2011!

I wonder where we are headed and what we will be talking about a year from now? I am sure that the 2012 presidential elections will be in full effect; wingnuts will be screaming more foolishness from their high profile perch over at Radio Rwanda; there will still be a war raging in some remote corner of the world; there will still be a war right here at home, where 300 plus people will, once again, lose their lives violently in my hometown of Killadelphia.

Still, I know what we won't be talking about: (By we I mean the folks here in A-merry-ca.) Poverty. Corruption. Education.Crime. Race. Social justice.....You get the idea; we won't be talking about anything that makes us uncomfortable. We don't want to feel uncomfortable while we pursue happiness here in A-merry-ca.

Anyway, we talked about a lot in 2010. And, for the most part, I enjoyed the conversation. At least the conversation we had here. We talked about a lot of the things that makes A-merry-ca uncomfortable, which is why this blog will always be, for the most part, on the outside looking in.

But we will keep having that conversation in 2011, because I want to talk; and judging from the comments and the folks who come to the fields on a daily basis, so do you.

So please keep talking to me and letting me know what you think. I promise that you will always know what I think no matter what.

Here is hoping that 2011 will be filled with happiness for you.

Quick Party Drink Markers

Though this quick crafty accessory for New Year's Eve comes a bit last minute, I am stuck in Idaho on my way home to Nebraska after a lovely winter holiday with my family in Washington, & I'm trying to occupy my time in the hotel by passing the hours away with some creative fun.



Mr. WhiMSy love bought us some sparkling apple cider & plastic champagne glasses to ring in 2011 in our hotel room. And I was immediately inspired...

I have always loved the creative drink markers I've seen over the years. And I thought up a couple super quick, seriously easy ways to mark your drinks at a party-- (in minutes!)-- so your guests can easily keep track of which drink is theirs.

The first idea is to cut 1 1/2" felt circles in different colors. Fold the circle in half & snip a 1/4" slit. Fold in half the other way & cut another slit. Slide the stem of the glass through the felt circles & then snap on the bottom of the glass.



The other quick idea is to simply tear strips of fabric & tie them around the base of your stemware.

Cheers!
Happy 2011!!!
♥ Nikki


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Today the world lost a great woman

Today has been a sad day for me.  My ex mother in law  went to be with the Lord this morning a little after 8:00am.  She had been battling colen cancer.  Although  she was my ex mother in law  didn't make a difference.  I had knew Ella Mae  for 40 years  and she was the grandmother to my 3 sons.

She was a great christian woman and was one of the kindest people you would ever meet.  I met her when I was 12 when she and her husband  and children  decided to start coming to our church. She was the kind of person who would have given you the shirt off of her back.  And she always  wanted you to eat.  Great cook  and very loving mother, grandmother  and mother in law.  She will be so missed  by so many people. but I know  she has been reunited with her husband, sister, brother  and lots of other family and loved ones including my daddy.

Bocka Bock Bock!

Earlier in the week, I shared a picture of the lovely goodies that I received in Chookyblue's Annual SSCS swap.  I'm thinking this is the fourth year she's run it and I've so enjoyed participating.

She usually announces the swap in August and this year she was a bit later than usual. So I thought she needed some prodding.

And the reply came back:  If you're so eager, you can have me for a swap partner!

I was absolutely delighted.

I had these wonderful chicken blocks from a swap more than eight years ago.  Just languishing in the coop cupboard waiting to be made into something.  And then I saw the perfect border fabric.  Destiny, if I ever met her!  So here's a picture of the snuggle quilt I made for Donna.

She liked it.

A lot.

Death in Custody: Paul Anthony Casteldeoro.

According to the Pima County Sheriff's department, 31 year old Paul Anthony Casteldeoro was found hanging in his holding cell this week in the county jail. They said he had been held there on numerous charges since November 5, but nothing on him has been updated on the court website in years.


Condolences to Paul's friends and family, if you're out there. Please contact me if you want to share any of his story, so I can publish more than just his criminal record.

Heads up to everyone else - one suicide may trigger another. Be kind in case you end up addressing survivors of something so profoundly tragic you can't possibly imagine.

Just be kind.

thanks,

peg

New Year's Eve Parade of Fools: 2010.

Just came from the Fiesta Bowl parade in Phoenix. The signs facing the two AZ politicians below say "Stop Prisoner Abuse" (on "Defend Human Rights") and "for a Happier New Year" (at my feet)...














joe arpaio

jan brewer

Inspiration for the New Year

Today I'm linking up with Debra over at Vintage Inspiration Friday #18. If you're looking for a little inspiration mojo for 2011, that's where you'll find it!

These are just a few shots from around my home...decorated with some of my vintage favorites...

May peace, good health, and joy be yours in 2011!

ASPC-Tucson 2010: Christmas Day Escape.

It was foiled before they got anywhere. This attempt happened at ASPC-Tucson right after we left Saturday...this is good coverage, from what I know so far, from the Guardian.  A few things went down there that day. 


The ACPOA saw this coming and warned the Governor, by the way, for those of you just now tuning in. She stands behind her man.

Now what about the prisoner from Lewis?

A Wintery Tale

Awhile back, Paula had a giveaway and I was the winner.  Her giveaway was this book, Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas, an author new to me.

When the book came, Joe was between reads, so he grabbed it and read it before I got to it.  When he was done, I was in the midst of a 900-page tome (oh, my wrists!) and just this past week got to read Whiter Than Snow.

It is a gentle book about an avalanche, which sounds like a contradiction in terms.  Each chapter is almost like a short story, as we are introduced to one character's story after another.  I liked it.

When I signed up for Paula's giveaway, I promised to give this book away after reading it.  So now it is time to do that.  If you want the book, leave me a comment, and I'll draw a name.  I think it would be nifty if you'd also promise to give it away when finished.  But that isn't mandatory.

Pertamina Oil Truck Papercraft

Pertamina Oil Truck Papercraft

Title : Pertamina Oil Truck
Genre : Papercraft
Designer : Yudho
Builder : Yudho
Publisher : www.mypapermodel.blogspot.com
Scale : 1:50
Paper Used : Art Paper 210 gsm
Adhesive : PVaC White Glue
Color : Printed with laser printer
Working Time : 9 Hrs
Difficulty : 2/5

Pertamina is the biggest state-owned corporation (BUMN) in Indonesia. It is an oil company which has 7 oil-mill and focusing its trade in Energy and Petrochemical. Divided into 2 sector,there are sektor hulu ("upper sector" that run exploration and exploitation of oil, gas, and geothermal) and sektor hilir ("lower sector" which distribute all Pertamina's products into consumer). The Pertamina oil trucks, i believe, are playing an important role in distributing one of Pertamina's product (gasoline) to the peoples. It delivers gasoline from Pertamina's oil-mill to thousands gas stations in Indonesia and can be seen easily on the street. Can be seen easily on the street doesnt mean that can get the references easier. On the internet, the references are minimum, and either the photos. So, i had to take the photos by myself and do some litlle reserach :D.

Based on Mitsubishi Fuso FN 517 ML

This Pertamina Oil Truck Papercraft was based on Mitsubishi FUSO Truck, precisely Mitsubishi FUSO FN 517 ML. It can hold 16000 L of gasoline and have 6 tyres (i think it has 10 tyres, 8 of them are on rear end). I tried to design this model as simple as possible but not to let the details gone. It was challenging thing (to design and to build) because  this model is quite small. You can find fire extinguisher, ladder, countershaft, and rear views in this model. Although it contains some small parts, this model is still easy to build. You only need to pay attention when building the tyres. The standard tyres that i give to you, have wedge shape. It makes the tyres not only more like the real ones, but also more difficult to build. So then, i give you two modes of tyres. The standard ones, and the optional ones. Please use optional ones when you have some difficulties when building the standard ones (see instructions).

Here are some photos of Pertamina Oil Truck Papercraft :

You can compare the size with the keyboard, this is a small model

Back side

Fire Extinguisher--Safety First--Supporting Pertamina
to be a zero accident company

Pertamina oil truck papercraft and Merkava papercraft
at the same scale

Download Pertamina oil truck papercraft here

Pertamina Oil Truck Papercraft Instruction

How to assamble the tyres

Two types of tyres

Right-Front side look

  

The chassis and the oil tank base

 

The Countershaft at the bottom

This is an instruction page, you can download the model here

It's about time!!

I am glad to see that the Scott Sisters will be free from their Mississippi jail after 16 long years.

I won't get into this story again, it has been well documented here and other places. (Well, some other places. Some of you so call pro black women bloggers have been woefully silent on this issue.) But let me say this: folks here in A-merry-ca should not get upset when people in other parts of the world laugh at the notion of "American exceptionalism". It's cases like this that makes such a notion a joke. A life sentence for an $11 robbery? !!!


So Haley finally did the right thing and decided to act on behalf of these poor women. (For the record, he did not pardon them, he marely suspended their sentence for medical reasons. Yes, there are conditions to their release: One sister (Gladys) will have to give her kidney to the other (Jamie) whose kidneys are failing her.) Is there anyone reading this who doesn't believe that Haley did what he did for political reasons and to ease the sting of his ignorant comments about civil rights, recently?


And I have to take a moment to rip Ben Jealoous and the NAACP. I heard Jealous on CNN praising Barbour for his actions and refusing to say that he finally acted, after six years in office, for political reasons. Come on Ben, stop it! You know Haley only acted the way he did because he is thinking about 2012. Most A-merry-cans still don't know about the Scott Sisters, but I guarantee you that if one of them had died in jail, just in time for Haley's run, they would have.


So Governor Barbour, unlike those other Negroes like Ben Jealous, I won't be thanking you for s^&t. You should have acted six years ago. The state you lead -and which you are a product of- did this to these poor women, and countless others before them. You get no praise here, and I hope that everyone with half of a brain realizes why you did what you did.


Thank you NAACP! Even though,as usual, you were behind the 8 ball, and it was race chasing bloggers like moi screaming injustice for anyone who will listen, who were in front of this story. Still, we understand that you are the official face of the Negro in A-merry-ca, and if you hadn't gotten involved or Haley hadn't decided he wanted to be president someday, Gladys and Jamie would still be rotting in jail.

Pinwheels

I found this to be utterly amazing!

Tweener Week

The time between Christmas and New Year's is sometimes called Tweener Week because it falls be"tween" the holidays! It is not to be confused with the term "tween" which refers to people who are ten, eleven or twelve years old and thereby too old to be considered just children, but still not yet old enough to be teenagers. Tweeners can be distinguished by their devotion to their king, Justin Bieber.



Not too much happening really. I saw Bucketman on the bus.



The UMass campus is a scene of silent serenity with the students gone for winter break.



With Christmas over, the Amherst/Pelham Boy Scouts dismantled their tree stand.



A scene from Raos Coffee Shop in Amherst.



A view out the window of the Amherst Starbucks.



We didn't have snow for Christmas, but Mother Nature soon obliged the day after, transforming the woodland path into downtown Northampton into an icy snow-way.



Arriving downtown, I saw our magical town made even more so.



With the snow piled high in the middle of the street.



The only remnant of summer's green was this pot leaf in the window of The Hemp Store.



Happy New Year everybody! I predict that 2011 is going to be a really cool year. If you want to follow me, better look up, because that is where I will be, rising towards the Big Time.

Two boys making fools of themselves in Holyoke in 1978.


Bus passing through downtown Springfield by S.P. Sullivan.