Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:50 pm on April 16, 2022 Permalink  

  A Saturday 

  A bright Saturday on Stauffer Avenue.

  It never fails, if I need to get up in the middle of the night for a bathroom call, I go back to bed and sleep deeply.  What happens then is that I am not getting up at seven.  I was sound asleep when the phone went off at 8:15 when Dennis’ grandson, AJ, said he would be over in 15 minutes.  AJ lives in Mankato and had planned on working on his camper that is stored here in St. James today.  He and his parents had already been at the Home Town Café for breakfast.  Dennis was still in bed and we made tracks to at least have clothes on when the family arrived.

  For the sum of $24.99 that we reimbursed AJ for, the Wi-Fi booster that is plugged into the east wall of the kitchen’s outlet, Dennis has a television in the patio porch that is working off of the Mediacom’s router.  Whew!  Check that off of our list of things to take care of this spring.

  I was set to do some tidy, tidy when the phone rang.  My brother from Decorah called, which is not often.  I gave him 54 minutes.  We are now caught up on the latest and greatest.  I am sure the house is quiet since his wife passed away earlier in the year.

  The tidy, tidy that needed doing was the shelving in the kitchen.  We had a tub and surround dismantled this week as well as having sheetrock work done after the new walk-in shower was installed.  No matter what takes place to keep things under control, I have lived with enough remodeling projects to know that debris takes flight and lands at will.   The shelving on top of the refrigerator is next on a list . . . sometime.  It all needed to be done under the guise of spring cleaning.

  After pulling choices of scrap fabric in the studio, I am getting close to cutting the sizes of blocks for the next pattern.  The sizes range from 7/8″ square to 1″ x 1 1/2″.  I am actually finding this project to be enjoyable.  No time frame.  No pressure.  It will be some time before the sewing machine is turned on.  There are to be 20 blocks measuring 3.5 square when completed. 

  I think supper will be frozen waffles and Jimmy Dean precooked sausages.  Sounds good to me.

   
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  Noreen 1:05 pm on April 15, 2022 Permalink  

  April 15, 2022 

  What a sunny day for it being Good Friday.  The wind chill is in the 20s.  Oh how the wind can howl through the huge evergreen on the northwest corner of our home.

  Yesterday afternoon, Dennis’ daughter and her family from Silver Bay surprised us.  Early in 2022, Dennis’ son-in-law’s father passed away.  Dennis and Swede had been life long friends.  It was now time for some items from Swede’s home to be taken up to Silver Bay as the home now has a new owner.

  This morning I was waiting for a fellow to pay us a call from Madison Lake.  When the Watson boys unpacked the components of the walk-in shower, there was a hair-line crack in one of the panels.  I would not have been able to find it if Watson’s had not pointed it out to me.  I left the fellow to his trade.  I could smell an adhesive and there was a heat gun of some sort being used.  Within 45 minutes, the fellow was going out the back door.  Of course I had to peek.  There was absolutely nothing indicating that a service man had made a repair.  Hats off to Watson’s for following through on their install.

  My stitching is making progress.  Today I finished a very busy scrappy block.  The 12.5 inch x 21.5 inch block was sewn with the pieces of fabric sewn into long strips.  The strips were then sewn together.  There is a scrappy star at one end of this block.  I really worked at mixing up different prints and colors on this block.  I have mentioned before that I fight not having them do the matchie match on colors.  My church tables are a plethora of various prints and scraps . . .  ready to turn the page to see what is next.  This pattern is totally out of my wheel-house.  

  A quiet weekend is upon us.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 1:41 pm on April 14, 2022 Permalink  

  Oh My Gosh! 

  The wind today may have been more than I wanted to be out in, but . . . it sure beats storms.

  Dennis had coffee with the buds in McDonald’s.  I headed to the studio.

  KNUJ has a bit of news to keep me in the loop and good country music as the day goes on.

  Slow but sure I picked out vintage prints on my latest project out of my scrap bin.  Some of the scraps are mine, some are Lena’s and some are from my friend Lorraine that is no longer with us.  It makes for quite the mix.

  Every once in awhile I get the bite to head north to the Bird Island quilt store . . . Gathering Friends.  I know I have a gift certificate there from nephew Larry for the eight Christmas stockings I made for his family.  The materials were supplied to me and the rest was at my digression as to how to embroider a design on each one.  Four of the stockings did get an embroidered name and the remaining four were for at a time when their family grew.  As I said, I think about visiting Gathering Friends, but . . . I have not run out of things to do with what I have on hand.  Sweet!

  The young apprentice carpenter was here today and wet sanded and primed the sheetrock around the walk-in shower.  Yesterday he and his boss worked on a deck for someone that had been started before the rains.  I totally got that.  Mason is coming back later today to paint the area.  The gallon pail of matching paint doesn’t have much in it, but he was sure it would be just fine.  He mentioned that as far as he knew he would be back tomorrow to put the oak trim on where new was needed.  The shower is just a bit different in size where it meets the north corner wall and the east wall.  I think in total it was 12″ in total that was needed.

  Tonight, I am looking forward to several of my PBS mystery programs to be on.  Between Hulu and YouTube TV, there is everything we had watched before plus oh so much more.  By Saturday afternoon we should be able to call Mediacom and have the cable disconnected, leaving the internet as is with their router.  Dennis is slowly getting accustomed to working with the television in the living room so he will be good to go after grandson AJ has the patio porch television connected via the WiFi booster.  Slowly but surely, we are advancing on changes on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 12:55 pm on April 13, 2022 Permalink  

  Hump Day 

  After a night filled with rains and winds, this is a quiet hump day.  A perfect day to be in the studio.

  Holy week is always a reminder to me that my dad passed away in holy week on Maunday Thursday.  The week also allows me to think about me and where I am in my relationship with my ole cowboy.  Way back when, I knew who he was and what his lifestyle had been.  Nothing serious hiding in the bushes.  Dennis was a hard working soul that had one habit then, that is still prevalent today . . . smoking.   When we spend our lives doing, being what we believe is acceptable, the long run seems like never, neverland.

  At 86 years young, regardless of health issues, Dennis is not going to quit smoking.  Dennis began smoking while he was in Korea and that is his addiction.  Alcohol abuse may run in his children’s lives, but Dennis never has had a taste for it.  I am thankful for that.

  I have learned that harping upon an action that I don’t understand, does only one thing . . . I upset myself.  The last thing I, or my heart needs is to be upset.  At times the best is . . . “live and let live.”  There are many more wonderful qualities in Dennis than not.  I am thankful for that.

  A little late in my life . . . but I have learned to accept rather than expect.  With that as my road to travel, I am at peace with family and friends.  I have not walked in their shoes, nor they in mine.  At the end of each day, I like my size eight and a half shoes.

  As I was in the studio today, thinking about a whole lot of things, I finished yet another square in my latest endeavor of the pattern called “A long Time Ago.”  It was the Trip Around the World pattern that was my mom’s favorite.  166 pieces came together for this 13.5 inch block.  I did shut off the sewing machine, the iron and the studio’s lights to have a bit of coffee with Dennis.  I have no idea what the next block will be.  As I finish one block, the page has not yet been turned as to what is coming next.  Kind of like what life has to offer.  Stay tuned.

   
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  Noreen 2:20 pm on April 12, 2022 Permalink  

  Thunder 

  A bit of thunder today with rain showers.  More rain may be in the works.

  Dennis had used the pull-behind rake on Sunday over the acre.  It had really perked up the yards.  After today’s shower of rain . . . it really looks as if our groundskeeper will be hired for the entire season.

  A package of beef meatballs had been kicked around in the freezer long enough.  I finished a package of medium egg noodles, quartered the meatballs, added a cup of frozen mixed vegetables and rounded it all with a quart of Classico flavored red sauce.  An oven meal ready to pop in later on today.

  I was busy in the studio when I got a phone call.  The sheetrock around the walk in shower was going to get the last coat of mud.  The worker that has been doing the mudding after Mr. Aden had patched in the sheetrock is a young fellow.  Mason was going to do two years of trade school for carpentry. Covid shut down the classes and Mason was given the two year certificate.  How Mason got hooked up with Aden I don’t know.  Mason is learning the trade from the best carpenter in town.  Mason is working at our home independently in our bathroom as well as another install that Watson’s had done.  

  Today when Mason was going to leave, I invited him down into the studio so he could meet me, his client, in her natural habitat.  He said he would be back tomorrow to do the wet sanding and Mr. Aden would be popping in before Mason primed the area of the mudding.  Checks and balances for the young apprentice.  What a great way for a young person to learn the trade.  I really applaud Mr. Aden in helping this young fellow to get a great start.  Mason is very comfortable to be around.  I am hoping we can remain in our forever home long enough to be able to say, “I remember when Mason was just getting his feet on the ground.”

  With supper planned, I am going to head back into the studio to stitch a bit more.  Dennis is busy in the garage making tidy his workbench top.  We both have our special places to then come together for the evening.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 5:27 pm on April 11, 2022 Permalink  

  Too Long of a Day 

  We left home by 9:30 and arrived back home at 5:30.  Too long of a day.

  It was a day of some food supplies.  It’s amazing how empty some of the pantry shelves had gotten in our basement.

  We had an appointment to pick up the shoes that the VA had ordered in a shop in the old Madison East Mall.  Wait, wait to be seen.

  On to Jody at the hospital to have Dennis’ foot checked.  Wait, wait.

  I was on a mission to purchase egg noodles for oven meals.  HyVee’s shelves were empty of pasta choices.  I was not the only one seeking.  One bag was purchased.  On the way home we stopped in Madelia for egg noodles.  There also was more empty space than not.  The manager said it has been tough.  I did score several varieties to try.  A whole new spin coming in the way of oven meals.

  I am now going to sign off and we are having egg sandwiches for supper.  What helped us out while having to wait in between appointments, we had a small Culver’s shake.  Perfect.  A quiet week ahead.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 12:16 pm on April 10, 2022 Permalink  

  One Additional Block 

  Today after I had observed Palm Sunday, I headed to the studio.  

  The sun is bright and again, I can hear the wind chimes belting out a tune.  The winds are ever here.  I can also hear Dennis out in the yard.  The battery on the rider mower has been charged and he is trying out the pull behind rake.  It might be a bit damp, but a fellow has to do what a fellow can try.

  I have one more additional block done to the “Long Time Ago” pattern completed.  It is called Jacob’s Ladder.  A 12.5″ block that has 126 pieces of fabric in it.  The colors are to be random.  I have a hard time adhering to that.  I chose orange as the base with a cream as a second.  Many additional colors to fill it out.  There will be some time before the next is completed.  Pulling colors out to do the Trip around the World block will be next.  That pattern was Lena’s favorite to make for twin size and full size beds. 

  There was also some tidy, tidy that I could not ignore.  Sheetrock dust has now been vacuumed up in the bathroom.  I would imagine there is going to be some wet sanding left to be done as well as several pieces of oak trim.  In time to come, it will all reach the finish line.

  I am going to make a trip to Dollar General to see if they might have a shower liner.  The liner that we are making due with needs to have the rod really low compared to where we had it with the bathtub.  It can’t hurt to go and look. 

  A Monday is right around the corner.  Enjoy this day!

   
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  Noreen 1:10 pm on April 9, 2022 Permalink  

  An SOS 

  Last night I decided to put out an SOS to grandson AJ.  Though he lives in Mankato, I knew he was coming to visit his folks here in St. James.  AJ works for REA and is an early riser.  AJ and his dad, Tom, were here by eight this morning and had already had a pancake breakfast at our Home Town Café.

  AJ took the smart television out of my sewing studio and it is now in Dennis’ patio porch.  With all connections made the Wi-Fi from the wireless router in our west porch did not have enough oomph to make connections.  AJ got on his phone and there will be a wireless booster coming to our address from Amazon.  AJ will be working on his camper that is in storage here in town and he will pay us another visit next weekend.  It was decided to go with the most powerful one available as AJ uses one for his home that has a detached garage.  Having one come in the mail and it not being powerful enough . . . not a good thing.

  AJ hooked Mediacom back up for the interim in the patio porch.   Sweet.  He also carried the heavy analog television out to the garage.  What a sweet deal all around.

  This afternoon I am in my studio, picking up where I left off several weeks ago.  I am so grateful I can leave items lay on the church tables for the next time I visit.

  Today I decided that Dennis and I are going to have a quiet Easter.  I texted Carrie’s husband and let him know that with surgical physicals the day after Easter in prep for Dennis’ procedure that Wednesday . . . we needed a bit of quiet time.  It’s a good thing.

  My goodness!  It is 49 degrees with a slight wind.

   
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  Noreen 5:31 pm on April 8, 2022 Permalink  

  Oh my Gosh! 

  Today I went to the quilt show in New Ulm.  I met the stitchers for seeing 400 fantastic quilts on display.  As I walked through the row upon row, one was more breath taking than the next.

  I remember Lena meeting once a month with the Riverdale Quilt Club.  One of the members would take turns setting up the quilt frame and by the end of the day, more times than not, a double sized quilt would have been hand stitched.  Mom got me involved and thus my love of threads and fuzz was born.  I have only hand quilted one double sized quilt on my own.  We lived in Madelia and Orlin put up a make-shift quilt frame.  The pattern was Jacob’s Ladder done in reds for Kevin’s bedroom.  It is still here in my home waiting for him whenever he needs it.  As I said, all of the 400 quilts today that I enjoyed looking all were done on a long arm quilter.  Talk about stitches making up very fancy designs.

  I had made an extra stop on the way home, causing me to hum in a very contented mood.

  When I got home, I again tackled the smart television set.  Hats off to the Grammie.  I have a trial period for YouTube TV.  It will have all of our news programs that we enjoy along with my PBS options.  Nothing can cause me more determination than figuring out something new in the techie world.  There are more options for viewing than I could ever have imagined.

  Tomorrow is a new day and I plan on staying put.  There is some sheetrock dust I could tackle, but I may look away from it.  After all it is clean dust.

   
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  Noreen 12:33 pm on April 7, 2022 Permalink  

  What a 24 Hour Day 

  Yesterday at noon, I was pulling my hair out setting up a smart television.  Five minutes after twelve noon, the Watson boys pulled in.  It was our day to have a walk-in shower put in.  We had ordered it in June of 2021.  They did comment that the tub and surround Kevin had put in years earlier, acted like it wanted to stay where he had put it . . . forever.  Don’t have time to do it right but always have time to do it over.  That is not Kevin’s creed . . . always done right the first time.

  Talk about sensory overload for my ole sweet cowboy.  We had been determined to turn cable off and getting a new television set was the way out.  The next step will be moving the television set from my studio to the patio porch.  In time, will be the perfect time.

  Dennis shook his head about the garage shingle job and now a new walk-in shower.  We have been living on our Laurels long enough.  That is not correct . . . we had been living on the blessings and handy work of Kevin for decades.  The work that we have just completed will take us through to our forever home for years to come.

  Now . . . here is the sweet spot.  A bit of sheetrock work needed to be done around the new surround.  When Watson’s completed the job this morning. a carpenter fellow followed them in with the right width of sheetrock and the mud.  Mr. Aden is going to Mankato this afternoon and he took the piece of oak trim with him that we will need less than a foot of to match the remainder of the bathroom’s trim.  I pounced!  I asked Mr. Aden to follow me to the front door.  I made sure not to trip him with my cane as we went the length of our home.  Gotta watch these older crafty people.

  Many years ag0, our west open porch was enclosed.  The slanted floor was shimmed to allow for a wonderful expanded living area.  We have not been able to use our front door for decades.  I used to be able to hop down the 12″ step to the concrete landing and scale it when I wanted to go into the house.  No more!  When Mr. Aden returns, he will be taking measurements to allow for a wonderful step down, stepping on a wooden landing that will be over the concrete landing and concrete steps.  This could be the end of the last challenge for Dennis and me.

  I did hit the carpenter cold turkey with our front door work.  He mentioned he could see it was needed and within two months time it could be worked in.  My goodness, we waited 10 months for the shower, I think the carpenter’s timeline is doable.  In the meantime, there will be a second c0at of mud for the shower surround tomorrow.  I checked and I do have some of the bathroom paint left.  Whew.

  I had anticipated what I would try and work out with a carpenter and had made arrangements for Dennis to have his friend Dwayne go to Mankato with him.  It’s important for Dennis to stay on track with these injections for good vision.  That little red pickup is counting on him.

  Today, I need to be brave for both Dennis and me.  I am more apt to find a way to meet our needs than what Dennis may even realize.  Thanks to my logical dad, Kevin’s logical dad, and to Kevin’s thinking.  Special!

  I am ready to greet Dennis when he comes home and hear all about his day.