Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:17 pm on January 4, 2024 Permalink  

  Thursday the 4th 

  Slipping into the 2024 without a glitch.

  Dennis had been heard remarking about a friend in the Trimont health care system.  Last night I offered to ride along with him.  This morning after coffee we headed south.

  I find that if I put out ideas for Dennis’ day, it goes a long way forward for him.  His yard work is on sabbatical.  No snow to move around and that leaves keeping me company in the house or snoozing in the patio porch.  I am so thankful that the child in me has lots of interests to keep two of us busy.

  After we got home, Dennis volunteered to mix up a batch of Betty Crocker peanut butter cookies for me to bake out.  Why Not!

  The cookies have been baked and we are having waffles and pre-cooked Jimmy Dean sausages for supper.

  Hmm.  We did get a call from the police department this afternoon.  Jeff was hit while riding his three-wheel bike and they are looking for him.  Sorry . . . not at this address.  Grandson Ryan told his grandpa that Jeff was on probation for drunk and disorderly and they can’t find him.  He was on probation.  Just what an aging parent needs to quiet the soul.

  Thanks to the times when Megan played at our home, I have the perfect storage for all my easy-to-use pins.  Pins are always needed and I said good-bye to the Glad zip lock baggies.  This is much classier.  A traveler case and all of the naughty, hard to use safety pins are in the lower-class storage.  Sweet.

  I achieved success in self-framing my latest cross stitch project.   I have watched enough videos on YouTube to realize people make a very good income doing the “finish” on other people’s stitched items.  All I want to do is satisfy myself.  Was it hard to decide where and how to hang it?  No.  I just took the first available hole on the wall from where the Santas had hung.  Easy does it.

  Tomorrow, the end of the new week.  May everyone I cherish measure for themselves what is needed in each 24 hours for peace and comfort within themselves.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:19 pm on January 3, 2024 Permalink  

  Tense 

  Hello on a Wednesday.  Just a bit tense in the studio this forenoon.  I have been working on making a banner by loading individual letters for embroidery.  After each letter is stitched the fabric needs to come out of the hoop for re-alignment.  What helps is that I have marking pens to be used on the fabric.  The markings disappear if a hot iron is used on it.  They are called Frixion Ball Clicker.  Very handy for alignment.  

  Today I was on to the letter “M” in the banner of “HOME.”  I do have the largest hoop of Bernina’s.  I had to scrunch a bit to make it fit the hoop’s ability to stitch.  I didn’t stray far from the machine as bobbins do need to be exchanged for full ones.  I have put a new needle in with each letter.  A double backing of stabilizer has also been used and the stitching is laying totally flat.  No puckering even with each letter being 42,000 stitches.

  I have one more letter to stitch.  My strip of fabric is diminishing.  I am going to stitch a piece of junk fabric onto that far end so the hoop will have ample room to stitch fairly close to the end of my fabric of choice.

  I did manage to check the furnace filter as well as cleaning the dehumidifier filter.  It is a multi-layered stainless steel screen and it is surprising how much lint, fuzz and thread it catches.

  Dennis took a late morning nap and I will catch up with him later today.  Even with the heater on blowing warm air over my legs, I am posting a bit early and then closing down the studio.  It is showing 28 degrees outside and here in the studio it is 62.  Very doable when I am moving about.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:23 pm on January 2, 2024 Permalink  

  Gray Skies 

  The gray skies are better than zero visibility due to blowing snow.

  The studio session went well today.  As the embroidery module worked its whiles, I was on the back side of the studio at the church tables working my whiles.  I take constructive criticism well.  With a few hints from Christmas day, I manned the adhesive spray can with a delicate touch.  Spraying on a sample piece of paper first before spraying on my finished item.  All is well and perhaps tomorrow, when I pick it up, it doesn’t fall apart, it may find a place on the living room wall.

  I did have my small heater on turbo while I was in the studio.  When I had had enough of the lower level, the heater was the first thing I shut down as it has a cool down cycle that I wanted to be around for.  Around the church tables I went pulling chains to close down lighting.  Do I need them all on . . . no.  If I am inclined to stay busy in the studio, I might as well have it lit well.

  Dennis did the errand today as I had one prescription to be picked up at Lewis Drug.  It was zero copay for a $59.00 refill.  Sweet.

  This evening we are having a picnic type of supper . . . beef Johnsonville wieners and a can of pork and beans.  Add a piece of buttered bread and we will call it good.

  For all of the neighbors that had maxed out on the exterior Christmas lights, they are missing out on a great opportunity in getting them down.  Up on the house tops, click, click, click . . . it wouldn’t take much of a mist or snow covering for it to be slippery dangerous.  I did enjoy the lights.  Thank you neighbors.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:14 pm on January 1, 2024 Permalink  

  Happy 2024 New Year 

  Happy New Year peeps.  You know which one of you are in my inner circle.  Tee Hee!

  I have been in the studio for most of this day.  I have 32 minutes for a project to finish under the needle.  The design I wanted to do in one stitching couldn’t be done.  I had a strip of fabric in length that I muddled through.  By tipping the letters I may be able to make an embroidered banner instead.  Yes, measure, measure, measure.  When it is time to add the second independent letter, the measuring will increase for placement to make it appear all the letters were loaded at one time.

  While the embroidery has been running I have worked on the framing of the “Good Will to Men.”  By George I think I have the placement within the frame that I will get a 85% good from Kevin.  Someone needs to take me to task or I’d get wonky.  It does not hurt me one bit to try to measure up as best I can.  When both of these two items are finished, there will be a share.  The sewing machine will need a cool down as I will.

  Dennis has been busy in the garage as I have in the studio.  We will catch up with each other over supper. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 2:53 pm on December 31, 2023 Permalink  

  2023 

  2023 is hours away from being history.

  For these two older ones on Stauffer the year went well for us.  When I look back and the last two months of this year had no doctor appointments . . . sweet.

  We had a tick list when the year started.  Getting the furnace to vent to the south side of the house rather than the sheltered north side, gave the Watson boys a fit.  Who ever heard of having the vent right onto the concrete drive!   Who wants to tramp through the snow to keep the ice build up managed!  I reminded them often and it was taken care of.

  The west front steps of our home, were no longer manageable.  Brian, a carpenter, took on the job.  The front deck with steps wide enough for ease regardless if by walking or in a wheelchair, was completed by spring.

  An additional lot that we purchased, was cleared of all undesired that had accumulated over decades.

  The Sears rider mower that has been with us for fifteen years now has a zero-turn buddy to help out with yard work.  By spring, this Grammie will be able to help out with mowing.  Sweet.

  Both of our vehicles got new tires as well as all the TLC they need to be reliable.

  The two of us relish the warm wonderful home we have built for ourselves and anyone that visits.

  Dennis and I have had a good 2023.  If I could spout off for a wish . . . it would be that family would visit oftener.  But being realistic, our kids are doing the very same thing we had to do . . . work and create their surroundings that bring them comfort and joy.

  2024 is right around the corner and Stauffer Avenue welcomes it.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on December 30, 2023 Permalink  

  Plan B 

  If all else fails with the original plan, there always needs to be a plan b.

  This morning, I learned my lesson in resizing designs that I have downloaded for embroidery.  For the total design I had laid out to fit in my largest hoop, I lost the integrity of the individual pieces to make the one total.  All is not lost.

  Learning by doing gives a great lesson.  Going forward, my design will be split into two separate stitch outs.  I am working through on how to make it look as if that was the intended outcome all along.  I will need more thoughts on this.

  In the meantime, I did work in the studio on getting the latest finished cross stitch figured out to be framed.  At a time past, I had all the previous cross stitched Santa’s redone to have the UV glass in front of them and I had saved the old frames.  Now it’s time to put the ole thinking cap on.

  It is measure, measure, take notes and measure again.  I do so appreciate all the lighting I have over the church tables.  At this time I have a lot of small things prepped.  I have always counted on having another day to come.

  We made a trip to the local grocer’s.  At noon the wind was strong and cold hardly allowing me to get into the little red pickup.  We are home for the entire weekend, and wouldn’t you know it?  It feels as if we could have a dusting of snow. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:48 pm on December 29, 2023 Permalink  

  Business 

  This morning, I had business to get done while still in 2023.  We have an abstract to get up to date for the blue barn acre.  I knew there was a reason why paperwork to that effect was on one of my church tables.  Quite a few abstractors to choose from.  I chose a local gal and left her a message to get back to us.  Check that off my list.

  As of now, there are colorful spools of thread lined up like a military squad near my sewing machine.  There is stabilizer ironed onto the back of my fabric of choice for machine embroidery.  The fabric is lying on the hoop, ready to be clamped in and affixed to the module.  The embroidery module is on the machine with the appropriate bobbin color loaded.  Yes, many steps in the prep.  There is something to be said for being able to turn on the studio lights in the future with all systems a go. 

  I think it is only a matter of time before Dennis will be in need of us running away to the big town.  He can stay dormant for only so long.  That’s not all bad.  Raymond did the same thing to Lena.  Mom knew when dad came in the house, changed into his town jeans, washed his eye glasses and stuck his billfold in the back pants pocket, she had better get her hair combed.  Never a shortage of great memories.  Too funny about these guys that get a stroke of wander lust.

  I do have a short list of items to get in Mankato, but I am holding out to see which one of us caves in first.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 1:53 pm on December 28, 2023 Permalink  

  A Thursday 

  On this Thursday the 28th, I did see about a dozen snowflakes fly, and then . . . no more.

  My day is going very well.  Before the first cup of coffee, I had the washing machine going. 

  On to putting our supper into the crockpot.  I had no idea that Wal-Mart put together meals in one sealed tray; a bed of new potatoes, carrots, celery on the bottom, a cut of Chuck Roast on top that a flavor packet moistened rubbed on the roast with more liquid added to the flavoring poured to the bottom with an onion on the top.  It is now 1:30 in the afternoon and I am getting whiffs of our supper.  These darn kids find out all the new and improved ways to make days . . . wonderful.  Thanks.

  I do like to put into practice challenging items here in the studio.  One photo has images of designs I found to download onto my computer.  When I had bought my sewing machine, I purchased the Tool Box software.  There were some free images to play with that I have never used.  I was able to combine those images onto one text box, making a complete design.  I then loaded that text box onto one of the flash drives I just smartened up yesterday.  I made sure when I used that flash drive it came up on the sewing machine as I had planned.  

  With all loaded into the sewing machine there is also a file on my computer, I was able to print out the complete image from the tool box screen with all the called for colors of thread I will need in the stitching process.  As my machine is a Bernina and the Tool Box is exclusive to Bernina, the Isacord threads are recommended on the embroidery and are thus in the printout.

  My day has gone well.  I will admit getting things done on the computer for the sewing aspect, does take me awhile.  Do it over and over till I get a satisfactory outcome.  As I said, challenging myself is a very good thing.

  The studio will go dark as soon as I send off this posting.  It is now time for some reading and hand stitching.  The studio will be there and here for another day.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:01 pm on December 27, 2023 Permalink  

  Nippy 

  This morning was not only nippy we had little balls of ice crystals everywhere.  It reminded me of vermiculite, the insulation that had been used in times past.  It also worked well in potting soil so the dirt would not compact allowing for air in the soil.

  I didn’t get threads laid out for embroidery.  I got side tracked to clean out some files on the flash drives that I use in my sewing machine.  There were some as far back as 2017.  It was taking up space and as many files on a flash drive, it took quite a while to download onto the sewing machine.  The deleted files are still in my folders on the computer.  

  With these mild temps, the studio is chilly when the furnace doesn’t run often.  The small heater blowing warm air across the legs felt good.

  This morning I carried up our small crockpot from the basement closet.  Getting it set up for Thursday morning.  I have found out that using the original Pam sprayed into the crockpot or any item baking in the oven, really shortens up clean up time.  It has to be the original as knockoffs leave burnt residue.  Hmm.

  Dennis came in needing some information.  He was headed to Fleet Farm and needed the same of the plant fertilizer we have used in the past.  Miracle Grow was what he was after.  He has two large plants in the patio porch that he tends.  The air in the porch needs all the filtering possible that plants can give.  Tee Hee.  Those two plants we have had since before I retired.  Dennis gives them a haircut when they get out of hand.  In the spring they sit outside and take rainwater and continue to thrive.

  This afternoon I am doing hand stitching.  We have off and on bright sunshine.  Full sunshine on my stitching makes it difficult to see where my needle needs to go.  Good filtered light makes for nice stitches.

  Megan and I texted today.  See goes back to school in Virginia January 14th.  She says taking care of her mom’s store, from opening to closing over her Christmas break, may come in handy someday on a resume.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
• 

  Noreen 3:26 pm on December 26, 2023 Permalink  

  Crystals 

  Both Dennis and I turned in early last night.  After a relaxing Christmas Day, all was well when my head hit the pillow.

  When I looked out to the front deck this morning, the rain and mist that had continued into the night, had frozen crystals on the steps.  We have escaped a whole bunch of snow by having mild temps and rain.  Yesterday morning, Dennis’ cousin had been over for early coffee and at that time Bruce reported that we had had 1.65 inches of rain.  The late news today will have the updated rain amounts.

  The task at hand today was to visit the back garage while there was no snow or ice.  Most likely that will be the last until early spring of 2024.  It always amazes me how much Dennis has packed into that garage for others as well as our own items.

  A visit to the studio has several pieces of fabric picked out for some embroidery designs.  The next visit will be laying out the spools of colorful threads.

  Dennis has gone to coffee this afternoon in the apartment complex where his friend Lyle lives.  My agenda was reading and hand stitching for the afternoon.

  A batch of bar-b-q on King’s Hawaiian open sandwiches will be our supper with leftover cranberries and creamy fruit salad from supper.  That combination would never be found on a restaurant menu but it is a great way for us to get ready for a beef plus crockpot meal.  Yum.

  I can only imagine how this weather would feel if the sun decided to show itself.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥