Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 6:16 pm on September 5, 2018 Permalink  

  There is no place like home after a day of errands in Mankato. Dennis enjoys his noon luncheons at the VFW for the Korean veterans once a month. It is good for Dennis to visit with fellows from other towns, not just in regard to Korea, but life in general.

  I use that time to bop around and find what I need. I was disappointed. I could not believe that Lowe’s did not have my all time favorite 3M Strapping Tape. It may have had a fancier name, but come on, there was nothing that resembled it for purchasing. I settled on 3M 2x Stronger Duct Tape. I didn’t want to come home empty handed as tomorrow I want to work on Santa’s dressing room, aka: the original storage box. I may still run uptown tomorrow to our hardware store and Fleet and Farm for a look-see about the strapping tape. It is my favorite for secure taping.

  The saving grace was we both got good hair cuts at Great Clips. It never matters which gal we get, they check their cards as to how the previous cut was done and it is a win, win.

  One of our last tops was the Goodwill Store in Mankato. It is the cleanest, nicest store to schmooze through. Dennis likes the polo shirts that have the collar and it must have a breast pocket. Got it! In fact, I found two in his size. I admit we spoil our cats with laundry baskets that are cushioned. I admit that I will spend five dollars on a blanket at Goodwill, cut it in to two and allow their life to be comfortable. I will not do laundry for cats. After multiple shaking out, airing out, I will return to Goodwill and purchase a replacement. That’s just how we roll with the cats.

  The weariness that I feel this evening, I don’t want to do a road trip type date for a long, long time.

   
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  Noreen 3:55 pm on September 4, 2018 Permalink  

  Sure Nuff 

  In 1954 the Sure Nuff Company in Minneapolis must have had an extraordinary business.  We got in on one of the goodies when we got a request on Sunday to come and help Kevin and Kersten lighten the load in their garage that they are working on.  We were assured the box would fit into Dennis’ red pickup.  It did as long as we left the end gate down.  At that time we did not look into the box.  We set the box into the patio porch and that is where I read the label off of the original box as it came from the Sure Nuff Company.  Today Dennis couldn’t take it anymore.  The two miles of rope that the box was tied up with released the contents.  In all his glory, standing tall was Santa Claus in person.  Kevin had mentioned that it was motorized but not so much in today’s time.  

  Dennis’ son-in-law came over this morning and I exited stage left.  I was curious but I also realize when puzzles need to be solved, too many questions can cause a situation.  Dennis came in and gave me the go-ahead that I could come out.  Santa Clause was rotating at the waist and waving with one arm.  I did send photos off of my camera to Kevin and Kersten at various points.  I was remiss by not taking photos with my camera.  Oh right . . . I admit it.  I have no idea how to get photos off of my camera onto my computer, thus very few photos are taken with my camera.  

  
  Tom took his leave when he was assured the motor had been checked and was working.  The clothes had been taken off and now it was my job.  With a soft brush on the vacuum, I began taking off a few layers of dust on the velvet.  Surprising the fabric was in good shape, still vibrant, but fragile.  I did repair one place on the jacket at the neckline where I knew the hair would cover it after all was said and done.  The batting that was pressed cotton, pressed at one time, was taken out around the shoulders.  It literally fell apart.  I substituted new quilt batting.  It was a struggle to get the clothing on as the arm that moved with wiring couldn’t be manipulated to any degree while getting enough fabric for dressing the other arm.  It was a tight struggle without putting too much pressure on the fabric.  As I look at my photo, I see that I need to adjust the belt and the front of the jacket a bit.  My next quest will be working on portions of the beard.  The beard is fiberglass.  I can attest to that as I have some itches on my hands.  The main objective has been met.  Santa twists at the waist and waves with genuine spirit.  None of the four footed observers were impressed.

  Needless to say the laundry I had started earlier was on hold.  As the box is original that will be the next project to make sure Santa has his own dressing room while he is mellowing out.  We do tackle what is presented to us and have a ball doing it.  What happens is that Dennis gets going and before you know it, he has worked me out of a project and is looking for the next task.  This project was amazing to work with, something that is 64 years young with many years yet to put the zing into Christmas.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.

   
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  Noreen 6:06 pm on September 3, 2018 Permalink  

  Neither Rain or Shine 

  Neither rain or shine will hold Dennis down from contacting his “people.”  Dennis had a visitor this late afternoon in his patio porch.  I feel a trip to the lumberyard is forthcoming.  I will hold my breath, bide my words and try to visit the site only when I am invited.  It never gets boring around here.  I kept my head down and stayed in the sewing studio.  I missed out on the 2 inches of rain. 

  Though our town is small, we are quite self-sufficient.  Dennis was in need of a pair of jeans.  Wrangler is the brand of choice as the Shopko brand is lacking for a good fit.  With that being said, you can’t always get the exact size that’s needed.  As long as the waist measurement was correct, I could soon fix the length.  I am not fond of shortening jeans.  The flat-felt seams are a bugger to sew over while maintaining an even hem.  As I got into the project I realized that this was the first heavy denim pair of jeans I have hemmed since getting my new machine.  I took my time and kept the needle coming along the hem line and I’ll be jiggered, the pressure foot walked right over the thick welt of having the denim folded over twice for the hem.  Also amazing was the fact that the length of the stitches remained constant.  I had my foot placed gingerly on the power pad thinking if the needle did break, I wouldn’t have pieces of it flying and then not finding all the parts.  I have celebrated the pleasure of this sewing machine every time I use it . . . but this was the frosting on the cake. 

  So, tomorrow there will be commotion in the patio porch and it will be interesting as to what will transpire.  If Dennis is happy . . . why not!

   
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  Noreen 5:17 pm on September 2, 2018 Permalink  

  Each day comes and before my eyes can focus, I do say a quiet quick prayer of thanks for the night’s rest I have had. These past years the amount of rest I take each night is considerable more than when I was on the W-2 Form routine. Oh well. It’s not the quantity of awake hours, but the quality of them. Dennis is right there with me in enjoying good sleep and a lot of it. He can squeak in a nap during the day . . . that’s not my case.

  I am at the age that exceeded Dad’s by a year and a half. I am happy that I am going about my days much like Dad’s. Up to and including his last day he was busy doing and taking on tasks for others.

  Today was no different for us. I include Dennis in the “us” as he is my sidekick for projects we take on. It started with a text yesterday of inquiry. The texting went back and forth for a time and then an agreement. We have a new project awaiting us in the patio porch as of this afternoon. We can’t get at it right away, but we are on it. For the age of us and for what we take on we have more on our plates than bland food. It’s been a great day and I am sure this week will be just as full and interesting for Dennis and me as the last.

   
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  Noreen 2:35 pm on September 1, 2018 Permalink  

  The Crazy Pattern in Blues 

  I have many pastimes that I enjoy.  The days are never dull.  The first thing I check out is what Dennis’ plans are for the day then I work around them.  Today the tree dump was open so that was a no-brainer.  Out went the last of the plants I had dug out last week as well as multiple branches and twigs that have fallen out of the Maple tree with some fairly brisk winds.  On that note we have put in a call to the tree service that helped us out a week or so ago.  Our huge Maple needs a bit of a manicure. Twice we have been lucky with large branches breaking loose during a wind storm with no damage to our potting shed or patio porch.  It’s time to tidy up a few of the large trunks that are listing towards the buildings.

  

  Five fabrics and the pinwheels go around and around.

  No matter how much the sewing studio is used, it is never as sweet as when I am piecing a quilt top.  The process is very quieting and each piece a precise size to meld to the next.  I had been working on a border for this blue crazy pattern.  Yesterday, I got the opinion of the metro girls: Carrie and Megan.  I am taking their advice and today I will begin cutting out the pieces for the border.  Three different fabrics making four distinct patterns, all cut at a 45 degree angle.  The end result will be a straight edge of all four sides.  It’s a good puzzle.  I am contemplating that the size should fit and cover a full sized mattress easily for the border to be a great drop on each side.  I can enjoy this puzzle as right now there is not a twit of anything that needs to be done outside.  It’s time for both of us to kick back and take the day easier than we deserve.

   
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  Noreen 5:13 pm on August 31, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Carrie ( 12 ), Megan ( 9 ), Nicholas ( 6 )   

  The beginning of the last long holiday weekend of the summer. Our surprise was a visit from the metro kids. Carrie, Megan and Nicholas spent the afternoon with us. What a treat. Megan had a sewing project that we needed to get nailed down so that when she went to purchase her fabric she would get the proper amount of yardage. It is hard to believe that she will be having her 15th birthday in December. The teachers will have a challenge with Nicholas. What happens between the ears comes so easily to him. Nicholas will be 10 in November and has a kind spirit. The need to compete while participating in sports does not interest him. Right now he is anticipating playing golf next season as he and his dad got quite a few rounds in this late summer. While Megan thrives with ice skating events that she had this summer, Nicholas’ highlight was kayaking on various lakes in their area. This visit will be the last for some time as the school year will be off and running on the 4th of September. It was a great day.

   
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  Noreen 3:56 pm on August 30, 2018 Permalink  

  It is 4:45 and I am calling it a day. Dennis has found his rocking chair in the patio porch. I am always amazed when people who are close to our age tell us that they get bored. Oh my gosh. They should follow Dennis and me around for a day.

  Dennis did the entire mowing today. He didn’t shut off the mower one time. There was a good reason for that. The battery took a dump and he knew once everything was done he would be heading to the parts store. The fellow allowed him $3.00 for the old one. Even the store fellow was amazed. The old one was ten years old. It was the original battery in our Sears riding mower.

  My task today was to visit the remaining flower beds with pliers in hand. Most of the volunteer trees of various kinds were able to be pulled up by hand. Some needed to have the pliers get right down to the nitty-gritty with a pull. With all the rain and if the volunteers would have been left on their own . . . we would have a forest in a short matter of time.

  The final task of the day was to visit the garages and load up fence post of all sorts of varying sizes and other odds and ends of iron paraphernalia. Grandson Ryan has an iron pile going and we are going to add to it this evening. This type of work will never need to be re-visited. Dennis is right. We never run out of things to tidy up.

  We also agreed on supper: frozen waffles and Jimmy Dean pre-cooked breakfast sausages. It’s a win, win

   
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  Noreen 7:07 pm on August 29, 2018 Permalink  

  No matter what is going on in a day, such as we have had today, could surely be helped by it. Wonderful air. No humidity. No biting bugs. It’s a win, win.

   
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  Noreen 5:10 pm on August 28, 2018 Permalink  

  True to my word, I did spend the majority of the day in the sewing studio. Not so much sewing as putting pencil to paper to work out a border that I hope I have enough of the quilt top fabric left to pull off. In the afternoon . . . “The best photo ever!” JoAnn sent me a photo of my brother Michael drinking coffee out of a cup. First day in eight weeks that he could swallow something that he put in his mouth. I am hoping that the feeding tube was able to be taken out. I didn’t ask any questions as to when his cancer treatments will resume. This news today was fantastic.

   
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  Noreen 5:45 pm on August 27, 2018 Permalink  

  Today was a bit of final cleanup in the backyard. Several more rocks needed to be taken out of the dirt and the Hosta found a home. My feet were so heavy from the mud I was dragging around on the bottoms of my garden shoes. We had had a strong rainfall on Saturday. Dennis cleaned up and emptied the birdhouses and we relocated them for the next season. I was very thankful that I had an old post hole digger to use for the Dr. Seuss copper pipe. The dirt that came out of the hole was dry after about 12″. By twelve noon all the tools were put away and most of the mud was clapped off of my garden shoes. You can’t buy shoes that have a fairly smooth sole, so it will be a time before I get all the formed sockets cleaned out. Dennis is my backup when I am doing my thing digging and hauling rocks. You never know when I might trip over my feet and take a tumble. Dennis is no longer able to do the deep work that gardening takes, but let me tell you he washes a mean sink of dishes.

  I put myself in my favorite chair for a time this afternoon. I was dozing off when the emergency phone calls rang on our land line and cell phones. Sure enough. Strong rainfall and thunder storms rolled in about three this afternoon. I was absolutely tickled that we had gotten the backyard project done when we did. We may have to postpone the last trip of plants to the tree dump as it was plenty muddy before these last two rainfalls. Nothing was half started in the backyard. All tasks completed. Totally done. God willing the soil will still stand a chance to dry out so when the tilling is done it will not be hard clumps made by mucky dirt. I think tomorrow may be a sewing studio day.