Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:02 pm on August 25, 2024 Permalink  

  Cable 

  Well, Grammie’s gray hair are now a hue of white.  Over the last month I have been working with the new HP to allow my Cannon camera to upload photos.  Over and over I got to the point that the computer would not allow the camera to be loaded as a new device.  Perhaps my camera was too old for the HP to recognize its make and model.

  Best Buy offered to sell me a cable to see if it would work.  It does allow the photo to be uploaded directly from the camera but the format is a bit different.  The only thing I could not get done, for now, is to give the photo a name, a label.  That is the least of my concerns today, August 25th.  Once I give in to the challenges each day may bring . . . it is down hill from there.  Many many days just bring the usual and customary.  You know . . . the meals, the dishes, the laundry and the Swiffer type of work.

  Today my focus of the tidy, tidy was our back door.  As I worked on cleaning it inside and out, I blessed our local lumberyard often.  Dennis did get a pass.  Dennis always favored buying locally.  Bolin’s lumberyard’s choices were slim to none.  The wood-core aluminum door did not have the usual metal slides to wiggle up the bottom panel to remove it for cleaning.  The slides are there, but only to raise or lower it to allow the screen to be used.  I thought by pushing in both slides at the same time it would be able to be pulled straight out.  Maybe the slides were dirty and the channels got cleaned.  Then I thought I would spray some lubricant into the channels.  I then tried a plier as I thought my hands were not strong enough for the slides to free the catches.

  How would Lena clean that bottom glass caught behind the screen.  I took my window cleaner, went outside and thoroughly sprayed the glass through the screen and then as the glass cleaner was running down the glass, I used a clean cloth to wipe down the screen as it touched the glass.  Hmm.  Not my finest work.  The top glass was very easy to clean inside and outside.  It is many shades cleaner than when I started out.  So be it.

  Dennis took the auxiliary hose off of the sump pump that had the water running into the street.  For a time the pump ran so often, it flooded the area of the usual spot north of the house.  I believe the hard huge rains are over.  I helped Dennis coil them and secure them with zip ties.  I offered to put them up and away in the potting shed.  For various reasons there have been bungee cords hanging from the cross bar of the rafters.  I was turning to leave the potting shed and . . . I could not believe my luck.  One of the bungee cord hooks had snagged the back of my shirt as I was working under it.  It almost got to the point of taking said shirt off.  Wiggle, wiggle grasping material of the shirt and I was leaving the potting shed.  Good grief.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:38 pm on August 24, 2024 Permalink  

  Check 

  We have one major item to check off of the fall’s bucket list.

  The mower is back on the Cub-Lo-Boy and all is working as it should be.  Dennis’ grandson, AJ,  had been surfing the web to find hints of how all went back together.  Dennis didn’t remember how he got it off when the Cub had a major oil situation.  All of the nuts and bolts had been saved in the faithful Folger’s coffee can.  AJ came to St. James from Mankato on his Honda cycle.  AJ made one trip to the parts store as a small threaded nut either dropped away from them or it had been lost when the mower was removed.

  When AJ went up the street to visit with his folks, Dennis came in for some orange juice.  He didn’t come right out and say it . . . but he was pooped.  I looked out the bathroom window before starting this posting and Grandpa and Snuggles are both taking a nap in the patio porch.  I don’t think Snuggles could get any higher up on Grandpa’s chest.  A well deserved rest indeed.

  My Saturday work has also been completed.  One load of laundry done and folded.  The bathroom from one end to the other and the back entryway have both felt the hand of . . . me.  Both of those items get hard use.  With Dennis not having any toes on his left foot, even with the orthidic insert his balance isn’t the greatest.  Our basement steps are steep for any and all so Dennis very seldom goes down into the basement.  We also do not ask anyone anymore to take their shoes off coming into our home.  I do not mind cleaning and keeping things tidy.

  Yesterday when I was out and about, I stopped at the eye clinic.  My glasses needed to be adjusted.  Over time the tiny screws that hold the “ear hangers on” become worn.  They even put on new nose pads.  I was and am set to go.

  There is plenty to choose from for supper.  I will take Dennis’ lead on what he is hungry for.

  These last days, I have been enjoying home grown peaches.  One evening when Dennis locked up the doors, there was a plastic bag hanging from the door handle of the front door.  There is only one person that Dennis and I know of that has a peach tree that we had been told was looking like the peaches would be plentiful.  Maria is the gal that we go to for pedicures and haircuts.  I am 100% sure that I was enjoying her peaches.  They were not the Alberta known grocery store peaches by any means, but I have enjoyed them fuzz and all.  Dennis passed on them.  I have two small ones left.  Sweet.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:46 pm on August 23, 2024 Permalink  

  Wasps 

  This must be a great time of year for the wasps to be flitting about.  Dennis knocked two down that were under the west awning of the house.  Dennis discovered by the back door they were busy using the corner siding piece and flying up it.  It did get busy when he used his water hose attachment and pointed the strong surge of water right up into the channel.  They are not fussy about where they choose to shelter. 

  Today I visited our local grocer.  It had been about two weeks since the last visit.  I realize the owner needs to make a profit.  Not being able to purchase many items in bulk, I am sure his price is quite different from Walmart’s grocery or Sam’s Club that don’t mess with anything unless a trailer hooked onto a semi is delivering it.  I will say $4.29 for a dozen eggs seems high.  Too numerous items to mention. 

  I had worked my last miracle in the kitchen for supper last night.  I needed stuff to make oven meals with.  I like having frozen vegetables to put in with the pasta dish, both for color and texture.  I bought five pounds of potatoes as every once in a while, plain boiled potatoes fills the bill to pair with something else.  Dennis had asked for some of the refrigerator items of Mrs. Gerry’s.  This afternoon, I proceeded to take her potato salad and mix in three boiled eggs and a chopped and minced Vidalia onion.  The coleslaw I mixed with one very large banana and some mini marshmallows.  Thank you Lena.  Why didn’t I use some of my 5 pounds of potatoes I had just bought?  From scratch, potato salad needs an over-night in the refrigerator for all the flavors to blend.  With my embellishment of Mrs. Gerry’s hard work, I have bought myself a little down-time in the kitchen for several evenings.   Put a piece of buttered bread with the fare . . . it’s all good.

  I did buy three cans of Albacore tuna packed in water.  We have tried what I call regular tuna.  In an oven dish, it is nothing but mush.  Yes, we have gotten spoiled.  We rarely eat out, I can cook using quality ingredients.  

  I had KNUJ on yesterday.  Several large grocery stores run ads over the airway.  I could not believe it when a Kalu Robbi was priced as $1.49 each.  Wow.  They have always been a favorite in our family.  I can still see Michael or Kevin standing by the garden peeling one and letting the munching beginning.

  The yards are finally slowing down with growth that will need mowing.  It has been a weekly item since late April.  

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:08 pm on August 22, 2024 Permalink  

  Treasures 

  I feel that I have so many treasures in my life I could not count them.  That is how I feel sifting through each little drawer or shelf in my studio.  I usually know just where I want to park them for posterity.  I have several of the Sterile-lite multi-drawer units in the studio.  The bottom drawer of one unit housed my zippers of various lengths to include the repair kit.

  Hmm.  The drawer was deeper than the room that the zippers took.  My oh my!  I had been looking in the wrong place for what was revealed.  All this time I could visualize these items on the shelves of the cistern closet.  No!  I had really tucked them away for safe keeping.  I admit when it was time to clean my dad’s workroom in the basement of their one-story rambler, I had ferreted away these treasures.  Did I know then, or now for that matter, what I was going to do with them . . . no.

  The realization of how hard my dad worked with his creativity was enough for me.  I do have a set of four smaller tulips that sit upon one of my window sills.  The tulips are painted in different colors.  The finish is rough, but who cares.  Given time it would have been interesting to see what dad had in mind with the heart treasure boxes.  The woodworking skills my dad learned after his farming days were gleaned from his uncle Roy Grunwald, his mother’s brother.  Dad and mom would spend quite a bit of time at Roy and Agnus’ home as dad learned about the wood lathe and the knives that made hunks of cast off wood become . . . more. 

  There was nothing sweeter than stopping in for a cup of coffee and finding them both in the basement.  Mom would be working on her rug loom and dad would be making sawdust in the opposite corner of the basement.  Sweet.

  Treasured items make for treasured memories.

  Well there were other so-called treasures that I found while doing the tidy thing.  Ish!  Spiders that have died and lay there on their backs with their legs all curled up, don’t do much for me.

  It is on to the mystery of the day.  Several nights ago we had Stovetop, pork steak and green beans.  Last night we had the left-over Stovetop covered with chopped up green beans and the diced and chopped up pork steak.  All was heated one plate at a time in the microwave.  Timing was the ultimate.  Each heated plate of ours was topped with a basted egg.  Wha-la!  Waste not, want not. This evening I am winging it.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:24 pm on August 21, 2024 Permalink  

  Thick Fog 

  This morning when I got up at eight, the thick fog signaled that we did get some rain last night.

  Every once in awhile a good night’s sleep is not guaranteed.  I was ready for bed at nine thirty last night and didn’t hear anything from Dennis or even know when he went to bed.  At 12:30 I woke up and then thereafter it was almost like a timer.  Sleep did not want to bring me to the REM level and keep me there.  As I said, it is rare but there are nights when I could just as well have gotten up and read.  I’ll get another crack at it this evening.

  This forenoon, the lights went on in the studio and before long there was a completed quilt top that was getting folded and put with the other tops that I have ready.  Gosh, I love it when the church table tops look naked.  I am not going to be in a hurry to start another such project.  I do have some plans on using the embroidery module of the sewing machine.  I have not used that since I made some items for Megan’s kitchen in Virginia.  Megan and I did exchange a text last week.  All is going well for her.  Hurray!

  I also made a trip to the recycling bin with paper patterns for quilts and other whatnots.  If I have used a pattern with my scribbles on it, there is no way I will use it again.  Every quilter has their own tastes in designs that they want to apply to fabrics.  I have run the gauntlet of quilts for family members.  My time in the studio and in my bedroom porch is for quiet peaceful times but still having something to show for my time.  I pay attention.  I know the days of high nostalgic is far and few.  Bless the hearts of those that still find emotional attachments from times gone by.  Hey . . . I have my hand up.  I am one of those of that rare commodity status.

  This afternoon Dennis drug out the long length of garden hose and washed off a layer or two of dirt.  It was amazing.  We have had lots of wind bring dirt from who knows where.  The rains have been pounding sometimes but it doesn’t cut the dirt on the siding of the house.  According to Dennis the house got a rinse today.  Tomorrow out comes his container that he puts soap in and try, try, try again.  The area that he works on gets a rinse, then comes the soap that stays in place for a short time and then the soap gets rinsed off.  If it’s cloudy out, so much the better as he doesn’t want the soap to dry on the siding.  Dennis buys a large container of laundry soap at the Family Dollar store.

  I will have a chance to tip in the windows and give them a once-over before it gets cold.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:06 pm on August 20, 2024 Permalink  

  Talk of Rain Showers 

  It is 3:45 and soon the lights will go out in the studio.  I came down at one.  The sewing on the quilt top is finished for today.  Total measurement is 52″ x 76″.  I have material and plans to get it to the 60″ x 80″ prescribed size, perhaps another day.

  I had a 45 minute break here in the studio while I answered a phone call.  It was from my brother-in-law, Orville.  Orville calls to reminisce every so often.

  Mostly the call was about finances.  The city of Stewart is planning street repair in his neck of the woods.  Yup, corner lots and lineal footage counts up quick as well as the footage of a rental house he has.

  Orville had a hip replacement that got infected and he now knows about hospital costs and nursing home costs when the days in those facilities exceeds what Medicare and insurance will cover.   

  I know how to commiserate with the best of them.

  There is talk of rain sometime before I go to bed.

  I have supper started in the oven.  I put said dish in the oven at three at 325 degrees for a five supper, give or take a few minutes.  Pork today is not like the pork of yester-years.  It is a very lean product.  I have a pork steak in the oven with a sauce over it, otherwise it will bake dry.  When I started the oven, I parked green beans, jellied cranberries and Stovetop stuffing on the kitchen counter.  I have heard rattling from the kitchen so it sounds like all of the above was acceptable.

  In between sewing sessions, I continue organizing my shelves in the studio.  I had ordered collapsible containers from Amazon.  They are 12″ x 16″.  So far I have collapsed three containers.  As I continue to sew quilt tops to donate, I am looking forward to lessening the stash.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:02 pm on August 19, 2024 Permalink  

  Lesson Learned 

  From here on in we need to be more organized on mowing day.

  I had nothing in mind for supper.  All I could offer in short notice was soup and a fried egg sandwich.

  Dennis left in search of the food trucks that have been in town on the weekends.  

  Dennis returned with a Styrofoam container that held our supper.  He didn’t know what he had bought, but it was hot with a baggie of lettuce, tomato, and onions complete with a topping sauce.  It wasn’t until this morning when I googled it to find out what it was called.  The proper name was Salvadoran Pupuses, also known as a stuffed tortilla.  The photo was spot on.  Tortilla stuffed with pork and cheese and heated on a very hot grill.  One serving contained two tortillas and that was plenty.  Inside the baggie, I scored a little round of a green pepper.  Oh my gosh that was hot.  Beggars can’t be choosey. 

  Next time we need to plan better.

  Monday brings laundry.  I never mind doing laundry as I enjoy wearing clean clothes and Dennis does as well.  He has been known to change tee shirts in the middle of a hot, humid day.

  I did do some stitching in the studio.  One more day and it will be a completed quilt top.  The next step will be measuring it . . . hopefully a 60″ x 80″ top.  I am prepared to add to it if needed.  It will not be the generous borders I would usually put on a quilt top.

  After supper, I plan on doing some counted cross stitching.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:05 pm on August 18, 2024 Permalink  

  Good Day 

  At eleven this morning, the little red pickup was idling in the drive.  I was not surprised as we had had the talk last night.  Today was mowing day.  We had not mowed in nine days and it was needed big time.  With both of us cruising the two acres, we can get everything looking good in two and a half hours.  Yes, we both stood still after getting the mowers back in the barn.  Taking good advice.

  Other than drinking what is left of the breakfast coffee, I have no other plans for the rest of the day.  Dennis did head out to fill the two small gas containers for the next time.  After the mowers have cooled he does fill them, depleting what is on hand.  

  I walked back from the far garage with my cane.  The mosquitos are so itty bitty, but the aftermath of them getting you does not keep the itch from being less.

  I walked on the sidewalk north of the patio porch heading to the house.  The sidewalk is a roller coaster for us elderly.  The neighbor’s oak tree can’t have many acorns left on it as walking on the sidewalk was dangerous.  I did the shuffle until I was clear of the tree’s overhead branches. 

  As I walked our backyard coming home, I hadn’t noticed any black walnuts on the ground from our two trees.  There were black walnuts on the ground as I was mowing the east acre.  I wonder if deer eat black walnuts and acorns.

  Our docket is clear for all of next week.  Sweet.

  By the way, I had an email that I had a test result in the Mayo portal.  I assumed it was from the urine testing I had done some time back.  I was curious.  Oh my gosh, I had no idea how many drugs could be identified via urine.  Truth to be told, I had had no idea that there were that many drugs needing to be tested for.  I am really innocent about that testing.  Nurse Sandy had said that in older people that need pain meds, they make sure to test us making sure the drug is noted in the sample and that we are not selling them.  Hmm.  Like I said . . . innocent.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:52 pm on August 17, 2024 Permalink  

  Four Legged Friends 

  Our porch kitties are for sure the four-legged friends that are our sweet spots.  Hark, there is some competition in the backyard.

  The last several weeks we have had two young fawns hanging out enjoying munching on clover.  When we first noticed them, they still had their white spots.  Yesterday, they were showing mostly their rich tan color.  When Dennis came in at eight last night, he said they were bedded down under the Hackberry tree.

  And what, would you ask, are the porch kitties making of all of this!  The sliding screen of the east patio door is barely wide enough for all three of them sitting on their haunches keeping watch.  All they want to do is watch from their safe spot.  Amazing.

  Sleep came easy for me last night.  At 8:30 this morning, I had to fight to keep my eyes open.  Once the feet hit the floor, I was running an agenda through my mind.  As I enjoy the first cup of coffee, I do check everything over on my HP, including the weather for the day as well as banking information and obituaries.

  As Dennis was heading to the Dollar General to buy several gallons of distilled water for his CPAP machine, I headed into the studio.  The 24 quilt blocks were waiting on the church tables.  My goal was to sew half of them together . . . four per row and three rows sewn together.  At a bit after three, all lights were turned off in the studio with my goal having been met.

  Our supper is going to be a smorgasbord of items from last night’s supper tied together with scrambled eggs.  It will meet all of the major food groups.

  Nothing news worthy to report.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:12 pm on August 16, 2024 Permalink  

  Spitting Rain Showers 

  Very unusual temps for mid August.  I will gladly take the cooler side of a month that could be blistering.

  I had a very busy morning on the main floor of our home.  Dennis’ bedding was stripped off for a usual freshening in the laundry.  

  I had chosen a six pound bag of frozen chicken tenderloins at Sam’s Club last week.  I was planning on chicken, instant potatoes and green beans for supper this evening.  While I had the six ponds on the kitchen counter to take several tenderloins out, I decided to get the quart freezer zip-lock bags out and do the reasonable thing.  We now have meal-sized tenderloins in individual bags in the freezer.  So much easier to grab an individual bag than wrestle the huge bag each time we decide on chicken for supper.  Mission completion.

  I don’t know what Dennis was up to in the garage, but by twelve noon, his bedding was back where it needed to be . . . on the bed.

  It is three in the afternoon and the lights have been turned off in the studio.  I got done what I wanted to.  I have the blue log cabin’s binding sewn, folded in half, pressed and wound on a piece of carboard, ready to hand off to the church in time to come.  The four log cabin tops with their bindings will be the last of how I go forward sewing quilt tops.  In the future they will measure the 60″ x 80″ as desired with no bindings needed.  Sweet.  The pinwheel will be the first of the new prescribed size.

  Me and my cross stitch.  It is so relaxing, even if stitches need to be counted for a design that will match the directions.  Hmm.  I was coming around the width of the fabric to do the flowers and I was one stitch off for them to attach to the stem.  It was time to realize the original stem was dying and time to graft on fresh growth.  Perfect solution.  There is always a way to correct a situation when it comes to tiny squares that require an “x” to be put in it.

  The skies to the east are purple, filled with rain, and the sun wants to shine.

  I have achieved much local effort today and am going to take some time before supper to put a few stitches into those flowers that have a waiting stem.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥