Author Archives: Holly

About Holly

fiber person - knitter, spinner, weaver who spent 33 years being a military officer to fund the above. And home. And family. Sewing and quilting projects are also in the stash. After living again in Heidelberg after retiring (finally) from the U.S. Army May 2011, we moved to the US ~ Dec 2015. Something about being over 65 and access to health care. It also might have had to do with finding a buyer for our house. Allegedly this will provide me a home base in the same country as our four adult children, all of whom I adore, so that I can drive them totally insane. Considerations of time to knit down the stash…(right, and if you believe that…) and spin and .... There is now actually enough time to do a bit of consulting, editing. Even more amazing - we have only one household again. As long as everyone understands that I still, 40 years into our marriage, don't do kitchens or bathrooms. For that matter, not being a golden retriever, I don't do slippers or newspapers either. I don’t miss either the military or full-time clinical practice. Limiting my public health/travel med/consulting and lecturing to “when I feel like it” has let me happily spend my pension cruising, stash enhancing (oops), arguing with the DH about where we are going to travel next and book buying. Life is good!

More Castle

The downside of this fabric is that the white (B5200) doesn’t show up all that well. It is better than either of the other simple alternatives – blanc or 3865. So I am just ignoring it for the present. This … Continue reading

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Variable weather

I made it a point today to stay inside, warm and dry. I went out only twice – once to drop George at BART and a second trip to pick him up at the end of the afternoon. Otherwise – … Continue reading

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Yes, it is raining

Except for the moments when it is not. Like right at this moment. Intermittently we are getting some wind. Our house is relatively sheltered. I have a feeling that a bit closer to the coast/bay is getting hit harder than … Continue reading

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It was actually 19

Parts in the OwlForest 2021 Alice in Wonderland SAL. And there I was happily finishing parts 15, 16, & 17. But no, I didn’t panic when I put in the last stitch of the steam coming out of the teapot. … Continue reading

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Not the white rabbit

He was stitched back in Part 3. I have the table, and five motifs left in a combination of parts 16 & 17. Tomorrow evening I “will” have this completed… End of today’s progress – is a bit more of … Continue reading

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On to the tea party

Today was relatively productive. (well my cough is back but I am not counting that. Nor all the water or the three pots of tea…). The Mad Hatter section of Alice is now complete AND I got a start on … Continue reading

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Lost day

AKA – more time spent on public transport than anything else…. Normally, when I have an appointment at the SFVA, since the pandemic, I have just taken to driving over extremely early, sitting in the car and knitting, then appointments, … Continue reading

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Progress plus

Since everyone seemed to like Alice, but really thought that the Bewitching Pixies was ever so cute – she is the one I went for. there were about 350 black beads to add along edges, the band on her hat, … Continue reading

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Choices, choices

Unlike all those planners out there, I really haven’t made significant craft plans or goals for this year. It isn’t so much wanting to avoid pressure on those days where pressure is totally and completely unwelcome. It is more that … Continue reading

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Houses & Visitors

Let’s start with the visitor – Along the way – we have brave flowers which have decided to bloom in January – move on to starting the Feb chart of this year’s Cottage Garden Samplings “Fabulous Houses” which is going … Continue reading

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The Beaver – all 12 now complete!

And here he is in all his glory. Just to recap – he was the Nov 2022 chart of Cottage Garden Samplings “Year in the Woods.”  He is stitched on a 16 ct fabric from BeStitchMe that she dyed especially … Continue reading

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Port of LA

AKA San Pedro.  We were docked at the Pier before 0600. The view of the sunrise which was also right after 0600 – was amazing. And even the cranes looked interesting against the sky As a turnaround day, the ship … Continue reading

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Too many children

Ok, this is a sea day and everyone is running around the ship looking for things to do. There are about 3k worth of passengers which has become way too many for me to deal with. Worse – over 600 … Continue reading

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Cheers with….

Unlike some of my more recent cruises on Royal (see Symphony in March and Quantum in Oct/Nov) there were a limited number of senior loyalty members on this cruise. About 65 all told in the above 350 nights category.  So … Continue reading

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Opening Hours

and here we are in Puerto Vallarta. The ship is docked in the usual place. There is also the Carnival Panorama which pulled into port a couple of hours after us. It makes for business at the Sam’s Club and … Continue reading

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Blue Line again

I didn’t remember that I had been to this port just last year until after Miriam and I were off ship, through all the tour hawkers and across the street. There is was – the sign for the “Linea Azul” … Continue reading

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Not tenderized

Today, after sailing past/through a pod of whales (long past by the time I grabbed my phone and ran down 8 flights of stairs….) we arrived in Cabo San Lucas about 30 minutes ahead of schedule. This particular stop, a … Continue reading

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A different elevator music

Didn’t most of us grow up with Muzak – aka – elevator music? Well, Miriam spotted an alternative this evening. Music in an elevator. Right, From a piano. And the piano is in the elevator – It is one of … Continue reading

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And it is the Navigator again

But not the same route that the Eldest, the Toddler and I sailed last year about this time. The actual itinerary is : Friday, January 19 Los Angeles (San Pedro), CA 4:00pm Saturday, January 20 At Sea Sunday, January 21 … Continue reading

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Packed

The day started with errands and ended with me being ready to head to bed early.  Packing took me all of 10 minutes at least for the clothing portion. As soon as I finish up this note – I will … Continue reading

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