Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:55 pm on April 2, 2022 Permalink  

  Full Sun! 

  It’s been a long time since I awoke to full sun coming up in the east.

  My eyes were barely open when I noticed the little red pickup in the drive.  That tells me that the ole cowboy has plans.  He came in and told me if I wanted to ride along, he would be leaving by 8:30 and he would have hot coffee and cookies along for my breakfast.  Who was I to say no!

  Right on target at 8:30 we were on HWY #4 heading north.  Dennis was weary of leaving our home only for doctor appointments.  He wanted to check in with Kevin and Kersten in Fairfax.  It had been some time that we had done that.  That is just exactly what my dad would have been up to on a moment’s notice.

  True to form . . . we checked in with the kids and took notice of all the improvements that had been made to the automotive shop, aka: Kevin’s Garage.  We bid them a good day, I made sure I got hugs from both of them, and we were back home just a little after 11 am.  Dennis must have mentioned several times on the ride home, he felt good knowing all was going well for them.  I totally agreed.  Gotta love the guy as this road date was my birthday present from him.

  I had the afternoon in my studio and I made inroads stitching together six 4.5 ” scrappy blocks.  This entire project is about using scraps that are on hand.  I am always thrilled, when after much seaming, with a small block the seams align and the correct measurement has been attained.  I knew when I saw stitcher Lu’s finished project, I wanted a try at this pattern.  It was kind of her to make sure I would have it.  There will be a time when she will check in on me as to how I am coming.  Fair enough.

  We are having a Ham and Egg Bake dish for supper that grandson Nicholas sent with his mom when she came on my birthday.  Fantastic.  

  I hope everyone has a great weekend as I know Dennis and I already have had a great start to it.

   
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  Noreen 1:49 pm on April 1, 2022 Permalink  

  My Day 

  My friend June and I were going to head to the Lewis Drug this morning for our second shingles shot.  Not!  It could be given 60 days after the first shot.  Today was day #59.  Both of us had forgotten about February having 28 days.  We will try it again on Monday.  I have heard comments that the second shot causes some less than good feelings.  I did ask this morning if the second shot serum contains different ingredients than the first and the response was that both shots were the same.  Good to know.

  June and I went back to her apartment and had coffee and a muffin.  

  A stop at the grocery store for orange juice for Dennis.  Slowly the intake of nourishment is improving for him.  Actually . . . so is the feeling in his left foot.  Last night when I changed the dressing and cleaned the area he had to fight not to fidget.  Sweet!

  The air today is cool but 41 degrees is a good thing.  After many appointments that have been cancelled since our shingling job of March 16th for the gutter helmet to be put back on,  April 4th is the new appointment.  It began raining the afternoon of that March 16th date, the weather has been miserable with ice and less than good conditions to be on a roof.

  I stopped at the full service store here in town after the grocer’s.  Karen handles clothing, baby items, kitchen fare, greeting cards, jewelry and now shoes.  I needed a pair of new sneakers.  Those that I have are sad.  Yes washable, but after a while it takes a toll on their integrity.  Karen had attended a day at the purchasing market in the metro and had sat with Carrie and Megan.  Small world.  Carrie in the metro and Karen here in town . . . the best of both worlds.

  A short stint in the studio this afternoon . . . that is always a good thing.  I believe that sometime soon, I will be able to have a full day with my threads and fuzz.  Be careful what you wish for . . . you might just get it.

   
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  Noreen 2:14 pm on March 31, 2022 Permalink  

  Wow 

  Wow!  I am having a great birthday!  My best ever phone call came this morning from the laundromat here in St James.  It was Dennis!  He had left early this morning with rag rugs to wash up after a winter’s use and had forgotten about the wish until he was busy watching suds.  Sweet.

  Yesterday there were cards in the mail and one in particular provided for times when I want a nourishing supper for Dennis and me while keeping the kitchen range clean.  Thanks to the Fairfax team for Subways.  Today Carrie drove out from the metro to have lunch with us.  I provided a fitting room and Carrie brought a bright colored top and pants from her store.  Thanks to the metro family.  Being treated to a meal while wearing some new clothes . . . can’t get any sweeter than that.

  I feel so fortunate for this 78th birthday.  I looked back as to what I had written on my blog March 31, 2021.  I was going to PT three times a week working towards mobility from the February stoke while dragging my Foley catheter wherever I went.  I take it back.  I am not fortunate, I am blessed beyond belief.  Each morning I say “Thank you Lord, it’s MY day to make You proud.” 

  Soon the biting cold days are bound to be over.  It’s a good thing the red breasted Robins are covering our back yard believing in spring and checking out what’s for lunch.

   
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  Noreen 1:11 pm on March 30, 2022 Permalink  

  Spring Storms 

  Our spring storm started last night about nine with misting rain.  The lightning and thunder followed with heavy downpours intermittently.  The lightning and thunder not only followed it, but stayed until four this morning.  One large flash after another and you knew the clap that shook the windows was on its heels.  Some time after four it turned cold enough that we now have white on the rooftops and lawns.  What a slush fest.

  It was just my luck to have restless leg syndrome last night after I went to bed.  It doesn’t happen often, but once in a blue moon is often enough.  When Dennis got up this morning at seven, he found me propped up on the sofa with my feet on the foot stool so my legs were higher than my butt, covered with afghans.  Thus far today I have been determined . . . no naps.

  Dennis braved the slush and met up with the fellows at McDonalds for some chit chat.  Dennis’ bud, Dwayne, has found out he can’t carry his phone in his left shirt pocket to access with his right hand.  It is too near where he has had a pacemaker recently put in and it messes with phone calls.  Who knew!  A hard habit for an older fellow to break.  Back hip pocket it will need to be.

  It has been several days that I ignored the studio calling.  Putting in three hours today, I shut the ceiling lights off as well as the sewing machine’s.  The sump pump has begun running and I can hear the trickle of water running in the tile channels making its way to the northwest corner of the basement floor where it egresses up and out.  It also makes for chilly, chilly air in the studio.  I always wear shoes in the studio standing on the concrete floor.  I wasn’t about to overdue it and have a second night of the legs having the hebbie geebies.  I did work long enough to get the lay of the next series of quilt blocks, six of them, ending up with fifteen fabrics stitched together for a 4.5″ finished block.  It will go easier the next time I visit.  

  The last item I needed to check on today was the amount of minutes I have left on my Tracfone.  Having let the landline go, that Tracfone is quite important for medical calls and such.  We really do not miss the landline phone or the robo calls that came with it.

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on March 29, 2022 Permalink  

  All Day Duty 

  On the morning when I awake and decide what my day will hold . . . in time the day’s end cannot come fast enough.  There is only so much energy and then the body feels kaput.

  Stripping both beds of the flannel sheets is all encompassing.  While the washer begins the first load, it gives time to get my breakfast put together.  Our one grocer in town does not have the bestest, freshest produce.  My choice is to stock up on blueberries and raspberries when we are in Mankato at the Sam’s Club and pop a good supply in the freezer.  My breakfast is a dollop of cottage cheese, a sprinkling of Flax Meal, a one serving container of Mott’s unsweetened apple sauce, frozen blueberries to cover all and then top it with a small amount of frozen raspberries.  I never tire of this fare.  When the berries are thawed, with my fare, I enjoy a cup of hot coffee sitting at the dining room table catching some news.  I feel as if I am at a five star restaurant.

  Nothing tops clean bedding than working the Swiffer under the beds and the surrounding floor area for what has been sluffed off of the flannels.  The washer hummed in step with the clothes dryer and alas the laundry basket was empty.

  As weary as I am now feeling, having dressed both beds and tidy, tidied the bedrooms . . . it comes with a lot of self-satisfaction.  Keeping a home at a level of satisfaction . . . I might as well give myself a badge . . . “Well Done.”

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on March 28, 2022 Permalink  

  Wow 

  We are home from a short stay at the radiology surgical ward in the Mankato Hospital.  The angiogram usual and customary route for such a procedure was attempted but could not be competed.  It is usually done going into the opposite groin that the blockage is in, aka: the left leg.  There was a slight aneurism midpoint and going through it would not have ended well. That aneurism will not cause Dennis any harm going forward, it has been on board for some time as per the surgeon.

  More imagery was taken while Dennis was under and the surgeon knows more now as to how to go forward.  Dennis is on board having the next procedure.  All that will be needed before going forward is an echocardiogram of the heart.  That can be done here in St. James.

  Dennis had to lie flat on his back for quite some time afterwards to allow two puncture sites to clot over. We may not have ended the day the way we thought we would when we got up at four this morning, we are home safe and sound.  To celebrate we shared a cup of black Starbuck’s coffee and donut balls on our way home to Stauffer Avenue.  Yippee for the two older ones that take the day for what it holds.

   
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  Noreen 2:59 pm on March 27, 2022 Permalink  

  Murphy Wood Soap 

  Today, I had no serious agenda.  I went down into the pantry to get a can of cranberry sauce.  I spied with my little eye a package that had come from Amazon.  It had been opened and some of the contents had been used.  Out came one of the packages of the Murphy Wood Soap wipes.  I had sent for them as locally they are not carried.

  After the better part of the morning, our bathroom has the scent of the Murphy Wood wipes.  Fantastic.  The woodwork shines and gave me a big thank you, and I thanked myself for due diligence.  Cleaning the groves in the oak mopboard was my goal.  My sister had commented years ago after Kevin had redone our bathroom that the ornate oak woodwork was beautiful, but oh what a dust catcher with the washer and dryer causing more lint than what would come from daily use of Northern bath tissue.  Hmm.  Never under estimate Lena’s kid.  At the time I was getting to the woodwork behind the toilet stool, I made sure that the cell phone was right next to me in the event that I went ass over teakettle reaching for all I was worth.  It was all in a day’s effort on Stauffer Avenue. 

  I had taken the suade sewing machine tote outside and set it on the bench for some sunshine freshening.  When I looked out the bathroom window, Dennis had it in the patio porch using his vacuum on it.  My oh my, what a difference that made.  The turquoise color came alive.  A stint in the sun, vacuuming and a light spray of fabric Febreze, it is ready for anyone’s smell test.  What helped was the case was never sitting open.  There isn’t even a hint of any fuzz or thread that it was ever used.  The price tag was still attached to one of the zipper pulls in the interior.

  More investigating on the mini-Bernina.  Lois had purchased a stitch regulator, for all stitches to be uniform, for the machine.  I will be able to continue humming Bringing in the Sheaves as I free motion quilt with it.  The quilting walking foot that has three different sole attachments was an extra purchase that allows for multiple feed dogs plus those in the machine to navigate, thus pulling the layers under the needle.  The only item this Bernina 530 does not have is the automatic presser foot, that is done manually.  Yes . . . I am spoiled with my 770.  Many of my stitching feet will fit on this machine.  

  Even on days when I have no agenda, the day fills in.  At the end of this day I am very content with my local effort.

   
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  Noreen 4:10 pm on March 26, 2022 Permalink  

  A Cold Saturday 

  It may only be 30 degrees, but at least the winds are now a strong breeze.  We have a piece of builder’s ridged 2″ foam over the top of the walkup attic steps.  With several roof vents in the attic, the north winds had a hay-day of giving that covering enough for some noise when least expected.

  Today we had an unexpected guest that stopped in from Decorah, Iowa, on his way home to Duluth.  Nephew Eric was here at ten this morning.  He had made the trip to his dad, my brother, in Decorah.  My brother Calvin had a storage unit rented for some time as they lived in a mobile home unit.  My sister-in-law, Eric’s mom, passed away in January and Eric has made several trips working on getting the storage unit emptied to consolidate items.

  Eric made his way this far north from his trip home to drop off his mom’s sewing machine.  Eric had been working with his dad to sell this model 530 Bernina.  I believe they had exhausted local listings as well as different locations where Craigslist listings were available.  My brother was done working with it.  This machine weighs 17.5 lbs. compared to my model 770 that weighs 35 lb.  With the case that it was brought in, it would make it very mobile . . . possible sewing retreats.  Eric’s mom bought the machine in 2011.  Eric had it serviced for her in February of 2021.  Lois never sewed with it after that.  

  This afternoon, I did go down and set it up.  Yes . . . the lights went on.  The automatic needle threader worked like a charm.  One problem . . . no bobbin case.  As luck would have it, the name of the dealer in Decorah, with a phone number, was on a sticker.  I called them and asked them to pull Lois’s account up and they reiterated the last service date.  I shared with them that she had not been able to use it after that date and thus the bobbin case had not been put in the machine after their servicing.  Yup, it will be in the mail this coming Monday.  All I needed to do was to pay the $7.00 shipping fee.  Sweet.  Lois purchased some high end additions to the machine and they were still in the store packaging. 

  There is a down side and one that Eric said had come to light when one gal inquired about purchasing the machine.  Both Calvin and Lois were heavy smokers.  The machine decking shows evidence of that.  As these days remain sunny and fresh, I will be putting the travel case outside for some airing.  The surface of the case is a brushed suede and may take some time to let the smell of cigarettes’ smoke diminish.

  So that was my day in a nut shell.  Eric had never been to our home and stayed long enough to do some catching up.  Sweet!

  Tomorrow is another day and from all accounts of the news, the cool weather will prevail for the week.

   
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  Noreen 2:07 pm on March 25, 2022 Permalink  

  Horrid Winds 

  During the night I heard the wind chimes banging in the evergreen right outside my bedroom. Every once in awhile a pinecone would let loose from the evergreen and bounce off of the awning over the west windows.  After this winter’s blast of high velocity wind storms, I was surprised any cones remained.  The wind has not let up at all during the day.

  There was some housekeeping that needed to be done in the east end of our home as well as the west end.  What is in between will wait for another day. 

  After Dennis came in for noon, we teamed up and put up valances in the living room on the tall windows.  It takes one to steady me on the step stool and me to get the dastardly rods attached to the brackets.  I need to be high enough for my arms to stretch out far enough.  We also got one valance up on the south window in the west porch.  The valance on the north window will take a bit more planning for after supper to get the bed moved away from the wall.  Never fear . . . before the eyes close for the night, it will be done.

  What was accomplished in the studio today was cutting fabric for six more blocks in my latest project.  Many cuts were one inch wide.  Each of the 4.5 inch square blocks have thirteen fabrics sewn into the mix.  Cutting was enough for one visit.  All of the fabrics for this project are coming out of my scrap tote. 

  Dennis and I agreed on Subway for supper.  Dennis loves his 6″ tuna on white.  I am having a turkey, bacon, guacamole on a tomato basil wrap.  Sweet!  

   
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  Noreen 1:41 pm on March 24, 2022 Permalink  

  Yuk, Snow 

  Last night when I went to bed, I looked out and there was fine snow that I could see against the street light.  This morning I was up at six, due to mother nature, and it was snowing.  We are in a long haul of yuck.

  The new project I am working on is all about small pieces of fabric.  Some is from Lena’s original feed sacks and the remainder is from my stashes.  The completed 60″ x 60″ colored copy photo is what I am striving for.  Ya, this is a stretch even for me.  I had no plans for the studio and when friend Lu offered me this pattern . . . why not try.  There is no hurry and being up for the challenge keeps life interesting.

  Today I finished a 12″ x 12′ block that I will call my purple phase.  All the purples are from Lena with a one color neutral.  This block is done in blues on the colored paper copy in the top row.  Working 1/4th seam allowances is going to be the key.  There are two blocks dubbed bowtie and I also have those done.  Can you find those on the paper copy?  If . . . in the meantime, I feel like taking a break and do some machine embroidery . . . so be it.  I do have a bridal shower and I do believe several towels embroidered would fill the bill.

  Dennis is not feeling this cool nasty weather.  He and the little red pickup went to have coffee in one of the apartment houses that his friend Lyle lives in.  It is the only apartment house in town that has a commons area for residents to gather in.

  Gutter Helmet was to be here today to re-install their product on the garages now that the shingling is done.  I have not heard, but I believe it may be a bit wet or perhaps even slippery as they need to get on the roof in some areas.

  Dennis and I have agreed:  leftover meatloaf and potato salad for supper.  Tomorrow something else will need to be contrived.