Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from April, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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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.

   
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  Noreen 3:04 pm on March 27, 2024 Permalink  

  Powerful Sun 

  The sun is showing us how powerful it has become as we head towards a true spring.

  We did have enough rain during this last system to allow for our sump-pump to run.

  Dennis is working with the last of the ice at our front and back doors.  Surprisingly how thick it was.

  I Took most of this day to do some cleaning at my own speed.

  My aunt, Janet, from Brownton called.  That is usually good for at least a half hour.  I enjoy visiting with her as more times than not we do a bit of reminiscing.

  Tomorrow we are to do a zoom visit with the pain doctor from Mankato.  I have the pre-visit questionnaire done.  We have never done this before.  Time will tell.

  I came down to the studio to clean-up around the sewing machine and put some spools of thread back where they belong.  It is always more enjoyable to come to the studio when all has been tidied up for a new project to be started.  I think that would hold true for anyone that needs tools and equipment close to hand to succeed.  Each task requires its own repertoire of needs. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:02 pm on March 12, 2024 Permalink  

  Coffee 

  A bit of coffee left from breakfast.  Time for a few key strokes.

  When I had the wild hair to work on the living room floor, our trusty little shop vac came up from the basement.  Dennis has one just like it in the patio porch.  That little machine has huge ability to get whatever you point it at, picked up.

  The only downside is the many feet of hose.  I make sure I am always on the safe side of the coil.

  Yesterday was a good day to use the vac to clean all ports possible of the dryer in the bathroom.  That included Dennis taking the hose outside to clear that vent.  Poking around the base of the washer got everything that could be gotten with various attachments.

  We may not keep this vac on the main floor due to lack of space.  That got me going this morning on pulling out the kitchen range.  Sweet felt pads.  Next was poking around on the refrigerator area.  Nope . . . I didn’t do the top . . . as yet.

  I will keep poking around with the vac until I no longer hear the squeal of dust bunnies.

  Dennis just now came home with one med for me and supposedly one for him.  Inside his bag was a bottle of the opioid and two doses of a Narcan.  WTF.  Dennis amazingly got himself off of the opioid and this is really very disappointing.  Dr. Kohn had no business refilling this without a personal request from Dennis.  Dennis asks the gals at the drug store via giving our names.  They put it in a bag and Denis pays the amount they ask for and he heads home.

  Dennis’ so called new provider . . . screwed up again.  I called Lewis Drug and explained things and Dennis is now on his way back to Lewis Drug for returns getting his money back.

  —–onto our Tuesday.

  In the evenings I have been stitching.  Finding it very relaxing.  More so than putting jigsaw puzzles together.  I have also been in the studio from time to time with the Bernina.

  We have a gal across the street that is raking today.  Too early for me.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:34 pm on February 26, 2024 Permalink  

  Sunny for Today 

  64 degrees is hard to beat . . . soon to change.

  Yesterday when I tackled the apple box and lightened the load in the attic, the very first thing that down-right shocked me was all of the dead wasps on the floor near the west wall.  I could not believe it.  I didn’t spend a lot of time as I didn’t want them on the bottom of my shoes and then drag the bodies down the steps.   I got the small shop vac up in the attic for tomorrow’s work.  The steps are steep and Dennis will give advise from below.  The window has a screen on it and fits into the frame very tightly.  Tomorrow is soon enough to work on this mystery.  There is a first time for everything.

  We have some bug spray to put into a small pump sprayer so that will be my exit strategy to open the window and spray around and into the frame.

  I do have a project in the hoop that will be ready to go for the sewing machine complete with the spools of colored thread that will be needed.  I am definitely into my book that I have started.  The counted cross stitch is going slowly with many color changes.  I did pick up a neat tip off of one of the YouTube videos.  When a needle is especially difficult to get threaded, turn it around and try from the other side.  Needles are stamped out in manufacturing and one side may have a slight burr that is not easily detected.  Dang, if it didn’t work better.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:34 pm on February 25, 2024 Permalink  

  It’s a Happy Sunday 

  As cloudy as it is, I have a good amount of zip today.  I think it was the peanut butter toast I had for breakfast.

  After I had taken apart a 1950s photo album, there was a box in the attic that was niggling me.  It was the size of the box that apples used to come to the grocer’s.  It was plump full.  It was half full of crochet patterns.  Some from Grandma Schafer and just as many of mine.  The other half of the box was full of counted cross stitch patterns.  That box was heavy.

  I pulled it over to the attic stairwell.  I took out multiple stacks and put them on the steps.  As I backed down the steps, I kept moving the stacks down, one step at a time.  Mission accomplished.

  I touched each pamphlet, each folder and each book.  I have a stack of counted cross stitch to look through.  The crochet patterns are in the recycling bin.  I tried as late as this last Christmas to crochet.  Optimally the left hand is the tension control while the right hand has the crochet hook.  I loved crocheting, but . . . that was then, this is now.

  I have patience and wisdom.  My life today is not an accident.  I didn’t stay in the darkness of the stroke.  The light I have each day refused to surrender.  That ditty is from a quote of John Mark Green.

  This afternoon when looking out the kitchen window, I saw Jan, our neighbor, working with her four year old in their drive with an old pedal tractor.  That took me back to the times Megan and Nicholas would be with Dennis and me.  Oh for the love of memories.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on February 22, 2024 Permalink  

  On a Roll 

  There are days that I can feel the arthritis knocking wherever it can find a viable joint in my body.  The only solution is to keep on rolling and moving until the aches don’t stand a chance of winning.

  The studio stitching went great this forenoon.  33,000 stitches without a single glitch.  A project is underway.  I do know that a trip to Hobby Lobby is going to allow me to finish it.  It is rare that I didn’t have what was needed.

  The wind chimes in the evergreen at the northwest corner of the house is tinkling just enough to make the day come off as possibly a spring day.  A pleasant sound compared to when the breeze is actually a 35 mph force that makes all things not tied down move to the next street over.

  The afternoon’s event was peeling the remainder of some potatoes before a sprout was detected.  For my taste buds, nothing beats the enjoyment of a boiled potato with a meal.  It harkens many memories of a family of six around a round oak kitchen table. 

  Cousin Mark called last night with a quilting dilemma.  For a fellow just shy of sixty, he enjoys his threads and fuzz.  Nothing so serious that it couldn’t be remedied with a photo and some texting back and forth.  It was fun catching up with him.

  Chicken, boiled potatoes and cranberries for a wonderful supper.  What is not to like!

  With that I take my leave.  ♥