tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-98475892024-03-07T14:03:53.352-05:00on my mindan accidental blog where I ramble about kids, knitting, gardening and whatever else comes to mindmirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.comBlogger777125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-41951250132023519452009-03-21T15:33:00.002-05:002009-03-21T15:38:50.505-05:00it's been a yearWow! How quickly the time has gone by. Lots has happened in the last year:<br /><br />We moved 2,000 miles away;<br />I finished school;<br />D started high school;<br />We went through a hurricane (that was pretty exciting);<br />We downsized.<br /><br />All good things (okay, maybe not the hurricane) that have all turned out to be good things. Downsizing turned out even better than we expected. Smaller house (although not *small* by any means), smaller yard, more convenient lifestyle, no snow all adds up to more time to do things like ride bikes, hang out with friends, and slows down the pace of our lives just a little bit. It's all good.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-91719973915189419272008-03-12T15:42:00.002-05:002008-03-12T15:48:13.677-05:00boo-yoneyWatching a friends kids again today. It's fun to have them in the house, even funnier to try to figure out what they are saying.<br /><br />Miss P wanted a snack. The conversation went something like this:<br /><br />P: I'm hungry<br />Me: Do you want some graham crackers?<br />P: I don't like graham crackers<br />Me: What about some popcorn (which her sister and D were eating)?<br />P: I don't like popcorn<br />Me: I have apples<br />P: I don't like apples<br />Me: Well then I guess I don't have anything you like<br />P: You have no food?<br />Me: I have lots of food but you don't want to eat what I have<br />P: How do you know what I want?<br />Me: Okay, what do you want<br />P: I really like boo-yoni<br />{took a minute for my brain to process this and realize that she meant bologna}<br />Me: I don't have any boo-yoni. But I have cheese, would you like some cheese?<br />P: I don't like cheese.<br />Me: I guess we're back where we started.<br />P: What about cream cheese?<br />Me: We have that.<br />P: Okay, I'll take cream cheese<br />Me: On bread?<br />P: Yes, on bread<br />P: I don't like butter<br />Me: This isn't butter, it's cream cheese, see, it's white<br />P: We buy white butter<br />Me: Okay, but this isn't butter, it's cream cheese<br />P: Okay, just checking<br />Me: Want some grapes to go with this?<br />P: Yes please<br /><br />And apparently Miss P does not eat crusts so Tobi was the lucky recipient of crusts with the smallest smear of cream cheese on them. He didn't get any grapes though.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-22310574625849803742008-03-12T13:30:00.000-05:002008-03-12T12:28:28.587-05:00links i likeHere's another list of things found on the internet that sparked my interest, hopefully you'll find something that appeals to you too.<br /><br />http://www.languagehat.com/archives/003007.php - a brief exerpt from a book about hats. Pretty fascination stuff. I may have to take out the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fashion-Its-Social-Agendas-Identity/dp/0226117995/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202588148&sr=8-1">Fashion and It's Social Agendas</a>. Although I already have a lot to read this one looks quite fascinating.<br /><br /><a href="http://iliketomakestuff.blogspot.com/">I like to make stuff</a>. She lives in Wales, I like the way she writes and she's very creative. I don't really need another crafty person on my blogroll who is so much more talented than I am and I know I will never be that creative. But I like her stuff and want to read more so on the list she goes.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-18508435687815015832008-03-12T12:32:00.002-05:002008-03-12T12:35:54.151-05:00wfmw - yarn stash<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrGBwJxIwy4tWNZM4rE4sdXW8z-CBpSZ7APfzX0NFAO7DbnlNJwpFSGZpP4BVxAUHcrNdWdO8jkfWH-nS5lYfLbvUgVKdPRFkZIE7lvDGY4bV9N4WFWs7Xd884pvHqnXwC2ah/s1600-h/wfmwheader.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrGBwJxIwy4tWNZM4rE4sdXW8z-CBpSZ7APfzX0NFAO7DbnlNJwpFSGZpP4BVxAUHcrNdWdO8jkfWH-nS5lYfLbvUgVKdPRFkZIE7lvDGY4bV9N4WFWs7Xd884pvHqnXwC2ah/s320/wfmwheader.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176909620447788146" /></a><br /><br />It happens to be Wednesday and I happen to have a tip so I thought I'd jump in the fray here. Don't forget to check out <a href="http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com">Rocks In My Dryer</a> for more great tips.<br /><br />I recently reorganized my yarn stash. My biggest problem is that I have a lot of yarn and sometimes forget what I want to do with it or forget where I put it. While I still have boxes in the closet I have also decided to reorganize by taking projects and their pattern and putting them into bags and hanging those bags on hangers in the closet. This way when I am looking for a new project or want to work on a project I started and stopped I can go through the bags. Makes the closet neater, keeps the projects neatly organized and definitely works for me.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-7727625632189694402008-03-12T12:22:00.002-05:002008-03-12T12:27:16.832-05:00update 2nd week of marchBeen busy but here's a quick goings on...<br /><br />Spring MUST be here, or at least around the corner. Spooky, my little donkey friend, is now out happily munching away on the new grass in his yard. <br /><br />Sold Girl Scout cookies this past weekend. In the cold. In the rain. There we were, huddled under the overhang of the hardware store, with the precious cookies at the back to make sure they didn't get wet. But we did well, sold quite a few and many people donated cookies for the girls to take to the Veterans Hospital next month.<br /><br />S is coming home this weekend. Can't wait to see her, I miss her so much. It's only for a week so we'll have to make the most of the time. <br /><br />Aside from that it's study study study...something I must get back to.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-57088940947973450372008-03-02T21:52:00.003-05:002008-03-02T22:16:09.047-05:00notesJust taking a break from studying...this unit I have not one but two papers due in two weeks. But my eyes are going blurry from reading and reasearch (and I can't find my glasses) so I'll stop and blog a bit.<br /><br />Musing...why is it that I now need glasses to read but not on the computer? Seriously. When I read a book or magazine my eyes start to go all sploodgie and I have a hard time focusing on the page after about one minute. Something I'm not used to but I'm having to remember where my glasses are. It's kind of funny really.<br /><br />Knitting...well...crocheting. I've put the <em>shhhhh shawl</em> aside for a bit because I have been obsessed with crocheting blankets. One is for S and the other is for someone else. Don't know why, they're just scrap blankets but I am motivated to get them done. Then it's on to flowers for our charity project, an aran square for a Stitch Sisters project, placemats for our charity project (we're making placemats for Meals on Wheels), and ----see next item<br /><br />Adding to the list: Whoo boy! Somehow I just can't seem to help myself. I keep adding new projects all the time. I thought I had gotten back on top of my list but it's growing again. When visiting my Mom I saw some gorgeous beaded wristlets that someone had made. I made some notes. I just happened to see some cute, soft yarn and the right size beads. So it's sitting waiting for me. When I joined <a href="http://www.ravelry.com">Ravelry</a> I found the Firefly fan groups and dang-it now I need to go make me a <a href="http://www.quantumtea.com/blog/image/jaynehat.jpg">Jayne Hat </a>. D wants one but I think I have enough yarn to make two...when I get to it. Of course the big news is that the <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/bigdamnknitters/65634.html">original</a> will be up for auction in September. Lots of people want to get their hands on it so they can correctly chart it.<br /><br />Snow, snow and more snow. Last week....8 inches of snow. This past weekend? 6 inches of snow. If I hadn't seen robins with my own two peepers I might not believe that spring is really coming. Thank goodness for the woodburning stove but seriously I could use some springtime right about now.<br /><br />Movies: Watched <em>Waitress</em> Dont' bother. I didn't really like it, am not sure why I finished watching it. There were a couple of nice bits but overall it was about people having affairs and guy bashing. Not really my thing. Saw <em>Aquamarine</em> with D. Sweet movie, especially if you are teenager. Not really up my alley but it was nice to spend the time with her and she liked it so that's good.<br /><br />Books: Not reading anything other than school books at the moment but hoping to get back into some regular reading as soon as I am done with my two papers (see top of page). But if you have any good suggestions send them my way.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-55382851818051271192008-02-12T20:52:00.000-05:002008-02-12T20:59:42.093-05:00movie nightYesterday Steve and I had an opportunity to watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454776/">Amazing Grace</a>. If you haven't seen this movie you should watch it. I thought it was very well done, very moving and altogether wonderful.<br /><br />Even Steve liked it and he usually is not a big fan of the period piece movie. Vanity Fair, Pride and Prejudice, that sort of movie...I love them and could watch them again and again. I love the costumes, the settings, and usually they are so well acted. Amazing Grace was no exception and even more touching for the fact that it is based on a true story and that <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/wilberforce_william.shtml">William Wilberforce</a> was a real person who did accomplish a great thing, the abolition of slavery in England.<br /><br />Definitely worth watching.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-49000102010856764602008-02-12T20:35:00.000-05:002008-02-12T20:52:25.042-05:00tuesday night knittingIt's snowing like a banshee here. So we decided to cancel Stitch Sisters. Funny thing is that I must have spent over an hour on the phone talking to everyone as we were all sad that we couldn't get together. One sister suggested that we need a "snow night" for when this happens. We may have to do just that.<br /><br />One sister lives just over the hill. I decided to chance it and went to her house for a cup of tea and knitting. It was great to spend time with her. I brought some cookies I had made and we had a cup of tea to go with our knitting, it was great.<br /><br />I've been looking for another cookie recipe to teach at my next baking class. I've successfully developed a scone recipe, have a great biscotti recipe and wanted to make a cookie as well. So I made two different kinds of rye cookies (one Russian, one Swedish). Neither one came out great although the Swedish cookies were better than the Russian ones. Mostly because the Russian ones tasted like toffee to me. If I'm eating a cookie I want a cookie not a candy. <br /><br />I'm going to change both recipes further (working with fresh ground flour is always a bit difficult). The Russian cookies I will cut back on the butter and see if that helps. The Swedish cookies I'm going to make thicker (they were too thin and crisp) and add cardamom. I think they may wind up being the winner for the class but both cookies will go through at least one more round before I decide.<br /><br />The hardest part is that it's really not healthy having all of these cookies around. Luckily the folks at the library, post office, yoga class, etc don't mind being my taste testers. This also gives me the opportunity to ask them what they do or don't like about the cookies.<br /><br />Funny enough my friend tonight liked the Russian rye cookies better because she said they were sweeter and they were great to suck on (they were button-size) while drinking hot tea.<br /><br />At the end of the evening I managed to make it down their hill and up mine to be safe and sound back at home. I'm thinking there must be lots of spoons under pillows tonight and seriously question whether or not there will be school.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-9451730966393887762008-02-10T20:59:00.000-05:002008-02-10T21:01:50.941-05:00howlingThe weather has been very strange today. <br /><br />First it's grey, overcast, snowing and the wind is so heavy the snow is blowing sideways.<br /><br />Then the sun comes out.<br /><br />Then it goes away.<br /><br />And snows some more.<br /><br />Now the wind is blowing so fiercely again that it is literally screaming its way through the windows.<br /><br />And it's cold.<br /><br />So glad we have a woodburning stove. Sitting curled up on the sofa with the dog, the cat and a blanket I am crocheting, occasionally looking up at the flames or drinking my tea. It's good stuff.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-90515681460660918352008-02-09T22:28:00.001-05:002008-02-09T22:31:05.991-05:00needle cardOh my goodness. I am spending waaaaay too much time on Ravelry. Thank goodness my paper and test for session three of my class is done and I have nothing to hand in right now.<br /><br />I just discovered that I can enter all of the needles that I own, sizes, lengths, types, crochet hooks and PRINT IT OUT!!! I mean HOW COOL IS THAT??? This way I'll have a little card that will let me know all of the needles that I own. Of course since I inherited all of my grandmother's knitting needles (BTW Mom this was before you started knitting, do you want any?) that's going to be a cool thing to be able to keep track of. Her needles are mostly really small sizes but still to know where they came from is neat. <br /><br />I do find that I am preferring circulars more and more but that's okay, I'll have a needle chart. Love it.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-91914816017061885002008-02-09T15:17:00.001-05:002008-02-09T15:18:49.628-05:00snow againJust as I am getting to the part of the year where I am thoroughly sick and tired of the cold, I'm wishing mightily for spring and wondering why I live here it snows. And once again the scenery is covered in a delicate white drape of snow and everything looks pretty instead of muddy and wet and brown and miserable. Somehow when there's fresh snow on the ground it doesn't matter how cold it is it looks better. But spring had better hurry because I really am in need of some open-window therapy.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-47792868988584827672008-02-08T18:01:00.001-05:002008-02-08T18:02:40.117-05:00leftoversIt's getting harder and harder to cook. Between picky kids, rotating numbers of people at the table and varying diets I have a fridge packed ab-so-lutely full of leftovers. I think it was Tracy Ullman who said, "My mother served leftovers for 20 years...the original meal was never found." I can see how that would happen.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-10369052127408418572008-02-08T17:57:00.000-05:002008-02-08T18:01:09.118-05:00love the subToday's yoga class was thaught by a substitute. She was very sweet and we had a nice relaxing class. She did a lot of small joint work, fingers, wrists, toes and ankles which I liked. We also did eyeball yoga. Yes folks, there is such a thing as eyeball yoga and it actually feels pretty good.<br /><br />An extra benefit to the class today...she was a new teacher...she didn't have a good sense of timing or pacing...we got an extra half hour of practice. What's not to love about that?mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-58712015135118440252008-02-07T21:38:00.001-05:002008-02-07T22:09:19.920-05:00i did it myselfHelping a friend out her lovely daughters came to my house for the afternoon. Misses J and M were only too happy to traipse after D (who they think is the bees knees) while the youngest, Miss P, decided she wanted to help me make cookies. Here's how our conversation went:<br /><br />Me: I thought we could make chocolate chip cookies today<br /><em>P: I don't like chocolate chip cookies</em><br />Me: Really? Who doesn't like chocolate chips?<br /><em>P: I don't!</em><br />Me: Okay. What kind of cookies do you like?<br /><em>P: I like peanut butter cookies!</em><br />Me: Okay then! Peanut butter it is.<br />--worried voices from outside the kitchen -- you're still going to make chocolate chip right?-- <br />Me: Yes<br /><br />As we were happily baking away I asked Miss P about her prior baking experience<br /><br />Me: Have you ever baked before?<br /><em>P: Yes</em><br />Me: Do you like baking?<br /><em>P: Yup</em><br />Me: How often do you get to bake?<br /><em>P: I like to bake but I never get to because J does all the baking</em><br />Me: So what do you do if J does all the baking?<br /><em>P: I don't know</em><br />Me: what about dishes, do you like to wash dishes?<br /><em>P: yes a lot</em><br />Me: That's good because we're going to have a lot of dishes to wash<br /><em>P: Oh I don't wash dishes anymore. I used to but not now. My favorite part is the eating part but I really like baking right now</em><br />Me: So you don't want to wash dishes?<br /><em>P: *giggles* No!</em><br />Me: Are you sure you want to eat the cookies when we're done?<br /><em>P: Yes!</em><br /><br />We wound up making both peanut butter AND chocolate chip cookies and mysteriously many many taste testers came out of the woodwork when the cookies were done.<br /><br />It was a lot of fun to bake with a little helper, it's been a long time since I've had that pleasure.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNodfcPJ5_DsPhZW7uoI-EkUqnU9yStNnK1DyZhEIOecryaiYWd_DnmEXYtssUpUFRNJnm2WGtSE5i8BPMf022zWM2NjNU8A2-1F40HLWOSy2-vD99KdGmjxk0VHFrlXgjkbOi/s1600-h/P1020773.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNodfcPJ5_DsPhZW7uoI-EkUqnU9yStNnK1DyZhEIOecryaiYWd_DnmEXYtssUpUFRNJnm2WGtSE5i8BPMf022zWM2NjNU8A2-1F40HLWOSy2-vD99KdGmjxk0VHFrlXgjkbOi/s320/P1020773.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164439915926853074" /></a>mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-22710967401147031212008-02-07T21:38:00.000-05:002008-02-08T23:02:13.651-05:00links i like fridayIt seems I'm always finding new sites. And they're all so good. I know no one really pours through my blogreads list to see what's new so I've decided that every now and then I will post a list of all the new links I've found. Not sure how often I'll do this but at least this way if I find something neat you might like it too.<br /><br />http://krisknits.blogspot.com/ - awesome site, she does the most amazing dishcloths. Very talented knitter, can't wait to see what she comes up with next.<br /><br />http://www.rebeccablood.net/ - my Mom sent this one to me. I kinda like it, lots of interesting stuff here. Thanks Mom!mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-22691313900252424612008-02-07T21:22:00.000-05:002008-02-07T21:31:14.333-05:00oh help<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZEHTYUxpyz53dypeIeW5Wm1KtkLuIWqRdIqPJvYx2qirQiffqlLG1MEvwWLI6mVpmGElKfhmnQl_V3BfX0Jbn_ROc3vEGRKyWT5NHtVIfePuKa0kTdZvErnjnL40O4AKOMYy/s1600-h/sonnylogo400w.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZEHTYUxpyz53dypeIeW5Wm1KtkLuIWqRdIqPJvYx2qirQiffqlLG1MEvwWLI6mVpmGElKfhmnQl_V3BfX0Jbn_ROc3vEGRKyWT5NHtVIfePuKa0kTdZvErnjnL40O4AKOMYy/s320/sonnylogo400w.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164429801278870978" /></a><br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://www.limenviolet.com/blog">Lime and Violet</a> (and if you don't subscribe you really should...lots of good stuff there) I have just found out about the <a href="http://www.sonnyandshear.com/store/cart.php?page=bust_your_stash">bust your stash</a> promotion. *wimper*<br /><br />Bad enough I went on a yarn diet. Even worse I gave away yarn. Then I participated in two Stitch Sister Stash Reduction Projects. And still I have too much stash (I'm embarrassed to admit how many boxes so I won't tell you). When I discovered two boxes I had forgotten about I hauled another mess o' yarn off to Stitch Sisters to see if anyone wants to start a new SSSR project. Luckily for me they did, Mrs. F <em>loves</em> brown and so I can <strike>pawn off</strike> share the brown yarn that I seriously overbought years ago and have moved <em>I am not kidding here</em> seven times!!!!! as we all make a blanket for her.<br /><br />But Sonny & Shear are too kind. All I have to do is save ball bands. And the faster I knit the more yarn I use the more coupons I get the more I can buy. Hmmmm....wonder what the ratio works out to. But you better believe I'm saving my bands. Shouldn't you?mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-63847714004139463752008-02-06T10:14:00.001-05:002008-02-06T10:19:14.774-05:00wfmw - bulkfoods<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1lEoYa97dxfHr283tRWfurqeLNTfDEHEx3HHEF9rbrYZQTkYxDHewuBzzCHU8CSEhWYVQW4ZQOXFVJkuuy_aw-XPV5qHCDH4Yh4FxJwopQRwB1hyxSPakCD_19bK0wa-B9_a/s1600-h/wfmwheader.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1lEoYa97dxfHr283tRWfurqeLNTfDEHEx3HHEF9rbrYZQTkYxDHewuBzzCHU8CSEhWYVQW4ZQOXFVJkuuy_aw-XPV5qHCDH4Yh4FxJwopQRwB1hyxSPakCD_19bK0wa-B9_a/s320/wfmwheader.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163886002584622514" /></a><br /><br />Haven't done one of these for a while as I've been busy studying. This should be a great way to find a lot of good online resources, don't forget to check it all out at <a href="http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com">Rocks In My Dryer</a>, or better yet, play along.<br /><br />My favorite online resource? Well truthfully I have several but I think one of my big favorites is <a href="http://www.bulkfoods.com">bulkfoods.com</a>. They have a wide selection of a lot of different things that we use and the shipping is only $4.95. Take a look, you'll be amazed at what you find there.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-58134844826320746602008-02-05T10:00:00.000-05:002008-02-05T10:04:52.832-05:00vote fibertarianOkay folks, I'm changing my party affiliation. Thanks to Franklin at <a href="http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/">The Panopticon</a> it has come to my attention that Dolores is running. Her party platform is as follows:<br /><br />1. Elizabeth Zimmermann's birthday will be declared a national holiday.<br />2. All fiber-related purchases will be fully tax-deductible.<br />3. Knitting will become a mandatory subject in American public schools.<br />4. Government subsidies for the establishment of independent yarn shops in high-need areas.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0FntX3Id6EvvtUJ-DeysHLJ_bxIZapnvKLRnrTdgTgH675d4GdjMva1islSQhKNZ4ruhepYTVLZO-qpZnCQbAeoLK2cOXJdq90gsZ0r4PkTgC4KnzgXvM0wWolK0lJCVX1Am/s1600-h/dolores.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0FntX3Id6EvvtUJ-DeysHLJ_bxIZapnvKLRnrTdgTgH675d4GdjMva1islSQhKNZ4ruhepYTVLZO-qpZnCQbAeoLK2cOXJdq90gsZ0r4PkTgC4KnzgXvM0wWolK0lJCVX1Am/s400/dolores.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163512048372094370" /></a><br /><br />In all seriousness, what ever your affiliation please go vote today.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-18091095989730440962008-02-04T14:13:00.000-05:002008-02-04T14:16:38.609-05:00shhhhh-awlI'm still working on the secret shawl for *****. I'm going to be working on it for a while. Especially since I had to rip back two whole inches!!! I hate ripping back. I'm a go-with-the-flow knitter and if I make a mistake try to correct it on the fly. Unfortunately this was not correctable. Luckily for me one of my stitch sisters was around to help me reset all the stitches after I ripped. It's depressing how long it takes to create and how quickly to undo your stitches.<br /><br />But the shawl is coming out lovely if I do say so myself. One minor modification to put in a little texture since I'm doing all one color instead of multiple colors as the pattern calls for. Now it's going to be round and round and round and round until we get to the lacy edge.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-23413531351734553122008-02-04T13:40:00.000-05:002008-02-04T14:04:09.579-05:00babiesYesterday D got to help bottle feed a four day old baby goat. Unfortunately her mama passed away from toxemia and her brother was too weak to survive. The fact that Nibbles has made it four days is a good sign. It was the sweetest and funniest experience to feed her. She couldn't decide between nursing from the bottle and jumping around. Plus every now and then her legs splayed out on the floor as she took a Bambi-like tumble. D was thrilled to be allowed to help and plans to go back next weekend and help out with feedings again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoYSyi5o5vKZyNuUYaYS99ySilavBCeTyODmzFpGaZC7F_pYdrVMnRKszH2UvUpY7jvK9Iha4A3pdkvKdmQvPxUA2I4uw-CzdARYm6FBEg7nOYSnBobE383Fg22edUGuDdrL3/s1600-h/P1020752.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoYSyi5o5vKZyNuUYaYS99ySilavBCeTyODmzFpGaZC7F_pYdrVMnRKszH2UvUpY7jvK9Iha4A3pdkvKdmQvPxUA2I4uw-CzdARYm6FBEg7nOYSnBobE383Fg22edUGuDdrL3/s400/P1020752.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163197953118770562" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fuX-kzRa51ZjT-MKMhvg0JrhycN8Gqcev_W4Io5aOgof3vueWLXFwQGSZqHOtDzpWjGWCOoFv6EusSSo-4C87a2iszoN6hdfInInVnBUUfnsYtCd9h_Co-pb6t-Y0_fUJMgy/s1600-h/P1020745.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fuX-kzRa51ZjT-MKMhvg0JrhycN8Gqcev_W4Io5aOgof3vueWLXFwQGSZqHOtDzpWjGWCOoFv6EusSSo-4C87a2iszoN6hdfInInVnBUUfnsYtCd9h_Co-pb6t-Y0_fUJMgy/s400/P1020745.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163197416247858546" /></a><br /><br />After an hour of playing with Nibbles we went to visit a friend whose German Shephard had six male puppies. They are three months old and so adorable. A rough and tumble bunch of playful nipping puppies. So fast moving that it was almost impossible to get a picture. D plans to help walk them when they start to leash train next month. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuNTRJVEQIcJ71UdffkjwIACg2KXRdxjiExCjNgFU7w6YDGWAkvJAd9NpE87SahF9q0YSLVET8FHWI-29i4mnHvwdyborrKnZBjiDpZfpYhaHJMsDFV821O_Yy9HSZKqGxgPg/s1600-h/P1020768.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuNTRJVEQIcJ71UdffkjwIACg2KXRdxjiExCjNgFU7w6YDGWAkvJAd9NpE87SahF9q0YSLVET8FHWI-29i4mnHvwdyborrKnZBjiDpZfpYhaHJMsDFV821O_Yy9HSZKqGxgPg/s400/P1020768.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163200452789736850" /></a>mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-18871498605499416772008-02-02T20:05:00.001-05:002008-02-02T20:06:11.918-05:00xtreme knitters rock the yarnThis link came to me from Israel via Denmark! How's that for travel? Fun and interesting, the pictures are great.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/bryantpark/2008/01/slideshow_extreme_knitters_roc.html?ps=bb1&sc=emaf">xtreme_knitters</a>mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-37359997388431434122008-01-27T16:16:00.001-05:002008-01-27T16:22:27.027-05:00grains of gratitude<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpEHR2rScQrpWRAcRsxzf3i335WrP23OV6EPrpC8MbHkcJZfgG5Z9jxO2405jlwMI8lKSuGbdQ92q17pDzO6-HncVg4CeTxkLcQ-9L4-Y20-b2V6OA6DYHgiSCTPsVKSrPvgR/s1600-h/grainsofgratitude.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpEHR2rScQrpWRAcRsxzf3i335WrP23OV6EPrpC8MbHkcJZfgG5Z9jxO2405jlwMI8lKSuGbdQ92q17pDzO6-HncVg4CeTxkLcQ-9L4-Y20-b2V6OA6DYHgiSCTPsVKSrPvgR/s320/grainsofgratitude.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160268549199697250" /></a><br /><br />As with journalling, blogging is sometimes sparse these days. But I am and try to always remain grateful for all I have. Today some of the gratitudes foremost on my mind are:<br /><br /><li>The wonderful morning at church<br /><li>Making a delicious soup for dinner (which is cooking on the woodburning stove as I type<br /><li>A nap - an infrequent occurance for me but something I needed today<br /><li>A great conversation with V - she is growing into such a wonderful young woman<br /><li>Catching up with a friend today <br /><li>The woodburning stove<br /><li>The sunshine pouring in the windows<br /><li>The robins, their colorful flashes in the trees reminding me that spring is indeed on it's way<br /><li>My husband and children, they truly enrich my life in so many ways<br /><br />With good wishes for all who are reading this (and even those who aren't) for a blessed Sunday.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-41369068334948297262008-01-27T16:07:00.001-05:002008-01-27T16:15:34.349-05:00churchChurch was fantastic today. As always, it's great to see people you feel connected to. Even better when you find inspiration and learning there. Today we were fortunate to be visited by a woman from the local Islamic Society who came to talk to us about her faith and about Islam. She was kind, funny, thoughtful, sincere and truly respected the fact that although our belief systems may be different we are all seeking the same things, a closer connection to whatever your spiritual guide is, to be good people and to do good things.<br /><br />I was surprised to learn that Muslims regard the Torah and the Bible as holy texts containing messages from God. They also regard the line of prophets to include Moses, Elijah, Zacchariah, and Jesus. She explained that they believe there have been 240,000 prophets, each being sent at the time that God felt humanity needed to have a prophet sent to them. And that each of the religious texts builds upon the previous one with their believing that the Qu'aran is the final version.<br /><br />She also explained many things about the <a href="http://www.islam101.com/dawah/pillars.html">Five Pillars</a> and about how they incorporate their faith into daily life.<br /><br />It was truly wonderful to share that time and space with such a gracious person and she also seemed very pleased that we were so open to hear and so willing to learn more. I truly believe that if people looked at the basis of other faiths they would find lots of similarities and that this in turn would lead to more understanding and tolerance and less violence.<br /><br />It was truly a thoughtful Sunday at church today.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-21429702975204838342008-01-27T15:43:00.000-05:002008-01-27T16:07:00.231-05:00chloe tvThe robins are back. There's a small flock of about 8 sitting in the calary pear tree in front of the bay window. Chloe is hiding in the plants that overwinter there. Switching her tail and, one supposes, thoroughly enjoying herself. Hopefully since we've removed the muntins and mullions from the window we won't have any birdie crashes this year.<br /><br />I think they're a little early but once again I forgot to write it down. My mom keeps reminding me that if I would journal this stuff I wouldn't have to rely on my aging brain cells. True and yet again true. But somehow something else seems to occupy my time.<br /><br />I love journalling. Would love to do it more in fact but it doesn't seem to be one of those things that I can keep up with. <a href="http://dawnathome.typepad.com/by_sun_and_candlelight/2008/01/what-i-did-whil.html">Dawn</a> is so very organized and her notebooks/journals are always an inspiration. Not that mine look anything like hers, but I try to pull bits and pieces. <br /><br />Then there's <a href="http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/?p=730">Hanna</a> with a cute new idea for a journal. Plus she is always offering <a href="http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/?p=655">journalling links</a>. I love the idea of a quotes journal but seriously know that at this point in my life it will never happen. <br /><br />I did start daily journalling with an idea that Hanna had given via a link to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracyu/sets/72157594510652760/">Tracy's Flickr Set</a>. I did this. For three months. Then it got put down. Still have the journal, perhaps I'll return to it one day. But I have looked back over a landscape littered with partially completed journals and realized that for some reason it's a difficult practice for me. Of course if I would do just that, practice, it would get easier. <br /><br />Currently I have the aforementioned daily journal, a gratitude journal, a writing journal, a knitting journal (just started - what can I say I'm a sucker for ideas), and a miscellaneous journal plus my daily planner. I've at least gotten better about the fact that I only write when I can. I no longer worry about the enormous gaps in some of the journals. If these things are still around when I'm gone (and there's no guarantees) and anyone wants to read them (even less guarantees I'm sure) they'll get a true picture of my busy life. <br /><br />But then again living comes first.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9847589.post-18883860825912225022008-01-23T14:55:00.000-05:002008-01-23T14:59:04.085-05:00oh boy<em>ummmmmm</em><br /><br />I'm supposed to be studying but instead I'm blogging. But I promise, I'm going to get back to studying in just a moment. I just had to share. I got a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com">Ravelry</a> account. Not sure how I managed to get through 6347 people between when I requested and now (about two weeks) but I did. It's going to be a sickness, I can tell already. I have to choose friends, forums, groups, add my stash, patterns, needles, wips. It'll keep me busy for a while, that's for sure. If you want to check me out my ID is miradessy.<br /><br />Update:<br /><br />The special knitting I was talking about last time I posted? I went to visit my folks and got to go knitting with the Cafe Knitters that my Mom knits with. A very lovely group of ladies, they take over almost all available table space at their local cafe every Wednesday for 2 1/2 hours. Lovely food, good tea, great conversation and fabulous show and tell. It was a lot of fun, not least of which was because I was knitting with Mom.mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03930305517968221069noreply@blogger.com0