Changes are tough. I knew I needed new lenses this fall. Going for six years without a change in eye glasses was pressing my luck. What I didn’t count on was needing to go back for the third time to have them adjusted to sit upon the noggin correctly. Bi-focal lenses sitting askew gives a whole new meaning for the appreciation of walking straight and reading more than one line at a time in printed materials. Yes, yes, I realize that perhaps it is my ears that need adjusting, but this is what I have to work with and they knew this when the pair of glasses were sold to me.
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Noreen
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Noreen
How Random Can Things Be?
Webster’s defines random as: unsystematic, unplanned, haphazard or erratic.
I cannot think of a single person who can survive in this world living in the state of “random.” From the time we draw our first breath, there are medical personnel standing beside our parents and the plan is laid out for our care until we can care for ourselves.
I know that at times my life may have felt random, but currently Dennis and I are driving our own bus and that gives us the best of feeling comfortable. Our life has a good plan, though to some it may seem somewhat overly systematic. That’s okay.
A wonderful quilt top emerged from the depths of soft colors being placed where the heart lead it.
Thinking back there was a time when I was totally overwhelmed by a request of daughter Carrie. Carrie was ready to make her first quilt. She knew the color pallet when she came to St. James to shop at Grandma’s Quilt Emporium. The pattern request was: no specific pattern, just all random.
My Mom quilted. My Grandma Riebe quilted. My Grandma Wendlandt quilted. My Great Grandma Christine Wendlandt quilted. I was privy to all of these seasoned quilters during my childhood and also as a quilter in my own right. For this project there was a wonderful selection of squares, but they were not to be in a nine patch configuration or any other process I could relate to. Somewhere along the visits to St. James the quilt top was deemed finished. I am quite sure it was a give and take on both Carrie’s part as well as mine. It turned out to be a wonderfully cozy, inviting quilt that we tied with a soft blue yarn. Random had been given a run for its money. Looking at the precious photos of the event, I do see a bit of a pattern that emerged.
Rocky, the smart cat that he was, was very
warm and cozy in the depths of the quilt.Of that sweet project, one thing was not unplanned or erratic. The cat Rocky, that Carrie had left with us a few years earlier, knew just exactly what this project meant for him. It meant for him security, warmth and cuddle time. As the quilt was being tied, Rocky would very quietly be a spectator and soon be as inconspicuous as possible as he buried himself into the depths of Carrie’s quilt. Rocky did not live randomly. See? No one gets by in this life without exercising the innate, instinctual power of taking control for their own survival.
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Noreen
We did catch the mailman today to send out several cards with letters inside to those who most likely don’t receive much mail in their health care facilities. My biggest disappointment is getting a Christmas card in the mail from farther away friends and family and lo and behold there is just the signature of the sender.
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Noreen
Here Comes the Mailman!
This time of the year, I do get excited about the mail delivery. Not every day, but several times a week, there comes the annual news of distant family members.
Aunt Dorothy in Gaylord is 93 and still in her own home. Of her eight children, seven are thriving and keeping close tabs on her. Her eighth child, Dewight, died at a very young age when he was gored by a bull. It was the first funeral I attended of a young person. Dorothy was married to my Dad’s brother, Leonard. Leonard worked as a medic in World War II. What was his medical skill? He had none, but he could speak fluid German and help those that did have medical expertise to exchange dialog for medical attention to be given.
Aunt Janet lives in Brownton and is 83, living in her own home. Janet is my Dad’s youngest sibling. Her husband had a small grocery store in New Auburn with an egg pickup service to farmers. Marvin was a severe diabetic and has been gone for 35 years. Not having had any children of her own, she does numerous things to help her nephew who has never married, whose father was Janet’s twin.
Aunt Lorraine at the age of 83 lives in Arizona with her youngest child. Lorraine was married to my Dad’s brother, Maynard, who has been gone for nine years. Lorraine is a kindred sole, as she enjoys fabrics and quilts as much as I do.
My grandparents and their nine children. Those yearly Christmas parties meant many items to be thought of for the gift exchange. Oh, for the simplistic fun with a house overflowing with humanity, aka: family
I do enjoy these gals and spend more time visiting with them now that I am retired and can give freely of my time to listen to them share their lives and their memories. What they all love to recount is when the entire family would get together for a Christmas gathering. The gatherings would take turns each year as to who’s farmhouse would host it. It was a potluck evening lunch after everyone had their dairy herds milked and bedded down. The men would sit and visit and the rest of us would shake dice. The gifts of those who were fortunate to shake a winner may very will have been a package of Jello or tuna. Even the kids were thrilled to have won a grocery item Every family member had a drawn name of another for a gift exchange. Men and women alike participated. Many handmade items were exchanged with little or no investment of money. There were links of homemade sausages as well as jars of jam. Very little financial investment, but an entire night of family fun. Lunch would be the last item of the night and everyone headed for their homes. Ironically, the distance from one family to another was not that great.
I do have to add that when my Mom was in a health care facility, my sister and I hosted Mom’s family, and for entertainment, we decided to shake dice. Elvera and I had hit sales for some time prior to, to find gifts for the lucky dice winners. Let me tell you that many young people were highly disappointed in what their winnings were. I think we should have stuck with Jello and tuna and let the sad faces really pucker up.
As you all know, with me . . . it’s all about the memories.
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Noreen
It Is The Season to Remember
The Santa Prayer
Lord, you know You’re the reason for this season.
I take pleasure in this season,
But I don’t want to take Your place,
But just reflect Your wondrous grace.
And when they begin to open gifts for
Which they have been hoping,
May they give You all the glory for
You’re the One True Christmas Story.
author unknown
A message too often forgotten amidst the commotion.
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Noreen
A Satisfied Customer
Dennis’ great grandson enjoying his quilt with all his familiar clothing patches.
The day we delivered Oliver’ quilt, he was very busy pointing out his favorite images. At 19 months, Oliver is one busy boy.
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Noreen
53 degrees right up 6:00 p.m. this evening. A quiet Sunday for the pair here on Stauffer Avenue.
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Noreen
Today the sun came out for a short time and it was heavenly. We had a quiet day on Stauffer Avenue, and sometimes that is just what is needed. The sewing room is shut down for a bit of cleaning after Oliver’s quilt was finished. This evening Dennis and I were each on our own for supper. I can tell you, the herring I had was very tasty. Dennis enjoyed butter and jelly on some very fresh pull apart buns. Everybody on Stauffer Avenue is happy.
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Noreen
Chatting Over the Miles
My sister, Elvera, came from Stewart for a visit today. From
St. James, we ventured to the Old Alley Quilt Shop in Sherburn. Lots of southern hospitality was enjoyed as we touched and felt as much fabric as we could for the time we were there. Priceless! -
Noreen
Today, after a good stint of stretching and twisting at the Super 8 pool, I came home and felt like I could have turned the world upside down. I spent a bit of time in the kitchen as well as baking out some of the remaining acorn squash. It was not a good growing season of weather combined with temperatures for the squash and watermelon. The squash were very small and that is showing in the time that they will keep in to the early winter. It made for a good addition to the cod that we had for supper. A little bit of left over squash will fill another supper menu a few days up the road.