From DR. Suess: Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. It may seem as if my days are predominantly seeped in memories. I do take in each day to the fullest and what it may present to me. Soaking up as much as I can, I know I still have a lot to learn. An Example: nephew Brett made a trip to the metro yesterday to pick up a long arm quilter that he purchased on Craigslist. Last night I got a text telling me he could use my help today. There he was this morning, a bit flushed. He couldn’t get the sewing machine portion to stitch a single stitch. Check this, check that, check again. After several hours with Brett thinking he had bought a lemon, back to the YouTube videos. Taking the time to read the comments of some of people who had viewed them: The needle needed to be threaded from the left to the right. Dah! Nowhere in the owners manual was that important item mentioned. Lots of diagrams, but none showing the process of threading the needle. He had been accustomed on his Janome to thread from the right to the left and I have been fortunate enough to have hit the right angle first off on sewing machines I have had experiences with. I did have to satisfy myself and come home to thread my machine from the opposite direction . . . it would not sew a stitch. Lesson learned. This will be a memory of the two quilters who were totally puzzled by a needle, one that I would be hard pressed to pick up easily if it were lying flat.
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Noreen
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Noreen
What a Life
Today it just seemed like the thing to do: take advantage of the 30 plus degree weather this morning. I wiped off some of the clothesline from grim that may have settled. Out went the quilts for a freshening up. At noon lunch Dennis reminded me of weather that was coming in. When Dennis handed the quilts to me, I buried my nose in them and just took in all that wonderful fresh air aroma. Now, hours later, the entire home is still basking in the real deal of fresh air.
I do believe that little exercise of what Mom taught me, kept me in the kitchen for the greater portion of the day. I am dyed in the wool a farm girl, farm wife, though it has been decades since I pitched manure or silage. There may still be the heel marks on the county road past the Boon Lake farm where I felt I was dragged off to be a residential dweller. Too funny. I do know that the farm life Orlin and I had in those years was the best
place for Carrie and Kevin to have gotten their start in life. Some memories of what those little twerps pulled when I was out in the barns will never dull for me. At that time, I think I wept in frustration thinking of the best way to pull through. Today, I would do it all over again. After all, it’s not that hard cleaning Garden Guard out of shoes and boots after Kevin thought he was really going to help while I was in the barns. Poor Snoopy, our sweet ole dog. I swear he sneezed for weeks as he was in the entry way on his favorite rug until the dust from the cleaning product got to be too thick.
I think the A-Jax on the hardwood floors in the dining room and living room were the worst to clean up. It didn’t vacuum up worth a hoot and I didn’t dare use anything damp or wet. Carrie was on the end of that can shaking. Needless to say, they spent a lot of time in the basement television room until I gave them the all clear.
The two munchkins were no strangers to being out in the barns. During a bad snow storm all four of us bundled up. Orlin had Carrie and I had Kevin in a death grip to my chest as we walked out to the edge of the building site where the hog barn was popping out babies. Of all times. Sows could care less. When they are ready the babies are coming and during that process they don’t really watch out for the four legged little ones. We didn’t have farrowing crates at that time so it was watch and wait to keep as many little ones safe as possible. Our little ones were safe as well in a pile of straw. It was enjoyable to see the kids reactions as Orlin would hold up the little piglets for them to have a look-see. Hog barns and cow barns the kids would be okay in, but not the chicken barn. The chickens moved too fast and the fluttering of the wings would find the kids with their hands over their faces.
The barn experiences changed when Kevin was diagnosed with asthma. Cow dander was the worst culprit. Come to think of it . . . the barn experiences were pre-asthma and that is when the surprises started in the house. When the kids had to be left alone in the house for a bit we could have done a series of “Home Alone.” Mom and Dad lived just two sections to the southwest and we would make arrangements for their barn chores schedule and our barn chores to be balanced so they could come over and stay with the kids if I was out of the house for more than a short time. What exactly is a short time when two little blonde kids were in the house alone? Snoopy was no help at all other than cleaning up the floor if their mischief included spilling something that was liquid or if it made crumbs. My brother, Michael, was in the Army at that time and Mom and Dad were actively taking care of their own livestock.
Of course Mom would be in the house with the kids and 
Dad would be pitching in with me. This would have been around the time that Orlin was working at 3M in Hutchinson and we still had barns full of animals. Somehow it all worked out. When Spring came, the kids were in my eyesight or could be by me just going to the barn door for a look-see. Carrie was great either tattling on Kevin if he was straying into trouble or keeping him occupied with play. Needless to say, there is no shortage of memories as I go about being in the kitchen today. I just looked out and sure enough, Dennis was right, the concrete is showing signs of something making the surface wet. It was a good thing I ran and picked up my blood pressure meds this morning. Can you believe it, $1.00 for a months supply of one pill a day? Makes me wonder what it will be next month. I am so grateful to God that I only have one prescription to keep me up and going.
Something about today is bound to be a day for more memories to be created. Memories that I have are always welcomed in my day, and who knows, perhaps something in my today’s events will be a memory that my kids will pull out some day. When I think of how blessed I am for the two little blondes that now have families of their own
. . . it isn’t just a life, it’s a great life. Having the time in my retirement to build memories for Carrie and Kevin: leaving some of myself behind in conversations, visits, doing something to bring on the “eye rolls,” stitched items, quilted items and special greeting cards that I have made for the kids, it is all what is in the chain of life. I like it and I want more of it. -
Noreen
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
