Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Mary's December Visit

Today, Mary is coming for her annual December visit. So the other day, Carrie helped me do the after-Thanksgiving-cleaning...and we started to break out "Mugs & Rugs"-- my own speed version of Christmas decorating.




At some point during her visit -- we'll have to get a tour of the Blackhawk Hotel. The remodel wasn't QUITE done last year when Mary visited...

I'll pick Mary up at the Moline airport. Mary often needs one more flight to maintain HER GOLD STATUS with the airline...
Last year -- we had to go directly from the airport TO THE LOCAL KINKO'S because I had to fax my final changes for the 2011 registration brochure for the Sewing & Stitchery Expo...

AND Mary was also on a deadline -- so she was using another Kinko's work station...

Carrie helped me get the guest room ready for Mary. Line-dried sheets, of course...and a special appliqued winter bed quilt...

This year, Mary is doing seminars on Friday in Muscatine for Neal's Sewing. So maybe we'll see you there!

Or -- at the book club breakfast....or the Rita's Sew Fun Reunion luncheon.....or at the local Goodwill store or Salvation Army Thrift shop....then, too, there's a Christmas tour of the John Deere mansion....the Blackhawk Hotel is going to be ALL DECKED OUT for it's first Christmas after the extensive $42 million remodel...

NO END TO THE FUN, PEOPLE...!!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The "B" Turkey

There are so many things about Thanksgiving that are special. To start with -- I just love the word. It really is about taking one day to be grateful...

Then, of course, there's the MEAL. I don't care what part of the country you live in -- or what your ethnic background is -- if you celebrate Thanksgiving -- YOU ARE EATING TURKEY.

Last year, I cooked a small turkey to take up to Amy's house. Because there are so many people -- all bringing wonderful side dishes --


I decided a second turkey was the best thing I could do. Because it would be a bad thing to run out of turkey on Thanksgiving...and you just can't have enough white meat for turkey sandwiches...

This year -- John & I arrived early -- Amy's house looked fabulous. As people started to arrive, the island was loaded with food -- corn pudding, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, wild rice, cold salads, a gorgeous ham, relish trays...but Amy's VERY LARGE BEAUTIFUL turkey wasn't done.

Imagine the panic....but.....OH -- THAT'S RIGHT -- My "B" turkey is sitting on the counter, wrapped in foil and well rested...

With 25+ hungry people in her house, Amy turned to her husband and said, with a big smile on her face, "Bill -- carve Aunt Rita's turkey "...

I felt wonderful! Like my minor-league son had just been told he was being called up to the Big Leagues. Suddenly, the "B" turkey has moved up to the A TEAM...

I'd put my 12 pound turkey in a 350 oven at 8:00 that morning, and it was cooked to 165 degrees by 10:00. I was shocked by how fast it got done. So I wrapped it in foil and it was well rested -- moist and delicious. You'll just have to take my word for it -- because I did not get a picture. Which often happens with the "B" team...

However -- I DID get a picture of Amy's beautiful BIG turkey later on that day. When it finally came out of the oven -- one hour after we were done eating...



So -- next year, if you're going to somebody else's house for Thanksgiving -- do what I did. Roast a small turkey -- for that "just in case" situation!! Be the turkey-insurance-provider.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Ross as an adult...

Maybe no parent ever really sees their child as an "adult". My two boys are in their 30's -- and I still find myself telling them how to dress for the weather...

Ross is a cameraman for a wildlife documentary company. He travels ALL THE TIME. He's been to almost every state in the Union -- including several trips to Alaska. He was in South Africa last month on a big game hunt. Anyway -- he doesn't spend much time in his apartment. And when I visited last year, it was still stacked with cardboard boxes that had not been opened for ten years...

After the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Minneapolis, I drove 3 hours to visit Ross and was DELIGHTED to discover that he finally has real furniture...

I loved his yellow chrome dinette set...with the Farro Family picture hanging above the table...(all the kids think this classic is Uncle John)...

For crying out loud -- HE HAS BOTH A COFFEE TABLE AND A SOFA...!!


We went to visit Ross's friends -- Shawn and Melissa -- with their three children...who Ross talks about all the time. He spends many holidays with them -- and whenever he goes to their house, he stops to pick up ice cream for the kids...

For the last two years -- Melissa has been in charge of Ross's birthday cake...chocolate cake with peanut butter icing...

Ross thinks the world of these kids...and they seem to be pretty big fans of his, too...
I had a nice visit with Ross. Hey -- I finally understand that it's not my job to buy curtains to replace the sheet hanging at his window....because that sheet is a CHOICE he made and I need to respect that...

But he can be a man of very few words...and he truly believes I am stupid. Or maybe senile...

Here's a typical conversation between us...

Me: So, when is your next trip?
Ross: Tuesday (he loves one-word-answers)
Me: Where are you going? (trying to have a REAL conversation)
Ross: Hungary
Me: (thinking it's a town in Idaho or Nebraska)...Where is Hungary?
Ross: (long pause...) Still in Europe, Mom...

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Janome Mini's

Okay -- NOW THAT I GOT MINE -- I can tell you that the Janome mini is on sale at Hancock Fabrics for $39.99. WHA?? My friend Jolly assures me it is the PERFECT little starter sewing machine...and I was lusting after it -- WHEN I SAW IT IN THE HANCOCK AD this week...


Of course -- we like to refer to this phenomenon as "Ritaluck". And I am pleased to tell you that the sale is good for at least a week -- maybe until December 3.

I actually had TWO crazy sisters go to town on Black Friday -- and they BOTH called me from Hancock Fabrics to make sure I got my mini.



Thank you, Deena -- Thank you, Ronda! Of course, I decided to get TWO mini's...just in case. Because maybe Lilly will need to have one at my house and one at her house...

Friday, November 25, 2011

Black Friday Shopping

Everybody has their own "holiday traditions" -- and Black Friday shopping is A BIG ONE. This is a picture of Elliott, last year, looking over the Thanksgiving Day ADS in the local newspaper...



He and Emily start out at Midnight...and for maximum benefit -- they split up so they can hit
TWO stores at one time. Maybe he'll go to Best Buy and she will start at Walmart...

They have their shopping strategy and communicate via texting on their cellphones....from the moment they leave the house, they have a master plan and know EXACTLY what they're shopping.

The other day, there was a Menard's commercial about their Black Friday specials -- one of them was about a special hot price on some Rubbermaid...?? I said, "I can't believe anybody would stand in the cold to save money on plasticware..." Elliott said, "That's Menard's for you, Mom -- they're not even trying."

My tradition has become spending a quiet day with Lilly. I'll cook the turkey carcass off the bone and make some turkey soup. I'm pretty sure we'll be baking some cupcakes...

If I'm smart about it -- THAT will become our new Black Friday tradition!!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

Because John CANNOT STOP BUYING FROZEN TURKEYS -- even when we are invited OUT for Thanksgiving dinner -- I still cook a turkey. Our local grocery store, HyVee, has a deal where if you buy some $2.99/lb ham -- you get a turkey for free. Even though I was in Minnesota when the ad came out -- I KNEW he would not be able to resist buying another turkey...

These pictures are from Thanksgiving 2010...and here's John, getting the turkey ready to go up to Amy's house...
That morning, Lilly woke up and sat in my lap with Sophie for an hour or so...I love those quiet moments...

My niece Amy, the hostess for Thanksgiving -- wearing an apron I gave her...

And Lilly -- in her Thanksgiving leopard outfit -- her usual misery when I put a new outfit on her...

In a perfect world -- you would not be reading this blog on Thanksgiving Day. You would be far too busy visiting with your large loving family, enjoying the delicious food, eating and laughing and catching up...I hope that's what happened in your life today.

But maybe -- just maybe -- your holiday was less than Norman-Rockwell-perfect. You feel lonely -- or somebody hurt your feelings -- and you are already dreading Christmas.

Close your eyes, breath deep, and think of something nice you can do for another person this holiday season. Somebody who is not expecting it. An Aunt in a nursing home, or a cousin you've lost track of. Or maybe somebody you are NOT related to...Write a card, plan a surprise outing, deliver a meal. Be kind to a complete stranger. Do it anonymously. Cook a meal for the homeless shelter, take gifts to the local nursing home. Whatever. Forget about yourself and think about other people. Do one unexpected kind thing every day between now and Christmas...

You have the power to make a difference in another person's life...and maybe that's the point...

As I'm writing this, I realize it sounded a little too-Oprah-life-class-101. But, hey -- the truth is -- she made the world a better place...

And YOU CAN, TOO...

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

FUDGE RECIPE

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. If you are invited to GO OUT -- just do it!! And if you want to take something WONDERFUL TO EAT -- make this fudge. I never met anybody who didn't love it...

Years ago -- I got a microwave fudge recipe from Nancy Zieman -- which used a whole stick of butter. Then I saw Rachael Ray on the Oprah show -- she used the same recipe on the can of sweetened condensed milk -- which didn't use any butter at all. So here's what I've come to...



3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (try different flavors -- like peanut butter chips)
1 14-oz can condensed milk
1/4 cup (4 tbsp) butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

Preparation:
1. Prepare an 8x8 pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, condensed milk, and butter. Microwave in one-minute increments until melted, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Stir to ensure all the chocolate is melted, then add the vanilla and salt. Stir until the candy is smooth and well-mixed.Add nuts at this point (I ADD LOTS OF WALNUTS)
4. Pour the fudge into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer.
5. Place the fudge in the refrigerator to set for at least 2 hours. Once set, cut into 1-inch squares and serve at room temperature. Store excess fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

I AM SO DELIGHTED to be thinking about microwave fudge. WHAT A GREAT BLOG POST, EH?

Thanks, Jackie, for reminding me of some very good times! In 2006 -- we were fudge-making-fools...and yes, the combo of milk chocolate and peanut butter chips was my favorite!!

HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING, Jackie. I'm delighted the Iowa contingent is coming to see you in Oklahoma...I've loaned Linda my Garmin...and they should be there any minute!!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Tuesday Mornings

You have no idea how much I look forward to my Tuesday breakfasts...with my clubbers. They ALWAYS have something interesting to talk about or to share. On this day -- I wanted to show them my little "Coal Cracker" outfits...
The t-shirts turned into adorable little dresses...with LOTS of t-shirt fringe, of course...

Adorable little Lydia will look fabulous in her zebra stripe velour Coal Cracker jumper...



In the parking lot -- I had MORE STUFF TO SHOW THEM...I had purchased a bunch of that two-way stretchy ruffled fabric...

As Linda took this picture -- the three of us look like we're transacting an illegal drug deal...

Speaking of Linda -- she told me in no uncertain terms that I CANNOT PUT HER PICTURE on the blog anymore. She doesn't like the way she looks...and neither does my Aunt Ada...So THEY ARE both whining and complaining about how they look and they are making it real clear that I SHOULD NOT USE THEIR PICTURES ON THIS BLOG...

Frankly, I think they'd both look better if they just smiled next time...

Monday, November 21, 2011

Thanks, Jolly!

One of the best things about the Minneapolis Original Sewing and Quilt Expo was getting the chance to visit with friends -- like Jolly and Rhonda -- sitting here in the front row of the theater -- getting ready for the Midwest Ya Ya Sister show...

Jolly was telling me that she bought a little sewing machine for her FOUR YEAR OLD granddaughter. I thought that was really much too young for a sewing machine...

But then again -- Lilly is going to be three on her next birthday -- and she is already VERY coordinated...

Jolly recommended the Janome "mini". It sells for about $50 -- and is VERY lightweight, with just a few simple stitches (straight and zig zag) -- but the important part -- the bobbin case -- is REAL. It is not a toy. It's an actual sewing machine that is very lightweight, and only goes at one predictable speed...


I got excited to think that maybe -- by the time she's four -- Lilly could be making THIS...Jolly's granddaughter and her first quilt. She was SO PROUD...I love the picture -- with just her smiling eyes and her feet showing...
Of course -- I had to LEAVE MY BOOTH to go on the hunt for a Janome mini. Jolly has been a sewing teacher for many years. When we met she was organizing a big sewing program in Wisconsin. (she was Mary Mulari's friend first) So I take her recommendation very seriously...and she has been happy with the Janome mini.

Let me repeat -- IT IS A REAL SEWING MACHINE -- with a real bobbin case and a real sewing machine needle (always Schmetz, of course)...So if you buy it as a gift for your little one -- it will require ADULT SUPERVISION...

Wow. it just keeps getting better and better, eh?

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Heart of a Home

Our house is very small by today's standards -- and I love every single room. There is only ONE eating area...the 60" round oak table in our kitchen. I bought the table in 1973 at an antique sale with my friend Kathy. I paid $150 and in today's market, I think it's probably worth about $150...

The light above this table is quite a big deal. Because it's the first thing you see when you come in the kitchen door. And we eat at this table every single day. And every holiday meal happens right here...family games...the light matters...

We've had only two lights above the table. The first one was a $50 capize shell light -- the cheapest thing I could find when we were building the house. It lasted for about 25 years...

I bought a copper chandelier at an auction -- it was fabulous -- or so I thought. But the worthless little bulbs didn't give off much light -- and they kept POPPING...Because it is hard for me to admit I was wrong, that light hung over the table for about five years...but it was clearly time for a change.

I got smart this time -- and took pictures of prospective light candidates with my phone -- then I sent them to John so he could approve...(he never got over complaining about the copper fiasco)...

I found this light at Menard's...They said it needed to be ordered. But John bought it without telling me. Several days later, when I was at a birthday party at Amy's house -- he hung it up to surprise me.

The first thing I do whenever I walk into my house is to flip the switch for this light...and I IMMEDIATELY saw the fabulous new chandelier...

The minute I hit the light switch....I KNEW I was going to love the new chandelier. It is perfect...the light points DOWN, like it should. And I love the Tiffany nature of the light. It reminds me of a wonderful book I just read -- "Clara and Mr. Tiffany"....



It was the story of Clara Driscoll -- the woman who probably came up with the idea of making lamp shades out of leaded glass. During her time at Tiffany studios, married women could not have jobs. The book is about New York City at the turn of the century, as well as the story of the Tiffany family. I LOVED IT...

And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new Tiffany-like chandelier...it will be in all my 2011 Holiday Pictures!!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Typical Junkin' Day

As you can imagine -- Bert and I have a regular "route" when it comes to our Saturday junkets...

If there's an auction in DeWitt, that's always our first pick. Otherwise, we might choose a small town and do a little day-trippin'. One of our favorite towns is Clinton, Iowa. There are several resale shops, a couple of antique malls -- well, it's OUR KIND OF TOWN...

This Victorian mansion on 2nd Street used to be a B&B, then it was a Day Spa -- now it has become an antique mall...

As soon as you walk in the front door -- there is an impressive staircase...and antiques in every room...

Upstairs, there was this sweet little wool coat. Such fine fabric -- the little pearl buttons were so special. Yes, at $14, I was tempted...but it did feel itchy...Lilly would cry for a week...I can barely get her into a velour shirt...wool is out of the question...


However -- THIS IS SOMETHING to consider! I loved the jacket -- and after looking around for a few minutes, Bert found the perfect hat...the braiding detail is really incredible. I sometimes wonder how they made these fabulous garments 50 years ago, before the invention of modern day computer sewing machines...it was AWESOME...


But, looking at the whole ensemble, I can see that Bert was wrong to encourage me...

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Puyallup Fairgrounds

If you're from the Pacific Northwest -- you know rain is always a possibility...this is a picture I took from the Expo Runway -- looking down on set-up day...

It rained off and on that day -- but there's a lot of blacktop -- so the inconvenience was minimal...And -- like many of you -- I LOVE THE SHOW so much -- a little rain would never discourage me.

And I ALSO LOVE THE Puyallup Fairgrounds...I look forward to those four days all year long. Because of the Sewing & Stitchery Expo -- I think of this place as nothing but good karma. My time there has always been about sewing, and sharing, learning and laughing...

So you can imagine how stunned I was to learn that the Puyallup Fairgrounds had once been known as "Camp Harmony". During 1942, when thousands of Japanese families were being removed from Seattle -- they were temporarily housed in the Puyallup Fairgrounds....

Because the accommodations were mostly livestock barns or hastily built barracks -- and there was no blacktop at the time -- the camp was soggy and full of mud...

Wow.

Amazing. I thought I knew something about that place -- but I was wrong. And maybe we can never know everything there is to know...about a place, or a building, a house a relative or even the people we marry. Because there is always "history"...some of it known, some of it long forgotten.

I started to learn about the history of the Puyallup Fairgrounds as I was listening to this book in my car -- "Hotel on the corner of Bitter and Sweet"...

Written by Jamie Ford -- it's really two books. One story takes place in 1942 -- and the other takes place in 1986 -- after the discovery of hundreds of suitcases in the basement of the Panama hotel. Japanese families left their belongings in the hotel -- not knowing they'd become a dusty time-capsule....because the families would never get back to retrieve their belongings...

The book is about fictional characters who lived in a very real time -- and I wondered how many of the facts in the book were true. Here's what the internet said about "Camp Harmony"...

The Puyallup Assembly Center was located in a small rural community about 25 miles south of Seattle famous for its farms and daffodils. The assembly center was built on the grounds and surrounding acres of the Western Washington State Fair so in addition to the stables, racetrack and outbuildings there was a rollercoaster.

Within a month the fairgrounds were transformed into a camp large enough to house more than 7,000 inmates. Barracks filled every available space -- parking lots, beneath the grandstand, within the circle of the racetrack.
The camp was divided into four distinct and separate areas complete with living quarters, mess halls and other facilities:

Here's an aerial shot of what the camp looked like...
I'm just sayin' -- WHO KNEW??

I'm not judging...1942 was a horrible, frightening time. At Camp Harmony, the Japanese families set up schools and government...they had sports activities and even 4-H for the children. Many of the men enlisted in the Army and went on to fight the Germans and became the most decorated American unit in the European theater.

All I'm saying is that I was shocked to learn that my beloved Puyallup fairgrounds played such a major role in history.

Just like life -- there's more to it than the sewing, eh?

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Fun Kid Baking Idea

Yes, this is a superfluous picture of Lilly wearing a new outfit -- with a necklace accessory...I'm sure necklaces for children is a really terrible idea -- but it certainly is cute as all get out...

Wearing another necklace -- Lilly took her little apron off the hook and it was clear we had to BAKE SOMETHING. I decided on ice-cream cone cupcakes...



They are a lot easier to eat than paper-lined cupcakes. And if you have the right pan (deep enough to hold the cones) -- it's VERY EASY...

We should have put in more cake batter...they they would have looked more like an ice cream cones. Lilly decided to eat the first one she frosted...



Here's another tip -- I put some crumpled up aluminum foil into the pan to hold the cones in place...

Lilly, in her little apron, with a pan of regular cupcakes...she was SO DELIGHTED to give everybody a cupcake for the next two days. She took some to her Nana's house...and shared them with Memphis and Landon...

Yep. Canned frosting and sprinkles...that's all I'm sayin'....

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Burnt Toast

It's going to be Thanksgiving in the blink of an eye...and here is Linda P. -- one of my Sewing Sister/Book Clubbers who last year made us all some seasonal napkins as a gift...

The other day -- she sent me another gift. This time as an email story...here it is...

When I was a kid, my mum liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mum placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mum and ask me how my day was at school.

I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember hearing my mum apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned toast.."

Later that night, I went to kiss Dad good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your mum put in a long hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides... a burnt toast never hurt anyone!"

You know, life is full of imperfect things... and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults and choosing to celebrate each others differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

So...please pass me the toast. And yes, the burned one will do just fine! And please pass this along to someone who has enriched your life... I just did!

Life is too short to wake up with regrets... Love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't.

ENJOY LIFE NOW - IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE!