Friday, December 22, 2006

GIFTS - handmade
A long time ago, when I was proud of my newfound skill of knitting socks - I made a pair for my mother. They were green and white striped with a heels and toes of green.

She bragged on them and told me how thrilled she was when the package was in her mailbox - a total surprise. I don't think it was even for Christmas - but the socks though beautifully knitted ... well let me tell it this way.

Recently I found those socks in my drawer. Mom has passed on and I found the sox among her things and kept them, along with some potholders I made for her that she NEVER used.

The potholders were in a plastic bag with a note: "Too pretty to use." I cried when I saw that. I often wondered why she never used them. They had the hand outline of our each of our children (her grandchildren).

But about the socks, of which I plan to put a photo here (the tiny shiny quarter gives an idea of the dimensions: 14" x 6"). When I found them -- I laughed and laughed. They were hilarious -- HUGE - fat though well-proportioned. Yes warm, but not suited to the foot of a human .. More like an elephants foot.

My, but my mother loved deeper and was more diplomatic than I realized. Still, this memory makes me laugh and be happy. I hope she knows...

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Paper Back Swap -- FREE!

A recent delightful discovery: www.paperbackswap.com

We saw this small article in the local newspaper about this site. They claimed to have a free book swap arrangement. We decided to check it out! Wow! All night I was exploring the well designed site. After my daughter set up her free account, I did too. They accepted two people (limit per address) from the same family!

For the next days we spent all our spare moments online listing PB books we were willing to give away, and looking over the books available, selecting books listed or adding books to our wish lists. It was like an addiction! A fun, cheap, safe truly wonderful obsession.

If any of my readers check out the site and decide to join (free at the present time), I hope you'll mention I "CANTNEVER" referred you. I don't get any money, instead one credit for a free book.

Friday, December 08, 2006

Writing and sleep

An interesting blog that I seldom miss has commented on inspiration and the creative process of writing...

You might want to read: "No rules, Just write." http://brendacoulter.blogspot.com/2006/12/writing-in-my-sleep.html

It was fascinating to me because my writing is not disciplined, nor steady.

Sleep depravation or early morning hours are my most productive times -- it all seems to be related to those quiet times when I'm tired OR when I've awakened. Maybe related to right brain / left brain?

To discover that others share this seeming idiosyncrasy is reassuring. And encouraging at least to me..