Monday, August 18, 2025

Getting Out

You may remember that I was unable to get a "Real ID" because my name on my birth certificate doesn't match my Social Security, so I had to apply for a new passport. My old passport had expired too long ago to be renewed online, so I had to fill out the application and make an appointment at the post office. My passport was approved and got to me fairly quickly, although there was no rush, as I do not yet have travel plans.



I remember the days when we could travel back and forth across our northern and southern borders without a passport. One time, coming back from Mexico, I had to submit to another smallpox shot because I didn't have my shot record with me. That was the last one I ever got, bringing the total to at least six vaccinations for a disease which has since become virtually eradicated, although it is still kept in a couple of laboratories for research purposes. 


Progress on the whole-cloth quilt continues. The last corner is to the lower right in this photo, and the hoop shows where I am currently working. After that corner, there is about three-fourths of the border edge to complete. Stay tuned. 



A good part of the week was spend with going over the music for the Summer Choir concert, which happened yesterday. To say it was a success, would be an understatement. Helpers had to go into a different part of the building to get folding chairs, as the seats were full well before the start time at 4:00 PM, and people were still coming in. The balcony was full, as well as all the seats on the main floor. I don't know what the fire marshal would have said. Some choir members had left their seats to use the restroom before the performance, and audience members were trying to take their seats, as the huge choir filled about 1/4 of the main floor area. 



this is what it looked like on the main floor at 3:30, right after they opened the doors for the public. To the right is another large section of seats, and then the balcony. They eventually filled the smaller area behind the choir with folding chairs. Fortunately, even though many people could not see the choir, we could be heard well throughout the building.



Also this week was another Madroña pop-up meeting, a visit to physical therapy (for my back, which is improving), a walk every day with the dogs, more bread and granola baking and, of course, the usual cooking and laundry. 


For some cuteness, here's a photo of our two new grandkitties. They are three months old, siblings, one male (the orange tabby) and one female (the sortie). I haven't met them yet, but am looking forward to it. Our granddog, Louis, has not yet been formally introduced to them, but the blankets they use have been traded back and forth, so they can get used to each other's smell. (A good idea!) Louis came into the home with cats, so it is hoped that he will take them as normal family members and not prey. It helps that they are still babies.



We have plans to travel down to California the end of this week to attend an event at Madroña. We're probably just taking the car. It will be another busy week.

I have a lot of difficulty responding to comments to my blog posts because of technical issues beyond my control (my lack of understanding of how things work). Message me on Facebook, Ravelry or Spoutible if you need information.


If you have a few minutes and are willing, please go to Amazon and B&N and search for More Classic Tales Retold or Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook by Peggy Stuart". Every click on the page for the book makes it more likely they will keep a good supply in their warehouse and stores. If you are outside the US, you may have a separate website for these retailers. If you have a copy of any of our books, including Emil, Mariah, Classic Tales RetoldOur Favorite Verses or More Classic Tales Retold, please leave an honest review on the websites, especially if you bought from them.


Where's my blog: If you want to follow my blog, go here and sign up to follow.

What's on my needles: Two rows to go with The Love of Spiders shawl by Melanie Berg. No progress on swatching for Gentle Spirit Tee

What's on my iPhone: Finished listing to music for Summer Choir and ready to get back to audiobooks.

What's on my sewing machine: Still waiting on something new.

What's in my hoop: My whole cloth quilt. Still filling in the rest of the border.

What's in The Doll's Storybook: This story from April, 2020, finds Mariah celebrating Ramadan. Emil wonders why she isn't pretending to eat or drink during the day, and the dolls discuss how religion and science are different, in Beliefs and Facts.



What's my tip of the week: When I scoop yoghurt out of a container, I rinse the spoon off under running water first, so the yoghurt doesn't stick to the spoon so much.

Where are my books: The stories in each book first appeared in the blog, and they are reproduced in print with a few changes.


The stories in More Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Welcoming a StrangerThe RescueUnmaskedFuzzy Town––A Play and Sky Blue.

Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook. Poems included are Valentine's DayKeeping PetsBack to School, Victor the VultureThe Week Before Christmas, Insomnia and Veronika's Vocabulary Verses.

The stories in Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Little Green GreatcoatThe Boy Doll Who Cried Wolf and Lost in the Woods.

The stories in Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Best BudsGetting What You Want, and The Boys Cook Dinner.

The stories in Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Being LittleBesties, and Distraction.

Coming in a few months: Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook.


If you don't get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to St. Jude. Other booksellers pay much less, because the vendor gets a cut. My author's page at Book Baby is here. Scroll down and click on any of the books that interest you. Find my books at Barbara's Bookstore as well.

Note: This blog post was produced on the iPad and the MacBook, using the iPhone for some photos and some photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for, cleaned or broken. No animals or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.

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