The Best Trip(p) to the Grocery Store, Ever!

Today Tripp and I took a walk to the local grocery store using his brand new stroller! He loved it!

He sat right up front and enjoyed the "stroll" as much (if not more) as I did!

When we got to the grocery store, I zipped up the stroller and we went through the store with no problems!

It was just a touch chilly today, so Tripp was wearing a little blue tennis sweater -- which unfortunately you can't see in the picture.

We will be going on many more walks to the store and on the Katy Trail in the future!

You Spin Me Round Round Baby Right Round Baby Baby!

Isn't she bee-u-tee-ful? (not me, the spinning wheel!) Yay! My new Schacht Matchless Double-Treadle Spinning Wheel arrived on Friday! I couldn't believe it! I had waited so long... Chris had ordered it on December 13'th; but with the Christmas back-log, it took longer than expected. Each Schacht spinning wheel is made as it is ordered!

Chris and I set the wheel up and I only had 15 minutes that first night to play before we headed out for a hockey game. What I couldn't believe was how fast I adapted to it.

When I went to White Rock Weaving Center to look for a spinning wheel, Anna the owner had me sit down and try the wheel out. Well, I was just a mess! I couldn't even treadle the damn thing and keep the wheel going, let alone spin and feed fiber to the bobbin! My Mom, Anna and me were laughing so hard because I was so mental on that thing! So, I ordered dvd's about spinning and watched every You Tube video out there! All these weeks of watching - and not doing - must've been the trick, because when I sat down with my new wheel, everything just clicked!

Now, I still have a lot of learning to do: speed of treadling, how much twist to give the fiber to form the thread, making a thread that has continuity of thickness and twist, and on and on...
Right now I am using sheep's wool as shown in these pictures. This is the natural color of the sheep! The fleece is sheared from the sheep then cleaned of it's natural greases and any vegetative matter (straw, grass, etc). Then it is combed several times to align the individual fibers into one direction. It is then assembled into this large ball called "top".

To spin the top, I take a small chunk and pre-draft it... that means I lightly pull lengthwise on the fibers to make a thinner piece of top and by doing this, it makes it easier for me to spin and get the continuity I want. I then begin spinning it, literally -- I am spinning the fiber, giving it twist, so that the fibers will hold together and become strong. Once I have achieved the right amount of spin, thickness and texture, I let the spinning wheel take up the thread and spin it around the bobbin.

Now, I could knit with just this one ply of yarn/thread; but that would be crazy (for me)! That would make a lace weight yarn -- but I think even *that* thick of a yarn would still be 2-ply. To make a yarn that is more sport weight, I would ply together 3 or 4 of these spun threads! Then the yarn is "set" by gently wetting it, beating it :) or rapping it on a table corner a few times, then letting it dry completely! Tah-Dah! Yarn!

I'll keep you posted as I create things!

Get Over Yourself

I understood the first time; figured "what the hell" the second time; but this time...

Ralph Nader to Run for President

Testing 1, 2, 3...

I just switched my browser from Safari to Firefox and it's amazing! It's almost like getting a new computer, again! Anyway, there's this add-on called ScribeFire that allows me to post to my blog, edit it and the whole kit and kaboodle with a simple click of a button! Wow! (I say it louder) So, I'm just testing it!

The High Life

I have decided to become a member of both NORML (national organization) and DFW NORML (local chapter).

NORML is a nonprofit organization that stands for the "National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws."

I don't want to insult anybody; but I think it's important to know that I am not some stoner... I lead a productive life and I am a responsible adult. I do *not* condone the illegal use of drugs; however, I do believe marijuana should be a legal substance (that could be taxed and regulated).

I have depression and o.c.d. tendencies and I have been taking medications for this for years. It was a rocky road to find the right meds, with a few mishaps along the way. A bad "side-effect" of the depression and o.c.d. (for me) can be nights of insomnia... so bad that I'll be lucky to get five hours of sleep in 72 hours. Through the years, doctors have tried to cure my bouts of insomnia, with damn near every medication available -- all to no avail. At one point in my life, a doctor had me on EIGHT DIFFERENT MEDS to "cure" me... my anti-depressants, another pill to ease the side effect of the anti-depressant, another to stop making me feel jittery from that pill, a strong sleeping pill, a pill to help me wake up, a pill to give me energy, etc. This combination of LEGAL, PRESCRIBED drugs made me so unwell, I had a major nervous breakdown and was hospitalized for two weeks (thankfully, I found a great dr and I am currently taking one medicine).

Marijuana can help you sleep. One doesn't need to use it everyday. One doesn't feel "hung-over" the next morning. Yes, it can "mellow" you... but nothing more dangerous than a couple glasses of wine.

I don't believe mj is as dangerous as many people believe; however, it should be used responsibly. After reading many facts regarding mj and it's usage, I have realized that these facts need to come to light.

Many people assume that marijuana was made illegal through some kind of process involving scientific, medical, and government hearings -- that it was to protect the citizens from what was determined to be a dangerous drug. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

In the 1937 marijuana was made illegal after roughly 90 minutes of discussion and "evidence", almost all led by a bigot name Harry J. Aslinger. If you think I'm using the word "bigot" just because I don't agree with what he said, please read some of his ACTUAL quotes from those hearings:

"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and many others."

"...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races."

"You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother."

"Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind."

"Marijuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing."

Here are some statistics for you to think about:

Causes of Death/Annual Deaths

According to Drug Warfacts.org for the year 2000 in the USA

Tobacco/435,000

Poor Diet & Physical Inactivity/365,000

Alcohol/85,000

Microbial Agents/5,000

Toxic Agents/55,000

Motor Vehicle Crashes/26,347

Adverse Reactions to Prescription Drugs/32,000

Suicide/30,622

Incidents Involving Firearms/29,000

Homicide/20,308

Sexual Behaviors/20,000

All Illicit Drug Use, Direct & Indirect/17,000

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs i.e. Aspirin/7,600

Marijuana/0

Marijuana is less addictive than Heroin, Cocaine, Alcohol, Nicotine and Caffeine.

There are many great sites out there that can lead to the facts about marijuana.

We Are Fam-Ah-Lee...

This past weekend was a great one! My Mother-In-Law Jackie, Chris' brother Thor and his wife Dio and daughter Antigone came to visit to celebrate Jackie's birthday. We had a blast!

Everybody flew in (from San Diego and Annapolis) on Thursday afternoon. We went to dinner at Texas de Brazil (a churrascaria) and ate a fantastic dinner! The food was delicious, the wine wonderful and of course the company, outstanding!

Friday afternoon we went to the Aquarium and it was pretty cool! We also turned everyone on to "Central Market" -- the most amazing supermarket! Jackie, Thor & Dio are official addicts! We bought waaaay too much food and enjoyed a great bbq/cookout that night!

Saturday was a lazy but enjoyable day! We eventually worked up the strength to visit the Dallas Zoo. It was rather disappointing, I'm sorry to say. What few animals were there did give us their best, though!

Saturday night was the blow-out dinner to celebrate Mom's birthday at Aurora. Freaking amazing/awesome/stupendous/insert-a-fabulous-adjective-here! The restaurant was intimate and beautiful; the staff attentive; the food to-die-for. I'm drooling and shorting-out my keyboard reliving those memories! If you are ever in Dallas, I HIGHLY recommend this place!

Unfortunately, everyone had to go home on Sunday. It truly was a great weekend with lots of laughing and enjoying each other's company!

Hopefully it won't be another year until we can all get together again!

My Goodness! My Fergus!

We just came home from the emergency vet's... Fergus had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy about six months ago... we knew the end was coming. These last few months had been wonderful... we spoiled him even more than we had before and he totally took advantage of it!

Fergus was such a wonderful dog... patient, kind, loving, playful and incredibly noble. Even tonight when he was in great discomfort, he was stoic and seemed he wanted *us* to be ok.

The decision was made at a little after 11pm that he should be put down. His passing was wonderfully peaceful. Dr. Cox was amazing and she let us bring Elvis, Eddie and Tripp so they could say their good-byes.

Fergus will be missed, and tonight, my heart is broken in two.

My Goodness! My Fergus!

August 24, 1999 ~ February 1, 2008

I'm Generous (With Other People's Stuff)!

My Mom made this recipe a couple years ago for our Super Bowl party. It was awesome! She made it again this Christmas, and we devoured it (she shaped it like a nativity scene - adorable)! I know she won't mind me sharing her super-secret recipe (before it became *her* super-secret recipe, it was Kraft's). (seriously this is totally cool with my Mom, right Mom???)

So, just in time for Sunday's Big Game...

Ze Chez Ball - From Ze Keechens of Krawft! (Mom's title, too cute!)

(Okay, there is a traditional version and a vegetarian version. Um, meat and cheese log??? Oh yes... read on little kids, read on...)

Prep time: 15 min

Total time: 3 hr 15 min

Makes: 3 1/2 cups spread, or 30 servings - about 2 Tbsp spread & 5 crackers each. No more. No less. You may have the urge to give your guests 6 crackers. Really good day? 7. No no no no no.

Ingredients:

2 pkgs (8oz ea) cream cheese, softened

1 pkg (8oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1 cup chopped, cooked bacon <--- there's the meat!

Crackers

Beat cheeses and mayo in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add onions and pepper; mix well. Cover. Refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Form into football shape; roll in bacon bits. Garnish with pimiento strips or roasted red pepper strips for the "lacing" - if desired. Serve as a spread for the crackers.

Kraft Kitchen Tips!

Size-Wise - Since this cheesy spread makes 30 servings, it's perfect to serve at your next gathering of family or friends. (great tip!)

Substitute - Ground red pepper (cayenne) for the black pepper.

Substitute - 1 cup chopped pecans for the bacon bits. <--ahh, vegetarian! niiice.

Remember - 2tbsp and 5 crackers per guest! Dammit.

Party on!