In truth I love Dennis too

here's a great article written by Amanda at Common Sense. How do I resolve the peace loving idealism I feel in my heart for Dennis with my choice for Hillary? I want the world Dennis wants, but I need to pick a candidate this time around that I feel is electable. I can go caucus for Dennis, he won't be viable at my precinct and I'll end up moving over to Hillary. Maybe that's what I should do, in my mind it would work out perfectly, I could stand up and be counted for both! hmmmm.

2008 and resolutions

I don't know about anybody else, but making resolutions hasn't really worked for me. Oh, I've made plenty... and probably the one that worked the best was the unintentional one about 11 years ago, when in the dead of winter post christmas, pre New years, I realized I'd gone three days without a cigarette and "resolved" to continue... and I have. Technically not a NY's resolution, but still... it worked.

but this year, I was intrigued and challenged and taken in by an idea Christine Kane has on her blog the other day, Resolution Revolution. Her idea was to pick one word, one word to be your word for the year. What an idea! and due to several thoughts, ideas and activities over the last few months, without a lot of contemplation, the word that sprang to mind and stayed with me throughout the weekend was: INTENTIONS. Intentions, to do my actions with intent. to do the actions I intend to do. I don't intend for this to be a heavy word for me this year, just a thought provoking and thought intending word.

What's your word for the year?

The Girl in the Cafe

A while ago I signed up to receive a DVD on tour. The name of the DVD is called The Girl in the Cafe, info on the tour can be found here. Ingrid is doing a great job of getting this dvd on the circuit. (I personally am a one-person slow down) This movie is about one person speaking out and actually moving out of their comfort zone and saying/doing something about a situation they care about. This movie is about making you aware of a situation. Yes, the movie is centered around a G8 conference and whether or not the G8 nations are going to do something about international poverty. I felt the actual storyline was more than that... I felt it was about our personal responsibility to take a look around us and become aware of what is going on in our world. Become aware and informed. I've always felt that it is important to become knowledgeable about issues--we can't know about them all, so pick one or two, know them and care about them. share the information you have with your friends. and elect your officials based on their knowledge.

One thing I do know, global economics is not going to solve poverty issues, the only thing global economics is going to do is make money for Walmart; and they aren't helping poverty issues at all--at home or abroad--as a matter of fact, they create them. it is one reason why I simply refuse to give them one penny of my money. I work hard for my money and I refuse to hand it over to people who act and think like they do. Another economic practice we do at home, is to imagine the person's face that made the object we're buying--if we can't do it... ie it is a nameless endless factory issue, we really question whether we need or want it. we do this with all our purchases and have for several years. our practices may not stop poverty but we'd like to think they don't help create the economic black holes.

We also reuse, reduce and recycle as much as possible. I love consigment shops.

Economic responsibility begins at home for all nations. As individuals, we need to look at ourselves and see what we're contributing and also force our elected officials to actually make a difference. something we've obviously not been doing the last 8 years. giving doesn't come with strings. it comes with benefits.

Thanks for the DVD tour, Ingrid, I'm posting it now to New York.

Hillary for President

Hillary Hillary Hillary

This is who I pick... for several reasons. I think its time for a woman president. We moved to a place in our world where the spirit of cooperation needs to reign and there are inherent abilities a woman brings to a position. Hillary also brings a wealth of experience and intelligence. I also admire her because although she has been attacked attacked and attacked again simply based on gender (nice one yesterday Fred) she has refused to do anything but stay on focus for issues over the last 20 years. I appreciate her focus on health care, and I think she is really the only one who can think like a mother, and its time a mother steps up and takes care of this country.

Hillary, its the right thing to do.

blue days

 
 

Aren't these pretty? sensing a theme? I'm working on some winter projects for my daughter and she is a blue lover. One is the Classic Elite Lush scarf -- isn't that yarn gorgeous? and the pattern is working up so nice. the other is a mitten pattern from knitability.com called Hand Jive. the yarn is andy's merino from farmhouse yarns. I'll keep you posted as to the progress.

waiting patiently...

 

A lifestyle return...

When we purchased this property back in '93, besides the house directly behind us, all we could see when we looked out our back window was farm fields. We knew all the land had been platted for building and it was only a matter of time..... and that housing buildup has come and gone. and the wildlife along the creek is slowly returning. and altho this image is a mite blurry; and shows the creek and treeline much closer than it actually is, it is nice to see that hawk sitting there. he/she gets chased out quite frequently by the blackbirds, but he/she returns. he/she also sits pretty regularly in the trees in our yard. and while our dogs chase out all other birds, they have a reverent respect for this one. and while I like seeing this one around I warn her/him all the time that my white cat is not food.

Look what I got in the mail

Yes, I'm a slacker Secret Pal... it took me a few days to get to the post office. and then a few days to post. I apologize -- and I love your goodies!




Can you see all the goodies she sent me? I am soooo spoiled...


chocolate, stickers, two, two skeins of yarn, the book knit scarves (that I was just eyeing at the store) more lavendar, bubble bath fizz, notebook... it is endless. Thanks Secret Pal... you are a treat!

starts and finishes

Here are some socks I finished and started in the last week or two. I finally finished my hogwarts socks.. way past the deadline.. poor pal. my fault for picking a pattern that, while beautiful, is tedious, and time consuming, even if worked on every single day, with size 1 needles. great sock yarn from dharfarmey fibers though!

The socks I started on are for... ssshhh.... but don't they look nice? Claudia's handpaints, lorna's laces for the heels and toes, and a nice pattern from charlene Schurch. great combos, as long as I remain a steady knitter!

Aren't these beautiful?

  I took a little time for one of my other loves on Saturday and took a quilting class. I've always wanted to learn how to make quilts like Karen Stone does. and hopefully I'm on my way. These are definitely process quilts though! First you need to select your colors, then do the cut outs--how long has it been since I used templates? and then, my favorite part, the paper piecing! and oh, the arc sewing--but that actually went together easier than I thought yahoo!

And aren't they pretty? only 34 more to go.