Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:09 pm on July 13, 2025 Permalink  

  Sunday the 13th of July 

  The air index from the smoke can definitely be seen and felt today.

  I have been thinking a lot today about an invite the came from the Riebe group posting.  It is a Riebe annual pot-luck get together on Aug. 2nd in the Darwin City community hall at twelve noon sharp.  Surprisingly, the majority of the Riebe family line has settled right around that very same area.

  I do know that probably sometime this week, I will contact the cousin that is ram-rodding this and send my regrets.  It might sound as if the regret is self-serving.  Hmm.  That would hit the nail right on the head.  At a minimum of a two and a half hour car trip one way for a three hour event . . . that is only part of the refusal.  We have taken part in this gathering several years ago.  Taking in the acoustics for several hours allowed for noise at a decimal that made my brain go wonky.  Wonky as in the fact that since the stroke the loud confusion takes a very real physical effect on my stability.  The chairs are of the metal type that one would find at an event where they are stored for each what is needed for a group.  Having had fourteen sessions with PT, concentrating on the lower back and hips . . . chairs of this type are not a good fit for me.

  With all of this being said, I would be paying too high of a price for this gathering.  I currently am doing very, very well in my home and its surroundings.  Being able to manage with medication for physical discomfort and being able to move from place to place often to offset muscle spasms is working very well.  I don’t want to rock the boat.  With so many people about, there might be a span of five or ten minutes with a meaningful conversation with any one person.  If this event was for either Carrie’s family or Kevin’s family there would not be a moment’s hesitation . . . Grammie would be right there, regardless of what the recovery would entail.  Kenny Rodgers, the singer, had a great line in one of his songs: “You have to know when to hold them, you have to know when to fold them.”

  As a comparison, yesterday for Dennis’ class reunion, it was a ten minute car ride to the event.  The seating was on cushioned support.  We were gone from home for two and a half hours.  Sweet.

  It is very difficult becoming selfish in what works and what does not for just a short time but for the long haul.  I plan on hauling this ole body around as comfortably as possible for a very long time.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:16 pm on July 12, 2025 Permalink  

  A Date 

  Dennis and I had a date for this noon.  We headed to the River’s Edge Golf Course’s restaurant. 

  Today was Dennis’ Class of 1954 reunion from the St. James District 840 school.  I have attended quite a few of his reunions and of course know most of his classmates and their mates that have remained in the area.  I got Dennis’ clothes ready as well as my own.  Nothing fancy, just a bit out of the norm.  Yes!  Grammie even opened up her tiny pull-out drawer of some cosmetics.  

  One small calendrical screw top container has been my staple since Carrie introduced me to the Mary Kay cosmetic line of goodies.  It is a container called bronzing beads.  Multiple colors of beads made from compressed powder, each a hue of a tan color.  You dance around a cosmetic brush picking up a bit of this color and a bit of another color.  I have not been outside to speak of this year, so it was a brush full of color going from the forehead down to the chin and then across each of the cheeks.  Grammie was ready.  

  I remember Carrie went somewhere on a plane fight and of course with her, her cosmetic bag.  The air compression in the plane or such, when going to use the beads at sometime later, unscrewed the lid.  All the beads had popped, leaving a container of loose bronzing powder.  Too funny.

  Well unfortunately, Mary Kay no longer makes the bronzing beads in their line-up and I don’t do glamour very often.  Mine should last for some time.

  Anyway . . . back to the class reunion.  Dennis had a great time.  The girls in his class all came up and gave him a hug.  Someone had their yearbook.  Under his photo was the ditty, “Happiest and jolliest fellow!”  I will say, he had a ball joking with those girls recalling those school days.  The other fellows, men, didn’t seem to be at the same party.  There were group photos taken.  This is the last reunion this class voted on going forward.  In truth, they were all getting close to 90 years of age.  The remaining funds of the class, a whooping $200.00 for postage, will be used in reprinted photos and mailed out to the classmates.  The info sheets that were handed out listed 39 deceased.  Dennis’ class was the largest class ever, through the 60s, 140.

  The food at River’s Edge was wonderful . . . way too large of servings.  Guess who brought a box home!  Dennis will be having supper of lobster mac and cheese and I will be doing chicken strips and fries.

  A great day and it’s great to be home.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:57 pm on July 11, 2025 Permalink  

  Heavy Air 

  This is Friday and we may be in store for a thunderstorm or two.

  Today, I stayed on the first floor of our home.  It was a day where I stayed quiet in my bedroom porch.  My body was resting, but my mind, as always, is curious and busy.

  I enjoy what I can glean via YouTube.  Stitching and quilting from around the world is there for me to seek and search.  New ways of doing the same old.  I remain intrigued by watching what others are quilting.  I do not believe I have another quilt in me.  I may continue piecing quilt tops from my stashes for the ladies at the church to finish up.  It’s hard to put by the wayside the threads and fuzz completely.  It no longer temps me to visit a quilt shop to touch and feel the newest fabrics.  Been there and done that.

  I admit my energy level here within my own home is all I could ask for.  From eight in the morning to nine in the evening, I can still pack in a good day’s effort, though a bit slower than in times gone by.  I enjoy keeping our home tidy.  Navigating the stairs to the studio does not pose a challenge: that’s where my passions lay.

  I do enjoy my stitching in my bedroom porch.  On my list is a visit to Michael’s in Mankato for a piece of foam board.  I have the dimensions written down for the two pieces I will purchase.  I have the Quaker Christmas II that I stitched, that I will stretch onto one of the foam boards.  The Santa’s of days gone by are taking a break from our living room.  I am ready for a change.

  I did go to the grocery store this afternoon.  I was actually seeking and searching a certain soup brand of bean soup.  Both Dennis and I really enjoy it as a break from the chicken noodle.  No such luck today . . . try, try again another day.  I picked up several items for Dennis’ breakfast box that he takes out to the patio porch each morning with his coffee.  I no longer do any baking from my kitchen other than the occasional tray of frozen cinnamon rolls.  Looking 89 in the mirror, Dennis likes his sweets and who am I to withhold them.  Sweets and cigarettes have not taken him down thus far, so let the man enjoys what he likes.  I, on the other hand, am capable of making my own choices out of the grocery store.  I kind of like the readings from my last workup at the clinic. 

  We are having some wonderful cold chicken sandwich spread that I made up from leftover rotisserie chicken.  Of course it has chopped onions in it.  A cup of hot soup will accompany it.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:48 pm on July 10, 2025 Permalink  

  Thursday 

  About 2:30 this morning we had a real gully washer of a thunderstorm.  The lightning lit the sky as the rain ran off in sheets from our front awning.  The wind blew so hard there were evergreen tips from the evergreen tree on the northwest side of our home on the south edge of our driveway.  No hail.  I had checked the weather map before I had gone to bed so it was not a surprise.

  Yesterday it began.  Dennis’ son-in-law mowed down the foliage from around the base of the huge Maple tree and shredded it.  No more Hosta, ferns or Bleeding Heart plants.  Yes, there was also a lot of less than good greens.  After that area has had a chance to dry from last night’s rain, Dennis will use brush killer and treat that area.  As I said, so it begins.  Slowly but surely Grammie’s love of perennials will be no more.  That’s all I have to say about that for now.  Thanks, Forrest Gump.

  Dennis went to check on his life-long buddy, Lyle Grove, on Wednesday afternoon.  Rather than a nursing home there is a gal north of town that took Lyle in.  She works from home for the Watonwan County Human Services.  When Dennis came home and told me her name, I could put a face to her.  Her home was clean and welcoming.  Sandy had coffee and cookies for the two fellows as they chatted about days gone by.  Lyle said he was very content.  Lyle has little site remaining and has had hearing loss his entire life.  Eighty-nine years ago, families didn’t pick up on hearing loss until a child struggled in school.  Dennis felt better about Lyle’s situation after he had checked it out. 

  This evening we are doing Tilapia fillets, with refrigerated Simply Potatoes, hash brown style.  I already have the onion diced for sautéing before I add the hash browns.  Cole slaw will round out the meal.  Oh, I can’t forget the bread n’ butter pickles.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 11:08 am on July 9, 2025 Permalink  

  Well, Well 

  This morning the song “The Old Gray Mare” came to mind.  

  I have had a good run in the studio that was quite timely.  The old adage that no good deed goes unpunished does have a ring of truth; being tuckered.  Yesterday the close of the day found the tee-shirt quilt folded.  Done!

  
  Yesterday when Carrie visited I was able to take care of some business with her, just as I had with Kevin.  Sweet.  Great to hear that all was well with the metro family.  Carrie helped me with the new phone as there was enough crap that came on it to totally boggle my mind.  My goal:  receive a phone call, make a phone call, receive a text, send a text and take a photo.  As Bugs Bunny used to say . . . “That’s all folks.”

  With so much goodness happening in the studio and with family, was it any wonder that I rolled out of bed at 9:05 on this Wednesday morning.  I had not heard Dennis getting up and taking his breakfast box to the patio porch.  But . . . it sure does make for a short morning.

  I do have a plan for the afternoon.  My studio floor is in great need of a vacuuming.  Here a snip of fabric, there a snip of quilt batting.  It was halfway through the project where I left behind the need to hit the circular file for threads and fuzz at each venue.  I have always kept my heavy-duty Filter Queen canister vac in the studio plugged in and ready to go.  I cannot believe how heavy  the wand is for doing the floor.  It is full-grade metal.  Right now looking over the studio, it is not the welcome I need to begin a new endeavor.  A little bit of time will get it whipped into shape.

  This is earlier than I usually post, but it felt right to slowly work myself into being more active.  Studio . . . here I come.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:38 pm on July 8, 2025 Permalink  

  Happy Tuesday 

  It has been a great day.

  I had several loads of laundry that kept me busy this forenoon.

  Carrie texted that she had someone to close her store today, so she drove out from Eden Prairie this afternoon.  Lots of chit chat to get caught up to date since she was here for Easter.  Dennis joined in.

  As the supper time is approaching, this will indeed be a short posting.

  I had a decision to make in regard to letting Sadie know her quilt was done.  She won’t get to see it until she holds up her half of our barter:  I would do the quilt in exchange for yard work.  Well spring yard work came and went.  Now the foliage has gotten taller.  My desire is to have it all weed-whipped down and raked.  When the foliage is dry enough to have Dennis burn it, I have decided to let Dennis use the brush kill then.  If I can’t take care of a garden, it’s a heart breaker to look out the bathroom window and see it taken over by less than good things.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:09 pm on July 7, 2025 Permalink  

  A New Week 

  It’s a new week, but right now I feel weak.  The first of the two steps in the binding of the project has been completed.  A slow process, but a process that signals the end is near.

  As the process is timely, Dennis manned the vacuum on the first floor.  The vac can pick up so much more than a dry Swiffer pad.  It also works great in taking out extra lint from the clothes dryer beyond what the screen after each load does. 

  This mid afternoon Dennis and I called it a good day of local effort.  Tom got the mowing done, it looks quite tidy.  I stayed in the studio longer than I had anticipated.  Wouldn’t you know it!  Twelve inches of stitching left and the bobbin was empty.  So it goes.

  We must be in for some thunder showers as KNUJ radio got quite staticky.

  A short post for the first day of the week.

  With that I will take my leave.

   
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  Noreen 2:21 pm on July 6, 2025 Permalink  

  Sunday the 6th of July 

  The church service via KNUJ from Grace Lutheran of Gaylord was enjoyed this forenoon.

  Thinking ahead as to what is on the church tables . . . that would be binding for the 58″ x 68″ project.  I knew I would need at least 27o” of 2.5″ width.  That brought about the blades in the rotary cutters of which I have two 60mm.  Cutting tee-shirt fabric is very dulling to the blades.  Grunge material that is course and who knows what country it originated from.  For sure they have no cotton in them.

  I have had a stash of the size of blades I would need.  After replacing both cutters, I am down to two replacements.  I had ordered them on Amazon, 5 to a box.  I had bought two boxes each $19.95.  When they came, what struck me is that the language on the packaging was not in English, it was Japanese.  Every other detail was spot on.  The total price for the ten per box was much less than purchasing one at a time in a fabric shop.  It would be approximately $43.99 for five.  I would have a hard time plunking down what ten would cost in one of our stores.  I have not had a quarrel with the use of them.

  I dug out enough fabric from my stash to cut the binding strips.  From there it was to the sewing machine to join all strips to make up the length needed.  Joining them diagonally makes for less bulk at each intersection.  The very long strip is now nestled in a basket after I pressed the 2.5″ width by half.

  As our day has been quite laid back, we are having waffles and sausages for supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on July 5, 2025 Permalink  

  Steamy Out 

  We did have rain overnight and today it is steamy out.

  We have no intentions of going off the homestead this weekend.  Dennis and I both feel that all of the picnics and gatherings taking place over this long weekend . . . be safe in your enjoyment.

  I worked in the studio this morning.  Dennis was doing up what dishes were in the sink from last night’s supper.  I put out a SOS.  Dennis came down to see how he could help.  I had been using exercise weights to help anchor the tee-shirt quilt as it needed to go under the needle.  It wasn’t working as well as it had the two previous days.  I think it was me that was the culprit.  My shoulders were either barking or bucking . . . maybe both.

  Dennis sat down being immediately to my left.  With his strong arms he could keep the quilt somewhat aloft so the weight would not pull against the needle.  When doing free-motion quilting, if the fabric is not moving under the needle, the sewing machine will not stitch.  Dennis sure did help.  I would like to tell you I was doing flower designs and such.  I was thrilled to be able to do a meander that may have been mistaken as a lot of loops, none the same size as another. 

  My machine never missed a beat.  We didn’t break a needle throughout.  Halfway through, I had cleaned under the hood, gave it some oil and put in a new needle.  It may seem like small stuff but it’s amazingly simple to keep the machine preforming well.

  The mail at noon, brought the bill from Boekett Lumber in Truman for the materials of the garage make-over.  As I was typing, Dennis’ little red pickup came home from taking the payment to the mail.  Sweet.  A huge job done and done well.  A month ago we didn’t even have the project in mind.  In a small community it pays to have “people.”  It’s important to pay your bills so people will agree for work that is needed to be done.

  For the remainder of the day, my spot is my bedroom porch resting the body.

  Oh, by the way . . . This session Kansas and Nebraska will no longer be taxing social security income for a total of 41 states.  What the hell is Minnesota waiting for!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:27 pm on July 4, 2025 Permalink  

  July 4th,2025 

  It is a very warm 4th of July.

  Decades ago, we would be hosting a huge family gathering on the west lawn, under shade trees at our Boon Lake farm.  

  Orlin’s family with his mother, Ester, enjoying every moment of it.  My family, both the Riebe family and the Wendlandt family.  The invites were given and those that could make it rounded out a rather huge group.  On one 4th, Kevin had just gotten over the chicken pox, thus no long contagious.  Orlin’s nephew Frank, aka: Butch, gave the little ones rides around the circle drive with our lawnmower and trailer.  Lots of food.  No one went hungry.  Orlin’s mother always had her harmonica with her.  My uncle, Norman Riebe, had brought along one of his concertinas.  Both played by ear.  The tunes that those two entertained us with were amazing.  Even the hammock between two Oak trees gave great fun as the kids would take turns being pushed forth and back.

  If I remember correctly, 1974, was the last time we had a July 4th celebration.  At that time we lived at rural Buffalo Lake.  The two story brick school house was soon to be our home.  We resided in a 14′ x 80′ mobile home during the interim.  That 4th of July gathering included the same families as other years, plus we had neighbors that joined in.  Across the road Bill and Ester Mueller walked over.  With no family of their own, they truly enjoyed the hub-bub.

  For me, these events were as if yesterday.  I have a tendency to harbor memories.  Sweet.  Not to worry, I absolutely live in the present.

  Yesterday we took a road trip.  I could not believe how good the crops looked.  There were many working in the heat as the road-side hay was either being cut, side-raked or baled.  There were round bales, huge rectangle bales.  Both must be extremely heavy.  One farm was still baling the size of bales that I remember hefting, mostly between 80 and 100 lbs.  The arthritis can attest to that.

  Speaking of arthritis: I got a follow-up call from my primary on this Wednesday.  I was concerned if one of the implant screws that I have in both feet, had shifted causing some discomfort, the redness and swelling of my toes on my right foot.  Nope.  It’s just the all invading arthritis.  It was relief.

  This evening we are having sauteed peeled and deveined shrimp and steamed veggies.  It doesn’t take long to toss the defrosted shrimp after totally drying them in paper towels with butter in an open skillet.  When they turn from a hue of gray to pink, in short order, they are done.

  BY THE WAY:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SON, KEVIN!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥