That's really all I plan to do today, mow the lawn, because I've been trying to cram too darned much into my days and have left myself feeling overwhelmed. Self-inflicted overwhelm is just plain foolish. I need to take control of my impulses and plan a little down time. Today's the day. Just as soon as I've got the grass cut and have stopped sweating like a field hand I'm going to plug my iPod in my ears and sit staring off into space. Yeah, I know, there's only a slim chance that I'll manage that but I can try, can't I? I'd have mowed an hour ago but it's so humid that the grass was soaking wet then so I'm reduced to mowing in the blazing midday sun. I've got my lo-cal Gatorade all ready to keep me from tipping over when I'm mowing, plus it'll be a workout so I can kill two stones with one bird. Way to go, me!
August 15--Georges Seurat, Gray Weather, Grande Jatte. Walt had high hopes for his holiday. He had rented a flat-bottomed boat for two weeks. His plan was to slowly motor a few miles down the river every day fishing, painting, and dozing in a chair on deck. The first few days were perfect, warm and sunny with a few clouds and a little breeze that played in the trees onshore. Then it started to rain and blow.
Then I fell asleep.
--Barbara
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Hello, Out There! Can Anybody Hear Me?
Lala, you're off the hook because you email me back, and I hear from Aunt B and my favorite psychic on occasion so I'm not talking to you either. It's the rest of you (I assume there's a rest of you) I'm talking to, begging's more like it. Please leave a comment every once in a while. I lose heart thinking that I'm hollering into an abyss even though I know I'm probably not. ClustrMaps tells me that people stop by but I never know if it's readers or spammers. Sorry to be needy but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and need a few strokes. I won't be stopping my near-daily posts, never fear.
August 14--Egypt, Predynastic, Bowl with Human Feet. The little red bowl pattered across the table and stopped in front of Leah. It tilted toward her as if inviting her to reach inside. She sat staring, her spoon raised, wondering how much of its contents the bowl was willing to let her take. She glanced down the table to see bowls of other colors bowing to other diners. Some of them were not hesitating at all but digging in and dishing themselves heaping helpings of mashed potatoes. Others waved away the food and Leah smiled to see the rejected bowls slump and stagger back. She slid her spoon into the fluffy mound of spuds in the red bowl. "Thanks," she said, placing more than she wanted on her plate, "these look delicious." The red bowl straightened and strutted away with a jaunty step.
It's Monday and, if not for pneumonia, we'd have been headed west toward Yellowstone as I type this. *sigh*
--Barbara
August 14--Egypt, Predynastic, Bowl with Human Feet. The little red bowl pattered across the table and stopped in front of Leah. It tilted toward her as if inviting her to reach inside. She sat staring, her spoon raised, wondering how much of its contents the bowl was willing to let her take. She glanced down the table to see bowls of other colors bowing to other diners. Some of them were not hesitating at all but digging in and dishing themselves heaping helpings of mashed potatoes. Others waved away the food and Leah smiled to see the rejected bowls slump and stagger back. She slid her spoon into the fluffy mound of spuds in the red bowl. "Thanks," she said, placing more than she wanted on her plate, "these look delicious." The red bowl straightened and strutted away with a jaunty step.
It's Monday and, if not for pneumonia, we'd have been headed west toward Yellowstone as I type this. *sigh*
--Barbara
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Swimmin'
Today was the dive shop's annual Corn Roast. We had to dive at an alternate site and it was a little rough. On the way in to shore we got shoved onto the rocks of the breakwater. That's where i think I lost one of my weight pockets. Mrs. Boss and I snorkeled back out but didn't find it. Ah, well. C'est la vie. I'll call the company tomorrow, maybe they'll have a replacement. It was a pretty good dive though; there were a lot of nice-sized white bass following us. We had a newbie dad & son buddy team with us, they did great and had fun. After the dive we all went back to a little park for roasted corn and a picnic. Lots of good eats and good company. It was totally great to have Durwood come along even if he can't dive anymore. Just like the old days.
August 13--Egypt, Bowl with Human Feet. Eve looked at the small red bowl in the exhibit case and decided that she had just found the design for her next line. Someone nearly, um, five centuries ago had a sense of humor. The little red berry bowl had a pair of feet for a base. Eve saw the whole line in a flash, the arm bent at the elbow, fingers spread on a hip for a mug handle, feet posed every which way supporting bowls of all sizes, pursed lips as the spout of a teapot. Everyone would want dishes with a sense of humor, right? She thought she'd be okay as long as she didn't let things get creepy--and no hairy knuckles.
Oh, mercy, I'm tired. Being outside all day is tiring. I made an outstanding farro (wheat berry) salad for us to eat on the way up the peninsula, even Durwood liked it and that's saying something.
August 13--Egypt, Bowl with Human Feet. Eve looked at the small red bowl in the exhibit case and decided that she had just found the design for her next line. Someone nearly, um, five centuries ago had a sense of humor. The little red berry bowl had a pair of feet for a base. Eve saw the whole line in a flash, the arm bent at the elbow, fingers spread on a hip for a mug handle, feet posed every which way supporting bowls of all sizes, pursed lips as the spout of a teapot. Everyone would want dishes with a sense of humor, right? She thought she'd be okay as long as she didn't let things get creepy--and no hairy knuckles.
Oh, mercy, I'm tired. Being outside all day is tiring. I made an outstanding farro (wheat berry) salad for us to eat on the way up the peninsula, even Durwood liked it and that's saying something.
Sewing & Swimming
Oh, man, did I have a blast yesterday at a sew-in with a couple friends. Once all the gossip was dispensed with (it didn't take that long) crafting began. Cookie had to go back on her pain meds (stupid knees) so she decided not to run a sewing machine. You know how they always tell you not to operate machinery when you're taking narcotics (Skully said they meant stuff like bulldozers but Cookie said she didn't want to take a chance, hee hee) so she brought some beads and made pretties, then after lunch she knitted more on a blanket she's making for the animal shelter. Skully had cut out a bunch of shopping bags to put in her "gifts" box. She sewed one up and then flipped through books about beading and knitting while kibbitzing. She had sent a picture and supplies list of a bag pattern she'd gotten at a quilt shop and that's what I wanted to make. I cut and cut and cut and cut--and cut. Then I ironed on interfacing and got sewing. I love the way the different fabrics go togehter. I'll finish the lining and pockets next week. More pictrures then.
Today was the dive shop's annual Corn Roast up in Ellison Bay at the end of Door County. I, of course forgot to take pictures. The wind was out of the north so Garrett Bay was out, 4 ft. rollers coming in. We went around the corner to Ellison Bay town beach and went in there. It was shallow and stirred up, not much to see, but we saw a bunch of nice sized white bass. We got pushed by waves into the rocky breakwater. It was pretty shallow on the top so we did a little crawling across the rocks. The bad part was that when I got to shore I realized that I'd lost one of my weight pockets. Not the way I wanted to lose 6 pounds, I'm telling you! The corn was, as usual, outstanding. We were able to bring home a dozen of the leftover ears. That'll be Durwood's job tomorrow, cutting the kernels off the cobs, some to eat and some to freeze.
I stopped over at Mom's the other day and she had the Irish doll dress nearly finished so I took some photos. She doe
s 
such gorgeous work. I wish you could see the precise stitches and the care she takes. I tell people that Mom's doll clothes are nicer than most people's wedding dresses.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Sewing Day
I've had a busy day. Went to the Farmer's Market with Durwood, then loaded my sewing machine and a bag, a rather big bag, of fabric, etc., picked up Cookie, and we both went to Skully's for a sew-in. Cookie beaded and knitted, me and Skully sewed. Skully made a nice red and black shopping bag and I worked on a fancy lined bag with pockets and elastic and magnetic snaps and Velcro. It was Skully's pattern and I wanted to use it so I cut and cut and cut and cut and cut and cut, and got it about half sewed before packing up. Skully had ham and chicken for sandwiches and baby carrots. I brought fresh pineapple and mango. We feasted. It was a fun day. I need to stop doing too much, I need down time, and there's no way I'm going to get it this weekend. Maybe next weekend. Say it with me, Barbara--No, thank you, I'm busy. See? How hard was that? You can do it. Be strong.
August 12--Paul Gauguin, Tahitian Landscape. The seasons are so different here near the Equator. There is no winter, no dormant season when the flora rests, no time when you can't plant, no time when your land lies fallow. Mary and Joseph here, their land is rich, food springs from it nearly unbidden. They easily acquire the Western methods of growing but Western dress, Western modesty is a much harder sell. See how they're dressed? She looks like a proper matron, hat and all, but she is barefoot. He, however, wears his lava-lava with a bathrobe over it, covered but not properly. The missionaries spend all their time working to convert the natives not only to Christianity but encourage them to abandon their traditional ways of living. I wonder how many neuroses they generated?
That Gauguin, I'm very suspicious of him and his intentions. Always have been. Time to pack my dive gear for the Corn Roast tomorrow.
--Barbara
August 12--Paul Gauguin, Tahitian Landscape. The seasons are so different here near the Equator. There is no winter, no dormant season when the flora rests, no time when you can't plant, no time when your land lies fallow. Mary and Joseph here, their land is rich, food springs from it nearly unbidden. They easily acquire the Western methods of growing but Western dress, Western modesty is a much harder sell. See how they're dressed? She looks like a proper matron, hat and all, but she is barefoot. He, however, wears his lava-lava with a bathrobe over it, covered but not properly. The missionaries spend all their time working to convert the natives not only to Christianity but encourage them to abandon their traditional ways of living. I wonder how many neuroses they generated?
That Gauguin, I'm very suspicious of him and his intentions. Always have been. Time to pack my dive gear for the Corn Roast tomorrow.
--Barbara
Friday, August 12, 2011
See, It's Like This...
I should have been at Mom's an hour ago to take out her trash but my friend JJ came around 9-ish to try and adjust our garage door opener. He fiddled and screwed. We up-ed and down-ed enough to overheat the motor so we had to visit for a while to let it cool off. He fiddled and twirled knobs again. No luck. We probably need a new one. That's another $300 bucks or so out the door. Gah. I'm going to pound this out, zip to Mom's, and hurry home to write. I HAVE TO GET THAT WRITING DONE OR ELSE. And I want to go play tomorrow with Skully and Cookie and I want to go to the corn roast on Sunday so I have to put out today. Maybe I'll skip knitting tonight...
August 11--Southern Italy, Plaque. It was old all right, so old that the ivory was yellowed and cracked. You know, you look at it and you're ready to be impressed, to be blown away by the artistry of the work, bu then you get close to this plaque and it looks like a Cub Scout carved it. The cross is gorgeous, carved with precision and attention to detail. The carvings in the four quadrants? Not so much. The cow or bull looks like a Disney reject and the eagle is too scrawny and Barney Fife-looking to be scary or commanding. I think that this is art that looks best from farther away.`
Like me, most days. I figure I'm a "far away" beauty. Stay cool
--Barbara
August 11--Southern Italy, Plaque. It was old all right, so old that the ivory was yellowed and cracked. You know, you look at it and you're ready to be impressed, to be blown away by the artistry of the work, bu then you get close to this plaque and it looks like a Cub Scout carved it. The cross is gorgeous, carved with precision and attention to detail. The carvings in the four quadrants? Not so much. The cow or bull looks like a Disney reject and the eagle is too scrawny and Barney Fife-looking to be scary or commanding. I think that this is art that looks best from farther away.`
Like me, most days. I figure I'm a "far away" beauty. Stay cool
--Barbara
Thursday, August 11, 2011
It Always Happens...
Last Saturday I sat here at the laptop uploading a book on CD so I could fong it over to the iPod, knitting while I waited. At suppertime I scooped up the yarn and needles and put them into the project bag. I didn't knit after supper. The next morning while making the bed I nearly stepped on one of the needles, so I carried it into the kitchen along with my reading glasses. You understand that I was semi-awake at the time. I was sure that I'd set it on the table but then I couldn't find it. I looked under the Sunday paper, checked the floor and the chair. No needle. I looked around on the coffee table where my knitting is spread out. I looked into the baby sock project bag and the other bags around. No needle. It wasn't down between the cushions. It wasn't anywhere in the hall. I tidied around because DS & DIL1 were coming to supper. Didn't find the needle. All 
week I was annoyed that I couldn't find it. I took each project to work with me one day at a time carefully removing each one from the bag. No needle. Today after work I stopped at the yarn shop and bought a new set of size 4 DPNs. Tonight I sat on the couch and pulled out the ankle sock I've got on the needles. Glancing into the bag I saw the crochet hook I keep in there--and this. I swear I'd looked in that bag. Had taken out everything and yet there was that needle. I knew that all I needed to do was buy a new set and the missing one would appear. Sheesh.
I finished the heel of the Easter Egg Ankle sock and now I'm going to knit an inch of leg before starting the cuff. I've never knitted an ankle sock toe-up with a short row heel, and of course the pattern's written cuff-down with a heel flap and gusset, so I'm kind of knitting blind. But I like the colors and the way it's turning out.
I got the first of the "mismatched" baby socks finished the other day and cast on sock #4 on Tuesday while waiting for Durwood's doctor to show up. (His pneumonia's getting better
but won't be all better for another 6 weeks. He'll have another CT scan then to make sure all is well. Good news!) For some reason this sock seems to be taking a lot longer. I'd better rev up my knitting or Clara Beth's feet will outgrow the socks before she even gets to wear them!
When DS & DIL1
came for supper last Sunday we made the most delicious pork kabobs and zucchini salad from the Weight Watchers Points Plus cookbook. It sure didn't taste like "diet" food. It had clementine quarters and onions with the pork cubes and the grilled oranges were really good. We made it all disappear. I'm ready to cook my way from cover to cover--and I ordered another plan cookbook from Amazon and that's got scads of yummy looking recipes. They look so good I'm considering asking Durwood if I can cook a night or two a week just to make them.
You have to see my latest skirt. It's gauze but not see-through and so comfy. I wore it on Monday with my green tee shirt and looked nice (if I do say so myself). Of course I dropped a teensy bit of supper on my "shelf" so I had to take it down to the laundry and stain stick it. I buy a
gel stain removing stick at Hancock Fabrics that I just love. You smear it on the stain, let it sit a while, and then wash as usual. It's great at taking out greasy spots. One of these days I'm going to eat a meal and not get it on my. I look good in everything I eat. Har.
week I was annoyed that I couldn't find it. I took each project to work with me one day at a time carefully removing each one from the bag. No needle. Today after work I stopped at the yarn shop and bought a new set of size 4 DPNs. Tonight I sat on the couch and pulled out the ankle sock I've got on the needles. Glancing into the bag I saw the crochet hook I keep in there--and this. I swear I'd looked in that bag. Had taken out everything and yet there was that needle. I knew that all I needed to do was buy a new set and the missing one would appear. Sheesh.
I finished the heel of the Easter Egg Ankle sock and now I'm going to knit an inch of leg before starting the cuff. I've never knitted an ankle sock toe-up with a short row heel, and of course the pattern's written cuff-down with a heel flap and gusset, so I'm kind of knitting blind. But I like the colors and the way it's turning out.I got the first of the "mismatched" baby socks finished the other day and cast on sock #4 on Tuesday while waiting for Durwood's doctor to show up. (His pneumonia's getting better
but won't be all better for another 6 weeks. He'll have another CT scan then to make sure all is well. Good news!) For some reason this sock seems to be taking a lot longer. I'd better rev up my knitting or Clara Beth's feet will outgrow the socks before she even gets to wear them!When DS & DIL1
came for supper last Sunday we made the most delicious pork kabobs and zucchini salad from the Weight Watchers Points Plus cookbook. It sure didn't taste like "diet" food. It had clementine quarters and onions with the pork cubes and the grilled oranges were really good. We made it all disappear. I'm ready to cook my way from cover to cover--and I ordered another plan cookbook from Amazon and that's got scads of yummy looking recipes. They look so good I'm considering asking Durwood if I can cook a night or two a week just to make them.You have to see my latest skirt. It's gauze but not see-through and so comfy. I wore it on Monday with my green tee shirt and looked nice (if I do say so myself). Of course I dropped a teensy bit of supper on my "shelf" so I had to take it down to the laundry and stain stick it. I buy a
gel stain removing stick at Hancock Fabrics that I just love. You smear it on the stain, let it sit a while, and then wash as usual. It's great at taking out greasy spots. One of these days I'm going to eat a meal and not get it on my. I look good in everything I eat. Har.
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