3 years ago...and then today

Three years ago on August 29th, Hurricane Katrina changed all of our lives here in the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Coast. We will never be able to sit "easy" while watching a hurricane brew into the Gulf of Mexico. People in Hattiesburg have been buying water and stocking up on supplies since Tuesday of last week. It's almost been surreal, but it's definitely been scary.

It looks like Hattiesburg is going to be spared the wrath that we felt with Katrina. They are still predicting bad weather tomorrow and Tuesday, but nothing of the magnitude we felt with Katrina. We had sustained winds of 100mps with gusts to 120--we assume there were stronger gusts but the instrument that measures wind speed was destroyed at 120.

I'm happy to not be going through the horrors we went through 3 years ago, but I feel seriously for New Orleans. At least they seem to have a plan to evacuate people beforehand, which is so refreshing, but it's still scary to think that there are people who haven't left and don't plan to. Let's hope that there isn't a repeat of the horrible flooding and human tragedy experienced three years ago.

Book Review: Miracle at Speedy Motors

Like all of McCall Smith's books about Mma Romastwe, I loved this book. It is so refreshing reading his books. Mma deals with all kinds of crazy things and manages to maintain perspective: something I wish I could do better.

This installment in the series deals with the temptation to lie because we've made a mistake and coming to terms with the outfall of those lies--it's better to just simply tell the truth as we all know. The main case in Miracle involves Mma attempting to find a woman her family. After discovering in her adulthood that she was adopted, the woman wishes to find out if she has other family members. Mma makes a rather big mistake in this case, but it all turns out well in the end.

Building on the theme of mistakes, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni makes one of his own in trusting in a doctor who said he could cure Motholeli of her paralysis. But, Motholeli, mature beyond her years, accepts this mistake and moves on and accepts her fate in life.

All in all, this is a great read. A wonderful reprieve from all the political heckling and miseries on tv and a fun stop over in the life of Mma Romatswe et al. I look forward to the next edition!

GO AWAY GUSTAV!!!

Book Review: Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland

I was so excited to see that Sandra Gulland had a new book out. I had decided that she was happy with her masterpiece trilogy on Josephine and Napolean (which was such a wonderful read) and I was VERY happy to see that she was working on another book. I was even more excited when I saw it at the bookstore last month.

Mistress of the Sun didn't seem to have the same magical appeal that the Josephine trilogy did. I can't really put my finger on exactly what it was that was missing, but there wasn't a passion or innate love of the story that was present in the Josephine trilogy.

That said, Mistress is still a good book and kept me interested and reading. Gulland tells the story of Petite, Louis XIV's mistress, as she grows from a little girl until she is introduced at court. A woman of many talents, Petite can tame wild horses and ride like a man and garners the attention of the king during a hunt. The story about their love and relationship is very good and shows the heartbreak of being the king's mistress--the denied children, the lack of control over your life, etc.

I highly recommend Mistress of the Sun to readers who love historical fiction. And if you do read it, please let me know if you found the chronology a little confusing, especially once Petite goes to court.

A Very Soft and Elegant Beige Scarf--SOLD

This scarf is made from champagne colored tencel and white velura. The tencel feels and looks like silk while the velura is slightly fuzzy and extremely soft. The contrast in textures creates a fabric that looks like damask or brocade. Very elegant. The fringe is twisted. Be sure to click on the pictures for a close up view of the pattern and texture. I wish you could feel this scarf as it is fabulous.

It measures 8x65" exclusive of fringe and sells for $65.

My first purse!

I think it's absolutely adorable and am SO looking forward to taking it with me on my trip to TX tomorrow. Please keep your fingers crossed that I actually get to leave because I'm really looking forward to 1) staying with my Aunt Janice and Uncle Jackie and 2) taking my overshot weaving class.

At any rate, the purse is made from 7 different yarns ranging from 100% wool, 50/50 soy silk and wool, chenille, wool that is spun so that it is thick and thin, bamboo, and mohair. It was a little troublesome on the loom because the sticky yarns (the mohair and the thick and thin wool) were really grabbing each other and wouldn't open up. But the finished product is quite wonderful. The strap goes all the way around the bag and is long enough to have the purse sit at my hip area. It's woven from wool and chenille.

Can't wait to give a product test result sometime next week!

Day 16--Vienna and Last Day of our Trip

On our last day of our trip, we slept in, had breakfast and then headed out to the Hapsburg Treasury Museum. I was really looking forward to this museum as I'd seen pictures of the amazing crowns, jewels, etc., but to be honest I was a little disappointed. It was so crowded with school tour groups that we couldn't get close to many of the exhibits, and when I was able to get close, the jewels didn't look real. I'm not sure how one vision tests the validity of a 20 carat sapphire or emerald, but somehow they looked plastic or glass.

Still, it was pretty impressive looking at the crowns and the baby bassinet and gold embroidered blanket. It looked like being royalty was probably pretty uncomfortable.

We also visited some of the monuments that we had passed by the day before but didn't get pictures of. The most interesting was the Jewish Monument dedicated to the 65000 Austrian Jews who were killed during WWII at concentration camps. The monument is a depiction of library doors that are locked with chains, the doorknobs removed. The books in the library form the walls of the monument but are all turned inward with the spines hidden because we'll never know the knowledge and art that these people could have contributed.

We then went for lunch at Nordeste. It's a fast-food seafood restaurant seen all over Europe and the food is really good.

We went back to our hotel to pack up and rest and avoid the rain and later headed to the Hapsburg crypt which, in truth was really quite fasinating. And creepy.

That late afternoon we met up with some friends who had also stayed an extra day after the tour and went to the Opera house to get tickets for the standing room area only. We didn't realize that we were actually getting the tickets and going to stand and so David didn't dress in his pants so we were told to leave. It wasn't a big deal as I wasn't all that excited about going anyway, but did want to see the opera house. We did some shopping and when the group was ready to leave we met them and walked to dinner at the Italian place we ate our first night in Vienna.

I want to go back to Vienna to see a few things--the horses (don't remember how to spell it) and the opera house, but we'll get real tickets for both events state-side before we leave.

I really like Vienna, and Austria in general. The people are so lively and friendly and I really enjoyed the beauty of the architecture and the spaces. We had a great time there, but were really looking forward to coming home. We'd been gone long enough.

Day 15--Vienna

On our last tour group day, we went on a walking tour of Vienna. It was hot, our tour guide, Wolfgang, was funny, historically accurate but a bit of a talker. We went through all these confusing corridors and alleyways, and without a map I don't think I would have found my way home.

Interesting insights: The Hapsburgs were VERY powerful, had palaces everywhere, and the pragmatic Austrians are now using as business building and housing for state employees. Imagine being one of the lucky ones who have rent controlled apartments in the Schonnbrun Palace. Mozart and many other musicians were extremely important to the building of the Austrian empire. I loved walking down the streets seeing the signatures in the sidewalks of all the famous composers whose music I played on piano.

After the tour, David and I broke away from the group and had lunch at a local restaurant and watched the physicians who were on strike parade through the city. It probably took an hour for them to complete passing by our table. I had fried asparagus that was just lovely.

After lunch we walked to the art history museum and saw some very impressive paintings and statues. The Egyptian collection was also astounding. We then decided to do a little shopping and stopped in at Tiffany to try on some fancy diamond rings. We also did a very touristy thing and had a sachre torte (chocolate heaven) before going back to our hotel to rest before our final group dinner.

Our last group dinner was bitter sweet. The food wasn't good at all, however, but the company was great. We were a little reluctant to all say goodbye. Somehow you realize on these tours that though you've had a wonderful time with your fellow travelers, the likelihood that you'll get together again is slim--or even keep in contact. So, we said our goodbyes and went back to our hotel for some much needed sleep.

Day 14--Travel to Vienna

Day 14 was actually the roughest day of our trip--emotionally. We left Hallstadt and drove through the beautiful Austrian country side to Mauthausen, a WWII concentration camp where several hundred thousand prisoners died during the Nazi occupation of Austria. We watched a video about the camp first, and then went to the barracks area where David broke down crying because of the horrible feelings in the place. Then afterwards we walked along the outside area and looked at different monuments erected by countries whose Jews had been killed in Mauthausen. There is a very steep stairway where the prisoners used to have to carry rocks up from the quarry. Over 180 steps, many of them uneven in both slant and rise, caused the deaths of many men because of their sheer exhaustion while they were carrying over 40 pounds of rocks on their backs. I took no pictures here because I was simply too overwhelmed and sickened to do so. David took a few, but instead of sharing these, I will link to the Mauthausen wiki site so that you can learn more about this concentration camp if you are interested.

After the camp, we went as a group to lunch at a roadside cafeteria. I don't know if it was my mood or the food, but I didn't eat anything.

Then on to Vienna for a very weird transition into the glory and beauty of the Hapsburgs--Schonnbrun Palace. Modeled after Versailles, this palace was the summer residence of the Hapsburgs. It is fully furnished inside with tributes to the different family members of the Hapsburgs of note. No photos inside, so all the pics I have are of the lovely exterior of the building and the gardens, which were phenomenal. I loved the rose garden because everything was in bloom (unlike Baden-Baden) and it smelled heavenly.

We checked into our hotel and then were on our own for the rest of the evening. After settling in, David and I decided on a recommended Italian place not too far from our hotel where David had pizza in the spirit of the Italian flag (in honor of the European soccer championship that was going on while we were in Europe). It was red, green and white striped and looked like the Italian flag in pizza form. Really wonderful too. Then we looked around this pedestrian mall area and finally went back to our hotel to unwind from a very emotionally stressful day. It was still hot.

Day 13--Hallstadt

Our two days in Salzburg complete, we headed for a short drive to Hallstadt, Austria, which is in the lake district. Because our two other attempts at riding a luge had been hampered by the weather, we took advantage of a brand new luging site to go for a quick ride. I didn't ride, but David did twice. On the first time he flipped over at the very end. He just picked himself up and went on.

Because we were deep in Sound of Music country, we stopped at the lake from the beginning of the movie and took advantage of the beautiful photo op. Then on we drove to Hallstadt, our destination for the day. It was a nice short drive and we were there before lunch.

Parking at the bottom of town, we walked to our hotel, which is right on the lak in the middle of town. These little lake towns are literally built "into" the mountain, so they go "UP, UP, UP" from the lake and provide some astounding views from the top. We checked in, got lunch and then headed around town for some shopping. Hallstadt is a salt mining town, so we bought some salt and a few other little souvenirs and then headed back to the hotel for a quick little rest before more exploring.

We decided to go visit the two churches in town. The first was a protestant church built by the city's miners. It's interior was very plain and the lay out was very weird, it being rather wide and shallow rather than deep like most churches. We then followed the signs to the Catholic church, which looked like it sat on top of the Protestant one, but it doesn't. You take several flights of stairs straight up to the cemetary and the church. The church itself is very small with lots of gold and gilt altar pieces and art work inside.

Then we headed out for the real thrill--the bone chapel. Because land space is so scarce in these little lake towns, they had to dig up the buried dead after so many years, clean the bones and bleach them, and then pain the skulls with decorative art work to commemorate the dead. They display them in a chapel. It was really quite impressive.

And the view from the top was amazing!

Since it looked like rain, we headed back DOWN to the hotel and rested until our group dinner--which was rather unimpressive.

I really enjoyed our break from our vacation in Hallstadt. It was such a pretty little town that I wanted more time to just lay back and explore...do a little hiking, rowing on the lake, chilling out in my great big room.

A Sophisticated Alpaca Scarf--SOLD

This 100% alpaca scarf is sophisticated in bright colors on black background. Woven in a simple twill pattern that alternates directions creating stripes of color and background, the scarf will look wonderful with any sophisticated outfit or coat. Not to mention it will provide a splash of color on dreary winter days.

Alpaca yarn is warmer than wool, soft to the touch, hypoallergenic and wonderful in all other aspects. You'll love this scarf.

It measures 6.5x72, has twisted fringe, and sells for $65.

If you wish to buy this scarf, or any other item offered on this web-site, contact me at lesliestbutler@gmail.com

Red, White and Beige Towels

These are a gift for my friends the Sissons. They are 100% cotton, woven in a twill and plain weave combination. The colored stripes are plain weave. The combination makes for an interesting surface because the plain weave sinks in whereas the twill areas puff up, creating dimention.

I really love this design and can see how beautiful it would be in several different colors...you may see some more that look quite similar.

Senior Year

My daughters started their senior year in high school today. I am stunned. How did they grow up so fast?

I feel panicked that I'm not going to be able to teach them everything they need to know before they leave the house...it won't be for lack of trying...but it's still scary to think that they'll be out in the world on their own in such a short time and making decisions for themselves.

I know deep inside, though, that we all have to go through our own growing pains and making mistakes and learning from them.

Yet, I'm left with a feeling of not being able to do enough. There isn't enough time!

Purple Soy Silk Scarf--SOLD

If you're going out for a night on the town or to celebrate a special event, THIS is the scarf for you! Even if you live in a hot climate, this scarf will be wonderful. It is very light and airy, made from Infinity soy silk, which is a very fine yarn. The pattern is called Huck Lace. It's truly a beautiful scarf. The fringe is twisted.

It measures 8.5 x 64 and sells for $65.

If you are interested in buying this scarf or any other item on the blog, please e-mail me at lesliestbutler@gmail.com.

2 Wool Bags

I'm really interested in making purses. These little bags were actually intended to be a scarf but the yarn combined with the weave structure produced a cloth that was too stiff for a scarf. I've been thinking of what to do with it for a while, and finally came up with a way to make some adorable little bags. They are perfect for taking a book to the park, card games to your friends, or for stashing your pocket book while at the mall.

They measure 7.5x11.5 and have a little fringe at the bottom. The shoulder strap drop length is 15". They sell for $25 a piece.

If you are interested in purchasing this or any other item available, please e-mail me at lesliestbutler@gmail.com.

Betty's Scarves

These two scarves were custom made for Aunt Betty. Hope you love them!

2 Fleece Scarves

These fleece scarves are so soft you'd just want to sink yourself into them and be happy. They are made using an assymetric striped warp (in other words strips of different sizes). The blue one is woven using a zig-zag pattern in blue with assymetric colored stripes on one side. The white one is woven in a basket weave pattern--looks like little checkerboards--with blue stripes on each side.

The blue scarf measures 7x56 and sells for $50.

The white scarf measure 7x64 and sells for $50.

Both scarves have twisted fringe (which in my opinion looks so cute I want to keep one of these for myself!)

If you are interested in purchasing either of these scarves or anything else available on the web-site, please e-mail me at lesliestbutler@gmail.com

Sight-Seeing in Salzburg--Day 12

We woke up bright and early to go on a guided tour of old town Salzburg. We first went to Mirabel Gardens--sight from the night before with the Milk Festival. There was no signs of the festival having taken place--instead it was simply a beautiful garden with a wonderful view of Old Town and the fortress behind.

We then walked across the river and through several little alleys to a market square--where David and I would later come for our lunch picnic. We visited several churches and graveyards and went back to the cathedral where we saw the labyrinth the night before. We got a Sound of Music introduction along the way.

Which, by the way, was one of the most annoying things for me about visiting Salzburg. It is a beautiful city with lots to offer, including being the birthplace of Mozart. But the Sound of Music dominates everything you see and do here. And while I did enjoy the movie, I don't really care if it is "factual" or if the movie producers changed a few things in the story to accommodate what would make a good and interesting movie plot. But everyone felt the need to "set things right" as if somehow it discredits the movie that basically put Salzburg on the map. Maybe I'm being picky, I'm not sure.

After our tour, David and I went back to the market and got lunch and then went to the river to eat our humongous pretzels, strawberries and coke. It was so cool by the river I wished I'd brought my jacket. Considering that it was 90 degrees elsewhere, it was very nice being cold.

Then we toured the museum of Mozart's birthplace. A very disappointing museum. We should have toured the residence, which, according to the rest of the tour that went there, was awesome. We went back to St. Peter's Church where I was the night before that was so crowded. I wanted David to see this church because it was so stunningly beautiful. There was a organist and singer practicing for a wedding--they were performing "Over the Rainbow." It was great hearing the music in that old church.

We then did some shopping (David got a painting and I got a necklace) and hung out until time to get ready for our Mozart Dinner Concert, which was one of the highlights of the trip. We had some decent food and wine broken up with music--both instrumental and opera. For one of the performances, the singers came over and sang our tour-mate Carl the "happy birthday" song. It was really sweet.

A Beautiful Blue, Brown and Gold Scarf--SOLD

If you like the color blue, this scarf may just be for you! It's so soft and wonderful to feel. My friend in Chicago has a scarf made from this same yarn and swears it made this past winter bearable.

It is made using a handpainted yarn by Schaefer called Ann. Each skein is unique so each scarf made from this wonderful yarn will be unique. The fibers in the yarn are mohair, merino wool and nylon.

It measures 7x72 and sells for $75.