Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from February, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:10 pm on February 2, 2023 Permalink  

  Reports of Wind Chills 

  The weather gal on KEYC mentioned the other day that winter winds needed to be at least 5 mph before wind chills are reported.  I think the 24 mph today qualifies for wind chills, I just don’t need to know what it is.  Ignorance can be bliss. 

  Right at twelve noon, a very nice Center Point Energy young fellow came visiting.  He heard my concerns of the furnace exhaust being on the north side of the house.  Several times it has been dangerously close to extreme.  Dennis and I are at the point that we don’t want to have to make it to the northeast corner of the house to get a glimpse of it . . . one way or the other.  

  All I needed to hear from Center Point was that we could have our Watson boys reroute the exhausts of the ac and furnace to go directly south through the foundation.  How easy to keep track of it.  There was no charge for the visit.

  I put a call into Watson Plumbing and we are on their list to have this project taken care of.  From looking at the PVC piping going north from the furnace, there would be lineal feet of the piping to be reused.  That’s this Grammie’s thinking of the situation.

  Several hours in the studio had me making headways in the newest Log Cabin pattern.

  I have a pork steak in my blue speckled enamel roaster beginning to smell good in the oven.  A bit of Lawry seasoned salt on top with a schmear of ketchup will finish it up.  Dennis peeled potatoes and opened a can of cranberries.  We are set for a wintery supper.

   
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  Noreen 2:42 pm on January 31, 2023 Permalink  

  Happy Tuesday 

  Yesterday we had our electrician as a guest for three hours.  Our home is now in tip top electrical shape.  A few new plugins in the studio and best of all they are at a level that is easily accessible for me.

  Thursday the Centerpoint service fellow will be here.  Our furnace’s exhaust is on the north side of our home.  Hmm.  Quite the trek once there is snow and ice.  As we plan on staying in our forever home for some time, the exhaust option needs to be changed out.  I will see what the Centerpoint fellow has to offer and then I also have some ideas.  Older folks, needing to live safer.

  Some places in the studio looked as if a beaver had been chewing yesterday.  I told electrician Dale not to worry about any clean up.  I do cleanup well.

  The cleanup ensued this morning in the studio.  By twelve noon all was done with the help of my vintage Filter Queen canister vac.  I keep it under the sewing table and it is very handy to stay on top of fuzz, thread and occasional saw dust.

  Tomorrow we have plans to take in Dennis’ Korean luncheon in Mankato at the VFW.  With doctor’s appointments and the latest surgery, we have missed out quite a few meetings.  A little socializing will do both of us good.  The temps are to be in the teens for tomorrow.

  As per the surgeon’s request, I have changed out the surgical dressing every day to make sure the foot is as dry as possible.  Surprisingly, the foot does perspire quite a bit through the gauze dressing.  Things really are looking good in the healing process.  We have abided to every item laid out for healing.  The tall Velcro boot is put back on each day after the dressing as been changed.  It needs to protect that surgically altered foot 24/7 . . . and it is.  It may be something, I had not thought of early on.  Whether Dennis has been outside or not, the boot and Dennis go to bed together.  The tidy, tidy of bed or floors is a small price to pay for quality of life for Dennis.  I am very proud of us working together on the tasks.

  Hmm.  I have no idea what supper will be.  I am sure we won’t go hungry.

   
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  Noreen 2:59 pm on January 30, 2023 Permalink  

  Not Much 

  Not much can be said about January, other than . . . I am sure happy it will soon be history.

  I worked in the studio for several hours, then taking a break to have a noon lunch with Dennis.  I will admit that the basement studio can be a tad chilly.  No, my electrician did not stop by today.  Without my little heater . . . chilly was the word. 

  Update:  My electrician is here and I will continue this tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 2:50 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink  

  Brr! 

  It is a day that chilly would not cover.  It is downright cold.  A day when south windows can suck in the warmth of the sun . . . and it does.

  I found contentment in the studio.  That is no different than what Lena would have done on a day such as this. 

  The home that they moved onto the site across from the farm homestead, had Lena’s sewing room with good window light.  Mom could be found in her sewing room on a Sunday afternoon and dad, Raymond, was in the basement in his woodworking room.  Each content doing what they enjoyed, but not so busy that the coffee break at three could be forgotten.  Surprisingly, mom and dad took to having Folger’s instant coffee.  It made sense why the tea kettle was usually on the back burner, full, with a heat setting on low.  It didn’t take long and that setting was turned up and coffee was on.

  I am not one for a coffee break in the afternoon.  I will do away with the breakfast pot of coffee, cold or hot and then . . . no more.

  Today was the day to see what the fabrics I had pulled together would look like in a prototype.  All was pulled from what I had in my stashes.  It feels good to whittle down what has been purchased in times past.  When I follow quilting sites on Facebook, I have most surly seen more unusual pairing.  This new project is going to do quite nicely. 

  Interestingly enough, yesterday we discovered when one of the plugin outlets took a dump the other day in the studio, there was a second one that went out in the living room.  Both were original to the house.  A lamp that was plugged in at the living room site also is no longer.  Electrician Dale will get out his little tester when he comes to visit this next week and have some work to do.  I am quite sure I know what the culprit is.  My newly acquired electric heater that sat under my sewing machine keeping my legs warm was plugged in directly to the box on the post in the studio.  I had not trusted it being used in conjunction with a power strip. 

  Nothing serious was caused.  Older homes, like older folks need to keep up with what is needed for high efficiency.

   
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  Noreen 2:43 pm on January 28, 2023 Permalink  

  A Labor of Love 

  On this most chilly of days, it was indeed a labor of love that needed to intercede.

  Dennis came home yesterday with one of his refills that Lewis Drug had filled for him.  I expected him to put a pill bottle on the counter when he came home.  A flash of copper colored tin foil caught my eye.  A total of 60 pills were on sheets of this copper colored tin foil.  Each pill was to be pushed out of its surround when needed twice a day.

  Dennis commented at supper that he had not gotten a pill pushed out.  I told him I would get one for him.  I couldn’t get the pill to push out through to the foil background.  I got out a small scissor and cut around the pill.

  Last night while watching television and sitting at the dining room table, the labor of love ensued.  It took me quite some time to tackle the project of getting 60 pills cut loose to put in a pill bottle for Dennis. 

  I thought to myself, how dumb was this latest move from a drug company.  If there had been another 80 plus person living on their own, realizing a scissor was needed to access a pill, those pills could easily be shaved down to a less than metered amount of the drug that was needed.  It took me very carefully getting the pills to pop out of the protective covering.  Mission completed.  The gal at Lewis Drug told Dennis that this way of packaging prescription is on the horizon.

  Today is cold.  Today I spent some good time in the studio.  It felt like my home sweet home. 

  This evening, we are having Johnsonville Beef brats and pork and beans for supper, giving the kitchen a feel of summertime . . . maybe.

   
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  Noreen 3:27 pm on January 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Bright Sun 

  The sun is so bright today.  If I don’t look at the temps, I would think spring has begun.  Not so fast!

  This weekend has a cold snap planned that should and would keep everyone safe and sound within their own homes.  Not even brand new vehicles are hardy enough to ensure safety in the bitter cold.  This would be a home sweet home weekend.  The strong winds of today are making travel risky north of us.  Amanda at the sewing shop in Bird Island, closed the shop due to road conditions.   

  Last night we had a sampling of our hearty beef soup out of the ever humble crock pot.  It was tasty.  The carrots, potatoes, and green beans were tender and the perfect addition.  I was happy I did not add the celery.  Celery really overtakes in the flavor department.  After supper out came my containers for putting a bit of this tastiness into the freezer.  We will have a second helping of this soup this evening and then move on for supper fare for the weekend.

  This morning I was pumped to get into the studio.  I had previously everything cut for a log cabin pattern in the hues of tan to brown.  I stitched six inches and all stopped.  I began checking out the electrical aspects.  Sure enough the box on the post in the center of the room had no life.  I double checked the power strip that had been connected to it.  It worked fine when I plugged in across the room to that existing box.  

  At noon I called our electrician, Dale.  Dale will be over next week and we will be back in service.  The box that went kaput has the old fabric covered wiring going to it.  Better to be safe than sorry.  Much depends on those items that I expect to work when a switch is flipped.  I do have the two most important items, the sewing machine and the iron, rigged to work until next week.  Nothing running across the walkways on the floor.  I have until next week to check over the studio to see where extra boxes would be needed.  

  Life is always open for challenges.  I do like the fact that self reliance serves me well.

   
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  Noreen 2:04 pm on January 23, 2023 Permalink  

  I Missed It 

  The news at noon said the sun had been out for a short time this forenoon, but I missed it.  I had gone into the studio and tidied up after the segment of putting zippers into the pant legs of several pair of Dennis’ pants.  There is a spot for everything and when everything is in its place . . . all goes so much better.  It is comparable to the tools needed in a repair shop.  If put back when finished with it . . . it will always be able to be found.

  My patient is doing well.  Last night when I dressed the incision, the wound was dry to the touch.  No stitches have been pulled out.  When I was done, there was plenty of padding for protection before setting the foot back in the boot and Velcroing it in.  No rubbing of any sort!  Dennis has been very cooperative.  This morning he asked if he could pick up Dwayne for coffee.  Dwayne no longer drives and was tickled to death.  They picked up coffee in the drive through and drove around the community.   No harm, no foul.  There was very little activity, other than stepping into the little red pickup and then stepping out again.

  This morning I checked out the picket fence.  Dennis thinks two bucks got into a tussle with one jumping the fence, getting its hoof caught.  The bucks have shed their antlers at this time of the year, so it was hard to tell who was what.  We are down one picket.  As luck would have it, we have an extra picket in the garage.  Plenty of time for a repair this spring. 

  Happy Monday everyone.

   
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  Noreen 2:53 pm on January 16, 2023 Permalink  

  Custom Zippers 

  Digging in my stashes, I found the perfect solution for our latest medical need.

  The boot on Dennis’ left foot is very cumbersome, heavy and specialized.  It is built so when Dennis puts that foot out for a step, the built up heel takes the brunt.  

  Up until yesterday Dennis had a pair of cut off sweat pants to wear.  The boot was to stay on 24/7, but I did take it off Wednesday night to allow him a piece of clothing he could manage in and out of the bathroom. 

  It has been mild outside, but his little white legs even gave the white snow a run for its money. 

  In my stash, out came what is called zipper by the yard.  When purchasing a yard there are several of the zipper pulls included.  Custom zippers can be created.  It is not the easiest to thread the zipper pull on the two sides of the zipper.  Nonetheless, Dennis now has two pair of pants that allow the left leg of each to have a 20″ opening to fit around and over the boot.

  It is time for me to take care of the livestock chores as well as to get the garbage bin out to the edge of Stauffer Avenue.  As soon as I enter the garage, the kitties plop down from the rafters.  It does not get cooler than 51 degrees in the garages, and of course, heat rises.

  May the new week bring all that is needed for all of us.

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on January 15, 2023 Permalink  

  Success 

  As of this afternoon Dennis has a pair of pants that will fit over this humongous boot.  The zipper went in well though it could have been longer.  This boot with tons of Velcro also has the ability to be pumped up . . . or have a release of pressure.  Lefty, loosey.  Righty, tighty.

  Tomorrow, I may take another pair of older pants and do it up with another zipper, so Dennis can have a wardrobe change of two.

  Outside, whatever has something to thaw and drip . . . is.

  I have had a day of sewing success and am going to enjoy my rocking chair before supper.

   
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  Noreen 2:51 pm on January 14, 2023 Permalink  

  A New Challenge 

  Today I am working on some sewing skills.

  Dennis came home from the hospital in what was a pair of good sweat pants that had a zipper on each side of the legs.  The nurses had a heck of a time getting Dennis ready for home as the zipper was not quite adequate.  I got those pants off by hook and crook, but he needs something more than his undies for next week’s appointments.

  Today with using the oldest pants he has, I am opening the side of the left leg.  Some time ago I had bought three yards of zipper length with individual heads to make your own zippers for the length you needed.  Thankfully I have one head already threaded onto the length.  I think I will cut off a 16″ length and make a pair of pants that are doable to fit over this huge clumsy boot that goes up mid point to Dennis’ knee. 

  Pants that have been laundered umpteen times have stitches deeply embedded with navy on navy . . . hard to see.  Enough for that today.  I will hit the studio tomorrow and see how I do.

  I have the livestock chores done for the day and have made a trip to the store for cough drops, carrots, onions and a rotisserie chicken.

  Boning out the chicken will give me a good batch of chicken for an oven dish sometime soon.  Fixing a dish that will provide us with a good nutritious meal for three evening meals is better for me than coming up with something night after night.

  Dennis is doing quite well . . . all things considered.  He is staying ahead of the pain while keeping the leg up at various locations within the house.  He has not asked if he can go out to the patio porch . . . I believe he already knows what the situation is until next week Tuesday when we see a medical team.