Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:13 pm on March 13, 2025 Permalink  

  Good Report 

  My yearly doctor’s visit went well.  Vitals including a good blood pressure reading were all satisfactory.  After the consult of what was realy needed, my doctor said I qualify for physical therapy.   After the first session it will be determined if more sessions would be helpful.  She felt it was either the sciatica or the right hamstring pulled out of the pelvic.  Next Tuesday the 18th of March at 2:15, I have an appointment with Mike Tongsanger.  Over the years, he has worked with me on the knee replacements and the shoulder replacements and a hamstring or two.  I put a lot of faith in him.

  Dennis had company this morning in his patio porch.  A friend of his brother. Roger, has moved back to St. James.  Oh the tales that were most likely spun.

  I have reported all that I had and I look forward to PT doing its thing.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   

   
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  Noreen 2:14 pm on March 12, 2025 Permalink  

  Sunny Hump Day 

  Good news from my endeavors of yesterday’s kitchen duty.  The oven meal passed mustard with a repeat of that coming for this evening’s supper.  We sampled the crab salad for our noon lunch today and that also is deemed good.  A full day in the kitchen pretty much guarantees a day such as this one with only light duty.

  The studio work went well today.  I am down to pairing up some of my colorful zippers from an older stash to see what can be coordinated with smaller pieces of the cork fabric.  Have I gotten tired of the project?  No.  It has felt good to work up what needed to be put into something with a utilitarian use.  Right at the end of one of the church tables is a small quilt project patiently waiting.  Over the years of doing embroidery designs, there are enough extras from various projects to get them kitted up to see what size can be achieved.  I am not venturing into my batting stash as yet.  That step would be fairly far into the project.  I know when nephew Brett took a quilt off of his long-arm, he gave the trimmings to me.  I have a lightweight paper adhesive type of tape to pair up scraps into a usable size. 

  The sun has worked hard and Stauffer Avenue is no longer looking like a huge mud hole.  That may change if we get the weather they are predicting for this weekend.

  Tomorrow I have an appointment with my primary doctor here in St. James at 3:30.  The lab work was completed some time ago and now for . . . the rest of the story.  Our clinic is short of doctors.  I don’t want to miss an appointment and fall through the medical cracks.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:56 pm on March 11, 2025 Permalink  

  Tuesday the 11th 

  This morning, everything seemed to come up roses.  We have chillier weather but the sun shining seems to make up for it.

  I gave myself kitchen duty this morning and forenoon.  Once the washer was doing its thing, I set about making a batch of cold crab salad.  I always add a few extra ingredients.  This time it was minced raw onions and the remainder of the Asiago shredded cheese.  The box of Suddenly Salad has a good amount of herbs in the seasoning packet.  It went into the refrigerator and by tomorrow noon the flavors will all have co-mingled.

  Next on the docket was getting pasta boiled for this evening’s oven meal.  I sauteed the remaining chopped onion and then put them aside.  One pound of 80/20 ground beef was the next item in the fry pan.  While that was browning, I drained the jar of sauerkraut into my cheesecloth.  Taking it up like nap-sack on a pole, I twisted and twisted that bundle of flavor to get as much of the juice out as possible.  Not to worry, there will still be plenty of salty flavor for the blue-speckled roaster.  The ground beef was drained of extra fat and while it was still hot, I stirred in a hefty tablespoon of beef flavored Better than Bullion as I know the ground beef on its own lacks flavor.  All ingredients were waiting for the binder . . . a jar of Ragu Alfredo.  It’s not my favorite brand but it was on sale at $2.49 a jar.  The folding over process of all the ingredients does takes its tole on the Grammie.

  Just as if planned Dennis was on the scene to do the prep dishes.  That fellow knows good eats.  His job is also to top the oven dish with ground pepper.

  I left the kitchen in good hands and went into the studio.  I had three pouches as part of my assembly line.  What I had to do first, which I had forgot to do yesterday, was to clean the cutters.  Not needing to cut the threads after a seam has been sewn may not sound like much but that in conjunction of not having to raise and lower the presser foot or threading the needle saves so much on my hands and arms.  Those three pouches now join the other finished ones on the church tables.  If I return to the studio tomorrow, I have three laid out ready to have zippers put in.  Sweet.

  My great day continues.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:22 pm on March 10, 2025 Permalink  

  Appreciation Day 

  Today was showing appreciation and love to my sewing machine.  My sewing machine is a work-horse.  It has given me so much joy and contentment over the last seven plus years.

  After all the lights and KNUJ were on, it was time to pull out my tool box for the sewing machine.  Nothing sews better than an oiled machine.  Underneath and topside my syringe-looking oil can did its duty.  Tiny threads no larger than the tail on a flea were rousted.  The surgical tweezers got them all.  The dual feed foot got a going over as well.  A tiny screw that can wiggle loose with each stitch the machine takes got a bit of tightening.  The dual feed can be engaged as the feed dogs move to allow motion under the needle, this acts as additional feed dogs right behind the needle to help things move along.  The last thing was to put in a new needle.  Needles are so cheap with tips so small, whatever I am working on deserves for the thread in each stitch to be done to its best.

  I didn’t get much stitching done in the studio.  I do have notations as to what amount of the corks need to be met up with the correct size of zipper.  That alone makes the next visit to the studio enjoyable.

  Last night we enjoyed our usual Sunday night supper of sharing a 12″ tuna sub.  Very tasty and fresh.  This evening, we are having a skillet meal that I am in charge of.  I man the skillet and Dennis takes charge of the dishes afterwards.  Well . . . that’s because I wouldn’t do them correctly.  

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:33 pm on March 9, 2025 Permalink  

  Cool Air 

  No matter how many people I see walking their dog past our home, I do not buy into the fact that jackets are not needed.  This is where the lungs struggle with that cool air.

  By noon I was up from the studio.  My fingers were cool and I had met my quota for today.  I am a monogamist sewer and stitcher.  I will continue with my box pouches until I have done the amount I need for a Curry family function far into the future.  I do not get bored.  I can stay focused.

  As I mentioned I am also a monogamist stitcher.  I watch a YouTube channel of those that enjoy cross stitching as I do.  Some of these gals and men have as many as one hundred projects kitted up, each in its own project bag with the needed threads.  Oh my gosh.  I can only imagine the investment.  

  I do have projects for the studio that I have planned.  Right now the stitching that is needed for each pouch is in the sewing machine’s memory.  I am not going to go through that process until the cork project is finished.  Will I have used all of the cork from Amanda?  No!  It will be in my stash in the studio until such time I find another project to use the cork.  After all, this pouch project took me several years for it to come into fruition.  I will keep my eyes out.  There again, YouTube is an amazing source of ideas.

  The changing of the time does not effect me as it does for some.  I stay with my routines without watching a clock.

  Next week at this time the month of March will be half over with.  Hmm.

  Enjoy the new week and make sure to find something each day to smile about.  It’s good for your heart and soul.

  With that I will take my leave.

   
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  Noreen 3:32 pm on March 8, 2025 Permalink  

  Tweet, Tweet 

  The early birds had a lot to say this morning with all the tweeting that could be heard.  The morning doves were out and about picking up grit off of the neighbor’s gravel drive.  The signs of spring as well as turning our clocks ahead tonight.  I did find it interesting from KNUJ’s news bit, 70 different countries do likewise.  Shawn Cable on the KEYC evening news went on to elaborate the effect if it wasn’t done.  It’s all interesting.  Hmm, even house flies know spring is coming.  Sure could have done away with them for awhile.

  A side note on house flies.  When the family lived at South Branch, no matter how cold the temps could and would get, the window at the top of the steps that faced east would rouse house flies between the inside window and the storm window.  Talk about hibernating skills and noise levels of the fittest.

  I was in the studio when Dennis’ daughter Sandy and Tom from Mankato came in.  I was surprised as they had been here just last Saturday.  That matters not, its always good to have them stop in as they were headed to Sioux Falls to see Sandy’s daughter Cheyanne for the weekend.  Hard to believe Dennis’ youngest grandchild is 30.

  With this Wednesday having been Ash Wednesday, it puts into my mind how late Easter is going to be.  So much better for those doing Easter egg hunts.  Dennis’ jelly beans will be hiding in his usual candy dish.

  May you all enjoy the feel of the warming sun as I am whiling away in my bedroom porch.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:11 pm on March 7, 2025 Permalink  

  Bone Weary 

  Bone Weary.  What’s up with that!  I don’t have a complaint in the world.  I had a good night’s rest by sleeping straight through as did Dennis.  The coffee pot went off at six this morning and the aroma wafted through the house.

  I fought the weary feeling and went on with my usual routine of checking all things via the HP in my bedroom porch with a cup of coffee at my elbow.  That did help.  Getting dressed and smartening myself up a bit with a cold washcloth.  With a full cup of hot coffee . . . studio here I come!

  I look forward to what KNUJ has for news blurbs.  I put on all the lights possible and hit the power button on the Bernina.  With the completion of an unusual shape to a box pouch, I powered on.  The reason it was an unusual shape was that I was determined to use up a zipper that was shorter than required for even the smallest of box pouches, 9″.  It did make me feel better, knowing that thinking outside the box gets my gray matter working.  I went on to the next challenge by using an 18″ metal zipper that has been kicked around in the supply box for a long time.  The sewing machine needle can make it over a nylon zipper by treading carefully and not breaking.  I hand turned the motion of the needle and made it with the needle intact.  After this medium-sized pouch was finished, I knew I would use a bit of the E6000 glue on each end where it could not and would not be detected.  With that “mission completion” the studio went dark for the day.  I still have zippers that I made using the zippers by the yard and zipper pulls.  I needed to work through using what perhaps should have hit the circular file.

  With determination and concentration the weariness had been kicked in the ass.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

  The evening healthy suppers have been diligently put forth.  This evening we are having French toast and some sausage patties I found in HY-VEE the last time we were in Mankato.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:28 pm on March 6, 2025 Permalink  

  Melting Snow 

  Amazingly the snow from the recent blizzard is dwindling.  The added moisture that we received was worth it.  Mixed with the snow, there was a fair amount of dirt from our horrific wind prior to and during.

  While in the studio this morning, I cut out four more box pouches.  I chose zippers to go with the sizes I cut out.  I stayed in the studio long enough to pick up on the noon news from KNUJ.  Tomorrow I may return to switch on the sewing machine.

  Dennis and I had a noon snack.  Not your usual snack by any means.  The snack was a bit of cherry crisp that I had baked out yesterday after the sugar coffee bake-off was done.  I popped it into the refrigerator yesterday after it had cooled.  The crisp was topped with a spot of ice cream.  Neither of us care to eat anything after our supper so the baked dessert got the nod at noon today.  That may be the case until the small pan of crisp is finished.  

  Dennis’ pickup drives into the garage from the graveled Stauffer Avenue.  Today the pickup stayed on the concrete drive so he could use the leaf blower to blow off the floor with the garage door open.  With no wind or breeze it was the ultimate time to do it.

  Each day both of us find local effort to keep us busy so we can have a five o’clock supper with an appetite to enjoy it.  Our oven dish of Tuesday will have its last hurrah this evening.  Some don’t enjoy leftovers . . . we don’t mind them one bit.  Waste not, want not.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:41 pm on March 5, 2025 Permalink  

  So it Blew 

  Last evening we ended up having heavy rain before the first of the snow could be seen flying sideways.

  We lost power at eight last night and it came on at 3:30 this morning.  The extra batteries.  Dennis went to bed about nine without the use of his CPAP.  I pulled one of our soft chairs closer to the bedroom door so I could here Dennis and cat-napped.  The house maintained a 58-degree temp for the duration.  That was the longest power-outage I can ever remember.  

  Dennis reported that from one of the televisions in the patio porch, we may have gotten between five to six inches.  It is indeed white.  Randy scrapped off the concrete drive and most of the drive is bare concrete.

  Sometime these last months, I had bought a box of Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix while in Sam’s Club.  Today was the day to use the last two pouches of the mix.  Dennis shook the eggs needed in a half-pint Mason jar and I put the butter to melt mode in the microwave.  With the butter and eggs then getting whipped into a frenzy in the KitchenAid mixer.  That beast rolled that cookie dough stiff enough that I could take a spoonful out at a time, roll it, and get it onto the baking sheet.  I did put some of the cookies in the freezer as I know from experience they don’t stay soft for too long.

  And how did I come about to have a KitchenAid mixer?  Several years ago, I helped out a previous employee when she was fighting Pancreatic cancer.  Her apartment was where she wanted to stay for as long as possible.  I was retired by that time, and I would be at her home every day as her daughter could not leave her work.  Lorraine didn’t want Hospice.  She was the most humble private person I have ever know.  One day when I went over, her daughter had made arrangements to take medical leave and could I please bring her mom to her home.  So it was determined. Lorraine had said that when her cookie making days were over, I was to take her mixer home with me.  A few days later when I tidied up her apartment, I did take the KitchenAid home.  Lorraine passed away within five days of being with her daughter. Whenever I use the mixer, I think of Lorraine. 

  But . . . this afternoon when the sugar cookies were done, I took the hot leftover coffee with a cookie and sat at the table.  I dunked this cookie as a homage to my great grandmother, Christine.  When I would stay at my grandparent’s home, Christ and Laura’s, Christine lived with them.  She spoke no English, but she always let me be by her side when she stirred up something to bake for the hard working multi-generational farm family.  In her long black dress with the ever fresh white apron, her and I would sit at the round dining room table to share a cookie.  She had heavily laced cream coffee and I had some coffee in my cup.  She would pick up her cookie and beckon me to do the same, and then . . . dunk!

  I have so many memories that seem to be freshened with the activities of my days.  What a treat.

  By the way, the oven dish of last night was very tasty.  Before putting the round, blue-speckled roaster into the oven, I covered the top of the dish with finely shredded Asiago-Parmeson cheese.  It gave a bite like no other.  A welcomed repeat for this evening.

  With that I will take my leave.

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on March 4, 2025 Permalink  

  Drip, Drip 

  We all were told there would be moisture coming our way.  The day was getting darker and darker this afternoon.

  I came up from the studio at one and in a heart beat there was a heavy shower of rain.  Now mid afternoon it is a drip, drip.  There may be more coming.

  The first item on the docket this morning was putting together an oven meal for this evening’s supper.  It was two cups of pasta to boil until tender.  One packet of boned out rotisserie chicken out of the freezer.  I only had peas in the freezer for some color.  When I drained the pasta while it was still hot I stirred in a heaping tablespoon of Better than Bullion, vegetable flavor.  That perked up the pasta big time.  One jar of Alfredo sauce folded in and we will be having a wonderful hot meal tonight.

  We did have a delicious hot supper last night as well.  Steaming bowls of oatmeal with a hearty fat pinch of flax meal.  Dennis had not had oatmeal for a while and he really enjoyed it.  The flax meal gives the bland oatmeal a nutty flavor.

  

  The assembly line of three box pouches is finished.  I brought them upstairs when I was done with the sewing, as the studio was chilly.  Mission completion.
  
  

  It all goes well taking it slow, one stitch at a time.  I may be sewing a few more of various sizes.  What’s not to enjoy using up stash items.  It will be easy handing off a pouch more so than the raw supplies.  The zippers by the yard and the packet of pulls were not doing any good as they were.  Items like that would not be given a second look if push may become pull.  I know that Carrie and Kevin grew up with me always doing something in the sewing or craft line.  They would have an awareness.  None of the three girls of Dennis’ could give a lick less with tools of the hands.

  I feel so fortunate that I have the tools and the supplies to keep me involved, curious, content and happy.

  I have just a bit of cold coffee left to enjoy to fill out this afternoon as I watch the weather and the traffic from my bedroom porch.  Hmm.  There is even a loaded needle waiting for me before getting our oven meal into a 350-degree oven.  Sweet.

  One more thing.  I always check our bank account via the HP in my bedroom porch.  Halleluiah!  Our small but good refund from the state income taxes hit our checking account this morning.  April first the federal will yank out what we owe them.  Please oh please let this be one of the years, social security is taxed.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥