CHANGE #4: Sewing

To be very, very clear -- THERE IS NO BETTER HOBBY IN THE WORLD THAN SEWING.

Period. End of story. No discussion here...I'm right about this...

Sewing changes as YOU change ...and it has impacted my life for decades...in so many important ways I cannot even begin to list them.

When I went to college, I took a portable Kenmore. THE hot garment that year (1967) was an A-line jumper.  I sewed them for the girls in my dorm -- I charged $5. That was a lot of money back then.

I also hemmed skirts and pants -- often for free. And, believe me -- being known as 'THE GIRL WITH THE SEWING MACHINE"  was a very good thing...

In my 20's, I was going to work in an office every day, I needed to look nice, and it was hard to find things in my size. I never even thought about how lucky I was to be able to sew. If I wanted a pair of black palazzo pants (office Christmas party, 1973), I'd just make them!

When we lived in a small apartment in Arlington, Virginia -- I made pink ruffled curtains for the one window in our dining area. NOBODY was selling pink ruffled curtains at the time...and we had foolishly spent $50 on a PINK dinette set. (ugh)...

After we bought our first house, I made lined draperies for the "den".

When Ross was born, I sewed flannel blankets for him.

When Elliott was six, I made a fleece bird jacket that he loved so much, he almost wore it out...But -- luckily -- I SAVED IT...Recently, I had Warren try it on.  I thought it would be fun for him to wear it home and surprise his Dad...

But, NO WAY...he wasn't even willing to wear it out of the bathroom...

SEWING has allowed me to make a pretty good living doing something I LOVED.

One more thing. Sewing is a hobby that also has the very big added benefit of BEING A GIFT.

Because I know you. I AM YOU...you sew quilts for your sisters or brothers... Clothes for your grandkids, curtains for your daughter's new house, a robe for your husband, a table runner for your niece who invited you to Thanksgiving...

The joy you get from sewing is largely because you are CREATING something for people you love.

Oh, yeah. Sewing is the BEST HOBBY EVER...because no matter where I am in my life -- SEWING has changed right along with me.

Hummm...I might have to spend a whole week blogging about WHY SEWING ROCKS...

And really -- it's all about the GIFTS YOU MAKE...

CHANGE #3: Reading

So, okay. This week, I've decided to think about the changes that come with getting older.

Time to take care of business. Clear out the clutter.

For me -- one very important element to getting older is having HOBBIES. Yikes. I am sooo fortunate to have hobbies that interest me that I can STILL DO.

The BIG TWO in my life are: Reading and Sewing. These two wonderful hobbies STILL bring me pleasure on a daily basis.

John used to love playing golf and hunting.  But the truth is -- for many reasons -- those are not good hobbies for old people...

I'm going to focus on what works for me...

I'll start with READING. I've been an avid reader all my life -- and it's shaped me.

There is nothing more satisfying than falling into a good book....and reading is a hobby that, by it's very nature -- CHANGES WITH YOU. 

When I was younger, I didn't think much about buying books. I loved owning shelves of wonderful books. But, again, at this stage -- I DON'T WANT TO BRING ANY MORE STUFF INTO THE HOUSE...

Over the years, a big CHANGE in my reading habits has been that I started to get most of my books FROM THE LIBRARY.

We are blessed in this country to have an absolute amazing system of FREE libraries. I hear this from my friends all over the country. Laura in Puyallup, Washington; Rhonda in Oswego, Illinois; Marion in Tequesta, Florida; Jackie in Wilmington, North Carolina...

They're everywhere, they're everywhere!!!

Of course, we can mostly thank Andrew Carnegie, who gifted his fortune to build 3000 libraries all across America.

The CHANGE I'm going to incorporate into my life is figuring out how to download free books from the library.

I am a devoted fan of Audio books, but I have always been a LATE adapter when it comes to technology.   I hung on to books on cassette tape long after the technology was considered obsolete.  And now I find myself doing the same thing with CD books.

Ugh.  I need to figure out how to download books from the library onto my tablet so I can listen to them in the car, or when I'm walking on my treadmill.  (see? I can write fiction...)

I CAN DO IT!!  Maybe Lilly will help me.....because a long, happy life is ALL ABOUT EMBRACING CHANGE...

CHANGE #2: SDC

This week will be about my 2020 word...CHANGE...

(You will be relieved to know that I'm not going to write about choosing a funeral home...)

One of the changes I am really serious about is GOING THROUGH MY CLUTTER...ugh...

I have been a collector all my life. I love the hunt, and I buy quirky things -- furniture to be painted or recovered, clothes to be Frankensewed, t-shirts to cut up for quilts, games, puzzles, cashmere sweaters, pink flamingos, vintage linens...well, you've seen most of it.

The thing is -- I never worried about having too much stuff.  Because I always believed that, sooner or later, I'd use that particular treasure, find it a perfect home -- or work it into my next project.

EVENTUALLY

But here's where CHANGE comes into play. At this stage of my life, I need to be more realistic about the word "eventually"...

Remember last summer, when Mary had her "giveaway-my-sewing-stash" event? That was the first time I heard the words "Swedish death Cleaning".

Mary told me about this book...

According to Amazon: 

A charming, practical, and unsentimental approach to putting a home in order while reflecting on the tiny joys that make up a long life.
 
I was very surprised to see that -- now -- just a few months later -- Amazon has about a dozen books, all using Swedish Death Cleaning in the title..!!

Okay.  I GET IT, I GET IT...and it's a real thing.

*******

P.S.  To review, I have two adult BOYS.  And neither one of them is the least bit interested in a single thing I own.  I HAVE ACCEPTED THAT BITTER PILL...

Last year, we were talking about a neighbor who died.  His family was trying to decide whether they should have an"estate sale" or haul the stuff up to the local auction house.

The look on Ross's face said he considered both options WAY TOO MUCH WORK...

I said, "after I die, you boys are just going to have a fire, aren't you?"

CHANGE...#1...

So, about that 2020 Word...

C.H.A.N.G.E..

The obvious big change in my life is that I AM OLD NOW. ugh.

I'm 70 years old. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? Honestly -- it feels like only a few years ago, I was dropping out of college...trying to figure out what I wanted TO DO WITH MY LIFE...

Me...circa 1970...

The good news is that I don't FEEL 70...AND I AM GRATEFUL.

But -- Let's face it -- 70 is 70. I need to accept this next stage of my life.

I am an old woman, and I shall wear purple...no, wait....I don't see the point of purple...so if it isn't about that??

It's different now. My life is no longer about the "first time". Wow...Those "FIRSTS" were very exciting, that's for sure. My first kiss, my first job, first apartment,  first time to get drunk, first car, first husband, first baby...first trip overseas...THAT WAS ALL SO FABULOUS....AND I ENJOYED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM...

But, being realistic,  my "firsts" are mostly behind me. So -- now what?

Well, obviously, it's about the "LASTS".  As in -- "Last Will and Testament". I've seen too many families suffer after a loved one died because their wishes weren't known. Or -- worse yet -- they left a Will that tore their family apart.

So, okay. Time to find a lawyer. Time to take care of some business.  While we're at it, at this point, we should each have Power of Attorney for each other...and I need to educate myself about our finances. Ugh.

John has always taken care of all that...and he's done a GREAT JOB. But I need to be able to step up...Which means, making sure everything is in order. I do not want to leave a mess for our boys...

Nobody likes to talk about this stuff....but, IT'S TIME.   Recently, we hired a lawyer. We have a trust. All our finances are contained in one central, easy to find folder...(along with passwords for accounts).

It wasn't easy, but I'm feeling pretty good about where we're at.  And if you think THAT conversation was difficult -- wait for the next thing on this dreadful old lady to-do list.

We need to decide on a funeral home, and make some arrangements...

Double Ugh.

Hey -- don't worry!  I'm feeling great, and not planning to die any time soon.  BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.  And I think it's important to DO THIS CRAPPY STUFF while you're still capable. 

This is my favorite picture from last year.  Me, John and Frankie!!  (Thanks, Janet!)

My WORD for 2020

Okay.  So I don't do New Year's Resolutions...

But, most years, I do have a "word". This works for me. It's easy to remember. I mean -- IT'S JUST ONE WORD, PEOPLE...it's so simple.

One year, my word was "NEXT"...

Almost every day, I thought about that word and it gave me a lot of peace. It was about learning how to get over myself...to let things go....to move on...

Last year, my word was "Patience" and I had NO WAY OF KNOWING what a good choice that would prove to be. 2019 involved A LOT OF PATIENCE. The big issue was John's dementia...

HE IS DOING WAY BETTER than last year at this time (again, thank you ANTIBIOTICS) -- but we have our moments.

This getting old thing is not for the faint of heart, people. HEY -- NOBODY GETS to be 75 years old without having some issues...

For our October anniversary, we do a road trip up North to see the leaves...

During the holidays, we had a lot going on. But, with some patience, I am getting the rhythm of this new stage.

So -- my word for 2020? I've decided my word will be...

CHANGE.

Nothing stays the same. EVER. NOTHING. That's just the way it is.

People change. Kids grow up...they move away, they get jobs, have kids of their own...your world is always changing.  If you live in Iowa -- you can count on the weather changing with the seasons! The one constant thing in your life is CHANGE.  Your car wears out, your favorite television show gets cancelled, you need reading glasses.  Well -- I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.

The trick is to NOT FIGHT IT.... 

The world is a rotating ball of hot gas...and there are many things I do not control.  So I will find the good in what is happening right NOW...because I know it could change in a heartbeat...which is why I will treasure every good moment as it happens...

And if I'm having a really bad day...I'm gonna remember my 2020 word.  Change.  Because tomorrow is a whole new day...

And change is a-comin'....

Girlfriend Junkin'

Of course, anybody visits me in Iowa at ANY TIME -- we end up going junkin'.

Hey -- even if nobody is coming in from out of town -- I GO JUNKIN'...

Normally -- Mary would be visiting Iowa at this time.  But she's busy doing a library tour in Minnesota...and gheesh...NOW THAT HER HUSBAND IS THE MAYOR OF AURORA -- she has all those First Lady duties to take care of!!

Missing you, Mary...!!

This is an old post -- from maybe ten years ago...

Mary and I got started on the very first day...I picked her up at the airport and went to a huge junk mall in Coal Valley, Illinois.  In this booth -- tractors made out of old sewing machines...

I loved the raw edge treatment of this decorative pillow...that would be a fun treatment on a jacket, don't you think?

This place is LOADED WITH treasure of all kinds...to do the whole thing, you'd have to walk three miles...(yes, I totally made that up)...

This just might be the most elaborate wedding dress I ever saw...

It was yards and yards of ruffled, wired edge silk. OMG...for $29.95??

At the end of the day, Mary decided she couldn't get the sewing machine tractor in her suitcase...

And the LAST time I brought home a lawn ornament made out of junk -- John got so pissy I had to give it to my sister Ronda...So now I just admire all the welded flamingos...and take the occasional blurry picture...

If you haven't spent an afternoon junking with your girlfriend lately -- I highly recommend it. You will see things that take you back to your childhood, stuff you had when you lived in your first apartment -- you'll laugh and make fun of yourself...and -- well -- hey -- even on a REALLY GOOD DAY -- you'll probably only spend about $17....SUCH A BARGAIN...

*******

This week, I spent a junkin' day with one of my oldest, best friends...we go ALLLLL the way back to the 7th Grade.  Sue and I started off at...

Well -- that's another post, isn't it?

2020 Governing Values

JANUARY:

So, at the beginning of another year...it's a good time to review...or, maybe, assess.  Reflect?

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

There are two kinds of people.  Those who always make New Year's Resolutions...and those who never do.

I fall into the latter group. For one thing, resolutions seem to be about wishing for change...and setting myself up for failure.... Maybe I'm lazy. Or smug. But I like my life....so you won't hear any New Year's Resolutions from me.

BUT, I would like to share my Governing Values. THIS is a concept I completely embrace.

Twenty-five years ago,  my friend Val introduced me to the Franklin Planner. Remember that workshop? It was life-altering for me.

That was a very busy time in my life, trying to run a business with two boys still living at home. There were many days (and weeks, and months) when I felt like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. SO MUCH WORK, SO MANY OBLIGATIONS...and I always felt guilty. If I was home, I wished I was at work, and vice versa...

The KEY to my life was learning how to prioritize, and focus my energy on doing the things that REALLY MATTERED. This concept changed my life. The road-map for this change was to establish my own, personal "Governing Values."

This list has guided me ever since.  I used to carry a little printed version in my billfold. It would be like a surprise I'd rediscover every so often. After all these years, I don't need the reminder. But, every January...I go back and read what I wrote way back then....

1. I love my family and I spend time with them. I will show John he comes first, not last...
2. I am kind. Every single day, I will do at least one unheralded good deed.
3. I have a positive attitude. I try to see the upside in every situation...
4. I am honest and direct. I will be scrupulous in my dealings with people.
5. I am enthusiastic. No matter what I’m involved in, I will bring 100% of my energy.
6. I enjoy a good sense of humor – both mine and other people’s. I look for the humor in every situation.
7. I treasure my friends. Each day, I will contact one friend or do one thing to enhance a relationship with somebody I care about.
8. I try to see the other person’s point of view. If I do not agree, I will be a good listener. Nobody ever learned anything by talking.
9. I am generous. I give what I can, when I can, expecting nothing in return, and never keeping track.
10. I am a writer. I write every day.

***********

So -- here's your challenge for 2020. What are YOUR governing values? Every value starts with the word "I"...a VALUE you hold dear. The second part is the ACTION that will support that value.

You don't need ten -- that's just an arbitrary workshop number.  

The BEST Gravy

After I had been married to John for about 15 years, his mother shared her Gravy "secrets" with me. Her gravy was always amazing. Everybody knows the gravy can make or break that meal. (Helen's secrets are in red.)

This GRAVY technique works for chicken, beef or pork roasts...

• Roast your meat then remove it from the pan to "rest".


• Pour drippings into THIS MAGICAL INVENTION. It's amazing. The fat will all rise, and you can pour the tasty drippings back into the pan. You want ALL the drippings -- but only 2-4 TBL of the fat.


• On the top of the stove, reheat the drippings in the roasting pan to get up all the tasty bits, (add water or broth now if you want a bigger batch of gravy).


• While the drippings are coming to a slow boil, vigorously shake up 1/2 c. flour with 1 cup of water. (I use an old pickle jar)


• Stirring constantly (with a whisk) -- slowly add the flour slurry to the pan drippings until you reach the desired consistency. (you may not use it all -- or you might have to make more. Be flexible...) Flour gravy needs to cook for 5 minutes or so to come together...


• If the color is not pleasing -- add THIS MAGICAL INVENTION. Just a few drops adds a rich brown color. Helen always used it for turkey gravy (she hated the gray color of turkey gravy).

GOOD LUCK! I happen to believe that being known as the woman who makes the "best" gravy is a very nice way to be remembered.

Winter Frankensewing

It would not be possible for me to list all the FRANKENSEWING I do in week. Well -- I could do that -- but trust me -- YOU WOULD SOON BE BORED OUT OF YOUR MIND.  The very nature of Franksewing means cutting up something to create something else...sheets turn into pillowcases. Swimsuits get cut up to make new side panels for a too-small winter coat...

But, just so you know I AM STILL AT IT -- here are a few projects.

I paid $1 for this turq/black flannel shirt. John's favorite color...unfortunately, not his size...

I cut the shirt open at the side seams -- and added a 2" panel of black fabric.

I also added a 2" strip at the bottom of the shirt.

Of course, the trick is to use the EXISTING hem of the black shirt I cut up.

Some things work out great...other things are epic FAILS...

Here are a few that worked out for me...

New Snowpants for Warren. He needs a size 10, but they are 12" too long. So, I cut off the bottom of the pant legs, and added a 6" piece of swimsuit fabric (using the existing elastic in the leg). He can tuck them in his snowboots...

New Queen size fitted sheet from a 100% Supima cotton mossy green queen size FLAT sheet. It's on Val's bed right now. It turned out BEAUTIFUL...

Pillowcases to go with the new green sheet...(I ripped off the decorative hem -- then added it to two white pillowcases to create a "set")

Black "jeggings" for Lilly..  (I made her a pair of arty black jeans two years ago, which she loves, but they got too short and too tight...so I cut off the ARTY leg, and then, used itd as a pattern to cut out an area on a new pair of black jeggings...)

This Frankensew was so successful, Lilly didn't realize it was a WHOLE DIFFERENT PAIR OF PANTS....

And S.E.W.... it goes... 

Pork & Sauerkraut

Although I may have blogged about this before (hey -- WHO CAN REMEMBER?)...Sherry and Linda both sent emails asking how I make my New Year's meal.  It's SO EASY -- but it's more about technique than recipe...

And there are a couple of tricks....

First off,  using my heavy dutch oven --I browned the roast on all sides.

Then, with the lid on...I put in a 300 degrees...for about four hours.  Low and slow...This is not an expensive cut of meat.  There is a lot of fat...and you basically want to render it down...

The roast is fall-apart tender when I remove it from the pan.  I separate the drippings...THIS LITTLE DEVICE is magic. I discard the fat...but keep the tasty au jus...

Frank's is excellent kraut (and widely available). My mother-in-law told me to always rinse my kraut....

And her biggest secret? ADD A RAW APPLE at this point...

Then, I pour the drippings BACK into the pan...add the already cooked pork roast on top of the apples....and put the whole show back in the oven (325) for another hour...until the kraut is good and hot. (discard the apples -- they did their job, and will taste salty and terrible).

Of course -- it's all meant to be served on top of delicious, not mashed potatoes!!

Of course, I DIDN'T GET ANY PICTURES of the finished meal. I guess I was too anxious to sit down and eat!!

When Velvet was an Option

Children grow up so fast....TOO FAST. Lilly is going to be 11 soon, and Warren is 7 now. Yikes. I like to think I enjoyed them at every stage...but I am missing those babies...

In her book, Range of Motion, Elizabeth Berg writes about a four year old child...

"All right," she says. It's rare for her to say good night.  She doesn't like it.  I don't know why.  She is turning into herself in these little ways.  She is like stepping into the garden every day, when you know something is new, different from the day before.  That's how children are, growing up in front of you the way they do.  Sometimes it's a barely noticeable thing, like a stem that's slightly taller.  Sometimes it's a blossom that's burst forth, obvious as a Vegas showgirl.  Wow, you think.  I'd better not miss a day.  I'd better be here." 

When Lilly was 3. She actually LIKED DRESSES.

No matter what I was doing, she LOVED doing it with me. She was always a conscientious child...

I remember thinking we would ALWAYS wear leopard for Thanksgiving!! (this was the last time it happened)

With her soul-mate, sister. dog...Sophie...

I'm afraid this is only funny to me...but I still laugh when I remember this moment. So, I'm gonna try to write it...

Lillian was not a child who enjoyed taking chances. On the day this happened -- she was 3 1/2 years old -- and had never voluntarily been on a riding toy.

She didn't even like being pulled in a wagon, and she would never consider anything crazy like roller skates...

Ross had moved home to attend nursing school.  Lilly was spending the night.

Uncle Ross was laying on the living room floor.  She got on his back, and he started rocking from side to side...(remember, he is LAYING on his stomach on the floor)...

She had her arms around his neck...when he rolled, she'd slide down...

Then, laying on the floor -- she'd say, really loud, "I'M OKAY...I'M OKAY..."

This is Warren, taking the same ride when he was about a year old..

Chicken Noodle Soup TWIST

Okay -- it's winter now. AND TIME FOR SOUP..!!

Because I cooked TWO turkeys at Thanksgiving -- I boiled off the bones, and had some wonderful stock. I froze the stock/meat...knowing one day soon, it would become SOUP.

I sauteed the vegetables -- carrots, celery, onion...added them to the hot broth, along with a can of corn and some parsley.

BOOM!! DELICIOUS SOUP...

So, how could this be any better?? Well -- with the addition of noodles, of course. And I always cook them SEPARATE from the soup. Because I make a BIG batch of soup, and after a few reheatings, the noodles get mushy.

But, this time -- instead of noodles -- here's the twist -- a dollop of mashed potatoes.

I made balls of leftover mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving...and froze them.

After I heated the soup, I just microwaved the potato ball for about 20 seconds, and plopped it into the bowl...

.OH MY GOD...This is such a delicious twist -- I cannot believe I didn't think of this myself...

Typical Thrift Day Haul

So -- yes, my name is Rita Farro. And I'm addicted to thrift store shopping.

DUH!!

So, in the interest of full disclosure...here's a typical one-day haul...ugh...

A flannel pillowcase with pictures of dogs!! (99 cents)

And that white dog looks like Sophie...

Then -- at the back of the store (Salvation Army) -- there is a RACK of bolts of fabric...

On closer inspection -- I see it's all Amy Butler fabric.  There are dozens of bolts...some with just a few yards...others almost full...

This bolt cost $4.99...

And, there was more than 10 yards of fabric !! 

A vintage white cotton sheet for $4.

And a GORGEOUS, heavy off-white cotton sheet

That looks like it had never been washed...($4)

There was also a few puzzles, and a Win, Lose or Draw game...And -- OH WAIT FOR IT -- a perfect little portable TYPEWRITER for $5. I have NO IDEA if the kids will enjoy playing with this thing...but I figured it was worth $5 just to give them a little walk down memory lane...

(Did you see the bit on the Late Show where the teenagers could not figure out how to work a dial telephone?)

Anyway --  it's supposed to snow this weekend, so we'll have some unusual activities...

Anne's current theory...

Hi Rita, So, here's my current hypothesis..... From the Alden Times 2/18/37:

 "Following the morning church services Sunday, over sixty friends of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Jaques and daughter Avonelle, gathered in the church basement for a basket dinner and farewell surprise in their honor. 

Following the meal W. W. Walton, in behalf of their friends presented them with a purse and quilt blocks for a friendship quilt to which both Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Jaques responded. 

The Jaques family will move March first to a farm three miles south of Iowa Falls. They will be greatly missed in this community and by the church for their faithful services. 

Mr. Jaques was born and has lived all his life in Oakland township and Mrs. Jaques has lived in this immediate vicinity since five years of age, coming here with her parents from Wisconsin." 

So, further research shows that Mrs. W.M. Jaques' maiden name was Mina Trousdale. Her bothers were married to Bess and Otsie Trousdale. Aardith and Elaine Trousdale were married to Otsie's sons. It seems that these quilt squares were given for the recipient to finish later.

Anne, aka, Sherlock

Once she tracked down the general area where these women may have lived, and searching the obituaries, etc....Anne started to comb through  the Newspaper archives

THEN -- amazingly -- she found this:

Alden Times, Alden, Iowa, US 

November 29, 1934, page 5.

“Burdette News”

Mrs. H.O. Brill and family, Miss Rowena Gilbert, Ardel Nissen, and Mr. & Mrs. R.L. Daniels and family were visitors Saturday in the Guy Cormaney home.

About 25 neighbors surprised  Mrs. Dell Kreamer in her home Friday afternoon, it being her birthday.  Each gave her a nine patch quilt block with their name embroidered across the front.

*********

 

This is the best picture I have of me -- with a EUREKA FACE..!!