Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 5:02 pm on February 9, 2021 Permalink  

  Crisp Day 

  When I had gone for a quick walk down our drive and back it caught my breath.  Three laps and I was ready to hit the warmth of our home.  It is important for me to get fresh air, stretch my legs and pump my arms to get the blood going from top to bottom.  It will make taking longer walks much easier when the weather permits and I haven’t totally hibernated.

  In the winter of 1969-1970, we had weather much like this.  Brutal cold and we had had a lot of snow.  I remember it so clearly as Carrie was four and Kevin was not quite two.  We were in the process of dwindling down the count of dairy cows.  Our barns had young stock, chickens and lots if hogs.  

  Orlin came down with a really bad case of Shingles that winter.  They went from totally covering his back around to the one side of his front.  It was said that if they went completely around the body and met, it could be very serious.  I do not know if that is fact or fiction but at the time Orlin was in a lot of radiating pain.  Dr. Bretzke at the Hutch clinic prescribed an ointment that was much like clear nail polish to paint onto the sores and scabs.  Hopefully sealing off the Shingles would help the pain.  His best bet was resting in the quiet.

  I took on the chores.  My dad came over to help me with the milking, as my mom started the milking at their place.  Barn cleaning, throwing down silage and the rest of the feeding for chickens and hogs was not something foreign to me.  Our manure carrier had a knack of tripping itself and . . . sometimes not outside as it and me were heading to the manure stack in the cow yard. I was a farm gal and had been doing the chores routine right along with Orlin.  

  The two wee ones were on their best behavior as they had a fair amount of time on their own as Orlin rested in the upstairs bedroom.  The basement was off limits to them.  The stairwell to the second floor was off limits.  Kevin was guest to many of Carrie’s coffee parties as long as the Cheerios kept coming.  Snoopy, the dog, had a spot in the back entry and I know he was given special access while I would be outside.  What could it hurt and how could he resist with the temptation of a cookie that was dangled from the kitchen by the kids. I did come in often to check on them.  There was a spell of several hours over the noon hour that Orlin came down for soup and read a few stories as I got laundry and some house chores done.  No one went hungry.  Four in the afternoon was time to get suited up for the evening chores to begin so I would be ready for milking time.  Sometimes neighbor Ted Skolberg would come and help with milking so dad didn’t have to do double duty all the time.  My mom had really helped out by letting dad come over. 

  It all turned out quite well . . . everyone worked together.  Toward the end of the Shingles Orlin was on the first floor with the kids most of the day.  No one bled out that a band-aid couldn’t cure.  No one had any severe bangs and bruises.  It took two weeks and Orlin was back to feeling well enough to help me with the milking and just in time as the sows began farrowing.  

  I had Shingles several years ago and I am telling you, that the rest that was needed for Orlin to get back to feeling somewhat normal could have and should have been longer but for the call of livestock chores.

  It is amazing what can be tripped in memories by just having the cold air almost suck the breath right out of you.  I don’t know who I would be if I didn’t have sweet memories to remind me of what a great life I have had and still do have.

  We do go through events that I believe are meant to be.  It may seem a struggle at the time, but we need to face struggles for what may be coming.  One of my smart family members may have said this but it is ingrained in my brain . . . “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

   
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  Noreen 5:08 pm on February 8, 2021 Permalink  

  A Cold, Sunny & Great Day 

  As I did a few laps on the concrete drive, it did totally refresh me.  Stretching the legs and swinging the arms . . . it can’t do anything but help keeping mobile. 

  Today was the day to finish up a project that has been in the planning and making for several months.  There was no point rushing as I was not going anywhere.  Dennis and I have stayed close to home for a year.  Time does pass regardless if we are out and about or not.

  My Victorian Santa quilt is finished and Dennis helped me hang it in the sewing studio.  As long as those Santa images and I have been working together, I am going to enjoy them for a bit longer than what the season indicates.  It was a labor of intense thoughts and planning.  I didn’t want any aspect of the project to be settling for less than what I had set out to do.  I did spend three full days picking out stitches.  My first thought on quilting this went south.  Try, try, try again. 

  Spending time in quilting the red areas with red thread and the green areas with green thread while the entire back of the quilt was done with green thread to match the backing turned out great.  I didn’t want it to look over quilted.  I didn’t want to take away from the 25 images that I had printed out onto fabric.  I had my doubts if I could pull it off.  Time on each step was well worth it.  Nothing says contentment like putting the last of the stitches on the binding.  As I was doing the binding I also included a hanger as the top binding was stitched on.  

  I learned quite a bit with this project and had a lot of time to think on various items that were in no way related to sewing or quilting.  It was a twofer.  It was definitely a good experience.

  The last item on the agenda was cleaning the sewing machine and putting in a new needle.  I have an idea as to what will be on the church tables for the next go-round.  

  Using up what is on hand is my goal and thus far it has been working out.  Brett just delivered an arm full of batting that he has cut off of his log arm after his stitching projects. The timing of getting my batting adhesive from Amazon will have me putting together a good sized backing for the next “whatever.”

  The sun has power and with the south blinds opened each morning, they can really take a lot of chill off the house.

  Smile . . . Jesus loves us!

   
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  Noreen 5:36 pm on February 7, 2021 Permalink  

  Intense in Progress 

  I have been quilting for much of the day.  Taking breaks and doing a few laps up and down the drive.  90′ multiple times is doable.

  Dennis has been comfortable in the patio porch.  I realize his furnace may not shut down often out there.  You know what?  It’s still cheaper than spending our winter in the southern states and then sit and look at each other.  Dennis is content and happy . . . I am content and happy.  

  Dennis decided he would do supper this evening.  We enjoyed a small pizza from Casey’s . . . half taco and half meat lovers.  Sweet.

  Know that while I am cozy and comfy in my sewing studio, I do acknowledge and have empathy for the Monday morning worker bees.  Be safe and this too shall pass.

   
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  Noreen 5:13 pm on February 6, 2021 Permalink  

  Getting Closer 

  It may be a real chiller outside, but there is progress at Stauffer Avenue’s sewing studio.  As these days have progressed on a current project I have focused on the good aspects of my work and the good has gotten better.

  I really felt an attraction to the Victorian Santas and from there this project evolved.  Printing out the photos on fabric went very well.  Piecing the quilt top went very well.  As with any endeavor it is the final chapters that either makes or breaks a project so it is desirable to the eye.  In anticipation of the quilting it didn’t seem a good thing to quilt over the images of the Santas.  It would have taken away from them being the focal aspect of the quilt, but they also needed to be sewn for them to lay flat.  Whether I chose red thread, green thread or a beige thread . . . nothing spoke to me.

  I dug around in the thread stashes and found the Sulky invisible thread, much like a lightweight fishing line.  When I tried it on scraps, the bottom bobbin thread always poked through to the top with little dots of either red or green.  It took me quite some time to work with the sewing machine’s tension, top and bottom, to see what would happen if I used the invisible on the top and bottom.  Winding the Sulky invisible thread to a bobbin was quite the task for a smooth wrap.  Getting that thread in the top portion of the threading via the tension discs wasn’t bad.  Threading the needle dang near made me blind.  I thought I had the thread in my fingers heading for the eye of the needle . . . and nope nothing there.  Three times was the charm.  Quite the task for the ole gal.  

  So it has been decided.  I will use red thread for the half of the quilt blocks that have been pieced with red fabric to be quilted and then restring and do the remaining with green thread for the green blocks done with green fabric.  The third time will be quilting the Santa images with the invisible thread.  As I said the good just got a bit gooder, a new word for my spell check to concentrate on.

  It is cold and I was thankful that Dennis had the drive cleared down to bare concrete.  I did several laps up and down the drive to get some fresh air.   I think I did it more to clear my head.  I do talk to myself as I contemplate my next moves and the north wind took my words up and away.  

  Enjoy the weekend, regardless of the temps.  There is still good to come from having been given a day.  For myself, I need as many days as I can get for what I have planned.

   
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  Noreen 5:01 pm on February 5, 2021 Permalink  

  A Thinking Day 

  Sometimes there isn’t much local effort to show for a day.  

  Now that I can start anew deciding how to finish the Santa quilt, there is much to think on for keeping the integrity of the piecing design so the quilting stitches do not take away from the design.  I played around with scraps and different colors of threads.  I know the time invested will be well worth it.  

  Today was also a day that I went with Dennis to the eye clinic so I knew what would be going on with his cataract surgery plus the injections that are scheduled for the macular injections.  Two set of ears are a good thing.  I actually found out that Dennis needs the cataract surgery on both eyes.  That bit of news had not come home with Dennis when the initial visit with the specialist had been had.  Yup, two sets of ears.  In the next weeks, the injection will be taking place as well as the cataract surgeries taking place two weeks apart.  These appointments will take us through the middle of March.  This explains a lot in regard to what I have noticed with the ole cowboy’s vision.

  It was cold today, but it is also a preview of what may be coming for the entire next week.  We can take it.  Thus far there is not new snow in that same forecast.  If we have sun during that week as we have had today, the cold is definitely tolerable.

  Be sure to have a full tank of gas in the vehicles.  Cars have been known to have mechanical problems in such cold temps.  If the motor is not impaired you can stay warm until AAA arrives.  It’s a good thing.  These older ones do not have any plans to be out and about.

  Perhaps tomorrow will be a sewing day and will benefit from the thinking day.

   
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  Noreen 4:41 pm on February 4, 2021 Permalink  

  Good Run 

  It’s been a good run on Stauffer Avenue today, although a bit windy.  When I went to bed last night, the streets were wet and vehicles were using windshield wipers.  This morning I didn’t know what I would find looking out the windows.

  I believe we only had two inches of snow but with the wind, it may have been rearranged several times.  When Dennis came in from his first run to the patio porch he commented that there was ice under the white fluffy stuff.

  I didn’t comment when Dennis tugged on the snowmobile boots.  At his age and stage in life, he does still have command of what he wants to do.  It didn’t take long, I could hear the walk behind snowblower.  My job is to keep an eye oh him in the event he is no longer upright.

  We are approaching the end of the day.  We have had a good run today.   The concrete drive is already showing bare spots as the sun is working its wile.  I have finished the picking of stitches on the Santa quilt . . . lights are now off in the sewing studio for the day.  I also finished reading a book I have been picking up here and there over the last weeks.  Yup, a good run.  

  Dennis is now catching a nap in the rocking chair of the patio porch with a kitty also napping on his lap.  I am catching my breath as I have conquered what could have been a less than appealing quilt project.  A mistake in quilting makes me humble and that’s better than an achievement that could make me arrogant. Just keeping it in perspective.

  Tomorrow Dennis has an appointment here at our eye clinic.  The specialist will be here to measure his eye for a new lens that will be put on his eye after the upcoming cataract surgery.  Dennis can’t remember which eye that is . . . but he knows he is going through with it.  Priceless.

  I hope everyone stays safe in the cold temps that are coming our way.  Take care of those fingers and the nose.  Both will be needed for some time to come.

   
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  Noreen 4:41 pm on February 3, 2021 Permalink  

  Sounds of the Our Town 

  We live on one of the thoroughfares of our town and our home is about 24′ from that thoroughfare.  There is noise 24/7.  As it were, we do become accustomed to whatever passes by.  The trains pass by a block to the north around the clock.  The trains need to blow their whistle each time they cross over an intersection.  I rarely hear them.  

  What I do clearly hear is the lone snowmobile that has taken to whipping around our neighborhood.  There is an ordinance prohibiting them in town.  I believe this is a young fellow that lives east of us and thrives on taking his chances of making a whip every once in awhile after dark. 

  The noise of that snowmobile doesn’t bother me much as it brings back the times and memories of when my dad bought a snowmobile on the farm.  Dad was moving right on up.  For him it was an easy way in the winter to get from their farm retirement home to a bit up the gravel road where my brother was on the home farm place.  Dad was always on hand to give a hand when Michael needed it.  

  Needless to say this brought on an entire new dimension when the grandsons came to visit grandpa and grandma during the winter months.  It gave dad a kick to share his toy.  There was no end to the fields that the boys could travel.  I am sure there were some outrageous experiments and adventures that were not shared when it was time to call it a day and the snowmobile was parked.  Boys will be boys.

  I do know that my sister’s family also had a snowmobile, but it wasn’t the same when we visited and my sister’s two boys and Kevin took theirs out.  Uncle Orville’s take on letting the boys enjoy the experience and fun was different than grandpa’s.  As it turned out . . . no one ever came back bleeding or with broken bones.  

  I have never been on a snowmobile and I am just fine with that.  I was more into making snow angels in the snow . . . either by design or just as often . . . accidently.  For those that have a sled, I know it must be a good adventure gliding over the fields of white snow where no one else has traveled.  When I was younger I was a chicken and now I love my titanium knees too much.

  Today I checked often from the sewing studio to try and catch a glimpse of the sun . . . not much to glimpse.  The wind and the milder temps did allow a few ice cycles to fall.  Dennis went to the corner store after lunch. The way people were stocking up and gassing up, you’d have thought the blizzard of the century was about to happen.  That may well be what is coming, I will wait to be surprised.  The amount of snow that we may get will definitely alter the sounds of our town. 

  The picking of the stiches today went smoothly.  My comeback on this project is stronger than the setback.  Several more days and I will have the project ready for the next attempt.  I do think of that “next” often as I sit and pick.

   
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  Noreen 4:05 pm on February 2, 2021 Permalink  

  A New Cook 

  Stauffer Avenue has a new cook in the kitchen.  Dennis decided it was time for a hotdish.  Maybe he was sick of me making totally healthy food . . . or didn’t care for the oatmeal the other night and was making sure there would not be a repeat.  Whatever.

  While all the prep was going on in the kitchen, I stayed in the sewing studio and even entertained Dennis’ son-in-law, Tom.  Tom came over to chat and he likes to sit in the rocking chair in the sewing studio.  Tom is a high risk for the covid as he is recovering from surgery.  I felt honored that he knew he would be safe with us.

  Groundhog’s day is telling us we are on the tail end of winter.  It doesn’t really matter much to me.  Taking each day as it comes is a surprise every 24 hours.  

  After Tom left, the quiet of the sewing studio was rather pleasant.  No noise to speak of.  Picking stitches gives pause to reflect.  One thing that always astonishes me is that my children are grown.  Going down memory lane with them in the spotlight is enjoyable.  How can time slip by so quickly?  It might be a step in the right direction if I would remember how old I was.  I don’t feel my age and I sure as heck don’t need to do the “Mirror, mirror on the wall” routine any oftener than necessary.  I have earned my smile lines many times over.  Save the best and leave the rest . . . remembering that will always leave sweet feelings in the heart.

  My responsibility for supper is to pop Dennis’ concoction in the oven at 4:30.  Seeing as how I set out the ingredients for his dish, I know we will have a very nutritious supper.  Those not familiar with the kitchen on a daily basis need just a bit of help to allow them to feel confident they can pull it off.  Yes . . . he did complete with the dishes of the prep having been done.  Priceless.

   
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  Noreen 4:59 pm on February 1, 2021 Permalink  

  Reactions 

  For every action there is a reaction.  Oh my gosh!  When I came down into the sewing study this morning . . . how much reaction could I take from my actions of yesterday!  

  It is unfortunate that the strong arm of logic doesn’t come down and smack us one when we are on a journey that has no positive ending.  Yesterday I proceeded to baste around each of the 25 blocks of the Santa sandwiched quilt . . . with the sewing machine.  I must have been under the influence of the wicked witch of quilt boo-boos. 

  This morning all I saw were wrinkles within each of the twenty five 10″ blocks.  I must have walked around my church tables quite a few times in utter amazement that I had done this.  This was not acceptable.  Lena would be shaking her head. 

  I remember a friend of mine, Sharon.  Sharon has been working on some piecing of a table runner and as hard as she worked, it just got harder to accept.  The result was taking the entire project apart stitch by stitch as she knew she would never be able to enjoy the project going forward.

  I will be taking all the stitches out of this huge basting debacle until I am down to the individual pieces; the backing, the batting and the quilt top.  I will begin anew.  If not, I fear I would be so upset with it going forward, there would be only one option . . . destroying it.  Buck up Grammie.  Find your good sewing chair and slide it up to the church tables and begin picking stitches.  Making that decision, I felt uplifted.  I can do this!  There will be no updates on this project for some time.  

  Having come to terms with my timeline for quite some time, Brett called and asked if I would ride with him to Old Alley Quilt Shop in Sherburn.  Absolutely!  In the five years that Brett has been quilting, he never sought out Old Alley.  Brett was fed up with JoAnn’s quality, more like . . .the quality in fabrics and choices.  Brett was amazed at the quantity of choices in colors and in bolts of fabric in the store.  What was sought was found.  Using 108″ wide for backing is wonderful to use  rather than the 44″ fabric that needs to be pieced perhaps as often as three times.  There was no end to the choices.  He is working on two king size quilts.  I have a sneaking suspicion that Brett will make the 26 mile journey in the future when a need arises.   

  The damp gray day is noted on the arthritis.  I have no doubt that sitting and picking stitches will give the arthritic fingers a good workout.  It is touted that “keep moving” is the key to keeping arthritis mobile.  Have I got a deal for my hands!  The reaction of this project will bring about not only good feelings of the heart but also in the hands and fingers.

   
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  Noreen 3:57 pm on January 31, 2021 Permalink  

  Sunday 

  We missed the snow that we had heard so much about.  We are entertaining more gray skies.  Sunny days are far and few in between.

  As in so many Sundays that have gone before, KNUJ radio station is playing its tunes in the background. The difference is that while I am piddling around with invisible quilting thread, Mom would have been sitting at the round oak kitchen table darning socks of various sizes.  Both tasks being equally challenging.

  I have gone too far with the Santa quilt to turn back.  Slow and steady and it may yet be a finished project.  Never let it be said that my stubbornness has me turning my back on a challenge.  Yup, sometimes I may not know what is best for me . . . until blood, sweat and tears allow me to see the end of the tunnel.  I find myself shaking my own head in puzzlement.  Having courage is more important than having confidence when action is decided upon.  Perfection is not the ultimate . . . doing the best I can is my ultimate as I am bound to learn a lesson or two for the future.

  Dennis has been using the mild day to take more ice off of the drive.  It has melted enough for water to get under the ice and then it peels off more easily.  When he came in for our three o’clock break the aroma of a pork roast in the oven has spurred him on for one more bout of ice clearing.  

  Tomorrow is a new month but the same old, same old on the news programs.  It has driven me to KNUJ radio for most of the day.  There are times when the polkas get to be a bit much, but the saving grace is some local news in between.

  May the new week bring a smile or two along the way.  It may be that the smile will be catching.