Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from October, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:16 pm on October 24, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  Here it is mid-day and we are home safe and sound from Mankato.  The only place we shopped at was Sam’s Club.  I shopped, Dennis filled the little red pickup and watched people.  A whole of entertainment there.

  I reminded myself of a prairie wife filling up the items our larder would need to get through the winter.  I do comparison shop in regard to our local grocery and Sam’s Club.  We have the freezer compartment on the bottom of the refrigerator.  Dennis always marvels as to what I can all pack into it.  

  Today was more about taxable items.  The total of the tax on the bottom of the receipt was $16.03.  It’s all good.  I don’t buy what we don’t use.

  Later on today or in the morning, I will package up the 30 giant banana nut muffins individually and get them in the freezer.  Hey, if Dennis is content with one for breakfast, who am I to complain.  He is getting something in his system with all the medications.  Medications alone might raise cain with the stomach lining.  Then again, I think . . . if smoking hasn’t done a number on him?

  We did visit all the  way to and all the way home.  Dennis was in the mode for reminiscing.  One of his thoughts went to his son Jeff.  One summer, quite a while ago, Jeff had no direction.  Jeff used Dennis’ little red pickup full of gas and headed to Fairfax every day to help Kevin with a clay block garage that was in dire shape.  When Jeff got back to St. James in the late afternoon, he was paid $40.00 for a good day’s workout.  It kept Jeff focused.  The garage had new life breathed into it.  For the life of Dennis, he always marvels when he thinks of that time.  Kevin and Jeff got along so well doing a hard laborious job.  Dennis’ final comment when he thinks about that time . . . if only we could have kept Jeff busy.  It was not to be.  I am very thankful Dennis is open and shares his thoughts.  

  Oh for memories.  We save the best and leave the rest.

  The day was great, we are home safe and sound with no mis-haps occurring.  We are having Marie’s chicken pot pies for supper.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:14 pm on October 22, 2025 Permalink  

  Sun Shine 

  Oh let the sun shine in and show all the streaks on the windows.

  Several hours in the studio today brought about some stitching.  Then . . . it was food for thought on how the last of the border would be stitched down before the binding would go on.  Slow going prevents would have, should have and could have been.  With hand stitching it sometimes calls for picking out stitches when an error is made.  Not a big deal.  Picking out stitches from free motion stitching is . . . I don’t even want to go there.

  Working with fabrics and pins of any and all sorts is hard on the fingernails.  My nails have a tendency to split.  Right about the time that they have grown out, I put them through dealing with the same thing what got them in tough shape.  I think putting clear nail polish on my nails might help them grow out being sheltered.  I haven’t had nail polish in the house for one heck of a long time.  Time to visit one of the dollar stores in town. 

  The wind has given up a bit and Dennis has been picking up the branches that were long gone dead but caught up in the  healthy branches.  If the wind of yesterday didn’t free them, I do believe there are safe where they are for the time being.  The little round steel burning ring, a rim from a truck, is making short work of the majority of branches. 

  We are having Progresso Tomato Soup for supper with grilled cheese sandwiches on the side.  I will add just a scant plop of heavy cream into the saucepan for a bit of richness.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on October 18, 2025 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  There are gray skies outside but I have plenty of sunshine in my soul to share.

  Never a dull moment in the studio or at Stauffer Avenue.  I worked arduously on my Christmas silhouette stitching.  Perhaps not perfect.  I did not cut anything off of the back, I just tucked it in before covering the back with carboard.  It is now in the dining portion of our first floor, hung for me, myself and I to enjoy.

  There is another 54″ x 54″ being sandwiched on the church tables.  That size is the perfect size for me to work on.  The case with the red-headed safety pins is front and center.  They remain wearing on the finger if I over-do it . . . not nearly as wearing and downright painful as regular safety pins.  The slide on the red-headed pins just glide in place and likewise when I need to remove them.

  KNUJ was on in the studio when the doorbell sounded.  I did try to call out for someone to come in . . . nothing.  I got to the top of the steps as fast as I could.  Dennis’ older brother’s family was at the door.  Nephew Mark and his son from Nebraska, and nephews Mitch and Matt from Windom came a-calling to see Uncle Dennis.  I stayed in the patio porch being polite until I took my leave and let the fellows reminisce.  What a great surprise for Dennis to catch up with family.

  The freezer offered up a container of pulled pork from a crockpot rendering a bit ago for tonight’s supper.  Yesterday Dennis was in charge of the kitchen making his cucumber and raw onion dish.  Dennis wanted them to cohabitate in the refrigerator until this evening’s supper for the flavors to blend.  There will be instant mashed potatoes for the cucumber dish to be spooned over.  Sounds good to me.  I’ll have the load of laundry folded by the time he rings the dinner bell.

  Earlier, Dennis came back from Fleet and Farm with a few purchases.  The item that was quite a bit higher than the last time he had bought it was the filter for his shop vac in the patio porch.  Grin and bare it.  The filters can be vacuumed off only so many times from and with cat hairs before a new one is considered.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on October 15, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  It’s a happy day when the the last half of our real estate taxes are due, October 15th, and . . . we took care of ours in total in May.  That became important when the six months of home owner’s insurance is due as well as the the six months of car insurance is due.  There is only so much the month of October can handle.  We absolutely are keeping the economy moving.

  Today, I headed to the grocery store and was reminded it was senior citizens day, too late as I was in the doorway of the store.  I am sure Dennis thought I had been picked up for squeezing the avocados and been hauled off to the poky.  Yes, there were individuals I had not seen for some time. How could I not engage when approached.  All is well as we got home safe and sound.

  This forenoon went well in the studio.  My next task for another day will be pulling out my tote of quilt batting to see if there is enough for my next 54″ x 54″ project. I have tape specifically designed to patch together odds and ends of binding, all the while, with no indication of it in the finished project.

  I have a “post-a-note” on the top of my laptop as a reminder of an October 17th event.  I would be hard pressed to forget want happened 60 years ago as we were living in Beaver Falls working for Orlin’s sister and her husband on a beef cattle farm.  Actually, the fact that there was no running water in the farm house, was not on the top of my agenda.  Yup, its a good thing I have the “post-a-note” for the 17th.

  We are having bean and ham soup for supper.  Perfect pairing on a chilly, cloudy day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:12 pm on October 12, 2025 Permalink  

  A Bit of Rain 

  A bit of rain, but not enough to wash off the front deck that has many layers of dust.

  With good faith effort the lights went on in the studio.  KNUJ was just picking up the church service from Grace Lutheran in Gaylord.  I had my material measured and trimmed.  The iron was warming to take out the wrinkles from being in the stashes.  My sharpest stick pins were at my right elbow.  The first hem was folded and pinned.  The sewing machine hummed, ready for action.

  The back door opened . . . my good faith effort blew right out that back door as company stepped in.  Dennis’ niece Jean Pew from Morris came a-calling.  Jean does her road trip at least twice a year.  Jean had been here over Memorial weekend.  I shut down multiple lights and switches in the studio and the three of us settled around the dining-room for a good visit.  Jean’s mom had been Dennis’ older sister.  Now . . . Dennis is the last of “when there were four” in Edith’s family. 

  Jean left after we had a bite of lunch.  When she left, so did my enthusiasm for anything to be started back up again in the studio.  All has not been lost.  The bare window curtain has had its fabric laid out with the plan begun, if only by a dozen stick pins.  Hey . . . it’s a start.

  I decided to do some hand stitching while keeping an eye out on the traffic.  Grain semis are still hauling in.  I doubt that our small shower of rain has way-laid anyone that was out in the fields.

  I have an oven meal in progress.  A very lean pork steak with seasonings rubbed in and a slather of ketchup on top.  I have some potatoes to use up.  Frozen carrots and cranberries will round out the fair.

  Tomorrow Dennis will be getting his flue shot at the VA clinic here in town.  I pass on the flu shots.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:12 pm on September 26, 2025 Permalink  

  Winds Down 

  As the week winds down, I can reflect on a very successful amount of energy expanded here on Stauffer Avenue.  We are not the fastest couple.  We are intent on taking care of life and limb.  You can add home-owner savvy to that.  

  If the weather had not turned nasty hot that encouraged all sort of annoying bugs in the air, we would have had our next conquest in the history books.  There is a wonderful octagon window in our bathroom that cries for TLC every several years.  The mill-work around the exterior of the window is very poor quality.  In the coming days, the small step stool that is sitting under the window on our sidewalk will be put to use.  The cracking, peeling paint will be done away with.  There may even be some E6000 glue used where needed.  That glue will hold like no other.  I cannot even remember when Kersten and I glued the antlers back onto the cement deer that we have in the yard.  Yup, tried and true product.  When the weather turns, the cast off paint chips will fly.

  I didn’t waste the morning.  The studio was busy.  As of two this afternoon, there is a patriotic project that has been sandwiched and made secure with my huge safety pins.  You know. . . the red ones that operate quite easily.  If I visit the studio tomorrow, my first task will be to select the correct color of thread with which to quilt it under the needle.  One step at a time.

  We will have the remainder of the tuna oven dish for supper.  Sweet.

  September will be noted as going from hot to very cool, back to hot.  All four seasons in one month. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:24 pm on September 25, 2025 Permalink  

  Interesting 

  For the last two calendar years our prescription cost via Well Care has been $1.00 for 2024 and $0.00 for 2025 per month.  For 2026, we just received our notice that it will be $9.00 per month for each of us.  I am not upset by this.  Our prescriptions are allowing us to maintain a good quality of living.  Dennis receives two prescriptions from the VA at $15.00 each as we had checked one plan to another.  Taking the time to be vigilant is what is needed.

  Today, I needed to pick-up two prescriptions for myself at the Lewis Drug.  It was $0.00 for the two rather than the $79.00 at the market rate.  I will be realistic in time to come.

  My studio went dark at one this afternoon.  My quilting care, thought and history won out.  Each of the two patriotic panels will be its own project.  I am proud of my decision.  The Mount Rushmore is the first of the two I will work on.  I have the backing fabric measured and sewn for it.  The quilt batting has been released from the plastic bag to allow for it to breath.  Enough for today.

  The tuna oven dish that Dennis made did not disappoint for last night’s supper.  There would be enough for this evening’s supper, but we have opted to do the oven meal again on Friday night.  Tonight’s supper is a bean and ham soup that we both enjoy.

  For decades we have had a round kitchen stool on rollers.  If weight is put on it, the rollers push up into the shell of it . . . making it stable.  I did use it to put my pail of stain on it when I was doing the front deck, only to realize that the rubber bumper on the base of it had rotted enough to fall off.  What was left was a very sharp edge.  In today’s mail, the new base bumper for the Kik-Step stool came and is ready to be put on lending the handy stool an extended life.  Where would I be without the internet and Amazon.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:08 pm on September 24, 2025 Permalink  

  Mission Completion 

  We, on Stauffer Avenue, can say that we have had mission completion on all levels.

  I have two pieces of fabric equal to one another in the studio.  As I have measured and cut, the thoughts were always niggling in the back of my brain.  My initial thought was to do the pieces back to back into a lap robe size.  I now have them both measuring 54″ x 48.  Both panels, each telling a patriotic story totally clash in the color-ways.  One panel is the Mount Rushmore with the eagle flying over the American flag in the red, white and blue theme.  The other is of raising the American flag over Iwo Jima in very dark brown, black and orange hues.  My quilting eyes cannot condone making them into one finished product.  When the lights went out in the studio at one this afternoon, I had both of them on the church tables.  Time to think on it and perhaps even sleep on it.

  Dennis completed his task on the first floor of our home.  We will be having a tuna oven dish with cranberries and bread and butter pickles.  Oh yes, bread and butter on the side.  The other day, Dennis was going to pick up a loaf of bread.  There had been street repairs, so he stopped at Casey’s.  The brand of bread that they sold was Hostess.  Hmm.  The taste of that bread took me back to when Lena made bread dough for buns.  It had a “sweet bread” flavor.  Not a bad thing at all.  He couldn’t remember what the loaf had cost.  I know in our grocery store, our usual bread, Country Hearth is $3.99 a loaf.  It bares checking out. 

  Yes, we have had mission completion.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on September 23, 2025 Permalink  

  Back to Normal 

  This morning when I got up, things felt like I would be getting back to normal routines.  What’s not to like with a slice of bread schmeared with peanut butter and jelly for breakfast.

  The lights went on in the studio and KNUJ was tuned in.  The seams I had laid out were soon under the needle.  The project for Megan entails two printed panels characterizing patriotic images.  I am going to put them back to back.  One is much larger than the other.  Out came the tape measure.  Getting coordinating fabric out for borders to be sewn on making them the identical size.  Everything I need to work with this project is within the confines of my studio, aka: a Michael’s Annex.

  By one, I was ready to close down shop.  Yesterday I knew that I needed to make a trip to the grocery store here in town.  Nothing in quantity, just a bit of this and a bit of that.  Dennis has been hinting that he is ready to make a tuna oven dish.  How could I not supply him with what he needs.  We do use the Albacore tuna.  It is chunks of nice white tuna packed in water.  Some day I am going to find a recipe to use the Star-Kist Tuna.  Yup, we are spoiled. 

  I have the groceries put away and have a bit of time to wrap these way-ward thoughts up for the day.  I did find my favorite apples in the store.  I now have 10 lbs. of the Macintosh apples in the refrigerator.  When the store’s deli has wrapped up their noon specials, the remainder is put in carry-out containers in the coolers where they keep the Mrs. Gerry items.  Dennis and I are going to have tater-tot hotdish for supper, along with our favorite bread and butter pickles and coleslaw.  Dennis can tackle his dish tomorrow. 

  Looking out the south windows of my bedroom porch, the air is full of the pesky “no-see’ms.” Right along with them the box-elder bugs and Asian beetles are vying for air space.

  I have had a great day and it feels good to have had the enthusiasm, courage and drive to complete some windows and get the deck ready for more years to come.  I can now spend time in the studio doing what comes naturally.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:14 pm on September 19, 2025 Permalink  

  Cooler Day 

  There was a welcomed breeze this morning.  I didn’t waste any time.  Yippee!  Everything that needed two coats of the Behr stain . . . has had it.  I am still out on doing the spindles.  I know that in the end, I will cave.  My ole body needs to have more of a rest than the afternoons of what was a week-long task.  I know that this task will serve us well for several years . . . or longer.

  Tomorrow I have a plan.  The car will sit in the driveway.  I am going to get Dennis’ bench from the back door into the car garage.  With foil covering the entire rim of the gallon can of stain, Dennis can stain his beloved bench, sitting on an old folding chair.  One of the 2x4s has never had a covering.  Dennis will have on an old tee-shirt, likewise pants.  To his credit, Dennis wanted to help with the deck.  Too many times that the pail of stain needed moving with lots of bending over to allow for a dizzy spell.

  Because we can, we are having waffles and sausages for supper.

  This afternoon there are sprinkles of rain off and on.  A weather system is forecasting of possible showers for the entire weekend.  Bring it on. 

  The additional battery for Dennis’ weed-whip and leaf blower came this morning.  The additional charging station is forth coming.  Dennis’ job is getting the setup of charging stations down from a very high shelf to a height that I can reach, making it reasonable.  Here in the house, I have the most used dishes and bowels at a height that is not above my shoulders.  Just common sense to make it so.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥