Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from December, 2013 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:55 am on December 23, 2013 Permalink  

  Dennis is in the Kitchen 

  

  Dennis is in the Kitchen

  Today brought about a very windy cold seven degrees above zero.  The saving grace is that the sun peeked out once in awhile.  No matter what the weather the kitchen needs to be maned.  Meals for two can be easy and sometimes a challenge.  I could hear the kitchen cabinets opening and closing so I knew something was a foot.  Dennis was scrounging through the pantry items to see what we had as available ingredients.

  Last night Dennis did indeed fix supper for the two of us as I was finishing up some sewing room cleaning.  I stayed out of the way as I know I can intimidate when he is wheeling the wooden spoons and the pots and pans.  You just don’t want to discourage or squelch enthusiasm – it may not return.  At five thirty I was called up from the basement and I was treated to fried Spam with an entry of wild rice and carrot soup spooned over mashed potatoes.  Hey, if I don’t have to cook, it tastes as if Julia Child were here on Stauffer Avenue.   It was a win, win.  When I heard the kitchen commotion today I figured Dennis was on a roll.  Far be it from me to hold him back.

  Today Dennis was in the mood for macaroni cold salad.  I volunteered to run to the store for a list of some items and I left Dennis chopping an onion and also opening another can of Spam to chop – after all Spam is the favorite meat of people in Hawaii.  When I returned with what Dennis needed for his dish, I started a batch of ground beef Sloppy Joes.  It didn’t take long and we had our evening meal prepared cooling and simmering.  Having differing ideas as to what a meal will offer – it’s a good thing.  P.S.  Dennis is great at doing dishes as well.  Who needs another appliance taking up space!

   
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  Noreen 1:55 am on December 21, 2013 Permalink  

  Thanks for the Gift 

  

  Dennis With His New Snow Shoveling Mittens

  In the cold of winter the thoughts do travel beyond making warm quilts.  I would have to thank my children’s Dad, Orlin Schafer, for teaching me how to crochet during the time that we lived in Riesel, Texas – way back when.  By the time we moved back to Minnesota I had the basics down to a science.  Spending time with Orlin’s mother, Esther Schafer, gave me the next round of the more difficult stitches and she also taught me how to be creative to alter a pattern for a specific size.

  When I decided these last weeks to bring out the crochet hooks I knew I wanted to stay with small projects.  The arthritis had not done the finger dance necessary to create good tension with the left hand of yarn entwined as it feeds the yarn to the right hand for the stitches in a long time.  The first night I could feel the challenge that the hands are done. Dennis was already anticipating putting liners in the crocheted mittens for wonderful insulation when working out in the cold.

  Being able to create something from nothing is truly a life long gift that was given and has been a joy.  I couldn’t even begin to count the number of projects that the skill has created.  Orlin’s dad Arthur would sit in his chair and comment how women could spend so much time making holes with string.  I don’t think he minded one bit the slippers that he was wearing on his feet when he would comment.  Priceless.

  With Dennis in his mittens and me in my cap we settled in for a long winter’s snow and cold.

   
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  Noreen 6:10 am on December 20, 2013 Permalink  

  Can You Hear Me Now? 

  This is a red letter day for hubby Dennis.  Dennis is sporting his first pair of hearing aids.  So far so good.  We were both amazed as to how small they are.  The Audiologist was wonderful in explaining the entire process.  The best part is that there are no and I repeat no adjustments that can be made by Dennis.  He sat in the chair about six feet from the Audiologist with the aids in his ears and she turned to her computer screen with her hand on her computer mouse.  She ask Dennis questions as to what he could hear as she made adjustments to her computer screen and how it impacted the hearing aids Dennis was wearing.  Talk about wireless transmissions.  When the battery for either ear is in need of replacing there will be a definite three note tune that Dennis will hear in the ear that the battery needs to be replaced for.  No second guessing there.  There will be so squealing noise via the aids as the hearing loss that Dennis experiences is for specific letter sequences.

  This could mean so much for Dennis’ day to day quality of life.  The aids are not to be worn while lawn mowing or snow blowing, in the shower or in a swimming pool.  The daily maintenance is quite easy but very necessary.  Dennis and the Audiologist left the sound prof room as Dennis is to have a clear reaction to the noise that was going on in the clinic’s waiting room and halls.  When we were traveling home the comments of what Dennis was hearing of the traffic noise was interesting.

  Time will tell as to what Dennis will be hearing.

   
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  Noreen 5:01 am on December 19, 2013 Permalink  

  Getting plenty of fresh air and exercise. 

  A quiet day after raking snow off of the house, garage and porch roofs.  Amazing how heavy the fluffy snow becomes after it has slid down in a pile.

   
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  Noreen 5:09 am on December 17, 2013 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  

  Peaceful Calm

   
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  Noreen 5:28 am on December 16, 2013 Permalink  

  Heavy Clouds 

  It was a very gray cold day (7 degrees as the high).  The highlight of the day was the pair of Cardinals that flew among the Lilac bushes taking advantage of our neighbor Jan’s bird feeders.  They moved from the feeders to Dennis’ heated water dish several times before they flew off.  I wonder where they call home during this cold.  Grant it the Sparrows outnumber the Blue Jays, Chickadees and Cardinals but hey, everyone needs to be taken care of in the cold.  Catch ya later.

   
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  Noreen 4:36 am on December 12, 2013 Permalink  

  Brrrrr! 

  After a week of this I am ready for some numbers with a plus sign in front of them.  The high winds over night moved the new snow as it was falling.  Dennis and I were on the same page this morning. We had a bite of breakfast and hit the work that was needed to clear the driveway, sidewalk and patio. It’s too early in the winter to have the attitude that God put it here and He will take it away right around the time of Easter in 2014. Surprisingly with the two of us working together we made short work of the winter wonderland.  The day is winding down and supper is now simmering on the burner and it is going to be one great pot of chili.  Catch ya later.

   
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  Noreen 4:18 am on December 11, 2013 Permalink  

  One of My Favorite Hobbies 

  

  It’s Beginning to Look like Christmas

  The year before I retired from Watonwan County as the County Assessor, I wanted to get my hobbies organized within my home.  The quilting was a given but when I saw the Cricut I was hooked.  My horizons were expanded.  It is an electronic cutting machine for paper, vinyl, card stock, fabric and foil. The web was a wealth of information before I actually purchased one. I have been working with my wonder machine during the past four years. I don’t use it everyday but when the light bulb of creation goes off it’s there to be enjoyed.  There is no scrap of paper too small to have tucked away in a folder for future use as images can be cut from 1/4 inch to 24 inches.

  This time of the year the paper, glue and embellishments take over the craft area in the basement and the quilting is put on hold.  Hey, you’ve got to be a multi-dimensional person when it comes to crafting.  Sometimes I find a card that I want to mirror but most times I am totally winging it.

  Cutting fabric on the Cricut is perfect for applique designs used in quilting that would otherwise call for hand drawn artwork in multiple sets.  The designs are specific on cartridges that are purchased separately.  Several cartridges that I have acquired include over 700 images per cartridge.

  

  My Niece Laura’s William and His Cricut Tile

  We have had little ones added to the family and one of my favorite gifts for them is a tile that can be hung in their bedrooms.  The designs for the tiles are cut with vinyl that has the adhesive on the back.  The tiles are actually floor tiles that can be bought for less and $1.00 in any Menards or Home Depot.  I have seen many items in the hobby stores with vinyl art sold in phrases for home decor.   My daughter Carrie has used her Cricut and made original phrases for her home.

  There was never a worry that I could not find my way through all the uses of the Cricut when I realized what You Tube had available.  The world of the Cricut is huge and so enjoyable.  At a time when everything can be bought and usually in a variety of price ranges, I still like to put my personal touch on gifts and cards.  The entire process that happens in my basement sewing and craft area is totally awesome and I never ever run out of items to try.  Oh yes, we go from fuzz and lint to paper scraps and sticky stuff.  Priceless!

   
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  Noreen 7:48 am on December 10, 2013 Permalink  

  In our town we had the best Pamida… 

  In our town we had the best Pamida store.  In the fall of 2012 it was converted into a Shopko Home Town.  What a disaster.  Here it is the 9th of December and there is not one single decorated Christmas tree in the store.  No holiday feeling goes right along with an inadequate amount of inventory.  The price of the inventory is notably higher than before.  Our Family Dollar store is bursting with products and is busier than they can handle at times.  I think the only thing that is keeping the Shopko store going is the pharmacy. The pharmacy is not Dennis’ favorite place to go as the eight people working behind the counter are tripping over each other with total disorganization.

  Sometimes bigger is not better.  It is wonderful to have choices in a small town.  Many small towns don’t even have a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk to sell.

  Catch ya later.

   
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  Noreen 4:45 am on December 9, 2013 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  This is the second night that Dennis is making me supper that includes all the cleanup.  This is huge for the cowboy and very much appreciated.