Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from Noreen Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Noreen 2:40 pm on July 9, 2022 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  Last night I got an unexpected text.

  Linda is the gal in charge of the mission quilting in the First Lutheran Church.  Linda picked up the bolts of cotton/poly just about a week and a half ago.  She reported that the gal in charge of making up the backing of their quilts had 42 backs ready for the pieced tops and batting from the bolts of cotton/poly.  Wow.  Linda is in charge of cutting all of their donated fabric into 10.5″ squares.  Linda has a set number of those cuttings that she bags up and the troops that are working on the quilts take home a bag or two and get them sewn together ready as the tops of the quilt.  What an operation.

  Any how . . . the text was telling me that they would use the DMC floss that I had offered to tie their quilts.  They had been using yarn and some of the ladies had commented on the difficulty getting the knots tight.  The troop under Linda does not qualify for spring chickens.  Linda herself is a 70 year young retired teacher.

  This morning armed with breakfast coffee and my box of gallon Ziploc bags, I began bagging up floss by colors.  Each of the DMC drawers have a divider for 12 different colors.  I think when Dennis came down and checked on me, I had 11 gallon bags stuffed to the brink.  When I shared with him the color chart of DMC floss colors, he could not believe the slightest variant in color that would spur a use for one of the twelve dividers in the drawer.  I put hues of each color together in the various bags.

  Dennis got the remaining of the acre mowed today.  It sure looks manicured.  He has the touch!  When he came in for the Dawn to put in his scrub pail, I was curious.  The city puts down a layer of calcium chloride for dust control on Stauffer Avenue.  It is the nastiest stuff to drag into the garage.  It literally will make a liquid puddle on the garage floor.  The city did this about two weeks ago and it had begun to be packed down on the avenue with the traffic.  Today Dennis scrubbed down his garage floor and then hosed it off, hoping for less muck that will find its way into the garage.

  We do seem to keep busy for two old duffers.  I am excited to be parring down the inventory in the studio.  As I had the baggies of floss lined up on the ironing board, I decided to get out several garbage bags.  I went through totes that held fabric from family of friends that had donated fabric to me.  I have decided not to be a depository.  This group of church ladies making quilts for charity will have some additional yardage to use.  As I checked things over in the studio, what I now have for choices in my stashes is what I had chosen to purchase.  Sweet!

   
• 

  Noreen 3:47 pm on July 8, 2022 Permalink  

  Neck and Neck 

   

  When the humidity and dew point are neck and neck . . . not a good level of comfort.

  Today I was in for a yearly check in with our family doctor.  I had not been a frequent visitor these last twelve months.  I knew I should have had a mammogram in March of 2021.  I was a little busy at the time trying to understand my body after the stroke.  Well, here comes March of 2022 . . . what excuse did I have for that? 

  Even with the healed incision of the heart surgery, the mammogram was a bit uncomfortable.  It gets quite tight.  Got it done today.

  Blood draws will be telling the rest of the story as to what changes will be coming with prescriptions.  I only take one for blood pressure . . . but time will tell.

  In regard to our internet situation . . . I am so over it.  I do have a life.  We have a service man coming on Monday morning to help with the wi-fi.  Dennis and I are using the lap top with the ethernet cable.  I checked our bank activity, paid several bills online and Dennis got to get caught up with his facebook contacts.  Dennis’ porch television is taking in two different channel 12 options from his mini antenna.  We ran through the channels available and it looks like there are quite a few.  Accessing them with the remote is another challenge.  How much sweeter could life be?  Grandson AJ will stop in tomorrow and help out with the porch channels. 

  Dennis mowed 75% of the acre today.  I think he was smart to save some for tomorrow.   By the time exhaustion sets, it is too late to take a break.  Our front yard will be mowed tomorrow.  Right now the cotton seed floating in the air from our far away neighbors, is giving the grass a look of having little snowballs. 

  Whatever we have in the refrig is going to be pulled out for a supper.  Just like in a restaurant, you have choices.  

  Well it has been several hours since the lab work for me.  I am going to access the MAYO Portal and see how things are and how they have changed since last year.

   
• 

  Noreen 5:39 pm on July 7, 2022 Permalink  

  Back Online 

  Back online via the ethernet cable.  One cable port, one device . . . for now.  Thankful for Kersten and Kevin and their input via the need of us having to have a new modem and wi-fi router.  Good grief.  Old folks do need to step it up and keep up.

  I was doing well with the Net Gear site and having a support person wanting to speak to me.  Nope!  It was a Pakistanian and I knew what rabbit hole that was going down.  I was caught once years ago.  I immediately blocked the number.  There are many videos on YouTube and tomorrow is another day. 

  Dennis bought an antenna for a set in the patio porch to get reception off of the REA tower eight miles north of us.  As long as I could use my laptop, I copied down the channel numbers for him.  We did scan all numbers available via the TV.  The number system they use is numerical followed by a dot and a second number.  That also is for tomorrow.

  Today’s doctor appointment for Dennis had good news and some news for thought.  The incision is healed with a lot of new fresh pink skin.  Very susceptible to rubbing . . . it is still dressing time every other night.  July 26th Dennis will have one more and the last of the angioplasties.  One vein has narrowed and a stint will be put in that.  Dennis never gave it a second thought.  “Get it on the schedule.”

  With having 1.5 inches of rain Tuesday night, the acre will need some TLC tomorrow.  Just think of the gas that has been saved over the last three weeks when it had a sabbatical.   

  Tomorrow I will be having my yearly appointment with our family doctor.  I know I need some checks and balances on my heart, but . . . I don’t even have a cardiologist.  That will get fixed in short order tomorrow.

  Supper is on hold tonight as we enjoyed chicken tenders at Culver’s this afternoon.  They sure were tender and tasty.

  Take care in the July temps.  They can be corkers.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:39 pm on July 3, 2022 Permalink  

  A Day of Rest 

  I had gotten up at six, and sat down in my chair and napped until eight.  Hmm.

  It is a day of rest here on Stauffer Avenue.

  Dennis has found his recliner and I am doing some reading.

  Catch you all tomorrow on the 4th.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:19 pm on July 2, 2022 Permalink  

  Stitching Right Along 

  It was a six in the morning cup of coffee for me.  The three kitties and I walked the acre to check things out.  In places the grass crunched under foot.

  Dennis’ nephew from Windom stopped in for a visit and by nine, I left the fellows to talk shop and I went in and down to the studio.

  I have been stitching on a quilt top called “A Long Time Ago.”  I haven’t rushed at it.  In early spring I was busy transplanting Hosta and then doing some stitching in the afternoons.

  On a side note . . . I so enjoyed the cool temps to be out getting my fingernails dirty.  That was the ultimate for me.  Since the temps have climbed and bugs are out, I am not outside other than in the mornings.

  Back to stitching.  All of the various blocks in this pattern have been sewn.  Blocks today were then sewn together to make up quarters and then into halves of the quilt top.  Dennis would check on me from time to time and give moral support.  So many 1/4 inch seams to match up.  So many seams to press.  So many 1/4 inch seams to press open to make less bulk, without burning the fingers.

  This mid afternoon it was time.  It was time to lay, with the right sides of the project, bringing both halves together.  In my head I was doing a drum roll.  Over the course of months and eyeballing the 1/4 inch seam allowance, how much would I have to fudge to make this union work?  The grid for the top of the church tables that Kevin and Kersten got for me has been priceless.  Laying things out on it for the common good, leaves little to the imagination.  Armed with pins, I pinned each end and worked towards the middle.  I was astounded.  Both lengths of the halves were joined in perfect harmony.   

  That was it!  I shut everything down for the day.  I had achieved my ultimate goal which has been in the works for several months.  When next I return to the studio, the two halves will become one.   A border of 4″ will be sewn on all four sides making for approximately 64″ x 64″.  The folksy orange flowered print that was used in joining blocks as it was called for in the pattern, will also be used in the border as well as the backing.  I knew I had saved this yardage of Mom’s for the perfect project.

  I let Dennis know we now would be going on a road date to Bird Island in the near future.  My gift certificate that has been waiting for me will be used in part for the batting of “A Long Time Ago.”   It will be the prime time to have lunch at the Athman’s Café.

  I have had a great rewarding Saturday.

  Be well my family and friends.  Be kind to yourselves and each other this long weekend.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:32 pm on July 1, 2022 Permalink  

  A Wonderful Friday 

  Could we please have more days such as this during July?  Cool enough in the early morning to sit on the patio and enjoy coffee before any bugs found me. 

  The patio kitties found the catnip I had crimped the stem of to allow the aroma to waft that would entice them.  If the stem is not broken or crimped, they would and do walk right past it. 

  We have not mowed our acre for two weeks.  I am surprised that Dennis has not heard the whisper of the dew on the grass blades calling him.  I think letting it mellow out in the dry conditions is good.  Over the years, there have been many varieties of grass seed spread over the acre.  KNUJ reported that in the month of June, our area has had a mere .68 inches of rain.  The hot winds pretty much took care of sucking that up.

  Neighbor Jan is busy watering her newly planted flowers every day that she purchased this spring.  She has a red watering can with a sprinkle spout on it.  All of our perennials are well established and are doing well as is.  Once the water regime begins, it can’t be halted as the roots have become trained to rise to the service level for a drink.  We had two inches in the last measurable rain in May.  

  After the mailman had been here, Dennis came down to where I was in the studio.  He had a thankyou card in his hand from Megan.  Megan was thanking us for coming to her graduation party and the gift that she would be using towards college expenses.  Grandpa Dennis didn’t think it was fair that she was growing up.  How quickly we forget the wonderful times we have had of her staying with us before she could even talk, right up until her sixteenth birthday.  Super sweet memories that no one can take from us.  I am quite sure more will follow.  

  I will appease “Grandpa Dense”, (Megan couldn’t get the second syllable out when she first began talking), with some twice baked potatoes and chicken titties for supper.

   
• 

  Noreen 3:42 pm on June 30, 2022 Permalink  

  Home Safe 

  Dennis’ doctor appointment went well.  Stitches are totally out.  We are home safe and sound.  The traffic was already heavy anticipating the July 4th holiday. 

  We stopped at Hy-Vee for a few groceries to tide us over the 4th holiday.

  I got a phone call while I was shopping and a Mayo Insurance gal working with a Medicare claim that was denied.  She needed to talk to Dennis in person.  I snagged a pen and got her direct line phone number. When I went out to the car, we gave her a call.  Someone dropped the ball in coding.  Dennis’ one claim was logged as a workman’s comp issue.  All she needed was Dennis’ in-person verification for her to begin unraveling the issue.  What would we do without people working their jobs.  What would we do without cell phones to help them do their jobs.

  As I said, we will be homebodies over the long weekend.  I am happy for all of our kids that will have a long three or four day weekend.  Sweet indeed.

  I am home tucking groceries away and Dennis went uptown to run the car through the carwash as the bug glue was horrific today.

  Happy Thursday everyone!

   
• 

  Noreen 1:33 pm on June 29, 2022 Permalink  

  A KNUJ Sort of Day 

  It’s breezy with humidity and dew points neck and neck.

  I took some time today in the sewing studio to tidy up after Linda had taken a huge amount of fabric from me to her church.  I remain feeling very good about that.

  KNUJ has a bit of news and some good music on the waves.

  Dennis is having a good day in the patio porch being entertained via the television programming.  His cousin, Bruce, was over this forenoon to have coffee with Dennis.

  Supper time is going to be minimal as neither one of us has been at it very hard today . . . hardly at it would be more correct.  

  It might be a Progressive soup supper with a piece of peach pie and a sliver of vanilla ice cream topping it.

  Tomorrow afternoon we visit Nurse Jody at the Mankato Hospital for the last of the stitches to come out of Dennis’ well healed foot.  Sweet!

  I have nothing new to report today, so it is time to close this down until perhaps tomorrow.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:27 pm on June 28, 2022 Permalink  

  No Third Strike 

  Last Thursday when we went to the PERA office in Mankato to take care of our direct deposit as our bank is closing.  We found the office was closed.  That may have been with all the congestion as the Civic Plaza was having live music . . . every Thursday and it was wall to wall people.

  This morning, I checked the website for the PERA office.  It stated June 28th, office hours from 8:30 to 4:30 – Office Open. 

  Dennis and I headed to Mankato to get this transaction taken care of.  We parked in the handicapped spot in front of the PERA office.  Door was locked.  I stood in the shade of the awning and called the phone number on the door.  After numerous announcements, I got a real person on the phone, and I allowed her to know we were outside their door in the Civic Plaza.  Hmm.  They closed the Mankato office some time ago and now the only offices open are in Minneapolis and St. Paul.  As I had a real person on the line I let her know that perhaps they should put signage on the door, taking off the stated hours and then change the website.  Grr!

  We came home and Dennis left me to my HP computer.  I prayed the funky internet service would stay on line long enough for me to find the site I needed.  After many different pages of info, I found forms to download for direct deposit changes.  Whew!  No longer do establishments value one on one communication for business dealings.  

  After two strikes we will get this done via the old fashioned snail mail.  Dennis wondered how people took care of their business when they didn’t have their very own Grammie on board.

  On that note, I will toddle off to the post office to mail in the PERA forms and then hit the library for some reading to have on hand.

  Chalk this day up to being persistent in our own business, because there sure isn’t anyone waiting for you to walk into their door to help you.

   
• 

  Noreen 1:33 pm on June 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Great Visit 

  Today I had a great visit from acquaintance, Linda.  Years ago we worked together on a quilt that we then raffled off to help a mother and wife that was going through a lot of medical things.

  Earlier this year we ran into Linda in Culver’s.  I commented that I had not seen any new stitching from her on Facebook.  Linda is now the head of the missionary quilting in her church and has taken a backseat from her own project.  All their quilts are headed to Lutheran World Relief.  

  That took me back to the times that Lena did a lot of quilting for missions.  Lutheran World Relief had offices in Willmar.  If the church ladies had all of their finished quilts delivered to them by a deadline, they were then shipped off to ports unknown.

  Today Linda picked up all the bolts of fabric that I had been holding for her, until such time that her ladies were ready to get the quilting season going.  The many full bolts of poly/cotton will be earmarked for the backs of the quilts.  One seam and the backing would be ready rather than multiple piecing.  Just as large of a stack was various flannel prints with which to make youth and baby blankets.

  Linda came early in the morning and we visited until noon before her car was loaded.  Linda was headed right to the church with her treasure trove. 

  Sharing what daughter-in-law Kersten had shared with me, gave my heartstrings a tune that will last for some time.  I had been pecking away at using some of this fabric, but realistically, this will make many quilts for many to make use of. 

  Linda was amazed at what I had for a sewing studio.  One of the neatest things was the teak wooden rocker she enjoyed while we chatted.

  Dennis was busy farming today.  The Cub-Lo-Boy was taken for a spin up to the corner gas station.  He is now changing oil in it.  It’s all in a day’s work.

  The skies are cloudy with maybe a hint of a rain shower.  The half inch we got last week sure did help things out.  There is a type of grass that we have that doesn’t take well to the extreme heat of early last week.  It crunches underfoot and has a hint of brown.  So be it.