My Guideposts --Week90

The great presidents...weren’t men with the killer instinct. The three biggest presidential monuments in the capital are dedicated to Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. These were very tough-minded men, but it wasn’t the killer instinct that guided them. 

I think these were men with a rare degree of prudence, wisdom and compassion – qualities that are much needed now. 

Some cynics feel that decency in a politician is a handicap. But I think a sense of decency – not prudishness nor sanctimonious self-righteousness but old-fashioned concern and love for others – will be essential in the next Presidents. 

~George McGovern 

Cultivating tough-mindedness, prudence, wisdom, compassion and decency, in memory of an American patriot,

 

My Little Yoyo Jack O'Lantern

Meet Jack Yoyo-Lantern. 

He's what happens when you're addicted to yoyos, dolls and pumpkin decor and somebody (the Queen Mother) gives you a pattern from Indygo Junction that combines all three.  It took me five evenings while re-watching Season 1 of Once Upon a Time, but he's done and ready for All Hallow's Eve!

 

His pumpkin head is all rust pindot fabric instead of a medley of coordinating materials.  All the yoyos are lovely mellow rusty pumpkin shades instead of the bright oranges and golds the pattern called for.  (His truly mellow colors would probably show had I photographed him amidst fall leaves or against the pile of straw instead of the remains of the green beans and petunias.  Live and learn.) 

His eyes, nose and mouth were supposed to be black.  Soooo not gonna happen...he needed to look lit up from within. Do you tweak patterns to put your own stamp on them?  I'm constantly tinkering to "improve" things. 

I'm happy that I also decided to weight his hands and feet with rice so he can pose instead of flopping around.

 

I didn't spend a dime on him.  I love it when a project uses up my stash. I even got to use some orange crochet thread that I thrifted which worked perfectly to string the yoyo arms and legs as well as contour the pumpkin sections.

I had such fun making him that when I put in the final stitch I was totally surprised it was midnight!

 

My Guideposts --Week89

 

Tell me, what is it that you plan to do 

With your one wild and precious life?

 ~Mary Oliver 

Laughing all the way to my next adventure,

 

Ten Eleven Twelve

That would be today: October 11, 2012.  If you live in the States.

Elsewhere it would be Eleven Ten Twelve and that just doesn't have the same ring to it.  Guess they'll be celebrating on November tenth instead.

Now I'm eagerly awaiting Twelve Twelve Twelve.  Thank heavens that date works no matter what country you inhabit.  Does this make me a numbers nerd?  Or merely easily amused?

What about if I was just thinking that next year we'll have Eleven Twelve Thirteen?  And Twelve Thirteen Fourteen the year after.  But after that we'll have to find some other cool calendar numbers to play with. 

I think perhaps Official Number Nerd.  Counting on it.

Randomly,
 

My Guideposts --Week89

 

Tears and sweat often bring out the best in us. 

 ~Mr. Rogers 

My Guideposts -- Week88

 

Well done is better than well said.  

~Anonymous

That being said, I'm off to concoct some peach salsa as part of my mission to use as much of our harvest as humanly possible.  I may have to re-word this..."well eaten is better than well said"? 

Have a peach of a week,

The Replacements

Guess what we have at the Cottage? 

 Here's a hint:

 

Long-time bloggity friends may recognize the alien spaceship-look of my fancy-dancy, Rube Goldberg-inspired incubator from the Bombshells tenure there two and a half years ago.  Take one rabbit cage, surround with a metallic sunshield from the car, heat it with a light bulb and a foil pin tin reflector.  Finally put some easily-removed foil over the gate. Dig out the old chick feeder and water dish.  Add two little peeps.

Let me introduce you to the new girls:

 

"Chick One and Chick Two, meet the Readers.

Readers, this is Chick One and Chick Two."

The Bombshells' egg production has dropped dramatically and their days (weeks? months?) are numbered.  Sad but true.  And we're pretty spoiled by fresh eggs, a use for all the kitchen scraps and chickens that do the composting for us so a change was in the works.

My feed store has been stocking baby chicks for the past month and I finally caved after buying fre$h egg$ at the Farmer$ Market. 

This time around we are going with Buff Orpingtons--they should grow up to be attractive matronly hens with golden feathers.  

I'm open to suggestions on better names than Chick One and Chick Two!  You had some great suggestion for my first flock:  The Bombshells were named for movie stars:  Rita (Hayworth), Sophia (Loren), Carole (Lombard) and Norma Jean.  My feeling is that our new girls will be more down-to-earth, girl-next-door types.

Peep, peep,
 

Party time at: