Junk Drawers

Do you have junk drawers?  Are they in your kitchen?  Only in your kitchen?  How many?
Here are mine from left to right - in the kitchen.

This is the only one with a real name.  It's called the "telephone book drawer."  Can you guess why?  This is the go-to drawer.  It has the items we use most often in it.  Scissors, measuring thingy, the Altoids I can't seem to throw away even though I now have a huge supply of my favorite mints along the right side of the drawer.  The ruler, a ball of string, a D battery, etc., etc.  Oh, yeah, and the telephone book!  Hence the name.

Next we have the "middle drawer."  That's not really a name; more of a location.  There's a baggie in there filled to capacity with pens and pencils.  Can you see the shoe brush, top/middle?  No, we never use it anymore but it's such a cool, old thing that we can't toss it so, into a junk drawer it goes.

This drawer doesn't get opened as often as the "telephone book drawer."

This is the third drawer or what is sometimes referred to as "the one next to the pantry."  There's Augie's brush which doesn't get hauled out often and the grill book which does.  We bought that along with the grill a few years ago - a wise decision.

Every year or four one of us decides to tackle and purge these drawers.  It's amazing what we get rid of and the quantity - yowza!  One of us likes to hang onto stuff more than the other - can you guess who that might be?

Our house isn't big so we don't have closets crammed full of stuff.  Oh, yeah, we don't have closets; maybe that's why, eh?  Our basement is dry which not a lot of people can say but it's not chocked full either.  We've actually been pretty good about getting rid of stuff over the years.  It's just that junk drawer problem that needs to be addressed.

Of course, if we did a "drawer cleansing" - what would we use those drawers for then?

You have to see this place.

I can't remember if I showed you the exterior of this place before - if so, here it is again.  It's right next door to Hunter's and the interior is just as interesting as Tomas the Magnificent's store.

As the sign says, this is B & C Emporium.  I can't, for the life of me, remember what it stands for so I'm counting on the guy in the next picture to set me straight.  And he will.

 This is the owner and operator of B & C Emporium, Craig Phillips.  His father, Bill, and his mother, Ann, were fixtures here for many, many years.  They would be proud to see how their son is carrying on.

Really nice knobs and drawer pulls.  That thing spins around, too.

 And speaking of knobs.  If you live in an ancient house like mine and want to replace a door knob and stay within the spirit of the house - here they are.  Pick one, any one.  You'll need to either kneel down or squat for them, though.  I couldn't do either.

Quality chairs.  And Craig is a master caner.  Not sure if that's the appropriate title or not but that guy can re-cane anything.

                                                       
                                                             Need a display case?

I had to take a picture of this ladder.  When I was a kid this place was a hardware store - can't remember the name of it - but the wall on the right had bins/shelves from floor to ceiling so if you wanted something at the top you had to climb up there and get it yourself!  Just kidding.  I'm so glad Craig kept the ladder around.

 Now here's something that would look great hanging above your dining room table.  It would give the room a whole new, "gas station" feel.  Come on, you know you want it.

                                                             A wall o' switch plates.

                                                 Talk about your retro table setting.

This is a piece we bought from Craig many years ago for Petey's lighthouse collection.  Lights and everything.  I don't mean the lighthouses, silly - I mean the lights inside the cabinet.

If you live in the area and have never treated yourself to a trip through B & C Emporium - go.  It'll be an experience, you'll enjoy it.

You can also find Craig with all his goodies at the antique fair here at the Allegan County Fairgrounds on the last Sunday of the month, spring through fall.

How Many People Live In My House?

First I'll show you a picture and then we'll play a guessing game, ok?

Let the guessing begin.  Five?  Eighteen?  Two?  Ladies and gentlemen - WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

How does this happen?  Why does this happen?  Can you identify the women's shoes from the men's shoes?
If you're sharp-eyed you'll notice way more from the male world.  I'll help you out here if you're having a problem.

Those red ones in the lower left corner are the first pair of Crocs I ever bought.  It was love at first sight.  I use those at night when I take Augie out for the last "pee-pee" walk.  Can't wear my slippers, ya know.

The white sneakers above them are also mine - my gardening shoes.  That's it, folks.  The rest of them belong to Mr.Petey.  For real.  I'm not kidding - at all.  I don't see his biking shoes in the mix; wonder where they are?  His bowling shoes must be in his bag with his ball elsewhere.  His good sandals are upstairs in the bedroom.  Usually his slippers are there too but they must have been on his feet when I took this picture.

I will admit to one more pair of mine which are out of sight.  My Jazzercise shoes are on the porch as well but never in this pile.  I keep them neatly on top of the storage area we have out there - next to the recycling bins.

I'm actually ok with this shoe collection.  I started picking my battles a long time ago and this one ain't worth it.  Or as a lady from Texas once said, "Honey, you gotta pick the hill you're gonna die on."  Words to live by.

What I don't like is when they drift.  All gathered together I can live with - scattered from one side of the porch to the other makes me twitch.

If I remember, I'll take a winter shot when the boots come out.  It's not pretty.

The Learning Curve

Think back.  Is there something you do well now that you thought you'd never get the hang of?  Or maybe something you're doing now that you never imagined you would ever do?

My sister, Lisa, (she's getting way too much exposure on this blog lately) is involved in a new business venture called "It Works."  She was talking to someone the other day about how things are going for her and said, "If you had told me last year that I'd be doing this, I would have said you were crazy."

My other sister, Stacey, became a master gardener a few years ago.  She's also recently taken up quilting.  Never saw that coming.

I'm doing things on the computer that amaze me.  I remember when we got our 'puter and someone in the work room at school was talking about bookmarking a site.  I didn't have a clue what that meant.  When I'd call for tech support and the geek on the other end of the line asked me about my browser, I felt like he was speaking a foreign language.

And speaking of computers - my mom is Skyping and sending emails like a pro and she became interested in her 80s.

When I got into bead making almost 15 years ago I'll never forget trying to get up the nerve to approach a gallery to see if they'd like to sell my jewelry.  My best friend, Sue, told me, "Ellen, you have to be able to take a hit."  It was difficult but I learned how to walk in cold and present my beads and, yes, I took some hits but they made me stronger.

I think the key to "learning" is to ask people that already know how to do whatever it is you're trying to learn for help.  Be open and listen.  It doesn't mean you have to follow every single piece of advice.  Gather info and find your own way.

I learned some great techniques in bead making from a kid. 

I learned a lot about singing from many people along the way.

I learned to never trust the blinker of an on-coming car from my dad.  "That dumb ass has probably had it on for the last 3 miles.  Wait until you see him slow down and begin his turn before you pull out."  Words that have stayed with me all these years.

I've learned how to be a good "ear" for grieving people from my friends at Wings of Hope Hospice.

I continue to learn about Sign Language interpreting even though I've been at it for many, many years.  There were times I wanted to throw in the towel but there always seems to be that one person at every workshop I go to that adds a new perspective to the profession that keeps me going.

I, never in my wildest dreams, thought I would stand on a stage with a mic in my hand and sing a solo.  I was encouraged by friends to do so - in particular Fred Gibson and Dean Michaels - and will be eternally grateful for the push.  It's a thrill like no other.

So - here we are.  It's your turn now.  Is there something that you've learned how to do that has surprised even you?  A talent that was once buried deep inside and is now out in the open?  Something that you're enjoying the hell out of that you never dreamed you could do?

Come on, folks.  Let hear it.

Napkin Usage

The other morning my sister, Lisa, and I were having a bite to eat at Mug Shots.  I sat down without a napkin but she, the slightly more organized Brachman daughter, had two so I didn't have to get up and make the looooong trip back to the counter - at least 8 steps.

So, naturally, since we both have inquiring minds we began discussing the usage of napkins.
I had the upper hand, or so I thought, since I spent a whole year at Stephens College for women in Columbia, MO.  Of course the napkin goes on the lap.  Duh.

Lisa, being the smart ass younger sister said, "but when does the napkin go onto the lap"?  When?  Really?  Are we going to be all picky about the timeline of the placement?  Ok - I'll bite - when does this specific action take place?  "As soon as one sits down at the table."  Like immediately?  "Yes" was her reply.  Even if you sit there for a good 45 minutes before the actual food arrives?  Again, her answer was "yes."

Ok, now we have the napkin in place at the right time but we both discovered that it doesn't always stay there.  I'm not talking about how many times it falls off your lap or how often you get up to run to the john and forget to put it back where it belongs when you return.  I'm talking about being just a teeny, tiny bit lazy and leaving it on the table next to your plate so you can just blot your fingers occasionally and not have to do all that heavy lifting.  It's quick - it's easy - you're in, you're out.

We both decided that we chose this maneuver often - but not out in public where people could see what heathens we are.  We're still trying to keep up the lady-like reputation we've worked so hard for. hahahaha

In my husband's family we always encouraged my sister-in-law, Patty, to stuff her napkin in her neckline because no matter how careful she was while dining, she always wound up with a morsel or two at boob level when done.  It became a family joke.  Often times it was her last bite of the evening, too.  Even funnier because we'd all be watching to see how far she'd get into the meal before we'd hear her say, "damn it - look at that."

Before I bring this fascinating topic to an end, I'll leave you with a tidbit I picked up at Stephens regarding napkin usage.  You always  gently dab your lips (if you're a woman, feel free to raise your pinky) before drinking a beverage so you don't leave lip prints or what we called "schmootz"  on the glass rim.  Yuck!

Now - go forth and use that napkin and let me know how it goes.

p.s.  Did you like how I separated the paragraphs?  Easier to read?  Hope I did it correctly; that was one of those classes I didn't pay a lot of attention to back in the day.

A Church Tour

We have some lovely churches here in Allegan.  I won't be showing you all the churches in town; just the ones in a 2-block area.  I have a personal connection to each one.  No, I don't attend any of them.  Remember me?  The religious-challenged blogger?
Just because I'm not a church goin' kinda gal doesn't mean I don't appreciate their beauty and the good works they do.

This is the Congregational church.  When I was a toddler we lived right smack across the street from it.  We later moved 3 houses down and stayed put for several years.  I'm sure that's why we attended this church.  We could walk - plus they had a killer choir.  I loved growing up here.  I have wonderful memories.
They serve dinner to people in need every week.

This is Blessed Sacrament - the catholic church.  I was married here.  Someone (an out-of-towner) once described this building as the "little rock church on the corner."  There's a school next door that was active for many years.  My catholic friend, Nancy, and I used to dance in the basement of that school.  They had a juke box.  How cool was that?

The Methodist church.  For the past few years the kind people here at the Methodist Church allow our hospice to hold the annual "Evening of Remembrance"  inside.  Their bell choir always participates which makes the event extra special.  Nice group.

Here's the Presbyterian church.  We can be found sitting in one of their pews on the second Sunday of the month at 5p listening to fantastic music.  They host a benefit concert every month and the music is always wonderful - mostly Blues - which is what reeled me in.  They pass the plate and 90% of the money collected goes to a local non-profit.  10% goes back into the endowment that pays the musicians.  What a cool idea, eh?  SASS (the trio I sing in) will be performing there this Sunday.  Come on down!
These fine folks also serve lunch to people weekly.
That's not their "real" front door - it's being refinished.  Didn't want you to think they had some kind of goober affair going on there.  

I just ran downtown because I saw them installing the doors yesterday afternoon and wanted you to see how much nicer those Presbyterians look now after the "face lift."

The coolest thing about the Episcopal church, besides its beauty, is that they have an amazing pipe organ.  I know nothing about them except that they're very difficult to play.  Marty Hesse, who plays for SASS, sits at that monster every now and then.
They also have a clothes closet for people who are having difficulty in these trying times.  And they help out new moms with baby items.

I have been to all of these churches for weddings and funerals.  I appreciate their beauty.  I thank them for all that they do to help our community.  They are places of comfort for many, many people.
I walk by them everyday with Augie.  They are a very important part of our local history.

You already saw the outside, now let's go inside

 Hunter's.  Well, not quite yet.  I don't believe I've introduced the owner/operator, Tom Hunter, yet.  Actually, if you've been reading along since the inception of my blog, you'll remember seeing this store before.  I think I told you that Tom always refers to himself as "Tomas the Magnificent."  I'm not at all sure where he came up with that but, oh well.  I indulge him every now and then - but not too often.  It goes to his head.
There he is checking out a bike.  Tom sells bikes among a million other things in his store but he's known as "bike boy."  I might be the only person that calls him that - I'm not sure. 
He not only sells bikes but he fixes them - as is clearly shown in the photo below.

                                                                        Tons 'o bikes.

                                          
                                                This is the sporting goods department.

         
                                                              Paint department.

Now I will take you into an area that few people have entered - the back room.  Little children are afraid of this room.  Legend has it that a small child wandered into this place several years ago and hasn't been seen since.  I might have made that up.
There's a bathroom back there but I'll spare you the picture of it.  I had to use it once and have had nightmares ever since.

 And Tom knows where everything is - believe me.  I've seen it, for real.  You ask for something obscure, a look comes into his eyes and off he goes - into this scary place - and returns with the item you requested.  It's spooky how he does that.

I've actually climbed this ladder into the loft (can't think of another word to describe this spot) and it's not for the faint of heart.

                                           Does your little red wagon need a tire - or two?

                                                            What is that thing, Tom?

                                                            Wanna buy a watch?
            

                                                          How about some shovels?

 
This is the mountain of empty boxes.  Sometime it's more of a hill than a mountain but when I need a box (I came here for my cat's casket when he died) of any size - I stop here first.

           Now let's go back into the main part of the store.  This is where many repairs take place.

   

I did not realize that Tom also repaired cars although it shouldn't surprise me.  I have parked my car at the curb before and asked if he had a battery for my ride.  Of course he did!  He did his disappearing act into the scary place and returned with just what I needed.  He even put it into my car for me.  What a guy!!!                                                         

               The business center or where Tom listens to NPR and reads my blog.  Right, Tom?

  If you're looking for that one last Matchbox car to complete your collection - guess where you can find it?
                              You'd better hurry, tho', doesn't look like there are many left.

Last but not least is the ceiling.  Or as Tom refers to it as "the floor on the ceiling."  The old metal kind.  Not a lot of these left.

Tom (ok, Tomas the Magnificent) is also my go-to guy for "Allegan info."  I can't tell you how many times I've been involved in a conversation and been stuck for a fact.  Someone with their wits about them always says, "Call, Tom."
And don't ever play opposite him in a game of Trivial Pursuit.  It's annoying; he knows a lot stuff.

If you're in the area and have a moment or nine - stop into Hunter's.  It's a magical, mystical world in there.