Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from September, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:22 pm on September 29, 2026 Permalink  

  A Normal Day 

  The household on Stauffer Avenue had a good quiet night’s rest on Monday night.  It was obvious that Dennis’ CPAP was not giving the lbs. of pressure prescribed or needed for some time.  This loner should serve him well until he meets with his provider in November when he will be eligible for a new machine.  Each machine is issued for a period of five years and they don’t budge on that.

  We had a very heavy rain shower this morning and dribbles since.

  This morning I spent helping a friend close a ten year run on her store.  Though the store has been closed to the front door bell ringing as customers came and went for sometime, there was a lot of window dressing items: tables, racks, shelving, display cabinets, odd pieces of actual furniture, etc. that had accumulated over the ten-year period.  Karen had been selling the last of it on Facebook.  Wednesday at five p.m., the last key will be turned back to the Opera House’s committee . . . who Karen had been renting from.  She will be ready for a different chapter in her life.

  As I go about my business in and around town, there have been more and more Elm trees getting the red paint trim on the trunks of them, getting them ready for removal.  Not all trees are effected at the same time.  Hmm.  We have one on the acre.  Thus far no red paint.

  I had mentioned that Sunday had been a busy day for me multitasking in the studio.  Well, well.  I still have not gotten back to the studio.  Many used spools of colorful thread had been used and they now need to go back into their designated bins.  If I don’t do tidy, tidy, it will be less appealing to begin the next stitching.

  Going here and there, being able to help others, it is very reassuring and comforting for me to get back to and continue participation in my own life.  

  With that I will take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on September 26, 2026 Permalink  

  Rain 

  And the rains came just as predicted for those overnight and early mornings of this Saturday.

  Sometimes I do my best thinking and planning in bed. 

  I have a 60″ x12″ table runner that could easily have been loomed on my Newcomb Fly Shuttle loom.  It is however a product of some country.  A similar one has  been completed on my embroidery module with coffee themed designs.  This one will feature Christmas designs.

  In three ring binders on shelves in my studio, I have kept printed out designs that include thread color choices for each.  As I said, I had thought this thought this through during my slumber time.

  Now, on the church table next to my sewing machine, is the line-up of colorful spools of thread.  All thread colors have a unique numerical digit that I have put on the inside of each spool with a permanent black ink pen.   I keep my threads in plastic see-through storage boxes that hold 36 spools each.  The range of numbers can been seen on a piece of a paper label through the cover.  This particular design will be the third time I have stitched it.  The design printout indicates the sequence with a number when each color is used.  I have the aqua mesh stabilizer cut lying next to the mega hoop for the stitching.  The design will be 7.25″ x 4.50″.  There have been six bobbins wound as the design is dense.  The machine has been oiled and checked for fuzz that has gone rouge. 

  The lights and the radio have been turned off in the studio.  The prep was my goal and the goal has been successful.  Tomorrow is another day. 

  It is now time for some reading, hand stitching and a few rows of crochet practice before supper. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:04 pm on September 25, 2026 Permalink  

  Usual and Customary 

  Sometimes my usual and customary days are broken up by appointments.  When those appointments mete out nothing serious, it’s a very good thing.

  I have made an appointment with Tom to wash off our home.  Dennis is in charge on the details.  We have enough liquid soap from the Family Dollar to fill a container that allows the garden hose attached to it to cut the film and grim.  Rinse, rinse and that is all we can hope for.

  There are four tip in windows that I care most about to get freshened up before cold weather.  Standing on my bedroom porch floor to do the tidy, tidy takes any chance of it being unsafe out of the picture.

  Amazingly those items that were a must to do before winter, dim in comparison to working smarter not harder.

  Dennis’ nephew Brett stopped in this morning for a visit to the patio porch.  Brett has sold the concrete business to Dennis’ grandson, Ryan.  Brett still helps with some of the bidding expertise.  2026 is the year that Brett has stepped back and by all accounts, it is going very well.

  Brett stepped into the house to visit with me for a bit.  Brett found me in my bedroom porch doing some stitching.  He still enjoys the quilting during the winter months.  His basement is tricked out in size and in the lighting aspect as he has his own long arm.  I commented that perhaps before the cold and snow my sewing machine would be in my bedroom porch.  Brett thought how sweet it would be to have natural lighting to work by.  I totally agree.

  The last week of September is going to be damp and cool . . . what’s not to like about that.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on September 21, 2026 Permalink  

  A Bit More 

  Maybe a bit more rain today.

  The rain falling on the awning over the west windows of my bedroom porch, allowed for sleeping a bit later than usual.  So be it!  I knew that what I had planned for today would still get done.

  By the time I was headed to the studio, Dennis was coming in for a nap in his recliner.  As I walked past him, he was in the process of pulling his huge double layered fleece blanket over himself.

  I had used the Costco card table for extra space on my last project so it would be to the left of my elbow to allow for supplies.  I remembered that pulling out the legs and snapping them in place had been a struggle.  Today, I had my Bernina oil bottle ready.  I pumped in plenty of oil until I could flex each leg easily.

  Many decades ago when aunts were planning a bridal shower for someone, all the aunts would chip in money for a suite of a Costco card table and four chairs to give the bride-to-be.  Then, it was considered to be quite the expensive gift to give, even if five or six aunts had gone together. It may also have been the first table and chairs the newlyweds would have in their home.

  Card tables in our home still come in handy though the vinyl tops could tell tales.  At one time, I had recovered a card table of ours with blue oilcloth.  The Tri-Chem oil craft paints that came in a tube showed forth a spray of flowers to extend the use.

  I am pacing myself in the studio.  Sifting and sorting never ends.  There is nothing that is totally pitched.  I still have thoughts of re-visiting the crafts that have given me much satisfaction.  What I have in the studio has been paid for many times over.  One just never knows.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on September 17, 2026 Permalink  

  A Day 

  A Day for not much local effort.  I agreed to visit a friend that is down on her luck.  A relationship of ten years has come to an end with lots of pieces to be picked up.

  I cannot do much but commiserate.  It makes me very thankful that my mindset has not ever been that low.

  I stopped at Denise’s Casey’s store.  She is now the manager of one of the three Casey’s we have.  She wasn’t sure if she wanted the position.  I encouraged her due to the fact that being the manager might be a better position than having a manager that treats those under them badly.

  Dennis now has fifteen options in each their own container for what he wants to put in his Bernina breakfast bag.  I bought them, I got them in the house and the packaging for the freezer was his duty.

  The rodeo of squirrels is amazing.  It may be a sign of the winter to come as they are stashing from morning to night.

  The young kids on motorized scooters have more speed going past our home than some four-wheeled vehicles.  They seem to have no fear.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:15 pm on September 15, 2026 Permalink  

  The Excruciating Pain 

  I cannot believe that my finger is in so much pain and still be attached to my body.

  I was out in the yard picking up small branches ahead of Tom who was mowing the acre.  I felt a sharp pain and I flicked my hand and then I noticed this huge bumblebee attached to the knuckle of my finger and it did not leave.  I took my other hand and swatted it off.  I went into the patio porch to remove a little glob that remained on the index finger of my left hand.  I was very careful to pull it straight up away from the knuckle.  The finger turned a bright red immediately and swelled.

  The throbbing that has ensued out-throbbed numerous surgical areas I have had to recover from.  I went to Gemini for the best solution.  I have none of the serious side-effects that might have been or could have been.  This is the very first time a bumblebee has gotten me.  Wasps once in awhile.  Neither one, looking forward to again. 

  The welcomed cool air may stay with us for a few days telling us September is half over, short by one day.

  I had erroneously bought the wrong yellow apples the other day.  Lemonades are hard and in no way taste like lemonade and also not as juicy as the Golden Delicious.  Too cheap to throw them out and today was the day to have one.  There is no apple on this earth that can taste bad when eaten with peanut butter.  It is a good thing I only bought three.  Soon the McIntosh apples will be in the grocery store.  They are my favorite and I plan on having room in the crispers of the refrigerator to snag them by the 5lb. bags.   

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:57 pm on September 14, 2026 Permalink  

  Rain 

  And the rains came for the whole day.  So welcomed and much needed as a soaker it was.  Our front yard immediately took on a wonderful hue of green.

  I can share that our oven meal of last night was wonderful.  The pork loin was seasoned with teriyaki.  The sweet sauerkraut with caraway seeds married great with the teriyaki.  Who would have thought.

  Now that I am in the 4,800 something of posts to this dribble, I tire not of it.  I think of it as a re-cap of singular days.  Forgetting what the day has held is not in my wheel-house.  Each day may very well hold a memory that will stay with me for as long as I can remember.  Each day can never be replicated . . . no do overs.

  It may very well be that the events in a single day holds enough content to be a short story all on its own.

  I remember sitting at a dinner table with Megan and Nicholas decades ago.  Something had crossed my mind that brought to the fore-front a recalled memory.  I was about to speak to it when there had been a comment that there was always another story coming. 

  Yes . . . we should all be so fortunate to have stories in our lives to recall and keep alive.

  Remembering times in my life still allows me to be very present every single day making room for more stories.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:47 pm on September 6, 2026 Permalink  

  Maybe Rain 

  The weather map has shown possible showers all morning.  The plop, plop on the front deck can hardly fill in the empty spaces.

  An update on our supper of last night.  We had more like a stew than an oven dish.  I believe the hotdishes in the oven have a high heat for x-number of minutes allowing evaporation of extra fluids.  We decided it was tasty and we enjoyed getting out the bowls and spoons.

  The older ones on Stauffer are running on fumes.  I was just getting into the deep sleep last night when there was such a clatter, I rose from my bed to see what was the matter.  Dennis fell and was lying flat on his bedroom floor with a bloody elbow.  One thing at a time to see if he could get his feet and legs under him using his 2 x 4 chair.  One try was close.  I called 911 for help.  A bandage on his right elbow and two EMTs had him on his feet.  Sitting in his 2 x 4 chair, all vitals were good.  No head wound, also good.  Three in the morning and we tried for sleep.

  Apparently 6:30 is his time to get up and up he got to only go down.  With a walker, Dennis got up on his feet.  I got him dressed with his help and to his recliner he went for a long nap.  

  When he was awake at noon, there needed to be a talk.  It was “the talk.”  So lucky in these falls to not have had a break of bones or head wound.  Luck runs our ole cowboy.  It will be his diligence that allows him to remain in his home that he so dearly loves.  The front deck is outfitted to hold a coffee cup on the railing and cigarette breaks on an old metal folding chair.  Once in the afternoon, I will go out to the patio porch with him.  I will leave him there until he calls me on his phone tells me he is ready to come into the house and I will go out to assist.

  There needs to be clarity as to a schedule that will allow me not to wonder where he is.

  One time the EMTs may come and Dennis will go with them so the ER staff can assess him and his mobility.  I don’t think his first stop will be the assisted living units . . . it will be the nursing home.

  I am not sure how tonight will go for sleeping.  I am a very light sleeper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 11:18 am on September 5, 2026 Permalink  

  Different Saturday 

  Maria had appointments early today for a wedding.  We will be primped and styled this afternoon.

  It gave me a lot of time to get Saturday items done.

  Our oven concoction is now a crockpot concoction.  Browning the pound of hamburger was the first step.  Draining the excess grease off and while the kettle was still warm, I took advantage of being able to easily fold in the cream of mushroom soup and white cheddar soup.  Next came the Simply Diced Potatoes to be folded in.  The package of the California Blend out of the freezer is microwaved a bit.  Cutting up the contents while still firm was my game.  All the ingredients folded until I could not do one more fold.  To transport this mixture from the kettle to the pot of the crockpot, I set the pot in the dry sink to give me a better lower height for my arms.  Last but not least an even sprinkle of fine crushed bread crumbs to seal the goodness as it heats.

  Before we leave this afternoon the crockpot will be turned on low as all ingredients have been pre-cooked.  As I walk by, my hand will brush across the outside of the crockpot to feel the warmth as it begins to prepare our supper.

  A time ago we were gifted the opportunity to have meals delivered to our home after we chose from the online menu.  Everything included:  spice packets, packets of sour cream, potatoes to peel, carrots to peel and the protein we had chosen.  When the funds of the gift were gone, I called the company.  I wanted to make sure there was no more delivered on a pay as you go method.  The gal asked why we were closing the account and I told her elderly people with physical limitations found the peeling and prep difficult.  She apologized as there were gift packets for just such customers.  Hmm.  I declined trying that.  Goodbye.

  I like what I can concoct in my kitchen and the ole cowboy never complains.  We’ve never gone hungry as I prepare meals much like what Lena prepared for Raymond.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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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.  ♥