Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from November, 2020 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Noreen 5:20 pm on November 22, 2020 Permalink  

  Darkness Comes Too Soon 

  There is something within that wants to shut down when the darkness comes too soon in the afternoon.  I do fight it.  Going to bed at about eleven seems to suit us well.  When it is five in the afternoon and there are shadows appearing I have a good six hours left in me.  Television doesn’t offer much in the evening hours even if we have lots of choices from cable.  Dennis could have the RFD channel on non-stop.  For me . . . not so much.  I am more inclined to sit at the dining room table and do some reading with good lighting.

  As luck would have it, Kevin and Kersten gave me a stand some time ago to hold recipe books in the kitchen.  It comes in very handy for me to prop my reading book on the dining room table.  So much easier on the wrists, hands and shoulders. What I need now is to get one of my old wooden pencils out with an eraser on the top to help turn the pages.   

  When I went for my walk this afternoon, it was warmer than I thought.  Before I knew it I had to go back and pick up one of my gloves that that slipped out of my pocket.  It is way too early to start donating mittens and gloves willy-nilly.  I should revert back to the times when Carrie and Kevin were in the mitten mode.  The best thing was a crocheted rope of yarn that was run n the jacket from one sleeve to the other.  A handy dandy safety pin attached the crocheted rope to each mitten.  Those mittens might dangle but they would not go missing.  When the kids went to Sunday School, those mittens would also contain one of my lightweight cloth hankies that had their Sunday School offering tied in one corner.  Let’s hear it for tried and true tips for young and old alike. 

  I did spend some time in the sewing studio.  Getting a handle on the start of a new project is a challenge that feels oh so good.  Nothing noteworthy to share at this time, but I think I have nailed the technique.  My studio is down by three yards as nephew Brett was scrounging for some blue fabric to round out one of his projects.  It’s a good deal for both of us.  I am lightening my stashes and he is enjoying his quilting.

  Dennis is hard at it in the kitchen dicing up some onions for supper to add to a few potatoes.  Hey . . . if I don’t ask for help . . . my bad.  May the new week bring something each day that brings a smile.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:16 pm on November 20, 2020 Permalink  

  A Good Day 

  A good day for a bit of a walk.  Cool enough for a nylon jacket.  The sun has power, the birds are busy and the wind is nothing more than a breeze.  I will take that any day.

  Dennis had good news today.  The eye injections that he has been having monthly has now been deemed to be needed in two months time.  I was very happy for Dennis when he came home touting his black eye patch wearing a huge smile.  The amount of fluid leaking into the back of the retina was minimal.

  I have spent some time in the sewing studio.  Over the last days, I was determined to do fabric cutting for the upcoming sewing project.  Not doing a whole lot before taking a break.  Bending over the cutting table and using the right shoulder to get pressure for that rotary blade to cut through with the first pass . . . could be felt in short order.  Having a good mystery novel for such a break works well.  Each step with the new project gives a good feeling.  I am so hopeful, I took time this afternoon to put in a new needle in the sewing machine, clean out fuzzes from underneath and do a bit of oiling.  The first sewing will be of a 1/8th seam attaching the flanges to the Santa images.  You cannot beat painter’s tape to put on top of the sewing plate for a continual 1/8th stitching to the right of the needle as a guideline.

  I peeked out the bathroom window and Dennis is taking a well deserved nap in the patio porch after his eye injection.  Giving one’s self some TLC time is very smart.  I am going to do likewise by sitting in my favorite chair with the heating pad across my back before thinking about supper.  

  May everyone enjoy these days of a beautiful sunset with mild temps and a lot of pre-Thanksgiving blessing to ponder.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:56 pm on November 18, 2020 Permalink  

  Brick in Bloomers 

  With the wind from the south at 25 mph, a lessor person than I would need a brick in the bloomers to stay upright.  With the temps being warmer, it is wonderful.  Whatever warmth our concrete drive can soak up allows for any new-fallen snow to disappear quicker.

  Physical therapy went well this morning.  Whenever I get home, Dennis encourages me to sit down with feet up and take it easy.  Actually, that is the opposite of what Mike T suggests.  “Keep on track with whatever you have been doing physically just at shorter intervals.”  Mike is an advocate for continual motion and not letting the muscles and tendons tighten up.  I have favorite spots to move from, one by one.  The first is our concrete drive.  A good 90′ to walk back and forth on.  From there, I have a reading chair in our west porch, moving onto going up and down the basement steps, and last but not least, is the 2 x 4 wooden chair that is our computer chair.  Of course a trip out to the patio porch is also in my schedule.  If it had not been for Mike T after I had both reverse shoulders done within 12 months of each other, my arms would have been less than one that suffers from Erb-Duchenne paralysis palsy.  It is the upper trunks C-5 and C-6 nerves.  Nerves regenerate at very minuet degrees.  I think my arms work great.  Mike T goes after me for all I can take and the end result has always been positive.  Whatever is going on right now in my back and across the shoulder blades didn’t come about over night.  Dennis and I have had a good run this summer at a lot of items in the garages and the acre.  A lot of grunt power and a lot of logic.  The recovery of the summer of 2020 will take time and I have a whole lot of it.   And . . . I have good insurance.

  The time I did spend in the sewing studio today, now has all the Santa images cut down to the sizes that are required for my quilt project.  Once that was done, I shut off all the lights and did a few trips up and down the drive.  Windy as it is, it feels good. 

  I did have Corn Flakes for supper last night, yum.  Dennis opted for a can of soup.  The Home Town Café was cheated out of a paying customer.  A bag of chili from the freezer is on the menu for tonight.  I cleared it with Dennis and it was a “go.”  Heavy meals when we have been less than active . . . are not needed.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:56 pm on November 17, 2020 Permalink  

  Unfinished is Done 

  A time ago, I prepared for Christmas.  Certain people, young and old are remembered by me and my sewing machine.  All was stitched up and tucked in a shoe box.  The next step was getting mailers.  There the process had stopped.  I had gone on to get several quilts finished and one ready to seek and search for the backing.  Then there was the quilt pattern I have not put out of my mind.  Prep work on that has been completed with images printed onto 200-thread-count fabric via the ink jet printer.  

  Today the Christmas mailers and the goodies to be put inside were pulled out of storage.  I have come to the conclusion that my address book needs serious work.  My, oh my.  It is a pocket reminder that has the date of 2002 imprinted on the cover.  I have one from Kevin that has a more recent date on the cover and the pages are empty of any notes.  Virgin territory. That sounds like a “need analysis” should be put in place.  What I now have is “no” rhyme or reason. How sweet it would be if the names were by alphabetical.  Quite a few need to be deleted, rest their souls.   Haven’t I, in times past, made mention of not putting things off?  Seriously.  I did get all the mailers addressed, complete with return address.  Right after Thanksgiving I will be toddling up to the post office and feeling good about being on track.  No last minute crisis.  With all the mailers ready to leave my sewing studio, I will feel free to tackle the next project. 

  When I have too many balls in the air, aka: unfinished projects in the sewing studio, it can almost grind me to a halt and I loose focus.  The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.  

  Dennis and I nailed down the drug insurance policy this morning to have a new company for the prescription drugs that we take.  We are changing from Blue Cross/Blue Shield prescription drug policy to WellCare prescription drug plan. The premium of $15.30 premium per month is in lieu of $64.00 that we would have been paying per month.  It will be a savings of over $500.00 during the course of the year just for myself.  Our agent had really done a lot of work to make sure all would be covered for us.  Special.

  This evening is one of the first in a long time. I have no idea what will be the fare for supper.  How brave am I!  I am going to wing it.  Actually, a bowel of Corn Flakes is a possibility.  If needed, I did check for Dennis what the hours are at the Home Town Café.  Everyone should be given a choice.

   
• 

  Noreen 2:03 pm on November 15, 2020 Permalink  

  Horrific Winds 

  All night long the tinkle of the wind chimes could be heard from the harsh north winds that were relentless.  Often I would come out of my deep rem sleep to hear them.  It didn’t take but a few heartbeats and I was back off to Neverland.  

  This morning has not brought any relief from the winds and I dealt with it by not going outside.  As we had been away from home yesterday, the usual Saturday items were taken care of today. Staying on track is important to me.  I do better with structured days.  If something were to come up unexpectedly, my usual and customary would not fall in between the cracks so far that I would loose all interest in tidy, tidy, tidy.  Thank you, Lena!

  My mom, Lena, was not a dust freak.  Living on a gravel road in Boon Lake township in Renville County with heavy equipment charging up the drive and traveling across the gravel dooryard, at best . . . keep the old warped wood framed windows shut.  Mom and Dad had lived in many older homes renting the farm land and taking the house as was.  When my parents bought their own farm in Boon Lake, of course the house was old and drafty.  From day one, bit by bit, Mom was in there pitching to better it.  Window panes were re-glazed, weather stripping miraculously appeared around door frames, and Dad was on board closing up mouse holes.  It was home.  It was a home that made us all proud to be a part of taking each task to improving it.  Pride in home ownership made keeping it up not a chore, but a feeling of self satisfaction.

  I say, “Thank you, Lena,” because I do take pride in what I have as a home.  No big bells and whistles, just a home with high utility and lovingly taken care of from the tiniest crack in the wall to the sweet remodeled bathroom.  

  With the task of making a sweep through the house and having it pass muster, I did go down into the sewing studio.  Taking one photo image at a time, I can now tell you that all the Santa imagines have had a cold water bath and are now drying.  No longer any fear of excess ink to throw a curve into my project.  The Fairfax kids had found a corrugated fold up with a grid pattern of 1″ squares, that when totally opened is 36″ x 72″.  I have used it for so many aspects of measuring fabric, ribbon, paper, etc.  Today it worked out great to lay the wet Santa images on bath towels and anchor them with pins into the corrugated surface.  One more step done. 

  I looked out the bathroom window and Dennis was doing due diligence in his patio porch running the vacuum.  Yup, pride in ownership.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:34 pm on November 14, 2020 Permalink  

  Good to be Home 

  Today we had been asked to Lux’s 6th birthday party in Eagle Lake.  As per Dennis’ schedule we were on our way home as he had listened to the weather forecast.  True to form we ran into rain and the fog was settling in nicely.  At four we were home and it is good to be home.  Not many of the smaller ones in the family have a great grandfather to come and have birthday cake with.  It is special.

  Last week I had an unusual request via a phone call from Arizona.  My aunt Lorraine had visited us several summers ago and of course she had gone with me to Mankato.  I had a need to go to Mills Fleet Farm.  Lorraine ran across the section of kitchen items and found white towels that were very similar to the quality of the feed sacks from times past.  Lorraine took some with her to Arizona for doing some machine embroidery on them.  This last week she requested that the next time we went to Mankato would we please pick up more of the feed sack quality towels.  She requested four packs of six towels each.  As far as her travel is allowed at age 89, she had not found anything like them in Arizona.  Why not!

  This next week Lorraine will have a package coming her way.  I do admit that the quality is great and they stitch up great.  Others in our stitching group have all gravitated to Mills for those self same towels. The Berg Bag Company has quite a few followers.

  Yesterday I washed up a new set of flannel sheets for my bed.  I didn’t realize how thin my old set was until I hefted the new ones out of the washing machine, ready to shift them to the clothes dryer.  As I looked through various internet sites for the quality sheets to order, I was taken aback as to the designs that were prevalent.  I will be looking at these sheets for quite a few years and I wasn’t enthralled with designs of parrots, wiener dogs or sheep. They really should have checked in with me as to what was desirable, I could have boosted their sales considerably. 

  It is a gray cool late afternoon with the possibility of fresh snow.  All we need to do is honker down and let happen what will happen.  When we got home today and Dennis went out to the patio porch, there was not one single cat that wanted to escape to do their rounds outside.  I believe animals sense weather and are smarter than humans.  

  And . . . just to be clear there were only three families that got together for the birthday party today.  Mandates are wearing thin, but “By D-God” (one of Dad’s favorite expletives) I will not let this get the better of me.  They have no idea who they are trying to stifle.

   
• 

  Noreen 3:44 pm on November 13, 2020 Permalink  

  For the Long Haul 

  I am not one to pick a project for the sewing studio and anticipate it being a quickie.  I prefer the more intricate projects that last and last and last.  It’s comforting to know that I have something started and it is waiting for me to begin where I had left off.  That’s the beauty of the sewing studio.  No one is going to need that area and all can stay right where I left it.

  About twelve years ago, when I found out how much fun could be had with a Cricut paper cutting machine, I was enthralled.  Dover Publishing has always been a “go-to” place for unusual publications.  I ordered the Vintage Christmas book to copy images from the book onto paper selections to use in greeting cards.  I had long forgot about this treasure.

  Looking through some of the older quilt books I knew I would like to do a log cabin design.  I had made one for Carrie that had white snow flakes appliquéd over the blues of the log cabin.  What I didn’t expect to find was a pattern I couldn’t get out of my mind.  I had even shared the pattern with the stitching gals.  There was more to this pattern than the run of the mill fabrics.  There were unique tiles that make the hub of each log cabin block.  Hmm.  Three different sizes of these tiles, totally 25.  It was time for one lost treasure to hook up with a new found quilt pattern.

  JoAnn Fabrics was the source of the printable fabric to use with the ink jet printer.  It was a task to cover portions of the valuable printable fabric to capture either 3″, 5″, or 7″ images and save the remaining portion of the 8″ x 11″ paper backed printable fabric for yet another choice.  I had no idea how much ink I had to work with.  Today, as luck would have it, I finished all of the 25 images in the various sizes.  No doubt there will be new ink cartridges in the mail shortly.  The wireless printer keeps track of how many images have been printed out and I don’t need to seek and search in retail stores for the cartridges.

  There is still quite a bit of work to do with the images.  The paper backing needs to be peeled off and then each one needs to have a cold water bath to take off any excess ink and to set the ink.  That in itself will be on a “few at a time basis” so as to not contaminate one to the other.  For my part, choosing the images and getting them printed out was huge!

  This project is on the “Long Haul” list for the sewing studio.  I am looking forward to working on it slow but sure.  The slow but sure is due to the fact that today physical therapist, Mike T, began working on the area in between the shoulder blades, acknowledging the two reversed shoulders to work around.  It is amazing how working on the lower back effected what was south of there and north of there.  The ham strings in both hips responded as well as how it played out going up towards  the shoulder blades.  It’s truly a maze of connections.  I am so happy I bit the bullet and went for help.  The penguin walk is not desirable as I have many more steps to take and a burning back does not bode well for sewing.    

  Dennis also has been busy.  The Watson boys came and capped of the outside water faucet that was knocked off of the house yesterday by an over zealous red pickup.  After the siding has been replaced, Watson’s will return and install a new faucet.  We are on a carpenter’s list to have the siding replaced that was shaved off by said red pickup.  We are in good shape for the shape we are in.

  It is sunny and our driveway is totally free of ice and snow, ready for the next go-round.  It’s Friday, be happy and hug a loved one.  We are oh so fortunate that someone loves us and puts up with us.

   
• 

  Noreen 4:23 pm on November 3, 2020 Permalink  

  Let the Sunshine In! 

  The sun still has some heat.  The sun is shining in through the windows and the Asian beetles are coming in clinging to our clothes.  

  I have kept a bit quiet today.  The day after the first physical therapy session lets me know who was boss yesterday.  In limping around for more weeks than I should have, there are a few other areas that were compensating and now know it’s time to pay the piper.  I have been doing some reading in my bedroom porch and doing enough stairs to keep all systems moving.  Thursday is my next appointment with Mike T.

  I have been rubbing the ink off of one of the pages of a quilt pattern book that I dug out of storage.  The key to the quilt pattern I really like is that there is a center tile of an image of Old Victorian Santas within each log cabin block.  I thought I had fabric coming in the mail of what I needed.  Not.  It was a yard of fabric alright.  The images were postage stamp size.  Bummer.  In the same storage area where the quilt pattern book came from, I remembered a Dover book I had ordered years ago when I did Cricut Christmas cards using the older Christmas memorabilia.  Various images of Santas, images of old Christmas cards and poems.  I knew I had used the printable ink jet fabric sheets when I did crafts with Megan and Nicholas years ago.   Wouldn’t you know it . . . I had one sheet left.  I did go to the sewing studio and had to see what would happen if I copied a page of the book having a Santa image onto that last fabric-backed sheet via the HP printer.  Dennis followed me and he was amazed how great it copied.  The colors were vibrant.  At some time the paper needs to be peeled off and the sheet needs to have cold water ran over it to set the ink.  I have the biggest challenge of this project nailed.  I will need to make sure I find the same product of the printable fabric when we go to Mankato sometime.  I am sure I had found it in JoAnn’s Fabric.  All that in due time. 

  Dennis had a nephew from Windom come over today, and how can those two talk over guns better than going to our Home Town Café over the noon hour.  A good gab session always does the trick and is complete when Matt had a chance to look over Dennis’ stash.  There were even several that Matt ended up taking home with him.  You know how those “needs analysts” go. The end result was that Dennis assured me the new hot water heater that is being put in on Friday has been taken care of.  Sweet!

  The electrical harness for the Cub-Lo-Boy came in the mail today.  Dennis and Dwayne have already made arrangements to work on the tractor here in the pickup garage on Friday.  It will be great to have it running and tucked in the back garage until next spring.  Dennis’ pickup is not used to sitting outside, and it surely wouldn’t be happy having frost needing to be scrapped off each time Dennis needed to use it.  It does seem that all things do work out in the end for us older ones here on Stauffer Avenue.

   
• 

  Noreen 3:46 pm on November 1, 2020 Permalink  

  There is a Price to Pay 

  There is a price to pay when one, aka: me, is content with a Tracfone.  Most that I know that something that it is a bit more sophisticated.  I am in a “group” for phone calls with the stitchers.  It can keep you in stitches when one or more needs to chat back and forth.  

  When my phone lets me know that I have text message, and if I do not open it immediately, it will continue to chirp until I do open it.  The first screen “New Message” needs to be pressed. The next screen allow me to know how large of a text is coming in via KBs, and then I need to press the “Get” button. The message is then downloaded and allows me to know how many minutes will be subtracted and how many minutes I have left and then press “List.” Then the screen message is “Press for New Message.” Finally I can read what the text was.  Too funny.

  When the texts are flying fast and furious, Dennis just shakes his head.  I have observed other’s phones.  I don’t really need all those bells and whistles.  I have a calendar in my phone and we have not missed any appointments.  The biggest drawback for me to change phones is the size of those phones.  I would not be able to hold them in my palm comfortably.  

  There are only a few instances when the stitchers are hot and heavy with what they are sharing.  What they do share is very informative and from my point of view my phone is very doable.  It costs me $99.00 a year and I always have in excess of a 1,000 minutes to use.  Yup! I am content and after this last round of text messages I have a great lead on a stabilizer that works great for doing machine embroidering.  By the way . . . Mills Fleet and Farm in Mankato is having a great sale on white large feed sacks at $1.50 each.  Those towels are also wonderful quality also for machine embroidery.  Just a heads up for the stitcher gals!

  What is important is that we all must decide what price we are willing to pay in regard to patience.  Are we richer for the inclusion of a group of friends. . . thus putting the inconvenience of it to the side?  I voted yes to that.

  On a sidebar, Dennis got leaves mulched this afternoon.  The plus to Dennis’ day was that he  flagged down one of the Watson Boys that were paying a visit to our neighbor in regard to the neighbor’s furnace throwing a fit.  Watson’s now know that we will be needing a new electric water heater.  The one in the basement has been leaking for some time and it is not prudent to continue paying for water to be heated only to have it leak out.  We put that one in, in 2011.  Hmm, didn’t last as long as those in days of old.  But then, what does!

   
• 

  Noreen 5:37 pm on October 30, 2020 Permalink  

  Sweet Day 

  My fellow stitchers said “all aboard,” and I answered the call.  After meeting up in Mankato, two vehicles with lots of chit chat fueling the trip headed for Rochester to the Pines and Needles Quilt Shop.  I had never visited said shop.  

  I had a bit of a list and came home with . . . not so much.  Each shop has its specialty and unique line of fabrics.  Between you and me and the fence post The Old Alley Quilt Shop in Sherburn had this one beat.  But . . . it doesn’t hurt to expand the horizons.

  We spent two and a half hours visiting in Panera Eatery.  That was the best part of the day.  Sharing, encouraging and listening . . . sweet day.

  Home is always sweet, and due to the lateness of my return we had smorgasbord for supper.  Dennis peeled the boiled potatoes that were on hand, threw in the corn left from last night, cracked two eggs in the pan and sprinkled with Asiago shredded cheese.  It tasted great and we were  content.   

  That brings to mind what contentment means to me.  Contentment for me is knowing that my world is enough for me.   

  We are on a streak of great weather.  Have at it everyone before someone else gets their hands on it.