Friday Night Campout...

You never know what will be remembered. I only have vague memories of spending time with my two grandmothers. My Mom apparently didn't get along with either her mother or her mother-in-law.

Too bad.  It was the 50's, Mom had six kids,  Dad was always working -- and she could have used some help!

But that was then and this is now.  I think my generation is WAY MORE INVOLVED with grandchildren.   And I think we make a difference.

Speaking for myself -- being somebody's grandmother might be the most important, impactful thing I've ever done.

And of all the time I spend with Lilly and Warren...the trips to Chicago and New York City....the plays and concerts...the library activities and Grandma Camp Adventures...

It just might the the routine, ordinary things they remember best...

Like -- the Friday Night Camp Out....  

Every Friday Night begins with them blowing up the air mattress...(they just plug it in and turn a button)....

We usually eat at home on Friday night. If Ross isn't working, he will join us. If the weather is nice, we eat on the porch.  They love to help cook supper.

The kids set the table.  Picking out the napkins has been Lilly's job since she was 3 years old... 

For this occasion (a birthday), we used Aunt Rozella's silver...

This is the ONE NIGHT of the week when we eat together, sitting around the table...

They both take a bath, get into their pajamas...

Because -- IT'S MOVIE NIGHT!!

Yep. E.V.E.R.Y....F.R.I.D.A.Y.....N.I.G.H.T....

THIS IS HOW Ritaluck really works.  I PLAN EACH DAY...and I structure my week.   It's a lot of work nobody ever sees....But this is why I love my life so much. 

Don't leave it up to chance or circumstance. ....have SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY DAY...Then, be relentless....

Thursday: LUNCH WITH FRIENDS

In the old-fashioned-dishtowel-world -- Thursday was often the "Go To Market" day.  Of course, in those days, America was a rural place and going to town was a once-a-week big deal. And that's not the world we live in.

I go into town as often as I like.  And there really isn't a "market" nowadays. My thrift stores are doing business every day of the week!!

But, as I started to write these blogs -- I realized Thursday WAS a special day for me. It's really my bonus day of the week. I don't have obligations on that day (cleaning lady, kids coming, etc.)...

So, most weeks, Thursday is the day I get together with my friends.  

Sue and I will be having lunch today so I can hear all about her Mississippi Queen VACATION!

Thursday is often the day I hook up with these girls...Earlier in the summer, we had lunch at a local winery!

I'm pretty sure this was a Thursday lunch, when Pat was in town.  (BEST Tenderloin ever!!)

Anybody for lunch at Tommy's?  (a great little dive in downtown Davenport!)

When Marion came from Canada -- we visited Sue ON A THURSDAY...

Anne and Linda -- in Iowa City -- ON A THURSDAY...

Hey, an outing with friends, some thrift store shopping...a lot of catching up to do...I LOVE MY THURSDAYS..!!

Iowa City is about an hour from me -- Great restaurants, wonderful thrift stores...

Hey, Anne -- WE ARE OVERDUE!!  The kids are back in school -- CALL ME..!!

Wednesday: Mend?

In the days of the original 7-Day-a-week dishtowels -- Wednesday was often the "sew" day...

Or, in this case -- "mend"...

The truth is -- Sewing is such a joyful thing in my life -- I can't relegate it to just one day a week.

But, Wednesday is often the day I have a big chunk of time to indulge my sewing love...Lilly says my superpower is SEWING.

And there isn't a week that goes by without me making something for Lilly or Warren...

Although, she doesn't love everything I make for her...

And I love to start my creative juices flowing at a THRIFT STORE...

I have a particular penchant for buying smart-ass t-shirts...

Which -- then -- as you know -- I CUT UP AND FRANKENSEW into other things. Nightgowns, maxi-dresses...

Which I usually give to people...

Of course, I also use my Frankensewing skills to create work-out clothes!!

I'd like to tell you that I always have a basket of sewing projects to work on. But the truth is, I have a basement FULL TO THE BRIM with projects I hope to get to...sooner or later...

So I can't be limited to Wednesday...but, hey -- it's a good day to start!!

TUESDAY: TMBC

In the old days -- Tuesday was ALWAYS about ironing. Happily, in the world I live in, THERE IS NO IRONING...

So -- I think of Tuesday as a COMPLETE BONUS DAY in my week.

And -- hey -- I worked really hard on Monday!! So -- I've earned a day off, right??

So -- if Monday is my biggest WORK DAY -- Tuesday is my biggest PLAY DAY.

Every Tuesday, rain or shine, winter, summer or fall -- Tuesday is my TMBC day.

Many years ago, we started out as a once-a-month Book Club...But we always had SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT -- we decided to get together once-a-week. And, the truth is, we couldn't all read the same book every week (that would turn it into work, y'know?)...so we decided it would be the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club.

Most of the time, we gather at the local HyVee Grocery store...9:00 every Tuesday morning. Same time, same place...

Nobody has to cook, or clean, or plan anything. We don't talk about it beforehand, or text messages to each other, planning what we'll wear. It's not about the place, and it's not about the food. Breakfast is nothing special really...and the ambiance of a HyVee store isn't anything to swoon about.

Maybe that's the magic of our TMBC, The reliable, relentless, every-single-week-on-every-single-Tuesday-morning routine. We show up at the same time, same place...and we each do our weekly download, and maybe some of us bring a sew-and-tell to share...

Although, we often have special events.  This was a day trip to Clinton...(a rare picture of the six of us -- two years ago, when I was fat).  Sharalan is a Texas Snowbird and Jackie lives in North Carolina...so the two of them are members-in-absentia...

Last year, we started doing a once-a-month TMBC SEW-IN at our local library. (I have to haul A LOT OF STUFF)

We set up our Featherweights in one of the big sunny upstairs meeting rooms.

IT'S AMAZING how much we get done in just one day!!

We laugh, we sew, we visit, we laugh some more -- IT'S CRAZY FUN??!!

I am ALWAYS responsible for the biggest mess in the room (sometimes, I make three or four messes)

You should ALWAYS, ALWAYS have one day a week when you get to kick back with your girls.

Really. I'm right about this...

Monday: Cleaning/Laundry

Monday is my CLEANING DAY...!! In the good old days, "cleaning day" was different from "Wash day"...

But, in my world -- Monday is a combination of those two things. Cleaning AND washing....(One thing I like to do, the other thing I do not...any guesses?)

It's no secret that cleaning is my LEAST favorite thing to do -- which is why I choose to have help. Believe me -- there's no shame in needing help.  NOBODY can be good at everything, right??

Having REALLY GOOD HELP makes every job so much more tolerable......

Actually, in my life -- Monday is much more than just the cleaning/laundry day.  Monday is the STAGING DAY for everything that will happen at my house, and in my life, during that week.

Which means there is ALWAYS some kind of crappy extra job to be done...

Clearing out and reorganizing the game cupboard....(in preparation for the NEW CARPET)

Freshening up the Guest Bedroom...(when Mary comes to visit)

Getting the screened porch and getting it ready for SUMMER (the cushions live in the basement during the winter.)

So, yes, every Monday -- the cleaning is a BIG JOB. But to take the sting out of that, I get to do something I REALLY ENJOY...

Yep. Laundry. This job is ALL MINE...and, of course -- my favorite element of Wash Day...is...

HANGING MY SHEETS outside on the line. To dry. And smell wonderful. On Monday night, after I take my shower, I love to snuggle in bed, and sniff my line-dried pillowcases...

...and I feel like life just doesn't get any better than this....

Yep. I love Mondays. With Carrie's help, I get a lot done. The house looks great...I'm sleeping in a fresh bed, with gorgeous 100% cotton sheets...

I am looking forward to the rest of the week...and ALL IS RIGHT WITH MY WORLD.

Day of the Week Dishtowel Philosophy

I AM SO LUCKY. And you know I know it. In my bones. To my core. I have always been a lucky person...

At this moment in time, I am really enjoying my life. SO MUCH. And I feel grateful and lucky.

But, then, I've always felt that way. And there's more to it than just learning how to live in the moment...if you're smart -- you'll control your moments. And CREATE something you enjoy doing...every day of the week....

Maybe our grandmothers had it right with their "Seven Day A Week" dishtowel philosophy. EVERY DAY of the week had it's own purpose. They had a certain order to their lives...and I think that's often missing for people nowadays.

But I have very deliberately DONE THIS FOR MYSELF.

For example:

Monday is my CLEANING DAY.

Tuesday is my TMBC DAY (club with my girls)

well...you get the drift....

So, starting today.....I'm going to share, each day, WHAT IT IS I do on that day...