Cat Reading - Helga Sermat

I love this print. This is my dream guy.

Knightsbridge Hyde Park, London

I came across this picture that reminded me of an interesting story. Once upon a time, Andrea, Becky, Tommy and I were in London together. We had been out site-seeing all day. We were so very exhausted. We had been over at the Tower of London and maybe Buckingham Palace too. I cannot recall specifically now but what I can recall is that we had been several places not exactly close together. There had been a lot of traveling on buses and in taxis and trains and walking involved. Our feet were aching. We were suffering jet lag in a major way. Even though we had a full day, our itenerary was still full for the evening. We were scheduled to go on a "Jack the Ripper" tour beginning at 10 pm. We had one tour drop us off here at this hotel located in Knightsbridge. This was probably not a good place for us to stop in retrospect. However, it is where the tour people suggested we meet them. The people at this hotel looked at us all like we were the proverbial Ugly Americans. They kept asking us if we could 'sit someplace else' and 'stand someplace else' and asking us what exactly were we doing. We would always explain that we were to meet a tour there and they would act somewhat aghast and say "You are to meet a tour here???" as if we had said we were to meet the Pope there. Periodically, the doormen would ask us if they could hail us a taxi. After being asked this so many times, we got the bright idea to go to the hotel restaurant...not the fancy restaurant, mind you. Even we knew that would never pass muster. We went to more like the 'cafe' of the hotel. After we quietly seated ourselves at a table so as not to draw attention, a cafe personel waiter-type person walked out of nowhere just to ask us if we would mind sitting at the cafe bar. We complied. What else could we do; foreigners in a foreign land as we were. Okay, here comes the sad ending to the story. After we endured numerous insults and condescending scowls from the hotel staff, our tour bus shows up and we are so very thrilled! At long last, we can join up with travelers like ourselves and leave all of this snobbery behind!!! Oh no, the tour bus was overbooked and alas, we were left standing on the sidewalk watching our "Jack the Ripper" tour drive off in the cold London night. We finally made use of one of those doormen, "Okay, you can get us a taxi now." They were happy to see us go.

Just Too Much Time to Spare

I manage to work a full time job in only four days a week and it is not an easy job either. I go to school too. There they have me write, write and write some more about all kinds of topics just to give me experience. After all, if I am ever to support these youngsters in their persuits of degrees in higher education, I must know how to write as well as they can and know how to document their articles even better than they can for their submission to peer reviewed journals. However, I digress. I seem to have so much spare time on my hands that I have volunteered to stitch this tapestry kneeler. I was told that it will take me approximately one year to complete it because that is how long it has taken others who were not able to dedicate their lives solely to their kneeler's completion. Look at the kneeler closely. This is only a small portion of it that I was able to capture with my meager camera as I am not a professional photog with a high powered wide angle lense. The kneeler is over seven feet long. And yes, that is a Longhorn on it. What are the odds? The other ladies got kneelers with depictions of doves, crowns, lambs, olive branches, angels and other religious symbols. When it came to time to pass out my kneeler, I get a Longhorn Cow. Is it me? Is it so obvious? Do I have the word 'hick' stamped on my forehead? I think only certified country folk get Longhorns! The funniest part is that I like him and did not even object to having to stitch him. In fact, I am already referring to him as Bevo. I can tell you this straight up; Bevo and Nigel will never meet because I would not even know how to begin 'replacing' Bevo if he got a hole chewed in him! Periodically, I will post progress. BTW, wish me luck!

Ode to a Butterfly

Thou spark of life that wavest wings of gold,

Thou songless wanderer mid the songful birds,

With Nature's secrets in thy tints unrolled

Through gorgeous cipher, past the reach of words,

Yet dear to every child

In glad persuit beguild,

Living his unspoiled days mid flowers and flocks and herds!

~Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Have you ever been driving and a beautiful butterfly fluttered in front of your car and you were afraid that your car would touch it and cause it to die? I just hate that when that happens. I am constantly on the look out for butterflies that might cross my path. They are too beautiful to be killed by a smog, belching $4.00 a gallon burning automobile. The beauty of nature must be preserved and it is my mission to protect the butterflies...at least all of them that I can.

Scarborough Faire

I ran into this dragon slayer at Scarborough Faire. Man, she looks familiar! I know I have seen her before somewhere. In the top picture, she is telling us of how many mythical creatures she has been battling all day. In the bottom picture, she is posing with all of her weapons. After she is done battling these creatures, she will be documenting it for the journalistic world.

More Confirmation

This is my confirmation rose. Carol gave me this beautiful book mark for my BCP. It is a fleur-de-lis with a cross inside it.

I am an official Anglican

Today was an extremely special day for me. I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Every aspect of Anglicanism appeals to me. The Book of Common Prayer is a beautiful composite of Old and New Testament writings in the language for the common people. It is largely the work of Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury during the Reformation. Most of the church services are centered around prayer. The glow of candles sets the atmosphere of Evensong which is a sung evening prayer giving thanks to Christ in our daily lives. There are many beautiful traditions in the Anglican church and it suits me right down to the ground.

Where is the Nightingale?

Where is the nightingale,

In what myrrh-wood and dim?

Ah, let the night come back,

For we would conjure back,

All that enchanted him. ~Hilda Doolittle

Well, this little nightingale lost his nest after living in the same house for at least 12 years. Nigel evicted him. As you can tell, Nigel did not completely destroy the house. He only moved the little birdie out which I think was in an effort to see if more birdies were hiding in there. I have put it all back together now and I hope it will stay that way for another 12 years. I realize that is probably wishful thinking though. ;)

Ollie-The Little Helper

Tonight, I decided I was going to make some jewelry. I had lots of help.