It is just shy of 24 hours ago when I left the hospital with a replaced CMC joint  (the base of the thumb, where it meets your wrist). Interesting experience in many ways. A coworker was also having outpatient surgery this past week, in the same health region. She was instructed to shower the night before…

When I was growing up, way back when, sausage meant three choices:   Puerto Rican chorizo canned in solid orange fat, Polish kielbasa, or sagey breakfast sausages from Jimmy Dean. In the 70's I moved to Omaha and craved the apple potato ones from Stoysich House of Sausage. Forty years later and the current varieties contain a conglomeration…

Number ten – just realized that this past September, I missed  Life's a Stitch's ten year anniversary. Once upon a time, in the beginning of knitting blogdom, we posted "100 Things About Me." I came up with 59 and over the decade even some of them have changed: I am now: a mother of three,…

An Election Day story: It's municipal election day in British Columbia. Takes me back to another election, a Provincial one, the same day as the demise of our sweet Gracee dog. C was too upset to to cast his ballot, but somehow Mr. Bry age 23 at the time,  and I, in need of deep…

As far as watercolours go, this was a fun one to paint. Mt. Shuksan, Whatcom County, Washington:  The subject of my last painting was here for Halloween weekend, as his mom flew in for work: If years ago someone had asked me to envision my ideal scene of grandparenthood, this would have been it. Reading…

Although it's technically a Christmas gift for their family, I had to show my daughter, as she is in town this week and her son  is the subject of my watercolor: First snow (12×16):  

Food and travel can be one of the best combinations. Or worst: Air Canada calling it pizza is a stretch. Coincidentally at the same time Lufthansa's caterer has announced that they will begin home delivery of airline dinners. Interesting. On to the best meals of the trip. Seared sea scallops ($21) at New York's Mersaille,…

Catching up with a chance to practice my high school and college French. So many updates, so I'll work backwards. For today, it's the colors of fall having just returned from la belle provence du Canada – Quebec, having landed there after a Canada/New England cruise. A word about my language skills. My parents were…

I can live without the cigarettes and skateboards, but no Scotties, smoking or otherwise, nor wine? Next thing they'll add is knitting needles and yarn. Sounds like a sign at the entrance to hell.