Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 1:47 pm on August 23, 2026 Permalink  

  A Pleasant Sunday 

  The sun is out with a pleasant temp with just the right mix of all things Mother Nature.

  We did have an early morning visitor, Tom.  Apparently Dennis did what is called a butt call to Tom last night at 10:30.  What had happened is Dennis had tipped his chair over when the call went through.  I heard the noise and had asked Dennis if he was doing okay.  It began a two minute call with both of us speaking while Tom was listening.  Tom was checking in.  I really appreciated it a lot.

  When I had been in the grocery store last week I bought a fruit, I had not bought before . . . cherries.  The cherries were with their own stems at a handsome price per pound.  I bought them because they were Elvera’s favorite and I want to see how they tasted.  So, so.  Too bad Elvera is no longer with us, I could have had a spitting contest to see which one of us could spit the pit the farthest.

  Lena in decades ago would buy several crates for canning the cherries.  They were the most expensive to can of all the choices of fruit.  It was a special deal when mom would open a quart jar for a Sunday supper.  It could also cause a bit of angst when mom dished up our sauce dishes with the cherry sauce.  One of the four of us noticed someone had more pits in their dish than someone else.  The angst began when dad, Raymond, in a rather loud voice stopped the count-down right then and there.  He allowed us to know that no one had ever gone hungry around that oak round table and just be thankful for what we had.  It got quite quiet as Sunday supper finished up.

  Oh the memories.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on August 21, 2026 Permalink  

  Friday the 21st 

  A usual day with unexpected company.

  Dennis’ daughter from Silver Bay came for a visit.  Susie came alone as Saturday her and her son, Ryan and Callie are going to do sweet corn for the winter freezer.  Wow, what a sticky situation that will be.  They will get the corn at eight tomorrow morning and then the day commences.

  Sixty years ago, mom and I with four other gals car-pooled from Boon Lake to Glencoe to work the Green Giant corn pack.  We worked the night shift.  Mom was on the line, cutting out worms from the cobs.  I worked the huskers.  The trucks came in from the fields and dumped the corn into huge downward troughs outside the building.  I needed to pull the cobs free from the gravity fed trough and put it point first into the pigeon holes that stripped the husks.  Splatter, splatter.  I signed in with my badge.  If I kept up with the conveyor I stood a chance of earning bonus, which I did.

  The ride home from Glencoe as the sun was coming up, had six gals sitting close together, stuck together from the corn starch on our aprons that we wore home. 

  Christmas was via the corn pack that year.  Later on in the season, those that had their badge from working could visit the warehouse in Glencoe and purchase cases of Green Giant canned goods.  A sweet deal.

  Memories of decades ago.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:34 pm on August 20, 2026 Permalink  

  Tree Man 

  Ryan our tree man stopped in so I could pay him for the last greatest tree limb that had gone down from the Hackberry.  He said he had looked the tree over . . . good.  It is a large tree that is now split down the middle.  He suggested taking down the tree in total as it would more than likely nickel and dime us.  More like $100s and $100s us.  I asked him to put us on his list.

  That tree has had a built up flower garden around it for decades complete with lime stone huge rocks and other concrete blocks.  Ryan winked at me with the assurance it would all work out.

  Dennis was my chauffeur this afternoon for errands in and around town.

  First stop was the Family Dollar.  Dennis was out of the hard candy known as Lemon Heads.  In the grocery store they are $1.75 per bag.  In the Family Dollar they are $1.50.  I cleaned off the peg with what they had.  The gal behind the counter said it was my lucky day as the sale was 10 for$10.00 until this Saturday.  That was the best $20.00 I spent on Dennis in a long time.

  Our next stop was the post office.  Retail therapy for me is ordering online.  I have found a company with free returns.  One return was needed.  I have the tracking number.

  The grocery store was the last item.  Fruit for me and cookies and pastries for Dennis.  Shy of being 90 . .  . no quibbles of what he likes to enjoy.  His breakfast box is a pastry with two cookies.  It’s no longer just a box.  It is a Bernina shopping bag with hand-straps.  The box goes in with the cookies on top of the box with his thermos coffee cup sitting beside it.  One hand for the bag, the other for his cane.  Safest way for him to travel from the house to the patio porch.   

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:31 pm on August 17, 2026 Permalink  

  My Tuesday 

  My Tuesday has gone exceptionally well.  Good ole Gemini did me good.

  I found a hand stitch pattern that I have had for some time.  It is monotone which I am ready for.  The previous pattern had 50 thread color changes.  From 2021 to 2026, mission completion.

  The new pattern is black floss on white.  The issue I had was that I had a half skein of black left from previous stitching.  I asked Gemini how many skeins of black floss I need for 39,000 stitches using one thread of the six on a skein on 22 count fabric.  Thank you Gemini and thank you Amazon for the 8 skeins of black that will be here on Tuesday, aka: tomorrow. 

  I do not feel the need to wander through retail stores to find what I need.  Been there, done that.  I have a specific need and it’s done in a heart beat.  It also saves the tempting item on the end-caps in the stores.

  The work in the studio went smoothly today.  The sewing machine never skipped a beat or a stitch as I went through two full bobbins via 40 vibrant spools of thread.  I still have a lot of work to do before I can call the fancy rag rug done.  Many, many wandering thread ends as well as removing the stabilizers on the back.

  Dennis has had a napping kind of day . . . that’s not a bad thing.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on July 24, 2026 Permalink  

  Yummy 

  We worked on our second batch of creamy cucumbers today.  It’s a very welcoming vegetable dish to pair with another protein dish.  I am in charge of the onions as I can use the chef knife and slice them paper thin.  Dennis does the peeling and using the mandolin to slice the cucumbers.  Peeling cucumbers always reminds me of my sister Elvera.  She never peeled the cucumbers for this dish.  I am here to tell you that peelings add a bitter taste to this dish.  What would Lena think!

  A day of hand stitching is what I am working  on while watching floss tubes on YouTube of individuals doing the self-same thing I am doing.  Why not!  One of my favorites is in New Zealand.  No matter where the subscribers are from, I always glean a bit of the lifestyle of each one.

  The air is heavy this afternoon.

  In short order our front yard has taken on a very thirsty look.  A multitude of different grass seed has been spread over the years and each one does its own show and tell.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:09 pm on July 21, 2026 Permalink  

  Feel Good Day 

  The wind is from the north and as I swept off the back door, the air was feeling pretty good.  Our back door always has a whirlwind effect on anything that the wind can carry.  When I took time to look up Dennis was busy with the leaf blower on the east patio also doing the tidy tidy.

  When the phone updates it always leaves more than requested. I did notice “Oak-Ever” when I opened the phone.  I then opened the Amaze Go!  A brain teaser to wipe out the entire design by not crossing over other lines.  If it were a bad thing it would have let me know by now as the phone is still operational.  Interesting to see what I see and then react to.  Also a good time burner.

  The studio is ready for whatever I desire.  The church tables have been cleared of clutter . . . always a site to see when I come down the stairs.  I used a particular box to do a mailing.  That content needed to find a new home.  Sifting and sorting to lessen while I was at it.  Very inviting to spend some time and energy when all appears to be a place where someone enjoys being.  I am sure much like a mechanic that opens his shop to find everything in its place and a place for everything.

  Dennis’ cucumbers were the best for supper last night.  Crispy and crunchy to pair with the chicken.  Tonight’s offering is still in the thinking process to pair with the remaining cucumbers.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:00 pm on July 20, 2026 Permalink  

  Rain Shower Came as Predicted 

  At 3:30 the lightning and thunder did bring a rain shower.  It brought .30 inches of rain that the humidity and the dew point marveled in.  Dennis declared a very hot day being muggy and steamy enough to make it feel like 99 degrees.

  Tom mowed the yards today.  He comes equipped with his trusty water bottle.  It was a gift from his grandchildren and keeps cold items cold for a long time.  Several mowing’s ago, it took some time before he realized it had gone missing.  He thought maybe he never packed it; maybe it fell out of its slot on the mower.  Nope it wasn’t at home.  Tom literally walked some areas thinking a branch had nudged it off the mower.  Third time going around the yards and the sun happened to glint a clue.  Yup, the shrub right next to our home had taken ownership.  One happy Tom.

  I tackled dust bunnies:  here, there and everywhere.  Our bedding is by a long sight not new.  The little rolls of fuzz under the far reaches of the beds . . . bring it on.

  We are in Spring Touch’s ant program.  Several applications in intervals.  Some sidewalk ants still roaming the bathroom.  What is causing me angst is the larger black ants finding their way onto the kitchen cupboard and the sink.  The cleaning of said area has been ongoing.  Terro is down in several places with bright post-a-notes beside it so as to catch the eye when we are in the perimeter.  WE were told that the onslaught might get worse before better.  Man are they fast moving!  Patience to the hilt.  Our home is over 100 years old and Dennis knows it doesn’t take much room for an ant to wiggle in.

  Dennis’ famous creamed cucumbers with onions is going to be paired with chicken titties in the fry pan.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:23 pm on June 28, 2026 Permalink  

  Thunder 

  The thunder really rolled early this morning.  It actually shook the house.  There were puddles on Stauffer Avenue when I got up but they soon had soaked away.  No matter what the rain amounted to, the grass needed a bit of a perk up.

  Many small city celebrations needed to take stock this morning of what could be salvaged and what would be scrapped. 

  The older ones on Stauffer had no plans for today.  Dennis came in from his morning breakfast routine in the patio porch and decided his recliner needed his attention.

  I decided to give the studio a second try while listening to the Gaylord’s church service.  The stitching went well.  No do-overs.

  After having the yard and perimeter of the buildings sprayed for ants this last week, there has been only one huge black ant that has dared to make an appearance in the kitchen.  It was larger than any black ant I had ever seen outside.  There will be multiple treatments a month apart and I am being hopeful to have seen ants of any size . . . no more.

  When I am in my bedroom porch at my HP facing south, it reminds me of Raymond and Lena sitting at their kitchen table, facing north.  They could take in traffic across the section from them and soon know the comings and goings of neighbors.  I, like them, have an inquisitive mind.  Having a curiosity in life is a good thing to overcome complacency.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on June 27, 2026 Permalink  

  A First 

  A first for us was going to the grocery store after supper.  The store was quiet and I scored a cart that tracked well.  Milk and distilled water were high on the list.  The new face mask for Dennis’ CPAP must be working well as his water tank is empty by morning, telling me his mask is staying on all night.  Fruit is always on the list.  As Dennis has decided to eat strawberries this year, I had two packs in the cart.

  Yesterday I had decided to keep my hand in the embroidery aspect of the sewing machine.  The hands were working, but not so much the mind.  I had a small hand towel as the project.  Totally kitted and hooped up to only realize it on the wrong end of the towel.  Try again.  It was an applique design.  First thing is to sew down the cloth fabric that the design will be stitched.  The outline was stitched as well as trimmed with my duck bill type scissor.  Two rounds of stitching to begin with.  I looked but had not seen the design needed to be flipped 90 degrees for it to be correct and not upside down.

  The hoop came off of the machine.  The machine was shut off as well as all studio lights.  Night, night for that project.

  This morning, I plucked off the strawberry tops and mashed them ready for having berries and a bit of ice cream this evening.  I went down into the studio and spent time plucking out all of the embroidery stitching off of the hand towel.  Machine embroidery makes for many many stitches.  The towel needed to be made ready for try, try, try again.  Hours later . . . success.  My tip for the day: one needs to keep the head out of one’s butt.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on June 22, 2026 Permalink  

  Sounds 

  The sounds of mowers came from all directions in the neighborhood this morning.  Our yard was included in that group.

  I needed to make a call to the Watson boys this morning.  The Mayo Store needed a phone call this morning for Dennis’ CPAP.  By 12:39 all the “Have to” tasks were completed.  What a feeling of self satisfaction that was.

  With that being said, I totally feel like I am on vacation with not a care in the world.  The only stress was what I had put on myself.  There is a lot to be said about thinking on a task and then just doing it and its done.

  When Tom was finished with the mowing this morning, I knew he also did odd jobs.  I went out and asked him if I could hire him.  Some jobs need the licensed service people and some not so much.  Tom will be taking care of a project in the basement.  Tom’s timeline and I know it will be done to our liking.

  Dennis is in his glory.  All of his favorite foods are on hand for leftovers this evening.  I like that as well.  As I said, I feel as if I am on vacation.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥