Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from February, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:19 pm on February 10, 2026 Permalink  

  Home Sweet Home 

  Our trip to the big town has been put off for now.  Dennis may have a bug and it’s nothing like the ladybug beetles that still may come in from the patio porch.  Home is the best place when you are under the weather.

  I took my leave to the studio.  I have three projects going.  Nothing huge.  Just enough to spend a little energy and time on each.  When glue, hand stitching, machine stitching, fabric being cut and pressed . . . what’s not to like.

  I did change blades in my 45mm rotary cutter.  Wow, what a difference.  The 45 is actually easier on my hand than the 60.  Even so, not overdoing is the best practice.  While in the studio, it is constant moving, stretching, and giving the brain a good workout.  I firmly believe that trying new things and learning as you go is my best path.

  I often wonder in the path of Dennis’ life before I knew him.  If he doesn’t like someone, he will put himself anywhere but where that individual may be, even if the event calls for it.  If he takes a cotton to someone, he could be like a tick to a dog.  Dennis has very little curiosity.  He doesn’t care to read.  Dennis enjoys history and there would be a wealth of it between the covers of a book.  Oh my gosh if “Victory at Sea” were still on the tube, he would be glued to it.  My dad enjoyed that program as well.  He often comments that he thinks of himself as someone much younger and should be able to do things as the younger of himself could do.  That may speak to the falls that he takes.  Dang it.  Getting up slowly before moving is to allow the blood to flow up and then down and then up, etc.  Dennis’ 90th is in the fall of 2026.  Truth to tell . . . Dennis is doing great.  We are doing great.

  The crockpot meal was wonderful for last night’s supper.  One of the best things is the leftovers of the pork.  It was so tender . . . and that would be what my thinking is of pulled pork.  I have been to events where pulled pork sandwiches are served and the pork meat is stringy and hard to bite off let alone chew.  That’s just my thinking I am sure.

  Tonight for a delicate, easy on the stomach supper it is going to be oatmeal.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:15 pm on February 5, 2026 Permalink  

  Mud Puddles 

  With mud puddles abound, I am thankful that Dennis has concrete to get from his patio porch to the house and back.  The nice weather did prompt him to go uptown and get his pickup washed.

  I had a great forenoon doing what makes me content and happy.  The studio . . . what can I say.  There are enough resources down there for my life expectancy.  Grant it, at one time or another I purchased those resources perhaps not knowing what I would do with them.  Now as I look at this or that I am coming up with ideas I never dreamt of before.  Sweet. 

  I don’t walk for the exercise as I had in the past.  I feel steady on my feet in the studio and am on my feet sometimes for two hours at a stretch.  I found walking outside of my home, the walking cane is a must.  If I walked on Stauffer Avenue, I would need both of the walking canes.  And then, guess what . . . gripping the canes was not easy on my hands.  Those self same hands I need to cherish for more uses in our home and for myself than I can count.  Yup, there is always a trade-off.

  Dennis rarely comes down to the studio.  The steps are steep.  His interest in threads and fuzz only gets his attention if it is the flannel sheets on his bed.  Just saying.

  We got a letter in the mail from the city.  Our acre is now in a portfolio created by the city of lots to share with developers, builders and other interested parties.  This is great.  It beats purchasing “For Sale” signs to promote it.  Over the last several years by keeping the acre trimmed and mowed, the good grass has really stooled out.  We had Spring Touch treat it once last year for weed control and we will do it again in 2026.

  Soup and grilled cheese for supper.  The waffles last night were yummy.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:39 pm on February 4, 2026 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  I am not bothered by what the skies are doing.  Past are the decades that mandated how I needed to be aware.

  I clocked into the studio at 9:30 this morning.  KNUJ had an interesting visit from New Ulm’s City librarian.  It doesn’t matter if you want to learn how to play chess or if you want bring your stitching along and visit with those of like interests.  Very informative.

  With the steam iron just a cooking, I got the 194 inches of binding folded, pressed and wound around some stiff cardboard for the six placemats I am putzing with.  I fought with fabric to get the salvage cut off before I went on to cut the sizes I need for the additional placemats.  Nothing pressing.  Perhaps just something prepared to share with someone that happens to stop in for a visit.  What used to be fusible foam and now is not has also been cut.  That about did the rotary cutting arm in.   

  Twelve noon and the remaining morning coffee was enjoyed.  I had had an avocado for breakfast with a slice of buttered toast.  There is nothing like a cookie to have with a cup or two of said coffee.  The cookies had been as hard as a brick.  Yesterday when I had had an apple, I put a wedge of my apple into the cookie jar.  Yup, success!  The cookies were now tender to the point of being enjoyable to nibble on.  Thanks for the tip Lena.  That tip had taken Dennis daughter, Sandy, by surprise. 

  Dennis went to the assisted living unit here in town to visit with his literally, life-long friend, Lyle Grove.  Lyle is several months older than Dennis but has not fared as well.  He is very hard of hearing and nearly blind.  The hearing challenges in that era of time when he was young were not taken to heart for help.  Dennis did a good deed.

  We have decided on the Ego Fluffy Waffles and sausages for supper.  Our four slice toaster does its magic and two waffles each works.  Unfortunately, the waffles come six to the box.  I buy two boxes at a time guaranteeing that sometime down the road there are two additional meals ready for us.

  The book I am reading is The Tin Man, one of the free books from the library.  I can pick up the threads in the story line very easily, so I am not fussy.

  With that I will take my leave.

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on February 1, 2026 Permalink  

  Snow 

  We did get an inch or so of snow.  Very wet.  Even the leaf blower had a hard time blowing it off of the front deck.  And then . . . the sun comes out and makes fast work of what was remaining on the driveway after Randy had scrapped it.  The streets are sloppy to the max.

  Lots of deer and rabbit tracks in the new snow.

  The studio got a day off today.  When I got up this morning, there was a bit of vertigo going on with me.  It’s best to stay on one level.  Not much can be done about vertigo unless it is prolonged and severe.  Mine is not.  There is no getting up quickly for a fast get-away.  It helps to move my head slowly and no quick looking down and then up.  My health is the post holding everything else upright.  My body is not just something I live in, It was given to me to take care of.  Stewardship 101.

  We are waiting for one item to come in the mail before I can do our income tax for 2025.  Tax Act is the program we have used over the years.  That and Turbo Tax are both good with easy to follow programs.  I hear there may be changes.  Time will tell.

  I have an oven meal in for supper with a veggie medley on the side.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:05 pm on January 30, 2026 Permalink  

  Snow? 

  An inch or so would be great to cover up the dirt-encrusted snow that is remaining

  For some reason the studio felt cooler to downright feeling cold.  I did have an agenda.  I kept moving.  Yes, the fusible foam did remain fused using the Best Press spray of yesterday.  The sample piece of yesterday was put to the test.  I wanted to see if I quilted the placemat every three inches apart doing a cross-hatch, would the friction cause the two layers to move, null and voiding the fused aspect.  No!  It held tight.  I went on to quilt the top and bottom together of one of the placemats.  I did lay out the second placemat using the same painter’s tape concept for accuracy, but it was just not in the cards.  There is no way the thermostat on the furnace could be high enough to allow the studio to be comfortabe.

  I do feel good that the bundle of foam that I have will be usable by activating the fuse it was meant to have.

  The small pillow filled with crushed walnuts did get hand stitched shut.  Hard to believe that hand stitching with a small sharp needle and a single thread used to come so easily.  Now, the hand stitching that I do is done with a #26 tapestry needle and 2 ply embroidery floss.  That’s ok.  I like what I can do. 

  Yes, there is a covering of snow forecast.  This afternoon was the perfect time to make a trip to the grocery store.  The north wind was raw, but new snow and cold temps was more than I was willing to do.  Having concrete dry and bare under the feet is the ultimate.  A little variety in the kitchen goes a long way taking the edge off of meal preparation.  Besides I was out of apples and avocados.

  After the store we swung around town and we have a 12″ tuna sub on cheese bread for our evening meal.  The dressing of choice is ranch.  Green peppers, onions, lettuce, shredded cheese and olives rounds out the food group.  Sweet.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on January 24, 2026 Permalink  

  Frigid 

  After several days the frigid air becomes the usual.

  Dennis was feeling some cabin fever.  Too cold to get the little red pickup out for just a swing around town.  He had checked out his Facebook and the local obituaries.  Dennis asked if there was anything he could do that I had put off due to left arm mobility and the right wrist not doing well.  Well, now that he asked . . . I had been daily seeing the washing machine’s interior top of the tub for some time needing a bit of tidy, tidy.  Splashing of the water and that what it holds had left residue.  Dennis asked for supplies and said he was in for the job.  He wanted his walker behind him in case his legs would feel as if giving out.  I would be standing right behind that walker for moral support.

  We filled the hot water as if doing a light load and added some Dawn.  It was a good thing I had saved my favorite paint brush from me doing the front deck this last summer.  It was perfect for Dennis to use the water to dip the paint brush in to clean the rings around the collar of the tub.  Actually, when Dennis was in the hospital after breaking his hip, I had not checked his jacket pocket and a pack of cigarettes had gone into the laundry.  Hmm.  A few . . . actually a lot, of those fibers had found their way onto some of those rings.  I don’t use fabric softener often, but over time the funnel shaped container on the center agitator had more residue in it than was necessary . . . kind of like a wax residue.  Dennis asked for a plastic spoon and paper towel and it got swiped clean.  Mission Completion!  The washing machine had not had that job done since my stroke.  Sweet.

  We both met at the dining room table for a cup of coffee.

  Dennis reverted to the patio porch and I went to my bedroom porch to do a bit of stitching.  I am using Esther Schafer’s seasoned silk embroidery floss for this stitching project.  This time of winter’s cold I have the pointer finger on my right hand that needs a bit of stitcher’s wax worked into it so the floss does not snag.  It works slick.

  We had decided on supper: some Johnsonville Beef brats cut up into sauerkraut with buttered bread on the side.  It worked great for me.  An easy supper that we had not had for some time.  I will admit that that can of sauerkraut had been on the kitchen shelf for some time holding down the recharge cable for Dennis’ cell phone.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:27 pm on January 19, 2026 Permalink  

  Good Start 

  When I got up this morning, it felt as if I had just gone to bed.  A good night’s rest of hours of deep sleep.  I had to look twice to realize that the morning was in full gear.

  This Monday was a good start.  It was the start of me getting back into the studio.  It had been two weeks.  I missed my space and I missed the news from KNUJ.

  Staying on the first floor while I had a cold was a smart move on my part.

  By getting back into the studio for several hours this forenoon gave me back a sense of balance for my day.  A routine that allows the feeling that, yes . . . I am able to do what feels good and I can do good at my sewing.  That quilt top that has been under the needle for what seems like months is finally being measured up for some borders.  I have options of fabrics on the table and the goal is to use most of it up.  Not liking unfinished projects, I hope to finish the project up this week.  Of course, I have something waiting in the wings.

  The hand stitching is a good thing to fall back on but not as a full time endeavor for the days.

  Yesterday, cousin Mark shot off a photo to me of a quilt top he had just finished.  He followed up with a good phone conversation.  His friend had requested a quilt from Mark.  Mark found the king-sized quilt kit on the market-place via Facebook.  It included fifteen yards of fabric plus the quilting design for a long arm quilter to finish it by following the pieced top.  That had the $50.00 price tag still on the packet.  The top will be handed off and the finishing will be done by the friend and his wife.  Mark had made a great score.  Mark’s job is as a head mechanic at a huge printing site in Hastings.

  This evening our supper will be hearty bean and ham soup with a side of a fried egg sandwich.

  No appointments this week.  Sweet.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:07 pm on January 2, 2026 Permalink  

  A Good Completion 

  Our days always have events.  Today my event was that I had a good completion in the studio.  Dennis had asked Carrie for a favor for Christmas.  Dennis was backing the purchase of clothing for me via Carrie.  Carrie had to seek and find a store in the metro that had what Dennis requested.  She did great.  Dennis did good. 

  My completion today was shortening of the sleeves.  I think it could be stated that shorter arms than the USA standards of clothing can be inherited.  Yup . . . that would be me.  I took my time in looking over the situation.  The jacket is fully lined.  Measure once, measure twice and put the scissors down.  Shut the lights off in the studio.  This morning, I was ready for action.  I had thought about this in my waking hours long enough.  The Christmas clothing that Dennis bought for me is now on a hanger ready to be worn.  Whew.

  When I am in a very intense process, I have to continually tell myself to relax my shoulders.  If I don’t, they are going to damn well hurt far beyond the time that I am working on the progress.  Oh my, let me tell you, Dennis is so proud.  He had been asking me how things were going every time I headed to the studio.   Well . . . the first such out-pouring from Dennis in over 2o years . . . this was huge!  Bless his heart.

  Dennis’ son from Arizona is here for several days.  There will be a lot of Curry’s goings-on over the entire weekend.  I am going to keep my head down and agree with everyone.  Part of it all, is that grandson Ryan has a surprise 40th birthday party that has been planned for him.  I kind of didn’t get what the big deal about being 40 was all about.  Just one big drinking party from New Years rolling right into the weekend.  I didn’t loose anything in the VFW, so I am keeping our home front open for anyone needing a break.

  With that will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on December 21, 2025 Permalink  

  In Town 

  There were a few errands to run in town on this sunny afternoon.

  The Family Dollar carries the Tidy lightweight kitty litter in doable plastic jugs.  On a side-note, Brett’s concrete business takes the plastic jugs off of our hands.  While the concrete trucks are on site, having a gallon of clean water is handy for the fellows working with the crete.

  The Dollar General is where we pick up the $1.00 bags of Lemon Heads.  Dennis’ favorite hard candy when his mouth is dry.  No Lemon Heads today.  I did pick up our favorite Progressive Chicken Noodle soup for $2.00 a can.  I had just paid $3.29 at our grocer’s last week.  Same size can.  I also added buying two bags of our favorite chips and get two bags free.

  The grocery store was the next stop for Meow Mix.  The kitties should be in good shape for a while.

  We are invited to Dennis’ cousin’s 90 birthday party on the 27th at his son’s farm in a heated shop.  I had looked up the address on the computer and we did a dry run north out of town on that.

  Our last stop was to pick up a 12″ Tuna Sub before heading for home.  Whew, supper is done. 

  On a note!  I tried loading photos for the blog this afternoon and it was a no-go.  I tried with the photos I had downloaded from my phone as well as from my camera.  I will leave it to the administrator to find the solution.  I was trying to load them from the “Blog File” where I always have done in the past going through the steps of the Next Gen Gallery options.  Time will tell.

  Tomorrow, Monday the 22nd, Dennis has an eye injection at 2:30 in the afternoon in Mankato.  There may well not be a Monday Blog.  Just saying.  The appointment takes a good bit of time and travel time also is a good indicator of “see you on Tuesday.”

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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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.  ♥