Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from June, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:32 pm on June 16, 2024 Permalink  

  It’s a Happy Father’s Day 

  For all the folk out there that are mentors for their households . . . Happy Father’s Day!

  I went to sleep last night by a sky full of colorful lightning.  

  When I got up this morning and looked out to the east via the bathroom window, I saw a huge limb had blown off the Maple.  That potting shed has had nine lives for sure.  Nothing damaged.  The huge limb will be taken care either Tuesday or Wednesday by Ryan of Affordable Tree Service.  When Dennis went out to talk to Ryan, he noticed quite a few places where branches had blown down.

  I spent several hours in the studio today.  I am making a batch of pin cushions.  Of course they are not large.  Some are smaller than others.  After having them stitched by hand it is on to the sewing machine.  Sewing around the perimeter needs a 1-2 inch opening left for turning the project inside out.  That takes patience.  I had three to sew and to turn.  I then shut down the studio as the hands and fingers had had enough.

  This evening we will be having and sharing a 12″ tuna from Subway.  Good eating.

  Tomorrow morning we will be in the pulmonary department at the the Mankato hospital.  It is time for Dennis’ yearly prescription renewal for his CPAP supplies that he can then get at the May Store in the old Madison East Mall when needed.  Again, so thankful for insurance.  It is zero co-pay.

  Of course we will need to pick up kitty litter and kitty food.  32 lbs. at Sam’s Club for Meow Mix compared to 18 lbs. at our Fleet Farm.  Eating and pooping . . . what’s new . . . two legged or four legged.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:57 pm on June 14, 2024 Permalink  

  A Friday 

  I had set the alarm for five this morning so Dennis would have time to wake up before picking Jeff up to head to Mankato at 6:15.  I had to get up at 4:15 for a potty break and thought what the heck.  I got the coffee brewing and bid hello to the day.  I never delay a potty break.  Decades ago my bladder perforated.  Out came the bladder and a section of my large intestine became my holding tank.  Hello to self-cathing for all my remaining days.  I would not want anything to jeopardize my holding tank.  When I feel a twinge, I am on my way. 

  By ten this morning, I had bedding laundered and put back on the beds with a chicken oven dish prepared for our evening meal.

  I was just settling in to watch “The Price is Right” when Dennis walked in.  He was sporting his new shoes from the Limb-Lab.  Sweet.  They are tie leather shoes with two zippers on either side of the heal.  Having a tie that feels right with which to hold the foot, the shoes can be slipped into and the zippers pulled up for closures.

  This afternoon Grammie got to mow one of our yards with the zero-turn.  Freedom!  It felt wonderful with a light breeze.  I was zipped up to my ears to way-lay the mosquitoes.  With my helping Dennis as he manned the Sear’s rider, it cut off two hours of his six hours of mowing solo.  The two grab bars that neighbor Randy put on the zero-turn is the ultimate.

  There is a huge Cottonwood tree in the lot north of us.  When we were done mowing you could not tell that we had mowed.  Our yards were totally white.

  Our oven dish is in the oven for a four o’clock supper.  Neither of us had stopped for a noon lunch.

  No stitching or studio time today.  There is talk of rain.  Plenty of time for threads and fuzz.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:44 pm on June 13, 2024 Permalink  

  Never Know 

  You never know if the rain showers are over or not.  Our last heavy one was just past noon.

  Today I finished one of the three hand stitching projects I had going.  The hand stitching is done, but the rest of the story, not so much.  Each of the remaining four of the six pin cushions or small pillows will need to be trundled down to the studio.  A backing fabric will be cut and all pieces will have stabilizer ironed to the back.  The sewing around the perimeter will need a small opening left for the filling.  Some will have crushed walnut shells to fill them and some with fiber fill.  A trim around each of them will deem them finished.

  Yes, I did stock up on crushed walnut shells as well as fiber fill.  When I can get what I need with free postage, it beats spending gas money to fetch it, let alone to find it.

  A quiet day in the patio porch.  Dennis needs to pick up Jeff at 6:30 in the morning heading to Mankato.  They will be expressing fluid from his left side and doing a biopsy.

  As things turned out, Dennis got a call from the Limb-Lab that his new shoes with the orthotics came in.  Dennis will drop Jeff off at the hospital and then go on to his appointment. 

  I have chicken tenders out for supper and Idaho instant potatoes and green beans will round it out.

  I did have an issue with uploading a photo.  Better luck another day.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:56 pm on June 9, 2024 Permalink  

  Windchimes 

  We have two old pieces of metal hung in the evergreen on the northwest corner of our home.  Nothing fancy.  On a day such as this, sitting in my bedroom porch, it can very well lull me into total relaxation making me believe it came from a high-end nursery.

  Yesterday, it was the straw that crimped my patience.  My cherry red reading and sewing chair hugs my back to perfection in my bedroom porch.  It was a gently used Bernina chair the Fairfax team had found at Goodwill for Mother’s Day of 2023.  The rollers were a bit stiff.  Dennis took the chair out to the front deck and de-frocked those rollers with a whole bunch of sewing threads and carpet threads.  As I have said this chair is fantastic . . . roller wise . . . not so much.

  At Easter Kevin replaced one of the rollers on my sewing chair in the basement from a five pack from Amazon.  I remember Kevin mentioning that chairs with rollers use pretty much universal rollers.  Dennis helped me pull four of the five rollers off of my sewing and reading chair.  At first I thought, I was too heavy for the chair to roll easily.  When I read the box that contained the four rollers we were going to swap out, the label listed “Up to 1,000 lbs. each.”  Well, well, well.  The swap-out went well and I am amazed in the difference of the chair moving from point A to point B.  The fifth old roller of the cherry red chair is going to have to keep up until such time an Amazon order is placed when the rollers of the chairs at the dining table give out.

  After a nap and a snack, Dennis is off in his little red pickup to see what is happening around town.

  I had boiled eggs, diced onions and mixed in some bought Gerry’s Original potato salad.  Dennis says its my extra touches that make it almost as good as starting from scratch.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:12 pm on June 6, 2024 Permalink  

  Under Attack 

  The strong gusts of wind are lobbing pine cones right and left onto our west awning.  It does make quite the bong.

  There was one run to Lewis Drug today.  Dennis and I are quite content to spend time right here on Stauffer Avenue.  Dennis had a huge day of mowing yesterday, I encouraged a nap in his recliner. 

  Last night for supper I enjoyed a soft egg on butter bread.  Very tasty.  Vanilla ice cream later on wasn’t shabby either.

  Neighbor Jan popped over this forenoon to see how I was doing.  She was surprised in the over-all process.  I assured her it all went according to expectations and skill set of the dentist.  Dr. Pitcher, at the on-set, said he could and would refer me to Oral Surgery Of Mankato as extractions of roots could be a challenge.  I immediately told him, I would do just fine under his care.  All that referral would have done is added mileage and extra expense as they would have put me to sleep, with possible stitches.

  I checked in with daughter Carrie as she is two weeks out of her cancer lung surgery. 

  Text messages . . . where would we be without them!  I do very little on Facebook.  Very little brings news via emails.  I do have a smart-phone with no internet connection, neither does Dennis’.  We seem to get along just fine.   

  I would have thought once school was out, the traffic passed our home would have lessened.  Not a snowball in hell chance of that.

  Right now there are leaf tips, flower pots and litter flying south down our street.

  JoAnn’s Fabric has apparently solved their filing of bankruptcy.  That was proven today as the box containing two bags of pillow stuffing at a hugely reduced price and a $1.27 shipping fee was delivered by FedEx.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:59 pm on June 2, 2024 Permalink  

  A Sunday 

  The air is really nice with a breeze from the southeast.  I have been enjoying said breeze from my bedroom porch with windows open.  I have heard that the mosquitoes are bad.  A fellow down the way has long pants on, a long sleeve sweatshirt and a hoodie tied under his chin.

  Today Dennis’ niece from Moorhead came for a wonderful visit.  Her parents are here in St. James at the cemetery where Jeanie brings flowers.  Jeanie is 77 and has been a great ally from Dennis’ side of the family.

  We have had a light shower of rain this afternoon.

  Tomorrow at this time, I will either have a lower set of teeth in my mouth or close to it.  I am so ready for this.

  The evergreen off of the northwest corner of the house must have quite a few nests of blackbirds or starlings hatched out.  The noise is . . . a lot.

  Yesterday for our evening supper Dennis made meatloaf with one pound of ground beef and one pound of pork sausage.  I could taste the ample amount of Worchester sauce.  Mum is the word.  It was a good pairing with instant Idaho potatoes. Hmm, that is where the cream went for my morning coffee.  Reruns this evening of it.  Can’t beat that.

  I am quite sure Megan will be sleeping in her own bed this evening in the state of Virginia.  We knew that all children grow up but . . . other people’s . . . right?

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:47 pm on May 23, 2024 Permalink  

  Thursday 

  My oh my.  The ole cowboy is in the mowing gear.  I assume it is going to be all or nothing for him today.  When I got a small bottle of Sprite for him, his clothes are dripping with dandelion fuzz, clipped grass and anything else that shot out of the mower from the cutting side.  He uses a bungee cord to tie up that which would keep the grass and such blowing down when it comes off of the blades.  Where does it go if not down . . . but caught in the breeze to cover the operator.  As I am not using the old Sear’s mower or doing any mowing, I have no beef. 

  Jeremy has been keeping me up to speed on Carrie.  Jeremy is forthright and no drama.  Tylenol plus is the pain med being given.  Jeremy said they would be going home from Rochester as soon as the doctor had made their morning rounds.  I have not asked any questions whatsoever.

  I have been in the studio today and enjoying it.  I can also report to the Watson boys that the toilet is cycling every fifteen minutes and needing about nine seconds to refill the water in the tank.  Burk said he would be back as what had been done earlier in the week was apparently not the rest of the story.  We are in good hands.

  It is clouding over and I think I heard something about rain showers.

  The one baby Robin that has been fed non-stop, actually made it out of the nest today.  We will be able to enjoy sitting on the front deck without the mama badgering us to leave.  Her mouth would be so full of food for the one baby, she still had a way of guilting.

  It is beef meatballs, instant mash potatoes and jellied cranberries for supper.  The sell-by-date of the milk was the 20th.  It will do just fine for the potatoes.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:54 pm on May 21, 2024 Permalink  

  A Hurry-Up Day 

  Last night, I texted Jeremy and asked him to let me know when Carrie got out of surgery today in Rochester.  He texted back that he absolutely would.  The mass on the lung was in a spot that a biopsy couldn’t be done.  So . . . I am thinking once surgery got to that spot they would then determine if it was cancerous or not before Carrie went to recovery.  It has been a hurry-up and wait day, undoubtedly also for Megan and Nicholas at home.  In recent past surgeries of mine, my family was on the hurry-up and wait end.  Not fun.

  We are having the lightning and thunder storm that was forecast.  First round of rain was earlier in the day.  The thunder can really crack unloading nitrogen . . . or is that an old wives tale.

  The Chinese noodles and diced cooked pork went over well for supper last night.  I heated the thawed noodles with butter in a skillet and added a tablespoon of Better than Bullion, Roasted Garlic flavor.  I added the pork with several dashes of soy sauce over.  Dennis gave it a thumbs up.

  Not a hectic day here and supper will be fried egg sandwiches.  It was one of my dad’s go-to quick meals with ketchup.  Of course Dennis will have the ketchup on the table.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:04 pm on May 20, 2024 Permalink  

  A Day 

  The older ones on Stauffer Avenue are having a good day.

  I knew Carrie’s would in be Rochester today, but I had thought it would be surgery day.  Not.  That is tomorrow.  Today was for various meets and greets and the last of testing needed.  I so remember days like that.  You just want to lie down, go to sleep and get it over with.

  I did get a call from my dentist that my bottom appliance came to them in this morning’s mail.  She said I could stop in this afternoon.  When she looked at my records, she realized there would be four extractions and the afternoon opening would not allow enough time.  Back to the scheduling.  Hmm.  June 3rd.  I have waited this long, a few more weeks wouldn’t hurt.

  Burke Watson from Watson’s Plumbing responded to my phone call.  The basement toilet doesn’t want to shut off the water.  When Burke showed me what the problem was . . . a very loose rubber washer.  Talk about a fast response for service.  If that is the most serious of home repairs . . . sweet.

  Grandson Ryan enjoyed making the trip to Fairfax with Dennis.  His family lived in Fairfax when he and his two siblings were very small.  There is a two story brick building across from the swimming pool.  Sussie’s lived in the second floor apartment.  They also lived in a rental in the northwest part of town.  Ryan snapped photos and sent them to his sister in Silver Bay.  Memories.

  I had a bag of Chinese cooked noodles in the freezer.  The original batch was too huge.  I have also taken from the freezer a bag of diced pork roast left over from a crockpot meal.  Somehow I will blend the two with whatever seasonings I have.  Soy sauce comes to mind and whatever it takes.  I got a better response from this than I did when I mentioned Cheerios. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:47 pm on May 18, 2024 Permalink  

  What a Day! 

  Other than the traffic past my porch being ten-fold of what it usually is, I hope all that took part in our city-wide garage sales, being a buyer or a seller, that it went well.

  My day held for me the usual local effort of laundry and Swiffering.  When lawns are mowed, grass clippings can find their way indoors regardless how often the leaf blower is used on the doorways and the clothing of the operator.  It beats melting snow or mud.

  Dennis has had a mindset that beats all.  If he has a plan . . . beware.  Yes, like a dog that you can’t tell if he will bite or if he wants his head petted . . . beware.

  By twelve noon when he came in for noon lunch, he was a settled man.  No rushing.  No angst.  Dennis had spent the morning with his grandson Ryan.  They had obviously worked well together and the results?  Mission completion.  At 87, Dennis still has enough air and wind for his wings to unfurl and get done what he wants done.  May I be that fortunate at 87.

  I read something online by an “author unknown.”  “Never be a prisoner of your past life.  It was just a lesson, not a life sentence.”  Amazingly on point.

  I had another request for potato salad.  It is chilling in the refrigerator.  Dennis had gotten a cup of coffee from Casey’s while he and Ryan were together.  He brought home what was left.  I am finishing it as I type.  Wow!  It is flavorful but strong.  We may need to up our game when brewing each morning.

  This morning, there was one baby Robin sticking his head out of the nest under our awning.  Of course his mouth was wide open.  Mama Robin has her job cut out for herself.

  What a day!

  With that I take my leave.  ♥