Three Books At A Time

One of my many television shows is Child Genius (it follows Dance Mom's on Lifetime). The little girl I'm rooting for (Yeji, age 11) reads TEN BOOKS A WEEK. Holy Cow. I cannot imagine what it would be like to raise THAT girl. But I love her because she is always shocked by how much she knows....not full of herself, but more surprised by her knowledge.

That's the POWER OF BOOKS. (OMG...it sounds like I'm comparing myself to a child genius...which I certainly am NOT).

But I don't JUST watch television.  I have been an avid reader all my life...and I am usually reading three books at once.

I am ALWAYS have a book on tape going in my car.  Because I live in the country -- it's always at least an hour to get where I'm going (and back).  Sometimes, if it's a really good book, I just drive around aimlessly....

Books on Tape are MY FRIEND. THEY ALSO KEEP ME ON TASK when I need to be cleaning in my kitchen, or walking on my treadmill (this has not happened nearly enough lately).

 This is the car book I just finished listening to....

 I finally read the first book in the Elm Creek series. The Quilter's Apprentice: A Novel (The Elm Creek Quilts) Paperback – October 21, 2008 by Jennifer Chiaverini. I LOVED IT...and am sooo looking forward to the entire series.

I was listening to this book when I took the day trip to Starving Rock State Park.

Falling From Horses by Molly Gloss is a great example of LEARNING while reading. Set in 1939, a young man moves to Hollywood to become a movie cowboy. He becomes friends with Lilly, a young woman who wants to become a screenwriter.

I loved the characters in the book, and I trusted the research the author did about the time and place. When they were making all those western movies, in the big chase scenes, the hero would ride like the wind down a well-marked path...while the Indians and/or posse chasing him would be subject to hidden trip wires. So all those falls often meant broken legs for the horses...

I just started reading this book. Lin from TMBC gave it to me...It's the book that I read when I'm sitting in my chair. (the chair-sitting is going to kill me...it's been a long winter)...The chair book is usually a paperback, because it's the one I grab when I'm leaving the house....especially if I'm on my way to a waiting room someplace!!

THIS is my bathroom book. AND IT IS SUCH AN INTERESTING BOOK....

THIS is the book about the man who was really the reason for the Singer fortune. Edward Clark. He was the attorney who kept the shyster Isaac Singer out of jail. And, because Singer didn't have a nickel, Edward did the work in exchange for 50% of the patent.

Edward Clark was the  real brains of the Singer Sewing Machine Company.  He was the quiet, hard-working businessman -- the incredible free thinker who came up with INSTALLMENT PURCHASING...which changed the landscape of retail shopping forevermore.

These two men were complete opposites.  They were as night is to day.  A womanizer and a Sunday School Teacher.  Edward Clark lived a quiet life in New York City with his wife and four sons.  Isaac Singer (who Mrs. Clark would not allow in her home) had mistresses and illegitimate children all over the world.

Edward walked to the office every day...

Isaac??  His transportation around town was an opulent carriage that could seat 31 people.  It took 9 horses to pull it -- and it had a separate smoking room AND a nursery.

OMG...is that the very first RV??

Mary's Visit: Day #2

The SECOND DAY of Mary's visit was jam-packed.  My friend Phyllis is going to join the TMBC for a visit to the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa.

The Figge Art Museum is located in downtown Davenport.

It was the first time Phyllis got to meet Sandy, Linda and the Figge...

This mug from the giftshop struck my fancy...

AND I'm thinking it could inspire my own art project. Can you guess??

We enjoyed this exhibit: Yuriko Yamaguchi: Interconnected in Art, Nature, Science and Technology:

And we all loved THIS exhibit: Self-Taught Genius: Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum

After some walking, and talking, and browsing, and picture taking...we ended up in Lillian's favorite part of the Figge. The Children's room -- where you can pick up a marker or a crayon and make your own art...

So, here we are, sitting on the kiddie stools...because THERE ARE NO CHAIRS at the Figge.

My cousin Linda, the artist (that's how we refer to her -- LindaTheArtist)...is a member at the Figge. And that is her single complaint about the place. THEY DO NOT HAVE CHAIRS...apparently, in Davenport, Iowa -- if you want to be a patron of the arts -- you're supposed to do it STANDING UP...

Rita's Television Schedule

When I was writing yesterday's blog, I intended to write about my uncanny ability to pollute an otherwise normal, tasteful person with my trashy television habits.  I consider it my own, unique, evil gift.  THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE WHOLE POINT OF THE BLOG POST.

But then, alas, I got lost in the world that is this year's Bachelor show...and forgot the point I was trying to make...

Consider the sad case of the always professional, sophisticated, tasteful Rhonda Pierce, Marketing Director for Schmetz Needles. We've traveled together often enough that I'm worried she is  addicted to DANCE MOMS -- (one of my favorite whack-a-doodle reality shows)

And after years of not having television as a part of her life (she only had a BASIC cable package). Well -- guess what? After she went back to Minnesota this year -- SHE STARTED WATCHING THE BACHELOR...

To make it easier for you, I'm giving you my current line-up:

Monday: Bachelor; Celebrity Apprentice (soon to be replaced by The Voice); Catfish (on MTV, about people who are having internet relationships with people who are not real); Vanderpump Rules

Tuesday: Dance Moms, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Chicago Fire, Child Genius

Wednesday:  American Idol, Goldbergs, The Americans (BEST new show -- about spies who implant themselves in America)

Thursday:  American Idol, Grey's Anatomy, The Blacklist, Scandal, Project Runway All-Stars, Rehab Addict, 

Friday:  A bad night for television....But, we do have Hawaii Five-O (my new obsession show...a cross between the A Team and Blue Bloods)...and then, too, Shark Tank.  I love, love, love Mr. Wonderful.  YOU ARE DEAD TO ME...is my newest favorite phrase.  Although, I'm having a hard time fitting it into regular conversation...

Saturday:  Even worse than Friday, if that's possible.  This is the night I am thankful to be such an accomplished DVR Ninja...cuz I watch all the shows I DVR'd throughout the week.

Sunday Night:  This is my YING and YANG night.  Two of my absolute favorite shows.  SISTER WIVES and DOWNTON ABBEY.  (I'm pretty sure the title of those two shows have never been in the same sentence before.)   

Please stop sending shocked emails asking how I can find all the time to watch all this useless, trashy television. 

I refuse to be judged...and you can thank me later...

The Iowa Bachelor

I am not one of those snobby people who thinks I am too good to watch television.

QUITE THE OPPOSITE!!

As a matter of fact -- I have absolutely NO standard. I love television. I watch reality shows, loved MTV Real World, and still enjoy the Real Housewives series. Yes, of course New York City is the best -- but I also enjoy Beverly Hills, and Orange County. And the Celebrity Apprentice made me wish I knew more about Kenya from the Atlanta franchise. I also love competition shows -- Amazing Race, Project Runway, Top Chef...oh, yeah -- I have no low bar.

I have too many Guilty Pleasure television shows to even bother to list them. On Tuesday night, I DVR both Dance Moms AND Beverly Hills Housewives. I start off watching one show, then begin the second show when the first round of commercials comes on. By going back and forth, I can watch two one-hour programs in one hour and 15 minutes. Ross calls me the DVR Ninja...

But -- you already know all that. And can you guess what my favorite show is right now??

That's right -- THE BACHELOR.

Oh My God.

If you're not watching it, you have missed the most entertaining Bachelor EVER...IN THE HISTORY OF THE BACHELOR....

Chris Soules is from Arlington, Iowa

OMG...the drama, the girls, the suspense, the beautiful women...they mystery.

Last week, the final five girls came to Iowa. They were staying in Des Moines -- even though that's a 3 hour drive from Arlington. Wha?? That's like going to visit your boyfriend in New York City, but staying in Philadelphia...

Then, the local station did a story about it -- and apparently, Des Moines had to pay $70,000 to get the show to come there. Who knew?? But that explains a lot...When the girls saw how small Arlington really was -- basically an abandoned little town, with no restaurants, no bar, no coffee show...

Well, it made Britt cry...

Chris took Jade (a frontrunner) to a High School football game....

The shocker, during this episode, was that Jade FINALLY told Chris she had posed for Playboy...and, oh, that's right -- there were the videos, too... WHA???

Hey -- Chris has done a great job of representing our State.  He sent the drunk girls home right away...and he somehow managed to weed out most of the crazies...

IT'S NOT TOO LATE...Start watching it NOW.  It will give all new meaning to your Monday Nights...

Believe it or not -- there were TWO virgins in the original group of 20 beautiful women.  What kind of a shocker is that?  I mean -- I didn't think there were two 25 year old virgins left IN AMERICA....

And, believe it or not...one of them is in the Final Three....(Chris doesn't know Becca is a virgin)

Mary Visits LeClaire

This is probably my favorite picture of Mary's recent visit...can you see where she is?

THAT'S RIGHT...AT THE NEW BUILDING OF FRANK AND MIKE...in the presence of the famous Philip Morris fiberglass man...

YEP.  Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe.  OUR VERY OWN AMERICAN PICKERS...

They have a new building in LeClaire

Mary, me and my friend Bert...the original building is the blue one in the back.

There were SO MAY treasures...

I love this photo -- and have been telling Mary I think we should BRING BACK THE MUFF...!!

Remember when they dug this bike out of the dirt??

AND these spats gave me an idea for a new gift for our Ya Ya Seminar...

Inspired To Sew Planning Meeting

I love, love, love writing for Inspired To Sew -- Schmetz Needles digital magazine. But a LOT OF PLANNING goes into every issue.  Sometimes, things don't work out -- so the key is to be flexible -- and have many Plan B's....

One of my favorite parts of this job is the PLANNING SESSIONS with Rhonda Pierce. We get together at some of the most extraordinary places.  Schmetz is located in Chicago, and I am on the Iowa East Coast...so we try to find a place in the middle if we need an all-day session.  Last month -- Rhonda suggested Starved Rock State Park in Illinois. I'd never been there -- and it was a truly amazing place...

Rhonda and I set up in the main lodge.

It was quiet...we took over several tables...and I had my own pot of coffee!!

After a very productive morning -- lunch was a steak taco on Indian Fry Bread!!  NO KIDDING...SOOO DELICIOUS

The main dining room has this magnificent fireplace.

All over the park -- there are wonderful art installations, wood sculptures, etc.  This blown glass mobile. Gorgeous, eh??

OMG -- I actually took a GREAT PICTURE!  Of  Rhonda, outside the main hotel entrance.

STARVED ROCK State Park is the #1 tourist attraction in the State of Illinois. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? How is it that I have never heard of this place??  This would have been such an excellent day trip when my boys were growing up.  It's only 90 minutes from my house.

THANK GOD I have these two adorable grandkids....I get yet another "do over"...

Aurora Winter Laundry

Mary's visit is always a non-stop TREASURE HUNT. WE found some great stuff for our new show (in Beaver Dam, for the 2015 Sewing Weekend)

We found some beautiful hand embroidered pillowcases for our homes. I haven't had a chance to work on mine yet -- but Mary sent me these pictures. When she got home, her pillowcases had that nasty yellow staining -- we call it "man stain" -- that is nearly impossible to get out. BUT SHE DID IT...although, it took days of soaking, and rinsing, and more soaking.

Here's a review of the technique:

1. Soak them overnight in a bucket of plain warm water. When fabric gets very dry (dehydrated) -- it is at it's most fragile state. (The plain water plumps up the fibers, and makes the fabric stronger, more able to absorb subsequent treatments.)
2. After the first 24 hour soak -- put them in another bucket for a second overnight soak with Mary's mega-whitening-solution:
3. 1/2 cup of dishwasher soap. 1/2 cup of Clorox bleach 2 gallons of very, very hot water
4. THEN -- wash them in a regular cycle (hot wash/cold rinse) with normal detergent. (I prefer Oxiclean for whitening)

There is NOTHING BETTER than the scent of winter-line-dried bed linens...

A selfie?? Note the double rick-rack edging...

Hanging laundry out during an Iowa/Minnesota frigid winter requires some determination and character. But so far -- I have been not had to resort to putting my sheets in the dryer.

And there is NOTHING BETTER than the winter sunshine to whiten that vintage cotton...

After days of soaking -- GORGEOUS..!!