Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Beading




A friend of mine volunteered to make bracelets for the women residents at Nielsen Place for Mother's Day.  Another friend and I volunteered to help her do this.  Her total count was 144 or 132 I can't remember.  We worked for 2 hours and she counted she had 72 done.   We did volunteer to return to help again is she needs it. They are so cute they have little angels attached and are put on a stretch cord.  Easy on easy off. 

Monday, April 29, 2013

flood warning

 




My phone had a warning yesterday.  We are in a flood watch area.  I got pictures of my ditch in front of my house.  I think it is deep enough to handle the melt off, but it is still good to keep an eye on it.  Those trees are in the lowest part of my lot.  But it is creeping up on the road.  Tomorrow is going to be even warmer and a predicted 1 inch of rain.  So I hope that my house is up high enough to prevent a flood situation.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

car club


 
Our car club met recently.  We had a business meeting, but our main goal was to get the fliers ready for mailing.  That is one of my perssonal favorite meetings as the club as a thank you for our hard work buys KFC and all the fixings for our dinner.  It  is our best attended meeting.  The food was delicious, the conversation lively, and we accomplished our flier mailing.   I am reminded that I have to check my car battery and charge it if necessary.  It must be ready for the Thursday night cruises.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

lessons


 A week ago I gave several of my friends lessons on how to use the rulers and cutting board for quilt making.  They are both making rag quilts for their grand kids.  I really think that rag quilts are the place to start when you quilt because they are so forgiving on the accuracy.  Also when you finish sewing and are ready to rag the quilt they have already accomplished the stippling.  They can then move on to more technical projects.

Friday, April 26, 2013

quilts

It is almost packing day.  In fact our prepacking day was this Thursday.  Here we have 57 quilts that we are displaying for the congregation to see before we pack.  All our fabric is donated by our members, so in way of thanking them we display them so they can see what we did with the fabric.  Well that isn't necessarily true not all our fabric comes from members.  This year the Presbyterian Church is quiting quilting as thre is so few that do it any longer.  They asked us if we wanted all their fabric.  Wde went through it all and organize it for use in our ministry.  Isn't that a beautiful story.  This year we have given over a hundred quilt counting the ones we have given locally and the ones that went for Lutheran World Relief.



  

Thursday, April 25, 2013

GPS

As a guitarist, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so ...the service was to be at a pauper’s cemetery in the back country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost.

I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.

I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn’t know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I’ve never played before for this homeless man.

And as I played ‘Amazing Grace,’ the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my guitar and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, “I never seen nothin’ like that before and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years.”

Apparently, I’m still lost…

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

rummage sale

flat against the wall


this is showing that they can be displayed at a right angle
I found this gem at the Sanford rummage sale.  It is made of white pine, but I I don't know why I was so particular in the choice of wood, because when the quilts are on it you certainly don't see much wood.  I have been very fortunate over the years to make many beautiful quilts which deserve to see the light of day.  Most of the quilts that I have are stored in water proof and air proof containers.  But I like to decorate with them.  The bathrooms in my home is the only place that you do not see a quilt.  I would have them there if I could see a use for them to be in a bathroom.  I give quilts as wedding gifts and sometimes graduations.  This fall a special young man will be receiving one of my flannel  hunting themed quilts.  He is getting married.  He was one of the many boys who lived at my home.  He camped on my sofa many a night as his home was 15 miles from Beach.   

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

3 cheese mac and cheese

8 oz. Macaroni noodle ( I used gluten free)
3 T. butter
1 can of condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup white cheddar cheese
1/2 cup of Havarti cheese
4 slices of bacon diced and fried.

Cook the noodles drain and mix in the butter until it is melted.
Combine all the other ingredients and mix into the noodles.  Bake 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

This is the creamiest mac and cheese.  Not only is it creamy, it is tasty.  The reason being the divine swine that is added to this classic.

Lets not talk about calories.

Monday, April 22, 2013

who is aging

ARE WE THE ONES WHO ARE AGING??
 

 ONE
Recently, when I went to McDonald's I saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9 or 12 Chicken McNuggets.
I asked for a half dozen nuggets.
'We don't have half dozen nuggets,' said the
... teenager at the counter.
'You don't?' I replied.
'We only have six, nine, or twelve,' was the reply.
'So I can't order a half dozen nuggets, but I can order six?'
'That's right.'
So I shook my head and ordered six McNuggets
(Unbelievable but sadly true...)
(Must have been the same one I asked for sweetener,
and she said they didn't have any, only Splenda and sugar.)

TWO
I was checking out at the local Wal-Mart with just a few items and the lady behind me put her things on the belt close to mine. I picked up one of those 'dividers' that they keep by the cash register and placed it between our things so they wouldn't get mixed.
After the girl had scanned all of my items, she picked up the
'divider', looking it all over for the bar code so she could scan it.
Not finding the bar code, she said to me, 'Do you know how much this is?'
I said to her 'I've changed my mind; I don't think I'll buy that today.'
She said 'OK,' and I paid her for the things and left.
She had no clue to what had just happened.

( But the lady behind me had a big smirk on her face as I left)

THREE
A woman at work was seen putting a credit card into her floppy drive and pulling it out very quickly.
When I inquired as to what she was doing, she said she was shopping on the Internet and they kept asking for a credit card number, so she was using the ATM 'thingy.'

(Keep shuddering!!)

FOUR
I recently saw a distraught young lady weeping beside her car. 'Do you need some help?' I asked. She replied, 'I knew I should have replaced the battery to this remote door unlocker. Now I can't get into my car. Do you think they (pointing to a distant convenience store) would have a battery to fit this?'
'Hmmm, I don't know. Do you have an alarm, too?' I asked.
'No, just this remote thingy,' she answered,
handing it and the car keys to me. As I
took the key and manually unlocked the door, I
replied, 'Why don't you drive over there and
check about the batteries. It's a long walk....'

PLEASE just lay down before you hurt yourself !!!

FIVE
Several years ago, we had an Intern who was none too swift. One day she was typing and turned to a secretary and said, 'I'm almost out of typing paper. What do I do?' 'Just use paper from the photocopier', the secretary told her. With that, the intern took her last remaining blank piece of paper, put it on the photocopier and proceeded to make five 'blank' copies.

Brunette, by the way!!

SIX
A mother calls 911 very worried asking the dispatcher if she needs to take her kid to the emergency room, the kid had eaten ants. The dispatcher tells her to give the kid some Benadryl and he should be fine, the mother says, 'I just gave him some ant killer......'
Dispatcher: 'Rush him in to emergency right away'

 

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Mary circle


This was circle week    We held our meeting at the home of one of our members.  We always have such a lovely time.  We certainly don't lack for conversation.  A lovely brunch was served.  After our business meeting I lead the bible study.  I have never done that so I was really out of my comfort zone.  But it was so much fun to hear all the conversation that was started by Jesus trip to Jerusalem.
Mary circle is so keyed into each other that it was easy to lead the groupd. 

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Tax day

Snow, snow, snow.  We have had two snow days since this snow storm.  North Dakota actually got the brunt of this storm, but I know I moved areound 7 inches of the heavy wet, white stuff.  I am a little worried about the Minnesota opener and planting my garden. 

Friday, April 19, 2013

dogs


Dogs make the nicest companions.  Lily is no exception.  She and her owner came to knitting on Thursday.  Lily is a lover not a fighter.  She has never met a person she didn't like.  She keeps after you until you decide to be her friend.  But one thing to be a concern for an owner of such a friendly dog is that they must be careful of their choice of baby sitters.  Doesn't Lily look great in a hat, Yvonne???? 

Thursday, April 18, 2013

pre packing day

First Lutheran Church is planning a pre-packing day on April 25th.  We will pack the quilts and the school bags on that day.  This is really helpful as it makes the real packing day in May a much more enjoyable and manageable day. This picture shows a example  for the congregation to see what goes into  the packs so they have the opportunity to donate things that are still needed for the kits that we will pack.  It ends up to be  two wonderful days of giving. 

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

save the carnegie

The Carnegie Library is more than a building.  It's a brick and stone testament to the spirit of early citizens of Bemidji, and their shared endeavor to provide not only books, but a place where the whole community could gather, debate, listen and learn.  The Carnegie Library was Andrew Carnegie's gift to us. 

There is a drive to make the funds necessary to save this building and to bring our Carnegie along with us into its second century to grace out lake shore and enhance our city.  Look for opportunities to  help with this project.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

best fudge ever


2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup peanut butter

Bring sugar and milk to a boil and boil for 2 and a half minutes.
Stir in vanilla and peanut butter.
pour  into 8 by8 in greased pan.
cool and cut.

enjoy






Monday, April 15, 2013

spring cleaning


I keep thinking that spring is actually coming.  I am cleaning all my kitchen cabinets -- inside and out.  My brother would say that I am cleaning things that are already clean.  I wish he could see my water and rag when  I am done.   Besides it smells so good too.  Also I have found things that I forgot I had.  Not only am I cleaning my kitchen I moved all my winter things to other closets and put out my spring and summer clothes.  Maybe if we all did this Mother Nature would finally get the hint and stop this snow storm thing she has going. 

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Saturday, April 13, 2013

truth

 
 
 
 
Advice from an old Farmer:

- Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
- Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
- Life is simpler when you ...plow around the stump.
- A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
- Words that soak into your ears are whispered... not yelled.
- Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
- Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.
- Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
- It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
- You cannot unsay a cruel word.
- Every path has a few puddles.
- When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
- The best sermons are lived, not preached.
- Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
- Don't judge folks by their relatives.
- Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
- Live a good, honorable life... Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
- Don 't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.
- Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.
- If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
- Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
- The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
- Always drink upstream from the herd.
- Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
- Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
- If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around..
- Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
- Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
 

Friday, April 12, 2013

a friend speaks



 
My friend and high school class mate spoke at my homemakers club.  He has done mega amount of research on the history of Becida.  He has written one book on the subject.  He also has taken all the people that are buried in the cemetery and has collected 90% of the obituaries for them. He told the history of the formation of the government, the businesses in Becida, the people of Becida, and the transportation of that area. The quilt that he is showing is a signature quilt that was stitched originally in 1933. It was from the Ladies Aide Society of Becida.  Only one of the ladies named on the quilt is still living.  But that night of his presentation she died.  It was his aunt.   I had the honor and pleasure of restoring that quilt for him.  I had to stabilize the edges, replace the batting and back.  I quilted it by hand to keep its integrity.  All the fabrics on the front are either flour sacks, or grain sacks. 

Thursday, April 11, 2013

April snow

I don't know if you can see the snow in this picture, but it snowed Saturday here.  I went out to shovel and plow and found it to be what I call widow maker snow.  It was heavy with water.  Of course you have to realize that an April snow storm should actually be rain. We are expecting another storm tonight.  Snow, snow go away. 

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Home sport and travel show

A friend of mine and I attended the Home, sport and travel show this weekend.  We had a good time looking and collecting all the freebees.  We met up with two other friends so we went to the 209 club for supper.


The faucet pictured above is 70 years old.  I remember when they had this at the fair when I was young.   As a kid I really marveled at it.  I was so excited when I saw it at the show.  The igloo is a cover for a hot tub so you can use it year around.   

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

turkeys

I finally got good pictures of the turkeys that live near my house.  I see them every week on the way into Bemidji.  They where not here in the 50's when I was growing up so I am really excited to see them.  I was told that the turkeys were planted by a government program similar to the wolf.

Monday, April 8, 2013

quilting and a lunch



This is the lunch that my quilter friend made the day that I came to help her cut out her quilt.  Her quilt was a combination of fabrics and minkie for a beautiful baby quilt.  It is a beautiful combination of blues pinks, purples and  yellows.  We got the entire quilt cut out in an hour and a half.  Now the work starts to put it together and tie it. 

Sunday, April 7, 2013

flags


 
Yea.  The flags have arrived.  They has been a long time coming.  Putting flags at First Lutheran has be a long discussion of the pros and cons.  Finally the pros won the vote and I am very happy to see them in their proper place.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

cleaning the kitchen


 
It was Miriam circle's turn to clean the kitchen.  I had heard that they have so few members that could clean it for they are a small circle.  I called the leader and asked if she would let me come to help them.  I belong to Mary circle.  They were very happy to include me and we had a great time getting it cleaned.  The kitchen had had a lot of use during Holy Week so it was a good time to do this clean up.  Church family is the best.

Friday, April 5, 2013

dinner


 
 
Three of my  classmates and I have dinner together each month.  The food is generally delicious and this night was no different.  We had Swiss chicken Reuben casserole.  It is a simple casserole that has just a few ingredients.  You use chicken breasts, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese slices, and 1000 island salad dressing.  Bake it for an hour and a half covered.  We also got to learn a new game called Millie Bourne.  It is a card game that simulates a auto trip.  Easy to learn and fun to play.  We had a great evening.