Happy Birthday Mom...and cannibal sandwiches

                                              Happy Birthday mom. We sure do miss you.

This is one of my favorite pictures of mom on her birthday. It was taken in our kitchen on Guenther Street in Oshkosh September 25, 1972. Remember back then when we used 35 mm cameras with real film? We had to wait until we used up all the film before we would take it to the local store to get it developed. Depending on how many pictures we took or could afford to get developed it might be months before we saw what we took a picture of. And then we had to settle for whatever kind of shot we took. (there were no do overs) Until you got the prints you didn't know if people had their eyes closed, or if their faces were shadowed by a tree or if the picture was blurry because someone was moving at the time the picture was taken. Well, I felt I got lucky on this picture. Even though odds weren't in my favor since the brightness of the sun was coming in through the window behind mom, I still got her face. I just fell in love with how the picture seemed to have a warm glow about it. I thank God we now have digital cameras, but I still own the camera that I used to take this shot - an Argus/Cosina STL1000. I have no idea if they still make film anymore (they must) and I'm sure I don't remember how to use it. For grins some day maybe I'll get it out and try it.

Monty, man who worked for Precast Concrete Specialties Inc. for 35 years before he retired passed away and his funeral was today. My sister JoAnn and I visited the family at the local funeral home to pay our respects. We represented the entire Schroeder family since none of our siblings were able to attend.
When my mom and dad owned their businesses they ran them as if everyone was a family member. I remember the Christmas parties that they gave. They were a true party in every sense of the word. In the early years the parties were in our home in the basement, complete with food, plenty of drinks (in some cases too many drinks), music and always sing-a-longs. In later years they were at the Friendly Bar and then Winro Supper Club, both in Omro, Wisconsin. We actually had live bands play at those places and danced all night long. Well, Nancy, Monty's wife brought up her memories of the Christmas parties. She remembered them as if they just happened and these parties began 45 years ago. The thing she remembered and loved the most were the cannibal sandwiches that my dad served. She evidently grew up eating these sandwiches and she said she always had a soft spot in her heart for my father because he was so down to earth and served cannibal sandwiches at the company Christmas parties. If you are from the old German heritage you should know that a cannibal sandwich consisted of. If you're not from this heritage here's the recipe:

Cannibal Sandwich Recipe

• lb. raw ground round - Very Lean hamburger
• couple eggs
• onion - chopped
• salt
• pepper

• rye bread with the seeds

How To Prepare Cannibal Sandwich

Place Raw ground round in a bowl
Add eggs, onion, salt and pepper
Mix ingredients together
Spoon onto a slice of rye bread, just like you would tuna fish. Put another piece of rye bread on the top and you are done.

Nancy was genuinely happy that we came. I don't think younger people understand how important funerals and visitations are. You don't go for the deceased, you go for the family left on this earth. I remember both my parents' funerals and we were so blessed to have so many people attend. I loved hearing all the stories that they shared with us. Some of the stories we never heard before. It's nice to hear how other people viewed your parents. The six of us have remembered these stories and some we have repeated many times.

Canvas sale only a few days left...

I am rediscovering how trustworthy people can be. For instance, with Autumn almost here the pumpkins and gourds are being harvested. In this area I drive through small communities all the time to and from work. I see carts filled with pumpkins of all sizes...no salesperson...just pumpkins with a sign stating how much each pumpkin costs. Along side the pumpkins is a cash box or can for you to place your money. Now come one...seriously...tell me how many of you have seen this where you live? I haven't seen anything like this for 30 years. And of course for you that know me, I had to stop to take some pictures.

As much as I love the month of May with the blooming lilacs, I will have to admit the month of September is becoming my new favorite month. People in this area are telling me the changing colors of the trees is early this year because of the early spring that Wisconsin had followed by the very warm and dry summer months. I'm loving these oranges, reds, and golden colors.

See what you can do with these colors? Here is just one example of an 8X20 canvas that is still on sale for a few more days this month. You can make your own in a matter of minutes. www.memoriesin.com

Fog hides my lack of clothes...

The past couple of days have been perfect examples of what people mean by "Fall is in the air".  Early mornings are bringing in the fog over the lake, fog so thick that I can't see much past the shoreline. I was up early the other morning to let Bella out and I heard  an odd sound. It was a rhythmic splashing noise and when I looked up I saw him, a man paddling by the house in his canoe. I don't think he saw me, at least I hope he didn't, because once again I wasn't dressed appropriately to be outside. I keep forgetting that even though I have no neighbors right now on dry land, I am pretty close to a public waterway. That didn't stop me from running into the house to get my camera though.

As soon as I was done snapping this shot I heard men talking and they sounded like they weren't too far away, but because the of the fog being so thick I couldn't see anyone. So, even though I was very inappropriately dressed, I followed their voices. I tiptoed to the back of the garage where our boat landing is...and I finally could see them... two men in a fishing boat. They had no clue I was watching them and I could hear every word they were saying. I don't think people realize how their voices carry across the water when everything else is so calm. I had to hurry to get some pictures taken because the sun was rising and the fog was beginning to lift and I didn't want to be discovered outside with what I was wearing.

The Autumn sun comes out and it is very deceiving. Yesterday, when I did get dressed, I put on a sleeveless top and my capris. I took one step outside and the crisp, Autumn breeze sent me right back into the house to put on jeans (for the first time in a very long time) and a light weight sweater. (I know this information is going to be shocking to Donna and Mandy)
The days are getting shorter and as much as I like the Fall weather, the short days sadden me. It's a reminder that Summer is really over and I've always hated to say goodbye to Summers. Every day it's getting dark out earlier and earlier. I really notice it since I work 4pm -7pm  because when I began this job four weeks ago I didn't have to turn my lights in my car to drive home and now I do.
September 22nd is the official first day of Fall this year. So Mother Nature is right on time. I've enjoyed my first full Summer back here...now it's time for another season of living in Wisconsin...Fall.

I Remember...

Today is a day of reflection for me. Whenever I hear anyone talk about 9/11 I immediately find myself remembering every move I made early in the morning on 9/11/2001.  It was very early in the morning in Arizona and I turned on the morning show, Good Morning Arizona, like I did every morning while I got ready for work. I heard the commotion on the tv and saw a fire, then I saw an airplane slam into a very tall building and within minutes both towers came tumbling down. I could hear the fear in the announcers voices. I ran upstairs and woke up my son and made him come downstairs with me to watch the news. We sat still and quiet watching in disbelief as they showed the planes crashing into the buildings over and over again. I remember thinking to myself that since I lived in a small remote town in the mountains of Arizona we would be safe from any attacks. I worried about my family who lived in larger metropolitan areas. For the first time ever, at least in my lifetime, I felt unsafe in the United States. The fear of the unknown is the worst fear on earth. I prayed then and I pray now for all the lives lost that day and all the families who loss their loved ones.

There are certain events in my life that I can recall as if they just happened. I remember where I was, who I was with and what I was doing. I remember the day when the news came that John F. Kennedy was just shot and killed, I remember watching man take his first steps on the moon,  I remember the day Elvis died, I remember Princess Diana's death and I remember watching New Orleans get demolished by Katrina. So how come I couldn't remember where my glasses were this afternoon...looking for them almost made me late for work.

Butterfly Dance...

I have a friend her name is Vermetta and she part of the Hopi tribe in Northeast Arizona. Vemetta is the Center Manager for the Northland Pioneer College Hopi Center and I was the Center Manager for the College's Heber Center. We worked together for years.
Recently her niece performed in their yearly Butterfly Dance up on the Hopi Reservation. Of course I didn't know what that was so I looked it up and this is what I found...

Hopi Summer Traditions

The Hopi Butterfly Dance

The Butterfly Dance takes place in August and early September. The main participants are Hopi youth and young adults who are accompanied by a chorus of singers comprised of dads, uncles, brothers and in-laws of the dance participants. It is a beautiful dance and one full of color, splendor, meaningful song lyrics and contentment. Up to a hundred or more pairs (girl, boy) of dancers fill the village plaza.
Maidens wear an elaborately painted headdress made for them by their dance partners. This headdress or "kopatsoki" as it is called in Hopi becomes a keepsake for the Hopi maiden once the dance has concluded. Their black mantas are adorned with turquoise beads and pins and hand woven sashes.

The boys wear loosely fitting velvet shirts that flow in the summer breeze and handsome kilts that are embroidered with cloud and rain symbols. Like most Hopi ceremonies, the Butterfly Dance is a petition for rain, good health and long life for all living things. The dance also recognizes the butterfly for its beauty and its contribution in pollinating plant life.
 http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/exhibits/hopisummer/hopisummer2.shtml

This is a picture of her niece, Krissy standing next to her partner. The colors are vibrant and beautiful. I watched a group perform this dance on a youtube video from a couple of years ago. You really need to watch it to appreciate how wonderful it is that this tradition is still being handed down from generation to generation. In Arizona last week it was still in the 100's and that ground they are dancing on has to be extremely hot. Notice the young women are barefoot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCee1rmdzRs&feature=channel&list=UL

Thank you Vermetta for the pictures and allowing me to share some of the Hopi culture on my blog.

No more white shoes until next Easter...

As a kid Labor Day meant the end of sleeping in late every morning because school always started the next day; it meant the end of swimming at Pollack Pool for the season because it was no longer hot outside; and the end of wearing white shoes until next Easter and I have no idea why. It was always a sad time of the year for me.

When I moved to Arizona none of these things were associated with Labor Day. Since schools were in session already in August my boys and I were up early every morning long before Labor Day; where I lived in Arizona they didn't have a public pool but plenty of private swimming pools and they were open year round in the hot desert climate; and I don't think they even knew there was a "rule" that you weren't suppose to wear white shoes between Labor Day and Easter.

I've always been curious on that white shoe rule so I Googled it and this is what I found:

In many parts of the United States, a rule about not wearing white after Labor Day, which takes place  on the first Monday in September, is heavily ingrained. The roots of the idea that people should not wear white after Labor Day appear to be shrouded in mystery, and the rule has been greatly relaxed since the 1950s and 1960s, when it was more heavily enforced. People who choose to wear white after Labor Day are no longer heavily criticized for the choice, and are sometimes embraced as fashion forward trendsetters.
The most common confusion about the rule which forbids people to wear white after Labor Day is what garments, exactly, are involved. Originally, the restriction applied only to white dress shoes and pumps, which are unsuitable for winter weather anyway. At some point, the rule was extended to white clothing, but it was in fact always acceptable to wear “winter white” clothing in cream and other off-white colors. Winter brides have also always been allowed to wear whatever they please. http://www.wisegeek.com/why-are-you-not-supposed-to-wear-white-after-labor-day.htm

So now I'm just as clueless on this rule or non-rule as I was before I researched it. Growing up in Wisconsin it was just a "rule" that we all followed and never questioned why. Does this bring back memories for anyone else out there?

Now that Labor Day is gone we are coming up on Halloween and I have the perfect fun project for you to make.

        This is just one more sample of what you can design with one of our 8X20 wrapped canvases.
                                                                      www.memoriesin.com

Can it rain inside a house?

September is suppose to bring cooler weather but that wasn't the case today. The forecast said the high today was going to be in the low 80's. At one point the thermometer outside read 93 degrees! And it was so muggy I was beginning to wonder if it's possible to rain inside a house. Is it?

Because it was so hot and humid it probably wasn't a good day to decide to do some heavy house cleaning...but I did. It just needed to be done and I've been procrastinating long enough. But it was so worth it. When the house is clean, decorated for the next season and somewhat organized I feel great. I found myself walking from room to room and just smiling with gratification.

Since all of this was done before noon I had the rest of the day to do things I really wanted to do. First I took a shower with my favorite lilac soap made by my good friend Sandy then I read magazines, cut coupons, played Words with Friends, cut some more long stem red roses from my garden, and ordered my favorite scent of sachets - Pear Spice by Fresh Scents. There aren't too many scents that I like but then I discovered these sachets. I've loved having them all around my house ever since. These sachets are only available in the Fall so I ordered a bunch so I could use them all year. Pear Spice is mixture of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg in a vanilla base and of course pear. (But don't tell my co-workers at NPC because I've always told them I hate the smell of vanilla...and I really do... so I was shocked to hear that this sachet has a vanilla base.) If you want to check them out go to www.freshscents.com

And now for this month's special...

 All 8X20 wrapped canvases are 10% off for the month of September. You can design your canvas from a blank canvas or you can use one of our many templates...or if you prefer I can design a canvas for you.

How adorable is this one? Do you have children or grandchildren that you could put on your own canvas? This would make a perfect Christmas present. Call me today 920-420-0463 or start your own FREE account at www.memoriesin.com

 

Winneconne's unique bridge...

We have something in Winneconne that is truly unique, the Winneconne bridge. It is unique because it is the only bridge in Wisconsin on a State Highway that is legal to fish from.

Many bridges have spanned the Wolf River during Winneconne’s history. The 849 foot distance has been home to a float bridge, built by J.D. Rush in 1853. This first bridge provided a thrilling crossing when it sometimes sat below the water on a windy day. The second bridge was built in 1871, it was a wooden draw bridge paid for by the village and the town of Winneconne at a cost of $20,000. Later an iron structure replaced it. In 1936 the current drawbridge opened to welcome the passage of larger vessels. For more history on the bridge you can go to http://www.winneconnewi.gov/historical/history/history.htm

I have always loved this draw bridge. It doesn't bother me one bit to be stopped on the bridge as it is raised to allow a large boat to travel from one side of the river to the other side. That is precisely what happened yesterday on my way back from from the store...and I just happened to have my camera with me.

This time the bridge wasn't raised for a large boat, it was raised to allow passage of a barge carrying a high crane. Here you can see the drawbridge raised and to the right you can see how high that crane was.

This is the barge now on the other side. The guy driving this thing did an amazing job. He had to park it next to a dock and in order to get into that "parking space" he had to back this barge up and then go forward again. He did this with great ease and I was surprised on how fast the barge could move. As I sat in my car waiting for the bridge to go down again and watched this barge move I thought...God, I can't even back up and go forward into a parking stall at the grocery store with my little KIA this easily!

For those not familiar with how draw bridges work, it's easy. As you are coming up the river, or down the river and you need the bridge opened...you blow your horn...the person in the little building on top of the bridge then stops all traffic going across the bridge and opens up the draw bridge. It's that simple. Remember the famous Christmas movie with Jimmy Stewart, "It's a Wonderful World"? When "George" jumps from the bridge and is all wet and cold he is taken into the little building on the bridge. Remember that part? Well, the little building is just like that.

Why am I telling you all of this? It has been decided that the draw bridge has to go. Either the new bridge will be finished in 2017 or they begin to build it in 2017 (I can't remember which). I have seen drawings for the new, higher bridge. It will run parallel to the existing bridge and there will be no fishing from this new bridge. However, to keep the fishermen happy, there will be a nice area built lower, closer to the water and way from traffic so they can still enjoy catching their dinner.

I am kind of sad, but I understand the logic and need for a higher bridge. Our emergency vehicles, fire, ambulance and police are all located on the west side of the bridge. When any of these services need to get to someone or some place on the east side because of an emergency call and the bridge is raised they lose minutes of precious time. I wouldn't want to be the person on the wrong side of the bridge waiting for paramedics to arrive to save my life while they are stuck waiting for a boat to go through the draw bridge.

My only hope is that my grandson Aiden will be able to see the bridge work at least one time before the new one is built. So everyone, enjoy our draw bridge this summer and fall because we won't have it much longer.