Today was spent with Dennis and me sorting through some paper items that needed to be reviewed for our peace of mind and to also assist our children when the time comes. We know it’s a good thing.
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Noreen
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Noreen
Perfect temperatures and humidity today. I want more like this.
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Noreen
You can’t help but notice that the oat fields are being harvested. One look at the remaining stubble left on the fields takes me back to a time when I was helping my Dad during the oat harvest. Though still at the age of going to the rural country school, I was old enough to be watchful of the auger running the harvested grain into the granary.
Dad had just pulled a full flare box of oats up to the yard when a fairly large black sedan pulled into the yard right behind him. A fellow dressed in a black suit got out and walked up to Dad and held his hand out for Dad to shake it. The fellow had a grin from ear to ear and Dad’s face was one of serious puzzlement. Little did I know just how much trouble I was in.
I had forgotten about the art contest I had entered a time back for a chance at a huge prize. All I had to do was enter a drawing for the chance. This fellow was doing the follow up to hawk a mail correspondence art course. Ugh!
As dirty and hot as Dad was from living a long day on the farm, hour by hour, he showed great restraint while indicating to the visitor how he could leave the same way he had come.
That night after the evening chores and milking was done I was taken to task. No more mail was to go out by me unless approved a head of time. Calvin and Michael were thrilled it was me on the hot seat for some time to come.
For that summer and a few summers after that, if I felt inclined to be creative, I cut and pieced quilt squares for my Mom. Ah, yes, it’s amazing the memories that come back during harvest seasons.
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Noreen
Fleeting Thoughts:
Am so enjoying the sound of rain on the kitchen skylight. The trees will have their leaves rinsed off and the grass won’t crunch underfoot.
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Noreen
We have a wonderful storage garage on our far east lot. There was an unfortunate fire years ago that destroyed the home and the owners moved on. Dennis bought the detached garage and lot and it extended our original 260′ lot by an additional 100′. After all, who doesn’t need another two stall garage?
The extra garage has helped out a lot of family members that needed short term storage. In times past we had thought it would make a great shop for Dennis. Electrical was installed that would meet that need and also serve the electric garage door opener that we installed. It seems as one year rolls over to another we are content using it for storage complete with several lawn chairs in case we wander that far east and need a “sit down” while we chat over the state of the yard, our families, and the world.
After this morning it has been cleaned out to each of the four corners for a total cleaning. As items were replaced there was a bit of sorting: some for the recycling and some for the Waste Management container. It’s a good thing.
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Noreen
Several summers ago Kevin was working on his property and using a jack hammer. The continuous pressure of his hands on the controls and handles soon made its consequence known. The swollen fingers were unable to be bent over to make a fist. The fingers and the hand felt much like when you lay wrong in bed and the circulation is disrupted to a portion of a limb. It’s always been referred to “they felt as if they were asleep.” Normal circulation has been disrupted long enough that it took several months for the fingers, wrists and even the arms to return to a state of normalcy for Kevin.
For myself I could relate to Kevin very easily. If I don’t contentiously use my fingers and hands they become stiff and swollen. Arthritis sneaks in when an injury has happened to a joint. It isn’t noticed at the time of the injury, but over time with the addition of proteins in the blood supply the inflammation does show itself and becomes a permanent state of the joint. By keeping my hands and fingers active it prevents any additional fluids to collect around the joints and thus the swelling is kept at a minimum.
What it boils down to, is that I need to get back to some crocheting or sewing and keep those ten little wonders active enough that they won’t stove up on me. I have left the sewing area cool off for far too long. As one of the commercials stresses “keep moving . . . ” so I shall.
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Noreen
For several days we have had clouds that appear to be holding rain. So far no luck. This afternoon Dennis found a few items between the barns off of Stauffer Avenue that were not needed in our day to day living. Last fall when we finished with shingling and residing the sheds it just seemed the place to plunk extra items. It has been loaded into the pickup and it is gone. Hats off to Dennis shifting and sorting. Now, let’s get back to getting some of those rain clouds to let loose as the cracks in the backyard are ready for a drink.
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Noreen
We are so thankful that there are entities such as the Disabled American Veterans and the Epileptic Association that take gently used items to disperse to those that have a need. The Epileptic sends post cards out for the pick up date each month, curb side at our homes. Yes, we are back to various corners of our world with sifting and sorting. My son, Kevin, has instilled in us that we need to sort according to the emotional attachment that an item may have. Dennis just made a huge delivery and I know we can keep pecking away to do this. Our decisions will make us feel good and make the receiver perhaps wear a smile.
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Noreen
Who Knew?
Who knew that a trip to the VA in Minneapolis could also include a side trip checking out daughter Carrie and the grandkids? We had a very early appointment at the VA and we had done a Map Quest print out so we could find their new home as we traveled out of the VA parking lot.
Megan and Nicholas have both really stretched out since we last saw them. Nicholas gave grandpa the tour of the home. Megan, Carrie and I were lagging behind and by the time we found the guys settled in the sun porch, Nicholas and Grandpa Dennis were finalizing plans for Nicholas to come to St. James for several days prior to Labor Day. Priceless.
A full day on the highway and Dennis and I agree: there’s no place like home. I had my shoes off before Dennis had the garage door closed. What a great day.
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Noreen
Fleeting Thoughts:
My beverage of choice is coffee – either hot or cold. My biggest challenge is getting coffee stains out of handwork. My biggest disappointed is clumsiness.