In the eyes of the beholder . . .

It's a beautiful day!!  The sun is shining.  Mac and Maggie have just eaten and are lazing, enjoying the comfort of a full tummy and a cool house.  I'm enjoying a fresh cup of coffee.  Aw . . . blessings.  Spun last night with my sweet friend, Debra, and her Tuesday night group.  It was fantastic--really nice girls!  And I'm spinning today with Texas Twisters . . . another sweet group of ladies!  Can't wait to spin some more . . . am I hooked?  Think so?

I think this is my next must-have book.  I stumbled across it while searching for hand spinning on the web, and it looks like the kind of book I love to browse through, ponder over, and read snippets of here and there, all eventually joining together to create a book thoroughly enjoyed and completely read.  Check it out!  Let me know what you think.  Do you have this book?  And do you love it? 

What are you reading?

I'm cleaning out my books and came across several old books that I don't remember reading.  When I was at Monticello earlier this year, there was a volunteer tour guide who did such a fantastic job of bringing the conditions and lives of the former slaves to life that when I saw Up From Slavery in my old book collection, I decided I needed to read it.  I'm only a few pages into it, but so far I'm not disappointed.  Let me know what you think of it, and I'll post my impressions as well.

Promises . . .

Ok. So today I start blogging again. Tomorrow is the last day of my work assignment that was supposed to be 2-3 weeks, and has ended up being 6-7 weeks.--I'm leaving before the project is done, but I'm just done, as in so ready to leave!!

So look for blogging everyday.  It's a commitment I've made to myself, and I'm gonna do it!!!

Can hardly wait to spin, spin, spin!!!

This is some of Kay Slaughter's roving from http://www.cordovastudios.etsy.com/.  Fantastic stuff!!!  I think I need more, though, since I've spun and plied this.  Love, love, love looking at it and fondling it!!!  Thought I had a photo of the complete stuff, but alas, I don't.  I'll get one taken and posted soon!

Huh???

I couldn't believe it had been so long since I posted.  Lots and lots has happened since then . . .

GrandpaTutu is a year older, Riann is a year older, I had an upper respiratory infection and was sooooo sick, I was let go at TI again, and I went to Virginia to visit the folks, sheepies, and goaties at Juniper Moon Fiber Farm. 

1.  I was sick for GrandpaTutu's birthday--just coming down with the URI.  :O(

2.  I was gone for Riann's birthday--in Virginia.  :O(

3.  Was afraid I was going to miss the trip to Virginia because I was sooooooo sick.  :O(

4.  TI let me go by telephone--while I was home sick.  Nice (not).  :O(

5.  I went to Virginia to JMFF and had SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH FUN!!!  It was perfect!!  Erin went with and she came back a knitter (she how could resist no more!!)  It made me soooo happy.  :O)

6.  Also got to spend half a day in Washinton, D.C., and that was excellent!  :O)

So, I'm reading Twelfth Night today because I have a big assignment due by midnight tonight.  But I'll catch up and post pictures soon.

GrandmaTutu
xoxo

Vietnam War Memorial (c) 2009

I wish . . .

It's days like today I wish I were at home.  Stephanie Nielson is on Oprah today, and I'd love to hear her story from her lips.  I read her blog (see NieNie in my favorites), but I'd love to hear her voice.  She inspires me.  Her story is compelling I think.  Maybe I'll be able to see a re-run.

What I did for summer vacation . . .

Thought maybe you'd like to read my first journal entry for my British Lit class, entitled "Journal 1: My Class Expectations and Goals:
"One of my treasured memories is of me curled up in a chair at my grandmother’s house reading a book. My own home seemed always to be too active, too noisy, and too stressful. I learned that I could transport to another world with words printed on paper and bound into covers that came alive in my hands; it was like holding the rudder of a boat sailing me away to a place I’d rather be. That same feeling of escape always felt more real when I was at my grandmother’s house where things were quiet, warm, and pleasant—the way I often imagined them to be in the books I read.

My husband thinks I should be working toward a degree. In a way I am, though I’ve gone about it in a roundabout way. Over the past 30 to 40 years, I’ve almost completed a two-year degree. With only five classes remaining toward that degree, it isn’t much of a stretch to imagine myself filling my elective slate with literature classes, since reading is what I love best. Over the years, British literature has been right up there at the pinnacle of my top-ten list of favorites. Hopefully, my expectations for this class aren’t too high. I do, however, expect it to be a fascinating ride that will carry me to new and exciting places.

There have been times during my life when I have considered myself somewhat of an intellectual, and I could imagine myself reading and discussing great literature. I have at other times, however, felt that my reading list was sorely lacking in some of the most important world literature. I own a beautiful copy of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. It sits on my shelf often looked at because it is so beautiful, but never read because it is so intimidating. My hope is that I will complete this volume during this class and not only love it, but be inspired by it.

British literature will be my main focus for the next 12 weeks. My goal is to spend most of my free time devoted to the study of it. I hope to be inspired by others and to, in turn, inspire someone."

You can grade it if you want . . .