tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35789118365393934522024-03-04T22:36:10.391-06:00Navigating by MorningStarMorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-38977597708103995052009-11-23T04:39:00.002-06:002009-11-23T04:41:04.754-06:00Ooops!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKw6Z8csOJWC5ugwcodxFX6cfuOeRhGEXCArTM_gVenfKeCCNZsYay648Ve1MpePV6tninSXbpaF5lk6AYhysi_k2xBuTY0og2mRRltX5_484J69u2kwsqIObpu0XUY2JczQY_UC-Ih3BH/s1600/Star.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKw6Z8csOJWC5ugwcodxFX6cfuOeRhGEXCArTM_gVenfKeCCNZsYay648Ve1MpePV6tninSXbpaF5lk6AYhysi_k2xBuTY0og2mRRltX5_484J69u2kwsqIObpu0XUY2JczQY_UC-Ih3BH/s400/Star.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407247165236811058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Forgot the picture of the little knitted stars.</span>MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-242749869719318602009-11-23T03:53:00.005-06:002009-11-23T04:38:38.481-06:00Sunday Activities
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">It's been an intense couple of days. Saturday was Not Good, and we'll just leave it at that. I've been processing it elsewhere, with people who've been through this kind of thing. Earlier today I looked at Bob and said, "Am I ever gonna get better?" And he said I was doing fine, right on schedule for where I am, and yes, I'm going to get and feel better. Today, the solution for feeling like crap was what it so often is -- pray to be relieved of fear or resentment or whatever it is, and then get on and do something. Anything. I didn't WANT to do anything, and I didn't feel like I had enthusiasm, excitement or energy for anything, but that doesn't matter. I do have one project I really wanted to be Finished, so I started with that. It's a knife sheath, a commission, for a friend who's a biker and wanted something in black leather, with fringe to match his leathers, for a folding knife.
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<br />I've never done a sheath for a folder before, and it presented construction difficulties, and I've never done fringes before either. I made a sandwich of thin, 4-ounce leather, with an insert of black-on-white watersnake skin. You have to cut a hole for that, and cut the snakeskin, and put a piece of something soft, like chamois, cut the same as the hole but a little smaller, behind the snakeskin to pad it and make it flush with the top of the sandwich, then glue it all in place and stitch around it. I've done that before and felt competent there.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiOSiCJG9BR-5w71sPrswnaXMDmHR6pzUxx12anEThI8yfRKJ_m44W6S-yRPMs0-tertEiKJbZpqmPY4lB3B5D4QtUyD61Zh8BAX1runrAcWeKsahGFc9k2qT5BwC4W5eL6TEl2RyK00P/s1600/Sandwich+Construction.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiOSiCJG9BR-5w71sPrswnaXMDmHR6pzUxx12anEThI8yfRKJ_m44W6S-yRPMs0-tertEiKJbZpqmPY4lB3B5D4QtUyD61Zh8BAX1runrAcWeKsahGFc9k2qT5BwC4W5eL6TEl2RyK00P/s400/Sandwich+Construction.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407242963696047074" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">But straight knives are narrow and this folder's over a half-inch deep. I made the back out of heavier 9-ounce leather, about a quarter-inch thick, with a strap on it folded over and stitched down for a belt loop. That's common and straightforward too. The tricky part here was the welting. I thought I'd be using two layers of the 9-ounce leather, plus a third of 4-ounce, cut for the fringe, and I got all that done, and then realized it still wasn't deep enough inside. I had to cut a third layer of the 9-ounce leather. And I'd already glued the other two layers to the back, and tacked on the front and cleaned up the sides on the belt grinder -- so it wasn't just a matter of tracing. I got a little stuck there, and left it for a few days.
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<br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOl5RfcZbJquVfcnoRXA_6TEhevuJ_lj4e39C0C9wQt8CFqI3UYynR5Y7A9PKVUOJ0INZ-T3LBwmap5-OT3Yty_DWxgcyS-UTY_M1p1lfWoAMrpeGoHhCVldZ3mxbv0tBa51SqgB6-Bla/s1600/Fitting+the+Welt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOl5RfcZbJquVfcnoRXA_6TEhevuJ_lj4e39C0C9wQt8CFqI3UYynR5Y7A9PKVUOJ0INZ-T3LBwmap5-OT3Yty_DWxgcyS-UTY_M1p1lfWoAMrpeGoHhCVldZ3mxbv0tBa51SqgB6-Bla/s400/Fitting+the+Welt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407242970037939394" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Today, I cut that third layer of welt, glued it up, and the whole welt was, near the top on one side, narrower than optimal. I had to drill holes through all that leather, which was an inch or more deep by then, 3/32" holes, about 3/16" on centre (5 to the inch). and an 1/8" in from the edge. The holes are good on top, but that grinding I'd already done had left the bottom edge a little rounded. The stitches will hold, but they're through the rounded edge on the bottom, and that doesn't please me aesthetically. Or professionally. I couldn't adjust them because of the welt being too narrow. After I got the holes drilled, I saddle-stitched them. Took a </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">LOT</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> of thread. Saddle-stitching, you put a needle in each end of a length of thread and thread it through a hole. Then the needle on the back of the sheath goes through the next hole to the front, and the needle that was on the front in the first place goes through the same hole to the back, so you've got one on the front and one on the back again. Each stitch took about three inches of waxed cotton cord.
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<br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvlfl4Sgaqy32pIFZS6exqN1O-aqMIWU8JO8KCcoHPwKPBNxBBmgfhosBm-M0X7z70r0dk595YY4fWzoMk3eHok8loPwujvQJ4_w-M2qyucmjvQAaTK-hwM9gxVjcNbveqCOBv8GycQt9/s1600/Hand-cut+Fringes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvlfl4Sgaqy32pIFZS6exqN1O-aqMIWU8JO8KCcoHPwKPBNxBBmgfhosBm-M0X7z70r0dk595YY4fWzoMk3eHok8loPwujvQJ4_w-M2qyucmjvQAaTK-hwM9gxVjcNbveqCOBv8GycQt9/s400/Hand-cut+Fringes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407242971798828514" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I have the COOLEST vice for holding things while I sew them. We saw someone using one like it for filework on knives last spring, and Bob came home and made one for me. I like filework, and it looks like I'll have time to learn some this winter, but it works great for a lot of other things too. Sewing that saddle-stitch needs two hands, so you need your work to be clamped. This is made out of a trailer hitch ball in a piece of pipe, so you can swivel it in all directions, then tighten the screws to hold it still. I'll take pictures another time -- it's too dark now and my flash isn't so hot.
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<br />After the sewing was done, I dressed the edges, cleaned the sheath of fingerprints with rubbing alcohol, and got the first coat of black dye on it. I don't know that I like the fringes very much, but I'm really pleased with the rest of it, now the dye's on it. It needs another coat of dye tomorrow, then buffing, a clear coat and a second buffing, and I'll take it to the guy I made it for, and hope he likes it. Pictures of the done thing tomorrow -- those light issues again.
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<br />The gluing today was all contact cement, so there was standing time every once in a while. I put the kittens in the former flying squirrel cage, where we keep the cat food now. The runty little black one (my favourite) found his way into the food right away. His sister spent a lot of time climbing the trees in there. The pictures I took of them in there didn't turn out well -- kittens WON'T hold still for pictures. But here's one of the calico on the front steps -- I really like this picture. We gotta name these guys soon -- they're six weeks old now.
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<br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w54fie3y3xRYLepTdbY_7uC71t_gLohWFz_X0i7kzZUQ2eWszutpqydyt9QdFmH_VUMR1zgpaLsFvjAOFRC9T0WvDNvCtoHqt0Aa5sGJPy5jl4gCdrKpGhVAY_JShM6wW5AFkcziwdHE/s1600/Bob's+Little+Calico,+6+weeks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w54fie3y3xRYLepTdbY_7uC71t_gLohWFz_X0i7kzZUQ2eWszutpqydyt9QdFmH_VUMR1zgpaLsFvjAOFRC9T0WvDNvCtoHqt0Aa5sGJPy5jl4gCdrKpGhVAY_JShM6wW5AFkcziwdHE/s400/Bob's+Little+Calico,+6+weeks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407244984710822562" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">And we haven't seen a hummingnbird for a couple of weeks, but the feeders are attracting the red wasps that are as big as Sea King Helicopters, and lots of yellow jackets too, right near the house. Aubrey screams whenever she sees one, which leads her to show me how loud she can scream, and that wears a little thin. Today, I took down all the feeders and cleaned them to put away for winter. I said, "These smell AWFUL," and Bob thought it was because the stuff had fermented, but it wasn't that kind of smell. When I took the last one apart for washing, I found it had become a yellow jacket trap -- there had to be two dozen drowned ones in there. Ugh.
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<br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLZ-hCK_-JEYXl6IK5U-Hm9ged-SFGSES98oQya7_bM23LJH_sHRwxcFw-jAgtT8yjoGDt8rgnit75RU8rglMijcCHAll3fi3qGeP4UBkNyqjvZ2mgT0PR_LB5hhA67cEbEav0Hlfauig/s1600/Mittens+with+Kitten.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLZ-hCK_-JEYXl6IK5U-Hm9ged-SFGSES98oQya7_bM23LJH_sHRwxcFw-jAgtT8yjoGDt8rgnit75RU8rglMijcCHAll3fi3qGeP4UBkNyqjvZ2mgT0PR_LB5hhA67cEbEav0Hlfauig/s400/Mittens+with+Kitten.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407242961179991058" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Friday night or yesterday, I forget, I finished this pair of mittens. Here's the hat, just started, to go with them. I love this wool -- I love the colours, and it's soft and beautiful, and machine washable on delicate in cold water. </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Crystal</span></st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> </span><st1:placename><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Palace</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">'s Mini Mochi. I hadn't realized this particular colour (Bossa Nova) was quite so pink/purpley, or I'd have picked something else for the girl they're meant for. Well, we do the best we can. I've got the same wool in a different colourway for another little girl -- Intense Rainbow. Soon's I get this hat done, I'll start her mittens. Oh, except tomorrow I've gotta take some time to knit some of these stars, but in pale yellow. Tomorrow's my mother-in-law's birthday, and I'll mail half-a-dozen or so to her for her Christmas tree.
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<br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHpOmtezN1_07Z1qQIPiE49ZCB6R8CAWi8cV8n8_t42FEv2Elscvj74cAWePTxcqoc8L1_0tFB835oqVs_ay_4FS6nHFBTSwEbehxh02KMwBil28Lu6AlcbviSysEpg23brXnYhuLH3rk/s1600/Hat+Started,+November+22+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHpOmtezN1_07Z1qQIPiE49ZCB6R8CAWi8cV8n8_t42FEv2Elscvj74cAWePTxcqoc8L1_0tFB835oqVs_ay_4FS6nHFBTSwEbehxh02KMwBil28Lu6AlcbviSysEpg23brXnYhuLH3rk/s400/Hat+Started,+November+22+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407242958365480962" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">The bottom line is, today's finishing a lot better than it started. My final triumph was just a little bit ago. The bathtub plug's not been fitting, and you can shower, but a bath runs out before you can get wet, hardly. I'd said I'd use a crochet hook and fish out the hair I figured was stuck in there, but I forgot. Bob had wanted a bath before bed, and I finished the dying (leather, not personal) and went and stuck my finger down the drain to see if I could fish out whatever was in there. Easy-peasy. Turned out there was a little circle of clear plastic in there. It had popped off the centre of the hot water tap handle, and got stuck, so the plug couldn't turn. Pictures of the finished knife sheath and the vise tomorrow or Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br />MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-43869993487315810642009-11-20T20:10:00.001-06:002009-11-20T20:13:14.248-06:00Getting Free of Fear<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I've had a couple of days of living with old stuff and feeling seriously sub-normal. And I've got anxiety around the big family lunch tomorrow (not my family, my host’s), 60 people; and I forgot that it's my MIL's birthday on Monday, which makes me a weasel. That's how I woke up this morning. We'd planned to drive to a place Bob likes today, The Hardwood Barn. They have a sawmill, and exotic woods, and he wanted knife-handle materials. I'd said yesterday I'd like to drive, about an hour each way, because I haven't been, not enough, and especially cuz the forecast was for rain today. Like I said last night, I've driven in a little drizzle, and it sucks on those cobblestone streets up in south </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Tyler</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">, but not in rain. He asked this morning if I still wanted to go, cuz he could feel I was unhappy. Yes, I did. Just cuz I feel crappy sometimes doesn't mean I want to share it around, and it would be at least another week before we could go. They're only open Friday and Saturday. We can't go tomorrow, and I dunno if they'll be open next weekend with the holiday, and we'd got up early and everything -- I didn't want to add being really selfish to the crap I was already carrying. Second, I knew that going anyplace would feel better than staying still. And third, I knew that driving would require most of my focus and the crappy mood would fall behind because I still have to pay attention to driving a lot.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">And it was going fine. I told Bob that a friend of ours who'd been in financial management for an NHL team for a while had said hockey players talk about "flow" -- something smooth and seamless happening in the play -- and I had flow with the driving today. We were on Rte. 259, which is two lanes southbound; a big, two-lane wide grass median with a fairly deep ditch; and two lanes northbound; 70 mph. I had the cruise control set about 72 or 73, and the guy in front of me was going a lot slower than that. I signalled a lane change and checked behind me and there was nothing there. I made the lane change without touching the brake or accelerator, so without disturbing the cruise control, because I didn't have to. We were passing him, and he pulled out to pass the guy in front of HIM, who was really the slow one, without checking his blind spot first, I guess.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I knew he was gonna hit us, and I went onto the gravel shoulder and tried to keep off the grass. I had a flash that at that speed, we'd cartwheel in the ditch. I don't exactly know yet what I did -- I just know he didn't hit us and we didn't go in the ditch -- I just got back into the lane and kept going. I didn't even have time or enough free focus to be scared. I just did what I had to. Bob said I did it perfectly, my reflexes were good, and he'd been sure the guy would hit us. By then I was just grateful I wasn't gonna have to show an out-of-country learner's permit to a state police officer. We'd been the following car when I started to pass him -- I thought that would make it all my fault. Bob said not -- when someone hits you in the side by cutting into your lane, it's their fault. I said there'd at least have been lots of witnesses -- like the guy driving the 18-wheeler behind us. He was far enough back he wouldn't have rear-ended us too -- but I was really aware all the time that he was back there.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">We were almost there. Stopped at a gas station because there's no public johns at The Hardware Barn. Bob bought us cokes, and we kept going, and I kept driving. I drove back too. There were some little sprinkles of rain, enough for me to figure out the windshield wipers, but not enough to be slippery. I was told last week not to use cruise control when it's raining cuz you can hydro-plane easier, so I hadn't set it coming back. Then I decided I 'druther drive without it because I'm learning how to feel changes in speed. I tend to speed. But today I was aware before I glanced at the spedometer whether I was hitting five mph above or about three mph below the limit.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Like I said, I didn't have time to be scared then. A friend had called this morning before it happened -- she'd been sure there was something wrong with me, so she called. Later she read yesterday’s e-mail and found out about my low blood sugar yesterday and thought that was it, but I think she knew about the car thing somehow, before it happened. We didn't get the phone -- it was where Bob couldn't reach it. I called her back later from the hammock, with a kitten, and when I was telling her about it, I started to shake.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Rest of the day was pretty normal. Bob's making pork ribs for tomorrow in the slow cooker; I buried the smoke detector in the sofa cushions and opened the windows; four-year old Aubrey came down and helped peel the ginger root cuz I was making qeema again ... (I'd put two chocolate-covered marshmallow Santas in the cart while we were grocery shopping and gave her one. "Is it Santa? Yes, it's Santa!" That made her happy, then she bit the head off, tilted her head back and closed her eyes and she had the most blissful look on her face. Later she had chocolate on her face and I wiped her off, which she didn't mind, because "I can't see it.") I was putting the rest of the qeema away warm, so I could drain off some of the fat first, and I had a big spoonful of it to go in the dish -- and I wanted to swallow ALL of it, and I knew Bob would never know. I haven't felt THAT urge in a real long time. I think it's still reacting to the driving.
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I'm really glad we went today and that I drove, and that it happened, and I kept driving. It's not going to scare me off driving, I know that. And I didn't realize until right now -- I had no road rage and wasn't doing blame or getting mad. But I'm still kinda reacting. I gotta go hard-cook 30 eggs now -- we have to be there at 1 tomorrow, and I'm not getting up early enough to do them first. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-71578446283279130862009-11-17T13:34:00.001-06:002009-11-17T13:40:51.743-06:00Everybody by Marie Sheppard Williams : American Life in Poetry<a href="http://www.americanlifeinpoetry.org/current.html">Everybody by Marie Sheppard Williams : American Life in Poetry</a>MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-36323473028764737902009-11-16T19:40:00.003-06:002009-11-16T19:53:47.028-06:00Oooh -- it's been at least two weeks ...
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">It's been a weird kind of week. I've been doing lots of Country Veterinarying. Hence, little blogging.<span style=""> </span>The kittens all had sticky eyes a couple of weeks ago, and I'd wipe them clean with warm water and a paper towel a couple of times a day and then put NeoSporin on their eyes (well, their eyelids, cuz they closed their eyes, but you know what I mean) and put them back in the kitten box with their mother. I'm pretty sure she licked it right back off, but either the antibiotic or the extra cleaning cleared it up in a couple of days. Wild kittens often have ringworm, which clears up (on THEM) pretty quickly. Not on humans when they transfer it -- you might remember I came back with it last fall. It's not a worm; it's a fungus like athlete's foot or crotch rot, and it responds (eventually) to the kinds of creams you buy for those things. The kittens, when I pick them up, all climb straight up under my chin, so last year and this, I got it on my chest first. Sigh. </span><span style=";font-family:";" ></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrBwvhZN8SP1_i0VL82FevRD45uL7wz-86ChdWcKek3XSKb32J62IGPCpO0PEaCmlt5Ry5pg30fL9j3DAvUOzeXFOm0AVAHCNDZDx8vUhxUMfzDbpgTdKJrt_SSGVLaWBUPQAJb81s-aP/s1600/Yeshua.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrBwvhZN8SP1_i0VL82FevRD45uL7wz-86ChdWcKek3XSKb32J62IGPCpO0PEaCmlt5Ry5pg30fL9j3DAvUOzeXFOm0AVAHCNDZDx8vUhxUMfzDbpgTdKJrt_SSGVLaWBUPQAJb81s-aP/s400/Yeshua.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404882622521045906" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Yeshua had a weird, wet cough when I got here. I'm not sure if the hairball I stepped on getting out of bed in the morning cured it or not, but I've been giving him that Femalt stuff. He likes it and it helps. And I wormed all the big cats too, so they're a little healthier. That flea stuff that goes on the back of their heads for Tiger and Yeshua, cuz they sleep with me. I put it on Yeshua two nights ago. That night Tiger got in bed with us and groomed his head for 20 MINUTES! His hair was wet!!! He just lay there like a stone Buddha and let her. (I think he's a highly ascended Buddhist.) I'm sure she licked it all off. There's one left from when they were small, for cats under five pounds, and I was hoping to get that onto him today.<span style=""> </span>He’s been gone all day though.<span style=""> </span>I saw him through the kitchen window early this afternoon.<span style=""> </span>He’s such a good hunter, and he had something.<span style=""> </span>Couldn’t see what, but it was bigger than a mouse, and still alive.<span style=""> </span>Yasmin went over to help him with it, so he picked it up and took it off in the underbrush behind the driveway.<span style=""> </span>
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<br /><span style=";font-family:";" ></span></p><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Marmalade, the big, three-year old tomcat (this picture's two years old) is BIG, and he fights a lot. His head feels like a softball, and his head and neck are always covered in scars and scabs. He got in a fight Sunday night (I think). He came for table scraps Monday morning, and let me pet him, which is unusual. I found a couple of engorged ticks on him, and poured olive oil over them. Olive oil works great for ticks -- when I did it for a third one, at night, it was gone in the morning. And it's cheap and quick and easy to apply -- just separate the hair a little and pour. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I got a look at his face though. His left eye was swollen shut, and leaking a thick, sticky fluid. Later in the day it was open a little, but very bloody. And the next day, the eyeball looked collapsed and sunken -- I was sure it was lost. I thought about trying the NeoSporin, but I was pretty sure I'd need stitches and a tet booster after that. There's a site I have bookmarked where you can look up dosages for dogs and cats, for human drugs. We have ampicillin here under the bathroom sink. Bob orders antibiotics from </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Mexico</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">; it's very cheap; and they're always on hand. It says, for cats and dogs, for ampicillin, 10mg per pound of body weight, every six hours. Well, I'm not gonna weigh Marmalade any more than I'm going to be able to put NeoSponin where he hurts. The ampicillin capsules are 500 mg, and he's gotta weigh 20 pounds, so I've been mixing half a capsule's worth into a couple of tablespoons of canned tuna, and getting 2 whole capsules into him daily. He's really picked up, and yesterday I saw his eye, and talked to a friend who's a nurse and a farmer, and we think he's going to keep the eye and the sight. Hallelujah! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">And, it's very easy to medicate him now. This morning he was lying on the picnic table bench, so I mixed up his stuff and went out on the front step, and he RAN across the yard to me. Tuna love. Except, he lets me pet him a lot while he's eating it, and he'll sit on the steps with me for half-an-hour or so after, letting me pet him, and occasionally chewing my fingers gently, after it's done. And tonight, he let me wash his face a little with a wet facecloth.<span style=""> </span>He’s still got yucky stuff on it, from the eye leaking.<span style=""> </span>He didn’t LIKE it – he’d pull his head away.<span style=""> </span>But he didn’t do anything else.<span style=""> </span>Didn’t offer to scratch or bite, or even leave.<span style=""> </span>He just stayed on the steps with me, and kept pushing his head into my hands.<span style=""> </span>A really sweet-natured cat.<span style=""> </span>He's good about the kittens too -- they come to smell the tuna, and I lift them away, but he lets them stand there and even lick the dregs out of the bowl after.<span style=""> </span>I’m glad I knew that you could give them human antibiotics, and where to look for dosages, and that I’ve stuck with this.<span style=""> </span>He’s just acting like a healthy cat today.
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<br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghb_-lnlYJOsM90TK1FsHLXuA_JrYekvNH7pviXvBB8EnGOZvpePqWqn0lxr-SLmJ3mXiAx6y75EKGGcX-ONzAH5ERQDldLmlKtg0JCM4ZgeC7OaSJ3lY6WhGpYpjwZ1Rver2Pf01GjbhX/s1600/Orange+one,+close-up.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghb_-lnlYJOsM90TK1FsHLXuA_JrYekvNH7pviXvBB8EnGOZvpePqWqn0lxr-SLmJ3mXiAx6y75EKGGcX-ONzAH5ERQDldLmlKtg0JCM4ZgeC7OaSJ3lY6WhGpYpjwZ1Rver2Pf01GjbhX/s400/Orange+one,+close-up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404882616091112642" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" > </span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">We lost one of the kittens Saturday night. This one, the little orange one. It was just a dumb accident, and we're both blaming ourselves. They're so fragile. We've both been feeling awful. They’re five weeks old now.<span style=""> </span>We’re always very careful, and it wasn’t carelessness for this accident, but now we’re being extra-careful.<span style=""> </span>I was sitting on the front steps last night, with the other two, the runty black one and the calico, on the back of my shoulders, trying to wrestle with each other.<span style=""> </span>The black one got down, and I think the calico was trying to eat my head.<span style=""> </span>I could feel paws and claws on my head behind my ears, and another pair down around my delts, and she was trying to bite – but my head’s too big for kitten bites.<span style=""> </span>Don’t know that I have any recent kitten pictures – I’ll have to take some more.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">It's hard. We got home last night and were carrying groceries in, both of us with both hands full. I went to kick the door closed, but looked around first. The orange one was the quickest on the stairs and always wanted in the house. He usually got in too, and I'd have to pick him up (more than once cuz he was fast and the calico would be trying too, after the orange one's first attempt) and put him back out. So I didn't kick the door last night: I turned around to look and make sure he wasn't half-way in already. He wasn't there and I remembered why and went and cried a little. <span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-40111286749033536102009-10-27T11:30:00.003-06:002009-10-27T11:32:20.421-06:00Where I am<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotiQaq2bhsYYmTMnWmlwY_Xaj7MyND8NIFiP2eqwO0ysay4cAKeZfoRCrB-zpEDqhTP7gpqZJ9t_o60sEr7Yb1ILXvKDPJu_l2y5NhIIF0EHc95CrNdG9NWOGsdW33AvphKX1cSt1lnRK/s1600-h/Where+I+Am.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 390px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotiQaq2bhsYYmTMnWmlwY_Xaj7MyND8NIFiP2eqwO0ysay4cAKeZfoRCrB-zpEDqhTP7gpqZJ9t_o60sEr7Yb1ILXvKDPJu_l2y5NhIIF0EHc95CrNdG9NWOGsdW33AvphKX1cSt1lnRK/s400/Where+I+Am.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397333579305716034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">At the top of the map there, you can see I-20 running west to east. If you kept going west, a little out of the section here, you'd get to Dallas. If you kept going east on I-20, you'd get to Shreveport, Louisiana, a little faster than you'd get to Dallas from Tyler. <br /><br />Thanks to GoogleMaps. <br /></span>MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-60239385957756956292009-10-27T01:37:00.004-06:002009-10-27T01:43:42.264-06:00About That Knife<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oOq0lM8Y3IyNfh5aTs52HDWykr0RA6ECm4_hKdkJ73scFr2fpdrEuNDV-YY2Yl7WWDu3r7WuBlhJVtDqoihm1fWGTR_XrcfStfAzxbw3FEsLKOjXVyG9JsaE_e3bfh7nFou3g6jMAYqe/s1600-h/Knife+in+sheath.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oOq0lM8Y3IyNfh5aTs52HDWykr0RA6ECm4_hKdkJ73scFr2fpdrEuNDV-YY2Yl7WWDu3r7WuBlhJVtDqoihm1fWGTR_XrcfStfAzxbw3FEsLKOjXVyG9JsaE_e3bfh7nFou3g6jMAYqe/s400/Knife+in+sheath.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397181035571307202" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I said I’d be making a sheath for the knife you can see a couple of posts back.<span style=""> </span>I did it.<span style=""> </span>I wanted it lean and black and shiny and elegant, with nothing on it that would distract from the beautiful handle. <span style=""> </span>There are technical flaws in it.<span style=""> </span>It’s the first I’ve made in six months, and there are things I’ve forgotten.<span style=""> </span>The places where the stitches are out of a straight line are all I see when I look at it.<span style=""> </span>(Yeah, I know.)<span style=""> </span>It's got a loop on the back that'll fit any belt that's not more than 2" wide. I made it for a right-hander, but if you wanted to buy it and you're left-handed, I'd make another one.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">The thing I got really right is the FIT.<span style=""> </span>You put a welt between the front and back, where they’re sewn together.<span style=""> </span>It gives space inside for the knife.<span style=""> </span>It also holds the knife.<span style=""> </span>The inside of the welt, that you can’t see, is cut to match the line of the blade.<span style=""> </span>You can turn this one upside-down, hold it by the tip so you’re not touching the blade, and it doesn’t slip a bit.<span style=""> </span>It still slides in and out easily when you’re doing it on purpose.<span style=""> </span>But it’s never gonna slip out by accident and get lost in the woods anywhere.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">“Therefore are thou happy.”<span style=""> </span>-- Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet, telling Romeo what he had to be happy about when he was pining over Rosaline. One of my favourite quotations.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9voMkUYm88xhr0WESPtF6o_ShlwvMgLosMV5I1q1IArL2-N5b0du7EDwKO_hspocjZZ3ZzOx-nXbnh7iWJEsby_-iqj4zcfKhAE5Aa6d6TnUgG4DW2E0bjkUHq8_-8cGsLJh8_X30pcM/s1600-h/The+Drop+Test.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9voMkUYm88xhr0WESPtF6o_ShlwvMgLosMV5I1q1IArL2-N5b0du7EDwKO_hspocjZZ3ZzOx-nXbnh7iWJEsby_-iqj4zcfKhAE5Aa6d6TnUgG4DW2E0bjkUHq8_-8cGsLJh8_X30pcM/s400/The+Drop+Test.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397181041205295506" border="0" /></a>MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-22151938911010925992009-10-26T22:02:00.005-06:002009-10-26T22:15:03.246-06:00Gifts
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="date"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="date"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Well, I never promised I’d do this every day.<span style=""> </span>It’s been an intense week, including a headcold.<span style=""> </span>It meant it was really a good thing I didn’t try to fly back to </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Ontario</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> last week.<span style=""> </span>It’s tiring, a day with three flights and the first taking off at </span><st1:time minute="30" hour="18"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">6:30</span></st1:time><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> in the morning.<span style=""> </span>We have to leave here at 4:30 to get me there on time, and the only way THAT’s ever gonna happen is if we stay up all night.<span style=""> </span>And I’d have been at my most contagious and least socially-acceptable with the coughing and runny nose, right during the visitation.<span style=""> </span>My son said, “Yeah, it’s a good thing.<span style=""> </span>A lot of Papa’s old school teacher friends came, and, well … they’re OLD.”<span style=""> </span>Yeah, that lowered immune system thing.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Here, in this little spot in </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Texas</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">, we aim to live a spiritual life.<span style=""> </span>The premise is, “God’s in charge,” and a key point is that God’s got all the sex/love/relationship stuff and all the money, so there’s no point wasting a lot of time and energy worrying about them.<span style=""> </span>(Some of you will know that’s not exactly how that statement goes, but we’re G-Rated here.)<span style=""> </span>For physical and spiritual reasons, we eat according to a plan.<span style=""> </span>There are some things that are not on the list, and what is on the list is on the list in measured quantities.<span style=""> </span>Lots of people look at the plan and think it’s going to be torture.<span style=""> </span>I did, for 19 years.<span style=""> </span>But it’s not.<span style=""> </span>It’s kept us healthy, made us healthy.<span style=""> </span>Me, beyond my wildest dreams – I haven’t had a shot of insulin since </span><st1:date year="2007" day="21" month="1"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">January 21<sup>st</sup>, 2007</span></st1:date><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">, and I was on four a day before that.<span style=""> </span>And I’m wearing size 8 jeans for the first time in my life, and they slide without a belt.<span style=""> </span>Not enough for a size 6, but I never thought I’d get here.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">What makes the plan bearable in the long term is that we both see it as a gift from God.<span style=""> </span>The plan is; the ability not just to stick with it but to love it is; the food is.<span style=""> </span>And we both have a sense that the planning and preparation and eating is devotional, or a spiritual discipline.<span style="">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8dFBDOGe939R-C8oLH42m7f-J-5f285QVX33tEK25ITjHRf85UXTgPqVvXxYHR9scGfcnv1WGKP8efl9s6r60v8Ipvcry0Rw7hDai4bhD1A3rO9QgUht4ZH6Rx67_n6XORnTRMCTaCgK/s1600-h/Supper,+October+8th.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8dFBDOGe939R-C8oLH42m7f-J-5f285QVX33tEK25ITjHRf85UXTgPqVvXxYHR9scGfcnv1WGKP8efl9s6r60v8Ipvcry0Rw7hDai4bhD1A3rO9QgUht4ZH6Rx67_n6XORnTRMCTaCgK/s400/Supper,+October+8th.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397126361370789170" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">That picture up there is a salad I’ve been making at least twice a week for the last month.<span style=""> </span>Often more.<span style=""> </span>It’s a cucumber and tomato raita.<span style=""> </span>You start by putting a big paper towel in a sieve over a bowl and dumping a quart of plain yoghurt (we use whole milk yoghurt) into it, and letting it drain in the fridge for anywhere from two to 24 hours.<span style=""> </span>Peel, seed and dice a cucumber into pieces about the size of a dried chickpea.<span style=""> </span>Toss it with a little salt, and put it in the sieve over the bowl (take the yoghurt out first) and let it sit while you do the rest of the stuff.<span style=""> </span>Cut up three Roma tomatoes into bits the same size as the cucumber.<span style=""> </span>Chop up the leaves from half a bunch of cilantro.<span style=""> </span>Mix the tomatoes and cilantro and yoghurt up with a teaspoon or so of roasted, ground cumin seeds (coffee grinder works great for that).<span style=""> </span>Squeeze handsful of the cucumbers as hard as you can in your fist over the sink, mix them in with all the other stuff.<span style=""> </span>Put it in the fridge for an hour or so if you can stand to wait that long, and VIOLA!<span style=""> </span>You have a stringed instrument, and a great salad.<span style=""> </span>Serves 2.<span style=""> </span>It tastes good, it’s good for us, and I always feel like the food is really CLEAN and there’s something more than physical nourishment going on.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">We talked about it this afternoon.<span style=""> </span>I said I’d be happy to make one today, but I used the last of the cucumbers and tomatoes when I made it yesterday.<span style=""> </span>Bob went to the store and got 2 cucumbers, a lot of tomatoes and some more cilantro, cuz we’ve got a full quart of yoghurt.<span style=""> </span>When he came back he said it was too bad we didn’t have a Cuisinart or something, to chop up the vegetables.<span style=""> </span>I don’t think it’s that much trouble to do the vegetables, and I said so.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">But I thought about it some more while I made the salad just now, and we talked about it for a couple of minutes.<span style=""> </span>Once, when I was living elsewhere with other people, I was dicing up vegetables for soup, and The Voice in my head said, “The gifts of God for the people of God,” just like the priest does about the bread and wine at communion.<span style=""> </span>I realized it was true – I was preparing gifts from God – potatoes, carrots, onions – for people of God – my family.<span style=""> </span>Made the daily task holy.<span style=""> </span>I have that same sense, making the raita.<span style=""> </span>I said tonight, “Preparing this specific food is always spiritual for me.<span style=""> </span>I wouldn’t use a machine for the vegetables if we had one.”<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLhN0BVQCUSTGndBEMMhAotpK9TIMnmzr16mzrRwyfOtvgle9wWJzx9LGwQiz4hAhArlpGgQ6FvWD-1E7Kue0EX-7mlVPnq1BhtFiq_svf_SOSEuHxp4uvMll6Hqkbiudd6dlCxV0h63d/s1600-h/Kitchen+set.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLhN0BVQCUSTGndBEMMhAotpK9TIMnmzr16mzrRwyfOtvgle9wWJzx9LGwQiz4hAhArlpGgQ6FvWD-1E7Kue0EX-7mlVPnq1BhtFiq_svf_SOSEuHxp4uvMll6Hqkbiudd6dlCxV0h63d/s400/Kitchen+set.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397126355498349218" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">There’s more than that to it. <span style=""> </span>The salad is in a bowl that my friend Deborah Doran made – it’s beautiful, and it was a trick getting it 1,300 miles in one piece.<span style=""> </span>That picture above is a set of knives and choppers that are now hanging on the kitchen wall.<span style=""> </span>(And a dragon that appeared in the sawblade after the knives were cut out of it.<span style=""> </span>Dragons appear unexpectedly like that – it’s their way.)<span style=""> </span>I use the big, round-bladed one with the green linen micarta handle in the top right corner to chop up the cilantro, or garlic, ginger and/or jalapenos, if that’s what I’m doing.<span style=""> </span>It just rocks on the board and cuts them up perfectly.<span style=""> </span>I was using the smaller rounded knife on the bottom for the cucumbers and tomatoes.<span style=""> </span>And below here is a picture of some things on the cutting board.<span style=""> </span>I used that wooden spatula to mix the salad.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Those things are important, because we made them.<span style=""> </span>Bob made those knives.<span style=""> </span>Every once in a while we drive around to the junk barns and stores around here and buy up old, round sawmill blades, or cross-cut saw blades, and once a disc off a harrow.<span style=""> </span>Then he cuts out blades with a plasma cutter, anneals and hardens them, makes the handles.<span style=""> </span>See the handles?<span style=""> </span>Those are all made of micarta, which is layers of fabric held together with a resin.<span style=""> </span>The dark green one was a purchased block of Micarta.<span style=""> </span>The multicoloured ones: we made that block of micarta last spring.<span style=""> </span>Layered different coloured fabrics that we soaked one at a time in Bondo, and clamped them between boards that have pinto beans glued onto them, and that’s what makes the swirls.<span style=""> </span>It’s messy and fun and you have to work fast and don’t know what you’ll get.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5OKJ3_jDWi2VbAlGq8rHymR6S5OlVcoHiHUZPjwLpx8TX2Nh8yG67smlJqLpL2pjKqS0OJ3iF_-9XbLu7OUD-YPC8s5JBM_QoslJdqWFs0yFWxsoi9sylNYnnNV0Um7AfHNKvLVQg1A2/s1600-h/Still+Life+with+Plums+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5OKJ3_jDWi2VbAlGq8rHymR6S5OlVcoHiHUZPjwLpx8TX2Nh8yG67smlJqLpL2pjKqS0OJ3iF_-9XbLu7OUD-YPC8s5JBM_QoslJdqWFs0yFWxsoi9sylNYnnNV0Um7AfHNKvLVQg1A2/s400/Still+Life+with+Plums+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397126356047564866" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">That spatula, the wooden one, is one I made a few weeks ago.<span style=""> </span>The first in a series.<span style=""> </span>I like wooden cooking utensils and there aren’t any here, but there’s lots of wood, and lots of tools to make things with.<span style=""> </span>Lots of time too, and an attitude that you don’t know what you like doing or are good at unless you try it.<span style=""> </span>It’s hard to screw up here.<span style=""> </span>The second one of these I made is much too thin, and it will inevitably break – but I’m using it til it does, and being careful with it, and next time I won’t make the same mistake.<span style=""> </span>Next time, I’m making one with a slot in the middle, and I’m going to mail it to Roo in </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">New Jersey</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">, cuz she wants one.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">All of this makes making the raita more special, and more about the wonders of the world.<span style=""> </span>Something to be grateful for.<span style=""> </span>You’ll have to make the intuitive leap on that one – the best I can tell you about <i>why</i>, is, it puts love into the task.<span style=""> </span>It makes the salad taste better.<span style=""> </span>It makes the food preparation an act of love and devotion and spiritual gift, rather than drudgery.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">It doesn’t only apply to cooking.<span style=""> </span>Attitude is everything.<span style=""> </span>Vacuuming the carpets and cleaning the toilet can be drudgery.<span style=""> </span>It’s not though, when I’m aware that I’m making the place and life more peaceful and pleasant, for myself or for someone else.<span style=""> </span>It’s a way to bring a little serenity, maybe even joy, into the world.<span style=""> </span>Doesn’t even matter if someone else notices that it’s been done: they’ll notice the effect.<span style=""> </span>I used to cook stews and breads and things that cooked a long time and smelled good, on very snowy days, because it made the house a better place to walk into, as soon as someone walked in the door.<span style=""> </span>One of you reading this hangs her clothes on the line instead of using the dryer – it’s an act of good stewardship of the Creation, and so a spiritual discipline too.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I’ve started a new one today.<span style=""> </span>I knit, for joy, and for serenity, and because I can’t smoke cigarettes or eat potato chips or ice cream while I do it.<span style=""> </span>Well, that was why I started – now it’s mostly the joy and serenity.<span style=""> </span>In the last year, I’ve started using (and paying a little extra for) wooden knitting needles.<span style=""> </span>You have to go out of the way to get them.<span style=""> </span>Most stores that have knitting needles at all have plastic or aluminum ones.<span style=""> </span>And I’m less and less able to use acrylic yarns – I don’t like the feel.<span style=""> </span>I use wool, alpaca, mohair, cotton, bamboo yarns.<span style=""> </span>I’ve got a project in my head that I’ll want silk for.<span style=""> </span>They feel better to me.<span style=""> </span>I bought those needles, but I can and will make myself needles here.<span style=""> </span>Bob made me a set of four short fat ones last year for something I made.<span style=""> </span>The picture below is wool that came today, to make mittens and a hat for someone I like a lot.<span style=""> </span>She doesn’t know, and won’t til she gets them.<span style=""> </span>The wool is special – it’ll go in the washer with cold water, but not in the dryer.<span style=""> </span>It’s all very fine – 7.5 stitches in an inch.<span style=""> </span>That’s a lot of knitting.<span style=""> </span>But I’ll think of her while I’m doing it, and say some prayers for her and other people; and be grateful for her and the project itself.<span style=""> </span>The days are still fine enough in east </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Texas</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> now that I’ll do a lot of the knitting in the hammock too.<span style=""> </span>And fight off the Tiger-kitten sometimes.<span style=""> </span>That all makes it better.<span style=""> </span>It makes it all spiritual gift.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAET1IsJgIv4I2j4aBuvPeoOkTTS4MFh25SXqlFuv6DWmmsz0Az6r3Ve-R55PN2i3HSwnG9yZ5mbCj4U2hQZto3PW2xind0b6nC-txqUyrNSofDdrB2lX22DsxD3O7C2yDSH44SgmkqiVY/s1600-h/Bossa+Nova.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAET1IsJgIv4I2j4aBuvPeoOkTTS4MFh25SXqlFuv6DWmmsz0Az6r3Ve-R55PN2i3HSwnG9yZ5mbCj4U2hQZto3PW2xind0b6nC-txqUyrNSofDdrB2lX22DsxD3O7C2yDSH44SgmkqiVY/s400/Bossa+Nova.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397126364362412002" border="0" /></a>MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-33807604769134804662009-10-22T00:19:00.003-06:002009-10-22T00:24:36.024-06:00Keith Allan: June 16th, 1930 - October 17th, 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2l7RXrNeWhvgzMuK2y1tBJC53JYXcAlPC499V0Y1zEnKx1zxOGleyRioMLLCXPIOgdrfV96Hdk8y2tf5d1UoDaohEDnxrNVssa4PVvwImBRbTBfsTYlCBXzQCpli2g60rN9J0bmwE-RR/s1600-h/Dad+and+Jake+025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">That’s a picture of my Dad and his dog, Jake, taken in the summer of 2008.<span style=""> </span>We were in his back yard.<span style=""> </span>The garden was a little weedy – it had really been my stepmother’s province, and she died in April 2007.<span style=""> </span>Dad didn’t have the heart or the knees to take it on himself.<span style=""> </span>He missed her very much.<span style=""> </span>There were landscape gardeners, who came and did the lawns and the flower beds, but it’s not the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">It’s hard to know what to say.<span style=""> </span>Dad graduated from university the year I was born.<span style=""> </span>He went to teacher’s college, and his first year teaching high school physics (and sometimes math) was the year I started kindergarten.<span style=""> </span>1960-61.<span style=""> </span>There was me and my sister by then; my brother was born in the spring of 1962.<span style=""> </span>Dad taught at </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Dundas</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">District</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">High School</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> in </span><st1:place><st1:city><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Dundas</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">, </span><st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Ontario</span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> first, then moved to </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Parkside</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">High School</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> when it opened a couple of years later.<span style=""> </span>His department head there, Nick Kinach, became one of his best friends.<span style=""> </span>The Kinachs had a cottage in Muskoka, and we went there sometimes as guests.<span style=""> </span>When I was in high school, and the cottage next to Nick and Rita’s came up for sale, Dad heard about it first, and bought it.<span style=""> When I was in high school I used to go up there with kids from the band. Something went wrong (usually some <span style="font-style: italic;">things</span> went wrong) every time, and my parents must have wanted to kill us, but they said, "Yes," again the next year.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">In 1967, Dad started teaching in the Halton Board of Education, at </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Nelson</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> </span><st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">High School</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">, until Lord Elgin opened.<span style=""> </span>In 1976 he and my mother separated.<span style=""> </span>Dad met Judy, and loved her, and they were married 30 years.<span style=""> </span>Her death was unexpected, and almost instant one Saturday in April.<span style=""> </span>She was twelve years younger than he was.<span style=""> </span>It wasn’t supposed to happen that way.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I went to </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Parkside</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">High School</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">, fortunately after Dad had switched boards.<span style=""> </span>But many of the same staff were there.<span style=""> </span>I’d go to the office for aspirin, and the secretary would say, “Can you take aspirin?<span style=""> </span>Your FATHER can’t take aspirin.”<span style=""> </span>It was one of the things that kept me from getting into more trouble than I did, I think.<span style=""> </span>I had too many teachers he was still in touch with.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Dad loved teaching, and he’d meet people in the supermarket and places, who’d ask if he remembered them – they’d been in his class in 1973.<span style=""> </span>I used to take a taxi to church in Dundas, and one of the regular Sunday mornings had had my Dad for high school physics in Dundas, so in the first half of the ‘60’s, and he always asked about him.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Last year I was talking to my sister about something one day, and whether I’d tell Dad about it.<span style=""> </span>She said, “He’s been worried about you since the minute he knew you were going to be born.<span style=""> </span>You might as well give him something to worry about.”<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">This past summer, I was unemployed and income-less, in </span><st1:place><st1:city><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Hamilton</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">, </span><st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Ontario</span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">.<span style=""> </span>I tried very hard to find a job, applied for lots of things.<span style=""> </span>I was interviewed once.<span style=""> </span>There were good friends who put work my way whenever they could, and it helped a lot.<span style=""> </span>Kept me in groceries.<span style=""> </span>And I needed to ask Dad for help, so I could pay rent, and he did help.<span style=""> </span>I told him in August that I’d had plans all summer to go to </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Iowa</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> for a wedding Labour Day, and I was going to stay with a friend for a while after that, and then go out to western </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Canada</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">. I’ve wanted to for a long time anyway, and I wasn’t getting work in southern </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Ontario</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">.<span style=""> </span>There are people out west who’ll help me find a job, and I had a little capital to move with.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Dad has had liver and heart problems for a few years now.<span style=""> </span>He told me this summer his doctor had told him 20 years ago he needed a knee replacement, and Dad had turned it down.<span style=""> </span>He regretted that decision now.<span style=""> </span>And there was arthritis elsewhere too – he’d had to have his university graduation ring cut off this spring.<span style=""> </span>I’d gone away in February, and the day before I left, he said, “I could die tomorrow, or it could be ten years.<span style=""> </span>And I’m ready.”<span style=""> </span>When I left in September, I knew I wouldn’t see him again.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">The long weekend, I wrote him a letter from here in </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Texas</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">.<span style=""> </span>Most of it was happy, chatty stuff about being in </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Iowa</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> in early September, and then coming to </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Texas</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> on a Greyhound bus.<span style=""> </span>Usually I put pictures in, but I hadn’t had any printed yet.<span style=""> </span>Dad didn’t use his computer any more – I think it was mostly my stepmother who’d done the communication by e-mail anyway.<span style=""> </span>At the end of the letter, I told him how grateful I was for his help this summer, and told him I hadn’t wanted to be a source of worry to him when he was sick, and I knew I had been, and I was sorry.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">My sister called Sunday morning.<span style=""> </span>Dad passed around </span><st1:time minute="0" hour="0"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">midnight</span></st1:time><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">, Eastern Time.<span style=""> </span>She wasn’t sure if it was legally Saturday or Sunday.<span style=""> </span>Eventually I said, “I know this is dumb, but did he get my letter?”<span style=""> </span>No.<span style=""> </span>She’d been picking up the mail and she was sure.<span style=""> </span>The next day I called back and asked her, if it came in time, could she put the letter in the box with Dad.<span style=""> </span>Cremation was Monday and the letter arrived Tuesday, but she said she’ll turn the letter into ashes and put them in with Dad’s.<span style=""> </span>His will be mixed with Judy’s before they’re scattered.<span style=""> </span>I’m sure he knows by now what the letter said anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">There’s no service. <span style=""> </span>Dad didn’t want one; didn’t want anything.<span style=""> </span>There will be a visitation at the funeral home tomorrow afternoon.<span style=""> </span>I’ve got a million feelings right now, and I can’t identify most of them, but there’s one I’m sure of:<span style=""> </span>for his sake, I’m glad he’s done.<span style=""> </span></span>MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-5468173572397180982009-10-10T16:34:00.002-06:002009-10-10T16:44:07.853-06:00And here's those kittens ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONxwHNB5glRdL32m4jl07i0vV64gYXyqrHTp8bZqgxB4rRi6vqEAgSOKm-wFP1eXfOEDJ0TfIiYgxCZr2wZICZPXxYzgkxAyj4wm_XADgzxY9X6du2dGEga2_VXlF92hvVdj0hyr0SGj-/s1600-h/Yasmin's+Oct+09+Litter+05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONxwHNB5glRdL32m4jl07i0vV64gYXyqrHTp8bZqgxB4rRi6vqEAgSOKm-wFP1eXfOEDJ0TfIiYgxCZr2wZICZPXxYzgkxAyj4wm_XADgzxY9X6du2dGEga2_VXlF92hvVdj0hyr0SGj-/s400/Yasmin's+Oct+09+Litter+05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391105648156972498" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCZ68Fx3ex5SEnnJXCkQufHVpQSom0fRiSuZphL_-aK3Kn1QDxzI69rhnr8wa0djUgkxTBwbUSGbDgNh3k74fu06lZFvHnE4DF9uvQOf0bfSAwbv06MWqycBzmVIU9RcvzZxBPbCmHVJU/s1600-h/Yasmin's+Oct+09+Litter+03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCZ68Fx3ex5SEnnJXCkQufHVpQSom0fRiSuZphL_-aK3Kn1QDxzI69rhnr8wa0djUgkxTBwbUSGbDgNh3k74fu06lZFvHnE4DF9uvQOf0bfSAwbv06MWqycBzmVIU9RcvzZxBPbCmHVJU/s400/Yasmin's+Oct+09+Litter+03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391105645893047858" border="0" /></a>
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Except, you can really see them this time.<span style=""> </span>Yasmin was out in the long grass and they were ALL peeping away like crazy when I went and got them.<span style=""> </span>She heard them, and came running back, and was in the nest before I got her babies back to her.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I checked up on them, a couple of hours later.<span style=""> </span>They are all silent, in that little nest spot.<span style=""> </span>Either nursing or asleep.<span style=""> </span>It’s a good idea to let sleeping kittens lie.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<br />MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-7511302614497495952009-10-10T16:31:00.002-06:002009-10-10T16:34:03.542-06:00Here's that knife ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX3rqUsqXywRTM7kqTagWJvGSYPxy2reCqmiPp3ns-bOInrj223qbsN0edfWKMRPcA9QuDGqgL-Tvx2ANPcTVjjgyOruccj15UQUrTw8FuO4qdM_4iGYyvTDVVH2_G0eTwSlX2l6w9sWk/s1600-h/Burl+%26+Jasper+Bowie+10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX3rqUsqXywRTM7kqTagWJvGSYPxy2reCqmiPp3ns-bOInrj223qbsN0edfWKMRPcA9QuDGqgL-Tvx2ANPcTVjjgyOruccj15UQUrTw8FuO4qdM_4iGYyvTDVVH2_G0eTwSlX2l6w9sWk/s400/Burl+%26+Jasper+Bowie+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391102842452356018" border="0" /></a>
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Here’s that knife.<span style=""> </span>It’s got the stabilized buckeye burl, black buffalo horn, and red jasper.<span style=""> </span>The fittings are brass, and the pommel is hand-cast.<span style=""> </span>Be a great knife in a tackle-box.<span style=""> </span>There will be a black leather sheath for it, but I haven’t made it yet.<span style=""> </span>I’m hoping to finish the project I’m knitting by bedtime tonight (I gotta see what movies we have here), and then I’ll do some leather work.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">You can see more pictures of it at <a href="http://bobwilson.us/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=142&zenid=35f85d4bf713306b33207f98c68e46de">http://bobwilson.us/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=142&zenid=35f85d4bf713306b33207f98c68e46de</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">And you can cruise the whole website to see more interesting stuff, some of which I made.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br />MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-36180241632885645782009-10-10T14:32:00.003-06:002009-10-10T14:48:46.144-06:00Phew! Saved a life today
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charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">A little about rhythm of life here, for Saturday morning.<span style=""> </span>We’re going to do this the way it says in Genesis – “the evening and the morning”.<span style=""> </span>There’s a lot of cats.<span style=""> </span>In the afternoon yesterday, </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Cheyenne</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> and Aubrey were here.<span style=""> </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Cheyenne</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> played teacher and made homework sheets and math tests on my computer, and Aubrey jumped on my bed, wore my reading glasses all the time she was here, and we looked at my earrings.<span style=""> </span>Any that were on loops rather than posts, she hung on the hem of her teeshirt.<span style=""> </span>Grandaddy Bob brought in one of the four-day old kittens – an orange one, that was under the kitchen again.<span style=""> </span>That’s not where Yasmin’s got the rest.<span style=""> </span>We put her back where we found her though, and hoped Yasmin would come back and get her.<span style=""> </span>She’s abandoned them before – that’s how I got Yeshua last year.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">We both worked on projects last night.<span style=""> </span>We looked at the materials available for knife handles together, and some of the blades.<span style=""> </span>The blades we looked at were commercial ones – Bob was just looking for a place to get started, using what’s here already.<span style=""> </span>I went out the back and picked an emerald-green Dymondwood slab (a dyed, laminated wood product) and black linen micarta to go with, with brass for the metal parts. <span style=""> </span>There was a lovely block of greenish stabilized buckeye burl, and a small piece of red jasper, and that’s in end stages now, with brass pieces.<span style=""> </span>Desert Ironwood’s beautiful, hard and greenish – there was a small piece of fossilized walrus jawbone left over from something else, and the colours are really good together.<span style=""> </span>We put a piece of copper rod beside it, and decided that’s what to use with it.<span style=""> </span>Then he decided that would be better with a big blade, so he’s using one he cut out of an old sawmill blade, that we annealed in the kiln last fall.<span style=""> </span>And finally, we’d been looking at a piece of malachite/azurite composite, and wondering what it would be good with.<span style=""> </span>Well, there’s a piece of bone left, I think it’s moose, and the deep blue stone looks fabulous with it.<span style=""> </span>There’s enough nickel/silver left for one knife of that, for sure, and probably enough bone for two.<span style=""> </span>There’s a green stone, I don’t know what it is, that I think would go well with the white and blue, and there will be fine black spacers between each different colour.<span style=""> </span>So, after that, Bob went outside and put together the handle for buckeye burl knife, and started grinding two of the sawmill knife blades for something else. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">While he was out doing that, inside the house was quiet.<span style=""> </span>I took my knitting on the sofa, made a pot of Madagascar vanilla tea, took the smoke detector off the wall and buried it in the sofa cushions, lit some sage, and took my knitting and the tea on the sofa, with as many of the lights off as I could manage and still knit.<span style=""> </span>Lovely, lovely.<span style=""> </span>I was there for a couple of hours and got VERY happy.<span style=""> </span>Then Bob came in and we agreed that both of us had said we’d cook vegetables yesterday, and neither of us had, so we finished the chicken curry, because it has vegetables already in it. <span style=""> </span>After that, I made Chocolate Cream Tea, and took a mug of that to bed with my knitting, and listened to Moussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”, the one from the last night of the Proms in 2006, with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting, on YouTube.<span style=""> </span>Superb.<span style=""> </span>Bob came and listened to the last two movements with me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/U-JjNJAkBZc&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/U-JjNJAkBZc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">It was cold last night.<span style=""> </span>There was two inches in the rain gauge, after about nine hours of rain – no lightning, but lots of wind.<span style=""> </span>The hydro went out for an hour Thursday night around </span><st1:time minute="30" hour="10"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">10:30</span></st1:time><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">, and again later, while everyone was asleep.<span style=""> </span>In the first one, we just went out in the hammocks and listened to the night sounds – crickets, maybe cicadas, tree frogs, a dog a couple of farms over, a train going through Arp. <span style=""> </span>It was beautiful.<span style=""> </span>Clear still too, and lots of stars, when the wind blew the branches apart enough to see the sky.<span style=""> </span>I was sorry when the lights and mechanical sounds (AC, etc.) came back.<span style=""> </span>It was 90F here on Thursday afternoon, and it’s mid-afternoon Saturday now, and not quite 60.<span style=""> </span>The night and the ceramic tile floors over crawl space were cold.<span style=""> </span>This is the way my bed looks just before I get in it.<span style=""> </span>I took this a couple of nights ago, so the book’s different, but you get my drift.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQYFjIdVbXps4Q8VJKBQzBG0urtc1322yKet0NcS7S38zGCHeILfrfnzaRiSFHSI8x3JhaEIowOJ8bqwg5ZJ-CxsOkVNDeiwEqw3nbJYzBE55xrQcMcMb74JsRSztp2ghpXcZzaxPD0Zj/s1600-h/While+I%27m+getting+ready+for+bed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQYFjIdVbXps4Q8VJKBQzBG0urtc1322yKet0NcS7S38zGCHeILfrfnzaRiSFHSI8x3JhaEIowOJ8bqwg5ZJ-CxsOkVNDeiwEqw3nbJYzBE55xrQcMcMb74JsRSztp2ghpXcZzaxPD0Zj/s320/While+I%27m+getting+ready+for+bed.jpg" alt="" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQYFjIdVbXps4Q8VJKBQzBG0urtc1322yKet0NcS7S38zGCHeILfrfnzaRiSFHSI8x3JhaEIowOJ8bqwg5ZJ-CxsOkVNDeiwEqw3nbJYzBE55xrQcMcMb74JsRSztp2ghpXcZzaxPD0Zj/s1600-h/While+I%27m+getting+ready+for+bed.jpg"> </a></o:p></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQYFjIdVbXps4Q8VJKBQzBG0urtc1322yKet0NcS7S38zGCHeILfrfnzaRiSFHSI8x3JhaEIowOJ8bqwg5ZJ-CxsOkVNDeiwEqw3nbJYzBE55xrQcMcMb74JsRSztp2ghpXcZzaxPD0Zj/s1600-h/While+I%27m+getting+ready+for+bed.jpg"> </a><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQYFjIdVbXps4Q8VJKBQzBG0urtc1322yKet0NcS7S38zGCHeILfrfnzaRiSFHSI8x3JhaEIowOJ8bqwg5ZJ-CxsOkVNDeiwEqw3nbJYzBE55xrQcMcMb74JsRSztp2ghpXcZzaxPD0Zj/s1600-h/While+I%27m+getting+ready+for+bed.jpg"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">This morning I woke up.<span style=""> </span>Only Yeshua was in – Tiger’d been trying to climb on top of my dresser in the night again, so she got to go sleep on the roof. <span style=""> </span>I cuddled Yeshua for a while, got up for necessary biological purposes, and plunged the toilet.<span style=""> </span>Opened the door to the cat-feeding enclosure outside.<span style=""> </span>(It’s in a huge old cage for something else, so we can close it at night and keep the ‘coons and possums out.)<span style=""> </span>Came back to bed for a while and read.<span style=""> </span>By then, Tiger was sitting in the crotch of the tree outside my bedroom, looking in at my bed and mewing piteously.<span style=""> </span>I couldn’t stand it, so I got up and let her in.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </a></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQYFjIdVbXps4Q8VJKBQzBG0urtc1322yKet0NcS7S38zGCHeILfrfnzaRiSFHSI8x3JhaEIowOJ8bqwg5ZJ-CxsOkVNDeiwEqw3nbJYzBE55xrQcMcMb74JsRSztp2ghpXcZzaxPD0Zj/s1600-h/While+I%27m+getting+ready+for+bed.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5p9EcG-dTB1PoBDigRA6sFAHKH5U1xb5KeAjScj-zG1_5PEGIG07vpP7wXoH5QhI0txm7Tf7OW7wc32IU2sWYaayZ-TqyJuMN-dmjtQW5_ZcXq3Ezm8KVyEpY38shoZzAOoXERzoyY1Ij/s1600-h/Stepping+out+the+front+door.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5p9EcG-dTB1PoBDigRA6sFAHKH5U1xb5KeAjScj-zG1_5PEGIG07vpP7wXoH5QhI0txm7Tf7OW7wc32IU2sWYaayZ-TqyJuMN-dmjtQW5_ZcXq3Ezm8KVyEpY38shoZzAOoXERzoyY1Ij/s320/Stepping+out+the+front+door.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391072920881835138" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">We’d bought bacon ends and collard, mustard and turnip greens the other day, and I’m going to cook them soon.<span style=""> </span>This morning I thought a Western Omelette would be a good breakfast, so I started bacon and onions on very low heat, and thought I’d shower while they cooked, but I got the second shower, and the onions charred just a little.<span style=""> </span>Then I put the eggs in, and some pepper jack on top and put the lid on and let it cook slow, like a frittata.<span style=""> </span>There was enough coffee let in a pot in the fridge for about two mugsful, and I didn’t want it cold today, so I heated them in the microwave, and got berries ready for Bob, and that was breakfast.<span style=""> </span>It’s time to make more coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">During breakfast, I could still hear that kitten under the kitchen.<span style=""> </span>So I went and found her.<span style=""> </span>Lying on your tummy on the wet ground, wiggling far enough to reach under the house for a kitten, in </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Texas</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> fire-ant country, is a BRAVE thing to do.<span style=""> </span>The stings on my ankle from last week aren’t quite healed yet.<span style=""> </span>I got her out, and Yasmin walked past, so I tried to interest her.<span style=""> </span>She sniffed the kitten and walked away, and I tried again, and she did it again.<span style=""> </span>But I followed her, and found where she went in a little culvert-y thing, and put the orange kitten in on top of the others she was nursing.<span style=""> </span>I was a little worried, but then I looked again, and the kitten was nursing too, and Yasmin was cleaning her.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sBdnklmRXLG2rbvjQsE5boAHpaeE_Ql8-HMmL3lQXZGzeX5mJ_VDeangRZOtdajVYJy1LppQiZaUgDO_jTT7xGgG5Fe4fTrP0B6UNwlwc5wEtoP0xvfJSHwjlWp9VFP5-kq92-3a7gNm/s1600-h/'Nother+one.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sBdnklmRXLG2rbvjQsE5boAHpaeE_Ql8-HMmL3lQXZGzeX5mJ_VDeangRZOtdajVYJy1LppQiZaUgDO_jTT7xGgG5Fe4fTrP0B6UNwlwc5wEtoP0xvfJSHwjlWp9VFP5-kq92-3a7gNm/s320/'Nother+one.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391072937076535970" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">We’d agreed Monday we do NOT want another house cat, and we weren’t rescuing any kittens.<span style=""> </span>This morning I told Bob I’d put her back, and he said,
<br />”We can get kitten formula and raise her by eyedropper again, if we have to,”<span style=""> </span>But I don’t WANT to.<span style=""> </span>It really ties you down.<span style=""> </span>And then, you bond to them.<span style=""> </span>Yeshua’s very bonded to me, who was his Mom in all senses from the time he was a week old.<span style=""> </span>It’s not just biological bonding.<span style=""> </span>Other cats grow up and are perfectly happy to abandon their mothers.<span style=""> </span>Yeshua always knows where I am, when I’m here, and he stays close.<span style=""> </span>If we have to eye-dropper feed that little one, she and I are going to have a terrible time giving each other up later – I hope Yasmin keeps her in the nest.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I'm going out to knit in the hammock now.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAGiEUbAPAEj0uC45dJttJok9ogUBxs_q-IO1Bh1PVUnhz8GZzlBJSkQXfHeeZa-Dcz6dxL_eHNxw-SzlssxWmUZ6PjhKF_YMTlVxbDCJupsJLTKs2OBTeErUvjFG5rU74j3EhWotKW7o/s1600-h/Two+and+maybe+Yasmin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAGiEUbAPAEj0uC45dJttJok9ogUBxs_q-IO1Bh1PVUnhz8GZzlBJSkQXfHeeZa-Dcz6dxL_eHNxw-SzlssxWmUZ6PjhKF_YMTlVxbDCJupsJLTKs2OBTeErUvjFG5rU74j3EhWotKW7o/s320/Two+and+maybe+Yasmin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391072931815333922" border="0" /></a>MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-64929311418417542782009-10-07T22:16:00.001-06:002009-10-07T22:37:36.911-06:00What's been going on<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; 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charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">There’s so much life going on, it’s hard to find time to blog about it.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I spent the summer in </span><st1:place><st1:city><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Hamilton</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">, </span><st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Ontario</span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">.<span style=""> </span>I had some financial and some legal things to take care of – the legal depended on the financial.<span style=""> </span>Life is what it is, and the money moved on the day I was leaving Hamilton, so none of the legal things is even begun at this point.<span style=""> </span>There was nothing I could do about that this summer, and it was frustrating.<span style=""> </span>There were other things I couldn’t do anything about either – I tried applying for jobs, all kinds of jobs.<span style=""> </span>Receptionist, shoe sales, Tim’s, housekeeping/dining room staff in retirement homes …<span style=""> </span>There’s a lot of things I’m good at, and I learn other things fast, and I’m not too proud to clean toilets.<span style=""> </span>Done it for income before.<span style=""> </span>I was lucky – I have friends who had occasional, temporary work available, retail, filing, child care – they knew I needed work and sent it my way when they could.<span style=""> </span>My dad helped some with finances too. And when it all looked like traveling to Iowa for the wedding Labour Day weekend, and then getting here, were going to be impossible, some lovely, lovely friends lent me money.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">And I was lucky about housing.<span style=""> </span>My sister Jane and niece Tegan met me at the airport at the end of April, and I stayed with Jane's family for several weeks. Friends were going to </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">England</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> for a month.<span style=""> </span>I’ve cat-sat for them before, many times, and they asked if I’d stay in their condo, look after the cat, and pick up the mail, etc.<span style=""> </span>It was great.<span style=""> </span>First time in years I’ve lived anyplace where I didn’t have to think twice about what I did (or didn’t) have ON when I woke up in the night and had to dash across the hall to the bathroom.<span style=""> </span>Luxurious, to have a whole place, with multiple rooms, to myself, and to have a cat I like, who’d come in and sleep with me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">My nephew had rented, in May, a place in west </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Hamilton</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> to live in for the university school year, but he couldn’t live there until September, because of his summer job.<span style=""> </span>I found that out Mother’s Day.<span style=""> </span>So I lived in his place, and (eventually) covered the summer rent.<span style=""> </span>He got it in time to buy textbooks, anyway.<span style=""> </span>It was student housing – a place where several students have bedrooms and they share the kitchen and bath.<span style=""> </span>But for most of the summer, there were no other students there.<span style=""> </span>Just me, and the owner’s mother, and the two of us got along fine.<span style=""> </span>Her cat slept with me too.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">The summer was odd, in that I made contact with a lot of people I haven’t seen or talked to in years.<span style=""> </span>Decades.<span style=""> </span>FaceBook helped with that. I’m in touch now with people I’ve known since elementary school.<span style=""> </span>We all went to middle and high school together too, but some of them are people I really never talked to after we left the small elementary school.<span style=""> </span>So – people I haven’t talked to since 1967, or 1974, or a little later.<span style=""> </span>I had meals with some, and coffee with some, and phone calls with some – that was all great.<span style=""> </span>A lot of fun.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">It was all tiring though.<span style=""> </span>It is very tiring to have four months and two purposes, and not be able to make any progress with either.<span style=""> </span>It’s very tiring to be broke all the time.<span style=""> </span>To know you have work tomorrow, and wonder if you have enough change for bus fare to get there and home again.<span style=""> </span>There weren’t days when there were no meals, but there were days at a time when I ate the same thing.<span style=""> </span>I’d look at protein at the supermarket with an eye to how many servings I could get for the amount of money I had, and I’d buy cabbage, because I can eat it raw or cooked, and I like it, and they sell it by the each, instead of by the pound.<span style=""> </span>So, you always buy the biggest cabbage, cuz a four-pounder and a siz-pounder cost the same.<span style=""> </span>There was surplus bounty from other people’s gardens, and meals with other people sometimes – that helped a lot. <span style=""> </span>There were a couple of people over the course of the summer who’d slip me twenty bucks once in a while, a friend who sent $5 in a card from Saskatchewan, and it arrived on one of those days I didn’t know how I’d get to work tomorrow.<span style=""> </span>Really lovely.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Mark Twain said, “Lack of money is the root of all evil.”<span style=""> </span>Well, maybe.<span style=""> </span>It’s just grindingly tiring though.<span style=""> </span>Feels like everything has to be evaluated.<span style=""> </span>Can I go have coffee with so-and-so Thursday afternoon?<span style=""> </span>No.<span style=""> </span>Because, it’s not just coffee, it’s bus tickets, and anyway, there isn’t enough to go somewhere for coffee.<span style=""> </span>Coloured pencils for drawing?<span style=""> </span>Nope.<span style=""> </span>Want to start a new knitting project?<span style=""> </span>Nope.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Then there was the time I got sick.<span style=""> </span>It was a middle-ear infection, but it felt like a three-week long hangover.<span style=""> </span>I got up Friday morning, rolled over in bed, and it made me so dizzy I threw up.<span style=""> </span>The stairs kept shifting as I was trying to find my way down them to the bathroom.<span style=""> </span>Eating was impossible.<span style=""> </span>Hell, I didn’t even want to; sips of water were impossible.<span style=""> </span>My brother-in-law drove me to the on-call doc on Saturday afternoon, and she prescribed something for vertigo, a cortisone inhaler to reduce the swelling in there, and some pain killers if I needed them, and fortunately, it was one of those times I could just take the prescriptions to the drug store and buy them.<span style=""> </span>But it was over a week before I left the house again.<span style=""> </span>Another friend brought me SF ginger ale and crackers, bless her.<span style=""> </span>I could hold those down, most of the time, and I needed to, because the anti-vertigo drug causes nausea.<span style=""> </span>How does that WORK?<span style=""> </span>What help is THAT?<span style=""> </span>I stopped taking it as soon as I could.<span style=""> </span>I hate being sick when I’m living alone too – between Saturday when my BIL took me to the doctor, and Thursday, when I had another doctor’s appointment, I saw the friend who brought the crackers, and that’s it.<span style=""> </span>She didn’t stay either, and who could blame her?<span style=""> </span>I didn’t want to share it around.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Now, I’m here in </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Texas</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">.<span style=""> </span>I’m blogging, but not as much as I thought I’d be.<span style=""> </span>And it’s because I’m tired.<span style=""> </span>I got here exhausted.<span style=""> </span>Well, there’d been a 20-hour trip on a Greyhound bus to get here from </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Des Moines</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">.<span style=""> </span>That wasn’t too bad.<span style=""> </span>The seats are roomier and more comfortable than planes, and there are stops every couple of hours so you can stretch your legs, buy diet Cokes and bags of wasabi soy-roasted almonds.<span style=""> </span>(Don’t knock ‘em if you haven’t tried ‘em.)<span style=""> </span>When I get tired, I work my way backwards through lonely and angry, and I’ll get hit with crying jags out of the blue.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">So, here, we’re in the Central Time Zone, but we’re really living on </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Hawai’i</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> time.<span style=""> </span>We stay up late,and sleep in late.<span style=""> </span>There’s tools for wood- and metal-working; there’s the computers to play with; there’s cameras.<span style=""> </span>My beautiful, beautiful cats are here.<span style=""> </span>There are little girls – my hosts’ great-granddaughters, 8 and 4, and we see them often after school.<span style=""> </span>My honorary grandkids.<span style=""> </span>We have made a home for little witch dolls I knit, out of cardboard boxes, chopsticks, a plastic bowl, and glue.<span style=""> </span>The oldest one’s written a book, and is illustrating it with my (new) coloured pencils.<span style=""> </span>I knit sometimes, read sometimes, cook a lot, because I like it.<span style=""> </span>I nap A LOT.<span style=""> </span>I lie in the hammock and look at birds and the trees A LOT.<span style=""> </span>I’ve been making wooden spatulas because I want them, and it’s fun and noisy.<span style=""> </span>Today we went for a long walk in the woods, got lost, and I took about 40 pictures of mushrooms growing in the forest floor.<span style=""> </span>We got home, and the four-year old saw us coming down the driveway and ran to meet us, to get scooped up for a hug and (slightly sweaty) kiss.<span style=""> </span>Then I weighed out and nuked leftovers from last night’s good supper, for our lunch, sharing treats with all four cats – they got some fish, some chicken bones, and some pieces of a cheese that is too full of carbs for human consumption.<span style=""> </span>I showered and read in bed with the littlest cat til I woke up.<span style=""> </span>I finished today’s wooden spatula, which is too thin, and it’ll break soon, but that’s okay.<span style=""> </span>I’ll just make another.<span style=""> </span>And now I’m going to go put the third meal together.<span style=""> </span>Might be a good night for scrambled eggs with onions, jalapenos, and pepper jack cheese in them.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I’ll try to post about the rhythm of life here in the next few days, with pictures.<span style=""> </span>And my Mushroom Series will get published here soon too.</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-62942094207605905302009-09-28T17:46:00.000-06:002009-09-28T17:59:23.869-06:00I know exactly where they are!
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; 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charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">This afternoon, we did shopping.<span style=""> </span>Hobby Lobby for stuff to make little people dollies.<span style=""> </span>Brookshires for groceries – I didn’t remember to take the list in, but I did remember what was on it, because everything started with C:<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Cokes (diet)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Coffee (espresso beans, and Community with Chicory)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Cream (half-n-half)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Cat litter<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Card (birthday).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">So, that was okay.<span style=""> </span>After that, we drove to Noonday, to Marcus’ antique store.<span style=""> </span>Bob W is doing metal sculpture these days – he’s in his Praying Mantis period.<span style=""> </span>Here’s a picture of the first one, about two foot tall, and sold and living in </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Tennessee</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"> now (I THINK it’s </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Tennessee</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">).<span style=""> </span>The current one will be about six foot tall, when it’s done, and will hang on a gatepost.<span style=""> </span>We needed to find something for eyes (we were thinking doorknobs) and something to make wings out of.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Well, we didn’t find anything we wanted for those, but he did get a new sawmill blade to make knife blades out of.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQoboRQtz8BCd-iN8yjIAvvp-5fkBHzPwmSzfqNBq7HGcC9T5DyBoz1NTsitWoTrm3kVcR2h0JCNBp6ihZlbdzA6s0CwxjTCOIpPsYnaf7r-TdIGVoRDsd4oD_vXOG3WBt46zeS3rCPt2/s1600-h/Third+Try+03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQoboRQtz8BCd-iN8yjIAvvp-5fkBHzPwmSzfqNBq7HGcC9T5DyBoz1NTsitWoTrm3kVcR2h0JCNBp6ihZlbdzA6s0CwxjTCOIpPsYnaf7r-TdIGVoRDsd4oD_vXOG3WBt46zeS3rCPt2/s320/Third+Try+03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386669281837019986" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Marcus has two big, sweet black dogs and lots of fun stuff at the store, and I wish I’d taken my camera around his place.<span style=""> </span>I wasn’t sure of etiquette about doing that, and we were home before I thought, “You coulda ASKED, you dummy.”<span style=""> </span>But I didn’t.<span style=""> </span>He has little steel armadillos, and the bodies are made out of something that looks like springs, about two or three inches in diameter.<span style=""> </span>They’re all rusty, and they’re funny and I liked them.<span style=""> </span>But I didn’t know what I’d do with one at the moment, so I left them all there.<span style=""> </span>He was showing me other things – a dreamcatcher on the ceiling, that’s knotted out of sinew in a five-foot square frame, and a violin he’s having evaluated (I don’t believe it’s a Stradivarius though), and some pottery and jewellery. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Mostly, for aesthetics, I don’t much like glass.<span style=""> </span>It’s hard and it’s cold.<span style=""> </span>But I love blue and green glass – I like those glass things that we called “transformers” from hydro poles, and I like the big blue and green glass balls that the fishing boats used to use to float their nets in the oceans with.<span style=""> </span>Marcus has big bowls and watering cans and baskets full of marbles – green, white and blue glasses, opaques and clear, big ones and little ones …<span style=""> </span>I couldn’t resist.<span style=""> </span>After all, I lost all my own.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I was looking at a milk bottle to put them in, and carrying it around with me.<span style=""> </span>Then I found this bowl, and I knew it was what I wanted instead.<span style=""> </span>It was dusty and sticky because there was a big rust-coloured candle in it, but I took it home.<span style=""> </span>And, three pounds of marbles to put in it.<span style=""> </span>Oughtta take me a long time to lose all those.<span style=""> </span>Marcus took a few minutes to calculate the price – he said, usually people by them by the twenty, not by the pound.<span style=""> </span>These are good for nothing at all except joy, you know.<span style=""> </span>I can’t think of a sunny spot in the house to put them, but I’ll try.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Dg0SQaq9_ENTSi8ADwkg68RttS7105TlbEjqi2-W_hI-k02pby4n-kcHIyEShze_dP9mKaEl-BRcZLLtw-dnFx-MO2xjX-Ts1Vibj4GAH_UBietf8aUDMIJ1aXYq8eMZHWXHfI9_bv8t/s1600-h/100_0092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Dg0SQaq9_ENTSi8ADwkg68RttS7105TlbEjqi2-W_hI-k02pby4n-kcHIyEShze_dP9mKaEl-BRcZLLtw-dnFx-MO2xjX-Ts1Vibj4GAH_UBietf8aUDMIJ1aXYq8eMZHWXHfI9_bv8t/s320/100_0092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386670130958762994" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C04%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">We came home and<span style=""> </span>had lunch, and while I was washing the bowl and marbles in the sink after, Aubrey, one of Bob’s great-granddaughters, knocked on the door.<span style=""> </span>Very quietly.<span style=""> </span>She’s the quieter one of the two sisters.<span style=""> </span>She wondered what I was doing, so I told her to look on the table – most of the marbles were clean and in the bowl by then.<span style=""> </span>Yes, she was allowed to play with them, and they were so warm because I’d washed them.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I’d made a lemon-garlic sauce to go with roasted chicken legs for lunch, and was putting that away, and licked my fingers before I washed that bowl.<span style=""> </span>She wonder what I was eating, and I late her taste the sauce – she liked the lemon-ness, but it was “too hot” because of the raw garlic.<span style=""> </span>I’d made black tea yesterday that has dried raspberries and raspberry leaves in it, and put it in the fridge for iced tea.<span style=""> </span>I put some of the sugar we keep here to feed hummingbirds with, in hers, and lots of ice in both of ours, and we took the iced tea (in blue glasses) and the bowl with the marbles and the camera outside, and she took some of the pictures.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKLW-jbE2cNocU_H7hpzu-JUQUPtpAVOOoYqM_q8Kg6zRZYRrWKYgwZxGIg1nBQIipaXtxy5tD4zPxGlTw9eQ_Yt-oKuc82dQ720RFnQjbuxeyUHyIBAxDciZUWURzND1rN7hUQ0ebAS6/s1600-h/Aubrey+--+Trick+Rider.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKLW-jbE2cNocU_H7hpzu-JUQUPtpAVOOoYqM_q8Kg6zRZYRrWKYgwZxGIg1nBQIipaXtxy5tD4zPxGlTw9eQ_Yt-oKuc82dQ720RFnQjbuxeyUHyIBAxDciZUWURzND1rN7hUQ0ebAS6/s320/Aubrey+--+Trick+Rider.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386670474568540338" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C05%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Then she found the old compressor that Grandaddy Bob had put ears and a tail on her for big sister to practice trick riding, when SHE was six.<span style=""> </span>I took the trick riding pictures, and I got a good new one of the Tiger-Kitten, who’s about seven months old now.<span style=""> </span>Then her Nana came to get her, and I walked them home, and kept going down the road to drop off a birthday/thank you card to the young woman who’d left the Tiger-Kitten here (“Just for overnight, til I can take her to the shelter, cuz I found her in the road.”) on Maundy Thursday.<span style=""> </span>Except, I needed a new kitten that day, so she lives here still.<span style=""> </span>I put a photo of her, little, in the birthday card.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">That’s my fun day so far.<span style=""> </span>It’s almost </span><st1:time minute="0" hour="19"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">7 p.m.</span></st1:time><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><span style=""> </span>We had lunch late, and Bob’s napping.<span style=""> </span>There’s kick-ass chicken curry I made yesterday waiting to be microwaved when we want to eat later.<span style=""> </span>It’s been really hot and gorgeous today.<span style=""> </span>I’m taking my book back out into the hammock for a while, til I can’t read any more, assuming the cats let me read at all.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgfky8Q0jIbQDpi4MROW3V8SZqVprcTGHrPe8QS8cnaJBE1Ft-Febto8tUxoQvHkSMJUArXIMGTiuBl0szOnMM7KXL18NwqjAIfPcfVQgS0dpdvawfn6J6tsS3cm_OkdNgBdZG8DPycoO/s1600-h/Tiger+c.+7+months.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgfky8Q0jIbQDpi4MROW3V8SZqVprcTGHrPe8QS8cnaJBE1Ft-Febto8tUxoQvHkSMJUArXIMGTiuBl0szOnMM7KXL18NwqjAIfPcfVQgS0dpdvawfn6J6tsS3cm_OkdNgBdZG8DPycoO/s320/Tiger+c.+7+months.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386670668597006418" border="0" /></a>MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-40107698839166065142009-09-16T21:58:00.000-06:002009-09-16T22:08:41.957-06:00Why I 'Druther Be Here than Anywhere Else<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FrMxWYykGH0&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FrMxWYykGH0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
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<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">Derek (www.dockofkingslynn.blogspot.com) is here. He took this video this afternoon, and put it on YouTube so I could post it here tonight. Too big to have e-mailed it.
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<br />Earlier this afternoon a box full of lovely teas and a teapot (MOST necessary for Hobbits) arrived from www.specialteas.com. I highly recommend them. Little kids and cats NEED cardboard boxes, so I gave them this one.
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<br />The black cat is my Yeshua. He was born a year ago yesterday, and his mother abandoned him when he was a few days old. Bob fed him kitten formula with an eyedropper for three days, then I got here, and I became the Mama Cat. I fed him, bathed him when he was dirty, taught him how to dig a hole in the sand and dripped water on him so he'd learn what to do with the hole in the sand. He is the most beautifully natured cat.
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<br />The little one in the box is the Tiger-Kitten. She was brought here by a neighbour on Maundy Thursday, after she'd been found in the middle of the road. The plan was she'd stay here overnight (the girl who found her has allergies and bad dogs) and be taken to the shelter the next day. Somehow, she never made it to the shelter. Yeshua is most definitely mine, and Tiger and Yeshua belong to each other. She's an Egyptian Princess cat, with the kink in the end of her tail to hold rings on, while the princesses bathe.<o:p></o:p></span></p> MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578911836539393452.post-60085072051002722992009-09-16T15:58:00.000-06:002009-09-16T16:17:48.605-06:00Starting Over<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; 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charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; 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panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cadmin%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:applybreakingrules/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">I’ve blogged before, but not for a year, I don’t think.<span style=""> </span>So, this is starting over.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">And, life is starting over too.<span style=""> </span>At 54 years old, I’ve left home.<span style=""> </span>I have lived my whole life within a 20-mile radius of the hospital where I was born.<span style=""> </span>In a small town.<span style=""> </span>My dad taught for a while at the high school I wound up attending.<span style=""> </span>I’d go to the office for an aspirin and the secretary would say, “Can you take aspirin?<span style=""> </span>Your FATHER can’t take aspirin!”<span style=""> </span>And I’d tell her I could, and she’d give me two.<span style=""> </span>My teachers knew my father too.<span style=""> </span>It’s not that I got into trouble – I was a good girl and got good marks – but there were disadvantages.<span style=""> </span>My sister went to the same school I did.<span style=""> </span>When my Mum remarried, my new stepsister and stepbrother had all been to high school with us.<span style=""> </span>My son went to the same high school as all of us, and even though it was more than 20 years later, he had some of the same teachers.<span style=""> </span>At parent-teacher nights, as a parent, I saw mostly people I’d gone to school with, as other parents, sometimes as teachers.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">There is nothing necessarily wrong with any of that.<span style=""> </span>Lots of people have lived like that since the beginning of time, and lots of people do it happily. Things happened in my life though, in the years since I’ve turned 50, and I changed a lot.<span style=""> </span>I don’t want to do the things I’ve always done.<span style=""> </span>The people who love me celebrate my changes, for the most part.<span style=""> </span>And at the same time, there’s a subtle pressure not to be TOO different.<span style=""> </span>I found it that way.<span style=""> </span>Your mileage may vary.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">The other thing is – I was always timid.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t strike out and do things on my own.<span style=""> </span>I used to be terrified of heights, and now I climb on chairs, ladders, countertops, windowsills, piles of rocks, to do what I want to do.<span style=""> </span>I’m learning how to drive a car for the first time in my life.<span style=""> </span>I want to try things I haven’t tried before, find out what I can do by myself.<span style=""> </span>It won’t be by myself, really, I’ll have lots of help.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">A friend of mine suggested recently that I’ve been a respectable hobbit all my life.<span style=""> </span>Bilbo Baggins was a respectable hobbit, who never did or said anything unexpected, right up til he was 50 or so, it says in the book.<span style=""> </span>And then Gandalf put a sign on his door saying he was a burglar looking for employment, and the dwarves took him at his word and hired him on Gandalf’s say-so.<span style=""> </span>Bilbo resented the whole thing, Gandalf and the dwarves and the expectation he’d go with them.<span style=""> </span>He was frequently afraid, and lacked the resources it looked like he’d need.<span style=""> </span>And he resented the dwarves’ belief that a timid hobbit couldn’t be of any use to them, and decided he’d show THEM.<span style=""> </span>Somehow, he got through his adventures, and he came back a changed hobbit.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">The analogies all seem apt to me.<span style=""> </span>I’ve spent a lot of my life being a respectable hobbit, and now I’m going off to have adventures.<span style=""> </span>I don’t EXPECT to meet any dragons.<span style=""> </span>Bilbo did.<span style=""> </span>But I do believe that like Bilbo, if I do meet one, I’ll find I’m equipped for the encounter, in ways I don’t have to know yet.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);"><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: rgb(77, 63, 29);">The road goes ever on and on …<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> MorningStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17518998030533731700noreply@blogger.com4