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  • Noreen 3:07 pm on April 4, 2018 Permalink  

    Timely But Satisfing 

    The Bernina sewing machine has been in our home for a bit longer than two years.  I had promised myself that I would not be complacent.  I would challenge myself one step at a time.  For just as long, I have had several design packets that incorporate fabric applique with embroidery stitches.  The latest snow storm was the perfect time to see if I could and would pursue it.  Aunt Lorraine is always a good source of encouragement.  She knew the applique was timely but worth theDennis' flannel (Custom) effort.  She hit the timely on the head.  The packet of designs works with a lot of checked flannel material.  If I had not pieced a checked flannel quilt top for Dennis I would not have been inclined to go and purchase small pieces of various flannel.  Scraps spurred me on.  This packet has thirty designs.  Not exactly something to get done in several days.

    Applique (Mobile)The first applique block took some time and some thinking on which of the flannel scraps to use as the base.  The white fabric for the stars needed to be stitched onto the background fabric while in the hoop as per the steps that the flash drive had programmed into the machine and then I needed to trim it down for the embroidery stitches to finish it off. When the design block is taken off of the hoop, it already has the sashing attached to all four sides.  The grouping for a finished project is done by stitching multiple sizes of finished blocks using a half inch seam allowance.  Each block comes out of the hoop at the coordinating size with the quilt batting already sandwiched between the bottom and the top.

    Finished App (Custom) (Custom) (2)

    I never cease to be amazed how it all comes together.

    Companies that employ people to digitize designs . . . that’s high tech.   Companies that market digitized designs to people such as myself are a Godsend.  I never in my wildest dreams would have thought when I purchased the sewing machine that I could stretch myself to work with zip files that were emailed to me in a matter of seconds.  I did need some guidance from Kevin and Kersten of getting the zip files into folders on my laptop and then getting the designs within those folders loaded on a flash drive for the sewing machine to read and then stitch.  I am a nooby to all that is out there, but it sure is exciting to learn.

    When I visit with friends and realize how few of them planned for the quiet hours of their retirement, I am thankful.  I never need to find something to do when Dennis and I are each in our own zones.  I enjoy family, community, my faith, reading, gardening, quilting, and sewing and it all makes for a very balanced life.  That is the secret to life . . . balance.  Though I am what some would call being a hermit, I have choices each and every day as to what to do with the God given day.  Life is quite spectacular.

     

  • Noreen 2:44 pm on March 27, 2018 Permalink
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    Today I had to do it. The “Noel” quilted wall hanging needed to be retired. I could no longer convince myself it stood for “Noreen’s Office of Elegant Living.” I chose a wall hanging that my grandmother Laura had started in the early 1960s and I finished it several winters ago. Pink butterflies work in the spring season.

    As I dug through my stash of strings and yarn to use as a carrier after the wall hanging of the butterflies placket was strung onto a piece of decorative trim, much like a curtain rod . . . come on . . . you knew I would have such a stash, Esther Schafer came to mind.

    She was a mother-in-law second to none. She was a great cook and the Hector public school cafeteria could attest to that. She was their head cook for decades. She hand embroidered anything that would lie flat. Esther could crochet in her sleep and she was patient when she taught me while I was pregnant with Carrie. It was not unusual that the postman made frequent deliveries to her home from “LeeWards,” the catalog craft company. Skeins of yarn are milled leaving a tail of yarn hanging out of one end. That was to be the starter for the projects that would ensue. It would be rare if you could use the entire skein without a huge mess of tangled yarn spilling out all at once.

    Esther ordered a yarn winder. It clamped onto the edge of a table with a starter spindle and a hand crank. Once the spindle was started, one hand worked the crank and the other hand continued to feed the yarn out of the belly of the skein. With deft speed each skein would become this beautiful honeycomb looking creation of a flat bottomed cylindrical 4 oz. ball of yarn. How could I not think of Esther as I peered into my stash. Priceless.

     

  • Noreen 4:21 pm on March 26, 2018 Permalink  

    Several days ago I was in the process of getting Mom’s 50lb. chicken feed sacks ready to do some stitching on. I washed them and then let them soak in some strong bleach water. After several hours of soaking, I finished off the load and then re-washed them in plain water to make sure the bleach was indeed gone. They brightened up considerably and were reminiscent of what I remembered from times past . . . an off-white appearance. After pulling them out of the clothes drier, I couldn’t help but notice how immediately soft they felt and fairly clear of wrinkles. Smoothing them out with my hand as I folded them was all it took to get them stitching ready. This was in sharp contrast to the “feed sack towels” I had bought at Mill’s Fleet and Farm in Mankato. They were manufactured in a southern mill to represent and imitate the originals. When I washed them, they came out with wrinkles that needed to be ironed with steam before I could stitch on them.

    Much can be imitated and soon there will not be that link available of what the original actually was. Times are changing and I know I need to stay instep to keep current of what is available while still looking for quality. I don’t want to be sold a bill of goods because I didn’t seek and search and then be disappointed on the outcome of resources and time. In today’s world, I can’t be a slacker.

     

  • Noreen 4:20 pm on March 21, 2018 Permalink
    Tags: , , Mark   

    As gray days go, it’s not all bad. I had several things to try out with the embroidery unit. It’s one thing to have designs to stitch out, it’s trial and error as to what stabilizer needs to be used with different types of fabric. A few trial samples to keep for myself and nothing goes to waste.

    I won’t be doing any quilt piecing for awhile. No one is wanting nor waiting for a quilt so I will continue with embroidery and an occasional mending. My aunt Lorraine in Arizona has sold her long arm and it will be picked up from her home the day after Easter. As per our telephone conversation last night she needs to get two quilts long armed each day to take care of the stash of unfinished quilts. Have I mentioned her love of quilts? When her son Mark spent time with her last year at Thanksgiving he helped her organize her stash of finished quilts. It was over 300 and he organized them by size and color in various totes. Since that time she has been piecing to beat the band and now needs to make use of that long arm before she will be looking at doing them as I do . . . under the needle one stitch at a time.

    Dennis said I could sew, quilt and embroider to my hearts content a long as I find homes for the items for others to enjoy and use. I thought it was a very fair outlook and I totally agreed with Dennis. Smart old cowboy.

     

  • Noreen 2:44 pm on March 2, 2018 Permalink
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    Dennis is showing his real colors via the… 

    Dennis is showing his real colors via the black and blue that is showing up. His neck is twice its size and is black and blue right down to his sternum. The meds that Dennis has been on are now all in review. Good blood flow may mean less meds needed to regulate his blood pressure. All meds have side effects that may not show on any pre-printed paper that comes with each one. I have taken on the job of literally cutting pills in halves and quarters.  Twelve hours apart I need to give Dennis a shot to assist in his blood to clot until the Warfarin tablets are doing their work solo.  No, I didn’t think I could do it, but there really wasn’t a choice.  Even today at the VA clinic when they took some blood from his finger it ran like a little red river.  It will take time for all to work as it should.  The VA Clinic sent us home today with a self inflating blood pressure cuff that will need to be used and charted twice a day. Dennis has always referred to me as “Doc Piddy.” By the way, as I was growing up the baby ducks were called Piddies and baby chicks were called Eeepies. Anyway . . . so Dennis’ translation is that I am “Doc Piddy – a real quack of a doctor.”

    I think all these checks and balances for Dennis are fantastic. What a great chance for him to enjoy a lifestyle with less drugs while feeling better.

    I did go down into the sewing studio this afternoon to take a peek that all was where it was left over the weekend. Yup, just like dust bunnies and dirty dishes . . . infinite patience until Stauffer Avenue returns to a semblance of normality.

     

  • Noreen 4:25 pm on February 20, 2018 Permalink
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    A New Experience 

    Unfortunately, we had to get Dennis back to the clinic yesterday.  The first batch of the 5 day fast track of antibiotics was finished on Sunday and yesterday morning his temp was 102.2 with all the same hacking, aching to go with it.  I realized the antibiotic would still be in his system for another 10 days, but we were 8 days out from his carotid surgery.  No way do we want to have to postpone that important surgery.  Dennis’ regular doctor was not available.  Urgent care is something we had never visited in the clinic before.  You show up and take what you get.  A 21 year old looking young doctor came in.  I thought “Oh-my-oh-my-oh.”  This young fellow graduated high-school from the town just east of here, Madelia.  He wanted to come back to his community and . . . here he was.

    The doctor checked and saw that the last chest X-ray was for the pre-op in October of 2017.  He could hear a rattle in the right lung.  Off to X-ray Dennis went.  Nothing serious in that right lung, but several masses that needed to be broken up.  Fast forward . . . Dennis and I were so impressed with his attention to every detail of Dennis’ history and the state he was in currently.  Another, stronger antibiotic was prescribed.  Yes, it will interfere with the Warfarin Dennis takes for his Atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart beat), but . . . yesterday was the 19th and Dennis needs to stop taking it on the 21st to prepare for the surgery. Doctor Luis felt this would be the way to get him in shape and not have the surgery rescheduled.  In addition he is to take 4,000 mg of acetaminophen spread over four times during the day.  When the coughing spree starts, get it up and out.  Napping may be the way Dennis will spend these next days as everything he is taking has the ability for drowsiness.  Here we are 24 hours later, his temperature is down.  The rest I am sure will follow to getting him back on his feet.  My job is to make sure the meds are laid out and to push liquids so he can get the crap in his system and out through urination.

    The city streets were icy yesterday and we opted to get the prescription out of the automated vending machine in the clinic.  Talk about something that is oh so cool.  You enter the code from the doctor’s prescription and there begins a blue task message at the bottom of the screen.  It takes a credit card. It asked for Dennis’ birth date and off the blue line took.  “Looking up drug.” “Counting out drug.”  “Printing label.” “Attaching label.”  “Dispensing drug.” This took about 10 minutes, but I was amazed.  Dennis took his first dose right there in the clinic. 

    The Urgent Care and the med dispensing were both a new experience.  We came away feeling comfortable in having a new doctor that we will feel comfortable with.  Luis questioned Dennis on things that had never been broached before. 

    All I need to do is keep the house quiet, though he may be able to sleep through a freight train coming by.  His sleep is deep.  He says there are no nightmares or dreams . . . just out.  Two feet from the Flannels (Small)recliner and he begins to list towards it.  I did find some putzing to do in the sewing studio.  I have never worked with flannel . . . so why not.  Today the tracking info allowed us to know Dennis’ granddaughter’s scrappy quilt hit their home.  With all the snow they got over the last day or so, it won’t go unused. 

     

  • Noreen 5:22 pm on February 16, 2018 Permalink  

    Seriously . . . you should keep older people in your day to day contacts. It took Dennis and me to get a jar of Mayo opened today. I was attempting to hold the jar while Dennis was doing his absolutely best to get that lid to cooperate. Do we have to have the grocery story open our purchases before we leave the store? Good grief. That lid was stubborn. I had given up and gone down to the pantry to get a second jar when Dennis called down he had gotten it. We enjoy Albacore Tuna canned in water, drained and then mixed with chopped boiled eggs, pepper and salt for a sandwich spread or to just have a bit for a snack. The Albacore tuna is a very white tuna and very chunky.  We had had some Sunkist tuna packed in water in the past. By the time it was drained, there was nothing left as it was a shredded mess.  It was also very red in color . . . not very appealing.  We are hooked on the Albacore.  Our concoction wouldn’t be much of a finished dish if there were no Mayo.

    The last of the scrappy quilts was boxed and heading out to the UPS depot here in town. I was surprised when Dennis came home and shared the news that cash was not accepted. Either check or credit card. Apparently it is a company wide policy that cash is not within the depot. Good thing Dennis had grabbed his wallet before he left home. Mainly it was to have his driver’s license with him. It would have been disappointing for him to have had to make a trip home. He left home well equipped. Amazing what small towns need to adhere to.

     

  • Noreen 4:17 pm on February 15, 2018 Permalink  

    A day of running errands. How many errands can older people have you may ask? Enough to wear me out and be thankful when we are back home.

    Dennis had a stop at the VA Clinic. It is the first time I have accompanied him. What a great group of professionals who have been taking care of my ole cowboy. With Dennis’ impending carotid surgery they made sure Dennis signed consent forms so there will be copies of tests, etc. transferred so they can stay on top of his Warfarin intake and they may interact with what their field of expertise is compared to our general practitioner and also the surgeon. Warfarin must be stopped five days prior to surgery to slow down the blood flow during surgery. It becomes dangerous when the blood could begin to be too thick and cause a stroke or heart attack. As I said the group at the VA impressed the heck out of me.

    We motored on to Mankato. First stop was Great Clips. For $11.00 I have been getting the best cuts in years. By the way . . . Dennis’ cap is a bit loose after his cut. River City Quilts in Mankato will be closing in August due to the hike in the lease. I was interested in getting fabric backing and batting for the next project I have underway. I will miss their great service. We stopped at the U-Haul store and for $.99 we have a box to ship the latest scrappy quilt to Silver Bay.

    In Sam’s Club I hit it big time. I bought two pair of pants. The fact that they were $14.99 each with a good brand of clothing label wasn’t the best. The elastic in the waist area is what I was after. The two pair that I like to wear needed to have the waist band pinned to the bottom of my bra if I were to travel more than 20 feet because . . . the elastic was shot. Dennis knows how much I hate buying clothes. Hate it, hate it. I have a shape that clothing as yet to be manufactured for. Kevin says “Mom, you don’t have a butt.” It got to the point that Dennis would not let me buy clothes unless I fit it on in the store as he was weary of return processes. Well . . . let me tell you, with arms that have less than good mobility and knees that are awkward to bend in cubicles that are 2′ x 2′ . . . in store clothes was not bought. Ironically the brand that Sam’s Club gets in does fit me. I don’t care if they may be seconds, who do I have to impress! The bras can now do what they are intended to do. Oh, by the way, we did buy a few groceries in Sam’s as well.

    Of course, we had our meal for the day in Perkins. The variety of the menu is varied. I tried the Chicken Tortilla soup and it was flavorful. I like to try new things . . . Dennis not so much.

    We are home and it looks as if we may have some snow to push by morning.

     

  • Noreen 5:29 pm on February 14, 2018 Permalink  

    With the sewing studio totally cleaned and vacuumed from the quilt project it was time to get my walking shoes on and take a walk down Stauffer Avenue to the east. As I hit the east end of our acre . . . I was very pleasantly surprised. The apple flavored deer lick that Dennis and I put out after the large 12″ dump of snow has been favored. Multiple tracks came in from the south and east right up to the treat. Not far to the south is a grove that would take them right to the creek. I have some tall plume grass that we usually don’t cut back in the fall so the birds can pick at the seeds. It was very evident that a deer or two had nestled in after having a treat. On the down side, perhaps the hosta plants that are nearby may also be a treat for the dear this spring. That really wouldn’t bother me as I have been contemplating cutting back on the gardens. It made for a very light heart coming back home. First good walk of 2018 and feeling good about helping out the wildlife.

     

  • Noreen 3:59 pm on February 13, 2018 Permalink  

    Not in the Plan 

    It was not in the plans for Dennis to need a doctor’s appointment while he is awaiting the Feb. 27th surgical date to have the right carotid taken care of.  Sure enough . . . Dennis felt wore out, slept a lot, ached all over with chills and some congestion that was deep in the lungs.  Hello . . . did that ring a bell or what.  First thing this morning I was on the phone to the clinic to make an appointment for him.  Dennis’ symptoms had been told to me in the recent past and that was diagnosed for that person as Phenomena.  We are not doing the Vicks Vapor Rub cure-all on this.  No matter how thick he slathers it on . . . come on, get real, it’s not a miracle rub.  The only thing it really is is it is hard to wash out of clothes.  Grease stains that will be there until the neck band falls off the the rest of the shirt.  From times past there is one tee shirt that has been sacrificed for multiple washings and multiple wearing.  Tomorrow morning was the first appointment I could get for him.  We need to get this nipped in the bud.

    I have been very fortunate this winter.  Of course Dennis says I am too mean and stubborn to get sick.  Hey . . . if that is what it takes, I’ll take a second helping of that.  All of his napping has put a few of our plans on hold.  I quietly have been in Paisley2 (440x330)the sewing studio putzing away on the latest scrappy quilt.  It went fairly well.  I don’t know if I will be up for such a huge project again in the near future, but it sure took care of a lot of scraps.  I call it the Paisley Scrappy quilt as there are a lot of paisley fabric scraps in it.  The 8 inch border around the outside is paisley, and JoAnn’s Fabric had 108″ wide paisley for the backing.  The top was 95″ x 105″ and I was very pleased how everything just fit.  Squaring things up on the backing, batting, and the top on two church tables, it could be a real gamble.  Paisley is one of those printPaisley3 (440x330)s that either you like it a lot or you hate it.  I grew up in Mom’s home where there could never be enough paisley.  After today there needs to be some serious vacuuming.  Try as hard as I might, there are threads everywhere.

    So it is about that time of the day when this mean stubborn . . . you might as well add German as I know . . . he is thinking it as clearly as if there were a ticker tape strip going across his forehead . . .  closes down the sewing studio for the day.

     

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