Traditional Amaryllis

 I always bought an amaryllis kit for each of my employees, in the last 5 or 6 years that I worked at Coors. Each of the women had their own office, and so that way, each of them had a flower to grow and enjoy during the holidays. If the kits are not opened before the bulbs start to grow, you would find something in the box that was a little unsightly.  We started calling these plants 'penis plants' because of that early growth inside the box, with no photosynthesis occurring.  

I still try to find an Amaryllis kit each holiday season; one of  my former employees and I still trade photos of our plants, as they progress. 

Mine is off to a slow start,  but it is growing. 

Tradition.

🌱🎄🌱🎄🌱

I can't get to Luck in time for 7th grade boys basketball on Thursdays because I play bridge.  But,  I can get home in time to watch the live stream of the game.  Great nephew Jens is a good player and he has a good group on his team.  

Today,  I kept his stats, as I watched the game. 

After the game,  I sent him this text.  

The final score was 

Grantsburg 34 Luck 56.

W

🏀🎄🏀🎄🏀

Festive

 I'm in a mood to have a few more outdoor decorations this year.  In September,  I bought a 4ft lighted tree at the Dollar Store. Today,  I put it up,  with some Dollar Store lights.  The front porch looks very festive now. 

The little lights are solar powered and the tree is on a timer. 

I'll get putting up my Christmas Village next week. 

Christmas lights are joyful.

Aunt Jeanne

My middle name is Jeanne, after my Aunt, Mom's sister. 

Jeanne and Nel were my first overnight visitors when I settled in Rice Lake.  They stayed several days and we had a nice visit.  Jeanne tried to attend her class reunions at Milltown and it worked out that they could stay with me.

In 2016, I took a big trip out West and spent a couple of nights at Jeanne & Nel's house in Stanwood, WA.

 Aunt Jeanne had called me the first week of October, while I was at Quilt Camp.  We had a nice chat about family and what I was up to.  She was slowing down,  but still living alone in a senior high rise.  

We were in the habit of talking on the phone every month or so. I would write letters to Aunt Jeanne from time to time, using large font. I also sent photographs of Emily's wedding, a lunch gathering with my Rydberg cousins, and other family events.  She would usually call after reading my letter.  She always said that she appreciated getting my letters because she could re-read them.

This photo was taken when I visited Jeanne & Nel in Washington, in 2016.

Jeanne Botten

July 14, 1930 - November 8, 2024

Jeanne Eleanor (Bjornton) Botten was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on July 14, 1930, and recently died on November 8, 2024 at her home in Brookdale Senior Living in Stanwood. When she was a junior in High School, she wanted a big change so she went to live with her sister, Pauline, and husband, to attend Milltown High School in Wisconsin, where she graduated. Later she moved back to Minneapolis to attend Augsburg College, where she met Nelvin Botten (aka known as Mel) in a choir class, then married him, thus earning her MRS degree. They moved back to Nel's home town Seattle in 1950. Son Jeffrey was born in 1952, followed soon by daughter Tamara in 1954.

She worked for 33 years for various dentists. In 1977 she and Nelvin moved to Stanwood where they retired to enjoy travel, boating, cruising, bowling and crafting. She would refinish tables, chairs and other small furniture items for gifts and sale in antique stores. She sewed small dresses for African missions, and also enjoyed rosemaling (Norwegian painting) as well as various needlepoint projects. She also volunteered for 20 years with the Northwest Dental van which provided free dental service to those who could not afford to pay, and she helped establish 2 Lutheran churches.

She is survived by her children Jeffrey Botten (wife Toni Burton) and Tamara (Botten) Riggs (whose husband Craig passed away suddenly this past February after 48 years of marriage.) Also four grandchildren---Sam BB, Daylen, Micah and Megan Riggs and 5 great grandchildren. 

After nearly 70 years of marriage to Nelvin, who passed away in 2020 from cancer, she has expressed much desire and extreme happiness to be joining him in heaven with Jesus.

No Joy

 Our country has voted for Hate.

There is no joy.

I do know that I worked hard and voted  for all the right reasons.  I know what I stand for. 

I'm deeply disappointed and sad.

This comment by a Instagram user really sums up my thoughts. 

So it goes.

Peace.

I voted! 💪🏻

 Yesterday, I was coming home, and I drove past our village hall building and I saw the lights on & a car in the parking lot. I pulled in and asked if it was possible to early vote, but our town clerk said he was only there to test the machines. I said thank you and turned to leav and he called after me "tomorrow from 11:30-1".

So,  today,  10/29/2024, I voted for:

The Constitution 

Democracy

Leadership

Opportunity

Decency

Honesty

Women's health

Puerto Rico

Joy

The promise of America

My family and their families 

✨️✨️✨️

I voted against:

Hate

Ignorance

Bigotry

Trump

Fabric Patch Virtual Quilt Camp

 I think this was my third virtual retreat for sewing and quilting. The Fabric Patch that puts together this retreat always teaches a skill. I like this idea as I have experienced some techniques that I wouldn't otherwise take on.  We log on to zoom on Friday morning at about 9:00 and the final zoom session is at 3:00 on Sunday afternoon. The classes are normally two a day and the rest of the time is open sewing with breakout rooms so that you can visit with friends or not or go sit in your recliner or take a nap. It's very loose and it's another feature of this retreat that I really do like. 

This time the technique that they were teaching us was applique. I have done some applique but I didn't really know what I was doing. They wanted us to experience the hand sewing type of applique, which a lot of people do entire quilts of, but I thought it was ludicrous to be sitting in front of me $3,000 sewing machine with a needle and thread in my hand. But I did a little of it so I could check the box. The rest of the applique I fused on and then sewed around the edges with the sewing machine. 

The project was four fall motif panels which then will be sewn together with sashing in a border to make a very charming fall wall hanging. So below are my photos from the retreat.

I'm sitting in front of a $3k seeing machine, using a needle and thread.  Go figure.

Quilt Camp Wrap Up

 Some years ago, SIL Lois gave me this little journal. 

I use it to record my sewing projects, when I made the items, where I got the fabric and who I gave the finished project to.

It's a little gem. I also write down the names of the other quilters that I meet at camp.  I'm not the best at remembering names, so this helps. 

💙 💙 💙

Another tidbit from camp. We mostly 'park our politics at the door' unless we are alone with a like-mind.  Friend Sandy and I were talking, and in the course I mentioned that I was doing social media for the Barron County Dems. Our conversation ended and I went back to sewing. One of the quilters from another table came over and said, "I wasn't trying to listen in on your conversation, but I heard you say that you are doing social media posts for the Barron County Dems. I follow that page and I want to thank you for all you are doing for the election.  You are putting yourself out there and I really am thankful for what you are doing.". Well, t caught me by surprise and I instantly had tears in my eyes.  She told me her name and we talked a little about our concerns. 

It really hit me emotionally. I spend a fair amount of time posting on FB & Threads for the Dems, this sincere Thankyou really means allot. 

You never know who can use a lift, sharing a kind word can be all the difference.

💙

Fall Quilt Camp 2024

 I arrived in Solo Springs on Sunday afternoon to set up my sewing machine and drop off supplies.  I had stopped at The Sandcastle first to put new batteries in the trail cam.   I started planning my projects, ate dinner with the group, and then headed for home to sleep. 

Monday morning, I loaded up the rest of my gear and my suitcase & headed North to the Inn.

Located on the shores of Lake St. Croix

By 9:30am, I was cutting fabric.

My project list started with 2 wedding gifts for great nieces. I had a quilt-as-you-go kit, to make runners. I used batik fabrics. 

I'm happy with how these 2 turned out. 

The sewing machine repair lady came to clean machines, so my Husqvarna got a good vacuum and inspection.

Tuesday morning, the view from my room was breath taking. 

Sea smoke rising as the sun is breaking through. Wowser.

Next on my list was to finish a project I started in the Spring Virtual Quilt Camp.  I had to add a backing, quilting and a binding. 

I'm not positive where this will be used but at least it is now finished. 

Tuesday afternoon, the masseuse came to give back massages. I loved it so much. I wish she had her business closer to me.

Wednesday morning was another beauty. 

Wednesday was get-away-day.  I decided to finish up a group of runners that I had pieced at home. 

I'm not sure where these will end up, but one of them will be mine.

I left for home at about 4:30pm. It was another great camp.  

The leaves were pretty, and it was great to spend time with old and new friends. 

Northern Lights

 Wow, whatta night for Northern Lights.

To the naked eye it looks like wisps of light clouds sliding around the sky.  The camera sees colors. 

Amazing.

Forgiveness

 One of our bridge players got mad at me on the phone and hung up on me.  This was a few years ago now.

Since then, I have had to play cards with her several times. I never forgot and I never let it go.  But, I was always civil to her but, I admit, I was still pissed.

Next week, my bridge partner and I are scheduled to play with her again and this time, we are going out to lunch first. I was not consulted about this plan. I'm not happy about it. 

I've been thinking about it and how I might minimize my time spent with this woman.  Playing bridge is one thing, visiting over lunch? That's a stretch.

Because the bridge match will happen out of town, it would be hard to get out of riding together.

I have a couple of weeks to mull it over. 

Today I saw this quote.

So, I think I need to forgive the rude behavior, because it is in the past, & cannot be changed. Do I wish she had apologized to me? Sure, but I am guessing that she forgot about this long time ago.  

I'll give it a try. 

Do I want to sit in a car for an hour, eat lunch and play cards with her, no.

Hail storm damage is finally completed

 A hail storm hit my house in July of 2023.  

The roof and 1/2 of the siding were replaced. The decks were in rough shape and needed some carpentry before the power wash & stain.  I hired a young handy man from Cheek and today the last of the staining was completed.

My wooden decks had been in need desperate of stain, so obvious in the before and after photos.  I had stopped noticing. The power of before and after photos. 

After the lumber was replaced, the decks were power washed.

Finally, a new cost of stain. 

I still have touch up to do between the deck boards, but the bulk of the work is done. 

Ya, that's better. 

Still some work to do, but it feels good to have it at this stage.  It also feels good to be done dealing with insurance company, contactor and handyman.  I kind of hate that kind of stuff. 

💰💰💰

It is National Register to Vote Day. 

Check your registration, make a plan to vote.