Posts
Today is my 333th posting on this blog.
When I first stared last May I didn't think I'd last this long. Not that I didn't think I could find things to talk about, I just wasn't sure anyone would care to listen. I gave myself six months. If I didn't get any responses by then I was going to fold it up and say good bye to it.
It was a lonely first couple of month in the beginning. No comments to speak of. I felt like I was shouting into a dark abyss. Not even my own echo to keep me company. Would anyone find me in the masses of blogs out there in cyberspace?
But the comments started to come. I swapped info and interests with some of you. I was no longer alone. I was tethered, no longer adrift. No longer the lone elder Goth in my little community, I now have others out in the world who understand me.
The friends I have met here have helped me in many ways and I thank them for their time and interest. Without them I would have given it all up as a lost cause long ago.
I hope you all have good friends, accomplishments in your days, and happy health lives.
Thank you for stopping by.
Lady Euphoria Deathwatch
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
On Epitaph Contest March 29, 2009:
Here is the promised prize choices for this weeks contest. Winner gets to choose ‘one’ of the following prizes.
1N - A Tatted lace, cotton choker Necklace. Lady Euphoria designed and hand made by the lady herself in choice of blue, white, purple, black or red.
2B - Bookmarks. A choice of one of two sets of four. Lady Euphoria made the lace and created all but one of the sayings on these. Paired with a bit of her tatted lace these original bookmarks were fast sellers when on the market last.
For those that are new to the blog. Here are the rules for writing your own headstone epitaphs and having them shown on my blog or entered into the contest.
1. No more then 10 lines, but the shorter the better.
2. It does not have to rhyme.
3. Just words. No pictures, cartoons etc.
4. Nothing ‘overtly’ sexual, violent, disgusting, or racist will be considered.
5. Leave a name of who sent it. (It doesn’t have to be your real name.) But it will be attributed to that name. No name, no entry.
6. If the words are not your own. Add the original authors name if you know it. Otherwise just add ‘Anonymous’ and add ‘Sent in by’ and your name after that.
7. Spelling counts. Please proof read it before you hit the send button.
I will ‘return email’ to inform the winner of the week and get information for delivery. Name of chosen will be announced on the blog. I do not use any information I get to sell or trade, nor to contact you further. I myself value my privacy and would not like that trust broken. It is only for the purpose of delivering your package.
Send in your Epitaphs for this weeks contest and Good Luck! Lady Euphoria
Sunday, March 29, 2009
On Pay Attention Please:
I’ve been waking up early the last few days. Coughing fits mostly. Bleary eyed and tired I’ve mostly just been spring cleaning these days. But… There was that bit of lace almost done on the pillow.
I’d go over and peek under the dust cover. I’d do a stitch or two here and there, maybe even a repeat. Then I’d go back to work.
Finally it was finished. At least the lace making part was anyway.
I had decided on making a lesser fusing of the threads to connect the two ends into a square. Usually I make four corners and five sides. I place the two end sides together, overlapping, and then snake one thread out of the bottom layer and snake it into its sister part in the top layer replacing the matching upper thread as I went.
I’d do this in varying lengths so that the connection is invisible. But, as this bit of lace was just going to be a prop for my cemetery pictures I went for the overlapping of just one repeat method. Still acceptable, but it shows. Not unless you look for it, but it shows. (Yellow arrow in picture points to it.)
Do you see the problem? A beginners mistake. I twisted my ends. It doesn’t lay flat. The bottom edge in the picture is twisted. It is not useable as is.
I could go back and fix it but the time involved would take longer then the time to make another piece of lace. So it will go in the arts and crafts box of bits and bobs to be cut up and used in scrap projects.
Not a complete loss but I do have to start over if I want to have a new handkerchief with lace edging.
Next time I’ll pay it more attention.
_______________________________
Sunday, Weight loss/ health update: No change. I haven’t been exercising a lot, do to my coughing fits. I did get off of the refined sugars and flours. A major accomplishment for me.
It is now whole grains and natural sugars, like honey, in small amounts. My cravings have greatly diminished and I hope to be exercising more this next week because I expect to be getting better from this spring cold.
________________________________
Epitaph Contest is a go for this week, March 29 to April 4. Click the headstone on the side bar for rules. Tomorrow I’ll show the prizes to choose from.
I’d go over and peek under the dust cover. I’d do a stitch or two here and there, maybe even a repeat. Then I’d go back to work.
Finally it was finished. At least the lace making part was anyway.
I had decided on making a lesser fusing of the threads to connect the two ends into a square. Usually I make four corners and five sides. I place the two end sides together, overlapping, and then snake one thread out of the bottom layer and snake it into its sister part in the top layer replacing the matching upper thread as I went.
I’d do this in varying lengths so that the connection is invisible. But, as this bit of lace was just going to be a prop for my cemetery pictures I went for the overlapping of just one repeat method. Still acceptable, but it shows. Not unless you look for it, but it shows. (Yellow arrow in picture points to it.)
Do you see the problem? A beginners mistake. I twisted my ends. It doesn’t lay flat. The bottom edge in the picture is twisted. It is not useable as is.
I could go back and fix it but the time involved would take longer then the time to make another piece of lace. So it will go in the arts and crafts box of bits and bobs to be cut up and used in scrap projects.
Not a complete loss but I do have to start over if I want to have a new handkerchief with lace edging.
Next time I’ll pay it more attention.
_______________________________
Sunday, Weight loss/ health update: No change. I haven’t been exercising a lot, do to my coughing fits. I did get off of the refined sugars and flours. A major accomplishment for me.
It is now whole grains and natural sugars, like honey, in small amounts. My cravings have greatly diminished and I hope to be exercising more this next week because I expect to be getting better from this spring cold.
________________________________
Epitaph Contest is a go for this week, March 29 to April 4. Click the headstone on the side bar for rules. Tomorrow I’ll show the prizes to choose from.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
On Finding Contentment:
I have a collection of bottles and jars in my house. I put them here and there around the rooms. Some are old, others are just pretty. I put dried flowers or potpourri in some, others hold collections of things.
I place odd name tags on them. Banshee Screams, Bat Blood, Mummy Tongues, Snake Snot, Grave Yard Dirt. I know what is in the jars and bottles but I also like to keep others guessing.
Some of this stuff I use and others are just for show. Like the seeds I used to collect for the kids to make art project from, gluing them to paper or other objects and painting over them for texture. The kids have long since grown but I found myself still collecting seeds.
One day long ago I was upset. I wanted something that I couldn’t afford and was in a foul mood about it. I was told I could have it but then when the cost was finally discovered the long promised gift was taken back. I was in despair from disappointment.
I was making the whole family miserable because I was discontented. I knew I deserved this object but the family didn’t deserve to suffer because I couldn’t have it.
I wanted to be a good example to my children so I tried to suck it up. I was letting a stupid want taint an otherwise beautiful day. But I was truly upset and needed to vent. I grabbed the dried seeds from the kitchen window sill and proceeded to straighten the house. I was headed to the box in my closet where I kept crafting supplies I didn’t want the kids to get into when I wasn’t supervising, to put them away.
I was interrupted by this and that, and my fist got tighter and tighter around the seeds. I pushed all my frustration into those little brown apple seeds in my hand as I helped one kid dress and the other find their homework that morning. Next thing I knew I was back in the kitchen getting the kids off to school and the seeds where still in my hand.
I was feeling better and the kids went happily off on their day. Later that day I burned the seeds in an act of dispensing the bad feeling forever.
While I was watching them burn I realized I was also getting rid of the seeds of my discontent in the form of the real seeds in front of me.
From then on I always had a seed ready for a bad day. I’d tuck it in a pocket and let it drain the bad feeling away as I fingered it there.
Now, all I have to do is think about the jar marked ‘Seeds of Discontent’ on my dresser before I let my ill moods infect the family again.
Friday, March 27, 2009
On Spring Organization:
They call it ‘Spring Cleaning’ but it is more then that for me.
I don’t just want it clean. I want it Organized! The clutter of winter, crammed in the house, lazy leavings, mess to be gone.
I want neat and even, open spaces, bright and new. Visions of neat rows of vegetable and flower gardens dancing in my head as I dream of a Spring Cleaned house.
I want my ducks in a row, facing the same way, onward and upward.
But alas, I am not that person. I pick up a lost homeless object, gotten over the winter, and search for a home for it. By the desk? In the bed room? Needed in the kitchen? Bathroom supply?
All spaces are occupied. I move out a thing-a-ma-gig because the new thing fits better there. But where to put the thing-a-ma-gig? Put the thing-a-ma-gig where the what’s-a-ma-call-it is. Move the what’s-a-ma-call-it to the upper shelf where the thing-a-ma-bob was.
But where do we put the new thing-a-ma-bob when we get another one for the summer.
I ‘round robin’ the things in my house until I can’t find anything any more.
It’s time to start over again and this time move things out first. But I love all my thing-a-ma’s and what’s-a-ma’s and who’s-it’s. So I have to dig down deep and give them up anyway.
Anyone in the market for a bent and worn out who’s-it’s? It’s full of love and memories.
Time to recycle seldom used things.
I don’t just want it clean. I want it Organized! The clutter of winter, crammed in the house, lazy leavings, mess to be gone.
I want neat and even, open spaces, bright and new. Visions of neat rows of vegetable and flower gardens dancing in my head as I dream of a Spring Cleaned house.
I want my ducks in a row, facing the same way, onward and upward.
But alas, I am not that person. I pick up a lost homeless object, gotten over the winter, and search for a home for it. By the desk? In the bed room? Needed in the kitchen? Bathroom supply?
All spaces are occupied. I move out a thing-a-ma-gig because the new thing fits better there. But where to put the thing-a-ma-gig? Put the thing-a-ma-gig where the what’s-a-ma-call-it is. Move the what’s-a-ma-call-it to the upper shelf where the thing-a-ma-bob was.
But where do we put the new thing-a-ma-bob when we get another one for the summer.
I ‘round robin’ the things in my house until I can’t find anything any more.
It’s time to start over again and this time move things out first. But I love all my thing-a-ma’s and what’s-a-ma’s and who’s-it’s. So I have to dig down deep and give them up anyway.
Anyone in the market for a bent and worn out who’s-it’s? It’s full of love and memories.
Time to recycle seldom used things.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
On Turning a Corner:
Ribbit, Ribbit, Cough, Wheeze, Sneeze. I spoke too soon. Yesterday, I said we weren’t really sick. Last night it started and now we sound like frogs.
Where is all this sickness coming from? I feel like a kid again. One illness after another.
But on the bright side I sound silly. I say things just to hear my new croaky gravelly voice. I was talking to my lace making just to listen to it. (My voice not the lace. The lace didn’t talk back. That’s a good sign right?) Ha, ha.
Okay, enough of the silly stuff. I broke out my corner lace making pillow and was working on a piece of handkerchief edging since I still had enough black thread on the bobbins left over after I made the lace for my blouse.
Those are large marbles in the bottom of the basket to give it weight so it doesn’t slip and slide all over the place while I’m working. I keep a covered brick in bottom of the other one that you saw in earlier posts.
One turn around the pillow is one side of the handkerchief and a corner. One more round to go. Then it’s back to the mouse mittens I started in the car when we went to get bird seed.
Here’s hoping we have turned the corner to being sick too.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
On The Burdens We Put on Ourselves:
This week has gotten away from me. Mountain Man and I are a bit under the weather. Not sick really. No symptoms you could put your finger on and say, ‘You have the flu, common cold…’ you choose the illness.
Just low grade fevers, tickle in the throat, and no energy. I tell you this not to get sympathy but just as information toward my tale.
I ‘could’ use it as an excuse for not getting anything done. But I won’t.
I managed to get a new camera and play with it a lot. Hundreds of pictures of nothing at all, as I learned the different buttons on the thing. But I’m not going to show you those. You really don’t care about how I can get a good, close up shot of the rusty nail head in the fence post from 100 feet and through the window now.
I did get this nice shot of a cardinal on the bird feeder. (Note to self, move to the window that doesn’t have a screen on it next time.)
I managed ‘not’ to eat anything with refined sugar in it since I joined the contest at Woolen Rabbit on Sunday. Next on the list of good for me tortures is eliminating refined flours. (She says as she munches on the last package of the tasty, refined flour crackers.)
Confession one of the week here. I am a refined carbohydrate addict. The smallest amount of the refined white stuff and it’s like drugs. I want! I gotta’ have… More! Cant… Stop… My… Self!!!! My weight loss downfall.
But the reason I tell you all this is because I have ‘not’ gotten one stitch on my knitting needles of mittens this week toward my tow pair a week goal.
Did I take on too much? Did I over estimate my knitting prowess? Was I over enthusiastic about the Kevin’s Mittens Charity? Was I too proud of myself when I was putting out three pairs a week from Nov to the end of Jan, but getting nothing else done around here?
Probably, Yes, to all of the above. I have failed to continue to produce mittens at a break neck pace. It’s not that I don’t love my dead son with all my heart. Or that I secretly want the charity to fail. I wanted it to be about love and caring not quotas.
The reason I failed is probably that after nine years I’ve grown and learned to move on with the living of my life.
I will release myself from the burden of quotas on mittens. And now that it is not a mandatory thing anymore I feel like doing it again. With the failure removed, the fun came back.
Now where did I put the gray yarn for the mouse puppet mittens?
Just low grade fevers, tickle in the throat, and no energy. I tell you this not to get sympathy but just as information toward my tale.
I ‘could’ use it as an excuse for not getting anything done. But I won’t.
I managed to get a new camera and play with it a lot. Hundreds of pictures of nothing at all, as I learned the different buttons on the thing. But I’m not going to show you those. You really don’t care about how I can get a good, close up shot of the rusty nail head in the fence post from 100 feet and through the window now.
I did get this nice shot of a cardinal on the bird feeder. (Note to self, move to the window that doesn’t have a screen on it next time.)
I managed ‘not’ to eat anything with refined sugar in it since I joined the contest at Woolen Rabbit on Sunday. Next on the list of good for me tortures is eliminating refined flours. (She says as she munches on the last package of the tasty, refined flour crackers.)
Confession one of the week here. I am a refined carbohydrate addict. The smallest amount of the refined white stuff and it’s like drugs. I want! I gotta’ have… More! Cant… Stop… My… Self!!!! My weight loss downfall.
But the reason I tell you all this is because I have ‘not’ gotten one stitch on my knitting needles of mittens this week toward my tow pair a week goal.
Did I take on too much? Did I over estimate my knitting prowess? Was I over enthusiastic about the Kevin’s Mittens Charity? Was I too proud of myself when I was putting out three pairs a week from Nov to the end of Jan, but getting nothing else done around here?
Probably, Yes, to all of the above. I have failed to continue to produce mittens at a break neck pace. It’s not that I don’t love my dead son with all my heart. Or that I secretly want the charity to fail. I wanted it to be about love and caring not quotas.
The reason I failed is probably that after nine years I’ve grown and learned to move on with the living of my life.
I will release myself from the burden of quotas on mittens. And now that it is not a mandatory thing anymore I feel like doing it again. With the failure removed, the fun came back.
Now where did I put the gray yarn for the mouse puppet mittens?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
On Replace and Renew:
Well, yesterday was a day spent finding a replacement for my dead camera. And on Black Raven’s recommendation I picked up two CDs of the band Evanescence. The albums ‘Anywhere but Home’ and ’The Open Door’ will be getting a lot of play time at Lady Euphoria’s abode as they are my new exercise work out music. (I’m finally taking my weight loss seriously. No More Refined Sugar for me!)
Back to the camera. I decided to get a Canon PowerShot SX10 IS. (I had to take a picture of the box because I found it impossible to get a picture of the camera I was using to snap the picture with. I suppose I could have taken the picture in a mirror but then it would have been backwards in the picture.)
I like the features of the new camera that my old PowerShot A60 didn’t have. But I have to say that it is going to take a little time to get used to the extra weight of the new camera.
I had to buy a camera case too because the new camera doesn’t fit in my handbag any longer. I also threw it all in and got a larger memory card, 16gb. I’d like to start playing at making some stop action animation and didn’t want to have to go back and forth to the computer to have to dump pictures while I was doing that. Impossible if I’m doing it on location in a cemetery.
Now that I have a new camera I’ll have to recalibrate and recalculate my stereograph picture taking. I had worked out a nice quick and easy system for taking them with the old camera and now it’s back to square one.
I’m happy with the new camera so far so my crafting projects may suffer a set back while I ‘play with’ , scratch that, ‘learn to use’ my new toy.
Now, how much weight do you think I’ll loose if I carry my new camera everywhere I go.
________________________
Edited to correct name and add link.
Monday, March 23, 2009
On Don’t Bother To Smile:
My camera died. No rhyme or reason, it just stopped working the right way, then it died.
I was trying to take the pictures of my finished projects that you see here. (The bobbin lace I made sewn onto my blouse and the lion and pig puppet mittens for the Kevin’s Mittens Charity.)
When I pushed the button to take the picture the camera would just make its dinging noise and shut down. After a while it would take some pictures but there were lines all over the shots. I then started taking a large amounts of shots just trying to get something useable. After that it just got crazy and would do things at random, one after another… flashing, adjusting focus, switching modes, clicking, chiming, whorring, buzzing.
This went on until I took the batteries out because it would not shut down any longer.
I removed it’s memory card and found a few shots that I could use but the camera lies lifeless on my desk. Its batteries at its side.
Later today it will go in the box where I keep the spent electronics to await recycling. But I will miss that camera. We had a lot of fun together. I will go to the store and contemplate the replacement.
The new camera and I will have a different relationship. It will have its own bells and whistles but it will never fill the hole in my heart where my first digital camera once filled.
I was trying to take the pictures of my finished projects that you see here. (The bobbin lace I made sewn onto my blouse and the lion and pig puppet mittens for the Kevin’s Mittens Charity.)
When I pushed the button to take the picture the camera would just make its dinging noise and shut down. After a while it would take some pictures but there were lines all over the shots. I then started taking a large amounts of shots just trying to get something useable. After that it just got crazy and would do things at random, one after another… flashing, adjusting focus, switching modes, clicking, chiming, whorring, buzzing.
This went on until I took the batteries out because it would not shut down any longer.
I removed it’s memory card and found a few shots that I could use but the camera lies lifeless on my desk. Its batteries at its side.
Later today it will go in the box where I keep the spent electronics to await recycling. But I will miss that camera. We had a lot of fun together. I will go to the store and contemplate the replacement.
The new camera and I will have a different relationship. It will have its own bells and whistles but it will never fill the hole in my heart where my first digital camera once filled.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
On Contests Here and There:
On Contests Here and There:
Congratulations Fuzzarelly! Thank you for playing in the Epitaph contest.
You can find her blog here. Fuzzarelly your package will be in the mail as soon as you pick out a prize and give me a mailing address.
__________________________________
I have decided to join in the weight loss challenge/ contest over at Woolen Rabbit and Knitigator. It is a three month challenge.
I hate feeling like I am all alone in the weight loss battle. I know I am not but I don’t have anyone to talk with about it when I need to. You know how it is.
Anyway, I’ve jumped in with both feet. And here are my statistics at the moment. (Not required of the contest, by the way.)
Weight 195
Bust 45 1/ 2 inches
Waist 40 inches
Hips 52 inches
That was really hard to write out for all to see. If I hadn’t come down from a top figure of 250 pounds a few years ago I might not of been able to tell you where I am now. But it is time to get back on the weight loss trail again in earnest.
I’ll add my stats. at the bottom of my post every week so I will stay accountable. Feel free to ignore it. I hope to be 125/130 pounds again some day. This should make a good start. If only I can keep away from refined sugar...
Congratulations Fuzzarelly! Thank you for playing in the Epitaph contest.
You can find her blog here. Fuzzarelly your package will be in the mail as soon as you pick out a prize and give me a mailing address.
__________________________________
I have decided to join in the weight loss challenge/ contest over at Woolen Rabbit and Knitigator. It is a three month challenge.
I hate feeling like I am all alone in the weight loss battle. I know I am not but I don’t have anyone to talk with about it when I need to. You know how it is.
Anyway, I’ve jumped in with both feet. And here are my statistics at the moment. (Not required of the contest, by the way.)
Weight 195
Bust 45 1/ 2 inches
Waist 40 inches
Hips 52 inches
That was really hard to write out for all to see. If I hadn’t come down from a top figure of 250 pounds a few years ago I might not of been able to tell you where I am now. But it is time to get back on the weight loss trail again in earnest.
I’ll add my stats. at the bottom of my post every week so I will stay accountable. Feel free to ignore it. I hope to be 125/130 pounds again some day. This should make a good start. If only I can keep away from refined sugar...
Saturday, March 21, 2009
On Questions on Bobbin Lace Making:
I have gotten some questions on my bobbin lace. So, I’ll answer them today here so anyone else that thought about asking but didn’t get around to commenting can get the answers too.
1. It looks so complicated, how do you keep it all straight?
As you can see in the picture, the threads meet at the pins and all you need do is follow the thread down to the bobbins to know which ones to pick up and work with at a time.
If you keep your bobbins in order (Meaning the threads are all lined up from the work down to the bobbins.) and you are working from a pattern, the count is always from left to right and the left most pair is always one, the second always two and so on.
The pattern may say ‘5-6 linen stitch’ and you know to pick up the fifth and sixth pair and do the linen stitch with them.
2. What happens if you make a wrong stitch somewhere?
I go back and fix it. I take out the work done after the mistake and redo it. I must say, I do try not to make many mistakes.
3. How long does it take?
To learn? As long as it takes to get your hands to remember what to do. There are only five basic stitches to start with. The rest of the time is in practice and concentration.
To make one repeat of the pattern I‘m using in the picture? About fifteen minutes. I’m slower then I used to be and there is a lot of stopping and starting to exchange working bobbins and place pins.
4. What’s up with the pillows?
I have five different kinds of pillows: a cookie or flat round disk on a board for flat pieces like doilies,(like my picture here) a ball pillow for things like lace baby caps, a Victorian cylinder or roller in a pillow for edging, the cone for making corners for handkerchiefs and collars, and the bolster for edgings or wider pieces. All are hard packed with stuffing to hold the pins steady in place and I made all my pillows myself. But there are places you can buy them.
5. What kind of Bobbins do you have?
I get them from a lot of different places. I have wood, plastic, and a few glass. Some are fancy, others plain. Different ones for different size and type of thread. Some are heavier, others lighter. Some are old, others new.
I learned using push pins for hanging laundry to dry as my first bobbins and kite string.
I’ll be happy to help you find answers to any other questions about bobbin lace. It really is easier then it looks. But, I must say it is not for the impatient unless you are looking for a tutorial on patients. It takes a long time to have a good piece of hand made lace.
1. It looks so complicated, how do you keep it all straight?
As you can see in the picture, the threads meet at the pins and all you need do is follow the thread down to the bobbins to know which ones to pick up and work with at a time.
If you keep your bobbins in order (Meaning the threads are all lined up from the work down to the bobbins.) and you are working from a pattern, the count is always from left to right and the left most pair is always one, the second always two and so on.
The pattern may say ‘5-6 linen stitch’ and you know to pick up the fifth and sixth pair and do the linen stitch with them.
2. What happens if you make a wrong stitch somewhere?
I go back and fix it. I take out the work done after the mistake and redo it. I must say, I do try not to make many mistakes.
3. How long does it take?
To learn? As long as it takes to get your hands to remember what to do. There are only five basic stitches to start with. The rest of the time is in practice and concentration.
To make one repeat of the pattern I‘m using in the picture? About fifteen minutes. I’m slower then I used to be and there is a lot of stopping and starting to exchange working bobbins and place pins.
4. What’s up with the pillows?
I have five different kinds of pillows: a cookie or flat round disk on a board for flat pieces like doilies,(like my picture here) a ball pillow for things like lace baby caps, a Victorian cylinder or roller in a pillow for edging, the cone for making corners for handkerchiefs and collars, and the bolster for edgings or wider pieces. All are hard packed with stuffing to hold the pins steady in place and I made all my pillows myself. But there are places you can buy them.
5. What kind of Bobbins do you have?
I get them from a lot of different places. I have wood, plastic, and a few glass. Some are fancy, others plain. Different ones for different size and type of thread. Some are heavier, others lighter. Some are old, others new.
I learned using push pins for hanging laundry to dry as my first bobbins and kite string.
I’ll be happy to help you find answers to any other questions about bobbin lace. It really is easier then it looks. But, I must say it is not for the impatient unless you are looking for a tutorial on patients. It takes a long time to have a good piece of hand made lace.
Friday, March 20, 2009
On To Spring:
Well, today is the day. The Equinox is here. Winter cold can be left behind in the northern hemisphere. To our friends on the southern side of the globe autumn weather will be starting, but that is good too. It will be a time of ‘between extremes’ in weather the world over.
Some people will be balancing eggs by their point on the sidewalks and others will be reveling in flowers or waiting for the turning of the leaves.
I will be watching an old cartoon by Metro Goldwyn Mayer, ‘Happy Harmonies - To Spring’ It is a little old cartoon that has a bunch of little men underground. They wake and start the mining and pumping of color up the roots of the plants to conquer winter. There is a small battle of wills between winter weather, in the form of a blowing cloud of cold, and the little men, but in the end the little men win and spring comes through.
There is a little old fellow that is the first to wake. He goes around waking the others with a speech in his little old man cartoon voice. The rhyming speech ends each stanza with “Time for Spring I say.” There is orchestra and organ music in the background. And I just love the silly thing.
I found this cartoon on a Betty Boop VCR tape years ago and then replaced it with a different Betty Boop DVD that also had the cartoon.
Mountain Man and I watch it repeatedly during spring equinox day each year. It just makes us smile. We will watch and wait for warmer weather.
Some people will be balancing eggs by their point on the sidewalks and others will be reveling in flowers or waiting for the turning of the leaves.
I will be watching an old cartoon by Metro Goldwyn Mayer, ‘Happy Harmonies - To Spring’ It is a little old cartoon that has a bunch of little men underground. They wake and start the mining and pumping of color up the roots of the plants to conquer winter. There is a small battle of wills between winter weather, in the form of a blowing cloud of cold, and the little men, but in the end the little men win and spring comes through.
There is a little old fellow that is the first to wake. He goes around waking the others with a speech in his little old man cartoon voice. The rhyming speech ends each stanza with “Time for Spring I say.” There is orchestra and organ music in the background. And I just love the silly thing.
I found this cartoon on a Betty Boop VCR tape years ago and then replaced it with a different Betty Boop DVD that also had the cartoon.
Mountain Man and I watch it repeatedly during spring equinox day each year. It just makes us smile. We will watch and wait for warmer weather.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
On So far, So Good:
I had my cancer support group meeting yesterday so I didn’t get as much done on my unfinished projects as I had hoped.
I did finish the frog puppet mittens in the kids size. The pink thread at the cuff, in the picture, is where I tied them together.
I now have two pig puppet mittens bodies and heads done also. Now I have to make the mouths, ears, eyes, tongues and curly tails.
I got half the hem on the cape sewn. The cutting and pinning took longer then I thought it would. After that is done I’ll have to add the braiding at the hem edge so the drag of the longer back doesn’t fray the velvet or lining as fast.
I made a few more inches on the black bobbin lace I was working on for the black men’s shirt I‘m making over into Victorian style blouse. It takes longer when you have to work back and forth between the two colors before turning the pillow to be able to continue.
I could have cut the white threads and changed it to the black thread. I have done that before. But I can always use the white lace on other projects.
Well back to work. If I’m lucky we might get out to a cemetery later on today and get some more pictures. We’ll see how it goes. It’s snowing at the moment. I did want some snowy cemetery pictures with the cape but this snow looks too wet for that.
_____________________________
I'm still looking for some new epitaphs. Put on your thinking caps folks.
I did finish the frog puppet mittens in the kids size. The pink thread at the cuff, in the picture, is where I tied them together.
I now have two pig puppet mittens bodies and heads done also. Now I have to make the mouths, ears, eyes, tongues and curly tails.
I got half the hem on the cape sewn. The cutting and pinning took longer then I thought it would. After that is done I’ll have to add the braiding at the hem edge so the drag of the longer back doesn’t fray the velvet or lining as fast.
I made a few more inches on the black bobbin lace I was working on for the black men’s shirt I‘m making over into Victorian style blouse. It takes longer when you have to work back and forth between the two colors before turning the pillow to be able to continue.
I could have cut the white threads and changed it to the black thread. I have done that before. But I can always use the white lace on other projects.
Well back to work. If I’m lucky we might get out to a cemetery later on today and get some more pictures. We’ll see how it goes. It’s snowing at the moment. I did want some snowy cemetery pictures with the cape but this snow looks too wet for that.
_____________________________
I'm still looking for some new epitaphs. Put on your thinking caps folks.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
On My Basket of Shame:
The blog of Honey and Ollie has been working on the Basket of Shame. This basket is full of unfinished knitting projects. There is now a contest at that site to bring others into this finishing of undone knitting projects of their own. This is just for knitting projects but it got me thinking.
I myself latch onto a project and work away at it. But if I’m interrupted by something. It sits waiting for the energy and spark to come back.
I bought the black thread but the cloak/cape sits without a hem. Toe up socks sit inches from the top. The bed throw I started six months or so ago still has another foot to go.
There are other projects around here that have the shame taint on them but my worst offense is the fact that I’ve dropped my commitment to the Kevin’s Mittens Charity I started in my sons name.
I couldn’t even use the excuse that I didn’t have enough yarn because I collected two plastic bins boxes for the project to keep me going for a long time to come.
I could sit here and list all the reasons I told myself that it would be okay if I postponed yet another pair of mittens. It got warmer and the need is not as great. I could easily catch up next week. I even told myself that if my test knitters didn’t care enough to get back to me it wasn’t to be.
But it is all me. My decision to do other things, play one more game on the computer, read one more page of the latest book I’m reading, sit with one more cup of tea and stare out the window.
It is not that I shouldn’t do any of those things. I should. But not to the point that I let my commitments fall to the wayside.
My commitment was to make two pair of mittens a week for the rest of the year. I am now sixteen pair behind. Eight weeks of slacking. Thirty two hands to keep warm from the cold. So for the next sixteen weeks I’ll be making three pair a week to catch up.
I’ll start with the few pair that need to be finished in my knitting basket of shame but I have to continue no matter how warm it gets outside my door. The cold weather will return next winter and I want to have mittens ready for those who need them when it does. And I’m not going to let spring flightiness keep me from my commitment another day.
Now if I can only find a way to Tango and knit at the same time.
I myself latch onto a project and work away at it. But if I’m interrupted by something. It sits waiting for the energy and spark to come back.
I bought the black thread but the cloak/cape sits without a hem. Toe up socks sit inches from the top. The bed throw I started six months or so ago still has another foot to go.
There are other projects around here that have the shame taint on them but my worst offense is the fact that I’ve dropped my commitment to the Kevin’s Mittens Charity I started in my sons name.
I couldn’t even use the excuse that I didn’t have enough yarn because I collected two plastic bins boxes for the project to keep me going for a long time to come.
I could sit here and list all the reasons I told myself that it would be okay if I postponed yet another pair of mittens. It got warmer and the need is not as great. I could easily catch up next week. I even told myself that if my test knitters didn’t care enough to get back to me it wasn’t to be.
But it is all me. My decision to do other things, play one more game on the computer, read one more page of the latest book I’m reading, sit with one more cup of tea and stare out the window.
It is not that I shouldn’t do any of those things. I should. But not to the point that I let my commitments fall to the wayside.
My commitment was to make two pair of mittens a week for the rest of the year. I am now sixteen pair behind. Eight weeks of slacking. Thirty two hands to keep warm from the cold. So for the next sixteen weeks I’ll be making three pair a week to catch up.
I’ll start with the few pair that need to be finished in my knitting basket of shame but I have to continue no matter how warm it gets outside my door. The cold weather will return next winter and I want to have mittens ready for those who need them when it does. And I’m not going to let spring flightiness keep me from my commitment another day.
Now if I can only find a way to Tango and knit at the same time.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
On Writing Re-Writes:
I have been writing my daily blog here for over 300 days. I only missed a few days since I‘ve started. I have discovered that writing a blog and writing fiction stories to be a very different experience.
I have been trying very hard to improve my writing skills. My typing has improved and that has helped limit extra mistakes but not eliminate them. I still have to proof read everything I send out. This has helped my proof reading skills but I still see what I want it to say instead of what is on the page more then I like.
I hate to read my older blogs. The mistakes jump out at me and make me feel foolish. How could I be so arrogant to believe that I could write a post card let alone a daily blog.
To me, my older stories are such a joke. I have ideas, yes. New, good, and interesting ideas. But I still have trouble translating them to the paper.
My sentences come out backwards at times leaving the wrong thing described. Like; instead of an orange ball bouncing around a room, I have a ball in a bouncing orange room. When I read it back to myself I have to laugh but it really isn’t funny in the end.
Mountain Man has been helping me with my story re-writing this past week. In getting my story ‘The Playroom’ ready for the Thrill or Shiver blog we have had some less then stellar moments. Mountain Man and I have very different likes in reading material. He doesn’t like fiction much at all and I like the endless possibilities there.
He is good at finding and pointing out my mistakes but he doesn’t like the story line. I hate asking him to help me with a subject he doesn’t like to even think about.
I’d love to find a good proof reader and have asked others to point out my mistakes on my blog until I do, but I haven’t had much feed back. I even put out a badly written story last time in hopes of finding a Simon out there that couldn’t contain themselves and would let me have it. I would at least have a starting point on where to concentrate on my skills building.
So without any takers I’m back to torturing Mountain Man with my subject matter. I hope you like the story we worked on this past week.
I have been trying very hard to improve my writing skills. My typing has improved and that has helped limit extra mistakes but not eliminate them. I still have to proof read everything I send out. This has helped my proof reading skills but I still see what I want it to say instead of what is on the page more then I like.
I hate to read my older blogs. The mistakes jump out at me and make me feel foolish. How could I be so arrogant to believe that I could write a post card let alone a daily blog.
To me, my older stories are such a joke. I have ideas, yes. New, good, and interesting ideas. But I still have trouble translating them to the paper.
My sentences come out backwards at times leaving the wrong thing described. Like; instead of an orange ball bouncing around a room, I have a ball in a bouncing orange room. When I read it back to myself I have to laugh but it really isn’t funny in the end.
Mountain Man has been helping me with my story re-writing this past week. In getting my story ‘The Playroom’ ready for the Thrill or Shiver blog we have had some less then stellar moments. Mountain Man and I have very different likes in reading material. He doesn’t like fiction much at all and I like the endless possibilities there.
He is good at finding and pointing out my mistakes but he doesn’t like the story line. I hate asking him to help me with a subject he doesn’t like to even think about.
I’d love to find a good proof reader and have asked others to point out my mistakes on my blog until I do, but I haven’t had much feed back. I even put out a badly written story last time in hopes of finding a Simon out there that couldn’t contain themselves and would let me have it. I would at least have a starting point on where to concentrate on my skills building.
So without any takers I’m back to torturing Mountain Man with my subject matter. I hope you like the story we worked on this past week.
Monday, March 16, 2009
On Spring, Trees, and Lace:
I was outside yesterday. Yes, I do on occasion let the sun kiss my lily white flesh. The crocus’ are blooming and we went out to rake away the leaves we left as mulch over the bulbs for the winter.
The trees are still barren and haven’t even started to blush with buds. I love to look at the lacey twigs and branches against the sky. It made me want to pick up my bobbins again…so I did.
I wanted to make some black lace edging but I didn’t have any left set up in the pattern I was looking for.
So, I spent a few hours filling 18 bobbins with the proper size thread and making a new set a prickings. (Prickings are the stiff papers with holes to place the spacer pins into.)
This pillow in a basket is from my colonial re-enacting days. It is one of my favorite patterns to make. Little fans in a row. (The white lace here has been continued through color changes and removing the needed yardage from the back end for over eighteen years now.)
Bobbin or pillow lace is a woven lace made on a pillow. You weave the lace as you go, using the prickings and pins to space the lace out uniformly. The pins are moved from the back of the work to the front as needed. The bobbins hold the thread and they are generally used in pairs.
You keep a pocket at the back of the work to catch the lace, to keep it clean and off the floor. The bolster like hard stuffed pillow is turned in the basket as you go so you can continue working without stopping.
A dieing art, but lovely you must agree.
The trees are still barren and haven’t even started to blush with buds. I love to look at the lacey twigs and branches against the sky. It made me want to pick up my bobbins again…so I did.
I wanted to make some black lace edging but I didn’t have any left set up in the pattern I was looking for.
So, I spent a few hours filling 18 bobbins with the proper size thread and making a new set a prickings. (Prickings are the stiff papers with holes to place the spacer pins into.)
This pillow in a basket is from my colonial re-enacting days. It is one of my favorite patterns to make. Little fans in a row. (The white lace here has been continued through color changes and removing the needed yardage from the back end for over eighteen years now.)
Bobbin or pillow lace is a woven lace made on a pillow. You weave the lace as you go, using the prickings and pins to space the lace out uniformly. The pins are moved from the back of the work to the front as needed. The bobbins hold the thread and they are generally used in pairs.
You keep a pocket at the back of the work to catch the lace, to keep it clean and off the floor. The bolster like hard stuffed pillow is turned in the basket as you go so you can continue working without stopping.
A dieing art, but lovely you must agree.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
On Epitaph Contest for Mar. 15, 09:
This month the contest will run from today until March 21 st. I will announce the winner on Sunday the 22 nd.
Whether you are entering the contest or just sending in an epitaph for the fun of it I love reading them all. You can send in something already used here last year but the list is not that long and I know that there are others out there unused.
Here are the rules for writing your own headstone epitaphs and having them shown on my blog or put in the hat for the contest.
1. No more then 10 lines, but the shorter the better.
2. It does not have to rhyme, but it can.
3. Just words. No pictures, cartoons etc.
4. Nothing ‘overtly’ sexual, violent, disgusting, or racist will be considered.
5. Leave a name of who sent it. (It doesn’t have to be your real name.) But it will be attributed to that name. No name, no entry.
6. If the words are not your own. Add the original authors name if you know it. Otherwise just add ‘Anonymous’ and add ‘Sent in by’ and your name after that.
7. Spelling counts. Please proof read it before you hit the send button.
Choice of one of these Prizes for this week are:
1-P. Stereograph Pictures. Set of three double pictures on card for the old fashion 3-D viewers printed in black and white. (Not for Viewmaster.) Choice of subject: Doll house, Cemetery, or Front yard/Garden. (These are new, made by myself and not antiques.)
2-B Bookmarks. A choice of one of two sets of four. Lady Euphoria made the lace and created all but one of the sayings on these. Paired with a bit of her tatted lace these original bookmarks were fast sellers when they were for sale.
3-N. A Tatted lace, cotton choker Necklace. Lady Euphoria designed and hand made by the lady herself in your choice of black or white.
Send in those Epitaphs and Good luck! Lady Euphoria
Saturday, March 14, 2009
On To Dance the Tango:
To start with, I will ask you not to hate me. I see you rolling your eyes. I’ve been married to Mountain Man for over nineteen years and either some things go my way and others his or there is no real marriage to begin with.
I have said it before, that Mountain Man takes me for a spin around the kitchen every once in a while. There may or may not be music playing and off we go. No plan or event just a dance in the kitchen on occasion.
I love my husband and I’m not giving away any secrets here when I say he can’t carry a tune in a bucket and has no rhythm to speak of. We don’t watch Dancing with the Stars and have never danced together on a date. This is just kitchen fun between ourselves.
Now, Mountain Man is not immune to my wistful looks every time we watch ‘The Addams Family’ on DVD and they dance the tango. He knows how much I want to tango with him. And I know how much of a Left Foot Louie he is. It is not to be.
That is, not until resent events. He has agreed, without my pleading by the way, to learn the Tango. We purchased three DVD’s blindly from the shelves of the video section of the book store.
Kultur’s ‘You Can Dance Tango’ with Vicki Regan and Ron De Vito, $19.99. This is by far the easiest to learn from if you are a beginner. Even Mountain Man’s two left feet have made it past the first lesson in the first fifteen minutes.
I had it all down in less then an hour. With their easy step by step method. Four different steps are taught separate and in combination. We are dancing the tango and will be dancing it together at my daughters wedding this summer. Woo whoo! Or maybe I should have said, ‘Olay!’
I have Sally’s Song the remake version from The Nightmare before Christmas soundtrack on the Stereo. The song is done over in a tango at the end of the two album set.
Now, where did I put that rose for his teeth?
_______________________________
Just for your information: The other DVD’s I got were.
Quantum Leap Group‘s ‘Discover Dance Combinations - The Tango series 2’ with Simon and Heidi Cruwys $19.99. This has a few fancier steps and moves in it. And they move faster teaching you two or three things at once at times.
Foreign Media Group‘s ‘Tango Lessons - Dance Like a Star’ with Dennis Kruse and Susanne de Kleijn $9.99. This one will have to wait until we reach the dance circuit at competition level before I’ll give it a try. They have the head tilt and snap stuff in it for serious dancers.
Friday, March 13, 2009
On March Silly Day the Thirteenth:
Wear a Bug Day:
Today is the day you’ve all been waiting for. (For the squeamish feel free to wear bug shaped jewelry or pictures of bugs on your clothing.)
People all over with be attaching little leashes to their favorite insect pals. Crickets in cages will adorn hats. Painted cockroaches and beetles will crawl on cardigans. I myself with be wearing spiders in my hair.
Have fun with bugs.
Today is the day you’ve all been waiting for. (For the squeamish feel free to wear bug shaped jewelry or pictures of bugs on your clothing.)
People all over with be attaching little leashes to their favorite insect pals. Crickets in cages will adorn hats. Painted cockroaches and beetles will crawl on cardigans. I myself with be wearing spiders in my hair.
Have fun with bugs.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
On Getting on the Right Track:
Today I have decided to spend some time on things already started. In my knitting basket I have a pair of puppet mittens ‘frogs’ unassembled, striped knee socks, a throw for the bed, a shoulder wrap for the wedding, hot water bottle covers, and did I mention some more puppet mittens ‘pigs’ in the process.
In my sewing basket I have the black velvet cape to hem, it is waiting for me to buy more black cotton thread.
I won’t even get into the dolls and the dolls houses. Apparently now that I’m devoting more time to writing I don’t have the time for the dolls I’m writing about.
My ‘to start’ projects have become a list so I really have to get some things out of the way.
And I will get my house to rights this morning before I touch one project, mostly because I’m out of dishes to eat off of.
Tomorrow is Silly Day the Thirteenth and I still have to come up with an idea. I hope something comes to me while I’m cleaning up around here.
Well, the clock won’t stop ticking just to let me catch up so I’ve got to get down to business. I’ll read up on all the blogging I’ve been missing in the next few days as I get a few minutes here and there to do it. Mountain Man has gotten used to having the computer to himself these last few weeks so it may take a while.
Spring is around the corner I just know it. And I want to be ready to enjoy it when it comes.
In my sewing basket I have the black velvet cape to hem, it is waiting for me to buy more black cotton thread.
I won’t even get into the dolls and the dolls houses. Apparently now that I’m devoting more time to writing I don’t have the time for the dolls I’m writing about.
My ‘to start’ projects have become a list so I really have to get some things out of the way.
And I will get my house to rights this morning before I touch one project, mostly because I’m out of dishes to eat off of.
Tomorrow is Silly Day the Thirteenth and I still have to come up with an idea. I hope something comes to me while I’m cleaning up around here.
Well, the clock won’t stop ticking just to let me catch up so I’ve got to get down to business. I’ll read up on all the blogging I’ve been missing in the next few days as I get a few minutes here and there to do it. Mountain Man has gotten used to having the computer to himself these last few weeks so it may take a while.
Spring is around the corner I just know it. And I want to be ready to enjoy it when it comes.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
On A Migraine:
Migraine. It says it all.
That is where I was for the last few days.
I went to Lady Pink’s wake and came back a little stuffy. The flowers or some ones perfume I thought. I had taken an allergy pill before I left the house knowing where I was going. So I just went to bed and by two in the morning I was in the land of pain.
If I catch them early enough I can get by with a bad headache for a few days. But if not the world turns without me and I’m somewhere else unable to participate. I usually even stick a pre-made post in on a timer so if I’m out of it no one has to hear my complaining or miss a posting.
But this last one took me by surprise and I was missing in action. I didn’t make it to the funeral, call my mother, knit a stitch, or take care of the house either. I did manage to gain weight from inactivity so I didn’t neglect everything. Ha, ha.
Tomorrow I’ll hit the reset button and start all over again. But for now I’ll just sit here with my sunglasses on, sip some tea and let my stomach settle.
That is where I was for the last few days.
I went to Lady Pink’s wake and came back a little stuffy. The flowers or some ones perfume I thought. I had taken an allergy pill before I left the house knowing where I was going. So I just went to bed and by two in the morning I was in the land of pain.
If I catch them early enough I can get by with a bad headache for a few days. But if not the world turns without me and I’m somewhere else unable to participate. I usually even stick a pre-made post in on a timer so if I’m out of it no one has to hear my complaining or miss a posting.
But this last one took me by surprise and I was missing in action. I didn’t make it to the funeral, call my mother, knit a stitch, or take care of the house either. I did manage to gain weight from inactivity so I didn’t neglect everything. Ha, ha.
Tomorrow I’ll hit the reset button and start all over again. But for now I’ll just sit here with my sunglasses on, sip some tea and let my stomach settle.
Monday, March 9, 2009
On The Sleep I Need:
I want to sleep at night but it will not come easily right now. I fall asleep only to wake time and again in a fitful twisting of the sheets.
It isn’t the grieving of Lady Pink that is so tiresome for me. That is a new wound that will take it‘s own time to heal.
It is the churning up of feeling long hashed over and deeply scarred. Will the new normal I’ve made for myself since my sons death ever sit quite. Always the reminders and memories turned sad.
I have happy ones. Memories of silly times and funny things. I take them out like old playthings and dust them off. I straighten them on the shelf. It is the sad ones that come by unbidden. A sneak attack. An unwelcome surprise that plague my nights right now.
I want to be free to grief for my friend Lady Pink. But a larger pain is still in the way. And last night it kept me awake again.
I will go to the viewing this evening and morn for my friend with the others who loved her. We will also celebrate her life.
But this morning I will go back to bed and sleep. The daylight and household noises will lull me into a false sense of security. The dark thoughts of night will have less than fertile ground. I will sleep and try to heal once more.
It isn’t the grieving of Lady Pink that is so tiresome for me. That is a new wound that will take it‘s own time to heal.
It is the churning up of feeling long hashed over and deeply scarred. Will the new normal I’ve made for myself since my sons death ever sit quite. Always the reminders and memories turned sad.
I have happy ones. Memories of silly times and funny things. I take them out like old playthings and dust them off. I straighten them on the shelf. It is the sad ones that come by unbidden. A sneak attack. An unwelcome surprise that plague my nights right now.
I want to be free to grief for my friend Lady Pink. But a larger pain is still in the way. And last night it kept me awake again.
I will go to the viewing this evening and morn for my friend with the others who loved her. We will also celebrate her life.
But this morning I will go back to bed and sleep. The daylight and household noises will lull me into a false sense of security. The dark thoughts of night will have less than fertile ground. I will sleep and try to heal once more.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
On Life is Too Short:
I was going to have the Epitaph Contest today. Get my little world in sync. Back on track. Life moves on…
But my friend Lady Pink died of breast cancer yesterday.
And it just didn’t seem right.
So I will say, Go, get yourself checked out. Take care of your health.
Live, Laugh, Love.
Life is too short.
But my friend Lady Pink died of breast cancer yesterday.
And it just didn’t seem right.
So I will say, Go, get yourself checked out. Take care of your health.
Live, Laugh, Love.
Life is too short.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
On Doing My Best:
This past week I haven’t been doing my best. I told myself it was because I had been sick. My muscles were weaker from four days of not eating and staying in bed, that was true. But after a few days of eating and going about my business that really wasn’t a factor any longer.
My trouble was that I really wasn’t putting my whole self behind what I was doing. That heart and soul, in the moment, way I usually do things. I was distracted and flighty, slow and not careful with my chores.
I was moving a lot but not getting things done. The more things that sat around unfinished the more distracted I became. It was all in the approach and it didn’t get better until I changed how I was thinking.
I can go around having a incomplete life with stuff and clutter all around me and be moody and disgusted with myself. Or I can choose to do my best in everything I do and be happier.
I’ll see you later. I have some projects to get done.
My trouble was that I really wasn’t putting my whole self behind what I was doing. That heart and soul, in the moment, way I usually do things. I was distracted and flighty, slow and not careful with my chores.
I was moving a lot but not getting things done. The more things that sat around unfinished the more distracted I became. It was all in the approach and it didn’t get better until I changed how I was thinking.
I can go around having a incomplete life with stuff and clutter all around me and be moody and disgusted with myself. Or I can choose to do my best in everything I do and be happier.
I’ll see you later. I have some projects to get done.
Friday, March 6, 2009
On Winning the Battle of the Housework:
I am catching up on things around here. I think that the stuff breeds while I’m not looking and they party and import others when I’m sick.
The piles of laundry and dishes were ominous. The amount of dust bunnies made me long to get my hands on some spinning fiber again.
Mountain Man did run the vacuum while I was sick. I heard it daily, sometimes multiple times a day. But apparently it was a main thoroughfare thing. And all the dust bunnies had fun congregating under the tables and chairs.
To add to my fun was the fact that Lady Short, the dog, is not doing well as she gets closer to the end. She does not always make it outside before she does her business on the floor. So I had to stop what I was doing to clean that up too.
But the sheets are changed. The house is almost back to rights. I only have the piles of folded laundry I collected from the clothes lines in the family room this morning to put away.
Today I plan to do some rewrites of a story for the Thrill or Shiver blog. I may even get to play some video games again. I’ll listen to some music that is not designed to keep me moving. And I’ll sit with a cup of tea and some knitting.
The piles of laundry and dishes were ominous. The amount of dust bunnies made me long to get my hands on some spinning fiber again.
Mountain Man did run the vacuum while I was sick. I heard it daily, sometimes multiple times a day. But apparently it was a main thoroughfare thing. And all the dust bunnies had fun congregating under the tables and chairs.
To add to my fun was the fact that Lady Short, the dog, is not doing well as she gets closer to the end. She does not always make it outside before she does her business on the floor. So I had to stop what I was doing to clean that up too.
But the sheets are changed. The house is almost back to rights. I only have the piles of folded laundry I collected from the clothes lines in the family room this morning to put away.
Today I plan to do some rewrites of a story for the Thrill or Shiver blog. I may even get to play some video games again. I’ll listen to some music that is not designed to keep me moving. And I’ll sit with a cup of tea and some knitting.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
On The Ending of Things:
Yesterday I finished a book of Sudoku number puzzles. I’m good at them and they help me pass the time quickly when I have to wait and I can’t bring my knitting.
The puzzle books in my life get quickly bent, twisted and abused. There are places where the pen went thru the page as we hit a pothole or some such thing.
I’m good with books in general. It takes a few readings of a paperback book before the spine gets broken. I never dog ear the pages or write in the margins.
But not so with my puzzle books. I doodle in the margins and take notes. I tare corners off of pages. I bend the cover back. They are abused by me until they are of no more use and they get thrown away or recycled.
Cancer has bent, twisted and abused my friend Lady Pink. She had breast cancer once and beat it. Thirteen years later it started again and once more a reprieve of a few years. This last time it had taken its toll.
Lady Pink is dieing. She can no longer do for herself. She’s stopped eating and can no longer talk. This is an ending I find harder to take.
She has a husband who will miss her most terribly. They are still very much in love. Her children and grandkids will miss her too.
I will miss a friend who couldn’t give up the fight. Who tried to the bitter end to beat this thing. This terrible cancer monster. This killer of my friend.
I want so desperately to keep this cancer thing away from everyone I know. I try to treat them all as I do a reading book and try never to abuse them, twist their bodies or bend their souls.
Within a few days Lady Pink will take her last breath and be here no more. She is very mad about cancer and as her husband said to me yesterday, ‘God had better watch out. She is very mad about the fact cancer exists the abuse it causes to the human body.’
We will be less one more brave fighter in that war. Love ya Lady Pink.
The puzzle books in my life get quickly bent, twisted and abused. There are places where the pen went thru the page as we hit a pothole or some such thing.
I’m good with books in general. It takes a few readings of a paperback book before the spine gets broken. I never dog ear the pages or write in the margins.
But not so with my puzzle books. I doodle in the margins and take notes. I tare corners off of pages. I bend the cover back. They are abused by me until they are of no more use and they get thrown away or recycled.
Cancer has bent, twisted and abused my friend Lady Pink. She had breast cancer once and beat it. Thirteen years later it started again and once more a reprieve of a few years. This last time it had taken its toll.
Lady Pink is dieing. She can no longer do for herself. She’s stopped eating and can no longer talk. This is an ending I find harder to take.
She has a husband who will miss her most terribly. They are still very much in love. Her children and grandkids will miss her too.
I will miss a friend who couldn’t give up the fight. Who tried to the bitter end to beat this thing. This terrible cancer monster. This killer of my friend.
I want so desperately to keep this cancer thing away from everyone I know. I try to treat them all as I do a reading book and try never to abuse them, twist their bodies or bend their souls.
Within a few days Lady Pink will take her last breath and be here no more. She is very mad about cancer and as her husband said to me yesterday, ‘God had better watch out. She is very mad about the fact cancer exists the abuse it causes to the human body.’
We will be less one more brave fighter in that war. Love ya Lady Pink.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
On One of Those Days:
The hurrier I go the behinder I get.
Well, the best laid plans and all that. I got off the computer right away yesterday to get my work out of the way only to find the water pipes frozen in the bathroom.
I hadn’t noticed when I got up because the water in the tank flushed the bowl and I’m in the habit of washing up and brushing my teeth in the kitchen in the winter where it is warmer first thing in the morning.
We spent the next few hours getting that taken care of and the day was shot. My to do list was scrapped.
We had to put a hole in the wall and get the pipe all warmed up in the bathroom. Then clean up the mess. All before showering and getting dressed for the day.
I did get a few things done but no where near what I wanted to do. And I didn’t get onto the computer again yesterday.
I fell asleep early and we spent the night taking turns getting up and checking to see if the pipes froze again and to run the water a few minute to keep it from doing so.
I got up late and here I am starting over today and I have my cancer meeting to fit in also.
If you see me flying by just give a wave. I’m sorry but I just can’t stop and chat today. I’ll catch you later. I hope you understand.
Well, the best laid plans and all that. I got off the computer right away yesterday to get my work out of the way only to find the water pipes frozen in the bathroom.
I hadn’t noticed when I got up because the water in the tank flushed the bowl and I’m in the habit of washing up and brushing my teeth in the kitchen in the winter where it is warmer first thing in the morning.
We spent the next few hours getting that taken care of and the day was shot. My to do list was scrapped.
We had to put a hole in the wall and get the pipe all warmed up in the bathroom. Then clean up the mess. All before showering and getting dressed for the day.
I did get a few things done but no where near what I wanted to do. And I didn’t get onto the computer again yesterday.
I fell asleep early and we spent the night taking turns getting up and checking to see if the pipes froze again and to run the water a few minute to keep it from doing so.
I got up late and here I am starting over today and I have my cancer meeting to fit in also.
If you see me flying by just give a wave. I’m sorry but I just can’t stop and chat today. I’ll catch you later. I hope you understand.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
On Trying to Catch Up Again:
After my tests so far:
Apparently I only passed a stone this time so since the gall bladder is not infected itself, no surgery at this time.
What I need to get caught up on:
I’ll have to get caught up with the Epitaph of the Week and the Contest, because I did say I would be doing it again on March first.
I’m supposed to have another story out on my Thrill or Shiver blog today. Maybe later on this afternoon.
I have shopping to do. The refrigerator is getting quite bare.
House work. Mountain Man kindly left most of the dishes, all the laundry and other house hold chores on my list for me to do now that I’m feeling a bit better. He didn’t want me to feel unneeded I guess.
I have emails to answer. Hundreds of back logged blogs to read from last Thursday evening on.
Knitting mittens and getting back to other projects.
Getting back on my exercise schedule.
What I did while I wasn’t feeling well:
On and off during the last few days I slept, watched movies on the DVD player, napped, moaned and groaned, slept, did a few Sedoku puzzles, dozed, got kisses and hugs from Mountain Man, slept. I only got a few rows of knitting done and no reading to speak of. I don’t want to see my bedroom for a while. I’m tired of looking at those four walls at the moment. I fasted to let my system heal and lost six pounds without lifting a finger or anything else to my mouth. I don’t recommend doing it for weight loss by the way.
I still feel like a limp dish rag but I’m feeling much better. I have to get back to running speed again but it will happen as things fall into place.
Thank you for all the wonderful well wishes that people sent me while I wasn’t feeling well. It helped a lot to know you cared.
Apparently I only passed a stone this time so since the gall bladder is not infected itself, no surgery at this time.
What I need to get caught up on:
I’ll have to get caught up with the Epitaph of the Week and the Contest, because I did say I would be doing it again on March first.
I’m supposed to have another story out on my Thrill or Shiver blog today. Maybe later on this afternoon.
I have shopping to do. The refrigerator is getting quite bare.
House work. Mountain Man kindly left most of the dishes, all the laundry and other house hold chores on my list for me to do now that I’m feeling a bit better. He didn’t want me to feel unneeded I guess.
I have emails to answer. Hundreds of back logged blogs to read from last Thursday evening on.
Knitting mittens and getting back to other projects.
Getting back on my exercise schedule.
What I did while I wasn’t feeling well:
On and off during the last few days I slept, watched movies on the DVD player, napped, moaned and groaned, slept, did a few Sedoku puzzles, dozed, got kisses and hugs from Mountain Man, slept. I only got a few rows of knitting done and no reading to speak of. I don’t want to see my bedroom for a while. I’m tired of looking at those four walls at the moment. I fasted to let my system heal and lost six pounds without lifting a finger or anything else to my mouth. I don’t recommend doing it for weight loss by the way.
I still feel like a limp dish rag but I’m feeling much better. I have to get back to running speed again but it will happen as things fall into place.
Thank you for all the wonderful well wishes that people sent me while I wasn’t feeling well. It helped a lot to know you cared.
Monday, March 2, 2009
On The Chicken Dance:
I haven’t had my gall bladder out yet. I have more tests today. I’ve been very sick the last few days but starting to feel some what better. But I can’t live with no food and only water or watered down apple and beet juice for ever.
I hate having surgery. Yes, I know I can live a fine life without a gall bladder. Yes, I know that my grandmother died of gall bladder cancer. Yes, I know just how very painful gall bladder attacks can be, I’ve had four of them in the last nine years.
My problem is I’ve found a book in the health food store. Prescription for Nutritional Healing by James F. Balch, MD and Phyllis A. Balch, CNC. It tells you what to do if you have an attack so you don’t have to have the surgery if you don’t want to in most cases, and it works for me. (I don't do the mega vitamin thing.)
The trouble is it doesn’t keep the next attack from coming only lessens the amount of attacks. I know I really need to have it out, I’m just chicken.
I’ll let you know what is up when I can. Mountain Man still doesn’t know how to retrieve an email much less how to post a blog. So it will only happen if I’m feeling up to it.
Thank you for the kind comments and emails. I’ll get back to you all when I’m feeling better enough to be at the computer again.
I hate having surgery. Yes, I know I can live a fine life without a gall bladder. Yes, I know that my grandmother died of gall bladder cancer. Yes, I know just how very painful gall bladder attacks can be, I’ve had four of them in the last nine years.
My problem is I’ve found a book in the health food store. Prescription for Nutritional Healing by James F. Balch, MD and Phyllis A. Balch, CNC. It tells you what to do if you have an attack so you don’t have to have the surgery if you don’t want to in most cases, and it works for me. (I don't do the mega vitamin thing.)
The trouble is it doesn’t keep the next attack from coming only lessens the amount of attacks. I know I really need to have it out, I’m just chicken.
I’ll let you know what is up when I can. Mountain Man still doesn’t know how to retrieve an email much less how to post a blog. So it will only happen if I’m feeling up to it.
Thank you for the kind comments and emails. I’ll get back to you all when I’m feeling better enough to be at the computer again.
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