Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:10 pm on February 19, 2026 Permalink  

  Aroma 

  Hello, the aroma in the kitchen is quite striking.  Bacon having been baked in a 350 degree oven, each slice side by side on tin foil covered cookie sheets.  It has to be thick sliced bacon.  It is a no mess process.  When finished baking the tin foil hits the garbage and the cookie sheets are clean.  Much different than fixing bacon in a stove top fry pan or even in the microwave oven.  No splatter bacon is what I call it.  I save mail flyers to put on the kitchen counter covered with paper towels to drain the bacon on after it comes out of the oven about 75% finished.  When we use it, it pops into the microwave for just several seconds and it is hot and delicious.

  Last time in the grocery store the Farmland bacon was on sale.  Now that I have the wrappers done away with, I can’t say for sure each package was a pound.  Anyway.  Farmland has always been a brand that I took from Lena’s choosing, whether hams or bacon.  I checked and it was one pound packages.

  The snow was estimated at three inches yesterday for a .3 inch amount of moisture according to KNUJ.  No shortages of fender benders in the area.

  I got one small pillow filled with crushed walnuts.  I leave an opening on one side just large enough for the mouth of a small plastic funnel to be wedged into it.  A foam coffee cup filled with the crushed walnuts is squeezed together to make a spout for pouring into the pillow.  I keep pouring until I can’t hang onto the pillow without the weight of the pillow pulling away from the funnel. I don’t measure out the crushed walnut shells.  Thus each pillow having a slightly different heft . . . but close.  I use Aleenie’s tacky glue to put a slight swish across the opening.  My quilting Wonder Clips bite just the very edge to hold everything where it needs to be.  The pillow is stood on edge for the drying time.  The last thing to finish the pillow is to put a contrasting colored chenille trim on with the same tacky glue.  That is for another day.  I can no longer use needle and thread to close the opening.  If there is a will there is a way.  One of my mantras. 

  We are having waffles and bacon for supper.  The hard work was completed this forenoon.  Love it!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on February 18, 2026 Permalink  

  In a Blink 

  My cousin from Finland, Minnesota, had just texted me a photo this morning of the blowing snow they were having and had had since during the night.  I texted back that we had no snow to be found.  In a blink of my eye, the snow started here and it blew and it blew itself into a mini blizzard.

  KNUJ kept me up to date on all the closures as they took place.  I was warm and comfortable in the studio as the wind continued its howling.  I came upstairs at two and the snow had stopped and left our concrete drive wet but bare.  The several days of warmth that we had had didn’t allow the snow to stay on the concrete.  With that being said the yards are covered with clean white.  The radio went on to say that road conditions out in the open were not good.  What is out there is now in freezing temps.

  The binding of the Christmas placemats has been finished.  The sewing of snowflakes on them is going to be on hold for a bit.  I have several mini stitched out designs to make into pillows and then get them stuffed.  I don’t like UFOs.  Finish them up before starting something new.   

  I peeled the remaining cucumbers for supper also using up the remaining purple onion.  We are having a lasagna dish for supper that Carrie had brought for us on Sunday.  It just needs to be heated up.  An easy supper makes for a happy homemaker . . . me.   

  Today is Ash Wednesday with many churches in our area having cancelled services for this evening.  So the Lenten season begins. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:11 pm on February 17, 2026 Permalink  

  Howling Wind 

  The session in the studio went very well.  I don’t do a lot of sitting.  I bounce from the sewing machine to the ironing board to the cutting table.  When the furnace is running, the heat vent in the studio hits between the sewing machine and the ironing board from on top.  It doesn’t take long the hair on my head feels as if it has gone through a whirl wind. 

  Though I have several projects in the works right now, I really want to stay on top of getting the seven placemats bound.  I have two left.  Having gotten the knack of getting the binding joined cleanly with the 45 degree stitch, I’d like to see it through.  If the appliqueing of the snowflakes onto the placemats stalls, at least there would be seven placemats to use when and of the need would arise.  

  I do watch quite a bit of quilting via YouTube.  I am not in enamored by the print found on fabric right now.  The colors are loud and the designs on the fabric are huge.  That speaks to my age.  The fabrics in my stashes are easily paired as the colors are cohesive.  The matchie match is not trending right now.  That also speaks to clothing.  Putting stripes with plaids can be seen.  That is all fine with me.  I will keep my likes to myself as I am no longer in with the latest of the latest.

  Our crockpot meal of last night was a winner.  This evening’s fair is leftovers.  I chopped up the two leftover hamburger patties.  I used the gravy-like contents of the crockpot and mixed in the chopped meat.  Supper will be known as hamburger gravy over a batch of instant mashed potatoes with a side of the creamed cucumbers that were left.  Sweet indeed.

  We are prepared for a change in the weather.  Right now the howling wind can be heard from the southeast.  We had not put our shovel aside.  The leaf blower is still in the accessible if needed to blow ourselves out from the back door if incumbered with snow.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:04 pm on February 16, 2026 Permalink  

  One More 

  One more day of spring weather to enjoy.  I am thrilled for any of the people that have to work outside. 

  According to KNUJ weather forecasters, the mention of six to ten inches of something caught my attention.  Yup, winter will return.  The northern portion of Minnesota may be getting winter back.

  Dennis had found a recipe on Facebook for us to try.  He first asked if I had paper and pencil.  I did.  He read the recipe off of his laptop for me to copy while I was in my bedroom porch.  Sounded like a plan to me.  Crockpot recipe:  1 1/2 pounds of ground beef made into four patties, placed in a Pam sprayed crockpot.  In a bowl, combine 1 can of cream of mushroom soup, I envelope of dry Lipton’s soup with 1/2 cup of water.  Stir well.  Pour that over the hamburger patties.  Cover crockpot and cook on low for 5-6 hours.  That might depend on the crockpot.

  Well, I can tell you the aroma of this dish is quite good.  I am thinking the gravy like consistency with the juice of the hamburger would be quite good over instant mashed potatoes.

  I had a good session in the studio.  I have eight placemats with a foam interior cross hatched.  I managed to sew the 2.5 binding on two of them.  I needed a refresher course to join the said binding, looking as if it were continuous with no lumps or bumps.  I remembered Emerald Meadows had such a tutorial on YouTube.  I had used it quite often.  About that time, I ran out of bobbin thread and decided to check out.

  When we were in Hy-Vee last week, I had bought six small cucumbers.  I used three today for peeling and slicing.  Also a purple onion came home with me.  They are said to be far more superior than any other in the vein of health purposes.  A bit of mayo and a scant amount of sugar and we have a great side dish.

  All is well.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:41 pm on February 15, 2026 Permalink  

  Sunday the 15th 

  February is flipping through the days much like a race.   Dennis and I are not participating in that race.  Slow and steady is what we do best.

  Carrie and Jeremy came for the afternoon.  Good to catch up on things.  Good that I had a job-jar list for the first viable person that came a calling.  It’s not hard to imagine that all of the “Ice” in the metro has had an effect on retailing.  We got the latest low-down on Megan and Nicholas.  Megan is working full time at a medical clinic until she returns to college for her master’s degree.  Nicholas was working and is taking some time off to complete his senior year.  Nicholas will be attending college in Tennessee in the fall of 2026 with a good stipend for his four years in physics.  Good news all around.

  I needed help with my phone so I can access the goofy screen that comes up when I want to follow the tracking process of an order, or any other item to scan.

  Our next week is a casual one.  Nothing pressing, no appointments.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:12 pm on February 14, 2026 Permalink  

  Difficult Times 

  We are going to be in difficult times when winter pokes its head out again.   In the mean time, in between time, I am enjoying this spell of spring-time temps.

  Shh.  I did not tell Dennis I left a window cracked open over-night in the bathroom.  There was no wind to speak of that would have given me away with a curtain flying. 

  Our GE stackable laundry set-up got a good work out today.  As the loads were swapped out via Dennis, I was in the folding venue.  All is tidied up and put where it belongs.  A great feeling. I went down into the studio to bring up some paper products from the cistern closet.  I got way-laid.

  I couldn’t help but sit at the sewing machine.  Before long, I had a dust brush under the hood.  Cleaning the machine is the best way to be able to do what is wanted or needed without any problems.  Putting in a new needle is a smart thing to do . . . often.  My thread of choice and color are locked and loaded.  I am hoping Monday will be a stitching day.

  For the rest of this Saturday, I am perched in the cherry red chair with either stitching or reading on either side.  Dennis has decided that Maria’s pot-pies are going to be for supper.  Sounds good to me.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:27 pm on February 13, 2026 Permalink  

  Two Nickels 

  We are two nickels warm today . . . 55 degrees.  No wind, just a great Friday.

  I had a “wings to make you fly” kind of day running on strictly coffee.  By the way, they did just put out on the news that caffeinated coffee staves off dementia.

  Within our home, I have the gift of seeing fuzz, dirt and spills on the floor.  Dennis not so much.  That is alright with me.  He gives the moral support and the extra heft that I cannot.  Thus, more was bit off than was reasonable for today.  Both beds were stripped to be replaced with fresh laundered sheets and pillow cases. 

  We work in tandem with the vacuuming and the moving of beds.  It didn’t take long there was a window cracked on each end of the house to let some fresh air in.  Breaks were needed.  Why not.  We had all day. Dennis’ legs are apt to give out and my arms and hands do likewise.  Pushing until life is no fun is not our way of getting things done.  Slow but sure.

  Often Dennis and I reminisce, how far we have come from having two lawn chairs for living room furniture and a camper refrigerator.  The hot-plate tended to blow fuses.  And . . . there we were yesterday picking out new chairs for our refractory vintage table.  It didn’t even dawn on us that the table being oak would soon have chairs that also had some oak.  OMG!  George Jefferson, we have done moved on up! 

  The day has been a good one.  One of Dennis’ daughters had mentioned that maybe I needed help with the house, meaning the cleaning.  I worked my entire life to have this home and I enjoy the tidy, tidy.  Dennis is right.  I would be cleaning before the cleaning lady was coming.

  I had called the Mayo Store in Mankato Wednesday to order the items for Dennis’ CPAP prescription.  The box was delivered today.  Before bed, Dennis will be swapping out the 10′ hose, the face gasket, the filters and the elastic head gear.  Good service and grateful service.  We were in Mankato yesterday, but that shop has been known to have quite the line of individuals waiting their turn.  I am thrilled not to need the CPAP.   Yes, we are spoiled. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on February 12, 2026 Permalink  

  Today!! 

  Today was the day I got to go to the big town.  Nicest weather yet.

  We did find Slumberland on Madison.  When I walked through the doors, I thought oh Lordy.  A downstairs, an upstairs and the main floor seemed to go on forever.

  As if planned, the first left we took inside the store . . . the chairs I had seen on their website were right there.  The Jefferson line . . . right there for a sit-upon.  Dennis had measured how high our table top was and how high the side plank from the floor for knees to get under the table.  We both sat in those chairs to get a good feel for them and waited out the sales clerk.  The chairs were a part of a table and chair combo.  Not to worry.  We were in no hurry.  Our two chairs are ordered and then will be delivered to our front door.  

  I had not sat in that comfortable of a chair next to a table . . . I don’t think ever.  Sweet.

  Our only other stop was Hy-Vee.  We needed a little of this and a little of that.  The store front was full of flowers expecting to go home with someone for Valentine’s day.  Fooled you!  I took home some Valentine cookies to share and spoil us silly.

  A great day for a successful purpose.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:39 pm on February 11, 2026 Permalink  

  Geez 

  Geez, I hate updates when I least expect them.  So needed perhaps.  Well, I don’t know about that.  What was usual and customary now resembles someone else’s laptop.  Enough about that.

  I was slow out of the gate this morning.  I have a 4″ x 8″ date book that I have lots of web sites that I frequent and with them perhaps a sign-in and password.  The book is from 2002.  This morning as I was looking through the hen-scratching for a certain site, I thought enough was enough.  As passwords had needed to be up-dated, I scratched them through for the next newest one.  On and on.

  I didn’t get through all the pages.  Those that I did, I didn’t throw the old pages away until I know I copied them correctly.  Accountability is paramount if for some reason someone else needs to have the information.  Hmm.

  Dennis remains under the weather.  He was so close to getting through this winter with no issues.  I know he wouldn’t and didn’t believe me when I gave him a Lena tip.  Sitting directly in front of the fan from a heat source is just as bad as sitting directly in front of an air conditioning unit.  Kevin found that out when he was taking care of a pet rodent type rat, for the life of me I can’t remember what they are called.  It was white and I think it had the name of Sniffy.  It was hot and the little cage was put in front of a fan for comfort only to find the little fur-ball had passed away when Kevin checked on it in the morning.  Anyway, I digress.  The garage’s furnace vent flows right on one of Dennis’ favorite perches.  Who knows.  I could be all wet about how he came to have this horrible cold.

  The studio work is going well.  The sewing machine gave no problems.  Tomorrow it will be time to put in a new needle and give it a shot or two of oil.

  Dennis willingly took a hot bowl of oatmeal for supper last night.  Now you all know how punk he is feeling.

  Yesterday the state of Minnesota lobbed onto our checking account for the funds we owed for our 2025 income tax returns.  Greedy little bastards.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:19 pm on February 10, 2026 Permalink  

  Home Sweet Home 

  Our trip to the big town has been put off for now.  Dennis may have a bug and it’s nothing like the ladybug beetles that still may come in from the patio porch.  Home is the best place when you are under the weather.

  I took my leave to the studio.  I have three projects going.  Nothing huge.  Just enough to spend a little energy and time on each.  When glue, hand stitching, machine stitching, fabric being cut and pressed . . . what’s not to like.

  I did change blades in my 45mm rotary cutter.  Wow, what a difference.  The 45 is actually easier on my hand than the 60.  Even so, not overdoing is the best practice.  While in the studio, it is constant moving, stretching, and giving the brain a good workout.  I firmly believe that trying new things and learning as you go is my best path.

  I often wonder in the path of Dennis’ life before I knew him.  If he doesn’t like someone, he will put himself anywhere but where that individual may be, even if the event calls for it.  If he takes a cotton to someone, he could be like a tick to a dog.  Dennis has very little curiosity.  He doesn’t care to read.  Dennis enjoys history and there would be a wealth of it between the covers of a book.  Oh my gosh if “Victory at Sea” were still on the tube, he would be glued to it.  My dad enjoyed that program as well.  He often comments that he thinks of himself as someone much younger and should be able to do things as the younger of himself could do.  That may speak to the falls that he takes.  Dang it.  Getting up slowly before moving is to allow the blood to flow up and then down and then up, etc.  Dennis’ 90th is in the fall of 2026.  Truth to tell . . . Dennis is doing great.  We are doing great.

  The crockpot meal was wonderful for last night’s supper.  One of the best things is the leftovers of the pork.  It was so tender . . . and that would be what my thinking is of pulled pork.  I have been to events where pulled pork sandwiches are served and the pork meat is stringy and hard to bite off let alone chew.  That’s just my thinking I am sure.

  Tonight for a delicate, easy on the stomach supper it is going to be oatmeal.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥