This weekend was spent making jellies, jams, and critters from “The Cute Book”, by Aranzi Aronzo.  Kitty Kat Claire has many very small friends, who are camera shy and are hiding under the Imps’ beds. 

When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters on the grill, get the ice-cold beer and the cigars - that’s heaven here on earth.” ~ Bernie Mac Here’s hoping it’s just as grand on the other side.

]]> http://missharleyquinn.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/in-memory-of-bernie-mac/feed/ missharleyquinn http://missharleyquinn.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/toby-keithbigot-in-a-cowboy-hat/ http://missharleyquinn.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/toby-keithbigot-in-a-cowboy-hat/#comments Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:32:57 +0000 missharleyquinn http://missharleyquinn.wordpress.com/?p=589

During Keith’s appearance on the July 30 broadcast of Beck’s show, he Toby Keith said ”I think the black people would say he [Obama] don’t talk, act or carry himself as a black person.”

“What does that even mean?” the audibly shocked Beck replied.

“Well, I don’t know what that means,” Keith drawled, “but I think that that’s what they would say. Even though the black society would pull for him I still think that they think in the back of their mind that the only reason he is in [the general election] is because he talks, acts and carries himself as a Caucasian.”

~From Max Blumenthal Article

Doesn’t act like a black person?  Doesn’t carry himself as a black person?  Black Society?  Talks, acts, and carries himself like a caucasian?  What in the world does that mean? (strange that Beck and I have the same question) That Senator Barack Obama fulfills stereotypical caucasian behavior but not stereotypical African American behavior and what exactly are those behaviors?  Could we actually get past what we expect people to be by their appearence and actually see them for their character, their choices (both wise and foolish), and their accomplishments?  Not that I know much about Mr. Toby Keith, but why would he say such things?  If he is an avid supporter of Senator John McCain couldn’t he say something to the effect of, ” I applaud Senator McCain’s constant pressure on the Burmese government ?  Or I’m completely for a gas tax holiday, you wouldn’t believe how expensive it is to fill the tank of a tour bus?”  Or even better, actually disagreed with Senator Obama for a real issue, such as saying, “I think its foolish to try and create more protections against food borne illnesses, those illnesses make our immune systems stronger and he wants to make us weaker and thats un-American” (I’m not certain Mr. Keith would say that, but it’s just an example of the latest bill sponsored by Senator Obama and what I could come up with on short notice) Didn’t he know one wise person that chided him, to not ‘judge a book by its cover’?

I just finished reading a biography about Warren Zevon and thus far it was the most difficult of the biographies I’ve read, to actually get through.  I really had to push myself to complete it and have been listening to his songs this morning…everyone that discussed him in the book regarded him as a genius, the write ups on line, even comments on You Tube videos…all think him amazing, a genius, a trailblazer.   I’ll be honest, I wan’t all that impressed…seemed like a mean and violent drunk in the beginning and a pathetic man grasping for lost fame in the end.  But, I was learning to walk and talk when he was at the height of his career, maybe I would understand the reputation if I had been old enough to know about the music then.

The old cat bed was getting a bit snarkey, so it was high time for a new one.  I  being the weird matcher that I am, also wanted the cat bed to match the re-vamped dining room.  I debated about purchasing one, as I had in the past, but they are a complete pain to wash and never seem to look right after the first laundering.  So, one woven laundry basket, some fun new fabric and Miss Shak-a-Lacka Good has a new bed.

Capt. Phil Harris…Delicious!

I recently (thats a lovely term that in my world could mean yesterday or 1993) purchased “Organic Body Care Recipes” by Stephanie Tourles and finally got around to making a few of the facial goodies.  Last evening I made ‘Old fashioned Lavender Toner’, ‘Herbal Soapy Skin Wash’, and ‘Light Moisturizer’. I’m going to use these 3 products over the next 6 weeks and am hoping for the following results:

1.  They actually work…meaning my skin pretty much stays the same or miraculously looks lovely…like women in a BBC movie drinking tea on a lovely spring afternoon.  It would be amazing if I could make my own skin care products from natural ingredients, instead of buying a tube of chemicals at the local drug store.

2.  That the product lasts long enough to make it affordable.  My initial expense for all three products was $37.00.  Which compared to commercially made cleansers, toners, and moisturizers is incredibly cheap, but would be even better if I had enough for 6 months.

3.  When my husband comes home in 5 days and hugs me, doesn’t tell me my head smells funny…like an old flyer from Woodstock or his great aunt’s attic in high summer.

4.  None of it makes me break out like a 14 year old…unless of course I also have the skin tone of a 14 year old and my wrinkles have been completely erased…that would be okay then.  Otherwise no zits…I’m weary of combating zinkles.

  It’s that time of year again and my mom wanted a new bag.  What a surprise!  This bag pattern is based on a tote bag my mom already liked the shape and size of, she just wanted the knitting witch fabric.  I also made her a matching notebook to keep track of her knitting projects.  Since reading a few of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee( aka The Yarn Harlot) books she’s embracing the whole ’stash is good’ mentality.

I recently purchased “Sew Pretty Homestyle”, by Tone Finnanger and fell in love with all the sweet, girly projects.  Each page is filled with  sweet romantic photographs and I particularly liked the hot water bottle cover project…mostly because it was pink and my last period made me feel like I was trying to give birth to the entire country of China and the thought of a hot water bottle to sooth such cramps sounded heavenly.  You may be asking yourself what the goofy monsters in the picture above have to do with this post, well as usually happens what I set out to do somehow morphs and the pink gingham and delicate embroidery fell to the wayside when these two bad boys decided they needed to be hot water bottle warmers and I could kiss my Laura Ashley like warmer to the curb.  All in all though, the little guys are soft and amusing and make me smile…alls well that ends well. 

I adore my serger and use it constantly.  I’m not even certain how I could have sewn for so many years and not had a serger.  The day I got it was like a ray of sun breaking through the clouds…and then a darkness came…the lower loop thread broke.  Not such a big deal, right?  Wrong! Not only is that particular thread nigh impossible to re-thread  you also can’t just re-thread the broken one.  Up until the thread breaking and a little piece of my heart too, I hadn’t threaded it.  I was rather spoiled in that it was pre-threaded when I purchased it… so all this was new to me.  After reading the manual and watching the DVD that came with it, I found that sergers and their maintenance is much like alchemy and everything must happen in a precise order or its a complete failure.  Each thread has a particular moment to be threaded and must be done with the precision of a neurosurgeon or the Gods become most displeased.  Thankfully, after 4 hours and much muttering I was able to re-thread it and once again my serger and I were living happily ever after.  Granted, that was the height of excitement on my Friday night…who says getting older is boring?  *l*