tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30283742012-02-16T13:51:36.899-05:00cycling, crafting, and the detritus of my daily life.ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.comBlogger5221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-47269152016368592702012-02-10T20:24:00.000-05:002012-02-10T20:24:20.667-05:00

I imagine by the time the sun comes up tomorrow this will have been 'round the web six times, but just in case YOU did not see it:

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-4745782359253046932012-02-10T16:01:00.001-05:002012-02-10T16:01:54.869-05:00

I was just over at Kmkat and Her Needles reading about her customer service experience with Signature needles and I have to say that I was impressed. I have seen the needles in person and was impressed with their quality. I did not realize that they are an American made product. It's good to hear that their customer service standards are high, because like everything else, with these needles you

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-64318286796847369792012-02-08T13:55:00.000-05:002012-02-08T13:55:13.290-05:00

I've been getting away from bottled water lately, partly because in general it seems that eating and drinking from plastics may be a little unsafe, partly because I don't like to buy things which I will immediately have to take to the dump, and partly because I'm just too cheap to buy what I can get so much cheaper at home. (this is my motivation for loads of things. I quit smoking because I was

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-43777525328642756582012-02-07T15:46:00.000-05:002012-02-07T15:46:34.088-05:00

Menahaunt Yacht Club in winter Windy Winter Day on Menahaunt Beach One of the things I discovered about myself late in life was that I love the beach. I came to this realization late because I have the kind of skin that burns to a crisp instantly and I grew up south of Cleveland Ohio. I never saw the sea until I was twenty (and that was on the ferry to Prince Edward Island in late winter).

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-35516307692870414132012-02-02T14:29:00.002-05:002012-02-02T14:29:41.596-05:00

In knitting news,  I have finished another scarf. This one is in Fiesta Yarns Insignia La Boheme. it's a two strand combination of a rayon boucle with a mohair that is as close to looking like a metallic as a yarn without any metallic component can be. Sparkly, pretty and soft, it's the sort of scarf that takes the place of a necklace. Once I got it out the skein and into a ball (tricky) it

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-19941289154620601302012-02-01T14:03:00.000-05:002012-02-01T14:03:58.616-05:00

I've been planning a picture wall for my living room for a while. The ideal would be to zip out the the zillions of wonderful galleries here on the Cape and buy small original works of art which would magically combine into a beautiful whole. I ran into a couple of roadblocks. The most obvious is my current lack of small works of art that are not already living on my walls. Due to the size and

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-4587585533774967152012-01-31T11:52:00.000-05:002012-01-31T11:52:32.772-05:00

Scarves are back in a big way! For lots of people like myself they never really left - I have scarves in my closet I've had for thirty years. I still wear a lot of the old ones and have added several new ones to my collection. They let me get away with a smaller wardrobe and still look like I've got lots of clothes.  I ran across this video showing some ways to wear the really big scarves that

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-70438591999774134692012-01-26T15:07:00.002-05:002012-01-26T15:07:54.269-05:00

Last night I finished the knitting portion of the Guernsey Wrap that I was working on while I visited my mom in Denver. We just kind of hung out at her house, so I had plenty of quality knitting time and really got into the rhythm of it. I used seven skeins of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes that I had purchased in 2007 with the intention of knitting a saddle shoulder pullover. Last year I started

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-71722422263600829312012-01-25T12:55:00.000-05:002012-01-25T12:55:27.159-05:00

In addition to my recent trip which gave me some extra knitting time, I have been able to add some regular knitting time into my routine.  I have been happy to have some extra time to devote to the pure enjoyment of knitting, but I have also been motivated by living in a cooler climate. I just want more cozy knitted accessories to wear. Jennifer and Logan sent me some beautiful alpaca (Jennifer

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-22303439502679797502012-01-24T16:54:00.001-05:002012-01-24T16:54:53.356-05:00

After a week of visiting family I am back home on Cape Cod. I started in Oklahoma City, where I saw Alex, Samantha and Vivian. I was staying at the ever so luxurious Motel 6, so our visits were in restaurants and (Vivian's favorite) Chuckie Cheese. Sam and I spent an easy day at Penn Square Mall, strolling around and doing a little shopping. I was also lucky enough to be able to visit with lots

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-4658532161859904522012-01-13T14:46:00.000-05:002012-01-13T14:46:16.432-05:00

One of the things that's rare on Cape Cod is the chain book store. There is one Barnes &  Noble in Hyannis, but otherwise if you want to buy a book you can shop at your grocery/drugstore or choose an independent bookseller. There are quite a few book stores here which are not only independent, but also downright eccentric. If you have a taste for rare or used books there are a lot of places to

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-27867343232010802852012-01-09T21:15:00.000-05:002012-01-09T21:15:16.770-05:00

I ran across this charming video today and had to share: I'll get another post up tomorrow - I have new finished knitted objects to share but I have not photographed them yet.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-35043587373921307072012-01-02T12:21:00.001-05:002012-01-02T12:21:51.480-05:00

Typical of our status as certified Wild Women we skipped "Amateurs' Night" and did our wild partying at home. Shana watched sports and fell asleep by nine. I stayed up switching between CNN and New Years Rockin' Eve on TV while working on knitting up my Christmas yarn and playing five matches in Words With Friends. I ran upstairs at midnight because I thought the storm door was banging loose, but

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-80132553283067331982011-12-27T14:43:00.001-05:002011-12-27T14:43:57.045-05:00

Time to take stock of 2011: what is still undone and what I will try to accomplish in 2012. Must be done before the end of this year: Register my car in Massachusetts, transfer my drivers' license to Mass and register to vote in Massachusetts. Unfinished business from 2010: -Clothing for Mr. Foster (unfinished Xmas gift, should be finished ASAP) -Silk shawl, cabled socks, experimental lace

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-68821630658211894562011-12-22T11:23:00.000-05:002011-12-22T11:23:51.515-05:00

My friend Janet shared a lovely little film with me, and I'm going to do the same. These are things that are right in front of us but because of the nature of our sight we never see them: For all of my friends, blog buddies, and family I wish a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, and Yule, and hope everyone has a splendid and productive New Year.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-65989618241529580842011-12-18T14:17:00.002-05:002011-12-18T14:21:41.821-05:00

All my  Christmas packages went in the mail yesterday (Priority Mail, Ouch!), so I can amuse myself now without worrying that I'm taking time out from gift projects with deadlines. Mom sent me a Christmas check, which I cashed and made a beeline for Barnes & Noble. I had been longing for a reckless book feast and the time has come! Shana offered to come with me, but I went alone this time so I

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-14780188811553387972011-12-13T13:48:00.000-05:002011-12-13T13:48:08.822-05:00

I seem to be doomed to forever live where there are no porcupines. I have a long standing unsatisifed wish to see one in the wild. Although their range does not extend to Cape Cod they apparently live in northern Massachusetts and elsewhere in northern New England, so i'm thinking a camping trip up north should be planned for next summer. In the meantime video will have to suffice: We have

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-46047729889226380132011-12-09T12:35:00.001-05:002011-12-09T12:47:09.285-05:00

I've been plugging right along with the knitting. This week I pulled a big skein of handspun wool from my stash for a quick and casual scarf and hat. It's getting cool here and I was eager to have something woolly, and new to wear for beach walks. This was yarn I purchased at Taylor Bray Farm at last spring's open house. Because the yarn itself has a lot of texture and color changes that I

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-1550603930040236692011-12-07T16:51:00.001-05:002011-12-07T17:15:13.417-05:00

I've been fiddling around with hats this week. I've made a hat according to a pattern (notice I do not say exactly!) and one that's pretty much improvised. I made Beamish from BamBeanies pretty much as written, except for using only one color. It came out pretty cute. I must point out that the "hat model" has a pointy bun on the back of her head, which makes the shape of the hat decidedly odd.  

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-5566457075002456762011-12-06T12:24:00.001-05:002011-12-06T12:44:19.318-05:00

I'm in my usual December knitting frenzy, testing my speed and commitment against the last possible shipping dates for gifts to arrive on time. As usual I started  thinking and planning months ago but piddled around until the deadlines started approaching. I didn't feel like doing serious holiday knitting until we moved into our home in September. I'd love to be able to offer a good excuse for

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-12726445281046980362011-12-03T17:45:00.001-05:002011-12-03T18:07:03.328-05:00

This is when the locals go to the beach - before the snow flies and after the tourists and Summer People leave for the season. There are some public parks and recreation areas which are truly closed after the summer (I guess WE are not the public they mean to serve) but the public beaches are not only open but they are free and you can bring your dog. In summer to park there you must

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-72940604420304775902011-11-30T10:37:00.001-05:002011-11-30T10:52:17.754-05:00

I hadn't seen this for a while, and it's just as funny as I remembered: kitd.html5loader("flash_kplayer_iLyROoafYtDe"); We're just about through the last of the leftovers from our Thanksgiving dinner - just about time to think about Christmas cookies. Weather here is just like late spring, but without the daily rain.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-27999398618225543942011-11-28T11:19:00.001-05:002011-11-28T11:36:24.752-05:00

You may feel like you are doing your civic duty by carefully choosing your media outlets, but here's an eye opener: Source: Frugal dad Street Scene Beacon Hill If you don't already, take your media content with a grain of salt and do your homework online. By the way, Frugal Dad is a good resource for a lot of interesting information and coupons. Check it out if you haven't already! I was

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-54213787561016735102011-11-26T10:29:00.001-05:002011-11-26T11:51:37.436-05:00

We spent the holiday with family and friends, ate too much, took a long walk, and came home in a state of collapse. We have a great supply of leftovers and Roxy lives in a constant state of unsatisfied yearning for a plate of turkey. I went to Sandwich Wednesday to visit the Sandwich Glass Museum again. Our house guest loves antique glass, so that was the obvious place to go. There was a

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-72384951859758675912011-11-22T10:33:00.001-05:002011-11-22T11:37:41.208-05:00

George Washington Mature Beech Tree at Boston Common We have a house guest this week from Oklahoma and an excuse to run around to the tourist traps. I was "Off Cape" for the first time in months this weekend trying to hit every possible tourist attraction. Usually when Shana and I go to Boston we have two or three things we want to see or do and wander around casually for the rest of the

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-68185764627296995492011-11-15T10:01:00.001-05:002011-11-15T10:28:46.640-05:00

We've got most of the big indoor projects done here on Cotuit Road, but of course there is always some kind of crafty project under way. In needlework I've got a secret project about a third done - as always I seem to work backwards from the deadline and start things only when I know I will be done 15 minutes before it HAS to be complete. As usual I don't know why I put it off because the secret

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-5765751672876762222011-11-08T10:17:00.000-05:002011-11-08T10:17:10.477-05:00

I recently saw a segment of the Rachel Maddow show suggesting that the Herman Cain campaign is an elaborate practical joke. Of course this immediately brought to mind the Pat Paulsen election campaign. The Rachel Maddow segment, with my apologies for the oddly placed Exxon ad: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy The 2008

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-78370217309984968182011-10-29T12:34:00.001-04:002011-10-29T12:40:08.338-04:00

If you were wondering what kind of crowd control standards we require in a war zone (which I believe Oakland is NOT):

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-23058459447999964022011-10-25T10:17:00.000-04:002011-10-25T10:17:19.252-04:00

During the summer on Cape Cod the beaches are full of tourists. There is no parking, all of the beaches require stickers and/or payment for parking, and dogs are not welcome. I got around some of the issues last summer because I was living within walking distance of the shore, and I had the benefit of a yacht club membership. If I got out early enough or late enough I could get the dogs out for a

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-41799390688241106522011-10-24T11:14:00.000-04:002011-10-24T11:14:46.221-04:00

I've been surprisingly consistent (for me) in posting blog entries with one, or at least limited, topics. It's not really like me - I love a good tangent better than I should. I ended up with a lot of odds and ends pictures, some of which I upload to Flickr and some I just let hang around on my computer until I need a little something for a post without much visual interest. I am not counting the

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-61935152707532170542011-10-23T16:52:00.000-04:002011-10-23T16:52:51.319-04:00

Given the number of times I have been visiting yarn stores and farms it's about time I posted something like a finished knitted object. I actually have two finished objects to post for an exciting change of pace.  You'd think the astonishing output this month would indicate I will be running short of stash yarn, but not so. Todays visit to the Little Farm on Cape Cod yielded a lovely sunshine

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-29289058477779175862011-10-21T15:14:00.000-04:002011-10-21T15:14:21.383-04:00

Once again I have not been raptured.  I thought they were talking about was being taken bodily to heaven but maybe this is what they meant?

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-54129421125707791312011-10-15T16:15:00.000-04:002011-10-15T16:15:52.489-04:00

At last our sofa is delivered and taking its proper place in our living room. We have not had one for a while and I was looking forward to having one. That the one be bought was my absolute first choice is just icing on the cake. This is the room whose color scheme so distressed me - flesh pink beige trimmed with flat band-aid. The room has been getting better little by little since we moved in.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-36138771900116834522011-10-14T13:59:00.000-04:002011-10-14T13:59:49.575-04:00

Before we even had picked out a house to put it in we had purchased a little white and crystal chandelier for our bedroom. It's been in a box for months - the promise of a pretty bedroom for us. The house we bought had a ceiling fan the size of a helicopter (a very nice fan but not at all my taste and much too large for the room) which because of the way it was wired had to wait for an

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-80801113175420425132011-10-11T15:48:00.000-04:002011-10-11T15:48:48.365-04:00

After having stripped a lot of it to the studs the bathroom is finally finished, except for the vanity drawer pulls and a window treatment. I am currently haunting Spoonflower for a suitable print. I have scoured the local Joann's and will be hitting the other fabric sources on the Cape, but I suspect I may be looking for this fabric for some time.  The colors in the floor and shower are a little

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-28175535606412652782011-10-06T16:06:00.000-04:002011-10-06T16:06:41.939-04:00

With the kitchen counters in and the sink hooked up I'll call this one finished. We were able to keep the existing appliances in place, which allowed us to spend a little more on our finishes. Eventually the appliances will need to be replaced, but for now they are adequate for our needs (except that the stove isn't pretty). We used our old kitchen table, and repurposed an existing small piece

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-1602363217374741272011-10-05T16:04:00.000-04:002011-10-05T16:04:21.759-04:00

This morning - no counters at all! Finally our counter tops were installed today. Both the bathroom vanity top and the kitchen counters were installed. At one point I had two crews in the house working on separate counters. Both counters are gorgeous, but we do not have a working sink in the house until tomorrow morning. The sinks have adhesives and silicon which have to cure for some time

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-30536003325565442452011-10-04T15:03:00.000-04:002011-10-04T15:03:33.571-04:00

Because both of us use my desk for bills and scheduling, I knew I needed some kind of pinboard for the area to improve the function of the area. When I was out yesterday looking for towel racks and other items of bathroom decor I looked around and not only did not see anything I wanted, I saw nothing at all in that line. My original idea had been a ribbon board, but I thought some kind of cork

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-72374258037798192692011-10-03T16:52:00.000-04:002011-10-03T16:52:58.434-04:00

Lots of things will be installed this week, so more before and afters should be coming later in the week. Today I am going to show you our bedroom although there are a few things still to be done. The previous owner was a big fan of lavender. I think she was actually planning to paint her next bedroom the exact same color. People who have known me since junior high might recognize the color of

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-17371749856905314782011-09-28T21:06:00.001-04:002011-09-28T21:06:57.534-04:00

In case you have not met your meme quote for the week:

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-44624790886555032102011-09-26T19:06:00.000-04:002011-09-26T19:06:23.106-04:00

If you had any doubt about ow the world works today you need to watch this:

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-56311439576490499682011-09-25T13:54:00.000-04:002011-09-25T13:54:41.968-04:00

This weekend was the first, and I hope annual, Cape Cod Yarn Crawl.  Six yarn shops ended up participating and it was a blast! We printed out our passports form the Internet here, and visited all of the stores to have them stamped. Full passports were dropped off at our last stop to be eligible for prize drawings. I had not intended to go because I had visited a nice shop the previous weekend in

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-32494429984178167482011-09-23T11:47:00.001-04:002011-09-23T11:48:37.021-04:00

Long before we moved in Shana had made an appointment for an energy audit from Cape Light Compact. It's a pretty general organization which does all kinds of things to help in energy issues for consumers on the Cape: energy audits, consumer advocacy, information. We had a team of two engineers come out at no cost to us to look around and see what we could do to control our energy costs.  Roxy was

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-47999017054430674052011-09-21T16:32:00.000-04:002011-09-21T16:32:04.324-04:00

Our remodel is not complete yet, but I'm pretty close in some rooms. The guest room in particular is within "spittin' distance" of being finished because the only thing it lacks is window treatments. I'll be making roman shades for that room, probably next week. I wanted to buy them (lazy me) but could not find them for the next to nothing price I wanted to spend.  The plan is to make simple

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-78368955935645498162011-09-19T10:40:00.000-04:002011-09-19T10:40:00.113-04:00

In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day I'd like to offer a video: a link and a joke: Pirate walks into a bar, and the bartender notices he's got a steering wheel fixed right over his groin. Bertender asks him, "Hey buddy, whats with the steering wheel?" Pirate says "AARGH IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS!!!"

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-83616549717610468402011-09-18T19:49:00.000-04:002011-09-18T19:49:08.018-04:00

Once again a video in my bucolic fantasy vein: On the home front: we are doing the template for the bathroom vanity tomorrow, the kitchen counter template (again) on Tuesday. This should put us at least a week away from installing those counters, which will leave only flooring thresholds, paint in the bathroom, and window treatments for the guest room, bathroom, and kitchen. I had my heart

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-53553909392619615042011-09-16T12:49:00.000-04:002011-09-16T12:49:07.038-04:00

Here's a video I ran across today that I thought was worth sharing: Kind of timely for me. I have been struggling with anger and depression mainly having to do with the trials and aggravations which have accompanied our remodeling job. This week I have made a conscious effort to remember to start my day on a positive note. The one I have chosen is to say every day (out loud, because I know that

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-65112471223099488192011-09-05T09:10:00.000-04:002011-09-05T09:10:33.364-04:00

Several weeks ago I made my pilgrimage to IKEA for bookcases.  They've been sitting stacked up in the basement ever since, waiting for me finish painting and get ready to put them up. Yesterday I set aside a day when I had someone available to help with the assembly, so I put together five bookcases and set up my lair. I started with a very plain white basement room with no windows, and now I

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-77455000035558552612011-08-25T11:21:00.000-04:002011-08-25T11:21:06.093-04:00

The beloved Eric Cantor lets us know that FEMA will be there for us if the budget can be cut enough in other areas. Really? I don't know whether to laugh or cry. We'll see how that plays with the damage from the recent East Coast earthquake, followed by Irene heading for the Carolinas right now.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-70857480874037198952011-08-23T11:54:00.000-04:002011-08-23T11:54:00.338-04:00

I could not resist sharing this video - am amusing treatment of a serious issue: I picked it up over at Granny Peace Brigade Where you can find all kinds of info for us old liberals!

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-67571725913581179702011-08-18T12:21:00.000-04:002011-08-18T12:21:07.144-04:00

Summer is slipping away faster than I could have imagined. I saw a flock of robins yesterday - always my first inkling of fall's arrival. I know the summer weather is not over, but the nights are getting steadily cooler and it can't be long until the days are cooler too. It's been an odd summer  - I have only been on my bicycle once, and although I have gone to the beach quite often I have yet to

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-13657756350381780882011-08-16T16:43:00.000-04:002011-08-16T16:43:22.323-04:00

Today Steve the painter came back to begin on the trim. To my great pleasure he started on the living room trim, where it had painted with flat band aid colored paint. It was the ugliest color combination ever, and looked even worse against the beautiful new floors. Today the trim is mostly white. It will definitely need another coat, but it already looks better and the room looks mysteriously

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-12827485387526097262011-08-15T16:20:00.000-04:002011-08-15T16:20:33.002-04:00

Please note the color of the old trim! Today my painter came to start on the trim and ceilings. Steve did all of the ceilings today, and tomorrow he starts in on the trim. I can hardly wait, because the trim in my living room is flat paint the color of band-aids. Just gruesome. My downstairs neighbor in Columbus, Ohio had walls that color once by accident as a result of mixing together every

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-71357339035275215192011-08-14T18:48:00.000-04:002011-08-14T18:48:51.243-04:00

Gratuitous Dog Picture Today Shana and I took advantage of the Massachusetts sales tax holiday to purchase my bookcases at Ikea in Stoughton. This is the only Ikea in Massachusetts; it is an hour away and off Cape. That makes it more than a casual visit, so I had not been there yet. The very idea of it was so thrilling that I gave up a meeting with my Stitch 'n Bitch to make the trip. I sat

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-30156049455949013152011-08-13T17:23:00.000-04:002011-08-13T17:23:07.298-04:00

I can remember my first yo-yo. I believe it was purchased at Atlantic Mills, one of the lost discount stores of the 60's. My proudest achievement with the toy is "around the world".  Somehow it never looked like this young man's interpretation! It is encouraging that these contests are still being held. Tomorrow I am going on a pilgrimage to Ikea to look at book shelves - be still my heart!

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-13649468678433809642011-08-12T14:43:00.000-04:002011-08-12T14:43:54.909-04:00

Since I have moved to Cape Cod my interest in recycling has grown enormously. Out in Oklahoma there is not so much emphasis on recycling and conservation in general. Out there there are plenty of places to throw something away. Here on the Cape there is no "away". There is no permanent dump - everything we throw away must be carried off-cape. In an effort to increase revenues at the Falmouth

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-89496238407841362682011-08-11T16:52:00.000-04:002011-08-11T16:52:01.814-04:00

As of today all of the old flooring which will be removed is gone (well, some of it is sitting outside on the deck), and some of the new flooring is in. We had kitchen flooring installed last week, and hardwood flooring installation started today. When I got here this morning most of the carpeting was gone, and some additional sub-floor had been installed. This afternoon they removed the last of

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-40443391305609981652011-08-03T10:30:00.000-04:002011-08-03T10:30:12.009-04:00

 When I lived in Oklahoma I heard a lot of Mariachi music not only in the ubiquitous local and excellent Mexican restaurants but even emanating from cars on the street. I never really thought I enjoyed it, but apparently I developed an appreciation for the genre. This beluga whale seems to enjoy it too! We are looking at August 25 as our tentative move in date for the new house. It's good to

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-17261778314488139362011-08-02T17:28:00.000-04:002011-08-02T17:28:27.733-04:00

I had time today to try out one of Cape Cod's many bike paths, and chose the Shining Sea Bikeway which extends 10 miles from North Falmouth to Woods Hole. It's a good choice for a casual ride: a twenty mile out and back ride with plenty of places to stop along the way if you like. There are benches along the way, even a water fountain near Woods Hole. If you are taking a really casual ride you

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-60943593290414071902011-08-01T09:40:00.000-04:002011-08-01T09:40:09.594-04:00

I thought when I saw the trailers that the best part of Cowboys and Aliens would be the title, and it turns out I was right. I actually paid full price to see it yesterday and I am therefore kicking myself around the house. Shana and I agreed that the movie was boring, but we were not sure why. Part of it was because it was just that some scenes were way too long. In special effects movies I

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-60187064681893396802011-07-29T12:16:00.000-04:002011-07-29T12:16:07.834-04:00

I saw a fascinating bit of technology today at the interface of fashion and technology: Electricfoxy talks with Asta Roseway at Microsoft Research from Electricfoxy on Vimeo. I've been seeing a lot of examples of technology in fashion and art, especially clothing with lights. This piece is unique, in that it is capable of displaying an almost infinite combination of characters. Obviously not

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-49650151481559780272011-07-28T15:14:00.000-04:002011-07-28T15:14:14.801-04:00

Over at "For the Love of a House" there was a list of housekeeping "must haves" that got me thinking. My list of necessary house stuff: 1.  Magic Erasers - really do work like magic on just about everything, especially tea cups. 2.  The FURminator - The single best pet hair controller anywhere. 3.  The Dyson Animal - for everything the FURminator leaves behind. 4.  Pressure cooker - for

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-47369251471120328622011-07-27T09:37:00.000-04:002011-07-27T09:37:07.531-04:00

Those of us who walk along looking at the ground often see very interesting things. One thing I had never seen before was the Indian Pipe . I saw some yesterday on my way to pick up the mail but I did not have my camera with me (I know) and was dragging an uncooperative Mitzi down the road. This morning I noticed some in our yard - a little more mature and not so translucently pretty as the ones

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-55315401175476918312011-07-26T19:42:00.000-04:002011-07-26T19:42:27.750-04:00

We are not moved into the house yet, although there are signs of progress in the bathroom in the form of shower pan and plumbing changes. I am going over almost every day to pick up the mail, check for progress, and play in the yard. So far I've got the front beds pretty much the way I want, the shady bed (with one sunnyish end) is probably near its final condition. It still needs weeding,

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-80218634510183626802011-07-25T10:59:00.000-04:002011-07-25T10:59:52.806-04:00

Just for laughs I took a very unflattering picture of myself barefaced with no makeup and bedhead. This is who I look like: Apparently many celebrities look old and ragged in the morning! I am pretty happy that no men were selected as my lookalikes.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-58714092075579093172011-07-22T11:23:00.000-04:002011-07-22T11:23:50.772-04:00

I've been keeping my father in law company for the last few months. He has Alzheimer's and is still able to stay in his home with a little help.  It was his late wife's wish that Shana and I help him stay at home and we have been able to help him transition from his wife's passing to becoming accustomed to having some hired caregivers in the house. Although I am certain he does not remember our

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-71016947240347911472011-07-20T10:17:00.000-04:002011-07-20T10:17:44.585-04:00

Apparently the Heritage Foundation considers a family who possesses a refrigerator, a TV or a microwave not to be poor. Presumably they took their definition of poverty from this very important film (which inspired a great deal of comparative misery in my own family). You can find the Heritage Foundation's article about this luxury here, along with talking points. I should point out that this

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-56230979139201482482011-07-17T09:59:00.000-04:002011-07-17T09:59:06.332-04:00

This weekend we buried Inace's ashes and held a memorial service with her Menahaunt friends at Grace Chapel. The pictures and videos are over at my Flickr Gallery (link on the left sidebar) except for the last part of the service which was too long for Flickr and can be seen here on You Tube. I think everything was as Inace had requested and the family is comfortable with how things were arranged.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-52008851780258878592011-07-15T09:10:00.001-04:002011-07-17T09:06:35.913-04:00

Seriously? Will they really consider raiding a program which actually has a current surplus and is paying its own way in order to find another way to make the powerless hand over money so the richest few Americans and powerful corporations do not have to pay their fair share? Sorry some of my You Tube clips seem to hang over - I don't know how to fix that, so too bad for your eyes!

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-3063720797740307182011-07-14T19:31:00.000-04:002011-07-14T19:31:26.483-04:00

Things are moving along with our house projects. I called our contractor when I left work this afternoon to find out if he needed me to let him into the house and he told me not only had he gone into the house, but my bathroom was already gone. Good thing the porta-potty was delivered yesterday! I had to zip over there right away to see how it looks. Apparently some of the floor and some of the

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-32797404727367129442011-07-09T13:39:00.000-04:002011-07-09T13:39:44.621-04:00

For my brother, who thinks chickens are scary, a video of a really big eagle: This is a Steller's Eagle, the largest of the raptors. I especially like his "trousers". Actually Richard was not too far off finding chickens to be alarming. They are probably T Rex's closest living relatives, as has been found by DNA research.. Shana and I are staying at the house this weekend - we are cozily

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-50918550911093674122011-07-08T18:46:00.000-04:002011-07-08T18:46:34.367-04:00

In a few minutes my dinner (take out fried chicken) will arrive and soon after that Shana and I will go to the new house to spend our first night there  - in the guest room, where we have actual dressed beds set up. Wednesday the demolition guy will be there to tear out our bathroom and I will be relegated to a porta-potty the the back yard (a surprisingly affordable option) and showers to be

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-37308935142938688632011-07-02T08:55:00.000-04:002011-07-02T08:55:18.429-04:00

Link to the text here. Link to Bernie's petition here. I'll be staying close to home for the weekend, and watching fireworks from the back yard. Shana's meeting the delivery men for our guest room beds this morning; the barbecue grill and Internet will be set up by the middle of next week. Although we won't have all of our things at the new house until our floors are done the major

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-14015387137134724792011-06-30T18:33:00.000-04:002011-06-30T18:33:48.564-04:00

Who would have expected to see James Brown selling noodles? Used to be these embarrassing little side jobs were a secret from the star's core fan base. Once in a while you would hear about it, but you never really saw it, so these Japanese ads were just a rumor. No more! They're on You Tube for all to see. We closed on our house today at the Barnstable Registry of Deeds, which is the building

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-9796339002252845602011-06-24T17:51:00.000-04:002011-06-24T17:51:44.867-04:00

My usual strategy when traveling is to wear the heaviest pieces of clothing (shoes, sweaters, jackets) and pack the rest, but if you must pack a jacket in your carry on luggage here's the way to do it. Be advised this video has no sound - please don't adjust your set! Next week at this time I will be dragging boxes into my new house. I can't wait to see what's in storage! Arguably whatever has

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-32723184673093004672011-06-22T22:18:00.000-04:002011-06-22T22:18:04.486-04:00

I ran across this great big liar of a cat and had to share. When I was playing the video Mitzi was all over me trying to get at the other "dog". Roxy never responds to sounds on TV or the computer, but Mitzi falls for it every time. I started my job at A Major National Retailer this week and so far it is as enjoyable as I thought it would be.  Closing day for our house is just a little over a

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-61477444000832406842011-06-20T20:43:00.000-04:002011-06-20T20:43:54.313-04:00

This weekend we were able to get out for a brief camping trip at the Adventure Bound campground in Truro. The weather forecast wasn't good, but the forecasts for the Cape are nearly always wrong, so we took a chance. We were rewarded for our boldness with a lovely weekend. The campground was perfect, the weather was perfect - a great weekend trip.Our main focus was to check out a few of the Cape

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-46240912898685823572011-06-17T10:11:00.000-04:002011-06-17T10:11:38.967-04:00

While we have been distracted by Anthony Wiener's undercarriage this is something that should be receiving media coverage: Two Nebraska Nuclear Plants Partially Submerged by Missouri Floodwaters | DBKP - Death By 1000 Papercuts - DBKP . More interesting information here. I imagine there are well placed proponents of the nuclear industry who would prefer that we don't know much about this. There

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-87089729931513546732011-06-16T16:10:00.000-04:002011-06-16T16:10:43.817-04:00

With a little time to spare this afternoon I took off for a walk in the woods. I chose to go back to the Lowell Holly Reservation to get a better look at what it has to offer.  My first peek at it was really brief, so I had been looking forward to a longer walk. I took a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a can of tea and set out to enjoy the outdoors. The first thing I did when I got there (

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-16012719921306011862011-06-12T20:06:00.001-04:002011-06-12T20:08:36.775-04:00

I went  to historic Taylor Bray Farm for a fiber festival with some of my stitch and bitch friends. The festival is held as an annual fund raiser to provide some additional money for the operation of this antique farm, which was settled and founded in 1639.  Today they had sheep shearing and herding demos, plus spinning demonstrations from the local spinning guild and vendors of hand spun yarn.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-10675535850816816072011-06-10T09:12:00.000-04:002011-06-10T09:12:06.613-04:00

When I was in high school I was a member of the R. B. Chamberlin marching band.  It was kind of accidental. My boyfriend was in the band, and the band director told me if I was going to be in the band I would have to play something. Because my father would not let me use his old coronet (unfeminine) and there was no money to buy another instrument I chose one which would be supplied by the

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-89978773707053636242011-06-08T08:33:00.000-04:002011-06-08T08:33:48.540-04:00

Prince is now 53 - and he's had hip replacement surgery. I think this puts the passage of time in perspective for those of us who still feel like really old teenagers. This little video clip is just full of amusing details: the hair, the shoulder pads,  Madonna's "Like a Virgin" getup, and the mention of vinyl. It's a real snapshot of a time we thought was modern and cutting edge. This was the

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-23815420513974037752011-06-05T17:53:00.000-04:002011-06-05T17:53:36.261-04:00

With a few hours free on Saturday Shana and I jumped in the car for an adventure.  The first adventure involved checking out an upscale appliance store in Falmouth where Shana was hoping to get a look at one of the top of the line Weber grills.  We sold her nice electric smoker and charcoal grill when we left Oklahoma and she's checking out what's available. While she visited with the sales staff

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-77519319081356986012011-06-04T11:04:00.001-04:002011-06-04T11:05:21.795-04:00

Because we are in a quiet open wooded area here in Menahaunt and most people have areas of informal shrubbery as part of their landscaping we see loads of bunnies.  I thought they could be youngsters because of their size and their mottled coats, but it turns out they are something else entirely. These are the New England Cottontail, a rather rare rabbit, and the only native New England rabbit.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-26007782352741102542011-06-02T12:03:00.000-04:002011-06-02T12:03:27.580-04:00

When Shana and I bought our house on Flamingo we did not have anything like enough furniture to fill it.  We "borrowed' quite a few pieces from her dad that he still had from his marriage to Shana's mother.  One of the items was "The Table". With its gilded dolphin feet and inlayed top it is a beautiful piece of furniture; it's also probably 5' in diameter.  In our large living room on Flamingo

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-5783888363048754562011-06-01T11:12:00.000-04:002011-06-01T11:12:20.504-04:00

ten things i have learned about the sea from lorenzo fonda on Vimeo. I spent most of my life in the middle of the country very far from the sea; I never saw a body of water larger than Lake Erie until after my 21st birthday. I learned to love the smell of the sea and the beach later, when I started vacationing in Marco, but never began to understand life at the shore until recently. Now that I

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-89438276745726486072011-05-31T11:15:00.002-04:002011-05-31T11:59:04.242-04:00

At the corner of Central Ave and Bayberry in Menahaunt Massachusetts (now a part of East Falmouth) there is a charming building called Grace Memorial Chapel.  There is no parking lot, and no sign out front, but it is one of the central buildings of Menahaunt society (along with the Yacht Club which is probably not more than 200 yards away). It's delightful from every angle, and although I pass

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-88024198995616094352011-05-30T17:53:00.000-04:002011-05-30T17:53:55.749-04:00

After a weekend of camping we are back in East Falmouth.  As is usual with camping, we are back in town with loads of dirty clothes and linens.  It's just one of the many features of camping that make it just as much work to go out for one day as it is for a week.  For one day or a week you put everything into the car, set up the tent and campsite, purchase food and check your supplies of cooking

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-587510432978679962011-05-29T18:50:00.002-04:002011-05-30T16:24:52.979-04:00

This the Bourne Bridge wreathed in fog. Shana and I went for a little ride on the bike path beside the Cape Cod Canal today from the Bourne Bridge to the Sagamore Bridge, about six or seven miles round trip on our mountain bikes.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-80245326906314707172011-05-28T10:43:00.002-04:002011-05-28T11:34:58.312-04:00

It's Memorial Day Weekend, and the summer people have come back to The Cape. Traffic is unbearable, the corner pizza parlor is backed up crazy, and we are leaving town for the weekend. When the dogs and I took our morning beach walk there were a lot of men standing on shore simultaneously fishing and talking on their cell phones.  Too funny! I'll be out camping for the weekend, so probably no new

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-12714555554612748062011-05-27T11:46:00.002-04:002011-05-27T12:13:24.960-04:00

It's a pretty well known theme that the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer, but most of the time they don't really see see each other's lifestyle.  On the Cape because it's a pretty small community you do come in contact with how the other half lives pretty regularly.  For one thing, there are lots of magazines that feature the more spectacular Cape Cod homes. Jobs are not terribly easy

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-7824294433395207102011-05-26T15:23:00.000-04:002011-05-26T15:23:14.562-04:00

Lame pun, I know. I can't resist.  I have a couple of free afternoons every week, and I have been using them to get acquainted with Cape Cod.  When I don't have other errands to run I divide my time between yarn stores, parks & reserves, and book stores. Cape Cod is host to only one big box book store that I know of, but many independent booksellers.  I have to mention Eight Cousins in Falmouth

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-6617551962075201812011-05-25T08:32:00.001-04:002011-05-25T08:32:29.209-04:00

Me & My Towel, originally uploaded by cinderellenk.It's Towel Day. Do you know where your towel is? Mine's in storage, most likely padding the box wherein rest my beautiful bedside lamps. The very soonest I might see it is July 1, when I will start moving boxes over to the new house. This is assuming that all is going well in Underwriting World.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-31095138801467234652011-05-22T12:36:00.000-04:002011-05-22T12:36:16.406-04:00

I was not Raptured up to heaven last night, and so far I have not seen any signs that anyone else was either. I suppose it's possible that this is just because I am in Massachusetts, where I believe there are more Liberals and union members than in some other places, so I'll be checking the news from around the Internet to be sure that other places with more true believers have not experienced

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-36715905346061644392011-05-20T13:22:00.000-04:002011-05-20T13:22:52.388-04:00

So far my efforts at securing employment have resulted in a variety of emails informing me that the position has been filled, an interview with a young man about the same age as my youngest child (my guess at this point is no, I will not be hired for that one), and  threatening and rude comments from an Internet scamster who said I was lying about his not working on behalf of an oil company in

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-13005877010178288732011-05-19T17:16:00.000-04:002011-05-19T17:16:36.670-04:00

There's still time to learn the lyrics - The Rapture won't happen until 6:00 pm in your local time zone.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-43181473173258392802011-05-18T08:14:00.001-04:002011-05-18T08:15:56.286-04:00

I had a little free time yesterday afternoon, so I went for a walk in the woods.  The Lowell Holly Reservation is near the location of our new house, and I decided to check it out.  My GPS was not terribly helpful about finding the year round entrance (Mildred dragged me on a wild goose chase all around the back side of Mashpee Pond) and rain was imminent, so I didn't have very much time to spend

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-10688591215631225832011-05-17T08:17:00.000-04:002011-05-17T08:17:39.076-04:00

Lady's Slipper, Rhododendron, and other delights.  The trees are leafing out now; peonies and viburnum are beginning to bud, and still the rains come. The swans have moved on from Bournes Pond and the hummingbirds have returned.  In Oklahoma everything blooms the same week and then it's 95,000 degrees until October.  Here spring is a longer and slower procession of beauty.  The price is daily

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-45724146463741951582011-05-16T08:19:00.000-04:002011-05-16T08:19:31.769-04:00

If you can't get enough of goats, Goats on Stuff is even better. Go there; take a look! This is one of my own goat photos - they are not on any stuff at all and are therefor rather boring.

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028374.post-82747960158035251122011-05-14T19:41:00.000-04:002011-05-14T19:41:08.667-04:00

The Cape Cod Bitchin' Stitchers headed out for a field trip this morning.  We drove to Fairhaven to visit Eva's Yarn Shop. The drive was fun, lots of yarn store talk and laughter as we got started on the road for our fun day out.  Once we left the Cape we left the clouds behind and we could enjoy a perfect sunny day. Eva's Yarn Shop is an Aladdin's Cave of beautiful and special yarns.  The

ellen kirkendallhttps://profiles.google.com/102800209232405440647noreply@blogger.com1