Musings Newsletter

Be sure to visit ChinDeep.com every Friday to discuss the latest hot topic. Inspirations, travel, restaurant and book reviews and more.

one lovely blog award

March 2, 2012
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one lovely blog award

My friend Alice Phillips, of Ally’s Kitchen, surprised me by giving me this award a few weeks ago. What an honor!  This award comes with a few questions for the recipients to answer, and I’ve been looking at them, thinking about my answers since I received the award. Along with sharing a little bit about myself, I am to pass this award on to five other bloggers. Describe yourself in 7 words~~ creative, outgoing, adventurous, loyal, generous, funny and loving What keeps you up at night? ~~ Not being able to turn off my brain. I’m going in so many directions right now, between writing, cooking, photographing, painting, parenting, being a wife, being a friend and taking care of a house, there’s a lot to think about. Over the...

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thrift store score

February 28, 2012
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thrift store score

Funny how I can find something every single time I go thrifting in this darling, sleepy town. Red Wing really is sleepy in the winter. Not a lot of action. When we first moved here I couldn’t believe how everything closed up so early during the week. I would walk uptown, listen to the knell of of a dozen church bells, watch the street lights turn on, shedding a sort of tangerine glow…and I almost expected tumbleweeds to go rolling by. At the time I thought, “Oh no. What did we do? Why in the world did we move here? There isn’t even a Target!” After thirteen years it really has grown on me. (And now we do have a Target.) I like that the shops have an early...

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quilting and dinner with clare

February 24, 2012
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quilting and dinner with clare

Here are some scenes from the last creativity evening with my friend Clare. I decided on the pattern I want to use for my wooly quilt and started cutting the pieces out on Tuesday. Very excited about this project! This weekend I’ll be felting a bunch of wool sweaters and making some felted mittens and purses. Snow is falling softly in the Mississippi river valley, and it’s got me thinking about all the things that make me grateful for this season. Crusty Dutch oven bread with melty butter, yarn in all colors, thicknesses and textures, fireside suppers with Jeff and Grace, walks in the snow and returning home and warming up with soup, talented friends that share their knowledge with me, kitties, conversations in cafes and tearooms with people...

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scenes from a girlfriends’ weekend

January 22, 2012
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scenes from a girlfriends’ weekend

I just returned home from the best weekend ever! I got to spend time with by BFF Jana. What a fun, relaxing couple of days. Thanks Jana! I thought I’d share our adventure with you and include some restaurant reviews, wine tasting notes and movie reviews while I’m at it. Yesterday I arrived just in time for an early lunch and Jana had a table full of some of our favorite things…brie with honey and baguette, endive leaves spread with a wonderful, creamy bleu cheese, pita, Holy Land hummus (which is knock-your-socks-off yummy….LOVE the garlic!)…fresh veggies and veggie dip. We chatted…sipped THIS WINE and laughed our heads off while watching THIS MOVIE. Can I just say, some of the best vino…and one of the funniest movies on the planet....

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a new adventure

January 12, 2012
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a new adventure

McSorley Monarch by Melissa Placzek “Following all the rules leaves a completed checklist. Following your heart achieves a completed you.” ~ Ray Davis Well, it’s the end of our “summer in January” here in Minnesota. We had a really good run though! To be able to walk uptown to get a coffee without  bundling up in multiple layers this time of year is really saying something. Alas, the snow has returned and now I feel like hibernating, making soup, baking bread and doing all of the other cozy things that make winter feel like winter. I have to admit the snow-free Christmas was a little strange. Other than all of the writing I’ve been doing, I’ve also been knitting, crocheting, and recently started working on a quilt with my...

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winter : king of intimate delights

November 20, 2011
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winter : king of intimate delights

“O Winter! ruler of the inverted year, . . . I crown thee king of intimate delights, Fireside enjoyments, home-born happiness, And all the comforts that the lowly roof Of undisturb’d Retirement, and the hours Of long uninterrupted evening, know.” ~William Cowper Today my daughter Andrea and my grandgirl, Maddie May, came over for tea. We spent a couple hours talking and playing (and trying to watch a movie, but Madeline wouldn’t have that…) They went home so Maddie could take a nap…Jeff and Gracie went into Minneapolis on a photography mission…and I found a few undisturbed hours to cook, write, plan this week’s menu, listen to THIS, have tea in front of the fireplace with my Mary Jane’s Farm and Victoria magazines, plan two Thanksgiving menus and take...

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jade

October 21, 2011
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jade

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive.”  ~Anäis Nin My dear friend Dana came down to Red Wing last week and we had a great time. It was so lovely to be able to sit and talk over tea and lunch. A great afternoon for catching up. When she walked through the front door she greeted me with a basket of presents (yay!) Among the treats was a little Jade plant, and a card describing how the Jade is a symbol of friendship. I never knew that this little botanical gem is also called the “friendship tree.” What a sweet and heartfelt gesture. Thanks Dana! Love you! ~Melissa

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little luxuries ~ library books, lunch and a latte

September 7, 2011
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little luxuries ~ library books, lunch and a latte

Can you believe summer vacation is over? Did you get everything on your “summer list” accomplished? I sure didn’t. I’ll put the last few unfinished items back in the summer folder and unearth them when June rolls around again. I am astounded by how quickly time passes. Yesterday was the first day of school for Gracie. I spent a few solid hours in my home studio, writing and editing photos. Then I started to feel a little restless. Jeff was at a business meeting and the house was just too darn quiet. The sun was shining in a perfect blue sky and calling me to come out and play… So, I decided to go for a little solo adventure downtown Red Wing. First stop: the library to pick up...

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biking at colvill and the book nook

August 23, 2011
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biking at colvill and the book nook

there is something so refreshing about feeling the cool breeze in your hair as you sail down the sidewalk on a street shaded by trees. a patchouli-like scent as you pass the bluff. mossy. fragrant. like wet, autumn leaves. today we took our bikes up to colvill park. another beautiful place next to the river. once you reach the park there is a shaded path that passes the aquatic center and little miss marina. the dappled light that cascades over the bike path is dreamy. THIS SONG was playing over the speakers at the water park when we passed by. it made me want to buy a 50′s-style swim suit and a transistor radio. on our way home i stopped in at my friend Nancy’s “book nook” and bought...

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day zero update ~ red bicyclette

August 11, 2011
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day zero update ~ red bicyclette

~day zero update~ Remember the Day Zero Project? Well, I’ve checked 33 out of the 101 items off the list! The most recent: #31- Visit Hollywood sign #32- Go on a quest for the ultimate fish taco #33- Visit Venice Beach #34- Visit Manhattan and Redondo Beaches #45- Pay for the person behind me at Caribou and…..drumroll…. #47- Buy a new bicycle! When I was five I got my first new bike. It was a red Schwinn with a basket, horn and training wheels. My grandpa, Papa, taught me how to ride it at a nearby baseball diamond. I’m not sure what happened to that little bike, but ever since then I’ve believed that all bicycles should be Schwinn and they should be RED. I’m excited to take her...

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