RECIPES & MEMORIES OF THE OLD LUMBERYARD & RESTAURANT (Part 2) Mineral Point, WI

 

THE OLD LUMBERYARD RESTAURANT & BAKERY

Hi - I'm Laura Crowley.  My husband Mort and I purchased the Old Lumberyard at the bottom of Commerce St. from Harold Compton in 1997 (our best guess without checking paperwork that is still packed somewhere). We've moved a lot in the last few years - buying - renovating - moving seems to be our thing.  

We are originally from Chicago.  Lived for a time in Spring Grove, IL and then traveled down to the Smokey Mts. and fell in love with the mountains and the weather.  We moved down there and built several homes.  But our heart was really the Midwest - it was really what felt like home to us.  So, we sold the several homes that we built near Gatlinburg, TN and moved back up north.  We were not sure where we were going to move to so we rented a condo in the suburbs of Chicago for a period of time (and a good friend in Spring Grove, IL stored all of our stuff).  We had a lot - a small silver trailer (an Avalon) an old school bus and tons of stuff - we are avid collectors.

We have friends that live in Baraboo, so we made an appointment to meet with a Realtor in that area.  Enroute, we stopped at a gas station, and I picked up a real estate book and we continued our travels.    Along the way, I came upon quite a few listings for a Historic City called Mineral Point, WI.  There were rock houses, many different styles of beautiful architecture, houses with several fireplaces...on and on.  Sounded like heaven. After some persuasion to alter our route to Baraboo, we entered the beautiful City of Mineral Point.  We instantly fell in love, it was like stepping back in time.   After cancelling our appointment in Baraboo, we located a Real Estate office in downtown Mineral Point. The Broker, Janet Jackson just happened to be in her office on High Street.  It was really closing time, but she graciously showed us all around the City.  We stayed at a motel on Hwy. 151 and made arrangements for Janet Jackson to show us buildings that were so sale the next day also. After a day of showing us so many beautiful places with so many possibilities, we wanted to buy everything.  Mort is a Contractor/Carpenter and Laura is a constant Idea Generator.  We returned to the motel that evening and talked over all of the exciting possibilities.  Mort was in favor of purchasing the Soda Pop Shop which did not require a lot of work/rehab and Laura's vote was for The Old Lumberyard. We are both driven by emotion - not reality....(we could really use adult supervision).  So, the Lumberyard it was.  After a little negotiating with the owner, it was ours, where would we start. We would spend all day in the buildings, walking from shed to shed, discussing all of the endless possibilities.  

We went back to our friend's house in Spring Grove, IL, that was storing our stuff. Laura pulled our little silver trailer with our truck and Mort drove our old School bus to our new home - The Old Lumberyard.  We parked our little silver trailer in between the sheds and slept/lived in there for a while.  Thank goodness Mr. Compton had built two bathrooms in the lumber shed that would become our house. There was electric in the lumber shed, so we could run extension cords out to the trailer.  

Stay Tuned for Part 3

But, in the meantime, here are TWO more FAVORITE RECIPES  

from the Old Lumberyard Restaurant & Bakery

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE COOKIES

1 3/4 Cups Flour

1/2 Cup Baking Cocoa

1 teas. baking soda

2 cups (12 oz) pkg. morsels, divided

1/3 cutter

1 1/4 cups (14 oz. can) Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 Egg

1 teas. vanilla extract

1/2 cup chopped nuts

For the Bakery, we would triple this recipe - this would be more appropriate for a family

Combine flour, cocoa & baking soda in a medium bowl.  Melt 1 cup morsels & butter in large, heavy saucepan over lowest possible eat, stirring until smooth.  Remove from hear.  Stir in sweetened condensed milk, egg & vanilla:  mix well.  Stir in flour mixture.  Stir in nuts & remaining morsels (dough will be soft) Drop dough by rounded tablespoon onto baking sheets.  Bake in preheated 300-degree oven for 20 minutes.  Remove from baking sheet to wire rack immediately.  Makes about 30 cookies.  

GOOEY CARMEL-PECAN ROLLS 

(We called them Sticky Buns at the Restaurant/Bakery)

We could not make enough of these - they sold out every single day - SO GOOD!

Bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees Rise 1 1/2 hrs. - Makes 12 rolls.  

4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 pkg. active dry yeast

1 cup milk

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter

1/2 teas. salt

1/4 teas - ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, finely shredded orange peel or finely shredded lemon peel (optional)

2 eggs

1/2 cup packed brown sugar.

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/3 cup butter

2/3 cup packed brown sugar.

3 tablespoons light-colored corn syrup

1 cup chopped pecans.

3 tablespoons butter, melted.

In a large mixing bowl stir together 2 cups of the flour and the yeast; set aside.  

In medium saucepan heat and stir milk, the 1/3 cup granulated sugar, the 1/4 cup butter, the salt and, if desired, a spice or peel just until warm (120 to 130 degrees) and butter almost melts.  Add milk mixture to dry mixture along with eggs.  Beat with electric mixer on low to medium speed 30 seconds, scraping side of bowl constantly.  Beat on high speed for 3 minutes.  Using a wooden spoon, stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can.  

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately soft dough that is smooth and elastic (3 to 5 minutes total) Shape dough into a ball.  Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface.  Cover; let rise in a warm place until double in size (about 1 hr.)

For Filling, in small bowl stir together the 1/2 cup brown sugar, the 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and the 1 teas cinnamon; set aside.  

While dough is resting, in a medium saucepan melt the 1/3 cup butter.  Stir in the 2/3 cup brown sugar and the corn syrup.  Cook and stir until combined.  Pour into an ungreased 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.

Sprinkle pecans over top.  Set aside.

Roll dough into an 18 x 10 in rectangle.  Brush dough with the melted butter.  Sprinkle filling over dough rectangle.  Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting from a long side.  Seal seam.  Slice roll into 12 equal pieces.  Place, cut sides down, in prepared pan.  Cover: let rise in a warm place until nearly double (about 30 minutes) Or, cover, rolls, loosely with plastic wrap, leaving room for rolls to rise.  Refrigerate for 2 - 24 hours.  Uncover and let stand in room temperature for 30 minutes. OR - we baked them right away every night after they rose a 2nd time.  

Bake in a 375-degree oven for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden.  Cool in pan for 5 minutes.  Invert rolls onto a wire rack or serving platter.  

NEXT BLOG PART 3 WILL INCLUDE MORE MEMORIES

 AND TWO MORE FAVORITE RECIPES 

 CHICKEN ENCHILLADAS WITH OUR HOMEMADE SALSA

 AND OUR 

DELICIOUS CINNAMON ROLLS

I'll post it on the Mineral Point Area Community Network Facebook Page

Thanks for looking - have fun baking. 

RECIPES & MEMORIES OF THE OLD LUMBERYARD RESTAURANT (Part 1) Mineral Point, WI

 

   Breakfast Menu 

The Old Lumberyard Restaurant & Bakery on Commerce St. 

In 1999, Mort & Laura Crowley stopped in Mineral Point, WI on their way to Baraboo, WI.  They had an appointment to look at some Real Estate in Baraboo.  Once we drove around Mineral Point, we never wanted to leave, and we didn't. The Crowley's ended up buying and renovating the Old Lumberyard Complex of Buildings & in the next few years several other businesses we built on the vacant land that was part of the sale.  In addition to building the Restaurant/Bakery and Storage Units,

one of the small buildings (an old train engineers building) was renovated and made into an overnight Tourist Cottage nightly rental.  An Antique Shoppe and a weekend Flea Market were opened in the long lumber shed that is right on Commerce St. . And then, we set up a produce stand with fresh veggies and seasonal goodies in the parking lot.  At Holiday time fresh Christmas trees and wreaths were sold in the parking lot that was lit up with strings of old fashioned big light bulbs.  

RECIPES FROM THE OLD LUMBERYARD BAKERY

We created, cooked and baked many great dishes and goodies everyday- always fresh and made from scratch.  Here are the super special, most requested items from the bakery cabinet and from our menus.   We sold approximately 350 pieces of bakery per day.  We catered many events (Lands' End, Alliant Energy and several other Companies and Organizations) in the area.  We even prepared and delivered complete Holiday Meals to individual's homes (on the Holiday).  Homemade beautiful cakes were also made for weddings and many special requests from our lovely, loyal patrons were created and delivered.   I still receive msg. from individuals about how much they loved and really miss our restaurant.  So, I thought - since we're not going back into the restaurant business (we are currently, still, renovating homes/buildings but, now in Upper Peninsula, MI) I would add a new post to my Blog with recipes from the bakery/restaurant.  SO, here are a few - if anyone else reading this thinks of something that they loved and would like me to share the recipe - I would be happy to....I saved all of my recipes.....

STREUSEL TOPPED BLUBERRY MUFFINS

Makes 1 dozen.

Streusel Ingredients

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons white sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons butter, cut up

Batter Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

2teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter 

3/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1/2 cup milk

Blueberries Plus flour to keep the blue in the blueberries..:)

1 1/2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries

1 - 2 tablespoons flour

Preheat oven to 375 degrees - grease or line 12 muffin cups...

combine 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon sale in medium bowl.  In small

bowl sprinkle 1 -2 tablespoons flour over blueberries, set aside.  (This simple trick will keep you from having 'purple' batter).  In mixer bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter with 3/4 cup sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, beating until smooth.  Add vanilla and lemon peel.  Remove beaters and fold in dry ingredients by hand, alternately with milk.  Fold in blueberries.  Remember, fold gently, don't stir.  Spoon batter into prepared cups.  Sprinkle with streusel topping mix. 

  TO MAKE STREUSEL TOPPING:  Combine 2 tablespoons flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teas. cinnamon. in a bowl.  Cut in 2 tab butter with fork or pastry blender until mixture resembles course crumbs. Bake 20 - 25 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean.  Cool in pans on wire rack.  These muffins freeze really well and re-heat in the microwave successfully - Enjoy.  

PEACHES & CREAM MUFFINS

Makes 24 muffins.

Ingredients:

2 cups canned peaches, drained (save juice)

4 cups flour

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoons sale

3 eggs

3/4 cup oil

2 cups milk

Filling:

8 oz. cream cheese

3/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon peach juice

1 teaspoon almond extract

Topping:

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Dice drained peaches to size of peas.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  In separate bowl combine eggs and oil.  then whisk in the milk.  combine egg and flour mixtures.  then fold in diced peaches.

For Filling, bet cream cheese, sugar, peach juice and almond extract.  Fill greased muffin tins half full of batter.  Drop 1 teaspoon of the filling into each muffin cup of the batter.  Top with 1 1/2 tablespoons more batter.

For topping:  mix cinnamon and sugar.  Sprinkle over muffins.  Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Best served warm.  

SPLIT PEA SOUP - served daily due to demand plus, always made a 2nd soup (a different each day)

Makes 2 qts. 6 - 8 servings

1 lb. green split peas

2 smokes ham hocks (about 1 1/2 lbs.) I used the ham bone from a daily special

2 celery ribs - finely chopped

1 med. onion, finely chopped

1 med carrot, finely chopped - I think I used several carrots

2 chicken bouillon cubes

1 teas. garlic powder

1 teas. salt

1/2 teas. pepper

1/2 teas. dried oregano

8 - 10 cups water

1 bay leaf

Combine all - bring to boil - reduce heat-simmer for 3 hrs. Remove and discard bay leaf, remove ham hock - cut off meat.  

I WILL BE POSTING A FEW MORE RECIPES AND MEMORIES OF OUR TIME AT THE OLD LUMBERYARD SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK.  I THINK I'M WORKING TOWARDS COMPILING A BOOK - WE'LL SEE....

Crowley's Renovation & Building Projects in Mineral Point, WI

Remembering My Mother

My dear mother died over 20 years ago.  I had to look in my bible to check the year that she passed as I just couldn't remember how long this world had been without her.  It seems like only yesterday that I spoke to her on the phone or how much I loved to see the huge smile on her face when she would see her grandchildren.  

There are different reasons that my mom comes into my mind...whether it be a scent, a song, a date, a picture or a place.  It always kind of catches me off guard - sometimes I smile at the memory and sometimes it catches in my throat.  She has been on my mind a lot these days.  I wonder if she's thinking of me also or if something is happening in her heavenly life.  Or it may be that I'm getting older and closer to the age that she was when she passed.  I'm not consciously aware of that - but maybe somewhere deep inside my soul - I know.  

My mom and dad are entombed in a vault in a different state then where I currently live.  They are side by side, as they wished. Soon after she passed, I bought a statue of an angel with praying hands.  When I saw it, I just knew that it would be a wonderful memory of my mom.  We buy fixer upper houses, do the remodel and then sell them.  So, we have moved many times since she passed, and she moves with us.  I have a sweet memory of my mom every time I catch a glimpse of this angel in my garden.   A vision of the thought of her. She is always lovingly placed in my perennial garden to enjoy the sun, a cool rain and the beauty of the flowers around her.  When she was with us, she always had a garden, and it was a peaceful place for her.  In the winter my angel goes into the potting shed.  Soon we will have a green house where she can reside in the winter months.  I place her where I can see her and say Good Morning, I love you and miss you, it's a beautiful day, or just talk to her for a while as I tend to my plants.  I still have a deep purple violet plant of hers that was in the middle of the kitchen table at my birth home.  It now sits on a baker's rack, in the window next to my bed.   

As I age, I think about if she were still alive.  Some of my friends are lucky enough to still have their moms with them, when they are in their 70's and their moms are in their 90's.  Aside from the obvious, I would really enjoy her because at my age I now feel like I really understand her so much more than I did when I was in my 50's (when she passed).  I now understand the struggles of aging and also the wisdom that comes with reaching my age.  I would so enjoy a conversation with her about what I'm experiencing and how I feel about it all, and see her nodding and smiling and saying, "I know".  I guess that I do that anyway and picture her listening to me and saying, "I understand". I pass things by her and ask her questions sometimes.  I think I already know the answer, after all, she raised me, and I find that we think a lot more alike than I ever realized.  She is my mom, whether she is here on earth or in her heavenly home, I will always love her, confide in her and ask for her advice.  I feel like she is always near, and I try and live my life accordingly.    

Room at the Top of the Stairs....

We are restoring a turn of the century Victorian home.  We have, what were called 'Servant's Quarters' on the upper level of the home.  I have gathered as much information as possible, through a 1930 census and have researched housekeepers, etc. in this area from that time period.  So, I decided to write a blog about what her life might have been like when she worked for the family that owned our lovely home.  

 Oh my, I am just so tired.  Such an incredibly long day.  And it's so hot.  As I trudged up the long narrow staircase to my third-floor room, I had to stop and try and grab a breath of air after walking up just a few stairs.  As I slowly climb up this tight, dark back stairway, I find it hard to even take a full deep breath.  Today had to have been the hottest day of this summer. No breeze, just heavy, hot, wet air.   

As soon as I finally reach my room, I plop down on my bed, take off my heavy shoes and thick stockings.   Standing up, I untie my apron and loosen the buttons on my skirt and blouse.   I finally start to feel a little relief.  Taking my handkerchief from my skirt pocket, I dampened it with water from the wash basin on my dressing table.  Holding it to my face and neck, even though it was warm, I felt some relief. The handkerchief would warm up quickly, so I kept dipping it in the wash basin and reapplying to my face and neck.    Lifting my skirt above my knees, I stretch my legs out and put my bare feet up on the windowsill.  No real breeze, but dusk was approaching, and hopefully it might start to cool down a bit. 

I wear a uniform Monday through Saturday.   My uniform is a full gray skirt with a plain white cotton blouse and a white or black apron. Black is for dinner and when we have guests.  White is a full apron for everyday housework, cooking, cleaning and taking care of the children.  My stockings are soft cotton, black in color and my shoes are black and practical.  I also wear a little round white hat that has netting into which I tuck my hair.  The lady of the house told me that she picked out the material to have a summer uniform skirt made for me and that it should be ready in a few weeks.  The wool uniform skirt that I wear is heavy and is hot even in the winter.    

I am the housekeeper, cook, and nanny for a very nice family in Menominee, MI.  Where I sleep is still referred to as "Servants Quarters", but we are no longer called "Servants".  Acquaintances of mine that have the same job responsibilities that I have, are referred to by many different titles.  I am mostly called Susan, which is my name.  The children refer to me as 'Mrs' which is what a lot of female house help is called whether they are married or not.  I am not married but hope to be someday.  The family I work for is younger and the home that we live in is modest in contrast to many other very formal homes in the city.  The Master of the house works in the logging industry.      

 A summer rainstorm would be welcome tonight.  It would cool the air and the dampness. I lean back and close my eyes and try to imagine a cool breeze blowing on my face.  Did I imagine that or was the air actually starting to move.  I peeked out of my window and could see dark clouds in the distance. Maybe the air is beginning to move a little.   I wouldn't even mind thunder and lightning tonight...anything to cool down the temperature.  I reached for a piece of cardboard that I keep on my dressing table that I fashioned into a fan.  Fanning my damp face helped a bit.  I was too tired to care, and I fell asleep.  I woke up to thunder and constant lightening.  Normally it would kind of scare me, being on the top floor and all, but tonight, I thanked the Lord for this wind and rain.  I closed my window almost all of the way but could still feel a nice breeze sneaking in from the crack I left at the bottom. The lady of the house rang and then called up from the stairwell to make sure that I had closed the window.  I told her that I had, and she wished me a goodnight sleep because she said that tomorrow was going to be a very busy day.  

I got into my sleeping gown and curled up on my bed.  I hung a scarf over my lace curtain to block the constant flashing of lightning and flipped my pillow to get the cool side.  The storm was slowing down, so I opened my window, and a nice cool breeze filled my room. Looking up at the ceiling, I smiled thinking about how much I loved this dingy little room up here on the third floor. I think of myself as a princess living in the tower of a castle, looking down at my kingdom.  I have never had a room of my very own.  I have to work very hard to have it and to keep it. 

 It is 1910 and I arrived here from Germany, about two years ago. My aunt and uncle, my mom's sister and brother-in-law were already living here in the United States. They found this job for me and so I traveled from Germany to the US to start my new job. It is a hard job, taking care of this large home, assisting the cook with the meals for four family members and taking care of their little one. The cook and I also prepare food for the other workers at this home, the groomsmen and the gardener.  I awaken at 4 a.m. each morning and am busy all day.  I finally get to head up the stairs to my room, at about 7 p.m. Depending upon the time of the year, my room is either freezing cold or smothering hot.  I open up my Bible and pick up reading where I last left off.  A picture of my mother, father, grandmother and grandfather serves as my bookmark. Touching each one of them, I tell them that I love them and miss them before closing my Bible until tomorrow night.  I wash myself, put on my sleeping gown, hang my uniform up in front of the window to air it out and lay my head down for the night. 

Thank goodness, the lady of the house is still nursing her youngest child. When the baby wakes up during the night, I hear him, but the mistress gets up to feed her son and does not require my assistance   She is a good Christain woman, who loves her home and her family.  Even though I work for the family and am not related, I am treated like I am a part of the family.   She entrusts me with their home, assisting with the cooking and serving of their meals and very often I take care of the baby so that she can occasionally takes a much-needed nap. 

I so love to curl up and take naps on my day off, which is Sunday.  I fall asleep so easily and sleep so deeply knowing that I don't have anything that I have to do, or anywhere that I have to be. 

On my Sunday, day off, I usually go to the earliest church service and then I have the whole day to myself.  I either visit with my aunt and uncle or just walk around in the downtown retail district.  I love to take my time and really look at the shoppes that display fine women's clothing or beautifully crafted household furniture.  Even though I can't afford any of the clothes from a store, I notice that women's clothing always looked the same for quite some time, always practical and durable. Lately I've noticed that it seems to all be changing. Woman's fashions are now much more colorful, decorative and attractive. I stand there, picturing myself walking into one of these shoppes one day and being able to buy anything I want and walk out with lots of bags on my arms and a smart looking hat on my head.  

When the weather is nice, I walk down to the Bay which is only a few minutes from this home.  I enjoy watching the activities on the beach and in the water.  Then, I come back to my room, clean a little, wash my uniform and listen to my cherished music box that my mom gave me when I left Germany.   I take the back staircase down to the pantry to pick up some leftover food for my meals on Sunday.  Sometimes, the master of the house surprises all of us with some sweet treats from the local baker.  

The last time I visited with my aunt and uncle, they kindly gave me a gift of a sturdy pencil and a thick lined pad of paper.  I had told them that I always had a story going on in my mind and that I wished that I could write them down so that it is not forgotten.  And they remembered.  They have always been good to me.  I am always glad that I have some family here in the US, it makes missing my family in Germany a little less painful. I think I will divide this pad of paper into two parts, one for my stories and one to write letters to my family.   

Some Sundays, at around noon, I pack a few leftovers into a sack and head for the bay shore to eat my lunch.  I meet up with several of the other ladies that are housekeepers for other families in town.  We chatter about our week and all of the goings on with the families that we work for, but mostly we talk about our dreams and what we hope happens in our lives.  It's usually about being wealthy, finding love and having beautiful babies and a big house.  I just go along with the conversation but really, I want to move out into the country, grow my own food, have animals and farm like my parents and grandparents. In the stories that are always in my mind, I have decided that I am going to have a strong loving husband, two boys and a girl. I have already picked out their names. The two boys would be born first and when their little sister would come along. They would watch over and protect her always. The two boys would be named Arnold and Gerald.  My little girl would be named Marie, after my mother.  We would wake up each day and get the fire going in the stove and make a big breakfast for us all to enjoy.  The children would go off and do their chores and then play for the rest of the day.  My husband would get up from our big breakfast, hug us all and head out to the barn and then out to the fields in the spring, summer and fall.  In the winter he would still need to head out to the barn, to feed and check on our animals. I would clean up the kitchen from breakfast and take out some of the starter to make several loaves of sourdough bread. After mixing more flour into the starter, I would put it in my big bowl, cover it and set it on top of the cook stove to rise.  I would separate the dough into three parts, two for loaves of bread and one to roll out and cut into noodles for chicken soup.  After cutting the dough into noodles, I would let them dry and begin making the big pot of chicken soup. 

 Well, someday.... all of the girls were getting up and shaking the sand out of their skirts and shoes.  I guess I should go also.  I need to wash out my clothes for the next day and tidy up my room.   

My room isn't much - but it was mine.  A place I could be alone with my thoughts and dream about my future.  The family I work for gave me a nice bed with adequate blankets and a pillow, a small dressing table and a set of drawers to store my clothes.  I keep my special things in the travel chest that came with me from Germany.  There were a few hooks on the walls where I would hang my uniform to air out and dry.  I had a pitcher for water, a big wash basin and some towels to wash up at night and in the morning.  There was indoor plumbing.  It was on the 1st floor right off of the pantry where I and the other folks that worked for this home would use.  I always tried to be quick because I always felt that another person could come in at any moment, so I would push my foot up against the door.  When you were using the facilities, you could hear the voices and activities of the family members talking in nearby rooms, so, I always just wanted to get back up to my room.  

During the night, I could hear the clock in the sitting room strike every hour, so I knew what time it was by the number of strikes.  I would arise at 4:00 a.m., wash myself, put on my uniform, brush and tuck my hair into my net, and go down the back stairs to the pantry. Getting the coffee ready was most important because the other folks that worked at this house, who lived out in the carriage house would be up early and would want to get their day started.  The cook does not live in the house, so she arrives after I make the coffee and so, she begins her day of cooking and baking. She is always grateful for the smell and taste of coffee when she walks into the door each morning - especially in the colder months.  The other workers would grumble and growl if the coffee wasn't hot, strong and ready for them when they would knock at the back door.  They would only come into the house to use the facilities and to pick up their meals.  I would sometimes put out baked goods that the cook had made the day before and they would scoop them up and be out of the kitchen before the family arose. They were several older men who didn't really talk much, but I know that they appreciated little special things that I would do for them.  Like me, they all moved here to the US leaving family behind. I am sure that they missed so many things about their country and their families.  I always hoped that a smile and a sweet treat would help them and their day. 

 

LAURA MAKES A LOT OF GNOMES

   

 

 A friend of mine has a really creative concept store.  She only opens five days a month.... has quite a few vendors and fills her shoppe.  Also...pretty much sells out her shoppe every month.  It doesn't make it any less work being open 5 days a month...staging and switching out the store every month, dealing with many vendors and tons of customers in a short period of time (waiting at the door for her to open).  

I've always been into crafts...mostly buying the stuff to make things...and big plans to someday actually make something.  But, working more than full time got into the way of my doing...but I loved the messing around with the fabrics, etc. and imagining what it could be.  One day standing at the cutting table in a fabric store, a group of others and I laughed about whether our hobby was to actually make something...or just buy fabric.  From the look of my more than full extra bedroom...I would say a bit of both.  

I started seeing gnomes and thought they were cute (a few years ago).  I had always loved magical, mystical creatures...but didn't really have the time to do anything more than just fantasize about their magical lives.  But, one day, I decided to try my hand at making a gnome...and it turned out so cute...so I made more, changing colors and fabrics.  I sent them to my friend's store, and they sold out rather quickly.  I thought...wow. That was fun...going to make more.  So, I did...that was 3 years ago and 100's of gnomes later.  We moved and I would still ship to her every month...gnomes.  She decided that she was not quite up to the size of the store anymore, etc. and cut her store space in 1/2 and was only going to allow family to be the vendors.  

FAST FORWARD:  I am now retired (sort of...my husband and I are restoring two homes...a log cabin and a Victorian).  SO... I am making gnomes that take me a lot more time, because I am really spending time making each one unique and pretty much making all of the parts and pieces.  I see some of the gnomes that people (make) assemble with all Hobby Lobby parts, and they are cute, but not the imaginary, mystical gnomes that I picture (that they really are...folklore).  They are dentists, chefs, cowboys, etc. and the only part that seems to make them a gnome is a round nose and a beard.  Whatever makes you happy...I'm just not into that.  I love creating gnomes that look like they really live and work in the woods, making our world a better place.  I like to think that there are gnomes keeping the home fires burning, keeping a pot of stew warm for the hard-working gnomes and mend and fix their clothing and tools.  I love to think of them tending to the trees, plants, animals, birds and flora of our planet.  That despite what we do as humans, they are always there quietly keeping a balance in nature.  I've always loved 'fantasy' movies and stories. And I think that we need more fantasy in this world these days. It's a happy escape to the realm of color, wonder and hope.  And I'm hoping that my gnomes will end up in every one of your homes to bring the wonder of fantasy and the color of happiness and good luck to you.  

Will be opening my Etsy Shoppe again....maybe...having too much fun making for friends and myself.  

 

THE FRIENDSHIP PATH

 

My husband and I are always on the hunt for older homes to renovate.  The ones that we are particularly interested in are inexpensive because they are in need of work that most people wouldn't attempt. But the seems to be what we are always attracted to...a total gut and renovation.  We see these potential future projects on-line or in a real estate flyer.  We would find out where they were and we would start with a drive by.  If the home looked abandoned...which most of the ones we are attracted to, are...we would get out and have a walk around the house and buildings.   We would each walk in our own direction and look at the areas that were most interesting to each of us.  My husband is a carpenter/contractor and is looking at it from a structural standpoint.  I am the dreamer.  I can clearly see what needs to be done (after years of being married to a contractor/ carpenter) and begin devising a plan of how we would fix this old girl, and how we would bring it back to its original beauty..plus.   I always think of the houses as female and the outbuildings as male. 

We are currently working on two buildings/houses at the same time.

One of them is a log cabin from the 1800's that had a 'Keep Out' sign posted on it, which automatically piqued our interest (of course).

The other home we are working on is a Victorian home from the turn of the century that needs all kinds of MW...major work.  

 When we are interested, we then need to call the listing Realtor for a conversation, and a look see inside.  As we cruise through these properties/houses with realtors, the properties were usually so beat up that the realtors have a hard time pointing out anything positive.  We don't really listen to the realtors any way, we just need them to get us into the property.  We've refurbished enough homes/properties that we know what the structural 'musts' have to be, the rest is cosmetic, poor use of space, materials/colors or a wide range of things that probably not many would take on, but of course... WE WOULD.   I'm sure the realtors walked away shaking their heads...but, we try to stay in touch and invite them back when the projects are complete and they are amazed...we aren't, 

we could picture what it was going to become from the very beginning.  

When spring/summer came, I went out into the yards of both properties.  The log cabin is on 40 acres and the Victorian had a small backyard/front yard.  At both properties, I would sit in a lawn chair, while our two dogs ran around and envisioned my plan for these spaces.   After drawing layouts for a few days, I began work on the smaller yard of the Victorian, while my husband was doing some nasty, dirty work on the inside.  My plan was to get rid of most of the grass, put in gravel walkways and build a lot of perennial beds.  When I stuck my shovel down into the ground, I hit something hard, so I continued to dig up the grass and found some laid brick. I scrapped up the overgrown grass and followed that brick path from our home to the fence of the house next door. 

I sat down for a rest and a drink of iced tea and wondered why this brick path was in our yard leading to the house next door.  The two houses are about the same age, so I don't believe that the next-door property belonged to this house at some point in time.  My husband suggested that it was a path that the neighbors used to go back and forth.  That made sense.  The next-door neighbor had already taken down the wire fencing and put up a secure wooden fence.  We followed suit so that we could safely let our dogs out.  We rolled up the old wire fence and saved the gate and erected a secure wooden fence.  At some point, the neighbors may have had a gate at the end of the walk into the others backyard.  

Being a writer/blogger/photographer, I began to imagine and create a story about this brick path and these two neighbors of yesteryear.  

I'm going to call these neighbors Mr. & Mrs. Russell and Mr. & Mrs. Vander 

 (Bob and Betty Russell & Jean and Albert Vander). 

They purchased their new homes in Menominee, MI in 1900.  They each had two children and were so excited to be on their own, their very own first home.  

One day while they were moving their things into their new homes, Betty and Jean spotted each other and waved - said "Hi Neighbor".  Bob and Albert had already exchanged head nods in the alley as they were unloading boxes from their cars into their garages.   

Monday morning Bob and Albert headed off to work, and the four children headed off to school leaving Betty and Jean to unpack and make this new beautiful home 'their own'.  

While hanging a clothesline in the backyard Betty saw Jean struggling with a large chair, trying to get it into the backdoor.  She walked over to help her.  

And, so began the friendship that would last for decades.  

The pathway between these friends' houses became worn from daily travel and muddy when it would rain.  So, the two husbands decided to lay brick to make it easier for their wives to visit.  And, they would, every day, rain or shine, winter or summer.  It was an important visit for each of them.  They would discuss the weather, their families, recipes, other neighbors and their lives.  They have been in each other's homes, but they really enjoyed their visits at the fence, didn't have to worry about having a sink full of dirty dishes or unmade beds...just visit...

Eventually, as they aged, they put benches by the fence so they could comfortably sit and visit.  

Betty passed first and Jean would still walk out to the fence and sit for a while, thinking about all of their conversations and how much she missed her friend.  She would whisper to Betty, hoping that she could somehow hear her quiet words.  As she got older, it became not safe for Jean to walk over to the fence, but, she would still visit with her friend each day, from a dining room window. 

The children of Betty and Jean knew about their friendship and after they were both deceased, they planted a flower garden on each side of the fence in honor of their moms and their deep friendship.  Those flower gardens are there to this day.  They had not been cared for in years and my plan is to clean up my side, add perennials and place a statue that I bought of two angels sitting on a bench in the center of this little friendship garden.  

As I turn over the dirt of this special meeting spot,

 I think of them visiting and chatting away in Heaven.   

This is a story based on some fact...but, mostly based on my thoughts that are always working on a story.  The above picture of the brick walk is real and does go from our home to next door...I did not realize at first that there were flowers by the fence until some scrub trees were cut down because of the erection of the new fence...then suddenly we had red poppies, lily of the valley, lilies and ferns that had been trapped and shaded by these scrub trees.  We now have cleaned up the bed and added to it.  I found a statue of two angels sitting on a bench.  It sits prominently in this friendship garden.  I have one more angel in my garden and it is one I purchased soon after my own mother passed.  She sits out in the middle of beautiful perennial gardens, feeling the warmth of the sun, the refreshing rain and watches the seasons come and go. I picture these two friends sitting in heaven's gardens having endless conversations.  And, maybe my mom is sitting nearby enjoying all of the beautiful gardens too....