So This Is Christmas...

So this is Christmas

And what have you done

Another year over

And a new one just begun

~~ John Lennon

While checking through some of my online friends' blogs, I ran across Lisa and Robb's. They have an amazing story all in themselves, but I particularly admire Lisa for her convictions as well as her ability to take some really amazing photographs.

In one of her most recent posts, she had the image you see to your left, and I have to admit, it struck a really chord with me.

I am one for handmade gifts, have been known to buy brown craft paper and create my own wrapping paper (kids hands are great and FREE!), have given to charities in others names as gifts, and just generally disdain what I often refer to as conspicuous consumerism. Don't get me started about Necropolis' absolutely necessary trip to Hot-lanta last year for Black Friday (I spent most of it in the car). And, this year, I read where a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death by Black Friday shoppers. Is this really the image we want for Christmas? I definitely know this isn't the value system I want imparted on my children.

So I checked out buynothingchristmas.org. I encourage you to do so as well. Even if you can't do all your gifts in this manner, think about what you can do.

Seven Bridges Road

One of the many reasons we enjoy our new neighborhood. Hopefully, I will soon have the appropriate equipment to take this picture at night, instead of just at dusk.

To Market, To Market

New items listed in the Etsy Shop. Here's a small preview.

When You're a Jet, You're a Jet

I’ve always known I’m a bit of a geeky nerd. Okay, I’m a LOT of a geeky nerd. And, I’m totally okay with that. My car radio is tuned to NPR. I like to create historic garb. I know what lapidary is, and I enjoy sitting and sweating in the Georgia July sun to take butterfly pictures. I find the gossipy history of musicians totally fascinating (check out Gesualdo) and once considered becoming a musicologist.

In the fibery world, I’m geeky as well. I knit at the pool and the beach. I know the difference between Lord Raglan and Lord Cardigan. I have a spinning wheel and spindle. I even have geeky fibery friends. One of those friends knitted a bicycle helment cover based on this little creature:

It’s a nudibranch, a lovely little sea creature, but I’m just enthralled that someone would knit this.

I also dye fiber and yarn, and have begun the geeky nerdy process of experimenting with my dyeing solutions and processes. No household product is safe. Today, I discovered I am a novice in the world of geeky nerdy fiberhood. On Ravelry, a question was asked about why a particular yellow dye solution wouldn’t stay dissolved, and reverted to a state somewhat consistent to Egg Drop Soup.

All of a sudden, my new friend Brewergnome was possessed. He gave a Chemistry lesson on hydrophobic dye, blah, blah, blah. You can read his ‘findings’ at his blog. It’s actually interesting reading if you’re into it, and has pictures and everything.

All hail, King of the Nerds!