Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from May, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:24 pm on May 2, 2025 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  Actually, yesterday was quite the day.  When I had gone down into the studio, it had the scent much like a smell that could have resembled Spring Touch spraying our yard for weeds or spreading liquid fertilizer.  I passed it off.

  Last night, I was going to wash up some dishes and the water was barely warm.  When Dennis went to wash up for bed, there was again barely warm water.  I went down to the basement and the circuit breaker was tripped for the hot-water heater.  No hot water, a circuit breaker tripped, and a bad smell.  Too late in the day to call the Watson boys.

  This morning, first thing Dennis called.  They were here within thirty minutes.  The bottom element of the electric water heater had burned out.  There was the rest of the story.  With an hour’s time the boys had the old unit drained, had it out of the house and a new one in place.  Brandon said there would be hot water after an hour or so.  On the old unit I had written 11/06/2020.  The unit that went out of the house was still under warranty, so we will be getting a bill for the installation.  If I remember correctly, this new one’s warranty will pick up what the previous one had been warrantied for.  Kind of like a round robin.  We thanked the fellows for the quick service.

  Dennis had inquired about the water heaters that heat on demand.  That would be ideal for new construction.  An old home like ours would need extra items for it to be installed and not be cost-effective in labor or parts.

  This was a gray cool day.  I had made up my mind to not work in the studio, to give my shoulders, hands, and back a break.  I had wanted to check out some sites on YouTube and the day has passed.  Amazing what can be gleaned in new knowledge if I just seek and search.

  On a sad note.  Some time back I had shared that our neighbors across from us on Stauffer Avenue would not be able to live in their home any longer due to Chuck’s health.  Today several vans have been at their home.  The signage on the vans referred to a company that would clear out a home for estate purposes.  As I said . . . sad.  New neighbors sometime in the coming weeks or months.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 11:34 am on April 30, 2025 Permalink  

  Whew! 

  Whew!  I have had a great session in the studio.  Sometimes when I tackle a step in the quilting process and take it slow, miraculously the next step comes to mind.  I had no idea how to quilt down the two borders.  The center of the quilt is busy enough to carry the entire quilt.  I already had the walking foot on the sewing machine with the seam guide already attached.  I decided to channel quilt the two borders at two inches apart.  I do not have any definite plans on the center blocks.  They are large enough that there will need to be something done.  Sometimes, less is more.  I had already free-motion quilted them prior to deciding to make this quilt.  The original plan was to make pillows.  Seriously . . . making and stuffing eight pillows!  I have more to channel quilt but the shoulders gave it up.

  

  

  When Megan was visiting, she wanted to make something for Nicholas.  She finished it off by using the guide on the walking foot and did a lot of hatch quilting on it.  Her hatch design was about two inches apart at the intersections.  Sweet! With that coming to mind today, it was a huge surprise when she texted me with an attached photo.  Megan interned at a girl’s shelter during early spring.  Someone had donated a really nice Singer portable sewing machine.  No one knew how to use it.  Megan took it home to her apartment and cleaned it, and checked it out.  She even bought a small amount of fabric and took it back to the shelter.  When Carrie’s were here for Easter, Megan shared that the girls at the shelter were thrilled to actually sew some squares of the fabric together.  Megan gave me kudos for having taught her enough to pull it all together for others. 

  Today all of the dead lilac trimmings from last Saturday made it to the tree dump.  There was even a cedar bush that got cut down.  Years ago a birdie popped a seed and the trunk of the bush was now as big as my closed fist.  Time flies and some things grow faster than others.  Had we tried to buy a small shrub and get it started . . . the rest of the story.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 11:00 am on April 25, 2025 Permalink  

  Friday the 25th 

  After it raining off and on for 24 hours the skies are trying to lighten.  Nothing like rain to bring out the dandelions.  Some are as huge as dinner plates complete with a blossom.

  After being out for less than two weeks our small USA flag has slipped down the steel rod that I placed it on.  That was my first item to tackle.  A whole lot of respect was required.  Mission completion.

  

  With the washing machine’s buttons pushed I headed to the studio.  My goal was to complete placing safety pins into the sandwiched project.  I am contemplating the next step.  The purple blocks are begging for a special embroidered design to be stitched on them, and I haven’t yet decided what design and what color thread.  The blocks that already have been embroidered with a colorful design will be quilted in a way to not take away from what there is already in place.  The safety pins are as if they are sentinels awaiting.  The embroidered blocks are done on a snow white background, disappointed in them showing up yellowed under the LED lights.  Anyway . . . I have a lot to think on before rushing into anything.  I already have achieved one goal with this project, which was to do something with these seven embroidered blocks rather than toss them into storage.  I am now at a point of no return.

  I do like this size of a quilt project as it fits well on the two church tables.  Food for thought if someone or something arises in the future.

  PT is at 2:30 this afternoon.  I am prepared . . . like in having done what I had on my agenda and then taking the aftermath as it plays out.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥ 

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on April 23, 2025 Permalink  

  Wednesday the 23rd 

  I am working on keeping a schedule for myself during the day.  

  My morning routine has found me getting up bit earlier.  7:15 does make a difference rather than 8:oo.  The coffee goes well with checking the usual sites on the HP.  The bank site has become a usual and Dennis even comments that that is a good thing.  Without fail 9:15 is when Mayo rings in as a reminder of upcoming appointments.  They do it two weeks out of the appointment and then a week out.  I have gotten used to having my phone in my pocket.  

  My walk will be every morning after the prescribed exercise I have been given.  Even after just two mornings, I can feel it . . . in a good way.  Yesterday on my walk is when I found out that our neighbors, Chuck and Bonny’s house will be put up for sale.  A story and a half full to the brim.  They always spend the winter with their daughter in Tennessee and fly home after Easter.  Chuck started having problems that caused them to fly home sooner and when their son met the plane, Chuck was hospitalized, Bonny stayed with the son at his home.  Yesterday I visited with their children as they were packing up their parent’s home.  They will be living in Mankato in a one bedroom apartment in an assisted living unit.  Bonny had a lot of glass collections.  They had to pair down as to what a 10′ x 10′ storage unit would hold.  Hmm.  The unexpected can happen anytime.

  I spent time in the studio.  My purple quilt is ready to be pinned into the sandwiched project.  Kersten had found two of the foldable carboard grided 36″ x 72″ assists.  That cardboard allows thumb tacks to hold down the stretched sandwich of the three layers.  Tomorrow I will get out my pins that Kevin had found with the heavy duty plastic heads making the pinning process easier on the hands.  One step at a time.

  Last night as I was in my bedroom porch stitching after supper, I could not believe the wild turkeys flying and then roosting for the night in a tree across the way.  This morning, as the temps began to rise, one by one they left the tree branches.  It will be interesting to see if they return to their roost this evening.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:22 pm on April 22, 2025 Permalink  

  A Tuesday 

  Well, well.  Yesterday got away from me.

  Pt was at 2:30 in the afternoon.  I got home after four as I needed to run an errand.  Dennis needed a bit of help.  Nothing serious.  Dennis was planning on making a trip to the Cottonwood County landfill on Tuesday.  I needed to hold up the top part of the end-gate with my cane.  That has had an issue with it staying up on its own.  Sometimes it will stay and sure enough about the time Dennis would want to load something into the pickup bed it could and would come down and hit him on the head.  We had two office chairs that had also lost the umph in the hydraulic seals.  Those two chairs, plus a plastic patio table and a fiberglass snow shovel that was cracked needed to be out of the garage.

  Dennis had called his friend Dwayne and the two of them were going to be headed down the highway to the west.  No doubt Dennis would have coffee for the both of them and then have breakfast . . . somewhere.  

  When all was said and done, I needed some me time with ice packs on my right hip.  Mike’s elbow had left a feeling of me being branded for as much as the searing discomfort had been felt.

  By the time we rustled up our supper . . . I had had enough of a day.

  Today is a new day.  I am doing my blog during this forenoon waiting for it to warm up a bit.  A walk is what my body needs . . . right down Stauffer Avenue.  Mike has been doing his part and I need to do mine.  Using both canes and stretching out the legs for a decent full length in a stride.  As Stauffer Avenue has had a fresh layer of crushed asphalt on it, I adjusted one of Dennis canes so it would match mine in height to use for the walking, keeping one of my canes clean on the bottom for indoor use.

  When Carrie and I were visiting Saturday, she commented that she is at the same age I was when I had my knees replaced.  Wow!  Talk about bringing Grammie up to real time.  I know at that time, I mentioned I was doing it for Megan so I could keep up with her.  That day, Megan was sitting in her little plastic table top cubby.  Yes, Megan is now 21 and is an adult.  That also had to sink in.

  As I take my walk, I will have lots to think on and yes, the phone will be in my pocket.

  With that I will take my leave and get back to a daily post.  ♥  Noticing that I have lost internet for now and will publish later on.

   
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  Noreen 3:05 pm on April 19, 2025 Permalink  

  A Saturday 

  A Saturday afternoon and the house is quiet.  Carrie and her family came for an early Easter.  It was wonderful.  Nicholas seems to have grown several more inches in height.  Colleges have ben visited for Nick’s 2026 graduation year.  Megan brought Jarrod to meet us.  Jarrod and Megan have been in college together for several years.  Megan will be through with her college in May.  Carrie’s store keeps her busy.  Jeremy is checking out different employment options.  The world keeps on spinning.

  Our plans for a hot meal came off without a hitch.  I can see leftovers for us.  Who doesn’t like leftovers!

  Megan asked to get out the step ladder as she needed one more time up in the huge Maple tree in our yard.  Jarrod joined her.  Oh for the memories that Dennis and I have.  Sweet.

  Our Easter Sunday is going to be quiet.  Dennis’ son Ken, having come to Minnesota for the summer, plans on stopping in.  He has retired from driving for Heartland and is going to help someone out hauling grain from Northern Minnesota to the Shakopee terminals and return with a load of fertilizer to the northern Minnesota area.

  It got quite nice out today.  No winds to speak of.  The morning doves are cooing.  It is a sound that has always brought comforting feelings to me.

  I am out in my bedroom porch with not much in plans, just reflecting on today, the yesterdays and what will come in the tomorrows.

  For now, I think I will thread a needle and do a bit of stab and poke stitching.  Dennis seems content at his computer playing solitaire.  This afternoon is the peace that passes all understanding.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on April 16, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day 

  Hello,

  This is a day in the life and times of an elderly farm gal.

  If I had known I would have need of a Mike at PT to try and undo what I have done to this sweet old body, I would have taken better care of myself.

  Today, I got home at 2:30 and didn’t quite know where to park myself.  I decided to walk up and down the cement drive until everything from the waist down was assured all was still attached.  Mike must take his elbows in for sharpening on a regular basis.  The good thing is, I trust him beyond measure.

  The grocery store was busy this morning.  I have all I need for Saturday and if I don’t . . . I’ll get along without it.  Piece of cake, Dennis knows I have this in the bag.  One comment from the ole cowboy was in regard to hopefully enjoying leftovers.  Gotta love the guy.

  I have some stitchy items for Carrie and Megan.  Kersten took hers home when Kevin’s had come for my birthday.  Is it hard to know who is stitch worthy for me to share with?  Absolutely not.  My two children grew up around both of their grandmothers that knew no bounds with a needle and thread.  I followed suit.  The amount of threads, yarn and fabric for the end result is a mere fraction of what that end result represents.  Boundless amounts of blood sweat and tears over often, quite a few laborious hours that can turn into weeks and even months.  I think a true stitcher can smell who would appreciate something from the studio.  When an item is given, using it is the greatest thank you gift a stitcher can ask for.  If the use wears it out, a replacement would not be out of the question.  Sometimes the oftener it requires laundering, the softer it becomes.  The kid’s grandmothers sewed with very harsh fabrics of a not many thread count fabric.  Guess what!  I am still enjoying those items and they become more cherished over time.   No . . . if there is not interest for those that visit me in what the studio holds . . . there is no stitchy shared. 

  My coffee this afternoon has been a boon to help me unwind and heal . . . until 12:15 of Friday the 18th.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:40 pm on April 15, 2025 Permalink  

  Tuesday the 15th 

  We are persevering as each day a few things are tackled for the weekend.  Carrie’s are coming on Saturday and today we found out Dennis’ daughter Sandy, the nurse, will be coming on Sunday.

  I like doing a bit at a time in prep.  I don’t get wore out that way.

  While there was bacon baking out in the 325 degree oven on two cookie sheets lined with Reynold’s Wrap, I tackled our refractory table top.  The table is used every day with many different drops of liquid here and there.  If needed, it can seat eight comfortably when the ends are pulled out.   All remaining soft chairs can be easily pushed to a side.  I will add a side-note on the bacon.  Black Label thick cut yields 12 slices per pound.  The baking process needs the thick cut in order to end up with a respectable slice of bacon.  I bake it about 50% to finish, so when it is needed, a quick stint in the microwave takes it to completion.  Dennis said he could smell the wonderful aroma when he came in at noon.  Had the bacon been out of the oven by that time, he would have needed a sample.

  In between time today, I wrote out several bills.  One being our real-estate taxes.  I like to pay the entire amount rather than splitting it into two separate payments.  Get it over with!

  When I moved into St. James, I bought this property for $8,500.00.  I had no credit rating, the bank would not touch me.  The owner wrote up a contract for deed, allowing a monthly payment to him directly.  The rather humorous thing is that the county now has it valued at $98,000.00.  The home has not been added onto and the garage would still be listing to the south if not for my dad stringing support cables and then Kevin giving us a steel beam to cement in about 12′ from the garage with another cable.  Ah yes, life is interesting.

  Supper will be a bowl of soup and a bacon sandwich.

  With that I will take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 2:23 pm on April 11, 2025 Permalink  

  A Go-Gettum Type of Day 

  When I awake and from deep down inside of me, I feel it is going to be a “Go-Gettum” day.

  Last night while waiting for the sandman, I envisioned where all my supplies were to clean the windows on the front storm door and the back storm door.  Oh my gosh, looking through those windows after the cleaning lends itself to maybe tackling one or some of the eight windows in the bedroom porch . . . but not today.  I also recalled that last year I had purchased two small USA flags for the steel rod next to the front sidewalk.  I will give the first one a congrats on how long it lasted with the horrific winds of last fall and this winter.  Today I felt a new flag was needed outside our home.

  The next project was to try a no-bake pie.  By this suppertime I will know if it set up to cut a slice or if “you all bring a spoon and dig in” type of pie.  Whatever, I know it won’t go to waste.  If it turns out, I will share the recipe.

  Under the south windows of my bedroom porch grow the most hardy perennial Russian Sage plants.  The purple blooms are beautiful until the hard frosts of fall.  Right now, I am tackling about a lineal foot a day to cut back last years plants.  The goal is to get the six foot planter cleaned out before the roots want to spring forth with new growth.  It’s not difficult work but patience is required.  Ya . . .  I have grown some of that since 2021.

  This evening I am looking forward to a hot meatloaf sandwich for supper. 

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on April 5, 2025 Permalink  

  Today is Saturday 

  Today is Saturday, the 5th of April.  More importantly is was spa day for the folks on Stauffer Avenue.

  Five blocks to the west of our home was the location.  Maria blocks off two hours for Dennis and myself.  It is the peace that passes all understanding.  In years past we would go to Mankato for the pedicures.  It was so worth it as I can no longer twist my arms and hands to reach all ten toes.  What’s the point if only six of the ten get done.  Dennis’ feet were too tender for me to tackle them.  With Maria having an LPN nursing license as well, it is the perfect match for well trimmed toes, a massage of legs and feet and a once over of healthy legs and feet.  Dennis likes a short haircut and Maria does not disappoint.  For me . . . I am grateful for any haircut that I can manage over a month’s time.

  As long as we were out styling and profiling, a stop at the grocery store came next.  A canon could have been shot off in the store and not hit anyone.  For a weekend, it was very quiet.  A nice sunny day as we have, the exodus out of town does happen.  I am not above having Banquet frozen dinners in our freezer.  Sometimes a Grammie, just doesn’t feet like starting from scratch.  Dennis’ activity level reaches from zero to ten on some days and to pop a meal in the microwave works.  On those evenings I like my hot bowl of flax meal and oatmeal with a side of cinnamon.

  There is smoke rolling over the tree tops in several directions.  Grilling season is here.  At a time in the past, Dennis and I had a small grill.  It became too much prep for a simple hamburger.  Dennis refuses to eat in McDonald’s.  I save my tastebuds for a time when we are in Mankato and visit Culver’s. 

  Speaking of Mankato, I have not had any retail therapy in a very long time.  Maria mentioned that she does check out JoAnn’s as the distribution centers for JoAnn’s are closing and they then restock the stores until inventory is depleted.  Maria does a lot of crocheting.  She has since learned to shop online for the brands she likes.  Just as the fabric I had ordered from New York City’s fabric warehouse, there are available contacts for yarn as well. 

  The wind continues to clatter the wind chimes.  Always a wind.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥