I forgot to take photos before we cleared some stuff out of the garage; we removed kayak paddles and paraphernalia that were on the kayak rack, oars, and a windsurfing board and wood that had been stashed on that ceiling rack you can see in the photo of the rowing shell end of the garage. Otherwise, it is as-was this morning. There’s a dumbwaiter ( Read more... )

Here we go! We have a general contractor (GC) lined up to do the Big Scary Remodel we’ve been discussing for years. This is a two story house addition for the lake house, of the garage and the kitchen above it. The hardest parts of this have been lining up the GC - they’ve all been crazy busy the last few years - and just making the decision to ( Read more... )

I originally wrote the following as a comment on Tor.com, but realized they might not appreciate a paean to a Disney/Hyperion author!

One thing I have really enjoyed in Rick Riordan’s books is watching how each new series takes a step forward in diversity. (I think his various demigod training camps fit the boarding school trope fairly well.) The ( Read more... )

Just about every time I go someplace on public transit, I see big groups of teenagers: girls, boys, mixed groups. Sometimes I also see them walking around the city. Today I went on a “field trip“ with a bunch of other knitting friends to visit a couple of fabric stores, have lunch, and just generally walk around a cool part of town, 7 of us in ( Read more... )

Books read: lots - I’ve never had much desire to keep track, though I’m occasionally curious to know how many I’ve read in a year. I’d guess somewhere between 100-250, but can’t say more exactly.

Knitting projects: 15 completed - 5(!) sweaters, two shawls, two hats (both gifts), 3 pair socks, a few other things. One sweater and one pair of socks in ( Read more... )

There are few things sillier than pre-emptive nostalgia. I’m a bit sad that my holiday season is almost over, and my actual holiday hasn’t even started yet.

Maybe it’s because “holidays” are a long and complicated season for me; this year included a Diwali event where my choir sang the Star Spangled Banner, gift buying, my mom and brother’s ( Read more... )

This is more what I wanted to say this year, though I’m not sure it’s as good a poem. I may still tinker with it.

Some darkness is only the absence of light
Sacred, cyclical
Clean and empty
Time to rest and gather in before regrowth.

A candleflame honors it -
Contrast, counterpoint
Dimming and flaring
Centring and setting off its velvet black.

( Read more... )

I may add another poem, if I can write one - I still want to say something less about Chanukah in specific and more about kindling light in darkness in a more general way.

I light this candle as I choose -
to hold the darkness back, this night.
And we have gained too much to lose.
I light this candle as I choose
to honor heritage. We Jews
( Read more... )

If I ever go back to regular blogging again (which I really ought to do, because I miss having a record of my daily life) I ought to log my Homemade number each day. Today my number is 2; I made the necklace and the socks I am wearing (two socks count as one item, I think).

Speaking of logging, despite still having an occasional cough from the ( Read more... )

I have been having a cold since early Thanksgiving week. I was a terrible guest at the in-laws for Thanksgiving - usually I help cook or take over part of it; this week I didn’t do anything involving touching food. The in-laws get vaguer and less willing to make advance plans every year, but hopefully they will come to us for Christmas and I can ( Read more... )