Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:14 pm on July 6, 2024 Permalink  

  My Day 

  My day feels full.  At ten we were downtown for pedicures and haircuts.  Both were needed and for me, I can tell you . . . both feel wonderful.  It may take a while with two chairs going at one time, but Dennis loves how the hot soaking bath feels on his feet.

  After the spa treatment we went shopping at our local grocer’s.  No matter how I power shop in Mankato for staples, there is always something that we run out of.  Dennis wanted to make a pie.  Who knew?  He had seen something on television.  He needed a graham cracker crust, two boxes of instant pudding, the same flavor.

  If we are going to have a treat for the day, it is usually at eight in the evening.  Time will tell how the coconut cream pie fares.  All I suggested was to cut back on the two cups of milk to allow for a firmer set up.  We may have spoons handy.

  Dennis’ grandson, AJ, came for a visit from Mankato.  Talk about a shot in the arm for Dennis.  AJ also had had rain seeping into his basement.  AJ helped Dennis set his heavy television buffet cabinet onto the plywood floor.  The little red pickup will be able to be housed again.

  About at two, the sky clouded over and a heavy shower of rain came.  All these little blurbs on the radar have rain in them.

  My day tomorrow may have some grass mowing in it.  I enjoy helping.  I will suit up from top to bottom as much as possible as the mosquitoes are ready for fresh blood. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:56 pm on July 5, 2024 Permalink  

  A Lull 

  There seems to be a lull in the town today as per the amount of traffic flying past our home.  I am sure many have taken a long weekend with the 4th being on a Thursday.

  I do remind us as to what day of the week it is.  We have never forgotten an appointment thus far, but there is always a first time for everything.

  A load of laundry was my game.  Dennis decided to drive out to stop and see his cousin Sam.  They are within two years of each other.  Sam is in poor health, still living on his farm place with his wife Maria who has Parkinson’s.  Sam’s boys are doing the farming.  Two fellows that enjoy reminiscing.  I know what that is like when my Aunt Janet and I reminisce.

  The cotton seeds are flying today with the wind from the northwest.  As I looked out the kitchen window to the north, our far away yard had a coating of white.

  Dennis has moved his chair, table and television onto the bare plywood flooring of the patio porch.  One can only imagine how long 2 x 4s need to dry out under the decking after being soaked in water for 36 hours.  There were holes drilled every so often when the decking project was done.  Fans and air holes are the best for some time to come.  Dennis is in no hurry to go beyond just being in his comfort spot.

  I have my comfort spot.  Comfort spots make for contented living.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:01 pm on July 4, 2024 Permalink  

  Fireworks 

  Our city had their fireworks last night.  Thirty plus years ago I could sit on my front steps and watch them as they were being shot off in the area of the lake on the west edge of town.  The trees have grown so all that I can enjoy is the noise as I conjure up images.

  To the northwest of us a block over, a group of individuals had their own fireworks.  We were amazed at the quality of the light show.  The noise lasted longer than the light show, but they paid for it, so let them enjoy it.

  To the far north was mother nature’s light show.  When I got up at 4:30 for a bathroom break the rain was beginning.  Shortly after twelve noon, the thunder rolled and another strong shower of rain came down.   When I looked at the weather map, there could be pops of rain for quite some time.

  The 4th of July brings many personal past celebrations to mind.  With that being said, I wished my son a Happy Birthday!  How can it be that my children have the birthdays that each year signifies?   I enjoy and celebrate the lives that both have honed.  My memories . . . priceless.   

  I am so fortunate to have the quality of life that I have.  I am here to continue soaking up the day-to-day events that will become more sweet memories.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:08 pm on July 3, 2024 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts 

  After a successful trip to my dentist, I settled in to my bedroom porch to pick up where I had left off with a YouTube video I had been watching.  

  Dennis was immersed out in his patio porch with a television program.

  Traffic of all shapes, sizes and colors speed by, hopefully to come to a stop at the four-way stop just feet away to the north.

  Wouldn’t one and all be surprised if they knew more about the little home and its owners at the 109 location.

  This home is Dennis’ and my safe spot.  Of course nothing is for sure or guaranteed.  This is a place that we never lack for food or rest.  It is the perfect home where Dennis and I  have found the cure for weariness, sadness, fears and uncertainty.  We share happiness and celebrate each day we have as well as decades of memories.  Our mantra is: save the best and leave the rest. 

  I trust and pray that my children have also found their homes to be their safe place sanctuaries.

  Tomorrow is the 4th of July.  That in itself brings a flood of memories. 

  Dennis and I will be celebrating this long holiday type weekend right here on Stauffer Avenue.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:55 pm on July 2, 2024 Permalink  

  Hit and Miss 

  Today is all about hit and miss showers.

  When I went to bed last night it was lightning in the northwest.  This morning there were puddles on Stauffer Avenue.

  I decided to do a Cinderella today in my kitchen.  Now, at mid afternoon, I can report that we will have a pasta oven meal for supper.  There are also two containers of said dish in the freezer.  One pound of ground beef with lots of odds and ends to accompany it.  While the pasta was piping hot, I added the last of the cream cheese in with the pasta and put a lid on it to melt the cheese.  The cream cheese coats the pasta for an additional flavor.  While the ground beef was browning, I added some Better than Bullion roasted garlic flavor.  That cleaned out the little jar.  I sautéed the half of the Vidalia onion that was double bagged in the refrigerator.  There were some Bush’s baked beans left from last night’s supper . . . in they went.  Two beef brats also from last night, sliced into thin rounds.   A half cup of peas that were asking to be recued from the freezer for a bit of color.  Classico basil flavored red sauce folded in and around.

  Dennis is all about using up and putting in rather than throwing out.  This concoction is my craziest one yet.  It has hit all the marks of the nutrition wheel.  I will give you a review tomorrow.

  The last of the laundry has been done, leaving an empty laundry basket for about . . . not very long.  Gotta love clean clothes.

  All the dishes have been done as well as taking the top of the kitchen range apart for a tidy, tidy.  With the last of the breakfast coffee, Cinderella is in her cherry red chair in her bedroom porch.  Those walking by on our street are swatting bugs as much as stepping it off.  The air is dead.  The dew point and the humidity are the same.  Not for a good feeling.  We are to have more rain falling this afternoon.

  Dennis did the local grocer’s trip today.  

  Tomorrow I will visit my dentist.  The adjustments are soon to be over.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:09 pm on July 1, 2024 Permalink  

  Day Three 

  Another good day pulling weeds while the soil is still moist.  The yellow flowering clover is on a rage.  The secret is finding where the hair fine root is and then pulling up an amount as large as a dinner plate.  If the south wind had not been so strong, I could have moved about the Hosta giving a lot of it a good weed spray.  Maybe tomorrow.

  Dennis had gone to the blue barn acre with his vegetation killing spray.  He was prepared with two gallons mixed up.  He came home after using one gallon as the mosquitoes were horrible in his face and ears.  The south line fence sheltered the area from the strong winds.  Working around the north area of the patio porch, the bugs didn’t bother me, but then I was zipped up to my nose.   

  Dennis has all of the greenery ready for garbage day tomorrow.  As I raked it along the concrete patio it rolled into itself like a long round bale.  When Dennis made a horseshoe shaped form out of it, it was easily lifted into the bin. 

  We are to get rain this evening.  Maybe tomorrow will be a clover pulling event. 

  I was going to work on my camera for it to work “nice” with my HP, but the battery in the camera needed to be refreshed.  Maybe tomorrow.

  There was an email from the county this morning, that the Madelia school parking lot would be taking items from the flood from one to six today.  Our carpeting is gone.  Thank goodness.  Apparently the St. James site was full up.

  Supper is going to be Johnsonville pre-cooked beef brats and Bush’s pork and beans.  I do tucker myself out with getting the flower beds to look as if someone does live here.  Then again several hours each morning does make a huge dent in things.  I am so thankful Dennis does keep the lawns looking good.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:16 pm on June 30, 2024 Permalink  

  Small and Large 

  The biting bugs are tiny to extra large. 

  Though it was cool outside this morning they rose up out of the soil like mighty armies.

  I did work with more of the nasty vegetation until ten.  As much as I had covered myself, they found their way to this pale sin.

  I have added a new do-dad, literally, to our living room south wall.  Though dad’s favorite foil label has long since fallen off . . . I will always know from whence this came.

  In the mean time, I may well have spent the last hour with no success.  I have my camera manual and another day I will try, try, try to get my canon camera hooked to my HP in my bedroom porch.  I do know when to throw in the towel.  I had the camera on and hooked to WI-FI, but I missed a prompt. As I said tomorrow is another day.

  Dennis was able to mow our backyard now that the water has been gone for several days.  It will take some sunny warm days to allow this grass to be like all the others . . . growing to beat hell.

  I have an oven dish out of the freezer for our supper.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:46 pm on June 29, 2024 Permalink  

  A Short 

  This is a shortie of a blog posting.

  The winds were brisk with cool temps.  I had been looking out the bathroom window since the water had gone down on the patio.  I needed to strike while the soil was soft.  Snuggles and Honey Bunny stuck with me the entire time as I pulled up vegetation that was less than desirable.  Dennis raked up what I had pulled and piled it onto the patio for it to dry out for burning.  My clippers were needed for volunteer trees that were enjoying multiple years of growing.  The dandelion tool was the last to deal with.  Again, soil so wet I could get the root.

  It was time for a break and a bite of noon lunch.

  Dennis was off for his daily ride around town in the little red pickup.

  I used both of my walking sticks and I headed up the street.  I noticed yesterday that the Smith family had a huge dumpster delivered to their driveway.  They live a block and a half from us and less than a block from the creek that had shut down the street for several days due to flooding.  I wanted them to know that I had empathy.  It seemed the thing for me to do.  Yup . . . it had been their basement floor drain that had let water come up from the floor drain.   Been there . . . done that.  Amazingly as they had put some salvageable items to the curb, it seemed to disappear as fast as they put it out.

  A morning of yard work and a good walk, my eyes seem to want to shut.  I may put a YouTube video on the television and see what happens.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:44 pm on June 28, 2024 Permalink  

  The End 

  The end of the work week is near.

  From all forecasts the temps may be doable this weekend if you can take the humidity.

  Dennis and Dewayne went to McDonald’s this morning.  It had been several weeks of those two catching up with each other.  It was definitely a break from their usual Tuesdays.

  While there was a nice breeze, I got out my Roundup.  Plants growing in concrete cracks are not pleasant to look at.  The crab grass has really nestled in where the planter of Russian Sage meets the driveway.  I realized the sun wouldn’t be out today.  I made sure the fine spray followed the base of the plants right into the cracks.

  I walked into the backyard.  I know there would be many plants that could easily be pulled by the roots with as wet as the soil is.  As a well known buzz came close to my face, I decided to look the other way and take in the traffic on Stauffer Avenue and leave the weeds be.

  When Dennis got home at noon he commented that the same crowd of fellows on a Friday as a Tuesday.  I told him he would need to pop in on a Wednesday or Thursday to see if it was a five-days-a-week gathering.

  We did get about an inch of rain from yesterday through the night.  First thing this morning, I was in the basement to check to see if water had seeped into the cistern closets.  The best way to check is to take a piece of toilet paper and put it in the most vulnerable known spots for seepage.  I was thrilled when I could nicely pick up my dry pieces of toilet paper and put it into the waste basket. 

  I have begun a new book to prop up on my stand.  Reading from the book when it is at an angle is oh so much easier on the neck and shoulders.  I am also on my second of the three stitching projects that I have going.  Rotating them keeps my interest going.  I am now on the project that I hope to someday have to put around the wooden box of Ester Schafer’s.  Yes . . . 30 plus inches in length by 2.5 ” in width is the plan.  You can’t finish if you don’t pick it up and work a few threads into it.

  I hope the end of your work week treats you well.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:59 pm on June 27, 2024 Permalink  

  Normal 

  Whew!  Our basement, also known as my studio, is back to normal.  The last of the floor vacuuming got done this morning.  I have a full-time fan going in the cistern closet.  What can it hurt!  Any air moving in the northeast corner can be a huge help.  We also have a ceiling vent fan that I leave on full-time.  Our huge dehumidifier has a drain right into our perimeter floor tile as well as our central air drain does.  Anything and everything that we could have done to keep the air as fresh as possible has been done.  But lets face it, it is still a basement under an old house.

  Dennis did get the blue barn acre’s grass cut before the rains came.  As with any grass after a lot of rain, it will look better after some sunny drying days.

  We have no plans or appointments for the remainder of the week.  Dennis and the porch kitties have settled into the little red pickup’s garage for television viewing.  I am content with stitching in my bedroom porch while taking in traffic viewing as well.

  Several normal days are just what the doctor ordered.

  The rain has picked up.  That 1/2 inch may come into fruition.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥