Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from December, 2018 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 4:10 pm on December 18, 2018 Permalink  

  A Good Day Done 

  It ended up being a good day though it felt like a snatch and grab.  I went out to the medical clinic to pick up a prescription renewal for Dennis.  Once the nurse had me in a cubical there was no way I was going home anytime soon.  The nurse had my medical charts up in a heart beat.  I was to have been in the clinic in May of this year and here it was December.  Yes, I was due to see my physician and as luck would have it, I could wait a few minutes and he would be right in. 

  Dr. Eatwell came in and welcomed me like an old lost family member.  When Dr. Eatwell learned I had not had breakfast as yet, the order went in for a full blood work up.  Another phone call and he knew that I could also get in for my yearly mammogram.  Yup, a snatch and grab.  Apparently with Christmas so close, there were people who were putting off their checkups.  Hmm.  Who would ever do that!   

  Dennis thought I had gotten lost.  I had left for the clinic at 9:30 and when twelve noon came along, he was getting ready to dig out his cell phone.  I did get home at 12:45 with everything having been checked and with his prescription renewal in hand.  It was a good way to end the year.

  This afternoon I began working on the last of the work on the afghan.  It’s never an afghan without a fringe.  It is a tedious job but perfect when it’s a quiet day and nothing else is pressing.  I had barely gotten a good start when there was a popup on my laptop that Dennis caught as he was playing Candy Crush.

  All of the lab report was on my site to log in.  The computer portal is really handy.  I was a bit nervous as numbers in lab reports do not lie.  It was a very good report.  Pretty good?  It was fantastic!  Every one of the indications that the five vials of blood that were drawn were in the mid-range or even a bit better.  Whew!  The snatch and grab turned out to have been a blessing.  Wondering is never as reassuring as fact.  

  I am looking forward to a good 2019.  After Christmas I will be getting back to the sewing studio.  Taking care of this lost afghan project has been proven to be a good break.  My stash of finished items to share and give is kaput.  Dennis is happy about that.  As I have mentioned before, he doesn’t mind how much I sew or stitch as long as I don’t pile it up.  Well sweetie . . . the only piles down in the sewing studio are the stick pins that are piled on the magnetic wand.  

  One sad note for today.  Half of our Christmas tree lights are out . . . done . . . dark.  That means a new string will need to be interwound among the good ones.  Hey . . . we are not throwing out the tree.

   
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  Noreen 4:00 pm on December 15, 2018 Permalink  

  A Little Bit of Envy 

  The last time Dennis and I were in Mankato, I had a coupon I wanted to use in JoAnn’s before the expiration date.  My need was located in the sewing notions.  I soon found what I needed and headed for the checkout isle.  JoAnn’s is always short of checkers.  The gal ahead of me had a full cart of various yarns of every shade imaginable.  Yes . . . she had her coupons. I was a bit envious.  I could see me in times past using coupons for yarn purchases.  My hands literally itched to be able to while away night times crocheting while having one eye on the yarn and the other on what was on the television.  

  Seeing that gal and her treasures made me think of the kids’ grandmother, Esther Schafer.  She could crochet in her sleep.  The blessing was that the entire time of her later years and her love of yarn, she only had to go out her front door down the short sidewalk, hang a left, go about 15′ and enter the Hector Variety.  I am sure that she was one of their most viable customers for yarn.  

  I am not calling it quits with my 24 crocheted blocks that I am determined to make into a “done” project.  I know if I take it slow, I can get this done.  In crocheting, holding the yarn in the left hand is much like the bobbin of a sewing machine.  That’s where the tension control is.  The right hand is much like the needle of a sewing machine.  I really hadn’t thought it through before mentally throwing in the towel when I first re-discovered these crocheted blocks.  Well, who is to say that the needle might just need to be held in a different way to still make good contact with the tension hand.  The photo on the left is the method I used to hold the hook for decades, that no longer feels good.  The photo on the right allows me to hold the crochet hook to make good contact but does not put undo strain on my right wrist.  It may not go as fast as in times past but it gives me a positive feeling that this long time craft of mine is not lost . . . for now.  When I really looked at the photo I had taken on the right side of this post, I vaguely was reminded of Esther’s hands in the last years of her crocheting.  Perhaps this is how she had conquered some less than good mobility in her hands.  Hmm.    

  I won’t be buying out any bins of yarn in the future, but I may revisit my tote in the basement from time to time and maybe be able to crank out a potholder or two.  I do not want to let go of what I enjoy doing.  As I mentioned a time before, I have become more patient with myself and I give myself permission to take it slower with my projects.  I find so much enjoyment and satisfaction in the outcome.  Life is pretty darn sweet.

   
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  Noreen 4:17 pm on December 12, 2018 Permalink  

  Today’s World 

  Today at noon we each had a cup of soup.  We do try to catch the noon television news from Mankato.  Not a lot to write home about as far as any positive feelings.  Federal or state news always centers around what should have been done, what could have been done.  Dennis commented that people our age dropped the ball years ago when we didn’t come forward to speak up about the issues or try and buck some of the issues.  Our soup almost got cold as we threw around some comments.  Our lack of strength in earlier years is part of today’s world.

  Both of us knew that when we had jobs we hung onto them for dear life.  We didn’t ruffle the feathers of those who were in charge for fear of repercussion.  In today’s world, there is the possibility that a voice can be heard and it may even garner support to make improvements.  Dennis and I are concerned and disappointed that our children have not been left a very kind world.  I cannot imagine myself being out in today’s working world.  I do not believe I would be strong enough to chuck a job and try a new avenue of employment.  Security has always been important to me then and now.  

  I reminded Dennis the experience I had had about twenty years ago.  My four year appointment was coming up at work.  I worked for the county but the Minnesota Commissioner of Revenue signed the appointment upon a positive review.  Yup . . . I had totally gone off on one of the county commissioners that wanted to implement a policy for my office that was not appropriate, let alone legal by the regulations set by the state.  As the review process was under way, I was contacted by a representative of the department of revenue.  I did not have the unanimous vote for reappointment by the county commissioners of the county.  “Noreen, what seems to be the problem with your interaction and willingness to work with the board of commissioners?”  I did sweat bullets during the process.  My future depended on that job.  I didn’t feel very secure.  The issue did get resolved and I received the appointment for the next four years.  It did stay on the record that it was not an unanimous appointment.

  It has been proven to me time after time that many people just chuck the security of a known job and go out there and take a stab at something new.  I marvel at that.  My wiring doesn’t acknowledge that option. More power to them.  

  Our soup was enjoyed and we each went about what we wanted to get accomplished for the afternoon.  Dennis ran some errands up town and I cleared off the dining room table and went about putting my afghan blocks together.  I sat at the table working, feeling secure in my home with Dennis.

   
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  Noreen 4:09 pm on December 11, 2018 Permalink  

  Gray skies have become the normal. Dennis has had a full social day. He popped back in at Noon for lunch to do the dishes that were in the sink and then away he went. I brought up the crocheted blocks onto the dining room table. A good solid table to sit up to and the window light, though no sunshine, is still better than the overhead lights in the sewing studio. Plus, it’s nice to have the Christmas tree lights on.

  I am slowly weaving my blocks together and I do mean slowly. As I have had a few more birthdays, I find my patience has grown beyond belief. Well . . . maybe only for those things that are sewing studio related. That mellow feeling is bound to carry over to the world that lies beyond my basement steps. The world can only hope that to be true.

   
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  Noreen 3:46 pm on December 10, 2018 Permalink  

  There was Something Lurking 

  Over the last several days the sewing studio has really been finishing up some great projects.  It was a great feeling knowing that there were no UFOs, aka: unfinished projects. This morning I came down and was about to turn on all the lights when I felt something lurking.  I pushed the feeling aside.  I knew I had about 45 minutes before I would have to head upstairs and swap out the laundry from the washer to the dryer.  There was a pattern I had dug out to use some of my darker scraps for a scrappy quilt top.  The 45 minutes flew by and laundry was calling.

  My habit is to put the laundry in the dryer and then get out enough clothes hangers as to what the laundry load required.  Getting the shirts out of the dryer and immediately hanging them up has just about done away with any pressing.  As I walked into the closet, the feeling of something lurking was strong . . . about as strong as sniffing a jug of vinegar.   And . . . there it was.

  A bright red shopping bag.  A bright red shopping bag that used to sit beside my favorite chair in years past.  A bright red shopping bag that got moved once upon a time to make room for a family gathering.  It got moved right into recesses of the closet.  The bag had sat next to my chair so each night I could crochet a block for a future afghan.   Each block was crocheted with a different pattern.  Where had the years gone?  I believe the moment I was patting myself on the back for having finished all of my started projects, the bright red shopping bag had an opening to get it to the forefront of my mind.  It had done the trick.

  

  Blocks of many patterns that have stood the test of time to be joined for a finished lap robe.

  I brought the bright red shopping bag down here into the sewing studio.  It was rather like opening a mysterious gift.  Sure enough.  There were 24 completed blocks.  Perhaps enough yarn in the bright red shopping bad to make just as many more.  It did make me sad.  Over the last five years, I have not been able to use my right wrist as I once had.  The orthopedic surgeon said the wrist is much like the cone for the ice cream, meaning the hand, to sit upon it.  My ice cream had slipped off of the cone.  I can do many things with my right wrist, just not as well as I used to.  I have learned to eat soup with my left land.  I have learned to use my left hand often when the right hand tells me “Sorry lady, not today.”

  We are not crying over spilled milk, or for that matter, yarn that may not be used for crocheting.  I fired up the steam iron and gave each precious block a bit of steam for them to be blocked.  I will weave the blocks together with the remaining yarn and it will make a wonderful lap robe.  That wonderful lap robe, less the bright red shopping bag, will be right next to my favorite chair.  In thinking about all the crocheting I have done since I was a young bride in Riesel Texas, I have nothing that I saved for myself . . . up until now.  Orlin had taught me to crochet after we were married, living in Riesel, Texas, to help me pass some time being so far from family.  Oh for great memories.  There will be no more feelings of lurking to be had.

   
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  Noreen 4:56 pm on December 9, 2018 Permalink  

  A day as I have had in the sewing studio couldn’t be planned at any time, any day. Megan texted and asked how much fabric was left when she had done Nicholas’ comforter when she visited over Thanksgiving. That headed me to the sewing studio with tape measure in hand. Many “What if” . . . “How about” ideas ensued.

  It is the end of the day and Megan and I nailed it via text messages. I don’t know about how much data it entailed in texting and responding to photos. I do know that there is not any Harry Potter fabric left to speak of and Nicholas will be having a pillow case for his regular sized bed pillow and will also be having a throw pillow. I will need to get an actual 18″ x 18″ pillow for the day’s work to shine. That throw pillow has more pieces spliced together than I had cups of coffee today and . . . that is a whole bunch.

  The last photo I texted to Megan today had the “P.S.  . . . I will get that spot of blood out of the fabric before the end of the day.” It cracked her up when I texted that I had literally spilled blood, sweat and tears on his impromptu project for Christmas. Talk about a fun day with this young gal that I cherish. How could this Grammie have been so fortunate to have a granddaughter that Dennis and I have grown up with and learned so much from. Absolutely Priceless! I closed down the sewing studio with a song in my heart. I want more of days such as this. I will contend with many less than great moments in my aging life, if I may have more of “this!”

   
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  Noreen 5:01 pm on December 8, 2018 Permalink  

  Earlier today we had unexpected company from the North land. Dennis’ son-in-law is going to have hip surgery right before Christmas. This was to be their last road trip prior. It was a welcomed visit.

  I just got done cleaning up the sewing studio. Just another five minutes to finish up a challenge but it was time to walk away. I measured once. I measured twice. I cut carefully. I trimmed narrowly. Dennis would come down and give his nod that it was all coming together. The last five minutes will keep until tomorrow. It’s time to get supper going and let the sewing studio lights dim to a warm fuzzy feeling . . . literally.

  Dennis has a bit of a cold that needs tending. Chili sounds like a good hot meal. I also have a kettle on the kitchen stove. Not much water with just a well rounded teaspoon of Vicks. Mom always said that inhaling a bit of warm Vicks vapors would help and thus far Mom was right on. Besides it’s not a bad aroma in the kitchen. This is not the time of the season for the ole cowboy to be under the weather, but a good time for him to spend some time under the towel tent inhaling Vicks.

   
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  Noreen 4:55 pm on December 7, 2018 Permalink  

  Hey – I’ve got it Covered 

  

  Regardless of how this looks . . . Hey! I’ve got it covered. I have several items going at one time in the sewing studio. Surprisingly, it’s all coming together. One of my projects is totally new to me. I have a video I am able to play as I go. The video from start to finish on the project is a little over two hours long. I mean, it goes from step one to the finished product at the end of the two hours. I am a bit behind. This was my second full day. Thank the Good Lord for the pause button. Tomorrow is another day. I don’t want to mess up. My hardware for the project came today, perfect timing from Amazon. As luck would have it, I had needles for weight such as denim. I have all the time it will take. All our mailings have been delivered to their intended recipients. In total Dennis ironed out 84 feedsack dishtowels for sets of seven each after I laundered them. Half went to the Curry girls and the other half went to my nieces and niece-in-laws. Not to worry, the sewing machine was oiled and cleaned often in between all the stitching. Yup, Dennis and I have Christmas covered. By the way, Dennis found another Christmas wreath to pop onto the patio porch wall. What an elf!

   
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  Noreen 5:10 pm on December 1, 2018 Permalink  

  True to the forecast: It has dumped quite a bit of snow. First icy drizzle, then beautiful large flakes that when they landed on your jacket you could see each one was different.

  I did push a bit of the snow so traveling from the house to the garage could be done without snow shoes. It is wet. It is heavy. The snow pushing was to get rid of some angst. When websites have designs to sell it is usually a smooth transition. Not so today. Of all the files that the designs could be converted to correctly, the EXP file could not. I must have my Bernina Art Link program open to receive files that are specific to EXP. The EXP file went straight to opening it in a Microsoft Word program. So not going to give a happy ending. I have worked with Amanda, my Bernina gal, in Bird Island, enough to know that from the get-go, there should be a list of the options for the download. My bad. I should have moved right on to an alternate website when the product information was lacking. $5.00 shot right up the butt. Live and learn.

  Dennis and I had our snow removal gear ready by the back door when the long green line of Randy’s John Deere was already on the driveway. Last year when I visited with Jan about “Ready Eddy Randy” she just chuckled. The rest of the story is that Randy loves to play in the snow. We surely wouldn’t want to take that away from him. We’ll be going out a bit later and tidy up around the doorways. I think this snow is going to stay for a bit.

   
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  Noreen 4:30 pm on November 28, 2018 Permalink  

  Snow Removal Time 

  Today was my choice of days to run errands.  Sure enough there was white falling from the sky.  It didn’t really qualify as snowflakes.  It was a very wet sleet that still managed to coat the cement.  Just enough mess to track in.  It didn’t take long, Dennis had the electric leaf blower out taking off the majority of the new.  Unfortunately I had to pick up a prescription for Dennis earlier and had driven the snow down to become a snow pack.   

  

  Yup . . . there is Dennis in his PJs and his garage slippers putting in his time for local effort. Gotta love the ole cowboy.

  Before heading out to the bank and grocery store, I asked Dennis if there was anything that he had to add to the list that I had in my hand.  Dennis had not one thing to add.  Now that is contentment. My goal was to try several different types of apples to bring home.  I have gotten spoiled by the Minnesota grown apples that we got at the apple barn on the way to Mankato.  They closed two days before Thanksgiving.  My first choice is to purchase fruit that is already pared.  Late this fall I opted to having an apple or two on hand each day.  Less cost and just as good for me.  

  Why are Dennis and I so content with not a single need or want to be had?  Our pantry is full of many choices for meals.  Clothing: when you are retired it is optional.  Not so much the wearing of it as the choices that may fill the bill from day to day.  It is not unusual for Dennis, the ole cowboy, to stay in his PJs all day to only change into clean ones for bed time.  Basically it doesn’t matter.  I generally enjoy a cup or two of coffee in my robe and then I have to get clothes on.  Nothing is more annoying than having too much robe fabric that can get in the way when I want to reach for something and end up pulling something over . . . only to make a mess to clean up.  Before I headed to the store there was no needs-analysis warranted. 

  I am still in limbo in the sewing studio.  When Megan finished her large project I did take the sewing machine down to the nubbins for cleaning and oiling, complete with a new needle.  A soft brush can catch a lot of fuzz.  I have several patterns lying on the table but am lacking that burst of “let’s get this going.”  I am waiting for some hardware items from Amazon to try something new.  Time will tell!  I will tell you that hardware may be purchased, fabric will not be purchased.  I have a need to buckle down and use what I have and become creative with it.  It is my personal challenge and I will have fun seeing what I can come up with.  Well . . . then . . . truth to tell, when Kersten’s mom handed off the Singer Serger, there was a second box that included yardage of various amounts and patterns.  Now this next ditty that I am about to share is that the fabric is much like when someone wants to loose weight.  If you share your target goal, it is harder to not stay the course.  I am sharing with you that I will use the fabric I have within our home and enjoy ending with some great finished projects.  So . . . be . . . it!