Spring Flowers

 

My favorite time of the year. My garden is in full bloom. In another few weeks the lilies and bee balm will begin. It has taken a few years, but I have been trying hard to have something blooming continuously throughout the summer months. It helps when we have sufficient rainfall.

This afternoon we applied for our passports so that we can go to Canada when we are up in the north woods. Oh, but do I look old in my passport photo without my glasses on! Ouch!

After that we drove to Jordie's Cafe in Bowlus for lunch. I had gotten some certificates on Shop 'n Save for Jordie's because I wanted to support KYES Radio and try something new in the process. I would use the word Bohemian to describe the decor. Lots of vintage with mix and match dining chairs and tablecloths and overtones of faith in the many plaques about the place. I would have loved a copy of the watercolor painting of Jordie's hanging in the restroom. It was gorgeous. Arthur had the Hen Sandwich which came dripping with melted cheese. It looked really good, but he said he would not choose it again because the chicken was tasteless. I can't pass up sour cream, so I tried the Stroganoff Burger. It too was a drippy mess, but I liked it. The Skinny Fries that we had were also very good. I had thought of trying Granny's Potato, Ham and Chive Soup, but decided to go for the fries because they would be less filling. Had we had room in our tummies after we ate, Arthur would have tried a piece of homemade pie. I would have tried some ice cream. After lunch we took a walk in the cafe garden. We had a little four-footed tabby prancer in white boots to escort us. We seem to be cat magnets. The garden was very charming. There was a pond with koi, but my favorites were the rustic roof over a tree stump, and a bird cage with ceramic birds in it hanging from a shepherd's hook. I could do that! After that we took a walk on the Lake Wobegon Trail. Then we headed home so Arthur could beat me at a game of Scrabble. 

I have been continuing my sewing spree. Late last night I cut out the borders for one of the lap quilts, and then all of the binding for the three table runners and the two small quilts. Next I will need to convert my sewing machine for machine quilting. It will take me ages to get everything done. I am glad that each item is on the small side. But I also have two larger quilt tops to finish. I'll have to buy more wine. 

My sister gave me a bag of books for the granddaughters.  In it were two Nancy Drew Diaries. I started reading one on Sunday. It is a far cry from the old Nancy Drews in classiness and kindness. Nancy and her friends were always polite and smartly dressed and kind, and they always used formal English in the old mysteries. In the first of the diaries, I can't tell you how many times I have read the words "Okay" and "Yeah". The girls are sarcastic to each other as well. Bess calls George a nerd, and the girls roll their eyes at each other to express their impatience and exasperation. It leaves something to be desired in promoting virtue. But I will finish the first one to find out whodunnit. 

Crafts Direct

 I took out my I 💙 Crafts Direct mug this morning for my cuppa tea. Wouldn't you know, it has a large crack down the side. Fitting that my mug will go out with the store. I think I have enough Tombow on hand that I do not need to go to the store again before they finally close. 

It has been a busy week. We set up for the mission group garage sale on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The sale started Wednesday afternoon. It ends at noon today, so I am heading out soon to help with the pick-up.

I finished Patrick Madrid's Search and Rescue. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in evangelization or apologetics. Patrick is usually so calm in his radio presentations. This book also is very gentle. 

I have been sewing up a storm. I finished a toddler/lap quilt top out of fat quarters which my sister gave me. I have one final seam to do on a table runner, and two other autumn print table runners ready for backing and binding. I have been emptying out so many odds and ends of bobbin thread it isn't funny. It is good to make a dent in my fabric stash. Now for the quilting part!

I also worked my two days at Catholic Charities this week. Before I left in the morning I made some posters advertising our mission group craft and bake sale to put out at our garage sale - taking advantage of the opportunity for advertising. For the life of me I could not figure out why my copies kept coming out crooked. Finally it dawned on me that the sheet I was copying was on the plate crooked. Ohhh! Then at the food shelf I picked up a container that hat broken open in the donation box. I ended up spilling chicken broth all over. Yuck! The smell and the sticky mess! More yuck factor in the jar of open peanut butter in the box, and an open Kool-aid canister. We have been putting out food from the Post Office' Stamp Out Hunger drive. But items have been flying off of the shelves as fast as we can put them out. 

My brother-in-law sent pictures of the St. Magnus Cathedral in the Orkney Islands. How interesting, since I read Susan Peek's St. Magnus, the Last Viking. It puts the book in a real time and place.

It's the End of the World as We Know It

     Joe Soucheray's theme song is running through my head. But I don't "feel fine". It is truly the end of an era. Crafts Direct is closing, and I am feeling it keenly. Years ago I bought a mug that says I 💜 CD Crafts Direct. Now it will be obsolete, or a collector's item. Crafts Direct was my go-to place for supplies. Michael's and Hobby Lobby have their niches, but do not have nearly the volume. Both tend to carry their own brands of items also, and I do not always want their brands.

    I did make it to the closing sale last week on Thursday afternoon, after the fire marshal had been there and closed them down because too many people were in the store. I bought a set of 25 dish towels, four packs of Tombow adhesive, and several skeins of Sugar and Cream yarn. I also bought my I Love Minnesota puzzle. I had purchased two of the puzzles previously to give as gifts, but wanted my own as a Minnesota keepsake: it is spread out on my dining room table almost completed. Easy-peasy for a puzzle. Did I get any good deals? Not really. And then after all that I forgot to use my Shop 'n Save certificate, so had to go back again the following Monday when I got another set of 25 dish towels. But stocking up will save me a few nightmares. I go through Tombow like crazy when I am making cards. Michael's carries Tombow, but it was never on sale like Crafts Direct had it, and their everyday price was higher than CD by 20 cents. It is too difficult to buy dish towels for embroidery on-line because one can't judge the quality. Perhaps Fleet Farm would have a suitable substitute, but I rarely go to that side of town. Crafts Direct was just so convenient. 

    I did talk to one of the owners while I waited at the door to get into the store. He said that the supply chain was a big issue. Another craft store had bought out two of their suppliers, and as an independent store they could not compete. COVID was also a factor. 

    I had intended to add some pictures to my blog, but our camera batteries are dead, and we have no replacements at hand. I have a pile of completed projects on the table; five Christmas stockings for our mission group craft sale, a scrappy quilt with messed up latticing which is going to a resident at Edenbrook, two embroidered dish towels, an apron and a draw string bag. I gave up on the knit dress I was sewing and put the regular needle back in my machine. The change has energized me. Last night I cut the fabric for the two pillow cases for Ari. I also started some nine-patch blocks for mug rugs out of the fat quarters I had gotten in my silent auction basket from St. Anthony's last April. Husband probably can't tell, but my fabric stash is going down slightly. ?And I plod on with that afghan that I am knitting. I do about three rows at a stretch. I am on my second skein of yarn finally. Slow and steady wins the race.