Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:20 pm on January 1, 2025 Permalink  

  1/1/2025 

  Here we are at the beginning of a year.  Not so much of a new year as many of the things that were in place yesterday were with us again this morning.

  I can report that Dennis, after his fall yesterday, did rest well during the night.  Though his left eye is swollen shut, he is doing his usual activities today.  Solitaire can be played with one eye.  I think putting a bag of frozen peas on the area would help the swelling, but then one would need to sit still long enough for it to be held in place.

  I had an item I wanted to get stitched up in the studio.  KNUJ hadn’t missed a beat with their usual items of broadcasting.

  This afternoon, I called my brother to wish him a new year.  Settling in is going slowly.  At the moment the individuals that are employed in the assisted living unit Calvin is in seem to be the most social.  Given time, I hope that a few others, of the 16, will become more social.  I suggested if nothing else to query the help and get the skinny on those around him, so the ice can be broken when the moment hits.  Calvin did not keep his car.  I do not know how mobile he was in Decorah, but Walmart would be in conversations I had with him in the past.

  Traffic is sparse today.  With the strong wind from the north, my protective shelter, the evergreen tree and evergreen bush is falling short in being a buffer for my bedroom porch.  Hmm.

  This is my second day of wearing a pair of shoes that have good support in them.  The feet are feeling a twinge where the arch would be in my feet, that is if I had a normal arch rather than being flat-footed.  A few hours every day to break the shoes in.  It’s a good thing.  One new pair of shoes came into the house yesterday and one pair of no-account shoes hit the garbage yesterday.  It was tit-4-tat.

  Today is the last of the week days where it felt like a Sunday.  No viable holidays now until the 4th of July.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:57 pm on December 31, 2024 Permalink  

  Night Time Wind 

  There was no whispering from the boughs of the evergreen outside my bedroom window.  It was more like the noise of an irritated animal.

  The air outside is quite breathtaking.  The cold air, oh so different than what we have been enjoying.

  Today was a day for several errands to be had.  The Family Dollar was the first stop for kitty litter to be bought.  The plastic jugs hold 8.5 lbs each of the lightweight clumpable.  I purchased two.  We may be down one cat from previous, but in the winter, neither of the two remaining are all that excited to roam the backyard where some of their haunts for doing their duty have been.  Yup.  Spoiled.

  The grocer’s surprised me today.  All but three items that I snagged were with a markdown.  The total included a paltry $.51 in taxable items.  We have no need to travel to Mankato until the 13th of January.  At that time, I will stock up on the taxable items, most likely in Sam’s Club.

  Sunday’s visit with Carrie’s family brought about the topic of shoes as everyone was getting ready to leave.  After all was quiet, I did it.  I got on Amazon and ordered a pair of shoes for myself.  Being retired, needs become less and that had been the case in point with me wearing shoes that had not one iota of support in them.

  Today being Tuesday, my shoes arrived.  They are of the sport category with shoe laces and all.  The best part for me is that they are slip-ons.  Kizik.  Yes, no doubt my body will appreciate the benefits of good footwear.

  ---

  A short break was required.  Dennis was at the back door asking for a towel.  “Are you hurt”?  “Yes”.

  All has been handled.  He somehow slipped and there was an owee right at his left eyebrow.  As with any injury to the head, it does bleed a lot.  I have checked him over from top to toe and given him some Tylenol as I am sure there may be a headache coming.  Dennis didn’t stay sitting long as he was determined to get the livestock chores done before supper.

  All ends well today, the last day of 2024.

  My wishes go out to everyone that 2025 will bring more pleasant things than not.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:31 pm on December 30, 2024 Permalink  

  Bearings 

  After a discombobulation of a holiday in the middle of the week, it’s difficult to get my bearings straight.  Yes, Grammie this is a Monday.

  Both Dennis and I slept late this morning.  If it were not for the mail person sliding mail into my bedroom porch via the slot, hard telling when the feet would have hit the floor.  

  The same will happen this week with the new year on a Wednesday.  I don’t think it will impact us the same as this week we are sticking close to home.  

  Dennis took the utility bill to the drop-box at city hall.  By the way, our city hall is almost a mile from us now as they have converted the old hospital out by the Dairy Queen into the brains of the city.  I think they are encouraging us older folks to have the utility bill as directly taken out of our checking accounts.  We are not buying into that.  I still enjoy seeing what each and every item adds up to for the total amount.  Water, sewer and electric amounts do not even add up to half of the line items to make the total.

  I decided to come into the studio.  I flew a few items past Carrie yesterday in fabric choices and today I am going to start working on that.

  I only have one project in the works for my stitching in the cherry red chair in my bedroom porch.  Perhaps after today the fabric choice will be paired up with a new stitchy design.  Time will tell.

  Supper will be the remaining items from yesterday’s noon meal and then new meal plans will need to be put in place. 

  Dennis reported that the fog is worse than it was earlier today.  I think it will take having the wind come from the north rather than the south, to clear the air.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:59 pm on December 29, 2024 Permalink  

  Fog Setting In 

  The day was dark and cloudy all the day long.  The fog began setting in about four this afternoon.

  Carrie’s family left Eden Prairie in the fog this morning.  By the time they reached Mankato, all was clear.  They will be traveling home in the fog.

  I lightened the load a bit in the studio.  Megan was seeking fabrics.  I had an unused tote bag.  Who knew it would be the perfect thing!  It handled a small cutting board and I paired that with a small rotary cutter.  Megan had quite the variety by the time her and I came back upstairs.

  Nicholas was thrilled that there were scalloped potatoes in the mix for dinner.  The potatoes did cause me some concern as I had to alter the ingredients.  I had mistaken a container of heavy whipping cream when my intention had been milk.  It all turned out just fine.

  The kids took turns being out in the porch for some “Snuggles time.” 

  The day went well and the kitchen is as if no one had used it today.  Carrie and Jeremy did the dishes before anyone was ready for dessert.

  Dennis and I will be ringing in the new year on a quiet note.  I won’t mind that one bit and I am sure Dennis will agree.

  I will be getting into my robe shortly and putting my feet up.

  I will admit, yesterday was a kicker for me.  Sadie’s home is an extreme split-level home.  From the front door to the living area it was 12-14 stairs at a very steep assent.  The afternoon plus taking photos at street level and then back upstairs for lunch.  My legs were weary last night.  

  The new week is here and I am sure most people will take it in stride . . . I sure will.  Yup, I am spoiled and am the first to admit it.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   

   
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  Noreen 4:44 pm on December 28, 2024 Permalink  

  Home 

  It is 4:30 and we are home safe and sound from the Curry Christmas get together.

  There were two of grandpa’s grandsons missing and one great-granddaughter.  The great-grand has a job and will be coming with her dad after she is done working as a check-out here in town.  Yes, we missed them, but life and jobs do take over.  The other grandson that was missing is from Iowa.

  Most everyone sat in chairs in the driveway as the sun was nice and warm.  As soon as the sun shifted there was a full-house indoors.

  I turned on the coffee pot when we got home.  Just a cup to unwind.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:36 pm on December 27, 2024 Permalink  

  Pea Soup 

  The thickest pea soup has nothing on the fog that has swallowed us up.  I checked the advisory just a minute ago and we were were to be lucky, it is .1 mile that we could see out of the windshield.  That right there sends shivers down my spine as I know there are brave hearts that will be out in it.

  Dennis had an appointment up the street at the VA this morning at nine.  It was a blood draw to check on his red blood count.  The VA checked it after he came home from the nursing home and it was low then.  It could have been from the hip surgery.

  Dennis picked up a med for me from Lewis Drug before he came home.  It would have been $36.69 for a three month supply, but our co-pay was zero.  Sweet.  Our prescription insurance this 2024 calendar was $.50 each month for me and the same amount for Dennis.  We just got the new rate in today’s mail for 2025.  It stated the premium for January at $.00.  Or neighbors to the north have the same plan and their statement also read $.00.  Our carrier is Well Care.  Our policy was written by our insurance agent in Madelia.

  Our Blue Cross Blue Shield will be going up $21.00 a month for each of us.  We have always been told to never change it as that policy is no longer written but it cannot be taken away from us.  We never have a co-pay whether an office call or a surgery.  Dennis and I would be in the poor-house if that were not true.

  We are having a skillet supper this evening.  A mixture of sautéed onions, fried potatoes and eggs scrambled.  Sounds tasty to me.  The chicken tenderloins were great last night.  As soon as the meat thermometer hit 151 degrees, I shut the burner off.  A table knife cut them up perfectly.

  No stitching today.  A bit of housework and reading.  The damp weather has taken its tole.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:16 pm on December 26, 2024 Permalink  

  Second Christmas Day 

  We, on Stauffer Avenue are again doing the cloudy and not so bright.

  Christmas 2024 is on the books as a day where all was well here with Dennis and me.  I did receive my Christmas gifts from the ole cowboy.  Tucked on my family shelf here in the studio is a $2.00 bill.  The second part of my gift was a can of cold Coca-Cola right from his jacket pocket.  I had commented a time back that it had been months since I had had a soft drink.  Who says the ole cowboy can’t hear.

  As you may have gotten the message, I have no wants of any substance.  Our day was spent listening to Christmas music in the background as Dennis was on his computer and I got a stitch or two into a project.

  My brother Calvin spent Christmas Eve in his new living quarters in Cloquet, Minnesota.  No doubt it will be an adjustment.  I know his son Eric has done all in his power for it to be a good experience going forward.  It is an assisted living complex.  Eric, via short-cuts, lives about 25 minutes away on the outer area of Duluth.  Calvin’s son Jason does the wide-load deliveries and passes by the interstate from time to time.  His plan is to take an Uber to see his dad when it works out.

  I had received a message that my primary doctor wanted me to set an appointment.  I called this afternoon to make said appointment.  There was no additional information about what the visit would entail.  As it was, my primary had no openings for some time.  I left it with the receptionist that I was doing quite well with nothing that would make me seek medical care.  But . . . if that changed, I would call the clinic and take it from there.  Jody made her notes on my chart.

  I am planning chicken tenderloins and boiled potatoes with a veggie on the side for supper.  A gloomy day speaks towards a hot supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:32 pm on December 25, 2024 Permalink  

  The Peace 

  Today is the peace that passes all understanding.

  There has Christmas music playing in the background for most of the day.  Sweet.

  Nothing great to report.  It has been a wonderful Merry Christmas Day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:46 pm on December 24, 2024 Permalink  

  The Music 

  KNUJ did not disappoint today.  Wonderful Christmas music.  Yes, there were news items as well, but by far and wide, more music to enjoy.

  Oh what a gray day!  It is then up to me to make my own sunshine.  That is just what I did in the studio today.  Four small 4″ x 4″ stitch-outs are now pillows of various sizes.  Seeing as how the stitch designs did harken unto Christmas motifs . . . today was the day.  I had had a scrap of red suede that I would run across every now and then.  Enough!  I found a design to use under the embroidery module and so now there were five pillows.  I got out my bag of poly-fill and sat at my sewing table making fat little pillows.  Over time the fat little pillows can become . . . not so fat.  Hand stitching the closures was not any easier than in times of old.

  Well, well.  When I picked up the suede pillow, I did comment to myself that I wasn’t as crafty as I thought of myself.  No way was I going to get a needle and sewing thread to push and punch through the suede.  There was no way of successfully getting it under the needle of the sewing machine.  I finally decided to take a chance with gluing the seam shut.  Being very careful to run a thin thread of glue on the seam allowance I used wonder clips to nip just the very edge where the two edges met.  I won’t know if that worked or not until tomorrow.  I believe in letting glue have its due course for drying and adhering.

  My next quest was to find a container to hold my treasures.  Into the cistern closet for a look-see into the storage cabinets.  There was a huge stoneware bowl of times gone by.  It is the perfect container to set upon one of our cabinets in the living room.  Let’s be clear . . . it is the only surface in the living room where something other than a necessity could be set.  

  Here we are.  Dennis and I are safe and cozy in our home on this Christmas Eve.  What a special night it is.  All is calm though not very bright . . . it is the light that shines within us that brings us tidings of good cheer.  We have had a wonderful 2024 to bring us to this night.  May the riches within your lives bring you peace.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:20 pm on December 23, 2024 Permalink  

  Busy Monday 

  Always ready to empty the laundry basket.  I don’t fault Dennis for putting on clean clothes.  The opposite for sure would not be a good thing.

  Dennis graduated from PT today.  A good report indeed.  It has been quite the path since October the 5th of this year.

  There are good things that come about from temps in the thirties.  The bad thing is the thawing of packed snow that turns to ice during the nighttime temps.  Dennis put some ice-bite right by the back door.  Our little awning over the back door, drips just perfectly to cause ice.  The remaining of our driveway has little left to freeze-dry.

  The studio found me scratching my head a few times.  How difficult can it be to turn 4″ x 4″ stitched items into little pillows!  It occurs when I want to use trim that hasn’t seen the light of day for quite a while.  The old adage of if you can imagine it, you can do it.  I have all of the components, just lacking some execution skills and Dennis doesn’t do well with those types projects.  “You want me to do what?”  Hmm.  I am not throwing in the towel . . . just shutting things down until another day.

  Nothing more to report from Stauffer Avenue.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥