Life On Their Own Terms

I was cleaning out the drawer of an end table today when I uncovered a copy of Wild Women: Crusaders, Curmudgeons, and Completely Corsetless Ladies in the Otherwise Virtuous Victorian Era by Autumn Stephens that I must have stashed there several years ago.  I immediately stopped what I was doing to sit down and visit with it again.

The book contains short biographies of 150 noteworthy women that from 1837-1901 who bucked the system in many different ways. Some of the them (like Louisa May Alcott, Nellie Bly, Emily Dickinson, and Carry Nation) were familiar to me. However, I thought the lesser-known females were even more fascinating. Like:

• Belva Lockwood, one of the first female lawyers in the United States who ran for President on an equal-rights platform
• Ah Toy, a San Franciscan call girl who appeared in court to sue her clients for failing to "make appropriate payment for services rendered".
• Annie Taylor, a schoolteacher who survived a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel.
• Amelia Bloomer, who gave her name to the divided garments for the lower body that revolutionized women's dress.
• Sarah and Adelaide Yates, who married Siamese Twins Chang and Eng Butler, and gave birth to 21 children between them

Five years ago today: Offline

This Is The Way The Cookie Crumbles

Yesterday we ordered lunch from our favorite Chinese carryout restaurant. Hubby Tony and Son Donald got lunch specials. (I wasn't hungry, so I decided to have some Hot and Sour soup.)

Because only two meals were ordered, the bag only contained two fortune cookies. Donald isn't a fan of them, so he usually opens the package, reads the fortune, and leaves the cookie part for me. I asked Donald if he wanted to do that again, but he declined. So I took care of both parts.

I read the fortune out loud, then Tony started laughing. He had received the exact same sentiment!

It will remain to be seen which of the three of us gets the luck.

Five years ago today: Things Are Not Always As They Appear

How Do You Sleep At Night?

I was surfing the internet tonight and I came upon a mindless quiz called Which Position Do You Sleep In? by Karina Collins. According to the home page of the website, she is a psychic and tarot card reader.

The quiz starts out by explaining that the way someone curls up in bed says a lot about their personality. Next it offers six popular positions-Fetal, Log, Yearner, Soldier, Freefaller, and Starfish and describes the characteristics imparted by that position.

I don't know about you, but I couldn't fit myself neatly into one category. At the beginning of the night I start out laying on my right side with my legs are curled up a bit, but not quite to Fetal. But before I fall asleep I turn over onto my left side, and assume the same position.  (If I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom I repeat the procedure each time.) When my neck hurts I'll lay on my back like a Soldier, turning my head to one side and stretching out my neck. If it's hot the Soldier turns into a Starfish, with my arms spread out to catch some coolness. Sometimes  I'll also snuggle a small pillow up against my chest, which puts my arms out in front like a Yearner. The only thing I never do is sleep on my stomach.

On the website every position had positive characteristics attributed to it, so I must be a sociable sensitive romantic who is open, spiritual, sophisticated, and reserved, and has good self esteem.

Five years ago today: Operation Cold

The Tell-Tale Stain

The last time we talked I told you about the snowstorm in my area. By the time it was over we had a foot of fluffy snow at the house, which was on the high end for the metro area. Hubby Tony and I shoveled twice-once on Friday night and again on Saturday morning. By the afternoon the temperature rose just above freezing, which helped melt the dregs on the shoveled areas. The roads looked pretty clear, so we drove to church and a nearby restaurant for dinner.

This afternoon I ventured out again to run some errands, including a produce run. One of the things I brought home was some fresh beets. My plan was to roast them and have them on hand for snacks. I carefully peeled the two pounds of beets, chopped them into pieces, and put them into the oven.

I didn't have any rubber gloves to wear, but I thought that if I was careful I wouldn't get beet juice on my hands. I thought wrong.  By the time I was done my hands were red. The cutting board was red. There were red spots on the counter, and even a blob on the floor where one piece of peel fell.

Yuck!

I washed my hands thoroughly with soap and water, but the stain remained so I turned to my friend Google for advice. The first site I visited suggested I rub the stain with a raw potato. I didn't have any potatoes in the house, so I moved on. The next one recommended a combination of lemon juice and salt, which helped a little. The third site told me to use a paste of cornmeal and lemon juice. Bingo!

All better

As an added bonus, the cornmeal also did a good job of exfoliating my hands.

Five years ago today: You're Only As Old As You Feel

January 11, 2019

Today is the anniversary of my birth. As it turns out, it's also the day of the largest snow storm our area has seen for years.

The weather people have been salivating about the upcoming storm for days. There were predictions of anywhere from seven inches to a foot of white stuff. As happens around here, the snow was all anyone could talk about. When was it going to start? How much would we get? Yesterday the cancellations started-schools closing early, and after school events called off. The forecasters get things wrong as much as they get them right, so I was skeptical. However, I'm also a realist, so I figured that my plans to go out for dinner and dancing would probably have to be changed.

This morning the sun never came out from behind the clouds, and when I left the house for my morning activities the air felt heavy and humid. Hubby Tony was home today, so he and Son Donald took me out for a celebratory lunch. On the drive home the first flakes started coming down. When we pulled into the garage twenty minutes later the snow was steady, and a light film covered the driveway. I was ready to hunker down in the house, but Donald gathered some clothes and headed out to a friend's house. (He texted me when he arrived, saying the driving had been some of the most stressful he had done in a while.)

I decided to take advantage of the enforced time inside to nap, fiddle on the computer, and basically do nothing. Many of my Facebook friends sent me birthday wishes. This was my favorite:

After dinner Tony and I went outside to do a first shoveling of the white stuff. At 7 pm there were 5 1/2” on the ground. By the time we went to bed the driveway was covered with another thick layer.

Tonight the news was filled with stories of horrible traffic jams, and how it was taking people hours to drive distances that usually took far less than that. The meteorologist predicted this storm could be record-setting. I ended my day thankful that I was home safe and warm.

Five years ago today: Back To The Future

A Jewel Of A House

I had heard that there was a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Kirkwood, and have driven past an unassuming sign close to the corner of Ballas and Doughtery Ferry Roads in Kirkwood for years. It wasn't until Hubby Tony started researching field trip activities that I put two and two together. He arranged his schedule, made a reservation to visit the house, and asked me if I wanted to go. My answer was 'yes', and I'm SO glad I did.

As seen from the driveway. No photos allowed inside.

The actual name of the house is The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park. It was designed and constructed for Russell and Ruth Kraus in 1950, and is an example of Wright's Usonian architecture.

Our tour started at 2 pm, but we were instructed to arrive 15 minutes early. When we pulled up the winding driveway into the small lot, there was only one other car. We walked up to the front door, where the docent encouraged us to look around the outside of the house until the tour started.  Tony and I walked far enough down the driveway to take the photo you see above, then walked across the lawn to see the other sides.

By the time the tour started we were a group of twelve. The docent welcomed everyone into the shed area, situated on the other side of the carport area from the house. There we watched a video about the house and its construction. I learned that this was the architect’s first building in the St. Louis area, and one of only five Wright designs in Missouri.

The house was built into a hill on the 10 1/2 acre property, and the same brick, concrete, glass, and tidewater red cypress were used both inside and out. The initial design for the house (two intersecting parallelograms) was conceived in 1950. It took quite a while to find a contractor who felt he could tackle the intricate angles and unusual building requirements. Construction continued until at least 1960 and the house was never formally completed. The Krauses moved in January 1956, and lived there together until Ruth’s death in 1992.

We learned that in the early 1990s a group organized a non-profit organization to save the house. In 1997 the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places of the National Park Service, and in 2001 the non-profit purchased the house and grounds. They transferred the deed to the St. Louis County Parks Department, which maintains the grounds. After extensive renovation the house was opened for tours.

After the video was over, the group moved into the main house. The docent gave us one last reminder not to sit on or touch anything, then opened the door to let the group in. We walked down the narrow, low hallway into the open living area, where she pointed out the concrete slab floors with radiant heat, the built-in wall shelves, and the wall of glass doors (which were designed and built by Russell Kraus after getting Wright's approval) leading out to the patio. Most of the original Wright-designed furnishings and fabrics were still there, and the docent pointed out the places where they weren't.

We moved to the master bedroom, where we saw the parallelogram-shaped bed. Off of that was a small bathroom with glass panels covering the redwood walls, and on the other side of the room, a private lanai accessed through a door in the large wall of glass windows. The guest bedroom had the another parallelogram-shaped bed.

On the other side of the living area, we saw the kitchen (one of the rooms that had not been completely finished), which contained a mixture of Lloyd-planned cabinets and countertops along with newer appliances. The last stop was Russell Kraus's studio, where the docent pointed out the hexagonal-shaped light table (that they believe was designed by Kraus) and the rolling work table with underneath drawers. She showed us copies of the original plans.

At the end of the tour the docent volunteered to re-open the shed, which also contains the incredibly tiny gift shop. Tony and I are not in the market for any more mementos, so we declined.

Five years ago today: Pass The Buck[et]

Every Day There's Something Worth Celebrating

Remember that song about the Twelve Days of Christmas? Today is the Twelfth Day. In the Catholic church it's known as the Feast of the Epiphany, the day that the Three Kings visited Jesus. The day is also the beginning of the Mardi Gras season, which continues through Fat Tuesday (the day before Lent starts).

Hubby Tony cooks dinner on Sundays. To tie his meal in with the Mardi Gras season, today he served roasted Cajun-spiced butternut squash on top of a bed of rice, and smothered everything with a gravy made with the trinity of onions, celery, and green bell pepper. The entree was accompanied by a Cajun cole slaw.

The photo doesn't do it justice.

 Dessert was baked apples served with an almond butter dipping sauce.

Five years ago today: Yes, We're Open!

Hymns For Every Profession

• The Dentist's Hymn - Crown Him with Many Crowns
• The Weatherman's Hymn - There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
• The Contractor's Hymn - The Church’s One Foundation
• The Tailor's Hymn – Holy, Holy, Holy
• The Golfer's Hymn - There Is A Green Hill Far Away
• The Politician's Hymn - Standing on The Promises
• The Optometrist’s Hymn - Open My Eyes That I Might See
• The IRS Agent's Hymn - I Surrender All
• The Gossip's Hymn - Pass It On
• The Electrician’s Hymn - Send the Light
• The Shopper's Hymn - Sweet Bye And Bye
• The Realtor's Hymn - Mansion Over the Hilltop
• The Massage Therapist’s Hymn - He Touched Me
• The Pilot's Hymn - I'll Fly Away
• The Paramedic's Hymn - Revive Us Again
• The Judge's Hymn - Almost Persuaded
• The Psychiatrist's Hymn - Just A Little Talk with Jesus
• The Credit Card Holder's Hymn - I Have A Charge to Keep
• The Zookeeper's Hymn - All Creatures of Our God and King
• The Postal Worker's Hymn - So Send I You
• The Waiter's Hymn - Fill My Cup, Lord
• The Gardener's Hymn - Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
• The Lifeguard's Hymn - Rescue the Perishing
• The Criminal's Hymn - Search Me, O God
• The Baker's Hymn - When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
• The Shoe Repairer's Hymn - It Is Well with My Soul
• The Travel Agent's Hymn - Anywhere with Jesus
• The Geologist's Hymn - Rock of Ages
• The Hematologist’s Hymn - Are You Washed in The Blood?
• The Menswear Clerk’s Hymn - Blest Be the Tie
• The Umpire's Hymn - I Need No Other Argument
• The Librarian's Hymn - Whispering Hope

Five years ago today: It Felt Like A VERY Long Day

Make It Fancy

Once again this year, a fraternal group Hubby Tony belongs to sponsored a New Year's Eve dance at our church. Tony divided the event coordinating responsibilities with another man. Part of Tony's responsibility was to be at the parish center several hours before the doors opened to let in the people setting up the bar and photo booth, and the members of the band.

Last year when Tony did the same job, he was able to coordinate the times and come home for a quick dinner. But when things weren't working out as conveniently this year we came up with an alternate solution. I would take our dinner to him.

When he left for the first round of let-ins Tony took his dress up clothes, our card table, and his portable mp3 player. I quickly got everything together for the meal, changed my clothes and put on makeup. An hour later I left the house with a tote bag holding linens, china, silverware, a votive candle, and a bottle of seltzer, a thermal lunch box containing pork loin roast, rice pilaf, a small loaf of take-and-bake bread, and a Yeti filled with coffee, a small cooler holding pre-dressed salads, a plastic container of butter, a container of mixed cut fruit for dessert, and lime slices for the seltzer. An additional tote bag held the cake roll that was our snack contribution to the table.

I arrived at the parish center at 5:00, just as the last of the bar set up people were leaving. Tony had placed the table in the middle of the dance floor close to the stage, right underneath the bag of balloons for the midnight drop. The room was dark except for the glow of the parking lot lights coming in through the large building windows and a couple of dim emergency lights. A laser light projector at the far end of the room covered the walls and ceiling with a random pattern of small colored dots.

I dressed the table, lit the candle, and got out the salads and bread while Tony retrieved ice for our drinks. When he returned he turned on some music and we made a first toast to the new year. After the salad was finished Tony removed the plates while I got out the main course items. We did the same thing when it was time for dessert and coffee.

Our timing was perfect. Just as we finished the first of the band members arrived and our special time was over. Tony moved back into volunteer mode while I cleaned everything up and took it out to the car. Soon there was no sign that a special meal had taken place.

Five years ago today: Last Night/First Night

Not Me!

When I go into a store for just a few things, I usually bring a reusable shopping bag with me. I hang the bag over my arm and put the items I want to buy inside the bag. At the checkout counter I dump everything on the counter, then hand the bag to the cashier so they can refill it as they scan the items.

Today when I was at a Walgreens store not too far from my house the cashier warned me not to do that any more. She said that the management was cracking down on shoplifters, and on a security camera it might look like I was trying to steal something.

Her comment floored me. I'm so honest, I'd never think about stealing an item.  But I guess unless a store associate personally knows me they might not recognize that. Now I'm going to have to retrain myself to grab a basket as I enter the store....and place my shopping bag in it before I start gathering the things on my list.

Five years ago today: An Accurate Description?