Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from February, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:48 pm on February 13, 2025 Permalink  

  Thursday the 11th of February 

  It is cold enough . . . who needs ice cubes.  The sun is bright enough . . . your blind even while wearing sunglasses.

  Today, I brought my studio work into my bedroom porch.  Even a space heater has its limits.  

  My goal was to make use of the zippers by the yard I had purchase some time ago.  All went well until I realized, it’s not “if you don’t mind . . . it doesn’t matter.” It’s as if the mind is not smart enough put a halt to the activity, the left hand and shoulder will screw up enough to get the hint across.  Got it.

  

  I do have a few more zippers to make allowing for the fact that I remember which lengths were the usual.  It’s better to have some extra length to cut off than be too short.  These zippers are not done yet.  They need to go down into the studio so I can sew across each end as a stop gate for the zipper pull.

  The chicken noodle soup from last night made enough of a batch that it will serve us well this evening for supper.  I did put a pan of apple crisp from the freezer, from our grocer, into the oven for a bake to round out a good meal.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:26 pm on February 12, 2025 Permalink  

  Snow 

  For what was to be light snow showers, it seems to be amounting to quite a bit.  My exercise yesterday of pushing some snow around may have to be repeated . . . but not today.  I will wait and see how this all falls into place, literally.

  Dennis is making supper for this evening.  We had one bag of dehydrated seasoned Shore Line chicken noodle soup left.  We had the cubed rotisserie chicken in the freezer.  Sounds like a great supper coming.  My event for the day was taking off the replacement cover of Dennis’ recliner and getting it through the laundry.

  Dennis’ recliner was purchased when we had a local furniture store that has since closed.  The attractive leather looking cover soon began to break away from the base material.  Several patches with look-alike material has and had been applied.  The first floor vacuum was needed as there were quite a few bits of the original covering that found its way in need of cleaning up.  Dennis proceeded to vacuum off the surfaces to entice anything that wanted to crack off . . . could be cleaned up.

  The afternoon is dwindling.  The chicken soup smells wonderful.  The four individual pieces of the recliner cover are partially on the recliner.  Each piece with its ultra strong elastic will find its way where it needs to be with a tuck here and a tuck there, well . . . maybe another tuck.

  The fine wet snow has the city crews out with the sand-induced salt.  The speed of the traffic tells me, the streets have become slippery.

  Older individuals that can be heard saying they are bored . . . not on Stauffer Avenue.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:52 pm on February 10, 2025 Permalink  

  Snow Showers 

  Snow showers come and go.

  It is going to be a good supper of chili out of the freezer.

  

  My curiosity got the best of me this forenoon.  I headed to the studio to see if my tote was indeed standing straight and tall.  Wonder of wonders . . . it was.  I spent a bit more time measuring the straps to see where they needed to be at.  I used some Wonder Clips to indicate what would need to be trimmed down for comfortable carrying ease.   That was enough to satisfy me for the studio time.  The air coming from the tile going around the perimeter was indeed chilly.

  I had some information I was seeking on YouTube.  That would be gotten off of the HP in my bedroom porch.  Sure enough.  I found some free download patterns to print off.  Isn’t the world wide web wonderful!  I could hear the printer working its magic.  That concluded any curiosity I may have had for today.

  Dennis just came in and confirmed that the outside air is really raw.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:14 pm on February 6, 2025 Permalink  

  Early Bird 

  It is Thursday with the wind again whipping the wind chime outside my bedroom porch, taunting the dusting of snow we had last night.  The bright sun has cleared the drive and we are back to no covering.

  I am an early bird with my blog today.  Yesterday had been a day off of doing a blog until I got the all clear from my administrator.

  This morning, I was hell bent on getting to the studio as I had pondered the next step to my soon to be tote bag.  All the lights were on. KNUJ was giving me the latest news and I was standing next to one of the church tables ready to go.  I put in a new blade in the rotary cutter and the steam iron was heating up.

  As I said, I was standing next to the table with everything in front of me, but I was not moving.  I chose to work with some fabric to finish off the top of the canvas cross-hatched that was dimensional.  The fabric had script printed across the length of the weft. I knew I wanted the script to read correctly as if I would be standing the canvas bag in front of me.  The script fabric being cut in one piece would also be the backing of the top band.  Getting my head wrapped around the correct way to sew this script fabric on correctly, just stymied me for a bit.  This was not going to be a day of ripping out seams.  It does help to fixate.  The adage: you don’t have time to do it right, but you always have time to do it over was blazing across my forehead.

  Finishing off the cup of coffee I had brought to the studio and finding the correct color of sewing thread for this next step in sewing, gave me enough time for a step-away.  I was able to go back to the fabric decision, use my wonder-clips to hold everything in place and get the seam sewn.  Whew.

  Dennis checked in at noon as he had had the little red pickup out for a spin around town.  

  I had prepared an oven meal for last night and that automatically gives me gratis for tonight’s supper.  I will spike it up a bit by adding some cranberries. 

  All is well with my soul . . . as well as everything else on Stauffer Avenue. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:28 pm on January 31, 2025 Permalink  

  The Aromas 

  The aromas from the little kitchen on Stauffer Avenue would have been hard pressed to have been any better in a 5 star eatery.

  The last time I was at our grocer’s they were running a special on a lb. of bacon.  The kicker was that it was honey jalapeno flavored wide sliced bacon.  I thought what the heck.  It was too good of a price to let it go.  I used a cookie sheet covered with tin foil and lined the slices up.   I didn’t let them bake to crispness.  When we have eggs and bacon for supper, I will top them out in the microwave. 

  The second cookie sheet, I covered with parchment paper and put the frozen cinnamon rolls onto it.  I knew that with the Pam sprayed onto the cling free sheet over them, the heat from the yeast would have them ready for the oven in three hours.

  It was a continuation of good aromas in the kitchen.  Dennis sampled a piece of bacon on his way out to the medical clinic.  It passed mustard.  Both projects were easy clean up.  The coverings of both cookie sheets hit the trash can.

  The studio was visited in between.  I have the walking foot on the sewing machine and it is threaded to match the canvas of my soon to be tote.  I do use a basting spray with which to hold the canvas, the top, to the batting and the backing.  I have always had good success with it holding everything in place when it goes under the needle.  The best part about the spray I use, is that it doesn’t gum up the needle as it sews.  It sure beats a multitude of stick pins jabbing me in the fingers as the project is manipulated under the needle while everything is held in place.  It also takes away from sewing over a pin and having it jammed somewhere under the hood.  The machine is capable enough as Megan found out when she was doing a quilt for Nicholas.  The needle of the machine went straight through the thickest portion of a safety pin.  The needle didn’t break but it took some doing to get the needle out of the machine while leaving it in the safety pin.  No harm was done.  A new needle was put in and all was good.   

  The studio got a short visit as operating the nozzle of the spray can did a number on the index finger as well as my right hand.  Way back when . . . who knew the index finger of either hand would be handicapped.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:44 pm on January 28, 2025 Permalink  

  Bricks Needed 

  We went up to the courthouse this morning.  First challenge was the wind from the north.  I could have used bricks in my pants.  The heavy railing they have put next to the sidewalk was used with every step I took.

  I looked at the roster of department heads.  My, my.  All new from when I left service in 2009.  We got our questions answered and Dennis got his new tabs for the little red pickup.

  With the biggest task completed, I came into the house and went straight down to the studio.  I was determined to make progress on the setup needed for my next project.  Mission completion.  I have multiple bobbins wound.  The canvas has had the edges surged to prevent raveling. I have my canvas in the hoop.  The tray with the collection of threads is on a tray within reach as they wait on the corner of the church table within reach of the sewing machine.  A piece of purple fabric is on the ironing board.  I will use that to add blocks to those long awaited embroidered designs that have nagged me long enough.  So there!

  I am not sure what Dennis is up to in the patio porch.  We will be meeting up for a supper of chicken tenderloins, potatoes and cauliflower in a steamer bag. 

  I usually open the weather on my computer.  I then expand the map to check for where the snow will be coming from.  Nothing for the next 24 hours.  I like that.

  As soon as the kids to the south of us are off of the afternoon school bus, they are riding their bikes up and down on Stauffer Avenue.  The contest seems to be which one can do some sharp turns making the most dust.  So it is January 28th with 50 degree weather.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:58 pm on January 26, 2025 Permalink  

  Hello 

  Hello to the sunshine with . . . very little wind.  How sweet is that!

  I have had a good conversation with my brother in Cloquet.  We chatted back and forth for over an hour.  I had not visited with him since Eric had helped him to relocate from Decorah, Iowa, over the Christmas.  Calvin stayed at Eric’s, outside of Duluth, for several days as Eric got the assisted living apartment ready to move into.

  It has been a change for Calvin, not a bad one.  He has a set-up with what he enjoys, much like how it was in Decorah, his television and his computer.

  After the New Year, our cousin Mark and his wife popped in to visit Calvin.  Mark lives in Finland, north of Duluth.  Mark’s dad, Melvin, was the youngest of my mom’s family of eight siblings.  Melvin worked and retired from the radar station that was active during war times protecting what may be coming in from across the ocean.  Calvin thought the visit was great.  It’s been a long time since Decorah held no possibility of a visit such as that.

  This morning, Megan and I shared a text back and forth.  Her courses are keeping her busy as well as doing some in-service off site related to her endeavors in the classroom.

  I have wandered from the studio to my bedroom porch and back.  The fabric I want to use for the next embroidery has been squared and the next step is to take in a tutorial on YouTube on a tote bag on which to put the embroidery.  I want to make sure I can get the centering of the design.

  Super is a container of Chili out of the freezer.  Sweet.

  Our week is free of any appointments.

  There is nothing like having choices throughout my days.  I will note that yesterday, Maria commented on the rise of the RSVP cases and covid.  Maria shares her salon work week with Windom as well as St. James.  Windom seemed to be her biggest concern.  I trust Maria and her nursing skills as much as the wickedness of sharp shears for a great haircut.  I do believe I will keep my nose down right here in my home.  I lack for nothing.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on January 25, 2025 Permalink  

  Hmm 

  Oh yes, they spoke of forecasting temps in the twenties.  Nothing was mentioned of winds that would take us to feeling like -4.  Never to mind.  The strong wind rolling the dust down Stauffer Avenue, taking it south doesn’t make it feel like January.

  This morning we motored four block west of our home to visit Maria for haircuts and pedicures.  What a feeling of a treat.  There is nothing like it.  We came home at noon for a lunch of crab salad.  The flavors that have been co-mingling since yesterday’s forenoon.  Let me tell you, it served us well in the taste department as well as the texture of it.

  Dennis and I had a good full day yesterday, allowing us to take selective participation for this afternoon.  I don’t regret an afternoon like this.  The balance of life gives good days for happiness, bad days give experience, worst days give lessons and best days make for good memories.

  I have a YouTube playing in the background while I am doing some stitching, sitting upon my cherry red chair in my bedroom porch.

  Supper is a replay of the tuna oven meal of last night.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:08 pm on January 24, 2025 Permalink  

  A Busy Friday 

  Last night over supper Dennis asked me what my plans were for the next day.  I did share that it seemed like it would be a heavy first floor day.  His bedding needed to be laundered.  I had crab meat that I wanted to make into our favorite crab salad as a noon snack to tide us over for a hot supper.  I also had everything needed for a tuna oven meal to make a large enough batch to put one container in the freezer.  “What can I help with?”  I don’t think he expected me to answer as quickly as I did.  Yup . . . I came back with the plan.

  If Dennis would pull his bedding apart after he got up this morning and deposit the sheets and pillow cases next to the washing machine, I would have them washed and dried when he came in at noon.  If he would then tidy up the floor with our little first floor vac before he dressed his bed.  I assured him I would have the salad and the oven dish going in the kitchen and do up the prep dishes.  Dennis thought that all sounded good.

  I was making great headways this forenoon.  The buttons for the laundry had gotten pushed and I was breezing into getting the Suddenly Salad box opened to get the pasta boiled.  I had the raw onion diced as well as the crab meat diced up.  I use the crab meat out of the refrigerated section of the grocer’s that is a USA product.  I was onto mixing the envelope contents for the dressing.  You have heard of the commercial of a Dollop of Daisy sour cream.  I had the dollop going when the container spun out of my hand and flew to the floor doing a cartwheel but still landing right-side up on the floor.  The cartwheel had landed a spray of sour cream on the kitchen wall and floor.  Stop the presses.  Breathe.  Tidy, tidy and we were back in business for the salad to be completed and in the refrigerator.

  On to the tuna oven meal.  More pasta boiled, three cans of the Albacore while tuna opened and drained.  We have realized when we get a 12″ tuna Subway that the onions we request with the rest of the goodies goes really well with the tuna.  First time adding them to the oven meal.  I diced more onions using the large onion up I had purchased yesterday and sauteed them until translucent.  A package of baby green peas out of the freezer and a jar of Alfredo sauce opened.  So close to a finish in the food prep.  I added a bit of heavy cream to the empty Alfredo jar with a shake shake to get every bit.  I had enough for a glass container of the tuna dish to be put in the freezer for another day.  Sweet.

  During all of this Dennis came in at noon, just as usual to find his bedding washed and dried.  I turned a very self protecting deaf ear as the grunts and sounds ensued from his bedroom.  The comments varied from difficulty as to which way the fitted sheet went on as to where I had hid the small vac, yada, yada yada.  I remained doing the prep dishes, cleaning the kitchen range, etc.

  I soldiered through having continued from start to finish while in conversations with Dennis during his multiple breaks and catching of his breath at the dining room table.

  Wonder of wonder, we both completed our tasks.  I never got off of the first floor being busy.  Dennis had asked and his wish had been granted.  He has a fresh bed to retire to and we have several good options of healthy foods over the next days.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:01 pm on January 22, 2025 Permalink  

  Damp Day 

  There is enough humidity in the air to allow a snowflake once in awhile.

  During this cold spell, I spent time at my desk in the bedroom porch of mine.  It has been a good feeling to get to several projects that I had on the far, far back burner.  The first was the circular wooden box of Ester Schafer’s.  It is now a sewing box holding many of the mini pillows I have stitched.  The second was using some of Esther’s silk floss that is now a bell pull sampler hanging next to our front door.

  The third project is now done.  I have been saving some small wooden blocks for decades.  They had been stored in Esther’s wooden box.  They were 1.5 x 1.5 varnished and waiting.  My dad, Raymond, had cut them for me.  Dad passed away in 1992.  Hmm.  These blocks have waited and needed to have something done with them.  You all know I was not going to do away with them.

  These blocks are now donning decals on all sides.  Some floral decals, some Christmas ones.  They are now housed in a wonderfully wooden bowl that my great uncle, Roy Grunewald, worked his magic on in his workshop.  Dad spent many hours at Roy’s house as Dad learned the ins and outs of using wooden shapes to be glued together and then turned on a wood lathe.   I have a lamp base and two smaller vessels that Dad turned out using walnut wood.

  

  I come from lineage that always had something going on the side after their daily work was done.  Did they think idle hands were the work of the devil?  I can’t speak to that.  What I can attest to is being creative comes second nature and it is oh so rewarding.

  The older priceless treasures have been touched and finished.  

  Today I went to the studio and pulled an embroidered pattern I had downloaded some time ago.  The pattern used Maderia brand embroidery threads.  I use only Isacord brand.  The first thing I had to do was to go online and find a conversion chart to print out matching color for color.  I liked the design enough to purchase it, so it warrants embroidering it.  All the spools are lined up on one of the church tables like sentinels.  I am giving serious thought on what to embroider it on.  Time will tell.

  Dennis is having a meal in a dish of the leftovers of last night’s supper.  I am having a steaming bowl of oatmeal.  It’s a win, win for each of us.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥