Ann Hutchins and I had noon tickets -- this was the way in

My two categories were "glass" and "textiles" once inside no more photos-- I found my category that led into the center of the room where all the appraisers sat and also filming was taking place.

Kathleen Bailey, from Issaquah, WA, assessed this pressed glass pitcher as from the 1860s and worth about $150! That was more than I thought since I had looked on ebay and most of these went for about $35, although not with the unusual pouring spout.

Deborah Miller, from Deborah Miller Appraisals, said this cape was turn of the Century -- 1900s, had Chantilly lace, machine made fabric and was typical of the time. Worth about $85.

This is a Victorian cape, hand sewn. I remember it was a part of a costume for the Centennial at Wisconsin Dells. I also had a costume, I was maybe 8 or 10.

I have always loved this glass pitcher from my Grandma Landt. It has a face for the pouring spout.

This little Cinderella group was, I think, from my Mom's mother, Grandma Loucks.

Great visit with our friends Daniel and Renae on "home leave" from the diplomatic corps. Great trekking stories.

Bachi, their new dog, peeking out from behind Daniel. She got along great with George and Rosie.

Gift from Daniel and Renae ... "Beware of Dog" in English and Nepali portraits of George and Rosie .. now THAT is a one of a kind!

ornamental garden ... the deer have been picking my flowers

Sage and wild bergamot and fragrant hyssop ready to flower

baby tree swallow peeks out -- almost ready to fledge

Bob's bees like this birdbath for some reason

These bees are numerous and busy, but quite calm

busy bees - some days they each make up to 70 trips to and from the flowers

Here is a letter I wrote to the city council -- also had a letter to the editor published. Another cause to fight for!! Dear Lake Elmo City Council, I attended the May 3 Council meeting regarding the library options for Lake Elmo and my husband and I will be there on May 17. I would urge you not to count on the Washington County Library System to look after our interests in Lake Elmo. Obviously, it is not in their interest to tell us before June 30 they are closing our library. If I understand this correctly, it would mean they lose a year’s worth of revenue, as we would opt out. They are obligated to give us library service for that revenue, but they decide what, where and when. I, for one, resent the “boutique” label given to our library by the Washington County System. It seems condescending. The people in charge of the Washington County System see Woodbury and that beautiful, huge library as the ideal, and expect us all to be happy to go there. However, we are a very different community from Woodbury. I think we should decide what kind of a community we want to be, and that should be reflected in the library we support. I do not think of Lake Elmo as a “boutique” community. We have ties to an older history and have a solid sense of community pride. We need to have our own library and not just a kiosk system where books are ordered online and delivered to a “locker.” We need a library that is a meeting place and a resource for all community members, not just those who already know what they want and have internet access to order online. There are many possibilities for the future of the Rosalie E. Wahl Library in Lake Elmo such as a place for preserving historical archives; a comfortable place for residents to sit and read such as an elderly man who comes to the library every day to read the newspaper; a place that encourages children to read, literacy programs and public access to theinternet. However, none of this will happen if the status of the library is always up in the air.

I designed this card. Go Dems!!