Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:52 pm on November 1, 2023 Permalink  

  November 1, 2023 

  A new month that hastens us closer to the end of 2023.

  This morning, I had a call from my cardiologist in Mankato.  Several weeks ago I had what they call a tee-tee scan where by I swallowed a camera.  This scan was closely examined by my cardiologist in Mankato and also sent to the doctor in Rochester that had done the heart surgery in 2021.

  The scan was deemed good.  Nothing appeared to have changed from the surgery in 2021.  In reviewing my charts, Dr. Sharruf was concerned about a second stroke.  My blood panel was all in the normal ranges, plus having had a bit of weight loss.  What will change for me is that I will be taking a higher dose of high blood pressure medication once a day.  It will be 20 mg, rather than 10 mg.  That I can easily do.

  I had posted Monday that we awoke to water in our basement coming from the floor drain.  We had a fellow from the city’s water department come over.  He could see nothing out of the ordinary.  As he was here the water went down in the floor drain.  While Randy was here we flushed toilets, ran lots of faucet water and there was no problem.  Hmm.  I proceeded to begin a clean-up.

  In the late Monday afternoon, I shut off several stand alone fans. 

  Tuesday morning, I went ahead and continued putting things back to normal.  We weren’t home for Tuesday night supper. 

  This morning, Dennis picked up Dwayne and they went for coffee.  I went down to the studio and again we had standing water.  Dennis couldn’t do a thing about it, but I surely could.  I called city hall and had a chat.  I had ran all sorts of water, flushed both toilets several times and the floor drain didn’t even gurgle putting out or adding to what was already on the floor.  I told her which city worker had been over on Monday and she took my phone number.

  I did receive a call a bit later from city hall.  I was assured that there was nothing wrong at our home.  They had indeed found the problem at the site of the city water and sewer end of things.  She insisted that I call the city’s insurance agency.  I fussed a bit, but she insisted.  The water did go down.  Time will tell if we ever find out what was going on.  We couldn’t have been the only household with water coming up the floor drain.

  We are back to having fans running at full tilt.  Again, I have the three totes so air can move under and about.  I am not going to do anymore in the studio, until I know this is the last of it. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:52 pm on October 30, 2023 Permalink  

  Good Grief 

  Good grief.  Dennis was going to mulch leaves and I was going to get an early start and work in the studio.

  I was going down on the last step of our basement steps when I could see the reflections of the sewing light fixtures in the standing water on the basement floor.  WTF!  The water had come up from the basement floor drain.  There was still water flooding the drain.  Dennis headed for the city shop’s water department.  It was clear water . . . .thank goodness. 

  The only two things that were saturated that I could handle was the rug by the toilet and one at the base of the steps.  The large Jute backed rug was soaked and I just shook my head.  The two small rugs I rolled up and put them in a pail so I could carry then outside.  Freeze drying right here on Stauffer Avenue.

  Dennis returned with a city worker.  There had been a severe plug in one of the lines they had just taken care of.  And just like that our floor drain had gone down.  Too soon . . . too late.

  All we could do was roll the jute backed rug and ever so slowly drag it up the steps and out to the drive.  This was not our first rodeo with that rug that had been a hand me down from my brother.  There will not be another time.  When it dries out, it will be by the burning ring.

  I turned the dehumidifier down to the low 40s.  My small heater that oscillates was turned on as well as a fan from the patio porch.  The fan on the post venting outside is on.  The three plastic bins were propped up for air to move under them.  It was time for some breakfast coffee.

  It is now mid-afternoon.  Dennis got the leaves mulched and my fans with mega air movement are doing well also.

  We never know what will happen in any given day.  This could have been a whole lot worse.  In fact in the late 90s, we had to evacuate our home for two days as we had three feet of raw sewage in the basement.  Ish.  We got over it and the city rebuilt the lines past our home and under the intersection to the north of us.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:31 pm on October 29, 2023 Permalink  

  A Light Coat 

  We had a light coat and I don’t mean my coat hanging by the back door.

  There is a dusting of snow on the roof tops.  Our concrete around the house and drive is bare.  If the sun could have remained shinning through the clouds, the 35 degrees of this afternoon could have, would have and should have felt warm.

  Dennis continues to stay busy in the garages.  The far back garage is storage for his friend Dewayne’s Farmall tractor plus bucket, son-in-law’s Ford Mustang, grandson  AJ’s Harley, our two lawnmowers plus the Cub tractor.  The Cub is going to the Beckius repair shop north of town in the spring.  Dennis has an agreement with Charlie for the engine repair.  Charlie is kept busy in the winter season with seasonal repairs and the last of the farm equipment that comes in.

  Today, Dennis pulled all the batteries off of the above mentioned items, but not the Sears mower. Dennis will be mulching leaves before too long.  This last dip of temps in the 20s gave the leaves a good chance to flutter and man did they!

  The studio and I have been humming right along.  I have completed 32 of the 8.5″ blocks.  The most complex block was 16 in number, made up of eight pieces in various colors and sizes.  As I tidied up a bit of snippets, I realized I only need to cut 32 of 3.5″ of various colors.  Moving right along at a very causal pace.  I do iron seams as I finish them.  I did smile to myself, as my sister Elvera didn’t practice that in the art of her piecing . . . left to wonder why the end result was not up to par.  Bless her heart.

  Mid afternoon and the studio is being close down in exchange for some reading and catching a YouTube or two.

  Happy new week everyone.  Each day we have two choices: smile and have a cheerful heart or grump and make everyone around us turn grumpy as well.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:59 pm on October 28, 2023 Permalink  

  Hello Saturday 

  This is a day that had not one single thing on the agenda, the last Saturday of October.

  I am not going to miss with messing with the clock by turning it back in the fall and ahead in the spring.  If  only our legislative secessions could get something else done during their spring fling that could again benefit everyone.

  Dennis has been putzing in and around the garages.  He manages to stay busy.

  I have had the day in the studio.  The radio is on in the background to catch any snippet of area news and weather.  I follow a quilter on YouTube that lives in Indiana.  She does longarm quilting for others and each week she showcases the week’s worth that is ready to go back to the owners for final binding.  Seeing all the patterns, sizes and color schemes is an inspiration for me.

  Tammy Earnest did share clips from a family picnic.  What struck me and other viewers is that the picnic tables had quilts on them as tablecloths.  She followed up with comments to her video yesterday.  Quilts are to be used.  Someone had mentioned to her, “My mother quilted but we never got to use them.”  For myself, I agree.  Use them, abuse them so the quilts keep on sending the messages while they were being made . . . individual love to each owner.  Cottons today are durable and washable and . . . mendable if something need it.

  I no longer intend or plan on cranking out multiple quilts each year, but having one being built under the needle is satisfying.  The three quilts of 2023 were not completed to stay here on Stauffer Avenue, they were intended for the specific request.  The scrappy one I am now working on is a fun one. 

  We are going to have some Gorton fish filets, instant potatoes and green beans for supper.

  With that I take my leave  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:29 pm on October 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Happy Friday 

  This was a Friday that I could have used a brick in my pants.  It’s best not to know what the miles per hour the wind was blowing.  Ignorance is blessed.

  This afternoon I had my annual skin cancer screening.  I had an episode on my right facial cheek quite a few years ago that has prompted the annual screenings.  As I left the clinic, I was handed a card with October 28, 2024.  Wow.

  As we drove to Mankato, every once in awhile there was a chunk of snow that fell off of a semi.  I wondered just where he had been at.

  Enjoy what the weekend brings.  There are no do-overs.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:59 pm on October 26, 2023 Permalink  

  Gray Day 

  Raining off and on with gray skies.  At noon, it looked like the sky was brightening to the south.

  This was a morning of getting the second bed’s bedding to the laundry.  I do keep a tight ship on our forever home.

  This late forenoon we had pedicures and haircuts at Maria’s up town.  Maria does pedicures, haircuts, manicures and gel nails.  Maria also is a licensed nurse, so there was no fear of Dennis’ foot getting some needed TLC.  We do appreciate her having a block of two hours for us once a month.

  I have not gotten much more done today.  As always when the bedding gets done, it’s floor to ceiling tidy tidy in each bedroom.  The sweet part is that there is no card that needs to be punched to validate myself.

  We will have a hot supper to tide us over on this gray day.  There has been no wind to speak of, the gray day with leaves that have gotten heavy with all this rain, the leaves are right where they fell from on high.  We have no green grass showing in the backyard.  When we do have a hard enough freeze to strip the trees bare, many squirrels will finding the perfect spot to bury the black walnuts.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:21 pm on October 25, 2023 Permalink  

  Quite the System 

  Quite the weather system.  Monday night it thundered all during the night with very little rain.  Yesterday was piddle, piddle.  Last night at ten it sounded like it was raining bullets.  Our drought meter is getting kicked.

  Most of yesterday, we did not have internet.  We may take it for granted.  Last night after supper all was well.

  This was a good day for bedding to be laundered while the Swiffer found bunnies under the bed.  No matter how old flannel bedding is or how many times the laundry has had them over the years, there is still fuzz to find.

  Yesterday morning, Dennis said that he needed a doctor’s appointment.  Hmm.  He said his big toe on his right foot looked black.  WTF!  “Show me the toe!”  On the tip of his big toe was a blood blister.  He must have really stubbed it hard.  I didn’t think twice but to send him and his toe to see our family doctor.  When it comes to Dennis’ feet, I am not taking a chance.  Yup . . . it was a blood blister.  No poking at it, just leave the body absorb it just like any other bruise we might get.  Dennis felt better, I felt better.

  Today I have spent some time cutting fabric for the next sixteen blocks of “Block 3.”  I know I needed 124 of 2.5″  x  4.5″.   Perhaps tomorrow might see the lights on in the studio for some machine stitching.  It does pay to have a day or two to think about what I have in the mix of fabric designs.  When I went down today, it didn’t take me long to pull one of the fabrics out as it didn’t make the cut.  It looked so out of place as if it had a red light flashing.  Small print florals in various colors did not have an opening for a small print that had birdhouses in it.  So be it. 

  Today, there were a few plastic lawn chairs that needed putting away in the potting shed.  There is no kidding ourselves that we are yet to have this fantastic Indian Summer.  It is not happening.

  With that I take my leave. ♥ 

   
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  Noreen 3:07 pm on October 23, 2023 Permalink  

  Oh My Oh My 

  Oh my oh my,  Dennis and I are home from the big town of Mankato.

  I had a list and I had checked it twice.  Our pantry in the basement has had quite a lift via Sam’s Club.  When all else fails a cup of Progresso’s chicken noodle will fill the void.  It has Campbells beat eight ways from Sunday.  There are other flavors but chicken noodle is ours.  Dinty Moore is another to have on hand.  A small can over instant mashed potatoes makes a good supper, of course jellied cranberries tops it off just fine.

  We also made a stop at Hy-Vee.  Different types of pasta will round out our oven meals.  While I was at it, I picked up two quick meals:  meat loaf and potatoes and hamburger and pasta in a tomato sauce.  At $6.00 each, I couldn’t have half of the included ingredients on hand.  Dennis and I don’t do the heavy suppers anymore.

  Those were the only two stops to make.

  When asked if I wanted to stop for an early supper, my response was a no.  Dennis’ thermos cup was still fairly full with hot coffee.  I had picked up a $2.99 tray of donut balls.  We snacked, drank coffee and talked smart to each other all the way home.  Priceless!

  I know we had rain overnight, enough to make a puddle or two.  The bright sunshine today made for a warm feeling with the light jacket I had on.

  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:05 pm on October 22, 2023 Permalink  

  Harvest 

  The grain elevator is open on this a Sunday.  Every color of tractor possible is hauling in wagons of shell corn.  Not every farm works with their own semis.

  Dennis manned the weed whip and the plants right east along the foundation have been taken out.  I clipped off the spent lily stalks in the area going into the house.  With my handy pail, both sites were raked and added to the burn ring east of the garage.  Small steps toward what each day is leading to.

  When I went outside this afternoon, I went via the front door.  The bugs don’t get direct sun there and I could escape.  Ish!  I have never found what purpose they serve.  Taking my pail of greenery to the burning ring, I noticed a huge wasp’s nest on the south gable of the potting shed.  Ish!

  When I was outside, neighbor Jan and I visited over the picket fence.  She asked how things were going.  I made mention that the bucket list of the blue barn acre was empty for the year.  She remembered all the Kudzu vines hanging from the trees.  Dennis nipped all of them where they came out of the ground so that what went up in the trees has no food source . . . except one.  I just got a text from Jan explaining that her new battery chainsaw made short work of that last vine.  My, oh my!  I did indeed thank her.

  Some time was spent in the studio today, pairing up fabric prints to make 16 of the “Block 2” design.  With that cutting and pairing, the sewing of those blocks will go well.

  It is a tomato soup supper this evening.  Crackers, bread, butter and jam will round it out.  Vanilla ice cream could be the finish.  Dennis did comment that tomorrow might be grocery shopping.  With our summer and early fall having been busy getting our total homestead whipped into shape before cold weather, our pantry in the basement has never been so empty.

  We didn’t have a garden to harvest, but I know some great canned goods to have on hand.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:27 pm on October 21, 2023 Permalink  

  Blustery 

  The winds from the south are huge.  Hmm.  It just came to mind that t0dler Megan’s favorite word for a long time was huge.  She would really draw it out.  Sweet memories.

  This morning when I gazed out to the west, it looked as if I had a screen saver on the windows.  The leaves blowing from the north was a non-stop parade of golden yellow leaves of various shapes.

  One more item I wanted to accomplish before the forecast of cooler temps.  The pail of black paint needed to be opened one more time.  The threshold of our back door gets a beating every day.  A new coat of black paint was in order.  While I had the pail open and a brush dirty, I headed to the front on the house.  The new deck was built over our original concrete steps.  From the south looking north there was visible some badly chipped black paint.  Not any more.  My brush has been washed with the paint pail lid tapped down . . . I am done painting for the season.

  I will say that my escapade of using the zero-turn mower yesterday was satisfying, My legs are telling me that the dismount of the mower did not go smoothly.  Given a day or two, all will be well.  I showed Dennis what I had found on the internet for assists in getting off and on zero-turns.  There are two choices that seemed to be what is needed for the Grammie.  Oh . . . not one or the other.  Both on the mower seemed worthwhile.  Watching Dennis it would be a good thing for both of us.  One was mounted on the frame at the front tire to help in the dismount and the other was mounted on edge of the deck where where one would get onto the mower.  I am not pushing it as the mowing for this season is . . . for all practical purposes, done. 

  May the weekend give you time to regenerate for the upcoming week.  With that I take my leave. ♥