Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to you! Thanks to my friend, Sharon, I am dressed as a college graduate (with distinction). It's been fun so far—I'm getting a lot of positive comments on my outfit.

Happy 4th Birthday, Nels!

Today is Nels' 4th birthday, and for his birthday treat, he got to eat a bowl of tuna juice. He absolutely loved it!

I have had Nels for the past 34 months. When Annika and I adopted him from the Humane Society, we believed him to be 3 years old. Then when I took him to my veterinarian for his check-up, I was told he was 13 or 14 months old. They told me to choose a birthday for him, so I chose October 29th. Initially he was really too "kitten-like" for me—getting into everything, chewing electrical cords, and so on. But this last year, or even past half year, he has become a really nice pet. He loves curling up in my lap, and purrs and purrs. He still loves sleeping under the covers with me, and is so cozy. Happy Birthday, Nels! I love you.

Regina's Candy Store Annual Tour

Today my friend, Pam, came with me to tour Regina's Candy Store. She had never been there before, so she was a really good sport, in my opinion.  I think this may have been my fourth tour since 1992, and I really enjoyed it, as always. It blesses my heart to see the fourth and fifth generation of this family working there today.

The small store was abuzz when we arrived. We got our tickets (free) for the next tour which was to begin in less than a half hour. When our time came, we donned our hairnets and off we went to the start of the tour.

This time the tour had an addition: a film showing the various stages of making their famous peppermint candy canes. I loved seeing this because I have purchased many, many candy canes over the years. They are one of two companies in the U. S. to still make candy canes by hand. And, they're beautiful!

Pam has a blog—actually, her two cats have the blog. After she got home today, her "boys" wrote a new post. They allowed Pam to write her account of the tour and post photos, as well. You can read it here.

A Volunteer Opportunity

Twice a year, our company offers the opportunity to volunteer at a local charity. The charities of choice for this year are Bridging and Feed My Starving Children. I chose the Bridging and our day to help out was yesterday. This is the organization to which I donated my sofa bed earlier this fall.

Here's the deal: people donate all manner of items to this fine agency, but not all things are needed to help someone just being released from prison, or living in a house with no furniture, or just plain poor. They need the basics: couch, kitchen table, dishes, beds and bedding, and towels. They don't need a grandfather clock, a china cabinet, lead crystal vases, CDs, and you get the idea. It makes more sense for these "bigger ticket" items to be sold and the money spent for towels, bedding, pillows, mattresses, and so on. Our volunteer task was to unpack such "unnecessary" items and get them ready to be sold over next three weekends in a big sale. Bridging rented two vacant spaces next door to each other in a little mall near my home – one shop will feature the smaller items; the other with furniture and accessories.

LaVonne is sorting linens.

Chris is unpacking silver items.

Jennifer sorting jewelry

Dave L and Dave H moving furniture

Taking a little break 

Sharon and yours truly polishing antique chairs

I managed to get some Old English Scratch Cover on my cheek. Thankfully it washed off.

Raela and Amanda completely assembled two of these curio cabinets.

When I first arrived, I spotted some dishes I thought I would really like to have, but after working on this stuff most of the afternoon, I decided I don't need them.

Aurelia's Sleep-over

It's been quite awhile since Aurelia spent an overnight with me, but all of the stars aligned for this to happen last night. After her family dropped her off, we went to Perkin's where she enjoyed buttermilk pancakes, bacon and apple juice for dinner. She asked to go there because she thinks Perkin's is "fancy." Following that, I took her to a local Dollar Tree store and told her she could buy whatever she wanted for $3. To my surprise, she had never been in a Dollar Store before. She was quite amazed at all it had to offer.

Initially, she looked at the Halloween items. Some of those items were rather "tacky," or even "spooky." She picked up a big, black rubber rat! Thankfully, she only giggled over it and then put it back. Then she discovered there were long aisles of toys! And there was another aisle of craft and school items. I could tell she was enjoying this! What joy she had looking at all of the helium filled balloons.

After scanning most of the aisles, she made her way back to the toys, where she chose a package with a blue plastic pony with long blue, glittery hair, a comb and two star barrettes. She also chose a set of "jewelry" for a bride: a pearl necklace, a silver watch, a big plastic heart to hang on the necklace, a beaded bracelet, a wedding band, and an engagement ring, plus a wedding certificate. And then, the pièce de résistance, a large pink and purple lollipop! You would have thought she won the million dollar lottery. I have to say, I had fun watching her evaluate everything and then happily take her choices to the checkout line.

There's the lollipop, which Aurelia said tasted grape and cherry, plus the blue horsey next to her. No, I did not let her eat all of it. 

Sporting the new jewelry: beads, silver wrist watch, wedding rings, and bracelet.

This morning we opened the purchases and she had fun playing with them while watching some TV. Before lunch time, we got dressed and and went for a little walk outside to gather pretty fall leaves. After picking up a nice collection, we brought them into the house and pressed them between waxed paper – to make them last longer.

Assembling the leaves onto waxed paper

Covering the leaves with a second sheet of waxed paper

Pressing the sheets of waxed paper between two sides of a brown paper bag

Lifting the waxed coated leaves off of the waxed paper

Now the leaves are ready for display and will last for weeks.

After lunch we watched the Disney movie, Cinderella. What a delightful time we have had!

Fall Foliage

The leaves have been rapidly changing colors here this week. It seems like it was so sudden. Here are a few photos of the trees in my neighborhood.

Morning sunrise today. My camera doesn't do it justice.

My college is 100 years old this year!

Beautiful chandelier under the dome

I took the day off Friday and attended the first day celebration of my college's 100th Anniversary – Minnesota Bible College. While I didn't graduate, the people who taught me during that time made a huge impact on my life, but I didn't really appreciate that until Friday. Special speakers were Paul Boatman, Leroy Randall, Jon Grice, and Ben Cachiaras. Videos were from Earl Grice, Jim Strauss, Richard Hogan, and others. Each of these individuals shared just how much the college helped shape them. I realized, it helped shape me, too.

The college sold our beautiful building which was located on University Avenue and 15th Avenue SE in Minneapolis - in Dinky Town - back in 1975 and relocated in Rochester. At that time, they also changed the name to Crossroads College.

This is how the college looked some 90 - 100 years ago. This is prior to University Avenue being widened and the University of Minnesota encroaching.

This is how it looks today. After it was sold, it was eventually turned into a shopping mall (because we don't have enough of those!). I have been in it once, but it's actually sad. Those who came to the celebration were given a tour of the building on Thursday. I decided to pass.

A highlight for me Friday was singing in the mass choir. Former and current students joined in. I was by far one of the older ones. But that didn't matter to me. I really enjoyed it! Also, more than once the entire gathering sang the familiar choir theme song, Sing, Sing, Sing!

 

 

Sing, Sing, Sing!

 

Sing, sing, sing praise to the Savior the whole day long!

Sing, sing, with voices ringing in heart-felt song.

Sing, sing, what e're betide you,

Sing for the joy of the Lord that's inside you,

Sing to the King!

Sing, sing, glad in His service,

Sing, Sing, Sing!

Plan B

My plan to put the new love seat in my cottage has been foiled. Reason: it is too large to fit in my hallway! I had no idea when I bought it that would be a problem. 

L to R: Jim, Dave H, Andy (back), Dave L (foreground)

The day started out by going to work. At noon, 4 of my co-workers came to my home (Dave H. owns a pick-up truck), and put their muscles together to move my hide-a-bed sofa to the truck and together we drove to Bridging, a local charity helping people coming out of homelessness and poverty. From Bridging, we drove to the furniture store where I bought the love seat and then back to my home. Again, more muscle was used to bring the love seat into my entryway - which was very tight. Before bringing it any further, Jim said perhaps we should measure the door opening and the hallway. Sadly, it would be a tight fit bringing through my entry door, but there was no way it would fit down my hallway—let alone through the cottage doorway. That left one option: it has to go in the living room.

This is probably not where I'll keep the love seat, but it will be in this room. I now need some time to figure out some furniture arrangements and decor. Do you like it?

Out With the Old . . .

I bit the bullet and made the first big step in redecorating my living room. Bear in mind, this project may take some time, but I'm ready for a change. Tomorrow I am donating this hide-a-bed sofa and pillows to charity. There is nothing wrong with it – honest – except that it is so out of style, and no longer my taste. It has served me well since Heidi went off to college in 1995. That's exactly when I bought it. Yes, it is 18 years old and still looks like new. I am hoping it goes to a home that is in need of such a piece.

This past week I bought a new love seat that has a Temper-pedic twin size hide-a-bed in it. It is going to go into my cottage, replacing this one which is going in my living room.

Once I have the new love seat in place and things moved around a bit, I'll post a new photo of each room.

Cousins' Weekend 2013

This weekend I got to participate in part of our annual Cousins' Weekend. After work on Friday I drove to Pat's. Linda had driven up from Chicago to Rochester Thursday to spend the night with my sister and brother. She and Janet up to Pat's earlier on Saturday. It took about 30 seconds for me to get up to speed on the conversation that was in full swing. 

By early evening, we took off for North St. Paul to the "Back to the 50's" car show. Unfortunately, it started to rain, so we ducked into a pizza shop and after a bit of a wait, we got a table, placed our order, and continued to talk, talk, talk. We always have such a great time! After dinner, we walked up one end of main street—admiring the classic cars along the way. When we reached the end of the street, Janet, Linda and I climbed into Denny's 1956 Oldsmobile for a ride back to Pat's. Who's Denny? He lives across the street from Pat and Pudge in the house Pat grew up in and in which I lived in tenth grade. Our family has adopted Denny! Denny's car is fully restored and it's really nice!

We stayed up late Friday night and talked some more. Pat is meticulously going through all of Aunt Liz's things, and again, offered more keepsakes to us. One treasure I took is a piece of a crazy quilt put together by my great-grand mother. It's possible it's between 140 and 150 years old. I intend to have it framed and will hang it next to her blouse.

Pat, preparing breakfast in the downstairs kitchen

Prepped veggies for dinner

After a leisurely morning which included home-made scones, we traveled up to Taylor's Falls to take a paddle boat ride on the St. Croix River. What a beautiful place! We were a bit early for fall color, but it was lovely just the same.

Denny, Linda, Pat, Janet and Pudge waiting to board the paddle boat

Here we go!

After treats at the local ice cream shop in Taylor's Falls, we drove to Franconia to wander around the Franconia Sculpture Park. The entire time I was there, I kept thinking Peder, Sarah and their kids would love this place! I think Sarah's dad and mom would love it, too.

Yours truly and Linda inside the first sculpture at Franconia Sculpture Park

Even before leaving the house for the outings, Pat had put together a roast with carrots, parsnips, and potatoes. Man, you should have been there to smell the delicious aroma when we returned home! We put the finishing touches on the dinner in their newly remodeled kitchen and were the first to eat in their new dining room. Aunt Liz would have loved how things are turning out! Oh, and she was not forgotten – we ate her last plum pudding. It had been in the freezer. It was really good! And a meaningful way to end our Cousins' weekend.

L to R: Pat, Pudge, Janet, and Linda

L to R: Linda, Denny, yours truly

English plum pudding with vanilla sauce

My friend and author, Beverly Lewis

Today our office was treated with a visit from our top author, and my friend, Beverly Lewis. Beverly had just finished a two week book-signing tour in Kentucky and Indiana, where she did three signings in three cities each of those days, except Sundays. She said it was probably the best tour she has done, and she has done many—two each year for the past seven or so many years—each time a new book of hers is released. Beverly has published over 90 books, some for children, and the majority for adults. She is known throughout the country as the "Queen of the Amish" novels.

About a year or so ago, I was given the honor of answering the fan emails that come to our company website addressed to her. I have some templates that help with some of the answers, but because I am a friend of hers, and read all of her books, I can answer many of them from my heart. I forward all of my correspondence to her and she can write to the fan if she has the time or sees the need. It frees up her time to write more, plus do the many interviews that are requested of her.

What I love about Beverly is her sweet, sweet spirit, and her kindness. She is fun, and she can be serious. She and her husband are prayer warriors, praying daily for hundreds of people. I'm so glad I got to see her today.

If you haven't read her books, you should. She is a New York Times Best-selling Author. Her newest book is The Secret Keeper.

I'm sporting the boot again!

A week ago I had my big toenail removed on my right foot. The week preceding, the nail was very sore and had discolored. The podiatrist took one look at it and announced it had to come off. She said it was an ingrown nail with a blood blister underneath it. All this time I thought the nail had a fungus due to its thickness. She told me the thickness in nails comes from age. Jeez. Thanks a lot!

For the first few days, I tried to wear a sandal on that foot, allowing the nail bed (bandaged) to have freedom. Also, to keep the pain away, as any weight or pressure on that bed really hurts. The sandal didn't work very well. With any walking, the leather would push the bandage off. Wednesday I resorted to my boot—the one I have had to wear twice before. While it is cumbersome, it allows me to walk normally.

Yesterday I searched my socks drawer for a pair of big, sloppy socks, to wear one on my exposed right foot. Why? It has turned chilly here. It's only in the 50's. This year of 2013 may go down as one of the craziest weather years to date.

This is Hormel

Tonight I watched a YouTube video of the Hormel company which was probably filmed in the early 1960's. It's about 30 minutes long, so you may not be interested, but I'm pretty sure my brother will watch it. I thought some of my friends would like to listen to the first few minutes where you will hear two local boys pronounce the company name "HOR-mul," while watching a freight train pass by including several Hormel cars. As the video continues, the narrator pronounces it the way some marketer came up with years ago: Hor-MELL.

As you know, I worked at the Hormel plant for 10 years. Most of those years I was the accounting clerk in the sliced bacon department. About half way through the video, this department is shown - from the pork bellies coming out of the smokehouse on rails to the machine that molds the pork sides into uniform, oblong blocks. Next the bacon is shown coming through the automatic slicer and being put into one pound packages.

Things have changed since this filming—everyone wears a hard hat, hair net, and beard net, if one has facial hair. The biggest changes are there are no longer tours and the old buildings have been replaced by a new, state-of-the-art large single building. Hormel Foods is a Fortune 500 company with a huge number of products under its label, including the newly acquired Skippy Peanut Butter.

One other tidbit - the Hormel labels have always included a sprig of parsley.

Happy Birthday, Hans!

Hans (wearing a Star Wars shirt) with birthday cake - 10 years old. Heidi is in the foreground. One of the friends is Jeff Brown. 

Hans, torpedoman

Hans, CMDR

Today my oldest is turning 43. It's so hard to believe. I want to wish him a very Happy Birthday!

Happy Labor Day!

L to R: Nancy, Bonnie, Laurey

I took advantage of the great weather forecast for this weekend and invited a few of my friends over yesterday for a swim party and picnic on my porch. It was actually kind of chilly for swimming, so Nancy and I were the only ones to brave going into the pool, which we had to ourselves. Nancy kept saying "This is so refreshing!" I didn't think it was that great.

We had a very nice time eating together and catching up on what each of us has been doing. Once again I am so thankful for the decision I made last year to screen my porch. It has been like an additional room to my home and a delightful place for entertaining.

Bonnie gave me this darling mini-garden sculpture. I love the two girls on the teeter-totter!

The menu was "make your own sandwich," along with fruit, relishes, and chips, and for dessert, "make your own sundae." As always, my friends offered to bring part of the food and we had a very enjoyable time. Bonus: today is Labor Day and Nels let me sleep in!