Good morning all. It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that Ollie the wonder corgi has passed into heaven. He was in profound kidney failure, and this morning, there was just nothing else we could do for him except for give him an ice cream cone, and some water, and a last bit of a walk in the sunshine, then lay down in the sun and go to sleep. It was incredibly painful for us all, and for my children who are away at school. I hope this feeling I have goes away or softens sometimes soon, as it is really hard.

Love, Kathleen

April 29,2008. We are back from visiting our oldest daughter Emily, who is studying at Cambridge for her Masters Degree on a Gates Fellowship. (Thanks Bill). We took some great shots of the lovely Botanical garden there, and of me knitting a sock for Martha, who was home sick as a dog, and the only one not with us on the trip. Poor Martha. Here is a photo of me knitting the sock, as well as the sock communing with some lovely purple flowers, (not sure of the name). England is glorious at this time of year.

Good morning from wonderful and springy Cambridge England. Jamie, Sally, and I are visiting our daughter Emily, who is studying on a fellowship here at Cambridge. She will finish her masters' degree in June, and will then return to New York to begin MD Grad school at the Albert Einstein Medical School in the Bronx, where she also has a full scholarship, thankfully. Life is blessed.

4/6. I have been doing some crewel embroidery, with Appleton wool that I have gottten. I am embroidering old linen hankies with little flowers, but also, I am looking for some extra colors of wool in either Appleton or Paternayan. Let me know if you have either that you'd like to sell ....maybe you have some extra skeins that you don't need?

4/3 I have not been sleeping or feeling very well lately, as the late winter cold rains have been aggravating my arthritis. I lately have been cheered by the sounds of birds in the early morning, ..the robins have returned, thank God, and this morning, as I woke early, I read Christine's website, and am encouraged to produce my own breadmaking workspace, and natural leaven supply to continue to bake our bread here in our home. I found a natural peace in reading her website and I highly recommend that you take a look at her work on bread making, and on yarn production.

3/21 Happy Spring! Waiting to see Robins here.. in N. Vermont. It's been snowing here on and off and it's a nuisance. I have a question.... for those of you with specific wool stashes.... how do you organize your wool. and yarn stashes? I have a few plastic boxes, and some plastic bags, but I would like to know how you all organize your stuff so that you know what you have, and keep it clear what you have.

Any and all suggestions appreciated....

Kindly, Kathleen

From a reader who knows a lot about seeds.... some words about seed safety.

Seed Analysis and Seed Testing

Seed analysis pertains to the testing of seed that is to be sold through commercial channels to farmers, gardeners, and other seed growers. Every bag of seed that is sold has to have a "seed label" attached to it.

Because of this, each seed lot being sold has to be analyzed for certain physical and quality aspects. Each seed company has their own seed lab that does these tests and most states have a state seed laboratory that does these tests for regulatory purposes.

3/15. Good morning from Bennington Vermont. Today we are in Bennington, awaiting the performance for the New England Music Festival orchestra, which Sally is playing in...as a violinist. They are going to be playing at the Mount Anthony school, and it should be a lovely time. I have been here at a local hotel, relaxing, and taking it easy...and getting some work done as well. I've been knitting, and finally figured out HOW TO KNIT A SOCK ON TWO CIRCULAR NEEDLES!!!!

Hi Friends. There is a really cool website called Free Rice. Some of you may have seen this already...but it is a word game that you play, and as you go along, and win, using vocabulary words, you early REAL FREE RICE for those in need around the world.

Feb 22. Ok. I am jealous. But before you figure out what I am jealous of ( going to a workshop with Stephanie Pearl McPhee in residence), know that the rest of this blog is here, but it's in the section that is stowed away, to keep the front page clean and neat,...so,..click READ MORE, and you'll find it.

Feb 13. I have been on a marathon work orientation session at our local hospital. I am orienting to the post partum unit, after NOT working as a hospital nurse for 25 years. It's a fun ride, but doesn't leave me much time for computer work until evening, ... some evenings I just fall asleep.

Hoping you are all enjoying the winter. we are supposed to have another big storm today, and Sally, poor girl, is hoping for a snow day (she's 16). She has another really bad cold. yucko.

Feb 8 . This morning I listened to NPR's StoryCorp. Hector Black spoke about his daughter's brutal murder...Hector now is an outspoken voice of peace in a world of hatred and violence. Read his story, and hear his quiet and peaceful voice at StoryCorp on NPR. Today...http://www.storycorps.net/

Hector himself is a light in the darkness of violence in our world. He says...

"“Quakers are not so much against war as for peace. We believe that it is more consistent with the teachings of Jesus to live a life that takes away the occasion for war and violence, thus sowing seeds of peace instead of fighting wars.”

Feb 6. We are getting ready to have our pages updated by our wonderful Geoff, who is the webmaster of our charity, Young Writers' Project. He is going to update our software, and make things work smoother than they do now.

Do you have any problems with the site that you would like to mention? Problems with navigation? Things you wish were here that aren't? Things you wish weren't here but are?

I cannot promise that we can change any of it, but we would like some input, if you have it. Compliments accepted of course. Good hearted criticism also accepted. KBruce@together.net. Thanks and blessings!

Feb 5. In Burlington Vermont, on Feb 15, the movie The Business of Being Born will be shown at UVM. I will be a panelist after the movie, and it should be a very informative evening. The movie will be shown at UVM. on February 15, 2008

7:00pm UVM'S BILLINGS LH
(Formerly CC Theater)
Burlington, VT

http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/

I think it's worth watching. Blessings. Kathleen

My nestFeb 4. I wanted to show you all the beautiful little drawing Emiliy drew for my logo for my new business cards. Since I help mommies and babies breastfeed for work, I have this as my logo, and I am hand coloring in each little egg a lovely blue green color. Isn't it sweet?