It was supposed to be a holiday . . .

Dear Mandella,

We don't get terribly involved with celebrating July 4th. We don't dress up in red, white, and blue. We don't go to parades. We don't head out to any of the fireworks displays. We pretty much just try to get some down time before heading back to work in the blazing July heat.

I don't think this weekend really counts as down time. Yesterday I dyed yarn, about 20 skeins. I think the thrill is gone. That thought occurred to me last night as I was soaking wet from rinsing (which means the initial rinse, then the vinegar soak, then a last wash and rinse) yarn over the bath tub last night between 8:00 and 9:00. That was four hours of dyeing yarn and about 1 hour to rinse.

At about 5:00 p.m. (roughly 2 hours after applying the dye) I realized I didn't have any vinegar. I ventured out, hopeful of finding something open. Lo and behold, my local grocery store was open. I placed a call to my DH to ask him whether there was anything else we needed.

"Get a couple of nice steaks," he said. "I'll grill them."

"Maybe some corn on the cob, too?" I asked.

"Great!"

I came home with the steaks, a package of 5 ears of sweet corn, a package of 4 little shortcake rounds, a quart of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel sauce, 2 packages of shredded cheese to go with the bag of Tostitos and, oh, yes, 5 gallons of vinegar. I actually purchased some blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries (you know -- add the whipped cream and you have lovely red-white-blue dessert), but these mysteriously did not make it home with me. I suspect they are still at the grocery store.

We ate our supper around 7 pm. I rinsed yarn around 8 pm. Around 9:30 p.m. we went outdoors to the pervasive scent of gun powder because nearly everyone in the neighborhood was shooting off fireworks. I'm not talking about the little sparklers here. I'm talking about blooming balls of color and screaming spirals of glitter (sort of like what's in the photo above).

Which meant it was time to get out the ones we'd purchased - marvelous boxes that fired wads of paper and gunpowder into the sky that blossomed into a whole rainbow of colors. Oh, that was fun! It was all of about 10 minutes of fun, but we liked it.

So, this year we did our "patriotic duty" and barbecued, made an attempt at a red-white-blue dessert, and shot off a few fireworks. And then we went inside.

I'm still tired.

I have to leave in about 30 minutes to pick up my Aunt Mary to take her over to visit my mom. I hope I'll be able to get some sleep while they talk.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Judith

Listing a Bit, but Still Upright

Dear Mandella,

When I was designing this site initially I made a list at the side of blogs that you had on your Tarty Crafty site and blogs that I had on my old knitting blog site. Since that time a few people have dropped off but others have been added, especially recently.

One of the nice things about being part of the Secret Pal exchange is that I'm discovering some interesting knitters from all around. I went out to the Ravelry link for Secret Pal 14 and started looking at the blogs of various members. A few seemed to be really interesting, so I added them to the list at left in order to be able to remember to check them out regularly.

I need lists. I have so many ideas and so many things to do and people I love that I need lists to keep everything in order. I had to make a master list of things I wanted to accomplish over the weekends of July and August so that I didn't go crazy every Saturday morning when I awoke. Inevitably I wake on Saturday morning feeling miserably overwhelmed by everything I want to do and I often feel as though I have only one day in which to do it.

So, my list for this weekend (which is four days long on account of the Independence Day holiday) includes dyeing sock yarn, moving things out of the back bedroom (the one that needs mucking out so that I can strip the wallpaper and repaint and eventually turn it into a real guest room), attending to laundry, visiting my mother, and a few other things. So far I've moved the dye stuffs to the downstairs (where it will reside from now on), knitted a felted bag (more on that another time), read a book, and slept. A lot.

I've decided that maybe my list for this weekend was a bit ambitious. I've now crossed off going to church on Sunday on account of this is a better day for me to take my Aunt Mary to visit my mom (they are sisters and neither one drives). The best time for Aunt Mary is starting at around 9:30 a.m. (which is when I retrieve her from her apartment and drive her across town to my mother's house). So, I'll probably work on getting some more yarn wound up while my aunt and my mom visit. It won't make sense for me to drive all the way back across town to do something at home, then drive back to mom's to collect my aunt.

I've also decided that perhaps this isn't the weekend in which I should try to haul things over to the storage unit. I should wait until next weekend, especially since I might be able to get the sons of some friends to help. At any rate, it will be enough to empty out that back room. Besides, my husband's vehicle -- which has infinitely more space than my car -- is a pig sty that will need mucking out before I can use it to transport stuff in it. Either that, or I'll need to rent a U-Haul truck, and the latter option just isn't viable for a holiday weekend.

We had quite a thunderstorm last night. Sadly, it meant some of the fireworks displays were canceled, but perhaps tonight will be better. In the meantime, I have quite a bit of work to get to today.

Hugs and good knitting to you!

Judith

My UFO List

Socks:

• Pair of socks (2 at the same time) from the toe up (about 3 inches in) on US 1.
• Pair of red socks for my SIL Deb on US 2. The first sock is near the heel turn.
• Pair of waffle socks on US 1. First one is done; second one isn't started yet.
• Pair of socks on US 1 worked in hand-dyed Louet Gems sport weight and a funky honeycomb sort of pattern. I'm losing interest already.Pair of socks from the toe up (just one at a time) in Dream in Color with silver. On US 3. Using a modified "Dead Simple Lace" pattern from Wendy Knits. About 3" along.
• Pair of socks for a college-bound nephew in Lisa Souza sport Merino superwash in the Mars Quake colorway. Worked in a simple 2 x 2 rib and 2 x 2 garter rib. First sock is at the gusset decreased. Worked on US 2.Second Raindrop Sock needs to be worked from Purlie sock yarn in the Mardi Gras colorway (first sock was knit as a sample; it's about time I get the second one done).Second Swag Sock needs to be worked from Purlie sock yarn (Appassionato colorway). Again, the first one was knit as a sample.Second Swag Sock needs to be worked from a ball of Cash Vero DK. Still again, the first one was knit as a sample.
• The second of a pair of socks from Cascade 220 Superwash on US 4 that utilizes a stranded rose pattern.

Scarves:

• A lacy scarf on US 5. I'm about 5" into it.
• A scarf from Misty Alpaca bulky that is 2/3 done (I'm on the 3rd of 3 skeins).
• Garter Linen scarf on US 9 in Manos del Uruguay silk blend. Nearing the halfway point. I think.
• Lace scarf (Victorian Lace today Pattern) on US 6 with Jojoland Ballad. I've got about 2" knit.Lace scarf (another Victorian Lace Today pattern) on US 7 with Mini Maiden in colorway Vintage. I have two repeats done of the first end border (see previous posts on this).

Wraps/Shawls/Throws:

• Diagonally crocheted wrap with leftovers from a Kaffe Fasset kit (long story) that's going to take forever.
• AB-Fab throw in colorway Misty Morning. Only through the one color repeat (56 rows), plus 8 more.

Pullovers/Cardigans:

• Striped pullover that was to have been for my niece (she's grown out of it) on US 6. I have the back done and I'm slowly working up to the front. There are a zillion ends to work in.
• A short cardigan in Cascade Venezia worsted on US 7 for my sister Mary. Uses a modification of the Summer Sunner lace pattern. I'm about 2" away from doing the armhole bind-offs, but I'm thinking I really want to work this as a drop sleeve. Oh, well.
• Magnificent red pullover (mentioned earlier) from hand-dyed Louet Gems sport weight and fashioned with some Melissa Leapman cables. I'm about 6" into the back only which is pathetic because the back is the easiest.
• Colorful cardigan for a grand-niece made on US 3 with King Tut cotton and worked in intarsia. I'm 1" - 2" away from dividing for the armholes and I'm not sure how I want to work it, so it's in stasis.

Other:

• Washcloth on US 6. About 1.5" done.
• Pair of gloves on US 3 from Cascade 220 superwash for my DH. In a bright royal blue. First one done, second one barely started (just past the cuff ribbing). The first glove is ... interesting. I think the fingers and thumb are far too big around.
• A doily I'm crocheting from Austermann Step is about halfway done.

Secret Pal 14 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

My favorite yarns to knit with are wool (regular and/or superwash), alpaca, silk, and blends that include those fibers. In general, I don't enjoy knitting with yarns that have no give, but that's not an absolute because I've knit with mercerized cotton and with silk. I've even got a couple skeins of yarn that are a mix of nylon and some kind of polymide or acrylic but, strangely enough, it's kind of springy. Mainly I *don't* want a whole skein of Red Heart whatever because it just hurts my hands to work with it.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have roll up pocket cases for my dpns and crochet hooks. I have a whole bunch of straights that I'm going to donate because I rarely use them; the ones I'll keep I have a plastic container for. It's my circulars that are kind of a mess. Right now I collect them in Zip-Loc baggies that have a panel on the outside so that I can write the size on it.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I started knitting when I was in my teens, then gave it up for about 20 or 25 years. I started knitting again around 2003, I think, and I haven't stopped yet. I'm at least an intermediate level knitter, maybe between intermediate and advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Sorry, but no. Well, maybe I have one on Amazon, but I haven't kept it up in ages.

5. What's your favorite scent?

Money. OK, seriously, I like outdoor scents -- that little bit of earthiness just after a rain, the smell of prairie grasses in summer and autumn, the smell of wood and leaves burning in autumn and winter, the gentle fragrance of some trees as they bloom in the springtime.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Me? A sweet tooth? Would my enormous belly be an answer to that question? I like all sorts of candy except for licorice (sp?).

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I dye yarn (mainly superwash), I've been known to crochet a few doilies, I can do embroidery and needlepoint (but not cross stitch), and I sew (both garments and quilt tops). I don't spin, I don't quilt, and I get cross-eyed from counted cross stitch.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like all kinds of music except for head-banger stuff. Really, three chords and a lot of screaming that's supposed to pass for passionate lyrics? forget it! But I listen to hip-hop, R&B, blues, other jazz, gospel, new age, classical, soft rock, classic rock, and even some country (so long as it isn't too overwrought). I have a generic MP3 player and my computer can play MP3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I like all kinds of colors. I swoon over some fuschia/plum/chestnut/gold combinations as well as those that run into rich blues with lime greens and touches of lavender. I love red and I'm knitting a pullover for myself out of a bright and rich red that I dyed. Intense or pastel doesn't matter, jewel tones or neutrals doesn't matter. What matters to me is that it's interesting.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

My DH and I have been married for 17 years. We have a dog and 2 cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves and mittens, yes; hats and ponchos, no.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I love to knit socks. I like knitting mittens, wrist-warmers, hats, scarves, cardigans and pullovers. I've knit one glove so far (it's not great, but it will do), but it hasn't put me off gloves forever. My latest thing is learning to knit lace. I hope never to knit a poncho. I have at least one throw that is a UFO. I think I have no patience for these things.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Oooh, that's kind of embarrassing. I just sorted through my stuff and I have an entire container of UFOs. I'm working on finishing up these things. Right now I'm working on the pair of socks for my nephew. OK, I'm working, too, on a felted bag from some leftovers, but that's another story.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes, so long as they're in good taste.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

My absolute favorites are Addi Laci circulars. After that, it's the Addi Turbo circulars. I have a few odd pairs of straights in bamboo and plastic.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes to both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

About 3 years, I think.

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?

My favorite all-time holiday is Christmas, but I'll celebrate anything.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Yarn and UFOs apparently! Other than that, no.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I have about everything I need in this category. I don't get magazine subscriptions because they very rarely design anything in my size.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I'm trying to learn temporary cast-ons for lace.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I have an entire bin of sock yarn. It's embarrassing. My foot is about 9.5" around (at the ball) and about that long. I wear a US 9-1/2 Wide shoe.

23. When is your birthday?

My b-day is June 9. I just turned 50! Yipppeee!!!!!!!

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

On Ravelry my name is Elishka.

Yarn Sorting and other Stories

OK, I've signed up for Secret Pal 14 and that means I've got to post at least once per week here. Thus, a sort of "constitutional" needs to be planned, a sort of regular exercise of the blogging muscles in which I at least mention knitting. Or yarn. Or something like that. God knows I can usually find something to talk about, but does that make it interesting or even readable?

I pulled in the bins of yarn that have collecting throughout my home -- three big ones in the junk room, four reasonably sized ones in the garage, and several odd containers in the living room. All of the UFOs are now sorted into one container, a large one. All of the superwash wool is in its own reasonably-sized container. One of the larger ones is holding all of the sock yarn. Still another larger one plus 2 reasonably-sized ones are holding hand-wash-only wool. A reasonably-sized container is overflowing with cotton and linen types of yarn, and another box contains the silk and lace weight stuff. It's embarrassing.

I talked with a gal at my LYS and I think I'll donate a lot of the hand-wash-only wool for a felted bag contest. It will be on the order of the quilt challenges I've seen in the catalogs. Everyone will pay a small fee (like $5) and get some wool along with a non-felting novelty yarn. From there they can add on as many other yarns or colors as they like. I'm not sure what we'll have for judging criteria, but I've proposed that I along with two other local designers be the judges. In the past the winners have been on the order of popularity contests in which people have told non-knitter (and non-crocheting) friends and family to stop in and vote for their item.

So, this will be getting rid of my stuff as well as doing something useful for my LYS. I really can't donate this yarn. Most places want washable yarns. Nobody seems to want *gasp!* real wool because they don't want the fuss of caring for it. Of course, if you're knitting it for the homeless or another charity, that makes sense. But, for heavens sake, I couldn't even sell it for $1 per skein at a garage sale!

I'm dyeing superwash sock yarn this weekend and taking over a lot of my regular wool yarn to my LYS. Then I'm coming up with the marketing for this contest.

Tomorrow is pool day. I need it now.

Designer Sadists

Dear Auntie Judith,

A while back I bought a pattern for a pretty Summer top that calls for Euroflax sport weight yarn. I started to make a swatch which was when I saw the pattern called for needles sized 2.0 mm and 2.5 mm — that’s size 0 and 1.5 in US sizes. I started making a swatch with a size 1. My swatch, which should have measured 4 inches, maybe a little bit more, measured about 6 inches! So, I tried again, this time on size 0 needles, and it didn’t get much smaller. Also, it was next to impossible to knit that yarn on those needles – my hands were nearly cramping by the time I had a few rows of a swatch done! I’m mad at the designer! Why did she decide to knit sportweight linen on size 1 needles!!!!!! Yes, it makes a nice, smooth fabric, but this is ridiculous! How did she expect people to do this?!

Clawhanded

Gentle Knitter,

You just never know how often self-abuse is part of the design process until you come across a pattern like that. I, myself, am knitting a child’s multi-color cardigan in King Tut cotton on *gasp* US 3 needles. I’m getting 6 very firm stitches to the inch. And I’m working it as intarsia. I’ll never publish this pattern because I know full well that no one, not even the most addled and addicted knitter, should engage in this kind of masochism.

Unless, of course, it’s lace. Then all bets are off.

Hugs & Happy knitting to you!

Auntie Judith

No Lace, Mrs. Bennett!

Dear Mandella,

Were you, like nearly all women in the western world, glued to your television for that wonderful BBC miniseries adaptation of Pride & Prejudice? I'm talking about the "wet T-shirt Darcy" version, with Colin Firth as the smouldering hunk of rich man at Bingley's side. It's only in that version we have Mr. Bennett protesting, "No lace!" when Mrs. Bennett is in raptures as she recounts the clothing of Bingley's sisters. It is my DH's favorite line when I start in with my Victorian Lace Today or A Gathering of Lace books. He likes to tease me because he knows that I am wont to have the P&P dvd playing whilst I've been toiling away at my paltry attempts to knit lace.

Oh, it should be easy, shouldn't it? After all, it's just knits and purls and yarn-overs and decreases, right? I'm finding that even in the midst of this simplicity I am at times confounded.

My latest attempt is the scarf on page 100 of Victorian Lace Today worked with a skein of Mini-Maiden (from ColorSong Yarns web site) in the Vintage colorway on US 7 needles. I'd attempted it on my own, but was confounded by having one too many stitches at the end of the first charted row, then by having one too few stitches at the end of the third charted row. That didn't count dropping the yarn and needles several times as I attempted the crochet cast-on. Besides that, I was trying to work these on a pair of needles with regular points. The yarn kept splitting.

Then I moved to a pair of Bryspun straights. It was a tad better, but not great. The author put in a symbol for K2tog, but didn't indicate if that meant to P2tog or what on the wrong side. After all, the unshaded empty square meant to knit on the RS and purl on the WS. If the unshade square has a right-slanting virgule it means to K2tog on the RS, but what about the WS? In the back of the book it indicates to P2tog when that symbol occurs on the WS, but the instructions on that page don't say to do that. It merely states K2tog.

My head was about to explode, so at last I admitted I could not do it on my own and telephoned my Lace Knitters Anonymous sponsor M and asked for a private 12-step knit-along to get this working for me. For preparation I photocopied the charts from the book and then enlarged them.

This past Wednesday, when I was scheduled to see M after the evening meal, storms blew in to the south and west of us and were predicted to be over our heads by 5:00 p.m. We postponed until Thursday, which was just as well because I'd already had a long and difficult day. Then, at 6:00 p.m., M telephoned to say that the storms appeared to have gone around us so I should come over anyway. Which I did. I quickly tracked down my lace chart holder (a mere $10 from KnitPicks) and my yarn, but I couldn't find the Addi Laci needles I'd purchased for this project earlier in the week. Thus, I dumped an entire box of assorted needles (straights, dpns, circulars) into a bag and hoped they would be among the mess when I arrived at M's.

Nope. No US 7.0 Addi Laci circular. Thus, I picked up a US 6.0 circular and a different yarn just for practicing the stitches and the pattern.

Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our desire to abuse ourselves pitifully whilst trying to discern the pattern-writer's instruction.

Step 2: We acknowledged there was a Knitter greater than ourselves.

Step 3: We made a conscious decision to turn our life and our will over to the whims of Knitting as we understood it.

Step 4: We took yarn, needles and crochet hook in hand and learned the crochet cast-on.

Step 5: We made a searching and fearless inventory of the instructions.

Step 6: We confessed to ourselves, another Knitter, and to whomever else would listen (including the Dog as we understood him/her) that we were just going to do the best we could.

Step 7: We learned that the first mistake was we should have purled the first row, so we confessed our short-sightedness.

Step 8: Having made amends where appropriate, we moved through the chart one square at a time without regard for what was playing out on the television (some stupid "reality" show, but we kept the sound muted because we were most interested in the local weather info that was scrolling at the bottom of the screen on account of the severe storms around us).

Step 9: We continued working the chart, un-knitting where appropriate and keeping the swearing to a minimum.

Step 10: We took a deep breath and glanced through the remaining instructions, applying the same principles we'd already learned.

Step 11: We opened a bottle of wine.

Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we vowed to carry the message to others.

Thus, I was able to get through the first 8 or 9 rows of the chart with only one little hitch. And then I properly sorted out that rat's nest of needles in my bag. I'm happy to say that everyting is in it's place. And the US 7.0 Addi Laci needles were at home and among some other yarn.

Of course, when on Thursday night I cast on with the Mini-Maiden and the correct needles, I dropped the crochet hook a few times. Then I was missing one stitch on the 3rd row of the chart, but I was able to pick up a dropped yarn-over. By the 9th row, however, I was short 2 stitches and couldn't figure out where I'd lost them. This is probably because I was trying to watch The Mentalist, then The Daily Show, then The Colbert Report -- all while trying to knit lace. I frogged the entire thing (again) and went to bed.

Last night I put on a DVD of As Times Goes By, series 3, and I am happy to report that I am at row 21 of a 28-row chart and there have been no glitches whatsoever.

When it comes down to it, I think what really matters is that you have the right thing on television. :)

Hugs and good knitting to you!

Judith

What I've Learned

Today I am 50 years old.

Esquire magazine has a regular feature called “What I’ve Learned” in which a person of note and “of a certain age” is interviewed about the things he has learned over time. Since I’m sure the editors of Esquire will never interview me, I decided to make my own list. These 50 things I’ve learned over 50 years aren’t in any specific order of importance. I was just pondering on what I’ve learned in life now that I’ve reached this milestone birthday.

The number on the scale isn’t an accurate indicator of your value.

Neither is your clothing size.

It’s easier to stay fit than it is to get fit.

Dance. Even if you have to close all of the doors and cover the windows, turn up the music and dance. It’s good exercise, and it’s fun. Back in the 1980s I went to a gay nightclub several times because it was a place where everybody danced. You didn’t have to be either pretty or partnered. Everyone got on the dance floor and had fun. It reminded me of when we were kids, when gender and appearance had nothing to do with whether you enjoyed yourself.

I stopped going to the gay nightclub when some guy there thought I was a man in drag. I’d have been insulted if I hadn’t been laughing so hard.

Sex is not a substitute for self-esteem.

Neither is chocolate. (But I’ve had some chocolate in my day that was nearly as good as sex.)

My mother always says that God never gives you more than you can handle. I disagree. God often hands me tons more than I can handle. I keep giving it back.

Your relationship with God (as you understand Him/Her/It) is personal; it is not for anyone else to determine how or what that relationship should be.

Not everyone who professes to care for you has your best interests at heart.

Just because someone is talking louder than everyone else doesn’t mean that person is right.

Just because it was on television (or the Internet) doesn’t mean it is true or important.

Television news is primarily interested in getting ratings. Newspapers are primarily interested in attracting readership.

In this day and age, fear sells. Don’t buy it.

Advertisers work very hard to figure out what key words and phrases are appealing to the people they want to buy their product. That doesn’t mean the product is good.

Never give a customer/client the opportunity to choose something hideous. You can show them everything from your best work to an average concept, but never show them something that you’d be embarrassed to point out as your own.

Some clients/customers will still ask for something tacky/crappy/hideous no matter how much you try to steer them away from it. Give it to them and then let it go.

Some people never have time to do things right, but they always find time to do it over.

Creativity is not a “neat” process. If you want to be creative then you have to allow yourself to make a mess.

Learning to tidy up while you work will save you from the despair of cleaning up the whole mess at the end.

Begin before you’re ready; stop before you’re done. (Advice to doctoral students working on their dissertations which applies to messy creative people.)

Cleaning up someone else’s mess is annoying, but it’s easier than cleaning up your own stuff because you have no emotional attachment to it. This is probably why we’re all so good at solving one another’s personal problems but can’t resolve our own.

Housework is annoying and tedious, but it still beats the depression that comes from living in a constant mess.

Clinical depression is a combination of biology and attitude. You can’t always change the biology, but you can change how you deal with it.

Having the right medication is like having the right shoes for playing the game. There’s a very good reason that basketball players don’t arrive on the court in ski boots.

Knitting has helped me to be more patient. If I can do something positive and creative while I wait, then I am able to wait calmly.

Just because I’m knitting while you’re talking doesn’t mean I’m ignoring you. Science has shown that the brain is more engaged and focused when people doodle (or knit) while listening.

Life should have choices beyond mere survival. (I think that’s one of the tenets of the Adult Children of Alcoholics organization, but it’s one I take to heart.)

If it’s the challenges in life that show what you’re really made of, then I must admit that I am made of Jell-O.

Humility is not a trait of a weak person. Only those who are truly strong in character are able to admit to being human.

Everybody lies. It’s how we’re able to get along with each other. Most people would call it manners (and they would be right).

In fiction, conflict is what drives the story forward. In “reality” shows, conflict is what drives the audience numbers up.

Never underestimate the power of a humble apology to calm down an angry situation.

Forgiveness is essential for good relationships.

Pets are joy in tangible form.

In the end, it’s not what you think that matters to people; it’s what you do.

We are Santa Claus for each other. (That’s why I like to sign my Christmas gifts as coming from “Santa Judith.”)

There’s nothing wrong with giving gifts at Christmas. There is everything wrong with believing you must.

If a gift were somehow deserved or merited it would be a payment, not a gift.

If people were to employ the proper use of the past subjunctive of the verb “to be,” then I would in all likelihood stop correcting them under my breath.

You have to know the rules before you can bend the rules. My sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Holdsworth, repeated this aphorism constantly with regard to grammar and composition. I’ve found that it applies to all sorts of things in life.

Good writing isn’t just about putting words on the page or documenting the facts. Writing is more like having a jigsaw puzzle of sounds and images that fit together into a whole picture.

Learning a language other than your own will help you to understand better the grammar of your own language.

Each language has its own music.

Email is nice and it’s fast, but it will never equal the sublime joy of applying ink to paper.

There are few things more gratifying than receiving a personal note among all of the bills and advertisements that usually come in the mailbox.

A thank-you note – even if it’s scrawled by child – never fails to touch the heart.

We are not born “naturally good.” We are born necessarily self-centered. All of maturity is gradually unlearning that trait.

Maturity isn’t for sissies or whiners.

Never confuse maturity with age. It’s not how many years old you are that’s important; what’s important is that you remain open to learning, that you approach life with the curiosity and wonder of a child and the wisdom of an adult.