It's here! I am going to revolutionize my, and my family's s--k issues. I just got in the mail Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi. I am going to knit s--ks.... and they are going to fit, they are not going to pool around my ankles, and best of all, I don't need to turn a heel. That's my kind of s--k!
A few years ago I knit my first ever pair of s--ks and somehow, when I got to the heel, I got lost in the instructions and ended up just winging it and doing my own thing for the heel.... it didn't look like anything you've ever seen in your life resembling a s--k, but when I put them on they fit! After I wore them once, Teapot put them in the wash and felted them and now they look like they would fit a fairy. (I can't really blame him since he's never had to worry about felting s--ks in the washer and dryer before, we always buy cheap cotton sport s--ks). So my s--k experience has never really been very good. Last year, I took a three day workshop on how to spin great yarn for s--ks.You'd think that my relationship with s--ks would be getting smoother/better. Well, it's not. After the 25 pairs of store bought funky s--ks that the Daughters gave me for Christmas (that tiny word is whispered so I don't scare myself and have to go lie down again), I decided that I actively had to try to become normal (if that's possible) about s--ks. I am thinking about offering a s--k loving workshop and how to hug a s--k. I've bought the rosewood dpns that will make knitting anything, let alone s--ks, a wonderful experience.... and I've bought the little nifty dpn savers from Knitpiks so that I can carry my s--k projects without the tips of my awesome rosewood dpns getting broken.... and I've bought the book that will revolutionize my s--k experience. So I'm all set for some wonderful s--k knitting.
Quite frankly I had given up.... I had finally come to grips with the fact that s--k knitting and I just weren't going to be mates. But then I went to Olds this summer past, and while I was back in our apartment on the second day, my roommates (all three of them) were taking a sock building workshop with Cat Bordhi... (the traitors)! When they came back from their s--k workshop they were all, "oooh aaah s--ks, oh Frankie you should have taken it.... it was the best workshop ever...... (forget the cotton one we had done the day before)...... oooh aaaah s--ks, ooooh aaaaah Cat Bordhi..... ooooh aaah," ( I thought that were going to have an orgasm right there (oh gross!!!!). I kept my mouth shut and pursed my lips.... but then they showed me the s--k that Cat Bordhi taught them.... she casts on at the toe, increases as the foot requires it, slips a bunch of stitches onto a holding thread knits another row slips the same stitches on another holding thread, and decreases for the heel. Then she goes back and takes the stitches off the holding thread and picks them up on her dpns and knits the leg of the sock.... simple?!.... right? Yeah well you don't know me with my attitude towards s--ks.... I bet I'll screw it up somewhere along the way... but that is just not the right attitude is it? I will hug my s--k and I will get through it and in no time I will be a professional s--k knitter/lover.
I think God made Cat Bordhi just for me.... (no, not you... me!)
S--ks.... here I come.....
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Christmas Gifts.....
Yup.... Christmas is not far away.... I'm panicking..... as usual!
So last year after Christmas was over I said to myself, I'm never doing this again. (I said it the year before and the year before that and probably the year before that.) Every year I go through the same thing. As Christmas draws closer I begin to panic because I have nothing done. Money doesn't go far if you don't start buying Christmas gifts in January right after the previous Christmas. But if you leave it till 5 paychecks before Christmas, things can get quite freaky. You know I'm starting to panic when I start to thumb the millions of catalogues that inundate the mail box each day. (Did you know that Americans spell catalogue, by leaving off the ue at the end?.... I just discovered this.) Ususally I'm frantically trying to get ideas for cool gifts for the Daughters that will surprise and astound. Most everyone else I've got covered by now or at least have a good idea of what I'm getting them......
Pops and Mother get a box of everything that they happen to talk about..... they say, "I wish I had (insert here whatever they say for the last three months before Christmas. I even gave my mother a frozen entre one year... yeah well, she wanted it!!!), and I get it, wrap it, and put it in their box.
Gift cards go back east to family members there.... this year I will be adding in a little something with it because gift cards are about as inspirational as snot!
Friends around town here get gift baskets of homemade bread and yummy stuff like herb oils for dipping bread.... sausage,... and cheese....
Spinning and knitting friends get a little something hand made or yarn or knitting needle accessories....
My best friend gets a little something special like racetracks with grannies in wheelchairs as the racers.... (joke stuff that she can share with her grandchildren... and sometimes I get her sensible stuff)...
Gift exchange people get something homemade like a bottle of home made wine or a dozen beer (we make home made beer and wine).
But it is Teapot and the Daughters that I agonize over.
A few years ago, Teapot and I decided that we wouldn't buy anything for each other except we would fill a stocking each and we would just go buy something big like a new TV or a couch or a new mattress and that would be our gift to each other.
The Daughters however, are really hard to buy for. They are not really into technology other than iPods which they both have. They don't do games so that's out.... mostly they want books, movies and clothes.
This year they have asked for boots and Daughter #1 wants a leather jacket.... Daughter #2 wants jeans because hers are all getting to be like flood pants.
And books..... they want books... problem is that they have read everything on the planet. I'm really having a hard time with that. They have also asked for movies. We kind of really enjoy movies. The Matrix series, the Bourne Identity series are right at the top of the list..... there's other movies too.... so I'm starting to think that it is time to get serious about Christmas. Teapot is asking for a lens for his camera this year and I have asked for a simple camera to use for my blogging interests.... no big gifts this year I think...
With this great long list you would think that I'd be alright.... but it is not that simple.
Teapot and I don't believe in getting the Daughters everything they want. That's because we just think that is not teaching them anything other than that Mom and Dad have bottomless pockets, which is absolutely not true. Daughter #1 is really looking at wanting to be cool with her friends, so that's the reason for the leather jacket... (hey, I've wanted a leather jacket forever too.....). But they also need to know that working for things is really important. I really don't want them to start thinking that Christmas is all about materialism... that's just too easy. What I want for my Daughters to understand about Christmas is this:
-that it is important to think about something other than yourself... that life is all about those around you who give a damn whether or not you're breathing....
-that most importantly when you give a gift that's it's not because this is the day that we do that sort of thing but that you are getting a gift from me because it is important that you know I'm doing it out of the joy of my heart and because I want you to understand that this gift is just a small representation of my joy in the relationship that we share.
-that gifts don't equal love..... that gifts are just because I want to see you have something that you really like because you are a really cool person.
If they get all of that then maybe just maybe they will begin to understand that it doesn't matter if shopping at Wal-Mart is the best option because it is the cheapest....... that red and green decorations really don't matter at all... that silver sparkly stuff hanging from the ceiling is a "who cares thing"... that receiving a card from someone with a signature and nothing else is pointless....
Most important I want them to understand that even if we had no gifts at all that Christmas is all about looking around you and saying "you're awesome and I like being around you," and you don't need to have the 25th of December to say that. And I also really want them to remember that a little baby was born 2000 years ago who came to teach us how to care about the people around us. Really the best gifts fulfill our deepest needs, and our needs are met by a touch, a smile, a little sharing of food, and warmth and caring. Christmas is really all about safety and and love.....
It's a lot of pressure to try to get that across in the form of a leather jacket..... yeah.... I don't know if I can handle the pressure!!!! Don't I do all that stuff every day of the year?!..... No wonder I'm panicking.... I think I'll go lie down....couldn't we just skip Christmas..... it'll all be over soon.... right?!
Just 10 more weeks.... argh!
So last year after Christmas was over I said to myself, I'm never doing this again. (I said it the year before and the year before that and probably the year before that.) Every year I go through the same thing. As Christmas draws closer I begin to panic because I have nothing done. Money doesn't go far if you don't start buying Christmas gifts in January right after the previous Christmas. But if you leave it till 5 paychecks before Christmas, things can get quite freaky. You know I'm starting to panic when I start to thumb the millions of catalogues that inundate the mail box each day. (Did you know that Americans spell catalogue, by leaving off the ue at the end?.... I just discovered this.) Ususally I'm frantically trying to get ideas for cool gifts for the Daughters that will surprise and astound. Most everyone else I've got covered by now or at least have a good idea of what I'm getting them......
Pops and Mother get a box of everything that they happen to talk about..... they say, "I wish I had (insert here whatever they say for the last three months before Christmas. I even gave my mother a frozen entre one year... yeah well, she wanted it!!!), and I get it, wrap it, and put it in their box.
Gift cards go back east to family members there.... this year I will be adding in a little something with it because gift cards are about as inspirational as snot!
Friends around town here get gift baskets of homemade bread and yummy stuff like herb oils for dipping bread.... sausage,... and cheese....
Spinning and knitting friends get a little something hand made or yarn or knitting needle accessories....
My best friend gets a little something special like racetracks with grannies in wheelchairs as the racers.... (joke stuff that she can share with her grandchildren... and sometimes I get her sensible stuff)...
Gift exchange people get something homemade like a bottle of home made wine or a dozen beer (we make home made beer and wine).
But it is Teapot and the Daughters that I agonize over.
A few years ago, Teapot and I decided that we wouldn't buy anything for each other except we would fill a stocking each and we would just go buy something big like a new TV or a couch or a new mattress and that would be our gift to each other.
The Daughters however, are really hard to buy for. They are not really into technology other than iPods which they both have. They don't do games so that's out.... mostly they want books, movies and clothes.
This year they have asked for boots and Daughter #1 wants a leather jacket.... Daughter #2 wants jeans because hers are all getting to be like flood pants.
And books..... they want books... problem is that they have read everything on the planet. I'm really having a hard time with that. They have also asked for movies. We kind of really enjoy movies. The Matrix series, the Bourne Identity series are right at the top of the list..... there's other movies too.... so I'm starting to think that it is time to get serious about Christmas. Teapot is asking for a lens for his camera this year and I have asked for a simple camera to use for my blogging interests.... no big gifts this year I think...
With this great long list you would think that I'd be alright.... but it is not that simple.
Teapot and I don't believe in getting the Daughters everything they want. That's because we just think that is not teaching them anything other than that Mom and Dad have bottomless pockets, which is absolutely not true. Daughter #1 is really looking at wanting to be cool with her friends, so that's the reason for the leather jacket... (hey, I've wanted a leather jacket forever too.....). But they also need to know that working for things is really important. I really don't want them to start thinking that Christmas is all about materialism... that's just too easy. What I want for my Daughters to understand about Christmas is this:
-that it is important to think about something other than yourself... that life is all about those around you who give a damn whether or not you're breathing....
-that most importantly when you give a gift that's it's not because this is the day that we do that sort of thing but that you are getting a gift from me because it is important that you know I'm doing it out of the joy of my heart and because I want you to understand that this gift is just a small representation of my joy in the relationship that we share.
-that gifts don't equal love..... that gifts are just because I want to see you have something that you really like because you are a really cool person.
If they get all of that then maybe just maybe they will begin to understand that it doesn't matter if shopping at Wal-Mart is the best option because it is the cheapest....... that red and green decorations really don't matter at all... that silver sparkly stuff hanging from the ceiling is a "who cares thing"... that receiving a card from someone with a signature and nothing else is pointless....
Most important I want them to understand that even if we had no gifts at all that Christmas is all about looking around you and saying "you're awesome and I like being around you," and you don't need to have the 25th of December to say that. And I also really want them to remember that a little baby was born 2000 years ago who came to teach us how to care about the people around us. Really the best gifts fulfill our deepest needs, and our needs are met by a touch, a smile, a little sharing of food, and warmth and caring. Christmas is really all about safety and and love.....
It's a lot of pressure to try to get that across in the form of a leather jacket..... yeah.... I don't know if I can handle the pressure!!!! Don't I do all that stuff every day of the year?!..... No wonder I'm panicking.... I think I'll go lie down....couldn't we just skip Christmas..... it'll all be over soon.... right?!
Just 10 more weeks.... argh!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
2 Years
Ye Olde Batt has now been in existence for 2 whole years. Just a baby when you think about how many blogs are out there and how many blogs posts you can read if you wanted to.... actually that's dumb.... you would be like Rip Van Winkle if you tried to read every blog post out there except you wouldn't be asleep (well maybe you would be depending on some blogs I've seen)!
So why do I blog? Well, it started out very simply. I had a friend who was posting family pictures on hers so that all of her far-away-family could keep track of her close-by-family. It was kind of cool. I thought, well shit, if she can do it then it mustn't be really hard or scary. I looked into what was involved with Teapot looking over my shoulder. Ok!!! So when I realized it would require discipline, I wasn't sure I wanted to set up a blog, but during university I kept a journal for three long years. I was very good about it and pretty much wrote every day. I've always enjoyed writing and have fooled around with the idea of getting some of my stuff published, I've even gone so far as to send off a few of my better pieces in the effort. I've had one poem published in a collection of Canadian poetry and I've had some interest in a children's story. But for all intents and purposes I'm really only fooling around with it. I'm not a serious writer. I don't have the ability to sit for hours at this gadget and think creatively about the English language. It makes my eyes cross over if I try to work at it for more than an hour or two. But a blog seemed to be ideal for my writing interests.
Some days I have felt funny. Some days I have felt daunted by the vast whiteness before me. Some days I've been reflective. Some days I've been weird. But through it all I've learned... and quite honestly that's the best of what I've gotten from this blog. I can now navigate my way through the internet and do things on here that I would never have thought possible when I first started. More and more I am willing to put my a-- on the line and make comments that might tick people off. (Like yesterday!) I really try not to be offensive, but I do try to state my beliefs (and they are mine, rightly or wrongly) with aplomb. It's not always easy because I keep thinking that I might be influencing someone else and that's a huge responsibility. But as time goes by I do feel a little easier about it... though I really don't want to offend anyone. Really! Really!
It also has been a pleasure though to meet some of my followers. As I get to know people I realize that the internet is just another way to reach out to the world around me. Because I am studying for 6 years my Master Spinner program and it takes so much time, because I live in a rural environment, sometimes I feel closed off from those with whom I usually have contact. But it has brought me closer to family who live far away (and don't register as followers but are faithful all the same), it has given me opportunities to meet online some people who have become followers, it has given me a way to share laughs with people who know my family and see me all the time. It has been a way to let you know me too.
Sometimes I will say things here that I am too shy to say in person. Sometimes I get foolish when I would never do stuff like that in person just because conversation doesn't allow you to be crazy (without people thinking you belong in a straight jacket) but in writing, it doesn't have the same affect. I like to make people laugh, but in a crowd I will stay silent and just be the watcher in the corner. Sometimes writing here gets me out of my own mind. (remember that?)
In all the time Ye Olde Batt has been online, I've written over 450 posts. That's a lot. But what's really cool is that I can see the progression of my family, progression of my work, progression of who I am becoming.... and progression sometimes can be a ghostly thing. You think its happening, but you're not really sure. It takes ten or fifteen years before you can see the changes that have come in your life because it is so slow. You know you have changed but then when you think back over the years you're not really sure when the changes happened. But by keeping a blog, there is a record... and it is without a doubt very cool to look back and read some of my old posts. I didn't know I could be so funny. I didn't know I could be so smart... I didn't know I couldn't spell... I didn't know I was so stupid.
I've enjoyed it, am enjoying it, and hope to continue to enjoy it. I hope you will join me in my/our journey...
I really didn't mean for this post to be so serious. I really wanted to say some funny things that would make you all smile. Everyone likes to smile. But hang in there maybe tomorrow I will write about Sammy Tilley's goat.... or the dust bunnies..... or the cow pies that hit my mother's lemon meringue pie... or the time I told my mother that I wanted to get in bed a snuggle with her and God (I was five years old)... or the time Daughter #2 got fillings (in your teeth) and feelings mixed up.... maybe I'll show some great pictures of things I'm making... who knows what will happen next... But I hope you'll come back and join me on this ride.... it's a great ride... you know... you're on it too. It's called life!
So why do I blog? Well, it started out very simply. I had a friend who was posting family pictures on hers so that all of her far-away-family could keep track of her close-by-family. It was kind of cool. I thought, well shit, if she can do it then it mustn't be really hard or scary. I looked into what was involved with Teapot looking over my shoulder. Ok!!! So when I realized it would require discipline, I wasn't sure I wanted to set up a blog, but during university I kept a journal for three long years. I was very good about it and pretty much wrote every day. I've always enjoyed writing and have fooled around with the idea of getting some of my stuff published, I've even gone so far as to send off a few of my better pieces in the effort. I've had one poem published in a collection of Canadian poetry and I've had some interest in a children's story. But for all intents and purposes I'm really only fooling around with it. I'm not a serious writer. I don't have the ability to sit for hours at this gadget and think creatively about the English language. It makes my eyes cross over if I try to work at it for more than an hour or two. But a blog seemed to be ideal for my writing interests.
Some days I have felt funny. Some days I have felt daunted by the vast whiteness before me. Some days I've been reflective. Some days I've been weird. But through it all I've learned... and quite honestly that's the best of what I've gotten from this blog. I can now navigate my way through the internet and do things on here that I would never have thought possible when I first started. More and more I am willing to put my a-- on the line and make comments that might tick people off. (Like yesterday!) I really try not to be offensive, but I do try to state my beliefs (and they are mine, rightly or wrongly) with aplomb. It's not always easy because I keep thinking that I might be influencing someone else and that's a huge responsibility. But as time goes by I do feel a little easier about it... though I really don't want to offend anyone. Really! Really!
It also has been a pleasure though to meet some of my followers. As I get to know people I realize that the internet is just another way to reach out to the world around me. Because I am studying for 6 years my Master Spinner program and it takes so much time, because I live in a rural environment, sometimes I feel closed off from those with whom I usually have contact. But it has brought me closer to family who live far away (and don't register as followers but are faithful all the same), it has given me opportunities to meet online some people who have become followers, it has given me a way to share laughs with people who know my family and see me all the time. It has been a way to let you know me too.
Sometimes I will say things here that I am too shy to say in person. Sometimes I get foolish when I would never do stuff like that in person just because conversation doesn't allow you to be crazy (without people thinking you belong in a straight jacket) but in writing, it doesn't have the same affect. I like to make people laugh, but in a crowd I will stay silent and just be the watcher in the corner. Sometimes writing here gets me out of my own mind. (remember that?)
In all the time Ye Olde Batt has been online, I've written over 450 posts. That's a lot. But what's really cool is that I can see the progression of my family, progression of my work, progression of who I am becoming.... and progression sometimes can be a ghostly thing. You think its happening, but you're not really sure. It takes ten or fifteen years before you can see the changes that have come in your life because it is so slow. You know you have changed but then when you think back over the years you're not really sure when the changes happened. But by keeping a blog, there is a record... and it is without a doubt very cool to look back and read some of my old posts. I didn't know I could be so funny. I didn't know I could be so smart... I didn't know I couldn't spell... I didn't know I was so stupid.
I've enjoyed it, am enjoying it, and hope to continue to enjoy it. I hope you will join me in my/our journey...
I really didn't mean for this post to be so serious. I really wanted to say some funny things that would make you all smile. Everyone likes to smile. But hang in there maybe tomorrow I will write about Sammy Tilley's goat.... or the dust bunnies..... or the cow pies that hit my mother's lemon meringue pie... or the time I told my mother that I wanted to get in bed a snuggle with her and God (I was five years old)... or the time Daughter #2 got fillings (in your teeth) and feelings mixed up.... maybe I'll show some great pictures of things I'm making... who knows what will happen next... But I hope you'll come back and join me on this ride.... it's a great ride... you know... you're on it too. It's called life!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
On Being Canadian
This morning I got up and listened to the news as I uploaded pictures of the Chilean miners coming up out of the mine. (Raw raw sis boom bah! Chile... you rock! No pun intended...)
I was really disappointed to hear about our activities with the UN. Not because we lost but because we have such a bunch of dunce heads in office right now. The opposition is no better.... their dunce heads too. No wonder we have a minority government... none of them are sensible. I've never been so ashamed of those representing me world wide in my life. Even Mulroney was a better world diplomat than these guys. I mean passing out Maple Syrup at the UN to win votes.... my God.... that's just pathetic.
I am a proud Canadian even if I don't like hockey. I am proud that Canada has had the privilege to influence the UN Security council for so many years. But I also realize that it is a privilege. Canada does not own the seat and I am proud that as a Canadian, I can say that Portugal, Columbia, Germany, India and South Africa, will have the same opportunity to hold those positions that we lost now. I like hearing other people's views and I think these 5 countries probably have a lot to contribute. Why shouldn't they hold such a seat for a time? Perhaps hearing the views of countries other than ourselves might be refreshing. It is not a popularity vote. It is a world council that is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action. Its powers are exercised through United Nations Security Council Resolutions. (I got that from Wikipedia.) We need to hear from everyone.
I openly admit that I am not a politician, so for those of you who read this and have hit on it by Googling or searching then please be fore warned.... I have absolutely no influence on others and don't want any. But as a Canadian I like to watch the times.... and the times they are a changing... Canada is not cool anymore.... at least our politicians who represent us are not. Most of the normal Joe Blow Canadians are... (and certainly the geographical country is), but then what happened to the politicians.... somewhere there has to be a real Canadian voice to represent us... and it is not Steven Harper.... nor is it Michael Ignatieff... just too lame by far.
What has become of inspirational politicians who have an eye on the future and not just the economy.... I feel like Canada is adrift.
CBC online news reported this this morning:
Well, I'll agree with him there.... not only is Canadian foreign policy unpopular with the world it is probably pretty unpopular here too, right at home, at least I know it is with me. Maybe our politicians are not hearing the voice of the common fellow any more, maybe the country is too vast and too concentrated in the cities, maybe the politicians have forgotten what small town Canada is like where people still help their neighbours because they know them. I don't know the reason and I sure don't know the answers....
What I do know is that you don't offer Maple Syrup to people when they are about to vote for you... (it seems kind of trashy). What you do... is listen to what others have to say.... you think about what their rights and needs are and then you try to do the best you can for your own without stepping on the toes of others.... it's just polite. (My Grandfather taught me that.) What some of our so called politicians should do is read a little Ghandi, read a little John Locke, read a little Anne Of Green Gables, read a little etiquette (Emily Post's is good) and then call Canadians in the morning.
So, I as one small Canadian in a crowd of millions, would like to hear Portugal stance and the stance of the other 4 too, now that they have a voice with the UN Security Council.... they deserve our respect and our time.
Now, I'm going back to watching those men come up out of the mine... and maybe shed a few tears of joy. (Go Chile, go!!!)
I was really disappointed to hear about our activities with the UN. Not because we lost but because we have such a bunch of dunce heads in office right now. The opposition is no better.... their dunce heads too. No wonder we have a minority government... none of them are sensible. I've never been so ashamed of those representing me world wide in my life. Even Mulroney was a better world diplomat than these guys. I mean passing out Maple Syrup at the UN to win votes.... my God.... that's just pathetic.
I am a proud Canadian even if I don't like hockey. I am proud that Canada has had the privilege to influence the UN Security council for so many years. But I also realize that it is a privilege. Canada does not own the seat and I am proud that as a Canadian, I can say that Portugal, Columbia, Germany, India and South Africa, will have the same opportunity to hold those positions that we lost now. I like hearing other people's views and I think these 5 countries probably have a lot to contribute. Why shouldn't they hold such a seat for a time? Perhaps hearing the views of countries other than ourselves might be refreshing. It is not a popularity vote. It is a world council that is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action. Its powers are exercised through United Nations Security Council Resolutions. (I got that from Wikipedia.) We need to hear from everyone.
I openly admit that I am not a politician, so for those of you who read this and have hit on it by Googling or searching then please be fore warned.... I have absolutely no influence on others and don't want any. But as a Canadian I like to watch the times.... and the times they are a changing... Canada is not cool anymore.... at least our politicians who represent us are not. Most of the normal Joe Blow Canadians are... (and certainly the geographical country is), but then what happened to the politicians.... somewhere there has to be a real Canadian voice to represent us... and it is not Steven Harper.... nor is it Michael Ignatieff... just too lame by far.
What has become of inspirational politicians who have an eye on the future and not just the economy.... I feel like Canada is adrift.
CBC online news reported this this morning:
Well, I'll agree with him there.... not only is Canadian foreign policy unpopular with the world it is probably pretty unpopular here too, right at home, at least I know it is with me. Maybe our politicians are not hearing the voice of the common fellow any more, maybe the country is too vast and too concentrated in the cities, maybe the politicians have forgotten what small town Canada is like where people still help their neighbours because they know them. I don't know the reason and I sure don't know the answers....
What I do know is that you don't offer Maple Syrup to people when they are about to vote for you... (it seems kind of trashy). What you do... is listen to what others have to say.... you think about what their rights and needs are and then you try to do the best you can for your own without stepping on the toes of others.... it's just polite. (My Grandfather taught me that.) What some of our so called politicians should do is read a little Ghandi, read a little John Locke, read a little Anne Of Green Gables, read a little etiquette (Emily Post's is good) and then call Canadians in the morning.
So, I as one small Canadian in a crowd of millions, would like to hear Portugal stance and the stance of the other 4 too, now that they have a voice with the UN Security Council.... they deserve our respect and our time.
Now, I'm going back to watching those men come up out of the mine... and maybe shed a few tears of joy. (Go Chile, go!!!)
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
And The Good News Is...
No surgery.... hopefully not ever. Orthopedic surgeons have joined the trend so it seems. They are taking a much more conservative take on doing back surgery. The up shot is that there will be more drugs.... (always gotta love that) but only during flair-ups with my back. There will be less invasive stuff like MRIs, which frankly, would result in really screwy images since my Harrington rod happens to be steel (stainless though it may be). So no surgery... and I just have to live with it.... (my back that is) and lose weight... (like that thought hasn't crossed my mind a few times!)
That's the end of the good news.... the rest is just usual stuff...... which I might add, really will help you sleep if you are having problems...
I've been knitting... lots.... with all those power outages. KNITTING REQUIRES NO POWER. I just love that. I have the scarf done except it needs some trim work finished and a good wash.... I also have one shawl just about finished and a long way to seeing a second one finished. One shawl is for the Art show that the NPSW will be having one year from now, and the other is for a Christmas gift..... yes one of you lucky family members will be receiving something hand made by moi.... and I'm not saying who! Nah nah na boo boo! I am also working on a pair of socks... and they are also for a family member for Christmas..... and I'm also not saying who..... hee hee hee hee hee. Some pictures on ongoing works will be presented here soon.
Today is gray..... it feels like the cusp of winter.... though not really cold but dark like winter is looming. I feel like Jack Frost is hiding somewhere very close by. It's rather eery actually. Like something dark and foreboding is nigh. I really hate that. Don't you hate that?
Recently my mind has been turning to the world at large.... now that's weird eh?! I've had my mind on those Chilean miners..... the People living near the Danube River and their problems..... the flood victims of Bella Bella, and Newfoundland..... hmmm, wouldn't it be nice if the world would just settle down.... and stay calm for a while. My Auntie sent me some pictures from the town where I was born after hurricane Igor hit..... it's awful.
I'm thankful it's not me.... but I really wish that these horrors wouldn't befall others..... say a prayer for those miners.... imagine having to get into such a small space as an 19 inch tube that you can't get out of for about an hour in order to see the light of day..... yeah.... I can't even go there mentally.... it would just make me... well, mental actually..... my prayers are with them for sure....
Anyway, since it's a gray day and I have bored the pants off you, I will head off to a neighbour's garage sale with the daughters..... to purchase other people's junk that will, to quote my level 4 instructor, "Just end up in the land fill anyway!".... Oh well, I have to do my part to keep it out of the land fill, at least for a while!... : )
By the way, this makes good reading if you want to go to sleep at night..... ; }
That's the end of the good news.... the rest is just usual stuff...... which I might add, really will help you sleep if you are having problems...
I've been knitting... lots.... with all those power outages. KNITTING REQUIRES NO POWER. I just love that. I have the scarf done except it needs some trim work finished and a good wash.... I also have one shawl just about finished and a long way to seeing a second one finished. One shawl is for the Art show that the NPSW will be having one year from now, and the other is for a Christmas gift..... yes one of you lucky family members will be receiving something hand made by moi.... and I'm not saying who! Nah nah na boo boo! I am also working on a pair of socks... and they are also for a family member for Christmas..... and I'm also not saying who..... hee hee hee hee hee. Some pictures on ongoing works will be presented here soon.
Today is gray..... it feels like the cusp of winter.... though not really cold but dark like winter is looming. I feel like Jack Frost is hiding somewhere very close by. It's rather eery actually. Like something dark and foreboding is nigh. I really hate that. Don't you hate that?
Recently my mind has been turning to the world at large.... now that's weird eh?! I've had my mind on those Chilean miners..... the People living near the Danube River and their problems..... the flood victims of Bella Bella, and Newfoundland..... hmmm, wouldn't it be nice if the world would just settle down.... and stay calm for a while. My Auntie sent me some pictures from the town where I was born after hurricane Igor hit..... it's awful.
Anyway, since it's a gray day and I have bored the pants off you, I will head off to a neighbour's garage sale with the daughters..... to purchase other people's junk that will, to quote my level 4 instructor, "Just end up in the land fill anyway!".... Oh well, I have to do my part to keep it out of the land fill, at least for a while!... : )
By the way, this makes good reading if you want to go to sleep at night..... ; }
Monday, October 11, 2010
A True Day Of Thanks
For the last few days it has been dreadfully windy here. Trees have been falling down around us at a rate which I have never seen before... we lost at least eight yesterday and down through the forest that borders our land, they were popping like fireworks for two days. It is still sunny and has been all through these windy days, it's warm too, we just have to endure the wind from hell! Saturday we lost our power and Teapot was making bread in the bread maker. So we trotted the bread off to the school to be baked since the school had power and we didn't..... I might have mentioned that. Anyway, just as Teapot was putting the bread in the oven at school the power came on and so we took the bread to the parents house and baked it there, since their house was closer to the school than ours. Yesterday the same thing happened. Just as I was putting bread in the pans (we usually stock up on the bread making for a week of school lunches when the weekend rolls around) out went the lights again. No power? No bread. No toilet flushing. No water. No TV. No computer. No anything. So I called the parents once again in an effort to see if their power was affected too. Yes indeedy. The whole town was powerless except for one small section where the hotel was.
Mother was at church when the power went off and the organ died, which she happens to play. The organ went off, and the stand-in minister who just happens to be the fire chief got called away. The youth group who were making muffins for the seniors couldn't finish baking them and all was a fiasco. They canceled the rest of church and everyone headed home. It was then that mother had to make a detour because a tree had blown down across some electrical wires and the wires had broken. There were lives electrical wires on the ground and a grass fire in someone's yard which was directly in her path to her house. Because of that, we knew the power was done for good this time.... at least for a good long time.
Meanwhile, back at home, the bread was rising nicely in the pans and was just about ready to go in the oven.... oh yeah.... no oven. What to do? Teapot came to the rescue and fired up the barbecue. Yes we have barbecued bread.... and it worked like a charm..... the bread is awesome.... very evenly baked and just about the most perfect bread you could ever have. The parents arrived in short order for a lunch of tea on the Coleman stove, and fresh baked Barbecued bread with some cheese on the side. Perfect!
The day wore on and the parents went home with the hopes that the power would be back on by evening. I was knitting, Teapot was working on the steps to the veranda, Daughter #2 was off to her friend's house, and Daughter #1 was reading in her room. The wind blew, and the trees kept falling, and still the power did not come on. Thank heavens we had planned our Turkey dinner for Monday (something else for which I'm thankful). Around about 5 p.m. Pops called to say that he had been talking to the fire chief/minister. The power would be off for a few hours yet. I had taken chicken wings out in the morning (before the power went off) and so I whipped up a caserole of honey garlic chicken wings, once again, baked on the barbecue. I also cooked some oven roast potatoes which we had for dinner and out to our house came the parents once again. So all in all we saved the day, cooking-wise at least. The parents left for home around 8 p.m. in the dark and cold. Our evening was like something out of the 1800s since we had a lantern burning in the living room and no heat.... but you know, that lantern kept the living room quite warm! It wasn't cold out so that helped and it is still getting up to +11 degrees in the day. I think we were all grateful for a day that turned out better than ever could have been expected.
At least it wasn't -42 degrees like the great power outage of 2009 when we lost the power for several hours and the water pump froze. At least this time it was actually pleasant. And still I wait for that lovely little wood stove that I have been coveting for so long.... (something like 8 years now)!
All's well that ends well.... the power came on about 9 p.m. last night. We had 10 hours without power and it makes me think once again that we may need to get a source of heat in this house that doesn't involve electricity.
And so that brings me to this..... Turkey today and just one more thing to be thankful for...... power, heat, and a good mind to figure out how to bake bread on the barbecue, and a family who are easy going enough to come together in the dark for mutual help.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all..... isn't it good to be alive?! Really gives meaning to the words... Thanks be to God...
Mother was at church when the power went off and the organ died, which she happens to play. The organ went off, and the stand-in minister who just happens to be the fire chief got called away. The youth group who were making muffins for the seniors couldn't finish baking them and all was a fiasco. They canceled the rest of church and everyone headed home. It was then that mother had to make a detour because a tree had blown down across some electrical wires and the wires had broken. There were lives electrical wires on the ground and a grass fire in someone's yard which was directly in her path to her house. Because of that, we knew the power was done for good this time.... at least for a good long time.
Meanwhile, back at home, the bread was rising nicely in the pans and was just about ready to go in the oven.... oh yeah.... no oven. What to do? Teapot came to the rescue and fired up the barbecue. Yes we have barbecued bread.... and it worked like a charm..... the bread is awesome.... very evenly baked and just about the most perfect bread you could ever have. The parents arrived in short order for a lunch of tea on the Coleman stove, and fresh baked Barbecued bread with some cheese on the side. Perfect!
The day wore on and the parents went home with the hopes that the power would be back on by evening. I was knitting, Teapot was working on the steps to the veranda, Daughter #2 was off to her friend's house, and Daughter #1 was reading in her room. The wind blew, and the trees kept falling, and still the power did not come on. Thank heavens we had planned our Turkey dinner for Monday (something else for which I'm thankful). Around about 5 p.m. Pops called to say that he had been talking to the fire chief/minister. The power would be off for a few hours yet. I had taken chicken wings out in the morning (before the power went off) and so I whipped up a caserole of honey garlic chicken wings, once again, baked on the barbecue. I also cooked some oven roast potatoes which we had for dinner and out to our house came the parents once again. So all in all we saved the day, cooking-wise at least. The parents left for home around 8 p.m. in the dark and cold. Our evening was like something out of the 1800s since we had a lantern burning in the living room and no heat.... but you know, that lantern kept the living room quite warm! It wasn't cold out so that helped and it is still getting up to +11 degrees in the day. I think we were all grateful for a day that turned out better than ever could have been expected.
At least it wasn't -42 degrees like the great power outage of 2009 when we lost the power for several hours and the water pump froze. At least this time it was actually pleasant. And still I wait for that lovely little wood stove that I have been coveting for so long.... (something like 8 years now)!
All's well that ends well.... the power came on about 9 p.m. last night. We had 10 hours without power and it makes me think once again that we may need to get a source of heat in this house that doesn't involve electricity.
And so that brings me to this..... Turkey today and just one more thing to be thankful for...... power, heat, and a good mind to figure out how to bake bread on the barbecue, and a family who are easy going enough to come together in the dark for mutual help.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all..... isn't it good to be alive?! Really gives meaning to the words... Thanks be to God...
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Thanks Giving
Here's a list of things I'm thankful for.....
1. Two hands with which I can knit, spin, and weave.
2. Eyes that are clear and can see the beauty around me.
3. Ears from which I can hear my children's laughter.
4. Two arms that can wrap around my husband and hold him close to me, especially at night.
5. Commiseration... so that I can take in stray animals and fall in love with them.
6. A home that has a place for me even when I''m lazy and don't deserve it.
7. Pooches that love me just because...... I can tell they like me because they follow me everywhere, even to the bathroom.
8. Feet that I can cover with socks.... or not.... which can carry me even if it is only up the stairs or around the house.
9. Parents who come to visit and remind me every day how life is short and you should enjoy it while you can.
10. Friends... what would life be without them?
11. Turkey.... for days and days and days.....
12. The ability to open the fridge and stare and say I don't know what to eat today.
13. Sunshine..... it fills you up with hope.
14. All of you folks, who take the time to read my ramblings.
15. Life... it's God given.... and a real joy.
What are you thankful for?
1. Two hands with which I can knit, spin, and weave.
2. Eyes that are clear and can see the beauty around me.
3. Ears from which I can hear my children's laughter.
4. Two arms that can wrap around my husband and hold him close to me, especially at night.
5. Commiseration... so that I can take in stray animals and fall in love with them.
6. A home that has a place for me even when I''m lazy and don't deserve it.
7. Pooches that love me just because...... I can tell they like me because they follow me everywhere, even to the bathroom.
8. Feet that I can cover with socks.... or not.... which can carry me even if it is only up the stairs or around the house.
9. Parents who come to visit and remind me every day how life is short and you should enjoy it while you can.
10. Friends... what would life be without them?
11. Turkey.... for days and days and days.....
12. The ability to open the fridge and stare and say I don't know what to eat today.
13. Sunshine..... it fills you up with hope.
14. All of you folks, who take the time to read my ramblings.
15. Life... it's God given.... and a real joy.
What are you thankful for?
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