Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:53 pm on October 13, 2023 Permalink  

  Home Sweet Home 

  This will be a short one.  We left home at seven for Mankato and my appointment.  We got home a little past two.

  My cardiologist visited with me before handing me over to the doctor that did the scope as well as when the scope was done.  I appreciated that.  When I see Dr. Scharof on the 31st he will have gone over everything from the stats of the stroke and the heart surgery in June of 2021 and all other echo’s since.  The doctor that did the scope visited with me after I had an IV in and before he would start.  He was so chatty and kept nodding to the nurse.  He finally told me that he would visit with me until I had enough through the IV that I was out.  He also commented I was a tough one to put out.  My comment back to him was that I didn’t want to miss anything.  But in the end . . . I did.

  Dennis had a long nap in his little red pickup. 

  I had not ate or drank since supper last night, and after Dennis picked me up at the hospital, he pulled into Culver’s so I could get a vanilla shake.  It tasted good and felt good in my throat.  Dennis will enjoy a quiet night until my voice comes back.

  Today was a good thing to have off my personal tic list.

  This morning, KEYC said we had 1.25 inches of rain.  I know we have had more since.  This gives the farmers a break and allows the residential yards to get a bit of green back to the looks of them.

  After this post, I plan on keeping busy until bed time.  I feel as if I could fall asleep if I sit down.  I know that for a fact as it has already happened since we got home.

   
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  Noreen 1:27 pm on October 12, 2023 Permalink  

  As Right as Rain 

  The KEYC news last night was as right as rain for this morning.  It started raining about nine this morning.

  There may well be an Indian Summer yet to come.  If not, our job jar is empty.  We had not procrastinated, so let the days role.

  When I thought about this evening’s supper, there were three lonely hamburger patties in the freezer. There was one oven meal size of pasta left in a cello bag being held shut via a snap clothespin.  Let’s just do it up.  Browning the hamburger with a bit of seasoning salt, it was added to the hot pasta.  While the pasta was still hot, I folded in a generous tablespoon of Better than Bullion, oven roasted garlic flavor.

  The plan is to have a goodly amount leftover for tomorrow night’s supper.

  I may not have a lot of spunk after getting home from Mankato tomorrow.  I am scheduled for check-in at the Mankato Heart Center at 8:30 on Friday the thirteenth, for a Echo-Transesophageal procedure: swallowing a guided camera to take a look at my heart.  I wouldn’t miss this date for all the money in the world.  Dennis will be as close to me as they allow.  I will have a follow-up with my cardiologist on October 31st. 

  The phone calls for this prep has not left one item for chance or debate.  What a great procedure to have done this fall. 

  This rain is due to carry over into the weekend.  Our sump pump has not run once this spring and summer.  Dennis was ready as he made sure the down-spouts are in place.

  Take care one and all going into the fall-feeling weekend.

   
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  Noreen 2:41 pm on October 11, 2023 Permalink  

  I Understand 

  I understand that all days are not jam packed with work around Stauffer Avenue.

  This was touted, by Dennis, that it was to be a day of rest after the work we did yesterday on the acre.

  I understand that I am capable of entertaining myself while he and Dwayne go for coffee at McDonald’s.

  I understand that the county assessor’s appraiser needed to come and measure our new front steps and deck.  The sweet part of it is that this is a granddaughter of Norma’s . . . who worked for me for decades while in the assessor’s office.

  The traffic has been crazy past our home today.  Swift’s 18-wheelers to and from the processing plant.  Grain trucks with corn.  Tractors manned by farm wives pulling flair boxes of corn.  Concrete trucks hauling crete somewhere.  School got out early today and that gives the young ones more time to barrel away from the four-way stop signs.  Speed knows no one entity.

  I understand that I need to pull my head in and let it all go by.  But . . . the city cops are missing a sure bet to fill their quota books.  You had your chance, so don’t come asking me for a donation in time to come.

  Happy hump day to one and all.

   
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  Noreen 1:14 pm on October 10, 2023 Permalink  

  White Frost 

  It did get serious last night for it to have put white frost on the roof tops.

  This forenoon Dennis and I returned to the blue barn acre.  It was our intent to start some small fires around the area of the Kudzu laden tree of all the debris we had raked together yesterday.  I had quite a few empty paper towel rolls that Dennis stuffed with rags that were soaked in gas.   As the fires took air, I continued raking and cutting off sucker vines of the Kudzu.  All of these small vines will no longer get any nourishment from their roots.

  Neither one of us felt the cool air as we continued feeding the fires.  There was no wind to speak of.  Dennis took me home at noon and he went back to make sure the three piles would eventually be piles of ashes.  I do believe that we will need a chainsaw visit to cut off the large vine that has had way too much time to work its while.   My six inch rake and the Harbor Freight lopper are no match to deal with that beast.

  The two of us are settling in for the afternoon.  I did take out out a bag of vegetable beef soup for supper.

   
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  Noreen 1:53 pm on October 9, 2023 Permalink  

  A Bit at a Time 

  This forenoon, Dennis and I had an agreement.  

  We would each work under tree areas of the blue barn acre.  Dennis dropped me off at the northern area where a huge tree that had Kudzu vines too numerous to count hanging from on high.  All of the vines have been cut at the dirt level.  They will slowly die while hanging and swinging in the breeze.  Can you believe some of the vines are an inch or two in diameter.  If one were brave and to swing from the larger ones, there might be the sound of our very own Tarzan.

  This huge tree had the galvanized tin going all the way around it.  The tin is gone and with my six inch rake, I was making raked piles of leaves, dried branches and twigs around the base of the tree.  This spot will be a campfire later this fall.  As I raked, I had our Harbor Freight lopper to nip off all of the sucker vines that were entwined in the dirt around the tree, so my rake wouldn’t get caught in their web.  The tin had shored up dirt around the tree.  Talk about mellow dirt from decades of decaying leaves and such, making its own compost.  As I could rake dirt from the tree trunk, my shoes could easily sink into the soil by several inches.

  When Dennis had made his own campfire fire pile towards the south lot line, he came over and we both sat on the tailgate of the little red pickup for a break, enjoying some breakfast coffee that was still hot in his thermos cup.  We may only have worked on it for an hour or so, but we each had made some progress to come back and do another day, a bit at a time.

  Dennis and I enjoy working together.  Only the two of us can appreciate the gains that we have made since the actual blue barn came down.

  We are both off the clock for the remainder of the day.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 2:07 pm on October 8, 2023 Permalink  

  Sunday the 8th of October 

  A quiet Sunday here on Stauffer Avenue.  No news is good news.  A new Monday coming and things may well change.  Catch you all tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on October 7, 2023 Permalink  

  Thirty What? 

  It was 37 degrees this morning.  That ought to get everyone’s attention.  Us, not so much.

  We went on with our usual morning routines.

  When I heard Dennis come into the house at eleven, I thought it would be for more coffee.  By the time he had found his way to my bedroom porch where I had been stitching, I looked up.  I looked up and Dennis was in his shoes and shirt and jacket, but no pants.  Hmm.  I think I knew the rest of the story.  Dennis had been over at the blue barn acre and it was either sandburs or burdock that his pants were covered in and he had left them in the patio porch.

  Each day he tells me that if nothing more gets done at the acre, he will be happy.  Curry . . . put your money where your mouth is.  Too funny.  He knows doggone-well, the pants can get cleaned up, but not in the house and not by me.

  It has been cool enough that I decided to put an oven dish together.  Right now, my arms are taking a break.  My blue speckled round roaster is filled to level with goodies.  There are also two glass freezer dishes sitting to the side to be filled, sealed, and put into the freezer for another time.  The ingredients start with medium sized egg noodles cooking to tender.  Two cans of drained white chicken meat loosened with a fork to shredded status in my strainer and then into the roaster.  One can of cream of chicken soup over the chicken and mixed well.  One can of drained white corn and one can of drained green beans that have been chopped and into the roaster both items go.  The pasta is cooked and while it is still hot, two generous tablespoons of Better Than Bullion roasted chicken flavor stirred in.  Folding all the ingredients is a pull on the arms.  All that is left is a portion of a jar of Alfredo sauce poured over.  I always save a bit of the Alfredo, so I can pour some heavy cream into the jar and shake, shake.  More folding over and over and over with my wooden spoon.

  What will ensue is a hearty oven meal heated at 325 degrees for one hour, served about five thirty.  Two frozen dishes of the same into the freezer for another time.

  When I do some dishes, why not make it worth while.  I do spray my roaster and my two freezer dishes with Pam.  The freezer dishes do have snap on lids, but I always stretch over some cling free wrap before the covers go on which will easily be removed before they go into the oven after they have been thawed.  Some foil over the top saves the top from drying out as the oven makes magic.

  Hmm.  That has been my adventure for the afternoon . . . what has yours been?

   
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  Noreen 1:54 pm on October 6, 2023 Permalink  

  Indoors 

  This morning is what it may very well feel like in coming months . . . being indoors!

  The coolest temp so far was the 42 degrees when I checked our front deck.  The north wind was not fooling around.  When Dennis came in for more coffee, all three patio porch kitties were content to stay in . . .  just like me.

  Our noon lunch was the last of the rhubarb and strawberry pie from Dennis’ birthday.  I followed the directions to the ultimate for baking.  Hmm.  The rhubarb had not baked soft.  Well, what could it hurt to put a slightly damp towel over a piece and microwave it.  Not one minute, but it took two minutes.  That was the trick.  I do think a convection oven would have worked better than my old fashioned oven.  When it said 375 degrees for 90 minutes, that is what it got.  The crust could not have endured anything longer or hotter.  The main thing is it didn’t go to waste.  Not much on Stauffer Avenue does.

  The wind coming from the south had taken some branches down earlier in the week.  The north wind is not going to be outdone.  When the wind blows as hard as it has, being outside under older trees is not a good idea.  We have kept up doing the tidy tidy of the yards.  Winds usually die down towards dark, but man, it gets dark really early.

  The Odin Craft Mill has started its three weekend event as of the 5th.  I don’t think I will venture forth as Megan already has her Smoky Vanilla scented candle next to her college desk in Virginia.  That was the luck of the draw to find the source in northern Minnesota and get it mailed directly to her.

  My hand stitching is going well.  My supply of new used books was increased yesterday by four when we were doing errands and Dennis swung by our county library.  Dennis looked at the books and asked if those authors were some of my favorites.  I do enjoy novels and I haven’t found a book yet that I can’t get into the storyline.  The last novel was an American and Russian spy storyline.  Forget remembering the long Russian names, just award each of them a nickname.  Worked for me.

  So the month has begun and so it rolls along.

   
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  Noreen 2:03 pm on October 5, 2023 Permalink  

  A Blustery Day 

  The wind has had its way all day.  Within the viewing area that I have from my cherry red chair in my bedroom porch, what isn’t tied down is on the move.

  I have had a computer program from Bernina that allows me to create my own text into what then could be stitched out via the embroidery module to my sewing machine.  I have enhanced digitized images as well by adding personalized text.  This licensed program was installed on the HP that the Fairfax team had gifted me a few years ago.

  I would and could create a stitch out using the Bernina Tool Box and then load it onto a flash drive to then take it to the basement studio, insert the drive into the sewing machine to see if all went well.  Sometimes it took several trips up and down the basement steps.

  I inquired at the Bernina shop in Bird Island if I could install the licensed program onto my Dell laptop in the studio.  I received the info from Amanda earlier this week.  Knowing I had quiet time this morning, I gave it a shot.  Taking my time, the downloading went well.  I now can work totally from the studio for creating customized stitching.  I did not have to take the Bernina Tool Box off of the HP in the livingroom.  It is greater flexibility from either computer.

  Sometimes sticking my toe out, putting the fear of the unknown to rest, makes for more creative independence.

  I may not use all my tools from the studio constantly, but it sure is nice to have flexibility.  Dennis keeps reminding me that soon weather may keep us indoors.  He and I have really had choice accomplishments this summer.

  Dennis mentioned something about pancakes for supper.  That would work for me.

  The blustery air is raw and humid.

   
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  Noreen 1:52 pm on October 4, 2023 Permalink  

  A Record 

  We needed to be in Mankato at nine this morning for an appointment.

  After that, it was a stop at Sam’s Club.  I appreciate having a pantry that can go a long time before short trips to our local grocer’s for a little bit here and a little bit there.

  Dennis’ breakfast box contains a banana muffin, three Oreo cookies and a plastic fork.  The muffins are huge and come six to a container.  We purchase three containers and when we arrive home, each muffin is put into a sandwich bag and then into the freezer.  Every night before Dennis goes to bed, he packs his breakfast box.  I don’t care for the muffins but Dennis says they taste as fresh on the 18th day as they did on the first day.  Whatever floats his boat.

  Our freezer space is whatever we can fit into the refrigerator’s freezer.  I do not believe in freezing cardboard boxes.  The Jimmy Dean sausages and the Ego muffins, each serving, is contained in a sealed storage pouch.  Those boxes are emptied into the right hand compartment of the freezer, aka: pick a meal.

  It was also paper product purchasing today.  TP, paper towels and a bag of 300 of our good china plates.    

  My splurge was a fairly good sized jar of herring.  Sweet!

  We were home before twelve noon, a record of being home early in the day.  

  After a noon snack, Dennis got the mower out to do the mowing and I worked with putting our haul of needed items away.  Very satisfying for both of us.  A trip to the big town wins it for the week.