We don't know if there is something or someone to blame, but your Queen has increasingly had trouble coming up with positive rants.  (Is that an oxymoron?)  The dialogue that runs thru our head sounds winey, negative, and, yes, bitchey.

It also seems that blogs have gone out of fashion.

One of our resolutions for this new year is to be positive, say only positive things.  Be kind to everyone.  Bring only joy to the world.  (Hmmmmm.  song?)

We are not giving up our Queenship, oh no.  We like being Queen.  And, thankyou thankyou, just received a new crown!

Sending much love, my peeps.

MASCOT SUGGESTION!

Oh Peeps!  First suggestion (following my recent request re the fight against being offended) and it's grand!

Pepe le Pew !  (oh, our french spelling is very weak, may we?)
\
Comments?

FOUND: BEN STEIN COMMENTARY

With help from one of our trusted advisors, we found this reprint of commentary Ben Stein did for CBS Sunday Morning.  Apparently the prompt for this was the White House' decision to call "The Tree" a Holiday Tree not a Christmas Tree.  A little lengthy but well worth the read, so decree-eth your Queen.

Suffice it to say, my disappointment led my thoughts back to an e-mail a friend sent me recently which encouraged me to read and consider a commentary written and recited by Ben Stein on CBS Sunday Morning following The White House's decision to call this year's Christmas tree a "Holiday Tree." The following is what Ben said:

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crib, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her: "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said: "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said okay. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said okay.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with, "we reap what we sow."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards,

Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein"

MERRY CHRISTMAS & BEN STEIN

CHRISTMAS

Somewhere recently your Queen read an editorial written by Ben Stein on the "Merry Christmas" offensive controversy.  (Which, since I am Queen, I am banishing from my kingdom!)  Well, if you don't know Ben Stein, you should.  He has a way of looking at things that we so appreciate!  We flatter ourselves that we think alike.  Also -- and here is the bit -- he's Jewish.  Openly, happily, unashamedly, Jewish.

And now that we have gone on and on, we can't remember where it was!!!!  All you computer savvy peeps - find it!

But to reiterate:  being offended is banished from my kingdom.  We have HAD IT WITH OFFENDED!!!!!  Grow up.  Be kind.  Love one another.

We admit that there are levels of  "offensive".  Some things--actions, expressions, etc.-- are just plain rude, crude, improper, unkind, impolite, etc.  Unfortunately not all of these are the same anymore for most of society, not to mention, cultures.  However, wherever that is for you, DEAL WITH IT WITHOUT BEING OFFENSIVE!

You have options:  Get out of the situation; walk away; gently make it known if this is a guest of yours that this..........is not something acceptable in your castle; refuse to be drawn in to the offended game.  You may have to reevaluate your 'friendship'  But, really, peeps.

Your Queen just realized that this movement needs a mascot!  Sort of the Smokey Bear of the "End the Offensive Game" movement!  After all, only you can stamp out offensive!\\

Suggestions peeps?

Phew.  Your Queen feels much better.

A FRIEND - LY RESOLUTION

It occurs to your Queen that an early New Year's Resolution is appropriate.

"We resolve for the coming years, and so on, to be the kind of friend we want to have."

What do your think my peeps?

Contemplative Queen

MORE ON FRIENDS

Since writing the previous blog on friends, your Queen has thought a lot about a different kind of friend.  Those 'friends' that you thought at the time were friends forever but one day, inexplicably disappeared from your life.  You miss them.  And don't understand their disappearance.  'Course wondering what you did or said, I think, is natural.  And if it isn't something you brought about by an action or word, it would be nice to know what it really was that took them out of your life.  We hope we are not the only one that this has happened to.

Personal experience includes one who's job moved her away and we found out about it way later.  Not really a reason not to stay in touch if you were really a 'friend'.

Then there's the one who swore to stay in touch and when you tried to connect somehow didn't.

And one year you just didn't get the Christmas card.  Poof.

We can probably hear the rumblings of "They weren't really friends.",  "Who needs them anyway?",  Etc. Etc.  Your Queen is a seriously curious person.  And how didn't we see that coming?

More holidays.  More mysteries.  Less cards to mail.

Queens just can't control everything.

FRIENDS

FRIENDS.



Like a lot of words, this one has a wide variety of meanings:  "Listen, Friend."  Contains a veiled threat to someone who really isn't a friend at all.  BFF has been used until it has little meaning even at the specific time it's used.  By the time it's written, it's probably not true.  Because a real "BFF" is very rare and very precious.

Used in a description of another person it runs the gamut of "I've met her and know her by sight."  to "This person is dear to me."

Your Queen recently had the privilege of attending a gathering of 'friends' at Diane's castle.  During the gathering the meaning of the word 'friend' was discussed in the abstract.  But one of the definitions that came up, and that really describes BFF was this:  "When the phone rings in the middle of the night and the voice on the other end simply says 'I need you'. your automatic response is "I'll be there in ___hours/minutes.'"  A BFF never questions why you just know that whatever the reason is irrelevant.  You know that because they asked, it's truly important to them and being a real BFF that's enough.

When defined in this way, it whittles the friends down to a small few.  Most are lucky to have even one or two in their lives and it is definitely a reciprocal feeling.  You can't have one and not be one in return.

And, in looking back, most BFF's are in your life for a long time.  Just by nature.

Maybe we need a new word.  Something to narrow down the definition or supply gradients, before you get as far away as 'acquaintance' or as close as 'soul mate'.

And this Queen is so thankful for her BFFs.

FRIENDS

REALIZATION

The Queen makes a confession.

We write a lot of blogs.  They are just in our head -- at night -- at the other end of the castle from the blog machine.

This sounds like a new excuse.  Right?

We do our best thinking at night, in bed.

Your Queen zzzzzzzzzz

UPDATE

UPDATE:

Your Queen has been traveling and neglecting to write.

Took a few days and flew to the Big D -- for all you non-Texans that's Dallas -- to attend momentous wedding.  Queen's grandson (shush) was married making your queen feel ever so, uh, mature.  Loved all those who commented that she didn't look old enough to have grandson getting married!  We choose to believe them.  We certainly don't feel mentally or emotionally that mature.

But Bride is a lovely addition to family and it was an occasion to bring together pieces of the family.  Even the ones we didn't want to see.     Some high moments and some drama.  But on the whole went well.  And the glitches that happened were mostly things that the 'general population' didn't notice.

Your Queen has allot of fond memories of her time in Dallas but it has changed ALLOT!  So big now with the metro area filled in all the way to Ft. Worth and spaghetti freeway interchanges everywhere you look.  So we have decided to let those memories be and not try to recapture.  Thus proving some old adage or other.

But with pre-trip prep, trip and after trip it was the better part of two weeks.

Next big thing is Thanksgiving.  A good part of queen's family travels away for Thanksgiving, so it will probably be quiet in the castle.

Lots of projects to work on decorations for the Xmas holidays can come out then.

EEEEEEK.  Where has the year gone?

Occurs to moi that I can put photo of Bride & Groom.

Happy Queen

WEATHER & MOODS

We think we are realizing how we are affected by the weather!

Grey outside:  grey in our head.

Icky and stormy:   Hide under the pillow or if forced to interact with peeps, bite off the head of the first in line.  Then retire.

Big fluffy clouds and wind:  Run around happy.

Clear and nippy:  energy & glee

Snow:  peace & introspection

Weather change:  hurts resulting in grumpy

Hot and humid:  go away and leave us alone

Hot & dry:  yes, please.



Learning about ourselves,

Your Queen

BIG CITIES

Now we could write lots about cities both big and small.  But today it's just  "I ma goin to the city"!  There is one of the biggest cities not far from my castle but I just don't get to go.  Actually haven't been since moving into the new castle!

They have a lot to offer.  We are not going to get into negatives here today.

We just need to stand there and breath in that polluted air - coughcough.  Look up.  Waaaaay up.  Then at the end of the day, go home.  Your queen gets to do that today compliments of Diane's birthday gift from husband!

Happy trails.

Q

Your Queen has been feeling guilty again for neglecting her peeps.  She has admitted to composing messages while riding in cars, lying in bed, knitting, etc.  Then the brain figures they must have done that, so it doesn't.  uh....

But it is fall.  And that brings something we enjoy:  football!  Yes, we actually like football.  We can thank/blame one time husband (oth) for this.  We shall explain.

  Once upon a time in the life of married, oth was an avid football fan which made for many hours of football TV time.  Bombarded by this a lot of the year, the future queen (yet to come) gradually watched more and more and learned the basics of the game.  Oth also traveled frequently for his employers.  And, low and behold, one Monday evening Monday Night Football was on TV!  Oth was far away.  Yes.  we were watching football by choice!

A classic "Ah Ha" moment.

Which by a semi-convoluted route, brings us to the topic:  Sports stars that don't seem to be able to properly speak English!!!!

All graduated high school.  Almost all attended college and quite a few even got a degree.  Now we ask you, how did it happen that no one required that they learn to speak our language?  And why is it acceptable for them to speak to the public continuously using the wrong words, mispronouncing words, and just plain sounding ignorant?  Is this what we want our children emulating?  But the bigger question may be:  Do most people even know the difference?

Eeeeeeek.

Next.
Your Queen

Mercury

It has occurred to us that if we don't write here more, there won't be anyone left reading it!

Your Queen has recently (again) been experiencing severe deficits in dealing with any electronic device.  Now we acknowledge that sometimes the planet Mercury gets all out of alignment and proceeds to interfere with any sort of communication, etc.

Well, your Queen is a "visual" thinker and on her best day is challenged by electronic/computer-like devices.  So let Mercury get out of whack and it really screws up her world!

Recently this would include her Kindle (which she adores), computers, super devices that include TV and all of their related devices which operate (we're being optimistic here) with master remotes, even the fancy  espresso maker!

Which brings us to another of her queennesses life irritants:  no 'LIVE' person to talk to about it!  I mean, ever had a recording ask you questions on the telephone and then, when you clearly answer, say "I'm sorry.  I didn't understand you."!!!!  And that's after you are able to find  a phone number to actually call!!

So this awesome early morning, Diane's castle (the Queen is currently there watching over resident large dog) there is no TV/radio (who knows what happened there?) and all dictionaries have inexplicably disappeared from her Kindle.  (And you know what a word person she is!)

But it is still an awesome day since God made it and He is very reliable.

Update for those still paying attention,

Your Queen

Behind

Oh, no.  We are so behind in writing to my peeps.  And after writing that, we don't know what to write!

Oh, but we're sure something will come to us soon.

Temporarily blank,
Your Queen

PS:  Did we just see that Prince Charles and Cruella - oh I mean Camilla - are divorcing?!  Have to get the story on that one.  That would certainly give Queen E another annulas terribilus.

WORDS, Part Two

WORDS, More

Very important words that have been largely forgotten in our society:  PLEASE & THANK YOU.

Your Queen has noticed how frequently these little words would just make everything so much more......kind.  Little changes with a huge impact.  Try it.  Let it become a habit.  It'll even make you feel better.  Especially, especially important to those around us everyday, for just little things.  Example:  "Please pass the salt."  "Thank You".

Way, way overused.  "Like"  This is so pervasive that people who do it don't even realize it anymore!  Eeeeeeeeeekkkk!

Overused that often doesn't make sense:  "Basically"  usually doesn't turn out to be basic at all.  Very pervasive in the media.  Officially:  In the most essential respects; fundamentally.

Queen's Pet Peeves:

Anyways:  Didn't used to be accepted as correct speech.  (Still not preferred)  It has grown in usage and, according to the dictionary, is an informal or dialect form of anyway.

These ones.  HELP.  We think if we hear this one more time........!  There are 'these' (plural, more than one) and 'this one' (self-explanatory)  There are not THESE ONES, actually there are rarely ONES, except in the case of and twos and threes, etc.  Pleasepleaseplease make this go away.

Enough for today.
Just this much made the blood pressure go up.....

Your Queen

BOOKS. SURPRISED?

BOOKS YET AGAIN,

As you should be well aware by now, your Queen has a 'thing' about books.  Love to be surrounded by them, see them, have them in our hands.  And........read them?

We do have to admit to finally giving up our compulsion to finish each book.  Too many books.  Too little time.  Whew!  (Have to look up that 'formula' again that has to do with age as a yardstick of how many pages to read before you can stop.......Very freeing.)

First.  Just finished "The Help"  by Kathryn Sockett.  This was hugely popular not long ago and we took a look and passed.  Well, it came up again on our trusty Kindle one night after finishing one book and......no book to start!  This is a totally unacceptable state.  One of the best reasons to have Kindle.  We were a little surprised at how much this book engaged.  And not to mention we actually remember these events.....We just didn't want to be disappointed by the ending.  And were.  A little.  In thinking back, it is logical.  Maybe there should be a sequel.   ugh

Still worth the read.

Next.  As your Queen was out on one of her favorite pastimes (shopping, remember?) she spotted a used children's book with the title "If I Were Queen of the World"!  How fast did that book jump into our hands?  The story is simple and good.  The illustrations are fabulous!  Actual oil paintings!  Copyright 1997.  Written by Fred Hiatt.  Incredibly illustrated by Mark Graham.

And that's it from the Queen's Library.

Hummingbird Save

Today your Queen held a hummingbird in her hand -- for the second time.  The thing is one can barely tell since they are so light.  We just hope that when it zipped away outside it didn't die of a heart attack.

We sometimes like to have the porch door open to the fresh air and this is the second time one of the little birds has flown in.  Then they beat themselves silly trying to get out a window.  A light weight dish towel thrown over the silly creature works to capture this amazing bird to take it back outside.

And amazing they are.

Humbled Queen

WORDS - THE BEGINNING

WORDS --

Words have been one of our favorite things for a long, long time.  We adore learning new ones (we have lists....)  We feel virtuous when we can use big words.  When we thought of doing this subject in the blog, we had to actually make a list (we do that a lot -- both the thinking thing and the list making.....).  So we are envisioning this may take more than one entry.

Don't know.  Should this start with some basics?  Probably.  Always feel the need to be organized. -- Suddenly we are spotting character traits....  So

WORD:  a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed.
Queen's Definition*:  A collection of letters often used incorrectly to convey meaning; or an attention getting device.

SENTENCE:   a set of words that is complete in itself, typically containing a subject and predicate, conveying a statement, question, exclamation, or command, and consisting of a main clause and sometimes one or more subordinate clauses.
QD*:  As in the above, most often too long.......  Can be used to complicate or confuse otherwise simple things.

OXYMORON:  a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction;e.g. giant shrimp.
QD:  oh where to begin?

SARCASM:  the use of irony to mock or convey contempt (See IRONY) - and maybe CONTEMPT.
QD:  Listen for tone of voice in spoken word.  Hard to convey in written word.  Also can be used as a test of intelligence to listener.

IRONY:   the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
QD:  Another test to see if the 'listener' is really paying attention; must be used selectively to avoid misunderstanding and hurt feelings, like SARCASM.

(Contempt:  the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.
  QD:  Often expressed by snobs......)

IMPORTANCE:  the state or fact of being of great significance or value.
QD:  to whom, of what?

INDICATION OF:   a sign or piece of information that indicates something. (to point out or show)
QD:  if you really read some signs, they make no sense at all.

MISPRONOUNCE:  to pronounce incorrectly (?)
QD:  how do you do this in writing?

OVERUSED:  use too much, excessively.
QD:  nonsense words when used as filler.

FILLER:  a word or sound filling a pause in an utterance or conversation (e.g. er, well, you know).
QD:  and one of your Queen's favs:  like.


Well we're tired writing it and you must be tired reading it.  So much for the first installment.

With relief,
Your Queen

PIECES & BITS

This is just going to be pieces and bits.  'Don't anticipate any and rants, but ya never know.

Recently heard an explanation of why we think so much of the past as we get older and it made so much sense.  There is much more 'past' than there is 'future'.  Used to be 'future' meant marriage, kids, school, homes, jobs, travel and on and on.  Now 'future' may mean bucket list -- the things you either haven't scratched off or the things you know you won't scratch off.

This is not an entirely bad thing.  Relaxing and enjoying each day is not a bad way to go.  Getting up without an alarm!  Now there's a concept!

So, the past comes up frequently.  The good parts and the not so good parts.  Just no fretting over the not so good parts.  They are, after all, past.  Now if there's something left undone that can be done -- like forgiveness -- do that by all means.  Clean that up.  And no playing the blame game either.

Which brings us to the "people" thought.  Your queen now truly believes that every person who has come into your life has done so for a reason.  There are some that we wish had not shown up.......but what's the lesson here?

And they're there for a time.  And it can be sad when they go away for whatever reason.  Our lives just take different courses.  Didn't mean to get maudlin.

Diane and family are off the end of the week for 5 weeks of their vacation.  Watching over their castle will be a shared responsibility with some other family.  Thunder the wonder dog will be off to play with his brother (We call him Spike), so no need to dog sit.

We may have spoken -- written -- about discovering altered books.  A new passion for your queen.  Like we needed another hobby........This castle just needs another room!!!!!

Another court member is on our mind this day as she undergoes surgery.  This major health issue thing also seems to be much more frequent in our lives.  Is this another 'age' thing?

Good deed:  Your queen rescued an errant hummingbird this week.  Teeny thing made a wrong turn and flew into the castle then tried to fly out thru a closed window!  We were very afraid that little bird would literally have a heart attack!  We managed to get close enough -- think he was just plumb worn out -- to toss a light rag over him.  He was so teeny!  Didn't even take up our palm.  Carried him to the porch and opened the rag and off he flew at about a gazillion miles per hour.  Hope he's having a good life.

Well, this looks longer that we thought it would be.

Love you faithfuls,

Your Queen

LITTLE ACCIDENT REPORT

You know your Queen does not like to talk about physical impairments......We'll make an exception for this.

Our right hand is just beginning to come into usefulness again since being incapacitated.  Now this is one of those silly -- how did you do that -- accidents.  The short version:  We opened one of the castle doors -- one of the heavy, security types.  Yaya.  Well.  What can we say?

Want the long version?  Well, here it is.  Or you can stop reading.  These heavy doors have lever handles.  This particular handle had been acting strangely (can a handle act?) for a couple of weeks.  Going most of the way down then stopping so that you had to give it a real push to release the latch.  So going out with left hand full, used right hand to press handle and somehow it went down with a snap.  Hurt at the time but then we'd been having some pains anyway, so went on about....

Next on the agenda was one of the Queenly naps after which we proceeded to make a necessary phone call.  Looked down at hurting hand and went 'whooooops'.  Got off phone and realized afternoon plans just changed.  Very black and purple with one knuckle on index finger twice it's natural size.  This is not a good thing, the Queen said to herself.

Phone calls.  Diane arrived and all concurred:  looked broken; dislocated at the least.  Oh zot.  ER and Urgent care.  Xrays.  Good news:  Very bad contusion (bruise to all non-doctor types).  Wrap.  Ice.  Pain meds and if it's not better in 5-7 days, see doc.  duh.

Definitely puts a crimp in one's style.  Ever tried to brush your teeth with your left hand if you are a right handed person?  And there's other little things.....

Well, can do some now.4 days later.  Better every day but still really ugly.

Now wasn't that enlightening?

The Healing Queen

Stuff

Seems like we might be having a legitimate spring.  Perfect.

Your Queen is fascinated by yet another creative thing.  Art Journals.  Getting very inspired combining the altered books and art stuff.  Still probably won't be a 'scrapbooker' but most enjoy making cards (using scrapbook stuff!).

Too many heavy things happening to some in my court.  Don't like to see that (Not that I can do anything about it but hug).  But found a couple of good sayings and think I'll put them here.  Might want to put them on cards where you can see them -- ALOT.

"When you get to the end of all the light you know and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen:  Either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly" -- Physicist Edward Teller

And Love this:

GOOD MORNING!

This is God.

I will be handling all of

your problems today.

I do not need your help.

So have an awesome day!

That's an update

Your Queen

MOTHER'S DAY STUFF

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MY 'QUALIFYING' PEEPS!

Your Queen has very mixed emotions on days like this.  Admitting to some sadness that there is no longer a 'Mommy" for her to honor -- well, we can, but whether or not she'll know is up for debate but not in our belief system.  Hopefully, Peeps, you are doing this while she'll still know.

We think that's it for the advice today.  Well, maybe not.

But realize that this is a day especially made for selling you things!  While it's a nice thing to honor special people, doesn't something tell you we shouldn't need advertisers and merchants and.....to tell us this.  In a perfect world.

We have heard that this is THE most busy day for restaurants!  Now there's a thought.  Provide food so she doesn't have to.  What about a day when you -- or someone you find -- provides everything she normally would?  If nothing else, you have to stop and think about what all that is!

Honey, is there any coffee?
Did you bring in the paper?
Mom where are my clean socks?
Mom did you get ______at the store (pick up.....fix......?)?
Fido needs to go out-- to be fed, etc.
Can you find/bring me ________.

And:  Is the kitchen clean?  The towels picked up and dirty clothes where they need to be?  Hmmmmmm

So we do go on.......

And, here in our world, there is kindness, gentleness, joy, thankfulness, graciousness & peace.

In Our Perfect World

Admitting to being preachy,
Your Queen

SERIOUS BOOK

Some serious thoughts about a book.

As you probably know, your Queen is a visual person.  Mind pictures form easily and vividly from seeing, reading or even imagining.  Knowing this about herself, she is often protective and keeps some things at bay.

One of these things turns out to be the newest book by Joel Rosenberg "The Auschwitz Escape".  It's an historical novel - his first.  We are huge fans of Joel and have read all of his other books and followed his blog on occasion.  A great researcher and writer.  However, the subject of this book being obvious, it quickly started forming stark and troubling visuals for us.

We finally skipped to the end (nevernevernever do we do this!) and read the Epilogue and then the Author's Note.

We are flabbergasted that there are whole contingents of folks that do not believe this ever happened!  The History Changers.  Well IT DID!  And since this fiction is history based and well written, it becomes too much for your Queen.

Doesn't mean you shouldn't read it.

Did you, could you, read "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck?  Well, if you could or did, you are good on this.  You Queen adores Steinbeck's books and has most of them -- except for the aforesaid Grapes.  Just couldn't do it.  Nor the movie.

And after that serious note, on to something lighter?

She has her serious moments --  Your Queen

Facebook

"Find it on Facebook".  "Posted on Facebook"

refer back to "Just Google it."

The Queen says huffily

BITSANDPIECES

We have to figure out a way.....

Your queen often thinks of things she would like to tell her peeps, or rant about.  Unfortunately, these are part of what we call "Thoughts in the night."  Suggestions?

Been noticing this for a while.  Was going to make a list but......oh well.  We love watching for signs that make us muse.

"LARGE BEER SALE" ---Poor baby beers.  They always get overlooked.  But what if you don't want a 'large' beer?

Watch for other 'large' sales:  matteresses; cars, trucks, patios.  See something else.  Let us know.

Just askin, how would you get a large patio home?  In your large truck?  While sipping a large beer?

Subject change.

Book to read:  Krauthammer's "Things That Matter".  Actually we haven't quite finished it yet.  But manohman, if nothing else it will stretch your vocabulary!  What I find amazing is that so many of these are current (unfortunately)  then look at the date it was originally written and published and you will despair that it still applies!  Good Stuff.

Sure miss chatting with my peeps.  sniffsniff.

Nostalgic Queen

Easter Ramble

Today is Easter.

With no little folk around to hunt eggs and go see an Easter Bunny, it kinda just goes by.

But at long last we seem to be having some spring.  Saw daffodils and green grass.  'Course all of sudden can't wear the clothes in the closet since they even look too heavy for this weather.  But that is something we will deal with very soon.  There have actually been two days in the last two weeks that we haven't had to wear socks!

If any of you peeps have Bing on your computer you  may have seen the little yellow duckie swimming across the screen.  Now that's cute!!!  Seems to me that your queen had an actual little duck when she was very young.  Always wonder what happened to those little ducks and chickens.........

Two big projects done and actually tackling overdue projects ---- like writing here more often.

Did a birthday journal for Beauti.  My first altered book.  For one who reveres the book as we do, it was dang hard cutting into one to do the journal.  But now we are hooked and are looking for another reason to do another one.  Not just stuff.  Must have a reason.

BEAUTI

ABSENCE EXPLAINED?

Your queen is chagrined.  We knew we had not been speaking to our peeps but didn't realize it had been a month!  Please accept apologies.

Lots has been going on.  The most consuming thing was organizing and installing an exhibit on the needle arts at our local historical museum.  When this sort of became our project, we hadn't a clue the amount of time it would take.  Days and days and days and hours and days.

Now that it is installed and open, it is pretty impressive even if we do say so ourselves.  And generous comments from others have helped, too.  But rather than retell the story, we'll just copy some of the info from 'official' papers -- put up a few photos -- and let it go.

And boy did this queen learn a lot about all kinds of needle work, it's history, etc.  Fascinating stuff peeps.

THE DOLL THAT STARTED IT ALL

        The discovery of this Barbie doll in a local thrift store is what inspired this exhibit.

        One of the members of Knit Wits & Pearls of Wisdom is an intrepid thrift store shopper and has a passion for ‘saving’ beautiful things.

        On one of her trips she spotted this doll.  OK.  But what she saw was the incredible skill it had taken for someone to crochet her outfit.  She snatched up the doll (actually one of her more expensive finds) not knowing what she would do with it but that it must be ‘saved’.

        She brought it to show the group and that evolved into this exhibit.  Comments like “Oh.  That belongs in a museum!”, “That is incredible work!”; “Can you believe the detail?” 

        As the thought took shape, many members mentioned having things that had been handed down to them; techniques that have almost been lost; etc.  Some of those things are what you see in this exhibit.

        It is meant to inform, educate and inspire.  But in no way is this a total picture of types of work done by the women (and men) before us.

        It is thought that this outfit is something that would have been worn in the Antebellum Period -  before our Civil War.  Think “Gone With the Wind”.

        Dedicated to artisans past and present.

This exhibit is presented by the

Knitwits and Pearls of Wisdom

Special thanks go to all those who contributed their talents, heirlooms, time and knowledge to bring it together.  It is not meant to be a complete historical picture of these arts but snapshots of past and present techniques.

For more information on Knitwits and Pearls see the handout available here.  For specific questions contact the Hageman Library in Porter, Indiana.

The group meets every Thursday at the Hageman Library 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  Newcomers and visitors are always welcome.

 KNIT WITS AND PEARLS OF WISDOM

            In the fall of 2009, Hageman Library offered a 4 week Lean to Knit class lead by volunteer, Claire Joile.   When the class was over several people who participated in the Knitting Together group that met (and still meets) once a month at the Brown Historical Museum, asked if they could have another place to meet on a once a week basis.  The desire was to not only work on their own projects, but to be available to teach knitting and crochet and help people with their own projects.

            This group was originally called Hooks and Needles and had a core of about 6 who are still active in the Knit Wits:  Marianne Ahrendt, Tim Oberlie, Joan Palen, Carla Russell, Anne Vandeburgh and Cathy Warne.

            The group has continued to grow and stay longer and longer.  They asked if they could meet in the meeting room at Hageman so they could feel freer to talk, celebrate and eat!  This was also when they changed their name to Knit Wits and Pearls of Wisdom.

            After a few years, they decided to host a Learn to Knit/Crochet class from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.  This isn’t a formal class but just a few people who arrive early and make themselves available or work on a specific project.  Many have come to take advantage of their extensive knowledge and experience, including several 6 year olds who have been knitting ever since.

            Members bring whatever they are currently working on.  Several make and contribute items like caps for newborns or preemies, hat and mittens and prayer shawls for various non-profit groups. Recently a call went out for caps and scarves for the children at an abused women’s shelter.  The response was overwhelming and heartwarming. There are several grandmothers (and greats) in the group who are always busy making adorable treasurers for the babies or clothes for American Girl dolls and outfits for stuffed animals.

            The smallest number attending was 6 and largest has been 25.  There are currently about 20 who attend faithfully.  They celebrate each other’s birthdays and share personal happy events.

            The most frequent comment regarding this group and the reason given for its longevity and popularity is that they just have great conversations.  They share everything from book reviews to recipes, patterns, health woes --  but they never talk about people.

***For more information about this group, or a specific item in the exhibit, please call the Hageman Library in Porter, Indiana  1-219-926-9080.

And just a couple of pics:

Coming next:  newspaper article and maybe more pics.

Your Queen sincerely hopes  she is forgiven.

Recovering Queen

WHINE

This is going to be a whine.  So if you're not up for it, come back later.

Your queen is feeling sorry for herself.  Even after almost a year and a half she is not getting used to this new place, either home, castle or surrounds.  Too easy to compare with what was before.  Now I'm not  sayin she has it bad because there are a lot of nice things.  But since she is feeling sorry for herself and bound to do that for a bit, we'll focus on the downside.

Besides the weather........refer to previous posts.

Expense.  We have referred to before.  Everything, EVERYTHING, is more expensive.  Most unfortunately income does not increase to meet said expenses.

Segues into getting old.  Medical issues multiply.  More medications.  More doc visits.  Etc., etc. etc.

Which segues into curtailed independence.......Oh.  Maybe we haven't really written about that yet.  Saving up since that's a biggie.

So as you can read, it's easy to start pulling out all the stuff and dive for the pillows for a spell.

Today's example.

We decided to put a different spread on the bed for a change.  A nano second to say.  45 minutes to accomplish.  What?  you exclaim.  We'll expand.

Due to extreme lack of linen/storage space in new place, large not-in-use linens are stored in vacuum bags in the garage.  (Just for the record, this is down stairs, out across an alley.)  So to retrieve said spread, your Queen dons coat (still 30 degrees), gloves etc. and picks up garage door opener and door keys.  Out one door, down stairs, out another door, hallway, another door to outside, cross alley, enter garage.  Thankfully, said item is easily spied and isn't too hard to get to.  (In case you didn't know, your queen is vertically challenged).  Pull down stack of vacuum bags.  Use hood of vehicle as work space.  Pull out desired spread (it's in with other things).  Find clean place to put spread while closing and restacking vacuum bags.  Spy plastic storage container with just a few items and transfer those items to a trash bag (temporary storage).  Now working on top of vehicle trunk.

--fingers are almost frozen off --

Stack and balance storage container and spread and trek back across alley to door #1.  This door requires a key.  There is no place to put down container, etc.  so must go on the ground while struggling with door.  Open door.  Pick up bundle and put down inside.  Enter.  Pickup bundle and proceed to door #2.  No key required here but must maneuver to open with elbow to avoid putting bundle on floor, again.  Success.  Proceed up stairs.  Door at top of stairs opens toward enteree so bundle must be deposited on floor -- again -- door handle opened and foot quickly hooked around door to prevent it closing (heavy fire door here).  Grab bundle and shove thru door onto hall floor.  Almost there!  Pick up bundle and proceed to Queen's door.  This door opens in so press handle with elbow and lean on door.  Fall thru and put bundle down on stool.

Note that spread is not yet on the bed.  Must stop to thaw.

Throw on spread.  Total elapsed time from start to finish:  45 minutes.

Is anyone still with me?

Former residence.  Scenario would go something like this.

Decide to change spread.  Open door to large walk in closet.  Pull over small stool and retrieve vacuum bag.  Remove spread and replace remaining articles and bag.  Unfold spread and put on bed.

Total elapsed time:  barely 10 minutes.

Wear and tear on your queen?  There is no comparison. Remember the painful back.

For those peeps who stayed faithful thru this; We grant you a special wish.

She does feel better now.

Your tired Queen

Excuse?

Haven't forgotten my peeps.  Winter, winter, cold and more winter.....

Very cold queen

JUST GOOGLE IT!

You probably knows this already.   Your Queen is a visual person.  That would be opposed to -- computer brain.  Admitting that she thinks upside down and inside out, that's obviously not like a, uh, computer programmer, software engineer, or anyone else who feeds information into memory banks so that 'everyone' can find anything.

Sure.

We have lost count of the times that we have been told "Just Google it!".  Now we have tried.  Continue to try.  And again.   Stubborn and/or tenacious.  But two people can be looking for the very same information and your queen doesn't quite put in the correct words, and the other person immediately comes up with several places to get just the right answer!

This happens time and time again in our life.  Frequently.

We can search and search and put in more and different words and necht, nada, zip, nothing.  Court adviser puts in one phrase and TA DA   up come several relevant sites!

Peeps, maybe a queen is just not supposed to be able to do this?!  It could be expensive if the laptop gets drop kicked out the castle window every time frustration sets in.......

And then there's Facebook and Pintrest!!!!!!!


Aaaaaa\uuuuuuugh!!!!!!!

WINTER STUFF

Still winter here in my world.  But you know you're getting used to it when 20 deg seems like a heat wave.  More snow expected tonight.  We think this must freeze the Queen's brain since she hasn't been inspired to do any rants or nothin'

Your Queen has been doing quite a bit of reading.  Got The Goldfinch from the library.  Didn't think we'd finish it for a while there.  Then the loan ran out before we got to the end!  Well phooey.  Now will have to check that out again just to find out what happens to the guy.

Also read Evanovich's 20.  She is struggling.  We didn't l0l until almost the last chapter.  

Also read Last Night at the Ritz and was left looking behind the back cover for more.   What was that all about?

Half way thru Patricia Cornwell's Dust.  You either love or hate her books.  They are must reads for your queen --- admitting she has to skip some parts.......

Looking for an "Oh Wow!" book.  Any suggestions?

Know the character Jack Reacher (Lee Child)?  Just watched the movie starring Tom Cruise.  Now the queen likes Tom allot, but we are not sure he was the one for this part.......

That's all for now

The Queen in Winter

OLD

OLD.

What is 'old'?
How do you know if you are old?
As compared to?

Well, today your Queen thinks she is feeling 'old'.  And here's some of the evidence:

1. Tonight the Grammy Awards are on TV.  You know you're old when the only artist you recognize is Tony Bennett - since he is older than dirt.

2.  You joined facebook at the insistence of friends and family.  You know you're old when you don't have a clue how the site works.

3. Every time you go to buy something the price has increased.  Ykyow.....you truly remember gas costing under $1/gallon and a candy bar was $.05 (that's five cents, folks).

4.  Certain kinds of stores have disappeared.  Ykyow....there are no more 'dime' stores.  (Woolworth, etc. really did have things that cost $.10)  Does anything cost $.10 anymore.

BULLETIN:  Is it possible?  There actually is NO 'cents' symbol on my keyboard?!!!!

We know there are other things, but just the process of reciting all of this has made us feel......

OLD.

Your Old Queen
(couldn't resist!)

BACK IN OUR WORLD

Well my Peeps, your queen is in her world again after a little over two weeks at Diane's castle.  That is always a challenging period since something always happens in that big place.......

We see that we have summed that up in previous post.

But back in Her World there was lots to do to catch up.  Christmas decorations all still up.  Just unpacking from the stay was a project in itself.  You need a lot of 'stuff' to stay away that long.  And the winter is not letting up.  Below 0 this morning with wind chill advisories of down to -35.  That is cold.  You can literally freeze your cute little face off in no time at all.

So.  Don't go out.  Of course, you don't need to go out until you can't go out.  That's one of those 'laws'.  So meals are a little strange since no visit to food source.

Maybe we'll see if photos will transfer.

Home again in Her World
Your Queen

WINTER LITANY

Since we last talked.......

Activity update.  It's been interesting.  Last Saturday Diane and clan left for Florida til the 21st -- just barely ahead of the storm of the century. Their  plane was delayed 1 hr and had 2 de-icings.  Next day they closed down Midway Airport since the hoses were frozen and they couldn't fuel the planes!

So your Queen moved into the 'house'.  (Think we mentioned before that Diane actually lives in a castle.)  And stayed, and stayed, and stayed.  Luckily  Diane always has plenty of food but heat was acting up.  Not too bad.  Monday morning  it was 61 in the Queen's bedroom and 53 on the other side of the great room.  Most faithful retainer and man-who-can-do-miracles came and spent 6 hrs (yuperdoodle) under the castle de-freezing one unit -  which promptly froze again that night.  But the unit that heats the rest of the castle stayed fixed at a warm 69.  Arctic snow and ice, temperatures way below 0 prevented  the snow plows even getting  in to the streets and our guy couldn't even do our driveway until 10:30 Monday night.  State Hwy 49 n/s was closed; Interstate 94 e/w closed.  Our county was declared an emergency disaster area. No one-- NO ONE-- except emergency vehicles (that did include snow plows) was allowed on any road -- $2500 fine.  That was in effect until Tuesday morning.  After that it was 'stay off the roads unless you absolutely must travel' and then it was dicey. Wind chills down to 35 below!  Instant frostbite.

Sun and a whopping 14 yesterday.  Next morning it was 24.  Warming to 38 with heavy rain.  RAIN.  Not supposed to get below freezing last night and it didn't.  All the way up to 38 as we write this but headed below freezing again tonight.  But lots of snow melted.

And another electrical problem.  See ODE TO ON/OFF SWITCH.  

You'd think we had a lot of time to read and work on hobbies.   Au contraire.  Snow shoveling, etc.  We have now experienced  winter in our new world.  6-8 inches of snow is pretty.  After that it just makes for a lot of problems.  We were very lucky the power didn't go out.......shhhhhhhh.

Diane said it was cold in Florida.  They woke up to 40.  She didn't get any sympathy from moi.

A whiny litany from 

Your Queen

ODE TO ON/OFF SWITCH

There are some things your queen can't do (shock?).  There are also some things your queen won't do (no shock).  Writing an 'ode' is one of those things she doesn't not know how to do, but doesn't much care.  So.

ODE TO THE ON/OFF SWITCH

Why do things have to be so complicated?  Do we really need all those choices?

In the last few days our world has been in an unprecedented deep freeze.  And if ever there were a time when things wouldn't work, this would be it.  Just 'cuz.  For example:

Remember when (some of you don't, so just imagine) that if you had forced-air heat -- or subsequently, a unit that switched from heat to cool -- it was controlled with a SWITCH ON AND OFF.  Then came a little knob that you could slide indicating a temperature where the unit could be set.  Simple.  Efficient.

Now we have progress.  A computerized 'touch' screen with a gazillion options:  Time -- to come on or go off; night or day or vacation or?";  continue to stay that way or just for ?  And, just to confuse the matter, international symbols instead of words.  Now some of these are fairly simple -- a sun for day and a moon with a star for night.  But some aren't.  We won't digress.

And phones:  Once upon a time they rang -- no options as to what sound they made, just a loud bell.  You picked up the receiver, talked and put it down to end the call.  Simple.  Then we got answering machines.  Now those were kinda fun because you could record straightforward or silly messages.  When some one called and you didn't pick up that receiver (for whatever reason) they could listen to that message and leave -- or not -- one of their own.  This had advantages and disadvantages we need not go into here.

But they did not play music, update the weather, tell sports scores or play games (among other things).

So when, in our immediate gratification world, did we start to need these?  Just for giggles, in the next few days see how many things you encounter that could be just an "on/off switch".

Just sayin

Your Queen

BEAUTE'S BIRTHDAY

50 YEARS AGO TODAY......Your Queen had a Princess!

Yeah!

DIDN'T WORK

Well, one more thing that didn't work as it should.  Prepared a lengthy post and it disappeared.....

Retry later?

Grumpy Queen

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE (INSIDE?)

We don't know where to begin.  So maybe we won't.  Not now.  Yes, my world is frozen.  Snow and wind resulting in a total shutdown.  No one allowed on the roads except emergency vehicles.  Wind chills down around -43.  Yes, that minus.  You would think that would give us an excuse to do things we want to do.  Au contra ire.  Too many other things have to be done because of it.

Ever notice how long it actually takes to put on boots, big coat, hat gloves, etc.?  And don't think you can just slip out for a second to put something in the trash.  Not if you don't want you face to freeze off.  Literally.

And if you inadvertently run out of something vital?  Well, too bad for vous.

So, off to crawl back under my quilt.

Cold Queen

NEW YEAR'S DAY THOUGHTS

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY PEEPS!

This is your Queen in front of Diane's tree just before Christmas.
Not too bad for an old Queen (I heard that!  Be good.)

And we have a resolution.  That is not to make resolutions.  We have never liked  'goals' and, we guess, rules.   Hmmmmm

Your Queen has, however, done some serious thinking over the past few days and discovered some things she doesn't really like about herself and her behavior.  These don't need to be published but -- who knows -- you may notice some changes this next year.  Or not.

There will still be some things that seem to be negative or whinny, now they will be simply stated as facts or events.

For instance, think we have already expounded on things you expect to work that just don't.  In this instance, our new Kindle, the fancy phone.  May have to contact our court astrologist re the planet Mercury......

But at this moment in time in our world, God is covering all the ugly with beautiful white snow.

Pure
Soft
Quiet
Perfect

Such a tree!!

But, of course, that's from inside looking out.  Which your Queen intends to keep doing for a while.

Shopping on our birthday!