Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 6:03 pm on January 3, 2019 Permalink  

  Grammie is pooped! A bit later in this month Dennis will be going with his nephew on a road trip. Lots of prep work is required. I am the detail person for all aspects. Dennis says he then will know it’s been done correctly. Yup. He knows how to butter the Grammie up.

  The first situation is his prescriptions. The computer at the pharmacy does not allow for refills prior to the previous amount being just about empty. We worked with the doctor and Dennis is set for being out on the road for month. A road trip to Mankato was next in the schedule of today.

  What was needed next was a pedicure. On the road to Mankato we went in full sunshine. For Dennis’ benefit into February as well as mine this was warranted. Oh my gosh, my feet feel so wonderful. Dennis also agreed with his feeling of wellbeing. In times past I must have dropped a hitch to some piece of farm equipment on my left foot. The toenails on the right foot are usual and customary. Not so much on the left foot. The toenails on the left foot have a habit of growing wonky. Leave the toes to a professional that can get the angle of the fidangle done correctly.

  As long as we were in “The Big Town” and Dennis was at the wheel to drop me off wherever I needed to be, we pursued checking on fabrics that I will need for the “Santa Project.” Between stopping at JoAnn’s Fabric and then Hobby Lobby and then back to JoAnn’s, I am set. I am not saying this will be a wham, bam, thank you project. This will need lots of time for it all to lie on my sewing tables while I look at it and sip coffee. No deadlines . . . well . . . Thanksgiving of 2019 would hit the mark quite closely.

  We are home and it feels good. Talk about contentment. The fact that it hit 40 degrees for a time today, was the temp that took the last of the ice off of the edges of our driveway.

  The real icing, so to speak, on the Dennis’ day was that Hobby Lobby carries his favorite Zachary Old Fashioned Vanilla Crème Drops. How could the chauffeur not get a treat over and above the few times he got to check his eyelids for cracks. The best naps can happen when the sun shines though a vehicle window.

   
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  Noreen 1:51 pm on January 2, 2019 Permalink  

  A New Attraction: Tickets Sold Out 

  In the last several days at dusk, it is better than a drive-in movie attraction event in our backyard.  The deer come out to play at dusk.  The tracks of the deer begin at the southeast corner of our lot and make a bee-line within eight feet of the east slider door of the patio porch.

  I may have to postpone supper for us until the attraction has left the area as Dennis is going to stay for the entire time the deer are visiting.  It appears that it may be three generations.  The smallest of the four or five that come is considerably smaller than the next size.  The buck is absolutely magnificent with a female that is close to his height.

  Today I spent some time in the patio porch using up the 200 bulb string of lights that we had used to patch up our living room Christmas tree.  The outside four foot lite wreath had a few bare spots that have now been blinged up for the 2019 Christmas season.  When all was done it was hung up in the pickup garage gable ready to go for a time right after Thanksgiving 2019.

  Before I came back into the house I stepped out onto the east patio and marveled at all the deer foot prints.  When I checked out a path in the snow, I realized that neighbor Randy had been doing some elfing.  Next to their Oak tree was a portion of a hay bale.  Fantastic!  From the southeast portion of our lot the deer travel to the northwest and walk in between our picket fence and Randy’s utility shed for some snacking.  It does bring them within 8 feet of the patio porch.

  The deer visiting us has been like a time clock for Dennis to be in the patio porch and situated in his favorite chair awaiting the evening’s attraction.  Nope.  Sorry ole cowboy.  No popcorn included in Stauffer Avenue’s meals on wheels.

   
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  Noreen 4:11 pm on January 1, 2019 Permalink  

  Minus 6 degrees out this morning. Dennis reported that none of the four cats had any intention of leaving the patio porch. We had accumulated a good two inches of new snow. Some places it had piled up with the assist of the strong winds. Some places had been blown bare.

  After breakfast I headed down into the sewing studio with no big expectations. I began making notes of items I would need for the “Santa Project.” Not long in to the note taking, I heard the snowblower idling in the driveway. Dennis was coming in to get suited up with boots, a cap with earflaps and heavy mittens.

  I don’t try to dissuade Dennis when he is determined to do something. Hmm. When, and if I get to be 82, I would not be any different. I know myself now at age 74. My family is well prepared. I pulled out my heavy boots, stocking cap and heavy gloves and followed Dennis out to the driveway. It was important to me that I stay close . . . in case I would be needed. I pulled out my snow pusher knowing I would stay warmer if I was doing something physical.

  We came in the house at 1:00 p.m. with a cleaned out driveway and two patios that were pushed off. It was a case in which Dennis would say “We got the stink blowed off.” Oh yes we did!

  We did put our semi-small artificial Christmas tree out for the garbage. It just doesn’t have the warm fuzzy appeal when half the lights have been burned out. With the existing lights having been installed on the branches in the factory, it is beyond us to try to add some here and there. Next year, I am sure there will be some to choose from when we are ready.

  Our 2019 year is off to a good start, may it be so for all.

   
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  Noreen 5:17 pm on December 31, 2018 Permalink  

  Out With the Old, In With the New 

  Yesterday we did close down Christmas by returning the Fairfax Santa to the back garage for safe keeping until next year, less his coat and cap.

  Today after thinking about the coat and cap I took it down to the sewing studio with seam ripper in hand.  Santa needs a new coat.  In some places the 1950s fabric shredded if I looked for a place to begin opening the seam.  It was a slow process.  It was a rather dirty process as the stuffing used in the white trim and the hat was similar to the old time cotton quilt batting, only this was wanting to shred if you touched it.

  Yesterday after Kevin and Kersten carried him to the back garage, Kevin mentioned later that he had some insulation in one of his fingers.  Today, I have that same sensation of having insulation in some of my fingers from handling the coat and cap.  The beard of Santa is like spun fiberglass.  Hmm.  That, for the future will need some thought.

  I will be taking a scrap of fabric with me wherever we travel in the near future to see what is available.  Lots of possibilities on the internet, but I don’t want to buy what I can’t see and feel.  The first thing will be for me to take freezer paper and make some pattern pieces.  I saved all the white trim and Dennis tucked it into a plastic grocery bag. I followed up from where I had been working with a Swiffer duster and a 3M sticky roller.  The white trim after the seam allowance was exposed was a mist of white.

  It was a good day to begin a new project.  It is New Yea’s Eve and we will be tucked inside listening to the howling wind whip around some new snow that is falling.

  Happy New Year.

   
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  Noreen 5:17 pm on December 30, 2018 Permalink  

  Closing Down Christmas 

  

  Just a few days left of 2018. Even Santa shed his gear and has moved on. What was left behind was Snuggles, that looked like he had lost his best patio porch friend and a weary jacket with a note that repairs are requested for the 2019 Christmas season. Hmm. I guess it’s my time to do some elfing for old Saint Nick.

   
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  Noreen 3:05 pm on December 29, 2018 Permalink  

  Well by golly! The sewing studio has been vacuumed, all extra sewing items put where they belong and I am not going to start anything new today.

  The sun hadn’t made its appearance over the Christmas week, so today it was wonderful to open up the south blinds and let the sunshine in . . . and I did face it with a grin.

  Our west house porch is 7′ x 14′ with eight windows and a door with a window. It was my time this afternoon to brew a cup of tea, sit out in Dennis’ command chair and watch the world go by. It was a good time to reflect of the year that is just about over. Lots of activity. Some wonderful events and some heart rendering.

  Sipping on the hot brew I began thinking about all the people that pass along the year. Ya know . . . there are some that are so doggone hard to love. There is no other word than, them being contrary. I thank the good Lord that most likely the strongest muscle in my being is my heart. Being blessed that my heart can stretch and not forsake each and everyone of the contrary. The loveable ones nestle into my heart. They comfort me with every beat of my heart. It’s a very good thing.

  I believe that 2019 will be rich with opportunities, and I don’t mean monetarily, for all that keep their hearts open to them.

   
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  Noreen 2:54 pm on December 28, 2018 Permalink  

  Whew, I Need Coffee! 

  

  My HoBo bag is completed. My repurposed vinyl from window shades,
  in days of old, is going to serve me quite well.

  There were a few hiccups along the way, but then that is how I learn. The vinyl couldn’t be used for the strap as it was backed with flannel and there was no way I could put two pieces right side together and turn it. I had some blue cork fabric left over from making coasters. I did have to piece it to get the length, but as it doesn’t fray, I was able to put the two layers together and offset the seam where they were pieced. Two pockets are on either side in the inside and the snap actually clicks when each side attaches to it. My next project . . . doing some vacuuming and cleaning in the sewing studio. It hasn’t been tidied since all the Christmas stitching was done. Yup . . . I am actually having several cups of coffee to commemorate this completion. By the way . . . I didn’t make a dent in the vinyl window shade stash.

   
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  Noreen 6:16 pm on December 27, 2018 Permalink  

  Rain, rain go away, come again another day. I will say that the way the snow came yesterday at this time it could have turned out quite differently. I went out about eight last night and cleared the driveway of the snow after it had quit falling. It was nothing to shovel as it was heavier than a ton of bricks. I got one path going across the driveway and then took a third of a swipe for the remainder of the job. There was nothing worse than the concrete when it had been a solid layer of ice after the Thanksgiving twelve inches. It took until this week to have the driveway clear. I was going to make sure this slush didn’t freeze. There is nothing worse than slipping while trying to get in and out of a vehicle safely.

  So anyway . . . today was a good day for me to be in the sewing studio working on my Hobo bag being made out of a discarded vinyl window shade. Bags need to have foam interfacing in them for stability. It comes in various types; no heat needed, fusible via heat on one side and fusible via heat on both sides. All I had in my stash was fusible on both sides. Hmm. Adhering fusible foam onto vinyl via heat was a challenge in getting it hot enough to bond but not melt the vinyl. Getting that to work meant that the opposite side was also going to get hot enough to bond to . . . something or anything. It was a good thing I had a sheet of Teflon to use to protect my ironing board surface. Nothing sticks to that sheet.

  I made good progress even with taking time for the grocery store. It’s suppose to get cold enough to freeze some of this new fallen rain. Dennis rode shot-gun while I did the details in Shopko and the grocery store. He never becomes weary of sitting in the pickup watching people come and go.

  Hopefully I will have more to report tomorrow from the sewing studio. I closed it down at supper time, realizing that stopping while everything is going good and stopping before I screw something up.

   
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  Noreen 4:58 pm on December 26, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: vinyl   

  Being Frugal, Having Curiosity Go Hand in Hand 

  In times past we had room darkening shades that were a fairly heavy vinyl with a flannel backing. When the rollers gave out I saved all the lengths of vinyl.

  

  Breaking new ground. An unsuccessful attempt.

  I am dipping my toe into making custom bags. Hmm. Out came the length of vinyl. I have a pattern that is called “Hobo Bag.” After checking out all the pattern pieces I thought it would be worth a try to put my monogram on the front of the bag. With my first try, the stitching tore through the vinyl and the backing did not support the design.

  

  Success! It just takes a bit of ingenuity and patience.

  Out came more stabilizer and I included a film topping that would also give more support. Both techniques were on scraps. It was obvious that the latter choice would work. Having success with the scraps, I will tackle the front piece of the bag that has been cut out of the pattern.

   
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  Noreen 4:51 pm on December 25, 2018 Permalink  

  Christmas Eve was a silent night on Stauffer Avenue. That quiet lingered into our Christmas Day. With little traffic outside and silent wind chimes in the evergreen outside of the house, we slept until nine this morning.

  As the day went on there were text messages offering greetings for a very Merry Christmas. It’s always good to have family keep in touch.

  We have had several Christmas gatherings and one is still remaining to be enjoyed this coming Sunday. Dennis spent time in the patio porch and I headed to the sewing studio. Nothing urgent going on. I found some favorite CDs and had music on as I whiled away time doing some stitching. Dennis came down and settled in for some computer solitaire in the guise of keeping me company. I can buy that.

  When we decided to close down the sewing studio, Dennis fixed us a Fuzzy Naval, orange juice and peach schnapps. Dennis remembered that was a drink my Dad always enjoyed over the Christmas days. A good celebratory Christmas drink. I settled into my favorite chair. By the light of the Christmas tree I deem that this has been a wonderfully silent Christmas Day.