Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from February, 2017 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 4:03 am on February 17, 2017 Permalink  

  Every once in awhile there is a nice surprise in life. Dennis and I were going over some business here on Stauffer Avenue and we realized we did not have an abstract for a vacant lot that was purchased on a tax forfeit sale some time ago. It is adjacent to our residential property. When we inquired we knew it would have to be started from scratch as nothing had come forward when we tried to follow up with the fellow that had let it go for back taxes. The abstractor told us many people wait until there is a transaction before updates. No. We want our business tidy.

  The abstractor called yesterday that it was ready to pick up. I held my breath when I ask her how much I should have the check made out for. I had always heard that when a new abstract has to be processed from the beginning to current times . . . it is a huge bill. I had to repeat the amount to make sure I had heard correctly. The amount of the check was for $312.00. She made the comment it was really a clean piece of property, meaning that a transfer from individual to individual and not through bank loans. We are current from 1890 to 2017. Whew! For the two older ones here on Stauffer Avenue we were able to take that out of our job jar.

   
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  Noreen 3:57 am on February 16, 2017 Permalink  

  Wonder of wonders. Yesterday at several different times I was going to boot up the laptop here in my sewing studio. Nothing. No little cursor to move around. Not even the mouse was interested. I wound all the cords up and knew it has been a wonderful relationship since 2008. As I was taking a break this afternoon waiting for my iron to heat up . . . what the heck. I plugged the old faithful in and away she went. I backed everything up on my Click Free external unit right then and there. I do back it up every two weeks as it is. I am not on the computer as much as I used to be. Mostly it is for the photos that my backups are important. Who knows what happened. Maybe it needed to go AWAL just like the cats do once in awhile.

  I would miss my old faithful, but I am a realist to know that not many people have computers that are nine years old. Just as this laptop, I back up my computer in the living room on a programmed schedule. Whew! Sewing studio . . . we are back on track.

   
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  Noreen 4:30 am on February 15, 2017 Permalink  

  Cats are such a puzzle We have five… 

  Cats are such a puzzle! We have five cats. The oldest ran with the dinosaurs, then there is an eight year old, a four year old, a three year old, and the youngest is two. All are terribly spoiled with a litter box that gets cleaned twice a day, daily fresh water and a never ending food bowl. I would venture to say that the contents of their sleep baskets get changed oftener . . . well, I guess I won’t go there.

  All of the cats have been to the veterinarian and will not be pro-creating. With the exception of three year old Butter Ball some have gone AWAL for a time. Some for three or four days, some for weeks. Where the heck do they go? They must eventually get homesick because just about the time we are done mourning them and trust they didn’t suffer a horrible death but a swift merciful one . . . they show up. Never have any of them come back home looking like they had to fight for their survival. I have seen some videos of cats that have had a tracking device. It sure would be interesting. I can tell you the pickings here must be pretty good as the food bowl is the first place they head for after landing in the porch. Perhaps ignorance is bliss.

   
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  Noreen 6:35 am on February 14, 2017 Permalink  

  For a Monday, I was well rested. Dennis came home last night with a lot of chit chat about the three day tradeshow. Sioux Falls is a mecca of events, thus motel rates are going to make hay while the sun shines, aka: rates.

  It was a very good thing that I had this evening’s meal in the refrigerator awaiting to be popped into the oven. Our neighbor gal to the south came over for a visit after the noon hour. Dennis and I had planned on a late lunch. As we finished lunch at 2:00 p.m., I received a text that I had company coming for coffee. In between time I poked in the pork steak that had been marinating and kept an eye on the clock to get the carrot dish in. It all worked out. The coffee guest left at 5:00 p.m. and Dennis and I had a great supper meal at the stroke of six. Whew!

  It won’t be long and I will go down to the sewing studio and close everything down until another day. It is a good thing my iron shuts off after five minutes of not being use. Everything else had been just like the fourth of July. Part of being here and being the person that I am, I think there are days I could hang out a shingle: “Ask my opinion and you shall receive.”

   
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  Noreen 4:36 am on February 11, 2017 Permalink  

  They do say that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Today my AAA card in my hand was worth money in the bank. Dennis had planned this trip to South Dakota for a year. All smiles and fully loaded he left for the weekend this early morning. About 11 a.m. I had myself ready to run some errands. There was a warm breeze and it felt good to let all the kittens out from the porch to get some fresh air. In my trusty old Lincoln I got and when I turned the key . . . there was not even a grunt.

  Several weeks ago that had happened and I confessed to Dennis I most likely had left the dome light on or the door was not all the way shut. Dennis put the battery charger on it and all was good. All was good until this morning. Why put off what needs doing? I called down to the corner repair shop. Steve and his son came down within a half hour, started the car with a portable charger and they said they would bring it back with a new battery. I predominantly take care of the car and I do not recall a new battery being needed in the last years.  A few minutes after 1 p.m. I got a call from Steve. “Have your AAA card and your checkbook ready we are on our way to your home.” I was sitting on the bench outside the back door when the car was delivered into the garage.

  I had kidded Kevin a while back that I had “people.” What I have is a very friendly small town. It does help that we pay our bills. Small town businesses often have to carry customers by default. Money does talk, but not as much as a friendly relationship when your town is small and everybody knows your name. Kind of like the television series “Cheers” of a time gone by. My small town allows me to know that I am really never in a bind. It’s a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 6:10 am on February 9, 2017 Permalink  

  It was my turn to make supper. It had been a long time since we had had homemade pizza. Because I have been disappointed in the recent past with the ground beef that is at the ratio of 80/20, we splurged on the 90/10. Excellent choice. An entire diced and caramelized onion matched up with two choices of shredded cheese. If I would have had olives in the refrigerators there would have been a corner of the pizza with the little buggers. The only negative was how hot it stayed after coming out of the oven. I know the leftovers will be just as tasty tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 5:37 am on February 8, 2017 Permalink  

  Dennis made a great supper. No canned vegetables in his hot-dish. Cubed chicken breasts fixed on the stove top to perfection was added to carrots that he steamed. Frozen peas, penne pasta and Classico sauce finished off the best oven meal we have had for some time.  There is no way our kitchen pantry is large enough to have all the ingredients that the Classico company puts in their sauces. There is more! As I was in the sewing studio there was a racket in the kitchen that sounded much like a stump chipper. Not. It was Dennis making his favorite oven squash custard dessert using the 1968 blender. Very good eating right here on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 6:26 am on February 6, 2017 Permalink  

  A quiet day today. I took time to research some authors for my Aunt Janet. She loves to read. I have remembered two of her favorite authors, and from there it was just hunt and peck and find authors that had similar story lines. Upon that completion I gave her a call and we chatted for a good 45 minutes. Janet has never had children and her husband has been gone for some time. Janet does go and help her nephew Dan. Dan is a confirmed bachelor and still likes to do a lot of the “good ole days” living. Dan and Janet are a good team.

  I continue with a timely sewing studio project. I have an unlimited amount of patience for the project to come into fruition. It may not be evident, but that same level of patience extends to those around me. The sun was out for most of the day, and with this winter giving us some good days mixed with not so good days, the time is flying.

   
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  Noreen 5:48 am on February 5, 2017 Permalink  

  Dennis was off to a trade show at JackPot Junction. Lots of schmoozing by lots of ole cowboys. I had a quiet day right here on the first floor of our home. There was some reading to do and also some table work as snowflakes still need to be traced and cut. Sitting next to a north window catching squirrels doing somersaults as they nab the last of the berries in the tree – things I miss out on when in the lower lever.

  A good day and I do not have to worry and stress over the Super Bowl as I don’t know who is playing. Ignorance can be bliss. The sewing studio got a well deserved break today. Late yesterday I cleaned the floor of lots of threads and fuzz, and now there will be room for new stuff floating about.

   
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  Noreen 5:33 am on February 4, 2017 Permalink  

  Where did this day fly off to? Ended up with a happy customer on an embroider job and a happy camper when it came to a visit from a long time friend over a pot of coffee this afternoon. Dennis is making supper and I am on board with that. His take: instant mashed potatoes with a can of Campbell’s Chunky soup on top of the potatoes. Sometimes less is more.