Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:43 am on January 16, 2017 Permalink  

  New Chief 

  

  It was time to pull in some extra help in the kitchen. Dennis doesn’t mind helping out and does great in the kitchen.  My dad, Raymond, was able to make himself a fried egg sandwich.  Why such a limited amount of kitchen skills?  My Mom always made sure Raymond had choices in the refrigerator if she was going to be gone over a mealtime.  Love that.  Crab salad is one of our favorite “go to” when a snack is needed. Lots of celery, onions and of course the crab meat. It is actually Pollock. With a lazy Sunday coming to an end, this will be a perfect supper with some toast.

   
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  Noreen 4:57 am on January 15, 2017 Permalink  

  No one but my Good Lord knows how my life was suppose to have unfolded over these 72 years. I have used my “God given free will” perhaps a bit too often to my family’s chagrin. Was I following along the line of the “Old Adam” or listening to my soul and spirit for what I thought was survival?

  Today, Saturday, January 14, 2017, I believe I am where I am meant to be. Dennis has had several weeks of less than feeling good. He has mentioned several times that we have done good things for our kids and those close to us. End times? I trust not. Today Dennis found some very old gospel music on his favorite RFD television channel. He was listening to it while resting in his recliner. I came up from the sewing studio to check on him and to think about pulling together some supper. Dennis got up to check on the garage kitties to see if they had enough in their supper dish. As I am moving about in the kitchen, I have a direct visual through the bathroom window right through the patio doors of his favorite porch. That visual is not by accident. I knew Dennis had the gospel music on, on his porch television, just by the motion of his rocking chair. Butter Ball was keeping watch on Dennis as Butter Ball was perched on the table. Yes, today, I am where I belong, keeping a watchful eye on my ole cowboy.

   
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  Noreen 5:22 am on January 14, 2017 Permalink  

   

  

  Today it was cold out, but when the call came that we could deliver my Mom and Dad’s rocker that they purchased at the time they got married, we were on it. Sweet Old Bob, better known as the S.O.B., had it in his workshop before noon. The glider rocker has been through the mill. A broom handle made into one of the bottom rods and some crude looking nuts and bolts in other places. A spindle was broken in the back rest. Bob had it tipped over and he knew he could put some support under the seat where the veneer was fragile. I put it in his hands. When I left I glanced around and was in awe of some of his restoration projects that were in the works or waiting to be picked up. I let him know I was in no hurry, and I knew he had good insurance as the wealth of the items under his workshop roof was amazing.

   
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  Noreen 6:21 am on January 13, 2017 Permalink  

  Lots of chit chat here on Stauffer Avenue. Dennis’ daughter Sue and granddaughter Taylor were here for the afternoon from Silver Bay . . . the “Up Nort” people. Brr. Sue said the winds were horrible. They will be spending the weekend catching up with more of the Curry clan. Sandy stopped in on her way home from New Ulm where she is a nurse in the clinic. I think we pretty well got everything and everybody caught up with the latest and greatest news. Tomorrow evening granddaughter Sadie (Sandy’s daughter) will be hosting a late Curry Christmas. Dennis and I are opting out this year. It begins at five in the afternoon and I know that it will be a very late night for the young’ens. Dennis and I will be tucked in safe and sound here on Stauffer. We sent along all the gifts that we had for the five Curry kids, the eight grandchildren and the six greatgrands. Let’s here it for our favorite gift to give . . . $2.00 bills. Everyone appreciates some extra cash after the holidays. It is going to be a another very cold, cold night. Dennis and I are very content and comfy right here at home.

   
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  Noreen 5:17 am on January 12, 2017 Permalink  

  Great day on Stauffer Avenue. Burke picked up his quilt and was as happy as a little kid with it. He can’t decide if he wants to put the 85″ x 85″ quilt on his man cave wall or use it as a quilt/cover up. Doing things for people such as Burke makes me a very happy stitcher.

  The cookie jar was down to the crumbs, and that meant I had a date in my kitchen. Eight dozen cookies later, I took the snow pusher out for a few swipes on the driveway from the back door to the garage door. We had a very mild amount of snow. Hopefully the so called “January Thaw” they are predicting for Sunday and Monday will take a bit off the driveway where it has been driven down. Tomorrow . . . who knows what will shake loose in the sewing studio. Keeping the mind busy is a very good thing . . .

   
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  Noreen 5:06 am on January 11, 2017 Permalink  

  Today was a day to re-group in the sewing studio. Tidy, tidy. Dennis and I did do errands at noon. Not so much snow falling, but the winds were driving it from all directions. Last night I brought up some quilting books to thumb through. I have never done a log cabin quilt pattern. I will have to spend some time with my fabric stashes and see if I can come up with what is needed: 5/8 yard of six dark colors and 5/8 yard of six lighter colors, complimenting the entire grouping. I know it will need to come out of the stashes, as I have promised myself to use what is on hand. Are there other fortunate people who have had their friends or their friend’s families bestow fabric stashes to them as gifts? How can you not work the imagination to make the most of those gifts. As I peek out through the windows down here in the sewing studio I see the wind is letting up, but I also feel that the cooler temps are settling in. I am a weather watcher . . . right through the windows here on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 4:36 am on January 10, 2017 Permalink  

  The Vikings Are Proud 

  

  Today was a good day as the Viking t-shirt quilt for Burke is completed. 85″ x 85″ is not the largest quilt, but when you factor in the high quality of the t-shirts (weight), plus the batting and the backing . . . it was plenty for me to herd around under the sewing machine needle. I like to have the back of the quilts look sharp as there has been plenty of money spent on the total list of supplies. I sent Burke a text, “It’s all yours.” I have no doubt that whoever he is installing a furnace for today will have him working up until finish time with a smile. Burke’s is the first non-family quilt to be leaving my sewing studio. I did work on a pricing schedule for doing embroidery for others, and after today, I will be doing likewise for quilting. I do enjoy the entire process from selecting fabric and colors, right down to the hemming. It is the peace that passes all understanding.

   
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  Noreen 5:53 am on January 9, 2017 Permalink  

  A surefire way to beat the cold weather was all on Dennis today. I was sewing and he was in the basement pantry. Before long he had all the ingredients he needed. The little ring pasta salad of cubed spam, celery, peas, onions and grated cheese mixed with mayo was on track in the kitchen. This has been a favorite with Carrie and Kevin . . . always. Dennis, early on had decided it was put on his favorite list as well. This warm weather favorite is chilling in the refrig to snack on. Dennis did great! Temperature? . . . just a number when your mind is saying . . . summertime.

   
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  Noreen 4:57 am on January 8, 2017 Permalink  

  Vikings – Under the Needle 

  

  The Vikings t-shirt quilt is under the needle and there is no going back for me. I only do a few of the blocks and then a rest of the arms and shoulders is taken. I have no time frame. It is going well, but man oh man, is it heavy and bulky. I have had many breaks on this project in the last several days. My brother-in-law called yesterday morning before I even had a drop of coffee in me. I realize there are times when my sister’s husband needs to have some one-on-one after her death. I can do that and I can be there. Yesterday afternoon, nephew Brett texted until I had to recharge my phone battery. Lots of “what if . . . “, “should I . . . ” in his quest for good quilting. Today, I had been up with one cup of coffee in me when long time friend Renee came over. Four hours later we had all the world’s problems solved. Dennis had headed to a trade show a few miles to the north. When the home was quiet, I did come down and begin the quilting process. As I said, all is going well with the project, and thus, all is well on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 5:08 am on January 7, 2017 Permalink  

  My Security Blanket 

  

  My security blanket doesn’t need fringes or quilt batting. All I need is to able to see all the green lights on the sump pump unit as well a the battery backup. Our annual checkup was A.O.K. They are doing 15 month service calls just to see how their unit is doing in various seasons. That sounded good to me. I have my totes back on my shelves and we are set for another go-round of pumping. The birds know where there is open water for a drink in this severe cold weather as the underground line has a grate on the surface of our yard.  Every several minutes there is a new batch of water blown to the surface.  Ahh, security at its max.