Can’t pass up a trip to the Odin Craft Mill in the city of Odin – population 48, as per the hand painted city limit sign. I picked up Lorraine and away we went with the intention of eventually having lunch there as well. The community club does the lunch and that is a large part as to how this little village continues to look sharp and be appealing.
The craft mill is literally a fertilizer mill that had seen better days until a certain someone saw it with fresh eyes and new enthusiasm. It took a lot of cleaning and fore thought. In times past a house could be ordered from the Montgomery Ward mail order catalog. Low and behold, a home such as that was relocated from a vacant farm and attached to the mill. A time after that, a barn was also saved from demolition and added onto the project. Both the house and the barn offer two floors of goodies. Twice a year, for three continuous four-day weekends, vendors from five different states bring their wares. Literally from soup mixes to dried nuts and everything in between can be found.
Lorraine and I checked over all the quilted items from quality of stitches to the choice of colors. We both decided that what each of us does is comparable to what was offered for sale. Our friends and family who receive our items as gifts would literally have ticket shock at those types of ticket prices. We do, we sew and we give from the heart and not by the investment needed to offer loved ones the finished items.
It is a wonderful coincidence that friend Lorraine from St. James is 85 years young and a fantastic quilter and aunt Lorraine from Arizona at the age of 84 years young is also a fantastic quilter. How could I possibly not continue to step up my game in regard to my stitching? By the way, I did get a cell phone call yesterday that my Kenmore will be laid up a bit longer as a portion of the bobbin winder needed parts that had to be sent for. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Lorraine and I did have a great lunch, complete with coffee. Being a Thursday, there were not the crowds that a weekend would bring. We did not feel guilty taking our time with a second cup and some chit chat.
Down to the business of what was bought. Sitting in the area of the sports memorabilia was a beautiful gulf bag. I bought two of what was inside the bag: golf clubs with the heads removed and in place of the heads were prongs that had been welded on for wiener roasts. Dennis and I had just talked about needing more than twigs for Megan and Nicholas’ next visit. These were of long, strong medal and the handles had very nice padded hand grips. Where else but a craft show would one find something that useful? Now we just need to remember where we store them until the next visit. Those two items were the only items I purchased. After returning to St. James I did recall a few items that needed to have a second thought about them. I may return sometime within the next three days as I know we have two great grand babies who will be having their first birthdays before the first of the year. I try to set a limit of $10 on the great grands. No, there is no storage of the bounty from remaining family members.
A great day was finished off by stopping at the farmer market. As luck would have it, there were a few really nice cucumbers. Yup, we are having boiled potatoes with creamed cucumbers for supper . . . and that is all folks. For us, that makes a complete meal. Older people are quite funny.
