I am a retired 44-year veteran of the Real Estate Assessment field. As with real estate assessing and how it applies to real estate taxes, one can make many acquaintances, but not many real friends. It was a great career choice.
It has been nearly 10 years since I reclaimed my home and my real passions within my home. I enjoy it more each day and tip my hat to those who I left behind.
Each day I try to stretch myself with the use of my computer as it relates to this site and using it to print out labels for quilts for trying to incorporate photos into my sewing. Life is so full and I know that I have room for more.
With horrific winds, thunder and rain it seemed like a great day for day two of cookie baking. Dennis manned the mixer for a double batch of Grandma Laura’s Ginger cookies. When all was said and done nine dozen goodies cooled on the dining room table. As luck would have it the snow did not last as it came down on the yard. Whew! Many to the northwest of us were not so fortunate.
For my first experience with a pillow bed, I deem it A.O.K. I will look forward to a photo of Lux as she is deep in the loft.
I can assure you there are no dust bunnies hiding today. The pillow bed will be on its way to Mike, Sadie and Lux’s home in Mankato this evening. Mike and Sadie have National Guard Drill this weekend and Sadie’s mom will be taking care of Lux for the weekend. A delivery like this is better than FedEx. I read Shopko’s sale bill and I headed right up to take advantage of the price of pillows. It would just not be right for the empty pillow bed to be delivered without the pillows themselves. Of course, it is long enough for either Lux’s mom, dad or even grandma to enjoy the floor pillow bed with Lux for video watching or storybook reading.
Now this I would call a great afternoon. Nothing says success like containers that will be full of goodies. Some will find their way into the freezer.
Dennis stirred up cookie dough for me; doing a bang up job. I was in charge of the baking and I sat right in the kitchen on a wooden stool so as to not let them burn. Our thinking is: why not do a double batch right off the get go as long as the oven is going, utensils are needed and dishes need doing afterwards. It makes us feel good when we can send a few dozen packing when the kids come. This did give Dennis an entire new perspective on how those choice cookies end up in the Tupperware container. We hope to have one more batch of ginger cookies done before Thanksgiving. I had given up on cookie making as the dough was just impossible for me to stir properly. For years I had heard that Kitchen Aid mixers were the choice of those who liked to bake. My sister, Elvera, swore by hers. Now I know. With December not far off, I may be tempted to try out those old time favorite cookies that were such a tradition. Were they worth all the time and effort? Definitely, yes. Time will tell how the flour shakes out here on Stauffer Avenue.
Today we made a trip to the home family farm in Boon Lake Township. I had not visited with Michael one on one since mid-summer. We had a great visit, ending with heartfelt hugs . . . the cheesecake and coffee wasn’t bad either. As weather changes, trips are a bit more thought through. Dennis and I hope the forecast storm is more news media blitz than the real stuff.
One yard of fabric makes a pillow case. When asked for a project, I always make sure to let them know that I will use what I have on hand. I thought it would be fun for Lux to enjoy her pillow bed while having letters and numbers to add some interest. These little kids are quick to catch on. When the six pillow cases are done they are sewn together length wise ready for pillows to be popped into the openings and then buttoned shut. The first pillow and the last pillow will have a strip of Velcro on the length of each. The pillows can be attached via the Velcro for a stand up enclosure, perfect for looking at storybooks with the favorite stuffed animals. I had no idea going into this how it would turn out . . . a new experience for this sewer.
Dennis had cowboyed up for so many tests this year . . . and all of them came back A.O.K. Today was my turn to check myself in for a mammogram. Just got the phone call that it tested negative, which is another way of saying I also am A.O.K. A great way for Dennis and me to enjoy these last several months of the year. Being healthy, wise and very wealthy with all things not measured in dollars and sense.
Back to my pillow bed in the sewing studio.
The sewing studio has a request from the home of the two-year-old Lux. Apparently, pillow beds have become popular for wee ones and toddlers to lay upon the floor for playing, storybook looking or snuggling. A Velcro strip on pillow one is possible to attach to the counter part of the Velcro strip on pillow six and it then becomes a stand up fort for the kids in be inside a cozy surround.
It sounds like a play on the old sleeping bag. What happens is six pillow cases are sewn together along the length of each. Pillows are tucked in as usual and the ends are fastened shut with Velcro. I am not buying pillow cases pre-made. A lot of time was spent in my stash closet. Mike, Sadie and Lux have two dogs of a pretty good size. The dogs have the run of the fenced in yard and also the house. No light colors for this pillow bed. I priced Velcro and nixed that for the amount needed for the closure of each pillow. Each of the six pillows will be of a different color and the end result for closure will be coordinating buttons from my button tree; compliments of Kersten and Kevin. Most of the afternoon was plotting and planning and measuring. Each pillow case takes a yard of fabric. This will be interesting. There will be more to share as I get organized.
The great grands, Ava, Bella and Josie from the north country had requests that were fulfilled last fall from the sewing studio. Each of the three girls had quilts made from their clothing items. Great grandchild Oliver has a quilt made from pieces of his baby clothes. These requested project are always a joy to work on to make it the best it can be. The usual sewing projects are put on hold until the sewing studio on Stauffer Ave. delivers for Dennis’ grandchildrens’ children. A pillow bed is on the schedule.
Today we are traveling, not that far from home, and we are calling it a road date. Great granddaughter Lux is two and we have been invited to Eagle Lake for the late afternoon. Eagle Lake is a burb of Mankato to the southeast. Lux’s mom, while still in the active Army, works for an initiative that includes finding short term solutions for veterans whether it is for health care, housing, or career opportunities. The homeless as the number one priority. She affirmed that there are many in the south half of Minnesota. Sadie is 31 and has 14 years in with the Army. She went through basic training in between her junior and senior high school years. Three years of those 14 having been in Iraq and Kuwait. Sadie made sure to stop in yesterday to visit Grandpa Dennis on Veterans Day. Very special. So . . . the sun is shining and the job jar is quite empty. I know we will work in a few stops in Mankato. It’s a good thing.
Where oh where did the day go? Dennis is back in the pink as his rider mower was able to be gotten home from the rural fix it shop. The hub that held up the mower deck had snapped and it needed some welding. For the sum of $50.00 the mower is ready for next spring. This veteran had a great Veterans Day. Subway for supper didn’t hurt either.
One pail at a time to net the Koi out of the pond. The dye from the leaves has made the water dark. It was getting to be a job keeping the pump going as leaves continued to fall.
Two more needed to be netted to join these seven. As cold as the water is, they can dodge the net to no end. This horse tank will be their home until late March or April 0f 2017. As soon as it is 45-50 degrees they go dormant and do not take food.
This is Dorothy. Nicholas and Megan brought her to our Koi pond quite a few years ago. Dorothy had been in a fish bowl on Megan’s dresser way before Nicholas was born. Nicholas is now in third grade. When Nicholas came for a visit with Megan and their mom, Nicholas walked up to the Koi pond and out Dorothy was plopped. She was no bigger than a minnow. There was no getting used to the tepid water from the two hour trip in the baggy . . . just right out in the cold water. She has done well and has acclimated with the big boys.
No Kit and Kaboodle, just Harriet and Butter Ball sharing a basket. It’s not as if there isn’t any room in the rest of the inn. Harriet and Butter Ball are siblings, just a year apart. If it isn’t in the baskets it may be the rafters either above the pickup or the car. Yes, there are pillow baskets there also. Snuggles often chooses to sleep on a pile of sponges that Dennis switches out from the Koi pond filter. Tabatha has her pillow in the far corner of the porch on a lawn chair and Honey Bunny sleeps wherever she dang well pleases. This is the livestock report from Stauffer Avenue in downtown St. James.