Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 7:03 pm on January 23, 2019 Permalink  

  A Whirlwind of a Day 

  How can two  people have so much to take care of!  I don’t think it’s because it is so much, we just putts around.  Both vehicles needed tabs, this ole gal needed to get her driver’s license renewed and the refrigerator was quite bare.  My license wasn’t due until March, but the way the service has been, why put it off.  Ten years ago, I would have had that licked by nine in the morning.  As it was we got home at three due to the fact we decided to have a late lunch at the Home Town Café and ended up visiting with lots of acquaintances.

  Coming home I felt I needed to check my emails.  The 11-year-old Dell laptop may have decided to retire.  Heck, everyone else in the house is.

  So you may ask . . . why do two retirees have three computers in the house.  As I said, the Dell laptop I bought eleven years ago . . . that was quite the treat and the deal.  Dennis soon learned how much fun it was to play the free card games.  Well, what is better than keeping the hand to eye contact going!  Off to Best Buy and Dennis has his own spot here in the west porch.  He has panoramic view of what is going on out in the neighborhood as well as he is his own traffic controller so to speak.  Three years go or so, Kevin and Kersten were amazed at the age of the Dell.  There were no longer any updates for it.  I think it was Windows 7.  I then had an HP Notebook as a Christmas present from them.  At first I baulked. Their thought was, that as different as the current applications were from what I was use to, I would get frustrated and not continue enjoying my life being active with a computer if all of a sudden the older one died and it was do or die.  Boy . . . were they right.  It was as different as night and day.  The HP sits in the living room here on the first floor.  The older Dell went into my sewing studio to assist in downloading stitching designs.  It has all been working like a top having three computers. 

  The Dell is unplugged, the HP is at the Geek Squad getting a new keyboard and what would I ever do if I didn’t budge in on Dennis’ sanctuary here in the west porch!  Amazing.

  I was just getting set up to do my blog on his computer for the first time when my cell phone went off.  It was Dennis out in the patio porch.  Of course, I dropped the call.  It was just as easy for me to go out to the patio porch and see what was going on.  Harriet is home after being gone for four days!!  Harriet the cat had had cabin fever and slipped out on the first of the bitter cold days.  With a foot of snow to travel through, we thought she would look around and decide her warm basket was the best place for her.  Not!  Dennis would wait in the patio porch each night with the lights on inside and out waiting for her to no avail.  Who knows where she was.  She did head right to the Meow Mix bowl.  Dennis feels so much better that his four kids are all home and accounted for.  Peaceful night here on Stauffer Avenue. 

  On a note, Dennis’ computer really has a different touch.  I am very thankful for the use of it.  Time to close as Dennis will be in shortly to check his Facebook posts.  After all, the ole cowboy has people.

   
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  Noreen 5:08 pm on January 22, 2019 Permalink  

  Dennis had a chance to meet with a… 

  Dennis had a chance to meet with a lot of his classmates and long time friends at McDonald’s for coffee.  I always encourage him to go and enjoy.  It’s quite outside of my world of opportunity, but people that graduated high school together, and still remain in the same community and are of the age of 82 . . . I say priceless. 

  Left on my own I knew I needed fresh air and some exercise.  Heart, body and soul came together for me.  It seemed milder outside today than the last several days.  The little flag on the corner of the front steps indicated the breeze was from the southeast.  A light coating of snow had fallen overnight.  With my lightweight leaf blower, it was fun to blow off the patios.  Hmm.  It worked so well, so why not dig out another extension cord and try the back door area.

  I was almost giddy when I realized that the air from the leaf blower when held close to the concrete, peeled off the hard, older crusted snow like potato chips.  Away I went.  About fifty feet of the ninety feet of driveway cleared off.  My level of comfort was good but the electrical cords were hard to manage as their flexibility was hampered by the cold by quite a bit.  

  As I mentioned the fresh air and exercise served me well.  I was then content to come inside to fix a hot bowl of the ole Quaker Oatmeal.

  Later on some time was spent in the sewing studio to hem my quilt.  There were not any long time spans at one time as my arms could feel that the swinging of the leaf blower had made an impact.  Nothing hurt . . . they were just a bit limp.

  I had a great day, feel good and celebrated by getting to the library to check out a few books.  The air is to switch to the northwest with gusting winds.  It will be interesting to see if the leaf blower will be called into duty tomorrow . . . or maybe the snow pusher will be a better option.

   
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  Noreen 6:18 pm on January 21, 2019 Permalink  

  Crazy 8 Quilt 

  

  The Crazy 8 Quilt is out of the shopping bag. The reason it is called Crazy 8 is that each 8″ block is made out of five different fabrics. I chose to put four of those 8″ blocks together to make a 16″ block. The five pieces of the 8″ block can be put together just as many ways that you can think of. I chose to have the focus on pinwheels. The quilt top has multiple pinwheels in it depending how the eye travels. I wanted the dark blue pinwheel to be the eye candy. The picket fence border was a great challenge. The binding prep is underway. It sounds like we have another cold day tomorrow to spend time stitching the day away. This has been a fun project and it is MINE. All other quilts I have used have been using scrappy fabrics. These five fabrics were a joy to find in three different quilt shops.

   
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  Noreen 2:57 pm on January 20, 2019 Permalink  

  Then and Now 

  

  Mom had a favorite pattern for embroidery. These flowers were done in numerous colors. Mom gave me these embroidered pillow cases in the late 1980s. I crocheted and attached the edging for them. They indeed were special. Not long after I did the crocheting, working with threads became difficult for my hands. In today’s world, within my stashes were two pair of white pillow cases that Mom had ready to embroider on, but it didn’t come into fruition. My project was to make use of these from a time long gone. Within the green checked shopping bag that my Crazy 8 quilt is still resting in, is the quilt that will match the border fabric I used on Mom’s made ready pillowcase. We are getting closer to letting the quilt out of the bag. After I have these pillow cases ready to go, I have been working on getting the binding ready for the 100″ x 100″ Crazy 8 blue quilt.

   
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  Noreen 6:41 pm on January 19, 2019 Permalink  

  Considering that I stayed in bed until 9:30… 

  Considering that I stayed in bed until 9:30 this morning, I had a very good day of activity.  Randy blew out our driveway quite early thing morning.  It seems we had about 10 inches of snow.  

  With coffee laced with a bit of sugar and heavy whipping cream, I was ready to get suited up and tidy up the yard.  Randy does several passes up and down the driveway.  It takes out the bulk that would have us totally overwhelmed.  Dennis manned our walk-behind blower and I had a pusher and a shovel.  In time we had the bins for garbage and recycling dug out, the doorway cleared on Stauffer Ave. for Dennis’s pickup, and the front landing – complete with a walkway for the mail carrier to travel from Stauffer Ave. through our yard.  It was not without several breaks in the patio porch.  I didn’t even want to know how cold it was outside.

  Once we had caught a second wind we cleared the east and west patio around the patio porch.  I have no idea what is up with that.  Once the nickel gets shoved in the slot it buys more time than what most oldies our age are even aware of.

  As I was cleaning off the landing and step in front of the house, the FedEx truck stopped.  A young fellow hopped out.  “You are going to need this once you are done moving snow.”  It was the tea I had ordered.  My doctor had told me how beneficial Turmeric was for arthritis.  I do use it in the shake and bake for doing chicken, but there is only so much that is needed.  I found a website, and as of today, I have a variety of six boxes of tea bags all containing Turmeric. 

  We shut off the snowblower about 1:30 and tucked the shovel and pusher away.  After I got in and could feel my nose, I did get the tea kettle going.  The flavor I tried was Turmeric Three Roots.  It was Turmeric, Ginger and Licorice.  It said to steep it for 8-10 minutes.  The aroma was fantastic.  I have tried tea before . . . not impressed.  The taste of this tea is wonderful.  I filled my cup three times and even with the last cup of hot water, there was a great flavor.  I am going to give this a good try as I am not in like with meds to solve problems.

  Both of us could feel the activity.  I made the call on supper.  A big bowl of Oatmeal with side dressings of cinnamon and brown sugar.  I opted for some cream over mine.  Dennis had milk. It was very satisfying. 

  Tonight we will either sleep like the dead or will not be able to settle down for being overly weary.  It doesn’t matter one way or another.  It may be another 9:30 morning for us tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 4:40 pm on January 18, 2019 Permalink  

  The Test of Mettle 

  I believe I may have gone beyond Dennis’ mettle in regard to his stitching abilities.  Give Dennis a puzzle to work through for pin pointing what needs to be done in all aspects of a vehicle.  He knows when to hold it or when to fold it and get it into a repair shop.  

  We are in a snow situation here and that means that we hunker down until the snow stops and then we move it.  Neighbor Randy has already been down our driveway and his when he was on his noon break from John Deere. 

  I was at my sewing machine finishing up the last of what I wanted to get done in my adventures working with cork fabric.  Dennis wanted to help by doing some serger work on the cotton dinner napkins.  My machine was working with one spool of thread.  Dennis’ serger was working with four spools of thread.  It sounded like a a good way for Dennis to while away some time.  The project was clipping right along.  I had encourage and advised him to do what we call chain sewing.  When the one side of one napkin was stitched just feed another one right behind it under the presser foot.  The threads are not cut to separate them until all of the napkins have had one side stitched.  It eliminates the need to lower and raise the pressure foot to position the fabric each time. 

  Somewhere along the line, that process wasn’t going well and Dennis wanted to cut one from the machine as each side was done.  When thread is held taut behind the needle and then cut the pressure and tension causes the thread to snap back out of the eye of the needle.  In this case two needles.  The snap back extended far beyond the eyes of the needle.  Where oh where did these two threads snap back and become overlaid with the remaining threads from the other two spools.   At that time, Dennis thought that perhaps he could see if his snowblower would start and move some snow around.  It was a good call on his part.  

  I got my Dell computer down into the sewing room.  I knew there was a good YouTube called “A man and his serger.”  I dug out the manual.  Between the two, I should be able to get everything re-threaded. It had been a challenge getting the four spools threaded the first time and one time does make a blueprint in my mind on how to successfully repeat it.   

  Midway through, I got dressed and went outside to move a little bit of snow around and clear my head.  Dennis and I both got a good amount of the driveway cleared.  No . . . it’s still snowing.  There will be plenty for Randy to play with after he is done with work.

  It’s now supper time.  The serger is ready to go again.  My cork fabric projects are done.  Dennis has gotten some snow exercise and is enjoying playing solitaire on his computer in the west house porch.  Dennis’ mettle is in good shape.  I may have stretched it a bit.  It’s all about living and learning – and we sure do a good job of it here.

   
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  Noreen 5:37 pm on January 17, 2019 Permalink  

  New Day – New Feelings 

  It may be cold out, but with the sun shining, it makes a world of difference.  Our evergreen on the northwest corner of the house was filled with singing, chirping birds.

  We had a dusting of snow that didn’t take long to push off.  The fresh air felt great and it made me feel so much better than yesterday.  

  Yesterday the mail brought supplies for my Santa Project.  If he is going to get a new suit, I feel he warranted a new belt and buckle.  It is amazing what can be found with a few flicks of the fingertips.  I could very well have contrived a new vinyl belt given enough time to find the right vinyl in the right store in Mankato.  For $15.99 and free shipping I have both items ready to use in time to come.  A second package came that has the closures that I am going to use for Santa’s jacket.  We are getting closer to a start.

  I was content in the sewing studio this afternoon when the cell phone went off.  My good friend Sharon at the Old Alley Quilt Shop called to tell me my quilt had been longarmed and ready for pickup.  I had taken the quilt top to Sherburn when Megan was here over MEA weekend in October.  Sharon had a fall in early November that put her in the hospital for a time as she had broken her hip.  Sharon may have gotten behind with quilting, but I had assured the shop, I was not in a rush for it.  In time to come I will be getting a binding ready for it.  In the meantime, in between time, it is going to have to stay in their signature green checked shopping bag until I finish a few other items.  The suspense will no doubt spur me on.  

  As I mentioned, I felt so much better today in regard to the arthritis.  It is the luck of the draw.  My mother-in-law, Esther, felt the humidity and air pressure had a lot to do with it.  It doesn’t really matter as each day comes into its own and I take it the way it comes.

   
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  Noreen 5:27 pm on January 16, 2019 Permalink  

  Thank goodness for buttons! 

  Thank goodness for buttons – buttons that need and can be pushed on washing machines and dryers. 

  I had been having such a good run with arthritis this late fall and early winter.  I got up and dressed and was ready for a good stitching day.  I hadn’t been in the sewing studio since Sunday.  About noon, things changed.  I made sure after I had eggs and toast with Dennis, I would be able to take several Alieve Gel Caps.  I don’t take them on an empty stomach.  The arthritic pangs and twangs got the best of any creative energy I thought I was going to enjoy.  It even felt good to take off my shoes and put some soft slippers on.    

  Today with several loads of laundry to do, I was content to fill the afternoon pushing those buttons to get the job done.  I would have been up a creek if it would have meant getting the wringer washing machine set up with the two rinse tubs. From there it would have been loading up clotheslines in the basement or hauling them outside to freeze dry on the clothes lines.  Those were the choices for many a week, many a month and many more years when Mom did the laundry.  Mom suffered with arthritis more than I could ever imagine, or more than I ever have to date.  

  Not the day I had imagined, but a good end to the day to have an empty laundry basket in the bathroom.  Today drives home the blessing of Kevin having insisted that the bathroom was redone about 15 years ago.  It allowed for a stackable laundry unit. 

  Tonight it will feel good to curl up in a warm robe and take the positive approach: tomorrow the day will go better.  

   
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  Noreen 4:46 pm on January 15, 2019 Permalink  

  Mercy, Mercy 

  Mercy, the HP is on it’s way to being repaired by the people at GEEK headquarters.  I have no real clue as to what the physical destination of it is.  All I know, I have my claim ticket and can expect it to be returned to Mankato, MN, within 2-3 weeks.  If the repair cost in labor and parts is more than the original purchase price, it will be junked and replaced with one of the same value and type.  I do have the backup if all is lost.  Let’s hear it for the eleven-year-old Dell Laptop here in the sewing studio that will be pitch hitting for the duration.

  We really motored around Mankato today.  Dennis needed supplies for his CPAP machine.  The cost of the supplies is covered via our insurance.  The cushion that is placed within the head gear and fits on Dennis’ nose and mouth is $84.00.  There isn’t enough product of latex to make the finger portion of a glove.  Oh well.

  Dennis and nephew Brett will be on the road for approximately three weeks going from St. James to California, and then all points west before returning to the eastern direction.  I sat in the pickup yesterday when I went along with Brett to the sewing repair shop.  Brett kidded me if I needed a boast to get up into it.  Dang near.  It was like sitting in an armchair complete with a heated seat.  Those two fellows will be traveling in style.  Could it possibly get 8 mpg?  Not for my concern.

  My concern was to get a few supplies for Dennis in regard to the trip.  I can run our washer and dryer every several days for necessities.  Diabetic socks are the most comfortable for Dennis to wear.  They do not have a tight elastic on the legs.  Walgreen’s was the next stop to pick up those socks.  Dennis has lost about 26-29 lbs over the last months.  New jeans were needed as he could just about walk out of the ones he has been fighting with.  Next stop Shopko for Wranglers.  They even had the 29″ length.  Good for me! I won’t need to shorten the two pair we purchased.  Not tightie whities, but Hanes undies got a nod as well.

  The trophy for the Super Bowl will barely have had all the finger prints wiped off of it before the boys head out the next morning on their trip.  How special that Brett would do this with his uncle.  Brett’s dad has been gone for some years.  Brett and Dennis are more like father and son than not. 

  My treat for the day was a haircut at Great Clips . . . Dennis needed one as well.  I don’t think I have ever gotten a bad haircut.  The $11.00 per cut is easy to take as well.

  We are tucked in at home and let the colder temps roll on in.  The stretch of warmer air has not been taken for granted.  We are far from done with winter, but the furlough was enjoyed even if the sun didn’t want to participate.

   
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  Noreen 5:14 pm on January 14, 2019 Permalink  

  Today I road shotgun to Bird Island with… 

  Today I road shotgun to Bird Island with Dennis’ nephew, Brett.  Brett had a break down with his Husqvarna sewing machine.  It is the one on his long arm quilter.  Without realizing it he jammed the bobbin in askew.  It was a good trip for road surface.  Amanda and Kelly are great in the Bernina Shop.  Kelly did get it to the point that the needle would go up and down without breaking, but only while he turned the flywheel by hand.  Brett had grabbed the wrong electrical foot pedal.  Bummer.  I checked with Brett late this afternoon.  It was working but was making a different noise than he remembered, though the machine has been broken down for several weeks.  I did encourage him to perhaps seek out a Husqvarna dealer as Amanda and Kelly are a Bernina repair shop and this machine is quite unique.  

  It drove home the fact that I am so thrilled that no matter what I have for problems, I have the real deal when it comes to the licensed Bernina repair place to go.  

  We made a quick stop in Fairfax so Brett could meet Kevin.  Kevin has sought concrete advice via Brett through me and Brett sunk the I beam into our yard for Kevin to secure our garage via Kevin’s instructions. It was time each could put a face to the fellow.

  It’s been a gray misty type of day, but it sure beats ice and snow.  I know how to come in from the wet, but always question myself as to whether I will make it in from walking on the ice and snow.