Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from February, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:27 pm on February 20, 2026 Permalink  

  Pay Grade 

  Sometimes things happen within our home that tells me my pay grade needs to be changed.

  Dennis on a computer could be like an asteroid hitting the small abode on Stauffer Avenue.  I do not know which keys on his keyboard may have been hit simultaneously.  Last night I was commandeered from my bedroom porch where I had settled in on a Hulu movie.

  His Facebook was not working.  I do know that the email that his Facebook acknowledges is no longer.  I tried to enter information and the little beast of a laptop said all info would be transmitted to noreen.curry@mchsi.com.  Oh well.  We limped along last night as best we could doing a round-about my Facebook page to get to Dennis’.  I knew that the steps I had taken could and would not be remembered by Dennis.

  Today I tried again.  What I have come up with is not the be all to end all but will suffice until I get an 8 year old in here to help with the computer issues. 

  I did enjoy the studio this forenoon.  I finished a cross stitched design a while ago.  Today I cut some foam board to fit into a frame I had stored in the cistern closet.   A temporary lineup until I get the pins out to begin stretching the finished needlework.  One small step at a time.  The little pillow with the crusted walnut shells now has the final embellishment trim glue on it.  Mission completion.

  I had one small stitched pillow that I screwed up on.  When I ironed the woven stabilizer onto the back, I skimped.  I can’t use the crushed walnuts as the crushed walnuts will work its way through the larger weave of the stitched item.  I will use poly-fill.  Lesson learned: don’t cut corners for the project you have worked hard on..

  Dennis helped with supper prep as I worked on his computer.  One half package or Amour meatballs cubed.  One half package of the refrigerator hash brown potatoes.  One can of cream of mushroom soup.  All ingredients folded over and over in the blue speckled round roaster.  375 degree for 45 minutes.  Cucumbers on the side.  Well done.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:10 pm on February 19, 2026 Permalink  

  Aroma 

  Hello, the aroma in the kitchen is quite striking.  Bacon having been baked in a 350 degree oven, each slice side by side on tin foil covered cookie sheets.  It has to be thick sliced bacon.  It is a no mess process.  When finished baking the tin foil hits the garbage and the cookie sheets are clean.  Much different than fixing bacon in a stove top fry pan or even in the microwave oven.  No splatter bacon is what I call it.  I save mail flyers to put on the kitchen counter covered with paper towels to drain the bacon on after it comes out of the oven about 75% finished.  When we use it, it pops into the microwave for just several seconds and it is hot and delicious.

  Last time in the grocery store the Farmland bacon was on sale.  Now that I have the wrappers done away with, I can’t say for sure each package was a pound.  Anyway.  Farmland has always been a brand that I took from Lena’s choosing, whether hams or bacon.  I checked and it was one pound packages.

  The snow was estimated at three inches yesterday for a .3 inch amount of moisture according to KNUJ.  No shortages of fender benders in the area.

  I got one small pillow filled with crushed walnuts.  I leave an opening on one side just large enough for the mouth of a small plastic funnel to be wedged into it.  A foam coffee cup filled with the crushed walnuts is squeezed together to make a spout for pouring into the pillow.  I keep pouring until I can’t hang onto the pillow without the weight of the pillow pulling away from the funnel. I don’t measure out the crushed walnut shells.  Thus each pillow having a slightly different heft . . . but close.  I use Aleenie’s tacky glue to put a slight swish across the opening.  My quilting Wonder Clips bite just the very edge to hold everything where it needs to be.  The pillow is stood on edge for the drying time.  The last thing to finish the pillow is to put a contrasting colored chenille trim on with the same tacky glue.  That is for another day.  I can no longer use needle and thread to close the opening.  If there is a will there is a way.  One of my mantras. 

  We are having waffles and bacon for supper.  The hard work was completed this forenoon.  Love it!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on February 18, 2026 Permalink  

  In a Blink 

  My cousin from Finland, Minnesota, had just texted me a photo this morning of the blowing snow they were having and had had since during the night.  I texted back that we had no snow to be found.  In a blink of my eye, the snow started here and it blew and it blew itself into a mini blizzard.

  KNUJ kept me up to date on all the closures as they took place.  I was warm and comfortable in the studio as the wind continued its howling.  I came upstairs at two and the snow had stopped and left our concrete drive wet but bare.  The several days of warmth that we had had didn’t allow the snow to stay on the concrete.  With that being said the yards are covered with clean white.  The radio went on to say that road conditions out in the open were not good.  What is out there is now in freezing temps.

  The binding of the Christmas placemats has been finished.  The sewing of snowflakes on them is going to be on hold for a bit.  I have several mini stitched out designs to make into pillows and then get them stuffed.  I don’t like UFOs.  Finish them up before starting something new.   

  I peeled the remaining cucumbers for supper also using up the remaining purple onion.  We are having a lasagna dish for supper that Carrie had brought for us on Sunday.  It just needs to be heated up.  An easy supper makes for a happy homemaker . . . me.   

  Today is Ash Wednesday with many churches in our area having cancelled services for this evening.  So the Lenten season begins. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:11 pm on February 17, 2026 Permalink  

  Howling Wind 

  The session in the studio went very well.  I don’t do a lot of sitting.  I bounce from the sewing machine to the ironing board to the cutting table.  When the furnace is running, the heat vent in the studio hits between the sewing machine and the ironing board from on top.  It doesn’t take long the hair on my head feels as if it has gone through a whirl wind. 

  Though I have several projects in the works right now, I really want to stay on top of getting the seven placemats bound.  I have two left.  Having gotten the knack of getting the binding joined cleanly with the 45 degree stitch, I’d like to see it through.  If the appliqueing of the snowflakes onto the placemats stalls, at least there would be seven placemats to use when and of the need would arise.  

  I do watch quite a bit of quilting via YouTube.  I am not in enamored by the print found on fabric right now.  The colors are loud and the designs on the fabric are huge.  That speaks to my age.  The fabrics in my stashes are easily paired as the colors are cohesive.  The matchie match is not trending right now.  That also speaks to clothing.  Putting stripes with plaids can be seen.  That is all fine with me.  I will keep my likes to myself as I am no longer in with the latest of the latest.

  Our crockpot meal of last night was a winner.  This evening’s fair is leftovers.  I chopped up the two leftover hamburger patties.  I used the gravy-like contents of the crockpot and mixed in the chopped meat.  Supper will be known as hamburger gravy over a batch of instant mashed potatoes with a side of the creamed cucumbers that were left.  Sweet indeed.

  We are prepared for a change in the weather.  Right now the howling wind can be heard from the southeast.  We had not put our shovel aside.  The leaf blower is still in the accessible if needed to blow ourselves out from the back door if incumbered with snow.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:12 pm on February 14, 2026 Permalink  

  Difficult Times 

  We are going to be in difficult times when winter pokes its head out again.   In the mean time, in between time, I am enjoying this spell of spring-time temps.

  Shh.  I did not tell Dennis I left a window cracked open over-night in the bathroom.  There was no wind to speak of that would have given me away with a curtain flying. 

  Our GE stackable laundry set-up got a good work out today.  As the loads were swapped out via Dennis, I was in the folding venue.  All is tidied up and put where it belongs.  A great feeling. I went down into the studio to bring up some paper products from the cistern closet.  I got way-laid.

  I couldn’t help but sit at the sewing machine.  Before long, I had a dust brush under the hood.  Cleaning the machine is the best way to be able to do what is wanted or needed without any problems.  Putting in a new needle is a smart thing to do . . . often.  My thread of choice and color are locked and loaded.  I am hoping Monday will be a stitching day.

  For the rest of this Saturday, I am perched in the cherry red chair with either stitching or reading on either side.  Dennis has decided that Maria’s pot-pies are going to be for supper.  Sounds good to me.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:39 pm on February 11, 2026 Permalink  

  Geez 

  Geez, I hate updates when I least expect them.  So needed perhaps.  Well, I don’t know about that.  What was usual and customary now resembles someone else’s laptop.  Enough about that.

  I was slow out of the gate this morning.  I have a 4″ x 8″ date book that I have lots of web sites that I frequent and with them perhaps a sign-in and password.  The book is from 2002.  This morning as I was looking through the hen-scratching for a certain site, I thought enough was enough.  As passwords had needed to be up-dated, I scratched them through for the next newest one.  On and on.

  I didn’t get through all the pages.  Those that I did, I didn’t throw the old pages away until I know I copied them correctly.  Accountability is paramount if for some reason someone else needs to have the information.  Hmm.

  Dennis remains under the weather.  He was so close to getting through this winter with no issues.  I know he wouldn’t and didn’t believe me when I gave him a Lena tip.  Sitting directly in front of the fan from a heat source is just as bad as sitting directly in front of an air conditioning unit.  Kevin found that out when he was taking care of a pet rodent type rat, for the life of me I can’t remember what they are called.  It was white and I think it had the name of Sniffy.  It was hot and the little cage was put in front of a fan for comfort only to find the little fur-ball had passed away when Kevin checked on it in the morning.  Anyway, I digress.  The garage’s furnace vent flows right on one of Dennis’ favorite perches.  Who knows.  I could be all wet about how he came to have this horrible cold.

  The studio work is going well.  The sewing machine gave no problems.  Tomorrow it will be time to put in a new needle and give it a shot or two of oil.

  Dennis willingly took a hot bowl of oatmeal for supper last night.  Now you all know how punk he is feeling.

  Yesterday the state of Minnesota lobbed onto our checking account for the funds we owed for our 2025 income tax returns.  Greedy little bastards.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:15 pm on February 5, 2026 Permalink  

  Mud Puddles 

  With mud puddles abound, I am thankful that Dennis has concrete to get from his patio porch to the house and back.  The nice weather did prompt him to go uptown and get his pickup washed.

  I had a great forenoon doing what makes me content and happy.  The studio . . . what can I say.  There are enough resources down there for my life expectancy.  Grant it, at one time or another I purchased those resources perhaps not knowing what I would do with them.  Now as I look at this or that I am coming up with ideas I never dreamt of before.  Sweet. 

  I don’t walk for the exercise as I had in the past.  I feel steady on my feet in the studio and am on my feet sometimes for two hours at a stretch.  I found walking outside of my home, the walking cane is a must.  If I walked on Stauffer Avenue, I would need both of the walking canes.  And then, guess what . . . gripping the canes was not easy on my hands.  Those self same hands I need to cherish for more uses in our home and for myself than I can count.  Yup, there is always a trade-off.

  Dennis rarely comes down to the studio.  The steps are steep.  His interest in threads and fuzz only gets his attention if it is the flannel sheets on his bed.  Just saying.

  We got a letter in the mail from the city.  Our acre is now in a portfolio created by the city of lots to share with developers, builders and other interested parties.  This is great.  It beats purchasing “For Sale” signs to promote it.  Over the last several years by keeping the acre trimmed and mowed, the good grass has really stooled out.  We had Spring Touch treat it once last year for weed control and we will do it again in 2026.

  Soup and grilled cheese for supper.  The waffles last night were yummy.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:39 pm on February 4, 2026 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  I am not bothered by what the skies are doing.  Past are the decades that mandated how I needed to be aware.

  I clocked into the studio at 9:30 this morning.  KNUJ had an interesting visit from New Ulm’s City librarian.  It doesn’t matter if you want to learn how to play chess or if you want bring your stitching along and visit with those of like interests.  Very informative.

  With the steam iron just a cooking, I got the 194 inches of binding folded, pressed and wound around some stiff cardboard for the six placemats I am putzing with.  I fought with fabric to get the salvage cut off before I went on to cut the sizes I need for the additional placemats.  Nothing pressing.  Perhaps just something prepared to share with someone that happens to stop in for a visit.  What used to be fusible foam and now is not has also been cut.  That about did the rotary cutting arm in.   

  Twelve noon and the remaining morning coffee was enjoyed.  I had had an avocado for breakfast with a slice of buttered toast.  There is nothing like a cookie to have with a cup or two of said coffee.  The cookies had been as hard as a brick.  Yesterday when I had had an apple, I put a wedge of my apple into the cookie jar.  Yup, success!  The cookies were now tender to the point of being enjoyable to nibble on.  Thanks for the tip Lena.  That tip had taken Dennis daughter, Sandy, by surprise. 

  Dennis went to the assisted living unit here in town to visit with his literally, life-long friend, Lyle Grove.  Lyle is several months older than Dennis but has not fared as well.  He is very hard of hearing and nearly blind.  The hearing challenges in that era of time when he was young were not taken to heart for help.  Dennis did a good deed.

  We have decided on the Ego Fluffy Waffles and sausages for supper.  Our four slice toaster does its magic and two waffles each works.  Unfortunately, the waffles come six to the box.  I buy two boxes at a time guaranteeing that sometime down the road there are two additional meals ready for us.

  The book I am reading is The Tin Man, one of the free books from the library.  I can pick up the threads in the story line very easily, so I am not fussy.

  With that I will take my leave.

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on January 31, 2026 Permalink  

  Icicles 

  Small icicles are forming off of the awning on the west side of our home.  The sun has the power to make it seem as if spring were right on our door-steps.  The mention of icicles brings to mind the amount of ice that can quickly build up from the furnace vent on the outside of the home.  Several years ago we had Watson’s bring the vent from the north side of the house to the south.  For two winters thereafter we never needed to pay attention to it.  Not so much this year.  Dennis has repeatedly commented during the sub-zero weather how quickly the ice wants to rise to meet the vent itself.  It was one of the wisest, safest things that we have had done.

  Even the studio was impressed with the sun coming through the south windows and no wind-chill to speak of.  With my project of doing some placemats, I did the worst of it today.  My goal is to do six placemats.  With the two of them as quilted guidelines, I figured out what length in the binding of six of them I would need.  964 inches was the calculation.  I went about cutting the 2.5 width of strips I would need.  This process is the most disgusting.  I cut the strips from the length of the fabric, the warp.  The weft has a slight stretch to it.  When sewing on bindings, the last thing desired is to have it wonky and wavy as the binding is turned over from the backing to the front.  That was the extent of the studio work.  I had put in a new blade into the rotary cutter, but the pressure on the shoulder after staying with it over a period of time needs to be honored.  

  KNUJ is not much fun on a Saturday as it entails the athletes being interviewed from various sports.  The individual announcer asks all the questions and the athlete gives either a “yes” or a “no” for response.  Boring!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:05 pm on January 30, 2026 Permalink  

  Snow? 

  An inch or so would be great to cover up the dirt-encrusted snow that is remaining

  For some reason the studio felt cooler to downright feeling cold.  I did have an agenda.  I kept moving.  Yes, the fusible foam did remain fused using the Best Press spray of yesterday.  The sample piece of yesterday was put to the test.  I wanted to see if I quilted the placemat every three inches apart doing a cross-hatch, would the friction cause the two layers to move, null and voiding the fused aspect.  No!  It held tight.  I went on to quilt the top and bottom together of one of the placemats.  I did lay out the second placemat using the same painter’s tape concept for accuracy, but it was just not in the cards.  There is no way the thermostat on the furnace could be high enough to allow the studio to be comfortabe.

  I do feel good that the bundle of foam that I have will be usable by activating the fuse it was meant to have.

  The small pillow filled with crushed walnuts did get hand stitched shut.  Hard to believe that hand stitching with a small sharp needle and a single thread used to come so easily.  Now, the hand stitching that I do is done with a #26 tapestry needle and 2 ply embroidery floss.  That’s ok.  I like what I can do. 

  Yes, there is a covering of snow forecast.  This afternoon was the perfect time to make a trip to the grocery store.  The north wind was raw, but new snow and cold temps was more than I was willing to do.  Having concrete dry and bare under the feet is the ultimate.  A little variety in the kitchen goes a long way taking the edge off of meal preparation.  Besides I was out of apples and avocados.

  After the store we swung around town and we have a 12″ tuna sub on cheese bread for our evening meal.  The dressing of choice is ranch.  Green peppers, onions, lettuce, shredded cheese and olives rounds out the food group.  Sweet.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥