Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:11 pm on February 21, 2026 Permalink  

  Saturday 

  Saturdays on KNUJ are predominantly sports.  I have not minded listening to the wrestling tournament stats of the various schools.  Dedication to maintain weight for the class the boys want to remain in.

  I am on a mini pillow kick.  I didn’t realize that at first.  Using up hand stitching fabric is perfect for small designs, thus small finishings.  Big, small it doesn’t matter to me.  I stay busy and I stay mobile.  What I did realize today was how long my iron takes to get to the green light to use.  And where am I going?

  Using the embroidery module and letting it stitch while I am at my prep table to the left of the sewing machine works slick.  I have never gotten comfortable to leave the embroidery module running with me not close by.  The 770 model of the Bernina sewing machine that I have has its own Facebook group.  The horror tails that I read by women leaving a machine run without being close by is unbelievable.  You’d think it was a sewing machine that they snagged in a gumball machine.

  Dennis’ grandson AJ spent a good session with Dennis in the patio porch this morning.  AJ has a steady girlfriend but has no plans for marriage.  His brother Adam is doing likewise.  Both boys have very good jobs that come with a lot of responsibility.  Happy for them in what they seek.

  Our oven meal of the cubed meatballs and hashbrown potatoes with cream of mushroom soup was very tasty.  I realize that round meatballs are not cubed.  Too funny.

  My last avocado was breakfast this morning.  That plus a few other items may mean a trip to the grocery store in the near future.  Avocados are tricky to purchase.  I will take the ones that are very firm knowing that by putting them in the refrigerator they will not all be ready at one time.  Then I will pick out one that is semi-firm allowing it to sit on the kitchen cupboard, ready to eat in two or three days and then take out one I know I will have for breakfast the next day.  Moving them from refrigerator to the cupboard is all in the feel.  Slicing avocadoes in half is easy.  Taking the sharp tip of the knife and casting out the pit is something else.  Years ago, a friend of ours in Buffalo Lake, Elsie Webb as in Frank and Elsie from the best hometown restaurant ever, would try to raise avocado plants.  She would have the pits suspended in water glasses with them being held up by toothpicks.  Sure enough there were some in various stages of shooting out a spear.  It took forever.  I don’t have one every day but it is a pure form of fats and fiber in the healthy diet.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:27 pm on February 20, 2026 Permalink  

  Pay Grade 

  Sometimes things happen within our home that tells me my pay grade needs to be changed.

  Dennis on a computer could be like an asteroid hitting the small abode on Stauffer Avenue.  I do not know which keys on his keyboard may have been hit simultaneously.  Last night I was commandeered from my bedroom porch where I had settled in on a Hulu movie.

  His Facebook was not working.  I do know that the email that his Facebook acknowledges is no longer.  I tried to enter information and the little beast of a laptop said all info would be transmitted to noreen.curry@mchsi.com.  Oh well.  We limped along last night as best we could doing a round-about my Facebook page to get to Dennis’.  I knew that the steps I had taken could and would not be remembered by Dennis.

  Today I tried again.  What I have come up with is not the be all to end all but will suffice until I get an 8 year old in here to help with the computer issues. 

  I did enjoy the studio this forenoon.  I finished a cross stitched design a while ago.  Today I cut some foam board to fit into a frame I had stored in the cistern closet.   A temporary lineup until I get the pins out to begin stretching the finished needlework.  One small step at a time.  The little pillow with the crusted walnut shells now has the final embellishment trim glue on it.  Mission completion.

  I had one small stitched pillow that I screwed up on.  When I ironed the woven stabilizer onto the back, I skimped.  I can’t use the crushed walnuts as the crushed walnuts will work its way through the larger weave of the stitched item.  I will use poly-fill.  Lesson learned: don’t cut corners for the project you have worked hard on..

  Dennis helped with supper prep as I worked on his computer.  One half package or Amour meatballs cubed.  One half package of the refrigerator hash brown potatoes.  One can of cream of mushroom soup.  All ingredients folded over and over in the blue speckled round roaster.  375 degree for 45 minutes.  Cucumbers on the side.  Well done.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:10 pm on February 19, 2026 Permalink  

  Aroma 

  Hello, the aroma in the kitchen is quite striking.  Bacon having been baked in a 350 degree oven, each slice side by side on tin foil covered cookie sheets.  It has to be thick sliced bacon.  It is a no mess process.  When finished baking the tin foil hits the garbage and the cookie sheets are clean.  Much different than fixing bacon in a stove top fry pan or even in the microwave oven.  No splatter bacon is what I call it.  I save mail flyers to put on the kitchen counter covered with paper towels to drain the bacon on after it comes out of the oven about 75% finished.  When we use it, it pops into the microwave for just several seconds and it is hot and delicious.

  Last time in the grocery store the Farmland bacon was on sale.  Now that I have the wrappers done away with, I can’t say for sure each package was a pound.  Anyway.  Farmland has always been a brand that I took from Lena’s choosing, whether hams or bacon.  I checked and it was one pound packages.

  The snow was estimated at three inches yesterday for a .3 inch amount of moisture according to KNUJ.  No shortages of fender benders in the area.

  I got one small pillow filled with crushed walnuts.  I leave an opening on one side just large enough for the mouth of a small plastic funnel to be wedged into it.  A foam coffee cup filled with the crushed walnuts is squeezed together to make a spout for pouring into the pillow.  I keep pouring until I can’t hang onto the pillow without the weight of the pillow pulling away from the funnel. I don’t measure out the crushed walnut shells.  Thus each pillow having a slightly different heft . . . but close.  I use Aleenie’s tacky glue to put a slight swish across the opening.  My quilting Wonder Clips bite just the very edge to hold everything where it needs to be.  The pillow is stood on edge for the drying time.  The last thing to finish the pillow is to put a contrasting colored chenille trim on with the same tacky glue.  That is for another day.  I can no longer use needle and thread to close the opening.  If there is a will there is a way.  One of my mantras. 

  We are having waffles and bacon for supper.  The hard work was completed this forenoon.  Love it!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:25 pm on February 18, 2026 Permalink  

  In a Blink 

  My cousin from Finland, Minnesota, had just texted me a photo this morning of the blowing snow they were having and had had since during the night.  I texted back that we had no snow to be found.  In a blink of my eye, the snow started here and it blew and it blew itself into a mini blizzard.

  KNUJ kept me up to date on all the closures as they took place.  I was warm and comfortable in the studio as the wind continued its howling.  I came upstairs at two and the snow had stopped and left our concrete drive wet but bare.  The several days of warmth that we had had didn’t allow the snow to stay on the concrete.  With that being said the yards are covered with clean white.  The radio went on to say that road conditions out in the open were not good.  What is out there is now in freezing temps.

  The binding of the Christmas placemats has been finished.  The sewing of snowflakes on them is going to be on hold for a bit.  I have several mini stitched out designs to make into pillows and then get them stuffed.  I don’t like UFOs.  Finish them up before starting something new.   

  I peeled the remaining cucumbers for supper also using up the remaining purple onion.  We are having a lasagna dish for supper that Carrie had brought for us on Sunday.  It just needs to be heated up.  An easy supper makes for a happy homemaker . . . me.   

  Today is Ash Wednesday with many churches in our area having cancelled services for this evening.  So the Lenten season begins. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:11 pm on February 17, 2026 Permalink  

  Howling Wind 

  The session in the studio went very well.  I don’t do a lot of sitting.  I bounce from the sewing machine to the ironing board to the cutting table.  When the furnace is running, the heat vent in the studio hits between the sewing machine and the ironing board from on top.  It doesn’t take long the hair on my head feels as if it has gone through a whirl wind. 

  Though I have several projects in the works right now, I really want to stay on top of getting the seven placemats bound.  I have two left.  Having gotten the knack of getting the binding joined cleanly with the 45 degree stitch, I’d like to see it through.  If the appliqueing of the snowflakes onto the placemats stalls, at least there would be seven placemats to use when and of the need would arise.  

  I do watch quite a bit of quilting via YouTube.  I am not in enamored by the print found on fabric right now.  The colors are loud and the designs on the fabric are huge.  That speaks to my age.  The fabrics in my stashes are easily paired as the colors are cohesive.  The matchie match is not trending right now.  That also speaks to clothing.  Putting stripes with plaids can be seen.  That is all fine with me.  I will keep my likes to myself as I am no longer in with the latest of the latest.

  Our crockpot meal of last night was a winner.  This evening’s fair is leftovers.  I chopped up the two leftover hamburger patties.  I used the gravy-like contents of the crockpot and mixed in the chopped meat.  Supper will be known as hamburger gravy over a batch of instant mashed potatoes with a side of the creamed cucumbers that were left.  Sweet indeed.

  We are prepared for a change in the weather.  Right now the howling wind can be heard from the southeast.  We had not put our shovel aside.  The leaf blower is still in the accessible if needed to blow ourselves out from the back door if incumbered with snow.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:04 pm on February 16, 2026 Permalink  

  One More 

  One more day of spring weather to enjoy.  I am thrilled for any of the people that have to work outside. 

  According to KNUJ weather forecasters, the mention of six to ten inches of something caught my attention.  Yup, winter will return.  The northern portion of Minnesota may be getting winter back.

  Dennis had found a recipe on Facebook for us to try.  He first asked if I had paper and pencil.  I did.  He read the recipe off of his laptop for me to copy while I was in my bedroom porch.  Sounded like a plan to me.  Crockpot recipe:  1 1/2 pounds of ground beef made into four patties, placed in a Pam sprayed crockpot.  In a bowl, combine 1 can of cream of mushroom soup, I envelope of dry Lipton’s soup with 1/2 cup of water.  Stir well.  Pour that over the hamburger patties.  Cover crockpot and cook on low for 5-6 hours.  That might depend on the crockpot.

  Well, I can tell you the aroma of this dish is quite good.  I am thinking the gravy like consistency with the juice of the hamburger would be quite good over instant mashed potatoes.

  I had a good session in the studio.  I have eight placemats with a foam interior cross hatched.  I managed to sew the 2.5 binding on two of them.  I needed a refresher course to join the said binding, looking as if it were continuous with no lumps or bumps.  I remembered Emerald Meadows had such a tutorial on YouTube.  I had used it quite often.  About that time, I ran out of bobbin thread and decided to check out.

  When we were in Hy-Vee last week, I had bought six small cucumbers.  I used three today for peeling and slicing.  Also a purple onion came home with me.  They are said to be far more superior than any other in the vein of health purposes.  A bit of mayo and a scant amount of sugar and we have a great side dish.

  All is well.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 4:41 pm on February 15, 2026 Permalink  

  Sunday the 15th 

  February is flipping through the days much like a race.   Dennis and I are not participating in that race.  Slow and steady is what we do best.

  Carrie and Jeremy came for the afternoon.  Good to catch up on things.  Good that I had a job-jar list for the first viable person that came a calling.  It’s not hard to imagine that all of the “Ice” in the metro has had an effect on retailing.  We got the latest low-down on Megan and Nicholas.  Megan is working full time at a medical clinic until she returns to college for her master’s degree.  Nicholas was working and is taking some time off to complete his senior year.  Nicholas will be attending college in Tennessee in the fall of 2026 with a good stipend for his four years in physics.  Good news all around.

  I needed help with my phone so I can access the goofy screen that comes up when I want to follow the tracking process of an order, or any other item to scan.

  Our next week is a casual one.  Nothing pressing, no appointments.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:12 pm on February 14, 2026 Permalink  

  Difficult Times 

  We are going to be in difficult times when winter pokes its head out again.   In the mean time, in between time, I am enjoying this spell of spring-time temps.

  Shh.  I did not tell Dennis I left a window cracked open over-night in the bathroom.  There was no wind to speak of that would have given me away with a curtain flying. 

  Our GE stackable laundry set-up got a good work out today.  As the loads were swapped out via Dennis, I was in the folding venue.  All is tidied up and put where it belongs.  A great feeling. I went down into the studio to bring up some paper products from the cistern closet.  I got way-laid.

  I couldn’t help but sit at the sewing machine.  Before long, I had a dust brush under the hood.  Cleaning the machine is the best way to be able to do what is wanted or needed without any problems.  Putting in a new needle is a smart thing to do . . . often.  My thread of choice and color are locked and loaded.  I am hoping Monday will be a stitching day.

  For the rest of this Saturday, I am perched in the cherry red chair with either stitching or reading on either side.  Dennis has decided that Maria’s pot-pies are going to be for supper.  Sounds good to me.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:27 pm on February 13, 2026 Permalink  

  Two Nickels 

  We are two nickels warm today . . . 55 degrees.  No wind, just a great Friday.

  I had a “wings to make you fly” kind of day running on strictly coffee.  By the way, they did just put out on the news that caffeinated coffee staves off dementia.

  Within our home, I have the gift of seeing fuzz, dirt and spills on the floor.  Dennis not so much.  That is alright with me.  He gives the moral support and the extra heft that I cannot.  Thus, more was bit off than was reasonable for today.  Both beds were stripped to be replaced with fresh laundered sheets and pillow cases. 

  We work in tandem with the vacuuming and the moving of beds.  It didn’t take long there was a window cracked on each end of the house to let some fresh air in.  Breaks were needed.  Why not.  We had all day. Dennis’ legs are apt to give out and my arms and hands do likewise.  Pushing until life is no fun is not our way of getting things done.  Slow but sure.

  Often Dennis and I reminisce, how far we have come from having two lawn chairs for living room furniture and a camper refrigerator.  The hot-plate tended to blow fuses.  And . . . there we were yesterday picking out new chairs for our refractory vintage table.  It didn’t even dawn on us that the table being oak would soon have chairs that also had some oak.  OMG!  George Jefferson, we have done moved on up! 

  The day has been a good one.  One of Dennis’ daughters had mentioned that maybe I needed help with the house, meaning the cleaning.  I worked my entire life to have this home and I enjoy the tidy, tidy.  Dennis is right.  I would be cleaning before the cleaning lady was coming.

  I had called the Mayo Store in Mankato Wednesday to order the items for Dennis’ CPAP prescription.  The box was delivered today.  Before bed, Dennis will be swapping out the 10′ hose, the face gasket, the filters and the elastic head gear.  Good service and grateful service.  We were in Mankato yesterday, but that shop has been known to have quite the line of individuals waiting their turn.  I am thrilled not to need the CPAP.   Yes, we are spoiled. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:30 pm on February 12, 2026 Permalink  

  Today!! 

  Today was the day I got to go to the big town.  Nicest weather yet.

  We did find Slumberland on Madison.  When I walked through the doors, I thought oh Lordy.  A downstairs, an upstairs and the main floor seemed to go on forever.

  As if planned, the first left we took inside the store . . . the chairs I had seen on their website were right there.  The Jefferson line . . . right there for a sit-upon.  Dennis had measured how high our table top was and how high the side plank from the floor for knees to get under the table.  We both sat in those chairs to get a good feel for them and waited out the sales clerk.  The chairs were a part of a table and chair combo.  Not to worry.  We were in no hurry.  Our two chairs are ordered and then will be delivered to our front door.  

  I had not sat in that comfortable of a chair next to a table . . . I don’t think ever.  Sweet.

  Our only other stop was Hy-Vee.  We needed a little of this and a little of that.  The store front was full of flowers expecting to go home with someone for Valentine’s day.  Fooled you!  I took home some Valentine cookies to share and spoil us silly.

  A great day for a successful purpose.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥