air filters, which are the best?

Just waiting for a new heating system with air filtration system to be installed in this house. When I turned on the big monster heater this year, immediately I had trouble breathing,and coughing. It persists.
Obviously this has been a problem ongoing, but I hadn't put it together. The cough is awful, and I can only assume the heater blew dust mites out of the vents all over the house. 19,000 dust mites per 1 inch of dust I believe.. hmmm...

So I'm shopping around for the best air filters.
If you have any ideas, let me know. For now I'm looking at these units from this company. I see they have some units on sale.

I've bought small portable air filters that plug into the wall directly, this is a good company I think. So I guess I'll look around these stores for a filter at least for my room so I can sleep at night and see if it makes a difference.
Dust Mites

mac book air?

I gave them my idea for the illuminated keyboard.
Now I almost wish I had waited for this version, but it starts at about 1799.00.
.Worth every penny I'm sure.
The illuminated keyboard itself is worth a pretty price ( to me).
How many years ago did I begin bugging them about illuminated keyboards? And every store I went into.
Too bad I'm inventive but don't know how to put these deals together.
Oh well, maybe in my next life I'll pair up with a business genius.

Until then, I'm just a receiver ( another) for the great ideas floating around the universe)

One among many...

Isn't this cool tho? Looks maybe 1/4 inch thick?

Holidays in Winthrop

I didn't notice the apples until I downloaded the photos, I was intent on the eagle on the other side of the river.

Don't think about it, Just do it,,Take the tree down

feels a little sad, I'll just post the usual undressing post..and go undress the tree...



The Undressing...of the christmas tree
a repost....



Days after Christmas every year when you have to put the ornaments away into their boxes where they live all year until Christmas comes again is the saddest day of the year, this day of the undressing of the trees.

Almost in tears when I dress the trees, revisiting all the ornaments that are reminders of years and people gone by, and making a celebration of the decorating and the reminiscing, I am emotional, but reasonably happy.

Unlike the dressing, the undressing is impossible to reconcile with a positive note. While the same reminders are there of folks you love, and memories that may just crush your heart, putting them all away, is like saying goodbye again to those memories and people who mean so much and live, still, inside you. Crushed and broken memories spring to mind while remnants of thin glass shards of German or Russian ornaments found in the bottom of the boxes remind me, too, of ornaments come and gone as well.

The missing ornaments have a voice, "where did you put me? Find me! Why was I over looked?"

"OH I am so sorry, I miss you, too , and I miss the memory of the one who gifted you to me, and I hope I still have you...somewhere!"

When I was married, my husband did something very special for me every year. He took down the tree, and put all the ornaments away, so I didn't have to ( or was it because I wouldn't? ) Oh well, I think he did it because it broke my heart to do so.

I recall now how we decorated the tree together." I," held the ornament out, and said, "here," and he took it from my hand and placed it where I said it should go on the tree.

I was soooo good at that!

It may have been the one of the most, "together," things we ever accomplished, and I remember it now, and sigh.


I still have some of the same boxes we used then that he brought home from work, that were sturdy electronics boxes, to secure the ornaments for storage.

This year, I broke almost all the German ornaments; squirrels, hearts, houses, Mary praying. I had three trees this year; my flocked oriental tree with those paper wheels and umbrellas, and pink gifted ornaments...AND....


The second I had waited many years to do, with real red roses, and red and blue birds, a partridge, and live baby's breathe, even some dried hydrangeas from Kims house..and a few chrystal ornaments and a few new purple ones. We bought blue and white lights for this tree! such a delightful tree! Oh Deck The Halls! I am ready once again for Christmas!

Finally, there was the one that fell over! Let me tell you about that: This year I didn't use a stand, rather, I used this green florist Styrofoam looking material and stuffed the tree into a small 6" ceramic pot. Stunning! They looked so good this way, in small decorative pots, with swirls in relief. Late one night, the tree fell over and busted many of my ornaments, even some that were Grandma's. I will cry over these henceforth.


I still have the reindeers that were Grandma's, and one metal bell, they don't break, so are minimally safe. I have the angels from years ago, and a new one, too, and I have ribbons and garlands of ribbons; crystal icicles, and wooden painted Scandinavian ornaments that are fairly safe from destruction., and the pink ornaments from Charlotte that appeared like a miracle to finish off my oriental tree one year, ( the oriental tree is one of my favorite designs, I did it years ago for a Chinese restaurant that was a client of mine back then).

I Still have my origami cranes that Iichiro made and sent with each letter he wrote me, and one origami crane from Kim, and all my little paper umbrellas and fans that are cheap, but precious. And where is that pearled ornament from that Sylvia I worked with Christmas one year long ago? Sylvia, I may be missing your ornament, but I will always remember you, and your sweet gift!

My precious ornaments from Doris, too, who died this year in March, I just now packed away. I miss you so much Doris, you were as much a Mother as I ever had. I still think of you every day, and love you. Hopefully there will be a reunion someday, but who really knows, maybe all we ever really get is right here, right now, with whomever, in this flash of time.

I think maybe I will just bonsai a tree and leave it up all year to remind me of this bittersweet love and loss that I feel now; as haunting as it is, it may well keep a perspective that is worth carrying on my shoulder all year long with all my loves right here in my heart, everyday.

pre christmas sale starts tomorrow!

Umm, I'm going snowshoeing again soon, wish I had these to keep my ears warm!
180s Ear Warmer Stereo Headphones (OE500)

I do need a better headset...but my , I need a new OS for my Mac, and I need ilife08, and a wireles printer, ( after the new year I suspect new ones will appear), I want to be able to to print on a cd, go wireless, use 4 ink cartridges, or is it 5 with black? And wasn't there another feature I wanted?

Somebody has a sale beginning tomorrow..

Try these links for 20.00 off shoes, boots,,,

If you pay with paypal, and this code:

paypal20

I got some nice gifts at over 20.00 off here, by buying each item seperately..I got a member discount too at the end of my purchase that I didn't know I was going to get, plus the merchandise was on sale 8% off, too.
I don't know how long it lasts, but I recommend it..

Oh, this might end today, this 20.00 off..Try it anyway if you read this later, they have extended before.

I can tell you that I bought some Halflinger boiled wool slippers, and some nice boots, too...

I highly recommedn these slippers, ( Halflinger boiled wool), The most comfort you can get for your feet..

I shopped more today, and mailed packages, and I still have a few things to get, and candy to make. How about you?

I am seriously thinking of ordering that tape to Cd /MP3 recorder in my last post for a gift.

Oh and what to get The Puddha?
click on slipper/boot link..

Boots





Remember,,If you pay with paypal, and this code:

paypal20

Winthrop Snowshoeing today

Deer were abundant on and off road towards the resort ( Sun Mountain)
The trail ...








Everybody could use one of these:
ION Audio USB
Cassette Archiver
The easiest way to convert your old audio cassette tapes to CD or MP3.

I have the perfect person to give this to...don't you?

A winthrop wedding tonight

The most beautiful wedding, Amanda and Chris. I met this lovely family at the B&B I am staying at this morning at breakfast, and was invited to the wedding tonight by three people including the bride, Aunt, and Mother. I feel so honored to be included this way, and so fortunate to have met such a lovely family. Inspiring!

A snow wedding was what I always wanted, and planned when I was to be married in northern Honshu ( 8 feet of snow deep) , never materialized, but I lived my wedding vicariously through Amanda's. Wow, what a beautiful girl, inside and out.
Imagine being so inclusive that you'd invite a stranger to the wedding. ( and be adopted, too) I am definitely blessed.

Clara is the Maternal Grandmother, we made fast friends, I loaned her my Norwegian mittens which she blessed in Norwegian and wore at the wedding. We had warm conversations, and I was reminded of my own family of origin that has been departed for so long, they were gracious like this family is. I am so happy for the reminder of how gracious people can be. Thank you everyone. I can't begin to tell you what your inclusivity ( is that a real word? It is now) .. means to me. (how this enlivens my heart of my own family).

The loveliest woman, and family. The wedding was quiet, in the snow by the river, the music was soft and beautiful, snow fell, and the bride was gorgeous. The groom was charming. It was refreshing, and natural, brisk, and new like fallen snow is.. a marriage begins..

Mother of the bride was Vicki, Aunt; Sally, Grandmother ; Clara, incredible women..father ; Gordon, sister was Molly I believe.
Uncle ; Mark.

The cake was the best carrot cake I ever had, the meal was delicious, but most of all, these charming, kind, inclusive people stole my heart.

Best Wishes Amanda and Mark!

Thus must be for the man who needs everything...:

Winthrop/Twisp in December

Imagine this under snow... (see below) it's Pearrygin park here..
I came up to Twisp for an art workshop, and then drove over here to Winthrop.
This is snow country. It's a valley ( The Methow Valley) in NE Washington, and it's cold, dry, crisp, and white. The snow this morning is new, about 4 inches maybe. It's new snow, I can't go home now! I'd have to leave after Breakfast to go over the pass around noon, and I haven't yet enjoyed the snow, and new snow at that.
remember, I am a snow bunny from PA.

If I stay here, I can either rent skis and ski, or snow shoe, I brought mine, Sking would be great because it's so soft and new. I can leave my mark in the snows of time.

Life is short as they say, and I have never been one to sacrifice it to mundane existence. (except in spells, I'm idealistic, will it pay off? It already has!)

My room looks like this, (at a B&B) has a fireplace..


I opened my windows last last an let the cold in, crawled under my down comforter, and slept for 4.5 hours before awakening to close windows, and light the fireplace on. It's dry in this room, it needs moisture. So I'll draw a bath soon, and soak, a coolish bath, I like cool. I'm happy, I'l have a nice breakfast, and bet I'll stay another day, and snow shoe.
I watched a movie last night in my room, and have a few more, Frankie and Johnny is playing now. For some reason the fireplace isn't firing, but I don't care, The snow outside warms me in a way I can't explain, it takes me to my roots in a small town near Pittsburgh where I lived close to all my family, it was a snugly womb. I have always missed it. Only one person understands, my cousin Karen who is stuck in Florida, who remembers it as I do, wombish, and wonderful. I miss her now, and wish she were here to play in the snow with me. We'd build a snowman for sure.

If I won the lottery, I'd just buy this room for the winter, and stay here. I'd check out all possibilities for art here. it is an art community. Summer here would be hot for me, I'd have to escape to the drizzle again, to the peninsula and Rialto, but it would be purrfect for firing my work in a primitive fire.

I still have to buy presents and ship stuff, it will have to wait until I get back, but I can order a few gifts online, my favorite way to shop.
Umm, I will make almond roca for presents, too., and maybe peanut butter fudge, afterall, it's holidays, everyone wants a little sugar.

It's nice being alone, I like being with myself, I'm entertaining, lol, and unencumbered by anyone who has an agenda, or plans to have their way. In other words, I am not stifled. If any young women read this , a word to the wise...keep your power, your interests, don't let hormones dictate you are them, you aren't your hormones, you're so much more, ...

Umm, too bad skis aren't by my front door.
Pearrygin park under snow


Well, it's 6 Am, and breakfast is between 8 and whatever. Umm friends, I wish you were here to enjoy the snow, I smile thinking of you here partaking with me, but then I'd have to compromise a little and wouldn't be completely able to indulge myself.
I should get some work done, but hey, there's snow, what can I say?
It's perfect crissmiss weather.
Stay tuned, maybe I'll make it back home, oneday....

coffees ready....

Adopt a Sea Turtle

How about Christmas, adopt a sea Turtle or another sea creature as a gift to some friend or family member?




Adopt, click here*

and receive a special sea turtle cookie cutter. Your donation will help protect these gentle giants from being killed by driftnets, long-lines, and other dirty fishing methods.
$35.00

You might be a sea Turtle in your next life!

Use your savings to help our earth home, and all creatures that sustain our own lives..You don't have to use a water heater that runs all night and day when you aren't using it, we've moved beyond that..and..

These tankless water heater can be used as a tax write off of 300.00 if purchased before Dec 31, 2007. You can find one perfect for you, affordability wise here, prices start at about 685.00 minus 300.00 tax credit, and incredible savings yearly..

The money you save can be used to save our home, the earth, and our lives. Click here....
Tankless instantaneous water heaters save money and are more energy efficient than tank type water heaters. Click here to find out more.
and here: