Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from November, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:31 pm on November 3, 2023 Permalink  

  Friday the Third 

  KNUJ tells me it is 49 degrees outside.  The active Boxelder bugs affirmed that.  I have nabbed three of them here in the studio.  Ish!

  Earlier this week Dennis and I recovered from having water come up from the floor drain twice.  Dennis was helping with the mopping of the floor with heavily added Clorox water.  It was my time to sit it out for a few moments, I commented that weaker those than us would have a good reason to think of moving to apartment living.  As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I knew this event would not deter us from taking care of our forever home. Of course it is daunting and inconvenient.  Lots of things in life are.

  I knew when I had headed for bed last night, I needed the rest.  Since my stroke, when nine o’clock comes in the evening, I begin getting wanky weary.  Dennis could set his watch by me heading for my bed.  Couple that with activity such as yesterday, rest is mandatory.  And . . . with one bathroom visit at 3 a.m., my time to put the feet on the floor the next morning is not before seven to seven thirty.  Rest is the easiest way to keep me on track.  I wish I could nap during the day as my dad could and Dennis can.  When I do check my eyelids for cracks it is the real deal.

  This morning when the studio lights were turned on . . . I was in my element just as much as Dennis is in his garages and his patio porch.

  I had taken a break from stitching to put out this blog posting.  I will go back to pressing what I had stitched until we have the agreed upon supper . . . soup and a half sandwich.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:38 pm on November 2, 2023 Permalink  

  Hello 

  Hello People,

  This is this Grammie, live from her homogenized studio on Stauffer Avenue.

  Our city employee from the water department stopped by and assured us our lines from the house to the street were not to worry about.

  To test it, I ran two loads of laundry back to back.  Neary a drop in the floor drain.  The floors were dry in the studio before last night’s bedtime.  Dennis put a new filter into my shop vacuum this afternoon and I was good to go.  Every nook, every corner was hit in the studio, which is the entire basement area.  I cleaned the cold air return here in the studio as well as the ceiling vent from the fan running 24/7 to the outside.  Last but not least, the carpeted steps to the first floor.  That shop vac has tremendous suction.  Dennis has one just like it for his patio porch.  Let me tell you, with three porch kitties, that vacuum gets a workout.

  My sewing awaits right where I left it Sunday afternoon.

  Dennis’ agenda this afternoon was to run both vehicles through the car wash.  He remembered that we had prescriptions at our Lewis Drug.  When he brought the prescription bag that held four different ones, the total out of pocket was $1.45.  Sweet.  He commented that there was no shortage of people to visit with while waiting.

  I was mistaken.  I thought our legislature passed a bill to cease daylight saving time, only to hear we turn the clocks back one hour this weekend.  Yuk.

  A new stitching kit is coming off of Esty, complete with needed threads and fabric.  Am I sorry our church ladies are using the floss I donated to them?  No.  This kit takes so little floss and stitching may not be in my wheel-house for a length of time to come.  I miss being in my bedroom’s cherry red chair when I was either stitching or reading.  When cooler winter is actually here, the studio does not stay open when supper time comes.  I need the diversions.

  As much as I am enjoying my fresh studio, sewing will be for tomorrow.  I am going to do a bit of reading before supper.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:31 pm on October 29, 2023 Permalink  

  A Light Coat 

  We had a light coat and I don’t mean my coat hanging by the back door.

  There is a dusting of snow on the roof tops.  Our concrete around the house and drive is bare.  If the sun could have remained shinning through the clouds, the 35 degrees of this afternoon could have, would have and should have felt warm.

  Dennis continues to stay busy in the garages.  The far back garage is storage for his friend Dewayne’s Farmall tractor plus bucket, son-in-law’s Ford Mustang, grandson  AJ’s Harley, our two lawnmowers plus the Cub tractor.  The Cub is going to the Beckius repair shop north of town in the spring.  Dennis has an agreement with Charlie for the engine repair.  Charlie is kept busy in the winter season with seasonal repairs and the last of the farm equipment that comes in.

  Today, Dennis pulled all the batteries off of the above mentioned items, but not the Sears mower. Dennis will be mulching leaves before too long.  This last dip of temps in the 20s gave the leaves a good chance to flutter and man did they!

  The studio and I have been humming right along.  I have completed 32 of the 8.5″ blocks.  The most complex block was 16 in number, made up of eight pieces in various colors and sizes.  As I tidied up a bit of snippets, I realized I only need to cut 32 of 3.5″ of various colors.  Moving right along at a very causal pace.  I do iron seams as I finish them.  I did smile to myself, as my sister Elvera didn’t practice that in the art of her piecing . . . left to wonder why the end result was not up to par.  Bless her heart.

  Mid afternoon and the studio is being close down in exchange for some reading and catching a YouTube or two.

  Happy new week everyone.  Each day we have two choices: smile and have a cheerful heart or grump and make everyone around us turn grumpy as well.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:59 pm on October 28, 2023 Permalink  

  Hello Saturday 

  This is a day that had not one single thing on the agenda, the last Saturday of October.

  I am not going to miss with messing with the clock by turning it back in the fall and ahead in the spring.  If  only our legislative secessions could get something else done during their spring fling that could again benefit everyone.

  Dennis has been putzing in and around the garages.  He manages to stay busy.

  I have had the day in the studio.  The radio is on in the background to catch any snippet of area news and weather.  I follow a quilter on YouTube that lives in Indiana.  She does longarm quilting for others and each week she showcases the week’s worth that is ready to go back to the owners for final binding.  Seeing all the patterns, sizes and color schemes is an inspiration for me.

  Tammy Earnest did share clips from a family picnic.  What struck me and other viewers is that the picnic tables had quilts on them as tablecloths.  She followed up with comments to her video yesterday.  Quilts are to be used.  Someone had mentioned to her, “My mother quilted but we never got to use them.”  For myself, I agree.  Use them, abuse them so the quilts keep on sending the messages while they were being made . . . individual love to each owner.  Cottons today are durable and washable and . . . mendable if something need it.

  I no longer intend or plan on cranking out multiple quilts each year, but having one being built under the needle is satisfying.  The three quilts of 2023 were not completed to stay here on Stauffer Avenue, they were intended for the specific request.  The scrappy one I am now working on is a fun one. 

  We are going to have some Gorton fish filets, instant potatoes and green beans for supper.

  With that I take my leave  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:21 pm on October 25, 2023 Permalink  

  Quite the System 

  Quite the weather system.  Monday night it thundered all during the night with very little rain.  Yesterday was piddle, piddle.  Last night at ten it sounded like it was raining bullets.  Our drought meter is getting kicked.

  Most of yesterday, we did not have internet.  We may take it for granted.  Last night after supper all was well.

  This was a good day for bedding to be laundered while the Swiffer found bunnies under the bed.  No matter how old flannel bedding is or how many times the laundry has had them over the years, there is still fuzz to find.

  Yesterday morning, Dennis said that he needed a doctor’s appointment.  Hmm.  He said his big toe on his right foot looked black.  WTF!  “Show me the toe!”  On the tip of his big toe was a blood blister.  He must have really stubbed it hard.  I didn’t think twice but to send him and his toe to see our family doctor.  When it comes to Dennis’ feet, I am not taking a chance.  Yup . . . it was a blood blister.  No poking at it, just leave the body absorb it just like any other bruise we might get.  Dennis felt better, I felt better.

  Today I have spent some time cutting fabric for the next sixteen blocks of “Block 3.”  I know I needed 124 of 2.5″  x  4.5″.   Perhaps tomorrow might see the lights on in the studio for some machine stitching.  It does pay to have a day or two to think about what I have in the mix of fabric designs.  When I went down today, it didn’t take me long to pull one of the fabrics out as it didn’t make the cut.  It looked so out of place as if it had a red light flashing.  Small print florals in various colors did not have an opening for a small print that had birdhouses in it.  So be it. 

  Today, there were a few plastic lawn chairs that needed putting away in the potting shed.  There is no kidding ourselves that we are yet to have this fantastic Indian Summer.  It is not happening.

  With that I take my leave. ♥ 

   
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  Noreen 2:05 pm on October 22, 2023 Permalink  

  Harvest 

  The grain elevator is open on this a Sunday.  Every color of tractor possible is hauling in wagons of shell corn.  Not every farm works with their own semis.

  Dennis manned the weed whip and the plants right east along the foundation have been taken out.  I clipped off the spent lily stalks in the area going into the house.  With my handy pail, both sites were raked and added to the burn ring east of the garage.  Small steps toward what each day is leading to.

  When I went outside this afternoon, I went via the front door.  The bugs don’t get direct sun there and I could escape.  Ish!  I have never found what purpose they serve.  Taking my pail of greenery to the burning ring, I noticed a huge wasp’s nest on the south gable of the potting shed.  Ish!

  When I was outside, neighbor Jan and I visited over the picket fence.  She asked how things were going.  I made mention that the bucket list of the blue barn acre was empty for the year.  She remembered all the Kudzu vines hanging from the trees.  Dennis nipped all of them where they came out of the ground so that what went up in the trees has no food source . . . except one.  I just got a text from Jan explaining that her new battery chainsaw made short work of that last vine.  My, oh my!  I did indeed thank her.

  Some time was spent in the studio today, pairing up fabric prints to make 16 of the “Block 2” design.  With that cutting and pairing, the sewing of those blocks will go well.

  It is a tomato soup supper this evening.  Crackers, bread, butter and jam will round it out.  Vanilla ice cream could be the finish.  Dennis did comment that tomorrow might be grocery shopping.  With our summer and early fall having been busy getting our total homestead whipped into shape before cold weather, our pantry in the basement has never been so empty.

  We didn’t have a garden to harvest, but I know some great canned goods to have on hand.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:48 pm on October 19, 2023 Permalink  

  Thursday the 19th 

  On this Thursday morning, Dennis headed to the VA for his INR check.

  As the little red pickup headed out, I went into the garage for our Harbor Freight lopper.  It was chilly but I was determined to get my work done before the bugs got warmed up.  It was time to cut down the Russian Sage.

  The bees had a great run of taking the best out of the blossoms.  As I began lopping, there was only one bee that protested my work.  The Russian Sage is a perennial and had even put out more plants from root suckers.  When Dennis came home from the clinic he lent a hand.  We used rakes and pushed the huge amount of foliage down the drive.  When there has been some drying time, it will find the burning ring.  It sure did smell good as we worked.

  Tomorrow is going to be fairly warm.  We still have the garden hose connected.  Where the Russian Sage had spilled over onto the drive, it has left a lot of debris of dirt that has blown in as well as spent blossoms.  I was thinking of squirting Dawn dishwashing liquid on that part of the drive tomorrow and hosing it off.  It might very well be the last of playing in the water.

  Noon found us both taking a break.  I decided to do a bit of reading while Dennis checked out his eyelids for cracks.

  By 1:30 I headed down into the studio.  Dennis wanted to wash off the slider doors of the patio porch.  Too cool for getting wet so he used Windex and his squeegee.

  I did use my rotary cutter, getting ready for a day when I would stitch.  I will admit that I didn’t get as much cut up as I had planned on.  My arms were feeling the lopper work.  Knowing when to hold it and to fold it is the key for good feelings and not discomfort.  At this point is when I find my Teak rocker with the last of the coffee to watch a YouTube video or two.

  The afternoon is getting late with full sunshine.  Boxelders and Asian beetles are basking on the south side of buildings.  Getting my project done in the early hours of the morning, was well worth it.  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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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.