Testing a photo upload from NextGen, “Dennis” category
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Noreen
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Noreen
Mighty North Wind
The north wind is encouraging snow being swept off of roof tops and making small drifts of snow across drives and sidewalks.
I see it all happening and that is as much as it is bothering me. I enjoyed two cups of coffee before heading down into the studio. Today I succeeded in putting what was started decades ago, a 2025 fruition. My mom, Lena, loved her threads and fuzz. That is most likely where I shared that love then and right into today. I don’t know what mom’s intent was as she stitched together layer upon layer of prairie points. Prairie point: a square of fabric folded several times ending with a self-contained point. Often mom would use them to edge her quilts with the intent that grubby little hands would put wear and tear on the points and not the quilt edge. These three items held many hand stitched stitches to hold the points in place making for a quilter’s design.
I knew I had some silicone fabric much like what is used on ironing board’s surfaces. With my protractor to achieve the correct sizes, the plan was shaping up quite nicely. Into my stashes of trimmings I went to see about finishing them.
There are now three hot pads for dissemination when Carrie and Megan visit. I intend to keep one for myself. Using the double fold bias tape needs a steady hand to keep the two layers consistent. Mission completion.
In between time, there are a dozen frozen cinnamon rolls thawing for later in the day baking. We usually purchase a 6 lb. bag of chicken tenderloins. Today was the day to open that purchase up and make meal sized zip-lock bag offerings. So much easier than struggling with the large frozen bag each time chicken is on the menu.
It’s been a good day on Stauffer Avenue.
With that I will take my leave. ♥
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Noreen
The Dance
Stauffer Avenue is gravel. After many gradings and oil put down for dust control, the surface is quite packed. The winds are wild. A gust of the winds take a full coverage of leaves to the east. A few moments later the gust does a swirl and the same leaves are heading west. There is nothing to slow the dancing leaves down.
The studio has a project in progress, like no other. My goal is to have a two sided 54″ x 54″ lap robe. One side is predominately browns and blacks. The other side is hues of blue. When doing the free motion quilting, I don’t want the black thread of the quilting showing on the blue side and vice versa. I knew I had a spool of mono-filament thread, aka: much, much lighter weight than what is used for fishing. It was very hard to tame. Actually it was very hard to see it as it wanted to free flow off of the spool. I got a bobbin wound with the hope of using it on the blue side. The top thread was black. I did try it out doing straight stitching.
Everything had been pinned with the red-headed safety pins so the amount of shifting was at a minimum. After a successful straight stitching, I went ahead and lowered the feed dogs to give it a try in one of the corners to see how it would react with the quilt batting sandwiched. All went well. The center is quilted. I can see that on the blue side it has been quilted without any hint of the black thread showing as the needle pulled down the black thread to pick up the mono-filament thread.
When I had completed the free motion quilting, I called it a day. The blue side was down and I noticed that there is a 2″ x 10″ length that has a small tuck in it. I could cut the threads to smooth it out but then I would have lengths of thread to fasten down. Nope. It’s the best I could do at the time. It was a lot of shoulder, arm and hand motion. There is about a five inch border around this project. I have not as yet decided on how to finish that portion. Doing free motion is more difficult when the edge of the project doesn’t have tension on it. I’ll think of something.
The chilly temps have brought out Dennis’ warmer duds. I have no doubt the furnace in the patio porch has taken the chill off . . . why not!
Dennis made a run for cigarettes and picked up a prescription for me at Lewis Drug. I was thankful I didn’t have to leave the house today.
It is that time of day when negotiations will take place for supper.
With that I will take my leave. ♥
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Noreen
They Say
They say it is not a nice day out and I am taking their word for it. Dennis and I have no reason to leave our homestead today.
Saturdays are not for listening to KNUJ in the studio as it’s usually about sports.
I was brave and cut into the 30″ x 40″ sheet of foam board. Stretching and centering my stitched piece began . . . quite slowly. I had had grandiose thoughts of putting some quilt batting behind the stitching. It got real in a big hurry. Accomplishing getting it centered . . . I will settle for that. I was happy not to have any additional noise in the studio. The church tables have two bricks under all the legs. That really helps when bending over is the only way a project needs to be handled. When two this afternoon came about, I was ready to close everything down. Tomorrow is a new day and I want to enjoy it with feelings of . . . Yes!
Dennis has gotten the hang of our potato peeler and has been going to town. The peeler fits in the palm of the hand. I enjoyed cucumber spears for my noon snack. There are three potatoes peeled for supper as well as a new batch of the creamed cucumbers to enjoy over the boiled potatoes. Heck, I will eat potatoes and cucumbers until the cows come home if he is content and happy with his endeavors.
When I get busy in the studio, some of the Merry Maid work on the first floor takes a backseat. All I need do is ask and Dennis pitches in and does the best he can. It is very much appreciated.
With that I will take my leave. ♥
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Noreen
Cloudy Saturday
Gray and cloudy is the day. That didn’t much bother what we had on the agenda.
Dennis mixed up a gallon of brush killer so he could in turn go to the acre and do some spraying. His Harbor Freight pump sprayer is very doable. The sprayer was full and the gallon jug for easy refill. For decades there had been a tree that had had a ring of aluminum lawn fencing around it about a foot tall. The aluminum has been long gone but the ridge of dirt around it has harbored thistles and other weeds. Dennis got in a good amount of walking. There was one huge stump of a tree that Ryan’s crew did not take out. A lot of barb wire grown into the tree. The stump is about four feet tall and Dennis gave the area around it a good spraying. In about six days the effect of the spray will be able to be seen.
After my morning walk I headed to the studio to do a batch of tee-shirts. I came up from the studio for a coffee break. After checking things on the laptop, I decided to do a second batch of the shirts. Well, well, the tee-shirts have been cut up with a rather huge bag of the cotton and poly leftovers geared for the garbage. The backs of the shirts I did bag up for Dennis in the garage. If nothing else to wipe the hands off when working with mower oil.
Both Dennis and I had a good day of getting things done and kept under control.
Late on a Saturday afternoon is a good time to visit the local grocery store. Everyone buying up for the weekend have been through the check-outs. Dennis gave me a ride in the car and kicked back listening to the radio while I headed in with my list. Now, all the groceries have been put away in the refrigerator and or in the freezer. I have a Maria Cullender cherry pie in the oven with the crumbles to be added on later.
Fixing our meals here on Stauffer is more desirable than eating out.
With that I will take my leave. ♥
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Noreen
Success
Stauffer Avenue is having a successful day on this Sunday.
As I laid in bed last night mulling over the day. I decided to work smarter than harder on my grubby kitchen floor. Today with my arsenal in tact I tackled another third of the floor. With the Swiffer mop in hand, I used a heavy rag and loaded it with that. I again used the spray on the floor. But . . . this time, standing upright, I was able to clean another area. After success, I loaded a wet Swiffer pad to make sure I removed any residue of the Mr. Clean Clean Freak from yesterday and today. One more day of it. Yes, Lena, I need to get into the habit of damp mopping the floor once a week to stay ahead of more than just the fine layer of dust . . . thus making it easier on myself in the long run.
AJ from Mankato stopped in to see us. He and grandpa Dennis took the blades off of the Sears riding lawnmower. Off to Fleet Farm for a new set. After the new blades were on, the mower was tried out. Success. This set should last Dennis for some time. The key . . . don’t run over branches.
The embroidered project that I was working on for Maria is done. Her cosmetology apron has never looked so good. She was timid in her request and I enjoyed doing it for her. I did save the image as well as the color choices if she decides to have a few more done. Why not!
Yesterday I felt strong enough to tackle the kitchen floor. Today I felt capable to continue with less physical discomfort. I am sure by tomorrow I will feel fantastic as the project will have been completed.
Our supper is going to resemble a poor man’s beef commercial. I have leftover instant potatoes to make patties out of and give them a flip in a fry pan. I had some beef brisket slices in the freezer that will be added to the leftover beef tips we had on Friday evening. It’s a win, win. Leftovers get used up and Dennis gets a hot meal.
A success on all fronts for this Sunday.
With that I will take my leave. ♥
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Noreen
Sunday the 30th
Too Pooped to Pop . . . a great feeling!
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Noreen
Wed
yes
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Noreen
Wishful Thinking
My wishful thinking is that the child within me never abandons me.
One of these last days the winds were playing tag with leaves. The leaves were going every which way. I had met the postman on our front deck. As I was coming in and bringing the front door with me a lone leaf scurried across my bedroom floor. I saw the leaf but didn’t really look until I bent down to pick it up and then took a closer look. I will be! The leaf was a twin to the cartoon mouse character, Stewart Little. Just keep your nets to yourself and not over me. I assure you I am just fine.There are so many small entertaining splashes in the day-to-day hectic pace . . . if we just keep our minds open to them. The child within me is a hoot.
Onto a more serious note. Thump. Did you hear it? One of my prescription bottles hit the garbage and it was still quite full of 50m pills. I will no longer be taking Zoloft. It is one of many drugs used for depression. Not to worry, I have been decreasing the dosage for some time. No cold turkey.
In 2021 I experienced a stroke as well as open heart surgery. During that same time, Dennis began experiencing Osteomyelitis, a severe bone infection in his left foot. As the toes were removed one by one, the dressings on his foot needed changing every day. With only my right hand and arm being useful, the left hand and arm could only help pin down the clean dressings until I could get the tape unrolled and applied. It was physically and emotionally exhausting. The daily dressings continued until mid 2023. The daily care made the difference of keeping Dennis’ leg or amputating it above the knee. I was under a doctor’s care the whole time while I adjusted to my new lifestyle as well. The Zoloft was a means to coup.
I had been kicking around doing more with less in regard to medications. Carrie mentioned at one point, it may have been after Nicholas was born and she experienced post-partum depression and had the experience of being prescribed Zoloft. In part that is caused by a drastic hormonal change in estrogen and progesterone. Hormonal changes happen every month in the body of a woman, but none more drastic than after a pregnancy. It may affect brain activity, behavior, physical and mental function. Carrie commented the Zoloft did not do a good thing for her.
So . . . in the last month, I have been taking high absorption Magnesium Glycinate 350, one tablet every morning. It helps with bone health, muscular health, enzymatic function (respiratory health, food digestion and nerve function and relaxation). I have also cut down the Gabapentin from 800m per day to 400m, also for nerve functionality. After the stroke, it had always felt as if I were touching a low dose from an electric fence as if my left side was still trying to make functioning connections. My hope is to no longer be taking the Gaba at all. I am taking it slow. I maintain, I will stick to only one of the Magnesium’s per day. I feel I may still need to take it in the morning to help with whatever the day throws at me. When my bottle of 240 capsules is gone, I will have to give a report on what my body is telling me.
Oh, by the way . . . I like the fact that I can continue nurturing the child within me.
With that I will take my leave. ♥
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Noreen
Hump Day
It’s now official, the month of October is half over.
I spent a good amount of time with Dennis this morning. I visited with both of the gals that are doing PT with Dennis. This coming Saturday will be two weeks that Dennis has had his hip replaced. He has been at Good Samaritan a week yesterday. The report is that he is in good spirits and very cooperative. They have assigned places in the dining room. The social worker also gave him good reviews. They wished he wouldn’t get in and out of his room on his own, mainly the bathroom, and he doesn’t use the call light. I asked them if the call light would be used would someone be in his room in 5-10 minutes? Hmm . . . no, most likely a half hour. Well . . . hello!
I was queried as to what the family has given thought to. Would we like to see Dennis stay until they thought he was ready to go home or go home when we felt he was ambulatory. I allowed them to know the family has not discussed that as yet. I did share my thoughts that recovery in the their own home always makes for a patient of good mind. When I shared that I had had open heart surgery on a Thursday and was home before dark on Saturday, they both just looked at each other.
Food for thought.
Monday Dennis has an eye injection in Mankato. Upon hearing that they will start working with Dennis on the ease of transport. Denise said she would take him. Sweet! Dennis eyes have really done well. He even passed his driver’s eye test without his glasses when he went in right after his birthday. We already had missed the injection on the 7th. It is important. I know I can drive. I know I can handle myself. I do not want to take a chance of being in charge of myself as well as Dennis.
Yesterday afternoon and into the evening I worked with the canon camera and the HP. Thank goodness for YouTube. Thank goodness . . . I got it! Whew! I know Nicholas would have had it fixed in a heart beat. Sooooo, I can share with you the progress I have made on the cover of Ester Schafer’s wooden circular box. I have quite a bit of hand sewing to do. It feels good to have a solution on the raw finish of the counted stitch fabric. I have my clips holding the bias tape I have made. If I take a day to ponder it, I may sew the inner ring of the bias tape with my sewing machine. I will make sure if I do, that I do a practice piece for the right stitch and the length of said stitch.With this day having been good, and dusty, I was going to tip in two windows of my bedroom porch tomorrow and give them a wash. On second thought, a rain shower would really help. I may wait a day or two.
With that I take my leave. ♥
