Stasia's Place Of Grace

Thursday, August 26, 2004

 

Test

I am trying to implement Blogger's new comments tags. This is an unbelievable PITA.

If there's a space for comments below, would you please try to leave one? Thanks!

More later...

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Monday, August 23, 2004

 

Neat Stuff

If I know you, you love animals and you love to knit. Why else would you be visiting my Blog? Combine your two faves by visiting the Four Corners Bunnies Store to get your own copy of Nanette Blanchard's new book, "Stranded Color Knitting". All proceeds go to pet rabbit rescue!

If you're on the Spindlers list, try using the CafePress discount code I posted the other day!

Nanette is a fantastic knitter and a wonderful author (I have a copy of her great vegetarian cook book!) so don't hesitate to purchase this item and help a worthy cause in the process. Soon you'll be whisking through those Dale Of Norway designs you've been longing to knit! It's not to early to think about fall birthday gifts, or the upcoming holidays... surely there's a knitter on your list who'd benefit from this book as much as the bunnies would benefit from the proceeds!

Remember, no rabbit has to (or should) live its life in a cage... for more info on humane and healthy treatment of these wonderful creatures, visit the House Rabbit Society.

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Freebies!

... or is that "free bees"? Because that's what's just arrived - FREE BEES!

Our bees didn't make it through last winter (common here in Wisconsin) so our hives have been empty this year. We'd hoped to replace the bees next year when we had a bit more time to install them.

Well, that might not be necessary after all... apparently, some other beekeeper's honeybees swarmed. Luckily, one of their scouts had found our empty hives, gone back and told the others that cheap housing was readily available, and they all showed up here yesterday!

I wonder if it is they who have been pollinating our trees and flowers this year. The tropicals are doing very well outdoors this summer - I can't think where I am going to put these giant things come fall, as I've only one room that has a Southeastern exposure! Here is my giant hibiscus and a very lush passion flower. The Thomas Jefferson snail vine is growing well but hasn't flowered yet.

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Look what just arrived from Sahalie (formerly the Early Winters company):

It's a reclaimed Maple hair buckle. I wish more woodworkers would craft nifty hair doo-dads like this!

Sahalie has neat, comfy clothing - check out their wonderfully cool and well-fitting clay-dyed organic cotton/hemp t-shirts! Their gusset-crotch pants and shorts can't be beat for long sessions at the spinning wheel or tailor-style seated knitting on your futon. And their customer service is not to be believed. They offer cool recycled items like this hair buckle, a little house for beneficial bees, and other stuff that would make great gifts for the upcoming holidays (along with Nanette's book, above!)

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Have a wonderful day; do something nice for someone else, a charity, or (most of all) yourself; and remember... there can never be too many exclamation points in life! Live your life out loud and exuberantly and you will be a shining example, instead of a wet blanket!!!

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Sunday, August 22, 2004

 

Happy Things For Today...

Purcell on the CD player, a glass of Kendall-Jackson 2002 Vintner's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (very good and very inexpensive), and a fall nip in the evening air as the katydids chirp ever more slowly... what a lovely night!

(Check out the gorgeous heirloom tomatoes on the Kendall-Jackson site - those are the kind I grow. They taste marvelous! You can get seeds for next year from Seeds Of Change... it's never to early to think about next year's garden! Look for "Tigerella" - very prolific and hardy, good in containers, and yummy!)

Can you believe that the trees here in Wisconsin are already showing fall color? I think we are in for a very cold winter! I happened across some fall craft ideas...

The Lovely Mizzes Kary and Judy sent me some neat-o goodies! The skein of silk was hand spun by Judy on a spindle - it's gorgeous, and so fine! The scrumptuous purple batts are Kary's "Kitchen Sink" offerings - and I can attest that they are wonderful!

Kary also sent the breathtaking oak leaf and acorn - they are real, coated in copper! She chose them because I have adopted the oak and acorn as symbols for personal growth - what a meaningful talisman this ornament will be! It is from Still Life Real Leaf Gift Collection, Corte Madera, CA, 800-211-2511.

Thanks so much, guys!

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I finished the back of my Peace Fleece Everyday Cardigan (in Zarya Fog) and am happy with it. Fun and easy to knit, great yarn, good company. Now on to a front panel!

My friend Di is expecting (along with all of her friends - hope I will see her after they all deliver and have children in common! ) so I am going to make the baby set from "Mindful Knitting" for her. The recommended yarn, shown here in the "Ur" colorway, is Organic Inca Cotton, and the Yarn Barn not only has this difficult-to-find stuff in stock, but has the most reasonable price I could find... four dollars a skein less than any place else!

I love the "Mindful Knitting" book, by the way. It doesn't just compare knitting to meditation - it instructs you in making a meditation practice of knitting... good for antsy meditators like myself!

I can't find it on their website, but I swear it's in their catalog... just ask for it.

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Sherman The Rat is such a good boy! What an adorable, affectionate, intelligent pet! He, like me, is a night owl... so when the rest of the house is asleep, I do my knitting or reading or e-mail (or just sit and listen to music) and he comes out into his playpen:

Shermie has an identical wheel in his cage, but as an "only rat" he needs some additional mental stimulation and a change of scenery. The playpen and wheel are from CritterStore.com and were very reasonable. If you have a rodent for a pet, be sure to check out flat-surfaced, safe wheels such as the one Sherman has, or the Wodent Wheel, recommended by Nan's Minnie!

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The Tabachek giant Plying Spindle in Cherry that I mentioned recently is now on its way... soon I can show you my complete Cherry Tabachek Spinning Set! Stay tuned...

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I took the What Mythological Creature Are you? test by !

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Have a lovely day, whatever you are up to! Take a deep breath, and really notice whatever activity you are doing... it is noticing the little moments that leads to a life of wonderful memories.

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		Animal	All Bird Cat Dog Horse Pig Rabbit Reptile Small&Furry	Breed		Zip Code