Stasia's Place Of Grace

Saturday, October 06, 2007

 

Please come visit my new home at Yarn And A Barn - there's lots happening!

Don't forget to comment and say hello!

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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

 

New Blogger has busted my blog. I've started a new one (despite Blogger's tools not being exactly Mac-compatible), and it's at:

http://yarnandabarn.blogspot.com

It's lean and mean and clean with no ads or junk. I hope to keep it Zen-ish but I'm a fool for every crazy bloggy animated cartoony thing that comes along...

This blog will no longer be maintained. You can access the archives again through the big mess of gobbledegook in the sidebar (the old archive format was no longer functional in "New Blogger").

I think I should spend more time fibering and less time blogging... or rather, trying to maintain blog functionality.

Let's hope they don't change things on us again.

Have a lovely day!

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Friday, February 23, 2007

 

...and we support a new bill protecting dogs and cats.

If you love dogs and cats, too, please go here

Please click on your state to find your Representative.

On their web page, there should be a contact form. Please write and ask your Rep to support H.R. 891. To read the text, you can go here and type in "H.R.891" (no quotes, no spaces).

If you would like more info, you can read about it here or in the news here. If you love animals and don't want the details, you can just take my word for it.

Thank you for getting involved!

---

Of Note For Dog Owners

Not only are chocolate, cocoa, onions, and macademia nuts dangerous to dogs, but so are grapes and raisins! Pass the word, please.

Confirmed at ASPCA.org (links directly to supporting article).

Confirmed at Snopes.com (links directly to supporting article).

---

Samson and Delilah say "Hi!"

Tuppinz Farm's 4th Generation Mini-LaMancha Goats At Seven Weeks

People wonder how we chose the kids' names. Samson is named for this guy, whom he resembles. Delilah just seemed to fit with Samson, though Jeff had initially wanted to name her "Skunk" because of her markings (wasn't gonna' happen, believe me.)

Hugs to all your furry friends today!

Labels: activism, farm, goats, pets

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Thursday, February 15, 2007

 

It is Random Acts of Kindness time:

RAK CELEBRATION DATES

2007
Random Acts of Kindness Week Feb. 12-18
World Kindness Week Nov. 12-18
World Kindness Day Nov. 13

Some ideas from The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation:

100 IDEAS FOR KINDNESS

1. Deliver fresh-baked cookies to city workers.
2. Collect goods for a food bank.
3. Bring flowers to work and share them with coworkers.
4. Garden clubs can make floral arrangements for senior centers, nursing homes, hospitals, police stations, or shut-ins.
5. Adopt a student who needs a friend, checking in periodically to see how things are going.
6. Volunteer to be a tutor in a school.
7. Extend a hand to someone in need. Give your full attention and simply listen.
8. Merchants can donate a percentage of receipts for the week to a special cause.
9. Bring coworkers a special treat.
10. Students can clean classrooms for the custodian.
11. Buy a stranger a free pizza.
12. Distribute lollipops to kids.
13. Sing at a nursing home.
14. Offer a couple of hours of baby-sitting to parents.
15. Slip paper hearts that say “It’s Random Acts of Kindness Week! Have a great day!” under the windshield wipers of parked cars.
16. Have a charity day at work, with employees bringing nonperishable food items to donate.
17. Serve refreshments to customers.
18. Draw names at school or work, and have people bring a small gift or food treat for their secret pal.
19. Remember the bereaved with phone calls, cards, plants, and food.
20. Treat someone to fresh fruit.
21. Pay a compliment at least once a day.
22. Call or visit a homebound person.
23. Hand out balloons to passersby.
24. Give free sodas to motorists.
25. Be a good neighbor. Take over a baked treat or stop by to say “Hello.”
26. Transport someone who can’t drive.
27. Mow a neighbor’s grass.
28. Say something nice to everyone you meet today.
29. Send a treat to a school or day-care center.
30. Volunteer at an agency that needs help.
31. Wipe rainwater off shopping carts or hold umbrellas for shoppers on the way to their cars.
32. Give the gift of your smile.
33. Send home a note telling parents something their child did well.
34. Adopt a homeless pet at the humane society.
35. Organize a scout troop or service club to help people with packages at the mall or grocery.
36. Host special programs or speakers at libraries or bookstores.
37. Offer to answer the phone for the school secretary for ten minutes.
38. Volunteer to read to students in the classroom.
39. Write notes of appreciation and bring flowers or goodies to teachers or other important people, such as the principal, nurse, custodian, and secretary.
40. Incorporate kindness into the curriculum at area schools, day care centers, or children’s classes in faith organizations.
41. Give a hug to a friend.
42. Tell your children why you love them.
43. Write a note to your mother/father and tell them why they are special.
44. Pat someone on the back.
45. Write a thank-you note to a mentor or someone who has influenced your life in a positive way.
46. Give coffee to people on their way to work in the morning.
47. Donate time at a senior center.
48. Give blood.
49. Visit hospitals with smiles, treats, and friendly conversation for patients.
50. Stop by a nursing home, and visit a resident with no family nearby.
51. Plant flowers in your neighbor’s flower box.
52. Give another driver your parking spot.
53. Leave a treat or handmade note of thanks for a delivery person or mail carrier.
54. Give free car washes.
55. Clean graffiti from neighborhood walls and buildings.
56. Tell your boss that you think he/she does a good job.
57. Tell your employees how much you appreciate their work.
58. Let your staff leave work an hour early.
59. Have a clean-up party in the park.
60. Tell a bus or taxi driver how much you appreciate their driving.
61. Have everyone in your office draw the name of a Random Acts of Kindness buddy out of a hat and do a kind act for their buddy that day or week.
62. Give a pair of tickets to a baseball game or concert to a stranger.
63. Leave an extra big tip for the waitperson.
64. Drop off a plant, cookies, or donuts to the police or fire department.
65. Open the door for another person.
66. Pay for the meal of the person behind you in the drive-through.
67. Write a note to the boss of someone who has helped you, praising the employee.
68. Leave a bouquet of flowers on the desk of a colleague at work with whom you don’t normally get along.
69. Call an estranged family member.
70. Volunteer to fix up an elderly couple’s home.
71. Pay for the person behind you in the movie line.
72. Give flowers to be delivered with meal delivery programs.
73. Give toys to the children at the shelter or safe house.
74. Give friends and family kindness coupons they can redeem for kind favors.
75. Be a friend to a new student or coworker.
76. Renew an old friendship by sending a letter or small gift to someone you haven’t talked with in a long time.
77. For one week, act on every single thought of generosity that arises spontaneously in your heart, and notice what happens as a consequence.
78. Offer to return a shopping cart to the store for someone loading a car.
79. Invite someone new over for dinner.
80. Buy a roll of brightly colored stickers and give them to children you meet during the day.
81. Write a card of thanks and leave it with your tip. Be sure to be specific in your thanks.
82. Let the person behind you in the grocery store go ahead of you in line.
83. When drivers try to merge into your lane, let them in with a wave and a smile.
84. Buy cold drinks for the people next to you at a ball game.
85. Distribute kindness bookmarks that you have made.
86. Create a craft project or build a bird house with a child.
87. Give a bag of groceries to a homeless person.
88. Laugh out loud often and share your smile generously.
89. Plant a tree in your neighborhood.
90. Make a list of things to do to bring more kindness into the world, and have a friend make a list. Exchange lists and do one item per day for a month.
91. Use an instant camera to take people’s photographs at a party or community event, and give the picture to them.
92. As you go about your day, pick up trash.
93. Send a letter to some former teachers, letting them know the difference they made in your life.
94. Send a gift anonymously to a friend.
95. Organize a clothing drive for a shelter.
96. Buy books for a day care or school.
97. Slip a $20 bill to a person who you know is having financial difficulty.
98. Take an acquaintance to dinner.
99. Offer to take a friend’s child to ball practice.
100. Waive late fees for the week.

Labels: Good Karma

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Sunday, February 11, 2007

 

Even during difficult times, if we only take a moment to look for it, a much-needed chuckle is just around the corner.

We have discovered that Frieda is, indeed, the reincarnation of George Washington:

Some things captivate us with their charm.

Even if they weren't useful, we'd want them around for the sheer joy they provide.

But when they are useful, so much the better!

When they are charming, useful, and unexpected - that's definitely worth a smile or two.

And what could this odd object be?

A wristwarmer for an alien? Nope, it's a swatch for Jeff's new sweater, converted mid-way from flat knitting to round knitting. It's a Reynolds Lopi design, knit in Blackberry Ridge Bulky... because temps of minus 20°F without including windchill are no laughing matter!

Hope you had a funny Sunday, too.

Labels: farm, joy, knitting, pets

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Saturday, February 03, 2007

 

Doing a two-day walk to raise funds for breast cancer research is not.

Personally, I'd rather sit in my warm (ok, that's a debatable adjective at the moment, but still...) house, on my couch with my pups, drink a latte, and knit a pink scarf for charity. I like knitting. There's something for me involved in that process.

But train in the Boston-area climate for a two-day walk? Um, not so much my cuppa'.

So when someone like Denise does what I'm not willing to do - get off my doofus and do the hard work to make a real difference - I'm more than happy to continue to sit and knit and then SPONSOR HER in her fantastic efforts.

We can all make a pink scarf. It's actually fun to use that little extra cash in your checkbook for a trip to the LYS to get some yummy new yarn to knit something for charity.

But if you can think beyond the immediate gratification and the "something for me" in that endeavor, to "something for women everywhere" instead, please made tax-deductible contribution in order to help Denise meet her $1,800 entrance donation, won't you? She's willing to walk our talk.

Thanks!

Labels: Good Karma

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Thursday, February 01, 2007

 

UPDATE: "GoldAroma" spindles available for purchase NOW!

Final versions of the Golding Aromatherapy Spindles,
available here, though not yet listed.

There has indeed been some fibering occurring at Tuppinz Farm. It's been so cold that I've considered driving down the driveway to get the mail, but elected to stay inside with yarn many times instead. I've had more than usual unhappy news of late, and so I've grabbed the odd moments I could to use meditative creativity as a means of emotional support.

To that end, we now have some spinning news:

Shrek Renegade Merino fiber on Golding Aromatherapy prototype spindle.

I have seen the final models of the "GoldAromas" (as I call them), and they are gorgeous. I think they will be available soon... visit Golding Fiber Tools for more info. I have loved using these spindles - the added relaxation benefits from the aromatherapy oils wafting up as I spun were just what I needed. Thanks to the Goldings for bringing this idea to life for me! I love adventurous thinkers and those artists who are willing to give anything a shot.

Next we have a new spindle from The Spanish Peacock - haven't spun on it yet, but it's neat... top and bottom whorl in one! I also got two wood needles for making "toothbrush rugs" from them, and they're wonderful. They have lots of other fun stuff, so be sure to take a peek at the site - thanks to my friend Ann D. (you've seen her garments showcased in Spin-Off!) for letting me know about them.

Finally, here's my new Jenkins Amboyna Burl Spindle. Love it! Just bought a quilted maple low-profile weaving shuttle from them here, and it's wonderful as well.

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In the knitting arena, I have needed "mindless" activity. My wonderful LYS had a Malabrigo scarf and mittens on display, and they were so richly colored and so cushy that I immediately bought the yarn and was provided with the patterns.

Malabrigo scarf from Yellow Dog Knitting.

In all the years I lived near Milwaukee, I don't think any yarn shop owner ever called me by name. In less than a month of moving near Eau Claire, Dixie and Cindi had made me feel like an old friend. Not only did they know my name, they knew my husband's! They're wonderful folks and I can see why Sue (from Spindlers) speaks so highly of them. Thanks for introducing me to them, Sue! (I think... how much have I spent there since moving here???)

I also ventured into beaded knitting with this pattern from EarthFaire (fantastic service and quick shipping):

Obviously, the kit with the purple Optimum DK came out much better than the second one I did in Koigu. I still need to thread in the ribbon ties and fill with something lovely like lavender buds. Yellow Dog Knitting had some cashmere yarn at an incredible price, so my next version will be truly luxurious.

I finished a meditation shawl I'd begun before we moved. It used six balls of Noro Kureyon in color 34. The pattern is just 57 sts. on a US 11 needle, then K3, P3 for three rows. Then switch to P3, K3 for three rows. And so on.

Dill thinks I should finish weaving in the loose ends.

A close-up of the pattern.

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As far as the rest of my life, I am learning that resentment and anger occur if we do not expect the unexpected, and if we feel for some reason that things should always be just as we like them. I am also learning that reactions and thoughts are not reality - if I learn to notice them for what they are, I can choose to control both them and my responses to situations. This makes for a much calmer life.

My father was diagnosed with a very rare and incurable form of cancer the week before Christmas. He was told he had about two months to live. My father reacted to the news by throwing a big birthday party for himself. Thanks to my sister and her husband, I was able to "attend" via web conference. (Saints be praised for Apple iChat!)

Dad is providing a great example of experiencing a good death. He says he is "ready for his next big adventure". He has always lived his life by taking every risk and opportunity, and saying what he felt had to be said. He has no regrets.

I found this information very helpful in figuring out a way to deal with this news. Also of benefit to both me and my sister have been many dharma talks on death and dying from the Insight Meditation Center's AudioDharma (available as a podcast and as downloads).

Dilly cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at about the same time we got the news about Dad. Dill was being treated with daily medication, but now his latest bloodwork indicates some liver damage that his thyroid condition was masking, so now he must also go on a renal diet. He is 15. My sister and my dear friend Pamela both lost cats to these illnesses earlier this year. If your cat loses weight suddenly (never a good thing in cats) and has an unkempt coat, get its thyroid levels checked. Also, look for a diet that has meat as the main ingredient - cats are true carnivores, and many health problems can be avoided by feeding them a low-carb or grain-free diet. We have also switched our dogs from Nutro to Canidae and are very pleased.

Dill Kitty

Jeff and I have felt for some time that there was an awful lot of bad juju in our house. The land has wonderful energy... but the house has really stinky karma and was making us both extremely blue. We ordered some new Chenrezig Tibetan prayer flags and waited for an auspicious day to raise them, and then, first thing on a frigid morning, we lit some Tibetan juniper incense and put them up. They're beautiful and we love to see them fluttering in the sub-Arctic gales breeze. We put them where the animals may benefit from the mantras printed on them also.

Probably the only barnyard with Tibetan prayer flags in the state of Wisconsin.
We're currently seeking someone to paint Buddha eyes on the silo,
similar to Swayambunath Stupa in Kathmandu.
Think we could get the Amish to do it?

Chenrezig is the Tibetan name for Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion, the current incarnation of whom (which?) is H.H. the Dalai Lama XIV.

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I guess you can choose to see the glass as half empty, convince yourself that it is half full, or just see it without assigning an adjective to it, and accept it for what it is, and keep breathing. The only reality is this moment and the interconnectedness of all things within it. It is what it is... it is what it is... it is what it is...

I leave you with an easy crafty gift. This is from my mother-in-law and was made with a dishtowel, a washcloth, and a potholder (all of which you could knit or crochet, dear ones!) They are tied together with ribbon to make an angel:

Here is a close-up - hopefully you can figure out from this pic how to tie them all together:

May your day be full of unexpected blessings... and may you notice the magic of the simple moments before they pass.

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Sunday, January 21, 2007

 

We're still getting used to being goatie parents farmers. It's hard not to stop in our tracks while doing chores and just sit and watch the kids all day. They're now two weeks old and agile as monkeys, doing twists, leaps, flips, and even standing on their poor mama's back.

If you'd like to see some videos of them running around in baby goatie silliness, you can access them below; I'll list the sizes of the files:

219k

327k

1.1M

191k

716k

290k

1.4M

Here are a few movies of Jeff with the sheep and goats:

961k

656k

187k

We were all excited about playing James Herriot for the birth - I even had shoulder-length obstetric gloves at hand (a helpful friend told me that they were for cows, and I'd hardly need more than a dish glove if our Tulip needed assistance along the way. Oops! Anyone have an expecting cow?)

Luckily, Tulip handled everything herself, and we just assisted with a final toweling-off and blowdrying of the kids. To think that they survived that first night and at temperatures as low as -8°F since with just a heat lamp for warmth is amazing to us. What resilient creatures they are.

The kids are packing on the pounds, having doubled in weight since they were born. Here I am with chubby Samson. He has been disbudded (by a vet, under anesthesia - the same way he'll be neutered) to prevent his horns from growing (Delilah doesn't exhibit any horn growth so far):

The chickens are not neglected - Pavel (now known as Pavlova), our handicapped hen, races into the box stall area whenever I tend to Tulip and the kids. She knows she will be hand-fed there, to make eating with her crooked beak easier:

We've also been making friends with the sheep. Here I am with Gorgonzola, the leader of the sheep herd. She now enjoys being petted and we no longer have to use the crook to wrangle her for her weekly herbal worming.

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In major life-changing news, the Dalai Lama is coming to Madison soon! I missed a previous opportunity to hear him speak; I won't miss this one. Jeff and I will attend on separate days, as farmers don't seem to get vacation days...

Despite all the activity in the barn, things are very quiet up here in our new home. This is the view from the window next to the computer where I'm writing this note:

I'm currently working on a purple and green meditation shawl in Noro Kureyon, in a K3P3 stitch that changes every three rows to P3K3, forming little boxes. I'm now off to brew some genmaicha tea, light some incense, and sit down to work on it for a bit while Jeff is absorbed in football. Hope some quiet fibering time is on your agenda as well!

P.S. If you like genmaicha tea, the link above is to the best, freshest stuff you'll ever taste, with no tiny broken bits of dust. It tastes like popcorn - very sweet for a green tea - and Jeff and I drink pots of it in the winter. We used to get it in Milwaukee at Outpost, and I was happy to find I can mailorder it directly. If only I could get sushi by UPS, I'd be all set.

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Sunday, January 07, 2007

 

We didn't expect the new arrivals until the 11th, so imagine Jeff's surprise when he went out to tend to the animals for the night and found THESE!

Tulip and Kids, born 1/6/06 at approximately 8 p.m.

Buckling on left, Doeling on right.

Doeling on left, Buckling on right.

Buckling

Tulip and Doeling

Happy Goatie Family!

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Monday, December 25, 2006

 

Emmentaler "Emma" Rosalinda Fiona W.'s First Christmas

Peace on Earth, good will toward all sentient beings.

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