Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:04 pm on July 13, 2026 Permalink  

  Life on Stauffer 

  During the less than nice weather on Stauffer, life is moving in the “turtle” mode.  That is for everyone but Snuggles.  Is there a season on little red squirrels?  Third day in a row that he wants to share his prize with Dennis in the patio porch.  Good thing he is hunting in the cooler morning hours, so Dennis can watch to make sure that what he is sharing is totally flat lined.  What a horror that would be to have one of them came out of their coma and Snuggles would give chase in the garages.

  The wrong items were mailed out from the Mayo Store last Friday.  What to do but continue with the “hold” for 47 minutes.  We need to have the in error items in a box labeled “Mayo Store” and Fed-X will pick it up off off our front deck with the next two to three days.  In the mean time, the correct items are being sent out as of today.  Care giver 101 in place.

  We did have Spring Touch do an application on the lot and perimeter of the buildings several weeks ago.  I sent them an email last night allowing them to know that we have had a reduction of ant activity in the house with the exception of the bathroom.  Previously, no matter where in the house, one very large black ant would appear, almost like scouting the place out.  Watching them they have not targeted anything, they are wandering aimlessly, much like Moses in the wilderness.  I received a response and there is and was a notification that more than one application would be done.  In years past, we lost a lot of good grass in the far back yard due to ants.  Several years ago when Ryan cut down one of our brittle lilacs he took a break until something could be sprayed as the ants were so prevalent.

  Our foundation has had foam sprayed from the interior.  Our bathroom has had the vapor barrier put in place from top to bottom.  If there is a will, there is a way.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:08 pm on July 12, 2026 Permalink  

  Hello on a Sunday 

  It’s unusual that Dennis is joining me on the first floor of our home rather than he being in the patio porch.  I rather like it as I hear music coming from a reel that he opens on his laptop.  Yes, it’s nasty humid warm outside.  Even Harriet and Snuggles are laying flat on the concrete next to the car.

  I found a YouTube from a gal in Melvern, Australia.  She is a Luddite skilled artisan yarn stitcher.  The Luddites protested the rise of mechanize factory’s machine weavers, prone to hire for little pay in the early 1900s.  The YouTube episodes of this gal feature everything from dying wool, spinning it and making various knitted and crocheted items. 

  These episodes run one after another so I can enjoy doing my stitching project though not consistently as a break is needed for a cup of coffee or just watching traffic.  Dennis occasionally occupies the guest chair in my bedroom porch where I am perched on my cherry red chair.  

  A lazy July Sunday for both of us.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:10 pm on July 11, 2026 Permalink  

  Funky Feeling Day 

  The morning felt good outside.  As the day went on . . . not so good feeling.

  This morning we had the July appointment with Maria.  We were in need as the last appointment had been May 30.  Dennis’ eyebrows had grown together and were bending down much like a trailing house plant’s.

  I feel that I am a better person having Maria in my life.  For the three hours that she pampers our feet and gives wonderful haircuts, the visiting covers so many topics . . . with a positive attitude.  Coming from the heritage of picking vegetables and her family traveling from state to state as the vegetables were ready to harvest, she kept her vision.  With a message of hope from a family member here in St. James,  she packed up what her car would hold and came to Minnesota with five young children under the age of ten.

  Maria took work in our nursing home in the laundry while completing what it took to get her nurse’s LPN license.  Her next quest was jumping through the hoops for her cosmetology license.  The nursing home job by nights and driving to Windom for daytime work part time in a shop doing haircuts.

  Maria bought that shop in 2010, working in the nursing home when the call came out that they needed a shift filled at night.

  In 2020 First Avenue Styles here in St. James came up for sale.   She bought the business, while the shop was rented from the bakery next to it. 

  Maria works Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Windom and St. James on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  Her husband does carpenter work.  They have five homes that they have bought as rentals after fixing them up.  Her last child graduated from high school this year.  Maria shared with Dennis that she has an account for “X” number of dollars for each of those five homes for when the roofs need new shingles. 

  Maria always knew she would assimilate and she has done it well.   Maria is young enough to be my daughter with plans for the future that makes me a believer.  Dennis and I marvel at her attitude and determination.  A good person to have in one’s life.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   

   
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  Noreen 2:25 pm on July 10, 2026 Permalink  

  Stitching and Listening 

  At 9:00 I was headed to the studio.  KNUJ was coming in loud and clear.  The embroidery pattern had been selected and the spools of the threads were standing in the order that they were needed.  I have mentioned before that I use the Isacord thread from Germany for embroidery.  One brand is all I need.  The patterns that I choose are from OESD.  Loading the pattern, the LED screen on the machine allows me to know how many stitches in total and how many stitches in each thread color.  The screen also shows me the number assigned to each spool.  It’s a good check to make sure your project is on track.

  All was going well.  A full bobbin was started.  The last 100 stitches and the bobbin was empty.  My machine uses the larger bobbin and as of today I now know that each bobbin is good for 5,400 stitches.  When the bobbin is empty its good to take notice of the number of stitches remaining.  When a new bobbin was loaded, I backed up the design plus a few more stitches so the machine would take off where the design was interrupted.

  The machine never disappoints.  I belong to a Facebook group of the 770 Berninia.  I read through the questions as well as the responses.  You can never tell when a situation is being questioned that the response will shed some light.  There is no such thing as having all the answers.

  Dennis had topped a carton of strawberries for me.  It was my turn to dice them, sprinkle some sugar on them and then Dennis would take over and use the pastry cutter to mash them to release the juices.  We happen to have brownies remaining for dessert tonight.

  Not going anywhere for this weekend and we are not entertaining either.  With the humidity and warmth, staying put for these two vulnerable people is a very good thing. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:24 pm on July 9, 2026 Permalink  

  No News 

  I called Aunt Janet this afternoon to check in with her during this spell of uncomfortable weather.  She reported that no news is good news.  I had to agree and she went on sitting comfortably in her recliner to catch a nap.

  Dennis is in his recliner checking his eyelids for cracks.  I mozied around on the first floor of our home, for a quick tidy, tidy.  Checking out the studio, I had several pieces that needed a hot iron put to them.  Some of Dennis’ button shirts always look better when the collar, cuffs, breast pocket tabs and button plackets are pressed.

  I had planned on some news from KNUJ, but the Twins game got the air time.

  When I am finished with my sewing machine, I leave a note telling me if I cleaned up the machine after the latest.  My note “Needs needle and cleanup” was all I needed to know.  It took me the better part of an hour for getting the machine ready for the next round.  My new note read “7/9/26 ready to go.”  I may not get back to a project for sometime and I am not above forgetting.  It takes so little time and effort to keep things humming.

  I will reiterate, no news is good news.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:10 pm on July 8, 2026 Permalink  

  A Bit Humid for Errands 

  It was my turn to run errands today.

  . . . A short break in the blog because Denise stopped in.

  . . . For lack of sleep on Monday night, I slept until 9:45 this morning, after a bathroom break at five.  Dennis said I must have needed it.

  My doctor had forgotten to allow refills on a med of mine.  That meant I limped along over the fourth on that med and did just fine.  Even doctors have their days.  I went to Lewis Drug and all is as it should be.  I went to Super Fair for a few items and to stock up on fruit.  A neighbor of mine from South Branch, Diane Dannon, was shopping and it gave us a chance to catch up with each other.  My last item on the errands was Subway for a 12″ tuna.  I have them load it up with the tuna, lettuce, green peppers, red onions, ripe olives and Ranch dressing.

  Denise just got the manager’s job at Casey’s #1 here in town.  We have three Casey’s in St. James.  We are thrilled for her as she has been doing the load of manager for quite some time as the assisted manager for the thirteen years she has been employed at Casey’s.  It was good getting caught up with her. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:51 pm on July 7, 2026 Permalink  

  Late 

  We had those during the night who were late to the 4th of July Parties.

  Finally at three thirty this morning the noise makers settled down from across the street.  They had been standing in the darkness of their open garage and pitching out the fire crackers.  The guests that Dillion had had, then took to their vehicle and drove up and down Stauffer apparently using what they had left.

  Thankfully we have no dogs in the neighborhood.

  Yes, a night’s sleep loss is not the worst.  Making trouble for someone that usually is a quiet sort of person can come back to haunt you.  It was about four when the lightning and thunder started.  It cracked hard enough that several window panes rattled.

  I faired quite well today until Dennis talked me into sitting in my recliner when he saw me nod off in front of my HP.  I sat down, settled in and bang, I was wide awake.  Getting up and moving brought me the satisfaction of getting the laundry done, dried and put away.  I may go to bed a bit earlier tonight.

  This afternoon, Dennis managed to get both PVC flag poles put back together after last week’s wind storm.  The pushing and pulling of the strong wind gusts that were marked as high as 55 MPH were no match for poles put together with mere hand strength.  The yards are clean and the flags are flying.  Hopefully Mother Nature feels appeased for a time.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:26 pm on July 6, 2026 Permalink  

  Wowzer 

  I needed to be out and about this morning.  Wowzer.  I was glad to get home and be finished with errands.

  Part of the feelings for Monday, had a bit to do with our Sunday.  The surprise birthday party for Dennis’ daughters was the guests arriving at two and the two girls delivered at the surprise event at 2:15.  It was a total outside event.  Sitting in a bottomed out canvas lawn chair became uncomfortable as the girls weren’t delivered until 4:30.  Their fellows had stopped at several places along the way.  It actually worked out well for most.  The foursome had been drinking; most of the guests had been drinking since two.  Sitting and taking it all in, I don’t know how Dennis felt.  I felt as if I was looking through a view-finder with less than good cards to view.   

  Dennis and I were home by six.  It felt wonderful.  Dennis slept until 10:45 on this Monday and is now back in his recliner.  I am seeking the truck that ran me over.  The loud noise, the setting accommodations, all worked its way to making us feel like “we did what was expected of us, now leave us be the older ones on Stauffer.”

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 10:31 am on July 5, 2026 Permalink  

  An Event 

  This afternoon we are traveling to Mankato for a surprise birthday party.  Dennis’ youngest, a set of twins, have had a 60th this last week.  Sadie is going to try and pull off the surprise.  The girls and their partners have spent the last two weeks in an RV in the black hills.  My thought . . . four people in an RV for that length might not really feel like a surprise, but it’s not my plan.

  The shrimp were really good for supper last night.  I peeled them and the sauté was perfect.  We enjoyed every last one of them.  True to form, the brownies were fudgier, just like the package said.

  With the thunder and rain of last night we should be out of the stormy weather for a bit. 

  Very few home firecrackers last night.  That tells the story of the age among us.  The puppies in our neighborhood didn’t have to endure too much.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on July 4, 2026 Permalink  

  Well, Well! 

  It’s a great day for a 250th celebration.  I have notably been celebrating the 4th of July for 58 years.  Memories can not be taken away.

  I knew when I got up this morning, I was going to act on my plans.  At the end of this day two kitchen items will have come into fruition:  we would have Dennis’ favorite supper of sautéed shrimp and have brownies for a nine o’clock dessert.

  Dennis has had a bit of the “there are consequences with choices.”  Thursday night he fell in his bedroom.  After cleaning a head wound the night was normal.  Friday, using the leaf blower, he fell on the back patio.  A warm cloth for cleaning and a band aid and the rest of the day was normal.

  Life happens and incidents happen quicker than a blink of the eye.  We all have “free will.”  In Dennis’ case he needs to be able to feel the purpose of time.  He has lived his life honoring the use of time.  What will happen to Dennis, me, you, cannot be orchestrated.  Life cannot be lived that way.  After less than good incidents, we pick up the pieces and carry on.

  Back to supper.  The grocery store had a special on the jumbo deveined shrimp.  Something different for us.  I bought a box of brownie mix.  Diced strawberries on brownies, again something different.  

  With that I will take my leave.♥