The Empty Envelope

Little Birdie

2009-05-17T22:03:00.000-07:00

I saw this little bird on a walk a few weeks ago. I kept taking photos and getting closer and closer. I could not believe how close he let me get! I used the 'flower' close up setting on my camera.

He makes me happy:). Does anyone know what kind of bird this is and if, in fact, it is a male? Thanks!

Being Here Now

2009-05-10T21:44:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when I especially miss her. But now, all the firsts are gone. The first grandchildren, the first college graduate, the first of every holiday, the weddings. We have a new normal without mom being here. And this week, I relished in what our family is now. Her importance, love and wisdom will never be forgotten. I am proud of my dad and my sister and myself, for who we are now. I am proud of my husband, my brother in law and my step mom for becoming an integral part of our family, and us being integral parts of their families. And I'm proud of my little boys, for millions of reasons.

Happy Mother's Day.

Random Thoughts

2009-05-07T22:19:00.000-07:00

Just some random thoughts and observations from our adventure!

1.We went through something called a 'Coyote Wash' in AZ. This amused me. Can you also get your coyote dried and fluffed? (I know, I know *bad joke*.)

2.Brian Fellows impersonations are only funny for about 5 minutes, once a week. I went way over that limit.

3.Is alien jerky made from illegal aliens, extraterrestials, or road kill?

4.A small bag of petrified rocks will make it just fine through the washer.

5.Loose, looser, and loosest slots: this just doesn't seem like a good thing to me! All the more reason for your money to disappear! And the signs were always next to some hot chick.

6. Gilda Radner is hilarious. Not kid appropriate.

Gaslamp District, San Diego, CA

2009-05-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

We spent most of our trip just outside of San Diego. We visited my husband's 85 year old grandmother almost daily, and spent time with his aunt and uncle, his two cousins and their families and his dad and stepmom. We went downtown one day, to go to Horton's Plaza, and found ourselves in the Historic Gaslamp District, which I loved.

I heart San Diego...:)

Flagstaff, AZ

2009-04-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

In Flagstaff, we managed to pick the same restaurant as Alan Jackson's crew. There ended up being three trailers with his name on it, as well as two tour buses. We ended up sitting next to some of the drivers and one gal thought they were huge celebrities. I was highly entertained.

Grand Canyon

2009-04-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

I'm having a hard time readjusting to life in MN after the trip!!

I am so glad we got to go to the Grand Canyon but will be honest that I'm disappointed we didn't have much time there. I feel like I need a good week there to explore and sit and think and look. But it was good.

The Tuesday before we left, I went with my 8 year old on his field trip to the MN Science Museum. We watched an IMAX movie about the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Very cool and glad we got to see such an interesting view point on it right before we went.
I found a trailer:):

Photos never seem to be able to do the Grand Canyon justice. The thing that struck me the most was how QUIET it was. No birds or animals, and where we stopped, we were the only humans there. It was beautiful and amazing.

Five Years Time

2009-03-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

Noah and the Whale's 'Five Years Time'

I love this song. It's got a ukelele, it's cute and quirky and happy, and makes me want to watch 'The Royal Tannebaums'.

We have also been discussing where we want to be in our lives in 5 years. I've never really done this, because I'm fairly spontaneous and hate planning things. But goals and vision certainly do need to have things done to get to them. I still want to go back to school within that time, work in an educational/creative way.

What about you???

Your Special Message is...

2009-03-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

Joy...

For a quarter, this beautiful sculpture will spin and he will point out a word for you. This is in between the Conservatory and Zoo portions of the Como Zoo. He makes me happy.

Irish in St Paul

2009-03-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

I'm glad I started my St Patrick's posts before the day, because I'm very very behind!!

St Paul, MN was originally founded by 3 Irishmen. Lake Phalen and Phalen Park bears the name of one of them. There was a lot of drama involved with these three men, more drama for one post! Many Irish came to the Midwest and were able to start new lives. St Paul especially, has many visible signs.

Irish dancers at the Irish Fair in downtown St Paul. (Normally, we are not around so many dancers! This year has been a bit interesting that way!)

Celtic Cross headstone in Calvary Cemetery. I went exploring right before we got hit with a winter storm. The sky was very dark and it was pleasantly spooky! I was looking for certain graves, which I did not find, but I did find F Scott Fitzgerald's grandparents.

F Scott Fitzgerald's grandparents, Philip and Louisa MacQuillan. There were three children listed on the side as well, died very young, all about a year or two. I ended up taking the kids to see this after the Como Zoo, since my youngest is named after this branch of my family.

St Patrick's Church of St Paul. I love the staff on the church sign.

Gorilla in the Sun, a True Sign of Spring!

2009-03-18T06:58:00.001-07:00

It warmed up out here, so the boys and I went to the Como Zoo in Roseville last weekend. I think this guy had the right idea: find the sunniest spot and take a nap! The second photo is just to show how much snow was still on the ground. I had the boys in their winter coats and sneakers, but I should have had them in their boots and short sleeves. All those puddles + boys = an irresistible combo!

Castle Dunluce, Ireland

2009-03-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

My paternal grandfather's family lived in this castle over 400 years ago. Lots of drama involved with this gorgeous ruin, on Giant's Causeway. I love all the lore, I have spent hours researching the family histories, rivalries, tragedies and supernatural things involved. EatCrayons mentioned in my last post that she wants to move there and I would love to as well. There is something about the green land and the graying stone that move me.Realistically, I will be very happy if we can visit at some point and this will be the other place that I think I could feasibly spend weeks!

More photos my dad took when he was there:

A fun video with a song called Dunluce Castle by the Irish Rovers.

Armagh, Ireland

2009-03-07T03:18:00.000-08:00

March 17 is always one of my favorite days. Not only is it a chance to embrace being of Irish heritage, but it was also my Irish grandmother's birthday. She came to America in 1925 on the Canopic, a sister ship of the Titanic, when she was just two years old. In researching some genealogy, I found some paperwork on my grandmother and her parents, and that they were from Armagh. Of course, I had to research Armagh! It's a beautiful city, and where St Patrick founded his cathedral in 457.

We still have quite a bit of family out there and my dad and stepmom were able to go and visit with them a few years back. These are some of the photos that dad took of St Patrick's church.

There is also an Observatory there. I've been watching some videos on Armagh and I could probably spend weeks there, just in the Observatory and orrery, not to mention the churches.

I Guess She (Mother Nature) Told Me

2009-02-27T14:15:00.000-08:00

I have lived in the North for almost my whole life. I've lived in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Allegheny mountains. I remember the Super Storm of 1993. I've lived in Minnesota for 10 years. So I'm not sure what I was thinking the other day when I let myself enjoy the crisp robin egg blue sky and the 40 degree temps. I let myself utter that sweet far off 'S' word: Spring. I thought no matter what, winter had to be almost over.

The next day...

Yeah. Mother Nature told me. I couldn't see two feet in front of me. I can usually see part of the skyline from here. It normally takes me under 15 minutes to get here and back home. Yesterday, it took an hour. We had a windchill today of -10.

On the other hand, if March comes in like a lion, it'll go out like a lamb. I'm hoping:).

Etsy Feature on the News!

2009-02-23T22:24:00.001-08:00

One of the etsy teams I belong to, Team MN, was featured tonight on our CBS affiliate, WCCO.

Growth Of Crafty Businesses During Rough Economy

We've known about the story for awhile now, it was good to see it put together!

Foggy, Foggy Day...

2009-02-19T22:52:00.000-08:00

We had a strangely foggy day about a week or so ago. I find it rather unsettling to be driving on the Interstates that weave in and out of St Paul (I-35 and I-94) and NOT be able to see the skyline.

If you revisit my Favorite View of St Paul post, you can see what the view looks like on a non foggy day.

Photos from the same spot:

I saw the fog and knew I had to back to the Park. It wasn't quite as dramatic as some of the places I was that day. Very mysterious...

CPSIA update...

2009-02-12T17:24:00.000-08:00

Even though I'm trying to keep up with all the info on CPSIA, I still feel like it's all very confusing. I did post a layman's terms of it the other day.

I had heard some rumors on the web that Goodwill stores were pulling their children's clothes and toys. I had to see if it was true in the Cities and went to one between St Paul and Minneapolis (in Roseville). It's true.

I stepped in and could tell immediately. At this location, the sales desk is to my immediate left, just beyond that there used to be two shelving units of toys, packed on each side. Now just one unit remained, filled with donated Target toys still in wrappers. There were quite a few Hannah Montana games. Rather surreal.

This was the note in the toys section. It was obviously askew and driving me crazy but I resisted the urge to fix it!

Larger signs in the almost completely empty kids' clothing section.

I went to Savers to see if they were doing anything. (CPSIA went into effect on February 10th.) Their kids' sections were a little lean, but it didn't look as if they were changing much. I spoke to the cashier as well and she said that they haven't decided to pull things yet, but that they have talked about the bill many times. She said they're pretty careful about what they put out and that they could use clothing donations now!

A few weeks ago, I emailed MN senators Amy Klobuchar and Betty McCollum about some of the small business owner's concerns.

I received a letter back from McCollum this week. I have mixed feelings. I understand *why* people feel so strongly about making and voting for it. She did say that she would keep our concerns in mind if other votes came up.

Senator DeMint of SC has proposed a Reformation bill. There is some info at the Boutique Cafe on what you can do. We can still call and talk to senators about our concern. We have a voice.

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Birthday Party!

2009-02-10T07:10:00.001-08:00

In my neverending quest to find inexpensive things to do on weekends if the husband needs to sleep (he works some overnights), I came across one of the Minneapolis public libraries holding a Laura Ingalls Wilder birthday party!! It promised butter churning, black and white photos, period costumes for the kids to try on, fiddlers and square dancing. Seriously, how could one resist?

So we headed out to Brooklyn Park on a glorious 40 degree February day. Alas, there was no butter being churned (that I saw) and there really weren't any costumes for the boys. But a lot of people came dressed up and the girls were *so* cute. I love the bonnets they wore back then!

There were 3 rooms and we ended up in the square dancing room. They had a group of 'pros' and they were teaching the kids the steps and then getting a chance to do a dance to a call. We ended up having to wait until the last group that they worked with but that one was the best! By the time the called dance was going on, the fiddlers had finished their demos and played along with the recording. My kids were really into it too.

Some photos!
An article about Minneapolis being the first library to have a juvenile section.:

Shoes.:

One of the fiddlers.:

Everyone waiting to start learning how to square dance.:

The Strangest Thing

2009-02-09T16:19:00.000-08:00

I spend a lot of time in different venues looking for things for my shop (and for other things, like pants. Pants are useful.) And sometimes, you seem some pretty wacky things. There's an entire blog devoted to this kind of thing that I just found: Thrift Store Nightmares.

But last week, I finally found something that I felt the need to photograph and share: a leg. Now...who doesn't need a spare appendage? I know I could use some extra hands. Not sure what to do with a leg though. Sometimes I will see a number of things in the store that I think go together. This time, I saw a canvas duffel and a battered canteen that I thought might have gone with this leg.

I also thought it was awesome that it was in the umbrella/hat/tie/sock section. I guess that sort of makes sense...And I would have checked the price, but I think I scared the lady next to me when I whipped out the camera:P.

Favorite View of St Paul

2009-02-08T16:10:00.000-08:00

I've had a lot going on lately and been filling my head and camera with posts, just not posting them!

During the Winter Carnival a week or so ago, I got caught up in the Medallion search (link for clues and explanations) and started wanting to visit some of the parks that people were going to to dig. Now, my idea of fun is not digging through a foot of snow in -2 degree weather, even for something like $25,000. I had been wanting to go to Indian Mounds Park for some time, so I found out where it was and took a drive out. I had hoped to get photos of people digging, but apparently people are not out at 8:30 am in -1 temps on a weekday. I was not disappointed. I found my favorite view of St Paul, shown here. I did find the burial mounds, but they are much bigger than I thought they would be and I need to figure out how I want to photograph them for the blog.

I really enjoyed researching the clues and posting on the boards about the search. It fostered a great sense of community and I learned a lot of interesting facts about different parks and part of the city that I didn't know!

CPSIA Blog In!

2009-01-28T08:30:00.000-08:00

This thread in the etsy forums suggests a Blog in to fight the CPSIA rulings.

I am cutting and pasting the wonderfully written note.

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

***
Chichiboulie has a darling shop as well. I've contacted my senators. Spread the word.***

The Big Hill

2009-01-24T23:57:00.000-08:00

I feel like I'm running out of things to blog about for the moment, so here's a photo of the kids on the Big Hill a few weeks ago. They *love* to go sledding. My husband took this photo since I was busy trying to walk the dog/not kill myself on the ice. I think they had much more fun!

Weird Things People Do on Frozen Lakes

2009-01-22T20:57:00.000-08:00

I am not a native Minnesotan. Therefore, seeing tiny little house scattered all over frozen lakes and people DRIVING on the lakes still cracks me up. They are ice fishermen. Possibly fisherwomen as well. Every winter, when the lakes freeze solid enough, people build little houses around the holes they fish in.

Me, I'm a big winter wimp. There, I said it. As much as I love the North and tolerate the cold, I am not a big fan of winter sports! Reading books and playing games and watching movies, those I am a big fan of!

And with my run of strange luck, I would probably fall through the ice on the coldest day (when it's least likely to happen) and get attacked by some strange Southern fish that's lost.

This is White Bear Lake last week, after the weather warmed up 40 degrees, from -20 to 20. The trail of houses goes as far as the eye can see across the lake.

I don't know, maybe I should put it on my life long list of things to do, just to say 'I lived in Minnesota and I went ice fishing'. Maybe.

The Capitol at -20 Degrees

2009-01-21T20:23:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to get some photos of the sun rises we have been having. Beautiful shots of bright pink light soften the harsh industrial feel of the St Paul skyline. We've had a number of mornings like that. I have yet to get a good photo though. Timing is of the essence and by the time I find a good spot, the sun rise pink is gone.

I did get this one though, last week, when it was -20 out. The cold thickens the smoke, making it look tangible. The Capitol looms, in a haze, unsure of whether it should open or go to Florida.

It nearly hit 32 today though. That's about when people start wearing shorts and sandals. I've been down to one outer layer the past two days as well! It's a relief!

Current Inspiration

2009-01-17T21:32:00.000-08:00

It has been a very strange week. A strange year, so far!
A lot of the plans I've had for the shop and the blog and well, my life, have gone a bit haywire.

I am feeling very inspired lately.

*My family, extended and otherwise, but especially my boys. They crack me up with the things they come up with and their busy brains challenge me to challenge *them*.

*I Owe You a Love Song by Shiny Toy Guns. I love the imagery from the lyrics and the chord changes.

*The Wells Fargo Bank in Owatonna, MN. This is not my video and I have not been yet. But I love the architecture and the colors and design. I am thinking of taking the boys down for a road trip this year. It's educational!

*Edgar Allen Poe's 200th Birthday. He gets a postage stamp too. The time period he lived in, and how his writing has impacted what we read now among other things.

*Ice Palaces.

Wells Fargo Museum in Minneapolis

2009-01-12T07:58:00.001-08:00

I happened to be downtown Minneapolis on Friday and thought I would visit some of my favorite places in the skyways (and get some exercise).

The Museum is located in the the Wells Fargo Center, one of the more striking buildings in the Minneapolis skyline. It has a fabulous Art Deco style that goes throughout the building as well.

The photos are from some of the displays.

Gorgeous early photos from the Owatonna, MN bank. This may have to be an excursion one day. I just found some current photos of it online.

Early check fraud!

I love the old style to these banking machines.