Switch?

ACey and Jane Ann (and anyone who might take the time to answer questions about Wordpress or Typepad), I'm interested in knowing about how to switch, about losing all the archived Blogger stuff, prices, picture posting, difficulties, etc. My email address is on my Profile page, and I'd appreciate your opinions.

I have already spend more time and effort trying to figure things out and make adjustments than I care to. If there had been any solutions, I wouldn't be so discombobulated. However, since nothing I've tried (refreshing cache, trying Firefox, new template, etc.) has worked, perhaps the thing to do is to look at another blogging home. If I am going to learn "Tranquillity" as old Ben mentioned, maybe spinning my wheels in frustration is not the answer.

There is some trepidation here... Are my difficulties due to the switch to New Blogger? Is something else going on? If I move my blogs, will the problems be solved? Or is the problem something I will take with me?

On Resolutions...

While I have never had much success with New Year's Resolutions, and usually say that I won't even bother to make them again, this time of year simply demands the kind of thinking that leads to resolutions, whether or not they will ever come to fruition. In quiet moments, my mind wanders to the New Year and the idea of a clean slate, the freshness of a year as yet unsullied by mistakes, failures, misunderstandings, neglect, and omissions.

It is a time that spurs thoughts of goals and aspirations. Some concrete, some abstract. The idea of changing habits - a difficult concept at any time, seems more achievable with the advent of a New Year. Of course, "it ain't necessarily so," since changing habits is never an easy endeavor, but with the idea of a calendar of days waiting to be created, I guess anything seems possible.

The trick, perhaps, is not to go overboard.

I'm reviewing Benjamin Franklin's list and his methods. Here are his Virtues:

TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
MODERATION. Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

My intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judg'd it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone thro' the thirteen...

Here is a link to the entire essay and my favorite paragraph is the last one.

I've chosen a few of the 13 to give special attention to...

No pictures

I've tried everything that has been suggested for posting pictures including trying a new template. No pictures. How much time have I wasted? Embarrassed to say.

Still Catching Up...

Still having difficulties with pictures. Most important current problem is that Fee got us (us?) a new camera, but he has it with him. All the Christmas pics are on it, so I can't load them to Picasa to even see if I can post them. He did get back in town last night, but left this morning before I could grab the camera!

And CHaOs has made an occasional return to what I'd hoped to be the post-Christmas settling in. Typical, that. You make plans for one thing and find it completely disrupted. You find yourself in the middle of something for which you have no plans, but must deal with anyway! I'm breathing deep, exhaling slowly, and trying to force my poor disorganized mind into a coherent path.

Yesterday, the 2nd disc in the Mulberry series arrived, and soon, I will take the time to sink into that for a relaxing visit with some favorite characters. I love several BBC series, and Mulberry was recommended by Carl a while back, so I put it on my Netflix que and watched the first disc before Christmas. Charming and eccentric. Geraldine McEwan is so likable, even when being crochety.

I'm so divided right now... I want to get back into a useful routine, and I want to do absolutely nothing but read. Incompatible. The table topper I started before Christmas lies abandoned, but maybe I'll get around to it before long and have it ready for next year. Decorations and tree need to be packed up and put away. I have a stack of books to read. Bills to pay. Deposit to make. Laundry. Yardwork. I've made some progress this morning; may give myself an afternoon reading marathon, before taking Laddie to dinner.

Post Christmas Relaxation

Whew! I must say things have gotten a bunch quieter around here. We had a lovely time at Amelia's Christmas Eve Get-Together and at lunch on Christmas Day at my brother's. Robin (SIL) did a marvelous job, and several of us girls had a wonderful time with Cranberry Mimosas! Having the whole family together is such a rare treat. Erin and Eric and the "grands" came in on Christmas Eve, Fee and I are only now wiping the perpetual grins off our faces. Hope to have pictures soon.

Hope everyone had a wonderful time (and isn't funny that when it is all over, the pre-holiday stress and bustle sort of melts into mellow memories of the actual events...). Not that most of us aren't ticking off a few things that would make next year run a bit smoother, and while I'm sure I won't actually remember, I do SWEAR to get things done earlier. Where have I heard that before? The words echo mockingly even as I type!

I've been doing some computer and email catching up this morning. Amazing what a few days with limited or no computer time can do to email. General house cleaning is now complete; all of the Christmas stuff will soon have to be boxed back up, but that can wait ...

In a round-about way...

I've finally been able to load these pictures taken several days ago of the Buttonhook tree. These are the only three I could manage after nearly an hour of experimenting (today, that is; I'm not telling how much time I've spent in the last several days since the problem began).

Lots o' Links

Still unable to post pictures, but want to share some pictures from other blogs that make me smile.

In Mississippi, Delta of Arts/Quilts has put Santa hats on her pink flamingoes and a wreath around the neck of one of her gargoyles.

Over at Nellie's Needles are the cutest chocolate Christmas mice with instructions. Aren't they adorable! I'm so gonna' try these!


From the Wren's Nest here is Winter Girl sitting by the fire and looking very much at home.

A link to some impressive and slightly eccentric art done with stainless steel forks. By way of Quilting with Ragdolls.

Fee's birthday was last night. I waited. He called: "Be back in town around 9:00. " I waited. A little after 11:00, he makes it in and blows out the candles on the birthday cake... Plans are always an iffy thing around here.

Erin, Eric, and the grandbabies will be in on Christmas Eve. :) In time for Amelia's Christmas Eve get-together!

Back to wrapping, cleaning, etc. Checking that list!

Beta was just a grotesque experiment?

Still unable to post pictures. Well, actually, they post...you know that big empty box with the little red x ? That is what I'm getting now.

Comments from yesterday indicate that others are having or have had similar problems. Shelina, ACey, and Susan have all had difficulties. Evidently, some blogs have made the transfer, some are in the process, and some are waiting for notification. I'm waiting for notification, but worried.

I managed to get several chores and errands accomplished yesterday, then I finished most of the Christmas shopping. Not so much on the wrapping, though...

Today, some baking if I have time, but no pictures of the delightful and charming little kitchen adventures, and no, not because of Blogger. My messy efforts don't bear documentation. The product is generally pretty good, but the process is neither smooth nor efficient, and does not lend itself to photo shoots of the sort I adore on other blogs.

You know, those beautiful shots of food preparation (dough rolled out on a floury counter, chicken stock simmering on the stove, an egg delicately tapped on the side of a blue vintage bowl); the lovely aqua and red pattern of a kitchen mitt lifting the loaf of perfectly browned homemade bread from the oven - the image so successful that you can smell that homey, comforting smell of fresh-baked bread; and ending with an exquisite place setting and food artfully arranged on the plate? As a barely adequate and disinterested cook, my love of these photos seems a bit weird. But I DO love them and admire not just the ability to cook with such aplomb, but to stage these wonderful photographs as well.

Ya' won't get those here.

What's Up With Blogger?

Blogger Beta is gone? What the heck? Frustrated? Oh, yes...

Blast Blogger...

Fee got home last night, and we decorated the tree. I've been trying to post pictures, but having no luck. Wahhh!

I have done nothing further with the table topper and was going to post that as W.I.P. Wednesday, but can't do that either.

Maybe later.

I did post one of my favorite Christmas poems on A Garden Carried in the Pocket, my book blog.

Sunday Catch Up

I've had all day at home today and have been very busy. After being gone most of the day for the last several days, this is a blessing. I'm still in the midst of cleaning house and catching up with laundry and have gotten quite a bit of yard work done. My gosh, 80 degrees in mid-December. I've cut a bunch of rosemary, eucalyptus, achillea, and artemesia and have done several arrangements. Almost nothing more on getting out the Christmas stuff, except for this little setting.

My vintage Santas and bottle brush tree come out every year. Here they are with more of Fee's Santas. I've alternated between indoor and outdoor chores all day.













Trying to clean house and pull out boxes of decorations is a contradiction in terms, so the living room is full of clutter, and I'm pretty much ignoring it for the time being. One of the problems with all of the Christmas stuff is that I have to find a place for all of the things they are temporarily replacing.

I started a table topper the other day, worked a bit more on it last night, and hope to get some more done tonight.

Finally...

I finally dragged in some boxes and made an effort at decorating for the holidays. Late start, but there you go.
Finished the garland last night. Added lots of glitter to stars, yo-yo's, and rickrack, although it doesn't show up in the photos.

The tree is out, but not decorated. I need to locate the ribbons and bows, and clean up the buttonhooks that need it. We use button hooks and bows as decoration, hanging them all over the tree. We have around 130, but some don't get hung. I need to clean all of them again and coat with polyurathane to prevent rusting.

Here are some of the smaller ones. You can click on the picture to see them better.

Another Miscellaneous This and That

Given the fact that treadmills have in the past conspired to frighten and embarrass me, I found this video (via Rebecca's Pocket) to be quite impressive (and funny)!
W.I.P. Wed. - this has been sitting on my cutting table for nearly a week now. Inspired by all of the yo-yo and garland and yo-yo garland posts, I started a garland. Watching Firefly and making yo-yo's was fun, finishing the garland has not felt pressing.

Here are some magical books. I first saw these posted on Ullabenulla's blog, but rediscovered them today.




And for a good laugh, try The Unorthodox Taxidermy of Dr. Seuss.
Found at MakeReady.

Ho, Ho, Ho

More wonderful mail! Look what I received from Kim of SkybellArts! Inside this wonderful cover is a datebook for 2007 - so not only a piece of art, but a piece of art that I can:



1) carry with me,
2) display to others on a regular basis :)
3) use in a practical way.

I'm so thrilled. Thanks, Kim, for such a beautiful piece of your work!!!!

Click on the picture to see the lovely details.

For some reason, the scan made 3 petals of the iris look blue, and they are really two lovely shades of purple. Do you see the beads on the bottom left? They are attached to the ribbon book mark inside.

I'm going to make a little bag to slip it in, leaving the top open for easy access. I don't want my gift mingling with the common elements that occupy my purse.

One more trip to the doctor today; then, if I have time, I'll be able to drop by and visit with the group who are joining Mike for lunch at the Columbia Cafe.

Art Books and Children

I did pick up a couple of art books yesterday. They are not what I was looking for, but each one is wonderful.


Hiroshige: One Hundred Views of Edo is worth hours and hours. This is a link to all of the prints.



The Great Masters of European Art will provide more hours of entertainment. From the 14th to the 19th centuries, beautiful reproductions, lots of details, and the text that I've read is both interesting and informative.


These books are huge and heavy; I'll keep one and give one to Erin. Perfect books for holding children in your lap and looking at the pictures together. The Great Masters tome will require some editing for a while as some of the paintings are not exactly conducive to a good night's sleep.


Laddie was with me and B & N was crowded so browsing in the way I intended was impossible. Another occasion will give me time to look more carefully. I also wonder what might be available in the children's section that would be suitable.


My friend Thomas (who won't comment) sent me a link to the Thames & Hudson series which "have excellent images and text, a small size, and a moderate price. I love them." Ha! Might as well comment, Thomas, I'm quoting you. These appear to be exactly what I want...only choosing one with which to start will be difficult. Here is a list of just one category, Western Art. Thanks, Thomas!

Jane Ann, let me know what you end up choosing in the art category. There are so many wonderful art books out there - and won't looking and choosing be fun?

Christmas List (updated)

OK - finally got this picture loaded, but don't have time for any more right now.

I'm making my Christmas list from Jane Ann's Favorite Things posts. Today's entry was on a tool called Piping Magic and Bernina's #31 piping foot. The piping foot was already on my "wish list," and I looked at it last time I was in my local quilt shop.

While visiting Wisecraft this morning, I discovered a wonderful Christmas gift for Miss Mila. Wisecraft has Young Mother Sewing by Mary Cassatt posted; her daughter was given Cassatt: a Retrospective when she was born. Today, instead of looking just at children's books, I will look for some good art books (especially those on the discount table). Cassatt, for sure, but what others may be appealing to young children.

I had some pictures to post, but Blogger won't let me. Will try again later.

Massage, Margarita, Movie

Today was a full day. I managed to get to the library (crucial) and pick up a bunch of new books, then to the mall to pick up some long sleeve tees. The mall was empty. Well, almost empty. Amazingly empty for this time of year. Found 3 tees and a Liz Clairborne cardigan on sale, so I was pretty pleased with myself. Heading back to the opposite end of the mall, I passed 2 Chinese women who were giving massages.

I slowed down. There were 4 chairs, the sort you kind of kneel on, and one woman receiving a massage. Before I could absorb it all, one tiny lady had taken my arm and was leading me to a chair. I tried asking questions, but she didn't really speak English. Enter the other lady, who did speak some English, and watch me shed shopping bag, purse, and jacket, and climb right on the chair IN-THE-MIDDLE-OF-THE-MALL.

I have had neck problems for many years now - the result of a dear friend who didn't realize the light was red and plowed right into me and a complete stranger who did the same thing several years later. The massage was worth it, and right now, it still feels better.

Tonight, Fee and I went for some TexMex and some beer (for him) and a Margarita (for me). When we got home, I decided the lift from the Margarita might make it possible to watch Grey Gardens. It has been hanging around here for 3 weeks because I was afraid the subject matter might be too depressing or disturbing, even though I wanted to see it. Although there were many uncomfortable moments, the documentary was fascinating. The movie was 1 1/2 hours and the commentary, interviews, etc. another hour or so, and while I'm still very curious and reached no conclusions, David and Albert Maysles provided some powerful footage in this documentary. Definitely not an action movie.

New oven mitt and pot holders

I had a chance tonight to finish my oven finger mitts. Here are my new kitchen accessories: an oven mitt, scrappy potholders, and finger mitts.

These were quick and easy and look a heck of a lot cleaner than the old ones that are going in the trash tomorrow (er, today, I guess, as it is after 12:00). I will get to see how well "insulbrite" works.

Useful scraps

I found this fun Advent Calendar through Rebecca's Pocket.

There were several rows left over when I finished this quilt. Sewing up a tube from one of them made a perfect cover for a spring-loaded curtain rod. Stuck the curtain road between 2 door frames in a narrow hall with clips to hang the quilt. The clips make it easy to flip the quilt to show the back, and the tube slides off if I want to change quilts.

Latest project - scrappy hot pads, oven finger mitts, and an oven glove. Thanksgiving made me look at the shape of my hot pads, which are a bit stained and dingy even after washing. Poor things have been around too long. I'd purchased some insulbrite a few months ago...the last time I paid attention to the sad condition of my hot pads. Yesterday, I made 2 hot pads out of fabric scraps, experimented with patterns and procedures for oven finger mitts, and made a pattern for a glove to fit my hand.

Swap and Birthday pictures

Here is the cool Aurora postcard from the swap with Deb H. -- don't you love that Angelina fiber sparkling across the Alaskan sky? The thread work flower has a shisha mirror as its center and the thread work holding it in has a spiral!

I need a new coat and was planning on a simple wool one of grey or black. I'm already planning to attach my flower pin to the lapel. Thanks again, Deb!!

Here are the pictures from Amelia's birthday dinner on Friday night.

Amelia and her grandfather made a cute couple...

until Chris arrived with his "Mohawk" and Amelia divides her attention.








I made Fee lean WAAAY over so I could get a picture with Laddie.

Birthday Girl and new Mail

Last night, we took Amelia out to eat for her birthday. Afterwords, unbeknownst to Amelia, she and Chris were going back to their house for a surprise birthday party. We didn't go, and I hate having missed all the pictures at the party, but have some from dinner.

Blogger is doing a new kind of strange. Can't post pictures, not unusual, but a different problem.

My swap with Deb H. arrived yesterday! A beautiful postcard all sparkly with Angelina fibers and a pin for the new coat I'm going to buy! Gorgeous stuff. Thanks so much, Deb! I will have to post pictures when Blogger allows.

Birthday Girl

Today is Amelia's birthday! We will be going out to eat tonight at Olive Street Bistro. Mmmmm. She is still excited about her walk on roll in the new Luke Wilson and Jessica Simpson movie. On Wednesday, they were filming next door to the Beck Building, and Amelia walked over and stood next to the extras. All of a sudden, someone took her arm and moved her into the scene with Jessica Simpson. She ended up in 3 scenes, before going back to work!

I'm still busy running organizing the sewing room. And finding all kinds of goodies I'd forgotten about- trims and beads, seam rippers and needle threaders, books and patterns. And discovering that I won't have to buy batting or muslin again for a long, long time.

Christmas...no decorating so far. Things have been hectic around here for a variety of reasons and then I decided to organize the sewing room which means total upheaval and chaos until I finish.