Me, Myself and Memories

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• 

  Noreen 3:18 pm on November 9, 2026 Permalink  

  New Experience 

  On the south edge of town, across from Fleet Farm, a new car wash, pet wash and laundromat opened this spring.

  Today Dennis and I went through a tutorial on how things work.  Quite the learning curve for us older ones.

  Why, might you ask would we need to even visit for a tutorial.

  Our GE stackable does a bang up job located right in our bathroom.

  Right now it has a wash tub filled to about 1/4 full with nice sudsy water.  It also quit during the fill cycle.  Out came the laundry basket to take out the double sized sheet off of my bed along with two bath towels that were soaked up to the max.  We quicky took the basket outside to allow for water to run out through the holes in the sides of the baskets.

  I knew right off the bat that we were headed to the laundry center.  What the heck . . . one load or two loads or even three.  The remaining bedding came off of my bed which included my down/polyester comforter.

  As it turned out our entire mix of bedding went into one washing machine.  It was the largest capacity as it was equivalent to 8 loads.  The gal assured me that what I would have thought would be three as the comforter itself would have been one very large load.  She also assured me that with clothes that basically was not dirty, dirty, two pods would do the trick.  A credit card for $13.50 started the ultimate wash cycle.

  It’s the only washing machine that takes a credit card.  Dennis and I sat watching bubbles for the 35  minutes it took.  We then plugged in $5.00 for quarters for the dryer, also large.  There were six settings on temperature.  At any time, that could be changed.

  We are home with a clean and dry mattress pad, a set of sheets for a double sized bed as well as the down/polyester comforter.

  I will deal with the washing machine . . . not today, but tomorrow to empty it.  I looked on line with Gemini.  I shut the circuit breaker for the wash/dryer off for about a half hour thinking it could reset itself.  No dice.  My next thing is to check with a service tech in our area.  The combo is from eleven years ago and its dryer works like a champ.

  It’s still been a good day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 3:04 pm on November 8, 2026 Permalink  

  Sunday the 8th 

  Radio church was enjoyed this forenoon.

  Bright sunlight plus the good word made for a contented feeling.

  Dennis is helping me with some cutting of fabric.  Two new blades were inserted into the  individual cutters so his hands could trade off.  A small bin of scraps came about after many quilts were done.  No intention of a hurry, hurry.  The end result will be many scraps 7″ long with various widths.  A scrapy quilt was featured on YouTube.  It looked good enough to try.

  I have begun working on a kit that includes the pattern and all of the needed fabric.  The individual pieces of fabric, some are 3″ square on up to 8″ square.  All is to be utilized within the project.   This will indeed be a slow as we go.  There was no definite log as to what goes where.  It was a gift of good intentions.

  We have a faithful walker, the owner of the lumberyard on Man Street, in rain or shine.  Today I notice a bit of a shift in his get-along.  He may well be in his 70s.  The lumberyard has been for sale for many years.  No new shipments of supplies come in.  Each piece that is purchased needs to be scrutinized as it may be warped.  The pails of paint have been on shelving whether it is 90 degrees or a minus 30 degrees.  Very sad.  His grandfather and father entrusted this business to be a part of our community into perpetuity.

  No . . . I won’t go into how sad our Main Street looks with many empty store fronts.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:48 pm on November 7, 2026 Permalink  

  A Spa Day 

  When the first Saturday of the month is near, it is much anticipated.  My hair begin to feel wooly and my toes feel like more room is needed in the socks.  Maria does a great service to and for the two of us.  When she handed me the next appointment card, it took me a bit to focus.  Oh my gosh, a date in December.

  Tom mowed our yards today.  It may very well be the last of the 2026 season, as it should be.  With the amount of rain we have experienced, the yards looks lush and manicured.  The only one of our trees not ready to relinquish its leaves is the Northern Red Oak in the back yard.  I planted it all of twenty years ago when I was as tall as it was and now it towers majestically. 

  Tom wasn’t alone as there were three of our neighbors doing likewise.

  Most of the traffic past our home this afternoon has one destination in mind . . . the tree dump.  We do have one limb down on the acre that Tom assured us he could take care of with his Husqvarna chainsaw.

  When I look out the windows to the south, one neighbor is bagging their leaves.  I have also noted that they used the bags of leaves up against their foundation as insulation.  Hmm.  I remember decades ago dad used straw bales against the north foundation wall on the old farmhouse.  Some endeavors to lessen drafts do not change.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:50 pm on November 6, 2026 Permalink  

  NahDah 

  There is nothing shaking out here on Stauffer Avenue that would cause major concern.  The sun is making everything looking green and lush on the yards . . . and they are.  Tom will be mowing before long.  ♥

  I did do a test with my sewing.  I needed my battery operated radio to be playing in the background for me to get the spunk and creativity going with the task.  Hmm.  If only all tasks could be so easily started to receive accomplishment.

  I have put away the list that my cousin Judy gave me yesterday.  Kinesiology and homeopathic feel-goods are not my bailey-wig when it comes to my health.  If it works for her, fantastic.  

  Dennis is taking a whack at getting the patios blown off of the carpet of leaves.  Many more to come after the hard frost has hit.

  I am adding to leftovers of yesterday for our supper.

  With that I will take my leave.

   
• 

  Noreen 3:39 pm on November 5, 2026 Permalink  

  A Thursday 

  Damp and chilly but the visiting here on Stauffer Avenue was kept at a brisk clip.  Mike and Judy Dent flew into Minnesota on the 3rd to make a few rounds of family visiting.  They are staying at Judy’s brother Dale’s place outside of Litchfield.

  Dale drove the trio and they were here by 10:30 this forenoon.  Dale offered to take us out to eat, but I assured him, I was prepared.  We never got beyond the dining room table.  Visiting always goes well over food.

  While Mike and Judy were in the Navy until they retired from the service, Dale grew up with all of the cousins and events with the aunts and uncles.  He was curious as to what I could share of my immediate family.  Dennis was curious to query Mike on how retirement went in Pennsylvania.  Dale and Dennis were pickup and car chatting.  There was something for everyone.  Judy’s husband and Dale are planning a day for he and Dale to get some personal financial business done for Dale.  How great for Dale to have someone he gets along with and trusts.  It was a great day.

  The remaining week is a quiet week.  As blustery as it is . . . I won’t mind hunkering down as various things are in plans that include fuzz and threads.  I am kidding Dennis about the great gas mileage he has been getting this last week with his little red pickup out of commission.

  There are plenty of leftovers to graze through for supper.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 3:42 pm on November 4, 2026 Permalink  

  Pissy Weather 

  With these days of the rain falling intermitentedly my pinfeathers are getting wet.

  Praise the Lord!  Steve from the garage south of us have the little red pickup towed onto their lot.  Steve told Dennis that if someone didn’t honor their appointment, he’d try and squeeze it in as soon as possible.  Thank goodness Snuggles and Harriet are empathizing. 

  Quite a few years ago, Amanda from Creative Stitches in Bird Island gave me a kit for a small quilt or it could also be a wall hanging.  I do believe I am done with dust bunnies and can get back to the sewing machine.  The kit came with a CD.  I had not worked with the downloads for some time.  Most laptops don’t have CD drives and our laptops are those.  I had a portable one that I had played music on many years ago.  Well, it worked just fine.  

  Saving it on the laptop and then loading the EXP embroidery designs on a flash drive was the next item . . . one I had not done for a while.  I no longer load more than one project on a flash drive.  I give myself permission to label each one with no more hunting through what each has.  I am thrilled that the HP printer works from both of my laptops as there were quite a few PDFs of instructions and also a thread color chart.  The parade of colorful threads have been pulled for perhaps this weekend’s project.

  Tomorrow, we are having company.  My cousin Judy Dent from PA will be here.  She is the daughter of my mother’s brother, Norman.  I will always remember the concertina music whenever there was a gathering.  Norman on the concertina and Orlin’s mother on the mouth organ.  Fun, precious times.

  Judy and Mike are also bringing Judy’s youngest brother Dale.  Dale never married as his hearing loss was not found until he entered school and there were lasting physical and mental issues. 

  I wanted to enjoy the special visit and I was not going to be worn out from preparing food.  Our menu has been planned and all ingredients are in the refrigerator, none needing a timeline.  Judy said they would be heading out Thursday from Litchfield and I needed nothing more.  Afterall, they could eat anywhere, the sharing and visiting is the importance.

  Judy is quite a bit younger then I am.  When Carrie and Kevin were tots, Judy came to stay for a week, so I could help her grasp sewing without fear of failing.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 3:11 pm on November 3, 2026 Permalink  

  A Day 

  All we had planned for this day was to vote.

  All Mother Nature had planned for this day was to have rain falling . . . steadily.

  A phone call from Mark Wendlandt came just as a cup of coffee had been poured.  The coffee and my phone went into my bedroom porch for the duration.  Mark doesn’t call often so there is much to be anticipated.  Mark works in Hastings as a mechanic in a large press operation printing everything from Bibles to obituaries.  On the side Mark enjoys quilting.  I will look up the quilt kit he just had bought and is now delivered.  Judy Niemeyer does amazing designs.  This one is “True North.”

  Mark visited last fall so he and I could finish up a quilt he wanted to take with him when he went to visit his nephew in Arizona.  I am still running across fuzz when least expected.

  The polling place was busy but not backed-up.  Dennis ended up taking a seat in the entry as I was catching up with Connie, who was also one of the election workers.  Never a bad time to talk quilting.

  Our next stop was the grocery store.  I had a short list, but was not prepared for social hour.  Deann worked in the courthouse, just two doors down from where I was at.  Deann has two shoulder surgeries scheduled, six months apart.  Two reverse shoulders coming right up.  As she had never known of anyone having had these surgeries she just needed to visit.  I listened as she vented.  How could I not.  It is a major surgery and there are no do-overs.  I assured her that if her situation was serious enough to go that path, all would be well.  Lots of PT goes with it. 

  Of course, Dee in the bakery, needed a bit of chit chat.  It is her first winter of getting their rural home ready for winter since her husband passed.

  It is now mid-afternoon and a cup of coffee will finish off a very good day.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 3:01 pm on November 2, 2026 Permalink  

  Sleet 

  The rain that we had this morning was like a driving sleet pelting the skin.  I had only a few footsteps in it to get the recycling bin out.

  Taking the electric coffee pot apart this forenoon for a good cleanup was the last of my fall cleaning.  My home, my goals.  We are now done with the majority of the old dust and dirt and ready to make time and room for the next batch.  I did say majority as there is never ever 100%.  Perhaps I just quit looking.  What I missed I will catch another time.

  Dennis is taking the demise of his little red pickup quite well.  Good tires and a new battery do not qualify for an engine that will fire when the key is inserted and turned.  Steve’s repair will call when they can come and take it to the shop.  Their calendar is full.  I recollect hearing that from someone else.  The car is able to fill in for as long as it takes.  Dennis’ 1989 little red pickup was perhaps due for some TLC.

  It is fluffy waffles to be dropped into the toaster for supper and paired with pre-cooked sausages in the microwave.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 3:09 pm on November 1, 2026 Permalink  

  The Point 

  Hello from sunny Stauffer Avenue.  The neighborhood is quite quiet.  It’s very unusual when chainsaws and lawnmowers take a break on a day that could bring an end to the jobs of the fall of 2026.

  I have often heard the comment: it was the point of no return.  Today, Dennis and I were at the point of no return in his bedroom.  Yesterday had been a day of tidy, tidy in his room.  When the last load of the clothes drier shut off in the afternoon . . . I kind of did also.

  Last night, Dennis slept under his comforter with no flannel duet over it.  Comforters filled with down and poly fill are generally sewn with the exterior of the baffles having a fine grade of cotton allowing for the comforter to easily slip into the duet.  Yes, Dennis had the electric mattress pad with a setting of five on the display.

  This forenoon, I began the point of no return on getting the rather heavy fluffy comforter stuck into the duet.  Let’s hear it for YouTube!  Two methods were watched.  The burrito method’s concept was rolling the wrong side of the duet with the comforter and then rolling it all up, thus ending with it all hunky-dory, pulling it inside out.  These very packed 36 baffle comforter was not going to roll anywhere up to resembling a burrito. 

  I chose having the wrong side of the duet lying flat tied to the four corners of the comforter . . . both lying flat.  Hanging onto one of the tied corners, reaching in the duet’s opening until I could clutch the tied corner opposite and begin pulling, bringing the right side of the duet with the comforter out of the opening.  That’s when Dennis’ strong arms came into play.  This was done on both sides of the opening, pulling everything right side out.

  There was a whole bunch of Dennis lofting the heft until it came down onto the top of his bed nice and orderly.  Mission completion.  All that remained was for me to close up the duet by buttoning up the plaket.  

  The use of the electric mattress pad can be stalled for a bit.

  There is a reason that this task is done only twice a year.  My hands and arms are still tingly.  Too funny what can be gotten into, all in the guise of fall cleaning.  Tomorrow’s task of wiping down the upper cabinets in the kitchen will be much gentler on the hands and arms.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:18 pm on October 31, 2026 Permalink  

  Better Place 

  What better place than my cherry red chair, plunking out a post while waiting for the laundry to dry.

  There was no intention of what the day would hold when I got up this morning.  As usual, with a cup of hot coffee, I checked out a few items on my laptop.  What did catch my eye was a usual that walks his yellow lab down our street everyday.  Today, he was on an electric scooter and his yellow lab got to do more of a run than the usual walk.  How great, knowing that dogs love to stretch their legs.

  Finishing that first cup of coffee, I glanced into Dennis’ bedroom.  He might have had a restless night as his flannel duet-covered comforter was askew.

  That’s all it took.  The flannel duet cover came off of the comforter.  That in itself gives a workout as each corner of the comforter is tied to each corner of the duet, making sure a restless night allows the duet cover to move with the comforter.

  Dennis needs warmth at night, thus the electric Sunbeam mattress pad.  That came off the bed quite easily as that too was headed to the laundry.  Yes, that label had been checked when it was new over fifteen years ago.  Then, just like today it is checked after its been washed and dried to make sure it is still operational . . . the light came on and with a setting to make sure, the warmth cometh.

  The flannel duet is like washing two sheets at a time.  It likes to ball up in the drier making it necessary to pull it out and begin all over.

  That process allows me to plunk out a post a well as watch some traffic.

  Supper this evening is lightening the load of some tasty leftovers.  Easy, peasy.

  Each day seems to end up with an agenda and that is what makes the tidy, tidy go round and round.

  With that I will take my leave.