tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225101262024-03-07T17:55:23.841-05:00Anne's HouseRandom thoughts about life in my house: things that happen and struggles of being a parent to a brilliant daughter and to an autistic son.Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.comBlogger800125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-37402309452051923192019-05-03T21:50:00.002-04:002019-05-03T21:54:16.610-04:00Greetings!<br />
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I just realize it has been two and half years since I have posted on my blog. I have been shamed, not intentionally, by my blogging friends. So, here’s a new post. No promises for the future.<br />
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Currently I am enjoying a quilting retreat with bee mates at a rented cabin in the mountains of West Virginia. I am working on blocks for the 365 challenge and making a bathrobe for my daughter. It’s been so long since I’ve made garments, I hope it turns out well. Here are the newly completed 365 blocks:<br />
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Our cabin:<br />
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Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-11032366790898100932016-08-02T13:25:00.000-04:002016-08-02T13:25:10.357-04:00And the Results Are InIn my previous post I wrote about using a film camera again after a long absence. I got my prints back in the mail from that first roll, as well as a CD of the images. This is my favorite of the bunch. It's uncropped and unretouched photo. I think it's nicely lit and framed well. What do you think?<br />
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-->Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-10140738518169698182016-07-22T11:36:00.001-04:002016-07-22T11:45:51.461-04:00Photography Roots and Going BackI was raised on film.<br />
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Not movies, but camera film. Black and white, Tri-X, Pan-X, reels, upstairs bathroom-turned-darkroom, developer, fixer, and my dad's guiding words. I was raised in a mostly Nikon family but I think there was an Olympus or two in there as well. I understand ƒ-stops, film speeds, shutter speeds, grain, depth of field, and lossless paper. Oh, and slides, let's not forget slides.<br />
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Then the world changed: it went digital. And everyone with a phone immediately thought themselves as a trained photographer. Do these kids even know why most of their pictures are just plain bad? As time went by I abandoned my SLRs for point-and-shoots, then those for the camera in my phone. Over time I found myself longing for more control on occasion. I wanted to open the shutter for a more shallow depth of field or taking pictures in a dark venue, or wanted a longer exposure for waterfall shots, but was held captive to the fixed settings in the phone. I could only play with image afterwards with editing apps. I never became a master of post-editing apps, that's not how you did it. Maybe modern trained photographers did it that way, but I was raised on film. <br />
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Recently I acquired a Hasselblad 503 from my dad from someone in his retirement village who "couldn't use it anymore." It's a medium-format camera that uses film. Real film. And needs a separate light meter, but that's a whole other topic for discussion later.<br />
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A couple weeks ago I finally got it out to try. With only a 12-exposure roll of film, I found myself really searching for my shots and giving up a trigger finger. My brain was slowly reverting back to "art" mode from the present-day "disposable" mode. It wasn't like I could press the delete button at the end of the day if I didn't like something or if the horizon wasn't level. Each image had to be worth something. However, still true to this mobile lifestyle, I hand-held the camera and didn't use a tripod (even though the camera is very heavy compared to my Nikon).<br />
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I found an online company that still develops film and I mailed off my first exposed roll the other day. I am trying to wait patiently for the prints (Yes, paper prints!) to get mailed back to me. I'm nervous and excited at the same time about the results. What if I wasted the whole roll? What if there was dust on my lens? What if the shutter speed was too slow and everything is blurry? What if I lost my "eye" and my photography roots are all a sham? We shall see. Stay tuned. I'll tape up some of the prints here when I get them back.<br />
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-->Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-41797843013214430842014-09-05T10:47:00.000-04:002014-09-05T10:59:43.264-04:00Baseball and Three Stadia<br />
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I was born in Ohio and spent a great deal of my childhood in Huntington, WV. My mother's parents and grandparents lived on this side of Columbus in the Cincinnati Reds region. My father's parents lived on that side of Columbus in the Cleveland Indians territory. Baseball was in the periphery of my youth but I never learned the game. I cheered for the Big Red Machine, but never got to go to Cincinnati for a game. I remember several of the boys bringing in transistor radios to school with their earpiece to listen to the 1972 Reds/As world series games during school.<br />
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I remember my grandmother watching a Reds game in <i>her</i> chair and would occasionally make commentary about the game, complain about a call, or even yell, "He balked!" I remember my great-grandfather sitting in <i>his</i> chair by the front window of his house there on Limestone street, hunched over his radio concentrating on the Reds game. Only after the game would he join in at the table for a game of <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FEuchre&ei=47MJVNzAIq3isATKhYLYCQ&usg=AFQjCNGZDlq2gGms2rbgy6EbTdRYkqvwlQ&sig2=cqxyEz3A_94HcTUHRiQzKQ&bvm=bv.74649129,d.cWc" target="_blank">Euchre</a>. I remember my dad's dad having the Indians on in his den, but we didn't visit there as often so those memories are fuzzy. Everybody loved baseball.<br />
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Fast forward to adulthood. I got a job in the Washington DC area and moved to Maryland. I met my soon-to-be husband and our first significant date was to an Orioles' game, <i>the</i> Mike Devereaux game to be exact and if you're an O's fan, you know exactly which game that was. I've been an Orioles fan ever since and I had no real internal conflict since the O's and Reds are in different leagues. Since we met my husband and I like to take the family to Baltimore several times a summer to see a game.<br />
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Baltimore's <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCkQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbaltimore.orioles.mlb.com%2Fbal%2Foriolepark%2Fhistory.jsp&ei=6LkJVP61L7SasQTjzIKADw&usg=AFQjCNEM8bCJwg01dR-MZX6EfrP3YnnBGQ&sig2=KQ6ctcXEDxAQ7hDLSpMgCw&bvm=bv.74649129,d.cWc" target="_blank">Camden Yards</a> had its 20-year anniversary two years ago; they say it's the stadium that changed the face of modern venues. It was built to embrace the cityscape instead of obscuring it, and the Camden Yard warehouse became an iconic backdrop. Baltimore is a working class town, compared with Washington just down the road, and the difference in attitude shows at the stadium. I'm allowed to bring in food and my own non-alcoholic beverages. The tickets are reasonably priced compared to other teams.<br />
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So, in addition to games at The Yards, I got to see my Orioles play against the other local team, the Washington Nationals, or the Gnats, as I call them when I want to annoy my Nats friends, at Nationals Park. My parents, my husband and son went to celebrate my dad's birthday. The folks are Nats fans. My mother has inherited her mom's and grandfather's love of the game, she knew all the Nats players and would perk up when her favorite players were up to bat. I felt a little bad for my folks when my O's won the game against their Nats.<br />
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The Nats' stadium is newer (2008) and has a nice feature of visibility where
you can see the field from the concourse, which you can't do at the
Yards, but they are strict on their food and drink policy: nothing
except clear sealed bottles of water. And their tickets are more
expensive. <br />
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This past weekend we took a family trip to Pennsylvania, spending a few days in the mountains and a few days in Pittsburgh with friends. We did many of the touristy things including taking in a Pirates game at PNC Park against the Reds(!). PNC is another new stadium (2001) that made the cityscape the backdrop. From our seats in the upper deck we had a good view of the field and could see the river, several iconic yellow bridges and the buildings of downtown. I noticed in the program, the Pirates have sliding ticket pricing, different prices for different days of the week. And you can only bring in sealed water bottles. I gotta say, I'm appreciative of the Yards' policy of allowing my own food. <br />
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After being in three different stadiums in such close succession I noticed how the fans are all alike. Most fans wear shirts and/or hats of their team. (I'm guilty here.) They bring in signs with hopes of getting on TV. They cheer loudly and think their team is the best. (I <i>know</i> my O's are the best, we are up by 9.5 games over those Yankees as of September 5!) They boo calls against their team; high-five close-by strangers when home runs are hit. They are older frumpy women wearing shirts that should have been retired years ago. They are young skinny girlfriends wearing jerseys that are far too big. They are guys in shirts bearing the names of mediocre players from seasons gone by. They are kids grumpy or sleeping by the sixth inning. The predominate color worn in the stands is the only difference.<br />
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Everybody loves baseball.<br />
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-->Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-1281050749872122682014-01-07T08:49:00.001-05:002014-01-07T08:49:06.604-05:00Transitioning YouthsHappy New Year!<br />
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It's been so long since I've posted here. I guess Facebook has sucked the need for composing longer missives right out of me. Forgive me, dear readers.<br />
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So much has happened since the last time I posted, I'm not even sure when that was.<br />
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The daughter graduated from high school back in May; she now is a freshman/sophomore (thanks to AP credits) in university studying biochemistry and did well her first semester. I'm so pleased! She seems to be growing up into adulthood. <br />
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The son is a senior in high school. He is in his third year of his special education work experience program where they take the kids to a job site to gain job skills. He's worked at Ross and at NASA in the library, and this semester, he's back at NASA in the cafeteria cleaning up after the breakfast shift and prepping for lunch service.The husband and I are in the process of visiting service providers. These agencies help individuals with special needs get jobs, either with a day program or in supported employment Supported employment is where they find Kevin a job and a job coach, work with the employer to get him trained and keep up with his progress. The day programs provide piece-rate jobs where the individuals do low-end and medium low-end assembly tasks. One agency we visited has a contract with a hotel to assemble the in-room service packs with coffee, sugar, and napkins, etc.<br />
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I continue to oscillate between crafts (quilting, knitting, a little beading) and reading. Now I'm knitting, working on a sweater, a real one for myself. I got a couple inches done and realized the gauge was way off, ripped it out and now I've started over. I know myself, if it doesn't go smoothly, I'll get disgusted with it and it'll sit on a shelf for the rest of time. Here is a sweater I did finish recently:<br />
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It's only 6" long, by the way.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200966185667988&set=p.10200966185667988&type=1" rel="theater"><img alt="Karen Todd's photo." class="_46-i img" height="219" src="https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/p235x165/1506018_10200966185667988_118507166_n.jpg" style="left: -5px; top: 0px;" width="235" /></a></div>
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No promises I'll post soon, but I hope too!<br />
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-->Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-31229751701026252752013-08-30T19:40:00.000-04:002013-08-30T19:41:25.643-04:00Quilt Show!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmb2T2fCow0EFXyFUPN_T2t7uRF7tf4ie_I9JCUj1Y-zP4I5qrgvOKz8LtLsbal5zhL2pi-hmoURG2WmtmWBzHD0FO1EDPKQPnNc_MN_XrILyj6m6asqX1bR-dPvdcypdsM-ZPQ/s1600/photo-785644.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmb2T2fCow0EFXyFUPN_T2t7uRF7tf4ie_I9JCUj1Y-zP4I5qrgvOKz8LtLsbal5zhL2pi-hmoURG2WmtmWBzHD0FO1EDPKQPnNc_MN_XrILyj6m6asqX1bR-dPvdcypdsM-ZPQ/s320/photo-785644.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5918061588608521554" /></a></p>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-74969952564883325972013-08-07T14:13:00.001-04:002013-08-07T14:17:43.966-04:00Caption This!<div class="mobile-photo">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MOC9Yt3SJEvBYmwmUaUF1M-dd-zJqbf8BFBBvGtBPOPlPLWmgFJ2SfeZhEnpWFmpn-99yNWQBjJ4Kb5_vj_kRAcv4Q9No9J0Ug7RsV6rY2ADd0gAQBYMk7vqkIIaiGIIgd2v_w/s1600/photo-731739.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5909442210447025634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MOC9Yt3SJEvBYmwmUaUF1M-dd-zJqbf8BFBBvGtBPOPlPLWmgFJ2SfeZhEnpWFmpn-99yNWQBjJ4Kb5_vj_kRAcv4Q9No9J0Ug7RsV6rY2ADd0gAQBYMk7vqkIIaiGIIgd2v_w/s320/photo-731739.JPG" /></a></div>
Dan found this picture in a stack of old vacation photos declaring "You're so mean." It's just begging for a caption. Give it your best shot!
Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-77439622320946697722013-08-01T11:55:00.000-04:002013-08-01T11:56:00.884-04:00I need to blog more; let's start with a picture<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gZlnOiHSo_IbwWo4n6jGmpGIjsDX-P0yP9EpkeIz4gGnTMI5_DwH9dzd9HP533-14YfCJ31g0o6IJdtGQo4mcmm_SaDUPT9Nhc59Y35prbCAjRMYCGSeRK-W2eFWfWFFRnVUFw/s1600/photo-760884.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gZlnOiHSo_IbwWo4n6jGmpGIjsDX-P0yP9EpkeIz4gGnTMI5_DwH9dzd9HP533-14YfCJ31g0o6IJdtGQo4mcmm_SaDUPT9Nhc59Y35prbCAjRMYCGSeRK-W2eFWfWFFRnVUFw/s320/photo-760884.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5907180176168078674" /></a></p>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-82394549925413244652013-05-23T08:53:00.001-04:002013-05-23T08:53:42.017-04:00My Latest Project <p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwK6bi-b_GFL-WuIBQfq3ipLJuaYFmuZA0aP0XhTMGqWhoWXFBHrZHPhM5N8lrMT8JT_qGypqC2zdbnhCwA5jNv3gjFM2DNFlxojtwkQb9oNA_s2VJn9ThVTt35K3nFgFV9HlYw/s1600/photo-722018.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwK6bi-b_GFL-WuIBQfq3ipLJuaYFmuZA0aP0XhTMGqWhoWXFBHrZHPhM5N8lrMT8JT_qGypqC2zdbnhCwA5jNv3gjFM2DNFlxojtwkQb9oNA_s2VJn9ThVTt35K3nFgFV9HlYw/s320/photo-722018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5881157228141341810" /></a></p>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-10574143180736543982012-10-24T08:39:00.000-04:002012-10-24T08:40:14.158-04:00Happy Birthday Kevin!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkZmYJ17soVoBqq13CCfwDBFYBhNAMNRgdrZ72NQr-7tdj8vUPBHv4LB5dhxTllHpisPvuO6hz0JeFeWcCqcGjwZE8_K9Ap1Hyr1eFjYIPRg7jst6fsz54RiqzTG4ybgfrQDk_g/s1600/photo-714158.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkZmYJ17soVoBqq13CCfwDBFYBhNAMNRgdrZ72NQr-7tdj8vUPBHv4LB5dhxTllHpisPvuO6hz0JeFeWcCqcGjwZE8_K9Ap1Hyr1eFjYIPRg7jst6fsz54RiqzTG4ybgfrQDk_g/s320/photo-714158.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5802854794515465714" /></a></p>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-45759890231020373622012-10-16T13:38:00.000-04:002012-10-16T16:01:16.803-04:00Kevin and Cali and AutismMy husband maintains the autistic brain has two pathways. The pathway for babbling and self-stim speech and the pathway for real speech, real expression. Kevin, my autistic son, will be 20 next week, and we have been observing his speech as he's grown. Slowly his real expression has become a larger percentage of his total speech.
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I find it interesting to note what triggers real speech from him. In a typical day, his real speech comes from answering questions and he'll only answer questions he wants to. At home, most of these have to do with food, like "What do you want to have for dinner?" He rarely expresses something without a prompt. But it's there and I take joy when I experience it.
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The first time I remember impromptu speech was when he was 10 or 12 or so when we picked the kids up from aftercare. Somehow the routine was off that day, maybe our daughter got in on the opposite side of the van, so the door on Kevin's side was still open. As we started to back out of the driveway he exclaimed the door wasn't closed. Dan and I stared at each other in amazement.
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We have a new member of the Anneshouse household. Cali is a dog we acquired from <a href="http://handywoman.blogspot.com/">CG</a>'s fiance because her son is very allergic and Cali couldn't live with them when their households were combined. Cali's a wonderful dog, about 9 or 10 year-old chow-lab mix, very settled and calm.
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Kevin has been afraid of animals for as long as we can remember so we took on Cali with much trepidation, but hope. In the beginning he couldn't be in house at the same time as her. We used a lot of pet gates to keep the two separated but visible to each other. Dan tended to be more conservative when it came to getting Kevin acclimated to Cali than I was. I wanted to carefully force issues to show Kevin she was nothing to be afraid of. I would hold his hand so she could take a treat from it even though he'd pull back as soon as he could.
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Fast-forward six weeks and Kevin now pets Cali and freely gives her treats, no gates are used, and he even reluctantly takes her for occasional walks. The other night I sent Kevin out with Cali on one such walk. He told her to "sit" so he could snap the leash on. They then went ahead while I got my shoes on. When I caught up with them I heard him talking to her with very expressive language. She likes to smell everything, as dogs do, sometimes taking them well off the path. Kevin was very clear about telling her where to go and where she didn't belong. I was thrilled. I am thrilled. I'm glad gently forcing Kevin to do things out of his comfort zone has improved his expressive speech and opened up that pathway more.
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzMFwR14i5fD7hVP2dDViaFe0kPJYckJFccL0wHX4WyW3FXTcwCtmZjUdahhoxcVhNpgV1kiFAH00qtHwOq7Yw2MLz2Xh9zEMegonU9Uf5CryG3fNum8TCmiPksPnSQH-r3ylhQ/s400/signature+anne.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" />
Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-79192163448766311562012-10-03T12:55:00.001-04:002012-10-03T19:35:58.128-04:00Another Attempt at Blogging and QuiltingI just was reading <a href="http://andsewitgoes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Terry Grant's blog</a> about her malaise.<br />
<br />
It seems to be going around, I've felt like that for a while: so much
fabric so little inspiration. I hadn't sewed on anything fun in months,
six or more. Then I worked on a wall hanging a few weeks ago, picture below. It
had been a work in progress for two years or more. It is waiting for borders and to be
finished and my muse left the building.<br />
<br />
Last week I bought one of those grocery store quilting magazines, I
don't remember which one, I think it had a blue/yellow/green quilt on
the cover. It was an impulse buy. I was pleasantly surprised when inside
was a pattern for a super-sized shoo-fly quilt. It spoke to me as a
college quilt for my daughter since she's a high school senior this year. I asked her to go through my
stash and pick out some fabric she liked. Because the blocks are so big I
needed nearly a yard of each one. I needed to cut 12" and 11 5/8"
squares. You'd think you could get three of those length-wise from a
yard of fabric, but you'd be wrong. It seems the common length of a yard
of fabric is really 34". It was very aggravating trying to cut the
squares when you're not working with a full yard.<br />
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Anyway, over the weekend I got the six blocks done and sewn together
into a top. It's ~100x66. Did you know twin batts are 93x72?<br />
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Why is it then, when inspiration strikes, the path is never the envisioned one, the smooth and easy one?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqe9RjKjU1mDWQjHlsAjjz0aYso_AbXvtrZByZ2drOUOGijNPznwxnQw6y2fIbMFO1trsaA9sRn9-239YXmfp_NIVpo8_wHp8se3Q4J5pzwD7H2zPoIJwE8ywKk4XEsVgghvXJg/s1600/photo-772104.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5795229323824594082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqe9RjKjU1mDWQjHlsAjjz0aYso_AbXvtrZByZ2drOUOGijNPznwxnQw6y2fIbMFO1trsaA9sRn9-239YXmfp_NIVpo8_wHp8se3Q4J5pzwD7H2zPoIJwE8ywKk4XEsVgghvXJg/s320/photo-772104.JPG" /></a></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzMFwR14i5fD7hVP2dDViaFe0kPJYckJFccL0wHX4WyW3FXTcwCtmZjUdahhoxcVhNpgV1kiFAH00qtHwOq7Yw2MLz2Xh9zEMegonU9Uf5CryG3fNum8TCmiPksPnSQH-r3ylhQ/s400/signature+anne.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" />
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-->Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-80457538310469547462012-09-10T17:36:00.001-04:002012-09-10T17:36:39.781-04:00What I Worked on Over the Weekend<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHNCHHkMj0g01Y0lGyY4gEIgyXJfqXT8wPM6XuqsYqSKcgGpcrwVx14HbFRBSSSAl21FjUV2i3IhvC9nxl0qlDzvWwJTczWRbkL3P_hch_lsncLJ-vvZaI3j_-HJAXhSP3oKILw/s1600/photo-799781.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHNCHHkMj0g01Y0lGyY4gEIgyXJfqXT8wPM6XuqsYqSKcgGpcrwVx14HbFRBSSSAl21FjUV2i3IhvC9nxl0qlDzvWwJTczWRbkL3P_hch_lsncLJ-vvZaI3j_-HJAXhSP3oKILw/s320/photo-799781.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5786665273726068786" /></a></p>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-19274285526144863342012-08-23T11:13:00.000-04:002012-08-23T11:13:23.856-04:00I've been challenged by my quilt guild and bee members to post more. I think that would require me actually doing more to have fodder for posts. Heaven forbid I should admit I watch a lot of TV.<br />
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Ok, so here is the latest news: We came back from vacation to a dead fridge, termite damage requiring the garage door frame to be rebuilt, a bill from the IRS for the tax on profit on mutual funds I forgot to report, and a dog.<br />
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Unique view of the Bay Bridge from the vacation: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1U_QIpw6S1ySMaMFHauuEh1UK9GF6bf1CJo15Q9vDJV-zED4NVTPJqYyvq4Fz1I1OvdyZTl4SpdVOCXNSoYQij-r2a0jXF91LAS519qFtEQ_3mqzkqL8vc_r-CvRfw6u1Wsz66A/s1600/IMG_2832%255B1%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1U_QIpw6S1ySMaMFHauuEh1UK9GF6bf1CJo15Q9vDJV-zED4NVTPJqYyvq4Fz1I1OvdyZTl4SpdVOCXNSoYQij-r2a0jXF91LAS519qFtEQ_3mqzkqL8vc_r-CvRfw6u1Wsz66A/s320/IMG_2832%255B1%255D" width="320" /></a></div>
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Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-88448688973944689742012-08-06T16:13:00.001-04:002012-08-06T16:43:38.775-04:00I cleaned a little<div align="center">
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Click to view interactively: <a href="http://360.io/vfEuwV">http://360.io/vfEuwV</a></p>
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<div>I've been playing with new apps again.... </div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-8067584972907040952012-07-16T11:08:00.000-04:002012-07-16T11:10:17.749-04:00<p>Holy cats! It's been ages since I posted. The world, my world has changed since then.
<p>First, (because VE keeps asking) let me report I've finished one of the socks in the pair shown below, the other has been started, ripped back, and is now waiting for progress. Like you are with this blog.
<p>Second, the husband retired in March with a buy-out option Census offered. Life has been interesting adjusting to this. I miss having him here at work in the building. He was good for a distracting email or instant message when I needed it. I miss the carpool parking pass which provided better parking ops. I like that I'm not loading and unloading the dishwasher as much any more, almost never, really. (Thanks Honey!)
<p>I have a senior in high school now, and life is full of SATs, AP results, and college visits. Sorry, kid, we spent all your college money on vacations.
<p>Antigua in June
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUUsK2i1zUlB7QZbtO2cXGhqh8HsWDFd5Ex4IHaLUpgk8mpT7CC_8iZ1hMFbnRWtfhDDhompCm03VgqWiiOSfu51pI7i956By19Vwf6OUvdCjVCOKhvkYtCTu2fLcMbcr-rxoaw/s1600/antigua_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUUsK2i1zUlB7QZbtO2cXGhqh8HsWDFd5Ex4IHaLUpgk8mpT7CC_8iZ1hMFbnRWtfhDDhompCm03VgqWiiOSfu51pI7i956By19Vwf6OUvdCjVCOKhvkYtCTu2fLcMbcr-rxoaw/s320/antigua_edit.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>I'll try to remember to come back again and post more.
<img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzMFwR14i5fD7hVP2dDViaFe0kPJYckJFccL0wHX4WyW3FXTcwCtmZjUdahhoxcVhNpgV1kiFAH00qtHwOq7Yw2MLz2Xh9zEMegonU9Uf5CryG3fNum8TCmiPksPnSQH-r3ylhQ/s400/signature+anne.png">
Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-57088900925672151962012-02-19T00:04:00.000-05:002012-02-19T00:05:51.981-05:00Sock in Progress<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq400Eliw96d7GUnK2SfnKkGH5NwdqLiu2VH27UbKKu6i_T2yRu00oSLieejucA_biUJ326-w6Kqj-YL1mjtp9gM2TqRphtH6M_YrNITfrGkvhFyneexCRqu3MWCZPJpgSnF7tw/s1600/photo-751981.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq400Eliw96d7GUnK2SfnKkGH5NwdqLiu2VH27UbKKu6i_T2yRu00oSLieejucA_biUJ326-w6Kqj-YL1mjtp9gM2TqRphtH6M_YrNITfrGkvhFyneexCRqu3MWCZPJpgSnF7tw/s320/photo-751981.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710708573444138482" /></a></p>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-29716945561772648432012-01-13T08:49:00.001-05:002012-01-13T08:54:59.642-05:00The Never-ending Socks: Done!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa9Ru16PM6j4tRaBwP4zM1n9HlSYW6prqWSldcH0peaY2PKScO2ThQiPKCY2vkmaEaYkPMCPgIBGpL6SzknCdWFx5oTnZBI7srZ5ukucihht0Y0jm1O-PspvDKohud0qm4g46rw/s1600/photo+1-711485.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa9Ru16PM6j4tRaBwP4zM1n9HlSYW6prqWSldcH0peaY2PKScO2ThQiPKCY2vkmaEaYkPMCPgIBGpL6SzknCdWFx5oTnZBI7srZ5ukucihht0Y0jm1O-PspvDKohud0qm4g46rw/s320/photo+1-711485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697113969994013554" border="0" /></a></p>These socks for Fern are finally done!<br /><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzbBl1f3SbgLT1G2gVRapwt6EuOvQuPbHTyEJP6EClnfZjrcyLaB9SWfcJw6eV0NltiU0GKlgx-6ls7LLLStzgeq4s4CgGihXIEsM5KdX-UEV3Zz1-CEEQuZ4tsikTTWKOy-7mw/s1600/photo+2-713603.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzbBl1f3SbgLT1G2gVRapwt6EuOvQuPbHTyEJP6EClnfZjrcyLaB9SWfcJw6eV0NltiU0GKlgx-6ls7LLLStzgeq4s4CgGihXIEsM5KdX-UEV3Zz1-CEEQuZ4tsikTTWKOy-7mw/s320/photo+2-713603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697113978482701282" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zKRNs3bpz2DZ0FF4h9p7GRZJcirW1pCdGL1LdCt7mX64NFOJcoPAkfozCEydXg3n55JxLBZK7zrXI9_gJlh6dtCu42XHiIgVAS3uDcH1vRsHke7tUWo1yM9a5dJ0tAU8WfenVw/s1600/photo+3-718332.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zKRNs3bpz2DZ0FF4h9p7GRZJcirW1pCdGL1LdCt7mX64NFOJcoPAkfozCEydXg3n55JxLBZK7zrXI9_gJlh6dtCu42XHiIgVAS3uDcH1vRsHke7tUWo1yM9a5dJ0tAU8WfenVw/s320/photo+3-718332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697113994069278050" border="0" /></a></p> Tubular cuff bind-off.Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-2201731512179740902012-01-04T10:13:00.001-05:002012-01-04T10:57:00.193-05:00What I Did Over Christmas Break<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvelPb6SU3ZozZlWFvMynGCd5G6aDZOOrIcryhMG_RFBB_ZPmTpKD80pGgJv3GdDAEQ1S_TW7w824bqgxMhjdBDnuneRIOL42e7hCKccLpVMukVafCIDVAeimQCSUr_Wy5HumBiQ/s1600/photo-799785.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvelPb6SU3ZozZlWFvMynGCd5G6aDZOOrIcryhMG_RFBB_ZPmTpKD80pGgJv3GdDAEQ1S_TW7w824bqgxMhjdBDnuneRIOL42e7hCKccLpVMukVafCIDVAeimQCSUr_Wy5HumBiQ/s320/photo-799785.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693795626824198418" /></a></p><br /><br />If you scroll down, you can see the picture of this when I was laying it out on the conference room table. I spent a lot of time over break sewing the blocks together. I don't have any space large enough in my house to get a good look at it, my bed is the closest. The next step is to put on the borders. I'm hoping to borrow a friend's long arm machine to quilt this monster. With borders on, it'll be 116" x 90"!Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-87298939409126020842011-12-07T10:38:00.008-05:002011-12-07T12:26:51.629-05:00Quilt MathI got my sewing machine back from the shop yesterday. I had it in for semi-routine maintenance. The 'dashboard' has service symbols when it's time for an oiling or professional service. I oil my machine far more often than the light indicates. Maybe that's why the service symbol doesn't come on, I just bring it in when it's been a while.<br /><br />Last time I had it in for service was in April of 2008. The tech provided me with some statistics from my machine's computer.<br /><br />General sewing time: 25:39<br />Stitches: 6,802,510<br />Time using the embroidery module: 1:23<br />Embroidery stitches: 502,400<br />Time quilting with the stitch regulator module (BSR): 1:36<br />BSR stitches: 5,490,480<br />Total time: 28:38<br />Total stitches: 12,795,390<br /><br />Since I bought my machine used, all the embroidery work was done by the previous owner since I don't have that part.<br /><br />I asked for the same statistics this time, almost three years later.<br /><br />General sewing time: 99:37<br />stitches: 2,572,174<br />Time using the embroidery module: 1:23<br />embroidery stitches: 50,240<br />Time using BSR: 1:43<br />BSR stitches: 773,830<br />Total time: 102:43<br />Total stitches: 3,396,244<br />Total time turned on: 6233:51<br /><br /><br />OK, so do you see the problem here? The first set of numbers is off. By a lot, a factor of 10. I'm guessing there's an extra zero at the end of the older counts. After I adjust for that what puzzles me the most is how I could have sewn 224,782 stitches with the BSR in seven minutes.<br /><br />I guess it's a new form of quilt math I'm not aware of.<br /><br /><br /><img style="border: 0px none; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzMFwR14i5fD7hVP2dDViaFe0kPJYckJFccL0wHX4WyW3FXTcwCtmZjUdahhoxcVhNpgV1kiFAH00qtHwOq7Yw2MLz2Xh9zEMegonU9Uf5CryG3fNum8TCmiPksPnSQH-r3ylhQ/s400/signature+anne.png" />Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-22827055608738220092011-12-05T10:57:00.000-05:002011-12-05T11:32:53.360-05:00Quilt in Progress<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxNvL_0G3OKEblG3lIQykYzkxIzPojL0jcW8Tqf8YcsJgSGGJkN43RSS_v4a85uN7laDvaUTSN2C4Udsdc8ZqOuzqmKx_LXz_EiXT7xiSLTL46Mo8SA1cPymHafIN-V6TH9-caA/s1600/photo-773361.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxNvL_0G3OKEblG3lIQykYzkxIzPojL0jcW8Tqf8YcsJgSGGJkN43RSS_v4a85uN7laDvaUTSN2C4Udsdc8ZqOuzqmKx_LXz_EiXT7xiSLTL46Mo8SA1cPymHafIN-V6TH9-caA/s320/photo-773361.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682683144050516994" /></a></p>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-22413768795213573982011-11-01T11:31:00.002-04:002011-11-01T12:09:17.017-04:00Charm Pack Baby Quilt<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasn_0yZv4MJGdYxScH-X8Shzt7f5d_uNndEhN3XJQUZ5tyordchOggX9XnG4oTiLSLlR9ougiTXHEHh3KkbdL25CDVoLV9zHeSq9M4NWaoIZWCSnsfjo7AiaaTIRwAMIHs8A7LQ/s1600/photo-776078.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasn_0yZv4MJGdYxScH-X8Shzt7f5d_uNndEhN3XJQUZ5tyordchOggX9XnG4oTiLSLlR9ougiTXHEHh3KkbdL25CDVoLV9zHeSq9M4NWaoIZWCSnsfjo7AiaaTIRwAMIHs8A7LQ/s320/photo-776078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670050797663426610" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />This is a baby quilt I'm making for one of the guys in the office. I just need to put on the binding, it's already quilted and washed.<br /><br />I made this from a charm pack, a pack of 40 or so 5" squares.<br /><br />Keeping the order of the squares in tact, I sliced off 1.5" off each side, then the top and bottom; then shuffled the bottom center square to the top of the stack and reassemble the blocks. I then arranged the blocks on point in a zigzag pattern in the same order as the squares from the original pack. I added setting triangles and two two-inch borders. The checkerboard border was made from two fabrics that match some in the original pack which I got separately. After quilting, it finished to about 30" square.<br /><br />I got to use a friend's long-arm for the first time to quilt this. It was way fun, even for a beginner. I wish I had the space and money for my own long arm. In the mean time I'll keep renting/bartering time on other machines.Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-66300248733033299772011-10-29T22:00:00.002-04:002011-10-29T22:08:47.291-04:00Layout Challenges: Help!<div style='margin:0px auto; width: 480px; text-align:center'> <img style='margin-bottom: 0.4em; box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888; -moz-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #888;' src="http://images.instagram.com/media/2011/10/29/944ecbae029a11e1b0a81231381b5470_6.jpg"/><br /><a style="color:#2f79c2; text-decoration:none; font-style:italic; font-size:0.6em" href="http://instagr.am/p/R-kI2/">view full image</a> <p style="font-size:0.8em"></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-52102699149584495182011-10-17T08:54:00.003-04:002011-10-17T09:16:33.199-04:00I Hate AutumnI love autumn, really, the low-angle light and dramatic skys, the changing colors, the cool crisp air, beautiful. It's probably my favorite season.<br /><br />But I hate autumn.<br /><br />We northern hemisphere homosapiens are genetically programmed to add insulation in the fall for the upcoming winter. The number on the scale gets larger every time you get on it. What doesn't help are the holidays: Kevin's birthday (cake), Halloween (candy), Thanksgiving (pie), Christmas (luncheons, cookies, more pie), New Year's eve (chips and dip), Super Bowl Sunday (more chips, more dip), and Valentine's Day (chocolate). You don't get a break until March, and by then the damage has been done. The hips are larger than ever and you're on the brink of having to buy yet another wardrobe.<br /><br />So I've decided I'm cutting out carbs now. Well, actually, I started Saturday. No pasta, no candy, no bread and butter, no cereal. I plan on getting a jumpstart on counteracting this weight thing.<br /><br />As I type this, I can hear the guys in the next cube talking about the bagels that were brought in today. Sheesh.<br /><br />I can do this. Who's with me?<br /><br /><img style="border: 0px none; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzMFwR14i5fD7hVP2dDViaFe0kPJYckJFccL0wHX4WyW3FXTcwCtmZjUdahhoxcVhNpgV1kiFAH00qtHwOq7Yw2MLz2Xh9zEMegonU9Uf5CryG3fNum8TCmiPksPnSQH-r3ylhQ/s400/signature+anne.png" /> <!--<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/146/216EE224A0EEAB6105E4FCE01672505C.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>-->Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510126.post-61962268196120607102011-10-10T07:14:00.000-04:002011-10-10T07:15:42.059-04:00Jack....Jack....<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHdDDxZvz7kmoz42BdKfVs684nGr2J6Grq6Kiq0WjDBBIO0fwzhlAkgh655dLCTwDD6WATdZZrvphcmqM7JOV56Yjdz63IcKVrBZ2a-gjHfqpE1tQ6uzUvMDthybD12ZM3KjitQ/s1600/email-742060.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHdDDxZvz7kmoz42BdKfVs684nGr2J6Grq6Kiq0WjDBBIO0fwzhlAkgh655dLCTwDD6WATdZZrvphcmqM7JOV56Yjdz63IcKVrBZ2a-gjHfqpE1tQ6uzUvMDthybD12ZM3KjitQ/s320/email-742060.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661820633927115218" /></a></p>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934050541589102652noreply@blogger.com1