Sisters Pre-Easter Event

Easter is one of those MAJOR HOLIDAYS...and often, the best part of it is the anticipation and preparation. So, with that in mind, I invited my sister Ronda and her granddaughter, Memphis, to my house so we could do some egg coloring, Easter crafting and cooking...

We were drinking our first cup of coffee when the girls did their first big DRESS UP...

Lilly was showing Memphis how to do a "curtsy"...(Memphis was not interested)

They both looked GREAT in their pink chiffon/organza/multi-layered skirts...

Each girl had 18 eggs to color...or decorate...there were crayons, and stickers...

It was a beautiful day -- so we moved out on the porch to do the Easter-shaped sugar cookies (the cookies were from the grocery store refrigerator case...perfect)

Another dress-up...they both liked these options

What a wonderful day we had!! Lilly and Mem dressed up several times, they colored the Easter eggs, then had several "hunts" in the living room, they made the cut out sugar cookies (with sprinkles), and then we poured some jello into molds (shaped like eggs and bunnies).

There was the usual treasure-hunt....

And, Oh, yes, we know how lucky we are...

Mary Mulari and Rita Luck

One of the highlights of the year is ALWAYS Mary's Iowa Visit. We have a wonderful time -- and we never, ever seem to run out of things to talk about!!

Whenever Mary comes to Iowa -- she has a LOT OF PEOPLE to catch up with. John, my friends and family...my book clubbers...Lillian and Warren...

AND -- the old crew from my store, where we first met, all those years ago -- Rita's Sew Fun in Clinton, Iowa.  We usually go to breakfast or lunch...and it's always a great "Sew and Tell"...

Patsy Wuebben was always a big part of that group.  She started off as a customer -- but ended up a worker, and she was a big part of every special event.  However -- this year, when I called Patsy (at the last minute) to tell her Mary was coming to town, and we were going to have breakfast on Monday -- she told me she wouldn't be able to come.  Darnit.  Hey -- we didn't have much notice...

On Saturday, Mary's first day in town -- we were going to a couple of auctions...and, on the spur of the moment, I pulled into the Bargain Bonanza...a big thrift store in Clinton. Mary was walking down the aisle, when a voice said, "Mary Mulari?"...she turned to look -- and --

IT WAS PATSY WUEBBEN!! Are you kidding me?? What are the chances??

Mary and Patsy sat down for a bit for a little catch-up...we were all STUNNED by our stroke of luck.  

Mary always finds something wonderful when she comes to Iowa...

Can you believe this embroidered dishtowel??

She and Bert were both admiring this vintage woman's suit...

The very best part is the collar in the back. STUNNING...

I'm still waiting to download the pictures of Mary's VERY BEST FIND during her most recent Iowa treasure hunt...

Kids are Work!!

One week, Lilly and Warren spent a Monday night sleeping over at my house. Since I ALWAYS do breakfast with my crew on Tuesday -- it seemed like a simple thing to invite them to eat here. If the weather is nice, we might be able to have our first breakfast on the porch...

I knew I'd be busy with the kids -- so I never planned to actually cook much. No problem...the rest of the team had it covered. Linda will bring her breakfast casserole...Sandy is down for the donuts...

Lilly was excited about having company for breakfast...(although, this is not her excited face).  So excited, as a matter of fact, she woke up at 5:30 that day to get dressed...

She tried on three or four outfits before she settled on this...

I actually thought it would be easy-peasy. I''ll get up early and take my shower....Maybe I'll have time before the kids get out of bed to make a pan of mini-popovers...

HA HA HA...Of course, you know what I'm going to say. When the ladies arrived -- I was still in my robe...no shower, I hadn't even had a chance to comb my hair. Popovers?? FORGET ABOUT IT. I hadn't even put the coffee on.

But nobody cared. Linda got the coffee started

Ronda put Warren in his high chair and got something for him to eat...

Ronda and Sandy got the food on the table -- while I went to brush my teeth...

The two Lindas were yucking it up...

Lilly changed her clothes for school -- (I had to take her at Noon)...

Lilly had special gifts for the girls...Sandy is her A-1 Pen Pal, and for all that effort -- she gets a pink hard boiled egg. (a girl can never go wrong with pink).

Mineral Point, Wisconsin

Mineral Point, Wisconsin is a charming little town -- known for it's artsy-fartsy vibe. They have a special school there -- the Shag Rug Alley...no, that's not right...I just looked it up. It's the Shake Rag Alley School for the Arts. They have classes, and presentations all the time...

AND everywhere you go in town - there is a gallery, or an artist studio -- or this big, wonderful old mill that is now a residence, studio and store for a couple of sculpturists/potters....

It is a wonderful old building...full of life and art...

I didn't see this girl until I was getting in my car. ISN'T SHE WONDERFUL???

As small towns go in today's world, Mineral Point is just about as good as it gets...there are many stores, galleries, bars, restaurants, several thrift stores, boutiques, etc.

At one of the shops, I found this embroidered towel. Great sentiment, eh??

AN UNBELIEVABLE find!!  Look -- an actual ZEBRA chenille bedspread.  I had no idea such a fabulous thing even existed...

Please note -- while I was shopping away -- Deanna was answering emails...!!

Cleaning my Trunk...

There is NO BIGGER RUSH than cleaning out the trunk of my car. Over this difficult winter, it had become filled to the brim with treasures, goodwill bags, boxes of fragile things I don't even remember buying....

Of course, a girl can't have enough hats with feathers...

AND a Round Faberware electric skillet for only $4??  (even though the one I am currently using works perfectly -- one day I'll be glad I have this SPARE one in the line-up.)

The perfect size shoulder bag...with an embroidered initial.  I have a cousin named Kim, remember...

A Crossword puzzle machine....

It's official -- nobody needs five food processors in their basement...

These are two LARGE Christmas rugs. Buy them AFTER the holiday, and they're only $3 each...

Lilly loved getting this for Easter...now it holds her ponytail holders and barettes...

hand held mirror...

Unused pillowcases. $12 for a WHOLE BOX OF SETS...

THIS set of embroidered, appliqued pillowcases and top sheet is spectacular!!

Wire art.  ALWAYS one of my favorite things to find. And buy.  And carry around in the trunk of my car for weeks on end...

Yes, I am looking for a support group...

HELLO MARY!!

WOW...it was such a busy spring!! One of the highlights, of course, was having Mary Mulari come to Iowa for her annual visit.

She arrived late at night -- so we went to the Ross' 24 hour restaurant in Bettendorf for a snack.

This local dive is world famous because several Presidents have dined here.  (Remember -- I live in IOWA).

There is a small picture of Barack Obama on the inside -- but this LARGE photo of his Secret Service agent is hanging in the foyer!!

Mary got lucky -- there were TWO auctions that Saturday!

You will, undoubtedly, be shocked to learn that we did NOT buy these paper mache people...but we THOUGHT ABOUT IT...

When Mary comes to Iowa -- we are busy from morning until night. We have places to go, people to see...it was a rock and roll weekend...and the auctions were JUST THE BEGINNING...

Spontaneous Day Trip

Okay -- it's been a LONG WINTER (I know you're sick of hearing this -- I am sick of LIVING it)...

But at the first sign of Spring -- I was ready for a road trip!!

So -- on the spur of the moment -- I made a phone call, got in the car, and drove 3 hours to have lunch with a friend...Can you guess who??

Here's a shoe shot...Note, I am wearing SANDALS -- it was 70 degrees in Iowa!!

 I drove NORTH for 3 hours -- and there was STILL SNOW...

Here's another clue.  A local restaurant making an original Cornish "Pasty"...???

THERE SHE IS...taking a picture of me taking a picture of her...

Deanna Springer from Beaver Dam.  We hooked up in the scenic, always beautiful, historic Mineral Point, Wisconsin!!

When I planned our day trip on Google maps -- this town is exactly half way between the two of us.  It's just PURE COINCIDENCE that it has the best thrift store in Wisconsin....

Neither Deanna nor I bought this pair of shoes...

BUT WE DID FIND plenty of treasure!!

Although, Deanna was checking her email on her phone as she was trying to pay her bill...(I, on the other hand, was totally focused on the thrift store bargains)...

Deanna and I have been friends for years. I first met her when I got a speaking job at Nancy's Notions retail store -- maybe 15 years ago. Wow. We were so young then!! She still works with Nancy -- she is the Director of Marketing and also manages the Quilt Expo, the wonderful quilt show in Madison Wisconsin every September.

THIS WAS SUCH A GREAT IDEA...!!