Glass Ornaments

I have a collection of colorful glass… mostly antique art-glass vases…

My display of colored glass vases.

I find myself attracted to any colored glass pieces though, and to dishes in general. I have my grandma’s antique china set, which I love, and many other vintage glass pieces I’ve collected over the years from antique shops and thrift stores. I think it’s great fun to hunt for them, and I get a lot of enjoyment from using them too.

The lure of colored glass prompted me to take a class on creating fussed-glass pieces. The first class I took, a few years ago, was detailed and instructional  – it taught us how to cut glass and introduced the different glass and glass making tools and explained the firing/fusing process. In that class I made four coasters, two mini bowls and a star hanging. It was an interesting class.

My funky bird coasters, made in the first class.

When a friend recently told me of a class being offered making Christmas Ornaments from fused-glass, in the small town of Kenyon MN, I was all in. 

The class was very relaxed. The instructor brought her glass supplies and gave simple instructions and let us use whatever we wanted from her supply. We didn’t have to do anything but create. No set up, no clean up…just show up and be creative. We entertained ourselves over and beyond the time class was to end, but it did, and we liked our results.

The snowman ornaments I made in the second class.

My friend wanted to start a tradition of making Christmas ornaments for her daughters so she made two wreath ornaments. I made three snowman ornaments, one for each of my grandchildren.

Happy Thanksgiving

Our tree (a lilac branch) of Thanksgiving…a tradition we started when our sons were little. As we go around the table we add a leaf and say what we’re thankful for. Simple but special.

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” Colossians 3: 14-16

A Tough Job

We went up our son’s house in Minneapolis to babysit our 2 1/2 year- old granddaughter while our son and his wife went out of town for a few days. We had a wonderful time with her. 

When our son and his wife returned late on the fourth day they asked us, “Were you worn out by the end of each day?”

Thinking they were talking to her, our little granddaughter immediately said, “Yes!” 

We all burst out laughing…

Apparently it’s a lot of work taking care of a grandma and grandpa!

A fun children’s book.

Oh What Fun…

…it is to attend a Family Orchestra Concert at St. Olaf College.  The family friendly concerts are geared towards children and have become popular. We didn’t arrive early because we didn’t anticipate the crowd that completely filled the auditorium to overflowing. It was awesome to feel the enthusiasm in the room. 

Before the family friendly concert there was time for children to touch and feel the instruments (what I’ve heard called “an instrument petting zoo”). Children can learn a bit about instruments and meet the musicians. From our seats it looked like there was wonderful interaction going on between the children and the college students.

When it was time for the concert to begin everyone quieted down and one could feel the excitement in the air as the music began. The selections were upbeat and fun! 

The concert started off with the classic William Tell Overture and then a storyteller from Minnesota Public Radio (this is quality entertainment!) recited a story while the orchestra played “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” in the background.

Next the orchestra played a lovely piece from the movie Frozen. 

There was a children’s conductor contest and the winner stood on the podium, by themselves, and conducted the students playing “Do Re Mi” from The Sound of Music.

We were introduced to a Northfield duo who love to create children’s music. The two professors sang two of their original songs: one called “Underwear Spaghetti” and the other “I Love To Sing.”

The finale was Chewbacca, a Star Wars character, who appeared on stage and conducted the orchestra for the Main Title from Star Wars. It was fun, and a great animated performance by Chewbacca.

Chewbacca directing the St. Olaf Orchestra. photo by TA

It looked like the concert was as pleasureable to the student participants and conductor as it was for the audience. Everyone, young and old alike, seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was a thoroughly delightful time. I wish my grandchildren could have been there.

We left the concert with our hearts full of joy.

The Butterfly Cake

Children’s excitement is fun to experience. Our oldest granddaughter turned five in October. Since we missed her birthday party in Colorado, we decided to have a party when she and her brother came to stay with us for a few days in November. Her Minnesota cousin, aunt and uncle would help celebrate too. She was so excited.

I planned a butterfly theme since Zoey and I went to a butterfly garden last summer. I found butterfly plates, napkins and hanging decorations. I found pink butterfly wings, with a bit of glitter, for Zoey to wear. I borrowed a vintage cookbook with cake patterns from a friend, and found directions to bake and shape a butterfly cake.

Although the butterfly cake ended up with a broken, but mended, wing you couldn’t tell after it was frosted. 

The grandkids had fun helping me enhance the cake with sugar, sprinkles and candy. I think a good time was had by all.

Rosella

A dear friend of ours passed away a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, we were unable to attend her funeral. 

In preparation for our grandchildren coming to stay with us for a few days we brought out toys and playthings, including a play tent. 

The morning of our friend’s funeral our grandchildren asked to play with the tent, so we set it up for them and they were happily playing in it. And then our son asked, “Didn’t Rosella make that tent?” 

Why, yes, she did! 

I’m so glad he thought of that. How special that our grandkids were enjoying the same tent that dear Rosella gave to our own boys when they were young… and now happen to be playing in it the morning of her funeral. I think she was smiling from heaven.

Rest in Peace, Dear Rosella. You were very special to our family.  

First Snow

We woke up to three inches of snow. It was the first morning on a recent trip to Madison where I met up with my friend from Indiana. This was the end of October, and to see 3″ of snow was a little earlier than I’d like, but it was beautiful.

However, our plan that morning was to go to Olbrich Botanical Gardens and the snow only enticed us more…we were excited to see how the snow enhanced the gardens.

Three inches of snow.

It was a delight. The skies were fall blue, the air was crisp and the paths were inviting…we said we felt like we were in Narnia.

From an elevated platform in the gardens.

Snow covered the tree branches and plants and bushes…all outdoor furniture… and a gentle wind blew swirls of snow off the trees. The paths were mostly clear because the sidewalks were warm enough to melt the snow as it touched the ground.

A lone rose.
Still water.

After spending a good amount of time outside we finally got chilled and went indoors.

IThe snow had already melted off this fall display.

Once inside we walked through the warm, tropical conservatory with birds and butterflies. It was a great way to warm up our whole body.

Inside the warm conservatory.

Even though I’m not ready for winter to begin, the first snowfall of this season turned out to be a wonderful event. But I’m thankful we were in Madison and there was no snow back home in Northfield.

My friend Frances, and I.

Ploughing In Style

The other day as we drove by Memorial Park in Northfield we noticed the city snowploughs sitting in the swimming pool’s parking lot. And then we noticed the blades were painted with vibrant colors and wonderful pictures. 

We stopped to look at the interesting paint jobs. Later, I returned to take photos and to read the signs posted next to each machine, but they did not tell me what I wanted to know. 

But what I assume is this was an art project done by the students at St. Dominic’s School…in different grade levels. It seems a student created their own work of art by re-creating another artist’s painting. Then the student, or group of students, painted their rendition on the snowplough blades.

The ploughs were on display for a short while at Memorial Park. The signs next to each plough showed a photo of the original painting and told about the original artist. The student’s grade level were on the blades, but no recognition for the student artist(s).

It must have been a fun, new and creative way to paint.

I’m glad I was able to take pictures to show off the beautiful machines that will be clearing our streets in Northfield this winter.

A Barge At Alma

One fine, autumn day we went on a drive enjoying the country landscapes and ended up in Wisconsin. We stopped at the Nelson Creamery for lunch, and then headed to Alma and a small county park there, with an expansive overlook of the Mississippi River. The sun was out, the sky was blue and trees were an array of beautiful fall colors.

Beautiful ivy on Nelson Creamery’s outside patio wall.

While entering Alma a barge was approaching Lock and Dam #4. We decided to park the car and walk to the observation platform to watch the interesting process of moving a barge through the lock.

A view of the front of the barge entering the lock.

It was process. This particular barge, technically called a 9-pack barge because each unit is called a barge and when tied together they are identified as packs. A 9-pack barge is three barges wide and three barges deep. For simplicity in this blog I am using the term “barge” to identify the entire barge pack.

A view of the length of the barge.

The tugboat would not fit in the lock at the same time as the barge so the barge went through first, after disengaging from the tugboat. Once it passed through it was secured to shore while the tugboat went through the lock. The two were reconnected – the barge and the tugboat – and it continued on it’s way again, down the mighty Mississippi River, to the next lock and dam.

Overlook from Buena Vista Park in Alma, WI. The 9-pack barge waiting for the tugboat to pass through the lock.

It was interesting process to watch and it took over an hour. And this is just… one barge… on one section… of one river. This process is repeated several times a day for many months of the year.

Pleasure boats go through the lock and dam too. This boat waited a while before it could pass through.

In the meantime a train came rumbling through town on the railroad tracks and there we were, between the train and the river barge. It seemed like a lot of activity in this small Wisconsin town of 791 people. 

It’s interesting to stop and think of all the ways commodities are transported in this country…quickly or slowly…by boats, trains, trucks…mostly unnoticed… and the availability of goods taken for granted.

Colorful maple trees.