Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:51 am on November 11, 2014 Permalink  

  Re-Cap of 11/10/2014 

  The first thing I did when my feet hit the ground was to check on the condition of the lawn.  Yes!  It was still green and no sign of any snow.  As the day wore on, the skies looked quite ominous, as a damp mist could be felt against my face.  So far so good. Dennis is quite sure we are still in line for snow sometime during the night.  The amount of school closings told a different story for many parts north of us.

  Once a month, Dennis has his blood tested to make sure the Warfarin that thins his blood is remaining at a good level.  Heart disease is something you would never wish on your worst enemy, but there are great checks and balances to maintain a good level of health.

  Yesterday, as the attic cleaning was coming to an end, I decided to move my stash of quilted wall hangings into my sewing room. I am up and down the basement steps multiple times during the day for ease of access of what is stored there.  The walk-up attic cover is not the easiest item to get place back in the correct spot.  That being said, room was made on one of the many shelves.  It also gave me the option of deciding to send several as Christmas gifts. I plan on continuing to try different patterns and the stash could use a bit of thinning out.

  

  Many stitches are needed for the pattern to come into its own.

  After lunch I settled in to do some hand quilting at the dining room table. The metallic bias tape project went as far as it could via the sewing machine, and it was now time to secure all layers together.  It whiles away time and gives time for reflection.  Most importantly is the exercise of the hands and fingers.   After lunch is a great time to start stitching, as I will admit, it takes some time in the mornings and forenoons to limber up all that has tightened up during the night’s rest. Yes, that means I hang on to my coffee cup with two hands as I enjoy the first several cups. Move it or loose it, that is the prescription for arthritis.  Today it felt like the true changing of seasons. I know I will find many ways to stay agile and mobile.  Planning very far ahead is not what happens on Stauffer Avenue. We rather take each day the way it comes.

   
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  Noreen 6:30 am on November 10, 2014 Permalink  

  Determination 

  Determination can turn some people off. Determination may be an attribute that some wish for.  What others think, matters not to me.  What happens is that determination sneaks up on me.  A simple request from Dennis sent me to the walk-up attic for a packet of his Korea memorabilia.  Four hours later, and much help from Dennis, the attic was reorganized, sorted and cleaned.  It just couldn’t be helped.  I went, I looked, and I determined it could easily come under the same umbrella that the rest of the house had gotten: fall house cleaning.

  We never did find the item that sent us on the hunt.  We did find some items that neither one of us had an emotional attachment to.  After a phone call, I got a taker on three items and I am waiting on an email response for another.  Recycle and repurpose is the new tactic when it comes to lightening the load in the attic.  My living room ceiling is grateful.

  With roof vents, cleaning is necessary for the walk-up attic.  Once we were on the tail end of the work and all the covers had been cleaned, everything that is stored was tented until the next season.  No unwanted dust on the treasures that made the cut.

  When all is said and dusted, I appreciate that determination is a part of my DNA.  Today I felt I could get the attic project done. Tomorrow I may not be up to the challenge.  When determination strikes, I answer the call and enjoy the results.

   
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  Noreen 5:23 am on November 9, 2014 Permalink  

  Dark blue skies today that kept me guessing what might fall from the sky. What did come out of the blue, a skylight washer. The ladder was whipped out of the garage and Dennis’ grandson, A.J., was in charge. I must say, after A.J. was done, I had not realized how much grim and corn chaff had dimmed the view through the glass. A great, appreciated surprise.

   
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  Noreen 4:47 am on November 8, 2014 Permalink  

  Within 24 hours of the Culligan man making a service call on our failing 36-year-old softener unit, the team reappeared and the rental unit was in place and operational. Living in a small community may have limitations, but you cannot beat the great service that is available for plumbing, wiring and heating issues. It feels good that we can greet each other by our first names and have a bit of chit chat during the service call. Life on Stauffer Avenue is good.

   
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  Noreen 7:49 am on November 7, 2014 Permalink  

  A very uneventful day. Sometimes that is just what is needed. Catch ya all later.

   
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  Noreen 3:16 am on November 6, 2014 Permalink  

  What a Great Gray Day 

  

  Metallic Bias Tape Project

  Though I usually prefer sunshine, this is a good day.  I had a long conversation with my physical therapist this morning.  I will be passing on any surgery for my back.  It’s official.  Mike said he would work with me for as many times as it takes to release the muscles, tendons, ham strings, etc. that have been knotted up by the lower back having literally slipped a cog.  I have a host of exercises to do at home to assist the lower lumber to behave itself in addition to a back brace.  I know I can do this!  I am still gaining mobility in the latest and greatest new shoulder and I am not going to give the body one more item (back surgery) to contend with.  Amen to that issue.

  This afternoon in the quiet of my sewing room, I have felt like Rumpelstiltskin.  I have had a pattern for some time using metallic bias tape on fabric, allowing for a stained glass appearance.  What better way to celebrate a new mind set, but to break out the fabrics. It is going to be a slow process, but then my sister, Elvera, knows I like to putz with the intricate.  Gray days and sunny days, I intend to have many good days this fall.

   
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  Noreen 4:02 am on November 5, 2014 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  When all those who lost their bid in the election that was held today realize how much money was thrown away, I hope it brings them to their knees and they cry.  This money represents the amount of funds that could have funded school programs, fixed roads and bridges in our state and the list could go on.  Shame, shame, shame on adults that want affirmation of their popularity by a mark on the ballot, as we know, it has nothing to do with their ability.

   
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  Noreen 4:11 am on November 4, 2014 Permalink  

  Oh, It Feels so Good 

  It feels so good to have the tick list done for the winter: outside the home and in the home.  Now it’s time for the treat.  I don’t feel comfortable having fun in my sewing area if there are things that need to be done to prepare for a season change, or just day-to-day items that are very easily put on the back burner.  I have learned that the back burner soon begins to smolder.  In time to come when it is flat-out out of control it takes the fun out of many days in order to catch up.  Work first, play later.

  I had a project started in my sewing area, but during the last several months I had given the dust bunnies every chance possible to work on it, but that didn’t happen.  It took me awhile to remember where I was at with the project but I knew several cups of coffee would bring me right up to speed.  Oh yes, I had to assure Dennis I had my back brace (Dennis refers to it as “my girdle”) on as he knew time would get away from me. Several hours would pass before I would surface back into the real world.

  While hours passed and I was in my zone, I did happen to think of my friend, Doreen. “It sure seems silly to cut all this fabric up and then sew it back together again.”  Well, Doreen, I can tell you that for a span of several hours I forgot the jabbing of the stays that are in the back brace and I forgot the nagging, sometimes painful twinge in my back.  I was in my element, pondering seam allowances and matching seams.  Relaxed to the max.  Finding a comfortable chair to sit in and read is a bit difficult; learning to sleep on my back through the night has been a challenge.  My sewing chair welcomed my back and butt, and I am sure I heard the welcoming in the usual squeak that it has.  Oh, it feels so good.

  I did not over-stay the sewing session.  It was time to start the grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup that we will be dining on this evening.  Yup, life on Stauffer remains sweet.

   
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  Noreen 3:36 am on November 3, 2014 Permalink  

  Oh my gosh, I have my laptop back after a tune up. It has been a long three weeks, but I sure appreciate Dennis sharing his setup with me during that time. The fellow that worked on my laptop was getting all updates checked and fixing an error on my part when I tried to upload a program on my own that eventually did not allow any of the automatic updates to be done automatically. Not a good thing, and I have learned my lesson. As he was reloading all the programs, the six-year-old hard drive crashed. Good timing from my point of view. A trip for Paul, to Best Buy, and all is well. I had my little corner of the living room all tidied up ready for this day. It’s a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 5:45 am on November 2, 2014 Permalink  

  Seeing special people today took the chill off of the day. My heart will sing this entire next week. We had a lot to catch up on with brother Michael, and his wife, Jo Ann. Son Kevin, and his wife Kersten, can’t help but make me smile as they emit enthusiasm for life. Special people makes for my life to be quite special.