Happy Valentine's Day!

Mary Engelbreit, artist

Happy Valentine's Day! It is snowing and blowing outside our windows on this Valentine's Day. It is a perfect time to curl up on the sofa with good books, a few dogs, and a cat cuddled with us.  Actually, we now have two cats! Last week, Lucy joined the family.

She has been an outdoor cat for her entire six months and today is her first snowstorm experienced in a warm home! AllieCat is starting to get used to the idea that she isn't an only cat. The growls and hissings have been replaced by more friendly meowing by both of the felines. This afternoon, we will continue the supervised introductions in anticipation of having one big happy family by the end of the month.

Valentine's Day especially appeals to me since I love hearts and can display them all at once for one day even though I collect them all year.

They don't have to be red hearts to please me.  The tiny delicate china heart above  is pure white. 

Paulie and I each own collections of magazines and enjoy browsing through past issues in the appropriate month of their publication. Ads and articles from the 1980s and 1990s are still fun to look at and read, giving us new ideas or reminding us of favorites as if they were only read yesterday!

Last week, I took advantage of several quiet afternoons and made a few hearts for the holiday.  These have been small enough to complete in a few hours. Expanding our horizons, Paulette and I  set up  her Featherweight on her dining room table and we sewed our first hearts.

We have started to meld our favorite crafts of knitting, sewing, embroidery, cross stitch, needlepoint, and collecting! An afternoon of tea, chatting, and crafting is fast becoming a daily tradition. I say afternoon because we both feel the need to justify such a luxury by first running errands, balancing checkbooks, cleaning kitchens and so forth! When we each feel we've done enough, or can't seem to face another task, we reward ourselves with time spent crafting together. We've not strayed from our houses, however, due to certain recent constraints:

                                                                                       

Yes, Paulette made a few too many trips up and down to the attic putting away Christmas decorations and ended up with a stress fracture  and must spend six to eight weeks in a cast!  I bet you wouldn't think that our recent activities would pose any risk of a fall for her. In fact, I've been spending more time at Paulette's in order to save her from slipping on snowy and icy sidewalks. Yet, yesterday afternoon, as we packed up sewing accessories, she slipped and skidded across the wooden dining room floor, just barely managing to keep herself upright! Neither of us could imagine what caused the sudden slip. I looked at her cast and discovered a large shiny button stuck to the bottom! Yes, most accidents occur at home, but, felled by a button????????? This could be a first.

Ron's Valentine's Day gift to me is a Trollbead heart fashioned from two silver porpoises and filled with two aquamarine glass beads. Paulette received a beautiful Trollbead heart and bead from Bob, too.

One of my favorite artist/authors is Susan Branch. Many of her drawings include hearts. Equally charming is artist/author, Mary Engelbreit. Both authors feature charming lifestyles of crafts, comfy homes, and loving friends and family. Susan Branch Blog - 9 hours ago

Check out Susan's Valentine's Day blog, above,  to see what I'm talking about! And if you have time, here is the website for Mary Engelbreit.  http://www.maryengelbreit.com.  Both have distinctive handwriting which I admire. My sweet friend, June, who passed away earlier this year, had handwriting that I loved, too. I thought I hadn't saved anything of hers and so I was so happy to discover a Valentine from her in my box of decorations!

Some of you who know me well will be very shocked to hear this, but, I am planning to make some cut out heart cookies this afternoon, complete with pink sugar icing. My favorite cookie recipe is my Mom's. From what I can determine, the special ingredient is nutmeg. I'm sure she won't mind if I pass this along so that you, too, can try these.

Bev's Cutout Cookies

Preheat oven to 375

2 cups sugar

5 cups flour

2 eggs   til stiff (I think she is referring to the eggs, 

I hope, or maybe this is referring to the entire mixture?)

1 cup butter

1 cup sour cream

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

Bake for 8-10 minutes

I confess I don't actually have an icing recipe, so, if you have one you can recommend, I'd be happy to have it! I hope you have a super romantic Valentine's Day 2015. Love, Lulubell

Librarian Reads in Retirement

Recent library books on my library card

A few days ago, finally freed from the post-Christmas cleanup, Paulette and I did something totally out of character for us. We went shopping......and didn't purchase anything!!!!!!! It's true, and shocking. Instead of walking miles of store aisles, we visited FOUR public libraries in ONE afternoon! I don't know what came over me. One minute we were in a jewelry store in Lorain, and the next minute I suggested we investigate the public library down the street. An hour later, we came out of there like two kids in a candy shop!

Sticking to the new books area, we each found several books to take home. Empowered by the fact that we hadn't spent a dime (well, ok, I did pay a 20 cent fine and told the clerk to keep the change from the quarter I gave her, but, does that really count?????) I suggested we stop at the Ritter (Vermilion) Library on our way home. Janet was shocked to see us-her look was priceless- and she showed us the latest additions to her collection and we came away with more books!

Now in a giddy frenzy, we stopped yet again. This time at the Huron Public Library. It was there that we found the most new books of all! Not to be stopped from our shopping madness, we visited Sandusky Library and picked up several holds we each placed days earlier. Honestly, I never took the time to browse through a library while working in one. Is that crazy or what. I selected biographies, books on education, decorating books, craft books, travel books, memoirs, computer books, and even a book on Toasts-in case someone asks me to make one sometime, I"ll be ready: Here is one for birthdays:

       May you get it together before you come apart!

Home library upstairs

This is my view from the treadmill in our library upstairs in our house. It is ironic that I can't read while walking-I get  nauseated by the motion of walking and reading at the same time. So, I enjoy looking straight ahead at our book collection. The two units on the left are mine and the two units on the right belong to Ron. His are cataloged- and the entire collection is aviation military history and mine are not in any order whatsoever!
Notice in the photo, my three pals that keep me company while I walk-Jack, Kate, and, Marilyn. They patiently wait for me to play with them and are pretty disgusted that I am walking on a piece of rubber rather than taking them each outside for a romp!

Of course, that is not the only bookcase in the house, and the rest of the collections are in order-by bookcase, actually.

Classic and collectible books

This bookcase belonged to my Great Grandmother Lee and was given to me for my first apartment. It holds books from my Grandmother Monetha Carlson's collection and a few of classics that I have collected over the years.

Dog book collection

This bookcase has gone to the dogs! It is only part of our collection and serves as a quick reference when we need to better understand our canine family members.

Knitting book collection

This case houses part of my knitting book collection. It actually is arranged by subject and has been cataloged, in part, on my site on www.raverly.com.

Knitting book collection

Another case holds overflow knitting books and yet another holds patterns and my yarn inventory.

This last case hold mysteries-just right for late night reading. Included are some of the Nancy Drew mysteries that first got me interested in reading, if not in libraries....

Oh! I forgot the cookbook collection! No matter, there are only a few on that shelf, and, rarely consulted, I must confess. Ron, however, has taken a recent interest in cooking-out of sheer desperation of starving- and is plowing through a Irish cooking book at present.

I am curious to know what my friends and family are reading at present. I could pop over to Goodreads, of course, to see who keeps a list going, but, if you have the time, send me your list. Paulie and I plan to visit libraries in the Cleveland area next and would love to have suggestions- now that we each have plenty of time to catch up on our reading. And no, neither of us have ereaders or likes to listen to audiobooks-scandalous, for sure. We are each voracious magazine readers, however, and have collections that have cracked the ceiling of our attics. 

I recently, bravely, gave up two books to the Little Free Libraries in our area. This is the most I could part with thus far and I listed 4 books for sale on half.com. I'm counting on my new library habit to keep the personal collection in check henceforth. A noble retirement resolution of sorts for a librarian, don't you think?

Christmas Letter 2014

Merry Christmas to you all! There are currently 10 decorating/shopping/baking days before Christmas as this letter is being composed. Just so you know.

Photo by David Carlson

 Ron has our  backyard reindeer in the hospital rehab in our kitchen this weekend. We are getting ready for the arrival of my Mom, Bev Carlson, for the holiday!!!! I'm so excited to have company for Christmas and New Years.  This house is decorated-inside and out, packages are wrapped and we are ready to party.  Last year, we stayed with family in California for Christmas. Oddly enough, today it is 52 degrees-warmer than a California evening!

It has been a tumultuous year. My decision to retire from Sandusky Library, after 37 years,  at the end of 2014 was announced at the  December 2013 Board meeting. Let me just say that the length of time to be lame duck was too long and my last day was September 23! Ron's retirement date is not yet set, but, I predict it will be sooner rather than later.

Photo by David Carlson

We had a super winter in 2014. The best ever in Sandusky-cold, lots of snow, and it lasted for  many months. While Ron is only lukewarm-ha-ha, about winter, but I loved every bitter moment.

In March, my brother, David Carlson, and our niece, Kelsey, came for a visit. We had enough ice and snow left to give them a good taste of life on the north coast. A visit to Erie was a trip down memory lane-even if our 7 year difference in age gave us very different memories. What a treat to have them with us for a week.

In April, Ron held down the fort while I attended my last ever library conference. As I attended sessions, I wished I could be 25 all over again to experience the next 30 years of public library service.  It is an amazing time to be a librarian.

Ron and I kicked off a great camping season in May. Enjoying our seasonal spot in Bellevue, we also ventured to Michigan in the fall. We  spent our weekends with our friends, Bob and Paulette-and  six dogs between us. Next summer we plan to hit the road-locations to be determined.

While reaching age 60 ( in June)  could have been disturbing (and Ron reaching age 68 in December), we are grateful to be healthy and happy this year. We lost many friends-some at much earlier ages.  Ron claims every decade has been better than the last. I agree. As a hospice nurse, dedicated exclusively to working with veterans, Ron was privileged to go on two Honor Flights to D.C.  this year. This, his 12th year with Stein Hospice, has been one in which his focus on veterans has been a very fulfilling experience.

Ron rediscovered the art of fishing with his friend, Bob Grimsbo. Meanwhile, Paulette and I enjoyed time thumbing through time worn issues of Country Home.  We even set up sewing machines and made new curtains for Paulie's rig, Annie!

We dream of  purchasing 5 or more acres and building side by side houses for our retirement years. Have you read, Five Acres and a Poodle? Well, how about 5 acres and 4 poodles, 1 golden retriever, 3 cats, and 1 miniature schnauzer? Maybe by 2015 our Christmas Letter will announce our new enclave-who knows!

We had a wonderful visit this summer, with my mom, Beverly Carlson (age 87) and I've begun the gentle push toward suggesting that she consider spending more time in Ohio! Sure, maybe the winter is a bit challenging, but, who could deny that summer in Sandusky is grand?

Ron and I took a camping trip to celebrate my retirement in October. We traveled to Mackinac, Island in Michigan and enjoyed a week exploring the Michigan coast.

In September, a trip to another coast was made.

 Janet Ford, our longtime friend, suggested  a road trip to celebrate my retirement. We flew to Charleston, SC and drove back via the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was a wonderful trip and full of joy and laughter.

It is my ultimate dream is to chase fall-from New England to South Carolina, and I hope to entice Ron to spend the fall of 2015 doing just that!

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2015! Love, Julie and Ron, and

AllieCat

Jack

Marilyn Monroe

Kate

Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder

This morning, I was reading Paris Letters, One woman's journey from the fast lane to a slow stroll in Paris, by JaniceMacLeod.

 In the first few chapters she writes about decluttering her apartment in one year to the point where everything she owned fits in one suitcase!  I was inspired enough to put the book down and clean out two junk drawers in the kitchen.

After that commendable task was accomplished,  I noticed that the two sinks, counters, and stove top needed to be cleaned. I got out the SoftScrub and looked for the yellow dish gloves. No luck, so, I decided to wait to clean until I purchased some gloves later in the day.

I then remembered that Ron asked me to change the sheets on the bed.I headed upstairs and got sheets from the linen closet. I paused to admire the collection of hand embroidered pillow cases I collect and rotate them in the drawer, putting the pink ones on top.

 I selected the sheets for the bed and noticed there was a pile of sweaters that needed to be put in the cedar chest. The chest has two down comforters in it, so, I put one one the guest bed and one on another bed to make room for the sweaters--which I did not put away.

It was then time to get ready for a lunch date with Janet. I noticed that the bathroom sink looked pretty sad-it is the original pedestal sink from 1907.

 Instead of getting ready, I looked for a tape measure to see if a new double sink with cabinets would fit. After measuring, I headed back downstairs to look on the Internet for standard sizes of double sink vanities at Lowes.

I noticed two letters on the kitchen table that I forgot to mail yesterday and remembered that I still had a thank you note to write.  With the note cards upstairs, off I went in search of a card.The cards are upstairs, and the address book in in the drawer I just cleaned. I remembered I hadn't gotten ready to meet Janet yet.  I put the card aside.

 I hadn't led enough time to run errands to get the yellow dish gloves, however, I thought I had enough time to stop at the post office to mail the cards. I sat down and penned a note and started to head out the door.  I couldn't find my car keys, or my gloves. Looking around the kitchen, I remembered that my knitting bag was in the den, and both my keys and gloves might be inside. Well, the gloves were, but, not the keys. I honestly don't remember where I found the keys, but, I did, and dashed out to the car and headed to lunch via the post office.

After lunch, I headed to WalMart  to see if they had the Christmas lights that I tried to get last year after stopping at some stranger's home and inquiring where his were from. He told me he had purchased them at WalMart, but, they were out of them.  I bought every wheel of the little lights they had! Hooray!

I remembered I needed the yellow gloves, but, I gave up trying to find the cleaning section. Back to my car, I realized I was pretty close to Lowes, so I stopped to check on the bath/double sink vanities. I was not impressed and decided to shelve that idea for next year.

I forgot to look for dish gloves there, and headed to Target where I was seeking some Christmas wrapping paper that I had read about in a knitting magazine.  While there, I found the yellow gloves, but not the wrapping paper--I couldn't remember what the magazine had described.

 I did stop to pick up a Smith & Hawken Bulb kit that I get each year, though.

When I got home, feeling rather disjointed, I recalled hearing about a Youtube spoof on age activated attention deficit disorder. I sat at the table and watched it twice and it inspired me to write a blogpost instead of donning the yellow gloves.

An hour  passed and I needed to get the dogs fed. Yet, I decided to take a few photos for the post instead and looked for my camera in the hall closet. The one I meant to clean right after the junk drawers this morning. The one with a smashed Swedish glass bowl that I dropped a heavy brass candle holder on it yesterday.

 I was too upset to look at the millions of shards of glass at the time. I might still have time to clean that up before Ron gets home, except I need to feed the dogs first. So, since the Amaryllis is on the kitchen counter, I think I'll plant it.  I need to empty the dishwasher to get clean bowls to feed the dogs. No wait, I can start soaking the plant material while I put away the dishes

If I get this right, you can watch the YouTube spoof here.


If not, just google the title of my post to see it. Tomorrow, I'm going to try to start and complete a task before launching into another one. I'll let you how it goes!

Alberta Interview

Alberta Interview

Portrait of a Lady

My Great Aunt Alberta celebrated her 104th birthday in October. Born in 1910, the youngest of five girls, Alberta remembers  clearly her days on her parent's farm, in Greene County, four miles west of Paton, Iowa. For the past five years, Alberta has been living in an assisted living complex near the home of my Mom, her niece. When Alberta  recently fell and broke her back, it was clear that she needed to move to place where more round the clock care was available. I flew out from Ohio, charged with the assignment of finding that place.

In the photo below, Alberta is the little one sitting on the wagon next to her dad, Frank Leslie Walker.

Alberta's dad, my great grandfather,  raised hogs and Black Angus cattle. Upon returning from Chicago, he always brought his girls special presents, such as gold watches to wear. She recounts the chores she and her sisters did, told me about the  hired hands that sat down to lunch in the kitchen, the pranks of hiding in the hayloft and on and on. I could have listened for days!

  In the process of packing up her belongings, I came across many photos and other memorabilia of hers.  "Hey, Alberta,"I would say,  "I just found your high school book, what can you tell me about it." and off she would go, telling me tales of her early childhood.  She was the first to go to a brand new one room school house, just across the street from her farm. She said it was extra special because it had a hallway where you could leave your muddy boots instead of tracking them into the school room! Her chalkboard slate is still among her possessions. She remembered that the school teacher would board at her farm when the weather made it too dangerous to travel. She drove a Model T into Paton, taking her sisters and other neighbors to high school.

I found photos and this inscription inside her senior year memory book. In 1926, Alberta was 16 and Doug Hawn was 14. I mention this because Alberta and Doug reconnected in 1986 at a high school reunion and got married in 1989, the last of her three marriages. I never ask her personal questions, but, I wonder what it would be like to have to adjust to three different men-it is exhausting to contemplate!

 Below is a page from one of her many travelogs. The earliest such diary I found was written when she was 11 years old and traveling to Yellowstone. Her father and his brother would leave the farm in the capable hands of hired help each summer for a few weeks and set off for a trip with their families-camping in their  Willis Knight car. They had three tents and also used a haystack canvas cover over the car. Alberta mentioned to me that she has been to all 50 states, and I found her notebook, entitled  "Capitals I have Been To" among her papers.

Below is the first page of her journal from her 1929 trip from Iowa to California and Canada.

Alberta and three  of her sisters, including my grandmother, Blanche,  graduated from a business college in Des Moines, Iowa, affectionately referred to as the 4 C's: Capital City Commercial College.   Her oldest sister, Evelyn, went to a teachers college nearby. Alberta became a secretary for an insurance company and eventually rose to the position of executive secretary to the president of the company. She can still read and write shorthand, and many of her recipes require that knowledge! Alberta and her sister, Iola, lived in an apartment in Des Moines and  traveled back to the farm on weekends. I asked Alberta how she met her first husband, Bill Work, whom she married in 1936 at the age of 26.  Iola, by this time married to an electrician, Ray McLaughlin, introduced her to a fellow worker.. When I asked Alberta about Bill, she told me with a smile, that he was quite a good dancer and they went dancing every weekend. His sister taught him how to dance, she added!

Bill was stationed in Hawaii during WWII, and they moved to San Gabriel, California in 1954  where Bill found work as a claims adjuster for an insurance company. Alberta retired and spent several years traveling with Bill throughout California on his assignments.

When her husband passed away, she moved to Los Angeles, to live near two of her sisters( my grandmother, Blanche, and her twin sister, Bernice). Bernice, and her husband, John, built a summer home in Leisure World, Laguna Woods, California and after Bernice passed away, Alberta married John Krafft, the widower of Bernice and moved with him to Leisure World.  It was with John, a former college basketball coach and investment broker, that she traveled the world. Several cruises took them to China, Singapore, the Netherlands, and more- all recorded in her journals, scrapbooks, and photo albums. My grandmother, Blanche, also was quite a traveler and she and her husband lived in Tehran, Iran, and Saigon, Viet Nam, in the early 1960's where my grandfather worked for the U.S. Government. They, too, traveled the world as well as many parts of the United States. I don't think I got those travel genes, although Alberta thinks I did when I mentioned the motorhome I recently purchased!

After John passed away, Alberta married for the last time in 1989. Doug passed away at the age of 96. Their wedding photo is below.

I'm pleased to report that Alberta is settling into her new home and her visitors are treated to a gracious smile and bright eyes and invited to sit awhile and talk of current happenings or reminisce about days gone by.  My brother filmed a brief interview with her last year, seeking memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas.  You may watch it if you wish, in a separate blogpost, entitled, Alberta's interview.