Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from January, 2020 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 4:47 pm on January 5, 2020 Permalink  

  A Day of Rest 

  Sundays were deemed to be a day of rest.  Man, have we blown that out of the water.  After the demolition project I had going yesterday, I had told Dennis as he went off to the last day of the gun show in Northrup, I was going to lay low for the day.

  As it turned out, Carrie and Megan were planning on driving down.  Megan needed to have fifty hours of driving before she could take her driving license test.  What also had happened was that rather than getting on the list for taking that driving test in the metro and being on a six month list, Carrie had called the Watonwan County office and Megan will be taking her test here in St. James on this coming Wednesday.

  Today gave Megan a chance to drive around St. James and get a feel of the community.  I was in the backseat during the tour and I must say, Megan did a great job.

  Dennis is home from the gun show and I think he may be talked out after three days of chit chat.  Dennis had mentioned on Friday night that there was a fellow who would be sharpening knives.  As a trial, I sent over, for Saturday, two older knives and my mom’s Fiskars scissors.  When Dennis got home Saturday night, we headed into the sewing studio to do several tests on the three scissors.  I do believe that those scissors will be lasting me for a very long time giving great service.

  This morning when Dennis left, he took the entire butcher block of kitchen knives with him.  What I need to do now that Dennis and the knives are back home is give them a good wash to remove any and all oil from them.  The fellow did warn Dennis that I should wash one knife at a time so as to not cut myself or let the knives accidentally touch another.  Dennis spent a total of $46 getting everything sharpened up.  What a guy.

  The wind has gone down and it appears that next week will be of good temperatures.  The weeks go by very quickly.  I may have to drag my feet a bit and slow things down.

   
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  Noreen 3:36 pm on January 4, 2020 Permalink  

  Home Alone 

  No, it’s not as notorious as the movies that depicted “Home Alone.”

  Function in our home is paramount.  We only have 720 square feet on the main level and it has to work at full functionality.  Dennis left for the Northrup trade show early this morning.  I didn’t really have a plan until I was fully awake.  Getting the beds tidy is one of the first things on the list. 

  The sun decided to shine today and that put a whole new slant on what I was seeing.  The first step several days ago was to take out the tower computer out of the west porch of our home.  That was easy.  Today the sun was giving me power and I tackled the desk that has been in the porch for the better part of twenty years.  It’s one of those that is mostly sawdust and glue . . . and heavy.

  Who knew what was hiding behind the desk!  There were two power strips attached to the back side of the desk to which all was attached to.  It had been a wonderful way to keep miles and miles of cords controlled.  I got a pillow so I could get down on the floor with my titanium knees.  I made sure I took off my slippers as I knew I would need my bare feet for friction control when I decided to get up off the knees and floor.  In the midst of it all was my cell phone.  I was prepared.  I tackled the electronic mess.  We have cable television, we have Internet and up until a short time ago we had landline phones.  Tackling taking the desk apart was the least of my challenges.  I was home alone, I had no one to convince that this was a good thing to do.  I was on my own.  I knew in the end, I needed the modem to be protected as that would allow Internet and television going forward after today.  The rest of the paraphernalia was a slow process of what needed to be saved and what was totally not necessary.

  I checked the desk and of course they had the wonky hexagon screws that held it together.  As luck would have it . . . I had one of those bits to put into a screwdriver.  The working of the screwdriver and the screws took me a very long time.  None of the screws had been stripped but dang those screws were long and my hands called “uncle” several times.  I have no doubt Dennis would have used a power tool.  I had all day and in the end . . . mission completion. 

  At the end of my project, I have tidied up and all tools used have been put back.  The television in the porch works and the precious modem is fully functional.  Nailed it!  I have always enjoyed reading in this porch.  With three sides of windows it has great natural light.  I can envision having a very comfortable chair with a side table for a coffee or a tea cup.  Those plans and dreams are for another day.  

  I know Dennis will shake his head when he comes home and sees the desk in pieces next to the back door.  We had talked about it several times so it won’t be a total surprise.  As heavy as the desk was, we had nowhere that it could have been put to use.  I had measured it for my sewing machine.  It was only 26 inches tall and it would have needed bricks under it to make it work and it was larger than what would have been ideal.  Sometimes in small homes . . . less is more.

   
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  Noreen 5:14 pm on January 2, 2020 Permalink  

  A Bit of a Disappointment 

  We had a new storm door up in the summer.  It was a Larson brand.  Last week, I noticed that the vinyl sweep that goes across the bottom of the door to keep drafts and critters out had torn loose.  Hmm.  It was disappointing that we had not made it through one season without a draft under the door.  I mentioned it in passing to Dennis and we decided to live with it until spring.

  This afternoon,  I heard a noise by the back door.  The back door was not opening but the noise continued.  My first thought was that Dennis had fallen.  Up the sewing studio stairs I went.  When I opened our back door there indeed was a body.  Our friend Elmer, was on his knees and he was replacing the sweep.  Elmer and I had worked for the county for years and were good friends.  After Elmer retired from the county shop, he had taken up small repair jobs.

  Dennis had taken in the comment I had made last week.  Dennis acted on that comment and had found Elmer.  What a great ole cowboy I have.  What great “people” we have.  Living in a small town, it seems that it doesn’t take long, sometimes, to find someone who can assist in a small repair.

  I had stayed in the sewing studio for most of the day.  When I was on the first floor, the gray day bit me in the butt.  If I stayed in the sewing studio, I didn’t see the gray skies and I continued with my projects.  It is amazing what we can do to protect ourselves from being in a less than good frame of mind. 

  Supper is several precooked pork chops and the remainder of the potato salad that Dennis had made for last night’s supper.  I had boiled eggs and boiled two lonely potatoes and Dennis took it from there.  It was great to have a portion of last night’s supper done for me.  I can share with you that Dennis’ two least favorite things to do in the kitchen is peel boiled eggs and chop onions.  Our boiled eggs have been peeling better since I put some soda and some vinegar in the kettle that the eggs will be boiled in.  Who knew!

   
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  Noreen 5:14 pm on December 30, 2019 Permalink  

  A Peaceful Day 

  It was peaceful for Dennis and I as we were hunkered down and let the blowing snow do its own thing.

  A friend of Dennis’ did pop over for coffee in the patio porch.  Dennis and Doug have shared a love of older firearms.  What a better way to put away some baked goods, coffee and sharing.

  The sewing studio was my place to be today.  Doing some kitchen towels on the embroidery machine passed the time quite quickly.  

  I can share something that we had for supper last night.  French Toast and Jimmy Dean breakfast sausages.  No syrup was needed.  I had purchased a fairly large jar of Apple Butter Jam recently.  When I put it on the table rather than the syrup, Dennis did raise the eyebrows.  “Try it you might like it.”  Tried it and Dennis did like it.  It has so much less sugar than syrup and much tastier as well.  The cinnamon flavor in the substitute also hit the mark.  It may just be our favorite to try on pancakes the next time we are having a comfort food meal. 

  This evening I took a bag of frozen beef noodle soup out.  Soup and crackers sounded like what would suffice as neither of us had a lot of physical exercise today. 

  Actually when Dennis came in to check on me this afternoon and take in a few games of solitaire on the sewing studio’s lap top, Dennis shared a tale of cleaning in the patio porch.  Dennis had just vacuumed the carpet and then cleaned the vacuum filter when he heard a thud.  Harriet had stood on her hind feet to put the paws on the edge of one of the huge potted plants that we were wintering over, and yes . . . over it went, off of the small table it had been sitting on.  Hmm.  More vacuuming ensued. What to do with the kids . . . love them, stroke them and love them forever.

  Tomorrow there may need a bit of snow moved off of the drive.  Not much snow has been had, but the wind really is whipping it up.

   
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  Noreen 4:12 pm on December 29, 2019 Permalink  

  It Took a Push 

  Today, I felt the day we had yesterday when we took apart the cistern closet to make room for a new tenant, aka: Santa.  The arms and shoulders were a bit tight as well as the right knee.  I do believe what put the last ache on the body was running the vacuum on the basement floor.  It wasn’t so much the bare cement floor as it was a jute rug that lays on the main path in the basement.  Usually Dennis takes a run at it, but he was on the warrior path of cleaning in the garage and patio porch.  The rug catches every bit of thread that I may have missed when I aimed for the waste basket.  The only way to score is to push down on the brush attachment of the vacuum for good contact.  It’s still easier than using the arms, hands and shoulders and getting down on my hands and knees to pick them up. Wouldn’t you know it!  Those dang threads can be seen by me as if they were florescent. Don’t mind me . . . it’s a ME thing.

  Local effort is my thing and I needed to have something to show for my day, today.  A bit of embroidering on the Bernina was just the thing to push myself to do.  Once I have the fabric in the hoop and the threads pulled out of the stashes, it’s just a matter of watching the machine and changing out thread colors.  It is a way for me to sit still and still poke out a project.  

  Carrie’s have a silent auction every June for a fundraiser . . . of which organization I don’t remember.  I have done a wall hanging for it, an embroidered pillow last year and for the 2020 year, she had suggested some kitchen towels.  I watch JoAnn Fabrics and when I see their towels on sale at anywhere from 60% to 70%, I nab a few.  The size is 15″ x 26″ and the perfect size.

  I am also waiting for an order from Amazon for a product to use with my eight point pinwheel quilt top.  A series of three kitchen towels fits right into my schedule.  Ya right!  As if I have a hard and fast schedule.  It is all about balance in my life.  Being dormant is not my thing.  Dennis knows, a busy Grammie makes for a happy home . . . and Dennis likes “happy.”

   
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  Noreen 4:17 pm on December 27, 2019 Permalink  

  I Have Issues 

  I might add, I do not know a single creative person that has not had issues during a project.  

  I have many tools, supplies and products in my arsenal, but none come with a guarantee.  Today I dug out a role of two sided tape.  On the package it said “permanent, not suggested to be sewn through.”  Hmm.  What I had to work with was 18′ of 5 mm plastic that I wanted to contain, folded in a cotton fabric cuff that was 9″ wide.  What’s so difficult with that!  I had it positioned in a holding pattern and you bet . . . I was going to sew it down.  All went well for a short time and then I noticed that the sewing machine needle was gumming up with adhesive from the “do not sew” product and then the thread gave way.  Cleaned the needle, re-threaded the machine and tried it again and then again and then again.

  When, while sewing, there are certain things that can be done to achieve one’s level of comfort.  I went upstairs and put on a very light weight shirt as I was feeling extremely warm, I drank a glass of water and took off my shoes and substituted my favorite slippers.  I headed for the basement sewing studio. 

  I looked over the situation.  The thread was actually fraying apart.  Hmm.  Out of the machine came the polyester thread and in went cotton thread.  I was able to sew the entire 9″ with no problem other than stopping halfway through and wiping off the needle of the adhesive.  Whew.  No . . . I could not attempt to take out the stitches that were less than good of the polyester.  You don’t want to mess with 5 mm plastic.

  My project is done.  I learned much and would tackle another such item.  I have tidied up the sewing studio, cleaned the sewing machine needle, oiled the sewing machine, so all is ready for another session in the sewing studio.

  Right now, I have to go upstairs and put on a heavier shirt . . . as I suddenly feel chilly.

   
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  Noreen 4:49 pm on December 23, 2019 Permalink  

  Back to Normal 

  It’s a new week, it’s a new day.  Dennis is back home from the Silver Bay car carrier episode.  Dennis was happy to get home to shower and shave and I can attest to the fact that the home smells like Old Spice.  We are back to normal.

  We had a great telephone conversation today with family.  Catching up on each other and our children is priceless.  Phone conversations may not happen often but it sure does feel good to hear the other’s voice and make connections.

  My sewing studio is back on track.  The lights are on, the iron is hot ready to be put into service and the measuring tools are abound.  This will be a slow and steady quilt top.  I don’t do chain stitch sewing . . . which is feeding one aspect of the block through the machine catching multiple blocks with the same seam allowance holding them together with a joining of thread to clip apart.  No assembly line sewing for me.  It’s important for me to sew a seam, get up and iron it and then work at putting one sewn piece onto another.

  Dennis came down and watched for a bit and then turned to playing a few games of solitaire on the old Dell computer in my sewing studio.  I commented on the fact that I was pleased with the current project as it was using fabrics that were on hand.  Kind of like draining the swamp.  Chuckling.  I then commented it would be nice if I could find a project or two to use up buttons from the Fairfax button tree.  Out of the blue, Dennis offered his advice.  Hmm.

  Dennis and I will be putting together a plan for lightening the load of the button tree with the anticipation of having something in place for the Christmas of 2020.  Good job with the thought Dennis.  It will take quite a bit of prep work from me with the sewing machine and then a trip to the hardware store for Dennis’ portion of the work.  Good thing we hatched this plan as early out as we have.  Time will tell what the older ones on Stauffer Avenue can achieve. The wheels are turning.  

  Supper is going to be meatballs, potato patties, left over from instant potatoes of Saturday night and corn.   

  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve Day.  How special it is that the weather has turned mild. All that need to travel around these parts of Minnesota, should not be stressed.  The reason for the season can have full attention.

   
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  Noreen 5:16 pm on December 22, 2019 Permalink  

  Good Grief 

  So much for a quiet weekend for the older ones on Stauffer Avenue. We were just about to have supper last night when the phone rang.  Hmm. 

  Dennis’ family had their Christmas celebration at daughter Sussie’s at Silver Bay over Saturday and Sunday.  Dennis and I talked about it and we had thanked them for the invite but decided to stay off of the highways with the Christmas traffic being a possibility.

  Granddaughter Cheyenne’s car broke down just before her and her boyfriend got into Silver Bay.  When Dennis got the call last night there had already been plans made with nephew Brett that Dennis would head out to Silver Bay this morning pulling a car carrier.  Nothing says my response like WTF!  We didn’t want to drive to Silver Bay in our car and now his family had made plans for him to be out on the highways pulling a car carrier.  GRR!  I did encourage Dennis to stay overnight and leave in the morning after being rested.

  I did wait until Dennis had been on the highway for a time and then the angst would not stay quiet.  I called the daughter at Silver Bay and let her know what time Dennis left so as to be aware of the approximate time of his arrival.  No one but me made me do it . . . but I had a bit more to say.  I did suggest that when Dennis arrived, his family actually pay attention to whom they had had do their bidding.  “Take time to look into his eyes and see that perhaps your dad has become someone that would enjoy his children doing something for him rather than the family assuming.”  Of course there were a few more words from me.  The response I got was “He could always say no.”  My thought was how little they actually knew about their dad.  It was a lost cause, but I got it off my chest. 

  My day was spent in the sewing studio and I will share that I had my share of seams that needed to be ripped out.  Concentration has its limits.  The afternoon was broken up when Marsha came in from the country and brought three dozen of fresh eggs.  It was a good distraction.  

  Life never ceases to amaze me.  Life never ceases to have disappointments.  Save the best and leave the rest.

   
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  Noreen 4:41 pm on December 21, 2019 Permalink  

  Balmy Days 

  Oh yes, we are having balmy days and we do so deserve them.  The bitter cold is a mere memory right now.  Even the snow that piled up so quickly a time ago is sinking down.  How can I tell?  Not many days ago when I would back out of our driveway, the alarm would sound and the yellow light would blink in the side view mirror on the driver’s side of the car.  It caught me off guard and I would stop on a dime only to realize it was the snow bank that had caught the security system.

  As  I was putzing in the sewing studio this afternoon I realized I have only one project going.  One that has no time frame and it is no one else’s for the end times but . . . me.  I have had Dennis cut fabric for me in past.  Save the shoulder, wrist and hand for more important things that might need doing.  When things were set up this afternoon that I would have called Dennis in to help, I decided to swap out the blades in the rotary cutters.  I have two that I like to use and I realized they had done due diligence in cutting all the fabric for the 49 scrappy eight point blocks that are now done.  It is amazing how dirty older cottons are when cut in to.  But . . . this is to be a scrappy quilt and much was used that had a lot of age to it.  I do plan on gussying the blocks up with some choice fabric as a border that is called a flange.  The sashing and corner stones will also be of a better quality fabric.

  The cheap cotton fabric that is incorporated in some of my stashes is from friends who shopped at Walmart and a few are also from Mom’s stash.  That could very well have come from a Ben Franklin store or a Dueber’s store.  Those types of fabrics are printed on a grunge base.  They were notorious to fray and not keep their vibrant colors.  The fraying was very evident as often as I had to clean under the face plate of the sewing machine.   

  As I got involved this afternoon, I was ready to cut several strips of fabric.  Oh my gosh!  It was better than slicing through melted butter.  The combination of the new cutting blade plus the new cutting mat . . . yes, it felt like Christmas morning. I, in my wildest dreams, had never realized how worn out the Olaf cutting mat was.  When looking at it with the light hitting it just right . . . there was not one square inch that was not showing trenches of more than 20 years of wear.  I believe I will be able to cut quite a bit of my own fabric without feeling a hitch in the body.  I am a believer of not cutting more than two layers of fabric at one time.  Man oh man, when Aunt Lorraine was here, she had as high as eight layers of fabric.  Talk about seeing the strain on her arms and trying to keep the ruler from not skidding off of the ideal mark.  No . . . that’s not for me.  I really taking my time and thus enjoying what I am doing.  As I said I have no time clock to punch.

  Hmm. I just remembered that when the kids were here last Sunday, out of the blue Kevin asked me if I was tired of doing the blog.  I know I said “No” immediately and I was on to working with the dinner.  I most likely should have thought about it and in hindsight I now wonder if Kevin is weary of being the host of this site.  I think we need a few more words on this subject.  After all . . . I really am never short of words as some of these blogs attest to.  I am now chuckling as I am about ready to get supper going.

   
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  Noreen 4:14 pm on December 20, 2019 Permalink  

  A Trip Down South 

  With the great weather today, I decided to take a trip south right on MN HWY #4.  The Old Alley Quilt Shop will have new owners on January 2nd of 2020.  There was a window before Christmas when the current owners were having the coffee pot on.  Today was my day.

  With the changing of hands, Sharon and Becky were also having a 30% off of anything and everything.  That was my window to purchase a new cutting mat.  My Olaf cutting mats are over 20 years old.  With Rotary cutters, there comes a time when the grooves and valleys on the surfaces are hard on the rotary cutting blades causing them to be replaced more often than necessary.  Things just don’t cut quite as smoothly as they should.  I have my eight point pinwheel blocks being completed and as of this afternoon, I have the backing and the batting for a time when I complete it.  My goal is to totally quilt this one on my own.  Today totally felt like a Christmas treat for me.

  As Sharon and I were visiting, she mentioned that one of her old college classmates had moved back to St. James.  Sharon and he had reconnected.  Out of the past came the wife of her classmate.  Bobby Moody and I worked together for a time in the courthouse.  Our offices were next door to each other.  Bobby and her husband had eventually moved north of the metro and we had lost track of each other.

  Bobby was a very interesting personality.  She was all about learning how to raise their own food.  When we lived at South Branch, she would come over and learn rural “101.”  They were living in a cabin on Kansas Lake and she had raised chickens.  Now Bobby needed to learn how to butcher self same chickens.  Oh for the memories.

  I did get Bobby’s phone number from Sharon.  I called her this afternoon and sometime after the first of the year we will get together.  At the time of the call she was in Steam Boat Springs as they are visiting their daughter.  She also does fuzz and threads, aka: quilting.  I had remembered her as much younger than myself.  Come to find out she is only two years younger.  It will be fun catching up with her. 

  Nothing great, but I am looking forward to having pizza for supper.  It is not often but it seemed like the perfect meal.  Chicken Alfredo Pizza . . . sure to be a winner even if it is a frozen pizza.