Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 12:48 pm on September 26, 2021 Permalink  

  A Good Day 

  Our neighbors to the north, Jan and Randy, are good neighbors.  Jan came over numerous times to take home some greenery that was by no means a flower this growing season.  When snow falls Randy hits our drive with the tractor and snowblower before he heads in to John Deere for work.  Randy’s mother was having a 90th birthday party today.  They had been at a loss as to what to take as a memento gift.  Friday after Jan got home from her work at the public school, she came over to see what I may have in my stitched out embroidery stash.  Nothing for use in a kitchen would do.   I told Jan to come back Saturday morning, that was yesterday.

  My Bernina is now five years old.  Shortly after I had purchased it, I purchased the Bernina software product called Tool Box.  On my HP laptop, I can configure any type of wording into the size of embroidery hoop I want to use on the sewing machine’s embroidering module with a selection of over twenty fonts.  Being able to have multiple lines of text and adding in a design all in one hooping is fantastic.  No guesswork for placement.  That’s great as I do have a bit of a problem lining things up.

  Yesterday morning, I spent time on the laptop working with the project in hand.  Wouldn’t you know my multiple lines of text were 16.5″ in length and the maxi hoop will only do 15″ in length. Back to the edit and it was shrunk down for a doable fit.

  When Jan came over, she took a lot and gave thumbs up.  I had several place mats on hand. She chose the brown one and then . . . on to choosing thread colors. “We Don’t Count the Years – We Keep the Memories.” A small flower in fall colors was added.  Jan had her eight-year-old granddaughter with her and they joined me in the studio to take in the stitching process.

  As we were stitching, Dennis’ granddaughter, Sadie, and her two small girls stopped in from Mankato.  The studio was just buzzing for the afternoon.  With Dennis’ help, cookies were served while the three little girls got out the buckets of Schleich animals to play with on the carpet.  Megan and Nicholas had picked out three ice cream pails of animals over time at the Fleet and Farm store when they stayed with us.  Best investment ever.

  Sadie is full time military. With the studio jumping with activity, Sadie and Dennis got a bit of quiet time in the patio porch for some commiserating; his Korean experience and what Sadie has experienced during her three tours abroad.

  Neighbor Jan did a great job running interference with the three girls.  At the end of the afternoon, Jan and her granddaughter walked back around the picket fence with gift in tow as a 90th birthday gift for today.  

  Dennis and I wrestled up a light supper for Sadie and the girls.  It was a very busy day, probably the busiest day I have experienced thus far this year since the health issues. 

  Everything went well.  All of our guests left satisfied and with smiles.  Sadie’s two girls got to make a new friend in Jan’s granddaughter.

  Dennis helped with the supper dishes.  For me . . . I could not wait to shower and find my bed before nine last night.  A good day was had.

   
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  Noreen 3:33 pm on September 25, 2021 Permalink  

  Too Good 

  Today was too good of a day literally for words, catch you all tomorrow!

   
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  Noreen 1:58 pm on September 24, 2021 Permalink  

  The Fluttering 

  The fluttering of the leaves has begun and this is before we have even had any frost.  The sound of the leaves brushing past each as they are in flight takes me back.

  Harvest is early this year just as it may have been decades ago on the farm in Boon Lake Township in Renville County.  We had since sold the dairy herd.  The calves, hogs and chicken chores, I could handle with the kids.  Orlin was free to work in the fields.

  Carrie was dropped off at the end of our driveway after a day of kindergarten by the Hutchinson school bus.  Three-year-old Kevin had the time down pat.  He and Snoopy would sit on the edge of the brick planter at the “Y” of the drives waiting, but not very patiently.  When he had no more sit, I had given Kevin a small rake and encouraged him to rake some leaves while he waited.  As soon as a small pile had been pulled together, Snoopy would bury his nose in it and tussle the leaves here and there.  What a pair.

  Orlin worked shift work at 3M and we were keeping up with fall field work as well. If  Orlin had been at it in the fields without a break,  the kids and I would take out a lunch for him that also counted as a break from being on the unforgiving tractor seat for hours.  Both kids on the pickup seat as we drove the field road north of the farm place.  Carrie on the outside nearest the door and Kevin standing beside me so as to see where we were going.  Orlin would stop the tractor pulling the mole board plow and sit next to the tractor tire on the dirt, opening up the black metal lunch box.  Of course, I had packed in some cookies for the kids so they could join in.  Snoopy had followed the pickup and sure enough he got a cookie as well.

  Back at the farm yard, the kids played outside while I finished outside work and then it was getting them in the house for baths and their supper.  The school bus was at the end of the drive by 7:30 each school day, Carrie needed to be in bed early.  Kevin had been busy all day following me, he didn’t need much coaxing to follow up to bed shortly thereafter.  Oh for the quiet.  Orlin did get a hot supper when he closed down the field work for the day and the drone of the tractor was over  . . . until the next time.

  Those were the days!  Sweet.

  Here we are in the fall of 2021 and the leaves falling are just as welcoming today as they were then. 

  On a side note:  I did wash the quilt I finished yesterday.  I was rewarded using the Shout Color Collectors as the two sheets had definite hues of blue on them.  The white blocks of the quilt had zero blue that had run.  Sweet.

  I spent quite a bit of time cleaning the area in the studio as well as the sewing machine.  It is amazing for the threads and fuzz that can find its way everywhere. Whatever I decide to do next . . . I will have a clean slate . . . after I remember to put a new needle in the machine.  Needles are so inexpensive and make the world of difference on how well the machine works.

  Dennis is having boiled potatoes with some Hormel pork roast with gravy and green beans for supper.  I shouldn’t speak too soon as me and the potato peeler have not been on speaking terms lately. Of course that was a while ago . . . things may be different today.  Every day is different than the one that went before . . . but the fluttering of the leaves will continue for many more days to come.

   
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  Noreen 2:50 pm on September 23, 2021 Permalink  

  Seriously 

  Seriously, come on folks . . . leave this Grammie alone.  Down here in the studio on my ancient Dell, I was going to click on a YouTube for a tutorial on quilt binding.  Wham!  There were all sorts of flashing screens with verbal warning that my computer was locked due to someone using my IP address.  I was warned not to try and shut down the computer as it would not.  Immediately I was to call the number flashing.  What did I do?  I shut off my computer.  Screw them!

  A few minutes later, I turned the computer back on and the screen allowed me to know that the computer was still in use and not to log off as information could be lost by that user.  I logged off.  Good grief!

  Here I am using my old Dell.  I did have Webroot scan the unit.  Nothing showed up.  There was no way I was going to use a phone number by some unknown snake in the grass.  If we have problems with computers we bundle up and head to Best Buy to the Geek fellows.

  Today I finished the quilt I have been working on for Megan.  It is 50″ x 69″.  By the time I was turning the last corner on the binding, I felt like one of the cowboys that Dennis watches on the RFD television channel as they hog tie steers.  The process of manhandling bulk under the needle does make for a workout of the arms and hands.  It feels so good finishing what was started.  I am puzzling one last item on this project.  Each of the embroidered blocks had Shape-Flex ironed on the back of it to allow for the smooth dense stitching on cotton fabric.  Shape-Flex is a woven product with a light starch in it.  Hopefully some of that starch would wash out.  As I had pre-washed the dark blue for the top and for the backing, I would still use the sheets that are added to soak up extra coloring in the laundry.  The embroidering holds up in laundering as I have one embroidered kitchen towel that I use all the time and launder often . . . it looks as good as the day I did the stitching.  Everything is stitched and quilted in this project, so nothing can shift.  I would rather know now how it does in the laundry, as this is intended to be used, than Megan have a surprise. 

  I am looking forward to doing some dishtowels on the embroidery unit.  Slow and steady before tackling another large project.

   
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  Noreen 2:47 pm on September 22, 2021 Permalink  

  The Equinox Egg 

  I was listening to KNUJ in regard to fall officially starting at 2:20 in our area.  It was also said that for a short time during the equinox this afternoon, an egg would stand on its end.  Hmm.  Up out of the studio I came with egg and camera in hand, I had to try this.  Sure enough . . .  it was a true story.

  The times that I have gone in and out of our home today had been down right nasty.  The boxelder bugs are hateful.  They are swarming to no end.  After having several caught on our clothes, they are not that easy to either get them outside or squash in a piece of tissue.  For the ensuing hours the imagination goes wild thinking that there may be some crawling on you.  I told Dennis, I would see him outside after dark.

  We will be having one of Dennis’ oven meals for supper: tuna, pasta, frozen peas with Alfredo sauce.  Sweet!  It is a real treat to have someone fix a meal who also washes up the dishes that it took from A to Z.  I stay far away during that prep.  If I add my 2 cents worth, it may deter him from treating me again.  No . . . I did not learn that in one easy lesson.  I never learn anything in one easy lesson.

  The biggest lesson I did learn from my dad, Raymond:  “If you stay caught up, you won’t have to catch up.”  My oh my, my dad was wise.  This rings true for me whether it is housework, yard work or all things in the world of money.  It might work for many.

   
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  Noreen 2:44 pm on September 21, 2021 Permalink  

  Tuesday 2021 

  This morning, we got a phone call, checking to see if Dennis had an extra cup of coffee.  Dennis responded he was in the patio porch.  He than had come in to make a small fresh batch of coffee.

  Dennis’ friend, Doug, was at the Veteran’s clinic and was planning on stopping in.  Doug has been doing this off and on for several years.  Today when Doug drove up, he had a passenger, his wife Lynette.  I had met Lynette at the Madelia quilt shop at a time in the past.  Lynette had never been to our home.

  The fellows had a morning ahead of themselves solving the world’s problem and us gals were going to try to do a good job of our own.  Lynette offered to take out the fresh coffee with a tin of cookies to the patio porch.  She came back in laughing.  Doug had always said he had coffee with Dennis in the garage.  Lynette had envisioned the two fellows sitting off to the side of one of the vehicles.  She was not expecting to find them in a cozy porch complete with surround windows to our backyard.

  Lynette wanted to see the studio.  Lynette doesn’t quilt, but she does paper crafting that often takes her to quilt shops that may carry small charms that she could use on her greeting cards.  We had a wonderful visit.  She left with several ideas for organizing her crafts.  Their two story farmhouse allows for the physical room, but not great lighting or shelving.

  At noon, when Doug came to check if Lynette was ready to leave, she commented that words had allowed for her to think Dennis had to spend a lot of time in a lowly garage drinking coffee next to a vehicle.  Dennis countered with, “Noreen lives in our basement.”  Both visuals are quite different than the rest of the story.  Our guests left with the invite for us to come and visit at their home in rural Madelia.  As Dennis had turned his tables for gun show events over to Doug, Dennis knows where they live.  Sweet.

  Dennis grabbed some noon lunch and went to pick up Dwayne for coffee.  Dwayne had called earlier.  He was ready and able to get out of their apartment.  Moving into an apartment when he had been accustomed to his rural building site with various buildings to putter in is still being adjusted to.

  I went into the studio and continued with some stitching.  It had taken me some time to figure out how to quilt the nine inch borders on each end that allowed it to be a good sized rectangle for utility.  Stitching the baffled look was easy to maintain straight lines.  The project is shaping up.  Two hours is about my limit of juggling the weight under the needle.  

  Tomorrow is hump day!  It may be cool outside, but as we bid summer goodbye, may the fall season allow us to realize the blessings He has given us in these first nine months.

   
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  Noreen 3:06 pm on September 20, 2021 Permalink  

  Chang in Temps 

  It is quite the change in temps and I must admit . . . I like it . . . I like it a lot.  The rain that is falling off and on today is being soaked up slowly.

  I toddled out of bed and was surprised Dennis was already dressed. He grabbed his second cup of coffee and was heading to the patio porch.  Nothing unusual there. 

  At ten he came back in the house and tossed a piece of paper onto the dining room table.  Dennis commented, “One down and two to go.”  I wasn’t getting it until I opened the piece of paper and saw it was a receipt for Snuggles at the veterinary clinic here in town.  I had no idea, and Dennis knew he didn’t need any lip or extra advise from me.  Best not to tell the rest of the story until there was a positive outcome.  Yes, two feral kitties left for the trip to better health.  That Dennis sure had been busy.  

  Snuggles weighs about fifteen pounds and Dennis had borrowed a larger carrier from the vet.  Dennis got Snuggles into the carrier and into the pickup and the two had headed out.  Two blocks from home Snuggles had the plastic pins of the door pushed through and was sitting on the passenger seat looking out.  I don’t know the whole story, but Dennis did get him corralled in his arms and headed for the vet’s office door.  The pickup door was left wide open as Dennis said he needed both hands to hang onto Snuggles.  With the cat weighing what it does, there is no way to hold him by the nap of his neck.  It was full on tuck and hold.  As luck would have it someone was going in and held the door open for the pair.  The vet techs put a towel over Snuggles and away they went through door #2.  Snuggles was punchy enough that Dennis could carry him to the truck for the ride home.  Wow.

  I did put some antiseptic on Dennis’ belly where Snuggles had let Dennis know he was not going to go easily.

  Our three kitties are not house pets but rather patio porch pets with all their claws in tact.  A video of the cat rodeo would have been priceless.  

  It has been a quiet afternoon here on Stauffer.  It wouldn’t surprise me if the adrenaline has Dennis’ arms feeling weak for a time.  Dennis said all he thought of was if he could just hang on and not let Snuggles get away from him.  The leather gloves did help with a firmer grip but just a lightweight t-shirt over the belly, not much protection.  I am sure the fifteen feet from the pickup to the office door must have felt like a mile with a squirmy unhappy cat struggling. 

  The carrier has been checked over for the next trip and the remaining two are lightweight in relationship to Snuggles.  

  The cooler temps make for a great week ahead.

   
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  Noreen 2:32 pm on September 19, 2021 Permalink  

  A Sunday 

  We were geared to enjoy the patios today.  That lasted until noon when the hot dry winds became uncomfortable. 

  Dennis headed for the patio porch where the fans were on helping the breeze to blow through one open door and out the other. He did have feathers to clean up.  Snuggles had caught a bird and was playing with the wounded chirping victim.  Dennis scooped up the bird and flung it to the skies.  The bird looked like it was going to be just fine as it began to fly . . . until Snuggles beat feet it outside and caught the bird in mid air.  Dennis didn’t think the ten pound plus cat had it in him to jump that high.  Needless to say, all patio porch doors closed as to not have a repeat of a bird dragged inside.

  I headed for the studio.  I had not turned on the sewing machine in some time as I had gotten busy with cleaning flowerbeds.  This seemed the best option for me as it was too warm outside.  As I stitch, my mind still seems to wander . . . right back to pies and farm days. 

  Thinking on those pie crusts made with that great white lard that we rendered.  I used it for all our baking and even had a small crock for pan frying.  We never had a shortage. Orlin’s two brothers, Frank and Eugene, had the meat market in Hector.  Orlin’s mother, Esther, lived in Hector.  We visited often, many times coming home with trimmings from the meat market ready to render out.

  I had a huge blue speckled roaster that the trimmings went in . . . never more than three forths full.  On a low temp of the oven, stirring often, the crackling needed to be watched.  When the liquid was very light, and the crackling had shrunk down from their bulk, the cracklings had been roasted out.  If the cracklings roasted too long the liquid would be a dark yellow . . . not good.  Rendered trimmings that were done correctly delivered pure white lard.  It was no light task having the crock ready with cheese cloth stripped over the top and secured with butcher’s string.  

  Orlin would be on hand to carry the roaster, holding the boiling hot liquid, to the the table, slowly pouring the hot liquid lard over the cheese cloth that was straining out the small bits of cracklings. Towards the end, squeezing the cheese cloth for the very last of the lard . . . sweet.  There may have been more than one batch done on these days, with more than one piece of cheese cloth used.  After the lard set up to be in the solid form, it found its place in the cool cellar in the basement.  Generally, a huge kitchen dinner plate was kept on top on the crock.

  Obviously, no small people were allowed near this process. There was bound to be cartoons on the television with boundless snacks for Kevin and Carrie. 

  It was a normal part of the day when baking was being done to make a trip to the cellar and retrieve that wonderful white lard.

  Hmm.  Even with a wondering mind, I got a fair amount stitched on Megan’s blanket.  It is bulky and there is only so much time I can spend on it before the arms and hands need a break.  There is always another day.

  This next week looks like temps that I really enjoy . . . I hope you do also.

   
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  Noreen 2:48 pm on September 18, 2021 Permalink  

  Apple Pies 

  Yesterday while baking out a frozen apple pie from the 169 vendor, it sure took me back.

  Right back to the Boon Lake Township farm.  We had quite the variety going on in barns, pens and pastures.  We had free range chickens and free range kids. 

  Kevin and Carrie had the run of the farm yard for play.  If I could spot the the kids out of the corner of my eye . . . all was well.  This time of the year it would have been time to get apples off of the trees while they were in their prime.  Of course, more fell from the limbs that hung heavy than one person could keep track of.  Called into duty were the two that were short and easily bent from the waist to fill their small pails.

  Orlin and I had invested in two Sears chest type freezers that easily fit into the furnace room of the basement.  Freezing pared and sliced apples in quart bags and apple pies ready for baking took up a goodly portion of one of the freezers. It was no small job getting those apples and pies ready to put into one of those freezers.  Orlin was working shift work at 3M in Hutchinson.  While Orlin slept the kids and I kept busy outside especially during his 11pm to morning shift.  It was surprising how many apples the kids and I could have ready for processing while the house would be quiet for sleeping.

  We went through a good amount of our rendered lard to make up pie crusts for 8 inch foil tins.  I would give each of the kids a bit of the pie dough to play with, so I could work up and roll out the crusts and get the tins ready.  The kids took turns filling the crusts with the prepared apples.  Five second rules counted.  I followed with adding the sugar and cinnamon.  Getting the top crusts on and trimmed without a lot of extra help was easier said than done. 

  In the end it was very satisfying to see the pies in the freezer, each in their plastic sleeve.  Farm life could get busy and a baked apple pie in short order was always a treat.

  Oh, what I would give to have some of those times back.  Where did all that energy go.  The energy for that type of lifestyle might be gone, but the memories . . . just as crisp as one of those apples.

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on September 17, 2021 Permalink  

  Fall Feeling Friday 

  It might be Friday but neither of us heard the wind during the night that brought this fall feeling day. 

  Dennis came in after his morning coffee and breakfast in the patio porch and went straight to getting his chores clothes on.  I had no clue who lit a fire under him until he explained: we had had a strong wind that took down a lot of tree tips and branches.

  How sweet that Dennis has a sweeper to pull behind his mower to rake up just such a mess as this.  Before having this sweeper, I would have been out there with my six inch wide rake with lots of bending over and Dennis filling up several trash cans.

  I felt if he was going to do yard work, I would do a morning in the kitchen.  We both like to eat and we both like oven meals.  I had everything to pull this morning off.  Egg noodles with a pound of browned hamburger, a can of drained beans and garlic flavored Classico tomato sauce. The batch was huge.  After a photo shoot, I put two pans in the freezer for another fall-feeling day.  There will still be a wonderful amount for supper.  As I worked through the morning and the kitchen was filling with great aroma, I decided to do more.  What helped is that a while back we had stopped at the apple barn on 169 and had proceeded to tuck an apple pie in the freezer.  Today, I knew that I would do a batch of scones and follow that by baking out the pie.  

  By noon, Dennis had completed the acre and I was finishing up the dishes.  We both felt like taking a noon break at the dining room table.  Dennis had equipment to clean up and I had a bed to make.  As the kitchen commotion was going on, I had bedding that I was swapping out in the laundry.   

  It is now mid afternoon and time for some patio sitting with our feet up.  Of course I checked out the acre, and it indeed looks as if it has been raked by a professional.  I know I will get rave reviews for our five o’clock supper we will be enjoying . . . complete with apple pie for later.  One good turn deserves another.

  I see that I need to change the date on my camera.  Hey . . . if I figured out the wireless printer to get it back online . . . I have got this.