Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from April, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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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.  ♥

   
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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.  ♥