Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2016 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:13 am on July 22, 2016 Permalink  

  I Have Short Arms 

  I sound like one of the prehistoric creatures, “I have short arms.”  Not really.  With the reverse shoulder surgeries I knew I would have some limitations in arm mobility.  Initially, when an injury takes place, the lack of blood supply to individual nerves is a death knell.  Nerves regenerate at such a minuet speed, it registers only on scales read by specialists. I was told the exact formula when I had the Nerve Reduction test done.  As I was busy blinking away tears while having electrical charges applied in various areas of both my arms, I really wasn’t into listening to the logistics.

  

  A wonderful way to get excess fabric out and away from the sewing machine.

  Anyhow . . . I found this wonderful gadget for my sewing studio that allows the bulk of larger projects to be suspended, thus taking away the weight of it.  I can lift my arms in front of me, but not with any effectiveness when there is any amount of weight or bulk to be moved.  This gadget came in today’s mail.  I sure could have used it several days ago when I was fighting a futile battle.   I believe this will allow me to do larger projects with a whole lot less fatigue.  I am all for that. I do not want to give up any part of my creative nature.  If you look long enough and hard enough, someone out there has had the same situation and is willing to share their solutions.  A clamp, a few mini bungee cords and two more clamps and I can see myself in business for a long time.

  The limitations I may have are nothing compared to the pain that is gone from my day-to-day life.

   
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  Noreen 11:46 pm on July 20, 2016 Permalink  

  A Button Jig? 

  

  Sometimes, it just takes a bit of thought provoking time to get to the results that are wanted.

  Seriously, who does this?  Me!  I have a bit of a problem lining things up and you know dang well, it is those types of things that draw the eye immediately.  Immediately.  As I have 56 buttons to apply to a project that I have hundreds of hours into, I do not want to mess up.  Thank goodness I can visit my “button tree” for just the right size and color.  The button jig may have to be replicated as I used craft paper.  A lightweight cardboard would have been a better choice.  Of all the things in my sewing studio, that is one item I am a bit short of.

  I did do some spraying of Roundup this morning for weeds that poke through the concrete driveway . . . it’s just not acceptable.  The entire while I was mixing my brew and spraying, I was running this button project through my brain. Could I possibly be a bit of a fanatic?  Absolutely.  The spraying was the ultimate that I planned on doing outside today with the humidity and heat making it someplace I need not be.  After doing a bit to tidy up in the house, I know I have a plan that can be executed in the sewing room with acceptable results.  Dang, it’s a good day.

   
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  Noreen 2:38 am on July 20, 2016 Permalink  

  It's Always Been There 

  

  From the time Carrie and Kevin were preschoolers, there was a lot of creativity in our home. Orlin set up the rug loom and there was no end as to what we cranked out. Placemats, rugs of every size, and even a tote for groceries. Several room sized wool rugs were ordered from a gal in the Metro. Oh so many balls of cut and sewn wool carpet rags were delivered into our basement to be woven in 44 inch rugs that were then woven together into room sized rugs to be placed on a pad just as any other carpet would be.  This particular rug representing the USA Eagle will be a keeper and getting a pass on the foot traffic. Yup, every type of creativity imaged is in my résumé.

   
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  Noreen 2:34 am on July 19, 2016 Permalink  

  It’s a Bit of Feeling Excitement and Nervousness 

  I have been working on a project for some time with my sewing machine.  It is almost beyond my comprehension.  I felt so strongly about getting this multi-tasking machine . . . it does take my breath away to push myself to new heights.  This particular project was detailed and timely.  It took in so many aspects for my gray matter to process.  Finding the right pattern online was fun.  Downloading the pattern and then configuring it into the size that would fit into my plans was actually quite exciting.  I had fabric in mind and only a certain amount of it.  I needed to be very careful to make sure that once I hit the “go” button, each and every time. There would be no turning back.

  Each day, I cautiously proceed.  Now that I am in the quilting step of this project, I know I have to back away from it from time to time.  I think the longer I sew, the closer I find my nose to the needle.  The needle stays constant and it all depends on how I move my hands as to how the end result will look.  I do a bit and then take a break and check out the yard or think about what to fix for supper.  I am not in a rush with this and taking a lot of breaks will serve me well.  This is the most detailed project thus far.  Going back to working with piecing a quilt top will feel like a breeze.

   
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  Noreen 4:12 am on July 18, 2016 Permalink  

  Old Hands 

  Dennis and I literally have old hands that arthritis and neuropathy have had their way with.  The better part of it is that we are old hands when it comes to rainfalls that change the landscape.  This six inch rainfall followed two recent rains that totaled six inches.  Muck hardly describes the backyard.  After that earlier rainfall Dennis and I decided the put a bit of a trench beside the patio, just in case.  It sure didn’t have to be tried out in two days.  Dennis and I have been vigilant in keeping hearth and home tidy and safe.  Mother Nature can’t be denied.  Dennis puts a different spin on the season of bad weather throughout the nation: God is mad.  Dennis may very well have something there.  All is well on Stauffer, just a few spots left to dry out in the cistern closets.

  In between time Roger, yes we did name him, the Moose got a second coat of the water seal.  From there Dennis lent me a hand in the sewing studio.  I am working with a product that is a basting spray when quilts are sandwiched.  It  should mean no more pins.  I have watched every YouTube video out there.  Time will tell.  We only did the backing of the quilt and the batting.  Time out.  There is always another day to get a fresh start.

   
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  Noreen 4:28 am on July 17, 2016 Permalink  

  Believe it or not . . . we are taking it a bit easy today. I don’t know about Dennis, but I won’t be signing up for any ditch digging anytime soon. The will is on hand, the want is on hand and leave it to the body to bring you up short the day after.

  Thursday of this week we were able to do a bang up job of sanding Michael’s Moose. I suppose we should find a name for him. This morning Overson Lumber sold me a container of the Thompson Water Seal product. By the time I got home Dennis had the “Moose on the Trailer” at the far east patio ready for the Moose to get his first coat of niceness. The Cedar did not disappoint. Beautiful. Lots of areas that needed to be coated, driving home all that Michael had done to get everything just right. Twenty four hours is recommended in between coats of the water seal. Back into the potting shed until tomorrow.

  Dennis continued to monitor our area of lawn that is getting a boost via a portable sump pump to get the water out to the curb. Ideally the water from the sump pump in our basement would travel underground to the area in the lawn for it to be absorbed into the soil in that area. With all the rain that water just made a nice pond. I think he is gaining.

  I have my sewing machine tore apart to give it a good cleaning and oiling. I was just about to take this last sewing project out from under the needle when the display screen began going though the tutorial of the cleaning and oiling. I am saving that project for after supper . . . or maybe tomorrow. I an assure you not one more stitch will be taken until the machine gives it the go-ahead. I just love technology.

   
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  Noreen 3:20 am on July 13, 2016 Permalink  

  To Top the Day Off 

  

  This was a perfect day to be outside and get the yard tidied up. It had been almost two weeks since we had mowed and trimmed. As Dennis was finishing up the backyards, I couldn’t resist taking Dennis’ scrappy quilt out to the clothesline for some freshening. When there is a breeze with low dew points, this is how to top off a day that had a lot of local effort.

   
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  Noreen 2:08 am on July 11, 2016 Permalink  

  The Progression of Days 

  Each morning in our home, we do have anywhere from a half hour to an hour of the newscasts going on the television.  I am seriously thinking this is way too much.  I can’t comprehend what is happening in our America right now.  I don’t want to analyze it, delve deeper into any one topic or try to change it.  I know that is considered to be complacent . . . so be it. When Dennis and I reminisce, he and I have seen more changes in our lifetimes than can be believable.  For me, I am comfortable passing the torch to those who are in power, seeking power, to those who know what is needed for positive action or those that think they know it all.  This senior citizen is busy taking care of what Dennis and I have on Stauffer Avenue.  It may be a selfish attitude, but it is mine.

  I have such a good life with minimum bells and whistles.  720 square feet in a home is just right for Dennis and me.  We don’t have square footage that is for looking at and not be used.  It makes maintenance and cleaning so much more logical.  I am enthralled at the “tiny home” movement.  Homes from 120 to 320 square feet of well organized construction is sweeping across the nation.  They are not mobile homes, aka: trailer houses.  These homes are for those who have chosen not to have their homes own them.  Less is more.

  I digress.  It is not unusual for me to wake up in the mornings and have to calculate as to what day of the week it is.  I am no slouch when it comes to having full days, I just don’t have my days planned for me.  I used to live in that world.  All things considered, I am in like with the fact that I have retired and and can do all the things I have always done . . . just a bit more methodically.  I honor all my artificial joints that serve me with little or no pain and they will last for a great quality of life.

  I sat down at my laptop this afternoon as I needed to take a break from a sewing studio project.  I have come so far with a good measure of success.  I feared that if I didn’t do quite a bit of mind calculating of the next step, I could be cutting where I shouldn’t.  That, right there, is what I am referring to.  I don’t rush about during my days.  I know what I want to achieve and I am willing to invest all the time it takes.  I don’t like “do-overs.”  If it takes another day, another week . . . so be it. Most days it is quality and not quantity for me. I said most days.  Every once in awhile, I need to put my big girl panties on and realize I did the best I could, so get over it.

  This time was well spent and I am now ready to head back into the sewing studio and continue.  I feel confident that all will turn out just as I had intended it.

   
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  Noreen 2:05 am on July 7, 2016 Permalink  

  Today comes with two sided emotions. Dennis and his son are headed to the airport so Ken can fly back to Arizona after an extended stay here in Minnesota visiting family and friends. It will be some time before he comes back. That would be the sad portion of this tale. The happy portion of this post is that Dennis will have his little red pickup back after a three week separation. For Ken to have rented a car for this time would have most likely broke the bank, aka: his bank.

  I am working on a fairly large project with my embroidery machine. Yesterday, I learned how to go into my computer and re-size an image to alter it from the original that I had downloaded onto a USB stick. Live and learn and hopefully do it often enough that it will become second nature. Try, try and try until I get it lodged into my gray matter.

  This project will keep me busy until I know Dennis is home safe and sound.

   
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  Noreen 3:21 am on June 22, 2016 Permalink  

  I was on my own last night for supper and I now know that I will never spend my own money on Pizza Rolls. I inherited some unopened freezer items and I thought these would be an easy supper. I should have stuck with my first choice, Cheerios.

  Dennis can hardly keep his eyes away from the weather forecast in regard to more rain perhaps coming our way. I am living in faith that we have had enough. The two basement closets are dry and with a bit of surface and air freshener I am calling it a good thing. The last items were a new filter in the furnace and a good cleaning of the dehumidifier container.

  Without fail, tomorrow I will be in my sewing studio. It seems like ages since I had last visited that portion of our basement.

  Memorial Day, I lost my sewing and quilting buddy, Lorraine, to incurable cancer. She was a huge loss to me. This last week I noticed a moving van at our next door neighbor’s home. You know, Bob with the communal burning pit. A life long acquaintance of Bob’s, Jean, is going to make her home with Bob. In the few times that we have chatted, Jean likes to sew. Hmm.