June 2011
2 posts
The new Tumblr - 2011.06.30
I like the new Tumblr app. Crisp and clean and no caffeine. Okay, it’s not 7Up, but it’s nice.
Other things I like: 1. My kid wants to go to prom looking like she slept in her dress. 2. My other kid wants to go to football practice in a polo shirt without a jock. I don’t like that as much because I do want grandkids one day, but, hey, I can’t strip him down and make...
The Man from Beijing
I’ve never read a Wallander mystery. That’s going to change this summer. Last week, when I really needed a mystery fix, all I could quickly lay my hands on was an ecopy of The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell, the author best known for the Wallander series.
You have to love a book that starts with 18 mutilated corpses (and a spare), a judge bored with her life, a Chinese...
April 2011
3 posts
Topsy Turvy - 2011.04.27
This movie never gets old. The music is the very best and the sets are the astounding! The scene where both a female actor and a male actor complain that kimonos don’t allow for corsets is priceless. Have a peek if your getting into royal wedding mode. If not, watch it to see Jim Broadbent before he was all that.
There's an App for That - 2011.04.09
It has only taken me about six months to figure it out, but there’s a Tumblr app for my ipad. Well, duh. Never quick on the uptake, me. That will make EVERYTHING easier since the web interface is rather fussy. Yeah for me, I guess. (*For those who saw this originally, it’s clear I’m haveing speling dificalteez).
March 2011
4 posts
The King's Speech - 2001.03.21
No, not the movie. The book written alonside the movie by Mark Logue, a grandson to Lionel Logue, the speech therapist to King George VI before, during and after WWII.
There are some lovely pictures in the book and the story is quite different, quite naturally, from what is shown in the movie. The public image of the King is partly due to the work Logue did with him and the story deserves to...
Fool - 2011.03.19
Just finished reading “Fool” by Christopher Moore. It’s not a new book, having been published in the recent past (i.e. after 2000), but it’s a great mess of a tale.
Good News: You don’t have to know the story of King Lear to enjoy the book. All you need to know is that it’s quite different in some ways.
Bad news: It’s awfully funny. Wait! ...
NY Times Food Section - 2011.03.18 →
I love a good food column and the NY Times has always answered the call. Too bad about the rest of the paper. Regardless, this latest one, D.I.Y. Cookbook (click on the title, above, to link), is really amazing. I want to make easily half of the recipes in the list. Maybe not the tomato jam or the kimchi, but definitely the home-made Nutella and the vin d’orange. And maybe the Tesa. ...
TV Thursday - 17 Mar 11
We’ve been watching Sons of Anarchy. After the Sopranos and Deadwood and Six Feet Under, the Bear and I thought there was no more room on broadcast TV for good TV because there was no real swearing and no real nudity and no real violence and… well, none of the good stuff you watch TV for.
Then come the Sons. Broadcast originally on FX, we picked up Season 1 on video for the...
February 2011
1 post
Backyard Chickens-Bedford Stuy-05.02.2011 →
I adore this story about a chicken that I found in the NY Times this week. Honestly, I sometimes think I’ll retire to New York.
January 2011
7 posts
Tunisia and Egypt-2011.01.27
The recent events in Tunisia and Egypt are heartening and let’s all keep our fingers crossed for the people there. A smooth transition to democracy is the very best possible outcome and we should all be praying for it.
It is therefore regrettable that the American administraion would describe the Mubarak administration as “moderate”. Mr. Mubarak is a tyrant, and there is no...
Stuff on the needles-2011.01.12
Yeah, I’m working on stuff. Not much stuff, but stuff.
1. A scarf for the Bear to go with the new coat he got for Christmas.
2. A pair of socks for me cast on today over lunch at work. It’ll be a mix of handspun and yarn I got for Christmas from the medium-tall Bear.
3. A headbad to keep my ears warm made from yarn made from Polarfleece!
4. And finally, something...
Happy Monday-2011.01.10
My weekend wasn’t long enough. Productive enough but not long enough. I just had lunch and I’m looking for nap time…
Lunch was leftover chicken cappeletti from the weekend. Hmm. Creamy and chickeny and salty. Just the way I like it. I gave the kids sandwiches for lunch and I’m sure to hear about it. Too bad :) I’ll make up for it tomorrow with leftovers from...
Vogue Knitting-2011.01.08
The Bear bought me the new Vogue Knitting. Coincidentally, I had the Fall 1990 issue out and noticed some alarming similarities:
1. Both issues had a “Brit Knits” article.
2. Short skirts, tights and big hair are back.
3. An Extra-Large is most sweaters is a 40 inch bust.
Every bit as annoying now as it was then. Get with it Vogue people! Size up a little. I won’t...
I read a book-2011.01.04
I read a book. It was called “A Rule Against Murder” and it was written by Louise Penney. And it rocked! I’ve never read a Canadian murder mystery and I really liked it a lot. Ms. Penney has a whole series of these mysteries, all of them built around the same police inspector and set in the Eastern Townships. I’ll read another one anyday!
Time, gentlemen-2011.01.04
Yesterday, my baby girl filled her university application. That means that, assuming that every university in the province isn’t STUPID (especially you guys at Queen’s, hint, hint, nudge, nudge), she’ll be attending university in the fall.
Time, gentlemen. It’s closing time on the little girl thing. It has been for some time, but the Bear and I, like most other parents...
December 2010
5 posts
Christmas assessment-2010.12.29
Things to remember for next Christmas:
1. Don’t label wrapped gifts after a beer.
2. Don’t buy wrapping paper: there’s a whole bunch in the basement.
3. Proseco! It’s sooo nice with turkey.
4. Em turns into motor mouth after a glass of wine.
5. Topkapi is an EXCELLENT Christmas Even movie.
6. Tourtiere for Christmas Eve.
7. Jacques won’t sleep until...
NFL-2010.12.28
Here’s my list of people I’d like to see gone from the NFL next season. They are in no paritcular order and the only thing they have in common is that they annoy me.
1. Tom Coughlin. Actually, he really is no. 1.
2. Al Davis.
3. Tony Romo
4. Randy Moss (regrettably).
5. Jeff Fisher (not so regrettably).
6. Rex Ryan, though I have to say the way he was treated for adoring...
New Year-2010.12.27
I resolve to post more. It’s easier than exercise.
I resolve not to shop at stores that don’t carry the clothes I want to wear or the shoes I want to walk in.
I therefore must resolve to sew and knit more.
I resolve to take a lot less on. I resolve to take a lot less bad mojo from people.
I resolve to get a real hairstyle.
And since I really want to see more of the world, I...
Not today--2010.12.13
Today, i will not sell out my friends.
I wanted a membership to a lovely site full of beautiful pictures and design. I waited for my invitation. And when it came, i went to sign up.
It had to be done through Facebook. Okay. Name and password. Then the killer: my agreement to view and pilfer my Facebook page and my friends’ as well.
Not today. Sorry Pinterest. You were...
'Tis the Season
We’re watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Someone really likes the a-bomb-in-a-whole snowman. Someone else really hates the sexist stuff in it, but the others are laughing at it so I guess we did something right along the way.
I still don’t get what’s wrong with the spotted elephant.
November 2010
2 posts
Getting ready for a new week and...
We’re getting ready for winter. Today I’ll be hunting down mitten and hats and scarves and boots and such. If anyone knows where the Divine Miss Em’s character shoes are, I’d love the heads up.
Roast chicken for dinner. Roast potatoes.
But before all that, it’s off to work.
Sartorial Splendor in... Black?
I have a black confession to make. I don’t much like black. I don’t look especially good in it and I despair of the hold it has on ready to wear, especially for larger women. After underwear and shoes, I don’t really want anymore of it.
I’ve been shopping for some new threads and everything is (a) black and (b) too freaking short! I need clothes to wear to work here! ...
September 2010
3 posts
End of summer? I guess. (click here)--20 Sep 10 →
Okay, I might have slept through it, but fall is upon us. The trees are turning and the truth is there for all to see.
However, Heidi at 101cookbooks has something I must try. I’ve never had pickled zucchini, but I’m in. It’s my weekend project and if you’re lucky, you get a picture! Keep your fingers crossed for me.
The end of summer? I think not. 2010.09.05
I’m going to brunch with my sweetie. Given his schedule, this may be all the anniversary celebration we get. A trip to Toronto has been cancelled and NFL kick off looks lacklustre due to work commitments. Boo hoo.
After all the hot weather we’ve had, it’s cold today. Even in the house. I may be wearing a SWEATER to go out. Which means I can break out of the three...
Good music--2010.09.03 →
I heard Bobby Bazini singing “Freaky” on the radio yesterday and it was awesome. I love guys with imperfect voices. Kinda sexy.
August 2010
15 posts
Someone 2010.08.31
Today someone picks up his grade 9 books. Tomorrow, someone turns 6. Tomorrow, someone pays her grade 12 graduation fees for June. Yesterday, they were all toddlers. Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Pretty dolls (click here to see)--2010.08.27 →
These pretty hand made dolls and their vestments are part of an AIDS auction in New York City. Go see them. How cool is that?
Biographies on the short list--2010.08.15 →
This is something that came up on Slate today. It’s a new biography of Jack London, the guy who wrote “Call of the Wild”. Apparently he was a little more twisted than we were all led to believe at school but was more functional than the rest of his clan. He died a 40, broken, drunk and sad that he had been deluded by socialism.
Winter in August with Alabama Chanin! Click... →
The Alabama Chanin winter collection pictures are beginning to be posted. Honestly: wow. It’s amazing how Natalie Chanin’s ideas just keep on going, subtly different over time but still in touch with how the whole concept started.
As a redhead, I’m really liking the colours for winter. It’s all blues and greys and and a whole lot of comfort. The cape, the v-neck...
Sometimes there is a right answer--2010.08.12
DS2 has taken to asking how people slept.
“Did you have a good sleep?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“What did you dream about?” I provided a stock answer.
“Nothing.”
Apparently this was the wrong answer. (Or someone took him to see Inception. But he’s only five and if I find out who did, there’s going to be trouble.) ”No, you...
To do lists - 2010.08.11
They don’t work for me. Never have.
My secret is to minimize the things I have on the go. For instance, if I haven’t worked on a piece of knitting or crocheting in a month, I rip it out and put the yarn in a bag to be re-used for something else. Really, I do. I was working on a second sock for a pair and ripped it out yesterday because it was the beginning of the month and I...
Waiting for the weather - 2010.08.08
It’s been threatening rain for a week. It did rain a couple of times for a couple of minutes. Today it’s rained most of the day and we needed it so I’m glad for some wet.
DH and DD came back from Stratford today after seeing six plays in five days. Apparently, “Jacques Brel is alive and well in Paris” is wonderful and better than any of the Shakespeare, which is...
Alabama Chanin Sampler Quilt - 2010.08.07
I have never used an entire spool of thread handsewing.
It’s a first for me. And that is the reverse side of the fifth square of my Alabama Chanin Sampler Quilt. The finished product will look something like this:
It will look something like this because I am not as talented as the wonderful women who did this one. But it will be the same colours. Mine will look rougher hewn than...
The Case for Before and After Pictures 2010.08.07
My DearSis came up with this idea to replace my old/tattered/sunburnt curtains with ready-made paper stick on shades. At six dollars for two windows, it was hard to argue.
After we got the new stuff on, I remembered I should have taken a picture. So here’s my before picture taken after the fact.
I couldn’t even bring myself to donate them they were in such bad BAD shape. The...
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Something new,... Again
I’ve gotten myself to more than half-way through the yoke of the Winkle pattern from the Spring Interweave Crochet. It’s the fourth one I’ve made. Actually, I’ve only made two. The other one I made us awaiting a new body. I didn’t like the contrasting yarn I had used so I’ll have to find a new yarn to finish it. The other one is green with a handspun border. I...
Baby Crocheted Sweater
These little adorables are the baby sweaters that I worked out for gifts for a co-worker who already once this year and twice more to come is going to be a grandmother. They require buttons, but they’re done. I used a sport weight yarn and 4 mm hook. This gave me a final garment that I believe will fit a 6 month old.
I have messed around with the pattern and have come down to...
The fun starts here - 2010.08.02
It’s holiday week here for me. Everyone is on holidays. There is football camp for S1 and a bunch of plays at Stratford for D1. DH will be taking her and I’ll be taxi for football camp morning and afternoon. That means I’m hanging out here with S2 and my yarn. DS1 will be around feeding me coffee. My plans don’t extend beyond the end of my driveway and I like it that...