Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from April, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:37 pm on April 29, 2025 Permalink  

  April Showers 

  I think what we had yesterday was a bit more than a shower.  We have an old steel folding chair on the front deck.  That I picked off of the sidewalk.  We were very fortunate. 

  The tree across from us left a huge amount of pollen on the street.  What a mess.  The city had their street sweeper out this morning for here and several other areas.  When I went outside this forenoon, I do believe the forceful rains did a great job of washing the house off.

  Dennis is taking it slow today.  Over the weekend and yesterday the ole cowboy’s adrenalin had been kicked into high gear.  Several days of R&R, he will be back.  

  My studio time went well today.  Seeing the quilt sandwiched on the table is a lot different than getting the heft of it under the needle.  There is no race for completion.  I did have a chair next to me to help with the heft of it.  One pass around the 52″ x 74″ and I called it.  I had a few items to take care in the checkbook division.

  Our homeowners insurance increased to the point, I looked at it twice.  We have not been singled out.  The insurance and the sharp rise in estimated market value for 2026 real estate taxes has been spoken of in various settings. 

  Supper is Manwich sandwiches, coleslaw, dill pickle flavored chips and perhaps some real pickles.  We kind of like the bread and butter ones.  Lots of turmeric flavoring.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on April 28, 2025 Permalink  

  Possible Weather 

  There may be possible weather issues for us later on.  With the wind gusts we are having, it wouldn’t surprise me.

  I spent the morning in the studio.  First thing was to fill my plastic shopping bag with different goodies that are in our pantry that needed to get to the first floor today.  I don’t trust myself with hands holding items.  Slip my hand through the holes in the top of the bag and I feel safe.

  

  I sized up the next step in my purple quilt.  I knew I wanted to put the walking foot onto the sewing machine.  There is a scissor-like prong, seen in the photo, that needs to fit over the same shaft as where the screw is for inserting a needle.  When sewing, it allows additional grab bars on the bottom of the walking foot to help feed the fabric through under the needle with every stitch that is made.  There is also the grid guide that can be inserted into the back of the walking foot.  If one line of stitches has been made on the quilt, the guide can be either pushed in or out to follow that line. By staying on the previous made stitches it allows for even spacing without markings being made on the quilt.

  It may seem like a lot of fuss.  No, it is being able to sew more efficiently with perhaps a better outcome.  Just as a refresher, I plugged in a YouTube on Bernina’s site on the walking foot.  I may not use all of the functions frequently, so why not take the time to check it out.

  Once I had done an oil check, a new needle, I closed down the shop.  Several hours gave me the confidence for the next time I visit.  The first stitching will be done by stitching in the ditch on the two borders.  That will allow many pins to be removed securing the sandwiching.  It may be difficult to see on the photo, but there is a metal guide on the right hand side of the walking foot.  This is ahead of the needle.  When that guide stays on the seams where the borders have been sewn, the needle comes down right into that seam, making my thread almost invisible. That is why it’s called stitching in the ditch. 

  We may or not be in for rain.  Time will tell.  I know looking out my bedroom south window, Dennis is checking his little red pickup’s oil level just as a trusty trucker would. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 11:00 am on April 25, 2025 Permalink  

  Friday the 25th 

  After it raining off and on for 24 hours the skies are trying to lighten.  Nothing like rain to bring out the dandelions.  Some are as huge as dinner plates complete with a blossom.

  After being out for less than two weeks our small USA flag has slipped down the steel rod that I placed it on.  That was my first item to tackle.  A whole lot of respect was required.  Mission completion.

  

  With the washing machine’s buttons pushed I headed to the studio.  My goal was to complete placing safety pins into the sandwiched project.  I am contemplating the next step.  The purple blocks are begging for a special embroidered design to be stitched on them, and I haven’t yet decided what design and what color thread.  The blocks that already have been embroidered with a colorful design will be quilted in a way to not take away from what there is already in place.  The safety pins are as if they are sentinels awaiting.  The embroidered blocks are done on a snow white background, disappointed in them showing up yellowed under the LED lights.  Anyway . . . I have a lot to think on before rushing into anything.  I already have achieved one goal with this project, which was to do something with these seven embroidered blocks rather than toss them into storage.  I am now at a point of no return.

  I do like this size of a quilt project as it fits well on the two church tables.  Food for thought if someone or something arises in the future.

  PT is at 2:30 this afternoon.  I am prepared . . . like in having done what I had on my agenda and then taking the aftermath as it plays out.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥ 

   
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  Noreen 2:09 pm on April 24, 2025 Permalink  

  Rain 

  It must have begun raining in the early hours as there were puddles already when my feet hit the floor.

  It is now mid-afternoon and rain drops are still making whirlpools in the now enlarged puddles.

  No walking on Stauffer Avenue for me today.  I spent three hours on my feet in the studio.  Half of that time stepping it off around the church tables and half standing still in-place bent over the church tables.

  My miniature train case holds all the safety pins of various sizes.  The only ones I was after today were the plastic encased heads of the large ones.  In actuality, those pins could well be called diaper pins as they cannot for safety reasons, spring open to injure.  They are easy on my hands and fingers to penetrate the layers of the quilt and close them.  Just as easily I can get them open when they have done their job.  All these years of pinning quilts into their sandwiches: tops, batting and backing, had I never given them a thought.  I was taken a-back when I got the package from Amazon via the Fairfax team.

  No, I did not get the entire quilt pinned.  I do have a solid 12″ around the perimeter pinned, every six inches or less, so I can take out the thumb tacks that were holding everything in place.  That will allow me to move the quilt from side to side or length to length to get to the middle for the pinning, saving my back from reaching too far for comfort.  After all . . . comfort feels good.  Using my hand weights positioned to make a small rectangle of quilt area, will keep too much sliding at bay as I keep pinning.  My objective is in view for another day.  That objective being that the quilting process under the needle can take place with everything tidy, tidy.  Fussy is as fussy does.

  Looking out my bedroom porch windows, the birds are having a hay-day plucking worms and bugs out of the sodden grass.

  We had canned beef, instant potatoes and cauliflower for supper last night.  There was enough of leftovers for me to make two TV-type dinners for us for this evening.  I love it when a plan comes together.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on April 23, 2025 Permalink  

  Wednesday the 23rd 

  I am working on keeping a schedule for myself during the day.  

  My morning routine has found me getting up bit earlier.  7:15 does make a difference rather than 8:oo.  The coffee goes well with checking the usual sites on the HP.  The bank site has become a usual and Dennis even comments that that is a good thing.  Without fail 9:15 is when Mayo rings in as a reminder of upcoming appointments.  They do it two weeks out of the appointment and then a week out.  I have gotten used to having my phone in my pocket.  

  My walk will be every morning after the prescribed exercise I have been given.  Even after just two mornings, I can feel it . . . in a good way.  Yesterday on my walk is when I found out that our neighbors, Chuck and Bonny’s house will be put up for sale.  A story and a half full to the brim.  They always spend the winter with their daughter in Tennessee and fly home after Easter.  Chuck started having problems that caused them to fly home sooner and when their son met the plane, Chuck was hospitalized, Bonny stayed with the son at his home.  Yesterday I visited with their children as they were packing up their parent’s home.  They will be living in Mankato in a one bedroom apartment in an assisted living unit.  Bonny had a lot of glass collections.  They had to pair down as to what a 10′ x 10′ storage unit would hold.  Hmm.  The unexpected can happen anytime.

  I spent time in the studio.  My purple quilt is ready to be pinned into the sandwiched project.  Kersten had found two of the foldable carboard grided 36″ x 72″ assists.  That cardboard allows thumb tacks to hold down the stretched sandwich of the three layers.  Tomorrow I will get out my pins that Kevin had found with the heavy duty plastic heads making the pinning process easier on the hands.  One step at a time.

  Last night as I was in my bedroom porch stitching after supper, I could not believe the wild turkeys flying and then roosting for the night in a tree across the way.  This morning, as the temps began to rise, one by one they left the tree branches.  It will be interesting to see if they return to their roost this evening.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:00 pm on April 18, 2025 Permalink  

  Good Friday 

  It is a great day for this Good Friday.

  This was a great day for a 12:15 PT appointment.  Does the level of discomfort after PT shed light on the one giving the discomfort?  Mike is doing a good job.  I had my afternoon arranged ahead of time, so I could take it a bit easy. 

  I made sure to call Aunt Janet in Brownton this afternoon to wish her a Happy Easter.  My cousin Dan is having church services in the Penn church tomorrow evening.  Janet is looking forward to seeing many that she has not seen since the Christmas service he had.  A minister from Winthrop is more than happy to do the services.  I think it is wonderful.

  We had rain in the late afternoon yesterday.  It continued to thunder and lightning up to the time I went to bed.  At the six news, we will find out just how much rain we got.  I know Iowa in the Spirit Lake area had a tornado.  Dennis’ grandson Adam could contact his family here in St. James today with a cell phone as there is no electricity in the town as yet.

  Let’s hear it for Subway for supper.  I gave Dennis a choice of Oatmeal or Subway.  Subway won out hands down.

  From my bedroom porch and a cup of coffee, I am doing some stitching and watching of traffic.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:15 pm on April 17, 2025 Permalink  

  Silent Night 

  It was a very silent night at our home last night as from supper time to our bedtime, we had nothing in regard to internet or Samsung television.  I did call Mediacom to find out it was their issue, nothing on our end.  Dennis could have gone out to the patio porch as one of his televisions gets content off of the Godahl tower.  Dennis opted to play solitaire.  I stitched a bit and read.  This would not have happened if Chuck Pessac from days of old were still manning the television waves. 

  Today I determined I needed some studio time.  I had been running some measurement through my mind in regard to what was needed for the backing of my purple quilt.  I had it nailed down in my mind and it was time to act on it.  It is now mid-afternoon.  The six yard piece of purple plaid flannel has been cut. Two pieces of 44″ wide fabric by two pieces 62″ in length has been sewn together for the 54″ x 72″ quilt.  The total size of the backing is 62″ wide by 88″ in length.  The seam is across the width.  It is a bit more than I needed but sometimes to make it work . . . so be it.  I pressed the seam on the backing and all has been left flattened on the church tables.

  It does look as if we may get a bit of rain.  Purple clouds and the thunder tell the story.

  Dennis has been manning his patio porch today.  No news is good news.

  Our supper is going to be a hodge-podge . . . a little of this and a little of that.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on April 16, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day 

  Hello,

  This is a day in the life and times of an elderly farm gal.

  If I had known I would have need of a Mike at PT to try and undo what I have done to this sweet old body, I would have taken better care of myself.

  Today, I got home at 2:30 and didn’t quite know where to park myself.  I decided to walk up and down the cement drive until everything from the waist down was assured all was still attached.  Mike must take his elbows in for sharpening on a regular basis.  The good thing is, I trust him beyond measure.

  The grocery store was busy this morning.  I have all I need for Saturday and if I don’t . . . I’ll get along without it.  Piece of cake, Dennis knows I have this in the bag.  One comment from the ole cowboy was in regard to hopefully enjoying leftovers.  Gotta love the guy.

  I have some stitchy items for Carrie and Megan.  Kersten took hers home when Kevin’s had come for my birthday.  Is it hard to know who is stitch worthy for me to share with?  Absolutely not.  My two children grew up around both of their grandmothers that knew no bounds with a needle and thread.  I followed suit.  The amount of threads, yarn and fabric for the end result is a mere fraction of what that end result represents.  Boundless amounts of blood sweat and tears over often, quite a few laborious hours that can turn into weeks and even months.  I think a true stitcher can smell who would appreciate something from the studio.  When an item is given, using it is the greatest thank you gift a stitcher can ask for.  If the use wears it out, a replacement would not be out of the question.  Sometimes the oftener it requires laundering, the softer it becomes.  The kid’s grandmothers sewed with very harsh fabrics of a not many thread count fabric.  Guess what!  I am still enjoying those items and they become more cherished over time.   No . . . if there is not interest for those that visit me in what the studio holds . . . there is no stitchy shared. 

  My coffee this afternoon has been a boon to help me unwind and heal . . . until 12:15 of Friday the 18th.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:08 pm on April 8, 2025 Permalink  

  A Tuesday, the 8th 

  It is a Tuesday and It has been productive.

  First floor saw local effort with laundry.  Not all that difficult to push buttons.  Dennis does the deep dive into the washer’s base to get it into the dryer, a few more buttons.  We can only access the lid of the washer from the left.  It’s a hefty reach for my left harm and hand.

  On to the studio.  Today was the day to build a quilt batting for my purple quilt.  Years ago, I would sit and whip stitch pieces of quilt batting together to reach the desired size.  Then a tip from another quilter clued me into the fusible tape.  Wonder of wonders.  It made such easy work of using up from the stashes.  I keep it handy for any time I need a little assistance holding two items together as it will tear off if the heat has been minimal.

  Butting up two freshly cuts of the edges allows for applying the tape to be ironed on.  A pressing cloth is required.  Of course with weight of any kind on the ironing board, two pieces butted up to each other don’t play nice.  As I don’t throw too much away if there is any chance it still has utility in my studio, I found the solution.  Weights do come in handy while allowing me to get the tape positioned with the pressing cloth on top of that and wrangling the hot iron.  My, my.  The end result is that there is ample quilt batting for the quilt top and the backing to be centered.

  That completed process drove me to shut down the studio.  I had been on my feet through the forenoon and early afternoon.  When everything has been assembled for the job, why stop . . . just get it done.  The remaining said supplies can be put up and away.  It’s then a joy to come back and see the studio anew. 

  Tomorrow I have PT at 8:30.  We then will be traveling to Mankato as Dennis has an appointment with the foot surgeon as a double check of his feet.  The skin on Dennis’ feet is thin enough a powder puff could do injury.  We do want to stay on top of that.  That appointment is at 3:15.  I have not been out and about in . . . forever, so I have a few stops I would like to make.  I know myself well enough, doing a blog posting will wait until Thursday.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

  
  

   
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  Noreen 2:47 pm on April 7, 2025 Permalink  

  Happy Monday 

  Monday with the sun makes for a good start.

  I spent some time in the studio this forenoon.  A quilt top is done and pressed.  Out came the case that looks as if it could hold several long guns.  I am not sure where I purchased the buffalo plaid zipper case.  It is a good spot for all the quilt batting leftovers.  The next process will be patching together enough of like batting to be put into service for this 54″ x 74″ quilt top.  I have the lightweight paper adhesive to get this task done. 

  Both Dennis and I are home from our medical appointments, Dennis to Mankato and me out to our clinic for PT.  Dennis need not go back for an injection to the left eye until June 30th.  I have appointments twice a week out at PT until April 18th.  Mike is not giving up on getting the hard ball of tightness out of the high right hip area.  I am not giving in to some temporary discomfort by Mile’s elbow.  It’s either this or better.  I choose to believe I will have better mobility when Mike is done with me.  Would-a, should-a, could-a.  I left this go for too long and everything, tendons and muscles, nestled in and were running the show.  

  As I look out my bedroom porch window, the robins are having a field day pecking through the tangle of winter’s grass looking for the elusive bug or two.

  This evening it is a quick supper of Texas toast waffles and sausages.  Dennis and Denise went out to lunch in Mankato, so this seems to be an easy fix for Grammie.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥