Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from June, 2017 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:42 am on June 2, 2017 Permalink  

  Summer sure did pop out today. I chose a different walking route this morning, one that offered shade periodically. The usual county road’s asphalt reflecting more sun and heat than I thought was wise.

  I came across the area of the community gardens. One lone fellow was putting in tomato plants. I couldn’t resist wandering over to him. I introduced myself and he to me. Wonder of wonder. His grandfather had a boiler’s license and worked in the Hector, Minnesota, school taking care of utility duties during the same time that Carrie and Kevin’s grandmother, Esther, was the head cook.

  Glad to have made it home in the warmer temperatures, I headed for our shaded patio to enjoy the cup of coffee I had put there before heading out for my daily constitution. It matters not that by the I time I get home from the walk, the coffee is tepid. I sat back, enjoying the coffee, but not nearly as much as letting my mind wander back to the “Esther Days.”

  As a mother-in-law, I learned so much from her in regard to raising a family, keeping a home, gardening until you thought you’d have to crawl into the house, crocheting every chance you could find and being a bit of a tough nut to crack. My trip down memory lane lasted a lot longer than my cup of coffee. It was time well spent.

   
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  Noreen 3:27 am on May 31, 2017 Permalink  

  We were primed to have coffee on the patio this morning and realized we had to dry off chairs first. Sometime during the night there had been a sprinkle or two. As I was having my first cup of coffee and getting my walking shoes on, I could tell Dennis’ mind was far, far away. I headed out for my walk and left Dennis to his thoughts.

  As I was stepping it off on the county road I could not help but think that if Dad were still with us, I think he would literally be with us. There is so much heavy equipment buzzing around the town and the perimeter with the huge utility upgrade, Dad would find a tree stump that was handy and sit and take it all in. Digging down 20 feet to install new sewer line, water lines and re-routing gas lines has brought in an entire village of workers operating just the type of equipment for someone like Dad to be enthralled by. That doesn’t even take in the site that is next to my morning walk. All that has been taken out of the trenches of the street work has been piled high and now is being ground up for re-purposing for the post-installation.  Oh for the mindset of those creating all of this machinery to make it work.

  As I was rounding the bend returning from my walk, I could see where Dennis’ thoughts had been. Far, far away to the back of the acre to get his riding lawnmower going. That sneaky fellow. The remaining yard work ensued with me pushing my mower and Dennis continuing with the rider mower. Ya, I am now showered and very tuckered out. What a great feeling to sit back and enjoy our home. Jokingly, Dennis commented if we lived in an apartment complex we wouldn’t have to put in all the local effort to keep things tidy. We looked at each other and knew deep down, no matter how tuckered we get there is no other place for us but on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 3:32 am on May 30, 2017 Permalink  

  I can take a lot when it comes to weather and temperatures. Today . . . it is raining this late afternoon and it would not surprise me if there were ice crystals included.

  Thank goodness I have multiple tasks that I can turn to on days such as these. I hightailed it down to the sewing studio. Last week Dennis’ granddaughter sent along a huge tub of her son Oliver’s toddler clothing from age one to three years old. She is wanting a quilt made up of the memories that so many of the items evoke. First thing was to nail down with Amy as to what colors were to be predominant and the size she was anticipating. When I hefted the tub of clothing I was not surprised when she said it would be nice to have a double bed sized quilt.

  At the end of this day, I do have the grid drawn out on paper and know that I will need 64 eight inch blocks for this quilt top for it to be 84″ x 84.” Keeping in mind the small size of many of these knit items, it is quite a stretch – I should say, quite the shrink, from working with knit shirts from my friend Burke this winter when he brought over his Vikings t-shirts. Sixteen blocks made the 84″ x 84″ for Burke.

  There is no time frame on this project. Amy is having a little girl in October and I know right now her focus is elsewhere. When this weather straightens out, my focus will split between yard work and sewing studio work.

   
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  Noreen 4:54 am on May 28, 2017 Permalink  

  This was another great day. Being outside with no bugs is just the best. Soon the out of town visitors will be going home that came to attend Dennis’ children’s mother’s memorial. It so shows how spoiled we are with our own schedules here on Stauffer. I am not ashamed to admit that. Isn’t that what getting to our ages is all about . . . I think so.

   
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  Noreen 2:50 am on May 26, 2017 Permalink  

  We can’t complain when the sun is out. Patio time may need a jacket and we can go with that. We have a memorial service to attend late this afternoon. Marion Curry, mother of Dennis’ five children, has passed away. It was important that we be available either in our home or on the patio for Dennis’ grandchildren to be able to drop in and visit. Erin, who is 33 and the oldest grandchild, made our patio the first stop as she had driven from Silver Bay, an hour north of Duluth.

  Dennis and I are here for moral support when family needs us. In between time, we have our home and each other, the most precious place on earth. We spend time with each other offering moral support as the world around us changes daily. Sometimes when I am out and about it feels like a whirlwind and I can’t wait to get back to Stauffer Avenue where life is sweet and simplistic.

   
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  Noreen 5:19 am on May 25, 2017 Permalink  

  I finally broke down and bought some annual flowers. Last fall Dennis and I pulled up all the cactus that were in a small contained planter on the southwest corner of the house. Too much success as they were overflowing and would leave prickers if someone walked too close. Today Moss Roses have been put in that area. You can be sure that in the spring of 2018 I will leave the soil undisturbed for a long time to see if they have self seeded. I know Mom always had Moss Roses that volunteered.

   
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  Noreen 4:57 am on May 23, 2017 Permalink  

  Now this was what I would have to call a great day. After a weekend of unusually cool wet weather, the morning sun was a welcome site.

  It started with a walk and then swirled right into a day of mowing and trimming to get the acre whipped into shape. Dennis used the rider for most of the yard as the grass had seeded out and what lawn can’t use a bit more free grass seed? I did bag the front yard. My arms work better pushing a mower than raking up windrows. We worked in a bit of patio sitting in between times. As I look out right now it does appear that we may have a rain shower moving in. Can’t say that we need it, but the deal is . . . we take it as it comes.

  Both Dennis and I will have no problems winding down for the evening hours after we pull a supper together. After a day like today, what I wouldn’t give to find a refrigerator full of leftovers.

   
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  Noreen 5:03 am on May 21, 2017 Permalink  

  Glub. glub! 2.5 inches of rain in the last several days is a bit much. The best news is the patio porch is totally dry. During the last days of the nice weather, I had used the Mantis tiller in the hosta beds north of the porch and adjacent to the sidewalk that goes around the patio porch. No doubt the newly tilled dirt was ready to soak up some of this rain. I had also left a deeper ditch that ran along the sidewalk. How fun the porch is when it is dry!

   
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  Noreen 3:56 am on May 20, 2017 Permalink  

  This morning, I realized too late I should have taken a pair of light gloves with me on my walk. A little extra of the swinging of the arms helped get as much circulation going as possible. It was down right cold with a brisk northwest wind. The gal that was mowing the cemeteries on the county road was suited up with a winter jacket and cap. This cool weather is really a bummer. I never realized how much I took for granted to being outside now that it is the month of May. I have several bags of mulch laced with Preen that I would love to work with.

  Today as I finished up a shirt remodeling, Dennis peeled boiled eggs for me. Having egg salad on hand is my go to for a snack. If that snack is on hand, I tend to overlook the cookie jar. As I worked with the peeled eggs getting it mixed with lots on onions, Dennis shared how difficult they were to peel. That explained the extra large eggs looking less than they should have. You know what? For the price of eggs being very reasonable and the help that Dennis gave me . . . I so appreciated the help. This batch of egg salad is very, very yellow and loaded with a lot of protein. Life shared on Stauffer Avenue is the best ever.

   
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  Noreen 7:30 am on May 19, 2017 Permalink  

  Hmm, the furnace kicked in and it felt good. Very cool outside and very soggy. Today was a good day to turn my interests into remodeling a shirt and leave the thoughts of the last flowerbeds that need attention for another day. Different strokes for different days. We did enjoy a great crab salad for supper. Green peppers, onions, celery, shredded cheese and crab. Colorful dish and quite healthy. The worse part of making the salad is all the fine chopping of the goodies.