tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710Fri, 25 Dec 2009 13:43:48 +0000Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days! - Charles Dickenshttp://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Bridget)Blogger463125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-4624700697057695034Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +00002009-12-25T00:01:02.805-05:00 http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/merry-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-3159871710105864267Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:43:00 +00002009-12-24T12:43:00.288-05:00Before I go any further, a couple of people wondered where the "Yes, Virginia" letter in my last post first appeared.  Here is the story of that now famous letter to the editor and the response.  Every year, this makes me happy that I still believe in Santa Claus. Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-eve.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-7944867806643754478Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:12:00 +00002009-12-22T10:40:58.969-05:00The Garden Kitty says thank you to everyone who left such nice comments on his suggestions for a relaxing way to spend Christmas Eve.  As you may guess, he is quite the expert on finding ways to avoid stress.  (For instance - never leave the house!)  When we left things here at Chez Ravell'd Sleave, we were preparing for some snow, and wondering if it would be a big snow as predicted, or just ahttp://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/blog-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-1784890007119415365Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:39:00 +00002009-12-20T08:39:00.818-05:00I posted this last year, but it was later in the day on Christmas Eve, and the Garden Kitty was dismayed, since that might mean that some of you didn't see it in time to plan your day.  So I told him I would re-post it this year, ahead of time.  We both hope this will make your December 24th a little bit less stressful. ********** The Garden Kitty's Tips for a Perfect Christmas Eve   1.  Eat http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-eve-redux.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-758071786868917314Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:25:00 +00002009-12-18T21:25:48.271-05:00 " I don't see anything yet ... but I hope you have plenty of cat food in the house!" Well, last night on the news, the weather forecast said that there was a good chance that we would be getting maybe up to six inches of snow overnight on Saturday.  It was a news story, but it appeared that even the news people thought there were other important stories to report.  However, by this evening, http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/wheres-panic-button.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-6391903921186187192Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:02:00 +00002009-12-16T20:07:41.953-05:00 Look - a picture of the Garden Kitty without glowing eyes!  Every year, GK has to spend some time sitting next to Rudolph under the tree.  I think he likes this Rudolph because he is totally non-threatening, in that he doesn't move or make noise.  And we all know that GK is nothing if not careful about such things ...  Our Christmas preparations are coming along nicely.  The tree is up and http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/nine-days-to-go.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-2367348766827655362Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:49:00 +00002009-12-14T18:49:20.055-05:00 OK, this picture is not a Christmas ornament, but it is related to Christmas!  This is my niece La Liz's foot modeling the socks I knit for her last Christmas (you know, the infamous Year of Socks).  She wore them the very next day, and kept saying how comfy they were, how they really fit, etc.  Proving to me that it is worth making an effort for some people at Christmastime. Having said http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/hither-and-yon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-6479018711242869418Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:34:00 +00002009-12-11T16:44:44.532-05:00God gave us memories that we might have roses in December. ~J.M. Barrie, Courage, 1922   It happens to me every year in December, but it's not something I can predict, or make happen when I want to.  It just happens when it's ready to happen, and to be honest, it's a bittersweet experience.   You may have noticed that I am quite the fan of holidays, and Christmastime in particular.  I get http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/roses-in-december.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-5465822479187794294Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:35:00 +00002009-12-08T15:35:34.635-05:00 Today's ornament is a little townhouse that fits over one of the lights on our tree, making it look as if the house is lit for the holidays!  I bought this ornament when we first bought our house, since we have a townhouse which looks not terribly unlike this one.  I realized as I was trying to decide what picture to post today that, come December 18, we will have lived in our house for 18 http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-house.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-6382167545596734963Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:41:00 +00002009-12-06T19:41:20.369-05:00 Isn't this little guy cute?  He is the Yule Woodsman, and this picture is from a couple of years ago, when I knit one for a holiday swap I had joined.  Every year when I pull the one I made for us out of the decorations box, I tell myself that I am going to make more of them (I have everything I need) for gifts, and so far ... zero.   Just another reason why it's good that Christmas comes everyhttp://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/happy-yule.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-6255877268829276631Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:08:00 +00002009-12-04T10:08:44.393-05:00 Today's post is brought to you by the Doughboy ornament that goes onto our tree each year.  This year's tree should be chosen in the next few days, and it will be time to revisit our ornaments and decorations, which is so much fun! Yesterday it was freaky warm here, but in the end it was a good thing.  I have been meaning to clean up leaves, branches, etc. outside of our house for months, and http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/twenty-one-and-counting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-3314585836738825730Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:12:00 +00002009-12-02T20:14:09.863-05:00I'm sure if you are reading this, you have noticed that I have Christmas-fied the blog! But before I get too much into December, I think it's only fair to wrap up anything to do with November, so here are my thoughts about the books I read last month.  There's a good chance that this will be my last "mega-reading" month, since I will be busy getting ready for Christmas, and not reading a minimum http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/12/november-book-report.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-3375882908549526665Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:20:00 +00002009-11-30T20:20:07.486-05:00Well, did you miss me?  (Yeah, you're thinking - what ... she was gone?)  Our DSL modem died, and we were offline until today when the replacement one arrived and The Tim hooked it up successfully.  I think he missed the computer more than I did, though I did miss writing blog posts, and sending snarky e-mails to friends mocking others.  In the past ten days or so, I have thought of so many http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/11/conclusions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-6645631942566872528Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:15:00 +00002009-11-20T20:15:46.727-05:00Thanks to everyone for their kind wishes for The Tim on his birthday this week.  We had a nice day together, and then in the evening we sang "Happy Birthday" (during which the Garden Kitty *always* moans, er, sings along ...) and had birthday cake.  Earlier in the day, The Tim had to go and renew his driver's license, so he immortalized the Dotty vest by wearing it for his picture!  Before we http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/11/news-notes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-7738878902404947441Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +00002009-11-18T06:00:08.490-05:00Men are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age. -- Pope John XXIII Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not generally one to quote a pope - but in this case, I'm making an exception, because a) Pope John XXIII was a good one, and b) the subject of today's post proves this saying true Every. Single. Day. And so, without further ado, let me say: Happy Birthday to my http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/11/very-best-one-ever.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-5200403559524724452Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:01:00 +00002009-11-18T20:03:38.137-05:00I don't know how things are where you live, but we are now [supposedly] finishing up the fourth day of a nor'easter here in Philadelphia.  Even though the temperatures have not been that low, the wind and dampness make it feel really cold.  Today I am grateful that I do not have to be at work in this, as I have the other days.  You haven't been damp and cold until you are out in it all day long! http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/11/rainy-saturday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-1322351150947083305Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +00002009-11-11T20:21:00.753-05:00Both my father and father-in-law were veterans of World War II, so each year on Veterans Day, I say a special prayer for them.  I hope that regardless of your feelings about the military overall, or any current conflicts, that you will think a kind thought today for those who are in active service, as well as those we remember. In Flanders Fields Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/11/veterans-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-3436570030644161688Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:23:00 +00002009-11-10T15:24:22.013-05:00During the World Series, I finished a knitting project that I had started back in August, to be a Christmas gift for this year.  It took me longer than usual, 'cause I didn't really work through it like I usually would, but I knew I could finish it with plenty of time.  Then I couldn't upload pictures since something had changed in the settings that would allow me to retrieve them from my camera http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/11/no-show-fo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-6162907257410281269Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:42:00 +00002009-11-08T18:49:07.560-05:00So - here are the books I read during October.  The ones with asterisks (*) next to the title are available for giveaway.  Anyone interested should leave a comment, letting me know the one you'd like, by Friday, November 13 (!). The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins.  Wilkie Collins is considered to be one of the inventors of the detective story (Edgar Allan Poe is the other one), and he has created http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/11/october-book-report.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-4968125585599859454Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:57:00 +00002009-11-06T20:58:48.171-05:00Well, I did survive my 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. day yesterday, though not without being cold, hungry, and sore (queue pityparty music ...).   It started to get colder than it's been for a while last night, and of course I was mostly outside, and then - worst of all - we didn't get a dinner break like we usually do!  Then when I got about 2 blocks from home, all of a sudden every single part of my http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/11/thank-yous.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-2392872835982197272Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:51:00 +00002009-11-04T19:55:25.247-05:00And that, my friends is the kind of week I've been having ... however, never fear, I shall prevail and be back sometime on Friday or the weekend.  In the meantime, tomorrow is a 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. day at work.  I fear that when I get home from work, I will not even feel like checking e-mail, but instead will need to immediately do this: http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/11/blog-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-62343408831160755Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:36:00 +00002009-11-01T08:36:00.917-05:00Remember this? That slowly became this: And then, eventually I learned how to create steeks. And it looked like this: "Am I the only one that's wondering when she's gonna finish this???" Finally, I learned how to cut the steeks: Well ... ready or not, I have the latest picture to show you, so I hope you are sitting down and have not just taken a drink of something.  *Please note http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/11/alert-media.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-8242744810962621275Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:45:00 +00002009-10-31T07:45:00.501-04:00 http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/10/boo_31.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-3925242601860784486Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:58:00 +00002009-10-28T11:58:00.508-04:00This Day in History October 28: 1466 - Birth of Desiderius Erasmus. 1636 - Harvard University founded. 1793 - Eli Whitney applies for a patent on the cotton gin. 1858 - Macy's department store opens in New York. 1886 - Statue of Liberty dedicated by President Grover Cleveland. 1919 - The Volstead Act is passed (Prohibition!). 1958 - The Roman Catholic patriarch of Venice, Angelo Giuseppe http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/10/time-marches-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32972710.post-36304004914008867Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:31:00 +00002009-10-27T19:31:12.571-04:00 This week's 10 on Tuesday: 10 Favorite Movie Moments 1.  "To Kill a Mockingbird" - when everyone remaining in the courtroom rises to their feet as Atticus Finch leaves, after his unsuccessful defense of Tom Robinson. 2.  "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" - when Clark Griswold gathers the family on the front lawn for the grand lighting display he has put on the outside of the house.  Hehttp://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com/2009/10/lights-camera-action.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bridget)8