Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 6:24 pm on January 29, 2020 Permalink  

  I Remain Impressed 

  I have seen many changes in the world of sewing and quilting. 

  My gosh from the time I can remember, small children played under the expanse of a quilt frame that would be put up in the living room of homes waiting for the expert hand quilters to sit around that frame.  Those expert quilters were Mom and my aunts. It was not unusual for hand stitches to number from eight to ten per inch. The needles were sharp and they were amazingly short.  It was the up and down motion of the wrist of the right hand to bury that needle through the layers of the quilt while the left hand was underneath guiding it right back to the surface. 

  I did work with Mom on quilts but I was not a fast quilter.  Keeping a thimble on the fingers to assist with the jabs and pokes in itself is an art. I would end up with band-aids in multiple layers to protect my fingers until I got the thimble thing down pat.

  When we lived in Madelia, Orlin put a quilt frame up in the dining room.  I had pieced a quilt top called Jacob’s Ladder.  I was determined to hand quilt it.  It was a good thing we had an adequate table in the kitchen or we would have been hard pressed to eat our meals.  Orlin, Carrie and Kevin walked around that frame for many weeks.  Mom did come one day towards the end to help me finish it.  That quilt got good use and as of today, I have it safely stored in the closet.  Sweet!   

  When hand stitching became more than I could handle, using yarn or floss to tie quits worked as well.  

  Fast forward.  I have now relinquished any thought of  working with large quilts right through the finished product.  I have people!  Putting together quilt tops is so enjoyable for me.  It takes me quite awhile.  The nine point pinwheel was started in the summer of 2019.  This Tuesday it has come back to me totally quilted.  I am so impressed with the long-arming quilters.  When I see how many stitch designs Sharon worked into this quilt, it is just plain wonderful and very much appreciated.  The quilt is 89″ x 89″ and it made a dent in my stash.   After I complete the wall hanging project that I had won from Creative Stitches in Bird Island, I will work on the binding. 

  It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if there may be another scrappy jewel coming out of the sewing studio.  Time will tell.  I am impressed with the work Sharon did and I am just as impressed by myself for continuing a family tradition of playing with fuzz and thread.

   
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  Noreen 6:48 pm on January 28, 2020 Permalink  

  The Day Flew 

  The ole adage, “Time flies when you are having fun” is still viable.  The day in the sewing studio was very productive.  The applique blocks for the wall hanging that I am working on are time intensive.  

  I had to shut the lights off at four thirty and get ready for my appointment at the St. James Eagles Club.  As planned Sharon was there at five with my finished long-armed quilt in tow.  I stayed long enough to meet the gals she was having supper with, pay Sharon for her talented work and then take my leave.  In the days ahead I will be working on getting the binding prepared.  First things first. The wall hanging will have to be finished first.

  By the way . . . the Eagles Club was void of people.  It would be hard to justify having the kitchen up and running when there were five people that were ordering food and a lowly two fellows at the bar.

  When us stitchers do get together the topic of UFOs does surface: unfinished objects in the sewing studios.  I do not prescribe to UFOs.  If in the near future, I am not able to be in the sewing studio, it would be horrible for someone else to try and figure out how to go on to finish the project.  I can predict that it would hit the circular file.  Well . . . on second thought nephew Brett most likely could handle it.

  I had gotten a text from Brett that he needed some quilting assist, so that was my next stop.  It seems that he may be short of some fabric and the solution will be for him to drop over tomorrow and check out my stashes.  I am happy to share as those stashes that I have are there as others have shared with me.

  Supper was a bit late for us.  We had been prepared.  Dennis had worked up some potato salad and sliced cucumber with onions.  All that was needed was to heat some precooked pork chops and the meal was complete in less than 10 minutes.

  I had thought it would be warmer today.  We had snowflakes, we had some mist and we had a whole bunch of clouds.

  The neck brace is about to be gotten out as I have called it quits for the remainder of the night.  It is tempting to go back down into the sewing studio after supper but enough is enough. If I overdue it, it may not remain fun.

   
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  Noreen 5:12 pm on January 27, 2020 Permalink  

  A Social Day 

  A ten a.m. physical therapy appointment had me front and center.  I do arrive a bit before hand.  No way am I going to make someone wait for me that is doing well by me.  The gristle in the neck is diminishing and that is evident by the fewer headaches I have been having.  I do wear the neck brace every night.  The first several nights, it didn’t make it until dawn.  It was an acquired comfort apparatus to get used to.  I am on a two week schedule with Mike.  He agrees the neck brace, when worn, gives everything above it and everything below it a chance to resume some semblance of normality.  During the day, I can feel when I need to fetch it and put it on.  Before I go to bed, Dennis can fit it better than I can for the duration.

  After PT, I headed to Mankato for my stitchers group.  Weather had prevented our usual Monday.  It is a breath of fresh air to chew the fat, as Dennis would say, with those of kindred spirit.  I always come home with a fresh outlook on various aspects of stitching. 

  While I was at Baker’s Square with the gals I got a phone call.  I need to be at the St. James Eagle’s Club at five tomorrow afternoon.  Sharon, the longarm quilter from Sherburn is meeting some friends there for their bar menu. . . she has my quilt completed.  Good grief, I only took it to her last Wednesday afternoon.  Sharon thought it would save me a highway trip.  I can just imagine the stools along the bar doing a 90 degree turn as the old ladies pull out a quilt.  Too funny.

  A mist is in the air and it’s dreary out.  Looks to be the case all week.  Better than snow shoveling.

   
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  Noreen 5:10 pm on January 26, 2020 Permalink  

  A Sunday on Stauffer Ave 

  After the usual household tasks, I let Dennis know I would be in the sewing studio if he needed me.  Dennis allowed me to know that he was going over to his friend Dave’s home in regard to a problem with a take-down rifle.

  Determined to work on this wall hanging that I won, I hunkered down.  I put in a new needle and oiled a few ports.  Embroidery designs can rack up 10,000 to 12,000 stitches in short order.

  This project is a good testimony to exercise in patience.  As I am not in any hurry . . . all is well.  When the twenty plus blocks are done the entire kitchen themed wall hanging is working around Christmas.  Included is Glitter Flex for some blocks.  It is a pliable plastic that has come out recently being used in quilts and is deemed to be durable. to the extent of being laundered.  Perhaps much like the jackets with embellishments.  That will be a new experience for me when I work with those blocks.   

  The block that was the most challenging today was the one that had a cupcake on a cake platter.  What’s to keep a cupcake from drying out . . . a glass dome.  Before sewing the clear plastic dome down, I had to be sure to add the button that replicated a mint candy.  The block that featured the cup with whipped cream, had a piece of foam that needed to be added before the final stitching.   

  This would not be a project for a beginning stitcher.  It will cause me to run my fingers through my white hair as I puzzle through the blocks.  Dennis is encouraging . . . and amazed to the extent that this project has been thought through including all the bells and whistles.

  Last night Dennis counted 12 female deer of various ages that were here at one time for supper.  Between neighbor Jan’s and us, I know they all get something.  The hay that Dennis has under the Maple tree laced with shell corn sprinkled in and among is a favorite.  Late on in the evening the two male deer come.  They are not included with the first pass. 

  During the day the side show continues as the squirrels are bound and determined to find some of that shell corn hiding in the hay.  Dennis and the patio porch cats have entertainment . . . non-stop.  Each day Dennis’ hand is showing improvements.  I have no doubt that there is infection that needs to be absorbed into his system via the antibiotics.  He has really beefed up the water intake.  Get it flushed out one way or another. 

  The sun made a welcomed appearance this afternoon, though short.

  Supper is a package of frozen Prime Rib noodle soup.  It sure is handy to have a few items stashed away.

   
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  Noreen 2:38 pm on January 25, 2020 Permalink  

  A Good Saturday 

  We may sleep in on most mornings . . . that would be eight a.m.  Dennis has his livestock to check on as he takes his coffee to the patio porch.  Dennis likes to take mornings slow.

  Once my feet are out of the bed, there are tracks to be made, especially on a Saturday.  There is a strict schedule on bedding hitting the laundry. 

  There had been a time when I would need coffee time before I lifted a finger.  During this last year I have cut back on coffee and start the day with three glasses of water in my red Solo cup. I may have a cup of coffee at three in the afternoon.  All good farmers had a three o’clock coffee break in the afternoon. 

  With the washing machine humming, I got the countertop mixer ready for cookies.  There still are some cookies in the freezer from last Saturday.  Variety is a good thing.  Maybe in weeks to come I won’t be in the mood for baking and I will have some for Dennis to fall back on.  The cookies were a hit when Dennis took some to the apartment complex yesterday where Dennis’ friend Lyle lives.  Dennis is very social and the group at the apartment complex love to see him come as some do not get out much.  All are about the same age as Dennis and all have known each other for decades.   For the group to gather in the commons area in the afternoon is a highlight in the day.  

  It seems that none of those living in the apartment complex care to bake.  For Dennis to have such a good time when he does go for coffee with them, it is the least that we can do by sending Dennis off with a dozen cookies when he does go.

  With the cookies baked and the kitchen made tidy,  it was time to give Dennis a haircut.  It is not the easiest thing on my shoulders and hands but then it is greatly appreciated.  There are times the ole cowboy’s schedule is hectic to the point that he can’t go to Great Clips with me.  Nothing says tidy like a neatened up head of hair.  By the way, Dennis’ hand is beginning to feel much better.  It still looks really angry.  Go antibiotics! 

  Gray skies seem to be the norm as well as slush.  It is a good break from cold and snow storms.  I may not poke at anymore today.  I have an oven meal to fix for supper.  At times we purchase a rotisserie chicken from our grocery store.  There is a lot of meat on those roasting birds.  We have one meal from it for supper and the remainder I bone out.  This evening the boned out diced chicken has found itself on the bottom of a square baking dish.  I have shredded cheese to sprinkle on the chicken and then cover it with a package of prepared Stove Top Stuffing.  At 325 degrees,  it won’t take long to reach the temperature of 145-155 degrees.  Yes . . . I have restrained myself from adding chopped Brussels Sprouts.  After all, Dennis is a patient and TLC does help heal.

   

   
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  Noreen 3:43 pm on January 24, 2020 Permalink  

  More Than Bills 

  Sometimes the mail brings more than bills.  Before Christmas I received a package from Creative Stitches in Bird Island.  I knew I had not ordered anything.

  In October when I had gone to Creative Stitches to pick up Carrie’s sewing machine I had put my name in a box.  Didn’t even really pay attention to what the drawing would be for.  As it turned out, Amanda is now carrying a line of products by Kimberbell.  I received the winning results.  It is a kit of projects, fabric and machine embroidery files.  

  My winnings included everything needed for a 32″ x 32″ wall hanging.  When I say “everything,” I mean everything.  One bag was full of multiple fabrics and the second bag was the embellishments.  Buttons and trim to the nth.  It is a Christmas-themed item.  I downloaded all the designs yesterday.  On the CD there are additional projects for aprons and placemats.  The instruction book is very complete.  After embroidering 20 plus blocks working with appliques and applying all the borders . . . I am going to be set for a new item in our home for the 2020 Christmas season.

  As I had the first block going, it took me awhile to get the hang of it. An outline is sewn out.  Then a piece of fabric is put on the outline and the sewing pattern repeats that outline.  Extra fabric then needs to be trimmed away.  A satin stitch is then sewn covering all the raw edges of the fabric.  This process goes on and on and on for each block and each additional block thereafter.  That is the applique process.  Fabric is applied for it to be then stitched onto the design block.  It should keep me in stitches for some time.

  So I got curious.  I went online to look into the Kimberbell line of products.  When I saw that this kit was valued at $159.00, I looked no more.  I will complete this project and then send Amanda a photo.  It was a great surprise to receive this.

  By the way, Dennis’ hand looks so much better after only beginning the antibiotics.  He will follow through as this setback has taken a tole on his schedules, be they what they be.  He took a dozen cookies over to the apartment complex this afternoon where his friend Lyle lives.  The gathering takes place at three and Dennis thought a treat taken over would be good.  I agreed. 

  Some of my days seemed more filled than others and that is the way I like it.

   
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  Noreen 6:13 pm on January 23, 2020 Permalink  

  Wet Feet 

  When I stepped out of the car at the grocery store this afternoon, I never expected that the puddle hiding under the snow slush would soak my shoe beyond the sole.  We have had all seasons of weather within a span of four days.  Days of thirty degrees and more is wasted when the sun doesn’t shine.  The forecast has many gray days coming up.

  Dennis has an owie.  Last Thursday he said his hand felt swollen.  When I took a good look, it could very well have been a rubber glove that had been filled with water waiting to be pricked with a pin.  Dennis had no recollection of what he had done.  He had been cleaning barrels of some older guns but there was nothing that came to mind for the actual injury.  Each day I wondered how long it would take before his finger nails would pop off.

  Today . . . enough already!   We had him at the clinic by nine this morning.   Nothing is broken.  No damage to tendons.  It may have well been similar to a water blister under the skin that found a bit of bacteria to react to and fire up.  Dennis will be on antibiotics for 10 days.   Good grief Dennis is about as bad as my dad was . . . waiting to feel better before going to the doctor.  Being right handed has had its problems for Dennis.  He realizes now why many people choose sweat pants to live in.

  It had started off to be a quiet day in the sewing studio.  I did get down there after a wait at the pharmacy and a trip to the grocery store.  It takes my whole being and concentration when I work with digital files for a stitching design.  I don’t download designs often enough to stay in the grove.  When there is no one living with me that can assist with computers, it is try, try, try again . . . and then finally the correct switch is flipped in the gray matter and it works.  Who knows . . . perhaps furrows in between my eyes are meant to accentuate my white hair.   If I give in or if I give up, it is a nail in my coffin. 

  Once I have my act together with stitching and quilting, the process of either of those two does quiet me.  I intend to be quiet for some time to come.  Whether errands take you to puddles to get wet feet or if you jump into challenges with both feet, it all works out in the end.

   
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  Noreen 6:13 pm on January 22, 2020 Permalink  

  Not Spring 

  It may not be spring outside today, but the temps in the mid thirties weren’t too hard to take.  Much concrete came peeking out on our property.

  It was just several days ago that I finished the 89″ x 89″ pinwheel quilt top.  I reached out to see who was available to do the longarming.  As I type, no doubt the project is being loaded on a longarm in Sherburn.  Though Sharon sold the Old Alley Quilt Shop, she has a longarm unit in the basement of her home in Sherburn.  Sharon was thrilled that I would have her do the project.  It just happened to work out for both of us.

  The entire way driving the 26 miles to Sherburn the wipers were taking away the mist of rain.  When I left Sharon’s house and turned the wipers on, they were moving a bit more than just the mist of rain.  The temperatures were just at the point of freezing the mist.  The roads were clear as we headed to the home-front.  I have no doubt that there will be fog for those traveling this evening.

  Dennis and I had agreed that we would do Subway this evening.  As I pulled into the Subway parking lot, a text message came from nephew Brett, aka: the concrete construction guy turned winter quilter.  His home is close to Subway so I made a stop.  He was putting on his largest pieced quilt top, 82″ x 82″ onto his longarm.  Brett has come a long way during these last three winters.  Brett is learning that prep and patience makes it all go much smoother.   Hmm.  Not a whole lot different than doing a concrete job.  I go to see Brett for the moral support he needs.  There aren’t many of “his people” who can understand the importance of matched seams and seams that need to be pressed open.

  As of this afternoon, my streak of being a road warrior is over.  All of my objectives that needed to be met outside of our home has been completed.  It’s time to turn on the sewing studio lights and get something going.  It’s like . . . do something while I can.

  The Subway supper hit the spot.  Dennis’ favorite is the 6″ tuna sub.  I enjoy the spinach wraps.  No dishes to do is also sweet.  May everyone enjoy the evening with nourishment in the stomach and getting the night’s sleep needed to regenerate for what may present itself in the tomorrow. 

  It’s not spring yet, so no splashing in the water puddles as they may be slick ice.

   
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  Noreen 4:49 pm on January 21, 2020 Permalink  

  I Have Had a Full Day 

  Today I went to Mankato, solo.  Yes!  I got a haircut.  Great Clips was the first place I checked in at.  I could come back in one hour, 45 minutes.  That gave me time to run a few errands.  I went to the farthermost stop which was Mills Fleet.  

  Mills Fleet has some of the most authentic feed sack towels that I have run across.  They are squared and hemmed.  When I do a bit of stitching on them, they make quick shower gifts or a thank you gift for someone who has helped us with a project.  I bypassed all the aisles of eatable goodies.  I did add to the cart several baking items that I was out of.  Dennis does say that my homemade cookies are so much better than the boughten ones.

  The winds could not be discounted today on the open roadways.  Blowing snow is so much worse on highway 60 between Lake Crystal and Madelia than anywhere else on the trip to Mankato.

  When I got home Dennis’ grandson Ryan had the roof lines clear of snow.  With these very cold days, it was the perfect time to get the snow off.  Tomorrow, when and if the temps reach the mid thirties, that is the perfect recipe for the melting snow to cling to the roof edges and begin to build . . . ice dams.  In a perfect world, taking the snow down after each fall is what is prescribed.  After today we are prepared for the next snow.  Ryan even got the snowblower out and moved the removed snow farther away from the house.  If Ryan really liked the brownies that Dennis fed him for a job well done, we may see him again after a snowfall.

  Dennis made a return trip to the elevator to pick up the multitude of five gallon pails.  The bins in the garage are full of shell corn for the deer.  What Dennis has seen is that we have 10 female deer that come and feed at one time.  Afterwards there are two males that come.   Dennis is in total agreement with that schedule.  The female deer need to be as healthy as possible for healthy fawns to be born.  When I get up during the night in the wee hours to use the bathroom, it’s not unusual that there are still a few deer that are grazing next to the Maple where Dennis has corn sprinkled in with the hay.

  It’s been a good day.  We are home safe and sound in our warm home.  Priceless.

   
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  Noreen 5:12 pm on January 20, 2020 Permalink  

  I Can Do this 

  For the first time since the late 80s, I am standing in my home and looking at snow that is layered in places that usually had gotten cleared.  No snow removal for me this year.

  Neighbor Randy is clearing our driveway.  Dennis is doing a great job of removing snow where it is important.  Our vehicles can be gotten out of the garages.  The back door is clear of snow.  The sidewalk on the front side of our home has snow on it.  The front steps have snow on them.  The driveway is not clear to the bare concrete . . . and guess what . . . I am content looking at it.

  It is difficult to let some things slide.  More importantly, reason and logic take over.  It makes me feel proud that Dennis and I do what we do and how we do it.  I still ramrod a clean home.  Dennis takes care of the his patio porch just as well as I do our home.  We have healthy meals that are chosen from a good supply in the pantry.  Our vehicles are kept up to snuff.  Nothing within the physical portion of our property is in need of repairs.  We are doing well.

  Both Dennis and I talk about how it used to be when we could take on whatever dared cross our paths.  The best part is that we can still bluff our way in some respects when others that we keep in touch with begin complaining.  We don’t complain.  We tend to sit at the dining room table and congratulate each other with what we can do and leave some things for those who can.

  With that being said, Dennis called grandson Ryan to come over tomorrow and clear some snow off of the roof line of the house and garage.  Dennis had helped out Ryan numerous times when he needed grandpa to go up north with a car carrier when Ryan’s vehicles had broken down.  Ya, young kids don’t think about keeping the vehicles up to snuff but know who to contact when they need a ride.

  Dennis has his containers at the elevator for refills of shell corn for the deer.  He can pick them up tomorrow.  Five gallon pails are just the right size and heft for Dennis.   

  Perhaps I can’t do everything I used to, but what I can do . . . I do well.  We are so ready for some warmer weather.