2010: Merry Christmas everyone.

This year’s must-haves are next year’s garage sale junk

PHOTO: Lee Ann age 5 years old.



By Lee Ann Schutz
Published Prior Lake American December 2001
Let the refrain begin ... “Tis the season of a lot of gadgets, whir, and whir and whir, whir, whir.” Every year it’s something new - gadgets guaranteed to make life easier, peeling potatoes a breeze and food more healthy.The snake oil sales force is on the prowl with TV ads and infomercials that inform and entice us to buy the latest, the newest and the most improved.This year’s must-have item under the Christmas tree will more than likely find its way to the back of the cupboard or onto next spring’s garage sale. I’m not a gadget person. I am embarrassed to say how long I’ve been able to get by with a few no-name pots and pans, a good set of knives and a manual can opener. Don’t misunderstand me ... I love convenience. Just try to take away my garbage disposal and dishwasher. But please, no salad shooter, Chop-o-matic, Fry Daddy, hamburger-maker or latte machine.I have even resisted the temptation to buy a juicer, food dehydrator, foot massager and ice tea maker. Lately, though, I can feel my will breaking. I have looking longingly at breadmakers. Now, I would really use that, I tell myself convincingly. But if I’ve learned anything from my personal gadget history, it’s this ... the mood will pass as soon as I’ve baked my third loaf of bread, and the contraption will end up in the garage along with my 1970s fondue pot, (which I understand is once again the latest must-have entertaining item.)I’ve come up with an idea that I hope a budding entrepreneur will grab onto. I think we should have a rental place for all would-be-gadget buyers. Here’s how it would work. Let’s say I have a yen to buy a stationary bike (I get that craving every year right after Thanksgiving.)I would rent the item until the yen passed, and if the gadget worked its way onto my necessity list ... well, then I could buy it!Remember when the microwave first came out with all the options and the hope of easier, faster meals? Yeah, and how long did it take before that expensive gadget was used only for warming coffee and microwave popcorn?So, a word to anyone else thinking of buying me a present this year - If you’re thinking juicer, think again.

Multan, Pakistan

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Feed Sacks -Ready to wear

Now and then you run across women whose passion for fabric has woven them with a desire to learn more about a particular designer or color process. Arlene Rosemore is one of these women. She can tell you a story about woven goods that played a very important role for farm families in the Midwest especially during the Great Depression ... feed sacks. Just a snipet of Arlene's feed sack collection lines the walls of her Mother Originals Quilt Shop on Blueberry Lane in Pequot Lakes. During my final stop this past weekend on the Minnesota Shop Hop tour, I stopped in to collect my square and see what's new. I've been reading about feed sacks, and when I saw her stacks, I knew I had found someone who had another story to tell. Arlene's collection numbers over 1,000 sacks, and I learned about the role this plainly decorated cloth played in our country's history. Watch the video, if you'd like to learn more, including information on how to tell a prized authentic sack from a reproduction. About the quilt shop. The fabric and pattern selection is top notch. Because of the lack of space, the buyer, Arlene's daughter Mary, who also runs the shop, is very particular about what goes into the space. Just hope, though, that Arlene is in the store when you stop. Ask her about her game quilts, and her continual head-banging with the Pequot Lake City Council. This gal has got attitude.

Spring cleaning at Grandma's 2010

Derrick reunion 2010 - Deeryard Lake

Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop

 

Two days, 10 quilt shops and now lots of fabric for lots of new projects.

Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop 2010

Whew! Covering 10 quilt shops in northeastern Minnesota in two days was a creative adventure. Certainly there were the old favorites where I've emptied my wallet in the past, but I found some new surprises that will be getting some of my coin in the future.
My first completed shop hop project is six hotpads made from the shop hop themed fabric. I bought the kit at Colorz for Quilts in Brainerd. This shop also has by far the best and cheapest priced fat sale fat quarters, of course the fantastic hand-dyed fabrics, great patterns and one of the best fabric selections I've seen. And, of course, their staff is very helpful.

First stop: Fabrics, Fashions and More in Rush City. RATE THIS STOP - A MUST. This quilt shop has quickly become one of my favorites and is a "must stop" anytime I'm heading to Duluth. I love their Quilters Candy - 1 lb. of fabric for $8. Always good stuff, because frankly, they have a super fabric selection. Besides the shop hop quilt square, participants receive a cloth tape. LOVE IT. Bought some fat quarters.
Although Crystal's Log Cabin Quilts in Grand Marias is not on the hop... Stop anyway, especially if you like northwoods-themed fabric and patterns. The new mosquito-themed fabric is so cute. I bought the Boundary Waters Wilderness Series book. Think I'll make something for my sister's cabin.
After a great couple days funing it with many family, it was off to Breezy Point, but we plotted our way to include many shop hop stops.
Quilt Corner in Beaver Bay -- grumpy staff, store too crowded. RATE THIS -SKIP!
Quilts Around the Corner in Hibbing - it's a little difficult to find the shop, but it is worth the hunt. Relatively new place, with great fabric selection, displays (including the shop hop projects). The energy is wonderful, which I think is due to the college-aged daughter helping her mother with the shop. RATE THIS - A MUST.
Just down the road on the way to Grand Rapids is The Quilting Patch in Nashwauk ... poor fabric selection, but great prices on fat quarters. Overall, RATE THIS - SKIP, especially if you've spent too much time in Hibbing and want to get to ABC Quilting in Grand Rapids. Birthplace of Judy Garland, they have a complete selection on the Wizard of Oz fabrics - but that's not all. Great displays, a wonderful fabric selection, and the shop is located in the hold town hall located in the town square. Yup- I RATE THIS - A MUST!
Then surprise, surprise, who would think of Deer River as having a great quilt shop? Heart to Hand Quilt Shop is in an old church, and you can't miss it because it is painted purple. Super fabric selection, AND the Wizard of Oz fabric is cheaper than in Grand Rapids. I RATE THIS - A MUST.
Quilters Parlor in Jenkins was also a surprise find. Mainly because it is so close to Breezy Point where we spend some time. Great fabric, great staff. We met up with a bus load of quilters from Montevideo. It was fun to see people I haven't seen in years.
BUT, I knew we had to get a jump start because they were headed to Brainerd, and so were we. So I didn't spend much time there, but I will be back!
I have spent a lot of money at Colorz in Brainerd, but I fear they take a backseat to the other quilt shop Country Fabric Quilts. A four-generation quilt shop, the youngest member brings energy, great fabrics and patterns that you may not find anywhere else. I love there package of scrapes that they call Quilters Stew. For fun! Yes, I RATE THIS- A MUST!
We stopped at Quilts on Broadway in Foley. Not much to say except SKIP! However, there are two great meat markets in town with super summer sausage.
Thanks to my hubby for coming with me, and being such a good sport about this. More shop hop adventures are to be had through Aug.15

Three Charlies

How my garden grows

With this throw, I certainly stepped out of my color-comfort zone. It was the first big project that I machine-quilted, myself. I must say it makes for a colorful photo. Molly really likes this, but maybe I'll use it for a wall hanging in the lower level.

Stay away from the pit

It was the middle of April when Ed, my mom's husband, fell and was seriously injured ... enough to land him in the hospital and continued inpatient care. I should have started blogging then about my experiences with the medical system, insurance, and just plain growing old. But I didn't.
Now, however, we've turned a new corner. What I have to say is my own observation ... It seems that a crisis can magnify all that is good in a relationship or intensify all its flaws. Divorce at age 86? Can't believe I'm hearing the words come out of one of the partner's mouth.
I'm learning about my own fragile boundaries through this process - about my need to help beyond my emotional ability to do so. When I overstep the line, I see the pit of depression looming.
It's time to pull back. But can I do so?

Confessions of a fabric addict

There are plenty of us who are fabric addicts. Sometimes we suffer alone with our own stash of threads, jelly rolls and fat quarters. But most of us belong to a support group where we know we can turn when the urge to fondle fabrics becomes more than we can handle.
Sometimes this ends up as a communal trip to a fabric shop, sometimes it’s to covet the latest quilt designs, sometimes it’s to just play with each others’ fat quarters. But always, always it’s about touchy-feely fabrics, wonderful colors, dynamic designs be they batiks, Amy Butler or Kaffe Fasset.
It’s not the actual sitting down at the machine and executing the idea that matters… it’s the preparation. The creative process, the ideas. The outcome, most of the time, really doesn’t matter.
My group has taken the addiction to a new level, during our annual spring get-away we play a dice game with the winnings being — you guessed it — fat quarters.
WE LOVE FAT QUARTERS.

Fusion Reunion

People from India and the Middle East are so hospitable that it can make an unpretentious Midwestern want to say: "Enough already. You don't need to fuss so much over me."
I have been in homes where garlands of flowers were ringed over me, I've been showered with gifts and special foods. And when I've left a Indian family's home - well, plan on the exit taking at least an half an hour. There's talk, there's the walk outside with the guests and then they stand and wait, wave and smile until the guest's car is completely out of site.
Of course, being in a cross cultural marriage, this has been a cause of embarassment for me from time to time. I just never learned the art of REALLY saying "hello" and "welcome." My goodbye, at first, must have felt to my Indian friends as if I was saying to them. "Enough already, I'm done fussing."
The contrast between East and West is so great regarding hospitality that I once asked my husband: "Why do people do all this? I find it uncomfortable being treated with so much ... well, dignity." My simple interpretation of what he said is this: "A guest is a visit from God."
WOW!
Today I am being made to feel like royalty - like a very special guest. We are visiting Indian friends in Columbus, and if the couple we know here weren't already in the hospitality business, they would be missing their calling.
Our friends are the owners of this new hotel, and of course when we arrived, he was there to greet us, take care of our suitcases.
The manager of the new place was at the door to greet us; gifts of chocolate and other goodies, a poster welcoming this group of six visitors to the "Fusion Reunion," an itinerary of the special plans for the weekend. Just in case anyone is reading this, here's a plug for the place (Fairfield Inn and Suites Marriott in Westerville, Ohio).
Attitude can be so contagious. The staff here understands the meaning of hospitality - and sitting in the lobby here, I know it's not because we are friends of the owner, and I gotta bet that it's not coming from corporate Marriott. It's the influence of the Indian culture, and our friend's understanding of hospitality.
Yes, I am a very welcomed guest.

Happy Birthday Everett: You're #1

We celebrated Everett's birthday yesterday. What a fun day with the grand kids. They are growning up so fast.

They also had a great time playing outside with Uncle/Dad Nick, including building a snow fort. Everett didn't seem to mind being outside for a quick picture in the finished abode.

Baja Goodbye

Chan’s reflections

We are fortunate to share with each other and our friends life's experiences. We had a good trip to Baja, Mexico. For me the most fun was meeting people living their dreams and enjoying life in freedom. Like Krishan says: "We were born to be responsible. It served us well but now we need to lesson our burden and do things with little more freedom."
We met the Andersons: Larry Anderson is a renowned sculptor from Seattle. He and his wife were enjoying the Mexican culture traveling on buses, Ali born in Timbuktu, fluent in French, German, Arabic, Spanish, English, telling me sipher (zero) was invented in India. I had not heard the word sipher since I left India a long time ago. Quite a hospitable and a wise man. Osa, our cabana hostess, is a Swede who settled in Mexico after her wanderings all over the world. I enjoyed her stories of living in Burma and crossing into India through the Jungles of Assam and getting stuck for days in the mud and rain. It reminded me when my friend, Krishan, and I were stuck on the road in rain and mud for days when we left Tatas.

While relaxing, I read the book by Sudha Murthy, President of Infosys Foundation doing lot of good work in India - Short Stories of everyday life - good and bad. Her following quote was quite well said.

"The good company and good conversation - alot of the time is inversely proportionate to the higher education and economic status."

I had a laugh.

LeeAnn’s reflections.
Some trips are more memorable than others … some trips teach you a life-lesson. This was one of those times. Our trip to San Jose del Cabo was filled with new experiences, including staying in a cabana near the ocean; conversing with people who are not afraid to grow older and are up for adventure.
I thank God for the opportunity to visit different parts of the world: I learn so much.

Every day is a good day - San Jose del Cabo Day 4

"How would you describe a good day?" I asked Bernie and Ali. They both smiled at each other and Bernie, the more talkative of the two, threw up his arms in the air and said with his nearly toothless smile: "Every day is a good day .... bad day ...no, no. Every day is a day and it is a good day."

Our good day was very relaxed. Chan spent a lot of the time reading, while I played with my new Flip and lay on the beach. I also wanted to find a fabric store ... no need to explain the reason for that. That proved to be quite a job, since few speak English, and fabric stores here are not very plentiful. But if you can find a childhood home in Pakistan that you left when you were 4 years old, well, a fabric store in San Jose del Cabo should be easy. A few questions here and there, a few wrong turns and we found it!

For supper we decided to visit Ali's International Cafe, for fish tacos, but mostly for the stories. We talked with these two amigos for about two hours, and Ali would not let us pay for our meals. "You are my guests," he said.

Both talked about how free they feel to live life the way they want to. Bernie has a small business in British Columbia, where he wholesales fruit and veggies three months out of the year. The rest of the time, he lives on the beach north of San Jose del Cabo, and comes to visit his lifelong friend when he needs to replenish his water and food supplies.

Ali has been a chef and some pretty impressive places, but found Mexico to be where he belongs.

If you are looking for a mean fish taco, and some interesting stories, don't pass by Ali's place ... oh, yeah, don't be surprised if he's not there ..... he only works when he wants to.

The other side - Day 3 San Jose del Cabo

We'd heard from our cabana friends that Ali's International Cafe just down our road had the best fish tacos. So, that's where we began our morning. In the little hut near the marina, we met Ali, who was originally from Timbuktu, and yes, his taco is not to be missed. Our quick stop ended up in at least an hour conversation with him and his friend from Vancouver, orginally from Germany.

If bumming isn't your style, then go west of San Jose del Cabo to the better known and definitely more monied - Cabo San Lucas. Big boats, big condos, cruise ships, luxurious hotels. I'm not going to show you any photos because you'll find images easily on the Internet.

We traveled north on Highway 1 go Todos Santos. It's a small town, with enough ambiance to satisfy any tourist.

The crashing waves on the Pacific side must draw surfers; however we didn't see any. Spectacular water action.

We followed the road north to loop down. We were surprised at the mountain passes, and hair-pin turns. Although we were in much need of a seista, the drive definitely kept us awake.

Tomorrow, with gas at $4 a gallon, we think we'll stay put. (We have been surprised at how expensive it is here ... our cheap ticket brought us to a place where dollars seem to flow out of your pocket.)

On the road to somewhere- Day 2 San Jose del Cabo

After fixing breakfast outside, we decided to take a road trip somewhere north but along the coast, not the interior. We wanted to stay off the main road. The only road available, well, was a gravel road to somewhere. We took it.

We saw a lot of beautiful scenery, spectacular sandy and EMPTY BEACHES.

There were some surprises along the way .... we learned that even the most deserted road leads to somewhere for somebody.

Ed Delfin Blanco - our thatched roof get-away

Another adventure off the paved highway. If you want to experience life in a small Mexican fishing village, I'd advise that you get here quick. Pueblo La Playa Mexico, just near San Jose del Cabo is quickly becoming Disneytized! The rugged, desert terrain is being transformed into golf courses and boulevards lined with palm trees and transplanted cactus for tourists who prefer a more sanitized experience. But for now, this place is still a slice of authentic Mexico, but the financial bulldozers are making their mark.
Chan calls this place "art" ... imperfect, life as it should be.
Now you wonder why I bring this up. It's because the push pull of development has spurred our hostess, Osa, to action. She is rebelling against the changes, and says that if she won't do it, no one will because the people of the village are poor and for the most part uneducated.
Osa's El Delfin Blanco is a quiet retreat close enough to the water to hear the crashing waves of the Cortez Bay, and the village dogs barking their power at night. Can you believe a golden sunset viewed from a nearly deserted sand beach? Well, it's here.
Osa must be in her mid-60s and originally from Sweden. She loves to talk, and will guide you through your place here that is in transition ... help you rent a car and even have it delivered, have beer, cheese and crackers ready as well.
Today we spent in San Jose del Cabo.
Ate Huevos Rancheros, fish tacos at El Herradero;
met a lovely couple our age who are adventurous...
Larry and Sharilyn Anderson of Bonney Lake Washington
They love to travel as much as we, but are minimalists .... she told me to save my old underwear for travelling so you can throw them away, and only have certain outfits that you bring (and wear your swimsuit under your clothes as you travel ... no need for a bra .... and you're ready to jump in the water.) Pack light... for her it is a backback, for him it is a small suitcase with wheels. Don't rent cars, use local transportation. Lots of good ideas for traveling on the cheap.
Tonight we cook our meal outside on a make-shift stove, and then go to the beach.