Sew Read

We've talked about Julie Paschkis in the past. She illustrates wonderful books. One book in particular is our favorite gift for new grannies smitten by their first grandchild.

Julie also designs fabric. Beautiful fabric.

Some of it recently came into our possession. Paypal get thee behind me.

Julie's newest book appeals to us in so many ways starting with cookies, and including cows, community spirit, as well as WPA and Grant Wood artwork influences. 

Check out Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar?.

We've Got it Goin' On

It is time to get everybody else on the bandwagon.

Good proposes April 27 as Neighborday.

They have resources to get the neighboring ball rolling and some great stories of neighborhood life.

So, if you don't know your backdoor or frontdoor neighbors now is the time to reach out and meet them.

Channel Fred Rogers and greet and meet the people on your street today.

Arbor Day

 Plant or love a tree or a parkful of them today.

Here are some ways you can do that.

This Week in History in NDLland

2010

2013

2010

2013 

Sigh....

Family Pearls

A good find by a fellow button collector.

Aiming for Signs of the Season

Hit the bullseye at Target with the Mellow Meadow line from the UK's Paperchase.

Lucky us!

Desperately Seeking Springtime

Seems it is to be found only at the garden center.

At this rate this may be the only place we will find summer too.

Pea Planting Plots Available

Chippewa County UW-Extension is now taking community garden applications for the 2013 growing season.  12’ x 24’ plots are available for lease at the Chippewa Falls Community Garden at Marshall Park.  Lease fees are $20.00 for Chippewa Falls residents and $30.00 for non-residents. Individuals, families, organizations, and businesses are encouraged to get involved. Applications may be picked up at the Chippewa County UW-Extension office, the Chippewa Falls Parks, Recreation, and Forestry office, or the Chippewa Falls Public Library. Applications are also available online  here or here. 

For more information, contact the Chippewa County UW-Extension Office 715-726-7950, ext. 5.

Down in the Valley

If we can get a little bare earth around here we can probably go ahead and put in our pea crop.

For most of the year we rely on the hard work of the Jolly Green Giant to supply  us with little green peas via the freezer section of our local grocery store. 

What do the Giant's pea-pickers and their good friend Tennessee Ernie Ford do at the end of 

a long day in the fields? Why, sing favorite folk songs of course.

This recording was likely sent to young Nancy of Rib Lake for the price of a few labels mailed in to

 LeSueur, Minnesota * back in the decades when veggies were more available in a can than frozen.

The Green Giant loves corn and beans, and other Good Things from the Garden too.

If you need more information and/or encouragement to get going with some early peas 

follow these links and then get planting.

* Le Sueur, Minnesota hosts an annual festival formerly known as Corn on the Curb which we are aware of because of our close personal friendship with a Corn on the Curb Princess from the 70's. We hope she is not too disappointed that the current town celebration has been renamed and reinvented as Giant Celebration (24 years ago). Looks like it is a pretty fun event and we hope she is asked to dust off her tiara and ride on the parade float or the back of a shiny convertible every so often.

Dreaming of Porch Swing Dreaming

Under a little lattice quilt of Backyard Baby fabrics by Patty Sloniger for Michael Miller.

Napping in the out of doors. Wouldn't that be loverly?

Not for Sissies

Is tough, but fortunately kids start small and are very forgiving of ineptitude. 

 If we can be brave and stay one step ahead of them in the ultimate on-the-job-training experience

 they might not figure out that when we signed on to be parents our resumes were weak 

and we were not really qualified for the job.

Hard to believe there are certifications for driving a forklift, but not for raising a human being.

Don't Be a Butthead

And your lungs.

Be Alert

We need more lerts.

That's what we used to say back in the day and it never failed to elicit a chuckle (or a groan).

But seriously, 

be alert to possible pranks today or you may see a grinning fooler having a good laugh at your expense.