Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from August, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:31 pm on August 17, 2026 Permalink  

  My Tuesday 

  My Tuesday has gone exceptionally well.  Good ole Gemini did me good.

  I found a hand stitch pattern that I have had for some time.  It is monotone which I am ready for.  The previous pattern had 50 thread color changes.  From 2021 to 2026, mission completion.

  The new pattern is black floss on white.  The issue I had was that I had a half skein of black left from previous stitching.  I asked Gemini how many skeins of black floss I need for 39,000 stitches using one thread of the six on a skein on 22 count fabric.  Thank you Gemini and thank you Amazon for the 8 skeins of black that will be here on Tuesday, aka: tomorrow. 

  I do not feel the need to wander through retail stores to find what I need.  Been there, done that.  I have a specific need and it’s done in a heart beat.  It also saves the tempting item on the end-caps in the stores.

  The work in the studio went smoothly today.  The sewing machine never skipped a beat or a stitch as I went through two full bobbins via 40 vibrant spools of thread.  I still have a lot of work to do before I can call the fancy rag rug done.  Many, many wandering thread ends as well as removing the stabilizers on the back.

  Dennis has had a napping kind of day . . . that’s not a bad thing.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:00 pm on August 13, 2026 Permalink  

  A New Try 

  Sometime back I had acquired two table runners for very few dollars.  They have been taunting me recently.  From the onset they resemble something that would have been woven on our four harness Newcomb Flying Shuttle loom.  In my world, it was a fancier rag rug.

  The need was to prove whether or not my sewing machine could embroider a design on it.  I have done so on pleather, cork and denim.  The difference was in the thickness.  I chose a one-color design for this test.  A wash-a-way stabilizer was my choice and I used two layers hooped.  No way was this going to be hooped.  There is a spray stabilizer that I sprayed onto the wash-a-way and laid the project on top of it, gently rubbing the project for the best adherence possible.  A wash-a-way top layer that looks like cling wrap allows the stitches to lay on top consistently rather than getting pounded in the fibers.

  Believe it or not, on a slow speed we have success.  Dennis could not believe that this looked as if it came out of a fancy department store.  What remains is that the stabilizer on the back needs to be soaked off.  The stabilizer on the front came off great as the stitches had perforated it enough it came off easily.

  I needed the time in the studio so I feel I have a balance in my days.  I now have a plan going forward.

  My next venture is to find a new hand stitch project to keep my wrists and hands nimble.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:14 pm on July 23, 2026 Permalink  

  Rabbits 

  From My HP laptop, I have a great view to the south where I see a sea of white clover in full bloom in the neighbor’s yard.  There are four rabbits that are in their hay-day.  As I have no plants to tempt them to our yard, I enjoy seeing them frolic about. 

  There were three small Christmas designs I had stitched and in the process of finishing the stuffing.  Today was the day that the ground walnut shells container was brought to the church tables for that finish.  I have a set-up of a small funnel for the majority of the fill into the pillows.  I top it off with poly fill to allow the pillows some stability.  With just the walnut shells it feels like a squishy bean bag.  A great feeling to totally finish that project.

  I enjoy small stitching projects.  It gives me a break from the stitching project I started in 2021 to prove to myself I could still command a needle and a hoop.  It had been tucked away several times.  This summer is the finish by hook or by crook.  An area of 50 stitches by 50 stitches using ten different floss colors.  After all the “X”s have been made, I have back stitching in the 15.5″ x 11.25” to do.  The back stitching is outlining various portions of the stitches for definition in the project.

  Yes, it doesn’t take much for me to put it aside.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♠

   
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  Noreen 2:09 pm on July 21, 2026 Permalink  

  Feel Good Day 

  The wind is from the north and as I swept off the back door, the air was feeling pretty good.  Our back door always has a whirlwind effect on anything that the wind can carry.  When I took time to look up Dennis was busy with the leaf blower on the east patio also doing the tidy tidy.

  When the phone updates it always leaves more than requested. I did notice “Oak-Ever” when I opened the phone.  I then opened the Amaze Go!  A brain teaser to wipe out the entire design by not crossing over other lines.  If it were a bad thing it would have let me know by now as the phone is still operational.  Interesting to see what I see and then react to.  Also a good time burner.

  The studio is ready for whatever I desire.  The church tables have been cleared of clutter . . . always a site to see when I come down the stairs.  I used a particular box to do a mailing.  That content needed to find a new home.  Sifting and sorting to lessen while I was at it.  Very inviting to spend some time and energy when all appears to be a place where someone enjoys being.  I am sure much like a mechanic that opens his shop to find everything in its place and a place for everything.

  Dennis’ cucumbers were the best for supper last night.  Crispy and crunchy to pair with the chicken.  Tonight’s offering is still in the thinking process to pair with the remaining cucumbers.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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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.  ♥