Pillow Love

“Wonder if pillows fall in love with us as we hold them through the night? I wonder if they get excited being naked on laundry day? If this is true - should I take them to dinner and a movie sometime? Or just break it off - be upfront - it's not you, pillow, it's me...”
- Thom Bierdz

I love reading the tweets and other postings from Thom! Not only is he a talented artist, author, actor and activist – he is a man who speaks his mind and likes to think outside of the box!

Not surprisingly he got some rather interesting responses to this particular post:
- Maybe i should try it and I will sleep better. So when I get a different pillow does that mean I am breaking up with it??
- I don't know if my pillow loves me... but I sure love my pillow... LOL
- Gives a whole new meaning to 'pillow talk' :)
- I think my memory foam pillow forgets my name!
- Never thought of a pillow like that but hey a pillow does give us great comfort, it hugs us at night, and sometimes provides us that soft place to cry on .............:))
- Interesting thought to ponder. Don't know if they'd be down with that. They might think it's just another fluff piece.
- I wonder if they get grossed out when you drool on them...lol

Okay, the concept of pillows having feelings may be a little out there, but who knows? We’ve all seen at least one of the Toy Story movies where the toys come to life. There have also been who knows how many cartoons, movies and books about other inanimate objects actually having a life on their own.

So, why not contemplate the possibility?

I don’t know that we need to take them out to dinner and a movie as Thom wondered, but we do need to appreciate them and treat them with more love and respect for all they do for us.

Pillows actually put up with a lot of abuse from us humans. They get tossed, punched and scrunched. We drool, sweat and cry on them. We hold them oh so tight and pretend they are someone we wish were with us. We tell them our innermost thoughts in the intimate dark of the night.

It’s a good job that pillows can’t talk or articulate the experiences they have had with us. It would put a whole new spin on “Pillow Talk”! Not to mention the potential problems if we were to take the lyrics to Hank Locklin’s 1949 hit “Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On” to heart!


We humans seem to have a deep affection for our pillows. We spend about one third of our lives with them. Like our human relationships, we get attached to the pillows that give us the most comfort.

Pillows support our heads and help align our bodies for a more restful sleep. They are a soft (or firm for some) yet comforting place to lay our head. We hold them close to our bodies, place them between our knees, or at our back for support, and wrap our arms around them – all to find that perfect feeling of warmth, support, comfort and even love.

If we travel or are without our special pillows for a night or two, our sleep is often disrupted and not as restful as usual.

Many sleep experts suggest replacing pillows every couple of years. Of course, it all depends on the type of pillows you use and their expected longevity. Many pillows (like some humans) lose their compatibility and comfort after awhile. Their initial appeal wears off. The honeymoon is over. The relationship goes flat or gets bumpy – I mean lumpy. You almost dread having to spend time with them. You want to work it out but they won’t cooperate. Yup, it’s time to move on and find a new love – I mean pillow.

I’ve been with several pillows in my life. Some have been here longer than others. I try to take good care of them. I don’t go to bed with dirty hair or an unwashed face. I use pillow protectors, fluff them, air them and put clean pillowcases on regularly. From my own experience, I’ve found that hollow foam pillows are the worst. They seem to lose their comfort level in a very short time. They are okay for a brief fling but just don’t offer long term compatibility.

When I was a teen, I had a foam chip pillow that I used to take with me when I worked at a summer camp or I went on any retreats. It certainly wasn’t as comfortable as my usual pillow, but it was a decent stand in. The advantage of the foam chip was that it could be smushed into the shape that I wanted to rest my head on. Unfortunately, if you didn’t get it “just right” then you didn’t get much comfort from it. It was a love/hate thing.

By far my favourite pillow was an oversized feather pillow. I think I was in my early teens when I got it. It had belonged to an older relative and came from a time when they used to make their own pillows. There was just something about that big lovely pillow that made me feel so comforted when I held it or laid my head on it. It felt safe and supportive. It was like laying my head on a cloud and drifting off to dreamland. It was my first real pillow love!

Every couple of years, I’d part with it for a few days while it went to the dry cleaners to be properly cleaned and have new ticking put on. I missed it terribly while it was gone. I had other pillows – feather even – but they were a bit thinner so one was not enough but two was too many. When I’d get my best pillow back home, I’d give it a big hug and tell it that it had been missed!

I don’t know how many years I used that pillow but it was at least 25. Eventually, it too lost its tender loving comfort and I had to think about finding a new one. I tried other kinds of pillows and other feather pillows. At one point, I took three regular sized feather pillows into a dry cleaner and asked them to make the three into two. I felt like Goldilocks telling them my wishes: “One is too thin. Two is too thick. But one and a half is just right!” They thought I was nuts, but I didn’t care. The result was the closest I ever came to duplicating my beloved oversized feather pillow.

About 4 1/2 years ago, I switched to a Homedics Micropedic Pillow that is promoted by Tony Little. It is an ergonomic pillow that is filled with micro beads that conform to your head and neck that allows your body to be more aligned as you sleep. It took a few nights to get used to, but I do find it comfortable.


It certainly isn’t as great as my first pillow love, but alas, life goes on. Besides the Homedics pillow, I also use a cylindrical like pillow that is also referred to as a neck roll. I don’t use it for my neck though. I sleep on my side and hold it against my chest and stomach - then rest or drape my arm over it. I’ve tried body pillows for this – and even used other regular pillows but they seemed a bit too large most of the time.

The body pillow was nice – at least for awhile. It made a great slow dance partner when a good song came on the radio. It has since moved on though as I found it hard to clean and it also got a bit lumpy.

I saw an intriguing pillow on the web recently. It is called a full body pillow and is shaped like a giant U. It can be adjusted into a variety of positions depending on your sleeping habits and needs. I think I’d like to try it for a night or two but I doubt that I’d want a long term relationship with it. I suspect that it would also get lumpy or flat and also be hard to clean. Some relationships just aren’t worth the extra effort – especially if you do all the work to maintain it.

The boyfriend pillow does sound more appealing though. It is shaped like a male torso with an arm attached on one side so that you can rest your head on the “chest” and have his arm around you. The really great thing about this one is that it comes without the furry chest, snoring and morning breath.

Yup, pillows are a complicated lot. A must have for most of us and just like our human relationships they are a very personal choice. Thick or thin. Soft or firm. Feather, foam, micro beads, or any other materials – they fill a need for comfort, support and even companionship in the sometimes lonely hours of the night.

Sadly, pillows – not unlike some humans - just aren’t cut out for long term relationships. We need to appreciate and enjoy the comfort and support while it is there and realize – and accept - when it is time to cut our losses and move on.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go spend some quality time with my pillows....

dn

Grilled Asian Pork Tenderloin

A few months ago, I saw a recipe on TV for a Grilled Asian Tenderloin that sounded really good! Now that may have been a problem for me to make as it was done on an outdoor grill – which I don’t have. Luckily, I do have a George Foreman Grill and many recipes for the outdoor grills can be converted to an indoor grill with adjustments in cooking times. The original recipe used two pork tenderloins but I cut the recipe in half and also tweaked the ingredients slightly by adding garlic and then cooking the leftover marinade to pour over top of the cooked meat.

So now that we are well into summer, here is a recipe that you can do on your outdoor grill or any time of the year on an indoor grill. I’ve included the directions for both methods. Please note that I have not personally used the outdoor method but am including it as it was written in the original recipe.

Grilled Asian Pork Tenderloin
1 pork tenderloin, well trimmed, about 12 oz (0.375 kg)
1/3 cup pineapple juice
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon grated ginger root*
1 1/2 teaspoon garlic, crushed (bottled type)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder

Place pork in a zip lock bag. Combine the next six ingredients and pour over pork, turning to coat. Seal bag and marinate in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours to enhance flavour. Note: Depending on the size of the tenderloin, I’ve often cut the tenderloin in half and placed the pieces side by side in a loaf pan (rather than wasting a zip lock bag) and then poured the marinade over it. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the fridge – turning the meat two or three times during the marinating time.

Indoor Grill:
Preheat an indoor grill such as the George Foreman and grill the meat for 5-7 minutes or until internal temp reaches 155ºF/68ºC with a meat thermometer. Do not overcook! While the meat is cooking, pour left over marinade into a small pot and heat on medium heat to the boiling point. Boil for about a minute, then reduce heat to simmer and let cook another 3-4 minutes – stirring occasionally. Remove meat from grill and tent with foil for about 5 minutes. Cut into 1/2 inch medallions, then drizzle the cooked marinade over the meat to serve.

Outdoor Grill:
Preheat barbecue on high; reduce heat to medium. Grill pork on a lightly greased grill for about 20-25 minutes to an internal temperature of 155ºF/68ºC. Turn once or twice. Remove to a cutting board or plate. Tent loosely with foil and let rest 5 minutes. To serve, slice pork into half-inch medallions. Makes 3-4 servings

Note: I have also made this recipe using two large boneless skinless chicken breasts - about 6-8 ounces (170g-224g) each. I marinated the chicken breasts the same way as I did the pork and grilled them on my indoor grill. They were fairly thick so they took about the same amount of time to cook as the pork. That time may be different with an outdoor grill. I also cooked the marinade as I did with the pork. It turned out just as delicous as the pork tenderloin!

*I buy a small piece of gingerroot, peel it and then wrap in plastic wrap and store in freezer until I need it for a recipe. You don’t have to thaw it to grate it. It grates quite easily while frozen. Got this tip from Rachael Ray.

Enjoy!

dn

TSC And Me

Last week, I wrote about The Shopping Channel, the changes over the years and how it fills a need for those of us who don’t like to face the crowds or don’t have access to a variety of stores. Today, I want to tell you about my experiences with TSC.

It took me quite a while to really start watching TSC. I’d flip channels and occasionally stop there for a few minutes, but I just wasn’t that interested in anything they seemed to be selling at that time.

Somewhere around 1997, I actually started watching once in awhile. It took me till August of 1998 to finally make my first purchase! I’m not sure why it took that long, but I think I was just plain skeptical and I knew I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of returning a product that I didn’t like. After all, returning to TSC was a bit more complicated and expensive than returning an item to the local Sears Catalogue Outlet! (FYI: Returns are much easier now!)

Well, as any of my friends can tell you, after that first purchase, it didn’t take long for me to make a second, third and who knows how many more since then! I’ve become a fan and have even managed to get a couple of my gal pals hooked on shopping with TSC! One of them actually calls me “The Jewellery Devil” as I email her whenever I see something I know she would love!

My purchases varied greatly in those early years. Some were more successful than others. It was more by trial and error that I learned what lines that I liked and which ones to avoid. I rarely ordered from a first time line unless I’d already heard of it and knew about the products. I’ve pretty much kept to that rule. After all, only lines that are successful are even given a second chance or invited on a regular basis. Being on air every few weeks or months generally signals a level of quality and a good viewer response.

There have of course, been some glitches along the way. On a handful of occasions, I received damaged items and a couple of times got the wrong size/colour. There were also a handful of return billing questions and errors. However, when I called customer service and explained the situation they have always been more than willing to work to make things right. I know from reading others comments online, that isn’t always the case, but I am only speaking from my own experience here. (I’m linking several of my product purchases here to either a previous blog post of mine or a TSC page.)

For the most part, I’ve loved the purchases I’ve made. Bedding wise, I bought my down duvet, a down blanket and throws from Westex! The first set of Jersey Knit sheets, I ever bought was from TSC. I’ve bought several sets retail since and wouldn’t sleep with any other kind now! I bought pillows from Tony Little a few years ago.

Speaking of Tony Little, I’ve bought two Gazelle’s (wore out the first one) and go 3 miles every 2 days. Just bought my second Easy Shaper Bar - wore that first one out too! The first fitness equipment I bought, over 10 years ago, was a Body Break Bike which I still use every other day. Have gotten a few other fitness pieces from other vendors over the years – some more successful than others!

Years ago, I bought talking phones and loved them! I still use my Sharp Mini System and I love my Clickfree!

I’m not sure where my buying habits would rank as in many ways I’m not your typical female or shopper. I don’t wear makeup or use beauty products due to skin sensitivities and allergies to scents/chemicals. I’ve never been a fan of pinks, reds, prints or frills. I wear as close to 100% cotton as possible but finding clothes that fit right is tricky when your arm length and inseam are about an inch or so longer than the average gal! I couldn’t walk in heels to save my life! I don’t have a huge collection of purses although I do have 4 Hey’s Travel Mates and 3 Buxton Bags along with a couple of denim purses I’ve had for eons!

Jewellery wise, I have to stick to a minimum of 10K gold, 925 sterling silver or stainless steel. Have never been a fan of costume jewellery or anything ornate. I like to keep to genuine gems but have never been fond of diamonds! Yes, I know I am strange but that is what makes me unique!

I’ve been lucky enough to buy a few pieces of Ammolite. For the most part I stick to sterling silver now and I probably have more jewellery than I really need but that doesn’t seem to stop me for long! I prefer simple designs and buy the most from Silver By Sajen and Himalayan Gems collections. I love the knowledge and folklore that is also provided by guests/hosts. (Note to self: write a post on jewellery!)

Kitchen/Household products is another area that I’ve had fun shopping in! Years ago, I bought a Daily Blender. Phil Parker - the man who demonstrated it - was such a character! You never knew what he’d say next and his appearances were a must see! I bought a Deni Scoop Ice Cream Maker years ago and have been making my own ice cream, sherbet/sorbet ever since – although now I use the attachment for my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer - both purchased from TSC! Foreman Grill was another great purchase! You can get some great ideas and tips from watching the cooking segments!

If I could talk to the buying department at TSC:

I’d BEG them to bring back Orange Clean! I LOVED the products and really wish that they would be back on air. I can’t find the Orange Clean Multi Purpose Concentrate anywhere around here! Even with the S/H it was worth the money for me – especially with my allergies! I’ve never been able to tolerate the smell of bleach so I can’t live without my Oxy Clean! Luckily, I can find it locally!

Ott-Lite is probably the best product I EVER found through TSC. I have two desk lamps and three floor lamps! ( “You Ought To Try Ott!” ) I only wish they would carry the bulbs that are equivalent to the incandescent 40/60/100 watt ones that screw into the standard size light sockets. They are very difficult to find and I usually have to get mine from someone visiting the USA.

I’d ask the jewellery buyers to bring in:
- solid bands (sans metals) - smooth and/or faceted - in various colours of agate and other gems. There have been several agate necklaces and bracelets offered through various lines and during Jewel Of A Deal over the last year or two and I like being able to match my pieces. In particular, I’d like blue, purple, green and black/white agate please!
- I’d also like a green chalcedony ring to match the Himalayan Gems Pendant #443-168!
- a snowflake obsidian ring in a very simple bezel setting to wear with any of the snowflake obsidian pendants that I have from Silver By Sajen.
- Would also like a very simple sterling silver blue jade pendant to match a ring I bought a few years ago.

As someone who doesn’t really enjoy shopping in stores, I am grateful that there is a place like TSC that I can watch on TV or browse online to make my purchases.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go see what’s new on the website....

dn

July 3 - Meeting Norm
July 10 - The Shopping Channel

The Shopping Channel

The Shopping Channel is celebrating its 24th anniversary on air this year.

I wasn’t watching in those early years – and frankly never really understood the fascination or appeal back then. But, when you stop and think about it, it did make sense that a TV station devoted to shopping would be created. After all, we Canadians had been shopping through mail order catalogues such as Sears and Eaton’s for decades. For those of us who grew up in rural areas/small towns, catalogues were the only real option to make many purchases. So, why not a TV station devoted to the shopping genre? That way we could get more details and views of a product we may be interested in.

In those early years, TSC was known as The Canadian Home Shopping Club. They didn’t have live action as they do now. When I was speaking with host Norm Murray recently, I asked him about that. Norm said that if he were selling – say a coffee cup – he would hold the cup and a photo would be taken. He’d set the cup down and another pic would be taken. This would be done in a series of positions and then put into a slideshow on screen while the host would do live voice-overs to sell the product. TSC was finally able to do live motion video after a change by the CRTC in 1995.

Being an on air host wouldn’t be an easy job! You certainly have to have the gift of the gab. I’ve occasionally been told I talk too much and that I could sell anything, but if I don’t believe in a product or like the item I could never sell it. I did home sales with Regal and a couple of other small local area businesses years ago and I used to tell my customers the stuff that I thought was crap or not worth their money even though I was on a commission. Also, I have to be in the mood to shop and I can be a picky shopper.

A good host knows how to draw out the information from the vendor without over-talking them and does their best to prepare ahead with understanding the products and knowing the history, folklore or other pertinent info of the items. The host must also find a way to keep a presentation fresh for new viewers - yet not alienate those who have seen it several times before. That is a real balancing act and not easily accomplished.

Each host has their own unique style, but they do their best to keep it real and sincere with the items they sell. They often let us know if they use a certain product, but sometimes the up-sale or push for the product comes across a little too much. Too much gushing or sugaring of a product is a turnoff. A savvy shopper will see the difference and learns to see past the sales pitch to the sincerity and honesty of the host, the vendor and product. Granted some customers are more willing to take a chance on a new item and/or have more discretionary income to spend than others, but we aren’t fools and are all looking for a deal.

Several years ago, TSC embraced the internet and set up a website for customers to browse all the available products and order online. Too be honest, I wasn’t pleased when that first happened, as it felt like an unfair advantage to those with computers. Those of us without would lose out.

I’ll admit that I did miss out on a couple of things over the years as I didn’t know they were available in time to add it to an order. I’m too cheap to pay more S/H than I have to so multi-pack whenever I can! So five years ago, I went to a local library and asked them to log me onto the site and show me how to use a mouse so I could browse collections a day or two before air. I learned a lot about surfing over the next few weeks by doing that and had acquired my own gently used PC by that fall!

The web site has undergone a lot of changes – and in my opinion, not all are for the better. I find the pink and red lettering very hard to read – not just because I don’t like those colours – coloured lettering is harder for many of us to read. A simple black (not grey or charcoal) font on a white/off white background is by far the easiest to read. That may be boring for many, but it is the most accessible! I also find that the dropdown boxes tend to overlap in type and by clicking on a link that way, you don’t always get the page you wanted.

The program guide has also been changed. Rather than a new full page opening for listing products in any one program, it is now a small pop-up window that you must scroll down to view the items. This is much trickier to navigate. If you click on an item in the pop-up window it takes you to that page, but when you click to go back it goes to the general program guide and you have to reopen the pop-up for the hour you wanted. The only way I’ve found to avoid that is to right click the item and open in a new tab.

Even with modified screen settings/fonts for my PC, the site is still a challenge for me:


There used to be mini-bios of the hosts and some of the guests on the site, but that feature appears to have been dropped. It should be brought back as well as encouraging hosts, models and vendors to add links to follow them on Twitter or other social media.

There are a couple of things that I really like about the newer site though. The ability to view larger images of products and to read real customer reviews is great! It really helps to get a better sense of the product and whether it is worth the purchase. I’ve added reviews to several products in the last year or so.

For many years, the daily Showstopper would begin airing at 7AM eastern. That meant that those on the west coast had to get up at 4AM if they wanted to be among the first to get it. Then a few years ago, TSC switched the 24 hour special to begin at midnight eastern. That was better for the west coast who then saw it at 9PM eastern, but lousy for the east coast who had to wait till 1AM or 1:30AM in Newfoundland. Neither of these really bothered me too much as I only got up/stayed up if it was a product line I was interested in.

Then, in mid June, they did a weekend experiment where the Showstopper started at 10PM eastern. That meant that the west coast saw it at 7PM and the east coast saw it at 11PM or 11:30PM. It was a pretty good compromise to satisfy all time zones and was a real hit with customers! So much so, that as of July 1, the new launch time for the Showstopper is 10PM eastern! Great solution TSC!

Though I know there are those that would disagree, in my experience, I’ve never had an issue that TSC hasn’t been able to resolve in a timely manner. They do their best to meet the needs of their customers and make things right if an error occurs.

TSC certainly has come a long way since January 1987. It’s programming, presentation and hosts have changed and evolved over the years. They’ve adapted to new technology and have embraced social media like Twitter and Facebook. They can’t please everyone, but they really do try to fill the needs of the customers with unique and innovative products.

Thanks TSC - and here’s to at least 24 more years!

dn

July 3 – Meeting Norm
July 17 – TSC And Me

Meeting Norm!

Have you ever watched The Shopping Channel? Ever wondered what it would be like to meet one of the hosts?

Well, a little over a week ago, host Norm Murray set out on a cross country adventure to see the country and meet customers and fans.

But, there was a catch! As his bio on Twitter stated: “Norm is as proudly Canadian as The Shopping Channel...follow Norm's Great Canadian Adventure - you never know where he'll show up...and neither does he!”

His two travelling companions from TSC, Mary (Public Relations Coordinator) and Lia (Promotions & PR Manager) were the ones holding all the secrets – and the plane tickets!

Norm packed his Hey’s luggage, grabbed his pal the Travelocity gnome and headed for the airport. His first destinations turned out to be Halifax and Peggy’s Cove. Then, back to Toronto before heading to Winnipeg, Calgary, Lake Louise, Edmonton and finally to Vancouver. He tweeted his adventures and posted pics as he went. Updates were also posted on TSC’s website, Twitter and their Facebook Fan Page.

Sunday afternoon, Norm was wondering where his next destination was. All he knew was to be at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 3 at a certain time! Later that afternoon he tweeted “WINNIPEG!!!!”

I should point out here, that I’d been following his updates over the previous days and replied to several of his tweets. I was hoping that Winnipeg would be one of the stops. When I saw he was indeed headed to my city, I wondered what would be the chances of meeting him?

Norm asked his tweeps where to find good places to eat in The ‘Peg and I replied that there were a LOT of great places - even supplied him with links to a couple that were near where I lived. He did pass through my area that evening and even posted a pic of himself and the gnome – but where they finally ended up eating was too far for me to get to on foot that night. I sent my regrets and said maybe Monday I’d get to meet him.

Oh, I guess I should also mention here that I’d offered to bring him some of my homemade chocolates if we did cross paths.

Well, after a few more tweets from The Forks and The Royal Canadian Mint on Monday morning, he tweeted that he would be at Moxie’s at the MTS Centre around noon – and specifically suggested that I come and bring the chocolate!

Now, I’m not sure if he really wanted to meet this crazy woman who had been tweeting him with smart remarks or just wanted the chocolate. After all, if you have ever watched any of TSC’s cooking shows where Norm is the host, you’ve seen how that man loves to eat - and yet never gains a pound! But, I thought – why not? I’ll go say hi and maybe get a pic or a gift card that they were handing out to the fans.

I tweeted that I’d be there and to watch for a 50-ish gal with a white cane. I arrived a few minutes before Norm & Co got there so waited by the entrance. When they walked in, Norm immediately came over to me, gave me a big hug and said he was really glad that I’d made it! Mary and Lia introduced themselves and they asked me to come sit with them and chat for a bit.

Before we sat down, they asked if they could take a pic of me with Norm and the gnome. Um, I’ve never posted my pic online and I really wasn’t comfortable putting my pic out on the web ... but, what if I held the gnome in front of my face!?! Sure why not! So Norm held the chocolate ... and I held the gnome!
Norm posted this comment with the photo:
"Meeting our favourite fan in Winnipeg.. @dnsyl57.. thank you for spending time with us,it was a pleasure!"

We ordered beverages and started chatting. They asked where I was from, how long I’d been in the city, my family, work and more. They asked about my vision loss and I showed them my magnifying lenses that I use for reading. They thought that was cool!

I assumed I would only stay a few minutes, but time flies when you are enjoying the company you are with and before I knew it, I was being asked to join them for lunch – their treat! Surprised and flattered to be asked, I said yes! Come on, who wouldn’t want to spend some time with this great group? We ordered lunch and quickly resumed chatting.

Not surprisingly, they wanted to know how long I’d been shopping with TSC (13 years this August) and what lines I bought from. Well, let’s see... I’ve bought from Westex, Hey’s; Orange Clean (wish they’d bring that line back!); Ott-Lite; Kitchen Aid; Foreman Grill (am now on my third!). I’ve bought: a Body Break Bike; some resistance fitness equipment and two Tony Little Gazelle’s! I filled them in on some of my weight struggles and blogging about it.

There have been several jewellery lines that I’ve bought from – a few gold at first, but almost exclusively sterling silver for the last few years. By far the most I’ve bought though are from Himalayan Gems and Silver By Sajen collections. I didn’t admit to how many pieces I had from those two collections alone but if I wore only one piece/day, I could go several months without a repeat!

I’ve gotten a couple of friends hooked on TSC. One of my pals even refers to me as “The Jewellery Devil” as I email her when I see something I know she would love!

We talked about writing, cooking/baking, food, Winnipeg and more! Turns out we are all fans of Y&R so dished about the storylines, characters and actors. Several of the cast have visited TSC over the years to promote product lines – most recently Tracey Bregman (Lauren Fenmore Baldwin) with her jewellery line. She is also the new spokesperson for the Jabot Cosmetics line.

The ladies asked me who my favourite host(s) were and I said that I enjoyed Norm and Richard the most, but also liked BJ, Greta and several others! I follow TSC through social media and shop way more than I should!

I also got to ask lots of questions about products, hosts (past and present) and the goings on behind the scenes. We talked about the technical changes in the 18 years Norm has been there. I also asked, if he truly didn’t know where he was headed next on this trip and he swore he had no clue! He had tried a few times to get the ladies to tell him or slip up but no way! I razzed him that the women having the power was as it should be. Norm was smart enough to know that he was outnumbered by us women, so agreed!

The time flew by as we ate and talked. It was both entertaining and relaxing to spend the time with Norm, Mary and Lia. I honestly did not expect such friendly, open, genuine people! It was a true pleasure and honour to spend the time with them - especially when they were on a schedule.

Before I left, Norm signed a photo and gave me gifts for a good friend who is a huge fan of his and TSC! (She was over the moon excited and grateful when I gave them to her!) I was also given an autographed photo and gift cards.

But, by far the most surprising gift I received, was a very limited edition TSC apron signed by the on-air hosts and models!! Only a handful of these were done and one would be given in each town/city they travelled to. Norm signed a personal message on mine! I’m kicking myself that I didn’t have Mary and Lia sign it as well!

They asked if I would wear it?

Seriously?

I love to cook/bake and spend a lot of time in the kitchen - wearing an apron ... BUT, a legally blind woman wearing an autographed white apron? I think not!

The apron and the time I got to spend with my new friends Norm, Mary, Lia (and the gnome!) is truly a gift to be treasured!

dn

You can also read more on The Shopping Channel Blog

Upcoming Posts:
July 10 2011 - "The Shopping Channel"
July 17 2011 - "TSC And Me"

The Class of ‘76

Thirty five years ago this week, I graduated from high school.

Yikes! Is it really that long ago?

Yup. I am that old.

By most standards, we were a pretty average class. There were over 60 grade 12 students that year but I know there were a few that didn’t actually graduate. I’ve only stayed in touch with a handful of my classmates but I do occasionally here about some others through family members or other acquaintances. As far as I know, they are all still alive. Several classmates still live in the home town area. Not surprising really, given that it is a farming community. At least two of the girls married before the grad service (no they weren’t pregnant!) and quite a few married over the next year or two. There have been several divorces and remarriages.

There are a few farmers, some business owners, several teachers, nurses and at least one doctor that I know of from our class. Some are civil servants and some work in restaurants, offices or other businesses. Some were stay at home parents and quite a number of the class of ’76 are now grandparents!

I honestly don’t remember much about grad.

Grad day was hot though. I remember being glad that I had worn a sleeveless dress – even if it was floor length. There was no air conditioning in the gym or in the theatre. The grads, dates and parents went for a dinner in the gym, then went to the school theatre to pose for photographs while the gym was set up for the actual ceremony. I have a vague recollection of the school band providing some music during the ceremony, but that is about it. For the life of me I couldn’t tell you what the theme was, who did the key note address or who the valedictorian was - although I think it was one of the brainiacs!

After the formalities, the grads and dates all headed off to Winnipeg for a late night cruise on the River Rouge. That was the thing to do back in those days. The group I hung out with didn’t drink or dance but we went anyways. We were pretty much ignored most of the time but that wasn’t anything new either.

I think there was an after party at one of the students homes but my pals and I just headed back to another friends about 3AM or so. Oh, such exciting lives we led!

I dug out my old yearbook to see if I could remember anything else about grad or grade 12. What I found was a lot of old black and white photos – mostly unlabeled so, I really couldn’t identify most of them. Oh sure, there were the individual photos of all of us but many of the photos of students taking part in activities or in candid’s weren’t identified. Maybe it is better that way as I’m sure some of them would prefer not to be recognized.

Funny thing here, is that I’m not even purposely trying to be vague in recollections of people and experiences to protect privacy. I really don’t recall a lot of the things that happened back then. I wasn’t stoned and as far as I know, I still have most of my marbles. I wouldn’t know most of them to meet them on the street – and not just ‘cause I’m legally blind. I just don’t have a lot to remember about those days and the people I spent time with.

Since I was thinking back to my grad year, I thought I’d take a look back to see what life was like in our corner of the world in 1976.

We didn’t have computers or cell phones. In fact most of us still had rotary dial phones. If you lived outside of town, odds are you were on a party line. That meant that each customer had a specific ring that would signal the call was for them. It was rude to eavesdrop on other calls but lots did it anyway. Most cameras took either 35mm film rolls or a 110 cartridge. We either dropped off or mailed the films, then waited about a week or so to find out what our pics looked like! Microwaves were starting to become popular but were quite expensive. Lots of people still had the soon to be discontinued 8 tacks, although most were still using LP’s or switching to cassette to listen to recorded music.

Radio signals were pretty good in the small towns and the countryside although they did tend to get a bit fuzzy in late evening when the city stations turned down the power. It took a bit of patience and luck to get a clear signal with the antenna or positioning the radio in just the right way!

On the radio, we were listening to songs like: “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Queen); “Silly Love Songs” (Wings); “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (Elton John and Kiki Dee); “Oh, What A Night” (The Four Seasons); “Welcome Back” (John Sebastian); “Let Your Love Flow" (The Bellamy Brothers); “’Til The Rivers All Run Dry” (Don Williams); “Drinkin’ My Baby Off My Mind” (Eddie Rabbitt); “What Goes On When The Sun Goes Down” (Ronnie Millsap); “I’ll Get Over You” (Crystal Gayle). Sadly, disco was getting more airplay.

Only a few high end TV’s had remote controls. Most people had either a large cabinet style colour TV or a small portable TV with about a 13” screen – often in black and white! A VCR was way too expensive for most. Cable wasn’t much of an option in town and unheard of in the rural areas. In southern Manitoba, we had 4 stations – CBC English and French; CKY (now CTV) and CKND (formerly KCND in the US and now known as Global). We had to adjust the picture with the rabbit ear antennas or have someone go up on the roof to adjust a larger antenna. Some of the TV shows that we watched included: “M*A*S*H”; “Columbo”; “Barney Miller”; “Happy Days”; “Laverne & Shirley”; “Hawaii Five-O”; and “The Rockford Files”.

We went to the movies to see: “All The President’s Men”; “Family Plot”; “The Omen”; “Bad News Bears”; “Mother, Jugs and Speed”; “Murder By Death”; “Silent Movie”; and “Taxi Driver”.

Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister and Ed Schreyer was the Manitoba Premier. Gerald Ford was the president of the USA.

Wow, things have really changed a lot in thirty five years, haven’t they?

I know we all had our own dreams and expectations of what our post high school years would bring, but I doubt that any of us imagined just how much our world would change in those ensuing years.

Life has taken each of us on a unique journey. Hopefully, we have all matured a bit along the way. Whether we want to admit it or not, most of us have gained a few pounds. We’ve likely gotten a little (or a lot) greyer and picked up a few aches and pains along the way. We’ve learned to adapt to new technology and try to embrace the challenges that day to day living can bring.

I know our class has had at least a couple of reunions over the years but I have no idea if or when there will be another one. Even if there was, I highly doubt that I would attend – I’ve just never been a fan of big gatherings or reunions. I prefer to leave that part of my past to memories – few though they may be. If perchance any of my classmates and I should cross paths, I hope you will forgive me if I don’t recognize you.

So, to the “Class of ‘76” – congrats! We’ve all come a long way!

dn

"Did You"

"Did you ever really love me
Did you ever really care
Did you ever really miss me
Kiss me I wonder if your heart was ever there
Did you ever dream about me
Did you ever really cry
Did you ever really love me
Or did you really tell a lie"

Those are the lyrics to a hauntingly beautiful song that aired as part of a dramatic scene on the Friday, June 10, 2011 episode of the CBS soap “The Young And The Restless”.

Soap songs are usually meant to blend into the scene – so much so, that you don’t always notice they are there. You often hear only a few seconds of any song.

But this one? Well, it was front and center and drew the audience in with every word and note! I won’t go into details about the scene that played out between the two estranged characters (Genevieve and Colin), because this post is about the song, the group that recorded it and the man who wrote it.

The questions on many of our minds were: “What is the name of this song?”; “Who recorded this?”; “Where can I get a copy of this song!?!” Like many other fans, I did lyric searches, checked various soap boards, fan pages, Twitter and read comments on YouTube clips of the scene. No one seemed to know the answer.

Was it an old song? A new song meant to sound old? Was it Genie Francis (Genevieve) singing? Could the song be from Australia (where the characters were originally from)?

I took a chance and emailed Songs Of The Soaps to see if they could track it down. Sure enough, she had an answer for me within a couple of days. I emailed the son of the composer. He responded almost immediately and has graciously allowed me to share some pics and other info about his family and the song.

The song is called “Did You” and was written by Lew Morrison. It was recorded by the Morrie Morrison Orchestra Featuring Alyce Hauser. Lew was the son of Morrie and Alice Nadine (Lanterman) Morrison.

Morrie (1888-1984) and Alice (1892-1978) were musicians and entrepreneurs in Washington state, but also spent some time in California before moving back to the Seattle area. Morrie was a composer, musician and an avid dance instructor. He ran several dance halls and dance instruction studios. He also produced stage shows and tried his hand at movie making. Alice was a musician, song plugger and song writer. "Say You'll Be Mine (My Love Is All For You)" was the first of several hits she had in the 1920’s. In 1944, her song "Goodbye, Little Girl, Goodbye" was picked up by the Ink Spots and The Andrews Sisters recorded "Please Don’t Sing That Song Again" in 1946.

Morrie and Alice created the Morrison Music Company to produce sheet music and recordings for their songs. Morrie founded one of the first recording studios in the Seattle area – Morrison Records. The company not only recorded their own compositions but also several local amateur musicians. Morrison Records didn’t just record the songs but also pressed their own recordings. These became real collector items as many of them were multi-coloured.

The Morrie Morrison Orchestra consisted mainly of Morrie on drums, Alice on piano or organ and Lew on guitar. Other musicians were hired to play violin, accordion or whatever instruments were needed to fill out the desired sound. The orchestra worked mostly as a studio recording group but occasionally did perform at some of the dance halls in the Seattle area in the 1930’s and 1940’s.

Their son Lew (1913-1995) was also an active member of the orchestra and the recordings. Lew Morrison wasn’t as prolific a songwriter as his parents, but according to his son Ken, the song “Did You” was written and recorded sometime in the 1940’s. This was also one of his dads favourites! He doesn’t know that there was any specific relationship that inspired his dad to write this beautiful, haunting piece. Ken, who is also a musician, got to perform it with him many times.

Unfortunately, nothing is known of the vocalist, Alyce Hauser, as this is the only recording she did with the orchestra.

So, how did The Young And The Restless get the song and how did Ken feel about it?
“I have a business in source music placement. It started with just my original compositions...but a friend suggested I include some of my dad and grandparents music. The libraries I work with were excited about getting these old recordings. The thing that was special about the Y & R placement was the fact that usually these songs are used for :10 - :20 ...With DID YOU they were able to weave it into the storyline and played nearly the entire song (3:00) without anyone talking over it. This is unheard of in the placement world. I was thrilled. Somewhere I know my dad was smiling.”

I asked Ken if there was anything else he’d like to add:
“I was able to play music with my grandparents and my dad from the time I was a kid. This is something that really meant the world to me. My grandfather recorded me and made a record of me reading some of his novelty lyrics when I was just 7 years old. I was the only kid in my grade school who had his own record!”

If you would like to get your own copy of “Did You”, please email: morrisonmusic@comcast.net
Ken has had a CD (professionally labelled and packaged) made of the single and will send it to you for $4.00 (includes shipping within the USA). If you are outside of the USA, it will cost a bit more for shipping but Ken will let you know the details and where to send your money and mailing address when you email him.

And yes, somewhere Lew is smiling – knowing that so many people are hearing and loving his music!

dn

Hoisin Glazed Pork

I came across the original recipe for this dish on the Taste Of Home site a few months ago and decided to give it a try – with my own version of course! I added some red pepper strips and crushed garlic. I’ve also tried this recipe using boneless skinless chicken breasts rather than the pork loin chops. Either of the meats work well here and make a very tasty entre.

Hoisin Glazed Pork

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot*
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic (bottled type from produce section)
2 boneless pork loin chops (1/2 inch thick and 5 ounces each)
3 green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons thinly sliced red pepper strips (about 1” long)

In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Sauce will be quite thick. Dip the pork chops in the sauce and turn to lightly coat with sauce. Place pork in a shallow 1-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Stir the green onions and red pepper strips into the sauce to coat and then pour sauce over pork. Let marinate for 15-20 minutes at room temp or covered in fridge up to two hours.

Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160°.

Serve with brown rice and a green vegetable. Yield: 2 servings.

*I buy a small piece of gingerroot, peel it and then wrap in plastic wrap and store in freezer until I need it for a recipe. You don’t have to thaw it to grate it. It grates quite easily while frozen. Got this tip from Rachael Ray.

Note that ingredients can easily be multiplied to make additional servings.

Enjoy!

dn

Storage Cubes

A few weeks ago, I shared the frustration of trying to put together a mobile file cabinet with minimal instructions. So, you’d think I’d have learned not to buy things without checking for instructions first, right?

Well, not really as I’d bought two sets of these Rubbermaid Storage Cubes about a month before I bought the cabinet. I hadn’t opened these yet as I didn’t intend to assemble them until I had the oak wardrobe in here. I had planned to put the cubes inside the wardrobe to store clothes from my dressers in. There is a rod inside the wardrobe for hanging things, but the depth of the wardrobe was not sufficient for my non slip hangers unless they hung at an angle. That would have severely limited the amount I could hang. I decided that I was better off to leave things hanging in the built in closet and use the wardrobe for cube storage.

I spent quite awhile looking for something solid, yet reasonably priced that would fit inside. I finally settled on the Rubbermaid cubes as they were sturdy, durable and a name brand with a good reputation. They were also on sale.

So they sat in the packaging for about a month before I opened them. It just so happened to be the same week that I attempted the cabinet assembly.

When I did open the package I was dismayed to see the lack of instructions:

Yup, that was it! One drawing. Oh goody! I looked online but found only the assembled picture on sites that were selling the cubes. I couldn’t even find the cubes on the Rubbermaid site!

I made several attempts but no matter what I tried, the pieces always popped apart. I tried several times over several days but nothing seemed to work! I was beginning to wonder if I had wasted my money and that I would have to buy something else. Of course, after I’d bought the cubes and before I opened them, I did see collapsible storage boxes on sale at a local office supply store. They also would have worked well. I didn’t buy them though as it was past the date to return the cubes. I was stuck with these and I’d somehow have to figure out a way to make them work!

For awhile, I wondered if this was one of those two person jobs, so when my gal pal came to help me assemble the cabinet, we tried putting these together to.

No such luck. It was a true effort in frustration.

The next day, I was sitting here at the computer, when I had one of those proverbial light bulb moments! The diagram had shown connecting a corner at a right angle, but what if I attached the corner pieces on a back panel and then built up?

It took quite a bit of time and I still had some pieces pop off as I went along. I took several breaks to keep from getting too frustrated and to think through what the most logical next move would be, but I finally got one set put together. I also took time to make notes on how I did it as I went along. That way, the second set would go together much more easily.

I waited a couple of days before attempting the second one. I refined my notes as I went along and also took pictures so that I could show you how I did it!

Putting together Rubbermaid Storage Cubes:

Through previous trial and (much) error, I knew I had to start with a back panel as the rounded sections of the connectors are the hardest to get in properly. It finally dawned on me that I if I laid the back panels on the floor, I could use the wall and my feet as supports/braces to push the pieces against as I tried to put it together. By far the hardest pieces to get into place would be the four back connectors that are used between the second and third shelves as they have to lock in four or five places. The panels and connectors "popped" a number of times and pieces did fly off but they eventually stayed together.

I also had to gently use a hammer on a number of places to give more pressure to locking the pieces into the little grooves in the connectors. Once they are locked in properly, they don't come out to easily. I know this because when I was putting the first set together, I accidently put a panel where it should have been open and it was a real pain to get it out without the whole thing falling apart!

Putting the second set of cubes together went much more smoothly than the first and was done in under an hour – including making notes and taking pictures.

1. Start with the back panel on the bottom shelf and attach all four connector discs.

2. Using your feet to push against the corner connectors, carefully push each of the four side panels into the connectors of the first back panel.

3. Attach the connectors to the top of the first layer. Again, use your feet as a brace as the connectors on the bottom can still pop out.

4. Using the wall as a brace, push the second back panel into the connectors of the bottom cube and then attach the two back connectors for the middle cube.

5. Add in the two side panels and the next top panel. Then add the next two top connectors.

6. Add the back panel of the top layer and then the two side panels.

7. Attach the back connectors to the top layer.

8. Then add the top panel.

9. Finally add the two front connectors and ensure that all pieces are solidly locked into place.


Like I said, pieces will more than likely "pop" off at various times but if you persist it will eventually stay in place. It may be necessary to use a hammer to tap the connectors and panels together - especially in the middle section.

The two sets of cubes give me lots of shelving space in my oak wardrobe. Of course they can be used for any number of other purposes and are a versatile, inexpensive addition to any space.

dn

The Oak Wardrobe - Part 2

In my last post, I told you how a beautiful old oak wardrobe came into our family. After my grandma moved to a seniors home in 1981, my mom was next in line to have the new family heirloom.

The wardrobe was once again moved. This time it went out to my parents farm and sat in their sunroom. It has been admired there for almost thirty years. My parents also received a few offers to sell the piece but always said no.

Since my mom recently moved to an assisted living facility, it is now my turn to have this beautiful old piece of furniture to love, admire, care for and store my treasures in.

I wasn’t around during the last time it was moved, but mom said it could be taken apart to move. She said that it came apart in at least three pieces so that would make it a bit easier to move – bulky and awkward but not heavy. Even so, I still had no idea how I was going to get it back to my suite here in the city. I’d been trying to find someone I could barter with (baking and gas money for the move and reassembly) to help move it for a couple of months already but no luck. I didn’t know anyone with a half ton that could also do lifting. Hiring a mover would cost at least a couple of hundred dollars by the time you added in time and mileage – which I couldn’t afford - but I knew the piece was worth way more than that. I’d loved and admired this piece since I was a kid and I wasn’t about to let someone else have it!

What was I to do? As I mentioned in a recent post, I went out to the farm to sort through things a few weeks ago. While we were out there, my brother came in and said that he thought he might be able to get it in his SUV depending on the measurements. He measured it and decided that it would just fit. He started to take it apart and realized that it was almost all tongue and groove construction with just a handful of screws and hardware. He got it into four manageable pieces and my friend and he carried it out to his vehicle!

Two days later, he brought it into the city. With the help of another of my gal pals, they brought it into my building and assembled it in my bedroom.

Yes, it may be a bit big for my small bedroom, but I got rid of both of my dressers to make room for it! What can I say? I LOVE it!!

My gal pal that went with me to the farm, knows a bit about antiques and thinks that this may be over 100 years old. Many furniture pieces of that time were done in tongue and groove construction to make it easier for moving. Also many homes of the era had little storage space so this type of wardrobe was very popular. It may or may not have been painted when it was first made.

Personally, I’ve always loved the look of a natural wood finish and never really understood why there was such a fascination and trend with painting perfectly good wood. I remember asking my grandma why they painted furniture. I seem to recall her saying something along the lines of this: During the great depression, there wasn't the money to fix things up and then during WW2, there was such a scarcity of everything including paint as almost everything went to the war effort so things just got rather dull looking. After the war there was such a focus on renewal and freshening up things that everything that could be painted was painted - including perfectly good woodwork and wooden furniture. She also said that the brighter colours were a welcome edition in areas where there were nightly blackouts during the bombings.

Painted wood furniture has always been popular ... even before the war years. In some cases, it was done for the artwork and for others it was seen as a way to hide the flaws of lesser quality wood. When people were poor and couldn't afford high end wood they would resort to painting their wood to make a room brighter and cheerier.

When we were reassembling the wardrobe here, we looked for any markings that would tell us who made it and when, but we never found one. Somewhere along the line, this info was removed either by flood waters or through painting/refinishing. That really is too bad, as it would be interesting to know more of the history of the piece. It would be kind of neat to know where all it has been and the treasured possessions it has held over the years.

I’ve only had the wardrobe for a few weeks now, but it is truly treasured!
I find myself admiring its beauty and touching the oak, wondering what stories it could tell. Growing up, I didn’t get to see the wardrobe often. In fact I only saw it a few times when the upstairs suite in my grandparents house was between renters. Still, I used to wonder if other kids had played near it and dreamed of finding a secret door at the back that led to a land such as Narnia.

Actually, I still wonder about that! I also wonder what kind of clothes and other possessions had been stored in it? Did they store everyday clothes, fancier wear for going out or did they use it the way my parents did – for coats, hats and gloves? Where was it during WWI and WWII? How about during the roaring twenties and the dirty thirties?

Truth is, we will never know any of the history of where the wardrobe originally came from or how the church got it, but I for one am thrilled that they were willing to part with it for such a small amount all those years ago!

And just in case you were wondering, NO it is not for sale!!

dn

The Oak Wardrobe - Part 1

My maternal grandparents moved around a fair bit in the early years of their marriage. He was an agricultural rep and she was a home economist. They moved from town to town and traveled throughout the Canadian prairies teaching farming and homemaking techniques. When my mom was young, they lived in the town where she met and married my father. My mom’s sister also settled in that town and a brother eventually settled in Winnipeg. So, in 1956 when my grandparents decided to retire and set down more permanent roots, they moved back to the town where my mom and aunt lived. That kept them close to three of their four children and most of the grandkids. The other son and his family lived in Quebec but they visited back and forth whenever possible.

My grandparents bought a house in town – coincidently right next door to the one they had lived in back in the late 1930’s and early1940’s and where my parents were wed. The house was larger than they needed so my grandpa converted the upstairs to a self contained apartment that they could rent for a bit of extra income. This, of course was a rather old house – the kind of house that had little closet space - so storage was always an issue despite a fair bit of space. My grandpa was quite a handyman, so he built a wall of floor to ceiling cupboards for his and grandma’s bedroom on the main floor. He also built kitchen cabinets for the small galley style kitchen.

Now this town was also along a river that had a nasty habit of flooding on a rather regular basis in the spring. Parts of the town always seemed to be flooded every time, but the people would band together and work to clean and restore as much as possible. The church that my grandparents were active in was part of that low area near the river – as was their house.

One of those floods – no one remembers which one now - somewhere between 1956 and about 1967, there was a flood that caused the basement of the church to be flooded. My grandfather was helping with the cleanup. Some items were saved and others were deemed beyond recovering and were to be thrown out. Among the items to be thrown out was an old oak wardrobe.

The wardrobe was large at 80” high, 44” wide and 18” deep, but wasn’t ornate. It had two doors with a simple knob to open the panel on the right side. The left side was held shut by a hook and latch at the bottom on the inside. There was a rod inside for hanging clothes. There was enough space from the rod to the floor to hang full length dresses or coats. Under the closet section of the wardrobe, was one large drawer that ran almost the width of the cupboard. There was plenty of room for storage in this old wardrobe.

It had been through the flood and was not in great shape. No one thought it was worth saving.

My grandfather thought otherwise and offered to donate $10 to the church for the wardrobe. That was a lot in those days and the donation was gratefully accepted. With the assistance of another church member, my grandfather took the flood weary wardrobe back to his house about a block or so away. Over the next few weeks, my grandpa cleaned up the wardrobe as best he could. What he found, was a well made, sturdy piece of functional furniture that still had many years ahead of it if it were cared for. He and my grandmother decided to paint it an off-white with a speckled effect (popular at the time) and put it in the apartment on the second floor.

Both my mother and I fell in love with this wardrobe and said that we would eventually like to have it. My grandfather died in 1970 and my grandmother continued to rent the suite upstairs for several more years.

A few years after grandpa died, one of the tenants took it upon herself to strip and restore the wardrobe to the bare wood – without obtaining consent! My grandmother was unaware of this as she rarely went up to the suite. She only learned of the misdeed when the tenant gave notice to move and asked if she could buy the wardrobe!

Grandma was livid! How dare someone do something like that without consulting the owner! She made it very clear to the tenant that the wardrobe was NOT for sale at any price as it was now a family heirloom and would be passed down within the family. Family members had already spoken for it many years ago. The tenant was not happy but had no further right to pursue the matter. Like I said, grandma was furious but mom and I assured her that we were THRILLED! We had planned on eventually stripping it when grandma passed it to us so were glad we didn’t have to do it! Besides, the tenant had done a wonderful job!

Well, my grandma only had a couple of tenants after that before she had it moved downstairs to her part of the house. She moved to a seniors home in 1981 and the house was eventually sold.

dn

Next Post: The Oak Wardrobe (Part 2)

Sorting Treasures

Just over a year ago, I wrote a post about spring cleaning and how hard it was. I also shared a story about sorting things at my grandma’s home after she moved to an assisted living facility. I said that my siblings and I would eventually have to sort through our mother’s things as well.

Well, that time has come. A few months ago, my mom moved to the same facility that my grandma spent her last days in. My mom spent 66 1/2 years on that farm. All but the last 7 were with dad there as well.

Over the last few years, us kids have been trying to get mom to sort through things so there wasn’t as much for us to go through. But, after so many years there and with failing health, mom just wasn’t up to parting with much from the past. Everything had memories and sentimental value attached.

We all knew that eventually this was going to happen and that it would be us kids who did the bulk of the sorting and the inevitable questioning of “What on earth was mom thinking saving THIS?”

Like my grandma, my mom had also started keeping a list of things she had and who had given them to her and dad. She also asked each of us kids and the grandkids what items we would like to have when the time came. It was a good start but there was so much more.

I’d slowly been making my own list of things that I wanted from the farm. When mom and I had our weekly talks I’d mention things that I’d like to have and she’d make a note of it and also tell me to write it down in my own list.

So, a few weeks ago, on a cool morning in late March, one of my gal pals and I headed out on a road trip to the farm so I could sort through the things I wanted to have. It felt a bit strange to be going there after so many years. It would be even stranger to be going through things without mom there.

In many ways, the place was exactly as I remembered it. It also felt very different.

My siblings had already cleaned out the fridge and some of the other items from the living room and bedrooms. They had moved several items to mom’s new home and also gotten a few of the things they wanted.

I had mailed a list of things I wanted to them a few weeks earlier so they would know what I was interested in having. I didn’t expect them to pack for me but I did ask them not to throw things out from the kitchen (aside from the fridge contents) before I got a chance to go through things. I knew that aside from a few books and other mementos, the bulk of what I wanted would be from the kitchen.

Going through things wasn’t going to be easy, but I knew I only had a few hours so did my best to stay focused on the list and not on the sentimental value. After all, there was only so much that I could take home with me to fit into my small apartment. For the most part, my mom had kept things in the same places she always had so it was fairly easy to find many of the things on my list.

I found my old high school yearbooks, some cookbooks and a few other books that I had given my parents over the years. There were a few pictures and mementos that I wanted to have. I found the old folding step stool that my mom got in the early seventies. (more on it in a future post). I came across a few things I’d forgotten about. Things I didn’t realize that mom still had. I didn’t have time to go through all the closets, bedrooms and other nooks and crannies where mom stashed her treasures. I hit the spots that I knew I would be most apt to find the things that I knew I wanted.

I spent the most time in the kitchen. We sorted through the items still in the pantry. I went through mom’s seemingly endless collection of Tupperware and other plastic storage items.

I told my friend stories about things as I came across them. She has grown up with many of the same things in her home so it was easy for her to relate to a lot of the things.

So what other treasures did I bring home with me?

I found the Wear-Ever cookware that my mom had always used! I loved that stuff and have a few pieces that mom and I picked up at garage sales many years ago when I was first starting out on my own. They don’t make pots like that anymore! I took the blender that my parents got on their 25th anniversary in 1969. I grabbed the old heart shaped cake pans that mom used to bake a layer cake in for birthdays or for Valentine’s Day. I found the set of measuring spoons that looked like little shovels. I loved using them to measure things for recipes! I got the 1 1/2 quart Corning Ware dish and lid that had come from grandma’s.

I’d forgotten about the six Sylvester coffee mugs that mom and I had found at a variety store many years ago. There was a set of eight drink glasses from the bar cabinet. I also nabbed the remaining contents of several bottles of liqueurs to use for desserts and other recipes. Okay, some may also be used for a drink or two!

I came across a set of stainless steel mixing bowls that mom had won in a curling bonspiel a long time ago. I found the tall set of wooden salt and peppers that I had bought for mom when I was a teenager.

One of the treasures that I really wanted was the rectangular pie pans! Yup, rectangular! Mom doesn’t remember where or when she got them, but says they were quite popular in the 1950’s and she had them before I was born! They make the equivalent of a regular round pie – just in a rectangular shape that was designed to save on oven space. The end pieces just had an extra side of crust! I don’t make pies, but these are great for baking things like a pork tenderloin or a slab of ribs in. They are also handy for baking any number of other desserts or baked items if you have limited oven space. I’d gotten one from mom many years ago but she had two more – and I had dibs on them!

We only touched the surface of things in the farm house that day, but I found most of the things on my list and a few other forgotten treasures. About a week ago, I got out for one more short exploration of the farm house and found a few more lost treasures, I left a short list of things I’d still like if my siblings find them. I don’t know if I’ll make it out again before they finish sorting or not.

Oh, there was one more item that I’ve been waiting to get since I was a young girl, but I’ll write about that in another post!

dn

Going Home

They say you can’t go home again.

Of course, you can always take a trip down memory lane any time you want. Granted, over time memories will fade and the truth of the past can become blurred. We tend to either have very strong memories of the past or vague recollections.

Assuming the physical home is still there, it just may be possible to go back....

I spent all of my formative years on the family farm. I left after high school for a few years but returned for two and a half years in my early twenties. It wasn’t easy to go back after being on my own, but I was broke and needed that time to get going again.

I left again in 1984 and have been in Winnipeg ever since. In those first years after I moved to the city, I went home for weekends as often as I could. Usually every two or three weeks. I enjoyed seeing my friends and spending time with my parents and some of my family who were nearby.

Bus fare was fairly reasonable back then and there were at least two buses in and out of Winnipeg every day. I’d go out on Friday and come back on Sunday evening or Monday morning. For at least a couple of years, it was usually the same bus driver that I travelled with when I went out. If he saw me waiting at the depot here in the city, he’d hold the front seat on the door side for me or even let me on first. We’d chat most of the trip. It made the time go faster. If I told him which bus I was likely to take back and he was driving, then he would try and hold the same seat for me till he got to my stop.

Occasionally, I’d take laundry with me but usually I took out less than I brought back! I always tried to leave room to bring more back. In the summer and fall, I’d bring produce from our garden or new treasures from garage sales. In the winter, mom and I would often bake and cook together so I could bring homemade food back to the city with me. I didn’t have fully equipped or spacious kitchens in those early days!

Mom and I would usually go shopping in a nearby town on Saturday. We hit the garage sales and any sales in the local stores. It was a time to catch up and chat about all kinds of things. On Sundays, we’d cook an early dinner and I’d pack leftovers to bring back with me.

If I wasn’t spending time with friends in the evenings, my parents and I would sometimes play cards or board games. Dad and I would always have a game or two of cribbage. I’d always take at least one long walk around the farm and down the road apiece just to stretch my legs and have a time of peaceful solitude to contemplate whatever was on my mind.

After losing so much of my sight in 1990, going to the farm for a weekend was never the same. My city mobility was much better than my country mobility. Yes, I still knew my way around the farm, but I just wasn’t as comfortable in my movements. We did have a deck of cards that was large print. They had come from my grandma’s so we were still able to play some games.

It was also difficult for me to function in mom’s kitchen. Most of the things were always in the same place, but finding things in the pantry or the fridge were a bit more challenging as she put them where there was room. That meant that things weren’t always in the same place let alone the original container. The fridge was always a bit of a three dimensional jigsaw puzzle. When you opened a container from the fridge, the contents weren’t always what the label said was in it. Mom knew what was in all the containers but she didn’t always take time to re-label them. Another thing that made functioning difficult for me, was that neither the stove or the microwave were marked with labels that I could see or feel. Aside from setting the table and helping with the dishes, there really wasn’t a lot that I could safely do in the kitchen.

It may sound strange, but going to the farm after losing so much of my sight often made me feel like I was 10 years old again. I couldn’t function on my own and I felt like my independence was gone. I suppose I could have had them have things marked for me, but I didn’t feel it was necessary given the limited time I spent there.

Overall though, it just wasn’t the same. Bus fare was also increasing and it was getting harder for me to afford the trip even if mom and dad paid part of it. I started going out less and less. Eventually, I pretty much quit going.

From the late 1990’s on, I’ve only been out a handful of times. The last was for my dad’s funeral. I took the bus that day, but only went to the funeral home and then back to the city.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go out. I would have loved to spend more time there. It was more the circumstances and financial limits that held me back. I still saw my parents at least a couple of times a year here in the city. We talked every Sunday on the phone – usually about an hour every week.

I love living in the city. But, I do miss the peace and solitude of the farm. I miss the fresh air, the open spaces and the privacy. There are often times that I close my eyes and drift back in time to the days when life was simpler. I’d mentally take a walk down the lane or along the shady path in the trees. I’ll imagine sitting on the stone steps or laying on the cool grass staring up at the starry night skies or watching a glorious sunset.

You can go home again. You just need a really good imagination to do it.

dn