Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from October, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:29 pm on October 21, 2025 Permalink  

  The Dance 

  Stauffer Avenue is gravel.  After many gradings and oil put down for dust control, the surface is quite packed.  The winds are wild.  A gust of the winds take a full coverage of leaves to the east.  A few moments later the gust does a swirl and the same leaves are heading west.  There is nothing to slow the dancing leaves down. 

  The studio has a project in progress, like no other.  My goal is to have a two sided 54″ x 54″ lap robe.  One side is predominately browns and blacks.  The other side is hues of blue.  When doing the free motion quilting, I don’t want the black thread of the quilting showing on the blue side and vice versa.  I knew I had a spool of mono-filament thread, aka:  much, much lighter weight than what is used for fishing.  It was very hard to tame.  Actually it was very hard to see it as it wanted to free flow off of the spool.  I got a bobbin wound with the hope of using it on the blue side.  The top thread was black.  I did try it out doing straight stitching.

  Everything had been pinned with the red-headed safety pins so the amount of shifting was at a minimum.  After a successful straight stitching, I went ahead and lowered the feed dogs to give it a try in one of the corners to see how it would react with the quilt batting sandwiched.  All went well.  The center is quilted.  I can see that on the blue side it has been quilted without any hint of the black thread showing as the needle pulled down the black thread to pick up the mono-filament thread.

  

  When I had completed the free motion quilting, I called it a day.  The blue side was down and I noticed that there is a 2″ x 10″  length that has a small tuck in it.  I could cut the threads to smooth it out but then I would have lengths of thread to fasten down.  Nope.  It’s the best I could do at the time.  It was a lot of shoulder, arm and hand motion.  There is about a five inch border around this project.  I have not as yet decided on how to finish that portion.  Doing free motion is more difficult when the edge of the project doesn’t have tension on it.  I’ll think of something.

  The chilly temps have brought out Dennis’ warmer duds.  I have no doubt the furnace in the patio porch has taken the chill off . . . why not!

  Dennis made a run for cigarettes and picked up a prescription for me at Lewis Drug.  I was thankful I didn’t have to leave the house today.

  It is that time of day when negotiations will take place for supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:00 pm on October 20, 2025 Permalink  

  Rainy and Cloudy 

  It is very chilly, rainy and cloudy for the start of a new week.  With that being stated I feel better today than I did yesterday.  A new week with a cleaned up attitude. 

  Yesterday I found myself living in a comparison mode of a time gone by rather than the reality of today.  The comparison was a thief of my joy that can and does follow me more times than not.

  Last night I felt a wind that lifted me up under my wings for the possibilities of a new week bringing joy.  Priceless.

  This morning, I felt energized when I went into the studio.  I switched on every light possible.  I surveyed my task at hand and set about making inroads.  The usual and customary at hand.  I spent several good hours before the lights went out.  Picking away, small steps, brings progress.  What I did bring up from the studio was a small ball of yarn and a crochet hook.  Time will tell.  The index finger on my left hand and its movement is the key to the tension needed for crocheting.  That finger has little to no life.  My plan of attack is to check with my YouTubes to see what I can find out.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Time will tell.  

  We had talked about a trip to Mankato for today.  As blustery as the weather was, we decided to do that on a day later this week when the temps would be warmer.  Nothing was needed that could not be gotten at that time.  The pantry on Stauffer Avenue is not in dire straits.  Yes, Dennis does enjoy his giant banana nut muffins from Sam’s Club for his breakfast.  I slipped him a peanut butter and peach jam sandwich instead.  It got positive reviews.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on October 18, 2025 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  There are gray skies outside but I have plenty of sunshine in my soul to share.

  Never a dull moment in the studio or at Stauffer Avenue.  I worked arduously on my Christmas silhouette stitching.  Perhaps not perfect.  I did not cut anything off of the back, I just tucked it in before covering the back with carboard.  It is now in the dining portion of our first floor, hung for me, myself and I to enjoy.

  There is another 54″ x 54″ being sandwiched on the church tables.  That size is the perfect size for me to work on.  The case with the red-headed safety pins is front and center.  They remain wearing on the finger if I over-do it . . . not nearly as wearing and downright painful as regular safety pins.  The slide on the red-headed pins just glide in place and likewise when I need to remove them.

  KNUJ was on in the studio when the doorbell sounded.  I did try to call out for someone to come in . . . nothing.  I got to the top of the steps as fast as I could.  Dennis’ older brother’s family was at the door.  Nephew Mark and his son from Nebraska, and nephews Mitch and Matt from Windom came a-calling to see Uncle Dennis.  I stayed in the patio porch being polite until I took my leave and let the fellows reminisce.  What a great surprise for Dennis to catch up with family.

  The freezer offered up a container of pulled pork from a crockpot rendering a bit ago for tonight’s supper.  Yesterday Dennis was in charge of the kitchen making his cucumber and raw onion dish.  Dennis wanted them to cohabitate in the refrigerator until this evening’s supper for the flavors to blend.  There will be instant mashed potatoes for the cucumber dish to be spooned over.  Sounds good to me.  I’ll have the load of laundry folded by the time he rings the dinner bell.

  Earlier, Dennis came back from Fleet and Farm with a few purchases.  The item that was quite a bit higher than the last time he had bought it was the filter for his shop vac in the patio porch.  Grin and bare it.  The filters can be vacuumed off only so many times from and with cat hairs before a new one is considered.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on October 17, 2025 Permalink  

  Frugal 

  There is a fine line between being frugal or being cheap.  I opt for being in the frugal category.

  As I was in the studio measuring pieces of quilt batting, Dennis shook his head as he watched.  He commented he would drive me to Sherburn to the Old Alley Quilt Shop for what I needed.  I thanked him and with a shake of my head, I continued on with my measuring.  The point of my task was to use what I had, what I had already spent money on.

  When all was said and done, I had quilt batting that measured 58″ x 62″.  Perfect for the next 54″ x 54″ project.  It makes me so darn happy to put pencil to paper and utilize what my stashes are begging of me to use.  Once I knew the objective had been met, I went on to the next project.

  A bit ago I had completed a cross stitch of a Christmas Silhouette.  I was going to use a frame from times past.  No, you don’t just pop those suckers in and call it done.  In order to even think about the frame, I needed to put fabric around the stitched piece so it would be compatible to the frame.  Geez . . . I hate finite measuring.  It took me several hours of measure this, measure that and measure more.  I am here to tell you, I did the best I could.  I understand why framers in Michael’s charge what they do.  Let’s not forget that the tools they have to make things look perfect go beyond my pink 12″ acrylic ruler.  The item has been put into the frame and it is now on the church tables so when I come into the studio, I can scrutinize it from all sides.  It may grow on me.

  My stitching projects are for nothing more than my busy work.  I am still new to retirement and have not yet learned the art of sitting on my hands and watching the world go by.  Yes, Grandma Laura Wendlandt, I am of the same mind as what you had . . . something to show for each day God has given us.  I loved her “Africans.”  My afghans  couldn’t hold a candle to hers.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on October 15, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  It’s a happy day when the the last half of our real estate taxes are due, October 15th, and . . . we took care of ours in total in May.  That became important when the six months of home owner’s insurance is due as well as the the six months of car insurance is due.  There is only so much the month of October can handle.  We absolutely are keeping the economy moving.

  Today, I headed to the grocery store and was reminded it was senior citizens day, too late as I was in the doorway of the store.  I am sure Dennis thought I had been picked up for squeezing the avocados and been hauled off to the poky.  Yes, there were individuals I had not seen for some time. How could I not engage when approached.  All is well as we got home safe and sound.

  This forenoon went well in the studio.  My next task for another day will be pulling out my tote of quilt batting to see if there is enough for my next 54″ x 54″ project. I have tape specifically designed to patch together odds and ends of binding, all the while, with no indication of it in the finished project.

  I have a “post-a-note” on the top of my laptop as a reminder of an October 17th event.  I would be hard pressed to forget want happened 60 years ago as we were living in Beaver Falls working for Orlin’s sister and her husband on a beef cattle farm.  Actually, the fact that there was no running water in the farm house, was not on the top of my agenda.  Yup, its a good thing I have the “post-a-note” for the 17th.

  We are having bean and ham soup for supper.  Perfect pairing on a chilly, cloudy day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:30 pm on October 14, 2025 Permalink  

  A Dreary Day 

  It is a dreary day that is bringing some rain showers.  The rain is needed.  It seems like its been forever since I stained the deck and the dust was something awful on it.  No mere sprinkles would clean it.  It would take a hard driving rain.

  I slept so hard last night, you would have thought I had been digging ditches yesterday.  I know I had gotten up during the night, but not sure what the time was.  It was nine thirty when my feet hit the floor.  Usually when the garbage truck bang-idy bangs our bin on a given Tuesday that would have been my wake-up call.  The time I get up matters nothing.  The important thing is that I felt rested and ready to take on the remaining day. 

  My first task in the studio today was to tidy up the various fabrics I had pulled out to find just that right fit for the bathroom window.  There were other fabrics that I had used, a portion of each for Megan’s project.  Each fabric was measured and a note was then pinned on each one as to the size each one was.  It makes it so much easier the next time I need to surf through the stashes.

  I am on several sites of the internet that have pop-ups when a new item in their quilt shops is featured.  It sure is tempting when all the wonderful hues speak to me.  Nope.  I have made it my personal quest to churn through my stashes, getting creative to make do with what is on hand.

  I did have fabric of a two yard length that I may be able to use in a coming project.  The first thing is to cut off the salvage along the length of the fabric where the manufacturer is listed and even the collection that the length came from.  The salvage is tightly woven.  If it is used in a sewing project, it may well be a  seam that will not want to play nice.  I have gotten that much done. 

  As I look out of the windows of my bedroom porch, I am amazed how many of the trees are already free of their leaves without having had a hard frost.  After this rain, I think more will decided to let go of that spindly stem attaching them to their parent . . . and drop.

  One thing that is lacking today is the grain hauling semis.  In all probability,  yesterday may have been the last of the harvest.

  Nothing more to report at this juncture.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on October 13, 2025 Permalink  

  Well, Well 

  After twenty years in the making, actually twenty years of requests, there is a curtain on the bottom sash of the bathroom window.  Whew!  No supplies were needed from outside sources.  The studio had everything that was needed including the curtain rod.

  I can now go on to more pressing matters with that off of the table.

  I always have items waiting in the wings of the studio.  Once an item is placed upon the church tables in all its “what if” possibilities, it remains where it was put so all angles of it can be glanced at and scrutinized.  At this juncture alterations are not out of the picture.  The lights go out in the studio so no surrounding influence can take away from its possibilities.

  The first floor always has items to keep me busy.  One main item today was to take down the table top metal frame I use to hold my stitch patterns.  There was way too much play that took away from where I wanted to position it.  A pliers was needed to release the screws from a bad setting.  It needs to be on the left side of my HP laptop but able to swing out of the way so I can use the keyboard without brushing against my pattern.  All was set with screws and pliers in hand.  Righty, righty, tighty, tighty.  Tonight after supper, when I do some stitching, I will then realize if I have where it needs to be.

  Oh yes . . . the days of the retired Grammie are chucked full of momentous decisions.  That might be why I sleep so well when its bedtime.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:12 pm on October 12, 2025 Permalink  

  A Bit of Rain 

  A bit of rain, but not enough to wash off the front deck that has many layers of dust.

  With good faith effort the lights went on in the studio.  KNUJ was just picking up the church service from Grace Lutheran in Gaylord.  I had my material measured and trimmed.  The iron was warming to take out the wrinkles from being in the stashes.  My sharpest stick pins were at my right elbow.  The first hem was folded and pinned.  The sewing machine hummed, ready for action.

  The back door opened . . . my good faith effort blew right out that back door as company stepped in.  Dennis’ niece Jean Pew from Morris came a-calling.  Jean does her road trip at least twice a year.  Jean had been here over Memorial weekend.  I shut down multiple lights and switches in the studio and the three of us settled around the dining-room for a good visit.  Jean’s mom had been Dennis’ older sister.  Now . . . Dennis is the last of “when there were four” in Edith’s family. 

  Jean left after we had a bite of lunch.  When she left, so did my enthusiasm for anything to be started back up again in the studio.  All has not been lost.  The bare window curtain has had its fabric laid out with the plan begun, if only by a dozen stick pins.  Hey . . . it’s a start.

  I decided to do some hand stitching while keeping an eye out on the traffic.  Grain semis are still hauling in.  I doubt that our small shower of rain has way-laid anyone that was out in the fields.

  I have an oven meal in progress.  A very lean pork steak with seasonings rubbed in and a slather of ketchup on top.  I have some potatoes to use up.  Frozen carrots and cranberries will round out the fair.

  Tomorrow Dennis will be getting his flue shot at the VA clinic here in town.  I pass on the flu shots.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on October 9, 2025 Permalink  

  Secure All 

  Anything out in the yards that are not secure . . . you can kiss them good-bye.

  We had our neighbor’s mail put in our slot accidently today.  I walked the mail over to their mailbox.  I used a strong paperclip to hold the letters in case the wind took it from my hand.  I felt the gusts that were going 29 mph.  One of the items was Jan’s Plaindealer newspaper.  I had to look twice.  It was like legal paper size made up of two sheets that had been collated.  If not for the free-bee that was tucked inside and it had Jan’s mailing label on it,  I would have thought it was junk mail.  Hmm.

  In the studio, I needed to cut some fabric.  I made sure all my scraps and loose threads were hand delivered to the circular file.  It feels kind of nice to have had the tidy, tidy done and I will appreciate keeping it such for a time.  I am working on a possible curtain for our bathroom.  Hmm.  Why not!  It’s not like I don’t have a sewing machine.  Dennis has hinted often.  Hey, I’ve been busy these last twenty-odd years.  In the cistern closet I found a rod that will work.  I have a length of fabric pulled out of stashes.  Don’t count me out.  There is a possibility I might get this project cranked out.

  I have heard of sympathy pains.  This morning as I was waking up, my right foot . . . right where the bunion had been in 1980s. it hurt so bad, it was like it was harkening back to the mid 80s.  Silly things do happen.

  I know Dennis has been out and about.  When I looked out the bare bathroom window, I could see he was sleeping in his chair in the patio porch.  So . . . I keep track of Dennis via the bare bathroom window that affords me seeing what is going on in the patio porch.  I have calculated the new curtain for said bare window so it covers the bottom sash of the window, allowing me to see through the top sash.  It’s Grammie, killing two birds with a few stitches.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:48 pm on October 4, 2025 Permalink  

  Windy Warm 

  Windy warm with the winds in the mid twenties.  With that it is not a good thing when the fire barn just got emptied of all of their vehicles.  Harvest is in full gear.  Combine engines get hot.  I hope everyone is safe.  Machines can be replaced.  As much dust as is flying here in town, I can only image what it is like in the fields being harvested.

  My studio is dark because I finished a project.  It was a good project to do and it feels good to have finished it for Megan.  There were two fabric panels and this Mount Rushmore was the first one I decided to tackle.  There are steps in the process that allow me to feel the unpleasantness of the arthritis.  If I don’t use the muscles and tendons they will atrophy.  That means that the arthritis calcification will make them permanently stiff and immobile.   That is not good and I will fight to keep going, doing what I have always done and what brings me contentment and happiness.  Projects like the one finished today, I will seek the next project.  No rushing, just being a steady Eddie

  

  This is the first time I incorporated my cross stitch with quilting.  I did the cross stitch designs as next year, 2026, is the 250th celebration of our nation.  Once done, I realized they were too large to make into small pillows.  I still have two designs of the same design packet that are stitched.  Those are of less stitches, making them possible for pillows.  It’s all about using my creative life and never hesitating in trying something new.  I had used the embroidery module and stitched out the 2026, but couldn’t work it into the project.  I’ll find a use for it somewhere. 

  Dennis’ AJ from Mankato came to visit his grandpa as a late birthday visit.  I think that is just great.  AJ runs a crew that does fiber optics in and around the Mankato area.

  My next task, for another day, is to vacuum my studio floor.  What follows is checking over the sewing machine and putting in a new needle.  Needles are cheap and they make the world of difference in sewing.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥