Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from June, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 12:58 pm on June 6, 2023 Permalink  

  Satisfaction 

  Even with small tasks completed, it brings much satisfaction.

  The first task of the day was putting bedding in the laundry.  I never push my luck with both top and bottom full sized flannel sheets in a single load.  By the time I have this post published, Dennis will be on hand to help with his bed.  

  As we will be going to Mankato for Dennis’ Korean luncheon and meeting tomorrow, my set of flannel bedding will be on the docket for Thursday.  This very small group of fellows is trying so hard to close down their chapter of the Frozen Chosen.  Perhaps the paperwork has all been accepted by the home organization.

  I know this may sound repetitive in regard to Dennis’ PT appointments, but . . .  Dan is so positive about this being oh so close to being a total heal.  We continue doing what we have been doing, every day.  Dennis took the good tidings and picked up Dwayne for coffee at McDonald’s.  That chit chat is good for both of them.

  My satisfaction has taken place by matching up the last row of four rows with orange cornerstones.  I do not skimp on pins to hold everything in place.  This morning was the very very first of taking out a sixteen inch seam.  I knew I was due.  With the amount of stitches per inch having been increased to many, it took that much longer for the picking.  Regardless how many pin cushions I have, I am seeking and searching when I get to the sewing machine so I can plunk them in as I come to them.  I do not believe in sewing over pins as I know some do.

  With great satisfaction I placed the sixteen sewn together blocks on the church tables.  I am pleased with the arrangement that Dennis did on how the blocks should be sewn together.  The next step will be cutting the two borders: one of three inches wide in orange and one of three inches wide in the mottled black.  This second top did go well as all of the decision making had been done with the first top of sixteen blocks.  Tomorrow will be a dark day in the studio as I will be with Dennis in Mankato.

  We are treating ourselves with a trip uptown to the Hometown Café for supper.  We have not done that . . . I can’t remember the time.

  All of you continue to take care with the weather.  I remember in days of old during streaks of hot days, Lena would march us into the bathroom, one at a time for a cool washcloth for the face.  The cool washcloth behind the ears . . . felt wonderful.

   
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  Noreen 1:31 pm on June 5, 2023 Permalink  

  Not Much 

  Not much exciting today.

  The first item on the agenda was to visit across the picket fence with Jan.  She was outside watering her two potted tomato plants.  They have blossoms, a good indication.  Jan and Randy had back door steps put in last week with much the same design as our front steps and deck was done, in a mini version.  I have mentioned that Jan retired last week from the school district after a long career.  Jan didn’t win the battle with the steps.  She wanted room for her lawn chair so she would be up from the ground and maybe staying clear from bugs.  I gave her moral support and told her,  “I understand.”

  I dreamt last night about my long time friend, Sharon Skolberg.  She had come over to check out our new sofa.  She approved and we shared some chocolates.  Sweet.

  Dennis came in and headed for a dry shirt and a good cool face cloth.  I think it may have been heat related.  When I checked on him, he was in his recliner.  The perfect spot for him.

  It is mid afternoon and after I post this, all lights will be off in the studio.  I am making satisfactorily headway on quilt blocks.  It helps to do things that make me stand for awhile, sit for awhile and best of all . . . ponder the situation.

  I must add a bit.  Sunday, the 1966 highchair came back home to me.  I had lent it to Dennis’ daughter for her grandchildren that they no longer need.  This 1966 highchair has a terrific history.  Carrie was tied into it with a white dishtowel so she wouldn’t slide out the bottom.  That technique worked on Kevin as well.  The highchair had quite a rest in our attic and then was brought down for Megan and Nicholas.  The cute baby print covering on the back and seat was replaced with a nondescript orange.  The tray and footrest are complete on the chair.  This sweet memorabilia will stay in my studio.  Just looking at it makes my heart sing.  

  I think this evening’s meal will be a light one.  I had scored a great hard head of lettuce with which I have enjoyed a good salad the last three evenings, Dennis not so much.  I fixed him fried egg sandwiches.

  Stay healthy until this heat gives in.  Not much fun and is no laughing matter to overdo with heat exhaustion.

   
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  Noreen 1:39 pm on June 4, 2023 Permalink  

  Oh So Warm 

  This Sunday is oh so warm.  I was outside early and the feeling was putrid.  The biting bugs didn’t seem to mind it.  I did not stay out long.  

  With a cup of rich hot coffee I checked out my usual items on the HP in the living room.  Nothing much new there so the cherry red reading chair and a book caught my attention next. 

  Yesterday we had a delivery from Amazon.  There was one item in the kitchen we could never do without.  Kevin had found it and I am sure . . . on Amazon.  Every time Dennis used it, it always had the same comment . . . “I could kiss that kid.”  It had saved us from having to have clerks in the grocery stores to open containers before we left the stores to come home.  Alas . . . it had gotten some issues.  From using it time and time again, the wear and tear was making it less effective.   There were certain sized containers that were opened more frequently that bore the brunt of the wear and tear.  It was shear bliss when the “pop” could be heard as the seal of a container was broken.  There was nothing to do but visit Amazon for a replacement.  Never was there a better investment of $10.00 for a new handy helper.  There were other items as well in the package to assist opening of containers.  Dennis and I both knew which implement would be used the most often.  Seek and ye shall find.  If Kevin had not given us our first one we would have never known how easy it was to open containers of all sizes.

  Dennis has had a good day of watching crime television programs either in the patio porch or the living room and playing solitaire.  I have been in the studio going slow and steady on quilt blocks.  The forecast had been right on allowing us to know how uncomfortable this Sunday would be.  I peeked ahead.  This coming Friday I saw a temp in the 60s.  Halleluiah.  That will be the day, I will get after some unwanted plants among the Hosta.

   
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  Noreen 12:23 pm on June 3, 2023 Permalink  

  No Breeze 

  The air is quite still today.  Having July weather in June . . . not much fun.

  I am not sure if the covid months brought along the “Home Sweet Home” for the two of us on Stauffer or if we are just very content.  I vote for the later.

  Both Dennis and I get a good night’s rest and then take on the new day for what it may bring.  Maybe the old adage:  if you expect a lot, you won’t be disappointed.  Naw!  That’s not for me.  It’s not unusual for me to have a portion of my next day plotted as I drift off to sleep.

  I have subscribed to two channels on YouTube.  One is an English gal that lives on the border to Scotland.  She is into sewing and brings to the table a different thought process to quilting.  Most of her quilts of various sizes are quilted as the sandwiched layers lay on her table top.  When the needle hits the wooden table top, up comes the needle and that is a stitch.  Interesting.

  The second channel is from a gal in Indiana.  Mother of seven that quilts, sews and does counted cross stitch.  She has a long arm up in her attic, complete with the knee walls.  When she gave a tour of her sewing room, I can’t imagine how they got the long arm set up in such tight quarters.  I can tell from seeing her hands, she has quite a bit of arthritis.  I like her thought on stitching.  One thread at a time . . . one stitch at a time . . . you can make headways.  I am seriously thinking of tackling a cross stitch project doing as she does, samplers all done in black.

  What is sweet about this is that I can watch their videos on our television while I am in my Teak rocking chair.  I don’t care if some of the videos are old, they are new to me.

  Today, Dennis came down to the studio.  He needed to lay out the next sixteen blocks of the ready-to-sew t-shirt blocks.  He hemmed and hawed as he tried different layouts while I sewed borders onto the first of the two projects.  However they are on the table top is how I will work them into the next step.  One of the quilt tops is ready for its next step of being quilted.  I am not prejudging if I will quilt it after sandwiching it or if Old Alley will get it.  I won’t decide until both tops are done. 

  I am closing up shop early today.  The arms have done well and it is time to sit in my cherry red reading chair.  I started a new book.

   
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  Noreen 12:40 pm on June 2, 2023 Permalink  

  Friday the Second 

  June is coming in on a very strong note.  Anyone that can close down this afternoon by five . . . should.  Heat can zap energy in a heartbeat.

  Dennis and I had a full day yesterday out and about.  Today was a day to be at home and do what retirees do best . . . slow and steady.

  The first item on my agenda this morning was to text our next door neighbor Jan.  This morning was the first day to enjoy the next chapter in her life as she is now officially retired from School District 840.

  Laundry was the next item for me.  When the heat and humidity are what we have had, I don’t care if Dennis changes clothes twice a day. 

  After noon lunch, Dennis came down into the studio to help me change out my sewing table.  I am now in the midst of working with a full quilt top.  With borders sewn together and soon sewn on, the ability to have the church tables carry some of that heft is priceless.  We did raise the sewing machine table a bit so the flow from the machine to the church table will work out well.   I will be facing west, still with plenty of good lighting from above.

  All I wanted to do after the shift was to make sure everything was hooked up correctly and run a few feet of stitches.  Tomorrow will come soon enough for more of the slow and steady.

  By the way, I was going to sit out on the front deck this morning with a cup of coffee, but soon very fine gray mosquitoes showed up.  Oh well, the coffee tasted just as good from indoors.

   
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  Noreen 2:27 pm on May 31, 2023 Permalink  

  Summer is Here 

  I thought I would be outside again today . . . not!  This Grammie got out of bed too fast and brought about a feeling of less than.  Not consistent dizzy but enough and often enough that my place today is indoors.

  I moseyed down to the studio about noon.  Dennis came in from outside and thought I had found the perfect spot as it was fairly uncomfortable to be doing any gardening.  He had been mowing one lot at a time.  That fellow does enjoy mowing grass.  Keeping him hydrated is very important to this ole cowboy.

  My quilt top is getting to the point of running a tape measure. Sixty one inches square.  Putting in a new blade into the rotary cutter, I decided to cut some border fabric.  The first border to be sewn on will be the same mottled black as the sashing that is between the blocks.   I will finish with an orange border to tie in the corner stones and bias tape trimmings.  As this is the first of two duplicate quilts, I decided to cut fabric for the second quilt while I was at it.  The sixteen blocks are prepared and having the sashings and cornerstones done will put the decision making process to be little to none.  I was in no mood to turn on the sewing machine today.  Getting prep work done felt right.

  This morning Dennis saw the wound doctor here in our clinic and tomorrow we see the surgeon’s second in command at the Mankato hospital.  Right now when I do the dressing change each day, I have to pack the tiniest piece of gauze that has been made wet by the acetic acid wash into that tiny wound.  This is to prevent the area from healing too fast.  It needs to heal from the depth to the surface. It would be great if Dennis could begin wearing a shoe on the left foot.  I do know from past appointments that Dennis has very touchy skin on his feet thanks to conditions from the time in Korea.  Even the gal that does pedicures here in town takes special care.

  With the warm temps and daily warnings of possible thunderstorms, yup . . . summer is here.

  Catch you tomorrow if the Mankato trip doesn’t take us into a late day.

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on May 29, 2023 Permalink  

  Monday the 29th 

  There was quite the buzz over at the blue barn acre this forenoon.  Tom and Sandy came from Mankato with a chainsaw and also a smaller saw.  I stayed home with Sandy’s dog.

  By two this afternoon, Tom and Sandy were headed home.  Dennis took me for a ride and I was amazed how much had been cut up.  There had been enough done that now loading up what has been cut will be headed for our tree dump to be visited.  If all goes well, the skid loader with the teeth attachment will be used to load the trailer.  Slow but sure.

  We had not expected rain this afternoon.  It had come up with wind and I can hear the thunder from the studio.

  I have been pecking away with sashes and corner stones on quilt blocks.  After I finish this posting, I will be closing down the studio.  As quilt blocks are attached and rows are built, there is heft to be felt as it goes under the needle.  The arms, shoulders and hands need a break.

  Let’s hear it for the last week of May!

   
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  Noreen 2:05 pm on May 28, 2023 Permalink  

  A Project Completed 

  This morning I got a call from Carpenter Bryan.  He asked if I had a problem with him installing the storm door on our front door.  Absolutely not!  By twelve noon the door was installed and there was no cleanup for me.  I had stayed busy in the studio the entire time . . . staying out of the way.

  What had happened while Bryan was working with his helper on our front deck, the neighbors to the north of us had called the fellows over.  It seems as if Jan and Randy will be having their back door tricked out with a deck such as ours.  For the entire time I have lived next to Jan and Randy, they have only had rough wood steps not attached to the house at their back door.

  When I paid Bryan, he was grinning from ear to ear with another job to do in time to come.  I kidded Bryan that he had gotten a job for our same deck and steps design while he was finishing up with us.  Now that Jan and Randy will have a nice deck and steps such as ours, Bryan can soon have this design as his signature.  Bryan thanked me for putting his card on Facebook as he had to install some windows out on a rural site.

  St. James needs several Bryans for small carpenter jobs.  I let Bryan know I was hanging onto his card for a time when we might need him again.  He smiled and we shook on it.

  Tomorrow Dennis called in a favor without labeling as such.  Dennis’ daughter Sandy has a fellow that is storing a car in our back garage.  Tom will be coming over tomorrow with his chainsaw.  The plan is to cut up branches and trees on the blue barn acre.  Cutting them up in six foot lengths or less, will allow them to fit in the bucket of the skid loader that Dennis can borrow from his nephew Brett at any time.  It’s a smaller loader than Brett uses with his concrete work.  Brett keeps it at his house for moving snow in the winter. 

  Daughter Sandy wants to take some Hosta home from the east end of our original lot.  My plan is to stay put out of everyone’s way.  Sweet.

  May everyone’s Memorial Day be safe and restful . . . as mine will be.

   
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  Noreen 2:17 pm on May 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  My target was the studio today.  The machine is oiled and cleaned, the steam iron is filled and hot – ready to go.

  I have decided on the black sashing with orange corner stones and not the reverse.  My schedule is to sew a 16″ seam and then press it.  Going back and forth until there are four blocks done, making the width of the quilt.  With three strips done, the back door opened.

  Dennis’ nephews from Windom stopped in for a visit.  Their dad, Dennis’ oldest brother Dick, has been gone for twenty years.  It’s good for family to stay in touch.  Catching up in the patio porch is a good thing.  After several hours, the boys journeyed on.

  At bit after twelve noon, Dennis daughter Denise stopped in with leftover pizza from their noon meal.  Dennis will pass on the goodies, but I won’t.  Denise came down into the studio and made herself comfortable.  Dennis came down and joined us.  Getting caught up comes far and few these days.  Casey’s calls her a manager, Denise calls herself over used.  I can believe that. 

  The door bell rang and Dennis’ niece and her husband from Morris came in.  Dennis’ sister has been gone for several years.  Jeanie is always good about visiting the cemetery on this weekend.  The fellows went to the patio porch and us gals made it to the first floor. 

  This has been quite the day for family.  It made Dennis’ day.  Each one of our guests was doing multiple stops here in town.  How special that they made time for a stop-in, no matter how brief.

  As Dennis and I wanted to get caught up with what each of us had gleaned from various guests, I put him on hold while I went into the studio and closed everything down.  I can sew another day.  Spending time sharing a cup of coffee with Dennis . . . priceless.

   
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  Noreen 1:20 pm on May 26, 2023 Permalink  

  Dust Bunnies 

  Today, I could hear the dust bunnies snickering at me.  We have had windows open when the winds were brisk, our front door with no storm door on has been open and I think the winds blew in what a good dust bunny is made of.  Loading up some Swiffers took care of the laminate flooring as well as the vinyl on the east end of the house and the west end of the house.  Our washer and dryer in the bathroom does add to the lint in the house.  Dennis needs to wear a Velcro boot on his left foot and I do not make him take it off and on as his day progresses.  So an investment of a few Swiffers takes on the dust bunnies.  Mission completion.

  When I had shopped for groceries yesterday, I bought some English cucumbers.  This forenoon I thin sliced an onion, thin sliced some cukes and mixed all with mayo and a bit of cream.  They are co-mingling with a hefty amount of black pepper in the refrig for supper.  I had two chicken tenderloins to take out of the freezer.  Dennis always makes instant potatoes for four people.  Of course there are leftovers.  Putting those potatoes on good china, aka: a paper plate with a damp paper towel over them, they reheat perfectly.  Supper is in the bag.

  A load of laundry got done in between time.

  My visit to the studio this afternoon was all about cleaning and oiling the sewing machine.  After doing more than 2,300′ of orange trim on the 32 blocks of t-shirts, there was orange fuzz everywhere including the rotary cutter blades that needed cleaning.  With a new 80/12 needle in the sewing machine, the work in the studio may continue tomorrow.  As I had mentioned, our long holiday weekend is low key . . . all ours.

  This afternoon, I still have some time to perch upon my cheery red reading chair and take in some of the south breeze coming in.  We will be starting to make new dust bunnies.