Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from January, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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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 3:14 pm on December 29, 2025 Permalink  

  Sunshine 

  The sun shines bright on our ole Stauffer home………..

  After we woke it was amazing to see where the wind had made drifts.  This morning, Dennis squeezed out the back door and then could inch to the corner of the home and then catch bare concrete on the driveway to get to the garage door.  Our front deck had snow on it.  I ever so slowly pushed the front door open so I could get myself and the leaf blower out.  The deck and steps took some time with the blower, but I got it done.

  With the winds that blew all night long, it would be hard telling how much snow we actually had.  What had blown in had a hard crust on it.  Neighbor Randy did a great job of clearing the snow at our home.  Jan has often commented how much he loves playing with his tractor, blower and front load bucket.  

  I had not been in the studio very often during Christmas.  Today was the day!  I now have a plan as to what I will do in shortening the sleeves on the jacket I got from Dennis for Christmas.  Having a plan laid down is 99% of the project.  I even have the thread color in place.  Having that plan in place, I did sew a few stitches on the log cabin quilt blocks.  The 24 blocks are laid out for the finished design I am striving for.  It is best to sew several together at a time and put them back on the church tables so as not to screw it up.

  By two thirty, it was time to close down the studio.

  As I am sitting here in my bedroom porch, there are ice sickles forming as the snow is melting off of the awning.  KNUJ is forecasting temps in the thirties for tomorrow, Tuesday.  We have the battery for the leaf blower on the charger just in case we need to call it into service later on this week.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:41 pm on December 17, 2025 Permalink  

  It’s Dwindling 

  The sun has had a dramatic effect on the snow pack . . . and the ice.  Our drive is completely free for the time-being.  Dwindle away.

  I was in the studio sewing until two this afternoon.  It felt so good to be among “my stuff.”  What had spurred me on was a YouTube video that Jordon Fabrics of Oregon puts on each week.  They do nothing but mail order.  Their specialty is pre-cuts for the patterns that they create.  The video is usually about 45-50 minutes long.  I sit transfixed and take it all in.  To see the pallets of bolts of fabric that they work with is right up my viewing alley.

  Back to my reality.  I had mentioned that I had ordered Olfa blades for the rotary cutter.  Two sizes: 60 mm and 45 mm to match the two cutters I have.  The 60s came with a previous order.  I was wondering when the 45s would show up.  Today in a shoebox sized box was a whole lot of fill-in paper for a very small package of the 45s.  So be it.  Jordon Fabrics uses nothing but the Olfa blades.  I am in good company.  They have multiple stainless steel jigs with slits in them to run the rotary cutters down them.  One may have slits every two inches, another three inches, etc.  Each one more than covers the 44 inch fabric that is folded in half for the run.  I am just in awe of the behind the scenes that of course is my passion: threads and fuzz.

  We have had hot meals for a four evening run.  This evening it is the Ego thick waffles and sausage.

  The gray air of the 38 degree temps feels every bit like the 15 degrees that the info speaks of.

  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 3:34 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.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:22 pm on November 30, 2025 Permalink  

  The Cleanup 

  The cleanup of a 7″ snowfall has been completed.

  There was no lack of the sound of snow removal equipment this morning.  Our neighbor Randy knows to wait until the city has done all of their cleanup past our home.  The ridge of hard snow that can be piled at the end of our drive would and could be labeled as a heart attack if just a shovel was used.  It is a good feeling to have the snow moved to allow ingress and egress from our home and garages.

  The sun was out for just a few minutes before the chilly clouds moved in.

  I was in the studio when I heard a familiar sound.  It was the Ahrens walk behind snowblower.  When I got up from the studio, there was Dennis and the Ahrens . . . blowing a track for the garbage bin and recycling bin.  I can’t believe he got it started.  It had been idle the last two winters.  I kept an eye on him.  Dennis used it for a bit and then took a break.  This happened several times until he had satisfied himself.  He drove the point home that it needed to be used to keep everything running good.  He was right.  Dennis needed to prove to himself, that the snowblower was still his way of moving some snow.

  I don’t remember how many years ago, I made a blue log cabin quilt for Carrie.  It had white applique snowflakes on it.  I must have enjoyed making the snowflakes as I had fourteen of them in a file folder.

  

  The extra snowflakes are going to be put into something rather than running loose in a folder to be dismissed for a circular file, aka: the garbage.  I hunted until I found some designs that would fit on each of them.  They were quick to do and the sewing machine didn’t miss a beat.

  

  I do have the red fabric that they are resting on.  I have gotten this far and now it is time to really think things over.  The snowflakes have been waiting for many years so I don’t want to rush into anything.

  All is well on Stauffer Avenue.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:08 pm on November 29, 2025 Permalink  

  And Then 

  And then it snowed and snowed and snowed.  It was forecast.

  I was very relieved when text messages went back and forth from Stauffer Avenue and Eden Prairie.  A cancelation that meant reality and safety.  There is much truth in the phrase, “I would rather think about you than read about you.” Another day, another time . . . that will work out just fine.

  Dennis reverted to his recliner.  I went into the studio to while away time, listen to KNUJ and after enough time was burned, come up with a doable answer to an old project of Lena’s.  The radio stressed over and over to not take this snowfall and the road conditions for granted.

  As I am now in my bedroom porch putting together this posting, the snow is more consistent than this forenoon and the flakes are larger.  The evergreen tree that I see in the neighbor’s yard is now doing a bow this way and that from a light wind moving its boughs.

  Neighbor Randy did take an earlier swipe of the snow with his green machine.  There is no evidence that he was ever here.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥