Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from February, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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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.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:45 pm on February 21, 2024 Permalink  

  Hump Day 

  It is a Wednesday and all is well with my soul.  Could not be a better day.  

  My sewing machine is oiled, cleaned with a new needle.  My embroidery hoop is loaded.  The reason it is not stitching right now is that when I went to sign onto my Bernina Tool Box software, I typed in the password in error three times.  I am now in a time-out for an hour.  Oh what a difference when a lower case letter is entered and it should be the upper case.  The time-out allows for some tidy, tidy.

  Dennis came in to get some cleaning supplies.  Look out patio porch kitties!  Even on the mild days this winter not one of the three ventured out.  They know where they have it made.

  I could be doing our 2023 income tax.  I just don’t feel like it right now.  The mood needs to be just right.  Tax Act has been sending emails.  I have all the info I need.  What’s new . . . Minnesota usually needs money sent in.  Ugh!

  We have hit on a good schedule for our suppers.  A heavier meal on every-other five o’clock day with a soup every-other five o’clock day.  Even on the heavier meals, they are not very heavy.  Neither of us have appetites like in days of old.  Let’s face it . . . we don’t do much on the average day.

  When we went to the birthday party Sunday in Mankato, there was a couple there that are the parents of the fellow that Sadie is seeing right now.  I could have sworn I was in the presence of OT.  If people like to travel, the need to share each experience is not needed.  Talk about an afternoon Dennis and I could have happily missed.  It was a wonder that the six year old got to hear the birthday song.  Oh well.  We can’t all be alike and enjoy our homes.

  My time-out has expired and I am on to threads and fuzz.

  With that I take my leave

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on February 20, 2024 Permalink  

  Let the Sunshine In 

  Let the sunshine in and face it with a grin.

  Every morning I have a choice and I choose to grin and say, “Good Morning.”  If I am lucky I get a wave.  I’ll take it.

  This morning the latest framed stitched design found a spot on the living room wall with the two previous ones.  Again, the small brass hangers with a fine needle nail going in at an angle worked great.  Actually, there was a previous hole in the paneling.  Just a short tap to make sure all would be well.

  There is a new book started in my bedroom porch.  Also there is a new stitched item started.  This new project has a new challenge.  It is not a single color for stitching.  It is a kit using 54 colors.  Before making a donation of the floss, I had taken out one of each color.  There is eight yards of floss on each skein.  When doing a project with multiple colors, each color may not take more than a dozen or two stitches.  I have not done color swapping in stitching for decades.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  It will take me some time and I am fine with that.

  Contentment is my game and I have found it within our little home on Stauffer Avenue.

  Dennis does not make it for very many days and he needs to get the little red pickup out to see what is going on around the town.

  The city crews are cutting and trimming trees.  The sound of the shredder can be heard.  Many small projects have been done around town with this open winter.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:34 pm on February 19, 2024 Permalink  

  Studio Day 

  It may not be a full day in the studio, but it really feels good to do . . . something creative.

  Reusing a frame from the cistern closet brings certain challenges.  The matt boards that have been stored right along with the frames, there is not one the right size.  The X-Acto tool comes in handy to get it cut to the correct size.  The hanger on the back side of the frame was missing.  Out came the needle nose plier.  Those brads that come with the hangers are really tiny.  Putting the plier in the left hand and clamping it tight with the tiny brad worked well.

  Trial and error quite a few times comes to the conclusion that the error in the stitching came about when the very first stitch was put in.  The design was begun too far to the right, thus not allowing enough fabric when it came time to put it in a frame.  Hmm.

  You cannot fail if you do not try.  You can succeed if you do not have your heart set on only plan “A.”  Perhaps the eye need not travel to the most conspicuous challenges of the project.  Scrounging into an old jewelry container, the pin I chose to add is quite appropriate for the stitching.  It picks up the scant gold in the frame quite nicely.

  I have checked on Dennis and he is napping out in the patio porch.  With the sun at 44 degrees the patio door will be soaking up nice cozy warmth.  The kitty whose ears are poking out from Dennis’ jacket has it made.  Of the three, this one happened to win the ticket.

  I have one embroidery project in mind.  When I post this for today, I will be seeking the correct fabric.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:45 pm on February 17, 2024 Permalink  

  Full Sun 

  Having the sun out and bold, sure makes the day feel good.  If I had to spend any amount of time in this wind, no amount of the sun would feel good.  They warned us.

  My goal for the day was finishing up my pincushions.  Perhaps more timely stitching than when the all time favorite tomato pincushion can be bought for a few dollars.

  For those inclined to enjoy the process of threads and fuzz, the investment of the timely stitching means nothing.  I do have a few supplies to put away as the studio is always more appealing when all is tidy, tidy.  Next, I will be focused on getting my last stitching put into a frame.

  Looking at a piece of stitching that is framed is more enjoyable for me than hauling out a piece of folded, wrinkled fabric.  The time spent stitching was and always is indeed enjoyable and relaxing.  Hmm.  That is the ultimate goal for this ole Grammie.  Doing whatever I can to stay on the healthy side of life. 

  Tomorrow we will travel to Mankato for the youngest of Dennis’ eight great grand’s sixth birthday.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:43 pm on February 16, 2024 Permalink  

  Keep Moving 

  It is chilly out and as I listen to KNUJ, it could easily feel like a minus temp.  I am in the studio.  I keep on moving from one side of the church tables to another and do not feel the chill.

  Listening to YouTube videos, I had picked up a tip for filling pincushions.  Leave it to Amazon to deliver to our front door two bags of 11 oz. each of crushed walnut hulls with some lavender seeds in the mix.  Three of the four stitched items were filled with the hulls.  The fourth had to settle for a poly fill as I didn’t want to open the second bag of hulls.  I enjoyed the stitching and will enjoy knowing there are no UFOs.  No unfinished objects, aka: pincushions.  I am waiting for the small openings to dry from using the E6000 glue to dry.  I love that versatile glue.  Kersten and I used some of it quite a few years ago to put the cement antlers back on the concrete deer.  Still holding strong.

  I scrounged around and have some trim to put around the edges of the stuffed pincushions.  Going first class the whole way.  Keeping busy is enjoyable for me.  I do manage to feel that I have worn myself out at the end of the day.  Perfect.

  In between time, I have a pork steak in the oven for supper.  I used up the half onion I had plus spreading some Ragu tomato sauce over it that was a leftover from last week’s chili.  Ragu is not the ultimate but I don’t have the variety of spices on hand.  Dennis is in charge of the instant mashed potatoes.  His appetite is not the best some days, but the milk and butter plus the protein in the potatoes is usually a win for him. 

  I am going back to the pincushion project.  That will take me to supper.  It might also be time to start another book in my bedroom porch this evening.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:08 pm on February 15, 2024 Permalink  

  Some Rain 

  Some rain right before the snow started last night.  The temps plummeted in the low 20s.  Yup . . . it was icy under the snow this morning.  We had a good three inches with the wind blowing from the northwest when I went to bed.  Looking at a streetlight the snow could easily be seen.

  Randy was over with his long green line fairly early.  It is three this afternoon and our concrete drive is clear from the strong beams of the sun.  I have our front deck cleared as well as the back door to the garage.

  When I read a paperback book and tear each page off as I read it for lack of being able to hold a book, around my cherry red chair and book stand, it is worse than a shredder with fine paper dust.  It was time for a cleanup job.  I wear fuzzy slippers in the house.  We have one rug in the house and that is in front of the toilet.  My fuzzy slippers catch all the fine shreds of paper and pieces of thread from stitching and then deposit that on the bathroom rug.  It is no wonder, Dennis shakes that rug almost every other day.  Oh well.  It is all doable for me to feel the contentment of reading and stitching.

  After the last large cross stitch item that is still waiting to be framed down here in the studio, I did several small projects that I want to make into pin cushions.  I have them down here in the studio, sizing them up for backings.  With my scrap bin, that was no problem.  I also had scrap pieces of woven stabilizer to iron onto the back of the stitched out items.  Those soon-to-be pin cushions will be my tomorrow project.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:38 pm on February 12, 2024 Permalink  

  Is it Over 

  It is Monday afternoon and sooner or later when I put the news on at supper time, I will find out which team won the game yesterday.

  Today was a make it or break it for me.  Dennis was at his daughter’s up the street and it was me, myself and . . . still me.  My project from the studio was going to be on my bedroom porch wall before the day was over.

  I knew I couldn’t pound a nail in the paneled wall to save my soul.  I did have Command hooks.  The Command product that I used to put my quilt on the wall was Velcro meeting Velcro.  I got out the Command hook package and all the strips were no longer sticky.  What!

  Going back to the studio, I took three of the Velcro strips and headed to my bedroom porch.  I put two sticky Velcro strips back to back on the Command hook so they could make nice.  The third I used to stick to them and then onto the wall.  Success.

  Back down to the studio.  I wanted to use some cording I had to staple to the back of the project for hanging.  I tied knots into each end so that the cording couldn’t pull through the staples even if it wanted to.  Job done and I headed to my bedroom porch.  The cording caught the Command hook on my first try.  I stood back and . . . yup, I had the cording on the bottom of the project.  Back to the studio.

  With project in hand this time the cording did well.  Kevin knows his mom.  Of course the project was not in the middle of said wall.  Hmm.  More coffee.  As I came back to my bedroom porch, my eye spied numerous small plaques that mom and dad had brought back from Germany.  Nobody would notice an empty small nail on the bottom of the remaining ones hanging next to the front door.

  Now to get said plaque onto the wall.  I knew I had small brass hardware hangers.  The super narrow nails go in at an angle for strength of what you hang.  With a needle nose plier to grip that nail so I could give it a start into the paneling, it took several tries of gripping that hard with my left hand.  Mission was accomplished.

  Did I learn a few things with this project?  You betcha!  I learned that with allowing myself patience over and over . . . I was and can be self-sufficient going forward each and every day.  I also allowed myself to except imperfection . . . but by golly it’s real. 

  This project is done, it brings heaps and heaps of self-satisfaction.  On to the next challenge . . . but not with what is left of today.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥