Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:31 pm on December 4, 2025 Permalink  

  Possibilities 

  Without fail, I would wager that each day we are given presents us with possibilities.  Hmm.  Why didn’t I think of that before today.

  I have been nestled into my studio for decades.  In so doing, there have been wood projects, doing a Santa autopsy, too many quilts to count and millions and millions of stitches on the sewing machine I have been using.  Everything always seemed to hum along just fine.

  This forenoon as I was going to begin piecing a quilt top together that I would end up donating. . . nothing seemed logical.  I had no working surface to the left of my sewing machine that was elbow height.  The two church tables suffice in the planning and the bringing of stashes to the forefront and doing finishing work of the embroidered items.  They are also ten inches higher than the sewing needle in the machine.  Perfect height to save the back when standing over them when cutting fabric.

  For several minutes I was content finishing my coffee that I had brought down with me to the studio.  Swiveling around on my sewing chair, I spied a heavy duty card table that was stored behind the furnace.  So . . . did I jump right up and pull it out from behind?  No!  That card table had been behind the furnace before I had put up the shelving for additional storage.  I needed to get organized.  Stored items on the shelves were put on the church tables.  The three shelves, items from Menards, made out of some composite and lots of glue were heavier that I remembered.  The metal brackets needed a hammer to jar them loose.  At last the card table could be slid out.

  The old Filter Queen vac was put to use to capture a few unwanted webs.  I keep the vac plugged in 24/7 for just such spur of the moment of moving items.

  I could not believe how heavy that card table was.  After it was dusted, the four legs snapped right up for service.  I did not put off replacing the shelving unit and that which was stored on the shelves.  I don’t look the other way, generally what needs to be done . . . gets done. 

  Mission completion.  Who could think of trying this new configuration out!  I was pooped.  KNUJ was shut off, all the lights went out and the thrill of having a work surface to the left of my elbow will be experienced . . . perhaps tomorrow.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on December 3, 2025 Permalink  

  Mighty North Wind 

  The north wind is encouraging snow being swept off of roof tops and making small drifts of snow across drives and sidewalks.

  I see it all happening and that is as much as it is bothering me.  I enjoyed two cups of coffee before heading down into the studio.  Today I succeeded in putting what was started decades ago, a 2025 fruition.  My mom, Lena, loved her threads and fuzz.  That is most likely where I shared that love then and right into today.  I don’t know what mom’s intent was as she stitched together layer upon layer of prairie points.  Prairie point: a square of fabric folded several times ending with a self-contained point.  Often mom would use them to edge her quilts with the intent that grubby little hands would put wear and tear on the points and not the quilt edge.  These three items held many hand stitched stitches to hold the points in place making for a quilter’s design.

  

  I knew I had some silicone fabric much like what is used on ironing board’s surfaces.  With my protractor to achieve the correct sizes, the plan was shaping up quite nicely.  Into my stashes of trimmings I went to see about finishing them.

  

  There are now three hot pads for dissemination when Carrie and Megan visit.  I intend to keep one for myself.  Using the double fold bias tape needs a steady hand to keep the two layers consistent.  Mission completion.

  In between time, there are a dozen frozen cinnamon rolls thawing for later in the day baking.  We usually purchase a 6 lb. bag of chicken tenderloins.  Today was the day to open that purchase up and make meal sized zip-lock bag offerings.  So much easier than struggling with the large frozen bag each time chicken is on the menu.

  It’s been a good day on Stauffer Avenue.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:42 pm on December 2, 2025 Permalink  

  December 2nd, 2025 

  A date on the calendar that will always be remembered by me with great sentiment.  My mom was born on December 2nd, 1916.  I miss her greatly as she was my teacher, my friend, most of all I am sure she was the bestest mom ever.

  Fast forward many decades and today is Megan’s 22nd birthday.  She is quite the young women.  It’s been my honor to watch her through the years.  May I continue to watch for many, many years.

  Today is a hazy gray day bringing with it colder temperatures.  It was expected and accepted.  Just yesterday we got our latest utility bill and I remarked to Dennis it was the lowest bill we had received in one long time.

  The studio is ready for the next chapter of my doings.  I serviced it this morning to the best of my capabilities.  Every little bit of thread and fuzz hit the circular file.  There was a round little fuzz ball that I am sure soaked up some oil as the mechanism stitched hundreds of yards of threads.  There is one special tweezer to handle getting it out of what they call the race . . . behind the bobbin.  I belong to a YouTube tribe in regard to the model of machine I have and thus share with others.  Way too many whining people.  Reading the manual would take out half of those that post.  I treat my model 770 with the tenderest of regards and it does not fail me.  Operator errors can and will screw up a great session of stitching.  Slow and steady gives wonderful results.  

  Today warrants soup and sandwich for supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:22 pm on November 30, 2025 Permalink  

  The Cleanup 

  The cleanup of a 7″ snowfall has been completed.

  There was no lack of the sound of snow removal equipment this morning.  Our neighbor Randy knows to wait until the city has done all of their cleanup past our home.  The ridge of hard snow that can be piled at the end of our drive would and could be labeled as a heart attack if just a shovel was used.  It is a good feeling to have the snow moved to allow ingress and egress from our home and garages.

  The sun was out for just a few minutes before the chilly clouds moved in.

  I was in the studio when I heard a familiar sound.  It was the Ahrens walk behind snowblower.  When I got up from the studio, there was Dennis and the Ahrens . . . blowing a track for the garbage bin and recycling bin.  I can’t believe he got it started.  It had been idle the last two winters.  I kept an eye on him.  Dennis used it for a bit and then took a break.  This happened several times until he had satisfied himself.  He drove the point home that it needed to be used to keep everything running good.  He was right.  Dennis needed to prove to himself, that the snowblower was still his way of moving some snow.

  I don’t remember how many years ago, I made a blue log cabin quilt for Carrie.  It had white applique snowflakes on it.  I must have enjoyed making the snowflakes as I had fourteen of them in a file folder.

  

  The extra snowflakes are going to be put into something rather than running loose in a folder to be dismissed for a circular file, aka: the garbage.  I hunted until I found some designs that would fit on each of them.  They were quick to do and the sewing machine didn’t miss a beat.

  

  I do have the red fabric that they are resting on.  I have gotten this far and now it is time to really think things over.  The snowflakes have been waiting for many years so I don’t want to rush into anything.

  All is well on Stauffer Avenue.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:08 pm on November 29, 2025 Permalink  

  And Then 

  And then it snowed and snowed and snowed.  It was forecast.

  I was very relieved when text messages went back and forth from Stauffer Avenue and Eden Prairie.  A cancelation that meant reality and safety.  There is much truth in the phrase, “I would rather think about you than read about you.” Another day, another time . . . that will work out just fine.

  Dennis reverted to his recliner.  I went into the studio to while away time, listen to KNUJ and after enough time was burned, come up with a doable answer to an old project of Lena’s.  The radio stressed over and over to not take this snowfall and the road conditions for granted.

  As I am now in my bedroom porch putting together this posting, the snow is more consistent than this forenoon and the flakes are larger.  The evergreen tree that I see in the neighbor’s yard is now doing a bow this way and that from a light wind moving its boughs.

  Neighbor Randy did take an earlier swipe of the snow with his green machine.  There is no evidence that he was ever here.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:24 pm on November 28, 2025 Permalink  

  Black Friday 

  Black Friday savings!  I did no shopping in person or online, so I figure I saved 100%.

  My studio lights went on and I mean “on.”  The side of my church tables where all the planning and finagling goes is sporting a new LED light.  Perfection.  It even has security: a pull chain that only I will be operating.

  I am in the midst of working with fourteen white cloth snowflakes in two sizes.  My attempt this morning was to put a small design in the center of each.  I see where the center of each is, I measured the center of each. I stitched a design.  It sure as heck didn’t land in the center.  Try, try again.  Third time and I needed a time-out, and . . . the lights went out.  It is true that there are no two snowflakes alike.  Thus far I have three.

  I came upstairs to get the last cup of coffee for the day.  The clouds are heavy.  No cardboard umbrella with which to see my keyboard today.  The sky is gloomy, but I feel good.  I slept heavily last night and decided the feet needed to hit the floor at 9:15 this morning.  Dennis had gotten up at nine.  Rest for both of us, can’t beat it. 

  My new glasses are in at the eye center here in town.  I will be going on Monday to get them.  Checking online, they were closed for a long weekend.

  Our supper this evening is going to be fried potatoes, carrots, several buns and our bread and butter pickles.  Leftovers from Thanksgiving, its a good thing.  No, there will be no protein . . . thank you Kluge and Eevee.

  With that I will take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 3:32 pm on November 27, 2025 Permalink  

  A Thankful Day 

  The day is coming to a close.  Mid afternoon on the Thursday, the dishes are done and put away.  Our tick list has been completed via the Fairfax team.  Attic, first floor and studio . . . all points were taken care of.  

  

  This is my very first photo downloaded from my phone.  Kersten did a great job getting the phone and laptop to play together nicely.  Practice will be the order for the days to come.  This photo was taken when I was getting ready to stuff this small pillow.  Guess who!

  Even Kluge and Eevee had a bit of thanksgiving while dining in the pup-mobile. 

  The sun is bright and finally . . . the winds are not strong.

  This posting is short as I am at a loss for words.  Who would have thunk it!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:08 pm on November 26, 2025 Permalink  

  My Days 

  Sometimes my days are overwhelming.  I know what I can do to keep our home running.  I am one individual needing to be the responsible one for the two of us.  It may seem at times that I am loosing.  I may loose a battle, or more than one, but I intend on winning the war.

  I have never been 89, that is where Dennis is at.  I have never allowed myself to not be in the present.  Hey, how would it feel to be me, myself and I!  I didn’t sign up for that.  I see each day clearly and what that day entails.  I don’t know how mindsets erode.  I don’t care to know.  I know that I feel very strongly in doing the best I can each day and I will stand up for “that best” and suffer the consequences. 

  So that’s enough about that.

  In the studio this morning, I brought forth three projects that I will be working on.  I started two of them some time ago.  Lena started her project decades ago.  I wish I knew how she intended it to be finished.  I am and will leave them setting on the church tables so when I look at them, they will need to be dealt with.  No additional material is needed, just puzzling them over and over in my mind until the lightbulb flashes.  In part that is what keeps me going . . . never being without something challenging to do. 

  When the challenging things can be set aside, I have my quiet hand stitching to become enmeshed in.  I love it.  I love a balanced day.

  The wind did howl last night.  Every once in awhile a gust of wind made the awning on the west side of the house buck, aka: my bedroom porch, but not enough to keep me awake.     

  This afternoon our drive is bare and dry, but make no mistake, Winter is here.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:12 pm on November 23, 2025 Permalink  

  The Sun 

  The bright sun on this mid-November Sunday sets the pace of the day.

  I did putz around in the studio until noon.  I always enjoy listening to the church radio on KNUJ.  As I putzed I did get the last of the eight little pillows stuffed and sealed.  I can no longer do the fine stitching to enclose the batting into said pillows.  I knew some sewists filled the pillows by cutting a slit into the backing fabric and after filled to their desire would then either by sewing or gluing an attractive patch onto the backing.

  I have found that leaving the opening to the bottom of each project works for me.  After front and back are sewn together, I press the seam allowance with steam.  The pillows are then filled.  The pressed seam allowance presents itself for gluing along the pressed edge with the slightest amount of glue using a toothpick.  My quilting clips have very sharp needle edges to clamp a 1/16th of the front to the backing.  It is quick drying and permanent.  I find this finish to satisfy a clean tidy closure.

  The trim that I ordered on, I think yesterday, from Amazon was delivered this noon.  That will be the rest of the story.  I know at one time Kevin ordered a lamp for me and let me know it would be coming.  When I called him to let him know it was here, he couldn’t believe it as he had ordered it the day before.  Sometimes the quick delivery is astonishing.

  At noon with light jackets we did what may be the last of the sweeps of our backyard to pick up some sticks that had found their way downward.  They were dead before they hit the ground.  Dennis made a small fire in the fire ring and short order was made of them.  I have thought it before, but I do think that is the last time for 2025 yard work.

  My cousin Mark Wendlandt called yesterday for a visit.  Nothing but a heartfelt visit . . . it was a good visit.  Carrie and Mark are very close in age.  He is my youngest cousin.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:23 pm on November 21, 2025 Permalink  

  Quilt Book 

  A time back, I had mentioned that I need to get a quilt book from Amazon.  That may seem counter-productive as I have a tote of such books heading to the recycling bin.  In early spring, I had cut all the fabric from my stashes.  Cut fabrics that could only be sewn up with a specific pattern in a special book.  

  When I had sought the book, my choice, giving the name of the book and the author, was a used book in fair condition.  The price would be $3.00 plus tax.  It would be coming from a Goodwill store in California.  It did come just as my receipt stated.  The book is in pristine condition.  With tax it was $6.30.  The original label on the book was that Hobby Lobby had carried it at some time for the price of $18.00.

  I had to have a conversation with Dennis about the book.  No, it was my curiosity that fed the conversation.  The process of Amazon acknowledging my request and using some computer generated process to find it in a Goodwill on the west coast . . . how does that all happen?  I would love to be a mouse in the warehouse where this all transpires. 

  Dennis finds the entire Amazon shopping a good thing.  He realizes that burning shoe leather seeking and finding the items we use is no longer in our wheelhouse.  The angst of frustration might well be felt on his shoulders, put there by me.  Being predominantly a hermit that is housebound allows everything here on Stauffer Avenue to run just as smoothly as it did before I had had the stroke . . . via Amazon.

  The package that was delivered this last Sunday for $89.00 and some odd cents contained eight items I was using in the studio.  My efforts in the studio didn’t miss a beat.

  I am a happy and contented hermit in our home.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥