Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from December, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:01 pm on December 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Nippy 

  This morning was not only nippy we had little balls of ice crystals everywhere.  It reminded me of vermiculite, the insulation that had been used in times past.  It also worked well in potting soil so the dirt would not compact allowing for air in the soil.

  I didn’t get threads laid out for embroidery.  I got side tracked to clean out some files on the flash drives that I use in my sewing machine.  There were some as far back as 2017.  It was taking up space and as many files on a flash drive, it took quite a while to download onto the sewing machine.  The deleted files are still in my folders on the computer.  

  With these mild temps, the studio is chilly when the furnace doesn’t run often.  The small heater blowing warm air across the legs felt good.

  This morning I carried up our small crockpot from the basement closet.  Getting it set up for Thursday morning.  I have found out that using the original Pam sprayed into the crockpot or any item baking in the oven, really shortens up clean up time.  It has to be the original as knockoffs leave burnt residue.  Hmm.

  Dennis came in needing some information.  He was headed to Fleet Farm and needed the same of the plant fertilizer we have used in the past.  Miracle Grow was what he was after.  He has two large plants in the patio porch that he tends.  The air in the porch needs all the filtering possible that plants can give.  Tee Hee.  Those two plants we have had since before I retired.  Dennis gives them a haircut when they get out of hand.  In the spring they sit outside and take rainwater and continue to thrive.

  This afternoon I am doing hand stitching.  We have off and on bright sunshine.  Full sunshine on my stitching makes it difficult to see where my needle needs to go.  Good filtered light makes for nice stitches.

  Megan and I texted today.  See goes back to school in Virginia January 14th.  She says taking care of her mom’s store, from opening to closing over her Christmas break, may come in handy someday on a resume.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:26 pm on December 26, 2023 Permalink  

  Crystals 

  Both Dennis and I turned in early last night.  After a relaxing Christmas Day, all was well when my head hit the pillow.

  When I looked out to the front deck this morning, the rain and mist that had continued into the night, had frozen crystals on the steps.  We have escaped a whole bunch of snow by having mild temps and rain.  Yesterday morning, Dennis’ cousin had been over for early coffee and at that time Bruce reported that we had had 1.65 inches of rain.  The late news today will have the updated rain amounts.

  The task at hand today was to visit the back garage while there was no snow or ice.  Most likely that will be the last until early spring of 2024.  It always amazes me how much Dennis has packed into that garage for others as well as our own items.

  A visit to the studio has several pieces of fabric picked out for some embroidery designs.  The next visit will be laying out the spools of colorful threads.

  Dennis has gone to coffee this afternoon in the apartment complex where his friend Lyle lives.  My agenda was reading and hand stitching for the afternoon.

  A batch of bar-b-q on King’s Hawaiian open sandwiches will be our supper with leftover cranberries and creamy fruit salad from supper.  That combination would never be found on a restaurant menu but it is a great way for us to get ready for a beef plus crockpot meal.  Yum.

  I can only imagine how this weather would feel if the sun decided to show itself.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:22 pm on December 21, 2023 Permalink  

  Gray Day 

  This day is beyond gray.  The saving grace is that the breeze is minimal.

  The studio was hit early this morning.  Everything went well and before I knew it, the quilt was bound and I could now enjoy it as a finish.  This is my quilt to enjoy whether on my bed or when I am in my teak rocker.  I have really enjoyed the journey of my scrappy quilt.  This is the first quilt that I pieced both the top and the backing.  It’s a twofer!

  The 2023 year saw four finished quilts come up and out of the studio.  Three of those went to people that had touched a tender spot in me.

  My church tables are by no means clear and clean.  Those items I will seek help with on Christmas Day.

  My plans for the sewing machine going forward is to put the embroidery module on and do a few designs.  Those plans are for another day.

  I dressed up and took my two walking sticks for a walk on Stauffer Avenue.  Though the temps are in the mid forties, the air was cool.  My nose sought out a tissue when I came into the house.  Soon we will have new neighbors to greet on the walk.  Kenny and Faye have moved into an apartment.

  With the day feeling as damp as it is gray, there will be a hot supper . . . of some type.  You can be sure there will be some yummy stuff going on.  Us beggars are never choosey.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:40 pm on December 20, 2023 Permalink  

  A Hump Day 

  What a fantastic hump day we have.  40 degrees with little wind if any.  I look around our neighborhood and there is a lot of activity.  To the northwest there is lumber being taken into the home.  To the southeast, there are several new windows going into a two-story home.

  We, on Stauffer Avenue, are no slackers on this balmy day.  Dennis and I washed our bathroom exterior windows.  No ladders needed.  Our trusty Swiffer mop works to affix a clean cloth to wipe over the window after a good dousing of Windex.  The secret is that the Windex spray bottle is half white vinegar.  A great spritz while standing on the ground and maneuvering the cloth that is on the Swiffer mop.  Sweet.  How could we miss a chance to be able to see out to our backyard.

  I am in my studio as this post dribbles out of me.  The binding fabric was chosen and it soon was cut into 2.5″ strips.  I needed 280″ and will have a bit extra.  Those strips have been ironed in half.  Sometime they will be sewn onto the back of the quilt. 

  I began looking into a bin or two to see what I have available for the “Good Will to Men” cross stitch.  It was a good thing that Megan and Nicholas enjoyed doing crafts at the church tables here in the studio.  A bit of this and a bit of that and it is looking quite positive for days to come. 

  In days long gone by, there was a joke about older women belonging to the “Blue Hair” society.  What it was, was Mrs. Stewart’s multi use bluing product for the laundry.  It came in a little bottle with a cork closer.  It would last forever as it was potent.  It could be added lightly into the rinse water when washing clothes, keeping whites as brilliant white as possible.  Hmm.  A little bit sure didn’t hurt to use when those with more hair white and gray than not when washing hair.  Hard water in households could easily leave those earned gray hair with a yellow cast. 

  Loreal markets a product for those with blonde or graying hair to tone down what is not desired.  I have used that product for some time.  A little dab will do you.  My squeeze tube was just about gone.  Yesterday I went on Amazon and placed an order for the Loreal product with the purple additive.  We had no plans to venture out of town for quite some time.  Yesterday I ordered it, today it was delivered to our front door.  Wham, bam . . . talk about fast service.  Yes . . . the “Blue Hair” society lives on.

  Humpitty, dumpitty. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on December 19, 2023 Permalink  

  Sunny and Warmer 

  The sun can bring warmth and feelings of nice.

  There had been no plans to visit the studio on this Tuesday.  About 9:30 this morning, I felt the tug.  A trip had to be made to check if anything had changed over night.  You can never tell.  Sure enough I captured one very brave Boxelder bug sitting on my sewing machine.  Hmm.  I went ahead and cleaned, oiled and put a new needle in.  I know the machine will appreciate it when next its turned on.  That was the extent of this visit.

  The sun beckoned me to my cherry red chair to soak up sun and prepare to begin a new cross stitch project.  I have not come up with any solution for the framing of “Good Will to Men” cross stitch.  Still thinking on that.  Cross stitch stitching is really comforting for me.  I do have to stay on track for a design to do well.

  I will share why I dropped out of the stitching group that I had traveled to in Mankato.  It began a while back when Anita put on Facebook that those interested in expanding interest in machine embroidery would meet in her quilt shop in Mankato.  Anita sold her shop and we met in various restaurants for noon lunches.  That for me was the beginning of meeting new people.  Long story made short.  Over time, machine embroidery people did not do or share any embroidery.  Four of us could have out of the eight that the group grew to, and I did enjoy sharing what I had embroidered as well as sharing designs with three of them.  The emphasis in the recent past was more on taking in quilt retreats, traveling to quilt shops to shop and eating lunches.  I opted out to grow my passions in my own home and not eating fast foods.  A part of it also was that my personal circumstances had changed in regard to my mobility. 

  The original group was enjoyable when we met in Anita’s quilt shop.  Those sweet gals did meet with us in the lunch area of the mall after Anita’s sale.  As all things will, they change and those acquaintances were lost and not included when Anita went forward with what became eight on a monthly get together. 

  My cherry red chair in my bedroom porch is my place of serenity and enjoyment, also being sunny and warm.  I wish that for all the stitchers in my life.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:07 pm on December 18, 2023 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  Quite a few finishes here on Stauffer Avenue.

  The free-motion stitching has been finished.  I have not even gotten a new blade in the rotary cutter to trim the quilt of extra batting and backing.  Another day will take on that as well as sifting and sorting through which fabric will be the binding.  As I said, another day may be waiting.

  I won’t forget the cleaning of fuzz and threads in the machine’s top and bottom.  All of the stitching warrants a new needle as well.

  Last night I did finish the counted cross stitch.  It is fairly small, 5.5″ x 5.5″.  Before I shut the studio lights off this afternoon, I did scrounge the cistern closet in the basement to see if I had a frame that would work.  There is a possibility with some creative juices.

  I also finished the “who done it” book I was reading.  A cover has been cracked on a new selection for after supper.

  In previous posts I had mentioned that our primary doctor had retired.  Dennis has one prescription that needs a refill monthly.  This is the week that I would have sent a message for that to be refilled and sent to Lewis Drug.  Before I could send a message, I got a phone call from the clinic this morning.  There are no providers in our Mayo clinic here in St. James that can authorize a prescription for a substance abuse prescription.  Well, well.  Talk about our home town clinic screwing the pooch.  I would have thought, some provider in the clinic would have had such qualifying license in place as per the clinic’s administration before it was needed.

  I am staying close to the phone as there is to be a solution forthcoming.

  Quite the day.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:05 pm on December 17, 2023 Permalink  

  Time Flies 

  I am here to tell you of a rare experience of time flying.  This happened as recently as this morning when I realized it was 9:30 and I was still under the covers from a night’s rest.  Talk about rare.  Dennis said I must have needed it.  Wise ole cowboy.

  The usual items on the first floor were tackled for my local effort.  Hmm.  Twelve noon.  I made a decision right then and there that the studio would have to get along without me today.  Absence will make the heart grow fonder as the next task is taken on with the quilt.  The three inch border needs some free motion stitching.  That will make doing the binding easier.

  What I did work through was my telephone history.  Sometime last year I had let the minutes run out and I couldn’t figure out why there was a weird message and no phone calls were coming through.  I now know that I am good until 6/24/2024.  Whew.

  A call was taken this afternoon from my aunt in Arizona.  Her son Mark had clued me in that she has some dementia.  I let her choose the topics as when I would ask her something, she didn’t acknowledge that it had been asked.  After a short nine minutes she was ready to end the call.  Unfortunate but reality.

  I checked in with Carrie after a one-day knee surgery that took place Thursday of last week.  Something about a meniscus injury happening sometime in the past from winter sports.  All went well and recovery will not be as long as first thought.  Good news.

  Dennis has requested a bowl of steaming hot oatmeal for supper with just a bit of brown sugar on the side.  I can handle that.

  Time is flying as Christmas is coming soon. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on December 16, 2023 Permalink  

  Plans Charge 

  When plans have been made, you always have to have a backup plan.  Dennis has twin daughters.  One lives at Silver Bay and the other in Mankato.  The girls, plus spouses, were going to take us older ones on Stauffer Avenue out for a noon meal treat.  That plan tanked this morning.  Dennis and I are having a quiet day with each other for company, still a sweet backup plan.

  The gray weather is perfect for Dennis to check his eyelids out for cracks in his recliner.

  I toddled down to the studio and put in three hours with the free motion quilting.  I can see the end of it, if I squint.  Laying out the quilt on the church tables, even though not complete, is very satisfying.  From the musical Annie: “Tomorrow, tomorrow, I’ll love you tomorrow . . . it’s only a day away.”  I remember that song as Carrie sang it when she was in a musical event at school in the early 80s.  I have plenty tomorrows in my future. 

  There is French toast in our future for supper.  There is always a good supply in the freezer of the Jimmy Dean pre-cooked patty sausages.  We tried the pre-cooked Jimmy Dean links and they were a bit too spicy.  We have tried Johnsonville pre-cooked sausages and will not be purchasing them again.  Discriminating tastes here on Stauffer Avenue.  Our plans are set.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:56 pm on December 15, 2023 Permalink  

  Ducky Weather 

  The rain comes and goes during this gray day.  Whatever we can get will help going forward into the 2024 year.

  I rode along with Dennis in the little red pickup as he needed to deliver some items to nephew Brett’s concrete site.  We could tell there had been some field tillage done during that light coating of snow we had gotten.  There would be no excuse for any farmer to not have gotten the field work done during this harvest year.

  Three o’clock coffee time was always what was found on my folk’s farm site.  In later times, my sister Elvera and I would call each other for a visit at the three o’clock time.  The little things remembered become more precious over time.  Remembering the three o’clock coffee time brings a plethora of other memories to the surface. 

  As Dennis and I had completed the concrete delivery, we stopped for several donuts at Casey’s to take home with us.  When I got home, I turned the coffee pot on as there was breakfast coffee to enjoy, and yup, coffee time at three right here on Stauffer Avenue.

  I may go to the studio after coffee time to put a few stitches in with the free motion.  Every little bit counts up towards the end of that task.  Thinking ahead to trimming the project and then getting the binding process lined up . . . I am not going to get a head of myself.  That’s when mistakes happen.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:29 pm on December 13, 2023 Permalink  

  Mild Day 

  Just a great sunny mild day.

  All went well in the studio today.  No glitches, no error messages.  As this is a quilt of all things scrappy, I had made a departmental decision yesterday.  This quilt would be using a pale blue for the top thread.  With so many colors, any number of colors would have worked just as well.  Now in the bobbin thread . . . that’s a whole different story.  I am emptying bobbins of various colors.  There started a blue, than a light brown, and then a tan, and then a light gray.  To finish off the time I had left, I put in a darker gray.  When the empty bobbin message came up, I had decided three hours was enough.  From the top of the quilt, it all shows that blue thread was used.  It isn’t even very noticeable that five different colors were used.

  Wait a minute.  I checked the backing of the very last stitches and it showed pink.  What!  The bobbin for sure was showing gray when I loaded it into the bobbin case.  There must have been gray thread loaded over some pink thread.  How the pink picked up right after the gray had been used up, a modern mystery.  As it is, I do have a bobbin with pink thread on it that I used when Dennis’ great granddaughter got her pink quilt last year.  I might as well go for it.   

  Three hours of free motion quilting was enough for this day.  The quilt under the needle has to keep moving for the stitching to be done, thus the free motion.  The quilt is heavy as it is moved with no pulling or drag as it goes under the needle.  Everything went very smoothly today.

  Yesterday while I did battle with the machine, Dennis stirred up some sugar cookie dough.  I had never bought cookie mix in a box before.  Betty Crocker’s sugar cookie mix had pre-mixed pouches.  With each pouch, a stick of melted butter and one whipped egg needed to be added.  As Dennis was doing the heavy duty stirring all together, I put the “whipped egg” into the directions so as to not have the whites and the yolks, not get mixed in equally.  I have a cup with a screw on lid and that whipped the egg perfectly.

  My job was to roll the dough into balls and then flattened with the bottom of a measuring cup dipped into sugar.  The flavor was fantastic.  I need to take note of how long to leave the tray in the oven.  All ovens have temps that vary.  The first batch was taken out when just the rims of the cookies had a bit of tan showing.  These cookies will need to come out when they still look raw.  That first batch will make great dunkers.  We had a total of 24 cookies when all was done.

  Sugar cookies have a long history with me.  My great grandmother, Christine, lived with Christ and Laura on the family farm as did Christ and Laura’s youngest son and his wife.  Talk about a busy farm house.  Christine did most of the baking.  Christine’s hair was as white as snow, always wrapped in a tight bun at the nape of her neck.  She spoke very little English that I ever heard.  She came through Ellis Island from Poland and I know the household in Penn Township spoke fluent German.  My cousin Shirley and I did get to stay with them for a week or two during summer breaks from school.  The household was large and the two of us had a bed in the upstairs 

  No one called my great grandmother anything but Mutter, German for mother.  Mutter always wore a long black dress with a crisp white apron.  Her aprons never got mussed or dirty.  Mutter made the best rolled out sugar cookies.  They were huge rounds with sugar on the top.  When Shirley and I would have a cookie, Mutter would bring out one for each of us plus one for herself with her cup of coffee, and us girls also had a cup with coffee in it.  Mutter would sit with us at the round kitchen table.  She would beckon us as she picked up her cookie and showed that we should dunk the cookie as she was.  Of course we followed suit, letting the bite of cookie soaked in coffee melt in our mouths.  Mutter would watch us and smile.

  Oh for memories.  Who doesn’t like a sugar cookie dunked in coffee.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥