Tuscan Filling

I managed to work more on this in the past couple of weeks. I'm getting closer to the finishing part three, finally. Maybe by the end of July I'll start working on the corner bits of part two again. I can hope.

Off Topic But on the Fourth...

I never, ever recommend books off the topic of needlework on my blog, but I'm breaking my rule today. My companion gave me this book a couple of weeks ago. It's a quick read, and the level is about high school.

So why am I recommending this book and breaking my silence on all things remotely political? Because I want people to be aware of how electronic surveillance works. Read it. Get your kids to read it - especially your kids. They are deeper into the world of technology than most adults. The book goes overboard on a lot of its applications of surveillance in the interest of exposing the kinds of surveillance currently available and in the interest of writing a good story. It strings together individual incidents into a large web of intent, something I have a hard time believing. On the other hand, the means are there for what is portrayed in the book.

Our founding fathers believed in both the security of each of us as individuals and of our country. This book will help you understand what giving up individual freedoms can cost. It will help you draw the line in your mind as to what liberties you want to give up, if you want to give them up, and what could possibly happen.

Happy Independence Day. It means a lot more to me today, after my trip, than it did before.

Mattie at Home

Mattie came home on Sunday! She'd grown since I last saw her a week and a half previously, and she was a bit shaky after the trip, of course. Not to mention smelly and dirty! So as soon as she got home, she was bathed and then I took a shower. Had to get the dog smell off me, too, since she spent half the looong trip home in my lap. Here she is a couple of days ago hanging out and scratching her ear.

And this is Mattie with her favorite toy. She's taken this one over. We'd bought it for the cats, who didn't like it, and then Emma discarded it. Mattie loves it, though. She gets going with it and keeps entertained for half an hour, an eternity for a puppy.

Another Kosovo Post - Driving

Imagine a place where the roads are either partially paved or unpaved, you're as likely to share it with a troop transport as not, and there are more new drivers than experienced ones. That's Kosovo. The roads in Pristina are probably the best, with the main arteries from Pristina to the other major cities being almost as good. This means they're paved for the most part, probably flood when it rains, and are still under construction.


The other roads, like you can barely see in this picture from the Sharr Mountains, are usually unpaved and full of hairpins. It doesn't stop KFOR and UNMIK Humvees and trucks from patrolling them. Of course, even they have to avoid the numerous local cars with driving school placards on them. About one in ten, maybe more, cars on the road are of that type. It's not just cars people drive on the road, though. Tractors are popular as transportation, and it's not unusual to see horses or mules pulling carts on the road. Not along the road. On it. Taking up the only lane. Obeying road signs is optional. Traffic circles are a free-for-all.

There is a pecking order, though, to the traffic. Everyone makes room for KFOR vehicles. This includes the gendarmes and carabinieri, too. They run around in their own vehicles, but are part of KFOR. Next come the diplomats and their black plates along with UNMIK vehicles. Diplomats barely edge out UNMIK, but UNMIK's vehicles are usually bigger, so... it's a tie. Then come the Kosovar governmental SUV's and black sedans. Lastly come the regular Kosovars, driving everything from brand new BMW's to tractors. It makes for an interesting and strange drive even just to the grocery store.

Fairly Close

The larger piece is done and now I'm working on the smaller, inside piece. It's coming along really quickly, so I should be able to finish it in time and then put it together before the first class.

More Cream

I made a mistake on this sixth band, but I decided to make the same mistake on the other side, so it doesn't show. I worked quite a bit on this piece yesterday - it was the monthly get together to work on it. It's going to be done in time.

Sunflower Done

I finally finished the sunflower on this buckle. It only took me all the time in Kosovo to do it. Since I took this project with me while I was out waiting for Mattie at the airport on Sunday. Found I was missing -more- threads and substituted what I had. You'll see a picture next week. I still like the design but hate the stitch guide.