Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from February, 2019 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 6:15 pm on February 28, 2019 Permalink  

  It’s Still Up There 

  For a short time today the sun was bright and it made me feel happy.  The sun didn’t last long but I still remain happy.  The sun has power this time of year.  I never miss a chance to open the blinds on the south side of our home and catch those rays regardless of how cold it is outside.  The warmth is there.  When that sun does shine, it doesn’t seem to matter what the temperature is.  There is something to be said for becoming accustomed to our surroundings: it’s snowing, the wind is blowing, it is frigid.  As the snow hit our area over and over, the routines continued and we all acclimated.  

  I have tackled many things in my sewing studio.  Quilts have gone from scrappy, small size, large king size and many intricate.  It is safe to say that within the last three years, Kersten’s and mine were the two quilts that I would label intricate.  Today I worked on a stitching project that I plan on giving to Carrie for an annual event they have coming up that uses the silent auction to raise funds.  Last year, it was mentioned to late, so I decided to jump the gun and get started for the event that is in April.  True to my pledge, to myself, I am not purchasing any yardage for what I want to do.  I think in the days to come, my stashes will be turned inside out, upside down, measured, ironed and handled until I find just what I need.  Stay tuned!

  Friday promises to bring snow.  I have enjoyed these last several days of leaving the scoop and pusher leaned up against the back  door.  Thursday evening is one of my favorite evenings for watching several PBS shows.  Unfortunately they tend to have plenty of re-runs just like the rest.  I have a book waiting in the wings that I can take up.  With that being said, it’s time to role out the robe and slippers.  The bad side of that is, the eyelids take advantage of that and tend to want to close.  When that happened to Dad, he would disavow that he was napping, “Just checking my eyelids for cracks.”

   
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  Noreen 6:22 pm on February 27, 2019 Permalink  

  Waiting, to no Avail 

  I was going to wait until it was warmer out, but to no avail.  Errands needed to get run as the four-day outlook doesn’t really give much hope.  Our Fleet and Farm store was a busy place.  They do carry a multitude of items for the home and farm.  There was enough corn through Saturday in the garage, but as long as I was out and about, why put it off.  There were no more 50 lb. bags of shell corn.  The huge fellow gladly put two 50 lb. bags of cracked corn in the back seat of the Lincoln.  No way would I get them out of the deep trunk.  There are three of us neighbors who are helping out the deer.  They most likely feel like they are privy to a progressive buffet.  

  No way can small town grocery shoppers visit the store, pick up what you need and be back home quickly.  More than likely the cold snowy month had many of us cruising the isles to fill the empty refrigerator shelves.  What I had forgotten was that Wednesdays are senior citizens day.  An hour and a half later, I was back in my car with a sales receipt that showed I saved $2.68 on my discount and had visited with more town folk than I can count.  Good fellowship over the meat counter.  

  I have found a very good mystery author.  A stop at the library for me to return two books of hers and had them seek and search several more.  If a book is not within our library, they swap books in and out with other locations and will send an email when they come in.  Very good service.  Aunt Janet in Brownton is also an avid reader and we share authors when we find a good one.  Reading has been very beneficial in giving my stiff shoulders and neck a break.  I have an old book stand that gets moved from point to point when I want to read.  With wrists that have seen a whole lot of activity that has made them contrary, holding a large book is not something that I can manage.  Maybe tomorrow I will flick the switches on in the sewing studio.    

  On a light note: when Dennis is in the patio porch in the mornings, he usually has a pre-packaged breakfast bar of some time type to have with his coffee.  When the wrapper is being opened and barely opened, Snuggles shows up and usually gets in on the fare.  When I got home today, I took one of the bags of corn out of the car and set it next to the workbench.  Oh my Lord!  Snuggles was all over the bag.  The sound of the plastic bag must have made Snuggles think, “Dennis is here and I hear the crinkle of the bag.  I get a treat!” I finally opened the bag and let the cat realize what was inside.  Bummer

   
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  Noreen 6:54 pm on February 25, 2019 Permalink  

  Checking out Resources 

  An embroidery design had been haunting me to try.  When a design is downloaded, it could come from a source that champions a certain brand of thread.  Every company puts their own spin on the names that they assign to each color of thread.  My aunt has invested in multiple brand names . . . not this stitcher.  My brand is Isacord and I am sticking with it.  It does happen to be the brand of thread that Bernina touts.  If I buy a design from the website that they support, the color codes match what is in my thread boxes.  Today . . . I was on my own looking up sites that do have thread comparisons from various companies.  It just took time and I had it to burn.

  After I got the machine to begin stitching, there is that time where I can fill in with dusting in the sewing room, checking out the next great attempt, etc, until it is time to change the color of the tread to continue the stitch project.  Out came the drawer that is all about holes.  A review was needed.  Holes punched into any and every venue you can think of.  The pretty pink tool is called a Crop-a-Dial.  It will set snaps, grommets and also punch holes.  My best luck is using it for punching holes as it will take on leather, vinyl, cork and multiple layers of paper.  My hands don’t work the best to line up the snaps and such with the settings while still having a firm grip on the pliers handle.  The Cricut Silent Setter also does holes as well as having a soft bed for snaps and such and the fabric to lay while I use a mallet to pound the hell out of the steel handle to crimp the metal items secure.  While the sewing machine embroidered, I reacquainted myself with all the resources that the drawer held.  Yup, it was still all viable and usable according to what my hands could do.  

  When Carrie and Kevin were babies and toddlers, there was no end to snaps that I put into their clothes.  Entire inseams of their clothes were snapped, as it was quicker to undo the snaps in the inseam than take off the entire garment to change diapers or training pants.  These fancy tools that I now have were not in my world at that time.  It was more like a metal punch and a hammer to set the snaps.

  With that being mentioned, I have gone to several baby showers in the last year.  Oh my gosh!  The fancy knit clothing that looks more like doll clothes than baby clothes . . . it is unbelievable.  What struck this old timer was . . . no snaps in the inseam.  Nothing like wrestling a wee one out of a one-piece item of clothing to get to that sweet little butt.

  I do have to add that when I opened my eyes at eight this morning, the first thing that my eyes focused on was the snow that was falling, much like confetti.  Yuck.  Not enough to warrant Randy and his snowblower, but I did shovel snow out of doorways and my all time favorite paths.  We are on the last week of the month from hell.  Ya, I heard.  March may have a bit of snow left that needs to harass my ass.

   
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  Noreen 6:46 pm on February 24, 2019 Permalink  

  White and Not Quiet 

  The good news is that all is well here on Stauffer Avenue.  35 mph winds did shake some branches down in the backyard.  The winds kept everything white with blowing snow, it was hard to tell just how much snow we received.  The howling wind was so consistent over night, it was a lulling effect.  Our Emergency Management sent out phone calls that all Watonwan County roads were closed until further notice.  

  Later on this afternoon, the sun came out.  The sunshine on the swirling snow made it look magical . . . crystals flying in the air.  It was time to get suited up and clean up around some doorways.  Nothing magical about five minutes in when the fingers began getting cold.  Our driveway is clear, via Randy.   

  Dennis called from Arizona and there are plans for golfing tomorrow.  Dennis is in charge of driving one of the carts.  Good deal for Dennis.  The sewing studio is closed down and I am looking forward to a hot meatloaf sandwich for supper.

   
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  Noreen 5:55 pm on February 23, 2019 Permalink  

  For a short time there was a feeling… 

  For a short time, there was a feeling and a scent of spring.  At 32 degrees the three cats went out for a short time on the east patio.  With the snowbanks that border the patio it’s much like a play pen.  Which of these three critters is brave enough to take the leap up and over not knowing what lies beyond?  None today.  Red Cardinals sat in the lilac bushes and took in the antics of the cats, knowing full well, there was no threat today. 

  Clearing the patio of the new snow we received overnight can seem like an effort in futility, but it brings good exercise.  Neighbor Jan must have seen my red stocking cap sticking up above the snowbanks as she came out.  The two of us had a great visit, not across the backyard fence, but across snowbanks.  Jan asked where we were getting our shell corn for the deer.  As it was, when Randy had been called out for repairs for John Deere during the combine season, he carried with him buckets in the truck when it was corn harvest.  When it called for portions of the combine to be cleared, Randy collected the corn. The deer from our backyards have been privy to his stash, which was now depleted.  Randy went to Fleet and Farm and bought what they had on hand today, which was cracked corn.  The deer came early today.  It was the first time I have seen them come at 4:30.  They know the weather is changing.  

  The warm temps today allowed for me to clear the ice that had built up right outside our backdoor.  In the last days, if you walked on it, an ice pack had been created.  Not to worry, as spring weather comes, we are ready for it or not.  Both Jan and I commented on what each of us would be in for.  In her case it was seepage in their basement.  For Dennis and me, it will be having the little red pickup sit in the driveway for a time as we move everything out of the patio porch and put it in the pickup garage.  We have done it before and have the evacuation down to a science.  It’s all part of living in Minnesota, taking it the way it comes.

   
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  Noreen 4:58 pm on February 17, 2019 Permalink  

  Good Grief 

  Do they need to be right on target with their snow forecasts!  Dennis has been gone since the third of February.  If memory serves me, there has been snow removal almost every other day.  The three cats are almost catatonic.  They would love to be outside but the little paws are quite tender. Consequently they sit humped up on the patio porch table and glower.

  Most of my portion of cleaning snow along doorways and the front stoop I had done before Randy came.  The banks of snow are getting quite tall.  It’s easier to have it pushed into the path that Randy will blow it up and farther than I can.  Oatmeal sure tasted good when I came in.  I sat down for a bit and it didn’t take long and my head was nodding.

  It is Sunday and I am taking it easy with anything other than snow removal.  Nothing is started in the sewing studio.  When I am at that point, it is harder to kick butt and start something new.  Good grief, the sewing studio was all smartened up yesterday of threads and fuzz.  I am not in any hurry to go and mess it up right away.

  Today Dennis is in Lake Havasu, Arizona.  Dennis and Brett both know the fellow who retired from our area and now lives there.  Dennis said the weather has not been that great as they have traveled.  He was very happy to have long sleeve shirts and jackets with.

  I have found a television marathon on one of the channels.  I am in for the day.  The livestock has been tended and are on their own.  Tomorrow is another day and it is up for grabs as to what will grab my attention.

   
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  Noreen 5:46 pm on February 16, 2019 Permalink  

  The Deer are Snacking 

  It’s 5:35 and there are two doe and two fawn having a snack on our east patio.  It’s a good feeling.  Snow is moving in overnight, they will need the corn to carry them over.

  I checked with the Santa Project adviser.  At a time when we get a path through the deep snow to the back garage, Santa can come into the sewing studio.  With that good decision, it spurred me on to make room in the sewing studio for a time when Santa may be in-house for a duration.  It gives me a good reason to move everything under and around the two church tables.  What would the world be without Swiffers.  The sewing studio is prepared for a time to come.

  My supper will be Green Giant Garden Vegetable Medley Steamers.  A good mixture, and I do believe I have worked up an appetite.  

  I am amazed and thankful that each day holds an agenda to keep me busy, balanced and happy.  Thanks be to God.

   
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  Noreen 4:21 pm on February 13, 2019 Permalink  

  Gray but Quiet 

  There is not any howling wind.  There are no wind chimes threatening to take flight.  The sky is a morbid gray and I will take that any time as we are having a lull in snowfall and winds. 

  I believe it was the winter of 1973.  We were living in a 14′ x 80′ mobile home in Renville County.  It was a winter such as we have had this last week.  Every time you turned around it was snowing and blowing.  We had a hard time keeping the pilot light lit on the furnace.  The perfect angle of the blowing wind snuffed it out.  It took the home getting quite chilly before we realized what was happening.  During one of the weekends we didn’t realize how bad it was outside until daylight.  Our driveway was completely drifted over.  I am not talking about several feet.  When our neighbor, Bod Dasher, got our driveway blown out with his full sized equipment, Orlin’s VW car couldn’t be seen as it passed through the snow canyon to get to the tar road.

  It’s not quite that bad here on Stauffer Avenue this week.  I was shocked to see the amount of snow the city had piled on our front yard.  Directly opposite of our driveway, to the west, is an alley that runs west to the main area of town.  They must have had a lot of speed coming from the west, going east, and they didn’t stop until they could push it onto our yard.  I did catch on the news last night that they were warning people to keep their private snow on their privately owned property and not push it into the streets.  We just inherited a whole lot of public snow.  Oh well.

  I am cozy in our home.  The snow that blew around from the north yesterday and last night has been taken care of.  Doorways and bins are clear.  I took care of the furnace vent.  I did notice some huge icicles on the northeast corner of the roof.  I’ll see what tomorrow brings as that is not in my cleared path.  Dennis washed his pickup before he left on his trip.  It has been getting great gas mileage and has remained clean as there is about four feet of snow on the south side of the garage where his garage door faces.  We talked about it last night when he called.  As the end of February gets closer and he is close to home, grandson Ryan will take care if it with the Bobcat.  

  No complaints here.  I do think I will make a grocery run tomorrow. I have several books that are due at the library.  I wonder, do they still charge a fine if the books are late?

   
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  Noreen 5:09 pm on February 12, 2019 Permalink  

  A Conscientous Grammie 

  There is no pass when it comes to Mother Nature and what she chooses to dish out.  My bladder got me up at 5;30 a.m.  That is not unusual for me to toddle to the bathroom and right back to bed for another three hours.  This morning, all the noise up and down the street made me rethink things.  A-ha! Snow!  I was up and dressed within 30 minutes.  It is a Godsend that Randy blows out our driveway, without fail.  With the now fifteen inches of snow within a week, that has followed the eight inches at the last weekend of January, the clearing off that needs to be done is no longer just a push.  It has to be lifted and hefted as the banks of snow are getting quite tall.  I knew if I pushed everything that was needed to clear the front of the garage and the backdoor into the middle of the driveway a bit west of the back door, Randy would take care of it when he came.  It worked out great.  When Randy would leave, there would be no additional snow for me to move in case I needed to get the car out.  In my heart I knew I had to be conscientious to get through this week of off again and on again snowfalls.  No way do I want to be stranded in my own home when it just takes a bit of careful, painstaking planning. 

  Coming in at seven, I knew oatmeal was going to be the breakfast of choice.  Two minutes in the microwave and I was sitting down to a well deserved breakfast just as Randy was at the end of the driveway.  Whew, the plan came together.  The tea kettle didn’t take long and it was whistling as I looked forward to having a cup of hot tea.  It has now been eight days since I have had coffee.  Did ya feel the earth shake and quake?  There has not been a day in fifty five years that multiple cups of coffee have not been consumed by me. I read up on the benefits of tea, plus having my doctor encouraging it in regard to arthritis, especially the tea that is infused with Turmeric.  With the time frame that Dennis’ trip was planned for, it gave me the perfect chance to try it.  Planning for this, there were multiple flavors of tea on hand.  Going forward, this will have to be worked out once Dennis is home.  Dennis drinks coffee.  Dennis takes it upon himself to get the programmed coffee pot to be ready with hot coffee at seven each morning.  He sets it up for the glass coffee pot to register 10 cups of brewed coffee.  I have noticed that the thermos cup that he takes in the morning still has a three-fourths cup left in it when he calls it quits.  Guess who hates to see the coffee go to waste? Time will tell.

  With a belly full of oatmeal and several cups of tea, I suited up and cleared off the front stoop of snow and made a path from our driveway to Stauffer Avenue for the mail man.  No way do I want his mailbag to go flying as he is trying to get over a three foot pile of packed snow, even if most of what he delivers to us goes right into the recycling bin.  Oh yes, the city crew does a great job.  With my pusher in hand, I did go through the patio porch to clear off the east patio.  It is the only outside door area that I am keeping open to let the cats out for a jaunt once in a while.  Honey Bunny was brave.  If I pushed a path from west to east, she was right behind me.  I would go back for another swat and she sat at the end and looked at me as if wondering why I wasn’t going to make a longer path so she could get to her haunt, which is the vacant house to the far east of us.  Silly kitty.  She stayed outside with me the entire time it took.  Getting the snow out of the bird bath container that we have been using to put shell corn in for the deer, brought her little nose right there to sniff.  I know the cats sit on the table in the patio porch and watch as the deer eat.  From our bathroom window,  I can see the bird bath container through the slider doors, as well as the table in the patio porch.  The three cats sit and take it all in.

  No lights have been put on in the sewing studio today.  It was important for me to be conscientious in keeping home and hearth up to speed while Dennis is gone.  It also had a bit to do that my butt was dragging by the time the path was shoveled to get at the house furnace vent.  Tomorrow is another day.

   
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  Noreen 4:28 pm on February 11, 2019 Permalink  

  I have been avoiding the news 

  I have been avoiding the news.  There is nothing that I need to be kept up on, as nothing happy ever seems to happen.  When I am in the sewing studio, I have my battery operated radio on.  I think it might be all of 20 years old.  It was a Christmas gift that I still cherish.  I have realized my favorite television channel of late is the weather channel.  Day time shows have all these wonderful tips that they tout as the best and greatest new ideas.  Hell’s bells.  Been there, done that.  If I didn’t learn all these great things from Mom, I got it in 4-H or Home Economics.

  As I put out the garbage for pickup tomorrow I took in the nicely cleared areas free of snow around the garage door and the back door.  As I will be burrowed under the flannel sheets tonight, the forecast is to bring anywhere from five to six inches of new snow.  Whatever!  Other than feeling a slight backache from snow removal, I am up for it.

  I did spend quite a bit of time working on the Santa Jacket.  It is to the point that I don’t want to screw up.  No do-overs allowed.  One day at a time and one step at a time.  No timelines.  By the time I shut down the sewing studio, the jacket was able to be hung on a clothes hanger.  Who Knew!

  Time to go out and check on all things that pertain to four legged creatures that need my attention.