Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:54 pm on July 26, 2017 Permalink  

  From Fabric Stash to Quilt Tops 

  

  When Aunt Lorraine came for a several-day visit she was determined to work with some fabric. Heck ya . . . I had that! We used up the dedicated stash making all the squares finished at 6″.

  

  These six inch blocks did finish out at 68″ x 86″ for a twin sized quilt once it is paired with a backing and batting.

  

  Hip-Hip-Hurray! All of the colorful scraps have been put in place. It was a challenge to find a placement that was totally different from the first quilt top. This would actually fit a king sized bed at 98″ x 101″. Some additional stitching on the borders during the quilting process will add dimension as it works with the batting for a bit of a puff. I have not worked towards or even thought about what backing fabrics to pair for these two tops. This was a project that was not easy on the eyes when it came time to placing the blocks on these two quilt tops. “Step back and blink, blink.” True to myself I feel great about using up what was on hand. In time to come these two will be finished, ready to offer comfort, warmth and cuddle time. A big thank you to Aunt Lorraine for the enthusiasm and help with all the cutting.

   
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  Noreen 5:17 pm on July 25, 2017 Permalink  

  Thrills Via Cat Nip 

  It was the best ever morning for a walk. The clouds were so-o-o heavy I didn’t have to wear a long sleeve shirt or straw hat to protect from the sun. True to myself, I was still ready to sit on the patio upon returning to dry out. It was difficult to go into the house . . . so I didn’t. A few weeds were pulled before returning to the patio chair and the last of the coffee.

  A heavy thump nearly made me spill my brew. Snuggles must have had a bit too much catnip and he found himself not only able to get on top of the patio porch, but he had jumped onto the patio umbrella. It was a merry-go-round of a ride. As he checked out each portion of the umbrella it twirled to counter act the weight of a tuned up cat. I knew he was in over his head as it was the first time I have actually heard him meow – and meow loudly he did.

  It took some time before he had the gumption to jump back onto the roof of the patio porch. What a cat. After he wangled his way down the lilac branches he took the rest of the afternoon off and slept off the cat nip on the bagger attached to the lawnmower.

   
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  Noreen 5:57 pm on July 24, 2017 Permalink  

  I am the go to person when it comes to using what is at hand and then using it until it is gone. Leftovers of food are appreciated as a quick meal that can be put together. I come from a long line of frugal people and am quite pleased about that.

  Dennis and I were in Mankato today. As we were heading for home we were on the street that happens to run along the back side of Walmart. I could not believe my eyes. I always wondered about all the products within large stores, small stores, hometown stores and box stores. Today I saw with my own eyes. There were large dumpster boxes lined up. Dumpster boxes can be seen anywhere and everywhere. What I had not ever been privy to was a train of grocery carts loaded with products lined up waiting to be emptied into dumpster boxes. There were several individuals standing as if supervising employees while the products from the grocery carts were being heaved and hoisted. It took me awhile to realize I was seeing gallon containers of milk being hoisted. Grocery carts in the train waiting to be unloaded held various sizes and colors of products. O.K. this must be reality for stores that have perishables. It really tugged at my heart strings that there was not a way for these products to be made available before “dumpster time.”

  There are no doubt rules, laws, guidelines that must be followed, but nonetheless, it made me very sad for all the waste. Employees may not be able to use those products under the stores policies. With all the red tape that has come about from lawsuits, donating is not allowed. I will continue being frugal within our own home and feel very proud when Waste Management picks up our trash bin and it holds the empty bottles, boxes and containers. I sure could have gone a long time before having to see with my own eyes the waste of our times.

   
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  Noreen 3:41 pm on July 23, 2017 Permalink  

  A Good Day 

  

  The mowing, trimming and weeding is done and we are resting for the remainder of the day.

   
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  Noreen 4:27 pm on July 22, 2017 Permalink  

  Well . . . you knew it would happen sooner or later. After three weeks it has been determined, by Dennis, that the acre needs to be mowed. After going through the northeast part of the acre this morning picking up branches from the Wednesday storm, I will agree with him. If nothing else it will level things off in the places that look a bit shaggy. What was interesting was how much deer scat there is on the east border of the acre where it is somewhat sheltered. Good for the deer to have found a safe place to rest as they move south towards the creek.

  With the storm of Wednesday, I would dare say if there were loose branches on high, and if those winds didn’t bring them down, they are all intact for some time to come. Tomorrow at this time all will be tidied up for the week to come.

   
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  Noreen 4:12 pm on July 21, 2017 Permalink  

  What in the world! We were not forecast to get more rain, but this morning, sure enough, this gal can’t do her morning walk as it is thundering, lightning and . . . raining. We have had about 3.75 inches within the last four days. Dennis and I did get one trailer full of wood taken off to the tree dump this afternoon. One more to go for tomorrow. How fortunate we are that we need to take the tree limbs only several miles to be rid of it. Dew points, humidity, stifling air, moisture running down window panes . . . I am not even going to go there.

   
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  Noreen 4:09 pm on July 20, 2017 Permalink  

  We are two content older folks after getting our yard whipped into shape after the storm of yesterday afternoon. As some of the spears of branches were driven into the dirt as the huge branch came down from on high, we were fortunate that none of those branches came down into the Koi pond with such force. Had that happened we would be out scoping out new homes for the eight Koi wondering where their pond had gone. A good workout was had. It could have been so much worse if the branch had hit the patio porch or the potting shed. Amen and thanks be to God.

   
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  Noreen 2:39 pm on July 19, 2017 Permalink  

  Several lightening strikes and then followed by the crack of the thunder shook us to the core this afternoon. We ran errands around town at noon and the air was stifling. Something was bound to give. The rain, when it came, came sideways for a time. There will be no need to add water to the Koi pond as it is running over onto the patio. Dennis has reported that son-in-law Tom will be needed with his chainsaw later on as the Maple lost a pretty good sized branch. We can be thankful that the clean up of smaller branches is very doable. Minnesota summers can give huge, large, noisy thunderstorms.

   
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  Noreen 3:51 pm on July 18, 2017 Permalink  

  Not much going on today. A bit of needed rain and a whole lot of humidity with high temps. I did miss getting my walk in this morning. About the time I was going to head out, the thunder and lightening made me settle into the rocking chair in the patio porch and watch the news program with Dennis. After the rain I knew that with my propensity of building to a swift pace allowing my clothes to feel like I had walked into a shower the smothering air would not be healthy.

  The biggest achievement was Dennis getting the tailgate fixed on his little red pickup. As luck would have it the body shop fellow had a certain part that was needed and $50 later Dennis was home and happy that the pickup was up for full use.

   
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  Noreen 2:18 pm on July 17, 2017 Permalink  

  The Morning’s Job 

  

  We have known for some time that we wanted to move this arbor that Calvin had made for us. When our neighbor let us know they were going to move in a new garden shed on the property line, we decided it was time. A new look for this portion of the Hosta gardens. Dennis and I decided if we leveled it according to the siding on the garden shed, we couldn’t really be off by much as we had watched how carefully the garden shed was leveled. The arbor now stands with the remaining garden art that we have of Calvin’s. Hopefully next year we can get a shade-loving plant to begin making its way up and onto the arbor.