some zoo pics

from the porch step...

Still green but def autumnal

A visitor of the raptor family. looks like a young hawk.

Interested observer

Cat cuteness

Yum

Today I was a domestic goddess.

Warm autumn foggy morning

Poppet on the chair

Leaf painting=happy face

Boardwalk walk

Look!what is that strange thing Mike has?

My miles since I started on may 13.

Dutchess County Fair

being that this is a blog about quilting....

Do read Tildes blog post. It is a worthy epistle (Tilde will know what that is) and in this case I will let her speak for me. Ms. Aloi's post on the Huffington Post has raised the hackles of many a stitcher. Beware a woman with sharp objects--and liberated women at that. In a generation and demographic of women who do not even know what it is like to be oppressed, we need to remember that freedom is what liberation is about -freedom from constrained expectations and media flotsam is a good place to begin. Sookie Stackhouse? really? barf. that is all.
Go read the article, and please read Tildes' response. there are a lot of great comments too. Especially the one that states' you can have my knitting needles when you can pry them out of my cold dead hands.' hahaha

back or front?

It is often the case that I like the backs of quilts better than the fronts. Which is ok, because they can always been flipped to show the reverse side. today I decided just to make the back the front. I will probably just back this in plain muslin. Or maybe something wild. Like blue fish or something. That is Katy in the background.

The plan-should me busy for a while

Japanese fabrics from Pinwheels-what say I serge them together for a top? there are already a bunch of nine patches done.

Gratuitous cat photo, Poppet

Knitting projects in various stages of completion-ready to get to work

progress and new starts

Knitting Like Crazy KAL modified-waiting for inspiration to hit me for a border- and looking through my books.

PI shawl going round and round until I run out of this loverly hand spun yarn .

I have received my spectacular yarn from the Knitspot Fall Knitting in Color Club. It is called Autumn Aurora. I love the name! The pattern, called Long Shadows now in August,  is a creation of the amazing Anne Hanson and I am going to cast on in the next 24 hours.
So I will be very busy:)

Goals

    If I write them down does it make them real?
    I have taught classes in goal setting and done a whole lot of research and reading and practicing. I usually do set them on paper and revise them from time to time. I find that just this act does set things in motion. Now we have the internet to use also.
    I am interested in how other people think about goals. are they private? do you get the support of groups? are they written, prayed over, left out? Do you make lists? journals? collage them? Blog? FB tweet? video? podcast?
are these things mre of a diversion than a tool?
   My plan this fall is to restart the Artist's Way workbook and at least begin the morning pages. Any one want to join me? we could start a new members only blog and support each other..... just thinking it might be a good time in my life to commit to paper.
   
   

Graffiti on the train and trestle-

Sweet home Alabama

My cousin and I took a road trip and went back to the farm where we all wish we grew up. Lisa calls it Laurel's farm,

and it is paradise. Lisa spent many happy years here and it is beautiful. Just beautiful. Enjoy some pictures.

Beautiful day..That's Laurel. Her farm. They make it all happen. Pecans, blueberries and grapes, sunflowers-different things to pick as they ripen. This is the Americana that mr Lauren tried to distill. Nice try, but I prefer the real thing.

Untitled

This jukebox at the Waffle House plays 78's. Way cool...check out the selection.
The house is the former Florida Hotel where my great grandmother was the manager..

Pensacola

Suzy's porch

12 th avenue oak tree canopy.

I am here in Pensacola, where I began. Is it redundant to say it is hot in Florida in the summer? I am glad to be here.

I am totally knitting this!

Wool People

I am totally in love with this object du wool, designed by Anne Hanson for  Shelter wool.  I think it would look stunning in the Faded Quilt (blue) color way. Yes? I think yes. Do go have a look.

There are other many patterns there to tempt and delight and you can buy one! or buy all -instantaneously with the speed of lightening or at least the internet-- whichever works better for you.

But the blanket will be perfect to take to the beach and wrap around us while we watch the sun come up. yes it will.

Summer Lunch

Lazy Sunday morning

Random picture from the city. It is so hot here. 90 degrees f in long beach and it is not yet 11 in the morning. I have been reading and writing some. Not expending too much energy. I may try to find a bookshelf in local tag sales. Maybe go out to lunch with my sweetie. Do some financial updates ( pay bills) and hope to see one or more of my children today.
O- and make some defiled eggs. hahaah deviled eggs ..

I am saddened by the mass murders in Oslo and all such despicable acts of violence against innocent people. I add my heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all of the victims. I will light a candle tonight in their memory.
I am also saddened by the untimely death of the talented Amy Winehouse, a victim of the disease of drug addiction. Another painfully and often fatally misunderstood affliction.
And, as I continue to live, I will practice love and kindness wherever my path leads me today, For it is these things that I wish to grow in the world. This is the life I will choose to live for as long as I am able.

Mike and Poppet snoozing on the couch

I am trapped under a cat!

Happy mailbox

I love receiving gifts in the mail. Even if I order them myself. Both items from knitpicks.com

Siggie quilt

One of the bonuses of the Dear Jane group has been the siggie (signature blocks) swaps that take place over the years. This quilt is a collection of three years of swapping with quilters all over the world..

It has yet to be quilted and I think this is the next one to be sent to the long arm quilter.
I am getting the hang of this blogsy app...I may have to get a new iPad when three comes out .. I could learn to love it.

Blogsy test

This will be a test post to blogger using the app "Blogsy "

Blogging from iPad.
Today is my day off. May have to find an adventure..I look forward to days off for knitting and sewing but then when the day arrives I want to be out and about. So far I am sipping coffee and playing with this new app..
May go to the Astoria graffiti and sculpture garden wit Dave and Frank. That could be a plan.
So far there is steep learning curve to this app. I want it to be less digging for how to and more posting. Now let's see how it posts .. Ready set go

cutting the herd

I am thinking of selling some of my small herd of antique  sewing vehicles. I have a couple of nice ones in cabinets and a 221 that I love but are just taking up space. I do not want to hold on to things any more. Maybe I am having belated spring cleaning syndrome.

Alex singing

Summertime has arrived

word of the day, from a personal series of observations

june 30, 2011

word of the day is measure

there are many things to count 

and weigh and sort and tally

units of measure can be drafted and drawn and drifted on a chart

visualized and color coded and valued and redrawn and reframed 

and marginalized and massed

you can count up things and count on things and recount things and even counter things 

and there is an underlying belief that all things can be enumerated and weighted and bartered and assigned

valued and deflated and scatter charted and indicated and collected and hoarded and saved and preserved and allocated and divided and added and projected 

however

there are somethings that defy standard methods of measure. beyond scope, counter to widely held notions, they are immeasurable. 

and they shall and should remain so.

one cannot measure chance, weigh prevention, contain happiness or sorrow. 

while you may measure the velocity of water against skin as your fingers trace a path in the water  as they dangle from a white painted row boat on a brilliant still summer day on a deep blue lake, 

you cannot count or capture the ergs of bliss that it brings.

Busted!

Podcasts for commuting

As I drive to work, (an hour and twenty minutes each way, forty nine miles one way. yes that is a lot of driving) I often listen to podcasts.
Many students at my job, where I teach lessons in how to use Apple computers, do not know what a podcast is. I tell them it is like a recording (pod) of a radio broadcast (cast) that you can listen to whenever you wish.
There are thousands of podcasts on the itunes site and the majority are free! You can listen to one episode or you can subscribe. You can listen on your ipod, ipad, iphone or computer.
Free.
My all time favorite is Garrison Keillor's A prairie Home Companion, Tales from Lake Wobegone, from National Public Radio. I also listen to the New Yorker Fiction Podcast. And the Moth Podcast. And the Etsy Podcast. Whatever your interests are, there is a podcast for you.  Check it out and let me know what you find~