on my daily walk . . . or to find Dennis when I have lost him in Sam’s Club.

    Well, I had best get that sewing machine packed up for a huge day on the road tomorrow.

     
  • Noreen 4:58 pm on November 13, 2017 Permalink  

    XYZ Completed 

    Home 16 (Small)

    Perhaps things happen for a reason. Today Dennis and I moved a few things and the XYZ plan was the best yet. My church tables are totally open for laying out quilting items. We did need to carry in four of the many bricks I had carried out in September. The stury wooden table was a bit low to sit up to it. When we were in the potting shed for the bricks I snapped up a paper holder that we have had around for a long time. The freezer paper that I like to use for mailing items to family now is in a proper holder and it is on the table on the north wall. I have, and Dennis told me the same thing . . . holding onto the cardboard freezer paper box and pulling the paper out of the box for a clean cut . . . sooo doesn’t happen. We have had us a great day here on Stauffer and considering we were down to plan XYZ, my plan is to hunker down and enjoy the sewing studio at will.

     
  • Noreen 4:40 pm on November 12, 2017 Permalink  

    Go to Plan XYZ 

    Home 15 (440x330)

    Hmm. I was to be sitting in my red chair on the south end of the church tables while running the embroidery unit. While I was doing straight stitching . . . all was well. Today I wanted to do some embroidery work. The church tables are not stable enough. With the embroidery unit moving back and forth, doing various stitch patterns, I feared all of the shaking, vibrating and jiggling would harm the sewing machine. This trustworthy solid table is where the machine is happy. In time to come I will shift things around and get this table over by my red chair as that is where all the sewing supplies are. I thought I had everything worked out with the new sewing studio design. Not! Plan XYZ will need to take presidency. Shimmy, shimmy shake is not what my warranty would cover on the sewing machine.

     
  • Noreen 6:07 pm on November 11, 2017 Permalink  

    Yup, Indian Summer is here. We enjoyed a trip to Eagle Lake to celebrate a great grands 3rd birthday. Grandpa Dennis had his first piece of Dairy Queen ice cream cake. It was great to get home just as it was getting dark. There’s no place like home.

     
  • Noreen 4:49 pm on November 10, 2017 Permalink  

    Yesterday the northwest wind blew me down the county road that heads east as I walked. It was a bugger bucking it coming home. Today the wind coming from the southeast made me pull my neck wrap over my mouth. Admittedly it was nice being blown home. As I rounded the corner coming off of the county road, I found myself humming “She’ll be coming around the mountain when she comes, when she comes . . . ” Dennis was waiting for me and helped me peel out of the multi layers of socks and mittens and then proceeded to pull the neck wrap over my head. I was chilled but not cold. When I checked what the temps were yesterday and today and then was brave enough to see what the wind chills were, I put my big girl sweat pants on and gotter done. I feel if I take the cold as it comes, my chances of walking until the road surfaces are no longer safe are pretty good.

     
  • Noreen 4:50 pm on November 9, 2017 Permalink  

    Dennis and I have been checking our insurance coverage on various levels this fall. During the open enrollment for health insurance we decided to make a visit to our fellow that we purchased our Medicare supplement from. The policy we currently have was initiated when Dennis turned 62. Medicare coverage started at that age. When I retired in 2009, I signed up for the same coverage with the same policy. Blue Cross/Blue Shield has served us well. We never have had a co-pay for any health issues. Denis has had a helicopter ride, I have had two shoulders replaced plus what our meds have been reduced in price with the present policy . . . totally covered. Well . . . the original policy was taken out nineteen years ago with Dennis. Digging a bit we decided to change, not from Blue Cross/Blue Shield but with a newer policy that has been offered for the last five year, with a few additional benefits at a bit of a savings in premiums. Hey, $90.00 in total savings, is a . . . savings.

    Insurance is important and in today’s world there is a penalty if it is not had. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. We talked in length about the change. We talked in length that we don’t want our children to be put in a situation where they see our lifestyle challenged due to health care costs. Our children have enough on their hands in today’s world without additional worries. Enough said.

     
  • Noreen 4:27 pm on November 8, 2017 Permalink  

    An Indian Summer Feeling Day 

    Home 14 (Small)

    Looking out of the windows when the sun is bright . . . and you can’t see anything . . . makes me sad. Checking the temps and it proved to be an Indian Summer type day, it was time to get those windows cleaned. Some of our windows are 80″ long. Having had replacement windows put in quite some time ago, makes washing those 80 inchers a breeze. Both panes tip in and I have the perfect step stood for them to rest on. Dennis saved the day by being able to tip up the top pane, push it in place and lock it in. It is now 4:30, the sun is streaming into the west porch and . . . I can see it all. Our small home has 18 windows and two doors with panes. It could be a pain if we had to have ladders put up outside and have them tip while sinking into soft dirt. To be very honest, it is the end of a great window washing day, and . . . Dennis and I never got out of our PJs. I’ve got to close this post down to go and stand in the west porch and watch the sun beams streaming in our eight porch windows. Priceless.

     
  • Noreen 4:14 pm on November 7, 2017 Permalink  

    A sunny bright day. I took my gloves off as I walked today. I had been geared up with gloves, mittens, double socks, etc. A mild breeze rather than barnstorming winds does make 32 degrees very pleasant. I am weary right now, I could almost put my head down and nap. My two mile walk . . . done. Sadie’s military tee shirt quilt . . . done. Shortening Dennis’ two pair of PJs . . . done. Embroidering three year old granddaughter’s bath towel for her birthday . . . done.

    All I need to stay on top of this late afternoon is not letting my kettle boil dry on the cook stove that is full of my catheters. I am very close for having a monthly prescription written for them. It is very difficult for me to dispose of each one after each use when in reality taking the time for the multiple sterilization process is not that big of a deal. The other alternative seems so wasteful. Can’t help it. Mind sets are hard to change. Time will tell.

    On the bright side Dennis is in charge of supper this evening. Beef brats and sauerkraut. I think he is up for it. I am going to pass on catching a nap and keep an eye out for the process on the kitchen burner. It’s a good thing.

     
  • Noreen 4:00 pm on November 6, 2017 Permalink
    Tags:   

    I am writing while huge snowflakes are fluttering. The snow started just as we were returning from Mankato. Dennis had his follow-up appointment with the surgeon from the carotid procedure in mid-October. Everything is doing well for my ole cowboy. Quite a bit of swelling but that is on track to a full recovery. Feb. 6th there is an appointment for Dennis to have an ultrasound checking on the surgical artery and also getting the perspective on how the right carotid surgery will be done. The surgeon does not rush having the second surgery as the brain needs to recover from the increased blood flow. The left artery going from being blocked at 97% and now hopefully flowing at 97% is a huge change for the noggen. Doing both sides close together could cause swelling of the brain and then Dennis would be dealing with a whole new situation. If the right carotid causes issues, it would be noticed in Dennis’ speech patterns. Yup . . . he is talking and doing it well. As I am getting this post ready, he is over having coffee at one of this friends. This particular friend lives in an apartment complex that has a commons room. They get together for coffee and I can only imagine the city news that gets chewed over. We will later have a recap here on Stauffer Avenue. I like that my ole cowboy is getting back to his feisty self.

    We stopped at Perkins for brunch. Oh course, Mondays are free pie days. Dennis has two pieces of cherry pie in our refrig to enjoy these next several days. Because I splurged on potato pancakes, I am back on the wagon. I will say Perkins makes potato pancakes just like Mom did and I will tell you Dad loved her potato pancakes. It must be in the genes. I do pass on the syrup and prefer sour cream to enhance the onion and herb additions. Yum.

     
  • Noreen 4:53 pm on November 5, 2017 Permalink
    Tags: ,   

    I had never kept it a secret that I would miss the days when Megan and Nicholas couldn’t spend as much time with us as in their toddler days. Long weekends and even 5 to 6 days at a stretch would find the kids seeking and searching every corner in our home or seeing what the large Maple tree held in store for their times with us. Wise ole Uncle Kevin . . . “When Megan gets a bit older, Mother, she will be calling you on her own, emailing you or perhaps even texting you.” Sure enough. It has all come to pass. Once a week Megan and I have texted back and forth. Last night I texted her and wished her well for her skating competition today. Not less than a few moments after the competition was over with, I received Megan’s message that she had won first place today. A few moments later, I received a photo via my phone of her hand holding the first place award. A bit later Carrie sent a photo of Megan and her coach. I so do love the modern tech stuff and all it holds. Having kids that can give good advice and sharing what is going on sure doesn’t hurt either.

     
c
Compose new post
j
Next post/Next comment
k
Previous post/Previous comment
r
Reply
e
Edit
o
Show/Hide comments
t
Go to top
l
Go to login
h
Show/Hide help
shift + esc
Cancel