Last night of session

I am so honored to work at the House. I can't help but be energized by the people who come here to deliver their message, whether it is in committee or in the Capitol Rotunda.

Voice of the people

There are happenings at the State Capitol, that impact me very deeply. Yesterday was one of those days. The House took up a bill to put on the ballot in 2012 whether marriage should only be reserved for a male and female. Crowds of peopple on both sides of the issues came to the capital to voice their concerns on both sides of the issue. I was so proud to see such a display of citizen input. The debate on the House floor is something I will always remember. What struck me most was those that spoke about enshrining discrimination and bigotry. I fear this issue will enflame people. The vote on the House floor was a sad day for us all.

They make me smile

 

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.