Blackhawk Lunch with Kelcy

Today is the day I leave for Puyallup. I hope to see MANY OF YOU AT THE SHOW. If things go right -- I've written some blogs which will post automatically, even while I'm out of town...AND, if I can figure it out -- I'd like to post a few blogs while I'm at the show. THAT WOULD REALLY BE AWESOME...But, if there aren't any new posts -- you'll know it's because I'M IN PUYALLUP.
************

Let me think...the last time I took my niece Kelcy out for lunch -- I think she was 15 years old.

WOW!

That was a long time ago. Now she's married, mother to Mason with another baby on the way. She's a full-grown adult, but I don't exactly know when that happened!

Anyway -- she was attending a marketing seminar for her job -- and when I heard about it -- I signed up as well. Because -- guess what?

It was at the Blackhawk Hotel!!

Here we are -- in the Bix Bistro -- having a lovely lunch.



We talked about adult things. Our jobs. The Army. The Babies. Web sites, online marketing...

Then we went to the top of the Blackhawk to what used to be the "Davenport Club". What a spectacular view.



Since they were mostly trying to sell radio time -- I didn't get that much out of the seminar. But it was a really special day because of the time I spent with Kelcy. And hey -- the refreshments at the Blackhawk Hotel were FANTASTIC. Look at the size of those brownies!! They were actually WARM, PEOPLE..!!


The fresh berries were a nice touch, eh? Next is a great picture of Kelcy. All grown up. We had the nicest day...it was so special, spending time with this accomplished young woman who I've known since the first moment of her life..


I have so many memories of her childhood. And I'll happily add this day to that scrapbook. Oh, yes. We are very proud...

DELICIOUS Scrambled Eggs

John has 20 chickens who lay the most beautiful brown eggs you can possibly imagine. They are perfect. Every day -- 20 brand new, fresh, delicious eggs.

Obviously, we can't eat 20 eggs every single day -- so he does sell the extras (for $1.50 a dozen). But we DO eat a lot of eggs.

And, breaking eggs into a bowl has ALWAYS been one of Cash's favorite things to do. (well, he also quite enjoys licking any kind of beaters...)

During his most recent visit, Uncle John and Cash made scrambled eggs. This is not a new dish, of course. Everybody in the world knows how to make scrambled eggs. BUT -- I'm telling you -- JOHN HAS A WHOLE NEW SPIN ON THIS SIMPLE DISH...
He was watching an episode of the "Barefoot Contessa". Ina Garten. Do you know her show?

Well -- the way she makes scrambled eggs is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than anything we've ever tried. The key is LOW AND SLOW...

Whisk 6 eggs with a little milk. Then, put a pan on the stove and melt 1 TBL of butter on the LOWEST HEAT. Pour in the eggs, and stir constantly...

The eggs are light and fluffy...not rubbery. NO BROWN, PEOPLE...gentle cooking, gentle stirring. Really. This simple cooking method takes scrambled eggs to a whole different level.

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS...trust me....

LOW AND SLOW...thanks, Ina. You are a genius!!

Lillian Moves In

Lillian was so upset by the little white dog dress -- the only solution was to find Sophie...you can see she still has a tear in her eye...
But, THANK GOD for Sophie...she is feeling better already...


I love Lilly in this little dress I made for her. The top was a baby shirt -- the skirt was from an old t-shirt of mine...


In this outfit -- I added the zebra ruffle to the shirt. Sophie had to endure many rides around the house. In a shopping cart, or a baby stroller, or a little wagon...she would go anywhere, do anything for her little girl...

I am beginning to believe that every baby in America should have their own little dog. And I'm wishing I would have thought of this myself 30 years ago!!

My New Show Shoes

Did I tell you that I signed up for a 4-week photography class? Every Sunday afternoon, at CommUniversity -- at St. Ambrose University in Davenport. The teacher explained how to avoid that pesky "automatic" setting on my little "point & shoot" camera. For the "portrait section" of class I made the manual adjustments he talked about...hummm...


Easily bored. I decided to take this picture of my new shoes (using the "AUTO" settings). I could not resist these shoes!

I did turn the flash off, so nobody knew what I was doing...
Here's a better shot -- from the side. Doesn't it look like I'm wearing a quilt?
I swear. THEY ARE PERFECT SHOW SHOES. And sooo comfortable. I have a very difficult time finding shoes that will stand up to the SEVEN MILES of walking that I'll do in Puyallup...
But -- I am hopeful. Do you think I could sew some zebra fabric on that strap??

Deborah and houndstooth

When Deborah was back in Iowa for her visit -- of course I took her TO A THRIFTSTORE.

You have NOOOO IDEA what a new experience this was for Deborah. The truth is, my sister Deb doesn't shop at discount stores (much less thrift stores!) nor does she eat at family restaurants...

But -- here -- don't you think she looks thrilled to be finding a 100% wool Houndstooth jacket for only $2??

C'mon, Deborah -- admit it -- THAT IS A BIG SMILE ON YOUR FACE.


Cousin Linda -- an EXPERIENCED thrift-er -- bought a nice warm winter coat for her son Dan -- who was going to be visiting from California. That turned out to be a wonderful purchase -- as during his time here, it was below zero every day...and he would have been pretty darn chilly in his California duds.
I am anxious to see what Deborah decides to do with her new wool jackets and sweaters. It will be some kind of recycling project...that will most likely involve machine embroidery...

Right??

I'll keep you posted...

Lillian & Memphis Play Date

We were DELIGHTED to have Lillian staying here for a few days after the holidays. I set up a "play date" with her cousin Memphis...Lilly is crazy about dinosaurs -- Memphis -- not so much...

Lillian loves sharing a chair. Again, Memphis isn't quite so sure it's a good plan...

Lilly didn't really want to share any of the purses...

Here, my sister Ronda, holding the girls (Memphis is relieved to see HER OWN PEOPLE). Lillian is, once again, reacting to her little white dog Christmas dress...which I keep thinking she should LOVE...


But Lillian does not love it. Not even a little bit.
Really, Emily...I swear...she only had the darn thing on for 3 or 4 minutes...

And it's official. I give up. You will never see the little white dog dress again...I'm over it.

Austin & Popovers

This is the best picture...of Deborah and her teenage grandson, Austin. He is showing me the new popover pan Deb bought. (she had to buy TWO of them during her recent visit...)

GREAT, GREAT JOB, AUSTIN. I think everybody should have a "specialty" -- and there just isn't anything more delicious or EASIER to make than a delicious popover!! I wish I had learned this when I was your age...

Austin made popovers for his parents when they returned from their vacation -- and I couldn't be more proud...

I hope Mitchell & Stacy like them as much as we do!

possible cover pics

Dear Janet -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I spent hours going through pictures from the last two years -- looking for something zippy for the Registration Brochure. My criteria was mostly just about fun shots, happy faces,

If you want to use any of these -- you can just copy them out of this blog post, right? Otherwise -- let me know and I'll send it under separate cover...

this first shot goes with a later picture -- I just sent this closeup because it might be a good caption for the later pic...

A Simplicity Style Show pic...

I would like one shot of the Hey Rita totebag...so I sent several for you to pick from. If you want to crop the bag -- that would be fun...it is a well known character on the show blog and would add a fun element to the brochure

happy people taking a hands-on class



another hey rita tote possibility

this is a real "sisters" group from Alaska



My best Pillowcase Patrol picture of the kids with their pillowcases




















another great pillowcase shot -- good pic of Barbara from the hospital

Franci Phelan

A local organization -- The Woman's Connection -- had their annual January "event" -- and the keynote speaker was Franci Phelan. She is an Iowa farm-girl who is now the head of HR for the Melinda & Bill Gates Foundation.

EXCELLENT...

Because I always work alone -- I need to get OUT OF THE HOUSE...and this event came along after a month of cabin fever...

There were 450 women at the biggest ballroom in the area -- at Jumer's Casino & Resort. I found a good seat in the front of the room -- and my tablemates were funny and interesting. Lunch was delicious! (I enjoy anything I don't have to cook myself!)
Franci Phelan's keynote was excellent. She made me think. And that's always a good thing...


You never know what's going to make an impression on a child. One day, on the farm, Franci was a 12 year old kid spending a long boring afternoon "watching the gate". Franci began to daydream -- and notice license plates from different states. Illinois, Minnesota, many midwestern states. When a car drove by with a New York license plate-- she decided, right then and there -- "I'm going to visit every State in the union". And that became a life goal. And she DID visit every state before she was 30 years old....



I didn't actually get to talk to Franci after the event -- but the table next to me was full of her Iowa relatives. This is her Aunt, and her in-laws...they LOVED THE Hey Rita tote..!!

Franci lives in the Seattle area -- maybe she'll Google her name, read this blog, and decide to take up sewing??

I'll keep you posted...

So -- hey -- what's on your "Bucket List"??

My 2011 Show clothes!

You already know that my sister Deborah is addicted to machine embroidery...here she is, during a recent visit to Iowa. She had us over for breakfast...and the subject ALWAYS gets around to an embroidery show & tell...

At this moment in time, I was getting my first look at the 2011 Sewing & Stitchery Expo show logo embroidery design from Creative DRAWings...

So, of course, I sent some plain turtlenecks and jackets back to Nashville with Deb so that she could embroider the show logo on them...

She sent them back to me in record time!! A GIANT BOX FULL OF SHOW LOGO OUTFITS..

I'm sorry the show is only 4 days...I'll have to change clothes three or four times each day to WEAR ALL MY NEW CLOTHES...