Finished my hat. I’m very happy with how it turned out. Celtic headband first, switched to smaller needles, picked up 84 stitches along one edge, decreased in 5 places, every other row, and finished with an ichord. Going to give my other 2 Melt the ICE hats away.

Making my own hat pattern. Step 1, a Celtic cable brim. Next, I’ll pick up stitches along the moss stitch edge for the hat body. Still deciding how to decrease and finish it, but it is likely to have a point and a tassel.

It’s far too early for buds to start showing up here in Central Oregon, at 3500 feet, but we have had unseasonably warm weather this month. It will be interesting to see how these trees cope if it gets cold again. Birch and Crabapple. 2/9/26

I’ve been following Tom for a long time for his tree knowledge. I really love this take on today’s political climate. Resist, yes, and more joy please.

Thanks, Alaska Airlines, for the free WiFi for flights leaving Seattle during the championship game. Much appreciated. @alaskaairlines.bsky.social

For years folks have said they need unrestricted access to guns to protect themselves from the government. Ironically, those folks are more likely to have joined ICE than to be fighting to protect the civil and constitutional rights of their neighbors from reckless, lawless, unrestrained DHS.

My current project is an illusion shawl. Depending on the angle of your view, it could look like stripes, or a pattern emerges. Fun project and a nice gift - she has auburn hair. Pattern is Sunshine Shawl, by Mark Jamieson, available on Ravelry.

If you’re looking for a place to donate, consider the @aaas.org Science and Technology Policy fellowship. This brings scholars to DC for a year to work in federal agencies. I worked with several of these scientists over the years and they are all stellar. (1/2) www.aaas.org/DanielWeinbe...

Making a shawl for my daughter. I was worried these colors were too similar, but I think it will work out. Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair. Lace weight. Red Current and Pink Daisies. Size 4 needles. #knitting

Loved this dystopian book, although it veers quite close to home in its near-future dystopia (the US President is proudly illiterate.) “She said the church was a broken compass. That our job always and forever was to refuse Apocalypse in all its forms and work cheerfully against it.” ~ pg. 237

Ireland knows a thing or two about #NoKings

Turns out it’s the same in Europe. The “early bird” is the Robin. Sunrise is still 20 minutes away.

Guess which country they no longer ship to, here in Dingle Ireland?

Pay attention, friends.

I’ve been reading a lot in retirement, and two books I finished last week stand out for great writing, compelling characters, interesting relationships, and mothers and daughters. Both highly recommended. See thread for a little more about each book. 1/3

@sarahlsheffield.bsky.social - so glad Google popped this story into my news feed today. Retirement means I miss things sometimes. Congratulations Sarah! www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5...

JFK - where the drive from terminal 4 to terminal 7 is 23 minutes. 🙄

This is the first book I’ve read in a while that I feel compelled to share in real time. It’s really good. Inventive format, beautifully written, beautifully translated. Given the prose in English, I’d bet the Spanish is even better, so if you read Spanish, get the original (and report back!)

Do better @washingtonpost.com

Exactly. The destruction in just 109 days will take years, if not decades, to recover from.

Yippee! It’s Opening Day!

The best lunch at PDX.

Same. I will never understand and I am having a hard time forgiving it, even (maybe especially?) in my sister.

Handing Elon Musk the power over the budget is like letting the 12-year old control the family spending. He’ll stop paying the electric bill to buy more PlayStation games, only to learn later that the PlayStation requires electricity. This illegal madness must stop.

Hey #OPM Want to know what I did last week? This will need a 🧵 1) Honored my oath to defend the constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, because an oath is honor-bound even after you retire. To that end I … 1/5

Dear Manager This week I 1) hitched a ride in Baton Rouge, just before the rain 2) rode all the way to New Orleans 3) got my harmonica out from my red bandana 4) played some soft blues 5) to the beat of the rain and the rhythm of the wipers, we sang every song that driver knew. Good week.

For those of you bewildered by the Find-Out stage of FAFO, I just want to let you know that you are welcome here in the America that supports all Americans. Let’s work together to reiterate and uphold our national values.

I wonder what would happen if a Federal leader said No - I am not going to fire people - this is illegal. Or No, I not going to sign a letter stating that these employees are being fired for cause, because that is a lie. We may never know.

Well said. Check out her entire thread for a list of ways #NSF makes a difference for science, scientists, and Americans.

To my friends and colleagues in Federal Service-there are people who will help you.

Final blocking before adding the buttons and sending this off. Welcome to the world, sweet babe. I hope we can hold the democracy for you. #knitting

We’re in a constitutional crisis. I’m calling and writing daily, are you?

Today’s Executive Order from President Musk and his useful idiot little Donnie is devastating to the Federal workforce. We must fight for them.

At this point, we should all just flood the White House with complaints about President Musk and his sidekick Donny. That would make DJT very mad, so here’s the number: 202-456-1414 or 1111

Listened to a Q&A with Senators Kaine and Warner (VA) yesterday. The take-away message is: Democrats are doing all they can in Congress and through the courts. They need some Republicans to wake-up and join them. So they need us to keep pressuring our R representatives. Today’s script next. 1/4

True. I’m in, are you?

Today’s message. Calling and emailing all my senators and representatives in the states where we live: The hostile takeover of the US government by Elon Musk and his minions must be stopped. These people are unelected, unvetted, and lack the security clearance to access… 1/3

Today’s letter went to Target, about their pull-back from DEI. I’m working on the affirmative case for more detailed letters. I also wrote to folks I used to work with in the interagency DEI space letting them know how to find me and keep in touch. I used bcc and watched my words. 1/2

Retirement plan #1: write 2 letters per week about important issues. The first one asks Congress to act in response to the EO defining gender as binary. Silly me. I happen to believe in the radical idea that we all have inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 1/2

The People’s Rally in Bend OR. Small, but mighty. It’s a change from DC, but here with my family - son, sister (in yellow), three cousins.

Today was my last day as a USGS employee. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the American people in this capacity. I’m looking forward to continuing to serve the country by supporting the values I think are so important-equal rights and opportunities for all-from outside of government.

First book of 2025, On Tyranny. Today is a good day to finish it, or start it. I expect to be coming back to these pages for the next 4 years as I fight for our democracy. Updated recently, but not reflected in the cr page. Check page 97 for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine for the updated copy.

Support your local bookstore, y’all. @bookpeople.bsky.social is Austin Texas’s great store. Our family has spent many happy hours there.

Summarizing my 2024 reading: I read 52 books this year, all of them somewhere between fine and excellent, but only a few stand out. Here they are: James, by Percival Everett, which I have already shared. The Map of Salt and Stars, by Zeyn Joukhadar. Excellent. Just read all his books.

Christmas morning tableau. It’s quiet because the kids aren’t kids anymore, so they’ll be up later. Meanwhile I’m reading A Child’s Christmas in Wales (an annual tradition) and enjoying an eggnog coffee.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, other than everyone who makes Christmas playlists, but mentioning the word does. It make it a Christmas song. I’ve loved Dolly all my life. Hard Candy Christmas is a song about loss and starting over. About being so low you can only afford hard candy.

An evening fire to get the holiday season started right.

Walking out of the USGS headquarters for the final time. I’m going to miss these good folks who work hard for Americans every day (until 1/19/25.)

Enjoyed #SistersInLaw, as usual. But @joycevance.bsky.social - there is no such thing as an “underaged woman.” Let’s not give quarter to men who prey on teenaged girls by softening the language. Roy Moore is a pedophile.

Read this book several years ago. It is excellent. We are now 3 episodes into the series. Also excellent. Both center on the IRA in Belfast, starting in the 1970’s. #SayNothing