Hand Carved Stairway...

... Montpelier, Vermont, circa 1897.

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Bunnies like apples too...

How do you like them apples? Got a favourite kind?

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Did you know that sheep like apples?

(Go ahead, make a metaphor. :-) )

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Autumn leaning toward All Hallow's...

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Scenes from the road home...

These are cropped from larger photos. It wasn't until I was home and looking through the photos that I saw how lucky the two moments were! Enjoy!

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Beside Bolton Mountain near Richmond, Vermont

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FANTASTIC news!

We interrupt Renee's last minute lecture prep to share the breaking news that THE CHARGES AGAINST OUR SON HAVE BEEN DISMISSED. So we DON'T have to go back to court next week!








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In the Yard

...at the Old Round Church in Richmond, Vermont

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Old Round Church

Richmond, Vermont

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A penny for your thoughts...

...how are you tonight?

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Does anyone still have nice looking foliage?

Although we are in the NW of VT, we are close enough to Lake Champlain that our foliage lasts longest. So it's still pretty here, but not for much longer.

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Golden Days

What's your favourite colour Autumn tree?

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Being Thoughtful...

There is a cemetery in Montpelier, Vermont with many sculptures hand hewn by amazingly skillful craftsmen over a hundred years ago. I will post some between now and All Hallow's E'en.

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Vermont Barn

Do you suppose they move the flag when they're painting?

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It's Autumn

Ahhhhhhhh.

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Another gorgeous day in Vermont...

Spent the day outside putting the gardens to bed for Winter, then came inside and
heard on the news that only 20% of Americans now call themselves Republicans.

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Snow along the spine of the Green Mountains.
Howard Dean is also the spine of the Green Mountains.

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The trees are past peak. But there's a nice week ahead, in Vermont

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It's a jungle out there

I sanded and stained the wood and Hubby put the bench together, for our granddaughters to enjoy.

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Mount Mansfield has snow

The clouds have lifted. Here is Mount Mansfield with snow, from my road in Vermont.

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As the clouds lift off Mount Mansfield...

...Vermont sees the spine of the Green Mountains white with snow.

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Foliage Peaking in Vermont

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Early Foliage in Vermont

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listener waves HALLO from Cape Cod.

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Let the Sunshine in...

I took this photo on Saturday at Harvest Market.

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Welcome, Pablo

Mom got a new puppy to raise for Canine Companions for Independence. Ain't he just the fluffiest thing you've ever seen?



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WELCOME AUTUMN!

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Farewell Summer

I took this photo at the Orchard where we took our granddaughter on Sunday to get apples and pumpkins.

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Photo taken by listener on her birthday using her cell phone, of the Burlington Sailing Club's Lightning Races off the Fishing Pier. And yes, that's the same lighthouse in the background that is listener's avatar.

The World Championship Lightning Sailing Races are taking place this week on Lake Champlain, at Malletts Bay, which is where listener and her family sail...! The race happens every two years and last time it was held in Greece. The race comes to North America about once every six years. The last time it was in New England was CT back in 1961...!

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Happy Birthday to your Inner Child,
listener!!

Let 'em eat ice cream!

Mmmm. Who needs cake when there's ice cream?

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Take time to smell the flowers...

Here is listener's granddaughter on her 2nd Birthday today. ♥

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Don't Mess With Me! What?!

Actually, listener's grandcat Emma didn't realise that the green ribbon was still atop her head, or she might have been very embarrassed to know that she sat there for about 20 minutes with a ribbon over her head. So here's a light moment, but don't get complacent because those eyes are glowing. =^. .^= I, listener, feel the same way right now: Don't mess with me. I'm out for a new Governor. Sure hope Howard Dean's old role can be wrested from the Republicans this time!! Yeeeaaaaagggggghhhhhh!


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Do not tempt the bears.

This is what listener's back yard looked like the morning after a bear came by to bust open the bird feeders and clean them out. The bear also broke into three parts a two-day-old squirrel-proof feeder.
So the feeders have been inside for nearly a month. Soon they will go back outside, but only during daylight.

Do not feed the bears.


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LET 'IM EAT CAKE!

♥ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEMETRIUS!! ♥

(Thank-you Ireland_Nicole!)

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Open Thread

Back to School Homeschool 3 T-Shirt by catofmanyhats
View more September T-Shirts

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Howard Dean endorses Office of the National Nurse!

Nurse Ratched interviewing Howard Dean:

Question: Preventative healthcare is a key component in the healthcare reform debate. What are your thoughts on a proposal that would make the Chief Nurse Officer of the United States Public Health Service the National Nurse? In your opinion, would establishing the Office of the National Nurse have any impact on health promotion or on healthcare reform?

Answer: As a lot of people know, I am a huge supporter of the Office of National Nurse, and since Congress has been slow to act, I am hoping some changes can be made directly by HHS while we await more complete action by Congress.

Complete interview is found here:
http://www.nurseratchedsplace.com/wp-content/uploads/howard-dean1.jpg


NOTE: Nurse Ratched gave permission for this to be posted.


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ALLY'S PARTY

listener's grandniece, Ally Mae, is doing well with her neuroblastoma treatments.
:-) So, yesterday her family gathered to celebrate. :-)
Ally was wearing the sparkly shoes that our own blogger Susan sent to her! ♥
listener was amazed to receive a High-5 from Ally (before Ally had to use Purell, of course).
The family is so deeply grateful for all the support from loved ones and loving strangers!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3156822&l=9492a1b857&id=637766753

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Benny the Magic Bunny Lives!

Can't sleep...again. Have the song "Benny the Magic Bunny" stuck in my head. It's one of the songs I danced to in the ballet/tap class I took when I was 5. The last time I got one of these songs in my head, it was "All I want is a happy hippopotomus", and I was disappointed not to be able to find it online--although at least I was reassured that I wasn't imagining things, and such a song did exist.

Benny, Rabbit Magician, by contrast, lives on. And groups of little girls are still doing the same dance moves to the song celebrating this trailblazing role model who was an inspiration to lagomorphs everywhere. They didn't have to settle for being merely props in magic acts. They could be the stars, baby!



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Happy birthday, Paul in Illinois

Hope it's a good one!





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Open Thread (with whining)

Featuring some shameless product placement/self-promotion.

Back to school? OH NOES by catofmanyhats
Many tshirt designs available at www.zazzle.com

That's our daughter's store, with items featuring her cat, Stevie. here's the link to our store at Zazzle. It still needs a lot of work, but we're further along with that than we are with E-Shirt, Skreened, and Spreadshirt.

The thing is, we spent a lot more time building up our store at CafePress than any of the other print on demand stores. First, the interface seemed a lot more straightforward, and secondly, it seemed possible to make a lot more money there. The recent changes limiting how much we can make on marketplace sales have really hurt our income. We still believe we can make up much of the difference by building up those other stores. But it's tedious work, and takes a lot of time. With the court thing hanging over our heads, it's been even harder to focus on that.

I had some of my best success actually getting some work done when I was away from home and could work on my laptop. I just have the hardest time focussing on anything at home, what with the stuff we have hanging over our heads (the court thing, and the fact that after that's over with, we still need to sort out Son's school situation for this upcoming school year), and both kids being home on break.

Our anniversary is this Saturday. Don't have anything planned yet. Frankly it's hard to feel especially celebratory at the moment. Of course, I'm thankful that we still have each other--for 22 years now.

I need to take off for the other side of town now, to teach an almost 5 hour long class. Thanks for putting up with my venting.


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A Kitten and a computer...

A purrrr-fect combination.

Photo from our friends at The Daily Kitten

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DEAN at DEANFEST 6.0

Larger than life, as usual!
HEY!  On the cover of his new book, he's wearing the whale tie!!


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+Gene Robinson's New York Times Interview

I've been pretty deeply absorbed in issues affecting my immediate family during the recent General Convention of The Episcopal Church, so while I've been happy about some of the developments, I haven't been in much of a writing mode. But yesterday, someone at Street Prophets posted a link to a New York Times interview with Bishop Gene Robinson, apparently the only interview he granted.

Just a small excerpt:

Now that we’ve done the, quote, unthinkable, the church won’t look much different than before. Opponents of marriage equality predict the end of Western civilization as we know it if gay couples are allowed to marry. And then when it comes, there’s no big whoop.

The rest here.

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PROCLAIMING THE GOOD ALLY NEWS!!!

UPDATE!  ALLY'S LEG LESIONS ARE GONE!!!  See details at Baby!

Friday, July 10, 2009 5:51 PM, EDT
We finally got word about Ally's scans around 4:30 today.

Her CT scan was the same (we expected that) and her MIBG scan showed less activity!!!

Back in February when Ally had lesions on her hips she wasn't showing the symptoms they expected. They just assumed at that time that it was neuroblastoma again. Now, they are not 100% sure about that. We are taking next week off of chemo again (good = another week off / bad = the chemo is working, we are worried 3 weeks off might set her back, but have put our trust in the doctors and hope they know what they are doing). On Thursday Ally's case will be discussed at the tumor board, and then next steps will be decided. Most likely another biopsy, which means surgery.

Good news for Ally's Daddy's Birthday today!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Great Aunt listener is laughing and crying at the same time and doesn't even care if it means she's insane! :-D

Thank you all so much for the prayers, vibes and caring!!!  ♥ ALLY LUIA!!! ♥

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Just waiting for word about Ally...

This is listener's cat, Emma, hanging out on the back porch, waiting for word about Ally.
(Well, truth be told, Emma was waiting for Mr. Chippy...who did not come by.)

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500 dogs taken from Texas "puppy mill"--donations needed

Found out about this via Twitter...

More than 500 dogs and puppies have been taken from what officials call a large puppy mill in Montague County .

According to the North Texas Humane Society, more than 50 volunteers worked through the holiday weekend to prepare for the arrival of the animals on Tuesday.

The canines will be temporarily housed at a warehouse donated by Chesapeake Energy.

Other companies have donated services, including connecting plumbing, electricity and air conditioning in the warehouse, officials said.

Additionally, PetSmart donated food and supplies for the animals.

To donate money and for adoption information, contact the Humane Society of North Texas at 817-332-4768 or log onto www.hsnt.org .

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Open Thread

Saw this at Target. It amused me because

1. Bottles and beaks just don't go together
2. Just-hatched baby macaws don't have feathers (click and scroll down to see examples)

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I'm home

Didn't really have time to post anything before leaving for the Ohio Episcopal Celebration at Kenyon, but I was sure I'd be able to get online at some point and check in. I was wrong. Once I arrived on campus, my GPS stopped working, as did my phone service/mobile web. Someone mentioned that I might be able to get a temporary account that would allow me to access the college's wireless web, but that too was wrong. I was then told of three local businesses that had wireless hotspots. I was able to get one of them to work, sort of-kind of. Meaning I could sometimes get access on my Blackberry, but never with my laptop.

I enjoyed the conference, but found it disconcerting to be unable to send a simple text message to my husband. And then there's the fact that I couldn't use the evenings, as I had planned, to prepare for the new quarter of teaching (which starts on Monday). But that plan really hinged on my ability to access the internet.

The upshot of all this is that I came home this evening instead of tomorrow morning, and I have to make up for lost hours of course prep, so I don't have time at the moment to share any details about the conference. But I did want to take this opportunity to say where I went, and how it is that I ended up being largely cut off from outside communication. I'd also like to thank Cat and puddle for making sure people could find the new comment threads when they didn't publish automatically.

Oh, and one more thing...

There's no place like home! ;)

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THIS is the link to today's thread.

THIS is the link to today's thread. . . .

From the White House Photostream

...at flickr. Posting it because I thought it was cool.



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Supporting shopkeepers and designers

About a week ago, I posted an excerpt from a blog post outlining the recent changes at CafePress. Manz left a comment saying "I'll be a very happy lady on the day I hear people say "I love the design by X and bought one through their online shop" over "I love cafepress - just bought one of their t-shirts."

I feel the same way. And, while I don't have a big enough megaphone to do that much to raise awareness, I'm going to do what I can.

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that my husband Demetrius created a number of the designs that are available at CafePress. It used to be that, if we were telling someone how to find his designs, we could say, "Go to CafePress.com and search for (insert topic here)." These days, if we were to give those instructions, we'd be shooting ourselves in the foot. Toward the end of 2008, CafePress changed its volume bonus program so that only "shop" sales (as opposed to sales through the "marketplace") counted toward a volume bonus. I think it's called a "shopkeeper incentive program" now--you don't get the bonus unless you're actually the ones bringing in sales CP wouldn't be getting otherwise.

Okay, fair enough. I won't say that I like it, but I can see a certain merit to the argument that if it's CP that is doing the marketing and sales work, we shouldn't get a bonus on top of being able to benefit from more sales there.

But the changes as of June 1 are a lot worse than that. Now, if someone finds one of our designs (while Demetrius created most of them, the one I'll use as an example below is one of mine) through the CP marketplace, we get a flat 10% of the cost of the purchase. We can still set our own markup for shop sales, but we've had all of one shop sale since this new pricing structure took effect. By the way, it is often the case that when you buy the same item as a "shop sale", you actually pay less than you would if you bought through the marketplace. Not always, but at least a fair amount of the time.

Back to Manz's comment, incognita expressed a similar sentiment when she wrote, As many have pointed out – without the designers, CafePress (and every other POD company) would just be selling blank t-shirts.

If you agree, and are willing to go to a bit of extra effort to see that your purchases are benefitting the individuals who created the design you like (and not just the company that has done the best job marketing their blank t-shirts and printing process), I have a couple of suggestions.

First, let's say you do find a design you like via the CafePress marketplace. It used to be that when you found a design via their internal search engine, you would see a link to the shop where you could find more from that designer. Now, there are no longer links to shops in CP search results. The system is set up so that, if you find a design by searching the marketplace, you will be purchasing through the marketplace. This spells a real loss of income for shopkeepers/designers. But (at least, at the time of this writing) there is still a way of finding out who the shopkeeper is.

When I go to CP and type asperger's syndrome into the search, I can see some of Demetrius' designs in the results. Clicking on one, I am taken to a page where I see the following:

Instead of a link to our store, the link is a marketplace search for more designs at our store

http://shop.cafepress.com/?from=aspergersheart

Of course, this could change, but the way things work right now, the part after the = sign tells you what you need to find the shop, because shop urls are always www.cafepress.com/shopname. So, from the example above, you've learned that the shop url is http://www.cafepress.com/aspergersheart

After finding out which shop you want to buy from, I'm guessing you probably want to bookmark that and then clear cookies before going back to make the purchase.

Many shopkeepers and designers sell their designs through more than one Print on Demand company, but of course it wouldn't be cool to say so in your shop. But if you want to find out if a design you like is available elsewhere, you can try a Google products search. I tried one earlier on one of our designs. Since it features her cat, Stevie, my daughter gets 20% of whatever we make on it. It's an agreement we made with her several years ago, and was a steady little flow of pocket money for her for a while for a while.

Anyway, here are the first few results that showed up when I plugged quantum cat t-shirt into Google product search. You can see by the image that these are all the same design, but you can also see that it's available from different companies.

Anyway, if you see a design you like and wonder if it's available through other P.O.D. companies, that's one way you might find out.

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