Goodness, I haven't contributed here in a long while!  But have hoped everyone is well, and have thought about many Downers during my absence, wondering how everyone is doing these days.

I have been much the same.  Still employeed, for which I am very greatful in this dodgey economy.  Being tied to the housing market and people's willing to spend their extra money has made it rather dicey.  So here's hoping that the ship that my colleagues and I man does not founder in the rough seas.  My department has been spared many layoffs and the company does seem to have a good captain, so I remain ever hopeful.

Still keeping busy, both in the kitchen and out.  Have been experimenting with concocting Indian pickles, with good result.  At least I interpret my husband's inability to wait until they have matured as a very good sign.  Over Christmas, I found a sack of key limes, so my kitchen counter was decorated with a bottle of red and green (red pepper and limes).  Not exactly, traditional decorations, but nice all the same.

Other than that I have lent a hand, painting sets for the high school play, which was great fun.  So nice to work in a large scale, and I had a marvelous brush that seemed to do no wrong.  It was wonderful to see just what it could do.

That is all the updates, for me.  Just enjoying the changing seasons, at the moment, and wondering what I can add to the garden this year.

Hope that all is well with everyone in our circle., and send good wishes to all of you.

Hilde B.

Just thought to pop by to say that we are all alive and well here in the swing state of Ohio.  And I won't touch the election topic with a ten foot pole or a ten foot pollster for that matter, save for an observation.  I've never had so many famous people leaving messages on my answering machine!  I couldn't sit down for 15 minutes without getting a political call most evenings.  So glad it is over.  All that jumping up and down gets tiring!

Besides the bumper crop of political calls, news stories and flurry of emails, this fall bought in an abundance of apples and crabapples.  Every manner of fruit tree has bent under the weight of them.  The summer too, saw blueberry bushes loaded, and a prodigious yield of raspberries.  Hmm...life's simple pleasures.  There must be great happiness in the society of berry eating wildlife this year!

Hilde is still puttering along.  She has been offered the newly created role of lead draftsman at work, but hasn't given her answer yet.  One minute the scale tips toward "yes" and the next minute "no".  She enjoys being a prolific worker bee humming along "under the radar", if only it paid a little better.  I do think this promotion would garner more headaches given the current atmosphere, but she might get the opportunity to raise morale in the galley of draftslaves to which she belongs, and that is a huge plus.  Oh yes, and the sliver of extra pay would be helpful .  Anyway, she has ceased to be invisible to the higher ups unfortunately, and has told her boss that she needs to go home and calculate if the pay raise is enough to keep her in Tums. Stalling for time, she is!

Life has been busy, with the promise of a brief winter's rest imminent.  As for now, the Thanksgiving holidays are looking mighty good to me!

A few films to make you smile.

Be sure to click on "watch in high quality" right under the number of views.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY

And the out takes....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT8jA_pps3o&feature=user

Is anyone familiar with Tom Loback's illustrations of Tolkien's work?  I have just discover them, and strangely enough, am fascinated.  Extremely stylized, colorful depictions, they are a cross between prints and illumination.(And here I thought myself as too fussy for words!)  Here is a link for your perusal.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29483647@N00/sets/72157601181961004/

My apologies for the long absence, but the it seems the Trojan army had invaded my computer.  It has been a long and drawn out battle, but I think we are back in order.  One can always hope. ;o)

Currently Watching August Rush By Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams see related

Ah, the yearly attempt at gardening.  I have been spending quite a bit my spare time outside lately, (and quite a bit of the rest of the time feeling rather stiff!) This year, I have contented myself with the new addition of coral bells and bearded iris, but dream of greater, or at least taller things.  And since I seem to have won the war against the mint, I have been preoccupied with what to plant in the prime bit a real estate formerly inhabited by my vanquished foe, the prolific mint. Sadly, worries of water drainage and foundations have lopped off the bulk of my choices, and I have had to stroll regretfully past the aisles of weeping pussywillow, hemlocks and japanese maple.  Just when I thought I might chance a white dogwood, I saw a lovely service berry that might fit the bill beautifully.  I have had marvelous luck with them before.  And so my mind is nearly set upon it being my next project. But what to plant at it's toes to keep it company?

Currently Listening Feelin' Alright: The Definitive Collection By Traffic see related