Sunday Quote

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

- Albert Einstein

We're Ready for our Close-up

11/11/11. At 11:30 (would have posted at 11:11 to be really clever but we were watching a taped Castle. Priorities).

Autumn Farm trek

We love our traditions - one of them is to trek up to Easton to Silverman's Farm and get really good apples and wander around their animal farm area and so on...brought the oldest who first went there 20 years ago, it has changed a bit (and so have we).
Still great apples, pie, cider, and who can resist sweet sheep faces? My oldest and I took many photos (she loved the emus) and I was charmed to note she still remembers the secret words of the sheep. Can't tell you or the sheep will get mad.

Holiday Gift Cornucopia of Ideas!

Where I unselfishly share great links for gift ideas (and because I have filled up my favorites section which is making saving research for my second mystery a wee bit difficult so I need to clear out some of these great links). Start with a unique idea - at Spoonflower you can print out your own fabric - how about making a child a pillow or a naptime quilt featuring their own artwork? Mermaid on your list? She'll appreciate a print from Kolene Spicher (I own two of her prints, love them). Anything from Garnet Hill. Anything. I first encountered their products in an airport - from amazing notespads to clothes and everything inbetween. I am crazy about their office stuff.
So far no mail order that I know of so - please, please, Cush's Homegrown - I need you to ship your amazing salsa around! And if anyone is up Noank way, get some for me at the general store. Lunar Phase calendars? Meshuga mints? Book plates?
Love the hot and cold donkey to comfort the little ones at Jake & Ella (I want the triangle crayons), gorgeous fabrics for the quilter at Anna Maria. You need deep pockets for some of these tiles but wouldn't it be worth it?
Tea lovers? Get them a tea strainer from here and add to a package of cupcakes from Smith Island Bakery. No need to hunt for those reading glasses if they're around your neck. The datebook I got the most compliments on ever was one from Susan Wallace Barnes (love the stickers that come with the datebook and calendars, too). I really love the idea of a life sized cut-out - what a hoot to give someone for the holidays!
Might be old news but the power of affirming things surely puts a positive spin in your mind - and these little cards from Hay House that I first saw at the BEA convention in NYC are really fun. I already suggested the wild blueberry jam from here to a coworker and she loved it! We picked up a jar in North Carolina in the spring and were so happy we could order more from Blue Ridge jams once we were up north and realized how delish they are. I'll end with round one of gift suggestions as the youngest needs homework help...and last one - these amazing toys from Natural Kids - who would not love these felt dolls? Good shopping...

Sunday Quote

Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you. There's only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.

- Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking.

Dia de los Muertos

Para el habitante de Nueva York, Paris o Londres, la muerte es la palabra
que jamás se pronuncia porque quema los labios. El mexicano, en cambio,
la frecuenta, la burla, la acaricia, duerme con ella, la festeja; es uno de
sus juguetes favoritos y su amor más permanente.

To the resident of New York, Paris or London, the word Death is never
pronounced because it burns the lips. Mexicans on the other hand,
frequent it, caress it, they sleep with it, they celebrate it; it is one of their
favorite games and their most permanent love.

- Octavio Paz

Once again neighbors and patrons of our library have put on a most amazing Dia de los Muertos display. I look forward to seeing their creations each year and they never fail to come up with magic. I especially like the skeleton dog looking at the photo of his former self and, of course, the skeleton butterfly.

Cuiridh mi clach air do chàrn.

For you, Anne and Grace, as ever.

Sunday Quote

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.

- C.S. Lewis

Snow in October

Snow kaboshed a party we were having tonight, lines down, tree branches down, branches hitting the roof and skidding off all day and evening. I am amazed we did not lose power but we were ready. Neighbors came over and we ended up with a little party, warm and cozy, on a wintry night.

Autumn, sea side.

just a little green...

Sunday Quote

Each friend represents a new world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

- Anais Nin

I heart serendipitous finds

sometimes you just have to

More Comic Con

One of the misperceptions of Comic Con to the outside world is that it is comic books. Only. What is it actually? Art. Imagination. Theatre. People walking around dressed in Superhero costumes, Cosplay outfits (love the fox ears and tails with kilts)and Loli dresses, steampunkers and sci-fi fans and freaks, all sorts of fans...as someone who loved Bladerunner, the X-files, twin peaks, Sleeper, now HAVEN (watch! on the SYFY channel, it's great!), Star Trek, Close Encounters, yetis and krakens and all sorts of nonsense, and yes there truly is a sea monster in Loch Ness as well as in Lake Champlain (I have stood on the decks of boats on both lakes and called to them :) It's a Scottish thing. So why not believe or at least play that you do? It's fun.

Comic Con!

My first time at the Comic Con convention, such fun. Missed all the main events and skipped the panels, apparently missed the indies at the Pavilion (yes, Ken, next time I will use my convention online planner) but we had great fun. I normally don't like a crowd but when every third person is Batman or a Cosplay girl or an anime character or a sci fi creature, that definitely ups the fun factor.

Sunday Quote

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

- Jimi Hendrix

Shadow plays of the week

Waitin' on a train...

Occupy NYC this past Sunday

Some of the most interesting things to me about the Occupy New York protests is what they are not. They are not violent and destructive like the recent protests in France and in England. No one is setting fires to cars, attacking people, creating true mayhem (I do not call overstepping sidewalks on the Brooklyn Bridge unbridled mayhem, thank you). No one is mugging people, falling down drunk, terrifying the neighborhoods. For the most part it has been restrained, respectful of the environment, and growing in organization - when my daughter and I went down to Zuccotti Park this past Sunday, we were impressed by the tone and the attitude of most of the people - a lot of old hippies and activists mixed in with the young people, a lot of passion and perseverance. I was offered free hugs, free food, and the day I was there the united clergy of NYC - rabbis, priests, etc. were there in sympathy and support. I have not sang "This little light of mine" for quite some time, it was a pleasure to raise my voice with others.
To be sure, a handful of squatters and stoners that seemed to be taking advantage of the situation - what village does not have its idiots? I was there in support - half of what is termed their vague causes - anger at the bail-outs, anger at the economy, unemployment, our money funneled into wars we don't want to be in, feeling unheeded by government no matter whose face is on the campaign buttons, losing jobs, housing, kids graduating from college with no jobs on the horizon, yup, feeling that. Glad people seem to be shaking off the apathy. Glad to see a mix of faces, ages, groups. Some of the chants/gripes/stands I didn't agree with - but because it is such a big amoebic hundred armed creature there is a lot to choose what to be upset about in our country.
I love my country and I consider myself law-abiding -but I am glad to see movement and thought and visions and that this protest and the ones it has inspired nationwide will definitely affect future politics and get the powers that be to understand that the same old same old isn't going to cut it anymore. I hope the protests become stronger, more defined, but remain peaceful and thoughtful. I hope the press stops focusing on the small shocky bits and tries to aim for the overall theme. I hope we all keep an open mind, listen to the voices calling out, and instead of choosing sides, choose to listen.