We had no plans for today. Every hour or so there would be showers of rain. The phone rang and now several hours later, I am totally “chatted out.” Nephew Jason is an over-the-road hauler. He had a layover in Glencoe and decided to come for a visit. His layover allowed his wife Trish from Decorah, Iowa, and companion Scott to pick Jason up in Glencoe and head out for Stauffer Avenue. A great afternoon of catching up. Jason was quite certain it had been 20 years since he had last visited here. A wonderful surprise and perhaps not another long lapse in time before he visits again.
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Noreen
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Noreen
Chilly air makes for a very happy day of getting my walk done and not feeling like my underwear is stuck tight. I know, I know sweating is a self cooling blessing . . . but my system usually goes overboard. You know it’s chilly when Snuggles makes a bee line for my lap as I sit on the patio. He curls up into the tightest ball ever and most likely would stay for hours on end if my legs wouldn’t need to stretch before they fall asleep.
All the four legged ones, and perhaps Dennis, are a bit thrown off their game as I took over the patio porch yesterday with suds, cleaners and the scrub brush. Half of the well trafficked carpet is now in the process of drying. While I was busy Dennis took off to the the laundromat with rugs and the kitty blankets from their baskets. You would have thought the four of them had been put up for adoption. Yes, it would have been ideal to have rented a rug shampoo unit . . . it they even do such a thing anymore. This worked out slick.
After lunch, we began doing some dirt work on the north side of the house in preparation for the window job coming up in September. With an acre there were holes that Dennis wanted to fill in with the dirt that is being removed. No, I have no idea what the end result will be in managing the slop of soil, but having started is key. A bit yesterday and perhaps a bit tomorrow, it will get done.
Today has been a quieter day. I had an embroidery project to work on and Dennis has mozzarella stuffed chicken meatballs nestled in Classico four cheese tomato sauce with pasta. It’s a good day and a good thing. Martha Stewart would agree.
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Noreen
What a fantastic day. As I was coming back from my walk this morning the air was great and the various birds seemed to be happy about the mild temps and low dew point. The sounds of the birds, cars, trucks and semis along the county road are all usual and customary.
I had to really listen closely as a sound coming up from the rear was not usual and for sure not customary. I soon realized it was the sound of many pounding feet. School teams were out and about getting ready for their track team endurance runs. Good manners and respect are alive and well. Streams of runners, boys and girls, all took a bit of a bend around me bidding me a “Good morning.” As I watched them all run by me I couldn’t help but wonder at all those strong legs and wonder if when they reached my age with the miles of wear and tear they would still feel like tearing up the tar. I wanted to shout out “Cherish your knees!”
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Noreen
The Results are In
This is an x-ray of a normal right wrist. The hand sits balanced on the wrist. All the cushion in between the bones is in place and there is a rhyme and reason to the placement of the bones.
This is my right wrist. I went for a second opinion today. The doctor was excellent in his explanation. The wrist is much like the cone of an ice cream cone. The joints and finger of the hand are like the ice cream that sits on the cone. My ice cream has slid off . . . way off. Nothing more can be done other than perhaps taking an Alieve Gel Cap when the wrist pain is at its worse. If the pain were the first thing that would awake me in the morning and continue so during the day, day after day, a cortisone shot could be given. In all honesty the pain is not severe. It is humbling to need to use two hands to hold my beloved coffee and several other special ways to do things. The specialist thought it was great that I have been training myself to work on the ambidexterity. His advice was to continue doing all that I have been doing and being smart in finding new ways of doing everything that I enjoy. His parting words were to the effect that when I am ready to be a compliant old lady I should come and see him and he would fuse the wrist. Hell . . . I hope his is retired by that time.
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Noreen
A very quiet relaxing day on Stauffer today. A batch of egg salad and a bowl of creamed cucumbers . . . what else could we ask for.
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Noreen
The team on Stauffer is alive and well . . . if not a bit grubby and weary. Today Dennis was in charge of 100% of the mowing of the acre and I was the handy dandy trimmer of all things not able to be reached with the rider mower. During the first battery on the trimmer, all was well. When I swapped out batteries I took a look at the Bridal Wreath Bush. I should never have looked. Black Night Shade vines were everywhere . . . like a huge amount. I began trimming back the bush. By the time I was done the stumps of the bush are maybe 12″ high. Just perfect for next spring’s new growth. Dennis took a break from mowing and he hooked onto the two-wheel trailer. Off to the landfill we went with our load. After a short pickup ride, the trailer was back in the garage, Dennis went back to mowing and I continued trimming the remaining portion of the acre.
It is now suppertime and when we get the energy to get showered up, the patio time this evening is going to be sweet. The acre looks marvelous. Somewhere in there we will pull something together for supper. It is such a great feeling to work together for a common goal . . . a wonderful spot here on Stauffer Avenue. It does puzzle Dennis when some of his acquaintances remark how bored they are.
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Noreen
A bit of chit chat and planning while sitting on the patio enjoying coffee. We have the plans in place and the project is ordered for our new basement windows. It is now time to think on getting some landscaping done on the north side of the home where two of the new windows face. It is unfortunate that the air conditioner is outside the northwest window. It is what it is and the window fellow said they have faced worse challenges. The northwest window is sitting on ground level . . . and I mean “right on.”
With the latest news that our favorite lumberyard is closing and getting ready for an auction, and I believe all their locations in this southern part of Minnesota, we mauled it over. We made a trip to Lowe’s today.
In the history of Stauffer Avenue I think Dennis and I made history. We have done four, let me repeat, four road trips within one week. I think the little red pickup must be on some awfully high octane fuel and wants to go, go, go. Hmm, that being said, I should check Dennis’ prescriptions. Perhaps it is him and not the little red pickup that has gotten the “go.”
I digress. We measured once, we measured twice and we now have on hand what we will need for the landscaping project on the north side of the house. In particular, we have the window well foundation item and also the clear vinyl cover for it. Neither of these can be installed until after the window is in, but we are prepared. Some dirt work is in our plans. Moving dirt back from the foundation and making it all pretty. We’ve got this.
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Noreen
Just a good day here on Stauffer Avenue. I surfed the web for additional information for and on embroidery designs. Asking a few questions as to what would be possible, etc. Gotta love what is called “live chat.” I had been babysitting neighbor Jan’s potted flowers. They survived the visit to Stauffer and are now back where they belong.
The cool weather is much appreciated . . . if the dew point would behave itself towards the afternoon hours. Fore told is fore warned . . . there is a pending road trip scheduled for tomorrow. A bit of landscaping needs to be done prior to the new basement windows being installed. Mankato, be prepared for the little red pickup to be heading your way. By the way, we did get an inch of rain yesterday. It was hard to believe that Redwood Falls received 8.02. Too much too fast.
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Noreen
It had been a long time since dense fog welcomed me from my sleep. Not to be deterred, I got my walking gear on and settled in for additional coffee as I joined Dennis in the patio porch. It didn’t take long and I knew that my walk would happen. It has gotten to the degree that there is no second guessing. I am going to get and take my walk. I feel so much better. Oh yes, the extra junk in the trunk still wants to buck every once in awhile. Arthritis doesn’t take a holiday. I do know that while walking, good posture is the key. The shoes that I have for my daily walk are strictly for that walk. The platform is good and the cushion is good.
My kids will be happy to know and learn that since I have been walking, I can no longer do the flip flops that once served as my daily gear. I have gotten very accustomed to having “a shoe” on my foot. With having a good shoe on, comes with wearing stockings, aka: anklets. When I move, my body temperature rises and that includes my feet. Putting my bare foot into my shoes, knowing that there is no barrier between my sweaty foot and the inside of my shoes . . . so not going to happen. So, this old gal now has a pair of “shoes” for gardening, a pair for walking, and a pair to wear when we have road dates. They are shoes that actually hold the foot firmly while giving good support. Who knew! Having a spray can of Lysol handy for the end of the day also helps for the that fresh feel and smell the next day. Ya . . . that would be a “Lena thing” as Mom would take care of Dad’s shoes each evening.
Thus said, taking my shoes off and putting them back on as I go in and out of the house is no longer a top priority. It sounds like a no brainer to take them off and put them on repeatedly, but I need to use a shoehorn each time. Remember that comment about Arthritis? Yup. Oh how I have learned to use that handy dandy little gadget that used to be given away every time you bought shoes . . . well shoes that you bought in stores that were dedicated to selling shoes. My handy dandy gadgets have come from a fellow that used the shoehorns to have advertising printed on them for his insurance business. The cool part is the handles of the shoehorns are 24″ long. It allows me to stand while slipping my feet into my shoes. Gotta love gadgets and the common sense to not fight what happens to be a part of everyday life. A very good life, I might add.
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Noreen
Magnets compared to Velcro . . . and the Velcro wins hands down. The CPAP mask that Dennis wears every night for sleep apnea had a new and improved face mask that held the mask straps in place with magnets that would affix onto metal spheres implanted in the face portion of the mask. The improved mask was also not able to be taken apart and washed. Oh yes, even those wearing the mask for consistent breathing during the night do occasionally sneeze during the night. Yup, can’t be washed the next day.
Dennis did try wearing it several nights, only to get up during the early morning hours and put on the old version. The Velcro straps allowed Dennis to position the mask and tighten it via the Velcro straps for a perfect fit of gasket to facial skin. A good fit and there would be no air leaks. Those air leaks as the individual moves during the night can make some weird noises. Have you ever heard a baby calf bellow? I have in real life and also here on Stauffer Avenue during the night coming from Dennis’ CPAP mask. No, it did not wake Dennis up, but it sure kept me wide eyed.
Dennis and I took a road trip today and returned the new improved face mask to the Mayo Store in Mankato. From here on in, his original style of face mask will be mailed to him from Rochester, Minnesota. It is to be on an automatic schedule every six months . . . . “But just to be sure, Mr. Curry, keep an eye on the calendar schedule.”
All supplies for the CPAP are on a reorder schedule, thus allowing our insurance to cover the cost. Staying on track in life is wonderful, but you have to be willing to put in the time to keep it that way.