Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from January, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:31 pm on January 16, 2026 Permalink  

  Already Over Half 

  Blink, blink, where did the first half of January go!

  I thought we would have gotten more snow.  I looked out and there were bare spots on the concrete.  Dennis had barely gotten out of the door heading for the patio porch when he did an about-face coming in for the empty Folger’s coffee can that we keep full of ice by the back steps.  There was the rest of the story.  Rain before the snow.

  I called Aunt Janet this noon.  Janet has been pretty content staying in her home since Christmas and doesn’t feel as if she is missing anything.  Now that I have completed my doctor appointments and Dennis has completed his, I don’t feel the need to go out and about.  Dennis has several fellows that stop in and see him in the patio porch and with them comes all the latest and greatest of gossip.

  I find plenty of entertainment with either YouTube or Hulu.  Dennis wrangles his way around Facebook.  I would never have guessed that there are full episodes of history articles and such.  He prefers his laptop over our Samsung television.  We watch news from five to six and then . . . enough is enough.

  The studio has been calling.  Having had a cold linger into the second week, everything in the studio is on hold.

  Supper is Fluffy Ego Waffles and Jimmy Dean’s precooked sausages.  Yup, we tried a different brand but flavor won the battle.  Keeping it real . . . at the age that both of us are, we like what we like.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on January 10, 2026 Permalink  

  Saturday the 10th 

  Well hello people.

  It’s amazing what four days of doing no more than holding yourself upright up, and three good nights of rest can do for a cold.

  No sneezing!  It is said when you sneeze your heart does not beat.  I was beginning t0 get concerned about that.  No coughing.  A feeling of being pulled backwards through a keyhole . . . that I have.  I can see clearly . . . also a good sign of gunk being absent.

  This morning, I did don a face mask as there was no way I was going to miss out on our monthly haircut and pedicure date with Maria.  I sure didn’t want to pass along anything to her.  It felt good to feel human after her spa treatment.  After pushing a few buttons for laundry, I felt as I had done enough for today.  Dennis put himself in charge of swapping out the load from washer to dryer.

  Without much effort, we are going to have a good hot supper of chicken titties, instant mashed potatoes, carrots and cranberries.  That for sure beats pickled herring.

  Lo key for the remainder of the weekend.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:26 pm on December 23, 2025 Permalink  

  Hello Tuesday 

  It is a Tuesday.  Grammie is back from the busy world.

  When we were in Mankato Monday for Dennis’ eye injection . . . it was a busy world.  We went to the eye clinic.  The appointment went well.  As usual the eye remained frozen and would until 8 hours later.  It does not impair his driving . . . I checked.   Dennis got a gas fill-up for $1.29 per gallon.  As I sat and waited for Dennis while he was filling the little red pickup, I watched the lineup to get out of Sam’s Club parking lot to get back onto Madison Avenue.  It was frantic.  We took the back door route and took County Rd 90 to get back onto our route home.  Home never felt so good and we hadn’t even participated in any shopping.

  Our plans for this Tuesday had one agenda.  Brett was reorganizing his phones that he was responsible for.  Uncle Dennis . . . no longer covered as of January 1, 2026, as he had been when he ran errands for Brett.

  I made a trip to Radio Shack downtown.  Dennis wanted a plain flip phone.  The gal at the counter was the same gal to help as I had had when I bought my phone in May of this last year.  It all went smoothly.  Dennis and I had checked his contacts just several nights ago to take out the phone numbers he do longer needed.  After his flip-phone has been on the charger and he takes using it for a run, I will go back to Radio Shack on Monday and have them strip it.  At that time, the phone case that I ordered will be in.  I wanted nothing heavy.  What I will have is a very flexible vinal cover . . . just in case I happen to drop it while in the studio.  Phone meeting concrete would not be a good thing.

  I swear the temperature dropped twenty degrees from the time I went into Radio Shack and then coming out.  Brr.

  Our supper last night was a cheater.  A Maria frozen meal for Dennis and I had a salad plate.  It worked!  Tonight is chicken titties, instant potatoes and veggies. 

  The older ones on Stauffer do take care of business in a timely manner.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on December 21, 2025 Permalink  

  In Town 

  There were a few errands to run in town on this sunny afternoon.

  The Family Dollar carries the Tidy lightweight kitty litter in doable plastic jugs.  On a side-note, Brett’s concrete business takes the plastic jugs off of our hands.  While the concrete trucks are on site, having a gallon of clean water is handy for the fellows working with the crete.

  The Dollar General is where we pick up the $1.00 bags of Lemon Heads.  Dennis’ favorite hard candy when his mouth is dry.  No Lemon Heads today.  I did pick up our favorite Progressive Chicken Noodle soup for $2.00 a can.  I had just paid $3.29 at our grocer’s last week.  Same size can.  I also added buying two bags of our favorite chips and get two bags free.

  The grocery store was the next stop for Meow Mix.  The kitties should be in good shape for a while.

  We are invited to Dennis’ cousin’s 90 birthday party on the 27th at his son’s farm in a heated shop.  I had looked up the address on the computer and we did a dry run north out of town on that.

  Our last stop was to pick up a 12″ Tuna Sub before heading for home.  Whew, supper is done. 

  On a note!  I tried loading photos for the blog this afternoon and it was a no-go.  I tried with the photos I had downloaded from my phone as well as from my camera.  I will leave it to the administrator to find the solution.  I was trying to load them from the “Blog File” where I always have done in the past going through the steps of the Next Gen Gallery options.  Time will tell.

  Tomorrow, Monday the 22nd, Dennis has an eye injection at 2:30 in the afternoon in Mankato.  There may well not be a Monday Blog.  Just saying.  The appointment takes a good bit of time and travel time also is a good indicator of “see you on Tuesday.”

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:44 pm on December 19, 2025 Permalink  

  A Blizzard 

  I knew we had proportions of a blizzard.  It wasn’t until this morning when I looked out that I realized snow and dirt of equal proportions had been had.  Our driveway was clear.  Our back door catches a whirlwind of what is blowing, be it either leaves, snow or dirt.

  We had agreed that when the wind died down, we would make a trip for milk and distilled water.  We purchase the small container of milk and really have to work at using it before it sours.  The distilled water is gone through quicker than one would believe.  Dennis CPAP machine has a humidifier on it and it takes a fill of two cups every night.  Amazing.

  The wind howled something terrible all yesterday.  I had done my bedding and just for giggles as I was putting it back on after the laundry, I put the small thermometer on the window sill at the end of my bed.  Hmm.  At four in the afternoon it read 55 degrees.  Thankfully the tall heavy evergreen and the plumb shrub, both at the northwest corner of my bedroom porch, take the beating of the winds.  They allow the awning which is the full Width of the porch to remain in place.

  I went to bed at ten and buried myself under the feather comforter that is tucked into a flannel duvet.  I slept heavy and comfortable.  Dennis had an electric mattress pad that has settings from 1-8.  Quite awhile before he goes to bed he has it set at a 6.  I have not inquired if it stays at that setting, but he also sleeps well.  Dennis doesn’t fight me when the thermostat is set at 65 degrees when we go to bed.  If needed it is the first thing I do in the morning is to pump it up to 70 degrees.  When Dennis gets up, he is out of the house within a half hour.  What he walks into in his garage porch that has a furnace . . . I don’t ask.  If Dennis is happy, I am also.

  We have had our first blizzard of this winter and may others that follow be as mild.  

  I bought a pumpkin frozen pie in the grocery store.  It is now in the 375 degree oven to be finished at 5:10 or there abouts.  We have used Mrs. Smith’s pies before and for $4.98 it’s what it is . . . a date at 8:30 this evening to have a schmek, aka: a taste.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:54 pm on December 15, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day 

  With the temps no longer severe cold, it is a day that feels good.

  Dennis was content in his patio porch.  I noticed one very heavy cat enjoying his lap.  Snuggles even ventured out for a bit.  Harriet not so much.  Watching through the window was enough for her.

  In the studio, I will be resuming my project of threads and fuzz.  It took a while to get back to a rhythm.  I have noticed with both the sewing on the machine and also the hand stitching, I am apt to take it slow and then realize a good out-come.  I do not enjoy picking out mistakes.  As I had already cut the 2″ strips for this sewing project, I am ready to find something different.

  

  That difference may come sooner than later.  In today’s mail was a package from Amazon.  It contained a bottle of our calcium 1,000 mg. daily usage.  It also contained my Olaf blades that I use in the rotary cutter for cutting fabric.  A dull blade makes for heft on the shoulder to cut through the 44″ fabric when doubled.  I watch YouTube videos that some can take up to eight layers thick of fabrics to cut using the same blades I use.  That is not in my wheelhouse.  I will be content cutting through two layers.

  Our supper this evening is leftovers.  Tonight is a repeat of the chicken meatball pasta dish. Those meatballs had a great bit of jalapeno spice and chopped up cherries for a good balance.  I also will be heating up the veggies, carrots and English peas.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:02 pm on December 14, 2025 Permalink  

  Mid December 

  The month of December is flying by, and not because our calendar is over-extended.

  More often than not I hear the opposite from people our age: ” The days are so boring and long.”

  We had visitors on this Sunday from Eden Prairie.  Carrie, Jeremy, Megan and Nicholas arrived at noon and the noon meal was ready.  Oven dishes work the best.  Carrie brought vegetables and a pecan pie for dessert.

  Megan caught a nap, Nicholas checked out the patio porch kitties, Jeremy cleared ice off of the drive and Carrie did the dishes.  All of those activities and the chit chat, a lot of it, prevailed.

  Dennis’ daughter, Sandy and Tom stopped in on their way home from Sioux Falls where they had taken in a hockey game.  Carrie and Sandy had not seen each other for years, but there were many “remember when” tales.  

  Dennis and I are now in a quiet home, each most likely reflecting on varying tidbits of a variety of conversations.

  Left-overs are in the refrigerator as well as the freezer was blessed with entra dishes that were brought from Eden Prairie.  A food shelf delivery that will serve Dennis and me for some time.

  The patio porch kitties can once again come down from the garage rafters and take back their domain.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:49 pm on December 9, 2025 Permalink  

  A Mess 

  The streets are a wet mess as the temps are in the thirties.

  Messes are not just on wet street and walkways.  There had been something amiss in one of our refrigerator’s crisper drawers.  It was not good.  It may have been in progress for sometime going by the labels of products that had been in the drawer.  They now were in a state of encapsulated gunk that resembled a clear-coat of some kind.  Mirror mirror on the wall.

  We were in need of groceries as the cupboards were creaking they were so bare.  Admittedly, we do that often to allow us to use what had and has been bought in the past.  An example would be our supper from last night.  A can of white chicken meat.  I made sure to wipe the top of the can as it had been on the shelf in the pantry for quite some time.  An onion that was about to sprout a new beginning was next.  The pay-back for letting it sit idle for so long was that I needed to take off my glasses while shredding it.  The tears were severe, I had to stop and rinse my eyes in the bathroom.  The last ingredient was a paltry amount of shredded Swiss cheese.  Mayo to the recue to combine said items.  The plastic container was popped into the refrigerator until it was time for supper.

  With my grocery list in hand I was getting ready to shop at our Super-Fair grocery store.

  There is an adage: seek and you will find, ask and it shall be given.  I honed in on the last of that adage.  I asked Dennis to take care of the yucky crisper drawer while I was gone.  Sweet.  I wouldn’t be around to tell him how to do it.   

  A win, win.  The drawer was clean enough to put the new produce in it and we had a variety of groceries back in the house.

  You have to love when a plan comes together.  The chicken salad was great for supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:34 pm on December 5, 2025 Permalink  

  Flaking 

  It’s been flaking off and on since early morning.  Those self same flakes added up to allow an accumulation on parked cars and our front deck.

  Dennis went off to keep an 8:45 appointment at the VA clinic here in town.  After several cups of coffee I headed to the studio.  For me it is as if I am punching in with a time-card.  It keeps me moving and staying engaged in a balanced day.  It’s not an automatic thing.  I work at staying in the present while still having something tangible to show for my God-given day.

  Yes, I do like the configuration of having a flat surface to the left of me while sewing.  Yesterday’s plan is working.  It also keeps me from sitting at the sewing machine for too long.  I need to get up to go to the ironing board, walk around the church tables to trim the newly pressed seams.  It really is all about staying on my feet as much as possible to keep strength in my legs, hips, back . . . the whole aging package.  Even doing the uping and downing of the steps to get to the studio for enjoyment is a good thing.  Another plus . . . there is nothing better than keeping up with news than on the KNUJ radio station. 

  Dennis was home by noon and he gave me the ditty on his VA appointment.  We will be receiving the results of his lab work via the mail.  He is on their calendar for an appointment next year.  If something changes, he can give them a call.

  I didn’t ask for any input on last night’s supper options.  When I had supper done, Dennis came to the table to see what he would be getting.  What was for supper, was a steaming hot bowl of oatmeal with a generous addition of flax meal.  The table held cinnamon, milk and brown sugar.  The flax meal adds a great flavor to the otherwise bland oatmeal.   

  Sometimes, surprises for a meal works out great.  I got positives reviews. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on December 3, 2025 Permalink  

  Mighty North Wind 

  The north wind is encouraging snow being swept off of roof tops and making small drifts of snow across drives and sidewalks.

  I see it all happening and that is as much as it is bothering me.  I enjoyed two cups of coffee before heading down into the studio.  Today I succeeded in putting what was started decades ago, a 2025 fruition.  My mom, Lena, loved her threads and fuzz.  That is most likely where I shared that love then and right into today.  I don’t know what mom’s intent was as she stitched together layer upon layer of prairie points.  Prairie point: a square of fabric folded several times ending with a self-contained point.  Often mom would use them to edge her quilts with the intent that grubby little hands would put wear and tear on the points and not the quilt edge.  These three items held many hand stitched stitches to hold the points in place making for a quilter’s design.

  

  I knew I had some silicone fabric much like what is used on ironing board’s surfaces.  With my protractor to achieve the correct sizes, the plan was shaping up quite nicely.  Into my stashes of trimmings I went to see about finishing them.

  

  There are now three hot pads for dissemination when Carrie and Megan visit.  I intend to keep one for myself.  Using the double fold bias tape needs a steady hand to keep the two layers consistent.  Mission completion.

  In between time, there are a dozen frozen cinnamon rolls thawing for later in the day baking.  We usually purchase a 6 lb. bag of chicken tenderloins.  Today was the day to open that purchase up and make meal sized zip-lock bag offerings.  So much easier than struggling with the large frozen bag each time chicken is on the menu.

  It’s been a good day on Stauffer Avenue.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥