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Sue Sutherland-Wood's avatar

Absolutely hilarious.

Love your descriptions here and as a Canadian, relate hugely to your winter fashion sense especially those enormous mittens! I have snow pants that come up to my armpits ... Thanks for this today!! (Could be a "skillet" day here tonight, mmm)

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Amie McGraham's avatar

We northerners definitely have a fashion sense all our own!

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Lynn Strom's avatar

Oh I hear you, Sue, was laughing out loud as I read. I too can relate; SE Alberta, SW Saskatchewan farm girl here. I have some pretty stylish outfits but Karyl's sounds really great haha!

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Mary B's avatar

I sometimes wear my bib snow pants and a down parka to ride my bike. Can't ever leave those northern roots behind, and it comes in handy when a cold day appears in Central Texas. Sensible winter fashion sense is a thing! Warm and dry at any cost.

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Sue Sutherland-Wood's avatar

Yes! What you said :)

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Mary B's avatar

Love your mom's drawing of the truck, love that truck. " I could wave the super-cool emotionless wave that only truck drivers wave, releasing just your first two fingers from the wheel while never really letting go of it." made me smile because my Jim does that, and other Texans, too, and it always amazes me that those guys see those two finger waves through the windshield. Americana at its best. :-)

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Vicki Smith's avatar

Such beautiful, vivid writing. It's been a while since I've heard the word "boondocks" or "mukluks"!

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Amie McGraham's avatar

those mukluks were real clodhoppers (there’s another one for you)!

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Vicki Smith's avatar

Another classic!

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jacquie astemborski's avatar

growing up in upstate NY and knowing some beaters as well i can relate to this - thanks for breaking it back alive.

But did you get the doughnut and if so what kind? i was sure there was going to be a truck stop treat at the end.

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Amie McGraham's avatar

Now you’ve tasked me with finding a recipe for a proper truckstop treat. It might involve pie!

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jacquie astemborski's avatar

pie is good and lots of choices. it seems as though cakes are frequently present as well. good eating all around.

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sarah e webb's avatar

every trip was a shakedown cruise ~ LOVE 😍

i have a super similar mac and cheese recipe, slightly simpler (?) buy using canned stewed tomatoes w onion, pepper and garlic, then popping in the oven.

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Amie McGraham's avatar

Perhaps we should have a cheese-off…

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sarah e webb's avatar

i’m down!

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Jenny Hammerton's avatar

Loved this! xx

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Elizabeth Marquis Mayorca's avatar

How I love reading your newsletter while I eat my breakfast Tuesday morning! And I may try to make the stew soon! I speak and write of my grandmother as if she was here with me too. I feel your mother alive in these words and drawings and recipes. What a beautiful celebration you create each week Amie. It matters keeping them alive!

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Amie McGraham's avatar

Thanks so much, Elizabeth! That means a lot. It’s nice to have our ghosts around, right?

PS: miss you!

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Lynn Strom's avatar

I love this Amie! Sure wish I could have met your Mom. You have a lot of her in you, but do you have her winter fashion sense? What a great story, and thanks for sharing it with us, Island Girl. And now I will go to the freezer and pull out some lamb....

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Amie McGraham's avatar

I love layers, and thermals and silks. No mink for me though!

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Julie McCoy's avatar

This is a great story! Did your mom sell the drawings to the store? Had to ask since I worked at FIT for a decade years ago…

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Amie McGraham's avatar

I’m not sure; I found some tear sheets a while ago from the ads that ran in the paper…no boards so maybe she did sell them? I think the store was Benoit’s, clearly I need to Nancy Drew around my attic a bit more!

Clarification question: what is FIT?

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Julie McCoy's avatar

Fashion Institute of Technology - A State University of New York college but in the heart of Manhattan that teaches Fashion Design, Patternmaking, and a slew of other majors for those who want to get into the business. Founded in 1944.

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Martha's avatar

Loved this. Thank you for sharing your mother!

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Mel's avatar

Did your Mom ever sketch herself in mukluks and mink coat, with drawings in hand!? That would be so cool to see.

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Amie McGraham's avatar

I wish! I can still see her in that mink coat and jeans. And our breath in the truck!

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Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

I loved every single thing about this Amie! Thank you so much for sharing this absolute gem.

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Mukluks! 😆

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Ruth Stroud's avatar

A hilarious read, Amie! Such a character, your mom, and a terrific writer and humorist—and your dad, with his yen to drive a big truck, and that ‘56 Chevy pickup, another character in the story—it’s all gold!

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