Round Up

Diggin' these glass sculptures of infectious diseases.

Diggin' Kem and Kathleen Jenkins.

10 literary Halloween costumes.

Want to read: Steady Hands: Poems About Work by Tracie Vaughan Zimmer. I like a picture book that is kind-of, sort-of for adults. I like the picture books that are for kids too.

Want to look at: Food Lanscapes by Carl Warner. Each landscape is constructed totally out of food-genius.

Want to listen to: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton. Actually all of the Maestro selections look great.

Dick and Jane and Vampires (Oh My!!!)

Only a few entries on the Children's Book-A-Day Almanac, but it's very well done.

These felted wool acorns are just too cute. More here and here-with a tutorial on how these are created.


ISO-Ben and Jerry's Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream.

I could spend hours reading all of the interviews on the Paris Review site. Maybe while I eat some Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream.

The Land of Nod has so many nice items. We have 3 little ones to buy presents for so anything that gives me ideas is great.

I like the packaging of the candles from Paddywax. I'm still loyal to my favorite Votivo candles, but it's always fun to try new brands.

Who knew there were so many Legophiles. I can say with all honesty I am a Lego virgin. I have never Legoed. Ever.

Have a wickedly frightful Halloween!!!

'Tis now the very witching time of night,When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes outContagion to this world.~William Shakespeare

Round Up

Just a few items this week.

First, a couple of comments.

Dr. Anita Hill-you have more class in your little finger than......

Juan Williams-never a fan of yours. If memory serves you made some extremely sexist comments back in the day, but FOX NEWS. Freakin' FOX NEWS. Have you no shame!!!

Enough of that.

Bite into the Cherpumple.

Best Halloween decorations ever-Grandinroad. They actually have some very nice non-holiday related items as well.

Very cute muffin pan sponge. It really is an event for me when I receive the King Arthur Flour Company catalog in the mail.

These are the absolute best candy apples I have ever seen. And Matt's Winter Cocktail sound pretty tastey too.

This is so naughty-My First Dictionary.

Famous inboxes of fictional characters-this time Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Love this.

I am crazy about frosted window film (even though I don't have a window where it could be used) and clear acrylic party buckets. I lived in a few apartments where the frosted window film would have come in very handy.

Think Be4 You Speak is a wonderful idea. It's a shame that we have to have actual movements to teach people to be sensitive and considerate of others. I am so sick of it still being "okay" to make derogatory remarks about people's sexuality, about people's age and about weight-challenged individuals. This is exemplified night after night on some of the garbage that is on television. It's 2010 and you still have people writing scripts with this kind of derogatory dialogue. It's sickening and we should be better than that.

Drum Roll Please-The Israel Antiquities Authority and Google bring you the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Very interesting article on trap rooms. Trap rooms are a deliberate error placed into maps to attempt to catch copyright infringement by rival companies.

And speaking of maps-these are incredible.

That's all for this week. Have a tranquil weekend. And remember if you are able to vote early (A. and I are voting after work today) please do so or wait until Election Day-the most important thing is to VOTE!!!

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of thelandscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter.Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show." - Andrew Wyeth

Round Up

Collective sigh of relief hearing the news that the 33 miners and the rescue workers are all safe. Nice to have great news for a change.

R.I.P. Solomon Burke-King of Rock and Soul

R.I.P. Joan Sutherland

Always on the lookout for interesting organizations, government or other-how about the National Climate Extremes Committee, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Why do zippers have YKK on them? Hmmmm.......

I like witches so I would not use these gorgeous witch balls to disuade a visit. I have always had a thing for glass orbs-crystal balls, Christmas ornaments, floats-there's just something about them. They are beautiful pieces of art. More here.

Love, love, love this sign. This site has a lot of very nice signs.

Catalog Living (Tee-Hee)

Choc-O-Lantern Pop Tarts and Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts.

Everyone knows Martha Stewart loves Halloween and every year she outdoes herself with great Halloween crafts and decorating ideas and yummy treat recipes.

Brett Herbst-King of the Corn Maze.

Recycling cork-a good thing.

Falls pumpkin beers.

Love this embroidery.

99 fun facts about dogs.

Fold your towels just like the ones in a department store.

I've been hearing about this Orange-Scented Olive Oil Cake for years, but have never made it, or for that matter, tasted it. I may have to break down and make it.

The Library of America has a boxed set of 6 of Lynd Wards novels that he did in woodcut. Incredible!! More information on Lynd Ward.

I am going to keep saying this, but you must get out and vote. It's imperative Progressive that you VOTE!!!!

Have a nice weekend. I think a grilled cheddar and cherry preserves sandwich sounds like a nice treat this weekend. Munched on while I enjoy my book and a Fireside tart.

"Corn and grain, corn and grain, All that falls shall rise again."- Wiccan Harvest Chant

Round Up

Well, my favorite month is here and I am thrilled. It's still too warm for my taste, but the weather is getting there.

We attended the Progressives rally last weekend on the mall. I haven't been to a rally in years. I used to go all of the time, but I just stopped going. The weather was great and there were tons of people with very creative signs. I had forgotten about that special feeling you get looking around and seeing so many different types of people (remember we Progressives are about inclusiveness-not exclusivity) and listening to the various speakers. Marian Wright Edelman always gets to me. She is a tiny powerful woman and once you hear her speak you won't forget her words. We plan to attend more of these gatherings in the future.

If you live in the WDC metropolitan area here are some fun things to do this month. Great if you have some children in your life, or if you are just young at heart:

Boo at the Zoo
Butler's Orchard 30th Annual Pumpkin Festival
The Enchanted Forest
Summers Farm Adventure
34th Annual City of Fairfax Fall Festival (kind of underwhelmed by their website)
Nightmare Manor

150 covers of Lolita.

List of the 2010 MacArthur Fellows.

There used to be a Bagel Bakers Union.

Of course there is a National Caves Association for all of the spelunkers out there.

25 photos of camouflaged animals.

Diggin' this skull print dress.

I am so addicted to Radiolab. The podcast on Famous Tumors was fascinating. And speaking of famous tumors Henrietta Lacks finally received a headstone. If you don't know who Ms. Lacks was then you must read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Even if you aren't a science nerd like yours truly-read the book.

The Radiolab podcast entitled Vanishing Words was also fascinating. Sheds new insight into Agatha Christie's later books.


It's getting to be time for wrist worms.
The Rare Book and Manuscript Room of the University of Pennsylvania has digitized over 2000 photographs of poets.

Love this candy corn tree. This one too (I thought Lillian Vernon went out of business.)

I would love to stay at the Heathman Hotel in Portland, Oregon just so I could see their library.

Meet the wood stacker.

7 image search tools that will change your life.

The privatization of public libraries makes my blood boil.

I like They Draw and Cook website. Everyday an artist or illustrator submits a recipe. What a cool idea.

I'm ready to settle back with a cider doughnut, burn my Mountain Lodge tart and read a good book by the fire.

That's the Round Up for this week. Have a wonderful long weekend (even if it is for a stupid holiday).

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. " George Eliot