Happy Birthday to Captain Dan

My kid brother had his birthday this past Friday. My only contact with him for the day was email. Once upon a time I would have called him and razzed him about getting older but with him being in Iraq that's pretty much impossible. So I sent him a gift card to Amazon and hope he'll get something he will enjoy. I know him and figure it'll be books most likely. So let me give a brief overview of my little brother. First I use that term since everyone who knows us will laugh. He is nearly a foot taller than I am and about 2x my weight. OK- yup, I'm small but he's also big. I am nearly 4 years older so I have no intention of spilling his age (16- hahahahaha). I wanted a puppy, I think that says quite a bit, don't you? The fact that I got a naked, useless, smelly, crying creature was not what I had in mind. I was thinking small, cute, sorta hairy, would grow into a great friend in a few months. In a few months all I had was a smelly, crying, useless in a onesie kinda pet. Needless to say house training him was slow going. We'll get to the leash later. He wasn't all bad, he kept the parents busy and out of my way. So the years went by and still I waited for him to become as fun as my mother promised he would. Finally, after years of torture and pain he's not so useless. Still smelly- his shoes could cripple, not quite as naked but there are laws about that, and less prone to crying than to long amazing strings of profanity. I don't wish he was a puppy as often now.
So let me regale you with some of the moments when I wished he was a puppy- or something wild I could release and never see again. One of the most memorable moments was when, on MY birthday, he announced to my date "Gee XXX, you're not as fat as my sister said you were." I really wanted a suspension of the first commandment for that birthday, although I'm pretty sure it would have been viewed as justifiable homicide had my parents not protected the little spawn of Satan. Little brothers make nice decorations gagged in my opinion- and it could extend their life span. Or how about the story that still makes my mother laugh til her eyes water- the eggs. I like hard boiled eggs and would often boil 6 or 8 at a time. To keep the boiled from getting confused with the fresh (NOT boiled- RAW!!!) eggs I would write HB in pencil on them. Do we all see where this story is going????? OK, so as I come in the kitchen one day and smack the HB egg on the counter and it runs everywhere I realize only the spawn could have done this. According to my mother (who is still straight faced at this point) she was there when my brother (I was switched at birth- where is my rich birth family when I need them?!?) walked in, opened the fridge, took 2 eggs out with the letters HB clearly written on them, peeled and ate them. She did feel the need to mention that I might be aggravated (she is smiling and trying not to laugh by now) so critter says not to worry, takes 2 eggs that have no HB written on them (RAW!!!!), asks her for a pencil- WHICH SHE GIVES HIM, LIKE A GOOD LITTLE ENABLER- and he writes HB and puts them right where he found the other two eggs. By this time she is laughing with no attempt to hide it. The eternal question from this episode of long, long ago- what happened to the second raw HB egg? Dunno- I quit making HB eggs, kept labeling them HB in an attempt to settle the score but I didn't boil another egg until I had my own apartment.
Now that we are both older and some time has passed I don't get mad at him all over again for that. He and I actually get along- as my mother said we would. Now we get along like any two people from a moderately weird family and laugh about the moments we thought would kill us. We laugh about our kids- my 2 and his 3, our lives, our family- that gets some real good laughs and our differences. The size difference is just the start- and the most glaring. Most people would not think we are related unless they spoke to both of us for awhile. A dry sense of humor, odd turns of phrase and a strange candor mark us as related.
Since most people by now think he was only evil as a child, let me give an example of the budding camaraderie as we grew up. No one beat up my brother but me. Twisted logic but hey, we were kids. One day we were home at the same time, watching the news when we saw a piece on a woman with leukemia who needed to find a bone marrow donor. There was a drive at a church not terribly far from us. He looked at me and said "Wanna go?" So we went and got tested and listed as potential donors for someone we never met- cause it seemed like the right thing to do. I think I was about 24 or so. He was 4 years younger then, too. The day that my grandfather died in January 1999, we drove all around making arrangements with the funeral home and then to the VA to get a flag since he had been in the Army in WWII. I remember him showing his Army ID and getting in no problem while I beeped my little heart out in the metal detector. To this day I have no idea what was beeping- I was ready to (and said so out loud) strip naked and go to the 7th floor of the old Dulski Federal building in Buffalo to get the flag but the guard finally waved me over for a hand held wand check- which DIDN"T beep. I had taken off my coat and the pile of stuff on it was impressive- I had no idea jeans pockets could hole so much. My brother made sure to point out I got waved over as I threatened to strip naked- hmmmm I think I was being insulted. We got through the day and got everything set up pretty well for a pair who had never done that sort of thing before. His good friend Dave Z., also Army, showed up in uniform for the service- in a freezing cold damn blizzard- to present the flag and stand at attention for the fallen soldier. I guess he has to be a good guy to have friends like Dave.
So my brother is Army- he's in Iraq for his third time. If all soldiers were as upstanding as my brother there would be no questions about improper behavior. One thing I can say without fear of being challenged- the boy's got Honor. That's right Honor with a capital H. It's a big thing to my family to behave and live an honorable life. He's still my little brother and NOBODY gets to beat him up but me, and his kids and my kids. Nobody else. So I'm going to close this with the same thing I say everyday when I wake up- "God keep him safe and get him home OK."
Happy Birthday kiddo, may you have many, many more.

Happy October

October first- the day I start the Halloween decorating. The first day of bats, rats, witches, skeletons and all things ghoulish, spooky and bumpity in the night. I love Halloween- cobwebs are a good thing for once, I can indulge my inner witch and display witches hats and wands, little jars (they were baby food jars in a previous life) of things that may or may not be creepy. Lets face it- appearances and packaging can do quite a bit to sway our opinion. Little white ball cake decorations with black food coloring dots on them or newt eyes? Who can be sure???? Chocolate chips or newborn dragon droppings? This is a month when most people seem to avoid eating at my house- Hmmmmm, I wonder why. I love baby food jars for their many uses- all season decor and food storage.
I love Halloween for the amazing misunderstood pagan celebration of Samhain. I'm Celtic and many of the old festivals have been translated into today's holidays. There is no devil worship in Samhain- just good old spooky belief that it is the day when the veil between worlds is at it's thinnest and the final harvest is done along with preparations begun for the winter. There is a more in depth explanation at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain it's not great but it'll do for now. I'll celebrate Halloween with a party for some of the kids nearest and dearest and our friends. Hopefully there will be a nice day so we can start the bonfire and roast marshmallows and make s'mores, run around the yard and generally have fun with friends at the end of the outdoor party season. We will rake a big leaf pile and jump in, pick apples and dip them in caramel and make merry while the sun shines, for in this region who knows when the first snow storm will hit. I'm hoping for sometime after the 31st.
So I'm starting to get the old house in the Halloween mood- silhouettes of bats, rats and witches will adorn most windows, pumpkins on the porch steps, corn stalks on the porch rail, maybe some spider webs, unexpected guests in corners and who knows what else will pop into my odd little mind. Did I mention living by the cemetery? There is a house between me and it but they built way out back and so the only thing between me and the cemetery would be a driveway. I'm putting some gravestones in the front garden as well. Maybe a stray hand or foot with them as well as the cauldron of bones on the side porch. #1 is adamant that we decorate for every possible holiday. Do you know how hard it is to find decorations for all those secondary and tertiary holidays, like arbor day and groundhog day? I thought I liked to have a party but this kid should be an event planner. She also has no problem telling me she likes to arrange things so they look 'fabulous', as opposed to how they looked ("Ok") when I did them. My domain of decor is that which she cannot reach- which means it's getting smaller each year. Once it's more decorated I'll post some photos. We're still deciding costume details so I can't give any ideas about who to expect to see other than a witch. I may even be in costume ha ha ha ha.

Needle felting

What is needle felting? It is the unique use of a special barbed needle, wool and an idea. All you need to succeed is a pad to protect yourself from the needle, the needle and wool. I use a large chuck of leftover upholstery foam for large work and a small chunk for smaller work. I like to be flexible. The needle is jabbed into the wool to cause tangling of the fiber which shapes the wool into whatever you want.
Sounds easy right? With some practice and a few pointers, it is easy- and fun. Poke straight up and down- don't bend the needle as it will snap very easily. Keep your fingers clear, like all needles it is sharp. When (not if) you jab yourself, stop and wash it out. First- get any possible bacteria off your finger and secondly (more importantly, if you're like me) don't get blood on your work. What are the limits? Many as you start but as you get better your imagination and time limits are the only limits. You need to experiment with wool types, ideas and what your preferences are. Some like very densely felted items while others like a softer more squishy felted object. I flux between the two depending on what I'm working on. Mostly I like to make small animals and mini dolls. Some have a wire armature so I can change the poses while others are static poses.
The seated squirrel with the acorn to the left is static while the climber is wired and can move his arms and legs a bit for hanging onto a tree of whatever. They are both all wool, not sewn but wrapped and poked into shape. #1 also needle felts but she works in flat images. We are having a display and demonstration at the Marilla Ag Day celebration on Sept. 14. A few examples of my animals and a book of #1's work along with knit then wet felted bowls by my mother will be on display. I love working in wool- it's fun, soft and amazingly forgiving as a medium. Like sculpting clay you can always add more or remove some to fix an area. The funny part is how you may start working toward one thing and find that the wool wanted to be something else so you switch gears and finish with something totally different from what you started.




And then there is the piece who starts and ends exactly as you knew it would. A small bird for my Christmas tree just needed to be simple and soft. The wool gives them an individual feel that can't be easily explained. It's like hair color- no matter how hard you try to cover grey and match your own color it's always just a bit different. Trust me there.
When you first try needle felting it's odd to make a 3D item. You start with a big puff of wool- now what? You can roll it around a wood skewer to get a start on a tight ball or you can roll by hand then start needling to keep it together. the more you needle an area the tighter it gets in that area. This allows you to sculpt subtle or big accents. You can also add on accents (like wings)by needling through the new piece into the original. These are pretty delicate in terms of play. If you pull on what you needled it can come off. I tell the kids these toys are more decorative and not good for rough play. If I'm going to make a toy for real play I sew accents on with a couple of stitches for security. nothing worse that having a cute little bird lose a wing mid flight to kill the game.
Where can you get the wool and needles? Many craft shops are now carrying the basic supplies near their yarn. Online stores are my favorite since the selection is huge. Just search needle felting, wool roving or felting and you will get hits. There are several books out about both flat and 3D needle felting. This is just a starting place. I like the wool colors I've gotten from this ebay seller and have actually met him at a weavers guild sale in Lewiston, NY.
Wool and supplies:
http://stores.ebay.com/WINDERWOODFARM_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsxQ3asstQQtZkm I have this book and love the pictures and information.
http://www.woolpets.com/book.html

September 11

I remember, like so many others do, where I was and what I was doing on this date in 2001. I was in the kitchen making breakfast for my then four and a half month old daughter. The radio was on to wben 930 when I heard the news that the World Trade Center had been hit by a plane. I remember thinking that that had to be a horrible accident until a few minutes later there was a second plane flown into the second tower. I realized we were under attack in our own country. It didn't matter that I was in a kitchen nearly 400 miles from the Towers, I was stunned. Breakfast was served that day in front of the television while watching the news, not cartoons. As the day unfolded calls flew to family and I later had to drive to work to switch finished paperwork for that which needed to be done. I drove as glued to the radio as everyone else. Work was in such a state, decisions were being made to not only close the office but to totally power down everything in case of further attacks or power interruptions. As I drove home I was thinking of my uncle, in midtown manhattan. My mother had spoken to him and he was fine and well out of harms way but just to have someone close to NYC was very intense.
The nerve to strike at our military by hitting the Pentagon! Did anyone really believe this would cripple the U.S.A.?? I think the heroes on Flight 93 are a good example of why that will never work. I heard the President today giving a speech that spoke of the steel and stone that the plane broke at the Pentagon and I immediately thought of the bodies that were broken that day but that the spirit was not broken. At the Pentagon, a group rushed and grabbed the flag and that reminds me that the USA is so much more than we hear. We live in a super power, some hate us for our excesses, or waste, or debauchery but they don't understand that none of that is what makes this country strong. It isn't the Hollywood celebrities or news making celebutantes who revel in the pathetic and unimportant, it isn't the politicians who believe everything they say to be gospel. It's the people who go about their lives everyday to make so much possible for so many. People who stop to help someone in need without batting an eye or expecting a reward. People who respect the need we have to be different from each other. We may not be able to get along all the time but in times of tragedy- so many differences, of opinion, belief, color, ethnicity- can be put aside to stand shoulder to shoulder against a threat. Terror does not work against this mentality. Terror only works against a beaten down, already terrorized population.
The news today talked of all the flags on display on September 12, 2001. Stores sold out of flags and people painted flags on their houses, made signs and flags out of anything. How many fly the flag today? I do. Our town puts the flag out for all summer on the utility poles. We also put up holiday banners for Christmas. It's a small town, a nice place to live and raise kids. We know our neighbors and help each other. We have town celebrations and work hard to remain a small town with small town values. We wave to farmers on large equipment as it rolls slowly by, we yell "Dinner's down" at 6 pm when the fire whistle sounds and we know that it's a real fire call when the whistle blows the old air raid tone. The kids move away from the street when that happens since the volunteers will be coming to the firehall quickly to help a neighbor or stranger who needs help. I buy fresh corn from the honor stand in front of the farm where it was grown. We have bonfires and roast marshmallows for fun on crisp fall evenings. We go out and help a neighbor clear snow or downed branches, trade plants from our gardens and laugh over funny moments.
Why am I so sure the USA will withstand any attack from outsiders? They don't know us. Most are like me- going about their business, trying to raise a family in peace and generally mild mannered. But when push comes to shove, we will not quit, we won't turn away and hide. We will stand up and do what needs to be done. We go where we need and try to help people through disasters all over the world with little thought for ourselves. We are just tough enough to get the job done and that is, as Martha would say, a good thing.

A Dog, a Ball and a Nightmare.

I just learned about this blog today. My sister in law in Tennessee emailed me about the boycott and asked me to do the same. I investigated the whole thing as far as I can- check the company website for any sign of doing the right thing and recalling the product, read the blog on the dog victim and then forward to my dog show world connections. I'm appalled at the response, or total lack of, of this company. Here's the link to the owners blog. http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com/
Let me know what you think.


In the meantime, here's what I think. I think if this was marketed as a kids toy it'd be all over the news. The recall would be announced on all major news channels and the CPSC (http://www.cpsc.gov/) would be sending me an email announcement. Pets get a short stick. Yeah, yeah- I know dogs aren't kids- blah blah blah. In my house they are- so there! Arthur is just as much a family member as #1 and #2. Don't bother to start about that- you'd be preaching to the willfully deaf. I grew up with dogs- breeding, training and showing them. They have slept on my bed and I've slept on the floor by a sick dog as much as or probably more than I've slept with my kids when they're sick. They all (kids and pets alike) beg and plead for what they want, they all want more of my attention than they think they get and they all are spoiled. Most days I'd rather have Arthur with me for a long ride in the car- no "are we there yet?", "can we play my CD?", "I'm hungry." etc. Nope- he'll ride shotgun for as long as I want. When he's tired or bored there is no whining about it- he just goes to sleep. He even rides buckled in- no kidding. He's got a harness and it clips to the seatbelt. At 70 pounds he wasn't going to ride on one of those little doggy seats for the itty bitty bunch. Arthur can see out the window from his seat without help. I like the dog as a family member. We chose to drive all the way to New Jersey to buy him from a breeder who raised the bullies in the house with her kids. We spent a good penny for him to get a true example of the breed. He puts up with everything the kids can dish out and never gives them a cross look. He can go to his rug (big heap of blankets he configures to his satisfaction) and be done with them although that doesn't happen often. He worships both kids- where else will a dog get attention, sloppy eaters who drop all sorts of tasty treats, the coolest toys left everywhere- some have lights and make noise when sat on by man or beast. #2 is great for opening the fridge and not caring who steals from the lower shelves. Not to mention the need #1 has to give biscuits and help train him. He'd rather sleep on the sofa with #2 climbing all over him than on his rug without #2. It's a very codependent relationship the little beasts have going. Add the cats to that and some days it's like living in a zoo- or an insane asylum after the inmates have taken over. Guess what- I'm raising the wee folk in the same vein. #1 is already going to dog shows and matches. My life is complete- another generation has gone to the dogs!

You're right- it's not Arthur. Arthur is not a conformation dog. This little furry friend belongs to #1s 3rd Grandma. A very good friend of the family and my first official employer, Marilyn, or Miss Marilyn, as #1 calls her, is another one of the kids fan club. This was at the Kennel Club of Niagara Falls sanctioned match earlier this year. The poodle took First place, Best of Breed and a group fourth. Not bad for a 7 year old who doesn't own the dog so she can't practice till she drops. The good news is- everyone there was most gracious to the kid and she really enjoyed the experience. The thrill of the ribbons and being treated like the adult exhibitors (in her mind) but with the kindness and encouragement necessary to raise the baby handlers up right really made her feel special. A big thanks to all who interacted with her that day- I'm sure you all know who you are. Every kindness shown to kids at shows helps develop the next generation of exhibitors to be the best they can be.

Back to the poor dog in the story this started about- I hope his life returns to a happy state and he adapts to his loss. It's such a rotten thing to happen just because the ball had only one hole and if you're chewing on it (c'mon folks- a chew toy???) when your tongue is on the hole it could get pulled into the hole. That's just twisted. Has anyone out there tried to tell a dog not to get his tongue near the hole on his chew toy? I'm sure someone has- people do the darndest things-have they had any luck??? If so- can you email me and help me teach #2 not to sit on balloons and then be surprised when they pop on his butt?? But (pardon the pun) that's a whole other story...
Have a Happy Labor Day, folks.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy birthday to my mom. I hope you have a great day. As usual, your gift will be late. I guess it's mostly the weekday vs. weekend thing that has me running late. For once the gift was easy- I've known for months what to get you. Hee hee, I love it when things just snap into place with absolutely no room for second guessing. Just as a tantalizing teaser on the present, did you ever find something perfect when you're not even thinking about the need for a gift? Last fall, I saw this item at the town General Store (which is on a tour bus route!) and immediately knew who HAD to have it. Now to remember to wrap it before she gets here Saturday to pick up #1 for an overnight.

My mother and I are very alike and not alike at the same time. We shared the typical love-hate relationship and have gotten past all that to be actual friends. While so many parents and adult children are still trying to figure out where the lines of parent/child vs. friend/friend should be, we sorted that stuff out years ago. I am always amazed at how many parents still boss their kids around after they are gerown with their own families. I am even more amazed at how some of the adult kids will still obey but gripe about the bossing. I'm glad that we sorted all that out. Now we can talk and joke and go places with the kids and not have the tension. She is fun to take to local festivals and events, I never have to worry about the kids and how they behave or if she will be shocked or appalled by #2's occasional tantrums (they can be spectacular!!!). I learned to not worry about what other people think from her- or at least to not let anyone know I'm worried about what other people think. Let's face it- all most people know about you is what you let them see. I also learned most of my bad words from her so I have A LOT to be thankful to her for just in that area alone!! Really though, she is a great mother. She is very supportive of us in our child rearing beliefs and in the different things we try with each child. She also doesn't nail me to the wall for the raging hypocrisy of which I am guilty. I am doing so many of the things that I hated when she did them. I tell my kids life isn't fair and neither am I - fair is a place you go in the summer to eat lots of fried dough and cotton candy- it's got nothing to do with our family life. Fair would mean each child gets exactly the same amount of toys, clothes and overnight trips to the grandmas houses. #1 knows she has it easier than #2 and she is usually good with the idea that each one gets priviledges according to their behavior- not age or fairness. As one needs clothes, they get clothes- not just because the other got some. It helps that #2 doesn't care for clothes but you all know what I mean.

My mother in law is also great but I'll do more on her another day- this is a tribute to my mom for her birthday. My mom is very artistic and always has been. Back in the day (more years than I care to count) she did leather crafting- carving and stamping a picture into leather. She did huge wall pictures and small key fobs, purses, belts, wallets, etc. I still have my horse carved belt she gave me when I was about 11 or 12 as well as a wallet, also horses. I had a real horse hang up as a pre teen and teen. She painted a denim workshirt with horse themed initials and a horse head for me around the same age. My stick figures usually need explanation but I've come to terms with that and don't hate her for her ability anymore. Another few decades and I may be able to entirely over look that injustice ;). Anywho- my mother is the person most responsible for my ability to out swear most sailors, BS my way through the most embarrassing moments on earth without anyone knowing I just want the earth to swallow me alive and my fierce sense of loyalty. So here's to you, Mom- happy birthday and many more.
Lordy, lordy I swear by the sun-
Rosie is fifty-nine plus one!!


Sorry mom but not much rhymes with sixty- kicks me isn't quite close enough but I also didn't want to give you any ideas.

Renovations March On

This is drywall the upstairs of the extension week. That means I am tied to the house so the work can be done. Have you ever noticed how, as soon as you can't do something (leave house) you have a bunch of things pop into your head that you could be doing (school shopping)?? The work is moving along well and looks good. Since I am not trying to hang the drywall I am happy. That stuff is heavy!! I'm splitting my time at home this week between trying to do a bunch of things I've been putting off while Hubby was home (he's travelling for work this week) and fooling around on the computer. Guess which group is going to get more of my time.....

#2 has 1 1/2 weeks left of his summer program and then it's a break and off to kindergarten. I'm still getting all the stuff ready for both to go to school and haven't really had the chance to stop and think about the fact that the baby is going to school. I think I'm supposed to feel sad or like I want another but it's just not there. I tend to be very matter of fact and not prone to sudden tears so I'm betting this is like #1's first day of kindergarten 2 years ago- hang out and wonder what I've forgotten to put in the backpack and hope she makes nice friends. And take a dozen photos of her in front of the house waiting for the bus in her cute first day outfit. Note to self- gotta get #2 a first day of school outfit. We got the backpack and lunch bag- the back pack is almost as tall as he is and twice as wide so that ought to make a great picture- my kid the turtle. Both are taking after me in the skinny lanky look. Either of them would have to stand up twice to cast a shadow (as my step father so eloquently described me once- but I was an adult and beyond the self conscious phase). Hey Richard, too bad you didn't get to meet these guys- they are quite a pair and I'd bet they would give you a run for your money. My step-dad died in 1998, my mother had worried that he and I wouldn't get along. We were opposites in many ways- He was VERY tall (6'7!!!) and I'm NOT, he was a hunter and I'm a take care of the little critter kind- not that I'm against hunting but I can't eat it if I knew it. The list of opposites goes on and on while the only similarity was that we are both opinionated. The recipe for clash was writ large here, folks. Oddly enough, we got along quite well- once we worked out that we could have differing opinions without the world ending. We both got a kick out of the darndest things. He could laugh with or at me for my softie tendencies without my hitting the ceiling and I had no problem saying things like "sit down I want to look you in the eye". Perhaps it was finding out that we both knew lots of bad words and could use them really well without being offended by the others use- shock value is not reserved for teenagers- it works equally well far into the adult years. As a matter of fact it gets more shocking to hear certain words fall out of someones mouth as they get older. I think it was mostly the fact that we were both adults (ok with some tendencies toward childish pranks) when she met him, plus my parents weren't divorced- my dad died unexpectedly and young when I was in college. I didn't view him as competition for my mothers attention as much as a great diversion for her. And of course there was no question of my parents getting back together if not for him- a dead parent doesn't have the same emotional turmoil as a divorced parent. The upshot here is that he would have gotten a real kick out of these two. But then I have a whole cadre of dead relatives I think would have loved these two (not just because of the family thing, either). Ok, enough dead family for today.

So I'm spending most of my free time doing needle felting for a fall festival in town. I've got to put together a display of items, an information display and will be demonstrating the technique. #1 is helping me with this project and will have a scrapbook of her flat work there. Needle felting, for those who have never heard of it, is the use of specially designed barbed needles to poke wool and cause it to tangle. The tangling is what causes it to dry felt. Dry felting is different from wet felting in many ways- one being no water used. For a detailed explanation visit my website-
http://electricmomma.googlepages.com/home and click the needle felting page. I have to get some photos on the website and maybe a video if the basic techniques. #1 is very keen on making a video since she discovered You Tube. Most of what I do is 3D animals. Some are done over a wire armature and that allows some gentle posing. The rest are static pose animals. They aren't meant for children to play with so much as for collecting. It's amazing how quickly the creative well runs dry when there is a deadline on the horizon. So I need to run off and make an armature of a small squirrel that I want to get working on.