Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:28 pm on July 6, 2023 Permalink  

  My Element 

  On this chilly morning, I was up early and in my element, bent over getting after a few weeds that I knew would pull up well from the half inch of rain we had earlier in the week.

  Where the old Lilacs were cut down there is no shortage of sucker plants coming.  Not all are going to make it.  I reserve the right to set literal boundaries.  Realizing that my set time for gardening was fleeting, I set about putting three pails over three Hosta.  Let the Roundup commence.  I left the pails in place as tomorrow morning, I will protect three more Hosta before spraying.  Take that you nasty clover plants!

  I do put a time limit on my gardening.  If I waited until my arms began to ache . . . it would be too late.  If restless legs are difficult to contend with, the left arm, from the stroke, will keep me up all night as the nerves retaliate from too much for too long.

  Dennis was just getting up from his morning nap when I came into the house at 10:30.  His task was mowing the remaining yards.

  After washing up, I was content having a cup of breakfast coffee and reading in my bedroom sitting upon my cherry red chair.  After a bit, I worked on my counted cross stitch.  I am really enjoying the project.  I don’t stay at it for long lengths of time as the right hand tends to want to fall asleep from gripping the needle.  Everything in my world is doable if I listen to my body.  It all ends up giving me a balanced day and a balanced life.

  Tomorrow on my agenda is to do an embroidery design that I have been mulling over.  I will let you know how that turns out.

  This evening we are having the last of the two-minute meals we had purchased in Mankato this last Monday.  It will be meatloaf accompanied by our very own instant mashed potatoes.

  Don’t you just love this weather!

   
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  Noreen 2:23 pm on July 5, 2023 Permalink  

  Glorious Rain 

  Rain came unexpectedly last night before supper.  No idea how much it totaled but it was appreciated.  This morning after I had some laundry started, the garden shoes came on.  This is the first summer that we have direct sunlight on an area that had always been in deep shade from the old Lilac bushes.  I am not sure if that has called forth unwanted foliage or if it is the luck of the draw.

  With the rain of last night, there was easy pulling of some of the weeds.  I also took a pliers and pulled up some trees that were wanting to make a start.  There was a Cottonwood that might have been around since last year.  No budging with the plier.  I dug down into the dirt several inches and used the clipper on the root.  Time will tell.

  After several hours, I called it a day for my gardening.  The air was so glorious, I hated to quit.  I know better than to overdue the shoulders, arms and hands.

  Before going in to finish up the laundry, I got my plan in place for tomorrow morning.  I have a small sprayer that holds perhaps a quart and a half.  There is a pretty strong mix of Roundup diluted with water in it.  My plan is to cover up the Hosta plant with a pail and spray the clover around the Hosta plant and leaving the Hosta covered for a time.  The back area of Hosta is loaded with clover.  Never had that before.  It looks like a nasty ground cover.  It can’t be pulled up by the root as the root is like a piece of thread ready to break off.  I have several pails to place.  The other weed is much like a hairnet that lies flat on the dirt and branches out from the main root.  Wherever a tendril grows out, it puts down roots of its own.

  So I have my plan in place for these mornings that promise nice air.

  It is the end of my day with local effort.  Dennis just got home from mowing the blue barn acre.  Tomorrow he will mow the remaining acre.  He also has had good local effort for the day.  When we were in Mankato on Monday, I picked up several “minute meals” in Hy-Vee.  I will heat up one for supper.  My plan all along was to get some gardening in when I saw the weather forecast and still put out a hot meal for our supper for several days running.  Nailed it!

  Catch ya tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 2:52 pm on July 4, 2023 Permalink  

  4th of July 

  Hello!  This is my son’s double nickel birth date.  My how time has flown.  I have wonderful memories that could fill volumes.  Kevin shares my abilities to recall memories, perhaps even better than I can.  A sweet trait.

  Our town is really quiet today.  Hard telling what the twilight hours will bring for firecrackers. 

  Dennis and I sat on the front deck this forenoon with coffee cups in hand.  I will say, since this deck has been put on the house in April, Dennis has been more about sharing his memories than ever before.  It’s a good thing.

  A quiet day for us means light eating.  I have a very good batch of a cold tuna spread going for sandwiches.  Dennis cares more for a tuna spread than a ham spread.

  We had a light sprinkle of rain this forenoon.  It evaporated on the concrete immediately.

  Tomorrow will feel like a Monday on a Wednesday.  I will take it as it comes as I know you will.

   
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  Noreen 2:07 pm on July 3, 2023 Permalink  

  A Corker 

  Whew, it is just plain nasty out.  We were home from the big town of Mankato by one this afternoon.  Jody, the surgeon’s second, does want to see Dennis back in six weeks.  She was thrilled how the wound has healed over, but considering Dennis’ journey, it pays for one more check.

  We both came home, so ready to each find our favorite chair.  Feet up, head back and Dennis was checking his eyelids for cracks in a heartbeat.

  Stay comfortable in this afternoon’s heat as it is forecast to carry over into tomorrow.

  Dennis and I will remain safe for tomorrow in our home as we pray you all will whatever you may decide.

   
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  Noreen 12:05 pm on July 2, 2023 Permalink  

  Sunday the 2nd 

  And July is not going to slow down.

  For now I have decided to kick back and take on the persona of a retired individual.  In my thinking, I know that going back to the stitching in the counted cross stitch designs brings satisfaction, ever so slowly, while still having something to show for time and energy.

  Thinking back, my brother, Michael picked up a hoop and DMC threads.  While waiting for the batch grain dryer that was running out in the middle of the yard, Michael did counted cross stitch at the kitchen table to avoid going to sleep by twiddling his thumbs.  Michael did several designs with deer as the feature.  Today I know just where those framed pieces are.  They are hanging in the stair well of the repurposed granary.

  The design I chose will be worked two stands of floss over one, only doing what the hands and spirit allow per each time.  I chose a deep navy to do the entire design in one color.  The cherry red chair in my west bedroom porch has a lot of natural light to either read by or stitch by.  I am using a 16 count fabric.  Sixteen stitches per inch.  There is a huge selection of fabrics available.

  May everyone find their passion.  It may not be just one area of interest, but enough to give a balance in each and every day.

  Tomorrow we meet with the surgeon’s second in command in regard to Dennis’ left foot, to close the book on those types of medical appointments via door three of the Mankato Hospital.  Procedure must be followed.  A week from tomorrow we will do the same with the specialized wound doctor.  Oh so close to leaving those wonderful medical people in the closed book.

   
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  Noreen 2:40 pm on July 1, 2023 Permalink  

  The Long Holiday Weekend 

  The long fourth of July weekend has begun.  Even last night, there were firecrackers going off.  I felt sorry for all the puppies and dogs that were frightened of the noise.  We had a dog, Snoopy, that drove that message home. I believe there are some firecrackers and fireworks that are legal to buy.  Even the most innocent ones can harm. 

  Is it just our home or are there others that can find some pesky jumping spiders that are no bigger than the head of a quilter’s stick pin.  They are quick as they try to out jump you.  Oh well.  Talking about pests . . . the mosquitos have not been around.  I think there has been a lack of standing water for hatching to take place.  When we have been out on the front deck, the fireflies have enjoyed the summer nights.  I wonder if I would recognize one if it landed on me as a normal bug.  When we were kids, we would catch them and rubbed them on our clothing for the nano-second our clothes would cast their light.

  Each evening when the supper hour news is on, we hear of possible rain.  Nary a drop.  The lawns look as if it were August.

  Well on a lighter note, I have stayed out of the studio since the twin quilts were finished.  I think this has been a record for me.  My mind is conjuring up tidbits for a new project.  I don’t want to cut into any fabric without a solid plan.  I had heard so much of Liberty fabrics from the UK.  On Etsy, I bit.  A tidy box from the UK arrived, postage free.  It was a bundle of 19″ x 52″ lengths.  It is the softest 100%cotton I can ever remember feeling.  This is why I need to plan once, plan twice before I cut.  The quality of it sure beats what I have been working with to get the t-shirt quilts done.  It is also the first purchase of fabric for myself in 2023.  Did I need it?  Absolutely!

  For supper it is two Sirloin beef patties fixed in the large fry pan and the second fry pan for some of the refrigerator hash browns.  This is a step up from the Progresso soup of last night.  It’s a bit too hot to put an oven meal on.  It heats up the house way past the supper hour.

  Happy July 1st!

   
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  Noreen 1:31 pm on June 30, 2023 Permalink  

  There Goes Another Month 

  Time does seem to pass quite quickly here on Stauffer Avenue.

  When Dennis takes Dwayne to McDonald’s once a week, Dwayne’s wife comes out and thanks Dennis.  They live in Homestead Cooperative with a west facing unit.  One measly window with someone else’s grove to look at.  His days must seem endless.  His days of living his dream out on his farm place tinkering was cut short when his wife wanted to live in town.  Each week Dennis comes home to Stauffer Avenue, loving every minute of being here. 

  Speaking of tinkering . . . the mail carrier delivered my fabric, pattern and the needed floss for this Grammie to try her hand at counted cross stitch after a twenty-one year hiatus.  No, I am not sorry that the huge amount of floss that had been in the studio found a new home.  My counted cross stitch project will be done in one single color.  I have watched many videos, coming to the conclusion that is the way I will go forward.  The pattern I chose was designed using just one color.  Why make my enjoyment more complicated than need be.  Day-to-day can be as complicated as we wish to make it.

  I rode shotgun to the Lewis Drug today with Dennis.  Two of my 90-day prescriptions were a whooping $2.23 for both.  Dennis likes to go through to the drive-through window.  One day, when I was out and about, without thinking, I went right up to the drive-through.  Hello!  My left arm wanted to bat me along side the head, if it could have moved that far.  I apologized and told the gal, I would need to drive around to the front entrance.  She wouldn’t hear of it, and before I knew it she had gone out their back door and greeted me at my rolled down window.  Talk about hometown service.

  I hope anyone and everyone that can make their fourth of July enjoyable for themselves have my blessings.  Us on Stauffer will be most happy for you as we will be content and happy with you in spirit.

   
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  Noreen 1:37 pm on June 29, 2023 Permalink  

  Good Feelings 

  Today was the date on the calendar that is important to us.  Today Dennis and I were scheduled for pedicures here in St. James.  It was not a pedicure and a half.  It was for two, it bares repeating, two pedicures.  The last time Dennis had a pedicure for both feet was September of 2021.  For Dennis to have been able to soak that left foot, he sat back and enjoyed it.  Good feelings all around.  Hats off!

  When I had been in my bedroom porch reading, I had noticed one of the castor wheels was not engaged.  This afternoon, the cherry red chair went out onto the front deck.  Manned with scissors, tweezers and even a needle nosed pliers, Dennis tipped the chair over and went to work clearing all the castors.  At some point in time, the chair had been on a fuzzy blue nylon carpet along with other threads.  What Dennis picked out, strand by strand would have been what the birds would have liked to feather their nests with.  Good job Dennis!

  Today, I have been content in the studio doing some cleanup from fuzz and threads.  The first order of business was the furnace filter to be swapped out.  The next item was the filter on our huge dehumidifier to be taken out and washed.  Amazingly the amount of fuzz and threads over several months, has a day of reckoning.  It may be quite some time before any amount of studio time will be as structured as it has been over a king sized t-shirt quilt and two twin sized quilts.  It does do the heart and soul good feelings to do what some cannot do.

  I have no immediate plans for the studio other than keeping it tidy so that when I do get a wild hair up my butt, it will be ready.

   
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  Noreen 2:46 pm on June 28, 2023 Permalink  

  Well, Well 

  A photographer I am not.  Items in my stitching get moved about.  Items are patted down so all lays symmetrical . . . not.  It is what it is today.  Yes, I have been pushing it a bit.  Whether it is a studio project, a garden spot in need of weeding or perhaps one too many idiot phone calls . . . in time we are calling it for the day.

  With any project that comes out of the studio, measure once, measure twice before stitching so borders are uniform . . . and they are.  The last item on the twin quilts was for me to personalize them.  I had made sure that the quilt tops were identical in content and design so there could be no comparison to the negative.

  This latest project has brought me great satisfaction.  Taking a grocer’s bag of wrinkled t-shirts, dumping them out on the church tables and saying, “Well, well, well what do we have here.”  After two and a half months there are finished products.  The studio is happy, I am happy and Dennis is also happy.  Dennis had the job of arranging all of the blocks that then became a quilt top of sixteen blocks each.

  I don’t think I have it in me to do anymore today other than to help Dennis put supper on the table.

  Catch me tomorrow and see what is happening.

   
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  Noreen 1:35 pm on June 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Let it Be 

  This year the garden spots are on their own.  Whatever can come up and be proud . . . let it be.  If we could have more than a tiny sprinkle of rain, there are some weeds I could pull.  Me and a hoe do not get along.  I think the jewels of purple blooms at the picket fence may very well be a weed.  Each year I marvel at these plants.  I am sure they multiply by the seeds they drop.  We now have some on the east side of the house.  Whatever they are, I enjoy them and I encourage more next year.

  I did work in the studio for a time today.  My shoulders, arms and hand recovered quite well from some free motion quilting yesterday.  What I didn’t count on was my right knee.  Having the pedal to the metal yesterday . . . the knee sent me a message during the night.  Today as I have been stitching, I am using my left knee on what I call, “the foot feed.”  Many sewing machines have a bar on the right side of the sewing machine cabinet that engages the stitching when the knee puts pressure on the bar.  I think I could have sewn an entire wardrobe of clothing without the knee bucking.  Free motion is a whole bunch of stitches.  I have gone through six full bobbins.

  I have started a new book to enjoy whilst in my bedroom porch sitting upon my cherry red chair.  I picked books off of the “free” shelf.  It doesn’t seem to bother with who the author is . . . I can easily get with the program.  With reading, sewing and some YouTube channels, my days have a good balance.  I am contemplating adding one more diversion.  I have not done any counted cross stitch since . . . it seems like forever.  I have checked things out and a design called a sampler can be done in just one color.  I am leaning towards that.  Simplistic and yet satisfying.  I’ll let you know how that will go. 

  In thinking, I believe there is a whole bunch of items in my world with the “let it be.”