tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54067940269280761312024-03-13T21:38:56.919-07:00Island Hearth & HandicraftsAngiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-10729573109207640382016-01-04T10:14:00.000-08:002016-01-04T16:03:36.358-08:00A Christmas Story<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oCSOPqOipiWG1W5KA7WO01A3uxDhRqtherpN8YApJSE5zPBzP2y5THujxCBHFiC_msDpJxAuzVnQ1vfMdoh54ZQHRmzpAVZHlfm6eiuRxp9DmwQsa8G9c1jqn-ztICJtp8UJJixdOoQ/s1600/christmas+memory.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oCSOPqOipiWG1W5KA7WO01A3uxDhRqtherpN8YApJSE5zPBzP2y5THujxCBHFiC_msDpJxAuzVnQ1vfMdoh54ZQHRmzpAVZHlfm6eiuRxp9DmwQsa8G9c1jqn-ztICJtp8UJJixdOoQ/s400/christmas+memory.jpe" width="323" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">December 22, 2015</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">Last night I teared up when I read <a href="http://literaryfictions.com/2014/11/30/a-christmas-memory-by-truman-capote/">A Christmas Memory</a> by Truman
Capote to my kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, I love this
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why does my family roll their
eyes and shake their heads when I cry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They think I’m weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
they’re weird for <i>not </i>crying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The images
are so poignant, the writing so beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I try to explain that mine are not the tragic kind of tears. The story
does not necessarily end badly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buddy,
the boy, gets older and leaves home and his cousin stays where she is. As old people do she gets older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when he was young she gave him
love and fun and Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Capote gives us more than a glimpse into a nostalgic
window. He invites us into the very room to sit unobtrusively at a table in the corner
while he serves up a delicious slice of the past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">I didn’t want to cry. I tried not to. I was afraid if I did this
story would be added to the list of Christmas books my kids deem “sad” and
don’t like me to read. I steeled myself for the speech where Buddy’s cousin
talks about how things are perfect right here and now and her being
so perfectly happy that ‘I could leave this world with today in my eyes.” I made it
through that. But I had forgotten about the image at the very end of the two
kites flying up to heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That got me. Oh well. I dabbed my eyes with the collar of my turtleneck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">But the books that make me cry are my favorites, you see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Story-Holly-Rumer-Godden/dp/0670062197">Holly and Ivy</a> by Rumer Godden is another
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love this story. Again, the
writing is wonderful and augmented by Barbara Cooney’s warm illustrations. Toys
talk and scheme, wishes are taken seriously and physically felt. A little
orphan girl finds a home and a childless couple finds a family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heartwarming, that’s what it is, not sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, this is also on the banned
list.</span><br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr6c4cMD3XNAHg-ui7NZPiOSpNlWld8nBF62JIbtP53W8eDfLTlRDZWKEKkC5x27E5NJjKcqZvMQUcevwpfxdQQdjmC320hvCE1SXQWRgsJRNzLl_-xPG9kdhF5sOk7n_F5nDCHtHE8w/s1600/holly+and+ivy.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr6c4cMD3XNAHg-ui7NZPiOSpNlWld8nBF62JIbtP53W8eDfLTlRDZWKEKkC5x27E5NJjKcqZvMQUcevwpfxdQQdjmC320hvCE1SXQWRgsJRNzLl_-xPG9kdhF5sOk7n_F5nDCHtHE8w/s1600/holly+and+ivy.jpe" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">Hey, I love The Grinch as much as anybody. Rudolph?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Night Before Christmas?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sign me up. The Little Fir Tree?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Waaaiit a minute. Talk about depressing. A
little evergreen aspires to be a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>beautiful Christmas tree only to be left dried
up and forsaken in the attic after the holidays. It is then cut up and
burned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he goes up in flames he has
the presence of mind to regret all his former hopes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now THAT story is a bummer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heartwarming?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not by a long shot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">And for the love of God, don’t even get me started on The Little
Match Girl. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not going there
either-and not because it or The Little Fir Tree makes me cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t. Those particular stories simply
trigger seasonal depression; a state of dry-eyed, weary holiday hopelessness that
I suspect Northern Europe-dwelling Hans Christian Andersen was mired in when
he penned them. (Dude needed a full-spectrum sun lamp.) The feelings these
stories provoke are much different than those that produce a couple happy tears. My family could
have it worse- I could add these to the rotation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">My kids just need to learn to differentiate between different kinds of tears. "Poignant" does not necessarily mean "sad". Which is why I’m making them listen to me read these great stories
again next year. And the year after that. Yes, even if I have to occasionally pause
and wipe my eyes while I do it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">And maybe when they’re all grown up and have children of their own they’ll look back on the memory
of their dear mother taking the time to read good stories to them. Maybe they'll even get a little misty-eyed themselves. And when that happens I'll look lovingly over the top off my glasses at my beloved family and say</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">HA! Gotcha! Full circle! </span></div>
Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-84155218713752504352015-08-27T20:58:00.000-07:002015-08-27T20:58:25.373-07:00Done With Sun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2P5ueof0vkefoZrKZUs6C7hyphenhyphenA3riZgFCodg5k77eLwSsmewe0YvqIB8uMJmJoQy6FEragUqF3XNqg80UGPO3kaHL-qo_3QA63bSiySxMLLCuueEE3mB9cSU9R-7mMMEBN8pCRpb-vAXg/s1600/IMG_20140826_085244801%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2P5ueof0vkefoZrKZUs6C7hyphenhyphenA3riZgFCodg5k77eLwSsmewe0YvqIB8uMJmJoQy6FEragUqF3XNqg80UGPO3kaHL-qo_3QA63bSiySxMLLCuueEE3mB9cSU9R-7mMMEBN8pCRpb-vAXg/s320/IMG_20140826_085244801%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">It’s late August. I’m on vacation at the Washington coast. The sun
is out and it’s a beautiful day at a place that historically doesn’t sport too many
beautiful days, even in summer. In spite of this I’m sitting in the shade of a
large shrub where I can’t even see the ocean. I am quite comfortable here,
thank you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">As a native Washingtonian who usually relishes the few sunny days we
get every year I should be reveling in this weather. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s always been my contention that Seattleites
are especially appreciative of sunny days because we experience so few of them. They’re
special. A bright day makes our trees more green, our water more blue. But this year
I’m not savoring the sun. I'm not enjoying my lightly sunburned legs and the feeling
of radiant warmth soaking down to my bones.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">The sun?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m over it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too many hot, sunny days in the last few
months have rendered me unappreciative of cloudless skies. Like that
eternally optimistic acquaintance whose sunny disposition eventually rides your
last nerve so has this hot, dry weather overstayed its welcome with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s get real. Let’s get misty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">I long for the radiant warmth of the wood stove, not the sun. I have an itch for my wool sweaters. I’m sure they miss me as I miss them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been too long.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">This summer has been the hottest our state has seen since
people started keeping records.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are the Evergreen State no more. Everything is brown. Brown grass,
brown shrubs, brown native vegetation. The rhodies need water, for heaven’s
sake. Young trees are dead on the side of the highway, ready kindling for any
stray cigarette. The Olympics have been free of snow since June. And I won't even get into how the lack of snow pack will affect the salmon for years to come. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">The garden requires more attention than I like to give. Some
vegetables we water on a drip irrigation system, some are on their own. This
usually works out fine. This year, however, the crops that are on their own
aren’t faring so well. And do I want to do a bunch of extra watering in this
heat?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No thank you. I'm a lazy gardener, remember? (If not, see post from 10/13). My gardening style
is much like my parenting style: benign neglect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Works for the kids. Not so much for the garden.</span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">Speaking of brown, Eastern Washington only wishes it were brown.
Instead, it’s glowing orange with the most viscous wildfires the state has ever
seen, grey with ash and choking smoke that’s blowing west to Puget Sound, and
black with the charred remains of houses, forests and lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only moisture falling in that part of the
state is from the eyes of those who have lost everything, including loved ones who
died fighting the inferno. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">So you see, I’m done with all of it, as I’m sure a lot of people
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I'm done with dust and shorts and sweating and fires and a landscape that doesn't look or feel like my home. So</span> yes, I’m very happy to sit here in the
shade at the beach, thank you very much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The sun ducked behind a cloud and the wind kicked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s that on my skin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goosebumps?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Oh, my little pimples of poultry, how I’ve missed you! Long
time no see!</span></div>
Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-84006889586294091722014-09-21T18:03:00.000-07:002014-09-21T18:47:07.590-07:00Notes from the Nursing Home<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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table.MsoNormalTable
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mso-para-margin-left:0in;
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mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
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<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxCHwuJQz5vxq0nwqM5_NjM7PY5Wnl1FHpsLTmG1gGyalbr9n1zgzaSci-vhFGg05f4p_ADOwyEtKUhGqj6OOCPN0NTtX8b6isDueB1EJfADtLDYaUWFoD-68ptgVJdnGO116kBTWark/s1600/little+old+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxCHwuJQz5vxq0nwqM5_NjM7PY5Wnl1FHpsLTmG1gGyalbr9n1zgzaSci-vhFGg05f4p_ADOwyEtKUhGqj6OOCPN0NTtX8b6isDueB1EJfADtLDYaUWFoD-68ptgVJdnGO116kBTWark/s1600/little+old+girls.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">The other morning I walked into the dining room at the nursing home and saw Ella sitting at Nasreen's table. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">Ella is a spunky </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">90 year old originally from Latvia.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;"> She always has a smile on her face and a glow about her I can't quite describe. </span></span> </span>Years ago as </span>a missionary she ventured into Stalinist Russia at her own peril. Nasreen is an elderly Iranian stroke survivor who was raised much like a princess in the old
country. Listening to her boss the aides around it's obvious Nasreen is used to having people wait on her. No matter. She is a generous and affectionate lady. I like her a lot. The aides do too. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">It was clear that these two, with their hearing issues and very different
accents, had managed to discuss something important over breakfast.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">I caught the last thing Ella said before she left the table. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">“Always remember” she said pointedly to Nasreen, her face serious and close, “You are a precious child of God!” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">“Thank you.” Nasreen bobbed her head of dyed hair and smiled broadly with her new dentures. As Ella wheeled herself away she thanked her again.</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">After breakfast I helped Grandma back to bed, put the amplifying headphones
over her ears and read to her. Lately we've been reading poems but I like to start with a Bible story and a psalm or two. About halfway through the first book of Mark<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandma’s eyes closed and she drifted off to
sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finished the chapter anyway then sat in silence, thinking I’d pick up my knitting and quietly work on it for the
remainder of my visit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">Her sudden outburst surprised me both in its authoritative tone and
volume. I stared with a stupid smile on my face as she broke the silence by reciting:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">“Thank you God for all I care</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">For things to eat and things to wear</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">For Mother, Father, good and kind</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">Please help me always to mind</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">Like Jesus, in whose name I pray.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">“What a sweet prayer!” I said. “Where did you learn that?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">“I used to say it when I was a little girl." she said, eyes still closed. "My mother must have taught it to me.” Then she drifted off to sleep.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">I wanted to write down what she had said but I didn’t have a pen and my startled brain
wouldn’t wrap around all the words. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I assumed it was a common old prayer I could find online but the
snippets I later googled yielded nothing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called my sister but the phrases I related </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">to her</span></span> didn’t sound familiar. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">I worried Grandma might die -or worse- that the words might disappear into the recesses of her mind during the night and remain hidden forever </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">before I had a chance to get them
down on paper.</span></span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">In the morning I was prepared and she was alert. I asked her about the prayer and as she recited it I wrote it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">“My, that was a long time ago.” Grandma said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘I remember a lot from when I was a little
girl.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">“That’s because you still are that little girl.” I told her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A few years have passed between then and
now, that’s all.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">“Nearly 100 years! </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">I'm almost 104, you know."</span></span> and </span>Grandma
shook her head, amazed again at her own longevity. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">When it was time to go I left her sleeping in her bed by
the window like I always do but today my departure felt different. Today I walked out with something I
didn’t have when I walked in-something my grandma had had since she was a
little girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I secured the prayer in my
purse like a piece of jewelry and carried it with me out the door.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">On my way down the hall I said good bye to Nasreen and Ella. These ladies are still the little girls they were, too- Nasreen waited upon by her father’s
servants, splendidly dressed in Persian finery; Ella playing in the dust in the
doorway of her Latvian home, her parents telling her the same Bible stories I read to my grandmother. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: BatangChe;">Children, all of them. Old, wrinkled children. Precious children of
God.</span></span></div>
Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-63966089155910451262013-11-01T20:30:00.001-07:002013-11-01T20:37:27.123-07:00In Memoriam<h2>
Fred the Bantam Rooster 2010-2013*</h2>
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<a href="http://www.fowlvisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/japanese-bantam-rooster-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://www.fowlvisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/japanese-bantam-rooster-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Fred the Bantam Rooster began life the old fashioned way, as far too few
of his kind do in these modern times, brooded under the warm feathers
of a real chicken mother, not simply hatched within the lonely heat of an incubator. Fred's mother nurtured him and his brother and sisters first in the brooding pen then under the apple trees in the orchard where he lived all his life.<br />
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When Fred matured and it became clear he was indeed a rooster he was marked for the chopping block. His owner had had bad experiences with roosters and viewed them as nothing short of aggressive, worthless freeloaders. She didn't see the sense in keeping one in a flock of laying hens. But Fred the Rooster was different. He shattered his owner's preconceived notions of a rooster's value in a free-ranging flock. He broke down barriers. He changed minds and hearts. Most importantly for him he changed the heart of the one who wielded the ax, for once his true nature was revealed she never again considered butchering him.</div>
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Fred played not one but many invaluable roles in the daily life of his flock. He was daytime sentinel, night watchman, referee, bodyguard, caretaker and benevolent dictator. His owner enjoyed throwing choice bits of food to the chickens to watch Fred rush up to grab some in his beak-not to eat himself like greedy chickens always do-but to place directly in front of a hen and cluck at her to eat it. It became a game to guess how many bugs or pieces of bread he would pass on to his flock before finally eating one himself.</div>
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While the hens scratched and pecked in the sunshine he watched out for predators. One warning call from him froze every chicken into a feathered statue. He broke up fights. When he was in charge peace reigned in the orchard. And though he was protective of his flock he never showed aggression toward any human being.</div>
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As might be expected, Fred the Rooster died as he lived: Selflessly, heroically. He gave his life defending his coop during the Great Raccoon Wars of 2013. In all ways Fred the Rooster demonstrated the best qualities of his kind. Though diminutive in size, his passing has left a huge hole in the orchard flock. It will be difficult for any future rooster to fill his perch. He is survived by his hens, grown chicks and a worthless brother who inherited none of his good qualities. </div>
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He is also survived by an owner whose opinion on the value of keeping a rooster has forever been changed by knowing him</div>
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<i>*Photo of Japanese Bantam courtesy of Fowl Visions http://www.fowlvisions.com/?p=238</i></div>
Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-72584582545183537042013-10-19T22:09:00.000-07:002013-10-20T06:58:18.255-07:00Everyday Miracles....and How to Be a Lazy Gardener<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4P9kk7Sh5FZY6YOLmxyetgZQSPXNKLKDxD0l3vk9_5VkQa2UwSQ-ppbin7XQioWFtdMWT6lO2ipifqirnx-irrgmJbZ93NCJAUOcRwMobBqJmttf4Eal2jIh41UyURQ4bAIYoVl9ZYc/s1600/Winter+squash+and+cranberry+beans+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4P9kk7Sh5FZY6YOLmxyetgZQSPXNKLKDxD0l3vk9_5VkQa2UwSQ-ppbin7XQioWFtdMWT6lO2ipifqirnx-irrgmJbZ93NCJAUOcRwMobBqJmttf4Eal2jIh41UyURQ4bAIYoVl9ZYc/s320/Winter+squash+and+cranberry+beans+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Sometimes the natural world just blows me away. Not in extraordinary ways like a comet or the Grand Canyon but the everyday stuff...Like a spider spinning a web or baby chicks hatching out of eggs. Every year I let one of my Bantam hens hatch out a few eggs just for the miracle of it. I gaze in wonder at the cute-as-a-button, perfectly formed baby chicks that 21 days before could have been my Denver omelet. Seriously. It only takes three weeks to transform a souffle into a sentient being. It is even cooler than Cinderella's fairy godmother changing a pumpkin and couple rats into a carriage and coachmen. <i>And this is REAL, people!</i> No magic wand involved. I'm not even going to go into how perfectly the mother hen knows how to take care of those eggs and her babies. I'm telling you, it's nothing short of astounding. <br />
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See the beans above? The beans in the bowl may look different from each other but they're all exactly all the same- True Cranberry Beans, an old New England heirloom variety. The ones on the right have been soaked and sprouted and the ones on the left are still dry and hard. It's difficult to see from the photo but they are shiny and look very much like a real cranberry. These are beans that I grew so I could enjoy them, save the seeds, and plant them again. I let the pods dry then I shelled them, put them in an airtight plastic bag then threw the bag into the freezer. You see, a brief stint in the freezer is supposed to kill any insect eggs that may ruin the beans in storage. <br />
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Well, they stayed in the freezer for more than a "brief stint". In truth, I kind of forgot about them. While mining the freezer's depths for a pot roast a few days ago I encountered the bag of beans again and thought I'd better see if they were still any good. I grabbed a handful, soaked them for a couple days then put them between damp paper towels to see what would happen. And what happened? They sprouted. The kids and I counted them. 29 out of 33 have sprouted so far and I think the ones that haven't yet are just tardy, not dead. <br />
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Why is this extraordinary, you may ask? Why am I so excited about beans? Because when I packed these cranberry beans away in the freezer one of the kids that helped me count them couldn't walk and the other wasn't even thought of . <i>They've been frozen for almost 15 years. </i>And still, in spite of neglect, power outages and changes in temperature they remained viable. Very viable. There is still a spark of life left inside each of these seeds waiting for the right moment to live again. How long did Snow White sleep in her state of suspended animation before Prince Charming kissed her and she lived again? Not 15 years, I bet. These fairy tales ain't got nothing on real life. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction. <br />
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I think these beans deserve to be planted again, don't you? I will devote space to them in the garden next spring and pass some along to gardening friends who will appreciate them and save them (hopefully more conscientiously than I did). These beans are tasty and beautiful and I'm ashamed it's taken me so long to consider growing them again because dry beans really are easy to grow. Which leads me to my next subject:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lazy Gardening!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiupbnMMsx_I4LgR6MNTGQC7A3v7Nk7aEZ2y9RupfgRrxt3sYBKVxB6gcMLcyzzOWDRsWKD5j7DLT_uzo5F9PqEgMEdaWNhmneR_Ws6DlVEkpPnW3BuBj5qCsbNywmqQMxnbZa41Fuw4/s1600/Winter+squash+and+cranberry+beans+003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiupbnMMsx_I4LgR6MNTGQC7A3v7Nk7aEZ2y9RupfgRrxt3sYBKVxB6gcMLcyzzOWDRsWKD5j7DLT_uzo5F9PqEgMEdaWNhmneR_Ws6DlVEkpPnW3BuBj5qCsbNywmqQMxnbZa41Fuw4/s320/Winter+squash+and+cranberry+beans+003.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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"Look at all those winter squash!" my friends say "How you must have slaved over them! You must have worked for months!" <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6QXRu2dI4IUA5Avl62F8ZZ5lYNv0r4BQTL1AFjCeDsX8KQOvCqM9PWNmMAmiCTcisM8p8c-p7LIcyuSH-vNdsYT0SSYeObqSpcRLSld8dLliagFtuHNnZc_LmgDUEahYE_on-ouNqCk/s1600/Winter+squash+and+cranberry+beans+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6QXRu2dI4IUA5Avl62F8ZZ5lYNv0r4BQTL1AFjCeDsX8KQOvCqM9PWNmMAmiCTcisM8p8c-p7LIcyuSH-vNdsYT0SSYeObqSpcRLSld8dLliagFtuHNnZc_LmgDUEahYE_on-ouNqCk/s320/Winter+squash+and+cranberry+beans+010.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Au contraire! I planted some seeds in May but just discovered all these squash this month when the vines died back. And my potatoes? They fairly pop out of the ground when I push the mulch aside. How about those beets? They're waiting to be pulled up at my convenience and the kale will hold through the winter. (That stuff even gets better after a few frosts!) The secret is Lazy (aka "plant it and forget it") Gardening. I've been practicing it for years without even knowing it was a thing. Well, I'm now officially making it a thing.<br />
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<b>Lazy Gardening Advantage #1-<i>At Your Convenience!</i></b><br />
The Lazy Gardener does not have to harvest on any particular timetable because Lazy Gardener vegetables can wait. They are harvested at the Lazy Gardener's convenience or all at once in the fall. It works like this: The Lazy Gardener plants the right kinds of seeds (winter squash, kale, collards, dry beans, potatoes, root veggies, etc), makes sure the seedlings are up and going, mulches like crazy, waters the seedlings when needed <i>then forgets about them</i>. Other crops like lettuce, green beans, broccoli, summer squash, cucumbers and peas have to be monitored with vigilance or they will get away from all but the most attentive gardener. Neglect these veggies and you'll waste them. Before you know it they're too mature to be tasty, they go to seed or get bitter. In any case, you'll miss out and feel guilty for your neglect.I know that feeling. But the Lazy Gardener feels no guilt because neglect is part of the game plan!<br />
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<b>Lazy Gardening Advantage #2-<i>The Thrill of Discovery!</i></b><br />
A thrilling advantage of lazy gardening is that because the vegetables have been ignored for so long the Lazy Gardener gets to discover them anew when they're finally dug up or uncovered. Or shelled. Look at what I found when these vines died back. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpi18Aq7Nbm1AgK1aLizCRCxjcf84xH5fvOI9aMEZ7mnYGWilKviMiotQIP3m8Ri8ACWk2bNr7ruQYVN5oJ8ZPN2WuFKD15b_QUfkvNxHh726glW5v_c7x-TDUGuASwJ2U2lH3FybHm8E/s1600/Winter+squash+and+cranberry+beans+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpi18Aq7Nbm1AgK1aLizCRCxjcf84xH5fvOI9aMEZ7mnYGWilKviMiotQIP3m8Ri8ACWk2bNr7ruQYVN5oJ8ZPN2WuFKD15b_QUfkvNxHh726glW5v_c7x-TDUGuASwJ2U2lH3FybHm8E/s320/Winter+squash+and+cranberry+beans+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Winter squash! And there's a big patch of potatoes just waiting underground to be sleuthed out and collected as needed. Red, white and the occasional purple, they're as pretty as Easter eggs and almost as fun to hunt.<br />
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<b>Lazy Gardener Advantage #3 Tip: <i>Don't Forget to Mulch!</i></b><br />
Besides choosing the right vegetables the most important piece of the lazy gardening puzzle is to mulch in between seedlings and on paths. Mulching keeps moisture in, weeds smothered and the gardener nice and lazy for those hazy, lazy days of summer. It does mean a little extra work early on but trust me, a little shoveling in the relative cool of spring is a lot easier than nonstop weeding in the heat of the summer. Because summer is when you should be sitting in your Adirondack chair, surveying your beautiful garden, sipping a cocktail and feeling gloriously lazy.<br />
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Of course a lot of my Lazy Gardener strategy depends on a a mild climate like mine that permits cool season vegetables to stay out in the garden for the winter and yes, I know a good vegetable garden has a many different kinds of plants. (I'd never be without my green beans that have to be picked pretty much daily) But really, do think about planting more Lazy Gardener vegetables and less of the ones that require more work than you can give them and if you don't mulch, <b>do it</b>. Trust me on this,<br />
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Because a Lazy Gardener is a Happy Gardener!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9YfuBrKhnURxWqomzYSBA82GBbOoew-PkhNUZN1ch8MENeEnVOGLBZpYxy5qLhtl7LfYknAvRwclJyXVrTVAXt7Xo_THVSKfZAkdMzGbhacRwpnIzEB_47r_cfj8t1fpnUWTfubHoMY/s1600/Winter+squash+and+cranberry+beans+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9YfuBrKhnURxWqomzYSBA82GBbOoew-PkhNUZN1ch8MENeEnVOGLBZpYxy5qLhtl7LfYknAvRwclJyXVrTVAXt7Xo_THVSKfZAkdMzGbhacRwpnIzEB_47r_cfj8t1fpnUWTfubHoMY/s320/Winter+squash+and+cranberry+beans+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just ask Harris. He likes winter squash too!</div>
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Happy Autumn!<br />
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Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-60307420913104213762012-01-19T14:53:00.000-08:002012-01-19T17:25:35.159-08:00Homebound Projects with my Talented Daughter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OAgUtmzoeRBuWWmSqBhXPX9ww0qT26HZfcGyveUk0h1WpMJBAOGpPAqh9JfsrlyNuQZeaL4egYB_9xdMgueribzPDNHKQT97tQNz-Jry3_mu_D_ksIS__HXVQ1hhWNCQ4pG4t-ZBDH8/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699509017941713058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OAgUtmzoeRBuWWmSqBhXPX9ww0qT26HZfcGyveUk0h1WpMJBAOGpPAqh9JfsrlyNuQZeaL4egYB_9xdMgueribzPDNHKQT97tQNz-Jry3_mu_D_ksIS__HXVQ1hhWNCQ4pG4t-ZBDH8/s400/008.JPG" /></a>The snow flies and in between sledding and walks in the snow we're inside with busy hands. A pile of felted sweaters call to us and my daughter (13 years old) and I scour the internet for ideas. Look what we made!<br /><br /><br /><div>I met a lovely lady named <a href="http://www.fcfcreations.com/">Frances Clement Fawcett</a> this fall at the Fiber Farm Tour. She makes fabulous creations from felted wool and teaches a slipper making class! E. stitched these up in no time from Frances' pattern:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw1Q0BnsSM-dt7ZuBkXt3ZqVIVCw-zVYNj4s9YOANDX1WtC6cgOMjn2JhUS9nBIET4mKR03zaJwPjx6UJD2gGjJ37qvprKs458vaeBeMiz949mVB8KpSz17lnOT_edTIl9p4rmjQxvWk/s1600/1-19-12+slippers+015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699506564307872450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw1Q0BnsSM-dt7ZuBkXt3ZqVIVCw-zVYNj4s9YOANDX1WtC6cgOMjn2JhUS9nBIET4mKR03zaJwPjx6UJD2gGjJ37qvprKs458vaeBeMiz949mVB8KpSz17lnOT_edTIl9p4rmjQxvWk/s400/1-19-12+slippers+015.JPG" /></a><br />This is my pair:<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvjYjnxr16oeKTbNGP7QmWiFQr-aCjDMLfVUpE7j2QNDHo0FDB5IQGaN7chzZCezhk_IgYyI5hS_SDiKSqmMVS-4ZNmNHed_4qMQ8w5GIgPGMp4OtcCcF3JebWBA1kfalLz_DJiKCrtk/s1600/038.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699507153754884418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvjYjnxr16oeKTbNGP7QmWiFQr-aCjDMLfVUpE7j2QNDHo0FDB5IQGaN7chzZCezhk_IgYyI5hS_SDiKSqmMVS-4ZNmNHed_4qMQ8w5GIgPGMp4OtcCcF3JebWBA1kfalLz_DJiKCrtk/s400/038.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>E. made these moccasin type slippers from a <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/864540/stephanies-sewn-felt-slippers">Martha Stewart pattern</a>. You can't see but there are felt bees decorating the top (Sorry, I'm a bad photographer...). They're so cute and comfy!</div><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv_RYT6L8gJqxGea-Lnp-FoNWqU0VN19xmKwvfMlQ_HoOC59OXszCIBJzZVb-YicYV1p1M9NOq-wmCqzuizsw2JdrmxBB6KQ_ZFiCHXCrw_Q9R67P1_1cm-sexhlGsJ60K0AKyO4B76k/s1600/043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699507158786098706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv_RYT6L8gJqxGea-Lnp-FoNWqU0VN19xmKwvfMlQ_HoOC59OXszCIBJzZVb-YicYV1p1M9NOq-wmCqzuizsw2JdrmxBB6KQ_ZFiCHXCrw_Q9R67P1_1cm-sexhlGsJ60K0AKyO4B76k/s400/043.JPG" /></a><br />And I made these from <a href="http://www.craftstylish.com/item/40130/how-to-make-snuggly-slippers-from-old-sweaters/page/all">this pattern</a> on Craftstylish. I'm not a crocheter but I'm loving the easy crochet trim on these and the red pair above-<br /><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1mnyYlGhMLGjD-GzedR0dgAXntgyiscsUQY0Ky_PNDmYhRsIBk0Ytw_gahtDzR0bcxoaCDPSr3VTayyV1CkXoNySJ9RossnOMyQqRTwJyE0s9qugQtts20xz9gnOJXStFhwcTN8CbIg/s1600/1-19-12+slippers+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699508338725123938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1mnyYlGhMLGjD-GzedR0dgAXntgyiscsUQY0Ky_PNDmYhRsIBk0Ytw_gahtDzR0bcxoaCDPSr3VTayyV1CkXoNySJ9RossnOMyQqRTwJyE0s9qugQtts20xz9gnOJXStFhwcTN8CbIg/s400/1-19-12+slippers+010.JPG" /></a><br /></div>So we've been cutting and sewing but we still have to eat! E. is becoming an expert cookie baker/decorator. She made these gluten and dairy-free cookies for her dad. The <a href="http://glutenfreegirl.com/sugar-cookies-and-slowing-down/">recipe </a>is from Gluten Free Girl and the decorating ideas come from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cookie-Craft-Techniques-Creative-Occasions/dp/1580176941">Cookie Craft</a>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy9NRPgQ1hMYRd-vFpbGy9ApcZAPIj9871r1-w1cmWljvHy1gFB1u4BirhSs1CJw8u-Gzw2T_YZPs9XrJOtpqjiEiCGpBeCj35scogfmlRNgvcUU6LRnljOFJtJ32J4EjCBP_ozvR-nY/s1600/036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699509016424379490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy9NRPgQ1hMYRd-vFpbGy9ApcZAPIj9871r1-w1cmWljvHy1gFB1u4BirhSs1CJw8u-Gzw2T_YZPs9XrJOtpqjiEiCGpBeCj35scogfmlRNgvcUU6LRnljOFJtJ32J4EjCBP_ozvR-nY/s400/036.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>And the sheep still have to be fed. Here they are in the snow. My oldest girl, Belle, is very friendly these days and loves a scratch. I give her some love every time I do chores. I like to kiss her between her horns. She smells so wonderfully sheepy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukLyp8y4U2ERt5LAi_cIohM2q0JMX2uE1v4D6ASzuS19J_cS6KMEojsihFi0ryaMSPcnOVWL9AbfFXHd3RFP_9lqvYvvHPrzqwKBaQb4Utfo-5cr7wCowjzOlQtvYujLNaYW7VwRJ1Bs/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699509027167695970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukLyp8y4U2ERt5LAi_cIohM2q0JMX2uE1v4D6ASzuS19J_cS6KMEojsihFi0ryaMSPcnOVWL9AbfFXHd3RFP_9lqvYvvHPrzqwKBaQb4Utfo-5cr7wCowjzOlQtvYujLNaYW7VwRJ1Bs/s400/016.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtFKpwvfHM5PhILnIuQuc7AmWyS17L48nLDGemj693Q6e8nOgSj_lUOOhML6QfAXyeNs4vjGN2zY4mPOcj99E_st0g9muqZZDEtsG9KWFtWnQ1RIedHxXsz2C7_8GuEn-0-9dexPtkJI/s1600/032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699509046989060354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtFKpwvfHM5PhILnIuQuc7AmWyS17L48nLDGemj693Q6e8nOgSj_lUOOhML6QfAXyeNs4vjGN2zY4mPOcj99E_st0g9muqZZDEtsG9KWFtWnQ1RIedHxXsz2C7_8GuEn-0-9dexPtkJI/s400/032.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8QUhUloWdoGXP3WN933AUbhsGhjbfArJ_-2yU-UPxa-rCYYcmKKWq6ucI0bnl6MZQs5u9UOLCjVfbTkFA76QF8W_PJNHIUxwV-IepHzBvkgl2aLEtlEz9zIK4il-ZulU8uuRqJG3QBI/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699509031111612034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8QUhUloWdoGXP3WN933AUbhsGhjbfArJ_-2yU-UPxa-rCYYcmKKWq6ucI0bnl6MZQs5u9UOLCjVfbTkFA76QF8W_PJNHIUxwV-IepHzBvkgl2aLEtlEz9zIK4il-ZulU8uuRqJG3QBI/s400/027.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Hoping you're cozy and warm inside while enjoying the winter beauty outside.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2zyaq1toRc1qXGD1BL2xW8M4MU9XUn5yP0tNtud-1NBQW_wbdD4OLH6TicvrWIChQRPlivvaAStrUHb4nWNLuaFnWZSav4anStt6UWf9sqXCj-s65c2x2kA1XFiNcPoa45CcKEPeD5o/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699511125442585362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2zyaq1toRc1qXGD1BL2xW8M4MU9XUn5yP0tNtud-1NBQW_wbdD4OLH6TicvrWIChQRPlivvaAStrUHb4nWNLuaFnWZSav4anStt6UWf9sqXCj-s65c2x2kA1XFiNcPoa45CcKEPeD5o/s400/002.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-46187329362256878722011-08-28T06:59:00.001-07:002011-09-12T11:32:12.962-07:00Happy Tasha Tudor Day!<div align="justify">I've been asked to do a post about Tasha Tudor on this Tasha Tudor Day. Much has been said about this independent, creative, wildly talented, eccentric woman. If you have never before heard of Tasha Tudor please Google her. I can't possibly sum her up in a paragraph or two.<br /><br /><br /><div>What is it I admire about Tasha Tudor? What can I say about her lifestyle, her artwork, her independent spirit, her talent, that hasn't been said before? While I primarily admire her for forging along against the grain and creating her own reality by living the lifestyle she wanted to live; on a more practical level, I admire her perseverance and her patience.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>I've been told I lead a Tasha Tudor lifestyle. Yes, I spin, knit, dye, cook from scratch, heat with wood, garden, can, make bread, raise animals, make dolls, dip candles, turn wood, etc. But I know I'm nothing like her. I am a product of a modern society who admires the skills of the past and tries to attain some of them. Tasha Tudor seemed to not even be of this time. She was a modern embodiment of a woman of the 1830's. She said so herself. And in looking at her life and some of the skills she had we get a snapshot of a mindset that is practically nonexistent in this day and age.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 364px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645917938223723186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bGFcprnMWNFYhHtFpVmWaTh4kbE1ncELsrZYxDOHJAGiu7iI2Rh6xAlF7kpOZqb6QafIG2HU1Sm-_6PL6kncCWTTsXgWDeHBUABjhGl2GPNb9Ohyphenhyphen6raZBoKi7TLyUpP_PEEOJHNpi0o/s400/tasha_tudor_kindling.jpg" />Yes, I shear my own sheep, wash, card, spin and knit the wool. This is fun and very satisfying for me. But the fact that Ms. Tudor (for I think it's a bit too familiar to call her Tasha) grew flax, painstakingly processed this plant into a softened fiber worthy of spinning, spun it, warped her loom, wove it into fabric, finished this fabric, cut (!!!) the resulting fabric into pattern pieces and hand sewed these pieces into beautiful shirts for her family... This blows me away. The time, the patience, the skill involved in so many areas to see this through. I can't imagine her level of satisfaction at the finished product. And the perseverance she had to see it through to the very end.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div>It demonstrates a pace of life and the possession of an attention span practically unseen in this day and age. Ms. Tudor's hands and mind were always engaged. I'm sure she didn't' space out in front of the television or computer, or waste time with video games. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>Her level of skill and craftsmanship in all she did, her patience to see her projects through, the creativity involved in fashioning new worlds out of the things she made (I'm thinking of her dolls and all their very real lives and interactions!) These are some of the many fine traits of Ms. Tudor's I wish I could posses.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645917938277996514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3IIKwJoLQza5FieOi7VLGAs1HEhbPUu2hs-Mppm-ie-KyrW7otGPTe-gNEElfahK0RTP1-KDYr52xXmnpivd778H33ztUKOnoDbeyl5-qiGoCbGhbKtbXZb_XL7rN2MXNAGqG3zpIBY/s400/TASHADOLLS.jpg" />So this afternoon I'll have a cuppa tea and look over my favorite non fiction Tasha Tudor book, Tasha Tudor's Heirloom Crafts, and plan my next project...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645917944136572034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfd3AF6H2ccprtpgNCzCtqQTpWCi8Wg1LnE-HWd26CYXns9OXhvHxqKpK8sgvxe8KnqmxiiXOKP7fr6T_1HFtUBAwBMGuJuChMgzOyhVgbBP3newKOE0FzKACkHJvLNGPxNKy6UH6s-Q/s400/tasha-tudors-heirloom-crafts-tovah-martin-paperback-cover-art.jpg" /><br /></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-88818137523492734092011-07-02T20:24:00.000-07:002011-07-02T20:39:37.691-07:00Wool Dolls at the Fiber Farm Tour!<div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624934509800108738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinm-kRHP3ltJeDGnNIz14tCrD7m_8jc-o9JAVlvVwuxPNhO9_aQ9cOI5aYnYo0DOSWj4Vpj0KeEFo6uHkv3TKVT0lDXHxTj2OwZLIT5-sly00d7h6XQ9y3RkDoqQa601aS68HKbXhqf8/s400/dolls+in+progress+for+fiber+fest%252C+etc+047.JPG" />I'm pleased to announce my participation in the <a href="http://olypenfiberfarmtour.com/">Olympic Penninsula Fiber Farm Tour </a>on September 17-18th! I will be selling wool dolls and figures at Barry and Linda Taylor's beautiful farm/business: <a href="http://tayloredfibers.com/">Taylored Fibers </a>in Quilcene. For those unacquainted with my work I'm posting photos of the kind of figures I will be offering during the tour. <em>Please note: I can't guarantee these exact dolls will be offered for sale. Some have been sold and others are in process</em>.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">My needle felted figures are made from wool roving and dry felted with a single felting needle. All facial features are sculpted from colored wool.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">Some will be poseable, like this sassy Autumn chick with red dreds: </div><br /><div align="justify"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624937179627529170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3w8S6Esa-uZX3fzqrbd8sfN70U-xV2JmGqKGBnmNc5vfOT7CnMVItsswlkDYe7m_kW7Q3BG163EdpGv-EXz643oZzEU_wPy9Z69vaFANyXaLy6LPFfSIlI8HtR38uVig3Df3T_QGmkc/s400/john+baseball+and+autumn+doll+012.JPG" />Some will be tea cozies....<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624938275421389970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF88ACq-K5uEyjYUNukEqm6Npx5ERizdVRUMJQIcTbcntp48uP07Ksu7BKQWeIZONkURtJT1ziqLZ7h-8F0PwrFRPMeE53d0qXeknSpbI2YN4sa8k6tDdQqbwszcs-rZlkCVr7OcGehg/s400/dolls+in+progress+for+fiber+fest%252C+etc+041.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624938273156550402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_qmnMZ44BTfVeU5kTePSOCJdJSuKS2CH48Qz3kFYXc-ysy_bXg-x7jbIVMVFdjsb6k000H0gLGhyphenhyphenNdXf7e_u0UUa7o_UIQYieVaFQgadH8c-dxGiORdwGEHR7xZEVXu78vs6l7MID6k/s400/dolls+in+progress+for+fiber+fest%252C+etc+039.JPG" /> ...and some haven't told me who they want to be yet....<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624938269550757634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoARrZ3vnpkVoS7YxuRqNbz_2rs23VtWGp2XEewOCDDceDT5UbBb33hMfgSp9cINuq8ZJ-KpZgpUMjO0L3e28bmVTEjCH9D3_-5DfHBCYzOe93jZimj-TdgIoht7eulBDtJ8iyI7exQw/s400/dolls+in+progress+for+fiber+fest%252C+etc+032.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624944404126955954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WV1nUORctkFUdh0bc72RRVsR1HIM-pk0-X05bAmftXsFq9PT9kbQ04ZRx6q-UYZq7y3Ob4PUG_G1VhHtkwubgc9j5XPWdiuzbEFPVORaCw9oEvi1F0eZLjZM4lZ3ujPnR4k6hEYuPLk/s400/Santas+051.JPG" />And Christmas is not far away! I'll be sure to have some Santas ready .... <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624940873461244946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VeKXZs1n3WLEqj1QJ7ueWbKgcLNiks4SOls-Q3KCuaWV9FX-B28gxLwfPuXmD7e6zgJ67tNey2_4zIpQoOy0IcjIfyEzFum2tkzquXvTZWYZ9miCzHo9jV0_gCIPiqWUZgXMZJUQYuA/s400/Santas+034.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624944397071476706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldSN7J5_UG39Zi8GoVbdqev2fxaglNyBHgIxw2_jxQygpQrzn-RZ14BLvZWzWsfe33XEFfETDRymB2ItWj_-VjBRy8X27zjVKoctQ8P7CRnkjLILY1htgudYMQLF7bn5mI2qbTNSfXb8/s400/Santas+039.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624944389138559442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjNvIINHpUFgyBu21bs81S4JbwlKAyASkS0I4otEt6ao7PwCDwLHjMunyim5B9xrZXKNXZ8iXZhdHhuqpmi9FxogoZphvJOF3rQm43E18R1f3SGv0XWamFviiz0Oz0TYiOOp6ObQYOWg/s400/Santas+031.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624944412483182530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0-ReV96ac3jvs4EzVA2Ip0aLqIdOzKMDssajfzLkXY6YassxpJfqXoKZYTsB-p7DStSBvIOT55M1g7itA2PZy2k97dY-rrLDppe62hfgwS0FuLJ7WcR7_GN8clwkO9w6tfQ8lC5O0vw/s400/Santas+046.JPG" />There will be seasonal characters such as shown in my <a href="http://islandhearthandhandicrafts.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html">December 2007 </a>post (scroll down)! I love the Brownie and the elves... <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624941800753250530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmID_YzRLMKJYyPJ6p1nFIZufPXcVGgAGu7cJWOYIOK4gZ1DsUYuFE6LL4-c2Q9AS0OkLORQ61e85hVzx9eU8Xb9ZmbcdESMUTlVyv9Mehvr2jtpB5EDd0vbH85g39iEDKhXwWYaWX4IQ/s400/Frances+013.JPG" />And because I'm incapable of resisting thrift store woolens so you'll find dolls like Frances (above) and Ed (below) . They're made out of felted cashmere, lambswool and hardy Harris Tweed.. The faces on these dolls are embroidered and they have detachable wings made out of vintage quilts.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624951484999973938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0AgxOscci_dTkrz3QVYzPt750LxuuqS42K20WTz_jztIMJCri2y3T7j1PWopKmHCURGzEM6KN9Phv9-jwrkEvuTE1AMF1CexIDQPmbKWhOIqo9v1LibEqcFEo8K6y4PG5Zj9WHw_Me0/s400/Ed+Everyday+Angel+019.JPG" />There will be so much going on at Taylored Fibers (and all the other farms on the tour). Do stop by and say hello!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624953775020283714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95ldlx-y3S-FJb1BbpZoOeTZ2eO00PNlth_i7ddsx6GMHft2j2Lhf1KGhgL1NoNlZPl2cV2NzjzbmRWt8-J0BXmZ5VpzbfI6TgtUgHfkeBytbPXMV4xuY7pL3gsGaaKrRW3sEo7J9fk4/s400/dolls+in+progress+for+fiber+fest%252C+etc+044.JPG" /></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-8289433333993137912011-04-12T15:47:00.000-07:002011-04-12T16:17:39.451-07:00New Lambs<div>So I haven't posted to my blog in over a year. Now my old Easter photos are relevant again! I'm so behind I'm timely... <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594839159919833906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExrXy4NxlT0RViLP0YrqJ-ea1kKVOZNrk17gR3bG4wxpeN5cO8orZUdFnI6xV0V7cdVjKrlhXjDmGxNzLfv09oG54xoYZe9Tv44V02LpoxvbkJgS-Tfe63S2CcXV029RUIWjGL6Vbopg/s400/038.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594835435087269490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2l73oqfTJ7f97pvjSfUU7km-LRBeKOUoMf-OVumvgN4ezFk_jg0I_P4YgL02OaDp8G5VTpeT8eTs9cDIUcaKn7UCqcdHKK3YCZa4zynMoDwRQjckBiDonBiunmYSe4GFcSWSnbaWdRnY/s400/017.JPG" /> <br /><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594835010396086658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuwvhRU2PGEgnfQzhdfK4ytyBUHxUUPsLXeYbSiSI3X5yFB_6KA5_Gg9ShLoZg1GzIeD_QpV47NCYbilhch_BVtuijznig7ozGpx6rB_KdK6KiOBrKIm6RwzyPChWifXvQQ7H1thHWxQ/s400/033.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxbJa_TCFZGKDjAjgfe-jJl4cv5vnHUg6uZdmyu-139AxoUt0qvWCXgj1ViBLQuj2s5OgYWoksFaMTwLhClFls5uIPk1dIV9M5IZn6e642YzcFyIGL5f9lhKcLmZ4BSCNIXTAIX-y2T8/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594833206814401250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxbJa_TCFZGKDjAjgfe-jJl4cv5vnHUg6uZdmyu-139AxoUt0qvWCXgj1ViBLQuj2s5OgYWoksFaMTwLhClFls5uIPk1dIV9M5IZn6e642YzcFyIGL5f9lhKcLmZ4BSCNIXTAIX-y2T8/s400/002.JPG" /></a>But I had to post a couple photos of my lambs, born April 1st and 2<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span>. Fulfilled a lifelong dream of sharing my life with sheep last summer when I purchased two Icelandic ewes. Borrowed a ram lamb from a friend for the fall and sure enough, he did his job. Got two sets of twins from two ewes who up until this point had only produced single lambs. More babies than I'd ever thought I would have!</div><br /><div>I ended up with three rams and one ewe. I can't have that many sheep on my property so having three rams made it easier to decide who to keep. The boys will be butchered this fall and I will keep the ewe lamb. She's the black one shown above. Her name is April. Her mother, Belle, has a wonderful fleece and I was hoping for a colored ewe lamb out of her and I was fortunate enough to get just that. The little white one had a rough start and had to take a bottle once in a while so he runs right up for a scratch..So sweet. </div><br /><div>These are Icelandic sheep, a primitive breed that is sheared twice a year. Wonderful wool, wonderful meat. They are cousins to the smaller Shetlands. You can read about them <a href="http://www.isbona.com/">here</a>. </div><br /><div>It's a joy to watch all the lambs bounce and run around together. Certainly makes it seem like spring around here. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I'll try to post more often. Certainly more than once a year!</div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-17467750093934578402010-04-02T18:55:00.000-07:002010-04-02T22:16:02.231-07:00Happy Easter<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455725813013472306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pT_Lmu9O1szjsrpkgo0_Km_6Am6ucWv7W1hZXPyZde_DCPHAOx8r8n08A6lrtzbC0DhBpax-3wUIYEurfiLfb0f25w4Audj7HTECBihn_avcqK5lFZn4ej17_6EcQXSFki2KIuWYOiY/s400/Easter+Tree+003.JPG" />You really can't improve upon Mother Nature.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455726157354731874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizE2sD788SGuhPv5cm03rVB1Rc1IykhHPWr2XykCRHZCylt-t5wAYGiUu23cbfi6QyP9KJa1TZkSu30l5qJk5fXOR86vf5ScRjOZiy-cZ-ZXXqzI5RtouWCJ34UyK04KnnqT2_q77fGM4/s400/Easter+Tree+014.JPG" />Why does plastic Easter grass come in neon yellow and pink? Have you ever seen grass this color? How does the huge aisle of disposable plastic Easter crap at Wal Mart glorify God's promise to the world through Jesus' resurrestion?</div><div>These are questions I ask myself as I (reluctantly) shop at this time of year. So I cut a couple of soon-to-be flowering branches of blossoms off the <a href="http://islandhearthandhandicrafts.blogspot.com/2007/07/early-apples-and-easy-apple-crisp.html">Yellow Transparent tree</a>. Then my daughter walked in with a beautiful bird's nest she found on the ground in our woods. That settled it. I was glad to keep our Easter decorations very natural this year. And I love the results.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455725817217690674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxlpcO_0nsS709qB-WbI0no3lPj5udAiXe9acQgLFYOdrXRpcSr0pbzMM2tvA8I8VaQhD1LinCzICl2F9UtQcJNw0MrWe7BlBKdGRmQFRqGs8UpBp-cHLxx-J8IFRfZ5_sOJn2i2zay0/s400/Easter+Tree+021.JPG" />We adore birds and thier eggs so we have amassed quite a collection of egg shells and nests here and there. It's hard to see from my mediocre pictures but on and around this "tree" are Aracauna, brown and white chicken eggs, small white dove eggs we blew back when we kept those lovely birds, a couple tiny wren eggs from an abandoned nest (we found the dead mama. Very sad.), various halves of robin's eggs, a crow eggshell or two, even a speckled eggshell of a shorebird found at the beach. Oh, and my friend <a href="http://countrymouseflipsout.blogspot.com/">Kristin </a>gave me a Great Blue Heron's shell she found when she took a walk in the rookery!<br /><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455725798755857746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHt2K1ucGsLBrxdYD7yRYKe_SIK0aOpG-fsKniRxZnE9T2vsqlemtoXyh1_MhSPtzWyCI1NKsTYn4aFcDtE_xFx5buePa1-MKKn5uSWgVRQDcexRIMmUBb-xpc2LwVMaQURoxefDWuQ0Y/s400/Easter+Tree+017.JPG" />And check out the golf ball sized wasps nest my little boy found on the ground. I love it:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455725791633855762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFgp_nSQ-0_9Mv5mbr-riA6dF5snN7SXz3sdbE8M-R5Y910-dpIlT6Xgo5PpBMuB_1nQeM2AemhReCrB06ZJy3GzetCBJ-9pKhXOLzojccN4rOx7bokRJgfb6pCvyip2UL_1s7ODLBBE/s400/Easter+Tree+020.JPG" />The blossoms about to burst into flower, the eggs about to hatch, the renewal of this holy holiday..It must be Spring!</div><div> </div><div>There's so much natural beauty to enjoy at this time of year. Who needs pink plastic grass?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfip6ZpkbSZkjV4PfD4nGmH2i1h7X2uV30fC9joErdmY-dkgm0-sV7sXKXQJARfKAYFB45H591HQ3H_wt_nMOVHZtazfbcncxF1UgJ89Cy_hxOABl3YejjbUL1d6OUPrSEIUomGtXG6U/s1600/Easter+Tree+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455725785765903026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfip6ZpkbSZkjV4PfD4nGmH2i1h7X2uV30fC9joErdmY-dkgm0-sV7sXKXQJARfKAYFB45H591HQ3H_wt_nMOVHZtazfbcncxF1UgJ89Cy_hxOABl3YejjbUL1d6OUPrSEIUomGtXG6U/s400/Easter+Tree+029.JPG" /></a> Happy Easter!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-34304443015477669922010-02-12T19:20:00.001-08:002010-02-12T20:03:23.658-08:00Taking the Etsy PlungeWARNING: The following post contains shameless plugs...<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437562922410542114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENxR9qZO5YiOV-rzvvuUHORHTUhWgx-XvjncCs_l7MgarqTNcsI58XTT1awGMntYcT5avFI2CdhaPO2Ljg-NgWLagMIFkIo1oYD8Zvp5tVcttkyHQHkNpxjDqOP8-nSkfs675BL1SeKM/s400/Frances+014.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 367px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437564094694645906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpNS8YeEWMlvaSVS5Ejwmp_ht0rVH2mosHhQEuCG-EJ2m7ekKa9jCKlxFf96ivqdXo_rVbE_aLQxJW5cK0NXQphEkjyfi46HZZ_3M0Rs5T1I80YN7Ew3mFJv5-EmvG_HSrQBXNTt3pMg/s400/Frances+019.JPG" />Well we've got our boxes ready, written our descriptions, figured out photos, pondered postage and now our <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheYellowFarmhouse">Etsy shop </a>is up and running. We have a lot of cool handmade things waiting in the wings to add to our store but will do it day by day and not all at once. (Above is Frances, an Everyday Angel)<br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 139px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 416px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437564522250236082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXbR-W-IJA6kRfYP8ImXetKF4cbOmbN3Qu1EjnV8d1jX6HuWgyyfNqYx1rMsFbYRMwxJZHGRHW6ueNuJdn_uy2D8IGak1no2WEy5IV0_BfOnq_ItW5IJNKfRmCFqhUqRsPpSt3h76_yo/s400/022.jpg" />Honest Abe is pictured above. (BTW-Happy Birthday today, Mr. President!)</div><div>And below is a bowl hand carved by my husband Ralph:</div><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437566117770112882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy8sb0r19iJYUZyEmko9CYrg7ESonjjrgyPqWdI5wZFmMw-1KQ4h1PJLAPfv4U4ZINU6wO4VgPb1BOqaIVgI5sD5-5jnPe3OpnMZGDt3dLJbwWgKBRvrhdElD0A6sVvinCyZJDr3GU4I/s400/009.JPG" /><br /><br /></div><div><div>Our store is called <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheYellowFarmhouse">The Yellow Farmhouse </a></div><div></div><div>So come on over and check us out sometime.</div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-8599336409765800752009-12-28T19:18:00.001-08:002009-12-28T20:00:05.626-08:00Needle Felted Santas!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420493584254913186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIGk_QpX6rLeIQk1ehkXK57TTngLKC8glwb9tF_JCT6xRx6TAv85ahnG1JciZNxHz5ylbkHJmzA3D4VhHw2hCozPZzo5X5fcpWmNeKXRqdeNbToOMNLzThD1m2b4aLJ5YBETGDNITEaM/s400/Santas+052.JPG" />I figured I'd better post these pictures before Easter comes and no one cares anymore. These are four Santas a local lady commissioned me to make for Christmas this year. These guys are all made from 100% wool and dry needle felted. Basically I use a special barbed needle to poke, poke, poke the wool, compressing and shaping as I go until the doll is firm and in the shape I want. I use a wire armature in all my dolls so they can be gently posed.<br />There are many wonderful tutorials on the internet if you'd like to learn more about needle felting.<br />Here's all four Santas. I apologize for the lack of scale. The largest is about 14 inches tall:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWj0GDg7mipahSwDJfbgkC9ujmXGDdh5DS5218VE5y2po06O-zZL-rY43AUM1zplLAmAF-qGgSxs1_lqZgo1nUUV89zWRJPt7bvdf4LiWA25eJIKSIVxwUj5RmnVwoLZ7O21BWb8d4iw/s1600-h/Santas+053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420494412531949058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWj0GDg7mipahSwDJfbgkC9ujmXGDdh5DS5218VE5y2po06O-zZL-rY43AUM1zplLAmAF-qGgSxs1_lqZgo1nUUV89zWRJPt7bvdf4LiWA25eJIKSIVxwUj5RmnVwoLZ7O21BWb8d4iw/s400/Santas+053.JPG" /></a> This is the smallest. A traditional Santa. I liked his bald head too much to cover it up with a hat:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420494390890816306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcFebpjXupuU7tXU8ZZOaHJsrwXtxKCmXK00yYrkaaBxxWaJu7mLny0hLv2BFG5XZbFUyzhYot8xDKBWGU0EsHbl99vOsj-x-sYMtKJr5I6Q1c77zZ6FEoixl4NdwhZYEZIIVSRv4Sgg/s400/Santas+046.JPG" />Here's a close up of the Old World Santa along with the small traditional guy:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrFH_A25zhoqN6drVTK5eIkoYSTFjjKbG4t1lBD8Z0sgwi6gHrkjwfmWJ4P3ZMGZmC1d6rGMgR9eVe8vvgQkcGH5UaD4iTumpqa7dAfELXsZAdJCyFy8daPPrIDuT1FZ0EpW3ItvoDBc/s1600-h/Santas+060.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420494403954731250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrFH_A25zhoqN6drVTK5eIkoYSTFjjKbG4t1lBD8Z0sgwi6gHrkjwfmWJ4P3ZMGZmC1d6rGMgR9eVe8vvgQkcGH5UaD4iTumpqa7dAfELXsZAdJCyFy8daPPrIDuT1FZ0EpW3ItvoDBc/s400/Santas+060.JPG" /></a> And here's a close up what I called the Jolly Old Elf (left) and Cartoon Santa:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2QtvAY5xWx1WuwCbysksyT-bttS0IW6ADRBX_OJlin04Rx-44rLJ9X_zalhu-w5wfiyjHa7NppCVsMV27ZzC_M1DigxWpE6gJKrT2FbO5O_Om4woR0f8iP3GIn8UZX-9q9z-MH656uA/s1600-h/Santas+059.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420494397899839234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2QtvAY5xWx1WuwCbysksyT-bttS0IW6ADRBX_OJlin04Rx-44rLJ9X_zalhu-w5wfiyjHa7NppCVsMV27ZzC_M1DigxWpE6gJKrT2FbO5O_Om4woR0f8iP3GIn8UZX-9q9z-MH656uA/s400/Santas+059.JPG" /></a>Here's the cartoonish Santa outside. His wrists and ankles are exaggeratedly small. He was fun to make:<br /><div><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420493579193827746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaFrIPdtlF_PdiUA38tdvWpgKHFhY6AT64wzmssDsSI1tcdokpdO5_BX-R0XmND-NbQrWiup5TK-ZuIzCmkQujz_xhlxnv-yp6WqteMQla781_1nrdKfnmItO0oLofg5oHd2FS-jfADI/s400/Santas+051.JPG" />You can't see it but Old World Santa has a red tassel hanging from the back of his hood. I think he's my favorite. <br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8dJFQZCfBbxnu-8rENteXZX1jw7Azusvey0utjm4M0DB5_9EqpJ0uO9hEI5MWdnxBNKy61aWuDHpLrdSvRuDvbdhyphenhyphenP7idcWxMTBT9fb_c4Pgy2MMr2SlWrTAX06t1XAqZkCWqTWcz2s/s1600-h/Santas+034.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420493574356471186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8dJFQZCfBbxnu-8rENteXZX1jw7Azusvey0utjm4M0DB5_9EqpJ0uO9hEI5MWdnxBNKy61aWuDHpLrdSvRuDvbdhyphenhyphenP7idcWxMTBT9fb_c4Pgy2MMr2SlWrTAX06t1XAqZkCWqTWcz2s/s400/Santas+034.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB42dNvgHYC23F6rK69WERMlC65GSRh6lI8FCFPQQKdfX7Qa4DJ65RokEfgXfH8q1aTo2EjABfM5tcNsI4BDZKUwpXr8bI8QYNQ5xIfNyPTsdWGM_ylz3JJedWugPHw1AGzjbELmZlnE/s1600-h/Santas+048.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420493563228220418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB42dNvgHYC23F6rK69WERMlC65GSRh6lI8FCFPQQKdfX7Qa4DJ65RokEfgXfH8q1aTo2EjABfM5tcNsI4BDZKUwpXr8bI8QYNQ5xIfNyPTsdWGM_ylz3JJedWugPHw1AGzjbELmZlnE/s400/Santas+048.JPG" /></a>Here's the Jolly Old Elf outside among the holiday greens. He has vintage shell buttons down his shirt. His hands gave me trouble:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUeB5uRy84l4a6Pq6Rt4Wxl1trU1TwWi9AVDWlg5OmVW83DXidy7eXTUxODAkMW9e_r8dYIsj_rtn7utyRlSxeMByZNEYPx3H1K8KNhjAt3WoYp5Dv5o6pDZN_uYk3SzIXGYtVlsshwg/s1600-h/Santas+039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420493556204225314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUeB5uRy84l4a6Pq6Rt4Wxl1trU1TwWi9AVDWlg5OmVW83DXidy7eXTUxODAkMW9e_r8dYIsj_rtn7utyRlSxeMByZNEYPx3H1K8KNhjAt3WoYp5Dv5o6pDZN_uYk3SzIXGYtVlsshwg/s400/Santas+039.JPG" /></a>Well there they are! I have some more one of a kind needle felted figures almost done and I'm hoping to get my Etsy shop up and running to offer them for sale. Will post when they're available.</div><div>Thanks for letting me share!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-81431365670660692232009-12-21T14:23:00.000-08:002009-12-21T23:45:58.369-08:00Christmas Songs, 2009<p>It occurred to me that every year I seem to glom on to certain Christmas songs. I gravitate toward a new favorite every year and can't seem to get enough of it.</p><p>So here are my top picks for the last few years along with my unsolicited opinions. Be warned: I'll be discussing older singers and songs here. Sorry, but I have no desire to hear Jessica Simpson, SheDaisy or 69Boyz's interpretations of any of the following. (And it also can't help but occur to me that at this late date I have about a million other things I should be doing rather than writing down these opinions. Oh well. Christmas procrastination comes but once a year.)</p><p>A couple of years ago I was all about <strong>Santa Baby</strong> sung by Eartha Kitt. Who can't love her sexy delivery and the hilarious, blatant greed the lyrics espouse? Favorite: <em>"Santa Baby I forgot to mention one little thing. A ring. I don't mean on the phone...."</em>While I love everything about this song I would rather stick a pine needle in my eye than listen to Madonna's recent pouty, babydoll interpretation. I can't switch the radio station fast enough when this comes on. Madonna, the material girl? Please. Sorry Madge, you ain't got nothin' on Miss Kitt, the original material girl. Don't let go of that mink! Grrrr!<br /><br /><a href="http://%3cobject%20width=%22425%22%20height=%22344%22%3e%3cparam%20name=%22movie%22%20value=%22http//www.youtube.com/v/lwcDlxn1LKs&hl=en_US&fs=1&%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowFullScreen%22%20value=%22true%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowscriptaccess%22%20value=%22always%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cembed%20src=%22http://www.youtube.com/v/lwcDlxn1LKs&hl=en_US&fs=1&%22%20type=%22application/x-shockwave-flash%22%20allowscriptaccess=%22always%22%20allowfullscreen=%22true%22%20width=%22425%22%20height=%22344%22%3E%3C/embed%3E%3C/object%3E">http://<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lwcDlxn1LKs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lwcDlxn1LKs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></a><br /><br /><br /></p><p>But this year it's all about Nancy Wilson's <strong>That's What I Want for Christmas</strong>. Here we have the absolute antithesis of Santa Baby's gimme greed. <em>"Anyone can wish for all the trinkets in the window. Some can even buy the things they see. But the presents that I want you'll never find in any window. Bring me love and bring it just for me."</em> It's a wildly romantic song, musically perfect. I love how she effortlessly hits those high notes:</p><p><a href="http://%3cobject%20width=%22560%22%20height=%22340%22%3e%3cparam%20name=%22movie%22%20value=%22http//www.youtube.com/v/xzx1mtfKBbc&hl=en_US&fs=1&%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowFullScreen%22%20value=%22true%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowscriptaccess%22%20value=%22always%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cembed%20src=%22http://www.youtube.com/v/xzx1mtfKBbc&hl=en_US&fs=1&%22%20type=%22application/x-shockwave-flash%22%20allowscriptaccess=%22always%22%20allowfullscreen=%22true%22%20width=%22560%22%20height=%22340%22%3E%3C/embed%3E%3C/object%3E">http://<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xzx1mtfKBbc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xzx1mtfKBbc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></a><br /></p><br /><p>A close runner up this year is Lena Horne's <strong>Jingle All the Way</strong>. Her joy and enthusiasm is infectious in this recording. She sounds like she's having the time of her life, and who wouldn't be with a band like that backing you up? It's my fantasy karaoke pick:</p><p><a href="http://%3cobject%20width=%22425%22%20height=%22344%22%3e%3cparam%20name=%22movie%22%20value=%22http//www.youtube.com/v/r6xYCOFXv9E&hl=en_US&fs=1&%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowFullScreen%22%20value=%22true%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowscriptaccess%22%20value=%22always%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cembed%20src=%22http://www.youtube.com/v/r6xYCOFXv9E&hl=en_US&fs=1&%22%20type=%22application/x-shockwave-flash%22%20allowscriptaccess=%22always%22%20allowfullscreen=%22true%22%20width=%22425%22%20height=%22344%22%3E%3C/embed%3E%3C/object%3E">http://<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/r6xYCOFXv9E&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/r6xYCOFXv9E&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></a><br /></p><p>Last year I was crazy about Dean Martin's <strong>Baby it's Cold Outside</strong>. What a great song! Synopsis: A lady friend has dropped in for a short visit with Dean but now she needs to get home. He tries to convince her to stay. For every excuse she voices why she needs to go he has a more compelling reason why she should stay. The interplay weaves back and forth as such:<br /><em>She: My sister will be suspicious</em><br /><em>He: Man your lips look delicious</em><br />Until finally she relents:<br /><em>She: Well maybe just a half a drink more</em><br /><em>He: Never such a blizzard before</em><br />Dean sells this song with a suave charm that's irresistible. Heck, I'd stay with him, nicotine stains, martini breath and all.<br />The original version is sometimes credited as a duet with Doris Day but if you listen closely you'll hear a soft chorus of female voices, not just one. While Dean carries this song wonderfully on his own this version lacks the intimacy and interplay of the one-on-one lyrics.<br /><br />While I'm usually not a fan of modern singers caroling with the deceased I have to say I break from tradition here and endorse the newer version with Martina McBride singing opposite Dean. You can really hear her side of the song. It works:<br /><br /><a href="http://%3cobject%20width=%22425%22%20height=%22344%22%3e%3cparam%20name=%22movie%22%20value=%22http//www.youtube.com/v/4LyMiqz34LM&hl=en_US&fs=1&%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowFullScreen%22%20value=%22true%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowscriptaccess%22%20value=%22always%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cembed%20src=%22http://www.youtube.com/v/4LyMiqz34LM&hl=en_US&fs=1&%22%20type=%22application/x-shockwave-flash%22%20allowscriptaccess=%22always%22%20allowfullscreen=%22true%22%20width=%22425%22%20height=%22344%22%3E%3C/embed%3E%3C/object%3E">http://<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4LyMiqz34LM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4LyMiqz34LM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></a><br /><br />But whatever you do please don't picture Miss Mc Bride and Dean Martin together acting out this song in a modern music video. If you do the age difference suddenly turns the cozy banter into a decidedly creepy and inapropriate exchange. And Dean morphs into a lecherous old drunk determined to make this sweet young thing his latest victim:<br /><br /><em>She: "I ought to say no no no sir" He: "Mind if I move closer"</em><br /><em>She: "The answer is no" He: Ooh darlin' it's cold outside</em><br /><br />Hey! No means no, you jerk!</p><p><br />Clearly the only sensible course of action is for Martina to throw his drink in his face, knee him in the crotch and make a run for it, blizzard or no blizzard.<br /><br />But please don't think about that. It kind of ruins the song and I'm sorry I brought it up.<br /><br />And lastly, I know I won't be making any friends here espousing my dislike of Michael Buble. I'm not sure where my distaste originates but it has something to do with Sinatra. Sorry Michael, you're not Frank and you never will be. Get over it and move on with your life. Sing commercial jingles. Better yet learn how to play the piano, set your tip jar on top and park yourself in the corner of the lounge at the Holiday Inn near the airport. This is a more fitting use of your talents. Because every time I hear you I picture good old Nick Winters (or Summers, depending on the time of year):<br /><a href="http://%3cembed%20src=%22http//xml.truveo.com/eb/i/2894242509/a/5f62953ab8dba73576711df5b5a4d647/p/1%22%20quality=%22high%22%20bgcolor=%22#000000" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width=" 425" height=" 347" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain"><br />via <a title="Bill Murray as the lounge singer Nick Winters from SNL" href="http://www.videosift.com/video/Bill-Murray-as-the-lounge-singer-Nick-Winters-from-SNL">videosift.com</a>'>http://<embed height="347" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="425" src="http://xml.truveo.com/eb/i/2894242509/a/5f62953ab8dba73576711df5b5a4d647/p/1" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain"></embed><br />via <a title="Bill Murray as the lounge singer Nick Winters from SNL" href="http://www.videosift.com/video/Bill-Murray-as-the-lounge-singer-Nick-Winters-from-SNL"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">videosift</span>.com</a></a><br /><br />Thank you! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Thankyouverymuch</span>! I love you all! I'll be here all week!<br /><br />Merry Christmas!<br /><br /><br />PS-Perhaps in a fit of musical rebellion my husband has recently become infatuated with The Ventures Christmas album. Don't miss their rendition of Sleigh Ride. Because if there's a musical style that glorifies the birth of our Lord and Saviour better than surf guitar I just don't know what it is.. </p>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-88019136312152390422009-11-23T21:50:00.000-08:002009-11-23T22:50:20.169-08:00Fruitcake? Fruitcake!I understand why fruitcake has been given a bad rap. I won't go near the stuff in the store. Too sweet. Too artificial. I do like most homemade fruitcake and I especially like the one I make.<br /><br />Why do I make fruitcake? There are many reasons. Because I can make it well ahead of time and it just gets better. It's money in the bank. I love the convenience of pulling some out of the fridge and slicing it up when guests pop in. It's perfect with tea or a hot toddy. I travels and ships extremely well.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div>Because when your <a href="http://storybookwoods.typepad.com/storybook_woods/2009/11/fruitcake-time.html">friend Clarice</a> also makes fruitcake you can swap and have more than one kind! </div><div></div><div>But most of all I love fruitcake because within each bite I recall the tastes of the the fruit of summer coupled with the nuts and spices of autumn infused with the heady spirits of the new year. What could be better? </div><div><br />So why this post about fruitcake? Because after making at least a dozen fruitcakes every year for a solid 13 Christmases now I feel like I've got a couple tricks to pass along that might make things easier for the novice: </div><div><br />1) If you dry some of your own fruit like I do cut it up in a large dice before you dry it. (It's much easier to cut up the fruit fresh rather than after it's dried.)</div><div><br />2) Make your cakes as early in the season as you can. Before Halloween is ideal, though around Thanksgiving is fine too. I have a friend who makes her fruitcakes in January for the coming holiday! (The amazing part is her recipe has no booze and yet the cakes keep very well!) It's so nice to have these done before the Christmas rush starts in earnest. </div><div></div><div>3) My biggest tip: Do not bother with cheesecloth or brushing on the booze. It's so messy and time-consuming! Note my method of dipping the cakes in the brandy. All sides get covered well and it's so easy! </div><div><br />This recipe is nothing more than dried fruit and whole nuts barely held together with a bit of applesauce cake batter and aged in apricot brandy. It's like everything you like to nibble on in one tasty package! Use whatever fruit and nuts you have on hand or are partial to. I like to go heavy on the apricots because they're tart and contrast well with the sweeter fruits and the batter. I dry my own apricots every year especially for Christmas baking because I hate the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sulphered</span>, tasteless apricots in the store. If you have a source for apricots that actually taste like apricots, go for it. If not, consider drying your own. I dry cherries, figs, prunes, pears, apples and apricots each year for my fruitcakes. The combination varies each year depending on how our trees produce and what I can pick up by the case from the farm stand. I make up the difference from the bulk section of the store. </div><div><br />You want 10 cups of dried fruit, cut into a large dice:<br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407547622453158626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnOsuAR0vLEAhoTPjsp3HZnKUc7KjgDlw1y5DW53J8_VKx5PZ5m-oxWG-yRK31J5-1iu9qXiWcShUEYXND8BWcW2SqHNEtP79ou9nQFPhgrVsFzODhyphenhyphennehpj6sMahVlZryiDz0RBWMTs/s400/fruitcake+102.JPG" border="0" />Here's a suggested combination:<br /><div>2 c apricots</div><div>1 c cranberries</div><div>2 c figs or cherries<br />1 c golden raisins</div><div>2 c pears</div><div>2 c apples<br /></div><div>Pour 1c apricot brandy over this fruit, cover, and let it set for a few hours or overnight until it has softened a bit. </div><br /><div>Now get your nuts together in a large bowl. I like to go heavy on the hazelnuts and pecans but again, use what you have or like. One year I happened to have a lot of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">brazil</span> nuts and they were lovely in the fruitcake.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407547628216867474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAtGguoSAaeAiwV5cphEd7ksAm_2wrm0vNfnTA_qyJkswYgolo_lTzncWFB7r3XxCJ1cnT_mksiWuKoBUeBrjqfgf80HTbiGfcrQpSKMkrfsBSKO64Ibiz8Ma0yJ2yPzBJDEut_P_7ZY/s400/fruitcake+103.JPG" border="0" />A total of 7 cups assorted whole nuts: </div><div>3 c pecans</div><div>1 c almonds</div><div>1 c walnuts</div><div>2 c hazelnuts, lightly toasted and skins rubbed off with a dishtowel </div><br /><div>Sift together the dry ingredients: </div><div>3 c all purpose flour</div><div>2 tsp baking powder</div><div>1 tsp salt</div><div>2 tsp cinnamon</div><div>1/2 tsp nutmeg</div><div>1/2 tsp allspice</div><div>1/2 tsp cloves </div><br /><div>Whisk wet ingredients together in bowl: </div><div>4 large eggs, beaten well</div><div>1 3/4 c brown sugar, packed</div><div>1 1/4 apple or pear sauce</div><div>3/4 c melted butter, cooled</div><div>1/2 c molasses </div><br /><div>Got everything together? Now comes the fun part. First, throw the flour mixture over the nuts and mix well: </div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407547634367353474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaMF4dKE6VpebBtd-W-Amzq8-fDqNxfMOa6FvcpIlbCWHVotXjSR8ZE3bfVv6UNeI9meekX4X0CnqQoQ3CaKm7SfAkHuRvwJcxFeK92omxh20VD00vGrJ6pZmkLbnctUV0lRArJEtynM/s400/fruitcake+104.JPG" border="0" />Then combine the nut/flour mixture with the fruit (in the biggest darned bowl you've got):<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407547642509548274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxh_fa5C61elvglJmJdVlcKxburyJBw4WLhyYQjH5mNmjxG_dF-jZu4uzHNkOtaLDWUcC9b0CTcFGnFi3M6Fswb3A-4uDGRbKdgCmhlNbb93SnCmS3ICE5MVgRsfdh10SU0geCGyEXas/s400/fruitcake+116.JPG" border="0" />The last thing you do is pour the egg mixture over all this and mix until you don't see any more flour-coated fruit or nuts:<br /><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407547650073221058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfhyCV_rXX8OdnAAbv1e6WvinaOsd_ALsBqXEOjZ4eQ-YRKtja4_Un2KuEz7v8YccvIn7GJHgNc-zwn7wgAppE3e_-MXP9C57M20qumzw8ss1-MpfrL7dHjjjLfdIzeqIOv3HfGpC7QY/s400/fruitcake+117.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Then divide this chunky mixture into 8 or 9 greased mini loaf pans. Be sure to pack it down so it fills the corners:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407551039164695586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0Ow8cEvE1_Csz8lCfcE31k9NIdVOU8exN_Z6Vf2fxvAcOkW2K7173_8B2OUiSBWXrrVPSRVr4C6Q4BqOAz0JqbELaRHhrmR_qt-O6ZM8o8Fc_44E951C-hdyReM98DPtpyxT1Ko5FZY/s400/fruitcake+121.JPG" border="0" /><br />Bake at 300 degrees for at least 1 hour. Shift the pans around halfway through baking. When done the cakes should be a deep mahogany color and spring back when touched. </div><div></div><div>Let cool for 15 minutes then remove from pan. (I like to firmly tap the pans on the counter on each side so they let go. If some fruit sticks to the pan just press it back on the cake. It will meld back together. ) Let cool.</div><br /><div>In a regular sized loaf pan (preferably glass) pour at least 1/2 inch of apricot brandy:</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407551045111468130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bj1p_HHKr_gUOkERDFlZydiqnjWxjZ-mGjDQ8bBhYzbz0O2jbMzjRx8ib3P70Dk5DWLCIMJf5SuYLwEHBAzlnyOAf_hOu47CqgvndSgYYrA_PGoof5RxWm13hnHeSoqi9BujB3x1S_w/s400/fruitcake+122.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Dip each side of every fruitcake into the brandy and set in a waxed paper-lined pan. Wrap the whole pan up well and refrigerate.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407551052304981378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C9yxTigf6BwZjQ2ISoD1EveXF4ddbWCgT5rlhq7eBhoOJqpffAXMvVKhXGnqB5k14AIAMKnC0tuY_x6L6maeKIv8EshuzVfvVeYiCgUXDMARYCyRwb91lMf9i1ywUNrfRImUN39CiE8/s400/fruitcake+125.JPG" border="0" />Don't have room in your fridge? No worries. Your cakes will probably be even better if stored at cool room temperature. Find a cool spot in your basement or even your garage. Put cakes in an airtight, tamper-proof container out of the way and let them sit for a couple weeks.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407551062932967602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk3OWegYbPJkjMX_fKKakHExB-vK0iM77bDzjKKuiCWhpumrfvb4G4DDPQ-ujHNOwUu-tTG0MB-NsaVKFT-cgDPwddKqYCtFWRPlKoYgSqWlk-KRaBPHNzvJHAddsiENy1RB_guyMYcY/s400/fruitcake+129.JPG" border="0" />After a couple weeks have passed in storage, take them out and repeat the dipping process once more. </div><div>You're done! You can wrap them up individually for gift giving. I like to cut a few loaves in half and wrap up these up too. (Dip cut side in brandy). I like to wrap them in plastic wrap or waxed paper and cover this with aluminum foil and finish with a red ribbon. They'll be at their best in a couple more weeks but for now your work is done and the rest is all pleasure! </div><div></div><div>And just in case you think kids don't like fruitcake? My 6 year old saw the cakes cooling on the rack and he said "Fruitcake! Yum yum diddly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">dum</span>!" </div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-71513432852620086742009-08-17T23:01:00.000-07:002009-08-18T00:00:12.090-07:00Sculpting, Salsa, and That Darned Maid<div align="justify">Certain people (you know who you are) have been nagging me to post something to my blog. I'll admit I am way behind on this. After my dad died I had visions of throwing myself into a creative whirlwind, transforming the ideas in my head into tangible objects and generally getting back into the swing of things.<br /><br />But alas, it's been a slow process.<br /><br />My creative space is still the repository of many of my dad's papers and things that I have to go through and organize. AND we adopted a kitty a couple months ago and she terrorized my poor canaries so much that they (and their large cage) have also moved into the studio (so we can shut them safely behind the door). So my favorite creative space is very much occupied right now. BUT- </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>SCULPTING</strong></span></div><div align="justify">I'm so excited because I just signed up for a fun, creative, figurative sculpture workshop with an artist I've wanted to work with for a long time,<a href="http://www.fecher-gramstad.com/inspiration/released.html"> Debbie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Fecher</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gramstad</span></span>.</a> She's technically a wonderful sculptor but more than that her work has expressive emotion, freedom of form and movement that I find so exciting. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I've been communicating with her via email for, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">geez</span></span>, a couple years now and either because of timing or my family obligations I've been unable to sign up for her workshop. Well I have time now SO I DID IT! It's a small workshop of 8 students held in Debbie's studio for 3 hours every Tuesday night for 6 weeks! I can hardly wait until it begins in October ( **sigh** so far away) .</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">So after I registered for her class I e-mailed her to ask if there was anything I could do to prepare for the workshop. I was thinking I could practice something.. like forming hands out of paper <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mache</span></span> or sculpting a series of my kid's faces in all their moods out of butter or something. You know, something technical like that. (Coming from a family of musicians I know very well that one prepares for a workshop by practicing arpeggios, scales, or the Bach inventions to get your fingers loose and your mind tuned up. I was thinking along these lines.)</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Know how she told me to prepare for her class? This is a direct quote:</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><em>"The best preparation you can do is to visualize how much FUN this is going to be! And then …let go and be open!"<br /></em><br />Wow. I'm not used to that kind of preparation.<br /><br />Did I already say I can't wait? Well I can't. I think I'm looking forward to having permission and a specific time each week to let the right side of my brain take the stage for a while.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">SALSA!</span> (The condiment. Not the dance)<br /></strong>So hubby and I canned 27 pints of salsa yesterday. The salsa is tasty, it will save us money and is very satisfying to see lined up on the shelves with the other preserved food. (Because, you know, if the economy collapses I simply must have something into which to dip my black market tortilla chips.)</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The link to the recipe is <a href="http://www.recipezaar.com/Wonderful-Salsa-9272">here</a>. I figured those many positive reviews couldn't all be bogus. I tripled the recipe (but I did NOT add 3 cups of jalapenos!) and added cilantro and fresh lime juice.<br /><br />Anyway, I peeled, seeded and diced 20 pounds of tomatoes. I started processing the tomatoes early in the morning before my family woke up in order to get a head start. And I have dried tomato seeds on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">jammies</span></span> to prove it. In fact, the whole business really did make a mess. Which leads me to my next subject:<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">THAT DARNED MAID</span><br /></strong>She really does a crappy job. I'll admit, this house can get to be a mess. But honestly, that maid of mine is a total incompetent. It's almost like she doesn't exist at all. I curse her regularly. And for some reason, cursing her lack of work ethic and general incompetence makes me feel better about having to do her job. The kids are used to this and share my opinions. "That darned maid" they say. "Yeah.." I sigh.<br /><br />Sometimes I halfway believe she's there but this is only when I'm so tired from the day and so totally exhausted at the monotony of cleaning the kitchen *yet again* that I forget (or block out?) that it was me who actually did it. I'll walk by on my way to the back door and think "My, she did a nice job tonight!"<br /><br />I guess this is why I keep her on. That and I really don't want to have to pay back employment taxes if I fire her and she gets vengeful and turns me in to the IRS. Hey, she said she wanted to work under the table! (She just doesn't want to clean the floor while she's under there.)<br /><br />Plus she's the closest I've ever had to an imaginary friend. Okay, imaginary incompetent employee.....you know what I mean.<br /><br />I'll stop now. More to come, I swear.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">xxxoxoxo</span></span> </div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-31739927028897556442009-06-09T06:59:00.000-07:002009-06-09T07:36:57.229-07:00Millet Polenta<div align="justify">Okay, this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">isn't</span> an exciting post full of pictures about my latest project. That's coming, I promise. But I tried a new recipe last night and it was SO GOOD I had to share it with you.</div><br /><div align="justify">It was a warm day and we hadn't had beans in a while so I cooked up some black beans and made a Southwest-inspired black bean salad/salsa kind of thing. I put in a lot of fresh lime juice and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cilantro</span>. It was good.</div><br /><div align="justify">Then I recalled a particularly good version of this salad that I made out of a Lorna Sass vegetarian cookbook a year ago. Then, as I tend to do , I looked up the recipe online after I had already made the salad. (You know, to see how I *should* have made it.) Anyway, <a href="http://lornasassatlarge.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/millet-timbales-with-black-bean-salsa/">this recipe </a>came up.<br />-</div><div align="justify">While it's not the exact recipe I was thinking of I thought the Millet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Timbale</span> aspect of it was intriguing enough to try. I had all the ingredients on hand anyway. So I made it. Let me say it was <em><strong>awesome</strong></em>. I've made millet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">polenta</span> before but something about the scallions and the addition of the buttermilk takes this one to another level. It's tangy and rich and wonderful. I had some underneath my black bean salsa and poured the rest in a pan to solidify. I'm trying to think of something else to slap on top of it today.</div><div align="justify">-</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>Lorna Sass' Millet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Timbales</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Polenta</span>)</strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">3 scallions<br />1 cup hulled millet, picked over and rinsed<br />4 cups boiling water<br />1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste<br />2 tablespoons olive oil<br />1/2 cup well-shaken low-fat buttermilk, plus more if needed<br />Freshly ground black pepper<br /><br />Trim off the root ends of the scallions, then cut the white and light-green parts crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces, keeping the white parts separate.</div><div align="justify">-<br />Place a medium Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the millet; toast it for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently until the grains become fragrant and begin to pop. Gradually add the boiling water, being careful to avoid the initial rush of steam from the pot. Add the white parts of the scallions and the salt, stirring to mix well. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-low; cook, stirring once or twice, for 15 to 18 minutes, until the millet is tender and most or all of the water has been absorbed. Some grains may still have a little crunch. </div><div align="justify">-<br />When the millet has become tender, whisk in the oil and enough buttermilk to create the consistency of a soft <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">polenta</span>. Add the scallion greens and stir to combine. Season with the pepper, and add salt as needed.</div><div align="justify">-<br />If you wish, divide the millet mixture among the ramekins; let it sit for 3 minutes. Working with one at a time, place an individual serving plate over each ramekin and invert so the millet is dislodged onto each plate. Or pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Let it cool, solidify then cut into squares.</div><div align="justify">- </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Enjoy!</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-77563946933992189152009-06-04T18:54:00.000-07:002009-06-04T19:18:19.326-07:00I'm Coming Back.....<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQ0YNLmvxPgUom04V2fvgYRj7Ur-uMJAAFJ43C_Zwu8V_ItcA-uwe5n6-B3VYzKZdJb7zfjCkw5WUWiRE_VwAxsm2rYVw4dXiBex3N_KFDb6Uw8SM2O-wgj5c4GWymCbcQfWZrWWBrGg/s1600-h/Antique+rose.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343661289168000578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQ0YNLmvxPgUom04V2fvgYRj7Ur-uMJAAFJ43C_Zwu8V_ItcA-uwe5n6-B3VYzKZdJb7zfjCkw5WUWiRE_VwAxsm2rYVw4dXiBex3N_KFDb6Uw8SM2O-wgj5c4GWymCbcQfWZrWWBrGg/s400/Antique+rose.jpg" border="0" /></a>Just a quick note to let everyone know I'll be back soon. My dad's memorial service was a couple days ago and now I have no more pressing obligations. The garden is coming up, I just picked the first of my roses and the creative juices are starting to flow. I am SO done with knitting socks for a while....</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Thanks for all your heartfelt messages. This past 18 months have been very difficult but they've certainly taught me a lot. Not the least of which is that death is inevitable so I should breathe deep of that wonderful late spring fragrance in the air and appreciate my life. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I like something Tasha Tudor once said. I have this quote pinned on the wall in my studio:</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">"But it's interesting to go back in ones mind, over what you've done in your youth, and then you realize that every day that passes you have one day less in this fantastic world, and you should make the most of it. But I think so few people appreciate what a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">privilege</span> it is to live in this beautiful world. And it is a beautiful world."</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-54733897376237700122009-04-27T07:36:00.000-07:002009-04-27T07:41:08.365-07:00To Those Who MournMy dad left this earth this morning.<br /><br />I like the following excerpt and would like to share it with you:<br /><br /><br /><strong>To Those Who Mourn</strong><br /><br />For that is the real truth:<br />man <em>is</em> a soul and <em>has</em> a body.<br />The body is not the man; it is only the clothing of a man.<br />What you call death is the laying aside of a worn-out garment,<br />and is no more the end of the man than it is the end of you<br />when you remove your coat.<br />Therefore you have not lost your friend;<br />you have only lost sight of the cloak<br />in which you were accustomed to see him.<br />The cloak is gone, but the man who wore it is not;<br />Surely it is the man that you love and not the garment.<br /><br />C.W. Leadbeater<br /><br /><br />Thanks to everyone for your kindness and support during this difficult time.<br /><br />Love, AngieAngiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-57968176336702499982009-04-09T19:48:00.000-07:002009-04-09T21:22:45.269-07:00Cancer and the Washing Machine<div align="justify">My dad is a musician. He is dying from colon cancer with diabetic complications. He is spending his last weeks at a wonderful Hospice Care Center. I visit him every day. He is bedridden and can't do much of anything for himself anymore. His gradual physical (and now mental) deterioration has been difficult to witness. </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">\</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Hardest of all for him has been the loss of fine motor control in his hands due to diabetic neuropathy. He can no longer play the piano. More than walking, more so than even going to the bathroom by himself I believe, he regrets this loss. And what a wonderful player he was. </div><div align="justify">\</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Though classically trained in piano and French Horn he has a great love for jazz and a fabulous ear. Interesting chords, harmonies, progressions and improvisation interest him tremendously. From the time he was barely out of his teens he played jazz piano for extra money while in the Navy and later on in college. After he landed his steady job in the horn section of the Seattle Symphony in 1964 he still played clubs and traveled up and down the West Coast with a jazz combo during the breaks in the symphony season. </div><div align="justify">\</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Over the past few months while he's been in and out of nursing homes, various physical therapists have looked at his chart, noted his career as a musician and wheeled him up to the nearest piano. The idea was that the exercise of something so familiar and ingrained in his "muscle memory" would help him recover some movement in his hands. When he tried and his hands couldn't act upon his brain's commands it only broke his heart. He refused to continue with the therapy.<br />______________________________________________________________</div><div align="justify">\</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Today I slipped away from my dad's bedside for an hour to run some errands and pop into the local thrift shop. One of the first things I found was a beautiful, traditional Aran cardigan; hand knit in 100% natural cream wool . The label said "Hand Knit By Jane Manheimer". And what a sweater! It was so well done I found myself congratulating this unknown woman out loud as I examined her handiwork. </div><div align="justify">\</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">"Jane, look at your gorgeous cables and bobbles and diamonds! Oh my gosh, you knit back and forth on straight needles and sewed it up, didn't you? You didn't knit in the round? No? Knitting back and forth in these patterns is so difficult! And look how well you finished it! Wow! You really know what you're doing. I see no mistakes at all. I wonder who you knit this for?" </div><div align="justify">\</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Anyone looking at me certainly thought I was nuts. I fit right in with the homeless guy two rows over in the men's section, babbling drunkenly to himself. But I was so truly so excited I wanted to grab the nearest shopper by the arm (even the drunk guy) and make them appreciate Jane's talent and skill as evidenced by this perfectly knitted sweater. </div><div align="justify">\</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Then I tried it on. </div><div align="justify">\</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Yes, it was too small for me but it wasn't too small because it was knit for a child or because I was too big. It was too small because some idiot had thrown this beautiful product of Jane Manheimer's skill, time and talent in the washing machine and ruined it. The washing machine had not only shrunken the sweater, it had misshapen it in such a way that no one of any size could ever properly wear it. </div><div align="justify">\</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Being a great lover of recycled sweater projects I tried to think of a use for Jane's poor, shrunken sweater. A part of a doll? A throw pillow? ????? Thinking that the use would come to me if I carried it around long enough, I hugged the sweater as I browsed. I reluctantly hung it back up before I left. I don't think I have the heart to cut into Jane's sweater, even in the hope of resurrecting it. </div><div align="justify">\</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Then it occurred to me that Jane Manheimer and my dad have a lot in common. My dad's diabetes and cancer are the idiot and the washing machine, ruining the results of skill, time, talent and love. </div><div align="justify">\<br />I got back in the car and drove the few blocks back to my dad. Later as I drove home I regretted that I had to leave both my dad and Jane's sweater behind. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">\<br />I only hope Jane never knew what became of her lovely sweater. </div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-16245005206669618682009-02-20T19:09:00.000-08:002009-02-20T19:22:48.387-08:00Granola Bar Love<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicOOH-hICuT2Cub3UPgWu4NuNBOLWGiVcGHIG7zk3qvlPs5uUbNYVpuvHRFxWJIXPWtnwHkCvGlDcD8rdcJwhTkH5LSAvV-hEKOx9bYIxXFsFzN7paZtHSYPwlh_GUvgBtIA5WMmIOtQ/s1600-h/granola+bars+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305084044353887362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicOOH-hICuT2Cub3UPgWu4NuNBOLWGiVcGHIG7zk3qvlPs5uUbNYVpuvHRFxWJIXPWtnwHkCvGlDcD8rdcJwhTkH5LSAvV-hEKOx9bYIxXFsFzN7paZtHSYPwlh_GUvgBtIA5WMmIOtQ/s400/granola+bars+008.jpg" border="0" /></a>Remember what Alvy Singer says to Annie Hall when she asks if he loves her? "Love is too weak a word." he says. "I <em>lerve</em> you. I <em>luff</em> you. There are two f's."<br /><br />Oddly enough, I think of this very exchange when I eat one of these granola bars. My sentiments surpass love and move on to lerve. And I don't go there often.<br />These bars are crunchy. They're chewy. They're sweet but not too much. They're a treat that's healthy enough to grab for a quick breakfast. <div><br /><div>Now that I've talked them up so much you'll try the recipe and shrug. "Eh? " You'll say. "What's the big deal?" Maybe you won't luff them. But I'm willing to bet you'll like them pretty well. What follows is the recipe that I've tweaked and that I like. The parentheses show variations that you may prefer to the original. </div><br /><div><br /><strong>Chewy Crunchy Granola Bars </strong><br /><br /></div><div>2 c rolled oats</div><div>1 c unsweetened coconut</div><div>1 c sliced or whole almonds</div><div>1/2 c oat bran (or wheat germ)</div><div>1/2-3/4 c dates, diced</div><div>1/2-3/4 c dried cranberries (or any other dried fruit)</div><div>3 Tb butter or coconut oil (or canola)</div><div>2/3 c rice syrup (or part agave, honey or maple syrup-any natural liquid sweetener)</div><div>1/4 c Rapadura (or sucanat or brown sugar)</div><div>1/2 tsp sea salt</div><div>1 tsp vanilla<br /><br />Mix oats, coconut and sliced almonds (if using) in 9x13 pan. Toast in a 350 oven for 5-10 minutes or until lightly toasted. You may have to stir this once halfway through. (If you're using whole almonds toast separately and chop)<br /><br />In large bowl combine oat bran (or wheat germ) with dried fruit. Mix well to keep sticky fruit from clumping together. Add oat mixture to this when it's finished toasting. Lower oven temp to 300.<br /><br />Line your 9x13 pan with aluminum foil and grease it.<br /><br />Combine oil or butter, liquid sweetener, Rapadura (or brown sugar), and salt in sauce pan. Bring to boil and cook 2 - 3 minutes. No more! Take off heat. Stir in vanilla.<br /><br />Pour over oat and fruit mixture and stir well to combine. With wet hands, press into pan.<br /><br />Bake for about 10-15 minutes, until lightly browned on top.<br /><br />When cool enough to handle use aluminum foil to lift the whole thing onto cooling rack. Cut into bars. Store airtight.<br /><br /><strong><em>Tips and Variations</em></strong><br />If you use a sweeter sweetener (like honey) use dried fruit on the tart side (like cranberries). If you use mostly rice syrup (not so sweet) go for a sweeter fruit.<br /><br /><em>Chocolate Chewy Granola Bars</em>: Sprinkle with chocolate when bars come out of oven. Spread it out as it melts.<br /><br /><em>Sweet and Salty</em>: I haven't tried this yet but I think it would be GREAT in this recipe: Simply replace the almonds with 1 1 /2 cups salted mixed nuts. Proceed as usual. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305084039811066098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQKzzXUzeZvS2IDgAxMp_NC1iCBvhrWSG-iT6F6qIFJnF9Wdk4c8VldeIDlhtVnGAOj36wUK4bNulN1oCtGg2yGzKDmrUL5zBm6WYxznLL3iIJFT1EGmoAo1hcmJ3MiYWSMEbMacLQPs/s400/granola+bars+003.jpg" border="0" /></div><br />And don't forget to enjoy one of those lerve-ly granola bars with a double short soy latte with a bit of orange peel and lots of foam. Ooooo! Enjoy!Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-91990253915809742882009-01-24T18:44:00.000-08:002009-01-24T19:35:59.885-08:00Hey Hey, Let's Knit a Beret!<div align="justify"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n8ciV4sbenmcXRecCkae_y2jDYjxRRhSUiBVMazPrKdXT6rO-iY0gMyx8CGrwt8ZjXii6SIaVndiKZXaWglcf-OLgz4ogZQaMhWwZmImlt4P46ugHKKN-fSvM29ufcXXhsESdZGKCLo/s1600-h/Angie+and+her+beret+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295059179909235282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n8ciV4sbenmcXRecCkae_y2jDYjxRRhSUiBVMazPrKdXT6rO-iY0gMyx8CGrwt8ZjXii6SIaVndiKZXaWglcf-OLgz4ogZQaMhWwZmImlt4P46ugHKKN-fSvM29ufcXXhsESdZGKCLo/s400/Angie+and+her+beret+033.jpg" border="0" /></a>Okay, so it all started three days ago when we were loading the kids into the truck for a jaunt up to chilly Port Townsend. Everybody had a warm hat except me. I was reduced to wearing the kitty hat I knit for my 10 year old when she was a toddler. This was ridiculous. I grabbed some yarn I spun and dyed with madder root and whatever needles I thought might work and knit my way up to P.T. and back. I kind of winged this hat at the beginning then when I got home I found a pattern I could loosely follow for the remainder of the hat (namely the decreases).</div><div align="justify"><br /><br /></div><div align="justify">I must say, I have Elizabeth Zimmermann to thank for this fearless leap into knitting improvisation. I love that woman.<br /></div><div align="justify">So here's what I did:<br /></div><div align="justify">I did a gauge swatch (thank you, Mrs. Zimmermann) to figure out how many stitches to the inch I got from my yarn with my needles. 4 stitches to the inch. Okay, I knew I was going for a 21 inch circumference around my head so I just multiplied 4x21=84. That was how many stitches I cast on. I worked a garter stitch brim for about an inch then doubled my stitches all at once by M1 (knit in the front and back of the same stitch) all the way around . Now I had 168 stitches and I just knit in the round like crazy until I determined it was time to decrease. From then on I pretty much followed the instructions at <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/beret-purl/2006/12/15/beret-pattern.html">Purl Bee</a>.<br /></div><div align="justify">When I was done the thing pretty much looked like a shapeless mass:<br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLoIovsjdOA5RyAe0_jBj8zoWn2NKp0JY6Jb7UctwIU45KoyZ_vA0UhGpQrL6Pwu6RtERtMKxdwRdeojbpr03XnvWNgSl4F4bU9JORYRbK0bV4-pxNvOJ0d2NknMuG64lXbS9muHAk0c/s1600-h/Angie+and+her+beret+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295059177372502626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLoIovsjdOA5RyAe0_jBj8zoWn2NKp0JY6Jb7UctwIU45KoyZ_vA0UhGpQrL6Pwu6RtERtMKxdwRdeojbpr03XnvWNgSl4F4bU9JORYRbK0bV4-pxNvOJ0d2NknMuG64lXbS9muHAk0c/s400/Angie+and+her+beret+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /></div><p align="justify"></p><div align="justify"><br /><br /></div><p align="justify"></p><div align="justify"><br /><br /></div><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify">So I washed it , spun it out and shaped it around a large dinner plate to dry into a beret-like shape. Here's a top view. I like the irregularities in the dyed wool:</p><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoV-JBhZL5fJRRhyphenhyphenYd2u_bPqLcDlMYoJb88u34aQxMsmCpc6uVm5CqVr77b9nQCXa7ypa6pHV4fyAaEGJ-_gN6D257ZUaNXQz2QIkzPxjHitiAOnfDUnfCXVsdKSJx6rkUz7Q8s9rp1s/s1600-h/Angie+and+her+beret+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295064198884825986" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoV-JBhZL5fJRRhyphenhyphenYd2u_bPqLcDlMYoJb88u34aQxMsmCpc6uVm5CqVr77b9nQCXa7ypa6pHV4fyAaEGJ-_gN6D257ZUaNXQz2QIkzPxjHitiAOnfDUnfCXVsdKSJx6rkUz7Q8s9rp1s/s400/Angie+and+her+beret+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjai1CBCu7INpBlkvfXO1dCiBIQPL3SgoA02CsC2ueO2vSn5eZoPpZhk717yGl9xV8gFjMq25RAXBB_Z0W30_7rxO-twvwCE6icSkc061G5pMX3puv-OEqtaSM1uN_jBJdvBPRNegvIc/s1600-h/Angie+and+her+beret+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295059188550226562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjai1CBCu7INpBlkvfXO1dCiBIQPL3SgoA02CsC2ueO2vSn5eZoPpZhk717yGl9xV8gFjMq25RAXBB_Z0W30_7rxO-twvwCE6icSkc061G5pMX3puv-OEqtaSM1uN_jBJdvBPRNegvIc/s400/Angie+and+her+beret+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvBNnp-HTCSUEgxlW8XX9qEzxZ2SNXfK1twaDCCVVZzS37XZk56DM5lNF-SYHNl9D_Y6-3vfq_buhXOrEmRupjWb-BHFK5xBqvoHXcEbA42q0ZdiTNrIVWNUJ7x6GNvB-_ZB28ihqViA/s1600-h/Angie+and+her+beret+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295059184427943602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvBNnp-HTCSUEgxlW8XX9qEzxZ2SNXfK1twaDCCVVZzS37XZk56DM5lNF-SYHNl9D_Y6-3vfq_buhXOrEmRupjWb-BHFK5xBqvoHXcEbA42q0ZdiTNrIVWNUJ7x6GNvB-_ZB28ihqViA/s400/Angie+and+her+beret+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Then I put it on a rack over the wood cookstove to dry m<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxNHPlZOJZxi2KtvOQGiDbyCtarcDosVfnkrdNWPGEs6qwxzdnwLH4fswHcJEBGtOplpipM-_GUgaG5zZFXhpoDlEOBpxokyh1CWGIKWwS9cld28Ki8J85UdGpvMtP-RUrCON3Wjeuyo/s1600-h/Angie+and+her+beret+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295064197153513538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxNHPlZOJZxi2KtvOQGiDbyCtarcDosVfnkrdNWPGEs6qwxzdnwLH4fswHcJEBGtOplpipM-_GUgaG5zZFXhpoDlEOBpxokyh1CWGIKWwS9cld28Ki8J85UdGpvMtP-RUrCON3Wjeuyo/s400/Angie+and+her+beret+013.jpg" border="0" /></a>ore quickly. I'm impatient, I know.<br /></div><p align="justify">I stuck a pin on the thing and viola! A hat! I may have to needle felt a flower or something to decorate it but for now this will do. And now I have something warm to wear that doesn't' have a kitty on it! </p>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-29469466381942101822009-01-18T19:26:00.000-08:002009-01-18T19:53:59.491-08:00To Dye For<div>Omigosh. How much fun is it to dye yarn? Lots! How scary is it to risk ruining the wool you spent hours spinning and plying? A bit...<br /><br /></div><div><div align="justify">My friend <a href="http://patchworkpastiche.blogspot.com/">Mary</a> and I have knitting and dyeing aspirations for the new year. Thanks to a couple Christmas gift certificates (thanks Connie and Mom!) I signed up for a beginning Fair Isle class at our wonderful local <a href="http://www.churchmouseyarns.com/">Churchmouse Yarn and Teas</a>. I needed a few colored yarns for the class so I thought I'd try dyeing my yarn with Wilton Food Colors. They're concentrated, they're safe, they're color fast and they're cheap ($1.49 each at Wal Mart). What's not to like? </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I started with Shetland roving I spun and triple-plied. I thought the grey wool would keep the colors a little muted. Yeah, right.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAM4xytqJkzreOSJvvt4ie-vTshYR7ofGUvslIeSdkaKSoOAA9uA_PfH1SGLqLZ8d7y0L_NmmOh0J3ZFRjOlUXEi1UGBO5e3LHzfunVY9TGLLvBeUtnsy8_P_nuXDv2gM945c9Be0Hby8/s1600-h/dying+wool+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292845024296044786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAM4xytqJkzreOSJvvt4ie-vTshYR7ofGUvslIeSdkaKSoOAA9uA_PfH1SGLqLZ8d7y0L_NmmOh0J3ZFRjOlUXEi1UGBO5e3LHzfunVY9TGLLvBeUtnsy8_P_nuXDv2gM945c9Be0Hby8/s400/dying+wool+003.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's the yarn in a burgundy dyebath mixed with a little lemon yellow. I wasn't sure about it and almost threw it out but my 10 year old encouraged me to "be bold!" so I did and plunked my yarn in anyway. It's not the true red I was looking for but I like it. Look at the dye bath color opposed to the yarn color. Weird... The exhausted dyebath was totally green as I poured it down the sink. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22AjUsZ_W1kCFsTl1xGzEmQON3KzEe8XsZF4fW2Hh_gkEpIHKvg9CNiYTJxLPk2jvzV5J6Aw-R7o8ErzTf-62DxZSQnHTPy2gyA1cmLsp_eHjANfMLNZ4UK9AJQKx_7DO08UT61q9llU/s1600-h/dying+wool+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292845027409323858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22AjUsZ_W1kCFsTl1xGzEmQON3KzEe8XsZF4fW2Hh_gkEpIHKvg9CNiYTJxLPk2jvzV5J6Aw-R7o8ErzTf-62DxZSQnHTPy2gyA1cmLsp_eHjANfMLNZ4UK9AJQKx_7DO08UT61q9llU/s400/dying+wool+004.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">This is Wilton's Royal Blue. I'm taking this off the heat now to cool. I think it's about done. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tEwmZhEssg0zUPXMZqQDbVDGh935n-hy6i8Hd5SFoPqF7lBbOCJugIhOtTskP6o72qwAhaxlrRulsad8LsIQdED7Jdm1yC7AQZALPLPyL1Gneu76E7lHktj_fOPcGIFuSOFGognEkKs/s1600-h/dying+wool+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292845032886887538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tEwmZhEssg0zUPXMZqQDbVDGh935n-hy6i8Hd5SFoPqF7lBbOCJugIhOtTskP6o72qwAhaxlrRulsad8LsIQdED7Jdm1yC7AQZALPLPyL1Gneu76E7lHktj_fOPcGIFuSOFGognEkKs/s400/dying+wool+009.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">And this is Wilton's Lemon Yellow.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXvGNNlWVGRz3fLxA1bwRx5WBcBemOdcq4LNL1Z85hEQz69dWJBK5yXfwOKp4ynELsieLacoExCxgdPXLPB59um_Ndd4hr_RzMHOGZ2P_ZX2ALKdGGyVxUubAmdjjZZbKK6M_CqyHvO4/s1600-h/dying+wool+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292845029946153298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXvGNNlWVGRz3fLxA1bwRx5WBcBemOdcq4LNL1Z85hEQz69dWJBK5yXfwOKp4ynELsieLacoExCxgdPXLPB59um_Ndd4hr_RzMHOGZ2P_ZX2ALKdGGyVxUubAmdjjZZbKK6M_CqyHvO4/s400/dying+wool+012.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Here they are in the colander along with a ball of the undyed original grey yarn.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7f8CzAMduEfr2dPumTij6f-R3784MNfhyZ15ylh7oWTQ1Brn0T1oFlEqmtJiKQdefCAj2lxSbwPsC6ksD-PIvS8UFZEu6PhU_RhXbm2PPar_UOhmSIz9CfZPh_ouh_JuWhbFfBPBXmic/s1600-h/dying+wool+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292845037645802306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7f8CzAMduEfr2dPumTij6f-R3784MNfhyZ15ylh7oWTQ1Brn0T1oFlEqmtJiKQdefCAj2lxSbwPsC6ksD-PIvS8UFZEu6PhU_RhXbm2PPar_UOhmSIz9CfZPh_ouh_JuWhbFfBPBXmic/s400/dying+wool+016.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Here they are all done, cooled, rinsed and hung up to dry. They're a little bold for my taste and next time I will use less dye so the colors are a little softer but all in all I think they will be fun to work with. I think I'll dye another skein a little lighter shade of this blue and then I'll be done for my class. There are some great articles at <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring07/FEATdyeyourown.html">Knitty</a> about this process and I highly recommend them.<br />I encourage you to try this. It's really fun! </div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-73687158313762463172008-10-11T21:44:00.000-07:002008-10-12T07:39:20.448-07:00Wool S-AAHH-cks (or, Why Knit Your Own?)<div align="justify">The weather turned cold a couple days ago. We built the first all-day-long fire <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wbA_O_a3qolCkDs9uScyLhWUgAP5JF-22MuA-kmOvmAdt15joLIaVBmpGKbhG7sHrT8vLiCM1Xs2G4zFBI8dpWjyHdwja8hIiXWfoZSROJw-B9GDnqJIf41H1QlKDhoZETgj25uZwNI/s1600-h/socks+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256124851741817730" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wbA_O_a3qolCkDs9uScyLhWUgAP5JF-22MuA-kmOvmAdt15joLIaVBmpGKbhG7sHrT8vLiCM1Xs2G4zFBI8dpWjyHdwja8hIiXWfoZSROJw-B9GDnqJIf41H1QlKDhoZETgj25uZwNI/s400/socks+001.jpg" border="0" /></a>in the old <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cookstove</span> and I started hunting for my sweaters. My feet were cold. I found my newly finished wool socks and wore them all day for the first time. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">AAAHH</span>, how nice they felt! How thankful I was for these socks. And it wasn't the first time. I do believe these humble socks have given me much more than the many hours I put into them. And I think their story illustrates the benefits of making things yourself. It's the process that makes the product special. </div><div align="justify">I enjoyed spinning this light grey wool from sheep raised right down the road. I had the thrill of trying out a couple different shades of green <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kool</span> Aid on my yarn. It worked-I liked the color variations. It was fun to see how the colors came together in different ways as I knit. I marveled yet again at the short rows that magically turn the heel. Heels never cease to amaze me. I'm grateful for all these fun discoveries. </div><div align="justify">But even more than these I'm thankful for the socks keeping my hands busy during a summer of numerous hospital and nursing home visits and dreadful diagnoses. They were my constant companions as my dad lay dozing in his bed next to my chair. Always I had the comforting monotony of the yarn and the needles. They distracted my eyes when I couldn't look him in the face or when I didn't want him to see my tears. They gave my hands something mindless to fidget with when my mind was racing and there wasn't room in my head for a more creative project. My dad noted their progress each day. They gave the nurses and me something to talk about. They were truly a godsend during this difficult time.<br />And now they're done. They're pretty, they're practical and there's not a pair in the world like them. And did I mention how yummy they feel?<br />I wore them today when I visited my dad. I am his nurse now. As he lay on his bed I remembered I had my new socks on. I slipped off my shoe and threw my foot up on the bed. "Hey, you finished them!" he said.<br />So as I wear my new socks I think about all that went into them and all I got (and am still <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCbH_OqCgoOyO9j2u2-BfsOzceRpoF21WBntAJ4SZ4DV1paRXIiUCINlANGbmjLRfVyMbhlf3gybfObUIW69rMXqTdB0kA-RrinYIwjVpu-PMzLeHx5Wv7LhDUiHKcvU0vEmkq05r2J8/s1600-h/socks+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256125292949733538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCbH_OqCgoOyO9j2u2-BfsOzceRpoF21WBntAJ4SZ4DV1paRXIiUCINlANGbmjLRfVyMbhlf3gybfObUIW69rMXqTdB0kA-RrinYIwjVpu-PMzLeHx5Wv7LhDUiHKcvU0vEmkq05r2J8/s400/socks+005.jpg" border="0" /></a>getting) out of them. I think I came out ahead. "Why knit socks?" a friend asks me. This is why.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">So now I'm anxious for another pair. Here's my newest sock project. I wonder what these will give me?</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-77151630485425242752008-05-06T18:33:00.000-07:002008-05-06T21:40:48.491-07:00Bread Baking Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pAH1_a_18WO1gAF_Z-SDB5KgNYaaTlTKsuYh6LS9v42ONodYawbsOy8dfHrKge5hH9XVFRKMtR6171R5rGw1mD8VijrUMrinnY6DRDgm-6OihDt9FcO4IJtEa_i9eLkNE-h_yK76o9c/s1600-h/Brick+oven+bread+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197452948356201138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pAH1_a_18WO1gAF_Z-SDB5KgNYaaTlTKsuYh6LS9v42ONodYawbsOy8dfHrKge5hH9XVFRKMtR6171R5rGw1mD8VijrUMrinnY6DRDgm-6OihDt9FcO4IJtEa_i9eLkNE-h_yK76o9c/s400/Brick+oven+bread+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Below you can see one of the "hearths" in Island Hearth and Handicrafts. I took photos last time we fired up our outdoor brick oven so I thought I'd share them. If you have aspirations of brick oven building and baking I highly recommend you go for it. It's extremely rewarding. My husband build our oven out of plans found in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bread-Builders-Hearth-Loaves-Masonry/dp/1890132055/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210132591&sr=8-1">The Bread Builders </a>by Daniel Wing and Alan Scott. He also <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">aquires</span> and splits all wood, builds all fires and rakes out all hot coals. I've done these things so I know how to do them but it's so nice having him do the dirty/hot work! That way I can concentrate on the bread. It's definitely a team effort around here on baking day...</div><br /><div>The oven has only one chamber in which the fire is built and the bread baked. Here's the fire getting started. It will burn for about 4-5 hours or until the oven ceiling is so hot that the black, smoky soot burns clean off clear to the back of the interior of the oven. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChSmBreVtk4tTm_n_MidT-uPn3vJNhStjAdCPhNazOH5JK0gOJ3roUuL6qll6FE3iRUZZieCnFKl_QF6LaNtoyzr2A9F_UnwYKJYlare-EEQ7wRpe-yuRePAD4K1F2R6cJvpBqQYXq1c/s1600-h/Brick+oven+bread+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197446346991467106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChSmBreVtk4tTm_n_MidT-uPn3vJNhStjAdCPhNazOH5JK0gOJ3roUuL6qll6FE3iRUZZieCnFKl_QF6LaNtoyzr2A9F_UnwYKJYlare-EEQ7wRpe-yuRePAD4K1F2R6cJvpBqQYXq1c/s400/Brick+oven+bread+002.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here are the whole wheat sourdough loaves that I made the day before and kept in the refrigerator overnight. When the fire is about finished burning I pull the formed loaves out of the fridge and let them finish rising in the warming oven of the wood <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cookstove</span></span> in our kitchen. (They rise in floured baskets.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0p6CJG67VUEZPuOZYCCbDeivPTlxjwsiipYqHNaIoikl4JlTIJOTFZ3FPYed5CHMBuFX3zTv1LbtO9kHu_YPcIr_ufEiXyIKKRGrjQQZIABoOK66aYdOdgHCm_a2LtgMG6D54NZnjoLc/s1600-h/Brick+oven+bread+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197446351286434418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0p6CJG67VUEZPuOZYCCbDeivPTlxjwsiipYqHNaIoikl4JlTIJOTFZ3FPYed5CHMBuFX3zTv1LbtO9kHu_YPcIr_ufEiXyIKKRGrjQQZIABoOK66aYdOdgHCm_a2LtgMG6D54NZnjoLc/s400/Brick+oven+bread+007.jpg" border="0" /></a> After the fire has burned down the coals are raked out evenly to distribute the heat over the hearth. They are are then shoveled out and put into the fireplace right next to the oven (below left). The oven chamber is then scraped and mopped out to clear all traces of coals and ash. The door is then put on (held in place by bricks) and the oven is left alone for a little while for the heat to even out in the thick masonry.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiiaUpA0TmjrDkBXCYx5jMHBM9PjxQyf4tMLw8Se89u5TxaFbB2Mj49JJf7baRt-PVHjx0Dz1wwFK9NqHVFNGPfzR733sj1W2IwKsvgt8cTVtfi5xrYTRaxbhMZ46a6wrAJoloobFIEQ/s1600-h/Brick+oven+bread+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197446359876369026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiiaUpA0TmjrDkBXCYx5jMHBM9PjxQyf4tMLw8Se89u5TxaFbB2Mj49JJf7baRt-PVHjx0Dz1wwFK9NqHVFNGPfzR733sj1W2IwKsvgt8cTVtfi5xrYTRaxbhMZ46a6wrAJoloobFIEQ/s400/Brick+oven+bread+010.jpg" border="0" /></a> I know the oven is ready for the bread when I can stick my hand inside and count to about 7. If I can't make it to 5, it's too hot and I need to wait a bit longer. If I can count to 10 I've waited too long. If I can smell the hair burning off my arm I <em>really</em> need to wait a while! We tried using an oven thermometer a few times but it soon melted. I'm telling you, it's hot in there! The unbaked loaves in the baskets are flipped upside down onto a semolina-dusted wooden peel (again, made by hubby). They are slashed with a razor blade then loaded two at a time into the oven. As I flip, slash and load, my husband is opening and closing the oven door. The last thing I do is spray a bit of water on the inside oven dome. I then close the door, mark the time and hope for the best. I can fit 9 2-pound loaves in our oven (more if they're smaller). The heat radiates from every direction, surrounding the loaves, making them rise and brown beautifully. They're ready in about 25 minutes.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEpUSbQdmAnjJvRwfxZtc-nuZC0GgJpjlg_gk-cFLCVCgA8VhJbSXUz_rXYbN-1p4yFie20n7bfcbHSYhFpPXGgRMe_OfeKfSiLJc26NPbe5ISN7zv5e7PXFBEBZrunzeOdQ5EWWaK8o/s1600-h/Brick+oven+bread+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197446364171336338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEpUSbQdmAnjJvRwfxZtc-nuZC0GgJpjlg_gk-cFLCVCgA8VhJbSXUz_rXYbN-1p4yFie20n7bfcbHSYhFpPXGgRMe_OfeKfSiLJc26NPbe5ISN7zv5e7PXFBEBZrunzeOdQ5EWWaK8o/s400/Brick+oven+bread+008.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's the bread about to come out of the oven and the finished product below. This batch got delivered to friends and family. I still have a loaf in the freezer.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7ZdT0LgiAaUGN4c9C6k6BHwOWoxxc-qmeLsB8sX56pg3bTUztze5T4m24a0Y2Xc8wPggmdBiOBeVSq3elH_1ypQXkfbsPjMoj5qwWQ-ZtrIUf0y3VWSQ1_jSWlEhvVtOzU9JFuTVWmk/s1600-h/Brick+oven+bread+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197446372761270946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7ZdT0LgiAaUGN4c9C6k6BHwOWoxxc-qmeLsB8sX56pg3bTUztze5T4m24a0Y2Xc8wPggmdBiOBeVSq3elH_1ypQXkfbsPjMoj5qwWQ-ZtrIUf0y3VWSQ1_jSWlEhvVtOzU9JFuTVWmk/s400/Brick+oven+bread+012.jpg" border="0" /></a> The bread is simply made from freshly ground whole wheat, wild yeast sourdough starter, water, salt and the most important ingredient, time. It's nicely sour but still rises well. I loosely follow the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Poilane</span></span>-Style <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Miche</span></span> recipe in Peter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Reinhart's</span></span> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bread-Bakers-Apprentice-Mastering-Extraordinary/dp/1580082688/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210132765&sr=8-1">The Bread Baker's Apprentice</a>. You can see the nice crumb in the top picture. Yum!</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5406794026928076131.post-17131873579980495382008-04-06T07:59:00.000-07:002008-04-06T11:03:48.376-07:00Lemon Curd, Unrefined and Organic<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLegyaxyr0-MGtlUkO54A8_FaCcG3T3nYCjAIOYZ5IMqI0NRZpBD1C16CFasK62FX1ZDjfbdU2IvTc3I1ncA70pZUWJGMEKkjmPEYJAc3KKZZdVlu7oJRCJH7sbW4FyY_nE_fimMuWC40/s1600-h/lemon+curd+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186147909316646610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLegyaxyr0-MGtlUkO54A8_FaCcG3T3nYCjAIOYZ5IMqI0NRZpBD1C16CFasK62FX1ZDjfbdU2IvTc3I1ncA70pZUWJGMEKkjmPEYJAc3KKZZdVlu7oJRCJH7sbW4FyY_nE_fimMuWC40/s400/lemon+curd+005.jpg" border="0" /></a>For various reasons I have decided to let the white sugar run out in my house and don’t have any immediate plans to replace it. This happed Friday afternoon at 4:30 pm Pacific Time as I was making a pound cake. I substituted <a href="http://editor.nourishedmagazine.com.au/articles/sweet-sustenance">Rapadura</a> for about 75% of the sugar called for and it turned out fine. So far so good.<br />Next the plan was to make lemon curd. I wanted to use <a href="http://www.shakeoffthesugar.net/article1042.html">agave syrup</a> as that has the most neutral taste of any of the unrefined sweeteners. I couldn’t find a recipe online that I liked so I made one up. For an experiment I used extra virgin <a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/coconut_oil.html">coconut oil</a> instead of butter. It gave the curd a hint of coconut flavor which blended well with the lemon (it also made the curd dairy-free). The fabulous deep color of this curd is from the amazing local eggs I’ve been lucky enough to get lately. The ingredients are all organic, too! All these positive factors add up to a lemon curd that is nicely tart and rich and makes me feel a little less guilty to indulge in and to feed my family. It turned out so well I thought I’d share it with you.<br /><div align="justify"><br /><strong>Lemon Curd</strong></div><div align="justify">1 c light agave syrup</div><div align="justify">1/2 c fresh lemon juice<br />--pinch of salt--<br />1 TB cornstarch<br />1 tsp (generous) fresh lemon zest<br />3 egg yolks<br />2 eggs<br />5 TB (3 oz) extra virgin coconut oil</div><div align="justify"><br />Whisk eggs well in a bowl. Combine agave, juice, cornstarch and lemon zest in saucepan. Bring to a boil then lower heat and add a bit of this to the eggs to temper them then whisk eggs into juice mixture. Cook gently and stir until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and whisk in coconut oil bit by bit. Force through a fine sieve and cool. Makes about 2 cups. Yum!</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12685637592576563415noreply@blogger.com6