Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from Noreen Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Noreen 3:22 pm on December 8, 2017 Permalink  

  Ever Faithful 

  

  In 1968 I spent one entire township assessing check of $200 on a Sears Model 1820 sewing machine. The first huge project on it was when Sharon Skolberg asked me to make kitchen curtains for her using several of the decorative cams, no less on lightweight fabric that would allow the daytime light to brighten her kitchen. Forty-nine years later it still has a focal place in my sewing studio. The embroidery unit can stitch away and I am able to do some stitching on the Sears machine. Truly a great investment. If the Bernina holds up half as well, it will be wonderful.

   
• 

  Noreen 6:01 pm on December 7, 2017 Permalink  

  Sometimes it takes that last ditch thought to get to the bottom of a problem. Nephew Brett got his sewing machine tuned up by my people in Bird Island. They pin pointed the problem and had put down a solution for him to follow up on. When my cell phone rang and I saw it was Brett . . . I cringed. The free motion foot they had put on to replace the bent one was of a plastic Mylar type until Brett would go online to order the specific foot needed from the Husqvarna Viking site which was of hard metal.

  The interim foot had lasted for only several hours and it was in pieces. “Have you gone online and gotten the order in place for the appropriate foot?” “No . . . not yet.” All I could tell him was to dig the original foot out of the garbage and take a needle nose plier to it until the needle would pass through the center of it and not force the needle to hit the face plate. By the way . . . that was one of the problems as to why Brett was breaking needles.

  A call later, the needles were still breaking. As I looked at my own machine doing an embroidery design, it dawned on me. I finally ask him how fast he ran the machine. “Wide open.” I was amazed. I asked him how much the machine vibrated running at full speed. You can imagine the response. What made this fellow who has expensive machines for cutting concrete and steel to think that a sewing machine needed to also have some reasonable speed control.

  The last phone call . . . “It’s running like a champ.” Why I had never asked about the setting of the speed is beyond me. Never assume. You know how that ends up. “Did you put your order in for the new foot? That metal tweaked with a plier may be weakened and cause some problems if used for many hours.” “No, not yet.”

  I now have a slight headache. Gotta love those who do try something that is out of their wheelhouse.

   
• 

  Noreen 5:14 pm on December 6, 2017 Permalink  

  Yesterday Dennis took me to Bird Island for my sewing machine. Today I rode shot-gun as Dennis had an appointment in Mankato. I think it is about time these two ole-timers stay off the highways and enjoy this snuggly home on Stauffer.

  Both of the individuals that had their sewing machines serviced via our trip to Bird Island were ever so happy to have had it taken care of. It was a good job of elfing by Dennis and me.

  When Brett picked up his machine it was time for a great one on one to refresh his memory of “Quilting 101.” The concrete business is closed down and now he has a chance to get back to his enjoyment of all things fuzz and threads.

  It is snowing as I type this post. The chances of any thaw anytime soon is slim to none. Dennis and I are so content here on Stauffer with not a want in the world. Our errands have been taken care of and it is “honker down time.” Good grief! My sewing machine hasn’t been turned on for four days. Our motto has always been “Take care of business and then play.”

   
• 

  Noreen 6:33 pm on December 5, 2017 Permalink  

  We really have a reason to take it easy this evening. WE elfed! Dennis did a great job manning the 120 miles on roads that were less than good as we traveled to Bird Island with sewing machines. The best part is that all three of the machines were serviced and we were able to bring them all back to St. James with us. My machine was under warranty . . . no charge. Brett and Jody have bills for their service work under my Friends and Family Benefits. The next time their machines need servicing they need to bring them in on their own and pay the usual and customary price.

  Dennis went straight to his recliner when we got home as I knew he needed to stretch out and let his body recover from being held tense quite a bit of the time.

  We had a chance to swing in and say “Hi” in Fairfax. A special part of any trip that takes us north. I know we will sleep good tonight as we felt our home was going to take flight last night as the winds were extreme.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:36 pm on December 4, 2017 Permalink  

  Look Mom! A walk with no hood, no gloves and a light summer jacket. It may well be the last good day for a safe walk.

  I took the advice that was found on the YouTube for the sewing machine problem . . . Zilch. By the time I went to bed, I had an email from the good folks in Bird Island and we have an appointment at 9:30 Tuesday morning for a service of the Error Message 1010. December 1st a new download of the most current firmware was forwarded to all the Bernina dealers. It’s a good thing we get all bases covered at one time. I will need to set the alarm. By all indications we may have some winter on the roads tomorrow and Dennis doesn’t take any chances in driving faster than the roads allow.

  The sewing machine is loaded in the pickup . . . and it has company back there. Brett is sending along his Vikings sewing machine for a going over. He bought it on Craig’s List. Most likely ten years old but it has “issues.” He fought with it all last winter and now that his concrete business is giving him some quiet time, the last thing he needs is machine problems. Then there is a Brothers Disney Model sewing and embroidery machine to fill in the trio in the pickup. Jody bought her machine on eBay and can’t get anything but a mess under the bobbin area. We are making the trip and why not help out some people who want to enjoy their passions and machines and not get burned out before they get a good start.

  I did let “My People” know we were coming with a load of machines. Dennis and I will spend however long it takes in Bird Island for the machines to be gone over and repaired. Waiting seems a better call than making a second trip in several days. It could be a long day but I know Dennis does take great naps in his pickup. I have cell phone numbers for Jody and Brett in case there is major, major repair problems. Dennis and I are doing a bit of elfing for the season.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:17 pm on December 3, 2017 Permalink  

  Something, Something— 

  Something about the moon?  It has been bright these last nights.  Today, on Stauffer Avenue it felt as if a witch had flown across the moon.  

  I was in the sewing studio and I had to stop and really listen.  No!  We couldn’t have a mouse chewing his way into the basement.  It sure sounded like it.  I went to inspect and it was water dripping onto the plastic of the toilet paper package.  “Dennis, is there a problem?”  Dennis was doing dishes in the kitchen and yup . . . sure enough . . . there was a problem.  The plastic piping leading from the right sink had become disengaged leading to the left sink.  Dennis was already on it in the kitchen with as many extra towels as he could gather after he had shut off the water.  I , on the other hand was gathering towels and moving whatever I could out of the way of the water that was now following whatever path it wanted to take to drip into our storage closet.  Nothing had been moved against said piping . . . hey it’s plastic, does it eventually loosen itself from the house shifting.  No matter.  We were on top of it upstairs and downstairs.

  Back to stitching.  We have a small refrigerator in our basement and I felt a cool drink of bottled water was due.  What!  I am stepping in water!  The plug in of the refrigerator on the north basement wall was dis-engaged enough that the refrigerator was totally defrosting.   Not that it didn’t need it.  That outlet is the type that each of the plugin connections are at an angle.  It has been on that wall since the mid 80s.  The refrigerator plugged into the top outlet . . . well not so good anyway.  More mopping up.

  Back to stitching.  I am really enjoying a project and it has been clipping right along.  I did have to take several S.O.S. calls from nephew Brett.  His concrete business is closing down for the season and he is about to get back to quilting.  From early spring to early winter it was like starting over with some of his mindset.  I turned back to my sewing machine to change from one color to another and all I got was a message that had me puzzled.  I did turn off the machine and restart it . . . but nothing.  I took the machine apart from every angle that is available to me.  Restarting it several times.  Nothing.  I went online and got squat for good information.  Monday morning I will be calling my people in Bird Island and setting up an appointment.  

  Three events within several hours on Stauffer does make one think that there is something abound.  The sink has been remedied, the refrigerator is back on track to doing its thing.  The sewing machine is what it is.  It’s not all bad.  We don’t mind a road trip.  Dennis does enjoy having a bite to eat at the Athman’s Café in Bird Island and if we are making the trip we may well take Brett’s sewing machine with us as he has been having issues. It has been an eventful day on Stauffer.  Nobody died.  It’ll all turn out o.k.

   
• 

  Noreen 5:37 pm on December 2, 2017 Permalink  

  I thought about what a great day it was for Megan to have her 14th birthday as I took my morning walk.

  Who knew! When I returned from my walk Dennis was heading down Stauffer Avenue, cane in hand, going for a walk. This is a huge improvement in his mobility since the October carotid artery surgery. There have been some great changes for Dennis. He has Feb. of 2018 on his calendar for the carotid on the right side to be done. Hats off for a better quality of life.

  I realize this wonderful weather can’t last in Minnesota. It may be the latest in a long time that I have hung out quilts on the clothes line. As Dennis brought the quilts in before supper the house took on the fresh air aroma. Should sleep good tonight.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:01 pm on December 1, 2017 Permalink  

  Each day I check out local weather via the Internet. The last two days have been forecast for very little wind. It’s a good thing I have been greasing my face and lips for my walk to ward off wind burn. The wind has been brutal from the south. I am determined to continue walking while the county road’s surface is dry. I had thought about a treadmill. I really enjoy getting outside and girling up for 40 minutes of thinking about what my day is going to bring.

  Thanksgiving day I had help in my sewing studio. I had a long range project in mind. Kersten cut about 40 pieces of stabilizer to fit the oval embroidery hoop and Kevin cut the same amount of fabric in 12″ squares. When Carrie and Megan came the day after Thanksgiving Carrie sized up my sewing table and out to the potting shed we went for four more bricks to put under it. She was right. I do need to get my knees somewhat under the table top if I am going to put in any amount of time. Ya gotta love elfing from your kids.

  This week with Dennis and I having gotten Christmas taken care of . . . guess where I have been? Being able to grab a sheet of pre-cut stabilizer and a piece of pre-cut fabric . . . I am comfortable as I can be at my sewing table. Priceless!

   
• 

  Noreen 1:02 pm on November 30, 2017 Permalink  

  Too Soon – Too Fast 

  

  Megan was determined to use the sewing machine when she would come to visit. As luck would have it, we both were able to sit side by side and stitch and visit. Priceless.

  My grandchildren are growing up too soon, too fast.  I realize this is the design of our Lord’s world.  I would like to drag my feet a bit, but it’s not going to happen.  December 2nd, Megan will be 14.  Dennis and I have grown up with Megan teaching us all about what it was to have her ideas brought out, her ability to express herself and best of all endless hugs.  With Carrie and Megan spending some time with us on Stauffer Avenue over the Thanksgiving weekend, we couldn’t get over her sense of responsibility and adapting to being in Jr. highschool.  Best of all was her enthusiasm in creating sewing projects that were spot on.  Eden Prairie isn’t that far away from Stauffer.  A bit under two hours and the trip is complete.  Megan commented that she wouldn’t have her license for driving for another two years but there was more sewing with Grammie in her plans.  It cracked me up when she commented that she might have to learn the Metro Mass Transit for visiting us in the mean time.  Megan honey, I don’t think the Metro Mass Transit will ever reach that far. 

  

  This last weekend was a joy watching Megan man my updated sewing machine . . . and she nailed it. These fourteen years have gone way to fast, way too soon.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:16 pm on November 29, 2017 Permalink  

  Today Dennis and I finished our Christmas shopping for seven children, four spouses of such, ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Whew! We are wore out. In addition seven parcels have been sent out. Now it is time for us to enjoy each other in our home where there is a precious Christmas tree lit each morning when I get out of bed and is put to rest each night as I call it a day. No . . . there is no Christmas baking on my list.
  Dennis is satisfied with Veggie sticks and I have my grape tomatoes as my go-to snack. All is well on Stauffer Avenue. Of course life is always subject to change.