Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from January, 2020 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 5:10 pm on January 26, 2020 Permalink  

  A Sunday on Stauffer Ave 

  After the usual household tasks, I let Dennis know I would be in the sewing studio if he needed me.  Dennis allowed me to know that he was going over to his friend Dave’s home in regard to a problem with a take-down rifle.

  Determined to work on this wall hanging that I won, I hunkered down.  I put in a new needle and oiled a few ports.  Embroidery designs can rack up 10,000 to 12,000 stitches in short order.

  This project is a good testimony to exercise in patience.  As I am not in any hurry . . . all is well.  When the twenty plus blocks are done the entire kitchen themed wall hanging is working around Christmas.  Included is Glitter Flex for some blocks.  It is a pliable plastic that has come out recently being used in quilts and is deemed to be durable. to the extent of being laundered.  Perhaps much like the jackets with embellishments.  That will be a new experience for me when I work with those blocks.   

  The block that was the most challenging today was the one that had a cupcake on a cake platter.  What’s to keep a cupcake from drying out . . . a glass dome.  Before sewing the clear plastic dome down, I had to be sure to add the button that replicated a mint candy.  The block that featured the cup with whipped cream, had a piece of foam that needed to be added before the final stitching.   

  This would not be a project for a beginning stitcher.  It will cause me to run my fingers through my white hair as I puzzle through the blocks.  Dennis is encouraging . . . and amazed to the extent that this project has been thought through including all the bells and whistles.

  Last night Dennis counted 12 female deer of various ages that were here at one time for supper.  Between neighbor Jan’s and us, I know they all get something.  The hay that Dennis has under the Maple tree laced with shell corn sprinkled in and among is a favorite.  Late on in the evening the two male deer come.  They are not included with the first pass. 

  During the day the side show continues as the squirrels are bound and determined to find some of that shell corn hiding in the hay.  Dennis and the patio porch cats have entertainment . . . non-stop.  Each day Dennis’ hand is showing improvements.  I have no doubt that there is infection that needs to be absorbed into his system via the antibiotics.  He has really beefed up the water intake.  Get it flushed out one way or another. 

  The sun made a welcomed appearance this afternoon, though short.

  Supper is a package of frozen Prime Rib noodle soup.  It sure is handy to have a few items stashed away.

   
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  Noreen 3:43 pm on January 24, 2020 Permalink  

  More Than Bills 

  Sometimes the mail brings more than bills.  Before Christmas I received a package from Creative Stitches in Bird Island.  I knew I had not ordered anything.

  In October when I had gone to Creative Stitches to pick up Carrie’s sewing machine I had put my name in a box.  Didn’t even really pay attention to what the drawing would be for.  As it turned out, Amanda is now carrying a line of products by Kimberbell.  I received the winning results.  It is a kit of projects, fabric and machine embroidery files.  

  My winnings included everything needed for a 32″ x 32″ wall hanging.  When I say “everything,” I mean everything.  One bag was full of multiple fabrics and the second bag was the embellishments.  Buttons and trim to the nth.  It is a Christmas-themed item.  I downloaded all the designs yesterday.  On the CD there are additional projects for aprons and placemats.  The instruction book is very complete.  After embroidering 20 plus blocks working with appliques and applying all the borders . . . I am going to be set for a new item in our home for the 2020 Christmas season.

  As I had the first block going, it took me awhile to get the hang of it. An outline is sewn out.  Then a piece of fabric is put on the outline and the sewing pattern repeats that outline.  Extra fabric then needs to be trimmed away.  A satin stitch is then sewn covering all the raw edges of the fabric.  This process goes on and on and on for each block and each additional block thereafter.  That is the applique process.  Fabric is applied for it to be then stitched onto the design block.  It should keep me in stitches for some time.

  So I got curious.  I went online to look into the Kimberbell line of products.  When I saw that this kit was valued at $159.00, I looked no more.  I will complete this project and then send Amanda a photo.  It was a great surprise to receive this.

  By the way, Dennis’ hand looks so much better after only beginning the antibiotics.  He will follow through as this setback has taken a tole on his schedules, be they what they be.  He took a dozen cookies over to the apartment complex this afternoon where his friend Lyle lives.  The gathering takes place at three and Dennis thought a treat taken over would be good.  I agreed. 

  Some of my days seemed more filled than others and that is the way I like it.

   
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  Noreen 6:13 pm on January 23, 2020 Permalink  

  Wet Feet 

  When I stepped out of the car at the grocery store this afternoon, I never expected that the puddle hiding under the snow slush would soak my shoe beyond the sole.  We have had all seasons of weather within a span of four days.  Days of thirty degrees and more is wasted when the sun doesn’t shine.  The forecast has many gray days coming up.

  Dennis has an owie.  Last Thursday he said his hand felt swollen.  When I took a good look, it could very well have been a rubber glove that had been filled with water waiting to be pricked with a pin.  Dennis had no recollection of what he had done.  He had been cleaning barrels of some older guns but there was nothing that came to mind for the actual injury.  Each day I wondered how long it would take before his finger nails would pop off.

  Today . . . enough already!   We had him at the clinic by nine this morning.   Nothing is broken.  No damage to tendons.  It may have well been similar to a water blister under the skin that found a bit of bacteria to react to and fire up.  Dennis will be on antibiotics for 10 days.   Good grief Dennis is about as bad as my dad was . . . waiting to feel better before going to the doctor.  Being right handed has had its problems for Dennis.  He realizes now why many people choose sweat pants to live in.

  It had started off to be a quiet day in the sewing studio.  I did get down there after a wait at the pharmacy and a trip to the grocery store.  It takes my whole being and concentration when I work with digital files for a stitching design.  I don’t download designs often enough to stay in the grove.  When there is no one living with me that can assist with computers, it is try, try, try again . . . and then finally the correct switch is flipped in the gray matter and it works.  Who knows . . . perhaps furrows in between my eyes are meant to accentuate my white hair.   If I give in or if I give up, it is a nail in my coffin. 

  Once I have my act together with stitching and quilting, the process of either of those two does quiet me.  I intend to be quiet for some time to come.  Whether errands take you to puddles to get wet feet or if you jump into challenges with both feet, it all works out in the end.

   
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  Noreen 6:13 pm on January 22, 2020 Permalink  

  Not Spring 

  It may not be spring outside today, but the temps in the mid thirties weren’t too hard to take.  Much concrete came peeking out on our property.

  It was just several days ago that I finished the 89″ x 89″ pinwheel quilt top.  I reached out to see who was available to do the longarming.  As I type, no doubt the project is being loaded on a longarm in Sherburn.  Though Sharon sold the Old Alley Quilt Shop, she has a longarm unit in the basement of her home in Sherburn.  Sharon was thrilled that I would have her do the project.  It just happened to work out for both of us.

  The entire way driving the 26 miles to Sherburn the wipers were taking away the mist of rain.  When I left Sharon’s house and turned the wipers on, they were moving a bit more than just the mist of rain.  The temperatures were just at the point of freezing the mist.  The roads were clear as we headed to the home-front.  I have no doubt that there will be fog for those traveling this evening.

  Dennis and I had agreed that we would do Subway this evening.  As I pulled into the Subway parking lot, a text message came from nephew Brett, aka: the concrete construction guy turned winter quilter.  His home is close to Subway so I made a stop.  He was putting on his largest pieced quilt top, 82″ x 82″ onto his longarm.  Brett has come a long way during these last three winters.  Brett is learning that prep and patience makes it all go much smoother.   Hmm.  Not a whole lot different than doing a concrete job.  I go to see Brett for the moral support he needs.  There aren’t many of “his people” who can understand the importance of matched seams and seams that need to be pressed open.

  As of this afternoon, my streak of being a road warrior is over.  All of my objectives that needed to be met outside of our home has been completed.  It’s time to turn on the sewing studio lights and get something going.  It’s like . . . do something while I can.

  The Subway supper hit the spot.  Dennis’ favorite is the 6″ tuna sub.  I enjoy the spinach wraps.  No dishes to do is also sweet.  May everyone enjoy the evening with nourishment in the stomach and getting the night’s sleep needed to regenerate for what may present itself in the tomorrow. 

  It’s not spring yet, so no splashing in the water puddles as they may be slick ice.

   
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  Noreen 4:30 pm on January 17, 2020 Permalink  

  A Snow Day 

  It may have been a snow day outside, but the sewing studio was humming right along.  It is always gratifying when a project that really didn’t have an end game planned does comes together.

  I enjoy making scrappy quilts.  Let’s get to the  bottom of that scrap box and throw something together.  What seemed to come together was a lot of warm colored scraps.  I picked up a pattern off of Facebook and went with the eight point pinwheels.  It took 49 nine inch finished blocks.  I had begun this in August of 2019.  Of course . . . it’s warm outside and warm colors are being put together.

  I knew I would like to have a double sized quilt in the end.  I had also thought I would have liked a flannel back to this quilt.  88″ x 88″ is very close to what the books say is a double sized bed quilt.  The flannel was not to be had in the 108″ choice as I shopped at Old Alley Quilt on their last days of business when everything was 30% off and choices were slim.

  I have titled my quilt top Tropical Ocean Waves.  When it came to putting sashings and corner stones to it, I was less than thrilled with what I had on hand to go with the warm colors.  I was determined I would not purchase fabric for the quilt top, it had to come out of my stashes. I went to the exact opposite and chose dark teal and light teal colors from my stashes . . . thus the Tropical Ocean Waves title.  The lighter of the teals being not a solid color . . . who knew!  It was as if it was planned all along for ocean waves.  Dennis’ opinion was asked for and he was a great help.  By adding the 1/4 inch blue strip around all of the the blocks it tied in well with the plan.  I didn’t think I would ever get done cutting 1″ wide strips.   It took 49 of them with several inches left on each for the circular file. 

  As of this afternoon the sewing studio is tidy.  Everything is put back in its place and the quilt top, batting and backing are stacked ready for a winter weather break to take to Sharon in Sherburn.

  Dennis has been playing in the snow this afternoon with his snowblower.  I kept track of him as he blew a path on the east side of the garage to blow out the area where the pan is set out for the deer food.  The temps have warmed up allowing the snow and the winds are promised to be wild this weekend.

  Staying safe this weekend is the tip of the day.

   
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  Noreen 4:21 pm on January 15, 2020 Permalink  

  Sun Dogs 

  Sun dogs at night . . . sailor’s delight.  So says the old adage.  There are sun dogs out this afternoon and it is beginning to bite with the cold.

  The camera that Dennis’ friend had put out for deer photos is less than good.  Rich had it set quite close to the patio door and thus the photos are very blurry.  If there happened to be a deer in the top of the photo that allowed for a clearer image as it was farther away.  As Dennis mentioned, we knew how many there were and how entertaining it is for us on a nightly schedule.

  I put out feelers for a long-arm quilter and I got a bite.  Sharon sold the Old Alley Quilt shop and let it be known that she would have a long-arm in her home in Sherburn.  Sharon has done many quilts for me and I will be thrilled for her to do another one for me.  I told her I would keep in touch when my top was completely sewn.

  We do have the thermostat set at 70 in the house.  I must say that the basement is a bit cooler even with the heat register open.  I came upstairs and decided that the blog would be done on the living room HP.  My fingers are a bit chilly.

  A Dennis-style hotdish is in the oven.  Dennis’ choice is chicken, corn and pasta.  He did let me add some chopped bacon when he mixed in the Alfredo sauce.  His choices and I know he will enjoy every last bit of it.  My choices will be for a time when Dennis is off to a weekend gun show.  You have to know when to hold them and when to fold them.

   
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  Noreen 4:00 pm on January 14, 2020 Permalink  

  Fuzzy Wuzzy 

  Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear.  Fuzzy wuzzy is how Grammie is going to stay for a bit with her need of a haircut.  I awoke this morning and there was a crystallized coating on the snow that had fallen yesterday.  There was no need for me to be out on the highway.  Hey . . . I have stocking caps to keep the stray gray and white under control.

  The one item I was going to seek and search for in Mankato will be here on Friday from Amazon.  The fee for postage is quite a savings in relationship to wear and tear on me, let alone the car if the highways were a bit dicey.

  Dennis ventured out to his coffee group and went on to help a friend with something that needed to be moved.  Classmates of Dennis’ are in short supply.  This particular classmate helped Dennis with his Cub Lo-Boy last year.  Turn around is fair play.

  In several days Dennis will have a camera clip that will show what has been transpiring on the back patio for the last week or so.  Friend, Rich, installed the night vision camera before he left for a winter break.  Today Rich picked up the camera and now Dennis will soon have the rest of the story.  Rich commented that there wasn’t a square foot of snow that does not have deer tracks on it in our back acre.

  Being busy in the sewing studio gives me moments to think on things.  I think I will not be dong the actual quilting on the eight point pinwheel that is in progress.  As the quilt top is growing, it is difficult to manage the size and weight effectively.  I will be doing some inquiry of several long-arm quilters in the area.  Batting and backing add a huge amount of heft.  My shoulders and arms don’t do heft well.  With that being decided . . . it feels right.  It feels good.

  Cold is descending upon us.  We can stay safe and warm in our home until a time when we can peek our heads out for safe travel and errands.  After all . . . how many errands do retired folks actually have.  Some folks like us tell us they can’t stay home for too long.  They have to be out and about.  Not these two on Stauffer Avenue.

  Fuzzy wuzzy is signing off.

   
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  Noreen 4:55 pm on January 11, 2020 Permalink  

  More Appealing 

  Today I put together an evening meal that will be a bit more appealing to the ole cowboy than the tomato pasta dish of this last week.  A bottom layer of baby carrots with a hand seasoned pork shoulder blade roast covered with onions. It has been in the oven for about an hour and a half and the aroma is really quite good.

  I had been in the sewing studio for the afternoon when Dennis called me up to the bathroom to look out the east window.  Two young bucks were eating hay under the Maple tree in the sunshine.  Their antlers are about four inches tall.  What a beautiful site.  Though hay may not be their favorite, Dennis always puts a handful of corn sprinkled over the hay.  I am sure the rest of the group will be following shortly.

  It’s been a rewarding day.  Cousin Mark followed up from yesterday’s quilt drama.  Mark found a Rite product to set the dye in the fabric he was working on.  No more using the Best Press starch spray. When I read my bottle there are no ingredients listed.  The label says it is a clear starch and sizing alternative with soil guard and wrinkle resister.  Ironically, this morning when I did some reading on one of my closed groups there was a posting from someone with an embroidered project.  She was going to give the finished stitching a spray with Best Press and the red embroidery threads bled.  Hmm.  I’ll have to do more checking on this.  Mark is on his way to a successful project with dark colored fabrics and very light colored fabrics.

  Here is the thing: cheap fabrics sold in Walmart and even JoAnn Fabrics have a grudge base in the weaving process and may always bleed.  Everything needs to be washed before any stitching of any kind.  The higher end fabrics that quilt stores sell have a better weft and warp quality and do not need to be pre-washed.  I have never had any of the quilt store purchased fabrics bleed.

  On a second go round of text messages, there is a scrumptious cake being enjoyed by the Fairfax team.  Kersten worked until sometime this afternoon and Kevin was going to bake a cake for them to enjoy later on today.  Between Google and Grammie the ingredients came together for a successful end product.

  It’s time for me to close down shop here in the sewing studio and finish up some ends in the kitchen for a great supper that I know will get high reviews from the ole cowboy.

   
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  Noreen 6:34 pm on January 10, 2020 Permalink  

  Assuring 

  Today was the first time that our newer car needed to be serviced.  We had decided to take it back to the dealership that we purchased the car from.  

  It was assuring when some history of the previous owner’s service records could be looked at.

  I did mention that in addition to the usual 3,000 mile service, I was concerned that the car seemed to navigate to the right on the open highway.  A service tech took the car out for a drive.  When all was said and done, the rear tires were rotated to the front and the front tires were put onto the back.  A quality numerical number of 7 was attributed to the front and a quality numerical number of five had been for the back tires.  Both numbers indicated that the tires were in good shape.  A second trip was taken after the rotation.  Over and above the grease and oil change, the wipers were replaced.  I had noticed a bit of drag when using them.  I had forgot that it would be three wipers and not just the two. The service was great and the car did handle well on the way home.

  The service appointment was all that I had had on the docket for the day.  A quick stop at nephew Brett’s was needed before I left town.  Quilters need to be supportive when questions loom.  Brett has been cranking out t-shirt quilts like crazy and he was now putting out pieced quilt blocks for a change.  The challenge of multiple pieces within a block plus all the added seams brought about bulky seams.  A short visit and he was on the right track.

  While I was driving home from the car servicing, the phone rang.  Yes . . . I waited until I got home before taking care of that.  The call was from my cousin Mark.  Mark . . . the fellow who works in a printing company and quilts in between time.  What to do when a dark fabric was leaching into a lighter fabric!  Good quality fabric should not do that.  The key was that there is a product called “Best Press.”  It is a lightweight water based starch for better, flatter lying quilt blocks to play nice.  Whatever the additive in the Best Press is, it may not be the best to use for all pressing.  Mark had 42 independent blocks sewn when he ironed the first block and noticed the leaching.  Mark and I kicked around a few things for him to try to secure the dyes in the darker fabrics.  I have no doubt he will conquer the challenge and perhaps leave the Best Press to use when the fabrics are closer to the same color. 

  Dennis thinks I need to put a shingle out for quilting support.  I just feel assured that the fellows don’t get down in the dumps the first time something trips them up.  It’s fantastic to see fellows who have found something to pique their interests in the winter months.

   
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  Noreen 5:09 pm on January 7, 2020 Permalink  

  A Feel Good Day 

  A good night’s rest made for a feel good day that could be had.  With Dennis’ morning to coffee with his fellows up town,  I took my time getting the day started.  Sometimes my pink fuzzy bathrobe and I need a bit more time to begin the rituals of the home.

  Fast forward to the afternoon and I was prepared for a 1:30 coffee guest.  I had not seen Bobby Moody since 1980, or there abouts.  Bobby worked in the probation office of the courthouse next to our assessor’s office.  Bobby had been a visitor to Orlin and I when we lived at South Branch.  Bobby was interested in learning how to can vegetables and butcher chickens.  She was originally from California and had met and married a fellow from St. James and was now a resident.

  Bobby had not changed in personality from that long ago time.  Her hair is as white as mine.  Her children are now all adults as mine are.  It didn’t take long for us to catch up with each other.  She had recently dipped her toe into quilting as there were grandchildren to remember with a warm quilt.  We did visit my sewing studio.  Bobby and her husband live in a 740 square foot apartment here in town.  Her comment about area for creativity made me feel so fortunate for my space.  Coffee and cookies were enjoyable and perhaps there will be more visits in the future.

  After Bobby left, I returned to my sewing studio.  I am puttering around and am anticipating how to totally quilt my eight point pinwheel quilt in time to come.  I have made samples and will be trying out different stitch patterns in time to come.  In the mean time, in between time, I still have 35 pieced blocks to continue attaching together for a completed quilt top before the remainder of the steps.  It’s all about puttering and I am still having a feel good day.