Miss Dilettante's Playground

Happy Birthday, Vanessa!

2009-12-11T15:28:00.000-05:00

This blog has been on hiatus, but when I got the word that a surprise birthday party was in the works for Vanessa Valencia of A Fanciful Twist, I had to participate! Vanessa has got to be one of the most imaginative and kind bloggers I've encountered. She is generous to a fault. The world needs more people like her. I've not managed to acquire one of her adorable elfin babies, however, I have in my possession, this wonderful print:

It's really coming in handy as Winter holds Michigan in its frozen grasp. Lovely summer memories of the fireflies swirling outside my deck.

Enjoy your special day, Vanessa. You brighten my world!

Finally -- A Finished Object

2009-03-30T18:38:00.001-04:00

A lot of thoughts have been swirling about in my mind for several weeks now, but nothing has felt urgent enough to share with the world.

Knitting has been on the backburner for awhile, however, a few weeks ago I completed a prayer shawl I made for my cousin Nancy. She's starting her last round of chemo next week, and hopefully it's the magic cocktail that will boot lung cancer out of her life for good.

I love the idea of prayer shawls, but I have a hard time with the execution. It's not totally mindless knitting, but my mind tends to wander when I'm following such a simple pattern. I realize that each stitch is infused with prayer and meaning. Unlike some of my other dilettantish behavior, it was important for me to finish the shawl and send it to her. I really wanted the warmth and love to envelope her.

When I started it over the Christmas break (yes, it was that long ago), I chose the Wildflowers colorway of KnitPicks' Suri Dream. Hope, Spring, New Life! I felt like I was thumbing my nose at cancer and the snowdrifts that blanketed Michigan.

Think Globally, Act Locally (and Globally)

2009-02-21T16:40:00.007-05:00

One World-One Heart still resonates with me. I subscribe to the weekly Knitter's Review newsletter. This week Clara Parkes mentioned a donation drive, for the survivors of the bushfires in Victoria, Australia. It's inspiring to see how fast people respond to the needs of others. In addition to the good feeling of helping another person out, your receipt for your donation is also your raffle ticket for some neat knitting-related gifts.

The local angle for me is that no matter how down and out one can be, generosity pours forth from people. Last weekend a fire swept through an apartment complex in Fenton, Michigan. Fenton is a suburb of Flint. The trials and tribulations of General Motors continue to afflict the people of this area, because its been the biggest employer for over 70 years. Generations of people have worked for GM, and the local job loss is astounding. Despite the devastation in peoples' employment and income, the swift response to this fire and its survivors is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

That's why U2's Beautiful Day is the featured song for this post. Even when your heart is broken, you can still appreciate what life has to offer.

I've Picked the Winner!

2009-02-12T12:47:00.014-05:00

Thank goodness for random number generators and Lisa's suggestion to use one. I did make the mistake of printing out all the comments and almost ran out of ink. Whew! That was a close one. I'm happy to report that I was able to reach Jody, and her package will be winging its way to her shortly.

What a delightful event this was, and it will continue on for me. I still have many OWOH blogs to visit and revisit. Hugs to my new friends, and especially to Lisa for starting it all.

It's Official!

2009-02-12T00:02:00.004-05:00

One World - One Heart is officially over (at least in the Eastern Standard Time zone). What a touching experience, and rather overwhelming, too. I'll be doing the drawing later today. More later!

No, you're my schmoopie...

2009-01-30T20:43:00.014-05:00

February 1 will mark the second anniversary of my husband Michael's death. I promised myself last year that I wouldn't continue the public memorial. Here I am again, breaking my promises. Partly because I've gotten such kind comments from people on my One World-One Heart post. I wanted to thank you for the support and assure people that I'm not wallowing in grief. Things are getting easier. That's primarily why I felt that I wanted to give away Ann Hood's book "Comfort" as well as Carly Simon's "Into White." I feel that they could provide some solace to another aching heart. They did that for me. I find Ann Hood to be inspirational in the fact that the sudden loss of her 5-year-old daughter could have crushed her forever. Her peace was hard won. Her daughter Grace will never be forgotten by her or her family. To me the most encouraging thing is that the bloom of hope returned to her life. It's that sense of camaraderie. If Ann could create a life after Grace, then there's hope for all of us who have experienced intense loss.

Michael and I discovered our term of endearment, while watching an umpteenth rerun of Seinfeld. It's the famous "Soup Nazi" episode. One of the subplots involves the cutesy, over-the-top way that Jerry and his (then) girlfriend Sheila shower each other with public declarations of affection. We thought it was hilarious and started calling each other "Schmoopie" as a joke. Eventually it became so ingrained in our daily interactions that it seemed odd when we addressed one another by our formal names.

I found this video that compresses those funny moments into a few minutes, so you don't have to watch the whole episode to get the joke. It still makes me laugh.

Scroll down and turn off the music if you want to view the video.

One World One Heart

2009-01-19T00:00:00.041-05:00

I heard about this wonderful tradition that has developed in the last few years. Lisa "oceandreamer" Swifka came up with the idea of One World-One Heart in 2007 to coordinate a giveaway to introduce bloggers to one another. She and most of the participants are artists, so you could be a fortunate recipient of a piece of beautiful art.

Winning the giveaway isn't really the point. (Of course, everyone likes to be a winner.) It's a way to touch other people's hearts in a sincere manner. It fosters an audience for new and established blogs. It's an icebreaker to encourage people to introduce themselves on a global level.

One World One Heart

Maybe I can knit something for next year's event, but not this year. I don't need the pressure of the deadline looming over my head. It would probably not get completed in a timely fashion. It's also possible the recipient might not live in a cold climate. My inspiration has come from

this book

and this CD

I could give one item to two individuals, but I'm opting for one winner. They complement each other, and they don't seem to want to be separated.

Ann Hood writes about the searing irrational nature of grief in one of the most profound books I've read on the grieving process. This is high praise, because I've read a lot of books on the subject as I've been wending my way through widowhood. I had been curious about Into White, but hadn't listened to any of the tracks before I received it as a gift from my sister Barbara. She gave it to me a week after my husband Michael died. It was the perfect collection of lullabyes to salve my wounded heart. I hope the combination will help someone else in their dark night of the soul. It's not a question of "if" you'll experience a devastating loss of a loved one--but "when". What I've learned along the way is that we get by with a little help from our friends and the kindness of strangers.

I found out through my Thanksgiving giveaway that I NEED each person's email address or active blog link in the comment. There were many people I wanted to contact personally after I read the comments and couldn't. Even if you have a Blogger account, I need a way to contact you directly to inform you that you've won. If you'd like to join in the fun, please leave your comment on this post (only).

Thank you for stopping by my virtual home. Comments will close at 12:00 a.m. EST on February 12. There will be a random drawing of the commenters, and I will announce the winner's name on my blog on February 12, 2009. Let's spread the love!

One World-One Heart Starts on January 19

2009-01-17T14:42:00.000-05:00

If you're trying to think of a way to foster global friendships, you might want to join Lisa Swifka's One World-One Heart event beginning January 19.

This is the third year and participation continues to increase. Most of the bloggers are artists, so you'll experience a visual cornucopia, as you make your way from blog to blog. An added plus is that each person will be giving something away. You might find yourself making some new friends along the way, too. Isn't that what life's all about?

Dreaming of Mexico

2009-01-15T10:59:00.004-05:00

I love Canada, but I'm not crazy about the lovely temperatures that are sweeping Michigan right now. It's either 4 or 5 below zero depending on which weather icon you choose to believe, and the high is supposed to be 4 degrees.

In December 2007 I visited Mexico for the first time. The gorgeous Caribbean entranced me. I came back from Cancun with dozens of pictures of the waves and their stunning beauty.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words...

Dream on....

2008-12-31T13:53:00.015-05:00

Last year I took Aerosmith's Dream On, as my theme song and wish for 2008. Who would have thought that when I first cranked up that song 35 years ago that it would continue to inspire me on the eve of 2009.

But it does. And here is the reason: "Dream on...dream until your dream comes true."

(If you want to view the video, please scroll down and turn off my music player. Otherwise, you'll end up with sensory overload.)

2008 has had its share of ups and downs. Foreclosures, government bailouts, assorted natural disasters, death and stock market crashes contributed to the downs. The election of Barack Obama, the discovery of art bloggers and musicians on MySpace, and the continued love and support of family and friends count as the ups. I realize that the downs were not specific to me but to the world at large. The ups contain my personal favorites.

This holiday season has been quiet for me, because I was ill for half of my winter break. The silver lining in that is that I was able to read, knit, and reflect more than I normally would. I'm in the middle of reading Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat That Touched the World. Doesn't it sound like a children's story? It is an inspiring book, though, because it shows what a difference one individual (in this case, one cat) can make in the lives of millions of people. It's the ripple effect that you hear about so often that is proven in this book.

Maybe we should be asking ourselves, "what would Dewey do?" in 2009. It starts with a dream.

Wild and Wacky Michigan Weather

2008-12-28T13:50:00.013-05:00

On December 21, I anticipated a white Christmas due to the storm on December 19. That storm deposited enough snow to close schools and businesses. This is the view of my deck.

Christmas day was about the only day that the sun came out, and it didn't snow. Great weather for driving.

Then yesterday came the record breaking temperatures--56 degrees. Instead of snow, it rained torrentially. I'm not sure how much mid-Michigan got with the latest rainfall. This is what my deck looked like after the rain.

Normally there isn't a pool of water beyond the deck. This is a better view of "Lake Delmonico" (my late husband named it in honor of our cat, Dominic Delmonico, whenever the area flooded).

Next on the agenda: winds gusting up to 50 miles per hour. Missouri experienced tornadoes. 8,500 residents in my county lost power, and temperatures are back down to 32 degrees. I haven't heard yet about flooding in the area, but that wind has dried up much of Lake Delmonico.

Fresh Water for Africa

2008-12-20T15:20:00.015-05:00

I had been mulling different ideas of what I wanted to write about, and today I received some inspiration from Ari Herzog's blog. In today's post, he wrote about the power of social media in creating positive change in the world. He offered up two instances of using Twitter to create a buzz for charitable donations.

Laura Fitton's wish for Christmas is for anyone and everyone to donate $2 USD to fund the production of clean drinking water systems in Africa. It's not critical that you tweet your donation. I'm not on Twitter, so I had the option to donate with a credit card or PayPal. What is neat about this organization is that 100 percent of your donation will go to the people who directly benefit from it. Funding for adminstrative costs is provided by other sources.

Come on. You know you want to do this!

A Day of Sharing Song

2008-12-02T01:33:00.002-05:00

The Kiss - Gustav Klimt

Too many meaningful songs to choose from on this Day of Sharing Song. Take a listen to The Ragbirds. Watch the video. Enjoy! Then check out my playlist on MySpace. Holy Kiss is transcendent.

Extreme Makeover (Revised)

2008-11-30T18:40:00.002-05:00

A couple minutes ago, I deleted two posts when I attempted to edit the label. Fortunately one post was still hanging by a thread. I was able to retrieve it. My glowing review of Graphically Designing's makeover of my blog was the one that I lost. You might have heard the wailing and gnashing of teeth resounding through cyberspace.

Once again...breathe deeply. All is right with the world.

Darcy is a dream to work with. She transformed my vague idea of rusted playground equipment and butterflies into the elegantly whimsical design you see here. The photo I found on iStockphoto.com took the design in a different direction from Darcy's original concept. I was ready to give it up, but the picture turned out to be an inspiration for her. My brain tends to seize up when I'm faced with myriad choices. Darcy broke down the design elements into bite-size pieces so I wouldn't be overwhelmed with decisions. It felt like it was a true collaboration. Thank you, Darcy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T09:23:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving, 1999. 2:10 p.m. You are so beautiful to me. Still.

Words That Haunt Me

2008-11-26T22:36:00.001-05:00

The Telephone (No. 1). Sean Duggan, photographer. Used with permission.

When I was living in San Francisco in 1976, I had a broadside of this poem by Charles Bukowski. I haven't seen the broadside in years, but the poem has always stayed with me.

462-0614

I get many phone calls now.
They are all alike.
"are you Charles Bukowski, the writer?"
"yes," I tell them.
and they tell me
that they understand my
writing,
and some of them are writers
or want to be writers
and they have dull and
horrible jobs
and they can't face the room
the apartment
the walls
that night --they want somebody to talk
to,
and they can't believe
that I can't help them
that I don't know the words.
they can't believe
that often now
I double up in my room
grab my gut
and say "Jesus Jesus Jesus, not
again!"
they can't believe
the streets
the loneliness
the walls
are mine too.
and when I hang up the phone
they think I have held back my
secret.

I don't write out of
knowledge.
when the phone rings
I too would like to hear words
that might ease
some of this.

that's why my number's
listed.

--Charles Bukowski

I found out about A Day of Sharing Words a little too late to participate. I liked the idea so much that this is my contribution.

I'm One Grateful Gal

2008-11-20T00:53:00.015-05:00

I couldn't believe it when Tara Bradford left her comment on my blog the other day. She inspired me to create my own giveaway by offering a beautiful collage by Colette Copeland on her blog Paris Parfait. I enter contests never expecting to win and am always shocked when I do. It really felt like a karmic experience. I gave something beautiful away, and on the same day, I received notice that Colette would be sending her lovely artwork to me. Thank you, Tara and Colette!

The Sundara Yarn's New Home

2008-11-17T01:17:00.008-05:00

Thank you all for your incredibly heartfelt comments. I'm glad that I didn't have to choose the best comment, because it would have been impossible for me. I wish I had more yarn to give away! Despite unemployment, health issues, accidents, and a death of a loved one; you all managed to rejoice in life and count your blessings. As I read your comments, I laughed and cried. I identified with the joy of family, friends, and fiber.

Thanksgiving is a day I will always treasure, because it was the day my dear Michael proposed to me in 1999. My first Thanksgiving without him in 2007, I reminisced about our engagement on MySpace. I continue to feel fortunate for having known and loved him. As I'm making my way in the world alone again, I know that the best way to honor him is to reach out to other people and be that light in the world. I'm thankful for the people who have always been there for me, and the new people that have taken me to their hearts this past year.

Drum roll, please......The Sundara yarn will be going to Juanita. Congratulations and Happy Thanksgiving! Please email me your address.

A Thanksgiving Giveaway

2008-11-11T13:35:00.011-05:00

Thanksgiving seems like the Rodney Dangerfield of holidays. There's always a mad dash from Halloween to Christmas. Okay, so maybe Thanksgiving celebrates gluttony and football. But what I like about it is that it gives me time to reflect on the good people in my life and to acknowledge the blessings I've experienced.

I've decided to have a giveway. It requires no special skill. No artistic ability necessary. It would be great if you would leave a comment about one thing for which you're thankful this year.

This is for the yarn lovers out there: 2 hanks (350 yards each) of superwash merino sock yarn. Sundara Yarn produced a special colorway in Tulip to celebrate Spring 2008. On November 17, I'll randomly draw the name of the lucky recipient.

Coalescing

2008-11-10T12:14:00.007-05:00

I've been feeling scattered. Part of that is due to the fact that I've been maintaining two other blogs. It looks like I'm finally settling in at Blogger. About the time that Darcy finished the design of this blog, Dia de Bloglandia was in full swing. I realize now that I might have confused a few people with the comments I made on their ofrenda, because my comments were linked to this blog instead of the one at TypePad. At the risk of continuing the confusion, I put my post for Dia de Blogandia under my Widowhood 101 tab. So if you haven't read it already (and you want to), there it is.

We each honored our departed family and friends in very different ways. At the same time, there was something so touchingly familiar about the tributes. I felt like I got to know the mothers, fathers, grandparents, husbands, siblings and friends that the other participants commemorated. It's taking me longer to make the rounds than I anticipated, mainly because I take time at each stop to ponder the lives that are being celebrated. It might be December before I get to all of them. There's no need to rush.

This Blog's in Transition

2008-09-24T03:21:00.003-04:00

I'm trying to move from MySpace to Blogger by way of
TypePad. It's kind of like merging two households where you're trying to decide which dining room table to keep.