Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:45 pm on September 14, 2020 Permalink  

  Off the List 

  As fall approaches there are lists that need to be paid attention to.  Today, I knocked a huge one to the curb.  We have always changed oil in our vehicles every 3,000 miles.  Today my car was within 100 miles of that.  I called with the thought of getting an appointment for tomorrow.  Ring, ring . . . “We can get you in at 10:30.”  I looked at the clock and it was a little after nine.  I was there in plenty of time, and as I said, one more item off of the list.  Everything checked out good.  I do have a reminder on my records and theirs that the right strut is be looked at the next time I come in.  Fair enough. 

  The sun coming out brings the temps to 80 in no time at all.  The humidity and dew point are reasonable.  The warm sun did bring Dennis to a sweat this afternoon.  Our huge evergreen on the northwest corner of our home had shed its pollen profusely.  Over the years our front sidewalk to our front door is virtually green.  Dennis has scrubbed with a soap, then rinsed.  He tried some de-greaser, then rinsed.  Not to worry.  Going online, we have a line on some cleaners, but first of all we are going to try vinegar.  Of course there is always a DIY suggestion.  Is it a big deal.  Absolutely not!  Was it a good thing that Dennis saw it and wanted to tackle it?  Absolutely yes!

  Stauffer Avenue is going into the season of having not left anything undone that we could not tackle.  Priceless!  We may be a year older and a bit slower, but the secret is to keep moving . . . and we do!

  Who is up for sauerkraut and wieners for supper!  Sounds to me like a great fall-feeling supper.

   
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  Noreen 2:11 pm on September 13, 2020 Permalink  

  Layer Cakes 

  A new twist is for quilting stores to sell their inventory as a pre-cut bundle and make it look very desirable, complete with fancy ribbons to tie the bundle together.  The Layer Cake promo is one that is very popular.  I was gifted a Layer Cake bundle.  It has 42 10″ cut blocks of various flannel designs.  

  I have touched this bundle, I have moved this bundle from place to place, and I have put the bundle out of site.  Yesterday I dug out this Layer Cake bundle of 42 flannel blocks.  All different colors.  All different printed designs.  I cleared off the church basement table tops and began moving colors around.  

  This is quality flannel and it has a lot of body.  I decided to work with the 10″ pieces each unto their own.  No cutting them up.  The smaller the piecing to put together the more bulky seams there are to contend with going forward.  Dennis came down into the sewing studio and scratched his head.  This project was out of my comfort zone and he had picked up on it.  Organized pieced patterns that repeat themselves has been my usual for a quilt.  All of these patterns and colors lying next to each other made my eyes twitch.

  This morning I had decided I would tie this mishmash of color and design together with an embroidered design on each block.  I will use the same neutral color of thread on each block.  I have two designs that came loaded on my sewing machine and I will do alternate stitched designs on each block that are similar, but different.  I am not thinking about going beyond this part of the project.  Time seems to help pull sewing things together as after each step something new may be seen.

  Dennis played solitaire on the basement Dell computer as a vote of moral support and confidence.  It does help.

  The sun is out this afternoon and it seems to have pushed clouds and rain showers away for a time.  Each day as I do some reading in our west porch, my view out the windows is our front yard.  The Kentucky Blue Grass is making appearances.  Yippee.  I think it did help that as I looked out the windows I was willing it to pop through the soil.  With the two inches of rain over the last ten days, I think my sprinkling may have come to an end.  The cooler weather tends not to dry out the grass.

  A new week and we will be in mid September before we know it.  Time is precious and I don’t wish it away.  At the end of each day I need to have some accountability for what my God and Savior has given me.  And . . . none of this “Oh, poor me, whatever shall I do?”

   
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  Noreen 3:18 pm on September 12, 2020 Permalink  

  Dust Bunny Time 

  We had been kept busy and actually not spending a lot of time on the first floor of our home.  Hmm.  There were dust bunnies that were calling my name this morning.  I would be lost without the Swiffer mop.  The laminate flooring is an easy call . . . though one Swiffer refill may not suffice after a several-week hiatus from cleaning.  I can’t imagine not being able to take a swipe at dust bunnies under the beds.  My mobility with clumsy vacuum wands is not the same as the lightweight Swiffer wand.   

  Years back after we had torn up the carpeting in the house, the Swiffer seemed to be the best answer.  Megan stayed with us often from the time she could sit up on her own.  Right after I had gotten the Swiffer and she saw what I was doing, that little gal being just a bit over one year old, would get a hold of that mop and nothing was safe.  She had a hold of it near the mop head and the handle flaying out behind her took no prisoners.  It was a new toy.

  Not long after that first encounter of “Megan the cleaner,” the Eden Prairie couple took in a home show in one of the huge venues.  Apparently Megan caught site of a Swiffer in one of the vendor’s stalls and she was off and cleaning.  Carrie said it was too funny that a mop had captured Megan’s go-to busyness. 

  The Swiffer did eventually become a usual in the Eden Prairie home.  Carrie, being thrifty, shared with me that she would use one side and then flip it over and fill it up in total.  Gotta love a thrifty gal. 

  So, I digress.  Today, it rained off and on until the afternoon and the time spent cleaning felt good.  I could see that I had made a difference.  Let’s hear it for local effort! No matter how old our bedding or clothes become, there is always lint.  It does make a difference that I no longer require shoes that need to be removed beyond the back entry.  The benefits of having good stable shoes that lace up outweighs what may track in onto the floors.  It is never very serious.  

  The cool fall has been enjoyed here on Stauffer Avenue.  Dennis tucked away the last of the garden hoses that had been used for sprinkling new grass seed.  Over the last week we have had almost two inches of rain in three installments.  I am sure that there will be those warm fall days yet to come, but this break in temps was warranted.  

  Enjoy the weekend for all that it may bring.  Slow down and realize that each day brings blessings, thoughts and experiences that will never have the chance of being a “re-run.”  One unique day after another.

   
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  Noreen 2:44 pm on September 11, 2020 Permalink  

  Switching Plans 

  Who knew that the cool weather that was forecast would turn into a light mist mixed with a heavier mist.  Obviously the sticthers group that was to meet in an open part was canceled.  So much for plan A. 

  Dennis had come in earlier and felt like his day was also put on hold due to weather.  We decided to go online and get into Great Clips in Mankato for much needed haircuts.  We had 67 minutes before we would be called.  That worked out great.  Once there, we were told that online is no longer needed.  We could come in, find out what the wait time was and then perhaps run errands until such time.  That was good news for us.

  Our only other stop was the Mayo Store and then we high-tailed it for home.  No other needs to shop for.

  As we drove we met trucks hauling sweetcorn.  I am not sure where the plant would be to take care of it.  They were heading east.  In 1969 those sweetcorn trucks meant Christmas money for me and the family.  Now, as then, the weather was damp and cool.  Mom, myself and two other gals signed up to work the overnight shift for sweetcorn in Glencoe.  We would listen to the radio and see if our shift was to work and we car pooled.  During that season, Orlin and I worked to get a lot of the prep work done for the livestock in the late afternoon, so it didn’t cause the kids to be out near the barn any later than necessary.  It worked out that Orlin would be finishing up the cow barn chores when I had to leave.  Both Carrie and Kevin were with him somewhere close where he could keep an eye on them.  It’s amazing how well hay bales can make a play pen.

  We worked eight hour shifts or until the corn quit coming in for the night.  That rarely happened.  I started out working on the cream style corn line chopping out worms.  The conveyor belt kept the husked out cobs coming and I kept my knife swinging.  After several nights there was an opening on the huskers.  I signed up.  Outside the building the trucks would dump the corn straight off the field down shoots.  The shoot could be tightly packed from the weight that was pushing down.  The huskers pulled ears of corn out of the shoot and filled in a conveyor belt that had holes in them for the ears of corn to be put in, silk first.  There was one speed for that belt and the objective was to not let any holes go empty.  There was a bonus for the huskers that kept the belt full.  In the rainy weather the trucks never quit and the corn that came down those shoots were wet and sometimes muddy.  Come rain or shine when the Jolly Green Giant said it was sweetcorn packing time, there was no stopping until the last field was picked.

  I made good money that fall.  It was not the easiest on the family for the schedule, but we made it through.  I always hoped the kids were going down for the night easily.  I got home in the mornings just before the kids would be getting up.  I stuck my corn starched clothes in the washing machine for the next night and started breakfasts.   

  I do remember for that Christmas I bought Orlin a gun from Coast-to-Coast in Hutchinson.  I think that gun is still hanging in Kevin’s home.  So many Christmas seasons have come and gone and every once in awhile you see something like a sweetcorn truck on the highway and the memories come flooding back as if it were yesterday.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 3:54 pm on September 10, 2020 Permalink  

  Finally 

  Finally the sun was out today.  It has been a dark, wet week thus far.  It gave me pause to get outside, and lo and behold, there were branches to pick up in the far east yard.  We did have a bit of a storm earlier and the Hackberry tree let loose lots of weak branches.  Dennis’ burn ring is loaded once the branches are dry enough to burn.  One of the garden hoses that I used to sprinkle the north and east side of the house has been rolled up.  The soil in that area that I am working with the grass seed is damp, down to my second knuckle.  The front yard hose that has the sprinkler attached is fine where it is sitting on the front sidewalk.  Time will tell.

  I have been doing quite a bit of reading this week.  Once the house keeping things are done each day, it is a chance for me to have a cup of coffee sitting in the west porch of our home, listening to the laundry and keeping track of traffic as I read a chapter or two.  Balance in the day. 

  I don’t have anything started in the sewing studio right now.  I do have several items ready for travel.  Tomorrow the stitchers are planning on meeting in one of the open city parks in Mankato at noon.  Yup . . . it might be a bit cool.  Several of the gals have health issues and are not brave enough to meet where we had prior to covid.  That meeting spot has been Baker’s Square.  It may be as warm as 60 tomorrow and that is doable. 

  Every three months Dennis’ prescription for his CPAP machine allows for new supplies.  I will be making a swing to the Mayo Store tomorrow as well.  Sometime after supper this evening, I will be checking out the basement pantry to see what may need refills.  It’s so easy to shop from our pantry on the usual items that we need.  I am not one to run to the grocery store every week, if I can avoid it by stocking up at Sam’s Club once a month.  We don’t do a lot of red meat.  We can do a lot with frozen chicken tenderloins, canned chicken and tuna.

  May everyone anticipate Friday! Our weekend plans are quiet ones.  Dennis has been bopping around most of the week in his little red pickup.  His friend Dwayne has kept Dennis busy helping.  Dwayne’s window of opportunity is getting smaller getting things cleaned out of his farm place.  October 1st the keys are turned over to new owners.  It will be a good thing.  These two 83-year-old friends have been giving 100% to find homes for items from the sheds.  A good helper in Dennis has been invaluable.

   
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  Noreen 3:09 pm on September 9, 2020 Permalink  

  Ducky Day 

  It didn’t know if it wanted to rain or just be gloomy and dark.  I made trails for the sewing studio where the LED lights are always bright.  I didn’t have a reason in the world to be out and about today.  Via a text from neighbor Jan, we missed the fact that the air has been smelling like popcorn due to one of the huge storage bins having caught fire on Monday.  Yup, I need to poke my head outside oftener.  

  Over time I have been gifted quite a few things for the sewing studio.  What has found its way to my home has not gone unused.  Multi-dimensional crafter and sewer that I am, I dabble in a bit of everything.  When nephew Brett closes up his concrete business for the season, he has been on the receiving end when it comes to what I have excess of.  He asks and if I have it, I share it.

  Today was the sifting and sorting of threads.  Oh my gosh!  100% cotton, dual purpose, 100% polyester, cotton silk finish, quilting, embroidery, rug warp . . . and it all needed to be organized.  It may have taken me most of the day, but I know going forward I won’t have to read little labels . . . only choosing colors. 

  I try to stand on the last of the basement steps going into the sewing studio and use fresh eyes to see how the sewing studio appears.  After three days of organizing, feeding the recycling bin, combining like items into one container . . . I like the looks of the sewing studio shelves.  Oh no, the basement walls holding all of the shelves hanging from the top of the concrete block walls are not in any danger of imploding.  We are good going into the cooler fall and winter.  Martha Stewart would say, “It’s a good thing.”

  The mail came today and the JoAnn Fabric flyer went to the circular file.  I am holding true to the 2020 year of working out of the stashes.  It should go easier being able to identify what thread is needed and where to find it.

  A second night of chili for us.  Gotta love leftovers.

   
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  Noreen 2:43 pm on September 8, 2020 Permalink  

  Chilly Willie 

  Wow-zer!  47 degrees this morning.  First day of school for many and I will bet there was a scurry to find jackets.  I stayed in all day.  I saw how gray and damp it was and decided that I would head to the sewing studio.

  I really did not have a choice.  I started an embroidery design yesterday.  It had about 84,000 stitches in it.  I don’t run my machine fast.  It never even hits the halfway mark.  I had gone onto Ebay a while back and found some brand new embroidery designs for a very far price . . . $10.00 for a collection of 18 designs that could be stitched in four different sizes.  It was a collection that had been discontinued by Anita Goodesign.  It was called Vintage Easter.  I think it was discontinued as not many would appreciate having the entire process take hours.  Yes, I said hours.  With a slower speed the machine said 390 minutes. Yesterday at supper time, I put the machine on “sleep” mode and shut off the lights in the sewing studio. 

  This morning, my agenda was to get a batch of chili going.  A good way to get some extra heat in the kitchen and have a great supper for us this evening.

  About ten this forenoon, I went down and woke up the sewing machine and we were off to the races.  I don’t leave the sewing area when the machine is working.  I have heard horrible tales of something going wrong and pieces were needed to be picked out from under the hood.  I can tell you that with the stitching taking five hours, I got a lot of cleaning done in the sewing studio.  The cleaning felt just as good as the final project.  It all turned out great.  This stitching will be ready for next Easter.  The attention to detail on these designs is amazing.  I did put in a new needle halfway through.  Two layers of the corn starch stabilizer plus the needle having to go over previous stitches, I didn’t want to take a chance to have a partial project on my hands.  I did notice with the friction heat of the needle a bit of the sticky stabilizer wanted to pull up and hang onto the needle.  I keep a bottle of nail polish remover handy to take away the sticky residue.  If not, eventually it is sticky enough the tread will break.   

  It has been a good day.  I didn’t really care what was going on outside.  Dennis checked on the chili and he gave it thumbs up for supper.  I had a small pan of rhubarb crisp in the freezer.  That is now making the kitchen smell wonderful.  No . . . I had not prepared this.  When we were coming home from Mankato a time ago, Dennis stopped at the Welch Heritage Apple barn and we tucked one of their goodies in our freezer.  This is a perfect topper for us older ones on Stauffer Avenue.

  Take this weather and enjoy the break from the heat and humidity.  It may not last long but a welcome break it is indeed.

   
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  Noreen 3:19 pm on September 7, 2020 Permalink  

  Action 

  For every action there is a reaction.  It is the law of common sense.  The action I have taken on our front yard is showing the reaction of beautiful new green spears of the Kentucky Blue Grass.  Sweet.

  The action of me using my potato fork for consecutive days digging Crab grass has the reaction of shin splints.  As long as I was doing it repetitively every day all was well.  Once I no longer was using those muscles they decided to let me know what they thought of my hellbent war on Crab grass. They decided to buck a bit and tighten up.

  It has been about five days and I know now that I will be able to walk normally again.  The last time I pulled a stunt like this was when the four of us kids got clamp-on roller skates for a Christmas present.  There had been enough hay used from the haymow that the bare boards could be swept.  We couldn’t wait until after supper to climb the ladder into the haymow.  Needless to say it took sturdy shoes to make the skates stay in place.  Night after night, there was no worry of where we were.  Our Christmas school vacation went all too fast.

  The first day back to school as we headed down the gravel road for Rural District 34, I thought I would die.  The weather was too mild to have Dad give us a ride.  My legs felt as if they could give out from underneath me at any time.  I suffered in silence as I didn’t want to give up the fun. 

  Yup . . . that was me then and that is me now.   All things in moderation is something I am still working on.  I don’t have any regrets about this latest bout of shin splints.  I got it done in time to now have had two different rain showers help with the grass seed in addition to some sprinkler time.  By the way . . . Dennis just shook his head.  This time as well, I kept my mouth shut and hoped I didn’t have to get anywhere too fast.  Silly ole Grammie.

  It comes down to the brain saying . . . “I think I can, I think I can.”  Sure enough, I can.  I need to remember the reactions of my actions.

  Take care and know your capabilities.  I am still working on that.

   
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  Noreen 3:43 pm on September 6, 2020 Permalink  

  A Damp Sunday 

  About midnight last night the rumbling of thunder started with consistent lightning.  No large cracks, just consistent.  It was very loud.  I looked out to see if we had wind with it, but nothing to speak to.  About two it had settled down.  Every once in awhile there would be thunks of hail but thankfully nothing consistent or large.  

  With the inch of rain working its magic on all things green and soon to be green, I decided to stay indoors and get a few things taken care of.  On the docket was a cold salad to whip up for tonight’s supper and most likely an additional supper or two.  

  I have had an attachment that came with my sewing machine. I have looked at it a time or two but today was hands on.  Time to get serious.  I have blank dish towels on hand for just such a day.  My first towel was close, but as in horseshoes . . . close doesn’t count.  I was off in maintaining an even center for the decorative stitching.  Deciding on the stabilizer for the backing is the key.  I also was disappointed in the fact that the fabric around the design puckered, a sure sign of not having the right backing.  A soft cotton towel needs help in holding the stitches as intended.  

  Try, try again.  I had a stabilizer that has corn starch in it.  The backing of glossy paper gets peeled off and then applied onto the back of the towel with consistent pressure smoothing it on.  As I changed threads and designs, I was careful to keep the center of the fabric in place.  I held my breath until I could dunk the finished project into warm water to wash away the stabilizer.  I popped it into the clothes dryer and hoped it wouldn’t shrink into a mess of crunched up stitches.  I do believe I have found the best stabilizer going forward.  It may have something to do with the extra step in having to dunk into water to release the stabilizer and then drying, but the end result is classy and not puckered. The end result of it looking less than the time and thread spent to achieve it . . . it’s not a good thing.  The blank dish towels from Mills Fleet Farm are choice, much like the originals from feed stores of times past.

  God bless corn starch.  It thickens any gravy sauce into a smooth texture. It soothes skin that has chaffed from rubbing fabric that is sweat-drenched.  Lo and behold, it is my choice of sewing stabilizer when doing decorative work.  Who knew! 

  I think there is still time for some patio sitting before putting out supper.  Cold salads always have a better taste after all the ingredients have co-mingled.

  This next week looks like a winner in regard to weather.  So far we have a light schedule.  As long as I keep checking the calendar on my telephone, we are good to go.

   
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  Noreen 3:48 pm on September 5, 2020 Permalink  

  Peaceful Day 

  We didn’t have anything serious today on the plate.  Sitting on the patio and taking in the traffic that was whizzing by.  

  Taking in what was needed for groceries, Dennis offered to chauffeur me up to our local grocery store.  

  All is well here on Stauffer Avenue.  It is an unusual day when we fritter the time away.  It actually feels foreign.  

  Wishing it well with you as well.  What a great season that only Minnesota can offer.