Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:28 pm on November 27, 2022 Permalink  

  What a Great Day 

  With Thanksgiving, the days of the week were skewed.  Yesterday felt like a Sunday.

  It was a day where I spent the day ruminating.  The day was largely spent in my bedroom porch sitting back, watching traffic and reading in between time.  I seemed to have a lot of things to think about.  No solutions were needed for anything.  A day to ground myself was needed. 

  I did do several hours in the studio yesterday in the afternoon, the time that I usually spent doing a posting on my blog.  The sandwiching of Luella’s blanket has slowly begun.  When it got to the point of pinning everything down, I closed up shop before digging out the bag of safety pins.

  Today, Dennis and I were on the same page.  After morning coffee. the dust bunnies and other grit and grim caught hell.  My target was the kitchen range.  Dennis manned the vacuum and then the wet Swiffer pads.  No corner was left alone as most of our furniture can be moved out.  Not pleasant to think of, the reality of sluffed 0ff dead skin cells and lint that only a laminate flooring in the bright sun shine can show.  A carpeted flooring . . . they would hide for a long time.  Felt skids under heavy furniture is the ultimate.

  Our target to wind things up was twelve noon.  Nailed it!

  Pickled Herring, cheese and crackers made for a great noon spread.

  We checked the week’s schedule and other than two PT appointments for Dennis, it is a quiet week.

  Megan should be back in Lynchburg, Virginia, by now as her flight was at 6 a.m. this morning.  It was great seeing her and Nicholas this last week.  Hard to believe she will be nineteen on the 2nd.  Nicholas is two heads taller than me and he proudly announced that he has his learner’s permit for driving. 

  Yes, this feels every good as a Sunday could.  Petitions sent heaven bound and a tidied home with a whole lot of local effort having been spent.  Sweet!

   
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  Noreen 3:44 pm on November 25, 2022 Permalink  

  Happy Black Friday 

  Our huge big event for this black Friday was a trip to the Curry Comb for hair cuts.  Haircuts were sorely needed.

  Last night I had taken out a very small beef roast.  This morning after a trip to the basement pantry for a can of cream of mushroom soap, I set about getting our supper together.  I had just enough baby carrots left to cover the bottom of the small crock pot.  The thawed beef went in next covered with slices of onion.  The cream of mushroom soup covered the meat and onions.  I kicked the crock pot on high for the first hour and then the remaining day it was set on low.  It is now 3:30 and when we came back from haircuts, the house smells like someone will be enjoying a good hot meal.  It will be up to Dennis if he wants to do a batch of instant mash potatoes. 

  Dennis went to PT this morning and came home with four additional appointments over the next two weeks.  Sweet.  He is barely gone for 45 minutes for each appointment.  Dan Kern really likes the improvement of the wound via the ultrasound bringing additional blood flow for healing. 

  My morning was in the studio sewing together the backing for Luella’s blanket.  Securing the backing wrong side up on the two church tables has been started.  Finishing that task will be for another day.  Without using a quilt frame like Raymond had made for Lena would be the ultimate.  Our tiny home does not allow for that.  Getting the backing as taunt as possible via tape and thumb tacks is what is possible.  The church tables are not as large as the quilt top, so I will be doing some hand basting once the sandwiching is complete.

  This is not my first rodeo in the studio getting a blanket or a quilt into the final stretch.  It takes time and patience and I have plenty of both.  Havin no timeline is 99% of it.  There is no one looking over my shoulder or asking questions.  I work on the project until I need a break.  Tomorrows work in my favor.

  There is just enough of the sunny afternoon left to take a walk down Stauffer Avenue.  A 52 degree afternoon can’t be wasted, especially when the darkness comes way too soon.

  Catch everyone tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 2:51 pm on November 23, 2022 Permalink  

  By my Chin 

  By my skin of my chin.  It is that close to having enough of my pink fabric for the blanket backing that I am working on.  Oh all right.  I actually have two inches.  When the sandwiching takes place, the backing goes down first, wrong side up.  Next the batting will be floated over the backing and last but not least is the topping with the right side up.  There is always more batting peeking out than the backing.  It may come down to doing some basting to make sure top and bottom are aligned.  That will be for another day . . . after Thanksgiving.

  Dennis had visitors during the night checking out his corn dish.  The porch kitties no doubt took in the activities.  The dish was taken into the patio porch this morning.  There are so many squirrels just waiting for some free treats.

  This afternoon is the perfect time for a walk down Stauffer Avenue.  No wind, no ice.

  I won’t be posting tomorrow on Thanksgiving.  May each and everyone feel as blessed and thankful as I do.  Yup . . . life is pretty sweet.

   
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  Noreen 3:03 pm on November 22, 2022 Permalink  

  A Bit of Fall Returns 

  I would say 45 degrees is a very good reprieve from the frigid cold.

  Tuesday mornings are set as coffee group at McDonald’s with friend Dwayne.  After smoozing with those in attendance, Dennis was off to the grain elevator’s office.  Dennis had dropped off six five gallon pails yesterday and today they were picked up filled with the corn for the deer.  My contribution was to make sure we had a pan for the corn.  In my days of farming these pans were called sow pans.  Metal pans that took a lot of abuse as they were pushed about in the pens.

  I made my way to the studio.  First item on the agenda was to clean out fuzz from within the sewing machine and give it a drop or two of oil.  A few minutes spent wisely to make the machine run like a top.  The next item was done as a favor to my hands and arms.  A new blade in the OLFA rotary cutter for making nice.  As I needed to cut multiple lengths of the companion border . . . it cut as if going through butter.  I had pieced the individual baby clothes blocks to be equal to each other, I felt the border of that same black print to tie it all together for a cohesive appearance would work.  Prior to the black border the measurement was 65″ x 75″.  With the border it will be about 72″ x 82″.  Luella is in a double bed,  which is 93″ x 96″.  I am sure that this blanket may very well end up everywhere but on top of her bed.  As I am going to quilt this on my sewing machine, I also know my limits.  It still is a lot to herd under the needle.

  Three in the afternoon is a good time to shut down the studio and head to the main floor of the house.  A change of pace as the afternoon seems to close more quickly than I would like.

  The forecast for the Thanksgiving event sounds wonderful.  We will be traveling to Eden Prairie for the day.  We had asked if we could bring anything and Carrie had decided on a brunch rather than a full bore Thanksgiving meal.  We needed to bring nothing.  Dennis countered with bringing several jugs of orange juice as it was deemed a brunch.  That was given a thumb’s up by the hostess.  We can eat anywhere, anytime.  Dennis and I are looking forward to the visiting on Thursday.

   
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  Noreen 2:32 pm on November 21, 2022 Permalink  

  Contentment 

  Contentment right here on Stauffer Avenue.  For me, I believe it is in my genes.  Both of my parents could well entertain themselves in their rural home.  There was no end to what dad could come up with in his shop whether metal or wood.  Mom liked her threads and fuzz.  Me too mom.

  Were it not for the fact that Dennis’ two friends no longer drive, McDonald’s would not have that great of appeal.  I do think it does Dennis good to meet and greet other fellows.

  Today the bright sun is flooding through our south windows.  The south basement windows give an extra lift to the fluorescent overhead light in the studio.  It may be the sunshine or some powerfully rich coffee that Dennis brewed . . . my stitching has gone very well.  I am going to shut down the studio shortly.  Pulling the plug while my joints still feel good is better than the alternative.  There is nothing worse than not being able to find comfort . . . been there, done that.

  Chicken tenderloins are thawing for supper.  A saucepan with peeled Russet Reds are ready for boiling.  Dennis gets to decide the vegetable.

  I am heading for my bedroom porch to sit in the sunshine and do some reading.  Ultimate contentment.

   
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  Noreen 3:12 pm on November 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Late Night Visitors 

  This morning when we got up we noticed the tracks around the east end of our house.  Either one very busy deer or many.  Dennis commented that with such a great harvest season, most of the farm fields have little to offer the deer for foraging.  We didn’t cut down the Hosta in the east end of the acre, that might be a snack for a few of the deer.  It wouldn’t surprise me if tomorrow sometime Dennis will visit the elevator office and talk to Mike about picking up sweepings to feed the deer.  Once we start, it will be the winter’s project.  We have quite a few five gallon pails for the project.  As in years past, Dennis would drop off the pails one day and pick them up the next.

  I made fair headway today with pink blanket stitching.  When my left arm and left hand become weary, there is no mistaking the message.  It is easy to shut down the machine as well as all the extra lighting.

  The remaining afternoon I will be in my bedroom porch with cold coffee . . . reading.

  My laptop is telling me it is 36 sunny degrees.  The week is going to be a wonderful warmup from the frigid of the past several weeks.  That cold shock value allowed us to make sure we knew where gloves, mittens and the cold gear was.  My daily routine is to make sure I shake out my feather blanket encased in its duet cover.  The extra air . . . a wonderful insulation factor.  I do feathers, light as air and Dennis does heavy weight in multiple, and I mean multiple coverings.  It works . . . to each his own.

   
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  Noreen 2:59 pm on November 19, 2022 Permalink  

  No Dust Bunnies Left 

  This early morning Sandy and her other half brought Tom’s convertible to our back garage for storage during the winter months.  When all was wrapping up, the fellows brought all the batteries with for storage in the car garage where they won’t freeze.

  Great grands Lux and Charlie B brought McDonald’s in to enjoy for their breakfast.  Oh my Gosh!

  This is just me, an old person spouting thoughts . . . when parents separate and then each finds a special friend that includes more children, there are a lot of adult supervision parental voices with shared custody.  Sadie, the mother, is in the Minnesota National Guards.  Sadie’s mother, Dennis’ daughter Sandy, has the two girls often during weekend drills . . . another adult supervision voice.  

  Too many adult voices.  I am sure Lux and Charlie B’s minds don’t know what the perimeters are for behavior in any given setting.  The dust bunnies didn’t stand a chance.  

  Stauffer Avenue made it through the forenoon in good stead.

  After lunch Dennis went out to the patio porch.  The last time I looked, Dennis was napping and Snuggles was asleep on Dennis’ chest.  Oh yes, the girls had put a fright in the kitties and they had headed for the rafters.  Smart kitties.  Dennis was due a nap.

  I took a cup of cold coffee and decided to spend the quieter part of the day in the studio.  Not much stitching, just a fair amount of pressing.  I know that the next step is cutting additional 3″ strips of pink.   I am without KNUJ as Saturdays are sports events day.  As I work with the pink fabric that I had ordered online, I think of the song “Tiny Bubbles” sung by Don Ho.  Now that was a time ago.  My memory is steeped with so much.  Windows 11 has nothing on it.

  The winter came with a punch but next week looks a bit kinder.  Stay warm and keep the spirits bright.

   
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  Noreen 3:18 pm on November 18, 2022 Permalink  

  Not Much 

  Today is Friday and there is not much new here on Stauffer Avenue.

  The first item of the day was getting our small crock pot set up, complete with a bed of carrots on the bottom of the liner and then plopping in a small pork roast that I had rubbed down with seasonings.

  After I had done a sweep of doing tidy on the first floor, the lights were turned on in the studio.  With the radio keeping me company, stitching ensued.

  When Dennis came in at noon, he set out the fare of our noon lunch.  What he set out was very fine with me.  As Dennis had an ultrasound treatment at PT this late forenoon, we caught up with each other.  It was soon decided whatever mail had been delivered would be heading to the recycling bin.  With the last of the hot breakfast coffee in my cup, Dennis said he would be doing up whatever dishes were in the sink and I went back into the studio.

  In time I got the sniff of vinegar.  Dennis was in the process of running vinegar through the coffee maker.  Cleaning the coffee maker is not a bad idea and I was happy he had thought of it.  Tomorrow’s brew is be the tell tale.  

  It is now three in the afternoon.  Once I complete this short blog, the studio will be shut down.  The hands and arms have had enough exercise.  The blanket blocks for Luella are now enmeshed with pink, Luella’s choice of her favorite color.  The project is a slow process and I am happy with the results that are showing.

  Now that I have been sitting for a time, the studio air feels cool.  Time to check out the roast, get some dripping pulled out for making gravy later on with some potatoes.  A comfort meal if ever there was one.

   
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  Noreen 4:25 pm on November 17, 2022 Permalink  

  Bricks 

  If these strong winds and gusts continue, I am going to be sorry that we gave all of our extra bricks to the neighbor.  I would use two of them in my pants to keep me upright.  

  On a good note . . . Dennis had a good report from Jody, the surgeon’s PA.  She commented that for the first time she can see positive healing.  She gave Dan at our PT here in town a lot of credit with the ultrasound.  The northwest corner of our dining room table still resembles an annex to the Lewis Drug for various wound dressing supplies.  I think Santa may be able to save his clumps of coal for the socks here on Stauffer Avenue.  Those socks will be needed for a more active Dennis. 

  On a sad note . . . I did miss out on the stitchers meeting at Baker’s Square for noon lunch today. The best part is that a date has already been set for December and it is on our calendar.  Dennis is aware where to look if someone asks him . . . check the calendar.

  Our little freezer is now set with several small beef roasts as well as pork roasts.  Crock pot beware!  I couldn’t resist a 5lb. bag of red russet potatoes.  Sometimes nothing tastes as good as a boiled potato.

  Saturday, Dennis’ daughter and her other half are bringing Tom’s convertible for storage in our back garage for the winter season.  Sandy said she would be having her two granddaughters with as Sadie has guard drills.  I will make sure there are cookies about.

  Neither one of us were in the mood for eating out in Mankato.  I am going to make baked Tilapia and spicy, cheesy green beans for supper.  There is a serving for two left of cranberries in the refrig.  It should be a very colorful spread. 

  Friday may be a day I get to spend in the studio.  The prep is in a good place and that means no surprises but just good stitching and pressing.  Staying indoors and leaving the placement of bricks for another day.

   
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  Noreen 3:39 pm on November 16, 2022 Permalink  

  Glittery Snow 

  The fine snow coming down looks as though someone on high is shaking a container of glitter.  There is just enough sun shining that nothing is remaining on the concrete.

  Amid working with the pink fabric in the studio, I found myself needing a bit of early Christmas.  Tricking out a bit of the studio was just the ticket.  I have no idea what the large amount of heavy spike nails served as a purpose nailed in the floor joist overhead.  They are fairly consistently spaced in the width of the 2 x 6s.  Our home is over 100 years old, having then been moved from the rural township onto a basement here in town during the 50s. 

  My homesteading spirit can almost visualize mesh bags of carrots and onions hung to keep air circulating during the winter months.  Another thought that comes to mind is smoked summer sausage hung after a butchering of beef and pork.  It comes so easily to my mind as that is how my family did it seventy years ago in Renville County’s Boon Lake Township.

  Nontheless . . . today those heavy spikes were perfect to put up several cherry Christmas stitchings.  The embroidered hanging reminds me of a tapestry as it is so heavy.  At the time Dennis kept track of the stitching designs and it has over a million stitches within all the blocks.  It was done on a variety of flannels left over from a quilt I had made for Dennis.  The Santa log cabin pattern caught my eye in an older pattern book.  I printed the Victorian Santa images off of a CD onto fabric sheets fed into my color printer.  I really enjoyed that project.  In thinking about it . . . I just enjoy threads and fuzz.  My world would be quite small without challenging myself in the studio.  

  I know that spending time in the studio this winter, my spirits will be lifted just by the fact that glancing at these will bring fond memories. 

  Burger patties and beans are on the docket for supper.  When I checked the freezer this morning, the protein choices were slim to none.  Tomorrow while we are in Mankato, it will be the perfect time to pick up several small roasts for several crock pot meals.