Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:50 pm on May 16, 2026 Permalink  

  A Day 

  A day on Stauffer.

  Our six month vehicle insurance cards were ready to print taking effect May 31st.  Printed via using an APP off of the email screen to open the option.  Got it done.

  The printer in the studio was offline.  The easiest was to unplug it . . . wait a few minutes.  I used the time to set up a project for another day.  It was plugged in and the documents in the “Q” printed out.  The printer is not used as often as it has been.  Not being fearful of error messages is the best strategy.

  Calvin called this afternoon.  His son, Eric had gone to Montana bear hunting.  Shot a bear one day, needed to trail it as it was bleeding out to the next day.  Pulling it out of a ravine back to camp was another challenge.  I am happy Eric can do these excursions.  He saw his wife’s cancer through until her death.  His vacation time is his own.  Eric checks on his dad each weekend and takes him out and about so Calvin can shop for items he wants at his assisted living.  I asked Calvin what drug store fills his prescriptions.  He has no idea as his prescriptions each come in a cellophane bag marked either for evenings or mornings.  Hmm.

  Thankful, grateful, isn’t even enough of what a feel each day for Dennis and me in our home.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:38 pm on May 15, 2026 Permalink  

  Hmm 

  The month is just about half over.  It doesn’t seem possible.

  One Drive pops up in my emails.  When I open it, it takes me back in time with photos that I have taken or photos that were sent to me.  Many, many of them take me through the years when Megan and Nicholas stayed with us.  Antics in the house, in the swimming pool at the Super 8 and out in the yards.  That changed somewhat when both began school.  One popped up this morning when in 2012, Kevin was working in his basement drilling through the foundation after street work was done, hooking up a utility line.  I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every glimpse down memory lane.

  Small town heroes.  Yesterday, my eye doctor called me close to his closing time to assure me that all the tests I had gone through yesterday were indications that all was stable.

  Things have been put in place in the studio for some embroidery to begin.  Keeping my hand in the decisions . . . a good thing.

  I am quite sure that in the evenings when the sky is dark, off to the far northwest is a satellite.  I can detect, various lights.  It is every night.  As the evening goes on, it slowly sinks further to the northwest as the leafed out trees hide it.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:45 pm on May 14, 2026 Permalink  

  Thursday the 14th 

  With the south winds howling . . . where are the caissons that keep rolling?

  Today was the six month eye appointment.  Eye dilated, eye pressure checked, glaucoma test done, retinas checked from previous tears, eye chart read . . . it seemed like a long visit.  I have an appointment for August.  Hmm.  So much for the six month appointment schedule.

  With sun glasses behind my prescription lens, I went off to the grocery store.  The refrigerator looked a bit bleak.  My favorite apples have not gone up in price per pound.  Avocados were on sale for $.79 each.  Pork roasts were $1.99 a pound but they were huge.  I settled for two pork loin chops that I plan on browning and finishing them in the oven with red onion slices.  Many one of this, one of that.  There was a sale on steam-able veggies, one package does it for us per meal.  Plus two gallons of distilled water for Dennis’ CPAP to round out the grocery trip.

  No sewing or stitching today as my pupils are still the size of saucers from the dilation.  Tomorrow is another day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:18 pm on May 13, 2026 Permalink  

  Nice Day Out 

  Today Dennis and I visited the acre to pick up branches from the winds we had yesterday.  It wasn’t as bad as I thought it could have been.  Tom does the mowing and picking up branches was not in the agreement.  There is one huge ash tree base that we have decided is a collection point.  The ash bore is running rampart in the community.  Time will tell.  When Ryan came to pick up his payment for the fallen tree of several weeks ago, he assured us he would take care of it if it came to that.  I have no idea who decides or when a tree needs to be removed.  Time will tell.

  The sewing project in the studio was finished up today.  A tidy, tidy ensued from bits and pieces of fabric and threads left. 

  There may be some embroidery next.  I have several designs I have downloaded.  It would be a great change of pace.  The sump-pump is still running, but nearly as often.  As things dry up and there is less and less water traveling through the tile, the air will become warmer in the studio.

  Dennis picked up four prescriptions at Lewis drug, all with a co-pay of zero.  Gotta love that.

  I gifted Jan from next door some flower stands that I have no use for.  A holder for a gazing ball was included.  She already had a plan for some spray paint to be used.  I was happy that they had all found a new home.

  Tomorrow I have my six month eye appointment.  My hope is that all looks good as the various tests are done.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on May 12, 2026 Permalink  

  The Wind 

  With the horrific winds from the northwest it includes dirt visible in the skies above the tree tops.  Someone’s garbage bin is depositing it’s contents across yards.   White plastic grocery bags are flying much like kites.  It is bad when the air smells like dirt.

  Dennis has shorn up our small PVC flag pole that we have on the patio.  If it can fly our flag in this wind, we are assured of many more days to fly the red, white and blue.

  There was a success in the studio this forenoon.  It helped that I had a video playing on my Dell laptop that I could play and stall at will.  Lena would not have believed what could be accessed for help.  She was blown away when I brought a cutting mat and rotary cutter to her sewing room.  It was complete with a t-square ruler to hook over the edge to cut whatever length was needed.  It gave the weary hands an assist from totally relying on a pair of scissors.  Oh for the wonders that were made by those hands.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:10 pm on May 11, 2026 Permalink  

  Amazing 

  It’s amazing how much I got done on the first floor this morning while I was on hold.  We had gotten a letter informing us that Dennis needed to be re-enrolled in being notified that he could order his CPAP supplies from the Mayo Store in Mankato.  The system had new software that was being implemented.

  All four waste baskets in the house were emptied into one for Tuesday’s pickup.  A load of laundry was folded and put where it belonged.  The pound of thick sliced bacon was taken out of the oven and put on draining newsprint.  The plant I received yesterday was taken out of the gift bag and placed on an older plate to catch any water that would flow out the bottom when it was watered.  Basically, most of my Monday morning work completed until Erica could take my phone call.  No harm, no foul.  I have learned, calling the number another time would not have brought about any quicker response.

  A short studio stint cutting some fabric.  The studio is chilly these days.

  Dennis is off running some errands and then to his six month appointment with our primary.  It allows Dennis to be forthright in the Q&As.  If I had noticed anything out of the ordinary within the last six months, I would have gone with Dennis.  Seeing as how his appointment is at four, our supper is going to be eggs, as Dennis likes them . . . basted, bacon and toast.  Easy to fix once Dennis gets home.  Sometimes at a clinic appointment there could be a wait.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on May 10, 2026 Permalink  

  A Full Day 

  Some great cleaning in the studio.  From here on in, I am hoping for just my choice of threads and fuzz.  In the process of being in the studio and catching up, the doorbell rang.

  Brian Estrada had brought his family for me to meet.  Brian has done outstanding work on our home.  It was wonderful.  His daughter Alena is now four and there was a four month old little boy.  His wife was gracious and speaks perfect English.  Alena had a Mother’s Day basket that she handed to me with a plant. Sweet.

  When Brian was finished with our garage siding last summer, I had a twin sized quilt for Alena.  Several days later, I received a text from Brian with a photo of Alena and her quilt. 

  A comfortable relationship with a young craftsman.

  Sandy and Tom came this afternoon to pick up Tom’s convertible that he stores over the winter months in AJ’s garage.  The car started with no puddles underneath it so it was off they went, hoping to get in some yard work when they get home in Mankato.

  Oh for the merry month of May.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:07 pm on May 9, 2026 Permalink  

  A Saturday 

  A Sunny bright day for the fishing opener.  There has been a number of pickups pulling boats today.  As windy as it is here in town, I can only imagine some rough waters on lakes.

  Yesterday was a long busy day in the studio.  When my cousin Mark left for home after supper, all that was left for him to do was to do a binding on the 58″ x 68″ patriotic minke quilt.  Whew.  It had been a full day.  No secret was made of the fact that neither he nor I would take on another such project.  Live and learn.

  The older Filter Queen vacuum had been used as the quilt pieces were cut.  On another day, I will do a more through job of doing the tidy, tidy.  My sewing machine is due a good cleaning as well.

  Dennis is on a quest.  Our faithful PVC pipe flag pole gave up today.  The steel rod that ran inside of the plastic pipe and was anchored into a hole made when our patio was poured had rusted off.  Several decades of twisting and turning had taken its toll.  Nothing lasts forever. 

  Dennis and I are kicking around ideas for supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:13 pm on May 8, 2026 Permalink  

  Teacher/Student 

  I have a student in the studio.  My cousin Mark was here at 9;30 from the Hastings area.

  Mark is doing a quilt for his nephew that will be stationed here the end of May from his last four years in England.  Robby is a licensed mechanic for the Air Force.  When Robby finishes a plane, his name is on the aircraft.  The end of May, Mark will be going to see his sister, Carol, and family in Arizona as Robby will be able to live with his mom during this stint. 

  The Minky material that we are working with was a kit that Carol bought for her son as a finished project and she asked Mark to make it up.  Mark had never worked with the plush fuzzy stretchy fabric and was scared to start it.  Here-go teacher . . . student. 

  So far . . . so good.  I do the prep work and Mark is on the cutting end and manning the machine.  As I have been on my feet since morning in the studio, I am taking a Lipton Ice Tea break.  Mark has a soda at his hand.

  How could I not help.

  I will have more tomorrow.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:04 pm on May 7, 2026 Permalink  

  Crisis Averted 

  Eight o’clock on Stauffer.  Winding down for the day.

  I did a call from the other end of the home.  It was Dennis and his laptop had gone black.  I went to the recue.  No dice.  The laptop was not cooperating . . . at all.

  I went down to the studio and gathered up my Dell laptop and got Dennis on board.  Anyone that knows Dennis he is in the house to eat, sleep and be in front of his computer.  He has not assimilated beyond.  When I went to bed, all was well.

  This morning having coffee in my bedroom porch, I had the window to the world as I twirled my cherry red chair to take in what was going on around me.  To the north the deep lilac blooms are just about to pop open in a riot of color.  Next to them is the shrub that I used to trim . . . before realizing how much it was a brunt of the cold northwest winds.  To the south the kids were lining up waiting for the #5 yellow school bus to get them to the school on time.  The west offers up a view of carpenters working on a garage.

  I took a second cup of coffee and moved my HP laptop to the dining room table.  That way I could ask Gemini what to do about Dennis’ blacked out HP laptop that had gotten parked and still be in close proximity.  Patience, patience.  After trying several of the suggestions, Dennis’ HP was up and running.  I had no idea what had triggered the black-out and for now, it doesn’t matter.

  When Dennis came in from the patio porch at one this afternoon, the deal was:  no working computer until the computer stand and the surface of his HP had been tidied.  Tit for tat.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥