Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from May, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:14 pm on May 2, 2024 Permalink  

  Thunder Boomers 

  We have had a fair amount of rain, but this early morning was a first for thunder.

  What I would call remodeling of our home has been accomplished.  We had four new blinds put up at Easter and a lightening of the load in the attic.  Sweet. 

  What Dennis and I accomplished yesterday was the frosting on the cake.  Dennis’ recliner was of a imitation leather-look.  It was shedding more than his three patio kitties.  It had had help covering up the worst and that help held, but there was more surface to be tended.  As of this early afternoon, the chair has been refreshed.  Amazon to the recue.  It did take the both of us to achieve success in working with and against tough elastic.  Dennis commented how it brightened up the room.  Yes, it did.

  Onto an update of the studio.  I have sticky stabilizer coming in the snail mail to complete a few more potholders for Megan’s kitchen in Virginia.  How fun for her and her three friends.  Actually, as cool as it is, the studio is a bit chilly as well.

  Our chicken oven meal will be doing a repeat performance this evening.  There are some potato chips from the bottom of the bag that will be crushed and added to the top for an additional taste.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:52 pm on April 27, 2024 Permalink  

  Busy Day 

  Dennis’ grandson, AJ, came for a Saturday forenoon visit.  Those two fellows never run out of topics to discuss, hash out or solve.  It does Dennis good.

  This noon, we got a call that Dennis’ twins plus Sandy’s Tom, they were in Windom heading this way.  They had been in Sioux Falls where Sandy’s daughter, Chey, won her fight match.  I do not remember what it is called.  The fight encompasses, kicking, wrestling, hitting, etc.

  It is now mid-afternoon and all is quiet on Stauffer.  Sandy and Tom live in Mankato and Sue lives in Silver Bay and will stay over at Sandy’s until Sunday.

  I did get my oven mitt sewn back together.  My first embroidered one and not without a few oops.  My design could be said to be upside down.  I wasn’t too bothered by the placement of it . . . measure, measure.  I am bothered by the speck of sewing machine oil I got on the mitt.  That I might try to get out.  I have three more mitts.  I have several more designs.  What I don’t have is any more Stabil Stick.  Hmm.  I did order it yesterday when I realized what was required to get the job done.  The hand does slip in and allow for the user to grip an object. Considering this was a new venture, the fear of the unknown has been met.

  Tonight for supper we are having cooked shrimp that will be heated through and tossed in butter and a baked potato, sliced with cheese and bacon bites within.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:35 pm on April 26, 2024 Permalink  

  Slosh, Slosh 

  This for sure is more than a drip, drip day.  When the patio has water standing on it, we here on Stauffer Avenue are out of the drought.

  Today is the ultimate challenge in the studio.  How could I not make up some items for Megan and her three friends when they move into their first apartment sometime in May.  The kitchen theme is succulents.  Megan had been growing succulents her entire time in high school.  When she worked at the Mustard Seed Nursery, she would save the petals that fell off of the succulents, take them home and start new plants in a dirt mixture that succulents like.  Once the plants had a good start, she would sell them to classmates.  Sweet.

  This morning, we worked together to put extra bedding up on the shelves that Kevin put in for us in our one and only closet.  Dennis’ arms are stronger than mine.  The kitchen step stool with wide steps was used.  Dennis got up on the second step, so I could hand quilts and such off to him while putting my shoulder against the back of his legs for a secure feeling.  This transpired as Dennis really likes sleeping under the feather/poly filled comforter with the flannel duet encasing it.  He still has the electric mattress pad set at the magic number of 3.  Needless to say, Dennis needs the max of warmth while sleeping.  Both of us appreciate the ease of dressing the bed each morning.  A good flip and all is smooth and ready for the next night.

  Today I deconstructed an oven mitt potholder.  I needed to do that to emborder a succulent design and still allow the user to insert the hand in while using it as the potholder.  As the potholder would not fit into a hoop, I used a stabilizer called Stable Stick.  After the stabilizer is hooped, you use the sharp point of a scissor, score it and tear away, revealing a sticky surface to hold the area to be stitched on.  Success.  The fabric where the design would go, needed to be taut on the sticky surface for the tension of the design to stitch.  You may wonder how I know this?  I tried using pins to hold the fabric surface to a non stick product.  With the fabric not large enough to hoop and tighten to be a taut surface.  No go.  Taut was needed for correct tension stitching.  I wore myself out to the point it was time to surface to our main floor.  For tomorrow, after removing the stabilizer, I have chosen the gray thread that is sitting on the sewing machine to use when I sew the bias tape binding back around the entire pot holder.  Putting it back together might be as large of a challenge as embroidering it was.  Time will tell.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:10 pm on April 24, 2024 Permalink  

  Ah-Yes 

  Ah-yes, it does tug at my heart strings, when I see what happens to Dennis.  The heart and mind is willing, but the body says . . . not today.

  Dennis realized today that his reflects are not quick enough to use the propane brush burner.  I respect him so much for finding where Jeff lives here in town to ask for his help.  When Dennis came in for lunch, he commented to me, crossing the bridge that has kept his son and him apart was really painless.

  When Jeff had his three-wheel bike’s battery charged up he came over.  It was definitely not the same Jeff of three years ago.  Sweet.

  When Jeff came into the house, he voluntarily shared that drinking was no longer in his life. 

  Right now father and son are in the patio porch watching a war documentary.  Sweet.

  I, on the other hand realized yesterday, I was lacking a flat service out in my bedroom porch to lay something down on either for stitching or for a flat service that would not allow items to slide to the floor.  My homemade slanted stand was perfect for reading and for having my stitching pattern on. 

  Down to the studio I went after supper, while Dennis was in the patio porch.  Up came my very first sewing machine table of 1968.  The middle of the top pushed apart to allow my Sears sewing machine to sit in the recessed area, making it level with the remaining top.   I got it upstairs and into my bedroom porch and there, I called it a day.  It is 28″ H x 43″ L x 18″ D.  When there is an emotional attachment to an item and stored, it finds its way into everyday service.  Ah-yes!

  It fits right up to the south window length-wise and allows my slanted set-up to work perfectly to its right that is under the west window.

  Of course today I was and am busy making adjustments.  When all will be said and done . . . mission completion.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on April 22, 2024 Permalink  

  Hang On 

  Yesterday the wind from the north took the mowed grass far, far away.

  Today the wind from the south decided to outdo the north wind.  The mail slot has been banging non stop.

  I spent some time going through a small purple tote on the top shelf in the studio.  Inside was a treasure trove of stitching fabric.  At one time, Lena had done some counted cross stitch.  Her stash even held several needles.  I have picked up the craft while in my bedroom porch perched upon my cherry red chair.  The craft is slow going and very soothing.  Today I spent time labeling the pieces of fabric by the number of stitches per inch.  The range went from 14 stitches, 16 stitches, 18 stitches, 25 stitches and one at 32 stitches.  If two threads worked over two of the 32 count, it will work out finished as the 16 count.  I have an idea that some of these pieces were Carrie’s and may well have contributed to the little purple tote stash.  Carrie did counted cross stitch when first she moved to the metro for school and later on with employment.

  When the kids were here for Easter, Kersten was indoctrinated into Dennis’ television watching . . . crime shows depicting real events, with names changed to protect the innocent.  I spend our evenings doing stitching in my bedroom porch, listening to the drama.  Needless to say, I won’t be running out of resources.

  I know Lena had her sewing room in an extra south-facing bedroom.  Lena did not man her sewing machine after the supper time.  I take that same time frame.  Lena crocheted during the evening hours when her and Raymond each sat in their recliners.

  Hmm.  The thread and fuzz does not fall far from the tree.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on April 20, 2024 Permalink  

  House Bound 

  The wind and 45 degrees have decided for me that today I am house bound.

  I do have quite a lot of stitches to pick out.  I sat at the dining room table for the better part of the morning.  When Dennis came in at noon, he shook his head.  He felt no one would blame me if the placemat hit the circular file.  It may come to that.  If I work on it, either the eyes or the hands will tell me to pack it in for the day.  I felt one day of picking threads is not a fair test as yet.

  Next week there may be lawnmowers humming in the neighborhood.  The cool temps and the rain has really brought out the green.

  This is a slow day on Stauffer Avenue.  I am not complaining . . . just commenting.

  My picking utensils are at rest.  I am heading to my cherry red chair in my bedroom porch.  It might feel good to put in a couple of stitches, rather than the picking thing.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:13 pm on April 19, 2024 Permalink  

  Chilly 

  Chilly is the word of the day.  That may hold true for another day yet to come.

  Keeping the back door cleaned off with the leaf blower is a challenge.  All of the maple buds seem to nest right up to the back door with this wind.  They track in and leave a smear here and there.  The leaf blower is resting by the back door.

  With every endeavor there is room for failure.  I was motoring right along with Megan’s placemats, using succulent designs.  Hmm, that didn’t sound right.  I cut the threads and took the hoop off of the embroidery module.  Oh my gosh.  It looked like the back of the hoop was growing teddy bears.  I can’t imagine how many yards of thread were balling up with no real hint.  Hello!  Am I deaf?  I did say it didn’t sound right.  This was the sixth of the placemats I had ordered.  It was sold as a pack of six.  I do not throw things away without a fight.  I have time.  I have energy. I have a seam ripper. I have a tweezer.  My all time favorite . . . time will tell.  A little bit each day.  

  Five placemats out of six stitched out perfectly.  No way will I throw in the towel.  What will ensue will be chalked-up as a patience builder.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:05 pm on April 17, 2024 Permalink  

  Spring 

  Our 2024 spring season is on a sabbatical for a few days.  Nothing says typical better than rain showers.  All of the winter grime has been washed off . . . everything outside.  It hasn’t slowed the robins down one bit in making nests under our west awning.  More power to them.

  Dennis took a forenoon nap today.  That was the first time since Easter that his recliner was used.  Naps in the patio porch don’t count.  Two of the three kitties check out his jacket to see how far in they can crawl and soak up some good ole body heat from Dennis.

  This afternoon Dennis will be getting an eye injection for his wet macular degeneration.  The appointment had been spread out to once every three months.  Happy days.  Between these injections and the CPAP . . . oh so thankful that I have no need for either.

  This afternoon, I stitched out three placemats for Megan in the succulent motif.  I am saving one for tomorrow.  My bedroom porch is beckoning me for either some reading or perhaps some stitching.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:31 pm on April 13, 2024 Permalink  

  Summer 

  I do believe summer has arrived.

  I had an agenda for today.

  By nine this morning, I was dressed to be outside, complete with my gardening shoes and gloves.  By eleven I was back in the house, mission completion.  Our original yard and what we call the Clark yard, the lot right east of us via a tax forfeit purchase, was clean of winter branches.  The burning ring is full plus with many that Dennis will need to take the loppers to.

  The grass is growing like wild fire.  I do know my ole cowboy well enough that he will not pick up branches.  He will not get off of the Sears rider to pick up branches.  Once the mower is running, anything in his path is run over.  Ah ha!  Let’s hear it for the saving of the mower blades.

  I was rather warm by the time I was done.  It felt good to open the front door and let a breeze come in.

  At this time of the mid afternoon, I have the last of the three kitchen towels done that have a cactus border embroidered onto them.

  Here at 3:30, we are at 83 degrees out.  The skies are cloudy.  Too warm too fast spells the possibility of storms. 

  Dennis put the PVC downspouts on in preparation of more rains.  He bought a new garden hose carrier for the south side of the house at Fleet farm.  One of Brett’s fellows came by with tools so it is solid on the house.  It now has a 100′ garden hose on it.  The north side of the house has the cart reel hoses ready to use as well.

  I say we have had a great day of local effort.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:08 pm on April 11, 2024 Permalink  

  Dampness 

  This morning before I came down into the studio, I turned up the thermostat up a bit.  This time of year, the basement studio cannot do more than 58 degrees even when the first floor is comfortable.  Recent rain showers make the studio feel damp.  Ramp up the heat and it feels so much better.  Needless to say when I am done in the studio for the day the thermostat will be back at 70.

  First things first when I came down was putting in a new needle and giving a shot of oil in the Bernina.  Yesterday’s slow start was operator error.  Amazing when the sewing machine bucks, it is smarter than me at that time.

  One towel per day under the needle.  I have made a note to start each of the designs to be 3.75″ from the bottom of the towel.  Consistency counts.  I checked with Megan and I have a package of four placemats in the correct color coming from Amazon.  Out of my comfort zone, I found a package of digital embroidery designs with succulents.  How fun.  It is fun fulfilling a bit of this and a bit of that for the apartment the four friends will be sharing in May.  Yes, they could have been stitched on white kitchen dish towels.  Mom, Lena, had made sure I would save her set of towels for Megan one day.  Got it done.  I will make sure that Megan’s kitchen will have motifs of what she and her friends wanted.  Some time today, I will send for blank potholders to stitch succulents onto.

  I do remember mom, Lena, telling me that it is still the best when we can do for family.   I listen hard so as to not miss when I can perhaps add something to someone.

  Dennis did get the oil changed on the three mowers yesterday.  Dennis feels oh so good when he has a good day taking care of what needs to be done before it is needed.  With the showers of rain, the yards are beginning to look green. 

  The studio is closing down early this afternoon.  I wanted some time this afternoon to sit in my cherry red chair in my bedroom porch.

  Tomorrow, I will meet my new primary doctor at the clinic here in town.  Of course, there were quite a few questionnaires to be filled out ahead of time.  Get it done at home or you get handed an iPad at the clinic.

  With that I take my leave.