Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from May, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:31 pm on May 21, 2025 Permalink  

  A Good Amount 

  I would call two inches of rain a good amount for our area.

  There had been a time in the past when Megan knew every inch of the studio.  She managed it all very well.  That was great from my point of view.  She had spied with her little eye had I had been working on an embroidery for Kevin and Kersten’s dog.

  Now, she remembered that I had done an embroidery of their dog Kody and had put it in a frame.  When Kody got sick and was no more, Carrie had put Kody’s tags attached somehow within that frame.  At Easter, when Carrie’s family was visiting, we had come down to the studio so Carrie and Megan could pick out a cork box pouch for each of them.  Megan asked me if at some time I could do a stitch-out of her cat William.

  I had not forgot about the request.  I hit the internet hard to find a cat, which Megan’s cat looks a lot like Snuggles.  A site I had never visited is where I found a design of a cat from the chest up.  It didn’t look like any cat we had ever had.  I did get it downloaded onto the Bernina Tool Box where designs can be manipulated.  I took off all the various steps of color changes and put in mostly white with some black from the cheeks up through the ears.

  Today I decided to give it a try.  I am doing my posting as the embroidery is in progress.  I don’t want to leave the embroidery machine unattended.  If all works out, Megan will not know of this ahead of time.  I may have to use a bit of fabric paint in a spot or two.  The design is half through stitching of the 56,000 stitches.

  In between time, Dennis’ niece from Morris had stopped in.  Jean always comes this time of year to put flowers on the grave sites.  I have a child buried in the Hutchinson Cemetery.  Little Scott Howard is with his Lord, no longer at the cemetery.  That’s all I have to say about that.

  I am going to see this project through in the studio.  I never run the sewing machine at a high speed.  With any luck, I will be joining Dennis at our dining room table in time for supper.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:21 pm on May 20, 2025 Permalink  

  More than Drips 

  Even into the late hours last night we had lightning followed by loud thunder claps.  I have no idea what the rainfall will measure.  It did come down slow enough that the patio never had water standing on it.  Now . . . that is a nice soaker.

  I did get up during the ight, which is not unusual for me.  Actually is was five this morning.  I went back to bed and slept until nine.  Dennis had a coffee date with Dwayne and I had not heard him get up or leave the house.  I guess I had needed that much rest. 

  My goal today was to put back a semblance of a living room.  For a time after Dennis’ hip replacement of last October, earlier in this year, he was falling quite a bit in his bedroom when he got up.  I had stripped his bedroom of anything that he could get hurt on.  The spindle rocking chair and the night stand produced bruises as he fell onto them.  The rocking chair I had put in the closet.  Dennis has not fallen for some time.  It’s all about getting on the feet and standing still for blood circulation to get to the legs and feet.  Today, as I said, the living room has been arranged to allow the rocking chair out of the closet.  Dennis’ bedroom remains pretty well stripped.  I am not taking any chances.  I can now get into the closet with freshly laundered clothing that needs to be put away.  So things go.  Do what is needed for safety within the home.

  The photo of the day is the stitched project I have finished, complete with my name and the year stitched on it.  It was called Quaker Christmas II, using two colors of floss.  The titles of Christmas songs are stitched in green with the remaining done in burgundy.  I used a piece of cloth I had from days of old.  It was a crunch to have the design fit.  I had sewn fabric along the sides to allow it to be hooped.  I used a 6″ hoop.  The stitched area is 18″ x 26″.  I checked and Michael’s has foamboard choices large enough for me to stretch and lace this.  I really enjoyed knowing that this project was always there to pick up.  That plus a 15″ x 15″ foamboard is on the shopping list.  A piece of hardanger that Kevin’s gave me years ago needs to be redone.  There are always plans in my days.

  
  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:04 pm on May 19, 2025 Permalink  

  Monday the 19th 

  At supper last night, Dennis commented that he was going to take Monday off.  He had had a busy day, grant it.  His day didn’t stop at supper.  His friend Charlie north of town had been good enough to put Dennis’ Cub-Lo-Boy with the belly mount mower out in his yard that gets the MN HYW #4 traffic going by.  He asked if Dennis could drive out.  “See you later” as he headed out the door.  He was gone for some time.  Not surprising as the gift of gab, both fellows have.

  When Dennis got home he announced the tractor and mower were gone.  Charlie had put an ad in a farm collectable type magazine.  The Cub and mower now reside in Blue Earth, MN.  Wow.  Dennis made good for Charlie doing this task for us.  Dennis has always said we were in this together.  Thus the proceeds were divided.  Sweet.  Dennis had enjoyed the experience over these years of using the Cub that he had bought off of a life-long friend.  I had not said anything about him selling it.  One day, out of the blue the Cub went down the highway to Charlie’s.  Paring down is the wise move.  Making decisions while they are ours to make and not be forced upon us.

  Well . . . my flooring job has been completed.  Spic and span.  I know, it won’t last.  I was surprised that over the years, it had gotten quite a few nicks from sharp object being dropped on it.  It has and will continue to serve us well.  We are not planning on any remodeling in our tiny home. 

  The rain that has been moving in from the northwest is here.  I hope an ample amount will be had.

  I am winding down my day with deciding on another hand stitch project as I have completed the one that had my attention for some time.  I think I am due for some small projects for just as small pillows.  I believe I am set to go with what I have on hand.  Watching floss tubes on YouTube, from all over the world, always have good ideas.  Nerissa from New Zealand had a great update this afternoon. That is the sweet thing about what is available right here in my bedroom porch.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:46 pm on May 18, 2025 Permalink  

  Success 

  Stauffer Avenue is having a successful day on this Sunday.

  As I laid in bed last night mulling over the day.  I decided to work smarter than harder on my grubby kitchen floor.  Today with my arsenal in tact I tackled another third of the floor.  With the Swiffer mop in hand, I used a heavy rag and loaded it with that.  I again used the spray on the floor.  But . . . this time, standing upright, I was able to clean another area.  After success, I loaded a wet Swiffer pad to make sure I removed any residue of the Mr. Clean Clean Freak from yesterday and today.  One more day of it.  Yes, Lena, I need to get into the habit of damp mopping the floor once a week to stay ahead of more than just the fine layer of dust . . . thus making it easier on myself in the long run.

  AJ from Mankato stopped in to see us.  He and grandpa Dennis took the blades off of the Sears riding lawnmower.  Off to Fleet Farm for a new set.  After the new blades were on, the mower was tried out.  Success.  This set should last Dennis for some time.  The key . . . don’t run over branches.

  The embroidered project that I was working on for Maria is done.  Her cosmetology apron has never looked so good.  She was timid in her request and I enjoyed doing it for her.  I did save the image as well as the color choices if she decides to have a few more done.  Why not!

  

  Yesterday I felt strong enough to tackle the kitchen floor.  Today I felt capable to continue with less physical discomfort.  I am sure by tomorrow I will feel fantastic as the project will have been completed.

  Our supper is going to resemble a poor man’s beef commercial.  I have leftover instant potatoes to make patties out of and give them a flip in a fry pan.  I had some beef brisket slices in the freezer that will be added to the leftover beef tips we had on Friday evening.  It’s a win, win.  Leftovers get used up and Dennis gets a hot meal.

  A success on all fronts for this Sunday.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on May 16, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day! 

  What a difference a day makes.  24 little hours.  I can hear that song in my head.

  Yesterday we went to the Limb-lab for Dennis’ appointment for new shoes.  They give excellent service to the veterans.  Dennis’ shoes will be in the shop for pick-up in several weeks.

  The Limb-lab is right around the corner from the JoAnn’s store that is in the process of closing.  I had to have Dennis stop so I could check it out.  Most of the store was cordoned off.  If there was one packet of upholstery needles, there was 2,000.  The warehouses are circling the wagons to have the retail stores try to clear it all out.  I found three items for mending and spent $7.00.  At that it was ringing up as 60% off.  I looked and was satisfied that I had checked it out.

  We had no groceries to purchase and we headed home.  I have never ever been in such a horrible dirt storm.  It was beyond a dust storm.  There is a huge detour as Lake Crystal is getting a huge overhaul.  The traffic of every type of every vehicle imaginable was caught in coming and going on a two-lane highway with visibility sometimes next to nothing.  The situation did get better the closer we got to home.  I was so happy to be home safe and sound.

  

  Before we left yesterday I took a photo of the east side of our home.  The Hosta, the Fern Peony and some Lilies of the Valley were the backdrop of the Star of David flowers that were blooming in the yard.  They are just too cute for words.  You never know how far or where they will spread to.  In a short time all their greenery dies back and you wouldn’t know they were even something the camera’s viewfinder would see.

  With the horrific winds that were had, by the time we got home, the Fern Peony blooms were wind-whipped and gone as were the Star of David blooms.  The white lilacs had turned brown with the hot, whipping winds.  Not much pretty was left.  The Hosta plants somehow made it.  Well . . . those that the deer haven’t been lunching on.

  The strong winds of this morning did bring a shower of rain.  I missed most of that as I was in the studio.  The For Sale sign that Kevin had put out and up for us was totally bleached out from the sun.  Dennis had brought it to the studio for Grammie to work her magic.  The black oil paint is drying on both sides of the sign.  I did the best I could.

  Yesterday was blistering hot and today it feels like 32 degrees out.  Go figure. 

  For our evening meal, we are having the refrigerated beef tips with gravy, instant potatoes, cranberries and cottage cheese.  I really enjoy the tart cranberries over the cottage cheese.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:55 pm on May 14, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  Today was my six month eye checkup with Dr. Pinke just five blocks up the street.  When my eyes are dilatated, Dr. Pinke can see oh so much more.  In times past, when Dennis had had his eye checkup, that was how Dennis knew his corraded arteries were clogged . . . big time.  I will gladly go in every six months.  I have a hint of macular.  That hint has been there for ten years.  The test for glaucoma was a pass.

  Today there was another change for Dennis and me.  Going forward, Dennis’ son-in-law, Tom, will be using our zero-turn with our gas to do the 1.3 acre mowing as well as our residential home lot.  There was and is an amicable monetary agreement.  Dennis used the Sear’s rider to show Tom the lot lines.  As with me . . . there is a reasonable amount of energy to be expended for our not so young bodies.  Everyone is happy with what has been made off.  Tom is AJ’s dad.  Tom will be using his own zero-turn to keep up with the back garage lot for AJ.

  I knew that grocery shopping was in the cards for this hump day.  Dennis removed several of the glass shelves in the refrigerator so I could work my magic before groceries would be bought.  Something had either gotten spilled or something had leaked to the point that my little jar of minced garlic was not able to be moved.  It was schmucked down tight.  Another day, I will wash out the crisper drawers and also remove the multiple storage pods in both of the refrigerator doors for a freshening.  A bit every day and none of it feels overwhelming.  But . . . as I have said before, what my eyes see the mind cannot ignore.

  I worked in the studio for a time today.  Someone special has asked me for an embroidered item.  I used the Tool Box software program to pull a design together.  I did share the image as I had taken a photo of it.  Today was time spent pulling together stabilizer and various spools of bright colored thread.  Time will tell how it all turns out.

  When I was at the grocer’s, their steam tables of their noon specials were turned off.  At that time each day they portion it out and sell it in the cooler area along with other items such as Mrs. Gerry’s products.  Yup, we are having tater tot hotdish for supper with Mrs. Gerry’s coleslaw, cranberries and cottage cheese.

  Last night was a shot in the dark.  I had bought a bag of Simply Potatoes from the refrigerator section in the grocery store.  It was the option that contains some spices.  I had used half of the bag last weekend.  Last night I put the potatoes on a paper-plate, covering it with a damp paper towel.  While giving it two separate blasts of two minutes each in the microwave, I was heating up a small can of Dinty Moore’s Stew.  The stew spooned over those hot spicy hashbrowns, made a great tasting meal.  The potatoes soaked up the gravy . . . it was a very easy meal.  Of course Dennis liked it as it was a hot meal.

  Not to be surprised if there is no post tomorrow.  At 1:45, Dennis has an appointment at the Limb-Lab in Mankato.  It’s in the old Madison East shopping area.  Once a year, the VA writes a prescription for a pair of leather shoes that the lab makes the orthotics to fit into allowing for the space that toes would generally fill.  They don’s assume to order the shoes from last year’s mold.  They begin the process from step one. They also make sure that the right shoe has the correct innards for stable, even walking.  Sweet.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:27 pm on May 4, 2025 Permalink  

  Summer Sunday 

  Going from a spring day into a summer day.  Welcome to Minnesota.

  The success I had yesterday in the yard gave me a very sound deep sleep last night.  When I don’t need a bathroom break during the night, when morning comes I am on a beat-feet mission.

  Dennis had my small gallon sprayer that we had gotten at Harbor Freight loaded and ready for me this forenoon.  It was sneaking up to the huge dandelions and giving them a good shot right into the heart of their greenery.  It was a lot of bending from the waist.  North of the patio sidewalk, there are Hosta slowly making it out of the soil.  I didn’t want any overspray.  I have an empty five gallon pail to strip over individual Hosta to spray the area around them.   In some areas there is greenery coming up as thick as the hair on a dog.  It looks like someone had an abundance of green sprinkles that were scattered.  Time will tell if the stuff I hit today will have tell-tale evidence of dying.

  When I came in at noon, the first thing I did was change into something cotton for a shirt.  I felt very warm.  Two hours is about all I can take with yard work in this day and age.  The shoulders and arms start to buck.  Dammit!  I tried doing some hand stitching after coming in, and taking out more stitches in error than good ones, told me a lot.

  It’s a good thing we have leftovers for supper. 

  Tomorrow at ten Dennis has a VA appointment here in town.  At 1:45, the ortho surgeon wants to check on Dennis’ hip replacement and Dennis’ mobility.  The x-ray was done here at our clinic last Friday.  There will be checks and balances with Dr. Stuart up and until the one-year mark. 

  I believe, that a blog post for Monday will not take place.  After the ortho appointment, I do want to stop for several items on my grocery list.  Not to worry . . . I’ll be back on Tuesday.

  With that I will take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 3:12 pm on May 3, 2025 Permalink  

  Saturday 

  What a great spring day.

  This morning, the studio found me deciding on the fabric for the binding of the purple quilt.  It will take 260 inches for the binding.  I cut enough three inch wide strips to equal that.  The strips are sewn together.  I checked the temps outside and the studio went dark.

  I got in some gardening this morning.  Twenty plus years ago, I had bricks outlining a flower bed off of the concrete patio.  It was time to realize that those perennials had not made it through this last winter.  Too many warm days, followed by cold rains that left a layer of ice.  We have the sweetest three tined fork.  It was perfect for me to use the fork to flip out the bricks that were in the dirt.  It will allow the mower to get closer as grass is spreading.  The bricks are on the west end of the patio.  I do have a barter system going with Dennis’ granddaughter Sadie.  When she visits and brings her tee-shirts for a quilt, grandpa Dennis will know by that time where he wants the bricks put.

  I have not kept up with the public school’s calendar.  Today is prom day.  I give Dennis’ daughter from Silver Bay credit for coming to St. James for Addison’s prom.  It has given the opportunity for visiting and catching up with her siblings and for Dennis and me.   

  Dennis has his two-gallon gas cans filled.  Batteries in the Sears rider and the zero-turn have been checked.  I have an inclination that tomorrow the 1.30 acre is going to be mowed.  We drove past it this last week and I would say it has greened up nicely.

  Last night as I was winding down snuggled in my bed, I ran through ingredients I had for a Saturday night supper.  Sure enough.  I now have my blue speckled round roaster ready for the oven.  A bag of refrigerated shredded hashbrowns, a diced onion, 8oz of sour cream, 1 can of cream of chicken soup, two cups of shredded cheese and some bacon bits tossed in for good measure.  I had two different types of the shredded cheese.  350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.  I know there will be a container to put in the freezer for another day.

  We do enjoy pan seared raw, deveined shrimp.  I took a batch out of the freezer this morning.  Enough butter in a fry pan to coat the bottom.  The shrimp get tossed about until their gray appearance turns pink . . . and they are done.   Five o’clock supper coming on.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:42 pm on May 1, 2025 Permalink  

  A Duck Day 

  As damp and wet as it is today, the ducks would have had a great time in the puddles.

  An intense day was had in the studio.  And . . . it all happened before twelve noon.  All of the channel quilting and the stitch-in-the ditch has been completed on my purple wonder of a quilt.  In all honesty, this is the first time I have used flannel for the backing.  But this was perhaps the one and only time that everything would fall into place to use this beautiful purple plaid.  For it being approximately 52″ x 72″, it’s not even the prescribed size for a twin sized bed.  Perhaps I was just weary, but it sure feels heavy to wrangle under the needle.

  I did put a few pieces of fabric on the quilt to see which would work best for the binding.  That decision will be for another day.  I have not decided what to stitch in the plain purple blocks.  I feel more comfortable getting the binding on to cover all the raw edges now that I have the quilt trimmed of excess batting and backing.  I did manage to get a 45mm replacement blade into one of my rotary cutters after nicking myself on both hands for a total of four times.  It was a package of five blades.  To prevent rusting, they have oil on them.  I had tried to slide one blade off of the five.  Man, were they stuck together.  No serious injury was caused by this endeavor.  I do have a cutter ready to be put into service.  

  When I came up at noon, Dennis and I shared a bite of lunch.  We had planned on doing some tidy tidy in the potting shed this afternoon.  With the rain showers and it being chilly, that got postponed.

  With the rain, I do see some perennials coming up north of the patio porch.  I’m not in any hurry to rake out some of the leaves and such until I see what made it through the winter.  I do know my Fern Peonies, two plants, don’t have as many stalks coming from the tubers as in other years.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 11:34 am on April 30, 2025 Permalink  

  Whew! 

  Whew!  I have had a great session in the studio.  Sometimes when I tackle a step in the quilting process and take it slow, miraculously the next step comes to mind.  I had no idea how to quilt down the two borders.  The center of the quilt is busy enough to carry the entire quilt.  I already had the walking foot on the sewing machine with the seam guide already attached.  I decided to channel quilt the two borders at two inches apart.  I do not have any definite plans on the center blocks.  They are large enough that there will need to be something done.  Sometimes, less is more.  I had already free-motion quilted them prior to deciding to make this quilt.  The original plan was to make pillows.  Seriously . . . making and stuffing eight pillows!  I have more to channel quilt but the shoulders gave it up.

  

  

  When Megan was visiting, she wanted to make something for Nicholas.  She finished it off by using the guide on the walking foot and did a lot of hatch quilting on it.  Her hatch design was about two inches apart at the intersections.  Sweet! With that coming to mind today, it was a huge surprise when she texted me with an attached photo.  Megan interned at a girl’s shelter during early spring.  Someone had donated a really nice Singer portable sewing machine.  No one knew how to use it.  Megan took it home to her apartment and cleaned it, and checked it out.  She even bought a small amount of fabric and took it back to the shelter.  When Carrie’s were here for Easter, Megan shared that the girls at the shelter were thrilled to actually sew some squares of the fabric together.  Megan gave me kudos for having taught her enough to pull it all together for others. 

  Today all of the dead lilac trimmings from last Saturday made it to the tree dump.  There was even a cedar bush that got cut down.  Years ago a birdie popped a seed and the trunk of the bush was now as big as my closed fist.  Time flies and some things grow faster than others.  Had we tried to buy a small shrub and get it started . . . the rest of the story.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥