Author: JulieD

Look what Fifona made for our birthdays! Mine has knitting stuff all over it and little pockets for needles and notions, and fimo clay buttons in the shape of balls of yarn. Kev’s has fabrics from his various interests but it really gets good when you turn him around. Not only is that a “Settlers… Continue reading Birthday Suits

Most people I know are going to be jealous of my present. And if you aren’t, it’s only because you haven’t played with one yet! It’s lovely. There’s a spot where you can enter your device’s name. I’m thinking it’s going to have to be “My Precioussssss”…

I’ve just worked out that I’ve lived here, in the state where I now live, for a third of my life. How is that possible? Well, we moved here 12 years ago today (happy anniversary!) and tomorrow I’m 36 (happy birthday). Wow, of all the places I have lived, this is the one I have… Continue reading A Third

Apparently my reporter’s instincts are still in there somewhere. Last night I was at a concert when the lights flickered out. There was a huge storm raging overhead and it killed the power for miles around. Luckily for us, the musicians were consummate professionals and just kept on playing, unplugged. As I listened, I was… Continue reading Reporter Instincts

It’s hot out there. It’s going to get up to 98 for the severalth day in a row and the humidity is high, making it feel even hotter. The state issued a heat warning, saying ‘stay out of the sun, get into some air conditioning and drink lots of water’. For Scots this is hard… Continue reading Phew!

Historians have just identified a previously unknown portrait of Henry VIII with his children, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. I was quite surprised, because, given their dynastic wranglings you don’t expect to see all of them in the one room together (not, of course, that they necessarily were. It’s not a photograph after… Continue reading Tudors

Ever since Doctor Who started back up, people have been asking Neil Gaiman if he’s going to write an episode. He said “they haven’t asked” initally. Then recently, he had dinner with Stephen Moffat, who has just been announced as the new Head Who Guy. When asked if the subject of his writing an episode… Continue reading It Had To Happen

Well, I just had my first cup of caffeinated morning coffee in about six weeks. Woooo! I’m scrubbin’ bathrooms, I’m dancin’ up and down stairs with laundry, I’m swabbing the deck (literally) and wondering what else I can do before the crash…

Funny how May and June, after the new beginnings of springtime, have become a season of endings. Beginnings too, of course, because endings are the pause before a new beginning, but today I’m feeling the endings, sharply.