12...

...Rules to Live By

Robert Louis Stevenson

1850-1894

• Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.
• Make the best of circumstances. No one has everything and everyone has something of sorrow.
• Don’t take yourself too seriously.
  
• Don’t let criticism worry you. You can’t please everybody.
• Don’t let your neighbors set your standards; be yourself.
• Do things you enjoy doing but stay out of debt.
  
• Don’t borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than actual ones.
• Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish enmities and grudges. Avoid people who make you unhappy.
• Have many interests. If you can’t travel, read about places.

• Don’t spend time brooding over sorrows and mistakes.
• Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
• Keep busy at something. A very busy person never has time to be unhappy.

When you read the words it seems so simple.

It's all in the application... don't forget to breath!

M is for...

... macarons! French macarons!!!

Not those North American chewy, desiccated coconut concoctions. Those are coconut macaroons. Not that there is anything wrong with them.

But these are magically, marvelous, melt in the mouth morsels.

Imagine, if you can, two delicate meringues embracing a luscious schmear of chocolate ganache or raspberry cream or pistachio cream or... or... or...

My personal favourite? Chocolate. Dark chocolate... Chocolat Noir Amer!!

I can't believe I lived until June 23rd, 2008 oblivious to the existence of these lovelies!!!

Merci, Paris!

Now I have two lofty goals for 2008: master the invisible zipper... and the French macaron!

Happy...

Canada Day!

Our celebration always includes strawberry picking and Poutine-- the best of Canadian comfort food!

L is for...

... London! Lovely... luscious... lilting... lively... London.

Have maps...

... will travel!

I am doing more than Web Wandering today... I am world wandering!

I won't be gone too long... and I'll do my best to send an update from the road.

My web wanderings today have my impending travels plainly in my sights.....

Put on the kettle and check out the lovely blog, lovely textiles.

Elvis Robertson's eye for fibery lovelies is joyfully time sucking! The sweet shop "Loop" was high on my list of places to go before, but Elvis' article has cemented my trekking plans to Islington.

In Paris, pity the poor local who tries to stand in my way at La Droguerie!

While on the road-- and a wee bit homesick-- I will be dropping by a new site that will certainly enable my obsessive ardour for hard to find out of print patterns! Patternfish is the knit juicy brainchild of Julia Grunau. Julia is the most "knit passionate" person I know!! Her love for the craft and respect for the designers that make knitting exciting is uplifting. With Patternfish she and her talented crew are able to share the passion with all of us.

Kudos Prime Minister Julia!!

They're BIG and ORANGE...

I would have thought by now I would have amassed an adequate size range of knitting needles.... not!

I had a hold up on the "denim project" due to the lack of 19mm needles.

Now I can begin to explore my "idea" further in a knitterly way....

Three days...

... until World Wide Knit in Public Day!!!

Grab something special--- or not.

Sit somewhere special--- or not.

Just do it!