Me, Myself and Memories

Updates from May, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Noreen 1:14 pm on May 9, 2023 Permalink  

  Yellow Beauties 

  This morning after Dennis went out to his PT appointment, I went after those yellow beauties that were determined to be in the Hosta bed off of the patio porch.  Our spray on the grass areas seems to have a good carry-over compared to the yard south of us across Stauffer Avenue.  Some of the Hosta are slow to show, so I kept my size nines out of the area.  With all the deer that trampled the snow in this same area, it will be interesting as time goes by.

  I knew Dennis would be picking up Dwayne after the PT appointment this morning for a coffee at McDonald’s.  It’s good for both of those fellows to keep up with the rest of the crew.

  The static on the radio might mean a thunder shower coming.

  A friend of mine called this morning for the information on the fellow that did our front deck.  I was more than happy to give him a great reference.

  After taking a long walk down Stauffer, I went to the studio.  Putting forth effort to make each and every project that comes out of my studio the best that I am able to is very satisfying.  Trying to keep two piles of blocks as similar as possible for the twin-sized quilt can be a challenge.  Michael’s sweatshirt, hmm.  I tried to replicate as much as possible.  I used by Bernina Tool Box to bring my created block a close second.  I am happy with it.

  When I looked out, I saw Dwayne and Dennis with the heavy implement trailer hooked to the little red pickup.  There were ramps engaged.  I knew that before long, the Cub Lo-Boy was going to be driven up onto the trailer.  I stayed on the patio making sure I could punch 911 if needed.  Dwayne was off to the side using hand signals.  Here we had two 86-year-young fellows, doing what they used to do in a heart beat.  After the tractor was loaded and chained down, Dennis stopped at the house to get his wallet.  When he came around the front of the pickup with a wide smile . . . his favorite snap western shirt on, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth,  it took me back thirty plus years when this ole cowboy knew no challenge.  Today, Dennis was in his element.  The Cub L0-Boy is going out to the fixit shop north of town for new blades on the mower. 

  I am quite sure that sometime this late afternoon will find Dennis in the patio porch with Snuggles on his lap.  Snuggles will get to hear all about the day’s activities, well maybe not all of them, as Dennis slips in a nap.

   
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  Noreen 1:40 pm on May 8, 2023 Permalink  

  Happy Monday 

  I was wide awake at six this morning ready to have a happy Monday.  With one load of laundry under my belt, the studio was my targeted destination.

  Just as early, Dennis took his breakfast box and coffee out to the patio porch.  His breakfast box holds a banana nut muffin that came out of the freezer last night, several cookies from the counter container and a plastic fork with which to eat the muffin.  The muffins from Sam’s Club are huge.  With very cool mornings, a nap may very well ensue with a cat on the lap.  

  My breakfast is usually an English muffin with jam that can fill all the holes in the English muffin.  All the items on the computer that I check each morning include, Outlook emails, Facebook, the blog site and our bank site.  By that time I had enjoyed two cups of rich coffee with cream.  Studio, here I come!  All the lights that can be turned on . . . are.  I don’t have the radio on every day.  Sometimes, with the dehumidifier going, the occasional running of the sump pump and the embroidery module going . . . enough is enough.

  We checked in with each other over a sandwich at noon.  By that time I had finished all the coffee and settled for a glass of water and Dennis had his glass of orange juice.  Dennis’ plan for the afternoon was to mow the east portion of our acre.  There was a strip of Hosta in this east part that included the Plume grass that comes up every year, much like quack.  Dennis burned off the grass earlier.  The birds had pretty well taken all the seeds off of it during the winter.  I gave him my thumbs up to mow over the strip that might have had Hosta coming up.  I offered the Hosta to two of Dennis’ family members for two years.  Lots of good intentions on their part with nothing forth coming.  I don’t care to take care of anything more than what is around the patio porch and the patios.

  The studio work is really going well.  With what is stitching out today, I will need to find two additional designs for each of the twin-sized quilts, making sixteen blocks for each.  As the stitching was going on, I downloaded one design that included, a fire hydrant, a fireman’s hat and a fireman’s hose.  I also liked a design from another site that had a nondescript heart with the word “Family” in the middle of it.  The jury is still out on that one.

  Enjoy this 8th of May.  My goodness, when I did catch the news of several small tornados that touched down on Saturday, I gave thanks that we and our families were safe.

   
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  Noreen 1:59 pm on May 7, 2023 Permalink  

  A May Sunday 

  A cool Sunday, but much going on.

  Dennis and I have been doing some surveying work this afternoon.  One of the lots that we purchased on a tax forfeit is the backyard of our friend Edna’s home.  Edna’s house is now for sale.  Dennis wanted to have a marker where our lot extended to the north.  I agree with Dennis that with Edna having moved, he will no longer mow that lot around the home and to the street.  Dennis has plenty to mow and the realtor getting his percentage when this home sells can nicely mow it or find someone to mow it.

  We went on to check out our lot line of the barn acre.  Dennis was relieved when stepping off going from west to east, there is a whole bunch of mess that is not ours to the south.  We have made strides in this newly acquired acre.  The mowing that Dennis did on Friday made a huge improvement. 

  The studio lights have been on today.  Having worked with my computer software, I will now be able to add a block, actually two blocks, to each twin-sized project.  I had Michael’s dates that he was with the Gibbon fire department and finding a helmet to download, this will make a nifty addition.  The block stitching out at 85% made for little to no puckering.  In time when quilt blocks are sandwiched with backing and batting any puckering is quilted out.  I have one down and the second of the same design is now stitching.  While the module is at work it gives me an opportunity to iron stabilizer and trim those ironed blocks at 16 x 16.  The blocks had to be that large to capture as much of the designs on his t-shirts as possible.

  Supper is going to be tuna sandwiches and soup.  I had a thumbs up on that choice.  Neither one of us have done enough today to warrant anything heavier.

  A new week with new possibilities as to what will present itself.  Enjoy, smile and find something to bring about hearty laughter.

   
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  Noreen 3:27 pm on May 6, 2023 Permalink  

  A Welcomed Rain 

  Right along with the welcomed rain was thunder.  It sounded great.  This would have been the first good rain to wash off a lot of the old winter’s dirt.  Just because the snow has melted, doesn’t mean all the snirt is gone.

  I, after some laundry this morning, the studio was my plan.  The fireman’s t-shirts were cut down and with the steam iron on high, I began ironing shape flex on the back of the saved designs.  It is a slow process.  Getting the stabilizer on the back with enough heat so it will withstand lots of handling as we go forward to making a quilt, take that back, making two twin-sized quilts.

  I think my ole cowboy over did it yesterday.  Dennis so wanted to mow some of the greenery on the barn acre.  It’s green but not lawn green.  Getting a jump on it was a good thing.  It would not have had to have been done in one day.  All that I can do is to make sure he stays upright until he himself calls it a day.  Dennis never lacks ambition.  Like myself, the mind tells us we can but the body has the last word.  A good day of rest watching television in the patio porch with a cat now and then allowing Dennis to vent to it . . . it’s a good thing.

  I slept until 7:30 this morning.  My bedtime remains at nine at night.  If I go too far beyond that bedtime, I get really tippy.  There ya go!  My body has the last word and I very seldom go against the ole body.

  Cool temps are here again.  It’s bound to change many times in the month of May.

  Enjoy what is left of the weekend, I sure am.

   
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  Noreen 1:30 pm on May 5, 2023 Permalink  

  Rain 

  According to the static on the KNUJ radio, it really would like to rain.

  Dennis and his Sears rider went to the barn acre and mowed what green grass there is.  Sometime, nephew Brett will be coming over with one of his skid loaders to push together what trees have fallen over or what had been pushed aside over the years.  In time when the burning bans have been lifted, we will most likely get a permit for burning.  There is so much that is dried, it could be quite a fire.  If all is pushed into the middle of the lot, there is no chance of neighbor’s homes being in harm’s way.

  My walking sticks and I walked over to where Dennis was mowing, picking up sticks as I went from our house to Dennis.  Many, many wisps that won’t need picking up.  Snuggles followed behind feeling very secure.   

  This morning the kitchen, bath and entry floors felt the kiss of mopping.  As long as Dennis needs to wear a medical boot on his left foot, mopping gets done frequently.  Having a small home . . . perfect.

  The oven meal of last night was a success.  The sauerkraut with the chicken gave it a nice flavor.  There is a bit of it in the freezer for another time, with some for supper.  Jellied cranberries is one of our favorite side dishes with an oven meal.

  My firefighter family member had a sweatshirt with the name of the city, a design of a helmet and ax under that for t-shirt quilts.  Under both of those was “FIRE & RESCUE.”  One sweatshirt for two quilts.  Hmm.  I have a “Toolbox” software program on the computer in the living room.  I was able to get the correct font for “GIBBON” complete with the name outlined in white.  No helmet and ax in any of the websites that I frequent for downloading designs to load into the sewing machine.  I did get a design of a helmet that will go under the city’s name and then finish it out with the fire and rescue.  It will be close.

  There is a lot of enjoyment in working through challenges. 

  A quiet weekend is on the docket for us perhaps listening to the pitter patter of rain on the awning.

   
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  Noreen 1:46 pm on May 4, 2023 Permalink  

  News of Stauffer 

  Today is a 77 degree day here on Stauffer Avenue.

  Even a Thursday as promising as this can have some sad news.  Since about 2009 we had enjoyed a cast iron eagle that loved to sit on the patio with the “Red, White and Blue” flying over it.  The eagle had been found when several of us gals were trolling garden nurseries.  It was a good thing, my friend Doreen didn’t know her limit in lifting things.  The eagle tipped in easily at 75 pounds.

  In recent years when our Maple tree got a trimming, the fellow cut one of the limbs totally flat so the eagle could sit eight feet above the ground and keep an eye out.  Last night, some brave varmint stole the eagle from its resting place.  Yes, there is dirt that has been disturbed and a new hunk of the Maple’s trunk that was pulled off where the eagle was.  Someone or somebodies might have had a shock when 75 pounds of cast iron was on its way to the ground in their face.

  We did call the city police and I did put a photo on Facebook.  Nothing may ever come of getting the eagle back, but we will try. 

  This late forenoon, Dennis and I had our pedicures up town.  What a great thing to do for ourselves.

  The lights popped on in the studio today for several hours.  The air is chilly and that is why several hours did the trick.  I now have the t-shirts cut down for this retired firefighter.  As luck would have it, I had enough Pellon Shape-Flex to cut into the number of the blocks that these two twin sized t-shirt quilts will be.  The Shape-Flex will be ironed onto the back of each wrinkled t-shirt making them as easy to sew with as if they were yardage of cotton.  That was enough for one day.

  I do have an oven dish to pop into the oven.  Rotisserie cubed chicken out of the freezer, one can of Bavarian sauerkraut, one can of white kernel corn, and two cups of pasta with Alfredo sauce.  The batch is large enough to tuck a small container in the freezer before I pop our dish in the oven.  Sweet. 

  Enjoy whatever trips your trigger as Friday is soon to be here for the beginning of a nice weekend.

   
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  Noreen 1:10 pm on May 2, 2023 Permalink  

  More Straight Line Winds 

  The winds from the north are getting old.  Our flag and the neighbor’s stand straight out from the northwest.  Upon reflection . . . it still beats the storms.

  Dennis gave me a car ride to our tax forfeit lot as the crew was loading up their equipment from the demolition.  What a fantastic job was done.  Denis feels relieved that a sad old dangerous building is no more.  As we took a tour via our car, it is amazing the amount of nice green grass.  Dennis always mowed the gal’s lot that was adjacent to this lot.  We now know Edna’s property is for sale as our 96-year-young gal is in Sleepy Eye in a care facility.  One lot that no longer needs Dennis to mow, trading off for our own additional lot to mow.  Did I mention that Dennis got new blades on his rider yesterday?

  When we got home, I did pick up some garbage that has blown into our backyard.  Several branches are now on Dennis’ fire ring.  If ever there were loose branches in our trees, these winds would have brought them down.

  The studio lights came on today.  Working in 45 minute increments, I have 24 firefighter’s t-shirts cut down to what I can work with.  One bag of garbage made up of sleeves, neck ribbing and such.  A second bag is labeled as “cotton rags” from the backs of the t-shirts.  With that . . . the lights were turned off for the day.  Slow and steady will be this project.

  I know the farmers are out and about.  I can imagine the dust storms behind the areas being worked.  My plan is to wait until I can stand upright with little to no wind before I venture into my dirt.

  This week should be a turning point in spring-like weather.

   
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  Noreen 4:10 pm on May 1, 2023 Permalink  

  What a Morning 

  This morning, I sat on the edge of my bed at seven.  Just in time to see Dennis heading down third avenue towards the west.  He was determined to get the new blades on the Sears rider.  Nephew Brett’s garage is on the west edge of town, while we live on the east edge.  Go to where the tools are!

  It was just a bit after eight and here came Dennis grinning from ear to ear.  New blades on and balanced.  He recounted that four of the young fellows put the mower up on ramps and with air compression wrenches, it was a five minute job.

  With a new cup of hot coffee, the patio porch was beckoning Dennis.  As I was doing laundry in the bathroom, I kept hearing sounds of machinery.  I opened the front door and . . . nothing.  Back in the bathroom, I looked out the window to the east and saw a glint of metal reflecting.  I telephoned Dennis and let him know the old blue barn was coming down on our tax forfeit lot.  Now that needed investigating . . . right now.  How sweet that will be to have the building cleared off and no longer tempting kids to play in unsafe conditions.  More needs to be done in regard to trees that need clearing.  Plenty of time to contemplate the next chapter.

  Today began the next step in the prescription of the orthotic shoes Dennis will need to make up in the left foot’s shortcomings . . . literally.  It will be a pair of shoes as the shoe for the right foot has been worn down.

  This evening was a Subway supper.  Very tasty indeed.

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on April 30, 2023 Permalink  

  Math 

  I enjoy challenges in regard to math.  On the dining room table is my graph paper and a good pen.  I only spent one hour in the studio today.

  I dumped out two plastic grocer’s bags of a firefighter’s t-shirts onto my two church tables.  The quest was to see how many t-shirts I had to work with.  Some were two sided.  With the project being two twin sized quilts . . . the graph paper and I headed for the dining room table.  Many different scenarios on how to effectively use 42″ wide fabrics in conjunction to t-shirt fabric.  It will be some time before fabric needs to be purchased . . . for sure. 

  The winds during the night shook our small home.  The wind has continued during this Sunday.  With my bedroom porch on the west end of the home, it does help to have a huge evergreen shrub that we don’t prune on the northwest corner of the home.  It will be nice when our Larson storm door comes into the lumberyard in Truman.  That would snug up the doorway.  Special ordered length takes four to six weeks.  We do have a carpenter that will do the install once the door arrives at the lumberyard and is delivered.

  Each fall at the time of colder weather coming, Dennis gets a new winter down-filled nylon jacket.  The jackets are light weight and very warm.  As our winter temps are dragging along, warmer jackets are still needed. We have noticed a goodly amount of tuffs of ever so fine feathers.  We checked for holes.  Cat’s claws were the number one thing we thought of, next was possible cigarette burnt holes.  Nope.  The seams on the elbows are worn thin to the point that they are leaking.  For a bit more time, I can think of worse things to be floating in the air. 

  Tomorrow morning, Dennis donning his leaky feather jacket will drive our Sears riding mower to nephew Brett’s concrete shop.  Dennis has the blades purchased and the fellows in the shop will swap out the old and dull with the new.  The next step is for Dennis to drive out north of town to Charlie’s shop on Hwy. #4.  The Cub Lo-Boy is also going to get new blades.  As far as Dennis could track, the blades were last changed out fifteen years ago.  Spring may be slow to come, but the grass has a good showing.

  It doesn’t take a math genius to know that 30 mph winds decrease the temps from 50 degrees to 41 degrees.  It feels raw.

   
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  Noreen 4:31 pm on April 29, 2023 Permalink  

  A Brick 

  Today would have been a good day to have your favorite brick in the undies.  The wind at 20 – 23 mph hour makes this 50 degrees feel very cool.

  Hmm.  My sewing tables are bare nekkid.  Some time back a family member had reached out from the family tree about making a t-shirt quilt as he had retired from his local fire station.  This was pre-AJ and his Harley quilt.  Why not!

  Today a car came from Gibbon.  My dad’s sister, Esther. was married to Theophil Opitz.  Their son Wayne settled in Gibbon.  Wayne’s son, Michael, was the retired fireman.  Wayne and his wife Jean had never been to our home and had decided to ride along with Michael and his son Jaden.  What a treat.

  I now have church tables that look busy and happy.  Dennis has already signed up to cut t-shirts apart.  What a guy!  Michael would like two twin sized quilts out of his shirts for each of his two sons, Jaden and Wyatt.  I can do whatever as I go along and there is no timeframe.  Sweet!

  We have come home from a friend’s 87th birthday coffee.  Late day coffee with cake.  What’s not to like.  There will be a light supper of soup for supper.

  I came home to have a chat with the Fairfax team via the phone.  Amazing when your family looks out for items that I may well put into service in the studio.  The studio does after all have a certain standard to uphold.  Dennis and I will do a road trip sometime to the fair city of Fairfax.

  Today is the first day for the Fairfax tulips to open.  They have been gracing our home for some time.  Kevin and Kersten rescued the pots of spent tulips after a Valentine’s day.  The pots came to St. James for the tulip bulbs to be cleaned and dried for planting that fall.  They are the darkest of reds and enjoyed each spring. 

  Have a great weekend and be ready to welcome May on Monday.