...goodbye 2009

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! It is snowing right now in Chester County, PA and the pine trees look beautiful. How do you plan to spend your evening? Many make loud noises like cans being dragged by vehicles along the road to embrace the new year. Others wear polka dots in order for their next year to be fruitful. Others buy and display round fruits like watermelon, melon, oranges, etc. on their tables to get more blessings for the upcoming year. Others scatter coins all over the house and stock up coins inside their purses and pockets as to invite and maintain luck. Sweeping dust on the floor is forbidden since the "luck" will go away, so put away the broom and other cleaning devices. Explain it to fussy Aunt Gertrude after her third glass of champagne. She will understand. Some say that if you jump at exactly 12:00 am on January 1, you'll get taller. Let Tom Cruise know that. Cleansing our souls with alcoholic beverages is another New Years Eve practice. Apparently my soul gets cleansed often during the year.
On this day in 1904 the first New Year's Eve celebration was held in Times Square (then known as Longacre Square) in New York, New York. Joan Rivers hosted having just turned the legal drinking age. I am off to pick up SB's doggy from Primrose so have a happy, safe and healthy NYE and 2010.
"There is nothing more uncommon than common sense." Frank Lloyd Wright

...hanging on by a thread

Hello. The ceiling at work caved in due to a lot of ice build up but no one was knocked unconscious. From what I can tell. Challenges occur but we must keep raising the bar on what we can do. Do you ever feel like you are "Hanging On By A Thread?" Be thankful for the thread people. Tomorrow night many ring in the New Year by toasting with alcohol. Please be responsible while also having a great time. Come to think of it, on this day in 1919 Lincoln's Inn in London admitted its first female bar student. I believe that she sipped on a Gin and Tonic, but I was next door at the time and cannot report accurately. If you hit the link and listened to Smokey Robinson and thought it sounded Carpenters-like, you are right. Richard Carpenter arranged and sang backup vocals. Light a candle this evening for 'purpose.' Karen Carpenter wanted to duet with an African American singer way back in the early 70's. She thought that record charts should embrace the music, not the color of the artists skin. Hang on everyone! Everything will work out as God wants it to. Have fun today and I wish everyone silk if you are hanging on by a thread.

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." Franklin D. Roosevelt

...extinct

Hi. There are two more days in 2009. What do you plan to do with them? Many people that I have spoken to are more than ready to bid adieu to this year and bring on 2010. Yes, it has been a challenging year for many but personally, I am not that ready to say goodbye. Not that I have a choice. Luckily I have a blog that is a sort of new age diary and can easily look back to all of the good things that happened this year. Even if I deleted the posts they would hover somewhere out there. Was it a challenging year? Yes. Was even the most simple of tasks, (like delivering a box of Holiday chocolates to the mechanic, that almost started a police chase)a way to test my mettle? Maybe. All I can say is, road closed and everything else, they did receive the candy. I don't want 2009 to be extinct. No one can take away the memories, as long as I have a blog and/or my current mental state. On this day in 2003 the last known speaker of Akkala Sami died, rendering the language extinct. My concern is, if he was the only one who spoke that language, it must have been lonely for him prior to his death. There are two more days left in 2009. Make the best of them. We can always hope and pray that 2010 is a better year, God willing. "B" will probably buy the pictured table, but don't worry. They can make more. They are not yet extinct, or backordered...yet.

"Keep the faith, don't lose your perseverance and always trust your gut extinct."
Paula Abdul *cough* that wasn't a typo on my part...

...Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPAOBN4Pt-Y

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

...peace, love, and goodwill everyone!

...egg nog

Hi. Are the stockings hung by the chimney yet? It is a blustery 23 degrees here in Chester County, PA this morning.Last minute errands and adjustments are being made by many in preparation for Santa's arrival. Don't forget to leave something for him. He will need all of the fortification that he can get. Maybe a plate of cookies or some eggnog. As most of us know, eggnog is a sweetened dairy-based beverage made with milk, cream, sugar, beaten eggs (which gives it a frothy texture), and flavoured with ground cinnamon and nutmeg; alcoholic versions also exist, but not for Rudolph. He needs to stay keen to lead the sleigh. Some cadets were keen on getting their drink on, this day in 1826. The Eggnog Riot at the United States Military Academy began that night, wrapping up the following morning. What a party that was! It was caused by the smuggling of whiskey by three cadets two days prior to the incident across the Hudson River to make eggnog for a Christmas Day party in the North Barracks that would eventually involve more than one-third of the cadet class by the time the riot ceased on Christmas morning. A subsequent investigation by Academy officials would result in seventy implicated names and court-martialing of nineteen of the cadets and one enlisted soldier. Among the participants in the riot, though he was not court-martialed was Jefferson Davis, soon to be known as " I'll have another one Davis."
Merry Christmas Eve everyone! Be smart, be safe and have a great time.
"Never be haughty to the humble or humble to the haughty." Jefferson Davis
" Two Advil are better than one" Jefferson Davis, the following morning...

...rare

Greetings. The delivery went great yesterday as we lugged furniture upstairs without even dinging a wall! Even the client pitched in which is often rare. Their dog Figaro helped also. When I took him outside and threw a snowball for him, his bewilderment on where it disappeared felt cruel to me. I didn't throw a second one. That's not rare when it comes to me and animals. Friends are here from Naples, FL and are adjusting to the colder temperatures. I was walking around in a turtleneck; they had on layers and layers and one friend was grasping a hand warmer. The blood must thin after a few months. Speaking of both rare and blood, on this day in 1972 the 16 survivors of the Andes flight disaster were rescued after 73 days, having survived by cannibalism. Happy Holidays! My 'overnight' tassel trim arrived a week later but I understand at this time of year.It would be rare to receive it on schedule. It isn't like it was a Holiday present. Have fun, wrap but don't get too wrapped up that you miss the true meaning of this time of year. Sing carols also.

"Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own." Aesop

...no intercourse

Hi. It is the season for celebrating miracles. Hanukkah ended a few days ago and Christmas is fast approaching. Helping hands aided me late yesterday and that was a miracle in itself. I installed a 12', 3" diameter, solid wood pole and really thought that I could do it all by my lonesome. Thank you Dr. B! CN stopped over late last night, just after I returned home and we finally got to hang out for a while. God works in mysterious ways! Yes, we did have a martini but it was a teeny tiny one as both of us have become lightweights regarding alcohol. Now, let's talk about sex! Kidding. This is not that kind of a site. On this day in 1809 the Non-Intercourse Act, lifting the Embargo Act except for the United Kingdom and France, was passed by the U.S. Congress. It had to do with trade export, not, uhm, you know what. My guess tho' is that I will get a higher hit count on my blog due to it's misleading title. Today I deliver furniture with B and G and that will make MP a happy camper. Everything seems to be getting done. Do you find that in your life? I hope so. Have fun today, enjoy the little and large miracles that happen and when it comes to intercourse, well, that's none of my business. urgent! Click here to watch puppets perform your favorite carols!
"In human intercourse the tragedy begins, not when there is misunderstanding about words, but when silence is not understood." Henry David Thoreau

...I see little people

Hello. Enough snow for you? I don't have to lift a shovel here and it was cleared in no time. I love it; the dogs on the other hand looked like cartoon characters as none were taller than the snow. Dwarflike, in fact. I have finished wrapping local gifts...the ones that get shipped were finished a while ago. Don't peek! I am installing drapery if the trim comes in this morning. Precipitation precipitated timely delivery. Warning: Do Not Eat Chocolate Chip Cookies Before Bed unless you want a night filled with odd dreams. Yikes. Felliniesque to say the least...and I will. Back to dwarfs...little people these days. On this day in 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length animated film ever, premiered at the Carthay Circle Theater. Chocolate chip cookies were served at the front counter along with Coke and Dots. Well, have a great day and get that shopping done! It isn't the thought that counts, it's the quality of the gift. Just kidding. I need to put down those cookies.

"He who knows best knows how little he knows." Thomas Jefferson

...what's your sign?

Hi. Chester County, PA is covered in snow and it looks pretty amazing. All signs warned of a substantial snowfall and it sure happened! The white Bichon who lives here took one look at the white landscape and I think muttered, 'forget this' but I can't be certain. Snow blowers masked his exact words. Television reports keep referring to this as a Winter Storm, but Winter begins this year tomorrow. In truth, this is an Autumn Storm! Sign off on that, those who are detail oriented. On this day in 1968 the Zodiac Killer killed Betty Lou Jenson and David Faraday in Vallejo, California. He/she has never been identified. If you are in a singles bar and a freak comes up to you asking your sign, perhaps your reply should be "Do Not Enter." The huge mall near me actually closed yesterday. Merchants did not put "Yikes" signs on their doors as they left, so expect a flurry (get it) of activity this week as last minute shoppers reach for Pet Rocks, Tickle Me Elmo Dolls and the latest Partridge Family album. Have fun today, keep your eye on all kinds of signs and fly.
"Lead, follow, or get out of the way." Laurence J. Peter

...let it snow!

Hello. It is snowing in Chester County, PA and it looks beautiful. Last evening as we were making a Train Cake, the doorbell rang. It was our friend from the park stopping by to wish everyone a Happy Holiday! We all ate cake and drank mint tea. I sent her off with two stockings. I had never been to her home but she claimed that the fabric looked familiar. Hmmmm. She emailed me this morning to tell me that she has two pillows and a quilt made from the same fabric that her Mom had made her. Coincidence? I think not! Happy Divine Connections, again and again. Happy Birthday Sandy O'Hara!

Oh the first snowfall of the winter
Was a day that we all waited for
When it drifted to and fro'
Why you should've seen the snow
It was near seven feet or more
By the old barn door

Oh the first snowfall of the winter
What a joy for a boy to behold
In each house you'll find a sleigh
That was waiting for this day
And of course, down the road a hill
For each Jack and Jill

Every winter breeze that scurries
Sets the snowflakes up in flurries
It's the good old sentimental season when
Folks put runners on their surreys
And forget about their worries
When a man becomes a boy once again

Oh the first snowfall of the winter
Jingle bells bring us spells ever dear
Under wintry skies of gray
It was snowing all the day
And it showed no signs of stopping
Every kid with eyes of popping
Will soon be belly-whopping on his ear

On the first snowfall of the winter
Oh the first snowfall of the year
The first snow of the year
Is just about the best snow
Well I'll say any snow
Is a pretty good show...

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." Bill Cosby

...times two

It's that time of year! I received furniture yesterday, a chair and ottoman, desk and desk chair and then an accessory order arrived. The driver was telling me how they have doubled their delivery routes but have to do it in half of the time. He had just finished a delivery in Center City, apparently hit a bridge and was afraid that he was going to be fired. How do you feel lately? Like you are doing twice as much to stay even? I totally understand. It can be challenging, to say the least but please hang tough. If only the strong survive then we all will. Even if everything we do is times two. On this day in 2002, then Governor of California Gray Davis announced that the state would face a record budget deficit of $35 billion, roughly double the figure reported during his reelection campaign one month earlier. Oops. I ran a yard short of a tassel trim this week so I kinda know how he felt. Have a great day, do it right the first time and double step if need be.
"If you fell down yesterday, stand up today." H. G. Wells

...time flies when

Hello. I heard 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer' again and it still saddens me as this was Max's favorite song. It is still very different 'cause he is not physically here but I did see him on the sofa two nights ago. I was sober. Speaking of loss, I sent Dee Solitario my annual Christmas card and mybad, I am always so busy that the weeks fly. I received a card in response from her wonderful daughter who told me that Dee had died suddenly last August 26th. Dee rescued and housed dogs as her livelihood. She also had the battle of battles when eminent domain took her lovely home and property and was always kind, decent, caring and wonderful. I looked back to my blog from last year on August 26th to see if I had any 'feeling' about her sudden death because I am usually pretty good in that regard. I never wrote a blog on that day. Then I looked on August 27th, and there it was. Read if you want but it isn't necessary. Dee sent her regards to me and I felt them. Rest in Peace Dee! I will hold this years' Santa ornament in safe keeping. (She collected them.) I will not be surprised if it gets moved. Dee had a wonderful sense of humor. Now for safety tips during this Holiday Season.

Maintain holiday lights. Avoid overloading electrical outlets.
Use only nonflammable decorations that are placed away from heat vents and if using an artificial tree, make sure it's flame retardant and preferably not that hideous silver. I'm kidding.
Avoid using candles when unsupervised, sort of like small children and demented old oddities.
Select a fresh Christmas tree and keep it in water at all times; needles on fresh trees should be green and should not fall off easily.
Make a fire safety plan with an escape route; and practice doing it. This can also provide entertainment if you ring the bell at 3 in the morning and awaken people from a deep sleep. I don't recommend it, but it could prompt a few giggles. Just make sure you have received all of your gifts first.

Please also keep in mind the use of space heaters. There should be at least 36 inches of clear space between anything that can catch fire. Malfunctioning fire places or furnaces are also sources of danger. Homeowners and office managers should make sure they get their furnaces and fireplaces primed and ready for the winter. A lot of times smoke detectors aren't working or aren't even there, so please make the time to check these instruments and either replace the battery or replace the units altogether. I know that in some places the economy is a bit rough, so instead of that extra sweater for Aunt Nell, get the place safe. She will be fine. Please keep in mind that smoke kills more two and four legged people than the fire or flames.
I report this information out of love and caring for humankind. And if there are some not nice people who read this blog, it goes for you too. Just 'cause you may be a little mean doesn't determine that you need to suffer.
Have a great day and please try to take nothing for granted. Time flies.
"Only do what your heart tells you." Princess Diana

...sand castles

Hello. Last evening was spent wrapping and prepping USPS boxes for web orders. The UPS orders were dropped off yesterday so that the stocking can be hung by the chimney in a timely fashion. I have to be at my shop early today. I am receiving an upholstered furniture order, an accessory order and a man is coming in to pick up a bistro set from my floor. It is a surprise birthday present for his wife. shhhh! Things seem to be rolling along. All it takes is a lot of time, energy and cash. If anyone is coming up short on any of the three items listed, here are my replies.

Time: Turn your clocks back again. Like sands through the hourglass and all of that.

Energy: Sugar free light Ripe It Fuel...by the gross.

Cash: well, on this day two years ago, Ron Paul, not to be confused with the drag queen Ru Paul, raised a record amount of money online in a single day "money bomb." Over six million dollars in 24 hours.

Not that cash is the be all, end all. Gifts should come from the heart. I know, if you had a sand dollar for every time you heard that. But,if my website could only do a fraction of that amount! Have fun today as well as working and studying hard and keep it together as best you can. Realize also that sand castles look great sitting on a beach but there is no crime in washing them back to sea. We get many chances to build new ones.

"Even Castles made of sand, fall into the sea, eventually." Jimi Hendrix

...lean on me

Hi. We walked while it was still dark out this morning and weren't the only ones. It's hard to have a conversation with three leashes in hand and barking dogs, but I try to make the time anyway. It isn't all about me and the dogs. Sometimes people, even tertiary relationships need an ear. In a world full of people some can still feel alone. You can see it in their eyes if it's light enough out, or if you have enough light. I'm not saying to adopt everyone that you run into; that simply isn't wise. A wave, a nod of the head or a simple gesture of kindness goes a long way. We don't have enough time to walk a mile in every one's shoes that we encounter, and nodding our heads at everyone may cause some to think that you are suffering from a neurological disorder. Keep it simple, keep your eyes open and keep the light on. If a friend or family member is going through a hard time, take the time to really listen and think about what you and they are saying. People sometimes need to lean on you. Sometimes you need to lean on someone. Find the time and strength please. We are all human. On this day in 2001, the Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened after 11 years and $27,000,000 to fortify it, without fixing its famous lean. Have a lovely day, and do your best to be a strong lean-ee. Tomorrow you may be the lean-er.

Shown today are 'Canary Yellow Ceramic Bottles.' When you are finished with one, you can always put a lid on it.
"I'll lean on you and you lean on me and we'll be okay." Dave Matthews

...if the shoe fits

Hello. Are your feet tired yet from all of the Holiday running around? Shoes, like mattresses, should be of the highest quality. Those ads stating "buy one, get one free" equals one pair, right? Maybe not, but don't skimp or you can't skip. Some cultures use shoes as a way of protest. Hopefully they don't go to Payless for that. On this day in 2008 President George W. Bush made his fourth and final (planned) trip to Iraq as president and almost got struck by two shoes thrown at him by Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi during a farewell conference in Baghdad. Shoeing, throwing shoes and/or showing the sole of one's shoe or using shoes to insult are forms of protest primarily associated with the Arab world. Whatever one thinks about a world leader, show some respect, don't shoe a lack thereof! Between UPS and USPS boxes, I am up to my neck in them, but am happy that orders keep coming in. Have a great day, show some soul but not sole and if you want a great gift for a friend or loved one, get them a pair of quality shoes. Dear friends own Wallach Shoes so keep it in the family. You shop, they ship. Shown today is the "Florentine Ceramic Footed Planter." Get it? 'Footed.'

Wallach's Shoes

(610) 642-6070
21 Haverford Station Rd
Haverford, PA 19041

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." Plutarch

...give me liberty

Hello. It's 25 degrees in Chester County, PA this morning. No wonder the boys ran rather than walked today.They don't like the cold but like their custom lined coats even less. They like the freedom of not being confined but I am only doing what I think best. Besides, they look cute walking together. Hmmm. Maybe it isn't all about them. Beau looks like he could guillotine me when I tie his teal toile coat on. Speaking of which, on this day in 1962 the last execution ever in Canada occurred when Arthur Lucas was murdered for murdering. My 'Needlepoint Dog Stockings' are a website hit apparently but now, as stock is dwindling and deft fingers are more than occupied, some may be disappointed. I can always alert them as to what breed stockings are left. Then they can go and rescue another dog for the Holidays! Have fun today and be as free as possible without being a jerk. "Florentine Tall Vase With Handles" shown. The Florentine line is old as the hills, but 'new'.
"The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up." Paul Valery

Update: If you have any cash to spare, even the smallest denomination, please keep the Mazzoni Center in mind.

Mazzoni Center is Philadelphia's LGBT health center. We are the health professionals, social workers, HIV specialists, counselors, educators, and volunteers who are leading a revolution in LGBT health care.
Mazzoni Center • 21 S. 12th Street • Phila., PA 19107 • ph: 215-563-0652 • fax: 215-563-0664 • info@mazzonicenter.org • www.mazzonicenter.org

...scum alert warning. Scopes verified virus!

Hey people! I have received many of these toxic emails. The supposedly come from UPS, FedEx and especially DHL freight. Please read the following and do not open the attachment.
A message to our customers about new virus Infostealer.Banker.C
Please be advised that if you received an email suggesting that DHL is attempting to deliver a package and asking that you open the email attachment in order to affect delivery, the email is fraudulent, contains a virus, and the package does not exist. Please do not open the attachment. This is due to the Infostealer.Banker.C virus, which has been confirmed to be a real virus attached to a fraudulent email.

This virus is not coming from DHL – the authors of the malicious email virus are only using the DHL name in their message to grab user's attention. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Peace.

company@dhl-usa.com Not the real DHL. Pun intended. not the real deal...

...drapery side panel sale...part 2!

My Drapery Side Panel sale is continuing to provide a custom look for a very nice price. Patterns, silks, linens, cottons and more. Drapery Hardware is also priced to compete with your Holiday Shopping needs. Don't forget your windows! Call Jim at (610) 322-6081 or email me at Jim@allthroughthehouseinc.com for more information.

There are 8 heading options and many, many colors and textures from which to choose. Gift Certificates also available, but this special pricing ends on 12/31/2009.

...red and green are Christmas colors

Hi. Blue and Silver are Hanukkah colors. Red, Black and Green are Kwanzaa colors. Red and Green are Christmas colors. On this day in 1868 the first traffic lights were installed outside the Palace of Westminster in London. Resembling railway signals, they used semaphore arms and were illuminated at night by red and green gas lamps. The semaphore was borrowed from railway traffic signals. Let's pretend for a moment that traffic signals were blue and silver. Pretty. Or red and black. Pretty! The silver may confuse people as it may match too closely with poles, and other metal hardware. Black may not illuminate into the night as well as green so things may come to a standstill. It would be fun if somehow colors could be alternated without creating more traffic havoc. Color blindness also comes into play. Have a great day and enjoy every color out there. I just added these cute 'Mini Lamps' to my website. Light up the world, or at least the roadways.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Martin Luther King, Jr.

...vision quest

The rain is falling rapidly over Chester County, PA this morning. I can still see the forest for the trees tho'. It isn't that heavy a rain. Juan Diego saw more than the forest on this day in 1531. The Virgin of Guadalupe first appeared to him in Tepeyac, Mexico City. According to the traditional account, the image appeared miraculously on the front of a simple peasant's cloak. Had it appeared on the current year's Chanel Blazer, button detailing and lining aspects would probably have distracted the 'seer' from the Virgin Mary. I believe that all of our minds have the capacity to see and know far more than many allow. Closed minds see even less. The energy of the universe has much to offer. We need to figure out how to see, listen and somehow harness that energy. Or just go with it. I received a returned, battered, bent, broken box from UPS and it looks as though a truck ran over it. They are denying the claim but I have taken it to a higher level and have provided photos showing the packaging. I will prevail. In the meantime I have ordered a replacement mirror for the client and am considering shipping it telepathically. I just can't figure out how to get them to sign for it. Have a great day, keep your eyes and your mind open and beware of company protocol. Sometimes it is a ruse for simply having f*cked up. Shown today are pieces of Ceramic Fruit. NO Zip Lock bags needed.

"As selfishness and complaint pervert the mind, so love with its joy clears and sharpens the vision." Helen Keller

...immaculate perception

Hi. It is downright cold in Chester County, PA today. A few more people bought the needlepoint tree skirts and luckily they are available to ship in time for the holidays. My Mom was born on this day and will celebrate her 21st birthday again in Heaven with, no doubt, many friends that she has met there. She is probably singing with John Lennon, who was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman in front of The Dakota apartment building in New York City on this day in 1980. My Mom used to perform a robust Patti LaBelle imitation into a hairbrush and am sure that she and John have come up with a few duets worthy of a record label. She visited me the other evening after a most grueling week. I had narrowly missed hitting two deer on my way home and planted myself on a sofa in my Living Room. All of a sudden I was surrounded by Chanel #5. Two dogs and the cats remained silent, but Charlie stood up and barked at nothing visible so Mom and I chatted a bit and then the perfume went away. Today Catholics celebrate the Immaculate Conception which is, according to Roman Catholic Dogma, the conception of the Virgin Mary without any stain of original sin. My Mom wanted to have T-Shirts made up when very young girls found themselves 'with child.' She wanted to call it the "Me Too Mary" line. It would have been a huge commercial success. Have a great day, take nothing for granted because we all know how things can change on a dime.

"Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door." Coco Chanel

...pearl surprise

Hello. How is your shopping going? Many jewelry stores are advertising constantly and that is no surprise. This time of year makes up a major part of the retail precious jewel sales.A pearl is a hard, generally spherical object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. What a surprise to find such a gem inside! The shell and the pearl are made of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. Bite one to see if it's real! Another surprise happened on this day in 1941. Before making an official Declaration of War, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the US Pacific Fleet and its defending Army Air Forces and Marine air forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii,(their time.) The surprise nature of it was the major factor in changing U.S. public opinion from an isolationist position to support direct participation in the war. The lack of any formal declaration prior to the attack led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim "December 7th, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy". No surprise was the warm reception that I received late yesterday when I met with LB. A total class act, just like her Mom. The pearl doesn't fall far from the shelled mollusk. Velvets in scarlet and celadon were chosen along with beaded trims and other details important to people with discerning taste. My 'Needlepoint Holiday Stockings' and 'Tree Skirts' are selling quite well via my website. I am always surprised when people find me from all parts of the continent. Have a great day and if you encounter a surprise, I hope it's the best kind.
"Continue to surprise those who would put you in a neat demographic. Be insistently curious." Gordon Gee

...rocking horse

Hi. How is your week going? If your office or school room seems like a prison cell, try to escape... even if only in your mind. On this day in 1875, notorious New York City politician Boss Tweed escaped from prison and fled to Cuba, then to Spain. He may or may not have hopped on a Rocking Horse, but let's pretend that he did. It makes the story all the more fun. I visited DL and SL...and KL last afternoon and chose Graber Pleated Shades and we had a chance to catch up. Thanks to NO, here is a Seasonal video that should warm even the coldest of hearts. Have fun today, work hard, study hard and take time to enjoy life also.

Click here: The Rocking Horse (Christmas Version).

"The way to have power is to take it." Boss Tweed

...Tiger Woods

There once was a Tiger named Woods,
On the course he delivered the goods.
In the private sector,
They used a detector,
And invaded as much as they could.

The economy seems to be moot.
The jobless just may have to loot.
The deaths from the wars,
The slowness in stores,
For the media seem just a hoot.

Once there was time for the news.
Challenging more than ones views.
Now 'reality' thrives,
People cutting with knives,
Talking heads simply wait for their cues.

...a clever reader has added to my limerick. It reads as follows:

Tiger's shame is now all the news
With so many sharing their views

We liked him just fine when he stayed on the line
but it seems he had more on his mind.

Now the press watches his pain
there must be good money to gain

His world has exploded, his marriage imploded.
How will he handle all of this scandal?

Why do we care, because it is there
to remind us all that those who act small
will eventually fall. elouisem

On this day in 1929 President Herbert Hoover announced to the U.S. Congress that the worst effects of the recent stock market crash were behind the nation and the American people have regained faith in the economy. On a much lesser note, a Hollywood starlet privately entered a drug rehab, an affair was kept out of the spotlight and underwearless girls were not videotaped to advance theirs and the paparazzis careers.

"I wasn't naked, I was completely covered by a blue spotlight." Gypsy Rose Lee

...Gemini Dream

Hi. I was driving late yesterday while talking on my Bluetooth and told a friend that a Full Moon was coming. People were driving with careless abandon and I could feel added energy. As it turns out, yesterday and today are the Gemini Full Moon. This particular Full Moon tends to create a lot of activity and energy. See. I'm not crazy!
According to Lynn Hays, "this Full Moon is in Gemini, the sign of communication, changeability, short trips, and anything of a mercurial nature, and Mercury, the planet of communication and the mind that is the ruler of Gemini, is very active in the chart of this Full Moon. Mercury is in a challenging square to Uranus, the planet of radical thinking and change, so there is a tendency towards impulsive thinking and hasty speech as well as a heightened sensitivity of the nervous system. Don't be surprised by emotional outbursts of all kinds, and those of us with anxious natures may find ourselves with a case of the jitters."
The 'Ornate Metal Mirror' arrived to the client but unfortunately looked as though 'the truck had run over it." I had even put ceiling tiles in the box to further buffer it's travel. I have ordered another and will do the best that I can, again. I install purple, pink and white later today and hope the experience doesn't make me dotty. Just the walls. Have a great day, put the added energy to good use and, considering that Gemini is a positive, extroverted sign, we should all have a great time rocking on...

"Don't go through life, grow through life." Eric Butterworth

...BBC AIDS

Hello. It is clear and cold in Chester County, PA today. I met with LB last evening who is trying her best to cope with the untimely loss of her beloved Mom. HB had given L some beautiful furniture and accessory pieces and we will now work the pieces into the Living/Dining areas to made it more Hilda-esque. Cancer is a bitch. So is AIDS. On this day in 1981 the AIDS virus was officially recognized. Over the years there have been many reports and suggestions as to the first case of HIV. In 2002, Science Magazine reported that the first case was found in a wild chimpanzee. The infected chimp resided in Gombe Stream National Park, a refuge made famous by primatologist Jane Goodall. Because Goodall and colleagues have studied him for nearly 20 years, the scientists can analyze all of his previous mates and offspring to figure out how the SIV virus propagates in the wild.
AIDS is now a pandemic. In 2007, it was estimated that 33.2 million people lived with the disease worldwide, and that AIDS killed an estimated 2.1 million people, including 330,000 children. Over three-quarters of these deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. Cancer statistics are even more daunting. Genetic research indicates that HIV originated in west-central Africa as far back as the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. "Bless The Beasts and Children" everyone. And adults. And teens for Heaven sake! Be safe, be cautious and be smart. And maybe have a cocktail. Not the children or teens tho'. Or the beasts.

"Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal." E. Joseph Cossman