Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:14 pm on December 12, 2021 Permalink  

  Thawing 

  With temps in the mid thirties, the thawing is commencing.

  I stayed busy in the studio today.  The radio has Christmas music on nonstop for the afternoon. 

  Dennis came down for a visit, but soon decided he needed to move some snow off of the patios.  The three patio porch kitties watched in anticipation.  I am sure when some bare concrete shows, they will be venturing out.  Being cooped up for several days makes for a whole lot of meowing.

  A rerun of a pasta meal is on tap for supper.  

  I must say that with the sun streaming in, I might take a swipe at some nasty streaks on two west windows.  I ran across some cloths in the bottom of the towel drawer that are so similar to chamoe cloths.  Time will tell.

   
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  Noreen 3:07 pm on December 11, 2021 Permalink  

  The Sunniest 

  Right off the bat, it was going to be the sunniest day imaginable after a huge dump of snow.  I have not heard what the totals were, but according to the drive after Randy blew it off this morning, it would have been a heart attack waiting if shovels had been used.

  Dennis took his time cleaning up close to the garages.  Mandatory snowmobile boots, face mask and heavy mittens before he started.  Today Dennis used the Ahrens blower from Kevin’s Shop.  It has more bells and whistles than the Simplicity that Dennis has been using for many years.  It did get a good workout so Dennis can decide which one to keep.

  I don’t get much done in the house when Dennis is out blowing snow.  I remember too well what happened when we observed a neighbor of ours, Mr. Naszereth, get caught in a push behind snowblower.  It seemed as if it took forever for his family to rescue him.  What I have to do inside our home can wait until I know the snowblower is back in the garage and Dennis is safe in his rocking chair in the patio porch.

  I do have an oven meal ready to pop into the oven for supper.  I am using the ground bear meat with some beef ground meat with egg noodles and Classico sauce, a bit of garlic liquid bullion and a stir for good luck.

  I did get down into the studio by two this afternoon.  I am working on some white dish towels for a picnic next August with my mom’s side of the family.  Why put it off.  Each year one of us cousins takes a turn of a remembrance of a year gone by.  

  Last night I sat back and enjoyed the day that I had had decorating our Christmas tree.  My arms were weary but what a great investment of energy.  I will be taking it easy on the arms for several days.  Stirring ingredients is more of the folding of ingredients than stirring.  Those wonderful reverse shoulders are not taken for granted.  The left shoulder got a double whammy with the stroke.

  In the studio, it is easier to do embroidery on the machine than straight sewing.  The hoop is loaded with stabilizer, the fabric and then loaded onto the bracket for embroidery stitching.  With this project I am working on, I have 35 minutes to rest in between towels.  It could be less time, but I don’t run the machine at a very fast speed.  It is easier to take some extra time than wonder where flying parts land when something may go or if go amiss.

  Dennis had a great nap in his patio porch.  Very much needed after the workout of the snow.

   
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  Noreen 3:57 pm on December 10, 2021 Permalink  

  Forecasts 

  Weathermen must be so proud when they are right on with their forecasts.

  When I got up at 7:15 no snow was falling.  I looked out the bathroom window and realized the temps yesterday had totally cleaned off the patio of snow and ice.  It was my time to strike.  For days it had bothered me that the clapper of the wind chimes on the corner of the patio porch had gotten hung up on the bracket of the clothesline.  It wasn’t a surprise as the winds had been horrible.

  I slipped on some shoes and donning my nightie, I was out the door with my cane and across the patio I went to release the clapper.  I was so satisfied I didn’t hurry to get back into the house.  I knew there was no chance of being locked out, so I took deep breaths of the moist, crisp air.  I had barely gotten back into the house, slipped off my shoes when I looked through the bathroom window.  The wet rain mixed with snow was falling.  This had been meant to be.  It’s the little things in life that can bring so much satisfaction.  Had I mentioned this task out loud, it would not have been understood enough to have gotten done in a timely manner.  Now the windchimes can clang away!

  While I had the bedding going in the laundry, I opened the container that had the Christmas ornaments in it.  The tall skinny tree is what fits our living room. The short stubby branches leave somewhat of a challenge.  Never fear, I will persevere.  While I had a break from finding the right treasure for each spot on the tree,  I put the Department 56 Nativity on the shelf in the west porch.  The 18 piece set warms my heart when I put it up.  Had not this been a purchase when a drug store in New Ulm closed its doors years ago and wanted inventory . . . out the door, I would never have been able to purchase something this wonderful.  I totally enjoy the story that these pieces tell of.

  Randy has just left our drive with his long green line.  Though the snow is still coming down, Randy does like to take the snow out mid-way through what is told will be the total of perhaps 10 inches.  Randy’s drive is gravel and Jan has said he thinks doing our drive of concrete is a treat.

  I have a bit more time to put a few more items on the tree.  My hope is to get it done while it is still a Friday.  After all, my studio is calling.

   
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  Noreen 5:10 pm on December 9, 2021 Permalink  

  Huge Day 

  It was a huge, huge day for this white-haired Grammie.

  I had some additional stops to make in Mankato, prior to the luncheon at Baker’s Square.  The temps were mild with no chance of picking up icy snow under my cane.  On Tuesday there had been new snow and the cane worked great getting into the clinic.  Once inside I put down one poke of the cane as a test and it could have slid fore a long time, with me flat on the floor.  It was good to find that out early in the winter season.  All three of the rubber feet need to thaw out before using it on non-carpet flooring.

  I will fix my favorite cowboy supper and then I am calling it a day.  My hands are tender today from writing out Christmas cards yesterday as well as working with Gorilla tapes yesterday.  It was one of the first questions I had had for Dennis, “Is the seal on the doorway holding?”  Relief was the answer.  No drafts from that doorway.

  Tomorrow is a day that may have snow in it.  I will be staying indoors and looking out . . . thank you very much!

   
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  Noreen 3:50 pm on December 8, 2021 Permalink  

  Tuckered 

  Several days ago we began working on sealing up the service door to the patio porch.  We knew we had to add to the length.  In the meantime, in between time what had been affixed to the top slid down.

  We took the afore mentioned foam and laid it on the table to add the needed length.  It is a good thing Dennis had been to the Fleet store for another roll of Gorilla electrical tape.  Dennis also bought a roll of the 3″ Gorilla Duct tape.  Hmm. The Gorilla Duct tape does not stick to the foam.

  Fear not!  We were not giving up.  The duct tape stuck to the door frame and the electrical tape stuck to the duct tape and that in turn stuck to the foam. My oh my!  We finished up by covering the foam with a sheet of  clear wrap.  We will need to have a savings of $20.00 in heating gas to cover the cost of the tapes.  

  No senior citizen was harmed in this DIY!  As I am the crafter in the household, I manned the tape for this project.  It works better if the sticky side of the tape is worked with lineal feet facing the target.  My arms were tuckered.

  With the doorway having been finished by noon, I wanted to return to the studio to the project I had started prior to “Grammie, I need a favor,”  I had foldout Christmas cards purchased from the Christian Book site for the great grands and some other wee ones of family and friends.  All was laid out in an assembly line: cards and envelopes, address book, stamps and pen.  My goal was this afternoon’s mail.  Dennis came down and let me know he was going out for coffee.  I needed just a few more minutes and he became responsible to check all envelopes for a forever postage stamp.  Whew!  Got that project done and away Dennis went with envelopes in a bag destined for the post office.  After the year I have experienced, this is the first year of each child getting their own card in the mail rather than something from the sewing machine.  Who doesn’t like to get something for themselves in the mail in a family of more than one child!

  My arms are now officially tuckered.

  Tomorrow the stitchers are meeting in Mankato at Baker’s Square.  Oh my gosh!  Not a medical appointment!  This is totally a social event.  I am excited and the temps will be cooperating.

  It began at zero this morning and it is now 25 degrees.  Let me tell you, it felt like 90 degrees in the patio porch this morning working with foam, tape and plastic sheeting.  Even Dennis shed his jacket.  Snuggles watched it all from his vantage point . . . his basket.  Gotta love it.

   
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  Noreen 3:28 pm on December 7, 2021 Permalink  

  Not a Fan 

  So not a fan of the snow that we got overnight and into the forenoon.  I was partial to the greens and the browns.  It didn’t take long for the streets and sidewalks to get slick once the plows packed it and then shaved it down.

  I believe I can feel the end of the PT tunnel.  It has been a longer journey than I had first thought.  Keeping active has always been easy for me.  Since the events of February there had been more sedentary time than I had realized and when I was ready to shift gears the body had made it known, it was not happy.  We are having more happy days than not.  I intend to do everything I can to keep it that way.  After all, my favorite snow pusher is right out the back door.  Not to worry, I will not be offering my time at any of the neighbors.  Dennis has first dibs with the driveway and I am cleanup by the doors.

  A checkup at the eye clinic in town today was to determine if the stroke had caused my peripheral vision to be impacted in my left eye.  Amazing how medical science has evolved.  At this time, all seems well. 

  By the time the appointments had been met for the day, the studio lights will have to wait until tomorrow to be turned on.  I did take the opportunity to catch up on phone calls to aunts.  Lorraine in Arizona is doing well in her 90th year.  Janet in her 88th year in Brownton is now off the clock from helping her farmer bachelor nephew with kitchen duties.  It takes so little time to let them know they are thought of. 

  The evening is coming soon with gray skies.  Very little wind in allowing the snow to lie where it fell.  That was all Dennis needed to try out the snowblower that he recently had tuned up after bringing it home from Kevin’s shop where it was not needed.  Though a new carburetor was put on, it needs to be used to get it running smoothly.  Hmm . . . just like me.  I need to be active to let my body know how to stay tuned up.

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on December 6, 2021 Permalink  

  A Brisk Day 

  Waking to a brisk 9 above zero does not compare to the howling winds all night.  The awning that runs north to south on the front of our home sounded as if it wanted to set sail at any hour of the night. 

  I slept until seven this morning and Dennis was already in the patio porch having his breakfast and coffee.  When I looked out the bathroom window to the east . . . there was Snuggles laying on Dennis’ chest as the rocking chair went back and forth. The swirls from the garage chimney were doing their own bit of frolicking as the winds from the north blew them about.

  I had no intention of going anywhere today.  I knew by the time I had my coffee and breakfast the studio would be my next stop.  I completed two projects for family and now I am all about digging around in my own stashes.

  This afternoon Dennis came down into the studio with a roll of foam that we needed to make wider with some of my stash so as to fit snugly into the interior doorway of the black service door going into the patio porch from the patio.  The doorway will then have plastic taped over it.  It is, or I should say was, the only drafty spot in the patio porch.  Who knew that Gorilla duck tape would be the only tape that we had on hand to stick to tape the two together.  I only found that out by checking the computer.  The U-Haul wide tape did squat. 

  I would be lost were it not for asking my trusty Dell computer in the studio advice.  The HP in the living room would give the same good service if not for me having to run the steps.

  It is going to be a chicken casserole for supper, helping to add a bit of extra warmth to the kitchen.

  Tomorrow I have PT and an eye appointment in the forenoon.  Get them done and retreat to home, though the talk is of warmer temps.  As it is, I will need to dig out a winter coat and gloves.  Thus far, I had been spoiled with a quilted vest.

   
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  Noreen 11:54 am on December 5, 2021 Permalink  

  Peaceful Day 

  A day without the windchimes clanging is rare.  The little flag on the corner of the drive is indicating a southeast breeze with temps at 37 degrees.

  It is almost noon and I am not sprouting a whole lot of energy.  This week we had three trips to Mankato for medical and dentist, got twelve tip in windows cleaned, and lightened the load on the first floor by visiting the attic.  The living room ceiling isn’t showing signs of stress by bowing due to that visit, so we are good to go.

  One of my older carpet rag rugs is showing signs of some warp strings having broken.  Down to the studio to do a bit of zig zagging to give some saving grace.  When Orlin had bought a four harness Flying Shuttle loom from a gal in Willmar, Mn., we were in it to make rugs!  $.10 a foot.  We set it up in the basement of our then farm home. 

  Somehow a woman from the metro found out that we were looming.  She and her sister drove out to visit.  We agreed to the job that she laid out.  She would bring out the wool carpet rag balls that had been cut from coats to the width that we had instructed.  Talk about carpet rag balls of many colors.  Our loom wove up to 42″ wide.  We ordered the warp in the burgundy color she wanted from Lima, Ohio.  As we wove with the wool we would release the brake often and unroll the woven length to allow the wool to relax.  The length was important as she had someone that would weave multiple lengths of our looming into a room sized rug.  Yes, we charged more than $.10 a foot. 

  Hmm.  Talk about memories that can be brought to the forefront while mending my little yard-long rug that rests in front of our kitchen range.

  Yesterday when I was going to post a photo, I then realized that a Windows 10 update had been done.  About the time that this Grammie has something nailed down . . . it is subject to change.  These small wreaths bring a smile to me when I glance out of my bathroom window.  Just as many wreaths that face our way, Jan has facing her home.  Sweet.

  I think Dennis was in for a long winter’s nap this forenoon.  His white hair is barely visible as he is snuggled into his heavy polar fleece blanket.  As busy as I was this last week . . . guess who was right beside me!  Whatever short comings we each have, the other is there to lend what is their strength.  It works very well for us.

  These next days the ornaments come out of storage to adorn the tree.

  A new week and it sounds like a weather change.  My nephew, Eric, from the Duluth area sent a photo of . . . white.  Hmm, I kind of like the green and brown.

   
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  Noreen 2:31 pm on December 4, 2021 Permalink  

  A Satisfying Day 

  It might be a dreary day, but who cares!  The world looks brighter when looking through clean windows.  Today was the last of the 64″ windows.  I didn’t do it for anyone but me.  Dennis got the windows up far enough to lock for nobody but . . .  me.  

  While the vacuum was out, I did get a swipe at corners.  Most importantly was the dryer vent.  The vacuum is going to stay in the west porch for a time.  It is so much easier than getting it off the attic steps to use.  Out of sight out of mind.  I see it every day and there is no denying where and when to use it.

  The last of the Christmas wall hangings was put into the stairwell going into the studio.  I do have more wall hangings than I have space to put up.  Dennis gets a vote.  He has discriminating taste when it comes to my stitching projects.  If Dennis had his way, our five foot Santa would be on the first floor of our home.  Not only do we have limited wall space, we have limited floor space.  What ever shall we do!  We decorate for our own enjoyment.

  I have one last item to do before the day gets much older.  A trip to the attic to put away some extra items that seem to be under foot.  I love our small home and need to make decisions on my level of comfort when it feels like “too much.”  Living minimal is our goal, but is easier said than done.  It is my situation of having an emotional attachment to work with and consider.  

  Let’s just call a spade, a spade.  The first floor of our home is a far cry easier than my studio.  The solution was put into place the first part of 2021.  No purchases!  I have stuck to that and have been quite content working from what I have.  Grant it, when Kersten shared with me a fair amount of sewing supplies . . . that did not count.  Tee Hee.

  Dennis found quite a few green wreaths with red bows on them in the far back garage.  Hmm.  That stash had been forgotten.  Dennis had the best time placing them on the posts of the picket fence.  He even made sure that several faced neighbor Jan’s yard.  What a fellow. The wreaths and the red bow on the front door does make it feel very festive.   I have since had a situation of loading photos and will try tomorrow to load Dennis’ picket fence.

  It has been a long enough day.  Catch ya all tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 3:04 pm on December 3, 2021 Permalink  

  New Day – New Energy 

  It is awesome what a good night’s rest can deliver.

  We have 64″ tall windows in the living room and Dennis’ bedroom.  They are double sashed. What makes it more challenging is that they also have mini blinds covering them.

  By nine this morning I knew I was at a point of no return.  I had taken the duvet coving off of my feather comforter to launder.  I had put hot sudsy water in the bathtub to clean the blinds.  Suds in the laundry and suds in the bathtub.  I was in it to the finish.

  The windows tip in and with the vacuum to vacuum the screens and window wells, we were putzing right along.  It didn’t take me long to realize that today was cooler then Wednesday when I had done the west porch windows.  It is one thing to have everything glistening clean and another to get the windows pushed down and pushed up to lock.  Nope, I couldn’t get the arm power to do the job.

  Dennis came in and he also had a tough time to get the top sash pushed up to lock.  Out he went and when he came in he had his can of Blaster Silicone.  Just a bit of it sprayed along the tracks, he gave the sashes a push and held them there while I locked those two windows.  Whew.  By that time I had both blinds cleaned and ready to hand them off to him to put back up.  My oh my, what a great feeling.  Dennis is going to be on hand when we tackle his two bedroom windows tomorrow.  In the meantime, Dennis is back out in the patio porch.

  While I had a tray of frozen scones in the oven, I tackled stuffing the feather comforter into the duvet.  I have all four corners literally pinned down.  When Dennis returns we need to take the four corners in our hands and loft it several times until it is the full size that is meant to be and then put on my bed.

  Yes, indeed.  I can’t say for Dennis, but I indeed had new energy.  One more day with two more 64″ windows and I can get into back into the studio.  Yippee.