Sunday, November 29, 2009

Complet! (That's French for Finished!)

It took me most of the day, off and on, to complete it, but it was fun. Best of all, Ms. Mifflette really likes her new hat and says she feels rather French in it.

Bunny-Ear Cap

My favorite mifflette this season is nakedly beautiful. She needs something, though, to enforce her mifflette-ness as all her peers have embellishments of one sort or another. Since I love her all-whiteness, I finally settled on knitting her a white alpaca cap.

After a couple of false starts, I think I finally have it and though it represents a lot of time, it is also a lot of fun. Isn't that always the way? Right now, I am working with eight needles, seven for holding and one for the actual knitting.

I'll post the end result, hopefully later today.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Visual Cure for Headaches

During this month I have been trying a new headache cure taught to me by my dentist, Roger Kay. I mentioned that my teeth ached after running in weather that was cool to cold. In looking at my dental x-rays, it was apparent that my sinuses were hovering closely over my teeth. Dr. Kay explained that signals to the brain can get confused and my sinuses and teeth could have indirect responses to pain. I told him I had frequent headaches (sometimes daily) and he asked if I were interested in curing them with visualization techniques. He got me interested when he said it was based on PHYSICS, as it is impossible for two things to occupy the same space at once. Frankly, I was hooked more on it being a SCIENTIFIC, rather that "New Age" technique.

I have been using his technique this month with spectacular results. Previously, the fewest amount of headaches I experienced in a month was thirteen (I have taken sumitriptan to control pain). That was a GOOD month. In fact, the average amount was closer to twenty. Here it is the end of November and I have had the grand total of seven headaches! I have medicated four of them. That means I have gone from using close to EIGHTEEN sumatriptan tablets a month to FOUR!

Here is my interpretation of the technique:
Sit or lie comfortably in a quiet space where one can tune out the world.
Breathe slowly and intentionally, deeply.
Picture the pain in a concrete way. Dr. Kay suggested giving it as a shape. I picture it as smoke whirling around my head.
Breathe in, picturing fresh air coming into your head, pain-free air. I picture it as icy blue.
Breathe out, picturing the pain leaving. With me, I picture yellow smoke leaving my nostrils.
While breathing in and out slowly and deeply, I am picturing the pain-as-smoke getting less and less.
I say to myself, BLUE as I inhale, YELLOW as I exhale.

If it doesn't work entirely in about ten minutes, I move on, but I come back to this during the time that the headache lasts. Sometimes it doesn't erase the headache entirely, but alleviates it significantly.

Most surprising of all is the fact that I have had far fewer onsets of headaches this month. It's almost as if my headaches have sought other territories where they are freer to roam...or died!

THANK YOU, DR. KAY!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Calvados Galette

I'm very pleased with the appearance of my calvados galette, though I haven't tasted it yet, nor whipped up the calvados creme.

Pine Cone Hat

Can any of my knitty friends figure out how to make this pine cone hat? It look like a pine cone on the head and I LOVE IT! The designer also makes a PORCUPINE hat. Follow the Katie Mawson link to see it.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
I'm off to assemble the apple galette parts, having made the calvados apple sauce two days ago, the crust yesterday and now to peel, core and slice the apples and fill the crust and bake it. The calvados whipped cream will be whipped and put on top. and that's all I have to bake for Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Pictureless

I'm NEVER leaving home without my camera again. Thinking I would see nothing worth photographing today when I left for a neighboring town, I didn't bother to bring the point-and-shoot.

First I saw what appeared to be a teen boy at the edge of the woods, in a bright red sweatshirt, leaning on a huge felled tree, using a laptop?? Could it have been? Well, I'll never know, methought, as he won't be there when I make the return trip 30 minutes later. HE WAS! most definitely using a lap top. What a current photo that would have been!

Then, the huge flock of sheep wearing all different sorts of blankets! What a sight! Why? To keep them warm as their fleece had been shorn? Or?

But, poor reader, you'll have to form pictures in your mind instead of seeing the real things. Promise: I'm not leaving home without my camera again.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Monkey With Attitude

The lastest monkey is kinda fierce. I think he needs handling by the right kind of boy. Any takers? contact elw207AThotmailDOTcom

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

This lot went to Open Studios with POD also. I wonder how many of them came back to Brookline.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Zach and his Birthday Gift

Syl and Bob got Zach CHICKENS (bantams - Spike, Rusty and Dusty) for his fourth birthday (Nov. 29). Syl reports that Spike and Zach have bonded. I remember when Syl bonded with her own chicken, Funnyfeathers in about 1977 or 78. I must admit I feel some pride in this choice of gifts, as if somehow Syl's upbringing had a positive impact on her in some ways, at least.

Having just spent a week with Zach and brother Dex (and cousins Sohpia and Dylan), I was pleased to note that Zach has a real love of nature, especially birds. Apparently on a recent holiday he asked if he were able to catch a seagull, could he keep it? YES, his parents said, for obvious reasons. Then, with me, he was back at it trying to trap a goose into his arms. I love his fearless and joyous approach to living things. He also loves bugs. When stung by a bee, he didn't cry but reported, "it's only a bee!"

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Great Jeans Quest

Determined to find a pair of jeans that felt comfortable and looked good, I went heavily into research. Two personal fashion gurus said, "YES, designer jeans do make a difference in good fit." Do you know how many jeans designers there are out there? Too many to make the process simple. But ZAPPOS makes it easier by having a huge variety and free shipping and returns.

Out of four pairs, I kept two:
1. DKNY black skinny jeans, size 6 (from Zappos, $63)
2. Seven for all Mankind, high rise, skinny jeans, azure, size 29 (from Barneys, on sale $185 reduced to $119)

And don't forget, Size 10 is the new Size 6. I'm really a ten, only a six in the USA.

These both fit great and are flattering and don't ride up or down. YAY! I plan to wear them to death in ME, MA, CA, and MX.

I recommend lots of measuring of the body and jeans to find the right pair for YOU!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Flying to Florence

These two duos are going off to Western MA to an Open Studios event. I need to get five more ready before tomorrow! Yikes. There's a lot more yard work to do too, and the porch furniture to store, and, and, and...


Monday, November 9, 2009