I forgot - I promised a picture of my project when it got to the picture-taking stage. So here it is. Not finished yet, but as much as will be done before I give it to Mom. She'll pick what colors she wants for the border and stuff. The scissors at the top give an idea of size. And the colors aren't quite right. :(

Day Two of Killdeer Watch

I missed Day One, as you, my brilliant readers, may have picked up on. That was because Day One was yesterday and I was busy. And after I was busy, I was tired.

So. The Killdeer Saga, beginning yesterday, is as follows:

There is a wide expanse of gravel between the kitchen and the girl's dorm. Farm trucks and other vehicles drive across this gravel regularly. And this is the gravel in which a killdeer has decided to build a nest. I noticed it doing its broken-wing imitation as I walked across once; and looked around for the nest - they are astonishingly difficult to see, even when you're very close. So I walked away, and then waited until she (or he - they both sit on the nest, by turns) went back to it. Then I got a rock to put next to it, so I could direct traffic around.

I don't know when they were laid, but Google assures me that they will hatch in 24-28 days, so if they aren't stepped on or run over, they will be hatched before convention. This is good, because it's going to be difficult enough to keep her safe during workdays - during convention would be impossible. Also, she would die of sheer, exhausted panic, trying to lure so many people away. And the eggs would freeze. So all in all, it's good that they will hatch before that point.

I hope they will hatch before that point! Killdeer babies would be much cooler than broken eggs.

May 19, 2011

"I have not failed 10,000 times; I have successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work."

~attributed to Thomas Edison

I read an article saying how that standing up as opposed to sitting down all day can reduce your risk of heart attack by 54%, so I was going to post it here. But a little googling only showed me four instances of that information, all written by the same person. Being therefore uncertain of the viability of this news, I will just tell you about it and let you come to your own conclusions. According to the writer, this lowered risk was seen in people whether they exercised otherwise or not.

So instead of a link for that, I will give you this one instead. http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110415/ts_yblog_thelookout/closer-look-lead-codices-spending-cuts-and-the-deficit-problem

Funny how people are always wanting to forge things.

Also? It's snowing. The glee in my voice when I say that is fading swiftly. I like snow. But I like sunshine too, and in this part of the world, you rarely have both. So I am plenty ready for it to stop with the snow, and start with the sun.

This is incredible.

I have embarked on a project, that for the sake of sounding more impressive (and because the original /is/ quilted - and mine will be too, if someone other than me does it) I am calling a 'quilt'. Happily for me, it has only 5 actual seams so far - will have 4 more for sewing the outside edges together - and thus I can do it without wanting to pitch either the sewing machine or myself through the window. :D Everything is cut-and-paste. It's glorious. You find material you like, iron stuff on the back, put it all in order, pull off the paper, and iron it onto a background. Add stuffing and backing, stitch together, find someone else to do the quilty part, and voila!

Something that looks somewhat vaguely not dissimilar to this.

I'll post a picture of mine for comparison purposes when I'm done.

1. I really like automatic carwashes. I like sitting inside your car while they squirt soap all over everything. It's like a little private cave for a moment. Next best is when they have those long ribbon-like strips of felt (or whatever fabric it is!) that come swishing over your car. And then it rains.

2. It's a very strange feeling to sit in a hot-tub when it is extremely cold outside. I love doing this; it's the only time I can stay in the water for longer than about 15 min without overheating. But when the little hairs on your upper arms are all encased with ice while the rest of you is roasting hot... it's strange. That is all.

3. Dark chocolate is good for your teeth. I already put that up, but I like it so much I'm repeating it. And investing in 80% dark for 'flossing' purposes.