Happy Thanksgiving to my family, my ever-faithful mate, Hal, and especially the absentees, Meg and Tony, Harold Jr., Caleb, Ruben, Cruz and Fae! I love you and miss you. May your Turkey Day be bright and fun and filled with joy and good times.

For additional thanks, Ellen and Jim Harpin come to mind immediately. As the founder and major mover and shaker behind The Ships Project, Ellen's efforts have been nothing short of Herculean. Thank you for accepting me into your group!

And, I thank the reason for the group, the men and women of our United States Armed Forces here at home and around the world. May each of you remain safe and dedicated to your goal.

I also give thanks for all my friends and wish you well, a year of goodness and heartfelt peace. May you, each, celebrate this special day in your own way.

I made a scarf for my Tante Gudrun, and began in June, just to be certain that it would be ready for mailing in early December. The choice of yarn was really quite simple: it had to be machine washable and dryable, with no fuss, and still look good, and be soft and warm.
I finished it right around November 6th did the rinsing in water and vinegar thing, and the color ran, and ran, and ran. So. well, it was back to the drawing board.
Went out the next day to my favorite yarn store, and got another type of yarn, same thickness, and began again. I wanted red, because I remembered that when I first met my aunt, that she wore a very colorful dress that had red in it. I kept the same concept, but made it narrower and a little shorter, because my aunt is barely five feet tall, and definitely not overweight.
It is finished, ready for its trans-Atlantic flight next week.
Also working on a baby blanket for a friend, a pair of socks, and the swallowtail lace shawl I began in a class in September. And ran into a problem with the socks, but that is another story.

In honor of Veterans Day

With gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all those who served and are currently serving.

In memory of those who died and were injured on Friday, November 6th, in the Fort Hood attack.

I also thank my husband, Hal, Canadian Navy & USA; our good friends, Wayne, USN, John S. USAF; and my nephew, Martin K., USA; as well as my father and grandfather, Army.

With a heavy heart, I send my sympathies and condolences to Fort Hood, the families, friends and entire base. I mourn their loss.
Yet, I also have a question: Knowing we are actively at war with al-Qaeda in a true Muslim jihad, what is a Muslim doing on an American Army base, in an extremely sensitive position, as a matter of fact, in any position?
"A state of war exists permanently between the House of Islam and the House of War. With the conversion or conquest of all humankind, the war will end. " (History of the World, McKay, Hill, Buckler, Ebrey)
We are at war, never doubt it.

Today, while returning from Folsom, driving south on Hwy 99, the old ag highway,we made a short stop. On either side of this highway are small towns, orchards, vineyards and fallow fields. There is also an old airfield just north of Lodi. (You remember "Stuck in Lodi Again" by John Fogarty and Credence Clearwater Revival, right?)
That airfield is used as a skydiving base, and usually, on a week-end, one can see lots of activity in the sky above, and in the field below.
The weather was great-warm, sunny, with a light breeze. We parked and waited until the divers were delivered, then spewed out like so many little black dots against a white back-drop, then floated gently downward, through the air until they landed. Needless to say, I clicked madly away (35 shots), hoping to find the perfect pic. I actually ended up with a unique sequence: a particular diver- in the sky just under those funny clouds, descending, then landing onto the field, and walking away, schlepping man's best friend-that bringer of freedom and that adrenalin rush-the parachute. (Although I'm not so certain anymore if that is the correct name nowadays.)
A little over a month ago while practicing for a championship, two people died on this field as their lines became entangled. Over time, there have been accidents, near misses, inadvertent landings on the freeway, but when all is said and done, I think that participating in this particular sport shows a tremendous amount of courage (and a willingness to part with mega bucks). :-)

I saw an ultra-lite fly over our house this morning.
I had heard it, but couldn't place the sound. Imagine my surprise when this wonderful flying object put-putted over our roof.

Once in a while as I drive into town, I see something unusual. Today was one of those days and my goodnatured mate turned the truck around and came back just so I could get a couple of shots. What I actually took were nine shots, of which three are here.


I thought I saw a goat. I did. However, when I got out of the truck to take the photos, the horses near the goat closed rank and would not let me see him(?). That's the reason for all the shots - because I couldn't get a clear one. By the time I had taken seven, and nearly broke my neck trying to navigate the rocks and the ditch, those guys were so used the intrusion, no one cared and I got what I came for. I love shots like this-the animal kingdom at its finest. :-)