Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from October, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Noreen 2:24 pm on October 22, 2026 Permalink  

  Good Forenoon 

  It was a good forenoon to get a few items done.  Getting the kitchen and bathroom windows done sure felt good.  I don’t get in a rush, taking things slowly . . . the end result is good.

  The fall house cleaning will ensue.  I know where the major dust bunnies are that cause me the most grief.

  I had all the ingredients for a chicken, carrot, Alfredo sauce and pasta oven dish for this evening’s supper.  Getting it put together also let my eye discover the need for the kitchen range top to be taken down.  Hot suds, plus spit and polish did it.  Tidy, tidy feels oh so good. 

  Our Lewis Drug sends a text when our prescriptions are ready.  A small service that is much appreciated.

  A new hatch of bugs is showing today in the warm sunshine.  The back entry door window is on the docket for cleaning but not until we have a cool, very cool morning so I can beat the bugs to the glass.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:26 pm on October 18, 2026 Permalink  

  Measure, Measure 

  Measure twice before cutting.  The cutting was not even entertained as I had not even measured once correctly.  The hand stitching design was very specific as to what would be needed in fabric to achieve the finished product.

  It was a good thing I had only two days of hand stitching in, before I realized something looked off.  The only thing that was right, was the fact that the fabric was white.  Nothing too serious.  Start over and be thankful it was caught before too long.  I had two pieces of fabric in the drawer and I assumed the correct one had been pulled out.  Try, try, try again.

  Dennis received news today that his granddaughter that does the fighting:  kicking biting punching, barefoot will have her next match in France.  Yes, the same France that is now experiencing much upheaval.  There must be a much better, much safer way to make a living.  That’s all I have to say about that.

  The Subway treat was very good last night.  The Italian bread was very tasty with all the goodies.

  Catching an update on YouTube never hurts when I am not quite sure about a sewing element on the machine over and above of what I normally do.  Foundation paper piecing called for an update by me.  It worked out well.  It’s just too hard to be believable that it would not be one if not the first place to make an inquiry about..  I belong to a Facebook group specific to my model number of the Bernina sewing machine.  It blows me away, when some of the ridiculous questions come over and over.  Even referring to the owner’s manual would work.   

  It’s been a quite lazy day on Stauffer.  I am thinking an omelet could be the answer to this evenings meal.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:20 pm on October 16, 2026 Permalink  

  Rain and Wind 

  During the night, the north wind really rattled the awning on the west side of our home.  I did not think there were any dried needles left in the evergreen on the northwest corner of the house.  Not.  The front sidewalk is covered. 

  This afternoon it was an hour long conversation with Calvin.  He was in good spirits.  I have no difficulty chit chatting and reminiscing.  Eric comes to see him once a week if he is not traveling for work.  Eric also knows what extra items Calvin wants for his apartment refrigerator.  The two of them might also have a meal out together. 

  We have some fresh dirt across the front of our yard where the new fiber optics line was put in.  The squirrels have been hell bent on digging in their stash.  Time will tell in the next years as to how many        black walnuts have escaped “the dig” when spring arrives.

  Unbeknown to me, I did not realize Dennis had broken the plastic on the prescription of his currant head gear for his sleep machine.  He had reverted to the supply of his old prescription.  Upon investigating, the noise that has become nightly is for the poor fit and the air escaping.  Last night it did sound as if a bull moose was trying to gain access to the house.  Next Wednesday, there is an appointment set up at the sleep center in Mankato.  Perhaps a tutorial and a gentler touch may be the answer.

  Dennis offered to help with supper.  He is now aware of the process of peeling raw shrimp and getting them ready for a quick sauté in the fry pan.  Live and learn.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:15 pm on October 15, 2026 Permalink  

  It Is What It Is 

  The rain has been coming down since sometime before I wanted to get out of bed.  I had slept well straight through the night.

  I have let many creative ideas that I had had leave my days.  I found someone that could make good use of re-purposing them.  It felt just as good doing that as the decision to look at bare dirt rather than flowers among the weeds.

  It is what it is.

  I am on a quest of quite a few things.  I have finished one small hand stitched item and that brought about what the next would be.  Pulling out fabric and counting threads to pair up with what the design calls for and then pulling out the floss.  Watching Floss Tube on YouTube is encouraging and also can be enabling.  I need no new products of any type.  The encouragement is sufficient.

  It is what it is.

  My sewing machine, as of this morning, is oiled and sporting a new needle.  There are more things for a sewing machine project other than mending, quilting, embroidering.  Much like the squirrels, I am gathering my supplies from the shelving in the studio.  Search and I will find.  I surprise myself as to what I can find in my stashes.

  It is what it is.

  Dennis has been in the napping mode most of the week.  It humbles me that I need to curb how much I tackle from the time I get up until I go back to bed at night . . . as when the physical umph has been spent . . . there is no more.  It saddens me that Dennis has no will to tackle anything any more.

  It is what it is.

  After laundry has been folded, supper will be considered.  Today I vote for fluffy waffles and sausages.

  The rain is continuing and the parade of harvest semi trucks has ceased for now.

  With that I will take my leave.♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:18 pm on October 12, 2026 Permalink  

  Time Spent 

  Time spent in the studio today.  Sifting and sort always a good past-time.

  Many decades ago, I, was one that would pursue sale bins in craft stores.  One in particular in Sioux Falls when Dennis was attending a gun show at the civic arena for the weekend.

  This morning I pulled out the wares of that weekend.  It will be my next quest to use those wares as well as scrap fabrics.  At a time when Lena was in the apartment house in Hutchinson after she had retired from the farm, I would make cards as well as send letters within those cards.  She loved getting mail.  I am going to make a few of those foundation pieced fabric cards again.  What a great way to pass some sewing machine time using one color thread and one color bobbin thread.  That would give the embroidery module a great deserved break.

  Dennis’ son-in-law felt he owed me for what I had paid him for washing off the house last week.  Today Tom used the tiller attachment to edge the concrete drive.  I must say it looks sharp.  The yard is close to being tidy tidy for the next season.

  Shawn Cable our KEYC weatherman is warning we may have our first frost this weekend.  Not a killing frost but the tender plants may be affected.  Dennis’ two huge houseplants were put inside the patio porch last weekend in preparation.

  Supper will be left-overs.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 1:53 pm on October 8, 2026 Permalink  

  I Shouted Out 

  This afternoon, I saw a Mediacom Xtreme van to the home just south of us.  When I saw a fellow working on a box on the south side of the house, I went out on the deck and shouted out a “HELLO!”  When he looked up to see where the hello had come from, I waved him over.  I explained to him that in August we had changed internet providers but had no luck after repeatedly asking one of their reps to pick up the router.  He agreed to take it with him and he also said he would close the box on the side of our home that must have also been Mediacom’s.  I was thrilled to get it out of our home.

  The morning was spent in the kitchen getting several items prepared for meals yet to come.  One setup.  One prep.  One of having the oven on.  It was a good morning spent.

  Dennis had his eye appointment here in town.  He came home and relayed that he could have gotten new glasses, but had refused.  His eyesight is 20/25.  Dennis does no close reading and the script on Facebook has been enlarged for his ease.  It was a $600.00 purchase he would consider for the next six month appointment.

  Tom got the yards looking good.  As he mowed the dust rolled.

  Tomorrow we need to be at the Eye Center in Mankato by 9:30 for Dennis’ eye injection.  I have said it before and I will say it again, I am happy to by-pass the need for that treatment.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:09 pm on October 7, 2026 Permalink  

  Hoppity Hump Day 

  We were without service, internet, from yesterday noon until this noon.  I called the Fedium number and they went through what they could, finding no answers.  As the phone call was nearing to an end with no solution, I looked down.  After my marathon of window cleaning in my bedroom porch, it also took in a lot of moving of items to get near the window.  I had set the leg of my old Sears and Roebuck sewing table on the glass cable and crimped it good.  Really good.  Within an hour of letting the gal on the phone know what I had done, we were back in business.   There had been three extra feet of cable that had been on the floor, right about where my feet end up while sitting at my HP laptop.  The tech was kind enough to run it from the entrance to the home, up under the windows and tack it with small brackets.  Well done!

  Grammie . . . live and learn.

  My Wednesday luncheon guest brought about a good visit.  Marianne is going to PT, after she had fallen and had broken her arm, and is done about 12:30.  I had gone to the grocery store earlier, so it wasn’t a big deal to prepare a lunch.  Dennis doesn’t do “noon”, but he will enjoy all the fixens with his supper.

  The evening meals will be the ones that are easy for several days, as my window cleaning marathon will take some recovery time for the shoulders . . . actually one good shoulder.  Some don’t get it, but for me . . . clean windows . . . priceless.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 12:23 pm on October 3, 2026 Permalink  

  Saturday the 3rd of October 

  A great way to start the month: haircuts and pedicures.  What is hard to fathom is seeing that the next card from Maria states November 7th.

  The air is chilly today with winds having their way with leaves that are way too egger to leave the trees.  The lilac bush on the northwest corner of the house had to give a surprise by popping out a beautiful sprig of a bloom.  It looks forlorn as no longer are there any leaves left on the bush.

  At a few minutes after three this afternoon, I will need to get Dennis out of the house and up to the VFW here in town.  His family is planning a surprise birthday party for him.  My part is to get him there.  It’s a good thing he decided to take a nap after we came home from our spa date.

  Naps for fellows such as Dennis are good for his soul.  He has worked hard all of his life and still believes he is a person in his 20s and 30s, thus we have a good supply of items for me to clean him up and stop the bleeding.  He needs to be able to try and participate in activities of his younger being, perhaps those of his 60s and 70s would be safer.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 12:49 pm on October 2, 2026 Permalink  

  The Bugs 

  The bugs are out.  Boxelders, Asians, and wasps are all fighting for space on the screens of my bedroom porch windows.  Denise stopped in to wish her dad a happy birthday.  From the customers coming into Casey’s and the farmers trying some bean harvest are fighting the Asians really bad. 

  Dennis’ son came from Arizona.  He and his latest gal pal drove as she had never been out of Arizona this far.  They stopped in when they got into town yesterday afternoon at 3:30, stayed for 15 minutes, long enough to exchange names and then left, reportedly to find something to eat.  No, I do not have food on hand for anyone stopping in when I don’t know what day they will arrive.  Denise had been as Casey’s since seven this morning and she had not seen them.  I had to agree with her, that the bar stools should be checked.  Hmm. 

  Our Hometown Cafe posts their daily menu on Facebook each day.  Shrimp basket or jumbo shrimp were included in the options for today.  Dennis likes shrimp and I plan on taking him out for his birthday supper.

  As I am in my bedroom porch, seeing what goes on, life never ceases to amaze me.  The latest was a woman, carrying a bag that told me she had been up to the BP gas station, north of us by five blocks.  The bag was in one of her hands and the other hand held that of a toddler.  The height of the toddler did not come anywhere near to her waist.  The woman’s stride made the little fellow’s feet miss a beat from time to time as he wasn’t able to walk . . . more like being dragged.  Oh so sad.

  Yes, Stauffer Avenue is celebrating Dennis’ 90th birthday, complete with new owee bands on his right hand.  Gotta love that fellow.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:08 pm on September 30, 2026 Permalink  

  Hump Day 

  The air held enough mist that cars going by had their windshield wipers on.

  A cool cloudy day is the perfect day to get the house washed off of all the winter’s grime of 2026 taken care of as well as this summer and early fall’s grime off.

  Dennis was the straw-boss while Tom manned the container that Dennis has always used.  It can, with a flip of a switch, apply water and soap at the same time, and then turn on the plain water.  Soaping down the house with the cheapest laundry soap the Family Dollar has really allows the dirt rivers to run.  The concrete drive had lots of soap bubbles.  Even the windows on the outside don ‘t look as dirty as before.  Water marks?  Oh yes.  I will take it slow and steady with the tipping-in process.

  Though we have not as yet had a frost, the rain has really knocked off leaves from the trees.

  The studio has been returned to a manageable work space with the good tidy, tidy.  I did pull the next design.  Depending on what company the designs are purchased from, each company favors their own choice of threads to use.  I have been working with a company with designs that uses Floriani threads.  I only have collected Isacord threads as that is what Bernina sewing machines and the OESD design company uses.

  Online, I have accessed different thread companies and have been able to print off the numerical number of their thread colors and the companion color number of the Isacord.  As I have printed off most of the independent designs that have the color numbers to be used to achieve success, it’s a great tool.  On the designs from OESD, the Isacord number of thread needed is sitting in my storage bins ready to be lucked out.

  Working smarter . . . not harder.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥