Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from April, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:01 pm on April 13, 2026 Permalink  

  Thunder Claps 

  The first of the season’s thunder claps.  Not much moisture with them.  That may still be coming.

  Going to my bed early doesn’t mean going right to sleep.

  I was calculating my next visit to the studio.  On my church tables are several bi-fold heavy cardboard grided 36″ x 72″ for helping with layouts.  Kersten added several to the one that had previously come from the Fairfax team.  I knew when my feet hit the floor this morning that the solution to the blanket project was that the quilt top needed to be a bit smaller than the fabric backing.

  When it comes time to sandwich the blanket, the backing and batting need to extend a bit beyond the top for close proximity.  Out will come my collection of thumbtacks.  Those heavy cardboard layouts will welcome the thumbtacks as I make sure that first the backing is laid out and taut, lining up to the grid work.  The batting will be next.  Making sure the top is aligned with the warp and weft of the backing makes all work oh so much better when there is nothing askew.

  Seeing as Mondays are good laundry days, the studio will wait for another day.  Decisions having been made correctly once don’t take up so much time the next trip.

  Dennis is off visiting his friend Lyle Grove in the city’s assisted living unit.  A good errand done.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:36 pm on April 12, 2026 Permalink  

  Checking on Things 

  Our Sunday was planned as a quiet day and thus far it is ringing true.

  Once in the studio, I decided to see what the world wide web had to say about generalities in the sizes of dorm beds.  Nicholas’ blanket is getting to the place where we need specifics and no generalities.  Dorm beds are 39″ x 80″ as most are now x-long.  The blanket for said bed was stated as 68″ x 90″.  It was time to get out the tape measure and see where my project would fit in.

  I had been working on the backing making sure to keep track of yardage I had.  The backing hot off of the sewing machine was 65″ x 81″.  My top is 51″ x 88″.

  Now comes the time for some sketches complete with notes.  Lena was great with penciling in what was needed as well as how it would look as if it had been in the plans from start to finish.  When quilt blocks are constructed by a certain lay of the colors, it is what it is.  What comes in after that is working with adding borders around the perimeter using colors found in the constructed blocks.  I am on it!  At this point in the juncture there is no cutting of fabric.  I can look, I can touch, I can sketch.  Cutting in error only feeds the circular file, aka: the waste basket.  

  Yesterday the mail brought the quilt batting.  I made sure to get what is listed as a queen size, allowing for the length I needed.  I can always use what is in excess in the width.

  It was time to walk away and close down the studio for some mindful thinking.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:15 pm on April 10, 2026 Permalink  

  “Uncle” 

  This forenoon when my back whispered “uncle” I took heed and closed down the studio.  I am not out to do endurance trials.  It’s best to desist while everything is still going well rather than pushing my luck.  While working at the church tables to cut fabric, there is a stance that cuts through the back like a dull knife.  Having already added two bricks in height under the table legs to assist, it is what it is.  Wanting to continue the joy that my studio gives to me . . . tomorrow is another day.

  Actually, tomorrow afternoon we will be taking in an event that Dennis’ granddaughter, Sadie, is putting on in conjunction with her job at MACV, Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans.  Sadie has a huge territory in southern Minnesota working out of Mankato.   There can be help with utility bills, proper clothing for job interviews that may even include a haircut.  Sadie, having completed three tours with the Army’s Red Bulls, knows the challenges.  There are many resources for the young veterans and Sadie helps with those connections as well as pairing donations with the need.  Of course, her main helper for tomorrow is her Grandpa Dennis.  It does him proud.

  This evening we are having canned roast beef over mashed potatoes plus greens.  The roast beef gains a bit of color by adding two teaspoons of instant Folger’s coffee.  That is a Lena tip that does the trick.  I will use a tablespoon or two of corn starch diluted in cold water to then heat the roast beef to make it a thickened meat with gravy.  Dennis is in charge of the potatoes.  He does them successfully.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:46 pm on April 8, 2026 Permalink  

  Much to Do 

  For a Wednesday there has been quite the list for me to take care of here on Stauffer Avenue.  By most it would be no more than what could be accomplished by nine on any given day.  But you all know, I am not “most.”

  I took the time to read through all of the mail from our county’s auditor/treasure for this year’s taxes as well as next year’s value proposal.  Lots of pieces of paper, most of which is going into the recycling bin.  I came away with three pieces of paper large enough to fit handsomely into a legal sized envelope plus our personal check to cover the total of the 2026 payable property taxes.  The envelope was then sealed with a stamp and now is in the post office’s care.

  Dennis visited in the studio this forenoon to check on the progress of Nicholas’s college quilt.  He had not seen any of the process since it had been folded pieces of fabric I had brought up to the living room to share with him.  It is now lacking one more border and then the extra long twin sized quilt top will be ready.  I ordered the licensed cotton yardage for the last border, the backing and binding, specific to the college’s motifs.  That fabric arrived from Ohio last week.

  This afternoon, via Amazon, the mid-loft “Dream” brand of batting should be here by Friday.  It’s an 80/20 of polyester and cotton that will give good wear and tear.  I have used that brand of batting often.

  Dennis has his six month medical checkup at our clinic this afternoon.  Dang if he isn’t going with a rather huge nasty looking bump on his forehead and a large band aid on the top of his right hand.  Now the story goes that he ran into the door frame going from the garage into the patio porch on Monday.  The hand was scrapped today in the garage.  God willing and the creek don’t rise, they will let him return home later this afternoon.

  I think that’s enough for this day of reporting.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:56 pm on April 2, 2026 Permalink  

  I Heard It 

  I heard the rain falling during the night.  I knew the snow would have been silent.

  When I got up and saw that Randy’s yard next door was all but floating away.  There is only so much that a gravel yard can take in.

  The next thing I did when my feet hit the floor, was to say “Hello Art.”  The arthritis in my feet told me all about the weather pattern we were in.  When you feel discomfort you know you have been given another day.  Thank you Lord! 

  I sat upon my cherry red chair in my bedroom porch with a cup of hot coffee and watched the plunks that the rain made in the puddles on Stauffer Avenue.  It was rather mesmerizing.  I knew I had a phone call to make. 

  When refills are needed, the Lewis Drug’s automatic answering machine asks for a prescription number.  I had taken care of that last Thursday, the 26th of March.  On Monday I drove to Lewis Drug to pick up the medication.  It’s the one that does my heart good.  There was nothing.  They were kind and said there was nothing forthcoming.  They said they would fax it to the clinic again.  I had taken my last pill on Sunday night.  They were kind and gave me six pills as a temporary refill.  I came home and used the Mayo Portal to message my primary.  When I called Lewis Drug this morning, the medication was ready and Dennis went immediately in the rain to pick it up.  Dennis can use the drive-up window.  With a bum left arm, I cannot reach the automatic drawer as it slides open.  Just a small inconvenience that allows me to go directly into the pharmacy . 

  Being mindful of personal responsibilities is important.  Nothing can be left to chance if we want to stay independent.  I sure do!

  It has rained most of the day.  I see by the weather map St. James has been moved into a dry spell.

  I now have the pieced 18 blocks making up the extra-long top of Nicholas’ quilt put together and pressed.  Nicholas is over 6′ tall and will need the extra foot covering.  The three border fabrics have been pulled out and are awaiting.  To make the quilt wide enough, there will be a 3″, then a 4″ and finally a 5″ border added to the four sides.  The labor intense portion is finished.

  We are having an oven meal for supper.  The two passes of preparing supper that were granted me for my birthday are over.  Here in the real world we are.  Not such a bad place to be.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:17 pm on March 28, 2026 Permalink  

  Progress 

  Progress is upon my church tables.  All of the needed blocks in Nicholas’ collage quilt have been arranged.  There is madness in how the blocks are turned in order to see the full effect.  Sewing the blocks together will be for another day.

  The last of the small Christmas stitched projects had been on the corner of the ironing board long enough.  It did not take long to put red thread in the bobbin and in the top thread.  Getting it turned right-side out is always a challenge.  It may look as if I put too much stuffing into the elongated pillow.  I know when I plunk down a heavy book on it, that will take out some of the air.  Wonder Clips are holding the end secure as I used Aleene’s tacky glue to seal it up.

  I didn’t think there was anything left that was loose enough to blow from one lot to another today. The 30 mph winds from the southwest have the whole house quaking, yet the leaves are blowing across Stauffer Avenue from the northwest.  Hmm.  The metal mail slot gets caught with a wind gust and can really clatter.  Thank goodness for an interior cover.

  Last night when I sat in my recliner, listening to a pair of floss tubers from Bloomington, they were talking about going to a shop in Blue Earth.  I didn’t think Dennis had been listening.  He didn’t think it would be a bad idea to make the trip to Blue Earth sometime and I could check out the ship called “Welcome.”  The ole cowboy still has a surprise or two up his sweater’s sleeve.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on March 26, 2026 Permalink  

  A Plan 

  I always have a plan.  Sometimes I have more than one.

  I have been known to do a lot of the counted cross stitch stitching and sewing machine stitching.  I find quiet comfort in it.  Nothing goes to hell around me while I do stitching.   Work first and then play and more play.

  Hundreds of hours of contentment with very little financial resources needed.  Right after 2021, I had tried my hand at cross stitching.  I had ordered a kit.  I worked diligently on it.  The kicker was that of the six stranded embroidery floss, this design was worked with only one of the six strands.  Is it any wonder I found it on the bottom of my thread stash last week?   I brought it out for an airing.  I have since found quite a bit of joy in tackling it again.  During the evenings sitting in my cherry red chair in my bedroom porch with the 5x magnification lamp to my right.  Do I need the magnification lamp 100% of the time, no.  The fabric is 20 stitches to the inch and as there is quite a bit of floss demanding room to be made into a “x” and help is a good thing.

  I was lamenting yesterday about a machine embroidery design.  This forenoon I found it.  Yup, all 2″ x 2″ of it.  I preferred it being 5″ x 5″.  I downloaded the 2 x 2 onto a flash drive.  On the Dell laptop, I opened the Bernina Tool Box software.  I downloaded the 2 x 2.  I kept increasing the size until it was 5 x 5 and loaded that on the flash drive.  I stitched out a sample to see how fragmentated the stitches were.  Pretty sparse.  With the flash drive loaded into the sewing machine, I increased the density by 140%.  Not a bad result at all.  I could have chanced increasing more, but . . . stitching that design on one of my quilt blocks, I went with what would stitch out smoothly. 

  I have had a good day but I can’t help but hear the wind gusts driving the windchimes crazy.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:45 pm on March 25, 2026 Permalink  

  Some Wins 

  With creativity there are some wins and some fails.  Thankfully I have racked up more wins than not.

  Each day finding appropriate downloads for the digitized embroidery takes you to many sites.  Depending on how bad you want to find exactly what you are looking for, there can be some angst.  “You know what you want and you want it now”  doesn’t always compute.  Patience, patience.

  I did find success to the point that I even stitched out a prototype.  Knowing the various prompts and the responses needed make for knowing your final forever stitch with be a good one.

  My partner in crime, aka: the ole cowboy, knows what he wants and needs and he is going to get it via tapping me for it.  Grr.  Let’s just say it’s easier complying as soon as possible rather than stalling and getting those reminders, much like the nasty little bill that can come in the mail over and over.  Gratefully, we are not in that reminder category. 

  Today the huge leaf blower has been removed from the back entry.  I do believe there will not be any more heavy snows that we need to engage it to blow ourselves out of the house.  It did come in handy.

  I did get my arm exercises done for the day.  Who knew that when you engage your arm to be raised over your head or doing other arm exercises, your thumb pointed up from your hand maximizes the muscle movement.  Amazing.

  Thumbs up to you!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on March 22, 2026 Permalink  

  A Good Thing 

  A good thing to do after the sewing session of yesterday.  Out came my tool box to clean fuzz and threads caught where they are not wanted or needed.  Oiling and a new needle puts the machine in the ready mode.

  Sandy asked me yesterday when I had learned to sew.  I told her about six or seven.  She commented what could I possibly sew at that age to be finished for anything.  I have seen some carpet rag rugs in her home that she had bought at a flea market.  I went on to tell her that I would sit and tear the strips of old clothes that would go into those rag rugs.  Using the treadle sewing machine I would then sew the strips together for my mom keeping like colors together to roll into a ball.  It taught me about using the sewing machine needle for a seam that would carry me through much more to come. Her comment was that she wondered how those rugs were made.

  Oh the difference in how families did things and how children learned.  I wouldn’t trade my up-bringing for anything.

  I called Aunt Janet and we had a very good visit and a lengthy one.  I have mentioned before that she is my dad’s youngest and only living sibling.  Being about ten years apart,  we can and do share memories.

  There will be an oven dish for supper.  A pound of ground beef browned, pasta boiled with plenty of life left in it combined with a jar of Alfredo garlic seasoned sauce.  Simple will do the trick.

  Tomorrow at 12:55 p.m. Dennis needs to be in Mankato for an eye injection.  Dennis commented that at his age, maybe he should forego those appointments.  Hmm. I brought him up short.  If he liked his little red pickup and the “get in and take a whip” he would need his eyesight.  If anything would get him pulled over, I think he would be given a ride home and the little red pickup would have to find its own way home.  I like it when a conversation is closed, never to be had again.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:15 pm on March 21, 2026 Permalink  

  Let the Sunshine In 

  The sun means business today.  The boxelder bugs are basking in it.

  Today, Dennis’ daughter Sandy and Tom came out from Mankato.  I knew what the visit was for.  Sandy had sent pictures plus dimensions of a skirt she wanted to go around the raised base of their wash machine that sits over the floor drain.

  I pulled out fabric for it and that is as far as I had gone and was going to go.  Watching her as she used the rotary cutter was like watching someone use a chainsaw for the first time.  She cut through the multiple layers of the 93 inches as I knew I couldn’t.  I wound the bobbin and threaded the machine.  Believe me, it was more difficult watching her go through the paces than running the machine myself.  She got it done and felt very proud of herself.  All she needed to do was run 1/2″ elastic through the top casing when she got home.

  Tom took with them all of the empty plastic dry litter containers.  He works with concrete and the jugs are just the right size for water for hand and and tool cleanup.

  I had a great phone call from Sharon.  The Sharon that lives in the north country in a sweet “shed-house” with her daughter and family.  Always a treat to swap air-time.

  The afternoon has left both Dennis and me kicking back for some quiet time.  Hmm.  The dreaded word . . . “supper” has not been mentioned yet.  I think I will let the clock run on this and see where it takes us.  Life lived vicariously!  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥