Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from November, 2018 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 4:48 pm on November 26, 2018 Permalink  

  Grammie Pulled It Off 

  What’s not to like about a day to take challenges on: toe to toe, eye to eye.  In regard to the serger (previous posts) that was given to me, it was left last night as a re-do on the threading.  I pulled out all four spools of tread and started over while the YouTube video was loading: “A Man and His Serger.”  All was stepping right along until the video referred to a small hook for the upper loopers.  There was no small hook to be seen.  Dennis came down: watched the video, looked at the serger sitting on the table . . . no small hook.  It was time to get out the LED flashlight.  Dennis with his tiny eye spied a small hole.  It took a very small sewing needle poked into it to realize that it was the target for the thread.  Dennis exited: stage right.

  I decided a cup of coffee would be needed.  Thread is soft.  Thread is limp.  Thread that needs to span a space of 1.5 inches to be threaded into a small hole is NOT going to be completed on the first try.  I trimmed the thread.  I wetted the thread.  I cursed the thread.  Actually . . . I think that did it.  That one important step was what allowed the scissor action to work for the overlocking of threads.  I think someone in solitary confinement devised this little machine.  After the threading process we felt pretty smart about ourselves.  It was when I turned the next page in the written manual and also pushed the “play” button on the video that the rest of the story was revealed . . . the tension settings.  Dennis wished me good luck and declared he was going out to have coffee with his friends at the apartment building.  He knew what was good for him.  Tension of an ordinary sewing machine can be difficult.  Setting tension for four different spools of thread could bring anguish and the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

  Fast forward: It is now time for the sun to be setting and the serger and I are one.  It is working perfectly.  It was worth all the deep sighs, heavy breathing and cussing under my breath . . . and some out load.  It will take its rightful place in the sewing studio and be on hand for working with whatever any day may bring.  Priceless.  Megan, I am hear to tell you I also have reached success at tenacity.

   
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  Noreen 5:18 pm on November 25, 2018 Permalink  

  My Turn at Tenacity 

  Thanksgiving Day when Kersten and Kevin arrived, Kersten brought my sewing studio an addition.  Her mom, Nancy, and I had visited and Nancy was ready to hand off a Singer Ultralock Serger, that was not being used at her home or her mother’s home.  

  Yesterday I took it out of the box and Dennis was right there with small brushes, soft cloths, etc. to give the machine a once over on the outside and taking a look under the hood.  A can of air was also requested.  I got busy and downloaded an owner’s manual for it.  It is a 1987 Singer Ultralock #14U34.  I read the while Dennis cleaned.  I was then ready to see what I could do.  Four spools of thread at one time with two needles seemed daunting.  One step at a time.  One try at a time in the threading.  It truly was a challenge using every bit of my tenacity.  When I shut off the lights last night in the sewing studio, it was threaded and I left it at that.

  

  There is the little beast complete with a sample that is not correct. The machine is perfect for sewing seams of knits, putting rolled hems on light weight fabric and best of all Kevin . . . putting new knit cuffs on favorite jackets . . . when it is threaded correctly.

  This morning, I plugged it in and putting my hand on the electric foot pedal, I took it for a spin.  Ironically it spit out a sample.  It stitched and cut off the far right edge of the fabric.  There are two knives within the workings of the machine.  The sample did not look 100%.  Today I have surfed YouTube on various types of similar units.  Late this afternoon I happened upon “A Man and His Singer Serger.”  The twenty four minute video was with the exact same machine as I had sitting in my sewing studio.  Hells bells.  I do not have it threaded correctly.  All four threads are coming off of the spools going into the top of the machine incorrectly.  Of the four threads going into the belly of the machine, only three are correct.  It is amazing that I could even have a sample to take the photo with.  Tomorrow I will pull all the threads out and begin anew.  You know I will have this same video on the Dell computer in the sewing studio and pause and play, pause and play until we are one.

  This fellow that made the video has been sewing for just a year.  He found his little Singer in a trash bin and began working with it complete with purchasing a few parts. His main love is making his own caps.  All the pie shaped pieces that take the cap from the brim to the top are using his serger.  He claims it will be one item that will serve anyone well once they take the time to get it threaded correctly.  Ya, you bettcha! I even found a second video that he has put out labeled as “an update.”  Sweet.

  I think I did match Megan with tenacity today, but unlike her, I have yet to score success.  Tomorrow is another day.

   
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  Noreen 6:44 pm on November 24, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Megan ( 9 )   

  Tenacity 

  I believe tenacity goes hand in hand with logic and vision.  It most likely comes to some of us in an entire package.  I have it.  I saw it in Kevin this fall when we stopped in at Fairfax and were given a demo on the full sized hoist he and Kersten had been working on installing in their residential garage so they can work on and service their vehicles.  It worked slick as a whistle complete with the paint job and newly applied logo.

  

  68″ x 88″ is quite a lot to feed through the machine for the quilting process. She worked through various ways of doing it. Hmm. I have done the exact same thing on large projects. What a Megster.

  I saw tenacity in Granddaughter Megan when she spent the better part of the pre-Thanksgiving days with us.  Megan was determined that the fabric she had brought with was going to go home with her as a finished project Thanksgiving night.  For me, putting together a twin sized quilted project can kick my behind, let alone getting it done from Tuesday evening when she hit St. James to Wednesday evening.   She welcomed breaks and I made sure to keep her hydrated and fed.  When I offered to help out with the quilting grid of 4″ x 4″, she said “Thanks Grammie, I’ve got it.”  We had time to joke with each other and talk about some serious day-to-day issues.  Somewhere in this sewing retreat we even managed a visit to the Old Alley Quilt Shop to pick up several additional projects to put in the hopper the next time she comes to visit.  Megan and I didn’t get to bed until 1:00 on Thursday morning.  We needed showers, food and downtime.  Megan showed true tenacity. 

  Dennis enjoyed seeing her leave the Thanksgiving dining table, quietly putting on her jacket and head for the patio porch.  Dennis made sure it was warm enough that she could take off her winter coat and get comfortable with the cats.  Megan spending quiet time told me that she felt the relief of the completed task and also felt the pressure that she had put herself to see the task at end to completion.  With her being two hours away and the winter season just beginning to buck, she wasn’t going to take a chance of not getting this surprise Christmas present for Nicholas home with her.  Megan has true grit.  

  Having had quality time with Megan and seeing how this soon to be 15 year old handled herself, it made me proud.  Proud isn’t enough, I am thrilled that this teenager liked hanging out with us on Stauffer Avenue.  I have picked up from other grandparents that their teenage grandchildren have no time for them. 

  With this sewing retreat experience how could I not be enthused in whatever I tackle in this season between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  When I have an idea of what I want to do, it’s a matter of having everything on hand before I start.  There is nothing worse than a UFO . . . unfinished objects.  I have my orders in at Amazon for a few special items.  I could run my legs off in various stores seeking and searching.  Now I can watch for the mailman.   Hurry and wait.  The most difficult aspect for me.

   
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  Noreen 5:55 pm on November 21, 2018 Permalink  

  It is multi-tasking here on Stauffer Ave on Thanksgiving Eve. The Bernina has been humming via Megan. It is going well, even knowing that the Bernina can poke a hole through the metal of a safety pin. That did take a new needle. The old part of the needle is still in the safety pin and will remain there as Megan wants to keep it as a reminder to watch as you stitch.

  Two pies are cooling and I am heading up out of the sewing studio to get my carrot dish put together for tomorrow. Dennis chopped the carrots for me which was a huge help to my hands.

  I will tell you that Megan and I did take a trip to the Old Alley Quilt Shop this noon. She has heard me speak of it often and she needed a quilting fix. How could you not when you are surrounded by dozens and dozens of finished show and tell projects and bolts of fabric by the hundreds.

  I need to fix us all some supper and see how the rest of the prep work goes.

   
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  Noreen 5:04 pm on November 19, 2018 Permalink  

  We started out the morning at an early pace . . . at least I did. A dishtowel swiped across the coffee pot settings last night after supper had me up at six rather than at seven. I had the alarm set but it is a habit of hearing the coffee pot that sets the mindset.

  Dennis grabbed a cup of coffee and went to the patio porch to check on the kids. All four were in for curfew last night. The night before Harriet missed curfew and when Dennis went out with his coffee cup Sunday morning, she was sitting right by the back door of the house. She didn’t miss a step as Dennis said she headed for the food bowl.

  As Dennis was getting ready for the VA Clinic appointment this morning, he was telling me about the doves that were in the Maple tree as it was getting daylight. Apparently it was a huge amount that flew in and sat on the branches watching him through the glass sliders. They weren’t in any hurry and more kept coming. Dennis equated it as all the past family members came to welcome him to this new day. Obviously Dennis feels comfort from doves.

  Dennis had a good checkup at the VA Clinic and was off running a few errands afterward. My day was planned to be quiet as tomorrow at this time Megan will be settling in for a weekend of sewing. By the way, we will be squeezing in baking for Thanksgiving on Wednesday, getting the Thanksgiving meal on the table hot and tasty sometime on Thursday. Oh . . . I can’t forget the elfing that will also be going on. Fun times. I wouldn’t want to miss a minute of it. I can have many more quiet days after the weekend and relish all the memories.

   
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  Noreen 3:54 pm on November 9, 2018 Permalink  

  The Pure White of it All 

  This morning as I was lying in bed, I looked out the north window and the pure white of it all on the Evergreen boughs made the world feel right side up.  A new day for cherishing the past and a new day for what the Lord allows.  

  When there has been a family event that has taken place over a period of days, it is difficult to focus on what day of the week it actually is.  Today is a Friday, that feels like a Monday.  

  On Stauffer Avenue, we are taking the day as it comes.  Needless to say, Dennis is not lonely in the patio porch.  Several of his cats were left outside while we had traveled north for an overnighter.  Too bad.  They assumed Dennis would be home Wednesday night and that they would have plenty of time to make curfew.  Not!  When we returned home late yesterday afternoon, it didn’t take long and there were the two chilled orphaned cats almost running over Dennis when he opened the patio porch doors.  How hungry could two cats get in a 35 hour period of time!  What with the snow this morning, all four of them wanted to sit in the open doorway of the slider window, but not put a single paw out on the white.  Too funny.  Dennis put his foot down and it was either in or out, as the furnace loves to huff and puff when the cold draft hits the thermostat.

  Knowing the kitchen had plenty to offer and we would not go hungry, I decided to head to the sewing studio.  Megan is coming right before Thanksgiving for a sewing retreat.  I made sure to email Carrie the specifics that her and Megan would need on a trip to the fabric store as they had shared with me what the essence of the project was.  I wanted to make sure I had a few things put away to make room for the apprentice.  Somehow fuzz and thread end up dribbling and staying on the work surface.  Tidy, tidy.  I did give in to stitching a design on some pre-sewn dinner napkins from a previous sale purchase.  Black doesn’t seem festive or for Christmas.  I had to give it a try.  I was not disappointed.  

  As I tucked here and there, a list came to mind that took me to pen and paper.  We will have able-bodied people on board Thanksgiving Day to help with a bit of a job jar.  Nothing strenuous.  Nothing needing a building permit.  Nothing that involves demolition.  A few odds and ends that remain of getting ready for the winter.

  I am content with the day.  It may be a wonderful white outside . . . but . . . the wind chill of 2 degrees makes we oh so content to be inside.  I still believe that there will be several warmer days to come.  I am the eternal optimist.

   

   
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  Noreen 3:20 pm on November 2, 2018 Permalink  

  When this ole hen gets rousted off the roosts before six a.m. it is rare . . . and I have decided I don’t like it. I don’t always get to do what I want when I want it, so that calls for sucking it up and literally putting on my big girl bloomers. I hate driving for several hours in tight clothing . . . just saying.

  There is a portion of the world that is looking forward to going hunting for Bambi tomorrow. My sewing machine technician in Bird Island did have a full slate and I was penciled in at 9:00 a.m., take it or leave it. With daylight saving time starting this weekend, I knew that this was my best option of having my sewing machine serviced as sleet, rain and snow was forecast in the week coming. I would either drive in the dark this morning or perhaps be driving in the dark next week with less than good roads in the late afternoon. For this one time getting up early obviously didn’t hurt me.

  Visiting with Amanda and hubby Kelly is a treat while he works on the sewing machine. I always come away with several good tidbits of using the machine to the fullest. I think it will be a long time before I have crafted all the options available.

  I surprised Kevin when I hit his shop at 11:00 a.m. and I was already on my way home. We had a great visit and getting home a little after 12 Noon felt good having hit the targets that were set for the day. Dennis had kept the home fires going and being greeted by the four footed occupants of the patio porch was a plus. Who doesn’t like to be missed when you are gone for a portion of the day?

  The sewing machine is back in the sewing studio, plugged in awaiting some stitching for perhaps tomorrow. It was noted on the repair slip that the needle has stitched 315 hours to date. I have met the list of dish towels that Dennis wanted for his daughters and granddaughters for their gathering the day after Thanksgiving. They are stacked, wrapped and bagged. I am already working on a few other creative projects that I have had on my to-do list. That list will also need to be worked into the washing of windows in our home. Sunshine is wonderful. When looking through dust- and corn chaff-laden dirty windows, sunshine feels like a punishment.

  It is a treat to have leftover hotdish for supper.

   
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  Noreen 4:19 pm on October 30, 2018 Permalink  

  As Promised 

  We promised ourselves a quiet day and today began with us two older ones sleeping until 8:30. In the fog of sleep I heard the garbage man, the side dump semis, the gravel trucks and I cared not one iota.  The coffee pot was full of hot coffee awaiting us.  When I looked out the bathroom window, Snuggles was looking back at me through the slider window of the patio porch.  On the outside of the slider window of the patio porch was Honey Bunny who missed curfew last night and cooled her heels outside for the night.

  I picked through some items for the epileptic drive that will be coming through town tomorrow.  I have some items for kitchen use as well as some clothing items.  Those items are then transferred to the Saver’s stores that are in various towns for the veterans to shop from with little or no resources needed.  

  I think Dennis and I will need some time to wind down and realize that there may be many days where we do not have a job jar pulsing, waiting to be emptied.  I am hoping for some warmer days after the farmers are finished with their harvest and thus the pink corn chaff will be gone.  Dennis has several coffee groups to frequent and I have my sewing studio that always has something for me to poke at.  

  My next “what if” is a piece of woven fabric that looks and feels like cork.  It has the slick finish on the cork side and the woven aspect is on the back side.  Will my Cricut cut it with the heavier blade?  How will it be to machine embroidery on?  It’s always fun to see what can come from being curious.

   
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  Noreen 5:08 pm on October 27, 2018 Permalink  

  Yesterday late in the afternoon I did go and get my flue shot. I will admit today I feel a bit like the helium balloon that is less full of air as it should be. With the thick fog this morning it was a will of wits to get going for the day. With Dennis being gone I am getting the tasks completed with the livestock: a pond of Koi that needs leaves scooped off of the surface of the water and a herd of four cats.

  I did wander into the sewing studio. Yesterday at the Dollar General I bought several three ring binders. Today was a good day to get printed stitching tutorials organized.

  Dennis called this evening from the trade show in Mitchell. All is well with him and I assured him I was following through on this end. If the sun shines tomorrow all will fall back into the normal pace for me.

   
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  Noreen 5:32 pm on October 25, 2018 Permalink  

  Today I left the comfort of Stauffer Avenue and tripped over to Mankato to meet with a group of gals that have similar interests to mine . . . sewing and stitching. A fun group to share ideas, hopes, failures and current projects that are under the needle.

  On the way home I stopped in Madelia as I had heard that a quilt shop had opened in what had been the Dystee’s Gas Station. The hospital acquired a new doctor from out of state and Mrs. Doctor has always wanted to have a quilt shop. What an endeavor to take on. There have been several quilt shops that have closed in the area and there is one in Bird Island that is for sale. I wished Susan much success and assured her when I had used up a bit more of my stashes I would return.

  As I left Madelia, the rain began and I was thankful that the grass seed would get some of the real deal and not just from the end of my garden hose. Checking in with Dennis when I returned home, he had checked off all the items he had had on his list. He was able to take his Cub Lo-boy and mulch a lot of the leaves before the rain had begun. A good day all around.