Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:25 pm on October 23, 2025 Permalink  

  Frost 

  Frost of the roof tops.  That may be telling about the last of the flowers that have been enjoying fall.  Dennis did get his two huge houseplants in last week.  They both have a lot of years on them.  The Schefflera comes from the era of when I had local boards of review in the Madelia City Hall.  It was a plant from Joe McCabe’s grandpa’s funeral.  The Palm plant was a gift from a co-worker from times past.  

  Dennis had found some granular fertilizer in the garage and I am sure every once in awhile he gives them a sprinkle.  He fills gallon water jugs so I now they do not want for water.  I can only hope they help clean the air in the patio porch from his smoking.

  The VA was giving flu shots today.  I rode along and people watched as I waited for him.  From there we stopped at the bank.  I always go inside and there is never anyone behind the teller desks that I know.  They are all so young.  When Dennis visits the bank he does the drive-through.  I tried it once, a while back, but the left arm doesn’t have a reach for it.

  Kitty litter was the next stop.  Family Dollar has the light-weight litter in plastic jugs.  I picked up three of them promising to return the cart after Dennis got them in the back of the pickup.  We save the clean empty jugs for Brett.  Concrete jobs are always in need of water for quick cleanups on the sites.

  Super Fair Grocery for a few items was the next stop.  Those items that were purchased are not on the list that I have for Sam’s Club.  Doable sizes in products have become better for me to handle in the kitchen.

  As Dennis had been doing the “people watching” during the last stops, he made a departmental decision: we are going to the Home Town for supper.  It has been for sale as an on-going cafe for some time.  The new owners are from out of the area, have a manager to run it.  It had been closed for a week or so.  It will be interesting to see if any changes will be in place.  The community is thrilled  that it will remain open.

  Tomorrow we do plan on a trip to Mankato.  I have a list going.  Bulk paper products and non-prescription health items are on the list.  Time to do the pre-winter purchases while there is no ice or snow to contend with.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:14 pm on October 22, 2025 Permalink  

  Sun Shine 

  Oh let the sun shine in and show all the streaks on the windows.

  Several hours in the studio today brought about some stitching.  Then . . . it was food for thought on how the last of the border would be stitched down before the binding would go on.  Slow going prevents would have, should have and could have been.  With hand stitching it sometimes calls for picking out stitches when an error is made.  Not a big deal.  Picking out stitches from free motion stitching is . . . I don’t even want to go there.

  Working with fabrics and pins of any and all sorts is hard on the fingernails.  My nails have a tendency to split.  Right about the time that they have grown out, I put them through dealing with the same thing what got them in tough shape.  I think putting clear nail polish on my nails might help them grow out being sheltered.  I haven’t had nail polish in the house for one heck of a long time.  Time to visit one of the dollar stores in town. 

  The wind has given up a bit and Dennis has been picking up the branches that were long gone dead but caught up in the  healthy branches.  If the wind of yesterday didn’t free them, I do believe there are safe where they are for the time being.  The little round steel burning ring, a rim from a truck, is making short work of the majority of branches. 

  We are having Progresso Tomato Soup for supper with grilled cheese sandwiches on the side.  I will add just a scant plop of heavy cream into the saucepan for a bit of richness.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:29 pm on October 21, 2025 Permalink  

  The Dance 

  Stauffer Avenue is gravel.  After many gradings and oil put down for dust control, the surface is quite packed.  The winds are wild.  A gust of the winds take a full coverage of leaves to the east.  A few moments later the gust does a swirl and the same leaves are heading west.  There is nothing to slow the dancing leaves down. 

  The studio has a project in progress, like no other.  My goal is to have a two sided 54″ x 54″ lap robe.  One side is predominately browns and blacks.  The other side is hues of blue.  When doing the free motion quilting, I don’t want the black thread of the quilting showing on the blue side and vice versa.  I knew I had a spool of mono-filament thread, aka:  much, much lighter weight than what is used for fishing.  It was very hard to tame.  Actually it was very hard to see it as it wanted to free flow off of the spool.  I got a bobbin wound with the hope of using it on the blue side.  The top thread was black.  I did try it out doing straight stitching.

  Everything had been pinned with the red-headed safety pins so the amount of shifting was at a minimum.  After a successful straight stitching, I went ahead and lowered the feed dogs to give it a try in one of the corners to see how it would react with the quilt batting sandwiched.  All went well.  The center is quilted.  I can see that on the blue side it has been quilted without any hint of the black thread showing as the needle pulled down the black thread to pick up the mono-filament thread.

  

  When I had completed the free motion quilting, I called it a day.  The blue side was down and I noticed that there is a 2″ x 10″  length that has a small tuck in it.  I could cut the threads to smooth it out but then I would have lengths of thread to fasten down.  Nope.  It’s the best I could do at the time.  It was a lot of shoulder, arm and hand motion.  There is about a five inch border around this project.  I have not as yet decided on how to finish that portion.  Doing free motion is more difficult when the edge of the project doesn’t have tension on it.  I’ll think of something.

  The chilly temps have brought out Dennis’ warmer duds.  I have no doubt the furnace in the patio porch has taken the chill off . . . why not!

  Dennis made a run for cigarettes and picked up a prescription for me at Lewis Drug.  I was thankful I didn’t have to leave the house today.

  It is that time of day when negotiations will take place for supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:00 pm on October 20, 2025 Permalink  

  Rainy and Cloudy 

  It is very chilly, rainy and cloudy for the start of a new week.  With that being stated I feel better today than I did yesterday.  A new week with a cleaned up attitude. 

  Yesterday I found myself living in a comparison mode of a time gone by rather than the reality of today.  The comparison was a thief of my joy that can and does follow me more times than not.

  Last night I felt a wind that lifted me up under my wings for the possibilities of a new week bringing joy.  Priceless.

  This morning, I felt energized when I went into the studio.  I switched on every light possible.  I surveyed my task at hand and set about making inroads.  The usual and customary at hand.  I spent several good hours before the lights went out.  Picking away, small steps, brings progress.  What I did bring up from the studio was a small ball of yarn and a crochet hook.  Time will tell.  The index finger on my left hand and its movement is the key to the tension needed for crocheting.  That finger has little to no life.  My plan of attack is to check with my YouTubes to see what I can find out.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Time will tell.  

  We had talked about a trip to Mankato for today.  As blustery as the weather was, we decided to do that on a day later this week when the temps would be warmer.  Nothing was needed that could not be gotten at that time.  The pantry on Stauffer Avenue is not in dire straits.  Yes, Dennis does enjoy his giant banana nut muffins from Sam’s Club for his breakfast.  I slipped him a peanut butter and peach jam sandwich instead.  It got positive reviews.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:33 pm on October 19, 2025 Permalink  

  It’s Not Working 

  When Megan was a small tike who wanted to do all things crafting when she visited, I would sometimes hear that soft little voice, “It’s not working.”  Well, Megan, today it was my voice and there was nothing soft or little about it.  I had been in the studio for several hours when Dennis came down to check in on me.  Seeing nothing had progressed since yesterday, Dennis gave me his condolences.  It was Dennis’ voice that was soft and with a bit of hesitancy.  He wondered out loud, and I gave him credit for even saying anything as I was pretty worked up . . . what was different today.  I gave him a sorrowful look.  “I think I have had a stroke.”  There it was, right out in the open as to why I wasn’t getting the cooperation I needed.  Somehow, the grace I have been given time and time again wasn’t there today.  Had I taken it for granted too many times?

  It was best to shut the studio down for today.  Dennis went upstairs and I followed after making sure to have shut everything down.  It’s one thing to know that a hot iron will shut off automatically after x-number of hours, but it feels more assured to know it has been shut down and off completely.

  The remainder of the day has me sitting in my cherry chair in my bedroom porch watching Cottonwood leaves dance along the street as the north wind catches them.  The abundance of squirrels chasing around, tells me their harvest is in full swing. 

  Supper is savory left0vers.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:26 pm on October 18, 2025 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  There are gray skies outside but I have plenty of sunshine in my soul to share.

  Never a dull moment in the studio or at Stauffer Avenue.  I worked arduously on my Christmas silhouette stitching.  Perhaps not perfect.  I did not cut anything off of the back, I just tucked it in before covering the back with carboard.  It is now in the dining portion of our first floor, hung for me, myself and I to enjoy.

  There is another 54″ x 54″ being sandwiched on the church tables.  That size is the perfect size for me to work on.  The case with the red-headed safety pins is front and center.  They remain wearing on the finger if I over-do it . . . not nearly as wearing and downright painful as regular safety pins.  The slide on the red-headed pins just glide in place and likewise when I need to remove them.

  KNUJ was on in the studio when the doorbell sounded.  I did try to call out for someone to come in . . . nothing.  I got to the top of the steps as fast as I could.  Dennis’ older brother’s family was at the door.  Nephew Mark and his son from Nebraska, and nephews Mitch and Matt from Windom came a-calling to see Uncle Dennis.  I stayed in the patio porch being polite until I took my leave and let the fellows reminisce.  What a great surprise for Dennis to catch up with family.

  The freezer offered up a container of pulled pork from a crockpot rendering a bit ago for tonight’s supper.  Yesterday Dennis was in charge of the kitchen making his cucumber and raw onion dish.  Dennis wanted them to cohabitate in the refrigerator until this evening’s supper for the flavors to blend.  There will be instant mashed potatoes for the cucumber dish to be spooned over.  Sounds good to me.  I’ll have the load of laundry folded by the time he rings the dinner bell.

  Earlier, Dennis came back from Fleet and Farm with a few purchases.  The item that was quite a bit higher than the last time he had bought it was the filter for his shop vac in the patio porch.  Grin and bare it.  The filters can be vacuumed off only so many times from and with cat hairs before a new one is considered.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on October 17, 2025 Permalink  

  Frugal 

  There is a fine line between being frugal or being cheap.  I opt for being in the frugal category.

  As I was in the studio measuring pieces of quilt batting, Dennis shook his head as he watched.  He commented he would drive me to Sherburn to the Old Alley Quilt Shop for what I needed.  I thanked him and with a shake of my head, I continued on with my measuring.  The point of my task was to use what I had, what I had already spent money on.

  When all was said and done, I had quilt batting that measured 58″ x 62″.  Perfect for the next 54″ x 54″ project.  It makes me so darn happy to put pencil to paper and utilize what my stashes are begging of me to use.  Once I knew the objective had been met, I went on to the next project.

  A bit ago I had completed a cross stitch of a Christmas Silhouette.  I was going to use a frame from times past.  No, you don’t just pop those suckers in and call it done.  In order to even think about the frame, I needed to put fabric around the stitched piece so it would be compatible to the frame.  Geez . . . I hate finite measuring.  It took me several hours of measure this, measure that and measure more.  I am here to tell you, I did the best I could.  I understand why framers in Michael’s charge what they do.  Let’s not forget that the tools they have to make things look perfect go beyond my pink 12″ acrylic ruler.  The item has been put into the frame and it is now on the church tables so when I come into the studio, I can scrutinize it from all sides.  It may grow on me.

  My stitching projects are for nothing more than my busy work.  I am still new to retirement and have not yet learned the art of sitting on my hands and watching the world go by.  Yes, Grandma Laura Wendlandt, I am of the same mind as what you had . . . something to show for each day God has given us.  I loved her “Africans.”  My afghans  couldn’t hold a candle to hers.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:43 pm on October 16, 2025 Permalink  

  The Wind 

  The wind is whistling through the evergreen on the northwest corner of our home.  At times it is more like a howl.  As I sit in my bedroom porch looking to the south, the window screens are dotted with Asian beetles.  Too many to count.  The bright sun shining on them as they are in flight make them look iridescent.  Mother Nature’s art form.

  Over the last month, I have been watching the small rental house across the street from us.  It is currently empty.  The owners are Hispanic: Pocko and Blanka.  I know nothing more of them other than they own the little house that they rent out.  When a set of renters moves out it is sometimes in the cover of night.  It may be because they owe Pocko and Blanka money.  Each day I had first seen remains being emptied from the small house, I knew it was empty.  It seems no body cleans up after themselves before they leave.

  I had gauged the amount of work that had been done over this last month.  Yesterday, I knew it was my day.  Being mindful of fast traffic, my walking sticks and I took off across the street.  I knocked on the door of the rental with one of my walking sticks.  Pocko opened the door and smiled when he saw who it was.  I was welcomed in and he made mention to Blanka, and he was certain the grandma would come as I have come each time they need to tidy the home before they welcome new renters.  With pride they pointed out the new kitchen cabinets, new flooring along with the total paint job throughout the home from top to bottom.  After I had been shown their progress, Pocko, laughing, asked if they had passed inspection.  I shook his hand and gave them both a thumbs us.  I bid them a goodbye but Blanka insisted on walking me back home.  Sweet.  Today the “For Rent” sign was put out on the lawn of the rental.  

  Sometimes in life there are moments when it feels so good to be who I am with individuals that may seem to be worlds apart from me but yet close.  I hope it will be some time before I can visit across the street again, signaling that the new renters enjoy the home that was tidied for them.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on October 15, 2025 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  It’s a happy day when the the last half of our real estate taxes are due, October 15th, and . . . we took care of ours in total in May.  That became important when the six months of home owner’s insurance is due as well as the the six months of car insurance is due.  There is only so much the month of October can handle.  We absolutely are keeping the economy moving.

  Today, I headed to the grocery store and was reminded it was senior citizens day, too late as I was in the doorway of the store.  I am sure Dennis thought I had been picked up for squeezing the avocados and been hauled off to the poky.  Yes, there were individuals I had not seen for some time. How could I not engage when approached.  All is well as we got home safe and sound.

  This forenoon went well in the studio.  My next task for another day will be pulling out my tote of quilt batting to see if there is enough for my next 54″ x 54″ project. I have tape specifically designed to patch together odds and ends of binding, all the while, with no indication of it in the finished project.

  I have a “post-a-note” on the top of my laptop as a reminder of an October 17th event.  I would be hard pressed to forget want happened 60 years ago as we were living in Beaver Falls working for Orlin’s sister and her husband on a beef cattle farm.  Actually, the fact that there was no running water in the farm house, was not on the top of my agenda.  Yup, its a good thing I have the “post-a-note” for the 17th.

  We are having bean and ham soup for supper.  Perfect pairing on a chilly, cloudy day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:30 pm on October 14, 2025 Permalink  

  A Dreary Day 

  It is a dreary day that is bringing some rain showers.  The rain is needed.  It seems like its been forever since I stained the deck and the dust was something awful on it.  No mere sprinkles would clean it.  It would take a hard driving rain.

  I slept so hard last night, you would have thought I had been digging ditches yesterday.  I know I had gotten up during the night, but not sure what the time was.  It was nine thirty when my feet hit the floor.  Usually when the garbage truck bang-idy bangs our bin on a given Tuesday that would have been my wake-up call.  The time I get up matters nothing.  The important thing is that I felt rested and ready to take on the remaining day. 

  My first task in the studio today was to tidy up the various fabrics I had pulled out to find just that right fit for the bathroom window.  There were other fabrics that I had used, a portion of each for Megan’s project.  Each fabric was measured and a note was then pinned on each one as to the size each one was.  It makes it so much easier the next time I need to surf through the stashes.

  I am on several sites of the internet that have pop-ups when a new item in their quilt shops is featured.  It sure is tempting when all the wonderful hues speak to me.  Nope.  I have made it my personal quest to churn through my stashes, getting creative to make do with what is on hand.

  I did have fabric of a two yard length that I may be able to use in a coming project.  The first thing is to cut off the salvage along the length of the fabric where the manufacturer is listed and even the collection that the length came from.  The salvage is tightly woven.  If it is used in a sewing project, it may well be a  seam that will not want to play nice.  I have gotten that much done. 

  As I look out of the windows of my bedroom porch, I am amazed how many of the trees are already free of their leaves without having had a hard frost.  After this rain, I think more will decided to let go of that spindly stem attaching them to their parent . . . and drop.

  One thing that is lacking today is the grain hauling semis.  In all probability,  yesterday may have been the last of the harvest.

  Nothing more to report at this juncture.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥