Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:00 pm on January 22, 2022 Permalink  

  A Saturday 

  The snow flurries of late yesterday were short lived.  At the time the winds had picked up we had no idea what would come of it.

  At that time, Dennis and I were at our St. James hospital ER. We got home from Mankato hospital surgical visit at 1:30 and Dennis sat in his recliner and was soon asleep.  At four I walked past his chair and I noticed that this left foot wrapping was bloody.  I called the Mankato hospital, and as luck would have it for a Friday afternoon, the surgeon was still on board and was able to talk to me.  He called our St. James ER and left strict instruction on how to redo the dressings.  The incision was not to remain wet from blood.  When we got the five minute trip done to our hospital, a nurse with a wheelchair greeted us at the car door. 

  When the foot was unwrapped the bleeding had stopped.  We had a new dry dressing applied, and I got my first look at the incision, and we were on our way home in what we thought would be a snow storm.  And . . . it didn’t take long the snow had stopped.  All was peaceful and calm on all fronts.

  Dennis and I had a remaining quiet evening at home.  Both of us went to bed early.  I can’t speak for Dennis, but I slept deeply.  Here we are 24 hours out and Dennis has taken a total of one pain pill as the discomfort is minimal.  There had been quite a bit of numbing solution shot into the foot at the time of the surgery.  We will stay ahead of the pain.  Once it is evident, it’s too late.  I continue to say “we.”  I am vested into a good recovery for Dennis and it will be easier on me as well.

  With foot up no matter where Dennis goes, I have whipped the overflowing laundry basket.  That is a good feeling.  With a pan of scones out cooling, we are having the remaining goulash for supper.  Easy enough.

  My brother from Decorah called and that was an hour long conversation.  I let him talk about what he wanted to talk about as I am sure having lost his wife several weeks ago, their home feels and is different. 

  It’s been a good day and we are looking forward to many such as this one.

   
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  Noreen 3:06 pm on January 21, 2022 Permalink  

  Home Sweet Home 

  Home is so sweet after getting up at 4:30 am and then waiting in the surgical ward until noon for Dennis to get through foot surgery.  All went well.  A biopsy was taken of the base of the big toe, but the surgeon has a good feeling that the big toe can be saved.  Checks will be done often going forward with the surgeon.  What has been done with these two surgeries will not impair Dennis’ walking or balance.

  We came home and a cup of coffee went very well with a piece of peach pie.  I had shopped yesterday to make sure there would be a yummy nummy to celebrate and get this morning checked off.

  It never ceases to amaze me how many halls there are to get from “A” to “Z”.  I admit, the bottom of my cane was near smoking by the time I got out of the hospital to get the vehicle warmed up to take Dennis home.

  We are pulling in for the weekend and appreciating what has been conquered.

   
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  Noreen 4:30 pm on January 20, 2022 Permalink  

  Up For It 

  It may have been cold out but I was up for a luncheon with the stitchers at Baker’s Square.  It was 40 degrees when I backed the car out of the garage and it plummeted to 1 by the time I was a block from home.

  The trip was so worth it.  With a group such as I have it does this hermit a wealth of good.  Encouraging in our day-to-day experiences is better than a trip to the doctor.

  I did stop at Hy-Vee and brought supper home.

  After supper we call the Mayo hospital to find out what time we report tomorrow for Dennis’ foot surgery.  It is a one-day surgery.  What a great day to have over with when we arrive home with the patient in tow.

   
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  Noreen 4:00 pm on January 19, 2022 Permalink  

  Cold Day 

  It might have been a cold day, but there was some heat building in the studio.

  There is much to be said for resilience.  It does not happen often, but then once in a blue moon is often enough.  The sewing machine bucked and bucked and bucked.  I finally decided to take it apart down to the last straw.  The first thing I did was to raise the sewing machine table so it was eye level.  One part after another was set aside.  Out came the bobbin and I rethreaded it.  Off came the throat plate and with it a stray thread was found.  Out came the magnetic hook and while it was out I oiled it.  With my mini LED light I looked behind the hook area.  In the depth of the chase that the hook sat on, I spied several threads.  

  At a gun show that I attended with Dennis decades ago in Iowa, I purchased some used metal tools that were akin to the fine dental hooks that a dentist would use to pick around the base of teeth.  That metal hook was fine enough that I could get down and in that narrow track and hook out those stray threads.

  As I didn’t know if I had found the problem, I went ahead and cleaned the cutters that usually automatically cut the thread when thread colors change.  With a new needle put in, I was going to give it a try.

  I did have success in going forward with some stitching.  It pays to be resilient as there is no one else about and I surely can’t be running to Bird Island which is 60 miles away for a not-so-quick fix.

  I think Dennis might have seen the smoke coming from the studio and he had offered to make supper.  It is one of his comfort food suppers: canned stew over instant mashed potatoes and a can of cranberries.  I will joyfully take it.

  Dennis did brave the cold today to go out to the clinic.  He had to have a covid test three days prior to surgery this Friday.  He was thankful to get back home.

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on January 18, 2022 Permalink  

  Eye Appointment 

  Today I was called in for an additional eye appointment.  It was the full gambit of what could be tested for: macular degeneration, retina health, glaucoma, and thickness of the cornea.  All checked out great.  I believe there was something that Doc Pinke didn’t like when I was there in December and thought a second look would be beneficial.  We have always been impressed in his due diligence.

  We were able to check on the Mayo portal in regard to Dennis’ blood work-up from yesterday.  Every single line item was right in the middle of the range.  Good going for the ole cowboy going forward.

  It felt good to know both of us are doing well with our health checkups.

  I did text all three of Dennis’ daughters today to let them know that their dad will be having foot surgery on Friday.  Did not want one or the other of them to think I was not letting them know what was going on with their dad.  They are not oft to call and visit with him.

  I was taken aback how long the eye drops for the test of eye pressure and the second dose of drops for the dilation took to work out of my system.

  We now have paper evidence on each of the vehicles dash to indicate that handicap rear view mirror hangers are on order.  Sweet work Dennis.  

  The choice for supper is eggs, Jimmy Dean pre-cooked sausage patties and toast.  Easy enough to get done.

   
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  Noreen 3:48 pm on January 17, 2022 Permalink  

  Busy Medical Day 

  Today was the day that Dennis was scheduled for his pre-op for the foot surgery on this Friday, the 21st.

  I always accompany Dennis to appointments as two sets of ears is better than one.  The first thing Dr. Eatwell did was check my cane over to make sure it was safe.  The Hurricane canes that pivot at the base he would not recommend.  My cane is solid at the base and got the nod of approval.  Good news for me.

  What I appreciate with our family doctor is that one or the other of us may have the appointment, but we both get a mini check up.  Priceless.

  Dennis passed the test with the little sticky buds that got put on his chest and read his heart and it is in good shape.  On to bl00d work and a chest X-ray.  Wednesday Dennis will need a Covid test.  We will then be goo0d to go until Thursday night when we phone to see what time we need to be in Mankato on Friday for his surgery.

  Dennis asked Dr. Eatwell about a handicap hanger for our vehicle.  Considering Dennis’ age and my physical walking which can be a bit tottering with my eye on the winter surfaces, it was not a problem.  Dennis has the paper to take to our motor vehicle office tomorrow.  Had it not been for the holiday closing today, it would have been taken care of by now. 

  Though the afternoon was short, I do have several items laid out to tackle tomorrow.  Having a new needle in the machine, a full bobbin and the grease ports taken care of, it will be a great start.

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on January 16, 2022 Permalink  

  Lena 

  I am so like my mom, Lena.  There was nothing that she wasn’t up for in the world of sewing.  One thing I am not . . . is the baker that she was.  It would have put Martha Stewart to shame.  Confectioneries of all sorts were at our home to enjoy at Christmastimes.  During an average week she could very well hand donuts for Raymond to enjoy for afternoon coffee.  The donut holes she saved for us kids.  The water from boiling potatoes during the week was saved for the white yeast bread that was baked on Saturday.  The enriched water with the nutrients from the potatoes being boiled added extra taste as well as the homemade bread staying a bit more moist.  In today’s grocery stores the potato bread from various high name brands will likely sell for $3.89 a loaf.  

  What I do resemble in Lena is my curiosity in fighting my way through patterns in the studio. Many need to be read over and over to get the full drift.  And . . . sometimes a prototype needs to be made to get the kinks out.  Lena would use bleached muslin for her “what ifs.”  I have some fabric pieces that have been given to me that would not work well in a finished piece I am working on.  The thread count and the grudge fabric that the printed design was printed on, would not wear well in a quilt that I would be working on.  On the flip side, there have been many quilts made out of printed feed sacks that were purchased with chicken feed concentrate inside a 100 lb. sack.  It was not unusual that there would be a request of the farmer, from the home front, to pick out more than one sack with the same design on it, this yielding several yards of usable fabric.  

  Today, I toughed it out in the studio, though a bit chilly.  You’ve guessed it.  We have kept our home a bit cooler this winter.  As long as I had on good shoes, my feet didn’t draw the cold from the cement floor.  Kevin offered a hemmed carpet piece that he has in storage, but with pins being dropped and threads that weave themselves beyond what my Filter Queen vac can handle, I do prefer a bare concrete floor.  My Swiffer can do a great job.  When stitching a project it means a lot of moving from the sewing machine, to the ironing board and to the cutting table.  It is when I sit for too long of a period of time, that there can be problems in the back and hips.  Gotta keep moving.

  As cloudy as it is, it might not feel like 33 degrees out, but there are bare spots showing in the sidewalk.

   
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  Noreen 3:20 pm on January 15, 2022 Permalink  

  Saturday the 15th 

  With much of the snow lying where it fell, it is super bright outside.  Every make of vehicle that can pull a trailer with a snowblower on it is out and about.

  Dennis waited until Randy had blown the driveway off before he suited up to tidy around our doorways.  It took until noon before it was above zero.

  Today the Christmas wall hangings have been taken down and tucked away and the Christmas valences are also down.  Dennis thought I had better look through my totes for some wall hangings to put up as the house looked bare. 

  The wall hanging over the front door window is called “Let it Snow.”  Decades ago it was the perfect pattern to use up dozen of the small buttons from the Fairfax button tree.  When the heat run is going the four panels do a bit of a wiggle.  The front door may have a bit of a draft and the wall hanging acts as a buffer.  Homes that are a hundred years old are allowed a few infractions.

  The living room north wall is ready for all things spring like and sweet.  This is one of a few that I still did all the hand sewing an inch apart for the waffle weave appearance.  The applique work of the hearts and the basket of flowers were a challenge, even at that time.  It was done when the hands were nimble and tired little.

  Several years ago while us stitchers were on a retreat, my friend Sharon clued me in on the packet of designs for machine embroidery barns.  I couldn’t wait to get the packet downloaded.  I did three pillows for family, as well as a three-barn design for a table topper for my nephew’s home.  I had to make a wall hanging for our stairwell.  The wall hanging designs were done on synthetic suede that I had had in my stashes for a long time.  It worked up great. 

  With Dennis spending time with his walk-behind snowblower, I decided to see what was in the freezer for supper.  Though we had a Dennis-made chicken oven meal earlier this week, there were some frozen chicken breasts that needed to get out of the bottom of the freezer, along with the last bag of frozen carrot rounds.  Dennis had used canned chicken which can be a bit bland.  I diced up my chicken and pan fried them after tossing them in seasoned breading that had turmeric powder, Bisquick and cinnamon in the mix.  The egg noodle pasta took second fiddle to the chicken, carrots and bright green peas.  Talk about a bright fresh looking oven dish that had Alfredo sauce to blend all. 

  All is well on Stauffer Avenue.  I do plan on spending some time in the studio tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 4:03 pm on January 14, 2022 Permalink  

  So Much Whiteness 

  We were told about this storm, so no surprises.

  After getting some bedding going, I retreated to the studio.  Yesterday I was invigorated to put out a few stitches today.  A group of like-minded individuals can do that for me.  Getting together with stitchers is not a new thing.

  When Orlin and I were farming in Boon Lake township, my mom, Lena, had gotten me involved with the Riverdale Quilting Club.  Once a month we met at someone’s home that had a quilt frame up for either hand sewing a quilt or yarn tying a quilt.  Often a dining room table was pushed to the side and there would be three of us to either side of the length of the quilt frame.  As we worked the length for as far as our arms would reach across, the quilt frame was rolled for new area to be worked.  For the most part a group of five or six of us could get a full sized quilt done in a day.  Whomever hosted the group would have a hot dish or sandwiches for a quick noon meal.  On rare occasions when fancy stitching was called for the hostess would have finished it on her own in days to come.

  I would join the group after morning chores and after Carrie was on the Hutchinson school bus.  Kevin would get packed up with me, complete with his choice of toys in a bag.  Of course the place that we quilted at would have a basket of grandchildren’s toys that would be fresh for Kevin to play with.  I was the youngest of the quilters and I enjoyed learning the tricks of the trade.

  Even after we had moved out of the area and Lena had a quilt up, I would enjoy helping her when we visited.  After we moved to the Madelia area, Orlin put together a quilt frame for me.  There is a variety of red fabrics that constitutes a quilt pattern called Jacob’s ladder in my closet.  That is the quilt I pieced and hand sewed for Kevin’s bed.  Oh so many stitches.

  My enjoyment of getting together with the group of women once a month at Baker’s Square, harkens back to the decades ago when the same kind of enjoyment was had at the Riverdale Quilting Club.  

  The heavy snow we are having today will allow for a quiet world as the wind may pick up.  Neighbor Randy is already doing a swipe at what has fallen so far.  Jan had shared with me at Christmas that Randy was just itching for snow to move with his long green line.  Randy is getting his wish today.

   
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  Noreen 3:27 pm on January 13, 2022 Permalink  

  What a Group 

  What a great group of gals to get together with.  All of us are stitchers and we all enjoy different niches in our projects.  It doesn’t hurt that Baker’s Square doesn’t mind that we stay for three hours while we chew, drink coffee and visit.  Show and tell doesn’t hurt either.

  When I came home this afternoon, the house smelled oh so good!  It was a pan of blueberry scones that Dennis had made.  They may be made up from a frozen state, but they are Dennis’ go to yummy for his breakfasts.  They are a bit too rich for me. 

  When I left Mankato it was 34 degrees and as I drove into our drive it was 26 degrees.  The snow is scheduled to start during the early Friday morning hours.  We have nothing where we need to be this weekend and we will take the weather as it comes.

  It’s time to catch up with Dennis and see what he has been up to while I was gone.

  It will be a more newsy day tomorrow as I am at a loss for words after having three hours of chatting.