Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 5:54 am on November 17, 2013 Permalink  

  Honey Bunny 

  

  The Hardest of the Kids to Control

  Here it is a Saturday on Stauffer Ave. and all I can say is “naughty kids.”  I am not referring to our two-legged ones. Dennis’ garage porch kid, aka: Honey Bunny.  Wednesday morning she trotted of and has not been seen of since.  She is very able-bodied and has claws on all four. She has had the run of the yards but always returned to enjoy one of her many cushions to curl up on for naps.  Each evening Dennis walked the area calling for her with no avail.  Dennis had a meeting at the VFW this afternoon and pretty much gave up on her but hoped she had not suffered.  This afternoon I took to the yards and came to agree with Dennis.  I have several house plants that are enjoying the garage porch for the winter and I got the watering can out.  Dennis’s son drove up and I set everything down and we went into the house.  After Ken left I went back to the garage porch and there in my rocking chair was Honey Bunny as if she had been there the entire time.  Seriously?  We had waited up for her every night much like when the two legged kids were out and about.  We were a lot younger then and a scolding on them had an impact but not so much on this kid.  I got her brush out and she totally gave it over for a full body brushing, purring the entire time.  I would have loved to have had a nanny camera on her to find out where she had been, what had she eaten, did she have water to drink and where had she slept?  It’s a good thing Dennis and I already have gray hair.

   
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  Noreen 5:41 am on November 16, 2013 Permalink  

  Needed Errands that Burn up the Highway 

  

  Megan and Nicholas with Grandpa Dennis and Grammie

  Dennis and I have had one busy week complete with supporting the petroleum companies as the Lincoln has headed east, north and south getting errands done while the weather has been accommodating.  With the completion of a quilting project it was the perfect time to get the  Model 1802 Kenmore sewing machine tuned up before the next batch of lint, fuzz and thread that would begin floating through the home.  Bird Island, MN is the home of Karen’s Quilt Shop.  In the back room Karen’s hubby Allen is a master at tuning up sewing machines.  We will be ready to wind up those bobbins and let the motor begin humming.

  That humming was put on hold as we made a trip to the Veteran’s Hospital in Minneapolis.  Did you feel the earth shake? Hubby Dennis voluntarily turned himself in for a hearing test.  Happy days!  Time will tell how this will turn out.  It was the first step of a few to address the problem.  A trip to Minneapolis is not complete without a stop to see daughter Carrie and grand kids Megan and Nicholas.  I never get tired of getting hugs.  Priceless.

  After getting a message on the phone from the Old Alley Quilt Shop Great Grandma Laura’s butterflies headed to the long arm quilter for Sharon to work her magic.  After 48 years the butterflies are going to be in their glory as a king sized quilt.  It is exciting to be able to honor all of Laura’s handiwork.  It was decided to quilt around the butterflies and allow them to be the centerpiece within each square.  I am excited to get the next phone call from Sharon.

  Dennis and I are very happy about the week’s endeavors and now we can begin pulling together ideas for the Christmas lists.  Ho-Ho-Ho!

   
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  Noreen 7:42 am on November 15, 2013 Permalink  

  Yet again – another great day on the highways. This weather is ideal to take care of items before the less than good road conditions. Tomorrow is a day to catch up here and at the home front.

   
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  Noreen 5:31 am on November 14, 2013 Permalink  

  Had a great road trip day. It must have been as it took almost a full tank of gas. Catch ya all later.

   
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  Noreen 6:52 am on November 13, 2013 Permalink  

  A Completed Fun Project 

  

  Christmas Tree Panel

   

  When I saw this panel at the Old Alley Quilt Shop in Sherburn it just intrigued me.  To be able to cut the printed Christmas Tree panel into nine pieces and finish it as if looking through a window – I was hooked.  I don’t have the ability to do any free form quilting on my 45-year-old sewing machine.  I either have to have someone with a longarm do the quilting, do hand quilting or do the stitch in the ditch.  That last option is done by using the straight stitch on the sewing machine and sew exactly in the seam/ditch of the pieced pattern.  Any time you vary the length of one stitch it goes south and takes away from a good finished looking project.

  I began the hand quilting very slowly as I really had no plan in mind as to what design to use with the stitches.  I finally decided on working with the print and whimsically outline the printed designs.  What is a Christmas tree without a bit of bling?  I dug into my stashes and found some beads and crystals to add here and there.  No, I cannot do eight to twelve hand stitches within an inch as many talented gals can do.  My goal is to be consistent and I really am not in any competition.  The sad part is now I need to start a new project.  Having something in the quilting hoop is so handy to work at it a few minutes at a time or several times a week.  Starting anew it’s the choice of pattern, then the fabric and batting and oh yes a backing that will work.  Lots of time before the hand sewing can begin.

  I perhaps should think about rousting out a few dust bunnies that are snickering in the corners.  No longer being able to dry clothes outside means the clothes dryer is being used and that means the lint screen has lots of goodies to share. Our washer and dryer are in the main floor bathroom – like there isn’t enough lint with bath and hand towels and even bath tissue to take flight in the air.  Dennis is apt to lend a hand folding clothes but I really have to beat him to cleaning the lint filter as he pulls it out as if he were pulling out a six shooter for the last dual.  It isn’t the dust that settles from that draw, it is the cloud of lint that lets loose.   Doing the dust bunny routine will give me a chance to think through some projects and fabric choices.  There is a method to all things.

   
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  Noreen 5:45 am on November 12, 2013 Permalink  

  Bugger! Today was mending in my basement sewing and craft area. Winter jackets are not my favorite to shove under the presser foot. Two sewing machine needles later and sporting a Donald Duck band aid Dennis should be good for the season. As tough as my fingers are from hand quilting there just is nothing more painful that catching the tip of a stick pin – well actually quite a few stick pins. Catch ya later.

   
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  Noreen 5:05 am on November 11, 2013 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  

  The Light Shines Through

  It’s not the load that breaks us down, it’s how we carry it.  Looking out to the northeast this afternoon it doesn’t seem all that heavy.

   
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  Noreen 4:57 am on November 10, 2013 Permalink  

  All in Due Time 

  

  Soon to be a Mighty Northern Red Oak

  In this fast paced world most people know what they want and they want it now.  Me – not so much.  I can usually see the big picture and for that I have the attribute of visualization.  How about that, I have an internal app.  The speck of an idea starts in my brain and and from there it germinates and voilà – for all practical purposes it is reality.

  About twenty years ago when hubby Dennis had taken a trip to Alabama to see family I happened upon a close out sale at Pamida’s garden hoop.  A very weary dried up looking four foot stalk that was labeled “Northern Red Oak” was calling out to me.   I bought it for $1.98 and stuck it into the trunk of my car.  As several feet were sticking out of the trunk that could not latch the last of the leaves had totally blown off by the time I made it home.  I dug out my post hole digger and went to work.  At the end of the afternoon I deemed it a success.

  Each fall since the planting the Northern Red Oak does not disappoint.  I knew it would overcome the challenged beginning and become more spectacular each year.  The itty bitty four footer is now stretching an estimated 25 feet or more.

  So, for all the impatient folks out there, take the time to slow down.  When a project comes along that you think you just can’t tackle due to the time it might take or that the odds may seem to be against a positive end, step back and look long and hard to see the rest of the story as to what it could be.

   
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  Noreen 3:00 am on November 9, 2013 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: There’s no place like home – There’s no place like home 

   
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  Noreen 4:13 am on November 8, 2013 Permalink  

  Seeing everything clearly 

  

  Magnifiers are an Easy Solution for Clear Vision for Hand Quilting

  I had a great eye checkup and the detached retina situation is a complete success – check.

  As of yesterday winter is on completely with several inches of snow that needed to be removed from the driveway – check.  Both of those items mean I am onto my passion of quilting.  I love piecing fabric with my 45-year-old Sears Kenmore sewing machine and finishing pieced wall hangings via hand quilting has become one of my favorite pastimes.

  I have several comfortable spots in the living room I can take my lap hoop to and whack out a few stitches or work at it for longer times during some of my favorite television programs.

  In regard to this photo, you are not seeing double, nor am I. I have realized that I need just a bit more help in seeing my quilting surfaces to get the best results. Having a magnifying lamp to look through is too cumbersome to relocate to where my latest and greatest spot to sew from will be.  It was not a rocket science fix.  By slipping an inexpensive pair of magnifiers over my prescription lens I have the best of both worlds.  When looking over the top of them the world as I know it is normal, and looking down through my glasses plus the magnifiers the stitches slip in perfectly.  Perfectly simple solution for enjoying the snow days that are ahead.