tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371032422024-03-13T13:43:06.842-07:00The Musing BadgerToday, yesterday, tomorrow, and 2094.
To read, to stitch, to muse.Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.comBlogger470125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-84761771194572714282016-11-04T08:26:00.001-07:002016-11-04T08:26:55.214-07:00Miracles happen!!!!The Cubs won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Annnnnd we made it through this week!!! <br />
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Sorry Cleveland, but 1908..... the Cubs.... I needed that to happen. Mind you, my bank account did NOT need that to happen. Let's just say if Armageddon happens in a couple weeks (allowing for shipping time) Not only will I have plenty of stitching and reading, but I shall be well decked out in Cubs championship gear -- oh, and I'll be well fixed for glasses (3 water glasses, all different, and a wine glass). <br />
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While I love the Cubs, I never considered heading to Chicago or Cleveland to be there in person, but I did get treated to a Cubs-winning night of the National League Championships by my auxiliary family. The seats could hardly have been better, and the dinner (as you can see) was top notch!<br />
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Other games I watched like a normal mere mortal, on the couch. This happens to be Dewey's Readathon dat where I tried valiantly to take part -- thus there I am, reading A Feast of Ice and Fire (cookbook based on the Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin -- and both an interesting-ish read and a good cookbook). That's Gramma Rose there to the left. She's been declining, but at 101 you make allowances and she wanted to hang out "with her beautiful girls" (she has very rosey glasses-- lol) while we yelled at the TV.<br />
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The Worlds Series also brought with it for me a bit of a return to stitching. I've been off my needles recently. This getting up at 5:15 really turns my brain to mush by the time I get home, and Gramma not feeling well means my weekends are generally booked with hanging out with her (no complaints! I'd rather do that than stitch.) At some point last week I stumbled across this little Swedish horse ornie who I had left half done -- how embarrassing is that?-- half done on such a tiny thing! Sheesh. Well courtesy of at least one World Series game, he has most of a front half now--<br />
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And more cross stitching is on the horizon. My LNS owner went to the Destination Dallas tradeshow and this Heritage Stitchcrafts kit was in her registration bag. She doesn't xs so lucky me! My mom loved lily of the valley --- with some fabric switch outs I see some floral decor in my future. hee heee<br />
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I succumb to more Halloween -- what's happened to me???? I figured I "needed" a haunted house in my Halloween decor so, voila. I've decided, Pratchett fans, that that's Greebo and Granny Weatherwax out looking for what Nanny Ogg has gotten herself up to.<br />
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As to the reading... well its kinda languishing too. Baseball and Gramma Rose.... what can I say. Yesterday, despite having 11 books already in progress (one of which is still "really safe" wherever I put it) I started Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles. One of the auxiliary nieces has it as a reading assignment in English, and my bff (her actual aunt) looked at me and said, "Oh, that one's yours." lol I guess I have an SF rep. <br />
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Sally forth, dear people, and have a great day and a wonderful weekend. And, Cubs fans everywhere, congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-42151450714865488482016-10-21T08:47:00.000-07:002016-10-21T08:47:10.534-07:00I'm back in less than a month........ it's a miracle! Maybe I have turned a corner. No ... Probably not. Oh, what the heck -- it's Friday. I'm going to be hopeful dang it!<br />
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Now that we are being hopeful, allow me to share a great challenge in my current life. Halloween needlepoint. I wasn't raised a Halloween person. As a kid I had the obligatory costume, we did the jack-o-lantern carving thing, and that was it. No hay bales, no inflatable witches in the yard, no strings of mummy-shaped lights. Just the costume and the pumpkin. Our family decorating centered on 3 holidays -- Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. So here I am in my alleged adulthood finally coming under the spell of Halloween decor. It's all really my LNS owner's fault since she's alllllll about Halloween so we have a lot of opportunities to oggle such canvases in the shop. So, for weeks I have been eyeing these particular beauties:<br />
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1. The shoes -- Really just the pumpkin and the skull -- though I wish the skull weren't a skull because I'm still picky about my Halloween decor and skulls aren't on the list. That skull makes the list because (I'm embarrassed to admit it).... I like the checkerboard part of that shoe. <br />
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2. This pumpkin with mini crow (his tail will HAVE to get fixed -- no way it's going to droop like that!)<br />
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3. this Dandy Crow who is quite frankly marvelous<br />
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4. This spooky house with gargoyles and crows (the big bird will have to have his beak adjusted -- I refuse to have him looking like a Bedlington terrier)... and possibly the ghosty one under it.<br />
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5. And this extra large, two-sided angel. I am nuts!<br />
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So Saturday while I am at work at the shop it may well happen that one of the above (or *gulp* more) follow me home. I already know the rationale -- even though I have dozens and dozens of STARTED canvases and cross stitches, I will "need" something new to commemorate <a href="http://www.24hourreadathon.com/">Dewey's 24-hour Readathon</a>. Makes perfect sense to my pea-sized, needlepoint-addled brain. <br />
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Speaking of Dewey's.... I'm wiggling with eager excitement. I have all these great plans for 24 hours worth of reading joy which officially begins at 5am Saturday in my time zone. Even though I will be working for a significant chunk of the day and taking part in a birthday celebration I continue to make plans as if I shall be ensconced in peaceful, uninterrupted luxury. My reading plans are to finish or make headway in these volumes (some audio, some print --- see, so I can combine it with stitching for a completely blissful experience!):<br />
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My excessive eagerness shows in fact that I have already planned my wardrobe for the 24-hours<br />
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If you like the thought of hanging out with a global family of readaholics, then do join in. Sign in on the blog -- there's a facebook group (Dewey's 24-hour Readathon is their name funnily enough) and a Goodreads group. In the Goodreads forum I will be hosting hours 19 and 20 so drop in. Possibly it sounds odd, but there really is a sense of community about the event -- folks show off their to-be-read piles, trade snack ideas and easy recipes (so they won't impact heavily on reading time), strategies for pacing your reading, etc. You don't have to read for 24 hours. It's not like we have a police force. Come for as little or as much as you want to or can. It's just literacy-promoting fun. Many folks read as a family and I love to see the kids' piles of books along side the parent's as they get excited about spending a whole day reading. Let's face it, that's one of the coolest things ever.<br />
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Go forth and have yourself a splendid day! And, yes, that is an order.Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-62879320093423312772016-10-10T09:48:00.001-07:002016-10-10T09:48:50.221-07:00Being perky!Hello World and Happy Monday. <br />
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Actually, now I'm reconsidering my perkiness. I've been watching the flooding news from the Atlantic sea coast and it's worrying and sad -- as all my Pals buddies are trying to work out if they can head off to the Cross Stitch Pals retreat at a Myrtle Beach resort which apparently is still without power and has lost its pier. Everyone be safe!<br />
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Now, to my continuing belated vacation/convention adventures and me getting in trouble..... again.<br />
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While in Kansas City, I ran away from WorldCon for an afternoon (I usually don't do this. If I'm in for a con, I'm *in for a con,* and it's all I do until the closing ceremonies are over. But it was poor planning on my part -- I'd planned an extra day of adventuring into my trip, but I planned it on Monday when many of the venues I wanted to visit were closed! Sigh.). Anyway, I escaped to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for a few hours and it was a lovely adventure. <br />
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I traipsed their grounds (despite the heat) on a mission to find their Roxy Paine metal tree, but I ran across this beauty -- the Glass Labyrinth by Robert Morris.<br />
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<br />And then I found Paine's Ferment (cousin of my favorite "Graft" in DC)<br />
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The N-A is also the home of the "world's largest shuttlecocks" which are installed all over the property --- sculptures by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.<br />
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They also have a lovely collection of American cut glass.<br />
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There's a nice Manet you can visit -- Mill at Lemetz<br />
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And a van Gogh -- Olive Orchard.</div>
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And a quite stunning set of 16th Century Italian armor</div>
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And, speaking of art.... and heading back to the Con, here's the reason I committed early on to dragging myself to Kansas City in the middle of summer -- their artist guest of honor, Kinuko Y. Craft --<br />
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And it you don't know why you ought to lover her......</div>
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sorry for my bad pic--both they and I were having technical difficulties.<br />
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And I got to go to a reading by one of my favorite authors, Jack McDevitt--<br />
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While at WorldCon I finished a long-term project (she kept getting shunted off to the side, poor dear). She was off getting finished, but we found out this weekend that the finisher has decided to quit so she will be coming back to me undone. We will find her someone else to finalize her beauty and move on.<br />
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Since I finished something I felt justified in starting something new.... right? That's how it works? It doesn't matter that I have 3-4 dozen other things already started and waiting for attention????<br />
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Ok, one last thing before I race off........ sheesh how do I get so far behind??? <br />
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I interrupt my WorldCon adventures to bring you the one-day adventure known as Ladies of Intrigue, a small conference where I had much fun two weeks ago (and got in trouble.<br />
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I got to have lunch with one of my very favorite authors, Kate Carlisle (seated here with Rhys Bowen standing behind her).<br />
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And, ready to be jealous? Here are (left to right) Earlene Fowler and Carolyn Hart.<br />
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Before setting out to LoI I scoured my shelves for unsigned books to take along and came up with this modest pile.....<br />
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And then trouble happened.......<br />
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And I came home with two tote bags of this less modest pile.....<br />
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And there was a nice swag collection in my bags coming home as well--<br />
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Now these convention/Badger-Gets-in-Trouble reports feed in to an upcoming event..... the annual Fall edition of <a href="http://www.24hourreadathon.com/">Dewey's 24-hour Readathon</a>. It's an opportunity to connect globally with fellow readers (there are blog, facebook, and Goodreads events/presences by which to take part) and know that the whole world reads with you. It's a lot of fun for 24 hours or 2 whatever you have available on Saturday the 22nd of October. Come for a little or a lot of it if you can, and I'll "see" you there!<br />
<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-9060768672823170022016-09-23T13:56:00.002-07:002016-09-23T13:56:30.353-07:00Yes, I am terrible.I am always apologizing. Sigh. I don't believe that badgers in the wild do this. Then again I'm pretty certain feral badgers don't have friends and don't stitch or read, but who knows what they really get up to in those setts!<br />
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Since last we met I've been doing a little galavanting. Most recently I was in Kansas City for WorldCon -- oh happiness. If only every day were WorldCon. <br />
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In typical MB (Musing Badger) fashion, I started planning "packing" a month out by selecting reading and stitching options. <br />
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But what actually made the flight was:<br />
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And this PILE of stitching options:<br />
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Now I was very proud of how much I trimmed from the original packing stack of stitching, but this was still silly. I ended up finishing the angel needlepoint that Missy has her right paw on and two and a half xs ornies. I was definitely prepared in case emergencies dictated I stay in Kansas City for another ... err.... month. Whhhhy don't I ever learn? Do you do this to yourself too? There are items in that pile that I took one look at and said "I don't want to do this!" Now I had to have known that somewhere in my brain the couple days before when I packed them, right????<br />
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I have to share a little hotel humor too which I hope will bring a chuckle to dedicated Coke/Pepsi brand fans everywhere. This was the vending machine on my floor. And a quick glance at it lead me to believe that as a Diet Coke fan I was out of luck.<br />
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But here are the actually offerings in the machine. LOL Poor Pepsi. They definitely got the short straw on this one.<br />
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I have only good things to say about the Kansas City Convention Center. It is logically (mostly) arranged, fairly easy to navigate, and it welcomed me (and 4,300 of my best friends) well --<br />
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And even better -- at the top of the escalator in the dealers/exhibits space we were met by this sign. This is why my conventions are better than anyone else's!<br />
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Giant spacemen also greeted us :)<br />
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And giant Christmas ducks, and a river with parks along it (this park sponsored by New Zealand<br />
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I'll be back again soon with more news from the road trips..... I swear (but you've heard that before, I know.)!<br />
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<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-23699397056890574782016-07-15T08:45:00.000-07:002016-07-15T09:30:28.599-07:00Ready. Set. Read...and Stitch!Woohooo... I just have to make it through today to get to the excitement of (possibly) the month -- the <a href="https://saveourcoziesreadathon.wordpress.com/">Save Our Cozies Readathon</a>. It's my opportunity to thank some writers who make my life just that little bit better every day and my opportunity to have my disgruntled opinions of their contract choices ignored by Penguin Random House. <br />
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In fine compulsive style I've made list after list. I've gone shopping. I've checked out library audio books. I've sorted and piled and re-sorted and re-piled. Now, I just need to get to the farmers market at lunch today to pick up healthy nosh and I'm ready. Well, except for I don't know what I'm going to read first. OMG! The decisions!!!! After all there is so much to choose from. :)<br />
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And 'lo, I bring you glad tidings of The Official Badger's Short List of Non-Audio Readathon Opps:<br />
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I think that might be the order I read them in, but who knows. I'm a mood-reader in the exact same way I'm a mood-stitcher. And speaking of stitching....... <br />
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I am hoping the mood strikes me to continue work on my flag while enjoying an audio book during Saturday's readathon. I did several hours last weekend and made decent progress. <br />
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What I want to know is why those flipping stars take me FOREVER to stitch. OMG! <br />
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Last weekend also saw me finish this Painted Pony canvas.... well, maybe finish. I can't decide if I'm going to stitch around her in a forest green or have her finished in the shape and size she is. All of that is further troubled by the fact that I can't figure out how to cord her. Sigh. That will be a problem for another weekend. <br />
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Have an excellent Friday, be gentle with yourself, think kindly towards the world (#jesuisNice), and maybe drop in to the readathon blog or facebook page and thank an author.<br />
<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-53079217994675629982016-07-01T21:10:00.000-07:002016-07-01T21:10:08.148-07:00And now -- So. Very. Stupid.Once again I was exhausted. Dead tired, I tell you. So I knew it was a bad idea, but after dinner I had a half a Diet Coke. OMG I may be up til dawn! I knew I needed to pack so I couldn't be passing out in my dinner, but really. This just proves that when I'm tired, I can't think. Sigh.<br />
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What made me so tired? Walking 68 miles through the National Botanic Garden -- ok it was single digit mileage but there was humidity, blazing sun, and I wasn't wearing my training shoes --- it was hot, remember -- I wore sandals. I'll never learn!<br />
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But it was beautiful!<br />
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These columns used to be on the "back" of the Capitol.<br />
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I'd never seen a bonsai bougainvillea -- so cool <br />
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This tree, bless its soul, is from 1625 and it survived the bombing of Hiroshima:<br />
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Purple peppers -- how cool !<br />
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Sure, there's a ton of things to do and see in D.C., but the Botanic Garden is lovely -- definitely bring your GPS and walking shoes though. It's huge and BADLY SIGNED!!!!!!!!!! Sheesh-- would a flipping sign at the gate that says "entry" kill someone?<br />
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I'll stitch again..... I swear. Gotta go pack now. Tomorrow we are spending an early 4th at Mount Vernon who will even be having fireworks! Fireworks-packing. Packing-fireworks. Yup, fireworks won!Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-68691276333939409822016-06-30T21:44:00.000-07:002016-06-30T21:44:00.495-07:00So. Very. Tired. I should be asleep. Actually, I might be asleep and just not know it. Maybe that's it -- I'm just dreaming of being a responsible blogger.<br />
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In my dream, O tell you about getting exhausted in a good way by wandering The Mall in D.C. enjoying the American Folklife Festival. This year it featured the Basque heritage and the state of California. Don't get me wrong, it was fun, but it's smaller than it used to be, and it almost seems these days like the states invited don't really put out much of an effort. Sure, California is my home, but jeez what little bit they did was so boring. There's a lot of culture, talent, and heritage in California, but the only craftsman working today was a mask carver from Mexico..... they couldn't even manage to scare up a single CALIFORNIA craftsman????? Ok, done grousing. The Basque side of the festival was fun and the weather was pretty near perfect so the whinging will cease.<br />
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Generally, these gentleman encased TIGHTLY in sheepskins do their bit in January-- I bet it's a lot more comfortable than in the height of summer.<br />
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I decided that how tight the bells are tied to them is only fair considering the years of corsets we women endured.<br />
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Lovely weavings were showcased--<br />
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I was particularly fond of the giant tea pot --- it's easily two feet across<br />
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And I loved the woman who for 40 years has been mending nets seaside--<br />
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In my stitching world the flag came out to play --- those stars take me FOREVER! there is no reason they should, but they do.<br />
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This Celtic cross has not actually gotten stitched on while I've been here, but I'm hoping showing him will embarrass me in to working on him. At the moment I am leaning to the overdyed Kreinik for the shamrocks.<br />
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I'm making good progress on my Kathy Schenkel piece....<br />
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My angel got her wings! Yea! She may only take me 6 years to finish.....<br />
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Before I thought to pull Think or the Celtic cross back out, I was "forced" to start this awesome plaid snowflake. I got a who two dozen stitches in I think. This is how I get myself in trouble with ta gigantic pile of UFOs<br />
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Ok, I believe my dream of finishing a blog post like a good person is coming to an end...... Any second now I'll roll over and wake up.......... nite nite.<br />
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Don't forget -- come on over and join the <a href="https://saveourcoziesreadathon.wordpress.com/2016/06/01/welcome/">cozy mystery readathon</a> in a couple weeks... just think, if even for only a couple hours, you could be part of an international community of people enjoying the bliss of reading :) Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-82047234527908412182016-06-24T22:24:00.000-07:002016-06-24T22:24:25.818-07:00It's not all gin and giggles......... but you might not be able to prove it by me. <br />
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Sure, I'm on the road. Sure I'm taking some vactaion days, but lordy I've spent a lot of time working. And yet I feel so much more rested and I've been having what feels like more than my share of fun (possibly that's a throw back to early American roots-----I can't possibly deserve all this fun, can I?)<br />
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Well, Also harkening back to those Colonial roots.... I've managed to make a circuit of some nice potent potables. Hey, the Founding Fathers did a lot of distilling and brewing, and Jefferson did his best to develop an American wine industry! So, really, I've been doing my part as a good American!<br />
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We had dinner with our friend, Margaret from Team in Training (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) and that was accompanied by an al fresco Manhattan --<br />
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After the dishes were done I moved on to a Perfect Manhattan (add another kind of Vermouth) and all was right with the world.<br />
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Tonight (and several other nights) there has been wine accompanying the evening --- This particular glass was for my niece who probably really needed it. The littlest great nephew banged his head pretty badly at school today earning himself two big lumps and a trip to the ER. He's fine and chipper if a bit lumpy, but mommy needs a couple glasses of vino at least!<br />
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And it hasn't all been booze--- remember please that my dear brother-in-law presented me with a box of chocolates upon my arrival. I've had one about every other evening or so. Honest! <br />
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You don't get to see the first one I ate because it didn't dawn on me to take a picture of it before consumption--- I can't help it, if you saw these in person you would understand that they cause brain short circuits. <br />
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This mint darling of a 5 nights ago was amazing!!!!<br />
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Two nights ago it was this darling with the gold smear--<br />
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OMG, gentle reader, it was peanut butter -- subtle, silky, delectable peanut butter cream. I'm still smiling thinking about it. <br />
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I even made some stitching progress -- this has been helped immensely over the last two days by the advent of the Barrett Jackson car auction live broadcast. The BIL is a car guy and years ago he hooked me on Barrett Jackson. I learn all sorts of fascinating things watching -- things no one really needs to know, but I find it all fascinating. <br />
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I've been explaining to friends that this one "is as far as I can go" because I forgot the thread for the wings and the dots. But actually, that's not true. The eagle eyed among you will have noticed that I could do the hair. Sigh. Dearest gentle reader, do you have any ide how much I hate long-and-short, random stitches???? Sigh. What was that Scarlett said..... Tomorrow is another day.....<br />
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I'm sending her to a finisher who doesn't need takeaway and does fancy shapes, but I am seriously considering doing maybe 2 or 3 rows of something around her -- maybe green (like the Christmas tree she will hang on), or a maroon or red. Thoughts?<br />
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Because I "couldn't" work on the angel, I was forced to start a new canvas (because the 4 xs projects I brought with me didn't fight hard enough for my attention I guess. Anyway, I started this Kathy Schenkel which will also be a Christmas ornie --<br />
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Initially I couldn't decide if I wanted more sparkle int he peachy pink -- <br />
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But, hey, I tied off and kept going so it's going to be just fine! Besides, I clearly remember it being the only appropriately colored semi-sparkly thread I could find. So it's just perfect!<br />
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Well, that's my story for now..... working, drinking, stitching, plotting my reading {don't forget that you can join me a a bunch of like-minded literary goof balls in the <a href="https://saveourcoziesreadathon.wordpress.com/">Save Our Cozies Readathon</a> on July 16th --- my list-making self gloried in adding a list to the right side bar here to track what I thought would be maybe 10-12 possible titles I thought I'd like. But since it's me, on day one I had 18 and now I think it's up to 20. And I *know* that even if I get all day to read I'll get at best 2 done.}, and viewing....... such a life.<br />
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There I am! the little freshly manicured toes peaking out around the laptop. Me in the Yellow Suite (formerly, and sometimes still, the Blue Suite-- the accents all lend to blue and the walls used to be blue) --- the BIL's mother's quilt on the bead, my great grandmother's lace framed on the wall, and Barrett Jackson on tv. I hope you at least as content as I am at this moment!<br />
<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-40203601435079722582016-06-20T21:15:00.001-07:002016-06-20T21:15:43.370-07:00Teach a Publisher a Lesson (and enjoy yourself at the same time)Gentle Reader -- In case you hadn't heard there's a flurry of nonsense in the publishing world. It seems that in general publishing houses are cutting back their rosters -- most especially onerous is Random House/Berkley Publishing Group and what I can only call their "attack" on the cozy mystery genre. I can hear you now, "And why, Ruth, do stitchers care?"<br />
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Well you care, my friends, among the writers dropped by <b>The Morons of Penguin</b> was Monica Ferris. Monica, too perfectly wonderful for words, Ferris. If you haven't read her, shame on you! She writes the absolutely perfect Crewel World mysteries series based around a lovely needlework shop in Minnesota. Ms. Ferris, is guilty of making me laugh out loud numerous times, and I am fairly certain she has a hidden camera in my LNS because I swear I know these people she writes about. <br />
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Anyway. that's by way of introducing my point of the day. a bunch of people have banded together to host a Cozy Mystery Readathon next month. 24 hours (or any portion thereof) dedicated to the joy of reading cozies, talking about them all over social media, and hopefully impressing upon publishers what utter and complete idiots they are. Links to sign up and follow all the excitement are:<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/726103940858234/?fref=nf">Save Our Cozies Facebook</a> there's always lots of chatter and conviviality in that group (if you join the group, on its files page they keep a running list of what authors and series have been cancelled and such plans for said series as they know)<br />
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<a href="https://saveourcoziesreadathon.wordpress.com/">Save Our Cozies Readathon blog</a> with instructions on how to sign up<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/191144-save-our-cozies-readathon">Save Our Cozies Readathon Goodreads Group</a><br />
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If you care to, come and join -- you may find new friends and new authors, and maybe even some will become both at one time. There are nifty prizes in the readathon too, but mostly it's just fun to "virtually" hang out with people who love words as much as you do.<br />
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In the other part of the world.......<br />
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It's been pretty here in Northern VA. Lunch today was a picnic in Rock Creek Park on the way back from Johns Hopkins.<br />
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A dinner of misc nibbles (and my thoroughly yummy cucumber/tomato salad) was accompanied by a lovely environment ,,,,,<br />
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A little stitching has happened. I've made small bits of progress on Painted Pony's Home of the Brave canvas --<br />
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I've been at her for years. Yes, i know that's embarrassing, but it's true. I did parts and then put her away. Then I'd haul her out for an afternoon and then she'd go away again. I think because she (and her sister canvases which I also own) are for me, they don't ever get their time n the sun. But since it's trip time, lots of small canvases came out to play. At the moment she lacks the stars (allegedly those are supposed to be beads but I think that might be too much give that nothing else is beaded and it's not like the stars are a focal point), the trees, the eyes, the blue dots in the skirt, and the wings. I'm planning to send her to a finisher who does amazing shapes without the stitcher have to round things out with background or even give takeaway rows. Let's hear it for our awesome finishers!<br />
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Also likely to get some needling soon is LK Flip-It Holly --<br />
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I've also been at this an absurd amount of time -- something like 6 months at least.... maybe a year. And, yes, I did change the colors on this one. How observant of you. Look how close she is! I know I can hammer her out.<br />
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I want Brave and Holly done for their own sakes but also so I can start a needle in Think by Kathy Schenkel--<br />
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As you can see she's all kitted out and ready to go. I also have Holly's Flip-It partner, Stocking kitted up and ready to start too. In short, I'm itching for finishes so I can earn new starts.<br />
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But as much as I want to stitch I am currently obsessed with reading. It's one of those months where my Nero Wolfe shirt "Go to hell I'm reading" is indicative of my motto. Anything that interrupts my reading --- meals, friends, emergencies, dinner, work, etc is too annoying for wards.<br />
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Half of today was spent at Johns Hopkins with The BIL, and they have some nice art there. This "lace" is one elevator lobby --<br />
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Every time I've gone this installation makes me smile.<br />
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Until tomorrow...... go on, go sign up for the readathon now :) <br />
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<u>Stitching Accomplished:</u><br />
nearing completion on Painted Pony's "Home of the Brave" canvas<br />
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<u>Reading Completes:</u><br />
Franklin W. Dixon -- The Missing Chums<br />
M.C. Beaton/Marion Chesney -- The Flirt<br />
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<u>Reading Actively in Progress:</u><br />
Ngaio Marsh -- Black As He's Painted<br />
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<u>Stitching Finishing Hopes:</u><br />
Home of the Brave<br />
Holly<br />
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<u>General duties I need to remember:</u><br />
Cookie baking! Sheesh I need to get going on that before my BIL runs out of the chocolates I brought him.<br />
Garden tending---must stay up to date with my watering!<br />
Plan a cocktail hour for local friends -- drinks and giggles, that's the plan.<br />
Make it over to The Waste Knot to pay my respects (and practice trickle down economics)<br />
Work. Dang it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-40693836195113501462016-06-18T14:28:00.002-07:002016-06-18T14:30:14.138-07:00Finishing things is almost as cool as vacationHey there, look who's back already. Must be vacation perkiness setting in. That or having a finish to share. <br />
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This little guy who got started at the airport on the way here is now complete. It's from Pickleberry and I did it in Anchor and Kreinik. The little sheep needle minder is a fresh addition to my life. I picked him up at In Stitches in Alexandria. Maybe I will call him Alex though I don't think he looks much like an Alex.<br />
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Aside from my stitching finish, I have also been making headway on a lovely box of custom chocolates that my ever so kind brother-in-law got for me from a chocolatier in Richmond. I am doing my best to make sure that I don't go hog wild on them..... one every other day. Yeah, that's the plan.<br />
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The reason I'm here on the East Coast "enjoying" the humidity is that I'm hanging with the BIL while my sister is in Peru on a marathon vacation -- part marathon, part vacation. I wonder if there's an LNS there. Here's her group kicking off their adventures in Cusco.<br />
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So while she's off enjoying Cusco Day (the day she arrived happened to be the city's annual celebration of itself) and getting ready for Inca adventures and trips to the Amazon, I'm adventuring about NoVa. This morning found the BIL and I at the Alexandria farmers market --<br />
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I've got some time...... the squash above and bowls below may find a new home next weekend.....<br />
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And check out the yummy yarn! That cream basket is cotton and it is so soft!<br />
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Produce from this morning's shopping is now happily marinating in the fridge......<br />
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After the market we headed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for an inspirational brunch for Honored Team Mates in Team and Training. My BIL is the Honored Team Mate for Team Tom which to date over the last 6-8 months raised $201,000! GO TEAM !!!<br />
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In short, while my sister is off gallivanting in South America, I am "struggling" through life in Northern VA --<br />
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It's tough work, but someone's gotta do it, right?<br />
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To exercise my love of lists--<br />
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<u>Vacation Stitching Wins:</u><br />
Pickleberry snowflake heart<br />
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<u>Vacation Reading Finishes:</u><br />
Monica Ferris -- And Then You Dye<br />
Franklin W. Dixon -- The Secret of the Caves<br />
Victoria Hamilton -- A Deadly Grind<br />
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<u>Next Stitching Targets:</u><br />
LK Snippet -- Holly<br />
Painted Pony -- Home of the Brave angel<br />
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<u>At Bat in the Reading Realm:</u><br />
Franklin W. Dixon -- The Missing Chums<br />
Steve Perry -- The Man Who Never Missed<br />
<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-84030941951544676142016-06-16T23:01:00.000-07:002016-06-18T14:30:00.209-07:00Nearing Summer with Dragging FeetSomehow, though I have tons I could say, I can't work out what to say. I have started this post a few times and only ended up deleting it when I stared at the blank screen without a clue as to what to say.<br />
I've decided to go with "say something" just to get yourself going as a strategy. <br />
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I trolled pictures and came up with an embarrassment of missing things. This little dolphin came back to me from the finisher looking very adorable. He's mine -- all mine! He commemorates my childhood trips with mom to Sea World. One time I got a stuffed dolphin which I remember to this day because the grey fur on the sides was sewed on so you could only pet it "properly" from the tail to the nose. I don't know how old I was at the time, but my mom was an amazing seamstress and I knew all about nap. I remember telling my mom that they should only let people sew these toys together if they knew about how to construct them properly. :) <br />
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This half-done Santa is actually done now and off to the finisher. He was fun even though I struggled with the background. I had selected a soft yellow ThreadWorx, but everyone but me thought it was awful. It took a couple weeks of searching the shop to find a thread that worked--- *every* blue in the world clashes with that teal hat. I couldn't go white because of the wings. Light purples looked hideous. You could have knocked me over with a feather when the color that worked was pink. Pink? How did that happen? The pink quandary is somewhat balanced in my memory by how much fun I had experimenting with the beard.</div>
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This little guy is done too. Nope, I could have sworn I had a finished pick of this too, but Heaven knows where that is. Possibly it went holidaying with the finished Santa pic of the canvas above.<br />
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I recently became obsessed with this piece. It's for my sister, but no surprise since I sent her a picture of the canvas to see if it made her smile instantly as it did for me. It did so it will be hers. It's going to be a tray. I will do the background in wine Silk and Ivory.<br />
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I'm fond of both the grey-gold Crystal whatsitsface I did the glass outlines in and the Kreinik copper metallic for the words.<br />
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And now phase two... this is my current obsession -- I pulled him to travel with. It kept me good company at the airports and on the planes over the weekend. I got to spend extra unplanned time enjoying Texas hospitality because of the extreme weather that settled over Dallas as my plane was trying to go through. It's not like I could do anything about the delays so I stitched and did what I could with my impromptu overnight in Dallas.<br />
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Before this trip east, my Dove candy had a message for me. LOL I shared its thoughts with my dear buddy, Anita, who said I shouldn't ignore important guidance like this. She tried her hardest to convince me to ignore packing the day before my flight and go book shopping with her instead because obviously I needed more books.<br />
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Silly Anita -- I already had these packed... and a Kindle.... and 26 audio books checked out from my local library on my laptop.<br />
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When I finally arrived in DC, my brother-in-law had a collection of packages waiting for me-- </div>
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I think I'm set for reading material for now. [And, for the record, I believe I'm set for stitching too -- I brought 3 new, small cnavases; 1 small canvas to finish; by giant flag cross stitch; and 3 xs ornies. And you know what, when I was picking up the magnifier, I almost bought two patterns..... I think I have a stash problem. LOL]<br />
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So far on this trip the BIL and I have had one adventure (my sister is off gallivanting in exotic locales so us domestic sorts are staying here at home) -- we were passing George Washington's mill and distillery (on the way to an LNS to get me a small clamp magnifier) and we swung in because neither of us had ever toured the place. It was wonderful fun and a beautiful day.<br />
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Thanks for being patient with me........ Maybe this will help me start getting in gear with writing again.<br />
<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-35338273795497727722016-04-14T10:18:00.001-07:002016-06-18T14:31:33.356-07:00GNU Terry Pratchett<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, at the Barbicon Theatre in London, his name will be spoken.<br />
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<b><i>"A man is not dead while his name is still spoken." </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Going Postal -- Terry Pratchett</i></b></div>
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Seriously, Ruth, October??? October?!?!?!?!!! I could have sworn.... Oh let me just give it up now and say I am very, very sorry. You can get out the wet noodles and give me heck. A pox on me... well, not really, because if I'm poxed it will cut down on my typing abilities even more. <br />
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October.<br />
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I am so embarrassed.<br />
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And I am also humored because among the reasons I was motivated to post today was to advertise for the Dewey's 24-hour Readathon next weekend (the 23rd to be precise). And what was I doing in October when last I posted?--- advertising for the fall Dewey's Readathon. lol At least you know I haven't changed. <br />
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Dewey's is a fun, personal, and yet group adventure of readers around the world taking a day (or whatever of the day they can) to read, promote reading, and in general enjoy themselves. There's no police force checking your progress or commitment -- want a nap, go for it. Need a break for something silly like lunch? -- Fine. Can't do Saturday, fine, try for Sunday. Can only read for an hour-- sure! Want to read graphic novels, short stories, poetry, Neil Gaiman, the encyclopedia? Just enjoy yourself and your books. They have a facebook group this year so you can see people planning -- their books, their snacks (seriously, there's a lot of care that goes in to some people's snacking plans), their schemes. Come on over -- make some new friends, find a new author, show publishers we still care (and possibly that we're pretty peeved at recent wholesale cancellations at certain publishing houses)! There's a Goodreads group too who is already all a-flutter with planning.<br />
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So, please, join the Dewey's Readathon fun. It is a nice feeling to find out that a solitary pursuit like reading can be a giant community hug too.<br />
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The short version of life? I've been busy. I've been grumpy. I hate my corporation. I had a birthday (let's not go there). I've read lots. I've been on typical adventures. I still haven't won the lottery. Despite all (work) provocations, I have not needed bail money.<br />
All things considered, I guess I'm ok. <br />
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I have stitched a lot recently... mostly needlepoint -- mostly because I've been doing small things -- I like that finishing buzz you get. Some samples--<br />
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I wont wait months... I PROMISE!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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GNU Terry PratchettRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-38012687608884898712015-10-15T09:49:00.000-07:002015-10-15T09:49:42.790-07:00Readathon--- want to join the fun?Hi folks -- I'm just quickly buzzing in to wave the flag for <a href="http://www.24hourreadathon.com/">Dewey's 24-hour Readathon</a>, a twice a years reader's event which is taking place this Saturday, October 17th. It's a no stress, no pressure adventure in reading with a whole bunch of book buddies across the globe. You may never have met before, but you can all be best friends for the weekend. You don't have to read all 24 hours -- it's about sharing the love of the written word and saying thank you to the awesome people who make their livelihoods creating books for us. <br />
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I am probably particularly sensitive to the lure of the Readathon right now since I'm freshly back from Bouchercon in Raleigh --- a wonderful event filled with amazingly friendly people and books.... lots and lots of books! So I find myself with fresh stacks of fodder for a reading marathon. For instance.... Here's what I had amassed at Boucher by the end of Day 2 of 5--<br />
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Still Day 2--<br />
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And more Day 2--<br />
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And heck -- here's part of what came home with me from LAST Year's Bouchercon in Long Beach (and most remain unread)!<br />
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And most of these denizens of my shelves remain unread ......<br />
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So, see? There is PLENTY for me to be inspired by. This is why I will be taking part in as many hours of Dewey's Readathon as I can on Saturday (and you just know it will carry over to Sunday too in Maison d'Hovel). Join me? Come on... you know you want to. Even if just for an hour--- think of it as thanking a writer for making you happy.</div>
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The link at the top of this post is to the general page with posts on what's happening and suggestions. If you want to hop straight in, here's the link to the <a href="http://www.24hourreadathon.com/?p=5404">Readathon sign up page</a>. </div>
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Oh, and while in Raleigh I was reunited with a forgotten friend. This round robin had been making its way around the country some years (wow) ago, but he never came home. He ended up recently making his way to my buddy, Chris, who returned it to me as a surprise while I was visiting her before the con. It's so cool to rediscover an old friend. Obviously Missy likes it too. It didn't come home with me though because Chris took it off the the <a href="http://www.downsunshinelane.com/beach.htm">Cross Stitch Pals Beach Retreat</a> (sign up for next year's--- it's a lot of fun) this week to work on a square and possibly collect some other people for it. The surprise will continue to grow ,,,, yay!</div>
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Go forth and have a beautiful day --- see you in the Readathon I hope!Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-38049105744192663922015-09-21T12:24:00.000-07:002015-09-21T12:24:07.696-07:00Progress and continuing adventures with MissyGood Monday to you, gentle reader. I hope you had a productively peaceful weekend. I did somewhat respectably all things considered. There was laundry (which even got mostly put away), and audio booking, and stitching! Yay. It's the little things.<br />
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Ethel came out to play for several rows of sky--- once I get some more sky in I feel like I'll be able to work on the various floral elements. So far I have not gotten sick of blue. If I feel that coming on I am going to switch to working on the flowers/balls in the grass to give myself some variety. Do you get like that? Just have to move to some other color or stitch because something is too boring for words? [And, yes, i know Ethel is upside down. That's how I was working on her, so it's how she got her picture taken so now if I flip it it looks totally wrong to me.]<br />
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Here's my new start from the weekend before last -- Amanda Lawford's "lovey dovey"--- I'm ignoring that title since I was raised by a pigeon fancier I know that this is not a dove. this is a fantail. The dark dots get crystals. This guy is part of a series of 4 rhinstoned beauties -- a cardinal (also started), a blue jay, and a chickadee.<br />
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And to catch up on another episode of the Spokane life of my and Missy---<br />
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The WSFS banner was flying with pride over the past Hugo Award display.<br />
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Missy got a photo op with this year's Hugo award/<br />
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She also got to meet celebrity costumes --<br />
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Missy got to see preparations underway in Riverfront Park for the Chinese Lantern Festival. She was vexed that she couldn't sit on the fence and have her picture taken with these beauties because there were giant signs saying the fence was electrified. Little furry bear + electric fence = sizzling unhappiness.<br />
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She was mollified when I took her to the What's coming out from TOR panel. You should see her new shopping list!<br />
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Bear hugs from Missy and kind thoughts for your day from me. Thanks for stopping in.Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-66399333398651832582015-09-14T09:48:00.001-07:002015-09-14T09:48:32.363-07:00Traveling Adventures in the Outer Universe (aka On the Road with Missy)<br />
Yes, I know. I'm bad. We shall stipulate that and move on. Much has been going on that has kept me from you convivial society, but maybe today I can start to make inroads back into the fold.<br />
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First I was sort of not stitching, and yet sometimes stitching. Frankly we have been through some weeks of it being too hot to contemplate threads. But on my most recent adventure to Worldcon in Spokane (yay, Spokane!) I was invigorated by air conditioning and accomplished quite a bit.<br />
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Apparently there was a PS deer theme in my life for a bit. Here's PS' Two-by-Two Deer (nope, not in the threads called for)--<br />
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... and PS' Christmas Eve Deer (also not as called for)<br />
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And a little Danji ornament to commemorate all the Sea World/San Diego vacation weekends my mom and I took -- I still clearly remember the stuffed dolphin I got at Sea World... and my annoyance, since I was my mother's daughter, that they put the grey fur on one side going from tail to nose so the nap was backwards when you petted it. In honor of the fur faux pas, I did the grey in Very Velvet.<br />
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Now, as for that traveling, as I said I headed off to Worldcon in Spokane, the nicest city I have ever convened in! If you want to feel welcomed some where you need to go to Spokane. Missy and I had a blast.<br />
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Let me explain Missy the polar bear. A few years ago my sister and I took her oldest grandson (then aged 7) on a trip through SoCal-- Legoland, Seaworld, and the San Diego Zoo. At the Zoo he bought a pair of polar bears and gave me one (how cute is that!?!). He named his bear Matthew and my bear Missy. Ever since then, Missy goes adventuring with me. One trip she took with me was to the first North American Discworld Convention in Tempe where she got to meet Sir Terry Pratchett and she collected that fetching set of gold beads she proudly wears at the Seamstresses Guild Ball.<br />
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So off we go -- breakfast at the airport.....<br />
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a befuddlingly loud and sparkly layover in Las Vegas (no, she was not a winner). For the record, you get some odd looks taking pictures of a stuffed bear in beads on a slot machine.<br />
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Spokane was obviously my kind of town.....<br />
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Missy and I could have hosted a small floatilla of friends in our hotel room.....<br />
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She especially liked the mod chair, which was surprisingly comfy<br />
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We dropped our stuff and went exploring and found.......<br />
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Wildlife<br />
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Art in the river (the Spokane River runs right next to the convention center where we spent the week)<br />
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Many flowers and bridges and a nice bell tower.<br />
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The famous (apparently so according to all the local maps which just say "the red wagon") Red Wagon which just makes me smile. I mean how cool is that?????</div>
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There was a pretty (smoke induced) sunset sparkling on a cool fountain.<br />
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And there was the traditional convention center welcome. I knew I had made it to my "family" reunion.</div>
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<br />Back again soon.... happy stitching to all, and happy New Year to those celebrating today.<br />
<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-9440223652353809542015-07-08T11:59:00.001-07:002015-07-08T11:59:27.960-07:00Focus?Hello Gentle Readers. Welcome to July. I for one would like to know how *that* happened! It seems like I only just finished opening Christmas presents. Possibly we could start a petition drive for longer minutes...... especially those minutes between Friday at like 6:30pm (after the commute home) and Sunday at midnight. Who's with me?<br />
<br />
I have been focusing in as much as my fuzzy little brain can on my engineer nutcracker. The goal is to be able to turn him in on Saturday for finishing. I am making decent enough progress, but those little "x" filler stitches of Petite Sparkle Rays are slow. Memo to self: on the next nutcracker, please have fewer filler stitches and there's no need to cross them.<br />
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Last weekend the "country club" (aka needlepoint group) met to stitch a little and lo and behold, but my special order of the next nutcracker is in, and why, yes, I did instantly put it on bars and pull threads.<br />
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Also in the order was this little darling -- he pops up into an Easter egg.<br />
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He makes me think of growing up when my mom would decorate for Easter. She always did this one table in the living room for Easter with fancy sugar and paper eggs, fluffy chicks in all sorts of colors, and candles shaped like bunnies. The only other non-Christmas holiday we decorated for was Thanksgiving, and that was an elaborate cornucopia on the kitchen counter and a bunch of themed candles. Halloween we ignored, and to this day I still don't really get the fascination with decorating for Halloween. If it takes a village, mine was apparently not into Halloween.<br />
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Go forth and have a peaceful day!<br />
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****************<br />
Pratchett thought of the day:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What kind of man would put a known criminal in </b></span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>charge</b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>of a
major branch of government?—apart from, say, </b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>the average voter.</b></span></i></div>
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Going Postal – Terry Pratchett</div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com167tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-24355799428425395972015-06-26T11:05:00.000-07:002015-06-26T11:05:09.683-07:00Diddly Squat SFS June.<b><u>The SFS June Report of Extreme Laziness:</u></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Month: June</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Spent: $30.00 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> (I believe that last month I mentioned this was inevitable)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Allotted: $25</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Earned: $0.00 (embarrassing -- not even a single flipping ornie!)</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Holdover from last month:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span></b><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">$31.60</span></b><b><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Ultimate June total:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> $23.40 </span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span></b><br />
**************<br />
Yes dear friends, diddly squat. That's what I've been up to. Not much of anything. I've been busy working (very busy actually and very annoyed too) or busy napping or busy changing channels in search of "something" on TV. I have forgotten the joy of needles -- this could be due to the onset of summer which always makes Maison du Hovel too hot to feel like doing anything other than staying assiduously withing the fan's sweet spot.<br />
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I even had a couple weekends off from working at the shop so the perk-up factor of being surrounded by potential stash, inspiration, and air conditioning hasn't had a great impact on my month's output. On my couple of shop days I did make progress on my nutcracker. He now has a shirt and shoes (heee heee -- I guess now he can be served at most restaurants in the U.S. now). And I just noticed that I didn't bother to take a picture AFTER the shirt was stitched. Sigh. I am such a loser! Put you can see the background which is Impressions and Petite Sparkle Rays. All he needs now is a completed background, a mouth, and hair and he's good to go for finishing.<br />
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While I was at the shop I made the fatal/fortuitous mistake of looking int he 80% off bin (remember the Badger's Playpen?) -- there was this piece that talked to me and then there were these threads that looked so pretty together. Did I take a picture of anything????? Noooooo. Once again -- brain shut down for summer apparently. The Playpen find may go back because while cute and possibly a "perfect" present, it's not like my life isn't full of cute, prefect presents just waiting for me to stitch them.<br />
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My bookshelves got new friends too courtesy of a signing party at Houston's Murder by the Book. Yay! I ***had*** to have the latest Kate Carlisle. You understand, right? It is essential. And Hannah Dennison's Honeychuch Hall volume sounded intriguing. Now I just have to find a place on the shelves. Argh! It's definitely too hot to make book space.<br />
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The newest bookish problem I have is that I'm going to WorldCon this year and I need to get reading on the nominations for the Hugos so I can vote as an educated citizen. Do I own any of those books, novellas, short stories, etc.? Nope. Sigh. I need more time in the day.... every day.<br />
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Have a peaceful weekend -- may you all be more productive than me!<br />
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*********************<br />
<br />
Pratchett thought of the day (for my Supreme Court):<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Words have always had the power to change the world.</i></b></h2>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Soul Music – Terry Pratchett</span></div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-80254803900826287492015-06-10T10:29:00.001-07:002015-06-10T10:29:59.056-07:00Up to some good for a changeHello dear friends, I know it may me hard to believe, but I have been up to some stitching. I almost feel like I have to ramp up the action before it hits the height of summer when it always feels too hot to stitch once I get home in the evenings. That little ompf moved my needle in a few different directions over the last week.<br />
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Mrs. (the giant penguin) came back out to play for a couple nights during which I:<br />
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<ol>
<li>finished the light pink band which had been languishing mostly done)</li>
<li>figured out what to stitch in the purple band (and got the whole band put in)</li>
<li>put in the bottom edge of the flipper (that was because I thought I knew what I was going to do with the gold bracelet and I needed the flipper part out of the way. Turns out I didn't know. Oh well.)</li>
<li>figured out what to stitch in the black band and got it partially put in. </li>
</ol>
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Also I have allegedly worked out what to do in the medium and dark pink bands, but until those sections actually start I have learned that I am prone to vacillation. <br />
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I don't think I had a picture of this last time -- this way my last finish. A LK Flip It which was easy as pie. Why did it take me forever to get around to it?????<br />
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Last weekend (I think) I had a flag marathon. I just settled my fanny in and basketwove my little fingers off. I got from here:<br />
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to here:<br />
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And, why yes, I am very proud of myself. Just to put int in perspective -- that's probably 6-8 hours of stitching. See! I told you my needles were slow!<br />
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Also, one night another star appeared in my sky --<br />
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While I know that is rather pathetic. It was actually quite amazing given that I was too tired to really start stitching when I pulled it out, but I powered through..... and then collapsed into my pillow.<br />
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On a bookish front, I went with our friend <a href="http://somanybooksnotenoughtime.blogspot.com/">So Many Books</a> to The Last Bookstore -- an amazing space for books (mostly used) in L.A. It really is a neat space --<br />
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with cool book art -- (I think this is a security cam picture of what my bookshelves do when I'm not home)<br />
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Now, while I loved the book art, I am a bibliophile at heart. Book art is all well and good, but I need to be able to get to books and I kept getting stymied in my progress by people trying to get the perfect pic for instagram or facebook. I swear this one pair of 20-something women took a dozen pictures each of themselves posed in a book "window." There was a certain undercurrent to their repeats of "people in the background"-- well, duh, Buffy -- it's a store. We're here to shop. Take your blooming picture and get out of the way!</div>
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Another annoyance was that I found it hard to come away with a pile. It seems that my authors are just too awesome in general for people to give them up. So I came away with this small collection of goodies:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-csKzXTZOjxE/VXhs1L_PXBI/AAAAAAAACeY/-6lcxe8dM9g/s1600/2015-06-09i%2B008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-csKzXTZOjxE/VXhs1L_PXBI/AAAAAAAACeY/-6lcxe8dM9g/s320/2015-06-09i%2B008.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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Happy Stitching and Reading to you all -- may your needles be faster and trendsetters not be in your book shopping way!<br />
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*****************<br />
Pratchett thought of the day:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Nothing-to-see is what most of the universe consists of.</i></span></b></div>
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Going Postal – Terry Pratchett</div>
<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-18235594619287518712015-05-28T10:30:00.001-07:002015-05-28T10:30:24.286-07:00SFSing Successes (unless you count finding the &*@*#^&*@#%$ pictures)Greetings, Gentle Reader, and a Happy day unto you.<br />
<br />
First thing up --<br />
<b><u>The SFS May Report of Joy:</u></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Month: May</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Spent: $0.00 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> -- (Don't worry. It will NOT last.)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Allotted: $25</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Earned: $10.00 </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Subtotal of May's accumulated earnings: $35.00</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Holdover from last month:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="color: red;"> -$2.40</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Ultimate May total:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> $31.60 --- Woohoooo! Extra hooooo! </span></b><br />
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Yes, as a matter of fact I am as shocked as you are. But never fear, I'm working at the shop this weekend so no doubt the joy of being in the black will overtake me. <br />
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Here are my earning finishes--- with big thank yous to my friend who needed dog/house sitting. Her excellent light and comfy recliner helped immensely with my productivity.<br />
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LKs (nope, not the colors they were charted for). They have their charms too. Can I figure where I put that photo? Nope. I guess it is high time I sorted out the flash drives.<br />
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A little bell ornie I've been wanting to do for years. I just love him. O believe another one of these will happen soon.<br />
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Another LK that happened post-house sitting. Possibly under the influence of the house-sitting high.<br />
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There's another finish -- a little candy cane from the same series as the bell. Apparently *someone* did not take a picture of that. Sigh. And there should be two more LKs, but *someone* can't find them to attach their charms. *Someone* has a lot to answer for!<br />
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And then some little bits of progress -- Prairie Moon's Home of the Brave which hadn't seem the light of day in a while. I do really like working on this piece. It is a nice balance of blocks of color and yet enough color changes to make it interesting. It just got sidelined because of commitments to other things, but I really want to see it under my needle more regularly.<br />
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One of those commitments... the baseball flag came back out to play a couple nights ago. This one.... I tell you. I stitch and stitch and stitch and get maybe an inch done. Sometimes I think that even if you left me in good light, in a cozy spot, with perfect audio books, no TV, and only this piece for a long weekend, I'd still only get maybe a row of those dang balls done. <br />
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Another powwow offering for your enjoyment because:<br />
1. I promised you<br />
2. I can't figure out where I filed the other pics I was supposed to be adding here. <br />
I just loved the rainbow dying on the middle guy's head piece.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r-VvZY0r18I/VWdAM-y-GJI/AAAAAAAACcE/SSDbOQDrnHY/s1600/2015-05-03%2B046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r-VvZY0r18I/VWdAM-y-GJI/AAAAAAAACcE/SSDbOQDrnHY/s400/2015-05-03%2B046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Though I am most partial to the shawl dancers.<br />
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...and shopping.....<br />
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Now, sally forth and have a wonderful rest of your day.<br />
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Pratchett Thought of the Day:<br />
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<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-19428973836226841392015-05-22T10:37:00.000-07:002015-05-22T10:37:18.649-07:00Insanity and Fun ......... two things that often go together for me.<br />
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Hello, dear friends, last weekend I decamped Chez Hovel (or The Untidy Sett as I am inclined to think of my digs) for a friend's house to dog/house sit. You see, I was the one who set her up to adopt said dog therefore she declared it really was rather my responsibility to watch it while she gallivanted off to NYC. Since she has wifi which allowed me to keep my coworkers from imploding and I was once again maxed out on vacation time, I saw no reason not to head off for what I thought of as a resort retreat without pool boys. I mean a choice of recliners, a devoted dog, really good natural lighting --- what's not to love, right? <br />
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So on Thursday morning I arrived at my temporary home and unpacked part one of my insanity:<br />
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Now, I was there from Thursday morning through Monday night. So of course I apparently thought I could finish every major project I had going. The white corner showing at the top is my Boothy (that didn't come out of the bag the whole time I was there), the green fabric in the hoop on the left is a Celtic cross ornament that I also didn't get out of its bag, the baseball flag I could stitch for hours and hours on and still only finish an inch (that didn't come out either), and the states flag in the right corner also did not make an appearance. I did manage to do 2 of the 5 LK Flip Its (they haven't made it to the "dope" list because I didn't bring a thread matching the fabric to attach the charms with), one of the little ornies (from the sheets between the flags in the picture), and a batch of Ethel's sky.<br />
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Pathetic! II mean I did stitch a lot... I'm just that slow. Ok, I did cook a lot too. And I swear on my stash I did not nap the weekend away. I never got a nap in actually, because my four-footed charge seemed to think napping indicated a lack of "better" things to do like walking or petting.<br />
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My roomie was at first very suspicious of this stitching stuff --<br />
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Then she went with the crisis of confidence look -- the apparently-I'm-not-cute-enough-to-put-down-that-thread-crap pose.</div>
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But she did seem to like the audio book effect. She really had to since the TV only came on for the hockey game. Which leads me to part two of my insanity. Not only did I bring enough stitching to make it through 6 months, I also came with reading--<br />
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That's 6 paperbacks and two books on CD. That is IN ADDITION to the 20-ish audio books I had checked out from the library and loaded on my computer (and we'll not mention the 100+ Audible titles also on said computer). I believe I finished 5 books -- 4 library check outs and an Audible title. I did open the top book on the above pile (a Kate Carlisle), but really I could have skipped that bag. <br />
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Oh and it gets funnier. My buddy is also a reading fiend, so it's not like I could have lacked for books at her house. As a matter of fact she told me to check out the box she was putting together to donate and I pulled the items below out because she'd been singing their praises for a while and I thought I'd try them (mind you, I gave her the Charlaine series, but apparently I didn't buy it all for myself. or at least I didn't get it all input into my online catalog). <br />
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Currently they are on my floor waiting for me to figure out a path to the shelves so they can join their friends. [You think I'm kidding? Silly you.]<br />
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Regardless of my insanity, or possibly because of it, I had a lovely time. I stitched, I read, I got a lot of these walk-me/pet-me/what's-that-you're-doing-now looks:<br />
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I picked strawberries in the backyard while my furry friend had breakfast al fresco.<br />
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I sniffed heavily from the gardenia bush.<br />
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In short, I had a grand ole time. I can only wish you as pleasant a weekend as I had last weekend. And, for my American friends, a peaceful Memorial Day possibly filled by red,white, and blue stitching. I'll be at the local national cemetery. Where will you be?<br />
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Pratchett thought of the day:<br />
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<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-59455957486472567742015-05-04T10:52:00.002-07:002015-05-04T10:52:33.065-07:00And We Have a WinnerIHello World, drum roll, please........ The winner of Chessie and Me's In virtue's Ways is.......<br />
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<a href="http://britishladybythelake.blogspot.com/">Gillie!</a></h3>
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Congrats, Gillie. I'll contact you about arranging delivery. I hope she brings you a few hours of stitching fun.<br />
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Speaking of stitching fun, look who got several stars done on Ellen's flag (By Gone Stitching's One Nation)!<br />
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And I celebrated finishing Big Tree by starting another ornie -- one of the Lizzie Kate's that I've been saying I am going to do for years. Sharp eyes will notice I'm changing the colors. Why do I make my life so difficult?<br />
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I spent my Saturday being swamped with customers at the shop, but after they all left I managed to get another basket done on Ethel-- I;m really quite fond of this one.<br />
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The complete joy of the weekend however was getting to spend all day Sunday at the UCLA Powwow. I used to go every year but for the last few years I've been in DC celebrating my sister's birthday at this time. This year The Sister took herself to Europe for a marathon river cruise (cruise the river and do a segmented marathon at the various port stops) so I could indulge myself in my traditional spring event,<br />
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I particularly love the little ones --<br />
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Here's my total fan-girl moment of the day -- "front row" at the Midnight Express drum (one of my very favorite drum groups)<br />
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Some of you may recollect that I do a lot of shopping at powwow-- especially for beads. Usually a few pounds (I think of them in poundage because they get pretty darn heavy as the day wears on and on and on.). But this year the bead vendor didn't come. Never fear! I consoled myself with jewelry shopping... lots of jewelry shopping. Pics to come!<br />
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Hopefully I'll be productive tonight and have more to share this week-- both shopping and stitching. I'm looking for May to be PRODUCTIVE.... who am I kidding, I look for that in every month, and in every month I don't seem to make my line in the sand. lol<br />
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<br />
Pratchett thought of the day:<br />
<h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>There’s nothing like laughter for undermining authority.</i></b></div>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Making Money – Terry Pratchett</i></b></div>
</b></h3>
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[Must be why I chuckle so much here at the Fortune 500]Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-85595168357424360172015-04-27T10:02:00.002-07:002015-04-27T10:02:41.523-07:00SFS Success!!!! (Want a pattern?)<u style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><b>The April SFS Report:</b></u><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Month: April</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Spent: $0.00 </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> -- (I know -- I'm as shocked as you are.)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Allotted: $25</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Earned: $12.00 </b><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Subtotal of April's accumulated earnings: $37.00</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Holdover from last month:</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="color: red;"> -$39.40</span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Ultimate March total:</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><b>-$2.40</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> (Look at me make up the Red Zone.)</span><br />
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And here is my proud moment of the month/weekend-- aka, what I spent my ENTIRE weekend doing (while watching hockey, hockey documentaries, and listening to audio books.... in between naps. Why, yes, it was a glorious weekend, thank you!):<br />
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That's Chessie and Me's "In Virtue's Ways." I sort of kept some of the colors while changing them all to silks, and I completely changed the words and the embellishments. I wanted to do something with this piece because though I loved it, I just couldn't "love"it if you know what I mean. Suddenly it hit me when I realized it reminded me of my favorite book growing up. And in that moment the redo began. I had to change the color of the cabin since it is grey in the book and the perfect words had to be found and the dates had to be picked (LIW's birthday and the publication date of the original LHitBW). <br />
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Also completed this month was the little guy from the last post..... he's still making me laugh with that very perturbed expression of his.<br />
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Now I have an offer for those interested. I have done my effort on In Virtue's Ways. I'm not going to do it again. If you'd like the pattern (including the rose colored ceramic button since it did not work with the space I had when I redid the pattern), just leave a comment saying that on this post and I will draw a winner on Friday. [Note: In this first picture, I put the button on the bottom of the page next to the cat logo so you can see how cute it is-- it really is nice it just didn't work where I had room for it.]<br />
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Pratchettism of the Day:<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<i>The world’s turned upside down. It’s a bit more important than you right now.</i><i>Jackram – Monstrous Regiment – Terry Pratchett</i></h3>
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(A bit of a reminder to myself, as I whine about it being Monday in my little corner of the Fortune 500 that there are people in Nepal who need my prayers.)Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-9088582185461457092015-04-23T09:55:00.000-07:002015-04-23T09:55:23.898-07:00Yippie! Progress AND a Finish!I know it doesn't seem possible, but I've made progress.. just remember: Baby Steps! [Some day I will attend the seminar that teaches me to be a speedy stitcher, or teaches my needles to stitch while I nap.]<br />
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Here is the corduroy stitch in place in Mr. Engineer's overalls -- it has worked out far better than the t-stitch in my humble opinion:<br />
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Please note, just because I love you all, I *forced* myself to put in several rows of the corduroy so you could really see how it looked in place. No, of course it wasn't because I was obsessing about stitching it... noooooooo---- not me. It was all for you, gentle reader. <br />
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And lookie here -- Massachusetts has arrived in Ellen's flag! All the letters AND the little bobble at the end! I was so overjoyed that I actually started the border on the next stripe. I tell you it's the little things. I should not that I was *not* overjoyed enough to start more of the stars in the blue field. There are limits to my enthusiasm. But I do know I need to get them done -- this weekend... yeah, that'll work. I have a weekend of "peaceful" hockey viewing and audiobook listening time scheduled -- that should give me ample time to<strike> ignore the stars</strike> err, I mean crank out several stars.<br />
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And here is my glorious finish! Done done done! He just cracks me up.<br />
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The fabric is an overdyed jobelan from Wichelt and the threads are all DMC save for the black which is Splendor.<br />
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On behalf of Sir Terry Pratchett and Lady Vimes, please enjoy your St. George's Day responsibly:<br />
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Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-90997685869585233242015-04-20T10:04:00.001-07:002015-04-20T10:04:10.203-07:00Howdy, Monday!Good Morning, World! Why, yes, you do detect a whiff of perky in my tone, which is most unusual for a Monday. And said whiff was quite absent until just a half hour ago. But on the way back from caffeinating myself I ran into my buddy Ye (yes, I know you don't know her, but just stay with me here), and she announced that she got engaged this weekend! I am so happy for her. She's awesome and deserves the best. That guy of hers better be good enough for her or he's in for a world of hurt from me! Anyway, you can all thank Ye for the big, doofy smile on my face and my reinvigorated outlook on the week.<br />
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Certainly my showing on my list of hopefulness for the weekend just past does not warrant a perky outlook on the week. But let's start with the sunshine --<br />
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Now you can see why I call the Vee and Co ornie pattern "big tree"--<br />
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I'm just bordering shy of completion. Mind you we almost came to a squawking halt last night when I ended up a mere stitch away from that bottom line of text -- it's supposed to he 3 stitches away. I swear on stacks of stash that I counted several times before stitching. Regardless I just love his expression. <br />
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Ethel got one of the three baskets I was hoping for-- this one in alpaca and velvet -- very upscale for dumping on the grass on the way to market, but I like how it turned out. Well, I like all but the rim, but I figure that will get covered over a lot when I put the greenery and flowers/fruit in.<br />
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And Ethel also got a decent amount of sky. I have committed to filling in all of the sky and stitching the clouds over the top in Whisper -- I think it will help with a more whispy, ethereal effect.<br />
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And look what arrived in the shop all shiny and new---- several locale ornies from Kirk and Bradley!<br />
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Thus far I have refrained, but I've been to Paris and NY so I think I will eventually need those. And I definitely *need* to go to London so I can earn the right to get that ornie -- the pigeon is just too cute!<br />
<br />
So let's review Friday's hopeful list (come on, you know you could use a laugh):<br />
<ul>
<li>Ethel progress -- those 3 small baskets and some sky</li>
<ul>
<li><i>1 basket and some sky.... reasonable all things considered</i></li>
</ul>
<li>Mr. Engineer -- figure out new stitch for the pants</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Yes! Sorry I lack for picture on this. I don't know where my brain was. 4 books and a half-hour of flipping and debating had me settling on the corduroy stitch.....duh! Why didn't I find that earlier???? </i></li>
</ul>
<li>progress on Boothy -- this should not be so difficult dang it</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Got it out. Looked at it. Put in back in the back and shoved it to the end of the bed.</i></li>
</ul>
<li>a finish</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Ha! Don't make me laugh. Somewhere after Father Brown and in the midst of the ACMs I hauled out the Big Tree with finishing in my mind... yeah, like that was going to happen at that time of night. </i></li>
</ul>
<li>2 books completed</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Uh, no. Someone forgot that not only did she have F1 in Bahrain (her personal fav track) but she also had an entire day of NHL playoffs and a non-existent Saturday due to working at the shop followed by an entire evening birthday fest for a friend (which involved a significant quantity of negrones and a dirty martini and, consequently, a difficultly waking up on Sunday) </i></li>
</ul>
<li>something actually cooked... in my kitchen! </li>
<ul>
<li><i>Oh that's a real howler. </i></li>
</ul>
<li>the dang pots back in the one cupboard I have in Maison d'Hovel's kitchen (the stovetop is looking like the leaning tower of cookware)</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Maybe Wednesday (not tonight or tomorrow -- those are The Voice/Top Gear nights)</i></li>
</ul>
<li>winter clothes tucked away (rather than blocking my path to the closet of spring-appropriate choices)</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Kinda. I hung up or dumped into the laundry everything on the top of the pile. Taht's a step, right?</i></li>
</ul>
<li>progress on putting stash in some reasonably "away" place (Much as I love my stash I really don't need immediate access to it so it ought to get out of the way!)</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Uh, no.</i></li>
</ul>
<li>books on shelves ( love them too.... and don't have nearly enough shelf space, but they too need to be out of the way and where I can actually ind them)</li>
<ul>
<li><i>Nope. Looked at them thoughtfully though. </i></li>
</ul>
</ul>
Yes, I'd say my hopeful list worked about as well as it always does. LOL<br />
<br />
Go have yourself a beautiful day!<br />
<br />
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*****************</div>
<br />
Pratchett thought of the day:<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The Universe is a lot more complicated than it looks from the outside.</i></b><b><i>Rob Anybody -- Wee Free Men</i></b></h3>
<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37103242.post-17852787345736036222015-04-17T11:21:00.002-07:002015-04-17T11:21:31.572-07:00About time?Yes, I know I have been derelict in my duties, but apparently that is the story of my life. Want a summary of what you have been "missing?" Well ok then. <br />
<br />
I have been working, and work has been annoying. (status quo)<br />
I have been stitching some. (nothing particularly new in that)<br />
I have been reading some. (yes, still pretty predictably normal here)<br />
I have been cleaning some. (ok, that I know is shocking)<br />
I have not stashed a bit. Oh wait, there was some thread, but I think maybe not--- Ethel has such a big bag of threads that go with her that it is hard to remember whether it was stuff already pulled for her or something new to replace a thread that I shouldn't have bothered with in the first place.<br />
<br />
Here are some bits of progress -- some especially humorful. <br />
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Leading the rank of the funny stories is my pathetic progress on my By the Bay Serenity Harbor SAL:<br />
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If you are doing Serenity, then you recognize this as about 1/4 of installment #1 --- and we are allegedly on installment #4 now. The fun began with the roses which I wanted to be red like the Mr. Lincoln tree rose which I had bought my mom years ago. So I picked 3 "perfect colors" and stitched away. Oh man they didn't work at all once they were actually stitched-- perfect in skeins laying next to each other on the fabric, but not perfect stitched. Sigh. Rip. Replace "the offending color." Try. Nope. Rip. So I pulled EVERY FLIPPING red or red-ish floss or solid silk in the shop (about 30-40 choices), and I sat and played and compared and re compared and arranged and rearranged. Finally picked the above 3, even though when sitting in the skeins they didn't quite please me. I once again put the right-most rose in the picture in. The colors worked, but it still didn't look right. Looked at the pattern (which, mind you, had been firmly with me the entire time-- and which I had carefully followed and counted and recounted). Guess what? While I was VERY careful about my counting. I was not careful enough about my symbol to thread matching. Sigh. Rip. Replace. Happy now. What a dork!<br />
<br />
In the last couple nights The Engineering has come out to play -- she's got more jeans now. But now I'm thinking that the T-stitch which I was going to use for the legs of the overalls is too small to be bothered with. This weekend maybe I'll find a new stitch for them...... stay tuned!<br />
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Ethel got two baskets last weekend. A miracle!!!!! This weekend is either going to be the other 3 baskets or more sky. Probably sky --- what do you think -- I'm leaning towards putting in all the blue of the sky and then laying in the clouds in Whisper over it. Thoughts?</div>
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In other inspirational news, we had art in action in the 'hood this week -- first we painted (sorry, I need to go find out the artist's name):<br />
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Then installed "artists" and neon<br />
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I liked the effect even though I never saw it at night. I bet it was cool-- what can I say, I'm a color magpie apparently.<br />
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I'm going to close with what I hope will be an inspirational to-do list for the weekend for me. I'm trying to get my act in gear... dammit stop laughing. Ok, I know it's funny. Me? With an act in gear. Pardon me while I snicker at myself. <br />
<br />
Anyway, right this very moment I want be able to see some of the following accomplished by Monday:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Ethel progress -- those 3 small baskets and some sky</li>
<li>Mr. Engineer -- figure out new stitch for the pants</li>
<li>progress on Boothy -- this should not be so difficult dang it</li>
<li>a finish</li>
<li>2 books completed</li>
<li>something actually cooked... in my kitchen! </li>
<li>the dang pots back in the one cupboard I have in Maison d'Hovel's kitchen (the stovetop is looking like the leaning tower of cookware)</li>
<li>winter clothes tucked away (rather than blocking my path to the closet of spring-appropriate choices)</li>
<li>progress on putting stash in some reasonably "away" place (Much as I love my stash I really don't need immediate access to it so it ought to get out of the way!)</li>
<li>books on shelves ( love them too.... and don't have nearly enough shelf space, but they too need to be out of the way and where I can actually ind them)</li>
</ul>
<br />
Let's see how I do by Monday. I would cross my fingers, but I need them for all of the above.<br />
<br />
<br />
Pratchett thought of the day:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">You get a wonderful view from the point of no return.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Moist von Lipwig -- Making Money</span></i></b></div>
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<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927472981531670361noreply@blogger.com4