10/31 Saturday is the Ball

 A really full day.  We decided to have a good breakfast, skip lunch and then have the banquet dinner.  We both had the oatmeal.  It said with raisins and brown sugar but also had a little dish of banana slices and another of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries.  Very yummy.

The plenary speaker was Devoney Looser: Fast and Faster , the speed of life in JA’s Bath.  We are prepared the next time someone says “JA is sooo slow.”

I chose to go to Juliet McMaster’s talk about the men in JA.  Juliet is famous in our world.  This is her last time as a presenter.  It is a good thing.  She kept losing her place and someone had to help her with turning the pages.  She knocked the little lamp off the lectern 3 times and then the AV guy solved that problem by duct taping it to the stand.  It was really sad.

Christopher Empett’s talk about the women on the Navy ships was great.  They weren’t supposed to be there, but surprise surprise.

My last session talked about JA,s early psychology and how well she knew people.

Then a little rest before the banquet.  Liz and I were at a special talble because she had given a large donation.  Devony and her husband were there.  It is hard for me in a regular restaurant, in a banquet hall at a table for 10, pretty impossible. Normal banquet food.  I chose the salmon.

I participated in the promenade but was really tired and starting a headache, so decided to skip the dancing and go back to the room and put my feet up.

10/30 Official Start

 Was awakened in the middle of the night by a huge and loud thunderstorm!  It had to be really loud to wake me up.

Up and dressed in my blue regency.  I wore my new bandeau and earrings and was complimented several times.  

Something new this year - tea and muffins served in the hall outside the conference room so there wasn’t, a looon line at the coffee bar.  I joined two sisters from Maryland who wore matching dresses.  We had a great Chat about where we had bought our dresses.  (Amazon).  

First talk Fashion in Focus 1 - Jewelry, Masquerade costumes, and Muslin. I knew about the origins of muslin and how the English destroyed the Indian plants so people would have to buy the English made stuff which was not as good.  The speaker had a sample of the real stuff which has been reengineered.

Next Fashion in Focus 2 - Mary Ann Bell a hat designer in Bath during Austen’s time and Pockets!

Liz and I shared an enchilada lunch and then went to the opening opening!

Opening Plenary speaker with a tour of Bath then and now.

Inger Brodey talked about JA and travel and compared Persuasion to The Odyssey quite nicely but felt Anne was really the Odysseus.

2nd Plenary- Brandon Taylor  Persuasion as a Novel of Second Chances and Transformations 

Back to the room for a rest and snacky dinner.

Gill Hornby (Author of Miss Austen that was made into a 4 part TV series) did a moderated discussion.

Last Event of the day was a special reception for donors.  Liz and I both qualified.  We were thanked (donors were the reason the AGM ended in the black rather than the red.  Over 100K was given.  NOT BY ME) and given a glass of champagne and a tiramisu.

Now to bed  There is another really big day ahead.

S 

Crafts and Talks 10/29

 I had a really busy day.  First, was decorating a mask and bandeau.  I did a blue with green accents for both AND FINISHED IN THE ALLOTTED TIME.

Then Liz and I met for a talk on the circulating libraries in Bath and other places where Jane might have obtained reading material.  It was followed by a talk on the printing business in England and how they differed from the US.

We happily shared a turkey with avocado sandwich which came with sweet potato fries. They split everything with no extra charge.

After a rest time, I went to my next craft where I made beads out of strips cut from books.  (In my case Pride and prejudice) AND AGAIN FINISHED MAKING THEM INTO EARRINGS.  You can probably tell that finishing the craft activities has been a problem in the past.

Still filled from lunch we had snacks in the room before heading for the evening activity.  

Syrie James gave a delightful presentation on the film adaptations of Northanger Abbey (2) and Persuasion (4).  People cheered for the clips they liked and groaned when parts were silly or not well done.  A really fun talk.

The evening ended with the awards for the Young Filmmakers contest.  This year there were enough entries that they had two age groups- under 18 and 18 to 30.  The judges were all very experienced filmmakers,  but we all received ballots and the “People’s Choice Awards “ will be given at the banquet on Saturday.

Need to get to bed - tomorrow is a big day with no rest time.

Jane Austen in Tucson 10/28

 Trying again.  I’m going to write and then post pictures later if I can’t do it on my iPad.

Day1

We are at the Marriott Star Pass outside of Tucson.  I’m rooming with Liz.  This is a “resort Hotel”  so there is quite a hike from our room to the convention area.  Our room is huge!!!  A large entrance hall with closet, 2 queen beds, a couch, table with two side chairs, bathroom with both shower and tub and a coffee making station with mini fridge.

We went on a van tour of Tucson.  There is a lot of history and 3 different cultures here.  Many many many murals, but it got dark so they were hard to see.

We got back at 7:30 and needed dinner.  We ended up sharing the fish tacos which came with rice and guacamole.  It was just the right amount.  

Back to our palace to organize for tomorrow.

Vancouver Harbor

I was shone around the retirement complex. Larry loves his garden box with flowers  Next year he is going to get a second one so he can grow tomatoes.

 I am being shown the sights of southern WA. Today we went to the harbor.  Maggi, Larry and I went early and walked along the river and looked through a shop.  We were meeting Val, Adrienne, and Dan (M & L's son) for Happy Hour at the Wild Fin.  Dan's wife Maria had been stuck in NY because of the cut cable).

Overlooking the river and a large fountain that encourages kids to play in it.

Larry likes to climb up to the tops of things.

After merrily eating and drinking (and going for ice cream at Salt & Straw across the street) I went home with Val and Adrienne.  

Their new home is lovely - but much larger than they really need  also has 2 floors. 

 

Adrienne turned one of the bedrooms into a closet.  Very like those 1940's movies. She has floor to ceiling shelves for her shoes and another set for purses and a large puff in the middle.  I just don’t have enough clothes for this to be worthwhile for me.

This was my bedroom.  Very sweet with many many pillows and a stuffed rabbit on the bed.  They also had the great toilets that washed your butt and then blew water on it to dry!!

They also had very cozy guest robes of blue velour and Chez Thierny embroidered on them.

We watched Jepordy and Dancing with the Stars and went to bed.

 

Washington Visit 9/21

 Off on my visit to not 1, not 2, but 3 different places. First I’m visiting my long time good friends Maggi and Larry in Vancouver, WA.  Next, taking the train to see Branwen before her classes start, and then an overnight in Bellevue, WA to visit an IBM er colleague.

My flight up was great.  I have figured out how to game the Southwest new getting on the plane groups.  I bought the cheapest seat and was assigned to the last boarding group.  I went up to the gate agent to ask if I could be in “pre-board” because I’m old.  Of course!!!  So I got on the plane first.  My carryon was really heavy so a steward rushed to help me lift it.  I was a very happy camper.

M & L picked me up  and took me to their new home.  They decided to move here to be near their younger son.  A good decision.

Pictures of their new place:

We drank champagne, noshed on crackers and cheese and talked and talked and talked.  Maggi had made split pea soup for dinner and then we talked again until bedtime.

I slept on a roll away bed, but am moving to Adrienne and Val for tonight.  (Everyone wants me.)

10/8 more classes and field trip

 Yesterday was a whole day class about lace knitting.  Romi Hill is a very good teacher and I learned lots.  I was also very tired by the end of the day. Breakfast was at 8, class from 9-12, lunch 12-1:30, class continued from 1:30-4:30, rest with a glass of wine til 6, dinner and a speaker (Amy Snell on Stranded Traditions) til 8.  Was in bed asleep at 10.  

Going to bed really early means that you wake up pretty early too. At 6 the only person I knew would be awake was Marie in Paris, so I called her (on WhatsApp) and we had a lovely long chat.

Today wasn’t quite as intense.  Still had breakfast ,  class, and lunch, but then we went on a field trip to a yarn store.  

Today’s class was Holey Cables again with Romi.  I managed to make the whole thing including the bind off which is pretty remarkable for me.

Some swatches we were shown

The yarn shop was nice, but not spectacular.  I didn’t buy anything and took a walk to see the ocean  I walked out onto the pier and saw lots of people fishing and crabbing. 

Waiting for the bus to pick us up.

Tonight we are on our own for dinner so I’m going to get something in the hotel dining room and then read until bedtime.  Also I have to pack so I can put almost everything in the car before breakfast  

11/6 TKGA arrival

 TKGA stands for The Knitting Guild of America.  So I am attending their conference.  I drove up with Catherine who also belongs to my local guild.  She drove the whole way even though I had said I could do some of the straight highway parts,

Signed in and got a swag bag.

Attended the welcome dinner and saw lovely knitted things.  The steak was dry and overcooked.  The knitted items were great.

Classes start tomorrow.