Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from January, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:55 pm on January 10, 2024 Permalink  

  A Sweet Day 

  This sweet quiet day could only be better if the sun could poke through.

  I have an experiment going in the studio.  At some time when I had a wild hair, I thought the Command product that would allow picture frames to be put on wall surfaces with Command strips clicking onto other command strips.  One or two strips on the back of frames, meshing and lining up with one or two strips on the wall.  Hmm.  I was not going to risk any of the framed Santa’s stitching.  

  But . . . I decided to see how one of those strips on the back of quilted cloth would do meshing and clicking onto a strip on the wall.  The door going into the studio is where my test is taking place.  Each Command strip was to hold 16 lbs.  Ya . . . right.  I am not above using quite a few of these strips laterally on the wall and spacing them on the back of the quilt to match up to the wall.  Time will tell.

  In the meantime, I have taken leftovers out of the refrig to bring them closer to room temperature for our supper.

  I also started a second cross stitch project to have going while working on my focus piece.  This small piece is worked on 20 count Aida, 20 stitches per inch using one strand of floss per stitch over one.  The focus piece is 16 stitches per inch with two strands of floss over one.

  Some of the videos on YouTube that I watch for entertainment are amazing.  The gal known as the Highway Stitcher in upper Utah has 96 hooped designs going, also known as “whips”, works in progress.  How adventuresome for Grammie to have two in the hoop.  With two . . . that’s my max.  After all, you can only work on one at a time, and I take time to glance at a page from my latest book that I am reading.  

  One can never guess what the Grammie on Stauffer Avenue is up to.  It all makes for a sweet day.  

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:02 pm on January 8, 2024 Permalink  

  Dry Snow 

  It may sound ridiculous but an inch of dry snow it was.  It took just a short while and I had the front deck and steps swept off.  I think Dennis feels better as well as he got the faithful “Kevin snowblower” started for the first time this fall and winter season.  Good dose of fresh air all around.

  Solutions are out in this huge world.  Seek and ye shall find.  We have had numerous problems with coffee filters collapsing as the hot water washes over the coffee grounds.  In today’s mail was a box that contained Bunn coffee filters.  Their round bottoms are broad and settle right into the appropriate place.  They are also very tall and will withstand water sloshing into them.  No more coffee grounds in the bottom of my coffee cup.  Sweet.

  In tomorrow’s mail, I am expecting the crushed walnut shells I have ordered.  They work perfectly to fill pin cushions for hand stitching sewing needles.  The pins stay placed as well as keeping the sewing needle’s tip sharp.

  This ole Grammie could run her legs off in Mankato looking and seeking what I require, which isn’t a whole lot.  The right item for the correct expectations in all things great and small.

  I am staying on the main floor today.  Reading for me is like watching television for the ole cowboy.  While I am doing some hand stitching I am contemplating on the finish of my “HOME” wall hanging.  My first step is to try out glue on a sample of a panel to see if it will hold and support the brackets or such to hang up the finished product.  The glue I am thinking of is the same glue Kersten and I used to glue the cement antlers onto the cement deer in the flower garden.  That deer, out in the weather, has shown off that repair for five years or more.  We will find out how that same glue will hold onto the fiberglass.  Of course . . . I have that glue on hand.  Mini Michael’s Craft Store right in my studio.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on January 5, 2024 Permalink  

  Some Sun 

  Now as we are at mid afternoon, the sun is really struggling to show itself.

  After finishing a stitching, I am out of the studio for a break. A bit of a backache told me to head for the main floor of the home.

  I had been diligent in stitching out a banner-style project.  Unbeknown to me when I downloaded some letters, it was trial and error realizing these letters were not intended to be shrunk down and minimized.  A strip of linen was my choice to stitch for the banner.  Only so much in height or length to work with.  I have finished the stitching portion of this what-if.  Considering all the measure, measure to achieve the letters to line up as if it was one continuous download into the sewing machine, I feel good about it.  The fabric on top and bottom can be trimmed for the letters to be shown as level.

  What my stitching is laying on is a piece of a PVC panel that Kevin shared with me quite a few years ago when this product was used in construction of confinement livestock barns.  I have been waiting to see what I could use them for.  The width of the PVC panel has given me the idea to somehow use it to mount my embroidery onto it.  All sorts of thoughts.

  Maybe covering the PVC panel with a choice of fabric?  Hemming my banner to allow a border of that fabric showing.  Putting quilt batting under the banner and then stretching the hemmed banner over hard cardboard to give it a pillow effect as I did with the last cross stitched project that I framed.  Hmm.  

  Lots of thoughts.  That is what learning to use what is on hand is all about.  Not rushing . . . just allowing ideas to flow.

  Tomorrow Dennis’ grandson, AJ, is going to pick up grandpa and head to a gun show in Northrop.  How sweet is that!

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:17 pm on January 4, 2024 Permalink  

  Thursday the 4th 

  Slipping into the 2024 without a glitch.

  Dennis had been heard remarking about a friend in the Trimont health care system.  Last night I offered to ride along with him.  This morning after coffee we headed south.

  I find that if I put out ideas for Dennis’ day, it goes a long way forward for him.  His yard work is on sabbatical.  No snow to move around and that leaves keeping me company in the house or snoozing in the patio porch.  I am so thankful that the child in me has lots of interests to keep two of us busy.

  After we got home, Dennis volunteered to mix up a batch of Betty Crocker peanut butter cookies for me to bake out.  Why Not!

  The cookies have been baked and we are having waffles and pre-cooked Jimmy Dean sausages for supper.

  Hmm.  We did get a call from the police department this afternoon.  Jeff was hit while riding his three-wheel bike and they are looking for him.  Sorry . . . not at this address.  Grandson Ryan told his grandpa that Jeff was on probation for drunk and disorderly and they can’t find him.  He was on probation.  Just what an aging parent needs to quiet the soul.

  Thanks to the times when Megan played at our home, I have the perfect storage for all my easy-to-use pins.  Pins are always needed and I said good-bye to the Glad zip lock baggies.  This is much classier.  A traveler case and all of the naughty, hard to use safety pins are in the lower-class storage.  Sweet.

  I achieved success in self-framing my latest cross stitch project.   I have watched enough videos on YouTube to realize people make a very good income doing the “finish” on other people’s stitched items.  All I want to do is satisfy myself.  Was it hard to decide where and how to hang it?  No.  I just took the first available hole on the wall from where the Santas had hung.  Easy does it.

  Tomorrow, the end of the new week.  May everyone I cherish measure for themselves what is needed in each 24 hours for peace and comfort within themselves.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:19 pm on January 3, 2024 Permalink  

  Tense 

  Hello on a Wednesday.  Just a bit tense in the studio this forenoon.  I have been working on making a banner by loading individual letters for embroidery.  After each letter is stitched the fabric needs to come out of the hoop for re-alignment.  What helps is that I have marking pens to be used on the fabric.  The markings disappear if a hot iron is used on it.  They are called Frixion Ball Clicker.  Very handy for alignment.  

  Today I was on to the letter “M” in the banner of “HOME.”  I do have the largest hoop of Bernina’s.  I had to scrunch a bit to make it fit the hoop’s ability to stitch.  I didn’t stray far from the machine as bobbins do need to be exchanged for full ones.  I have put a new needle in with each letter.  A double backing of stabilizer has also been used and the stitching is laying totally flat.  No puckering even with each letter being 42,000 stitches.

  I have one more letter to stitch.  My strip of fabric is diminishing.  I am going to stitch a piece of junk fabric onto that far end so the hoop will have ample room to stitch fairly close to the end of my fabric of choice.

  I did manage to check the furnace filter as well as cleaning the dehumidifier filter.  It is a multi-layered stainless steel screen and it is surprising how much lint, fuzz and thread it catches.

  Dennis took a late morning nap and I will catch up with him later today.  Even with the heater on blowing warm air over my legs, I am posting a bit early and then closing down the studio.  It is showing 28 degrees outside and here in the studio it is 62.  Very doable when I am moving about.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:23 pm on January 2, 2024 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  The gray skies are better than zero visibility due to blowing snow.

  The studio session went well today.  As the embroidery module worked its whiles, I was on the back side of the studio at the church tables working my whiles.  I take constructive criticism well.  With a few hints from Christmas day, I manned the adhesive spray can with a delicate touch.  Spraying on a sample piece of paper first before spraying on my finished item.  All is well and perhaps tomorrow, when I pick it up, it doesn’t fall apart, it may find a place on the living room wall.

  I did have my small heater on turbo while I was in the studio.  When I had had enough of the lower level, the heater was the first thing I shut down as it has a cool down cycle that I wanted to be around for.  Around the church tables I went pulling chains to close down lighting.  Do I need them all on . . . no.  If I am inclined to stay busy in the studio, I might as well have it lit well.

  Dennis did the errand today as I had one prescription to be picked up at Lewis Drug.  It was zero copay for a $59.00 refill.  Sweet.

  This evening we are having a picnic type of supper . . . beef Johnsonville wieners and a can of pork and beans.  Add a piece of buttered bread and we will call it good.

  For all of the neighbors that had maxed out on the exterior Christmas lights, they are missing out on a great opportunity in getting them down.  Up on the house tops, click, click, click . . . it wouldn’t take much of a mist or snow covering for it to be slippery dangerous.  I did enjoy the lights.  Thank you neighbors.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on January 1, 2024 Permalink  

  Happy 2024 New Year 

  Happy New Year peeps.  You know which one of you are in my inner circle.  Tee Hee!

  I have been in the studio for most of this day.  I have 32 minutes for a project to finish under the needle.  The design I wanted to do in one stitching couldn’t be done.  I had a strip of fabric in length that I muddled through.  By tipping the letters I may be able to make an embroidered banner instead.  Yes, measure, measure, measure.  When it is time to add the second independent letter, the measuring will increase for placement to make it appear all the letters were loaded at one time.

  While the embroidery has been running I have worked on the framing of the “Good Will to Men.”  By George I think I have the placement within the frame that I will get a 85% good from Kevin.  Someone needs to take me to task or I’d get wonky.  It does not hurt me one bit to try to measure up as best I can.  When both of these two items are finished, there will be a share.  The sewing machine will need a cool down as I will.

  Dennis has been busy in the garage as I have in the studio.  We will catch up with each other over supper. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on December 30, 2023 Permalink  

  Plan B 

  If all else fails with the original plan, there always needs to be a plan b.

  This morning, I learned my lesson in resizing designs that I have downloaded for embroidery.  For the total design I had laid out to fit in my largest hoop, I lost the integrity of the individual pieces to make the one total.  All is not lost.

  Learning by doing gives a great lesson.  Going forward, my design will be split into two separate stitch outs.  I am working through on how to make it look as if that was the intended outcome all along.  I will need more thoughts on this.

  In the meantime, I did work in the studio on getting the latest finished cross stitch figured out to be framed.  At a time past, I had all the previous cross stitched Santa’s redone to have the UV glass in front of them and I had saved the old frames.  Now it’s time to put the ole thinking cap on.

  It is measure, measure, take notes and measure again.  I do so appreciate all the lighting I have over the church tables.  At this time I have a lot of small things prepped.  I have always counted on having another day to come.

  We made a trip to the local grocer’s.  At noon the wind was strong and cold hardly allowing me to get into the little red pickup.  We are home for the entire weekend, and wouldn’t you know it?  It feels as if we could have a dusting of snow. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:48 pm on December 29, 2023 Permalink  

  Business 

  This morning, I had business to get done while still in 2023.  We have an abstract to get up to date for the blue barn acre.  I knew there was a reason why paperwork to that effect was on one of my church tables.  Quite a few abstractors to choose from.  I chose a local gal and left her a message to get back to us.  Check that off my list.

  As of now, there are colorful spools of thread lined up like a military squad near my sewing machine.  There is stabilizer ironed onto the back of my fabric of choice for machine embroidery.  The fabric is lying on the hoop, ready to be clamped in and affixed to the module.  The embroidery module is on the machine with the appropriate bobbin color loaded.  Yes, many steps in the prep.  There is something to be said for being able to turn on the studio lights in the future with all systems a go. 

  I think it is only a matter of time before Dennis will be in need of us running away to the big town.  He can stay dormant for only so long.  That’s not all bad.  Raymond did the same thing to Lena.  Mom knew when dad came in the house, changed into his town jeans, washed his eye glasses and stuck his billfold in the back pants pocket, she had better get her hair combed.  Never a shortage of great memories.  Too funny about these guys that get a stroke of wander lust.

  I do have a short list of items to get in Mankato, but I am holding out to see which one of us caves in first.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:53 pm on December 28, 2023 Permalink  

  A Thursday 

  On this Thursday the 28th, I did see about a dozen snowflakes fly, and then . . . no more.

  My day is going very well.  Before the first cup of coffee, I had the washing machine going. 

  On to putting our supper into the crockpot.  I had no idea that Wal-Mart put together meals in one sealed tray; a bed of new potatoes, carrots, celery on the bottom, a cut of Chuck Roast on top that a flavor packet moistened rubbed on the roast with more liquid added to the flavoring poured to the bottom with an onion on the top.  It is now 1:30 in the afternoon and I am getting whiffs of our supper.  These darn kids find out all the new and improved ways to make days . . . wonderful.  Thanks.

  I do like to put into practice challenging items here in the studio.  One photo has images of designs I found to download onto my computer.  When I had bought my sewing machine, I purchased the Tool Box software.  There were some free images to play with that I have never used.  I was able to combine those images onto one text box, making a complete design.  I then loaded that text box onto one of the flash drives I just smartened up yesterday.  I made sure when I used that flash drive it came up on the sewing machine as I had planned.  

  With all loaded into the sewing machine there is also a file on my computer, I was able to print out the complete image from the tool box screen with all the called for colors of thread I will need in the stitching process.  As my machine is a Bernina and the Tool Box is exclusive to Bernina, the Isacord threads are recommended on the embroidery and are thus in the printout.

  My day has gone well.  I will admit getting things done on the computer for the sewing aspect, does take me awhile.  Do it over and over till I get a satisfactory outcome.  As I said, challenging myself is a very good thing.

  The studio will go dark as soon as I send off this posting.  It is now time for some reading and hand stitching.  The studio will be there and here for another day.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥