Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:43 pm on October 16, 2025 Permalink  

  The Wind 

  The wind is whistling through the evergreen on the northwest corner of our home.  At times it is more like a howl.  As I sit in my bedroom porch looking to the south, the window screens are dotted with Asian beetles.  Too many to count.  The bright sun shining on them as they are in flight make them look iridescent.  Mother Nature’s art form.

  Over the last month, I have been watching the small rental house across the street from us.  It is currently empty.  The owners are Hispanic: Pocko and Blanka.  I know nothing more of them other than they own the little house that they rent out.  When a set of renters moves out it is sometimes in the cover of night.  It may be because they owe Pocko and Blanka money.  Each day I had first seen remains being emptied from the small house, I knew it was empty.  It seems no body cleans up after themselves before they leave.

  I had gauged the amount of work that had been done over this last month.  Yesterday, I knew it was my day.  Being mindful of fast traffic, my walking sticks and I took off across the street.  I knocked on the door of the rental with one of my walking sticks.  Pocko opened the door and smiled when he saw who it was.  I was welcomed in and he made mention to Blanka, and he was certain the grandma would come as I have come each time they need to tidy the home before they welcome new renters.  With pride they pointed out the new kitchen cabinets, new flooring along with the total paint job throughout the home from top to bottom.  After I had been shown their progress, Pocko, laughing, asked if they had passed inspection.  I shook his hand and gave them both a thumbs us.  I bid them a goodbye but Blanka insisted on walking me back home.  Sweet.  Today the “For Rent” sign was put out on the lawn of the rental.  

  Sometimes in life there are moments when it feels so good to be who I am with individuals that may seem to be worlds apart from me but yet close.  I hope it will be some time before I can visit across the street again, signaling that the new renters enjoy the home that was tidied for them.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on October 15, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  It’s a happy day when the the last half of our real estate taxes are due, October 15th, and . . . we took care of ours in total in May.  That became important when the six months of home owner’s insurance is due as well as the the six months of car insurance is due.  There is only so much the month of October can handle.  We absolutely are keeping the economy moving.

  Today, I headed to the grocery store and was reminded it was senior citizens day, too late as I was in the doorway of the store.  I am sure Dennis thought I had been picked up for squeezing the avocados and been hauled off to the poky.  Yes, there were individuals I had not seen for some time. How could I not engage when approached.  All is well as we got home safe and sound.

  This forenoon went well in the studio.  My next task for another day will be pulling out my tote of quilt batting to see if there is enough for my next 54″ x 54″ project. I have tape specifically designed to patch together odds and ends of binding, all the while, with no indication of it in the finished project.

  I have a “post-a-note” on the top of my laptop as a reminder of an October 17th event.  I would be hard pressed to forget want happened 60 years ago as we were living in Beaver Falls working for Orlin’s sister and her husband on a beef cattle farm.  Actually, the fact that there was no running water in the farm house, was not on the top of my agenda.  Yup, its a good thing I have the “post-a-note” for the 17th.

  We are having bean and ham soup for supper.  Perfect pairing on a chilly, cloudy day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:30 pm on October 14, 2025 Permalink  

  A Dreary Day 

  It is a dreary day that is bringing some rain showers.  The rain is needed.  It seems like its been forever since I stained the deck and the dust was something awful on it.  No mere sprinkles would clean it.  It would take a hard driving rain.

  I slept so hard last night, you would have thought I had been digging ditches yesterday.  I know I had gotten up during the night, but not sure what the time was.  It was nine thirty when my feet hit the floor.  Usually when the garbage truck bang-idy bangs our bin on a given Tuesday that would have been my wake-up call.  The time I get up matters nothing.  The important thing is that I felt rested and ready to take on the remaining day. 

  My first task in the studio today was to tidy up the various fabrics I had pulled out to find just that right fit for the bathroom window.  There were other fabrics that I had used, a portion of each for Megan’s project.  Each fabric was measured and a note was then pinned on each one as to the size each one was.  It makes it so much easier the next time I need to surf through the stashes.

  I am on several sites of the internet that have pop-ups when a new item in their quilt shops is featured.  It sure is tempting when all the wonderful hues speak to me.  Nope.  I have made it my personal quest to churn through my stashes, getting creative to make do with what is on hand.

  I did have fabric of a two yard length that I may be able to use in a coming project.  The first thing is to cut off the salvage along the length of the fabric where the manufacturer is listed and even the collection that the length came from.  The salvage is tightly woven.  If it is used in a sewing project, it may well be a  seam that will not want to play nice.  I have gotten that much done. 

  As I look out of the windows of my bedroom porch, I am amazed how many of the trees are already free of their leaves without having had a hard frost.  After this rain, I think more will decided to let go of that spindly stem attaching them to their parent . . . and drop.

  One thing that is lacking today is the grain hauling semis.  In all probability,  yesterday may have been the last of the harvest.

  Nothing more to report at this juncture.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on October 13, 2025 Permalink  

  Well, Well 

  After twenty years in the making, actually twenty years of requests, there is a curtain on the bottom sash of the bathroom window.  Whew!  No supplies were needed from outside sources.  The studio had everything that was needed including the curtain rod.

  I can now go on to more pressing matters with that off of the table.

  I always have items waiting in the wings of the studio.  Once an item is placed upon the church tables in all its “what if” possibilities, it remains where it was put so all angles of it can be glanced at and scrutinized.  At this juncture alterations are not out of the picture.  The lights go out in the studio so no surrounding influence can take away from its possibilities.

  The first floor always has items to keep me busy.  One main item today was to take down the table top metal frame I use to hold my stitch patterns.  There was way too much play that took away from where I wanted to position it.  A pliers was needed to release the screws from a bad setting.  It needs to be on the left side of my HP laptop but able to swing out of the way so I can use the keyboard without brushing against my pattern.  All was set with screws and pliers in hand.  Righty, righty, tighty, tighty.  Tonight after supper, when I do some stitching, I will then realize if I have where it needs to be.

  Oh yes . . . the days of the retired Grammie are chucked full of momentous decisions.  That might be why I sleep so well when its bedtime.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:12 pm on October 12, 2025 Permalink  

  A Bit of Rain 

  A bit of rain, but not enough to wash off the front deck that has many layers of dust.

  With good faith effort the lights went on in the studio.  KNUJ was just picking up the church service from Grace Lutheran in Gaylord.  I had my material measured and trimmed.  The iron was warming to take out the wrinkles from being in the stashes.  My sharpest stick pins were at my right elbow.  The first hem was folded and pinned.  The sewing machine hummed, ready for action.

  The back door opened . . . my good faith effort blew right out that back door as company stepped in.  Dennis’ niece Jean Pew from Morris came a-calling.  Jean does her road trip at least twice a year.  Jean had been here over Memorial weekend.  I shut down multiple lights and switches in the studio and the three of us settled around the dining-room for a good visit.  Jean’s mom had been Dennis’ older sister.  Now . . . Dennis is the last of “when there were four” in Edith’s family. 

  Jean left after we had a bite of lunch.  When she left, so did my enthusiasm for anything to be started back up again in the studio.  All has not been lost.  The bare window curtain has had its fabric laid out with the plan begun, if only by a dozen stick pins.  Hey . . . it’s a start.

  I decided to do some hand stitching while keeping an eye out on the traffic.  Grain semis are still hauling in.  I doubt that our small shower of rain has way-laid anyone that was out in the fields.

  I have an oven meal in progress.  A very lean pork steak with seasonings rubbed in and a slather of ketchup on top.  I have some potatoes to use up.  Frozen carrots and cranberries will round out the fair.

  Tomorrow Dennis will be getting his flue shot at the VA clinic here in town.  I pass on the flu shots.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:36 pm on October 11, 2025 Permalink  

  Chilly 

  Alright . . . I caved . . . it was chillier in the house this morning than it was in Dennis’ patio porch.  When the sun shines bright the slider doors capture a lot of warmth to carry over into the next morning for the porch.  I set the thermostat at 65 degrees in the house and welcomed the warmth of our furnace.  My fingers don’t work well when they were that chilly.  I am sure that there will be days that will be warmer outside than they were this morning.

  This, the eleventh day of October, was our spa date with Maria for haircuts and pedicures.  Dennis had been with his family a month ago and missed out.  About two weeks ago he had asked for me to dig out our clipper.  He couldn’t stand the hair in his neck catching on collars.  He got a clip job but I didn’t do any more than needed as my right hand had forgotten how heavy the clipper was.  I could just see a path on the back of his head looking like a lightning bolt.

  We both left Maria’s salon feeling very primped up.  Looking at the card she filled out for our next appointment, November seems like a long way off . . . not so much.

  From Maria’s we went to Super Fair grocery.  Our freezer compartment and the refrigerator looked quite bare.  All in all, it is quite sweet that we have the store that carries everything needed plus perhaps a few extras.  The few extras can be and are a treat.  Dennis requested the pumpkin candies.  Why not! 

  I am making progress on the bare bathroom window.  I contrived a curtain rod that will work for the bottom sash window to be covered.  At first I thought of doing the curtain this afternoon, but after a full morning that went on into the afternoon . . . tomorrow will be soon enough.

  The street past our home brings in traffic from the east and south heading to the elevator.  One semi truck after another bringing in the harvest.  Cars and pickups take their chances.  I think all active farmers have their own semis, or two.  Hats off to the farmer from just south of town that brings his harvest in every year with a Farmall tractor and flair boxes.  Actually, it is his wife behind the steering wheel, while hubby is running the combine.

  We have been spiffed up and we have food in the house . . . life is pretty darn sweet.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:35 pm on October 10, 2025 Permalink  

  Here We Are 

  Here we are after a successful road trip to the north.  Dennis had just been to Sleepy Eye yesterday.  Something in that trip did not do it for Dennis.

  Today he asked me to take a road trip with him.  Of course I said, yes.  We arrived at our destination, Fairfax.  We spent some moments visiting back and forth.  Kevin and Kersten were winding up items in the shop and then they would be heading to Redwood Falls to pick up a specific part that was needed for a pickup in for repair.

  On the way home, Dennis . . .  “There, I feel better now.”  Dennis needed the verbal and eye contact with Kevin and Kersten to know all was well with them.  I didn’t comment on his comment.  If that was important for Dennis to do and know, I was happy for Dennis.  We have needs that no other needs to understand.

  Of course us two old farmers took in the sites in the fields.  In one week, I think one would be hard pressed to see crops remaining in the fields.

  The remainder of our Friday is being rounded out in a quiet pleasant afternoon here on Stauffer Avenue.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on October 9, 2025 Permalink  

  Secure All 

  Anything out in the yards that are not secure . . . you can kiss them good-bye.

  We had our neighbor’s mail put in our slot accidently today.  I walked the mail over to their mailbox.  I used a strong paperclip to hold the letters in case the wind took it from my hand.  I felt the gusts that were going 29 mph.  One of the items was Jan’s Plaindealer newspaper.  I had to look twice.  It was like legal paper size made up of two sheets that had been collated.  If not for the free-bee that was tucked inside and it had Jan’s mailing label on it,  I would have thought it was junk mail.  Hmm.

  In the studio, I needed to cut some fabric.  I made sure all my scraps and loose threads were hand delivered to the circular file.  It feels kind of nice to have had the tidy, tidy done and I will appreciate keeping it such for a time.  I am working on a possible curtain for our bathroom.  Hmm.  Why not!  It’s not like I don’t have a sewing machine.  Dennis has hinted often.  Hey, I’ve been busy these last twenty-odd years.  In the cistern closet I found a rod that will work.  I have a length of fabric pulled out of stashes.  Don’t count me out.  There is a possibility I might get this project cranked out.

  I have heard of sympathy pains.  This morning as I was waking up, my right foot . . . right where the bunion had been in 1980s. it hurt so bad, it was like it was harkening back to the mid 80s.  Silly things do happen.

  I know Dennis has been out and about.  When I looked out the bare bathroom window, I could see he was sleeping in his chair in the patio porch.  So . . . I keep track of Dennis via the bare bathroom window that affords me seeing what is going on in the patio porch.  I have calculated the new curtain for said bare window so it covers the bottom sash of the window, allowing me to see through the top sash.  It’s Grammie, killing two birds with a few stitches.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:48 pm on October 8, 2025 Permalink  

  Mission Completion 

  Mission completion on my studio floors as well as the two closet floors.  The Filter Queen’s cord is tidy and the tops of the two church tables are empty.  Ready willing and able is my studio.

  I had sent for an extra battery for our new weed-whip and blower.  Dennis switched it out between the two chargers and the two chargers worked, the battery would not take a charge.  Today I packaged up the battery and printed out the shipping labels.  Our Fleet Farm is an authorized UPS depot.  No charge for the return and the price of the battery, $47.30, will be refunded to our credit card.  A good feeling to have that taken care of.

  As we were in the little red pickup, Dennis filled the two gas cans up as I am sure there will be one more tidy, tidy that Tom will do yet this fall with the mower.  From there we went to Dollar General to pick up some Lemon Heads.  They are still a $1.00 a bag, compared to the grocery store at $1.29 for the same sized bag.  I bought all they had, 8 bags.  From there Dennis wanted to take a ride around the block to the north to see how the farming was going.  There was not a bean field left for harvesting and a fair amount of the corn fields were either out or being worked on.  That satisfied the curiosity as well as the errand’s we had.

  Driving along Main Street, the city flower baskets may have had some tender plants that got nipped with last night’s temperatures.

  All I have left for this day is to put fresh linens on Dennis’ bed.  My bed will be done tomorrow.

  The two older ones on Stauffer are keeping their head’s above water.  There is so much fright being aired about the cost of health care for 2026 and that is what the democrats are touting for verification for the shutdown.  Yesterday we received our information from Blue Cross/Blue Shield for 2026.  It was no higher than the realistic bump we got in 2024.  Oh yes, let’s just kept everyone frightened.  So be it. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:25 pm on October 7, 2025 Permalink  

  Ever Foreword 

  With my cleaning of the studio, all went well.  I am not quite done. Denise stopped over and her and I had a visit in the studio.  It had been some time and it was enjoyable and it was a good break.

  This morning son Ken stopped in as he is heading back to Arizona after visiting various family members since the 5th of October.  I think it will be some time before he visits again.  Him being retired . . . who knows.

  I had the vacuum going in the studio and Dennis had our lightweight shop vac going on the first floor.  If that shop vac is given a chance it has great pick-up skills.  I came up for a drink of water and knew the rest of the story.  It may have been my fault from the get-go.  For the wide floor brush to be at it, ultimately the entire attachment needs to be on the floor’s surface, allowing for that great suction.  I did not think vacuuming 101 was needed.  I will be doing some tidy, tidy on the first floor tomorrow after I finish the studio.  It is such a great feeling to get a heads up in the studio before I start another project. 

  Denise is not the main supervisor at Casey’s.  That matters not.  Today is her day off but her phone must not have known that.

  We are having chicken tenderloins and stove top dressing for supper with the usual side dishes.

  A bit more to get done before supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥