I am sure by now Dennis feels it is going to be a yearly event: tearing apart the sewing studio for a re-make. Now that I know my old sewing table allows me to sew with my arms at a 90 degree angel to the needle, it is sweet. The embroidery unit does work when the machine is lifted; the sides slid in and there is enough elongated room to work beautifully. Well . . . while I was at it, I raised the church tables by a second brick. They are now 34.5″ from the floor rather than the 30″ as they were from the factory. All of these changes should make a huge difference on the back, shoulders, arms, and hands. You cannot possibly move one item without it causing a domino effect. It all gives the arthritis a run for its money. My Dad, R.W., would be proud of the logistics that Dennis and I used today. On the down side, I am too wore out to do any stitching. There is always tomorrow.
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Noreen
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Noreen
Never Give Up
When arms and shoulders want to buck . . . you never give up. Out of the depths I brought forward my 1968 Montgomery Wards sewing table. It was the ultimate at that time. As I sat in my sewing studio today and surveyed my options, I knew if I could give my arms a good three inches less in height to reach the sewing bed as I sat in front of the sewing machine, it would feel pretty darn good. The sewing machine is heavy enough that this sewing table is solid. Have I thought it all the way through? No. When I put the embroidery until onto the machine, I will most likely have to set the machine back up on the white table . . . but then, I am not going to pre-judge it. For right now, I want to enjoy some straight sewing as it is set up. In a day or two to come, I will measure once, measure twice and see what is needed. This today . . . was huge. It’s a good thing I had an emotional attachment to this table, or it would have been long gone over the course of 48 years.
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Noreen
A Long Day
Quite the long day, and if I don’t keep my fingers in the correct spot, I will delete this post like I just did the one that was ready to publish. There are still some items on this new laptop that give me a surprise now and then. . . . Before Christmas we dropped off a pair of earrings at Stone’s Throw in St. Peter with us picking it up after the first of the year. Today was the day! Years back when I was with Dennis at a trade show, these earrings caught my eye. The Zuni Indian Tribe sets much of their turquoise in what is called the Needlepoint design. The multiple small sterling clips set the stone. The clip on of back of the earrings were not comfortable. The white gold wires will allow me to enjoy them so much more. She did a great job cleaning the sterling that the stones are set in. From there we went on to Jiffy Lube to have the car serviced, then to Jo-Ann Fabric. With Dennis’ feet being wet 24/7 while serving the Army in Korea, what would feel better than giving us a treat of pedicures? My hands and arms don’t serve me all that well to get the right angle on the fi-dangle for doing my toe nails. After Hy-Vee was gone through and then on to Sam’s Club for our last stop. Dennis is an aficionado when it comes to litter for the five cat’s litter box in the garage porch. Sam’s Club is his favorite place for the cat shopping, and I don’t mind picking up a few things to replenish our pantry in the basement. We topped off the day with a bite to eat in Perkins. We are now safe in our home . . . all the groceries are put away and being in PJs feels pretty good. Driving into the driveway our favorite UPS fellow had left a package at the back door. Tomorrow I will be in the sewing studio with said package, and I am anticipating a turn around in the mail the first part of next week. Yup, This was a huge day for the older ones on Stauffer Avenue.
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Noreen
Days such as this, with temps in the 40s, my littlest puddle jumper, Kevin, would have come home from grade school soaked to the knees . . .or the butt. Either there would have been a snow melt puddle before he got on the bus to come home . . . or he would have made sure to hit the shallow ditch upon getting off of the bus before he made it to the house. It just happens during a January thaw. I was going to go out and get rid of some of the ice sheets that have trapped water under it. There is nowhere to go with it even if it were 100% loose. The sides of the driveway have banks of snow from previous snowfalls. The slush can be pushed, but it will find its way back in a heartbeat. Best to leave things be until the sun can help evaporate some of it or it will freeze dry during the night hours.
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Noreen
From DR. Suess: Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. It may seem as if my days are predominantly seeped in memories. I do take in each day to the fullest and what it may present to me. Soaking up as much as I can, I know I still have a lot to learn. An Example: nephew Brett made a trip to the metro yesterday to pick up a long arm quilter that he purchased on Craigslist. Last night I got a text telling me he could use my help today. There he was this morning, a bit flushed. He couldn’t get the sewing machine portion to stitch a single stitch. Check this, check that, check again. After several hours with Brett thinking he had bought a lemon, back to the YouTube videos. Taking the time to read the comments of some of people who had viewed them: The needle needed to be threaded from the left to the right. Dah! Nowhere in the owners manual was that important item mentioned. Lots of diagrams, but none showing the process of threading the needle. He had been accustomed on his Janome to thread from the right to the left and I have been fortunate enough to have hit the right angle first off on sewing machines I have had experiences with. I did have to satisfy myself and come home to thread my machine from the opposite direction . . . it would not sew a stitch. Lesson learned. This will be a memory of the two quilters who were totally puzzled by a needle, one that I would be hard pressed to pick up easily if it were lying flat.
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Noreen
New Chief
It was time to pull in some extra help in the kitchen. Dennis doesn’t mind helping out and does great in the kitchen. My dad, Raymond, was able to make himself a fried egg sandwich. Why such a limited amount of kitchen skills? My Mom always made sure Raymond had choices in the refrigerator if she was going to be gone over a mealtime. Love that. Crab salad is one of our favorite “go to” when a snack is needed. Lots of celery, onions and of course the crab meat. It is actually Pollock. With a lazy Sunday coming to an end, this will be a perfect supper with some toast.
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Noreen
No one but my Good Lord knows how my life was suppose to have unfolded over these 72 years. I have used my “God given free will” perhaps a bit too often to my family’s chagrin. Was I following along the line of the “Old Adam” or listening to my soul and spirit for what I thought was survival?
Today, Saturday, January 14, 2017, I believe I am where I am meant to be. Dennis has had several weeks of less than feeling good. He has mentioned several times that we have done good things for our kids and those close to us. End times? I trust not. Today Dennis found some very old gospel music on his favorite RFD television channel. He was listening to it while resting in his recliner. I came up from the sewing studio to check on him and to think about pulling together some supper. Dennis got up to check on the garage kitties to see if they had enough in their supper dish. As I am moving about in the kitchen, I have a direct visual through the bathroom window right through the patio doors of his favorite porch. That visual is not by accident. I knew Dennis had the gospel music on, on his porch television, just by the motion of his rocking chair. Butter Ball was keeping watch on Dennis as Butter Ball was perched on the table. Yes, today, I am where I belong, keeping a watchful eye on my ole cowboy.
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Noreen
Today it was cold out, but when the call came that we could deliver my Mom and Dad’s rocker that they purchased at the time they got married, we were on it. Sweet Old Bob, better known as the S.O.B., had it in his workshop before noon. The glider rocker has been through the mill. A broom handle made into one of the bottom rods and some crude looking nuts and bolts in other places. A spindle was broken in the back rest. Bob had it tipped over and he knew he could put some support under the seat where the veneer was fragile. I put it in his hands. When I left I glanced around and was in awe of some of his restoration projects that were in the works or waiting to be picked up. I let him know I was in no hurry, and I knew he had good insurance as the wealth of the items under his workshop roof was amazing.
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Noreen
Lots of chit chat here on Stauffer Avenue. Dennis’ daughter Sue and granddaughter Taylor were here for the afternoon from Silver Bay . . . the “Up Nort” people. Brr. Sue said the winds were horrible. They will be spending the weekend catching up with more of the Curry clan. Sandy stopped in on her way home from New Ulm where she is a nurse in the clinic. I think we pretty well got everything and everybody caught up with the latest and greatest news. Tomorrow evening granddaughter Sadie (Sandy’s daughter) will be hosting a late Curry Christmas. Dennis and I are opting out this year. It begins at five in the afternoon and I know that it will be a very late night for the young’ens. Dennis and I will be tucked in safe and sound here on Stauffer. We sent along all the gifts that we had for the five Curry kids, the eight grandchildren and the six greatgrands. Let’s here it for our favorite gift to give . . . $2.00 bills. Everyone appreciates some extra cash after the holidays. It is going to be a another very cold, cold night. Dennis and I are very content and comfy right here at home.
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Noreen
Great day on Stauffer Avenue. Burke picked up his quilt and was as happy as a little kid with it. He can’t decide if he wants to put the 85″ x 85″ quilt on his man cave wall or use it as a quilt/cover up. Doing things for people such as Burke makes me a very happy stitcher.
The cookie jar was down to the crumbs, and that meant I had a date in my kitchen. Eight dozen cookies later, I took the snow pusher out for a few swipes on the driveway from the back door to the garage door. We had a very mild amount of snow. Hopefully the so called “January Thaw” they are predicting for Sunday and Monday will take a bit off the driveway where it has been driven down. Tomorrow . . . who knows what will shake loose in the sewing studio. Keeping the mind busy is a very good thing . . .