Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from September, 2020 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 3:18 pm on September 12, 2020 Permalink  

  Dust Bunny Time 

  We had been kept busy and actually not spending a lot of time on the first floor of our home.  Hmm.  There were dust bunnies that were calling my name this morning.  I would be lost without the Swiffer mop.  The laminate flooring is an easy call . . . though one Swiffer refill may not suffice after a several-week hiatus from cleaning.  I can’t imagine not being able to take a swipe at dust bunnies under the beds.  My mobility with clumsy vacuum wands is not the same as the lightweight Swiffer wand.   

  Years back after we had torn up the carpeting in the house, the Swiffer seemed to be the best answer.  Megan stayed with us often from the time she could sit up on her own.  Right after I had gotten the Swiffer and she saw what I was doing, that little gal being just a bit over one year old, would get a hold of that mop and nothing was safe.  She had a hold of it near the mop head and the handle flaying out behind her took no prisoners.  It was a new toy.

  Not long after that first encounter of “Megan the cleaner,” the Eden Prairie couple took in a home show in one of the huge venues.  Apparently Megan caught site of a Swiffer in one of the vendor’s stalls and she was off and cleaning.  Carrie said it was too funny that a mop had captured Megan’s go-to busyness. 

  The Swiffer did eventually become a usual in the Eden Prairie home.  Carrie, being thrifty, shared with me that she would use one side and then flip it over and fill it up in total.  Gotta love a thrifty gal. 

  So, I digress.  Today, it rained off and on until the afternoon and the time spent cleaning felt good.  I could see that I had made a difference.  Let’s hear it for local effort! No matter how old our bedding or clothes become, there is always lint.  It does make a difference that I no longer require shoes that need to be removed beyond the back entry.  The benefits of having good stable shoes that lace up outweighs what may track in onto the floors.  It is never very serious.  

  The cool fall has been enjoyed here on Stauffer Avenue.  Dennis tucked away the last of the garden hoses that had been used for sprinkling new grass seed.  Over the last week we have had almost two inches of rain in three installments.  I am sure that there will be those warm fall days yet to come, but this break in temps was warranted.  

  Enjoy the weekend for all that it may bring.  Slow down and realize that each day brings blessings, thoughts and experiences that will never have the chance of being a “re-run.”  One unique day after another.

   
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  Noreen 3:54 pm on September 10, 2020 Permalink  

  Finally 

  Finally the sun was out today.  It has been a dark, wet week thus far.  It gave me pause to get outside, and lo and behold, there were branches to pick up in the far east yard.  We did have a bit of a storm earlier and the Hackberry tree let loose lots of weak branches.  Dennis’ burn ring is loaded once the branches are dry enough to burn.  One of the garden hoses that I used to sprinkle the north and east side of the house has been rolled up.  The soil in that area that I am working with the grass seed is damp, down to my second knuckle.  The front yard hose that has the sprinkler attached is fine where it is sitting on the front sidewalk.  Time will tell.

  I have been doing quite a bit of reading this week.  Once the house keeping things are done each day, it is a chance for me to have a cup of coffee sitting in the west porch of our home, listening to the laundry and keeping track of traffic as I read a chapter or two.  Balance in the day. 

  I don’t have anything started in the sewing studio right now.  I do have several items ready for travel.  Tomorrow the stitchers are planning on meeting in one of the open city parks in Mankato at noon.  Yup . . . it might be a bit cool.  Several of the gals have health issues and are not brave enough to meet where we had prior to covid.  That meeting spot has been Baker’s Square.  It may be as warm as 60 tomorrow and that is doable. 

  Every three months Dennis’ prescription for his CPAP machine allows for new supplies.  I will be making a swing to the Mayo Store tomorrow as well.  Sometime after supper this evening, I will be checking out the basement pantry to see what may need refills.  It’s so easy to shop from our pantry on the usual items that we need.  I am not one to run to the grocery store every week, if I can avoid it by stocking up at Sam’s Club once a month.  We don’t do a lot of red meat.  We can do a lot with frozen chicken tenderloins, canned chicken and tuna.

  May everyone anticipate Friday! Our weekend plans are quiet ones.  Dennis has been bopping around most of the week in his little red pickup.  His friend Dwayne has kept Dennis busy helping.  Dwayne’s window of opportunity is getting smaller getting things cleaned out of his farm place.  October 1st the keys are turned over to new owners.  It will be a good thing.  These two 83-year-old friends have been giving 100% to find homes for items from the sheds.  A good helper in Dennis has been invaluable.

   
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  Noreen 3:19 pm on September 7, 2020 Permalink  

  Action 

  For every action there is a reaction.  It is the law of common sense.  The action I have taken on our front yard is showing the reaction of beautiful new green spears of the Kentucky Blue Grass.  Sweet.

  The action of me using my potato fork for consecutive days digging Crab grass has the reaction of shin splints.  As long as I was doing it repetitively every day all was well.  Once I no longer was using those muscles they decided to let me know what they thought of my hellbent war on Crab grass. They decided to buck a bit and tighten up.

  It has been about five days and I know now that I will be able to walk normally again.  The last time I pulled a stunt like this was when the four of us kids got clamp-on roller skates for a Christmas present.  There had been enough hay used from the haymow that the bare boards could be swept.  We couldn’t wait until after supper to climb the ladder into the haymow.  Needless to say it took sturdy shoes to make the skates stay in place.  Night after night, there was no worry of where we were.  Our Christmas school vacation went all too fast.

  The first day back to school as we headed down the gravel road for Rural District 34, I thought I would die.  The weather was too mild to have Dad give us a ride.  My legs felt as if they could give out from underneath me at any time.  I suffered in silence as I didn’t want to give up the fun. 

  Yup . . . that was me then and that is me now.   All things in moderation is something I am still working on.  I don’t have any regrets about this latest bout of shin splints.  I got it done in time to now have had two different rain showers help with the grass seed in addition to some sprinkler time.  By the way . . . Dennis just shook his head.  This time as well, I kept my mouth shut and hoped I didn’t have to get anywhere too fast.  Silly ole Grammie.

  It comes down to the brain saying . . . “I think I can, I think I can.”  Sure enough, I can.  I need to remember the reactions of my actions.

  Take care and know your capabilities.  I am still working on that.

   
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  Noreen 3:43 pm on September 6, 2020 Permalink  

  A Damp Sunday 

  About midnight last night the rumbling of thunder started with consistent lightning.  No large cracks, just consistent.  It was very loud.  I looked out to see if we had wind with it, but nothing to speak to.  About two it had settled down.  Every once in awhile there would be thunks of hail but thankfully nothing consistent or large.  

  With the inch of rain working its magic on all things green and soon to be green, I decided to stay indoors and get a few things taken care of.  On the docket was a cold salad to whip up for tonight’s supper and most likely an additional supper or two.  

  I have had an attachment that came with my sewing machine. I have looked at it a time or two but today was hands on.  Time to get serious.  I have blank dish towels on hand for just such a day.  My first towel was close, but as in horseshoes . . . close doesn’t count.  I was off in maintaining an even center for the decorative stitching.  Deciding on the stabilizer for the backing is the key.  I also was disappointed in the fact that the fabric around the design puckered, a sure sign of not having the right backing.  A soft cotton towel needs help in holding the stitches as intended.  

  Try, try again.  I had a stabilizer that has corn starch in it.  The backing of glossy paper gets peeled off and then applied onto the back of the towel with consistent pressure smoothing it on.  As I changed threads and designs, I was careful to keep the center of the fabric in place.  I held my breath until I could dunk the finished project into warm water to wash away the stabilizer.  I popped it into the clothes dryer and hoped it wouldn’t shrink into a mess of crunched up stitches.  I do believe I have found the best stabilizer going forward.  It may have something to do with the extra step in having to dunk into water to release the stabilizer and then drying, but the end result is classy and not puckered. The end result of it looking less than the time and thread spent to achieve it . . . it’s not a good thing.  The blank dish towels from Mills Fleet Farm are choice, much like the originals from feed stores of times past.

  God bless corn starch.  It thickens any gravy sauce into a smooth texture. It soothes skin that has chaffed from rubbing fabric that is sweat-drenched.  Lo and behold, it is my choice of sewing stabilizer when doing decorative work.  Who knew! 

  I think there is still time for some patio sitting before putting out supper.  Cold salads always have a better taste after all the ingredients have co-mingled.

  This next week looks like a winner in regard to weather.  So far we have a light schedule.  As long as I keep checking the calendar on my telephone, we are good to go.

   
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  Noreen 3:48 pm on September 5, 2020 Permalink  

  Peaceful Day 

  We didn’t have anything serious today on the plate.  Sitting on the patio and taking in the traffic that was whizzing by.  

  Taking in what was needed for groceries, Dennis offered to chauffeur me up to our local grocery store.  

  All is well here on Stauffer Avenue.  It is an unusual day when we fritter the time away.  It actually feels foreign.  

  Wishing it well with you as well.  What a great season that only Minnesota can offer.

   
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  Noreen 3:13 pm on September 4, 2020 Permalink  

  Doing What is Needed 

  This would be weather that I could enjoy right up to the first snowfall.  The kind of temperatures that give enthusiasm and energy.

  Dennis had a VA appointment at eight this morning.  With the alarm going off at seven, we both got an earlier start than usual.  I started the sprinkler on the front yard and then hit the laundry basket.

  Several days ago, Dennis had the Cub tractor out and low and behold, there was smoke.  Where there is smoke there are problems.  Immediately he disconnected the battery and watered where he thought the smoke was coming from.  The smoke had come from under the dashboard.  What has ensued is giving the Cub a lot of TLC.  One step at a time.  In a perfect world, a wheel-puller could be applied and the area could have a look-see.  With 60 years of rust and dust, it is a slow process.  

  Today, Dennis got the gas tank off of the tractor.  The sediment bowl has gotten a good cleaning and I found out, I am good at cutting a new gasket for it.  As more could be seen under that area, Dennis could see that the throttle cable had worn and had rubbed on some wiring.  This is a slow but sure process.  By next Thursday a new throttle cable kit will arrive.  There is nothing to say that there will be quick and easy fixes.  To Dennis’ credit his friend Dwayne used to own the International tractor dealership here in town.  Our neighbor Randy is a John Deere specialist and he has been over a time or two.

  In the meantime the wheel-puller gets a whack every once in awhile.  Slow but sure the rust will give up.  Randy said he has seen the process take . . . a long time.  Guess what?  We have time.

  I am giving moral support and I am very proud and impressed that Dennis is determined to take this one step at a time.  He works on it slowly but methodically.  What was impressive via the internet is how many part are available.  We did have a manual to refer to . . . what’s not to stay positive about. 

  The weekend promises to be wonderful.  I have put up my sprinkler for a day or two.  The Kentucky Blue Grass seed is popping through.  I will continue watering.  Someone drove by and commented how much our water bill would be.  I commented back that I have it covered . . . I gave up pull-tabs and smoking to pay the bill when it comes.  It’s all about priorities.  

  Enjoy the long weekend.  Believe it or not, we have all earned it.

   
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  Noreen 4:05 pm on September 3, 2020 Permalink  

  Full Day 

  It was my day to head north to my sewing people.  Amanda at Creative Stitches has done a great job of serving those of us that need our machines kept up.  Today was a day for me to pick up thread.  As the shop is changing out the brand of embroidery thread going forward, I needed to fill in some colors that I use with my machine.  I am going to have one brand in the sewing studio.  I hear too many stitchers that end up with a variety of brands.  The Isacord is what I started out with and that is what I will stick with.  $2.00 a spool compared to $5.80 per spool made the drive north an easy one.

  I stopped in at Fairfax for a feel good stop.  Half of the Fairfax team was hard at it at Casey’s.  Finding out that all was well, I continued on my way home.  As I drove it was amazing how the crops are showing the season is soon changing.  

  What to find when I drove in the drive . . . were mowers all gassed up and ready to hit the acre!  I didn’t argue.  Let’s get it done and then we can enjoy the satisfaction of having it done and having it look good for the weekend.  My portion around the house is quite diminished as I have been watering the very front, encouraging my grass seed to sprout.  There is evidence that we have success going and it was easier to use the weed whip to swipe at patches that needed a trim rather than run the mower over spots that are showing new growth.  Patience and water, water, water.  Just as Dennis was going to head east to begin mowing, he got a wasp sting in the back of his neck.  Those nasty buggers.  Ironically, any time either of us have ever gotten a wasp sting, it has been in the back of the neck.  Very telling that they like to sneak up on us.

  It has been a full day.  Now, if I could wiggle my nose and have supper appear.  Dennis is not a fussy person, he may be on board for fried egg sandwiches with soup.  Gotta love the ole cowboy that is always on the move as to what is needed to be done.  Retired folks that say they are bored . . . we can’t relate to that.  Our kids work hard all week and we need to stay active as well.

   
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  Noreen 2:52 pm on September 1, 2020 Permalink  

  The Minkee 

  Off and on today, I was at the sewing machine.  In between time I was out giving Dennis moral support for his task of working on the Cub Lo Boy.  What’s not to like about a tractor that can be tinkered on.

  Though we had a good shower of rain, I also want to keep the newly seeded areas next to the drive and the curb damp.  It’s been a good thing to have some cool days and allow the soil to stay damp for more than several hours.

  Needless to say, the Minkee blanket is done.  This was a kit that friend Rita had picked out.  After cancer had taken her, her daughter gifted her fabrics to me.  Pairing a stretchy Minkee polyester fabric to a woven non-stretch flannel posed some issues.  The multi-colored black flannel came from the stashes of my friend Lorraine.  After cancer had taken her, her children gifted her fabrics to me.  After much pinning, I went to the Fairfax team’s embroidery floss cabinets.  Using the old fashioned way of quilting, tying with yarn or floss, made it possible to treat each square unto its own, corralling it as best I could.  I did have some plain black in my stashes to use to bind the Minkee.  I decided to anchor each block with some machine embroidery in each of the 20 blocks, putting it in the center.  Putting each block into a hoop allowed the stitching to go on smoothly.  After the stitching was done, it was allowed to go back to its fluffy, unkempt form.  So be it!

  I have no idea where this blanket may end up.  There is no waiting list.  All I know that having it in blanket form it is more appealing with usefulness, than having twenty pre-cut blocks in a plastic bag.  I have an idea the circular file would be found.

  So you may have gotten the path I am taking with sewing.  I am using up what is lying before me.  Working my whiles, using some of this and some of that, making it work.  I have no doubt, walking into a quilt shop, there may have been additional choices for the backing.  The colors that this black had incorporated, spoke to me.

  This was actually the second Minkee project that had been initially Rita’s. On my own, I won’t be seeking out another project with it.  I really like my cottons.  In thinking on it, it will be a long time before I need to shop for fabric. Thankfully the remaining fabric from Rita and Lorraine is cotton flannels and printed cottons.  At the gathering we had in the park last Friday, there was no one that had a love for working with stretchy polyester Minkee.  2020 was my year to make due with what was within the sewing studio.  Yes, the fabrics from friends need to be honored and worked into something useful and something for someone to cuddle up in.  

  Dennis has had a buddy stop in to help with tractor putzing.  I am off the hook until supper time.  Where did the time go . . . tomorrow is already hump day!  Giddy-up and make the most of it.

   
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  Noreen 4:20 pm on August 31, 2020 Permalink  

  New Week 

  Waking during the night to hear the rain was perfect to lull me back to sleep.  I will take 6/10ths any day.  It was sorely needed.  I am assured that I can take several days off of watering grass seed.  I have noticed needle-like spears coming up in the midst of the front yard.  There’s nothing like trying.

  As wonderful as it was outside, I didn’t spend any amount of time out.  The most physical thing I did outside was take the time to take off all the bugs from the front of the car.  Elmer’s glue has nothing on bug glue.

  Off and on I was in the sewing studio.  I don’t spend hours on end at the sewing machine.  Neck, shoulders and wrists need to be honored so I can continue sewing long into the months of 2020 . . . and beyond . . . just like Buzz Lightyear.  When Dennis comes in he always calls out as he doesn’t know if I am in the basement or the west porch on our first floor reading.  With our home being so small it would only take a few steps one way or the other for a visual.

  Today Nicholas started seventh grade school at the Christian Academy in Eden Prairie.  Both of the grand-kids are where they need to be.  A positive experience to fuel enthusiasm. I hope there are many schools that can kick off the year with kids being in the classrooms.  The virtual is something I would have a hard time feeling vested in what the day should be. 

  The neighbor’s Oak tree is shucking acorns like crazy.  Jan reported that the deer are in their yard every night snacking.  The squirrels have their paws busy trying to score as many as possible.. . . and of course digging them in for later snacks.  When the acorns manage to bounce off of our metal down spouts, it sounds like a mini bomb.  Our Black Walnut trees have not put out very many nuts.  No, I have no idea what the wive’s tail take is on what kind of winter the nuts forecast.

  Take this weather and do with as you will.  It is such a fantastic break.  Wednesday is the only day this week that may be a bit warm.  We have gotten toughened up with the heat so a few more days won’t break us.

   
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  Noreen 3:40 pm on August 30, 2020 Permalink  

  A Pleasant Sunday 

  It was planned to have a quiet day and as it is rounding to the supper time, I believe we have pulled it off.

  Getting up at eight, it doesn’t take long to realize the world around me has been on the go for some time.  I cared not.

  My day was spent for the most part in the sewing studio puzzling through how to continue working with my Minkee fabric.  All twenty blocks have been sewn together.  It was time to hit the stashes to see what the backing would be.  I am determined to use what I have.  I know when I see it, a light bulb will pop and I will have found the answer.

  When us stitchers got together last Friday, I was amazed how many have been out and about to quilt shops.  One of the gals has taken to ordering online.  For myself, I like to touch and feel before I buy.  My stashes allow that for me.  I have been picking away at the stashes as I seem to have an empty tote in the cistern closet.

  I could hear by what was going on outside that Dennis was taking the auxiliary hose that we have had stretched along the drive to get rid of the sump pump water and rolling it up.  He will be putting the boot back on at the origination where the sump pump brings the water to the surface at the northwest corner of the house and takes it underground.  By late spring the soil in that area was so saturated, it had become a swamp.  I know we will be getting rains, but doubtedly so much that the swamp returns. 

  It sounds like this next week will be one that will bring a smile to the face when we step outside.  How sweet will that be!  Enjoy the remainder of this evening and put that head on the pillow giving “Thanks Be” for the great weekend.