Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from May, 2025 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:00 pm on May 8, 2025 Permalink  

  Full Day 

  It felt cool out this morning.  My fingers felt it when I took command of my new dandelion poker.  The old one turned within the metal shaft of the wooden handle.  I took quite a few of them out.  A few more tomorrow is on the docket.  By noon I had spent my gardening energy.

  At one, I had a front row seat at Megan’s graduation commencement ceremony in Lynchburg, Virginia’s Liberty College.  How sweet was that.  She completed her four year degree in three years.  At Easter she said she needed to work for awhile to save some money for her Master’s education.  I can so understand that.  I did get several good photos of Megan as she made her way across the stage for grandpa to see.  When he looked at them, all he did was put his hand out, knee high, referencing how fast time has gone.  I so agreed.

  The mail brought the bill for the installation of the new electric water heater, $269.00.  I really thought it would have been more.

  The mail was brought by our postmaster introducing us to our new carrier.  Oh my gosh.  Michael Nett, out of the Air Force coming back to St. James.  His mom, Renee, had worked for and with me for years.  Small world.

  Dennis took Watson’s check to the mail box and will be returning with a Tuna Sub for supper.  

  As I said, it was a great full day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:15 pm on May 7, 2025 Permalink  

  Hump Day 

  The first hump day of May.  

  The sun is bright but where there are dandelions, their bloom is brighter yet.  If I take a few of them out each day, I will make progress.  With my mighty clipper in hand, I cut off the dried stalks of 2024’s Autumn Joy plants.  Those sweet plants come up year after year.  As the summer season lengthens, they will be ready to put out blossoms that butterflies are attracted to.  Each day that I do a bit, I am finding more and more Hosta plants making themselves known.  It is difficult as the Star of David plants are thick, and . . . everywhere.  Their greenery looks much like fine onion greenery.  Out from the center of each plant will be a lone blossom stalk that comes up with the most delicate white star, thus the Star of David.  After the bloom is done, the entire plant dies off and you would be hard pressed over time to know that it was there.  I have tried to thin them by digging them up and out.  They grow from a little white bulb that does look like an onion.  I have given up.  I let them do their thing . . . they win.

  Last fall when I was poking around under the white lilac bush, there was a single tall stalk that looked very much like an asparagus plant that had seeded out.  I put a special little rock by it.  Last week, I had two beautiful asparagus stalks about six inches tall.  I didn’t cut them, though munching on them was tempting.  I will let them seed out and perhaps these two will continue to feed the root ball for more coming up next year.  Bless the bird for doing his business and dropping a seed within it.

  The Jack-in the Pulpits are doing well.  Many years ago, Calvin and Lois brought me a plant when they came through from Iowa.  A very special plant indeed.

  Dennis finished mowing our original lot today.  After that, he changed oil in both mowers.  Ready for the next time.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:10 pm on May 6, 2025 Permalink  

  Sunny Tuesday 

  There are things that come about automatically.  It was guaranteed that this was garbage pickup day.  Today after the stroke of 12 a.m., Blue Cross and Blue Shield would take our monthly premium out of our checking account.  This Tuesday morning being at PT at 8:30, I would come home feeling quite a bit of discomfort from Mike.  So be it all.

  We had a good day in Mankato yesterday.  The little red pickup got TLC from Jiffy Lube.  The transmission fluid was changed out, the worn serpentine belt was replaced, the tires were rotated and the usual oil and grease job.  It is road ready for sometime to come.

  Dennis need not check in with the hip surgeon for six months.  The x-ray showed no problems.  The only item that was stressed was to stay upright for a moment or two before taking off walking.  That’s good advice is for both of us.  Give the bodies a chance to react.

  We got home at five.  It was agreed to have a sandwich for supper and call it good.  The groceries stayed in the bags until this morning.  As it got warm yesterday we had agreed that nothing that needed to be kept cool would be bought.

  Dennis took the zero-turn and mowed the 1.3 acre for the first time this year.  I commandeered the house with groceries that needed to be put in place as well as several loads of laundry.  Dennis is going to do our original lot tomorrow.  His back was in need of a break and what better break than doing it with an A&W soda.

  I have a new exercise to do before I see Mike next week.  It is one to keep the knots in the calf of the legs to release rather than make Charlie-horses. 

  A good day was had and tomorrow will be another and then another and then another.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:32 pm on February 11, 2025 Permalink  

  Tuesday the 11th of February 

  Yesterday I tidied up in the studio so as to not leave the church tables unwilling to host the next wild hair I get in my bonnet.  When I do visit the studio again, it will welcome me as a willing participant with all the bells and whistles as an annex to Joann Fabrics.

  I had mentioned in yesterday’s post that I had found some free patterns to download on the internet.  I may very well have found the solution to use some of the cork fabric from Amanda’s gift via the Creative Stitches in Bird Island.  I know I have everything needed in the studio, aka: Joann Fabrics annex including some zippers.  The zippers will be ready after I read the directions as to the length needed.  Some years ago, I bought some zippers by the yard.  They came with a packet of the zipper pulls.  This is all food for thought.

  Yesterday as I was searching on the HP laptop in my bedroom porch, I looked out the window at the driveway with the fresh fallen snow.  I can share with you, that as of today, the drive will be ready for some powerful sunshine to help clear it.  My plan for this forenoon was to suit-up and use my little plastic pusher to get the snow pushed to the south.  I did not do this without a lot of thought.  I had my heavy shoes on with thick socks, my stocking cap and heavy gloves, but not too heavy that I couldn’t manage the wooden handle of my little pusher.  Dennis had used the leaf blower for a path from the house to the garage.  After four intervals of about 15 minutes each, I can now look out of my bedroom porch window and see the powerful sun take its turn on the concrete of the driveway.  I admit, I crapped out on the last fifteen feet of the 90′ driveway to the street.  That last stint, when I came in, the jacket got hung up and the heavy shoes were traded in for my house slippers.  It felt good to get some safe exercise in and as one of Dennis’ favorite ditties . . . I got the stink blown off of me. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:52 pm on February 10, 2025 Permalink  

  Snow Showers 

  Snow showers come and go.

  It is going to be a good supper of chili out of the freezer.

  

  My curiosity got the best of me this forenoon.  I headed to the studio to see if my tote was indeed standing straight and tall.  Wonder of wonders . . . it was.  I spent a bit more time measuring the straps to see where they needed to be at.  I used some Wonder Clips to indicate what would need to be trimmed down for comfortable carrying ease.   That was enough to satisfy me for the studio time.  The air coming from the tile going around the perimeter was indeed chilly.

  I had some information I was seeking on YouTube.  That would be gotten off of the HP in my bedroom porch.  Sure enough.  I found some free download patterns to print off.  Isn’t the world wide web wonderful!  I could hear the printer working its magic.  That concluded any curiosity I may have had for today.

  Dennis just came in and confirmed that the outside air is really raw.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:14 pm on February 6, 2025 Permalink  

  Early Bird 

  It is Thursday with the wind again whipping the wind chime outside my bedroom porch, taunting the dusting of snow we had last night.  The bright sun has cleared the drive and we are back to no covering.

  I am an early bird with my blog today.  Yesterday had been a day off of doing a blog until I got the all clear from my administrator.

  This morning, I was hell bent on getting to the studio as I had pondered the next step to my soon to be tote bag.  All the lights were on. KNUJ was giving me the latest news and I was standing next to one of the church tables ready to go.  I put in a new blade in the rotary cutter and the steam iron was heating up.

  As I said, I was standing next to the table with everything in front of me, but I was not moving.  I chose to work with some fabric to finish off the top of the canvas cross-hatched that was dimensional.  The fabric had script printed across the length of the weft. I knew I wanted the script to read correctly as if I would be standing the canvas bag in front of me.  The script fabric being cut in one piece would also be the backing of the top band.  Getting my head wrapped around the correct way to sew this script fabric on correctly, just stymied me for a bit.  This was not going to be a day of ripping out seams.  It does help to fixate.  The adage: you don’t have time to do it right, but you always have time to do it over was blazing across my forehead.

  Finishing off the cup of coffee I had brought to the studio and finding the correct color of sewing thread for this next step in sewing, gave me enough time for a step-away.  I was able to go back to the fabric decision, use my wonder-clips to hold everything in place and get the seam sewn.  Whew.

  Dennis checked in at noon as he had had the little red pickup out for a spin around town.  

  I had prepared an oven meal for last night and that automatically gives me gratis for tonight’s supper.  I will spike it up a bit by adding some cranberries. 

  All is well with my soul . . . as well as everything else on Stauffer Avenue. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:35 pm on January 27, 2025 Permalink  

  Monday the 27th 

  The start of a new week during the last week of January 2025.

  Dennis’ grandson, AJ, came for a visit to see his grandpa as AJ had today off.  AJ has a crew that does underground cable.  AJ’s boss runs a crew doing likewise towards the metro.  AJ always asks if there is anything that we need help with.  It’s a good thing.

  I have shifted my time from the studio and to the first floor and back again.  Slowly I will achieve something in the studio.  When my concentration has been broken, it is easier to throw in the towel and pick it up the next day.

  Dennis needed some consultation at the dining room table this afternoon.  Dennis purchased his Cub-Lo-Boy from a friend of his years back.  That friend, Jack, has since passed away.  Recently after the purchase, Dennis replaced all the wiring after a bit of a fire.  The tractor has a belly mount mower on it.  It is a good mower to use on the acre that we have been cleaning up.  Kevin helped with an engine seal last year.  This morning AJ checked with his grandpa if a second assist needed to be put on the opposite fender.  AJ put one on last fall.  It is of the same type that we have in our bathroom on the wall.  It was a bit difficult for Dennis to get off and on securely.  It was decided one was sufficient.  With no snow on the ground, I think, even with the cold and the colder yet winds, Dennis is getting spring fever.  Bless his heart.

  Me?  I am so thankful to not have any fever of any kind.  

  Nothing new to report is always a good thing.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on January 25, 2025 Permalink  

  Hmm 

  Oh yes, they spoke of forecasting temps in the twenties.  Nothing was mentioned of winds that would take us to feeling like -4.  Never to mind.  The strong wind rolling the dust down Stauffer Avenue, taking it south doesn’t make it feel like January.

  This morning we motored four block west of our home to visit Maria for haircuts and pedicures.  What a feeling of a treat.  There is nothing like it.  We came home at noon for a lunch of crab salad.  The flavors that have been co-mingling since yesterday’s forenoon.  Let me tell you, it served us well in the taste department as well as the texture of it.

  Dennis and I had a good full day yesterday, allowing us to take selective participation for this afternoon.  I don’t regret an afternoon like this.  The balance of life gives good days for happiness, bad days give experience, worst days give lessons and best days make for good memories.

  I have a YouTube playing in the background while I am doing some stitching, sitting upon my cherry red chair in my bedroom porch.

  Supper is a replay of the tuna oven meal of last night.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:34 pm on January 20, 2025 Permalink  

  So It Is 

  Today my goal for the morning was met.  Down into the studio with my shoes giving my feet good support, I made tracks.  Walking around the two church tables . . . around and around with KNUJ playing in the background.  Walking is walking.  Moving is moving to keep me going.

  While I was in the studio, I laid out some future plans.  When I had worked on a quilt for Megan with the OESD’s design package, “The Words of Wisdom,” I had some designs that were either duplicates or extras.  I have six of those extras.  I did cut each of them all down this forenoon to 9″ x 11.5″.  I pulled material to make them up into a small lap robe or a small quilt.

  I came upstairs with paper and pencil to plot out the rest of the story.  I believe it can be about 41″ x 61″ using plain colored block to intertwine with the embroidered blocks.  The 3 yards of flannel I pulled out to back it with, I need to pre-wash as flannel does shrink.  Shrink it now before completing the project, as the 100% woven cotton will not shrink.  

  My goal had been to use up some of the possibilities that were in the stashes, thus two placemats received embroidering.  I had very little left to use as a gift for . . . any occasion I make it.

  So what does the sewing machine work, the hand stitching work or reading add to my days?  It enhances my resilience.  When I attend to something else other than the stress of everyday life, or arthritic aches and pains, it helps.  It allows my mind to clear and detach.  I become so absorbed that it shifts me from small and annoying stressors.  My mind is in my safety zone.  

  Off and on snow squalls are making a showing.  Within the sheltered spots of the drive, there is a bit of collection.  Anything in the open has been relocated over and over with the wind. 

  For my money, I think a hot bowl of bean and ham soup with buttered toast will fill the bill for supper.  I will accept any other offer if it will be set in front of me at supper time.  Yaa, that is as unlikely as the thermometer here in my bedroom porch reading the outside temp at 50 degrees.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:35 pm on January 19, 2025 Permalink  

  Today is Sunday 

  This day is Sunday and I have quarantined myself to the first floor of our home due to a cold cement floor and cold walls in the studio.  Bummer.

  When I poured breakfast coffee into my northern wall cup this morning, the steam rose like a volcanic reaction.  The coffee was tasty and the second cup stayed hot longer.

  About the only positive spin I could put on the winter of these last months is that with no snow, ice or sleet, there is nothing coming into the house that may have been caught on the bottom of the shoes.  Dennis makes untold number of trips from the patio porch to the house during the course of his days.  Me . . . not so much.  The reason being he has no options for his awake time to keep his interest.  Really unfortunate, but that is how it is.

  There ‘s been more traffic moving in the bitter cold as the afternoon has gone by.  As I was stitching and having a YouTube video on in the foreground of my desk, a vehicle caught my line of sight pulling into Stauffer Avenue.  Yup . . . it was the little red pickup heading to the garage.  Dennis, Dennis.   

  I have been stitching and reading for this day.  Any progress is good.  It is amazing how making one stitch over another to make a cross does count up. Watching videos, in certain geographical areas, there are many that find stitched projects to save in thrift stores.  Those that save them are stitchers themselves.  The Goodwill thrifters soon pick up on the fact that the inventory is all color coded to indicate how long it has been in the store before it is moved on to the next step, whatever that may be.

  We had a supper last night of sautéed jumbo shrimp, instant potatoes and greens.  This evening, I will brown the leftover potatoes, mix in some scrambled eggs and cut up breakfast sausage and call it a skillet meal.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥