Happy 250th birthday, America!

We celebrated by entering our small town's  4th of July parade. Mike made sure his red pickup truck was clean and shiny. Our friends, Neal and Dorene helped us adorn the truck with some shiny and appropriate decorations . The main attraction was Hannah, the cow from Prairie Trails Museum. We loaded her into the bed of the pickup, and were ready to go!

 

At home I added a few patriotic items to our decor. 

 My friend, Jerry, made the table runner. She is always generous with her beautiful creations!

In the afternoon, we attended the 28th Annual Freedom Ring at Prairie Trails Museum for an interesting program by Iowan historian, Dave Baker, creator of The 29th State, a Facebook group he created in 2015.

"Step into the Revolution through five unforgettable voice in Spirit of '76 - Five Voices of the Revolution. From the halls of independence to the front lines of everyday life, this program brings the era to life through words and first-person performance by Dave Baker. This one-hour program explores how the Revolution began, why independence was declared, and what it meant to those who lived it. From a signer and a statesman to a writer, a woman and a man who fought for freedom while still enslaved."

 

We enjoyed an evening meal of grilled hot dogs, brats, potato salad, baked beans, deviled eggs (from Dorene) and cherry tomatoes with feta cheese and basil on skewers and drizzled with  balsamic glaze. Looking back, we should have also had watermelon and corn on the cob; maybe next year.

We invited friends, Neal, Dorene, Donna, and Bonita. Bonita brought a big bowl blueberries from her patch. She also made blueberry bars, and we enjoyed ice cream with chocolate and caramel toppings for dessert.

After dinner, we taught Donna and Bonita how to play our favorite card game, Blitz/31. Mike was the big winner and won the pot of money.

Memories of the Farm

I recently stumbled upon a letter that my oldest sister, Donna, wrote to our grandma. Growing up, Donna spent countless summer days at our grandparent’s farm. Donna and our Aunt Norma were super close in age and had a blast together on the farm.

The letter, written in 1981 for grandma’s 93rd birthday, started with a poem that Donna wrote and ended with a long list of memories of the farm.

Donna and Aunt Norma

 Dear Grandma,

In case I’ve never told you 

of the memories I hold fast,

and how so very much you meant

in good ol’ days gone past.

I’ve dug into my memory bank

to summers I loved best

“out in the country” at your house

which God had surely blessed…

Summers, barefoot, fried chicken, churning butter, gathering eggs, mean rooster, Long Branch, potato wagon, duck pond, Victrola, coal oil lanterns, hay loft, grape arbor, flowers around the garden -“four o’clocks”, pear tree, horseback riding, broken arm, Donald Schraeder “fits”, windmill, smoke house, well by the back porch, baby lambs and chicks, milk cans, outhouse, mud, swing. feather bed, bittersweet in vase in living room, flies, wash pan, turtle pond, lost in corn field, HOT bath, Hedge City, Harmony Church, crank telephone, daybed, lightning rod, gathering cows, cow poop (ker splat!), onion tasting milk, Bishop school, Bishop bridge, soupy potatoes, dusty road and, most of all, Granddad and Grandma Bish’.

Thanks a million for giving me so many fond memories and for being the very best grandparents anyone could ever want!

Love and Happy Birthday,

Donna
  

Grandma and Granddad Bishop

Edina Back in the Day

The Edina I Knew... by Bill Lewis

from The Edina Sentinel

The First Time I Saw Edina

It's the first day of March 1933 and we are moving from the Withrow place (Paul Sharpe Place) to our new home at the junction of North and Main Streets. 

The first thing I remember was a schoolyard of kids playing- under the watchful eyes of the nuns. Gosh, I didn't know there were that many kids on Earth! The KC (Knights of Columbus) building was not there at that time. The next thing I remember was my brother, Donnie and I sliding down the huge banister and running back up the stairs.

We ran a bottle dairy, delivering milk to homes and business houses. One day my brother Jim took me along with him delivering the milk. It was a horse drawn milk wagon. As we are approaching town, what's this? Another schoolyard full of playing and laughing. WOW! What a beautiful sight to see! The St. Joe Church; the water tower, and rows and rows of business houses. The only thing to disturb the beauty and excitement was the courthouse, which was only a hole in the ground.  

We delivered milk to a dozen or more stores, restaurants, and drug stores. I can still remember my excitement when Jim bought me an ice cream cone at McKay's Soda Fountain. It seemed to take a while to visit all the stores, restaurants, and soda fountains on the square. Even Collin's Saloon used some cream. Would you believe there were 4 saloons in Edina at one time? How about 6 restaurants? How about 8 cafes? Then, 7 grocery stores. That's not counting Algy Schaffer's Hamburger Stand, which might pop up anyplace.

Edina had 5 automobile dealerships. Edina had 5 farm tractor dealerships. A meat market/slaughterhouse. Edina had 3 drug stores. We had 3 ice cream and/or soda fountains. Edina had 3 produce houses. Edina had 2 blacksmith shops. Edina had 3 livery barns. Edina had a lumber yard. Edina had a movie house. Edina had 4 barber shops. Edina had a shoe repair shop. Edina had a bus stop. Edina had 3 funeral homes. Edina had a wagon factory. Edina had Swifts Packing Company. Edina had a harness repair shop. Edina had 3 scrap iron buying shops. Edina had a hospital. Edina had 6 doctors. Edina had 3 dentists. Edina had a shoe store. Edina had a windmill repair shop. Edina had 3 banks. Edina had 5 truck lines. Edina had 6 churches. Edina had 3 beauty shops. Edina had 2 feed mills. Edina had 3 schools. Edina had a roller rink. Edina had 2 hotels. Edina had several boarding houses. Edina had 3 taxi services. Edina had 2 jewelry stores. Edina had a tombstone store. Edina had 3 furniture stores. Edina had 2 liquor stores. Edina had a sale barn. Edina had 7 garages. Edina had 3 salvage yards. Edina had 2 dance halls. Edina had 3 plumber shops. Edina had 3 lawyers. Edina had 2 printing shops. Edina had a water plant. Edina had a telephone office. Edina had 3 appliance stores. Edina had a hatchery. Edina had a railroad station.

Edina had only one Terrence Mullins, only one Joe Gibbons, only one Joe Sutton, only one Socks Goodwin, only one Slim Tully, only one Merle Shite, only one Pete Coughlin, only one Algy Schaffer, and only one Noble Bishop (my dad). 

 

Geni's Amazing Hot Rolls

My rolls from Geni's  hot roll recipe

We met some wonderful people in November and December of 2023 while Mike was receiving proton radiation treatment for prostate cancer at Kansas University. We were fortunate to stay at Hope Lodge in Kansas City during the week when he had treatment every weekday, and we usually traveled back to Iowa on the weekends. That's a whole other story, but today I want to share a recipe from Geni. She and her husband Leon were at Hope Lodge the entire time we were there. Leon was receiving treatment also. They had been there since summer and had made the place their home. Geni had her sewing machine set up, she sewed and crafted and would often bake in the kitchen provided for the residents at Hope Lodge. The first time I tasted her hot rolls I was amazed. They were light and a little bit sweet and yeasty. Perfection! 

I am not usually a baker; I am a bit intimidated by yeast, but Geni's hot rolls were so delicious, and she happily shared the recipe. I couldn't resist trying to make them. My first few attempts were good, but not as good as Geni's--until the last batch, pictured above. I brought out my Kitchen Aid stand mixer on that batch, and I think it made a difference because they mixed up a lot better than they had by hand. I also took the temperature of the water, so it was not too hot and not too cold, and the yeast performed beautifully.

Here is the recipe for those delectable rolls: 

Homemade Hot Rolls from Geni at Hope Lodge

2 1/2 Tablespoons yeast

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup water 100-110 degrees

2 teaspoons salt

Mix yeast, sugar, salt and water.

1 stick butter, melted

2 eggs, warm eggs by putting them in some warm water.

Add melted butter and eggs to the yeast mixture and mix with a whisk.

2 cups hot water

Add the water to the yeast and butter mixture. Whisk.

6 cups sifted bread flour

Gradually add 2 cups of flour and mix.

Add two more cups of flour and mix well.

Add final two cups of flour and mix well.

If dough is sticky, you can add up to 1 1/2 cups more flour. It usually doesn’t take the last 1 1/2 cups of flour because later when the dough is kneaded more flour will be worked in.

Sift a little flour over the top of the dough and place in a greased bowl. Cover with a damp cloth or paper towel. Let rise until double in size.

Turn out on a floured surface and knead until soft and smooth..

Oil two 9 x 13 pans or 3 loaf pans.

Make into rolls or loaves. Cover and let rise until double (usually around an hour).

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Butter tops of rolls.

Makes 12 big rolls per pan or 24 small rolls per pan.

Cinnamon Rolls 

If you want cinnamon rolls, here is Geni's recipe for those:

Follow bread recipe. 

Put 1/2 of the dough on a floured surface. Roll out flat with a rolling pin.

Melt 1 stick of butter, pour and spread over the top of the dough. 

Sprinkle a cinnamon sugar mixture over the top of the butter. Roll up and cut into rolls. 

Put into a 9x13 pan that has been greased. 

Repeat for the other half of the bread dough

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. 

As soon as you take them out of the oven spread a powdered sugar glaze over the top with a pastry brush. Remove from pans while still hot because they will stick to the pan.

   

 

Valentine Greetings from Our Home

In February I can't resist bringing out the Valentine touches that I have collected over the years.

The house always looks a bit forlorn after the Christmas decorations are packed away.

My Valentine decorations have been greatly enhanced by gifts from my friends. Here are two pillows, a quilted piece under the lamp, and a little heart dish. all from my friend, Dorene. The glass jar is filled with hearts from my friend, Charlotte, and my daughter Bailey made the Valentine coaster.

Since my birthday is in mid January, Dorene often gives me Valentine gifts to add to the decor. This year those gifts included the little dish, bowl and ceramic house. They aren't the traditional Valentine red, but they're more of a peachy pink. When I added them to this grouping along with  the pitcher that my SIL, Becky, painted, it all came together beautifully in this corner vignette in our kitchen. 

The coffee table got some touches of Valentine red as well.

And this little tray of goodies sets on a quilted tabletop piece from my talented friend and prolific quilter, Jerry. Dorene made the cute heart from Tim Holtz products. We're both big fans of Tim Holtz.

I'll be packing away my Valentine treasures soon. What's next? Green for March and St. Patrick's Day!

 

Christmas Decor in '24

I simplified the mantel this year, but the two red houses made the cut.

My quilt making friend, Jerry, made this wonderful Christmas quilt and gifted it to me. 

My dining table centerpiece featured this cute metal house that my SIL, Becky, gave me a few years back. The little ceramic figurine was given to our daughter Bailey when she was in elementary school. The little girl who gave it to Bailey later passed away, and I think of her every time I see this sweet snowman and little boy.

The family room is where we spend most of our time at home. It always feels extra cozy with Christmas decorations.

My friend, Dorene, created these cute collaged Christmas trees.

My friend, Jerry, made and gave me this quilt that looks awesome draped over the ottoman in the family room.

My talented friends Bonnie and Jerry stitched the little Christmas pillows. Mike's sister Becky painted the Santa and the beautiful pitcher. The paperweight/pen holder came from Mike's dad's desk when he was postmaster in Hannibal, Missouri. I find that most of my Christmas decorations come from friends and family and hold many memories.

This antique walnut hall tree was a treasured piece of furniture that came from Mike's parents. It was a gift from Mike's dad to Mike's mom.

This is our "Becky tree" filled with ornaments handpainted by Mike's sister Becky who is currently in a care facility being cared for after being diagnosed with dementia.

Every year for our book club Christmas party we wrap our gifts for our game of "dirty Santa" where the present one chooses may be stolen. I always strive to wrap as beautifully as I can so that my present gets stolen time and time again.

I added a lot of silver along with glass paperweights on the mirrored tray in the living room. 

The glass paperweights came from SIL Becky.

 

My friend, Dorene, gave me this quilted piece that she stitched this year.

The sun porch was decked out with lots of blue. The collection of blue blown glass balls came from Mike's mom's collection and his sister Becky's collection.  I found the huge glass jar with a lid at Nell Hills in Kansas City. The tall pewter candlestick came from my neighbor Bill when he had a garage sale before he moved to an assisted living facility.

The blue porch is sunny and cheerful.

 

Autumn Decorations

 We finally had a brisk fall day today. It was cool enough that sitting outside on the deck was uncomfortable unless I was bundled up. That's when I'm happy to sit out on the sun porch where it's sunny and warm on a cool brisk day.

I have added touches of autumn inside and out.The table on the deck is decorated with bittersweet, pumpkins and gourds. These were all grown by our friends Neal and Dorene along with Neal's brother Doug and his wife Judy on their farm. They planted 48 hills of a variety of pumpkins and gourds last spring, and this fall Mike and I helped harvest them.

This is the beautiful bounty from Doug and Judy's farm on harvest day. 

 I featured two lovely green pumpkins on the little corner shelf  that sets right outside the door going into the sun porch.

I had fun arranging these pumpkins and gourds on the deck and adding hydrangeas from our yard. The old birdhouse is one that I thrifted a few years ago. The lantern came from Mike's great grandfather. He lived on the Mississippi River near Hannibal, Missouri, and he would set the lantern on a buoy at night so river boats could navigate the channel.

My friend, Dorene, gave me the huge platter with the pumpkin for my birthday, and it looks great in one of the kitchen cupboards along with one of my white pitchers.

The mantel is adorned with three handmade fabric pumpkins given to me by three friends, Lynne, Bonnie and Dorene, all talented seamstresses. The antique mirror came from Mike's Grandmother Blanche. The iron crow is a favorite since he resembles the crow on the blog.

 

This vase, also on the mantel,  was newly thrifted recently and looks great surrounded by bittersweet and water lily pods.

I try not to get too carried away with my fall decor, but I've collected so much over the years, I feel I need to showcase as much as I can without getting too cluttered.

Even the powder room gets a little touch of autumn.

Do you enjoy decorating for each season?

Art Area

Last winter I decided I needed a creative outlet, so I attempted to try my hand at collage and mixed media. I set up a table on our sun porch, purchased a few supplies, signed up for an online class to get me started and began a fun and fulfilling hobby.

The problem came in the spring when I wanted to reclaim our sun porch; it was quite a mess from all my art supplies. I wish I had an entire room to devote to my arts and crafts, but that isn't the case. We have a huge master bedroom with an alcove, so I decided to make it my creating space.

The problem is that I want it to be functional, but I also want it to look fabulous! I was totally inspired by Seth Apter's https://www.sethapter.com/ studio in his apartment overlooking New York City. I especially love his inspiration board that is filled with his work, work of other artists and odds and ends of collected items. I knew that I would have to have an inspiration board modeled after his.

My board contains a few of my art pieces and odds and ends of other items that I have collected and saved over the years. There are also pieces that my talented friends have created tucked about here and there. I love the way it turned out!

I'll share more of this space as I get it organized and decorated, but here is a glimpse of how it looked at one time.

This is how the alcove looked several years ago when our home was on the local Christmas Tour of Homes. My inspiration board is now where the quilt previously hung, and I have since given the little desk to our granddaughter.

Stay tuned!

Birthday Girl

 It doesn't seem possible that 13 years have gone by since we welcomed our first granddaughter into our family, but here you have it.  Happy birthday, Joanna! 

Make It Monday #229: Fabric Strip Christmas Trees

It's after Christmas, but I found this video and thought it would be fun to make some of these little Christmas trees for next year. What do you think?