Necessary Chocolate

In case you're wondering what I look like

This should be a post about gratitude and all that I'm thankful for. You, for instance. I'm grateful to have met all of you through this strange medium. But instead of praising you, I think I'll put up a picture of me.

Back in the 60s, I liked the camera and the camera liked me. I haven't felt that way in a good thirty years. I see a photo of me, and it's not me. At least not the me that I know. So, when my office decided that the partners needed to have photos put up on the website, I cringed.

The photographer came to the office, and it wasn't all that bad. And the photograph is me after all. So, if you care, you can go here, scroll down, and take a look. We're a nice-looking bunch, don't you think?

Party bear onesie

A polar bear, who appears to be kindly tolerating his party hat.

Lots of 6-wrap french knots make up the pom-pom.

It took five months to finally start the bear, and one week to complete it, counting decision making and looking for stuff. Like the Japanese magazine where I first saw the bear. Or I thought that I saw the bear. I'd sketched up the bear (five months ago), and I honestly thought that I'd copied it right off a pattern. Until, after one night of looking, I stumbled on this page, and realized that I'd found the prototype.*

Now I feel a little creative. I added pink polka-dot fabric and a pom-pom, after all.

Next things to find are my church keys. If anyone knows where they are, please let me know. As I have already informed my family, I do not think that it's funny that I taught the parable of the lost coin last week, only to spend this week searching for things. Ironic, yes. Funny? Not yet.

*from Stitch Idees volume 6.

Frivolous moments in Montreal

I'm ashamed to admit that in twenty years of living in Albany, I'd never been to Montreal. Sheesh.

But now I have. I attended a professional conference there for a few days. There wasn't time for much sightseeing, or hunting for food or fabric, but I did manage practice a little French, see Old Town, and attend the archaeological museum.

All without a camera.

So here are my souvenirs from Montreal:

We may not have walked around to get bagels, but of course I and my colleagues found the biggest bookstore. As much as I love Terry Pratchett's books, I'm not particular excited to carry around any book with a die-hard sci-fi illustrated cover. These editions, though, look so literate. So anti sci-fi cover. I've bought these editions in Athens, in Paris, and now in Montreal.

And a kinder egg!!!! And inside the chocolate shell/yellow capsule:

A interesting little pink crayon. She doesn't color very well, but she's an awfully cute souvenir.

A few frivolous moments

After two months of being a little overwhelmed with my new life, I think I'm starting to relax.

Over the last few days, I've baked some

embroidered some (not my design - I'll post more about it this week)

sauntered through Central Park after a site visit

even made it to the Trunk-or-Treat party at the church.

It turns out that I do have a frivolous future after all. I'll have something to say that doesn't involve historic buildings or the King James version of the Bible.*

*or Pushing Daisies or Eli Stone, but that's not quite as impressive, is it?