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Hellgoddess, Hellhounds and Sacred Plastic Ritual Implement, ll
April 27, 2008 | Filed Under photos
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Please join the discussion at Robin McKinley's Web Forum.
Please join the discussion at Robin McKinley's Web Forum.
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OK photographs of the dogs playing with one of the teenagers, but where are you (grin)? We don’t recognise you from your own descriptions. You look younger here than you do in your wedding pictures. How do you do it?
Gosh do YOU need your glasses prescription changed. :)
Very cleverly phrased however! For a minute I thought, oh no, I *didn’t* did I??!??
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The only glasses I need are for long distances and they are very low-prescription indeed, so I only use them for theatre, concerts, cinema and exhibitions. I have trouble reading bus numbers, but that’s pretty much my only problem. No reading glasses for me until great old age according to my ophthalmologist.
OF COURSE you chose flattering pictures. Who wouldn’t? If we get around to posting you pictures of us, you can bet there will be frantic searching for decent angles etc. (Hint: Marlene Dietrich always demanded she be photographed from about a foot higher than her face, with side lighting focused on her forehead). But currently you look underfed. Have a bit of chocolate and some applie pie, do. I hope the ME gets out of the way pronto, and once tiredness is gone it too has disappeared.
Somebody mentioned eccles cake… Recipe please? My mother loves them and of course you can’t find them in Greece.
OF COURSE you chose flattering pictures. Who wouldn’t? If we get around to posting you pictures of us, you can bet there will be frantic searching for decent angles etc.
******** Very good point. You comfort me. :)
(Hint: Marlene Dietrich always demanded she be photographed from about a foot higher than her face, with side lighting focused on her forehead).
********* Yes, and she had cheekbones to die for. I have cheekbones to hold my face out.
But currently you look underfed.
********* SNORK. If it’s any help, I look thinner than I am–I have little slender antelope bones. My rib cage is about three inches around. Well, maybe six.
Have a bit of chocolate and some applie pie, do. I hope the ME gets out of the way pronto, and once tiredness is gone it too has disappeared.
********* SO DO I.
Somebody mentioned eccles cake… Recipe please? My mother loves them and of course you can’t find them in Greece.
********* OOOOOH. What a brilliant idea. I was just thinking of them out of a packet. . . .
Eccles cakes out of a PACKET???!
::faints::
Here in Australia you don’t get such things. You want Eccles Cakes… you make em yourself. LOL They are easy. Really.
Here follows an approximate recipe (“approximate” because I tend to fiddle with it a lot and I don’t measure stuff any more)
Eccles Cakes
Makes 12.
INGREDIENTS:
3 sheets ready-rolled puff pastry (you could use flaky pastry if you want)
1 egg yolk
Castor sugar
Filling:
30g butter
1 cup currants
1/4 cup mixed peel
100g glace cherries, chopped
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
METHOD:
1. Cut pastry sheets into quarters (or 11cm rounds, but I hate wasting the pastry and am too lazy to cut *rounds*).
2. Place a tablespoon of filing in centre of each quarter.
3. Fold over and pleat edges of pastry to enclose filling..
4. Turn smooth side up and flatten gently, shape into circles.
5. Brush with egg yolk and sprinkle lightly with sugar if desired, cut 3 small slits on top of each oval.
6. Bake in hot oven about 15 minutes or until brown.
Filling: Combine butter, fruit, sugar and spices in pan, stir over low heat until butter is melted. Cool mixture before using. (Tip: puff pastry will rise better if the filling is cool/cold)
Eat them warm/hot……. yummmmmm :)
YAAAAY! :)
Thank you so much. They appear most yummy and I will get my act together and make some over the next few days.
Also, what is the red plastic ritual implement? My curiosity is most aroused. I also find the hellgoddess issue great. A great many years ago Readers’ Digest had a cartoon feature about Toot ‘n’Come In, where it postulated that a motel was found several millenia in the future and treated it as the Tutenkhamen treasure, as a potential necropolis, with the archaeologists hypothesizing about the use of the various implements. (It was hilarious). This strikes me as the opposite. But I can see that there is action butt present. Congratulations on the ripped arms too.
Well readers Digest was ripping *off* David Macauley big time. Can’t remember which book it’s in.
It’s just a dog toy! It’s a sort of squared off figure of eight. It’s meant for one human and ONE dog and getting three of us on it is sometimes a little . . . dangerous.
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I looked it up. Motel of Mysteries. I don’t think it was a rip-off, I think they just put in an excerpt. The date 1979 is about right. I’ll now have to find the book. It was so far back and I didn’t note the author at the time… Not as obsessive about information and almost too young to be organised… No, not too young. That was about the time I started anthologising all the poetry I enjoyed by writing it out in books. I think it must have been snobbish (at the time, don’t hit me) view on cartoons. Except for Gosciny and Uderzo, it hadn’t struck me at the time that they had creators… My, how things have changed.
This reminds me of my mother with her dogs, who are siblings… what one has, the other must have. There will never be a toy that has just ONE dog attached to it. Even if my mom’s not involved, if one of the dogs gets a toy, the other one is chasing after.The same principle applies to petting: if I’m petting one dog, I immediately get the other.
It’s great to see some photos!
Hooray! Well done all concerned. :) And I’m very impressed by the muscle definition on all three of you…!
. . . While I admit I CHOSE these photos to be FLATTERING I was chiefly looking for angles of *me* that looked neither sticklike nor fat (yes, I CAN look fat: ANYONE can look fat in a photo) and I’m pretty amused that everyone is picking up on the muscle definition. I was wearing long sleeves the last time I took them to the vet, but he waxed rather lyrical over *their* muscle definition. Well, you know, two hours a day . . . is two hours a day.
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“While I admit I CHOSE these photos to be FLATTERING.”
— Well, yes, of course; who among us would post pictures of ourselves looking absolutely awful? (without a REALLY good reason, which I’m not coming up with) But I have to vote with everyone else; if you really were the decrepit haglike creature you declare yourself to be, it would come through on the pictures anyway. So obviously… you aren’t. :) And all three of you look lovely in them.
Thank you for the pictures, btw. I hope that things go well with the ME over the next few days, and that it goes away. At least you have pictures to post while getting over the post-visit letdown feeling if you’re not feeling up to writing stuff.
I guess I give up. But if any of you ever come to Hampshire I’m going to HIDE. Or at least wear a bag over my head. . . . Yes, I’m looking forward to having more photos to post, and time to take off. :)
I saw you in person once, and you mostly looked more tired than you do in these photos (Seattle on the Sunshine tour). I hadn’t noticed the buff-ness either ;-) But you certainly wouldn’t need to hide from fans!
I was very tired by Seattle. But at least I’d come through the ‘I’m turning around and going home’ moment in San Francisco the previous stop.
Great photos, beautiful hellhounds and a beautiful hellgoddess.
Great! Photos! Is this one of your gardens? I didn’t expect so much space between the roses! And I love the Ben Hur chariot effect of a pair of hellhounds attached to a plastic implement as they are twirled through the air…
Anyone strong enough to wrestle twin hellhounds successfully is a hell goddess in my book :)
Hope you’re not missing Hannah and family too much. I can see why you would, because they were all charming. Sending Green & Black’s chocolate to support you, and lighting candles for a speedy return visit.
Yes, it’s Third House, but remember the garden is a comparatively early work in progress . . . AND I need to leave space for hellhounds.
The world is very quiet and solitary without Hannah and gang. . . .
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Sorry I came over as anonymous, but it’s southdowner here.
I’m glad that you managed to keep the ME at bay, and enjoy having Hannah & family’s company, but very sorry that the effort has used up much of your energy :(
If you need to conserve energy, post photos or recipes on the blog, and tomorrow if it’s fine I’ll take foal photos for you. I’ve started a dog swimming pool (!!!) (photos due of that too) on a farm where thay have welsh section Ds, and there are 5 foals,the youngest is 2 days old. I have to show you* photos, cause they’re almost as cute as the hellhounds … :)
* speaking to Ruby as well, here!
thay have welsh section Ds, and there are 5 foals,the youngest is 2 days old. I have to show you* photos, cause they’re almost as cute as the hellhounds … :)
YESSSSSSSSSSS please!!!!!!!
You’re worried about getting fat because….?
Also, I have yet to spot a hag. You look MAHHHVELOUS, dahling!
:)
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Your hellhounds are adorable!
You don’t look nearly as decrepit as you keep telling us you are, too ^_^
Thanks for the pictures!
Please see reply to Jmeadows! I am choosing the FLATTERING PICTURES!!!!
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Aw, your reply to jmeadows never made it. *sniff sniff* But at least I know what you would have said! :D
Drat. To what comment? I haven’t figured out how to see what a new unscreened comment is responding to. I HATE it when a comment gets eaten.
The one right below this, in which I said I’d say more nice things about how pretty you are if you argued. ;) My comment is there, but your comment is not. I only figured you must have left one because you mentioned it here. :)
Oh, it does links! Here: http://www.robinmckinleysblog.com/?p=106#comment-848
Oh, FEH. Yes, I answered it TWICE. The first time I KNEW it had been eaten; the second time it APPEARED to have gone through. I have no idea. But it will have been something to the effect of all the others I’ve answered *since*, about choosing flattering pics and having muscle definition by-the-way from bell ringing and hellhounds–and also making bread, which I haven’t mentioned before–and digging holes for rose bushes. Women have to work harder to get muscle definition in the first place but it’s easier to keep after you’ve done it once. And I’m lucky–I have the kind of life that LETS me do it by the way. Most people don’t. Especially also those of us who gain weight easily. If I had an office job I’d weigh more.
But there’s not a lot I can do about my chinline. Except maybe tie a scarf around my jaws like Marley’s ghost. :)
Well, you did reply to one of mine, above, saying ‘of course I’m choosing the flattering pictures’? Perhaps the intoxication of successfully posting all four pictures of your choice meant we got a bit mixed up there? :)
Okay, I should have mentioned your arms in *this* picture. Wow, woman! Those are some muscles!
Thank you *so much* for sharing these with us. Your hellhounds are gorgeous, and so are you! (I know you will feel compelled to argue with me on that, but if you do, I’ll just have to say more nice things. Your call. ;)
YAY! Photos! :) :)
Nice bell-ringing muscles! :)
::hands over the eccles cakes to assuage the loss of visitors::
::hands over the eccles cakes to assuage the loss of visitors::
********* Thank you. Sniff.
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Nice buff arms, Robin! You are hereby notified that you must cease and desist referring to yourself as “fat” or any term like it. This picture shows the TRUTH. You are wonderfully trim and the rest of us middle aged women of wisdom need you to own it.
Eeep! Yes ma’am! But as I keep saying, I did CHOOSE the photos to be FLATTERING!!!! (It’s just EASIER with the hellhounds!!)
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Isn’t taking photos of Sacred Plastic Rituals sacrilige? Like standing on Native American burial grounds or accusing the Pope of wearing a truss?
Why do you think it has taken so LONG for me to hang photos? I had to get SPECIAL DISPENSATION! But Sacred Plastic Rituals are such a good *organising* principle for photos. Ones that don’t involve Sacred Plastic tend to involve *licking*. . . .
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AWwwwwww!! How cute are those hellhounds??? They are utterly gorgeous!
And it’s great to be know what both you, and the dogs look like. The mental images when reading your posts will be even more vivid in future.
By the way, did you go to the Steeleye concert tonight in the end? I did have half an eye out for that hellhound drawn chariot you promised, but I didn’t see anything…..
Yes, well, what I’m not admitting is that I’ve been holding the ME off by sheerest obstinacy all week and the moment Hannah-and-gang’s car pulled out of the driveway (which is an epic in itself I will probably tell tomorrow) I collapsed. There was no way I could face schlepping into London etc. (Peter is also pretty shattered, but he tires easily these days.) Don’t tell me how wonderful it was, I couldn’t bear it. Sigh. At least I have gorgeous hellhounds to cheer me.
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*big hug*
*offers to poke the ME VERY VERY hard*
If it’s any consolation, the sound balance was rather dodgy in the first half, although it did improve for the second half.
*whispers so the ME can’t hear* – if you fancy braving the wilds of south oxfordshire, there is a one off Steeleye gig at the end of July (it’s actually by way of a rehearsal gig for their day festival)
Thank you! Well, it wouldn’t hurt to send me the details . . . ? :)
*grin*
Am I being a bad influence again? ;-)
http://www.nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk/ is the website for the venue, although the Steeleye date is not on there yet (it should be updated soon) The ‘booking form’ page has all the contact details on.
Anyway, Steeleye are on on Thursday 24th July and tickets are £18.50
*makes inveigling noises*
Sigh. Probably not, really. I can’t AFFORD to keep doing this–and there’s no knowing, about the ME, that’s the thing. I’ll bookmark it though. Can’t hurt to bookmark it . . . :)
It has the advantage of being unallocated seating, which means you could make a decision nearer the time when you know how the ME is behaving and still have the chance of getting a good seat (especially if you happen to know someone who will be in a position to put out a couple of reserved signs *wink wink*…)
And having just read today’s post with the saga of Hannah and familiy’s departure, I’m not suprised you were knackered yesterday. It’s draining enough saying goodbye to someone you love, without all the extra trauma. Although I suppose locking them in the house is ONE way to get them to stay longer…..;-)
I’m thinking I’m THINKING . . .
Although I suppose locking them in the house is ONE way to get them to stay longer…..;-)
******* Yes, I TRIED! And they STILL got away!!!
*giggles*
Incidentally, I recieved an incredibly shiny piece of postage this morning, and this seems as good a place as any to say thank you very much, Robin!
*wanders off to stroke shiny, signed copy of Dragonhaven*
It only took me, what, three months? Can I say ‘you need to DO LESS Robin’? Yes, I can SAY it . . .
Only three months? You’re an amateur my dear!! ;-) My record is ten months to post a February birthday gift… it got sent with the Christmas gifts in the end!
*looks sheepish*
Your dogs are beautiful.
Ahem. Can you spell “arm envy”?
You are hereby ordered to eat breakfast three times a day for the rest of your life. And make it high protein — don’t want to lose those lovely triceps! :-)
Judith
Scrambled eggs . . . reason to get up in the morning! :)
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I know everyone has mentioned this–but I want your arms, woman! I am five years younger than you and my arms are–well, sad. And I want your waist. Or my equivalent. I mean, I think I’m 2″ taller than you are…
Saw a video interview with you taken a while back, and may I say that that the socks and shoes with the leggings made quite a statement. And you talked real smart, ya did.
I want to go to Steeleye gig too. Damn it.
I’m only 5’8″! I’m a SHRIMP compared to you! –And yes, while I was focussed on choosing FLATTERING pictures, I was worrying about my face and my skin and horrible chin line (which are why I will be wearing the bag over my head if I ever meet any of you), not about my arms, about which I am . . . well, okay, a trifle *vain.* The thing is that In Thsi Modern World, unless you do something *weird*, like have hellhounds or **overring** tower bells–and the overringing is crucial; GOOD ringers can have flabby arms–you have to make an ISSUE out of it. Hannah has good arms too but she goes to a GYM. I will say that I think mine ‘tone’ more easily for having pumped iron [sic] seriously for about 18 months a long time ago. Once you’ve *had* real muscles, they’re a lot easier to *keep*.
Yes, those are my favourite shoes. If anyone ever sees a pair of ALL OVER checkerboard HIGH TOP LACE UP vans . . . tell me IMMEDIATELY. I don’t wear them any more because I can’t replace them. Vans periodically puts out checkerboard sneakers but they’re never RIGHT.
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Saw the video you did ten years ago when I dropped by the library at Colby on Friday afternoon. I would say that you have seasoned very nicely! Please, no more moaning, you make those of us who have not managed aging so gracefully mutter imprecations.
In this photo I noticed that, in the classic tradition of Englishwomen who garden, write, and deeply love their dogs, you wear pearls when recreating outdoors with said canines!
I have not been able to attach the photo of Vita Sackville-West of which I was reminded, but I sent it to blogmom. Perhaps she can do it.
In this photo I noticed that, in the classic tradition of Englishwomen who garden, write, and deeply love their dogs, you wear pearls when recreating outdoors with said canines!
********* LOL! I hadn’t thought of that, although I did notice that the pearls were extremely visible. I have a ridiculous girly thing for pearls–that was our tenth anniversary present, on my request; Peter was happy to oblige but he didn’t GET it. I don’t get it either, I just HAVE it. And I wear them **all the time.** Nearly. And nearly always with the little coral rose that is a lot harder to see, but it’s there too. Oh, golly, Vita wore pearls? I don’t even have a white garden. . . . :)
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You know what comes next, don’t you?
FILMS.
Video-blogging. Tail wagging, yelping, dashing, leaping hellhounds in full technicolor… Woo hoo!
But in the meantime, we’ll settle for photos. This one’s very nice. You look much as I remember, only more casually dressed, and outdoors. With dogs. :)
HA. I’m WAY ahead of you. Remember getting the microphone for the web cam that came with my new monitor?? See, you can’t scare me. :) (Well, yes, you can, but . . . ) It’s TIME as usual. I need TIME to figure out all the gizmos.
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Ar! Soon you’ll be offering to Skype with us and abandoning blogging completely! :)
I do sympathize with your reaction to the photos (and to everyone’s assurances that you look great, which of course you do.) I hate how I look in pictures. Hate. That film you saw makes me look utterly ridiculous–where did that extra chin come from? Why do I look like my grandmother? So… while I think the above photo is great, I can also believe that there are 16 photos in the virtual bin that made you go “GAHHHRRRGGHH!!” upon first viewing. Happens to the best of us.
You are a sweetheart. :) yes. All of that. Well, most of it. What is Skype? It is a scary looking word that seems to come up a lot. I’m sure I won’t like your answer.
Well, you didn’t look utterly ridiculous, you know, you looked like someone with a sense of humour who was willing to be made ridiculous in a good cause. Looking ridiculous never hurt John Cleese. :) Ah, the extra chin. Yes, I have one too. I’ve never had much chinline and what there is is leaving *fast*. GAHHHHRRRRRGH!!!!! indeed. A LOT of Cormac’s photos go out INSTANTLY because of the chinline. . . . Well, frankly, you’ll see, because I’m fencing with the web cam. (It’s winning. Of course.)
LOL! I don’t mind looking ridiculous at all–if I did, my life would be one long agonized howl of lost dignity. I just mind the extra chin. And the family resemblance–I didn’t get on with that grandmother, and I’m frightened that I seem to be taking after her more as I age.
All that said, if you would like to see a picture which completely sums up the Real Me, you might check this addition to the Comic photoset. This is my new favorite picture of myself, for obvious reasons. :)
Skype’s a web application, rather like the Chat programs you’ve no doubt heard of; it allows you to talk to anyone else who is also on the internet, running Skype at the same time you are. The difference between Skype and, say, AOL Instant Messenger, is that Skype’s really intended to be used with a microphone and/or webcam rather than typing out messages. Essentially, it’s like calling someone on the phone via the internet and talking directly to them in real time. And while I was just kidding that you might want to Skype with all of us–good lord, think of the cacophany!–you might look into it for, say, chatting with Hannah. It costs nothing, so saves you overseas phone charges if you two are phone-caller types. My former boss used to use it to talk to his girlfriend in Stoke-on-Trent for hours on end…
Right. I was at work nearly 12 hours today, and more where that came from tomorrow. I’m off to bed.
LOL! I don’t mind looking ridiculous at all–if I did, my life would be one long agonized howl of lost dignity.
******** LOL! I’m with you there! Hellhounds are marvellous dignity-preventers! :)
I just mind the extra chin. And the family resemblance–I didn’t get on with that grandmother, and I’m frightened that I seem to be taking after her more as I age.
******** Yes. I didn’t get along with the person I physically resemble either.
All that said, if you would like to see a picture which completely sums up the Real Me, you might check this addition to the Comic photoset. This is my new favorite picture of myself, for obvious reasons. :)
********* LOL!!!!!! That’s a GREAT picture! If it turns out I can run a Gallery of the Usual Suspects that’s a keeper!
Skype’s a web application, you might look into it for, say, chatting with Hannah. It costs nothing, so saves you overseas phone charges if you two are phone-caller types.
********* I’ll ask her. She’s about as webby as I am . . . but I wonder if her daughters might know.
Right. I was at work nearly 12 hours today, and more where that came from tomorrow. I’m off to bed.
********* Good gods. Anyone would think you were free lance.
Yes. I didn’t get along with the person I physically resemble either.
Isn’t that always the way of it? I’m just hoping I behave better in my old age, even if I turn out looking like her….
That’s a GREAT picture!
:) I thought so, too. I was quite pleased with it–I’m angling for the graphics people to make me an extra one of those voice bubbles so I can have it in my cubicle as needed. (There’s another one which–so help me god–says, “I’ve got my magic sparkle wand!” or something like that… That will probably end up getting stolen as well.)
Today was 13 hours, give or take a bit, with a grand finale of our glorious boss showing up unexpectedly at 9 pm (he’s been out of town at a conference, he must have driven here straight from the airport) and chewing out everyone he could catch hold of in a particularly unpleasant way. I was helping the curator adjust the toys and comics in one of the cases–yes, I do have white cotton gloves too!–and I was stuck, one of those things where you’re pretending to be deaf AND invisible in hopes of avoiding getting sucked in. It was genuinely awful, and reminded me why I love this job slightly less than I might. Sigh. It’s a glass of scotch and a footbath for me this eve, I think. :) Am enjoying the bell-ringing pictures, by the by, even if I’m not commenting on them…
Great pictures, thanks so much for putting them up. (And thanks to Cormac for the photo shoot.) Your boys are *beautiful* and have clearly been working on their soulful looks. These come across especially well on fawn dogs with lots of mascara–there’s a lot of that at my house–so Darkness has a harder job than his brother, but I’m sure he’s able to get around that.:)
They do amazingly well sharing one end of a tug toy. My guys would generally want to make it 3-way tug, with cheating. (And that would be a good time for me to let tham have at it and get out of the way.)
You do have to abandon “hag” in favor of “Hellgoddess.” You’re a good advertisement for “two hours a day” (not to forget ringing and digging . . .). And I envy you your weather, at least in these pictures. 28 degrees F tonight and it was spitting snow when I went out with the Alpha Bitch. No wonder only the daylilies have stuck their heads up above the ground.
Good luck with the ME, may it depart soon. Hope the sunny garden helps defeat it!
Your boys are *beautiful* and have clearly been working on their soulful looks. These come across especially well on fawn dogs with lots of mascara–there’s a lot of that at my house–so Darkness has a harder job than his brother, but I’m sure he’s able to get around that.:)
********* Yes. He’s the real voluptuary; he *pours* over you and looks at you through his lashes. :) Chaos is too busy soliciting *action.* Chaos is also easier to photograph because he’s so flipping *on* all the time.
They do amazingly well sharing one end of a tug toy. My guys would generally want to make it 3-way tug, with cheating. (And that would be a good time for me to let tham have at it and get out of the way.)
********** We do have some adolescent testosterone going on but we’re still coping. I suspect that some of this is just that I’m *around* almost all of the time and they really do believe I’m boss.
You do have to abandon “hag” in favor of “Hellgoddess.” You’re a good advertisement for “two hours a day” (not to forget ringing and digging . . .).
******** I do keep reminding you these are FLATTERING photos. I could show you the HAG ones . . . I’m just not *going* to. But I am pretty fit, yes, and thank the gods, because it means that even when the ME is pretty bad I can still put my legs on ‘automatic’ and get the hellhounds walked. It’s not joyful and I live in dread that the ME will get *worse* than pretty bad some day . . . but, as with the testosterone, we’re still coping.
And I envy you your weather, at least in these pictures. 28 degrees F tonight and it was spitting snow when I went out with the Alpha Bitch. No wonder only the daylilies have stuck their heads up above the ground.
********* Our weather is *insane.* I’m back in woollies today. And it HAILED coming back from our afternoon walk.
Good luck with the ME, may it depart soon. Hope the sunny garden helps defeat it!
******** I did manage to plant a rose today. Slooooowly. :)
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Robin, my dear, you are NOT fat. If I ever catch you saying you’re fat again, I will personally walk across the Atlantic Ocean and wallop you, even though you don’t know me. Then I will kidnap the hellhounds and the three of us will go visit Jodi Meadows and her ferrets. =)
Jodi and I are evil; we can think up devious plans for Chaos and Darkness. =)
(In all honesty, speaking as someone who’s 5’3″ and tips the scales at 200 lbs, you look like a spring chicken. Now if you would like to be “considered” fat, I have plenty of extra weight that I would be quite happy to donate to you. =)
And now, I suppose I should attempt to go to bed, as I go shopping for an evening gown tomorrow (cousin’s wedding to attend on Saturday), and I’m also going to bake bread.
I haven’t baked any in a year or two and now with the way food prices are going insane, I’m convinced that it’ll be cheaper than buying stuff from the supermarket. My mother insists that it won’t be, but I can get between 3-4 batches of bread out of a 5lb bag of flour, which is 6-8 loaves, and I can easily freeze the extra loaf in each batch. According to the US consumer price index website, a loaf of white bread cost $1.35 on average in March. It’s probably gone up since then. I can personally tell you that in NJ (lowest gas prices in the nation!) we’re at $3.39/gallon of gas, and good lord, a gallon of milk is $4.60.
It boggles the mind.
Are food prices as insane in England now?
~Jenny
Robin, my dear, you are NOT fat.
******** Oh heavens! No, I know I’m not fat! I thought I only said that I could LOOK fat, ANYONE can be made to look fat in a photo!!!!
If I ever catch you saying you’re fat again, I will personally walk across the Atlantic Ocean and wallop you, even though you don’t know me.
********* It would make me easier to wallop, because when I saw you coming I wouldn’t run away. :)
Then I will kidnap the hellhounds and the three of us will go visit Jodi Meadows and her ferrets. =)
Jodi and I are evil; we can think up devious plans for Chaos and Darkness. =)
********* THEY DON’T NEED ANY HELP.
(In all honesty, speaking as someone who’s 5?3? and tips the scales at 200 lbs, you look like a spring chicken. Now if you would like to be “considered” fat, I have plenty of extra weight that I would be quite happy to donate to you. =)
******** 200 lbs and 5’3″ I admit that I agree with your doctor that you should lose weight. (You posted about this a while ago.) But different bodies want different things. This one actually does function better thinner, but my build is peculiar. I think of myself as a stretched-out medium. :) Your body may like being chunky. Just a little less chunky.
And now, I suppose I should attempt to go to bed, as I go shopping for an evening gown tomorrow (cousin’s wedding to attend on Saturday), and I’m also going to bake bread.
I haven’t baked any in a year or two and now with the way food prices are going insane, I’m convinced that it’ll be cheaper than buying stuff from the supermarket. My mother insists that it won’t be, but I can get between 3-4 batches of bread out of a 5lb bag of flour, which is 6-8 loaves,
********* YOu CAN? Good lord. I get 2-3 loaves out of 5 lbs of flour–but mine’s whole grain.
and I can easily freeze the extra loaf in each batch. According to the US consumer price index website, a loaf of white bread cost $1.35 on average in March. It’s probably gone up since then. I can personally tell you that in NJ (lowest gas prices in the nation!) we’re at $3.39/gallon of gas, and good lord, a gallon of milk is $4.60.
******* Yipe. When I lived in America it was still cheap.
It boggles the mind.
Are food prices as insane in England now?
********* Yes; but they always have been. When I first movd over here I couldn’t believe the prices–kept thinking it was because I was converting badly–which I was–but even so. And then everything got a great deal worse when we went (mostly) organic. We spend proportionately on food like poor people do. It’s crazy.
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You made the right photo choice — very flattering. More goddess than hell in these particular pictures (those arms! Go Robin!), I think.
Sending good wishes your way since you’ve lost your visitors. :(
The hellhounds look so soft and pet-able(: If they would stay still, I’m assuming…
You asked what Skype is. It’s this program that allows you to have online “phone” conversations with people that you know. If they’re online and you’re online at the same time, you can talk over the mic for free. If they aren’t online you can call them on a landline for a small fee (or on their cell phone for a larger fee); it costs, but is definitely cheaper than an international phone card, at least from this side of the pond. You can even use a web cam, although my Romanian friends and I found that that tends to make it freeze and/or cut you off pretty frequently. Very useful, although it’s a pain to get people put on your list since you both have to be online at the same time (and how are you going to know that they’re online if you’re halfway across the world and can’t talk to them until you get the Skype set up?). You can even do conference calls with up to 5 people including yourself.
I was thinking about aging as I looked at your photo and thought about how you have described yourself as old. Obviously I see something different, as do all of the other people who have posted here.
I take care of a wide range of people, and my favorites–although I should never admit I have favorites, of course–are the lovely women in their 70s and 80s. Their faces are absolutely beautiful, and the lines only add to it. I wonder if you feel similarly towards older women–it seems from some of your wonderful characters that you might.
But it is so much harder when it is ourselves! I am 39, and the small lines on my face make me sad–I don’t recognize and respect them for what they are, the way that I would on someone else.
I think that women are also far more critical of themselves than they need to be.
I wonder why that is?