Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 1:19 pm on July 2, 2022 Permalink  

  Stitching Right Along 

  It was a six in the morning cup of coffee for me.  The three kitties and I walked the acre to check things out.  In places the grass crunched under foot.

  Dennis’ nephew from Windom stopped in for a visit and by nine, I left the fellows to talk shop and I went in and down to the studio.

  I have been stitching on a quilt top called “A Long Time Ago.”  I haven’t rushed at it.  In early spring I was busy transplanting Hosta and then doing some stitching in the afternoons.

  On a side note . . . I so enjoyed the cool temps to be out getting my fingernails dirty.  That was the ultimate for me.  Since the temps have climbed and bugs are out, I am not outside other than in the mornings.

  Back to stitching.  All of the various blocks in this pattern have been sewn.  Blocks today were then sewn together to make up quarters and then into halves of the quilt top.  Dennis would check on me from time to time and give moral support.  So many 1/4 inch seams to match up.  So many seams to press.  So many 1/4 inch seams to press open to make less bulk, without burning the fingers.

  This mid afternoon it was time.  It was time to lay, with the right sides of the project, bringing both halves together.  In my head I was doing a drum roll.  Over the course of months and eyeballing the 1/4 inch seam allowance, how much would I have to fudge to make this union work?  The grid for the top of the church tables that Kevin and Kersten got for me has been priceless.  Laying things out on it for the common good, leaves little to the imagination.  Armed with pins, I pinned each end and worked towards the middle.  I was astounded.  Both lengths of the halves were joined in perfect harmony.   

  That was it!  I shut everything down for the day.  I had achieved my ultimate goal which has been in the works for several months.  When next I return to the studio, the two halves will become one.   A border of 4″ will be sewn on all four sides making for approximately 64″ x 64″.  The folksy orange flowered print that was used in joining blocks as it was called for in the pattern, will also be used in the border as well as the backing.  I knew I had saved this yardage of Mom’s for the perfect project.

  I let Dennis know we now would be going on a road date to Bird Island in the near future.  My gift certificate that has been waiting for me will be used in part for the batting of “A Long Time Ago.”   It will be the prime time to have lunch at the Athman’s Café.

  I have had a great rewarding Saturday.

  Be well my family and friends.  Be kind to yourselves and each other this long weekend.

   
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  Noreen 2:32 pm on July 1, 2022 Permalink  

  A Wonderful Friday 

  Could we please have more days such as this during July?  Cool enough in the early morning to sit on the patio and enjoy coffee before any bugs found me. 

  The patio kitties found the catnip I had crimped the stem of to allow the aroma to waft that would entice them.  If the stem is not broken or crimped, they would and do walk right past it. 

  We have not mowed our acre for two weeks.  I am surprised that Dennis has not heard the whisper of the dew on the grass blades calling him.  I think letting it mellow out in the dry conditions is good.  Over the years, there have been many varieties of grass seed spread over the acre.  KNUJ reported that in the month of June, our area has had a mere .68 inches of rain.  The hot winds pretty much took care of sucking that up.

  Neighbor Jan is busy watering her newly planted flowers every day that she purchased this spring.  She has a red watering can with a sprinkle spout on it.  All of our perennials are well established and are doing well as is.  Once the water regime begins, it can’t be halted as the roots have become trained to rise to the service level for a drink.  We had two inches in the last measurable rain in May.  

  After the mailman had been here, Dennis came down to where I was in the studio.  He had a thankyou card in his hand from Megan.  Megan was thanking us for coming to her graduation party and the gift that she would be using towards college expenses.  Grandpa Dennis didn’t think it was fair that she was growing up.  How quickly we forget the wonderful times we have had of her staying with us before she could even talk, right up until her sixteenth birthday.  Super sweet memories that no one can take from us.  I am quite sure more will follow.  

  I will appease “Grandpa Dense”, (Megan couldn’t get the second syllable out when she first began talking), with some twice baked potatoes and chicken titties for supper.

   
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  Noreen 3:42 pm on June 30, 2022 Permalink  

  Home Safe 

  Dennis’ doctor appointment went well.  Stitches are totally out.  We are home safe and sound.  The traffic was already heavy anticipating the July 4th holiday. 

  We stopped at Hy-Vee for a few groceries to tide us over the 4th holiday.

  I got a phone call while I was shopping and a Mayo Insurance gal working with a Medicare claim that was denied.  She needed to talk to Dennis in person.  I snagged a pen and got her direct line phone number. When I went out to the car, we gave her a call.  Someone dropped the ball in coding.  Dennis’ one claim was logged as a workman’s comp issue.  All she needed was Dennis’ in-person verification for her to begin unraveling the issue.  What would we do without people working their jobs.  What would we do without cell phones to help them do their jobs.

  As I said, we will be homebodies over the long weekend.  I am happy for all of our kids that will have a long three or four day weekend.  Sweet indeed.

  I am home tucking groceries away and Dennis went uptown to run the car through the carwash as the bug glue was horrific today.

  Happy Thursday everyone!

   
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  Noreen 1:33 pm on June 29, 2022 Permalink  

  A KNUJ Sort of Day 

  It’s breezy with humidity and dew points neck and neck.

  I took some time today in the sewing studio to tidy up after Linda had taken a huge amount of fabric from me to her church.  I remain feeling very good about that.

  KNUJ has a bit of news and some good music on the waves.

  Dennis is having a good day in the patio porch being entertained via the television programming.  His cousin, Bruce, was over this forenoon to have coffee with Dennis.

  Supper time is going to be minimal as neither one of us has been at it very hard today . . . hardly at it would be more correct.  

  It might be a Progressive soup supper with a piece of peach pie and a sliver of vanilla ice cream topping it.

  Tomorrow afternoon we visit Nurse Jody at the Mankato Hospital for the last of the stitches to come out of Dennis’ well healed foot.  Sweet!

  I have nothing new to report today, so it is time to close this down until perhaps tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 2:27 pm on June 28, 2022 Permalink  

  No Third Strike 

  Last Thursday when we went to the PERA office in Mankato to take care of our direct deposit as our bank is closing.  We found the office was closed.  That may have been with all the congestion as the Civic Plaza was having live music . . . every Thursday and it was wall to wall people.

  This morning, I checked the website for the PERA office.  It stated June 28th, office hours from 8:30 to 4:30 – Office Open. 

  Dennis and I headed to Mankato to get this transaction taken care of.  We parked in the handicapped spot in front of the PERA office.  Door was locked.  I stood in the shade of the awning and called the phone number on the door.  After numerous announcements, I got a real person on the phone, and I allowed her to know we were outside their door in the Civic Plaza.  Hmm.  They closed the Mankato office some time ago and now the only offices open are in Minneapolis and St. Paul.  As I had a real person on the line I let her know that perhaps they should put signage on the door, taking off the stated hours and then change the website.  Grr!

  We came home and Dennis left me to my HP computer.  I prayed the funky internet service would stay on line long enough for me to find the site I needed.  After many different pages of info, I found forms to download for direct deposit changes.  Whew!  No longer do establishments value one on one communication for business dealings.  

  After two strikes we will get this done via the old fashioned snail mail.  Dennis wondered how people took care of their business when they didn’t have their very own Grammie on board.

  On that note, I will toddle off to the post office to mail in the PERA forms and then hit the library for some reading to have on hand.

  Chalk this day up to being persistent in our own business, because there sure isn’t anyone waiting for you to walk into their door to help you.

   
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  Noreen 1:33 pm on June 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Great Visit 

  Today I had a great visit from acquaintance, Linda.  Years ago we worked together on a quilt that we then raffled off to help a mother and wife that was going through a lot of medical things.

  Earlier this year we ran into Linda in Culver’s.  I commented that I had not seen any new stitching from her on Facebook.  Linda is now the head of the missionary quilting in her church and has taken a backseat from her own project.  All their quilts are headed to Lutheran World Relief.  

  That took me back to the times that Lena did a lot of quilting for missions.  Lutheran World Relief had offices in Willmar.  If the church ladies had all of their finished quilts delivered to them by a deadline, they were then shipped off to ports unknown.

  Today Linda picked up all the bolts of fabric that I had been holding for her, until such time that her ladies were ready to get the quilting season going.  The many full bolts of poly/cotton will be earmarked for the backs of the quilts.  One seam and the backing would be ready rather than multiple piecing.  Just as large of a stack was various flannel prints with which to make youth and baby blankets.

  Linda came early in the morning and we visited until noon before her car was loaded.  Linda was headed right to the church with her treasure trove. 

  Sharing what daughter-in-law Kersten had shared with me, gave my heartstrings a tune that will last for some time.  I had been pecking away at using some of this fabric, but realistically, this will make many quilts for many to make use of. 

  Linda was amazed at what I had for a sewing studio.  One of the neatest things was the teak wooden rocker she enjoyed while we chatted.

  Dennis was busy farming today.  The Cub-Lo-Boy was taken for a spin up to the corner gas station.  He is now changing oil in it.  It’s all in a day’s work.

  The skies are cloudy with maybe a hint of a rain shower.  The half inch we got last week sure did help things out.  There is a type of grass that we have that doesn’t take well to the extreme heat of early last week.  It crunches underfoot and has a hint of brown.  So be it.

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on June 26, 2022 Permalink  

  A Fantastic Day 

  When I got up it was 52 degrees and now mid afternoon it is 61 degrees.  We could stand a bunch more of this for the weeks ahead.

  I sat on the patio with six in the morning coffee.  It didn’t take long Jan came over and we had good visiting.  Randy had left at six as he is helping his son in rural Mankato with a Menards shed construction.  It is our city’s summer celebration but neither of us were taking part in any events.

  In between swapping out laundry, I would read a bit and go down into the studio to stitch a bit.  My “Long time Ago” project is now getting into putting the different pattern blocks together.  I have not minded this workout of pattern stitching.  It has kept me busy.  I can already tell, my project has a bit more of an organized look to it.  I couldn’t bring myself to go wild in mixing prints.  It matters not.  I enjoyed using some of Lena’s original printed feed sack prints in with what I had on hand.

  Dennis and I are going out for supper.  We are traveling west 12 miles to Mountain Lake and visiting the A & W.  A good adventure awaits.  Another spot that is on our list is the drive-in in Winthrop.  It is complete with the trays that clip onto the vehicle’s window.  We had stopped there one time as we were heading to visit family.  The food was excellent.

  Our weekend has been with contentment.  I hope your weekend has also been satisfying.

   
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  Noreen 2:08 pm on June 25, 2022 Permalink  

  A Saturday 

  I was having a six in the morning day.  Feet on the floor and Grammie was moving.

  Energy spurts are fantastic.  I had an agenda as I listened to the rain falling on the awning of the west porch.

  Both beds were deemed for fresh linens.  I do not have a linen closet like Lena did.  What comes off the beds, is laundered and put back on.

  I like our small vacuum that is to be used in shops.  I like it for the fact that it has great suction and has a very long hose.  Plant that in the middle of the living room and I can reach most points, having to not move it often.  

  Dennis had been doing his Saturday cleaning in the patio porch.  

  We had a sandwich at noon and we each realized we had fulfilled our agendas.  

  The rest of the weekend is open and free.  I can’t speak for Dennis, but I know the studio always holds something for me.

  I did look in vain for the last of the breakfast coffee.  Dennis had beat me to it and I couldn’t see starting a new pot.  Oh well.  A tall glass of water did the trick.

   
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  Noreen 2:10 pm on June 24, 2022 Permalink  

  My Last Nerve 

  I thought it was my last severed nerve . . . until I find that our internet is no longer up and running.  Is it the heat?  Is it a company that takes its customers for granted?  This has been cutting out at all times of the day for any amount of time.  I am striking while the iron is hot!

  My other severed nerve was this morning as we are working at switching banks.  Yesterday Dennis and I together contacted our provider for medical prescriptions.  Dennis spoke of his info as I did of mine.  Today there would be a call with the branch that can make such changes that involve bank changes.  I ask if Dennis needed to be present.  “No.”

  I kept my phone close all morning, including into the bathroom.  The call came at 10:45.  We each have our own I.D.#s.  All was going well.  We concluded that my information was changed and when she said she would now go onto Dennis’, the call ended.  The line went dead.  I checked to see what the number was that had called me and I then put the call through.  Oh my gosh!  Everything started from step one as we had completed yesterday.  After being put on hold several times, I was told Dennis would need to be on the line.  Of course Dennis wasn’t here.  I would have to call them back when Dennis could speak for himself.

  About noon Dennis came home and I snagged him immediately for us to get this call done and finish up this contact.  Again we started from the very beginning.  “No, Dennis, you cannot tell them you only want to speak to someone that speaks audible English.”  We both sat through several times of being put on hold.  Dennis kept patting my knee.  He knew I was burning that last raw nerve.  The actual transaction of changing routing numbers and an account number took less than 10 seconds.  Whew!

  We had gone through this almost verbatim when we were on the phone line with the VA.  Dennis receives a whopping $152.00 a month for Korean related health issues.  That has been a direct deposit.  Changes need to get done with the new bank info.  Mid way through the line went dead.  Cell phones are not impacted with internet service.  The second time we got through,  Dennis needed to give the date that he was inducted.  He stated the year.  No . . . they needed the exact date of year, month and date.  What had happened in 1955?  Dennis hung up and he felt he would need to go to the courthouse as his records are recorded.  I went to my vault of “stuff.”  We called back and Dennis could proudly tell the SOB that he was inducted May 13, 1955.  The rest took just a few seconds. 

  Because of Dennis’ frustration yesterday, he knew he needed to pat my knee today.

  Life is not for the faint of heart.  Yes, we are very thankful that we don’t need someone to speak for us or to help with life altering events, such as changing of banking information.  That being said . . . the difficulty of simplistic items sure can piss me off.

   
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  Noreen 1:54 pm on June 23, 2022 Permalink  

  Small Towns 

  Every small town in the state of Minnesota is trying to capitalize on a summer celebration to bring in people and money.  I see a change in our small town.  

  The worker “Bs” are getting fewer and older.  It takes a constant push to keep things going at the 110%.  Our celebration is within several weeks of the county fair.  If the pride were pulled in, the two could be combined and there would be a successful turnout.  As it were . . . mediocrity shows through.

  As I went to the library today, after a return trip from Mankato, it struck me as to how many homes are not mowing their yards.  City ordinances cannot replace self pride.  There isn’t a brick heavy enough to park in Dennis’ jeans to keep him from keeping our acre kempt.  We did mow the acre a week ago.  After having received two inches of rain it had turned hot with high winds drying everything out.  We are in for a dry spell and the grass hasn’t budged in height at all.  A heavy dew in the mornings will be a blessing for each spear to take in as much as it can.

  Oh well . . . there are no two people alike, and what a blessing that is.

  My blessing for the day is that we are home safe and sound and that we are of sound mind.  The weekend is soon to be here and here is where I will be enjoying my contentment with the ole cowboy.