Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:05 pm on August 18, 2024 Permalink  

  Good Day 

  At eleven this morning, the little red pickup was idling in the drive.  I was not surprised as we had had the talk last night.  Today was mowing day.  We had not mowed in nine days and it was needed big time.  With both of us cruising the two acres, we can get everything looking good in two and a half hours.  Yes, we both stood still after getting the mowers back in the barn.  Taking good advice.

  Other than drinking what is left of the breakfast coffee, I have no other plans for the rest of the day.  Dennis did head out to fill the two small gas containers for the next time.  After the mowers have cooled he does fill them, depleting what is on hand.  

  I walked back from the far garage with my cane.  The mosquitos are so itty bitty, but the aftermath of them getting you does not keep the itch from being less.

  I walked on the sidewalk north of the patio porch heading to the house.  The sidewalk is a roller coaster for us elderly.  The neighbor’s oak tree can’t have many acorns left on it as walking on the sidewalk was dangerous.  I did the shuffle until I was clear of the tree’s overhead branches. 

  As I walked our backyard coming home, I hadn’t noticed any black walnuts on the ground from our two trees.  There were black walnuts on the ground as I was mowing the east acre.  I wonder if deer eat black walnuts and acorns.

  Our docket is clear for all of next week.  Sweet.

  By the way, I had an email that I had a test result in the Mayo portal.  I assumed it was from the urine testing I had done some time back.  I was curious.  Oh my gosh, I had no idea how many drugs could be identified via urine.  Truth to be told, I had had no idea that there were that many drugs needing to be tested for.  I am really innocent about that testing.  Nurse Sandy had said that in older people that need pain meds, they make sure to test us making sure the drug is noted in the sample and that we are not selling them.  Hmm.  Like I said . . . innocent.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:52 pm on August 17, 2024 Permalink  

  Four Legged Friends 

  Our porch kitties are for sure the four-legged friends that are our sweet spots.  Hark, there is some competition in the backyard.

  The last several weeks we have had two young fawns hanging out enjoying munching on clover.  When we first noticed them, they still had their white spots.  Yesterday, they were showing mostly their rich tan color.  When Dennis came in at eight last night, he said they were bedded down under the Hackberry tree.

  And what, would you ask, are the porch kitties making of all of this!  The sliding screen of the east patio door is barely wide enough for all three of them sitting on their haunches keeping watch.  All they want to do is watch from their safe spot.  Amazing.

  Sleep came easy for me last night.  At 8:30 this morning, I had to fight to keep my eyes open.  Once the feet hit the floor, I was running an agenda through my mind.  As I enjoy the first cup of coffee, I do check everything over on my HP, including the weather for the day as well as banking information and obituaries.

  As Dennis was heading to the Dollar General to buy several gallons of distilled water for his CPAP machine, I headed into the studio.  The 24 quilt blocks were waiting on the church tables.  My goal was to sew half of them together . . . four per row and three rows sewn together.  At a bit after three, all lights were turned off in the studio with my goal having been met.

  Our supper is going to be a smorgasbord of items from last night’s supper tied together with scrambled eggs.  It will meet all of the major food groups.

  Nothing news worthy to report.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on August 10, 2024 Permalink  

  Cloudy 

  Today is cloudy and cool and nobody cares.  Everybody is just enjoying it.

  Today was spa day for the ole cowboy and me.  A trip up the street by five blocks and the spa event began.  Nothing, at least for me, feels better than some TLC for my feet.  Dennis never begs off of the spa day because . . . he enjoys it as much as I do.  Haircuts follow the the spa day.  Going for one-month intervals is as long as either one of us can take.  The toe nails catch in the socks and the hair becomes fly-away.  We never leave Maria’s shop without a card for the next month.  It was shocking to see the September date.  We will be there.

  When we got home a bit after noon, Dennis’ grandson and his pickup were parked in the drive waiting.  He had phoned his grandpa about the visit.  AJ knew we would be home shortly.  It is always a good visit for the grandpa.  AJ works for a cyber-optics company with under-ground cable.  He is not married, owns his own home in North Mankato and loves his dog Rowdy.

  For myself, I feel that I had a great week.  When I parked the zero-turn yesterday in the back garage after mowing, our work on Wednesday really gave the garage the look that someone cared.  We do need to pick up more floor-dry of the white consistency.  We left our oldest floor broom in the garage so we can work the floor-dry in and then get it shoveled up.

  Thursday’s shopping has allowed our pantry to be stocked for the items we consistently use and may not have to shop for them again for three months.  We bought a new tote to be used as a litter box for the three patio kitties.  Over time plastic surfaces pick up scents.  Did Dennis pitch the old one?  No.  It has Dawn dishwashing liquid in it and he thought he may use it in the potting shed for dry storage after a good scrubbing.  I encouraged him, if he did, to not use the cover for some time.

  When we were done at the spa date, we did take a whip in and around the blue barn acre, aka: getting to look like a park.  Very self-satisfying speaking of pride in ownership.

  While Dennis and AJ are solving the world’s problems I am comfortable in my bedroom porch listening to a YouTube while poking in a stitch or two.  AJ’s parent live several blocks east of us.  Pretty darn special that we were his first stop when he got into town.  Just saying.

  Supper is the left-over soup from last night with Dennis and I having a half of a grilled cheese sandwich.  

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:38 pm on August 9, 2024 Permalink  

  More Please 

  More days such as this . . . please.

  I knew yesterday as I was tucking groceries where they needed to go that today, Friday, was already planned.

  Today was mowing day!  The air and yards were dry as humidity and the dewpoint were low.  Mowing began at 10:30.  I have moved on up in the world, as George Jefferson said.  I am now able to start the zero-turn mower in the proper sequence and begin without any further instruction.  I walked into the house at 1:30.  Mission completion.  Dennis is helping out a person new to the neighborhood and mowing her lot as well.  When 93 year old Edna lived in that home, Dennis always took care of her yard.  I am sure at some time a mower will be on the new owner’s tick list.

  Before Dennis had rang the mowing bell, I had a few items I wanted tidied up in the studio.  One fabric that ravels easily needed to be put under the surger.  One of my patterns that I work off of in my bedroom porch needed to be copied.  I often use a highlighter to keep track of where I am in my stitching and a throwaway copy comes in handy.  I also had some blocks on the quilt top I am working on that needed pressing.  

  It is always more enjoyable to return to the studio if everything is up to snuff.

  When I came in from mowing, I nabbed the last of the breakfast coffee and tuned in to a YouTube.

  I brought out of the basement pantry a bag of Shore Lunch Chicken Noodle Soup.  The contents are dehydrated.  The contents are wide egg noodles, carrots, celery and herbs.  Six cups of water brought to a boil.  Contents of the bag are added and the kettle is simmered.  I will then add a 12.5 oz can of white chicken meat that I will use a dinner fork to break apart and shred.  It does make for a hearty soup.  Good thing crackers were brought home yesterday.  I generally don’t do crackers.  Dennis uses enough that there is no broth to sip at the end.  I am a sipper.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on August 6, 2024 Permalink  

  After the Storm 

  This morning with the sun and cooler temperatures it was hard to believe there had been so many warnings out.  Our skies to the northwest didn’t look friendly at supper time.  We did not get any amount of rain and no winds whatsoever.  We were blessed.  

  With KNUJ on in the studio the rain totals were all over the map.

  It was interesting listening to the interviews with the KNUJ moderators for the first day of Farm Feast.  Hard to believe so much machinery and inventory is hauled out to the site for just three days.  Even closing the gates at four every afternoon seems counter productive for businesses to hawk their wares.

  Dennis has had success with his vegetation weed killer and went back to the acre this afternoon to spray another area.  The good thing is that Dennis knows when to take a break.  If he forgets, most likely his legs will threaten to buckle underneath him.  Just as I no longer answer his phone when he forgets to carry it, I no longer keep tabs on his whereabouts when he is out and about on our property.  There could be a correlation between the two.

  I have been thinking about Esther Schafer’s full hank of silk floss.  I have a stash of cross stitch fabric that may have been Carrie’s or mine or perhaps both of ours.  The curiosity got the best of me and I had to take a look-see as to how it would work up.  It handles in the needle beautifully.  No twisting or knotting up.  In the stash was several yards of banding.  Not all designs work on an area of 2.25″ in width.  I got out the gridded paper and struck out to see what I could see.  No, I do not have a full yard in length charted.  I am taking it slow.  It is interesting to see how a length of floss that is variegated looks on fabric.  I am not able to stay with it long as the fabric is slubbed.  I am working two strands over two stitches on this 25-count fabric.  Poking around and through the unevenness makes for a good challenge.  I am always up for a good one.

  Dennis reported he got one of the Harbor Freight sprayers emptied and then let the mosquitoes reign.

  I have taken out of the freezer an oven meal for supper.  Do I remember what concoction it is?  No.  A mystery meal is to be had.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:57 pm on August 5, 2024 Permalink  

  Happy 

  I am happy Dennis is home from Mankato from Jeff’s one-day procedure.

  Just as Dennis came home, it began to rain.  The sun had not shone all day but now the sun is shining through the rain.

  As I was in the studio, I texted friend Linda to firm up with her about the quilt tops I want to work up for the church ladies.  I am on the correct path.  Their group does not meet until after school starts. 

  After I had put in my allotted time, I came up to my bedroom porch to sit upon my cherry red chair and pick up the hand stitching.  I have been working on the stitching for Esther’s wooden box.  The stitching is going according to plan.  That’s always a good thing.  I have been kicking around what color of fabric I want to make the liner with.  I will use some of what I have in my stashes.

  Looking out to the south as I work on this blog, I couldn’t help but notice that some of the neighbor’s sunflower plants are taller than the roof line of their one story porch.  No blooms on them as yet.  The smaller plants are showing blooms.

  I am the consistent one that lives on Stauffer Avenue.  I keep a balanced life for myself each day.  With the enjoyment of helping Dennis mow our acreage, I thought I would also take care of some of the extra foliage among the Hosta.  Nope.  Once the mosquitoes notice a rustling of the vegetation, they are on me like . . . immediately . . . after my face and ears.  My stamina and balance doesn’t allow for long durations without a cane, so I don’t resort to the oily bug spray that needs to be washed off for the short time of use.  So be it.

  I did take note on KNUJ, the fellow that Kevin bought his first train set from and I believe also Rachel the goat had passed away at age 87, still living on his farm site at Buffalo Lake.

  Nothing exciting to report and that in itself is a good thing.

  Supper is grilled cheese sandwiches with chili.   

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on August 3, 2024 Permalink  

  Grateful 

  Today I am so grateful I passed on a long trek to the home of the twine ball.  It was the Riebe cousin get together.  It is held in the city hall of Darwin that is airconditioned.  I just didn’t feel it.  Dennis said as late as last night that he would take me . . . Nope. 

  My age has nothing to do with it.  My general health has nothing to do with it.  More time is spent on the hot highways than in attendance.  I know I would come home with with the loud conversations echoing in my head as there are no acoustics in the building. I would be wiped out into tomorrow.  It’s all about choices.  The highways go both ways.

  I was content in sleeping until eight not having to worry about a food item to take along in this heat.  My ritual is to sit on the edge of my bed for a good ten minutes before I venture further.  A great way to start each and every day.  

  The breakfast coffee was rich and hot.  The buttons on the washing machine were punched and I was totally dressed by ten.

  Dennis’ plan was to visit with our tree trimmer.  He and I have decided to finish up the clearing of the blue barn acre.  The south lot line going east to west has about 12′ to 15′ of volunteer small trees and some larger trees that gave it up and fell over.  What a great feeling that would be to get it done.  Ryan has been with us since the first load of crap was hauled away from the site.

  My plan was my studio.  There was stitching laid out.  There was some progress that needed pressing.  It all boiled down to contentment for this Grammie.  The Spirit Lake radio station had great country western tunes.  When Dennis came home he had news from Ryan that maybe in several weeks he would be by with his crew and equipment.  Dennis had also stopped at Fleet Farm and bought several small bags of potting soil.  The two large patio plants were repotted last Saturday.  We have had two inches of pounding rain since and naturally the soil in each pot has settled making room for more to top off the pots. 

  Yes . . . a grateful day.

  Supper is going to be Subway.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:32 pm on August 2, 2024 Permalink  

  Got It Done 

  We knew after we had gotten two inches of rain the night before last, the blue barn acre’s surface would be wet.  But everything needed mowing today before it got away from us.  Half of the acre has pretty good grass and as we take care of it, the grass has stooled out quite a bit this year.  A portion of the acre has clover, creeping charlie and the weed that has flat glossy leaves and has been told to heal sores it the leaf is broken, crushed and rubbed onto a sore.  No, I’m am not going to try that.  I mow the Clark lot as well and that mowed great as it is in full sun and . . . no weeds.

  We were done mowing by twelve noon, other than the front yard.  Dennis mows that in different directions so it ends up looking great.  The ole cowboy takes pride in how our property looks.  As I was putting the zero turn in the back garage, two small fawns were enjoying some of the clover that had just gotten a haircut.  I am sure they were born in the early spring.  What a precious site.  When I had first started mowing, the wild turkeys were grubbing whatever it was that they enjoy.

  I have my mowing garb . . . zipped to the chin, sweat pants that mosquitos can’t sting through and my garden shoes.  I did get some mosquito bites behind my ears.  Not too bad.

  For supper this evening, I took last night’s supper’s left-overs and made a sort of a Shepard’s pie.  Green beans down first.  The left-over porkchop sliced real thin and put over the beans.  Those two items were covered with the left-over Stove Top Stuffing.  I made gravy out of the pan drippings that I had browned the chops in.  The gravy I covered the stuffing with.  Tonight Dennis and I will put our portion on a paper plate, covered with a damp paper towel and microwaved for about two minutes per plate.  Bread, butter and peach jam if desired.  A hot meal for the mowing team.

  Though the mowing was done by noon, the studio lights stayed dark.  I watched some YouTubes in my bedroom porch and did some cross stitch stitching.  Megan and I texted back and forth a bit.  It has been hot in Virginia as well.  The restaurant where she has a hostess job stays comfortable with the AC as does her apartment.  It was sweet keeping in touch. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:09 pm on August 1, 2024 Permalink  

  Oh My 

  Around 10:30 last night the light show began in the northwest.  Not much thunder but the sky stayed lit non-stop.  The rain sounded like pellets hitting the windows through the screens as the wind whipped the rain.

  When we got up, through the bathroom window, the east patio sliders showed branches full of leaves on the lawn.  The Hackberry tree had a huge limb that had been sheared off.  All we could do was text Affordable Tree and let Ryan know we would like to be added to his list.  Neighbor Jan told me we had just a bit over two inches of rain when all was said and done.

  Dennis and I picked up quite a pile of branches about as big as round as a thumb ready for the burning ring.  I knew I had some grass seed in the garage.  I used my small rake to rake through some tangled grass that could use some of the seed next to the west patio.  It might just have a chance to sprout.

  As Dennis took some letters to the post office, he came home and commented the wind had done its damage around town.  One of the letters was the application forms for his placement into the Veteran’s Home in Silver Bay if and when it would be needed.  We both felt good about having taken care of that in a timely fashion.

  Before noon time, I came into the house, having given the mosquitoes enough of my blood. 

  I did turn all the lights on in the studio this afternoon as I stitched a bit, starting another log cabin quilt top.  This one will be with hues of burgundy.  What with the yard work, several hours in the studio was enough. 

  As I am typing this blog posting, I have noticed quite a few pickups with trailers taking stuff to the tree dump.  KNUJ forecasts the possibilities of pop-up showers into this late afternoon and early evening.  It sure is gray enough for that to happen.

  For our evening meal, I am going to fix some boneless porkchops in the oven after I have browned them.  A can of cream of chicken should smother them until tender.  I haven’t decided if Stove Top or instant potatoes will accompany the chops and the green beans. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:12 pm on July 28, 2024 Permalink  

  Warmish 

  The morning breeze continued right on into the afternoon hot-feeling air.

  Today on the agenda, was to make use of the morning breeze on the east patio.  Two plants have been begging to be re-potted.  We were prepared with the Fleet and Farm trailer to get the dirt out of the car.  Dennis had holes drilled into the bottom of the two pots for drainage.

  We were in full combat when company arrived.  My cousin Mark, from the Canby area, had gone to Jackson for his class reunion and stopped in for a visit.  Quite the visit.  The coffee can I had been using to scoop new dirt was replaced by Mark taking the bag of dirt from me.  I did take a scissor and cut into the impacted roots so they would have a chance to nestle into the new soil.  It didn’t take long and the plants were getting a drink in their new home.  I will pick up a smaller bag of potting soil as the dirt will settle as a bit more water will be done.  Sweet.

  The entire time, we had a great visit with Mark.

  As Mark was getting ready to get home, two vehicles pulled into the drive.  Dennis’ daughter Sue, and her daughter’s family were here for a visit.  They had been in Sioux Falls for a bridal shower for Dennis’ youngest granddaughter. 

  When five thirty found our little home cleared out and quiet, I felt weak.  It had been a very full, rather hot day.

  If I think of anything earth shattering, I will fill you in tomorrow.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥