Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from May, 2026 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 2:13 pm on May 19, 2026 Permalink  

  Too Chilly 

  When the air temps feels like 30 outside, and the water is rushing through the floor tile in the studio . . . that was my signal to stay on the first floor today.

  It’s not like there is nothing to do on the first floor, it is not my normal schedule.  What I did take note of today is that the robin has a nest in the same brace of our west awning as the wee thrush, just inches away.  Talk about getting along.  It will be interesting as mama Robin is already feeding babies.  The chatter for food could be interesting.

  I have interesting serial type shows on both HU and Acorn.  However, today the internet was connecting but not long standing.  Dennis had the same issue in the patio porch.  He then reverted to the Godahl tower television set.  It’s a good thing AJ has him covered regardless of connectivity.

  The stitching I am currently doing is the kit I ordered from Colorado Stitching in 2021.  I wanted to try my hand at counted cross stitch after the stroke.  I didn’t research it very well prior to purchasing.  It is one of the six strands of floss as it comes that is used over one fiber of fabric.  I had put it in a plastic bag after a good start and just recently dug it out as I don’t like UFOs: unfinished objects.  I am working in a sea of blue stitches in the design.  Using a multitude of blues gives it a dimensional look.  It gives a good challenge.

  Due to it being a chilly day we are having soup and a fried egg sandwich for supper.  We both agreed.

  With that I will take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:07 pm on May 9, 2026 Permalink  

  A Saturday 

  A Sunny bright day for the fishing opener.  There has been a number of pickups pulling boats today.  As windy as it is here in town, I can only imagine some rough waters on lakes.

  Yesterday was a long busy day in the studio.  When my cousin Mark left for home after supper, all that was left for him to do was to do a binding on the 58″ x 68″ patriotic minke quilt.  Whew.  It had been a full day.  No secret was made of the fact that neither he nor I would take on another such project.  Live and learn.

  The older Filter Queen vacuum had been used as the quilt pieces were cut.  On another day, I will do a more through job of doing the tidy, tidy.  My sewing machine is due a good cleaning as well.

  Dennis is on a quest.  Our faithful PVC pipe flag pole gave up today.  The steel rod that ran inside of the plastic pipe and was anchored into a hole made when our patio was poured had rusted off.  Several decades of twisting and turning had taken its toll.  Nothing lasts forever. 

  Dennis and I are kicking around ideas for supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on March 23, 2026 Permalink  

  Safe 

  A late day in the big town.  It is 4:30 and we are safe and sound at home.

  More tomorrow.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:00 pm on December 21, 2025 Permalink  

  Testing a photo upload from NextGen, “Dennis” category 

  

   

  

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on December 3, 2025 Permalink  

  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 2:29 pm on October 21, 2025 Permalink  

  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 2:03 pm on July 26, 2025 Permalink  

  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 3:15 pm on June 7, 2025 Permalink  

  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 2:46 pm on May 18, 2025 Permalink  

  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 1:29 pm on March 30, 2025 Permalink  

  Sunday the 30th 

  Too Pooped to Pop . . . a great feeling!