It’s a bit hard to get a good perspective on December because it’s still so fresh. I chose this image from our trip gone awry because that whole not according to plan segment of the month stands out in my memory. Most days I can predict pretty well where I’ll be and what [...]

In November, I became a knitter again. Okay, maybe that’s a little grandiose, since all I did was finish a scarf. It’s not a complicated scarf, and I didn’t even do the cast on for it, but I did get it done and it’s even wearable. I’ve since started another scarf–by myself [...]

A definitive sign I’m really a grown-up, my large collection of Eeyore shirts and watches notwithstanding: I did not wake up this morning, Christmas Day, until Mr. Karen gently shook my shoulder and let me know the alarm clock hadn’t gone off. We needed to get up right then or we would be late [...]

October was Disney month for we D’s. We were at Walt Disney World in Florida when the month arrived. Back home a week later, we went to see the Disneyland exhibit at the Henry Ford. Then we took off for California and celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary at Disneyland the actual place. [...]

In September, when thousands of people from the Gulf Coast were grieving for loved ones killed by Katrina and trying to figure out how to put their lives back together after the storm destroyed their homes and possessions, all I had to deal with was falling off a bike. Sure, my face and arm [...]

At this time of year I try to focus on the goodwill toward men part of the Christmas story (which I learned as a child from Linus on the Charlie Brown Christmas Special because the Unitarian Sunday School I attended was not so much about the Bible), but it’s hard. At almost every turn [...]

In August I quilted, which isn’t particularly significant in itself, but I also joined my first online “-Along”, the Modern Quilt-Along, so that was different. I haven’t finished my project yet, but I will someday. In the meantime, I’m enjoying seeing what other people are working on. Collabs like this are one [...]

July was the month my bedroom walls went from bland to bright. Mr. Karen did all the work–we picked the color together, but he did all the prep and painting. I did take some of the masking tape off, though. Go me. We bought this light switch cover in Taos–it makes [...]

June brought Mel to my house for QuiltCon III. I’m glad she was able to visit. I’m also glad she got a chance to see The Quilting Season when they were still in the little red barn; they’ve since moved to a more modern building (which I keep meaning to visit but not [...]

I chose this image for May in my Winter Count from the photos I took at the Machine Quilters Showcase in Overland Park, Kansas, which my mom and I attended as part of our 14th annual mother-daughter quilt show trip. This particular picture is of the first lighted quilted sculpture I’ve ever seen, done [...]

Ten things I need to say, some trivial, some not:
1. I am never completely relaxed with you because I think you might secretly hate me and just be biding your time until you publicly humiliate me. So why do I hang around? Because I admire you and would like to be your friend. [...]

Ah, April. Let the Winter Count show that I finished a quilt that month, the well-documented manhole design, which now lives with Amanda Page because she won the first ever Hat on Top contest. Maybe someday there’ll be a second contest, but right now I don’t have any plans for one. Right [...]

The first Christmas after Mr. Karen and I moved into this house, we hosted a family holiday dinner. One thing I knew needed to be on the menu was Grandma Salad. That sounds a little strange, doesn’t it? I guess it’s no different than other famous salads–there’s no Caesar in Caesar salad [...]

For March in my Winter Count, I’m featuring my birthday, because the rest of the month was rather depressing–I was unhappy at work and there was no ski trip to distract me and I was tired of winter and spring seemed like it would never come. Besides, I don’t have any pictures of that [...]

There was never any doubt that my Winter Count for February would feature Bubba the guinea pig, who died early that month at age five and half. He lived with me and Mr. Karen for over half of his life, and I hope he was happy here. We did sometimes torture him by [...]

One of the radio stations here has been playing 100% Christmas music since November 1st, and that’s just not right. Fall is a glorious season in its own right; Frosty and Rudolph and Santa and the baby Jesus should wait their turn. It’s rude to show up so early for a party, guys. [...]

It’s December. If you were reading last year at this time, you know what that means: time for me to start posting entries like crazy. I’ll be participating in Holidailies for the fourth time–it’s a Hat on Top tradition now–but that doesn’t start until December 7th this year. However, there’s something new [...]