Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from January, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:59 pm on January 4, 2023 Permalink  

  Winter! 

  We have not had a winter such as this for one long time.  The depth of the snow is quite the sound barrier.  The evergreen’s boughs outside my bedroom porch window are laden beyond belief.  I know we have a wind of 10 mph but it is not enough to take the snow.  

  I dressed up at noon and made a path from our back door to the garage door.  I have been doing this every several hours so as not to have so much each time.  It is very wet and heavy snow and what has been falling all day is half rain.  Randy will be over after five to clear the drive.  Grandson Ryan is coming over later with a skid loader.  The city has plowed Stauffer Avenue on a once through and that has not allowed much for Dennis to back out of his garage.  Each time the snow opposite the garage gets taller and much falls back onto the surface.  Ryan will take the snow and pile it in the backyard.  After all what is a little red pickup if it can’t get out of the garage?

  I spent time in the studio puttering around mindlessly.  I need to get myself centered and dig into something . . . even if it is wrong.  Come on Grammie . . . you are better than this.  I have more on my mind than what is needed.

  I did stick my head into the refrig to see what I would be scaring up for supper.  Hmm.  What I spied was half of a huge white onion.  That would have been Raymond’s solution.  My dad could have a raw onion sandwich on white and call it good.  I think we will be having scrambled eggs with buttered toast.  I had heard that an 18 count of eggs was $11.00.  Seriously!

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on January 2, 2023 Permalink  

  To Decide 

  Yesterday I posted a photo of a pillow I had stitched out.  I was thinking about gluing buttons on to fill in the “O”.  As I did several loads of laundry this morning I kept thinking on it.  I made a kettle of soup . . . still thinking on it.

  Several hours was spent this afternoon sorting through possibilities of buttons.  Some of the buttons would have come from the cards of buttons on the Fairfax button tree.  Some would have come from Lena’s jar of saved buttons.  After getting a cup of cold breakfast coffee down to the studio, I sat and looked back and forth from the pillow as finished and then the pile of odds and ends of red buttons.

  I have decided less is more.  There was a whole lot of food for thought going on.  No buttons will be glued to the pillow top.  What I will do is put the loose red buttons in a bag . . .  just in case something else would ever come up needing red buttons.  The red buttons on the small cardboard cards will continue looking smart as they hang on the button tree.

  As I mentioned, I made a kettle of soup.  Occasionally I will buy a bag of mixed vegetables to steam within the bag via the microwave.  I had also fixed a pork steak in the blue speckled roaster with baby carrots.  The drippings in the roaster of the pork steak were too tasty to pitch.  I felt a home made soup coming on.  I browned a pound of hamburger meat this morning.  I tossed all of the leftover vegetables in a sauce pan with the meat and the saved drippings.  I was short liquid in the saucepan.  I was also short flavor.  No way was a trip to the grocery store to be had to buy a box of broth.  I added water to cover the contents by a good two inches.  Out of the refrig came the jar of onion roasted flavored Better Than Bullion.  Two spoons full got plopped in.  A generous shake of seasoned salt, a guess of ground pepper and very generous shakes of soy sauce.  I put the sauce pan and ingredients on simmer.  We have a tasty soup for supper.  I cook like Lena, not with a recipe.

  The cement drive began showing wet at 1:30, what will follow is anyone’s guess.  We have had plenty of warning.

   
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  Noreen 2:30 pm on January 1, 2023 Permalink  

  A New Year is Here 

  January 1st is here for all to enjoy.  I am not one to make resolutions.  I do intend to try hard to maintain the health and home that I have been blessed to have.  I know I can count on new challenges to present themselves in 2023.  Taking one day at a time with a positive attitude is all that is in my power.

  The sun is out with a balmy 35 degrees.  The snow has had a chance to shrink before more is added.  That may happen by tomorrow at this time. 

  Dennis took a long nap and I have finished what I have been working on in the studio.  I had goofed up one piece of man-made suede that needed to be tossed.  I was left with the one remaining piece that was spot on for a small pillow form that I had.  16″ x 12″ was the pillow form.  I knew I would need every bit of the 18″ x 14″ of the red suede piece.  No screw ups.  Over time I had downloaded the alphabet design pack from the OESD embroidery site.  I was determined to use this fabric up.

  I have always had a challenge when it came time to position things straight when it really counted.  One quick glance was all that was needed to see the item was off by a hair or two or three.  On this red suede, I measured more times than I can recall.  Placing each letter took time as the letter would be embordered right onto the suede.  The first step was stitching on the Tartan plaid with a piece of fabric larger than needed.  The outline stitch then allowed for the extra fabric to be trimmed away as close as possible to the stitching.  The gold satin stitch was the last step for each of the individual  letters to encase the plaid fabric edges, which by the way, is a woven fabric, not printed.  The Tartan plaid is used for the envelope back. 

  I had seen this pillow in an advertisement and it piqued my interest.  What had been then done to the pillow was the letter “O” was filled with with all sorts and sizes of red buttons.  I took a scrap of the plaid stitched onto the suede to see how well it played with buttons glued onto it.  I will know more tomorrow after the glue is totally dry.  I do have buttons from the Fairfax button tree to use if I decide to go that route.  The glue I have is a powerful one.  The buttons glued on would withstand a lot.

  So many decisions sure can keep me guessing and going.  What I can share is that I have always used January to work with making Christmas items.  No stress on a time frame.

   
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  Noreen 3:07 pm on December 31, 2022 Permalink  

  New Year’s Eve 

  Today may be New Year’s Eve, but in reality, another day on the calendar.

  Dennis and I have never done anything out of the ordinary for this evening that always ends up getting a bad rap when some tend to celebrate too much.

  I have spent time in the studio.  Creating a pattern that is an original, thus no given time is allotted.  Measure, once . . . measure twice and then place it under the sewing machine embroidery module.  Tomorrow may show evidence that my thinking is meshing with the stitching.

  This morning I looked out and thought the bare drive was a treat.  No ice to worry about.  KNUJ has just popped my balloon when they reported a storm coming Monday and going through Tuesday with snow and an icy mixture. 

  I have my blue speckled roaster in the oven with pork steak.  Dennis’ blood panel indicted his hemoglobin is a bit low.  We do tend to have chicken often.  Ground beef will be put on our menu for this next week.  I really don’t feel like buying liver right now.  What is purchased in a grocery store is not sliced for pan ready.  A good list of foods on the computer helped.

  Enjoy the first 2023 day tomorrow.  I have high hopes for a very good 2023 for us two on Stauffer Avenue and for all our children.

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on December 30, 2022 Permalink  

  That is All Folks 

  The sun is out and our drive is clear of ice and snow.

  Our only agenda for the day was to have Dennis out to our clinic today for a pre-op physical.  Dennis passed it with flying colors for the surgery he will be having on January 11th.  Dennis will be having the remaining three toes removed from his left foot as well as a metatarsal bone adjacent to the little toe.

  In October of 2021 something did a number in and on Dennis’ foot and he has fought the good fight ever since with that foot.  There is nothing to explain or complain about.  Our bodies can have medical issues that are out of our hands.  For myself, I am so thankful it is not cancer for Dennis.  I am humbled as to how Dennis is handling this. 

  So back to what I started out with . . . rejoice in the sunshine.

  I have attempted to spend time in the studio.  After today, there is only marking time until January 11th and perhaps the studio will be given more time.

  As we have agreed to a soup and sandwich supper, I am heading to my bedroom porch to read a bit while taking in the sunshine.

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on December 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Happy Tuesday! 

  With 26 degrees out, there is a whole lot of happiness going on our drive.  There is bare concrete sticking out.  Even with all the hard packed snow, once Dennis got down to the concrete by our back door, it was wet from the rain we had right before the snow.  A weird winter.

  I had a project in mind for the studio.  After one of those things . . .  “you can’t fail if you don’t try.”  I tried and now the waste basket has had an offering of failed.  I had some ultra suede, a manmade product.  Stick pins, safety pins and any other kind of a pin I had would not go through it.  My attempt of putting a zipper in, in what would be a pillow . . . failed.  the two layers wanted to walk away from each other.  This morning was garbage day and now the clean wastebasket in the studio doesn’t feel like it isn’t needed.  Tomorrow is another day.  Lights and my electric heater . . . shut down for the remainder of the day.

  A friend, Linda, was the gal that took all of the Dueber fabric and embroidery floss for her church’s mission sewing.  Today, I sent her a get well text.  The 20th of this month she had surgery for a portion of her jaw and some lymph nodes removed due to cancer.  A bone from the calf of her leg is now a portion of her jaw.  She is in amazing spirits.  Linda could talk a leg off of a chair.  She shared with me that she is getting callouses from texting as much as she had talked.  A very sweet friend.

  Dennis and Dwayne did the McDonald’s coffee group today.  As the fellows were catching up, a woman from the First Lutheran Church came to the fellow’s table and thanked Dennis for all the fabric his wife had donated.  Sweet!  Dennis drove Dwayne past our backyard.  The deer-trampled acre is quite the sight.   

  Our Christmas tree is still shining brightly.  I don’t feel in a hurry to tuck it away.

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on December 26, 2022 Permalink  

  Monday a Holiday 

  When Christmas Day is on a Sunday, the Monday is then considered a holiday.

  It was a good thing that Lewis Drug was indeed open today.  They had closed on the 23rd in the morning due to blowing snow and the same for the 24th.  Now today being the 26th they were backed up ten deep.  Dennis was one of their customers standing in line.  Not a good day for a new employee behind the counter.  All is well as Dennis did come home with the correct items.

  Grandson Ryan was here this morning with the skidloader.  The pile of snow in our front yard is huge.  Ryan takes the snow from Stauffer Avenue, which is where Dennis needs to back out of with the little red pickup for his errands, and that snow is piled in the backyard.  Oh so much white.

  Who knew that the snow that began to fall Christmas day would continue most of the night.  When I went to bed at ten and looked out, the snow against the street light looked as if glitter were falling from the heavens.  Every color imaginable reflected.

  The storm that we had over Christmas blew snow in drifts that became hard.  We had never had snow pile up at our back door to the depth that this was.  It took quite a push for Dennis to get out of the house Christmas Eve morning.  That push also took off part of the sweep from the bottom of the combination door.  There we had it . . . flopping every time the door opened and closed.  After Dennis cleared off snow from the back door walk to the garage, he was due a break.  With the bitter cold, I rolled up a carpetrag rug to keep the cold at bay.  A short term fix.

  When Dennis was napping, I looked the door situation over.  What would my dad, Raymond, do?  The vinyl sweep tore through from the screw holding it on.  The sweep was kept at bay by that screw length and thus not fitting back under the combination door.  The sweep had u-shaped channel that was now full of frozen snow.  I dressed warm and took one step at a time.  That step was clearing the frozen snow off of the inside door sill.  I got out my pastry brush and cleaned all the snow out of the channel.  I couldn’t get the screw out.  With a side clipper I snipped out just enough of the vinyl sweep so it bypassed the screw and I could get the length of the sweep back under the length of the door.  It’s not the best fix.  With the snow being kept away from the bottom of the outside door, it will do for now.  At least the sweep will keep the cold air from seeping in under the inside wooden door.

  When Dennis got up he couldn’t believe we were back in business.  There is nothing like a DIY Grammie.

  Today with laundry done, I decided to come down into the studio.  It had been dark for far too long.  It also gave me a chance to try out the small heater we purchased to sit under the sewing table.  The remote works great and can be set to oscillate if needed.

  Yes, this is a winter that we have not seen for many a year.  Now . . . if the forecast is correct we may have temps in the 30’s for the remainder of the week.  Go figure.

   
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  Noreen 4:52 pm on December 17, 2022 Permalink  

  Gusty Winds 

  Gusty winds with snowflakes.

  Today Dennis and I procured all the fixings for our Christmas dinner.  Surprisingly the four lane was clear after we got past the area between Madelia and Lake Crystal.  It has always been a bugger.

  When we got the word that there would be eight of us for the day, Dennis was giddy.  Dennis has a great “like” when Kevin’s and Carrie’s are coming, more so than when his children come.  Hmm.  I do know there are some favorite dishes for those coming. 

  I have a few items on a to-do list.  One for Kersten and one for Kevin.  Sweet indeed.

  The temps are really going to turn frigid this next week.  I will be happy to hibernate through it.

  Today we bought a small electrical heater for my studio.  I don’t need much sitting under my sewing machine but this will help with the cool air from being in the basement.  I do think of moving above ground . . . some day.  For now I an content and happy.  Never a day goes by that I don’t find myself wandering through my goodies.

  May the weekend bring contentment and enjoy this time.  Before Christmas is the perfect time to pull in and cherish what is in this world that we have carved out for ourselves with determination and care.

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on December 15, 2022 Permalink  

  And so it Was 

  It only took for me to open one squinty eye to realize it was white out.  So it was forecast and so it is.

  I was surprised that there were as many schools closed as announced on the radio.  As wet as the snow is and with a wind at 14 mph, us two old fuddy duddies are in a good spot right here on Stauffer Avenue.

  This morning as I had a cup of breakfast coffee going, I tugged on clothing right down to heavy socks and shoes.  Hmm.  I reminded myself of Lena.  If Lena was caught in her housecoat during the forenoon, it meant she was feeling under the weather.  Mom was up, she was dressed and took on the day’s activities.  I do know after I retired, I thought it was a treat to keep the housecoat handy not get dressed for the entire day.  I have become my mom in many ways and I like it.  I like it a lot.

  It is better for me to wear those heavy socks and shoes as our basement floor is cold.  Many winters we have had the sump pump running off and on during the entire winter depending on the amount of rain in the late fall.  With sub ground water running along the perimeter of the four sides of the basement, the floor is bound to be cold.  Staying out of the studio until all conditions were 100% . . . it just isn’t happening.  When Dennis and I had surprised Carrie for her birthday at her clothing store, I bought a three quarter length sweater that has a hood.  It is a loosely knit design and oh so warm.  The perfect pairing for time in the studio.  It doesn’t have any closures.  One of my clips that I use to hold stitching together is the perfect fit when I clip it collar bone height.  At that height it snuggles the hood around the neck.

  Today my goal was to stitch out the opposite end of the table runner that I am doing in tone on tone of light browns.  Midway through at a thread color change the machine was not giving up the green light.  That has never happened to me before.  I thought perhaps it had been a coincidence that the bobbin was out of thread.  Nope.  I took the hoop off of the module, raised and lower the pressure foot . . . nothing.  The red light stayed on.  I thought about it long and hard.  I had no idea what would happen if I actually shut the machine off and then restarted it.  Would the design want to start over from stitch one?  Would the design have lost the placement on the fabric?  I crossed my fingers and hit the power button, waited a minute or two and then turned it back on.  The machine turned on.  The module took the hoop to the far right and then to the far left and finally settled right where it had left off.  Whew.  After all these years, a new experience. 

  May everyone be able to stay safe as the snow is promised to fall well into the evening.

   
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  Noreen 3:07 pm on December 14, 2022 Permalink  

  The Sun 

  The sun had not forgotten us.  Thirty five and sunny.  

  The sun streaming into the south basement windows does the heart good.  I took my time cleaning all things of pink fuzz out of the sewing machine.  A new needle and a bit of oil and it was all systems “go.”

  It had been some time since I had put on the embroidery module.  I have nothing that has been promised.  I do have some designs that piqued my interest.  The first thing was to pull out some ecru fabric that would make a good table runner.  12″ x 36″ finished is what I stitched up.  Giving it a pressing with some Best Press spray gave it a lightly starched surface.

  This particular design has three colors.  Basically a tone on tone appearance with a pop of bright red to finish it.  I do plan on putting the identical design on the opposite end of the table runner.

  As I don’t really want any stabilizer to show on the back side, I have gone with the Sulky Super Solvy water soluble medium weight.  When I had coupons for JoAnn’s over the course of this last year and many doctor appointments, I would pick up a roll.  The design has stitched out well.  My work is not done.  I will need to take the water soluble off the top as well as the backside.  This can be done with a fine mist of water, placing a paper towel over it and using a hot iron with a light pass over the paper towel.

  I have been staying busy and Dennis has also in his patio porch.  I know he has been tending the two patio plants with water and a bit of Miracle Grow dissolved in the water.  Those two plants harken from a time when I was still working, 2009.  

  We have one more night of my oven dish for this evening.  Sweet.  It will be interesting when I open my eyes in the morning.  How much white will there be?