Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:44 pm on December 19, 2025 Permalink  

  A Blizzard 

  I knew we had proportions of a blizzard.  It wasn’t until this morning when I looked out that I realized snow and dirt of equal proportions had been had.  Our driveway was clear.  Our back door catches a whirlwind of what is blowing, be it either leaves, snow or dirt.

  We had agreed that when the wind died down, we would make a trip for milk and distilled water.  We purchase the small container of milk and really have to work at using it before it sours.  The distilled water is gone through quicker than one would believe.  Dennis CPAP machine has a humidifier on it and it takes a fill of two cups every night.  Amazing.

  The wind howled something terrible all yesterday.  I had done my bedding and just for giggles as I was putting it back on after the laundry, I put the small thermometer on the window sill at the end of my bed.  Hmm.  At four in the afternoon it read 55 degrees.  Thankfully the tall heavy evergreen and the plumb shrub, both at the northwest corner of my bedroom porch, take the beating of the winds.  They allow the awning which is the full Width of the porch to remain in place.

  I went to bed at ten and buried myself under the feather comforter that is tucked into a flannel duvet.  I slept heavy and comfortable.  Dennis had an electric mattress pad that has settings from 1-8.  Quite awhile before he goes to bed he has it set at a 6.  I have not inquired if it stays at that setting, but he also sleeps well.  Dennis doesn’t fight me when the thermostat is set at 65 degrees when we go to bed.  If needed it is the first thing I do in the morning is to pump it up to 70 degrees.  When Dennis gets up, he is out of the house within a half hour.  What he walks into in his garage porch that has a furnace . . . I don’t ask.  If Dennis is happy, I am also.

  We have had our first blizzard of this winter and may others that follow be as mild.  

  I bought a pumpkin frozen pie in the grocery store.  It is now in the 375 degree oven to be finished at 5:10 or there abouts.  We have used Mrs. Smith’s pies before and for $4.98 it’s what it is . . . a date at 8:30 this evening to have a schmek, aka: a taste.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:54 pm on December 15, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day 

  With the temps no longer severe cold, it is a day that feels good.

  Dennis was content in his patio porch.  I noticed one very heavy cat enjoying his lap.  Snuggles even ventured out for a bit.  Harriet not so much.  Watching through the window was enough for her.

  In the studio, I will be resuming my project of threads and fuzz.  It took a while to get back to a rhythm.  I have noticed with both the sewing on the machine and also the hand stitching, I am apt to take it slow and then realize a good out-come.  I do not enjoy picking out mistakes.  As I had already cut the 2″ strips for this sewing project, I am ready to find something different.

  

  That difference may come sooner than later.  In today’s mail was a package from Amazon.  It contained a bottle of our calcium 1,000 mg. daily usage.  It also contained my Olaf blades that I use in the rotary cutter for cutting fabric.  A dull blade makes for heft on the shoulder to cut through the 44″ fabric when doubled.  I watch YouTube videos that some can take up to eight layers thick of fabrics to cut using the same blades I use.  That is not in my wheelhouse.  I will be content cutting through two layers.

  Our supper this evening is leftovers.  Tonight is a repeat of the chicken meatball pasta dish. Those meatballs had a great bit of jalapeno spice and chopped up cherries for a good balance.  I also will be heating up the veggies, carrots and English peas.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:02 pm on December 14, 2025 Permalink  

  Mid December 

  The month of December is flying by, and not because our calendar is over-extended.

  More often than not I hear the opposite from people our age: ” The days are so boring and long.”

  We had visitors on this Sunday from Eden Prairie.  Carrie, Jeremy, Megan and Nicholas arrived at noon and the noon meal was ready.  Oven dishes work the best.  Carrie brought vegetables and a pecan pie for dessert.

  Megan caught a nap, Nicholas checked out the patio porch kitties, Jeremy cleared ice off of the drive and Carrie did the dishes.  All of those activities and the chit chat, a lot of it, prevailed.

  Dennis’ daughter, Sandy and Tom stopped in on their way home from Sioux Falls where they had taken in a hockey game.  Carrie and Sandy had not seen each other for years, but there were many “remember when” tales.  

  Dennis and I are now in a quiet home, each most likely reflecting on varying tidbits of a variety of conversations.

  Left-overs are in the refrigerator as well as the freezer was blessed with entra dishes that were brought from Eden Prairie.  A food shelf delivery that will serve Dennis and me for some time.

  The patio porch kitties can once again come down from the garage rafters and take back their domain.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:39 pm on December 11, 2025 Permalink  

  Cause and Effect 

  On gray days, it is imperative that I maintain a balanced day.  Things could go wonky if I stagnate.  After my morning rituals, I clock into the studio.  I remember when the news on KNUJ will be aired, and I enjoy getting the latest.  Surprisingly their local news takes in a wide sweep.

  The cause that is taking place in the studio is not for anyone else’s benefit but my own.  I take no donations.  The opposite is the most true.  Remaining creative and interested enough to work through fabric stashes . . . that is the objective.

  The effect that the studio has on me is the ultimate.  While in the studio I feel relaxed.  Contentment is at its peak.  I may do some sewing, or I may take a break and refresh my memory as to what a particular drawer is sheltering.  Right now there is a seven color quilt top in the works.  It may take me some time as I believe in pressing seams as they are sewn.  That allows me to get up from the sewing machine chair, walk to the other side of the studio to trim the seam, walk over to the other side of the church tables to iron the seam and then resume sewing.  I remember when Elvera began working with quilting.  She would get a quilt top done without having had the iron plugged in.

  Quilting is a lot like computer work: garbage in . . . garbage out.  That’s all I have to say about that.

  The studio is lit up like a Christmas tree.  It may be gray out, it may be snowing . . . I don’t pay any attention.  

  The evenings are my stitching time.  There also, I have lights abound in my bedroom porch.  “All the better to see you my pretty.”  I have no idea where that popped out from.  Actually, keeping older people around does bring some amusement.  In the evenings, Dennis enjoys his television cop shows, all the while either playing solitaire or on Facebook.  I can easily find a movie on Hulu while stitching.

  Yes . . . it’s a wonderful life.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:49 pm on December 9, 2025 Permalink  

  A Mess 

  The streets are a wet mess as the temps are in the thirties.

  Messes are not just on wet street and walkways.  There had been something amiss in one of our refrigerator’s crisper drawers.  It was not good.  It may have been in progress for sometime going by the labels of products that had been in the drawer.  They now were in a state of encapsulated gunk that resembled a clear-coat of some kind.  Mirror mirror on the wall.

  We were in need of groceries as the cupboards were creaking they were so bare.  Admittedly, we do that often to allow us to use what had and has been bought in the past.  An example would be our supper from last night.  A can of white chicken meat.  I made sure to wipe the top of the can as it had been on the shelf in the pantry for quite some time.  An onion that was about to sprout a new beginning was next.  The pay-back for letting it sit idle for so long was that I needed to take off my glasses while shredding it.  The tears were severe, I had to stop and rinse my eyes in the bathroom.  The last ingredient was a paltry amount of shredded Swiss cheese.  Mayo to the recue to combine said items.  The plastic container was popped into the refrigerator until it was time for supper.

  With my grocery list in hand I was getting ready to shop at our Super-Fair grocery store.

  There is an adage: seek and you will find, ask and it shall be given.  I honed in on the last of that adage.  I asked Dennis to take care of the yucky crisper drawer while I was gone.  Sweet.  I wouldn’t be around to tell him how to do it.   

  A win, win.  The drawer was clean enough to put the new produce in it and we had a variety of groceries back in the house.

  You have to love when a plan comes together.  The chicken salad was great for supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 5:44 pm on December 8, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh the Lessons 

  I had a doctor’s appointment this morning at 8:45.  New fallen snow again.  Not severe.  I went out to take the car to the clinic.  No go.  A message said “No Key Fob”  Hmm.  It took me a heartbeat to think that perhaps the battery in the key fob needed replacing.  I was headed back into the house to retrieve a second key fob.  Dennis told me he would take me to the clinic.  He would drop me off and I would give him a call when I was done.  Worked great.

  My appointment went well.  My primary is from New Jersey.  Her first Minnesota Winter.  I really like her.  She asks questions in regard to everyday living situations.  I really like and appreciate her.

  We now have new batteries in both of our key fobs.

  It sounds as if snow is going to be prevalent this week, even perhaps rain.

  I did get some studio time in today.

  We are going to keep the new leaf blower in the house with the battery charger, so we can keep the front deck cleared off as well as blowing our way out of the back door.  Whatever works. 

  With that I will take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 3:34 pm on December 5, 2025 Permalink  

  Flaking 

  It’s been flaking off and on since early morning.  Those self same flakes added up to allow an accumulation on parked cars and our front deck.

  Dennis went off to keep an 8:45 appointment at the VA clinic here in town.  After several cups of coffee I headed to the studio.  For me it is as if I am punching in with a time-card.  It keeps me moving and staying engaged in a balanced day.  It’s not an automatic thing.  I work at staying in the present while still having something tangible to show for my God-given day.

  Yes, I do like the configuration of having a flat surface to the left of me while sewing.  Yesterday’s plan is working.  It also keeps me from sitting at the sewing machine for too long.  I need to get up to go to the ironing board, walk around the church tables to trim the newly pressed seams.  It really is all about staying on my feet as much as possible to keep strength in my legs, hips, back . . . the whole aging package.  Even doing the uping and downing of the steps to get to the studio for enjoyment is a good thing.  Another plus . . . there is nothing better than keeping up with news than on the KNUJ radio station. 

  Dennis was home by noon and he gave me the ditty on his VA appointment.  We will be receiving the results of his lab work via the mail.  He is on their calendar for an appointment next year.  If something changes, he can give them a call.

  I didn’t ask for any input on last night’s supper options.  When I had supper done, Dennis came to the table to see what he would be getting.  What was for supper, was a steaming hot bowl of oatmeal with a generous addition of flax meal.  The table held cinnamon, milk and brown sugar.  The flax meal adds a great flavor to the otherwise bland oatmeal.   

  Sometimes, surprises for a meal works out great.  I got positives reviews. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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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.  ♥