Updates from August, 2016 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Noreen 3:49 am on August 25, 2016 Permalink  

    When the older ones on Stauffer Avenue get their grove on . . . watch out. Sheets were stripped from the bed, so why not take the mattress pad to the laundermat. Oh, the three yard polar fleece blanket would make a good match with Dennis’s winter parka for a second load. Wait . . . there are two loads of rag rugs that we have been stacking up in the garage when soiled. Dennis didn’t even mess with putting quarters into his pockets. The VFW bar manager has saved beef jerky plastic quart jars for Dennis, one of which has been his quarter piggy bank. Dirty laundry, laundry soap, the entire piggy bank and Dennis headed off to the laundermat in his little red pickup. The front load Speed Queen washers run on $2.00 and can take more of a load than our home washer.

    While Dennis was gone, the bedroom was freshened from head to toe and his garage porch got a good vacuuming. We have put down rag rugs on our new carpet in the porch. Six four footed creatures plus Dennis and I can drag in a lot of yuk on the feet. To top it off, when the rain of last night was 1.5 inches, wet feet are soilers for sure.

    Our washer/dryer unit is a pretty good size, 3.5 cubic feet of washer capacity. It would be running for hours if all of that laundry needed to be dried. With more quarters for the dryers, everything might not have been quite totally dry, but it didn’t take long for the drying to finish on the clotheslines. We just purchased this GE washer/dryer unit in January of this year and rag rugs and heavy bedding is just not a good fit.

    I am not sure what to make of people our age when they tell us they get bored. My belief is “only boring people get bored.”

     
  • Noreen 3:29 am on August 24, 2016 Permalink  

    Thunder is rolling, rolling. Hardly a break from one roll to another. The skies are dark and we know there will be weather warnings again. I cannot imagine how horrible the Louisiana situation can be for hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. From the several times this season that our backyard had been under water for several days, the smell was such you couldn’t wait until there was a breeze to help to dissolve the smell. The stench and disease in Louisiana gives pause for thanks being given for the blessings of our home.

    On a lighter note, Dennis and I both have had haircuts within the last days. What a great fresh feeling. Low and behold, the gal that has moved in across Stauffer Avenue had held a beautician’s license in Colorado. Now, Jean, at age 71, does not feel the need to go through the ranks and files for a license in Minnesota. I can tell you, we feel that putting a few extra dollars in her pocket has given us the best of haircuts in quite some time.

    Dennis has put together a hotdish for supper. The oven is heating and this will be a great treat for me. What a blessing that in this little home on Stauffer there are no lines drawn in the sand as to who should or must do specific tasks within our home. I appreciate it so much.

     
  • Noreen 4:24 am on August 23, 2016 Permalink  

    This early afternoon was the last of my gardening due to the humidity and warm temperatures. There was so much of the Nightshade weed that was just getting a good start in the gardens. I have to confess that one of the small trellises that can’t grow a flowering vine to save its soul does have a flourish of the Nightshade weed that is in full bloom with little purple flowers and now also sporting little red berries. Hey, it’s green, has flowers and I know in a heart beat I can pull it up. With all the rain that we have had, it has been easy to get into the gardens and pull up all sorts of things by their roots. The latest days have had Maple, Black Walnut, Poplar, Oak and Elm trees in heights of six inches and shorter pulled up by their roots. I can easily see how areas are covered in foliage in short order. My finger nails are clean and I am on to contriving some items with the computer and printer. Believe me, having dirty finger nails comes easily to me. Not so much, though, the coordination of text and photos into a completed printed outcome.

     
  • Noreen 4:00 am on August 22, 2016 Permalink  

    This was what I was waiting for! A cool crisp morning, low humidity and no biting bugs. I spent a good eight hours out in the yards today. Dennis had had a rough night with little rest. With his favorite blanket in tow he opted for his recliner after breakfast. I wanted to keep the house quiet for him to rest. Not to worry, I had Butter Ball and Snuggles for moral support. We started in the far east garden taking out everything from volunteer trees to spent Hollyhock stalks. We kept navigating towards the west until we reached the patio for a break.

    In the early afternoon Dennis got the lawnmowers geared up. The lawns are so lush for this time of August. Having had a large amount of rain, it’s hard to believe how dirty one can get mowing grass. Actually, it’s not the grass that is harboring the dirt, it’s the dry pine needles and such that needs to be run over with the mower to get at the grass.

    At the day’s end, we are showered up, and the stomachs are content with the fare of a cold salad and buttered bread for an early supper. Dennis is back in his recliner and I am going to do a bit of sofa duty myself.

     
  • Noreen 6:33 am on August 21, 2016 Permalink  

    We have had ourselves a great road trip day. Granddaughter, Megan took part in the Dragon Fly Theater Arts Camp production of “Off the Wall.” The production centered around the Mother Goose Humpty Dumpty. We had a great visit with the entire Eden Prairie family as we enjoyed Dairy Queen treats afterwards. Coming home always feels great and 10 minutes in, Dennis is in his “relaxing” clothes and I am not far behind. There is no place like home.

     
  • Noreen 3:04 am on August 20, 2016 Permalink  

    Very humbling to say the least. This afternoon I am going back to a time 65 years ago with a task that my mom had me do often. Every Saturday, it was my job to tip the six kitchen chairs over and scrape off the bottom of the chair glides. Farmers don’t take their shoes off when they come into the house and farmer’s children drop food on the floor for the chair to push off against.

    Same church; different pew. Here I am at age 72 and doing the very same task here on Stauffer Avenue. Crumbs get dropped, food gets spilled and the rollers on the chairs collect bits and pieces here and there. I don’t need to do these every Saturday, but every once in awhile it doesn’t hurt. In the end, it is a good job done and of course it is not a one time job as long as people eat and drop crumbs.

     
  • Noreen 4:26 am on August 19, 2016 Permalink  

    A day of feeling very fortunate to have missed rain and thunderstorms. There seems to be an abundant of bad weather and fires throughout the United States. Yup, we think God is very upset with us. Too much of the “Old Adam” has run its course. On a lighter note, I corralled all the wisps of threads that were running rampant off of their spools. I cannot believe I did not know the trick that was built into each spool.

     
  • Noreen 5:50 am on August 18, 2016 Permalink  

    Road Trip Lessons 

    Thread 001 (Custom)

    The only fault I had with my embroidery materials, was that the thread was very hard to control as it is slippery,

    Thread 003 (Custom)

    Ask and learn. Today at the Bernina shop I mentioned the mess of my threads. Hmm. The inside of the bottom of the spool needs to be pushed up and it telescopes allowing the thread to be guided into a trough. Push the telescope in and it clicks with the thread very well tended. I will have a bit of time in my sewing studio over the next days as I tidy up my threads. That alone was worth the road trip.  Oh, this Grammie has a lot to learn.  Just to be clear . . . there was no hint of this little tip on the spool.

     
  • Noreen 3:59 am on August 17, 2016 Permalink  

    Full Potential 

    Holly Hock 2016 001 (Custom)

    I have been watching this stalk of Hollyhock for some time. Now this is the ultimate in being at its full potential. The plume grass that is just setting its plume in the forefront of this photo is five feet tall. This marvelous white Hollyhock has given me pause as it was determined to stretch far and beyond. Just the sheer weight of the stalk defies its ability to stand so straight and tall given all the winds and rains that we have had.  What is “My” full potential at any given time? Do I really stretch myself to the max? This is the very last bloom on this Hollyhock stalk. I think I have quite a ways to go before I can claim my “full potential.”  So . . . I tell myself to stand up straight and tall and take what each day brings so my bloom will remain at its best.

     
  • Noreen 3:59 am on August 16, 2016 Permalink  

    Sometimes in your own home and and your own property . . . you need to hide. The neighbors to the south of us arrived home from their trip and right behind them arrived an adult son that had moved out several years ago due to difference of opinions with his dad. I cannot believe the son will be a full timer, or how we hope. This fellow had a way of wandering over when Dennis was in his beloved porch, and then would forget to go home. Dennis’ porch is “Holy Hour” 24/7. I know Dennis and I are so spoiled with our home, our space. I do feel for Dennis as he has been treading lightly. Can’t you just envision him? Cracking open the back door of the house and taking a peek to see if it’s all clear and then scampering quickly to the service door of the garage to get into his porch, unseen. Dennis may be experiencing cabin fever in the middle of August.

     
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