Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:59 pm on January 10, 2021 Permalink  

  Mighty God 

  In my childhood the Mighty God phrase was more like MI-GHTY GOD, drawn out to the fullest.  That happened when one of us four kids had pushed dad to the limit and beyond.

  Today we had a Mighty God instance on Stauffer Avenue.  I diligently sort laundry from the baskets.  I was taught from a very young age that sorting was important for a good result.  We use liquid Tide.  When I dump the little measured out cup into the wash tub as it is filling, I pitch the plastic cup into the tub and the very last of it is utilized in that load.

  Today when I picked that little cup out of the tub after the load was done, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what was stuck on the outside of the plastic cup.  I have been known to not check pockets close enough and a tissue becomes confetti in the wash tub, but this was sticky and greasy.  It was a load of Dennis’ dark clothes that was pitched into the tub to be washed.  An ah-ha moment.  Dennis had been wearing a bandana around his neck as he attested that Vicks helped his cold and the bandana kept his neck warm for the Vicks to do its thing.  Did I check to see how much Vicks was used?  No. Did I check how many of his bandanas had been slathered with Vicks? No.  The inside of the wash tub had globed up the Vicks from the bandanas and bless that little soap cup that gave it up.  How in the hell much could bandanas hold!

  The All Mighty God almost didn’t save Dennis’ sweet ass.  An ice cream pail of hot water with Dawn dishwater soap and sponge was what was handed to Dennis.  I went into the sewing studio.  When asked for advice, I gave advice.  I did do the quality assurance when he was done.   There was also a Vicks 101 seminar held afterwards. 

  On lighter notes, I had a good run in the sewing studio.  I have my blanket sandwiched and now lots of pins will hold the three layers together, so I can quilt the layers together.  The embroidery blocks are going well.  As you may have surmised, I do quite a bit of affirmations when I talk to myself.  I think the above paragraphs may hint as to why I need to talk to myself.  This next quilt will include nine such blocks with borders around them.  I am having fun with them and can envision the process.   Today has been a day of challenges and good things.  Save the best and leave the rest.  That’s all I have to say about that.

   
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  Noreen 3:56 pm on January 9, 2021 Permalink  

  No Ho-Hum 

  It may be yet another gray day, but there is no ho-humming going on in the sewing studio.  While the embroidery module is busy, I am busy at the other end of the tables working to see what I have in my stashes to quilt a 57″ x 65″ blanket.  I have the top done and it needs to no longer take a back seat.  Too much in the back seat means UFOs . . . unfinished objects.  I will be able to piece the backing and praise be I have the perfect sized batting for it.  When the block that is being embroidered is done, I will set up the machine for straight stitching and get that backing done.  It takes me awhile to get the sandwiching of the backing, batting and top aligned so it is ready for machine quilting.  Steady Eddie.  That’s the secret.

  Some days having it totally quiet in the studio seems to work the best.  While I am working with the quilt top, it is easy to listen to the stitching of the embroidery module.  Every once in awhile there could be a thread breaking.  The sewing machine does stop itself, but it may need to be set to go back a few stitches that were missed when the thread broke.  Not all threads are equal even if it is the same brand and the same weight.  I do put in a new needle every time I have finished one of these blocks that I am working on.  Needles are cheap and it makes a world of difference in the outcome.  Each block is about 48,000 stitches.  I purchase my needles on Amazon.  Number 11 works the best for embroidery and anywhere from a number 12 or 14 for quilting.

  Today, Dennis has been busy in the patio porch either cleaning one of the older guns or organizing the shell box.  His internal alarm lets him know when it is noon and when it is three in the afternoon for a break.  If the task becomes too much, there is always a quick nap in the rocking chair.  I wish I could take a nap in the middle of the day.  I have tried to settle in my favorite chair for a nap but the brain just doesn’t want to slow down or perhaps loose that train of thought that I had going.  

  For eons my dad would have his noon meal and lay down on the flat floor and take a nap.  It wasn’t until his later years that he grabbed a pillow for his head.  Almost to the minute, his fifteen minute nap was over and he was good to go for the remainder of the day.  It was a very good habit and a very healthy habit to shut that hard working body down for a break.

  I do know that the days are beginning to be longer, but with all the dreary weather it sure doesn’t seem like it.  The forecast is for full sun tomorrow.  Speaking of tomorrow, each day I need to remind myself what day I am having when I wake in the mornings.  My tomorrows have a way of needing to be announced to myself.  Now that tells you how hectic our schedules are . . . not.

  Find peace.  Find happiness.  The gift of what is had is . . . priceless.

   

   
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  Noreen 4:17 pm on January 8, 2021 Permalink  

  Home Sweet Home 

  Today was a road trip day to Mankato.  We drove in fog but not to the severity that the early morning hours must have been like.  The frost on the trees is always something to behold . . . a dream land.

  The shopping list was short.  Our main objective was Home Depot for LED fixtures.  I have had two fluorescent and two LED four foot long fixtures.  The fluorescent lighting had a yellow cast and they hummed.  The basement lighting for sewing and stitching needed to be homogeneous.  Dennis stayed in the car and I got to query the salesperson.  Success.  Three new fixtures, four feet long and able to plug into an outlet.

  We stopped at Dennis’ granddaughters for a few minutes.  She is working from home and the two little girls were in preschool.  All is well with Sadie and Grandpa Dennis was satisfied.  Being a newly single mother does cause my ole cowboy concern.  Lots of changes for such a small family.

  When we got home, we settled down to the task of unloading our lighting fixtures to see what we could handle.  We handled things beautifully.  No older adult was harmed in this process.  What had been a multi-type lite sewing studio with four fixtures is now a harmonious five fixture sewing studio.  We couldn’t believe the difference the total LED fixtures made.  When we were all finished, we were wore out.  It is late in the day, but I am going to have my one cup of coffee for the day shortly after I hit “publish” this afternoon. 

  Working together with Dennis is not difficult.  His level of mobility pretty much matches mine.  Taking it slow is what the secret is.  One fixture may have to be heightened in time to come.  Either Kevin or Brett may be bonked on the head walking under it.  We didn’t clip off any of the chain, so that shouldn’t be a big challenge.

  Our running around for the week is over.  I have a new book to begin reading.  I have stitching to do.  I have put the 1,000 puzzle pieces back into the box with a little ring around the area on the cover photo as to where the missing piece should have been. 

  This week went fast but I sure do have a great feeling for what I accomplished this week.  Right from the get-go on Sunday, right through the newly added light fixtures today.  Local effort is alive and well.

   
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  Noreen 4:59 pm on January 7, 2021 Permalink  

  Dismal Day 

  What a dismal day today.  No sunshine so I decided to spend my time in the sewing studio and make my own sunshine.  I have one light fixture that needs to be replaced.  It is the old style florescent tubes.  It will be replaced with the LED bulb right in the fixture.  We have two such lights and they really hit the mark for good lighting to work under.  It sounds like a road trip coming up.

  I did put the embroidery module on the sewing machine today.  I am in the process of pulling ideas together using embroidered blocks with pieced patchwork blocks surrounding each of the embroidered ones.  Out comes the graph paper.

  It has been some time since I did any embroidering.  The biggest task for me is to pull all the colors I need for each block and each of the blocks I have in mind use different colors.  My threads are organized by color number.  I use Isacord thread exclusively.  OESD, Oklahoma Embroidery Supply and Design, is Bernina’s link for exclusive designs and Isacord is the thread that is linked to those designs.  Using embroidery designs that are put out by the same as the thread company makes it quite easy to get everything organized in that area of a project.  The colors within each design lists the color number and that means the end product looks as good as it was intended to by the designer.  Then comes the decision of the stabilizer to use.  As I said it has been some time since I was in this mode.  Much time spent today getting items from A to Z.  Tomorrow will go smoother.

  If Dennis decides on a road trip for purchasing light fixtures tomorrow we won’t be venturing out too early if we do at all tomorrow morning.  Dennis enjoys road trips as he is right at home behind the wheel of his little red pickup.  Patio porch time does weigh heavy after a week of it.  I am fortunate to have a bit more on my plate at any given time.  KNUJ, my favorite radio station, is warning of dense fog tonight and into tomorrow morning.  The dense fog also means some freezing on roadways.  Dense fog also means that four legged creatures can’t be seen easily.  I am not referring to squirrels.   

  Supper is going to be easy tonight.  Beef hotdogs chunked into a can of pork and beans with buttered bread.  That suggestion passed mustard with Dennis.  

  Take care everyone.  My furnace does enjoy these mild temps.

   
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  Noreen 4:55 pm on January 6, 2021 Permalink  

  Closure 

  I had decided to take a break after Christmas of the usual commotion here on Stauffer Avenue.  That included turning off the sewing machine and doing only whatever housework that was needed to keep the Human Services from doing a welfare check.  Laundry could not be included in that as being able to enter the bathroom without tripping over the overflowing laundry basket could be dangerous.  Can’t you see the news headline . . . “Senior citizen sustains skull fracture falling on the ceramic toilet via the overflowing laundry basket.”

  The ability to take such a long break took shape by putting a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle on the dining room table.  My break of activities saw closure this noon when I completed the jigsaw puzzle.  That was good news as I was beginning to see double seeking and searching for compatible pieces.  The bad news was that one piece was missing.  Dennis and I were the only two people in the house during the process.  We looked high and low.  The puzzle will stay on the table a bit longer.  The missing piece may show up in someone’s underwear drawer as there had been a lot of laundry done in the general vicinity.

  The next best thing in searching for that dang green puzzle piece was to totally clean the living room floor in case it had taken flight.  I soon saw evidence that I had not been doing much in the way of cleaning.  No . . . the puzzle piece continues to be lost.  What did happen was going through two Swiffer pads.  We had a Labor-doodle visiting on Christmas Day.  Hello . . . it is a myth that they do not shed.  I was surprised to say the least and felt bad that my floor was that bad.  The hair wasn’t found on the main path that we make through our living room, it had scooted, flown and settled to the perimeter.  The little yellow Lab puppy that also was in our home that day, did not leave any evidence.  Kevin’s had given the puppy a Christmas morning bath.  

  Anyway . . . I am back after my lazy days of the holidays.  There is a price to pay for sloughing off.  The cleaning continued and I treated myself to spending some time in the sewing studio just to get the feel of it.

  Today was the first time that Dennis used our new medical prescription card at the Lewis Drug in town.  Two prescriptions that were originally read for $57.00, Dennis paid $1.63.  With us dropping Blue Cross RX from $64.00 per each of us and going to a plan for $15.40 per each of us, we really didn’t know what to expect for the co-pay.  Sweet. 

  The drizzle that we have had today has thus far not frozen but that may change after the temps fall tonight.

   
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  Noreen 4:02 pm on January 5, 2021 Permalink  

  It Could go Either Way 

  Our weather may soon change.  Either rain, sleet or snow.  Very well, a little of it all.

  Today the Christmas tree storage box came out of the basement.   My 7′ pencil tree had served us well.  It now needed to be put away until Thanksgiving of 2021.  I am working towards making my days safer within our home.  The walkup attic is wonderful to visit from time to time.  It is not a good thing when heavy items need to be transported.  The steps are very steep.  Our basement incudes my sewing studio and we would be lost without it for extra utility.  It is not a good thing when heavy items need to be transported.  The steps are very steep.  

  Our main floor has one closet.  You got it!  The boxed Christmas tree was headed for the closet.  I don’t wear dresses except for rare occasions and one dress does it.  Our clothes are shirts, many of which are folded in that  7′ tall wooden cabinet.  There are very few pants that are on pant hangers.   The enclosed box holding the Christmas tree slid perfectly under the bar holding my shirts.  The tote holding the Christmas tree ornaments and the Nativity slid perfectly under the bar that holds Dennis’ clothes.  Each bar making a 90 degree union in the closet.  There will be no chance of harming my self in the next Christmas season.  

  Several Thanksgivings ago, Kevin put up shelves, two high, above the clothes bars in the closet on three walls for extra quilts and blankets.  Our basement may implode for the shelves on the exterior walls and the closet would be in for a second possibility.  Nonetheless, it works.  Grammie is happy and Dennis is none the wiser as to where things disappear to.  Ignorance is bliss. 

  We may not be feeding the deer in the backyard, but I am enjoying the deer that are coming to our neighbor’s bird feeders.  Those deer are just as crafty as squirrels.

  I did get my errands done today and will stay put if the weather turns on us tomorrow.  It is winter after all.  I believe that spring will be here in some 70 days.  I like it.  I like a lot about my days and my wish is that everyone finds moments and hours to like in each and every day.

   
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  Noreen 4:33 pm on January 4, 2021 Permalink  

  It Seemed the Thing to Do 

  The day started slow and before I knew it, I was putting Christmas decorations away from the Christmas tree.  I had just as much fun taking the ornaments off of the tree as I had putting them on.  I have a tote that takes them all in with lots of tissue to wrap swaddle them.  Everything went so well, I continued to add the Nativity to the tote.  

  Dennis watched and commented that it would be nice if we could take the top of the huge seven foot wooden cabinet in his bedroom, put glass doors it and leave some of the goodies out within the cabinet year-round.  That is a sweet idea.  I reminded him that our clothes would be in cardboard boxes.  He said it was food for thought and he also commented that I am really good on figuring things out.  This is most certainly true.  My sewing studio was born out of a concrete floor and sub-quality windows and air quality.  Hmm.  The cabinet is food for thought.   

  The sun was doing a great job shoving the temp to 39 degrees.  Dennis decided to get out his little red pickup to visit buds.  I surely couldn’t blame him.  I have plans for Tuesday to be out and about.  During this last week, I have taken to getting things done in the house and stopping off at the dining room table from time to tome to try and poke in a few pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. 

  I always check things out on the computer each day.  Surprise!  The stimulus payment was in the checking account.  Sweet. 

  Chili and grilled cheese sandwiches are on board for supper.  Dennis had announced this noon that there would be ice cream after supper.  Foretold is forewarned.  It has been since Christmas since the ice cream scoop has seen the light of the kitchen.  I think we deserve that. 

  As I had said a few days ago, working on that dang jigsaw puzzle does gives way to wondering thoughts.  The past has been my lesson, the present is my gift, and the future is my motivation.  I feel that 2021 is going to be wonderful, I am not going to live the same year over and over. I feel it may be fun to do a few things differently.  It seems the thing to do.  Not to worry . . . Dennis is not going anywhere.

   
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  Noreen 4:55 pm on January 3, 2021 Permalink  

  It Happens 

  When I crack open my eyes about eight in the morning, the first thing I seek to see is what the evergreen right outside my bedroom window is doing.  The evergreen also has wind chimes on the lower branches.  This morning, no sounds could be heard from the jingle jangle of the chimes and the branches will still.  There was no shortage of all the birds that were feasting on the seeds within the evergreen and the huge evergreen shrub under the tree. 

  I don’t pop out of bed in the mornings.  I need to make sure that I stretch out my back and hips.  It is also told that you need a bit of time to let your brain know what your intentions are.  There has been a time or two that moving to get my feet out of bed and on the floor too quickly has allowed for a bit of dizziness along with my eyes needing more time to focus clearly.  After all . . . what’s the rush.  I enjoy those first moments of realizing that there is a petition needed to be sent to the heavens that I made it through the night and with good rest and . . . I have a good heart rate.  You may laugh but not every one gets to have another day.

  Last year at this time, we had had a lot of heavy snow and had gone through a lot of cracked corn for the deer due to the lack of anything for them to eat.  The snow was deep in the backyard.  This year . . . not so much.  We have green grass sticking out in various areas of the eastern part of the acre.  Towards the east under the trees of the vacant neighboring lot, shrubs have been sampled.  Lots of deer tracks and rabbit tracks in the snow telling us where the good eating has been found.  Dennis and I haven’t talked about the possibility of feeding the deer if the winter amps up.  I will let Dennis take the lead on that.  It seems that the three patio porch kitties can keep Dennis entertained and busy tiding up after what they have found to play with.  That is always a surprise when Dennis hits the patio porch in the mornings. 

  Our Christmas tree is still up and still being enjoyed.  The Nativity is still on the shelf in the west porch.  It is too great of a story to tuck away too soon.  I did take four of the Christmas wall hangings down and have them tucked away.  One large one remains for a bit more time.

  This entire week looks to be Minnesota friendly for weather.  It makes me happy as I always have family in mind that needs to be out and about during the weekdays.  Megan is driving to school every day, dropping Nicholas off at his school.  Carrie and Kevin both need to be out on roads and streets.  Kersten has several city blocks which can be just as difficult as miles of country roads in weather conditions.  Jeremy is working from home for much of the week.  As for Dennis and I . . . we have no reason to take our vehicles out of our garages when there is a snowflake in the air.  I also like the fact that my heavy jacket can stay in the closet. 

  It is on to suppertime.  Take care everyone.

   
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  Noreen 6:35 pm on January 2, 2021 Permalink  

  Time to Reflect 

  Working on a jigsaw puzzle does give time to reflect.  The first days of the new year always brought my uncle Norman and his wife Florence to my folk’s home for a day of playing Pinnacle.  Many of those traditions have long gone by the wayside.  

  Thinking on my mom and dad these last several days always brings sweet memories.  My parents had pulled themselves up by the bootstraps, many times over the years.  They were there just as many times to help the four of us kids.

  I take pride in having done the bootstrap thing from time to time for myself.  Hopefully I will pay it forward in whatever way I can during the days and years to come.  It brings joy.

  Have a great weekend as the weather is being kind to  us . . . for now.

   
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  Noreen 4:25 pm on January 1, 2021 Permalink  

  A First for the New Year 

  Today, I had a two step dance, first one of the year of 2021.

  I had decided to take my time and put the five foot Santa back into his storage area.  It literally was two steps at a time.  I only had ten feet to do the light fantastic.  Kevin had cautioned me about extra strength activity: it depended on whether I could do it better or whether it was about doing it quickly.  I opted for the first choice.  It was not so terribly heavy duty as cautiously doing it correctly.  I knew what the end result would be as Santa has a special place to be placed at where he would not be in the way for the next ten months.  Kevin had put him out on Thanksgiving day to be enjoyed.  Last year he had the living room area.  This year that spot held my Christmas tree.  He was a proud addition to my sewing studio and I did enjoy having him out.  He is too special to not be put out and enjoyed.  Within short order the sewing studio was back in its best utility.

  The Santa Two Step was the priority of the day.  The rest of this day I have spent reading and working on my jigsaw puzzle.  I am four days out from the last PT appointment and am doing great.  I plan on continuing my low key activity for several more days, slowing working into doing some sewing studio things.  After supper is my soft-chair routine with a heating pad on my back and hip.  It’s a routine that is working.

  Dennis has been doing some snow removal around the garages.  He takes a lot of breaks and feels good about moving about.  I continue looking at the snow and . . . no touching . . . for now.  With the sun having it’s way, there are many bare spots showing on the concrete.  Thank you Lord. 

  We are having French Toast and sausages for our New Year’s celebration.  Dennis has been dropping hints about a trip to Mankato tomorrow.  We had been well prepared prior to Christmas and out last trip out out of town was when we went to New Ulm to pick up the little red pickup out of the body shop.  I think we are due to get out of Dodge to blow the stink off. 

  Happy New Year to all.