Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from November, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:12 pm on November 23, 2025 Permalink  

  The Sun 

  The bright sun on this mid-November Sunday sets the pace of the day.

  I did putz around in the studio until noon.  I always enjoy listening to the church radio on KNUJ.  As I putzed I did get the last of the eight little pillows stuffed and sealed.  I can no longer do the fine stitching to enclose the batting into said pillows.  I knew some sewists filled the pillows by cutting a slit into the backing fabric and after filled to their desire would then either by sewing or gluing an attractive patch onto the backing.

  I have found that leaving the opening to the bottom of each project works for me.  After front and back are sewn together, I press the seam allowance with steam.  The pillows are then filled.  The pressed seam allowance presents itself for gluing along the pressed edge with the slightest amount of glue using a toothpick.  My quilting clips have very sharp needle edges to clamp a 1/16th of the front to the backing.  It is quick drying and permanent.  I find this finish to satisfy a clean tidy closure.

  The trim that I ordered on, I think yesterday, from Amazon was delivered this noon.  That will be the rest of the story.  I know at one time Kevin ordered a lamp for me and let me know it would be coming.  When I called him to let him know it was here, he couldn’t believe it as he had ordered it the day before.  Sometimes the quick delivery is astonishing.

  At noon with light jackets we did what may be the last of the sweeps of our backyard to pick up some sticks that had found their way downward.  They were dead before they hit the ground.  Dennis made a small fire in the fire ring and short order was made of them.  I have thought it before, but I do think that is the last time for 2025 yard work.

  My cousin Mark Wendlandt called yesterday for a visit.  Nothing but a heartfelt visit . . . it was a good visit.  Carrie and Mark are very close in age.  He is my youngest cousin.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:24 pm on November 22, 2025 Permalink  

  Saturday the 22nd 

  The sun is extremely bright.  As I am working on this posting, I am sitting under a cardboard type umbrella so I may see my laptop screen.  As it’s just about three, I don’t have long before the sun has an angle to the southwest of my bedroom porch windows.

  I am on a roll in the studio.  Ten years or so ago when I got my sewing machine I was enthralled what could be obtained to embroider.  Some designs I purchased and had never stitched.

  What I am doing in the studio is stitching out one of those collections that have been waiting for ten years.  It is a series of eight depicting the Christmas story.  All of the designs are about 4″ x 4″.   My next trip was to my tote that had the blue hues.  At the bottom was a yardage I had bought many more than ten years ago.  It resembles a lightweight denim with gold metallic threads running through it. I know it was purchased in St. Cloud in the fabric shop behind the mall.  At the time it was being cut off of the clearance bolt, I was asked what I was going to do with it.  Hmm.

  This week I knew exactly what I would be using a portion of it for.  I am making eight little pillows out of the denim like fabric.  The majority of the designs are done using gold metallic thread, the remainder is stitched with a gold  rayon blend thread.  As of this afternoon I have six of them stitched, made into a pillow with the adequate stuffing.  It has been a busy week in the studio.

  As I was stuffing them I began taking in what I had in the studio for them to find a home in.  What had been housing Carrie’s Barbie dolls, a wicker type of purse/picnic tote is now home for the Christmas pillows.  The Barbie dolls are now housed in a shoe box and labeled.

  I am going to put gold trim around them.  I had the perfect trim . . . all six inches of it  With the trim in front of me, I found the identical trim on Amazon.  December 5th, I will be doing the finish on these pillows.  Mission completion.  I am thrilled, content and happy.

  On a sad note, Dennis seldom inquires about the studio work.  When I could go on and on about it, I see the glazed look that takes over.  That’s alright.  I am not doing this for anyone else but myself.  Inquisitive minds, make for curious minds and all that equals a healthy mind. 

  With that I will take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 3:23 pm on November 21, 2025 Permalink  

  Quilt Book 

  A time back, I had mentioned that I need to get a quilt book from Amazon.  That may seem counter-productive as I have a tote of such books heading to the recycling bin.  In early spring, I had cut all the fabric from my stashes.  Cut fabrics that could only be sewn up with a specific pattern in a special book.  

  When I had sought the book, my choice, giving the name of the book and the author, was a used book in fair condition.  The price would be $3.00 plus tax.  It would be coming from a Goodwill store in California.  It did come just as my receipt stated.  The book is in pristine condition.  With tax it was $6.30.  The original label on the book was that Hobby Lobby had carried it at some time for the price of $18.00.

  I had to have a conversation with Dennis about the book.  No, it was my curiosity that fed the conversation.  The process of Amazon acknowledging my request and using some computer generated process to find it in a Goodwill on the west coast . . . how does that all happen?  I would love to be a mouse in the warehouse where this all transpires. 

  Dennis finds the entire Amazon shopping a good thing.  He realizes that burning shoe leather seeking and finding the items we use is no longer in our wheelhouse.  The angst of frustration might well be felt on his shoulders, put there by me.  Being predominantly a hermit that is housebound allows everything here on Stauffer Avenue to run just as smoothly as it did before I had had the stroke . . . via Amazon.

  The package that was delivered this last Sunday for $89.00 and some odd cents contained eight items I was using in the studio.  My efforts in the studio didn’t miss a beat.

  I am a happy and contented hermit in our home.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥ 

   
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  Noreen 3:20 pm on November 20, 2025 Permalink  

  A Positive 

  Oh yes, there is a positive to cloudy gray days.  As I stitch in my bedroom porch, I am facing south.  When the bright sun comes in for quite a few hours it prevents me from seeing my stitching, the printed pattern and the lap top screen.  Makes me feel as blind as a bat.  I have not contemplated any type of an installed shade.  What does work is a piece of carboard the same size as the window sash.  I can easily whip it in place when needed.  Easily accomplished.  On gray days the piece of cardboard is not needed.  Sweet.

  Tuesday, I had received a text that my friend Judy Friesen was not doing well.  This morning, her daughter had put on Facebook that she had passed.  Judy had been the assessor in Brown County.  Judy and I were the same age.  Macular degeneration is nothing to fool with.  Judy had been blind for the last eight years.  She was forced to live in a separate housing unit in Mankato than her husband’s due to his often dismissal of her and not being able to defend herself.   Yes, law enforcement and a restraining order.  Very sad.  Judy deserved better.   

  I count my blessings everyday.  Dennis and I have a safe and cozy home.  Respecting each other and understanding the shortfalls we may each have.  All is well with my soul.  That’s all I have say about that.

  This evening, Dennis will be having a Marie Callender supper meal of his choice.  I will be enjoying a salad of my choice.  It all works out perfectly.  The quality of those types of meals has so much improved from the 60s.  Even the pot pies of Maria’s have found their way into our freezer and onto our table at times.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:24 pm on November 19, 2025 Permalink  

  Wednesday the 19th 

  First things first.  My day today feels so much more settled than yesterday did.  It’s a good thing.

  Today is Nicholas’ 18th birthday.  He along with the rest of his senior class from the Christian high school he attends, left for the Dominican Republic for a mission week.  He will be coming home on the 25th.  Megan’s class did like-wise when she was a senior.

  A call to my Aunt Janet last night found her for the most part well.  Janet has been an avid reader all of her adult 93 years.  She is going to find out all of the details of the audio book from the library as her eyes struggle reading even the large print books.  I offered commiseration.  There is ten years between the two of us.

  I had a good session in the studio this morning, right into the early afternoon.  I made sure I honored a request from Dennis before I came upstairs: older fabric coverings for the kitty pillows in the garage porch.  I had saved terrycloth tablecloths from eons ago.  They had been in service in the attic to cover items. As I had washed them and tucked them in a tote in the studio, telling me I must have lightened a bit of a load in the attic.

  My eye doctor called me this afternoon, personally, to allow me to know all the computer read tests for glaucoma, and retina health were in the positive.  Good news.  I already have a May 14th 2026 appointment set up.  First heath appointment on the books for 2026.  No . . . that’s not right.  January 6th and 19th will be my annual cardiac appointments. 

  Monday, the 24th, at 10:45, I will be in New Ulm for the car’s oil change and a good check-over.  The long range weather looks favorable.

  The poor man’s oven dish of Monday night was met with favorable comments.  We took off last night to finish off the left-overs.  Tonight we will get the job done.  Waste not, want not.

  On a dreary day such as today, it is my job to make my own sunshine.  Mission completion.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:58 pm on November 17, 2025 Permalink  

  Brisk 

  It did feel brisk outside this afternoon.

  KNUJ was keeping me informed where a rain shower might be.

  Oh my gosh!  This morning as we were getting up at eight, I heard a lawnmower.  It was Jan mulching out their leaves and ours.  What an elf!

  I spent time in the studio trying out a design with metallic thread.  The top thread broke several times before I hunted down a needle for metallic threads.  Again, several times the top thread broke.  There are three different spindles for the thread to be fed to the tension disks.  Spindle one and two . . . the top thread broke.  Spindle three was the winner.  The small design stitched out so well, I did a second design.

  Dennis took note that Jan had left with her gray car.  That gave the two of us time to take our prepared “door knocker” over to her back door.

  Jan has helped out with picking up blown down branches to put in either our burn ring or hers.  The leaves of this season have been mulched to the nth degree.  Dennis got a Casey’s card and we attached it to an embroidered Christmas towel complete with a ribbon to hang it from her inside door handle.  Good deed done for the many of Jan’s good deeds.

  The air is brisk.  We are having a poor man’s oven meal.  A bag of prepared shredded seasoned potatoes, sell by date November 18th, with a thawed container of meat-heavy chili mixed in.  I am tempted to put some, whatever I find in the refrig, shredded cheese over it.

  With that I will take my leave.

   
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  Noreen 3:18 pm on November 16, 2025 Permalink  

  Gray Clouds 

  Intermittent gray clouds shoving the sunshine out.  It was expected.

  Dennis and I both slept hard last night.  Dennis doing a bit in the garages allowing for things that will change once there is ice and snow being drug in on the tires.  I had chased lint and dust bunnies on the first floor with our little shop vacuum.  Even the Swiffer pads do not pick up the fine lint as well as that vacuum.  We have a second such vacuum in the garage.  Dennis made sure we had two replacement filters on hand.  The wand is long enough that I can shove the attachment that is on the wand far enough under the beds to reach the far walls . . . bend and stretch.  Each of the rooms were tidied.  I did not get to dusting the flat surfaces in the living room.  I saved that for another day.  Dennis’ bedding was swapped out yesterday as was mine.  It was a lot of activity along with all that the day had entailed on its own.

  This afternoon I had quite a bit for the recycling bin as I had been in the studio.  Having a printer in the studio, I had accumulated many stitching and quilting patterns that I would see on various sites.  Hit the little black button and the patterns were there for possible future projects.  Reality does hit home.  As the quilt tops I sew are donated to our church, I don’t vary the log cabin design other than the colorways.  Been there and done the challenging patterns.  

  My hand stitching is a rather complicated one.  Lots of little dots in black and white on the paper pattern.  There too, I don’t save the patterns of that that has been finished.  I know I will not repeat them.

  The week poses no appointments for us, always a good thing.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:42 pm on November 15, 2025 Permalink  

  Great Day 

  With a day of sunshine, it feels like a great day for fall to have hung around.  Leaves are dancing every which way.  Neighbors are putting up Christmas lights even though the ladder seems to want to give way to the strong winds.

  In a time gone by, I might have been right out there making sure the holiday lights were in perfect position fighting with timers for maximum effect.  I will be sure to enjoy the neighbor’s hard work when the lights will be on.

  Jan from next door came over and enjoyed the guest chair in my bedroom porch.  Easy visiting as we watched traffic.  Jan marvels at the perfect spot I have to keep my thumb on the happenings.

  Dennis has also had a day of fellows dropping in for chit chat in the patio porch.  Everyone seems to be enjoying the last vestiges of fall.  Once all of the job jars have been emptied, the slower pace sets in and it is good for the soul.

  I have enjoyed acknowledging the year of 2026 and all that it will entail celebrating our nation.  With quite a bit of turmoil in and around our state’s political statis, it came easily to plunk in some stitching.  Dad’s woodworking is the perfect place to showcase items as events present themselves. 

  

  Small stitching projects are satisfying when the actual stitching is done.  The rest of the story . . . the finishing, takes on its own challenge.  Patience is all that is required.  I know from watching others on YouTube’s floss tube that many send off the raw stitching and pay someone else to finish it.  Man, oh man, that really changes the whole idea of self-satisfaction.  I will continue working with glue on my fingers and pins poking me when I least expect it.

  This evening it is a waffle/sausage type of supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:27 pm on November 14, 2025 Permalink  

  Friday the 14th 

  I have had some retail therapy today and I am exhausted.  In my defense I had done a needs analysis over the last several weeks.  When I fight with certain elements in my studio, it gets to the point . . . no more.  From various departments, I had a list of eight items.  The total cost of my therapy was $89.00.  Thank you very much Amazon.  I have no idea how many stops it would have taken in Mankato with the same amount of success.  Even the fuel to begin the run-around might have been mind-blowing.  I can now relax and know that my days in the studio will be more relaxing as I wait for several days.

  Ordering from Amazon’s warehousing and imagining having all these items being pulled for one order, takes me back a few decades.

  On Excelsior Bouvard in Hopkins were several large company’s warehouses.  My dad took me to my rooming house on Sunday nights and picked me up Friday after the milking was done.  I had happened to get a job in what was then Coast-to-Coast Hardware warehouse.  As stores requested supplies to be shipped to them, those requests became printouts.  Getting to work, I would be handed a list for . . . let’s say Hutchinson’s Coast-to-Coast Store.  I would walk the multiple aisles carrying my basket matching each item on the the printout to the bins of IBM cards.  If the store requested four coffeepots, I would pull four IBM cards signifying matching printout numbers to matching cards.  Cutting to the chase . . . I would love to see how it is all done now.  Yes, I am a curious Grammie. 

  My brother called this forenoon.  It was great to catchup with him.  Assisted living units were perhaps not his ideal desire, but it is what it is.  Eric is just about 30 minutes from him and can stop and see him often.  Calvin is able to visit with anyone and I am sure he shares his views to those that stay put long enough to listen to one or two or more of them.

  A batch of egg-salad is on for supper by request.  The little onion that I used was strong enough to bring me to the point that I could not see straight.  Changing up options of texture and taste does a person well.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:45 pm on November 13, 2025 Permalink  

  Have No Fear 

  Have no fear you little applique scissors . . . I will find you.  As much as Grammie has tidied, tided, I am missing a scissors used in trimming fabric during applique.  Applique is when fabric is used to create a portion of the desired designs and this scissors allows for super close trimming.  I know I will find it, just not today.  It was hanging on the south wall of the studio.  I need to get a close up and personal look at the bumper of the drainage tile that goes around the perimeter of the studio.  Last month I spied with my little eye a small rotary cutter that had been pushed off the back of a shelf and there it was, just peeking up of where it had landed, between the cement wall and the bumper.

  I had been doing some stitching of the 2026 nation’s celebration.  I had two designs that were in need of finishing with stuffing and trim.  I have the trim application down to a science.  I can no long do hand stitching to apply the trim, but I know how to use Aleene’s Tacky Glue and my stick pins.  It works like a charm. 

  

  It gives the little pillows a touch of finish.

  To keep my hand in finding designs to download successfully, I have one on the hook that looks to be one that needs to be stitched.  Eeny, meeny, miny, moe which flash drive should I load it on?

  

  I have all the flash drives gone through, complete with what each one holds.  I have one drive that has minimal on it, butterflies for Maria’s aprons.  That is the one I chose.  When I assure you that I have the where with-all to stay busy for the duration, I am not joking.  As I mentioned I need to do the process often so as to not have to ask for help.  Well, hell’s bells, now where would I go for that.  Yup, YouTube if needed.

  Adding photos to my postings is also something that needs to be done often so I do not forget the needed steps.  Is it any wonder why by nine each night, I am ready for a good night’s rest.

  Our supper this evening is a bowl of rich tomato soup.  Made rich by using some heavy cream I have left in the refrigerator with a grilled cheese half sandwich.  Dessert will be banana cream instant pudding with 2% milk that is two days past the sell by date and a banana that is begging to be used.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥