Change is Good...

In my life right now, I feel like I'm saying good-bye to many things.  At least for awhile....

Maybe the truth is -- life is ALWAYS about change.  And most of the time -- resistance only breeds misery.  So, I am trying to embrace this New Normal (oh, GOD -- aren't we sick of that phrase?).

But, hey  -- there are also a LOT OF NEW THINGS to get used to. A new car, a new phone, a new routine, a new Grandma Camp...

Which brings me to today's topic.  Google.

For years now, believe it or not -- I didn't even have a password for my Google account.  YES, PEOPLE, I AM THAT SLOW TO EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY...

Ugh...

Last week, after our delightful day trip to LaSalle, Illinois -- Google made a video and sent it to Rhonda.  MY CHALLENGE was to figure out how to download the video, then embed it into this blog...

You'll know in a minute how successful my efforts have been...

 

GRANDMA CAMP 2020

At this point in my life, the most important job I have is GRANDMA CAMP...!!

But Grandma Camp 2020 will be vastly different than previous years -- because so many wonderful activities are not available to us.

No plays...no children's theaters....no kid's camps....no Putnam museum events....no movie theaters...no Niabi Zoo....no crowded events...no tie-dying in the park with 200 other people...no Chicago trip to Legoland...or the Brookfield Zoo...

We LOVED the $1 movie mornings at the AMC theaters...but NOT this year...

The Figge Art Museum was one of our regular haunts...

Their kids' activities schedule was great...but not this year...

I always knew how lucky we were to live in this area, with so many different events and activities available to us.  But, with no vaccine, this summer is gonna be very difficult for our usual venues. They are going to "pre-schedule" visits...and you need to reserve a space weeks in advance....not really how this Grandma rolls...

So,  I AM GRATEFUL we did those things when we did them. But this year, I'm gonna put a different spin on Grandma Camp.  I'll focus on the things we CAN do...and there are plenty of those.

SWIMMING will be our #1, GO-TO activity. Lilly and Warren are both good swimmers, and when they're in the water, you cannot wipe the smile off their faces. The YMCA pool is already open -- and my niece has invited us to visit their pool...so I'm definitely gonna put a weekly swim event in the rotation.

A new element will be DAY TRIPS. When I was talking about my meet-up with Rhonda in LaSalle, Illinois last week -- both kids said, "Can I go on a road trip?" And, of course, the answer is YES...

HEY -- WE EVEN HAVE A BRAND NEW, RELIABLE, COMFORTABLE CAR...

So, starting tomorrow, I'm going to incorporate a weekly "ROAD TRIP" into our Grandma Camp Activities.

Lilly and Warren are going to look at a map....(yes, an old fashioned PAPER map -- there will be a re-folding lesson)....to do some research about all the WONDERFUL towns within a 90-minute radius of Princeton, Iowa.

They'll discover Iowa: Dubuque, Iowa City, Maquoketa (has caves), Cedar Rapids, Muscatine (there's a button museum).....

And Illinois: LaSalle (I've already booked the mule-drawn I and M Canal boat ride)....Rochelle has a train-viewing platform....Starved Rock State Park has a magnificent lodge made out of logs. And we could just sit next to the 1930's 10' tall fireplace and read a book. (we could go on a hike...but I'm gonna try to sell the reading activity.).

Hey -- if this day-trippin works out -- we might even venture up into Wisconsin....so, brace yourself, Deanna!!

These two kids have been together 24-7 for the last four months...and this has caused some...well, turmoil. So tomorrow -- it's Lilly's turn for some one-on-one Grandma time. She and I will be taking our FIRST ROAD TRIP of the summer...Warren is already planning his road trip for next week.

I'll keep you posted!!

And, hey -- Lilly is 11 years old, and Warren is 7. THIS could be the Grandma Camp them remember when they are old and gray...

Peaces of Fashion

This LaSalle, Illinois shopping spree was completely unexpected and unplanned. Rhonda and I started our perfect day off at a little sidewalk cafe..with an actual CREPE...

But, before heading to the park to do our work -- we thought we'd bop into this boutique across the street.

Rhonda took a GREAT PICTURE of me in my new Frankensewed tunic -- and she loved the backdrop of this store.  "Peaces of Fashion..."  (I'll post that picture later...when I blog about the tunic..)

I was using my new phone to take pictures...and you'll see why I HAD TO BUY this coin purse...

The owner of the shop, Denna, took our pictures (several times)

She has a unique eye -- and her merchandise was SPOT ON...interesting, and funny...

Eclectic and unexpected...

The clothes were unique...loved this tie-front blouse.

But the BACK floral print is what made it interesting.

The shop had a nice mix of clothes,  accessories and jewelry.

And A VERY OBVIOUS SENSE OF HUMOR...

But, what the shop specializes in??

That's right -- SHOES. Beautiful, stylish, comfortable, SHOES...

This is the only picture I have of the two of us. AND IT IS PERFECT...cuz??

Because, for me, on this day, in this shop -- it was ALL ABOUT THE SHOES.  I bought THREE PAIRS OF SHOES.  The wonderful, comfortable expensive kind of summer sandals...THAT I CAN NEVER FIND.

The brands are: Red sandal (with four adjustable straps) is EARTH. The black sandal: Aetrex, and the Gray sandal:  STRIVE

LaSalle Day Trippin'

Yesterday, Rhonda Pierce and I had one of our "Half-way" meetings. In LaSalle, Illinois...a gem of a little city in the middle of the great state of Illinois.

I live about 5 miles from the Mississippi River (the border between Iowa and Illinois) -- and the reopening of these two sister-states has been vastly different.

In Iowa, we've been eating inside restaurants for over a month. But Illinois won't allow that until tomorrow. However, about two weeks ago, Illinois restaurants were allowed to reopen with "outdoor" table service.

Also, wearing a face covering has been mandatory in Illinois. That was never the case in Iowa. Every business was allowed to create their own rules about face masks.

Anyway...Rhonda and I were both itching for a day trip. And THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING in this sewing world of ours. So -- we picked this day. And this place.

And it was SUCH A WONDERFUL IDEA...

For one thing -- IT WAS A PERFECT SUMMER DAY. Can you see that azure sky, with the fluffy clouds..it was mid-70's, with a pleasant breeze...

I love their motto!

Hey -- everybody's gotta have a motto, right?

OF COURSE, we found a quilt shop (much more about that later)...

Rhonda has a particular affinity for Shannon fabrics!!

And we BOTH enjoy a simple Blueberry/Lemon ricotta cake...yummo...

It was the perfect day to eat outside!!

Besides the fabulous lunch -- we met THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE on this day.

AND -- you are not gonna believe the shopping I did!!

THANKS, RHONDA...THANKS SCHMETZ NEEDLES....THANKS LASALLE, ILLINOIS...

Really, people.  Life just does not get any better than this.  It was the P.E.R.F.E.C.T.... D.A.Y.....and I am NOT kidding...

Tomorrow -- you'll see what I bought...

My Pandemic Sewing.

Since the quarantine began -- I have sewed SOMETHING....almost every single day.

During this time of quarantine, I've gotta say, I did not make anything of significance.  Although I have sewed some EPIC things in my life -- when I assess the last three months, what do I have to show for it?   I wasn't working on a beautiful quilt, or finishing a decades old UFO's, nor sewing cushions for vintage porch furniture...so, what was I sewing?

My pandemic sewing could best be described as eclectic.

I added a side panel to a great dress (that was a size Medium)...

I re-styled several pair of pants into "capri" pants for my summer ACTIVITIES. (some were too big, others too small).

I made about  15 pairs of shorts for Lilly and Warren -- cutting up old t-shirts.

To be prepared, just in case we are allowed to go swimming -- I added side panels to about six pairs of swim trunks for Warren.

Lilly got taller -- so her suits from last year would fit, but I cut them at the waist and added a 2" panel all around to make them longer....

I tried on a thriftstore swimsuit I bought for me, but never got a chance to wear.  The bust was too big, and the straps kept falling off my shoulder.   So, I restyled the neckline, and shortened the straps...

Another suit, which I LOVED, wore out in the way swimsuits always do.  The back panel lost it's lycra, and became transparent.  Concerned that seeing my butt-crack would cause heart attacks for the octogenarian men at the pool -- I cut the back out of another suit, and franksewed them together.

I made a new pair of pillowcases for a set of Queen sheets I was giving to my friend Melissa for her housewarming.

I finished Jackie's birthday t-shirt quilt.

I turned five or six winter mock-turtleneck tops of mine into much more comfortable, wearable SUMMER SHIRTS. 

• First, I cut about 6" off the sleeves
• Then, I cut off the eneck ribbing
• re-cut the neckline
• I re-attached a much narrower piece of ribbing to the neck opening (using the OLD ribbing along with some of the cut-away sleeve fabric). 

John wants pockets on all his shirts...so I  added pockets to about six shirts...the fabric matches aren't perfect, but he doesn't care a bit about that.  I'd use the sleeve from another shirt, or the bottom hem -- because the existing hem gave me a nice top of the pocket.

And -- oh, yes -- I'm working on a GREAT tunic top right now.  The design was very eye-catching...black and turquoise ...one of my lifetime favs...

Hummm...I did more sewing than I realized.  And if I have pictures -- I'm gonna BLOG THESE DETAILS...

Pandemic Accomplishments

I am SO FORTUNATE to live where I live. And I know it.  Iowa has had very low numbers for Covid 19, and we haven't experienced any secondary increase in those numbers for the last six weeks...so, I am very grateful.

For me, it's time to resume and reclaim a little "Normal". 

Yes, I've been eating in restaurants.  (yippee kayay!)...and the thrift stores are open again..lol...(THAT felt like a major turning point!).

The kids and I are BACK IN THE POOL...and that feels amazing.  Last Saturday, we had the place all to ourselves...

My friends are back to getting together in our homes.  (we are a bunch of old ladies who mostly DON'T GO ANYWHERE OR DO ANYTHING...HEY -- WHAT COULD BE SAFER?).  Last Friday, the MDF had lunch at Sandy's house for a birthday party for Sue...who was celebrating her 83th birthday.  I made popovers and egg salad, and Sandy made a wonderful chicken salad and German Chocolate cake...and, I am telling you -- WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.

In two days, I've got another day-trip to meet Rhonda in Illinois...AND I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT...

Next week, I have a day trip to meet with my YOUNG FRIEND ANNE...and I am also looking forward to that. 

I understand there isn't a vaccine...and I know this thing isn't over.  But -- as we move forward, I am confident, and comforted, that at this point, we all know a lot about how this virus is transmitted -- through the droplets of an infected person.  Wash your hands.  Use hand sanitizer.  Don't touch your mouth or nose.  And respect a social distance when you're in a crowded place.  IF YOU'RE SICK, DON'T GO OUT.  It's not rocket science.  IT'S COMMON SENSE...

When I look back on the last three months, my biggest accomplishment will be my basement.  And my upstairs bathroom floor.

The floor IS SIMPLY AMAZING.  Next week, I'm having an official unveiling celebration with my sisters and cousins.  I'll keep you posted...AND I'LL TAKE PICTURES with my new smart phone...(another pandemic accomplishment)...

The next two weeks will be ALL ABOUT THE REVEALS...

*************
When it comes to pandemic accomplishment -- my niece Kelcy wins the Grand Prize.  That girl certainly made the most of her time...and her talents...

Kelcy,  the mother of the four adorable children in yesterday's blog, is a professional photographer.

She specializes in taking family photos (NEWBORNS are her favorites). She loves to do her photo shoots outdoors...and sets up elaborate, unlikely scenes. Like a Victorian settee in the middle of a meadow...that kind of thing.

Taking advantage of her special skills, Kelcy cooked up this idea...which allowed her to "socially distance" from her subjects -- and, also, raise money for a very good cause.
 
Well -- I'll let her tell you about it...

HOORAY TO SWIMMING...!!

Because of the pandemic, of course, the activity of swimming has been completely OFF THE TABLE. The YMCA was closed...and, as we tip-toed into re-entry here in Iowa -- rumor had it that public swimming pools would be closed all summer.  The kids and I are missing it...

Then, a wonderful thing happened.  My niece, Kelcy, was having a surprise 40th birthday party for her husband, Andy...and they would be opening their beautiful backyard pool for the kids.

WE ARE IN, PEOPLE...

Lilly made a cookie cake (note the new haircut)

She chose the United States of America cake pan...then, colored some frosting

Warren helped me pick out some beach towels for Kelcy's kids...

Their last name is Hanson.. PERFECT!!  (Mary -- remember this sewing sample from one of our Ya Ya shows?)

Warren used to love his Thomas Train towel.  He passed it down to Dawson...

Turns out, we had PLENTY OF TOWELS in the basement...I could have gifted the entire village...

The kids were SO EXCITED about being able to go swimming...

Swimming is, without a doubt, their favorite thing to do. It has always been a big part of our summer Grandma Camp....

Thanks, Kelcy!!

My New Smart Phone

Okay, okay...so after I got my BRAND NEW CAR...it became painfully obvious that I would also need to once again venture into the confusing, costly world of smart phones.  Ugh.  I made the decision years ago to get RID OF MY SMARTPHONE...BECAUSE -- well -- the reasons don't matter.  That was then...and THIS IS NOW.

But there is ONE BIG REASON I'm slogging back into the troublesome world of smartphones...

Books on Tape.

Ugh.

My new car does not have a CD Player....

Double ugh.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE listening to books on tape.  And because we live in the country -- I'm in my car A LOT.  I also like to listen to books when I'm walking on my treadmill...or when I'm sewing...

There are few things that delight me more than a nice little road trip and a good audio-book...

My love of listening has out-lived several generations of technology...cassette tapes (still my favorite), the CD books (kind of a pain, but I was used to them).  But now I must embrace the technology of "downloading" a book to my smartphone -- which will then play it through my car speakers via blue tooth.

Theoretically...

And so far -- it's not going all that well.

But I'll figure it out.

I'm looking for some tips and tricks here.  I have a Moto G7 Play -- which is a low-end Smartphone -- but should do everything I need it to do.

I already used the Libby app to download some library books -- that was slick.  But I haven't been able to get it to play through my car speakers.  Any ideas?

Also -- do you use your smartphone to listen to music?  If I can figure out the speaker problem -- that's the next thing I'd like to figure out.

Anyway -- if you have any smartphone advice for me -- like, your favorite apps, etc. -- please share!!  My email is...

farrorita@gmail.com

Bathroom Floor Preview

The best thing about the Floor Pop tile is that it goes directly on top of your existing tile.

Our big discussion was which way the "word" tiles should face....we chose RANDOM...

This is a crappy picture of the wall treatment (which I did years ago)

You also get a glimpse of the window treatment (plastic circles)

The directions were minimal -- but I remember (from YEARS AGO) that it helped to heat the tile before you removed the paper backing.

The bathroom is small -- so, actually there are only 9 whole tiles. Ugh. Every other tile required custom cutting...

I'm telling you. Those utility knives are not so easy to use...and I had some problems with cutting around the corners and the toilet...ugh.... There were only 9 whole tiles...so I had to cut almost 30 tiles to get the job done. (Lilly completely missed out on that job)

TMBC Special Guests

The TMBC is still getting together every Tuesday -- for our socially distanced visits. Last week, we even had three SPECIAL GUESTS...

LP brought her two daughters...Kim from Texas and Whitney from Illinois.

We met in LeClaire, Iowa -- under a lovely picnic pavilion that sits right along the Mississippi River...And, of course, we all drove separate cars.  (Thanks, virus...for killing carpooling..)

At this point, we all travel with tablecloths in our car...LP with her girls shared a table.

They even had a SEW AND TELL...

We were also celebrating Jackie's birthday -- with CUPCAKES, of course...I love the picture of the Twilight Riverboat in the background.

It was a chilly, overcast day.  And, after a few hours, it was starting to rain.  BUT WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY WE HAD...

Thanks for coming, girls...

Yes, we are the lucky ones...

The 2020 COUSIN OLYMPICS...

It's been a very long three months, that's for sure. And not just for us -- the adults. The kids haven't had school...or their friends...their usual sports activities. It's been hard on them, too.

On what WOULD HAVE BEEN their last day of school -- Deena invited us to her yard for some old-fashioned  school yard games.

The first order of business was lunch.  Deena had all the makings so the kids could make their own pizzas...

She used pitas as the base -- and the kids LOVED THEM.

Lilly and Warren, along with six of Deena's grands.  Mason, Myla, Oliver, Clayton, Aspen and Dawson.

We picked teams -- and started off with some kick-ball.

Then, some old fashioned school yard games.  Red Rover, Red Rover...Drip, Drip, Drop...

Bocce (which I always have in my trunk)

A Three-Legged Race.

We went inside for a water break...and a game of Bananagrams.

Later on, it was time for an icey/juice break...

The FINALE to our big day of COUSINS OLYMPICS had to be -- of course -- A WATER FIGHT

Deena had these wonderful water balloons -- that attach to a hose, then fill with water, and when they fall off the end of the straws, they are closed...

The kids never had a chance....