I've been busy helping put to rest a family estate. Nothing big, just the home of my mother-in-law with about 3 queen sized couch beds, a library full of books, and more sewing and knitting patterns in books and magazine pages than I think I've ever seen in one spot before. My sister-in-law and I have cleaned out three rooms in the last three weeks and sorted through so many memories.
It's funny how much is left after a family member dies, especially one who collected things. Not anything like salt shakers or normal collectible items of course. She was a knitter and in every place possible there were knitting needles, and scraps of patterns for scarves, sweaters, mittens and so much more. We've found every size of knitting needle you could imagine - straight, double ended, and circular in boxes, bags and plastic cases and lots of plastic totes filled with fabric and yarns.
I've done this before when my own mother died, but this was a different undertaking. My sister-in-law had already spent weeks going through and organizing, and donating some of the contents of the condo before I joined in the process, but just the rooms I helped with were almost totally filled to the ceiling, and sometimes on metal shelving units.
My mother-in-law was a person who was very frugal and kept so much for that proverbial, "rainy day" (and those, "just in case I need an item," times.). Going through all the sewing items, knitting paraphernalia, papers, notes, music and music books has helped me see the need to begin to empty my own house. It's interesting how much she had accumulated (I know I don't know how much I've saved, that's for sure!). But I have to admit that unlike many who lived through the Depression (like my Mom-in-law!) I haven't had that huge urge to compulsively save all kinds of things, for which I'm extremely glad for since I've so enjoyed going through all that my Mom-in-law accumulated. I've actually had 2 LARGE garage sales through this past summer!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Friday, December 17, 2010
My kind of Christmas Music
Okay, I know I'm more than a bit abnormal, but I don't like hearing Christmas music (You know the kind!) playing in my ears for over 60 days this time of year! I was okay with it after Thanksgiving through Christmas but this is ridiculous! Don't get me wrong, I love the season, but I hate what we as a culture have done to it, though.
More than a few years ago I thought I, who love classical music could surely find classical Christmas music that was different in every way. I was totally frustrated from the start. I searched but was frustrated at every turn. That night my husband and I went to a local restaurant for dinner after Christmas shopping. I'd gotten much of what I'd wanted to find for the kids, but we'd also searched for some Christmas music for me and found nothing. I felt defeated and miserable, miserable that is because I was hearing the constant rewind of typical December music.
Well, this little restaurant was a real in-expensive haunt of ours and as we sat there first ordering then eating I was drawn into the music that was certainly not the typical Christmas elevator music that was playing everywhere, in fact it was beautiful! On our way out I asked the manager on duty what it was, but he didn't know since they were all on a tape that contained lots of different pieces of music. I kept calling over the next few days and asking if there was anyone I could ask about the music! Finally he said that he'd ask the general manager about it, but he was not promising me he'd call me only that he's see if he could get the information and I might ask for it the next time I was in the restaurant.
Well, I was more than a bit persistent and finally the general manager did call me back personally. He explained that the music came to him and he wasn't even sure who it was on the tapes, but he did give me a breadcrumb...there was a name on the cardboard that was on the box it had come in two weeks before. Music for chain restaurants in those days were bought in bulk and half the time they weren't even sure what they were getting when they put them in the sound system each night.
The name he gave me was the key to the best music I've ever had for Christmas and I will never forget this musical discovery. The name on the box was Nonesuch, the actual title of a group that had also produced an album called A Nonesuch Christmas from the Baroque, Renaissance, and Middle Ages. I found the music at the record store (Yup, in vinyl) and found it to be even better than I imagined. That of course wasn't the end to my searching since the tape actually had many songs and instrumental pieces from that period by such composers as Bach and one who've I've learned to really appreciate, Michael Praetorius (late 1500s to the 1600s.)
My search turned up at least five other albums after that first discovery that I literally wore out every Christmas for years afterward. It was actually something musically I looked forward to every year as my own personal sounds of Christmas. Since then I've searched to replace those albums, but I haven't been unable to find the record in CD format no matter how much I've searched(Available in vinyl at over $100, though!). It contained the most beautiful music created by harpsichords, lutes, voices, and so many other ancient instruments of the 1500s. I have to say that I really miss those Christmas albums, but I do love the memories of that music and the memories of the music that still plays over and over in my memories during the Christmas Season.
It's funny how something so simple as a piece of music can truly come to define a season, or better yet describe a life during a period musically, but it certainly did for me. And you need to know I'm not giving up - I'm still searching! Out there I will find the music again, but until I do there are the memories of so many of those musical pieces will just have to carry me through.
More than a few years ago I thought I, who love classical music could surely find classical Christmas music that was different in every way. I was totally frustrated from the start. I searched but was frustrated at every turn. That night my husband and I went to a local restaurant for dinner after Christmas shopping. I'd gotten much of what I'd wanted to find for the kids, but we'd also searched for some Christmas music for me and found nothing. I felt defeated and miserable, miserable that is because I was hearing the constant rewind of typical December music.
Well, this little restaurant was a real in-expensive haunt of ours and as we sat there first ordering then eating I was drawn into the music that was certainly not the typical Christmas elevator music that was playing everywhere, in fact it was beautiful! On our way out I asked the manager on duty what it was, but he didn't know since they were all on a tape that contained lots of different pieces of music. I kept calling over the next few days and asking if there was anyone I could ask about the music! Finally he said that he'd ask the general manager about it, but he was not promising me he'd call me only that he's see if he could get the information and I might ask for it the next time I was in the restaurant.
Well, I was more than a bit persistent and finally the general manager did call me back personally. He explained that the music came to him and he wasn't even sure who it was on the tapes, but he did give me a breadcrumb...there was a name on the cardboard that was on the box it had come in two weeks before. Music for chain restaurants in those days were bought in bulk and half the time they weren't even sure what they were getting when they put them in the sound system each night.
The name he gave me was the key to the best music I've ever had for Christmas and I will never forget this musical discovery. The name on the box was Nonesuch, the actual title of a group that had also produced an album called A Nonesuch Christmas from the Baroque, Renaissance, and Middle Ages. I found the music at the record store (Yup, in vinyl) and found it to be even better than I imagined. That of course wasn't the end to my searching since the tape actually had many songs and instrumental pieces from that period by such composers as Bach and one who've I've learned to really appreciate, Michael Praetorius (late 1500s to the 1600s.)
My search turned up at least five other albums after that first discovery that I literally wore out every Christmas for years afterward. It was actually something musically I looked forward to every year as my own personal sounds of Christmas. Since then I've searched to replace those albums, but I haven't been unable to find the record in CD format no matter how much I've searched(Available in vinyl at over $100, though!). It contained the most beautiful music created by harpsichords, lutes, voices, and so many other ancient instruments of the 1500s. I have to say that I really miss those Christmas albums, but I do love the memories of that music and the memories of the music that still plays over and over in my memories during the Christmas Season.
It's funny how something so simple as a piece of music can truly come to define a season, or better yet describe a life during a period musically, but it certainly did for me. And you need to know I'm not giving up - I'm still searching! Out there I will find the music again, but until I do there are the memories of so many of those musical pieces will just have to carry me through.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
For All You Michigan Trivia Nuts!
For those of you (You too, Robert!) who have heard that the state of Michigan has been called the "Mitten State," here's an image, and book that shows how the UP is also a mittened hand (The Upper Peninsula, that why they call those who live there Yoopers!). We learned this as kids in school way back in the 60s, and it's ended up as kind of identity thing here.
This book was written by Award-winning wildlife artist Michael Glenn Monroe and was published by Sleeping Bear Press in 1999. It's really a great book for kids!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
The Holidays Begin
It's almost Thanksgiving, (literally!) and it's the beginning of the buying frenzy for Christmas. I am one who enjoys the less commercial part of this time of year and probably disappoint those who receive gifts from me because I buy books and knit or crochet something special as an added gift. I expect nothing in return, because I honestly need for nothing.
I like the Holidays to simply be a time of reflection, and of course a time to be with family. No fancy dinners here. We're having a picnic type of meal for Thanksgiving this year. We will dine on turkey buns, potato salad, chips, and splurged a bit on the dessert by baking pumpkin pies (with store bought crusts as I did not want to go crazy creating anything).
In past years I spent so much time making the typical Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners only to realize that the spent together was the most important part of the Holidays for us. It wasn't the meals that were the center of the memories for the day but rather the conversations and laughter that permeated the day's festivities. When I realized that fact I pared down the days events and foods to the bare minimum. The important things are still included. The turkey and pies are there, and once in a while someone brings a green bean casserole too.
What is truly meaningful about Thanksgiving and Christmas is being with those we love and sharing a meal. The snow is suppose to start tomorrow here too bringing with it the first signs of the winter. It will start us all wondering aloud as to what the weather will be like and how much snow we'll get during this winter here in Michigan. And of course there will be the ever present Lion's football game on Thanksgiving. (Which of course is usually lost to whatever team they play.)
We share the day and remember those who aren't with us anymore sometimes, and remember how much we miss them. The memories are tossed about and digested almost as much as the food we share. We always learn something new and sometimes a funny story about one of the relatives too. Family is about that. We all like the simple way to celebrate. It is after all about the memories we make during the Holidays that makes them the special events we anticipate all year long. That's always what we remember anyways...not the fancy sweet potato soufflé, or the present that was, "so special," that one year. It is truly the smiles, laughter, and love we share that makes the Holidays special, and it's always been that way.
I like the Holidays to simply be a time of reflection, and of course a time to be with family. No fancy dinners here. We're having a picnic type of meal for Thanksgiving this year. We will dine on turkey buns, potato salad, chips, and splurged a bit on the dessert by baking pumpkin pies (with store bought crusts as I did not want to go crazy creating anything).
In past years I spent so much time making the typical Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners only to realize that the spent together was the most important part of the Holidays for us. It wasn't the meals that were the center of the memories for the day but rather the conversations and laughter that permeated the day's festivities. When I realized that fact I pared down the days events and foods to the bare minimum. The important things are still included. The turkey and pies are there, and once in a while someone brings a green bean casserole too.
What is truly meaningful about Thanksgiving and Christmas is being with those we love and sharing a meal. The snow is suppose to start tomorrow here too bringing with it the first signs of the winter. It will start us all wondering aloud as to what the weather will be like and how much snow we'll get during this winter here in Michigan. And of course there will be the ever present Lion's football game on Thanksgiving. (Which of course is usually lost to whatever team they play.)
We share the day and remember those who aren't with us anymore sometimes, and remember how much we miss them. The memories are tossed about and digested almost as much as the food we share. We always learn something new and sometimes a funny story about one of the relatives too. Family is about that. We all like the simple way to celebrate. It is after all about the memories we make during the Holidays that makes them the special events we anticipate all year long. That's always what we remember anyways...not the fancy sweet potato soufflé, or the present that was, "so special," that one year. It is truly the smiles, laughter, and love we share that makes the Holidays special, and it's always been that way.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Saturday, mid-November 2010
Conversations are good. I certainly missed my written ones when my computer was causing trouble for so long.
I really enjoyed the weather here and staying at home and out of the rain this Saturday! I got some sewing and mending done as well as that ever present laundry. We had lovely 60 degree weather all week and now we are heading into winter. I've been following a storm that's dropping snow all over Minnesota, Wisconsin and other deserving states. I think it is heading our way by the end of the week from what the weather predictors have said. Ah, well...it is November.
Today we had a slow steady rain, and with it came a wind that gently tumbled most of the remaining leaves off many of the trees around here. I still have a a tree that has way too many leaves on it and after cleaning up a pile of the fallen ones yesterday my poor husband felt almost defeated by the growing piles that have taken their place on our lawn and by the back door. The dogs remained indoors since their run has only one dog house and they crowd in it in the rainy weather...not much room for either of them especially now since we piled in the straw-filled burlap sacks just a few days ago in preparation for the winter months.
I have to share how much I'm enjoying playing with my new techie toys these days. I also love the calendar on my Touch since it has an alarm on it to remind me of important events. That's for the terribly forgetful person in our household - ah, that would be me! I hope this new handheld will keep me on track since my Palm was dying and I kept losing power after only 4 hours. (When you do that you lose ALL the info, and that can be a yucky experience!)
Life continues to be good for us here in West Michigan. I enjoyed two of the grandkids all day yesterday. One granddaughter shopped with me during the day which made for a fun time, and my oldest was here for 5 hours from the afternoon and on into the evening. We got to plan for our coming trip in the Spring of 2011. I'll share more about that in future posts, we're certainly excited about! :-)
I really enjoyed the weather here and staying at home and out of the rain this Saturday! I got some sewing and mending done as well as that ever present laundry. We had lovely 60 degree weather all week and now we are heading into winter. I've been following a storm that's dropping snow all over Minnesota, Wisconsin and other deserving states. I think it is heading our way by the end of the week from what the weather predictors have said. Ah, well...it is November.
Today we had a slow steady rain, and with it came a wind that gently tumbled most of the remaining leaves off many of the trees around here. I still have a a tree that has way too many leaves on it and after cleaning up a pile of the fallen ones yesterday my poor husband felt almost defeated by the growing piles that have taken their place on our lawn and by the back door. The dogs remained indoors since their run has only one dog house and they crowd in it in the rainy weather...not much room for either of them especially now since we piled in the straw-filled burlap sacks just a few days ago in preparation for the winter months.
I have to share how much I'm enjoying playing with my new techie toys these days. I also love the calendar on my Touch since it has an alarm on it to remind me of important events. That's for the terribly forgetful person in our household - ah, that would be me! I hope this new handheld will keep me on track since my Palm was dying and I kept losing power after only 4 hours. (When you do that you lose ALL the info, and that can be a yucky experience!)
Life continues to be good for us here in West Michigan. I enjoyed two of the grandkids all day yesterday. One granddaughter shopped with me during the day which made for a fun time, and my oldest was here for 5 hours from the afternoon and on into the evening. We got to plan for our coming trip in the Spring of 2011. I'll share more about that in future posts, we're certainly excited about! :-)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
It Has Begun!
My old computer is gone, and I have a loaner with none of my stuff on it (of course!) at the moment. Things happened a little late (Since my computer didn't come in when it was suppose to.)and a little faster than expected since my old computer finally went belly up yesterday. (Here's hoping they can rescue all my information from the old beast!)
I won't be back until everything has been transfered and my Mac Mini installed. Hopefully that will be done by the weekend! See you all when it's done!
I won't be back until everything has been transfered and my Mac Mini installed. Hopefully that will be done by the weekend! See you all when it's done!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Essay: Give Them Hope 11.1.10
Listened to this on the way home it really makes perfect sense to me here in Michigan! We've had a lot of negatives...and really little hope from this campaign would be fabulous.
Essay: Give Them Hope 11.1.10
Essay: Give Them Hope 11.1.10
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