Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:45 pm on October 29, 2022 Permalink  

  Great Saturday 

  The sun was shining with little wind.  The perfect day.  

  It was time I spent some time on the first floor with the vacuum.  It is not something I do every Saturday, but I really appreciate the small shop vac that we have when it’s time to hit it.  It gives me a chance to suck up a few beetles off of the kitchen ceiling.  Yuk!

  I know that if the first floor has had some TLC, I am more apt to spend time in the studio and feel relaxed to then keep up with the laundry while moving from the studio to the laundry.  I don’t bake any longer.  Our meals are not multiple courses, it’s more like “It’s meal time lets just get something on the table.”  Time does change how we approach each day.  It is par for the course.

  It is up to me to make sure what does hit the table has a semblance of balanced nutrients.  

  Now that we have maybe one or two doctor appointments in Mankato per month instead of the several per week, we are not eating out much.  Perkins or Culver’s were an easy stop when we were in town over the noon hour or late in the day.

  It is hard to believe that November will be next Tuesday.  2022 has gone by way too fast.  For myself, I am so thankful that I manage my days as well as I do.  There is no aspect of my day that is not doable if I were to be alone.  I have to be realistic.  There is no false hope that anything is going to get easier.  I want all to continue as is for some time to come.

  Enjoy the tomorrow.  Sundays should be the day of the week when usual schedules are broken.  It brings balance in our lives.

   
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  Noreen 1:40 pm on October 28, 2022 Permalink  

  Great Service 

  Today, Dennis got great service from the limb store in the Mankato East Mall.  Via the VA, Dennis has a pair of leather shoes with orthotics in them to make up for the diminished size of his foot.  The left shoe needed the larger of the orthotics but an orthotic was also made for the right shoe to make sure height was the same in each shoe.  The instructions were to replace shoes and orthotics once a year to maintain proper support as the inside of the shoes do flatten with wear.  Good trip taken and good results had.

  I was excited when we got home and there was a package by the back door.  I am a believer of doing things smarter, not harder.  With the amount of arthritis in my lower lumbar, the putting on of a sock on my right foot can give me the giggles.  Try, try, try again.  Today I got a “Sock On, Sock Off.”  As soon as I got the box open and then the wrapping off of it, I tried it.  Slick as a whistle.  I knew there had to be a solution for those of us that are a might challenged.  I know that all I need to do is ask Dennis for help and he would be tripping over himself to do what I can’t.  How sweet it is for self-reliance and now for my socks . . . I have it.

  This is all the news I have for today.  Catch you all tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on October 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Sweet Indeed 

  Today was a day of taking a project closer to the finish line.  I rummaged in the studio’s closet and found the perfect frame for this project.  There is something to be said about knowing when to save and when to pitch.  I measured and trimmed the excess for a great fit into this wooden frame that mirrored the colors in Kluge and in the stitching.  Where I fell short was attaching the wire to the edge of the frame for hanging.  That I will pass to those that can easily get it done.  If Dennis and I tried to work with wood screws or brads, I could well see edges of the frame being splintered.

  Grandpups are important and my mission was to do a thread image of Kevin and Kersten’s dog Kluge with the embroidery module.  I cleared the image with Kersten beforehand.  Last year I did an image of Carrie’s dog Kody.

  Dennis gave me a ride to the library as we are still in street repair with limited access as well as limited parking.  When we pulled up, a gal around my age had her car doors open as well as her trunk open.  She asked for help and Dennis was ready on the spot.  She had just bought this walker that also works as a sit down.  She had managed to get it out of her trunk and was now not able to get it sprung open.  She mentioned she had just bought it.  Dennis thought it was a matter of working the mechanism until the newness has worn off.  A trip to the library . . . not the best place for a first time use. 

  That was or could have been me.  I will stick with my cane for support.  I can manage that as it now feels like it is a part of me. We have one of those sit down walkers and they are by no means light weight.  I would never think of handling that on my own. 

  Friday brings us a trip to Mankato to pick up Dennis’ shoes that have had an orthotic built t0 fit into the shoe for the foot to feel like the shoe actually fits well.  This has been a long time getting to this point.  I have never heard one complaint from Dennis since this all started in October of 2021.

  Clouds mean that we have to make our own sunshine.  Rejoice and be glad in it.  Sweet indeed.

   
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  Noreen 2:17 pm on October 26, 2022 Permalink  

  How Much? 

  How much fluid does the cold pack used for pain hold?

  I swear that amount is ten times more than imagined.

  I have always had a cold pack in the freezer for when and if relief could be found by icing the injured area.  When we had stocked up on some items for the freezer, I took the cold pack and put it on a shelf in the refrig for the time being.  Hmm.  Apparently it was in the area of the refrig that I don’t look at often . . . until today.  Where was all this wetness coming from?  It was not an ordinary wet.  It felt sticky.  Yup, the vinyl bag was no longer plump with its contents.  It was as limp as a wet noodle. 

  With the job at hand, it took me back to the time Kevin also wanted to know about the contents of a 3M cold pack.  I think the way it went was that after Kevin threw the pack on the floor, he would see how good of a marksman he was by jumping off the bed to hit the pack dead on with both feet.  Splatter 101. 

  There is never a bad time to do a deep cleaning within our little home.  Everything that had sat on the same shelf as the cold pack had a wet bottom.  It’s a good thing the kitchen counter was close, ready to take anything and everything I sent its way.

  Here we are several hours later.  Job well done.  I hope neither Dennis or I will get an injury in the near future that will require more than what a tray of ice cubes can offer up.

  Surprises always throw me for a loop.  One thing leads to another and then another and then another.  The day that I thought I would have will wait until another day.  Being flexible goes a long way in the world of the retired. 

  Dennis mulched whatever leaves had fallen since last he mulched . . . last week.  There is more yet to fall. 

  Hump day with sun.  Hump day with some local effort done.

   
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  Noreen 1:58 pm on October 25, 2022 Permalink  

  Bright Sun 

  The day always goes better when there is bright sun . . . even if I spent most of my time in the studio enjoying the sun as it came through the south windows.

  The Bernina site on YouTube got quite a bit of my morning.  I have had my sewing machine and embroidery module for six years and I am still learning.  Learning by seeing and hearing via YouTube is the best.

  This day was spent on making sure that the project set to go under the needle was going to be a “one time and done.”  There was not going to be a practice session of spending three hours of stitching and then feeding the circular file.

  This afternoon with stopping the stitching several times to refill the coffee cup, I can happily say, “Mission Completion.”  The embroidery stitching is complete and now comes the task of deciding how to finish off the project once it comes out of the hoop so it can be handled off to the recipients.  Nah . . . no pillow.  Tomorrow I will scrounge in the closet here in the studio looking for the perfect frame.

  Perhaps by tomorrow’s post, I may have the project to share.

  Now, I am off to the kitchen to think on putting a supper on the table.  There too, I need to get it done right.  I am very aware of the price of groceries being off the rails.  One of our favorite supper meals is chicken tenders.  Yes . . . they are what their name implies.  They are far more tender than the entire breast.  Supper is several hours away but I need to close down shop here in the studio so as to acclimate to life on the first floor of our home.

  Catch you tomorrow!

   
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  Noreen 1:30 pm on October 24, 2022 Permalink  

  Cooler Days 

  For a short time yesterday the sun was out in full force.  The Northern Golden Oak was just that . . . golden.  I planted it when it was a twig of a tree at five feet from the last of the season sale at Pamida store here in town.  The tree now towers and is as straight as an arrow.  I would guess thirty feet.

  There were a number of Black Walnut branches that Dennis picked up due to the strong winds of late.  Those trees are never bashful about dropping off some less than healthy branches.  When I closed my eyes and listened to the howling wind, it could have very well been a blizzard.

  Last weekend Dennis’ grandson AJ brought his bike to our back garage for storage over the winter.  I thought he was busy out in the garage.  Not.  AJ whipped into the basement with a small toolbox under his arm.  Within a few minutes he came upstairs and announced that via a splitter I would now have access to the television tower north of town as well as the Samsung smart television options via the Mediacom router.  For us two old fuddy duddies, we don’t understand the high tech stuff . . . it boggles us.

  I don’t have the television on during the day.  My time is from seven to nine in the evenings.  Upon tweaking what viewing was available, I ran across the 25th anniversary marathon of Midsomer Murders on PBS.  I had missed that program when we gave up cable television.  Thank you AJ.  I am easily entertained with a good mystery.

  My studio is tidy and I am ready for the next embroidery project.  The selection of threads are lined up ready for perhaps a Tuesday’s offering.

  KNUJ has mentioned rain showers for these next days.  It is gray out and not a rain drop to be felt thus far.

  Hamburger patties for supper.  We have not had anything fixed on top of the kitchen range for a long time.  I will be sure to have the horseradish on the table.

   
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  Noreen 1:53 pm on October 23, 2022 Permalink  

  I’m Back 

  What a sweet day . . . I’m back in my studio.  It seems as if it has been forever.

  When Dennis and I went to a great grands 4th birthday party, I had a great visit with brother, third grader Oliver.  I am not sure where he picked up the Pokémon fever.  Apparently he and his classmates have it.  But . . . they can’t bring the trading cards to school.  Too funny.

  At first I thought I had enough Pokémon fabric to make a pillow case.  Not.  I had wanted to try embordering on a cap for some time.  This pushed the envelope.  I only had one cap so there was no practicing.  I had the designs from a quilt I had made for Kersten.  It took me a while to pull out the lettering from a larger design.  I had not realized how little area there is to maintain a flat surface.  Par for the course, I didn’t quite have it as straight across as I would have liked.  I have to remember to keep both eyes open when calculating where the design is going to go.  Hey . . . I did give myself points for centering it.

  I am going to do a cap for Kersten as she is the go-to person for all things Pokémon.

  I am always up for a challenge while learning something along the way.

  I have one additional design for embroidering that I want to do and then it may be time for some straight stitching.

  Now . . . if I had an elf that would come behind me and tidy up the studio.

   
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  Noreen 3:55 pm on October 22, 2022 Permalink  

  Dust Bowl 2022 

  Could the air get any thicker with the harvest dust!

  The farmers in our area have not had one drop of rain since the fields were opened for the 2022 harvest.  It has been go, go, go from the onset.  Our neighbor Randy works for John Deere and I know from watching him walk across his yard to his pickup, he is feeling his 67 years.

  Yesterday when Dennis was finished with his mowing, mulching and bagging, he looked like he had been standing behind one of those huge combines . . . dust from head to foot.  No, I didn’t make him strip before he came in the house, but it was close.  Of course the Asian beetles had globed onto him for the free ride into the house.  I would think that by next weekend the harvest would be history.

  My brother, Calvin, called this afternoon.  Me thinks he is out of sorts and needs someone to visit with.  It’s the least I can do for him.  Fifty minutes of cell phone time . . . I can do that.

  We have a sweet lightweight shop vacuum that has the best suction.  Yesterday I got it set up and I am leaving it plugged in and sitting in the corner of the living room for now.  It is so handy with its long hose that can reach many areas without moving the actual vacuum.  I do have some plans for that sweet little brush attachment and cold air floor registers as well as the two office chairs we use as dining chairs.

  I was just going to head into the studio when one of Dennis’ daughter stopped in.  When the clock on the wall said three thirty as Sandy was leaving,  my creative spirit had left me.  Too much socializing today.  Maybe tomorrow it will be a quiet day here on Stauffer and the threads, fuzz and me will get it together.

  Temps in the low 80s today.  Another good day tomorrow with high winds bringing in a cold front.  So be it.

  I trust everyone will have a great Sunday tomorrow and find the peace that is all understanding.

   
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  Noreen 1:53 pm on October 21, 2022 Permalink  

  Good Day 

  Dennis and I have really made use of this Indian summer day.

  Dennis headed out to the garages.  I saw that he hooked up the rake behind the rider mower.  As Dennis mulched the leaves by mowing, the rake picked them up and added them to the canvas carrier.  Dennis had chose a dump site for the mulched leaves on the far east edge of the acre.

  I was determined to finish tipping in windows in my porch bedroom for the cleaning that was needed.  I had half a bottle of Windex that I filled to the brim with white vinegar.  The solution worked well to give a streak-free cleaning as possible.  I will admit, I am not as fussy as in decades earlier.  I had moved my bed over to the south and gave the woodwork on the north side of the porch some freshening up with Murphy’s woodwork wipes and then did a damp mop on the floor as well.  Having done the south half of the room earlier in the week . . . I am calling the fall cleaning of this special room done.

  At a time past, my bedroom porch was actually an open porch complete with the slanted floor for rain to run off of.  Our living room has a huge 66″ window looking out to the now enclosed porch.  The old glass with its wavy view is classic.  The very top has an insert of a frosted glass landscape.

  When Megan and Nicholas would stay with us as toddlers and they had been tucked in for the night in the bedroom porch, invariably they would get up and stand on the bed and peek back into the living room, leaving finger prints and nose prints.  I never minded the peeking, but no pounding on the glass.  Today as I cleaned that huge window, it brought back many memories of those cherished visits.  I would have given anything to find one last such print.

  When Dennis came in at noon and we had some Herring with cheese and crackers, he commented that with the window washing using vinegar and the lingering scent and now the Herring in wine vinegar, he thought we might just get a head rush.  Nah!  

  Megan did call yesterday from college.  She is going to make a gift for a friend.  She needed some advise on thread and hand embroidery stitching.  I steered her to a YouTube video. This morning, I got a text from Megan that she found the help she needed.  YouTube has the answers on anything for everyone.

  Dennis had made an oven chicken dish for last night’s supper.  Dennis and I have had a very good day.

   
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  Noreen 1:58 pm on October 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Indian Summer 

  With two killing frosts under the belt . . . here comes the reprieve.  The frosty mornings got our attention to get with the preparedness while we can. 

  Dennis did break out the mower to swipe at some leaves.  I think he decided to wait until he could actually see some results.

  For the last several days I have felt claustrophobic in our first floor living.  Putting something down where I thought it should go, to only pick it up and move it when the item for the intended spot reared its head.  No . . . there is no more physical square footage that is going to appear.  The answer is to sift, sort and eliminate that which I have no emotional attachment to.  Ya, right!  I will deal with this.  I will not carry anything up to the attic.  I will not carry anything into the studio. 

  The problem lies in the closet of the bedroom.  When I put things in the closet after laundry day, my eyes wander.  Kevin put up some wonderful extra shelving over the clothing rods.  Those shelves are now full to capacity.  I am making lists of what is going to go home with a number of people.  Some items have been earmarked decades ago.  Mom, Lena, made a quilt for Carrie and also one for Kevin.  Nothing that would be entered into a quilt show, just miles and miles of hand stitches in scrappy quilts.  I know one of them was started by Grandma Schafer and Lena finished it. 

  Quilts are to be used and abused, the whole while they emit memories of who cared enough to make it.  A quilt does not need to be on a bed to be enjoyed.  Wrapping up in a quilt on a chilly day works, even if the tail ends drag on the floor.  Quilts have been used as wall, window or doorway covers.  I have a quilt made by my grandmother Laura.  It sure does show wear. That only makes it sweeter.   

  With the quality of the fabrics I have used, they will last through wear and tear and also laundry.  The washing machines of today are not as harsh as the old wringer wash machines.   

  I have made quilts for each of the two kids.  One of Kevin’s quilts, he used when we lived at South Branch and somehow it ended up at my home.  Carrie will be receiving a quilt done in my choice of colors.  Kevin’s has a predominate theme of red, white and blue.  Years ago when a quilt was received, there was no thought of “that really isn’t my color theme.”

  I will not make anymore quilts for my two children as there is no need for more.  I don’t plan on ceasing my work with threads and fuzz.  There are some blankets that I have made in using up my stashes that don’t qualify for quilts.  There it is . . . its ready to be used.  I do have two such blankets that will be sent home the next time Dennis’ grandson Ryan comes to help us and also one to grandson AJ as he is always ready to help his grandpa. 

  Having made some decisions with my threads and fuzz stuff, I feel so much better.  Whew! 

  Indian summer will be here for the weekend.