ablackram

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:41:13 GMT

going to use more filtered posts when I get on for the time being. Nothing personal to anyone, just going to start putting my research on here, at least links and with copyright issues for this or that I don't need any hassles.

That and everyone doesn't need to hear me on other issues. :)

Have a great day!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:21:38 GMT

So trying out the new blackberry so I can communicate with the hubby better :). Only prob so far is the VZ Access manager is not configured to smart phone so have to take laptop in and upload the program from the wifi. Tre cool tho!!

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:15:25 GMT

Last 2 weeks have been a busy week off. First getting ready for Mom and Dad to come and sit the farm while we go to Vegas. Lots of info to tell them in 24 hours.

Left for Vegas, temps over 100 each day. Walked our feet off. The monorail which is supposed to be really cool etc, not that big, not that convenient, but at least it was better than walking on Las Vegas Blvd.

The Venetian. Wow. 4 Billion dollars well spent. From the lack of cigarette smoke as you entered the huge bank of doors with handles like the front of gondolas to the check in desk with a huge green marble top you could tell this place was over the top. Everywhere we went everyone was wonderful and friendly. (actually all of Vegas was that way) From the front desk you walk down the inlaid marble floors, past columns reaching up into the hand painted ceiling. Made you think you were in the Doges palace in Venice. We followed the map (only place we really ever found a map) to the banks of elevators going up to our room, serenaded with Phantom of the Opera music. To this huuuuugee room. THE BEST ROOM WE HAVE EVER HAD! A marble bathroom with separate WC, a kingsize bed that looked small and a sitting area with a desk, table, armoire and sectional couch. Looked out over the Sheep mountains.

Everything from the pool deck on level 4 which was for the sun worshipers to the pool gardens on the 10th level that made it feel like you were in an Italian garden where the pools were hot tubs and a pool. The honey said that if I wanted to lose him in Vegas it could be there and he would be happy for life. Only things that we didn't like was lack of inexpensive food. BUT there was plenty of that on the Strip. Connected to the Canal Shoppes which had everything from a gondola ride to handmade venetian masks to most anything tasteful and expensive. After 4 days we finally found the cheaper food court, yet not GR prices.

What we saw.

Graceland Wedding Chapel and a renewal service with the King!

Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Richard Petty Experience

Blue Man Group

Zumanity

Grand Canyon - bus trip booked at LV Visitors Bureau by M&M world, 14 hours well spent

Coca Cola store - not as filled to the brim with stuff like M&M world, but fun

M&M world - 4 stories and an M&M movie

Hard Rock Cafe - visited during the day, could see all the memorabilia and actually enjoy a beer on the veranda

Volcano at the Mirage

Eifel Tower at Paris

Stratosphere - long walk, big letdown. Prices to ride the 3 rides were same as Cedar Point all day.

Bellagio Fountains - very cool

Bellagio Conservatory - nice and a walk amongst the plants (Como is better)

Pool Gardens at the Venetian

Luxor - looks cool but the rooms are all facing inside the pyramid (noise and smoke)

Mandalay Bay via tram - HUGE PLace, aquarium well worth the 16$ apiece

Lion Enclosure MGM Grand

Sirens of TI over at Treasure Island

Canal Shops at the Venetian

and that looks like all I wrote down

But the quote from the trip is as follows

"no deal is as it seems" Things changed to meet the whim of the place offering the deal

pomander bead tassel 2 - showing everyone the pretties she is making!

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:00:34 GMT

pomander bead tassel 2
Originally uploaded by ablackram

From Mistress Bre http://www.craftyfox.com/
the bead (although the example is made up as a tassel with freshwater pearls on there) - the bead looks the same otherwise. Not an exact reproduction, but overall it's based on a detail of a period painting (for scale, and overall details).

It unscrews in the center. I can make it either with a loop top, loop bottom. Or just on the top. her choice. The loops swivel around, so it won't unscrew the bead.

Pomander beads being produced by Craftyfox
They're $25. in brass, as pendants or beads (no pearls). As a pomander/tassel, it'd be $35 with freshwater pearls.

I don't have any which are gold or silver plated as yet. I will in a month or so, as soon as I have enough stuff to send to my plater. The plated, they're $35. each, bead/pendant (no pearls). And, $45. plated with the pearls.

These prices include a chain. If the piece is plated, the chain is plated with it - to match

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:17:27 GMT

Squeeee! Wii Fit Plus is ready for preorder. Sweet and if you have a board its only 20$. Awesome. New games, and they must have listened to someone who wanted more :)
Comes out Oct 4.

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:48:31 GMT

Crap

All tomato plants are infected and pulled and trashed away from the recycle pile. Nuts. So my 6 quart is all that is coming from my garden. I did manage to get some that didn't look infected, will rinse with a bleach solution and put on newspaper to dry. Really pathetic when I tossed probably 50 quart worth out. It was like an Ebola virus for tomatos. Started out as a scab, which when picked could be cut out....if left started liquifying the interior. Also had black spots on the vines themselves.

More head banging.....

sniff

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:07:23 GMT

bye bye convenient Starbucks that actually made a great Java Chip. The drive thru one in Standale is closed. And yes there is one IN Meijers, but it's not that convenient.

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:30:21 GMT

note to live by.....don't go get a fasting cholesterol test after a family birthday weekend involving a Coldstone peanutbutter cake, and pulled pork ad nauseum and pot pie the day before all that. Bad bad move on my part.

On the other hand, everything was delicious.

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:00:54 GMT

Well I took the plunge and joined Facebook. Only problems is that I cannot view at work at all 100% locked out, have to figure if I can post remotely like on LJ. At least LJ I can mostly read at work or on my phone. Now I have my full contingent of Virus scanning etc and souped up memory so maybe things will go easier. Still have to get at home regardless. sigh, but so many peeps I know. :)

Will keep up the LJ cause I really like it. Easy to use and I can get at least to my own journal at work. :)

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:53:16 GMT

Well its up. I finally got a page up regarding our desires for the Barony of Andelcrag. Hope my peeps on here will have a look and tell me if anything seems awry.

http://www.insaneaboutgarb.com/blackrams.html

keeping my foot in it

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:16:02 GMT

Shiraz Grille in GR is fabulous! And reasonable. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:59:45 GMT

well this is a bummer...Geocities from Yahoo is closing October of this year. So much for a quick webpage. Sigh. Means I have to go thru my Lunarpages instead. Bother.

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:21:41 GMT

a Hudson sprayer is worth 10,000 times more than the free one that comes with Roundup regardless of how cool it looks. As I went for a second time in a month over the spots I Roundup'd which grew back like a fiend.

Pants update.. Second side on other half of topstitching. Took time out for cleaning the barn, weeding and going to Art in the Park. Sigh, the cajun food guys weren't there. We were depressed

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:28:09 GMT

For florentinescot and everyone else who wanted to know but haven't asked yet. Thinking of doing this over a square necked workstyle dress.
http://pics.livejournal.com/ablackram/gallery/0000bz3b

The painting is by CAMPI, Vincenzo
Kitchen
1580s
Oil on canvas
Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan
found at WGU.hu http://www.wga.hu/art/c/campi/vincenzo/2kitchen.jpg
(there is more by this painter there, just only posted the one)

but wait, theres more
untucked version and half hanging on the girl
BEUCKELAER, Joachim
The Well-Stocked Kitchen
1566
Oil on panel, 171 x 250 cm
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
http://www.wga.hu/art/b/beuckela/kitchen.jpg

tucked in version
BEUCKELAER, Joachim
The Vegetable Market
1567
Oil on panel 149 x 215 cm
Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp
http://www.wga.hu/art/b/beuckela/v_market.jpg

BEUCKELAER, Joachim
Kitchen Interior
1566
Oil on wood, 109 x 139 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris
http://www.wga.hu/art/b/beuckela/kitchen1.jpg

BEUCKELAER, Joachim
The Four Elements: Fire
1570
Oil on canvas, 158 x 216 cm
National Gallery, London

http://www.wga.hu/art/b/beuckela/element2.jpgAERTSEN, Pieter
Peasants by the Hearth
1560s
Oil on wood, 142,3 x 198 cm
Museum Mayer van den Bergh, Antwerp
http://www.wga.hu/art/a/aertsen/merry_co.jpg
(the ones in the background may not be peasantish)

AERTSEN, Pieter
Cook in front of the Stove
1559
Oil on wood, 172,5 x 82 cm
Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels
http://www.wga.hu/art/a/aertsen/cook.jpg

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:06:57 GMT

Ok, funniest thing I heard this weekend

Blackram...it's not fair.....you have a major car company make a car for you (a Black Ram truck from Dodge), where am I going to find a Zygmunt???

Zyg I am still giggling. :)

squeee finally got the Pagemason to work - primo!

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:50:09 GMT

http://www.insaneaboutgarb.com/

hot darn I'm back in business. Kewl thing is that I can make and upload from any computer....now to figure how to get different page looks now that the main page will copy from page to page.

Coffee cup not so easy to use. Really needs a PAPER handbook to know what you are doing. Downloading little video clips not so helpful when your computer is being s l o w.

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:20:50 GMT

Perhaps some help for those who need to refinance/get out of an ARM and their bank not wanting to help....Call your congressman!

>http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_go_co/storytext/us_congress_foreclosures/32268773/SIG=11i9a4u4b;_ylt=AopMVRhrWKtBSLaeTdZKr0zs.6F4;_ylu=X3oDMTE4cW85bTM3BHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl9zdG9yeV9ib2R5BHNsawNodHRwbWFraW5naG8-/*http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/eligibility.html

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:40:18 GMT

Day off...sorta. Not working for pay, but running around looking for this and that.

Looked for - Off Clip - sista Pammy said Meijers in da hood. Yup they had 20, but I had three other areas that I checked beforehand. Buy one get one free coupon from SCJohnsons website made the trip sweeter (thanks Femke)

Looked for - neckband of fly repellant stuff for the donkeys. Tried the newly reopened Millbrook. They only had leg bands. Eh worth a shot. Also picked Mugsy up a new fly mask.

Looked for - cream dupioni. Brain said....old Target plaza.....nope.... Old Burlington Coat factory. But I did find 4 shades of white to cream and picked out a nice winter white. So that and the silk chiffon from Dharma that left today will make a spiff dress and not 1400$ worth. (well maybe after the hand beading) (and Collette, the Magenta shot silk is very slubby otherwise you would see that in a saia for Val Day...just warnin you)

Looked for - the new Ball canner.....Gemmens the premier canning mecca around here doesn't have them yet but are due in 2 weeks. I am on a list to get called. And what is special about it....the new canner is stainless steel. No more rusting when the porcelain chips! Sweet!

And dropped off the pans from the Period Cooking day to Chad and Lauries as well as Chads portable hard drive and loads of cords.

All in all, pretty productive. Now waiting for the beer to filter thru the paper towel cause it really has a lot of sediment and cocoa butter floating on top. Both of the attempts at a choc chip cookie beer are good. One is milder in flavor and the other one is a good hearty stout. Choc chip cookie taste....nope. bugger.

After that we test drive cars and go to Festival for dinner!

What Movie Is Your Love Life Like?

Wed, 27 May 2009 23:38:07 GMT

Your Love Life is Like The Princess Bride

"Since the invention of the kiss, there have only been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind."

For you, love is like a fairy tale - albeit a fairly twisted one.
You believe romance is all about loyalty, fate, and a good big of goofy fun.

Your love style: Idealistic yet quirky

Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Perfectly romantic

What Movie Is Your Love Life Like?

Oh god, perfect!

Fri, 22 May 2009 22:07:56 GMT

squeee computer back, but I have a lot to reload. I mean Milo did a lot by nuking it from orbit and it really works much better now. Just have to put the current stuff on that I'm working with. Good thing we loaded the VZ Navigator onto a flash drive for Collette as it is the only thing from keeping me from tearing apart old computer with a screwdriver to get the CD out.

Will post more when I have a chance and a brain.

Sun, 17 May 2009 12:39:38 GMT

So since the honey caught a salmon when he was out with his brothers on the lake, he grilled one fillet flesh side down (to burn off the fat) and smoked the other half for 2 hours at 200F.

The grilled salmon we had last night. mmmmmmmmmmmmm with some fresh asparagus. mmmmmmmmmmm

the smoked one we will have some of tonight with some cheese, crackers and a bottle of wine. :) First tasting after cooling from the smoker leads me to believe that this will be a good recipe!

At work. Since its either here that I can post or from my phone. Little laptop not behaving and big laptop still with Milo. Had to be nuked from orbit. (^)^)^^*%$&^*_& viruses.

Sat, 16 May 2009 13:16:14 GMT

Went to go see Angels and Demons yesterday because it came on the MOPIX. Other than being great eye candy of ROME, it was just a story. Honey said it had changed a bit from the book to make it more plausible, but had great effects, didn't challenge my brain too much and moved along in its over 2 hr window.

Glad the Vatican did not allow them to shoot their movie on Vatican soil. It belonged being shot in a movie set. I did however like that they were allowed to get good background footage and have the actors move around the green screen. Sorry Ronnie boy but you are getting enough cash from the ticket sales to pay for your movie sets without using the Holy See.

All in all, was worth paying matinee prices to see, and glad they brought it on MOPIX. When it comes to DVD will probably buy it has good building shots of Rome and will be a great shot in the arm for tourism to Italy.

Sat, 09 May 2009 16:23:45 GMT

Some sneaky peep took her birthday notification off of LJ. Ha, but I remembered anyway

Happy Birthday femkederoas

And a belated birthday baron_odo

sorry I'm late, computer still flipping out

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:15:22 GMT

the head banging continues. Instead of Conficker I have the lovely 2 trojans called Virtumonde and Right Media. Right Media apparently came in from viewing a page that had an ad on it that just popped into my computer without clicking on it.

Whoever came up with either one I hope you die and go to hell. (I'm serious) BUT really GET A REAL JOB!

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:15:15 GMT

So Project Runway is finally back on the docket for viewing. Aug 20. Don't know if I want to watch now. I feel for the contestants, but really, with this delay I feel it has jumped the shark.