Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:59 pm on October 28, 2023 Permalink  

  Hello Saturday 

  This is a day that had not one single thing on the agenda, the last Saturday of October.

  I am not going to miss with messing with the clock by turning it back in the fall and ahead in the spring.  If  only our legislative secessions could get something else done during their spring fling that could again benefit everyone.

  Dennis has been putzing in and around the garages.  He manages to stay busy.

  I have had the day in the studio.  The radio is on in the background to catch any snippet of area news and weather.  I follow a quilter on YouTube that lives in Indiana.  She does longarm quilting for others and each week she showcases the week’s worth that is ready to go back to the owners for final binding.  Seeing all the patterns, sizes and color schemes is an inspiration for me.

  Tammy Earnest did share clips from a family picnic.  What struck me and other viewers is that the picnic tables had quilts on them as tablecloths.  She followed up with comments to her video yesterday.  Quilts are to be used.  Someone had mentioned to her, “My mother quilted but we never got to use them.”  For myself, I agree.  Use them, abuse them so the quilts keep on sending the messages while they were being made . . . individual love to each owner.  Cottons today are durable and washable and . . . mendable if something need it.

  I no longer intend or plan on cranking out multiple quilts each year, but having one being built under the needle is satisfying.  The three quilts of 2023 were not completed to stay here on Stauffer Avenue, they were intended for the specific request.  The scrappy one I am now working on is a fun one. 

  We are going to have some Gorton fish filets, instant potatoes and green beans for supper.

  With that I take my leave  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:29 pm on October 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Happy Friday 

  This was a Friday that I could have used a brick in my pants.  It’s best not to know what the miles per hour the wind was blowing.  Ignorance is blessed.

  This afternoon I had my annual skin cancer screening.  I had an episode on my right facial cheek quite a few years ago that has prompted the annual screenings.  As I left the clinic, I was handed a card with October 28, 2024.  Wow.

  As we drove to Mankato, every once in awhile there was a chunk of snow that fell off of a semi.  I wondered just where he had been at.

  Enjoy what the weekend brings.  There are no do-overs.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:59 pm on October 26, 2023 Permalink  

  Gray Day 

  Raining off and on with gray skies.  At noon, it looked like the sky was brightening to the south.

  This was a morning of getting the second bed’s bedding to the laundry.  I do keep a tight ship on our forever home.

  This late forenoon we had pedicures and haircuts at Maria’s up town.  Maria does pedicures, haircuts, manicures and gel nails.  Maria also is a licensed nurse, so there was no fear of Dennis’ foot getting some needed TLC.  We do appreciate her having a block of two hours for us once a month.

  I have not gotten much more done today.  As always when the bedding gets done, it’s floor to ceiling tidy tidy in each bedroom.  The sweet part is that there is no card that needs to be punched to validate myself.

  We will have a hot supper to tide us over on this gray day.  There has been no wind to speak of, the gray day with leaves that have gotten heavy with all this rain, the leaves are right where they fell from on high.  We have no green grass showing in the backyard.  When we do have a hard enough freeze to strip the trees bare, many squirrels will finding the perfect spot to bury the black walnuts.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:21 pm on October 25, 2023 Permalink  

  Quite the System 

  Quite the weather system.  Monday night it thundered all during the night with very little rain.  Yesterday was piddle, piddle.  Last night at ten it sounded like it was raining bullets.  Our drought meter is getting kicked.

  Most of yesterday, we did not have internet.  We may take it for granted.  Last night after supper all was well.

  This was a good day for bedding to be laundered while the Swiffer found bunnies under the bed.  No matter how old flannel bedding is or how many times the laundry has had them over the years, there is still fuzz to find.

  Yesterday morning, Dennis said that he needed a doctor’s appointment.  Hmm.  He said his big toe on his right foot looked black.  WTF!  “Show me the toe!”  On the tip of his big toe was a blood blister.  He must have really stubbed it hard.  I didn’t think twice but to send him and his toe to see our family doctor.  When it comes to Dennis’ feet, I am not taking a chance.  Yup . . . it was a blood blister.  No poking at it, just leave the body absorb it just like any other bruise we might get.  Dennis felt better, I felt better.

  Today I have spent some time cutting fabric for the next sixteen blocks of “Block 3.”  I know I needed 124 of 2.5″  x  4.5″.   Perhaps tomorrow might see the lights on in the studio for some machine stitching.  It does pay to have a day or two to think about what I have in the mix of fabric designs.  When I went down today, it didn’t take me long to pull one of the fabrics out as it didn’t make the cut.  It looked so out of place as if it had a red light flashing.  Small print florals in various colors did not have an opening for a small print that had birdhouses in it.  So be it. 

  Today, there were a few plastic lawn chairs that needed putting away in the potting shed.  There is no kidding ourselves that we are yet to have this fantastic Indian Summer.  It is not happening.

  With that I take my leave. ♥ 

   
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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. ♥