Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:32 pm on August 16, 2018 Permalink  

  My Day, My Way 

  From time to time, I have a back that gives me pause. Not surprising. I was a farm girl that any farmer would have loved to have had at his beck and call. 40 Lb. hay bales on the hay rack behind the baler: I was there. Stacking hay bales in the hay barn right to the rafters: I was there. McCormick milk machine pails filled from the Holstein cows: I was there. Helping to load feeder pigs into a trailer: I was there. The list could go on and on. Dad had me at his beck and call right along with my sister and two brothers. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Dad and Mom taught us kids how to work and make light of it. If we made a game out of it, the time went quickly and the weight of it didn’t take its toll . . . for some time to come.

  The aches that may come periodically now that I am in my 70s do not bring sad memories. The wonderful life I had as a child brought me into my adult years knowing the value of putting in a good day’s work. I now enjoy a good day under my belt, but with much less intensity. I still enjoy everything and anything I always did, but perhaps with a different twist on things to achieve the end result.

  Today was a great example of enjoying my sewing studio acknowledging that my back needed some TLC. I would like to make myself a new quilt. What! Me getting a new quilt to use! I don’t put in a full day of cutting pieces. Bending over the rotary cutter can be a back braking task. This whole process will take a fair amount of time . . . which I happen to have. No matter how anyone tries to retain good posture while sewing, it doesn’t last as that perfect seam allowance gets my nose right up close and personal. I spent the greater portion of the morning getting my sewing machines ready to stitch. Yes, that’s right, plural sewing machines.

  Mom’s sewing machine (circa 1965) has been serviced and was loaded with the correct thread for my project. The Sears sewing machine model that I have had since 1968 was also ready to go with the right thread and needle. Last but not least was the Bernina to get suited up. I am working towards a finished 8″ block that is comprised of five different pieces. I believe I need 100 of these finished blocks when I am finished. Each of the three machines will stitch a portion of the 8″ block. Doing a series of ten on each machine means I will not be hovering at any one machine for long. Getting up, moving, getting my butt on a different chair and then heading to the ironing board after 10 of the completed blocks have been put together will not bind the back, shoulders and hands from extended repetition in one place. It may sound like a lot of foolishness, but it’s my foolishness to take care of that which I know can cause a lot of discomfort. I have nothing more to do than to take care of my health while enjoying life.

  When I redid the sewing studio last fall it fell into place that I could navigate the two church tables, my sewing machine table and the ironing board from all sides. No sitting in a corner being boxed in. It’s doing exercise laps while ending up with a sewing project well under way. Fun creative times at Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on August 15, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Snuggles ( 7 )   

  The True Story 

  

  Our beloved Snuggles is always up for a challenge. He has ridden our patio umbrella like a tilt-a-whirl in times past. Today out of the blue there were branches shaking as I looked out the kitchen window. When I went outside there was Snuggles in the crab apple tree.

  

  The true story of this: You can’t be brave unless you are scared. Snuggles took quite a bit of time checking out the roof of the house. Too bad I didn’t have a nanny-cam on him so I could have done an up close and personal look as to how all the shingles were holding up. Snuggles would stand at various portions of the roof and meow. Snuggles meowed a lot. Snuggles did venture to the opposite end of the house . . . eyeing up the awning for a return descent. In time he decided to come down the same way he went up. Jumping from the tree to the house roof seemed a lot easier than standing on the roof line eyeing up spindly branches for the return flight. I waited him out on the patio drinking my morning coffee. Before long there he was, panting as if he had run a mile. He had been scared once he was aloft but decided the brave thing was to return with all four paws on solid ground. Thinking of my own life . . . I know there were times when it was scary to be brave.

   
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  Noreen 6:32 pm on August 14, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Aunt Lorraine ( 7 )   

  Today we voted in the primary. It was the first thing on our list this morning. Dennis dropped me off and he was off to the parts store for some brushes for the generator on his Cub Cadet. The tractor has been a good project for Dennis, beside the fact that the back portion of the acre doesn’t take him long at all and it is done.

  I headed for Windom with my cousin’s quilt top. Christine had a few minutes to visit with me. Christine works at a drug store that fills prescriptions for over 30 different health care facilities in the area. Christine was appreciative so she could take the quilt top and make plans for it to be quilted sometime in the future. It ended up to be a bit of a story as to how this quilt top got wonkie. Christine didn’t sew the quilt top together. Aunt Lorraine who has Macular Degeneration had her hand in this. It doesn’t matter as the project is back with Christine. The family does worry as to what will happen when Lorraine’s eyesight continues to deteriorate as there is no cure for the Macular eye disease. All the more reason for me to continue taking care of myself as much as possible.

  The skies have threatened all afternoon, but I am afraid the rain has dissipated before it hits the ground. All is good here on Stauffer Avenue. So many blessings abound here in our home. Priceless.

   
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  Noreen 6:02 pm on August 13, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Aunt Lorraine ( 7 )   

  There are mornings that block out the rushing of traffic past our home. This morning was one of those great awakenings at 8:45. I had been in a wonderful dream of some times past. When I opened my eyes looking out the window to the east I was entertained with a flutter of Black Walnut leaves. The leaves that had turned yellow and gold fell like a vail. I stayed still for some time to let the dream fade. What a great way to start the day.

  Dennis had received a letter from Ford that his little red pickup had a recall on the air bags. After several cups of coffee in the patio porch we headed to Sleepy Eye to get the skinny from the dealership there. We will be receiving a call with an appointment time when they are able to replace the air bags. Dennis asked me to ride with him. His plan was to keep me out of the sewing room a bit longer as he knew I was feeling some strain in my shoulders and hands. Bless his heart.

  This late afternoon I gave Thomas a call that he could come and pick up his daughter’s quilt. Check! Call that project done and out! I will be taking some time to tidy up the sewing studio, complete with the Swiffer on the concrete floor. I do take time to hit the multiple waste baskets with thread and fuzz, but to no avail, some sneak by. I have no plans to hit another project head on. I need a bit of time to reflect on what would be fun to work with. In other words I am going to do a “needs analysis.”

  Dennis just reminded me that I have a quilt top to deliver into the owner’s hands. When Aunt Lorraine was here several weeks ago, her and I spent a lot of time tearing apart a quilt top for her daughter that had refused to lie flat. Once we had the issues taken care of Lorraine decided to leave the quilt top with me rather than her taking it with her to Arizona, only having to mail it back to Minnesota. Lorraine’s daughter works in Windom about 26 miles from here. I believe I will surprise her at her place of work and put that quilt top where it needs to be. I am leery of having someone else’s project in our home. There are less than good things that can happen and I would never be able to make it right. We will see what tomorrow brings.

   
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  Noreen 5:57 pm on August 12, 2018 Permalink  

  Update on T-Shirts 

  

  Here is the skinny on t-shirts: they could pass for oil cloth tablecloths. None of the 16 shirts I had to work with were plain soft cotton t-shirts. The rubberized vinyls have taken over. This may be the last of projects such as this for me. A stabilizer needs to be put on the back of the shirts so they become a square that is able to be worked with in organizing and stitching the quilt top. All of these shirts had to have a pressing cloth laid on top of them to allow the heat of my iron to adhere the stabilizer on the back of them. When quilting the top of the quilt, I needed to stitch through newspaper on each block as I didn’t have the special presser foot that rolls over the vinyl. The newspaper then needed to be removed via the perforations that the stitching did. Bummer to the nth degree. Tomorrow I will dig through my stashes to find something to use as the binding. No . . . the back of this quilt has not been photographed. I was not going to purchase any new yardage for this project and it got pieced and pieced and pieced. Sew be it.

  I will say that the morning right up until twelve noon was spent outside on the patio visiting with neighbors.  The air was nice with a bit of a breeze and no biting bugs.  The wonderful morning enjoying coffee and chit chat started the day off great.  I knew what I had been battling these last few day with this quilt and there was no point of putting it off.  As I have said there may not be any more of these quilting bartering projects.  I would sooner offer . . . not putting myself in a bartering situation to begin with, especially when it involves family.   

   
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  Noreen 5:29 pm on August 11, 2018 Permalink  

  Dennis and I had decided last night that today would be a quiet day with little to nothing that would need to be done. Dennis enjoys the Rural Farm television channel. It goes from tractor auctions, to insights on farming in various states and the best part for Dennis . . . the gospel and country music.

  It is difficult for me to sit on my hands. I did linger in the patio porch this morning for enjoying several cups of coffee. Not much breeze. Looking out to the east there was plenty of activity. The squirrels were having a hay day. The neighbor’s Oak tree has a fair amount of acorns to be had. The acorns are green as grass and perhaps that is the way for the squirrels to enjoy them.

  Snuggles did catch a squirrel last week. Dennis watched the entire hunt go down. Snuggles feels so heavy when he sits on my lap, but according to Dennis is was greased lightening on Snuggles’ part that was the end of that squirrel. The catch was not to be eaten but to be played with. When there was no more movement by the squirrel, Snuggles sauntered off. Within a few minutes Dennis had the dead squirrel in a plastic bag and into the garbage. Last year we learned our lesson. We did not pay attention to Snuggles’ conquests until we could smell them.

  I finished off the day with getting a far amount done on the t-shirt quilt for Thomas’ daughter.  Thomas had been on site quickly last week when we had a huge Maple branch go done.  The barter system is alive and well on Stauffer Avenue: have chainsaw, will travel . . . for a t-shirt quilt. It’s all good.

   
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  Noreen 4:33 pm on August 10, 2018 Permalink  

  It may be hot and humid, but after a full day here on Stauffer Avenue, I still love my ole cowboy and I love our home. Dennis and I work well together. I went with Dennis to a doctor appointment for a few checks and balances in regard to his meds after his system has adjusted to the carotid surgeries. It takes a bit of time for everything to settle in and adjust to increased blood supply throughout the entire body and the brain. Dennis is on track for a good quality of life.

  We could no longer put off mowing and trimming the front yard. It was getting shaggy, complete with several Black Walnut trees that had sprung up since the last mowing. Obviously the squirrels had forgotten where several of their treasures had been buried. Sewer lines and water lines running under the front yard may not be hampered by tree roots this year or next year, but the future needs to be safeguarded. With a good supply of electric cords the entire drive can be blown off with grass clippings. Yup, you all know me well . . . tidy, tidy.

  I was dirty, sweaty and smelly. Might just as well round out the day with some cleaning. With Dennis’ help of moving furniture in the patio porch, it got a full blown cleaning and vacuuming. Kitty baskets were taken out, shook out and freshened up. It was too bad that the ole Tabatha stayed put in her basket until Dennis literally rolled her out onto the patio.

  Super time is here and neither one of us really don’t care what we put in our mouths for nourishment. I do know that there will be a variety that satisfies the established pyramid for balance. Yup . . . there is no place like home.

   
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  Noreen 3:59 pm on August 9, 2018 Permalink  

  Today, it finally feels like home here on Stauffer Avenue. There has been a lots of activity and none of it was focused on the wind damage that is now totally cleaned up.

  Last week it was the visit of Aunt Lorraine. We deposited her at her son Mark’s on Friday.

  Saturday Dennis’ daughter, granddaughter and two of the great grands popped in from Mankato just before noon. Noon! Lunch! A five month old, a three and half live wire named Lux, plus four adults counting Dennis and me to do a lunch. Out came the selection of cold cuts that I had not as yet opened: pickles, veggie sticks, some fresh fruit to cut up and chocolate milk. Everything was on track until Lux opened the refrigerator and spied the boiled eggs that were peeled ready for making some egg salad. The mother determined that Lux could have one of the boiled eggs at her plate at the table. But, she only would eat the whites of the boiled egg. I expected that either the mother or grandmother would cut the egg and give Lux the whites of the egg. No . . . Lux decided she wanted to do it. Seriously! I think I am still finding specks of the yolk when least expected. I am all for allowing children to find their own way, but . . . who is the adult here! I am here to say that I always appreciated how Carrie handled age appropriate activities when delegating what Megan and Nicholas could do on their own and what needed for the adult to step in.

  We were finishing up noon lunch when Dennis’ son Ken surprised us. He popped in just in time to have ice cream cones that Dennis was doing for everyone. He had a lay-over with his Arizona based semi and the load he was carrying. As it turned out he took the load to Mankato and then was off from Saturday until yesterday, which was Wed. It is always good for Dennis to have time with Ken as we don’t have any plans on traveling to Arizona anytime soon. One of the challenges was that he desired wheels to get out and around to visit friends and family. There was no way he wanted to drive around my old lady Lincoln. That left Dennis with his 1968 Cub Cadet to get around with. I doubted that Dennis minded that one bit. From Saturday until yesterday there were numerous people popping in and out catching up with visiting. Several trips to the grocery store were needed for impromptu meals. Our “old people schedules” . . . were out the door.

  Today was the peace that passes all understanding. Our home is quiet. As much as we love company, it does catch us off guard when nothing allows us to gear up emotionally and physically before our sweet domain is going to blow up in our faces. A bit of a warning is always a good thing. Yes, you have it . . . we are spoiled rotten. We like it . . . we like it a whole bunch. As hot as it is today, I am happy I don’t have to be anyone . . . but me. When Dennis visited his recliner after lunch I believe he felt the same way. This is our home sweet home.

   
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  Noreen 4:39 pm on August 8, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis ( 40 )   

  Old Feels New 

  

  Dennis mowed the back 40 today for the first time with his old tractor that feels like a new toy. The 60″ deck made for quick work. Later on we took the two wheel trailer to the tree dump and got rid of all evidence of the wind storm that did a number on the Maple tree as well as the remains of the wild woman next door when Jan used her electric chainsaw on the Lilac. We are tidied up and beans and wieners seems to be the ideal supper. When the heat and humidity spike, fixing food takes on dim appeal. A bit of ice cream with strawberries later on will round out a great day.

   
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  Noreen 4:12 pm on August 7, 2018 Permalink  

  Can’t Take Any More 

  

  The ground just can’t take any more . . . for now. During the evening hours of Saturday and then again Sunday the two inches of rain managed to soak in. This morning there was a brisk thunderstorm and right now the backyard is saying, “Can’t take any more.” By noon the water had soaked in. Squish, squish. I have no reason to venture into the backyard and get muddied up. Dennis commented last week he couldn’t believe that there is moss growing in several large patches in our backyard. On the plus side, moss doesn’t need a lot of tending to look lush and green. Each season is unique. It does look a bit bare in the far back with the huge Hackberry branch that stretched out to the south being gone. If this is all that we have to contend with . . . it’s doable.