Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from February, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 6:15 pm on February 22, 2019 Permalink  

  Eventful Day 

  A non-event day for me, but for the three cats . . . oh my gosh!  The leaf blower was put to work.  A large portion of the east patio was clear of all snow.  I settled into Dennis’ rocking chair and left the door ajar so the three cats could come and go for a short time.  When Dennis is home the pickup overhead garage door goes up and goes down, goes up and goes down as he has to check as to what has happened around town.  Dennis is in and out of the service door more times than I can count in one day and evening.  The heating fuel of a “Dennis Day” compared for today to allow the cats to feel safe as they wandered around outside for a bit, came in and cleaned off in between the toes, and went out for more fun.  Many deer smells that had to be taken.  Honey Bunny made it around the patio porch to sniff at what was there on the west patio.  I have not kept anything clear other than the east patio, so the tummy was dragging in the snow.  I have not experienced cabin fever this winter.  I know the cats have, as there are multiple things to pick off of the floor as they have adventured onto many shelves in the garages.

  There was some sewing done today, nothing serious.  The only tidbit I can recall from having the news on was that the word “blizzard” has been touted many times for Saturday night into Sunday.  Oh goody, goody.  I have a squash baking out.  That may be the extent of supper with butter and salt and pepper.  Hmm, there is a tub of herring that hasn’t been cracked yet . . . that sounds good as well . . . but not together with the squash.

  Next Friday will be March.  No matter how much snow we have had, time has marched on.

   
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  Noreen 4:28 pm on February 11, 2019 Permalink  

  I have been avoiding the news 

  I have been avoiding the news.  There is nothing that I need to be kept up on, as nothing happy ever seems to happen.  When I am in the sewing studio, I have my battery operated radio on.  I think it might be all of 20 years old.  It was a Christmas gift that I still cherish.  I have realized my favorite television channel of late is the weather channel.  Day time shows have all these wonderful tips that they tout as the best and greatest new ideas.  Hell’s bells.  Been there, done that.  If I didn’t learn all these great things from Mom, I got it in 4-H or Home Economics.

  As I put out the garbage for pickup tomorrow I took in the nicely cleared areas free of snow around the garage door and the back door.  As I will be burrowed under the flannel sheets tonight, the forecast is to bring anywhere from five to six inches of new snow.  Whatever!  Other than feeling a slight backache from snow removal, I am up for it.

  I did spend quite a bit of time working on the Santa Jacket.  It is to the point that I don’t want to screw up.  No do-overs allowed.  One day at a time and one step at a time.  No timelines.  By the time I shut down the sewing studio, the jacket was able to be hung on a clothes hanger.  Who Knew!

  Time to go out and check on all things that pertain to four legged creatures that need my attention.

   
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  Noreen 3:59 pm on February 3, 2019 Permalink  

  What a disappointment today has become 

  What a disappointment today has become.  No sunshine, no temps above freezing . . . just fog and gloom.

  We are one day out from Dennis leaving on his trip with nephew Brett.  We had absolutely no reason to leave home today for any type of fun road trip.  Dennis did decide to take each of the two vehicles out to the automatic car wash.  No . . . they won’t stay clean for long.  What Dennis likes about the car wash is the under spray that they have to try and take a whack at all the grit and salt under the carriage. 

  I was making us some eggs for a noon lunch when he came home.  About that same time the washing machine let out its last breath indicating the load was ready to swap out into the clothes dryer.  Dennis offered as he knew it was the last of the items on his list of favorites to travel in.  “How did we get bleach in this load?”  I went to look and he had my black bra in his hands, remarking on the speckle of spots that looked like bleach had been splattered.  I assured him there had been no bleach involved.  When I had put down the light gray epoxy paint in the closets of the basement, all I had on was a pair of panties, this black bra and a pair of shoes.  No point in getting more mess going than necessary.  Ironically, there is a spot of the gray epoxy on the arm rest of one of our dining room chairs.  I do get into my projects.  There was a need to have a rub-a-dub at the time of the painting where I had spots of splatters on my arms and legs.  People . . . you really need to hang around us older individuals, we could be fun to watch.

  I hope no one comes to our front door unexpectedly.  The melt that took place yesterday allowed for a perfectly smooth layer of ice.  The back door concrete had the advantage of being at a slant away from the door.  I will have to put out a bit of ice bite so as to not have the mail person take a fall.  I kid you not, it is glare ice.

  Minnesota has a theatre of seasons every 24 hours.  I still cannot imagine leaving it for a few months every winter.  I like it here on Stauffer Avenue just fine.

   
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  Noreen 4:30 pm on February 2, 2019 Permalink  

  A Spring Reprieve 

  What to do with a 70 degree difference in temperatures!  It felt as if Spring was here, right now.  

  We are now two days out of Dennis leaving for his trip.  He is one busy ole cowboy.  The ice from our furnace exhaust has been taken right down to the level of the grass.  About that time, neighbor Jan came outside and she assured Dennis she could see the exhaust from her kitchen window and there would not be a chance of it getting out of hand.  Dennis took the filters out of the water in the horse tank that allows for the Koi to have bubbles.  The entire contraption was taken down into the sink in the basement for a clean up.  Would the filter have clogged up within the next several weeks . . . it doesn’t matter as they have been attended to today.  Out of storage came the garden hose and Dennis added water to the horse tank.  Granted, it is in the garage but evaporation does its deed.

  With the temps being in the high 30s, there was a bit of ice to get rid of by the back door.  Dennis took one swipe with the ice chipper and the handle broke off.  Hmm. It’s only twenty-five years old.  What is up with that.  Off to Fleet & Farm we went.  Dennis made sure he bought one that has a hardwood handle on it.  Nice and heavy duty and $23.98 later he was back to getting rid of unwanted ice.  With it being so warm out, I have an idea there will be new ice from the re-freeze over the night hours.  It is quite wonderful to have the concrete driveway thawed off.  

  Dennis has had both vehicles up to the gas station and both have full tanks of gas.  He is now cleaning windshields.   Have you ever heard of people being over stimulated?  Bless his heart.  Dennis so much wants as much taken care of before he leaves so as to not put me in a bind.  Again, I say, bless his heart. 

  If tomorrow is as nice as it was today, I may suggest a road trip of some sort.  It will take Dennis’ mind off of other items that he wants to take care of . . . of which there is none.

  On a light note:  There were seven deer in the backyard last night at intervals.  Dennis thinks the buck has shed his antlers by this time, as there was one that looked huge even from the 30 feet from where we were enjoying them.  I knew I would have livestock chores to do while Dennis is gone.  The three cats in the patio porch have now taken second fiddle to the wonders of the white tailed deer.

   
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  Noreen 5:20 pm on February 1, 2019 Permalink  

  The count down is on for Dennis and… 

  The count down is on for Dennis and nephew Brett to begin their road tip.  This was again a busy day of last minute checks and balances.  The VA visit for Dennis was a positive one.  All systems go in regard to health.  

  We had great service from the privately-owned Thrifty White Pharmacy in Mountain Lake.  It was worth the 26 mile trip.  It was the last of Dennis’ prescriptions that we need for his trip.  On a side note:  It seems Lewis Drugs has purchased the pharmacy from Shopko.  It will be some time before there is a location in St. James.  Madelia, 15 miles to the east of us, is also a Lewis Pharmacy.  We are really so glad that we have our prescriptions on hand as each of our prescriptions do include a 90 day supply.  By that time the red tape should be processed to visit a pharmacy here in St. James.

  While we were in Mountain Lake we stopped for a lunch break before continuing north to Fairfax to stop in at Kevin and his place of work.  Kevin had snagged a variety of Velcro products.  I am hoping to use some of it in The Santa Project.  I will be working on making a new Santa Jacket for the six foot tall Santa we had on display during the Christmas season in our patio porch.  It seems to be the logical time to do it before Christmas of 2019 is upon us.  It will be a slow process.  The most current plan I have is to split the jacket in the back using the Velcro so the maintenance that may be needed with the movable parts will be easier to get to.  Santa is 55 plus years old, and like the rest of us, a bit of TLC doesn’t hurt.

  As I said we are down to three days before Dennis leaves for all points west and I have my plans in place as well.  

   
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  Noreen 5:11 pm on January 31, 2019 Permalink  

  We had a high today of one above… 

  We had a high today of one above zero.  It felt balmy.  Snow flakes came down every once in a while.  We may have had a half inch in total.  Several times I suited up and pushed the driveway clear, especially the end of the drive where the road plow can really pack it in.  It felt good to get some exercise and, of course . . . fresh air.

  Today was time to get Dennis’ bags out of storage and into the living room.  What a fellow needs for a road trip that will be several weeks long is amazing.  Yes . . . we started several days in advance with written check lists.  Both Dennis and nephew Brett use the CPAP machines for sleeping.  I can only imagine how the coin flipping will go when it comes time in a motel to see who gets the electrical plug-in for the their favorite side of the beds.  Come to think of it . . . when I am done with my blog, I am going to put a good extension cord in Dennis’ CPAP bag.  Better safe than sorry.

  The enjoyment that we have had this year with a pair of Cardinals gracing our Lilac bushes is more than words can say.  I realize that Blue Jays get the bad rap when it comes to birds, but I must say we have quite a few of them and they don’t seem to intimidate the Cardinals.  The smaller birds ignore all that is around them and find neighbor Jan’s feeders just fine.  The open water in our backyard from the sump pump reminds me of the conversations that have been referred to as “the water cooler gossip in offices.” It is come one, come all and get a drink  The only creatures I have never seen at the open water is the squirrels.  Hmm.

  The fresh air and exercise has caught up with me this late afternoon.  Once supper is over with, I will be in my chair awaiting all the good shows on PBS this evening.  Oh the joy of watching a full length show with no commercials.  

   

   
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  Noreen 6:49 pm on January 28, 2019 Permalink  

  Randy made several passes on our driveway and… 

  Randy made several passes on our driveway and the 90 feet of driveway had nothing of the six inches of snow showing.  The bank of snow on the south side of the driveway and just off of the north side of Stauffer took the deposit.  After a heavy snowfall, I realize old habits kick in.

  Dennis had his snowmobile boots out and I knew there would be nothing to do but for me to suit up and join him.  No way was I going to have him outside in the cold alone.  More than likely he would say I get in his way.  Too bad.  If I can get the garbage and recycling containers out of his way he doesn’t need to spend time doing it.  Our front steps and sidewalk is manageable with my pusher.  That north wind was raw and a doozy.  Getting Dennis into the patio porch for a warm up does take some doing.  Hello!  We have all day to do this.  When Dennis goes after the snow . . . it is all concreted areas get cleared.  I get it.  Dennis’ pickup backs out of the garage onto Stauffer Avenue and that doorway was really socked in from the city’s early morning work.

  In time we had the east and west patios cleared off.  The last path Dennis made was around to the north side of our home.  Our vent for the furnace comes out of the foundation mid point of the length.  We have kept a close eye on that ice sickle.  When all was done and everything snow removal was put away, I headed towards the back door of the house and Dennis was going to get some rocking chair time in the patio porch.

  About the time I had a hand on the door knob, the neighbor south of us was headed for a visit with Dennis and called out to me.  Bob had just finished his snow blowing.  Bob’s observation was “Moving snow must agree with you.  Your cheeks are rosy and it makes you look so much younger.” WTF!

  When I have been out in the cold I go back to doing just what I did for Carrie and Kevin when they were small children playing in the cold and snow.  Slathering Vaseline on the portion of the face that is exposed makes for a protective shied.  If it doesn’t, please don’t message me.  If I believe it . . . it is so.

  Tonight before supper, Dennis felt he needed to get some of that shell corn put out in case the deer came calling.  What to put it in?  Around to the front of the house Dennis went and picked off the top of the concrete bird bath that has a spot there.  Perfect size and heavy enough to hold a Folger’s empty coffee can of corn.  The treat is awaiting on the east edge of the patio.  They have come that close before as they ventured to Jan and Randy’s yard.  Time will tell. 

  I never did check as to the temperatures today.  It would not have served any purpose and it would not have changed a dang thing on Dennis’ schedule.  After listening to the supper news, I know we did the right thing to get the outside work done.  The schools are closing tomorrow due to the cold, a good cue for the two older ones on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 4:53 pm on January 27, 2019 Permalink  

  How bad can the cold be when two… 

  How bad can the cold be when two doe and two fawn like our backyard!  We watched them through the patio porch windows last night for a good 30 minutes.  It was just at dusk.  Granted, Jan and Randy did put a hay bale out for them for just such a moment.  One of the doe got her nose up high enough to rattle the bird feeder.  Those must have been some very special snacks for them to hang around as long as they did.

  This afternoon we went to the Fleet and Farm store for a 50 lb. bag of shell corn when they opened this afternoon.  Dennis is on track.  Even if the shell corn gets damp from the snow, it is still munchable.  The cracked corn and other grains in the bird food would get soggy if we put it out.  There is much of winter left and having visitors is a huge treat.  Speaking of visitors: the pair of Cardinals that grace our lilacs during the day is quite sweet.  They enjoy Jan’s bird feeder and then off to the open water that we have where our sump pump bubbles to the surface.  Stauffer Avenue is the best place to be.  

  The snow has started right on time as per the forecasters.  It’s very fine and according to those who are out and about this late afternoon, the road surface is a bit slick.  We are tucked in safe and sound.

   
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  Noreen 5:18 pm on January 26, 2019 Permalink  

  It is to be a huffing and puffing… 

  It is to be a huffing and puffing spell for the furnace.  The forecast for the next six days doesn’t look very much above zero.  We worked outside for a time to clear away some fresh fallen snow.  With the sun and no wind to speak of, it didn’t seem bad.

  Today was swap out day for bedding.  I actually don’t swap them out.  The sheets get taken off the beds to be laundered and then put right back on.  A linen closet full of choices is not something that I thought we needed here on Stauffer Avenue. 

  As the bed in the west porch was being made, a chuckle came about.  When Michael and Joann were here in the fall of last year, I was showing JoAnn a quilt on the bed.  The bed touches three walls of the four sides of it.  JoAnn commented it must be quite the job to dress the bed.  As I was going through my antics to do just that, I chuckled.  An older adult conquering the quest of the bed versus walls.  It most likely would make a humorous YouTube video.  Our tiny home is our forever home and of course there are going to be challenges.  I am up for them.

  Dennis came in and said the livestock was down by one.  The oldest of the four cats has died.  Tabetha came to us as a stray battling snow banks for food.  We took her in and she had the best three years of her life.  It seemed fitting that I help Dennis take her basket bed apart afterwards.  Dennis went off to the laundromat with that and some other rugs from the patio porch and I began doing some cleaning.  It is now up to Honey Bunny, Snuggles and Harriet to keep Dennis company in the patio porch.  I think it will all work out just fine. 

   
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  Noreen 4:48 pm on January 24, 2019 Permalink  

  When the morning finally registered to my slumber… 

  When the morning finally registered to my slumber, I was hesitant to open my eyes.  It sounded horrible outside.  The wind chimes were a constant rattle.  The wind rushing through the evergreen outside the northwest side of the house sounded more like a train.

  Wonder of wonders, the driveway had not drifted over to any degree.  I could still see Randy’s tractor tire tracks that had drug gravel from the street.  The portion of the driveway I had cleaned off with the leaf blower was still clean.  I did not think the snow was heavy enough to have held firm.  Yippee for us.

  I am in between serious sewing and stitching projects and have decided to take a break and do some reading.  I had sent Nicholas and Megan a package with some stitching in it for each of them.  Obviously I don’t have any photos loaded here on the ole cowboy’s computer to share right now.  I may get the photos loaded but then I also need to download a program to resize them.  When Megan received the package in the mail, I got a text that said “awesome,” I knew I could take a bit of a break from the sewing studio. 

  The house smells oh so good as there is a pork roast in the oven along with an Acorn squash.  A good oven meal always adds a bit of warmth to the kitchen.

  I will add if I am to stay on the ole cowboy’s computer much longer, each one of these keys need to be cleaned . . . just saying.