Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from July, 2022 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:40 pm on July 9, 2022 Permalink  

  Quite the Day 

  Last night I got an unexpected text.

  Linda is the gal in charge of the mission quilting in the First Lutheran Church.  Linda picked up the bolts of cotton/poly just about a week and a half ago.  She reported that the gal in charge of making up the backing of their quilts had 42 backs ready for the pieced tops and batting from the bolts of cotton/poly.  Wow.  Linda is in charge of cutting all of their donated fabric into 10.5″ squares.  Linda has a set number of those cuttings that she bags up and the troops that are working on the quilts take home a bag or two and get them sewn together ready as the tops of the quilt.  What an operation.

  Any how . . . the text was telling me that they would use the DMC floss that I had offered to tie their quilts.  They had been using yarn and some of the ladies had commented on the difficulty getting the knots tight.  The troop under Linda does not qualify for spring chickens.  Linda herself is a 70 year young retired teacher.

  This morning armed with breakfast coffee and my box of gallon Ziploc bags, I began bagging up floss by colors.  Each of the DMC drawers have a divider for 12 different colors.  I think when Dennis came down and checked on me, I had 11 gallon bags stuffed to the brink.  When I shared with him the color chart of DMC floss colors, he could not believe the slightest variant in color that would spur a use for one of the twelve dividers in the drawer.  I put hues of each color together in the various bags.

  Dennis got the remaining of the acre mowed today.  It sure looks manicured.  He has the touch!  When he came in for the Dawn to put in his scrub pail, I was curious.  The city puts down a layer of calcium chloride for dust control on Stauffer Avenue.  It is the nastiest stuff to drag into the garage.  It literally will make a liquid puddle on the garage floor.  The city did this about two weeks ago and it had begun to be packed down on the avenue with the traffic.  Today Dennis scrubbed down his garage floor and then hosed it off, hoping for less muck that will find its way into the garage.

  We do seem to keep busy for two old duffers.  I am excited to be parring down the inventory in the studio.  As I had the baggies of floss lined up on the ironing board, I decided to get out several garbage bags.  I went through totes that held fabric from family of friends that had donated fabric to me.  I have decided not to be a depository.  This group of church ladies making quilts for charity will have some additional yardage to use.  As I checked things over in the studio, what I now have for choices in my stashes is what I had chosen to purchase.  Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 1:19 pm on July 2, 2022 Permalink  

  Stitching Right Along 

  It was a six in the morning cup of coffee for me.  The three kitties and I walked the acre to check things out.  In places the grass crunched under foot.

  Dennis’ nephew from Windom stopped in for a visit and by nine, I left the fellows to talk shop and I went in and down to the studio.

  I have been stitching on a quilt top called “A Long Time Ago.”  I haven’t rushed at it.  In early spring I was busy transplanting Hosta and then doing some stitching in the afternoons.

  On a side note . . . I so enjoyed the cool temps to be out getting my fingernails dirty.  That was the ultimate for me.  Since the temps have climbed and bugs are out, I am not outside other than in the mornings.

  Back to stitching.  All of the various blocks in this pattern have been sewn.  Blocks today were then sewn together to make up quarters and then into halves of the quilt top.  Dennis would check on me from time to time and give moral support.  So many 1/4 inch seams to match up.  So many seams to press.  So many 1/4 inch seams to press open to make less bulk, without burning the fingers.

  This mid afternoon it was time.  It was time to lay, with the right sides of the project, bringing both halves together.  In my head I was doing a drum roll.  Over the course of months and eyeballing the 1/4 inch seam allowance, how much would I have to fudge to make this union work?  The grid for the top of the church tables that Kevin and Kersten got for me has been priceless.  Laying things out on it for the common good, leaves little to the imagination.  Armed with pins, I pinned each end and worked towards the middle.  I was astounded.  Both lengths of the halves were joined in perfect harmony.   

  That was it!  I shut everything down for the day.  I had achieved my ultimate goal which has been in the works for several months.  When next I return to the studio, the two halves will become one.   A border of 4″ will be sewn on all four sides making for approximately 64″ x 64″.  The folksy orange flowered print that was used in joining blocks as it was called for in the pattern, will also be used in the border as well as the backing.  I knew I had saved this yardage of Mom’s for the perfect project.

  I let Dennis know we now would be going on a road date to Bird Island in the near future.  My gift certificate that has been waiting for me will be used in part for the batting of “A Long Time Ago.”   It will be the prime time to have lunch at the Athman’s Café.

  I have had a great rewarding Saturday.

  Be well my family and friends.  Be kind to yourselves and each other this long weekend.

   
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  Noreen 1:33 pm on June 29, 2022 Permalink  

  A KNUJ Sort of Day 

  It’s breezy with humidity and dew points neck and neck.

  I took some time today in the sewing studio to tidy up after Linda had taken a huge amount of fabric from me to her church.  I remain feeling very good about that.

  KNUJ has a bit of news and some good music on the waves.

  Dennis is having a good day in the patio porch being entertained via the television programming.  His cousin, Bruce, was over this forenoon to have coffee with Dennis.

  Supper time is going to be minimal as neither one of us has been at it very hard today . . . hardly at it would be more correct.  

  It might be a Progressive soup supper with a piece of peach pie and a sliver of vanilla ice cream topping it.

  Tomorrow afternoon we visit Nurse Jody at the Mankato Hospital for the last of the stitches to come out of Dennis’ well healed foot.  Sweet!

  I have nothing new to report today, so it is time to close this down until perhaps tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 1:33 pm on June 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Great Visit 

  Today I had a great visit from acquaintance, Linda.  Years ago we worked together on a quilt that we then raffled off to help a mother and wife that was going through a lot of medical things.

  Earlier this year we ran into Linda in Culver’s.  I commented that I had not seen any new stitching from her on Facebook.  Linda is now the head of the missionary quilting in her church and has taken a backseat from her own project.  All their quilts are headed to Lutheran World Relief.  

  That took me back to the times that Lena did a lot of quilting for missions.  Lutheran World Relief had offices in Willmar.  If the church ladies had all of their finished quilts delivered to them by a deadline, they were then shipped off to ports unknown.

  Today Linda picked up all the bolts of fabric that I had been holding for her, until such time that her ladies were ready to get the quilting season going.  The many full bolts of poly/cotton will be earmarked for the backs of the quilts.  One seam and the backing would be ready rather than multiple piecing.  Just as large of a stack was various flannel prints with which to make youth and baby blankets.

  Linda came early in the morning and we visited until noon before her car was loaded.  Linda was headed right to the church with her treasure trove. 

  Sharing what daughter-in-law Kersten had shared with me, gave my heartstrings a tune that will last for some time.  I had been pecking away at using some of this fabric, but realistically, this will make many quilts for many to make use of. 

  Linda was amazed at what I had for a sewing studio.  One of the neatest things was the teak wooden rocker she enjoyed while we chatted.

  Dennis was busy farming today.  The Cub-Lo-Boy was taken for a spin up to the corner gas station.  He is now changing oil in it.  It’s all in a day’s work.

  The skies are cloudy with maybe a hint of a rain shower.  The half inch we got last week sure did help things out.  There is a type of grass that we have that doesn’t take well to the extreme heat of early last week.  It crunches underfoot and has a hint of brown.  So be it.

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on June 26, 2022 Permalink  

  A Fantastic Day 

  When I got up it was 52 degrees and now mid afternoon it is 61 degrees.  We could stand a bunch more of this for the weeks ahead.

  I sat on the patio with six in the morning coffee.  It didn’t take long Jan came over and we had good visiting.  Randy had left at six as he is helping his son in rural Mankato with a Menards shed construction.  It is our city’s summer celebration but neither of us were taking part in any events.

  In between swapping out laundry, I would read a bit and go down into the studio to stitch a bit.  My “Long time Ago” project is now getting into putting the different pattern blocks together.  I have not minded this workout of pattern stitching.  It has kept me busy.  I can already tell, my project has a bit more of an organized look to it.  I couldn’t bring myself to go wild in mixing prints.  It matters not.  I enjoyed using some of Lena’s original printed feed sack prints in with what I had on hand.

  Dennis and I are going out for supper.  We are traveling west 12 miles to Mountain Lake and visiting the A & W.  A good adventure awaits.  Another spot that is on our list is the drive-in in Winthrop.  It is complete with the trays that clip onto the vehicle’s window.  We had stopped there one time as we were heading to visit family.  The food was excellent.

  Our weekend has been with contentment.  I hope your weekend has also been satisfying.

   
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  Noreen 1:55 pm on June 21, 2022 Permalink  

  Spring is Gone 

  Spring is gone and now we can look forward to summer.  Do I really want to?  I did enjoy the early days of spring when the temps were in the high 60s and low 70s.  The bugs weren’t paying attention as yet and I couldn’t wait to get outside and dig in the dirt.  I did get some serious transplanting done amide rain showers.  The last so called shower was two inches.  I hope that that would have given all the new transplants enough rain to have settled the roots to soak up the fertilizer that was waiting for them.

  We are enjoying days on Stauffer Avenue that are quiet.  It is my kind of quiet.  No alarms need to be set for early morning doctor appointments.  Dennis always has the ability to run away to have coffee with various fellows.  If all else fails, McDonald’s does not discriminate.

  I worked on some items I call fillers in my sewing project.  It was really important to have the fabrics cut at 1.5″.  I don’t trust my left arm and hand to hold all things steady, so my weights came in handy.  It does go to show that you never throw anything away that you have paid for.  With so many finished blocks of various sizes, these finished 1″ inch pieces will allow for justifying seams.  Dennis came down and checked me out to see if I could still see straight.  I had not rushed with this.  I have my teak wooden rocker in the studio and it serves me well when I need to ponder my stitching.  

  Dennis had told me that our neighbor Edna had called him to help her get some items out for the recycling pickup.  Dennis has mowed her adjoining yard to us for years.  Edna was 98 this last week.  Living on her own and as sharp as a tack.  My, my!  Edna is 20 years older than I am.  It is something to aspire to.

   
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  Noreen 2:02 pm on June 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Up at Six 

  At six this morning, it was nice outside.  I strolled the acre and picked up a few branches for the burning ring.  Two kitties followed me around.  I also heard several lawnmowers in the distance.  Smart fellows.

  I was back in the house by seven seeking the rubbing alcohol for a newly acquired bug bite.

  Dennis announced that he was going to pick up his friend Dwayne and go shopping to Mountain Lake.  Dennis had decided he was going to start using an electric razor.  A few too many nicks of late.  A very wise decision.  Dennis now has a rechargeable Remington.  The White Drug in Mountain Lake is an awesome retail store catering to many needs and it is a locally owned drug store . . . a very rare drug store indeed.

  True to my word of yesterday, I have spent the greater portion of today in the studio.  I took the time to pull out a piece of backing that my mom had put together.  Now that has some age to it.  A folksy print to go with the patterns of “A Long time Ago.”  It is nice to know that things will be coming together. 

  Dennis got home at noon.  From Mountain Lake the fellows went to Windom for biscuits and gravy at Hardees.  Of course there were new faces to visit with.  Those fellows had known Dennis’ brother and his family.  Once they found out that Dwayne had been the owner of the International Harvester dealership here in St. James, the visiting took new life.  What a great day for Dennis and Dwayne.  It did the fellows good to meet and greet others besides the same ones with the same tales to tell.

  No comments are needed for the temps.

  I am thrilled that I can bounce from reading to sewing.  Never a dull boring moment.

   
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  Noreen 1:30 pm on June 19, 2022 Permalink  

  Happy Sunday 

  Happy Sunday, aka: Happy Father’s Day.

  The sun is bright with a brisk breeze for all that like it this way.  I was up before six this morning by the grace of a call for the bathroom.  I started the coffee and decided that I would take advantage of the cooler temps and the wind and enjoy our yard.

  My goal was to take out a few weeds before the bugs knew I was up . . . and it worked until 7:30.  The black flies were at it.  Dennis and I did get a cup of coffee on the patio before it wasn’t fun anymore.  I wasn’t about to put any bug repellant on as I knew I would soon be heading indoors.  I sure didn’t want to feel sticky for the rest of the day.

  Dennis made sure he had his cell phone with as there would be some Curry kids calling hi today.

  I did head for the studio with coffee cup in hand.  Today’s quest was working with 60 degree triangles.  Keeping the angle of the fandangle straight was a challenge to make these blocks work.  Looking at each cut triangle it would appear all sides were equal . . . not!  I had my trusting brass “picker-outer” close at hand.  As evident from my photo, not all tips of the triangles turned out perfect.  But hey?  Who do I have to impress?   Two separate finished blocks of these triangles will be incorporated in the final project.

  When I got this pattern, it was a mix of fabric prints for each old time pattern.  I had a heck of a time finding the older cherished patterns within the 60″ x 60″.  I had decided I wanted to make each pattern quite distinguishable within its own block.  Quilting is all about interpretation per quilter.  So today was my green and cream combo, plus the strip of six in gold and cream.

  Tomorrow if the heat continues, I will be turning the next page in the “Long Time Ago” pattern.  This pattern has kept my interest, much like the novel I have going in my west porch bedroom.

  Take it easy tomorrow.  I would like to think of you all rather than read about you.

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on June 18, 2022 Permalink  

  A Short Spell 

  I spent a very short spell of time outside this early morning.  When the buzzing around the face began, I was on my way towards the house.  As it were, I do have welts where my shirt collar didn’t cover the neck.  The histamine of the biting bugs has affected me more than other years.  What am I saying . . . I was not outside much of last year.  When I have been checking out the far east end of the acre in the early morning strolls, I had wondered why I could smell cow manure.  Not cow but deer.  They have been enjoying Hosta salad.  What a great way to keep things trimmed.  I was thrilled I had gotten the favored Hosta out of that area during my transplanting mode.

  There were several loads of laundry to get done before the heat of the day would cause the clothes dryer to add humidity to the house. 

  Dennis and Dwayne took in the morning coffee goers at McDonalds.  Dwayne is not driving these days so an egg and sausage biscuit were treated to Dennis.  For two classmates to enjoy spending time together . . . special.

  My sewing project had a block pattern that needed to be drawn out onto fabric and then cut out with scissors to allow for the curves.  The rotary cutter has been the tool used up until now.  Using the scissors is a bit rough on the hand.  Slow and steady and that will be the extent of the studio time today.

  Dennis and I have agreed on a 12″ tuna from Subway to split for supper.  While I had a road trip yesterday, Dennis did up the dishes for me.  It would be a shame to mess up a perfectly tidy kitchen counter.

  Stay hydrated during these days of higher temps.  Once the body feels off kilter, it takes a long time to get it back on track.  I am speaking of experience to a situation that happened several years ago.  A lesson such as that is not easily forgotten.

   
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  Noreen 5:01 pm on June 17, 2022 Permalink  

  Oh My Oh My 

  It is six in the afternoon and it feels really warm out. 

  We had no internet service for most of yesterday and last night.  Someone dug where they shouldn’t have.  Everyone survived.

  Today I had a road trip doing it solo to the north.  It was time to check out Bird Island and Gathering Friends Quilt Shop.  They have closed up the second floor that they had used for showcasing kits and quilts on display featuring those patterns.  It got to be too dangerous with the steep steps.  They do have generous street level square footage.  I bought nothing as I have no plan in place to purchase anything for.  The plan first and purchase second.

  I stopped at the kid’s shop in Fairfax.  Kersten was done at Casey’s for the day and Kevin finished the headlights on his last customer’s vehicle of the day.  I know the weekend is appreciated by both.

  As I drove into our home on Stauffer Avenue after the day out and about, the yard work that we did yesterday looked very sharp indeed.

  Dennis had a quiet day here at home.  I am looking for more of the same over the weekend.  Let the events of summer take those that enjoy heat in close proximity . . . not for me.

  The best part of coming home this late afternoon was that Dennis saved a cup of coffee for me.  Sweet!