Social Distanced TMBC

So -- like everybody else on the planet -- here in Iowa we're trying to figure out what our "New Normal" looks like.

One of the things I missed the most was the weekly TMBC download!! Even though our State was not ready to do business as usual -- we decided to get together again. But, instead of breakfast in a restaurant -- it would be a socially distanced sack lunch in an outdoor park.

GREAT.

Because -- believe me when I say Bettendorf, Iowa has some BEAUTIFUL PARKS!!

For our first OUTDOOR TMBC -- we went to the beautiful Veteran's Memorial Park

This is a wonderful park, with a huge bandshell.

We took advantage of the outdoor seating...to insure the proper Social Distance.

Although it was chilly (luckily, I always have a blanket in my trunk)

But we still did our Sew-and-Tell...(I can't remember why LP is making that face...she is gonna HATE this picture!)

For Week Two -- we picked the NEWEST park -- Forest Road.

The possibility of April Showers means we need a PAVILION...

I arrived early to set up our tables.

We enjoyed our usual weekly downloads (wearing jackets and sitting on hard benches)

Instead of a SEW and TELL -- I did a cooking demonstration. Homemade cavatelli. (thank-you Michael Symon!)

Hey -- I LOVE ME A GOOD KWIK-STAR LUNCH!!

And who are we kidding? The TMBC has NEVER been about the gourmet food...

The TMBC is about being connected...doing the weekly download...just being girlfriends who share the good, the bad and the ugly. We celebrate and commiserate --whichever is called for!

Last week, I called an emergency TMBC...so I could see the JAW DROPPING look on their faces when I said these words, "Elliott gave me a new car!"

So, okay -- things are definitely NOT back to normal...and who knows when that will happen?

But, for now -- we're taking it day by day...like all of you,,,Doing our best...making the most...

It reminds me of the Serenity Prayer...

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference...

Worthwhile

Okay -- here's how my life works. I try to do something worthwhile every single day. I decided to look up the word "worthwhile".

worthwhile: worth the time, money, or effort spent; of value or importance. synonyms: valuable, useful, of use, of service, beneficial, rewarding, advantageous, positive, helpful, profitable, gainful, fruitful, productive, lucrative, constructive, effective, effectual, meaningful, worthy...

Humm...So -- what does that mean??

Obviously -- everybody gets to decide that for themselves.

For me -- it's a worthwhile day if I create something.

At the very beginning of this horrible historic pandemic, Rhonda Pierce -- who is the most organized person I know -- was finishing UFO's that had been in her stash for decades.

She said she felt like she had been given the gift of time....

And that changed the way I looked at this thing.

So -- what have you been doing with this "Gift of Time"?

On Wednesday, at 1:00 (CST) -- on Facebook Live -- Rhonda will be sharing what SHE's been making during the Coronavirus Quarantine. Schmetz Needles Facebook Page.

She's calling it the SWIM show....(See What I Made)...

And I'm pretty sure there will be prizes...

Rhonda's Facebook LIVE SWIM SHOW (See What I Made) is tomorrow (Wednesday) -- at 1:00

Monday, May 11

So -- here's my tip for this week. It's one of those Facebook pages...where you can spend hours and hours (ask me how I know this)...

QUARANTINED CABARET....

Honestly...Laura Mendoza told me about this page. Laura was recently featured in the Schmetz Inspired To Sew Magazine...

https://issuu.com/schmetzneedles/docs/its77-may20?fr=sYTM1ZDE3NTM3.


And you may know her from the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington.

As it turns out -- her husband Jim is QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHED SINGER. I loved listening to him (and many others!) -- and this song was new to me... I'm not sure if that link will work. But if you go "like" the page, you can type his name into the search box...(Jim Mendoza).

Or, as I happily found out, ANY SONG TITLE you love...Believe me -- the chances are very good that many people have been singing the songs you love. And I love hearing about people who are using this time in such a productive, creative way.

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On the topic of music -- the BEST NEW SHOW ON TELEVISION is Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. If you didn't see it the first time around -- make a note to watch it on demand. IT IS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL...and I love watching it with the kids.

The finale had one of the most moving scenes I've ever watched on television...really...it's amazing...one looooong shot...




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MMWI: 227.6

Happy Mother's Day

Elliott,Emily, Lilly, Warren and I were all in Elliott's truck -- driving around to pick up the scavenger hunt clues. Our final destination was the little park where the kids and I set up our Social Distance Cafe last month....

I set up their Easter Egg hunt here...and I figured they were about to return the favor...

BUT I WAS WRONG...

As we pulled into the park, Elliott handed me a little box...

Inside was a KEY FOB...!!

THEY GAVE ME A BRAND NEW CAR..!!

BEST FAMILY PICTURE we ever took!!

I am still in a state of shock. No kidding. It just doesn't seem real...My Hyundai Sonata was 10 years old and had gone 164,000 miles.

It took me the better part of two days to clean out the trunk...Mary said, "I'll bet you found lots of neat stuff"....

The truth is -- I was just happy I didn't find a family of racoons living there.

The PERFECT DAY

Monday, May 4th was THE MOST PERFECT DAY. I got in my car, filled up on some $1.17 gas...and headed over to Mendota, Illinois to meet Rhonda Pierce for lunch.

We met up in a CVS parking lot -- then scoped out the park situation.  Turns out Mendota has a beautiful lake, as well as the Hume-Carnegie park right downtown (in front of the original Carnegie library).

It was VERY WINDY...and kinda cold for an actual picnic...but we managed.  Then, we got IN Rhonda's car to actually talk a little business.  In this whole new world we're living in....

We had a wonderful, responsible, socially proper distanced visit!!

On the way home, I drove about 80 miles in Illinois Hwy 92...and I only met 4 cars.  There was not one other car (or tractor) in my lane the whole way home...

THEN -- this happened.

Since Monday is cleaning day -- Carrie worked in my basement ALONE -- without any help from me (or would she call it interference?)...and when I went down there -- I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES.  That girl is magic.  She had things organized, and sorted, and bagged, labeled...it was an AMAZING thing to see.  Suddenly, all the kids' craft activities are living in the same space, and there are about 100 pithy t-shirts all hung up and sorted...OMG...OMG...OMG...

So -- like this day wasn't PERFECT ENOUGH...

THIS HAPPENED...

Emily called (about 5:30) and said the kids had been working on a Mother's Day scavenger hunt for me -- but they were so bored and antsy, she told them they could do it tonight.  I said sure -- come on over...and when they did, Lilly had worked on some artful clues -- with pictures, and rhyming words -- the scavenger hunt took us outside, down to the garden, into Elliott's truck, up to my brother's house...then, finally, to the little park on the corner.  (which the kids and I had turned into the Social Distance Cafe last month)....

And there it was.  Their gift to me.

You really will not believe it...

It is SO SPECIAL -- it needs a special blog post all it's own...

Tomorrow -- on Mother's Day -- I'll post the picture.

Happy Anniversary!

Elliott and Emily had a wedding anniversary -- and, of course, I gave them my usual gift -- A SET OF SHEETS. This set was very, very special. My friend Judy Irwin embroidered the monogram "E" for me when I wrote my book, Dress Your Dream Bed...

Warren spent hours making the BIGGEST CARD EVER...

Elliott did some mushroom hunting...then I took this picture.  BEST FAMILY PHOTO EVER..!!

VBP: Gluten-free Cookies!

So -- okay -- I'm not QUITE done celebrating my VBP...and you know how sometimes one thing leads to another...which is what happened in this case.

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I received this email on my birthday...from Jane...with a picture...

Happy Birthday!

Today, I walked, wrote letters, went to church on-line, watched a friend’s video demo and paid bills. Still to come, a nap and then a trip to my folks’ to check on them.

Happy gluten free coconut semi snicker doodle cookies for you!

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One thing led to another...

When I thanked Jane, I was curious about her gluten free journey -- as Carrie's daughter, Elizabeth, found out she has celiac disease three years ago -- and it has been a struggle for her.

THEN THIS HAPPENED...

I was waiting to post a picture -- but right now, I can't find my camera (hey -- don't judge me -- there's a LOT GOING ON HERE)...

BUT, I took some amazing pictures of Carrie, opening the box Jane sent...LOADED with cook books, and mixes, and cornmeal...

Carrie was DELIGHTED...and when she asked how Jane and I became friends...I just smiled and said...

S.E.W.I.N.G.

Once again -- I'd like to say this.  Women who sew are the BEST people. They are kind and generous and thoughtful.  Really.  It's something I've known for a very long time...

THANKS AGAIN, JANE...I always find my camera sooner or later...and I'll send you pics of Elizabeth, after baking a loaf of gluten-free bread!!