Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:06 pm on December 21, 2022 Permalink  

  We have Snow 

  The snow cometh!  First the snow is fine like thick water and the next moment the flakes look like feathers as fine as those from the breast of a goose.

  The feathers from the breast of a goose made wonderful pillows.  My grandmother Laura had a wonderful summer kitchen.  It was used twelve months out of the year.  It took a lot of wear and tear from the home’s kitchen.  The geese that grandma Laura and grandpa Christ had gave several harvestings of the breast feathers.  Grandpa would catch each goose and those breast feathers were plucked at random in the early fall and the goose could run free.  A little later at actual butchering time, again those cherished breast feathers were kept separate.  As they had gotten wet during the scalding process, they were put in burlap gunnysacks.  Those sacks were pinned ono the clothes line and tipped end for end many times to help them dry.  If the cold was threatening them to freeze in the sack outside, the sacks were taken into the summer kitchen where there was always heat from the corn cob and wood fed fire.  The wings of the geese were used as feather dusters.  Somehow Grandpa Christ could make whistles for us kids out of the hollow base of the large feathers.  Nothing went to waste.

  Goose bed pillows were a treat and well taken care of.  Even today Cuddledown, a well known business, that puts out a catalog for mail order or internet orders, still sells the goose down pillows at a premium price.

  Back to the day at hand.  The snow is intermittent.  Dennis had an errand to run uptown.  Dennis is excited for Christmas.  This excitement has been going on for several months.  At this time of his winter season, I indulge him.  Dennis remembers my dad, Raymond, serving an after dinner drink.  Though most will refuse his offer, he is also offering a non alcoholic look alike.  As I said, his enthusiasm is not to be squelched.

  The comment when Dennis came home was that the grocery store shelves were dang near stripped and each aisle jammed with carts being filled.  I can only imagine what this Friday would be like.

  With a snow day, I do have an oven dish to pop in. 

  I must add an adenium to my comment on Dennis’ winter season.   It can be said our lives are much like the seasons.  With that in mind, I think it might be fair to say that those of us in our mid seventies and beyond are in our winter’s season.  I can feel comfortable about that.  For myself, I feel so appreciative of what I have experienced during my 78 years.

  The snow is now taking a break. It all looks quite wonderful with so little to disturb it as yet.

   
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  Noreen 2:54 pm on December 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Bright Sun 

  The Brightest of the sun rays cannot get the temperature above zero.

  The world keeps spinning regardless of the sun or of frigid temps.  It is consistent.

  What is also consistent is that there is nothing but hype passing for the news of the day.  If there is something Dennis and I need to be aware of, we will be contacted personally.

  My day has been a quiet one.  Even the mailman has passed us by.  

  No news from this end of the world is good news.  All is well.

   
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  Noreen 3:24 pm on December 19, 2022 Permalink  

  A Sudsy Day 

  Laundry day on Stauffer Avenue.  I came late to the show in regard to the Tide pods.  I really like using them.  When Dennis takes heavy rugs to the laundromat, the pods are easier than metering out liquid soap in a pint fruit jar.

  Years ago, the 50s, Duz granular laundry soap had a free dish inside.  If I remember correctly, it was a wheat design.  Amazingly there was no breakage.  What was added to Lena’s laundry was a bit of lye soap that Lena would grate into the wash water.  Lena’s whites were whiter than white.

  The last of our three loads is in the dryer. 

  The snow has been falling and the huge flakes are beautiful.  The forecast isn’t for more than an inch or so.

  Dennis took his six five gallon plastic pails up to the elevator for shell corn.  Tomorrow they will be ready and filled.  The gal at the elevator office is so strong, Dennis says it takes her no time and insists on doing it for him.  Two pails at a time into the back of the little red pickup.  Our backyard is totally imprinted with different sized hoof prints . . . small to large.

  With laundry done, tomorrow may find a dust bunny or two.  I have been staying in bed until eight on most days.  I can look right out to the north and the birds have a hay day in the huge evergreen.  There is just enough snow caught on the boughs . . . priceless.

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on December 18, 2022 Permalink  

  A Winter Sunday 

  The wind gusts have finally given up on themselves.

  Last night the deer were on the back patio by 4:30.  Dennis and Jan, next door, are putting out containers.  What I have also noticed is that a pair of Cardinals are also enj0ying the feast.  The male is not hard to pick out amongst the branches of the lilacs.  The Blue Jays are added to the mix along with many other smaller birds.

  This afternoon I found instrumental music on one of the Samsung channels.  It served me well while I did some tidy, tidy.  A bit of tidy each day counts up.

  The studio is playing second fiddle during this next week.  Its not to say I won’t be poking around once in awhile, but nothing akin to starting a new project.  Being quiet in spirit during this week is important to me.  It brings the peace that passes all understanding.

  The new week awaits.  There is nothing so important that it should cause stress.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

   
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  Noreen 4:52 pm on December 17, 2022 Permalink  

  Gusty Winds 

  Gusty winds with snowflakes.

  Today Dennis and I procured all the fixings for our Christmas dinner.  Surprisingly the four lane was clear after we got past the area between Madelia and Lake Crystal.  It has always been a bugger.

  When we got the word that there would be eight of us for the day, Dennis was giddy.  Dennis has a great “like” when Kevin’s and Carrie’s are coming, more so than when his children come.  Hmm.  I do know there are some favorite dishes for those coming. 

  I have a few items on a to-do list.  One for Kersten and one for Kevin.  Sweet indeed.

  The temps are really going to turn frigid this next week.  I will be happy to hibernate through it.

  Today we bought a small electrical heater for my studio.  I don’t need much sitting under my sewing machine but this will help with the cool air from being in the basement.  I do think of moving above ground . . . some day.  For now I an content and happy.  Never a day goes by that I don’t find myself wandering through my goodies.

  May the weekend bring contentment and enjoy this time.  Before Christmas is the perfect time to pull in and cherish what is in this world that we have carved out for ourselves with determination and care.

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on December 16, 2022 Permalink  

  A Friday 

  Today is the second day of the snow recovery.  

  Today is a day of not much exciting going on.  With one stitched project completed, I did work through some of my stashes for the next project.  I am a huge fan of Tartan Plaid.  It may well be in the next mix.

  Dennis is working with the Simplicity snowblower.  He takes many breaks.  Dennis needs to have his days include “local effort” as much as I do.

  The way the wind is blowing, the snow hasn’t found a place to settle as yet.

  I hope everyone has plans for the weekend that will be safe.  For Dennis and myself, our needs are few and we could subsist on the supplies on hand for some time. 

  Not every day needs to have excitement from morning to night.  Taking time to watch a few snowflakes goes a long way in sitting back and reminiscing.

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on December 15, 2022 Permalink  

  And so it Was 

  It only took for me to open one squinty eye to realize it was white out.  So it was forecast and so it is.

  I was surprised that there were as many schools closed as announced on the radio.  As wet as the snow is and with a wind at 14 mph, us two old fuddy duddies are in a good spot right here on Stauffer Avenue.

  This morning as I had a cup of breakfast coffee going, I tugged on clothing right down to heavy socks and shoes.  Hmm.  I reminded myself of Lena.  If Lena was caught in her housecoat during the forenoon, it meant she was feeling under the weather.  Mom was up, she was dressed and took on the day’s activities.  I do know after I retired, I thought it was a treat to keep the housecoat handy not get dressed for the entire day.  I have become my mom in many ways and I like it.  I like it a lot.

  It is better for me to wear those heavy socks and shoes as our basement floor is cold.  Many winters we have had the sump pump running off and on during the entire winter depending on the amount of rain in the late fall.  With sub ground water running along the perimeter of the four sides of the basement, the floor is bound to be cold.  Staying out of the studio until all conditions were 100% . . . it just isn’t happening.  When Dennis and I had surprised Carrie for her birthday at her clothing store, I bought a three quarter length sweater that has a hood.  It is a loosely knit design and oh so warm.  The perfect pairing for time in the studio.  It doesn’t have any closures.  One of my clips that I use to hold stitching together is the perfect fit when I clip it collar bone height.  At that height it snuggles the hood around the neck.

  Today my goal was to stitch out the opposite end of the table runner that I am doing in tone on tone of light browns.  Midway through at a thread color change the machine was not giving up the green light.  That has never happened to me before.  I thought perhaps it had been a coincidence that the bobbin was out of thread.  Nope.  I took the hoop off of the module, raised and lower the pressure foot . . . nothing.  The red light stayed on.  I thought about it long and hard.  I had no idea what would happen if I actually shut the machine off and then restarted it.  Would the design want to start over from stitch one?  Would the design have lost the placement on the fabric?  I crossed my fingers and hit the power button, waited a minute or two and then turned it back on.  The machine turned on.  The module took the hoop to the far right and then to the far left and finally settled right where it had left off.  Whew.  After all these years, a new experience. 

  May everyone be able to stay safe as the snow is promised to fall well into the evening.

   
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  Noreen 3:07 pm on December 14, 2022 Permalink  

  The Sun 

  The sun had not forgotten us.  Thirty five and sunny.  

  The sun streaming into the south basement windows does the heart good.  I took my time cleaning all things of pink fuzz out of the sewing machine.  A new needle and a bit of oil and it was all systems “go.”

  It had been some time since I had put on the embroidery module.  I have nothing that has been promised.  I do have some designs that piqued my interest.  The first thing was to pull out some ecru fabric that would make a good table runner.  12″ x 36″ finished is what I stitched up.  Giving it a pressing with some Best Press spray gave it a lightly starched surface.

  This particular design has three colors.  Basically a tone on tone appearance with a pop of bright red to finish it.  I do plan on putting the identical design on the opposite end of the table runner.

  As I don’t really want any stabilizer to show on the back side, I have gone with the Sulky Super Solvy water soluble medium weight.  When I had coupons for JoAnn’s over the course of this last year and many doctor appointments, I would pick up a roll.  The design has stitched out well.  My work is not done.  I will need to take the water soluble off the top as well as the backside.  This can be done with a fine mist of water, placing a paper towel over it and using a hot iron with a light pass over the paper towel.

  I have been staying busy and Dennis has also in his patio porch.  I know he has been tending the two patio plants with water and a bit of Miracle Grow dissolved in the water.  Those two plants harken from a time when I was still working, 2009.  

  We have one more night of my oven dish for this evening.  Sweet.  It will be interesting when I open my eyes in the morning.  How much white will there be?

   
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  Noreen 2:46 pm on December 13, 2022 Permalink  

  A Howler 

  The wind during the early morning was a real howler.  The large evergreen on the northwest corner of my bedroom really accentuated the noise.

  It has been raining off and on all day.  At noon, KEYC news reported 1.49 inches of rain.  I am sure more can be reported at the six o’clock news.  If the snow has moved far north, that would be fine with us.

  If we do have measurable snow that Dennis feels he needs to partake of with his snowblower around doorways, Dan at PT told Dennis this morning, “no snowmobile boots.”  At all times he needs to wear footwear that does not allow for his foot to slide around in.  More information was given that as we age the amount of skin covering the sides of our feet is very thin.  Message taken in.  Dennis does follow medical instructions.

  I am in between projects in the studio.  I am not without ideas.  I have taken to doing more reading right now.

  I have ideas about my studio.  The thread of text messages within the stitcher’s group is amazing.  The majority of them are making plans for a trip in April to a place called SR Harris in the metro.  It is a warehouse for fabrics.  I could give them a von buoyage send off as I need no supplies.  I generally do not seek reasons to leave my home.  I like it here.  I like it a whole bunch.  To each their own.

  Dennis and I are on the same page about being homebodies.  People joke with us about what plans we are making for taking part in tours.  For myself, I did take one tour bus tour years ago.  We met at the hotel in Fairmont early in the morning.  When we returned to the hotel late in that same day . . . never again.  The person in front of me enjoyed their seat tilted quite far back.  I had just enough room to fold my hands over my chest.  Any points of interest that I might have, I can journey there on my own in the comfort of my own vehicle.  If I want to go somewhere, Dennis only needs a few minutes and he is ready to take me.  Again, to each our own. 

  The afternoon is early and there is yet another chapter to read while in my bedroom porch.  I might get in a bit of traffic watching.

   
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  Noreen 3:31 pm on December 12, 2022 Permalink  

  We Have Aced the Day 

  For this Monday to be gloomy and damp, Dennis and I have aced the day.

  Dennis took charge of the patio porch.  With the snow and cold, the kitties have had antics much like having cabin fever.  It is amazing what can get tipped over in the adjacent garage.

  I was in my element with the Monday laundry.  As the loads were being swapped, it gave me a chance to put an oven dish together for tonight’s supper. 

  I had pulled out two Christmas wall hangings and that was on the afternoon’s agenda.  The wall hanging over the basement steps is always a challenge.  There was no way we were going to bring in a stepladder from the garage.  With slits cut into the end of a wooden strip of wood, we got out our long rubber bands that Dennis had bought at Harbor Freight in Mankato.  A rather long rubber band was slid into each end of the wooden strip used as the hanger.  Dennis manned the hanger with the wall hanging on it and I used a longer strip of wood and hooked the rubber band with it and slipped it over the Command Strip.  Hmm.  Older people can be quite creative.  It will be interesting as to just how durable these rubber bands are.

  The wall hanging near the back steps went much faster.  It took two steps up on our kitchen step stool and Dennis could get the wall hanging in place.  When Dennis stepped off of the stool backwards, his foot managed to step onto the rubber foot of my walking crutch and the top of the crutch hit Dennis in his back.  It startled him so before he could figure out what was attacking him.  We both got to laughing so hard it brought tears.  Oh my gosh!

  Our Christmas decorating is complete.

  With that being accomplished we are calling it a day.

  We are in a winter storm warning.  It might be white stuff or it could be rain.  Time will tell.  We are safe and sound on Stauffer Avenue.