tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965872764015072922024-03-14T00:56:37.220-07:00Rita's Sew FunRita's Sew Fun -- a sporadic, random blog about nothing in particular.Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.comBlogger3766125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-6328351655762511622022-12-17T00:46:00.000-08:002022-12-17T00:46:42.432-08:00Rita's Sew Fun Re-launch<p>It's been almost a year since I wrote a blog post. I've tried many times...but, at the end of the day, I just didn't have the heart for it. Every time I tried to write something, it became sad and morose...and who needs that??</p><p>John died January 7th...But life goes on -- and I'm trying to figure out what this new chapter looks like.</p><p>I am fortunate to have wonderful family and friends -- but, if I try to write about them, I start to cry. So that's pretty much a no-go.</p><p>When I look back on 2022 -- it will always be about losing John. But there were other things, too -- and I'm sitting here, thinking about the highlights.... </p><p>A year earlier, after John was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I knew I couldn't take care of him and continue to live in our Princeton home. He wasn't able to mow the grass or shovel the snow...and our home was at the end of a long lane. So I bought into a cooperative in town. It's a 1400 s.f. apartment in a secure building (64 units), an underground parking garage, and a wonderful location. </p><p>Our son Ross decided to buy the Princeton house -- and he recently sold his house in town and moved out to the country. John would be very happy about that.</p><p>When I look back at the pictures on my phone, I realize how lucky I am...and what a wonderful life I am living....and how much SEWING saved me this year. Some of my best friends came to stay at my new home -- Marion, Rhonda, and Mary. I realize just about every friend I've made in my adult life was because of SEWING...</p><p>In 2022, there were some wonderful trips with Rhonda Pierce on behalf of Schmetz Sewing Machine Needles. We went to AQS in Paducah, and the Great Wisconsin Quilt show in Madison. Mary and I were hired to do the Midwest Ya Ya Show in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. But then, Rhonda and my sister Deena had to step up and Ya Ya with me, because Mary had Covid, and was unable to travel.</p><p>My new home has a large "Great Room" -- and I reserve the room once a month for a "Featherweight Sew-In Day". My TMBC friends all come and we work on our individual projects...</p><p>One of my 2022 highlights was definitely our SEW Retreat in November. Mary Mulari, Rhonda Pierce and Deanna Springer came to Iowa and we rented the Circle K Farm for A WHOLE WEEK. And it was heaven...</p><p>Two weeks ago, I went to New York City with my nieces, Amy and Nicole. Nicole's 14 year old daughter, Memphis, went with us -- and we couldn't have had a getter time. We saw three Broadway shows (including Lea Michelle in Funny Girl). I know that was a trip we'll all remember for the rest of our lives.</p><p>Anyway -- please consider this the official "re-launch" of the Rita's Sew Fun blog. </p><p>I'm writing on my OLD laptop -- but if I can figure out my NEW MacBook Air -- I should be able to post lots of pictures.</p><p>It's good to learn new things...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-47009525597755229752021-12-12T00:00:00.001-08:002021-12-12T00:00:00.191-08:00A Holiday Blogging Break<p>On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, John got in his truck, intending to drive 6 miles to visit his friend. He ended up on I-80, 150 miles away from home.</p><p>That was the day I accepted the fact that John had Alzheimer's and taking care of him was now my full time job.</p><p>Fast forward to Wednesday, December 8, 2021...<br /></p><p>On Tuesday (December 7), John spent the day singing karaoke with his friend Don. He went to bed at 4:30, completely whipped. He had a restless night (not unusual) -- and he woke up Wednesday with a bad case of heartburn. He was burping and spitting up phlegm. I figured he drank too much coffee during his Don Day...</p><p>I took him to the Express Care clinic. When we got there the Doctor said a heart attack can often present as indigestion -- so John should go to the Emergency Room -- just to be sure...</p><p>We spent the entire day in the E.R...and the tests came back fine. Temperature, oxygen levels, blood sugar - all okay. His blood pressure was okay, his heart tests were fine, no sign of a stroke. I was reading a People magazine, and working on the crossword puzzle. (we've been to this rodeo many times.)<br /></p><p>John was very quiet...almost non-verbal.<br /></p><p>Because the hospital has no available beds, I knew we would be sent home as soon as all the test results came back. I was fine with that.</p><p>As the shift was changing (3:30 PM) -- the ER doctor ordered one last test -- a CT scan. <br /></p><p>The doctor asked me to come out into the hall. He told me that John has cancer...everywhere. </p><p>I was not expecting that.</p><p>Neither was the ER doctor. He had already contacted our family doctor -- and they both agreed John would not be able to tolerate any kind of treatment. </p><p>So -- everything has changed. I'm trying to wrap my head around this new thing... <br /></p><p>I'm postponing our move. Indefinitely. </p><p>I cried for two days...my eyes were swollen shut. John is in hospice. I told him he has cancer...maybe he understands...maybe not. He's still pissed he can't drive a car... <br /></p><p>I am so sad...There is a hospital bed in our living room...and the potty chair is about 6 feet away from the Christmas tree...<br /></p><p>I'm taking a blogging break...<br /></p><p> <br /></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-23305666221663398782021-12-08T00:00:00.001-08:002021-12-08T00:00:00.222-08:00American Window Washing<p>In five weeks, we will be MOVING. I don't mean to sound like a broken record -- but DOWNSIZING IS SO MUCH HARD WORK. Ugh....</p><p>Looking back -- if I had known THEN what I know NOW -- I woulda just had a big fire...</p><p>You've been with me every step of the way, and I am just beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. FINALLY. Thanks to my brother, the property is looking better than it has for many years. I've made countless trips to the Goodwill store with bags full of stuff I once believed I could not live without...</p><p>The auctioneer is coming on Saturday to pick up a final load...and I'm starting to make a list of what furniture will be going with us to our new home.</p><p>One day, I noticed our gutters were choked with those horrible long needles from the white pine trees that border our house. Ugh. That's SUCH a problem.....</p><p>We were having some unseasonably mild weather -- so I called a local company -- the American Window Cleaning. They sent an estimator to my house, emailed a bid, and then scheduled the service. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipFsq0xCJjUsEFYjyaO39_g8GxHVP15uxY5HS4R_wtV7l8bHcnhUkG0XXKBD0pQVQGBbevYMR6KKd9XoVd1xWY5RsfGsGhBaBPph9O8-kTQ6JWhpIL-GNR2holDGxQRpG_myWqWVTpdIfMJr6e4YRZJH5yHy_y7dUgr4R6Msk31sJnspr_vsnWlH0Q2Q=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipFsq0xCJjUsEFYjyaO39_g8GxHVP15uxY5HS4R_wtV7l8bHcnhUkG0XXKBD0pQVQGBbevYMR6KKd9XoVd1xWY5RsfGsGhBaBPph9O8-kTQ6JWhpIL-GNR2holDGxQRpG_myWqWVTpdIfMJr6e4YRZJH5yHy_y7dUgr4R6Msk31sJnspr_vsnWlH0Q2Q=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The team arrived on time.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhySfuJlsSPv9UNlkXjcflfhBt8V0ghrHoDToy9hHHjatFCPQ6JQaKF-jqvs3LqnQJVlj-PcLFbuxr8YbBTNQZOc5NFKfwna1AB8BjOjD8QQQu2erI29OyQGggE4FMGQVlCooOD_O_ATcz34fQ_mm45lcv2984p3FudIa_lNMBj1VNOaHNhACNAN1Md_w=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhySfuJlsSPv9UNlkXjcflfhBt8V0ghrHoDToy9hHHjatFCPQ6JQaKF-jqvs3LqnQJVlj-PcLFbuxr8YbBTNQZOc5NFKfwna1AB8BjOjD8QQQu2erI29OyQGggE4FMGQVlCooOD_O_ATcz34fQ_mm45lcv2984p3FudIa_lNMBj1VNOaHNhACNAN1Md_w=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bid included the garage -- I wish I had taken a before picture. This side was covered with green algae...from all those years of big, overgrown trees. An these gutters were also full of leaves and needles...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiq2REBH7INxIAvf2bsrutxxwJcBNVs3WHMTjMQ8Dvj_6lgiS-cJxxrh0zEdYHvlRL5NKrjALKFaFfVe_CX18zE--Hbw8P4GPmvIg5nJhm68AWunMxLrm_K8n_3UeERi61PMak1s3awENFpoiFqjSla4aNWwCExikHT4nx6L3nE_5maTKCVTkvlFv0-VQ=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiq2REBH7INxIAvf2bsrutxxwJcBNVs3WHMTjMQ8Dvj_6lgiS-cJxxrh0zEdYHvlRL5NKrjALKFaFfVe_CX18zE--Hbw8P4GPmvIg5nJhm68AWunMxLrm_K8n_3UeERi61PMak1s3awENFpoiFqjSla4aNWwCExikHT4nx6L3nE_5maTKCVTkvlFv0-VQ=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because half of the house is two-stories, it's impossible to wash the exterior windows...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBwjVQ4EEu7rbUcSxCEcCP__rhJSUD8rYXM9vKAKTWGSaqg2-Nw0vgb7wHky-1vGRb6x6439GjS2KJrKfTXZo6pzR9zgzw0cm2hC1-ffo_bXaCh578hRa1FCHLtcJgRCFoLE7GkqIa8-WHfP4P4xTWVop8s8fPeOabs-5mAGGQOXjIB3RHBV5cc6Q1Ig=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBwjVQ4EEu7rbUcSxCEcCP__rhJSUD8rYXM9vKAKTWGSaqg2-Nw0vgb7wHky-1vGRb6x6439GjS2KJrKfTXZo6pzR9zgzw0cm2hC1-ffo_bXaCh578hRa1FCHLtcJgRCFoLE7GkqIa8-WHfP4P4xTWVop8s8fPeOabs-5mAGGQOXjIB3RHBV5cc6Q1Ig=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But these guys had some great equipment -- and a lot of ladders!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji34zrjw1HBfloQJpFv01xubC_E-O-0P56bM05Qlg5Yywe3zrVhW3Eve_bQjV4noOsLptTYUs6i-9pbhnJSPamQBwbef43jFFbn5jYQRMYRCgWoIRMrbHD5E1J4FmaKnz5ScvCFaNcl2qB3Gt6TiFkCxA9HWoRwnGjihiLofAyfisDHkYJNY787yOn8g=s4160" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji34zrjw1HBfloQJpFv01xubC_E-O-0P56bM05Qlg5Yywe3zrVhW3Eve_bQjV4noOsLptTYUs6i-9pbhnJSPamQBwbef43jFFbn5jYQRMYRCgWoIRMrbHD5E1J4FmaKnz5ScvCFaNcl2qB3Gt6TiFkCxA9HWoRwnGjihiLofAyfisDHkYJNY787yOn8g=s400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihkvtEihtPIWEMqa-JFIqVelhmU0RRWH1h___NUzBCvb3JR8inPxGWkF-z8bgeVVnZQUM8DzLZ2W9gX-Ygb0qc2DEmdUo8UJmn8RQfbiEOZGDJkPu8XM3tbsegXQBUCfFusoVmz1ns-T8WNnqHfvPlwK-vLSkbkHv00DrxpMxakv52oDlyhC4h0pFBrw=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihkvtEihtPIWEMqa-JFIqVelhmU0RRWH1h___NUzBCvb3JR8inPxGWkF-z8bgeVVnZQUM8DzLZ2W9gX-Ygb0qc2DEmdUo8UJmn8RQfbiEOZGDJkPu8XM3tbsegXQBUCfFusoVmz1ns-T8WNnqHfvPlwK-vLSkbkHv00DrxpMxakv52oDlyhC4h0pFBrw=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See all those 50' tall white pine trees?...40 years ago, planting them so close to the house seemed like an excellent "windbreak" idea...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZZHUhP4rMauBiXyuX7j6mCVsoCIw0AowvDN2hLUjzMnIYQKnuMvSs_0qeEsknCnrB9eoQDeU_bdgbvaXuPNAKxPbl64OsDXoTHEyVWsJL_tL8dJ5apoS0b89xWqxBq05BQGsT8H-CRXMtyit7w8izJ7IDv8BFrYfaUmFtCNnwKvEnOPD-94cT9B_usg=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZZHUhP4rMauBiXyuX7j6mCVsoCIw0AowvDN2hLUjzMnIYQKnuMvSs_0qeEsknCnrB9eoQDeU_bdgbvaXuPNAKxPbl64OsDXoTHEyVWsJL_tL8dJ5apoS0b89xWqxBq05BQGsT8H-CRXMtyit7w8izJ7IDv8BFrYfaUmFtCNnwKvEnOPD-94cT9B_usg=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AFTER they cleaned out the gutters, swept the roof and power washed the house, THEN they got busy washing (with a brush) the exterior windows.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbKcfMnlS12uoXj1ofN0YSEwwbaQEsh9U5dgZ4q0-wQg8qjNJ8PRAMW7JjXU8yxVJnWO2iNHC8xVxz3BrPbJ983aZ_U4kOlwdAlZBlU3HWvGuz2zZmyRhL17Zbm1sV2ixN20MTYxwnpllZZuFcZtIRzIDnKxuIqx0JF8cb2FaeSFD_VvhGm9W8KN8rZw=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbKcfMnlS12uoXj1ofN0YSEwwbaQEsh9U5dgZ4q0-wQg8qjNJ8PRAMW7JjXU8yxVJnWO2iNHC8xVxz3BrPbJ983aZ_U4kOlwdAlZBlU3HWvGuz2zZmyRhL17Zbm1sV2ixN20MTYxwnpllZZuFcZtIRzIDnKxuIqx0JF8cb2FaeSFD_VvhGm9W8KN8rZw=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was on the inside -- taking a picture of them on the OUTSIDE...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This was my last gift to this house we built and have loved for four decades. She's never looked better! </p><p>The American Window Company did a wonderful job, and their website gave me many choices. Every service had a "Good" "Better" and "Best" option. </p><p>I chose to have them clean the gutters, sweep the roof, powerwash the house, and wash the exterior windows. Everything they did for the house, they also did for the garage.
The young two-man crew came on time, and worked for 4+ hours... </p><p>Total cost? $745</p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-44925509479226385802021-12-07T00:00:00.022-08:002021-12-07T00:00:00.193-08:002021 Holiday Kick-off<p>WHAT HAPPENED TO 2021? How can this year be almost over?</p><p>Last year, Covid robbed us of a 2020 holiday season. All the events that we usually attended were canceled...and, then, too, John and I both had Covid during the holidays.</p><p>So, this year -- fingers crossed -- I was hoping for BETTER. But many events and venues simply haven't come back...So -- maybe it's not the BIG things that matter. Maybe this year, I have to appreciate the small moments...I need to make it about the little things...<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP__kKPM6Pm9sckSec6A-qORzmJB6-ZhrkxPQZsddYOdXlZAhQ-WBemNDNXLpJibWr8n24-LQTfc_TjRaLacMzuTlkR8mq7K61HMax97vFpS03Gk4aR9ch8HNBY4nxGDTKp7ww3JtbiS0vY5VbIkYrH_t8VKnYnYkGMkUpyTFkNOCcAK6Asi0Tw8hmDw=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP__kKPM6Pm9sckSec6A-qORzmJB6-ZhrkxPQZsddYOdXlZAhQ-WBemNDNXLpJibWr8n24-LQTfc_TjRaLacMzuTlkR8mq7K61HMax97vFpS03Gk4aR9ch8HNBY4nxGDTKp7ww3JtbiS0vY5VbIkYrH_t8VKnYnYkGMkUpyTFkNOCcAK6Asi0Tw8hmDw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like -- decorating a Gingerbread barn!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfTDd67iusJVlE0sg52zuE9U6pcvTR7BZaKQONCzlJcYTIxTyjkj80cHY5Rvyv-FEGvgQpMxwYAIqPzSLZ97bDcVH9NEOJcfdtUjBPbjNbv_ybxPKNFVtO2zHYATIk5zv82oOC9hfdm73F32JroIP4YfqnEw8HcO2OG2TihwWgqXo_He15kbT26pUujA=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfTDd67iusJVlE0sg52zuE9U6pcvTR7BZaKQONCzlJcYTIxTyjkj80cHY5Rvyv-FEGvgQpMxwYAIqPzSLZ97bDcVH9NEOJcfdtUjBPbjNbv_ybxPKNFVtO2zHYATIk5zv82oOC9hfdm73F32JroIP4YfqnEw8HcO2OG2TihwWgqXo_He15kbT26pUujA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or, listening to Lilly practice for her first concert...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyIpj1nVM0Ap0Yoc-BUf3n_SfqPTmibOMuZu6V5HUBTKKt8iokBiZoMNZjkVDovMyZs3ibRiu1M_qfkkt1qeIZzVqNfCdR8mOaaPCJJY8NPtqC1Q5zI-x2kuZn-FICrSLpvOquu7mIl4EkZRHDIIatfPXhgthhvSg-RpysPSjG_h6uBAoo2Y4E0lUBbg=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyIpj1nVM0Ap0Yoc-BUf3n_SfqPTmibOMuZu6V5HUBTKKt8iokBiZoMNZjkVDovMyZs3ibRiu1M_qfkkt1qeIZzVqNfCdR8mOaaPCJJY8NPtqC1Q5zI-x2kuZn-FICrSLpvOquu7mIl4EkZRHDIIatfPXhgthhvSg-RpysPSjG_h6uBAoo2Y4E0lUBbg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was delighted that, with all her 7th Grade sophistication, she was still willing to construct a Gingerbread village...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ6uhTp8ApkzahXgfaRkAP4NpAF9Y6u5iIRCNHaDCu29eFCxG26wuegCK7muEgR1t3-EgJ8W6ystyFLjCdYi1NmGkF5s9NgK22t6wvgdK3jkIGbItHJxUqe73hKoKwO50PNI14ifzyN_rO6UEqMy-bQiDUJSUKgBwJU2eQbOlEnXFL_w1kdhaMXM9pGw=s3264" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ6uhTp8ApkzahXgfaRkAP4NpAF9Y6u5iIRCNHaDCu29eFCxG26wuegCK7muEgR1t3-EgJ8W6ystyFLjCdYi1NmGkF5s9NgK22t6wvgdK3jkIGbItHJxUqe73hKoKwO50PNI14ifzyN_rO6UEqMy-bQiDUJSUKgBwJU2eQbOlEnXFL_w1kdhaMXM9pGw=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And, no fancy office party for us -- but Rhonda and I DID manage to get together for a pre-holiday lunch at one of my favorite diners!! (she was traveling from Nebraska back to Chicago -- and I live right off I-80). <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMKMDemv2BXCrJ7RQhptG-2kYlivkDltd391_pKtOo5rmxHp7c13T82fZthRqEP-lp-jp1OzKRYAohWVxh1b19p1Y-VomXPuvG7ZQf_rfHHQp8Ukc467Nu0_XrBn6z94ihV3In_AS4-y7M4i0x_8aF_aGkd196Bb-imyNUaDBbnw_vEZFr2l_a7jKSxA=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMKMDemv2BXCrJ7RQhptG-2kYlivkDltd391_pKtOo5rmxHp7c13T82fZthRqEP-lp-jp1OzKRYAohWVxh1b19p1Y-VomXPuvG7ZQf_rfHHQp8Ukc467Nu0_XrBn6z94ihV3In_AS4-y7M4i0x_8aF_aGkd196Bb-imyNUaDBbnw_vEZFr2l_a7jKSxA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took Warren to the Princeton Community Center to watch the Polar Express movie. I LOVE THAT MOVIE<span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>
So, like so many other things -- Christmas is what it is. And it ain't what it used to be...WHAT IS?? I am painfully aware that this will be our last year in this house...and I'm going to work hard to remember all the good holidays we had here...with my parents and my boys. Dinners I made for my Great Aunt Glad, Aunt Rozella, Uncle Melvin. Babysitting for my nieces and nephews...all the children I watched grow up while we were living in this house...
And I am grateful. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxow07o-PEnzw_kOchxMOXkmwIif7umJWnHuLMWk-jG6tpY5wHJZFYiGbRTqsIgDeLNmEQNhksWtyxWRymWTSWcTFAbUBvF2nkPZFYr_vP0RzkYFS2GIDH-KDxIXnfBPqMzB2-L9kde1ipG-4b-KqEm5UOBZEcPkvaADCqbUvqyz4eSrENxFgNbicTdA=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxow07o-PEnzw_kOchxMOXkmwIif7umJWnHuLMWk-jG6tpY5wHJZFYiGbRTqsIgDeLNmEQNhksWtyxWRymWTSWcTFAbUBvF2nkPZFYr_vP0RzkYFS2GIDH-KDxIXnfBPqMzB2-L9kde1ipG-4b-KqEm5UOBZEcPkvaADCqbUvqyz4eSrENxFgNbicTdA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will always remember the absolute joy of dressing a little girl in velvet holiday dresses...but THAT was then and THIS is now. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-28707759978168916012021-12-06T00:00:00.016-08:002021-12-06T05:43:44.635-08:00Elizabeth Berg<p>Last week, John was having a bad night...I couldn't get him back in bed....he was slumped on the floor in the hall. He was non-responsive and really out of it...he couldn't stand, and he couldn't talk. He didn't seem to hear what I was saying. I wondered if he'd had a stroke...or a heart attack....We've gone down the 911 route so many times. My choices were kind of dismal...and after giving it a lot of thought, I decided to simply put a pillow under his head, cover him with a blanket and let him sleep in the hall.</p><p>But I worried that I was doing the wrong thing. What if John was dying tonight? That's what Alzheimer's is all about. It's a certain death sentence. But it's a sad fading-away. A very slow, inexorable evaporation of the person they used to be. <br /></p><p>Of course, I COULDN'T sleep. Some nights, you just can't sleep cuz of all the crying.....</p><p>So -- I decided to finish the book I was reading. "Say When" by Elizabeth Berg. One of my favorite authors...</p><p> </p><p>At 3:00 in the morning...On the second to the last page of the book....I read...</p><p><i> ...He thought of his mother, saying how, after her husband had died, she still listened for his car. Griffin's father had had a heart attack in the middle of the night, and the day after the funeral Griffin had sat with his mother on the sofa in the living room, the blinds drawn, holding her hand as she wept without speaking for nearly an hour straight, the racking kind of sobs that hurt the observer nearly as much as the one weeping. Then, abruptly, she had stopped. She had blown her nose, signed hugely, and stood up. She'd said, "I am going to lie down on my bed, under my blue satin quilt, for a day and a night. Do not disturb me. Do not ask me anything, and do not ask me for anything. I'm going to remember every good thing I can think of about your father, and I am going to remember every bad thing. And then I'm going to come down to the kitchen and make some eggs and fried potatoes, and start living what's left of my life."</i></p><p><i>*********</i></p><p>Wow. She is SUCH a good writer... <i><br /></i></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-40496392865018441802021-12-04T00:00:00.040-08:002021-12-04T00:00:00.204-08:00Instructions for Niece-a-Palooa<p>Yesterday, I went to a coffee with the shareholders from our new place. Everybody at that table is working to DOWNSIZE...AND GET RID OF STUFF. So of course, I was bragging about my Niece-a-palooza...</p><p>One woman said, "where can we find the instructions?". I laughed and said I made it up myself...and she acted like I invented electricity or launched a rocket.</p><p>Even though I had this event in my head for months -- when it came right down to it -- I realized I needed to HAVE A PLAN. I thought about giving them monopoly money, and doing an auction...or playing games, and the winner got to choose...but actually playing games would take too much time...and if I auctioned all these things off, one by one, we'd be here for a week...</p><p>So -- here's how I did it -- and YOU CAN, TOO.</p><p>The secret was CATEGORIES:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Art off my wall</li><li>Linens from Mom's Hope Chest </li><li>Large serving bowls.</li><li>Sets of King Size sheets</li><li>Microwave bowls for all of them</li><li>Jewelry</li><li>Sampler</li><li>Spooner</li><li>Christmas Coverlet</li><li>Christmas rug</li><li>Purse</li><li>Totebag</li><li>Blue bird knick-knack</li><li>Large rolling suitcase</li><li>Games</li><li>Books</li><li>etc... <br /></li></ul><div> </div><div>Well -- you get the idea...anything I had THREE of earned itself a category...<br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8aQaZiIgWYGzGF7vNKDWU3H-xIoKaY2gje2WcelMJcGkBoXg_mxdPVkJNZQAWoFvs9onkDPUtPy1gNXRBTMwCC9P3hO8KahNfgJMZsgjXmoENUbjF2e9yNRh_Q4i34r2xZeAy-R3o0c0W99CGFI3XGHEkKwgkQqe0Uxl3oZVaicx4mCMxYAgG_Se9UQ=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8aQaZiIgWYGzGF7vNKDWU3H-xIoKaY2gje2WcelMJcGkBoXg_mxdPVkJNZQAWoFvs9onkDPUtPy1gNXRBTMwCC9P3hO8KahNfgJMZsgjXmoENUbjF2e9yNRh_Q4i34r2xZeAy-R3o0c0W99CGFI3XGHEkKwgkQqe0Uxl3oZVaicx4mCMxYAgG_Se9UQ=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then, I wrote each category down...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD304_YaSoFdxgz7U7t4rYsCu7FNMAzt95arbzsdIsvv9ZqTlaBJpjkm5mlKdGm9kpr9btNEztiatsTRNIlfCdghBr1Z3Cx61UhwP0PsIsTTmONaOEA-7kPDhlpu6nlSGOPrSXNuF10QcasuQjnapHLtLOrihXsoyrpUcX4Y0qUKj7WofWHd0rGCxlww=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD304_YaSoFdxgz7U7t4rYsCu7FNMAzt95arbzsdIsvv9ZqTlaBJpjkm5mlKdGm9kpr9btNEztiatsTRNIlfCdghBr1Z3Cx61UhwP0PsIsTTmONaOEA-7kPDhlpu6nlSGOPrSXNuF10QcasuQjnapHLtLOrihXsoyrpUcX4Y0qUKj7WofWHd0rGCxlww=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut them up in strips -- like giant fortune-cookie wisdoms...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTXrCpgjUMfVfGh837SvdYOc18Yaj0Pla_WHtbinPAZqtyuLzyzxGAHc3-8yIY7x2513lluTm4zPM8xJpSyBOwQ6f26eFD7YvNgsm70v9LGbY1dX8OzMWC5R-ExtP4wyObc-e0drdNq8GZl8tpvgTUhMGFmrr6jwxxYbqzmQ9EGDMzAp6_cNPfKSCWqA=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTXrCpgjUMfVfGh837SvdYOc18Yaj0Pla_WHtbinPAZqtyuLzyzxGAHc3-8yIY7x2513lluTm4zPM8xJpSyBOwQ6f26eFD7YvNgsm70v9LGbY1dX8OzMWC5R-ExtP4wyObc-e0drdNq8GZl8tpvgTUhMGFmrr6jwxxYbqzmQ9EGDMzAp6_cNPfKSCWqA=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I folded them up, and put them all in a zebra container...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcHP4CUjMG3a10FQjmhIaTTckkNEaKF3cBFbyVW2ht2Boq4xsIxe3D6Q8WmV4ygpPrXS7fOs8dwagqTCiqk1JRDxkYaCbsZbxTTjh6krERpza7Npfdw2byYOHBzVdGm-8IejG1iOzzOTy9RUt2LNR25wuTZwIp44ZpCI06u_7QIwGKUM4dnZ3HVbUk5Q=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcHP4CUjMG3a10FQjmhIaTTckkNEaKF3cBFbyVW2ht2Boq4xsIxe3D6Q8WmV4ygpPrXS7fOs8dwagqTCiqk1JRDxkYaCbsZbxTTjh6krERpza7Npfdw2byYOHBzVdGm-8IejG1iOzzOTy9RUt2LNR25wuTZwIp44ZpCI06u_7QIwGKUM4dnZ3HVbUk5Q=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls took turns drawing out a category...and SHE got the first pick in that particular category...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9IPQSqjusQo_vw09wX99Sd5Y8gQuR_j5S3kr57fXB2RdZGPt2oNY3uP_LGKbcMZsGdoJ1sUro-YSe9jvCuSU8HYrsqP97uilxyGKmHy3mX66w5QC67_4LUfZp0KgwX378LJfF6XwleQS4OvX6k1n66qdHH5ArPUJYcOJ9d5d9bt5mcFniGKOvqsEWaQ=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9IPQSqjusQo_vw09wX99Sd5Y8gQuR_j5S3kr57fXB2RdZGPt2oNY3uP_LGKbcMZsGdoJ1sUro-YSe9jvCuSU8HYrsqP97uilxyGKmHy3mX66w5QC67_4LUfZp0KgwX378LJfF6XwleQS4OvX6k1n66qdHH5ArPUJYcOJ9d5d9bt5mcFniGKOvqsEWaQ=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls are choosing "Pitchers"...about to move on to a speed round of "Kitchen Utensils"<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGxjWMwyAqSzgohXX4JOfhZ5JQxZuOh3OzXl4eBceZiHIeJlyh-FzNdRZekdnNzc6iYIP-5F_fBFY6egCOlbVWk3lAlSYEiJlz9ajsjumTrkPDrogTka6bmZE9st8Fl4G1jNSk2VFitzCQAbC4oxR8ZVyf2J_lyzh0cHqxbGbPsOxASrci07LqdWhtsg=s3264" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGxjWMwyAqSzgohXX4JOfhZ5JQxZuOh3OzXl4eBceZiHIeJlyh-FzNdRZekdnNzc6iYIP-5F_fBFY6egCOlbVWk3lAlSYEiJlz9ajsjumTrkPDrogTka6bmZE9st8Fl4G1jNSk2VFitzCQAbC4oxR8ZVyf2J_lyzh0cHqxbGbPsOxASrci07LqdWhtsg=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sorry I didn't take more pictures...I guess I WAS HAVING TOO MUCH FUN..!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This simple system worked GREAT. Depending on which category was picked, the four of us would troop to that area. Suitcases were in the root cellar...Mom's hope chest was upstairs...the art on the was alI over the house. It was like a moving-scavenger-hunt. </p><p>The day before my Niece-a-Palooza, I jokingly told Val "Admission is free -- but the girls each must bring an empty pick-up truck..." </p><p>As we were eating dinner (before the pick began) -- I went over the rules. They had to TAKE EVERYTHING THEY PICKED...but the minute it left my house, I didn't care what happened to it. They were free to use it (my hope, of course) -- or regift it or take it directly to the Goodwill. </p><p>After four hours -- those three young women had to make multiple trips out to their vehicles, loading up giant suitcases and bags full of Aunt Rita Treasure...Ross came that night, and he helped Kelcy carry Mom's hope chest down from the upstairs bedroom where it's been living (undisturbed) for almost 20 years...</p><p>I've loved the job of AUNT. And this night was really the culmination of so many wonderful events with these young women. I'm blessed to be part of their lives. On this night, I felt like I was passing the torch in so many ways...and the world is in good hands.</p><p><br /></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-75389527580008281962021-12-03T00:00:00.001-08:002021-12-03T00:00:00.186-08:00"Toasted" Breakfast<p>TMBC has made it our mission to try new breakfast places. And it is SO MUCH FUN to find a new restaurant or and old joint for our weekly get-togethers.</p><p>This week, we went to "Toasted" -- a new avante garde place in downtown Davenport.</p><p>The first good thing was I discovered they had a parking lot on the side of the building! <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZTwBCHciyvL_jsYyVEdxCeasfHPsA13VwFalYtBczm6-X0emw0RPKYtG4rsSPyhCqydb5Cvih-e4ArXVEzla5Nx11nc-n7KQalv9DHjS_GSNz56bgvfBIzCP0lehJsXiJSc58oFFKftZGJFZy4NlqGt4rOGENu_hHz2jZ2vTONwSb8IQ9WF3UdhZ4hg=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZTwBCHciyvL_jsYyVEdxCeasfHPsA13VwFalYtBczm6-X0emw0RPKYtG4rsSPyhCqydb5Cvih-e4ArXVEzla5Nx11nc-n7KQalv9DHjS_GSNz56bgvfBIzCP0lehJsXiJSc58oFFKftZGJFZy4NlqGt4rOGENu_hHz2jZ2vTONwSb8IQ9WF3UdhZ4hg=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The decor was very trendy...a deep turquoise wallpaper, with gold decals on the wall.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTTe0Jg8OtvatzseQc8BnYMtTTmX6rxu6Gkx5VPpu_NpQ9_9XkQpwMOHCLxgYppulvGE4WqoioemDyMG-qjCl9oYYUrIwcwu6nvM8zeAK2iNpPR9OX5ReAqow7YnmVQoqTRJ8VYk4bwJe93WN1FDbJcgdcuKAvm9-puqkW-frM1Wq9MdTYvFs5YUaTqw=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTTe0Jg8OtvatzseQc8BnYMtTTmX6rxu6Gkx5VPpu_NpQ9_9XkQpwMOHCLxgYppulvGE4WqoioemDyMG-qjCl9oYYUrIwcwu6nvM8zeAK2iNpPR9OX5ReAqow7YnmVQoqTRJ8VYk4bwJe93WN1FDbJcgdcuKAvm9-puqkW-frM1Wq9MdTYvFs5YUaTqw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge cotton napkins, with gold silverware. right??<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6ksDSXr6ovuQglnQsosWPRTwaXTUos-WzCJAzM5HUKMBqviPcFp_vn-xvVLA7cm_Cw9QGecI_Vbl0Y9KeX9WlmiipR1XeRj2A535fFajO3Bqz-R7b_vqWujg7XVhr4CWWylFzU8pqA3g_s-XSo4ou5pspm3qkoY4z4cPkJIx9W_6bqwMJdpgtTh_Bpw=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6ksDSXr6ovuQglnQsosWPRTwaXTUos-WzCJAzM5HUKMBqviPcFp_vn-xvVLA7cm_Cw9QGecI_Vbl0Y9KeX9WlmiipR1XeRj2A535fFajO3Bqz-R7b_vqWujg7XVhr4CWWylFzU8pqA3g_s-XSo4ou5pspm3qkoY4z4cPkJIx9W_6bqwMJdpgtTh_Bpw=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But, of course, the most important thing was the food!! Carrot pancake -- with Rosti!!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeyZAB9x-RIS6HvdxX901CYo5uwspyLEPGFC9qRHZaqHj5b8aIuXdmXN79Cm4qzJkIBlQJbG83L3o7V7Pan9rCjn9YXvx4-7EGWrTUga3nZG22AXU-yMWU9vay7DmPzN6_SubF6MFBGq0daZrho4oPg2i-wRqnX64POTdWt0Aj9Fw4ZsoeWuoXsZVFpg=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeyZAB9x-RIS6HvdxX901CYo5uwspyLEPGFC9qRHZaqHj5b8aIuXdmXN79Cm4qzJkIBlQJbG83L3o7V7Pan9rCjn9YXvx4-7EGWrTUga3nZG22AXU-yMWU9vay7DmPzN6_SubF6MFBGq0daZrho4oPg2i-wRqnX64POTdWt0Aj9Fw4ZsoeWuoXsZVFpg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sausages reminded me of New York City -- and the Avocado toast was a work of art!! SO DELICIOUS...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlOG3qNyIomM1PHFa745QvYGYrxoeI1OsbmIAAM3GIWDaWG5D8UdXsK1iPB8tQiTmXN1wQCO4IjOllmsZ7Vs69xbQtY_OQYj63wqXNDmUfOcE_RveZpnqCoy61ekR4xxjYcocjVOCOW6H7xLjG024CsAIeW5jLFKH56_0Uf7VPC711-_q7VvneMOIEmg=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlOG3qNyIomM1PHFa745QvYGYrxoeI1OsbmIAAM3GIWDaWG5D8UdXsK1iPB8tQiTmXN1wQCO4IjOllmsZ7Vs69xbQtY_OQYj63wqXNDmUfOcE_RveZpnqCoy61ekR4xxjYcocjVOCOW6H7xLjG024CsAIeW5jLFKH56_0Uf7VPC711-_q7VvneMOIEmg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front room was set up as more of a lounge.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkVFbFZJsaHDu8Z2YXtqVHJwO86BXg7TXVQX1yZNBJzDWNsD7gm8tQ_l4FzfCzHE0kQsMbQNZQ_mXxyrb_g0ufklacB9m8eNZDHXdu6wsXshWcNdHEvfA5eGMJHC73XcGy-NrDKlWYINxidoIvc7WlOiOepYENzxO46s4VvQEHsPMkf0yNOOy-C5rM8g=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkVFbFZJsaHDu8Z2YXtqVHJwO86BXg7TXVQX1yZNBJzDWNsD7gm8tQ_l4FzfCzHE0kQsMbQNZQ_mXxyrb_g0ufklacB9m8eNZDHXdu6wsXshWcNdHEvfA5eGMJHC73XcGy-NrDKlWYINxidoIvc7WlOiOepYENzxO46s4VvQEHsPMkf0yNOOy-C5rM8g=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The light fixtures were all amazing.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8grCykh4CEhWdWUOt-jEh2vR3sbACmRHUCqhk7GW3_yCs79ICSf4ILVjiOGSJ4bv5h6z0Dwok-aX98hlVLMzigawZi7ikDq9WI_6udCXJ-3a2qjMArtTfoYuquusDjjnylG4-k6TAkXekqKNpSzMsPRaOX1_qwFKLAPZcinF7SBguxmTqRBBuC7a_WA=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8grCykh4CEhWdWUOt-jEh2vR3sbACmRHUCqhk7GW3_yCs79ICSf4ILVjiOGSJ4bv5h6z0Dwok-aX98hlVLMzigawZi7ikDq9WI_6udCXJ-3a2qjMArtTfoYuquusDjjnylG4-k6TAkXekqKNpSzMsPRaOX1_qwFKLAPZcinF7SBguxmTqRBBuC7a_WA=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda bought this top, but it was too tight, the sleeves were too long, and the neckline was big and gappy. I shortened the sleeves, modified the neckline...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM6MQy3vQfPgBWQ3ceY5htHLi0yQZribm4zi21GuqXBRNTsXt_SYYimnvlwrgVUxErHutNYY7zoBIvfa9oyahY1htoDHIRHr2w8JAXklNG7mvTNUqFIfxyxlav1ChKrvzdhgF7OU-4xuSVu7RKdbZ_h_lwVbf29xjkqPAJ0LGJ-1q12ZhhVq9tM8uoTw=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM6MQy3vQfPgBWQ3ceY5htHLi0yQZribm4zi21GuqXBRNTsXt_SYYimnvlwrgVUxErHutNYY7zoBIvfa9oyahY1htoDHIRHr2w8JAXklNG7mvTNUqFIfxyxlav1ChKrvzdhgF7OU-4xuSVu7RKdbZ_h_lwVbf29xjkqPAJ0LGJ-1q12ZhhVq9tM8uoTw=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And put a black insert in both sides.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8K0O10N2c_occ3BsN4DT2Ns27uHhA5rCD70n8icJi78ptn2X0tZTiwOBkaymxcjjiqx8T_PK4H2tk9yXO2X97eaE2ZoEjpycZaTl0v1ziGEiAHkGAwaHzDJxCLBIWd13hJq-kTBW-CMvAFKTSdofWurJpeRsgoFFeWxZsvaBGHz-Z4qE085hpg5QoSw=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8K0O10N2c_occ3BsN4DT2Ns27uHhA5rCD70n8icJi78ptn2X0tZTiwOBkaymxcjjiqx8T_PK4H2tk9yXO2X97eaE2ZoEjpycZaTl0v1ziGEiAHkGAwaHzDJxCLBIWd13hJq-kTBW-CMvAFKTSdofWurJpeRsgoFFeWxZsvaBGHz-Z4qE085hpg5QoSw=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These great pants cost $2. at a thrift store -- but they were too long. I love that the pattern on each leg is so different. Instead of hemming the bottom of the legs -- I turned the waistband one time -- and added a piece of elastic. That shortened the pants just enough...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-86071470247665007572021-12-02T00:00:00.001-08:002021-12-02T00:00:00.193-08:00Microwave Bowls<p>John often gets up at 5:00 AM...and by the time I get out of bed (at a civilized 8:00) -- he's dressed and sitting in his chair...</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7_2yWSZrDeGSpevvQ3_qKA_s44DjOBqlCy2In_UaoS1ZKyoYMPg9f0_N4_79xqSXHLf7BGwIOtjmDGLCAECFJrt5RMQ5lMR9RI-wfBvVQ7ppQqQhF6bOBAEkKk-N97xnJyQyNKfRluv64MXfF7UIa24OefiL-a9L_61JtRAahfYtw0gRzYteXRIhCKg=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7_2yWSZrDeGSpevvQ3_qKA_s44DjOBqlCy2In_UaoS1ZKyoYMPg9f0_N4_79xqSXHLf7BGwIOtjmDGLCAECFJrt5RMQ5lMR9RI-wfBvVQ7ppQqQhF6bOBAEkKk-N97xnJyQyNKfRluv64MXfF7UIa24OefiL-a9L_61JtRAahfYtw0gRzYteXRIhCKg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He sits in his chair all day...dressed in his winter coat, hat, the whole works. He is watching old Gunsmoke episodes...or sleeping...it's hard to tell the difference.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />So, for the last coupla months, I've had my Featherweight table set up right next to the puzzle table. THESE are the activities that get me through the day (and some long nights)....</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDq9qngjzE_e21vZD3yacG0S4SpheJRcFcXY5_NojXzb_qr4s-lshzc8W6dVG7KqguzVyNcnjMpe3WzybsUO_YIJvalcbaLcXK8vXIJONWKaSmQmiC1FrRgKBH7qAKGwXbALn1SByyVarAde1Aq3lOUPBB0Vj_niXW_a5N6ZN-IiSk5L5oAwt2dFZ8LQ=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDq9qngjzE_e21vZD3yacG0S4SpheJRcFcXY5_NojXzb_qr4s-lshzc8W6dVG7KqguzVyNcnjMpe3WzybsUO_YIJvalcbaLcXK8vXIJONWKaSmQmiC1FrRgKBH7qAKGwXbALn1SByyVarAde1Aq3lOUPBB0Vj_niXW_a5N6ZN-IiSk5L5oAwt2dFZ8LQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't take a good picture -- but you can see the puzzle underneath the flannel bowls...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhY_52TukFkE9dsg7PNx-HLFExvEQRDa-1svV_h4npSr3MRdVkIfw0muZJBzGkLV3B5h-OJXrUT4sqAM_TDCgR9IfLU1YpugJ7Fl7ETzr36AUf33dj5Pm43kGD2Fpd4Qe4ikq5Y4nfHaaCNbQ4hgnCEjpptitIo3Z296cdBpWrAtuEy2V9Uj0Cm0aVA1Q=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhY_52TukFkE9dsg7PNx-HLFExvEQRDa-1svV_h4npSr3MRdVkIfw0muZJBzGkLV3B5h-OJXrUT4sqAM_TDCgR9IfLU1YpugJ7Fl7ETzr36AUf33dj5Pm43kGD2Fpd4Qe4ikq5Y4nfHaaCNbQ4hgnCEjpptitIo3Z296cdBpWrAtuEy2V9Uj0Cm0aVA1Q=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Featherweight table is snugged up right against the puzzle table...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcsw4mFlawdQJVm9tXmyEWB14mgr1JU2ucIgS57kYotjPeSCe4h_98s9Xza1VpSTbi8QuJdcJML7SMbeGZbMEQTOvX-Y5pFb8-_EGzilipCZB3JUfQmQPw93RLWGvdy9YuolSwG2SAI6v9LGyPYf-R81sfEmYClcPWAW-mijxc-NGpS_Fe3td-2A08_g=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcsw4mFlawdQJVm9tXmyEWB14mgr1JU2ucIgS57kYotjPeSCe4h_98s9Xza1VpSTbi8QuJdcJML7SMbeGZbMEQTOvX-Y5pFb8-_EGzilipCZB3JUfQmQPw93RLWGvdy9YuolSwG2SAI6v9LGyPYf-R81sfEmYClcPWAW-mijxc-NGpS_Fe3td-2A08_g=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I just keep making the bowls...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiulkwldOqM9RGopszQIscJWZbLR5U_2VMxPa9CtnhRa3C3RM2Gw1m9dvYuvs-vgQf8mIFPwTKHWow3iQ8g3PSjAORCRmOjp2S3k_xBsGls9rCqRcN2GxhrTnYsWfjV-zTXXGYtvWjMF63nDgjCBV_OtgwxGkBXz0nHY0gNhztTQx9dB2LsIzUTm7MKtw=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiulkwldOqM9RGopszQIscJWZbLR5U_2VMxPa9CtnhRa3C3RM2Gw1m9dvYuvs-vgQf8mIFPwTKHWow3iQ8g3PSjAORCRmOjp2S3k_xBsGls9rCqRcN2GxhrTnYsWfjV-zTXXGYtvWjMF63nDgjCBV_OtgwxGkBXz0nHY0gNhztTQx9dB2LsIzUTm7MKtw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I turned a laundry basket full of flannel pieces into a laundry basket full of microwave flannel bowls...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKUfHRCIC_EX9cvRL2vm5s4nEYFkZ1TAqCB20ENn7NOVOLJp9ESGXmUnczimFFeSwrpsah_Vk5D8jENOXd9Qr_ZE02eoQBGj7bpqxUoZ0Wp882eNoQHCHiCXU5FbBmScI7D6148BF14EIVHjtYJpt7g6uz1owW1_QvCdxXchbFZ_LRPp3b1vxftKxQeQ=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKUfHRCIC_EX9cvRL2vm5s4nEYFkZ1TAqCB20ENn7NOVOLJp9ESGXmUnczimFFeSwrpsah_Vk5D8jENOXd9Qr_ZE02eoQBGj7bpqxUoZ0Wp882eNoQHCHiCXU5FbBmScI7D6148BF14EIVHjtYJpt7g6uz1owW1_QvCdxXchbFZ_LRPp3b1vxftKxQeQ=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And now, the fun part will be to GIVE THEM ALL AWAY...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgK-kBMtwtxiC8lkB1PtAJEjGQ83KyaHahYNoa6PhnC6XNMSnmcVap-D3HZCxLYyMCyht9E569s7bqvTx8X5jDeiPheGOIl60bhnGNSnSPj_-Z243Qva_bTLCBZk8404AbgMUoFzfAfd99RGeel1pnrATUY_kcMdWm9XcaZiMyl2TDGke9G5sKGQQqjTQ=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgK-kBMtwtxiC8lkB1PtAJEjGQ83KyaHahYNoa6PhnC6XNMSnmcVap-D3HZCxLYyMCyht9E569s7bqvTx8X5jDeiPheGOIl60bhnGNSnSPj_-Z243Qva_bTLCBZk8404AbgMUoFzfAfd99RGeel1pnrATUY_kcMdWm9XcaZiMyl2TDGke9G5sKGQQqjTQ=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obviously, "microwave flannel bowls" was a category!!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p>
During the Niece-a-Palooza, the girls all got to choose a flannel bowl for everybody in their family. I started making flat flannel plates..for those occasions when a person wants to microwave food on a PLATE. So each of them got to pick one of those, too. Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-56452871991796638392021-12-01T00:00:00.004-08:002021-12-01T00:00:00.181-08:00Valerie's New Home<p>Yesterday, I went to see Valerie's new apartment. OMG..OMG...OMG... Since a picture is worth a thousand words -- I'm just gonna post some pics:</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCCpXy_3u8yyWiRYDxyumSeK_Rk_-HljNQBNnMTXJ23HyvMbNdOFSyVuDsftNltwLpYGyd4gOoMWH1S2CJM8HChbu7OwxtFyi9vHt3JKqx3JtVTcD5EBHBKUdyUh3xWOxaaEaFr25eKpjpIjL9OGyrLV23Pj_bPuP189SN_41GkdC07ocHO23HZZ-dlA=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCCpXy_3u8yyWiRYDxyumSeK_Rk_-HljNQBNnMTXJ23HyvMbNdOFSyVuDsftNltwLpYGyd4gOoMWH1S2CJM8HChbu7OwxtFyi9vHt3JKqx3JtVTcD5EBHBKUdyUh3xWOxaaEaFr25eKpjpIjL9OGyrLV23Pj_bPuP189SN_41GkdC07ocHO23HZZ-dlA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was once an elementary school -- completely remodeled, with 18 units BEAUTIFULLY done...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg-iPa2t14aUWaF6J5O3a6HapTEXJry9m6lMGFeUsSGhN8Nt4ax3stEznK8yx89PVNE8r55AJ98SkB_OFmMAAkDuhoVbHuf6oxtNExbCfRntWZbmdfY7ZRUw7O5T96_YrwODR5R5IpbBLZroacIwvfmcYKa3ZFS49y_jObCmQxmUMoZWIW1hm_QDuRWw=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg-iPa2t14aUWaF6J5O3a6HapTEXJry9m6lMGFeUsSGhN8Nt4ax3stEznK8yx89PVNE8r55AJ98SkB_OFmMAAkDuhoVbHuf6oxtNExbCfRntWZbmdfY7ZRUw7O5T96_YrwODR5R5IpbBLZroacIwvfmcYKa3ZFS49y_jObCmQxmUMoZWIW1hm_QDuRWw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's called the Naval Station -- and the woodwork in the front entrance is original and stunning.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvj8mBaZWPs2_IDcjVA_F7kl0lh4uy9uOK3N6xB8s4iiVI--AKHMKu3RaPkQvjAd7sgtODP8WTfVAZ1Tx98YFWH-Gd3VlW7GtokrbjCUDiObI4KBKUslWdjWK87zVCTdpD2Ydj4GRBsN1Vlv3GYC6xerFWf9uP95aNrPB7DNDuHdh7cgKE2Rf59nYgNg=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvj8mBaZWPs2_IDcjVA_F7kl0lh4uy9uOK3N6xB8s4iiVI--AKHMKu3RaPkQvjAd7sgtODP8WTfVAZ1Tx98YFWH-Gd3VlW7GtokrbjCUDiObI4KBKUslWdjWK87zVCTdpD2Ydj4GRBsN1Vlv3GYC6xerFWf9uP95aNrPB7DNDuHdh7cgKE2Rf59nYgNg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They painstakingly restored the tile floors.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXAQ1528FYLNvcbbDpiSyx3zTJTprjX37SuhzQ3AAHmo4QDBOU1SVTV3deti7lqVE54PdFMGGDmSKy9MiO2g2e-bk28QSG8aWjEQgRGNlkjDwI-jywftqZRI_1iAHQ_pNTJ6djqvgufhJMMJVrJK5Eb5dCiUupbTPah2_6KjT1vCIOqNJwwI_ZkTxGkg=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXAQ1528FYLNvcbbDpiSyx3zTJTprjX37SuhzQ3AAHmo4QDBOU1SVTV3deti7lqVE54PdFMGGDmSKy9MiO2g2e-bk28QSG8aWjEQgRGNlkjDwI-jywftqZRI_1iAHQ_pNTJ6djqvgufhJMMJVrJK5Eb5dCiUupbTPah2_6KjT1vCIOqNJwwI_ZkTxGkg=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On all three floors, there are stunning common areas..the second floor is a television/living/conference area.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHV-XXoJ1ui89S2Z3IHbFzHjI7moj5DNH1UtvqXt4cdosw7koN-QhmwXI5CvZxK5yLu4pZ3L7C4WmLz_7reRNzPkIx_3x3ysLG4BV0bflojWBAQ6x6FY-cjSy9m5o1hN0dzf8k2gKOSFlYTBtCAAp1ekYAoX_TM0pDifyBga0A90dg35Sx30_2NyVrPQ=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHV-XXoJ1ui89S2Z3IHbFzHjI7moj5DNH1UtvqXt4cdosw7koN-QhmwXI5CvZxK5yLu4pZ3L7C4WmLz_7reRNzPkIx_3x3ysLG4BV0bflojWBAQ6x6FY-cjSy9m5o1hN0dzf8k2gKOSFlYTBtCAAp1ekYAoX_TM0pDifyBga0A90dg35Sx30_2NyVrPQ=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The third floor has a skylight.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKHzy8qRJmLOAIzbCTaTOlHFXObGEDMXY8wl9hYyDpc3_wtZMFmr8rGJ72uQSm4rAvc5XaNdtnAM8APrVz4SJQJhFyV9154TXetGpfRmlTZMHQS_tpzatejJgtzf7Qk5gmIssr9Y8PvodiKQYUdJ5z5EEVf5Y3VRObQJMPj923oNs7W1Y4SLs_1z73sA=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKHzy8qRJmLOAIzbCTaTOlHFXObGEDMXY8wl9hYyDpc3_wtZMFmr8rGJ72uQSm4rAvc5XaNdtnAM8APrVz4SJQJhFyV9154TXetGpfRmlTZMHQS_tpzatejJgtzf7Qk5gmIssr9Y8PvodiKQYUdJ5z5EEVf5Y3VRObQJMPj923oNs7W1Y4SLs_1z73sA=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AND a stage for events.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0_JuDXN1n7_3UqGJqjyhoeWtFdr6rS0rMQelTevI4g2m0BrsShtsS6YIDEeOaHRhHyBT5KVuoDoPKDCQvn2Elc90fHr_eNANt-x8uWKr5ciMkDxHPViWaXF4jXQhMCK6V7x0opk5VmyknuR-VWe3rNnm4mHAFwldxURX0cDIieyY7R02md5jZLdxXeQ=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0_JuDXN1n7_3UqGJqjyhoeWtFdr6rS0rMQelTevI4g2m0BrsShtsS6YIDEeOaHRhHyBT5KVuoDoPKDCQvn2Elc90fHr_eNANt-x8uWKr5ciMkDxHPViWaXF4jXQhMCK6V7x0opk5VmyknuR-VWe3rNnm4mHAFwldxURX0cDIieyY7R02md5jZLdxXeQ=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Val has her own washer/dryer.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSbUtC2RuzX1gxG6sEeTfy0bQVpV-CEoOl1XlbGWVcKKfv7yJ-1pLNibzxx2nkQC7hXA2K6i_JwLpa64KcpDUhKRku-rM0C0DQL2NMjHl_NZtrIF4XumpUPRrg_7EpjflIHn2RA5bRBxrA848Xtw_-8x7vbVWoQjbh11IuxqOKbLgT2ZZyi8npNp1cmQ=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSbUtC2RuzX1gxG6sEeTfy0bQVpV-CEoOl1XlbGWVcKKfv7yJ-1pLNibzxx2nkQC7hXA2K6i_JwLpa64KcpDUhKRku-rM0C0DQL2NMjHl_NZtrIF4XumpUPRrg_7EpjflIHn2RA5bRBxrA848Xtw_-8x7vbVWoQjbh11IuxqOKbLgT2ZZyi8npNp1cmQ=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stainless appliances, granite countertops, dishwasher!! <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsurNQaV2wEkD9-9I-a8p_gx-9rKfjR9q1lO3B5xBITMnENHG-TF-A4UL1kDFlXogMjE9JPtuIIXzh-eZeQvFMBs1BKjXDqpZwip8XEkyPOyvpKJkvMCVcMh0IpCnoR8w4o1vtrImNuoMD8nJKH80NrJGwQRIz5zDwMX10VnjItIuQRgexb70iosOOnw=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsurNQaV2wEkD9-9I-a8p_gx-9rKfjR9q1lO3B5xBITMnENHG-TF-A4UL1kDFlXogMjE9JPtuIIXzh-eZeQvFMBs1BKjXDqpZwip8XEkyPOyvpKJkvMCVcMh0IpCnoR8w4o1vtrImNuoMD8nJKH80NrJGwQRIz5zDwMX10VnjItIuQRgexb70iosOOnw=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A HUGE living/dining room with 10' ceilings, porcelain tile floors, WONDERFUL light and a gas fireplace. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS2AsuP9uY0tR05j1oCy1wz3kv3uGsSMiwWqbmYzxsi3fRDj0QPCHWyMfDjrymO4e9pc_e4atXTNdFCfStAeSsgI6dDmTjgMkfgznJxkTkvIIuU-HRQPdjkqN0hL2HMukfCx2s-h4buqXWmBFr15iFk0Asnq5FZlk3Uq4K4jOiolOdpzHnlfPwcSiOaA=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS2AsuP9uY0tR05j1oCy1wz3kv3uGsSMiwWqbmYzxsi3fRDj0QPCHWyMfDjrymO4e9pc_e4atXTNdFCfStAeSsgI6dDmTjgMkfgznJxkTkvIIuU-HRQPdjkqN0hL2HMukfCx2s-h4buqXWmBFr15iFk0Asnq5FZlk3Uq4K4jOiolOdpzHnlfPwcSiOaA=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She has a granite pass-through counter from the kitchen into the main room.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiK4k9W-dXxp03FuIVT8RlFgP8JvPNKweHoFM17Wi_HVfqOwp14WW4W_weH5AYrc6zrE_PhZJ97fnz9LnT3O9lR0ODltv0F0SO8eW7hQ3bYPpdf3it8Pu_gJo0EBFIVX4MuWARGlIapl37_CVFrRajb6EU8COn0dV84e2Ew8qDscZC8ugAkYtFTmEIdiw=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiK4k9W-dXxp03FuIVT8RlFgP8JvPNKweHoFM17Wi_HVfqOwp14WW4W_weH5AYrc6zrE_PhZJ97fnz9LnT3O9lR0ODltv0F0SO8eW7hQ3bYPpdf3it8Pu_gJo0EBFIVX4MuWARGlIapl37_CVFrRajb6EU8COn0dV84e2Ew8qDscZC8ugAkYtFTmEIdiw=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And her bedroom is HUGE...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The pictures don't do it justice. I didn't capture the wonderful light or the wide hallways, the curved plaster corners in every space, the cove ceilings,the security system, the elevators, the quality of the restoration and the attention to every detail.
OMG...OMG...OMG...</p><p>This building is about 4 minutes from Valerie's old house. It's a neighborhood she is very familiar with...and you cannot wipe the smile off her face. </p><p>I'm almost as excited about her new place as I am about my own!! And I am thrilled that she'll have some community in this new home. There are 18 other apartments, and it will be so good for Val to be able to meet people.</p><p>The Ales company did a spectacular renovation/restoration of this old historic building, and Val will have central air conditioning for the first time in her life. </p><p>Honestly...her new home is PERFECT. <br /></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-63191383317745840502021-11-30T00:00:00.014-08:002021-11-30T00:00:00.194-08:00My Niece-a-Palooza Report<p>So -- how was my Niece-A-Palooza??</p><p>IT WAS <span style="font-size: x-large;">EPIC... </span><br /></p><p>F.A.B.U. L.O.U.S....!!! SQUARED...I cannot tell you how much I loved my time with my nieces. </p><p>For one thing -- I rarely get to visit with these lovely young Moms. When I do see them, they've invited me to their house for a party or holiday and they're busy serving food or organizing large groups of people....</p><p>So, this was a very rare event. Like -- it's never actually happened before.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPvvB3N11z8_RbsCkFa0mNm40HCq9DOrMX9SF_j8mYqChNyJf439jJE_NKh_eA3IgSYvfWi6M3WpUubvfzspNV_S0-VFUOMyWuh4HEo4z02XKgPefqxn8cfpio6Oik73r7m6CIV-V4TbspqhiDm1OargL9Yjrtjt7QTny8Cl-nPzjNruW7Ffv_Y2SpwA=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPvvB3N11z8_RbsCkFa0mNm40HCq9DOrMX9SF_j8mYqChNyJf439jJE_NKh_eA3IgSYvfWi6M3WpUubvfzspNV_S0-VFUOMyWuh4HEo4z02XKgPefqxn8cfpio6Oik73r7m6CIV-V4TbspqhiDm1OargL9Yjrtjt7QTny8Cl-nPzjNruW7Ffv_Y2SpwA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, this occasion called for my best china and Aunt Rozella's silver...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihKcP-uwvWrXD6zpQ3yJzxSJNaUFJaxGkabHgPBjCD-31-tdFFlnyH3GkpJsXZSm7PEA1DTyxDADRhsBhGn5YOAnkSbheuEIBG2Lk3nOrhKqVNFWffa-Gx7m1_3HpC8An8WHRGYlL_oG60aJjJeTXkruY2FDVSzRh1X1HuQ44nyhw3xKzqYC79alOvSw=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihKcP-uwvWrXD6zpQ3yJzxSJNaUFJaxGkabHgPBjCD-31-tdFFlnyH3GkpJsXZSm7PEA1DTyxDADRhsBhGn5YOAnkSbheuEIBG2Lk3nOrhKqVNFWffa-Gx7m1_3HpC8An8WHRGYlL_oG60aJjJeTXkruY2FDVSzRh1X1HuQ44nyhw3xKzqYC79alOvSw=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wanted our supper to be something my Mom used to make. So, homemade chicken and noodles (with turkey, of course).<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-BUpHSsunwbZiv-M7UbwZYaGoHowrfZbdFg5CgjPDPBirhod2V3xS4oZx9y1q-543---nFDHePpkovCVK1Trvn9kgCGDkZDax0QpTySdzatIM-lInkhEELplnFoetcml2wfii0r_nBssTT9Hl0IUAEj1ENj4aoxy8LghqfOHH1wtl-OeZ1K_1src5iA=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-BUpHSsunwbZiv-M7UbwZYaGoHowrfZbdFg5CgjPDPBirhod2V3xS4oZx9y1q-543---nFDHePpkovCVK1Trvn9kgCGDkZDax0QpTySdzatIM-lInkhEELplnFoetcml2wfii0r_nBssTT9Hl0IUAEj1ENj4aoxy8LghqfOHH1wtl-OeZ1K_1src5iA=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I haven't made noodles for years...(they were chewy...and kind of a disappointment.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlgTE1l2qLGRbLXAKz77nm7v5GDhvK5tiozcr-LxTpl6hoeILf2w7WvrzKukTAaoVErpUxgn4j8Iy3bGyGz3R240DCaTTwvnfLC9zfRVJ1cLPvbVoE8-_ga0wfwTCFzTzw_5Erk2HQhBmV0Odru4EFMrh5-JPsxjMccna9VuAqKR0awPVaaWEGNeHFrQ=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlgTE1l2qLGRbLXAKz77nm7v5GDhvK5tiozcr-LxTpl6hoeILf2w7WvrzKukTAaoVErpUxgn4j8Iy3bGyGz3R240DCaTTwvnfLC9zfRVJ1cLPvbVoE8-_ga0wfwTCFzTzw_5Erk2HQhBmV0Odru4EFMrh5-JPsxjMccna9VuAqKR0awPVaaWEGNeHFrQ=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did a popover demonstration (while they ate appetizers -- shrimp; potato chips and french onion dip)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie9T21dO2v3_dnEnk6v7X07viXiI4_pqy_BvNQnQQt8sqbqRhaVCsy0LwUBKv3S1I_ra6wdFdbE2fAlbd1NJg6p0_70C3O-BuNinqnmOCEqWGQqg_m6go1uAmZMIpd9YUWwgIsfnUtcY56TY-sXlSEZHrdzJ32idqOydAHvXBFBiCmi5ZUe3RukRUK9Q=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie9T21dO2v3_dnEnk6v7X07viXiI4_pqy_BvNQnQQt8sqbqRhaVCsy0LwUBKv3S1I_ra6wdFdbE2fAlbd1NJg6p0_70C3O-BuNinqnmOCEqWGQqg_m6go1uAmZMIpd9YUWwgIsfnUtcY56TY-sXlSEZHrdzJ32idqOydAHvXBFBiCmi5ZUe3RukRUK9Q=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They each got several wraps and/or ruanas...(I decided to rehome some of my Ya Ya samples)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsDAtkG6g1OgcxO5sMaITBCof3yR_tvZ3yji11PQCx4KCQF7FdJL8gjWWULLA5OrzwwOeqpT0miOG8JUmDbErsBX132jkO4OWkXgzz6K6z4WcHKrncqnMkbCnwf9kYLdBtCF41sTX-lG04PdBkExT8kIRJ2Kuv5-BmpQ9zO-YtFlixkE52TJNZto_Cyw=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsDAtkG6g1OgcxO5sMaITBCof3yR_tvZ3yji11PQCx4KCQF7FdJL8gjWWULLA5OrzwwOeqpT0miOG8JUmDbErsBX132jkO4OWkXgzz6K6z4WcHKrncqnMkbCnwf9kYLdBtCF41sTX-lG04PdBkExT8kIRJ2Kuv5-BmpQ9zO-YtFlixkE52TJNZto_Cyw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also -- beach towel WRAPS (remember that show, Mary?)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5v7NYNvAe43Z7y1oMp6sChzV75ZxKjx84yJg1Wx1b9PlR845BG8bAir9WXS3uTrkNsp8nHB_CmM7hjnn0CeRgtAcgx_JrITH8IfqZDZWPGj9h5cNw2TAlAgxJaD97BMS63lTZTo1MdA8n0zCo8FismF-lOH_zZe18yFulOmNxjnlD-mv84pGl6X70gA=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5v7NYNvAe43Z7y1oMp6sChzV75ZxKjx84yJg1Wx1b9PlR845BG8bAir9WXS3uTrkNsp8nHB_CmM7hjnn0CeRgtAcgx_JrITH8IfqZDZWPGj9h5cNw2TAlAgxJaD97BMS63lTZTo1MdA8n0zCo8FismF-lOH_zZe18yFulOmNxjnlD-mv84pGl6X70gA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was an artsy fartsy light fixture up for grabs...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkR8-qAaD3ekrNMMXUS_cWatnvv-Ojt4mBD4DI3rCZLdutYmKUMesJfvRhrjKACxBhrlCfX4AeYXrsLuzLQ0g71yO2xB4QoV-vwBf06S3XjP_5LvI0hGcab2-2GpLBmaXf7ExhbyC6fikN52thfaKoidtCdKZYO6xiZohJ7m_vKYlAEW_YyZ-aFaq5Iw=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkR8-qAaD3ekrNMMXUS_cWatnvv-Ojt4mBD4DI3rCZLdutYmKUMesJfvRhrjKACxBhrlCfX4AeYXrsLuzLQ0g71yO2xB4QoV-vwBf06S3XjP_5LvI0hGcab2-2GpLBmaXf7ExhbyC6fikN52thfaKoidtCdKZYO6xiZohJ7m_vKYlAEW_YyZ-aFaq5Iw=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AND, they emptied my mother's Hope Chest...then, Kelcy took it home so one day her daughter Myla can inherit it.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgIW1rUUEsaPnZ_Nz0u6RTJRavTQ-TTL_Noef1L2LmfZTK418Q9T7XzdXbOtgicTFKI6_XskRNqw_ygnKSHIKGQ89ATwCObRgRNgEyuleo815U6gKhy3U480gWnMHzGu0GrxhklXqKmpFuzrOB9SS3RWRf7vMT1b0keyScoXJhPx2YJ4EvfUQZ1DAWXw=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgIW1rUUEsaPnZ_Nz0u6RTJRavTQ-TTL_Noef1L2LmfZTK418Q9T7XzdXbOtgicTFKI6_XskRNqw_ygnKSHIKGQ89ATwCObRgRNgEyuleo815U6gKhy3U480gWnMHzGu0GrxhklXqKmpFuzrOB9SS3RWRf7vMT1b0keyScoXJhPx2YJ4EvfUQZ1DAWXw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another category was Christmas rugs...they all got to pick TWO rugs...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgp8iyHj4f2tKJcdYyve6Fasos6P_iTbmuL4QcMg5aI9sBRkL5pRTp45T0t_Ql4eoA-bbXZqtZidgFY9kIL5nFATX03rduUeJBDJbwso80F9zXonqER68CMSSBv7e2trbBi1vHyEShZEbbS2dPJ0wlKW3EkG_f07YuVbh6bgLegvQS-VnVQTghoaFpDBQ=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgp8iyHj4f2tKJcdYyve6Fasos6P_iTbmuL4QcMg5aI9sBRkL5pRTp45T0t_Ql4eoA-bbXZqtZidgFY9kIL5nFATX03rduUeJBDJbwso80F9zXonqER68CMSSBv7e2trbBi1vHyEShZEbbS2dPJ0wlKW3EkG_f07YuVbh6bgLegvQS-VnVQTghoaFpDBQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy, Nicole, me (with my new Judge Judy collar) and Kelcy.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In my mind, I have many pictures of these girls when they were kids. Amy riding a little plastic tricycle on the sidewalk of our first rental house....taking Nicole to see Sarah Brightman singing at the Mark... eating sheets of caramel on top of microwave popcorn with Kelcy...and it all seems like just yesterday. </p><p>Looking back, I can see each one of them in New York City...and I am so grateful to have these young women in my life. I am also really glad we did what we did when we did it.</p><p>And looking forward, I am beyond delighted they allowed me to re-home so much treasure!! They took artwork and prints off my walls...so many things I've acquired, and touched, and loved....books I've read, things I've sewn, samples I've made...I hope some of these things fit into their lives. And maybe -- years from now -- one of them will be making scrambled eggs, and she'll remember that spatula came from Aunt Rita's Niece-a-Palooza... <br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-81761274624384982552021-11-29T08:30:00.003-08:002021-11-29T13:10:55.216-08:00My First Ever Niece-A-Palooza<p>Every time I try to use my NEW laptop (which I've had for over three years, and is loaded with Windows 10) -- I have an INCREDIBLY HARD TIME making things work. I just cannot get used to a computer where you touch the screen instead of using a mouse. And, the internal mouse on THIS dinosaur is worn out, so I have a corded mouse plugged in...it is pitiful people...</p><p>But, in the interest of trying to post a little blog this morning, I went back to my Old Faithful.
Tonight is my first ever Niece-A-Palooza. I was calling it a Niece-a-Ganza. But Anne accidentally called it a Niece-A-Palooza, and I knew that was more fitting.</p><p>I am so lucky to have three nieces who live near me and include me in their lives. Deena's daughter Kelcy </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRbhLYSrkOEz9qojNZZtVQpiZAXVqUxMBH4yC33dPjMQ7VrTnbGfqgmi2Bjk0GSElmxciESlaDv3btLIZMszQLZwcDtPiY-I1uejkoVyIXvI9rrcYdTOqzFKjElJ7A4z1zYVQtsQXlgHhPkKP2oMqVLOebV_q3j9HnET9by6mj7UFg54UT2bUqTmoNLA=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRbhLYSrkOEz9qojNZZtVQpiZAXVqUxMBH4yC33dPjMQ7VrTnbGfqgmi2Bjk0GSElmxciESlaDv3btLIZMszQLZwcDtPiY-I1uejkoVyIXvI9rrcYdTOqzFKjElJ7A4z1zYVQtsQXlgHhPkKP2oMqVLOebV_q3j9HnET9by6mj7UFg54UT2bUqTmoNLA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelcy and Andy have four children, and they live about 10 miles from me. This picture is from Aspen's baptism...which was a lovely outdoor event in Deena's back yard...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />
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Several years ago (before she was married) -- I acted as the official tour guide for Deena and Kelcy. It was Kelcy's first visit to New York City. I went with my sisters and cousin Kim in 1997.</p><p>Somewhere along the way -- I became the Iowa-Girl-who-loves New York City -- and I went with my sisters, cousins, friends....and my last, most wonderful trip was in 2019.</p><p>Ronda's daughters, Amy and Nicole -- asked me to be their tour guide to New York City. John had dementia, but Ross agreed to stay at the house. Jackie met us (she lived in NC at the time) and we had the MOST GLORIOUS TIME... </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-NGgk8RFZhSX7x0hP_W_lzGlsPJX_WKJRc9XbcRMw0xRPVCUe6bXU733iQgrm6wZGBg-2qNkiXrHFOSpSCemSJtTLBQkckzfhYmGYFGSH-KC9CWMXFwr0IJ2gEESw4shkEhWD-zplD7q4O4F4QtRJLEmdL7fo3Y-e_QhARPWCmw9hBdta3VO4_QaStA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-NGgk8RFZhSX7x0hP_W_lzGlsPJX_WKJRc9XbcRMw0xRPVCUe6bXU733iQgrm6wZGBg-2qNkiXrHFOSpSCemSJtTLBQkckzfhYmGYFGSH-KC9CWMXFwr0IJ2gEESw4shkEhWD-zplD7q4O4F4QtRJLEmdL7fo3Y-e_QhARPWCmw9hBdta3VO4_QaStA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8CxnMMcEuw/XLct5lvZ8tI/AAAAAAAAz84/D-suzPkDeSoCA1vS87v6ZVvo2Er64yAuQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN0428.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8CxnMMcEuw/XLct5lvZ8tI/AAAAAAAAz84/D-suzPkDeSoCA1vS87v6ZVvo2Er64yAuQCLcBGAs/s400/DSCN0428.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my favorite picture of the girls -- setting off on bicycles in Central Park. After just two days in the city, they were completely comfortable...and I know one day, they'll go back.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>These three young women are great about including us in their lives. Tomorrow night, we have a basketball game for Amy's son....Nicole always invites us to Easter dinner...and Lilly and Warren love swimming in Kelcy's pool with her kids.</p><p>As I've been sorting through my lifetime collections -- trying to rehome SO MUCH TREASURE -- it occurred to me that these three girls might want some of the things that once belonged to my mother. </p><p>Nicole expressed a bit of interest in my piano -- then, I found a VHS tape with a label that says, "Nicole and Bill Kearney's Wedding". Wow. She got married 25 years ago...and I'm sure she would love to see this video...so I sent her a text and said she could have it as soon as she moved the piano...</p><p>I also have my mother's Hope Chest -- which is full of linens that once belonged to Mom, and her mother...and it's time I passed these treasures on....</p><p>For over a year now, I've been asking (then begging) my boys to take whatever they want. Elliott took John's gigantic tool chest, and Ross wants the grill in the kitchen...but, other than that, they have ZERO interest in my stuff. Boys just are not sentimental...</p><p>But, hey -- THESE GIRLS might enjoy some of this stuff.</p><p>So -- that's why tonight, I'm having my first ever Niece-A-Palooza. There will be supper...and then a game element to determine who picks first...what will they be picking? Well -- there's some art still on the walls, and some jewelry, spooners, Christmas rugs, bed linens, samplers...you get the idea</p><p>AND -- while they're here -- I might as well put them to work. I'm hoping<br /></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-91794851935229755722021-11-27T00:00:00.001-08:002021-11-27T00:00:00.197-08:002021 Thanksgiving<p>My niece Amy invited us to her home, but<span style="text-align: center;">I was determined to cook the meal myself for our last Thanksgiving in this house...</span></p><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsTu_dqsl3nVrMVOpBMcpXnH0KTrmDUw2YFHlgiUbKqSEvPToRjLlDeJDCNHKGc17TRYHg8KT2ZJxU-fmIMDhYAFhdV30UvZP7lyeEharp3IB_InxSEJn44b9ipOuM5D60764NVIM89kK7WNM6sbTvJklvayFO03RlMbRTlJUpos7r5hbd_3ThYst4TA=s3264" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsTu_dqsl3nVrMVOpBMcpXnH0KTrmDUw2YFHlgiUbKqSEvPToRjLlDeJDCNHKGc17TRYHg8KT2ZJxU-fmIMDhYAFhdV30UvZP7lyeEharp3IB_InxSEJn44b9ipOuM5D60764NVIM89kK7WNM6sbTvJklvayFO03RlMbRTlJUpos7r5hbd_3ThYst4TA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But cooking a turkey is a lot like taking a ride in a dog sled -- I just don't do it often enough to be confident. So,for insurance, i also purchased a turkey breast.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNqsEsevc1QZgA-xRc9tVNVABTMbuzWg6guDgLxyz3YcaNEdJ2tYhNS0MdT7ZTLZpSKJyAdh6OJsJJnepHXeP6Kq5uSaYE_-e7t46RXkGN1bCDKm3-5IR2lMRYJC7V93xPSnDUFSKPX2inhuReUzcNtM8eRdjX8gdCbDHuJcQSpdh3t4NMWbQwUIKAcg=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNqsEsevc1QZgA-xRc9tVNVABTMbuzWg6guDgLxyz3YcaNEdJ2tYhNS0MdT7ZTLZpSKJyAdh6OJsJJnepHXeP6Kq5uSaYE_-e7t46RXkGN1bCDKm3-5IR2lMRYJC7V93xPSnDUFSKPX2inhuReUzcNtM8eRdjX8gdCbDHuJcQSpdh3t4NMWbQwUIKAcg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got out the very large aluminum roaster my mother-in-law gave me for a wedding shower -- over 50 years ago...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFwicbxBPjBh2XpJW4nOeaTn3g-ST4dOLeKvLo6rcJLkQl_ZtESBdyX--nP1L2PRg7jrQGpnnkH2SJqlJ-t36RDimWhZ0Uqm3LOtiX2kDR7dEgL-rjcBWcy4R3-ZohewOqeWC3XOoNPGFdRMI8IN6P1vJRyVSIUAoiM93cWOqOdFSD-dGMftWECwvvJA=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFwicbxBPjBh2XpJW4nOeaTn3g-ST4dOLeKvLo6rcJLkQl_ZtESBdyX--nP1L2PRg7jrQGpnnkH2SJqlJ-t36RDimWhZ0Uqm3LOtiX2kDR7dEgL-rjcBWcy4R3-ZohewOqeWC3XOoNPGFdRMI8IN6P1vJRyVSIUAoiM93cWOqOdFSD-dGMftWECwvvJA=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I split the turkey breast, and it was finished in an hour. BINGO! Now, I have my back-up turkey meat, just in case the big bird doesn't get done in time.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7qSmLxmqGiOKK8W8yZljwtJANbPRnPpWSXevBAnbsuUXZp9sv-Dd0mzst6gxRWs6_czHdJSPJmP-GEnt36f1o0tyo-wO3kzccJOqFC9NcqDgq_46SUJdpTtIX9BTH3LhHkvBNcUl-WDG_L7eUXSPeCP9P7BT4gvstDOhvZ7qA--mwzbZxwN-ADqu0NQ=s3264" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7qSmLxmqGiOKK8W8yZljwtJANbPRnPpWSXevBAnbsuUXZp9sv-Dd0mzst6gxRWs6_czHdJSPJmP-GEnt36f1o0tyo-wO3kzccJOqFC9NcqDgq_46SUJdpTtIX9BTH3LhHkvBNcUl-WDG_L7eUXSPeCP9P7BT4gvstDOhvZ7qA--mwzbZxwN-ADqu0NQ=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I set the table with Aunt Rozella's silver</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4kV5olgCEZCikmjPGeIZMSNX0bQzY2FQ-m0PzQUPhp6Kfn2UPBQtgiOcD32UiwY621qpoQwzqGG_FDkfsdPyHdTdiRsciHPYQsnkjOep1T8Y_RdNeNbjQvbV98QOUNUCUiVoSEhK6mTfjR7dZUuhnx30Zc2M7arQJEiYB4YkcuPDLKbVtYaBztY7Tgw=s3264" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4kV5olgCEZCikmjPGeIZMSNX0bQzY2FQ-m0PzQUPhp6Kfn2UPBQtgiOcD32UiwY621qpoQwzqGG_FDkfsdPyHdTdiRsciHPYQsnkjOep1T8Y_RdNeNbjQvbV98QOUNUCUiVoSEhK6mTfjR7dZUuhnx30Zc2M7arQJEiYB4YkcuPDLKbVtYaBztY7Tgw=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I worked all morning, in my favorite Mary Mulari apron</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid3UpkChGdP56Cnxk-KQhWd5SePsE9rDJ4ZoD-5ebZNWTdrBbEcRaMo41EeZyi6TlkAUiwkVf1-Xj1HKDZ5ak7DwDpVnajjyiQJCD5fvrI4YUEQb5a_V5xfe-0c3j3lU7zSB14XzdDlca7sTaJMZSiitqrk3MtiJy-Pc_Wrfd56jtGIVQI2Y0J04mMgQ=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid3UpkChGdP56Cnxk-KQhWd5SePsE9rDJ4ZoD-5ebZNWTdrBbEcRaMo41EeZyi6TlkAUiwkVf1-Xj1HKDZ5ak7DwDpVnajjyiQJCD5fvrI4YUEQb5a_V5xfe-0c3j3lU7zSB14XzdDlca7sTaJMZSiitqrk3MtiJy-Pc_Wrfd56jtGIVQI2Y0J04mMgQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I LOVE LOVE, LOVE setting the table with my good dishes.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg31SrV_IrEl9Ti2mY9sQek89nk8XYszhk-OcWpe_YkCzKjobFaqcO_wdCvyfr6tfD-_CXqFCAckdy1LIKZLt7e2sx3G-QOGZrKHQ7FlPcuQdNSuSTHNLKH1lEIVNx5ZQb2-JbzRidk2vxE1eLtZTWdck1LYRfGm5VBsWVXz7_3aW8eR0YDYAZrjWHkCA=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg31SrV_IrEl9Ti2mY9sQek89nk8XYszhk-OcWpe_YkCzKjobFaqcO_wdCvyfr6tfD-_CXqFCAckdy1LIKZLt7e2sx3G-QOGZrKHQ7FlPcuQdNSuSTHNLKH1lEIVNx5ZQb2-JbzRidk2vxE1eLtZTWdck1LYRfGm5VBsWVXz7_3aW8eR0YDYAZrjWHkCA=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holy Cow! We really did a number on that turkey!! Although we didn't cut up the extra breast for our dinner, I was glad I also cooked it -- because, without that, there would have been NO LEFTOVERS...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I was acutely aware that this was our last Thanksgiving in this house. And maybe that's the gift of old age. When I was younger, I never understood those "last" moments...so they mostly flew by, without me even knowing I just missed something important. </div><div><br /></div><div>Like -- when was the last time I read a story to my boys when I put them to bed, or the last time I saw Elliott pitch a Little League baseball game...or the last time my Mom and Dad would eat a meal at my house?</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, yeah...life moves pretty fast. And Thanksgiving is a good time to push the pause button and take stock of where you've been, and where you're going. </div><div><br /></div><div>And I am grateful. </div>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-19216408840655889522021-11-26T00:00:00.001-08:002021-11-26T00:00:00.228-08:00AFTER the Parade.<p> AFTER the parade, the kids and I walked to one of our favorite places -- Sippi's in downtown Davenport. The first time we ever went there was quite by accident, that year Lilly was five and we attended our first Holiday Parade. Their cheese fries are something people TRAVEL for miles to eat!! and we're just a few blocks away. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjORIxzqO2orDGnaZpWF5zBCekDliFvtlv72svBAuut0Gx_eu-Dd47vIdjcqD9fYIDlRuTtEy0PVtXzjW8vmnGjLzEfMFcNkTXGpXU4Gjk5mPs2hK45yFOZtVOVN1SfmagNwhrGhURlLFiplT0TotoI4TXyliKwH_V8bHf79XJlboBC8wplmT5uDwyaaA=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjORIxzqO2orDGnaZpWF5zBCekDliFvtlv72svBAuut0Gx_eu-Dd47vIdjcqD9fYIDlRuTtEy0PVtXzjW8vmnGjLzEfMFcNkTXGpXU4Gjk5mPs2hK45yFOZtVOVN1SfmagNwhrGhURlLFiplT0TotoI4TXyliKwH_V8bHf79XJlboBC8wplmT5uDwyaaA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warren was wearing his favorite Spiderman jacket -- and along the way, there was a toddler who pointed and screamed (with delight) -- SPIDERMAN..!! Warren was thrilled with his super-hero moment...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMjTNAr2YjEHkXQOBurvTg6F1jyXkrH0w_RmvO5y74Y4aNvrRG8N5tZRadYBzUAvN9H09WK6eUjS1oIUT28P-BzbdkxK568vFQmfjPfexXhK_-LNOQy_-6SO6aKWHULbGfT7gCz-RT76kgoW-G5WzED3pDrfaBE0zExXEIVC4j359vnjufjRoN1t7xfg=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMjTNAr2YjEHkXQOBurvTg6F1jyXkrH0w_RmvO5y74Y4aNvrRG8N5tZRadYBzUAvN9H09WK6eUjS1oIUT28P-BzbdkxK568vFQmfjPfexXhK_-LNOQy_-6SO6aKWHULbGfT7gCz-RT76kgoW-G5WzED3pDrfaBE0zExXEIVC4j359vnjufjRoN1t7xfg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two country kids enjoyed doing a little city parkour climbing along the way...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiN9TBRZCOkTPcTNM2EnZsls2VajD_xtjqgUe2iKDlXWdGuPS_hixSUqQ9J13N8nbgj_e7vGK_aLeW3rUwJSTNEd8Hc_DvC71Ay_pnp4EhIR7OqvRxuWcJGfsjBbjKJecCDe-QDVMnZS1et1aTRoAtenhcFK2Aj1uBoEzMW0ad7Q83LrXmeCKRE2c_PA=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiN9TBRZCOkTPcTNM2EnZsls2VajD_xtjqgUe2iKDlXWdGuPS_hixSUqQ9J13N8nbgj_e7vGK_aLeW3rUwJSTNEd8Hc_DvC71Ay_pnp4EhIR7OqvRxuWcJGfsjBbjKJecCDe-QDVMnZS1et1aTRoAtenhcFK2Aj1uBoEzMW0ad7Q83LrXmeCKRE2c_PA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuBS_R4dw9wN4aeo4p_mMuXm7Eu4XzQkGh1yC-Asg7ZjGs4pUVHjk_RWiXIH7HB3xgAgrc1zbRwzmI8xCJaeYWZ4CAXQyP8fSLZd-wnyQhGzHBsub__Vz0GAbB3MWi_I5mTuWJdxbPfosgRTxetuJCxZ_GytYuIsPKgGfBirDN1Z_2R01Ob2zMDx3lpA=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuBS_R4dw9wN4aeo4p_mMuXm7Eu4XzQkGh1yC-Asg7ZjGs4pUVHjk_RWiXIH7HB3xgAgrc1zbRwzmI8xCJaeYWZ4CAXQyP8fSLZd-wnyQhGzHBsub__Vz0GAbB3MWi_I5mTuWJdxbPfosgRTxetuJCxZ_GytYuIsPKgGfBirDN1Z_2R01Ob2zMDx3lpA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once we arrived at Sippi's -- we asked for an outside table. Then, we set up for a few Grandma Games. Crazy 8's and two speed rounds of Bananagrams...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-18174866920885550802021-11-25T00:00:00.043-08:002021-11-25T06:48:31.245-08:00Thanksgiving 2021So, here we are again. Thanksgiving 2021. This is our last Thanksgiving in this house...and I'm feeling more than a little sad about that. But I'm also feeling like I want to make it SO SPECIAL, and SO WONDERFUL...that it'll remember well for years to come. <div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, yeah -- with that kind of pressure -- what can go wrong....?</div><div><br /></div><div>But, hey -- the truth is this year MUST beat last year. A year ago, I was sick with Covid, Thanksgiving was completely canceled...and I spent most of the day in tears. John was having a really bad time, I felt shitty and was having quite the pity party. I put John in the car and we had to drive to TWO different Kwik-Star locations to find turkey dinners -- which I nuked. And, yes, that was just as miserable as it sounds.... </div><div><br /></div><div>The holidays can be brutal. I decided to go back and read my own words....this is my official annual Thanksgiving Post...Normal Rockwell was a wonderful artist who painted imaginary people...</div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T9ZOmbVNHss/W_JBTMIYb2I/AAAAAAAAy3I/ZRBHr7R-pu4RF7Lo04PczLfU27MCIQzGACLcBGAs/s1600/thanksgiving.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="260" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T9ZOmbVNHss/W_JBTMIYb2I/AAAAAAAAy3I/ZRBHr7R-pu4RF7Lo04PczLfU27MCIQzGACLcBGAs/s400/thanksgiving.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Although some things never change -- Thanksgiving is not one of those things. A family is alive...which means it is always growing -- or shrinking. People come, people go (depending on the people, either one of those things could be the good news or the bad news). <br />
<br />
Every family has their happy times. Birthday parties, graduations, good test scores, promotions, beautiful weddings, new babies.<br />
<br />
Then there are the not-so-happy occasions. Kids move away. Couples get divorced and the dining room furniture is hauled off to the Goodwill. People die, they get sick, lose their jobs, or maybe their house burns down...<br />
<br />
Every one of those things -- good or bad -- has one thing in common.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Change...</h2>
<br />
If you were having the perfect Thanksgiving....you probably would NOT be reading this blog today...So, I am going to assume that something about this day isn't going right.<br />
<br />
You are not alone...Trust me...<br />
<br />
If your day sucked -- if you feel lonely -- or somebody hurt your feelings -- or disappointed you...or you are dealing with a loss....well -- it's a very long line you're standing in...<br />
<br />
Thanksgiving has become a holiday full of pressure. Norman Rockwell painted a fictional picture that no family could live up to. The people you THINK are having a better day than you are probably bored out of their minds, feeling jealous or resentful of their annoying siblings, pissed off at their ungrateful children, and have spent the entire day biting their tongues...<br />
<br />
Chances are good they are telling you the heavily-edited Norman Rockwell-version of their day....and Facebook makes it easy to pretend everything was perfect....<br />
<br />
If today REALLY sucked -- my advice is to write it all down. Just
for yourself. It is so interesting to read these journal entries AFTER
the fact. It's how I learn. Every single time. If you write it down honestly -- then go back and read it next year, maybe you can PREVENT having another meltdown, crappy Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
But that almost always means you must embrace...that's right...let's say it together....<br />
<h2>
<i><b>CHANGE!!!</b></i></h2></div></div><div>And here's the good news -- it's just ONE DAY, PEOPLE. Give it a few hours and it'll be over...</div><div><br /></div><div>*******</div><div><br /></div><div>And -- here's the picture I promised you, Kathy!! Thanks for the Shoefly Pie Recipe -- I still think it's the strangest thing I ever made...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBKQnXXf58yEHMsX_v7fXdu8EYxD3L_nPxnR6sHBDT1z2GlGA_n0vTr0cn7fhksAM83NquR9TBxHB1SNGnrCyoPaevsIjgtbu1nWRplKHbrfNPbrhYqekhQ0wIilrq6jGq7c-oVmCdadjx93aU0hGmKapa7-4eVWgtBq-A6cTLm42GpQQ1U_hLHZ28XA=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBKQnXXf58yEHMsX_v7fXdu8EYxD3L_nPxnR6sHBDT1z2GlGA_n0vTr0cn7fhksAM83NquR9TBxHB1SNGnrCyoPaevsIjgtbu1nWRplKHbrfNPbrhYqekhQ0wIilrq6jGq7c-oVmCdadjx93aU0hGmKapa7-4eVWgtBq-A6cTLm42GpQQ1U_hLHZ28XA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-41525861987892931072021-11-24T00:00:00.001-08:002021-11-24T00:00:00.188-08:00My new Old Yellow Formica Table...So, "Dan" was the guy I bought the yellow table from -- on the Facebook Marketplace.<div><br /></div><div>Linda P. is having WONDERFUL LUCK selling her household furniture on Marketplace. She and Don will also be moving into the Suites of Bettendorf in January -- and she's got a major downsize to do herself. So far, every single thing she's listed has sold within a day or two. At our monthly shareholder's meetings, LP often gives impromptu Facebook Marketplace workshops...</div><div></div><div>At this point, I'm just a Marketplace BUYER -- not a seller. But that certainly is the way to go. For one thing, you don't have to pay a commission. With an auction, you're giving the auctioneer 30%...but then, they do all that work. AND it's done in one fell swoop.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway -- we Googled our way to Dan's farm in the country. Turns out, he does a lot of business on Facebook -- and he also does flea markets and antique malls.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA3qxArGzLCbpuAwCeGOFr3GmAOwJshfP5ukiPm9EiA4NnKBbwD7cM_qfOsiRjn8XNljmMiOlIKpCTdZYn_oMBy_zMJ2jMkovJFQia9bunm_rsBOhtdSckKqMkWKCAOea4QftIhvUNAuoLGhrsa78fhDJhT_OaUS83gMmgOmTW58vhDRRDaOT-ShCmfw=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA3qxArGzLCbpuAwCeGOFr3GmAOwJshfP5ukiPm9EiA4NnKBbwD7cM_qfOsiRjn8XNljmMiOlIKpCTdZYn_oMBy_zMJ2jMkovJFQia9bunm_rsBOhtdSckKqMkWKCAOea4QftIhvUNAuoLGhrsa78fhDJhT_OaUS83gMmgOmTW58vhDRRDaOT-ShCmfw=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deena also had actual furniture-moving-blankets!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCpLDBBqI0NlaZ0JmoX2pyEXlQCZOJD7jmr-p58Utqb4O7G6RoFi_1SDCaszB4MKH9t7Wshf9y_Y_U0TL4JB_hVheemwTNu0QPjNplVeIIGIM2DtOftH1A1Qkk_UTVluGys4dSZpIS_4N9Lu2GwvgNVRGRY0OMqqyhosVq7tzyIr5lT1dg4Y4ImMlb9Q=s3264" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCpLDBBqI0NlaZ0JmoX2pyEXlQCZOJD7jmr-p58Utqb4O7G6RoFi_1SDCaszB4MKH9t7Wshf9y_Y_U0TL4JB_hVheemwTNu0QPjNplVeIIGIM2DtOftH1A1Qkk_UTVluGys4dSZpIS_4N9Lu2GwvgNVRGRY0OMqqyhosVq7tzyIr5lT1dg4Y4ImMlb9Q=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were loaded in about five minutes -- and on our way back to Iowa.</td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgh31Ta4YYcdvrL1hnv8W4AtQ6OSQmKIukvi8nrRPbawlxGfrBjXL7vXl-7OBRRPFOk_-BXA7i6sMp5ZalHLy1qo20PQezpp0J4t9GInTfg2g8VmsHA_uhN1V6ETWNQK8CqaOpgAP5n5sliWA9PIemWRu-NusYP2wT-W801O_bUv8An96nbj9p6GYQ4ug=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgh31Ta4YYcdvrL1hnv8W4AtQ6OSQmKIukvi8nrRPbawlxGfrBjXL7vXl-7OBRRPFOk_-BXA7i6sMp5ZalHLy1qo20PQezpp0J4t9GInTfg2g8VmsHA_uhN1V6ETWNQK8CqaOpgAP5n5sliWA9PIemWRu-NusYP2wT-W801O_bUv8An96nbj9p6GYQ4ug=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this table. The chrome is in really good condition (considering it's probably as old as I am)...I gave it a good scrub -- and may do a little more work on the sides. OR, I might decide this is good enough...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-vBMlJhpEXY4p3mVa0S5Ezq6ASAv03OKiaKoAUNQR0B2PmGte0og8KzlHh2luX9z3cv11oVkklHfCMNYyYAZgm8zufvGHp_TPKOaPb3TjgiuBrUn2AqnAl_Bb9E9I3Sh7Otb9vtYJYWvxrRHCJfXVGaQvry2QHgXp1158QFpUQiJB2HwhMReYxUgHqQ=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-vBMlJhpEXY4p3mVa0S5Ezq6ASAv03OKiaKoAUNQR0B2PmGte0og8KzlHh2luX9z3cv11oVkklHfCMNYyYAZgm8zufvGHp_TPKOaPb3TjgiuBrUn2AqnAl_Bb9E9I3Sh7Otb9vtYJYWvxrRHCJfXVGaQvry2QHgXp1158QFpUQiJB2HwhMReYxUgHqQ=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I set it up in the basement, on my new rug...and I think it looks GREAT. Altho,in the new place, it'll probably be sitting on a round zebra rug...with the zebra chairs -- do you think it's too much??</td></tr></tbody></table>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-5346394267329134612021-11-23T00:00:00.021-08:002021-11-23T00:00:00.210-08:002021 Holiday Parade..!!<p>Last year, the Holiday Parade was another victim of Covid...CANCELED...but this year, it's ON AGAIN. And it was a beautiful day -- 50 degrees and sunny. PERFFECT. The parade started at 10:00. We found a spot in one of the downtown parking buildings (remember those?)....and walked several blocks to find a good spot.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD2UtPeh8sXE6FTZVPIPj8u95lqR-vcmVo7mjVaiqsr-oyQMs05TvL0Z0u0vxdQ9VZvvx9-ciQAnGlhTWT7cnIin-5B3efj95ckwBiXCr4msCZIeh00kZosAC4ZiYNTNMkhhL_FA8ykpopKywGBJFyRkVc6weUn-931ejtg2qJCvhXQug2pAfZ-PE0sQ=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD2UtPeh8sXE6FTZVPIPj8u95lqR-vcmVo7mjVaiqsr-oyQMs05TvL0Z0u0vxdQ9VZvvx9-ciQAnGlhTWT7cnIin-5B3efj95ckwBiXCr4msCZIeh00kZosAC4ZiYNTNMkhhL_FA8ykpopKywGBJFyRkVc6weUn-931ejtg2qJCvhXQug2pAfZ-PE0sQ=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were at an intersection where the handlers had to pull the giant balloons down so they could go underneath the traffic signal.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-WsRZM8iSaIwei6Q5T7HsCUo1s1luWAD_pae5oI74mNQzg3iXlH2cSAoyzT5geHBWpUGvlTui5iSYX2p-wzQcOHqg7wk4SM-ZpIfsTfdRdHTSUOPNzmrToEuICwAQvv8GWcIYeRW6s_-adsbRAywm--Zu6Nnv4ZDUWRDr2RKVdDhQezUnkYHC91Ppkg=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-WsRZM8iSaIwei6Q5T7HsCUo1s1luWAD_pae5oI74mNQzg3iXlH2cSAoyzT5geHBWpUGvlTui5iSYX2p-wzQcOHqg7wk4SM-ZpIfsTfdRdHTSUOPNzmrToEuICwAQvv8GWcIYeRW6s_-adsbRAywm--Zu6Nnv4ZDUWRDr2RKVdDhQezUnkYHC91Ppkg=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found a bench Warren could stand on...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7-sUGJvxuKICEGl_r-zAiYrPPiKKgF-0h33EjXiqHvVtwAyJ5iDbOKHc2dCX83NeYzveHvGsjdMrhqmCA9QhylRZVaiOgA3Oo9X2DZcw_6mWppGoy13Sm-TXEsthR9oVJXEZD_Rev9KgdG48dIKsdgPMrlNhs3rD6ETBEMiPIU6jSiQ0ZIWi762yQ3g=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7-sUGJvxuKICEGl_r-zAiYrPPiKKgF-0h33EjXiqHvVtwAyJ5iDbOKHc2dCX83NeYzveHvGsjdMrhqmCA9QhylRZVaiOgA3Oo9X2DZcw_6mWppGoy13Sm-TXEsthR9oVJXEZD_Rev9KgdG48dIKsdgPMrlNhs3rD6ETBEMiPIU6jSiQ0ZIWi762yQ3g=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were some wonderful marching bands -- and also some drum and bugle corps.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJu9bWrVrDN8IzwfHWi9-2Mnc3jFHdKxps6UW0wQ4boecYt37lLU1RClf27eKCVynqY4qXUfT67Hd2qztmzq16ZRdauDLoqroysZQl2ed7l6JaqCCGJ65sEFxKdNUhIN-lYRgCtuxDS2eyyxBrJ8uBTWo_GjVVdOnUrJS71m-JyF3nnlL1pdFTGHU--Q=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJu9bWrVrDN8IzwfHWi9-2Mnc3jFHdKxps6UW0wQ4boecYt37lLU1RClf27eKCVynqY4qXUfT67Hd2qztmzq16ZRdauDLoqroysZQl2ed7l6JaqCCGJ65sEFxKdNUhIN-lYRgCtuxDS2eyyxBrJ8uBTWo_GjVVdOnUrJS71m-JyF3nnlL1pdFTGHU--Q=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So -- okay -- enough standing. We were right in front of a lovely coffee shop -- offering $2 hot chocolate!! It would be wrong NOT to go in there...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyVhFS7E3w3w00_yt-gRp1LeD8UDoorKpA-l_2PI3FM31wGSpG0aXjWgyVdp5O2maP4iZreAN0wy8stTw1p9S54ntvrq8lZZibmljj25_pXT4pjbrQdy7Dzbx2PUHaVJMB64OorEL7am7RPe6PhoslaxIZTZTzkJWrR_LbqgYrdpxQRWXHA5JIdbCs7A=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyVhFS7E3w3w00_yt-gRp1LeD8UDoorKpA-l_2PI3FM31wGSpG0aXjWgyVdp5O2maP4iZreAN0wy8stTw1p9S54ntvrq8lZZibmljj25_pXT4pjbrQdy7Dzbx2PUHaVJMB64OorEL7am7RPe6PhoslaxIZTZTzkJWrR_LbqgYrdpxQRWXHA5JIdbCs7A=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$2 was a mall price to pay for a heated seat -- with a GREAT view of the parade!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhD7Q9I9WArRog7XsMHyTGfwscQ2DEKKAO9iSjRs3-d1dwHqbxDkbClavj-Lvgl-DI-jbMKjY0pFAqW4eQZ4ZRSIr8vP1AtiSYiw-cjXZ974gYa8k5tgCQN5cysB2xlm25m0WoRO_EsKDnp2OdnQMuN-MXaHbULjdQ3P7qoGY_7Z_AmbIDNc1SwmIa0Ag=s4160" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhD7Q9I9WArRog7XsMHyTGfwscQ2DEKKAO9iSjRs3-d1dwHqbxDkbClavj-Lvgl-DI-jbMKjY0pFAqW4eQZ4ZRSIr8vP1AtiSYiw-cjXZ974gYa8k5tgCQN5cysB2xlm25m0WoRO_EsKDnp2OdnQMuN-MXaHbULjdQ3P7qoGY_7Z_AmbIDNc1SwmIa0Ag=s400" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikh3Vgk9kE3m05E-_tu6ccLrG2bhwiTdtqhiEgRb606JsNcTlbZjBUrd1xCQL2PEzX8S5-iV-j4HSJkGuvKWID7W1hWU2sGFutscEgq-J3Hk2Pfw6tLRUsadfj0or3sGacr8Q5EOBLIm7KmZvfuukiEj17h-hnlv34EVrzLDm1K5yEVPneAgvMv4xwBg=s4160" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikh3Vgk9kE3m05E-_tu6ccLrG2bhwiTdtqhiEgRb606JsNcTlbZjBUrd1xCQL2PEzX8S5-iV-j4HSJkGuvKWID7W1hWU2sGFutscEgq-J3Hk2Pfw6tLRUsadfj0or3sGacr8Q5EOBLIm7KmZvfuukiEj17h-hnlv34EVrzLDm1K5yEVPneAgvMv4xwBg=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had the perfect spot to watch the game of Giant Balloon Limbo under the traffic lights...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>So, what should we do AFTER the parade on this beautiful day??</div>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-40359952925863595972021-11-22T00:00:00.002-08:002021-11-22T09:58:24.916-08:00My Wisconsin Sisters Trip <p>So, on Friday, I had a big SISTERS TRIP planned. I was soo excited about the $100 yellow formica table -- located in Platteville, Wisconsin.</p><p>Deena was the official driver -- she has a 2009 Ford Truck that has a sissy step that actually comes down the minute you open your door! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEig-9N4z56Y5woYvBGkQgRZHx2sn1D4j7OGZBcQ0wKDmM0SBBMzqRMVZvaj9_VjK1ymZ32geexuWAyU3UkcwMB8H3_jlvKngKnkPIV_aK5KrMh7oucB0Rhh9Yc-R0TEPRcHAlX34QUwHOvjJkkmKc0vVQ-SVYQilM3w2cgKaL0rZK-iSRGw2h8ZaiLVEg=s4160" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEig-9N4z56Y5woYvBGkQgRZHx2sn1D4j7OGZBcQ0wKDmM0SBBMzqRMVZvaj9_VjK1ymZ32geexuWAyU3UkcwMB8H3_jlvKngKnkPIV_aK5KrMh7oucB0Rhh9Yc-R0TEPRcHAlX34QUwHOvjJkkmKc0vVQ-SVYQilM3w2cgKaL0rZK-iSRGw2h8ZaiLVEg=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuHLjY4jGWvFqXQ9pwXuuS5L3dtNNueu6f4WRV-SFQZdDQNHI3putjp-7duAATvZFHhLKEnBuvSt53Ugp1hZqNKtUIESIcx11TBjhkowvknLyMbTPtcc1hICpZb3Sq136TS7N9IAKOmijw_kG7S42fm0sep42R_h3Ej8afx9-kgdyk6LW96EKdD6CcRg=s4160" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuHLjY4jGWvFqXQ9pwXuuS5L3dtNNueu6f4WRV-SFQZdDQNHI3putjp-7duAATvZFHhLKEnBuvSt53Ugp1hZqNKtUIESIcx11TBjhkowvknLyMbTPtcc1hICpZb3Sq136TS7N9IAKOmijw_kG7S42fm0sep42R_h3Ej8afx9-kgdyk6LW96EKdD6CcRg=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Don had agreed to take John on a Karaoke adventure that day -- so I was FREE TO GO!!</p><p>The three of us left at 8:30 -- and our first stop was breakfast in Dickeyville, Wisconsin. At a place called Katrina's -- famous for their homemade hash browns. We had a WONDERFUL breakfast...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9TOtyHNEoNm7R7r5uvlW3hYaaHS1YJVaLFI24gADWVFjJgcvcRz05bwALTkUI6W8kf4-oKIS_lbG7YOt_U1a_uXqlqUttKUBDgOi3O11PB7HjCkldPixRTIWDE-FWI9cf_ZXPFlhgdDWp4cfLQlDyGLHg9yK0q88-Okohjt7zzU-PUZNJF7Ftwr2qDA=s4160" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9TOtyHNEoNm7R7r5uvlW3hYaaHS1YJVaLFI24gADWVFjJgcvcRz05bwALTkUI6W8kf4-oKIS_lbG7YOt_U1a_uXqlqUttKUBDgOi3O11PB7HjCkldPixRTIWDE-FWI9cf_ZXPFlhgdDWp4cfLQlDyGLHg9yK0q88-Okohjt7zzU-PUZNJF7Ftwr2qDA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAjGyrhvqUsSRBkx_qyMajw6eOk-IvbdiZs6xCDcbONSBsUw6KsNLtL33TZZC-mo5BsWWcJKxkJjgj_RiAFUUzIDtx4Xug_hNUIummTpoGnrnVw12hl-8cQAus9dLB0nb-Rf9Q3NaRG_xl0vT-q73jdC9hvN1ht-wxH6a9irtRv-MRNF98QXztlrR7yg=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAjGyrhvqUsSRBkx_qyMajw6eOk-IvbdiZs6xCDcbONSBsUw6KsNLtL33TZZC-mo5BsWWcJKxkJjgj_RiAFUUzIDtx4Xug_hNUIummTpoGnrnVw12hl-8cQAus9dLB0nb-Rf9Q3NaRG_xl0vT-q73jdC9hvN1ht-wxH6a9irtRv-MRNF98QXztlrR7yg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the very same table we sat at when we went to the 2019 Great Wisconsin Quilt show.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />When we arrived in Platteville (it's just a 90 minute drive) -- we went to the Bargain Nook store on Main street. I've written about Bargain Nooks before...there are five of them in southwest Wisconsin. They are fundraisers for the Hodan Society -- and the profits go to provide opportunities for people with disabilities.<div><br /></div><div>Each week, they get 2500 pieces of brand new things from Land's End -- a famous Wisconsin retailer, of course.</div><div><br /></div><div>I purchased another coat for John ($189 in the catalog, $44 usual Bargain Nook price, $22 for this special 50% off sale. wow.)...</div><div><br /></div><div>Even though I bought him two coats last month...He is ALWAYS LOSING THINGS. I found his wonderful new blue Land's End jacket under the bed two weeks ago...but now, it seems to be MIA. </div><div>What the hell. It's $22...I'll just buy another one!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Hey -- now that the three of us are stocked up on new coats -- TIME TO PICK UP MY NEW/OLD YELLOW FORMICA TABLE...</div><div><br /></div><div>Wisconsin is a beautiful place...and I'm always happy to have an excuse to go day-tripping there...</div><div>(I wonder of the Wisconsinites feel that same way about visiting Iowa?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh73AHN0rZgSfn-jjLA0cd3_gvi64Yd2I2aatWSqQuPKjnD3PEUdfyPF3lXp8BwxPC_-epMkdK0HSqTK0ROXS0kDFlAJSRNuDvqbf1Wc5VagnU9FUl1WGW96v0EzV2pqQyx9u__n4pvRTEOYhAsRV5keKoM9PUd3TGths0dUAgMjaT65yF1H0oWMBdkYA=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh73AHN0rZgSfn-jjLA0cd3_gvi64Yd2I2aatWSqQuPKjnD3PEUdfyPF3lXp8BwxPC_-epMkdK0HSqTK0ROXS0kDFlAJSRNuDvqbf1Wc5VagnU9FUl1WGW96v0EzV2pqQyx9u__n4pvRTEOYhAsRV5keKoM9PUd3TGths0dUAgMjaT65yF1H0oWMBdkYA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmLPiiw5k27HlL6Fr2HTZTi7NxQ3S-z2m7zae3nVMDAsr-y1WGUS7Wirknv1S2i5Aaf3_OFFJbZrujCIS8Z_F82uiNj-RNo01hJ6eI3n6D7HP_lZNhzcojil-rIXz0YURhQsYFf_P_eZcbIJ9ddvrzKVEmebzpILf5e9qsPLR_YA3hEewo9dD4hrI8Tw=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmLPiiw5k27HlL6Fr2HTZTi7NxQ3S-z2m7zae3nVMDAsr-y1WGUS7Wirknv1S2i5Aaf3_OFFJbZrujCIS8Z_F82uiNj-RNo01hJ6eI3n6D7HP_lZNhzcojil-rIXz0YURhQsYFf_P_eZcbIJ9ddvrzKVEmebzpILf5e9qsPLR_YA3hEewo9dD4hrI8Tw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-72903477639421349562021-11-20T06:11:00.002-08:002021-11-20T06:11:57.527-08:00Reliving the Best Parade EVER<p>FROM THE YEAR LILLY WAS FIVE...</p><p>************ <br /></p><p>Lillian and I LOVE watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thanksgiving morning.<br />
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As it happens -- there is a wonderful local big balloon parade right here in Davenport, Iowa every year to kick off the Festival of Trees. This year, Lilly is 5 years old, and the weather was cooperating (no rain, 50 degrees) -- so I decided at the last minute that WE SHOULD JUST DO IT...<br />
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We arrived in downtown Davenport about an hour before the parade was to begin. There were thousands of people, and soon, we were in gridlock traffic. Ugh. I parked the car and we got out to walk down to the parade route.<br />
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All those thousands of people were carrying those nifty lightweight folding canvas chairs...you know the kind -- with the carrying case they casually fling over their shoulder.<br />
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Oh oh. It suddenly dawns on me that I'm going to have to stand for the next three hours. <br />
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">OH CRAP<b>!!</b></span></b></h3>
I almost turned around at that point -- but Lilly was so excited.....So, we walked on -- and I hoped there would be a bench somewhere...or at least a tree I could lean on....<br />
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Then, on the corner of 3rd and Ripley, right where the parade is going to make a turn -- I notice all these people sitting on chairs and benches in front of a junk store I've never noticed before. We went in, and it is jam packed with my kind of treasure....it is packed tight with used furniture, some Retro stuff, many kitschy pieces....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took this picture three hours AFTER the parade...because during the actual parade, it was impossible to cross the street to even TAKE the darn picture...</td></tr>
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Lillian and I walked in and I looked around, hoping there was something I WANTED TO BUY -- so I could befriend the owner...(yes, I am an evil genius -- AND I used to own a retail store...!)<br />
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As Ritaluck would have it -- I found the PERFECT treasure (another post). Larry (my new friend, the owner) negotiated a price with me.<br />
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Still looking around his exciting store, I said "how much for one of those benches out front?"<br />
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Larry: $5<br />
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Me: Sold. (getting my billfold out of my purse)....So, now, Larry -- you must go out there and tell those people to get off my bench...<br />
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Of course, laughing now -- he did exactly that. The two men who had settled in on the bench were dismayed to be losing their sturdy seat (hey -- THEY HAD EVERY CHANCE TO BUY THE DARN THING)...<br />
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Larry brought my bench into the store...and I paid him the money. He told me we could set it up on the empty lot side of his store -- where there was a little rise -- and we'd be able to see all the balloons coming down the street...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I actually took this picture AFTER the parade -- when there weren't SO MANY PEOPLE </td></tr>
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Lilly and I sat on the bench until the parade started. Once things got rolling, she wanted to be on the curb -- and as it happens -- we had a small tree right in front of us -- so she had a PERFECT watching spot, and she didn't have to push in front of the people who arrived before us...<br />
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There is more to this story....it'll have to be a two-part post....Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-73870271744081209482021-11-19T00:00:00.001-08:002021-11-19T00:00:00.207-08:00Me, Rhonda and Novembers...<p> Rhonda Pierce lives 3 hours east of me (Chicago)...and her father lives 12 hours west of me (Nebraska). Last week, she was DRIVING through Iowa, on her way to see her father in Nebraska. She'll be on Interstate-80, and she'll come within 6 miles of my house.</p><p>TIME FOR A BREAKFAST MEETING!!</p><p>I suggested the little place called Breakfast at Berries -- in LeClaire, Iowa. <br /></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmb6T6GW1H3tv1o9WWukduWHVj0A7iTHrqwig8nSSaycQK_oQhzsRzIVNSb2gFDi7e0RssGvtYy9lubaJbcsl90x5uKFsjJibj3Dkzjh9EcdyH3zKsy_YN2MZzItoD-LIBT2RY796g9ZSVBp54Rvavj5uUMitWXeVcMGBm3yalz56yPvnbhZ7ZkJr_Ig=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmb6T6GW1H3tv1o9WWukduWHVj0A7iTHrqwig8nSSaycQK_oQhzsRzIVNSb2gFDi7e0RssGvtYy9lubaJbcsl90x5uKFsjJibj3Dkzjh9EcdyH3zKsy_YN2MZzItoD-LIBT2RY796g9ZSVBp54Rvavj5uUMitWXeVcMGBm3yalz56yPvnbhZ7ZkJr_Ig=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We pulled into the parking lot at almost the same time. PERFECT..!!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMIpMH8r-D7EFh1ZeGqBNWTC1qFTLkvva3YMb0L7a03Und-uVzalkI9ApIg8iSk5dKLjemon7wOEjCnwpwVOT6rbeTOc3h9sVyoK2YgbuSmWW-3PSS0rHy4SjDV5j_omUX1En21pIy84GgJvre6CPYVUufyD3EOukasS8iSAFJlkyb11lrp7rbkO-Vtg=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMIpMH8r-D7EFh1ZeGqBNWTC1qFTLkvva3YMb0L7a03Und-uVzalkI9ApIg8iSk5dKLjemon7wOEjCnwpwVOT6rbeTOc3h9sVyoK2YgbuSmWW-3PSS0rHy4SjDV5j_omUX1En21pIy84GgJvre6CPYVUufyD3EOukasS8iSAFJlkyb11lrp7rbkO-Vtg=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's one of those artsy-fartsy quaint little places.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtRaj9m4KE2phz3dBTX-P-UEnHnDxDGCm5p0VTjixTAA6H5PBQ5dIras7ZP8L0Okz89UB4ROxlnZQ2DEcd3aKg30JYysy9aidfq1p5sppRcmJFxSjrhGzsQnRuAmKX-ijStGXIX_gGtxi1MB3riVMyg4jYLOVCkr75ToyOHBW3YZ6ceqfg-9EoPaibMg=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtRaj9m4KE2phz3dBTX-P-UEnHnDxDGCm5p0VTjixTAA6H5PBQ5dIras7ZP8L0Okz89UB4ROxlnZQ2DEcd3aKg30JYysy9aidfq1p5sppRcmJFxSjrhGzsQnRuAmKX-ijStGXIX_gGtxi1MB3riVMyg4jYLOVCkr75ToyOHBW3YZ6ceqfg-9EoPaibMg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And most mornings -- this place is PACKED. I love the fact that no two tables or chairs are alike...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXD4XUyJRbmK_cbggK9LghdP0tzllEpJGMC_6HNA0-ySsbc-5sFDD11zNdcWL21Vwiu20E1_AJUbE9wAKwiQ2c4LP6IkPgB7pw-1HSeMZteFGpYokMiqjNp2dv3Hkrh5WBFBbb7wF32OdN57EGoHZVkO2AnzEHBvrevKlUDMysd7hg5YdNE6JxcTCjPA=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXD4XUyJRbmK_cbggK9LghdP0tzllEpJGMC_6HNA0-ySsbc-5sFDD11zNdcWL21Vwiu20E1_AJUbE9wAKwiQ2c4LP6IkPgB7pw-1HSeMZteFGpYokMiqjNp2dv3Hkrh5WBFBbb7wF32OdN57EGoHZVkO2AnzEHBvrevKlUDMysd7hg5YdNE6JxcTCjPA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I especially like what they've done with their otherwise boring suspended ceiling...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
We had our usual fast-paced, action-packed catch-up visit. Five years ago, we had our November visit in Florida --
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Wow. I wonder if I'll ever be able to do that again...Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-14477511448198983582021-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:002021-11-18T06:12:05.012-08:00The Logistics of the Actual MOVE<p>Man -- this job just goes ON AND ON AND ON...But I do feel like I'm gaining on it. However -- now we have those pesky holidays to consider.</p><p>And then, too -- WINTER HAS ARRIVED. ugh.</p><p>But it is what it is. And the good news is that we don't have to get out of this house on any one certain day. So, I decided to move in stages...which is also possible because our new home has sliding glass doors which open on to our patio -- with a gate directly out to the parking lot.<br /></p><p>Once we have the go-ahead, I'll start to move in stuff. Maybe one day, I'll pack up the kitchen pots and pans, dishes, glasses, coffee cups, etc. I can get all that stuff in my car. So, that'll be the "kitchen day".</p><p>I've definitely decided to buy the VINTAGE YELLOW TABLE...and I'll use the chairs I recovered last year. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkJHjoZYeHwS4MbliibpXz-3pUECDyZ3UrkA1N5wNle5N7i8ZyUpV_4wZsqWS0fg3nhAzTIVhJumONkCp9JSZahqHlXGSfILYtC2wDlDLoFjnn-QmguMkREPcL4zPt9OsEIU3EEDYIR01c3gctz1WnEtLu3irqFopAce_9d6OiOp5juwm5HsmJA6W58w=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1150" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkJHjoZYeHwS4MbliibpXz-3pUECDyZ3UrkA1N5wNle5N7i8ZyUpV_4wZsqWS0fg3nhAzTIVhJumONkCp9JSZahqHlXGSfILYtC2wDlDLoFjnn-QmguMkREPcL4zPt9OsEIU3EEDYIR01c3gctz1WnEtLu3irqFopAce_9d6OiOp5juwm5HsmJA6W58w=s320" width="180" /></a></div> Then, on another day, I'll pack up the bathroom, towels, bed linens, etc. I can easily move the tubs with our clothes (thanks to Carrie, I've now edited both my WINTER and my SUMMER wardrobes down to two tubs for each season). <p></p><p>I have some nice shelves I'm hoping will fit at the end of the kitchen island. But if they don't work there -- they might fit in the laundry room, or the den.<br /></p><p>Well - you get the idea.</p><p>I am especially excited about my "Sewing Room Day" -- because I am going to make the Master Bedroom my new sewing studio. The walk-in closet will be perfect for my fabric stash/Goodwill projects, etc. I WILL HAVE A WINDOW out to the world!! This -- after 40 years of sewing at the ass end of a pool table in my windowless basement. <br /></p><p>Because we've not taking any appliances -- the actual moving guys won't have such a big job. There'll be three beds, two dressers, a FABULOUS BUFFET...some swanky swivel chairs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvEPYjdz7zYdPfTgi8QM7JMTFGSwzVFhkeS5LQoM9J02d995P3RuCH_fbUSTi1VWTYtaT3GtRgWj_dgRBm8Qu-ykcEbn3ZC0wYM-fUE3RPs6GxqqeZeod11nr7BM8YuBxhsbmTHGl7VGXOwUY0E4ErErfadBcr8wKSvgn41p8Tvo7uKN-aJqA_8EK4jg=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvEPYjdz7zYdPfTgi8QM7JMTFGSwzVFhkeS5LQoM9J02d995P3RuCH_fbUSTi1VWTYtaT3GtRgWj_dgRBm8Qu-ykcEbn3ZC0wYM-fUE3RPs6GxqqeZeod11nr7BM8YuBxhsbmTHGl7VGXOwUY0E4ErErfadBcr8wKSvgn41p8Tvo7uKN-aJqA_8EK4jg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Carrie and I discussed the move, and she thinks if I do it right -- using vans and trucks of friends (sisters mostly) we could have most of the place set up before they move the big stuff into our new home. So, that by the time John and I spend the night there -- it will be more or less put together. </p><p>Hey -- a girl can dream...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPcF889B1CqZtxayHILtsMi0XowjKcqN51t5dk76Kd0WTzlLzn1Qq4TBK8GycXMGM4Mc43kExidwJ9Z_mQ1UcWQKZC2b-wrvu1SdG8SBoVbHP2HFJwOZtTF4X7P_T6RpLM9G6kaNIdqF53m3nSMz9MXgDDWriRFC-tybFiVmzZ7ArSRsxjfUGPVTZsKA=s960" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPcF889B1CqZtxayHILtsMi0XowjKcqN51t5dk76Kd0WTzlLzn1Qq4TBK8GycXMGM4Mc43kExidwJ9Z_mQ1UcWQKZC2b-wrvu1SdG8SBoVbHP2HFJwOZtTF4X7P_T6RpLM9G6kaNIdqF53m3nSMz9MXgDDWriRFC-tybFiVmzZ7ArSRsxjfUGPVTZsKA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomorrow, Deena, Ronda and I are going to Platteville, Wisconsin to PICK UP MY NEW/OLD BRIGHT YELLOW TABLE...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjct7y5uJuSr6dve8Ky4RVprY5fQUpoXS3ftexwiCizyTW3Db7gfGq247kp3GR5SEdBzo-augZFbSY32aTpbE5givBQ7K4kwH7lQbjBRDdgXS4UJaCIP1Yyq5-VYx9M_7XZK4Zynh-XDFCJqXuNSm706Rr2twX0LVTt1QUqT4tzUOo6BXDn8kfUVqBw6Q=s2048" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjct7y5uJuSr6dve8Ky4RVprY5fQUpoXS3ftexwiCizyTW3Db7gfGq247kp3GR5SEdBzo-augZFbSY32aTpbE5givBQ7K4kwH7lQbjBRDdgXS4UJaCIP1Yyq5-VYx9M_7XZK4Zynh-XDFCJqXuNSm706Rr2twX0LVTt1QUqT4tzUOo6BXDn8kfUVqBw6Q=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To review, my kitchen floor is black and white tiles laid on a diagonal.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEl0tTQQZEEjLKKdNo3ZQvBt2Cx9Ndt2Szjh7Bh_XqVm-HOt9qI4O4Uqq4p_ig5Jm2-LW7T_LBQnopVpQ1GdYLXfZgwKWCPm-ytS48FpZNk9uunFEfxbJPAKwsYGaORXRcvVrYyq2ugjNm-i_I7k3T3p8FAeGiXa517ZZ6UUG0SWvEJHLMELh6ZterBw=s2048" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEl0tTQQZEEjLKKdNo3ZQvBt2Cx9Ndt2Szjh7Bh_XqVm-HOt9qI4O4Uqq4p_ig5Jm2-LW7T_LBQnopVpQ1GdYLXfZgwKWCPm-ytS48FpZNk9uunFEfxbJPAKwsYGaORXRcvVrYyq2ugjNm-i_I7k3T3p8FAeGiXa517ZZ6UUG0SWvEJHLMELh6ZterBw=s400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've decided to take the chairs I recovered last winter.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhr_ct_lVLJiONoMnBhKIweEx73xbm_xAF_UChVgmhIEfuY-wJdSWYPhO-ZIfaaY5tfCnua1bWgGDHUIU4ryMCKdkFBjuQAE0fHM1c0DWxPqccVdedMQ6pboSkOu6u6FaOjgR76rGf4lfU5qFhzhCzTksR5p6ZPa0Ghn93GQN1SsQADfr3-qR55KLFGPg=s2048" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1150" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhr_ct_lVLJiONoMnBhKIweEx73xbm_xAF_UChVgmhIEfuY-wJdSWYPhO-ZIfaaY5tfCnua1bWgGDHUIU4ryMCKdkFBjuQAE0fHM1c0DWxPqccVdedMQ6pboSkOu6u6FaOjgR76rGf4lfU5qFhzhCzTksR5p6ZPa0Ghn93GQN1SsQADfr3-qR55KLFGPg=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean -- they pretty much go with everything!!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>So -- I decided NOT to buy the new chrome dinette set, which would have cost $3,600. Instead, I'm buying a $100 vintage table. </p><p>Any way you look at it, that's a savings of $3,500. </p><p>IF I KEEP SAVING MONEY LIKE THIS, I'LL SOON BE ABLE TO AFFORD A MERCEDES -- RIGHT??</p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-47559179783935199402021-11-17T00:00:00.001-08:002021-11-17T00:00:00.206-08:00Lift Chair Special Delivery<p>It's taken me three posts to get to the best part of this Good Deed.</p><p>I paid Karen $50 for the chair, and we headed over to Valerie's house. I've had a key to Val's house for over 20 years...but, that key was in my car and we were driving Deena's truck.</p><p>No worries -- I've been to Val's house (to get her clothes) since she went to the nursing home -- and the front door wasn't locked (just in case she has to call 911).</p><p>Unfortunately -- when we arrived -- the front door was locked. Ugh. And I didn't have a key...</p><p>So, there was nothing left for us to do except to BREAK IN. Chad found a window that wasn't properly locked -- so WE SENT IN THE nimble 12-year old...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSxKWhr6mIey1dvvDy104mlevxM_wkkyqtNiCE27xNU71sEwzZZdNJqxlAcqZu34DMlLFq-7X-98wjF_dSFMuH3SjwHVfoX5eNilrJkZgpXi8bUCm311l9GaCImY6NkiY5N2lsat7TWdhNv-NRRrUy5kY6AQ2UUunaGQoLD6oUMptcNKl7HUCukQrXpw=s960" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSxKWhr6mIey1dvvDy104mlevxM_wkkyqtNiCE27xNU71sEwzZZdNJqxlAcqZu34DMlLFq-7X-98wjF_dSFMuH3SjwHVfoX5eNilrJkZgpXi8bUCm311l9GaCImY6NkiY5N2lsat7TWdhNv-NRRrUy5kY6AQ2UUunaGQoLD6oUMptcNKl7HUCukQrXpw=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deena took this picture...because I knew, one day, Val would get a kick out of this story...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYfwl-4e2FPsmCgdUsEqclsekYwI4qQT_8iAcVB2RVD5fHdQJxry_QKS8T2Hqo4vYCMLFV8XnSsNG4F7f4tnJGoShE6tQKM6zidFSO0cIcC6ZVzSCt6xZwQPCzHw_qA85HM2-3b4metHKoFmNopGKrYobiEimnW73ZyDF7IRlfzOR2n-lkExFyaSBs-g=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYfwl-4e2FPsmCgdUsEqclsekYwI4qQT_8iAcVB2RVD5fHdQJxry_QKS8T2Hqo4vYCMLFV8XnSsNG4F7f4tnJGoShE6tQKM6zidFSO0cIcC6ZVzSCt6xZwQPCzHw_qA85HM2-3b4metHKoFmNopGKrYobiEimnW73ZyDF7IRlfzOR2n-lkExFyaSBs-g=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery opened the door -- and Chad and Deena got the chair into the living room<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgR5xMo2twGVECL7lYCI8DOX0RZuXG0Gt2x1ymOKXfqAZrX7P9PkZspZpkx2V6mnjGOlbLgpgCJ2jtEbuFy8Gbw5D1aIyBeGuPKK6oNUvDA3NYn82Ed7dKFR7tnpGOKCzb4U5bJdZAA03ki0GFmyNpUbz75TV2S73IYhVZmHyrOjXWwN9u2OdxLi_7a8w=s4160" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgR5xMo2twGVECL7lYCI8DOX0RZuXG0Gt2x1ymOKXfqAZrX7P9PkZspZpkx2V6mnjGOlbLgpgCJ2jtEbuFy8Gbw5D1aIyBeGuPKK6oNUvDA3NYn82Ed7dKFR7tnpGOKCzb4U5bJdZAA03ki0GFmyNpUbz75TV2S73IYhVZmHyrOjXWwN9u2OdxLi_7a8w=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>
THEN, we removed Val's old chair, and I took my little crew out for breakfast. We delivered the old chair to a local charity. </p><p>The next day, when Valerie's son, Michael, brought her home, he helped her into the house and she saw this wonderful new chair (the instruction pamphlet was on the seat, in its original plastic bag). </p><p>She was in instant tears. She said,<i> "Oh, Mike -- you shouldn't have! I don't want you spending your money on me!!" </i></p><p>Not skipping a beat -- Mike said -- <i>"Nothing's too good for my Mom..."</i></p><p><i>******** <br /></i></p><p>Mike took the credit for just a nanosecond...then, he said, "Nope...it wasn't me. It had to be Rita."<i> </i><br /></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-61219567441649555172021-11-16T00:00:00.001-08:002021-11-16T00:00:00.194-08:00Val's BEST GIFT ever...<p>So -- fast forward. Val's health has not improved. She's had several strokes -- and this summer, ended up in the hospital again. Then -- yep -- back to the nursing home.</p><p>After the complimentary Medicare stay of 21 days in skilled care -- she was sent home. Although she would have a Visiting Nurse once or twice a week, along with some home rehab and a bath aide -- I wondered how she would be able to manage on her own. She still had frequent bouts with vertigo....and FALLING was the biggest worry.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT-R4xaT5KelkkjZoHo8Xop1Y1jc8hwsiMS-sen4wsmdCX9b8gDYkWfNEhS4ghkzZ5mD7WkMqVV7_HaJcQJfivJXr1M5-ZZsUmEafBKV-wmtNTeQjaXvmSonIoKGSGIdQd-CuiFl46jWLRiX-m3_ny1MtGBKcOvoYl20G3Fu9JoOTQ1hp-7WqmXfVyIg=s676" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT-R4xaT5KelkkjZoHo8Xop1Y1jc8hwsiMS-sen4wsmdCX9b8gDYkWfNEhS4ghkzZ5mD7WkMqVV7_HaJcQJfivJXr1M5-ZZsUmEafBKV-wmtNTeQjaXvmSonIoKGSGIdQd-CuiFl46jWLRiX-m3_ny1MtGBKcOvoYl20G3Fu9JoOTQ1hp-7WqmXfVyIg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Two days before she was scheduled to get home, I was stalking the internet, looking for a "lift chair". I thought if only she had a decent chair that would help her get up...along with her snazzy new walker...the danger of falling wouldn't be so great.</p><p>Then -- Ritaluck kicked in. It's kind of a long Facebook Marketplace story -- but, I found a chair, right in Davenport, Iowa -- for sale for $50.</p><p>Hummm...the pictures looked pretty good, but considering a new chair like this could cost $500+ ... I was pretty sure $50 chair would be covered with cat hair. Probably even cat pee.</p><p>But...if the thing still works -- I could clean it -- Febreze is an amazing product -- and, worse case scenario, I could sew a slipcover for it.</p><p>Val could really, really use a lift chair....</p><p>So, with all those reservations, I enlisted my sister Deena (and her TRUCK) -- and made arrangements with the woman to pick up the chair.</p><p>Deena's son, Chad, happened to be visiting that day -- along with his 12 year old daughter, Avery. </p><p>The chair could be heavy -- and we might need the help. So, our little party of 4 set off to pick up Val's new/used lift chair....and then, deliver it to Val's house.</p><p>The woman selling the chair lived in Cross Creek Apartments. It's a fairly new complex of low income apartments.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDrEZuylUbut5b3NLn3ED3lfwy44fBaw31-hpepnXS4oviIZAmMrG2QIKvPl6HtqBC6Y_uXCMy6faycXg_OzyWrp3Vv1aVgXeTryDtcqfK8PUCjAfPq-VI5VciNThmsckfJ4YP2pqzI2cLrc-TgOxC9NAWaenbBGYf_TWFwLPtrgzJ_2xxKj3vbMvFfg=s1240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1240" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDrEZuylUbut5b3NLn3ED3lfwy44fBaw31-hpepnXS4oviIZAmMrG2QIKvPl6HtqBC6Y_uXCMy6faycXg_OzyWrp3Vv1aVgXeTryDtcqfK8PUCjAfPq-VI5VciNThmsckfJ4YP2pqzI2cLrc-TgOxC9NAWaenbBGYf_TWFwLPtrgzJ_2xxKj3vbMvFfg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were pleasantly surprised by the neat landscaping and well kept buildings.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />
The burgundy chair looked to be in perfect condition. The seller --Karen -- said she used it to rehab after a knee replacement -- but now it just takes up too much room. Her apartment was neat as a pin -- and there wasn't a sign of cats anywhere. Karen left the chair plugged in, so we could see it all worked. And -- the instruction pamphlets WERE IN THE SIDE POCKET..!!</p><p>It WAS very heavy -- and I was glad we had Chad to help us lift it up into Deena's truck.</p><p>Now -- all we have to do is get it into Valerie's house. SHE IS GONNA BE SO SURPRISED..!! <br /></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-52684375275561201312021-11-15T00:00:00.023-08:002021-11-15T00:00:00.183-08:00Valerie is MOVING...<p>My friend Valerie IS MOVING TO A NEW APARTMENT. </p><p>You have noooo idea what good news this is. She's been renting the same crappy house for decades -- and it's falling down around her. (she has to unplug her toaster to charge her cellphone). I was with her on the day she moved into this place. Of course, we didn't know she'd live there for 27 years. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_H0i7q7BEajC2gZEeMFtJWYE0-E4JiBugoCQduWsdG-7xGlp49aTKkLCJmF5ceAjjmWXw0UODvhjTGWn13yb_BwOPd2aRT0RRADp6e5uyA9rTMJ1EctkAmeVW9GCo2F2Wx8P9QABhVdp-cLe40C8PNngkr3BNrEeCZN_EUNOZYib8UtLD56z_HLrtHg=s960" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="711" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_H0i7q7BEajC2gZEeMFtJWYE0-E4JiBugoCQduWsdG-7xGlp49aTKkLCJmF5ceAjjmWXw0UODvhjTGWn13yb_BwOPd2aRT0RRADp6e5uyA9rTMJ1EctkAmeVW9GCo2F2Wx8P9QABhVdp-cLe40C8PNngkr3BNrEeCZN_EUNOZYib8UtLD56z_HLrtHg=s320" width="237" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p>
<b><i>This is a post I wrote several years ago:</i></b></p><p>Val lives alone and is on disability. Believe it or not -- there are many things I do NOT BLOG about. My sex life, for example…(you are SO MISSING that action)…. Politics is another topic I try to avoid. Also off limits -- family or friend drama...and Good Deeds.<br /> </p><p>I try to do one good deed every single day...but it's only considered a good deed if I don't talk about it.<br />
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<msreadoutspan class="msreadout-line-highlight msreadout-inactive-highlight">However -- this good deed was just too much fun. And, after talking it over with Val -- I decided to blog about my best Good Deed EVER...</msreadoutspan><br />
<msreadoutspan class="msreadout-line-highlight msreadout-inactive-highlight"><br /></msreadoutspan><msreadoutspan class="msreadout-line-highlight msreadout-inactive-highlight">Valerie was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when she was 28 years old. Her road through life has been a painful, uphill battle</msreadoutspan><msreadoutspan class="msreadout-line-highlight msreadout-inactive-highlight">. After her divorce, she went to college, get a good job with the government, and maintained her own home. Her struggles were enormous, but I never met a more uncomplaining person. Even though she's had almost 20 major surgeries -- with many joint replacements, knees, hips, an elbow, hand fusions....you name a joint in your body and SHE WORE IT OUT TWICE...</msreadoutspan><br />
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On her best day, life is a painful challenge. Then -- several years ago, she got a septic infection and ended up in the hospital -- then a nursing home. <br />
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The worst thing was that because she had to be on major antibiotics for six months, she was unable to take her arthritis injections -- so the arthritis went nuts, and the pain was unbearable. There were many, many days when she simply could not get out of bed, And her hands became useless -- she couldn't open a jar, type on her laptop or flush the toilet. <br />
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So -- what could I do for my friend? She rarely leaves her house. She stopped driving because she could no longer turn the key in her car. Also, just walking and standing is too painful. Not to mention the fact that she's terrified because her immune system is so compromised, any odd floating germ could send her back to the hospital. (and this was years before Covid!)<br />
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NEW SHEETS FOR HER BED..!!<br />
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Of course!! Why didn't I think of this sooner??<br />
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Although, the truth is -- GIVING Val new sheets is not an especially good gift. She would never be able to pull wet queen size cotton sheets out of her washing machine...<br />
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That's when it hit me. I'll start a SHEET SHARING SERVICE. <br />
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Val has a Queen size bed (like me)...so all the wonderful, luxurious linens I use on my own bed will fit her bed. <br />
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The first time I made Val's bed -- I took sheets and pillowcases. I realized she could use a new mattress cover. And, as it happens (this is shocking, I know) -- I had an extra Ralph Lauren Queen cotton mattress cover. One week, I took two new bed pillows. She loved the beige French Matlaisse bed cover I put on her bed in the Spring. <br />
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When Fall arrived -- I added a flannel sheet. <br />
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Winter meant it was time for an appliqued quilt -- with a kids ice-skating scene! <br />
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For Christmas, I decorated a couple of pillowcases -- AND the hem of a top sheet. (I've never actually done this to MY OWN SHEETS..!!)<br />
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Val's bed-changing schedule is every-other week. Because she lives alone, she can sleep on ONE side for a week -- then on the OTHER side for a week. <br />
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As appreciative as Valerie has always been about my sheet service -- this summer, I gave her something else that she swears is <b>THE BEST GIFT SHE EVER GOT.</b> Tomorrow -- I'm gonna blog about it...Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-33756895495907516732021-11-13T00:00:00.001-08:002021-11-13T00:00:00.178-08:00Halloween 2021<p> Last year (2020) kids couldn't even go Trick or Treating. So, this year -- they were making up for LOST TIME...lol... We went to Warren's Halloween Parade...<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfFR2bZUIJp3v9ZB5XBjrG7oWtXvRiOts27M9IRrPA0fd5rAR2xEDzOQxAw6qMSSsDfxgri1Uvm5hTsfjmxYe8bIQguhDF0kQlKedHV7fZhTRAAn2QwyliLIAcXQV_hGMMuWrnzcaUZQAhYsf_rkQQgeZL2OcD1PBbsiawkc2qZD_qFEZ0hugNZ1Ik_A=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfFR2bZUIJp3v9ZB5XBjrG7oWtXvRiOts27M9IRrPA0fd5rAR2xEDzOQxAw6qMSSsDfxgri1Uvm5hTsfjmxYe8bIQguhDF0kQlKedHV7fZhTRAAn2QwyliLIAcXQV_hGMMuWrnzcaUZQAhYsf_rkQQgeZL2OcD1PBbsiawkc2qZD_qFEZ0hugNZ1Ik_A=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's one of the several kids in the goofy "Skinny man" costume.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfBSTf_0fvzCnFYHBb22m4Z2nFqHwOSrWfLyEFYnutiG8j4kO4fFMdrV3wBQdgfugCvYntAlkiXKJNqLy2vzRcjibPKK2GXXZZiX1FzWYxOkNylwcFOIfqvYm3hgnjFMMfC1NucVSyR9YbHYNKZRh6YiiVbUoq0mCck4FhejNTUpm_kmYqh9uhynk0dg=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfBSTf_0fvzCnFYHBb22m4Z2nFqHwOSrWfLyEFYnutiG8j4kO4fFMdrV3wBQdgfugCvYntAlkiXKJNqLy2vzRcjibPKK2GXXZZiX1FzWYxOkNylwcFOIfqvYm3hgnjFMMfC1NucVSyR9YbHYNKZRh6YiiVbUoq0mCck4FhejNTUpm_kmYqh9uhynk0dg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I LOVED seeing all the kids in their costumes.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBG7kBZ9gySptwIxhkZceMhpndCWHE7aUCTPo_eSu930ppL5fuZqKTDJImJ1rgkTThuIHAxYdcNERg0Hmfe4MWKbpbXv556jN-Rpx91NEwSaiHhu9mYVOi36hPY1K0h_IXpehX2zmMKMrXiwqZs8po0je-GFCO70-RugT8KMDhMit72SIA8osYghXkAA=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBG7kBZ9gySptwIxhkZceMhpndCWHE7aUCTPo_eSu930ppL5fuZqKTDJImJ1rgkTThuIHAxYdcNERg0Hmfe4MWKbpbXv556jN-Rpx91NEwSaiHhu9mYVOi36hPY1K0h_IXpehX2zmMKMrXiwqZs8po0je-GFCO70-RugT8KMDhMit72SIA8osYghXkAA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even our local bank gets into the act...they had a pumpkin decorating contest.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNqc-sLcyp_Ot9ZA50UT6UVaWkyVCYi9kThClwTHMQxx5rS6utVkvTJ9q3oXS_q_YZ2yXZrBg95oruFvrZHITNDmggVi5I5uBprDWUpAOD2Fv1nZPXVwv8V9H0s6lNAmfFX38dXDiAUAunwYKzGN4A0FldLSKz-R94B1OTgsRqCXexBZRKMRXUdLQtGQ=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNqc-sLcyp_Ot9ZA50UT6UVaWkyVCYi9kThClwTHMQxx5rS6utVkvTJ9q3oXS_q_YZ2yXZrBg95oruFvrZHITNDmggVi5I5uBprDWUpAOD2Fv1nZPXVwv8V9H0s6lNAmfFX38dXDiAUAunwYKzGN4A0FldLSKz-R94B1OTgsRqCXexBZRKMRXUdLQtGQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jody, at the drive-thru window, was dressed like a Wolf...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_nzRkvaXdeA4aJQpcF57xLgaaLoT_GcMCAhwZBsXJXCyhKaeRWpswbDDlt2lWLJG-TDuBJTJUGmQpA6AmFdcbOvy7Qp3et_PYUeiaeOa8QlyeZ2TCMzGiI_qWj4-sCksbdSmAT5ULOU2s30aWN7C2qlU4yNjM3jmGPaq1lLGUuTp-wXLP136AqahN0w=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_nzRkvaXdeA4aJQpcF57xLgaaLoT_GcMCAhwZBsXJXCyhKaeRWpswbDDlt2lWLJG-TDuBJTJUGmQpA6AmFdcbOvy7Qp3et_PYUeiaeOa8QlyeZ2TCMzGiI_qWj4-sCksbdSmAT5ULOU2s30aWN7C2qlU4yNjM3jmGPaq1lLGUuTp-wXLP136AqahN0w=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, we went inside to see the three little pigs -- and the houses they built!!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGnhKRKqBRaiUPom2GdwfkmCVBNeTadeqBe8wKih5hIUdRMtkB7bHVQfGeG-FZYitmdbZSS48O_YQihtcrwxb99ndDjvZUjzLERST0U90TlmrsqC4Kkaf25juDxbsIdx_msd91lWnEdCgeRo7UfQhLbwhTv9dECzSqit2YsvskNDIBJtzPB7IPok4A8w=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGnhKRKqBRaiUPom2GdwfkmCVBNeTadeqBe8wKih5hIUdRMtkB7bHVQfGeG-FZYitmdbZSS48O_YQihtcrwxb99ndDjvZUjzLERST0U90TlmrsqC4Kkaf25juDxbsIdx_msd91lWnEdCgeRo7UfQhLbwhTv9dECzSqit2YsvskNDIBJtzPB7IPok4A8w=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall has always been my favorite season...and this year, the leaves were STUNNING.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFiZgFVAZO65i0yW6ZMn1Vve1vaNUJ4OcAAMS3zCa2yWUTTHLyOCFNj34PjJxxw8gKuwxJoXSUz6G87hPbSif3LRnKq55T0aNNNnmgBcM-wpjvl1q9oQvcgShlJyz-Bx0KKSV0YPmq3l8Xzj-aH9OqM23nzJZs9Xs2lfq0IPQbJNwhFwsjQCgtOQ8gnw=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFiZgFVAZO65i0yW6ZMn1Vve1vaNUJ4OcAAMS3zCa2yWUTTHLyOCFNj34PjJxxw8gKuwxJoXSUz6G87hPbSif3LRnKq55T0aNNNnmgBcM-wpjvl1q9oQvcgShlJyz-Bx0KKSV0YPmq3l8Xzj-aH9OqM23nzJZs9Xs2lfq0IPQbJNwhFwsjQCgtOQ8gnw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimp7vX__JZoicXBMlmH-yYI8Hu1Psw-Fm8tgYzZNYDBtE2aI28qn807iJO-eJ09fw2uEoW6gjiiNz4NS1l0NP3PyqCTgKaDq_jDnybPtRsceev2FKRfoIM1KAu4aOhNLBdPgB9cU2ChctmvfduErhJVyaPLFrU-H_MODliMfT5eKduAH-H-mTqHzW5-g=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimp7vX__JZoicXBMlmH-yYI8Hu1Psw-Fm8tgYzZNYDBtE2aI28qn807iJO-eJ09fw2uEoW6gjiiNz4NS1l0NP3PyqCTgKaDq_jDnybPtRsceev2FKRfoIM1KAu4aOhNLBdPgB9cU2ChctmvfduErhJVyaPLFrU-H_MODliMfT5eKduAH-H-mTqHzW5-g=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a lot of trick-or treaters come all at one time this year.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcHlx_MmHummNj3ksLERcDwp0u0NxEGMRZiFchHQiTl8GJNHS3TGRfitEMh2wsEOrupVbvQup7hyphK9vNneBo0H_FsZrgoZ4yx-YKCsPm3wmoMvh3iWBGtO5Ze1nz1JtOv7yC5OtE1Q2m_4DVy_8EZmEDGFj5ZmYO4nQr3cEqxL5kETFy02n923X6bQ=s4160" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcHlx_MmHummNj3ksLERcDwp0u0NxEGMRZiFchHQiTl8GJNHS3TGRfitEMh2wsEOrupVbvQup7hyphK9vNneBo0H_FsZrgoZ4yx-YKCsPm3wmoMvh3iWBGtO5Ze1nz1JtOv7yC5OtE1Q2m_4DVy_8EZmEDGFj5ZmYO4nQr3cEqxL5kETFy02n923X6bQ=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite costume? "The Identity Thief". BRILLIANT, RIGHT??<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196587276401507292.post-90857973298891940512021-11-12T00:00:00.001-08:002021-11-12T00:00:00.193-08:00My Name is Rita, and I am addicted to auctions...<p>So, to review -- I've had TWO auctions so far. The linen auction, and a household auction. And I got rid of A LOT OF STUFF.</p><p>But, in the course of all that -- I discovered online auctions. Specifically, Dosland Auction -- which is a quick 20 minutes from my house.</p><p>Me becoming addicted to online auctions was bound to happen. Ray Charles coulda seen it coming...</p><p>The week AFTER my sale -- Dosland posted another auction -- and there was this REALLY GREAT CHAIR...!! I've never seen a chair like it....and it would be perfect in my new home....</p><p>I thought I might pick it up for $10 (or less). <br /></p><p>Initially, I had a top bid in for $15.....but, soon, there were 8 other bidders. WHA??? I dropped out and laid back and to see what would happen. I decided I would not go higher than $110...</p><p>I watched it go up...and up...and up....I emailed a few friends, and I was getting texts from Anne...they were all watching the various items "closing"...and I know they were rooting for me...(I think? Or maybe they were laughing at me...)</p><p>cuz, who are we kidding? Everybody knows my biggest problem right now is GETTING RID OF A HOUSE FULL OF STUFF...and here I was -- BIDDING ON SOMETHING TO ADD TO MY HOARD...</p><p>Ugh...<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNeMdvQwSevgv1z59kkLBa_RUvammpNkxs1Siks7v62NUDuGnAEVyWSIuypI0GRM2IKMCtKucN6meJ5CVdCoV5y02dZyNflS6bhX63LC1k4wWu98uQuTKDOxYzgk1zeYgbgJJqLzti2s9jT0sspJBrTYpd22qn1JCtwPB5Pda_PvPUIVhLAcoWuvSXdA=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNeMdvQwSevgv1z59kkLBa_RUvammpNkxs1Siks7v62NUDuGnAEVyWSIuypI0GRM2IKMCtKucN6meJ5CVdCoV5y02dZyNflS6bhX63LC1k4wWu98uQuTKDOxYzgk1zeYgbgJJqLzti2s9jT0sspJBrTYpd22qn1JCtwPB5Pda_PvPUIVhLAcoWuvSXdA=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two other bidders were bidding, and they got it up to $180. I waited until the final minute of the sale to bid -- and bought the chair for $190. I WAS THRILLED.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOJekDu3G0rXeseBY38Xw8zmqUhVzY0CBx5pgJOU2QuvYln6amH_Tf2s-h0Sq17UK2rcaXbj3nvTRmaV4I1j6U0eUUVcna82Bv6zTYWzZ_SU2k_4V95rtVgrSsFNDQupyEf4QkDH_Xw2mhhMvLkxlNw1lWuNRqXgtpasUYJdgf-SVeILw41edzaOo5_Q=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOJekDu3G0rXeseBY38Xw8zmqUhVzY0CBx5pgJOU2QuvYln6amH_Tf2s-h0Sq17UK2rcaXbj3nvTRmaV4I1j6U0eUUVcna82Bv6zTYWzZ_SU2k_4V95rtVgrSsFNDQupyEf4QkDH_Xw2mhhMvLkxlNw1lWuNRqXgtpasUYJdgf-SVeILw41edzaOo5_Q=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the evening of my Sisters dinner -- I set up the NEW RUG in the basement...along with my new pink chair..!!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinxNHOyUtmIafyZNuzMcl9RHH-fstpD-Z98o0mUhDu9V_LB__mDWg3K9UI76qk6N-upNwTKgVC3WChvtDK0y52pSXWVPoxViH-ZH2g4kfHBUlKsVU8dTapkpan_5wG6O3tRRjhn5jKDNYb_vGWfX_937TmQ74OR4a1nURMhTS3TtLxGEvDMvggq0LugQ=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinxNHOyUtmIafyZNuzMcl9RHH-fstpD-Z98o0mUhDu9V_LB__mDWg3K9UI76qk6N-upNwTKgVC3WChvtDK0y52pSXWVPoxViH-ZH2g4kfHBUlKsVU8dTapkpan_5wG6O3tRRjhn5jKDNYb_vGWfX_937TmQ74OR4a1nURMhTS3TtLxGEvDMvggq0LugQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also, as I've been digging through everything this last year -- this mystery light fixture turned up.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwZPau67u9E1Cr8X0h_1ebowjc5cBDdtzFAReauSkFI_YTznKSIfKybrIhYMPM7_a9ZoCKrbJ0-LgnjcdYmDN8nXBOvlfc0AoJ2R-yVEgKYOzvThKVlPFMJjngF-e1iQfpOxFY-FsjXRyiqkm9xt6NjFtOY3r7a3Hru1zk_kYSDNfe3vi-Ao1AgwUwWw=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwZPau67u9E1Cr8X0h_1ebowjc5cBDdtzFAReauSkFI_YTznKSIfKybrIhYMPM7_a9ZoCKrbJ0-LgnjcdYmDN8nXBOvlfc0AoJ2R-yVEgKYOzvThKVlPFMJjngF-e1iQfpOxFY-FsjXRyiqkm9xt6NjFtOY3r7a3Hru1zk_kYSDNfe3vi-Ao1AgwUwWw=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HOLY COW!! It opens up to be a sphere... It will be the PERFECT fixture in our new place. And I think it's been living in my basement for about 20 years... <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7XzOcJx1HNRxC1oPVXjuQtqHFvAgH_LMxEDbW1FOWHV3JjblPJSfDby6Ybw5_VlqF_QtfPJBRaVNCw8u-gdEuEZG5GxFhOpYRjkbB6eY3oy3Lastyl-EKUu9oUSX3o09SHV1jIj3QUC43uIzGEzPmcQ0uPWdH0I85OQlcFWbV19amN1nEKXZRpMTkaw=s4160" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7XzOcJx1HNRxC1oPVXjuQtqHFvAgH_LMxEDbW1FOWHV3JjblPJSfDby6Ybw5_VlqF_QtfPJBRaVNCw8u-gdEuEZG5GxFhOpYRjkbB6eY3oy3Lastyl-EKUu9oUSX3o09SHV1jIj3QUC43uIzGEzPmcQ0uPWdH0I85OQlcFWbV19amN1nEKXZRpMTkaw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yesterday was Veteran's Day -- and it happened to be a Don Day. I made sure John was wearing his submariner vest. He ALWAYS wears his Navy hat. It's like a billboard on his head, inviting people to talk to him and thank him for his service. Those are good moments for him. We went out for one of the many FREE meals. (thank you, Pizza Ranch!).<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Rita's Sew Funhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425390800634452507noreply@blogger.com7