Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:01 pm on September 13, 2026 Permalink  

  Visitor 

  Today we had a visitor from Mora.  Dennis’ niece Jean had come to town for her class reunion.  She made a good weekend out of it by stopping in at as many family members as she could squeeze in.

  I know we had a bit of rain, but not enough to keep the cement wet past ten.  The yards are showing. it.

  Late yesterday a trip to the grocery store was needed.  Dennis positioned himself in the handicap parking stall on the corner of the store.  It allowed him to see everyone coming and going.  Milk with the longest sell by date I could find was one item on my list.  I was in need of fruit.  Sure enough when I followed the carry-out fellow Dennis was visiting with his niece’s son John.  John’s mother has the Curry Comb here in town.  My fruit consisted of red grapes, black grapes, six avocados, three pears, three peaches and three apples.  Bummer. I was visiting while shopping and I got the wrong apples.  The three I bought were bright yellow just like the Golden Delicious I like, but were labeled Lemonade.  The Lemonades are as hard as rocks and I don’t think they taste at all like lemonade.  Those three apples will be peeled and dice before I eat them.  The Golden, I can eat from the first bite to the last without a problem.  So be it.

  This afternoon I fixed an oven dish.  The 1.25 lb. pork loin seasoned in sealed tubes were on special.  Out came the round blue speckled roaster.  I cut the pork loin in round medallions and placed them in the roaster.  On top went a can of sweet sauerkraut to cover all the medallions.  We like the sweet sauerkraut with caraway seeds.   350 degrees for an hour and half should do it.  It’s the time of year to bring back oven meals. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:22 pm on September 12, 2026 Permalink  

  A Saturday 

  I am usually not a person to be on the telephone a lot.  It’s rare when my phone rings.

  I have a friend that is quite vulnerable, making her a bit needy.  When she calls, I know it will be lengthy until she has talked herself into being in a better place.  How could I not be on the other end when she calls.  This morning was no exception.  Hopefully, it being Saturday, family activities will envelope her.

  Calvin called this afternoon.  It is unusual for him to need a phone conversation.  He had had company this last week, in the middle of the week.  Son Eric visits every weekend with his dad.  This time Eric had someone with him.  Calvin did not recognize the individual until he heard his voice.  It was the youngest son, Jason.  The over the road trucker.  Calvin had not seen Jason since sometime before Calvin’s wife and Jason’s mother had passes away in Iowa.  It had been years.  I had a hard time believing even a trucker could not find time for a family visit, especially a father.  That speaks to the amount Eric has been doing for Calvin complete with re-locating him from Iowa to Cloquet, Minnesota.  Interesting.   

  I had barely hung up and Aunt Janet called from Brownton.  It’s always enjoyable hearing the latest through the eyes and mind of a 93 year young still living in her own home.  All is well with her.  Janet has a niece that grocery shops for her and one that puts the groceries away for Janet as well.  Today, she had baked a cake from a mix that was strawberry flavor.  Quite the surprise when she ran across it in the cupboard.  She said, come to think on it, it now made sense that she had used a can of strawberry flavored frosting last week when she had baked a yellow cake mix. 

  Janet and I visit every several weeks.  Perhaps no news other than hearing the other’s voice to affirm . . . all is still going good.

  All is going well with us as well.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:55 pm on September 11, 2026 Permalink  

  One and Only 

  Only on our one and only Stauffer Avenue area can you find one for the books.  Eleventh St. is very difficult to back out on from our drive as traffic is crazy wild after being at a four-way stop only one block to the west. We usually drive down Stauffer Avenue and circle around the block, being then able to see what is coming and going.

  Today on an errand trip to Lewis Drug, on the back side of Stauffer, Second Ave. S., was an old sedan that wasn’t able to run any longer as there were no tires on it.  What there was, was a small window air conditioner propped into the driver’s side window with an electrical cord running from the air conditioner to the garage.  The back seat area was crammed will pillows.  Now that was one for the books, even for the Stauffer Avenue area.

  What I like about Lewis Drug is that a text is sent when the prescription has been filled along with the amount due.  The littlest things can make or break the day.

  A commercial that blew me away was the latest and greatest in beverages.  “Wa-Wa.”  I shouldn’t be surprised anymore, but I remain so.

  The strong wind from the south is blowing dust swirls down the streets.  Hang on to your hats and bloomers!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:12 pm on September 10, 2026 Permalink  

  Call-Backs 

  I don’t wear my cell phone around my neck.  Soooo, I missed a call from our local VA.  I called the specific 888 number to try and resolve what that phone call was all about.  There are at least 8 different prompts for different areas of care.  When I finally, after being on hold for 20 minutes, got the a recorded message to leave the phone number and they would call back in the rotation that the calls were placed.  

  I left our number with the info they would need, aka: name and birth date.  If no one could answer please leave an indication to the nature of the call.

  Time will tell.  Being on hold and being bounced from one hold to another just kills me.

  That is the rant of the day.  Dennis has an operational phone and uses it as a g.. damn paper weight.   It really pisses me off. 

  So other than that, it’s a nice day.  I whacked four different volunteer trees right next to the east side of the house, followed by a spritz of vegetation killer right on and in the exposed stem.  Time will tell.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥  

   
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  Noreen 2:12 pm on September 9, 2026 Permalink  

  A Report 

  On this hump day, I can report that all is well on Stauffer Avenue.

  After our city water crew was left off the hook for poor water pressure yesterday afternoon, the Culligan Man was here to service our rental unit for soft water.  It was the resin tank that needed to be replaced.  I thanked him for the quick service.

  I did a load of laundry and I could not believe the short period of time it took to fill the washer for a large load.  Me thinks the resin was the culprit for a long, long time.  Success.

  This afternoon Tom stopped in to check on us.  As we were visiting, Dennis reminded me to have Tom look at the hand-held shower unit.  I had reached up to the top of the shower-head to spray WD40 to allow the hand-held to work.  The push-botten to turn off the hand-held was a no go even with the WD40.   Tom sprayed in a huge amount and kept working it back and forth until my hands could do it.

  The shower stool and the hand-held is there when and if Dennis or I need it.  We have all on hand for the needs we may have.  

  A very sweet report.

  We are having a smorgasbord for supper.  Some pan fried left-over mash potato patties with diced sausage patties, plus one or two scrambled eggs . . .  all mixed together.  A smorgasbord fit for a king and a queen.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:55 pm on September 8, 2026 Permalink  

  No Preconceived Notions 

  No preconceived notions or hard and fast plans.  I have lived my life to this point taking each day as it comes, doing the best I can and grateful for where I am.

  Being thoughtful about plans that need to be made comes second nature to me.  Those plans always include doing my best even if plan “A” needs to shift a bit.  

  In particular, this day would bring about a solution to the dilemma of our home having poor water pressure.  I was prepared to have the city water department come and make an explanation for it.  I was not prepared to have them in my basement within ten minutes of my call.  That was plan “A.”

  The plan quickly shifted to plan “B” as it was found to be not the water department’s problem but the Colligan softeners’ problem that we rent a unit from.  Sometime, hopefully this afternoon, a service man from Culligians’ will appear with a solution to a filter problem.

  As I said, not a single notion or fast plan can stay in motion until the rest of the story comes into play.

  Our week is planned to be quite uneventful.  That is very acceptable to the older ones on Stauffer Avenue. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:07 pm on September 7, 2026 Permalink  

  Last Summer Holiday 

  After today, Labor Day, the shift in the wind and the feel of the outdoors is telling.  The 2026 year us closing down.

  Dennis and I have have done the year well to this point.  There is nothing foreseen to allow us to feel the remaining months will not follow suit.

  What I had not foreseen is that after the last tumble and fall that Dennis had early Sunday morning, there would be one injury I had not caught.  I did realize it when wherever Dennis sat there was blood.  I had been busy getting the house back in order.  I had not been following him.  His clothes that he had on, had been soaking up the blood but not until he had sat on his dining room chair and then sat in his recliner.  I packed the area of the left inside thigh high up until I could get him into the shower to wash away blood and totally check him over.  In thinking about it, I realized the top of the nightstand items were on the floor.  The nightstand was the last item with sharp corners.  Dennis had found it.

  Here we are in this last holiday with the beginning of the healing.  Whew.  Cold water with a bit of Dawn liquid has both chairs cleaned up.  I asked Gemini for the solution.  I didn’t want to practice on any other kind of solution that would have set the stains.  Good going.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:47 pm on September 6, 2026 Permalink  

  Maybe Rain 

  The weather map has shown possible showers all morning.  The plop, plop on the front deck can hardly fill in the empty spaces.

  An update on our supper of last night.  We had more like a stew than an oven dish.  I believe the hotdishes in the oven have a high heat for x-number of minutes allowing evaporation of extra fluids.  We decided it was tasty and we enjoyed getting out the bowls and spoons.

  The older ones on Stauffer are running on fumes.  I was just getting into the deep sleep last night when there was such a clatter, I rose from my bed to see what was the matter.  Dennis fell and was lying flat on his bedroom floor with a bloody elbow.  One thing at a time to see if he could get his feet and legs under him using his 2 x 4 chair.  One try was close.  I called 911 for help.  A bandage on his right elbow and two EMTs had him on his feet.  Sitting in his 2 x 4 chair, all vitals were good.  No head wound, also good.  Three in the morning and we tried for sleep.

  Apparently 6:30 is his time to get up and up he got to only go down.  With a walker, Dennis got up on his feet.  I got him dressed with his help and to his recliner he went for a long nap.  

  When he was awake at noon, there needed to be a talk.  It was “the talk.”  So lucky in these falls to not have had a break of bones or head wound.  Luck runs our ole cowboy.  It will be his diligence that allows him to remain in his home that he so dearly loves.  The front deck is outfitted to hold a coffee cup on the railing and cigarette breaks on an old metal folding chair.  Once in the afternoon, I will go out to the patio porch with him.  I will leave him there until he calls me on his phone tells me he is ready to come into the house and I will go out to assist.

  There needs to be clarity as to a schedule that will allow me not to wonder where he is.

  One time the EMTs may come and Dennis will go with them so the ER staff can assess him and his mobility.  I don’t think his first stop will be the assisted living units . . . it will be the nursing home.

  I am not sure how tonight will go for sleeping.  I am a very light sleeper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 11:18 am on September 5, 2026 Permalink  

  Different Saturday 

  Maria had appointments early today for a wedding.  We will be primped and styled this afternoon.

  It gave me a lot of time to get Saturday items done.

  Our oven concoction is now a crockpot concoction.  Browning the pound of hamburger was the first step.  Draining the excess grease off and while the kettle was still warm, I took advantage of being able to easily fold in the cream of mushroom soup and white cheddar soup.  Next came the Simply Diced Potatoes to be folded in.  The package of the California Blend out of the freezer is microwaved a bit.  Cutting up the contents while still firm was my game.  All the ingredients folded until I could not do one more fold.  To transport this mixture from the kettle to the pot of the crockpot, I set the pot in the dry sink to give me a better lower height for my arms.  Last but not least an even sprinkle of fine crushed bread crumbs to seal the goodness as it heats.

  Before we leave this afternoon the crockpot will be turned on low as all ingredients have been pre-cooked.  As I walk by, my hand will brush across the outside of the crockpot to feel the warmth as it begins to prepare our supper.

  A time ago we were gifted the opportunity to have meals delivered to our home after we chose from the online menu.  Everything included:  spice packets, packets of sour cream, potatoes to peel, carrots to peel and the protein we had chosen.  When the funds of the gift were gone, I called the company.  I wanted to make sure there was no more delivered on a pay as you go method.  The gal asked why we were closing the account and I told her elderly people with physical limitations found the peeling and prep difficult.  She apologized as there were gift packets for just such customers.  Hmm.  I declined trying that.  Goodbye.

  I like what I can concoct in my kitchen and the ole cowboy never complains.  We’ve never gone hungry as I prepare meals much like what Lena prepared for Raymond.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:07 pm on September 4, 2026 Permalink  

  Out and About 

  Four of us were out this morning for a meet and great at 10:30.  By twelve thirty, even the air conditioning in the coffee shop was not doing it.  We agreed to see if next mid-week would work better.

  Coming back to the car even the car handle was not to be held for any length of time.  Dew point higher than humidity, it can feel like 101.

  I had planned on making an oven meal for this evening.  Any additional heat coming from the Whirl-Pool oven would be too hard on the AC.  Even the sky light in the kitchen brings more than wanted.

  Our supper is agreed upon . . . a cold supper with all major food groups still represented.

  Dennis is content this afternoon at his HP listening to country western music that can flip over to WWII history bits on the Reels.

  Off and on I take in a Hulu older television series while working an Amaze Go on my phone.

  Brother-in-law Orville called last night.  He needed to visit a bit and reminisce.  That’s the least that I can do for him.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥