A confession

I have a confession to make: I do not enjoy Neil Gaiman's novels.

I love his comic writing, and I love his blog posts and short stories and his little kids books, but not his novels or older-kids books. I'm not sure I can exactly articulate why, but I think it's a style thing. I just don't find them engaging. I just don't get the feeling that I care about what happens to any of the characters.

I couldn't get past four chapters in his newest, The Graveyard Book, and I tried very hard to like it. I like the idea of the book, but the actual execution of it? Just didn't do it for me. Most of his books are that way for me. I like the idea, but not the actual book.

Oh well, can't like everything.

I realize this may get me kicked out of the cool kids club, but it was time I came clean. I can't stand to live a life of secrecy any longer.

Scarlet runner beans

I spent months looking for scarlet runner beans this spring. I finally found them near the end of June. The late start didn't seem to deter them.

This year I grew them on the front railing for ornamentation and to collect the beans to plant next year. Next year, eating!

Bringing in the houseplants

It was cold enough this past week to bring in the houseplants. I dump them outside in the spring and benignly neglect them all summer until warnings of the first frost. Then I bring them in, twice as big as when I put them out.

The dwarf tangerine is very happy this year. Maybe we'll get some flowers, at least, this winter!

Change-of-season decorating

The autumnal mantle is themed with birds and squash. There are two ravens, a vulture, a chicken, and an owl in and amongst the (fake) squashes.

Autumnal chowder

DKM sent me a link to here, and I made my own version. Red potatoes, sweet potatoes, acorn squash, egyptian walking onions, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and celery.

Before:

After:

(Yes, it matches the bowl a bit too much or it would be a prettier photo)

I burnt my tongue on it, but it sure was worth it!

Facebook'd

I'm on Facebook now. If you're on there, let me know!

Flying Cordy

Maybe that's what she thinks, anyway.

Autumn from the back window

The view out the back window into our yard.

Accepted!

Hey, I got three sewing patterns accepted to the upcoming book One Yard Wonders. Very exciting! The patterns are:

• An obi-inspired heating pad and holder
• A shorts pattern customized to your measurements
• My martingale dog collar

I've got about three weeks to make up samples and send them off with complete instructions. Yikes! Better get started...

T-shirts!

Hey, I set up my own t-shirt shop at skreened.com! Why? Why not? Seemed like fun, and maybe a way to make a few extra bucks.

Visit the shop here.

I've got an assortment of designs and I plan to add more as I get the time. You can show your Ohio love, make a geeky joke, declare your love of tofu, and more. You can put any design on several different types of shirts, so if you don't like what you see in the picture, change it. :)

If you have any suggestions for designs, feel free to email me or leave it in the comments. I hope someone finds something they like!