Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:58 pm on June 4, 2026 Permalink  

  Clouds 

  Clouds have moved in right behind the half inch of rain that we received over night.  The thunder was ongoing.

  Today I was reminded from a text that took me right back to Esther Schafer, Carrie and Kevin’s grandmother.  Esther and Art lived in a huge old home on a huge corner lot.  Not only was Esther the main cook at the public school, she also cleaned Dr. Anderson’s medical clinic.  Esther could crochet in her sleep with the fine threads.  Art was the tractor mechanic for the Farmall tractors.

  There was a huge portion of their lot that was home to a huge ever-bearing raspberry patch on the entire north portion of the lot.  The raspberry season was when school lunches were not needed in the summer. Esther canned raspberry sauce and made raspberry jam to last for an entire calendar year.  It was also known that Esther sold raspberries by the pint and by the quart.  Her customers were on her timeline year after year.  The canes were just as tall as Esther and Esther was a tall grandma.  In the heat of summer, she would put on one of Art’s old thin long sleeve shirts and a fabric cap that was pulled down over her ears held by the elastic she had strung in the hem to keep the biting bugs away.  As the season wore down and the berries were no longer the huge succulent ones, Esther froze them mashed in plastic bags to use in the winter over cake or ice cream.

  It was not unusual that Art and Esther didn’t venture far from home when the berries were ripening.  It was an every day task.  What might not be ripe to pick today would be ready tomorrow.  Esther knew the rotation of that patch like no one’s business.  No one interfered.  Talk about small town business.

  Raspberry season was not for the faint of heart.

  Esther taught me how to eat raspberries with whole cream and a scant amount of sugar over them. 

  Memories of Art and Esther would fill volumnes.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on June 3, 2026 Permalink  

  The First 

  When I was in our grocery store I noticed the first of the apricots were in the produce isle.  They are one of my favorite fruits.

  Apricots made a great sauce to can in quart fruit jars.  So different from peaches or pears, they didn’t need peeling.

  After dad had passed away, Lena would come and stay with us for a week or so over the next years.  Mom drove herself and the visits were always a treat.  On one of her visits, she and I made several batches of apricot jam.  The apricots were pureed in the blender.  Small jars were washed, the heavy soup kettle came down from a nail on the attic steps and the process began.  Sur-Jell and sugar mixed according to the instructions in the Sur-Jell box.  Every fruit you could imagine had the instructions printed on the multi-folded pamphlet inside the box.  The jars looked like jewels as they sat on the kitchen counter after having been filled.  An old metal Folgers coffee grounds can had been bent for the top to serve as a spout.  Melted wax from the can sitting on the gas kitchen burner was poured over the cooked jam to seal it.  How sweet it was to work hand in hand with my mom in my kitchen.  Of course the amount that wouldn’t fill a jar to its brim was on the table for the three of us to sample come supper time.

  Once mom gave up driving, her solo visits were missed by Dennis and me.  I still miss my mom.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:58 pm on June 2, 2026 Permalink  

  Taste Buds 

  This evening’s supper is all about taste buds.  The Braun Schweiger liver sausage has been sliced and popped back into the refrigerator.  It takes a very sharp knife to get that job done.  The red onion has been sliced into perfect thin slabs.  There is a sandwich and soup supper coming up.  Dennis and I have both been hankering for this sandwich.  You either hate it or enjoy it.  The soup choice is up to Dennis.

  Dad, Raymond, would have been the first to slide up to the table for Bran Schweiger and onion.  Fine dining restaurants call it Pate.  His slice of onion would not be a thin slab.  One of his favorite sandwiches was of one ingredient: a thick slice of raw onion on Lena’s fresh homemade bread buttered up.  Sure do miss that fellow.

  It’s been first floor living so far this week and I will admit, a rather lazy one.  Catching some quilt show videos does entice me to start something with threads and fuzz.  I need to keep in mind all the steps required to get to the end-gate.  I don’t know if I am up to it and there is no one anticipating getting a quilt.  I need to really think this through.

  Persevering with my one floss thread over one cloth thread is challenging to say the least.  It’s been a long time since I stitched a pattern that has ten or more color swaps in a one inch square.  I did it when I was in my “Christmas phase” but that was some time ago.  This project I am doing because I started it and I don’t want to leave for a time when it might be pitched.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on June 1, 2026 Permalink  

  Monday Business 

  Monday’s bring medical phone calls to make for Dennis.  One to the Mayo Store and one to our clinic.  June 1st is also time to pay off our one credit card that we use for sundry items throughout the month.

  I did accompany Dennis to his medical appointment.  Two sets of ears works the best.  After two appointments, each a month apart, his blood pressure was good today. 

  With that we have no medical appointments on the calendar for June. 

  In today’s mail we each received a postcard indicating that we are registered voters.  Along with the info was the list of not having any issues to keep us from voting.  I hope this goes a long way in keeping the process clear and clean.  I haven’t read the entire back of information.  We may very well need to take this with us?  I’ll read furthur.

  Thunder storms this morning with dribbles of rain.  It sounds as if that will be what we are in for for several day along with climbing temperatures.

  One item was taken off of our to-do list, aka: job jar.  AJ stopped in this morning and he asked if we needed anything done.  Grandpa mentioned that we had several tubes of caulking to insure the wasps can no long get in via the area of the attic window frame.  His response was something to the order of no time like the present.  Done and done.  The wasps that are and have gotten in will no doubt die for lack of anything they would be interested in.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on May 31, 2026 Permalink  

  Unexpected Rain 

  Rain is always welcomed when the corn and beans have been planted in the acres across the southern portion of the state.  For the rest of us it means the mowers will be out in gear.

  Our Sunday is quiet.  Nothing important to share.  I am keeping in thought those that will be traveling this week.

  On my mind Monday, I will be contacting the Mayo Store in Mankato to order Dennis’ CPAP supplies as I did get the twelve month prescription taken care of Friday.  No active prescription . . . no supplies.

  Having a bit of allergies to make the eyes water, I am using the 5x magnifier for stitching.  No, I won’t be overdoing it as a rainy dreary day may call into place settling in the recliner to watch some Hulu.  A BBC series has me hooked.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:45 pm on May 30, 2026 Permalink  

  Heavy Air 

  When the dew point is higher than the humidity, the air feels heavy.

  This morning and forenoon were spent at Maria’s for pedicures and haircuts.  It’s a feel good day.  When Maria made out our ticket for the next spa day, it took us into July.  How great that she can plug in a vacation for her family before the fall of the year with school schedules.

  It all felt so good, Dennis is napping and I have been stitching and watching traffic.

  I did call Aunt Janet, only to find out she had fallen in her home this last Monday night.  Nothing broken.  Stiff muscles and tendons.  Her niece Kelly came from Glencoe to help her get up.  Janet had new doors put in recently and Kelly had the only spare set.  Nephew Dan was there waiting to get in and help.  There are now spare keys to go around if and when they would be needed.  It was a good thing to visit with her in her own home.  With that fall, it could have gone either way.

  As the dust rolls off of Stauffer Avenue and Second Street right east of us; both are gravel, I don’t think any amount of the piddly sprinkles we have had would squelch the dust.  Not a chance to keep any doors or windows open.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:25 pm on May 29, 2026 Permalink  

  Good Session 

  A good session was had in the studio this forenoon.  The last of a collection was embroidered out on some hand towels.  Those towels had been purchased for the express use of the machine embroidered function.  Having them be ready for whatever occasion arises feels good.  Last week when AJ brought Amanda to meet us, one such finished towel went home with Amanda.  We wanted to make her feel welcomed and that will ensure her remembering our home.  

  It’s not unusual that I have sent a remembrance home when we have had visitors.  The visitors enjoy taking something home with them and it keeps me on my toes with familiarity of the process to have good quality finished items.

  OESD is a site that I do shop from for designs.  The selection is by category with thousands to choose from.  When I first purchased my Bernina, it came with a gift card from OESD.  I have only invested in one brand of thread, Isacord.  I do have several storage cases holding thirty spools each for selection.  It is manufactured in Germany.  Staying with OESD, the thread chart for designs lists in the order used and the number and color of Isacord thread to use.  One can always go off the suggestions with a different color-way.

  When I choose a design, it is so easy to pull the spools of thread I need and line them up on the table in sequence for when needed.  I have purchased designs from other companies and then downloaded their colors with their reference.  It’s a pain in the neck as hues of the same color could be in infinity.

  Just today, I scoped out some designs from OESD.  If you purchase the collection, it is cost-wise rather than one at a time at perhaps $3.00 to $4.00 each when the collection may have thirteen designs for $24.00.  All of my choices are keep in my history if I ever find that one of my USB drives has malfunctioned.  Another plus is the OESD, for a nominal reasonable price will load an order onto a USB drive and send it out.  Well, well.  Look at me being spoiled.

  My day-to-day itinerary may have some challenges to comply with, my creativity need not be one of them.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:30 pm on May 28, 2026 Permalink  

  Cloudy 

  It is cloudy but nonetheless the warmth can be felt.

  An interesting news item brought back a wash of memories.  Now in grocery stores, some products sold in metal can containers will be in short supply.  That included, sardines, mackerals. tuna, corn beef, the meat spreads and Vienna sausages due to the cost of the cans in proportion to the contents.

  When Orlin and I lived in Riesel, Texas in the 60s, Orlin went to work for the Mart Herald in the town of Mart, a short distance from Riesel, no doubt running the Linotype.  Orlin wanted a lunch to take with.  His request was two pieces of buttered bread and a can of the Vienna sausages that he could then make a sandwich at his own time without a worry of anything being in the heat of the day too long.

  When I heard that, it brought a smile, and as I said, a wash of memories.

  Today Dennis has succumbed to spending more time in the house in his recliner rather than the still air in the patio porch.  It’s a good call.  Off and on, in between his eyes closing, he is watching a program about catching smugglers.

  Today was the last day of school for our community.  The street past our home will for sure notice the lack of traffic from buses in the morning and the afternoons.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:34 pm on May 27, 2026 Permalink  

  Hump Day 

  Hump day, all day long.

  I didn’t think I would ever hear Dennis say he didn’t need a hot supper.  Last night I had given the bacon a few seconds in the microwave after I had pre-baked them in the morning.  It had been bacon sandwiches and cucumbers with sliced onion.  His comment was that maybe for the reminder of the week we could do likewise as he sure enjoyed the cucumbers with some protein.

  Dennis has also been given to enjoying strawberries lately.  Any time I can get fruit and vegetables into that fellow I will willingly make sure I have them as an offering.  This morning that meant that I return to the grocery store for more of the mini cucumbers.  The larger cucumbers are not as solid.  The minis are sold six to a tray and are sealed cellophane.  I also picked up two cartons of the strawberries.

  The gal at the checkout commented that the produce did go up a few cents when they got the read-out from the headquarters for Super Fair.  At that time their tills are updated for checkout.

  My take on the price of groceries is: Dennis and I don’t eat like we used to in quantity.  What we do buy is what we enjoy.  It is still a fantastic bargain considering most of the fellows that were and are Dennis’ friends are either dead, living in an assisted living unit, or in the nursing home.  Compare the the dollars spent and it’s a wonderful trade-off.  That’s my take on our grocery bill.

  I have the cucumber dish co-mingling in the refrigerator right next to the cleaned and diced strawberries.  Tonight will be the above mentioned with John Morrell’s summer sausage that will be sliced very thin with a container of coleslaw added for variety.  The summer sausage is Dennis’ all time favorite.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:21 pm on May 26, 2026 Permalink  

  Happy Summer 

  Last week it was a chilly atmosphere in the studio.  Today, it felt just right.  Talk about a theater of seasons.

  Again I worked on an alteration in the studio.  I had ordered an item online.  After waiting for an extended time for it to come, when it came the size was off by 2 to the excess.  I contacted the business and it was a mix up within the sizes from the US sizing to the European sizing.  All was checked over and the result was that it was a error on their side.  I didn’t need to return said item and the correct order would be forthcoming.

  I am not frugal but I had the opportunity to see if I could make a do-0ver.  Lena would have been up for the task.  Snip here, trim there.  She could take the collars off of dad’s blue chambre shirts when they frayed, flip it over to the underside and in a heartbeat dad never appeared to be in dire straights of going to town looking anything other than dapper as always.  Yes . . . those were the days when dad would come in to change out of his chores overalls into a pair donned as “town overalls.”  Call it self respect when going into town on business of either a thousand pounds of cattle concentrate or purchasing a new piece of farm equipment.  Dad ran a high-end business.

  It’s a warm afternoon and Dennis cleaned the garage floor for our car.  There was enough of the winter’s collection of kitty hair tufts to make a new kitty as the strong leaf blower got into every corner.  Outside it looked as if there were cotton balls flying through the air. 

  Before it got warm this morning, I baked out a pound of the Black Label thick cut bacon on a cookie sheet lined with the wide foil.  No mess when all was said and done.  Six of the smaller cucumbers have been peeled and a red onion sliced in very thin additions.  The sauce is some mayo with bit of salt to pull out the moisture of the cucumbers with a teaspoon of sugar.  Supper is bacon sandwiches and creamed cucumbers.  No additional kitchen heat added to this day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥