Night from hell

 Well, this is the worst night I have had in the last three days. 

So, food is the topic these days. My people in Winnipeg are starving. They aren't getting any food. I didn't think this type of thing could happen in this day and age. It is absolutely evil to let people go hungry. 

So, I have 7 brothers and sisters who should be able to help but, it appears, they have gone missing. 

I just phoned Red River Insurance @ 1- 204- 371- 5835 to ask why I wasn't responded to when I tried to insure my quilt/ pillow case/ novel inventory three years ago. I would not suggest you call this number because the man who used to be working for Red River Insurance lived in Kleefeld, not Altona, and his name was Dave Dueck, not Abe Dueck as the voicemail says. Furthermore, nobody would ever be 'calling home' if they were trying to reach this company but that is what my phone said... when I called that number it said I was 'calling home.' Now, there is something very wrong with my I-phone if it thinks I am 'calling home' when I call that insurance company.

Just to see if they're still in business, try calling that number if you have Red River Insurance... to see if they're still in business. 

Whoever calls, please check the policy for 225 5th Avenue, N.E., in Dauphin. This tiny house was insured by Red River.

Freedom of...

 When I went to McNally Robinson for the debut of my novel, in May of 2013,                                   The Orchard Walk El Dueck, had come off the presses in December of 2012. The reason I put 2013 as the year of publication is because the company I hired to print my novel said they couldn't guarantee that it would be ready for Christmas. So, I self- published my novel and all the myriad decisions that I had to make all hinged on 'when the printer could get my novel ready for me.'

    If you look up my Pinterest page 'Quilted Stories,' you will find some fabric examples that I used in the 'representational quilt' I made for that time. I purchased a 'Four Freedoms' fabric and incorporated it into this quilt and there are some more that I photographed during that time. The photo of the quilt I had 'in progress' is also featured under the heading 'Testing out a quilt pattern... The Orchard Walk quilt.' https://ca.pinterest.com/eldueck/quilted-stories/  Scroll over the light grey link to go to the page mentioned.

    Freedom of... all the good things we all celebrate and value was a very central theme of my novel. So, the 'four freedoms' fabric was one of the many fabrics I chose for this particular quilt... I have made so many more since this time. I currently have many finished and am always working on 'another one.' Some I've given away, some I save for the 'representational' value of linking my writing with my quilt making and pillow case making.

    People might say that 'freedom of speech' is most valuable. Well, the fact that a 'unknown' writer, such as myself, can produce a 'historical fiction novel' and self- publish it, following the rules of publishing within the 'district' that the laws encompass, is evidence of the fact that I do, indeed, live in a free country where free speech is still valued. One 'avenue' of free speech, these days, might be your cellphone. Can you use your cellphone to reach out to someone who might be able to help you? Since, possibly temporarily, moving almost four hours away from my home town of Winnipeg, I send a lot of text messages.

Some might say 'freedom of worship' is most valuable.

Some might say 'freedom from want' is most valuable. That wonderful depiction of a big turkey being brought to the table and a group of people all enjoying so much food is what can always be enjoyed in a country that values the freedom to live. Plenty of food is often the evidence of a society that has the freedom to work and produce. A time of war creates 'want,' it doesn't relieve 'want.' 

    'Freedom from fear'... oh, this is a very precious freedom, indeed. This may just be the most difficult freedom to uphold. This freedom cannot even be absolutely proven but there will be many signs if a person is living in fear.

    So, let's talk about what people fear and how we can ensure that we protect our children and grandchildren, let's say. I will relay a little of my own life story to apply this directly to myself and my children and grandchildren. 

    I have feared being harmed by other people... hit, assaulted in some way, abused in some way. I know my children have feared these things as well. One thing a abuser will often say to people they are manipulating is, "Don't you say...," in a threatening voice. I have defended a person was crying, holding broken glasses and nursing a face wound. I was big and pregnant at the time but there was nobody else around to help so I only had two choices, help or ignore what was happening right in the home I was in at that time. I don't really know what it is about people who help versus people who ignore but, I would suggest, that instinct will, in a moment of 'surprise attack' show who will do the right thing.

The book I am writing

 The book I am working on is going to be all about my sons, Scott, Tyler, and Jordan. I am going to write about their childhood and how they were raised. 

The foundation of faith is going to be detailed. 

I am writing about how they decided to follow a certain career path and how things went terribly wrong at times.

I am writing about the churches we  attended and people who influenced them, and myself.

I will need to interview them many times.

I am their mother.

"Who, who, who Gets?" Contest Winnings

         Food- First order of each day is... deliver food to Jordan, Scott, and Tyler. Thank you.

    So, somebody said there was a contest. Nobody knows what to do with a huge Dodge Ram that Dodge donated because Elfrieda had an accident with her Dodge Ram and then 'they' didn't know who to give it to because there were so many men who wanted it so I came up with a solution... 'Whoever' gets anything... just paint a 'slogan' on every vehicle... each make and model.

                     "Somebody said I won this in a contest nobody can prove ever existed so,                                                                       therefore, it could ever be won."

                       What do you think? Is this a good solution to the problem of 'who gets.'     

    When I was at Riverwood, somebody said there was a 'house' that was in the contest that doesn't exist. I haven't seen it but I heard someone built one an hour outside of Winnipeg. I say, 

                                                                "Prove it."

    Now, Riverwood just said, "Prove it" so I would have to call my 'witnesses' Bruce and Betsy Hiebert to see if they know anything about the 'workings' of Riverwood. I don't think Bruce is an elder there anymore... he may have been for a short time. Possibly, Betsy still does her 'small batch' cake mixes for 'gluten free' baking. 

    My son, Scott, bought a huge amount of cupcakes from Betsy, when she still had her cafe on Tache... (no longer there), Scott bought these cupcakes and had the cafe put... 'Will you marry me?' letter by letter on the cupcakes to propose to Tammy. What's really amazing, to me, about that, is... Scott was buying from a woman, Betsy, whom I attended Sanford Collegiate with and he had no idea that I knew Betsy and I had no idea that she had set up a bakery/ cafe. Sometimes, a coincidence might be a God designed appointment, as Todd, from Riverwood used to say.

Sons, My sons are the three sons of Elfrieda Guenter (maiden name) The Orchard Walk El Dueck

 Food- First order of each day is... deliver food to Jordan, Scott, and Tyler. Thank you.

My sons

 My sons have been employed in electrical jobs and glasswork.

My journal says that I called 'Border Glass' on February 5, 2025 to see if my son was working. I was told he wasn't on the 'list.' Now, I don't know what list 'said person' was talking about. I mean, my son has or, for sure, did, work for that company for 17 years. So, I don't think my son is working for that company anymore. I also called the Winnipeg police on the very same day to put in a 'victim report' for 775 Fleming so I'm sure you won't see any Border Glass people there anymore... or any other dangerous person either.

I know of another 'family' marriage connection that another son connected into... that man also worked for that company for a lot of years. I was in a Riverwood Bible Study when he was leading it quite a few years ago.

Now, I'm certainly not putting in a plug for the company unless my son reaches out to me and I start hearing some really good things about the company. Feel free to contact them and ask about my sons to see if they are very well looked after. Has anyone checked the BBB- Better Business Bureau to see what their rating is?

I am just a bit worried that he doesn't have the phone I am used to contacting him with.

I think they were in business last year because I did see a vehicle, here in Dauphin, on Main Street but, alas, I'm sure it couldn't have been my wonderful son. He would have stopped in.

I know... Hmm, a few months ago, there was a white Ford, same as his brown Ford, but, maybe newer, in his back yard... but, I knew the company paid for that because it had a logo on it.

So, just a little check up to see if things are going smoothly at my sons' house.

Wide Open Spaces

There is one good thing about 'going back to school' at 39-43... a lot of what you have to prove, you've already learned. So, I used my personal life and home, 90 Forest Cove, to prove interior design skills. 2005

Essay from FF1 Q.2

    I really like the open plan interiors and chose such a plan both times we had a home built for us. It's possible for plans to be even more open than our present home but I need a balance of open spaces and privacy quarters.

    My personality needs wide open spaces as I can easily become claustrophobic. The first home we had built for us was 750 square feet. We sold it after 3 years and didn't experiment with many changes. The home we currently live in is 956 square feet of perfectly utilized, well planned out space. The home is a basic rectangle with half the home being semi- open space and the other half enclosed, private rooms. My brother was the builder of the home and I was allowed free reign in the designing process. 

    The wall behind the rocker and the Louis XIV chair is nearly a complete wall visually closing off the kitchen area from the living room. (See Q.1 Illustration). I need this bit of enclosure for my peace of mind. The original plan, for this home, called for a U- shaped kitchen. I spend two to four hours a day cooking or baking and I felt there wasn't a counter space large enough to accommodate tasks such as "rolling out dough" in this type of plan. I changed the kitchen to a peninsular design. I also love to entertain but prefer keeping well meaning helpers out of the kitchen work triangle. This design allows me to assign small tasks to someone standing on the opposite side of the counter. I also prefer to clean up immediately after cooking. When I entertain, I need to hide away the unwashed dishes and untidy work area so I can relax with my guests. For me, that requires things to be "out of sight" so they can be "out of mind." The dining area behind the stub wall (See Q.1 Illustration) is completely visible to anyone sitting on the sofa so I ensure that the table is cleaned off leaving only the ambient elements such as candlelight, table cloth and centerpiece. The empty wine bottle and wine glasses also remain on the table to imprint the memory of a good meal shared with good friends.

    One drawback to open plan interiors is the noise factor. When we first moved into this home I insisted on removing the door at the bottom of the lower level stairs. "Open things up!" That was my motto!

    The basement was unfinished and I thought it would be a great play space for my 3 year old and his baby brother. We didn't have a landscaped yard yet so playing outside was out of the question. I purchased a toy riding tractor, with trailer attached and lovingly presented it to my 3 year old boy. He adored it! After the first hour of listening to the plastic wheels tearing around on the concrete floor at Mario Andretti 'racing car' (real name withheld) speeds I thought I would lose my mind or my hearing. It wasn't long before the play are received an area carpet. This diminished the noise considerably. As we put up walls and sound absorbing ceiling tiles, the noise became "livable."

    Ten years later we removed the carpet and linoleum in the living/ dining/ kitchen "great room" upstairs. We laid hardwood flooring throughout the upper floor excluding the three enclosed rooms. Once again, we had to make a noise factor adjustment. The opening between the stub wall and the wicker rocker (See Q.1 Illustration) leads to a space that separates the kitchen counter and dining table and also serves as the pseudo hallway. The enclosed part of the hallway begins where the kitchen counter ends. This five and a half foot enclosed section leads straight to the master bedroom doorway.

    My (then) husband is a night shift worker- ergo- he sleeps during the daytime. When I have afternoon guest over for tea, he awakens because the noise travels from the living room sofa directly to the bedroom door. I now try seating everyone behind the wall, if possible. This seems easier to control than the raucous laughter.

    Even after encountering and managing these different problems I would still choose an open plan concept.

    One idea I would consider incorporating has been developed by a builder in our city. _______ Homes has enclosed the media room enabling sound proofing to be maximized. I really like the idea of a quiet setting coexisting with a loud, boisterous one because this meets the needs of 'husband, wife, children,' especially my teenaged boys, at this time.

    During the Christmas season, we entertained a family of five. They had three teenaged daughters and they added another friend to the mix. After dinner, the parents retired to the living room to enjoy the fireplace and conversation. The teenagers (seven of them), played games in our lower level media room. As the evening progressed some of the teens came upstairs to sit in front of the fire for a break from the activity downstairs. I suppose we were too noisy!

    In conclusion, I would choose the foibles that come with open plan living over a strictly enclosed- room plan any day. As a family of five living in a (partially) open concept home, we have learned much about respecting one another in this environment.

       I have included two newspaper articles showing different ways to divide a room without permanent walls. Note, in particular, the doors in the "Graced with space" article. I think this is a great solution to dividing space.

    "From prayer to Luxurious Lair" shows some preliminary drawings that are very nice indeed. The freestanding arches on the main floor are very commanding for all their openness. They definitely create a 'wall' bringing definition to each different space.

    Also note the denim blue armoire 'pop over' that I designed for my living room. Although, for demonstration sake, I didn't paint both sides in the illustration, the armoire is meant to have both sides identical. If I didn't have a stub wall there I would incorporate this armoire to hold a plasma television that could be pulled out on a swivel so it could be viewed in the living room or the dining room/ kitchen.

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