Throwback Thursday: Hubby's 50-Year Reunion

It's Throwback Thursday, and I just couldn't resist sharing this Save the Date postcard my hubby received from his alma mater, Bemidji State University, located in chilly northern Minnesota.
The Class of 1965 will be holding a 50th reunion July 31-August 1. 

My hubby is the handsome short guy in the center of the photo.  Were we ever really that young?

TTFN
LeAnn

Think Spring!

February is the shortest month on the calendar, but it always seems to be the longest somehow.
Valentine's Day can be a colorful, happy interlude.  But for the most part, February is a series of cold, gray days, and extra-long work hours that leave me longing for Spring.

So this Shameless Commerce Tuesday I will showcase one of my Spring-y floral oven mitts, made with pretty fabrics from the Dear Stella fabric line -- perfect for Mother's Day gifting.

Lavender Floral Oven Mitt

 

Perhaps after tax season I will dust off the old purple bike, and hit the bike trails.  I love biking out in the country on the Mo-Pac Trail (abandoned Missouri-Pacific Railroad right-of-way) -- to feel the sun and wind on my face, and to see an ever-changing display of wildflowers.   One of my latest custom orders is a request to make bicycle-themed oven mitts from four different fabrics.  Here is one of my favorites by Timeless Treasures:

 

Time to hit the snowy trail that leads to work today.

TTFN
LeAnn

 

 

 



Treasury Thanks - An Eventful Week!

What an eventful week!!  TWO big snowstorms, crazy-busy days at the tax office, my part-time job as a Legal Assistant at the UNL College of Law Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic changed to full-time,  I signed up for health insurance, and we had a delightful, laughter-filled dinner chat with our two oldest grandchildren who are undergrads at UNL. 

It was an eventful week for Etsy treasuries, too!  I am so grateful for the collaborative spirit that still manages to survive amidst the many changes on Etsy that have foreshadowed its urge to go public.  I firmly believe that going public will mean the greed desires of shareholders to make a profit will put smaller-scale Sellers and Etsy's handmade / no-resellers values at risk of being severely compromised. 

Okay.  I'll jump off my soapbox now and get to the point of this post, which is to extend a huge
THANK YOU to the curators of Etsy treasuries who featured items from my Etsy shop, Pasque Flower Creations, over the past week. 

Irina Mastikova of Fajnasmuka featured my olive, brown orange and cream oven mitt in her treasury, 01/16.  This treasury is a delightful mix of unique finds!  For those of you longing for Spring, this  genuine leather cross body bag in coral would be a fantastic accessory.

Margaret of SplendidLittleStars featured my hearts and pink gingham baby bib in her treasury, Sweet.  This heart t-shirt in pink would be a sweet Valentine's Day gift for a special girl in your life.

Rossiter Lisa of PNLJewelryDesigns featured my Valentine's Day baby bib in her treasury, Red Hot Gifts.   This red coral tree of life necklace would be a lovely Valentine's Day gift that could be worn year round. 

Diane Waters of muddywaterscc featured my roses oven mitt in her treasury, My Dear One.  Our 9 grandchildren are "dear ones" to me -- and this whimsical Felicity Pig piggy bank would be a wonderful gift for a child -- and a fun way to encourage a habit of saving.

Janyce of pineconeandsparrow featured my horses key fob in her treasury, Something for Everyone.  I love Janyce's simple tree hand painted collage.  And isn't her photo beautifully staged!

Rossiter Lisa of PNLJewelryDesigns featured my pink and red hearts bib in her treasury, Love Handmade Gifts.  This pretty heart bookmark would be a lovely little Valentine's gift for your favorite bibliophile. 

Rossiter Lisa of PNLJewelryDesigns featured my lavender floral oven mitt in her treasury, Lovely Lavender.  These lavender heart earrings are truly lovely.

Cassie of CassieVision featured my blue and purple baking-themed oven mitt in her treasury, Turn It Up.  These dark crystal earrings would add a modern edgy vibe to a date night outfit.

Valerie of NandysNook featured my red and gold pillow cover in her treasury, Home Is Where the Heart Is.  Valerie's shop offers coffee mug cozies in a rainbow of color -- and she offers buyers the option to create their own sets of four.  Hmmm-- a cup of hot tea would be nice, nestled in one of these colorful cozies.

Deborah of VelveteenGarden featured my rainbow chevron oven mitt in her treasury, Color My World III: Neon Rainbow.  I love, love, love this circa 1930 handmade quilt from Deborah's vintage shop.

Cake Topper Design featured my red and pink Valentine's Day baby bib in her treasury, No. 22.  This wedding cake topper silhouette is one of the unique cake toppers you will find in this shop.

Lacote of LACOTEDESIGN also featured my Valentine's Day baby bib in her treasury, !!!Treasury for You!!!  Lacote makes delightfully detailed one-of-a-kind nursery wall art. 

Lisa Lavender of TheBumbleBeadCompany featured my green chevron oven mitt in her treasury, TEMPT Team's Spring Can't Come Fast Enough.  This shamballa bracelet in yellow (although it looks like Spring green on my monitor) makes me think of bright Spring days. 

Lisa also featured my Valentine's Day baby bib in her treasury, TEMPT Team's Romance Is Alive and Well.  This crystal necklace with heart could be worn on a romantic dinner date. 

Kathy Read of DixieVintageShoppe also included my Valentine's Day baby bib in her treasury, Hearts and Flowers for Her.  This vintage bow heart Avon brooch with September birth stone is one of the lovely vintage finds you can browse in Kathy's shop.

Julia of Draiguna featured my lavender and forest green floral baby bib in her treasury, Forest Heart.  Julia is a talented crocheter, as evidenced by this elaborately detailed Valentine's Day doily.

Liz of TheLittleEmptyNest featured my textured brown pillow cover in her treasury, Calm.  Her treasury showcases lovely earthtones.  This olive wood bracelet would feel right at home in her treasury. 

Nancy Tozier Sieling of GreatEastEmporium featured my studs and chains key fob in her treasury, Basic Black.   Nancy's shop features unique creations made of beeswax, like this adorable little lamb.

Kate Brooks of PiecesofHomeMosaics featured my ribbon-trimmed tea towel in her treasury, Get Me to the Church on Time.  Looking for a statement bracelet?  Check out this incredible aluminum fused glass cuff bracelet.  Definitely Pin-worthy!

And there you have it!  Another great week for treasuries.  Thanks, again, to the curators who included items from my Etsy shop. 

Valentine's Day is only 6 days away! 

TTFN
LeAnn

A WHOLE Day

For the past year, one of my four part-time gigs has been working mornings as a Legal Assistant at the Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic in the University of Nebraska College of Law. On Friday.  (My other gigs?  Etsy entrepreneur.  Free-lance legal researcher.  Seasonal tax advisor.)

On February 6, 2015, I transitioned from part-time to full-time at UNL!  Although I'll be working twice as many hours, I'll also be earning twice as much pay -- AND next open enrollment period I will be eligible for group health insurance -- truly a godsend.  Although my lists will still be longer than my days, I'll be able to provide better support for an innovative, up-and-coming program that allows third-year law students to gain "real world" experience in transactional law by representing start-ups and fledgling non-profits who would otherwise be priced out of the legal services market.
It's a great place to work! 

My boss, Brett Stohs, the Cline Williams Director of the Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic and Assistant Professor of Law, surprised me with a muffin and a gift card from Whole Foods--because I'd be working the WHOLE day!  Love the cute little grocery bag card holder!

And three other staff members who work in offices in the windowless basement of the Law College surprised me with an invitation to join the "Basement Babes" for a chocolate cake coffee break to celebrate my first day as a full-timer.

I'll be working the WHOLE day -- and then some -- during much of tax season.  My typical work day will be 7:00 am - 3:30 pm at the Law College, and 4:00 pm to 8:00 or 9:00 pm at the tax office -- plus almost every Saturday and Sunday (mostly half days) at the tax office. 

I've seriously considered putting my Etsy shop in Vacation Mode, or declining custom orders, but sales are slow enough I've been able to keep up (so far) by sewing REALLY early in the morning or REALLY late at night. 

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.

TTFN
LeAnn

Casual Color

It's Shameless Commerce Tuesday, and today I'm featuring my colorful abstract 16" x 16" pillow cover.  I call it my grunge pillow.

To me, it evokes the feel of comfortable jeans, comfy moccasins, a soft, cozy sweater, and a sunny day -- casual and colorful.

The groundhog saw his shadow on Groundhog Day, so we're in for six more weeks of winter, according to legend.  (Sigh.)  So we'll need to get our color fix INSIDE on cold, gray days.

Yesterday, however, I had a morning Snow Day (the University was closed as it dug out after the snowstorm). 

I work in a windowless basement office, so it was a rare treat to see the glistening white trees against a beautiful blue sky as I drove white-knuckled my way on snow-packed and icy streets to the tax office for my 1:00 - 9:00 pm shift.  I love seeing the beautiful winter pictures posted by my Etsy teammates on Facebook.  If only we didn't have to shovel it and drive in it!

TTFN
LeAnn

Treasury Thanks

Each week my Sunday blog post is THANK YOU to Etsy curators who have featured items from my Etsy shops, Pasque Flower Creations and Aunt Pheba's Vintage, over the past week.  Please Like, Share, or Pin if you have a spare minute to provide a little show of support to these talented artisans.

This week's treasuries were colorful escapes from the cold and gray of mid-Winter. Today, as I flipped the calendar from January to February, I breathed a sigh of relief.  One month of Winter (and tax season!) is behind me.  We are one month closer to Spring! 

Kellee and Dorian Thomas of MoretheBuckles featured my prairie pioneer sunbonnet in their delightfully eclectic treasury, February Finds - A Little Bit of Everything.  My hubby watches a lot of football, and one of my favorite commercials is one with Kenny Rogers singing his classic song The Gambler while playing pokers with his mildly annoyed buddies.  This poker night belt buckle would be a great guy gift.

Marion S of couva12 featured my horses key fob in the treasury TEMPT Team Rocks!  I'm seeing a lot of mint in the Spring previews -- a delightfully refreshing color!  This handmade crochet scarf in mint is one of my favorites from couva12.

Natashalh of StalkingTheWildSnark featured my Valentine's Day baby bib in her treasury, January Gems.  For those who are keeping a New Year's Resolution to exercise more, these bright pink wrist wraps would brighten up your workout. 

LeeAnn Gauthier of StudioGauthier featured my polka dot drawstring backpack in her treasury, Intoxicating Color.  This lovely Queen Anne's Lace photo is intoxicatingly beautiful.

Christiane Schnabel of ChristianePaper featured my red chevron oven mitt in her treasury, Red and Black.  I love these 50 sweet labels from Christiane's shop.  Wouldn't they be great for a Spring craft fair?

Lisa Lavender of TheBumbleBeadCompany featured my pastel plushie owl rattle in her treasury, TEMPT Team's "It's All About the Baby".   I LOVE these colorful beaded bracelets from Lisa's shop -- and they are SO reasonably priced!

Valerie of NandysNook featured my mint roses on brown oven mitt in her treasury, Green Retreat.  This spring green coffee mug cozy with the cute button accent makes me Think Spring!

Dana Facinelle Whalen of CreativeEarthJeweler featured my studs and chains key fob in her black and white treasury, Colorblind . I couldn't resist featuring this LOVE hemp bracelet - perfect for Valentine's Day.

Holly Bean of HollyoftheEarth featured my colorful abstract pillow cover in her treasury, Colors of the Earth.  This turquoise zuni bear pendant caught my fancy.

Rena of LovelyKnotsBoutique featured my dark brown pillow cover in her treasury, Earth Tones.  Rena's crochet autumn scarf is a gorgeous combination of earth tones.

Sara Olive' of Narais featured my Valentine's Day baby bib in her treasury, Unique Shops and Unique Gifts.  This Love heart mug would be a lovely little Valentine's Day or anniversary gift.

Lisa Lavender of TheBumbleBeadCompany featured my pink ripple key fob in her treasury, TEMPT Team Color Me Pink for Valentine's Day.   These pink lampwork bead earrings are just one of the beautiful beaded items you'll find in Lisa's shop.

Wine Charmers and More featured my Valentine hearts and pink gingham baby bib in the treasury Sweethearts.  These beautiful crystal wine charms are just one of MANY you will find at Wine Charmers and More.

Nancy Tozier Sieling of GreatEastEmporium featured my houndstooth eyeglass case in her treasury, Valentine Gifts for Him .  Nancy creates incredible pieces with beeswax.  This Tardis candle would be a fun gift for your favorite Dr. Who fan.

And last, but not least, Sharla of TheBeadedTail (who is also slogging through another tax season!) featured my Valentine's Day baby bib in her treasury, Tis the Season of Love.  This hearts and pawprints journal would be a lovely gift for someone who loves her pets.

And there you have it!  Another great week for treasuries.  Thanks, again, to all the curators who help promote the work of fellow Etsians.

Hi Ho!  Hi Ho!  I'm off to shovel snow (again)!

TTFN
LeAnn

Pasque Flower's Book of the Month

One of my New Year's Resolutions for 2015 was to read at least one good book a month and blog about it.  This is the first in my series of monthly posts. 

My January 2015 Book of the Month is The Girls of Atomic City:  The Untold Story of Women Who Helped Win World War II (2013) by Denise Kiernan.

I received the book as a Christmas gift from my brother and sister-in-law, and I found it to be a fascinating read.   I'll be the first to confess that I "don't know much about history."  (Perhaps that's why I loved the song Wonderful World, a classic Sam Cooke hit released in the 1960s.)  I always do very badly in that category when playing Trivial Pursuit. 

Most of the people I knew from my parents' generation didn't want to talk about "the War."  They had survived The Great Depression, the "Dirty Thirties," the attack on Pearl Harbor, and years of war--with rationing of everything from sugar to gasoline.  They participated in scrap metal drives, blood drives, and war bond drives to support "the war effort."  And they felt the emotional toll of the war.  Every family, it seemed, knew someone whose loved one had been killed, wounded, held as a prisoner of war, or was missing in action.  No one wanted to see the telegram delivery person arrive in the neighborhood, bearing the dreaded message, "We regret to inform you . . .."   And neither World War I nor World War II were taught in my high school history class.

Most of what I know about World War II, even today, I learned watching old war movies and the 2007 PBS mini-series, The War. 

But I had heard of Rosie the Riveter:

The famous poster shown above was actually a 1942 art piece by J. Howard Miller, commissioned by Westinghouse Electric to improve morale -- not to recruit more women workers.  But by the 1980s, that poster had become associated with "Rosie the Riveter."  From 1940 to 1944, the number of American women working outside the home increased from 12 million to almost 20 million.  Unmarried women outnumbered men in the defense industry workforce.  Starr, Kevin (2003).  Embattled Dreams:  California in War and Peace, 1940-1950. Oxford University Press, p. 129.

And I had heard of The Manhattan Project, which I envisioned as a bunch of mad male scientists building atomic bombs in the desert Southwest.

But I had never heard of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the atomic city referenced in the book's title-- a top secret, high-security reservation nestled in a Tennessee valley that was "home" from 1943-1945 to 75,000 residents --workers who worked round the clock to refine what a substance they knew only as "Tubealloy" to make a Gadget.  Young women, many from the rural Midwest and South, were recruited, sometimes fresh out of high school, to live and work at Oak Ridge.  They battled homesickness, knee deep mud, strict dormitory rules, and isolation.  They were never told what they were doing -- they were only instructed how to do it.  Many of the girls had brothers, relatives, or boyfriends who were fighting overseas.  They seemed to be willing to accept on faith that whatever the Gadget was, it would help to end the War.

Denise Kiernan weaves the oral histories of many of these women (interviewed in their 80s), along with historic research, to tell an engaging story of life, love, and endless work at Oak Ridge.

On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing 80,000 people instantly.  Thousands more later died of radiation exposure.  On August 9, 1945, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 40,000 people.  Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945.

The "Tubealloy" from Oak Ridge fueled the atomic bombs. World War II ended, but the human cost was staggering.  Much as I may admire the courage and dedication of these young women, I'll never subscribe to the theory that all's fair in love and war.

To any objective observer, those atomic bombs were weapons of mass destruction. 


TTFN
LeAnn