Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:56 pm on January 20, 2021 Permalink  

  Sun Cleared some Ice 

  Whatever fell from the skies within the last several days is no longer on our concrete causing ice.  The sun wasn’t out all day but it sure did the job of making the ice disappear.  

  What a great day of having things go quite well.  The usual first floor ditties are always the place to start on any day.  It has all become habit forming and thus nothing is amiss.  I had vowed to not put any news on today.  Even radio KNUJ was not turned on.  The peace that passes all understanding.  Nothing political for me today. I didn’t inquire of Dennis what he had on in the patio porch.

  Going into the sewing studio, the first thing was to oil the sewing machine and put in a new needle.  The affirmation quilt blocks I am doing take up to several hours of stitching each.  It makes everything run like a top to pay attention to the machine.

  As the stitching was going on the module of the machine, I decided to be brave and begin the process of working towards finishing the Santa quilt top.  After all, I had the batting whip stitched together . . . what was holding me back!  I have no idea how I am going to quilt this project under the needle.  In time to come something will pop up.  Getting the backing and batting and the top together in itself is a challenge.  No puckers, no lumps . . . that is the quest.  I do get a fair amount of walking exercise done going around and around my church tables.  It’s not a 100% to navigate, but dang close.  Bending and stretching does the job.  When I felt that I was as taut as possible . . . out came the goodie bag of safety pins.

  If I had room, I would entertain the quilt rack such as what my mom used.  They were nothing more than 1″ x 4″ boards that could be clamped together making the basis for the sandwiching of the quilt.  Mom’s always were tied onto the dining room chairs.  Nothing fancy.  Working from one side or the other, the 1″ x 4″ was rolled as the quilting progressed.  Mom was also stressed for room, so the dining room table could be found dead center under the frame.  When the quilting was towards completion, the table was scooted out from underneath.  It worked.  So . . . my safety pins will also work.

  My main goal is to maintain the layers for a time as the quilt will be wrestled severely under the needle of the sewing machine.  The finished quilt top will be 65″ x 65″ and doable for the process of moving it around so that the needle can work its whiles.  I don’t close the safety pins at this time.  Right now they stand as sentinels doing their job of holding and holding fast.  When the entire top is secured with pins, I will take my time and close each and everyone one of them.  Trying to work with pins that are open . . . not!   I did get a good amount of pins in today and tomorrow will be another day.  It does get hard on the back and I choose to quit before the back can begin to ache.

  Dennis brought in the last squash from the garage from the fall harvest that our neighbor shared with us.  It was a treat to have had Dennis halve and clean it for me.  It is in the oven and it is beginning to fill the kitchen with a wonderful aroma.

  Each day I putter on.  Each day I have given local effort to the wellbeing of Dennis and me.  Proud and self-sufficient is what Dennis and I strive for each day.  Label this day as mission completion.

   
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  Noreen 4:15 pm on January 19, 2021 Permalink  

  Wow for Snow 

  The snow that we have had today could have been dubbed a feather party, as that is how large the flakes were at times.  With the sun shining in between the feathers, it was quite beautiful.

  It is four in the afternoon and the lights in the sewing studio are off for the day.  It was quite the shock when I came down this morning and realized what I was looking at.  The affirmation embroidered quilt block design I did yesterday was embroidered on the back side of the fabric with the iron-on stabilizer looking quite smart sporting those 42,000 stitches.  Ugh!  

  It goes to show what happens when you don’t keep your mind on the project.  Yesterday, when I came home from PT, I was fairly uncomfortable as it being the last time, it was a thorough going over.  Dennis’ son was in the sewing studio when I set things up and it all took a dump going forward . . . because I was not focused!

  I did do the embroidered block over today, causing me to be very cautious.  Checking over the fabric that I have for these blocks doesn’t allow for any more screw-ups.  I have got to stay focused, allowing for such things as me not being the only one in the house.  Thereby allowing for questions that need to be fielded, finding items that Dennis needs that have been misplaced or following up with phone calls that need to be made for his scripts.  Yup, staying focused is the key to the real world.  

  I have gotten my 75″ x 75″ of quilt batting sewn together.  That was a happy accomplishment.  The 2nd run of that particular quilt block also made for happiness and joy.  All the little things in my day bring balance to my life.  That’s a good thing.  I hope your day had balance in it.

   
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  Noreen 4:27 pm on January 18, 2021 Permalink  

  Sunny Monday 

  Taking a day off yesterday was what was needed.  This morning is a new week, new thoughts and new outlook.  

  Yippee for me . . . I graduated from physical therapy this morning.  I have my at-home therapy as laid out by Mike.  In time to come, Mike encouraged me to come back if I can’t maintain good mobility.  Ya, I know.  I had left it go too far before surrendering to the doctor for a referral for physical therapy. Different exercises for different locations of the arthritis in the back, in the hips and in the legs above the knees.  Most of the therapy can be done in my sewing studio.  A perfect time and place to do it.  The most important item . . . DO IT!

  We had a surprise visit today from Dennis’ son.  He is the over-the-road hauler from Arizona.  He had a load going through our area with a 24-hour layover due to drop off sites being closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.  Kenny has just gotten a new truck last week and he commented how many more safety issues this truck has.  With a new truck he was telling me he had then gotten all new bedding for the sleeper.  He was amazed how much difference a new mattress made.  He does live in that truck.  When he leaves tomorrow he will also have a new quilted blanket for the sleeper from me.  I seem to know how to make more.  

  What I was doing when Kenny stopped in was working with pieces of batting.  When nephew Brett takes a quilt off of his long arm, he trims off the length of excess batting on the right hand side of each of the projects.  Some of the pieces are sizable considering the size of the top he has pieced.  Brett buys his batting in a bale and thus the width is predetermined.  I am the recipient of the cast-off batting.  Today I know I have enough to make a 75″ x 75″ piece of batting ready to use for one of my quilt tops.  As the embroidery module is working, I sit and whip stitch the pieces together.  I think it’s the perfect solution by not having to purchase a pre-sized package of batting and creating my own excess pieces.  It doesn’t always work out, but recently . . . it has.

  Dennis and Kenny went to the Home Town Café for noon lunch.  It’s their famous American Fries that Kenny likes with a hamburger.  Brett is going to fix Kenny a steak for supper.  I am not sure what we will have here on Stauffer Avenue.  Rest assure we never go hungry. 

  I have enjoyed the sun and it was strong enough that it melted through the light covering of snow that we received last night.  Love it. 

  A new week and new encouragement for me to keep me mobile.

   
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  Noreen 4:55 pm on January 17, 2021 Permalink  

  A Lazy Sunday 

  I slept late and then joined Dennis in the patio porch for coffee.  The highlight was watching squirrels in the east end of the acre.  The three kitties had their noses pressed against the sliding patio doors with no intent of going out.  Everybody was lazy.

  I will catch you all tomorrow as I am sure I will pick up some steam for the new week.

   
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  Noreen 4:23 pm on January 16, 2021 Permalink  

  Durable Utility 

  It has been a remarkable adventure these last five years after I bought my new sewing machine.  Talk about live and learn.   

  It was in the early summer of 2015 that Dennis and I went to Arizona to see my aunt in Phoenix and also to see Dennis’ son in the Meza area.  My aunt Lorraine has been an avid stitcher for decades.  Lorraine sent home some items she wanted to share from her sewing room.  Sweet!  I knew I would put the items to use and not store them in a drawer.  One towel in particular that Lorraine had embroidered has been in use in our kitchen since that time in 2015.  Lorraine’s favorite was to embroider recipes on kitchen towels.  This towel has been looped on a drawer pull in our kitchen as a catch-all for sticky hands while baking, making meals and even spills.  This towel has also been in the laundry continually over these five years.  The stitching is as vibrant now as then. 

  I have since over the five years embroidered everything from quilt blocks, t-shirts, bath towels, coasters, pillows, clothing and kitchen towels.  The stitching and the end product is durable and has utility . . . not to be looked at or stuck in a drawer.  The only difference from Lorraine’s stitched out designs and mine are that I like to cut the connecting threads as in the case of this kitchen towel.   Not just pretty to look at but to use in making everyday chores at bit fancy.  Why not?  No ho-hum needed. 

  Today we are still feeling some of the effects of the snow storm of Thursday.  I have no idea what the winds are doing to the roads but the winds are raising continual sounds from the wind chimes on the northwest corner of the house.   

  While the sewing machine has been embroidering, I have pulled out scraps of quilt batting.  I am determined to hand sew enough scraps to end up with a 75″ x 75″ piece.  It will take some hand stitching going back and forth in a zig-zag pattern with the sides butted up to each other so there is no overlap.  I do know that there is a tape sold at JoAnn’s for just such a job but my way will do just fine as a trip out of town for such a meager item does not pencil out.

  We are having cheeseburgers for supper.  N0 buns on hand but sliced bread will do just fine for the two of us.  We make the best of it.  Making the best of each situation is not an act to impress but habit forming.  I like it.  I like it a lot.  That’s who I am . . . durable and having high utility.

   
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  Noreen 3:43 pm on January 15, 2021 Permalink  

  Oh For the Howling 

  Last night the howling wind was frightening.  As I peeked out the window of my bedroom and saw the huge evergreen twisting and turning in the winds a mere ten feet from me, I prayed it would hold its own.  

  We didn’t get but two or three inches of snow, but it landed on very warm surfaces.  Dennis tugged on his snowmobile boots this morning and went out to surmise what was needed.  Each of his footprints left a very wet watery impression.  Dennis and I agreed.  The temps were warm but the snow was still able to go through the snow blower fairly well.  When he was done taking off what he could with the blower, I took our pusher shovel and took what remained down to the bare concrete.  Slow and steady.

  There is nothing worse than snow pack that freezes into an Icey slab by the doorway to get into the house.  We may very well have more cold and more snow.  Our effort was a preventative.  It is 3:30 and the snow is still coming down.  It is warm enough that the area that Dennis and I cleared by the car garage door and the house door remain clear concrete.  Several years ago after a snowy spell that left packed snow in our driveway, I was going to get into the car that Dennis had waiting for me.  When I had one leg into the car the other leg slid under the doorframe of the car via the ice pack and the rest of me followed.  Lesson learned.

  We knew our neighbor Randy would take care of the remainder of the driveway.  Dennis and I had worked well together.  Dennis was able to get his pickup in 4-wheel drive and made it off of the yet to be plowed Stauffer Avenue to keep his appointment for his eye injection here at our local eye clinic.  When Dennis did get home, the injection went well and there will be a cataract surgery for him as well in the month to come.  Gotta keep those peepers in good health.    

  I headed down into the sewing room.  Today was the day to finish up that flannel blanket I have been working on.  It had gone so well taking it slowly that here was the day to finish it up.  No need to stay at sewing for long hours.  Breaking up a project with other interests keeps it light and fun.  No pressure here on Stauffer Avenue.  I have just as many flannel blocks embroidered for another 52″ 65″.  That will be on the “to-do” list, as I will return to embroidering my affirmation blocks.  First things first.  Cleaning the fuzz of the flannel and the batting out of the top and bottom of the machine.  Getting the machine oiled with a new needle and perhaps tomorrow will find the lights have been turned on in the sewing studio.  One of my favorite phrases . . . “time will tell.”

  Take it easy on the snow removal.  It was what is often called a “heart attack snowfall.”  Wet and heavy for taking down the heartiest of us and perfect consistency for making snowmen.  The winds continue and thank you Lord for keeping my evergreen standing tall throughout it all.

   
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  Noreen 1:47 pm on January 14, 2021 Permalink  

  Waiting for the Storm 

  It is a wait and see, and I see school buses going by in the early afternoon.  Anticipation is on high alert.  The forecast has the word “Blizzard” in it.

  Just a note as to how the Butternut Squash pasta oven meal was received last night by Dennis.  He enjoyed supper immensely and did not notice a difference in this pasta compared to the usual.  Thumbs up.

  I have been in the sewing studio today.  The latest project will be handed off to one of Dennis’ grandsons during the 2021 Christmas season.  The three grandsons have never received something from my sewing studio.  The granddaughters have enjoyed embroidered towels and each have received a blanket from sewing studio.  Girls are easy to sew for.  The fellows need a bit more than cute and the backing for this blanket says it all.

  This blanket is flannel pieced with a touch of embroidery.  It is 55 x 62.  I had no intentions of purchasing anything other than what I currently had on hand for the project.  Score one for me.  The flannel was yardage as a hand-me-down.  The backing has been in the stashes for some time, and yes, at one time I did purchase it.  The batting was a leftover and a bit loftier than what would have been ideal. 

  For a blanket that gets rough and tumble use, I wanted it sturdy but not with a lot of fuss and muss in the quilting of it.  Stitching in the ditch, following seams, was an option.  I chose an option for stitching in the ditch that also caught a good bit of the seam allowance.  Each 7″ block is secured with a bit of interest.  I chose a photo of the back as it was indicated some of the loft and it was difficult to get a sense of the stitching from a photo of the top.  I am happy with the outcome.  It is fluffy and will bring comfort.  The stitch was from the huge amount of stitches that are preloaded on my sewing machine.  After a break from sitting at the machine I will pick out binding and then tuck it away until a time when it can be given.

  KNUJ is still touting warnings of a blizzard.  When I checked the active radar on KEYC it looked as if the high winds will be our biggest challenge.  Time will tell.  Dennis said at noon he didn’t care how loudly the cats would cry to get outside . . . no dice.  Dennis is not having a repeat of the last storm and having to worry about where Harriet was for several days.  Those three cats are Dennis’ confidants.  What happens and is talked about in the patio porch stays in the patio porch.

  Stay safe during these next days.  I would rather think about you than read about you.

   
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  Noreen 4:31 pm on January 13, 2021 Permalink  

  Watch the Dust 

  No, I was not hunting dust today.  Today I could have made dust as it ended up being a busy day for me.  It must have been the warm temps this morning plus the sun.  

  I do have a sewing project going on but I know myself better than sitting at the machine for long periods of time.  I stitched a row and then came up to strip the beds.  It was up and down the basement steps for the majority of the day.  Moving is my goal each and every day.  The benefit of today is quite a few things got done.  

  I have found that my sewing chair has just the right amount of divots in the seat cushion that I can get tennis balls to stay where I need them to sit on them.  Laugh as you may . . . they do hit just the right spot in the butt to relax those tight tendons and muscles.  

  I found a bag of pasta last week that is basically made with Butternut Squash.  It looks like any egg noodles that I have had in the past.  I had noticed some pasta that is cauliflower based, but have not tried it as yet.  There are packaged Mac and Cheese that are labeled made with cauliflower.  Tonight we will see what Dennis makes of the oven dish as I had not shared with him what the label stated.  It is the squash pasta, beef left over from a roast that had been waiting in the freezer for just such a meal as this evening, and Alfredo sauce.  A variant of beef stroganoff. 

  This may be the last nice day of the week with rain and snow heading our way.  We are bound to have some winter.  The days are getting longer and whatever snow we get most likely will be gone by Easter.  

  I hope the evening goes well and our normal bedtime is honored.  Dennis slept until eight this morning and has been napping in the patio porch for most of the day, taking time out for little else.  Hmm.

   
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  Noreen 4:48 pm on January 12, 2021 Permalink  

  Solo Trip 

  It isn’t often that I leave home on a solo trip to Mankato.  Dennis loves to drive and that is not so different from my dad.  Mom would share with me that she would be in the midst of working on her rug loom or stitching in her sewing room and lo and behold, Raymond had a wild hair and she was asked to ride shotgun.  She did share with me that she didn’t very often say no, for the fact that it would come that Raymond would no longer ask her to go with for fear of being turned down.  I remember that oh so clearly.  Today it was Dennis that turned me down.  

  When Orlin and I made a home together in the early 1960s, we always made what we had into “a home.”  Perhaps not a lot of bells and whistles but we never lacked for comfort and safety.  Over the years there were extra special items that we added to our home.  Orlin was a huge fan of Norman Rockwell as the featured artist of the Saturday Evening Post magazines.  There was a flyer that found itself into our mailbox in the 1970s.  It featured Norman Rockwell figurines in bisque that could be purchased over a period of time.  Each figurine was one that depicted a cover that had been done on the Post.  What made it perfect was that Orlin’s mother, Esther, had given Orlin a multi-tiered corner wooden shelf.   As it were, it featured the entire collection of the statuettes perfectly.   It was a rare purchase for our family, but nonetheless very much enjoyed and appreciated.  

  When the Popular Mechanics magazine featured a grandfather clock kit, it called to Orlin as a good project to take on.  Upon completion,  it was a very handsome addition to our home added by the fact that it had been hands on with Orlin and Kevin putting the kit together.  I loved hearing it chime.

  In time Carrie had both the Norman Rockwells and the clock in her home.  As Carrie added wee ones that were capable of having mishaps, Carrie passed both items off to Kevin to enjoy.  Nothing better than to keep those special items that had been acquired in the family.  After all, they were and are special reminders of what had piqued the interest of their father, Orlin.

  This last fall, I was doing some cleaning in the attic.  There were many items that I had no emotional attachment to that I did let go of on a market site.  One item that I could never let go of was my sewing rocker.  Orlin bought it for me in Mart, Texas, in February of 1964.  It was my first piece of furniture when we set up housekeeping in Riesel, Texas.  Carrie and Kevin had both been rocked in that rocker until their legs were almost dragging on the floor.  In the 1970s Orlin had an interest in re-upholstery.  The rocker was given a new look and it went on to be used as a great rocker to do crocheting from.  Orlin and I may have moved on, but the rocker was always with me. 

  Arthritis made it a bit hard to get up from the rocker as it did sit very low to the floor and I moved the rocker up into the attic.   It held some cherished stuffed animals upon its seat.  I got the rocker out of the attic in the late fall.  The first thing I did was care for the pecan wood that the frame was made of.  Texas sported quite a bit of furniture with pecan wood as pecan trees are everywhere.  I made an appointment in Mankato to have the rocker material to be replaced.  It needed the springs to be re-tied and the webbing over the springs, right along with all the padding within the back and the seat.  It needed what could only be termed as a re-do.  Today I took the rocker and the material to the gal that will be doing all the work.  An exciting trip with great anticipation of the outcome.

  What I am very proud of is that Carrie will take care of my rocker that I have cherished for many years and Kevin will take care of the items that Orlin had a fondness for and cherished.  It all remains within the family.  Priceless.

   
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  Noreen 4:10 pm on January 11, 2021 Permalink  

  Partly Sunny 

  It is great to see the sun even if it is intermittently. It has been a quiet day for us.  

  I have been puttering in the sewing studio placing umpteen safety pins into the blanket that is sandwiched.  Holding everything together as well as possible makes for a better finished project.  The index finger on my left hand had to sport a Band-Aid as closing the safety pins is a prickly business.  The embroidery module was purring right along as I kept a watchful eye for any problems.  After the embroidered block was finished, I began working with trying out some decorative stitches to see what I could implement for doing the actual quilting of the blanket.  All batting states that stitching can be done up to 8-10 inches apart.  When quilts were tied with yarn, that was perhaps the limit but still making the quilting strong enough for wear and tear.  I don’t ever remember a tied quilt not withstanding use and having the yarn knots come undone.

  With remembering that, I think I can also machine stitch something a bit less dense from some that I have done as the these blocks are 7″ blocks.  I have time to figure that out.  My main concern is sewing down two sides of the sandwiched blanket.  The batting that I had on hand is plenty generous, my concern is that the backing is spot on in regard to the size of the top.  Talk about making due.  If I don’t sew it down, it will creep as I man handled it under the needle for the quilting.  Creeping means something would have to be trimmed in order to bind it . . . not going to happen.

  It is amazing how the day can dwindle down to the point of preparing supper.  We are having chicken tities and some boiled potatoes.  Dennis willingly peeled the potatoes.  The veggie will be whatever I find in the freezer of the Green Giant steamtables.  I do know that I will be passing on the brussel sprouts as I would be eating them alone.  

  Take care and know that as a Monday may go, there is a good chance that not too many people have screwed it up for the entire week.  Take a stand and do not waver.