Don't know if I will have the computer long enough to make this a real post, but I've neglected this blog for too long, and have something to get down.
I attended a writing workshop this past weekend, actually signed up and went. I had no idea what to expect, loved the entire experience, met and worked with some wonderful writers, and am still mulling over something very important that I learned, which I can only sum up as, "Tell it like it is." Not as I see it, or interpret it, but as it is. Seems like common sense, but there's something key there that I was missing, and I've been walking around with that "Eureka!" feeling ever since.
There's a brick missing from the wall. I know it's there, because words are leaking in. I'm searching for the hole, but I don't know if it's because my subconscious wants to plug it, or peer through.
Okay, that's it, time's up. Back to pen and notebook!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Transferring posts from A Wren's Nest
I'm bringing over some posts from an older blog of mine at LiteralMinded. They aren't new, so I'll probably date them as they were, but they'll all be under the Wren's Nest tag.
Here's hoping any nonsense in them can be overlooked or forgiven; they were written when I was among friends, and intended for our writing site, so there are bits of silliness everywhere. :)
Here's hoping any nonsense in them can be overlooked or forgiven; they were written when I was among friends, and intended for our writing site, so there are bits of silliness everywhere. :)
From Forks, Back Home
If nothing else, Stephenie Meyer got me reading entire books again. Fiction, at that. Clawing my way back from teenager-vampire stories, I read Pride and Prejudice (and then promptly sat down and watched the movie until the wee hours of the morning), and now have been engrossed in Silas House novels. I want to get my hands on more Kentucky writing; in fact, I need to do that.
I want to see what is out there, learn more about place and voice. And of course, who would mind camping out with a stack of Wendell Berry to read?
I want to see what is out there, learn more about place and voice. And of course, who would mind camping out with a stack of Wendell Berry to read?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
I've Been Sucked In...
No pun intended, LOL. It's happened. I'm wrapped up in the world of Twilight. Just dabbling, I've told my friends and family. But, good grief.
Have read the first two books, waiting for my niece to finish the third. Sigh.
Between the author and the movie director/actors, they've NAILED the romance. The funny thing is, I recognize the formula, and I don't care. I want to know what happens to these characters. I don't read standard "romance novels" as a rule, but I have read Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, and I have to wonder if Stephenie Meyer has, too. No vampires that I recall, and definitely more, um, explicit, but all of the frustration and misunderstandings - Heather and Brandon, anyone?
So now I'm considering showing up for the midnight release of the DVD, and I'm following some role-players on Twitter, keeping up with the day-to-day in the Cullen family.
Dabbling, indeed.
Have read the first two books, waiting for my niece to finish the third. Sigh.
Between the author and the movie director/actors, they've NAILED the romance. The funny thing is, I recognize the formula, and I don't care. I want to know what happens to these characters. I don't read standard "romance novels" as a rule, but I have read Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, and I have to wonder if Stephenie Meyer has, too. No vampires that I recall, and definitely more, um, explicit, but all of the frustration and misunderstandings - Heather and Brandon, anyone?
So now I'm considering showing up for the midnight release of the DVD, and I'm following some role-players on Twitter, keeping up with the day-to-day in the Cullen family.
Dabbling, indeed.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Something Old, Something New
Woo hoo! We've just opened an online store. It's a family effort, so we'll be selling a little bit of everything. Right now, we have books and vintage magazines listed, but once the dust from construction clears, this should be a lot of fun! (I need a way to pay for my book habit.)
Come check us out at "Bikers and Books"!
Come check us out at "Bikers and Books"!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
From the Nonsense Files: A Tug of War
Recently, I participated in an online writing workshop, and one of the first assignments involved listing positive and negative traits I saw in myself, and then taking them to the extreme: creating two characters, mirror images, based on those traits. Writing about two "me"s turned out to be boring, so I took a more literal approach. Apologizing for any piece was against the class rules, and so I'll try not to do that here.
-----------------------------------
Shanna and Em live in a place of light and shadow. A world parallel to our own, but with gaps and sometimes gulfs of nothingness that may be suddenly filled again, the moment light touches the space. They only have contact with the Girl through mirrors and reflections. She doesn't look at them often. They make a bit of a game of it, guessing who will see her next.
-- She's looked at me! She's here! -- Shanna is frozen in front of the bathroom mirror, holding her reddish-brown hair on top of her head, and smiling slightly. -- Oh, I hope she'll stay. I really think I could help her. -- She inspects the Girl's teeth, then turns the bathroom light off and moves to the livingroom. Her identical twin is there on the couch, reading. Depending on the Girl's mood, one of them is free to do as she pleases, while the other remains available to reflect from any mirrors or other smooth surfaces. Not a hard job at all, and lately, Em has been busier than her sister.
"All she needs is some self-confidence, and a good start. She can do this!" Shanna stands in the middle of the room, hands on her hips, surveying the mess around her. As she begins to move stacks of books and laundry, in parallel with the girl in that other world, she tries to give her movements a little extra oomph, as much as is allowed. She smiles broadly, knowing that it won't show through clearly in the reflection from the TV screen, but also knowing that she can subtly influence the Girl's state of mind as they stay in sync.
Her sister looks up from the book she is reading, and shakes her head at Shanna's antics. "Pointless!" is all she says, as she lifts her feet to allow more books to be moved. "I give her five minutes, tops."
A generous guess, because the Girl and Shanna have now found the violin tucked behind the couch, and they are off to find some music to play along with.
"Agh! No! I hid that thing." Em drags a pillow over her head. "Can't she pick something more quiet to learn?"
-- Hush, you. This is good. She hasn't picked it up in months. -- Shanna screws up her mouth and concentrates, mostly hitting the right notes. Luckily, the music is turned up loudly enough to blend in the occasional squeak. She enjoys herself thoroughly for the next half hour, then she and the Girl put down their bows together, and head off to the kitchen to make lunch.
Some days are like this, fun, full of new projects, potential. Shanna happily flits along from one to the other, inside or out, skimming across pots and pans or smiling from the windows of the greenhouse. Beekeeping, painting, gardening, and there is always some new topic to research. She sometimes gets to leave the place, visit with other Reflectors, wherever the Girl goes. She has been camping recently; even went kayaking, her face gliding across the surface of the water as the Girl watched for fish or turtles below.
She has traveled a bit, as well. This year the Girl became involved in a political cause; Shanna has been to rallies, waved signs, helped start a reading group. The Girl becomes more animated when she is out: interacting, discussing, encouraging others. Shanna can tell that she feels good at these times.
Eventually, though, the Girl becomes overwhelmed. So many projects, so little time. Being around groups of people drains her. She comes home to a messy house, and so cannot relax to read or work on something quiet, yet doesn't have the energy required to clean or organize. This is when Em's reflection is the one seen.
Em wants to be left alone, needs peace and quiet, wants to read. Em doesn't trust people, not anyone. People will eventually hurt you, she claims. They will disappoint you. Em sees no point in continuing projects, cleaning the house, or getting involved in "futile" causes. She is interested in new things, too, but why take risks? She worries when Shanna is out, but shows it through criticism, and pessimistic comments intended to keep her sister home. She cares deeply about people, too deeply, and so withdraws, to avoid seeing their pain.
The Girl (and she is no longer a girl, Em will tell you, so why keep calling her by that silly name?) hardly looks at Em; when she does, they both look away immediately. The Girl keeps only two mirrors in the house, one in the bathroom, where she looks specifically at her teeth or hair, and one on the vanity of the dresser upstairs, which she simply avoids, letting the dust build up on the glass.
Things go on like this for a while, Em and the Girl sometimes spending entire days on the couch with a stack of books and a bag of chocolate doughnuts, reading madly, searching for new knowledge, occupying their minds with anything but whatever pressure the Girl is avoiding. Then something clicks, the Girl looks up with either resolve or resignation, and the cycle begins again: it is Shanna's turn to Reflect.
At night, sometimes, when the Girl is asleep. Em and Shanna will sit up and talk about things. Shanna tries to convince Em that what the Girl needs is more encouragement, but Em will have none of it. It's reality, she counters, and she insists that the Girl must learn to deal with it.
And so there is a perpetual tug of war; but Shanna and Em are more alike than they realize. Both are the same, in fact, but for one thing: Shanna accepts herself, where Em never can.
-----------------------------------
Shanna and Em live in a place of light and shadow. A world parallel to our own, but with gaps and sometimes gulfs of nothingness that may be suddenly filled again, the moment light touches the space. They only have contact with the Girl through mirrors and reflections. She doesn't look at them often. They make a bit of a game of it, guessing who will see her next.
-- She's looked at me! She's here! -- Shanna is frozen in front of the bathroom mirror, holding her reddish-brown hair on top of her head, and smiling slightly. -- Oh, I hope she'll stay. I really think I could help her. -- She inspects the Girl's teeth, then turns the bathroom light off and moves to the livingroom. Her identical twin is there on the couch, reading. Depending on the Girl's mood, one of them is free to do as she pleases, while the other remains available to reflect from any mirrors or other smooth surfaces. Not a hard job at all, and lately, Em has been busier than her sister.
"All she needs is some self-confidence, and a good start. She can do this!" Shanna stands in the middle of the room, hands on her hips, surveying the mess around her. As she begins to move stacks of books and laundry, in parallel with the girl in that other world, she tries to give her movements a little extra oomph, as much as is allowed. She smiles broadly, knowing that it won't show through clearly in the reflection from the TV screen, but also knowing that she can subtly influence the Girl's state of mind as they stay in sync.
Her sister looks up from the book she is reading, and shakes her head at Shanna's antics. "Pointless!" is all she says, as she lifts her feet to allow more books to be moved. "I give her five minutes, tops."
A generous guess, because the Girl and Shanna have now found the violin tucked behind the couch, and they are off to find some music to play along with.
"Agh! No! I hid that thing." Em drags a pillow over her head. "Can't she pick something more quiet to learn?"
-- Hush, you. This is good. She hasn't picked it up in months. -- Shanna screws up her mouth and concentrates, mostly hitting the right notes. Luckily, the music is turned up loudly enough to blend in the occasional squeak. She enjoys herself thoroughly for the next half hour, then she and the Girl put down their bows together, and head off to the kitchen to make lunch.
Some days are like this, fun, full of new projects, potential. Shanna happily flits along from one to the other, inside or out, skimming across pots and pans or smiling from the windows of the greenhouse. Beekeeping, painting, gardening, and there is always some new topic to research. She sometimes gets to leave the place, visit with other Reflectors, wherever the Girl goes. She has been camping recently; even went kayaking, her face gliding across the surface of the water as the Girl watched for fish or turtles below.
She has traveled a bit, as well. This year the Girl became involved in a political cause; Shanna has been to rallies, waved signs, helped start a reading group. The Girl becomes more animated when she is out: interacting, discussing, encouraging others. Shanna can tell that she feels good at these times.
Eventually, though, the Girl becomes overwhelmed. So many projects, so little time. Being around groups of people drains her. She comes home to a messy house, and so cannot relax to read or work on something quiet, yet doesn't have the energy required to clean or organize. This is when Em's reflection is the one seen.
Em wants to be left alone, needs peace and quiet, wants to read. Em doesn't trust people, not anyone. People will eventually hurt you, she claims. They will disappoint you. Em sees no point in continuing projects, cleaning the house, or getting involved in "futile" causes. She is interested in new things, too, but why take risks? She worries when Shanna is out, but shows it through criticism, and pessimistic comments intended to keep her sister home. She cares deeply about people, too deeply, and so withdraws, to avoid seeing their pain.
The Girl (and she is no longer a girl, Em will tell you, so why keep calling her by that silly name?) hardly looks at Em; when she does, they both look away immediately. The Girl keeps only two mirrors in the house, one in the bathroom, where she looks specifically at her teeth or hair, and one on the vanity of the dresser upstairs, which she simply avoids, letting the dust build up on the glass.
Things go on like this for a while, Em and the Girl sometimes spending entire days on the couch with a stack of books and a bag of chocolate doughnuts, reading madly, searching for new knowledge, occupying their minds with anything but whatever pressure the Girl is avoiding. Then something clicks, the Girl looks up with either resolve or resignation, and the cycle begins again: it is Shanna's turn to Reflect.
At night, sometimes, when the Girl is asleep. Em and Shanna will sit up and talk about things. Shanna tries to convince Em that what the Girl needs is more encouragement, but Em will have none of it. It's reality, she counters, and she insists that the Girl must learn to deal with it.
And so there is a perpetual tug of war; but Shanna and Em are more alike than they realize. Both are the same, in fact, but for one thing: Shanna accepts herself, where Em never can.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
HR 4040 -CPSIA
Is anyone watching the new regulations on the sale of children's items? HR 4040, the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act, was passed into law in August; the deadline for compliance is February 10, 2009 (now being called National Bankruptcy Day), and most people haven't even heard of it.
The CPSIA was passed with good intentions (and you know what they say about those), requiring that all children's items be certified lead- and phthlalate-free. Everyone can see the good in that, right? But there are unintended consequences.
Updates are coming in faster than I can type this up, so I will try to make corrections.
Aside from the fact that this means thrift stores, Goodwills, consignment shops, and ebay sellers will have to stop selling anything lacking that certification (for lead, even items manufactured prior to the deadline), anyone who sells their own creations (children's clothing lines, handmade toys) will also have to go through expensive testing to have their product certified, then attach, and keep records of, an official tag. Penalties for non-cooperation? Anything from huge fines, to losing your Powerseller status on ebay (okay, I'm feeling sarcastic, ebay has a history of jumping on certain bandwagons - try selling the teacher's manual for your homeschool curriculum on their site: http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/teachersedition.html).
As I'm typing this, I'm realizing that the baby blankets my mother and I make would fall under this law, even if, as someone else put it, we grew the organic cotton ourselves and had it harvested by virgins. The wooden pull-toys and pop-guns that my father made to sell at local craft festivals? Illegal. And most crafters are working the winter away on this summer's products, probably unaware that they will be unable to sell them. Update: Some natural materials are apparently exempted as of a change made this week - BUT they must be undyed and not have gone through any processing that might expose them to the hazardous substances.
During all of past few years' recalls, there was a movement toward "natural", handmade, wood-and-cotton type items. Cottage businesses sprung up, using only safe materials. These same businesses will disappear, if the language of the law is not clarified to allow exceptions for smaller companies. Mattel and Hasbro will have no trouble affording the fees for testing every component of every style of every toy they produce in the millions - they'll just tack the cost onto the price tag. The home-based children's clothing designer? She may only have five items in that style.
I have just lost the freedom to make another decision for myself, and as a parent, without the risk of breaking a law. I understand the good intentions, but ironically, they may have just put another brick in the road to China.
In the spirit of redundancy, this encourages high-quality European toy manufacturers to pull out of the US market. Companies like Haba, who already have more stringent testing in place, and don't care to take on additional, pointless requirements.
It's not just toys and clothing that are regulated. ANY item intended for use by a child under the age of 12 is covered under this law, including household items like children's furniture.
There is not much media coverage of this (maybe they're waiting for the Obama fun to settle down?), and what there is is confusing. Conflicting statements in online news articles quote government representatives such as CPSC Public Affairs Director Julie Vallese as saying there are exceptions for resale and consignment. In other articles, these same representatives will say they were misquoted, there are currently NO SUCH EXCEPTIONS, although I have seen people all over the internet quoting the original articles. A press release dated January 8th says that Vallese is now leaving her position with CPSC. (Did she get sick of working with big government?)
Example: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=97558 Note the conflicting quotes, and also the brackets. At least two of the articles I've seen have had "clarifying" words inserted into a quote meant to be construed as confirming an exemption.
The CPSC has tried to allow business owners to continue to sell older product, but they were sued by Natural Resouces Defense Council and Public Citizen, shutting down any loophole.
A Congressional hearing, which would have allowed witnesses to testify on the effects of the law's wording, was cancelled.
I doubt we'll hear much about this in the MSM until at least February, but it is already affecting small businesses everywhere.
This also affects educational and science supply companies (Need light bulbs for kids's microscopes? Good luck, one company has stopped selling them - there's a dot of solder on the base.), and the book industry is concerned, as retailers are requiring information from their vendors, in order to comply with the new law.
Okay, I'll stop. But do they think this helps the economy? Really, if they would just clear up the language, and think about the consequences of implementing this law on the huge scale it would require to enforce it, they could stop now, and prevent some damage. Hopefully they will realize what they've done. Don't laugh. Please. I'm trying to hold out hope.
The CPSC is currently accepting comments until January 30th:
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/ComponentPartsComments.pdf
Questions: http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx
Link to CPSIA:
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML
A group keeping an informed eye on things:
http://www.fashion-incubator.com/phpbb/index.php?c=11
Big Update: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html
The CPSC has issued clarification for resellers. Still a bit confusing:
"The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.
The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties."
So...resellers don't have to test, but they can't sell something that exceeds the lead limit. How can you know this without testing? Basically seems to relieve the reseller of responsibility for testing, leaving it on the manufacturer. Crafters still bear costs then, at this point, as well.
Looks like progress, though! They're listening - keep talking!
Oh, did I mention that Ron Paul was the only state representative who voted against HR 4040? He sees what's happening, and speaks up - that's why I love the man.
The CPSIA was passed with good intentions (and you know what they say about those), requiring that all children's items be certified lead- and phthlalate-free. Everyone can see the good in that, right? But there are unintended consequences.
Updates are coming in faster than I can type this up, so I will try to make corrections.
Aside from the fact that this means thrift stores, Goodwills, consignment shops, and ebay sellers will have to stop selling anything lacking that certification (for lead, even items manufactured prior to the deadline), anyone who sells their own creations (children's clothing lines, handmade toys) will also have to go through expensive testing to have their product certified, then attach, and keep records of, an official tag. Penalties for non-cooperation? Anything from huge fines, to losing your Powerseller status on ebay (okay, I'm feeling sarcastic, ebay has a history of jumping on certain bandwagons - try selling the teacher's manual for your homeschool curriculum on their site: http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/teachersedition.html).
As I'm typing this, I'm realizing that the baby blankets my mother and I make would fall under this law, even if, as someone else put it, we grew the organic cotton ourselves and had it harvested by virgins. The wooden pull-toys and pop-guns that my father made to sell at local craft festivals? Illegal. And most crafters are working the winter away on this summer's products, probably unaware that they will be unable to sell them. Update: Some natural materials are apparently exempted as of a change made this week - BUT they must be undyed and not have gone through any processing that might expose them to the hazardous substances.
During all of past few years' recalls, there was a movement toward "natural", handmade, wood-and-cotton type items. Cottage businesses sprung up, using only safe materials. These same businesses will disappear, if the language of the law is not clarified to allow exceptions for smaller companies. Mattel and Hasbro will have no trouble affording the fees for testing every component of every style of every toy they produce in the millions - they'll just tack the cost onto the price tag. The home-based children's clothing designer? She may only have five items in that style.
I have just lost the freedom to make another decision for myself, and as a parent, without the risk of breaking a law. I understand the good intentions, but ironically, they may have just put another brick in the road to China.
In the spirit of redundancy, this encourages high-quality European toy manufacturers to pull out of the US market. Companies like Haba, who already have more stringent testing in place, and don't care to take on additional, pointless requirements.
It's not just toys and clothing that are regulated. ANY item intended for use by a child under the age of 12 is covered under this law, including household items like children's furniture.
There is not much media coverage of this (maybe they're waiting for the Obama fun to settle down?), and what there is is confusing. Conflicting statements in online news articles quote government representatives such as CPSC Public Affairs Director Julie Vallese as saying there are exceptions for resale and consignment. In other articles, these same representatives will say they were misquoted, there are currently NO SUCH EXCEPTIONS, although I have seen people all over the internet quoting the original articles. A press release dated January 8th says that Vallese is now leaving her position with CPSC. (Did she get sick of working with big government?)
Example: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=97558 Note the conflicting quotes, and also the brackets. At least two of the articles I've seen have had "clarifying" words inserted into a quote meant to be construed as confirming an exemption.
The CPSC has tried to allow business owners to continue to sell older product, but they were sued by Natural Resouces Defense Council and Public Citizen, shutting down any loophole.
A Congressional hearing, which would have allowed witnesses to testify on the effects of the law's wording, was cancelled.
I doubt we'll hear much about this in the MSM until at least February, but it is already affecting small businesses everywhere.
This also affects educational and science supply companies (Need light bulbs for kids's microscopes? Good luck, one company has stopped selling them - there's a dot of solder on the base.), and the book industry is concerned, as retailers are requiring information from their vendors, in order to comply with the new law.
Okay, I'll stop. But do they think this helps the economy? Really, if they would just clear up the language, and think about the consequences of implementing this law on the huge scale it would require to enforce it, they could stop now, and prevent some damage. Hopefully they will realize what they've done. Don't laugh. Please. I'm trying to hold out hope.
The CPSC is currently accepting comments until January 30th:
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/ComponentPartsComments.pdf
Questions: http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx
Link to CPSIA:
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML
A group keeping an informed eye on things:
http://www.fashion-incubator.com/phpbb/index.php?c=11
Big Update: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html
The CPSC has issued clarification for resellers. Still a bit confusing:
"The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.
The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties."
So...resellers don't have to test, but they can't sell something that exceeds the lead limit. How can you know this without testing? Basically seems to relieve the reseller of responsibility for testing, leaving it on the manufacturer. Crafters still bear costs then, at this point, as well.
Looks like progress, though! They're listening - keep talking!
Oh, did I mention that Ron Paul was the only state representative who voted against HR 4040? He sees what's happening, and speaks up - that's why I love the man.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Ready...Set...use the Crock-pot!
How about a post to start off the new year?
Well, I woke up this morning to frozen pipes, which immediately took all the air out of my plans to wash the dishes and cook up something healthy...ish.
Luckily, the water is running again, and hubby is still in bed; I didn't have to stress him out with the news. We'll probably still have to check for leaks, but the day isn't ruined! Have you ever spent a day either being the person-on-your-back-in-a-frozen-mudpit-of-a-crawlspace-with-a-flashlight-and-a-hair-dryer-in-eight-degree-weather, or as the one walking around above said person, yelling status reports down through the bathroom tile?
It's a good thing we have kids, because at some point we give up on through-the-floor communication, and set up a message relay - one of us in the room with the sink, one at the door, and one poor soul at the opening to the crawlspace, shouting updates to Dad. Yes, it's Dad in the crawlspace. I ain't that crazy. (Okay, so I'm lucky that the pipes tend to freeze on days that he is home. :D )
You'd think we'd replace the insulation that a raccoon took a liking to, two winters ago. But...yeah.
Okay, so back to the cooking. I have had a love-hate relationship with Crock-pots since the first time I used one. Sort of like my issues with electric can openers, but that's another story. A Crock-pot is a wonderful thing, makes your kitchen smell divine all day, and produces a delicious meal with very little work. You do have to remember to turn it ON (coming home starving, only to find a whole, raw chicken at room temperature is my favorite way to remind myself of this fact), and worse, you do have to clean it. Eventually. And that's where the problems really start.
This is how it usually goes:
I decide to let the broth or leftovers cool down (after all, I'm going to use them for some fabulous meal tomorrow, right?). My first mistake. The food is now out of sight, but it's there, and it's watching me. It either continues to sit there throughout the night (and looks decidedly gross in the morning), or I suddenly remember and stick the whole thing in the fridge, to deal with the next day...where it looks decidedly gross in the morning. Or is forgotten. Completely. Once we have reached the point of gross, or forgotten-and-biohazardous, I continue to procrastinate, thinking, hey, there might be an apocalypse any day now, why waste my last hours dealing with this?
Eventually, the crock and I take a trip Outside, where the contents can be disposed of without any deaths being caused by fumes. The last time I tried this, I could not get the lid off to save my life. Yes, I know I could have used a knife. Or heated things back up (!), and that I could have avoided this whole thing, if I'd used one of those nifty liners I'd bought. But I was TIRED of this crock-pot. It was a hand-me-down, with a broken knob and a plastic lid, and an 80s color scheme. We were in a harmful relationship, and it was just best if we parted ways. So we did. That's all I'll say.
Fast forward to the final days of 2008, and I am inspired to try it again. The Crockpot Lady at A Year of Crockpotting has posted some delicious looking meals (and desserts! and crafts! and...) that she made during a year-long challenge to herself: to cook something every day in a Crock-pot. I've been drooling for days, and finally convinced hubby to bring home a new friend from the favorite store to hate. I know, I know. But it's a new year! If everyone else can be in denial about their diet resolutions for 2009...
Besides, she makes it look so eeeasy...
Well, I woke up this morning to frozen pipes, which immediately took all the air out of my plans to wash the dishes and cook up something healthy...ish.
Luckily, the water is running again, and hubby is still in bed; I didn't have to stress him out with the news. We'll probably still have to check for leaks, but the day isn't ruined! Have you ever spent a day either being the person-on-your-back-in-a-frozen-mudpit-of-a-crawlspace-with-a-flashlight-and-a-hair-dryer-in-eight-degree-weather, or as the one walking around above said person, yelling status reports down through the bathroom tile?
It's a good thing we have kids, because at some point we give up on through-the-floor communication, and set up a message relay - one of us in the room with the sink, one at the door, and one poor soul at the opening to the crawlspace, shouting updates to Dad. Yes, it's Dad in the crawlspace. I ain't that crazy. (Okay, so I'm lucky that the pipes tend to freeze on days that he is home. :D )
You'd think we'd replace the insulation that a raccoon took a liking to, two winters ago. But...yeah.
Okay, so back to the cooking. I have had a love-hate relationship with Crock-pots since the first time I used one. Sort of like my issues with electric can openers, but that's another story. A Crock-pot is a wonderful thing, makes your kitchen smell divine all day, and produces a delicious meal with very little work. You do have to remember to turn it ON (coming home starving, only to find a whole, raw chicken at room temperature is my favorite way to remind myself of this fact), and worse, you do have to clean it. Eventually. And that's where the problems really start.
This is how it usually goes:
I decide to let the broth or leftovers cool down (after all, I'm going to use them for some fabulous meal tomorrow, right?). My first mistake. The food is now out of sight, but it's there, and it's watching me. It either continues to sit there throughout the night (and looks decidedly gross in the morning), or I suddenly remember and stick the whole thing in the fridge, to deal with the next day...where it looks decidedly gross in the morning. Or is forgotten. Completely. Once we have reached the point of gross, or forgotten-and-biohazardous, I continue to procrastinate, thinking, hey, there might be an apocalypse any day now, why waste my last hours dealing with this?
Eventually, the crock and I take a trip Outside, where the contents can be disposed of without any deaths being caused by fumes. The last time I tried this, I could not get the lid off to save my life. Yes, I know I could have used a knife. Or heated things back up (!), and that I could have avoided this whole thing, if I'd used one of those nifty liners I'd bought. But I was TIRED of this crock-pot. It was a hand-me-down, with a broken knob and a plastic lid, and an 80s color scheme. We were in a harmful relationship, and it was just best if we parted ways. So we did. That's all I'll say.
Fast forward to the final days of 2008, and I am inspired to try it again. The Crockpot Lady at A Year of Crockpotting has posted some delicious looking meals (and desserts! and crafts! and...) that she made during a year-long challenge to herself: to cook something every day in a Crock-pot. I've been drooling for days, and finally convinced hubby to bring home a new friend from the favorite store to hate. I know, I know. But it's a new year! If everyone else can be in denial about their diet resolutions for 2009...
Besides, she makes it look so eeeasy...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
I'll Fly Away
So, I finally managed to get a recording from my phone onto Youtube. My brothers and sister and I sang two songs at my father's funeral (no, I'm not ready to go there, yet); one of them was "I'll Fly Away".
This was only a practice run, but it's what I have. It was the first time we had ever worked on anything like this. Our time together was very special.
This was only a practice run, but it's what I have. It was the first time we had ever worked on anything like this. Our time together was very special.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Autumn
Took a short walk at Mom and Dad's yesterday, right around sunset. It had rained - a nice, solid, autumn rain - and there was a vivid orange blanket of leaves, lying soft on the ground. The trunks of the trees were black and wet in contrast, lending to the the impression of some calendar photograph: a scene from a Japanese garden, or an illustration alongside a Robert Frost poem.
Definitely inspired some meditation. I stood there, wishing I could carry back the scene, the moment, to my father, who loved to ride down these trails, pointing out blackberries to my mother in the summer, watching for deer in the fall. He would have stopped here, too, I think, and said to my mother, "Well, would you look at that..."
Definitely inspired some meditation. I stood there, wishing I could carry back the scene, the moment, to my father, who loved to ride down these trails, pointing out blackberries to my mother in the summer, watching for deer in the fall. He would have stopped here, too, I think, and said to my mother, "Well, would you look at that..."
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Tearjerkers
I have been watching lots of period romance, can-never-be-together tearjerkers, lately. Why is that? Maybe I'm just hormonal, mooning around wanting romance. Maybe I'm trying to process the things I've been thinking about lately (people, relationships, etc.). Maybe I'm looking for a safe, controlled outlet for tears.
Today I sat in a room with my dying father, watching through the window as my seven-year-old son rolled down a sun-splashed hill in brilliant flashes of white T-shirt and red sweatpants. Life energies and generations; one waxing, the other waning.
I have buried myself in classes and causes, but none are a perfect escape route. Reality continues, with or without my cooperation.
We're caught in the grey, now. Not knowing when, we feel the need to watch and wait, cling to moments. We look back, and look forward. Both make us cry.
Today I sat in a room with my dying father, watching through the window as my seven-year-old son rolled down a sun-splashed hill in brilliant flashes of white T-shirt and red sweatpants. Life energies and generations; one waxing, the other waning.
I have buried myself in classes and causes, but none are a perfect escape route. Reality continues, with or without my cooperation.
We're caught in the grey, now. Not knowing when, we feel the need to watch and wait, cling to moments. We look back, and look forward. Both make us cry.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Time to Get Seed-Crazy
Took a woodswalk today with the kids; I wrote about it in my seed journal blog, since we were mainly gathering nuts. Come to think of it, I guess what we were really doing was foraging, but seed-gathering is the frame of mind I have been in, so that's where it went.
The trees are loaded with nuts and fruit this year; there was no late freeze like last year, and we had good rains through the spring, to make up for last summer's drought.
I should be busy in my seed blog this fall; it's time to start thinking about winter sowing, and Paul has mentioned the word "greenhouse" more than once this week!!!
Anyone who knows me is well aware of my behaviour in the fall; all I can see are seeds, I'm in full gathering mode, and my thoughts are full of seed orders I need to make. You can try to talk to me about something else, but I'll manage to bring it back around to seeds, in the end. I can't apologize for it, I am hard-wired this way, and enjoy every minute of the insanity.
Lest anyone think I've given up all other tangents - fear not!
Although I did my typical routine with a recent online writing workshop I signed up for (barely met the deadlines at first, gradually stopped submitting any work), I keep moving forward, and have signed up for a beginning painting class with a local artist. I'm really excited about this, have wanted to take one of his classes for years, but there were always schedule issues. This year, we'll already be in town with the kids' soccer practice, so my hubby can just drop me off on the way to their field! Woo hoo!
The trees are loaded with nuts and fruit this year; there was no late freeze like last year, and we had good rains through the spring, to make up for last summer's drought.
I should be busy in my seed blog this fall; it's time to start thinking about winter sowing, and Paul has mentioned the word "greenhouse" more than once this week!!!
Anyone who knows me is well aware of my behaviour in the fall; all I can see are seeds, I'm in full gathering mode, and my thoughts are full of seed orders I need to make. You can try to talk to me about something else, but I'll manage to bring it back around to seeds, in the end. I can't apologize for it, I am hard-wired this way, and enjoy every minute of the insanity.
Lest anyone think I've given up all other tangents - fear not!
Although I did my typical routine with a recent online writing workshop I signed up for (barely met the deadlines at first, gradually stopped submitting any work), I keep moving forward, and have signed up for a beginning painting class with a local artist. I'm really excited about this, have wanted to take one of his classes for years, but there were always schedule issues. This year, we'll already be in town with the kids' soccer practice, so my hubby can just drop me off on the way to their field! Woo hoo!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Bees - Fall Checkup
Aagh! I am just devastated. My poor bees - here I thought they were doing great, even overcrowded. I assumed wrong. When I went out to add some space for them to expand, I found that they are practically starving! Too dry, the pond nearby is covered with algae, maybe they are unable to get enough water? Anyway, will be feeding them and setting up a water source right next to the hive. I feel terrible.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Rain
This video sends me. Done by a great friend; my evil twin, in fact. Who never calls, by the way. Ahem.
Rain 2
Another image he created. If you knew this hill, you would realize the awesome size of this imaginary building, which I will call a citadel, because it's my blog, and my hill (sort of), and because I like that word.
Rain 2
Another image he created. If you knew this hill, you would realize the awesome size of this imaginary building, which I will call a citadel, because it's my blog, and my hill (sort of), and because I like that word.
Laughing at Myself
Sometimes I crack myself up. Once again, I find myself sitting up into the wee hours of the morning, mind racing, stack of books I'm wanting to read, posts to make, excited about the John Adams
mini-series I've finally started watching...and honestly wondering where all of this energy came from!
Duh...I drank a huge cup of McD's sweet tea earlier tonight - that stuff is potent! And yet surprises me every time. Ha!
More random thoughts: that widget on the right side of this page, that says "What I'm Listening To"? It's based on a few picks from my current favorites, but I really am listening to the samples, too, lol. And do rather often. Thirty-second snippets, and strangely, I love it. So, yeah, I need to add more songs. Or, maybe, to quit procrastinating, and get some work done. Ya think?
mini-series I've finally started watching...and honestly wondering where all of this energy came from!Duh...I drank a huge cup of McD's sweet tea earlier tonight - that stuff is potent! And yet surprises me every time. Ha!
More random thoughts: that widget on the right side of this page, that says "What I'm Listening To"? It's based on a few picks from my current favorites, but I really am listening to the samples, too, lol. And do rather often. Thirty-second snippets, and strangely, I love it. So, yeah, I need to add more songs. Or, maybe, to quit procrastinating, and get some work done. Ya think?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wild Asparagus
Thought I'd post some pictures of the wild asparagus from last month. It was exciting to find it, I knew the plants were there, but had only seen it in the fall, when I gathered the red berries for my own wintersowing.
The asparagus grows on a hill across the road from us, probably the escapee of some long ago garden. The kids and I would walk over every few days, and scan the spots where last year's old stalks and branches could still be found (the farm is mowed for hay, but with last year's drought, I guess they were able to grow unhindered). We had almost given up, and the kids probably thought I was crazy, but we kept looking. Finally, after a couple of warm, sunny days (and right about the time my asparagus seeds were sprouting), we spotted our first spears.
This is what it looks like coming up out of the ground:
You can see why it can be hard to spot. The sticks in the photo are some of last year's stalks, after they had fallen down. As the grass and weeds grow taller, it becomes harder to find; the stalks and tips take on the same green and dusty purple as that of the surrounding grass and its seedheads, and searching for asparagus becomes a game of hidden pictures.
Asparagus needs to be gathered soon after it emerges, within a day if the soil is warm and growth is fast. The stalk becomes bitter once its scales have opened,
to form branches:
Another interesting thing is a ferny version - this is probably the male or female plant, I've read conflicting viewpoints on that, but I'm guessing female, unless both sexes produce spears and ferns.
What I'm curious about are the small red beetles that seemed to love the ferns, they were on every plant we found. Wish I'd taken the time to observe them more closely; I don't know if they were eating the plant. It's possible that they lay their eggs on it.
Oops, I forgot to mention the eating! Well, I can't yet compare it to garden asparagus, but I can tell you that the store-bought spears I cooked up, while much thicker, were also much tougher; I had to cut off quite a bit as unusable. The wild asparagus, cut within a day or so of appearing, was tender almost to the ground. And oh, so good. Just steam it (or microwave in a covered dish with some water) for a couple of minutes, and it's ready to be eaten (yummy with a cheese sauce!) or canned.
The canned asparagus in the photo is mostly store-bought, with some wild thrown in.
I'll try to add a photo of the mature plants in the fall, if they aren't mown down this year. I also need to find out how to wrap photos into the text, this post looks like one of my infamous Lists!
In the meantime, Stalking the Wild Asparagus, by Euell Gibbons, is a related title that others have recommended; I've had it on my wishlist for a while:
The asparagus grows on a hill across the road from us, probably the escapee of some long ago garden. The kids and I would walk over every few days, and scan the spots where last year's old stalks and branches could still be found (the farm is mowed for hay, but with last year's drought, I guess they were able to grow unhindered). We had almost given up, and the kids probably thought I was crazy, but we kept looking. Finally, after a couple of warm, sunny days (and right about the time my asparagus seeds were sprouting), we spotted our first spears.
This is what it looks like coming up out of the ground:
You can see why it can be hard to spot. The sticks in the photo are some of last year's stalks, after they had fallen down. As the grass and weeds grow taller, it becomes harder to find; the stalks and tips take on the same green and dusty purple as that of the surrounding grass and its seedheads, and searching for asparagus becomes a game of hidden pictures.
Asparagus needs to be gathered soon after it emerges, within a day if the soil is warm and growth is fast. The stalk becomes bitter once its scales have opened,
to form branches:
Another interesting thing is a ferny version - this is probably the male or female plant, I've read conflicting viewpoints on that, but I'm guessing female, unless both sexes produce spears and ferns.
What I'm curious about are the small red beetles that seemed to love the ferns, they were on every plant we found. Wish I'd taken the time to observe them more closely; I don't know if they were eating the plant. It's possible that they lay their eggs on it.
Oops, I forgot to mention the eating! Well, I can't yet compare it to garden asparagus, but I can tell you that the store-bought spears I cooked up, while much thicker, were also much tougher; I had to cut off quite a bit as unusable. The wild asparagus, cut within a day or so of appearing, was tender almost to the ground. And oh, so good. Just steam it (or microwave in a covered dish with some water) for a couple of minutes, and it's ready to be eaten (yummy with a cheese sauce!) or canned.
The canned asparagus in the photo is mostly store-bought, with some wild thrown in.
I'll try to add a photo of the mature plants in the fall, if they aren't mown down this year. I also need to find out how to wrap photos into the text, this post looks like one of my infamous Lists!
In the meantime, Stalking the Wild Asparagus
, by Euell Gibbons, is a related title that others have recommended; I've had it on my wishlist for a while: Friday, June 13, 2008
Something Someone Said...
My friend Crys recently wrote, in her blog, Simply Living:
So when we meet someone who actively listens and doesn't pass judgment on our opinions or feelings but rather lets them stand for what they are, we want to be consumed by that person. Our entire lives have been created behind barriers, and now we have the opportunity to tear those down. We don't know how long it will last. We don't know if it will ever come again with another person. We want to be consumed, if only for a moment.
I've been struggling with something similar, lately. I spend so much time with only my family, and even where we are open, we have rituals and routines built into our relationships. Seems doors shut before you can go anywhere new, based on familiarity, or annoyance from pushing one another's buttons. We settle into our roles, to remain comfortable in close quarters.
Then, I venture out into the "world", and suddenly find myself making a connection with someone new, realizing we hold the same thoughts on some favorite author, or discovering that we have something else in common I'd thought long ago buried or forgotten in myself.
I tend to get a little too intense when I find that understanding, even after the individual has moved on. It's not about them, though; it's that I suddenly feel like a whole person, seen through another's eyes. That feeling excites my mind, even sends me into little daydreams about alternate lives and potential.
It's silly, really, because that individual cannot have anywhere near the view of my whole self that my family does. Still, I begin to resent the casual familiarity in my own home; wishing my husband and I stayed up at night debating science or philosophy, without resorting to picking at each other's choice of words; wishing life in a secure relationship didn't sometimes feel so mundane; wishing that my children knew that when I am away from expectations and preconceived notions, sometimes I shine.
But then, I realize that they have no preconceived notions that I have not set for them, that I am the only one limiting how much of myself I share with them, and that in order for them to be able to grow into whole persons, they must be encouraged; they need that same interaction and appreciation. They need to shine, and to know when they do.
There are reasons for these little reminders of how we see ourselves, and of how we choose to interact with others.
So when we meet someone who actively listens and doesn't pass judgment on our opinions or feelings but rather lets them stand for what they are, we want to be consumed by that person. Our entire lives have been created behind barriers, and now we have the opportunity to tear those down. We don't know how long it will last. We don't know if it will ever come again with another person. We want to be consumed, if only for a moment.
I've been struggling with something similar, lately. I spend so much time with only my family, and even where we are open, we have rituals and routines built into our relationships. Seems doors shut before you can go anywhere new, based on familiarity, or annoyance from pushing one another's buttons. We settle into our roles, to remain comfortable in close quarters.
Then, I venture out into the "world", and suddenly find myself making a connection with someone new, realizing we hold the same thoughts on some favorite author, or discovering that we have something else in common I'd thought long ago buried or forgotten in myself.
I tend to get a little too intense when I find that understanding, even after the individual has moved on. It's not about them, though; it's that I suddenly feel like a whole person, seen through another's eyes. That feeling excites my mind, even sends me into little daydreams about alternate lives and potential.
It's silly, really, because that individual cannot have anywhere near the view of my whole self that my family does. Still, I begin to resent the casual familiarity in my own home; wishing my husband and I stayed up at night debating science or philosophy, without resorting to picking at each other's choice of words; wishing life in a secure relationship didn't sometimes feel so mundane; wishing that my children knew that when I am away from expectations and preconceived notions, sometimes I shine.
But then, I realize that they have no preconceived notions that I have not set for them, that I am the only one limiting how much of myself I share with them, and that in order for them to be able to grow into whole persons, they must be encouraged; they need that same interaction and appreciation. They need to shine, and to know when they do.
There are reasons for these little reminders of how we see ourselves, and of how we choose to interact with others.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Bee Checkup
So, yesterday I went out to check on the bees. They've been happily buzzing around, enjoying the wild roses and other flowers. Looks like they're doing okay, but what do I know?
I'm going to have to ask some real beekeepers (at the beemaster.com forums) about what may be supercedure or swarm cells on the bottom of a couple of the frames. Could be nothing, could be they aren't happy. Could be I'm anxiety-prone. I didn't see the queen during this inspection; I only pulled out two or three frames. But I did see some larvae, so she has to have been around recently, at least.
They are putting up some beautiful honey. I stole a bit from the burr comb that was opened when I removed the inner cover. Light, clear, and sweet. Nothing like the stuff in the bear-shaped bottle from Save-a-Lot. Easily addictive, and my mind instantly went to recipes, buttered biscuits at breakfast-time, and beautiful jars lined up in the pantry. The bees may be telepathic, because at that point they began head-butting my hat and rear end. Time for me to move along!
Still no stings, but go figure, as I was sitting here looking at photos of the hive, something stung me beside my shoulder blade! I ran out to grab some plantain, but had to have hubby put it on the sting, since I could barely reach it.
I'll try to get out and work with them again soon. Today I placed an empty frame between two that were partially filled with honey; they are mainly working in the center of the hive. I need to get some new frames ready and add a super, to give them more space. Hopefully they'll stick around!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Spring cleaning of a blog...
This evening, I transferred some of the posts from my blog at freeminded.literalminded.com , to the I'll Try It section of Live and Learn. They're mostly about the beginnings of this year's beekeeping, although some are just random thoughts, naturally!
It seemed to make more sense to have them here, since they are related to tangents, and learning something new! Besides, it looks like I may start blogging over there about Ron Paul's books and other writings. So, just a bit of rearranging.
I have other projects in the works, too; hope I don't spread myself too thin. Ha!
It seemed to make more sense to have them here, since they are related to tangents, and learning something new! Besides, it looks like I may start blogging over there about Ron Paul's books and other writings. So, just a bit of rearranging.
I have other projects in the works, too; hope I don't spread myself too thin. Ha!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Eastern Redbud
Everything is green here, in May. Flower and vegetable gardens are in full swing, and tractors are in the fields, baling hay. But in late March or early April, when it seems the sky and woods will always be the same dreary shade of grey, the eastern redbud is one of our first signs of the hope of spring.
The purple blossoms fill the woods overnight, scattered with the white of the occasional wild plum, cherry, or dogwood, and after a warm rain or two, the spring grass lends a complementary green. Trees, bushes and brambles start to bud out, and before long there is nothing but growth and birdsong. The eastern redbud then retreats gracefully, going unnoticed until fall, when clusters of seedpods hang below its heart-shaped leaves.
This is a beautiful tree, would probably make great shade in the yard. In thick woods, it sometimes gets very tall (up to 40-50 feet, according to my older tree book), and the blooms seem more sparse, then. Other places, it lives in the understory, and takes on an umbrella shape. The trunk is not thick. The seedpods are plentiful, legume-like, but not as long or large as the pods of the locust-tree, and they dry flat and brown. The leaves are large and heart-shaped. We do have one redbud here that I have seen not bearing seedpods, so I'm wondering if there are male and female trees.
Something about it reminds me of the catalpa tree. Must be the leaves, and the feel of "cool shade" when you're near it.
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