It was a nicer day out than we had hoped for. The Koi are in the tank in the garage, the oil has been changed in the snow blower and all mowers have been tucked away. Dennis was feeling good today and it was hard holding him down. Maybe a bit of fresh air today was just what the doctor ordered. Man, it gets dark out fast.
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Noreen
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Noreen
Who knew that the winds would actually last into a second day? When I suited up this morning I knew coming home from my walk would be interesting. I tied my hood quilt tight under my chin. Even as the winds are slowing down they are blowing and gusting at 25 mph.
Dennis was enthused to make a chicken and pasta hotdish for supper. I made sure all he had to do was ask for help if it was needed as I headed to my sewing studio. Today was the first day in a month that I turned the machine on. It all felt foreign. Moving everything, and I do mean everything, around it took a bit to get my grove on. First item on the agenda was some mending that had found its way to the studio this last weekend when the job jar was emptied. It was tackled successfully . . . at least from my perspective and the parcel is on it’s way to its rightful owner.
Even with the new basement windows the harsh winds could be heard here on the lower level. Knowing that we had everything taken care of outside, I just snuggled in that much deeper with my threads, fuzz and project.
We have one more project for our basement and Friday is the day. The vapor barrier under the east portion of our home will be put in. The area under the bathroom, which was an add on onto our 100-plus-year-old home, does not have a basement, just a dirt floor. There is access from the main portion of the basement that allowed for plumbing, wiring and heating aspects to be included and then of course updated. That access allows for moisture from the dirt floor to have an impact onto the rest of the basement. Hey, we have tweaked every other aspect for good quality of air and utility, we are on the last biggy. Using the same company for all the work we have done in the basement, gives me a very good feeling. They are careful and guarantee their work. When they put in the windows there was a floor covering put down from the back door, and down the steps. All areas where they needed to work were cleaned up before they left. I feel very confident about this last phase and for that reason I had no qualms in using my sewing studio today, set up just as I had imagined it a month ago.
Gotta watch us older ones on Stauffer Avenue. We get the jobs done. Knowing that family members do and have helped out, we know they have plenty on their own plates. Family that does a bang up job and knowing contract companies that work with the same quality outcome makes for two very happy people here on Stauffer Avenue.
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Noreen
Quite a Busy Day
We needed to set the alarm for an appointment for Dennis. He was just about to head out the door when the phone rang postponing his appointment until Thursday. I
was up and awake and when I looked up the weather forecast on my computer . . . I headed out for my walk. It was breezy from the north but I had no idea that that was mild considering what was to come for the afternoon. I couldn’t resist plugging in my electric leaf blower and help some leaves along to blow to the north. Up and away! The sun made it doable but in the shade it made me pull on my gloves.Two plants have been on the side of the Koi pond for the last ten years. I worked with my Fleet and Farm wagon and worked them from the wooden ledge onto the wagon. Opening up the north patio door of the porch allowed me to pull the wagon within several inches of the opening and slide them onto small tables. Got that one done as I think a killing frost is coming.
I admit, I did not wash any windows this spring. April 1st road construction started in town and along with that was never-ending dust. It was the most comfortable for me to not look out of the windows at the time the sun would shine full on. Today a few windows are looking sharp. A time back Kevin gave us a cleaner called “Fresh Start.” It is an all purpose product. When I can skim my fingers on the outside of a window and feel all the hardened water spots, there is no way Windex is going to cut it. A squirt bottle of Fresh Start and a mild scrubby made short work on the bathroom windows. Followed by a wipe down of the Fresh Start, Windex did a great follow up. In time, I will continue to do windows. The plus is that the remaining windows can all be tipped in for cleaning.
Regardless how cloudy it is outside, the Northern Red Oak simply glows. It makes my heart feel good.
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Noreen
Rummaging around in the garage, I found an empty Windex window washing attachment for the garden hose. Filled with Dawn dishwashing liquid I set about to get the summer’s season of grime and grit off of the house. It turned out so good, I went ahead and did the garage as well. Stauffer Avenue is gravel and with a gravel surface there is bound to be a pot hole or two. After heavy rains, I swear we have several travelers that make sure to hit the pot hole dead center for the gravel that has creosol in the mix to hit the south side of the garage.
Dennis checked it all out and gave his approval. He will be back in harness before long and I will gladly return some of his duties back to him.
The Sunday is ending with mild temps and lots of sun. Life is sweet here on Stauffer Avenue.
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Noreen
What a fantastic day! Family and the commotion is just what Stauffer Avenue needed. It didn’t hurt one bit that the job jar is totally empty. Kersten, Kevin and Jeremy tackled all things electronic with complete success. Megan was right at my elbow getting our sit down meal ready. Hopefully Carrie made headway on the listing that she had clients emailing her about. Nicholas just enjoyed whatever came his way. We even had two pups meet and greet each other with nary a tiff.
I know Dennis enjoyed the company as he took it all in dozing off and on in his recliner. He is feeling better each day. Hearing the chatter going on around him . . . he liked it, he liked it a lot.
Stauffer Avenue is ready for whatever the week may bring.
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Noreen
The community is buzzing. Concrete trucks working on getting sidewalks poured from the huge street project. Gravel trucks hauling fill hither, tither and yawn all the while dodging the tractors that are hauling in soybeans and corn to the elevator. We stayed close to home today and enjoyed some patio time. The wind from the south was strong enough that the bugs had all they could do to hang out wherever they were hiding.
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Noreen
No-see’ms, Boxelder, Asian Beatles, black flies, and the occasional mosquitoes . . . sure can take the best part of a fall day and keep me inside. That’s not all bad. What we have left is to wash off the siding of the house and then wash windows. With the grain elevator just several blocks from our home, the corn dryers are allowing the pink corn husks flying 24/7. As we drove home from Mankato yesterday I would dare say the harvest won’t drag out with the size of equipment we saw.
Dennis is resting well with ice packs changed out quite often. He did visit the Veteran’a Health Clinic today to have his INR, the rate that blood takes to clot, checked. Dennis was off of his Warfarin, blood thinning, for a week before surgery. It will take several trips to have that level checked and perhaps alter the daily meds until it levels out. After all, with his left carotid being cleared, it may mean a change in several meds in the next week or so. Right now, he is saying that after the three month waiting period he will be having the right side taken care of as it is 75% plus being blocked. Time will tell.
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Noreen
After a long wait, Dennis is home and feeling better than he has in a long time. Oh yes, ice packs help the swelling a bunch. It’s a good thing we both enjoy soup for a meal. What a better way to enjoy a ole good Minnesota fall than feeling like taking it in with awareness. The sun shines on Stauffer Avenue a bit brighter today.
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Noreen
Here it is 4:45 on a beautiful sunny afternoon and I feel whipped. It may have something to do with the 4 a.m. rising time to get to a medical appointment for Dennis. Perhaps after the surgery that Dennis had this morning to remove plaque from his left carotid artery, that may allow the tempo here on Stauffer Avenue to be a bit calmer. When only 25% of blood flow reaches the brain via the carotid arteries, it can cause lack of cognitive awareness, imbalance while walking, and taking a pass on life as it happens moment by moment that continues into weeks and months. The surgery involved Dennis being alert and able to converse with the surgeon as the procedure was done. No chance of him sleeping through the procedure only to wake up thereafter and have had something happen that would have caused Dennis a loss of clear speech or being mentally confused. Lots of nerves in a tiny area that needed to be treated carefully. There had been pain blocking via IVs.
In my heart, I know some of what I am feeling today is relief in not having to watch where Dennis was. Was he on the floor of the garage, the driveway or not being able to remain sitting on the chair without slipping off onto the floor with him wondering after it was all over with as to “what happened?” When a flick of plaque would break off of the blockage, it would cause a TIA . . . a very small stroke.
It doesn’t matter how this slipped through the medical people that we had been working with for a very long time. What matters is that this afternoon Dennis has good color in his face. Dennis was smiling and laughing . . . which was all too seldom in the past months.
O.K. I admit it. It has been a singularly lifestyle here on Stauffer Avenue being on watch for what each day may bring and what each day would entail for the both of us. I believe I will sleep very peacefully tonight. Tomorrow when I return to the hospital, I want to see more of that smile.
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Noreen
A late supper today. The great sunny day brought Dennis’ three daughters popping in at various times. What the heck . . . eating doesn’t have to be on an exact time table. It does seem strange to have it getting dark earlier and earlier. I am not in any hurry to have this beautiful fall season end. I believe it’s going to be a great week.