Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:57 pm on December 1, 2022 Permalink  

  Lost Day 

  Somewhere, somehow, I had lost a day.  At the end of my post yesterday I made a reference that today would be hump day.  Dah!  Yes . . . today is Thursday.

  Dennis had done a lot of walking yesterday behind his snowblower.  Today he and Dwayne would be doing the McDonald’s run.  A time to catch up with fellows with no timeline.

  With a good night’s sleep under my belt, my plans were to be in the studio while Dennis was gone.  Of course the coffee cup was kept full by making multiple trips back up to the kitchen.

  As of this afternoon the Luella blanket is totally pinned together.  Amazingly, towards the end the choice pins had been used and the smaller ones needed to come into play.  The blanket stretched over the two church tables, plus.  I put into service a row of large hat pins where the excess fell off of the table top.  That allowed me to pull the excess when it was time for pinning and making sure all layers pulled the same.  No bunching was allowed.

  My plan was to put no pins in the design squares.  I will do meandering within those squares.  Once all have been stitched, I can stitch in the ditch on either side of the pink sashing.  No more decisions on the blanket today.  The machine needs to be cleaned, oiled and checked for possibly a new needle.  I believe I will use an ecru colored thread for the quilting process.

  My final pinning came just when Dennis came home and we shared a cup of coffee at the dining room table.  Dennis caught me up as to the latest and greatest news from around town.

  The sun is bright and there are quite a few patches of bare concrete showing.  Amazing what 32 degrees can do after a heavy snowfall.

   
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  Noreen 3:40 pm on November 30, 2022 Permalink  

  Merry and Bright 

  The bright sun would lead us to believe that it is warmer outside, rather than what it actually is.

  I can tell you that the marketplace on Facebook does indeed work.  Hats off to the older ones on Stauffer Avenue.  I even remembered to go back to the site and let the world know a sale had happened.

  After Dennis went out to check on the patio kitties this morning, I sat in my bedroom porch for a time enjoying breakfast coffee and a good read.  I couldn’t help but notice a huge brown curled Oak leaf as it danced and pranced over the top of the snow that had no blemishes on it.  A thing of delight in the winter wonderland.  A gust of wind gave the leaf flight to . . . where . . . I do not know.  If the gusts persist road conditions will be anything but a delight.  The snow was so wet and heavy, once walked on or driven on, it was ice.

  Dennis has been outside cleaning around the door openings with his Simplicity snowblower.  That included an area on the back patio next to the patio porch.  The pan holding the nightly corn for the deer will have a cleared spot.  This morning the backyard of fairly deep snow looked like many deer had traveled through. 

  Again this afternoon, I spent some time putting more safety pins down to hold Luella’s blanket in place before quilting can begin.  I have no time frame on the quilting process.   

  This evening we are enjoying two bone in pork chops, smothered in cream of mushroom soup, that have been in the crockpot since morning.  A kettle of instant mashed potatoes will be also on the menu with green beans.  I think Dennis will enjoy the tasty hot meal.

  As we had no errands to run today, I still think the sun makes me feel merry and bright.

  Catch you tomorrow on hump day!

   
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  Noreen 3:20 pm on November 29, 2022 Permalink  

  Snow For Sure! 

  I have no idea what as fallen but it was deemed a snow storm.  I was up at 3:30 and all was calm.  By the time I settled back in at 4:30 the snow was just beginning.  I fell soundly back to sleep.  Neither one of us had any reason to make it an early morning and I can tell you . . . we didn’t.

  Dennis moved snow from the back door to the service door of the garage.  It looked like water underneath.  I think shoveling this snow is what would be labeled as a heart attack snow.  Dennis and the three porch kitties were content watching the snowfall during the entire forenoon and now into the afternoon.  Wise on all counts.  Randy, our next door neighbor, will be by later on today to clear the drive, and Dennis clears where the tractor and snowblower can’t get to.  Actually, Dennis is at that right now.  I checked, snowmobile boots on and a face mask on.  Wise fellow.  

  Part of my morning was spent on the computer searching out the portion of the city’s plat map in regard to our holdings and the newly acquired lot via the tax forfeit sale of yesterday.  A map for Dennis to see is worth many, many words.

  According to the radio, the winds are quite brisk.  The cancelations were many in the surrounding area.  We have no where to be, but there is a lot of traffic going by and not all that slow.  In today’s world, I wonder what it would take to keep people homebound.

  My bag of safety pins got a workout this afternoon on Luella’s blanket.  Safety pins are the pits when it comes to my fingers and hands.  My sister didn’t close the safety pins when she had a project going.  Grant it, she had a long arm.  When fabric gets wrangled, the open pins would feel like little daggers.  Not for me.  That would be why an hour was all I put in on getting them to anchor the sandwiching of the layers.  Short durations on this project allows me to enjoy the books I stocked up on yesterday at the library and keeps the arthritic aching at bay.

  It is indeed a winter wonderland outside.

   
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  Noreen 4:25 pm on November 28, 2022 Permalink  

  Monday, Monday 

  Mondays are laundry day . . . thus was Lena’s way.  It worked for her and it worked for me.  The laundry basket is empty and is ready to receive new dirty laundry.

  I had caught wind that snow may be moving in.  I trundled my library books to the library as they were due this Thursday.  Staying out of slush and snow is my target.  Once I had new books checked out I thought I might as well visit the grocery store.  

  We don’t shop locally if a medical appointment in Mankato is due during the week.  We won’t have any appointments until the 6th of December.  The sticker shock of some of the items on the shelf made me happy that our basement pantry is quite well stocked.  I was disappointed as the 2% milk has a December 6th sell by date.  Good grief.  Nonetheless, what we needed to round out what we have on hand has been achieved.

  Our mail was late this afternoon.  In the mail was a letter from the county auditor that was typed November 21st.  Hmm.  Here it is the 28th of November.  In the letter was a notification of a tax forfeit auction taking place at three this afternoon.  One of the properties is adjacent to our holdings.  Hmm.

  With a quick late lunch under Dennis’ belt, he headed for the courthouse.  This was his decision.  I told him to act upon whatever he thought best for us.  When Dennis got home he announced that we own an additional lot of 46,200 Sq. Ft.  There are no special assessment on it and the abstract is available from the auditor’s office upon the sale.  Well now . . . 

  I do have thoughts about this.  This lot is adjacent to a land locked area of ours.  There has been an easement in place for ingress and egress, though not without cleanup.  I know that Edna, that lives on one side of the easement, will be thrilled.  Dennis has been mowing her yard for quite some years and turns a blind eye to what lays next door east to her yard.  Dennis came home with all sorts of talk about the cleanup of this, which includes an old barn.  It may well be just what my ole cowboy needs to stay in the loop of planning and doing and . . . feeling vital.  After all, where would I be if not for the commotion in the studio.

  I hope the snow is not serious, though Dennis has his snow blower ready. 

  Potatoes are peeled and a small frozen serving of pork roast and carrots have thawed.  Steamed veggies are also on the menu.  Two out of three options for Dennis is really quite good.

  Perhaps tomorrow will see the lights come on in the studio.

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on November 27, 2022 Permalink  

  What a Great Day 

  With Thanksgiving, the days of the week were skewed.  Yesterday felt like a Sunday.

  It was a day where I spent the day ruminating.  The day was largely spent in my bedroom porch sitting back, watching traffic and reading in between time.  I seemed to have a lot of things to think about.  No solutions were needed for anything.  A day to ground myself was needed. 

  I did do several hours in the studio yesterday in the afternoon, the time that I usually spent doing a posting on my blog.  The sandwiching of Luella’s blanket has slowly begun.  When it got to the point of pinning everything down, I closed up shop before digging out the bag of safety pins.

  Today, Dennis and I were on the same page.  After morning coffee. the dust bunnies and other grit and grim caught hell.  My target was the kitchen range.  Dennis manned the vacuum and then the wet Swiffer pads.  No corner was left alone as most of our furniture can be moved out.  Not pleasant to think of, the reality of sluffed 0ff dead skin cells and lint that only a laminate flooring in the bright sun shine can show.  A carpeted flooring . . . they would hide for a long time.  Felt skids under heavy furniture is the ultimate.

  Our target to wind things up was twelve noon.  Nailed it!

  Pickled Herring, cheese and crackers made for a great noon spread.

  We checked the week’s schedule and other than two PT appointments for Dennis, it is a quiet week.

  Megan should be back in Lynchburg, Virginia, by now as her flight was at 6 a.m. this morning.  It was great seeing her and Nicholas this last week.  Hard to believe she will be nineteen on the 2nd.  Nicholas is two heads taller than me and he proudly announced that he has his learner’s permit for driving. 

  Yes, this feels every good as a Sunday could.  Petitions sent heaven bound and a tidied home with a whole lot of local effort having been spent.  Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 3:44 pm on November 25, 2022 Permalink  

  Happy Black Friday 

  Our huge big event for this black Friday was a trip to the Curry Comb for hair cuts.  Haircuts were sorely needed.

  Last night I had taken out a very small beef roast.  This morning after a trip to the basement pantry for a can of cream of mushroom soap, I set about getting our supper together.  I had just enough baby carrots left to cover the bottom of the small crock pot.  The thawed beef went in next covered with slices of onion.  The cream of mushroom soup covered the meat and onions.  I kicked the crock pot on high for the first hour and then the remaining day it was set on low.  It is now 3:30 and when we came back from haircuts, the house smells like someone will be enjoying a good hot meal.  It will be up to Dennis if he wants to do a batch of instant mash potatoes. 

  Dennis went to PT this morning and came home with four additional appointments over the next two weeks.  Sweet.  He is barely gone for 45 minutes for each appointment.  Dan Kern really likes the improvement of the wound via the ultrasound bringing additional blood flow for healing. 

  My morning was in the studio sewing together the backing for Luella’s blanket.  Securing the backing wrong side up on the two church tables has been started.  Finishing that task will be for another day.  Without using a quilt frame like Raymond had made for Lena would be the ultimate.  Our tiny home does not allow for that.  Getting the backing as taunt as possible via tape and thumb tacks is what is possible.  The church tables are not as large as the quilt top, so I will be doing some hand basting once the sandwiching is complete.

  This is not my first rodeo in the studio getting a blanket or a quilt into the final stretch.  It takes time and patience and I have plenty of both.  Havin no timeline is 99% of it.  There is no one looking over my shoulder or asking questions.  I work on the project until I need a break.  Tomorrows work in my favor.

  There is just enough of the sunny afternoon left to take a walk down Stauffer Avenue.  A 52 degree afternoon can’t be wasted, especially when the darkness comes way too soon.

  Catch everyone tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 2:51 pm on November 23, 2022 Permalink  

  By my Chin 

  By my skin of my chin.  It is that close to having enough of my pink fabric for the blanket backing that I am working on.  Oh all right.  I actually have two inches.  When the sandwiching takes place, the backing goes down first, wrong side up.  Next the batting will be floated over the backing and last but not least is the topping with the right side up.  There is always more batting peeking out than the backing.  It may come down to doing some basting to make sure top and bottom are aligned.  That will be for another day . . . after Thanksgiving.

  Dennis had visitors during the night checking out his corn dish.  The porch kitties no doubt took in the activities.  The dish was taken into the patio porch this morning.  There are so many squirrels just waiting for some free treats.

  This afternoon is the perfect time for a walk down Stauffer Avenue.  No wind, no ice.

  I won’t be posting tomorrow on Thanksgiving.  May each and everyone feel as blessed and thankful as I do.  Yup . . . life is pretty sweet.

   
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  Noreen 3:03 pm on November 22, 2022 Permalink  

  A Bit of Fall Returns 

  I would say 45 degrees is a very good reprieve from the frigid cold.

  Tuesday mornings are set as coffee group at McDonald’s with friend Dwayne.  After smoozing with those in attendance, Dennis was off to the grain elevator’s office.  Dennis had dropped off six five gallon pails yesterday and today they were picked up filled with the corn for the deer.  My contribution was to make sure we had a pan for the corn.  In my days of farming these pans were called sow pans.  Metal pans that took a lot of abuse as they were pushed about in the pens.

  I made my way to the studio.  First item on the agenda was to clean out fuzz from within the sewing machine and give it a drop or two of oil.  A few minutes spent wisely to make the machine run like a top.  The next item was done as a favor to my hands and arms.  A new blade in the OLFA rotary cutter for making nice.  As I needed to cut multiple lengths of the companion border . . . it cut as if going through butter.  I had pieced the individual baby clothes blocks to be equal to each other, I felt the border of that same black print to tie it all together for a cohesive appearance would work.  Prior to the black border the measurement was 65″ x 75″.  With the border it will be about 72″ x 82″.  Luella is in a double bed,  which is 93″ x 96″.  I am sure that this blanket may very well end up everywhere but on top of her bed.  As I am going to quilt this on my sewing machine, I also know my limits.  It still is a lot to herd under the needle.

  Three in the afternoon is a good time to shut down the studio and head to the main floor of the house.  A change of pace as the afternoon seems to close more quickly than I would like.

  The forecast for the Thanksgiving event sounds wonderful.  We will be traveling to Eden Prairie for the day.  We had asked if we could bring anything and Carrie had decided on a brunch rather than a full bore Thanksgiving meal.  We needed to bring nothing.  Dennis countered with bringing several jugs of orange juice as it was deemed a brunch.  That was given a thumb’s up by the hostess.  We can eat anywhere, anytime.  Dennis and I are looking forward to the visiting on Thursday.

   
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  Noreen 2:32 pm on November 21, 2022 Permalink  

  Contentment 

  Contentment right here on Stauffer Avenue.  For me, I believe it is in my genes.  Both of my parents could well entertain themselves in their rural home.  There was no end to what dad could come up with in his shop whether metal or wood.  Mom liked her threads and fuzz.  Me too mom.

  Were it not for the fact that Dennis’ two friends no longer drive, McDonald’s would not have that great of appeal.  I do think it does Dennis good to meet and greet other fellows.

  Today the bright sun is flooding through our south windows.  The south basement windows give an extra lift to the fluorescent overhead light in the studio.  It may be the sunshine or some powerfully rich coffee that Dennis brewed . . . my stitching has gone very well.  I am going to shut down the studio shortly.  Pulling the plug while my joints still feel good is better than the alternative.  There is nothing worse than not being able to find comfort . . . been there, done that.

  Chicken tenderloins are thawing for supper.  A saucepan with peeled Russet Reds are ready for boiling.  Dennis gets to decide the vegetable.

  I am heading for my bedroom porch to sit in the sunshine and do some reading.  Ultimate contentment.

   
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  Noreen 3:12 pm on November 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Late Night Visitors 

  This morning when we got up we noticed the tracks around the east end of our house.  Either one very busy deer or many.  Dennis commented that with such a great harvest season, most of the farm fields have little to offer the deer for foraging.  We didn’t cut down the Hosta in the east end of the acre, that might be a snack for a few of the deer.  It wouldn’t surprise me if tomorrow sometime Dennis will visit the elevator office and talk to Mike about picking up sweepings to feed the deer.  Once we start, it will be the winter’s project.  We have quite a few five gallon pails for the project.  As in years past, Dennis would drop off the pails one day and pick them up the next.

  I made fair headway today with pink blanket stitching.  When my left arm and left hand become weary, there is no mistaking the message.  It is easy to shut down the machine as well as all the extra lighting.

  The remaining afternoon I will be in my bedroom porch with cold coffee . . . reading.

  My laptop is telling me it is 36 sunny degrees.  The week is going to be a wonderful warmup from the frigid of the past several weeks.  That cold shock value allowed us to make sure we knew where gloves, mittens and the cold gear was.  My daily routine is to make sure I shake out my feather blanket encased in its duet cover.  The extra air . . . a wonderful insulation factor.  I do feathers, light as air and Dennis does heavy weight in multiple, and I mean multiple coverings.  It works . . . to each his own.