Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:31 pm on October 5, 2020 Permalink  

  A Sunny Monday 

  Too nice to be inside.  There was a bit to take into the back garage.  The bridge that sits in the far east Hosta bed needed to be taken inside.  Perfect fit into the back of the pickup and off we went.  Dennis is holding out on the patio umbrella and the wooden electrical spool that we use as a patio table.  I am sure he is right . . . there will be patio sitting time yet to come.

  All of the Lilac trimming that we had done a week ago Sunday needed to either be taken to the city tree dump or burned.  By the time we would have gotten the two-wheel trailer out of the back garage and loaded all the limbs, taken it to the tree dump and unloaded it . . . naw.  We decided to burn it.  Handle it one time and not several, seemed like a good idea.  Some limbs were green and some were four inches in circumference.  Dennis worked his magic and I didn’t ask what he used to start the fire.  Ignorance is bliss.  Lilac wood is dense and heavy.  Within several hours, all that were left were fine ashes.  Amazing.   

  Dennis has taken our chainsaw Eagle into the garage.  I do hear a sander going.  We have had him for quite a few years.  We found him at a flea market and he has had the perfect place here on Stauffer ever since.  Dennis’ plan is to take some of the old finish off, wash it well, let dry thoroughly for several days and then do the poly clear spray as a re-fresher.  Sounds like a plan to me.  

  As we have been hitting the job jar quite heavily, I wonder what Dennis will find next.  The Cub repair is still on the list but in limbo until the electrical harness has been built and shipped.  What a great fall with Dennis feeling his oats.

  The request for supper was soup and sandwich.  Easy enough.  

   
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  Noreen 3:34 pm on October 4, 2020 Permalink  

  Wow Wee! 

  What a great day I have had.  The only task left is making our supper and I have that planned.

  I am not sure how silent alarms go off in a person over a period of time.  It’s a growing feeling that something has been left out of “the rest of the story.”  I did get caught up in phone calls to aunts and cousins.  That was a good thing of easing the guilt I had been feeling for putting that off.  I did get caught up with sending a text or two to my kids.  It was Friday evening when I received texts back from my kids with their updates.  That was all it took for me feeling that all was well within me.  Wonderful!  Hmm.  Funny how that which was felt as lacking is now A.O.K!  

  Saturday we had a commitment for a great-grands birthday party.  It was a good trip to Mankato and a good day.  It gave Dennis’ family a chance to wish him a Happy Birthday as he and the little three year old share a special day.  The phone calls to Dennis on the actual day were priceless.  It makes my heart happy that my kids remember Dennis’ birthday. Saturday with some one-on-one with his children and grandchildren sure didn’t hurt any.

  This morning the sun was out and there was nothing blowing more than a gentle breeze.  The perfect day for the quilts to go out on the clotheslines for some freshening up.  Dennis’ bedding was due to hit the laundry and also that time of the year when the electric mattress pad is laundered.  Why not!  Totally fresh bedding, you can’t beat it.  My vac came off the attic steps and the mattress got a lick and a promise.  I kept putzing with the vacuum and here we are on a great afternoon with the interior getting some homogenizing done.  There is nothing like a powerful vac to capture anything and everything that is on blinds, mop boards, corners, upholstery and clothes dryer vents.  Wow Wee!  I will be darned, I have started my fall cleaning.  After more of the harvest has been done and the elevator’s pink chaff is finished, I will tackle the windows. 

  I can tell you all that my heart is full . . . and content.  I feel blessed.

   
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  Noreen 2:25 pm on October 2, 2020 Permalink  

  Preparing for Winter 

  The type of preparation for winter that I observed today had nothing to do with either of us.  The ornamental crab tree right outside our kitchen window is doing quite well on its own.  The red berries will be feeding the birds well into winter.  What is knocked off accidentally, the squirrels will find.  Today the Blue Jays were busy with acorns in neighbor Jan’s yard.  The Blue Jays are huge this fall.  I do know that many people say Blue Jays are naughty birds in regard to their treatment of other birds.  Well, I have had the distinct pleasure of being called naughty a time or two.  I still have my good points just as the Blue Jays.

  In between times I have been watering a dry floor drain.  It doesn’t act up often and believe me it is not something that can be ignored.  I know Mom would comment on what transpires with the weather that may cause it, but I don’t recall what it is.  Multiple fills of water into the drain does do the job.  

  I would have thought that Dennis would be taking it easy on this his birthday.  I looked out the bathroom window and there is garden art disappearing from the back yards.  Speak of the devil.  He just popped in the back door and asked if I could lend a hand.  Absolutely!  Dennis knows we won’t be about tomorrow as there is a three-year-old great-grandchild in Mankato that shares his birthday and we have been invited to a party.

  Enjoy these great days beckoning us into fall.  Special.

   
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  Noreen 3:03 pm on October 1, 2020 Permalink  

  Blustery Day 

  When it is less than 60 degrees in the home, as humbling as it is, the furnace needs to be turned on.  I have it set at 69 degrees.  Just high enough that when Dennis comes into the house, it feels warmer than it is outside.

  I have been in the sewing studio today working on quilting the quilt of many colors.  When there are 42 flannel blocks of various colors and designs, it isn’t a slam dunk as to what color thread to use for the top stitching.  Yesterday I had called on Anita in Mankato via text.  Anita had owned her own quilt shop at a time in the past.  Anita is now one of the stitchers that I hang out with.   Anita suggested a variegated top thread.  That sent me searching in my thread stashes.

  More years ago than I can count, Dennis and I had been in St. Cloud for an assessor’s conference.  After hours of the conference agenda, we had looked up the Grubber’s Quilt Shop.  There was this King Tut variegated thread by the Superior Thread Company.  It caught my eye and I purchased it.  Did I have a project in mind?  No!  By the way, what does that have to do with a purchase in a quilt shop!

  That King Tut thread was threaded into the sewing machine for a run.  I tested it out on a scrap.  All systems were a go!  The variegated thread did not take away from the embroidery motif in the center of each block.  This quilt of many colors had found its companion for a finished look.  I will be taking my time.  Though the quilt of many colors is only 55″ x 65″, it is still a bit to wrangle under the needle.  A quality flannel with 80/20 batting, which is 80% poly and 20% cotton, plus the backing is a bit of a heft. I am doing a meandering sewing for quilting.  No rhyme or reason.  I think this will work out quite well. 

  When Dennis gets home from a coffee gathering at his friend’s apartment’s gathering room, we are going to have pan fried Tilapia fish with some fried potatoes and a veggie.  We don’t purchase the pre-coated.  I toss the fillets in Bisquick and then in the pan.  It sounded like a good change out for us.

  By now, anything that was not nailed down outside should be someone else’s problem.

   
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  Noreen 3:16 pm on September 30, 2020 Permalink  

  More Winds 

  The winds have been howling.  We had the west house window cracked during the night, at just the right height for the wind from the north to howl.  It made for pretty good sleeping.  With that being said, I did something today that I have not done in one heck of a long time.  It is now in the late afternoon and I pulled it off.  I have stayed in my nightie all day long.  I pulled a sweater cardigan over my nightie at eight this morning and called it good. 

  I have moved from the sewing studio and the west reading porch intermittently today.  Any doctor will tell you that sitting in one position for too long is hard on an arthritic body.  I do save my “after supper chair” for just that purpose.

  Yesterday late afternoon, I made a phone call to the Brillman company in Virginia to check on the electrical harness that we ordered on September 22nd for the Cub tractor.  When we found it on the internet we placed the order, not thinking anything but how fortunate to find a company that had just what we needed.  Speaking to the parts department I got news I had not expected.  The company is building the electrical harness to specs of the 1968 Cub 154 model.  Wow.  With that news we thought the price of $148.00 is quite reasonable.   It may be several weeks before we receive it.  Not that we are in a rush, so this works for us.

  The tractor has been sitting next to the drive during this repair time.  Finding that the repair is several weeks out, we rolled the tractor into the pickup garage after supper.  The little red pickup has had it made in the shade for being parked in the garage every day after its use. It will have to take it’s due diligence parked in the driveway until the tractor is running and can be put in the back garage.  It all works out.  

  The sun comes out every once in awhile, but the wind never takes a break. We for sure are in the fall mode.

  Dennis’ 84th birthday is Friday.  He will be taking several dozen cupcakes out to the VA as he has an appointment at nine that morning.  Treating the gals out there that give such great service . . . it is the least that he can do.  I agreed to the max.

  Hope everything is nailed down during this windy spell.

   
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  Noreen 2:02 pm on September 29, 2020 Permalink  

  One More Item 

  Today, one more item was ticked off the list that needed attention for 2020.  It was my turn to have my eyes checked.  I was a bit gun shy as Dennis came home last week from a usual eye checkup, only to have had an injection in his eye for wet macular degeneration. In curiosity, I asked Dr. Pinke how it could come on so fast for Dennis.  Every person, every eye is unique.  The wet version moves quickly.  The dry version may be detected with nothing transpiring over years.  That is where I am at.  I believe it was six years ago, there was a detection of the macular degeneration.  It has not progressed on a bit as of today.  I left with knowing that all was well with my eyes.  A very thankful visit.

  After having been to the Old Alley Quilt Shop last Friday, yesterday I received an email that I had won a $20.00 gift card.  That moved me onto taking a quilt top and backing to Old Alley this afternoon.  Having put together the project thus far, I don’t care for UFOs, unfinished projects, in the sewing studio.  It may be several weeks before it is long-armed.  It will be a good thing to have it in-house to work on the binding of it.  The gift card paid for the batting.  Sweet.

  We had a fellow that arrived last night to look over the Craigslist merry-go-round and Ferris-wheel that we have listed.  He labeled it as one of a kind “Folk Art.”  He agreed, he had never seen anything like it.  He was impressed how the items on the merry-go-round were engineered individually and all run by the belt driven treadle sewing machine wheel under the table.  The tuna can that had been made into a movable twirling ride for the two figures sitting in it, was run in part by a portion of an old metal hand-turned egg beater under the decking.  Mr. Tom took measurements and went home to see where he would have room for these as he wanted them to be each free-standing so all aspects could be enjoyed.  What I gathered is that Mr. Tom collects “Folk Art.”  In truth . . . I was so happy that someone deemed this special enough to come and have a look-see.  The Ferris-wheel, done up with the erector set look, was boggling to him.  The tiny brads used in building all the seats were intact and solid.  Neither Dennis nor I are mobile enough to be able to get under the tables in the event there would be something that needed care or maintenance.  As I have said many times “time will tell.”

  We did have the furnace running for a bit last night over supper to take the chill off.  Once Dennis was tucked into his bed with the electric mattress pad on #3, I shut the furnace down.  I sleep well when it is cool.  To make sure of that I opened a window just a bit.

   
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  Noreen 3:41 pm on September 28, 2020 Permalink  

  Cold Windy Day 

  When my cell phone goes off, I check to see if the person calling me is in my phonebook.  If not, I become hesitant as Robo calls are annoying.  I will say that with the covid, they have really slacked off.

  As I have become brave and am listing some things on Craigslist, I need to answer all phone calls  or it might be to my demise.  

  My ole cowboy is a spontaneous shopper.  In 2011 as we were on a road trip through Nebraska, we stopped at an antique shop.  We made a second trip to that shop the next week as we would then have the correct vehicle to bring home what Dennis had bought.  Here we are almost ten years later and have chosen to pick and sort as to what we have emotional attachments with and what needs to find a new, appreciative home.

  Yesterday afternoon I listed on Craigslist, with Dennis’ encouragement, his merry-go-round and his Ferris-wheel.  They are unique.  They are one of a kind.  In the early 1950s, a Mr. Davies had a rural mail-carrier route.  In his spare time he tinkered.  Mr. Davies tinkered together a merry-go-round and a Ferris wheel.  It runs on 110 electrical service, complete with lights.  It must have taken him hours.  The wheel of a treadle sewing machine, complete with the leather belt runs the merry-go-round.  They are both mounted on antique tables and cannot be disassembled.  The Ferris-wheel is five feet tall and the merry-go-round . . . not quite so much.

  This morning at ten, my cell phone rang.  I did not recognize the number. Do I answer it or do I let it ring itself out.  I did answer it.  I just came in from uncovering the pair of Dennis’ toys that have been in the back garage for quite some time.  A fellow is coming at six from north of Mankato to take a look see.

  Oh my gosh, yes! These items are so wonderful.  There will never be another set of these . . . ever, but . . . we are not going to live forever either, and we feel it is our obligation to make these choices while these choices are still ours to make.  These items need to be kept in usable conditions and turned on from time to time.  We did plug them in and it was all systems go, complete with the lights.  Time will tell.  Dennis enjoyed them in the patio porch for some time and then realized that he enjoyed having room to work at other hobbies.  

  Right now the evening is upon us and it has misted with rain and winds that even kites would not do well in.  We are bracing ourselves for cool days ahead.  May the week find you all safe and sound for whatever you have gotten yourself into.

   
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  Noreen 4:00 pm on September 27, 2020 Permalink  

  Quiet Sunday? 

  It was not a quiet Sunday here on Stauffer.  We had agreed that I would spend some time in the sewing studio and Dennis had several rodeos that were scheduled for the RFD channel.  We each enjoyed a noon lunch of our choosing and we bid each other “catch ya later.”

  I was deep into sewing together the backing of the colorful flannel quilt.  It was fabric the stitchers had helped me pick out Friday at the Old Alley Quilt yardage yard sale.  Out of my peripheral vision, I caught something passing across the basement windows outside to the north.  I slipped up to the first floor and looked out the living room window.  I saw electrical cord strung out on the lawn to the north.  I went to the bathroom window and saw the electrical cord had been plugged into the exterior outlet on the patio porch.

  It was time for me to get a jacket on and see what was going on with the ole cowboy.  Dennis was just in the process of getting our small electric chainsaw going by the old Lilac bush.  I decided right then and there, there would be no sewing until Dennis had completed his spontaneous tree trimming.  Granted, there were branches that needed some TLC.  Granted, we had talked about taking care of it next week.  Hmm.  I stuck around close and made sure I kept track of where that electrical cord was in relationship to Dennis’ feet.  Home accidents can happen very quickly . . . especially with senior citizens on board.  

  I must say the Lilac bush looks so much better as a tidy round shrub rather than having huge bare branches sticking up.  When we got all the branches pulled around to the north side of the garage, we realized there will be more chainsaw work needed to be done . . . next week!  Cutting the limbs into doable sizes and who knows, maybe Dennis will pile them up for a fall fire ring event as he is sitting on the north patio.  I wonder how old the original Lilac bush is.  The rotted, twisted, gnarled limbs would have been content going forward for who knows how long.  They had not reckoned on Dennis and his little green electric chainsaw.  Priceless!  As long as Dennis is content with the day’s labor, it’s a good thing.  I can sew any old day.

   
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  Noreen 4:18 pm on September 26, 2020 Permalink  

  A Lazy Saturday 

  After the usual Saturday house pick-up items, I went down into the sewing studio.  There was a need to pick up some items down there as well.

  Yesterday when the stitchers came to visit and we ended up in the sewing studio, there was some visiting about my slant on everything from storage of threads to storage of stashes and how to find them when they were needed.  Lots on interaction to say the least being able to see my humble sewing studio first hand and today there were items to put back where they belonged.  It is all about organization and being able to find what is needed in a heart beat. 

  What I have picked up on in times past, was that these gals have known each other for quite a few years.  I went with them to one retreat last year about this time.  It was my maiden retreat.  These gals had been going on retreats together for many years.  Their get-togethers were always at a neutral place such as a restaurant or a park . . . or a retreat out of the area.  In early 2019, I had originally seen a posting on Facebook about a quilt shop in Mankato that was trying to get individuals together at said quilt shop to share ideas about machine embroidery.  I went, I saw, I participated.  I was the only stranger there.  The remaining were all from Mankato and had known of each other prior from various events and interests.  After that time those of us that had similar interests began meeting at Barker’s Square once a month.  I sure enjoyed it, including the show and tell and sharing of ideas.

  Being as I was a newbie, what did I know?  Yesterday was quite different for them.  I have been the only one thus far to open up a home for them to glimpse “the rest of the story.”  I had not thought anything about it.  Come on over! Hmm.  This visit as we had yesterday was a visit of curiosity for them and had been anticipated.  It was almost as if it were like a visit into a secret garden, seeing how a stitcher . . . me, actually lives within their home, incorporating fuzz and threads.  Who knew!  I do not take my area of the sewing studio for granted and I also didn’t realize how it would be perceived as for possible ideas that others could take from it.  One of the gals has been wanting a new sewing machine table for a long time to ease shoulder strain.  The prices of the tables offered for “perfect sewing machine comfort” were out of her price range.  Anita will be going to Home Depot and ordering one of the Husky work benches after she sat down at mine and tried the ease of adjusting the height for maximum comfort.

  You never know what will come from interaction with people of like interests, you just have to put your foot out there.  I have gained and grown so much from these stitching gals.  There is no end to what can be obtained for the ease of fuzz, threads and sewing machine techniques.  Once the health threat of getting together in a restaurant comes to an end . . . I can’t wait.

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on September 25, 2020 Permalink  

  Best Day Since Covid 

  Here it is, a Friday afternoon and it looks as if it could rain.

  Our group arrived at Stauffer Avenue at 9:30 this morning for brunch.  It is a group of us that love thread and fuzz.  The enjoyment of sharing ideas is priceless.  Several gals had previous plans and I know that we will try for one more outing before it gets cold so the entire group can attend.

  Dennis had the patio set up and we were set.  Even the three cats behaved themselves and stayed under the Hosta’s.  Dennis joined us for lunch and shared conversation about the Koi and how our small lot had become an acre.  There was a brisk breeze . . . what was there not to enjoy!

  There was no way these gals were going to leave Stauffer Avenue without a trip to the sewing studio.  It was a general consensus that the space was wonderful.  I did share that Dennis had had a model railroad setup at one time and then the basement was turned over to the next enthusiast . . . me.  As the gals, one by one visited the bathroom, the main floor of our home was explored.  “For such a small home, there sure isn’t a square inch that doesn’t have utility” . . . yup!

  Dennis announced that he was in charge of the brunch cleanup.  That impressed the gals.  It was time to head to Sherburn to the yardage yard sale.  I had jotted down several items.  Quilt batting and yardage for the backs of quilts were on the list.  There was a mob of shoppers.  There were many, many church tables laden with bolts of fabric that almost made them sage.  The tables were marked in dollar increments with a dot on the end of each bolt that matched the sale price.  It didn’t take long that the bolts were moved and the wonderful scheme of things was just what you could imagine a sale to be . . . rather messy.  There were sale items within the store as well.  Three cutting tables and one cash register.  I have stood in line before.  Patience, patience.   

  It was a welcomed day.  It was the best day since the covid mess.  Dennis checked out my purchases and asked why I didn’t pick up a few more items as the price was very handsome.  Well, truth to tell, it would be similar to the sea of balls at McDonalds play area and someone would ask you to figure out how many red balls there were.  Bolts of fabric going every which way!

  A good day makes for good memories.