THEY'RE PLAYING WITH WHAT??

Mary & I went to Ronda's house to spend a little time with Ronda's beautiful grandchildren... You've met them all before. Memphis, Cale, Garrett, Cash and Landon.
But -- there is a NEW element in the next picture...can you figure it out?


Memphis doesn't want to let go...all the kids want their "turn"...Cale is delighted...
A kitten? An adorable stuffed animal? Well....not exactly...

Here's a good shot. You see -- Grandpa is a trapper....and what the kids are all wanting to hold and carry around is a FROZEN albino muskrat.

I know. You think I'm kidding. I'm not. It is a frozen albino muskrat...really...that's what it is...

And if you don't believe me -- just take a look at Memphis's Mom's face...aargh...

Mary looks amused, tho. No doubt waiting for her turn...

Don't Text While Driving

I don't think many young people read my blog -- but my hope is that you will PASS THIS ON to the young people in YOUR OWN LIFE. It's a 10 minute film about the dangers of texting while driving. I'm sending it to Ross, Elliott and Emily -- then also to my nieces and nephews...and I'm going to keep sending it until every one of them promises me they will QUIT TEXTING WHILE DRIVING....

I'm asking my cousins to send it to their kids. Eileen -- please send it to Janelle and Ted. Mary -- send it to Luci.

If you have ever been even a little bit annoyed by a young person in your life who loves to 'text" -- you need to understand that THEY ARE DOING IT WHILE THEY DRIVE. And they're killing people...mostly, themselves...



Then -- speaking of Eileen Roche -- check out Eileen's blog over at Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine. Her Christmas post was a fabulous project about doing a family recipe book...by Rita Farro -- and it's a really fun project, too!! Thanks, Eileen -- I STILL think it's one of the best gifts I ever made.

Puff Pastry MAGIC

One of my FAVORITE things to order at our local Greek restaurant is their "Spinach Pie". It is sooo delicious. I could eat it every week...

But, hey, when push comes to shove -- I have figured out a simple close-enough-to-satisfy-me-version...

I start off by simply cooking some frozen puff pastry...

THEN, I saute some onions and a whole box full of frozen spinach (thaw in the microwave and squeeze out the water)...then, I add six beaten eggs, 1/2 cup of FETA cheese, and maybe some Parmesan as well...Cook over medium heat...until eggs are set...

Then -- serve on top of the Puff Pastry....

As far as I'm concerned, frozen puff pastry is reason enough to have a freezer in the house.

Picnic Spread

In November -- My Aunt Ada invited our breakfast club to her house...
After we ate her DELICIOUS breakfast casserole -- Linda P. did the first "show & tell" -- a picnic tablecloth/quilt/ground spread -- with appliqued ANTS...

Here's a better close up...

It's part of a surprise Christmas gift for one of her daughters.....and I don't think they read this blog...

So I don't think this will ruin her surprise...

Pine Needles

I already told you about my fabulous day in Cedar Rapids -- with my friend Anne...we had a wonderful time at Pine Needles quilt shop...
I was wearing the denim vest my sister Debbie embroidered for me -- and if that wasn't fun enough -- OF COURSE I was carrying the Hey Rita tote...

During this intense SHOPPING TIME OF THE YEAR...I just wanted to do a little commercial for the Mom & Pop stores in your town. Support them when you can. This economy is tough for any business -- and if you have a beautiful quilt shop like Pine Needles -- you want to spend your fabric/machine dollar THERE whenever possible. THEY are the stores who are supporting you with classes and special events.

Pine Needles is a beautiful store -- with hundreds of sample quilts, the latest fabrics and patterns -- a large class schedule...and, of course -- SPECIAL EVENTS...like having Mr. Bernina here pictured with his handsome professional photographer...

The HEY RITA tote discovered a jazzy little starter sewing machine. Which I decided to buy for Emily for Christmas. I LOVE THE GRAPHICS...shouldn't somebody be making a little ZEBRA striped sewing machine??

And how much more special to have Mr. Ueltschi actually AUTOGRAPH the machine, eh?

I'm just saying -- why not GIVE SEWING AS A GIFT THIS YEAR...? By giving Emily this little sewing machine, and a few "how to" lessons -- she might build her confidence and THAT'S A GOOD THING.

And -- hey -- even if it doesn't light a sewing fire in her heart -- at least I won't have to pack up my sewing machine when I go to visit!

My newest Popover Convert

One of my best days this fall was spending the day with my young Mom sewing friend, Anne...here we are, starting our day with the Hey Rita Tote....
Last year, Anne commented that when she was growing up, she had an Iowa tablecloth and it was a good way to learn a little history. Of course, the very next week, I found one at an auction. Now her kids can learn history the same way...

When they're not learning to drive...

I'm ramping up to my favorite picture -- this reminds me of the car commercial where the Dad is watching his daughter drive off to college....

They grow up SO FAST!! To thank Anne for thinking of me -- I gave her a POPOVER PAN. And -- look -- another fan is born!!


Keep up the good work, Anne. Your family is lucky to have you...and you are doing a GREAT job...

Happy Birthday Deena

Today is my sister Deena's birthday. Yes, I know. That really sucks. And with any luck at all -- she will NOT be reading this blog today -- and neither will you. lol...

But, one day, she'll stumble across it -- and I want her to know I was THINKING ABOUT HER ON CHRISTMAS DAY. As I always do.

My thoughts usually go something like this, "Oh, crap, I forgot to buy Deena a birthday present. Again..."

Deena doesn't often do things for herself. She is a wonderful mother and grandmother -- always there when her kids or grandchildren need her.

So I was surprised -- and delighted -- when this Fall -- Deena attended the "Country Living FAIR" in Atlanta, Georgia with two women friends.

Isn't this an amazing world we live in? She got on a plane Thursday -- hooked up with her friends and they spent two days at the Country Living FAIR -- held at Stone Mountain Park.

I was thrilled to have an inside source who could tell me all about how they did this big fabulous outdoor Women's Expo...in this picture, Deena on the right...


She took this picture JUST FOR ME -- because of the zebra upholstery. I wish she could have got the darn thing ON THE PLANE...

There were a lot of handmade craft items -- these jean jackets were pretty cool...and Deena is a BIG FAN OF JEANS...


Amy Barickman from Indygo Junction was presenting a class in one of the tents...

THANKS FOR THE REPORT, Deena. And I'm glad you took a few days to spend with your girlfriends.

Hey -- HOWZABOUT a sisters' trip?? We are long overdue...

By the way -- MERRY CHRISTMAS, PEOPLE...

Princeton Christmas Pageant

The timing of Mary's visit to Iowa could not have been better. Because, for the FIRST TIME since 1954, the upstairs of Boll's General Store was going to be open to the public and the Princeton Players were putting on "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever".

On Mary's first night -- we hooked up with some of Ronda's grandchildren...
This is a picture of the TALL STAIRWAY -- leading to the upstairs. In the 30's, this is the space in Princeton, Iowa where everybody would come on a Friday night to watch a movie or maybe go roller skating...

On this night, we all hiked up that steep stairway to see the "Princeton Players" do their inaugural performance. This is Amy's husband, Bill -- yes, I know -- pretty cute...
You can see the audience of 150 people. WOW. A standing-room-only crowd. See the balcony with the theatrical lighting in the back of the room?
It was a HUGE cast -- and everybody was absolutely wonderful. We enjoyed it SO MUCH...we had great front row seats.



This is a picture of the whole cast...at the end of the show -- they used the actual STAGE. I'm pretty sure those curtains are 50 years old.
Oh, yeah, there's a lot to be said for living in a small town. GREAT, GREAT JOB, PRINCETON PLAYERS!!

Christmas Countdown

Okay -- it's a few days until Christmas. And maybe you woke up this morning feeling a little under-appreciated. It's just possible you spent too much time and money on presents for the undeserving. And with butter over $3/lb. -- how much did it cost to make all those Christmas cookies?....not to mention the money and effort involved in a big ham/turkey/prime rib dinner. Do any of your guests realize the grocery store bill is HUNDREDS of dollars?? And do they ever thank you for standing in the kitchen 8-10 hours a day??

Not likely. For many of my friends, Christmas is wearing a little thin...

Here's my point. Whatever you do at this time of year -- you need to do it because it brings YOU joy. Happiness is an inside job...IF you are doing something you enjoy....something that makes YOU smile...do it because you love doing it...

I have laughingly told people that at the Farro house -- the Christmas entertainment of FIVE adults has landed squarely on the head of one little blond toddler. Really...me, John, Ross, Elliott and Emily will be sitting around the tree on Christmas morning, saying, "here, Lilly -- open this one now..." We all want OUR gift to be her favorite...

It's really not fair, y'know? She's just one little girl...who didn't ask to be the center of attention. When she came here, she didn't realize what a huge responsibility she'd be carrying...or how hard it would be to live up to all these Christmas Expectations...

And sometimes -- things simply do not work out. You need to know when to MOVE ON. Take this adorable little stuffed white dog I gave Lillian last year. She loved it. Sophie thought she had a new sister. Then it started to shed. The first time I had to remove fur from the baby's mouth -- I tossed the dog right in the trash...


The most important word in your holiday vocabulary should be -- NEXT...

Don't sit around lamenting the fact that things aren't the same this year. Change happens. It's part of life. Acknowledge what isn't working and accept it. Move on. If your kids decided to go to Disneyworld this year, invite a neighbor or friend over for a game of Mexican Train dominoes. do something YOU enjoy. Be flexible. Also -- consider what Christmas might like for other people this year. It can be the loneliest day of the year...

Think about your co-workers, neighbors, cousins, sisters, old friends. A call from you could make a big difference in somebody's life...especially on this day....

And if your day still sucks -- EAT SOME CHOCOLATE. Then -- remember -- it's really just ONE DAY....

N - E - X - T..........

The Sophie Sweater

You can only imagine how delighted I was to find this sweater on quarter day at my local Goodwill store...

That's right -- a little black dog on the lapel...with a much bigger little black dog on the back of the sweater...

Which, by cutting up a stuffed bear (Lilly is not into bears) -- I managed to turn into a little WHITE dog...

Then, I hung the sweater on Lilly's "clothes rack". Which is actually a little towel stand that just happens to be the PERFECT height for those baby hangers...

On this visit -- she went right into her room to check out what was on her rack...AND she picked the Sophie Sweater -- it was in her hand before I could even take a picture!

Although, she insisted on wearing it backwards....

Which, actually, made perfect sense to me...

Fine Lines in Mt. Vernon

First of all -- I SWEAR TO GOD -- I did not realize that yesterday's blog post "We Are Serious Hangers" -- spelled the word WASH.

I'm telling you. It's just another example of Ritaluck...

Because I am simply not that clever.

*************

But -- speaking of Ritaluck -- I know I am a very lucky girl and I thank God every day. My days are busy and productive -- and there's always something new and different happening.

During Mary's visit -- she had an appointment in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. Not far from Cedar Rapids -- Mt. Vernon is as close as you'll ever get to living inside a Grant Wood painting...

Mary's appointment was with Fine Line Fabrics -- in one of those historic old brick buildings -- and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the antique "half-door" leading to the very tall stairway...

Here, Sue Penn and Mary Mulari -- both dressed warmly -- in Sue's studio. Great light, fabulous high ceilings...and one brick away from below zero temperatures...


In the back of the building, Sue has a personal fabric store...and the Hey Rita Tote knew EXACTLY which collection of fat quarters she wanted to take home...

What a FABULOUS DAY we had in Mt. Vernon. I went junking while Sue & Mary had their meeting. Then, for lunch, we hooked up for one of those memorable PORK TENDERLOINS...

So, oh, yeah -- you'll be hearing MORE...

We Are Serious Hangers

Okay -- so it's WINTER NOW. And there is SNOW ON THE GROUND. Do we stop hanging our sheets outside?? NO -- OF COURSE NOT. In my sister Ronda's case -- as you can see from her snow-shoveling-picture -- apparently, she is still determined to hang her TOWELS outside as well. (I only hang sheets when the weather is like this.)
The snow isn't as big a problem as the COLD. The day I was hanging Mary's sheets outside, it was 10 degrees BELOW zero...and in just a few minutes, a wet sheet turns into a stiff 6' tall potato chip...it's a big problem.

AND -- I'll be darned -- what gift did Mary bring to me?? PERFECT -- wooden clothespins that say "Right To Dry"....I LOVE THEM!! It is unbelievable to me that in many areas of this country you are NOT allowed to hang clothes outside to dry. In our Ya Ya Show, we address that problem by telling our audiences that if that's true where where they live -- they should MOVE..


She found them at the Vermont Country Store -- I took a picture of the label so you know what to order...


It was all worth it -- here's a picture of Mary, admiring her custom dried-on-the-line bedsheets. Hey -- the fitted sheet was made out of a vintage damask tablecloth!!

It just doesn't get any better than that, people!!