From Iowa to North Carolina

On my VERY LONG LIST of joyful everyday things I love to do -- hanging my sheets out on the line has got to be at the very top. You have seen many pictures of my clothesline -- and the sheets hanging there.

These particular sheets were among the batch that got sent to the North Carolina beach house...

I wanted them to soak up that Iowa sunshine...

And I picked my most beautiful sheets....

With hand-embroidery

I'm pretty sure this particular set had never been used...

THANK YOU, Jackie, for texting pictures of the day you put the sheets on the beds. Although the problem, once again, my smart phone ignorance...lol...As hard as I tried, I could not email those pictures to myself...or download them from the phone to my laptop. Ugh.

Finally, in desperation, I posted this picture to Facebook. THEN, and only then, was I able to save it so I could use it in this blog post. (so sad...I am too dumb to own a smart phone...I admit it. Time to give up. It really is not a good use of my time....)

Jackie's husband, Tom and Linda's husband, Karl -- playing along with my Dream Bed Game...!!

Both Jackie and Linda told me that the fragrance of the line-dried Iowa sheets was STILL THERE when the sheets arrived at the beach house in North Carolina. Somebody should bottle that scent and sell it as perfume.

Every Monday, I start my day by hanging my beautiful cotton sheets out on the line...and I end my day when I get into my freshly made bed, loving those sheets and my life....and...well...I know it's a very simple thing.  But for me -- it just doesn't get any better than this, people....

Happy Monday. 

Lillian Weber

Recently, Nancy Zieman shared a link on her Facebook page about a 99 year old woman who sews a dress every day for the little girls in Africa...

When I checked out the link -- I traced it back to an article in my own hometown newspaper -- the Quad City Times. The woman's name is Lillian Weber


There are so many things I love about this story. I love that her name is Lillian...and I love that she sews every single day...and I love that she makes every dress special for the little girl who will be wearing it...

I have said this over and over again...but sewing is the BEST LIFE HOBBY anybody could ever have...for sooooo many reasons.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, LILLIAN WEBER...you make us all proud!!

Innovator's & Legends Report

Here's the thing about "art". It is a totally subjective thing...one person's taste is far different from another...and isn't that the whole point??

 So I'm not going to add my own comments to this report (unless I can't help myself)...

The Figge Museum has an elevator big enough to park two pick up trucks...

yes, fishing weights

OOOOOOOO-kla-homa...!!

This is another commercial for the Quad City Music Guild. They do an awesome job with their "Broadway in the Park" -- and we are sooo lucky to have this wonderful organization here in our area.

I don't really know much about the Music Guild -- except I am a very happy customer. It feels to me like the people who sing in their productions are those people...you know the ones...they have GREAT talent, wonderful, powerful voices -- good enough to sing on Broadway.

But, they decided to stay in the Midwest.  I can see from the programs that they are dentists, plumbers, secretaries, stay at home Mom's, etc...Their normal, daily lives are far away from the roar of the crowd or the heat of the spotlight.

But -- they all come together to put on the BEST MUSICAL SHOWS....

Clearly -- they all LOVE TO SING...

Their roster this year included Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (which I saw with Mary Mulari and Lilly). Also -- Les Miserables (which I saw with Emily)... Legally Blonde (which I missed) -- and the last show of the season was OKLAHOMA!!

When was the last time you saw Oklahoma???

Here's what I know about the real State of Oklahoma. My cousin Jackie lives there. And Vicki, from the Real Housewives of Orange County -- insulted Oklahoma in the Reunion show...calling it the forgotten state. (Her daughter, Briana just moved there with her husband and two babies.)

And here's what YOU KNOW about Oklahoma...somebody once wrote a Broadway musical called "Oklahoma"...and you know the title song.  Or, rather, you THINK you know the song.  You can hum it....

And you will willingly, and enthusiastically start to sing it....DO IT NOW...

But then it hits you -- you really only know the first word...

Everybody sings it the same....

And it sounds like this....


OOOOOOOOOOO...KLA... HOMA....

da da da da da da da da dahhhh

Don't feel bad.  Nobody knows the second word.  Nobody.   It's really quite amazing...

YOU GO, JUDY!!

Every summer, I try to do some extra-friend-catching-up. I think it's because our winters are long and hard -- and there are days, weeks or even months when you JUST CAN'T TRAVEL. Not to another state, not to another county -- maybe not even to the end of your own lane...

One of my not-so-distant friends is Judy.  She used to run the monthly sewing club when I had my sewing machine store.  And on this day -- Phyllis and I got together to drive the 40 miles or so to Judy's house in the country.  It's certainly NOT THAT FAR...and we enjoy each others company so much -- IT IS AMAZING we don't make this effort more often, eh??

Judy's sewing skills are beyond remarkable.  Here, Phyllis is marveling at her picture-perfect applique...

Judy and Phyllis are both fans of Mary Mulari's books and patterns...

Judy's sewing studio is so impressive.  Shelves for books and patterns, tables for several sewing machines and sergers, a large work table in the middle, a closet full of neat tubs loaded with her fabric stash...

We had a great time!!  Sorry about the crappy selfie -- but I think our smiles tell the story of our day!!

Innovators and Legends

INNOVATORS AND LEGENDS:

Through Sept. 7. This exhibition, organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art, features over 70 pieces by 50 artists from the U.S. and abroad who belong to the first, and subsequent, generations of artists who explore the myriad possibilities inherent in fabric, thread, fiber and yarn. Weaving, knitting, soft sculpture, embroidery, felting and other techniques are featured, used in ways that are by turns painterly, sculptural or fashionable and often surprising and amusing. Museum hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, Thursday evenings until 9 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $7 adults, $6 senior citizens, $4 children ages 3-12 years, free for museum members.

This exhibit is at the Figge Museum in Davenport, Iowa. If you want to read a very well written article about it -- here's the link to the David Burke story in the Quad City Times.

Yes, I know how lucky we are here in our little corner of the world.  THERE ARE SO MANY INTERESTING things to see and do...

I went with my very special group of TBC friends....it was a spontaneous decision, with absolutely no advance planning...which is probably why we had a nearly perfect day!!

Me and my cousin Linda...our favorite photo EVER...

You will NOT believe what this used to be -- and what it eventually became...

WOW -- I SUCK AT SELFIES...but this does prove, once and for all, that NOBODY is having more fun than us...

Sorry for the crappy cellphone pictures - but I wanted to post something about the exhibit while there was still time FOR YOU TO ATTEND. Trust me -- it is well worth the trip...

As soon as I get the real pictures off my real camera, I will write more about it.

Rita's Laundry Tips

Last Monday, John was getting dressed when he realized his favorite navy blue golf shirt had a big grease stain on the front.

Of course, I leaped with joy -- as he knew I would.

A difficult laundry challenge is a great way to start my week...

And I have some serious laundry game.....

I consider myself an avid student of laundry.  My favorite "go to" book was a gift from my friend Anne. Called, simply, "Laundry" -- Cheryl Mendelson did a GREAT job of writing about all aspects of laundry...

This ENTIRE BOOK is about laundry...caring for clothes and linens...I LOVE IT...

Here are my own TOP FIVE TIPS:

1. Before I start to work on any stain or spot, I pre-soak the fabric in warm water (overnight is fine).  Remember -- the fibers must be WET to take on any cleansing agent...
2. Sometimes, you have to "work" a difficult spot. Position the spot over an absorbent towel, (make sure the fabric is good and wet) then apply the cleaning agent. Wait for 30 minutes, then use a soft brush in a circular motion (old toothbrushes work best)....to work the offending spot through the fabric and into the towel...repeat as necessary....then launder as usual.  Sometimes, when the fabric is wet, you can't see where the spot was.  With John's shirt last week -- I used a small embroidery hoop. 
3. Lemon Juice is nature's bleach.  It will remove some very stubborn stains (like baby formula)...and it is more gentle than bleach. If you have linen napkins or cotton sheets that are gray looking, soak them overnight in a lemon solution (1/2 cup to every gallon of  hot water)....then, lay them out in the sun to dry. AFTER the sun-bleaching, wash as usual. You won't believe the difference...
4. Hydrogen Peroxide. The go-to solution for blood or other protein stains.
5. Shampoo. I leave those little hotel bottles of shampoo near my washing machine. They work great on ring-around-the-collar type of stains.
6. WD-40.... The MAGICAL grease remover. This easily removed the grease stain from John's favorite shirt. I ALWAYS have a can of it near my washing machine. Just spray the spot (remember, wet fabric) -- then let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Use method #2 -- then wash as usual and the salad oil stain will disappear!!

Sorry -- there was no way I could limit myself to FIVE tips...

I love laundry so much -- I'm going to make my Monday blog posts all about laundry....