Cats 'exploit' humans by purring

Researchers at the University of Sussex have discovered that cats use a "soliciting purr" to overpower their owners and garner attention and food.

Unlike regular purring, this sound incorporates a "cry", with a similar frequency to a human baby's.

The team said cats have "tapped into" a human bias - producing a sound that humans find very difficult to ignore.

Well, I love it when research tells us something we already know: cats manipulate us. Yeah, I know. For heavens sake, chickens manipulate us! All our animals as they come to know us better, try to make us do stuff for them. What I find really the most interesting about this is the fact that animals think we are smart enough to spend time on trying to train us at all!

In an Op-Ed Column in the New York Times I read NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF's opinion of The Best Kids’ Books Ever and started to think about the books that impressed me as a kid. I mostly didn't agree with his choices but then Kristof is a guy-different make-up there so no wonder!
I never liked Laura Ingalls-I liked Caddie Woodlawn. Didn't read Charlotte's Web or the Secret Garden until I was a grown-up. I loved books about magic like the Half Magic books by Edward Eager, and I dearly loved Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Another book that really left an impression as I read it way too young, was Animal Farm- "Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad" reely creepy!

Anyway, what were the books you remember reading? The ones that really left an impression?

Read a review of a new book coming out: a new publication of Sofia Tolstoy's diaries. What emerges from Sofia's diaries, which span more than 50 years and which are due to be published by Alma Books this October, is a picture of a cruel and difficult man, indifferent to his family, endlessly critical, who forced his wife to breastfeed all 13 of their children despite the agony it caused her.

I always thought he was nasty to her but to hear more about him from Sofia sounds like a fascinating read. I read a wonderful book some years ago about Tolstoy's last couple of months by Jay Parini called The Last Station. We see various portraits of Tolstoy through a variety of voices: that of his wife, Sofya Andreyevna; of his daughter Sasha; of Valentin Fedorovich Bulgakov, his young secretary who had just been appointed; of Vladimir Grigorevich Chertkov, whom Tolstoy loved as his closest friend and disciple; and of Dushan Petrovich Makovitsky, Tolstoy's doctor. (They had in fact all kept diaries.)

Can't wait to read Sofia in her own words. She wasn't published in full before as she was considered to jealous of her husband! Right...

How lucky to have a considerate husband!
Talk to you later,
Lynda

The faults of husbands are often caused by the excess virtues of their wives.
Sidonie Gabrielle Claudine Colette

For Thursday

Outside my window… it is overcast and I hear someone hammering along with bird songs and there is a lovely gentle breeze

I am thinking… of self improvement and how to be a better person

I am thankful for… life-being alive amid the beauty of this world

From the kitchen… Fresh gigantic Bing cherries and a nice cup of coffee

I am wearing… my jammies

I am creating… the baby blanket for my niece's baby to be (here she is with her mommie, Jeanne)

I am going… put up a new clothes line today

I am reading… Cheri by Collette, Beowulf on the Beach by Jack Murnighan,Twined Knitting by Birgetta Dandanell

I am hoping… to get some laundry done when my new clothes line is hung

I am hearing… The Brandenburg Concerto by Bach

Around the house…I am making myself NOT start another project until the baby blanket is finished, and I must unload the dishwasher and clean kitchen

One of my favorite things…enjoying my animals as they go through their day-they are always so busy, or they are asleep

A few plans for the rest of the week: I am going to spend Sunday afternoon at Susan's knitting and sharing time with friends; I want to go to lunch with Mom and catch up on family doings-we have a biggie next week as the second wedding of all the nieces and nephews is on Saturday-that is second of 20 kids varying in age from 35 to 15!

Talk to you later,
Lynda

Through meditation, we can tap the healing qualities of mind. -
Tarthang Tulku

Milkweed Shawl

Just bought this pretty shawl pattern called the Milkweed Shawl. Isn't it pretty? I can't wait to knit it up.






















This Sunday at Susan's Fiber Shop we will be starting a Knit Along to make the Storm Cloud Shawlette a free pattern by Hannah Breeze. This will be a fun, easy knit and you can choose a lovely hand dyed yarn like Koigu or Noro sock weight or you can make it in a solid color. You could also choose one of Susan's gorgeous fibers and spin something up to knit this shawl. I am making my masala chai iced tea to keep us hydrated but if you want to drink something else you should bring it.

I have a bunch of errands to run today- I need a new clothesline as Patrick broke one of my old lines. I really prefered it to as it was vinyl covered wire and really didn't stretch out.
-I need to get a bag of Chicken Scratch-very heavy, a son needed to help with that.
-I have to pick up new filters for the fish tank-it's really gross!
-I offered to take Brian to lunch but he doesn't seem to be around...so much for lunch out.

I am listening to Neil Young's Cinnamon Girl-approriate as I had cinnamon toast for breakfast~

Talk to you later,
Lynda

A dreamer of pictures
I run in the night
You see us together,
chasing the moonlight,
My cinnamon girl.
Neil Young, Cinnamon Girl

What To Do Today...

I am sitting here at my computer, listening to the birds sing. My dog, Ed is laying in the window like a cat, licking his paws.

We have some newly fledged robins begging their parent so to feed them.

Brian ran out and got me an iced coffee to enjoy as I work, my third coffee of the day!

I have to make reservations at the hotel TODAY for my nephew's wedding in two weeks in Green Bay.

I have been looking at Ravelry today and found some free patterns from Rowan! Some are pretty awful, but some are pretty cute too.



















I am going to walk on the treadmill today for the first time since surgery. I am starting to feel more like normal every day (except for needing naps, which I never do normally).

I read the review of a new book I want to get called The Moon Under Her Feet by Clysta Kinstler.
The blurb says: Narrative weaving the biblical account of Mary and Jesus, the Egyptian myth of Isis and Osiris, and the Sumerian story of Inanna and Dumuzi to create an exotic tale of a strong, sensual woman. Sounds interesting.

I am reading a Miss Marple called Nemesis, and a book by Colette called Cheri.

My sweet peas are just starting to bloom and the nasturtiums are starting as well. Hollyhocks have been open outside the kitchen for a couple of days!



I am listening to Pandora and my station is called Heart of Gold for Neil Young. Nice kind of folk rock type stuff.

I am off to get cleaned up and run a load of laundry. I will hang most of it on the line-except socks, socks are just too tedious to hang on the line!

Just saw a mole run across the driveway from our neighbor Tim's shrub to our grass. Very cute. I always think that the more wild life in our yards, the healthier the landscape is...I have been seeing a hummingbird in my monarda too!

I am thankful that I have the energy to do what needs to be done and even if I need a nap, I CAN work...

Hope you have a beautiful day, talk to you later,
Lynda

Knitting in the Wild

I have been really lucky lately! I have won another contest from Denise at Knitting in the Wild. I won two skeins of lace weight Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud and two tubes of beads to go with AND a huge bar of Denise's handmade lavendar soap. I am already going crazy trying to choose a pattern to knit this yarn and beads into. I am thinking of trying the technique of using a crochet hook to put the beads on instead of stringing them onto the yarn at the beginning. I was thinking of a triangle or stole shawl.

I really am being a good girl and ONLY knitting the baby shawl for my niece's baby due the end of July. I made myself promise to knit at least two inches a day or I won't get it done in time. I figure I have a little extra time to finish as I hope it will be baptism worthy and that takes a few weeks. I am hoping to have it finished for the county fair and then I will give it to the baby!


















This isn't mine, just a picture of what the shawl will look like. I have knit about 20 inches so far and will knit to about 35 inches and then pick up for the edging. I know I CAN get this done if just stick to it and don't get seduced by new yarn and patterns.

The pattern is from Shawls and Scarves: the Best of Knitter's Magazine. Really a good book but I honestly haven't knit much from it. More of a picture book I guess and a good reference book too. Some really big names in lace design have patterns including Elizabeth Zimmerman's Pi Shawl.














I'm going over to our new farmer's market this afternoon looking for fresh peas. Our friend Donna didn't think they would be ready yet but Joe saw a canning factory truck with some on the other day, so I am hopeful. I don't think there is anything better than fresh new peas! I can't wait...

Talk to you later,
Lynda


It's not the voting that's democracy, it's the counting.
Tom Stoppard (1937 - ), Jumpers (1972) act 1

Ten Guilty Pleasures on TV

Celebrity Rehab with DR. Drew
I just love this show and find it to be sort of like watching an accident-you just can't look away!

DIY King of Dirt
This guy Gino and his brother Ralph and his wife Regina are hilarious!

King of the Hill
Not only do I watch this show every night on Adult Swim but I find the characters to be metaphors for life. I do not miss this show!



















Countdown with Keith Olberman
I know his is a terrible group but sometimes I just like to hear him gripe and join in on his dismay with the world...

Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Very strange cartoon with the title character interviewing celebrities in an odd TV talk show.

Big Bang Theory
Very funny, and they remind me of my sons and their friends. Much of what they talk about it unintelligible to me!

Last of the Summer Wine
These three old dudes wander around town, drink ale and get in trouble. Takes place in the Yorkshire countryside (the town of Holmfirth and its surroundings). Dear, scruffy Compo is one of the best characters ever invented!











Are You Being Served
This show ended production in the early 80's but it really holds up. Really good ensemble cast.

OK this is really a strange one:
The Mighty Boosh
Just started watching this...another British one but really odd, even for the British. It is sort of a cross between Dr. Who and a really unusual trip.













My Name is Earl
I know these people-I lived with these people when I was a kid in Lowell!

Looks as if comedy is my little secret don't it? Especially British comedy.
Well, it is healthy to laugh so try to catch one of these soon,
Talk to you later,
Lynda

I had an epiphany a few years ago where I was out at a celebrity party and it suddenly dawned on me that I had yet to meet a celebrity who is as smart and interesting as any of my friends.
- Moby

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes a novel

I am continuing in my urge this summer to read old books! I just finished a Miss Marple by Agatha Christie called The Moving Finger. The book takes its name from verse 51 of Edward FitzGerald's translation of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám:

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.
And that I think refers to the Book of Daniel where Belshazzar because of past bad behavior see the writing on the wall:
a mysterious sentence mene mene tekel upharsin, which defied all attempts at interpretation. Still, their natural denotations of weights and measures were superficially meaningless: "two minas, a shekel and two parts.". In the verb form, they were: mene, to number; tekel, to weigh; upharsin, to divide - literally "numbered, weighed, divided".

When the Hebrew Daniel was called in, he read and interpreted the words. His free choice of interpretation and decoding revealed the menacing subtext: "Thou art weighed in the balance and art found wanting".

Anyway Miss Marple comes into this mystery and points the moving finger and the murderer is caught!

I am also reading Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos which has of course been made into two movies, one staring Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes began as a series of short sketches published in Harper's Bazaar. Known as the "Lorelei" stories, they were satires on the state of sexual relations that only vaguely alluded to sexual intimacy; the magazine's circulation quadrupled overnight.
The heroine of the stories, Lorelei Lee, was a bold, ambitious flapper, who was much more concerned with collecting expensive baubles from her conquests than any marriage licenses, as well as being a shrewd woman of loose morals and high self-esteem.











Anita Loos







This is written in a journal form and is laugh out loud funny! I am really enjoying it and reading slowly to savor it and make it last, as it is just a little book. This was published the same year as The Great Gatsby but there is no tragedy in these stories!

Lovely Summer time Reading...
Talk to you later,
Lynda

Fate keeps on happening.
Lorelie Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes