The balance of life

Lately I have been writing more about my non dance life, but that doesn't mean I'm not dancing or doing many dance things...part of the reason I've been doing this is because I got a new computer for my birthday from Robert and I have not moved all my pictures and information over to the new machine yet!

A few of the things I've done over the last two months are...

Danced at the Richard Lowe's showcase Kalidescope at the Oasis Dance studio w/ my beautiful daughter Jillian...
these pictures are by Richard Lowe of course! To see more of his work check out his website www.renaissancefaire.net



I took Frederique's workshop and danced in the Oasis Super Saturdays showcase afterwards, but I don't have any pictures of that unfortunately... : (

On my birthday August 8 I danced in the Vegas Hafla that Weathervane puts on with Jillian, and Heidi. There are some really pretty pictures that Lee, Jon, and Richard took, but all but one are on my other computer. Keeping with the Las Vegas theme we did a piece with fan veils from Cirque du Soleil, it turned out really pretty! And then we did a DJ Shadow piece which was really fun and more our usual style. I'll dig it up on youtube and make a link if possible.


The HIGHLIGHT of August was that I took the Teacher Training from Fat Chance also at the Oasis in Highland...I learned how much I still need to learn. I am giving myself time to continue my studies and interest in ATS, hopefully I'll have some time to go up to San Francisco and study there on a regular basis. And although I won't discontinue doing my ITS and fusion dancing, I know I really want to put a lot more energy into the practice of ATS and would like to develop a Fat Chance sister studio. I am all at once proud, humbled and inspired!


I also have been going to shows, and watching other performers more than usual...I went to Christina & Donavon's hafla at Studio Iqaat. AND another highlight was Jillina's show Bellydance Evolution, with Jillna, Ansuya, Elizabeth Strong, Sa'Ellayssa which was amazing.

And of course I'm teaching my classes, we've been working hard to prepare for Pirate Faire and our recital which will be at Studio Iqaat on October 10th!

Are chickens psychic?

Robert and I were discussing the fact that our very naughty old lady chickens (Jack & Cher) have been breaking their eggs, or their eggs roll off of the ledge in their little nests and get cracked...either one; and how we don't want them to teach our new baby girls (Cutie,Cheap-cheap, Buttercup) not to do the same. Rob came up with this halarious idea to put golf balls in the chicken nests hoping that they would try to peck at them and realize it was painful and they would quit, that is if they can actually learn...
Anyway, they don't lay much any more, I mean when I say old ladies I'm not kidding! Jack is 9 years old and Cher is probably 6 or 7 (I got her full grown from a friend so I can only guess her age) basically they are way past laying age. Last week Cher laid an egg while Riley and I were in the garden and we took it away from her before she could do any naughty stuff, but when I brought it into the kitchen to wash it off it broke in my hands. This lead me to believe that her shells are not strong enough...yes she may have osteoporoses! And then yesterday again I found one of her eggs broken on the ground and I feared she had damaged that.




My friend Jenn recently told me she took her old chickens to the feed store after they were past their egg laying stage because it wasn't worth it to her to keep feeding them for no return. I am a vegetarian you may know, so this idea doesn't sit well with me. Last night I was speculating with Robert and saying perhaps lived a full and happy life and maybe it was time to do something like that....



Then this morning I went out to the garden to take care of them and lo and behold! What did I find? Two eggs, one green (it may look more white in the photo), and one brown! Nice and strong, not as big as they used to be but good eggs! I was going to title this blog "Do chickens have ears?", but I already know the answer to that one! Yes they do! That is how you know what color eggs they will lay. Jack is an Americauna and she has green ears and eggs, Cher's breed I have no idea but her ears and eggs are brown!

End-of-Summer gardens

We have been struggling with gophers all summer long! Even though our home is in the suburbs near Los Angeles -the Santa Monica Mountains- it borders an arroyo (creek) and with that comes all the life that happens around any body of water. We have a lot of frogs, squirrels, rats (yuck), owls, hawks, snakes, coyotes etc that wander through the property at one point or another.
Anyway, back to the gopher issue...over the spring the city was working on the other side of the creek and the sewers and I think all the pounding drove the ground animals to our side of the water to get some relief! Naturally they found my yard especially fun with an abundance of chicken food, vegetables, water, and stupid dogs who have no idea what they SHOULD bark at, a haven indeed. The garden was been totally disrupted with gophers digging holes, I had to plant tomatoes in big pots that I dropped into the ground (not too successful), the brick pathways started sinking in from the tunnels. I couldn't even grow a darned squash plant. So Robert called the gopher exterminator, and even that didn't work. He was certain it was because of the mess in my vegetable garden that the exterminator couldn't find the tunnels...I disagree but what difference does that make? So he spent 2 evenings after work clearing out my entire vegetable garden...it looks horrible...just a bunch of dirt. But I'm already fighting against it and replanting things.
We did get to harvest some goodies though...here are pictures...

grooming the bunnies

Riley believes in reading to her bunnies!




I bought two beautiful angora bunnies back in January from a nice lady up in Oregon. We picked them up on a trip to drive Jillian home for her final semester at college (yes if you've paid attention she is now living back down here). The white bunny is named Snowball and the black one is Midnight, Riley named them. They are very sweet and like to bounce around our house a bit. I haven't gathered that much fluff from them yet but here are pictures of Riley & and w/ Midnight.

what do you do all day?

A long time ago I homeschooled my children...
One day at ballet class another child asked my youngest daughter the inevitable question "what school do you go to?" Upon hearing the answer the other little girl proclaimed loftily, "what do you do all day...watch tv!" My daughter was very upset by this comment, she just wanted to make a new friend. I tried not to be upset by that attitude myself. Neither of us could imagine a day that wasn't filled with reading, gardening, knitting, playing piano, sewing, dancing so many things! There weren't enough hours in the day for all the things we wanted to do! We did own tv's and even had cable, but the tv's were rarely on!


Now my kids are adults, they've all been to college, the daughter mentioned has a BFA in Fine Arts and they live very full lives, sometimes hard, sometimes easy. And the subject here is how I now fill my days at home.

Now for show & tell!!!

I'm weaving a chinelle scarf, see how the really bright cobalt weft becomes more subdued by the navy & indigo warp?





I'm plying a hand dyed wool silk strand with a plain white blue faced leicester wool strand.





And that was only before 9:30am!! I might watch tv later if I have time! LOL

Think about your health care and READ up on it! Don't believe sound bites!!

The health care fight has turned ugly, fast. And lies about reform are spreading via anonymous email chains. Here are the real facts that you need to know:

Top Five Health Care Reform Lies—and How to Fight Back
Lie #1: President Obama wants to euthanize your grandma!!!

The truth: These accusations—of "death panels" and forced euthanasia—are, of course, flatly untrue. As an article from the Associated Press puts it: "No 'death panel' in health care bill."1 What's the real deal? Reform legislation includes a provision, supported by the AARP, to offer senior citizens access to a professional medical counselor who will provide them with information on preparing a living will and other issues facing older Americans.2



Lie #2: Democrats are going to outlaw private insurance and force you into a government plan!!!

The truth: With reform, choices will increase, not decrease. Obama's reform plans will create a health insurance exchange, a one-stop shopping marketplace for affordable, high-quality insurance options.3 Included in the exchange is the public health insurance option—a nationwide plan with a broad network of providers—that will operate alongside private insurance companies, injecting competition into the market to drive quality up and costs down.4 If you're happy with your coverage and doctors, you can keep them.5 But the new public plan will expand choices to millions of businesses or individuals who choose to opt into it, including many who simply can't afford health care now.



Lie #3: President Obama wants to implement Soviet-style rationing!!!

The truth: Health care reform will expand access to high-quality health insurance, and give individuals, families, and businesses more choices for coverage. Right now, big corporations decide whether to give you coverage, what doctors you get to see, and whether a particular procedure or medicine is covered—that is rationed care. And a big part of reform is to stop that.

Health care reform will do away with some of the most nefarious aspects of this rationing: discrimination for pre-existing conditions, insurers that cancel coverage when you get sick, gender discrimination, and lifetime and yearly limits on coverage.6 And outside of that, as noted above, reform will increase insurance options, not force anyone into a rationed situation.



Lie #4: Obama is secretly plotting to cut senior citizens' Medicare benefits!!!

The truth: Health care reform plans will not reduce Medicare benefits.7 Reform includes savings from Medicare that are unrelated to patient care—in fact, the savings comes from cutting billions of dollars in overpayments to insurance companies and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.8



Lie #5: Obama's health care plan will bankrupt America!!!

The truth: We need health care reform now in order to prevent bankruptcy—to control spiraling costs that affect individuals, families, small businesses, and the American economy. Right now, we spend more than $2 trillion dollars a year on health care.9 The average family premium is projected to rise to over $22,000 in the next decade10—and each year, nearly a million people face bankruptcy because of medical expenses.11 Reform, with an affordable, high-quality public option that can spur competition, is necessary to bring down skyrocketing costs. Also, President Obama's reform plans would be fully paid for over 10 years and not add a penny to the deficit.12



P.S. Want more? Check out this great new White House "Reality Check" website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/ or this excellent piece from Health Care for America Now on some of the most outrageous lies: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51729

Sources:
1. "No 'death panel' in health care bill," Associated Press, August 10, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51747

2. "Stop Distorting the Truth about End of Life Care," Huffington Post, July 24, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51730

3. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 11, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq#i1

4. "Why We Need a Public Health-Care Plan," Wall Street Journal, June 24, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51737

5. "Obama: 'If You Like Your Doctor, You Can Keep Your Doctor,'" Wall Street Journal, 15, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51736

6. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq#r1

7. "Obama: No reduced Medicare benefits in health care reform," CNN, July 28, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51748

8. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq#s1

9. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq#c1

10. "Premiums Run Amok," Center for American Progress, July 24, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51667

11. "Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies," CNN, June 5, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51735

12. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq#c1

Sources for the Five Lies:
#1: "A euthanasia mandate," The Washington Times, July 29, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51732

#2: "It's Not An Option," Investor's Business Daily, July 15, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51743

#3: "Rationing Health Care," The Washington Times, April 21, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51742

#4: "60 Plus Ad Is Chock Full Of Misinformation," Media Matters for America, August 8, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51734

#5: "Obama's 'Public' Health Plan Will Bankrupt the Nation," The National Review, May 13, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51744

handknit socks

On a trip to San Francisco, while my sister was still married to her 2nd husband, I discovered Nancy Bush's book Folk Socks. This must have been a new book at the time. I can't remember how long ago that was -I do remember my children were still living at home and my sister was w/ the 2nd man...wait the wonders of the internet- it was 1994 when I first became enamored of sock knitting!

Was it really 15 years ago that I knit my first sock?

Being of a lazy nature I remember browsing the book looking for which pattern required the largest needles (Lithuanian Amber Socks #4 needles), although I eventually did knit that pair of socks for some reason I decided to start with "A Classic Sock." I purchased my first skein of sock yarn, a blue and white flecked wool, and a set bamboo #2 double point needles. From the minute I cast on I didn't want to stop to do anything else! I believe it was a Thanksgiving weekend, I sat it the window of my sister's kitchen knitting away, I was of little help. Her husband questioned me on why I wanted to knit socks in a bemused manner, my husband for some reason understood me. It was the same weekend that we discovered the Internet! Monumental! It should be a national holiday...oh wait it is, but not for the same reasons. By the time we left I had finish one sock and I couldn't believe how energized that sock made my foot feel. My feet had to take turns getting energy from it. And all I ever wanted to do was make socks and wear homemade socks every day of my life. The joy of discovery is a wonderful thing.

Since that time I have continued to knit many pairs of socks, repaired holes in worn socks, lost socks, knit them out of all kinds of yarn, handspun, and store bought. I even wrote my own sock knitting manual for my sock knitting class at Anacapa Fine Yarns where I taught many others how to knit socks. Hopefully many of those students became infected with the sock enthusiasm too. I still have that pair of blue socks in my stash somewhere, I should zig zag the bottom of the cuff on my sewing machine, cut the feet off, and use them as cuff warmers. If I find them I will do that!

What brought me to think of socks this morning is an article in Cast On magazine (the official publication of the Knitting Guild Association) on knitting socks from the toe up. This is something I have not yet done though I have every intention of doing it. It states in the article that experienced sock knitters have definite preferences for types of needles they use for sock knitting! Although I'm sure many sock knitters do have a preference, I must say that I do NOT! I love the classic technique of using the double pointed needles as well as the flexibility of using 2 circular needles...ok...maybe I lied! I HATE the magic loop or whatever it's called, I find having to pull the needle cable through the knitting periodically downright wonky! Ugh! OK no offense intended if this is your preferred method, please don't write me any hate mail!

Unfortunately I believe my lack of allegiance to one particular type of needle over the other made my class somewhat confusing to the sock students. I wanted them to know about all the methods without prejudice (yes even the magic loop) and I brought them samples of the different methods and offered to teach them to use any method the wanted. Maybe I should have had separate classes for separate methods. I didn't realize at the time that too much information can be confusing. And although, I have a brain that likes to know all the choices first not everyone does.

I have so much to do this week! I have to try to remember my ATS basics before going off to take the Teacher Training course from Carolena Nericchio. If you take belly dance from me or have ever, you know that I teach a combination of ATS, our sisterhood/she'enedra fusion improv, and just belly dance basics...so I need to revive the purity of ATS in my mind this week. I am behind on the garden...as usual, the house looks like a bomb went off in it (I like to exaggerate) and I have to finish our pirate choreography...just to name a few of the things I should and will be doing while pining over dreams of starting some toe up socks!

Check out this article on sock knitting and sock summit that happened in Portland Oregon this passed weekend (sad I didn't get to go ) http://blog.oregonlive.com/knitting/2009/08/sock_talk_nancy_bush.html