Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:20 am on January 16, 2016 Permalink  

  Today with the sun shining, Dennis and I headed south. No, not far enough south to get beyond the chilly winds. The location was Fairmont, about 40 miles from home. We decided to try out the Hy-Vee grocery store and then have a January 2016 celebratory meal at the Perkins restaurant in Fairmont. We have been staying quite close to Stauffer Avenue since the holidays.

  Dennis was a rural milk hauler, some 55 years ago. His route to pick up the cans of milk from farmers was along the same township and county roads that we took today. Fun to reminisce about the names that were in place on farms then, and those that have taken up the farms since then.

  If not for memories, we would be very small individuals. As Dennis has often commented about the changes that he has seen in his lifetime, and that there are so many more coming down the pike each day.

   
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  Noreen 2:55 am on January 15, 2016 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis ( 40 )   

  My Favorite Photographer 

  

  Dennis helped me pin up this project as best as possible. It’s Josie’s 1/3 quilt top that will be added to by two other grandmothers to make a full size quilt top. On various baby clothing I did embroidery in designs to honor using them as well as giving them some added dimension. On sleepers , I made sure the zipper pulls were taken out and sewed portions of the sleeper onto the blocks. Here a great grandma’s name, there a great grandma’s name. The three quilt tops may be coming back to Stauffer Avenue after the other two grandmas have completed their tasks for me to finish with the batting, backing and binding. These three quilt tops were ideal for me to become totally accustomed to using the new sewing machine in multiple ways with a whole lot of ease. It will interesting to see what ideas the Northern Minnesota grandmas have in mind.

   
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  Noreen 5:16 am on January 14, 2016 Permalink  

  Several additional pots of coffee per day since Sunday. Word was received that Dennis’s daughter would be coming to St. James this next weekend to visit her mom in New Ulm. I immediately thought how wonderful to have the quilt tops ready to send with Sue and she could hand deliver them to her daughter, Erin in Finland, which is a hour north of Duluth.

  The most difficult of the three was the first. Getting my head around what my objective was considering how many pieces of baby clothing per girl I had, and then working with my stashes, took a bit of thinking power.

  Erin wanted me to put my name on it as “Great Grandma Noreen 2016,” being the one who put them together. I threw back to her an additional Idea. Why not incorporate all the names of the great grandmas? My embroidery machine worked quite hard for the better portion of Monday, as there were six names, times the three quilt tops. There were two great grandpas that had remarried, thus the six. The last quilt top was in progress to work the names into the sashes. I put in additional patches into the two tops that were done.

  I really feel that I have honored Dennis’ granddaughter’s request as best as I could. The keepsakes were important to Erin to have them done. How could I not give it 110%? One of Erin’s grandmas has passed away and the other is in an Alzheimer unit in New Ulm. Those who can, should.

   
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  Noreen 5:26 am on January 13, 2016 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  As I work on sewing projects, my mind has a propensity to enjoy some re-runs of memories.

  When Megan was about a year a half, staying with us, her favorite yellow blanket needed new binding.  I was on one side of the sewing table and Megan was in a highchair opposite from me.  I had pulled out a rather large container of thread to match up as best I could with the blanket.  When our quilt store had closed,  I bought a large supply of various colors at a reduced rate.  As I sewed, I watched as Megan pulled the container within reach.  Megan would finger each spool.  Soon each spool had been shed of its clear plastic shield. Megan was so content and so busy lining up her conquest, I could just watch and enjoy.  Memories: life would be so empty without them.

   
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  Noreen 5:58 am on January 12, 2016 Permalink  

  Multi-tasking 

  

  I did quite a bit of embroidery this afternoon working on Josie’s quilt. Once the machine was set it gave me a chance to hike it up to the kitchen and get supper started in between the blocks that needed embroidering. This particular block gave me 10 minutes. It is amazing what you can get done in 10 minutes.

   
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  Noreen 2:59 am on January 11, 2016 Permalink  

  It Didn't Last Long 

  The lull in visiting my sewing studio didn’t last long.  With the minus temps, I was thankful that the sun streamed into the windows down here.  I do now feel that I am set up to use my new computer with total comfort down here with all the comforts of my life.  The first step was getting a wireless mouse.  The second step came in yesterday’s mail: a riser for my computer to set upon.  Using a keyboard that is totally flat really makes the arthritis in the wrists buck.  I resurrected a card table and found a spot for the computer that is totally out of the way of my Cricut, the cutting tables, the ironing board (which is a must for those who use a sewing machine), my Bernina sewing machine, my Sears sewing machine, the button tree and the DMC embroidery cabinets.  This spot must still leave a huge walk through for all the necessary items in a normal basement for the home to run.  One of the items I do not use often is the television.

  It is not like I work in total silence.  Heaven forbid.  Our sump pump is running in this second week of January, much like it did in the spring times.  Our air exchanger and dehumidifier are perking right along and who could take for granted the furnace?  What is amazing is how we can learn to tune out usual and customary sounds and noises.

  Dennis just made a run uptown, partially to get eggs, but I also suspect a bit of cabin fever.  It’s hard to keep an ole cowboy in the bunkhouse for very long.  I made use of some gray matter by getting the supplies and fabrics ready for Josie’s quilt top.  Ironing on stabilizer is the extent of that for the day.  After this project, the sole plate on my iron will need a good cleaning.  Knit clothing with rubberized designs on it are not conducive to heat.  I do know that and I plan for it, and before I realize it, I have swiped a bit of it.  Knits that look pretty in baby and toddler clothing made of nylon also do not appreciate the iron while applying stabilizer.  I dug out some legal pads that had quite a bit of age to them and allowed them to be the buffer between the iron and what needed to be done.

  On a puzzling note: I have accessed various sites from this Windows 10 based computer.  For some reason, it has told me that my e-mail address for receiving emails is not a valid address.  Hmm.  The sign in screen is identical to the laptop up in the living room, but it is a no-go.  Oh well, as spoiled as I am down here, I do make contact with the first floor of our home on quite a few occasions.

   
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  Noreen 4:49 am on January 10, 2016 Permalink  

  Today definitely feels like winter. How blessed that it took until the second week into January rather than enduring this since Thanksgiving. With 15 minutes more of daylight as the days are getting longer, I would say it is all doable. I can imagine with the wind that is blowing, but it’s the highways that may be a bit tricky. Dennis and I have no need to be out and about in this cold. Let’s hear it for hermits.

  I just finished vacuuming the basement sewing studio. Bella’s quilt top is finished and is joining Ava’s on the shelves. There will be a bit of a lull before I empty the next plastic Shopko bag of Josies’ baby clothes. Sewing knit clothes together is right up there with mending jeans. I know that after a day, the project will draw me downstairs, much like a moth to a flame.

   
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  Noreen 4:49 am on January 9, 2016 Permalink  

  We have had sweet, fine snow falling all day. Dennis and I did have the drive cleared off once, but I do believe I will hit it again after supper. It is so nice to have a clear driveway of snow and ice and once this arctic air hits this weekend, there won’t be another chance as nice as today with these mild temperatures.

  I will add that Dennis’ supper last night was second to none.  Just a sliver of ice cream on his baked squash desert was a home run. Tonight is my turn to cook supper and I have pork chops slowly frying. My lettuce salad is ready to go and there is sautéed celery and onions to add to the Stove Top Dressing. I like to add a bit of extra flavors.

  The sewing studio is closed down for the day. Inch by inch, the project is coming together. It is down to adding sash and trimming, trimming, trimming. I know I am a bit overly concerned about corners meeting corners right on, but that is just how I like it.

   
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  Noreen 4:56 am on January 8, 2016 Permalink  

  A Good Day 

  Dennis told me he was going to be working in the kitchen today and gave me the day to pool my thoughts and my quilt blocks in the sewing studio.  What a guy.  I think I am really coming out way ahead as he ended up putting together a great turkey vegetable noodle hotdish.  As a side dish there is a pan of baked squash dessert.  All I will need to do for supper is make a lettuce salad to round things out.  I do so appreciate my major elf.

  

  The tan sashing will pull all the blocks together. The pink block was Dennis’ thought. I was short a block so he suggested taking the back of one of the sleepers and put a design on it and call it good – which I did.

  The work on Bella’s quilt top is chugging right along.  I now have enough blocks made to add to the background sashing.  I think what made the day go well for me may be the extra treat I had this morning.  Yesterday when we were in Sam’s Club I could not resist purchasing a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread they were featuring.  Their newer products are right by the front door when you walk in.  When I took a slice out this morning I could not believe how chock-full of raisins in that one slice.  I could hardly wait for the toaster to pop that sucker up.  It was yummy.  I do keep special breads in the freezer and take out a slice when the need arises.  It is actually safer for me that way.  Out of sight, out of mind.  Not to worry, Dennis hates raisins.  That goes back to the Korea days and what they were given to eat.  For Dennis, raisins fall in the same “yuk” as fruit cocktail.

  Lot of thawing out today with gray skies.  With all the fluorescent lights I have in the sewing studio, there is no chance of me suffering from SAD: seasonal affective disorder.

   

   
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  Noreen 5:37 am on January 7, 2016 Permalink  

  Whew! A day in the big town can wear me out. I must say the customer service at Best Buy was terrific. I know some people have had less than good luck, but come on. These people can dig into anything, and perhaps the answer given is not appreciated, but I sure don’t plan on boning up on the nuts and bolts of computers when there is a service such as Best Buy available. I was in and out in just a short time. I did pick up a wireless mouse for my new computer as there are some days that fingers need some time off to deal with the arthritis.

  It was quite nice to fatten up the larder in the basement storage. Dennis and I are quite spoiled by having enough of a supply of what we use on a regular basis, that running to the store often is not needed.

  Dennis had a great meeting with his fellows at the Korean Veterans meeting and lunch. His charter group is named the Frozen Chosin. There was a huge land mark in Korea that the fellows fought for and secured.  Chosin was the name of the landmark.

  It is time for a bit of crocheting to keep my fingers and wrists in the best condition possible.