Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from October, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:37 pm on October 17, 2025 Permalink  

  Frugal 

  There is a fine line between being frugal or being cheap.  I opt for being in the frugal category.

  As I was in the studio measuring pieces of quilt batting, Dennis shook his head as he watched.  He commented he would drive me to Sherburn to the Old Alley Quilt Shop for what I needed.  I thanked him and with a shake of my head, I continued on with my measuring.  The point of my task was to use what I had, what I had already spent money on.

  When all was said and done, I had quilt batting that measured 58″ x 62″.  Perfect for the next 54″ x 54″ project.  It makes me so darn happy to put pencil to paper and utilize what my stashes are begging of me to use.  Once I knew the objective had been met, I went on to the next project.

  A bit ago I had completed a cross stitch of a Christmas Silhouette.  I was going to use a frame from times past.  No, you don’t just pop those suckers in and call it done.  In order to even think about the frame, I needed to put fabric around the stitched piece so it would be compatible to the frame.  Geez . . . I hate finite measuring.  It took me several hours of measure this, measure that and measure more.  I am here to tell you, I did the best I could.  I understand why framers in Michael’s charge what they do.  Let’s not forget that the tools they have to make things look perfect go beyond my pink 12″ acrylic ruler.  The item has been put into the frame and it is now on the church tables so when I come into the studio, I can scrutinize it from all sides.  It may grow on me.

  My stitching projects are for nothing more than my busy work.  I am still new to retirement and have not yet learned the art of sitting on my hands and watching the world go by.  Yes, Grandma Laura Wendlandt, I am of the same mind as what you had . . . something to show for each day God has given us.  I loved her “Africans.”  My afghans  couldn’t hold a candle to hers.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on October 15, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  It’s a happy day when the the last half of our real estate taxes are due, October 15th, and . . . we took care of ours in total in May.  That became important when the six months of home owner’s insurance is due as well as the the six months of car insurance is due.  There is only so much the month of October can handle.  We absolutely are keeping the economy moving.

  Today, I headed to the grocery store and was reminded it was senior citizens day, too late as I was in the doorway of the store.  I am sure Dennis thought I had been picked up for squeezing the avocados and been hauled off to the poky.  Yes, there were individuals I had not seen for some time. How could I not engage when approached.  All is well as we got home safe and sound.

  This forenoon went well in the studio.  My next task for another day will be pulling out my tote of quilt batting to see if there is enough for my next 54″ x 54″ project. I have tape specifically designed to patch together odds and ends of binding, all the while, with no indication of it in the finished project.

  I have a “post-a-note” on the top of my laptop as a reminder of an October 17th event.  I would be hard pressed to forget want happened 60 years ago as we were living in Beaver Falls working for Orlin’s sister and her husband on a beef cattle farm.  Actually, the fact that there was no running water in the farm house, was not on the top of my agenda.  Yup, its a good thing I have the “post-a-note” for the 17th.

  We are having bean and ham soup for supper.  Perfect pairing on a chilly, cloudy day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:30 pm on October 14, 2025 Permalink  

  A Dreary Day 

  It is a dreary day that is bringing some rain showers.  The rain is needed.  It seems like its been forever since I stained the deck and the dust was something awful on it.  No mere sprinkles would clean it.  It would take a hard driving rain.

  I slept so hard last night, you would have thought I had been digging ditches yesterday.  I know I had gotten up during the night, but not sure what the time was.  It was nine thirty when my feet hit the floor.  Usually when the garbage truck bang-idy bangs our bin on a given Tuesday that would have been my wake-up call.  The time I get up matters nothing.  The important thing is that I felt rested and ready to take on the remaining day. 

  My first task in the studio today was to tidy up the various fabrics I had pulled out to find just that right fit for the bathroom window.  There were other fabrics that I had used, a portion of each for Megan’s project.  Each fabric was measured and a note was then pinned on each one as to the size each one was.  It makes it so much easier the next time I need to surf through the stashes.

  I am on several sites of the internet that have pop-ups when a new item in their quilt shops is featured.  It sure is tempting when all the wonderful hues speak to me.  Nope.  I have made it my personal quest to churn through my stashes, getting creative to make do with what is on hand.

  I did have fabric of a two yard length that I may be able to use in a coming project.  The first thing is to cut off the salvage along the length of the fabric where the manufacturer is listed and even the collection that the length came from.  The salvage is tightly woven.  If it is used in a sewing project, it may well be a  seam that will not want to play nice.  I have gotten that much done. 

  As I look out of the windows of my bedroom porch, I am amazed how many of the trees are already free of their leaves without having had a hard frost.  After this rain, I think more will decided to let go of that spindly stem attaching them to their parent . . . and drop.

  One thing that is lacking today is the grain hauling semis.  In all probability,  yesterday may have been the last of the harvest.

  Nothing more to report at this juncture.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on October 13, 2025 Permalink  

  Well, Well 

  After twenty years in the making, actually twenty years of requests, there is a curtain on the bottom sash of the bathroom window.  Whew!  No supplies were needed from outside sources.  The studio had everything that was needed including the curtain rod.

  I can now go on to more pressing matters with that off of the table.

  I always have items waiting in the wings of the studio.  Once an item is placed upon the church tables in all its “what if” possibilities, it remains where it was put so all angles of it can be glanced at and scrutinized.  At this juncture alterations are not out of the picture.  The lights go out in the studio so no surrounding influence can take away from its possibilities.

  The first floor always has items to keep me busy.  One main item today was to take down the table top metal frame I use to hold my stitch patterns.  There was way too much play that took away from where I wanted to position it.  A pliers was needed to release the screws from a bad setting.  It needs to be on the left side of my HP laptop but able to swing out of the way so I can use the keyboard without brushing against my pattern.  All was set with screws and pliers in hand.  Righty, righty, tighty, tighty.  Tonight after supper, when I do some stitching, I will then realize if I have where it needs to be.

  Oh yes . . . the days of the retired Grammie are chucked full of momentous decisions.  That might be why I sleep so well when its bedtime.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:12 pm on October 12, 2025 Permalink  

  A Bit of Rain 

  A bit of rain, but not enough to wash off the front deck that has many layers of dust.

  With good faith effort the lights went on in the studio.  KNUJ was just picking up the church service from Grace Lutheran in Gaylord.  I had my material measured and trimmed.  The iron was warming to take out the wrinkles from being in the stashes.  My sharpest stick pins were at my right elbow.  The first hem was folded and pinned.  The sewing machine hummed, ready for action.

  The back door opened . . . my good faith effort blew right out that back door as company stepped in.  Dennis’ niece Jean Pew from Morris came a-calling.  Jean does her road trip at least twice a year.  Jean had been here over Memorial weekend.  I shut down multiple lights and switches in the studio and the three of us settled around the dining-room for a good visit.  Jean’s mom had been Dennis’ older sister.  Now . . . Dennis is the last of “when there were four” in Edith’s family. 

  Jean left after we had a bite of lunch.  When she left, so did my enthusiasm for anything to be started back up again in the studio.  All has not been lost.  The bare window curtain has had its fabric laid out with the plan begun, if only by a dozen stick pins.  Hey . . . it’s a start.

  I decided to do some hand stitching while keeping an eye out on the traffic.  Grain semis are still hauling in.  I doubt that our small shower of rain has way-laid anyone that was out in the fields.

  I have an oven meal in progress.  A very lean pork steak with seasonings rubbed in and a slather of ketchup on top.  I have some potatoes to use up.  Frozen carrots and cranberries will round out the fair.

  Tomorrow Dennis will be getting his flue shot at the VA clinic here in town.  I pass on the flu shots.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on October 9, 2025 Permalink  

  Secure All 

  Anything out in the yards that are not secure . . . you can kiss them good-bye.

  We had our neighbor’s mail put in our slot accidently today.  I walked the mail over to their mailbox.  I used a strong paperclip to hold the letters in case the wind took it from my hand.  I felt the gusts that were going 29 mph.  One of the items was Jan’s Plaindealer newspaper.  I had to look twice.  It was like legal paper size made up of two sheets that had been collated.  If not for the free-bee that was tucked inside and it had Jan’s mailing label on it,  I would have thought it was junk mail.  Hmm.

  In the studio, I needed to cut some fabric.  I made sure all my scraps and loose threads were hand delivered to the circular file.  It feels kind of nice to have had the tidy, tidy done and I will appreciate keeping it such for a time.  I am working on a possible curtain for our bathroom.  Hmm.  Why not!  It’s not like I don’t have a sewing machine.  Dennis has hinted often.  Hey, I’ve been busy these last twenty-odd years.  In the cistern closet I found a rod that will work.  I have a length of fabric pulled out of stashes.  Don’t count me out.  There is a possibility I might get this project cranked out.

  I have heard of sympathy pains.  This morning as I was waking up, my right foot . . . right where the bunion had been in 1980s. it hurt so bad, it was like it was harkening back to the mid 80s.  Silly things do happen.

  I know Dennis has been out and about.  When I looked out the bare bathroom window, I could see he was sleeping in his chair in the patio porch.  So . . . I keep track of Dennis via the bare bathroom window that affords me seeing what is going on in the patio porch.  I have calculated the new curtain for said bare window so it covers the bottom sash of the window, allowing me to see through the top sash.  It’s Grammie, killing two birds with a few stitches.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:48 pm on October 4, 2025 Permalink  

  Windy Warm 

  Windy warm with the winds in the mid twenties.  With that it is not a good thing when the fire barn just got emptied of all of their vehicles.  Harvest is in full gear.  Combine engines get hot.  I hope everyone is safe.  Machines can be replaced.  As much dust as is flying here in town, I can only image what it is like in the fields being harvested.

  My studio is dark because I finished a project.  It was a good project to do and it feels good to have finished it for Megan.  There were two fabric panels and this Mount Rushmore was the first one I decided to tackle.  There are steps in the process that allow me to feel the unpleasantness of the arthritis.  If I don’t use the muscles and tendons they will atrophy.  That means that the arthritis calcification will make them permanently stiff and immobile.   That is not good and I will fight to keep going, doing what I have always done and what brings me contentment and happiness.  Projects like the one finished today, I will seek the next project.  No rushing, just being a steady Eddie

  

  This is the first time I incorporated my cross stitch with quilting.  I did the cross stitch designs as next year, 2026, is the 250th celebration of our nation.  Once done, I realized they were too large to make into small pillows.  I still have two designs of the same design packet that are stitched.  Those are of less stitches, making them possible for pillows.  It’s all about using my creative life and never hesitating in trying something new.  I had used the embroidery module and stitched out the 2026, but couldn’t work it into the project.  I’ll find a use for it somewhere. 

  Dennis’ AJ from Mankato came to visit his grandpa as a late birthday visit.  I think that is just great.  AJ runs a crew that does fiber optics in and around the Mankato area.

  My next task, for another day, is to vacuum my studio floor.  What follows is checking over the sewing machine and putting in a new needle.  Needles are cheap and they make the world of difference in sewing.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:08 pm on October 3, 2025 Permalink  

  Balmy 

  The winds of today being blown with high 80 temps is not feeling like anything balmy.  It feels uncomfortable.

  Dennis came down into the studio today to check on my progress.  Visitors are always welcome.  The last step on this project will be tomorrow.  It is taking the 2.5″ binding that has been sewn on the back of the blanket and bringing it to the front to be sewn down.  In theory it should not take long.  In Grammie’s world . . . it will be a long session.  The 2.5″ had already been ironed in half.  Sewing it onto the back with 3/8 seam, allows a 1″ amount to be brought over the three layered sandwich and stitched down to the top.  It is a lot for the arthritic wrist to fold and then hold for the magic of stitching a straight seam all the while the heft of the project wants to pull away from the needle.  I have found that using my 1.5lb weight that has the finish of suede is great for my left hand to keep it all under control.  Dennis totally was in awe of the project.  I did wear myself out and that in itself is very rewarding.

  We had a great meal at the Home Town cafe last night for supper.  We found out some good news.  We could order off of the kid’s menu.  It is a working man’s cafe and the portions speak to that.  We took our pies home for enjoying later.  Dennis chose apple and I chose sour cream raisin.  It all totally made for a birthday treat of an evening.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:57 pm on October 2, 2025 Permalink  

  Frustrating 

  Before last night’s shutdown of my laptop, It asked me to leave it open for an up-date.  I did just that.  Today things were different on the laptop.  It speaks to my age, I don’t like changes in my high-tech stuff.  We will see how things progress.

  My studio was visited this forenoon.  I didn’t want to over-do it.  The 2.5 inch border was cut.  It took four swipes of the fabric to make it around the perimeter of the project.  I did not do any sewing of them together.  Before that happens I need to do a grease job on the machine. clean fuzz and then a new needle.

  I did take out all of the red-topped basing pins and then did a trim around it getting off the excess batting as well as the excess backing.  There I called it.  Using the rotary cutter can give the right arm a work-out.

  

  It is rewarding to see all the bubbles that the free-motion quilting achieves.  I have no pattern to go by.  The stitches are at the whim of how I move the three-layer project.  Some trace their stitching designs on the top with chalk.  It is all about what makes you content and happy.  I am happy when all goes well under the needle.

  Today is Dennis’ 89th birthday.  I am taking him to the Home Town cafe for supper.  Last night we had Subway as a treat.  Splitting a 12″ tuna is all we can handle and it was tasty on cheese bread.  I did pick up a bag of the Sea-Salt Vinegar chips which is Dennis’ favorite.

  This morning we had agreed that the list that had been in our meager bucket, we had been able to empty, went well.  There are always a few items that we would screw up if we attempted it.  Those items best left to others.

  I will continue working with the lap-top updates until they become usual and customary.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:01 pm on September 28, 2025 Permalink  

  Yes Indeed 

  Yes, indeed we have another task on the books for this calendar year.  Two days devoted to the project, time well spent.  The octagon bathroom window exterior has been scrapped, caulked and painted . . .  two coats.  It sure is a good feeling.  Dennis lent moral support as well as my butt support as I did the two steps on the fiberglass ladder to be able to reach my target.  O course Snuggles had to put his two cents worth in, having to get on Dennis lap as Dennis was in his walker that also has a seat.  The ladder is back in the garage, the paint brush has been cleaned and all is well within my soul.

  In between the two coats of paint, I worked on the project under the needle.  I finally figured out the bobbin error messages.  Having the need for the feed dogs down, that which helps propel the fabric under the needle at a steady pace, allowing for the free motion, having a rayon blend on the top and bottom, allows for too much play in the stitching process of the bobbin thread.  You can bet, this lesson will not be forgotten on me.  In the past projects this had been an automatic “to do.”  I missed a beat when it came to this task.

  All that remains of the project featuring the Mount Rushmore panel project is to cut 2.5″ binding and do the actual binding.  It kind of surprised me how much heft there was as I worked with it under the needle.  I should have eaten my Wheaties before starting. 

  No . . . it speaks to who I am today.  Would have, could have and should have.  I do not have the arm strength and mobility of several years ago.  I accept that fact and am thrilled to do what I can.  Let’s hear it for the Grammie.

  Who knows what tomorrow will bring to be on the docket.  Never fear, next to my right elbow is a note pad with some items for the next time the Fairfax team visits.  Tee Hee.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥