Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:59 pm on June 2, 2024 Permalink  

  A Sunday 

  The air is really nice with a breeze from the southeast.  I have been enjoying said breeze from my bedroom porch with windows open.  I have heard that the mosquitoes are bad.  A fellow down the way has long pants on, a long sleeve sweatshirt and a hoodie tied under his chin.

  Today Dennis’ niece from Moorhead came for a wonderful visit.  Her parents are here in St. James at the cemetery where Jeanie brings flowers.  Jeanie is 77 and has been a great ally from Dennis’ side of the family.

  We have had a light shower of rain this afternoon.

  Tomorrow at this time, I will either have a lower set of teeth in my mouth or close to it.  I am so ready for this.

  The evergreen off of the northwest corner of the house must have quite a few nests of blackbirds or starlings hatched out.  The noise is . . . a lot.

  Yesterday for our evening supper Dennis made meatloaf with one pound of ground beef and one pound of pork sausage.  I could taste the ample amount of Worchester sauce.  Mum is the word.  It was a good pairing with instant Idaho potatoes. Hmm, that is where the cream went for my morning coffee.  Reruns this evening of it.  Can’t beat that.

  I am quite sure Megan will be sleeping in her own bed this evening in the state of Virginia.  We knew that all children grow up but . . . other people’s . . . right?

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on June 1, 2024 Permalink  

  The Weekend 

  Today I was very content to be in my studio.  Dennis’ daughter, the nurse, from Mankato drove out for some plain talk with her brother, Jeff.  Yesterday I had set up the patient portal so Sandy could read Jeff’s medical info.  I then backed off.

  Sandy is a hard core nurse.  Jeff doesn’t want treatment . . . he will die.  His thinking is that in one month, it will be all over.  No.  Dying could take months and it would be very painful.  Everyone is on the same page, except Jeff.  I know Dennis very well and he will do for Jeff what I am not willing to.  I will work very hard to not let this come between Dennis and me.  I can stay in my corners, keep busy and keep my mouth shut.

  That being said, I worked with my “new to me” padded pressing mat from Kersten and Kevin’s find in Goodwill.  I am enjoying making pin cushions in between reading, sewing and stitching.  Megan took one with her the last time she visited.  Yes, the processes are timely.  I have time.  I have designs to stitch called Stoneware.  Once they are stitched they are squared up on my pressing mat.  A backing fabric deems them to be little pillows that need to be filled.  I am on the fence about that process.  Spun poly can be stuffed into each pillow.  It doesn’t make for a very sturdy pin cushion.  I really like the crushed walnut hulls.  I know in pet stores, it is sold as lizard litter.  Price wise, of course, the hulls are more.  At my wonderful place in life with very few needs in the clothes department or housewares, the price is not the ultimate.  Ease of working with threads and fuzz is sweet and brings contentment.

  I have found gluing on the trim is worth the time it takes rather than over-cast stitching that would not be uniform.  I also found out some of my glue containers need to take a hike.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:48 pm on May 31, 2024 Permalink  

  Drip Drip 

  I awoke to rain showers and it began again at two this afternoon.

  I am pooped.  Not physically, just mental.

  It started Wednesday when Dennis got a call from his son Jeff that he needed a ride to our St. James hospital.  No more was said.  Thursday night Dennis gets a call from Jeff, he needs a ride home from the Madelia hospital.  The Madelia ambulance took Jeff from St. James to Madelia.

  This morning Dennis picked up Jeff from his apartment for a sit-down to see what was going on.  Jeff came with recent papers.  Jeff has liver cancer and there is metastatic involvement.  This has been going on in Jeff for some time.  How unfortunate for someone that had so much going on for himself.  I did go out to the clinic as Jeff wanted me to have access to his records.  I can only offer moral support.

  On a bright note, Aunt Janet and I had a great hour telephone visit this mid-afternoon.  She no longer goes out to the old family farm where her nephew lives and farms.  She does still enjoy making baked items and someone from the farm picks them up from her to take out.  Her and I are ten years apart.  My sister and I were six years apart.  Sweet conversations.

  When Dennis came back from taking Jeff home, we both felt wore out.  It is still knowing what is going on so as to not have to wonder.

  It is still doing the drip, drip.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:04 pm on May 30, 2024 Permalink  

  The Week is Closing Down 

  The last thing we had wanted to do today was to make a trip to Mankato.  Every year Denis qualifies via the Veteran’s Clinic to receive a pair of shoes with the specific orthotics to make up for the lack of toes on his left foot.  The VA sends a prescription to the Limb Lab in Mankato and they allow us to know when we can come to their clinic.

  This morning Dennis, one foot at a time, had a laser image taken of each foot.  The orthotic is thus built.  The right foot also has an orthotic to make sure Dennis will walk evenly.

  Anyway, in three weeks we will be notified when the shoes are at Limb Lab.  It was great to be home by noon.

  There was a huge flat box on the front deck from the mail delivery.  The Fairfax family are frequent visitors to Goodwill.  In the mail they sent me a portable padded mat for pressing.  Wow.  It will be perfect to pin and and stretch stitched items.   Quite a few useful items have been added to the studio via Fairfax.  Kersten thinks nothing of having a dozen or more items each day being sent out via the post office of eBay items she has sold.  I am sure she could land a job in any retail store at Christmas time for special gift wrapping.  I called her to give her a huge thanks.

  As I sit in my bedroom porch using the laptop, I have a full view out to the south.  Our neighbor to the south has been fighting the wonderful aluminum storm windows of days gone by.  It was the in-thing to conserve energy and get rid of the heavy wooden storm windows that needed changing out if you wanted a breath of fresh air from windows being opened after a long cloistered winter.  Oh how those suckers could get blessed.  Been there . . . done that.

  The southeast wind is harsh.  Perhaps we will make it to the weekend without rain.

  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 3:21 pm on May 28, 2024 Permalink  

  Safe and Sound 

  Whenever we take a road trip quite a distance from Stauffer Avenue, I’m thankful when we come home safe and sound.

  Yesterday we checked on the Eden Prairie gang.

  Carrie was one week out of the surgery she had had.  Wonderful to see her recuperating at home after all went well.  Their yard looked as if Nicholas and Jeremy were keeping up with energized grass growth from rain showers.  Megan was counting the days and the boxes yet to be filled for her return to Virginia on Friday.  Megan has been helping in the store while being at home from the college year.

  The traffic yesterday was heavy.  I doubt anyone can quote you what the speed limit should be driven at.  That little red pickup was clocked in at 65 mph or less.  

  Sunday evening Dennis visited one of the food trucks that were up in the park.  He brought home a Taco Plate for one as this was a new experience for us and who knew what to expect!  Three large softshell tacos filled to the brim with meat, lettuce, chopped green onions, cheese and hot sauce.  Side orders of re-fried beans, and rice and chips.  It was all the two of us needed for our meal at the price of $13.00 . . . and it was very tasty.

  Sunday afternoon we had help with an item that had been in the back of his little red pickup for almost two weeks plus.  When we last had an appointment for Dennis at the radiology department in Mankato, we stopped at Hobby Lobby.  Dennis with a tape measure and me scoping out the sale items in their lobby.  I found the perfect size of an item for our tiny house.  It was marked “As Is” as it was a scratched and dent item.  No dents.  It had to stay in the back of the little red pickup as it was too heavy for Dennis and me to unload.  Hobby Lobby fellows had had no problem.

  Sunday I spied with my little eye that Dillion from across the street was home.  I went over for a chat.  Dillion got his heavy duty dolly out of his garage.  The cabinet went up the front steps right into its resting spot without Dillion even breaking a sweat.

  I will enjoy having some storage space close by.  My household office area has always been a small computer desk in the living room.  All we did with it is use some Silicone Lubricant on the metal slides of the drawers for better ease of opening.  Sweet.  Each barn door slide has two shelves.

  All is well with my soul.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on May 26, 2024 Permalink  

  The Sun 

  The sun stays out for only a few minutes at a time with 70 degrees struggling to maintain.

  Dennis’ two nephews from Windom came over this forenoon for their annual visit.  You can count on those two to bring flowers over for their grandparents’ cemetery plot.  Regardless what brings them over, Dennis enjoys the visit tremendously.  Matt and Mitch are bachelors.  Mitch lives in the basement of their home and Matt is on the main floor.  Matt works at Ag-Co in Jackson and Mitch works at Toro in Windom.

  I have done no local effort today.  Shame, shame . . . not!  I don’t have Lena’s favorite Sunday afternoon task to do.  Mom would sit at the round oak kitchen table and darn socks.  I don’t think dad was that hard on them, but mom could weave the softest patch possible.  Sunday afternoon naps were on dad’s agenda.

  I have been diligent watching traffic, doing a few stitches while reading in between time.

  Dennis has gone on to changing the oil in the mowers.  They have been getting a work-out and will continue so with this cool weather after having the roots of the grass totally soaked. 

  I am looking forward to seeing the Eden Prairie family tomorrow afternoon.

  With that I take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 2:17 pm on May 25, 2024 Permalink  

  The Busy Ones 

  It is Saturday the 25th.  We are the busy ones that live on Stauffer Avenue.

  My laundry basket is empty and all that was within it has been folded and put where it belongs.  Don’t you just love clean clothes!  A dance around the laminate with the Swifter and all is good.

  We have a back garage that is two and a half stalls in size.  Quite some time ago there was a fire that took the home on that lot.  We purchased the adjoining lot and added it to our homestead.  Dennis has been cleaning said garage.  The tractor and loader that had been parked length wise on the far north wall has found a new home.  The ford convertible that we were storing for Sandy’s fellow is now somewhere in Mankato.  Cleaning the far corners of the garage is on Dennis’ list.  Not to be done all in one day.  Lightening the load in that garage felt good.

  Dennis’ grandson AJ has stored his Harley in that garage over the winter months.  Amazingly we have still had room for the Cub-Lo-Boy, the Sear’s rider and the zero turn.  Dennis does a good job of organization.

  I am awaiting an answer from Jeremy.  When Megan was a non-walking toddler, Jeremy built a decorative bridge for our yard.  It has always been in the garage over winter months.  Photos have captured the family when they visited.  If Jeremy would like to see it in their yard, we could easily return it to their home.

  I say that as we are going to Eden Prairie on Monday to see how Carrie is doing after her surgery and also to say “so long” to Megan.  She, I am sure, is anxious to get back to Virginia where she and three friends will be sharing an apartment.

  It is mid-afternoon and it is giving us a chilly sprinkling shower.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:41 pm on May 24, 2024 Permalink  

  Thunder Rolled 

  About two this morning the lightning and thunder let us know we had more rain coming.

  It has been a breezy cool day.  For those that like to camp, campfires would work well.

  We have no plans for this holiday weekend.

  Dennis has his patio porch and I have the multiple floors of our home with no lack of things to while away my time.  Fuzz and threads know no limits.

  For my families . . . be good, be kind and be safe.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:47 pm on May 23, 2024 Permalink  

  Thursday 

  My oh my.  The ole cowboy is in the mowing gear.  I assume it is going to be all or nothing for him today.  When I got a small bottle of Sprite for him, his clothes are dripping with dandelion fuzz, clipped grass and anything else that shot out of the mower from the cutting side.  He uses a bungee cord to tie up that which would keep the grass and such blowing down when it comes off of the blades.  Where does it go if not down . . . but caught in the breeze to cover the operator.  As I am not using the old Sear’s mower or doing any mowing, I have no beef. 

  Jeremy has been keeping me up to speed on Carrie.  Jeremy is forthright and no drama.  Tylenol plus is the pain med being given.  Jeremy said they would be going home from Rochester as soon as the doctor had made their morning rounds.  I have not asked any questions whatsoever.

  I have been in the studio today and enjoying it.  I can also report to the Watson boys that the toilet is cycling every fifteen minutes and needing about nine seconds to refill the water in the tank.  Burk said he would be back as what had been done earlier in the week was apparently not the rest of the story.  We are in good hands.

  It is clouding over and I think I heard something about rain showers.

  The one baby Robin that has been fed non-stop, actually made it out of the nest today.  We will be able to enjoy sitting on the front deck without the mama badgering us to leave.  Her mouth would be so full of food for the one baby, she still had a way of guilting.

  It is beef meatballs, instant mash potatoes and jellied cranberries for supper.  The sell-by-date of the milk was the 20th.  It will do just fine for the potatoes.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥