just random stuff - on and off topic

I just finished The Help as well. excellent. For awhile when my family lived in VA in the early 1960's we had a black housekeeper come in 3x a week. Of course my mother had 7 children and needed some help just to keep up with the amount of work we all made for her.

I finished the Camulod Chronicles before I left for Wa. Excellent if LONG reads. The first is The Skystone By Jack Whyte. A very different take from the usual King Arthur stories and very vivid. I also have The League series by Sherrilyn Kenyon if you are looking for scifi and some New Mercedes Lackey and Robin Owens. Time for a visit.

I went to WA in November after I had gastric by-pass surgery in October. I have now lost 54 lbs in the last 15 months. (Some of that was required pre-surgery.) I am on only half the medications I use to have to take and my fibro is well controlled. AYE!!!!!!!!!

On Dec. 7th 2011 in WA state, I coached DDil Aya through her labor. At

2:15pm DDGD Nanami Jeanne arrived at 7.5 Lbs and 20.5 inches. Both are doing well. I stayed through the holidays and DH Tony arrived Christmas Day to stay for a week. I returned home to NH on the 6th of Jan.

The only sad note is that my DGrandmother passed away Christmas Eve. She would have been 98yrs old this month. She lived a long and lovely life, was at home with my parents with her family around her. She had been fading and been very confused in the last couple of months. I feel she is at peace now.

I have finished DGrSon's Dragon sweater and will post links to pictures of Nanami and the sweater later.

Bobbie V.

so sorry about your grandmother - I really liked meeting her. will see you soon

C

Wow, that is *GREAT*, Bobbie! Kudos to you!

Congrats on becoming a grandma again! I will be waiting for those pics!

I'm so sorry for your loss. She definitely did live a long life.

Joan.

Glad you're all voting. But definitely not discussing politics here ;^) I'm already cringing thinking of the VA primary (since I run a large precinct) - as it's guaranteed to have plenty of controversy.

Sound like good ideas. I'm continuing on from last year trying to complete a bunch of UFOs and not buying new, unless it's irresistible.

Know that feeling. I think I'm going to make a new blocking board soon, as I have a few pieces that I'd like to block a little.

I think they'll fit well into the 5x7 boses. I have mine on rings, and then have gone in circles between hanging the rings, or just boxing them in some clear storage container, which then sit on a shelf. That seems to be working. I have silks in an Anchor floos cabinet, and the cotton overdyes are undecided. They've moved from a divided container to floss bags & then back & now I'm putting them in part of the Anchor cabinet. Metallics are in their own box.

Haven't had any great reading here. If anything pops, then will share. Glad the DD is enjoying reading - something to round out the hockey life.

Always good news. As I contemplate the time to job hunt again. Ugh. Maybe I'll get my act together, get some proposals accepted & the job thing won't be so dire.

Ellice

OK - that sounds interesting. Oldies, but ones that I love, are the Jhereg series by Stephen Brust - all of them. Witty, sarcastic, droll. He has a couple of other books that are more sci fi - which are also good. But, the Jhereg/ Vlad Taltos (main character, written in 1st person) books must be read in order. They're quick reads. He also wrote To Reign in Hell with Roger Zelazny.

If you really want some sci-fi oldies but goodes - go back and read the Amber series by Roger Zelazny.

Another interesting one is called "The Golden Key" - collaboration by Melanie Rawn, Kate Elliot & Jennifer Roberson - might be a good one

Ack, you are just too good, girl. I'm just hoping to get the little pile of goodies in an envelope to you, and the other pile to Cheryl! Joan gets the horsey stuff - 2 kits!

Ellice

Nah, just persistent! lol

Oooo, horsey stuff! Can't wait!!!

J