tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25994421919039465112024-02-19T08:26:36.771-08:00What If....What if causing one to speculate and wonder ..Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.comBlogger556125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-5840088026869710082020-03-14T15:57:00.000-07:002020-03-14T15:57:32.241-07:00The down time of Coronavirus National Emergency shut down. 2020<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Well here it is, upon us all. My husband and I had already decided to self quarantine 2 1/2 weeks earlier, as I had cold/flu already for too long this season, and we had concern about the information or lack of clarity of the information at that time. Now it is global, and President has declared National Emergency so enough about that, now what to do during the next 3 months as we are shut in as my husband likes to say?</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">1) </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><i>Walking in fresh air.</i> </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> First, we walk and likely every other day or daily at public park in our town where few people are out and walking. Come spring and summer, that might well change to too many people to do the social distancing we would like. Of course the people at the park may well want to do social distancing also, so might not be a problem. And if the public park doesn't work, we have our 2 mile walk to the River and back. Today there is Snow for second day (March 2020) and news indicates the snow will be gone soon.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">2) </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Writing</b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">. I thought blogging in my old blogs mght be a way to go. Also, using the greeting cards from the time of my mother's death to send out to family and people. Writing my and our memoirs. I have books to actually help a bit with that one, that I have ignored or not written in for years. And I prefer to write, journal as that is my way of remembering, frequently do not refer back to former writing, although my memory is not working as well as it once did. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">3)</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> <b>Crochet/Knitting.</b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> Well for me that just goes with the time, whether coronavirus or not, as I have been crocheting for years. Recently our church prayer shawl group suspended itself due to coronavirus, and I was ahead of that one, making prayer shawls anyway to bring when husband and I decided to suspend our self-quarantine. I have a couple of grandchildren though, and it might be timely to online instruct them in this fine business of knitting/crocheting, using yarn they maybe already have.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">4) </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Downsizing, Clean Up, House Redecorate. </b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> So many of us have some kind of clean up or clear up to do, ie, garage, house, spring cleaning. For myself, it is time to turn my winter clothing in my dressing room (a bedroom I confiscated to become a dressing room ... lol) to spring and summer clothing. I have much downsizing to do just now, and probably while thrift stores are not receiving much or people aren't using, I can at least separate items out. And well, I have not redone our home in couple years, so can think about how I might do it. I am sure that different people's juices are flowing as people think about what they can do during this down time. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">5) </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; font-style: italic;">Turn off the news, Facebook, media about the virus. </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">I know I am frightened and doing stress related constant watching the news or Facebook to learn what is going on, and I also know that I need some relax time out, as do many of us.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">6) </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Staying in contact with loved ones, people.</b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> Part of my own reach out has more to do with my own anxiety yet staying in touch and contact helps and takes away some of the anxious feeling. Recognizing I am among the fortunate to have a husband while many people are doing this shut down alone, I think it is more important than ever to do reach out and stay connected, in contact. Even though Facebook is among popular media platforms, using it in productive ways right now might help some. I like our walks, just saying hi to people seems to lift my spirits. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">7) </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Kids at home.</b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> That is no longer my expertise, as I said we are the elderly population, no kids at home. Better that parents speak to this one, than me, yet already I am seeing ways to keep children busy while at home. I wouldn't mind a letter or card or two from youngsters.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">8) </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Music</b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">. It is, imo, a language of it's own and goes a long way to calming people. Already I have found two places that symphonies are willing to livestream for Free their concerts. My husband likes music and is an accomplished pianist. Our home is filled frequently with music, the many playlists he has developed and the piano he plays himself to a) calm his own nerves and b) to serenade me (was the Memory Care Unit weekly, they have shut down for the interim). </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">9) </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Games, not Internet, not online, board games, cards. </b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> We haven't done this one yet, hope to, expect to, hasn't really happened yet. We both did this with our kids when they were kids. Might be something we will pick up and do for this shut down period Might be something for younger families, parents and children to do if they aren't already. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">10) </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b> Crafting</b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">. I had plenty to do for a long while, in fact, purchased and collected. Didn't seem to have the heart for it after my mother passed. Or maybe getting along in years. I don't really know. Even as I type this, I don't seem to have inclination to pick the therapeutic manner of crafting. Wondering aloud who I could gift the items I might create? There is still next year. eh? Nonetheless others with the fortitude and inspiration may want to think about it, also an idea for useful child helpers.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">11) </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Gardening.</b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"> Not really an issue for me, I like to play outside with the yard. Lots of people do, and this would be the time to give that yard an thorough upkeep, planting, cleaning, while growing the newly planted vegetable garden and flower garden. Happy days, plus fresh air, and also that quieting of mind time. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">12) </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Oil Painting, or any kind of painting</b></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">. I look forward to it warming up a bit where we live so I can get some time oil painting on the enclosed deck which also doubles as our reading area, breakfast area, painting studio, nap time. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Other thoughts for how people might use this coronavirus down time are welcome.</span>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-51755355312522341492016-06-21T18:53:00.000-07:002016-06-21T18:55:32.117-07:00New Place, New Town (City actually), New chapter in our lives I have not blogged, as in made it an almost full time hobby, for many years now. In reviewing some of the memorable, nostalgic things I want to remember about our lives before we moved here, I realized there is a value to blogging. Rather like an online journal in some aspects, that reports on times before. We have lived here for going on 3 years now, and it might be fun and beneficial to put some blog posts up about our lives here.<br />
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For one thing, we are in retirement years, at ages now of 65 (me) and 70 (him). Life has changed for us so much in so many ways, and might be useful to put some thoughts about it online. Not only has life changed for us, we see societal changes happening all around us that almost beg 'New Rules' as many of the old rules do not seem to apply. In other words, values and work ethics I taught to my children who are mid-aged adults now don't seem to work as well in their words. And grown grandchildren coming out of college and into their careers means even different rules for the world they find for themselves. <br />
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We are considered now in our retirement years Boomers, who aren't ready to throw in the towel and call it quits just yet. I am not sure if that is a good thing or somewhere in between, because I know my body won't do what it used to do, and not sure I want to be want of those olders who are fit and hardy. I am pleased though that there is a longevity that was not so available to our parents generation. <br />
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Well then, here goes, new chapter in our older years lives. What if ...... <br />
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<br />Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-65425916852249723992016-06-21T07:57:00.000-07:002016-06-21T07:57:27.257-07:00What if ... my mother is not who I thought she was ....Having a tough time. Keeping it brief. Looked forward to having my mother move two doors down from us at our new location in different city in WA. Really looked forward to all the times we could share, all the things we might do together, all there was to see and show her. Looked forward to all the resources she could make use of in this city whereas she did not have them where she had lived. She is blind (legally), has diabetes, and as she had control of the narrative, sounded like was being isolated where she lived, little to no help from my two sisters who live there, weary of her neighbor who had been for years helping her with appointments, grocery store runs, lunches and fun times.<br />
Learning a devastating reality now that she is here.....she has undiagnosed Narcissist Personality. Has had for years, however, difference for me is that I have had years and years away from the damage of characteristics of narcissim. Being exposed to my mother in ongoing day to day activities again after so many years away is startling to my senses, my sense of proprieties, boundaries, and on and on and on. <br />
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<i>She's dead Jim </i>- a quote from Star Trek that I exchange with my husband occasionally when we encounter life changing events, ie, when our family dog, Jake, at 15 years was unable to keep on.<br />
<br />Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-2931178792302920492016-06-21T07:53:00.000-07:002016-06-21T07:53:41.367-07:00Now I've done it!This week I gave my books, and research papers on menopause and post menopause to my daughter. Mostly to assist her to deal with the controversial issue of using hormones or using natural estrogen type foods/diet to sustain the period of loss of hormones. She had only a couple of questions; when did you go through menopause, Mom? And when did you do this research. Ummm - it was so very important at time I was studying it, and yet there were no dates on the research or books to help jog my memory. Now isn't that something!<br />
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Recognizing that over the years I have done a lot of blogging on several topics when blogging was still in it's newness age, it occurred to me that one or two blogs might have the information. And we have Google now so I googled my name and the word menopause, and thank goodness 2 blogs came up where I had an entry or two which gave me the date, therefore my age, of menopause. Happens that was also the time I quit smoking. Wow, talk about a double whammy. Weight gain both ways.<br />
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I have since listed the dates, and decided maybe there is something to blogging elements of life as it happens, now maybe more so as in becoming part of the Boomer generation, it would seem we have some things to say!<br />
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In 2006 I quit smoking and the blog entry indicated it was my second year as a non-smoker; and the blog entry also indicated that I was going through menopause. I would have been 55 years old. Allowing that menopause is not an event, rather a process, it would be 2005/2006 at age 54 and 55 years. Allowing the decade or so of perimenopause before that which I knew next to nothing about, would have begun the process at about age 42 until at age 55 it was clear that I was done with the monthly flows. I would say though in respect for myself, the psychological elements of loss were much more difficult to bear and manage than the physiological aspects. Great sadness as I was saying goodbye to my younger womanhood, yearning for and wishing I had done more with that young woman body while it was young instead of worries about how it looked or whatever the societal norms of the time suggested I should look like....young ladies, proud to read that you are getting information that encourages you otherwise!!Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-78032465043759371482014-12-09T08:50:00.000-08:002014-12-09T14:56:50.105-08:00Moving on --- Let's see, since posting in 2010, much has happened for us. I don't think I want to write catch up history as I think that will show itself in future posts. We are no longer in our big old Victorian style farmhouse; we have moved (downsized) to leasing a condo in a city across the state from where we lived in sweet little community of Bay Center, WA in Pacific County. We are now living in city of Spokane, WA closer to my daughters and the family branch of my grandchildren. I will write about those experiences and learning lessons (learning for me) at another time. It has been a journey of the soul, so to speak.<br /><br />It is now December 2014. A year in the condo in Spokane. In 2013 we were also in Spokane, sharing time between our home in Bay Center, WA and an apartment in Spokane, WA caring for two of my youngest grandchildren. Going backwards in time to recapture the years of 2012 and 2011 .. essentially my husband retired from his career, and we found ourselves re-examining our choices in life regarding family, living location, community, aging into senior years, faith -- the whole gamut it seems as seen from retrospective viewpoint. Certainly less clear as we walked together through those years.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOiKC6y58hhFhvC4r7c1WukSS9YWrz8x8ki-num2RY3XvUAZzF2OedukAI5i_jMqWLQBzo_0p466LEIx37MQUtuqHWbiQuFsyHolA67fUgUUZ8c3xw9sCq70Fr3UhDe8F2ETIH47cNdc/s1600/S7302371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOiKC6y58hhFhvC4r7c1WukSS9YWrz8x8ki-num2RY3XvUAZzF2OedukAI5i_jMqWLQBzo_0p466LEIx37MQUtuqHWbiQuFsyHolA67fUgUUZ8c3xw9sCq70Fr3UhDe8F2ETIH47cNdc/s1600/S7302371.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure where I'll take the direction of this blog, for now though, it can serve as a bit of thoughtful reflections along with the new or revived things we are doing in our more senior years. </div><div>It is Christmas time just now. And I'm happy to be sharing in Christmas spirit - past and present, listening to Christmas music, decorating the house (yes, our condo has a 'house' feel to it so I call it our house now), making Christmas gifts, participating in our Traditions - past and present - as the holidays unfold. This is the first year in many that we have brought out the Big Christmas tree, and all the decorations acquired over the decades going back to when my adult children were just youngsters. Picture of the big tree in our condo (house) space.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>p.s. daughter, her husband, granddaughter stopped by to see our big tree, and took this composite photo to include my collections of nutcrackers which remain out all year long in their display cabinets.<br /><br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkURWaBtLmrUGwKEwx7O9NPideMff8Nlh4qzA-vuraLIrvjTeTj-l47SkQ2FTp4rPctOWXkmlgJoFcZtF32NOVnar8Ttgr7ess8-pq-zkIPSGK739UAPBX0yDzppyg50IaU6lx-EsQ64/s1600/Christmas+tree,+Nutcracker+displays+composite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkURWaBtLmrUGwKEwx7O9NPideMff8Nlh4qzA-vuraLIrvjTeTj-l47SkQ2FTp4rPctOWXkmlgJoFcZtF32NOVnar8Ttgr7ess8-pq-zkIPSGK739UAPBX0yDzppyg50IaU6lx-EsQ64/s1600/Christmas+tree,+Nutcracker+displays+composite.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div></div>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-77075612160872708712014-03-20T08:29:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.138-08:00To vaccinate or notIt's been a long, long time since posting to this blog. I might want to revisit this old blog since there is a lot of my earlier history here. For now I want a place to add this map chart regarding vaccinations for children - or the lack thereof and my opinion which has been that when parents decide against vaccinations (and quite probably for what they perceive as good reasons) it puts other children at risk.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cfr.org/interactives/GH_Vaccine_Map/#map" target="_blank">Map - Vaccine Preventable Outbreaks</a>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-42158516959207584262010-09-20T16:59:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.149-08:00Dressy, Colorful, Designer and Vintage Scarves<p>I’m excited with my new endeavor, launching <a href="lookagain.ecrater.com/">Look Again! an online e-store</a>   </p> <p>We welcome you to Look Again at the treasure finds we have found and are making available to you. Our items will be primarily of the gently used variety. If it appeals to us, then there is a good chance it will appeal to you too!</p> <p> <br />Please do bookmark us so you can find your way back to the store <br />lookagain.ecrater.com/</p> <p>Added some beautiful scarves to the store.  You’ll want to take a look!  (little play on words there, since name of the <a href="http://lookagain.ecrater.com/">store is Look Again!</a> )</p> <p>Uses for designer and vintage scarves besides the usual fashion accessory; curtain valance, frame them, use as dresser scarves, use to make pillow slipcover, use in upcycle crafting/sewing, sew a few together to make table runner, make a tablescape by draping scarf from vintage purse with pair of glasses and place a thin column lamp placed in purse, What uses can you think of for scarves, vintage or otherwise?</p> <h3><a href="http://lookagain.ecrater.com/p/8766955/echo-black-on-white-striped-scarf">Echo Black on White Striped Scarf</a></h3> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LqAL14xJ0kC5sjEC2OldElHTehfQMvVaSmrelNdaErPp4cCOc45WsVEliF8VcVKjdTak5wuviHtpv9CEsKHv38By71XHHjGWxjZI9upagYGIjCbVsKxt_O7kwwLrD2qEGKFOivqfDN8a/s1600-h/S73036815.jpg"><img title="S7303681" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="S7303681" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGELoKjCiG-ilhighKhzt_JVFdDIB42CamL3fGAk8z5fwitrULnnasr6_-LoKqwGIUZCTGCeIGaNdbfNuxT_Nal3o3qE6p0KcBdzdx1RfBsnwgKHe2ParbR94lrNMCOWkM3nOf4n0_0Lmr/?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuiK0m9pl9CI0bfpgo7cZ65xAlF3WAExajsohtVsFHyNkM595jm80IXAeDS_YAzAD9CdEmC84lcaztGH38giwOHCrPJXcGF2AThz_gsYf-CC-7mufGJu2EkFsFMZOx3ED1zKvsn-YeMQi/s1600-h/S73036782.jpg"><img title="S7303678" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="S7303678" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbrZsO1DsanBFXl90Qa47MJq-Jh5aD8hVyc1h_DVA6D1lccDeu6fhO2fcmiQzRaJIITyp5gcb3JC3EYrKJmBEaeUXXaMwAHqRakZYpHqRotipxGoxg3eOzK9UiPf7tXZmY5616sJF0NM6/?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Offering this Echo designer scarf in a bold black and white stripe pattern, edged with an orange stripe finished with a larger red stripe. 100 % silk.</p> <p> <br />No tears or holes. There is a tiny run across part of the width in one place, but it is not obvious. I almost missed it in my examination of the scarf. Appears to be new or if used, has been very little use.</p> <p> <br />The Echo name in designer scarves has been around since 1923. In fact Echo claims that it was the first brand name ever printed on a scarf.</p> <h3> </h3> <h3><a href="http://lookagain.ecrater.com/p/8767116/charter-club-silk-tropical-floral">Charter Club Silk Tropical Floral Scarf</a></h3> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQ4-R40KyEppfiaN5LiZIW4ALeLRV7xQD6KfVw-aVJFVsCJGMh5MZ0JBLGBoUW-u_XPGbO2xsOqhhMBQNRN6dkPG4meoBFs83GjP3euTB5LwdcysNahmJ33iPHAy1z35H0FfSGThZaGSf/s1600-h/S73036842.jpg"><img title="S7303684" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="S7303684" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQlbbz37e4AO8xT_vA9feTaXpNXr6ADeW_gB4Qkp1s23-9FNRGU0EzZXQKk5Yty0cl563mshxaK_7hq4oAk3C5ylKDxHckBlT7FA3p36thp0EfFZuN5t7UxaZma8xU9c5XnLSCU4tERDH/?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjK3QfRRKWsrDHdcU49ffP9xwtq2uAXYP2Fhj6IRimJqrvHnQ3nFHndAdR8_uFlbob3e0koXmKtyAFtRTygSUK2d2GVfHsHTEoGdbH9UhYOSvbw5je0L3__WsrmJ7I4La9MCMWkr23l1k/s1600-h/S73036862.jpg"><img title="S7303686" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="S7303686" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnT4Cc1JpbQZdwr813cUIfwCJF3rqmMx0ZtA8lWItXhy9vVAUbUwkzCr8-b0Tsou_4V952SXMKGQeKhaQAQJ0RyNwaGw9jN7go_z3djZ7PTtDtTiKf-pK9OK8gpY9qJTFyMZMzXH6Hy1em/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfq01aDAmUbO_9ZVbDIdB-eSnZMJY5Da2EviHRcR6vqHFsXWVwWBw5o0Ex1KyqG79PJJbwgzRsRBiA5ABvIBBL-5St9eorguFvGEpFtATzP5TbM_TS8BTuvROlbQ_RFe6PxbB1yGdljCpU/s1600-h/S73036852.jpg"><img title="S7303685" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="S7303685" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3mmQMJrs-4x1XTH9hXeMfC7N-eYfuqxTH5RlHYuGWK7lW5BdwVqwM8I22SFLjHQ2mQmy4bNANJbJJo1mppX2rlxrygAZXhEjvTYiKlz-2JiIbH29PPFuZhMuHMF6TmkPOdT6r2nS4v2j/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Offering a Charter Club designer scarf in vibrant colors in a tropical floral pattern edged in blue/green. The Charter Club logo is visible on the corner of the scarf. The tag indicates Charter Club, 100 % silk, made in Japan, with copyright icon - Macy's. Instructions indicate dry clean only.</p> <p> <br />The scarf appears to be new or if used, lightly used. There are no tears, holes or runs, the edges are rolled hem and beautifully stitched. <br />Scarf is rectangle measuring 35" by 18".</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <h3><a href="http://lookagain.ecrater.com/p/8766845/vera-green-scarf">Vera Green Scarf</a></h3> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DNJvHNgD2zulsbbnkML0OPd-dLqPh771hW5FBvOyW-jKSnIVD1_UIrA2yj9c7Zxqlkg_A3ylyrKH57VL9MCPLt7ufWgIl2Y6dMfou4L3l_eqavHlpVrnGZHAZi2PzMVQJV7usWdbNmms/s1600-h/S73036732.jpg"><img title="S7303673" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="S7303673" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CmllYjiLZECarspoIFMkzi6Sl9DPan9DszYccumfi4BgPne_4_63410bPDD7EH-k3fKoRhX2Q1J4K5ByPK7CThLI4uFePk6IWbKINDv4Ysy06J7a-InKYXKcODXiXUB1Eb60xPooNrFW/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVCBGo9xBhoZVzx-Swi6ZvItAUqInSLwUxwPq1Pa01hbOy3X3hem8_6A2u4JUyF5kd_Sjz7fUFC3Ntn57PhGEUlLr2ayz0SuxNa3p1tZobmAxwE-q-peBsz7bjhTHUCcKRfzRvur9wU5c/s1600-h/S73036752.jpg"><img title="S7303675" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="S7303675" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDV5uqlDBjxd6jAJhjlRXMONeMJID05dgfoaWDF3EZA4A8PRJ8AxGPLsZ0myd3PObGXlue88a9MiC1PNqVt7JvlfVxBcUlsXqshZL8yLgYu9feeZ4mjvOmoxyYvNBwwVjgO8oJhyQd-t4/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>Vintage Vera! Offering this Vera scarf, likely from the 1970s based on large signature and no ladybug icon. All Vera designs are copyrighted. color green</p> <p> <br />Scarf is large square in size measuring 22 1/2" by 22 1/2 ". Green with green mountain pattern. The fabric feels like a chiffon, or sheer type fabric. There are no tears, holes or pulls. The rolled edges are in very good condition.</p> <p> <br />If you don't know the Vera name of designer scarves, a brief history. Vera Neumann, artist turned textile designer's scarves are known for their graphic, bold patterns (flowers, dots and geometrics) and Vera's signature in the corner. One way to tell the age of the scarf is by the size of the Vera signature - the smaller the signature, the older the scarf.  Also through the 1960s until the late 1960s, the ladybug icon shows up alongside the Vera signature.</p> <p> <br />The Vera signature gets larger; the ladybug icon makes a comeback in approximately 1973 with the larger Vera signature. Disappears again through the 1980s, and makes a comeback in present day scarves.</p> Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-71310940529027182452010-05-16T15:16:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.195-08:00Thrift Find – Pink Kimono<p>More thift find sharing.  I don’t think this kimono is vintage, but I liked the pattern and color.  For now I have it on hanger on closet door to please my eyes when I wake up in morning.  Later I thought I might use the fabric in a remake project.  Which reminds me that I need to snap some photos of the wonderful linens I found when I was thrifting with my mom in her town earlier this year.  </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMPJFBoRxC44NBCS0-8TaOLsV0-rhyZqmBlQZz4SBzPObkraSDmfUf0F7OY4Odk15ojPcGk6_NaEmnaXDDxvTJ6r73-TeqeTpLJg0qg8fFsQt1WapujbiwHAZ9RsAyO-Om4Xdtut2BNs/s1600-h/S7303365%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="S7303365" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="511" alt="S7303365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjE_UWbtjSG3wGAVi5Rdr4sdhefL_pE8310oEbtUIhe-Cr4K-pub5FrDCKYv8FcHVDDr5qhaIJReHnN39NJkPOHEkLMzMq-JzLL4jEWAXO8BRM2p1OSotzEdFq0QPynPEuaWeJ4oTUII/?imgmax=800" width="384" border="0" /></a></p>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-77765766302775033552010-05-16T14:25:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.206-08:00Big Blue Bottles<p>On the return route home from our Mother’s Day drive to Cathlamet and Puget Island last weekend, we stopped at an Antique Shop we have bypassed on our several trips south.  The house and location was a dairy farm, per the owner, and now that they are not farming, they rearranged the space into a home-owned antique shop.  I got to browse the shop finding several items on my mental ‘must have’ list.  But my mental list and our pocketbook are often not in agreement, so I did what I typically do – fill the shopping cart in my head until it is time to check out.  Then I decide on what item(s) are an absolute must – may not be there when I come back someday.  My pick for today were a set of oversized blue Ball mason jars.  That was a must. And a small extra tidbit purchase was the tea cup and saucer. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OC3K1g051XTzJ3cA9euF7J26ErnQq1q364SBKge-T1qPKIlpO-oxPiYf6XuIqtigV8Qef2YBAC9aSoAl7M12SM-Pil-FP0RroOppXmdZU9zH904visy90EcL8aePsg61YGSDSdjYIik/s1600-h/S7303334%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="S7303334" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="284" alt="S7303334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg325WUdmaLdZ6rRVT4tPygLw0g6l4tH9aMaf1kFbUj_MUPzyHjTKpBqvo95cez-aCyDzxUBJOk6UGgY9NMCbDLWnM7KCo0DHq5SZkfVTHjKb581UOCaPawpYAEhPgnX-sJAGsgseHpj0g/?imgmax=800" width="377" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRkubAlfSUltNxi3yAP8xpzFTzwC6_PaNyhK2A4xEUpnfT1RAFzKFhbLf3zMup1j3mcGdJ8iwjBF0t-USU_uQA6CnXSTzaZ1d1dekjXGBRNBnN_eBVjjhnwUll7yjlfdOU_Lgx8J-ils/s1600-h/S7303335%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="S7303335" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="284" alt="S7303335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qMex6ODNKkMIkUTgwoX-yttXjvuKJ4MEKcMwTrqt76YAq_V6Ilpg2i0vGvlQQ2D9vLGHG5asMs_ZPWFRZbZMmp9tfplUAmAtGRrp7n32eao5i5qEqeUq1g2nQ5COFuX4uGHvk8Wev_g/?imgmax=800" width="377" border="0" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYWgMfTedtKEM4M2BfGwBZaHgA2psk0qXTeMGMZs7kbX0H2YU-UoUmxfotCLwrbDW02ppIlC3YEDOXw5HUR6Q9gofY5mx33VL_6awh8ViyOZ23HhN8bxTUsQb1dcXcP1uPH6CDzo2Y2A/s1600-h/S7303336%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="S7303336" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="284" alt="S7303336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NzQHoX1UvWZpI1gnPc1T39nvs6io-KWScMhO49PmeQAMVRbUno3SqC42EgHP6zqAdH3z3lME0J4qoBoDM6PeswrSbQN1Riw1IvRwZfnzDyT2lQQDbeaRZxaBGq7t9lqKMVHbcOxQFJw/?imgmax=800" width="377" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5HvQzx4FocLjR8Wt-J8oC2xr6fl6QGNW2hKnrvn2yHoM8Ll3l9BwgnV4us6yJSWS62mdR1XLSELawCyHB-WmUWcWIYW1rakxKIlg61KWTjg0uIC5Nu76Kfb0RJAe0RXdtH5DTN2y6E8/s1600-h/S7303342%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="S7303342" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="284" alt="S7303342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUgg0x8sGkeNYe_akOl2lt1c6bzQjx55bLC8xJI4XBkNOZYNA-kNpJwswzArljZyLdSrIrKZZz0sHRfc1KV1ScXcHYKn_93q7YCETuC5tKSujG-HKK20sWcm4TmngyDf3QkAOUoA1-aM/?imgmax=800" width="377" border="0" /></a></p>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-6520883174711115642010-05-16T14:02:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.251-08:00Crocheted Open Weave Mesh Scarf for Spring<p>Looking for a light weight spring season type scarf to crochet, I came across pattern for open weave mesh scarf.  First I tried the pattern on some ribbon yarn my mother had brought for me, but I would have needed about two more balls to get the scarf to a long enough length.  The ribbon yarn made up into a neck scarf and that may work well too.  I had some lemon colored light weight acrylic yarn that I used and it gave me the longer length scarf I wanted.  It does crochet up quickly.  I’d like to make a few more of these mesh scarves. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9cFVmOgEZb5sVHcUDJWZ_7A2vhqUxDuUUMreZSxslXlooZpc9bmwIxofnj2yNDsToqam-IYqX_kqlETZDc-h7Bq2tKrXF-Z6D3XxounJWErVRSLYRe2UZ9YG4F0msugbZQ317bTP-CA/s1600-h/S73033705.jpg"><img title="S7303370" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="377" alt="S7303370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivvxfLsxZy8_IVZeJXpIO1niA7UdQuXsk2nKYE9ehIgGP8k_qW0GjHCe5KtiPrtwFz7QC_0Z-6nMw1S1c1G3-Ndx1rYysxUlVSVDz_JUFhlWpqvaLYQrXG5b9W5ApR0O-nPrVnTdJ6uk/?imgmax=800" width="449" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_TAT6njf2ByctqGjL5_TFoCEqEsViczJr0dMg3-7vG47qC78a9MRZId4QTYzXD3v3hlbbFoV1Y2qaZWpTN8aM71i4-KYbYpwBhnx5CV4oaQQpqvmE4xUn3eD4B8oGavCNv1tElpnoKA/s1600-h/S73033682.jpg"><img title="S7303368" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="S7303368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGO5JGEOhV3_SpzeQ1Lyt4PrrqsJonJIoJl1b7Ep0Orx9k-PEe8wNYfgUAELERw_70z7PeTvKCRaGgsuF-A_tNgr7DlTcRS0ZCmQ774xi-mjMXPRvsmQ3HPZOP7sjFLs8o4tlQbdRoUs/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9JmTaa0tvfJ_ur3D-6oT67va5skpSJSdyQn2VOv6CIu1athJpfxU3Luknn0K55A2OMmdZhlR0lYBdZsmYUEDMWgR0Xc9_kVm97a_kVaH66dxMu-2sNusbjj5cYicK7TTGx5dZNkVh80/s1600-h/S73033692.jpg"><img title="S7303369" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="184" alt="S7303369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfHGxyV9LHuqyYeoKMY88jm1p-ci0CocKhPN5caDomi7PiU7HdRIal3rMKO74_ghMhQWd9TBfF_nRA3lrcrCVJX-DwyHqwzpQKEfJZePJV23cthZZJ0yC9i-WAJEDtaE3nY8ZCOV-br4/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-88151094780270175312010-05-16T12:58:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.262-08:00Colorful Palette of Scarves<p>I can’t help it, in my thrifting, when I run across a colorful scarf that appeals to me I just have to add it to my collection.   I don’t wear them very frequently, mostly when I have reason to dress up, ie, going to town, meetings – that sort of thing.  After years of 8-5 employment and dressing for the office, I don’t regret that I don’t have to do the ‘morning routine’ each and every morning any more, but I do miss career dressing sometimes.  Scarves work well for career dress up.    </p> <p>This is not the full collection, nor are all the scarves vintage, but I liked the color palette combination and it is cheerful to wake up to each morning.   I have about 3 more collections that are more vintage.  One includes a Japanese motif pink silk scarf that I just love.  </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjjewas00LIsnq2QT8FFmoHEGaN8DqUgEZTIcd068FR_GnKoOuRWf-JesmxvuQNThsxO6nm6MY-4e6lH1ZhYqamKbdUwUbj6UGrgWXgZ3M_ghIbXkOQg7eS5kC-5FGeg0HEWGtDnMonU/s1600-h/S7303364%5B8%5D.jpg"><img title="S7303364" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="648" alt="S7303364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt7R-kMrxhV6Upp-6fs7ir0kdNM5l8Dbr_gL0xF0cyYdPVuuz_-NQpM1vN3QR1klasrtTmL7xJ83aIZXTGhebzRW-OVOKIQZpprMtgZPFWGd8daogO_ZyCLBeIvq3gb0QWkxw6XaQAAo/?imgmax=800" width="573" border="0" /></a></p>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-72649173840168132082010-05-16T12:37:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.308-08:00In the Pink – oil painting<p>My most recent oil painting drying in the kitchen.  I didn’t name the painting ‘in the pink’, although it does have pink tones in the sky and water.  But sitting on my pink formica table with chrome pink chairs, ‘in the pink’ seems to fit for this photograph.  The oversized Ball blue mason jars in the background were a find from antique shop a week earlier.  The card is artwork note card my stepdaughter created and send me for Mother’s Day. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5t69_xOoZmA9AOCww3iiQzTby64Uxxq0iXDSg0ZWZHJJDYiSOgUc0mOJabsjnJahnViuXOxE5p2VoNo50KrREb_eT9jZaombuMdMnzE_h8ndeQjUwJcAhTscvacst0mTymdd8VBRwG3c/s1600-h/S7303371%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="S7303371" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="334" alt="S7303371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIStfo2UDT6Wsd2ua4LjB1xDLULh97C8596ta2_vL0XrAsyGeW1w1SpyO3sV3gx2HPr31aH6QG0exXZRH8sbrMtsEDtzn0A-14Thi54vm3hFxlSK6Gv8zrqKsv787u_3NiOc_HzwlbyE/?imgmax=800" width="449" border="0" /></a></p>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-90044458361007741062010-05-15T10:23:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.319-08:00Can we make it?<p>Don Delillo's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Noise_%28novel%29"><em>White Noise</em></a>.</p> <p>"Here we are... knowing all these great things after centuries of progress but what can we do...? Can we make a refrigerator? Can we even explain how it works? What is electricity? What is light?... Name one thing you could make." from blog post at <a href="http://faircompanies.com/blogs/view/can-diy-become-tradition-or-is-canning-just-new-sewing/" target="_blank">fair companies</a></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Sustainable living continues to intrigue me on many levels. As I am sure I have said before in one of my blogs somewhere, the term has been upcycled over time encompassing everything from waste not want not thriftiness, frugal cost saving, simple and/or meaningful living, do it yourself, homesteading, living off the grid, recycling, green or eco-living, but whatever it might mean to you, I have a stronger sense of what it has meant and means to me. </p> <p> </p> <p>A few years back I set upon myself the task of learning to do more that would equate to what is today’s term of sustainable living by trying to teach myself more of the old homemaker skills that seem to elude my grasp. It was both fun and challenging and I learned some few new skills, but not nearly enough to survive if the way of life as we know it does not sustain. </p> <p> </p> <p>I keep thinking I will blog about it, make a website collection about it and I do go about getting projects started but fall seriously short of goal. Enough years have elapsed with the internet now that there are many such blogs, websites, groups, forums, social networks that cover sustainable living far more comprehensively than my meager collection efforts. </p> <p> </p> <p>So what is the point of this blog entry? I have <a href="http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/onenote/default.aspx" target="_blank">One Note</a> which is a great piece of Microsoft software that works like several expanding file folders. For the most part that is where I keep my collections. There is no need to blog it as a means to harvest or collect information intended for my personal use. Blogging then has changed shape for me as blogging is a sharing of information enterprise, and I am not sure what I have to share that hasn’t been shared somewhere else by someone else. </p> <p> </p> <p>I’ve seen a number of blogs that serve as collections of source links pointing to other peoples accomplishments. I could perhaps do that as well, and find I am likely unwilling to devote the time to keeping such a blog updated regularly, nor spending great amounts of time searching out the internet. So this blog will be a bit more random and irregular in it’s purpose, theme and what catches my interest to share. Mostly though, it still feels to me like the overarching theme for me is what amounts to sustainable living – on several fronts. </p> <p> </p> <p>Having taken all my blogs and integrated them into one, I find I have far too many category tags for the tags to be functional. Yet I am unwilling to spend the time to condense the category tags for each blog post into more functional categorization. Wishing any interested reader well in trying to sort through the too lengthy list of tags, but I sure wouldn’t blame you if you gave up after seeing the list. </p>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-55075824030746125152010-03-23T11:05:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.365-08:00Health Care Reform Legislation Passed and Signed into Law today'On Behalf of My Mother'<br /><br />This morning the President made it official: things are going to change a bit between Americans and their health insurance companies.� The President signed health reform into law, with a package of fixes not far behind, and in the process created a future for the country in which Americans and small businesses are in control of their own health care, not the insurance industry.<br /><br />Having expressed all due admiration for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Leader Harry Reid, and those Members of Congress who showed the courage to stand up to an avalanche of misinformation and insurance industry attacks, the President explained what the signing was really about:<br /><br />read more at link <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog">The White House Blog | The White House</a>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-35453753467026130192010-03-22T21:25:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.376-08:00Law of the Garbage Truck<p>One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of the parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the Hospital!"</p> <p>This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck." He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.</p> <p>The bottom line is that happy people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it! Have a blessed, garbage-free day!</p> <p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anne-naylor/lifting-the-pressure-of-s_b_500432.html" target="_blank">link</a></p>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-1241700285034828382010-03-22T09:24:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.421-08:00‘Fears that Veterans health care and TRICARE will be undermined by the health reform legislation are unfounded.’ Shinseki<b>Statement from VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki</b> <p></p><p>WASHINGTON - As Secretary of Veterans Affairs, I accepted the solemn responsibility to uphold our sacred trust with our nation’s Veterans. Fears that Veterans health care and TRICARE will be undermined by the health reform legislation are unfounded. I am confident that the legislation being voted on today will provide the protections afforded our nation’s Veterans and the health care they have earned through their service. The President and I stand firm in our commitment to those who serve and have served in our armed forces. We pledge to continue to provide the men and women in uniform and our Veterans the high quality health care they have earned.</p><p>President Obama has strongly supported Veterans and their needs, specifically health care needs, on every major issue for these past 14 months – advance appropriations, new GI Bill implementation, new Agent Orange presumptions for three additional diseases, new Gulf War Illness presumptions for nine additional diseases, and a 16% budget increase in 2010 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, that is the largest in over 30 years, and which has been followed by a 2011 VA budget request that increases that record budget by an additional 7.6%. </p><p>To give our Veterans further assurance that health reform legislation will not affect their health care systems, the Chairmen of five House committees, including Veterans Affairs Chairman Bob Filner and Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton, have just issued a joint letter reaffirming that the health reform legislation as written would protect those receiving care through all TRICARE and Department of Veterans Affairs programs.</p><p>Link source at <a href="http://www.va.gov/">United States Department of Veterans Affairs </a></p><p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Katie Roberts<br />March 21, 2010 <a title="mailto:katie.roberts@va.gov" href="mailto:katie.roberts@va.gov">katie.roberts@va.gov</a> or 202-461-4982</p><p> </p><p> </p>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-53875267908191876302010-03-15T12:01:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.435-08:00The end of an era - Monkey Puzzle Tree is down<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OgDvqMG35xvyBYHV0Rk6EWxc0ZcUFBHO2sZdkVjHrM-xwQcbGEOW3Tex31Qz81TBDi6M_Ooeml4Dx2ZI6BQWJRkybnll4pTG1ZIiNoSOvJwxRgvv7EkmkfFF2RvhmZdYQBMU4tRyFw4/s1600-h/baycenterhouseartistssketch.jpg.w300h378.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OgDvqMG35xvyBYHV0Rk6EWxc0ZcUFBHO2sZdkVjHrM-xwQcbGEOW3Tex31Qz81TBDi6M_Ooeml4Dx2ZI6BQWJRkybnll4pTG1ZIiNoSOvJwxRgvv7EkmkfFF2RvhmZdYQBMU4tRyFw4/s320/baycenterhouseartistssketch.jpg.w300h378.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448941291564437474" /></a><br />(photo of our home is among the featured illustrations in '<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Back-Roads-Washington-Washingtons-Scenic/dp/0912365560/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268680663&sr=8-1">Back Roads of Washington</a>', 1992, drawn by illustrator, Earl Thollander)<br /><br /><br />Saga of our 90 year old Chilean Monkey Puzzle Tree ( Araucaria araucana ) comes to a close. The tree was planted in the front yard of our house, we are given to understand, some 90 years before we ever arrived on the scene. When we bought the house, the tree looked ragged along the lower branches, and the previous home owner told us it was not unusual for this species of tree to look like that when they reached these mature ages. He told us the story of how the species of tree came to be planted in Bay Center, Washington as it is not native to the area, although the climate is conducive to nurturing this species.<br /><br />When our house was built in 1892, by a barge builder, the house was given to the daughter and her husband - the Bochaus. In those early 1900's there was ship travel on our Willapa Bay and the Willapa River. The ships might harbor in Bay Center and spend a day or night as guests of local residents. Mrs. Bochau would entertain the ship captains in her home and one of the ship captains (Capt. Cook, I believe) gifted her one of the seedlings of the Chilean Monkey Puzzle Tree he had as cargo on his ship.<br /><br />The tree grew successfully through their lifetime, and on into the life spans of the next two owners of the house. By the time we came along to to buy the house in November 2002, the tree was well into it's maturity. However, these are prehistoric trees and have an incredible lifespan, living well past 100 years. The tree was not beyond it's years, but it did succumb to some infection and it began dying from within. <br /><br />The first year, we enjoyed the giant tree with it's giant limbs and it swayed gently in the heavy windstorms. It was well rooted and not likely to fall over even with the highest winds. The first spring, I learned how prickly are the 'leaves' if you can call them that on the branches, as I did the yard spring cleaning. As the lower limbs lost their green, I asked a neighbor to cut off the lower limbs in hopes we could save the tree. It seemed to me the logical, compassion, caring and nurturing thing to do to try to save the tree. I neglected to consult my husband on my decision and that was one of the few times I have seen him livid. He was 'not ready' for the mangling of that great gracious tree, no matter that it had dying lower limbs.<br /><br />Over the years the tree continued to die from within, turning browner and browner with each passing year until there was nothing left of green on the tree limbs even at the pinnacle of it's height. But it continued to stand, testament to the community of it's long history in Bay Center. I pointed out to my husband that there was nothing green left on the tree and it had indeed passed into that place where trees are no longer among the living. He would not be convinced easily. He had been following for a few years the attempt of a new branch shoot trying to grow and what was left at the tip top of the tree that was still green. He would not agree to the reality that the tree was no longer healthy or even living.<br /><br />When the limbs became dry enough to begin to break off, I grew concerned that one could fall on someone passing beneath and insisted the tree come down. Our neighbor, who has some experience with bringing down trees agreed to take it down. He was able to get all the limbs cut off and the top of the tree when there was an accident kickback with the chainsaw. The kickback went across the top of his hand, and we are all blessed that it grazed his hand with no damage to the nerves or connecting tissue. My husband rushed him to hospital where they attended to his hand, but it did cost him some work on the fishing boats during his time of recovery. He has said he would come finish taking the tree all the way down, but a few years have passed and he has not taken it down. I can completely understand his reluctance! Nor did I really want him to take on the challenge as the county power lines create a tripod quite close to the top of the tree. <br /><br />I explored having the tree made into a totem pole, asking the person who made the totem pole for our neighbor down the street if he could make one from the remains of the tree. He said the wood is too soft and if he made a totem, the features would split with the wood, ie, the eyes or nose might split causing a caricature image -- not very totem like. So for a couple of years the trunk of the tree has been standing, withstanding our powerful Storm 2007 winds of 140 - 160 mph.<br /><br />Another neighbor thought perhaps to use the wood from the tree to make unusual wooden crafts as it is a desired wood for such projects. We agreed if he could take it down, he could use the wood. He came, he saw the power line obstacles and changed his mind about taking it down. He suggested that the county might be willing to take it down. <br /><br />Last week as I was leaving the community heading to town, I saw the county people doing some roadside tree cutting and stopped to inquire if they could take down my trunk of a tree. He said he couldn't do it today as they had full schedule but would come back, to which I said no hurry, the tree will continue to stand. Surprised to find a work crew from the county in front of my house today, he kept his word and did come back to take down our tree. <br /><br />It was fascinating to watch as with their power equipment and trucks they were able to stabilize the tree while someone else using chainsaw cut through the lower trunk. The truck with the stabilizing equipment held the tree steady, lifted it and gently swung it to the side of our road, laying it down gently. <br /><br />She lies there in less than all her glory now, having been stripped of her limbs and foliage, a tall trunk of a tree that used to be and is no more. Good bye dear Monkey Puzzle Tree, we did not get to enjoy your heyday and were there at the time of your demise, but we truly respect your tremendous history.Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-8804973674075309922010-03-14T16:58:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.480-08:00Shifting direction a bit..Taking inventory, it looks like I had some fun over the years creatively building and playing with blogs. I have 17 blogs that I have created over the years at Blogger, and 11 at Word Press not to mention the other blogger sites where I built blogs. I began blogging back in the early years when blogging hadn't yet caught the popular imagination. My early efforts were in accord with the limited technology which has made advancements over the years. Along the years I've seen people built some really great blogs, artistic, playful, theme related, content rich, and I am delighted to follow other's blogs. Expanding on the blog theme, there are now online magazines that attempt to capture diverse interest categories. <br /><br />In that regard, I think it has come time for me to attempt to integrate some of my blogs and work more in one blog than across many. Much as I'd like to build one of those blogs with multiple pages and columns, I doubt that I will get around to doing it. So, will take one of my blogs and see if I can rework it to be more expansive with multiple topics rather than core theme to one topic. Large effort for me to round up all the blog content and get it into one place. New project. <br /><br />Why, though, I ask myself. Why bother. Shrug...I don't know, just seems like it is time for me to do it if for no other reason than for myself.Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-1834492363788169122009-09-02T11:00:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.491-08:00Congressman Brian Baird's Successfully Civil Town Hall Meeting in Ilwaco – Health Care Reform<p>Kudos to the Congressman and his staff for hosting a successfully civil discourse Town Hall meeting last night in Ilwaco, in Pacific County, WA. And of course, the primary range of questions had to do with Health Care/Insurance Reform. Death threats to the Congressman aside, he still managed to conduct his usual in-person Town Hall meetings in <a href="http://www.baird.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=102&Itemid=111">several Southwest Washington counties.</a></p> <p>What was the process? </p> <p>I can't speak to the in person Town Hall meetings he held in other counties except for what I've read in media (some of which has been reported at <a href="http://www.washblog.com/">Washblog</a>). I can speak to the TH we attended in Ilwaco last night. Also Baird has added telephone Town Hall meetings as well to his usual array of in-person TH meetings in the SW counties. </p> <p>The Ilwaco TH meeting was orderly and permitted the many to hear both the questions and Baird's responses without interruption or interference. Which is precisely what I wanted - information and not the drama of interference that has been the hallmark of many other TH meetings across the nation.</p> <p>We arrived at the high school, and yes, there was a tiny contingent of less than impressive 'protesters' with their home-made cardboard signs. They kept their behavior under control and did not molest the people as they were coming into the auditorium. We signed in, and we were asked if we wanted to ask a question of the Congressman; if so, we were given a number (kind of like at an auction). </p> <p>We were seated and it was explained by the moderator that corresponding numbers were in a twirl cage (bingo comes to mind), and numbers would be picked at random. Those persons who held those numbers would come forward to be seated in the first row of seats. Each would then get 3 minutes of time at the microphone to state their concerns, ask their questions and the Congressman would have 3 minutes of time to respond.</p> <p>Questions came from both parties. I think people are sophisticated enough to filter out what is rhetoric and focus in on the actual question, when there is a question and not just a 3 minute pulpit for speech making. The Congressman's opportunity to respond, or better said, give the facts as he knows them, provided a format that helped enormously to dispel some of the rhetorical myths, giving the auditorium of people an opportunity to listen to and hear the information.</p> <p>In Congressman Baird's Town Halls that we have attended in the past, even when my own emotions have been highly charged, (ie, his vote in 2007 for the Surge in Iraq where our son-in-law was deployed), he has been respectful to all, including us, in responding to concerns and questions. Last night's Town Hall was no exception. He was respectful, courteous, and responsive to every question, even the few who formulated their questions in what seemed designed to bait him. He actually was skillful in handling those baiting type questions, both responding and further elaborating on concerns and situations that led to the current Health Care Reform issue.</p> <p>It was a 2 hour TH meeting, so obviously, there was not time for everyone who might have wanted to ask a question to have a turn at the microphone. But with the quality of the kinds of questions asked, and Baird's informative responses, I think probably most of the concerns people had in their minds received air time in a very Civil dialogue.</p> <p>Earlier in August, I was also on one of Baird's telephone TH meetings (Pacific County), and got to ask my question of him; specifically what concerns about the Health Care Reform Bill did he have as he has said he is unsure how he will vote when it comes up for vote in Congress. Frankly, I would like to see him vote for the Bill with all of it's warts and flaws rather than to vote against it. I sense that voting for the Bill starts the ball rolling, probably with a lot of tweaks needed in years to come. Whereas to vote against it because of it's imperfections does little to alter or change the current deeply flawed Health Care 'system'. </p> <p>As Baird explained he has heard from doctors, it is not really a system so much as an evolution that has evolved into a complex hodge podge of health care that some get and some don't.</p> <p>On a personal note, I do have to be a bit amused at one of the questions last night. The Chair of the Republican Party in our 3rd Congressional District was among one of those whose number was called, giving her time at the microphone. She has had time at earlier Town Hall meeting in another county to state her concerns to the Congressman and she did make an offer of her home as a venue for the Congressman to hold an in- person Town Hall, guaranteeing him an assurance of safety she would personally provide. He did thank her for and it did seem he accepted the offer; I'm not sure he intended to hold a Town Hall in her home, nor would that be logical. He did hold the in person Town Hall in Ilwaco, at the high school - a more appropriate venue and approximately 2 miles from her home. She has not been deprived of opportunity of access to the Congressman, nor of opportunity to state her concerns or questions. </p> <p>She has had a beef with what she terms his rejection of her offer, labeling it as evidence of an unwillingness on the part of Congressman Baird to hold in-person Town Hall meetings. She has both blogged it and arranged for a newspaper article in <a href="http://columbian.com/article/20090901/NEWS02/709019968/Baird+cancels++living+room+meeting++with+GOP+chairwoman">The Columbian</a>, of her account of his rejection of her offer. In my opinion, it goes to show the 'slant' of her perspective in presenting the situation as a rejection, as an unwillingness on Baird's part to conduct in person Town Hall meetings. And it is a perspective she is pleased to broadcast in the media and telegraph to her party. It was, in fact, Baird offering a more appropriate venue with a wider opportunity, for the larger populace in the area to participate in an in person Town Hall. Probably safer for everyone also, with the County Sheriff there, and the presence of uniformed officers stationed along the side corridors. </p> <p>Her concern as she stated it in the question last night to Congressman Baird were some remarks he had made in earlier years; favoring universal health care and duration terms of office. Baird corrected the perception she had of his earlier remarks on terms of office. She spoke again indicating she was in favor of all people having access to health care, and when Baird asked if she was in favor of universal health care, she said no, she was not, and promptly sat down. There was a bit of a buzz talk after that exchange amongst the people in the auditorium. </p> <p>Highlighting this more to illustrate, in my opinion, a tactic of intent on the part of the Republican party in trying to direct attention away from the Health Care Reform issue, while offering little of substantive value as an alternative method to adjust the disparities in health care as we know it today. Congressman Baird is not the issue, nor is the next election. Health Care Reform is the issue on many people's mind and they seem to want information, not politicking.</p> <p>My thanks to Brian Baird for the opportunity to learn what I felt I wanted and needed to learn about Health Care Reform - less the noise of disruptive interference. Good job in putting together the Ilwaco Town Hall meeting. </p>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-55239143923104185022009-08-29T22:18:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.537-08:00Bill Moyers interviewed on Bill Maher - videos<p>Did you watch Bill Moyers on Bill Maher this past Friday? It is worth watching. Bill Moyers is well … Bill Moyers and he says it best. If you missed it you can see 3 part video posted below; also at LiveLeak - links <a href="http://ow.ly/nfFI" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://ow.ly/nfGI" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://ow.ly/nfGD" target="_blank">here.</a> </p> <p> </p> <p>Part 1 of 3</p> <p> </p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:b16abc13-9128-4df1-ac03-d6b694c96518" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div><object width="398" height="328"><param name="movie" value="http://www.liveleak.com/e/3f8_1251526869"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.liveleak.com/e/3f8_1251526869" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="398" height="328"></embed></object></div></div> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>Part 2 of 3</p> <p> </p><div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:65757ffa-a18c-400a-9bc0-871468691bb1" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div><object width="450" height="370"><param name="movie" value="http://www.liveleak.com/e/0f1_1251529385"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.liveleak.com/e/0f1_1251529385" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="450" height="370"></embed></object></div></div> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>Part 3 of 3</p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:712dd102-55ae-42e5-af93-b91494f2b3e8" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div><object width="350" height="370"><param name="movie" value="http://www.liveleak.com/e/b1b_1251531378"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.liveleak.com/e/b1b_1251531378" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="350" height="370"></embed></object></div></div>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-59266182757397441782009-08-27T09:23:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.549-08:00Daughter’s family stationed in Hawaii, 2006<a href="file:///C:/Users/Lietta/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter393614076/supfiles9424B2/KoKo Head ocean Hawaii[2].jpg"><img title="KoKo Head ocean Hawaii_thumb[2][2]" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="167" alt="KoKo Head ocean Hawaii_thumb[2][2]" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xLmlO7zUKZXqyIetFi3dY9GOW-5SQwia0Q7cseG2L175UWoWoARZqPl_Bkskj64Ez0_Vdf047Zi7C8BMHJj9sVHd34EgUmQ5EC4aqXcAGvL4ZmoEvsw5CIF4Qs52lvZ9WrCk9gJt7VWF/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <p>KoKo Head in Hawaii, photos taken by daughter when stationed in Hawaii, 2006. </p> <p><a href="file:///C:/Users/Lietta/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter393614076/supfiles9AF49D/KoKo Head Hawaii[2].jpg"><img title="KoKo Head Hawaii_thumb[2]" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="166" alt="KoKo Head Hawaii_thumb[2]" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfq3dpajSb9Q6aoFnoJkPVB9g2PxuHKBwmuJ2uKwwhneHDvzGXqmXIUTnMV49XE86MGlmST6h1rsuap2Dy3K5aWHgDf9l01biz0Cvwvj028kIzmA_vEvp5vohgQyxuUxbFdbzESE5XpUB_/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>She did her kitchen in Coffee motif, using  Espresso painted cabinets, and coffee cup napkins pasted to kitchen backdrop </p> <p><a href="file:///C:/Users/Lietta/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter393614076/supfiles9C6A3A/picturekitchen[2].jpg"><img title="picturekitchen_thumb" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="185" alt="picturekitchen_thumb" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV36WtmqFAzUZgYWRHO_KvZUa6gLZICkETPGBpwEDcCrCXGHBPbqJARGGZ5sefCoiCxC9W4g9GKP4STFlfefQb9mVwkH654mwvhOu4e-AfdnOLQmrXeJtPGB5dqmMGB7xUPh0qu9Hf-Pc5/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Her patio garden, Hawaii, 2006</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdkNxcONUnk0xBA_BejgUIJgPOIg25yNR3aZoFEzhLNUmOn6BdHqxVzqMK3zqoCzjcObP6YYVBYwpV-v3FQQlTyhHzO4JukXxMZmotk8BfxF_5nSUOJvyJt5QuuDJNhL3bbMQv2F5OwV1/s1600-h/IM000899%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="IM000899" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="IM000899" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy0nXckPDO1fE_DsSjixwHIQxnDEkbl4bF8qyzW_ig0ih6gef-Ae1SCHvX7xd8JPNeLBXiApQdGv5R8_w590AZwX2rf0TIRbjKmy-xsv4butrNd6keWgJc_2Y2LYxMqsYQXfIEQFTqlYm/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-85514999538152930662009-07-29T09:24:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.622-08:00Coyote Moon – Native American – Chant - Meditation<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:f09717de-dbd3-4b8d-9d93-b3e607e4b501" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="1714b1ec-c75b-4794-958c-5e132cb27689" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RLqpe04up3s&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RLqpe04up3s&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div></div>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-35694660983719543922009-07-13T11:59:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.633-08:00Our weekend out of town; The Story.<p>Our weekend;   The Story.  I have a peridontist appointment about every three months, in a town about 2 + hours from where we live.  So we have turned it into a weekend getaway, and a visit with my mother who lives in a nearby town to the town where my peridontist is located. </p> <p>Had my peridontist appt Friday and the report was <b>good</b> - some small improvement actually.  Not much improvement, but far better than deterioration.    Then we went to my mother's home, spent the weekend. and then came home to our animals.   Our cat and dog remain at home, and so our time away is limited to a safe duration for the cat and dog to fend for themselves.  Now that my cat bite is healing and the cat is healing, life is returning to normal.   <em>(A couple weeks earlier the cat was bitten by an animal, and in not knowing she was bitten, I picked her up, more rather tugged her out of her hiding place and she bit me…not at all her usual behavior, she is a very loving cat.   We didn’t see her wound at the time, but knew something was wrong with her.  Arthur spotted her wound, and we took her to the vet, who gave her a vaccine, and told me was more concerned that I get myself to hospital to treat the cat bite.  I did, was vaccinated and given antibiotics, the incident reported to County Health, the cat quarantined at our home for 10 days and we are both mending without incident, the primary concern being exposure to rabies).</em>   When we returned home, our dog Jake resumed eating again.  He misses us when we are gone and gets sad - depressed.  Dogs have feelings.  Oh, and our cat too, she has feelings, misses us and glad when we return home.  </p> <p>After my peridontist visit on Friday afternoon we drove to my mother’s home, picked her up and went out to eat.  We live in a rural town, and there aren’t a lot of restaurants or places to eat, so we enjoy the opportunity of eating out at different restaurants on the days of  my peridontist appointments.  It’s an eating out together date we look relish.  Choosing a restaurant in the town where my mother lives proved not to be as obvious as it might seem.  We kind of scoured what we knew to be restaurants in her neighborhood, opted to go further away, settled on Black Angus, since I was hankering for a nice steak lunch.  We got there and it no longer has lunch, open for dinner only.  Must be the economy.  The hour was growing late into the afternoon, I was hungry now, and we had not eaten breakfast that day,  or at all, so we wound up at (oh yuck!) Old Country Buffet.   Arthur likes the many choices of buffet restaurants, and sometimes so do I, but Old Country Buffet is not one of my favorites.  We both really enjoy the buffet variety of primarily healthy choices at  Sweet Tomatoes restaurant, but there were none the town where my Mom lives.     </p> <p>Saturday Arthur spent the day home, defrosted Mom’s freezer for her because it had become so full of ice that the ice on all the shelves were touching each other, no room for food.   He took care of some other taskings for her, then spent the rest of the day fooling around with installing stuff in  his old fashioned computer.  Not the laptop kind, the big bulky kind.  Some guy he knows had given him some Linus software to download or told him about it.  Anyway, it was a dead computer (not working) and when Arthur finished the download it sprung back to life, installed Windows XP and is sort of functional again.  He was delighted.  Still needs an audio driver and something else that would permit it to link to internet.  He was just intrigued that it started working again...kind of like a guy tinkering in his garage with his power tools, only Arthur likes to tinker with puter.</p> <p>Saturday I took Mom to <b>Farmers Market in Proctor area of Tacoma.</b>  That is a district that more resembles Portland or some Seattle districts; organic, green living, conscientious choices - that sort of thing, and an amazingly cool, fun grocery store with very upscale item choices.  For a mere $309.00 you can purchase a wheel of gourmet cheese!  An experience in itself.  (<em>I’m being a bit snarky – it would be very unlikely we would ever spend that kind of  money on cheese.)</em>  We visited a new consignment shop in her immediate neighborhood – delightful items, colorful, fun, upbeat, cheerful.  I liked it.   But I didn’t buy anything, because in truth, neither of us need another thing! </p> <p>And more for the hunt of treasure than because either of us need anything more in our homes, we went to a few garage sales. What was being offered wasn’t<em> </em>the kind of garage sales we were looking for - more like junk sales.  We had fun anyway because we toured many of the University Place neighborhoods, the million + $$ homes with breathtaking views of the Narrows water, Narrows Bridge, the outlying island.  And alongside the million + $$ homes, are more modest ranch style homes.  You can be on a ‘house of dreams’ street and turn to go down the the next street which could well be a quiet and modest street of different ranch style homes.    University Place neighborhoods are in interesting mix of income levels.   After our tour of neighborhoods,  I took her to visit Charlie at cemetary where his ashes are placed.  It is a beautiful, peaceful cemetary, a place of quiet serenity amidst the hubbub of getting from here to there.  Nice place to quietly reflect on life.  I know, it may sound like a strange juxtaposition to reflect on life when at a cemetary where the dead are buried…..but that is how it works for me. </p> <p>We went back to Proctor district that evening to have dinner at a <b><i>niche</i></b> Mexican restaurant (not a restaurant chain) because Mom said she heard good things about the food and atmosphere there.  Lively atmosphere with mix of old and young people dining.    I had a Taste Assault dish called Chicken Mole, although it would be better named <b>Chicken in Mole (prounounced molay)  Sauce, </b>because the sauce was Outrageous -  6 ingredients, and I can remember plums, almonds, mole (an unsweetened chocolate), and some other ingredients.  It wakes up your taste buds like wowza!   Not hot or even spicy, flavorful would be the word I would use to describe it.  Flavorful with each bite.  Arthur took a menu and will experiment at home with making the mole sauce because I liked it so well.  </p> <p>Sunday we took Mom to her church (<i>St Andrews Episcopal Church</i>).   A bit of history here; my mom lost half her sightedness recently and is vision impaired now.  Mom had been saying she felt she needed something inspirational amidst all the doctor appointments and bad news.  Along the way, I decided to call the Priest at St Andrews to talk to him about Mom.  When she was a child, she attended Episcopal church in Spokane.  I explained to him her childhood church exposure, and her current medical condition with being sight impaired, being told by her doctors not to drive anymore. He agreed to visit Mom immediately and arranged for someone to pick her up and take her to church on Sundays.   </p> <p>She has been to St Andrews now, a few times, and wanted us to visit her church.  We wanted to visit it also, as I enjoyed the upbeat conversation with the Priest - he was energetically young, even though he isn't young.    That Sunday they had special guests, a singing group who livened up the entire worship service with renditions of the hymns done to foot tapping music.  Guitars, tambourines, horns, and one of the gals playing guitar was barefoot!   Felt like we were at a campfire gathering!  Geesh!  But the worship service having a combination of traditional liturgy, the laying on of hands for healing, the Eucharist, and the lively music with a welcome invitation to all does reflect ‘The Emerging Church’. </p> <p>We loved the church, it had accommodations our little church building isn’t equipped to have, and if we lived in that area, we would likely attend that church.   Afterwards we ate at a restaurant in her immediate neighborhood that she is fond of - an old fashioned restaurant left over from approximately the 1950’s era.     So lots of eating this weekend, way too many calories, and Mom had a nice weekend.  So did we.   </p> <p>Oh and at the Farmer's Market I bought some snow peas that were priced below what is usually charged for snow peas, so I bought enough to freeze.  Bought a couple of tomato plants already bearing tomatoes, and a basil plant.   I didn’t plant a vegetable garden this year, and haven’t spent much time outside with the herb and flower gardens, so keeping it light this year.   Weather hasn’t been too cooperative where we live – cold, rainy, then unseasonably blistering hot, then cold again.   At the market, I found a growing salad bowl planter that I wanted and Mom bought it for me for my birthday gift.  The planter has growing  lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro plants  - salad ingredients, and that is the extent of my vegetable garden this year.   Except all the herbs I have been growing for a few years now.  </p> <p>And I was delighted to learn about a lovely tasty sauce called <b>Chimichurri?</b>  Oh, I tasted some at the market, and just had to buy one - lime Chimichurri.  Great to use as braising sauce for grilled vegetables, on meats, or just straight on healthy chips or fresh veggies.   Taste delight!</p> <p>It was a rather sweet weekend.  Last year around this time, we had visited Mom and she and I went to Lavender Festival on Vashon Island, ferry ride over and back, a beautiful, clear, sunny day, making the waters deep blue and picturesque. There was a Farmer’s Market there too, and we visited that Farmer’s Market</p> Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-8075520766454465962009-06-23T10:12:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.728-08:00Father Matthew Presents: Mary Magdalene (Episcopal)<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WyK_ulhugKI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WyK_ulhugKI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599442191903946511.post-54116323605614605562009-06-18T08:31:00.000-07:002014-12-09T14:56:50.773-08:00Make Your Own Seed Tapes<object width="425" height="425" align="middle"><param name="movie" value="http://www.instructables.com/static/flash/viewer.swf"></param><param name="quality" value="high"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="FlashVars" value="title=Make-Your-Own-Seed-Tapes"></param><embed src="http://www.instructables.com/static/flash/viewer.swf" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="425" height="425" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent" FlashVars="title=Make-Your-Own-Seed-Tapes" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br><font size="1"><a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Own-Seed-Tapes/">Make Your Own Seed Tapes</a> - <a href="http://www.instructables.com/">More DIY How To Projects</a></font>Lietta Rugerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013387655042340435noreply@blogger.com0