things are looking up!

In more ways than one. Crochetville has moved to the new server, so should be running smoothly now, with “more power” and maybe even some more features to come. I don’t envy those in charge all the work they’ll have to do! And the temps are dropping here, which is a step up as far as I am concerned. Forecasts call for a high around 67 degrees on Sunday and Monday, and while that may not thrill most people, it certainly raises my own spirits.

Went into town yesterday, with Danny. I needed to make a stop at the library, get jabbed for blood (and as expected, my PT is high, so I need to cut down my coumadin a bit) and stop at the grocery store. We decided to also make a run through the Coffeesmith’s drive-thru and go to Half-Price Books, both of which were treats. I found some wonderful books of postcards to use for Postcrossing (which I’ve been doing avidly, although I’ve neglected to write about it.)

I’ve been stitching some “bright and cheery” cotton mug mats/coasters recently to include in the envelopes of tea I’ve sent out for the tea round robin at Postcrossing. Just thought it might be fun to include a little “extra” when sending out the teas. Jeff teased me, since I’ve made heaven knows how many mug mats for giving away, while he’s had to resort to using old magazines to rest his glasses or mugs on, so I crocheted a few to keep at home, and he professed himself pleased. I still have other gifts to crochet, things I’m working on and need to finish, but sometimes I just need something small and quick to work on, and the mug mats are perfect for that.

I’m going to bake a loaf of honey wheat bread this afternoon, which should be nicely relaxing. And we picked up some Kona-blend coffee yesterday, so I’ll probably make some of that and settle in with a good book later. I just finished the new Tim Powers book (Three Days to Never) and enjoyed it very much, but not quite as much as some of his previous books. Since I have pretty much all of them, and am in the mood, I think I’ll pull them all out and read them again, one after the other. He’s one of the few authors whose books I order sight unseen, whether they come out in paperback or hardcover. I can’t afford to do that with many authors — I usually need to either check books out through the library, or wait til they come out in paperback, or buy them used. But with Terry Pratchett, Christopher Moore, Tim Powers, Robin Hobb, Lois McMaster Bujold, Joe Lansdale, Nora Roberts, Stephen King, and Jennifer Crusie, I pre-order from Amazon as soon as I know a book is coming out.

Okay, off to knead some dough!

crochetville psa

Guys, if you stop by here, please note that the ‘ville isn’t down permanently, and it isn’t down due top non-payment of bills. For more info, please stop by yarnaholic’s site at http://catsinmycraftbasket.blogspot.com/ as she will know the latest.

We now resume our regularly scheduled programming. (Which in my case means I’m off to finish making a loaf of honey wheat bread.)

have you ever had one of “those” mornings?

Had a headache all night last night, so after I got up this morning I took some Tylenol and stretched out on the sofa with a cool cloth over my eyes. Didn’t wake up again (still with headache) til almost 11AM, and since I needed to get to the post office before they closed for lunch, I threw on some ratty old clothes and a bandana over my bed-head, rooted in a closet for a bag and ended up with a pile of junk falling out on my face (which scratched my nose to the point of bleeding) and rushed out the door.

So, there I was, greasy-faced, rumpled and bleary-eyed, with blood on my nose… and I had a pile of envelopes to mail out, 4 of them to overseas destinations so they needed to have small customs forms filled out and attached to them. I scribbled as fast as I could, but people were stacking up behind me, and I felt conspicuous and embarrassed. The only thing that could have capped it all off and made it worse would have been if I’d passed gas right there in front of all of them. (Thank god, I was spared that little indignity.)

Home again now, and the situation hasn’t improved much. I keep dropping things, and tripped over the cat and fell down half the flight of stairs. (My blood numbers are currently out of whack, too, due to the blood thinners, and I’m bruising easily, so I expect to have a glorious crop of black and blue splotches all over my body as a result of the tumble.) Hell, I’d planned to make veggie soup for supper today, since it’s cooler and grey and drizzly, but now I’m re-thinking that plan, since I’m not altogether sure I trust myself to handle a sharp knife! Maybe I can have Danny chop the veggies…

This isn’t a particulalry interesting blog entry, especially after a period of neglecting this site, but to be honest, I thought it might be amusing to some of you — the written equivalent of watching slapstick. But, in the midst of your laughter, I’d appreciate any good mojo you might send my way. Something along the lines of “Please, let that poor damn klutz survive her own clumsiness.”

Thank you.

the end is near… yippee?

There’s something that both baffles and disgusts me about the yahoos who seem to take such unholy glee in the turmoil in Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Israel, etc.. Every time I read about or listen to some good Christian soul who rejoices in the pain and violence in the Middle East simply because it’s a sign (to them) of the coming apocalypse, I want to slap the stupid s.o.b. upside the head and ask him what he thinks God thinks about his little obsession.

C’mon… anyone who’s happy about such suffering and upheaval, especially to the point of actively supporting any activities that increase the violence and pain, is guilty of sin, as far as I can see. If you claim to worship the Christian god, then you should spend every moment of your life striving to embody the compassion and love his son taught, right up until the moment of your own death. Actively trying to facilitate the chaos and suffering that you believe precede the return of Christ is simply your way of trying to *force* that return — you’re hoping to make it happen according to your schedule, not God’s. What gall! And how very contrary to the peace of Christ that you’re supposed to manifest to the world around you.

This seems very similar, to me, to the sin that supposedly kept Moses from reaching the promised land — the hubris of trying to usurp that which rightly belongs only to God.

Sorry, this isn’t a typical post for me, I realize. And since I swing between being an agnostic with a strong tendency to value logic and reason, or being an agnostic who can’t quite rid herself of a gut-deep belief in the existence of God but who can’t accept most of the bullshit that comes with that belief, I suppose I’m not someone most people would care to hear pontificate about this whole mess. But the obvious satisfaction so many people appear to take in the horrors unfolding in the Middle East just sticks in my craw, and I couldn’t resist ranting a bit.

Return to your regularly scheduled yada yada.

poo-covered eye candy

Just watched the latest episode of “Dirty Jobs” with Jeff and Danny — love that show, and I lust after the host, Mike Rowe. Lordy, lordy, is that man fine, even when (or *especially* when) he’s covered in grime and face stubble. Good looks, wise-ass comments, intelligence, and the ability to laugh at himself… what more could one ask of a man?

Now that the show is over, I think I’ll write a short blog entry, then go upstairs and watch “Dogma” on the dvd player in my room. I love Kevin Smith as much as I do Mike Rowe. Obviously, I never got the memo that fat, middle-aged housewives aren’t supposed to enjoy Kevin Smith, “South Park,” “Venture Brothers,” “Robot Chicken,” and the like. Of course, I also never got a copy of the TPS report — shhh, don’t tell!

Today was fairly cool, much to my intense relief. I made a trip up to the little local farmer’s market, and bought a huge bag of fresh veggies (squash, zucchini, onions, eggplant, golden potatoes, fresh green beans) and after I got home I scrubbed them, cut them in chunks, tossed them with olive oil and spices and salt, and filled my roaster with them. Roasted them in a hot oven. It took long enough to roast them that they weren’t ready to eat for supper tonight, but we’ll be able to eat off these for a couple days.

Ok, time to get my Kevin Smith fix.

Still here, I promise

Sorry, ya’ll. I’ve been sick for the better part of two weeks, and just haven’t felt like putting my limited energy into doing the blog.

We’ve been lucky, had some cooler weather again the past couple days. I even baked last night! Stayed up late and made a huge loaf of banana nut bread, much to everyone’s delight. I have the best ever recipe for banana bread, I promise you — moist, rich, and wonderful with a nice mug of tea. I’ll share it with you, and you can see for yourselves.

PERFECT BANANA BREAD

1 c. soft butter, or 3/4 C. oil (I use light olive oil or canola oil)
2 c. sugar
2 ts. vanilla
2 ts. lemon juice or cider vinegar (I use the lemon juice)
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
5 or 6 ripe bananas, mashed
1 ts. salt
3 ½ c. whole wheat flour
2 ts. baking soda
2 ts. baking powder
1 c. sour cream
1 to 1 1/2 c. chopped nuts (I use walnuts)

I usually mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl, whisking til blended. I mash the bananas in a bigger bowl, then mix in all the other wet stuff in that bowl, then add the dry stuff and the nuts, mix with a rubber spoonula, and pour into a greased large Bundt pan (mine is fluted.) Bake at 350 degrees for 1 ½ hrs. Cool in pan, then turn out onto a serving platter. I have a domed glass cake plate that holds a large cake, and that’s what I use, since I can serve the bread on it and also cover it with the dome.

Other than finally doing some baking, I’m also needing to catch up on some of the housework that has been sorely neglected, and on some of my crochet, which has been left in bags for a while now. But baby steps! I still don’t feel up to par, and be damned if I’m going to push too far, too fast.

I’m still having a wonderful tme with postcrossing, and have sent out more cards and things, and received many. One of these days, I should try to post pics of them on here, but it’ll have to wait.

When my dad died, I touched base with his sister, my Aunt Jeanne, after many years of not being in contact. As hard as it’s been accepting that dad is gone, it makes me happy right down to my bones that this painful experience opened the door to a renewed connection to Jeanne. We’re exchanging letters and we talk on the phone, and she’s sent me photos that fill me with joy as well as make me cry. I’ve always tried to not lose touch with the fact that even in the most difficult and painful of times there are opportunities to feel joy and happiness, and this renewed relationship with my aunt just confirms my beliefs. I’m grateful.