In October, when Kiddo1 and I did a four day roadtrip (two of those days with Grandma) to and from Iowa, all three of us stopped at our favorite quilt store: Gruber's in St. Cloud!!
(I'll pause for your applause or for you to share your favorite Gruber's memory)
Kiddo1 had never been to my quilting Mecca and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. She spotted a Taylor Made Designs book on Little Sassy Skirts. Being the lover of "twirly skirts" that she is, it was a natural fit for her. And being the lover of Taylor Made Designs that I am....well, the decision to purchase that pattern book was an easy one.
As we rounded the corner, Kiddo1 spotted the "mama skirt" version of that same book and proclaimed that now all the girls can have the same skirt. I don't know about that, but I loved that she included me and we put that book in our basket as well. I picked out a pattern for some great Christmas gifts and we had completed our Gruber's experience (quite possibly the least amount of money I've ever spent at Gruber's).
I read through the patterns that night in our hotel room. Second to reading cookbooks, I love to read pattern books! These patterns (as all Taylor Made Designs books are) were very well written and I knew I'd be whipping out coordinating skirts for the girls for Easter.
Brought the books home in a clear plastic sleeve and read them again in our living room. About a week later, we were having company and decided to rearrange our living room. I had those books in my hand and (here's the kicker) thought to myself, "I'm going to put these in a safe place where I can find them after we rearrange."
And that pretty much guaranteed that I wouldn't be able to find them.
Haven't seen them since.
And I've turned my house upside down looking for the stupid things.
And Easter is less than a month away.
Pressure on.
Well, when the going gets tough, this mama heads to the internet. I found a free twirly skirt pattern I can adapt for the girls. Then I cruised eBay and found the "mama skirt" version for less than half price of new and snapped that up. Whew!!!
Now I can whip out some Easter duds and we'll be just fine.
And you know those books are going to turn up as soon as I finish the last hem....
Sunday, March 18, 2012
The Holocaust Museum
When I was in DC the first time, the Holocaust Museum was newly opened. We couldn't get tickets to the main exhibit but were able to view the visitor space and children's exhibit.
This time I made it a point to see the main exhibit. It was incredible. It will be hard to describe it to you, but I'll share some of my observations.
1. The over-arching theme for me was that the Holocaust did not happen overnight. It wasn't like the Jews (and others) were living regular lives one day and in Dachau the next. It was a gradual and systematic movement over a period of years. The exhibit starts in the early 1930's. There was a screening process to identify which members of the society matched the hair color and eye color that the Nazi regime wanted. There were actually hair swatches used to match your hair color and if you were one of the acceptable colors, good for you. If you were unacceptable, well...you were unacceptable. Then they proceeded to burn unacceptable books, boycott unacceptable businesses, etc.
2. You cannot imagine the horror and terror of the ghettos, death camps, gas chambers. This museum is not the History Channel, you see everything. The most disturbing for this mom of three beautiful babies? Video of the Russian liberators as they saw a death camp for the first time. On a pile of dead bodies was a new born baby, dead, still attached to the placenta. I choked back the sobs on that one...
It is very easy to hear of events and actions like these and think "That doesn't apply to me".
3. As you leave the main exhibit there is this quote by Martin Niemoller on a blank stone wall:
They came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up.
If you ever have the opportunity so see the Holocaust Museum, take it. You will leave changed.
This time I made it a point to see the main exhibit. It was incredible. It will be hard to describe it to you, but I'll share some of my observations.
1. The over-arching theme for me was that the Holocaust did not happen overnight. It wasn't like the Jews (and others) were living regular lives one day and in Dachau the next. It was a gradual and systematic movement over a period of years. The exhibit starts in the early 1930's. There was a screening process to identify which members of the society matched the hair color and eye color that the Nazi regime wanted. There were actually hair swatches used to match your hair color and if you were one of the acceptable colors, good for you. If you were unacceptable, well...you were unacceptable. Then they proceeded to burn unacceptable books, boycott unacceptable businesses, etc.
2. You cannot imagine the horror and terror of the ghettos, death camps, gas chambers. This museum is not the History Channel, you see everything. The most disturbing for this mom of three beautiful babies? Video of the Russian liberators as they saw a death camp for the first time. On a pile of dead bodies was a new born baby, dead, still attached to the placenta. I choked back the sobs on that one...
It is very easy to hear of events and actions like these and think "That doesn't apply to me".
3. As you leave the main exhibit there is this quote by Martin Niemoller on a blank stone wall:
They came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up.
If you ever have the opportunity so see the Holocaust Museum, take it. You will leave changed.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Just another way that I'm a lunatic
My travel companions (all 25 of them) were exposed to another area in which I am a lunatic: my beverage choices.
First, and probably the most disturbing, I don't drink coffee. Never have. Don't like the taste. Don't need the caffeine. My mother couldn't believe that I called myself a real teacher and didn't drink coffee.
Second, I don't drink alcohol. I have and never really got into it. Don't like the taste. Don't like the price. Don't like what it does to those who drink too much. I didn't have my first drink until 6 months AFTER my 21st birthday: champagne because my best friend was accepted into a prestigious study abroad program. I've never had more than 2 drinks on any occasion. When Hubby was Manfriend, he bought a bottle of wine. I had one glass and was sound asleep. Some people are "happy drunks" or "mean drunks"...I guess I'd be a "sleepy drunk".
And third, I (as of about a month ago) no longer drink pop. Since we've been married, I don't keep it in the house (with the exception of the occasional "mexican" Coke that Hubby enjoys - cane sugar instead of HFCS and it's in a glass bottle). I was only drinking it on "the outside", i.e. traveling, at the office, etc. So, I decided that that was just silly and I didn't need it and that was that.
Who knew these beverage choices would make me such a pariah? I don't preach my choices. If you ask, I'll tell you why. But am I horribly offended if you have a cup of coffee, a Coke or a beer in my presence? Not at all. Enjoy yourself!
What was the most interesting was people's responses after I gave my ice water drink order. "Oh...well, I'm sorry I ordered a beer. I'm not a big drinker." It's fine, really. I'm not imposing my choices on you. Part of me really wanted to say, "Oh? You didn't order ice water? I'm sorry, I'm really not a big hydrator." But then I'd probably say hydrant instead of hydrator and the moment would be lost....
First, and probably the most disturbing, I don't drink coffee. Never have. Don't like the taste. Don't need the caffeine. My mother couldn't believe that I called myself a real teacher and didn't drink coffee.
Second, I don't drink alcohol. I have and never really got into it. Don't like the taste. Don't like the price. Don't like what it does to those who drink too much. I didn't have my first drink until 6 months AFTER my 21st birthday: champagne because my best friend was accepted into a prestigious study abroad program. I've never had more than 2 drinks on any occasion. When Hubby was Manfriend, he bought a bottle of wine. I had one glass and was sound asleep. Some people are "happy drunks" or "mean drunks"...I guess I'd be a "sleepy drunk".
And third, I (as of about a month ago) no longer drink pop. Since we've been married, I don't keep it in the house (with the exception of the occasional "mexican" Coke that Hubby enjoys - cane sugar instead of HFCS and it's in a glass bottle). I was only drinking it on "the outside", i.e. traveling, at the office, etc. So, I decided that that was just silly and I didn't need it and that was that.
Who knew these beverage choices would make me such a pariah? I don't preach my choices. If you ask, I'll tell you why. But am I horribly offended if you have a cup of coffee, a Coke or a beer in my presence? Not at all. Enjoy yourself!
What was the most interesting was people's responses after I gave my ice water drink order. "Oh...well, I'm sorry I ordered a beer. I'm not a big drinker." It's fine, really. I'm not imposing my choices on you. Part of me really wanted to say, "Oh? You didn't order ice water? I'm sorry, I'm really not a big hydrator." But then I'd probably say hydrant instead of hydrator and the moment would be lost....
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Free time
I like to travel. But I LOVE to come home.
Back in my wild single day, I did a fair amount of traveling. For work and fun. I averaged a trip a month and really enjoyed it. Seeing new places, meeting new people, blah, blah, blah, having a $50 per day meal allowance and a rental car and mapquested quilt shop locations.
Then I met Hubby (who wasn't Hubby then, he was just "friend I was considering marriage with", I'd been waiting 12 years to call someone Boyfriend but he said he wasn't a boy and Manfriend just sounded creepy), and suddenly there wasn't anywhere that was as nice as being next to him. And now I've got three more reasons to like being home a whole lot better.
I tell you that to tell you this...
I spent 6 days last week in our nation's capitol. And while I will have plenty of observations on my work there, I feel the need to first set the stage with this one. One evening, we had "free time" from 4pm or so. I was traveling with 25 other people so there were groups gathering to see this or eat there or meet so-and-so. Invitations were extended for me to join some of them. I politely declined them all.
What would be the perfect evening for this farm-wife-mama-turned-real-food-lunatic?? (I'll let you think on that for a minute.)
I went back to my hotel room.
Took a long, hot shower (to cleanse myself of the Metro and because I simply adore long, hot showers),
Put on my jammies,
Snuggled into the mountain of pillows on my bed,
And ordered room service for the first time ever.
I called Hubby and we talked like we did when we was my Manfriend,
watched cooking shows and M*A*S*H,
crochet mittens for my girls without their "help",
and went to sleep early.
And it was the most glorious "free time" I've ever had.
Back in my wild single day, I did a fair amount of traveling. For work and fun. I averaged a trip a month and really enjoyed it. Seeing new places, meeting new people, blah, blah, blah, having a $50 per day meal allowance and a rental car and mapquested quilt shop locations.
Then I met Hubby (who wasn't Hubby then, he was just "friend I was considering marriage with", I'd been waiting 12 years to call someone Boyfriend but he said he wasn't a boy and Manfriend just sounded creepy), and suddenly there wasn't anywhere that was as nice as being next to him. And now I've got three more reasons to like being home a whole lot better.
Some of you may find this hard to believe, but I'm an introvert. Indeed, it is true. I even have official verification: The Myers-Briggs personality profile has me falling off the charts on the introverted end of the scale. (For you MB fans out there, I'm INTJ to a T, and if you'd like to read about me and my ways, click HERE ) It is only by sheer will and determination and a calling that I speak in public for a living (and 4-H and FFA and my parents). Did you know there are people out there who are actually energized by being around other people? There are times I wish I was one of them. But I'm not. It exhausts me. I am energized by quiet time and space, snuggling my babies, being snuggled in return.
I spent 6 days last week in our nation's capitol. And while I will have plenty of observations on my work there, I feel the need to first set the stage with this one. One evening, we had "free time" from 4pm or so. I was traveling with 25 other people so there were groups gathering to see this or eat there or meet so-and-so. Invitations were extended for me to join some of them. I politely declined them all.
What would be the perfect evening for this farm-wife-mama-turned-real-food-lunatic?? (I'll let you think on that for a minute.)
I went back to my hotel room.
Took a long, hot shower (to cleanse myself of the Metro and because I simply adore long, hot showers),
Put on my jammies,
Snuggled into the mountain of pillows on my bed,
And ordered room service for the first time ever.
I called Hubby and we talked like we did when we was my Manfriend,
watched cooking shows and M*A*S*H,
crochet mittens for my girls without their "help",
and went to sleep early.
And it was the most glorious "free time" I've ever had.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Hemming and hawing
I'm leaving again tomorrow. For our nation's capitol. For 6 days of meetings, meetings, and more meetings. Which require business clothes, lots of business clothes.
I have a favorite pair of black pants that are long for me. So to compensate, I wear heels with them. But as we are doing a lot of walking (and did I mention the meetings?), I'm not taking heels to preserve whatever little foot my plantar fasciitis leaves me with. Bottom line? My pants are too long for the shoes I'm wearing.
As I've told you before, I'm a quilter. My sister and I have an on-going debate about which is more difficult. I think clothing construction is very difficult, she thinks it's easy. She thinks quilting is very difficult and I think a trained monkey can sew a straight line and quilting is just a series of straight lines. Bottom line? I don't like mending.
I once saw a sign in a quilt shop that said, "Asking a quilter to mend is like asking a chef to do the dishes." Truer words were never spoken. I can embroider or cross stitch all day, but ask me to sew a wayward button back on? Ummmm, well, maybe, can you lay it over there?
Hubby has actually given up and just asks his mom to mend his stuff.
Back to my pants. I had to hem them. To illustrate my phobia of clothing alterations, I considered just safety pinning them up. But I do have this fancy blind stitch foot attachment for my sewing machine and all. So I bit the bullet and did it. Three times. (I should admit now that my pants do only have two legs.) Did you know that you shouldn't start with an inch of hem and end the circle of your leg with three inches? Apparently it makes quite the wrinkle at the bottom. Very visible and pretty much screamed "I DID THIS MYSELF WITH MY EYES CLOSED!" Perhaps that isn't the best way to be remembered at all the meetings...
I'm hoping that after a week of walking around Washington DC in these pants that there isn't a profile on the Sunday capitol-esque shows spotlighting poorly hemmed pants invading the city (and going to a lot of meetings).
Bottom line? As Uncle Joel says, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing poorly first!" And those pants are hemmed poorly....
I have a favorite pair of black pants that are long for me. So to compensate, I wear heels with them. But as we are doing a lot of walking (and did I mention the meetings?), I'm not taking heels to preserve whatever little foot my plantar fasciitis leaves me with. Bottom line? My pants are too long for the shoes I'm wearing.
As I've told you before, I'm a quilter. My sister and I have an on-going debate about which is more difficult. I think clothing construction is very difficult, she thinks it's easy. She thinks quilting is very difficult and I think a trained monkey can sew a straight line and quilting is just a series of straight lines. Bottom line? I don't like mending.
I once saw a sign in a quilt shop that said, "Asking a quilter to mend is like asking a chef to do the dishes." Truer words were never spoken. I can embroider or cross stitch all day, but ask me to sew a wayward button back on? Ummmm, well, maybe, can you lay it over there?
Hubby has actually given up and just asks his mom to mend his stuff.
Back to my pants. I had to hem them. To illustrate my phobia of clothing alterations, I considered just safety pinning them up. But I do have this fancy blind stitch foot attachment for my sewing machine and all. So I bit the bullet and did it. Three times. (I should admit now that my pants do only have two legs.) Did you know that you shouldn't start with an inch of hem and end the circle of your leg with three inches? Apparently it makes quite the wrinkle at the bottom. Very visible and pretty much screamed "I DID THIS MYSELF WITH MY EYES CLOSED!" Perhaps that isn't the best way to be remembered at all the meetings...
I'm hoping that after a week of walking around Washington DC in these pants that there isn't a profile on the Sunday capitol-esque shows spotlighting poorly hemmed pants invading the city (and going to a lot of meetings).
Bottom line? As Uncle Joel says, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing poorly first!" And those pants are hemmed poorly....
Friday, March 2, 2012
Let's Talk About Seeds!
A recent blog comment asked me to talk about seeds. I'd love to! It's one of my favorite subjects and I just spent the day with fellow "seedies" and am now fully inspired.
"Let's talk about seeds, baby. Let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be. Let's talk about seeds!"
(I'm sorry. I couldn't resist.)
Seriously, let's talk about seeds. First, some definitions:
Open Pollinated Seed - This means that when seed from the plant is planted, it will come back "true to type". It will look just like its parent plant.
Heirloom Seeds - In order to be an heirloom seed, it must be open-pollinated. It must also be an "old" variety, some people say at least 50 years but that's is open to debate. What isn't open to debate is that heirloom vegetables must have TASTE. There's a reason these varieties have been around for 50 years. They're worth eating!!
Hybrid Seeds - Hybrids are made by crossing two parents (like two varieties of sweet corn) and the resulting seed is known as an F1 hybrid (that means first generation). If these first generation (F1) seeds are planted they may not grow "true to type". This can be good and bad. If you are a gardener and want the same sweet corn that you had last year, you need to plant new F1 seed. If you are a seed selector or breeder, this motley assortment of sweet corns may allow you to select for certain traits like height, stalk strength, taste, etc.
PVP Seeds - The Plant Variety Protection Act was enacted in 1970, giving seed breeders and developers marketing rights in the US. A PVP designation allows a seed to be owned and therefore its use restricted to production only. There are a few exceptions: a farmer who wants to save his or her own seed to replant or to sell to a neighbor, or research conducted with permission within the research community.
GMO or GE Seeds - {definition from the World Health Organization} - Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is often called “modern biotechnology” or “gene technology”, sometimes also “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species.
GMO Seeds are not just plant variety protected (PVP), they are patented. This means that farmers CANNOT keep the seed that they grow. They MUST buy new seed each year. And when they purchase that seed, they must sign a technology agreement. Even if they don't sign, the act of opening the bag is considered consent of the agreement. For the first time in thousands and thousands of years, a farmer cannot keep his or her own seed. Cannot select for varieties that do best on their farm and management conditions. Cannot share that variety with a neighbor.
Think about that for minute.
For the first time in all of history, a farmer or gardener does not own seed. Does not have any control over seed.
So where do we get our seed? From whomever is selling it. And whatever they are selling.
That isn't good enough for me. I want to have some control. So this year we are starting two very basic seed selection and breeding trials with green beans and sweet corn. I am also planting a majority of open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables in order to save the seed myself. Just one more notch on the sustainable farm ladder.
One of the most common questions I get asked is "Where do you buy your seed?"
Here are my favorites:
I have walked their production plots. I have tasted their food. I have learned so much from this family. This is their first year marketing their own seed, although they've been growing seed for some of the most reputable companies in the business for years. They are completely organic and I've ordered their entire line of seeds!
2. Fedco Seeds
This is a Maine cooperative seed company, owned by the growers. Fabulous selection and catalog. Offers lots of organic seeds.
Great company out of Oregon that sells many organic varieties and in bulk!
All heirloom and rare seeds. Their catalog is a work of art. Lots of cool things you won't find anywhere else. And $3 shipping...love that!
All organic seeds out of Vermont and in bulk! Great service and fabulous stuff.
If you like to save seed and trade with others, this is the catalog and group for you! I drool over this one. But since this is our first year in saving, selecting and breeding seed...I'm taking it slow.
So there are my 6 favorite seed companies! Bottom line for me: I always try to buy organic seed as that is our production management, I NEVER buy off a rack in a store and I ALWAYS buy from a company that has signed the Safe Seed Pledge.
There's a brief introduction about seed. If you have other questions, list them below in the comments and I can answer then in another post. I could go on and on and on...
Thursday, March 1, 2012
3/1 Randomness
It's been a fairly random kind of day. So, in honor of that, here's some fairly random thoughts:
1. I have 4 yellow smiley face stickers on my left hand right now. Courtesy of Kiddo1. She spent the night at Ga-ma's house and had a sandwich baggie of various stickers as her prize. And in those stickers were five magnets from Ga-ma's fridge. Magnets that have been on there longer than I've been around these parts. An inquisition ensued. Are these Ga-ma's magnets? Did she say you could have them? (You should know that Kiddo1 has a bit of a tucking problem. As in, she likes to tuck her favorite things into small bags and boxes for safekeeping.) Eventually we had to call Ga-ma and find out that even though Ga-ma didn't tell her she could take them, she can keep them. Good grief...
2. My dear friend E gifted us some bags of clothes for our kiddos. Kiddo1 sorted through the bags and promptly put on the polka dot footie jammies and the pink shirtdress...AT THE SAME TIME. Apparently, it's wear-it-if-you-got-it day here on the farm...
3. Kiddo3 got a total of 17 minutes of nap today and actually sighed with relief when I put her to bed. Poor thing...
4. Kiddo2 wears his cowboy hat everywhere, everyday. Today we went to Pizza Ranch for lunch and for once he fit right into the decor. And I quote, "LOOK! Cowboys just like me!" A lady even took his picture. I hope it isn't for some sort of unfortunate-headgear-for-children display...
5. Hubby is watching Duke of Hazzard. He calls it his "nothing box". I couldn't agree more. I've certainly watched my share of Dukes, played the role of Daisy Duke (sans the short shorts) when we would play as kids. But these days, I prefer an episode of Rawhide. He just told me "Come, watch. This is a good one!" I'm tempted to ask, "Is it the one where Bo and Luke do something, Roscoe and Boss misunderstand and try to frame/arrest them? Is it the one where they chase the Duke boys and end up crashing into the stream? Or a tree? Or each other?" Now that episode has concluded and I was chastised with (hold on now) "That was a really good one, they lost a lot of parts off of that patrol car!" Definitely, nothing box...
6. I bought some yarn on eBay last night. This could be the start of a whole new addiction. And I'm trying to plan what projects to take to DC next week. I may try mittens or socks. This could either go really well or really bad, baby hats were pretty mindless...
Well, that's enough randomness for one day.
1. I have 4 yellow smiley face stickers on my left hand right now. Courtesy of Kiddo1. She spent the night at Ga-ma's house and had a sandwich baggie of various stickers as her prize. And in those stickers were five magnets from Ga-ma's fridge. Magnets that have been on there longer than I've been around these parts. An inquisition ensued. Are these Ga-ma's magnets? Did she say you could have them? (You should know that Kiddo1 has a bit of a tucking problem. As in, she likes to tuck her favorite things into small bags and boxes for safekeeping.) Eventually we had to call Ga-ma and find out that even though Ga-ma didn't tell her she could take them, she can keep them. Good grief...
2. My dear friend E gifted us some bags of clothes for our kiddos. Kiddo1 sorted through the bags and promptly put on the polka dot footie jammies and the pink shirtdress...AT THE SAME TIME. Apparently, it's wear-it-if-you-got-it day here on the farm...
3. Kiddo3 got a total of 17 minutes of nap today and actually sighed with relief when I put her to bed. Poor thing...
4. Kiddo2 wears his cowboy hat everywhere, everyday. Today we went to Pizza Ranch for lunch and for once he fit right into the decor. And I quote, "LOOK! Cowboys just like me!" A lady even took his picture. I hope it isn't for some sort of unfortunate-headgear-for-children display...
5. Hubby is watching Duke of Hazzard. He calls it his "nothing box". I couldn't agree more. I've certainly watched my share of Dukes, played the role of Daisy Duke (sans the short shorts) when we would play as kids. But these days, I prefer an episode of Rawhide. He just told me "Come, watch. This is a good one!" I'm tempted to ask, "Is it the one where Bo and Luke do something, Roscoe and Boss misunderstand and try to frame/arrest them? Is it the one where they chase the Duke boys and end up crashing into the stream? Or a tree? Or each other?" Now that episode has concluded and I was chastised with (hold on now) "That was a really good one, they lost a lot of parts off of that patrol car!" Definitely, nothing box...
6. I bought some yarn on eBay last night. This could be the start of a whole new addiction. And I'm trying to plan what projects to take to DC next week. I may try mittens or socks. This could either go really well or really bad, baby hats were pretty mindless...
Well, that's enough randomness for one day.
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