Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from October, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 1:50 pm on October 18, 2023 Permalink  

  Cloudy 

  This is a cloudy hump day.  When I went for a walk this afternoon, it felt like it could rain.

  I am having the week off as far as appointments go.  Dennis, not so much.  Monday was his yearly visit with our family doctor.  Today was his scheduled injection for macular.  Tomorrow he will have his INR, blood clotting, check.  Friday he meets with his primary Veteran’s doctor.  It’s all about remaining on the active list for benefits.  All the appointments are only a stone’s throw from our home. 

  Stitching went well in the studio.  It didn’t take long for me to realize I needed a different weight of cotton thread in the bobbin as well as in the needle.  My fabric is a lightweight cotton, so should be the sewing thread.  What I had cut and laid out yesterday was stitched today.  I would be very content if the days going forward follow that routine.  Not overdoing any aspect of the project.

  I have chicken tenderloins thawed for supper.  My favorite shake of coating is in a zipper Glad bag.  I use Bisquick, any pancake flour would work.  Cinnamon, Turmeric, some seasoned salt and ground pepper coats the chicken and it doesn’t take long to fix the chicken in the fry pan with the screen to prevent spattering.  It’s surprising how low the heat under the pan can be.  Dennis has a choice of cream style corn or green beans to go along with the instant potatoes.  It has been quite a while since a hot, three-course meal has been served here on Stauffer Avenue.

  The afternoon is still young and the cherry red chair is beckoning for several chapters to be read.  I may need my light on as the clouds have left the bedroom porch dark.  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:25 pm on October 17, 2023 Permalink  

  First things First 

  My first thing was to send my daughter a text wishing her a happy birthday.  It never ceases to amaze me that my children have years ticking along just like me.

  After my morning rituals, the lights went on in the studio.  It did feel foreign as this was the darkest the studio has been for this length of time in quite a few years.  But . . . I am back, complete with my good shoes and socks on.  There is nothing that can cause restless legs faster than standing on concrete in less than good shoes for insulation.

  The portable radio was tuned into KNUJ before I had all the lights turned on.

  The project I hope to work on constitutes four different configured blocks.  The blade in the rotary cutter was brand new.  The needle in the sewing machine was brand new.  What I needed to do was stitch out those four blocks for my prototypes.  Cutting the material using the same measure for a total of eight pieces per block needing the same accurate seam allowance. 

  As this is a scrappy fabric pattern, I still need to disperse the prints of my twelve different fabrics somewhat equally.  Therein is the challenge.  Just as Lena would have had, I have my graph paper making notations . . . lots of notations.  

  Let’s be clear, I will miss stitching in my west bedroom porch.  The total package of the cherry red chair, the natural window light and watching traffic, the coffee pot close at hand.  Everything in its season.  If I were better with apportioning my time, I could have it all.  It’s too early in the season, I won’t write it off just yet.  This ole Grammie can still learn a thing or two.

  What this ole Grammie would really like to learn is how to wiggle my nose and a balanced supper would be on the table by 5:30 every day.

  Be careful what you wish for . . . you might get more than you bargained for.  With that, I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:21 pm on October 16, 2023 Permalink  

  My Day 

  This last season I have been working on a counted cross stitch project.  It was nothing serious or to be done in a rush.  When the temps were hot, I would work on the stitching or read all the while in my cherry red chair.  When I could help Dennis outside, both endeavors were put to the side.  Today the last of the navy blue snippets of threads got cleaned up.

  Even as my bedroom was being painted, the deck getting stained and the house stutters getting a fresh look, there was time for doing a few stitches.  One thread at a times does literally count up.  I may well purchase a foam board at Michael’s to mount the stitching on.  

  My plan going forward was that once this stitching was completed, I was going to re-visit the studio for sewing machine stitching.  I have had fabric on the church tables along with my graph sketch.  When in the studio, the lights were always turned off by five in the afternoon.

  If the late fall and winter nights prove to be too much for just reading, I may have a second cross stitch to be in the mix.  For myself, I would choose another mono-colored project.  Time will tell.

  It wouldn’t be surprising if the mowing will need to be done after the great rain we have had.  Dennis had promised me he would teach me to run the zero-turn Snapper.  I think that would be a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 1:54 pm on October 6, 2023 Permalink  

  Indoors 

  This morning is what it may very well feel like in coming months . . . being indoors!

  The coolest temp so far was the 42 degrees when I checked our front deck.  The north wind was not fooling around.  When Dennis came in for more coffee, all three patio porch kitties were content to stay in . . .  just like me.

  Our noon lunch was the last of the rhubarb and strawberry pie from Dennis’ birthday.  I followed the directions to the ultimate for baking.  Hmm.  The rhubarb had not baked soft.  Well, what could it hurt to put a slightly damp towel over a piece and microwave it.  Not one minute, but it took two minutes.  That was the trick.  I do think a convection oven would have worked better than my old fashioned oven.  When it said 375 degrees for 90 minutes, that is what it got.  The crust could not have endured anything longer or hotter.  The main thing is it didn’t go to waste.  Not much on Stauffer Avenue does.

  The wind coming from the south had taken some branches down earlier in the week.  The north wind is not going to be outdone.  When the wind blows as hard as it has, being outside under older trees is not a good idea.  We have kept up doing the tidy tidy of the yards.  Winds usually die down towards dark, but man, it gets dark really early.

  The Odin Craft Mill has started its three weekend event as of the 5th.  I don’t think I will venture forth as Megan already has her Smoky Vanilla scented candle next to her college desk in Virginia.  That was the luck of the draw to find the source in northern Minnesota and get it mailed directly to her.

  My hand stitching is going well.  My supply of new used books was increased yesterday by four when we were doing errands and Dennis swung by our county library.  Dennis looked at the books and asked if those authors were some of my favorites.  I do enjoy novels and I haven’t found a book yet that I can’t get into the storyline.  The last novel was an American and Russian spy storyline.  Forget remembering the long Russian names, just award each of them a nickname.  Worked for me.

  So the month has begun and so it rolls along.

   
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  Noreen 1:53 pm on September 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Mist 

  A mist of rain as late as this forenoon.

  With no mowing for today, we did drive over to the blue barn acre this forenoon.  What looked like a galvanized metal ring buried around one of the older trees, needed a second look.  Sheets of galvanized tin used in grain bins were usually 24″ or wider in width.  Dennis took ahold where he could see the ends overlapped.  Hmm.  The width of this was about 8″.  It pulled out of the wet dirt easily . . . the entire length.  It is still about 20′ of it in length.  Who knows when this was put in and around.  Our small two-wheel trailer will be needed to get rid of it.  Where that location will be, is yet to be determined.  There are also four cement blocks and portions of them next to a group of trees that need to go onto the same load.  Oh yes, there is an older small television in the south line that also needs to go.  Those items are the extent of what will be loaded and out of there this year.

  When we drove into the driveway of the blue barn acre from the Hammond HWY, the acre looked palatial.  Seeing the acre through from all angles . . . sweet.  We have come a long way since the demolition of the actual barn this spring.   All costs of clearing the acre have been paid for.  Tightening our belts did the trick.  We made sure the assessor’s office has taken the barn off of the records.

  Dennis kidded me that all I have shopped for this 2023 year has been groceries.  I did purchase fabric for the two twin sized t-shirt quilts but was reimbursed when they were picked up.  He thought one of these days I would be due for some retail therapy.  Nope . . . I can’t think of a single thing I need. 

  Dennis did decide we’re going west for supper.  West to Windom.  Friend Dewayne has mentioned to Dennis, that he and his wife go there often.  A road date for sure. 

  Sun will be out tomorrow and so will the mowers in our neighborhood.  Dennis has been chomping at the bit.

   
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  Noreen 2:01 pm on September 15, 2023 Permalink  

  Rain Drops 

  It may have not been a gully washer of rain, but every little bit helps.

  Today Dennis and his cousin Bruce visited the blue barn acre with Bruce’s chainsaw.  There were too many trees that were tipping, listing or just plain falling over.  After Bruce left. Dennis gave me a tour.  After several days of the leaves drying, there will be plenty of hauling limbs to the main pile of debris.

  My task at hand today was stripping Dennis’ bed and doing some tidy, tidy in his bedroom.  While the laundry was going, I did some stitching.

  We are have beef vegetable soup and sandwiches for supper.  I metered three cups of soup per freezer bag last night.  Three bags in the freezer for another time.

  The air is heavy but doable.

  At the grocer’s yesterday, I purchased a bottle of Woolite laundry soap.  Tomorrow morning, first thing . . . I am washing my feather comforter.  I did my research on the internet.  It will be fritzy fresh for the colder weather that is bound to find me in my west bedroom porch.

  Take care and do what makes you feel good over the weekend.

   
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  Noreen 2:48 pm on September 6, 2023 Permalink  

  Big Change 

  The cold front that was mentioned in the weather news yesterday has made a big change.  I would say a huge change.

  We didn’t get enough rain to amount to anything.

  Today, I am back to being the little ole lady reading and stitching from her cherry red chair in her west bedroom porch.  I have taken nothing today for the body’s discomfort.  I have even noticed my left titanium knee is not cracking.  One should never lock one’s knees when bending over at the waist.  It is really hard to keep from doing it, but I did try.

  Dennis is also doing the computer solitaire games today.  For both of us it is a deserved break from the last week where each day time was put in working on the front deck and then washing up the staining brush no later than 10:30 each day before the heat was upon us.

  Dennis’ daughter stopped in this forenoon.  Her shift at Casey’s has ended up in more twelve hours days than not.  They are very short of help . . . what place of business isn’t.

  Beans and wieners went over well for last night’s supper.  Neither one of us have done anything today to warrant anything called a supper.  I won’t be the one to bring it up first and see what happens.

  Happy hump day!

   
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  Noreen 1:39 pm on September 5, 2023 Permalink  

  Tuesday feels like Monday 

  Days of the week can be a conundrum for Stauffer Avenue’s older ones.  That is why our calendar has a spot on the dining room table.

  This morning with stain pail in hand, Dennis did do a walk around the front of the house where our deck is.  Sure enough, there was a spot here and there that needed some stain.  When the brush was put into the pail, it did not have a problem touching the bottom of the pail.  The top of the pail was stepped on and will be set aside until some time later.  There was plenty of stain to do the anchor posts of the deck.

  It was time for a grocery run.  We use a few items that we can’t use up by the sell by date . . . milk.  We generally use it to make instant potatoes.  This evening it is beef wieners and beans for supper.  Yesterday while working on the deck, there were wafts of people in the neighborhood doing grilling.  The aroma of hot dogs sure smelled good.  Thus . . . our fare for supper.

  Dennis’ one request was ice cream.  So be it.  My add-on was butterscotch topping.

  The air is heavy with clouds that look like they might have a shower or two in them.  That would be welcomed.  Over these last days there were several Hosta that just plain gave up.  The leaves are totally burnt.  Oh well.  There is always next year for perennials.

  There may be some 70s in the rest of this week.  Sweet.

  I am heading back to my cherry chair for some stitching.  I finished a book last night and have not yet pulled out another one from my stash.

   
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  Noreen 2:01 pm on September 3, 2023 Permalink  

  Sunday, Sunday 

  Hello my Sunday peeps.

  This was a good productive day.  The second string of the deck staining project was on board.

  The 18-wheeler, chicken hauler’s strong arms came into play to help stain the deck boards.  We took turns to allow for coffee drinking.  It worked out great and no one was placed in a spot that had it been necessary to jump off of the deck.  We were done by 9:45 this morning.  Take that for the heat of the day yet to come.

  What remains of our project, are the areas . . . the 2 x 4s under the flat board, aka: the place for my coffee cup to sit upon.  Spots clearly show up that need to have some of the slate-colored stain applied that were missed.

  It never sounded like a wham, bam project.  Oh so many areas that needed covering where spindles were built into the project.  The one gallon pail of stain will suffice and my 1.5″ bush will also make it to the end.  The size of the brush was determined by what my hands could grip comfortably.

  Upon completion for the morning, Dennis decided his eyelids needed to be checked for cracks.  I decided to sit upon my cherry red chair and read.  That was followed by some stitching.

  After the nap was over, Dennis fielded the next project.  The black shutters that are on our house windows seem to have faded.  I didn’t realize it until I compared the south facing windows to the north ones.  The north side’s look as black as the day we put them on.  The south’s side look more like a gray from the hot sun over several decades.  Hmm.  I sense another project.  The shutters on the three south windows will need to be taken off of the house as the slats are not solid.  Besides . . . neither of us are up for being on a ladder.

  For now . . . the quiet of the day is now prevailing.  Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 3:36 pm on September 2, 2023 Permalink  

  Here We Are 

  These days are like a seasonal re-run.

  Staining, stitching and reading right here on Stauffer Avenue.  Nothing can be accomplished if I don’t stick with it.  

  Today the stairs and toe kicks of the deck were stained.  Ugh!  Again with the black flies!  Mouth clinched or they would have flossed my teeth.

  Today there were three needles loaded with embroidery floss that were stitched. 

  Thus far, one chapter of my book has been read.

  It is beyond warm outside.

  I am fixing chicken tenderloins for supper with sides of cottage cheese and jellied cranberries.

  Dennis is manning a load of Curry work clothes in the laundry.  Nothing feels better than tugging on clean clothes every morning.  For myself, I must say there is one pair of pants that is laundered over and over that will take me through this staining process.  The pants are showing the slate black stain, but my shirts . . . not.

  Here is to this three-day-long weekend.