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  • Noreen 3:01 pm on July 10, 2023 Permalink  

    Short Posting 

    This was our Monday to see the wound doctor in Mankato for the final release of Dennis’ care of the left foot.  Our appointment wasn’t until 1:30.  

    At six this morning we were up.  By 6:15, I had the washing machine going.  All three loads were done before we left for the big town.

    It was such a beautiful morning that I enjoyed on the front deck with coffee cup in hand while the suds were doing their thing.  There was a great breeze and the birds were happy.

    We made stops in Mankato looking for the cat litter that is dust free, clumpable and weighs half of what some other brands do.  Sam’s was out, Petco doesn’t carry the lightweight stuff.  Good ole Hy-Vee had the Tidy Lightweight and it was on sale.  In each store, what I was seeking was at the farthest point in the store.

    By the early afternoon, I was feeling the rise of the temps as I made my way looking for cat litter.  I think the bottom of my cane got hot as I was on my mission.

    On our way home, we celebrated the fact that there were no more appointments for Dennis’ foot.  I take that back.  We are waiting for Limb Lab to call that Dennis’ shoes are ready to be picked up.

    Take care with this nasty surge of heat today.  This evening it is to be in the 50s during the night.

     
  • Noreen 2:44 pm on July 9, 2023 Permalink  

    Hello Sunday 

    This morning, with a breeze, it felt great.  With three cats following me to the east old Hosta bed, we headed out to see what the Roundup did for us yesterday.  Hmm.  I may be a little impatient.  We will try again tomorrow to take this walk.  I was just thrilled to have the area looking better than it had all of this spring and summer.  The cats found that hiding and playing in the tall plume grass a great game of cat and cat. 

    I can so vividly see Lena in her quest with weed killer.  Lena in her dust cap and a sprayer would check the rows of the new wind break.  She always had on heavy gloves.  If the weeds were too close to the young trees, she carried along a rag that she would spray with the weed killer and then take a hold of the weed and pull it through the rag as she held it.  Take that!

    If Lena, aka: Mom, was outside, more than likely a dust cap was on her head.  She took round circles of print fabric and sewed a hem that she would string elastic through.  Various colors of her dust caps were on the peg by the back door.  It was her perfect solution for helping out in livestock barns or in dusty chicken barns.  Mom’s hair was always fit to be in the company that the situation called for.

    As the east patio was getting a tidy look via the leaf blower, next door Jan came out for a chat.  Her yard reminds me of my yard years ago, waiting for the weed that dares show its face.  Jan is now retired from our school district.  May the birdies fly over her yard and pop out lots of seeds that will become weeds.  Jan has no hobbies to take her into quiet hours if there is no yard work.  She’ll get it figured out.

    The front deck had been my place earlier for coffee before I had gone outside.  When coming in from blowing off the east patio, I had a peanut and jelly piece of toast with the second cup of coffee while reading a few pages in my newest old book from the library while in my cherry red chair.  Washing the hands, the counted cross stitching needed a few pokes with the tapestry needle.  By the way, that cherry red chair is perfect for back support while stitching.  The left hand holds the hoop and the right hand runs the needle doing one “x” at a time.  I enjoy the quiet of my bedroom porch.

    The next event of my day was down in the studio.  A long time ago, I found four nice textured woven black placemates.  I had thought of making my own black mats from scratch for a project that has been discussed in the Pokemon vernacular.  I need three for sure and this will give me a chance to try out the fourth to see how it stitches.  More some time later on that.  I do move from one item to the next in my days as it is kinder on my ole body than overdoing any one thing.

    Tomorrow we see Dr. Renee in Mankato and she will sign off as Dennis’ wound doctor.  Everything done according to insurance and Medicare.  Jump through one hoop at a time.

    Enjoy what is left of the weekend.  It has been great.

     
  • Noreen 1:52 pm on July 8, 2023 Permalink  

    A Saturday 

    Mid afternoon and these two old timers are calling it a day.

    I headed out early for the final weeding on the far east Hosta bed.  Yesterday and today as I had pulled weeds, they had always been piled up facing in one direction.  When I finished today, the wide plastic rake worked great to roll the bale of greenery onto it.  I pulled it to the burning ring and slid the bale off.  It will take some time before it’s dry enough to burn.  Wouldn’t you know it . . . Snuggles followed behind trying to snag some of the greenery off of the rake. 

    A clippers were need to cut off the volunteer trees.  Surprisingly how fast those roots put down . . . as if they could stay forever.  On the last trip, the little sprayer with strong Roundup solution gave the entire ground surface a spray.  I stayed away from the plume grass but there may be a Hosta or two that will suffer.  I have offered these plants to many and if you snooze, you loose.  Dennis said as long as that area can look tidy, he has no problems steering clear of them with the mower.  If worse comes to worse, I assured him there were no rocks to be leery of. 

    During all the time my hinny was stuck up in the air working with unwanted greenery, Dennis was washing off the house with his soap suds in the attachment to the garden hose.  I must say it now looks wonderful.  Over time when we had a piddle of rain, it would be followed by strong winds bringing field dirt into town.  You could dip your finger into water and write your name on the dirty white siding.  Garden hoses on both the north and south sides of the house have been coiled up and Dennis is going to do as I am . . . calling it a day.

    Dennis and I are proud of our little home and take the extra measure to keep it looking that way.

     
  • Noreen 1:11 pm on July 7, 2023 Permalink  

    Another Gift 

    Another welcomed day of cool temps.  A great gift.  Breakfast under my belt, garden shoes on and out the door I went.  The Roundup I applied yesterday had a lot of weeds hanging their heads.  I chose three more Hosta to cover with my pails before the Roundup was sprayed.  Some of the broadleaf weeds looked sicker than some of the clover.  Hmm.

    With Honey Bunny trailing after me, I went to the far east to check on an older Hosta bed.  What my intentions are is for the plume grass to take that entire area over.  The white feathery plumes are beautiful in the late fall.  Each plume also has a seed pod for birds to harvest.  When I got closer to the area, I could not believe the amount of Nightshade plants.  They are easy to pull up and before I knew it, I had a bail of them piled up.  My gardening time was over.  Tomorrow I will take a clipper with me as there are several Elm trees that have gotten a pretty good start.  I intend to pull all the nasty unwanted, staying with my early hours as the temps may decide to climb over the weekend. 

    I visit the library and take home quite a few books from the rack of books put out to pasture.  When I came in from gardening, I enjoyed a cup of breakfast coffee and finished the one in my bedroom porch.  What I do with them when I have finished, I plunk it into the recycling bin just as the library does with those not taken home by anyone.

    My stitching of counted cross stitching took me up to the time Dennis came in for a noon half sandwich.  I had leftover meatloaf on a slice of bread and Dennis had a tuna sandwich.  One length of thread does make headways in the stitching.

    I had been contemplating a project in the studio.  There had been quilt blocks saved on a flash drive.  Rather than the multied colors on each block, I wondered what the design would look like in silhouette for either a placemat, a pillow or the popular mug rugs.  I have one such prototype under the needle right now.  When it is stitched out, I will need to confer with a partner in crime for decision time.

    Take care everyone and keep the balance in life as your main focus.

     
  • Noreen 2:28 pm on July 6, 2023 Permalink  

    My Element 

    On this chilly morning, I was up early and in my element, bent over getting after a few weeds that I knew would pull up well from the half inch of rain we had earlier in the week.

    Where the old Lilacs were cut down there is no shortage of sucker plants coming.  Not all are going to make it.  I reserve the right to set literal boundaries.  Realizing that my set time for gardening was fleeting, I set about putting three pails over three Hosta.  Let the Roundup commence.  I left the pails in place as tomorrow morning, I will protect three more Hosta before spraying.  Take that you nasty clover plants!

    I do put a time limit on my gardening.  If I waited until my arms began to ache . . . it would be too late.  If restless legs are difficult to contend with, the left arm, from the stroke, will keep me up all night as the nerves retaliate from too much for too long.

    Dennis was just getting up from his morning nap when I came into the house at 10:30.  His task was mowing the remaining yards.

    After washing up, I was content having a cup of breakfast coffee and reading in my bedroom sitting upon my cherry red chair.  After a bit, I worked on my counted cross stitch.  I am really enjoying the project.  I don’t stay at it for long lengths of time as the right hand tends to want to fall asleep from gripping the needle.  Everything in my world is doable if I listen to my body.  It all ends up giving me a balanced day and a balanced life.

    Tomorrow on my agenda is to do an embroidery design that I have been mulling over.  I will let you know how that turns out.

    This evening we are having the last of the two-minute meals we had purchased in Mankato this last Monday.  It will be meatloaf accompanied by our very own instant mashed potatoes.

    Don’t you just love this weather!

     
  • Noreen 2:23 pm on July 5, 2023 Permalink  

    Glorious Rain 

    Rain came unexpectedly last night before supper.  No idea how much it totaled but it was appreciated.  This morning after I had some laundry started, the garden shoes came on.  This is the first summer that we have direct sunlight on an area that had always been in deep shade from the old Lilac bushes.  I am not sure if that has called forth unwanted foliage or if it is the luck of the draw.

    With the rain of last night, there was easy pulling of some of the weeds.  I also took a pliers and pulled up some trees that were wanting to make a start.  There was a Cottonwood that might have been around since last year.  No budging with the plier.  I dug down into the dirt several inches and used the clipper on the root.  Time will tell.

    After several hours, I called it a day for my gardening.  The air was so glorious, I hated to quit.  I know better than to overdue the shoulders, arms and hands.

    Before going in to finish up the laundry, I got my plan in place for tomorrow morning.  I have a small sprayer that holds perhaps a quart and a half.  There is a pretty strong mix of Roundup diluted with water in it.  My plan is to cover up the Hosta plant with a pail and spray the clover around the Hosta plant and leaving the Hosta covered for a time.  The back area of Hosta is loaded with clover.  Never had that before.  It looks like a nasty ground cover.  It can’t be pulled up by the root as the root is like a piece of thread ready to break off.  I have several pails to place.  The other weed is much like a hairnet that lies flat on the dirt and branches out from the main root.  Wherever a tendril grows out, it puts down roots of its own.

    So I have my plan in place for these mornings that promise nice air.

    It is the end of my day with local effort.  Dennis just got home from mowing the blue barn acre.  Tomorrow he will mow the remaining acre.  He also has had good local effort for the day.  When we were in Mankato on Monday, I picked up several “minute meals” in Hy-Vee.  I will heat up one for supper.  My plan all along was to get some gardening in when I saw the weather forecast and still put out a hot meal for our supper for several days running.  Nailed it!

    Catch ya tomorrow.

     
  • Noreen 2:52 pm on July 4, 2023 Permalink  

    4th of July 

    Hello!  This is my son’s double nickel birth date.  My how time has flown.  I have wonderful memories that could fill volumes.  Kevin shares my abilities to recall memories, perhaps even better than I can.  A sweet trait.

    Our town is really quiet today.  Hard telling what the twilight hours will bring for firecrackers. 

    Dennis and I sat on the front deck this forenoon with coffee cups in hand.  I will say, since this deck has been put on the house in April, Dennis has been more about sharing his memories than ever before.  It’s a good thing.

    A quiet day for us means light eating.  I have a very good batch of a cold tuna spread going for sandwiches.  Dennis cares more for a tuna spread than a ham spread.

    We had a light sprinkle of rain this forenoon.  It evaporated on the concrete immediately.

    Tomorrow will feel like a Monday on a Wednesday.  I will take it as it comes as I know you will.

     
  • Noreen 2:07 pm on July 3, 2023 Permalink  

    A Corker 

    Whew, it is just plain nasty out.  We were home from the big town of Mankato by one this afternoon.  Jody, the surgeon’s second, does want to see Dennis back in six weeks.  She was thrilled how the wound has healed over, but considering Dennis’ journey, it pays for one more check.

    We both came home, so ready to each find our favorite chair.  Feet up, head back and Dennis was checking his eyelids for cracks in a heartbeat.

    Stay comfortable in this afternoon’s heat as it is forecast to carry over into tomorrow.

    Dennis and I will remain safe for tomorrow in our home as we pray you all will whatever you may decide.

     
  • Noreen 12:05 pm on July 2, 2023 Permalink  

    Sunday the 2nd 

    And July is not going to slow down.

    For now I have decided to kick back and take on the persona of a retired individual.  In my thinking, I know that going back to the stitching in the counted cross stitch designs brings satisfaction, ever so slowly, while still having something to show for time and energy.

    Thinking back, my brother, Michael picked up a hoop and DMC threads.  While waiting for the batch grain dryer that was running out in the middle of the yard, Michael did counted cross stitch at the kitchen table to avoid going to sleep by twiddling his thumbs.  Michael did several designs with deer as the feature.  Today I know just where those framed pieces are.  They are hanging in the stair well of the repurposed granary.

    My-Cross-StitchThe design I chose will be worked two stands of floss over one, only doing what the hands and spirit allow per each time.  I chose a deep navy to do the entire design in one color.  The cherry red chair in my west bedroom porch has a lot of natural light to either read by or stitch by.  I am using a 16 count fabric.  Sixteen stitches per inch.  There is a huge selection of fabrics available.

    May everyone find their passion.  It may not be just one area of interest, but enough to give a balance in each and every day.

    Tomorrow we meet with the surgeon’s second in command in regard to Dennis’ left foot, to close the book on those types of medical appointments via door three of the Mankato Hospital.  Procedure must be followed.  A week from tomorrow we will do the same with the specialized wound doctor.  Oh so close to leaving those wonderful medical people in the closed book.

     
  • Noreen 2:40 pm on July 1, 2023 Permalink  

    The Long Holiday Weekend 

    The long fourth of July weekend has begun.  Even last night, there were firecrackers going off.  I felt sorry for all the puppies and dogs that were frightened of the noise.  We had a dog, Snoopy, that drove that message home. I believe there are some firecrackers and fireworks that are legal to buy.  Even the most innocent ones can harm. 

    Is it just our home or are there others that can find some pesky jumping spiders that are no bigger than the head of a quilter’s stick pin.  They are quick as they try to out jump you.  Oh well.  Talking about pests . . . the mosquitos have not been around.  I think there has been a lack of standing water for hatching to take place.  When we have been out on the front deck, the fireflies have enjoyed the summer nights.  I wonder if I would recognize one if it landed on me as a normal bug.  When we were kids, we would catch them and rubbed them on our clothing for the nano-second our clothes would cast their light.

    Each evening when the supper hour news is on, we hear of possible rain.  Nary a drop.  The lawns look as if it were August.

    Well on a lighter note, I have stayed out of the studio since the twin quilts were finished.  I think this has been a record for me.  My mind is conjuring up tidbits for a new project.  I don’t want to cut into any fabric without a solid plan.  I had heard so much of Liberty fabrics from the UK.  On Etsy, I bit.  A tidy box from the UK arrived, postage free.  It was a bundle of 19″ x 52″ lengths.  It is the softest 100%cotton I can ever remember feeling.  This is why I need to plan once, plan twice before I cut.  The quality of it sure beats what I have been working with to get the t-shirt quilts done.  It is also the first purchase of fabric for myself in 2023.  Did I need it?  Absolutely!

    For supper it is two Sirloin beef patties fixed in the large fry pan and the second fry pan for some of the refrigerator hash browns.  This is a step up from the Progresso soup of last night.  It’s a bit too hot to put an oven meal on.  It heats up the house way past the supper hour.

    Happy July 1st!

     
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