I bet you didn't know -

- that September is National Sewing Month. Really, it's true! While some things just get their own day (like popcorn, or mother's), sewing is apparently such a big deal it gets a whole month.

Or is it just a marketing gimmick, to sell fabric and sewing machines?

Clearly, it worked for me. I found this fabulous fabric: and had to get enough for new seat covers, and pillows, and then had to get new curtains to coordinate with the fabric in the living room and dining room.

Perhaps I feel more inspired to sew since I picked up "Betty" at Junk Bonanza. I had been looking for an antique dress form for years, and my friend Joanne spied one when we were hunting for treasure. We shared the fun with her daughter, and had a grand day. It was the last day of the event, so we were able to do a little price haggling, and when I saw the tag listed her as "Betty", I knew she was coming home with me. My Grandma Betty is the person who taught me to sew, so it seemed quite serendipitous.She now graces our dining room, wearing a lovely celadon tulle skirt and a beaded necklace I made this summer. Until Mike decides he doesn't want her eating dinner with us anymore....but since that is where I sew, she needs to be there for now.

Even though today is the last day of September, grab a needle and thread and do a little sewing tonight (even if it's just mending, or sewing on a button!)

long time, no post

Sorry! The season that is fall has caught up with me, and I am like a squirrel scurrying around getting ready. Fall to me means new curtains and pillows and putting away summer related decorating items, and digging through the attic for pressed leaves and pumpkin dishes and fall candles. I know I am a freak, but when you work from home you need a little change-up every now and then...

Made a quick trip home to Bemidji this weekend, as the guys were off at a trail ride. It was a lovely drive up on Friday, but I am amazed at how late the color is hitting this year. I was still able to spot bright splotches of turning maples and birches against a clear blue sky.

Spent the whole weekend with my sis, checking on the progress of her house, helping her find a new dining room set, reviewing her paint selections, and picking out pumpkins. It felt good not to have any responsibilities or chores for a couple of days.

But Monday is here, as my friend Tracy would say, it is a red calendar day, meaning the list of things I have to take care of is crowded onto the tiny calendar spot that is Monday, Sept. 28th.

Look for some new recipe posts this week!

sixty is the new forty

If this is 60, bring it on:
Bruce Springsteen, singer and songwriter and performer extraordinaire, turns 60 today.




I feel like we should have cake.




His music has been the soundtrack to the amazing relationship that Mike and I have enjoyed for nearly 30 years, our history is interwoven with his melodies. Some of our best memories are of his concerts, whether it was the very first Springsteen concert I attended in the Twin Cities in 1984, to the concert we brought Charlie to this last March.




We have gone down to the river, we have danced in the dark, we have drank warm beer on a soft summer night. He is one of the most prolific songwriters and story tellers of our time. And he can still do a three hour show without stopping.




He graced the cover of AARP magazine recently (not a sight I ever imagined seeing) and I read the accompanying article while waiting for an appointment at Juut. It was well written, and interviewed a wide range of people who told wonderfully candid stories and offered snippets of the many facets of the man, not only as a performer, but as a dad, and a guy who quietly gives back in so many ways.




Today I will put on "Jungleland", and marvel at the depth of feeling that song can provoke. And perhaps make a cake. Happy Birthday Boss!
(I apologize for today's spacing, Blogger is being naughty and won't let me fix it...)

make way for ducklings!

Or adult ducks, as the case may be.

Did you love that book as a child, or reading it to your own children? Robert McCloskey is one of my very favorite children's book authors, and I will never sell our copies of "Blueberries for Sal" or "Make Way for Ducklings". When Mike and I were in Boston, many many years ago, I insisted on visiting the sculptures and watching the Swan Boats.

I was driving back from Edina yesterday, had my yearly check-up (all women together, groan) and was about 6 blocks from my house. We live near the Highland Golf Course, and geese and ducks have been stopping by the water on their way to sunnier climes. As I approached the course, I saw that cars were stopped in both directions. I knew there wasn't a crosswalk there, and as I got closer I could see a whole line of ducks crossing the road. The cars patiently waited, as more and more ducks decided this was their best chance to move it along, and joined their friends. No one honked (except for the ducks, who I think were quacking 'thank you'), no one yelled, we all just sat in our cars and waited for the ducks to safely cross the road. By the time the last duck made it across, there were probably 10-12 cars waiting in both lanes. As we moved along, I looked at the drivers in the oncoming lane, and everyone was smiling. What a fine way to end the day!

ramping it up

This weekend Charlie became the proud owner of his next dirt bike:

It seems he has turned the corner, from having us MAKE him go and compete in a race he has signed up for, and decided the night before he really didn't want to do, to loving the sport, wanting to ride it in the field across the street (wouldn't Cretin just love that???), and of course, since he is getting older, and taller, needing a bigger dirt bike.

He picked it up on Saturday, Mike had brought his bike along and they found a place to ride on the way home from St. Cloud. Yesterday the first thing he did in the morning was go in the garage and look at it. Then he had to wash it. Then he had to roll it out and ride it down the alley to "warm up the engine". And if he could get it in the house he would keep it in his room, or perhaps sleep with it. Thank goodness he has a loft bed.

And honestly? Mike would probably think it was a really good idea. As he seems to be as excited about this purchase as Charlie is.

Did you know there are now 5 motorcycles in our garage? Mike feels we are well on our way to the optimal number...

Friday Family Fun Night

As many of you already know, we are book nuts in our family. One of Charlie's favorite books is being released as a movie today: "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs".

and while I think he would be more excited if he was still six years old-he has grudgingly agreed to go with his parents to see it this evening. We plan to turn it into a whole night, having dinner first at Sonic Drive In. We'll be seeing it in 3-D, who doesn't want to see doughnuts hurtling towards them?

Secretly, in the part of him that is still six, he can hardly wait, I just know it. And at least he'll get a burger, some tater tots, and a strawberry limeade out of the deal.

hobbies for sale

Available immediately, choose from the following hobbies that owner is no longer able to maintain: Sewing-comes with fabulous sewing machine, boxes full of patterns, notions, and fabric that owner had every good intention of whipping up. Scrapping-comes with several brand new albums just waiting to be filled, along with every possible embellishment and tool required. (you'll have to supply your own photos, as you may know I just lost a big chunk of mine...). Beading-all beautifully organized in boxes, more beads and accompanying doo dads and trinkets to keep you making jewelry for a lifetime. Knitting-every size of needle and a rainbow of yarns to choose from, all color coordinated in wine crates, along with a multitude of patterns to keep you purling away for years to come.

Really, when will I ever find the time? It makes me insane.

Guess I better hang on to them, it will keep me out of the casinos in my old age.

YES!

I never thought I would hear these words come out of my kid's mouth: "Mom, I just love being so organized! Even though this new school has a lot more homework, it's fun, and I am already learning so much!"

Guess we made the right decision to move him to a new school.

Big sigh of relief, as it started a little shaky, he came home from the first day with a major headache, walked in the door of the house, and threw up.

I could tell he was tense, and worried, (even though he claimed he wasn't). His new school is a really big change from his other school-uniforms, seven class periods a day with only three minutes in between to try and get the locker open, only a few familiar faces, and there is no leeway on forgetting your homework at home, or even in your locker. He has a 40 minute bus ride, and even on the days I pick him up he doesn't get home until 4:30, so it's a long day.

But clearly, he is adjusting, and it's working. And just last week I was thinking we maybe had really screwed up. We'll just take one week at a time...

kids these days...

They are such couch potatoes...

(sorry if you already saw this on Facebook, I just love this pic and had to put it everywhere...)

marriage lessons

As of Saturday, Mike and I have been married for twenty two years. Here is how we celebrated:

Mike and Charlie were in Thielman all weekend, on a fun ride. They camped out Friday and Saturday night (note their plush surroundings). They had two days of trail riding, and had a blast.I had a weekend to myself, and watched old movies, did some homework for an on-line class I am taking, made Halloween cards, created jewelry, did a little gardening, and visited the Farmer's Market. So we all had fun, in our own way. I even read an entire book (the new John Sanford, such fun, though rather violent, as usual).

Twenty two years of marriage means a lot of lessons learned, may I share them with you?

1. Men just get better looking as they age, women not so much. Unless they like injecting poison in their face.

2. Husbands may never learn the optimum moment for taking out the garbage, or mowing the lawn. Clearly this is knowledge found only in female brain cells.

3. Mike's cooking always tastes delicious. Even if he only cooks one thing, he does it well.

4. If you can survive the really bad days, the great days are that much better.

5. Watching your son and husband share a hobby together is a wonderful thing (especially when it gives you free time to enjoy your own pursuits!)

6. Knowing when to keep your mouth shut is more important than saying the first thing that pops into your head. I am continually working on this one...

7. Men do not actually have ESP, and Mike cannot read my thoughts. So if I need something, I better speak up, and it always gets a better reaction when followed by a kiss.

8. Speaking of kissing, a good marriage is based on knowing what your husband's priorities are, even if, at that particular moment, they aren't the same as yours.

9. Traveling opens new worlds, and is a relaxing way to get to know each other better (but make sure you carry an extra set of car keys.)

10. No matter how long you have been married, you cannot take your spouse for granted.

I love you Mike, now more than ever. Thanks for sticking it out with me! Now about that lawn mowing...

a public service announcement

Let today's post be a less-than-gentle reminder of how important it is to back up your computer hard drive, on a regular basis. While they rarely fail, when they do, you have no idea of the magnitude of the loss.

Our hard drive failed on Mike's computer, the ginormous computer where we have all of our photos, ACES commercials, advertising info, etc. Fortunately, our accounting system is elsewhere.

Mike brought it to a data recovery system here. They do data recovery for companies all over the world. Realizing it would cost a small fortune, we decided it was worth it. All of those memories, needing to be saved.

Well, we found out yesterday that it is beyond hope, not a single fragment can be recovered. They make it look so easy on TV programs...

While Mike had backed up all of our photos a few years ago, he has been so consumed with other things latley that backing up files kind of fell to the bottom of the priority list.

So if I sent you any pictures in the last few years, please let me know. Luckily I have posted a few things on my blog, here and there, they are safe. And I have printed out random pictures now and again, but there are, literally, thousands and thousands of images that are forever lost. Mike and I are both picture people, and it was not uncommon to come back from a simple weekend in Duluth with several hundred images.

Yes, we have already determined how we are regularly going to back up files in the future, and may I remind all of you how important it is.

For now, I am off to mourn all that has been lost, and feel a little sad today.

telling stories

If you have been to our home, you know that we are not ones to own heirloom quality furniture, pieces that will be passed down to future generations. I love a good deal, and I also don't want to have the same thing forever. So our furniture is a mix of Ikea, rummage sale bargains, Slumberland deals, and Gypsy Moon finds. My home will never be featured in Architctural Digest, or Home and Garden. Maybe Bargain Monthly?

Our dining room set was purchased from friends of our parents, before we moved into our home in St. Paul in 1992. They had bought it for their summer home on Lake Bemidji (their regular home was in Idaho). It is simpl,-a round oak pedestal table with four windsor type chairs. It had a matching corner hutch, but since our 1930's era house already has two built in hutches in our dining room, we really didn't need it, so my sister took it off our hands.

If that table could talk, it would tell you about the times I sat at it, late into the night, working on stock status reports and orders when I worked at Target. It would tell you about the times I used it for cutting out patterns, and both of the cats would jump up to 'help' me, laying all over wherever my scissor needed to go.

It would talk about all of the times I used it to wrap Christmas presents, late at night after the guys were in bed. It would tell you about the countless numbers of sugar cookies that have been cooled and decorated on it's surface. It could describe Charlie's birthday parties, Thanksgiving dinners, and before school breakfasts, Mike with his bowl of oatmeal and the newspaper spread out before him.

It would tell you of the many hours it spent covered with black fabric, my sewing machine whirring late into the night as I sewed light shrouds for our simulators. It would talk of being overloaded with computers and receipt printers and monitors as I tested out the POS system for our new store at the Mall of America. It would describe being covered with models and merchandise as we planned our displays for the store. It would talk about Charlie covering it's top with newspapers, so he could carve and paint his Pinewood Derby car.

And then it would tell you, that it's favorite job is the one it holds most evenings, when the three of us gather for dinner, and tell our own stories. What it doesn't know is that it's about to be replaced, with a fancy new model I found at Ikea. But we won't be able to part with this bit of our family history, it will go into storage, until we move into a bigger home, and need a spare table to sew, or wrap presents, or decorate cookies, or host Charlie and his friends playing cards. So it's days of story telling aren't quite finished yet.

EDITED: And now it is going to add more chapters to it's book, my sister and her son are going to use it in their new home! (she offered to babysit it for me until I move into a new house, which may be never...)

wrapping her in love

Quilts grew from necessity. Ma Ingalls made them to keep her family warm in their log cabin, and their sod hut. They have been used as maps for slaves to find their way to freedom. They have been passed down through generations, and treasured as heirlooms. They are given for wedding gifts, and to celebrate the survival of cancer patients. Mothers make them to send with their kids to college, and to welcome new babies into the family.

Quilts are also art. Amish quilts are a wonder of precision. Exhibits have been held all over the world honoring the artistry of quiltmakers from every walk of life. They can be made simply, from pretty sheets and tied with yarn. They can be incredibly intricate, completely sewn by hand, with minute stitches.

My sis and I have been occasional quilters. We love to browse quilt shops, and exclaim over color and pattern. She made me an incredible quilt, to celebrate my love of the holidays. I made her a redwork quilt for her son Riley, when he was a baby. And now, more than ever, my sister needs a quilt to celebrate the beginning of her new life.

I found the fabric when I was in Bemidji this summer. Their Ben Franklin store has a wonderful fabric department.

I knew instantly this was what I needed to make for her. The colors are so happy, the patterns a party in fabric. No longer required to stay away from florals in her bedroom, (now that the masculine requirements of her ex are no longer in effect), this quilt will be a joyful "so there!" that will make her bedroom glow with happiness. She has already purchased paint and more fabric to coordinate with it all for her bedroom and bathroom.

It isn't fancy, or incredibly detailed. It should work up rather easily, once the million pieces are cut. But with each slice of the cutter, with every stitch, I will be wrapping her in love, gently nudging her into her new, bright future.

garden tour

I spent some time enjoying the blooms this weekend, and took pictures. I will use the pictures to relieve the pain of a 20 below winter day. I will also use them to remind me what to plant (and what to avoid) next spring. I may even print them out and use them for cards.

But since today is the first day of school in most of Minnesota, and I have friends who are sending kindergarteners off for the first time, these blooms are for you, to enjoy, and take a deep breath, and smile.

Coleus. This year I planted at least a dozen varieties, throughout my yard. These are for my Great Grandma Ethel, who loved her coleus. They come in so many varieties and colors, and you can use them in both sun and shade. They provide huge doses of color, all summer long, and require little maintenance.

Datura. Also known as moonflower. I usually plant this in white, the blooms last for about 24 hours, and are just incredible. This year I found a yellow variety, and though it has only had two blooms so far, they have been spectacular.

Dahlias. I picked up this bulb at a yard sale this spring. The plant is nearly four feet tall, and the blooms are the size of a salad plate.

Impatiens. This is a tropical variety, that I get at our neighborhood garden center each year. It spreads enormously-and next year I plan to make it my main plant in all of my shady windowboxes.

Nasturtiums. (You may remember these lovely blooms from my cake disaster post...) I planted two small plants at the edge of my herb bed, they are gorgeous and flow in waves across the border.

Hyacinth Bean Vine. The most pleasant surprise I planted this year. I had tried coaxing other vines to grow up my ironwork dress form, but had little luck as it is nearly full shade. I bought a fairly mature version of this plant, and it has rewarded me with a spectacular disply of vines and intriguing blooms. This one is definitely going in the garden again next year!

Begonias. While I always plant the basic varieties, this year I added this cascading version in a pot with lemon thyme and candy corn vine. Isn't it fun?

Nicotania. I found this interesting variety and planted it in a couple of spots in the garden. I love the graceful blooms, and the giant leaves.

So many plants, so little room in my yard...

a deep sigh

Labor Day should be celebrated by doing a whole lot of nothing.

Having been raised to believe that all work must be done before any form of relaxation can take place, most days I feel the need to perform tasks in order to feel worthy of taking a break. As I get older, I am learning to temper that, to provide a model for my kid that taking care of yourself is just as important as doing the laundry.

This has been a rare weekend of family time for us. No scheduled dirt bike events, no Scout camp, no demands from our business to deal with. And so far, no homework. We have embraced this freedom, spending Saturday on basic chores like laundry and car washing, taking our time, doing chores that need our attention. Mike and I got to have an impromptu, completely unplanned date dinner at our favorite summer restaurant, Sea Salt at Minnehaha Falls. Charlie got to spend time with his adopted family, the Lanes, riding his bike, playing games, and a little basketball.

On Sunday Mike and Charlie drove to Knobby Ridge for some dirt bike riding-this time just for fun.I spent the day catching up on things that have been waiting on my studio desk for weeks, planted some mums and did a little gardening (a bit of the bounty from my teeny veggie garden): I rewarded myself with a few hours in the backyard with iced tea, books, and magazines. We finished the day with a candlelit dinner in our backyard, Grilled Herbed Chicken and our favorite Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Salad. After the sunset, we curled up in the living room and watched National Treasure Two, and exclaimed over the scenes that took place in the Black Hills.

Today, we have no plans. We may pack a picnic, and the bicycles, and drive somewhere for the day. We may stay in our pajamas until noon and read magazines. But no plans equals pure relaxation, and today (for a change) I don't feel that I have to earn it.

Dear Mother Nature-

I know I have written to you in the past, to complain about the weather-everything from freezing rain, to never-ending winters, but if I am going to whine, I also need to compliment.

This has been an amazing summer here in St. Paul, we only had a few days over 90 degrees, and my air conditioner was rarely turned in. While I know some people prefer summer to be really hot (not really sure why, as I just find heat and humidity exhausting...), I enjoy a warm day and a cool night with low humidity.

As if to put an exclamation point on this very fine summer, the last week has been like living in San Diego (without the ocean...). Beautiful blue sky days reaching almost to 80, cool evenings that allow windows thrown open, amazing sunrises, and orangey sunsets.

Fairgoers have delighted in the weather, attendance is way up over last year. And I am guessing the teenagers working the Corn Roast Booth at the fair are smiling. The cows are happy, the grass is still green, and Minnesotans are, for today, very proud of their weather.

So thank you, Mother Nature, for giving us this gift that we are thoroughly enjoying, knowing that the coming months will most likely test our loyalty. And then I will be whining again.

With gratitude from a happy gardener.

labor day weekend

It's here. That last weekend of summer. Or so they call it.

Since Charlie has already started school, it doesn't feel that way, but even better, it feels like a true holiday weekend. For a change, we are, all three of us, going to be home for the whole weekend. And we have no plans, no commitments, a truly free weekend.

Oh, we have ideas. The weather is supposed to be perfect, which seems like a gift in itself. Mike and Charlie want to do some dirt bike riding. I see myself in my backyard with a book. I want to start Heather's quilt. I want to go to Farmer's Market. I want to plant some mums. We want to squeeze in as many outside activities as we can, as September can offer up a wide range of weather here in Minnesota. So while it is perfect, we will enjoy it.

Another idea for this free weekend? Some really good food. In my relentless search of bargains, I unearthed this treasure: I am going to try the Fresh Corn Fritters, the Grilled Steak with Garden Salsa, the Grilled Marinated Chicken, and the Basil Risotto. And the Peach Custard Tart recipe that my sweet sis sent my way this week.

Sounds like cooking may cut into my reading time, but the results will hopefully be delish.

May you all have a wonderful, relaxing holiday weekend.

back to cooking

It has been a pretty lazy summer, cooking-wise, but once we get back in to a routine I feel compelled to cook again. The multi - pot dinner that requires that I start before 5 pm.

It has become a tradition that Charlie gets to request what I cook on his first day back at school-this year he requested his favorite pasta. Since he has several 'favorite' pastas, he needed to clarify. And this is it:

Sun Dried Tomato Pasta with Sausage

1 lb Italian Sausage (you can use turkey if you are inclined)
garlic cloves
olive oil
1-2 Tbsp. butter
1 lb. noodles (Charlie prefers Farfalle for this)
8 oz. mushrooms, sliced (I like to use baby portobellos)
1 jar Classico Sun Dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce (I know, I am cheating, but this one is pretty good when you don't have time for homemade sauce)
3-4 oz. sun dried tomatoes in oil, drained & chopped
milk or half and half (depending on how many calories you are counting)
freshly grated parmesan

Crumble and cook the sausage in a saute pan, drain and remove. In the same pan, drizzle a little olive oil, throw in a tbsp. or two of butter, and let it melt. Mince several cloves of garlic (you decide how many) and get the oil/butter mixture flavored up. Toss in your sliced mushrooms and cook them. While they are cooking, get your water boiling for your noodles. When the mushrooms have absorbed all of their liquid, toss the sausage back in, along with the tomatoes. Stir it up well, then add the alfredo sauce. I fill the jar about 1/3 of the way with milk, give it a really good shake to loosen all of the creamy bits of sauce left in the jar, and stir it into the mixture. Let it cook on low while your noodles are finishing up. When the noodles are drained, toss it all together and grate some fresh parm over the top. Oh yum. I have also torn up some fresh basil and thrown in at the end, along with some chopped fresh tomatoes, to add more layers of flavor. Best served with a crunchy green salad, crusty bread, and a nice red wine.

Oh great, it's not even 9 am and I already want to dig into the leftovers...

time flies, first day of school edition

Just another milestone this morning, as Charlie went off for his first day of middle school.

Here he was, in September of 2001. His first day of preschool: (please note the chubby cheeks, and the adorable eyes...)

(sorry for the poor picture quality, my scanner is on the fritz, so this is a picture of a picture...)

Who knew that eight years later, he would be in the same outfit, this time as his uniform!

A little nervous, a little excited, all at the same time (shot with a very wide angle lens on a camera Mike is testing, things are a bit distorted. Obviously not a great picture day for the blog...)

He did indulge his parents this morning, and allowed us to take pictures, and walk him to the bus stop. But he informed us that today was the ONLY day we would be walking to the bus stop. It reminded me of his first day of kindergarten, when he insisted on taking the bus the first day, and told us he didn't want us coming to school (which we did anyway, following the bus at a discreet distance).

That's okay, I would rather have him pushing away for his independence, rather than clinging and crying that he doesn't want to leave us!

And my heart goes out to all of my dear friends who sent off their kids to college this year, you have eloquently written about your experiences, and reminded me just how precious these years are, while Charlie is still at home. Thank you for the gentle reminder.

fair day

It seemed fitting that we spend the last day of August at the Great Minnesota Get Together (also known as the Minnesota State Fair).We are fair fans, and go every year. While we have our traditional, must do favorites (eating deep fried turkey sandwiches with a cold glass of all-you-can-drink milk, and of course, cheese curds) we look for something new each year to eat or experience.

This year it was the fresh peach filled scone with creme fraiche from French Meadow Bakery. Can I hear a big OH YUM from the crowd? It beat Sweet Martha's bucket of warm chocolate chip cookies, hands down. Seriously. Well, at least I thought so.

We met up with the adorable Jed and Tracy family, who were brave enough to bring their three daughters to the Fair (on the bus, no less). Esther was hungry, and polished off a foot long all on her own. A girl after my own heart...

I had a wonderful excuse to hold a one month old baby for hours. I was in heaven. The dad's took the kids to the animal barns and on the water ride (you can't not get wet), and Tracy and I brought Astrid to the Creative Arts and Horticulture building. I introduced Tracy to the wonders of the Crop Art exhibit, and apple cider freezies. We watched an amazing Raptor show near the DNR building, and I helped Esther and Eloise complete the Garbage Fish scavenger hunt.

We said farewell to the girls and their parents, as they had put in a long enough day, and we ventured off to enjoy the rest of the fair. Charlie was hot to check out the X Park (meant to be a place for the teenagers to enjoy) and we watched an engergetic group perform on their skateboards and BMX bikes. We visited the Technology building, and the guys even joined me on my tour of the Fine Arts Builiding (there are some amazingly talented Minnesotans out there!)

Eight hours from our arrival time, we wearily walked back to our car, safely parked in the Scout Troop parking lot, another day at the fair ready for the memory pile.