Sunday, November 18, 2007
My cranberry sauce
Add a package of washed cranberries to one cup of water in a saucepan. Cranberries don't really need a lot of water. Add 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/4 c. fresh squeezed orange juice and the zest of one orange. Cook over low heat until the berries pop and look creamy and nice. This doesn't take long at all, about 10 minutes. Pour into a pretty bowl, cover with saran wrap and put into the refrigerator.
Then, don't forget to bring them to the table, like I did one Thanksgiving!
Have a great night.
Then, don't forget to bring them to the table, like I did one Thanksgiving!
Have a great night.
Keeping it Simple
George and I are preparing the house for Thanksgiving. Michael and Michelle will be here on Wednesday evening. By the time they arrive, the house and some of the dinner should be ready. While I plan the menu, shop for the food, and make their bed with crispy sheets and fluffy comforters, I keep in mind that I would like the Thanksgiving holiday to be simple and fun. No rush, no fuss.
While this is my goal, I'm also busy planning the menu: Artichoke Dip and Crudities with Greek olives, turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans almondine, homemade cranberry sauce, jellied cranberry sauce out of the can (for George), mashed rutabagas, butternut squash, rolls, Texas Slaw, which is a recipe my mother sent me from the Oklahoma Journal and has two types of cabbage and jalepeno peppers to spice it up...sounds perky..., spiced cider, apple pie, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and an apple walnut bundt cake.
Simple.
Okay, so Thanksgiving isn't so simple, it will still be fun. I am not daunted by the fact that I don't get out of work until 5:00 on Wednesday. I am not daunted by the fact that my grocery list is two pages, single-spaced. I am not daunted by the fact that my dining room is also "jewelry central" and needs to be reamed out of all things jewelry. I am not daunted by the fact that our bedroom needs to be converted into a temporary quiet space with desk for Michael, so he can work on his book. I'm not...no, I'm not. Somehow it will all get done, and it will all be fun too! Actually, Thanksgiving dinner is one dinner that I have made so often I don't need any recipes. I have done it all before, many times, and with great success. No worries!
Thanksgiving is going to be loaded with fun and friends, loaded with really good home-made food, loaded with laughter and good times. And there's nothing simple about it!
Have a great day.
While this is my goal, I'm also busy planning the menu: Artichoke Dip and Crudities with Greek olives, turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans almondine, homemade cranberry sauce, jellied cranberry sauce out of the can (for George), mashed rutabagas, butternut squash, rolls, Texas Slaw, which is a recipe my mother sent me from the Oklahoma Journal and has two types of cabbage and jalepeno peppers to spice it up...sounds perky..., spiced cider, apple pie, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and an apple walnut bundt cake.
Simple.
Okay, so Thanksgiving isn't so simple, it will still be fun. I am not daunted by the fact that I don't get out of work until 5:00 on Wednesday. I am not daunted by the fact that my grocery list is two pages, single-spaced. I am not daunted by the fact that my dining room is also "jewelry central" and needs to be reamed out of all things jewelry. I am not daunted by the fact that our bedroom needs to be converted into a temporary quiet space with desk for Michael, so he can work on his book. I'm not...no, I'm not. Somehow it will all get done, and it will all be fun too! Actually, Thanksgiving dinner is one dinner that I have made so often I don't need any recipes. I have done it all before, many times, and with great success. No worries!
Thanksgiving is going to be loaded with fun and friends, loaded with really good home-made food, loaded with laughter and good times. And there's nothing simple about it!
Have a great day.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Chatham, Mass
Yesterday George and I took a drive to the Cape and went to Chatham. Chatham is interesting because of the barrier beach which keeps the big ocean away from the expensive ocean front homes. There is a breach on the beach, and that spells big trouble for Chatham. A recent spring storm created abreach in the barrier peninsula which threatens expensive homes along the shore.
The Chatham breach is old news, but Mother Nature does what she likes. A recent storm last Thanksgiving deposited sand which helped heal the breach, and the Boston Globe announced, "Mother Nature gives back." George thinks that the latest breach on the sand bar is going to reconnect itself, and the town recently voted not to spend the eight million dollars necessary to have the Army Corps of Engineers come in to try to fill the breach.
As you peer out over the peninsula from the shore, you can just see the big white ocean breakers offshore. It is a wonderful, expansive Cape Cod beach.
The day was beautiful and sunny. I took pictures of the ocean and the sand bar, including a large fishing boat that was blown away from it's moorings in the recent storm two weeks ago caused by the remnants of Hurricane Noel. The shops and stores are picturesque and the fall season brings lots of sales as the stores start boarding up for winter. It is a summer community mostly, but the big hotel, the Chatham Bars Inn, would be a beautiful place to visit during Christmas.
We had a lovely lunch of clam chowder and fish and chips at a little cafe and tavern called the Impudent Oyster and took a walk through several galleries and stores. I think I need to charge more for my jewelry. A silver bracelet there, without artist lampwork, cost $190.00. Whew. But the galleries are full of beautiful glass and knickknacks and the shopping is good if you bring a full wallet. For $45 I could have bought a charming pepper mill in the shape of a painted red lighthouse. I said, "That is really cute,", and George replied, "and they know it!".
Driving the mid-Cape Highway is like driving through a tunnel of low cranberry colored trees and white pine, until you get to the road you want to lead down to the shore area. Chatham is the "elbow" of the Cape. The traffic was fine at this time of year, and we need to go there more often. The scenery is beautiful and the clam chowder is great! No wonder so many people want to live or vacation on the Cape.
Have a great day.
The Chatham breach is old news, but Mother Nature does what she likes. A recent storm last Thanksgiving deposited sand which helped heal the breach, and the Boston Globe announced, "Mother Nature gives back." George thinks that the latest breach on the sand bar is going to reconnect itself, and the town recently voted not to spend the eight million dollars necessary to have the Army Corps of Engineers come in to try to fill the breach.
As you peer out over the peninsula from the shore, you can just see the big white ocean breakers offshore. It is a wonderful, expansive Cape Cod beach.
The day was beautiful and sunny. I took pictures of the ocean and the sand bar, including a large fishing boat that was blown away from it's moorings in the recent storm two weeks ago caused by the remnants of Hurricane Noel. The shops and stores are picturesque and the fall season brings lots of sales as the stores start boarding up for winter. It is a summer community mostly, but the big hotel, the Chatham Bars Inn, would be a beautiful place to visit during Christmas.
We had a lovely lunch of clam chowder and fish and chips at a little cafe and tavern called the Impudent Oyster and took a walk through several galleries and stores. I think I need to charge more for my jewelry. A silver bracelet there, without artist lampwork, cost $190.00. Whew. But the galleries are full of beautiful glass and knickknacks and the shopping is good if you bring a full wallet. For $45 I could have bought a charming pepper mill in the shape of a painted red lighthouse. I said, "That is really cute,", and George replied, "and they know it!".
Driving the mid-Cape Highway is like driving through a tunnel of low cranberry colored trees and white pine, until you get to the road you want to lead down to the shore area. Chatham is the "elbow" of the Cape. The traffic was fine at this time of year, and we need to go there more often. The scenery is beautiful and the clam chowder is great! No wonder so many people want to live or vacation on the Cape.
Have a great day.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Lucy's Scarf and Thunder's old mouse
I finished this scarf for Lucy for her first birthday which is today. It is made with a fluffy Mohair and Wool Blend Yukon Print by Plymouth Yarn. The yarn gauge is 2 stitches to the inch, so it works well on a big needle. After making scores of pairs of socks with tiny needles, this was a big switch.
Lucy's Birthday Party is today, and George and I will take her presents to her house, along with extra tables and chairs for their guests. Whether we go or not depends of whether George gets over his cold by noon, which is highly unlikely. It doesn't seem fair to spread germs around a birthday party, so more than likely, we are going to miss it.
Thunder's old mouse wanted to get into the picture too.
Tomorrow George and I are going to take an afternoon trip to Chatham on the Cape to see the sights and eat some fried clams. It should be fun. We don't go to the Cape often because of the traffic, but tomorrow will be an easy day there and back. I'm going to take my knitting and work on some Christmas presents while he drives.
And maybe today I'll go buy some more of this pretty yarn and make someone else a scarf for Christmas. Sounds like a plan.
Have a great day.
Lucy's Birthday Party is today, and George and I will take her presents to her house, along with extra tables and chairs for their guests. Whether we go or not depends of whether George gets over his cold by noon, which is highly unlikely. It doesn't seem fair to spread germs around a birthday party, so more than likely, we are going to miss it.
Thunder's old mouse wanted to get into the picture too.
Tomorrow George and I are going to take an afternoon trip to Chatham on the Cape to see the sights and eat some fried clams. It should be fun. We don't go to the Cape often because of the traffic, but tomorrow will be an easy day there and back. I'm going to take my knitting and work on some Christmas presents while he drives.
And maybe today I'll go buy some more of this pretty yarn and make someone else a scarf for Christmas. Sounds like a plan.
Have a great day.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Dog-gone crazy!
We have all gone crazy for Jebu. I call every night to hear more about his antics. Michael and Michelle adopted this wonder dog from an animal shelter, and he is just about the prettiest dog I've ever seen. I really love seeing pictures of him and can't wait to meet him in person.
He looks to me like he has a big secret and knows a lot about life, and he isn't telling! But he is only about a year old, so how much can he really know?
Michael tells me that he is big on tennis balls and hell on the local tennis courts, where he loves to pick up the occasional stray ball and make away with it. His twice daily walk goes right by the courts. He loves to play ball and plays for hours, or until Mike's arm gives way. It is so much fun to hear about his antics.
So, we are crazy nuts for Jebu and his beautiful coat and face.
Fetch!
Have a great day.
He looks to me like he has a big secret and knows a lot about life, and he isn't telling! But he is only about a year old, so how much can he really know?
Michael tells me that he is big on tennis balls and hell on the local tennis courts, where he loves to pick up the occasional stray ball and make away with it. His twice daily walk goes right by the courts. He loves to play ball and plays for hours, or until Mike's arm gives way. It is so much fun to hear about his antics.
So, we are crazy nuts for Jebu and his beautiful coat and face.
Fetch!
Have a great day.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Fed Ex from Bali
I just placed my first order for sterling silver beads shipped directly from Bali. These will arrive FedEx this week. It is a big step for me to order such beautiful beads directly from their source. In the past I have been the recipient of very generous friends who have shared beads with me, and taught me what I know about them. My friend Connie buys beads from Bali and I have always been amazed at her awesome inventory of beautiful silver. Vonna, who is a wonderful friend and designer, also sent me some beautiful Bali beads when I first started making jewelry and listing it on Ebay, and by having her show me what really GREAT beads are...she singlehandedly brought me up several notches as a jewelry designer. I collected several "Vonna" bracelets, and they are among my treasures! Besides being fun to wear, having her bracelets taught me what really beautiful high quality jewelry is all about.
My shipment from Bali will arrive this week and will include some gorgeous Bali beads, silver wire, pins, chain and spacers. I can't wait to see them. And, because of my generous friends who helped and taught me when I was a little beader...I'm a big girl now!
Thanks, Vonna. Thanks, Connie.
Have a great day!
My shipment from Bali will arrive this week and will include some gorgeous Bali beads, silver wire, pins, chain and spacers. I can't wait to see them. And, because of my generous friends who helped and taught me when I was a little beader...I'm a big girl now!
Thanks, Vonna. Thanks, Connie.
Have a great day!
Saturday, November 03, 2007
The Hurricane Fizzle
"Tropical Storm Noel has killed at least sixty people in the Caribbean from mudslides and floods as the intense storm approaches Florida with wind gusts of more than 50 mph." said the headlines last week, and the remnants came washing up the East Coast this weekend.
Last night the western sky was awash with beautiful flames and plumes of extraordinary yellows and reds. George and I were trying to decide whether red sails at night were a warning or not. Yes, we decided it was a warning, and today we took our air conditioners out of the windows and put down the storm windows. In the process I found that curtains needed to be washed so we did that too. Thanks to Noel it was a busy morning.
The wind came up and spun the whirlygigs in the back yard and blew some leaves around. There was a mild rain, nothing much, and it was dreary, with gray plumes of clouds in the sky. But weather doesn't keep us down, and we found a good sale at Penney's and we ran some errands for office supplies and a new beading book for me at Barnes and Nobel.
Tonight Mike reconnected with a friend of his who lives in San Francisco, who he has known since he was three years old, and in the process, I got reconnected with his friend's mother, who happens to live close by, and we will probably get to see each other before the holidays. Fun to find old friends!
Tomorrow is Sunday School in the morning and then more beading for me. The hurricane fizzled and the sun will be out again tomorrow. So much for Noel.
Have a lovely evening.
Last night the western sky was awash with beautiful flames and plumes of extraordinary yellows and reds. George and I were trying to decide whether red sails at night were a warning or not. Yes, we decided it was a warning, and today we took our air conditioners out of the windows and put down the storm windows. In the process I found that curtains needed to be washed so we did that too. Thanks to Noel it was a busy morning.
The wind came up and spun the whirlygigs in the back yard and blew some leaves around. There was a mild rain, nothing much, and it was dreary, with gray plumes of clouds in the sky. But weather doesn't keep us down, and we found a good sale at Penney's and we ran some errands for office supplies and a new beading book for me at Barnes and Nobel.
Tonight Mike reconnected with a friend of his who lives in San Francisco, who he has known since he was three years old, and in the process, I got reconnected with his friend's mother, who happens to live close by, and we will probably get to see each other before the holidays. Fun to find old friends!
Tomorrow is Sunday School in the morning and then more beading for me. The hurricane fizzled and the sun will be out again tomorrow. So much for Noel.
Have a lovely evening.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The Rolling Rally
George and his friend went down to see the Rolling Rally of the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox! Wow! He braved the crowds and got to mingle with thousands of fans who cheered and waved and did the Pappelbom jig. He had a great time and I got to see pictures and share them in my blog.
I love the Red Sox sky writing! You can just make it out in this picture.
Go Sox,...and they did!
Yay!
I love the Red Sox sky writing! You can just make it out in this picture.
Go Sox,...and they did!
Yay!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sox Win the World Series and I get a new Coffeepot!
It just happens this morning, that I want to talk about my new coffeepot, but that the Sox WON the World Series last night, so now my coffeepot seems less important. But there are lots of wonderful sports writers who will tell you all about the World Series, and I doubt that anyone will tell you about my coffeepot, so...Yay Sox...Go Coffeepot!
My old coffeepot wasn't that old. I bought it within this year. It was a Braum, and within five days of bringing it home form the store, the lid broke off. I hate that. It made ok, not great, coffee, but that lid really bothered me. The lid would fall inside the water area, or fall behind the pot, or disappear all together. With a broken lid, even the Salvation Army wouldn't want such a pot.
Yesterday I went out to look for a new one. We went to several stores and had coupons and resolve to find a pot I would really like. We looked at pots that cost $175, and pots that cost $19.00. It seemed silly to spend more than $50 on a coffeepot, since I am the only one that drinks coffee around here, George doesn't even want to TALK about coffee. He gamely went with me from store to store (God Bless George) and we found this nice Mr. Coffee 20 feet up in the air at a Linens and Things.
I had a coupon. 20% off. The coffeepot was on sale from $59.00 to $39.00. Cheap! And the best thing about this coffeepot, other than the secure lid, is that it tells you when the coffee is done.
There isn't a voice, thank goodness, but a little beep...a polite little beep, when the coffee is finished brewing. That little beep got me. I love my little beep in the morning.
But the greatest feature is that it has a timer, so I can make the coffee the night before and have it ready at six in the morning. No more rinsing, dumping grinds, opening cans, filling water reservoirs, or spilling coffee grounds or water in the morning...now I can do all that the night before!
I love my coffeepot. I love the Red Sox.
What a great day! Have a good one!
My old coffeepot wasn't that old. I bought it within this year. It was a Braum, and within five days of bringing it home form the store, the lid broke off. I hate that. It made ok, not great, coffee, but that lid really bothered me. The lid would fall inside the water area, or fall behind the pot, or disappear all together. With a broken lid, even the Salvation Army wouldn't want such a pot.
Yesterday I went out to look for a new one. We went to several stores and had coupons and resolve to find a pot I would really like. We looked at pots that cost $175, and pots that cost $19.00. It seemed silly to spend more than $50 on a coffeepot, since I am the only one that drinks coffee around here, George doesn't even want to TALK about coffee. He gamely went with me from store to store (God Bless George) and we found this nice Mr. Coffee 20 feet up in the air at a Linens and Things.
I had a coupon. 20% off. The coffeepot was on sale from $59.00 to $39.00. Cheap! And the best thing about this coffeepot, other than the secure lid, is that it tells you when the coffee is done.
There isn't a voice, thank goodness, but a little beep...a polite little beep, when the coffee is finished brewing. That little beep got me. I love my little beep in the morning.
But the greatest feature is that it has a timer, so I can make the coffee the night before and have it ready at six in the morning. No more rinsing, dumping grinds, opening cans, filling water reservoirs, or spilling coffee grounds or water in the morning...now I can do all that the night before!
I love my coffeepot. I love the Red Sox.
What a great day! Have a good one!
Friday, October 26, 2007
@$$ over Teakettle
Today I had a wipe-out at work. I was packing up a box to send it out UPS and I ran out of tape. I was working at the desk in the reception area. I turned to go to the mailroom for more tape and forgot that the big red mail cart was behind me. I fell forward and went sailing right over the cart and landed splayed out like an upside down snow angel.
I skinned my hand. I laid there for a few minutes trying to figure out whether to be mortally embarrassed or just to lay there and take stock of whether my arm was broken. I was too hurt to be embarrassed, and as I struggled to my feet, I just wanted to feel better!
I went to the bathroom and washed off the bloody skinned part on my hand, and took stock of the situation. I was sent home soon after. George came by and got me and we went to the employee health clinic, where they gave me a tetanus shot and wrapped up my sore hand. Tylenol and Advil will take care of the rest of it. I feel a little like this tea pot. Battered up but still useful.
Have a great weekend. Go Sox.
I skinned my hand. I laid there for a few minutes trying to figure out whether to be mortally embarrassed or just to lay there and take stock of whether my arm was broken. I was too hurt to be embarrassed, and as I struggled to my feet, I just wanted to feel better!
I went to the bathroom and washed off the bloody skinned part on my hand, and took stock of the situation. I was sent home soon after. George came by and got me and we went to the employee health clinic, where they gave me a tetanus shot and wrapped up my sore hand. Tylenol and Advil will take care of the rest of it. I feel a little like this tea pot. Battered up but still useful.
Have a great weekend. Go Sox.
Sox win again and Mike and Michelle get a new doggie.
Meet Jebu, Michael and Michelle's new doggie that they adopted from an animal shelter. If ever a dog had nice eyes, this one does. He just looks like he has a lot of heart.
And speaking of heart, we will all have to hope that the Red Sox do well in Colorado. I may even be able to stay up late to see them play.
Go Sox! Welcome, Jebu!
And speaking of heart, we will all have to hope that the Red Sox do well in Colorado. I may even be able to stay up late to see them play.
Go Sox! Welcome, Jebu!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The Sox...what else?
The Red Sox are playing in the World Series. That, in itself, is great victory! What a show, what fun to be in Boston right now, and how exciting it is. We can hardly believe it. It is fun to see national TV coverage of the WB Mason sign and see the lights on the big green wall that Manny works so well. I am thrilled that we are playing in the World Series, and even if we don't win, what a long, strange trip it has been!
And we are going to win. I know it!
I am a little worried about the rain that is on it's way tonight, and whether that will cause a rain delay or a cancellation of the game. Doesn't seem fair to have come this far just to get our best pitcher sopping wet, but...we'll take what comes. Baseball in October is full of fraught and danger.
I am also a little worried about sending anyone to play baseball in Colorado, where the mile high altitude can make you cry. I once got off a plane in Denver and took a short ride to the mountains, where, within a day, I was gasping for air and feeling downright horrible.
The Red Sox are going to pull another miracle and win the World Series...come wind, rain, or high altitude!
Have a great night. Go Sox.
And we are going to win. I know it!
I am a little worried about the rain that is on it's way tonight, and whether that will cause a rain delay or a cancellation of the game. Doesn't seem fair to have come this far just to get our best pitcher sopping wet, but...we'll take what comes. Baseball in October is full of fraught and danger.
I am also a little worried about sending anyone to play baseball in Colorado, where the mile high altitude can make you cry. I once got off a plane in Denver and took a short ride to the mountains, where, within a day, I was gasping for air and feeling downright horrible.
The Red Sox are going to pull another miracle and win the World Series...come wind, rain, or high altitude!
Have a great night. Go Sox.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Pictures from my back yard
I enjoy seeing the mature colors of my yard and garden on this beautiful sunny Sunday.
The garden is old and seasoned by now, and the tomatoes are almost gone, and a few scorching hot Habanero peppers are still dangling on the vine waiting for their next victim.
A bee is settled into George's purple dahlias.
We drove to Maine and New Hampshire today to see the trees and they are beautiful, but maybe just as beautiful at home.
Have a great day. Go Sox.
The garden is old and seasoned by now, and the tomatoes are almost gone, and a few scorching hot Habanero peppers are still dangling on the vine waiting for their next victim.
A bee is settled into George's purple dahlias.
We drove to Maine and New Hampshire today to see the trees and they are beautiful, but maybe just as beautiful at home.
Have a great day. Go Sox.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
The old fashioned way
George and I were shopping at the grocery store and I decided I wanted to make tapioca pudding the old fashioned way. I remember that my mom used to make it for us kids and it was wonderful. When I got to the packages of tapioca, I didn't read the directions on the back, and I chose "regular" over "quick cooking". Big mistake.
When I got home that evening, I decided to read the directions and make the pudding. The first line was "soak overnight". There went that idea. So, two days later, I did have time to soak overnight, and this morning I had soaked tapioca and more directions.
Next line. Put milk in top of double boiler and cook for one hour, watching carefully that it doesn't boil. An hour. Okay. So I hung around the kitchen for an hour this morning making sure that the milk didn't boil. Then it said, "beat egg yolks with sugar, add to mixture and stir for 15 minutes. Whew. Ok. I stood at the stove and stirred for 15 minutes.
As I was standing there I was thinking about my mother and how often she made tapioca pudding for us, and how many hours it must have taken her to make something and then watch her family devour it in a few minutes. I was getting grumpy about the stirring and I thought it was a good thing that I was doing this for myself and not because someone asked me to do it, or I would have been REALLY grumpy.
I got myself into this and I would get myself out. I beat up the egg whites, added the vanilla, folded the mixture into the hot pudding mix and ... voila...beautiful tapioca pudding that only took only a few hours to make.
Old fashioned perfection.
Have a great day.
When I got home that evening, I decided to read the directions and make the pudding. The first line was "soak overnight". There went that idea. So, two days later, I did have time to soak overnight, and this morning I had soaked tapioca and more directions.
Next line. Put milk in top of double boiler and cook for one hour, watching carefully that it doesn't boil. An hour. Okay. So I hung around the kitchen for an hour this morning making sure that the milk didn't boil. Then it said, "beat egg yolks with sugar, add to mixture and stir for 15 minutes. Whew. Ok. I stood at the stove and stirred for 15 minutes.
As I was standing there I was thinking about my mother and how often she made tapioca pudding for us, and how many hours it must have taken her to make something and then watch her family devour it in a few minutes. I was getting grumpy about the stirring and I thought it was a good thing that I was doing this for myself and not because someone asked me to do it, or I would have been REALLY grumpy.
I got myself into this and I would get myself out. I beat up the egg whites, added the vanilla, folded the mixture into the hot pudding mix and ... voila...beautiful tapioca pudding that only took only a few hours to make.
Old fashioned perfection.
Have a great day.
Friday, October 19, 2007
We win!
We win! We win! I went to bed before the game was over and woke up early to turn on the radio and find out the news. Ok, I must admit that I said a little prayer for the Red Sox before I turned on the radio. I wondered if God really had time to take care of things like baseball games, and I decided that HE did. Red Sox win!
Maybe I am overly cautious when it comes to being a fan. Maybe I should stay up late and jump around the living room like I did when the Red Sox won the World Series. There was a lot of jumping around that night, and all Red Sox Nation remembers it well.
God is good. Red Sox win!
Have a wonderful day.
Maybe I am overly cautious when it comes to being a fan. Maybe I should stay up late and jump around the living room like I did when the Red Sox won the World Series. There was a lot of jumping around that night, and all Red Sox Nation remembers it well.
God is good. Red Sox win!
Have a wonderful day.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
I'm too scared to watch
The Boston Red Sox have to win tonight to go on to the World Series and I'm too scared to watch. I have always been a scardy cat. Halloween is my least favorite holiday. Even when I carve a big pumpkin, it always ends up with a big smiley face...nothing that a mouse would be frightened by.
Boston is in the grip of worry. We are worried that we might lose, and we are worried that we might win. If we win, then we go onto several more nights of worry. It isn't that we aren't excited, it is that Bostonians are....seasoned worriers. So, tonight I am blogging, shopping for beads on Ebay, visiting with my friends online, and thinking about Halloween.
Anything but think about the Red Sox. I'm too scared.
Have a great night.
Boston is in the grip of worry. We are worried that we might lose, and we are worried that we might win. If we win, then we go onto several more nights of worry. It isn't that we aren't excited, it is that Bostonians are....seasoned worriers. So, tonight I am blogging, shopping for beads on Ebay, visiting with my friends online, and thinking about Halloween.
Anything but think about the Red Sox. I'm too scared.
Have a great night.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Runs and Pitches
This weekend in Boston it is all about The Red Sox. What a show they put on for the fans. I remember living in Chicago and being a Cub fan and it was never this much fun. Run and pitch they did last night, to a 10 to 3 win over the Indians. People are afraid to think that we might win the World Series again! It is a fever that is starting, and you can feel it around here. We all think we are that good!
George and I are going to have a nice quiet weekend. He has some work at the office and I have some work here at home. I'm making necklaces to sell at the gallery and I have to take some pictures to show folks what I'm doing. For the past few weeks I have had the home studio put away and haven't taken any photos at all. I need to do that!
The movie Elizabeth, with Cate Blanchett is out today. They say it isn't very good, but that the costumes are amazing. I have gone to see LOTS of movies just for the costumes, and I'm sure this is going to be a fine movie. I love historial films, I love Cate Blanchett, and I'm a sucker for period costumes. My kind of movie!
After the movie we are going out for Korean food...Bi Bim Bap. Oh yeah.
Go Red Sox.
Have a great day!
George and I are going to have a nice quiet weekend. He has some work at the office and I have some work here at home. I'm making necklaces to sell at the gallery and I have to take some pictures to show folks what I'm doing. For the past few weeks I have had the home studio put away and haven't taken any photos at all. I need to do that!
The movie Elizabeth, with Cate Blanchett is out today. They say it isn't very good, but that the costumes are amazing. I have gone to see LOTS of movies just for the costumes, and I'm sure this is going to be a fine movie. I love historial films, I love Cate Blanchett, and I'm a sucker for period costumes. My kind of movie!
After the movie we are going out for Korean food...Bi Bim Bap. Oh yeah.
Go Red Sox.
Have a great day!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Nuts to you!
Maybe I am just hungry, but today someone at my office received a big box from a company called nuts online.com, and I had to take a look. It seems that a company that has been selling nuts since l929 can't be all bad. I have decided in fact, that all their products look quite good and that I want a big box to arrive in my mail too!
I am going to order some Christmas goodies from this company and maybe some Thanksgiving ones too.
Yum.
Have a great day.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Mission: Happy People
I created my mission for repairing other people's old jewelry several weeks ago and reported it here on this blog: make people happy by fixing something they love and making it useful and nice again. In other words, it is a labor mostly of love and only a little money.
This week I restrung a prized necklace for an 89 year old lady who lives in my town. She had gotten my card from the bead store. Her necklace was different colors of agate stones and gold spacer beads, and she liked it, and it was broken into several pieces. She said she liked it because it went with everything because of all the colors. The necklace was strung on the old worn out floss that I have seen on other pieces lately.
I restrung the necklace stones on silk thread and was able to make knots to put back the original screw type antique clasp. I polished up the stones, and added a few gold spacer beads that were a little shinier here and there. I called her today to say it was ready, and she doesn't drive at night, so George and I took it over to her house, just a few blocks away. We fix jewelry, and we deliver. It made me feel good.
So, when I decided that I would repair jewelry to make others happy, what I didn't understand is that it would make me happy too!
Have a great night.
This week I restrung a prized necklace for an 89 year old lady who lives in my town. She had gotten my card from the bead store. Her necklace was different colors of agate stones and gold spacer beads, and she liked it, and it was broken into several pieces. She said she liked it because it went with everything because of all the colors. The necklace was strung on the old worn out floss that I have seen on other pieces lately.
I restrung the necklace stones on silk thread and was able to make knots to put back the original screw type antique clasp. I polished up the stones, and added a few gold spacer beads that were a little shinier here and there. I called her today to say it was ready, and she doesn't drive at night, so George and I took it over to her house, just a few blocks away. We fix jewelry, and we deliver. It made me feel good.
So, when I decided that I would repair jewelry to make others happy, what I didn't understand is that it would make me happy too!
Have a great night.
Spinning Spinning
Yesterday George and Connie and I went to New Hampshire to the Wool Tour. It was great fun. I bought three large balls of pale gray Shetland roving to spin, enough to make a pair of mittens and a hat. The temptation is to buy one ball ($12.00), and when you finish spinning it, plying it and rolling it in a ball of yarn, you only have enough for a headband, or one sock. So it is important to buy enough. I did. The cost of that roving was almost $40.00. An expensive pair of mittens, don't ya think. And we don't even THINK about the time involved. Days and weeks.
At the same stall in the big barn I bought a beautiful maroon and white handspun knit hat that is lovely and lovable, and that cost $30.00. Beautiful hand made things are worth the money.
We went to three farms and had a nice Chinese lunch in between. I got to see my friend Ann, and we sat at a picnic table and I taught Connie how to knot pearls. It took about 10 minutes to show her all I know, and she picks things up fast. She and I are good jewelry makers and it doesn't take us long to get the hang of a new technique.
We went to an alpaca farm and saw a hundred alpacas. They are brown, tawny or whitish, and remind me of a hippie poncho I had in the 60's which I wore for Chicago peace rallies. It was brown with white decorating going across and I'm sure it was made in Peru. It probably cost $10 at the most. It was very warm and wearable and I loved it. Those alpacas yesterday were the same color as my old poncho, bless it's heart.
The price list of alpacas was on the door of one barn. For $1000 you can buy a young female. For $2000 you can buy a young male. For $8000 you can buy a breeding female. We were wondering who would be in a such a hurry, since you can buy a girl alpaca for so much less and just wait two years or so. Of couse, I don't know much about alpacas. On the drive home we were adding up all the expenses we would have if we bought an alpaca. A heated barn, hay, hot water, food, a corral, vet bills, electricity, leather harnesses, wool shearing tools, advertising to sell the wool you just sheared, a pick up truck, a trailer...we went on and on. I think I will stick to visiting them once a year.
George and I are staining my spinning wheel and all the wooden accessories a darker honey pecan color. I bought my spinning wheel about 10 years ago, and although I stained it at the time, I bought too light of a stain, and it is white ash, and not that great. Pecan will be better. But it takes several coats, with a lot of wiping and waiting in between. It will take three days before we are finished. We set up lights and a radio in the basement and have been working on it for the whole weekend.
But, beautiful things are worth waiting for.
Have a great day.
At the same stall in the big barn I bought a beautiful maroon and white handspun knit hat that is lovely and lovable, and that cost $30.00. Beautiful hand made things are worth the money.
We went to three farms and had a nice Chinese lunch in between. I got to see my friend Ann, and we sat at a picnic table and I taught Connie how to knot pearls. It took about 10 minutes to show her all I know, and she picks things up fast. She and I are good jewelry makers and it doesn't take us long to get the hang of a new technique.
We went to an alpaca farm and saw a hundred alpacas. They are brown, tawny or whitish, and remind me of a hippie poncho I had in the 60's which I wore for Chicago peace rallies. It was brown with white decorating going across and I'm sure it was made in Peru. It probably cost $10 at the most. It was very warm and wearable and I loved it. Those alpacas yesterday were the same color as my old poncho, bless it's heart.
The price list of alpacas was on the door of one barn. For $1000 you can buy a young female. For $2000 you can buy a young male. For $8000 you can buy a breeding female. We were wondering who would be in a such a hurry, since you can buy a girl alpaca for so much less and just wait two years or so. Of couse, I don't know much about alpacas. On the drive home we were adding up all the expenses we would have if we bought an alpaca. A heated barn, hay, hot water, food, a corral, vet bills, electricity, leather harnesses, wool shearing tools, advertising to sell the wool you just sheared, a pick up truck, a trailer...we went on and on. I think I will stick to visiting them once a year.
George and I are staining my spinning wheel and all the wooden accessories a darker honey pecan color. I bought my spinning wheel about 10 years ago, and although I stained it at the time, I bought too light of a stain, and it is white ash, and not that great. Pecan will be better. But it takes several coats, with a lot of wiping and waiting in between. It will take three days before we are finished. We set up lights and a radio in the basement and have been working on it for the whole weekend.
But, beautiful things are worth waiting for.
Have a great day.
Friday, October 05, 2007
It's the Wool Tour Weekend!
Sometimes on Friday nights I get so excited about my weekend plans that I can hardly stay in bed to sleep. George and I watched the exciting conclusion of the Indians beating the Yankees, and when I turned off the lights, I started thinking of my blog, and how I had not written all week.
The week goes fast. This week we got a new furnace and a new water heater. George had to do a lot of prep work in the basement, and he worked hard. He had to take three days off to get the furnace taken care of. We had no hot water this morning, so we went over to the neighbor's house to take showers. I felt like a camper, standing outside my neighbors door in the early morning with my towel and my shampoo. It would have been embarrassing, except that the thought of a cold shower was just too awful to contemplate. So, I took my warm shower, and skedaddled back across the street to my own bathroom to dry my hair and get ready for work. By the time I got home again, I was back into my routine and all was well again.
I made one bracelet this week and spun some wool. My new spools and lazy kate and niddy noddy arrived from California. My spinning wheel is all oiled and running smooth and quiet. I'm all ready to begin spinning again, and I managed to spin about a spool's worth last Sunday. It is relaxing and fun. My friend at church said I must be crazy to pick up yet another hobby, but, the more the merrier as far as I am concerned.
Tomorrow is the New Hampshire Wool Tour, and George and Connie and I will head off at 9:00 to go to Antrim, and small towns nearby to go from farm to farm visiting with other spinners, dyers, and wool people. We will see sheep and sheep dogs and people playing bag pipes and the lady who spins from her rabbit that sits on her lap. We will see llamas and alpacas and all things wooly and woolier. And it will be fun.
It will be fun to see old friends and to meet new ones. Connie doesn't even knit or spin and she still loves to go with us. It is a fun time to catch up with our beading talk, and because I hate to talk and drive, George is being chauffeur. What would I do without him?
Have a great weekend.
The week goes fast. This week we got a new furnace and a new water heater. George had to do a lot of prep work in the basement, and he worked hard. He had to take three days off to get the furnace taken care of. We had no hot water this morning, so we went over to the neighbor's house to take showers. I felt like a camper, standing outside my neighbors door in the early morning with my towel and my shampoo. It would have been embarrassing, except that the thought of a cold shower was just too awful to contemplate. So, I took my warm shower, and skedaddled back across the street to my own bathroom to dry my hair and get ready for work. By the time I got home again, I was back into my routine and all was well again.
I made one bracelet this week and spun some wool. My new spools and lazy kate and niddy noddy arrived from California. My spinning wheel is all oiled and running smooth and quiet. I'm all ready to begin spinning again, and I managed to spin about a spool's worth last Sunday. It is relaxing and fun. My friend at church said I must be crazy to pick up yet another hobby, but, the more the merrier as far as I am concerned.
Tomorrow is the New Hampshire Wool Tour, and George and Connie and I will head off at 9:00 to go to Antrim, and small towns nearby to go from farm to farm visiting with other spinners, dyers, and wool people. We will see sheep and sheep dogs and people playing bag pipes and the lady who spins from her rabbit that sits on her lap. We will see llamas and alpacas and all things wooly and woolier. And it will be fun.
It will be fun to see old friends and to meet new ones. Connie doesn't even knit or spin and she still loves to go with us. It is a fun time to catch up with our beading talk, and because I hate to talk and drive, George is being chauffeur. What would I do without him?
Have a great weekend.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Early to bed and early to rise...
It is 6:44 and I am in my jacket and ready to leave for work. George has a meeting this morning, and I carpool with him, so I am going in early too. I go to bed early, and jump out of bed rested and ready in the morning. 8:30 or 9:30 is my bedtime, and I'm going to be unashamed. That seems a little early, I know, but it is so much nicer to be wide awake in the morning than to stay up and watch some silly show on TV and wake up bleary eyed and tired.
I commute from work to home sometimes so that George can stay later at his office. Last night I caught the subway near my office in the usual time, and took it two stops to the end of the line. And then the world stopped. The bus is supposed to come every 20 minutes, but it was 45 minutes of standing on the cement before the bus finally showed up to take it's weary passengers on the final leg home. I was beside myself! 45 minutes on a boring train station walkway is way too long. So today I am carpooling again, and happier for it!
Rather than get on that darn bus again, George and I will stop at Dunkin Donuts for a nice coffee, get doughnuts for George to take to his 8:00 meeting, and I will arrive at work at least 45 minutes early. Sounds good to me.
Have a great day.
I commute from work to home sometimes so that George can stay later at his office. Last night I caught the subway near my office in the usual time, and took it two stops to the end of the line. And then the world stopped. The bus is supposed to come every 20 minutes, but it was 45 minutes of standing on the cement before the bus finally showed up to take it's weary passengers on the final leg home. I was beside myself! 45 minutes on a boring train station walkway is way too long. So today I am carpooling again, and happier for it!
Rather than get on that darn bus again, George and I will stop at Dunkin Donuts for a nice coffee, get doughnuts for George to take to his 8:00 meeting, and I will arrive at work at least 45 minutes early. Sounds good to me.
Have a great day.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
A really good pancake recipe
George and I are often on the hunt for a really good pancake recipe. Sometimes we make them with buttermilk, sometimes with whipped egg whites. We aren't looking for a lot of fancy add-ins. We just want a really nice tasting pancake.
Today we tried a new recipe and it is really good! This recipe can be halved for plenty of pancakes for two people:
2 cups flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 T. sugar
1 t. salt
1 cup plain yogurt
1 1/4 c. milk
2 eggs
1/4 c. melted margarine
Sift the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Beat the eggs with a fork and add them and the wet ingredients into the flour mixture. Then add the melted butter. Ladle onto the griddle until lightly browned, add syrup, butter and eat! Yum.
Have a great Sunday.
Today we tried a new recipe and it is really good! This recipe can be halved for plenty of pancakes for two people:
2 cups flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 T. sugar
1 t. salt
1 cup plain yogurt
1 1/4 c. milk
2 eggs
1/4 c. melted margarine
Sift the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Beat the eggs with a fork and add them and the wet ingredients into the flour mixture. Then add the melted butter. Ladle onto the griddle until lightly browned, add syrup, butter and eat! Yum.
Have a great Sunday.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Mike and Michelle are home!
Mike and Michelle are home safe and happy from their Bermuda vacation. Mike says the sun is bright and the water is blue and the place is beautiful. George and I want to go. Mike also said that a long weekend is enough, and in these days of Earned Time concerns, I think a long weekend sounds just right!
I am blown away by Michael's pictures of fish. I like the other pictures too, but the fish pictures are incredible. I will have wallpaper for my computer for a long time to come.
This weekend George is going to a helicopter picnic on Saturday morning while I get my hair done. On Sunday he goes to a Red Sox game. Sounds like fun, but I have a lot of things to do here at home. And I plan to spend some time at Barnes and Noble browsing through beading books and drinking cappuccino.
This is going to be a creative weekend for me. I have three necklaces to repair for people, one set to make for someone and some necklaces to make and to deliver to the art/gallery store. And there is always yarn and spinning and kumihimo. I have so many projects going I don't know where to start.
I think I'll start by going to bed.
Have a great night!
I am blown away by Michael's pictures of fish. I like the other pictures too, but the fish pictures are incredible. I will have wallpaper for my computer for a long time to come.
This weekend George is going to a helicopter picnic on Saturday morning while I get my hair done. On Sunday he goes to a Red Sox game. Sounds like fun, but I have a lot of things to do here at home. And I plan to spend some time at Barnes and Noble browsing through beading books and drinking cappuccino.
This is going to be a creative weekend for me. I have three necklaces to repair for people, one set to make for someone and some necklaces to make and to deliver to the art/gallery store. And there is always yarn and spinning and kumihimo. I have so many projects going I don't know where to start.
I think I'll start by going to bed.
Have a great night!
Spinning Wool
Last night we watched an old movie with Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton: Witness for the Prosecution. The first thing we noticed about watching this old movie was that we were caught up in it right away. No computer graphics, no chase scenes, not even color, and it was fascinating! Charles Laughton is amazing. I kept saying that it is nice that dentistry has gone as far as it has, because one thing you immediately notice is that these actors all have their original teeth, and in some cases, that is not a good thing. The story line is twisty and interesting and the acting is wonderful. No gimmicks, just good actors and good writing.
I took my spinning wheel and moved it into the den and spun wool while we watched this old movie. How's that for a quiet evening?
Have a great day.
I took my spinning wheel and moved it into the den and spun wool while we watched this old movie. How's that for a quiet evening?
Have a great day.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sunday in New Hampshire
George and I drove to New Hampshire yesterday to go to the Wool Room which is owned by my friend Ann. She taught me how to spin wool several years ago and I had put it away for awhile and needed a refresher. I also needed some new roving. She helped me oil up my Ashford Traditional spinning wheel and get me threaded up and started again. It is like riding a bike, I never forgot how. The fibers handled easily in my hands and the wool spun like crazy.
It is lovely to spin your own wool. There is something mesmerizing about watching the bobbin fill with pretty yarn that you made yourself. Of course, what you spin off the roving is just the first step. Then you have to fill another bobbin and wind them together. That is easy and fun to do too.
So I'm spinning again and I feel great about it. It was a beautiful Sunday morning in New Hampshire. The trees are just turning and it was a glorious sunny day.
Have a great day.
It is lovely to spin your own wool. There is something mesmerizing about watching the bobbin fill with pretty yarn that you made yourself. Of course, what you spin off the roving is just the first step. Then you have to fill another bobbin and wind them together. That is easy and fun to do too.
So I'm spinning again and I feel great about it. It was a beautiful Sunday morning in New Hampshire. The trees are just turning and it was a glorious sunny day.
Have a great day.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Friday night
Friday night is always a fun night. The whole weekend stretches in front of me, and I have so many projects to work on. I am never bored. My hobbies can take up all my time if I let them. There are socks to knit and beads to string and wool to spin and scraps to book. It is fun to have so many different projects.
Mike and Michelle are in the middle of their vacation and I am having fun just thinking about all the fun they are having.
George is going flying tomorrow and I am going to continue the saga of cleaning closets and organizing. George bought me a whole bunch of padded hangers tonight. He went into the grocery store to buy milk and eggs and came out with white silk padded hangers. Now, that's a man after my heart.
Have a good night. See you tomorrow!
Mike and Michelle are in the middle of their vacation and I am having fun just thinking about all the fun they are having.
George is going flying tomorrow and I am going to continue the saga of cleaning closets and organizing. George bought me a whole bunch of padded hangers tonight. He went into the grocery store to buy milk and eggs and came out with white silk padded hangers. Now, that's a man after my heart.
Have a good night. See you tomorrow!
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