Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from June, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:32 pm on June 16, 2024 Permalink  

  It’s a Happy Father’s Day 

  For all the folk out there that are mentors for their households . . . Happy Father’s Day!

  I went to sleep last night by a sky full of colorful lightning.  

  When I got up this morning and looked out to the east via the bathroom window, I saw a huge limb had blown off the Maple.  That potting shed has had nine lives for sure.  Nothing damaged.  The huge limb will be taken care either Tuesday or Wednesday by Ryan of Affordable Tree Service.  When Dennis went out to talk to Ryan, he noticed quite a few places where branches had blown down.

  I spent several hours in the studio today.  I am making a batch of pin cushions.  Of course they are not large.  Some are smaller than others.  After having them stitched by hand it is on to the sewing machine.  Sewing around the perimeter needs a 1-2 inch opening left for turning the project inside out.  That takes patience.  I had three to sew and to turn.  I then shut down the studio as the hands and fingers had had enough.

  This evening we will be having and sharing a 12″ tuna from Subway.  Good eating.

  Tomorrow morning we will be in the pulmonary department at the the Mankato hospital.  It is time for Dennis’ yearly prescription renewal for his CPAP supplies that he can then get at the May Store in the old Madison East Mall when needed.  Again, so thankful for insurance.  It is zero co-pay.

  Of course we will need to pick up kitty litter and kitty food.  32 lbs. at Sam’s Club for Meow Mix compared to 18 lbs. at our Fleet Farm.  Eating and pooping . . . what’s new . . . two legged or four legged.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:31 pm on June 15, 2024 Permalink  

  The Rains Came 

  As forecast, the rains came at ten this morning and have continued with gray dark clouds.

  I had originally thought I would be in the studio today . . . not.  

  I slept in, dozing off and on while the birds gave their songs in the evergreen outside my bedroom windows.

  Having an HP laptop in my bedroom porch allows for enjoying several sites on a day-by-day basis.  Checking in on our bank site has become a daily usual.  Too often I have heard of seniors letting something slip in their finances.  Not that Dennis and I have much to check on . . . but check on it I do.

  Today I have enjoyed having a YouTube video on for noise while stitching.  I glance up now and then when something catches my attention. One of my stitching project is quite large and also a challenge.  DMC embroidery floss is made of six individual threads.  Some projects call for three strands, some two strands.  I am working this design fabric of 25 stitches per inch with one thread over one.  I really enjoy working on it.  I don’t stay with it for hours on end.  Thus, having several different project of stitching is a good thing. 

  Leftovers is the meal of the day for supper.  Gotta love that.

  Yesterday I enjoyed helping with the mowing of the yards.  Four years ago on the 14th of June I was finishing the painting of our home’s garage.  A good job done as that paint job has held up quite well.  No more ladder work for me.  Now sitting on a mower . . . I can handle.

  We may very well get the 1-2 inches forecast.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:57 pm on June 14, 2024 Permalink  

  A Friday 

  I had set the alarm for five this morning so Dennis would have time to wake up before picking Jeff up to head to Mankato at 6:15.  I had to get up at 4:15 for a potty break and thought what the heck.  I got the coffee brewing and bid hello to the day.  I never delay a potty break.  Decades ago my bladder perforated.  Out came the bladder and a section of my large intestine became my holding tank.  Hello to self-cathing for all my remaining days.  I would not want anything to jeopardize my holding tank.  When I feel a twinge, I am on my way. 

  By ten this morning, I had bedding laundered and put back on the beds with a chicken oven dish prepared for our evening meal.

  I was just settling in to watch “The Price is Right” when Dennis walked in.  He was sporting his new shoes from the Limb-Lab.  Sweet.  They are tie leather shoes with two zippers on either side of the heal.  Having a tie that feels right with which to hold the foot, the shoes can be slipped into and the zippers pulled up for closures.

  This afternoon Grammie got to mow one of our yards with the zero-turn.  Freedom!  It felt wonderful with a light breeze.  I was zipped up to my ears to way-lay the mosquitoes.  With my helping Dennis as he manned the Sear’s rider, it cut off two hours of his six hours of mowing solo.  The two grab bars that neighbor Randy put on the zero-turn is the ultimate.

  There is a huge Cottonwood tree in the lot north of us.  When we were done mowing you could not tell that we had mowed.  Our yards were totally white.

  Our oven dish is in the oven for a four o’clock supper.  Neither of us had stopped for a noon lunch.

  No stitching or studio time today.  There is talk of rain.  Plenty of time for threads and fuzz.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on June 10, 2024 Permalink  

  New Week 

  Stauffer Avenue is off to a new week . . . a good week.

  My check-in with the dentist made a world of difference in how my new bottom plate feels.  As Steve said, you can always take a bit more off of a new plate . . . you just can’t put any back on.

  When I visited with neighbor Jan this morning, she mentioned that Dennis had been busy loading up some iron work.  As I can do longer do the amount of flower gardening as several years ago, it makes me sad to see it ignored.  

  My brother Calvin could make scrolled iron work look like welded child’s play.  He also happened to be Kevin’s Christian sponsor.  Today, the Fairfax team can apply it, work with it in their backyard to their heart’s content. 

  From Fairfax we whipped over to Menard’s in New Ulm.  Dennis is now equipped with several gallons of “Total Vegetation Killer.”

  It will be several days before the ole cowboy tackles vegetation as he needs to heal up from a stumble on our concreter drive last Thursday after a successful day of mowing.  His face is healing well, but the goose egg on his left knee needs a few more days of R&R.

  I am not done sifting and sorting my garden items.  Carrie had bought me a huge iron pot stand for the open area of the petals to hold a flower pot.  I had found a huge heavy glass globe in the store in Mankato called Harpie’s Bizarre.  I didn’t purchase it until the store’s going out of business sale.  The globe and stand are a perfect pair to perhaps grace Carrie’s garden.  I will wait until she is stronger on her feet before broaching the topic.

  When we came home from the day’s road trip we had a late noon lunch.  For the first time since June 3rd, I enjoyed some solid food.  Yes!

  We may do a slower start of the week, but no doubt nothing will go a-miss.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:18 pm on June 7, 2024 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  It may be gray with mosquitoes galore, but Dennis doesn’t care.

  On a whim Dennis drove out to the building site of Ryan the tree hauler.  The trip was to just let Ryan know that anytime, Ryan had time, Dennis had more work for him on the blue barn acre.  After supper, the phone rings and the job had for today, Friday, canceled out on him.  Ryan and his crew would meet Dennis at 7:30 this morning with his crew.  I am surprised Dennis got any sleep, he was almost giddy.

  Here we are at mid afternoon.  Ryan’s crew needs to load up some equipment.  All, and I mean all, of the old railroad ties lining the east and south of that acre are gone.  The ties actually lined the east of the acre and the ties on the south had been pushed into a mess of sometimes four and five high at various degrees.  Two loads of ties headed to Brown County landfill.  One load of wood went to our tree dump.

  My ole cowboy has had quite the summer of getting his job-jar taken care of.  Next on his list is to go back to Home Depot for several more gallons of the Brush killer.  What he used last year had a great carryover into this year.  Now that the railroad ties to the south are gone, he can tackle more brush that had been growing among them.  I got a tour of the latest work via the little red pickup.  We can now see the residential lots to the south of the blue barn acre.

  Me . . . I am still on the mend from Monday’s dental visit.  I supply a good lunch and orange juice breaks to Dennis while he ram-rods.  Sweet.

  Sister-in-law sent a photo of our Koi in her pond.  They have had many bright orange babies.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:12 pm on June 6, 2024 Permalink  

  Under Attack 

  The strong gusts of wind are lobbing pine cones right and left onto our west awning.  It does make quite the bong.

  There was one run to Lewis Drug today.  Dennis and I are quite content to spend time right here on Stauffer Avenue.  Dennis had a huge day of mowing yesterday, I encouraged a nap in his recliner. 

  Last night for supper I enjoyed a soft egg on butter bread.  Very tasty.  Vanilla ice cream later on wasn’t shabby either.

  Neighbor Jan popped over this forenoon to see how I was doing.  She was surprised in the over-all process.  I assured her it all went according to expectations and skill set of the dentist.  Dr. Pitcher, at the on-set, said he could and would refer me to Oral Surgery Of Mankato as extractions of roots could be a challenge.  I immediately told him, I would do just fine under his care.  All that referral would have done is added mileage and extra expense as they would have put me to sleep, with possible stitches.

  I checked in with daughter Carrie as she is two weeks out of her cancer lung surgery. 

  Text messages . . . where would we be without them!  I do very little on Facebook.  Very little brings news via emails.  I do have a smart-phone with no internet connection, neither does Dennis’.  We seem to get along just fine.   

  I would have thought once school was out, the traffic passed our home would have lessened.  Not a snowball in hell chance of that.

  Right now there are leaf tips, flower pots and litter flying south down our street.

  JoAnn’s Fabric has apparently solved their filing of bankruptcy.  That was proven today as the box containing two bags of pillow stuffing at a hugely reduced price and a $1.27 shipping fee was delivered by FedEx.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:43 pm on June 5, 2024 Permalink  

  No Deck Sitting 

  The high pitched hum of mosquitos sent me right back inside this morning.  No morning deck sitting for me.

  Dennis did some garage/shop work this morning as the dew was quite heavy.  Long about eleven, he was off to get a mower out of the back garage.  I don’t say anything, as he needs to be his own person.  I was relieved when that person was finished with all the lots at three this afternoon.

  I do keep an ear out as to where he is at at any given time.

  Over my years, I have known discomfort from various surgeries.  Man oh man!  The inside of my lower lip is sore and raw.  I knew the dentist was seeking somewhere to get the leverage to remove the two roots that were flush with the gum.  That area was the inside  of my lower lip.  Nothing can pass into the mouth without passing over the interior of that dang lip.  With my chin swollen and having two deep colored bruises down each side of my chin, I could pass for a wooden marionette.  It is surprising how little the amount of salt may be in food to set off the fire of the lip.  Actually what worked well today was peanut butter on a spoon to be licked off.  I am saving my pureed apple sauce for supper’s dessert.  Aren’t I the big wimpy person!!  This also shall pass in due time.

  The middle of the week already.  May your days treat you kindly.

  With that I take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 3:01 pm on June 4, 2024 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  With fairly strong winds you would think the gray skies would be blown away . . . not.  It looks like rain.  The winds are bringing the cotton tree’s fluff down.  They make a mess on window screens and also air filters on the lawn mowers.

  I went in for my 24 hour check up with Dr. Steve Pitcher.  He was very happy with how the bottom gum looked and surprised my speech was so clear.  When he did the litmus test on the bite:  first the right side, then the left, and once in the middle. He said he would see me next Monday.  When the swelling goes down, things can be different.  He did say my black and blue chin may become a darker bruise yet.  I paid my bill and got the discount for it.  Sweet.  No bill coming in the mail.

  July 1st, Steve and Kris will have their daughter Morgen join the dentistry family team.  She will be moving here from Salt Lake where she attended college.  Wonderful to know that our community will continue with great medical professional caregivers.

  I made Dennis a hot meatloaf sandwich for noon.  I got a piece of butter bread down.  For breakfast I had had an individual cup of apple sauce.  Both tasted good.  After lunch I sat in my rocking chair and dosed off.  Not my usual thing to do, but I can’t say it felt bad.

  I am working on a counted cross stitch.  Monogamous white on mottled blue.  I have three items that I can switch off and on to.  Having a book going is also a good thing.

  I think soon Dennis will let me get on the zero-turn to help.  I would welcome it.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:54 pm on May 29, 2024 Permalink  

  Wednesday 

  —-And a wonderful balmy Wednesday it is.  Low 70s seem to be the perfect temps for mowing yards.  Dennis waited until after twelve as the grass had had a lot of dew.

  Dennis checked his eyelids for cracks this forenoon while I decided some cookies would be nice.  I had picked up a box of Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix.  Hey . . . if it looks like a cookie and smells like a cookie and tastes like a cookie, I don’t care as long as I can handle the process of getting it from the powder form to the oven.  I have saved the dastardly aluminum cake pan to use with baking paper.  The one tray could have used a few less for baking, but all went well.

  It is now the afternoon.  My dishes have been washed, a load of laundry has been washed and dried . . . and how sweet that I have one last cup of breakfast coffee to enjoy.

  After three lots have been mowed, complete with a water break, Dennis is on to the far southeast acre, also known as the blue barn acre.

  The blackbirds are kicking the babies out of the nests.  What a commotion of noise as the babies are hunched up wondering what has happened to the food truck.

  Tomorrow afternoon we have an appointment with the Limb Lab in Mankato.  Dennis has prescriptions for new shoes every 8-12 months due to the fact that orthotics do wear down.  He is thinking that the next time, tie shoes might be better than Velcro as Velcro has a limit how snug the shoe can be adjusted.  Tie shoes do not know those same limits.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:47 pm on May 17, 2024 Permalink  

  Slipping Away 

  The merry month of May is slipping away from right under my fingers.

  With that being said, I can’t think of anything that should have gotten done here on the home front that didn’t.  The calendar is free of appointments until August . . . sweet.  Both vehicles have gas in them.  I may venture to our local grocer’s.  Dennis checks out the town every day.  Our pantry is not wanting for supplies.  With our quiet lifestyle, we are content.  Oh . . . it doesn’t hurt that Dennis’s garage porch has two televisions.  One for viewing with Samsung Plus and the other for the options from the Godahl tower.  My porch allows for me to have a 270 degree view of the neighborhood and street traffic.  Stitching and reading round out my options.

  The days for Dennis and me are planed one day at a time.  I have taken to sleeping until 7:30 each morning.  Dennis is up by 6:30.  All seems to work out fine.

  My mornings are for local effort within our home.  Dennis keeps a handle on the patio porch cats and vacuuming said porch.  He has also been cleaning in the far garage where the mowers and a few other miscellaneous items are parked.  Dennis can’t figure out why some of our age bracket have nothing to do.

  With my Pump-N-Go Roundup, I tackled whatever I could hit with one pump-up.  Tomorrow is another day.  Being the first use, it is heavy to manipulate the sprayer and my cane.  I know what needs its leaves dampened with a squirt of Roundup and what is a perennial.

  The temp has climbed to 86 with overcast.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥