tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4124012693581788302011-08-01T20:19:02.742-05:00Questions, comments, remarks, observations, miscellaneous personal abuse? eglentyne at gmaileglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.comBlogger1761100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-82862829221862391912009-07-10T14:38:00.004-05:002009-07-10T15:33:16.971-05:00

I'm moving to a new space.  Please follow me over to www.somethingknitty.com*sigh* The front door there doesn't seem to be working (I'll work it out soon).  Friends can come in through the kitchen door, of course.eglentyne.squarespace.comI look forward to seeing you there.  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-85701923326656325152009-03-11T21:34:00.002-05:002009-03-11T21:38:54.022-05:00

"The End" from Now We Are Six by A. A. MilneWhen I was one, I had just begun.When I was Two, I was nearly new. When I was Three, I was hardly me. When I was Four, I was not much more. When I was Five, I was just alive. But now I am Six, I am clever as clever, So I think I'll be Six now for ever and ever. 

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-74125908457119300882009-03-07T13:30:00.003-06:002009-03-07T13:35:19.362-06:00

We had a mountain of clean laundry to put away this morning.  A week or more worth of clean clothes, plus bonus laundry from one barfing Sonar (better now).  All three Sonars piled onto our bed and sorted and folded their clothes.  As they worked, they rolled around, upsetting already folded piles (and each other), and made up superheroes.  A sample:Office Man, with the power to cover people in a

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-31859300885658192402009-02-14T01:41:00.001-06:002009-02-14T01:41:00.255-06:00

A photo of a hand-knit, somewhat anatomical heart.  Pattern is from Knitty, featuring fleece artist yarn in a colorway I cannot recall because I cannot find the ball band.  With a cameo by my ugliest towel.

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-12769988632495002622009-02-13T13:47:00.003-06:002009-02-13T13:47:00.731-06:00

They were cast on October 1, 2008.  You saw the first one when it could still stand, here and here.  You saw the first one when it could no longer stand, here.  Apparently, though, I did not show you the first one finished.  Mainly because I didn't take a picture of that.  I did take a picture of it almost finished.  (A photo of Kilt Sock 1, almost finished, back at Thanksgiving.  Please also

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-3631376170118208812009-02-11T13:39:00.002-06:002009-02-11T13:41:25.028-06:00

A photo of Sonar X5 from a couple of weeks ago (I'm catching up), revealing a gap where his first lost tooth used to be.  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-51927346250108624982009-01-29T11:46:00.003-06:002009-01-29T12:06:17.991-06:00

Have you heard that the Sesame Workshop (the production company that has produced many great children's television programs, including Sesame Street, Dragon Tales, and 3-2-1 Contact, among others) has resurrected and revamped The Electric Company?  I fondly remember this show--that featured the likes of Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno, and Morgan Freeman, among others--from my childhood.  When I heard it

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-74945189978788888522009-01-12T13:43:00.005-06:002009-01-12T14:05:15.313-06:00

Did you notice how the holidays sort of zoomed by?  Well, ok, they zoomed by for me.  I find myself here, in the middle of January a little flummoxed by how zippy things have been.   On top of that, we've had a big change. We have been joined by my Sister, who will be living with us for a while.  The kids think she has really cool stuff.  Preparing for her arrival, we turned the house upside down

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-89009160942969570932009-01-04T21:14:00.004-06:002009-01-04T21:37:26.947-06:00

The next time you're cleaning up after staining fine wood furniture, or even cheap wood furniture, and you find yourself fresh out of mineral spirits, take heart, a solution is at hand.  Ahem.  Today, with my hands covered in brown stain, and a brush in the same condition, I pondered clean-up solutions.  No mineral spirits, per stain label instructions.  I thought of the last time we needed to

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-78986323097453065942008-12-28T15:04:00.002-06:002008-12-28T15:16:17.151-06:00

Shopping for fabric at The Family Thrift Store in Corpus Christi yesterday...I was digging through the piles of odd stuff.  Black glitter felt.  Baby zoo animal flannel.  Orange polyester.  Eight yards of green mosquito net.  Four quilt tops.  A hundred baby blankets. Partner hands me a bag.  It's a bunch of little balls of white yarn.  Each ball in a little plastic bag, all the bags in a bigger

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-3944792710051275872008-12-26T13:04:00.003-06:002008-12-26T13:28:06.504-06:00

I hope everyone has had some good cheer in the past few weeks, or that good cheer will be coming your way in the next few.  We had a lovely Christmas, though the general level of enthusiasm (and consumption of spirits) was dampened by an uninvited guest.  RSV, for those who don't know, is a nasty little bugger, and I would highly recommend that you avoid it if at all possible.  There were many

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-14078176886942049792008-12-26T12:53:00.003-06:002008-12-26T13:00:37.240-06:00

I have some cool friends.  I mean, how many people would immortalize my family in Matryoshka???  Right down to actual clothing that we wear, and though you cannot see it in this particular picture, my silver nose ring.  Super.Thank you so much, Kippy.    

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-53798831161521686002008-12-26T12:50:00.003-06:002008-12-26T13:28:54.575-06:00

I know.  Too many posts on one day.  Why not just make one big post and be done with it.  Because it's my blog and I'll do it how I want to.  Besides, I've been sick in a house full of people for days and I'm feeling just a little silly and gratuitous in the sudden quiet.  And because a serious face would be neither possible nor desirable:

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-14717313749661028822008-12-26T12:46:00.002-06:002008-12-26T12:50:29.473-06:00

A gratuitous post to make up for some of the unbalanced visual evidence of Sonar growth and loveliness. Eight (and a half).  I could just eat him for breakfast.

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-30239633659969883832008-12-26T12:40:00.003-06:002008-12-26T12:45:08.698-06:00

To make up for lost time, several blogs in one day.  Introducing Sonar X4.  Happy Birthday kiddo.  Just don't forget that none of the other children have ever (EVER) been allowed to ride their new bike in the house.  I hope you enjoyed it, it won't happen again.  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-69413606268806046422008-12-20T10:46:00.005-06:002008-12-20T11:07:52.084-06:00

Sonar X3 in the kinder, acting shy. Dead camera batteries prevented a companion picture of Sonar X5.  Apparently I am photographically challenged this week.  ***Yesterday at lunch, I took up my room parent duties and hauled special snacks and gift bags up to Sonar X5's class.  Sonar X3 (who shall be named thusly for the very last time today) joined me and proceeded to hide in the classroom

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-54889669392656968592008-12-19T10:44:00.004-06:002008-12-19T11:01:04.440-06:00

Note:  This was supposed to be a recent picture of Sonar X8 in his Christmas getup.  For some reason that other one won't load.  So instead you get this delightful substitute from five-hundred years ago.  He's still this cute sometimes.  Sonar X8 and his classmates have recently read The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo.  Lovely book.  Like many good books, especially ones for children, this

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-4559793047204095652008-12-15T21:27:00.006-06:002008-12-15T22:15:35.867-06:00

Whoever said that food isn't love didn't know what he was talking about.  This is a yellow ruler and a batch of my family's Irish Soda Bread recipe.  I can't account for the ruler, but the recipe has been passed down through who-knows-how-many generations of women, each adding, altering and tweaking to her preference.  Each woman (and, I can hope, a few men, perhaps) made up this bread to sustain

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-58768884359523804812008-12-11T13:58:00.002-06:002008-12-11T14:18:59.753-06:00

Lesson 1: Occam's Sewing RazorWhen the squeak on the sewing machine becomes so maddening, and the top thread is breaking every five minutes, before I stick my head into the partially dismantled, Running sewing machine, I should consider making sure that the needle is installed in the correct orientation.  That didn't solve the squeak.  Still had to stick my head in the machine to find that.  But

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-91511492817504279792008-12-02T16:27:00.005-06:002008-12-02T16:49:00.595-06:00

Two minutes on an early-December afternoon...1.  2.  3.  4.  5.  6.  7.  8.  9.  10.  11.  12.  13.  14.  Did you catch the penis joke and the Richard Nixon face?  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-57413240185927280552008-12-01T14:02:00.002-06:002008-12-01T14:28:38.648-06:00

I am, perhaps, a few days late on my thankfulness list here, but I think it's probably ok to be thankful on other days of the year besides Thanksgiving Day.  I am thankful for a lot of things this year, and every year, but I'll focus for the sake of brevity.I am thankful for my Partner, who is not only warm and sexy, but knows just exactly how to make me feel good.  He's also a handy reader of

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-43677229342548094572008-11-25T21:07:00.004-06:002008-11-25T21:35:02.272-06:00

Day 25:  50,347And just in time for me to head out of town to eat too much and watch too much football on television with my in-laws.  Oh, and knit too much.Here is Sonar X5 and his classmates demonstrating the new post-Thanksgiving fitness craze, the Tootie Ta.  If you don't know this source of kindergarten hi-larity, check it out on You Tube.   

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-32423798259819617602008-11-22T20:51:00.004-06:002008-11-22T21:24:34.773-06:00

Day 22 -- 45,403 and countingWhen I say that I like Friday night high school football in Texas, I don't want you to get the wrong idea.  I'm not some rabid, season-ticket holder, though I go to most home games (at least through halftime).  The only school shirt I own is a hand-me-down.  I'd mostly rather see the band than the football team (but then I was a band geek).  I don't even have a kid in

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-25243448800468845182008-11-20T13:57:00.004-06:002008-11-20T14:13:49.341-06:00

I had 43,336, according to Pages.  Then I used the NaNo word count validator, which tells me that I have 43,118.  Sigh.  Computers are fickle things.  Anyway, the writing is going well, except for the sore wrists.  I expect to top 45,000 before the end of today.  Highlights of this November:--For the first time in memory, I have written at least one-thousand words every day for nineteen days

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-35963840310572969282008-11-15T21:05:00.001-06:002008-11-15T21:05:36.437-06:00

Writing...

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-81451384421864855682008-11-07T12:40:00.005-06:002008-11-07T13:44:03.760-06:00

(11,062 words completed yesterday.  Oh, and one correction: yesterday I said that ScriptFrenzy is in June, and though it was a June event its first year, it is now an April event.)In today's Corpus Christi Caller-Times, this letter to the editor:***[snip]Prayer, paddles...I do know the cause of the decay in quality of education.  It is not the three Rs that are missing.  It is the three Ps that

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-35614188950728496032008-11-06T10:42:00.003-06:002008-11-06T11:09:22.882-06:00

Proud to be an AmericanWow.  Just wow.  I'm still so excited and proud and relieved about the results of the presidential election.  Disappointed in the outcome of some local races, but I have a good feeling that things will work out for the best.  I want to hold on to this hope and enthusiasm and do Something.  I'm about as far from the White House as most of us, but I think we can all find some

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-22894113087287130642008-11-03T21:22:00.003-06:002008-11-03T21:29:10.375-06:00

Reasons 4 and  5 on MoveOn.org's Top 5 Reasons to Vote in Texas (but these apply elsewhere as well):4.  Help make history.  You could cast one of the votes that elect the first African-American president.  If we win, we'll tell our grandchildren about this election, and they'll tell their grandchildren.  Do you really want to have to explain to your great-great-grandchildren that you were just

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-26799292867876801582008-11-01T12:43:00.002-05:002008-11-01T12:43:55.819-05:00

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-61316285500467799852008-10-31T20:16:00.004-05:002008-10-31T20:31:39.403-05:00

2004Lion and tiger.  But where's the bear?2005Peter and...Willy Wonka2006A stack of cards.  But where are their paintbrushes?2007A ninja and two Harrys2008 A magician (with hat trick), Santa, The (hopping) White Rabbit, and one Crazy MamaThe End.  The Tail End.  Watch out for that light sabre, Rabbit!

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-47416150347575122012008-10-29T13:53:00.002-05:002008-10-29T13:59:33.690-05:00

From three days ago (it's been busy, it's a couple of inches longer now, but does not look substantially different from this)...Side View:Front (or back) View:No, it is no longer able to stand up on its own.  But it did still stand at eleven inches.  I know there is a lewd comment to be made in there, but I can't seem to put it into words.  You'll have to fill it in for yourselves.  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-10895806062383178522008-10-24T21:31:00.001-05:002008-10-24T21:34:40.151-05:00

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-21337909434952195282008-10-24T13:58:00.005-05:002008-10-24T14:31:57.114-05:00

Still standing.  Some small Newton has absconded with the ruler, and the blue tape measure refuses to stand up, but I assure you that this sock is measuring up at 10 inches.  I guess that I'll need six more inches before doing the heel and foot.  In other news....NaNoWriMo begins in a week.  I am proud to say that I've finished a NaNo all three years that I've participated in it.  2005 Something

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-23858735632780715212008-10-23T10:46:00.004-05:002008-10-23T11:49:54.309-05:00

"Let us enrich ourselves with our mutual difference."  Paul Valery, poet and philosopher (1871-1945)So I started making a pair of Kilt Hose for my uncle last Friday.  Kilt Hose are BIG socks.  Knee-high Man Socks.  These are knit on US Size 2 knitting needles, with sock-weight yarn and start at a staggering 108 stitches per round.  Breathe deep with me, because there is hope, as they diminish

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-50078690981530851412008-10-13T21:37:00.005-05:002008-10-17T13:23:31.099-05:00

This is another post where I tell you about something that I'm not talking about.  This telling-you-what-I'm-not-telling-you was actually a classic rhetorical move used by Chaucer to great effect.  Though at the moment, the exact story in which he used it to such great effect is escaping me.  The other day I wrote an angry, ranty, post about an ugly bit of racism occurring on our quiet street,

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-1858388349193730782008-10-13T12:09:00.004-05:002008-10-13T12:29:59.762-05:00

I imagined a post explaining in gory detail the germs that have swept through our house the past week and a half, but decided against it.  I was going to tell you about projectile vomit (times five) in the middle of four separate nights (Can someone give me some sort of scientific-type explanation for why vomitous episodes begin during deep sleep?), in places like a kindergarten classroom, the

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-80445155568599432722008-10-01T10:24:00.000-05:002008-10-17T14:07:19.228-05:00

In case you hadn't noticed.  I over-do with knitting, and sewing and teacher-gifts and occasionally cooking.  A couple of months ago, I declared this ridiculous to do list.  Look, here's another thing finished! (The socks, not the child) Those are the new, Hogwarts-inspired, Sonar X3 socks.  I finished one of the shirts mentioned in that post, the other is half-finished.  The other two were

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-66718022019566686222008-10-01T08:48:00.001-05:002008-10-01T08:48:00.842-05:00

Removing the grass one swing at a time. I love walking places with the kids.  We have a chance to notice things.  Lots of things.  Like street signs and grass and the incredible numbers of butterflies we had around here the other day and house numbers and what is in that trash can and cars and such.  Yesterday, while walking to the local youth educational institution to retrieve Sonar X5, Sonar

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-2452923550348584572008-09-30T13:16:00.004-05:002008-09-30T13:36:13.134-05:00

Start Now. Lovely song.  Lovely idea.  "History starts now."  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-6078625316904489602008-09-28T13:32:00.003-05:002008-09-28T13:37:09.095-05:00

When we clean a toilet, we *really* clean a toilet.  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-6916809132803997452008-09-15T13:06:00.003-05:002008-09-15T13:29:04.561-05:00

When I was little, I wasn't really into tea parties.  I played with friends and cousins who had tea sets, but never really liked them.  Often they were plastic, unsuitable for hot tea.  Or dirty because the cups had been used to dig in the sand.  What was the point, really, if the cups weren't functional?  I do remember, for a short while, that I had a tea set from my grandmother that I used.  I

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-69761668138804772432008-09-14T11:30:00.003-05:002008-09-14T11:46:54.969-05:00

Ok, so I really really hoped that I was done with Ike.  But Ike isn't done with us yet.  Not by a long shot.  Partner's parents, northwest of Houston a couple of hours, experienced Category 1 winds and buckets of rain.  They're fine.  Their house is fine.  They are among the lucky ones.  They have been without electricity since early yesterday morning.  Their power company says it'll be somewhere

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-9525706244181167692008-09-13T12:35:00.003-05:002008-09-13T13:15:09.841-05:00

The boards are down now. 1:00 pm.Tropical Storm Ike31.6N 95.4WAbout 165 miles north of Galveston, east of Waco and headed for Tyler.wind 60 mph with gusts to 100 mphmoving north at 16 mphIke missed us completely.  At midnight the sky here was partly cloudy, the breeze was light.  It was hot and the mosquitoes were horrible.  At four a.m. (the predicted peak of our winds), there was virtually no

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-51827234958588256732008-09-12T20:58:00.004-05:002008-09-12T21:15:57.148-05:00

Due east earlier today.9:00 p.m.Ike 97 miles from Galveston, just shy of Category 3 forceFive hours until eye landing.  They've endured several hours of tropical storm force winds, and at least 17 hours to go with tropical force and hurricane force winds and rain.  The worst is yet to come.  Look at this image of Ike from the International Space Station.  Beautiful and terrible.  Here, it is a

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-44636776517536381602008-09-12T14:42:00.003-05:002008-09-12T15:04:03.638-05:00

2:30 p.m.Ike27.4N  93.1Wwinds 105 mph, gusts 125 mph165 miles from GalvestonTraveling WNW at 12 mphPortland's latitude is 27.8N, so Ike is almost due east of us right now.  I'd show you a picture of due east from here, but the camera batteries are charging.  Later perhaps.  This location is good news for us.  Because Ike is such a big monster, it's unlikely to be able to dramatically change the

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-64570695918695500152008-09-12T09:34:00.003-05:002008-09-12T09:59:41.076-05:00

The first tendrils of Ike.Portland, TexasFriday 9:30 a.m.Ike26.9N  92.2WWinds 105 mphGusts 125 mph230 miles from GalvestonMoving WNW at 13 mphOur new plan:  shelter in place.  The storm is currently expected to make one more turn to the north and make a direct hit on Galveston and Houston.  If it does not turn, it will make landfall between Port Lavaca and Freeport.  All of these towns are up the

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-86824495955258030412008-09-11T16:39:00.004-05:002008-09-11T16:48:06.352-05:00

A glance to the southeast from the back porch.  Ike's out there somewhere.  Portland, TexasThursday 4:30 p.m.403 miles and closingLandfall estimated in 33 hoursWe're in a liminal space.  The storm has turned to the north.  We are now no longer in the Cone of Uncertainty for hurricane force winds.  There could be a wobble back toward us, of course, but the closer we get to landfall, the less

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-79834180377552624312008-09-11T10:44:00.002-05:002008-09-11T10:55:24.512-05:00

Portland, TexasThursday 10:00 a.m.584 miles to IkeThe neighbors are out in force boarding up their windows.  We've put away all of the laundry and need to do a few dishes. San Patricio County has now issued a mandatory evacuation order for the eastern part of the county, including Portland.  Though the storm continues to track farther to the north, and we had begun to entertain thoughts of

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-18177049884614281082008-09-10T21:28:00.003-05:002008-09-10T21:47:59.637-05:00

The dinosaur plant in the front yard (and in the dark), much pruned last year. Portland, Texas9:30 p.m.726 miles to IkeThe library closed early tonight.  We just missed them at five this evening, hoping to get a copy of the book Sonar X8 is reading.  His teachers asked the students to leave their school library books at school.  Pshaw.  When we found the library closed, we headed for our local

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-4324595685981043252008-09-10T14:21:00.005-05:002008-09-10T14:27:37.713-05:00

A cupboard full of books.Portland, TXWednesday 2:00 p.m.School is cancelled for the remainder of the week, and will reopen as soon as possible after the storm.  That second part is ominous, no?  I've got one better than that though...Emergency management officials expect the storm to make landfall at 150 miles per hour, or a strong Category 4 storm.  Very likely to be the worst Texas hurricane

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-34190668795818162852008-09-10T13:03:00.005-05:002008-09-10T13:40:52.741-05:00

I love that Mesquite tree.  What character.  Hold on Mesquite tree, don't let the wind knock you over!!Portland, TexasWednesday, 1:30 p.m.IkeThe neighborhood is relatively quiet.  I heard the guy next door mowing earlier (we'll do that later).  In the distance, the usual traffic noises are quiet.  I can hear a few power saws, an occasional drill, some hammering.  A handful of houses on our street

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-58241923943762110582008-09-09T20:59:00.002-05:002008-09-09T21:38:30.205-05:00

"The waiting is the hardest part."  Tom PettyThere's another monster coming.Right now, we're in the center of the target for this one.  Shrill voices with frightening graphics are cautioning us not to panic.  Yet.  There is still a large margin of uncertainty for the storm.  It *could* hit anywhere on the Texas coast.  Theoretically.  Realistically, the center of the storm is most likely to make

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-71156634200181663832008-09-09T18:56:00.002-05:002008-09-09T19:13:06.904-05:00

A mish mash of things I've been wanting to write about.  But not all of them.  There's still that name thing and the GOP VP candidate and stuff like that.  And my kids.  Who are great.  And I love to talk about them.  So there's no explanation for why I'm talking about knitting and herbiculture.  Ok, so Mystery Stole 4 started last Friday with the release of the first clue.  I got halfway through

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-80776235265124261202008-09-01T20:51:00.002-05:002008-09-01T21:04:34.857-05:00

For Immediate Release.  Originally Patrick was going to walk from Traverse City, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois.  His feet weren't too happy about that plan, so he shifted gears (pun intended) and is now cycling from Cadillac, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois "to raise awareness about the plight of endangered wild Chimpanzees in Africa" and to raise money for the Jane Goodall Institute.  Be inspired.

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-82078902058479093842008-08-31T09:35:00.003-05:002008-08-31T10:03:36.419-05:00

Many things running through my mind today.  Little energy.  Will abbreviate.  1.  New Mystery Stole swatch on US Size 2 needles.  Like it much better.  Really like the orange beads.  Or maybe the purple.  Must decide before Friday.  2.  Sonar X3 is super cute.  This is the SuperCowboy ensemble, made from some old suedy polyester fabric with McCall's 8398, copyright 1966 (Batman, Robin and

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-32136676289661397942008-08-24T20:54:00.006-05:002008-08-24T21:13:36.409-05:00

Do they look ready?  Our lives have long run by a seasonal clock, driven by the turning of the school year.  First as chronic students, and then as perpetrators of education, both higher and public, in three states, our lives have always ebbed and flowed semester by semester, graduation by graduation, summer break by summer break.  In legend and lore, the return to school happens at the end of

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-1656460300469766262008-08-23T15:25:00.007-05:002008-08-23T15:46:28.975-05:00

It's a lovely rainy afternoon here, so of course, I'm knitting.  Here is a photo of my MS4 swatch on US size 4 needles.  KnitPicks Gloss Lace Yarn in Celery, with assorted beads.  I'm not thrilled with the stitch definition, so I'm going to re-swatch with US size 2 needles and whatever the new favorite color of beads turns out to be.  Lemme know what you like.I wasn't sure where to put the beads

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-72754748873877268422008-08-20T14:44:00.003-05:002008-08-20T14:49:29.065-05:00

Could it be that you're 43 today?  I once called you Old Man, but now I think it may really be true.  ;)Happy Birthday Babe.P.S. Yes, that is the finished Hacky Sack Hoodie on Partner.  I have pictures of the whole sweater, but I just love this picture of his hands.    

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-34316207303195558042008-08-19T13:49:00.004-05:002008-08-21T13:27:57.704-05:00

My toe is sore today.  Actually it's been sore for a couple of days because I dropped a glass on it the other night.  I knew it the moment I set the glass down on the corner of my desk.  Actually thought to myself, 'Don't put it there.  You'll knock it over.'  Pah on that inner voice.  I set the glass on the corner of my desk so that I could close the curtain to the right, and turn on the lamp to

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-67155575064972641692008-08-18T13:19:00.005-05:002008-08-18T20:44:26.565-05:00

The Deployment Socks are progressing.  I'll finish the heel today probably, but there's nothing terribly interesting about them for the time being.  I like the 'Semper Fi' suggestion, but I'm still pondering, so if you come up with any other ideas, send 'em my way.  In the meantime, Mystery Stole 4 begins in a few weeks.  I have yarn, and now need to choose beads.  Here's the brief on the beads

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-1566873449496853972008-08-16T12:05:00.004-05:002008-08-16T14:08:35.557-05:00

Olympics Stealth Project The Second is 98% finished.  It lacks some weaving in of yarny ends and some minor functional embellishment.  I'll save those bits to finish up during knitting breaks on the next project to take center stage.  Which would be: Deployment Sock for Brother-in-Law (BIL).  Here's what I have so far on sock one.  About three inches of cuff (why yes, that is a Shiner Bohemian

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-4385522831623559662008-08-11T21:56:00.003-05:002008-08-11T22:00:31.124-05:00

So which one do you like best?  (btw 'embiggen' is a word I stole from the Yarn Harlot.  It just seems like the perfect word.)So please, embiggen at will.  Also, it occurred to me today that swatches of cotton yarn make lovely little washrags (or 'warshrags' if you prefer)

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-44298092336989336222008-08-10T22:47:00.004-05:002008-08-10T23:02:36.333-05:00

I finished one shirt today.Back:Front:(I particularly like the caulk-stained shorts in that ensemble).  The second shirt is just like the first, only in negative.  In other words, the lighter part is darker and the darker part is lighter.  I'll show you when it's finished.  Which may not be soon, because the sewing machine is making a startling noise.  Stealth project the first is finished (

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-51244059484771278192008-08-09T17:32:00.006-05:002008-08-09T18:03:33.156-05:00

Ok, so Partner Sweater is finished as of about ten o'clock this morning.  [grand cheering fills the stadium]Stealth Project Green is 70% finished (I told you, it's small).  As part of a greater project to move the garden beds in the back yard, Partner gathered the remaining onions and carrots from the back yard.  So I've been doing things like this:And this:These carrots look a little slimy, I

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-33644481360309070442008-08-08T18:57:00.003-05:002008-08-08T19:03:25.994-05:00

At 7:00 a.m. GMT -5 (my local time), when the Olympic Opening Ceremonies began in Beijing, I was sleeping.  Partner Sweater had one completed sleeve and one 4-inch sleeve nubbin.  At 6:30 pm. GMT -5, when the Olympic Opening Ceremonies began on our local NBC affiliate, that second sleeve was this long:If you embiggen the photo, you'll see that I've just a bit over 13 inches there.  I had to slow

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-4978606998648484232008-08-07T15:05:00.001-05:002008-08-07T15:07:56.117-05:00

I'm feeling a little dizzy.  I think I'll just go lie down.  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-13041394133934474312008-08-06T23:06:00.002-05:002008-08-06T23:11:38.100-05:00

... then "Work even in [stockinette stitch]  until sleeve meas[ures] 18".  Work in k2p1 rib for 14 [rounds].  B[ind]O[ff] loosely in rib."  Do you think that pain at the base of my thumb is a bad thing?  Hang on, I'm gonna go call Peyton Manning.  I have a question about Bursa Sacs.

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-6867910178686899742008-08-06T14:23:00.002-05:002008-08-06T14:47:11.350-05:00

I managed to finish the Body of the Partner Sweater this morning (two sleeves left).  I started binding it off last night.  I chose a bind-off that is supposedly lovely and stretchy.  Perfect, I thought, to finish the ribbing at the bottom of this sweater without losing the lovely stretchiness of the bottom ribbing.  I got halfway through the binding-off last night, and with hands cramping, I

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-73516558999076347352008-08-02T14:21:00.004-05:002008-08-02T15:22:32.121-05:00

The first sign of the end of our summer has arrived.  Partner returned to work this week after his six-week summer vacation.  I love that he has had this time to hang out with us.  I know that we are very lucky to have this down time.  I also know that the structure of our local school system is what allows this and I support it fully.  I've heard all of the arguments for year-round school, and

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-20763761534326894842008-07-29T22:48:00.006-05:002008-07-29T23:34:25.995-05:00

I love my brother.  I want you to love him too. PJ, circa 1983(Dude, I could have shown them the Butt-Crack picture).  He's come a long way since that little cowboy.  I've taught him everything I could, starting from very early on.  Here I am reading a little Hunter S. Thompson to him and the fam back in the day.Eglentyne, PJ, Sister-Ours, and the Da, circa. 1980Seriously, I'm proud of him.  He's

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-21444059354583923862008-07-29T08:54:00.000-05:002008-07-29T08:54:00.293-05:00

I understand why I like these.  I mean, there's the rocking sound, the smart lyrics and harmonies, the love of family, and the hair.  But could someone please explain why I'm supposed to find these attractive?  Or anything here?  Or how about here, especially these?  What is that, a designer parole bracelet?  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-50117963327577248882008-07-25T20:44:00.006-05:002008-07-25T21:22:46.081-05:00

So I couldn't stand it one more humid, sweaty minute.  I went to a very exclusive stylist.  In fact, he is so exclusive that he has cut my hair only one other time.  He is so exclusive that he only has four other clients.  He always uses the most avant garde techniques though.  Last time, he used the electric clippers to crop my locks into an elfish buzz.  This time he reverted to the pinking

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-57307445459114357412008-07-25T14:16:00.007-05:002008-07-25T14:24:03.304-05:00

The Hurricane is over.  Everyone return to your regularly scheduled sweating.  Here is the extent of our damage:Please note that this thirty-foot section of fence separating our back yard from our right-hand neighbor's back yard was completely rotten prior to Hurricane Dolly.  She just finished off two boards.  We thought briefly about going out during the worst of the wind and pushing down the

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-71433220968334727182008-07-23T16:08:00.003-05:002008-07-23T17:29:20.063-05:00

That's a Chumbawamba song, from the Tubthumper album.Anyway, during my first hour of measuring, my fancy pluviometer measured about 20 mm of rain.  That included at least two waves of rain bands.The second hour saw both a lull in the rain and an increase in winds, and I measured only about 3 mm of rain.  The blusterier it gets, the less accurate my delicate fluviograph.  Hours three and four,

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-73005683248068170442008-07-23T13:17:00.003-05:002008-07-23T13:46:09.481-05:00

It's been raining all day.  It woke me for the first time at six.  It comes in waves: a light, steady rain, punctuated by spells of rain coming down in buckets and sheets.  Our nearest weather station suggests that we have accumulated rain at .36 inches or 9 mm per hour.  I've instituted my own rudimentary weather station on the back patio.  It's a one liter beaker, connected by my brain to a

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-22593084107601414082008-07-23T10:43:00.000-05:002008-07-23T10:43:00.605-05:00

Hayes Carll.  Good singer/songwriter.  Don't miss "Down the Road" and "I Got a Gig."Seriously, the first person I know who can memorize the lyrics to "Down the Road" gets chocolate chip cookies.*  *Unless you live very far from me, like in another country or something,  and I'm not allowed to mail you chocolate chip cookies because they might be considered suspicious under some kind of terrorist,

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-44223914705879749262008-07-22T20:45:00.002-05:002008-07-22T21:43:15.794-05:00

Two part post.Part One.For the first time in eight years, no child was sleeping in the house with us last night.  Nor will there be one tomorrow night or the next night, etc., all the way to the weekend.  We left them at the side of the road.  Ok, no, we left them at grandma's.   Where they will be completely spoiled because grandma loves them completely and will do absolutely anything for them.

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-18062255348740455202008-07-21T22:27:00.001-05:002008-07-21T22:28:16.297-05:00

Hello Dolly. 

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-36089560796554574702008-07-17T00:04:00.000-05:002008-07-17T00:05:15.795-05:00

It's very funny.  I promise.  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-310943976345857872008-07-16T14:35:00.002-05:002008-07-16T14:35:49.659-05:00

Alert the Pizza on Technorati.

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-16181453156047355122008-07-16T14:22:00.001-05:002008-07-16T14:24:12.556-05:00

A National Geographic blog about education funding, specifically geography.  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-63964229105027412142008-07-15T11:26:00.004-05:002008-07-15T11:26:00.917-05:00

We've lived in this house for more than three years.  We've made a few changes here and there as time has gone by.  In the bedrooms, we painted, ripped out nasty old carpet and put in laminate floors (yes, we touched up the trim).We took down the ceiling "decor" in the living room.  (Yeah, I don't know why they did that either, but then, we painted our bedrooms orange and yellow, so...)  Just

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-32554644679096277722008-07-15T00:09:00.001-05:002008-07-15T00:15:23.632-05:00

I'll explain later.

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-90072624069682829032008-07-14T22:43:00.005-05:002008-07-14T23:24:16.222-05:00

Ok, the good news is that the digital camera has returned from its vacation in Illinois.  The nice people at the Canon Factory Resort claim to have returned it to its factory specifications.  And I believe them.  I've already taken a dozen pictures of things I'd been meaning to take pictures of and they're sweetly uploaded onto the Mac here, and I've seen them and fiddled with them and they're

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-49428334908993451752008-07-12T19:47:00.001-05:002008-07-12T19:48:55.381-05:00

Me and Don Quixote.

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-46122513969784849522008-07-11T11:10:00.000-05:002008-07-11T11:10:01.612-05:00

You thought I was joking about that boring you with details thing the other day, didn't you?  Here's more boring details.  A few of the more memorable occurrences during our traipse across the Southwestern United States.  In no particular order, I think.  Swimming with old friends.  Really lovely.  Especially when joined by a swimming pug.  Who can beat that? (excuse the post-swim hair)New Mexico

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-57076680334807482362008-07-10T12:31:00.000-05:002008-07-10T12:31:01.148-05:00

Besides eating some very good food cooked right in the family homestead (Partner's peach cobbler on the Fourth of July was very memorable and yummy), we also ate at several restaurants on our New Mexico voyage.  A note about method: when we travel, we try very hard to avoid places we can eat at home (i.e. chains and franchises), unless we just need to use the bathroom.  I'll alphabetize them--for

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-71326162180086123032008-07-09T22:11:00.004-05:002008-07-09T22:30:40.075-05:00

2008 New Mexico Summer Tour Day 1For the next several posts, I hope to bore you with details.  4:30 a.m.  mdt  Get up.  Seek caffeine.  Dress myself.  Put perishable food into van fridge.5:00 mdt  Move sonars to van one at a time in the dark, hoping they don't wake or at least go back to sleep in a calm, quiet reverie.  (Ha)5:10 mdt  Leave house for the second time.  All sonars are awake.7:00 mdt

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-4586654379246783042008-07-07T00:21:00.003-05:002008-07-07T00:21:01.591-05:00

Note:  Eglentyne has not yet returned from New Mexico, but right now, she's driving back home  across the desert in a van with her Partner and three children under nine years old.  Likely she's wishing for caffeine and ready to choke them all, but we hope there will be good pictures when she gets back and gets them developed.  And we also hope that the digital camera will be fixed soon.  

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-74530922794988111182008-07-05T00:01:00.000-05:002008-07-05T00:01:31.495-05:00

Note: Eglentyne is still in NM.  Many of you probably wish she'd never come back.  Right now, the Sonars are probably scaling rock walls, and she and Partner are probably plotting ways of moving to NM permanently so they can soak up the sunshine and the very cool manana vibe that permeates the state, especially on hot summer afternoons.  She might even be wearing the smoking hot Hawaiian print

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-76553027735743346882008-07-03T00:05:00.001-05:002008-07-03T00:05:00.917-05:00

Note:  Eglentyne is still on vacation.  She wrote this post before she left, and because she is still unable to predict the future, she has no idea what she's actually doing in Albuquerque right now, but she's sure it's fun, and she wishes you could join her.  It probably involves sunshine.  And maybe green chile.  And probably beer.  Partner remembered this punchline, or at least what he thought

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-59726053366090450022008-07-01T11:43:00.000-05:002008-07-01T11:45:05.568-05:00

Note:  Eglentyne is on vacation in New Mexico right now, but decided in a fit of vacation-preparation procrastination to schedule blogs to be posted in her absence in an effort to prove that she could blog more often while away from the computer than she does when at home. This week's posts are the equivalent of elevator music.  Blog + muzac = blogzac.  After a new-music hiatus during the early

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-66893603362281454812008-06-29T12:16:00.001-05:002008-06-29T12:16:01.055-05:00

We are about to pack ourselves and our children into the Eurovan and drive 900 miles through the desert.  I would not necessarily say it is the bleakest drive in the world (that stretch along the border through El Paso is pretty bleak, but we're not going that way this year), not is it the most monotonous (SharpSticks wins that one for her drive through the wheat fields of, hm, Alberta was it?),

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-22151680394447282712008-06-28T23:07:00.003-05:002008-06-28T23:16:21.731-05:00

I love these teas.  The peachy Black Tea is my favorite, with the Energizing Black running a close second (oooh, but the Chai is good too).  Besides their amazing depth of flavor, the cool company vibe, and the bald little old man who used to be on the box, I love the quotes on the tea tags.  Each tag has some pithy quote on it.  "The palest ink is better than the best memory.  --Wise Saying from

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-87338867501863330872008-06-25T21:27:00.003-05:002008-06-25T22:43:22.299-05:00

We had breakfast for dinner tonight.  A someone-in-this-house-was-born-in-a-Southern-state dinner of biscuits, sausage, milk gravy, and eggs (do these parents ever feed their children fruit or vegetables?).  I can't even remember what we were talking about.  The conversation meandered around for a while, and somewhere Sonar X5 popped off with that phrase.  Jelly Dungeon.  With giggles on top. He

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-19469213449133047402008-06-20T09:59:00.004-05:002008-06-20T10:14:15.653-05:00

My digital camera is broken.  I have procrastinated the fixing of it for no good reason.  I could chat you up about all of the stuff I've been making.  I finished Sonar X5's Ravenclaw-ish socks.  Started a pair of ballet slippers for me.  And have worked nearly a foot of the red mohair scarf.  I've recently decimated the mending pile, made a pair of shorts (also for Sonar X5), and will today cut

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-65815298548329027152008-06-19T14:15:00.003-05:002008-06-19T14:33:58.438-05:00

Not too long ago, there was one computer in my house.  A trusty old Compaq Presario laptop.  It was fresh and new way back in grad school, but has stuck with us through thick and thin.  No longer does it travel, but lives in the center of the living room, shared by the whole family, leaned on to keep our digital lives on track.  Then we brought home the SNB*, which now sits next to the Compaq

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-5254448411385801312008-06-12T13:54:00.003-05:002008-06-12T14:43:40.722-05:00

I may have mentioned that I have too many hobbies.  I sew--clothes, quilts, household goods, toys, costumes.  I knit--socks, lace, sweaters, toys, apple jackets.  I make crafty little weird things from time to time.  I encourage my children to do the same.  Their projects often involve small pieces of wood and copious amounts of scotch tape and glue.  And also sometimes paint.  I write--yes, I

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-48950675057296644112008-06-12T13:39:00.003-05:002008-06-12T13:53:48.192-05:00

It's fast (you really can have it finished in thirty minutes).  It's easy.  It's cheap.  And oh my, does it taste yummy.  You might have to give up an email address to get to the recipes, but they're both free recipes that were on America's Test Kitchen on PBS recently.  In the show, they suggested that the garlic-shy could use as few as three cloves of garlic, but seriously, you want to use all

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-412401269358178830.post-24075216751819309162008-06-10T15:11:00.003-05:002008-06-10T15:27:02.388-05:00

*From a song-in-progress by Brother-in-law (songwriter/guitar player)The house is quiet just now.  After a chaotic weekend involving hot dogs, water balloons, watermelon and a wading pool filled with children under 9, only Sonar X3 and I remain.  Partner is at work.  The other two Sonars  abandoned us to spend a week being spoiled by Grandma and Granddad.  Sonar X3 could have gone too, but was

eglentynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694941294903363559noreply@blogger.com1