Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:07 pm on October 23, 2023 Permalink  

  Oh My Oh My 

  Oh my oh my,  Dennis and I are home from the big town of Mankato.

  I had a list and I had checked it twice.  Our pantry in the basement has had quite a lift via Sam’s Club.  When all else fails a cup of Progresso’s chicken noodle will fill the void.  It has Campbells beat eight ways from Sunday.  There are other flavors but chicken noodle is ours.  Dinty Moore is another to have on hand.  A small can over instant mashed potatoes makes a good supper, of course jellied cranberries tops it off just fine.

  We also made a stop at Hy-Vee.  Different types of pasta will round out our oven meals.  While I was at it, I picked up two quick meals:  meat loaf and potatoes and hamburger and pasta in a tomato sauce.  At $6.00 each, I couldn’t have half of the included ingredients on hand.  Dennis and I don’t do the heavy suppers anymore.

  Those were the only two stops to make.

  When asked if I wanted to stop for an early supper, my response was a no.  Dennis’ thermos cup was still fairly full with hot coffee.  I had picked up a $2.99 tray of donut balls.  We snacked, drank coffee and talked smart to each other all the way home.  Priceless!

  I know we had rain overnight, enough to make a puddle or two.  The bright sunshine today made for a warm feeling with the light jacket I had on.

  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:05 pm on October 22, 2023 Permalink  

  Harvest 

  The grain elevator is open on this a Sunday.  Every color of tractor possible is hauling in wagons of shell corn.  Not every farm works with their own semis.

  Dennis manned the weed whip and the plants right east along the foundation have been taken out.  I clipped off the spent lily stalks in the area going into the house.  With my handy pail, both sites were raked and added to the burn ring east of the garage.  Small steps toward what each day is leading to.

  When I went outside this afternoon, I went via the front door.  The bugs don’t get direct sun there and I could escape.  Ish!  I have never found what purpose they serve.  Taking my pail of greenery to the burning ring, I noticed a huge wasp’s nest on the south gable of the potting shed.  Ish!

  When I was outside, neighbor Jan and I visited over the picket fence.  She asked how things were going.  I made mention that the bucket list of the blue barn acre was empty for the year.  She remembered all the Kudzu vines hanging from the trees.  Dennis nipped all of them where they came out of the ground so that what went up in the trees has no food source . . . except one.  I just got a text from Jan explaining that her new battery chainsaw made short work of that last vine.  My, oh my!  I did indeed thank her.

  Some time was spent in the studio today, pairing up fabric prints to make 16 of the “Block 2” design.  With that cutting and pairing, the sewing of those blocks will go well.

  It is a tomato soup supper this evening.  Crackers, bread, butter and jam will round it out.  Vanilla ice cream could be the finish.  Dennis did comment that tomorrow might be grocery shopping.  With our summer and early fall having been busy getting our total homestead whipped into shape before cold weather, our pantry in the basement has never been so empty.

  We didn’t have a garden to harvest, but I know some great canned goods to have on hand.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:27 pm on October 21, 2023 Permalink  

  Blustery 

  The winds from the south are huge.  Hmm.  It just came to mind that t0dler Megan’s favorite word for a long time was huge.  She would really draw it out.  Sweet memories.

  This morning when I gazed out to the west, it looked as if I had a screen saver on the windows.  The leaves blowing from the north was a non-stop parade of golden yellow leaves of various shapes.

  One more item I wanted to accomplish before the forecast of cooler temps.  The pail of black paint needed to be opened one more time.  The threshold of our back door gets a beating every day.  A new coat of black paint was in order.  While I had the pail open and a brush dirty, I headed to the front on the house.  The new deck was built over our original concrete steps.  From the south looking north there was visible some badly chipped black paint.  Not any more.  My brush has been washed with the paint pail lid tapped down . . . I am done painting for the season.

  I will say that my escapade of using the zero-turn mower yesterday was satisfying, My legs are telling me that the dismount of the mower did not go smoothly.  Given a day or two, all will be well.  I showed Dennis what I had found on the internet for assists in getting off and on zero-turns.  There are two choices that seemed to be what is needed for the Grammie.  Oh . . . not one or the other.  Both on the mower seemed worthwhile.  Watching Dennis it would be a good thing for both of us.  One was mounted on the frame at the front tire to help in the dismount and the other was mounted on edge of the deck where where one would get onto the mower.  I am not pushing it as the mowing for this season is . . . for all practical purposes, done. 

  May the weekend give you time to regenerate for the upcoming week.  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on October 20, 2023 Permalink  

  What a Day 

  This morning, I beat the bugs.  I had the garden hose unrolled with Dawn dishwater liquid ready to be applied.  The driveway as well as some of the cement going to the front door was caked with dirt, spent blossoms and layers of leaves that had nestled in.  By the time Dennis came home from his VA appointment I had finished.

  Yesterday when we had cut back the Russian sage, all the stalks were facing one way.  This morning with our huge rake, the trail to the burning ring began.  In no time the pile of Russian Sage was rolling over, each time the rake pulled it over.  Now there is this tight roll of foliage that is about five feet long at the burning ring.  A little drying time is needed.

  I have been hinting that I wanted to learn the operation of the zero-turn mower.  Today was the day.  Dennis ran over the particulars and I was on my own.  Dennis used the Craftsmen mower on our original lot’s grass.  I had the lot east of us that is a huge rectangle.  Hmm.  At the end of my run, I had really enjoyed it.  Both of us got home to the garage next to our home so Dennis could blow off the mowers and refuel them.  Here comes the huge “Hmm.”  I could not quite figure out how to get off of the mower.  Left leg and arm had no problem running the mower.  Left leg and arm did not have any strength to assist getting off the mower with nothing static enough for solid handling.  It took quite a while for this Grammie to do the final act.  Bummer.  At that point Dennis admitted he fell the first time he wanted to get off.

  It is now mid-afternoon and I have been on the internet.  Ah Ha!  There are manufactures that make an assist for getting off and on the zero-turn mowers. 

  When Dennis comes in for supper I will share what I have discovered.  I felt it was important to be able to use the equipment that we have to keep our property up to snuff if Dennis is not able, or . . . to help him out with our two acres.

  What a day.  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:48 pm on October 19, 2023 Permalink  

  Thursday the 19th 

  On this Thursday morning, Dennis headed to the VA for his INR check.

  As the little red pickup headed out, I went into the garage for our Harbor Freight lopper.  It was chilly but I was determined to get my work done before the bugs got warmed up.  It was time to cut down the Russian Sage.

  The bees had a great run of taking the best out of the blossoms.  As I began lopping, there was only one bee that protested my work.  The Russian Sage is a perennial and had even put out more plants from root suckers.  When Dennis came home from the clinic he lent a hand.  We used rakes and pushed the huge amount of foliage down the drive.  When there has been some drying time, it will find the burning ring.  It sure did smell good as we worked.

  Tomorrow is going to be fairly warm.  We still have the garden hose connected.  Where the Russian Sage had spilled over onto the drive, it has left a lot of debris of dirt that has blown in as well as spent blossoms.  I was thinking of squirting Dawn dishwashing liquid on that part of the drive tomorrow and hosing it off.  It might very well be the last of playing in the water.

  Noon found us both taking a break.  I decided to do a bit of reading while Dennis checked out his eyelids for cracks.

  By 1:30 I headed down into the studio.  Dennis wanted to wash off the slider doors of the patio porch.  Too cool for getting wet so he used Windex and his squeegee.

  I did use my rotary cutter, getting ready for a day when I would stitch.  I will admit that I didn’t get as much cut up as I had planned on.  My arms were feeling the lopper work.  Knowing when to hold it and to fold it is the key for good feelings and not discomfort.  At this point is when I find my Teak rocker with the last of the coffee to watch a YouTube video or two.

  The afternoon is getting late with full sunshine.  Boxelders and Asian beetles are basking on the south side of buildings.  Getting my project done in the early hours of the morning, was well worth it.  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:50 pm on October 18, 2023 Permalink  

  Cloudy 

  This is a cloudy hump day.  When I went for a walk this afternoon, it felt like it could rain.

  I am having the week off as far as appointments go.  Dennis, not so much.  Monday was his yearly visit with our family doctor.  Today was his scheduled injection for macular.  Tomorrow he will have his INR, blood clotting, check.  Friday he meets with his primary Veteran’s doctor.  It’s all about remaining on the active list for benefits.  All the appointments are only a stone’s throw from our home. 

  Stitching went well in the studio.  It didn’t take long for me to realize I needed a different weight of cotton thread in the bobbin as well as in the needle.  My fabric is a lightweight cotton, so should be the sewing thread.  What I had cut and laid out yesterday was stitched today.  I would be very content if the days going forward follow that routine.  Not overdoing any aspect of the project.

  I have chicken tenderloins thawed for supper.  My favorite shake of coating is in a zipper Glad bag.  I use Bisquick, any pancake flour would work.  Cinnamon, Turmeric, some seasoned salt and ground pepper coats the chicken and it doesn’t take long to fix the chicken in the fry pan with the screen to prevent spattering.  It’s surprising how low the heat under the pan can be.  Dennis has a choice of cream style corn or green beans to go along with the instant potatoes.  It has been quite a while since a hot, three-course meal has been served here on Stauffer Avenue.

  The afternoon is still young and the cherry red chair is beckoning for several chapters to be read.  I may need my light on as the clouds have left the bedroom porch dark.  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:25 pm on October 17, 2023 Permalink  

  First things First 

  My first thing was to send my daughter a text wishing her a happy birthday.  It never ceases to amaze me that my children have years ticking along just like me.

  After my morning rituals, the lights went on in the studio.  It did feel foreign as this was the darkest the studio has been for this length of time in quite a few years.  But . . . I am back, complete with my good shoes and socks on.  There is nothing that can cause restless legs faster than standing on concrete in less than good shoes for insulation.

  The portable radio was tuned into KNUJ before I had all the lights turned on.

  The project I hope to work on constitutes four different configured blocks.  The blade in the rotary cutter was brand new.  The needle in the sewing machine was brand new.  What I needed to do was stitch out those four blocks for my prototypes.  Cutting the material using the same measure for a total of eight pieces per block needing the same accurate seam allowance. 

  As this is a scrappy fabric pattern, I still need to disperse the prints of my twelve different fabrics somewhat equally.  Therein is the challenge.  Just as Lena would have had, I have my graph paper making notations . . . lots of notations.  

  Let’s be clear, I will miss stitching in my west bedroom porch.  The total package of the cherry red chair, the natural window light and watching traffic, the coffee pot close at hand.  Everything in its season.  If I were better with apportioning my time, I could have it all.  It’s too early in the season, I won’t write it off just yet.  This ole Grammie can still learn a thing or two.

  What this ole Grammie would really like to learn is how to wiggle my nose and a balanced supper would be on the table by 5:30 every day.

  Be careful what you wish for . . . you might get more than you bargained for.  With that, I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:21 pm on October 16, 2023 Permalink  

  My Day 

  This last season I have been working on a counted cross stitch project.  It was nothing serious or to be done in a rush.  When the temps were hot, I would work on the stitching or read all the while in my cherry red chair.  When I could help Dennis outside, both endeavors were put to the side.  Today the last of the navy blue snippets of threads got cleaned up.

  Even as my bedroom was being painted, the deck getting stained and the house stutters getting a fresh look, there was time for doing a few stitches.  One thread at a times does literally count up.  I may well purchase a foam board at Michael’s to mount the stitching on.  

  My plan going forward was that once this stitching was completed, I was going to re-visit the studio for sewing machine stitching.  I have had fabric on the church tables along with my graph sketch.  When in the studio, the lights were always turned off by five in the afternoon.

  If the late fall and winter nights prove to be too much for just reading, I may have a second cross stitch to be in the mix.  For myself, I would choose another mono-colored project.  Time will tell.

  It wouldn’t be surprising if the mowing will need to be done after the great rain we have had.  Dennis had promised me he would teach me to run the zero-turn Snapper.  I think that would be a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 1:52 pm on October 15, 2023 Permalink  

  Blaze Orange 

  There must be a hunting season open as there are quite a few pickups going by with all within wearing blaze orange.

  Our automatic coffee maker was new when Pamida was our store for various items.  That store brand became Shopko and is now a Dollar General.  Since spring, the lid with which to pour the water in has been off its rails.  The worse case, it would get away from us and land on the floor.  Pick it up and wipe it off and by golly there would be coffee brewing at seven the next morning.  The last straw was having the water tank leak if more than six cups of water was put into it.

  Amazon, here comes Grammie!  That was on Thursday when I ordered a new coffee maker.  This morning before eleven, our mail person was dropping a box off.  Wow.  The return address was Kansas.

  The original box with all the color photos of the coffee maker was in a brown cardboard box, that was in a heavy duty cardboard box.  That last box was difficult to get into.  We have now run water through the new coffee maker to get a bit of packing dust out.  With all the saran wrap type wound around it and all moveable parts plus the bubble wrap, I think we are good to go for tomorrow morning.

  Yesterday when my cell phone rang, I was so surprised I almost dropped it.  Sharon Skolberg and I have not gotten caught up with each other for too long of a time.  Life long friends pick right up as if they had just spoken with each other last week.  It was a very sweet, visit!

  We are half way through the month and I may need to begin dragging my feet to slow things down.  My wish for all of you is to take each day as it is given.  Yesterday is gone and cannot be redone.  Today was a gift and the morrow is ready to fulfill what may be needed for your wellbeing.  With that, I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:49 pm on October 14, 2023 Permalink  

  Never Before 

  Yesterday morning as I was checking on for my medical procedure, an experience happened that has never happened to me before at a reception desk.

  I was asked to sign a paper.  I picked up a pen at the counter and then actually looked at the paper.  At the top on the left hand side was my name, birth date, Mayo number and address.  On the right hand top was the amount this procedure would cost: $4,830.00.  Wow.

  The form went on and I had three options.  One option was for Mayo to turn the amount into our insurance, the second option was to agree to pay the amount in installments.  The third option was to cancel the procedure.  WTF!  Of course I checked the box for the first option.

  Was this form a sign of what is yet to come?  Would that amount change is the nurse accidently dropped the IV needle?  It reminded me of the chart at the Jiffy Lube in Mankato . . . a set price for each of the services you are seeking.

  Why can I continually be surprised as to what the world is coming to.

  I was again surprised when I went to the grocery store here in town this forenoon.  I had put all of my choices on the conveyor belt.  The very young gal had not even rung up a total when she assumed I would be carrying out the four plastic bags myself as she pushed them along.  I paid for my groceries.  The four bags remained on the end of her counter and I remained standing in front of her while there were people waiting to be rung up.  When she finally looked up at me with questioning eyes, I asked her to please find a carryout person for me.  Dah.

  Oh well, life remains to be sweet as I drove home.  It does cause a chuckle when purchasing groceries has become a social outing for me.

  The chit chat in the grocer’s was the talk of the rain we had being at close to five inches.  It came down slow enough to soak in to really make a difference.

  Dennis is not taking any chances of his two patio plants being hit by frost.  Both are now sitting in their individual sow pans in the patio porch.  The pans will catch whatever water soaks through the dirt too fast while watering.  In that event, they eventually do soak it all up.  Both plants have been around since before I retired, and that was in 2009.  He doles out a trim every once in awhile with a treat of Miracle Grow once in a while.

  Do you remember items that have never happened to you before?  Actually, they are bound to be more than can be counted.