High Button Shoe

Good morning! Today is the in-between winter and spring day that I would just as soon stay under the covers and sleep. And I may do that later. The day itself is dreary and dark, with light rain, and wind. Inside the house is dark, even with lights on. And the wood fire doesn't want to take the chill off the house. Barefooted as usual, my feet are cold. And I have NO idea where my hunting socks are. ( I only own one pair of socks.) That's what I get for all that organizing of this winter! Can't find my only pair of trusted old wool hunting socks. If all else fails, I can take the liners out of my arctic packs and just wear them. Hum. Actually that sounds like a good idea. Wait a minute. I will be right back.

Ahhh, that feels better. Looks a little dorky, perhaps. But then my hunting socks don't put me on the best dressed list either. Come to think of it, I don't believe most of what I wear would put me anywhere near the best dressed list. Far from it. Today, along with the dark and dreary mood of outside, that has seeped into the house, I match the mood. Haven't even combed my hair yet. And you know when you have a ratty ponytail, no make up, your very outdated glasses on (no contacts in) and dorky boot liners on, that you are assured that somebody important will ring the doorbell!!!) I can tell this day is NOT going to be one of my more productive days. The wood stove's soft humming sound and the sound of the old clocks ticking, along with the darkness are the kinds of things that conjure up just curling up on the couch under the quilt with a good book. Whenever I actually take the time to sit like that and read, and try not to feel guilty doing so, I vision up Elspeth (Wendy) of www.pineberrylane.com . I ventured in the book store in town yesterday. Quite actually by mistake. I was going to the stamping store, only to find that they are no longer in business. But while I was that close, I browsed thru the book store. It is the most lovely place. I settled on 4 books, and glanced thru one last night. It is a personal letters accounts and recollections from soldiers of the First Battle of Manassas July 18-21, 1861 of the Civil War. The Civil War has always interested me and the men come alive to me, when I read about them and listen to their words in their letters. I never seem to find the time to read. Life always seems to get in the way. I should have put that in my list of non-resolutions for the year, reading more often. But I feel pretty good to even have gotten to April (!!!) with my non resolution of cleaning each day.

The cleaning has subsided some. You would think in 3 months WHAT could be left to clean? Apparently, much more. I have been working on new stock, and I must tell you learning that drated digital camera has created not only 7 more wrinkles in my forehead, and caused me to start muttering to myself, and rediscovered that nervous twitch I immediately developed after Ronnie picked up the answering machine from the display in Office Max, to see it better and possibly BUY it, thereby setting off every alarm in the entire showroom, and having every sales person descend on you. Do not EVER pick up anything at office max to look at it. It is a life altering experience, and after they FINALLY found somebody to turn off all the alarms, and you have lost 2/3 of your hearing in one ear, you discover you have a nervous twitch. Just take my word for it.

Anyway, after all that....I just ordered a new camera. Why not just pour cement in my head orifices?

I was JUST learning the other one! However, in an effort to give you more close-up pictures with some clarity, that the now camera doesn't seem to want to do, no matter WHAT page I read in the manual, and we all know my talents reading manuals (NOT), I will soon be pouring over the manual of the new camera, causing more frown lines and muttering, BUT I am determined to do this. So, if you see some decent looking pictures, either Beulah took them, OR I have mastered the new camera. I am currently without licorice or chocolate, as those ankle dimples I mentioned last fall that I would deal with in the spring, have surfaced. Without those two mental aids, I only have coffee, and coffee just does not work as good as chocolate.

BrunieMae, Beulah and me braved the elements (drated snow) and went to the Nashville show a few weeks ago. Brun's been keeping a low profile since then, so it must have done her in. Actually she is really busy getting the shop ready for spring. www.saltboxfarm.com We had our usual absolutely delightful day spent together. Met up with Robbie from The Old Granary (a shop in Quincy Mi) and her friend Bonnie, and spent a too short hour with our friend Holly Schmidt from WI. Ate a great lunch and headed home sooner than we wanted to avoid the snow. Brunie has awesome things planned for this year. She has a house tour of her home coming up soon, check her calendar of events for that date. Her house is a spectacular saltbox, impeccably decorated. Her excellent taste and personality shine in each room.

I promised you awhile ago to tell you why we are Clotilda and Beulah. I found the letter explaining that, not on our website, but rather here. http://www.highbuttonshoe.net/septembe.htm .

The others that followed..Miss Elspeth, Aunt Sepia, BrunieMae and Miss Permelia are cherished loved ones who were renamed, as exclusive souls of our travels. These names have taken us over.

I have been busy making new things. And taking those pictures! You can view new things on the website under the new items icon. http://www.highbuttonshoe.net/newitems.htm Beulah has broken the categories down into easy to find places. Notice the new graphics and layout. We have several more things to upload, as time permits. Of particular interest is the shoe in the folkart section. Took me a while to get it right (reading patterns ranks right up there with reading manuals..NOT), but Ronnie finally took over and as he is expert at blueprints & such, certainly can figure out a pattern, which he did, and after that the building of the shoe went along quite smoothly. Left to my own devices, never good, you would NOT be seeing a shoe. At best, perhaps just some torn fabric pieces, and evidence of many seam rip-outs.

The items that will be shown on ranting raven on April 1 are found NOW at http://www.highbuttonshoe.itemson.htm Scroll past the crow soup items that are on there first. We are showing a really primitive black face makedo, that took on personality as she went along. She is Minita Teachout. And a revival of Ertha, the makedo, due to recent demand. And our sugar cone, in bags. Having had these for a couple years, they have suddenly become THE hot thing around the country, so we are showing ours again. We are at http://www.rantingraven.com/Exhibit95.php, but it doesn't come out until late in the day. If Minita Teachout is not there, it isn't up yet!

Don't forget to set all your clocks ahead this weekend! I have too many clocks. It's those digital clocks that are a bugger to change. Like in the truck. I will leave it alone (manuals, remember?), until Ronnie can't stand it any longer and he changes it. I merely adjust mentally, knowing it is 3 minutes slow, and one hour off. No problem for me. He can't stand it. How did I ever make it to this century?

Come to think of it, what is wrong with living life 3 minutes slow and an hour off?

Thanks for asking to be a part of the farm.

I need to stoke up the fire and make some coffee. I have a date with a new book, and a quilt on the couch.

in fond regard,

Miss Clotilda