Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from May, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 1:57 pm on May 5, 2024 Permalink  

  Sunday, May 5th 

  This afternoon the ole cowboy and the Cub drove up to the BP to fill the fuel tank.  It was a good site.  Yesterday both garages got the floors washed down.  Having adequate garden hose makes it easier.  I will say, Dennis has been on a role.  After we had a light noon lunch, he is on the zero-turn.  I have no idea how much of the 2.2 acre will get mowed.  I will say he has been sleeping good.

  As for me, I am moving from one spot to another here on the first floor.  It’s a matter of arthritis in the lower back that is persistent in bucking.  It began yesterday.  A haircut and a pedicure can’t be accomplished for me without sitting in the chairs designed for such services.  It’s nothing new, it just needs to be respected for a day or so.  The good thing is, is that it doesn’t prevent me from getting a good night’s rest.

  The mail did bring the sticky stabilizer yesterday.  Sometime later this week, I will work on the remaining oven mitts and pot holders for Megan.  I really enjoy the scope of things that I can become enmeshed in.  It makes for a balanced day.

  Tasty left-overs for supper.  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:49 pm on May 4, 2024 Permalink  

  Spa Day 

  When the hair get cut after a month long of it growing, it feels oh so good.  Couple that with a pedicure, truly sweet.

  Yesterday there was some updating for Word Press that was needed.  Kevin set up this blog quite a few years ago so my kids could keep track of what I have been doing and what I am up to in my daily life.  Other than a short hiatus after my stroke, I have been fairly consistent.  When Dennis and I are out and about and I will not put out a blog, I text Kevin so he knows there is nothing wrong that would have prevented me from having the written word published.  I have no idea what setting up this blog entailed.  I just remember what the admin of it, Kevin, has told me to do to be able to take photos, load photos, down-size photos and hopefully label them.

  When we came home from our spa day, the kitchen’s aroma was welcoming.  When I had had a doctor visit in Mankato last week, I purposely went to Wal-Mart to visit their meat department.  I picked up a complete meal for our crockpot.  Kevin’s had brought us a beef meal for Christmas and it blew my Betty Crocker apron right off of me.  How handy to have veggies and meat contained ready to go.  Today we are having a pork roast meal in the pot. 

  Yesterday’s mail brought me a new hand stitching hoop.  The ones I had been using were from . . . a lot of times gone by.  Stitching always goes smoother if the fabric is taut and the next hole that needs thread is easier to see.  Good grief.  I struggled to hoop up my fabric.  Talk about a tight spring with which to hold the fabric.  I walked away from it once and then by golly, try, try again.  The fact that the new hoop was bright blue helped the determination.  The old one is the pink one.  I positioned it so I will have a fairly good area to stitch before I need to set the hoop again.  I know we have a small pipe plier that I may find for continued success.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on May 2, 2024 Permalink  

  Thunder Boomers 

  We have had a fair amount of rain, but this early morning was a first for thunder.

  What I would call remodeling of our home has been accomplished.  We had four new blinds put up at Easter and a lightening of the load in the attic.  Sweet. 

  What Dennis and I accomplished yesterday was the frosting on the cake.  Dennis’ recliner was of a imitation leather-look.  It was shedding more than his three patio kitties.  It had had help covering up the worst and that help held, but there was more surface to be tended.  As of this early afternoon, the chair has been refreshed.  Amazon to the recue.  It did take the both of us to achieve success in working with and against tough elastic.  Dennis commented how it brightened up the room.  Yes, it did.

  Onto an update of the studio.  I have sticky stabilizer coming in the snail mail to complete a few more potholders for Megan’s kitchen in Virginia.  How fun for her and her three friends.  Actually, as cool as it is, the studio is a bit chilly as well.

  Our chicken oven meal will be doing a repeat performance this evening.  There are some potato chips from the bottom of the bag that will be crushed and added to the top for an additional taste.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:52 pm on April 27, 2024 Permalink  

  Busy Day 

  Dennis’ grandson, AJ, came for a Saturday forenoon visit.  Those two fellows never run out of topics to discuss, hash out or solve.  It does Dennis good.

  This noon, we got a call that Dennis’ twins plus Sandy’s Tom, they were in Windom heading this way.  They had been in Sioux Falls where Sandy’s daughter, Chey, won her fight match.  I do not remember what it is called.  The fight encompasses, kicking, wrestling, hitting, etc.

  It is now mid-afternoon and all is quiet on Stauffer.  Sandy and Tom live in Mankato and Sue lives in Silver Bay and will stay over at Sandy’s until Sunday.

  I did get my oven mitt sewn back together.  My first embroidered one and not without a few oops.  My design could be said to be upside down.  I wasn’t too bothered by the placement of it . . . measure, measure.  I am bothered by the speck of sewing machine oil I got on the mitt.  That I might try to get out.  I have three more mitts.  I have several more designs.  What I don’t have is any more Stabil Stick.  Hmm.  I did order it yesterday when I realized what was required to get the job done.  The hand does slip in and allow for the user to grip an object. Considering this was a new venture, the fear of the unknown has been met.

  Tonight for supper we are having cooked shrimp that will be heated through and tossed in butter and a baked potato, sliced with cheese and bacon bites within.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:35 pm on April 26, 2024 Permalink  

  Slosh, Slosh 

  This for sure is more than a drip, drip day.  When the patio has water standing on it, we here on Stauffer Avenue are out of the drought.

  Today is the ultimate challenge in the studio.  How could I not make up some items for Megan and her three friends when they move into their first apartment sometime in May.  The kitchen theme is succulents.  Megan had been growing succulents her entire time in high school.  When she worked at the Mustard Seed Nursery, she would save the petals that fell off of the succulents, take them home and start new plants in a dirt mixture that succulents like.  Once the plants had a good start, she would sell them to classmates.  Sweet.

  This morning, we worked together to put extra bedding up on the shelves that Kevin put in for us in our one and only closet.  Dennis’ arms are stronger than mine.  The kitchen step stool with wide steps was used.  Dennis got up on the second step, so I could hand quilts and such off to him while putting my shoulder against the back of his legs for a secure feeling.  This transpired as Dennis really likes sleeping under the feather/poly filled comforter with the flannel duet encasing it.  He still has the electric mattress pad set at the magic number of 3.  Needless to say, Dennis needs the max of warmth while sleeping.  Both of us appreciate the ease of dressing the bed each morning.  A good flip and all is smooth and ready for the next night.

  Today I deconstructed an oven mitt potholder.  I needed to do that to emborder a succulent design and still allow the user to insert the hand in while using it as the potholder.  As the potholder would not fit into a hoop, I used a stabilizer called Stable Stick.  After the stabilizer is hooped, you use the sharp point of a scissor, score it and tear away, revealing a sticky surface to hold the area to be stitched on.  Success.  The fabric where the design would go, needed to be taut on the sticky surface for the tension of the design to stitch.  You may wonder how I know this?  I tried using pins to hold the fabric surface to a non stick product.  With the fabric not large enough to hoop and tighten to be a taut surface.  No go.  Taut was needed for correct tension stitching.  I wore myself out to the point it was time to surface to our main floor.  For tomorrow, after removing the stabilizer, I have chosen the gray thread that is sitting on the sewing machine to use when I sew the bias tape binding back around the entire pot holder.  Putting it back together might be as large of a challenge as embroidering it was.  Time will tell.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:10 pm on April 24, 2024 Permalink  

  Ah-Yes 

  Ah-yes, it does tug at my heart strings, when I see what happens to Dennis.  The heart and mind is willing, but the body says . . . not today.

  Dennis realized today that his reflects are not quick enough to use the propane brush burner.  I respect him so much for finding where Jeff lives here in town to ask for his help.  When Dennis came in for lunch, he commented to me, crossing the bridge that has kept his son and him apart was really painless.

  When Jeff had his three-wheel bike’s battery charged up he came over.  It was definitely not the same Jeff of three years ago.  Sweet.

  When Jeff came into the house, he voluntarily shared that drinking was no longer in his life. 

  Right now father and son are in the patio porch watching a war documentary.  Sweet.

  I, on the other hand realized yesterday, I was lacking a flat service out in my bedroom porch to lay something down on either for stitching or for a flat service that would not allow items to slide to the floor.  My homemade slanted stand was perfect for reading and for having my stitching pattern on. 

  Down to the studio I went after supper, while Dennis was in the patio porch.  Up came my very first sewing machine table of 1968.  The middle of the top pushed apart to allow my Sears sewing machine to sit in the recessed area, making it level with the remaining top.   I got it upstairs and into my bedroom porch and there, I called it a day.  It is 28″ H x 43″ L x 18″ D.  When there is an emotional attachment to an item and stored, it finds its way into everyday service.  Ah-yes!

  It fits right up to the south window length-wise and allows my slanted set-up to work perfectly to its right that is under the west window.

  Of course today I was and am busy making adjustments.  When all will be said and done . . . mission completion.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on April 22, 2024 Permalink  

  Hang On 

  Yesterday the wind from the north took the mowed grass far, far away.

  Today the wind from the south decided to outdo the north wind.  The mail slot has been banging non stop.

  I spent some time going through a small purple tote on the top shelf in the studio.  Inside was a treasure trove of stitching fabric.  At one time, Lena had done some counted cross stitch.  Her stash even held several needles.  I have picked up the craft while in my bedroom porch perched upon my cherry red chair.  The craft is slow going and very soothing.  Today I spent time labeling the pieces of fabric by the number of stitches per inch.  The range went from 14 stitches, 16 stitches, 18 stitches, 25 stitches and one at 32 stitches.  If two threads worked over two of the 32 count, it will work out finished as the 16 count.  I have an idea that some of these pieces were Carrie’s and may well have contributed to the little purple tote stash.  Carrie did counted cross stitch when first she moved to the metro for school and later on with employment.

  When the kids were here for Easter, Kersten was indoctrinated into Dennis’ television watching . . . crime shows depicting real events, with names changed to protect the innocent.  I spend our evenings doing stitching in my bedroom porch, listening to the drama.  Needless to say, I won’t be running out of resources.

  I know Lena had her sewing room in an extra south-facing bedroom.  Lena did not man her sewing machine after the supper time.  I take that same time frame.  Lena crocheted during the evening hours when her and Raymond each sat in their recliners.

  Hmm.  The thread and fuzz does not fall far from the tree.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on April 20, 2024 Permalink  

  House Bound 

  The wind and 45 degrees have decided for me that today I am house bound.

  I do have quite a lot of stitches to pick out.  I sat at the dining room table for the better part of the morning.  When Dennis came in at noon, he shook his head.  He felt no one would blame me if the placemat hit the circular file.  It may come to that.  If I work on it, either the eyes or the hands will tell me to pack it in for the day.  I felt one day of picking threads is not a fair test as yet.

  Next week there may be lawnmowers humming in the neighborhood.  The cool temps and the rain has really brought out the green.

  This is a slow day on Stauffer Avenue.  I am not complaining . . . just commenting.

  My picking utensils are at rest.  I am heading to my cherry red chair in my bedroom porch.  It might feel good to put in a couple of stitches, rather than the picking thing.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:13 pm on April 19, 2024 Permalink  

  Chilly 

  Chilly is the word of the day.  That may hold true for another day yet to come.

  Keeping the back door cleaned off with the leaf blower is a challenge.  All of the maple buds seem to nest right up to the back door with this wind.  They track in and leave a smear here and there.  The leaf blower is resting by the back door.

  With every endeavor there is room for failure.  I was motoring right along with Megan’s placemats, using succulent designs.  Hmm, that didn’t sound right.  I cut the threads and took the hoop off of the embroidery module.  Oh my gosh.  It looked like the back of the hoop was growing teddy bears.  I can’t imagine how many yards of thread were balling up with no real hint.  Hello!  Am I deaf?  I did say it didn’t sound right.  This was the sixth of the placemats I had ordered.  It was sold as a pack of six.  I do not throw things away without a fight.  I have time.  I have energy. I have a seam ripper. I have a tweezer.  My all time favorite . . . time will tell.  A little bit each day.  

  Five placemats out of six stitched out perfectly.  No way will I throw in the towel.  What will ensue will be chalked-up as a patience builder.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:05 pm on April 17, 2024 Permalink  

  Spring 

  Our 2024 spring season is on a sabbatical for a few days.  Nothing says typical better than rain showers.  All of the winter grime has been washed off . . . everything outside.  It hasn’t slowed the robins down one bit in making nests under our west awning.  More power to them.

  Dennis took a forenoon nap today.  That was the first time since Easter that his recliner was used.  Naps in the patio porch don’t count.  Two of the three kitties check out his jacket to see how far in they can crawl and soak up some good ole body heat from Dennis.

  This afternoon Dennis will be getting an eye injection for his wet macular degeneration.  The appointment had been spread out to once every three months.  Happy days.  Between these injections and the CPAP . . . oh so thankful that I have no need for either.

  This afternoon, I stitched out three placemats for Megan in the succulent motif.  I am saving one for tomorrow.  My bedroom porch is beckoning me for either some reading or perhaps some stitching.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥