Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:55 pm on August 9, 2026 Permalink  

  During the Night 

  During the night and the early morning hours a .75 inch of rain fell.  Thunder and lightning brought it to fruition.

  I slept through it all, probably as the great supper we had at the St. James Cafe last night dulled awareness.  I enjoyed chicken strips and Dennis enjoyed shrimp.  We had not visited since a new owner was replaced by a second new owner bringing the menu back to hometown goodness.

  When we got home we realized via Facebook that Dennis’ granddaughter had won her fight in Las Vegas.  It is fighting with no holds barred . . . punching, hitting, kicking and biting.  We all hope that she out-grows this passion before she is injured beyond repair.  It goes to show, we all have free will.

  Our evening meal is going to be a light fare compared to last night.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:23 pm on August 8, 2026 Permalink  

  A Day in the Neighborhood 

  We were given a 1/2″ of rain yesterday and the neighborhood is going wild with mowing their lawns.

  Dennis and I enjoyed our monthly spa day at Maria’s.  Dennis and her work through the places that each is familiar with in the western part of the U.S.A.  Dennis was either hauling pullouts out west for huge farmers or picking up old hens for Campbell’s Soup in Worthington.  Maria was either harvesting asparagus in the state of Washington or harvesting Vidalia onions in Montana.  It’s fun listening to them both.

  Dennis and I both came out of Maria’s shop with happy feet and great haircuts.

  I went back up town after dropping Dennis off at home.  Today, was the last day for the main street store called the County Collage, closing at 2 pm.  Karen has had the store open for ten years.  The bottom line could no longer be in the black.  Our community is 60% Mexican, many of us retired that need very little and that doesn’t leave much of a chance for the front door bell to ring.

  Karen spent many years as the town clerk for Lewisville, a small town in the county.  We worked years together with local government items.  Since she announced closing the store this spring, I took the opportunity to try to stop in weekly for moral support.  This last week with 80% off, there is little left for donating to Goodwill.  Many furniture items used in the interior decor was also sold.  This afternoon many individuals were picking up the items they had spoken for.

  Small town retail stores need a lot of local support . . . that was lacking even with the Chamber not helping.  I know Karen will be finding employment soon.  She and her husband are also farmers.  Karen asked me to stop in next week as she tidies up the store to turn in her keys.  She has been renting from the community owned Opera House Association. That hoped for attraction to the town also fell apart years ago.  The coffee shop that was adjacent to the Collage via a few steps and open door will most likely feel the impact perhaps both in business or rent.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:27 pm on August 7, 2026 Permalink  

  Who Knew? 

  Who knew that the day that started out with showers that faded in and out would be a challenge.  AJ had commented to us how much work Fedium has picked up here in town as well as a back-log. 

  This morning a pickup pulled up with a lot of equipment.  The Fedium internet cable would be pushed under our driveway today.  A father and son were working together. It was interesting to see all that was needed.  It was also seen as to how hard it was to connect the point of where the auger went into one side of the driveway to find it coming out the other side of the driveway.

  About the time that the internet cable was under the driveway, it began to rain.  Who knew that this time the rain would stay right over us several hours.

  The work was at a point of no return. 

  Maybe the lawn did get a bit messed up.  The connection of the wire feeding our home and the cable coming from under the driveway from the utility main hub was successful. 

  Grass grows back and progress doesn’t always go smoothly.  When things dry up a bit, I have a wonderful 6″ rake to help some of the disturbance of the grass.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:49 pm on August 6, 2026 Permalink  

  Thursday the 6th of August 

  So far this entire week, every day, I have had a promise that a router of Mediacom’s would leave our front deck.  The day is drawing neigh.

  Today I met with some gals, some that work at the courthouse and some that did not.  Everyone is enjoying their retirement, each in their own venue.  

  I had one prescription to pick up at Lewis Drug.  I signed up for their automatic text message when a phone-in prescription has been filled and is ready for pickup.

  This morning before I left the tree service fellows were pulling in to take care of the huge Hackberry limb that went down last week.  It had fallen onto the Maple scrub that always shows leaves in deep red in the fall of the year.

  By the time I got home, the tree service guys were gone.  Dennis filled me in on all of what had gone on.  After leaf blowers strong enough to blow Dennis over were done, they then raked the entire area.  The thing is, not much is done by hand.  Randy the young owner of the tree service has every piece of equipment imaginable.  Sarah, who was one of the gals I was with this morning, had commented that their neighbor was having some trees removed  Randy’s business has grown so large, he has multiple crews going at one time.

  In early spring we had need of Randy at our acre.  In June, son-in-law Tom, took care of a large Maple limb.  After today, three strikes and you are out for the need of tree service.

  I have a pork steak in the oven for supper.  It has been a long time since we have had the oven on.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on August 5, 2026 Permalink  

  Nice 

  These last two mornings, sitting on our front desk in the nice feeling air has been the best.  

  My coffee cup sat firmly on the railings that had been purposely built to hold such a vessel when Brian, our carpenter, designed it.  My stitching was in my lap with a threaded needle poking its way to success.  The small embroidery scissors waited down some extra floss as well as my needle threader on the railing next to my phone.  You know the shiny silver ones that sells for $.75 for a bundle of a hundred.  

  Traffic came and went on our busy throughfare.  With only 100′ or so from the four-way stop to the north, everyone’s eye is on the intersection with no glance to their right.  I stitched unseen while taking in all the buzz in the neighborhood.

  Our neighbor, Judy, you could set your clock by her, as she gets into her old model Chevy to head out to coffee with friends in the dining area of the grocery store. 

  New neighbors to the southeast of us, have four rather sturdy individuals living in a home comparable to ours.  I know this as I have been in the home several times.  Before they moved in, I walked across the street to visit with the owners that use this as a rental.  Bianca knows I do visit every time they need to tidy up after someone leaves and before someone moves in.  This last time she took my arm and walked me back across the street to our drive as the throughfare’s traffic is speedy.  Sweet. 

  I hope that the mornings continue being pleasant for more front deck time.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:24 pm on August 4, 2026 Permalink  

  Breeze 

  A breeze from the north is very welcoming.

  With relief, the prescription for Dennis came from our mail carrier.  Thank goodness.

  As well today, I am waiting on the phone to ring.  This time, from Mediacom giving me the 15 minute notice that one of their service people will pick up their router.  We do not intend to keep it as a knick knack.

  For a small household like ours we seem to have quite a few balls in the air.

  This forenoon, Dennis’ cousin Bruce came for a short visit.  Years ago Bruce worked for a platting company here in town.  Bruce nickel plated a proof press for Kevin as he was trying out different processes.  Bruce would often stop in at our home for a meal or for a haircut.  Many decades ago until Bruce found a wife. 

  Tomorrow Bruce will be undergoing surgery at the VA in Minneapolis he has lung cancer. He has kept this quiet for some time.  We wished him well and a speedy recovery. 

  The sun is trying to make an appearance with little success. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on August 3, 2026 Permalink  

  Merry-Go-Round 

  For the last 24 hours, I have felt as if I have been on merry-go-round that had one flat side.

  Dennis told me yesterday that he had one pill left in an important prescription.  I looked on my calendar and saw the date I had phoned it in to the VA in Minneapolis . . . July 22nd.  That had us checking the entire first floor.  Had it come via the mail and we forgot to open it as usually within a week it is at our front door.  No prescription.  We only have a few places in our home to check.

  I called the VA’s emergency pharmacy.  The gal checked their tracking number and it should have been in St. James yesterday.  I watched for our carrier this noon and he walked right past our home with nothing for us.

  I called our post office and Amanda said I would need a tracking number for her to check, but she would do her best using our address.  She called back that there was nothing for Dennis.

  I called the VA’s number again and asked for the tracking number so our post office could do a better search.  With the number I called Amanda back with the tracking number.  Amanda looked it up and it had been in Mankato and had left Mankato too late to be sorted for mail delivery this morning.  Tomorrow is the magic day for Dennis’ pills.

  I contacted Gemini as to how long this prescription stayed viable in Dennis’ system after taking it.  The dose went down by percentages until the last being 72 hours.  It will have been 50 hours or so before it is left on our front step.

  I stepped off of the lopsided merry-go-round. 

  I do believe this was on the naughty list for the VA.  In all the years I have been dealing with the VA pharmacy for Dennis’ med, this was a first.  Hopefully the last.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on August 2, 2026 Permalink  

  Sunday the 2nd 

  It might feel a bit warm out today but a far cry of what last week was.  I would have thought the rain of this last week would have had a more lasting effect.

  Even on a Sunday there were utility locator people working the area since Fidium internet has come into the neighborhoods.  When AJ stopped in last week to check our our connection he commented that St. James blew out of the water what had been anticipated for new customers.  Our connection will be complete when the crew has time to run the line under our cement driveway.

  As I do stitching I have either You tube options on or a Hulu choice.  I vagally remember the television sitcom of “Life in Pieces” decades ago.  That is my last choice for background noise while I stitch.  Hulu is a good bargain at $10.95 per month. 

  I visited with my Aunt Janet last night from Brownton.  We caught up with each other as to the rain totals.  Janet shared some news that initially angered me.  It had been well known that a contact person would be making appointments to query about the Meals on Wheels program.  The interview was quite long and ask more questions than Janet felt comfortable with. 

  The end result was that Janet at 93, living alone and remaining in her own home, with minimal driving being utilized was no longer eligible.  In the past every several months a letter from Lutheran Social Service would come with the statement saying it was only information and not a bill.  Janet usually phoned it for 2-3 meals a week.  Janet was told that the program had run out of money and now when meals were ordered they would be $8.00 to possibly $15.00 and some odd cents.  In the city of Brownton, which is primarily elderly people, only two had been able to remain in the program.  When it comes to sharing news, the local library is where individuals share and visit.

  This program, much like the Snap programs are linked with the Federal Department of Agriculture.  Hmm.

  As I said this caused me some angst.  This next week, I intend to contact our person in charge of Meals on Wheels to see how our community is treated.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:35 pm on August 1, 2026 Permalink  

  Good Day 

  A pleasant day after the two inches of rain we got on Friday.  It was a soaker . . . the best kind.

  Both Dennis and I enjoyed the quiet of the day.  The peace that passes all understanding.

  I contacted our tree guy that we needed to be added to his customer list and I received a thumbs up in a reply.  Now we just sit back and relax.

  The most important thing for me is that I feel that all is well with my soul.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:49 pm on July 31, 2026 Permalink  

  Not Thirsty 

  Our yards are no long thirsty.  It will be interesting to see what the rainfall amount has been since last night when we watch the news at six.

  Dennis came in this forenoon with the news that we lost another large limb, this on on the far back Hackberry.  Years ago this area was a huge pasture and these trees are getting some age on them.  I have put out a text to have it taken care of, so time will tell.

  We were given garden produce of cucumbers and tomatoes.  Each of the three tomatoes were larger and perfect in size larger than a baseball.  They were also as green as grass.  The Lena solution was put in place.  All three were lined up on the east bathroom shelf soaking up daylight.  Every day I would give them a quarter turn.  It took some time, but I have enjoyed two of the three days apart.  I diced each one and with a scant teaspoon of sugar and I ate them as I would a sauce.  They were very tasty.  The third one began to blush yesterday.

  Tomatoes are not the best for arthritis.  How could I not indulge in the gift of summer fruits. 

  With that I will take my leave. ♥