Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:09 pm on December 25, 2025 Permalink  

  Christmas 2025 

  Christmas Eve was a silent night for us.  Getting a good night’s rest tucked under blankets while the house itself was cool.  It’s the best way to sleep.  It brings deep sleep fit for dreams.

  Santa would not have stood a chance visiting here during the night as Dennis and I were still in bed at eight this morning.  It is the best feeling when your body wants to wake but the eyes are still closed.  One last snuggle under the blankets before the feet hit the floor.

  Rituals in the morning bring me to the bathroom after I hear Dennis close the back door.  His breakfast box in hand, his thermos coffee cup jammed into his jacket pocket . . . Dennis’ day has begun.

  A very hot cup of black coffee leads me to the cherry red chair in my bedroom porch.  This morning with heavy fog the street outside was very quiet.  Either no one wants to travel in the fog or they have all gotten to where they needed to go.

  My agenda for this Christmas day is light.  I will be putting out a hot supper for us about five.  We are not ones to watch sports on television.  Dennis has his favorites to watch on one of his three televisions and I have mine.  I enjoy watching movies on Hulu via my laptop or floss tubes from every corner of the world imaginable.

  A sweet day with nothing to stress over.  As I conjure up memories of Christmas’ pasts it brings bitter sweet thoughts that only I can enjoy.

  May everyone in my world have self same sweet memories as well. 

  The Merriest of Christmases and I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:16 pm on December 24, 2025 Permalink  

  Christmas Eve 

  This is Christmas Eve of 2025.

  The world should be getting ready for the biggest birthday party ever.  I can only speak for myself.

  When I think of the events in my life, it takes my breath away.  I could not have come through it alone without that birth in a manger.  I know that my Savior had his hand on my shoulder during the choices I made along the years of my life, during the results of those choices.  I never traveled alone.

  Christmas celebrations are very unique to each of us.  It seems fitting that Dennis and I are home, in our home safe and sound.  We have had the huge events in times gone during Christmas . . . been there, done that.

  This early afternoon, Dennis was having a pre-supper snack of a peanut butter sandwich and I was enjoying apple slices coated in peanut butter.  It was never about what was going on at Stauffer Avenue. Without any discussion, Dennis and I knew we would be doing Christmas the way it felt right for the two of us . . . quietly.  We were and are truly thrilled that the six kids would be doing their thing, making their own traditions.  

  The best gift that we can give our families is that they know we are here, safely and happily at home.

  Merry Christmas from Dennis and Mom.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:26 pm on December 23, 2025 Permalink  

  Hello Tuesday 

  It is a Tuesday.  Grammie is back from the busy world.

  When we were in Mankato Monday for Dennis’ eye injection . . . it was a busy world.  We went to the eye clinic.  The appointment went well.  As usual the eye remained frozen and would until 8 hours later.  It does not impair his driving . . . I checked.   Dennis got a gas fill-up for $1.29 per gallon.  As I sat and waited for Dennis while he was filling the little red pickup, I watched the lineup to get out of Sam’s Club parking lot to get back onto Madison Avenue.  It was frantic.  We took the back door route and took County Rd 90 to get back onto our route home.  Home never felt so good and we hadn’t even participated in any shopping.

  Our plans for this Tuesday had one agenda.  Brett was reorganizing his phones that he was responsible for.  Uncle Dennis . . . no longer covered as of January 1, 2026, as he had been when he ran errands for Brett.

  I made a trip to Radio Shack downtown.  Dennis wanted a plain flip phone.  The gal at the counter was the same gal to help as I had had when I bought my phone in May of this last year.  It all went smoothly.  Dennis and I had checked his contacts just several nights ago to take out the phone numbers he do longer needed.  After his flip-phone has been on the charger and he takes using it for a run, I will go back to Radio Shack on Monday and have them strip it.  At that time, the phone case that I ordered will be in.  I wanted nothing heavy.  What I will have is a very flexible vinal cover . . . just in case I happen to drop it while in the studio.  Phone meeting concrete would not be a good thing.

  I swear the temperature dropped twenty degrees from the time I went into Radio Shack and then coming out.  Brr.

  Our supper last night was a cheater.  A Maria frozen meal for Dennis and I had a salad plate.  It worked!  Tonight is chicken titties, instant potatoes and veggies. 

  The older ones on Stauffer do take care of business in a timely manner.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on December 21, 2025 Permalink  

  In Town 

  There were a few errands to run in town on this sunny afternoon.

  The Family Dollar carries the Tidy lightweight kitty litter in doable plastic jugs.  On a side-note, Brett’s concrete business takes the plastic jugs off of our hands.  While the concrete trucks are on site, having a gallon of clean water is handy for the fellows working with the crete.

  The Dollar General is where we pick up the $1.00 bags of Lemon Heads.  Dennis’ favorite hard candy when his mouth is dry.  No Lemon Heads today.  I did pick up our favorite Progressive Chicken Noodle soup for $2.00 a can.  I had just paid $3.29 at our grocer’s last week.  Same size can.  I also added buying two bags of our favorite chips and get two bags free.

  The grocery store was the next stop for Meow Mix.  The kitties should be in good shape for a while.

  We are invited to Dennis’ cousin’s 90 birthday party on the 27th at his son’s farm in a heated shop.  I had looked up the address on the computer and we did a dry run north out of town on that.

  Our last stop was to pick up a 12″ Tuna Sub before heading for home.  Whew, supper is done. 

  On a note!  I tried loading photos for the blog this afternoon and it was a no-go.  I tried with the photos I had downloaded from my phone as well as from my camera.  I will leave it to the administrator to find the solution.  I was trying to load them from the “Blog File” where I always have done in the past going through the steps of the Next Gen Gallery options.  Time will tell.

  Tomorrow, Monday the 22nd, Dennis has an eye injection at 2:30 in the afternoon in Mankato.  There may well not be a Monday Blog.  Just saying.  The appointment takes a good bit of time and travel time also is a good indicator of “see you on Tuesday.”

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:00 pm on December 21, 2025 Permalink  

  Testing a photo upload from NextGen, “Dennis” category 

  

   

  

   
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  Noreen 3:44 pm on December 20, 2025 Permalink  

  Christmas Scams 

  A while back, Dennis assured me that if something happened to him, he owes Carrie money and that his money would be in an envelope in his jewelry box.  I never gave it another thought.

  Carrie’s family didn’t make it on the Sunday after Thanksgiving due to the weather.  We set the date to the 16th, a Sunday.  As always I was busy the week before making sure I had everything on hand and done.

  It was great having everyone tramp into the house.  Dennis’ orders “shoes stay on.”  Our driveway was clear of snow and ice.  Jeremy set about helping me in the kitchen.  My two oven dishes were done, perfect timing for them to have arrived at noon.

  I had not visited with anyone first hand since early summer.  One by one I was able to ask questions and find out what had been going on.  It’s not unusual for Megan and Nicholas to check out the patio porch to visit Harriet and Snuggles.  I was eavesdropping on what Jeremy and Dennis were visiting about.

  Without me realizing it, the kids were back in the house and I had a huge gift-wrapped box set in front of me.  Dennis piped up “Merry Christmas Grammie, I bought you a present, and . . . you can open it now.  Wait a minute, just where have you gone shopping, was my reply.  Smirk, smirk.  Go on . . . open it.  Getting help from the kids with the wrapping paper and getting the box, I finally got a peek inside.  There were multiple layers.  First thing out of the box was a beautiful jacket, next came a knit top and last . . . a pair of dress pants.  I was over-whelmed.  Right across the table from me was Dennis with a grin from ear to ear.  “I can still pull one over on you.”  Yes he had.

  When Dennis had gone out to the patio porch to have a cigarette feeling very smug, I was looking for more clarification.  Carrie said one evening she got a call from Dennis and he was very clear in his request.  The end result was that I would have a very nice “pant suit” as I had not shopped for clothes for a long time.  He had apparently re-iterated “pant suit.”

  I believe the last awareness that Dennis had even given a thought to about women’s clothing was the era of “pant suits.”  And . . . when was that era?

  I gave Carrie a lot of credit for not correcting or suggesting anything other than his request for a “pant suit.”  She pulled off just what Dennis had asked for with perhaps a bit of a twist that he would not pick up on.  Bless the ole cowboy.  I had not realized that Dennis and Carrie had been in a huddle while I was in the kitchen.  It truly was a surprise.  Sweet.

  The moral to the story: when Dennis is in his rocking chair with Snuggles on his lap in the patio porch there is mucky, mucking asunder, also known as Christmas scams. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:44 pm on December 19, 2025 Permalink  

  A Blizzard 

  I knew we had proportions of a blizzard.  It wasn’t until this morning when I looked out that I realized snow and dirt of equal proportions had been had.  Our driveway was clear.  Our back door catches a whirlwind of what is blowing, be it either leaves, snow or dirt.

  We had agreed that when the wind died down, we would make a trip for milk and distilled water.  We purchase the small container of milk and really have to work at using it before it sours.  The distilled water is gone through quicker than one would believe.  Dennis CPAP machine has a humidifier on it and it takes a fill of two cups every night.  Amazing.

  The wind howled something terrible all yesterday.  I had done my bedding and just for giggles as I was putting it back on after the laundry, I put the small thermometer on the window sill at the end of my bed.  Hmm.  At four in the afternoon it read 55 degrees.  Thankfully the tall heavy evergreen and the plumb shrub, both at the northwest corner of my bedroom porch, take the beating of the winds.  They allow the awning which is the full Width of the porch to remain in place.

  I went to bed at ten and buried myself under the feather comforter that is tucked into a flannel duvet.  I slept heavy and comfortable.  Dennis had an electric mattress pad that has settings from 1-8.  Quite awhile before he goes to bed he has it set at a 6.  I have not inquired if it stays at that setting, but he also sleeps well.  Dennis doesn’t fight me when the thermostat is set at 65 degrees when we go to bed.  If needed it is the first thing I do in the morning is to pump it up to 70 degrees.  When Dennis gets up, he is out of the house within a half hour.  What he walks into in his garage porch that has a furnace . . . I don’t ask.  If Dennis is happy, I am also.

  We have had our first blizzard of this winter and may others that follow be as mild.  

  I bought a pumpkin frozen pie in the grocery store.  It is now in the 375 degree oven to be finished at 5:10 or there abouts.  We have used Mrs. Smith’s pies before and for $4.98 it’s what it is . . . a date at 8:30 this evening to have a schmek, aka: a taste.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:14 pm on December 18, 2025 Permalink  

  Boo Boo Cold 

  I can attest to the fact that it feels like -34 outside.  We have always had a folding chair parked on the front deck.  This afternoon, I heard it being blown over.  The possibility of it landing where the front door could not be opened if we needed to get out quickly was a real concern.  Chair taken care of.  That was enough for me for the day.

  During the summer months, in fact one of the severe heat spells we had had, our garage was resurfaced.  For the first time, we actually had a door with the chance of locking it if needed.  Dennis handed the keys off to me.  I put them on a strap along with the key for a padlock we have and I placed them on the shelf in the kitchen right off of the back entry steps.  Easy to get at if and when needed.

  Dennis mentioned the keys to me this late summer.  For the life of me, I couldn’t find them.  Dennis’ phone gets recharged right at about the same place I had put the keys.  I cleaned off that entire shelf thinking they had been pushed along with whatever else was placed on the shelf.  I never not thought about them but no keys were ever produced.  I knew the day would come when we would need them to lock up the garage and my ass would be grass.  After all I was put in charge of them and you all know I have very little to be in charge of.  Anyway ……

  Tuesday we went to Mankato for errands.  We had picked the perfect day.  Not cold.  No snow flurries.  My job after the Sam’s Club purchase was to package up the 36 muffins for Dennis’ breakfast for 36 mornings.  Thankfully we have a huge bag that the packed six at a time fit into very well.  Easy to handle slippery containers until they arrive to the kitchen.  From that having gotten done, the bag is ready to be put back into one of our vehicles for the next trip.  If I put the bag next to the steps going to the back entry, eventually it gets to where it is needed.  I bent over to straighten the strap handles on the bag and something caught my eye.  Something shiny in the bottom of the bag.  Good grief!  It was the strap with the missing keys. 

  Sometime during these last months, the said bag sat patiently waiting to be taken outside.  With the commotion of the phone being taken off or being put on the recharger, the key strap let gravity take it straight down into the Sam’s Club bag.

  I now have the strap with the three keys on it where I keep other keys.  Nothing touches that area.  The keys are in solitude until such time we need them.  It did bring a chuckle.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:41 pm on December 17, 2025 Permalink  

  It’s Dwindling 

  The sun has had a dramatic effect on the snow pack . . . and the ice.  Our drive is completely free for the time-being.  Dwindle away.

  I was in the studio sewing until two this afternoon.  It felt so good to be among “my stuff.”  What had spurred me on was a YouTube video that Jordon Fabrics of Oregon puts on each week.  They do nothing but mail order.  Their specialty is pre-cuts for the patterns that they create.  The video is usually about 45-50 minutes long.  I sit transfixed and take it all in.  To see the pallets of bolts of fabric that they work with is right up my viewing alley.

  Back to my reality.  I had mentioned that I had ordered Olfa blades for the rotary cutter.  Two sizes: 60 mm and 45 mm to match the two cutters I have.  The 60s came with a previous order.  I was wondering when the 45s would show up.  Today in a shoebox sized box was a whole lot of fill-in paper for a very small package of the 45s.  So be it.  Jordon Fabrics uses nothing but the Olfa blades.  I am in good company.  They have multiple stainless steel jigs with slits in them to run the rotary cutters down them.  One may have slits every two inches, another three inches, etc.  Each one more than covers the 44 inch fabric that is folded in half for the run.  I am just in awe of the behind the scenes that of course is my passion: threads and fuzz.

  We have had hot meals for a four evening run.  This evening it is the Ego thick waffles and sausage.

  The gray air of the 38 degree temps feels every bit like the 15 degrees that the info speaks of.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 10:22 am on December 16, 2025 Permalink  

  Out of Dodge 

  Today we will be taking advantage of the weather temps and the road conditions.  We are getting out of Dodge.  Dennis has felt cabin fever for some time.  Satisfying that is a lot easier than going south for a winter stay or a cruise.

  Due to Dennis’ condition, I have had a list going for what I could find in Mankato.  Nothing serious.

  After our usual forenoon rituals, we will be heading out.

  This morning the Blue Jays have been raising a ruckus.  You can’t deny their call.  They are going after the small red berries on the ornamental crab tree.   I am surprised that the squirrels had left any.

  I had done some hand stitching last night after supper.  It had been laying fallow for several nights.  It took me a while to figure out where I had counted to.  With that came picking out the stitches when I made an error.  It’s all in the process.  I have mentioned before that I am a process stitcher and not a project stitcher.  The process for me to relaxation, taking away the needs that were met during the day.

  I don’t feel bad about using Amazon.  I had determined I wanted and needed some slippers to wear about the house and the studio.  The little soft ones that had so-called grippers on the bottom do succumb to multiple washing.  I found a pair of Ortho brand that I liked. Hard sole with no hands slip on and a good arch support.  My gosh they were here in six days.  I would have had no idea where to find that type of slipper in the big town of Mankato.  It feels good getting up during the night having good support on the feet as well as the support of the cane.  Having had to call the EMTs once this season, I don’t care to have them calling anytime soon.

  Well, the little red pickup is idling in the drive and that is my message to know we are about to depart.  No rushing about, just taking the ride in the sunshine.

  …………………………Who knew?  That our trip to Mankato was so successful and we would be home by 2:30.  I held true to my list in Sam’s.  Lots of fussy extras were not needed.  Soap pods and coffee were on sale.  What I bought will take us to spring.  Dennis enjoys the Banana huge muffins, one each morning in the patio porch with coffee.  I will be putting each muffin in a sandwich baggie and into the freezer they go.  He will be good for 36 mornings.  The wheat thins were my treat.

  The only other stop was Menards.  Our outside broom had a handle that rusted off.  Surprise, I bought the self same broom.  My dry Swiffer mop has four plugs that the new sheets are pushed into.  Pushed too many times and the sheet would not stay secure.  I now have a new handle configuration.  The old one will retire to the studio.

  It’s great when our needs are so easily taken care of.

  It was then . . . “Home Dennis.”

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥