Book # 16 - Eat Pray Love

So, I did it. I read Eat Pray Love - by What'shername, sorry too unmotivated and tired to recall her name and unwilling to google it or go and find the book in the bedroom to figure it out right at the moment.

Anywho... For the record, it was not Oprah that got me to read this book. Strangely it was actually John Stewart. He did a bit on his show about how the book has been turned into crack by Oprah and thus gobbled up by her many minions. (I'm not an Oprah fan, didja guess) And I was wanting to read it anyway, 'cause I picked it p at Costco one day and read the jacket and the whole foodie thing appealed to me.

I do have to admit that I did like it. It was funny and entertaining. It was not a spiritual awakening, or motivational or anything like that.

It was a travel memoir - that's it - that's all. Written by a self absorbed GenXer.

I really truly believe that unfortunately in the wrong hands this book is probably destructive and dangerous. It is NOT a spiritual guide and I think that many "I really wanna do/try _____" type people that happen to be in a bad place in their life will read this and go completely off the deep end.

This is what I dislike about Oprah, her incredible ability to sway the weak minded in whatever direction she pleases. I think she gets off on it. "Muh ha ha ha ha... the power I hold over my minions..... Dance monkeys!!"

Now, on the topic of power mongers.... Martha Stewart, I like that gal.

But, I digress...

I'll say it again loudly and slowly for all the ladies in the back row, TRAVEL MEMOIR, nothing more, nothing less. Funny, clever and entertaining, FOR WHAT IT IS.

Sister Gloves

Striped fingerless gloves.

Not twins, but still sisters.

Patons self striping sock yarn, 90% wool, 10% nylon.

I see more of these in my future. Maybe in a chunky Alpaca.

How do you harvest the wind?

When I was home visiting the fam, we went on a field trip one day over to Wolf Island. It was a fairly short drive and a short ferry ride over. The island is not big. Maybe 10 miles wide and 20 miles long. I suppose some people probably live there year round, but i think it is mostly summer homes and cottages. And windmills.

The island is covered in giant white windmills. Every direction you look. A wind farm.

They are for generating electricity. Not a foreign concept to me, but I have never seen one up close before.

They are huge and make the most amazing sound.

You stand there and stare up at it. The island is quiet really, just nature sounds, birds, bugs...

And hear the most amazing, quiet, powerful, whooshing.....

Harvesting the wind....

Knitting Circles are Political??

So, I went to a knitting group the other night. All things considered, besides freezing my ass off in the Starbucks, it was pretty fun. There were only 2 other ladies that arrived, but that's OK.

Now what shocked me was that there is a whole under current of drama and politics in these meet up groups.

There are several around here in North DFW suburbia. And they are all aware of each other. And they all talk about each other. And one person will start a new group and recruit/"steal" members from the other groups. Blah, blah, blah, or rather cluck, cluck, cluck.

Weird. and all I wanted to do was to meet some new people that are knitting nerds like me.

I may have to see what is involved and start my own group. Ha!! There is a lovely Irish pub here in town and it would be a sweet place to meet and stitch and bitch.

How 'bout them apples!! (Bock bock)

Grandma's and Grandpa's Garden...

My parents have the best yard. They do not live in Texas! This is obvious at a glance. I took a few pretty pictures when I was home and want to share. And it takes me to my happy place when I look at them.

Mom's Hydrangea bush.

And Dad's grafted apple tree. It has 5 or 6 different types of apples grafted onto the same tree.

Lavender, which I have never been able to successfully grow here in Texas.

And a whole lot of tomatoes, especially the cherry ones. There were more, but I think the kids cleaned off the plants before this pictures.

And the grass...... It has been a long time since I have walked barefoot in the grass and it felt good on my feet! The kids kept rolling around on the lawn. Look Mom, no fire ants!!

Book #15

Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris

Sookie Sookie Sookie...

Book 8 in the series. A Vampire wedding, another epic battle, The Big Easy, an unfortunate incident involving a Witch and a Mormon and Sookie gets a new room mate.

Finished watching the first season on DVD. Hmmmm, does a True Blood Season 2 DVD box set qualify for tax free weekend. I'm sure it is some kind of school supply...

www.dragonflywillow.blogspot.ca

Well, here I am with the first of the Canadian edition entries.

I hope create some kind of an homage to my visit homeward. I am working on some pictures to post.

It is amazing how you acclimate to the weather where you live. It is pretty hot here, especially if you figure in the humidity, but after 105 F, 85 F doesn't feel too bad.

I love listening to everyone talk. I know I never sounded like that, ha! It actually is a little bit of a bummer that I have lost as much of my accent as I have. It'll be back for a while after I leave. I'll have to work on it some while I'm here.

Off to watch movies with the fam....