Hey all! Sorry so late. I was in the middle of a knitting lesson. Yes, you heard me correctly. Knitting lessons! Lately it seems like all my friends want to learn how to knit… and they want me to teach them. What?! When did I become an expert? I only just learned a little over a year ago! However, I do love me some knitting, so I oblige. Winter usually inspires me to knit some fun things. Scarves, mittens, blankets… I love them all! But teaching people how to do it? Not so easy. My poor friend is so confused right now. How is it that something that seems so easy to do can be so difficult to demonstrate? Does anyone out there have any pointers that might make it easier to explain? Knitting for dummies, perhaps? Is there such a thing? I’m such a bad teacher, so any tips are welcome. Ok, time to go back to my “student”. I hope I don’t confuse her any more than she already is. Wish me luck! 🙂
What to do if stuck on Cemetery Hill!
It seems impossible that I was actually stuck on cemetery hill (Center Avenue) yesterday morning for over an hour! When I left home in Temple at 8:30 AM, we’d had barely a dusting of snow earlier, the sun was shining, and it was that lovely, crispness of real winter! My Wyomissing destination is usually a quick trip, but two hours later I was just pulling in. Since the Bypass seemed clogged as far as I could see when i approached it, I decided to go through the city. That’s when I realized that all roads were clogged bumper to bumper., and since I’d committed to the city route, I was definitely “stuck” like everyone else. Switched from satelitte radio to AM and listened to tales of travel woe from people calling in to the local talk show. Snow!? Slippery roads? Icey conditions? Didn’t seem possible, but there I was! Stuck! Must be old age approaching, but I’ve almost learned not to sweat the stuff I can’t change. And I certainly couldn’t do a thing about this but sit in my Jeep, listen to the radio, and eat the red licorice I’d forgotten was hidden in that center console from our trip to the beach. (Ziiplock bag kept it really fresh!)
Had a meeting to attend, but when I realized everyone going anywhere in the area was going to be as stuck as I, sitting back and relaxing was fun. The Jeep was warm and cozy and high enough for me to see all that was happening (or, rather, not happening) ahead of me. When I finally arrived at my destination, I’d pretty much eliminated my stash of licorice, had done some creative planning for the days ahead, and was VERY grateful that I hadn’t drunk that big cup of coffee before I left home! It’s winter! Lots of our peers seem to be enchanted with the idea of moving to Florida and are making plans and buying condos to fulfill their plans, but we’re still finding the challenges of four seasons enjoyable!
Re-entry
Oh heavens to Gershwin… I have just removed my sleep mask and peered blearily at my alarm clock…I am horrified to discover that I have been out like a sailor with a weeks pay since the wee hours of New Year’s Day 2012!
How did I know the day from looking at the clock, you wonder, and your confusion would be indeed justified. Well, my sly little pusses, there you have me. I was condensing for dramatic effect! The truth is that upon waking and looking at the clock, I thought to myself, “Heavens, I’ve overslept! I’ve missed part of the Rose Bowl parade!”
So I hopped, or rather unfurled, out of bed, started a pot of extra-strong Joe, grabbed the paper…s. Paper…s? Was there a special extra New Year’s Day edition?, I wondered. Paper…s? And then it started to dawn that something was amiss. The Eagles had landed in too great an abundance. There, in my, now ink-stained, hands was the proof: I had been locked in Morpheus’s embrace since my New-Year’s-Eve-into-New-Year’s-Morn Bacchanalia had come to a crashing, and I realize now, unremembered, finis. Days, of – it now seems required – sleep-filled recovery, had passed! And here it is, Tuesday, and I have missed not only my beloved Rose Bowl Parade, but my Monday posting here!
And now, although there is no way to reset the clock and watch those millions of flowers roll by, I can write of my surprise, and chagrin, at having missed my posting day (and several others), but I live happily knowing that my dear friend Ellen will not mind splitting and sharing her day with me.
Yes, it is a Tuesday with double helping of the ladies of TWSS! And I am sure I speak for us all when I say, “Happy New Year! May you find new mountains to climb, and new comforts to enjoy! Happy 2012!” (Though I am still bitter about the parade…)
Love, Jane
thatswhatshe’sdoing…today
Today–what I SHOULDÂ be doing: taking down Christmas decorations and trying to fill in all of those blanks. It always looks so bare. But it is time. The fresh greens are no longer so fresh.
Today–what I AM doing: can’t seem to get away from my computer. Our son Tom is traveling in Croatia, and he sends daily reports and pix. I can’t just read and look, I have to know. So I have endless questions…about the history, mostly. And he dutifully replies (I’m sure he’s humoring a mother who still wants to know everything about everything he does.) So we’ve discussed Diocletian, types of plants growing on balconies in the winter time, reasons for building fortifications, religion, revolution (ah, those two often go together), building materials, nationalities of tourists..OK, you get the picture. He also does lovely streetscapes and sends those along, too. To a mother, fascinating stuff.
And then there’s email exchanges with my sister re: the lack of birds (having addressed that before, a continuing saga) and the fact that listeners to Jack Holcum’s show are lamenting the same thing. Last night’s dusting of snow wasn’t enough to bring them flocking to the feeder. But…Zut, alors, there’s a pileated woodpecker there right now!
And a friend who writes a weekly newletter about her garden and animals has just received a scholarship to a writers’ workship in San Francisco and wants to know which newsletters to send them. That requires my going back through years of great writings in my files. What fun that is on a cold winter’s day.
And I have a spring schedule to send out to about 60 volunteers at the Miller Center.
It’s noon and I’m not nearly finished with all of this. The Christmas tree still stands, and most like it will warm my heart when I sit down to gaze upon it again tonight.
And what I had really wanted to write about today was the Iowa caucuses…old news by the time most of you read this. So I’ll just add this simple thought: Why should a midwestern state of just over 3,000,000 people (smaller than many cities) carry so much weight in the political procedings of the country? Well, it is kind of refreshing to know that a great percentage of those people will head out in the dead of winter tonight to their local firehalls or Masonic lodges and actually stand and be counted in their choice of delegates for the party’s nominee. Democracy, a work in progress.
Happy new year, an election year, a summer Olympic year, the year of the realization of That’s What SHE Said, and hopefully a year of good fortune and happy times for all of you.
Ellen
Oh, New Year!
Happy New Year Darlings!
My goodness! 2011 is almost a memory and, if we are to believe the scuttlebutt, the last year of our lives is about to begin! I say, “I’ll drink to that!”
Let’s all resolve to enjoy this wacky trip toward the end of the world. Live each day with gusto; drink in every last drop of possibility from every moment that you are alive.
Let’s all work together to make this next year the best year of of lives! Why shouldn’t we? Optimism is so much more productive, and fun, than the alternative.
Be bold, exciting, be a positive force to be reckoned with in 2012!
Happy New Year!
Love, Jane
Happy New Year!
Hey y’all! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Can you believe it’s already almost 2012?! Where did the year go? Ordinarily, I don’t make New Years resolutions. I mean, what’s the point? Does anyone ever actually keep them? I know I never do. But this year… this year is going to be different I smell a change coming. I won’t go into details simply because I haven’t ironed everything out yet, but yes, things will be different in 2012. I’ve been stuck in a self-imposed rut for a while, and I really feel that now is the time for me to break out of that and do some new things. And what better way to start that than our very own show!!! I can’t tell you how psyched I am for this. I’ll definitely be stepping outside of my comfort zone for this, and I truly can’t wait. 2012 is going to be all about doing things that are way out of character for me. All the things I want to do, all the places I want to go, all the people I want to see… I’m doing it. So that’s my new years resolution this year- to step outside of the box for once. And I can’t wait! I’m curious to hear everyone else’s resolutions. Leave me a comment and let me know what’s on your mind. I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe New Years! See you next week! 🙂
On the fourth day of Christmas….
Haven’t seen or heard a “calling bird” all day, let alone four of them. Nor have I seen a partridge, or a turtledove, or a French hen, or geese, or swans of any numbers. There were, however, crows pecking away in the daylily bed this morning, and blue jays eating from the cats’ dishes. But they are there everyday. My sister has shared a concern about the lack of birds at her feeders in her backyard, and we have not had the numbers we usually see at this time of year in our yard either. Maybe the weather has been too mild and there are enough seeds and berries in the fields and woods for them to get by on. I will check out Bill Uhrich’s column in the Reading Eagle in a few weeks about the Christmas Day bird count which takes place all over the country, and is very enthusiastically carried out at Christmas time in Berks County. It’s a indication of the health of our environment.
To help make our little grandchildren more aware of the importance and beauty of birds, I decorate a tree in our sunroom with birds. We hold our own bird count of those birds every Christmas. I’m happy to report that the sunroom environment is flourishing, thanks to a sale of ornaments (including birds) at Esbenshade’s on December 24. Our bird population has increased this year inspite of the fact that a few got knocked down and done in during the undecorating process last year. Won’t say that out bird count ranks up there with other Christmas traditions for our little grandchildren…like getting presents, finding candy, eating pumpkin pie and poppyseed bread, and playing games the day after, but they remember the counts from year to year and are happy to see that our birds proliferate. I keep looking for a partridge to add to the tree. Who knows…in 12 days there could be…hundreds? You can do the math!
Ellen
Is It Wednesday? Already!?
I just started writing a letter to Meg and dated it “Tuesday.” OOPS! Is it really a week since the last time I blogged? It’s been a nice Christmas for Barry and me. My dinner turned out almost exactly as it was supposed to! All dishes I’d never made before, but the recipes in Bon Appetit sounded wonderful, and I always make new things for our Christmas dinner. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they…well, don’t quite work as planned. But this year – wow! I impressed myself, and Barry loved every bite! A mustard coated beef tenderloin roast, shingled potatos (they’re really easy and look great – and very tasty), green beans with cranberries, citrus and parsley salad, cranberry bread, and my cookies for dessert. The beef was amazing, and Bessie’s enjoying bits of the leftover with her regular kibble!
Broke the news of the upcoming television debut of “That’s What SHE Said” to several relatives and acquaintances and received a wide variety of reactions. Most were very positive – I mean really great – a few were more like “Oh, another of Martha’s hairbrained projects” – so I”m choosing to ignore the latter and bask in the excited congratulations from others. I think we’re doing a really great thing! Bravo for us – Ellen! Sheila! Christina, and Jane! I hope I’m never too old to try something new! And Jamie – what a brave and wondeful thing you’ve done to take this idea and really breathe life into it. Thank you! Thank you!
The last of Martha’s Blogs for 2011! A new year is about to overtake our lives. Tto everyone reading this- best wishes for a happy, safe, healthy 2012 – and peace!
Holiday Humbugs
FIrst off and Foremost, I know I Know….I missed again last week. I’m sorry I was on vacation and it totally slipped my mind.Â
Now for whats on my mind today…I’m currently working..yuck … I dont know what is going on tonight. We are so close to the holidays you would think people would be happy and friendly and warm….wrong…they are grumpy , short, and just rude. Now mind you I dispatch road service to broken down vehicles which isnt ever fun for the people calling in to talk to me….no one wants to be broken down. But im dealing mostly with professional truck drivers they are used to breaking down..and I GET that they dont want to be working tonight the morning before christmas eve..but hey im working too!! Believe me I dont want to be here anymore then they do. So lets just at least just try to be friendly and nice to eachother and make it a little easier on all of us spread a little bit of the holiday cheer. I mean where is all the christmasness and garland and gingerbread maybe a present or two and heck lets just cover it all with glitter to make it a little bit better…. Sigh… ok i feel a little bit better now. I would feel even better if it was 930 am so i could get out of here and start my weekend. I have to go and get stocking stuffers after work ..so hopefully I am in a better mood by then so I dont have to get arrested for running someone over in all the christmas madness in the stores. Anyway On that Note I hope you all have a better Christmas Eve Eve then I am having!!
Christina
Happy holidays!
Hey peeps! Here we are again, my favorite day of the week. I find that during the week, I often feel like “hijacking” the blog days of my fellow ladies. You see, sometimes something fun will happen on a Monday and then I’ll have to wait till Thursday to blog about it. So this week I thought I’d try something different. I’ve decided to do daily mini-blogs and then just throw everything together. I’m just going to take my favorite event from each day and discuss. And so, here I go!
On Monday, I got a wonderful surprise visit from my pal Bronson, who came all the way from South Carolina. It was wonderful to catch up with him for a few hours and I’m honored that I was his first stop in Pennsylvania. It truly made my day!
On Tuesday, I got to spend some time with my friend Megan from Washington DC. It was also lovely to catch up with her. I don’t get to see her enough!
On Wednesday, I had lunch with more friends and I got to meet the most perfect little angel baby, Violet. I fell in love instantly. There’s just something about a sleeping baby that melts my heart. I wanted to keep her! 🙂
After lunch, I decided that I deserved some pampering, so I scheduled an impromptu massage and pedicure. It was amazing! I wish I could do it daily!
Also on Wednesday, I had a great night with my girlfriends. Nothing like sitting around a table while eating cookies, drinking, talking…. and knitting! A stitch and bitch, if you will. It was so much fun and I can’t wait to do it again!
Tonight (actually, right this very moment) I’m at Canal Street with my friends Ricky and Patrick. The place is packed and there’s an amazing DJ here. I’m seriously digging the noise!
So there you have it. The highlights of my week. Did anyone notice a pattern? The highlights of my week all revolve around my friends! I love my friends dearly. They may not always know it and I may not always show it, but I’m putting it out there now. My friends flippin rock!
I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. See you next Thursday! Happy Holidays everyone! 🙂