Comments for The Things That Make Us Happy Make Us Wise

Comment on If I Post Once This Month, Can It Still Be Blogtoberfest? by Melynda

Melynda — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:25:48 +0000

You are, of course, quite right. What would you like for a prize? A tea towel embroidered with one of Little Sunshine’s robots? A pair of knitted lace wristlets? A box of homemade cookies? Simply say the word, and it will be yours!

Comment on Maybe There Are Some Things I Just Can’t Make Better At Home by kicking_k

kicking_k — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:58:15 +0000

In the photo, they look really convincingly like stemmed clementine oranges. Maybe you’ve reinvented wax fruit?

Comment on Crafthope Sock Monkey, Bicultural Ann, and the Legend of Zelda Costume by kicking_k

kicking_k — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:56:13 +0000

We were the only kids we knew with a Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy (and a story book to go with them). They were a gift from American relatives, but I didn’t realise that they were a home-made… thing… what am I trying to say here? Folk craft?

We did, however, often give our dolls scarf saris.

Personally, I would much rather have a rainbow sock monkey than a traditional one, although again sock monkeys mean “thing I see on the Internet” to me rather than “beloved traditional home-made toy”. I think Stilton Jr is charming.

Comment on If I Post Once This Month, Can It Still Be Blogtoberfest? by kicking_k

kicking_k — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:49:57 +0000

It’s *The Truth*, isn’t it? (I’m not sure I deserve a prize…)

Comment on Basic Otedama: A Tutorial by Rebecca Geary

Rebecca Geary — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:32:47 +0000

Nani,
Do you know any of the traditional songs that went with the game, or a site where I might learn them? I am making the sets with my daughters and wanted to teach them a bit of the culture/history that goes with it. I understand many of the songs may be lost. . .
Rebecca

Comment on The Mystery of the Philopena Solv’d by arntzville

arntzville — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:43:58 +0000

In the Twain book, the newly-arrived Italian twins have been brought to a rum “rally” organized to counter an anti-rum movement in the town. They are brought up on stage, and each presented with a glass of rum. One twin does not drink his, as it turns out that he is a teetotaler (does not drink alcohol). The other does drink his. Therefore they are observed by Tom Driscoll to be a “human philopena” because one supports the cause and one does not, which is akin to two people (i.e. the rum and anti-rum factions) splitting the twin kernels inside a nutshell.

That still doesn’t explain why Luigi becomes so incensed, though. Perhaps it is simply the indignity of being mocked in such a way.

Comment on Gothic Lolita: I Make Dresses! by kicking-k

kicking-k — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:15:46 +0000

Those are lovely!

I think my generation of teenagers (1992-99) must have been highly unrewarding for parents who liked to dressmake. Jeans, what my mother used to call “navvy’s boots” and a big shirt, and we were set. I did have a floppy hat which my mother’s friend borrowed to copy for all her nieces, though.

Hope everyone is beginning to feel better. I have time to catch up with my blogreading because I’m home from work ill myself – not swine flu, I don’t think.

Comment on Mince Pie! Mince Pie! by kicking-k

kicking-k — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:08:56 +0000

Goodness me! I am unfamiliar with mincemeat that actually has meat in it.

J’s mother is an all-season mince pie maker (individual-size pies) and it has long grieved me that she makes pastry with lard in it. Even though I have been vegetarian for longer than I’ve known J, occasionally I cave and have one…

Comment on Project Project Gutenberg: The Devil’s Paw by kicking-k

kicking-k — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:05:54 +0000

Yup, you’re right – sounds just like my kind of thing… I used to have a serious John Buchan habit when I was a teenager, even though (even then) he outraged pretty much every sensibility I’ve got.

Comment on Gothic Lolita: I Make Dresses! by Blinkin

Blinkin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:25:12 +0000

These are absolutely gorgeous! Works of art. Where do you find the time? Sorry to hear about the flu at your home. So far we have skated through, but only because we bath in Purell.