My Blog

Yeah, he still loves me

allthingsanita — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:15:51 GMT

its still march cold here on april 9th. and my garden is showing desperate signs of days of below freezing wear and tear. oh, all those tulips. and the primrose are gone.... and i'm afraid to speculate about the damage to the lilac tree buds, the redwood tree buds, or the fruit tree buds. UGH. but my honey, in an attempt to save at least some of those tulips last week harvested the big buds, and with the sun shining strong outside, we have a little bit of spring in the house. YEAH Dean!

and it's here

allthingsanita — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:55:34 GMT

and I just want to be in my yard! come on sun. I have tulips up just waiting to bloom. I have hellebores blooming, primrose blooming, scillas, the crocus are long gone. and the best part. I am going to be here, every day, in my yard to watch it this year. guess that means I'm in for the weeding too... here's a shot of my primroses. look in the picture folder for my hellebores, heucharas and tiarellas that need cleaning up so badly, and a little spring visitor to my garden

Yeah, spring's coming

allthingsanita — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:37:00 GMT

and yesterday, I planted my annual array of poppies and larkspurs. they need a cold stratification... so with 'warnings' of warm days ahead I figured I'd better get them out into the snow melt. We also found more snow/ice damage from the second time around (5-7" this time) than we'd originally had from the first snowfall. Our older lilacs and honeysuckles really took it hard. Guess it saves us from some spring pruning! Although, my new shade garden will have to have some false shade early in the spring to compensate for one whole bush that came out. and spring fever is sitting ready on my desktop, and health concerns for all.... here's some thoughts on the insurance industry. I hope you are all sitting sunny and fully insured. if not.... I sure hope you have some options. http://brilliantatbreakfast.blogspot.com/2007/03/its-time-to-take-health-insurance-out.html

Snow Days

allthingsanita — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:35:41 GMT

Did I say I love snow? and that I miss having it around? I do, I really do. So, this weekend was wonderful for me. and I have the pictures to prove it. and yes, I know its been hard on some folks. and really hard on some branches that were ready to come down. but I love snow.

Americanrespect.com Check it out

allthingsanita — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:22:57 GMT

American Respect is a not-for-profit organization that believes invading Iraq has increased global terrorism, is costing thousands of lives, (and literally trillions of tax dollars) and is increasing energy costs. We believe the US should take a very different approach to addressing this problem. Our principles for reducing terrorism are: Pursue true terrorists such as al Qaeda by eliminating training camps, preventing arms smuggling, freezing financial assets and apprehending terrorist leaders. Find balanced solutions in sensitive areas which foment terrorism by rebuilding international coalitions. Violence in regions like Chechnya, Kashmir and especially Palestine directly and adversely affects the entire Muslim world. Decrease our profile in Iraq and use international coalitions to lead a march toward guaranteed rights, limited government and democratic representation. Further recognize that Iraq was arbitrarily assembled in 1919 from three ethnically and religiously different Ottoman provinces, and that a peaceful solution may require a return, either partly or fully, to this pre-1919 arrangement. Build up the economies of Muslim countries with the goal of creating a larger middle class in each. If abject poverty is a breeding ground for terrorism, then creating broad prosperity is a key part of the solution--especially in the areas of trade and land reform. And success in the economies of any Muslim country--from Morocco to Indonesia--is positive for stability and peace throughout the region. Establish a tone of goodwill in policies and actions toward these nations and their growing and increasingly global populations. © 2004-2006 American Respect. All rights reserved And all this from the radical center, eh? go check out their site... they have some very thought provoking essays... they also have a place where folks have left criticisms.... it is all very interesting.

I'd like you to meet my friend Cylie

allthingsanita — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:22:12 GMT

http://www.keloland.com/videoarchive/index.cfm?VideoFile=012307eye Cylie, I've known since birth. Not near as well as I've known her mom, Caryn.... Caryn and I spent many many hours together in college, some we could discuss here in a public forum, some better left to the wanderings of our beer nights. of which we had quite a few, hey, but we studied first. Cylie's brave. she's nearing the end of her chemo cycle tho...... and as all these go, she could use some more energy. the hours are getting long, the hospital is boring, she's missing her friends and you know, this is really cramping her life. so, send some energy up to the central plains of south dakota would you for my friend Cylie. and while you are at it, send some along for her parents Gary and Caryn, they need some too-- as you can tell from the video, this girl is the bomb for them.

Tritubes to Molly

allthingsanita — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:08:37 GMT

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0131-08.htm http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2007/02/02/molly_ivins/index.html

Saddest news in a while

allthingsanita — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 06:08:58 GMT

I loved Molly Ivins. I was introduced to her.... oh, I don't know... had to have been late '90s by a girlfriend from Texas. She wasn't 'mainstream' yet then. but she was still a hoot. I couldn't get enough of her then and I couldn't today. Her death at 62 will leave a hole in my life, seriously. her willingness to say it like it was, well, for me, you could say, it was true blue heroine worship. it was all about comments like this that she made like when the Washington pundits started counseling bipartisanship after voters routed the Republicans in the 2006 elections, Molly wrote, "The sheer pleasure of getting lessons in etiquette from Karl Rove and the right-wing media passeth all understanding. Ever since 1994, the Republican Party has gone after Democrats with the frenzy of a foaming mad dog. There was the impeachment of Bill Clinton, not to mention the trashing of both Clinton and his wife--accused of everything from selling drugs to murder--all orchestrated by that paragon of manners, Tom DeLay.... So after 12 years of tolerating lying, cheating and corruption, the press is prepared to lecture Democrats on how to behave with bipartisan manners. and she constantly referred to Bush as the man the supreme court elected president. I loved her first book : "Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush" and was overwhelmed and shocked by some of Bush administration decisions outlined and verified in her other book: "BUSHWHACKED: Life in George W. Bush's America." I'll leave you with a little taste of Molly -- an excerpt from a column she wrote 10/31/06..... So with the Bushies continuing their tailspin, it might be time to review the rules in case WE WIN in the upcoming midterm elections: I realize for many Democrats it has been so long since we won, we have completely forgotten the etiquette. And I realize I'm taking a chance here -- there's nothing more dangerous than overconfidence -- but you have to practice for victory as well as defeat. First rule: No gloating. Actually, there is gloating allowed, but only in the exclusive presence of other Democrats. Gloating in the face of Republicans is rude and unsportsmanlike, and just gives them one more thing to complain about. Also, remember there is a possibility there may be some Republicans on the civil service staff -- I have seen this when the R's win -- and it is really not good manners to watch them wailing around with their eyes brimming with tears. Second, I'm sure we will all be full of grand theories if Republicans lose and we win. Dems will be ready to be helpful, offer advice and sort of try to perk the R's up. I do not recommend this. It somehow never feels to me when R's are dumping truckloads of good advice on the D's that they are, actually, sincere about it. Third, celebratory jigs, reels and renditions of "Danny Boy" are best limited to Irish bars. Fourth, try to refrain from insulting Republicans en masse. A good start would be, "You know, it was mostly the ones under indictment that hurt you." photo courtesy of AP/mary altaffer

Boy, do I love Jon Stewart!!!

allthingsanita — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 03:26:58 GMT

and he makes watching cheney, well, somewhat tolerable..... http://www.salon.com/ent/video_dog/latenight/2007/01/26/stewart_s_take_on_cheney_blitzer/index.html?source=newsletter check it out and have a laugh yourself!!

Did you think I could go for days without commenting?

allthingsanita — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 22:58:52 GMT

the problem was.... I didn't know where to start.... first of all, I'm so angry, note, not mad, I could spit. On our backs, we'll bear the burdens of this war -- how many billions are we up to? the middle class is/will bear the costs of the decisions made by republicans and their leaders. hold your pants on, I am holding you responsible for your votes also. we have a unbelievable deficit, freakin' unbelievable. and I can do my taxes all day long and I get only so many deductions. and now they want to raise the ceiling for taxing for social security, well there goes that small break I had. and the rest of my money... will go to pay that deficit. I don't make enough money to jump up and get out of paying enough taxes. and I certainly make too much money to qualify for any kind of financial aid for our college age student. but come balance our budget every month. see how much we pay in taxes. the budget is usually balanced on the backs of the middle class... come balance with me. How about if I get to pick where my money goes..... what if we got to vote our support of ideas, etc by saying put my taxes in social justice? I want to feed people, support women and children whose men have walked off and left them like that's just fine and dandy, clean up our water and air that corporate america thinks is ok to pollute, I pick those with my money. Not war. Let Halliburton support that, they are making enough money, let them give a little back. and Bush's proposals the other night? how do you think he even spoke those words? he doesn't believe in one word of which he spoke. reduce gasoline usage? in a world where he eats and excretes oil how could he even form the words? give tax breaks to folks who don't have taxes to reduce? how, how, how does that work? explain the form to me again? if you owe no taxes because you are SO POOR you don't even qualify for the minimum, how would a tax break work for you? its not even magic money? global climate change? this coming from the president who scoffed at the idea of signing the kyoto treating, therefore making us the only industrialized nation not? and talking about setting federal mandates for ethanol that are not only ridiculous for the ethanol producers to meet but the petroleum marketers will have an amazing time putting into place... so dead in the water but not his fault..... if I was Nancy P, I would have hit him with the gavel myself. no questions asked.

new thought for the day

allthingsanita — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:06:59 GMT

Everyday, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it, I am going to use all my energies to develop myself. To expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, I am going to have kind thoughts towards other, I am not going to get angry, or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can." - H. H. the 14th Dalai Lama. I was browsing a friend's site today and she had this quote. (thanks Jennifer) she found it when she went home and found it pertinent when she was dealing with family. couldn't we all at times? I think it is a very conscious way to start the day. and I think it will serve me well and help me to deal well with the idiot rules and the people who serve them. see, there I go already. I need this.

I'm dead, again

allthingsanita — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 15:30:05 GMT

Yep, I joined another game this winter, actually I've joined a couple. and the first one started about a week and a half ago, called headgames, that is a hat war. we recd the pattern and started knitting. some apparently are speed knitters. I'm dead, I died on Thursday. The hat is great. I will be sending my unfinished hat on to my assassin so she can take on my target. Now, on to my socks... as I am doing another Death by Socks also. I think I might be out here too as although no socks are in the mail I did hear they may be soon.... I actually really like these games. Somedays I am a speed knitter and can stay up to speed with everyone. I like meeting new people, I love the discussion on the posts and I like learning new patterns and working with new yarns I might not have if I hadn't done it this way. now, on to wrking on the socks, if Dean doesn't have a large *honey I think you should* list for me today...... here's my hat, it is actually much greener than this picture shows. how'd she know I'd like it so much.

when will the fury die down.... or, should it?

allthingsanita — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 18:53:16 GMT

The story is all over the internet..... such as this, women own a business, it is a very succesful business, they make awesome yarn that many many knitters love to make into socks. Socks That Rock. STR for those of us that buy their yarn. Blue Moon Fibers. I love their yarn, apparently so do many many other knitters; I know that because sometimes I have to wait and wait to get the yarn. but their bank made a decision about the volume of their business being well, too high? thinking that perhaps not that many knitters actually buy yarn? and believe it or not, shut their credit card system down and refunded money. wow, can you imagine the impact to their business? and the insult? the concept? and without calling them first. nice. I've see quite a few versions of the story, and the outrage and potential solutions on the blogosphere. I prefer mambocat's..... she's a businesswoman herself and she's well, not cutting the bank any slack, and she knows that they would have had a hard time doing this to, well, ...... guess we'll never know how many successful small, men owned businesses the bank decided to shut down that week. I for one will be taking up mambocat on her suggestion....http://www.mambocats.blogspot.com/

Project Spectrum 2.0

allthingsanita — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 22:51:37 GMT

Color.... Do you think about color? I think I move through my days I don't think about color consciously. So, I have decided to join Lolly at http://www.lollygirl.com/blog/ and her Project Spectrum 2.0 and move through this year thinking about colors.... working with colors, noticing colors and bringing more color into my life. I'll let you know if it makes a difference. But it may be one way I work through my stash.... my stash of yarn, my stash of fabric, my stash of paper...... In February the focus is Blue White and Grey.... I'm already headed in the right direction with the aghan I'm working on of Jess's.... I've uploaded it into photos since only one picture is allowed here. It's beautiful, wouldn't you agree?

He's the man

allthingsanita — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:42:47 GMT

Generous of spirit, mind and time. Tolerant of individuality, italians, a little bit of the irish and a dane thrown in here or there. Totally in charge, despite what you may think smart and, he's hot. That's my man. Always willing to listen and to take care of whatever needs to be done. Always. even if he could care less about the *political nature of things.* even if he's pretending to listen to the rant. and he lets the accumulation of my stuff move over his stuff. He led me back to the water and now he can't get me away from it. (He wasn't sooo successful with the golf course.) recent events in this household have shown that we can shoulder all we need to, especially when one of us is the continuous rock of ages. I fell in love with him the day I met him, if at all possible I love him more. I just thought you should know.

reducing bulk

allthingsanita — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:27:56 GMT

Yep, I am going to try..... the guidelines as proposed by others--that is, knit from your stash until it is depleted, don't necessarily fit for me. I like to stay too current on yarns and patterns to let years and years go buy without purchasing new product for my stash. So, like others, I am modifying the guidelines to suit myself. It is after all, my world. 1. I will knit from my stash first and foremost. 2. Sock yarn does not count as an aquisition. 3. I will finish 3 projects before I can acquire new stash or projects or patterns. 4. Really really cool handspun yarn may not count against me. We'll see how it goes, I'll post to the sidelines my current three projects. Unlike others not to be named, I am not taking any pictures of current stash or projects underway. And no, I have not figured out how this applies to my quilting projects.

opinions.........

allthingsanita — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 15:02:06 GMT

while I am not a Rosie fan per say..... I have to say I agree with this commentator....http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/12/22/rosie/ and it does make me chuckle that Donald is giving her so much attention. while on the other hand, on another venue, I got a little hot under the collar yesterday when someone decided to blame liberals for the notion of 'zero tolerance'........ now I realize that liberals are the reason for most things gone wrong in this world <cheeky grin> I didn't get the connection here, and I didn't get why it was ok to make the connection on a social venue, but then I remembered who was doing it. but then I remembered that I had some last minute christmas shopping to do and the parking situation and fellow shoppers pissed me off--much better reason to be irritated. and one more reason for me not to shop at the evil empire: Walmart has decided that Christmas is the reason for the season and the rest of us can just go celebrate our holidays somewhere else. thanks, me and my money will.

Gifts

allthingsanita — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:48:39 GMT

sometimes into your life comes some major awesome holier than thou, there are no words for this, gifts. and sometimes we only get to hold them for fleeting moments that must last a lifetime. and when you come back to earth, you will never. ever. be quite the same person again. I hope all my family and friends have an amazing Holiday Season.

green onions at taco bell

allthingsanita — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 20:49:06 GMT

listeria in turkeys and ham at thanksgiving... and listeria is lethal... gross and scary. just one more reason to get my meat from a local butcher where I know how he handles and processes the food he is going to sell me. and buying local, and least the foods I buy don't come from a cesspool production area. but truth be told... it isn't the green onions at taco bell that prevent me from stopping by there for a little snack... its the questionable brown stuff in the $.89 taco.

Gratitude

allthingsanita — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:37:31 GMT

I am thankful for: Jessica and Dean love my animals a healthy child and spouse the love of our family the ability of our friends to step up when you need them most the love of strangers who come into your life my garden the freedom of the last few months an apology hugs laughter and tears of the last few months at home the encircling strength of the last few months at home new accupuncturist and new chiropractor its good to be home

I keep telling them I can't cook

allthingsanita — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:25:18 GMT

but the proof is in the pie... or on the stove for cripes sake....

Its not Thanksgiving...

allthingsanita — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:41:50 GMT

yet! but its gettting close... and thats when we always do this.... http://www.iowachristmastrees.com/farm.html I love it!

I guess its a snow day in ames

allthingsanita — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 22:06:34 GMT

and what a beautiful snow it was.... but you don't find me complaining much about the snow. you'll find me complaining about the cold dark damp winters in Iowa, and the elkhart driving extravaganza... but I'm a South Dakota girl at heart so I love the snow.

women's rights prevail.. or do they?

allthingsanita — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 18:10:18 GMT

and yeah, I'm happy.... am I biased... yep. do I expect the democrats to do something now, yes. and I'll be calling and asking all the time, hopefully everyone else will to. I've heard comments, even from the bushmaster himself, that the Democrats won because we were organized and effected a very good campaign. Go ahead republicans and tell yourself that.... because if, still today, you are trying to convince yourself that the american folks came out and voted because of a get out and vote campaign instead of "we think everythink sucks motivation"... you tell yourself whatever you need to continue your little self delusions. me, I'm happiest about the fact that the folks in SoDak told their legislators they were one cracked box of rocks and overturned the abortion ban in that state. there was so much about that ban that bothered me: 1) that an national agenda was used in a conservative state to set the stage for a supreme court fight. 2) that women's rights are bandied about so easily by folks that so easily engage in a discussion, but then leave it behind why would I say that... well let me demonstrate.... the list is endless... prolifers... what is their supportive plan for those women and girls that they don't allow to make their own choices with their bodies? aren't these conservative agenda supporting folks the same ones that detest, abhor and rant against the welfare mom's? that rant against working mom's and these are the same ones that judge those that "show" their sexual activity.... believe me, I felt it 20 years ago, and I see it today. So, what's the message folks, don't you dare make any choices with your body, but I ain't got nothing for ya, if you do the right thing? Am I bitter? Yep, 22 years ago, I walked into Catholic Social Services, afraid I was pregnant.... sure enough I was. What did I get? a lecture on fornication, a pamphlet on the evils of abortion, a pat on my bottom and sent out the door. I had to go looking for support service to choose adoption. the road was hard, and after I had my girl many doors were closed to me--where were all those prolifers then? Today, it isn't much different, believe me; after watching my brother go through two adoptions and looking at it from the girls side. I guess the best thing SoDak got out of this was all the out of state money pouring into it.... but it divided families and neighbors.... and I don't know that it answered the eternal question. So don't come ranting at me with your agendas unless you are offering a viable alternative. Heck, I'll take an alternative you don't have to go searching for.....

don't forget to vote today--your vote matters.

allthingsanita — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:41:09 GMT

elections are fairly close in several polling places across several states. and it does matter. it really does. look around you and find an area not controlled or regulated or affected by the govt in some small way. pulic policy, esp in local control is important. besides, if you whine to me, the first question I'll ask is: did you vote?