Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from May, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:18 pm on May 5, 2026 Permalink  

  The Day 

  Today is Tuesday the 5th of May.  The day has gone by quickly.

  I could have, would have stayed in the studio for longer today, but the trickle of water around the tile perimeter of the studio made it feel a bit too chilly.

  I have a project that I could bring to the first floor.  I fight that as one thing after another could dribble up to the first floor.  That would break the rhythm I have for my days.  Just so much time in my morning is spent having coffee and breakfast.  It’s then time to get dressed and do a tidy, tidy on the first floor.  After the “have too” is finished, I give myself permission for the studio time.

  The studio time is  say-la-vees.  If I get lost in thoughts or threads and fuzz . . . it matters not.  Creative time is good for the soul and the mind. 

  I will follow up that our unique oven meal of last night was a success.  It’s always convenient when a bag of ingredients can come out of the freezer to mix with sauce and pasta. Even doing a pork roast in the crockpot can leave it become dry as a pork loin roast doesn’t have any marbled meat.  When we had done the roast for a meal,  I used the kitchen shears and cut up the remaining very small.  The juice from the crockpot that contained the seasonings from the meat and the bed of carrots was perfect to pour over the cut up meat and cut up carrots.  Too much flavor to waste.  The ingredients of the leftover stove top added its kick of flavor.  Two cups of uncooked medium ribbon pasta and a jar of Alfredo . . . mission completion.  

  Dennis said he would be up for that combination any time.  He is the food critic.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:44 pm on May 4, 2026 Permalink  

  New Week 

  I awoke with a new agenda.  Well . . . some of the old.

  Time was spent on folding and pressing binding for my project.  The binding has now been sewn onto the quilt with tipping it forward for the last go-round on another day.

  When I went to clean my eye glasses this last weekend, the lens fell out.  Good thing the old pair were retrieved for the duration.  What had happened was a screw had fallen out.  Where the screw had been allowed for the frame to have the clearance to put the lens in.

  It was also important for me to visit a friend this afternoon.  Karen and I have been friends since the 80s.  At that time, Karen was the city clerk of Lewisville.  We met over city and county business.  Karen has since been the proprietor of the County Collage, a retail store on Main Street.  Last week it appeared on Facebook that she would be closing her store.  How could I not take time to stop in and wish her well on her next journey.  It was time well spent for me on this Monday.

  A new screw has been inserted in the eyewear.  A clear sealant was put over the screw to avoid another mishap.  Whatever.

  We are having an oven meal.  This is our experimental oven meal.  It consists of the pulled pork, not so much pulled as diced, the leftover diced carrots and the chopped up stove top dressing.  These ingredients were from last week when we did the pork crock pot meal.  The Alfredo sauce is the mixture to combine all.  Dennis put a hefty layer of ground black pepper on the top.  I’ll let you know what the reviews are.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:57 pm on May 2, 2026 Permalink  

  A Balmy Saturday 

  We might actually be having a spring-like day.  All the yellow flowers in our neighborhood tell me the same thing.

  We had a spa morning for haircuts and pedicures.  It sure felt good.  I have usually wore my hair short over the last decades.  This morning, I asked her to thin it out on top as it felt heavy.  Ask . . . and it can be done.  Dennis is always pleased with Maria’s work.  Those two can really chat each other up.  Unfortunately, someone had told tales, false, on her husband that made them loose work hours on this last Thursday as they had to meet with the immigration services in St. Paul.  All was cleared up, but it was a worry for two very nice people.

  A bit of fabric was cut for the binding of my project.  One step closer.

  We are having pizza for supper.  I am thrilled to be having a meat lover’s pizza from Casey’s.  Pizza is not Dennis’ favorites and this is special.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:31 pm on May 1, 2026 Permalink  

  Brr Chilly #2 

  This afternoon standing against the south side of the house in the full sunshine felt warm and toasty. 

  Not so much in my studio.  It phased me not.  I suited up and put in several hours.  Next step . . . trimming off excess batting and backing of the project. 2.5 ” x 300″ for the binding will be cut and that is for another day.

  Dennis had the little red pickup into the shop this afternoon.  Yesterday he smelled anti-freeze in the cab.  A new valve was ordered, it came in this afternoon and all is well.  Good thing it happened here in town as the pickup could have over-heated.

  I am usually not one to use ketchup on my food.  Ketchup is one of Dennis’ major food groups.  What I did find out by accident:  Real Potatoes, found in the refrigerator department of the grocery store in the same cabinet as eggs.  The small cubed potatoes with a bit of southwestern spices, when pan fried taste wonderful with Ketchup.  Not drowned in ketchup.  I put a plop of ketchup on my plate and with my fork, dip a piece of potato in the ketchup and it’s like eating a French fry.  I tried putting the potatoes in the oven uncovered in a foil lined pan and when heated to the 155-160 that also works.  Better yet, no fry pan to clean up.  Home, home on the range . . . where food is always experimented with.  Too funny.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:34 pm on April 30, 2026 Permalink  

  Brr Chilly 

  It must have been a chilly cool morning as our mail carrier was back to wearing long pants.

  Suiting up as well to stay comfortable and spend time in the studio has been in the cards.  Even with furnace running off and on, there was a chill in the air from water running around the perimeter of the studio going out into the sump pump.  Lots of rain will cause that.

  Today finished the free-motion quilting in the eighteen log cabin quilt blocks.  Another day I will quilt the borders.  Some of my free-motion meandering could have been a bit more polished.  None of my projects are juried.

  Dennis spent the morning over at the acre to watch Ryan and his crew take down the tree that had tipped over.  It was two trees out of one stump.  What remained wasn’t heathy either.  Stump and all has been cleaned up.  It feels good to stay on top of things.

  Prices can be seen being a bit higher in the grocery store.  What felt good was that our next six month premium for our house insurance was the same as the last six month bill.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:21 pm on April 27, 2026 Permalink  

  A Drippy Day 

  Lots of moisture . . . no bad storms.  What a kick-off to the lawn mowing season.

  I turned the thermostat on the furnace up a bit so I could work in the studio for a bit.  That activity lasted until noon and then that was enough.  It’s a good thing there was breakfast coffee left when I came upstairs.  I usually have a bottle of Lipton’s Diet Green Tea open in the studio.  I am not going to fess up how many days that bottle lasts.  It’s a good refreshing taste and I do not need it ice cold.

  The trip to the grocery story was a very good trip.  It’s amazing the great things that can happen while one is strolling up and down the isles.  I did pick up a 2.5 lb. pork shoulder roast for the crock pot plus a bag of carrots to go with it.  I now have five options for meals plus perhaps a night of soup with a half grilled cheese sandwich.  Dennis requested a box of cold cereal.  Sometimes it might just do the trick for him as a snack.  Four of Marie’s pot pies and three other Marie heat and serve meals for Dennis.  When Dennis wants a heat and serve oven meal, I opt for a salad.  It doesn’t matter if a few dishes are dirtied or a lot.  Dennis is in charge of doing the dishes.  There is no free lunch.

  I checked in with Dee.  She works in the bakery.  Her husband is in the memory care unit in Sleepy Eye.  She has just listed their rural home as she will be looking at living in an apartment.  Brenda at the checkout is always ready with a smile.  Her husband got hurt working at Swift Food Processing here in town.  Dan is now confined to a wheelchair.  And then . . . there is James Mitchell.  A Hispanic fellow in his fifties that loves working in the grocery store whether it’s stocking shelves or carry-out.  He and his wife packed up from Texas to be in this community where their family has settled.  A very wonderful fellow.  It does take me quite awhile to get out of the store.

  I did do a stop at Family Dollar.  Kitty litter was needed.  They carry 21 lb. lightweight in plastic jugs.  Much more doable than Sam’s Club’s box which is 40 lbs.

  Amazing how a day can fritter away.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:27 pm on April 25, 2026 Permalink  

  A New Look 

  The studio has a new look for the upcoming quilting via the sewing.

  It was not difficult to achieve what was needed.  I could not believe that the 1962 Mary Proctor ironing board’s adjustable height level lever still worked.  It worked so well, I barely touched it, it went straight to the floor with my top mat that Dennis made for me.  The top mat is 26″ x 52″ to allow for fabrics that are to be used for quilting to be ironed in a rectangle rather that the pointed tip of the ironing board.  No toes were were bruised in this operation.

  I pulled the Hefty sewing machine table almost to the furnace so I could wrangle the square card table partially onto the sewing table.  I can easily get around the configuration.  The Culligan Man was here this week so that won’t be a worry for salt delivery. 

  I now have the ironing board to carry the heft of the quilt yet to be sewn in front of the sewing machine and the card table to help carry the heft as the quilt has been sewn.  The hoop is ready as is the free motion quilting attachment.  That was about all I managed today in the studio. 

  I called Aunt Janet to check in with her.  She appreciates the chit chat.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on April 24, 2026 Permalink  

  The Rain 

  The rain we received last night was cleansing and needed.  Just a few pebbles of hail mixed in with thunder.  For sure the sounds of a spring.

  This is the time of spring if there are wine enthusiasts about.  We have several neighbors that have carpets of the yellow dandelions.  Many decades ago, Raymond and Lena along with Uncle Lester, dad’s brother, tackled a batch.  Nothing ventured nothing gained.  In the old fruit cellar that had the dirt floor, one shelf was reserved for experiments and tasks such as that.  In today’s world, the micro beer breweries are the challenge.

  I met my challenge of getting the studio ready for some serious machine quilting.  Oil change, grease job, threads and fuzz rousted complete with a new 90/14 needle for the thicker heft.  Nothing has yet come to mind in how I want to traverse across the quilt.  The studio will stay dark until such time I have it figured out.

  Dennis had a day yesterday lost in thought and memories.  We all need a day like that once in awhile.  No pressure to be social.  Today a whip around town and there was much to share when he came home.  All is well with the world once again.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:38 pm on April 23, 2026 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  Those gray skies might bring us some rain later on.

  Interesting things in the neighborhood that catch my eye.  A small rental house across the street from is usually rented to Hispanics.  I never see any type of furniture moved in or moved out.  Lots of mattresses.  During the late night hours of yesterday, the moving out went on.  Whenever the owners go in and tidy up from what was left, making ready for new occupants, I have walked over to bid Blanca and her husband.  Very nice owners giving housing to those that need it and I have asked . . . $400.00 a month.  Multiple workers at Swift Food Processing, $400.00 should be attainable.  I do take notice of the expensive large SUVs they drive, perhaps vacating a home much easier.  So be it.

  My index finger on my right hand is in a resting spot this afternoon.  That is the finger I need to use to close all of the red headed pins on the quilt.  A two hour stint got the job done.  Now will come the tidy, tidy around the sewing machine.  As the quilt was pinned, I rolled it to close the pins on the next row of the quilt.  The quilt is now a tubelike challenge.

  The sewing table needs to be located in anticipation of working the tube-like to my advantage.  My ironing board is height adjustable to match the sewing table’s height.  The card table is also the correct height.  The church tables have had bricks put under the legs to ease the back when bending over to cut fabric or working on a project.  They are quite a bit higher than my plan but will still be able to have a portion of the quilt on it take away some of the heft as things move along.

  All of the items mentioned need to have nothing on them or around them.  It saves the angst of picking items off of the floor.

  I am not sure about supper.  Dennis has said maybe two to three words to me all day.  It’s been movement from the house to the patio porch to the house playing on his computer and then back outside.  Who knows.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:21 pm on April 22, 2026 Permalink  

  Holly Molly 

  Where is this strong 28mph wind coming from and when will it cease?

  Unseasonably warm is not a good thing for us.  The winds are whipping the tilled farm acres and continuing to dry it out.  KNUJ mentioned perhaps a 1/2 of rain tomorrow.

  The safety pinning on the quilt top is complete.  As the church table floating heavy cardboard can be relieved of thumbtacks, I will follow up with closing the red headed pins.  Only three of the center quilt blocks have yet to be secured.  I just couldn’t bend over far enough to snag them.  All of this pinning allows for no wrinkles of the back fabric and batting as the quilt is ushered under the sewing machine needle.

  The actual quilting is a bit far off.  The machine will be checked over for threads and fuzz lingering under and in the mechanisms.  A new needle will follow an oil job.  After an oil job it’s best to stitch on scraps for a bit to make sure no oil residue shows up before the real deal.

  A meatloaf supper is be be had here on Stauffer.  I have coleslaw and fruit to pair with it.  It’s up to Dennis to decide if he wants to make instant potatoes of if a refrigerator package of “Real Potatoes” is partially used.  Dennis has just decided on the instant potatoes.  Well done Dennis.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥