Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from May, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:39 pm on May 16, 2024 Permalink  

  Birds 

  This spring the birds are happy to be around us.  We have had enough rain that the sump pump on the north side of our home provides the perfect pond for the birds to bathe in.  Last year was so terribly dry, the sump pump never ran . . . not once.

  By the way, that also speaks as to why the studio was so comfortable to be in the early part of 2023.

  We have a pair of Cardinals that flit among the lilacs.  The Blue Jays have not been plentiful.  The Thrush have nests in the evergreen on the northwest corner of our home.  Sitting very still on our front deck is rewarding for bird watching.  Mrs. Robin is busy feeding her babies in the nest built on the brackets of our awning on the west side of the house.  Neighbor Jan mentioned there is also a pair of Red Birds that she has noticed.  The sump pump pond welcomes them all.  I have noticed no one in the neighborhood has a Martin house up.

  My dad built some great Martin houses that looked more like a Martin hotel.  Martins were notorious for enjoying biting bugs as a snack.

  Some of the birds and maybe it is all of the birds, begin singing by 4:30 in the morning.  

  Don’t worry, sometime in each day the three porch kitties check out the watering hole as well.  Birds . . . beware.

  Dennis announced this noon he has spent more money these early months of 2024 on the gas for the mowers than all of last year.  The .32″ of rain from last night will keep the yards lush.

  The highway #4 going south out of St. James is detoured to Sherburn.  The traffic with side-dump trucks hauling fill begins past our home as early as the birds waking for the day.  Deadlines for that type of work gets crazy.  Prevailing wages for a MN Dot project is huge per hour.  For the truck drivers it gets to be a short night for rest.

  We are doing Jimmy Dean pre-cooked sausage patties and Bisquick pancakes for supper. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:12 pm on May 15, 2024 Permalink  

  Mowers 

  The hum of lawnmowers is more like a multi-directional roar.  Dennis did contribute to it.  I say nothing in regard to where or how often he mows.  I do know he needs to be busy and mowing is not confrontational with me.  Have at it.  I put in my stint with getting some weeds out of the flower bed.  I put them where Dennis mulched them with the Sear’s rider.

  Yesterday, a box was delivered to Dennis.  The return address was just Reliable Shipping.  As I was in the backyard, I don’t know if it was UPS or Fed-X.  The cardboard box was really dirty dusty.  It’s not unusual for those trucks to have their doors open and this time of year, there is dust everywhere.

  The contents of the box was from my aunt in Arizona.  One large heavy quilt, one lap quilt and one table runner.  I did know her kids were asking her to begin a dispersal of hundreds of such items.  When we went to visit her in 2015, she sent several table runners home with us and she then replicated those items to put back in her stash.  Hmm. 

  This morning, I knew the quilt needed to go out on the clothes line.  I can’t tell you what the scent was, but it wasn’t good.  I am hoping it was from the cardboard box.  The remaining two items went to the wash.  Dennis had to help me get the quilt on the clothes line and even Dennis said it was not good.  In the fresh air it was really noticeable.  For now, I can’t even tell you what size the quilt is.  I do know when Lorraine had the top pieced, she ordered the stitched quilting design for a long arm quilter to follow.  She told me that stitching design package cost her an additional $399.00 over the cost of the pattern with which to piece it.  

  I like my threads and fuzz but tend more to do the basics.  I can tell you why.  I want my quilts to be used and perhaps even be abused in the use of them.  My grandmother Laura used feed sack prints and I am still getting use out of that quilt. The quilts that I have pieced were used with fabrics of a much higher warp and weft count.  Please . . . use them.

  We are having chicken titties and the remainder of my potato salad dish that was left over from last night.

  As people are getting off from their work places, the grass doesn’t stand a chance.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:52 pm on May 14, 2024 Permalink  

  A Balmy Day 

  Me, my laptop, mouse, and telephone were at our friendly bank at 9:30.  Michelle was waiting to help.  I decided to take my equipment so I would have verification all was working before I left the bank.  A very good feeling.

  Dennis and Dwayne had coffee at McDonald’s this morning.  Without taking a break, he stuck his head in the door and said he was going to mow the yards.  So be it.

  I tackled a few more yellow blooms.  I couldn’t help but notice that where the rotted lilacs had been cut down several years ago, none of the new sucker sprouts from the roots were doing well.  The rest of the story came to light when neighbor Jan came out to visit across the white picket fence.  Hmm.  Early in the season when Dennis was setting up his propane brush burner, Jan said he totally did a number on the sucker sprouts and everything else along the picket fence line.  Here I thought it was some kind of shrub disease.  Ya, right!  I am thankful the fence didn’t melt.  Hey, I can’t keep my eyes on him all the time.  I do not plan on saying a word.  What’s the point!

  Several seasons ago, I shared some Fern Peony tubers with Jan.  This year she has three blooms.  I have two separate plants with blooms.  This last up and down winter didn’t do them any favors.  Gardeners win some and lose some.

  We are having the first batch of potato salad for 2024.  Plain butter bread goes well with that offering.  My recipe calls for equal amounts of potatoes, onions and chopped boiled eggs.  Not the usual, but we like it.

  From what I see through the screens of my bedroom porch windows . . . its going to be quite the season of wasps.  Jan has a wasp catcher hanging from her sheppard’s crook.  It will be interesting to see how that turns out.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on May 13, 2024 Permalink  

  Monday the 13th 

  I am just about at the 4,000 post on this blog.  With the admin giving me usually a one-time command, all goes well.  I wanted to change my pass word with our bank.  How difficult could that be?  Well, well. I will be going into the bank tomorrow morning.  Having them send me a call on my cell for a passcode . . . it doesn’t ring.  I haven’t seen the girls in the bank for a long time.  

  After a trip to our grocer’s it was time to have a bite of lunch with Dennis.  He had had plans with friend Dwayne.  That didn’t pan out either.  This Monday . . . best to re-group.

  I went out and got quite a few huge dandelions dug out with my fork-tongued stabber.  One incredible sow thistle is no more.  Of course I plucked a few tips off of the cat-nip plants.  Before I came in, Harriet was passed out on top of some of it sleeping it off.  Tee hee.  The cats are not drawn to it unless it has been broken off and the scent begins to waft.  Too funny.

  I didn’t stay out long as I didn’t want my maiden voyage of this spring to be long enough that I would hurt later.  A few minutes each day will make progress.  My next escapade will require using several bushel baskets to cover the Hosta so  I can spray the area around it. There is a nasty plant that spreads like a hairnet.  With all the rain it is now in the bloom stage ready for the blooms to dry and spread their seed.  I was amazed how hard the dirt is in certain areas.

  Dennis and I had Mrs. Gerry’s spring pasta salad, a cold beef sandwich and chips and dip for a late lunch.  I am thinking of waving a magic wand as the supper hour rolls around.

  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on May 12, 2024 Permalink  

  Sunday the 12th 

  What great temps for today.  70 degrees right from the start.

  With my breakfast coffee filled to the brim of my cup, I was headed to the front deck to take in the morning.  Not long after I had sat down, I was feeling guilty.  MaMa Robin had her beak so full of goodies waiting and wanting to get to her nest.  That nest is tucked in under the awning of our front door and deck.  I gave in and settled into my front porch bedroom caving in to opening the window for the great breeze.

  Our day was a quiet one with each of us settling in.  When Dennis’ granddaughter, Sadie, and her two little girls made a surprising visit the quiet went away.  It is wonderful for his family to feel popping in is good.  It is good.  The visit lasted for several hours and they were off to surprise more family members here in St. James.

  It is three in the afternoon and there is thunder rumbling in the northwest.  The wind has changed from northeast to northwest.

  Not only have I no projects going on in the studio, I need the ground water to subside a bit after we have had quite a bit of rain.  Our basement is tiled on three sides, aka: the studio.  Yesterday, I could hear water coursing in the tile heading for the sump pump.  That is ice cold water.  No matter how I would dress these last days, the air and the floor is very very cold.  My goal was to finish Megan’s kitchen wares with embroidery and I did.  She knew I was doing placemats but the towels and pot holders will be a surprise.  Mission completion.

  We had Sub-Way for supper last night.  A 12″ Tuna with all the fixings, split in half is all Dennis and I can do for a meal.  Seeing as how neither of us have done more than lift a single finger today, supper will be light.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on May 8, 2024 Permalink  

  Dressed For It 

  I knew when I got up this morning, I was going to spend time in the studio.  I dressed for it.  Long sleeve shirt, heavy socks and heavy shoes.

  I came up at twelve noon to have lunch with Dennis and then returned to the studio.  It is now three in the afternoon and I have called it a day in the  studio.  I had turned the thermostat up knowing the studio air would be cool.  I was moving around from table to table with my projects, but my fingers got chilled.  Tomorrow is another day.  No deadlines.  It makes a body feel good to get back to the point of having choices with threads and fuzz.  I am thankful I have made a nest for myself in my bedroom porch for reading and doing the hand stitching of counted cross stitch.

  Tomorrow Dennis has ultrasounds in Mankato’s radiology department.  It is nothing more than a follow up to see how the stints are holding up in his leg.

  The KNUJ radio station had quite a bit of static.  The air-waves might have been picking up thunder showers.  The southeast wind is hanging on to less than warm temps.

  Supper is going to be smorgasbord:  leftover boiled potatoes with several eggs scrambled in also with some breakfast sausages.  Mix it all up and call it a hot evening meal.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:59 pm on May 7, 2024 Permalink  

  Rain 

  The thunder and lightning during the night was noticed but not enough to keep me awake.  It is rare, but I didn’t need to make a bathroom visit last night.  At seven this morning it wasn’t up for debate. 

  My agenda for this morning, was to make a total first floor vacuum project.  Swiffer’s can get a lot, but when the sun shines across the laminate flooring, not so much.  Our small shop vac comes in oh so handy.  A thorough cleaning of the clothes dryer vents gives assurance of avoiding a clothes dryer fire.  It is amazing how hot the clothes is when taking it out of dryer immediately when it shuts off. 

  The hot BBQ sandwiches were good for supper last night, but a lb. of ground beef makes a huge batch for just the two of us.  We even scooped some up with potato chips.  This afternoon, a few white Russet potatoes got peeled and the remaining BBQ will be ladled over the boiled potatoes.  Boiled potatoes never get old for me.

  Today Dennis and friend Dwayne messed around with Dwayne’s international tractor that Dwayne has stored in our back garage for more years than I can remember.  Dennis has had a trickle charger on it, getting it ready for a day such as this.  It started right out.  The two fellows wore themselves out for today.  It is sitting in our drive with plans for tomorrow to wash it off.  Slow and steady it is for these life-long friends.

  Megan and I texted back and forth this morning.  She is finished with her four year college time that she accomplished in three years.  Wow.  This Thursday she will fly to Minnesota.  Carrie is having surgery in Rochester on May 20th.  I am sure Megan will be helping out in Carrie’s store.  Megan, her dad and a U-Haul will be leaving June 1st to move Megan to her new home in Virginia.  Hmm :(.   I assured her we would see her before June 1st.

  This afternoon, I have thread colors picked out for Megan’s remaining pot holders.  That is my agenda for tomorrow, Wednesday.  Along with the thread, I oiled the machine and put a new needle in.  The prep is done.

  I am having a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.  When last we were in Menards we bought a rather large bag of individually wrapped Life Savers.  Some left-over breakfast coffee and a banana flavored Life Saver.  Come on energy!

  It sounds as if we could get more rain in the next several days.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 12:04 pm on May 6, 2024 Permalink  

  Ahh, Yes 

  It is Monday and that means laundry day.  It pretty much goes just as it did for Lena.  She was a steadfast user of Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing Rinse for the light colored and white pieces as well water could yellow them.  It also came in handy to put just a tad in the rinse water of shampooing the hair.  I believe that is where the species of the “Blue Hair” came about.  Too funny.

  Wind.  Yup, gusts of 45 MPH west of Mankato.  I think it blew the sun away.

  This last crazy winter, cold then warm, has done a number on my Fern Peonies.  Only one or two blooms to open.

  It is always very reassuring for logic to be on the back burner.  Dennis does a good job of picking out the wet laundry and putting it up into the dryer.  This noon the dryer handle came off in his hand.  It was plastic with four little clips holding it to the door.  Did I mention logic?  Our DIY may catch on for the homes having the modern chick look.  Just a gentle tug will do it.  Ahh, yes.  What’s next!

  Supper this evening is a chopped salad kit with B-B-Qs.  Have not had hot sandwiches in quite a long time.  BTW, I am so waiting to get a call from my dentist.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:57 pm on May 5, 2024 Permalink  

  Sunday, May 5th 

  This afternoon the ole cowboy and the Cub drove up to the BP to fill the fuel tank.  It was a good site.  Yesterday both garages got the floors washed down.  Having adequate garden hose makes it easier.  I will say, Dennis has been on a role.  After we had a light noon lunch, he is on the zero-turn.  I have no idea how much of the 2.2 acre will get mowed.  I will say he has been sleeping good.

  As for me, I am moving from one spot to another here on the first floor.  It’s a matter of arthritis in the lower back that is persistent in bucking.  It began yesterday.  A haircut and a pedicure can’t be accomplished for me without sitting in the chairs designed for such services.  It’s nothing new, it just needs to be respected for a day or so.  The good thing is, is that it doesn’t prevent me from getting a good night’s rest.

  The mail did bring the sticky stabilizer yesterday.  Sometime later this week, I will work on the remaining oven mitts and pot holders for Megan.  I really enjoy the scope of things that I can become enmeshed in.  It makes for a balanced day.

  Tasty left-overs for supper.  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:49 pm on May 4, 2024 Permalink  

  Spa Day 

  When the hair get cut after a month long of it growing, it feels oh so good.  Couple that with a pedicure, truly sweet.

  Yesterday there was some updating for Word Press that was needed.  Kevin set up this blog quite a few years ago so my kids could keep track of what I have been doing and what I am up to in my daily life.  Other than a short hiatus after my stroke, I have been fairly consistent.  When Dennis and I are out and about and I will not put out a blog, I text Kevin so he knows there is nothing wrong that would have prevented me from having the written word published.  I have no idea what setting up this blog entailed.  I just remember what the admin of it, Kevin, has told me to do to be able to take photos, load photos, down-size photos and hopefully label them.

  When we came home from our spa day, the kitchen’s aroma was welcoming.  When I had had a doctor visit in Mankato last week, I purposely went to Wal-Mart to visit their meat department.  I picked up a complete meal for our crockpot.  Kevin’s had brought us a beef meal for Christmas and it blew my Betty Crocker apron right off of me.  How handy to have veggies and meat contained ready to go.  Today we are having a pork roast meal in the pot. 

  Yesterday’s mail brought me a new hand stitching hoop.  The ones I had been using were from . . . a lot of times gone by.  Stitching always goes smoother if the fabric is taut and the next hole that needs thread is easier to see.  Good grief.  I struggled to hoop up my fabric.  Talk about a tight spring with which to hold the fabric.  I walked away from it once and then by golly, try, try again.  The fact that the new hoop was bright blue helped the determination.  The old one is the pink one.  I positioned it so I will have a fairly good area to stitch before I need to set the hoop again.  I know we have a small pipe plier that I may find for continued success.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥