Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from April, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 1:41 pm on April 16, 2023 Permalink  

  Home Sweet Home 

  Early yesterday afternoon, Dennis called his family members and allow them to know we would not be traveling to the metro for Dennis’ niece’s funeral on Sunday.  He had heard enough of the weather reports to make that call.  Sweet.  

  Here it is today, Sunday, and we are snug and safe at home.  I have no idea what conditions are outside of our home.  Both of our phones went off an hour ago advising of an accident on Hwy 60 and Hwy 4.

  The studio has remained dark today.  I can fess up that when the gal came yesterday for the button tree, it did not go as smoothly going out as Kevin made it look when he delivered it coming in years ago.  The two older ones on Stauffer Ave. kicked it in gear and assisted.  It was a good team effort.

  Dennis has been in the patio porch with the kitties.  I found a fantastic mystery on Acorn.  Sitting and letting the body be at rest may be foreign to me, but needed from time to time.

  This week the weather is going to be all over the map.  Dennis and I will be right here at home taking it one day at a time.  As always the laundry basket is overflowing and that will wait until tomorrow.  I have been resting on my Laurels in regard to creative kitchen and supper making details.  It has been wonderful.  Tee Hee!

   
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  Noreen 2:10 pm on April 15, 2023 Permalink  

  Just Rolling Along 

  What a whirlwind of the last 24 hours.

  I had barely finished my early afternoon blog yesterday when Old Alley Quilt Shop called.  AJ’s king sized t-shirt project had been long armed, trimmed and ready to be picked up in downtown Sherburn.  Dennis said he would drive us there.  I think he was just as thrilled to get us one more step closer to being able to call this a quilt as I was.

  Dennis went into the shop with me.  He knew it was a heavy parcel when I dropped it off.  Now with quilt batting, backing and umteen feet of thread, I would appreciate the help.  Dennis looked over the long arm.  This shop’s long arm compared to his nephew Brett’s, Brett’s looks like a toy.  The gals in the shop thought that the embroidered blocks that were intermingled with the t-shirt blocks made for a fun t-shirt quilt. 

  I had also ordered from Old Alley a new cutting mat.  The Quilter’s Select that I had ordered has a surface that does not allow fabric to slide.  It also is a self-healing, multi-layer mat usable on both sides.  The Fisker’s I have been using has dots to use as guides for 1/8″ through 3/4″.  The Quilter’s Select has actual slash marks of those measurements on each one-inch increment across the 24″ x 36″ mat.

  We got home, and of course had to unfold the 96″ x 112″ Harley project.  I do have the binding ready to be sewn on.  That may be next week’s project for me. 

  My plan for today was to set up the Husky table so as my machine would feed the quilt through the needle the quilt would flow onto the church tables, taking away the heft of fabric so as to not have it pull away from the sewing.   

  I decided to check my computer and lo and behold I had a serious nibble for the Fairfax button tree that had gone onto the Facebook Marketplace.  Within two hours, the button tree was loaded into a pickup and heading for St. Peter.  How sweet was that!  Someone having the ability to use what I no longer did . . . priceless.

  As I am finishing this posting, the 39 degrees compared to the 79 degrees of yesterday morning can definitely explain why the furnace has been kicking in and out.

  Tomorrow we are to go to Dennis’ niece’s funeral in the metro.  Visiting with Dennis and what the weather is forecast to be . . . time will tell.  Colder temps, possible snow and high winds will decide if we hit the highway or stay safe.

   
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  Noreen 4:03 pm on April 13, 2023 Permalink  

  Solo Trip 

  I had a solo trip to Mankato for the stitchers at Baker’s Square.  It had been several months since I had been in attendance.  It was enjoyable to see everyone and get caught up to date with each other.

  There is road construction for a stretch of highway by Madelia.  From some of the other gals coming from different directions, it is the norm.

  What didn’t feel like the norm was the strong wind from the south.  I stopped at our Lewis drug as I came home.  It actually took me some time to get the car door open due to the serious wind.  I was on high alert getting into the drug store as well as returning to the car staying upright.  2023 has had way too many less than norms when it comes to weather related items.

  I do think everyone is on their own for this Thursday night’s supper.  I am just not feeling creative.  I think breakfast cereal sounds good for me, Dennis will have to think his fare through.

  It’s been a good day and being home is the best part of it.  Dennis had a cup of coffee waiting for me . . . sweet.

   
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  Noreen 2:35 pm on April 12, 2023 Permalink  

  In Progress 

  When the temps jump up into the 80s in such short order, there is outside work beckoning.  I did tackle some of the outside items this morning.  

  When individuals are kind enough to move mountains of snow at their convenience, there is bound to be some after effect.  This morning I found my favorite little rake and tackled the clumps of sod that had been pushed up at the same time the snow was moved.  It took me quite a while.  Slow and steady as I took the job in stride.  The wind from the south was strong, just as strong as the sun’s rays.  I was happy when I could work in the shade of the evergreen on the northwest corner of our home.

  When I walked our backyard I couldn’t help but think that the deer did a wonderful job of aerating most of the area.  It will be interesting to see if any of the Hosta appreciated the many footprints in the soft soil.

  When Snuggles and I had put quite a few snow implements into the potting shed we kicked back and thought well, “For the first attempt of spring yard work, we did well,”  This definitely is going to be a work in progress as the spring days will beckon us outside.  The two spots of the Fern Peonies, are just showing some bright red little buds poking through.

  I did walk through the studio this afternoon picking up a roll of paper toweling.  I did stop at one of the church tables to take a peek at the project that will have to wait for a bit.  It for sure is a work in progress.  I had kicked off my garden shoes and made the trip into the studio in stocking feet.  Holy buckets the floor was ice cold.  The water finding its way around the perimeter via the tile heading to the sump pump . . . I cannot imagine what the temperature of that water would be.  I picked up the towels and beat feet out of there.

  By the way, the haircut turned out well.  Bless Dennis’ heart.  Before I got into the chair, he commented to Brenda that when he had to help get my hair to lay down for a road date, he liked the way I looked when the hair was snipped in all sorts of lengths.  Dennis knew how I had fought with my brush to get the heavy lengths to do something.  No . . . Dennis is not my stylist, but him talking and commenting to his niece went very well.  Like I said, bless his heart.

  Tomorrow the stitchers are meeting at Baker’s Square in Mankato.  We have cancelled more times than not since before Christmas.  The winter didn’t allow Thursdays to be safe.

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on April 1, 2023 Permalink  

  Keeping Busy 

  A day to stay busy and let carpenters do their thing.  Bryan and Carlos were here early considering they needed to brush snow off of the tarp of lumber waiting to be used.

  Oh yes.  We had freezing mist and snow with high winds.  Could this be the last of it!

  True to my word to Dennis, I have stayed out of the way of the front door project.

  It seemed like a good day to try out an embroidery pattern I downloaded yesterday.  I don’t want to forget how the downloading process goes.  If I did forget, I would feel that an entire window of possibilities would be closed to me.  Yes, each design does cost about $3.50 each.  I couldn’t even go uptown and have a cup of coffee with a donut for that.  Once I download it, I have ownership of it to use as often as I want.  

  The three towels I embroidered today is an example of my ownership.  We have a towel of a Mackintosh red apple tree, a green Grannie Smith apple tree and one Golden Delicious apple tree.  It kept me busy and the best part is, there are no puckers in the embroidery.  Just as in keeping my hand in downloading, it is also remembering what stabilizers to use for the best outcome. 

  The sun is out and it is bright, but last night’s dumping has kept the temps cool.

  As Dennis and I had been beating the bushes for quite some time to have carpenters on board, I have taken it upon myself to post Bryan’s business card on Facebook.  Bryan and his wife, plus Carlos, moved here from New York last summer to help Bryan’s father-in-law with the huge two story house across the way from us.  Bryan’s decided to stay in St. James, so Carlos did also.  Seeing Bryan’s van in our driveway is good advertising so the business card on Facebook can’t hurt either.

  Our town needs carpenters and repair people.  The Good Old Boys Club has dwindled.

  We have decided on eggs and sausages for supper.  I picked up a package of Jimmy Dean’s pre-cooked link sausages.  If the links are as good as the patties by the same brand . . . I will let you know what the foodies think.

  Have a blessed Sunday.

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on March 31, 2023 Permalink  

  79 Years Ago 

  My mom, Lena, told the tale that seventy nine years ago the team of horses that she was using to feed the young stock at the feed bunk were spooked and she had all she could do to get them under control.  In the hours before supper of that day, Dr. Hovde of Winthrop made a house call out to the farm.  Whew!  I might have been an April fool’s day child.  

  Today has been a wonderful birthday.  I put up the birthday cards from Carrie’s family and Kevin’s family in the studio.  A bit of cheer to warm the heart.  

  We were up early this morning as there was thunder and lightning.  The hail didn’t last long but the rain sure did.  When I looked out the bathroom window it caused some concern as the patio looked flooded.  The next time I looked out the water had gone down.  Does this mean the frost is out of the ground?  Our patio porch has a chance of staying dry this spring.  This was the 25th year of the Comfrey and St. Peter tornados.  Our patio porch had just been completed when we watched the weather as the skies turned black to our northwest in the last days of March.  I was called to help Brown County do the property assessments of the damaged homes.  Not an experience easily forgotten.  We have been enjoying that patio porch for more years that can be recalled if not for a news update of what happened so long ago.

  I plunked around in the studio.  It was high time to put a patch on Dennis’ everyday jacket as there were feathers peeking out of a hole.

  When Old Alley gives a call that AJ’s quilt has been longarmed, I know the lengths of binding needed to be readied.  The 400 plus inches has been sewn together, pressed in half and wound onto a cardboard.  I am prepared.

  I am not prepared for what they say will happen with heavy snow and wind beginning this evening.  Winter needs to go away.  Weather forecasters have been known to call it wrong.

  The first days of April are entitled for spring time weather.  I will say when I look at our backyard that has cleared of snow, the grass is a welcomed shade of green.

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on March 30, 2023 Permalink  

  Cloudy and Raw 

  Hello, Hello!  This is the Eve of my birthday.  I am really feeling good . . . almost giddy.

  We have had two carpenters here since morning.  Having a useable front door is in sight.  For the last while since I have been unable to do a 14″ step either up or down, our backdoor has been the go-to for us as well as anyone coming to see us.  As Bryan was packing up, he bid us goodbye, allowing us to know that concrete needs to harden where he had sunk posts.  If the weather ends up literally doing a “Not this time” Bryan will be back Saturday.  This project is actually happening!

  Knowing myself, I have spent the day in the studio.  Staying out of the way but being close if needed was the plan.  The embroidery module is perking right along.  I like trying things and also trying different avenues to get a polished looking end game.  

  Yesterday one of the Watson boys stopped in to affirm the fact that in time we will have the furnace vent to the south side of the house.  No more ice build up threatening the furnace to a shutdown.  To get this home’s bucket list done would be sweet.

  Supper is going to be light.  Dennis has caught some pretty serious naps in the patio porch today.  All he had going today was a blood draw at the VA clinic here in town for his INR, blood clotting measure.

  Some days the entire kitchen gets a break.

  Enjoy tomorrow as we wind down the last week of March.

   
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  Noreen 2:56 pm on March 29, 2023 Permalink  

  Spring? 

  With what it is like out today and listening to the forecast . . . spring??  I don’t think so.

  What we do have here on Stauffer Avenue is a nice grouping of green treated lumber as well as a new storm door.  Carpenter Bryan was here when the lumberyard of Truman delivered all the goodies.  Bryan check listed all that came off the truck.  All is under a tarp or in the garage.  We have been waiting for our front door to be tricked out for some time.  Considering what the weather will bring . . . we are in this to win it.

  The studio was in for some kitchen towel embroidering.  One item that has been in the studio far too long hit the garbage.  I didn’t realize spray starch had a sell by date.  I was going to put some spray starch sizing on a kitchen towel to give it an additional strong base for the stitching.  Hmm.  I didn’t notice the yellowing when the area was wet.  Live and learn.  A light laundering will take care of the problem.

  Since I gave notice to my friend that I would not be helping her with any sewing help, I have felt lighter.  My time and my energy is priceless.  It is my privilege to wear myself out, I don’t need any help in that department.

  My very first ever cutting mat for fabric cutting has been shit canned.  How long do I think things should last!  I do have a replacement in the wings.  After a while the ruts made by years of use don’t do new cutting blades any favors.  I could use a nice solid bottom for a cork bag I made.  I drew the dimensions on the old mat and did the outline as well.  Dennis can use an opposite corner and try out different cutting tool options.  My goal is to have a 7″ x 14″ finished item.  Dennis is willing and he enjoys helping out for the studio’s needs.

  His wound doctor visit here in our clinic gave a positive report on how I am doing on the daily change of bandaging.  As Dennis saw Dan this morning, I get the day off.  Sweet.

  An offering for supper of the chicken pasta dish in the microwave . . . perfect.

  Take heart everyone, there will be spring eventually.

   
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  Noreen 2:42 pm on March 28, 2023 Permalink  

  Slow Melting 

  We like days like this when the cold temps of the night are followed by daytime temps in the thirties.  Slow melting with no flooding.

  Quite the scare in my studio.  I was going to look something up on my studio computer and there was nothing that came up.  The poor little curser was aimlessly seeking to attach to something without success.  All I could do was hold down the button that fires it up and hold it for quite a few seconds.  After doing this several times, allowing a good ten minutes between each try, a message came up that Windows had not loaded correctly.  I had a prompt to power off.  That time I waited for half an hour.  The next try was a winner.  We are up and running.  Being as I am not very computer savvy, I try to take things slow so they work out.  Being one to rely on someone else is a card I don’t like to play any oftener than possible.

  Today a decision was made for me.  A friend had wanted to learn how to go about working with fabrics and how pieced quilting would come about.  Ann came one Thursday with the intent of coming on Thursdays.  As each Thursday afternoon came about, I would receive a text cancelling out.  After today’s text for this Thursday came for cancellation.  I sent a text and I let her know that I was going to chalk this up for good intentions on her part but perhaps not the right time for her.  In time to come she would realize when she would want to commit to digging out her own sewing machine and give stitching a chance.  The information and fabric I gave her was hers to keep when that chance might came about for her.  Dennis agreed with me that being on someone else’s time frame didn’t sound like a good fit for me right now.

  I can share with you that Dennis’ oven meal of last night was wonderful.  I am very happy that the little round blue speckled roaster was as full as it was as we will be feasting on it for several meals.  Sweet.

  This afternoon, I have been diddling around in the studio.  The box that had some items in it that could be embroidered on provided possibilities.  Time to look through my flash drives to see what can be paired.  I did purchase yesterday at the Bernina shop a USB Extension Pigtail.  Using the USB port in my sewing machine with repeated use, this will head off damage or fatigue.  

  Tomorrow is hump day.  A closer day to the time when we can all be where we need to be without the constant noise of what is needed for us to be productive, aka: furnaces, etc.

   
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  Noreen 3:28 pm on March 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Back From Up North 

  The trip up north was a good drive.  The sewing machine is back in the studio ready for the next round of what I choose to put it through.

  I could not believe the amount of sewing machines Kelly had to be picked up by customers that were serviced and just as many waiting for him to repair and service.  Kelly will try all brands of sewing machine repair, but Bernina is his specialty.  Amanda had a fair share of quilt tops waiting to be long armed. 

  Kelly farms with his dad.  Right now, as soon as they can get the machine shed doors open on their farm out of the freezing snow and ice the spring machine work will start to see if and what is field ready.

  When I got home Dennis looked down at my shoes and knew right off the bat I had stopped in Fairfax to see the kids and their fur baby.  I had perfect impressions on each black shoe of Kluge’s paw print.  Too funny and special.

  The sun was out today and for all the snow-covered fields north of us, it was many times a glare.

  When I got home this afternoon, Dennis had hot coffee waiting for me.  As well, there is a chicken oven dish ready to pop in the oven for supper.  Sweet.  If a meal was made for me, I know I will enjoy it.

  The rest of my week is soft.  I like that.