Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:04 pm on November 14, 2023 Permalink  

  Wind 

  The wind from the southeast has the ability to lift the cover of our mail slot on the west side of the house.  Before I realized what it was, I did have some weird thoughts.

  Dennis headed downtown to the laundry this morning with a load of carpet rag rugs and one load of kitty basket blankets.  I sure appreciated getting that laundry basket empty.

  While I had the quiet of the house to myself, I needed to find the answer as to why we had gotten bumped off of HULU.  There are several programs on it that both Dennis and I enjoy.  I do not like this type of technical quagmire.  By nine forty, all was well.  Where is that Channel 12 with Chuck Pessac?  Life seemed so much easier then.

  With my Murphy wood wipes I tackled my parent’s glider rocking chair.  For seventy five years I have dusted all the spindles, nooks and crannies.  It doesn’t get easier.  I do appreciate being the caregiver of this jewel.  Without a doubt, furniture is not built like this anymore.  Years ago I did have my carpenter reinforce the veneer seat.  Special family memories can be evoked with each wipe of the Murphy wood cloths.

  While I had the Murphy wood wipes out I also tackled our Oak refractory table.  I can squat down far enough to get the job done.  The butt cheeks will be bucking for a while.  I think it’s important to feel your body’s parts to truly appreciate the fact that they still work.  

  Last week I bought a Hamburger Helper box of goodies, the stroganoff flavor.  With browned ground beef, I have it prepared and plan on popping it into the oven for a full through heating, rather than relying on the stove top.  We are oven meal people.

  The wind remains whipping through the yards with a very dark gray cloud cover.

  With that I take my leave.♥

   
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  Noreen 2:48 pm on November 13, 2023 Permalink  

  Sunny Times 

  Sunny day, sunny times.  Could this be Indian summer?

  Whatever it may be, it put me into the tidy, tidy mood.  It was the potion of fall housecleaning that meant the kitchen range was going to be pulled out.  Hmm.  Not surprisingly, there were wayward pills harvested that had jumped or rolled under.  None that were life and death.  As I went from Murphy wood wipes for the microwave stand to the Mr. Clean for some spatters on the walls surrounding the range, I felt empowered.  By noon the range was back in place and the area close to it had been tidied.  Thanks Kevin for the felt pads under the range so it can be easily moved.  That brought on a quick mopping of the total floor.

  My cousin Mark gave us a call.  Earlier this morning, the cousins from Brownton had used the group notification on Facebook to let family members know that Aunt Janet’s 90th birthday would be celebrated at the Penn Church on December 2nd.  By the way, my cousin Dan bought the church after the congregation was closed down.  Janet had never had a family and hats off for the Brownton gang to sponsor an afternoon party.  Mark called to let me know and that he will hopefully be there.

  Mark works for a large printing company in the Hastings area.  He put his hat in the ring to be considered to work on the new HP laser printer they just got set up.  I can’t imagine 42 inch wide rollers on a press that collates and binds, less the covers.  Mark has always treated me as a sister and enjoys sharing the news in his world.  Mark also enjoys quilting and that for sure I can relate to.

  Dennis had a few more items to park in the potting shed that had been in the car garage.  There is nothing like having a bit more elbow room in a garage.  I did notice the three kitty basket’s contents were getting an airing on the clothesline. 

  This week is a gift of nice weather.  I like it, I like it a lot.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:14 pm on November 12, 2023 Permalink  

  Rejuvenate 

  In searching the internet, I was seeking a floor wax or such thing to put on worn vinyl flooring.  Rejuvenate may be the answer.  Our kitchen flooring and bath flooring has gone beyond the years of retaining that wonderful from the factory finish.  I may give this product a try.  What does work in the most worn foot traffic areas is a Mr. Clean sponge.  Down and close does the trick.  Getting up from the down and close is another matter.  The years where grime was dragged in daily is no more.  Taking off shoes . . . I don’t even want to do that when I come in from outdoors.  Life is too short.

  I spent some time in the studio yesterday and remembered a YouTube video I had watched in using scraps.  In the hunting yesterday I found a sheet of Pellon that has a one inch grid on it.  One side can be used to iron on fabric pieces.  I started playing around and soon I had one inch pieces filling a portion of it.  They were soon ironed down.  From the backside the grid could be seen.  One row of the backside width was folded on the grid line and a scant seam was sewn.  When all the seams in one direction was sewn, the piece was pressed.  Then the length of the piece was again folded on the grid line one row at a time and stitched.  Hmm.  A good press was given.

  I found a piece of batting, and using an extra block of the recent quilt top, I sandwiched them.  A six by seven was too small for me to imagine binding, it was zig zagged several times around the perimeter.  It was entertaining to see if I could do it.  The one inch squares finished at 3/4 inch, indicating how narrow the seams were. This Pellon could just as well have used three inch squares butting up next to each other.  Another curiosity squelched.  I now have a mug rug for my coffee cup and the fingers will rejuvenate from cutting one inch squares.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:02 pm on November 11, 2023 Permalink  

  11/11 

  November the eleventh and it is a holiday that ceases the mail for the day.

  When Sadie and Sandy were here yesterday, I had a favor to ask of them.  Last week we had two different days that we had water come into our basement from the floor drain.  Since then, my paranode nose has been smelling less than good in the studio.  The same thing can be said of one when they work with livestock.  The nose can lead us astray.  Both gals said there was no hint of anything bad.  Whew! 

  Dennis had taken our car up to the ultimate car wash with the plan of us putting the car cover on the MKX.  His wax job of last week left no water drops on the car.  Sweet. Though we had bought the cheapest car cover as it doesn’t sit outside, I couldn’t get over how heavy it was.  When we read the instructions as to how to handle the area where the antenna is, our plans changed.  Dennis and I do not have the strength to do this correctly.  It is going to be a job for Jeremy and Nicholas to do, if weather permitting, they will be here Thanksgiving day.  Dennis said he would have a very sharp knife or scissors for them as there is a set of grommets to click together where the antenna is after a hole is cut in the center of the grommets.  Good decision.

  I went down to the studio and found what I was seeking for the next step in my quilt top.  I moved an item to get to the target. I looked at it and sorted through it and that led to another and another.  The recycling bin will have some goodies as well as the circular file.  It felt good to lighten the load, getting that which I do have an emotional attachment to being better organized.

  I can putter away a lot of time in the studio.  There are no time restraints and I enjoy being in my element.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:19 pm on November 10, 2023 Permalink  

  A Gray Friday 

  True to the forecast.  It is a gray day and a chilly one.

  This morning we attended the Veteran’s Day program at the high school.  Sargent Major Sadie was the speaker.  Dennis’s granddaughter did well.  She has 20 years in, having begun in her junior year of high school.  Sadie, Sadie’s mom, Dennis’ daughter Sandy, from Mankato, and Dennis and I went up to the Mexican restaurant for noon lunch.  There are times the two older ones on Stauffer Avenue step out of our comfort zone for restaurant food.

  The better part of the afternoon was spent back at our home for visiting.  Sweet.

  The car cover that we intend on using for our MKX came in today’s mail.  I am not sure what the date will be when we put it in use.  When that time comes, Dennis said he would want to run it through the ultimate car wash, get it home to the heated garage and wipe it down.  Dennis is in charge of that project. 

  It has been a good day for Dennis and for me.  The studio stays dark when family events take precedence.

  This evening, Dennis gets his bean and ham soup for supper.  I may even crack open the jar of pickled beets.

  Each day, I check the tracking of an item I ordered on October 1st.  It is getting closer.  The UK may not be my most favorite to order things from, via Etsy.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:31 pm on November 9, 2023 Permalink  

  Sunny Afternoon 

  The sun has made an appearance . . . at least off and on.  It seems like we will have some nice temps through next week.

  My day started out absolutely great.  Thank goodness for phones.

  Just when I thought Dennis had an empty job jar, it was not meant to be.  A bottle of Murphy’s wood soap and whatever is wood in the patio porch is getting cleaned from top to bottom.  Yes, that warrants a nap in between.  Naps are good.  My dad believed in them.

  The lights were on in the studio over the noon hour.  A bit of fabric cutting and a bit of stitching, followed by steam pressing.  That was all she wrote for the day in the studio.

  I wanted to go uptown to the grocer’s.  I noticed last week that their flyer had boxes of steamer frozen veggies on sale.  I made sure that the freezer unit of our refrigerator was organized.  We had picked up an 8lb. bag of chicken tenderloins in Sam’s Club last week.  This was the perfect day to take freezer bags and bag up three tenderloins in each.  The small bags tucked in easily around the ice cream and the heavy bag was a drag to get out and take out a few each time.  With the freezer tidied, I knew how much of the frozen vegies I could buy.  It’s nice to have a variety over and above from canned goods.  I was also hungry for pickled beets.  Dennis was hungry for the chunky Campbell’s bean and ham soup.  Mission completion.  My all time favorite apple is the McIntosh.  I have three bags of 5lb. each in the refrigerator in the basement.  An apple a day will keep the doctor away . . . I hope, I hope.

  We no longer have heavy meals for supper, but I do like to put out a variety of supper meals.  Between the freezer and the pantry, the bases are covered.  I did leave three chicken tenderloins out for supper.  Instant mashed potatoes and a can of green beans will round things out.  I have never cared for frozen green beans.  I think they are tough.

  What I had on my mind has seemed to dribble out into a blog post.  What I find to be thankful for is that my mental energy and my physical energy is quite well paired.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on November 8, 2023 Permalink  

  A Flying Enemy 

  As I am down in the studio, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flying enemy, aka: an Asian Beatle or a Box Elder.  Now to find where he landed.  Bugs such as Asian Beatles and Box Elder bugs are not friends of cloth.  They mark fabrics with a nasty stain.

  It has been enjoyable to listen on KNUJ to the Future Farmers of America convention.  Listening to . . . Box Elder just crawled across my computer keyboard . . . got him.  As I was saying . . . listening to the young men and women with their plans and what is available for them is amazing.

  Stitching went well this morning.  Stitch a bit, then get up to press and then to pin, allows movement of up and down and standing in place.  So much easier than staying in one place too long.  The top has been stitched together.  It’s about 50″ x 62″.  I am very much in-like with how this has turned out.  I am planning on doing either one border or two, neither would be very wide.  I have options with two different blues.  I am drawn to putting on a 1.5″ of the darker blue and finishing with 2″ of the lighter blue.  Following that, I want to do a piano border.  I have quite a bit of odds and ends of all of the prints.  The length of each piece would be 3″ and width would be varied from 1.5″ to 3″ in width around the entire perimeter of the quilt top.   To many it would sound tedious.  To me, this is my passion.

  Dennis took a “Happy Birthday” letter to the mail this morning.  My aunt Janet of Brownton will be 90 on the 13th of this month.  Janet is the last of my dad’s siblings.  Janet and Jerald were the youngest of eight.  I am sure a set of twins was quite the surprise. 

  It is early in the afternoon, but I am going to shut down the studio and revert to doing some reading in my bedroom porch, perched on the cherry red chair.  I miss doing some cross stitch.  I have a complete kit coming from Etsy.  Little did I realize it was coming from the UK.  I have been tracking it.  It hit New York last week and is now on its way to Toronto, Canada.  Hmm.  I have heard some amazing stories of how items reach Minnesota from the UK.

  Dennis assures me the flying enemies are not in shortage outside.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:42 pm on November 7, 2023 Permalink  

  Stitching 

  Today is Tuesday and my day was spent in the studio.

  It is always exciting when quilt blocks can be stitched together to make rows.  There are a total of eight rows that will make up this quilt top.  After stitching to make five rows, I called uncle.  The shoulders were beginning to tell me enough was enough.  It is wise to cease and call it quits before the message is so strong, pain ensues.  Dennis did come down to the studio and comment on the variety of colors.  There may be more stitches tomorrow.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:51 pm on November 6, 2023 Permalink  

  New Week 

  A new Monday complete with empty laundry baskets.  Clean clothes is a remarkable attitude booster.

  I know every morning, the sun is coming up either bright or hiding behind clouds.  Each morning I put my feet on the floor and I too can either have a bright outlook or a dark cloudy one.  I generally choose the bright cheerful outlook.

  I know when I post my blogs,  I do not dwell on the less than good “Me.”  There is no point in harboring negative thoughts, words or deeds.  I do not want to waste a God-given day.

  In our lives on Stauffer Avenue I do have the responsibility of seeing after Dennis’ medical appointments and or needs.  I can handle that.  It may seem as if that could be an undo load besides my own needs.  The key is I have found a way to carry that load without it taking away from my own quality of life.

  Speaking of quality.  This afternoon I have the fun of taking quality sewn quilt blocks to begin laying out my quilt blocks for the quilt top I am building.  Trimming up the blocks was a breeze.  My seam allowance was right on . . . making them quality.  Photo may be posted tomorrow.  

  Today, Dennis has undertaken the job of burning a certain jute-backed area rug from our basement.  He is doing this utilizing our fire ring.  It may seem as if a fire pit would be needed, but carefully he is getting the job done.

  The wind has shifted to the northwest with still promising nice weather.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:56 pm on November 5, 2023 Permalink  

  Time to Build 

  With all my scrappiness, it is time to begin building a quilt top.

  There are four different designs blocks to work with.  Blocks 1,2,3 needed sixteen each.  Block four is the end cap for the eight rows and thus is a half block to ensure staggering, to the right on row one and to the left on row two, etc.  

  I have no name for this soon to be quilt.  I saw it on one of the YouTube channels I have subscribed to.  When I reached out to her, she was gracious to send me information in an email.

  This has been a fun project.  When I come down into the studio and glance over at the array of blocks, it makes me smile.  All of the different sizes in each block with all the different prints is a testament of my passion for challenges.  It couldn’t be a testament if there were no tests and this project did test my concentration.

  More work is yet to come as each of the 56 bocks need to be trimmed for a consistent measurement of 8.25″.  That task will be for another day.

  Dennis has been doing his duty at raking up leaves and burning a small bit before raking up more.  Oak and Maple trees in the yard mean lots and lots of leaves that have fluttered and many more to come.

  I am kitchen bound after posting this to my blog.  I have one fairly large pork steak to prepare for supper.  By the time I am done seasoning it to build a great flavor and putting it into my blue speckled roaster to pop into the oven, Dennis won’t know if it is pork or beef.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥