Lost and Found

Lose anything lately?

Poor old Galileo had a few fingers, a tooth and a vertebrae lifted when his body was exhumed and reburied in a fancy mausoleum 95 years after his death. The fingers and tooth reappeared recently; no doubt the great astronomer's happy about that.

Also, some weird Peruvian gang is murdering people for their body fat, which they (the gang members) sell to cosmetic companies.

Well, they can have some of my fat anytime!

Did a BUNCH of appraisals today, plus caught up on piano lessons...and had supper with Daughter #1. This weekend, I'll finally announce that giveaway...check back in. It will be worth it.

I Love Being Home!

...but exhausted. Got just a few hours sleep last night, trying to catch back up.

Will have something to say, besides burbling, tomorrow.

Hope you all are doing ok.

Barbara Brackman Mentions Quilts of the Golden West!

I respect this quilt and fabric historian so much that it's a positive pleasure to have her mention my name...and Quilts of the Golden West. Take a look at Barbara's blog for more, including several photos.

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A loooooonnnng day today. Judged 250 quilts! I did it, but by wearing out a whole bevy of scribes and myself, in the process. Glad to be home and at the computer, where I can just let my mind wander. It got a real workout today in Grand Junction.

Appraising all day tomorrow. More mental digging and shoveling, but it's worth it.

Lost and Found...In More Ways Than One!

The newest in found treasures -- a little boy digging in his backyard recovered wedding rings the previous owner lost gardening decades ago. A photo gallery of other found treasures are included on this one.

AND -- We at Brickworks are proud to announce that HANKY PANKY CRAZY QUILTS is back in print! It's taken months of effort, but new copies of the book will be arriving at the Brickworks offices by the end of the month. (Just in time for Christmas, we might add. These books make great presents.)
The best news of all -- HANKY PANKY is still only $12.95, including free shipping!

You can order your own bit of Hanky Panky at the Brickworks website. We won't charge your credit card, or cash your check or money order, until we ship the books in early December.

And keep an eye out for the HANKY PANKY sequel, headed out sometime in midwinter/early spring.

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Skies are gray again. Getting chilly again. Husband and Daughter #2 are thrilled; they head out for elk hunting today. When it's nice out, the elk stay up in the high country. When temps drop, they come down out of the mountains and head for the plains. This means if you get one, you won't have to spend all night (literally) trying to schlep it down and out...just four hours or so, instead! (Our backcountry really IS rough.)

I'm headed to Grand Junction and the quilt show -- but first, a talk on Crazy Quilts tonight. Go to my schedule if you'd like more info.

Weirdness -- And Goodness -- On the Internet

I am in a strange mood.

Skies have cleared -- I have a ton of work -- so what do I do? Fool around on the internet, collecting oddball stuff.

Movie stars that fight with their (druggie/neglectful/manager/greedy/pushy) parents.

Million Dollar Journey lost their wallet. (I actually found one once at the parking check-in at DIA, Denver's airport. The person apparently had leaned out their car window to pull the ticket, and dropped it at the same time. Never could figure out who they accomplished this...but the lady was thrilled to get her wallet back.)

Crazy Aunt Purl's moment of truth: that her house is never cleaner than when she's avoiding a deadline. ( Husband wishes I'd suffer from this malady more, no doubt.) Check out the Nov. 2 post.

The latest Carnival of Money posts , featuring Gather Little by Little's personal money flaws. (These are actually quite good.)

Daughter #1 wants to try the latest thing in cooking turkey: spatchcocking it. Supposedly you can cook a 12-lb turkey moist and juicy in about an hour! Martha Stewart mentioned it in the December issue of her magazine, and Southern Foodette gives a nice photo step-by-step how-to. Take a look here. (By the way, SF agrees with Martha -- she said it turned out deliciously.)

The Brazilian who showed up to his own funeral.

And CheapHealthyGood has one of the yummiest -- and easiest -- recipes for potato gnocchi I've seen in a long time. (Potatoes are on sale around here, and I'm guessing, in your neck of the woods, as well.) Follow the name link to a squash version, as well.

Now if I can only find a few recent Bigfoot sightings, my day will be complete. Is this one freaky enough?

The Week Ahead

Gray clouds, gusting across the sky as if they're late to an Important Appointment. After a few days of near-balmy temps, we're back to chilly nights. Thank goodness for space heaters and warm backs, both canine and human.

My brave friend at Messy Thrilling Life is thinking pie, after an afternoon scavenging pecans from the wet ground. Can it be...? Is Pie Time that close? I've whiffed off a few versions, thanks to the Michigan apples crowded in the fridge vegetable crisper (and a very aromatic box of apples and popcorn balls that came through the mail for Halloween). Husband, that born-and-bred Southerner, though, craves "pay-kan" for Thanksgiving.

Headed out on Wednesday to Grand Junction, CO, and the Colorado West Quilters' Guild 'Quilt Show 2009:' an extravaganza of quilts, sewing stuff, exhibits and vendors from Nov. 13-15, 2009. First off: a lecture Wednesday night the 11th on "The Incredible Crazy" for the guild: come if you can!

Then judging all day Thursday, and appraisals Friday and Saturday. A busy week -- but I've got some things to finish up here the next few days, like a little Hanky Panky. (always fun!)

Have a good week yerself.

Happy Not-Halloween!

What do you do with your leftover Halloween candy? Frugal Upstate and buddies have been discussing this. Their options include crushing it and using the 'crumbles' to top cakes; decorating gingerbread houses; and so on.
I was surprised no one mentioned what I do with it (assuming I've got some, that is): fill in extra spots in Christmas stockings. (the weird eyeballs, lips, etc. are especially appreciated.)

This year, we had no trick or treaters. Yes, you read that right -- zero, zip, nada. There aren't a lot of kids in the neighborhood, to start with, and it was pretty chilly out.
I've had fun watching some of the classic horror flicks showing lately, though -- The Fog and The Shining (both Stephan King) are favorites. A very sexy version of Dracula (with Frank Langella, of all people!) ranks up there now, too. (The sex is pretty much implied, except for the obligatory cleavage. Even the guy shows some chest! The only freaky part -- taking in account, the general weirdness you get with any Dracula movie, that is --Dracula says "gooood eve-n-ing" about nine hundred bazillion times. And seems to be doing it seriously every single time!)

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I am happy to say that Quilts #1 and #2 went out the door, happily ensconced in their caretaker's arms this weekend. I got about 45 min. of sleep last night, but it was worth it. Now on to finish up the next project: a larger quilt version of Hanky Panky, done in neutrals. And on to teach at the Grand Junction, CO guild next Wednesday. (Judging is on Thursday, and appraisals on Friday and Saturday.)

Now on to finish up some dishes, while the Godfather keeps us company. (AMC has been showing all three Godfather movies today -- amazing. I'd never seen any. They're better than I figured, though you have to get used to the idea that if someone says no, does something rebellious, or gets caught cheating or doing something stupid, they're pretty much dead.)

Then on to blissful sleep.