Dyersville Antique Mall

So, with no side trip to Arlington, Iowa -- Bert and I had plenty of time to stop at the Antique Mall in Dyersville.

This place is HUGE...

Right inside the door, they have some vignettes set up...I love these two old ladies.

love it, love it, love it...

I was so tempted to buy this quilt

It was completely hand quilted -- and the back was plain pink.  But, for some reason, they never did a finish on the edges...My biggest regret of the day is that I didn't buy it.  It was only $40.  OMG...what a miss....

Somebody creative is making little owls out of recycled sweaters...

It is a HUGE space inside. Room enough for many cars...and you won't believe what the upstairs level is FULL OF

This stove looked to be in perfect condition!

How many parades could I be in this summer??? WHAT FUN. I wonder if I could just rent the darn thing???

Seriously...this is one BIG HONKING antique mall...

I have owned one of these for many years, but since it's buried in a box, I guess I don't need another one...

Advice to live by...

SO -- HERE IT COMES -- the upstairs is chock full of ---that's right -- FARM TOYS...

Washer & Dryer ART

The washer-dryer art project is still marching along. Although, once spring comes, I'll get bored with all the basement activity...so I'm about to call it a WRAP. There have been a few design changes...

I was delighted with the Zentangle treatment of the dryer...all black and white....I'd sit on my bucket and listen to a book on tape...and just mindlessly zentangle along...

Then, one day, I went to put a load in the dryer -- and noticed that this had been added!! (GREAT job, Lilly)...

After spending many hours painting the washer -- I was well pleased with the final result. Then, one day, John commented to a visitor that "it looks like a zebra snake"...and I was insulted...

But the next time I was down there, dammit....My artistic "L" really did look like a snake...I hate it when he's right...

So -- I decided to paint it over...and START AGAIN....with a new look -- more like a cursive "L".  Besides, the zebra didn't go with the zentangle...ugh...

So, I'm pretty happy with it. Altho that was A LOT OF WORK...

Next week, a picture of the FINISHED ART PROJECT.

AND -- the best news?? I have been working in the basement all winter, trying to make some of the chaos go away.  AND I CAN FINALLY SEE MY TREADMILL.  I subconsciously covered it with t-shirts and junk, boxes of heavy books....trying to make it invisible...

But I can see it now.  No more excuses...

Yes, it's spring!! Time to blow off the stink, eh??

Bunny Cake

One of the jobs in my life that has brought me immeasurable joy is being somebody's Aunt. I cannot tell you how much pleasure my nieces and nephews have brought into my life. I couldn't begin to name the Aunt Rita events that we've enjoyed over the years...

But didn't matter to me if we were going to a concert, a juggling class or a paintball fight -- I enjoyed planning those playdates...and it doesn't seem possible that those adorable children are all grown up now -- having children of their own. THANK GOD, eh?

Because of them -- at this point in my life, I am enjoying the title of "Great Aunt".

Years ago, my sister Ronda's grandchildren came to my house when their Mom's went to work (Amy and Nicole). I used to say, "I like to have one kid at a time, one day a week." And it was awesome...Parker was the first and he's in high school now!

My sister Deena has been blessed with EIGHT grandchildren in eight years (one more on the way!) . Whoever is available comes to her house for family dinner on Wednesday night. And again on Sunday afternoon. (I know -- crazy -- right??)

But the beauty part for me is that on Wednesday nights, I take Warren there for a play date...AND then, on Sundays, I take Lillian so she can spend some time with her cousins. The little kids are the PERFECT audience for just about anything...they are SOOO easy to impress!!

On a recent Sunday afternoon, Lillian and I decided to experiment with a molded bunny pan. (in preparation for Easter).

The cake turned out great.  AND can you imagine a more excited group of players?

Clayton and Oliver have to take an early turn...they had another date that day...

I was concerned that any kind of frosting would be too stiff for the bunny ears. And, how do six little kids take turns frosting a cake?? TWO THINGS:

#1: The "frosting" was a box of instant vanilla pudding, one cup of milk and half a container of Cool Whip. It was light and airy, and even a small child can get it on that cake without much effort.

#2: The SYSTEM. I kept the frosting in a big bowl, and put half a cup into a small bowl, for each child, to take a "turn"...they were allowed to lick their own knife AND bowl after their turn (of course)...

 After the boys left, Myla took her turn very seriously...

Lillian and Madeline finished the cake off -- then added some green coconut for grass...

You can go to the grocery store and buy egg shaped, pastel colored marshmallows!! WHO KNEW??

Yep. I'm highly recommending it. The job, I mean....Being somebody's Great Aunt is a GREAT job....

Oelwein, Iowa is next to WHAT???

Of course, just seeing this extensive doll collection was well worth the trip for Bert. She has collected antique dolls for years, and she was DElighted to find this woman who could repair a bunch of  her damaged100 year old dolls. Awesome.

I took some pictures -- but they do NOT do the collection justice. There were thousands -- literally thousands of dolls in that house.

But, okay, it was a long road trip and I'm not really into antique dolls. So where's my entertainment for the day???

Oelwein, Iowa has a fairly lively Downtown...

There's even a Goodwill Store!!

But I didn't have to drive for two hours to go shopping in a Goodwill Store. So what was I thinking would be MY reward???

 Well -- remember Chris Soules, the Iowa Bachelor? (Prince Farming -- now on DWTS)???

Guess what?? -- his tiny little hometown -- Arlington,Iowa....IS ONLY 14 MILES AWAY FROM OELWEIN.

Although, apparently, judging from the horrified look on the women's faces during their visit there -- Arlington is sad little town, even the bar is closed...But, c'mon -- I'M THIS CLOSE -- RIGHT??  We should at least do a drive-by of the Soules farm.  

Who knows -- maybe Chris is taking a DWTS break to plow some fields this weekend...

But, alas -- Bert said no way.  Maybe I shouldn't let her drive all the time...

When she asked me why I wanted to go to po-dunk Arlington, I said I wanted to blog about it. She told me it would be just as interesting if I blogged about NOT going there...hummm...

Then, I remembered something Ross said during the big Finale. Chris and his brand new fiance, Whitney, were driving along one of these Iowa roads...and she kept gushing about how beautiful it was. "Iwa is so beautiful...it's just so beautiful..." 

Ross said, "Yes, Whitney...just like the surface of the moon...."

Bert's Road Trip

After about two hours of some really, really boring driving -- we arrived at our destination. Oelwein, Iowa. Which is actually a good size town. There's a downtown, and a McDonald's...some restaurants...

And THIS is the house we're looking for...

So -- who lives here? And why are we visiting?

We weren't 100% sure we had the right house. Bert knocked on the door...

And -- YES! This is the exact right place. Mrs. Doll Doctor has been re-stringing, repairing and repainting a bunch of Bert's antique dolls.

Although it was a very large box of dolls...they represent only a small fraction of Bert's collection.

Many of these dolls were in pieces, and their faces were cracked, their skin was crazed...

Picking up the repaired family of dolls was the mission, of course. But, as far as I'm concerned, the dolls are NOt the most interesting part of this day trip....

March Road Trip!

So -- if it's Saturday -- I must be junkin' with Bert. OF COURSE. It was early in March, but the weather was surprisingly warm and mild. Not quite spring yet -- but a GREAT day for a road trip.

Bert had a particular place she needed to go....and I'm always up for a little day trippin'...

Bert usually drives.  Because she is a TERRIBLE back seat driver.  So this is the price she pays...

On this day, we decided to hook up at the local Cracker Barrel...

I love their gift shop.  Can you read this piece of wood?  "We don't skinny dip, we chunky dunk..."

Their gift shop is way better than their food.   Right now, it's fully stocked with a huge assortment of garden gifts (that's a hummingbird table), and they do more EASTER stuff than any other store I know...

Ten minutes after hitting Interstate-80 -- this is the view...

One hour into the trip -- this is the view...

Approaching our destination....??.

OMG...HOW FAR IS THIS PLACE???? I am falling asleep...Good thing I'm not driving....Bert is talking to herself....

Lilly's Special Birthday Dinner

Lillian turned six a few weeks ago. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT.

Time flies when you're having fun, eh?

The difference between being a PARENT and being a GRANDPARENT is huge. This is so much more fun, I can't even put it into words.

Of course I love my boys, and I look back on raising them as some of the best years of my life. But that's the thing -- I was RAISING THEM. It's a big job. I had to worry about so many different things. How they behave, what they learn, getting them to school, taking care of them when they're sick, meeting with the Principal because one of them took a lighter to his fart...

But -- being a grandparent doesn't have that you-are-responsible-for-how-this-human-turns-out aspect. You get to do JUST THE LOVE part. And -- who are we kidding? By the time you get grandchildren, you are OLD. And, therefore, you KNOW MORE...

What I know for sure is that these years are F.L.E.E.T.I.N.G....

And I'm all about making the memories....because you just never know what's gonna stick.

As it happened this year, Lillian had a big birthday party on Sunday afternoon. Her birthday was on Monday, and I invited her family down for a special meal.

A child should always eat their favorite food on their birthday. When Elliott was a kid, he loved the perch and macaroni and cheese at the Family Square Restaurant. Going to a restaurant was a very special occasion for us back in those days

Nowadays -- we frequently eat at restaurants. Lilly's favorite place is Steak and Shake. So, to make it special -- we'll eat at home. And her favorite food actually is STEAK.....

So, I made her her first Porterhouse steak...

SHE LOVED IT...

We didn't even pretend she was going to eat anything else...like green beans or a salad. Nope. It was just the steak...and nothing but the steak.

Oh, of course, there was also the Farro Family Birthday cake. Chocolate cake with peanut butter icing...

My special plastic pedestal cake pan lights up and SINGS Happy Birthday!!

Hey -- come to think of it -- we had a STEAK AND CAKE party!!

Happy Birthday, Lillian.  You are going to love being six.  This is the year you learn to read....

No Post??

I am only posting to apologize for not posting....

 Especially on LAUNDRY DAY...yikes!!

My favorite day of the week. What's up with that??

No worries...except for the fact that sometimes, I get too busy DOING the laundry to blog about it...

AND -- last week -- due to a certain set of circumstances -- I had kids for four days.  Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday...really.  All day and some overnights.  Really, I am not complaining.  I could not be happier to be doing THIS.  But, who are we kidding?? 

I'm no spring chicken (translation: after they go home, I require a lot of naps.)

TONIGHT, I hope to download my camera and write about 20 interesting blog posts.  In between Spaghettio-lunches and footie pajamas -- there has been some sewing going on...

Best New Commercial

This is a commercial that recently started running. Because it is our health insurance company, I think it could be regional. So, just in case you missed it...be sure to push play....REALLY...

Downton Abby

hBefore I forget -- I want to tell you how terrific the big Finale was of Downton Abbey!! WOW. Talk about your action-packed British soap opera! If you are not watching this show -- you should RUN, NOT WALK, to your local library and put your name on the waiting list for the Season I DVDs.

I waited for three years -- but finally got sick of everybody else talking about it. Then, last year, Ross and I got all caught up, one or two episodes a night.

You really must start at the beginning, tho...

And, if you haven't been watching -- stop reading right now. SPOILER ALERT...!!

I really must say how delighted I was with the Finale this year. I loved the story line about the Dowager's old Russian lover coming to town...and Lady Granthams flirtation, Edith's illegitimate baby...that period in history is so interesting...

But what Downton does so well is to develop the characters. I have always been a fan of Isobel -- and I loved her getting the proposal...

And it was SO GREAT when Mr. Carson proposed to Mrs Hughes...Really!! At last!! OF COURSE THEY SHOULD BE together...nothing else makes sense, does it??

After 40 years of working together -- do either one of them know each other's first names?

But the character I have ached for this year is Mr. Molesley. He has tried so hard, and nothing seems to work out for him. The first season, Matthew tried to get rid of him because having a valet made no sense. Then the Dowager gave him a pity job...then he would substitute for Mr. Bates....or work on a road crew... But, for all his hard work and good intentions,  he just cannot find his place to stand in this world...

UNTIL THIS BIG FINALE...!!  When Mr. Molesley got the idea to take the picture of Mr. Bates around to all the bars...days of work, dozens of different bars...and THAT WAS THE BIG SAVE..!!

I was CHEERING over here on my side of the pond!!  GOOD JOB, PEOPLE...

FINALLY!!  Mr. Molesley to the rescue!!  HE GETS TO BE THE HERO...and I couldn't be happier for him...

St. Patrick's Day

One of my fondest memories in my lifetime is of the trip I took to Ireland with my sisters. Me, Deborah, Deena and Ronda. We had a FANTASTIC TIME. And, for the life of me, I don't know how the four of us managed to get away for an entire week. It never happened before...and it hasn't happened since. But I will be forever grateful that it happened at that moment in time...

However -- for all our wonderful memories of our time in Ireland -- not one of us has a good memory of the food we ate there. Ugh. Sorry, folks...but Irish food sucks. We had a lot of fish -- and I mostly remember the bones. The "hearty Irish breakfast" they served at the B and B's were okay -- but none of us ever touched the blood pudding that.was.on.the.plate.every.single.day.no.matter.where.we.went...(we began to suspect that every B&B only had four pieces in the kitchen, which they served over and over...to new tourists every day...and since nobody touched them...??)...

Like everybody else in America -- for St. Patrick's Day, I always make corned beef with boiled cabbage. (potatoes, carrots, etc.)  I like to remember my time in Ireland, honor my Irish roots (if I have any) -- and it seems like a nice food tradition. (which you know I am a big fan of)...

But, if I'm being completely honest -- it always sucks.

Altho this is a picture from the internet -- mine looked fine.  Delicious, really.  But there is just NO FLAVOR...

Because it is one of those things that NEVER lives up to my annual expectation -- I started to wonder why I continue to do this.

I mean -- really??  Who would choose a cut of meat that is so tough it must be BOILED??

And, of all the delicious ways to prepare one of my favorite things in this world -- POTATOES -- boiling them is at the bottom of the list.

The biggest problem, of course, is the corned beef itself.  If you have ever had the privilege of eating corned beef at the Carnegie Deli in New York City -- you know WHAT IT SHOULD TASTE LIKE...

But, trust me -- those vacuum sealed packages being sold in grocery stores all across America have NO RESEMBLANCE to the real thing.  They are tasteless and chewy...and I'm tired of pretending this is some kind of annual treat. 

Next year, for St. Patrick's Day, I think I'll just paint my hair green...

The Iowa Bachelor

First of all -- please don't write me an email asking why I watch so much crappy television. It's just the way I roll and I refuse to be judged..

The big IOWA BACHELOR Finale was Monday night, March 9. Ross and I were in front of the television promptly at 7:00. Chris Soules, a 33 year old farmer from Arlington, Iowa, was looking for a wife. The show started three months ago, when Chris met 25 gorgeous young women at a mansion...

He met all the women, and they "dated"....had conversations, did some group events (like a tractor race?), and every week, he had to send one girl home.

I'm telling you -- THIS IS WHY TELEVISION WAS INVENTED. lol...

The truth is -- until Ross moved home two years ago, I had never watched The Bachelor. It was one of the FEW shows I didn't follow...and now I look back and wonder what I missed??

Of course, this season was especially interesting because Chris was FROM IOWA. And I wanted to see how my fair State was depicted...

Chris was one of the contenders on the last run of the Bachelorette. When Andrea, the beautiful young lawyer from Georgia, was looking for her Prince Charming, she took Chris Soules all the way to the Final Four.  But, alas, once she visited his home in Arlington, Iowa, she decided she just couldn't live there....so she picked another guy (they have since broken up).

Apparently, ABC obviously thought it would be interesting to see if ANY WOMAN IN AMERICA would choose to live in Iowa??

I thought Chris Soules was sincere in his mission to find a wife. He seemed like a genuine guy, and his priorities were lined up...he got rid of the empty headed party girls and drunks in the first three episodes...

Chris did an excellent job representing for Iowa Farmers. Trust me, girls -- they aren't all this good looking!!

There was a lot of drama along the way. One girl, Jade, seemed like a possibility -- but then she told Chris about her nude photos in Playboy -- and oh, that's right -- there were some porno videos on the internet. Would he like to see them??

Now -- think about it.  What's the right answer??

After weeks of drama -- it came down to two women. Whitney, who was from Kentucky, but now is a nurse living in Chicago. And Becca. The virgin who is a clerk from California.

Whitney, on the left -- and Becca on the right. What to do...what to do....??

Chris PICKED WHITNEY. Which was totally the right thing to do. BUT -- during the final episode, she kept going on and on about living in Iowa...but she kept MISPRONOUNCING it, oddly dropping the vowel...telling his parents... "I am ready to move to Iwa...I just love it here. I will be happy to live in Iwa...I LOVE IWA..."blah, blah, blah. It was like fingernails on a chalkboard. After a dozen times, Ross said, "We are rooting for you, Whitney, but if you actually move here, we must teach you how to pronounce it. Our State might only have four letters but WE USE EVERY ONE OF THEM." IOWA is pronounced....I-O-WA