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My Beautiful Little Nut Hoard

I will do what I can to explain to you why I have a nut hoard.  You probably will not understand, most people wouldn’t.  I will give it my best.  I have a beautiful little nut hoard.  It is sitting out on my back patio right now.  It is strangely satisfying to go out each…

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How to use Japanese Sewing Patterns… if you don't speak Japanese!

Sitting in the car waiting for my daughter at The Japanese Language School in Philadelphia gives me plenty of time to check out all of those super-stylish Japanese moms.  I love their chic, simple mode of dress and have spent a great deal of time coveting those gorgeous clothes. This style of clothing has a very…

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It's a Long Drop from the Nest

So where to begin? My two girls are growing up, can’t deny nor avoid the truth of it. But, I don’t have to like it, or do I? I look at them and think, wow, what amazing women they are turning out to be…. but the instinct to hover & protect them is very strong.…

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the waiting room

Yesterday I drove a friend to a doctor’s visit. Not being a patient, I had about 1 hour to sit & just observe. I remember thinking for a moment that it might be an interesting study for a sociologist, anthropologist, or psychologist, to just sit and observe human behavior.  A few minutes later I find…

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In Charlie's Lab

When I was in graduate school I had a job in Charlie’s Lab. It was a super-nerdy-real-deal-haven of scientific endeavor.  Charlie had a number of research assistants, there were three of us sharing our lab space along with some  fancy high-dollar equipment. There was the slutty med student who was all emo & crying about…

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Fun with Ready to Wear!

I like to make clothes, but don’t always have the time to devote to constructing an entire garment. While strolling through Target the other day I decided to pick up a couple of “bare canvases” to create some fun re-dos. These are quick, easy, projects that can transform a ready to wear garment into something…

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I Think My father Probably Died from a Lack of IV Access

Damn you hindsight! Why aren’t answers as readily available when you need them as they are obvious with the aid of hindsight? Damn you! I know stuff, I see stuff, so why didn’t I put on my big girl panties & demand that someone put a functional IV in my father when he was a…

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Don't drive the tractor in your dress-up clothes

The time has come.  The vegetable patch has partially been cleared of tired barren plants.  A bed has been prepared & ready to receive the seeds for next year’s crop of garlic.  The warm summer has transitioned beautifully into a glorious autumn.  The nectarine trees continue to have beautiful huge green leaves while everything around…

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Tope-Landia: Adventures in Traveling by Taxi In Oaxaca, Mexico

Have you ever hit a tope (speed bump) at 40mph in a car with NO suspension? If not, you have never taken a Taxi in Oaxaca, Mexico. Well, I can’t be sure if he was really doing 40 because I couldn’t help but notice that the speedometer was non-functional. I remembered this taxi driver from…

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Lessons in Building a Grandisimo Mosaic Tile Mural

A year ago I started working on a grand project. To create a 600 square foot mural on a garden wall at our casita in Oaxaca, Mexico (see my previous post for “before photos”). So it has been 1 yr since I began this epic journey and I thought that I might share some of…

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