Not Many Words Needed
The old favorite toys still capture Megan and Nicholas’
creative spirit. Priceless. This weekend means
the world to Dennis and me.
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Noreen
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Noreen
Life on Stauffer: Entertaining and Amusing
The morning temps are forecast to be in the 30s. That meant I have several plants to get cleaned up for storage in the porch. Yup, Dennis’ porch is going to get some extra baggage during the winter months. The three plants add a lot to the edge of the Koi pond during the nice weather. I was in and out of the porch, making sure all the dried leaves were plucked out of the pots and finding ways to protect the potting soil that is on the surface of the pots. For now, I was totally ignored by the cats. From experience, I know that cats love to see how much of the potting soil can be clawed out . . . my pots are definitely not to be thought of as an additional litter box. It does work to take a paper plate and make a slit, then enough cut out that will fit around the base of the plant and settle the plate down on the soil. Don’t worry, I have seen them check it out . . . foiled, score one for the grammie. There may be portions of the plants that will be scarified by spring. A bored feline knows no boundaries in the dead of winter. Hey, it has branches and it’s green.
A little paw can reach inside and cup the ping pong ball as swiftly as a small child. Fuzzy and Harry are entertaining and never cease to amaze us.
With all the commotion I was making, Fuzzy and Harry had other plans, as one or the other was bound to get the ping pong ball out of the circular toy. Ideally, the ball is batted about in the surround. Left on their own, the ball will be sprung free, then the chasing of the ball is on in the porch. There have been several balls, make that many balls, that have totally disappeared. Dennis has cleaned the garage and the porch from wall to wall several times and where the balls are, no one knows. Perhaps some time in the distant future a new owner of this abode will tackle remodeling this garage and porch. He surely will scratch his head at all the ping pong balls that show up.
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Noreen
There is No Denying it!
When the Plume Papas grass is in its glory, fall is officially here. It can’t be hard to grow as I see it along the roadsides when we travel. I actually did pay for Plume Papas grass roots as I thought it would be just what our backyard needed after everything else in the gardens was exhausted and spent.
The portion of our yard with the grass had at one time been the east boundary. Leave it to Dennis and me to purchase the lot behind the grass and tidy it up. It meant having the fire department do several training exercises in a vacant home on that lot. Much debris was hauled out and much dirt was hauled in.
Our Plume grass waving in the breeze.
This morning was all about making sure we had put away as much as we could from the gardens, the patio and the wall art on the garages. Yup, we decorate our outdoor spaces much like some decorate their homes. I could not count the amount of people who visit Stauffer Avenue and drive by very slowly. A fellow down the block from us is recovering from cancer and needs to walk every day to build up his strength. I happened to be outside one day when Gary walked by. He mentioned he really appreciates the calm serenity that the gardens evoke.
I did take note that my partner’s step was a bit slower this fall than it had been in spring. If someone were taking note of my gate, would they make a similar comment about me? If only Dennis’ mind set, ideas and thoughts could reverse some of the wear and tear of the body. Riding bucking broncos while in his 40s at rodeos for a bit of extra cash; loading poultry up over his head into cages on his semi for the 1,000 mile drive to Campbells Soup in Worthington, Mn., may be the tell tale for his days now. I can’t imagine anyone of us ever thought our bodies would turn on us. If we could lift it, push it or throw it, we were in it for all day.
So for now, as Dennis can relax in his rocking chair in the porch, the scene outside the patio windows is one of calm and “job well done.” Lawn mowers are tucked out of site and thereby should be out of mind. The snow blower is where it is needed when it is needed. By all accounts, the only chore left for this fall is to bring the Koi in from the pond and settle them into the horse tank in the garage. The cooler the temps, the easier they are to net for the short trip.
Talk about cool . . . no furnace has been started here as of yet. I do believe I will put the oven on and make a mock pumpkin pie. My Mom, Lena, would bake out the squash with the bright orange meat inside and use all the ingredients as for a pumpkin pie. I can tell you, all six pair of feet under the kitchen table did not hesitate to enjoy it. Why tell the family more than they needed to know? Pumpkin or squash, there was never a crumb left.
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Noreen
Today was time to take stock of our pantry. Shelves were empty. That is a bad sign. I am not one to run to the store for an item. I am from the old school of Lena: have on hand what is needed to make a good meal from scratch.
Usually wieners, marshmallows, pretzels and a few sweet items are not on the grocery list. It may turn out that Megan and Nicholas can spend a portion of this weekend with us. Dennis has already cleared with our neighbor, Bob, that we could use his fire pit for a wiener roast – complete with roasting marshmallows. From the looks of the forecast, huddling around a fire will feel good.
Not to worry about chilly grandchildren. Dennis has already told me that the furnace in the porch will be tried out for the first time this fall. As with several times in the past, the kids are outside before their eyes are open.
Dennis and I are so looking forward to the weekend.
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Noreen
Today, even I would need a brick in my bloomers and a coat for the winds gusting up to 40 mph with temps in the high 50s. What a change from the high 80s of yesterday.
Dennis had a nap after noon lunch. This fellow drove through the mountains last week, at this time, and always kept his cool and logic as traffic was hectic and wreckless. Being home, stress should be history. Not.
The nap was warranted. Dennis paid a visit to our local driver license center to transfer the license of his Honda cycle. Follow the legal steps of ownership, that way you can’t get into trouble . . . that is if you can get out of the license center, feeling like the legal tax paying citizen that you are. Dennis knew that the age of the cycle would allow it to have a collectors plate, thus never having to go through the process of buying tabs or plates as one would for a newer item.
The vin number is usual and customary for title transfer. Dennis was sent home for the serial number on the motor. Hmm. Upon his return it was decided that was not needed. Paper work and computer work was needed to be reversed as the gal processed it as a collector plate for a car. That took time. Once the “send” key is hit, you are “SOL.” I can just see Dennis. standing very still and with a poker face, standing there and standing there. Yup, he needed a nap.
While he was gone, I did brave the high winds and did a quick peek at the backyard, noticing quite a few branches of various sizes off of the maple tree. I didn’t stay out as the last thing I would need is to have a branch from on high take me down. I have way too many things to do and be, no time for being laid up.
The afternoons activities: Dennis napping and I working in my sewing room. It was a good thing. The next best good thing is that we have leftovers from last night’s harvest meal. Whoopee!
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Noreen
Dennis and I got home quite late from the VFW work last night. Worker bees don’t enjoy an evening meal until the event is over with. We are not accustomed to eating that late. A bit of the tossing and turning that I felt as I was trying to drift off to sleep can be attributed to that.
This is a day that captures the true essence of fall. A bit of a dry warm breeze with the musical notes of leaves dancing across the patio. Fuzzy and Harry think the dancing leaves are just the best of toys to chase.
I was planning on a fall harvest meal for supper of a pork roast, boiled potatoes with gravy, baked squash and mixed vegetables. As our neighbor Bob has been very helpful with Dennis as Dennis learns the finer points of his cycle, I decided to ask Bob over to join us for supper. Bob has been, and is, an over-the-road trucker for his entire adult life. I believe he is in his late 60s. The somewhat lonely life of a “one.”
The meal was enjoyed as well as the three of us sitting around the table afterwards, visiting. If the winds were just right, I think Bob would blow away. He did comment that the closest he gets to a warm meal, when he is at home, is to set out the purchased slaw and potato salad to let it hit room temperature. Kind of sad when you think on it.
It has been a great day and the week promises to be a busy one as errands have not been done here for several weeks.
All is well, and all is appreciated on Stauffer Avenue on this fine fall day.
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Noreen
Off to work at a benefit at the VFW this evening. Windy warm weather after a chilly several days. Hmm, just a bit more hair spray needed.
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Noreen
What a chilly day. It was the first morning I reached for my warm fuzzy robe to join Dennis in the porch for coffee. Last night, the kids, Honey Bunny, Butter Ball, Snuggles, Harry and Fuzzy, all made sure they were inside the porch before curfew. Yup, they knew there would be cushions and pillows in laundry baskets to cuddle up in, sensing very chilly nights.
Dennis always is the first to go to the porch in the mornings. I have no doubt when he cracks the east patio door, it could be similar to the crowds on Black Friday as to which of the five critters gets outside first. Too funny.
It was a day for jackets as we knew that yard work was awaiting. The riding lawnmower, with Dennis at the helm, disappeared to the northeast. Lush lawns have been a treat this late fall.
After looking over the perennials, I could easily see that we had had a hard frost sometime while we were gone. Nothing left to do but begin cutting them down. If left until next spring, the spent foliage is a tangled mess to contend with. A cup of hot coffee was near by as I began. It did not take too long for me to realize that the larger garden shears that requires both hands was not a good fit for my shoulders. Too much of a jarring action to bring the shears open and shut. The weed trimmer made more of a shredded mess than not. Just a plain old household scissors did the best job for me. Do a couple of plants, and then enjoy a sip of coffee. It took quite a bit of time, but I had lots of that.
Dennis rounded up the mowing by mulching the perennial foliage I had raked and put on the lawn. There is still a fair amount of perennial work left, but I do know that pacing the process is a good thing.
The pink corn chafe is now billowing in the neighborhood from the co-op corn driers. The concrete street in front of our home does generate a fair amount of dust from semis and farmers hauling crops. Shallow spots in the lawn made for a dust storm while Dennis mowed, especially the pine cones. As I raked up foliage, small sticks and leaves, I made a fair amount of dust. Fall is a time for getting dirty to get things buttoned up.
Stauffer Avenue always feels peaceful when the first blanket of snow falls on a tidy surface. Yes, us old people . . . hmm, I can’t really assume that all old people are funny that way, being the best stewards we can be.
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Noreen
I had a great day. Back to my rocking chair in the porch this morning, enjoying Folgers coffee. Some of the brew that we would get at truck stops was pretty awful, but . . . it was that or nothing.
Who knew that shredded wheat would be missed? Just a good simple breakfast that makes me feel like starting the day. That start did include walking the acre. I do believe that tomorrow will be the day to mow the yards – one more time. We have said that several times this fall. I will man the weed whip and take care of the areas that Dennis can’t quite get with the rider mower.
Fall weather is so enjoyable, but the winds today made the clouds feel very chilly. I went up to the farmers market this afternoon. In times past, I knew the market was in town with multiple vendors, but would not feel compelled to visit it, not until I happened to stop in and I met Joel. Joel is the fellow who I enjoy shopping from, and often. His family was challenging Joel when he and his family first began coming to St. James. Joel is shy and found making eye contact with the shoppers difficult. Joel’s father came to St. James with Joel as the routine of setting up the tent and the display of their wares took time for it to become successful three times a week. The father was nearby as Joel began taking charge of customer’s needs and answering questions. Joel was thoughtful about counting out the change that was needed for each customer. What the family offers at the market is a bounty of baked goods, canned goods, every item that can possibly be grown in a garden, is on their tables. The price of each of the items has a label tapped to the table adjacent to the product. Joel was taught to be very careful about the labels as to not confuse the customer as to what the product would cost them.
These last two seasons, Joel no longer needs anyone from his family to assist him. Three days a week, earlier than perhaps needed, as the market does not open until 1:00 p.m., he is in the park making his stand look very desirable and organized. He drives over from his family farm in a pickup, trailer in tow, and becomes a business man. I am so proud of him. Joel may have challenges in some aspects of his life, but he is focused and he is successful.
Today when I walked across the parking lot to the park there was no own else about due to the chilly weather. Joel greeted me and announced to me that I was the fourth customer for the day and he had many specials to share. He is now comfortable in his own skin and the confidence shows. Let me tell you, he was ready to sell me many more items than I had come to purchase. Sell me, he did. I did purchase more than I had thought I would. His goodies don’t go to waste. I have shared some ginger molasses cookies and some chocolate chip cookies with Kersten and Kevin. Joel’s goodies are enjoyed here on Stauffer as well. I have a stash of potatoes, onions and squash in the garage that we will be enjoying long after the market closes down for the season. Yes, we will miss the baked goodies as well.
I feel blessed to have gotten to know this young fellow who has so much to offer, and it is not only what is on his market tables.
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Noreen
Me and mine are oh so happy to be back on Stauffer, safe and sound. Just about 4,000 miles, and now that Dennis and I are home . . . our bodies kind of feel the 4,000 miles.
First things first was to unload the nine-foot long motorcycle from the trailer. Dennis’ son-in-law helped and then took the cycle off for a bit of a spin. The 2014 State of Washington plates kept Tom pretty close to Stauffer. Of course, neighbor, Bob came over. Bob has been riding the highways on a cycle every chance he gets after he gets his 18 wheeler off the highway for a weekend. Any questions that need to have the answers will be handled as Dennis and Bob check everything – and I mean everything – over.
I am content to get the washer and dryer going and put away everything that we needed for the trip. At first, I thought we had been gone two weeks, but a check on the calendar . . . it was 12 days.
Hmm, the cats and kittens are not too friendly right now, but I know we will win them over. I was so very thankful for neighbor and friend, Jan, to keep an eye for their food and water.
Now to enjoy this great little home.