Hello Friends!

What a beautiful moon this evening!  I love it in the early evening when it’s still low, large and luminous. And when I see it as I’m finishing up errands, it’s like an extra benefit.  Being able to check things off the list AND beauty: win-win.

Well, today was class five of the seven quilting classes. We all put our blocks out in a three by four array and then everybody offered suggestions on how to arrange them.  I told them that they were going to have to come over every time I make a quilt now, to help put the blocks in a great pattern.  It was a community effort!

Our job after that was to start sewing the blocks together with the sashing to make two rows. Then we learned how to sew the cornerstones and the sashing together to make a long row that goes on top, in between, and underneath the two rows we had sewn together.

For next week, we cut the border fabric for both the big quilt and the smaller sampler on which we’ll learn how to bind.

It was a great class with lots of laughing. Oh, and I told them about the trip to Nova Scotia and filled them in on the story of the Acadians and their forced departure from the land they reclaimed. (See “Welcome Fall,” a post from October)

********nope**********************not here, either***********

Michael’s in Rochester has closed.

I know, I know, I was shocked, too. The hubster has offered an explanation: with the huge expansion of the Mayo Clinic, the property values in downtown Rochester have skyrocketed.  Businesses are leaving/relocating  because the rent is now too high and is cutting into profit.

But how can Rochester even BE without Michael’s and their wonderful front door, their classy decor, their multitude of autographed photos of the stars and dignitaries who came to eat there while being seen at the clinic, and, most of all, their great food? Where will we get onion rings?  Where will we get decent Greek food? And what about steak and prime rib?

As I grew up, everything changed. Red Wing changed. Rochester changed. I changed.  But Michael’s was always there.

And now it’s not.

Jane Belau wrote a poem on December 31, the night that Michael’s closed. It was published in the Post Bulletin.  Here it is:

Michaels

Michaels

The place to meet

Ah, Michaels

The place to eat

And as always

Good friends to greet.

A place with antiques and art

And, most importantly, heart!

 

Ah, Michaels

Where the steaks are great

The lobsters fine

Great choice of wine

Onion rings and garlic toast

Coffee of the finest roast

 

Ah, Michaels

Where the Pappas family

Is like our own

We’re loved and known.

Always welcomed

with a smile

The wait staff always served with style.

 

Ah, Michaels

And all our friends,

The time has come

We’re near the end.

Tears fill our eyes

It’s no surprise

This stunning enterprise

We hope will come back

another day

Just to hear Michael say,

Where ya been?

Have a Coke or a beer

All our friends are here.

 

But for now

we are done.

May God bless us every one.

 

So say goodbye

And try

To raise a cheer

Of thanks in the brand new year.

 

Thanks, Karen, for sending me the clipping. I will miss going to Michael’s.  It was always a special place.

Love you all,

Janet