GMB Cookie Day

Saturday morning. My friend Bert. And auctions. More for me to be grateful for...

On Saturday, December 12 -- my favorite auctioneers -- the GMB crew -- had a big estate sale in Dewitt, Iowa.

But the BEST thing about this particular auction was that it was COOKIE DAY. Hooray!! Once a year, as a thank you to us -- their loyal customers -- they BRING 10,000 homemade cookies and Christmas candies. They must bake for weeks to put on this HUMONGOUS spread...and they keep putting more cookies out, for hours and hours...it's free cookies...holiday table linens and Christmas sweaters everywhere you turn.



I wish I had a picture of the whole crew. But they were too busy running the auction. (truthfully, I was pretty busy eating cookies.) I did manage this candid shot of Ruby, who was in the middle of restocking the brownies...


This is my favorite moment of the day. Bert & I only wear our twin purple moon boots if there is a foot of snow on the ground, and it's REALLY cold...here we are...doing one of our favorite Saturday morning things...in DeWitt, at an auction catching up with each other's week.



Many years ago -- we bought the purple boots at a big sale -- something like "buy two pair and we'll pay you". clearly, neither one of us has ever been a slave to fashion....it's really the best thing about us....

I AM GRATEFUL

The electrical blackout made me realize how important electricity was to my happiness -- and how it's one of those things you only think about if you DO NOT HAVE IT. The six-hour blackout made me think about the other things I take for granted.

My house, located in a quiet cornfield in this very free United States of America, has indoor plumbing, a dishwasher, central air conditioning and a screened-in porch with 80 hummingbirds. We never think about the quality of the air we breath or the free water we drink. We never worry about bombs dropping or other states trying to invade us...

Inside my house, I have such bounty. This computer, 400-thread count sheets, the internet, three television sets hooked up to CABLE television -- HGTV, Paula Deen, the Real Housewives of New York City, well --

Parked in front of my house is a paid-for reliable car that has a button that will spritz cleaning solution on my dirty windshield. (that's about the best thing you can say about a 2003 Taurus). No matter what direction I drive -- there is a wonderful highway system...and a state crew that comes to PLOW THE SNOW...

I could drive that car to a grocery store where I can buy things like sliced bread and fresh fruit -- any time of the year. That store has microwave popcorn, Safeguard soap, a year-round supply of bananas, disposable diapers and already prepared meals. And it's open 24 hours a day...

Oh, yeah -- I AM GRATEFUL....

We had about one hour of daylight left when the power went off the other day. In that time, John gathered up the candles, the flashlights, and his supply of EXTRA batteries. That morning he made sure we had a bathtub full of water (to flush the toilet). He brought in exra firewood, and put out extra food and warm water for his cats.



We heat our house with wood -- this is what the wood pile looks like right now! Behind there -- you can just barely see my clothesline. I won't be hanging my sheets outside this week...
Anyway -- even though John NEVER reads this blog -- I wanted to say how much I appreciate him. I realize he is the electricity in my life...and I'm going to make an extra effort to let him know -- OH YEAH -- I AM GRATEFUL...

My Gift to the Girls

On our last night in New York City -- we sat around the hotel room and rehashed where we'd been and what we did. The shopping, the subway rides, the fabulous meals.

This was just the moment I pictured in my head....because I wanted to give the girls something from me to remember this wonderful trip -- and -- none of you will be surprised that I had PACKED SOME LINENS from my Iowa stash...

I had six vintage aprons -- each girl got to pick one. Allie and Lexi did "scissors, paper, rock" to see who went first. Emily got a special Christmas apron -- because there was an "E" on the pocket. This is a picture of Lexi and her Mom, Stacy...



Because there were seven of us on the trip, I also brought a set of embroidered "7 Days a Week" dishtowels from my Mom's hope chest....

This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip. Each of us stuck one foot into the circle...
at that moment, each of us was holding ONE dishtowel from the set from Mom's hope chest. My sister Deborah got 'Sewing". I settled for "Washing"....(as long as I didn't get cleaning, I was happy)...


Maybe one day -- the seven of us will go BACK to New York City -- and we'll reunite Mom's set of dishtowels...Until then, I hope these wonderful young women use them often -- and remember that night in the Wellington Hotel. Thanks again, Deborah!!

I think Mom would be very pleased...

SNOW DAY

There's a blizzard in Iowa. Ten inches of snow with 30 mph winds.

And the temperature is dropping like a ROCK...


BAM. THE ELECTRICITY WENT OUT. Suddenly, we were scrambling for candles, flashlights, batteries. I couldn't do ANYTHING I NEEDED TO DO. I couldn't cook, take a shower, walk on my treadmill, sew, vacuum, wash dishes, do laundry, clean my basement...

Of course -- those are all things I chose NOT TO DO for the last three days -- when I actually DID have power in the house.

By 4:30 in the afternoon -- the house was completely dark, and getting cold really quick. I can't watch television, or listen to my new Susan Boyle CD, I can't make a cup of coffee or do any sewing. I can't get online. I can't work on my jigsaw puzzle. I can't cook -- not so much as a piece of toast. I can't even read a book...

Who knew electricity was so important in my life? I never give it even a single moment of thought, y'know? This black out day has given me a new perspective. It made me wonder how many other things in my life I completely take for granted?

HEY, CAROL

Hey, Carol!!

Now, see, isn't this fun? I know exactly who I'm talking to -- but maybe there are 50 or 150 "Carols" reading this blog -- so they will ALL think I am writing to them. (Remember Romper Room and the mirror -- hummm...on second thought -- never mind...)

Carol and her sisters and friends are excited about making an outfit for the PINK AND RED FASHION SHOW...which was recently announced in the Expo Newsletter (the Expo Insider).

The thing is -- we haven't exactly finalized all the details yet. (translation: I have to figure out how to work with a photo-sharing-website)...

But -- it will all be for TWO very worthy causes -- and the two biggest killers of women in America -- heart disease and breast cancer. Every dollar we collect goes to the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.

Who could forget last year's GO RED Style Show? Here's Catherine Devico from Janome in a stunning red silk suit...be sure to read the show blog to see what exciting brand-new-hands-on-recycling-sewing-adventure they have planned for next year's show!

My friend Carol is already brainstorming her pink and red outfits with her sisters and friends. Do you think they're talking about a group design? That might be fun, eh? But you're gonna have to REALLY GO SOME to beat out Judy and Chris...they went ALL OUT for last year's Go Red Event!!

As soon as I know all the details -- I'll post it on the official show blog (sewingandstitcheryexpo.blogspot.com). Coats & Clark and the Sewing & Stitchery Expo team are working out the details of our "audience participation" even as we speak...

Don't forget to check out the Coats & Clark blog -- they WANT TO SEE YOUR GARMENTS...and I'm pretty sure "thread" as a surface design will be one thing they look for!!

THANKS for the email, Carol -- we'll have everything ready to go after Christmas...

NEW YORK CITY

We arrived in New York City on Thursday, December 3, 2009. This trip was all about my sister Deborah taking her "girls" to New York. Her daughters, Glennda & Emily, her daughter-in-law Stacy, and her two granddaughters, Lexi and Allie. So we are an enthusiastic group of seven. However, on our first full day in the city -- FRIDAY, December 4, 2009 -- NONE OF THEM want to get up early to go to the TODAY SHOW.
My alarm went off at 6:00 (that's 5:00 CST). I realized Deb was already up. Emily was sleeping on the rollaway bed in our room. Deb & I both quietly got ready, walking around Emily and each other in the dark room as we got dressed, took turns in the bathroom brushing our teeth, and combing our hair. Silently, we got completely dressed, put on our coats, shoes, even a bit of lipstick -- and I picked up the Hey Rita tote as we walked out of the room together. We did all that without turning on a light or saying a single word. We went down the hall and turned the corner to walk to the elevator, Deb pushed the button, and for the first time, we both spoke. At the same moment, we both said, "Good Morning".

Rockefeller Center had just LIT THE TREE on Wednesday night. And, as we feared, on this Friday morning, the crowd was immense. We couldn't get close to the fenced area...


We decided to get a cup of coffee at Dean & Deluca...where we met two charming women from Louisiana. They had been in the city for several days -- and, apparently, on WEDNESDAY -- they walked right up to the fenced area at 7:00 AM...!! So there's my travel tip -- GO ON A WEEKDAY. Friday's are usually concerts -- the city is full of tourists -- DUH!!


Leaving Deb at Dean & Deluca -- I managed to wind my way up to the fence -- and gave the Hey Rita tote to a woman who had a really good spot. She was kind enough to hold the bag over the fence while I went back to drink coffee and enjoy a scone...so maybe you DID see HEY RITA -- but you didn't see me!! Bummer...

Mostly -- we sat on a comfy stool inside Dean & Deluca -- making friends with the girls from Louisiana!! I HOPE THEY ARE READING THIS BLOG...because meeting them was SO MUCH FUN!! They sat in this primo spot -- waving to the "tourists" and greeting the huddled masses...you've just gotta love a coupla women with such great ATTITUDES...

Oh, yeah, Deborah -- WHAT A GREAT TIME!! Thanks for inviting me!!

New York City Slide Show!!

HEY -- I know the music can be annoying. But I LOVE THIS SLIDE SHOW!! I promise -- this will only be up on the blog for TWO DAYS. It's the easiest way I know to let my family and friends see what we did and where we went...

(REMEMBER PEOPLE -- YOU CAN ALWAYS HIT YOUR MUTE BUTTON -- IT'S AN ICON ON THE LOWER RIGHT HAND SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN...)

Can you guess what Broadway Show they went to see?? OF COURSE -- MAMA MIA!

WHAT A GREAT NEW YORK CITY CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE WE HAD...!! I loved, loved, loved spending time with Deborah, Glennda, Allie, Stacy, Lexi, and Emily. You are an AMAZING group of young women. And to my sister, Deborah -- thanks again for asking me -- it was an honor to be a part of your generous gift to your girls...

Life just doesn't get any better than this, people!!