tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49561957209447769672011-11-27T19:09:07.634-06:00Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.comBlogger3151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-52803474308698258032009-07-01T07:49:00.003-05:002009-07-01T08:10:26.460-05:00

Once I found out that I'd been accepted for the synod choir (and was going to be on camera as well as on stage), I wanted something a little special to wear. The e-mail said we were to wear black bottoms and black, white or red tops, so I decided to try making a red scarf printed with the UCC comma symbol. (Gracie Allen is quoted as saying "Never put a period where God has put a comma." The

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-10299676820856802702009-06-30T22:39:00.003-05:002009-07-01T07:06:12.819-05:00

To celebrate the fact that my camera is working properly again. When I planted this garden I was trying for a look of floral profusion - masses of color mixed wildly together. These days, it looks like an experiment in chaos theory (but in a good way, I think).The ants come marching one by one . . . . (I seem to have missed most of peony season during my travels. There is a huge drift of brown

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-7640421497499889222009-06-30T20:12:00.006-05:002009-06-30T21:15:03.328-05:00

This is turning into the summer of travel. Besides my lovely visit to Peninsula State Park with Lynn & Jeff, last week I enjoyed a 5 day trip to Michigan for some cousin time and the UCC General Synod in Grand Rapids. And I still have trips scheduled to visit the in-laws in Missouri this weekend, then Maine (in July) and California (in August) to check on my younger brothers and their families.If

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-8025276797456729282009-06-30T16:38:00.006-05:002009-06-30T19:48:54.447-05:00

Don't know if I told you all about a little incident I had over Memorial Day weekend which resulted in a very needful haircut? Well, my hair is now at that in-between length where I can't put it up but don't really like it down. Besides, with the heat wave we had last week, I needed to do something to get it off my neck. Here was one option I came up with:Very Easy Dropstitch HeadbandMaterials:

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-75370927901261722832009-06-12T10:24:00.006-05:002009-06-12T11:13:04.245-05:00

I spent 2 1/2 glorious days last week up at Peninsula State Park, catching up with old friends and soaking in the scenery. It was just glorious weather and the lilacs were rioting. The puppy adapted quickly to tent living, and with several other dogs in the group she had lots of positive role models and lots of play time. It really was a situation that just couldn't be beat. And though I hated to

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-16075771438809118682009-06-02T10:09:00.010-05:002009-06-02T13:03:53.856-05:00

The chiropractor from my networking group is hosting a "Ladies' Night" tonight, with demonstrations and vendors and such. I've been invited to attend and hawk my portrait work, which meant putting a trade-show type booth together for the first time. Luckily, I have an assortment of tables from my farmer's market set-up, so I just needed to figure out a tri-fold display. What do you think? Also, I

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-40829604632719792542009-06-01T09:38:00.007-05:002009-06-01T10:06:16.949-05:00

Oh, my . . . where do I start?.Well, you know how they say bad things come in 3's? Well, Sunday of Memorial Day weekend my elderly next door neighbor hired someone to work on her yard. That someone foolishly and irresponsibly brought with her a springer/beagle bitch in heat, who immediately took off for my property line and killed Rudy, my longtime companion and all-around favorite rooster.He was

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-12711885427158576152009-05-22T07:27:00.004-05:002009-05-22T07:47:15.595-05:00

It's cooler and rainy this morning, but before getting ready for school I just had to check out the lilacs blooming outside my bathroom window. These are bushes that I picked out a few years ago from the lilac thicket on the other end of our land, and painfully lugged over to plant next to the house. They are an unending source of pleasure when they are in bloom. And so long as I was out there, I

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-89162000752922641632009-05-21T15:50:00.005-05:002009-05-21T16:13:34.317-05:00

I was wandering around Michaels a few weeks ago in an inexcusable manner when I came across a couple of lightweight cotton shawl/scarf blanks on clearance for almost nothing. The suggested use was to add iron-on items and buttons and such, but I thought the scarves would probably lend themselves well to the farmer's market (after a little jazzing up with some of my silk dyes). I was using the

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-58860364798074151222009-05-19T15:13:00.003-05:002009-05-19T15:33:54.331-05:00

Why is it that my own kids are the hardest onest to photograph? I did my very best to insist that they sit for me in honor of Mother's Day, so I could send a portrait to each of their grandmothers. It was like herding cats to get the schedules of two working teenagers to coordinate with each other, my own availability, and the good graces of Mother Nature. A week late, I finally got them in front

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-16236173072881700192009-05-18T07:12:00.006-05:002009-05-18T19:37:25.812-05:00

I picked up this birdhouse a while back at Goodwill because it was cute, and because I wanted to hang something on that porch hook that would not shrivel if it didn't receive daily watering and attention all summer long. It didn't occur to me that it would actually go into use - I figured it was strictly decorative. Apparently the little brown bird twittering happily from inside didn't get the

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-55911792016720924252009-05-13T19:57:00.002-05:002009-05-13T20:11:19.508-05:00

Today I spent some time being aware of my surroundings. Appreciating the rain which has so kindly stepped in to water the poor blueberry bush we planted last night. Appreciating how funny the chickens can look, with "the boys" strutting across the field during a random break in the rain and their ladies scurrying behind - and how amazing it is that at least two goldfish survived the winter in my

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-527965485878641652009-05-12T20:54:00.005-05:002009-05-12T21:19:39.261-05:00

Today was a busy day - among other things, I rescued an unwanted blueberry bush from a dairy farmer friend and planted it alongside my Mother's Day blueberry twig from Luc. I have killed a fairly broad assortment of small and large fruit producing flora, but am willing to try again. (On the other hand, the arctic apricot bushes look pretty good, even though Rick ran over the Southernmost one -

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-65938264265102978992009-05-11T18:07:00.002-05:002009-05-11T18:11:50.702-05:00

Yesterday, Tasha told me tersely that Mother's Day was a "Hallmark Holiday" and that she didn't intend to recognize it. Today, I was called to teach second grade and an 8 year old admirer brought me a gift. Thanks, kid. They're beautiful.

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-23535451465721821562009-05-11T17:27:00.006-05:002009-05-11T18:15:38.814-05:00

For a woman who is officially without a job, I'm managing to keep busy. I taught 3 days of high school and one day of middle school in the Cognitively Disabled room last week, filling the remaining weekday by catching up on my household chores and pitching dried manure for the church's community garden. I also found the time to take a nice long walk with the puppy, cutting through my neighbor's

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-32303731210385089262009-05-06T09:21:00.004-05:002009-05-06T09:32:15.051-05:00

Today I am delivering discs and prints for the "Glamour Shots" session from last Saturday. The funny thing is, Pam (no, not that Pam) and I started this project for women who might enjoy the chance to get dolled up for the camera. A brighter shade of lipstick than normal, the confidence of knowing you have a professional on hand to make sure your hair is just right, maybe a cute little lacy thing

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-48129067519953339232009-05-05T15:26:00.005-05:002009-05-05T17:15:27.183-05:00

At long last - almost exactly a year late - the Anniversary Shawl is done. I don't know how many hours of actual work it took, but the entire process was spread over at least 16 months. The wool is incredibly soft and springy, and it was worth every penny to use "the good stuff" on this project. Tammy has crocheted the last bit of edging on, and I've taken it down to Hilton's Fiber Shop so Jodi

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-29232931667201016922009-05-01T20:52:00.005-05:002009-05-01T23:51:29.067-05:00

Have you seen this? Pam has a point. I mean, Julie made a beautiful FLS. Stephanie made a beautiful FLS. Linda was working on one for a while. I've even contemplated one - though I have to say that I first learned about Pam's design on Pam's actual blog, well before it was all the rage. It's a beautiful pattern, and it was a very nice gift to the knitting community - I'm saddened to discover that

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-25680717258543986742009-04-30T19:34:00.004-05:002009-04-30T19:46:23.963-05:00

A long time ago (18 years ago today, in fact), I had a baby girl. Happy birthday, Tasha. It hasn't always been a smooth journey, but the road is paved with love and I wouldn't trade you for anything.

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-5072420319551778602009-04-29T13:23:00.005-05:002009-04-29T16:10:31.710-05:00

I was putting together my outfit for a recent social event (and if you know me, you'll know how often THAT happens) when I had this idea. Or actually, I had: (1) smoke-blue wool left over from Lydia's socks which tied in nicely to the colors I was wearing; (2) blue ribbon yarn called "sari" which was not actual sari yarn but was left over from my experiment with knitted I-cord necklaces; and (3

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-17301201838022005732009-04-27T18:18:00.004-05:002009-04-27T18:42:50.082-05:00

It's been raining hard here the last several days, and the results are really starting to show. Not only did I spot the first dandelions of the season this morning, but I have hyacinths in bloom! (Okay, so I had grape hyacinths and crocus already, but those always feel like the pre-show.) Between the hyacinth and the masses of forsythia in bloom and the soft green smell of a recent rain on a

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-68484393084295255672009-04-24T08:22:00.008-05:002009-04-24T10:31:41.653-05:00

I'm trying to get back in the swing of walking daily with the dog, now that Luna is old enough to handle it. The weather isn't always ideal yet - I could have done without all that Spring wind on Wednesday - but the world is waking up again after a long winter. There are green patches in the yards and fields, and actual flowers!I think the white things are some sort of wild anemone, and it seems

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-7067897759651732242009-04-14T13:46:00.005-05:002009-04-14T14:11:52.363-05:00

First, can I just say how much I enjoy the little ones? With my baby turning 18 in just a couple of weeks, I've really been contemplating the cute cuddliness which was once a daily part of my life. Between the trip to Michigan for Aunt Mary's funeral and the fun and games surrounding the Arizona trip, I've really been blessed with some wonderful kid moments.And the Arizona trip itself went very

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-29637186034939084622009-03-31T17:48:00.006-05:002009-03-31T18:17:26.423-05:00

It is incredibly cold, dim and crappy in Eastern Wisconsin today; so much so that Tasha had a fender-bender in the rainstorm and I decorated my coat with turquoise sharpie ink after dropping the marker from my cold-numbed fingers. And the wind . . . don't get me started on the wind. Here are my compensating factors, in no particular order:The trip to Arizona, of course. This time tomorrow I will

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-63576820263767678102009-03-30T12:05:00.004-05:002009-03-30T12:27:29.489-05:00

The blue bag of distraction is done, felted twice, and will be taken to the leather lady this afternoon to be fitted with handles. I'll show you the end result, but it make take a little while to work our way down in her cue. And I'm back at the extreme brown shrug, which will probably be finished on the plane. Meanwhile, I finished my essay and other materials to apply for Chicago Theological

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-37285011916441436732009-03-25T13:55:00.004-05:002009-03-25T14:34:44.406-05:00

Last night my knitting group took a field trip down to the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts in Cedarburg. I did accomplish a bit of actual knitting, since someone else was kind enough to drive the car pool. But the main event of the night was oohing and aahing over the beautiful items on display, and diving into their clearance bin. Yes, even museums have a clearance bin, and when it's a

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-55304723838192789182009-03-24T10:00:00.005-05:002009-03-24T12:02:04.268-05:00

Uncle Bill is Grandma's little brother; a barrel-chested octogenarian farm boy who always has a joke on his lips and a prayer in his heart. He stands out on that side of the family as the class clown, and even those distant family members who haven't visited much will immediately recall him. And by his side for the last 62 years has been Aunt Mary, a reticent little woman with a soft smile. My

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-12863573389456884902009-03-24T09:04:00.007-05:002009-03-24T09:57:24.839-05:00

Believe it or not, I finally finished the last leaf of the last border for the Anniversary Shawl. Not much to show - just another heap of yellow leaves, waiting to be crocheted together by Tammy. But it means that my part of this project is officially over, and I'll be delivering those final components to Tammy on Wednesday. The next picture you see of that project will be it's final form. (Only

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-4957813381766342462009-03-20T12:02:00.003-05:002009-03-20T12:12:20.658-05:00

I am officially Christy's "Show & Tell" today, and was featured right after the singing mechanical bunny, the pokemon cards and the pinewood derby car brought in by various kids. It's so neat seeing her in action! She really has a way with the kids and is clearly in her element. (Where I would say "Sit down and get to work," she'll say something like "I'll be sad if you have to stay in from

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-22049277388195176372009-03-19T21:17:00.004-05:002009-03-19T21:40:32.624-05:00

I've been thinking of you . . . and this is starting to be one of those blog entries I was not going to do - the ones where I talk about feeling guilty for not blogging. Not going there.I can report that I only have 15 individual lace leaves to go before the Anniversary Shawl is finished. I'm in Michigan just now, preparing to visit Cousin Christy's first grade class and then Great-Aunt Mary's

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-36140375201047104772009-03-13T13:33:00.004-05:002009-03-13T14:11:18.256-05:00

This is my lovely neighbor, Sybil, showing me some mementos from her time as an ice dancer with Holiday on Ice. The inscription on the photo reads something like "What a tough job to be paid for dancing the swing waltz with Sybil!" and is signed by her dance partner. I believe she said she got the job because she could fit into the costumes, and she ended up traveling all over the States and

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-52602131762130492552009-03-12T10:33:00.006-05:002009-03-12T11:01:24.726-05:00

I finally finished the Spring Forward Socks. It's a lovely pattern, don't get me wrong. Love the yarn I used, love the way the lace ripples back and forth. But working with this tiny yarn and tiny needles, the project had this way of sucking out my soul as it went on, and on, and on. I'm just not cut out for this kind of project; at least, not at this point in my emotional development. There used

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-79066837402091598512009-03-10T21:12:00.004-05:002009-03-10T21:52:31.816-05:00

Is there anything in this world more beautiful than an ice storm? I mean, assuming you're inside during the actual application of ice, with a cup of hot cocoa and some warm socks and all. But the morning after, before the sun warms up and takes it all away again, it's just stunning.I have noticed, by the way, that one of the most common topics for a blog entry (right up there with "How

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-3014294761774058662009-02-24T08:45:00.003-06:002009-02-24T10:20:34.925-06:00

Nicole, the Lady at Lunamoth with the "Socks of Hideousness" contest, has found her winner: Michelle, who picked #117. And she has also found my winner for the consolation prize, consisting of the pea soup yarn and a copy of Nicole's sock pattern: Dawn, whose mother has perennially cold feet in the winter. Dawn, I think I need to send you a copy of my brother Dan's pattern for felted boot socks

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-54468876900442990962009-02-23T07:46:00.003-06:002009-02-23T08:21:41.342-06:00

Work on the Spring Forward socks continue. And I'm making progress - the first sock is done, but for sewing up the tip of the toe, and I'm bringing it to knitting group Tuesday night to optimize the chances of that going well. I've finished the ribbing on the second sock, and am half-way through the first repeat.I'm pushing on; maybe I'll even finish it one of these days. But those size 0 needles

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-79413216280446784292009-02-19T21:11:00.002-06:002009-02-19T21:15:24.297-06:00

(Pardon my French.)I've been composing this blog entry in my head, something that involved a French exclamation and other suitable flourishes as I unveiled the completed first alpaca Spring Forward sock. I'm on the toe decrease, I swear. I just have to decrease every other row for another 4 rows, then decrease every row for a bit more, then bind off . . . then start another one.I can do this.

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-12961745651965502132009-02-17T10:03:00.003-06:002009-02-17T10:51:16.873-06:00

I came across the blog of a Nice Lady through the knit list today - and she's got that very same "puce and spoiled pea soup" sock yarn I accidentally bought recently! I like her pattern, but I'm still planning to dye that yarn as soon as I figure out a reasonable way to put it into hanks that doesn't involve either buying more equipment or spending hours of quality time with a chair back. (This

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-80654917234475346312009-02-12T17:45:00.003-06:002009-02-12T18:00:28.825-06:00

There they are: the Red Heart socks. I followed the basic recipe given in the Yarn Harlot's Knitting Rules book, except I thought I knew better than her about the ribbing at the top (based on my many pairs of felted boot socks) and used far less than the recommended 2". I was wrong - these definitely could have stood to be a little more clingy around the calf. Also, I need to get better at sewing

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-70261108791558865512009-02-10T18:34:00.004-06:002009-02-10T19:39:29.867-06:00

Y'know, last time I was out of work I spent about 3 weeks sitting on the couch eating bon-bons and trying to wrap my head around the idea of being unemployed. This had unfortunate consequences for my scale, of course, and also didn't do me a lot of good in the coping department. Eventually I fell into a new routine that involved substitute teaching, walks, and some other activities. It really

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-72953237256606066632009-02-05T08:28:00.005-06:002009-02-05T09:00:16.107-06:00

I got a call around lunch time on Wednesday from a local high school, asking how fast I could get there to sub for a teacher who was going home sick. I got there pretty fast (in spite of somehow locking my keys in my car), and taught computer applications and a couple variations on shop for the rest of the afternoon. There was a note from the regular shop teacher restricting subs from using or

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-44276725912967369262009-02-04T08:44:00.002-06:002009-02-04T09:16:00.382-06:00

I finished the very last pair of the originally conceived set of Christmas socks - the equivalent of a "Ladies Small" in tones of electric blue for Parker, whose feet are growing quickly. (I'm trying to remember how old Luc was during the period when his sneakers would fit my size 9 feet. Eleven or 12, maybe? In any case, Parker is not that far off.) I still have a prayer shawl going, and the

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-16317882632076362322009-02-03T14:51:00.003-06:002009-02-04T08:43:23.113-06:00

I'm headed down to Milwaukee in a bit to retrieve my portfolio from the law firm of my employment hopes, and to meet a friend for a drink. I was supposed to start this adventure earlier today by meeting another friend for a quick knitting lesson and a little mutual jobless commiseration - she was downsized on Friday, too - but she called to say that she had been on the phone with the unemployment

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-15247983554304262172009-02-02T16:16:00.004-06:002009-02-02T17:39:51.102-06:00

Well, I have completed the process of becoming unemployed. I had some separation anxiety about the office, and Dan had to remind me that at a certain point (now upon us), it just really isn't my problem anymore. Still, I found myself automatically checking the lot as I drove past the building today, analyzing whether my [former] boss was present and whether any clients might be there for meetings

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-29456019938737972062009-01-30T11:45:00.003-06:002009-01-30T11:57:46.801-06:00

I love this!.I was looking around my living room last night, with the oatmeal colored rug and the mushroom colored furniture and the ivory colored walls. We kept a fairly neutral palate when we build that section of the house, because the living room and kitchen are actually one "great room" (which is not particularly large) and we wanted the spaces to flow together visually. The only

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-40353142710494481762009-01-29T19:13:00.004-06:002009-01-29T19:25:18.921-06:00

My office is cleaned up and packed up, and I took the plants and a small load of stuff home today. The bulletin board has been converted from a staging area for my mental process to a clean expanse, ready for the next tenant. Tomorrow I'll be hauling out the last boxes of my professional books, personal materials, framed diplomas and photos, and all the rest of the things that made that space "

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-11464521811928335002009-01-28T22:52:00.004-06:002009-01-29T11:21:05.248-06:00

I thought I ought to show y'all some of the knitting progress to date. First of all, you might recall my comments about Alison and her battle with a nasty and unforgiving set of chronic illnesses. Well, Elizabeth has come up with the fabulous idea of a group project to make a comfort blanket for Alison. She's invited the world to send her 5" squares of washable fiber, which she kindly has

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-38427918756523947542009-01-27T17:45:00.005-06:002009-01-27T18:26:49.006-06:00

I'm feeling pretty exhausted during this week of endings and beginnings. There are so many bits of chaos and anarchy flowing around my business day as I try to wrap things up, pack things up, and generally create some sort of semi-functional and professional-looking environment on my way out the door. Through it all, I continue to dance one step forward, two steps back. I want to cry, to bang my

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-45975309693062413022009-01-23T10:59:00.005-06:002009-01-23T11:26:41.344-06:00

No, I have not suddenly learned to sew in any sort of competent or artistic fashion. But I did track down the information for my (now expired) substitute teacher's license, as well as the forms for getting it reactivated. I have an appointment this afternoon to swing by the site of my most favorite teaching experience ever (high school English, with the assignment being The Love Song of J. Alfred

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-85750323389064000952009-01-22T19:35:00.004-06:002009-01-22T21:10:42.193-06:00

If you're an English Major (or read a certain Isaac Asimov story repeatedly at an impressionable age), you've familiar with the term deus ex machina. It means, more or less, automatic miracle: the cowboys are huddled in the back of a shack riddled with bullet holes, with the crooked sheriff and his bloodthirsty mob of a posse about to set fire to the building - when a flying saucer darts out of

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-10164085658758004892009-01-20T13:53:00.004-06:002009-01-20T14:10:56.181-06:00

Remember Farmer Luke and his need for size 12 socks? Well, his mom dropped this off at my office today:.Not one, but two pies. Apple (because nothing says "Inauguration Day" like apple pie) and raspberry (because we're all about diversity)..I love the barter system.

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-80070666849801016852009-01-19T09:57:00.005-06:002009-01-19T10:04:54.331-06:00

I don't know what it is - maybe the instant gratification. These felted kid socks whip up in no time, and I don't have to study the pattern so much as glance at it occasionally. No matter what other knitting projects might be in work, I always need a "brainless knitting" project to keep my hands busy in the car or wherever. In any case, here's the weekend's efforts:You're looking at the unfelted

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-41183764655600436482009-01-19T09:20:00.002-06:002009-01-19T09:31:52.602-06:00

Dog: "Um, excuse me, but that's my bed."Dog: "But you can use it if you want. That's fine. Unless you'd rather play? Look, I've got a ball. It even squeeks. Grab one end, and let's play tug of war."Cat: "Don't make me kill you."

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-11178491689496009232009-01-18T17:29:00.007-06:002009-01-20T09:06:09.136-06:00

I'm puttering this weekend with projects for the Women's Wild Winter Weekend up at Moon Beach next month (which is an utterly fabulous time, and I heartily recommend it to anyone). My goal is to come up with two different projects which crafty women could accomplish in 45 minutes or so, which are fairly inexpensive, and which are at least a bit unique. Oh, and it should reflect the theme for the

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-49967960382128188622009-01-16T09:31:00.004-06:002009-01-16T10:09:22.890-06:00

I have to confess that when the kids got the day off from school on Thursday due to the extreme cold, I was a little jealous. But even when little kiddies (or big ones) should not be standing outside waiting for buses, law firms remain open. And so with jumper cables in back (just in case), I headed south for an interview in Milwaukee.I parked in the street about 2 blocks from the building, which

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-85661234241501756512009-01-15T08:04:00.002-06:002009-01-15T08:09:12.338-06:00

Kinda says it all, doesn't it?.At least we finally got a load of propane delivered yesterday. School is cancelled due to the cold, so the kids will lie around the house safe and sound like slugs. And even though the chickens appear to be doing fine, I won't go down to the coop until mid-afternoon to minimize the heat-loss impact of opening the door..We'll endure . . . but not for too many years

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-19311938335341287692009-01-14T09:12:00.004-06:002009-01-14T09:38:49.538-06:00

That little retirement spot in the Ozarks is looking better and better these days. It was 14° below zero when I let the puppy out this morning, although we've at least moved into the positive numbers now that the sun is up. I was worried about the chickens with their single heating bulb, but the girls looked fine this morning and even provided me with 3 (unfrozen) eggs. And my morning fight with

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-71607191863181797502009-01-13T09:37:00.004-06:002009-01-13T09:57:28.267-06:00

Alison is one of those people sometimes referred to as my "imaginary friends" on the Internets, although I'm pretty sure she exists because I have her book. I've also had some lovely conversations with her via e-mail, and she seems to be an unfailingly generous, kind, wonderfully creative and genuinely interesting person. I would love to have a cup of tea with her sometime, if we ever manage to

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-1527103548973789282009-01-12T13:33:00.006-06:002009-01-12T14:33:54.300-06:00

It's all boss-lady's fault. First she introduced me to this online service that sends you regular e-mails with all the most fabulous last-minute travel deals in town. Then she points out one in particular - a week-long trip Rome, including plane fare and hotel, for a really ridiculous rate. So ridiculous, in fact, that the pay-out of my vacation time would probably cover it. Hmmm.I introduced the

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-79929676211418389182009-01-10T17:13:00.007-06:002009-01-12T14:33:27.571-06:00

I love the way the saffron scarf came out. I mixed a little salmon in, so it has wonderfully subtle variations in color, and will be just the thing after the dye is set and rinsed and the whole thing washed. But for now it is crusty with dye and needs to set for a couple of days before I can try it out, so all I can do is look.I also pulled out a silk blank with a burned-out velvet floral design

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-43202807891432361912009-01-09T09:17:00.007-06:002009-01-09T09:40:26.160-06:00

The grey weather indemic to a Wisconsin winter has left me craving color in a downright visceral way. I woke up early this morning with a bad dream that involved tornado's and a badly soiled baby diaper - not hard to analyze that one, I guess - and found myself reaching for my beading supplies. I made this:I also discovered that in dim winter morning light, even with overhead lighting, I really

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-91241947293420323812009-01-08T17:01:00.006-06:002009-01-08T17:21:49.005-06:00

Sybil has been our neighbor for as long as we've been at the Stone Jug. She's a tiny little thing, a former career girl (professional skater and dental hygienist) who never married and has no close family. The neighbors across the street do a very nice job of keeping an eye out for her, but we try to keep aware of her status as well.Her property is 27 acres of primarily woodlands which had a

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-61539963517450236922009-01-07T08:12:00.006-06:002009-01-07T09:30:01.026-06:00

My sister in law, Julie, is a mother of small boys, so her knitting tends more towards "interesting and funky" than "lacy and cute." She makes a steady flow of these cute little soaker pants for her own little guy and for select customers, and also sells dye-to-order, knit-to-order items through thecushietushie.com. And she's really good, which makes me unbelievably proud, since I got her started

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-63301601317255966422009-01-06T07:57:00.008-06:002009-01-06T10:05:37.055-06:00

My New Years' Resolution, as it were, is to concentrate on finishing some of the things I've started. I want to get a bit more organized, and have a better sense of the order of upcoming events in my life. This may or may not be related to my upcoming job change.I have an official date now - January 31st will be my last day at my current desk. I've explored different options for commercializing

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-11431266497925427332008-12-31T22:40:00.006-06:002009-01-06T10:05:04.223-06:00

It's one of those crystal cold nights where the stars look like cheap sequins sewn to a black flannel expanse, and just the act of letting the dog out for a break can take your breath away. One of those nights that makes you wonder why anyone in their right mind would have voluntarily agreed to settle in this area 150 years ago. It said 4° on the bank sign 3 hours ago, but you know it hasn't

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-29596943604117104962008-12-30T14:46:00.004-06:002008-12-30T14:56:07.521-06:00

I'm upset again. It's work stuff, so I can't talk about it here, even if it is sucking my freaking soul away in little bitty pieces..Ahem. Anyway, so go look at something pretty instead...A scene from the trestle bridge in Shelburne Falls, from my 2004 New England visit. This is just down the mountain from Heath, where my Dad had his farm and where Reinhold Niebuhr wrote the Serenity Prayer

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-46807822788691456692008-12-29T14:54:00.004-06:002008-12-29T15:13:21.100-06:00

Christmas was fine - I'll tell you all about it another time. We made it through the cantata, had a lovely time on the day itself opening presents and playing games as a family group while modeling the tissue crowns from our English "Christmas Crackers," and never set foot outside the entire day. Everyone liked their presents, the puppy was accident-free the entire day, and everyone got along

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-70391967750181711842008-12-24T11:08:00.005-06:002008-12-24T11:29:39.155-06:00

After my job, I mean.Rick and I discussed this in bed this morning, watching the snow fall for a bit before one of us (ME) had to get up and go to work while the rest of us (him & the kids) did not. (Fair is fair - they had shoveling and other miscellaneous things to do in support of the household. But I still had to lock the tv and change the computer password to encourage completion of last

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-80943087843358012672008-12-23T15:30:00.005-06:002008-12-23T15:50:43.268-06:00

We had the worst weather I've seen in a long time, a verified blizzard, and Bill didn't even hesitate when Christy assigned him shoveling duty out in the storm. He didn't have a hat or hand coverings with him, although he scavenged some leather gloves and a (somewhat muddy) pink fleece hat from the car. Clearly, he deserved a hat of his own - and I just happened to have emergency wool and needles

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-34048846482025990442008-12-23T14:21:00.006-06:002008-12-23T15:27:56.980-06:00

Last Friday, we got a pile of snow. That's beginning to sound awfully redundant, kind of like "Yesterday, the sun rose." But we did indeed get a very large, intimidating amount of snow, which meant the schools and most offices (including mine) were closed. This was probably the main reason I was able to get as far as I did on my list, although I did go in to the office for a little bit myself. (I

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-74978126125330109522008-12-23T11:40:00.005-06:002008-12-23T13:26:51.573-06:00

Has it really been 5 days since I blogged? I'm not sure how that happened; blessings of the season and all, I guess. In any case, here's the aftermath of the to do list and report of recent events. 1. Lydia socks - done (about 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning), delivered, and they fit with some room to grow.2. Johnny socks - well, I finished the Eli socks, and they fit Eli with very little room to

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-43878886658112716622008-12-17T22:21:00.007-06:002008-12-17T23:08:20.671-06:00

I bartered a late start time at the office today in exchange for some photo touch-up work for my boss, and so I found a bit of time this morning to get some things done. I finally got the tree off the porch and got it decorated:(Those are the glass birds I bought in an Amsterdam department store about the time Rick and I got engaged. I started with a set of six, but I'm down to 3 or 4 now.) The

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-11465597571959507742008-12-16T23:36:00.006-06:002008-12-17T00:03:13.459-06:00

Today I had that conversation with my boss, the one I'd hoped was 4 or 5 years off - how we would handle a transition to a me-less office. Economy yada yada yada, expenses yada yada yada, give you the best references yada yada yada. I'm out the door in roughly three and a half weeks, although the exact date will depend on several factors which are still in flux. I've treated that place as my

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-80003615182522896492008-12-15T22:30:00.005-06:002008-12-15T23:19:44.100-06:00

I picked up the stole from my friend's house on Monday evening. Actually, she dropped it off at my office Monday afternoon, at which point we noticed that unevenly sewn layers were making it ripple funny in the back. She took it home for rework, and then I picked it up. Now I notice it's still uneven, and there's a funny dip along one edge, and the fabric is pulling out in a spot just past the

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-67844808632915077432008-12-15T09:35:00.003-06:002008-12-15T09:52:00.259-06:00

Christmas To Do List report: not nearly enough progress on #3, and getting close on #10. The rest, sadly, is untouched. I think I'm going to take a day off later this week so as to jam on things when I am not expected to be in 3 other places. .However, I did get to see the Christmas Train on Saturday night, which was a very cool thing.I also spent much of Saturday at the salon, doing another

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-11803114878342175992008-12-12T16:22:00.003-06:002008-12-12T16:44:22.553-06:00

Dad mentioned that he spent part of his day yesterday finishing up Christmas cards. (And he must work fast, because his card arrived in our mailbox later the same day.)Christmas cards - oops. You'd think I would have been aware of that tradition. I have a decent black & white of the kids I could use; I just need to doctor it up and then address a bunch of envelopes and then buy stamps and so on.

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-46351392663043516762008-12-11T08:17:00.003-06:002008-12-11T09:59:28.844-06:00

Fourteen days before Christmas and nine days before I meet the cousins (and Don's family) in Michigan, I should probably be making lists instead of piles.I went stash-diving this morning before work - just to pull out the grey worsted with the pink and yellow shadows for a Christmas gift that I've been plotting all along. But then I saw the fuzzy pink stuff, and decided I had time to crank out a

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-59577571057499882102008-12-10T21:41:00.004-06:002008-12-10T22:25:36.636-06:00

I love how the silk came out the second time around. It's softly covered by waves of blues, greens, turquoise, and even a little purple in the "depths." I found a length of broadcloth in a dark turquoise that blends in nicely, and will use that for the backing. Now I just have to decide (before I turn it over to my friend on Thursday after work) if I want to put a thin batting or other middle

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-12181999374926625572008-12-09T10:09:00.004-06:002008-12-09T10:27:08.121-06:00

I pulled out my last large scarf blank last night and re-started the liturgical stole project. (I also talked to a friend of mine, who is blessed with both a serger and the knowledge of how to use it, and cut a deal for her to do the actual assembly work on the stole.) This piece is heavy hobotai silk with a very strong sheen, and probably is more suitable for the project anyway.I am still trying

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-60305652258427978162008-12-08T09:01:00.004-06:002008-12-08T10:03:48.359-06:00

This is why my fingernails are green today:I'm working on holiday gifts and other miscellaneous projects, so I pulled out two wool/silk scarf blanks, set up my long table in the dining room, and had at it. The green/coral/gold scarf has swales of color and curved lines that remind me a lot of the mountains near Tucson in the dry season, and is a gift for a new family connection. The blue one to

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-37368815533192149332008-12-05T10:44:00.003-06:002008-12-05T10:49:41.532-06:00

Guess who has figured out how to open her kennel door with her teeth?When I got home at lunch the other day, she'd dissasembled the cardboard cat-scratching pad, rearranged my knitting artfully across the bedroom floor, and was gleefully exploring this whole other section of the house called "upstairs" that she'd never known existed. She's very, VERY proud of herself.

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-52584729896921649322008-12-04T15:56:00.008-06:002008-12-09T21:26:38.953-06:00

The day after Thanksgiving, four of us got up at an hour which was wretched (Eastern Time Zone) or obscene (Central Time Zone), depending on your point of reference, and headed off to the local Wal-Mart for the show. I admit, there were some pretty good deals and I did pick up some gift items; but it was amazing to see the frantic gridlock of carts and people reaching frantically for those $4

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-51185968502085724182008-12-03T14:10:00.006-06:002008-12-03T14:44:46.794-06:00

It is the tradition at my church that we hold a joint Thanksgiving eve service with the other UCC church in town, with the confirmands of both churches holding primary roles in the service and the combined choirs performing the anthem. Then we all head into the other room for a massive distribution of pumpkin pie with whipped cream. It's a good time and a nice tradition, but it pretty much rules

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-64948052632179956932008-12-02T12:03:00.005-06:002008-12-02T12:29:32.028-06:00

Thanksgiving was wonderful, as always. I have a blog to write about the day, and a blog to write about the day after (my first time doing Black Friday at 5:00 a.m. - quite surreal), and a blog to write about Cousin Henry's new venture, and several knitting-related things to report. But I'm gutting through a low/medium level migraine which has been making me photo-sensitive and not particularly

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-87565232316318198142008-11-26T10:14:00.004-06:002008-11-26T10:30:38.662-06:00

Sometime between 12 and 18 hours from now, I'll be off to Michigan for the holiday. No blogging on Thursday, and probably none on Friday since I'll either be shopping with the cousins or getting into similar mischief. So as I prepare for yet another "Thanksgiving Dinner that couldn't be beat," here's my hypoglycemic-friendly version of the fruit salad I remember fondly from when I was a kid up at

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119965328499456557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-67638437780661636402008-11-26T09:50:00.004-06:002008-11-26T10:13:51.562-06:00

If I had two brain cells left, I'd have photographed these before I sent them away. I'm sure I'll be making more, so I'll insert a photo here at some point down the road. In any case, these are very stretchy, very cushy, and can either be worn by themselves or with a pair of gloves underneath. The 1 x 1 ribbing makes a nice compliment to the ribbing on your favorite hat pattern.Requirements1

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-45313450146782492562008-11-26T08:58:00.003-06:002008-11-26T09:50:49.214-06:00

I spent from 9 a.m. on Saturday until about 6:30 p.m., which just a few breaks, photographing women and girls at Pam's salon. She didn't do any haircuts all day, just hair styles, make-up, pour a little wine, and then send them back to my impromptu studio in the back room. We really could have used some more space, and I definitely need a pink-toned backdrop for next time; but it was a wonderful

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-28880202983468434802008-11-24T13:45:00.004-06:002008-11-24T13:54:01.028-06:00

The puppy was absolutely befuddled.

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-88353052096857313132008-11-21T13:26:00.002-06:002008-11-21T13:30:23.738-06:00

Okay, so I didn't finish it last night - but I'm very close (and I'd be even closer if I didn't need to spend my lunch break running home to let the dog out). I'm using 72 stitches on size 8 needles, k1p1 ribbing for the first 5 inches, then decreasing to 64 stitches and continuing with the colorwork. The yarn is worsted weight doubled up, so the hat is coming out nicely cushy. .Pressing on . .

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-21676152570636277032008-11-20T09:58:00.004-06:002008-11-20T10:25:05.927-06:00

I've written before about the flurry of activity surrounding those stupid pirate hats last summer. Everyone loved them, everyone wanted one, and I was sick to death of making them. But one nice lady from Delaware really wanted one for her goth granddaughter, and I said I'd make it. I said I'd send it to her, and then she could send payment back when she received it. I did that because

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-42693796946109587792008-11-19T14:10:00.004-06:002008-11-19T14:33:59.013-06:00

Okay, so my sermon for next Sunday is mostly done. And I dropped off the proofs from last weekend's "glamour shots" session at Studio 55 during lunch, and found out there are SIXTEEN people signed up for photos, with one more on a waiting list!!!! I can't wait! It lets me get the experience I need with my equipment, and I'm donating the studio time to Pam. She provides one free 8 x 10 for each

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-2934204339460229892008-11-18T11:14:00.003-06:002008-11-18T11:15:49.542-06:00

Squirrel foot earrings. I mean, ew. And why? And wouldn't the little toenails get caught in your hair and feel creepy against your neck?.Ew.

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-27734190249854999272008-11-18T09:23:00.006-06:002008-11-18T09:55:17.938-06:00

This weekend I finally finished this: (Modeled by my friend Paige.)And then I went over to Studio 55 and took this: .The first of the "Glamour Shots." (There are more with pink boas and such, but I like this one.).Then the puppy, who is growing quickly, decided that she absolutely must play with my knitting. Lives were in danger, and several tragedies were narrowly averted..But then on Monday it

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-30598242974349795272008-11-14T17:35:00.006-06:002008-11-14T22:27:34.646-06:00

The local paper has run a headline for the last few days in a row to the effect that whoever killed a dog in a cruel manner in the next village over still hasn't been caught. Every day, it's right in front of me again, and I think about the animal's suffering. Then today, CNN is running a story on some teens abusing a kitten. It's been in the "top stories" all day, and I keep trying to look

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-72167218685351171972008-11-13T14:11:00.005-06:002008-11-13T14:41:30.122-06:00

I spotted a few neglected apple trees on my way through the hills today, and just had to get my new camera out to play. I can't believe they were just hanging (or laying) there, going to waste. Don't the owners know that they've got cider "on the hoof" out there?When I was a kid, we'd take a tarp out to the gnarled old apple trees scattered around the field and pile it high with the "drops."

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-40006046798166229282008-11-12T13:51:00.004-06:002008-11-12T13:56:37.737-06:00

I just got it for my office. This is the artist's photo - I'm going to have to work on mine, since I talked one of the tall attorneys into climbing on top of my file cabinet to hang my new pretty little thing in the transom section of my office window, and now every photo I take is kind of oddly angled and has way too much contrast. (I'm going to read that new camera manual soon, I promise.)

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-48900339304954816152008-11-11T13:34:00.004-06:002008-11-11T13:47:57.077-06:00

In case there was any question on the matter, Indian Summer is officially over. It snowed repeatedly over the weekend on the way to Dane County and back, and we were greeted this morning with the thickest frost yet. Amazingly, there are a few flowers in the garden still trying to hang on. Meanwhile, I am pondering the latest batch of Deep Thought ® gleaned from the weekend's Lay Academy, and

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-40952815001044151962008-11-11T13:09:00.005-06:002008-11-11T13:33:05.786-06:00

(Here is the post I really meant to have up yesterday, if only I hadn't misplaced the cable needed to download photos.).As you can see, I figured out the whole two-color rib thing during my long weekend ride, and with the help of some basic black acrylic from my stash I managed a "train tracks" hat. But I don't think I particularly like it - somehow the design reminds me quite a bit of the pile

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-10362573676305586202008-11-07T10:51:00.004-06:002008-11-07T11:12:50.649-06:00

Just to prove that I have been knitting during this rather long period of non-knitting commentary, here's a (partial) inventory:..The Red Heart is for a baby hat and mittens set requested by one of my farmer's market buddies. Red Heart, because it's just about indestructible and we are talking about a baby after all. The request is for something train-themed; I'm thinking I'll do a hat with red

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-2175200847053135432008-11-06T13:59:00.001-06:002008-11-06T14:02:32.769-06:00

What more can I say?(http://mimilenox.blogspot.com/)

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956195720944776967.post-43550708446592538772008-11-05T09:51:00.003-06:002008-11-05T10:01:02.620-06:00

It's another unreasonably unseasonal day, and I managed to walk/drag the puppy about 3/4 mile this morning in celebration. She's now more or less paper-trained (at least as far as fluids go), will sit for her supper, is starting to understand the basics of "off" and "down," and is less of a trip hazard on a leash. But "heel" is still just completely beyond her - if we're motivating forward

Jamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564290209054334579noreply@blogger.com0