I love Amy Stewart's writing. She tells great stories about gardening, worms, and the cut flower business in From the Ground Up, The Earth Moved, and Flower Confidential.
In Wicked Plants, though, she just gives us a few paragraphs or even less about each plant. She doesn't really have time to engage me.
The plants she describes are poisonous, annoying, invasive, hallucinogenic, and stinky. A few times, she tells us a little story about a bad plant, and her voice really comes through. But too often she just reports the facts, which isn't fun enough. I could read a field guide instead.
The book is gorgeous, with pretty etchings of the plants (but also with ugly, childish illustrations of plants doing harm). Its pages are stained as if it's an old book. There's a ribbon attached to mark your place. Cute, cute, cute.
I felt disappointed by the brief descriptions. Stewart's strength lies in teaching facts while storytelling and entertaining. But she needs more than a couple paragraphs on a topic to make it work.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Little Owl in Silver and Brown
This guy stands about 3" tall, and sits 2" tall.
He took me between 2.5 and 3 hours to make. People always ask me how long it takes to make these dolls, and I never know the answer! I almost never make one in a single sitting, so it might be spread out over several days. Plus, if I'm writing the pattern as I go, I may have to unravel it and re-do a section a few times (or 20).
So, as I make them from my finished patterns, I'm keeping track of how long it takes.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Update on Meeting Dad's Family
The funeral has been postponed, and so has our trip to meet family. I have a weird mixture of disappointment and relief. I want to meet the family, but it is nicer now that I will have a little more time to mentally prepare for it. I'm kind of shy, and I sometimes have to psych myself up to be social.
Now I have to unpack! That can be done much more leisurely than the original packing. And I don't have to wash the clothes from my luggage!
Now I have to unpack! That can be done much more leisurely than the original packing. And I don't have to wash the clothes from my luggage!
Dad's Family
The other thing that happened yesterday was that my aunt Karen died. And now I am going to meet my dad's side of the family for the first time.
My dad had three sisters, who each had three kids (Nine cousins!). Now my cousins have kids, and one even has a grandchild! I've never met any of them. I did speak to one or two of the aunts on the phone about 15 or 20 years ago, but I can't even remember who I talked to!
Dad, my sister, Jason, and I are going to Texas tomorrow for the funeral.
It's such a weird, weird feeling to be in this situation. I feel sad that my aunt has died, but it's kind of abstract -- I never knew her, so I can't miss her. But I completely missed my chance to know her.
On the other hand, I'm pretty excited about meeting my extended family for the first time. Our immediate family is small. I don't have any living grandparents (and only ever met two of them). It feels like I have this Instant Extended Family.
Okay, I better start packing. And charging batteries. And printing maps. And getting snacks together. And And And...
My dad had three sisters, who each had three kids (Nine cousins!). Now my cousins have kids, and one even has a grandchild! I've never met any of them. I did speak to one or two of the aunts on the phone about 15 or 20 years ago, but I can't even remember who I talked to!
Dad, my sister, Jason, and I are going to Texas tomorrow for the funeral.
It's such a weird, weird feeling to be in this situation. I feel sad that my aunt has died, but it's kind of abstract -- I never knew her, so I can't miss her. But I completely missed my chance to know her.
On the other hand, I'm pretty excited about meeting my extended family for the first time. Our immediate family is small. I don't have any living grandparents (and only ever met two of them). It feels like I have this Instant Extended Family.
Okay, I better start packing. And charging batteries. And printing maps. And getting snacks together. And And And...
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sunday In Denver
Today we went to the store Mod Livin' to spend my $25 gift certificate (which I won at Roller Derby). We found a cute kitchen timer for $33.62, including tax. It was TOTALLY worth the $8.62 we had to spend on it. We would never have paid $33.62 for it. We have a perfectly good, chicken-shaped timer already.
Then we realized that Denver's Gay Pride Festival was going on, so we stopped in and strolled around, seeing lots of interesting Drag Queens and muscle dudes dancing in their underpants.
We also saw:
DEBBIE FREAKIN' GIBSON!
She sang, "Only In My Dreams," with the help of a very strong backup tape. She looked amazing. It was so fun. Youngish gay men had albums and VHS tapes for her to sign! I had no idea she was any sort of gay icon.
Then we got to come home and watch HBO's new show, "Hung," which seems promising. And you know we watched "True Blood," which I really enjoy even though I know it's kind of trashy.
Tell you more later!
Then we realized that Denver's Gay Pride Festival was going on, so we stopped in and strolled around, seeing lots of interesting Drag Queens and muscle dudes dancing in their underpants.
We also saw:
DEBBIE FREAKIN' GIBSON!
She sang, "Only In My Dreams," with the help of a very strong backup tape. She looked amazing. It was so fun. Youngish gay men had albums and VHS tapes for her to sign! I had no idea she was any sort of gay icon.
Then we got to come home and watch HBO's new show, "Hung," which seems promising. And you know we watched "True Blood," which I really enjoy even though I know it's kind of trashy.
Tell you more later!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Waiting for Retribution
Yesterday at the garage sale, I sold a bunch of comic books to a neighbor boy. Later, he kept coming over and looking at a Matt Groening book, The Big Book of Hell. He liked it because it looked like The Simpsons.
I told him that I didn't think he'd find it very funny. We looked at a few pages together, and he was appalled at the shoddy artwork. PLUS he did not think the book was funny.
Finally he asked me why every page had that bad word on it. Why did it keep saying THE H WORD?
I told him that it isn't a very bad word for grown-ups. But we agreed that it wasn't a good book for him.
It dawned on me that I probably shouldn't have sent him off with all those Tank Girl comics. Oopsie.
Well, maybe his parents won't ever find them, come after me, and report me for corrupting neighborhood youth. Fingers crossed.
I told him that I didn't think he'd find it very funny. We looked at a few pages together, and he was appalled at the shoddy artwork. PLUS he did not think the book was funny.
Finally he asked me why every page had that bad word on it. Why did it keep saying THE H WORD?
I told him that it isn't a very bad word for grown-ups. But we agreed that it wasn't a good book for him.
It dawned on me that I probably shouldn't have sent him off with all those Tank Girl comics. Oopsie.
Well, maybe his parents won't ever find them, come after me, and report me for corrupting neighborhood youth. Fingers crossed.
Book 53: Eat for Health
I finally read the last chapter of Joel Fuhrman's Eat for Health. It's a two-book set: The Mind Makeover and The Body Makeover. The second is mostly eating plans and recipes, so I won't count it as Book 54.
Eat for Health is much more lenient than Eat for Life, even allowing small amounts of meat! He gives advice for slowly adding in more and more healthful foods, rather than the drastic changes he insisted on in Eat for Life. Fuhrman recommends eating in a super-healthful style to extend life and prevent disease. He cites tons of research supporting a diet based mostly on fruits and vegetables. Isn't it weird that we need research to remind us that we should be eating produce???
But we are inundated with ads claiming that dairy is good for us, and that it's good for losing weight. We think that we need tons of protein (I read a lot about weight lifting and physical fitness, and almost every expert in that field pushes high amounts of protein). Somehow diet food has become low-fat, highly processed, frozen meals, or diet carbs with no nutritional value. Salads used to be diet food -- what happened?
Fuhrman reminds us that healthy food is fresh, unprocessed produce, beans, seeds, and nuts. Everything else can be added in small amounts as complements to a healthful diet.
Eating the Standard American Diet makes it more likely that we will develop heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, dementia, and cancer. Eating better foods most of the time can greatly reduce the risk of those diseases.
I like reading Fuhrman's books and refer back to them often, when I feel like I need to re-adjust my thinking on healthful eating. He has a professional, yet conversational writing style, and everything he recommends makes a lot of sense.
Eat for Health is much more lenient than Eat for Life, even allowing small amounts of meat! He gives advice for slowly adding in more and more healthful foods, rather than the drastic changes he insisted on in Eat for Life. Fuhrman recommends eating in a super-healthful style to extend life and prevent disease. He cites tons of research supporting a diet based mostly on fruits and vegetables. Isn't it weird that we need research to remind us that we should be eating produce???
But we are inundated with ads claiming that dairy is good for us, and that it's good for losing weight. We think that we need tons of protein (I read a lot about weight lifting and physical fitness, and almost every expert in that field pushes high amounts of protein). Somehow diet food has become low-fat, highly processed, frozen meals, or diet carbs with no nutritional value. Salads used to be diet food -- what happened?
Fuhrman reminds us that healthy food is fresh, unprocessed produce, beans, seeds, and nuts. Everything else can be added in small amounts as complements to a healthful diet.
Eating the Standard American Diet makes it more likely that we will develop heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, dementia, and cancer. Eating better foods most of the time can greatly reduce the risk of those diseases.
I like reading Fuhrman's books and refer back to them often, when I feel like I need to re-adjust my thinking on healthful eating. He has a professional, yet conversational writing style, and everything he recommends makes a lot of sense.
Garage Sale!
Here's my little garage sale
And here's the neighbors' big one
The neighbors are raising money to adopt a baby, and they got donations from dozens of people for their sale.
I read Throw Out Fifty Things and got rid of three or four garbage bags worth of stuff earlier this year, giving it to a charity. I didn't have that much left that I wanted to part with.
The most important thing about the sale is this: I was able to capture the RATTAIL!!
Yep, it comes with a mohawk.
Isn't it glorious?
And here's the neighbors' big one
The neighbors are raising money to adopt a baby, and they got donations from dozens of people for their sale.
I read Throw Out Fifty Things and got rid of three or four garbage bags worth of stuff earlier this year, giving it to a charity. I didn't have that much left that I wanted to part with.
The most important thing about the sale is this: I was able to capture the RATTAIL!!
Yep, it comes with a mohawk.
Isn't it glorious?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Little House Ornament Kits
I have a few of these kits in my Etsy shop. They are packaged in cute little handsewn, drawstring bags, so they make attractive gifts as kits or as ornaments that you make and personalize.
Clucky Chicken
I made this gal last night, to triple-check my pattern. She took about 4 or 5 hours. If you want to make your own, the pattern is available in my Etsy shop.
Jason liked the original, in white, better.
I like both, but the new, brown one looks a little... wilder!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Book 52: The Glass Castle
Jeannette Walls's memior is a bestseller for good reason. It's an incredible book!
She and her siblings had irresponsible, selfish, childish parents who never succeeded at providing for them. The parents were also highly intelligent, creative people, and managed to pass those traits along to the kids. Three out of four of the kids were able to thrive, once they left West Virginia for New York City.
Walls describes her harrowing childhood without any self-pity. It's not really a sad book, though if most people had told it, it would have been. Also, it's obvious that the parents really loved their kids, and the kids loved the parents and tried to believe their excuses and rationalizations.
Highly recommended.
She and her siblings had irresponsible, selfish, childish parents who never succeeded at providing for them. The parents were also highly intelligent, creative people, and managed to pass those traits along to the kids. Three out of four of the kids were able to thrive, once they left West Virginia for New York City.
Walls describes her harrowing childhood without any self-pity. It's not really a sad book, though if most people had told it, it would have been. Also, it's obvious that the parents really loved their kids, and the kids loved the parents and tried to believe their excuses and rationalizations.
Highly recommended.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
A Detour on the Tour of Dad's Childhood
We stopped off in Roswell to see if we could have some fun at the UFO Museum and Research Center. It was mostly blown-up copies of newspaper articles. I had hoped and expected it to be campier and a lot more fun. They had framed posters from the X-Files movie! Come on!
They did have an alien autopsy set up, which they got from some movie.
When I was getting a closer shot of the alien's face, Dad scared a girl in there by shouting to me, "If he blinks, that's going to ruin the picture!"
Possibly the best thing was the people wearing tinfoil hats and other headgear. From the accents that I overheard, the Germans are good sports about tinfoil hats!
Tour of Dad's Childhood, part 3
Here is a house that Dad lived in as a kid.
It was incredible how he could find his way around these towns after 50 years. He really has a great memory for streets and landmarks. I did not inherit that trait! If I'm not driving, I probably have no memory of how we got somewhere. It's lucky I'm not lost right now!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Book 51: Between Trapezes
Gail Blanke writes self-improvement books, and Between Trapezes: Flying Into a New Life With the Greatest of Ease focuses on "in-between times". If you've lost your job or are totally burned out on your work, Blanke encourages you to see this time as an opportunity. Here is the chance to change your life and do what you really want to do.
I'm in job limbo and some days I definitely see that I have the chance to shape the rest of my life by choosing my career path. The only problems are that the job market is not very good right now, and I have no idea what I really want to do with my life!
I keep trying to soul search and discover what it is that I really want to do, but my soul will not give up its secrets.
Anyway, about the book. Blanke gives a fair amount of practical advice: in a job interview, keep it all about THEM. Not what you will get out of the job, but what THEY will get from you. People like to be the center of attention, and they will respond better to you if focus on them.
Some other advice, which works in all aspects of life: give up dwelling on how right you are and how wrong they are. Even though it's true, you have to move forward and leave those resentments behind.
Mostly she tells success stories of clients she worked with, and anecdotes from her own life.
Between Trapezes did not solve my problem of deciding what to do with the rest of my life, but it is fun to read about how other people change their lives, and to be encouraged to take chances.
I'm in job limbo and some days I definitely see that I have the chance to shape the rest of my life by choosing my career path. The only problems are that the job market is not very good right now, and I have no idea what I really want to do with my life!
I keep trying to soul search and discover what it is that I really want to do, but my soul will not give up its secrets.
Anyway, about the book. Blanke gives a fair amount of practical advice: in a job interview, keep it all about THEM. Not what you will get out of the job, but what THEY will get from you. People like to be the center of attention, and they will respond better to you if focus on them.
Some other advice, which works in all aspects of life: give up dwelling on how right you are and how wrong they are. Even though it's true, you have to move forward and leave those resentments behind.
Mostly she tells success stories of clients she worked with, and anecdotes from her own life.
Between Trapezes did not solve my problem of deciding what to do with the rest of my life, but it is fun to read about how other people change their lives, and to be encouraged to take chances.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Book 50: Secrets of Simplicity
Secrets of Simplicity: learn to live better with less, by Mary Carlomagno, is a beautiful book. The artwork is lovely, the quotes sprinkled throughout are inspiring. It's spiral-bound, which is really nice since it's a workbook and you're supposed to fill in worksheets.
Carlomagno covers:
*Letting go of unneeded and unwanted things: habits, rituals, routines, etc... (record what you've decided to let go of, and how it's making you feel)
*Setting limits (record all your responsibilities and decide if you can say "No" to some of them)
*Getting rid of excess stuff
*Taking time for meditation or similar non-technology time
*Dealing with your money issues
*Taking chances to increase your self-confidence
*Appreciating what you have; realizing that life's struggles are something to be grateful for
Aside from the irony of buying a book to learn how to buy less stuff, it's an inspiring, positive book. I like reading about the benefits of buying less, consuming less, and being grateful for what I have. I need those reminders.
Carlomagno covers:
*Letting go of unneeded and unwanted things: habits, rituals, routines, etc... (record what you've decided to let go of, and how it's making you feel)
*Setting limits (record all your responsibilities and decide if you can say "No" to some of them)
*Getting rid of excess stuff
*Taking time for meditation or similar non-technology time
*Dealing with your money issues
*Taking chances to increase your self-confidence
*Appreciating what you have; realizing that life's struggles are something to be grateful for
Aside from the irony of buying a book to learn how to buy less stuff, it's an inspiring, positive book. I like reading about the benefits of buying less, consuming less, and being grateful for what I have. I need those reminders.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tour of Dad's Childhood, part 2
After stopping in at Helen and Ernie's old cafe, Dad and I headed to the horse track and casino, Ruidoso Downs. When he was a kid, he'd sneak around back to get closer to the waiting horses. He and his buddy would pick up dozens of betting tickets off the ground, hoping to find a winner.
While we were there, the riders were just practicing. I don't want to say "jockeys" because it was clear that some of the riders were quite tall and therefore must be trainers or something else. They went around in both directions, some sprinting, some trotting, and some running sideways (inexplicable to me, a non-equestrian). Three riders lined up in the starting gate, and Dad drove over, into the valet parking area, to get a closer view.
Three riders got ready, and the gates were open! Three horses ran their hearts out around the track... but only two riders went with them. One fell off about 15 feet out of the gate. Poor guy.
As he limped back to the gate, his friends teased him in Spanish, calling out, "Hey, cowboy! Cowboy!" and he'd say back, "You bastards!"
Another rider finally led his horse back to him, the crowd dispersed, and Dad and I were on our way to the next stop.
While we were there, the riders were just practicing. I don't want to say "jockeys" because it was clear that some of the riders were quite tall and therefore must be trainers or something else. They went around in both directions, some sprinting, some trotting, and some running sideways (inexplicable to me, a non-equestrian). Three riders lined up in the starting gate, and Dad drove over, into the valet parking area, to get a closer view.
Three riders got ready, and the gates were open! Three horses ran their hearts out around the track... but only two riders went with them. One fell off about 15 feet out of the gate. Poor guy.
As he limped back to the gate, his friends teased him in Spanish, calling out, "Hey, cowboy! Cowboy!" and he'd say back, "You bastards!"
Another rider finally led his horse back to him, the crowd dispersed, and Dad and I were on our way to the next stop.
Book 49: The Cold Moon
The Cold Moon is another detective mystery by Jeffery Deaver. It stars Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs as the brilliant minds deconstructing an even-more-than-normal-for-Deaver complicated plot.
Deaver wrote The Bone Collector, which was made into a movie starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie as Rhyme and Sachs, so I always picture them when I read these novels. And of course I picture Rhyme's gay male nurse as played by Queen Latifah!
This book starts off a little clunkily but quickly hits its stride and is as entertaining as the rest of Deaver's work. But seriously, a very, very complicated plot is hatched by the bad guy.
FYI: I almost started ANOTHER book last night, but I decided that since I'm already reading 8, I'll try to finish one before I start another. If you weren't acting as witnesses, I'd probably be reading The Glass Castle right now!
Deaver wrote The Bone Collector, which was made into a movie starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie as Rhyme and Sachs, so I always picture them when I read these novels. And of course I picture Rhyme's gay male nurse as played by Queen Latifah!
This book starts off a little clunkily but quickly hits its stride and is as entertaining as the rest of Deaver's work. But seriously, a very, very complicated plot is hatched by the bad guy.
FYI: I almost started ANOTHER book last night, but I decided that since I'm already reading 8, I'll try to finish one before I start another. If you weren't acting as witnesses, I'd probably be reading The Glass Castle right now!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Tour of Dad's Childhood, part 1
During my New Mexico visit, Dad took me to three of the five or six towns he lived in as a child. After his parents' divorce, his mother moved him and his sisters from Indiana to New Mexico. Every year or so, they'd move to a different place and live in a new little rental house.
His mother, Helen, and her boyfriend, Ernie, would run restaurants. It's unclear why they didn't settle down somewhere for more than a year or two.
This is the restaurant in Ruidoso that Helen and Ernie ran over 50 years ago.
Now it's called Jorge's, and the food is NOT good.
The coffee's all right.
His mother, Helen, and her boyfriend, Ernie, would run restaurants. It's unclear why they didn't settle down somewhere for more than a year or two.
This is the restaurant in Ruidoso that Helen and Ernie ran over 50 years ago.
Now it's called Jorge's, and the food is NOT good.
The coffee's all right.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Carlsbad Caverns Tomorrow!
Mom, sister Stefanie, niece Mazie, and I will head for Carlsbad tomorrow to explore any caverns that are accessible to toddlers. I have wanted to go there since my family moved to New Mexico (2.5 years), so I am very much looking forward to this trip!
I want to go to the underground lunchroom and mail a postcard from 755 feet below ground. I'll check back with photos and details on Monday.
I want to go to the underground lunchroom and mail a postcard from 755 feet below ground. I'll check back with photos and details on Monday.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Vacation!
I'm in New Mexico, visiting my family and having a blast.
So far, we've watched the Sex and the City movie, played with the baby, went to the farmer's market, bird watched, had a picnic, and ate an early Father's Day dinner at a Pacific Rim restaurant called Mix.
Tomorrow Dad and I are going on a tour of his childhood New Mexico hometowns, and maybe check out Roswell.
This weekend, Mom, Stef, niece Mazie, and I are going to Carlsbad Caverns to see what it's like underground.
Stefanie has been helping me get an Etsy shop set up to sell my amigurumi patterns. I only have one listed so far, but I'm on my way. :)
So far, we've watched the Sex and the City movie, played with the baby, went to the farmer's market, bird watched, had a picnic, and ate an early Father's Day dinner at a Pacific Rim restaurant called Mix.
Tomorrow Dad and I are going on a tour of his childhood New Mexico hometowns, and maybe check out Roswell.
This weekend, Mom, Stef, niece Mazie, and I are going to Carlsbad Caverns to see what it's like underground.
Stefanie has been helping me get an Etsy shop set up to sell my amigurumi patterns. I only have one listed so far, but I'm on my way. :)
Monday, June 8, 2009
Book 48: To Kill A Mockingbird
Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird is one of the great American novels. It's told from the perspective of an 8-year old girl. Taking place in Alabama in the 1930s, it's about racism, religious prejudice, equality, fairness, justice, and doing what's right.
Scout, our narrator, doesn't quite know what's going on, but she tells us anyway. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who's been assigned by the court to defend a black man who was (obviously falsely) accused of raping a white woman. Most of the town hates him for truly defending the man, rather than going through the motions.
The other story line revolves around a reclusive neighbor who hasn't been seen for 25 years, Boo Radley. Scout, her brother, and their friend pass through summers of being obsessed with catching a glimpse of Boo.
On treating people fairly, Atticus tells his kids, "As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it -- whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash."
Scout is a little tomboy, and when her aunt moves in to try to civilize her, it is not an easy adjustment. Her brother asks Scout, "She's trying to make you a lady. Can't you take up sewin' or somethin'?"
Her response: "Hell no."
It's so good it makes me really sad that Lee never published another book.
Scout, our narrator, doesn't quite know what's going on, but she tells us anyway. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who's been assigned by the court to defend a black man who was (obviously falsely) accused of raping a white woman. Most of the town hates him for truly defending the man, rather than going through the motions.
The other story line revolves around a reclusive neighbor who hasn't been seen for 25 years, Boo Radley. Scout, her brother, and their friend pass through summers of being obsessed with catching a glimpse of Boo.
On treating people fairly, Atticus tells his kids, "As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it -- whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash."
Scout is a little tomboy, and when her aunt moves in to try to civilize her, it is not an easy adjustment. Her brother asks Scout, "She's trying to make you a lady. Can't you take up sewin' or somethin'?"
Her response: "Hell no."
It's so good it makes me really sad that Lee never published another book.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Rat Tail!
Last week, I heard a bunch of kids in the back yard, so I looked out the window like a crotchety old lady. Guess what I saw! Two boys and a girl, and guess what the boy had! A short hair cut and then the longest rat tail ever! It went all the way down past his waistband, neatly braided and flying elegantly with every turn.
I did not know that rat tails had survived the '80s, but I have been informed that they are still hot Hot HOT in a certain segment of the population. The one that likes watching NASCAR.
I haven't seen that boy since, and I was so startled when I first saw him that I have no photo. But I am keeping my eyes and ears peeled for that Rat Tail. I feel an anthropological need to document it photographically.
I did not know that rat tails had survived the '80s, but I have been informed that they are still hot Hot HOT in a certain segment of the population. The one that likes watching NASCAR.
I haven't seen that boy since, and I was so startled when I first saw him that I have no photo. But I am keeping my eyes and ears peeled for that Rat Tail. I feel an anthropological need to document it photographically.
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