Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:46 pm on July 19, 2026 Permalink  

  The 19th of July 2026 

  This is the last day of our county fair.  Surprisingly we did hear some fireworks go off last night at ten.

  The studio was visited this morning while I had Grace Lutheran church services on from Gaylord.  All went according to plan.  The next time I visit there are numerous spools of embroidery thread to put back in numerical order.   

  We had a plastic bag of garden goodies left on our front steps.  Cucumbers have been peeled, salted and dressed with mayo as an offering for supper.  The remaining cukes have been washed and added to one of the refrigerator crispers.  Three huge tomatoes will be set aside to finish putting the blush on them.  We are passing on the little elongated purple peppers. 

  I checked on Aunt Janet from Brownton last night.  She has been staying close to home in the hot weather.  Two nieces take care of grocery errands and the mowing of her yard.  The city librarian swaps out books for her as her favorite authors are known.

  Not much else to share today.  Being in our home is the best.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:25 pm on July 10, 2026 Permalink  

  Stitching and Listening 

  At 9:00 I was headed to the studio.  KNUJ was coming in loud and clear.  The embroidery pattern had been selected and the spools of the threads were standing in the order that they were needed.  I have mentioned before that I use the Isacord thread from Germany for embroidery.  One brand is all I need.  The patterns that I choose are from OESD.  Loading the pattern, the LED screen on the machine allows me to know how many stitches in total and how many stitches in each thread color.  The screen also shows me the number assigned to each spool.  It’s a good check to make sure your project is on track.

  All was going well.  A full bobbin was started.  The last 100 stitches and the bobbin was empty.  My machine uses the larger bobbin and as of today I now know that each bobbin is good for 5,400 stitches.  When the bobbin is empty its good to take notice of the number of stitches remaining.  When a new bobbin was loaded, I backed up the design plus a few more stitches so the machine would take off where the design was interrupted.

  The machine never disappoints.  I belong to a Facebook group of the 770 Berninia.  I read through the questions as well as the responses.  You can never tell when a situation is being questioned that the response will shed some light.  There is no such thing as having all the answers.

  Dennis had topped a carton of strawberries for me.  It was my turn to dice them, sprinkle some sugar on them and then Dennis would take over and use the pastry cutter to mash them to release the juices.  We happen to have brownies remaining for dessert tonight.

  Not going anywhere for this weekend and we are not entertaining either.  With the humidity and warmth, staying put for these two vulnerable people is a very good thing. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on June 27, 2026 Permalink  

  A First 

  A first for us was going to the grocery store after supper.  The store was quiet and I scored a cart that tracked well.  Milk and distilled water were high on the list.  The new face mask for Dennis’ CPAP must be working well as his water tank is empty by morning, telling me his mask is staying on all night.  Fruit is always on the list.  As Dennis has decided to eat strawberries this year, I had two packs in the cart.

  Yesterday I had decided to keep my hand in the embroidery aspect of the sewing machine.  The hands were working, but not so much the mind.  I had a small hand towel as the project.  Totally kitted and hooped up to only realize it on the wrong end of the towel.  Try again.  It was an applique design.  First thing is to sew down the cloth fabric that the design will be stitched.  The outline was stitched as well as trimmed with my duck bill type scissor.  Two rounds of stitching to begin with.  I looked but had not seen the design needed to be flipped 90 degrees for it to be correct and not upside down.

  The hoop came off of the machine.  The machine was shut off as well as all studio lights.  Night, night for that project.

  This morning, I plucked off the strawberry tops and mashed them ready for having berries and a bit of ice cream this evening.  I went down into the studio and spent time plucking out all of the embroidery stitching off of the hand towel.  Machine embroidery makes for many many stitches.  The towel needed to be made ready for try, try, try again.  Hours later . . . success.  My tip for the day: one needs to keep the head out of one’s butt.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:59 pm on June 20, 2026 Permalink  

  Got to Love the Weather 

  Today is the 20th of June and this type of weather is what Minnesota weather is all about.

  After I am done bustling about with first floor chores, a cup of breakfast coffee takes me to my bedroom porch.  As I sit facing south with double windows in front of me, the world is my oyster.

  Movement of cars driving by, bikers, walkers . . . I am in a fish bowl, looking out.

  The neighbors directly across the alley, named Stauffer Avenue, are Guatemalan.  I noticed the grill being brought out and a fire soon ensued in the grill.  What then surprised me was two gals each with a dead chicken in their hands.  Head and feet were still on the chickens.  It was a usual thing to hold a dead chicken over a fire to burn off the fine hair of the chicken’s skin before the gutting of the chicken.  It would take seconds to accomplish that.  That’s how Lena had taught us.

  What I wasn’t ready for was to bring out the grill’s top to put over the fire and then lay the two chickens on top of the hot smoking grill and walk off.  They came back after a bit to turn the chickens over and again backed away for a time.

  These were slight chickens to begin with and the skin on a chicken is very thin.  Hmm, a whole new technique that I would not want anything to do with.  Yew!  To each their own.

  I have not done any hand stitching all week.  I miss the quiet comfort and the sound of pulling the thread through the cloth that is stretched tight in the hoop.  A few too many days of the hands being busy in the kitchen for future meal preparations.  An endeavor oh so worth it.

  A window cracked on each end of the house to let the welcoming fresh air in.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:48 pm on June 17, 2026 Permalink  

  Bright sun on a Wednesday 

  We have had spurts of rain with the last spurt being a downpour for about five minutes.  We’ll take what we can get.

  Yesterday’s trip to the sleep study lab in Mankato was interesting.  The sleep mask that Dennis has used for the last nineteen years is being discontinued.  An entire new head gear with fasteners that are different are in the plan.  We are never too old to have to adapt.  His prescription has been updated at the Mayo Store and a sample that was tested right then and there was sent home with Dennis.  Time will tell.  I left Dennis to-it last night at bedtime.  I can’t do it for him.  I stayed up long enough to hear that he had met the challenge.

  As of last night Dennis has 30 banana nut muffins in individual sandwich bags in our freezer.  Horray for Dennis.  Horray for me.  No more make a sandwich for the breakfast box each day.  Would Dennis have made one for himself each day?  I tried that.  I am better off doing the muffins knowing he is not taking all his meds on an empty stomach followed by carcinogens of the cigarettes and allowing the stomach acid to build into a medical situation.  I realize my own path to resistance and not wanting to make hospital visits when Dennis would and did call from a hospital bed wondering when I was coming to see him.

  Yesterday, I brought home from Sam’s 2 lbs. of strawberries for $4.99, which would be one 1 lb. package here in town.  This morning I pared them, crushed them and have two freezer bags in the freezer with some for this evening.  A little backup plan helps. 

  Speaking of backups, Sam’s rotisserie 3 lb. chickens are the best for $4.98.  Dennis’ grandchildren that live in Mankato make special trips for them.  Our grocery has a small chicken for $9.98.  For supper, we had planks of chicken breast meat with a savory sauce I made.  I boned out the remaining chicken and there are two freezer bags ready for oven meals sometime.  Our freezer is looking mighty fine. 

  There has been no stitching for several days along side a dark studio.  Get the jobs done around the first floor before play time. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:21 pm on June 12, 2026 Permalink  

  A Turn 

  Today is Friday and a bit of a turn to what Dennis says feels warm.

  I could agree with that.  With an old paint brush, I swiped away all the loose dirt near the south side of the home’s foundation.   I could easily see the burrowed little ant hill holes where the driveway concrete met the home’s foundation.  Squatting as low as the titanium knees allowed, the ant powder went into the holes with just a bit extra that they may want to drag home.  There was a flurry for a time.  Since the last time I had put down the powder, we had had rain.  Yes, Dennis, the sun on my back felt warm.

  It has been days since I have seen one of the larger black ants dare to do the scouting of our first floor.  I will be diligent with my powder as I know where I can get more.

   I stayed in the studio until 1:30 this afternoon after I had buttered toast and fruit for breakfast.  I finished up two projects that have been in the works since February of this year.  It feels great not to have unfinished projects that have been languishing.  The sewing machine is ready for a new spell of stitching.

  My bedroom porch is vibrating this afternoon, as the internet company is drilling under the county’s concrete street.  Across the street I see little mounds of dug up dirt.  Plastic was put down before the fellows started digging.  A people’s company that knows how to do their work while keeping things tidy.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on June 9, 2026 Permalink  

  Decisions 

  It is my belief that when Minnesota weather turns to hot and humid, those that can, adjust for the duration and exposure.  Look who is talking.  There are two vulnerable older ones having the wonderful benefit of not being outside. 

  From this forenoon to mid-afternoon, the fellows working with the new cable company have been out in the full sun.  They all have had water bottles every so many feet in the grass of the blvd.

  During Monday night with a shower of rain driven by a burst of wind, I will need to re-apply my ant powder dust along the foundation of the house.  KNUJ mentioned possible storms during the evening hours.  I’ll take a wait and see.

  I do have a studio project going that needs to be fully finished.  It has been dragging on too long.  I have been doing the conveyor belt on the project . . . completing one step on the individuals in total and then moving on.  Step five went well this morning.  Working on the church tables that are two bricks higher than the original height . . . I did well until my back said it was time to shut it all down.  There is always tomorrow.

  With that I will take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 2:58 pm on June 2, 2026 Permalink  

  Taste Buds 

  This evening’s supper is all about taste buds.  The Braun Schweiger liver sausage has been sliced and popped back into the refrigerator.  It takes a very sharp knife to get that job done.  The red onion has been sliced into perfect thin slabs.  There is a sandwich and soup supper coming up.  Dennis and I have both been hankering for this sandwich.  You either hate it or enjoy it.  The soup choice is up to Dennis.

  Dad, Raymond, would have been the first to slide up to the table for Bran Schweiger and onion.  Fine dining restaurants call it Pate.  His slice of onion would not be a thin slab.  One of his favorite sandwiches was of one ingredient: a thick slice of raw onion on Lena’s fresh homemade bread buttered up.  Sure do miss that fellow.

  It’s been first floor living so far this week and I will admit, a rather lazy one.  Catching some quilt show videos does entice me to start something with threads and fuzz.  I need to keep in mind all the steps required to get to the end-gate.  I don’t know if I am up to it and there is no one anticipating getting a quilt.  I need to really think this through.

  Persevering with my one floss thread over one cloth thread is challenging to say the least.  It’s been a long time since I stitched a pattern that has ten or more color swaps in a one inch square.  I did it when I was in my “Christmas phase” but that was some time ago.  This project I am doing because I started it and I don’t want to leave for a time when it might be pitched.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:25 pm on May 29, 2026 Permalink  

  Good Session 

  A good session was had in the studio this forenoon.  The last of a collection was embroidered out on some hand towels.  Those towels had been purchased for the express use of the machine embroidered function.  Having them be ready for whatever occasion arises feels good.  Last week when AJ brought Amanda to meet us, one such finished towel went home with Amanda.  We wanted to make her feel welcomed and that will ensure her remembering our home.  

  It’s not unusual that I have sent a remembrance home when we have had visitors.  The visitors enjoy taking something home with them and it keeps me on my toes with familiarity of the process to have good quality finished items.

  OESD is a site that I do shop from for designs.  The selection is by category with thousands to choose from.  When I first purchased my Bernina, it came with a gift card from OESD.  I have only invested in one brand of thread, Isacord.  I do have several storage cases holding thirty spools each for selection.  It is manufactured in Germany.  Staying with OESD, the thread chart for designs lists in the order used and the number and color of Isacord thread to use.  One can always go off the suggestions with a different color-way.

  When I choose a design, it is so easy to pull the spools of thread I need and line them up on the table in sequence for when needed.  I have purchased designs from other companies and then downloaded their colors with their reference.  It’s a pain in the neck as hues of the same color could be in infinity.

  Just today, I scoped out some designs from OESD.  If you purchase the collection, it is cost-wise rather than one at a time at perhaps $3.00 to $4.00 each when the collection may have thirteen designs for $24.00.  All of my choices are keep in my history if I ever find that one of my USB drives has malfunctioned.  Another plus is the OESD, for a nominal reasonable price will load an order onto a USB drive and send it out.  Well, well.  Look at me being spoiled.

  My day-to-day itinerary may have some challenges to comply with, my creativity need not be one of them.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:21 pm on May 26, 2026 Permalink  

  Happy Summer 

  Last week it was a chilly atmosphere in the studio.  Today, it felt just right.  Talk about a theater of seasons.

  Again I worked on an alteration in the studio.  I had ordered an item online.  After waiting for an extended time for it to come, when it came the size was off by 2 to the excess.  I contacted the business and it was a mix up within the sizes from the US sizing to the European sizing.  All was checked over and the result was that it was a error on their side.  I didn’t need to return said item and the correct order would be forthcoming.

  I am not frugal but I had the opportunity to see if I could make a do-0ver.  Lena would have been up for the task.  Snip here, trim there.  She could take the collars off of dad’s blue chambre shirts when they frayed, flip it over to the underside and in a heartbeat dad never appeared to be in dire straights of going to town looking anything other than dapper as always.  Yes . . . those were the days when dad would come in to change out of his chores overalls into a pair donned as “town overalls.”  Call it self respect when going into town on business of either a thousand pounds of cattle concentrate or purchasing a new piece of farm equipment.  Dad ran a high-end business.

  It’s a warm afternoon and Dennis cleaned the garage floor for our car.  There was enough of the winter’s collection of kitty hair tufts to make a new kitty as the strong leaf blower got into every corner.  Outside it looked as if there were cotton balls flying through the air. 

  Before it got warm this morning, I baked out a pound of the Black Label thick cut bacon on a cookie sheet lined with the wide foil.  No mess when all was said and done.  Six of the smaller cucumbers have been peeled and a red onion sliced in very thin additions.  The sauce is some mayo with bit of salt to pull out the moisture of the cucumbers with a teaspoon of sugar.  Supper is bacon sandwiches and creamed cucumbers.  No additional kitchen heat added to this day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥