Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from February, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:25 pm on February 18, 2026 Permalink  

  In a Blink 

  My cousin from Finland, Minnesota, had just texted me a photo this morning of the blowing snow they were having and had had since during the night.  I texted back that we had no snow to be found.  In a blink of my eye, the snow started here and it blew and it blew itself into a mini blizzard.

  KNUJ kept me up to date on all the closures as they took place.  I was warm and comfortable in the studio as the wind continued its howling.  I came upstairs at two and the snow had stopped and left our concrete drive wet but bare.  The several days of warmth that we had had didn’t allow the snow to stay on the concrete.  With that being said the yards are covered with clean white.  The radio went on to say that road conditions out in the open were not good.  What is out there is now in freezing temps.

  The binding of the Christmas placemats has been finished.  The sewing of snowflakes on them is going to be on hold for a bit.  I have several mini stitched out designs to make into pillows and then get them stuffed.  I don’t like UFOs.  Finish them up before starting something new.   

  I peeled the remaining cucumbers for supper also using up the remaining purple onion.  We are having a lasagna dish for supper that Carrie had brought for us on Sunday.  It just needs to be heated up.  An easy supper makes for a happy homemaker . . . me.   

  Today is Ash Wednesday with many churches in our area having cancelled services for this evening.  So the Lenten season begins. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:11 pm on February 17, 2026 Permalink  

  Howling Wind 

  The session in the studio went very well.  I don’t do a lot of sitting.  I bounce from the sewing machine to the ironing board to the cutting table.  When the furnace is running, the heat vent in the studio hits between the sewing machine and the ironing board from on top.  It doesn’t take long the hair on my head feels as if it has gone through a whirl wind. 

  Though I have several projects in the works right now, I really want to stay on top of getting the seven placemats bound.  I have two left.  Having gotten the knack of getting the binding joined cleanly with the 45 degree stitch, I’d like to see it through.  If the appliqueing of the snowflakes onto the placemats stalls, at least there would be seven placemats to use when and of the need would arise.  

  I do watch quite a bit of quilting via YouTube.  I am not in enamored by the print found on fabric right now.  The colors are loud and the designs on the fabric are huge.  That speaks to my age.  The fabrics in my stashes are easily paired as the colors are cohesive.  The matchie match is not trending right now.  That also speaks to clothing.  Putting stripes with plaids can be seen.  That is all fine with me.  I will keep my likes to myself as I am no longer in with the latest of the latest.

  Our crockpot meal of last night was a winner.  This evening’s fair is leftovers.  I chopped up the two leftover hamburger patties.  I used the gravy-like contents of the crockpot and mixed in the chopped meat.  Supper will be known as hamburger gravy over a batch of instant mashed potatoes with a side of the creamed cucumbers that were left.  Sweet indeed.

  We are prepared for a change in the weather.  Right now the howling wind can be heard from the southeast.  We had not put our shovel aside.  The leaf blower is still in the accessible if needed to blow ourselves out from the back door if incumbered with snow.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:04 pm on February 16, 2026 Permalink  

  One More 

  One more day of spring weather to enjoy.  I am thrilled for any of the people that have to work outside. 

  According to KNUJ weather forecasters, the mention of six to ten inches of something caught my attention.  Yup, winter will return.  The northern portion of Minnesota may be getting winter back.

  Dennis had found a recipe on Facebook for us to try.  He first asked if I had paper and pencil.  I did.  He read the recipe off of his laptop for me to copy while I was in my bedroom porch.  Sounded like a plan to me.  Crockpot recipe:  1 1/2 pounds of ground beef made into four patties, placed in a Pam sprayed crockpot.  In a bowl, combine 1 can of cream of mushroom soup, I envelope of dry Lipton’s soup with 1/2 cup of water.  Stir well.  Pour that over the hamburger patties.  Cover crockpot and cook on low for 5-6 hours.  That might depend on the crockpot.

  Well, I can tell you the aroma of this dish is quite good.  I am thinking the gravy like consistency with the juice of the hamburger would be quite good over instant mashed potatoes.

  I had a good session in the studio.  I have eight placemats with a foam interior cross hatched.  I managed to sew the 2.5 binding on two of them.  I needed a refresher course to join the said binding, looking as if it were continuous with no lumps or bumps.  I remembered Emerald Meadows had such a tutorial on YouTube.  I had used it quite often.  About that time, I ran out of bobbin thread and decided to check out.

  When we were in Hy-Vee last week, I had bought six small cucumbers.  I used three today for peeling and slicing.  Also a purple onion came home with me.  They are said to be far more superior than any other in the vein of health purposes.  A bit of mayo and a scant amount of sugar and we have a great side dish.

  All is well.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:12 pm on February 14, 2026 Permalink  

  Difficult Times 

  We are going to be in difficult times when winter pokes its head out again.   In the mean time, in between time, I am enjoying this spell of spring-time temps.

  Shh.  I did not tell Dennis I left a window cracked open over-night in the bathroom.  There was no wind to speak of that would have given me away with a curtain flying. 

  Our GE stackable laundry set-up got a good work out today.  As the loads were swapped out via Dennis, I was in the folding venue.  All is tidied up and put where it belongs.  A great feeling. I went down into the studio to bring up some paper products from the cistern closet.  I got way-laid.

  I couldn’t help but sit at the sewing machine.  Before long, I had a dust brush under the hood.  Cleaning the machine is the best way to be able to do what is wanted or needed without any problems.  Putting in a new needle is a smart thing to do . . . often.  My thread of choice and color are locked and loaded.  I am hoping Monday will be a stitching day.

  For the rest of this Saturday, I am perched in the cherry red chair with either stitching or reading on either side.  Dennis has decided that Maria’s pot-pies are going to be for supper.  Sounds good to me.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:39 pm on February 11, 2026 Permalink  

  Geez 

  Geez, I hate updates when I least expect them.  So needed perhaps.  Well, I don’t know about that.  What was usual and customary now resembles someone else’s laptop.  Enough about that.

  I was slow out of the gate this morning.  I have a 4″ x 8″ date book that I have lots of web sites that I frequent and with them perhaps a sign-in and password.  The book is from 2002.  This morning as I was looking through the hen-scratching for a certain site, I thought enough was enough.  As passwords had needed to be up-dated, I scratched them through for the next newest one.  On and on.

  I didn’t get through all the pages.  Those that I did, I didn’t throw the old pages away until I know I copied them correctly.  Accountability is paramount if for some reason someone else needs to have the information.  Hmm.

  Dennis remains under the weather.  He was so close to getting through this winter with no issues.  I know he wouldn’t and didn’t believe me when I gave him a Lena tip.  Sitting directly in front of the fan from a heat source is just as bad as sitting directly in front of an air conditioning unit.  Kevin found that out when he was taking care of a pet rodent type rat, for the life of me I can’t remember what they are called.  It was white and I think it had the name of Sniffy.  It was hot and the little cage was put in front of a fan for comfort only to find the little fur-ball had passed away when Kevin checked on it in the morning.  Anyway, I digress.  The garage’s furnace vent flows right on one of Dennis’ favorite perches.  Who knows.  I could be all wet about how he came to have this horrible cold.

  The studio work is going well.  The sewing machine gave no problems.  Tomorrow it will be time to put in a new needle and give it a shot or two of oil.

  Dennis willingly took a hot bowl of oatmeal for supper last night.  Now you all know how punk he is feeling.

  Yesterday the state of Minnesota lobbed onto our checking account for the funds we owed for our 2025 income tax returns.  Greedy little bastards.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:19 pm on February 10, 2026 Permalink  

  Home Sweet Home 

  Our trip to the big town has been put off for now.  Dennis may have a bug and it’s nothing like the ladybug beetles that still may come in from the patio porch.  Home is the best place when you are under the weather.

  I took my leave to the studio.  I have three projects going.  Nothing huge.  Just enough to spend a little energy and time on each.  When glue, hand stitching, machine stitching, fabric being cut and pressed . . . what’s not to like.

  I did change blades in my 45mm rotary cutter.  Wow, what a difference.  The 45 is actually easier on my hand than the 60.  Even so, not overdoing is the best practice.  While in the studio, it is constant moving, stretching, and giving the brain a good workout.  I firmly believe that trying new things and learning as you go is my best path.

  I often wonder in the path of Dennis’ life before I knew him.  If he doesn’t like someone, he will put himself anywhere but where that individual may be, even if the event calls for it.  If he takes a cotton to someone, he could be like a tick to a dog.  Dennis has very little curiosity.  He doesn’t care to read.  Dennis enjoys history and there would be a wealth of it between the covers of a book.  Oh my gosh if “Victory at Sea” were still on the tube, he would be glued to it.  My dad enjoyed that program as well.  He often comments that he thinks of himself as someone much younger and should be able to do things as the younger of himself could do.  That may speak to the falls that he takes.  Dang it.  Getting up slowly before moving is to allow the blood to flow up and then down and then up, etc.  Dennis’ 90th is in the fall of 2026.  Truth to tell . . . Dennis is doing great.  We are doing great.

  The crockpot meal was wonderful for last night’s supper.  One of the best things is the leftovers of the pork.  It was so tender . . . and that would be what my thinking is of pulled pork.  I have been to events where pulled pork sandwiches are served and the pork meat is stringy and hard to bite off let alone chew.  That’s just my thinking I am sure.

  Tonight for a delicate, easy on the stomach supper it is going to be oatmeal.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:31 pm on February 9, 2026 Permalink  

  Great Life 

  If I ever doubt that I have a great life . . . all I need to do is to be still.  I can hear Esther Schafer’s husky voice lament “It’s a great life, if you don’t weaken.”  And Esther was right.

  It’s a Monday and the birds are in their glory in the huge evergreen right outside my bedroom porch.  The only thing silencing them for a bit is the noise that Home Town creates picking up our recycling early on this day.

  Dennis had the crockpot waiting on the kitchen counter for me.  I had the Boston Butt Roast in said pot before my first cup of coffee.  Now at three in the afternoon we are assured by the aroma in the home that supper will be tasty.

  Some time was needed on Dennis’ laptop.  He uses with no awareness of the pop-up messages in the lower left-hand corner.  His McFee coverage expired yesterday and they were not going to let me forget it.  His laptop brings hours of entertainment to him.  It keeps the eye to brain to hand motion going for him.  A lot better than napping the day away.  It keeps him at a good routine for calling it a day.

  Several more days such as this, the only snow remaining is what had been piled, pushed or driven over to create an ice pack.

  We have been limping along with horrible chairs at the dining room table.  Hey, we only need two good ones.  Dennis sits on a $99.99 office chair that slides anyone off and that is with strong butt cheeks being used.  My Office Max chair no longer has the hydraulic cylinder working and I feel two inches more and my chin would be resting on the table top.  Company is always gracious when we meet around the table given what is offered for their chairs.  Tomorrow we are making a trip to the big town.  I have been online, saw some photos, called the store visiting with a fellow named Chris and now we will take a look-see.

  I trust everyone will have an Esther Schafer day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:15 pm on February 5, 2026 Permalink  

  Mud Puddles 

  With mud puddles abound, I am thankful that Dennis has concrete to get from his patio porch to the house and back.  The nice weather did prompt him to go uptown and get his pickup washed.

  I had a great forenoon doing what makes me content and happy.  The studio . . . what can I say.  There are enough resources down there for my life expectancy.  Grant it, at one time or another I purchased those resources perhaps not knowing what I would do with them.  Now as I look at this or that I am coming up with ideas I never dreamt of before.  Sweet. 

  I don’t walk for the exercise as I had in the past.  I feel steady on my feet in the studio and am on my feet sometimes for two hours at a stretch.  I found walking outside of my home, the walking cane is a must.  If I walked on Stauffer Avenue, I would need both of the walking canes.  And then, guess what . . . gripping the canes was not easy on my hands.  Those self same hands I need to cherish for more uses in our home and for myself than I can count.  Yup, there is always a trade-off.

  Dennis rarely comes down to the studio.  The steps are steep.  His interest in threads and fuzz only gets his attention if it is the flannel sheets on his bed.  Just saying.

  We got a letter in the mail from the city.  Our acre is now in a portfolio created by the city of lots to share with developers, builders and other interested parties.  This is great.  It beats purchasing “For Sale” signs to promote it.  Over the last several years by keeping the acre trimmed and mowed, the good grass has really stooled out.  We had Spring Touch treat it once last year for weed control and we will do it again in 2026.

  Soup and grilled cheese for supper.  The waffles last night were yummy.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:39 pm on February 4, 2026 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  I am not bothered by what the skies are doing.  Past are the decades that mandated how I needed to be aware.

  I clocked into the studio at 9:30 this morning.  KNUJ had an interesting visit from New Ulm’s City librarian.  It doesn’t matter if you want to learn how to play chess or if you want bring your stitching along and visit with those of like interests.  Very informative.

  With the steam iron just a cooking, I got the 194 inches of binding folded, pressed and wound around some stiff cardboard for the six placemats I am putzing with.  I fought with fabric to get the salvage cut off before I went on to cut the sizes I need for the additional placemats.  Nothing pressing.  Perhaps just something prepared to share with someone that happens to stop in for a visit.  What used to be fusible foam and now is not has also been cut.  That about did the rotary cutting arm in.   

  Twelve noon and the remaining morning coffee was enjoyed.  I had had an avocado for breakfast with a slice of buttered toast.  There is nothing like a cookie to have with a cup or two of said coffee.  The cookies had been as hard as a brick.  Yesterday when I had had an apple, I put a wedge of my apple into the cookie jar.  Yup, success!  The cookies were now tender to the point of being enjoyable to nibble on.  Thanks for the tip Lena.  That tip had taken Dennis daughter, Sandy, by surprise. 

  Dennis went to the assisted living unit here in town to visit with his literally, life-long friend, Lyle Grove.  Lyle is several months older than Dennis but has not fared as well.  He is very hard of hearing and nearly blind.  The hearing challenges in that era of time when he was young were not taken to heart for help.  Dennis did a good deed.

  We have decided on the Ego Fluffy Waffles and sausages for supper.  Our four slice toaster does its magic and two waffles each works.  Unfortunately, the waffles come six to the box.  I buy two boxes at a time guaranteeing that sometime down the road there are two additional meals ready for us.

  The book I am reading is The Tin Man, one of the free books from the library.  I can pick up the threads in the story line very easily, so I am not fussy.

  With that I will take my leave.

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on February 1, 2026 Permalink  

  Snow 

  We did get an inch or so of snow.  Very wet.  Even the leaf blower had a hard time blowing it off of the front deck.  And then . . . the sun comes out and makes fast work of what was remaining on the driveway after Randy had scrapped it.  The streets are sloppy to the max.

  Lots of deer and rabbit tracks in the new snow.

  The studio got a day off today.  When I got up this morning, there was a bit of vertigo going on with me.  It’s best to stay on one level.  Not much can be done about vertigo unless it is prolonged and severe.  Mine is not.  There is no getting up quickly for a fast get-away.  It helps to move my head slowly and no quick looking down and then up.  My health is the post holding everything else upright.  My body is not just something I live in, It was given to me to take care of.  Stewardship 101.

  We are waiting for one item to come in the mail before I can do our income tax for 2025.  Tax Act is the program we have used over the years.  That and Turbo Tax are both good with easy to follow programs.  I hear there may be changes.  Time will tell.

  I have an oven meal in for supper with a veggie medley on the side.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥