GimletBlog

April’s wallpaper is now available for download from Solitary Elegance.  I’ve also been able to add a little more information to January and February; it’s exciting to finally have the text describing the first Ackermann fashion plate.

Back to April:  most of the ladies have had to stand up since January, so this month’s pair is taking a seat for a well-earned rest.  The 1809 gown, on the right, is a full dress, while the gorgeous pink gown on the left is a ball dress from April 1812.  (Yes, it’s my favorite of the pair, as well as one of my all-around favorites.)   This month’s “General Observations on Fashion” article is a snarky delight, bringing to mind Dame Maggie Smith’s perfectly devastating “Difficult color, green.” Enjoy!

Sinister Craftiness is my new blog devoted entirely to embroidery and quilting projects.  Why Sinister Craftiness?  It seemed more appealing than Stitchin’ With Lefty, though the latter is probably more descriptive of my approach to most projects.  So if you’re curious about this:

or this:

… or anything else I’m working on, please visit Sinister Craftiness!  I hope to see you there.

21 March ETA: All posts in the “sinister craftiness” category have been exported to a new home on the Sinister Craftiness blog.  The posts will remain in GimletBlog’s archives as well, but this category is now effectively closed.

Last Sunday was the Things’ great-grandmother’s 90th birthday, a milestone worth celebrating with the best food, drink, and company.  Thing Two and Your Humble Narrator spent Saturday shopping for ingredients for our contribution:  Dungeness crab cakes topped with roasted pepper-chive aioli.

Sunday morning was snowy, but the snow soon changed to rain and we were on our way.

This magnificent smorgasbord awaited us at the end of our stormy drive. (more…)

This morning Thing Two set up a picnic lunch for his stuffed animals.  The menu includes mushrooms, broccoli, noodles, yellow and green apples, and cottage cheese and pie for dessert.

GimletBlog HQ is in the process of a major upgrade:  our computer has been deteriorating for quite a while, and after our own research and the prolonged evangelical efforts of several family members, we finally decided to answer the old question, “Where do you want to go today?” with “To the Apple Store.”

We’re still getting used to our new toys; Uncle B has been a great help setting it up and answering all our questions.

Even though the new wireless keyboard and mouse mean that there are fewer cables to play with and chew on, Nanaimo gives the new system four (very large) paws up.