Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 4:01 pm on January 22, 2025 Permalink  

  Damp Day 

  There is enough humidity in the air to allow a snowflake once in awhile.

  During this cold spell, I spent time at my desk in the bedroom porch of mine.  It has been a good feeling to get to several projects that I had on the far, far back burner.  The first was the circular wooden box of Ester Schafer’s.  It is now a sewing box holding many of the mini pillows I have stitched.  The second was using some of Esther’s silk floss that is now a bell pull sampler hanging next to our front door.

  The third project is now done.  I have been saving some small wooden blocks for decades.  They had been stored in Esther’s wooden box.  They were 1.5 x 1.5 varnished and waiting.  My dad, Raymond, had cut them for me.  Dad passed away in 1992.  Hmm.  These blocks have waited and needed to have something done with them.  You all know I was not going to do away with them.

  These blocks are now donning decals on all sides.  Some floral decals, some Christmas ones.  They are now housed in a wonderfully wooden bowl that my great uncle, Roy Grunewald, worked his magic on in his workshop.  Dad spent many hours at Roy’s house as Dad learned the ins and outs of using wooden shapes to be glued together and then turned on a wood lathe.   I have a lamp base and two smaller vessels that Dad turned out using walnut wood.

  

  I come from lineage that always had something going on the side after their daily work was done.  Did they think idle hands were the work of the devil?  I can’t speak to that.  What I can attest to is being creative comes second nature and it is oh so rewarding.

  The older priceless treasures have been touched and finished.  

  Today I went to the studio and pulled an embroidered pattern I had downloaded some time ago.  The pattern used Maderia brand embroidery threads.  I use only Isacord brand.  The first thing I had to do was to go online and find a conversion chart to print out matching color for color.  I liked the design enough to purchase it, so it warrants embroidering it.  All the spools are lined up on one of the church tables like sentinels.  I am giving serious thought on what to embroider it on.  Time will tell.

  Dennis is having a meal in a dish of the leftovers of last night’s supper.  I am having a steaming bowl of oatmeal.  It’s a win, win for each of us.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:23 pm on January 21, 2025 Permalink  

  Changes 

  Changes are coming!  My mail flap on the outside of the house is clapping.  The clapping is due to the wind being from the southeast.  Let’s hear it for the clapping!  To be honest, it does startle me at times.

  Time was spent on organizing and going through all of the stitching supplies I have used since late last summer of 2024 from my bedroom porch.  A container of beads here, a packet of beads there, a scrap of fabric too small to keep my interest.  I made one trip to the recycling with various small cardboard boxes and manilla envelopes that the mail had delivered and I had kept.

  Dennis took his friend Dwayne out for coffee this morning.  They had not seen each other since before Christmas.

  Last night after supper, I was transfixed to my bedroom porch watching the goings on kitty-corner from our home.  There was a fire at Hillesheim’s.  So many fire department vehicles and firemen in the blistering cold.  Our neighbor Randy had worked with Glenn at John Deere.  It was an electrical fire that warranted the ladder being used.  So sad, it does make one pause.  This morning, Dennis drove past on the south side and the lawn had various amounts of interior debris.  I cannot imagine the amount of smoke damage.

  What made me feel for Sue was my memory of how smoke filled our kitchen was when I let a kettle of what was to be boiled eggs boil dry.  Not long after, the kitchen ceiling got one layer of Kills painted on and then the semi-gloss paint.

  I have stayed on the first floor of our home today.  I managed to stay occupied.  Soon it will be time to start supper.  Canned beef will be thickened with corn starch to put over potatoes to go along with green beans and cranberries.

  Our week is open.  How great to not have appointments.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:34 pm on January 20, 2025 Permalink  

  So It Is 

  Today my goal for the morning was met.  Down into the studio with my shoes giving my feet good support, I made tracks.  Walking around the two church tables . . . around and around with KNUJ playing in the background.  Walking is walking.  Moving is moving to keep me going.

  While I was in the studio, I laid out some future plans.  When I had worked on a quilt for Megan with the OESD’s design package, “The Words of Wisdom,” I had some designs that were either duplicates or extras.  I have six of those extras.  I did cut each of them all down this forenoon to 9″ x 11.5″.  I pulled material to make them up into a small lap robe or a small quilt.

  I came upstairs with paper and pencil to plot out the rest of the story.  I believe it can be about 41″ x 61″ using plain colored block to intertwine with the embroidered blocks.  The 3 yards of flannel I pulled out to back it with, I need to pre-wash as flannel does shrink.  Shrink it now before completing the project, as the 100% woven cotton will not shrink.  

  My goal had been to use up some of the possibilities that were in the stashes, thus two placemats received embroidering.  I had very little left to use as a gift for . . . any occasion I make it.

  So what does the sewing machine work, the hand stitching work or reading add to my days?  It enhances my resilience.  When I attend to something else other than the stress of everyday life, or arthritic aches and pains, it helps.  It allows my mind to clear and detach.  I become so absorbed that it shifts me from small and annoying stressors.  My mind is in my safety zone.  

  Off and on snow squalls are making a showing.  Within the sheltered spots of the drive, there is a bit of collection.  Anything in the open has been relocated over and over with the wind. 

  For my money, I think a hot bowl of bean and ham soup with buttered toast will fill the bill for supper.  I will accept any other offer if it will be set in front of me at supper time.  Yaa, that is as unlikely as the thermometer here in my bedroom porch reading the outside temp at 50 degrees.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:35 pm on January 19, 2025 Permalink  

  Today is Sunday 

  This day is Sunday and I have quarantined myself to the first floor of our home due to a cold cement floor and cold walls in the studio.  Bummer.

  When I poured breakfast coffee into my northern wall cup this morning, the steam rose like a volcanic reaction.  The coffee was tasty and the second cup stayed hot longer.

  About the only positive spin I could put on the winter of these last months is that with no snow, ice or sleet, there is nothing coming into the house that may have been caught on the bottom of the shoes.  Dennis makes untold number of trips from the patio porch to the house during the course of his days.  Me . . . not so much.  The reason being he has no options for his awake time to keep his interest.  Really unfortunate, but that is how it is.

  There ‘s been more traffic moving in the bitter cold as the afternoon has gone by.  As I was stitching and having a YouTube video on in the foreground of my desk, a vehicle caught my line of sight pulling into Stauffer Avenue.  Yup . . . it was the little red pickup heading to the garage.  Dennis, Dennis.   

  I have been stitching and reading for this day.  Any progress is good.  It is amazing how making one stitch over another to make a cross does count up. Watching videos, in certain geographical areas, there are many that find stitched projects to save in thrift stores.  Those that save them are stitchers themselves.  The Goodwill thrifters soon pick up on the fact that the inventory is all color coded to indicate how long it has been in the store before it is moved on to the next step, whatever that may be.

  We had a supper last night of sautéed jumbo shrimp, instant potatoes and greens.  This evening, I will brown the leftover potatoes, mix in some scrambled eggs and cut up breakfast sausage and call it a skillet meal.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:16 pm on January 18, 2025 Permalink  

  Bright and Sunny 

  During a cold snap as what we are going through, I am so thankful we had Watson’s vent the furnace to the south side of the house.  There is no worry of the excess ice shutting down the furnace.

  The studio was visited today.  I have a total of seven blocks that each have an embroidery of “Words of Wisdom” on them.  I went on to make a quilt of more of them for Megan to take to college.  I have them all trimmed to one size.  The next step will be to find some fabric to use as sashing from my stashes in between them.  I didn’t stay in the studio but for several hours.

  The sun has so much power.  Sitting in my bedroom porch putting out the blog entry, it can be felt.  Beware when the sun goes down.

  I have a book started as well as a hand stitching project.  Neither have a soon to be finished timeline.  Having a few irons in the fire allows me to stay as busy as I want.

  Dennis’ daughter Denise stopped in for a bit.  She works at one of the three Casey’s here in town.  Their donut maker is out for quite a spell.  Denise will have 33 days without a break.  She is looking forward to mid February to stay with grandkids while the parents take a cruise.  We commiserated with her.

  Nothing new to report.  We are all in the same boat . . . staying safe in the cold as well as staying warm.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:45 pm on January 17, 2025 Permalink  

  A Mission Completion Day 

  Hello studio, did you miss me?  Today my plan was to totally finish up two projects and clean up behind them.  It’s always more fun to go back to the studio when it is tidy and ready to go. 

  I will say that my photos today were reduced but are pulling large.  I will have to check this out later.

  

  After some heavy stitching that was a test, a new needle, checking for wayward threads and oiling, the heavy stitching was a placemat that had the same heft as some of the rugs Orlin and I had done on our Newcomb Flying Shuttle rug loom.  There were no glitches at all.  Success would have been sweeter if I had nudged the design a bit to the right by a quarter of an inch . . . but, who’s counting?  Me!  After I had the machine tidied up, I spent some time revisiting what was loaded onto the machine for possible designs to embroider out.  If anyone wanted to shelter in place for the long haul, there are 0ver 250 designs to choose from for embroidering.  Using the straight side of sewing I couldn’t begin to count the options.  Imagination is the only limitation.

  Sometime last summer-fall, I pulled out what had been the kids’ grandmother’s hank of silk embroidery floss.  You know I never let go of items that I have an emotional attachment to.  Yes, memories of Ester Schafer, come with those emotions.

  When there had been a shop on Highway #7 called Stitch-ville, both Carrie and I had shopped there separately or together.  I retained a nice stash of some of what had been purchased.  The silk floss was going to be used on a yard of binding, it being only 3″ wide with 2.25″ of stitching space.

  Today was the day of hemming this band and giving it a good pressing.  I had no pattern but the stitches seemed to find their way home.   

  

  The stitching needed the magnifying lamp and there may have been lulls in the stitching and how long each time I was good for. Right now I am having an issue with the photos and another day I will do some trial and error to fix it.  I do know that I pulled the photos from the file folder to make sure the titles would be included.  The photo from this afternoon looks like we have lots of snow.  Not. We have no snow at all.

  Dennis and I are having Subway for supper taking advantage before the real cold of winter sets in and would blow us a way.  It may be 32 degree out but it feels like zero.

  Take care and with that I will take my leave.  ♥

  

  

  

   
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  Noreen 3:02 pm on January 16, 2025 Permalink  

  A Day 

  When the day is bright all seems to go well.

  After being tuckered yesterday I surprised myself by tearing apart my bedroom porch.  Several trips with bedding to the laundry.  I cracked the front door for some fresh air.  Having a tiny home comes with some challenges.  If I do one planned item at a time, it’s all doable.  The duvet cover over my feather comforter was the first to be washed and dried.  I am not saying getting it back on the feather comforter is a walk in the park.  Midway through that process, Dennis mentioned I needed a break.  The car was in the drive and he wanted me to go with him to the Dollar General, he was out of distilled water for his CPAP.

  Yes, the break felt good.  I have a multitude of quilting clips.  They are like clothes pins but the plastic teeth hang on for dear life.  I turned the duvet cover inside out and laid the comforter on top of it.  Each corner of the duvet is tied to the comforter.  It is then pulling the far end into and through the opening,  To get it squared up I clip the seamed edge of the comforter to the seamed edge of the duvet.  Putting ones hand in to feel the fit works.  I had three sides clipped.

  Dennis to the recue.  With his strong arms he could take ahold of one of the long sides and give the comforter several whips and all fell into place.  Sweet.

  Sometimes there is no time like the present to act upon what is needed.  Time is just like the water running over my hands multiple times during the day.  Once it runs down the drain, it’s gone.  There will never be that same water as it passes from the faucet to the drain and there will never be that just right time again to get it done.  Oh for the small victories in our day here on Stauffer Avenue.

  The studio, again, got a pass today.  What is there will wait.

  With that I take my leave. ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:39 pm on January 15, 2025 Permalink  

  Tuckered Out 

  Today is Wednesday and at this writing, I declare that I am tuckered out.  That is what happens when this Grammie does the “Merry Maid” thing.

  I didn’t even go near the studio today.  I had an agenda and having stuck with it, there was no energy or time left.  We do have a batch of chili ready to enjoy for supper.  There will also be several meals of the chili going into the freezer for another day.  I like to use one pound of 80/20 ground beef and one pound of plain ground pork.  The Italian seasoned pork has too many flavors I do not want in my chili.  Dennis opened three cans for me and one jar.  I use the quart jar of Classico red sauce.  I started the process of dicing a rather large onion and sautéing that in my soup kettle before adding the meat.  When the onion is sautéed the onion pieces turn translucent and not as noticeable as when you pitch in the onion right from the cutting board.  To get the meat into the nice sized pieces, I use two forks to pull at the meat while the kettle is hot and the browning of the meat can begin.  A dash or two of Cayenne pepper, a sprinkling of bacon bits and a swizzle of molasses.  I used two cans of red beans and one can of refried beans.  I have a circular ironclad plate to put on the burner.  At a low simmer the entire bottom of my kettle gets evenly hot.

  When Dennis decided to sample . . . he gave it a thumbs up.

  Our wonderful lightweight vac was pulled out of the closet and I did the floors on our first floor.  It was time to do a thorough tidy of the bathroom, making sure to vacuum out the area of the lint filter in the clothes dryer.  Giving the chili a stir once in awhile I got the damp mopping done.

  The “Merry Maid” is enjoying the last of the cold breakfast coffee while I type.  I have had a great day with much self satisfaction.  I so enjoy our little home after a day such as this one.  Will the tidy, tidy last?  Absolutely not.  Our home is meant to be lived in from the east end to the west end.

  The studio will wait for another day after Grammie has had a good night’s rest.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:28 pm on January 14, 2025 Permalink  

  Tues the 14th 

  I can report that the trip to Mankato went off without a hitch.  Dennis’ eye injection went well and the next one is April 7th.  Good going.

  That saying, I did not do much in and outing of the warm vehicle for very much extra shopping.  I can share that here in Lewis Drug I paid $26.00 and some odd cents for the same size in Sam’s Club for a package of two for $31.00.  Small town shopping is what it will always be.

  Today, I have an embroidery loaded, but not before a cleaning under the hood, a new needle and a bit of oil.  While that is working away, I am back at dusting shelves on the south wall of the studio.  Though my sander was equipped with a dust bin, the second trunk I will be working on is out in the car garage for a very good reason.  The dusting was needed before I ever plugged in the little sander.  A great way to start 2025 is with a tidier environment. 

  I have had to stop the sewing machine several times as actually the machine stopped the process for me.  An error message clued me in that somewhere in the design of starting and stopping the needle’s location a bit of thread landed where it was not needed.  I don’t get upset when that happens.  It’s all in the owning a wonderful computer.

  I have all the fixings out for making a batch of chili tomorrow.

  My stitch count for completion on the embroidery is another 15 Minutes of the 26,000 it started out as.

  The studio is cool today and tomorrow I will have the design ready for a photo op.  As soon as the machine is quiet, I will be shutting down the studio.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 10:04 am on January 13, 2025 Permalink  

  Nippy 

  The morning sun does help to focus on that and not the chilly weather.

  Today we need to go to Mankato for Dennis’ eye injection.  It has been a long time since we have been out of town.  The appointment is at 2:30.  The plan is that I can do a bit of shopping before that. 

  Yesterday, I tried out an applique pattern on the embroidery module.  There was a heavy black placemat that was the target.  I did go ahead and use a bit of the plush red fabric.  The worst would be a bit of pink on the thread.  Trial and error.  It was white thread throughout and that gave me a chance to do some dusting while I kept an eye on the machine. 

  As in everything else, keeping my hand in the things that bring me joy is a large portion of maintaining a balanced life.  I can only do so much in assisting Dennis with his days.  I do remember back to 2021 after the stroke and heart surgery.  Kevin and Kersten had come to get me after the surgery on a Saturday and I knew Carrie was coming the next day to help me work through how to take care of the dressing, bathing and such going forward.  Carrie told me that I needed at times like this to put me first.  Hmm.

  It may sound harsh, I do do what serves me with healthy choices and decisions on a day-by-day basis.  I take care of Dennis to the best that I can but I will not jeopardize . . . me.  I have come through many surgeries well doing what has been advised and I have a wonderful full life.  I have plans going forward.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥