Me, Myself and Memories

Recent Updates Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  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 the 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.  ♥

   
• 

  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.  ♥

   
• 

  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.  ♥

   
• 

  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.  ♥

   
• 

  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.  ♥

   
• 

  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. ♥

   
• 

  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. ♥  

   
• 

  Noreen 2:43 pm on July 30, 2026 Permalink  

  Nice Weather 

  Dew point and humidity worked it out for a fairly good feeling day.

  I went out for a gab session this afternoon and came home weary but it was good.

  Tom mowed the yards today, neighbor Jan mowed today.  Everyone is counting on the rain that is forecast for later today.  Our grass looks thirsty, but the weeds needed topping before they seeded out.

  When I do the hand stitching, my mind wanders to: the small window when my parents were healthy, my kids were little and chubby and everyone could get together.  It felt like it would last forever.  Hmm.

  No, I do not live in the past but it’s not a bad place to visit every so often.  Each nuance, each event that I am blessed to remember is who I am today.  Yup, the present day is given and I am very mindful of what each day may hold, what is needed and what will come into fruition . . . it may well become a memory.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:24 pm on July 29, 2026 Permalink  

  Feeling It 

  Today is a day that I am feeling it, and what is that it?  And . . . it’s not a bad feeling.  Shifting lifestyles is not as easy as flipping calendar pages.  The decades of having a stringent schedule every day are not easily put aside because now you have reached a certain age.  The times a silent petition went up praying decisions would work out to be what was best in the long run.   The transition takes a whole lot of time and energy, both physical and mental.  My end transition, that of being no longer working for the W2 form but being in retirement. I wanted and have a secure life, not of what a phone call might be or what the letter carrier would bring.  Yes, the feeling of it.  There is no “this needs to be taken care” of  . . . or it should be done in a certain way.  I am 82 and I know my certain ways, I trod them every day, not just for a few hours every month or so.  No one knows me better than I myself and if someone tried to follow, it might scare the wits out of them. 

  In those decades there was much life that was lived.  Good bad or otherwise, those calendar pages were flipped only to have another calendar at your disposal to start all over.

  I am not in a position to explain my days or how they have or are perceived.  I am just so God awful blessed and grateful to have the feeling I have today, which is “all is well with my soul.”  Everyone gets to go through their own calendars to have that feeling for themselves . . . just leave my calendar alone.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:55 pm on July 28, 2026 Permalink  

  Another Cooker 

  I stayed put in the comfortable house until I heard otherwise.

  The otherwise surfaced this late afternoon.  Dennis needed distilled water for his CPAP.  The Meow mix was slim to none.  Dennis had run out of Lemon Heads, a hard bitter candy, from the Family Dollar.  The deal was, he drove so he could keep the car cool.

  While I was in Family Dollar, I asked the fellow behind the counter if I bought two “Light Litter” containers, which still weigh 20lbs each, would he take them to our car.  No problem.  No, that was not on Dennis’ list, but I knew it would be before long.  I don’t shy away from help with ungainly items more so than Dennis will.  I’m always be sure to allow them to know that sometimes Grandmoms need a bit of help. 

  Super Fair always puts the groceries in the car for me.  Some of the carry-outs know the groceries go to the car where the ole cowboy is waiting.

  I enjoy choosing my own groceries even though the Super Fair will deliver.  I have used them once with no problem, as well as having Lewis Drug deliver once.

  We got home with the kitties having been taken care of.  The Family Dollar had only four bags of Dennis’ hard candy and I took them all.  Not long ago they could be found on the $1.00 spindles.  They have moved up in is world and are now on the $1.50 spindles.

  I nabbed some fresh apricots from the produce isle. First ones for the season.  My all time favorites to eat as well as the apricot jam Lena and I would make when she would visit us for a week during this season.  Memories! 

  As strawberries were two cartons for $5.00, I knew Dennis would top them and crush them for us.  So of course a pail of vanilla ice cream also topped out the cart along with three gallons of distilled water.  Since Dennis was given a new mask for sleeping, he is really going through the water for a good night’s sleep.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥