Auntie Mim's

Minor Panic Attack

2012-02-17T22:05:00.003-05:00

Despite my highfaluting ideas about not relying on my computer, or checking my blog stats...I've suddenly gone into a minor panic about this word verification thing and the problem that people have been having with it.

What if my friends couldn't comment anymore? What if my friends weren't here to tell me they like my latest creation, or thoughts and writing, or weren't there to sympathize or celebrate along with me. What if my (blogging) friends simply DISAPPEARED FROM MY LIFE.

Egad - panic has set in.

Its a symptom of stress, I know that. My shoulders are hunched up around my ears these days, my neck aches, and I often feel teary. I've been checking email and blogs incessantly for days. I want to post every 10 minutes to simply reach out to people. The weather has been cold enough to not get in regular exercise outdoors, but warm enough so that there isn't snow for snowshoeing - so no exercise means more stress.

I certainly believe that I need a break.

Solutions:

Tomorrow I head out for an early morning walk, the first one in months. I will banish this stress as much as I can. I am going to CUT BACK ON WORK (for goodness sakes...do I have to have it hit me in the head??) and get some balance back.

I bought tickets for my BFF, my neffies and me to go to Florida for a few days in March. That'll help.

I going to sign up for an oil painting class and another comic class in the spring session. I do plan to publish this year.

I will not panic!

(this is a purple blow up gorilla we saw in florida last time we were there. I couldn't get a good shot from the car, but I feel like him right now with my arms up in the air)

My friends are still out there...I know that. Smooches!

Word verification

2012-02-17T18:42:00.001-05:00

I turned off my word verification yesterday and got spammed three times!

Not fun.

So....it's gotten turned back on again.

Animal Wednesday - Elephants

2012-02-15T06:22:00.000-05:00

This video was linked on Robyns blog - awesome really.

I don't know any elephants personally but just love them, love to watch them, love their legs, and trunks but most of all, love their wonderful social structure.

In the case of Animal/Vegetable give away....the winner is.......

ANNE of El Milagro studio

and I'm so glad.

Anne, send me your address via email OK?

Love to all, Mim

Happy Printer issues

2012-02-14T05:41:00.002-05:00

My printer is running out of Cyan but I wanted to print a Valentines day card and hoped that it had enough to print one little card.

Here is the original - you've seen it before.

Here is the print - I LOVE it!!! Comments?

Lesson learned? PLAY with color, always try new combo's.

Have a Happy Valentines day - and remember the giveaway in the post below.

Giveaway

2012-02-12T11:21:00.003-05:00

I am trying to declutter my world....and found this lovely little knitting set that makes a scarf, using the tool above. There is a CD inside that shows how to use the tool, it's very easy to use and the yarn is as soft as a baby's bottom.

But...I can't/won't use it - and would like it to go to someone who will. If you're interested, leave a comment here and I'll do a random pull on Wednesday (Animal Wednesday- since it's wool and soy yarn (Animal/Vegetable Wednesday I guess) and you will be the recipient of this lovely little tool kit.

Hearts

2012-02-11T07:37:00.003-05:00

Playing around with paint - this one is water soluble oil paint on paper. I've never used oils before and don't like the smell of turp in my house, but when I saw these water soluble ones I thought Hmmmmm..... Has anyone had any experience with them? The pic is a little dark at the bottom just due to me slapping the painting on the counter and taking a quick pic with the iphone.

This one is acrylic and crayon on bristol board. You can tell I was in the studio playing away having a good old time slapping paint around.

I like the brightness of the yellow in the second one - what do you think? I also think that if I want to use paper again with the oils, I'd gesso the paper first - it soaked up the paint like crazy without some kind of base.

Right now I'm sitting at home in a room with lots of windows - and I was planning to be inside most of the day watching big fluffy snowflakes come down and pile up outside. Picture a happy me with headphones on listening to a book, and knitting away on the sofa. "They" predicted a storm - and we expected to get around 6 inches or more. But no...today they are saying "haha" it's really not going to happen. There are snowflakes coming down but they're tiny and barely sticking. So there you have it. A very non-snow winter this year. Not much fun. Easy to drive in, no plowing needed but not what we expected.

I hope you all have a lovely romantic exciting Valentines day and get your hearts filled with love.

Animal Wednesday - Pastel Pig

2012-02-08T02:47:00.001-05:00

I'm working on a series of animals for my friends shop. I tried paint again with this pig and it was yuck! This time I didn't use tissue paper, but just pastels directly on the paint. Hmmm.... I could try colored pencils also, that might be interesting.

In the end I made his eye and the shadow a bit darker.

I also did a little chicken and did a print of the cow to sell instead of the original. We'll see how it goes....

I'll put the the expanding barnyard in the shop and see if they sell....then maybe I can move onto FISH!!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Playing around again

2012-02-05T15:39:00.004-05:00

OK - it's an obsession - I admit it. I like bowls. I like vessels. I like to see them, make them, feel them and hold them.

The last one was my favorite so far, but I'm liking this one too.

This one I am still sort of working on - I've added these square colorful beads to the outside and am trying to decide if it needs a top edging or not. It'll sit for awhile while I think about it.

Any opinions about an edging? Colorful metallic thread? More beads? Let me know what you think.

Also, since I had to sew each bead on by hand I wandered back and forth between having the thread match the bead or the bowl. I chose white thread so that it wouldn't show thru the bowl, and am going to carefully color the thread on the bead to match the color of the bead. Should be fun!

As usual, I have no idea what this bowl will do, hold, or be good for. But it's pretty and we can all use more prettiness around right?

Comment - post post
After I posted this I realized that I hadn't articulated the real reason I like these bowls. First of all...I know how to make them and that makes it easy for me to learn how to play with new materials and new techniques. I don't think I've ever made two the same, I love trying new techniques, new materials, new embellishments. Every bowl is an experiment - I don't think I could take two the same if I tried! I've gone from heavy paper, to brown paper, to wire and to tissue and buttons. I've painted them, and stained them, and wiped and tested, and embroidered and beaded. Basically, I can track my artistic confidence thru my bowls - what an interesting progression they make.

I have ideas that I want to try... based on films of color, and transparent materials. I'm just gonna keep playing!!

Train Art

2012-02-02T16:37:00.000-05:00

I had a nice long train ride this week, down to New York for work. I worked on the way down, but read and drew on the way home.

I set myself a little challenge for drawing. I was listening to music and had to draw the image that came to mind and could only listen to the song two times before I had to move onto the next song.

Since I have eclectic taste in music, I listened to a variety on the ipod shuffle. The first one is Sarah Brightman singing "allelujah"

This one is an oldie! Steeleye Span and "All around my Hat". Gosh I loved this group - her voice is awesome!

I don't have the name of this one, but it was a Country and Western song about dad and boy going fishing yada yada yada......

This is another CW tune by Shania Twain - Any Man of Mine...not a favorite in my house!! I'm the CW fan, not my tone deaf DH

Now for a switch - to Yiddish music with Itzhak Perlman playing Kletzmer music - Andy's Ride. Everytime I listen to this I think...yeah sure, I could play that....NOT.

And the last one - Anxiety by the Black Eyed Peas. I can see the anxiety in this drawing, can't you?

It was an interesting challenge, fun to do. I did more, but I couldn't finish them in the time allotted - so I'm going to change the rules and work on those other ones some more, and show them at another time.

Very relaxing.

Animal Wednesday - maybe not a career...but a sideline.

2012-01-31T22:33:00.001-05:00

I made this 8x8 cow painting for my friends shop - she sold my little crow painting and we thought we'd try a cow and see how it goes.

I got a picture of a cow and used it as a model for a painting...with paint. It was awful! I mean that shape of the cow was good but the painting was dreadful, I just don't know how to push paint around.

As an additional model, I used a painting that Lo did of Samson, cause I love the way she did his highlights in blue paint for a black dog - this is an important point to this story - you'll see why later. Really, Lo's painting makes adding those highlights seem so EASY - and it's not. And Ms Lo can really push that paint around as evidenced by the Samson painting below.

Anyway the cow almost got thrown in the recycle bin. But then I decided to rescue it with pastels. I pasted tissue paper over the painting so that the painting showed thru but was muted, and then I went to town with the pastels. Somehow I can control them better, and I like the overall effect.

Here's the funny part. When I brought it upstairs to show to DH, he liked it and then said "it reminds me of Samson".

!!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Another thought -

2012-01-29T10:32:00.002-05:00

I'd have to take lessons from Lori - who's an awesome photographer. But what fun that would be!!!

Animal Wednesday - thinking of new careers.....

2012-01-25T06:23:00.002-05:00

Hmmm.....it's a thought!

I'm putting all these ideas in a journal so as to keep imagining new opportunities.

Purely Decorative

2012-01-21T13:15:00.003-05:00

Yes...another bowl. To placate Helen, I will note that this bowl is very flammable, and that getting rid of it at the necessary date of my future demise will be very easy. But hopefully it will be sold at a craft fair or store years before that need arises.

I was at an art show the other day, and something I saw got me thinking about using paper in another way to make a bowl, (instead of strips). This piece is not exactly what I had in mind but it's part of the path to getting to try another technique that my brain is fooling around with - more on that later.

This bowl is pinky woven paper with holes in it, and then I embroidered around the holes with glittery thread.

It's all one piece - no cuts, some folds and lots of stabilizing gel medium. It's sturdier than it looks but would only really be good for holding rose petals, or dried hydrangea flowers.

Actually that thought sounds so good that I might just trot off to Michael's in this little snow storm we are having to get some dried rose petals.

The show I was at was the student art show at the Worcester Art Museum. It's the first time I have ever entered anything in a show - and was I ever nervous. They had the piece in a prominent place but then - for that night only - placed teachers and tables in front of many of the pieces. The teachers were giving an open house, and that was great, but I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't really see the piece the way I wanted to. But oh well, I've now put something out on display for the first time in my life - it got accepted to the show, and I'm happy about that.

Confused

2012-01-19T05:16:00.002-05:00

Did you ever get so confused that you don't even know you are confused and things just get crazier and crazier? That's me these past few weeks and yesterday I realized it. How did it sink into my brain? It was when I saw an Animal Wednesday post and a dim thought crossed my head of "Why are they posting an Animal Wednesday post when it's just an ordinary Wednesday and not an "animal" Wednesday?"

What the hell?

What is my brain up to?

I actually know what it's up to and it can't fool me ha ha!! It's hiding it's head in the sand so to speak, and not actually dealing with the issues that have come up at work. It's believing the people who say "oh don't worry, we'll find a job for you here, you won't be let go" but then there is the OTHER part of my brain that is NOT hiding in the sand and is saying "oh yeah? well show me the money!" and the two brains are battling it out and using me as a Frisbee. One part has me up at 4:00 am every day trying to get ready to go to work early to show what a good hard worker I am and the other part has me snuggling back in bed until at least 5;30 and then lolling around the house and not getting to work until 8:00 am.

The part I call "Ossie" (for obvious reasons....where do ostrich's live anyway?) has been sabotaging me in very subtle ways - forcing me to forget to take my nightly twitchy leg meds so that I toss and turn all night and then get up early and it tries to make me think I want to go to work. The clever part who I've named "MIM" realizes this subterfuge and relaxes in front of the computer visiting blogs with that extra hour and posts crazy posts about forgetting about Wednesdays.

It ain't easy dealing with two brains right now, so please forgive any odd behavior, odd comments, stray posts. I will eventually force Ossie back into her closet and if she wants to keep her head in the sand so be it - as long as MIM rules.

Do you see why I'm confused???

Works in Progress - sculpy

2012-01-16T06:17:00.004-05:00

Good Monday morning to you all - no vacation day for me but I'm up early and thought I'd share the weekend's work with you.

I've wanted to try Sculpy for awhile, after using paperclay for awhile I wanted to try something that was a bit more solid - and could dry in a shorter time. So I got a bunch of Sculpy and started in.

A few things have popped out already - all are still in process and I'm learning as I go (as usual). I'm hoping that I can sand down the Sculpy piece even after it's dried and am breaking out the Dremel Moto-tool for some sanding. Does anyone know if this will work? Can dried sculpy be sanded????

This bowl has a lizard, a turtle, a snake and a fish swimming around it. I'm thinking iridescent blue for the base, and greens, browns and reds for the animals - any comments, suggestions or thoughts?

This little bowl is a button bowl! I took a circle of clay, folded the edges and added "buttons". Don't know yet how I will paint it but probably solid colors with contrasting buttons. It's small, fits in your hand and I think I'll make a few sizes.

And then this guy popped out. He's not dried yet, and needs some legs with knobby knees. I made his feet big so that he would stand up, but I have to say that he's not so steady. I thought of putting weights in his feet so he would stand, or maybe a strong magnet so that he could stand on metal. Any hints from you doll makers and sculptors out there?

One reason for this recent activity is that a few of us are going to sign up for a craft fair in May. JB, Lo and I and maybe Heather (not a blogger) will be doing a fair in Northampton - it's called Twist. Sounds like fun and I have a very long time to get ready for it but it's two days and a night and that alot of stuff to have ready to sell. I'm NOT nervous or anything, it's just that I like to be prepared (5 months in advance!).

The absolute best part of the weekend was having Sean and Brian over for a night. We went to a movie (Hugo), had dinner, watched a football game, ate brownies, talked and in general - it was delightful. I wanted to give one of them a book...couldn't find it in my library and have asked them to come over one or two days and list ALL the books that we have so that I can start figuring out what I have, where it is, and how to sort it all out. OK, its really an excuse to get them here again, but I think it's a pretty good excuse plus they'll earn some money from Uncle Tony.

Time to get ready to go to work, its a balmy 8 degrees outside - I'm so looking forward to that 1/4 mile walk to work from the garage!!!

I liked the first one so much....

2012-01-12T22:29:00.004-05:00

that I decided to do a bigger one.

(Yeeks - what a lousy photo)

Anyway, this one is much bigger and more colorful than the first one - but I like them both. Just felt like continuing to work on a theme.

I think it's about 16 x 20.

Fun stuff!

Animal Wednesday - Holidays are over!!!!

2012-01-11T05:43:00.003-05:00

Scruffy was so happy to see us when we got to Florida - as soon as he sees me he grabs his toy dead squirrel and runs around on his stubby legs wanting to play. Mom doesn't play with him much, but don't feel sorry for him....he lives a good life!! But he does love it when his siblings show up and throw his toys around.

Here he is before his holiday haircut.....

and here he is after a much needed grooming - look at that little bandana - isn't it cute? Bad pics I know but he's hard to photograph - he moves around so quickly. He really is a cute little dog and mom and the whole neighborhood are so fond of him. All the neighbors have dogs and they all meet in the evening trying to get their dogs to poop before dark (it's pretty hysterical!). Otherwise they have to carry flashlights so that they can pick up after the pooch and to see all these old ladies carrying little bags of poop is really funny. Mom still walks him 3 times a day, with one walk at about 2 miles. Amazing!

We had such gorgeous weather while we were there that we got a ton of bike riding in. This gopher turtle scurried (as much as turtles can scurry) across the bike path and a few people stopped to watch. Every time someone stopped they'd ask "why did the turtle cross the road" and some other smart mouth would answer something equally silly. Happened about 5 times, finally I rode away.

This turtle was near a beautiful pond and was happily laying eggs while I watched.

I'm trying to upload a video of this turtle....but blogger is being rather slow this morning. Oh...maybe it worked! This turtle knew I was watching and gave me many baleful turtle glares - but all I did was watch, no egg stealing for this primate.

Have a Very Happy Animal Wednesday!!!

Using classic language

2012-01-05T11:08:00.005-05:00

Since I am a prolific reader, and often read the classics I have always wanted to use the following sentence...and now have a chance. (visualize back of hand on forehead, swoon coming on - dramatic voice)

I have been given my conge!

I am so excited to be able to use that sentence that it overshadows any apprehension that I might have about my future non-work situation.

It's not for a year - perhaps more - but by that time our Miss Em is going to shine and be ready to launch a book.

Watch out Tintin - Miss Em'll mow you down.

More later !!!

Vacation

2011-12-28T23:02:00.002-05:00

Wow eeee - it seems that I may be able to post from the iPad. So this is a test post

Can't seem to upload pics yet....will have to work on that.

On a lovely vacation this week.

Happy New Year to all!

Miss Em and Friends celebrate Chanukah

2011-12-22T22:07:00.003-05:00

A quick painting done tonight. I'm not sure why the background is coming out so yellow, as it's on bright white paper but maybe cause it's late.

Too late to use this for this years cards...but there's always next year.

Happy Holidays

2011-12-22T06:13:00.002-05:00

One of my "crowd" paintings. Still a work in progress but done enough for viewing.

Happy Holidays to all!

Nostalgia

2011-12-17T15:59:00.003-05:00

Every night on the way home from work I pass my old house - where we lived for 20 years. We moved in in 1981 - all excited - with interest rates at 17.5%, and barely two dimes to rub together after we put down 50% on on $80,000 house. We'd scraped and saved for 8 years to save up that money but there was no way we could have afforded the house payments without that high down payment. I loved the house for many years. It was old - about 1795 we think - and small- only 1400 square feet - but it fit us and we worked on it, worked the garden, fixed, painted, papered...there was always something to do. We also got Samson when we lived there, and our friends had babies who toddled around our wide pine floors. Sean and Brian would stay over when they were little and I'd have to bundle them up in the morning - cause the house was so cold.

Eventually, we realized that we had to sell the house - it needed a major overhaul and no matter what you did to it, it would always be on a busy road. Health issues precluded taking on such a big job and practically, we felt a newly built house would be better and easier for us. And it has been. I didn't realize how hard I worked in that old house, the old garden was almost overwhelming - the house walls were crooked, the floor tilted, the windows were a joke. In the summer we had to put in the air conditioners and take them down in the winter (and we only had one in the bedroom and one in the tiny studio that DH had). I had no dishwasher, and the washer and dryer were in a damp and dank cellar. Don't get me wrong...I knew we were very rich - we had our own house for goodness sake....but this house was alot of work.

So we moved to our newly built house and after I got over my homesickness - I began to love it - and I still do. I love the ease of it, I love having garage doors and central air and walls and ceilings that meet at right angles. I love the fact that my 6'4" nephew can walk thru the rooms without hitting his head on the ceiling and can walk up the stairs without crouching.

But the other day - as I drove past the old house - I had an almost overwhelming urge to walk up to the front door, and walk back into my life 20 years ago. I felt that if I just knocked on the door, I could step in time - no questions asked. I wanted so badly to be back there with everyone alive again, and so many old friends nearby. I had to keep my hands on the steering wheel - I really did and just keep driving. Of course by the time I got home to this house, I'd convinced myself that I didn't want to go back 20 years...I can't imagine a world without my nephews and my beautiful niece but the thought has haunted me for the past few nights.

I think it's simply the season - it's a time for nostalgia and family. I miss the hustle and bustle of buying presents for kids and watching them open them, and then tossing the paper into the roaring fireplace. I miss the wood smoke smell, and Samson with his funny antlers on.

It'll pass. The season is a tough one this year - my close aunt as well as my MIL died last year in December and I miss them both. I miss my dad, and my dear friend Isabel (who did Christmas like no one else) and I miss my SIL (who always hated every present that we gave her). I miss having my parents live only a few hours away, and family gatherings that were spontaneous. I also know that I didn't appreciate everything and everyone when I did have them, and I feel badly about that. Do you know the play "Our Town"? When the main character has a chance to relive one day in her life? I feel like that right now - like I want to relive a day but know that I really want to embrace the moment, enjoy my friends and family, hug my pooch again.

Oh dear - I didn't mean to go on and on. I do love my life now, and am thankful everyday for friends and family and health - it's just nostalgia...that's all.

Hands in the Air

2011-12-12T22:30:00.003-05:00

That's what I am doing. I am throwing up my hands in the air as I quietly give up trying to keep up. I've had two new projects at work this week.....and it's only Monday isn't it?

Why oh why did I promise to make a quilt for a friend who is having a new grandniece. Because I love her and she is a good friend? Probably...but really...what WAS I thinking. And then I picked a pattern that is somewhat complicated. During Christmas season. Really...what was I thinking? So making this quilt and getting it finished by this weekend is taking over my life. We don't usually do much about Christmas around this house - it's DH's holiday altho I like the season. But not having a tree or anything doesn't bother me at all. But there are obligations at work, and to the wonderful children in my life...and I've done virtually nothing.

So I figure if I walk around with my hands in the air - everyone will think I'm batty or have arm problems...and won't expect anything. No cards. No Animal Wednesday. No presents this week.

I like it- I think it's going to be an effective approach - do you agree?

Animal Wednesday - Dog Rescues Kittens

2011-12-07T06:57:00.000-05:00

Sweet Lab - look at that face. And smart and kind also....nothing like a Lab (sorry Scruffy)

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Cityscapes and last sculpture class (plus other ramblings)

2011-12-04T07:55:00.005-05:00

As usual, as I try to clean up my work space....I start finding a few things to fool around with. I had some canvases that had horrible attempts at painting on them, so I painted them black or sepia and scribbled with paint and marker. Took me only a short time, I felt like I had accomplished something and yes...I still have to clean up the studio.

I've been cleaning my basement studio because I got this great new set of flat files - actually NOT new, but old. Got them for $100.00 from an architectural firm and had to pick them up by myself. It wasn't too hard actually, and I love them. I've put all my paper and flat paintings and pads of paper in here. I realize that I shouldn't have to buy paper or pads for another 100 years...I'm all set!!!

I had my last sculpture class on Friday night. I actually ended up liking this class - mostly because the instructor was so open and friendly and sincere. I remember the first night where we walked around the museum and I was tired...I thought I'd hate the class. But everyone was so friendly and open...I learned so much and not only about power tools. I learned more about planning an art piece, and how to look at something from more than one angle and to read meaning into a piece. That last part was the hardest for me, but as I listened to people critiquing my work, I began to realize that yes..I did mean that, and yes...perhaps it shows. This last night was to be a pizza night and a final critique - so I didn't think I'd do much. But sitting around waiting is not my cup of tea, so I started fooling around with clay, and developed this little piece. Of course, there was all kinds of talk about closing off, and opening up, and fences and walls and for the first time I simply opened up to the discussion and listened with an open mind.

Everything held together while the clay was wet but as it dried, it began to fall apart. So yesterday - instead of cleaning - I began to put it together again with tiny dabs of glue. I'm going to let it dry for a few weeks and then tweek the glue, and make it steady. I've found that working with stone and wood and clay posts challenges for assembly.

On a final note - just to gossip some more - we've had guys in our yard since Wednesday cleaning up from the Halloween storm. While we didn't have any house damage, we had about 20 big trees that got so damaged that they became dangerous - and had to come down. Plus about 30 little ones that snapped, or looked like they'd snap at the next storm. They've had chippers going and chainsaws and rakes, and other motorized things. It's been noisy and I can't believe how much they've had to do. Plus, insurance doesn't pay for this since we didn't have house damage....so it's costing a pretty penny. Merry Christmas honey...here's a pile of wood!!

That's it. Have a lovely sunday.

Animal Wednesday - southern animals!

2011-11-30T05:43:00.007-05:00

There are LOTS of animals to be seen in Florida this time of year! The weather was a bit cooler and in the early evening we saw deer and owls, snakes and alligators. This doe was just ambling along at the side of the road in a state part and paid us no attention
Her buddy was across the street - neither one bounded off while I snapped away.

In the mornings, these egrets were outside our back lanai - not a bad way to start the day, just watching birds wander around looking for food.

We saw lots of Roseate Spoonbills - but they were far away and it was hard to get a good picture. You can just see the bit of pink on this one.

All of my cousins have boats so we had quite a number of days on the water - it was fun (but they are very inefficient ways of getting around!) and we saw dolphins fooling around in the water one day - this is what I could capture of what we assume was a mother and baby playing around in the water. They were jumping around and twisting and playing - it was joyous to watch.

Scruffy taking a nap on someones lap. He's such a cutie.

This is my cousins dog - Sammi. Scruffy and Sammi were at the shelter together, and he is now Joan's dog - she is the one who brought Scruffy home to mom. She and her husband have always had big dogs but they are in love with this little poodle/shiz-tzu cross.
Here is mom on a boat holding Sammi. Mom was such a sport about going out on the water, but always wore a hat to keep her hair from flying around. Love the hat and sunglasses combo! Joan can be seen at the edge of the photo, holding Gizmo - another cousins dog. At one point, after Thanksgiving dinner - we had 5 very short legged dogs racing around the house.

That's it for the animals - but we took some gorgeous pictures on the way home - out the plane window looking at the sunset......

And flying over New York City - amazing!

I am still recovering after being away for 10 days. I actually began to relax, and forgot to clench my teeth at night, or wake up at 2:00 am in a giant panic about something. But I'm getting back into the groove I guess, and have to start thinking about Christmas. I got my first Christmas letter yesterday - damn efficient people!

Sending many hugs to Teri C who lost her Sunshine this week. Sunshine flew into Teri's life two years ago and has been a pleasure to watch, and a joy to Teri and her DH. Poor little Sunshine died last week, and we are all heartbroken for the family - she was an adorable bird.

Happy Animal Wednesday from Scruffy

2011-11-23T11:49:00.003-05:00

Scruffy had a haircut yesterday in preparation for a big family Thanksgiving.

Happy T bird day to you all,

From Scruffy Stella

Next steps

2011-11-15T08:07:00.005-05:00

I have to learn Photoshop so that I can add word balloons, and text and enhance colors. And how to scan in at the right size, and should it be a jpg or a bmp or a pdf (wow) or other formats. And layers...I have to learn layers.

Oy..

For this one....make up your own words. Send them to me if you like - I'm always looking for good comic copy.
Ya can't get by in this business without computer skills. Photoshop for dummies is next on my list of books to read. And then finding a publisher/agent. I'm not going to do this by myself...that's my decision.

Happy Tuesday!!!

The Inspired Life - a new book

2011-11-11T06:41:00.001-05:00

My cousin Joan Breiner – has just co-authored a terrific, easy to read book – The Inspired Life – Unleashing your Mind’s Capacity for Joy. In it she shares inspiring life stories, ideas and exercises to keep you connected to your passion, joy and centered self - no matter what is going on in your life.

Friday, 11/11/2011 kicks off the author’s (Susyn Reeve and Joan Breiner’s) Inspiration Nation Tour, they are asking people to buy the book on this day as an expression of your desire and support to live your dreams and bring more, inspiration, joy and happiness into the world.

When you purchase the book you will have access to valuable Bonus Gifts - free teleclasses, e-books and videos from world-renowned experts. Here’s how this works:

• Purchase your copy of The Inspired Life on 11-11-11

• After you have purchased the book go to www.susynreeve.com/life and:

• Type in your Amazon.com order number.

• You will then have access to all the FREE BONUS GIFTS.

• Download as many Bonus Gifts as you are interested in.

No one in the family has ever truly figured out Joanie - she's part genius, part something else - but we all know her for her generous and warm heart and creative approach to life.

And oh yes....Joan is the one who brought Scruffy into mom's life and for that - if nothing else - I'm buying the book and posting this promotion!!!

Animal Wednesday - kitty on the front porch

2011-11-09T06:04:00.004-05:00

I came home last week to see this lovely fat cat sitting on my front porch. He's been around for awhile and seems to like our house. Of course, he strolled away when I got too close.

He reminded me of my cat - Spike - who wanted so badly to be a cool cat, but was really a lovey cozy cat. He was all black also, and tried hard to act cool and ignore us, but usually ended up in our laps. Lovely cat.

We tried to go bike riding on Sunday - which was a warm day. This is what our bike trail usually looks like - clean and smooth.

After the Halloween storm - this is what it looks like!!!

What a difference a month makes!

The upside of all these trees coming down is that the leaves that haven't fallen off the trees yet are easily accessible and are gorgeous colors. Ripe for the plucking and just lovely. Here are a few I picked up.

Happy Animal Wednesday!!!

Sculpture class project

2011-11-07T00:25:00.002-05:00

This fall I've been taking a Friday Night Sculpture class. Usually I take life or portrait drawing but that was not offered this year, so I chose Sculpture. My goal in this sculpture class was to have fun and to learn to use all the power equipment and other materials. I like the class, like the teacher and of course, always love learning new things.

Supplies came with the class, and I pounced on a piece of rock on the first night, started making something small and have ended up with a tall 6 foot high piece that is still a work in progress.

I can't take a picture of the whole thing - it's too tall. This project started out as a person on a rock which I then placed on a piece of wood with trees in the back. I added the trees basically cause I wanted to learn how to use the drill press - which was great fun.

Of course, the tree limbs didn't stay in place very well, so I added shims and liked the way they bristled out of the base of the limbs.

The free standing little ladder took me ages to make, all fussy little pieces of wood, and glue and tiny nails.

Then I added the long legs, to make the overall piece like a table. In this I learned how to use a table saw, a drill and a drill that screws in nails. And I also learned to use a bandsaw - and am completely proud of myself for learning to use these tool.

The little "em like" person is air hardening clay, very leathery and hard, but fun to work with.

Another ladder at the base, just added it on Saturday night and still have some touch ups to do with paint.

And yet another ladder in the front, much easier to make this one for some reason. Practice?

I'll get a better picture when I take it into class next week. The instructor is reading all kinds of things into the ladders and the reaching for the sky and whatever. I just look at it and think "power tools" and am totally satisfied.

Visiting

2011-11-06T07:59:00.005-05:00

We went to visit our nephews at college on Saturday - it was a gorgeous cool day, perfect for a drive in NH, and to walk around looking at the college.

After visiting their dorm room (it was so clean, but I guess there was a flurry of activity right before we got there), and the library and science building we went to lunch and then out into the surrounding area to see what was around. We found these enormous rocks that spider-nephew started climbing ( I couldn't watch!) which had been deposited by the glacier a million or so years ago.

We also visited a bog-in-development. Very interesting but way way cold. We didn't take the 2 hour walk, just did a half mile or so.

There was an art gallery which was having a faculty exhibit - mostly disappointing except for this wonderful sculpture.

Here's one end of the 10 foot limb...

And here's the other end. You can imagine how much I want to do something like this now.

It was a great day, relaxing and wonderful to be with them for the day.

I came home determined to do some decluttering - as I am overwhelmed right now with things out of place. Artwork to be unpacked from a sale (I did sell some stuff - but not all). Winter/summer clothes to be swapped. Papers to be filed. I let it all get behind and then it bothers my mind till I sort it all out again. Mostly I think it's the fact that I've been taking two classes this fall that has me overwhelmed, and I'm going to be kind to myself and not do that this winter. It's one reason that I've been absent from the blogs, not drawing much, not doing anything except working on projects. It's sunday morning as I write this and I am finishing filing in my "office"....then onto the basement to organize.

The cooler weather brings out the urge to hunker down, to nest, to get ready for indoors activities. To make soups and stews and to get my house in order. I'll feel satisfied and somewhat smug when I complete some of these tasks.

As I clean, I keep telling myself NOT to stop and look at that drawing, that sculpture, that journal...but it's almost impossible. Before I know it I'm doodling, or painting. And then cleaning can wait...which in the long term is just fine.

Have a lovely Sunday, enjoy the extra hour, and think of me organizing and cleaning (and drawing and doodling)

Books seen at the library

2011-11-06T00:22:00.001-04:00

I want to read them all.

Bring on those winter storms.

Animal (and knitting) Wednesday - bulldog pup (not mine!) and scarfs (mine)

2011-11-02T06:24:00.006-04:00

A friend at work got a new pup - who arrived by plane last week. He's settling into their household and is just so adorable. Hard to believe this little guy will grow into a sturdy big bulldog boy....but he will!

I knit this scarf, which is one big round thing, and it was like knitting a cloud!
I did learn that if you drop a stitch while knitting lace, you can get a perfect Frankenstein-looking scar-stitch as you pick it up (not shown). I love the scarf, but wouldn't wear it hanging loose like they show but would wrap it around my neck twice for a very cozy, very soft warm scarf.

I had more mohair and some very sharp straight needles so I started this new scarf.

..maybe for me...maybe for a christmas present... we'll see. On this one I have learned that I have to knit after I do the lace part, otherwise it looks like holes in the scarf and not lace. I'm sure other knitters know this, but I'm not using a pattern for this scarf and am learning as I go. I'm also learning that mohair doesn't undo very easily or well, and takes much patience.

Happy Animal Wednesday!

And my first time joining the Yarnalongers here

Tree damage

2011-10-30T07:53:00.003-04:00

That's only from the back door. The front is worse, I can't get out of my driveway because there is a huge tree limb down.

One whole side of my river birch is touching the ground - it looks so odd!!

Oh, it's gonna be a fun day.....NOT!! I can hear the chain saws already.

It's going to go back to being seasonable weather soon, so this all will melt. But the tree trimmer guys and gals will have lots of money coming in over the next few weeks - that's for sure.

Is this all natures way of helping the employment situation?

Not even the end of October....

2011-10-29T21:23:00.003-04:00

...and we are having a snowstorm.

It's shocking really - a shock to the system. It was beautiful autumn last week, glowing trees, pumpkins, apples, cool nights and warm days.

And then suddenly - boom! Big snowstorm coming thru. Frantically clean up the garden furniture, winterize the outdoor hoses, put everything in the shed ( and then take everything out cause the snowblower is in the back corner, damn it) - clean out the pots of plants, (salvage a rosemary plant) and cut as many hydrangeas as I can - they make beautiful dried flowers.

Dried Hydrangeas make me remember my friend Isabel who died about 13 years ago. Isabel was extremely creative, drew like an angel, embroidered, painted, gardened and read about as much as I did. In the fall , we would make the rounds of the antique stores, who usually had their stores smelling lovely with hot cider bubbling somewhere, and we'd happily look for treasures. Isabel taught me how to dry hydrangeas and other flowers to preserve summer. I miss her something awful around this time of year. I have friends who love me enough to go to antique stores and rummage around with me, but Isabel loved poking in those stores as much as I do. There's a difference.

So - it's back to knitting by the fire with headphones on listening to a book on tape. The electricity has burbled a few times, and since this storm is expected to get worse, we also spent the day doing laundry, and filling the bathtub for extra water (we have a well...which uses an electric pump). At our old house we had an old old outhouse, which was a comforting thought in times of power outage.

I keep hearing big crashing noises in the woods, tree limbs crashing down I'm sure. I expect we'll hear them all night, and as long as they don't crash down on my house, it's OK.

I hope you are warm and cozy on this chilly winter ( I can't believe I wrote that) night.

Animal Wednesday - odd fish item

2011-10-26T02:14:00.005-04:00

Seen at a Sarasota Craft Fair. Very odd, not particularly comfortable and I felt like I was sitting on a fish filet.

I have been under the weather with a sinus infection and a tummy bug, so forgive my absence. The sinus infection is persistent and very painful at times...other times it's fine. Go figure. The tummy bug came and went. At the same time I am reading this book and it's all about Cholera. So of course - with a tummy bug - I imagine we are in the middle ages...and I've got the dreaded Cholera - and woe betide to all man and women - kind. Sometimes it would be easier to not have such an active imagination.

The good side of being UTW is the chance to sit and knit. I have three UFO's ongoing - two from this book and, one from here (I bought the pattern) and am making one for a friend at work. The first book's patterns are ultra easy, mostly squares with sleeves - it's the yarns that make the projects work. The cowl is super easy also - I made one for a woman at work last year and she wears it all the time.

Have a Happy Animal Wednesday and feel good!

Autumn

2011-10-21T06:21:00.000-04:00

I love the word Autumn, and all the colors associated with Autumn. Golds, and burnt orange, yellow and deep red.

Truly my favorite season. I love the cool mornings and breezy nights, with the perfect sleeping weather. I love my fall quilt and snuggle so comfortably at night.

This is the view from my kitchen window, I like seeing the still blooming hibiscus against the dropped leaves and maple tree.

I know winter is coming and am actually looking forward to some possible down time, with time to read in front of the fire and work on art in my basement studio. Listening to a book and knitting in front of the fire is luxury living as far as I'm concerned. I don't like nasty weather, but I love and always look forward to a snowy day where I can stay home, nest and watch the snow fall.

Do you love autumn?

I do.

Animal Wednesday - it's SCRUFFY!!!

2011-10-19T05:48:00.005-04:00

Scruffy was so happy to see me when I got to Mom's house, he wiggled faster than I could take pictures...and brought me all his toys for a good game of "fetch".
His coat is growing out from his "puppy cut" but we both felt that he didn't really need a grooming for a few weeks, the long hair look suits him.

It's hard to take a picture of him...he moves too fast and is always interested in seeing something new...but occasionally I get a cute shot.

He's a cute little doggie, and very smart really! His only issue is continued bladder infections and he is on antibiotics very frequently. Perhaps cranberries would help? I don't know if that works for dogs. But I do know someone (yet to be named) who is going to work at a new job at a vet's practice and maybe she can give me some advice.

Scruffy is one of those dogs who looks suspiciously at packed suitcases, so as I was leaving I got the sad dog look and he wanted to climb into my lab for a final snuggle. We took him in the car when mom drove me to the airport, and he was great until we started driving in front of the terminal - then he started crying and whining. He was NOT happy when I left, but I think he'll be just fine.

My cousin found Scruffs at a shelter when she went to get a dog for herself. I would never have done what she did - pick up a dog and bring it to my aunt on "approval". Obviously it's worked out well, but I just would never have the chutzpah (guts) to do that. I admire my cousin for doing this even tho I was mad at her in the beginning - he's a godsend to mom who adores him and adores having something to dote on. I do think that I'm going to hire a dog walker for late night walks - watching my 87 year old mom out at night with a flashlight and a baggie was a bit disconcerting. Other than that...they are a happy couple.

Happy Animal Wednesday!!

Opera and Wool

2011-10-17T21:07:00.003-04:00

One of the reasons Mom was so excited when I said I was coming down for the weekend is that she had tickets to the movie-opera and her friend couldn't go that day. Now the facts are that I don't like watching Opera (sorry Robin) - as it puts me to sleep and I don't understand it and my mom used to sing aria's after we went to bed as kids and they put me to sleep..and I once watched her in an opera when I was about 4 (Tosca) and she JUMPED off the building at the end - out of sight - and I was a bit shocked.

So...part of me wanted to say "nah - I don't want to go" but the kinder side of me said "sure". Mom adores opera, and was so pleased to have someone to go with.

This opera is a live movie feed from the Met in NYC and it was GREAT! I can't get over the fact that I enjoyed it so much, but you got to see the costumes up close, and the expressions on everyone's face and the scenery details. And there were interviews with the principles and conductor - and it had subtitles...so you knew what was going on.

We saw "Anna Bolena" and of course, it's a tragic story how ever you see it. Most of what I don't like about opera is that it's all tragic, and suicide and killing plus not understanding what was really going on! But I was very pleasantly surprised to see and enjoy this movie - gave a whole new dimension for me. I did take a little nap (well, I did get up at 3:00 am to catch an early flight to florida) but most of it I watched. So...I might just go again.

During intermission I pulled out my knitting and clattered away. I'm working on a sweater with a wonderful cranberry colored wool, and it's all garter stitch and box stitch, so it has heft and body. I'm only 1/4 of the way thru the back, but I love the feel of it, and it's on my favorite needles.
Pretty good weekend...now I'm crashing and going to bed.

Weekend

2011-10-14T22:39:00.001-04:00

I am off to Florida to see ~~Scruffy~~ Mom. Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Animal Wednesday - on Thursday (cause it was a funny week)

2011-10-13T11:49:00.002-04:00

Since I thought Wednesday was really Tuesday this week, I apologise for not keeping up with Animal Wednesday. (we had a monday holiday to honor that great Italian - Christofer Columbus).

So here is an ADORABLE dog video. You'll LOVE it.

Happy Animal Wednesday!!

Six Word Saturday - and other topics

2011-10-08T09:05:00.010-04:00

Light develops
and
things become clearer

I love the first shot here, with the grainyness of a mirage.

I never thought I'd be yearning for the fall-back time change, but I really want that early morning light for my walks - altho it was only 34 degrees on Friday morning. I do hate leaving work in the dark, but I'm so hooked on sunrise.....

This weekend we expect 80 degree weather - so go figure. The weather has been odd...a few weeks ago we were bike riding and it was about 45 degrees and we mournfully said "this might be our last ride" yet today I am laying out my shorts and tee shirts for a ride. And Rosh Hoshanna was a rainy day - which is very unusual. My aunt remembers only 5 rainy Rosh H days in her life, and she's in her 70's.

Speaking of RH - we went to my cousins house and got to give the newly knitted stuff to the new adorable baby.

The parents were stunned! We're not a family known for giving home made gifts - so these were very appreciated.

My cousin and her new granddaughter - she's still in shock at her good luck and happiness.

DH and I with Julia - she was a delicious baby and spent hours in my arms. (there's another story there that I'll tell at a later day - about arms)

Julia in the pink knitted hat which went with this sweater.

I was worried about this purple hat fitting her - but we got it on....

And finally, my uncle performing the blessing. We had a full house of cousins and it was delightful.

I hope it's a happy and healthy new year for everyone.

Animal Wednesday - Hummingbird nest and nesty art

2011-10-04T22:07:00.008-04:00

My friend Grapes has a ton of hummingbirds at her place, I love to watch them hovering around the feeder. Recently someone showed me a hummingbird nest - which was amazing. Tiny and perfect. I just can't imagine how cozy the babies birds would have been.

In my Friday night sculpting class, one of the potential projects was to take something ordinary and turn it into something else...or use it in a project. I started thinking of bowls (no surprise there) and - based on the recent view of the Hummer nest - the idea of bowl/nests got me thinking. I started out with looking for cast off items, or things that I just had hanging around. Found some flat wood pieces and some old computer wire. I stripped the wire from it's plastic covering and stained the wood and made (what I consider) a basket/nest.

This one is about 8 inches high, and has paper on the bottom of the wood staves (I think they are called staves) - is woven with the wire and has paper inside and a metal nest with wire wrapped paperclay eggs.

The second one is much smaller, with a paperclay bowl formed over a lightbulb, then the wood is inserted and everything is left to dry. I sealed the paperclay, stained it and wove beading wire in and around the wood. I'm making a little paperclay cap for the overall item, and am going to paint the inside somehow.

I don't know if showing arty-nests really constitutes an Animal Wednesday, but since I can make up the rules...I'm saying it counts.

Have a Happy Animal Wednesday!!

Friday night Sculpting (?)

2011-09-30T05:02:00.000-04:00

I was looking forward to my Friday night drawing class which was supposed to start on October 7th. Life drawing or portrait drawing is the norm, and I've been practicing all summer to be better at this and get more out of the class.

Much to my dismay, the school canceled the class two weeks before it was supposed to start - due to low enrollment. I tried to tell them that it would be full in a week or so, but they were cranky about it and canceled the class anyway. Bummer! So I signed up for Friday night sculpture, which is a bit odd for me but I figured "what the heck".

The first class was not what I expected - in that we toured the museum at night. Which would have been fun if I wasn't wearing my work shoes - which were high heels (well...two inches or so) and we all know how hard museum floors are.

I took pictures of a few very interesting items - taken while I was supposed to be listening to the instructor - who was off talking about juxtaposition of blah to blah. I think she was a bit taken aback when she asked me if I liked a certain installation piece...and what did it remind me of - and I answered "No" and "an inflamed colon". OK...good start don't you think?

I took a few pictures in one of the galleries. It was actually a beautiful gallery, with all sorts of famous artists work there - i.e. Warhol, Motherwell....and many others but I didn't get their names photographed so can't give appropriate information.

This painting was interesting - look at how it was painted, very digital. Looks good from far away, interesting technique I think.

Loved this portrait -

and this one

And was very intrigued by this piece

But my favorite was this ceramic piece.

I will approach this class with as open a mind as I can get, but I'm not fond of lectures or "juxtaposition" talk. I have a few projects in mind - the first one being dressing a tree in my backyard. Vandalism or installation art? You tell me.

Happy New Year to all! (Jewish Holiday time...)

Animal Wednesday - The Story of Scruffy and the Airplane ride

2011-09-27T20:29:00.004-04:00

You all remember Scruffy - mom's little dog. Well this summer, little Scruffs has been out in California - doing all kinds of doggy things like running on the beach, and playing with other dogs - it sounds like he had a wonderful time out there. What could be bad about 6 weeks in a beach cottage, with sisters and brothers coming over every day, and doggie friends and lots of spoiling.

But it all had to end someday, and Mom is now back in Florida but not without some angst. See, we made her buy a first-class ticket out to CA, and figured this would give her room for Scruffy's little cart and make everyone comfortable. And it worked great on the way out there! But coming home they hit a few snags. First mom had to check an extra bag - and it was the bag with Scruffy's treats! Then she couldn't fit his rolling crate under the first class seat (she forgot that the wheels were detachable!) and everyone was very upset. Luckily, a couple sitting near mom had a daughter traveling in coach - just two rows back, and this lovely person fit Scruffy's crate under her coach seat (don't ask me why this worked out, it just did). So Mom was sitting in first class, and Scruffy was back in coach...and occasionally giving a little whine or whimper of distress. Of course, after mom had her first class dinner, she took a few bread rolls, and went back to coach to feed Scruffs a little dinner. And of course, once he saw her - he whimpered more, so mom switched seats with the gal and stayed in coach to keep Scruffy company. (SO glad we spent that extra money).

Then they got home, everyone was thrilled to be home and Scruffs was very thirsty of course, only having bread rolls for the past 6 hours. So he drank a ton of water while Mom went thru the mail. After a few minutes, he came scratching up to mom - who of course thought he just wanted to cuddle. So she picked him up and they cuddled for awhile, then she put him down and he wandered off...to pee on the freshly cleaned rug.

( I mean really...what would you think if your doggie came up to you and yammered and scratched and you knew he had just drunk a ton of water....would you think he needed a cuddle? Well, of course, he always needs a cuddle....but really!!!)

So that is my Animal Wednesday! I could of course tell you about the deer that I nearly hit while driving home tonight but I'll save that for another day.

Trying to be green

2011-09-26T04:43:00.002-04:00

We've had two old computers for years and just haven't gotten around to recycling them. This weekend we cleaned out our garage and these two computers are sitting there, waiting to be dumped.

While driving back from biking yesterday, we saw this sign next to a small strip mall.

It was unclear which store in the line up of stores was the recycling center, so we drove around the back to see if there was additional information.

There was.

Hmm....we were looking for something a bit more effective and green.

What started me into drawing, painting, being creative....

2011-09-24T10:58:00.004-04:00

I didn't start drawing until after a very very close friend died of cancer (at 50) and my sister in law died of complications from kidney disease (at 53). Suddenly I started drawing, and painting and on and on. I'd always been somewhat creative, but their deaths were an impetus to me to really start drawing. Miss Em came out of some of that pain, she's been a great emotional outlet for me. In the back of my mind I always felts that Isabel and Lucile were channeling thru me - especially Isabel who was a wonderful artist.

Today I read Robyns post and truly - chills went up my back at the poem. The post itself is wonderful and sad and amazing, and the poem...wow.

I'm a bit stunned......

Early Morning - once again - and some lake shots

2011-09-22T17:53:00.000-04:00

I adore early morning - and a picture taken at the same spot (or close) as I jog around the track shows how quickly it can change.

We went bike riding at the lake on Sunday and I took some time to admire the beauty of the lake and clouds.

I love the camera on this iphone......

Animal Wednesday and a few other things

2011-09-21T04:39:00.004-04:00

We were bike riding last weekend and I brought my camera to capture the multiple images of woodland animals that I was sure I would see. And I saw NONE. I was going to show you all picture of empty field and desolate roads claiming that I had just seen a deer or a snake.

Then I remembered that Animal Wednesday was about all sorts of animal images...and duh....I like to draw and paint.

Here is a paperclay dog that I've had hanging around, I had thought of painting him but have decided not to - I like his goofy whiteness. So now that I consider him finished, he will take a place in the paperclay basement hall of fame. Since he's sort of lumpy and bulgy in places, I can call him Whitey Bulgy....what do you think of that clever name?

I had a little canvas hanging around and decided to paint a picture of a crow. At the same time I didn't want to get out my paints and make a mess. So I pulled out these things I got at the hardware store - it's paint in a brush-marker holder. You pump the end and paint comes out on a nylon brush - I think it's for "touch ups" around the house. Anyway, I used them to do this painting - I kind of like it.

I've been working feverishly on a quilt for a friend who's friend just had a baby...and she went into labor just as Hurricane Irene hit. I had the idea of a balloon theme, and then decided to have a cloud blowing at the balloons. I emailed Lynn for advice, she told me how to get the image I wanted onto the quilt and it came out wonderful! (thanks Lynn). Here's the front.....

...a closeup of the wind cloud...

...and the back. The whole project became a family affair, as I was working with no pattern and there were some design elements to be dealt with - i.e. the upper clouds. DH knew what he would do if it was a drawing, so we had to figure out how to transfer that idea to a quilt. It was fun, but I'm glad to have it done.

I'm still knitting up a storm - finishing up some baby hats to go with the sweaters that I made (all babies need ensembles - don't they?) and also some scarfs for my cousin and a lacy one for me. I'm also working on a sweater for myself in some amazingly soft brown and black wool and the wine colored merino yarn that I saw recently just called out to me.

Have a Happy Animal Wednesday and I hope you see some animals around your area

Personal Best

2011-09-16T06:59:00.003-04:00

It was cool out this morning - about 55 degrees. Lovely sleeping weather but a bit cooler than we expect for this time of the year - but welcome. I bundled up a bit to go out for my walk, but wore stuff that was easily layer-able as I knew I would get warm once I started going. I started trotting along but had to stop to take this picture.

I've always wanted to say I've reached a Personal Best....not usual terminology when sitting and knitting a sweater, or drawing. But I did one today - maybe not impressive to some, but amazing to me. I did 5K in my morning walk/run and did it in 38 minutes. When I started out with this exercise routine, I was doing 5K in about 48 minutes - which impressed me at the time. My goal has been to get it under 45 minutes, and I didn't realize that I was getting closer to that goal every day.

I'm not fishin' - not looking for kudos - I guess its just amazing to me that if I persevere, and keep at this exercise routine that I keep getting better. After I broke my ankle 6 years ago I thought I would never be able to do this type of exercise again...and here I am...doing better than ever. Frankly - it's amazing! If I can do it - ANYONE can!!!

Good way to start the weekend I think. Hope you all have a lovely personal best weekend yourselves.

Deadlines

2011-09-14T21:28:00.004-04:00

My closest cousin has a new baby granddaughter - her first and while I knit her one sweater - I really wanted to do more. So, following the same pattern as the first one, but with a smaller needle - I did this one in a pale-y pinkish color. Looking at it in the photo, I might just go back and rip out that bottom edge of stockinette stitch - I like it better with a garter stitch edge - what do you think?

I love the little fishie buttons but you know me and fish.....

And then this one - in a purple-y wool. The pattern called for it to be open in front, and I know that's usually better for babies, but I liked the closed look.
I've been on a deadline with these cause I am also making a quilt for a friends baby and all have to be done by the end of the month - actually the week before. So I had one and 1/2 week to finish these two sweaters, and finish the quilt. I might just make it. But this obsession is why no Animal Wednesday this week, no dinner made in this house for the past few nights and no laundry either. Too bad...sweaters are more fun!

Happy Sweater Wednesday!

Nature instead

2011-09-11T17:52:00.003-04:00

I started to watch TV this morning and just as I thought - I started bawling. Big juicy tears while watching the memorial service at ground zero.

ENOUGH - I thought. Woke up the hubby and we called good friends and took off for the river.
The water was incredibly high - from all the recent rain...or was it from all the tears that people have cried today and over the past 10 years?

Either way, the current was very swift, the river was virtually deserted and it was gorgeous.

What it really was - was peaceful - which we all treasured.

Booty

2011-09-10T20:59:00.004-04:00

My BFF Grapes and I went up to see the boys - oops I meant bring the boys stuff that they forgot for college - like a rug for their floor, hangers, cables, more towels etc etc etc. We met them at 10:00 am for breakfast, went to their room to bring up stuff, went shopping for more stuff and then finally - with more hugs and kisses - left to drive home. The deal was that we would scoot up there really fast, and then meander home stopping at antique stores etc. Well...by the time we really got on the road it was getting late so we made directly for a store that I know of in Peterborough and have always liked. Turns out that store has moved to Hudson, NY but there was another one that had some goodies and I scored pretty good!

The woman who owns the store wraps stuff in paper and twine which I love of course.

Inside this package was this lovely little miniature hand form, it's only about 8 inches high. It'll go downstairs to live with my bigger hand forms.

And Buttons - did she ever have lovely buttons! Look at these - aren't they wonderful? 50cents each....

And these are buttons also - so unique!

These pearl buttons were about 10 cents each - I took all I could.

Knitted buttons, in pink and ecru. And yes, tiny little porcelain bowls that are so cute I couldn't resist.

Miniature pulleys - which I have no idea what I am going to do with these but I loved them. All rusty and tough looking.

I scored big time, both in seeing the kids and in getting goodies to play with. Can't you just see those pearl buttons on a knitted sweater?

Animal Wednesday - what the hey????

2011-09-06T22:21:00.004-04:00

It's a Bird! it's a Plane! Nope - it's a JUMPER!!

We watched jumpers on Saturday - jumping out of a perfectly good airplane and swoop thru the air - I'll post some more picture of this amazing "sport" soon....

But I really wanted to show you this - next to the jumping field there were cows and pigs grazing together. This is something that I have never seen before, and it was pretty funny and cute looking.

And that same day I looked out my back window and saw this brown color. Aha said I - think you're going to chew my hosta's do you - and I stomped out onto the back porch....

and scared his/her little brown butt away from my beautiful fall blooming....

...flowers.

Happy Animal Wednesday!

A Special Kid

2011-09-05T09:32:00.005-04:00

I was only going to post a bit today about a sweater I am knitting for a new cousins baby and a few other odds and bits....but then I got an email from a friend about another friends grandson and it was so wonderful, I figured I post the link to the youtube video here today (also, cause I can't figure out how to actually post a YouTube video here)

This is a close wonderful family, all generations living and working together - amazing. I sing in a chorus with the grandmother and have never heard one complaint or "why us" from this family. Awesome!~

Seeing Justin's courage and attitude makes me appreciate the fact that I take a walk everyday thru scenery like this

This area is a conservation water project - no swimming in the lake but kayaking and some fishing allowed. In the winter - if it's a cold one - it's covered with ice fishing shacks, and ski tracks. We snowshoe here alot in the winter, it's magnificent.

LOTS of dogs here and recently they instituted a leash law and receptacles to pick up after your dog. To be honest - it was needed and has cut down on the scare of having a strange dog charge you, or having to dodge piles of poo. I used to love taking Samson there - his absolute joy in running and swimming was wonderful to see. I'd spend hours with him here.

I did see evidence of Irene's wrath here in the woods - glad this wasn't near a house as it was a massive tree.

And here is the sweater that I made for my cousins new and first grandbaby. Its a pattern that Lori sent me and came out pretty good - not perfect and I might even try it again with a different wool - just to get it right! And I made it a little bit longer cause basically I knit it too loose and it was coming out too big so I made it for a slightly larger baby. Live and learn and Lori - I'll email you for some hints about those pesky Cast-on's under the arm!!!

I have the day off - and am reveling in it! I might just start that new baby sweater!!!

Animal Wednesday - Rob the Fish

2011-08-31T05:35:00.007-04:00

These are not actual pictures of Rob the Fish - he was in a fighting mood and wouldn't let me take a picture of him - he glared at me and showed his teeth so I backed off and decided to get these pictures off the web.

Rob is a young Siamese Fighting Fish - a family fish - happy to live on the kitchen counter in his glass blow with fake plant and colored pebbles. Rob has a routine, eats at the same time everyday and swims in multi directions - a talented fish he is.

Look at his beautiful colors and textures - he is a handsome fish - and - if he had a lady friend, he'd also be a happier fish.

Rob's owner - a 19 year old male - went off to college yesterday - leaving Rob at home in the care of the 'rents. Rob wouldn't be happy at college - too much moving around, and he couldn't stay there during breaks and it was felt by all that he would be best left at home. Confidentially I was told that Rob would be company for the parents, and a willing substitute for two loud, happy 19 year old boys.

So Rob still swims around on the kitchen counter - wondering where his boy has gone (fish don't understand the concept of college, altho they do understand 'school")

Right now he's a lonely fish, hoping for attention and waiting patiently till his boy comes home to give him that special attention again, let Rob nip at his finger, and make faces at him thru the glass.

It's gonna be a long wait Rob....but you keep swimming around and the time will pass by. Pretty soon they'll be home for a weekend making noise and leaving their large shoes all over the house, and watching loud TV, and having friends over.

Irene

2011-08-27T23:10:00.005-04:00

It's late at night (Sat) and Irene is slowly moving up the coast. Sounds like water damage more than anything else, from people I've talked to so far. (I started this post last night. it's now sunday 1 pm and we got very little so far - mostly rain, but fairly low winds)

I spent the day taking care of business - getting my weekly laundry done, going to the thrift store to drop off a ton of stuff, gas in the car - you know the routine. The house sparkles!

I am also working on a baby quilt for a friend - the mother just went into labor yesterday! I started out with a basic applique of balloons but it has morphed into balloons being blown by a wind cloud. It'll be cute in the end - I hope! It'll also be much more work than I had anticipated but that's OK - I do this for the creative award, and inspiration (but money would be nice). I'll show pictures when done.

Speaking of pictures -here are some facial features that I have been working on - working with a book called "how to paint faces" or something equally basic - and it's easy and fun.

I know they look paint by numbers but thats how I learn - tiny piece by tiny piece.

More paintings to show after this weekend plus two finished knit pieces. Nothing like a forced stay in day to get those UFO's finished. (for those of you who are obsessive-compulsive - a UFO is an UnFinished Object - which you overachiever types probably don't have)

Back to watching the weather channel - according to them I'm in imminent danger of wind, rain, tornado's, earthquakes, and I should probably go bury my head under a pillow. Instead, I'm putting on a book on tape, and finishing a scarf.

Early Morning

2011-08-26T05:57:00.003-04:00

My early morning walks are later and later - soon they'll turn into mid afternoon walks. All summer I trotted out to the field at around 5:00 AM and it was bright and lovely. Yesterday I was greeted by this gorgeous red sunrise at 5:15.....

...and today at 5:20 it was a bit brighter but the moon is still clearly visible.

By the time I'd done a lap or so, the sky was getting brighter (this photo is enhanced a bit with brightness) but the ground fog was amazingly strong. The photo is funny, I didn't "see" the fog right in front of me, only the fog in the distance across the path. But of course, fog is all around us, and it's fun to see how much I didn't see what was right in front of my face. I could wax on about that last statement and get rather philosophical - but it's a bit early.

I am still amazed that I've kept up this early morning exercise - but it feels so good that I don't want to stop - I'll just have to go to the gym in the early dark hours all winter. I never thought I could walk/run comfortably again after I broke my ankle but if anything - it's gotten better with more exercise. Actually, no one ever said "exercise more and your ankle will feel better" - I just assumed that it would always be painful. And there are still days where it aches, but nothing like before daily exercise. So I'm a convert now, and will preach to other broken ankle sufferers. And, to be honest, I never thought I'd keep it up cause I'm so darn lazy - but to date, I've walked/run 164 miles. I'm pretty happy about this statistic - rather pleased with myself for sticking it out. And today, Friday, I ran straight thru about 1 whole mile. Woohoo!! For me, this is major.

So - enough boasting and patting myself on the back. I've got to go to work, and prepare for the "Hurricane of the Century" which arrives here on Sunday. My nephews were supposed to go up to college on Sunday - of course I was going also - but it's gotten postponed till Tuesday.

I hope you all have a safe, warm and dry weekend - and I hope that no one gets hit by hurricane Irene! Let's just say "Goodnight Irene" and have her go back to sleep.

Corny!

xoxo mim

Blue Lady - Garden and...Crows!

2011-08-24T20:30:00.002-04:00

I started this blue lady down in Florida and finished her up tonight. Odd eh?

Some garden pictures - as summer is winding down, there are late flowers that are reliable and wonderful.

My Black Eyed Susan is blooming like crazy right now - I'm going to plant more for next year near a new ton of daylilies.

I have a hibiscis in a pot in the back yard, and it's been blooming all year like crazy. I'll take it into the basement over the winter in hopes of a new bloom next year.

And this year my hydrangea is bright blue and blooming like nuts. I lost my climbing hydrangea but these bushes lasted thru the winter like troopers.

And oddest of all, tonight I had a complete murder of crows tromping around on my front lawn. These are only two, but there were at least a dozen - which is unusual. And they were walking in the road, and just strolling about and eating things on the ground. It appears that we had a microburst on our street while we were away so there must be something interesting down there for them to eat. But still odd I think.

Just thought I'd post these interesting pictures......

Animal Wednesday - Southern Animals of course

2011-08-24T05:49:00.003-04:00

When we're in Florida we go bike riding in a State Park called Myakka - which is a wonderful jungle-y typical florida landscape, with miles of Florida prairie and wildlife galor. We often see deer, turkeys, and wild pigs running around.

There's a great boardwalk which goes out into a swampy area and it's a great place to see all kinds of birds - this guy was just hanging out waiting for a meal. He let me get very close before flying away, so I got a few good pictures.

It was an overcast day, and the swampy area was teeming with life! Nothing I could photograph but you could just feel that layers of life in that swamp. Bugs, fish, birds...and the grunt of alligators. I was glad I was safe and sound on the boardwalk.

At one point the sky was getting darker and darker and suddenly all these birds started flying together overhead. Of course, it was more dramatic in real life but hopefully you can see by this short video how many birds had congregated. In this group are seagulls, crows and vultures - maybe others but those were the main groups.

Back at home - one night I looked up and saw this image on our screened in porch - ran and got my camera before he jumped off. Isn't the first image funny? It looks like a frog sonogram!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Florida Art and Clouds

2011-08-22T20:14:00.003-04:00

We went to a few art galleries while in Sarasota - most were closed in the August heat but this one was open. The lady manning the gallery took us upstairs to a studio to show us some paintings by a wonderful artist - you'd think I'd remember her name! Tiny studio, filled with wonderful paintings. We love the one above - such a great wave image.

And she had a series of Blue Circles----my heart pounded!!!

I took down some instructional books on portrait painting and labored over eyes and lips and noses (i hate noses) and profiles. Did this profile below and then got crazy and painted blue and yellow. I liked it better after. The nose was too long so I painted over it but you can see the ghost. So Ghost Nose is now on my basement wall.

And what would a Florida trip be without clouds. My early morning walks were punctuated with stops for pictures - the ones below were taken near dawn - the light was just wonderful!

More pics to come. I'm glad to be home but it was lovely being on vacation for a week - despite chores that had to be done.

Animal Wednesday - hiding and sunning

2011-08-17T09:21:00.000-04:00

I've been going thru old photos on my computer - cause it was telling me I had too many (I did) and found these two pics that I don't think I'd posted yet. Both were taking while bike riding - an opportunity to commune with nature if you don't speed by it.

I am off work this week, and taking time to relax. Have a Happy Animal Wednesday!

Start a new painting

2011-08-15T09:32:00.001-04:00

I've been wanting to do this painting for awhile - I saw something of this style at a folk art museum and wanted to learn how to get the hilly look So...I'm working on it. Looking at the pictures, I can see where it needs some adjustment - and definition - but I'll work on that later. Meanwhile - I'm liking it - although I think it would have been better on canvas and with acrylic instead of difficult watercolor.

Either way - it's fun and a learning experience.

A Lovely Day

2011-08-12T22:09:00.003-04:00

We had a lovely day at KJ's and JB's house. Lo was already there, I got there early and Suki joined us for lunch and an afternoon of chatting and some paperclay artwork. I have a few pictures but haven't shared them yet with the girls so I can only show me...since we're going away tomorrow I probably won't be posting for a week or so.

So here I am sporting a lovely absolutely adorable hair clip that Suki got me (she got for Lo and KJ also but mine was best I think :)

...and this is getting ready to leave - it's KJ's hand and I figured I could post that without getting permission.

Hope I'm not in trouble!!!

Lovely day. Delightful. Delicious cupcakes.

Message?

2011-08-11T05:29:00.004-04:00

Yesterday morning had a beautiful sunrise, after a night of pouring rain. I was feeling pretty pleased as I did my morning walk/jog - some new asthma meds were doing a great job and I was able to jog along without gasping for breath. I was thinking of what KJ had said about her Dad visiting her on or around her birthday and wondering if my Dad would show up soon in a dream, or as a bird. I thought that Dad would be pretty proud of me trotting along like this - he was not happy that his daughters were a bit on the round side as he was always thin and trim. He never said anything but did comment when we looked good. Anyway...here I was thinking about him and thinking good thoughts and I looked down and saw this stone in an area of minimal stones....and I hadn't seen it when I had walked that section a few minutes before.

I took it as a sweet and loving message. Thanks Pops....

Nice way to start the day I think.

Animal Wednesday - R.I.P. Maggie Stella

2011-08-10T04:48:00.003-04:00

Obituary section - Doggie News - Animal Wednesday section - August 2011.

Maggie (full name - Magnolia) was 11 years old when she passed away this weekend, at her home in Central Coast California after struggling with breathing issues for many years. She'd actually died a few times this past year, but got revived with slaps and massages - but this time her poor little heart just couldn't take it anymore and she passed away surrounded by her loving family. She leaves behind her human parents, Jon and Kelly, her human siblings, Jody and Andrew and a canine sister - the funny looking and rather standoffish Airedale, Lulu. Private services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations accepted for the "Breath for Pugs Association" which has it's headquarters in Brooklyn, NY

So yes...poor little Maggie died this past week - she really had serious breathing issues and they were getting worse and worse. She's had surgery on her "nose" area in the past and that helped for awhile, but over the past year we've been expecting her to just keel over...and that's what happened. I loved this little dog - not only cause she was a pug and we had a pug as kids, but because she was so loving! She was the type of dog that was so happy to see you when you came to the house that she couldn't walk straight - she had wrapped herself into a comma shape with happiness and kept going in circles. She had a funny little bark, and made herself known to all with her tiny yet determined "woof". She loved her food, just like all pugs, and was never happier than when dinner was done, and she could hang out with her people. She swam like a stone, and it was scary to see her go into the water knowing that you'd probably have to drag her out.
She also wasn't very bright - or maybe it was just funny vision. Once she got a new bed with a tiger stripe on it and she was terrified of it - kept barking at it, and acting like it was going to eat her. So we banned her from watching Animal Planet - obviously she had been traumatized by some tiger eating show.

I was very sad to hear that she had died this week, I'll miss her. My brother has another dog - Lulu the Airedale - who he adores, but that dog has eyes for him only and that's it. Other people come in the house and she barely gets up. No happy greeting, no "I love you even tho I don't know you" - nothing, nada from that dog. Ah well....

RIP Maggie, you are a great little dog and we all loved you.

As the World Turns

2011-08-09T04:47:00.004-04:00

Don't you sometimes wish that the world would just halt for a tiny while. Just a moment - to let us savor consistency for a tiny time in our lives? All this chaos, craziness, lunatic rantings, money problems - who'd have thunk all we've seen over the past few years...and now it appears to be starting all over again. Oy!

But the real problem for me today is how the world turns. It's 4:49 AM - and I should be driving to the field for my morning walk. But it's PITCH black out - whereas a few weeks ago it was getting light. I love New England, and I respect the seasons but oh - summer is so damn brief here! Really, our reality is fall and winter and while it appears on the calendar that spring-summer are equal in length to fall-winter....it just doesn't work that way as seen by this picture taken in APRIL last "spring"

I've been going thru my photos on the computer - getting rid of duplicates and extras and freeing up space. I found a few that show what I'm talking about.

Field near track being planted - early summer.

Field last week - PLOWED and all the veggies picked and gone for sale.

I'm not complaining - I love all the seasons (well....) but I do wish it was lighter longer around here.

Ah well, it's 5:00 am - dark or not - I'm heading out!!!

Animal Wednesday - and what a long time it's been!

2011-08-02T18:36:00.007-04:00

Mom - realizing that her hair is wet - despite the white stretchy bathing cap she had on for swimming in the ocean. I've never seen anyone swim and come up with her make up still perfect. She was like Esther Williams that day.

Summer time is so busy for me and for all of us. The light calls from outside to bike ride, kayak, or swing in the hammock in the evening light. I've had minimal time to read your blogs and even keep up with mine!

To make it even busier, I was away in Atlanta on a business trip all last week and ended the week with a visit to my mom and the infamous Scruffy - who is the star of my Animal Wednesday.

Getting ready for a 3 mile walk - where are you Scruffs?

Let me lead the way - trot, trot, trot!

On the way back, his little legs got kind of tired, so I carried him for about 1/2 mile - after that he was just fine!

Scruffy and his cousin Sammi - they came from the same shelter.

Going so fast I can't take a picture!

Taking a break from running around.

Play, play, play!

This is a shot looking up at the hotel I stayed at in Atlanta. Very odd place, but nice rooms and interesting curves everywhere.

Happy Animal Wednesday and Happy August

Sometimes it pays to look up....

2011-07-23T06:58:00.005-04:00

As it's Saturday, I got up a bit late but got dressed to go for my morning run/walk. The photo above is what I saw when I got to the field. Seemed like it was going to be a lovely morning.

I was later than usual so had hoped to avoid the sprinkler system, which drenches me every morning at 5:00 AM. Since I was there this morning at 6:00, I had high hopes of a dry run. But no such luck - got somewhat drenched. Actually, these past few days, getting drenched has felt good what with the awful heat that we've been having.

I was running along with my ipod blasting in my ear when I saw a flash of light. I thought I had made the camera go off by accident - but looked up and saw these amazing cloud formations.

I also took out my ear-things and heard BOOMING thunder. Well, the good thing is that I got to running faster and longer than ever before - because I was at that point of no return - I had 1/2 way to go around the field, and I wanted to get to my car before a stray bolt of lightning found me - aside from trees, the tallest thing on the field. So I really started running! not jogging...RUNNING!!

I booked it back to the car and just as I got there, a HUGE bolt of lightning seemed to strike the field...my phone rang with an anxious DH on the other end so I jumped into my safe car and....

...giggled with joy.

While it was a bit scary, I felt rather exhilarated. Isn't it weird how outrunning danger can make you feel like a hero?

Animal Wednesday - desperate for a woodland animal

2011-07-20T06:25:00.006-04:00

I love to take pictures of animals when we are out bike riding - but with our noisy approach they usually scatter before I can stop, get the camera out, focus and shot. The photo above is a perfect example - I swear there was a frog there but I can't find him in the picture. He hopped away and was so perfectly blended that I didn't even see him hop away. Well, at least you see my feet....

So, when we got back to the car, I found this glistening bronzy bug and decided that it would do for Animal Wednesday - I mean really - Bugs are Animals too!!

Happy Animal Wednesday!!

and thank you for your kind comments on my last post. More to come in that medium I'm sure

Tell me what you really think

2011-07-19T18:55:00.003-04:00

Her forehead is still a bit wet so looks wierd - ignore that please.

This is really the first time I have ever painted a portrait and I still hate noses. They confuse me.

But really - whadda ya think? (just remember, I had a tough day at work, I'm tired and my car battery died yesterday stranding me at the walking field, and my feet hurt, and I'm just a human). Be honest!

love Mim

Sunday July 17th - a quiet day

2011-07-17T18:25:00.005-04:00

The weekend had a wonderful start as I met my nephews for dinner and a movie on Friday night. We went to see Harry Potter - we've been seeing these movies together for the past 10 years and love our time together and the ritual of seeing a fun movie together. The boys were living in Ireland when the first movie came out and I went over there to see them...and we went to the movie and the ritual started. Other funny stories around that movie, but for another time. Now here they are going off to college and they were amazed that the movie series is over and they are going off to college. A series of 10 years certainly seems to span a lifetime -

We bike rode on Saturday (move about that below) but by Sunday I woke up with an awful headache and ended up back in bed until 11:00. I think it's simply a reaction to overdoing things - my body's usual response to not giving myself a break. My DH went off to kayak and was promising a picture of a Monsta Turtle when he returns. We'll see. (update - no picture - it's like the one that got away!)

But yesterday we drove to our favorite bike trail - a very easy one - and I took pictures at a local graveyard - really a peaceful beautiful place. Jacob Riis is buried here - read about him here - he did good work - he really did. I'm always fascinated by the fact that he is buried in tiny little Barre Massachusetts, in an unmarked grave. There is a small stone in the front of the graveyard, marking the fact that he is buried here. His book "How the other half lives" - is amazing.

Also in this graveyard there was this large headstone monument with toys all around it - it was loaded with toys. I thought "oh dear..." but went over to read it and found it to be the grave of the Naramore family. The story is on the back - in 1901 the family was literally starving to death and to end their pain and keep the family from being broken up - the mother KILLED all the children. Obviously out of her head, but from what I read - this horrible act actually changed laws in the Commonwealth on child abuse.

Gravestones can tell such a story - here is one that tells an abbreviated story - which I found rather touching. Lots said with few words.

I am hoping that they had other children who were not buried in this cemetery.

I don't mean this to be a sad post - I find it so interesting to go to graveyards and see the stories that people want to tell about themselves. In Italy, the graves often have pictures of the deceased etched onto the stone - I really like that! Pictures and a story - what could be better.

Today - while I stayed home I cleaned my studio and have GOBS of stuff going to Goodwill. I started a painting.....we'll see how I get along with it - as I have no idea how to do a face in paint.

All in all - a good weekend

Animal Wednesday - Southern Animals

2011-07-12T20:54:00.006-04:00

I was down in Sarasota this weekend and came out one day to find this hawk in the back yard - looking around for his next meal. I got as close as I could before he flew away, these pictures are from behind the screen. He was quite magnificent as he spied something creeping around in the undergrowth and swooped down to try to catch it for lunch.

This mossy backed turtle was just hanging out on the road - you can't even see the pattern on his back for the moss and growth. One day I saw one about this size trying to decide how to get off a curb to cross to the pond. I was driving at the time - otherwise I might have helped it a bit - without getting my finger bitten off!

And then there's Scruffy - a very good-natured loving little pooch - albeit still with some house breaking issues. But he is cute and ever ready to play and talk. And in most cases is very well behaved - but he doesn't like having his picture taken.

NO NO NO...I won't hold my head still!!!

He's just had a grooming - notice the little bandana?

Let me push my head right into the camera OK?
What???? I'm standing still finally.....!!!!

And hopefully you will see a video below of him taking me for a walk - trotting along just as happy as can be. (he sniffs at a pinecone...I know what you're thinking!!)

Happy Animal Wednesday!!

Button bowl

2011-07-08T14:42:00.003-04:00

Yes...I have too many bowls (I am still hoping that YartBowl will help) but I got an idea the other night and just went with it.

I was trying to see what would happen with gel medium on a balloon - and ended up adding interference paint - the overall gel was too thin. But I let it all dry and then popped the balloon - and the gel first shriveled into a tiny ball - it was so odd. I coached it back into a shape, and blew up a balloon inside the gel - which again took on a bowl shape ( is this clear or way confusing?)

Then I said...what now? Buttons caught my eye and I was off.

I have hundreds of white buttons - some with thread, some without. All shades of white, and some new and some old. I started gelling them to the outside of the gel bowl. and kept going and going.

The inside is still gel and interference paint and while a bit crinkled it's sort of creamy and oyster shell reminder. Plus the overall bowl is soft...you can fold it up a bit. Why you'd want to do this I don't know but this is how it all worked out.

Then I trimmed around the buttons (more to do) and then I basically considered it done.

So - that is my button bowl. I'd love to see if filled with hundreds of blue buttons - wouldn't that be something?

Animal Wednesday - Thank you Mother Nature

2011-07-06T06:04:00.004-04:00

Last week - while walking - I saw this little rabbit on the road. I slowed down so that he wouldn't hop away while I got out the camera...but he allowed me to get closer and closer - finally I realized that something was wrong with the poor little guy and he couldn't hop away. So I took a quick picture and walked on.

Of course it worried me terribly. I hate to see an animal suffer but didn't know what to do about this guy. I wondered if it was sick (I saw no blood) or if it had been hit by a car or even dropped from the sky by a hawk! All the way on my walk I wondered what I should do - should I try to snap it's neck somehow to put it out of it's misery? and for heavens sake - how would I do that? The thought made me ill but I was determined to do something. I worried that it had a broken leg and would lie there suffering or would get picked at by dogs or birds - yikes.

I walked back and was steeling myself the whole way there. Luckily for me - when I got to it...it was already dead. It was stretched out on it's side..not breathing...not moving. I nudged it with my foot and it didn't move. To be honest - I was very grateful as I really had no idea of what I should do with the poor little thing. I had thought of a shovel and a blow to the head. I had thought of getting my car and rolling over it. I had thought (gulp) of a step on the head. As you can tell, I was getting a bit stressed over this. Thank you Mother Nature for taking care of the problem.

Of course I got to thinking about animals and our responsibility to them as humans. It's easy with pets - we are supposed to care for them, and they are dependent on us. Our responsibilities are clear and well defined. With a wild animal - there are no guidelines aside from leave them as alone as possible, be a responsible human, etc etc.

We once had a raccoon in our yard that was acting very strangely - it was during the day and it was walking around, then taking a nap in the yard - way way odd behavior. This was at a time when rabies was rampant in the raccoon population. I called an old neighbor who came over and shot it (our town was much more rural 20 years ago) but then it was up to me to bury it and clean up the area. I dug a hole and using the shovel - put the raccoon body way deep in the ground, covered it with a metal grate and put back about a ton of dirt. Then - to be safe as rabies is so infectious - I BLEACHED my yard where ever the animal had been. Hey...rabies can be carried by saliva and I wanted no part of the rabies treatment.

So - those are my stories about my interaction with a wild raccoon and a wild rabbit - both ill or hurt and needing some kind of human interaction.

What would you have done??? I'm really interested......

"Happy" Animal Wednesday? Sometimes it's not so easy is it?

A beautiful July 4th

2011-07-05T05:45:00.004-04:00

We decided to go kayaking on July 4th as the weather was amazingly gorgeous, hot and sunny. The lake and river we love to go to has some wonderful swimming areas, and beautiful paddling. So off we went....me with my new iphone being used to take pictures. The day started out beautifully - with sun and some beautiful cloud formations building in the west. A few rumbles of far off thunder were heard - but it wasn't close to us so we ignored it.

At one point, I tied up on the shore while DH went exploring up river to the beaver dams...I sat in the sun and drew, read, ate my lunch and swam. The water was glorious - warm for the first top 5 inches and then COLD below that - very refreshing.

When DH got back to where I was he mentioned that the clouds looked like they were full of rain, so we started paddling back to our launch area - just in case there was thunder and lightning. Then the rain started - and to tell you the truth - it was wonderful. No thunder, just warm rain pouring down. I was wet already so who cares if I got wetter - we paddled along slowly just enjoying the changes in the weather.

Then - as is typical - the sun came beaming out again, making the last part of our journey warm and humid.
It was a wonderfully relaxing day - gorgeous weather, nice folk on the river, peaceful. Perfect end to a long weekend.

Silly me

2011-07-03T02:03:00.003-04:00

Here is an excerpt from July 2nd - Daily Life

6:30 AM - Get dressed in new shorts with the zip pocket and Go out for morning walk/run. Realize that there are people on the tennis court who can see me stumble about and (in my opinion) can laugh all the rest of day watching my efforts. Complete 2.5 miles with 1 mile of slow jogging. Am quite proud of myself. Ignore onlookers slapping their knees and doubling over with giggles.

7:30 AM - Get home and start some gardening. Plant a bunch of stuff in the back and in the front pots. Vow to clean out shed this weekend after bumping shins on the wheelbarrow for the 10th time.

8:30 AM - Call a friend who I know would be up and have a lovely chat about "what are YOU doing today?" or "what are you doing tomorrow?". Titillating conversations. After agreeing that we both have no real plans for the weekend and neither of us has been invited to a fancy party at the Hamptons, or at least up at Lake Winnipesaukee - end convo and put phone into zip pocket of pants. Love the new zip pocket - it's the perfect size for a flip phone.

9:00 - finish gardening and go inside for a shower.

9:40 - Am now washed and dressed so I have a delicious cup of coffee and start to relax with knitting.

9:45 - DH recommends that we go to the beach today. Great excitement in the house, I adore the beach. Start a laundry cause I realize that there are no clean workout clothes for Sunday AM - and I'd better get it done now. Throw aside knitting, pack a lunch and a change of clothes for the beach.

10:30 - House Decision is made to go to P'town for beach experience. More excitement as I decide to phone KJ to see if we can stop by for a quick hello or if she and household are up for a quick trip to Race point. Frantic search for phone. Finally call phone and it appears to be OFF and not ringing - where could it be?

10:40 - Suddenly remember zip pocket, putting phone in cute little pocket and not taking it out before pants got thrown into the laundry. Run shrieking down to basement and pull phone out of dryer - so THAT was why the laundry was clunking around in the dryer. Phone obviously dead as a doorknob. No hope and...more importantly....NO phone number for KJ. Nada! not on other phone. not in my phone book. in fact....most phone numbers on phone will be lost forever.

1:30 - arrive at beach and walk along to our area while inspecting every face on the beach in hopes of seeing a familiar face. No serendipitous meeting with KJ and JB on the beach.

4:30 - Tired and sunburned we make our way home. Great day...but have been a tiny bit better. Make note to transfer any phone numbers and other info in address book to computer so that it will be backed up for the next time I make a bone-head move of washing and drying my phone. Hope phone numbers on clean phone can be rescued.

11:00 - Agree that for a boring couple who had no plans for the weekend that it was a relaxing day and perfect beach weather. Finish looking up new phones that are available to me as an upgrade. Get ready for next day's fun - kayaking!!

Animal Wednesday - not for the squeamish!

2011-06-29T04:53:00.004-04:00

Finally - an Animal Wednesday that I am doing on time - seems like forever.

I saw these geese while bike riding the other day - just standing around in a field, looking around. Hello geese - what's on the agenda for today?

I've shown this Osprey nest many times, but this time I could see a blob of a bird sitting on a tree limb (I'm shortsighted). I couldn't really see what he was doing but figured it might be something interesting, so took pictures and cropped them when I got home. Very interesting - it appeared that he/she was drying his or her wings - which I've only seen a cormorant do. We had had alot of rain that day, and with no roof on the nest, I'm sure that everyone got very wet - so taking advantage of the sun to dry out seems reasonable.

Now for the squeamish part - but interesting. When I was in CA, we took a long walk in Cambria (previous posting) and at one point were on streets near the ocean. Fisherman had just come out of their kayaks with this catch of Ling Cod - in AMAZING colors. I HAD to take pictures with my ipod - just look at the blue on that gorgeous (dead) fish.

Here are his gills - an amazing cranberry color against that blue. Have you ever seen anything like this?

I'm not a huge fan of showing dead animals for Animal Wednesday - but this was too amazing to keep to myself. Hope you are not offended!

Happy Animal Wednesday - I'm off for my early morning walk/run (more walk than run by about 90%)

Duh....

2011-06-27T22:37:00.002-04:00

I've been dieting for a long time, and have lost a bit of weight but not enough so that people say "have you lost weight?". Discouraging.

Then - to keep myself in a good mood and take advantage of a legal drug (endorphins) I've started walking in the mornings - started out sauntering and have progressed to very slow jogging for 1/4 mile out of my fast overall 3 mile walk.

And lo and behold...tonight I tried on a dress that was tight a few weeks ago and it FITS!!!

So...all those people are right. The only way to really lose weight/tighten up/get fit...is to exercise.

And I thought it was a myth dreamed up by fitness buffs.

Thank goodness I'm enjoying it right now.

Crafts

2011-06-26T20:27:00.006-04:00

Yesterday we went to the Fuller Craft Museum about 1 hour drive from our house, which actually turned into two hours as we got onto the wrong highway for a time. No matter, it was nice to chat in the car.
The museum has been around since 1969 and boasts that it is the "largest craft museum" or something like that. To tell you the truth - it was not a complete bust but was small enough to be rather a disappointment. And expensive to get in - but we made the most of it. There is one exhibit that I did love tho - it was a woman weaver (Kay Sekimachi) who made the most awesome bowls.

This one was collaged hebrew lettering and Japanese lace paper - not too bad.

This one - along the same style as the first one, but more fragile looking - don't you agree? Chinese handmade paper and linen.

This one is HORNET's paper - isn't it amazing? I can just imagine the process...

Another Hornet's paper bowl - seen from above. They are so fragile and translucent - I loved them, and have been searching out an abandoned hornet's nest all day.

This one is flax and gel medium - again...amazing.

Japanese rice paper again. I'm really not sure how she get's it so round from a sheet of paper. I couldn't see seams or anything like that.

This one Lo has shown before - it's called a leaf bowl and uses maple leaves and a japanese paper. Again...I would love to to know the technique.

My all time favorite was this one - which is unspun flax, linen, metallic gold and gel medium. It was awesome, so fragile and strong looking, with those waves of linen - it was just wow.

Other items - a paper mache dress.

and some very amazing intricate sculptures....

My Second favorite - a wall sculpture made from lathing. It's so lush and organic - I adore the way it all flows.....
And oh yes...this little house atop a rock, with a tiny ladder.

And around the corner....ta da!! There was a wedding going on.

As I'm writing this I realize that while disappointed in the overall museum - it was a fairly inspirational day - some interesting pieces to see and get inspired by.

Back from a trip

2011-06-24T05:54:00.002-04:00

I was in California for a week, on business most of the time and then for a few days with my brother on the Central Coast. The business meeting was good - and I faithfully walked a minimum of 2 miles per day - I was pleased with that. After 4 days of meetings and dinners and game night - I left and flew up to the city near where my bro lives. I love taking pictures from an airplane - the land patterns are so wonderfully obvious and amazing. No "real" camera with me - just iPOD pictures - but better than nothing.

The Central Coast of Ca is just so wonderfully gorgeous - I can't stop taking pictures in amazement at the scenery. Everyday we took a hike or walked on the beach, and I kept up with my minimum 2 miles - usually going up to 3 or more. One day we took a hike in the town of Cambria - which is near Hearst Castle. There is a whole area of land that had been slated for development until about 10 years ago when it was finally put aside as open land. We walked thru a forest to a path along the bluffs overlooking the ocean. The view was just so wonderful and the colors so vibrant I simply couldn't stop taking pictures.

The family pictures in the woods. Niece and SIL, brother below.

When we got to the bluffs overlooking the ocean we saw whale spouts! Turns out there has been a whale hanging out in this area - must be having a good feast of something. He/she didn't jump or anything but we could see it as it came up for air. I was fascinated! We pay big bucks to go on whale watches here in the northeast.

Isn't it just gorgeous? I was yearning for my bigger/better camera but was grateful that the ipod takes pictures.
The last day I was there it was foggy and cool and perfect for a walk on the beach. My family lives only about 3 blocks from the beach, so it's a casual stroll down there and a lovely peaceful calm walk into town along the beach rocks. This is one of the public access trails to the beach - just look at that lavender!

Here it is closer up - I kept pinching pieces of it and inhaling the amazing scent.

Fog on the beach - usually it burns off but some days it just stays there all cool and wet. I love it - especially cause you can drive into town and get bright sunshine if needed and then come back to the house and have fog. Delightful variability.

It was a good trip. Sadly I didn't get to meet up with Lori - but I'm sure we will soon - as I'm planning on going back this summer when my mom is out there.

I'm glad to be home but we are having relentless rain - and I can't drive 10 miles to get to the sunshine. My garden appears to love it - I see blooms all around me but only can view them from the windows without getting soaked. Hopefully the sun will come out this weekend.

Hope you are all well and happy!

Sunday and various items

2011-06-12T18:38:00.003-04:00

Starting out with this iPOD photo - where I went walking on Friday and it started to rain - and I realized that I was becoming addicted. Yup - miss no-exercise is enjoying her morning walk so much that I hate missing it. Good God - what is this world coming to?

Some drawings from my perspective class. The first one is still pencil - which is why it is so faint. I followed all the rules of perspective, but couldn't resist adding my own special touches. DH doesn't like the special touches - thinks I should be more "serious" when doing perspective. I stared at him in confused wonder - what the hey???? sorry buddy - I'm sticking to silly faces and large lizards.

A few weeks ago I showed a watercolor of rock pearls. I sent the image into Spoonflower and got this awesome fat quarter - and it really looks wonderful. First off they use good fabric so it feels good too, but in addition, - I think it really looks good all printed up. I set it up as a "mirror" pattern but it would have worked in any direction.

And Friday night my nephews graduated high school. Here they are with their "real" aunt and oh my - there were a few tears shed. Actually not as many as I thought because it was hotter than hades in the auditorium and I was fanning my face so fast that I probably dried the tears before they trickled down. But overall, it was an emotional night and I was so proud of both of them - I nearly busted.

We were so worn out by the end of Friday night that we both slept in on Saturday till 11:00 am! And then got up to find that the dehumidifier in the basement had overflowed in my studio. So now everything is up off the floor and I'm trying to dry it all out before I leave for a week. yup - a whole week away from home - first time in a long time.

So have a lovely week you all - enjoy, play and hug your favorite animal on Wednesday for me.

Animal Wednesday and graduation week.

2011-06-08T06:14:00.004-04:00

This week is full of graduations, and family obligations (fun ones).

One cousins kid had an art show yesterday out in New York State - as she graduates from college out there. We went out to see her work (large and impressive) and as she was surprised that we had taken the time to come, it was a great evening with family.

This kid was only about 2 lbs when she was born - she wore doll clothes and you could hold her practically in one hand. She's grown up with no problems !

My nephews graduate high school on Friday. I expect tears and joy.

We were bike riding on our favorite rail trail last Sunday when I saw this sign telling me what brook I was near. Somehow I'd never seen the sign - but love the name and have to figure out how to pronounce it.

And I swear there is an osprey in this nest. Everytime I got a chance to focus - he popped his head down. Damn bird.

And this picture I just liked.

Happy Animal Wednesday - happy HOT Wednesday for those of you in the northeast - we expect to be WAY up in the 90's today. I just try to keep remembering the 4 feet of snow from last winter.

Where I live

2011-06-07T05:54:00.004-04:00

Recently I decided that one way to deal with stress and bad moods at work is to enhance my levels of endorphins - and take advantage of my very own legal high. To that end - I've been taking walks every morning, when the weather is good.

It's been lovely and wonderful and good for my mood. Also - those who know me know that I am a gadget geek so every day I take my iPod - which wirelessly connects to a monitor in my shoe that acts as a pedometer, and then electronically uploads my daily walk into my computer. I'm feeding two parts to my soul and I'm loving it. I dread the next rainy day - not sure what I will do.

My iPod also takes pictures, and I've uploaded a few here from my walks over the past few days. The only problem with taking pictures is that stopping is screwing up my Miles per Hour rate - and the ipod is not impressed with me, but I figure it's a small price to pay to capture mist over a field in a sunrise.

It's a good way to start the day. Good for me, and good for the people that I work with - as I do not bark and growl when I get to work. The trade off is computer time in the AM, but weighing the pro's and cons - I'm sticking with the walking while the weather is so lovely.

Have a lovely day - and try a kick on those endorphins. Better than B12.

A painted ladder

2011-06-04T10:33:00.003-04:00

I think I first saw this idea on DebraK's facebook page - maybe or maybe not. Either way - a painted ladder to nowhere makes me happy. So I went out to the garden, scrounged up long and short twigs and branches and painted me up one - just for laughs and giggles. It'll live outside for the season and thats all I expect that it will last. Temporary art, easy to make, fun to look at an nothing that I really have to take care of.

Perfect!!

It's a gorgeous Saturday here in the Northeast after a week filled with strange weather and destructive tornado's. Some cities here really got slammed - houses completely destroyed, schools with their roofs ripped off - 4 people killed. While it's nothing compared to the destruction that has been seen in Mo, its still shocking and amazing to us that we had twisters here that ripped thru towns, flipping over cars and causing havoc everywhere. Everyone I know is safe and has their home undamaged, but many were close to the path of the storm - but it passed them by. The Red Cross is helping those who have lost their homes, and Red Cross is asking for monetary donations. I'm for that - they know how to use the money I think.

Anyway - we hope it's behind us for now and that the good weather will continue.

Have a lovely weekend all

Animal Wednesday - various animals of the week and blogger stuff at the end.

2011-06-01T05:07:00.007-04:00

We went kayaking this weekend - which was glorious. First there was a thunderstorm that lit up the sky - we stayed in the car for that! But afterwards - everything felt fresh and cool. Perfect kayaking weather. Of course, I was on the lookout for animals but wasn't having much luck until I got back to the launching area. I got out of the boat and was doing all the clean up stuff that you have to do at the end of a ride....looked up and saw this little guy - sitting like a lookout at the front of the boat. I wish I had gotten a picture of him sitting...but he wanted to get off the boat as soon as it touched ground and wouldn't sit down again. Either way - he's adorable isn't he?

On Monday we went to a Memorial Day parade in a small New Hampshire town, another gorgeous day and a true small town experience. Afterwards we went for a bike ride - and it was warm and buggy but wonderful and fun. Love that ride thru the woods - I really do. Again, not many animals to be seen but right at the end.....

This guy was trying to cross the road and got scared when he saw us. Little tank - love it.

And a beautiful birds nest in the girders of a bridge - no eggs and no babies, but homey looking anyways.

Have a Happy Animal Wednesday - Wednesday sure has snuck up on me this week.

And a Happy June 1st!! and a Happy Birthday to Lori - yesterday.....and who has a very young heart.

Cris left a comment that she couldn't comment on AU's blog - so I went to try and got the usual "go back to sign in" screen. So I found this list of things to do and when I did the first one "uncheck the remember me box" - it worked and I was able to leave a comment. And I am using Internet Explorer. I did not clean out my cookies and milk (oops - cache) cause I have no idea how to do that and would have to have some smart help.
Give it a try....see what happens.

Here are some things that worked for a couple of people.

1) Before attempting to Login in Make sure the "Remember Me" Checkbox is UNTICKED
2) Make sure you are running the latest version of your browser, if not, upgraded it.
3) Make sure you REALLY have cleared both your COOKIES and CACHE
4) Once Cleared shut down the browser
5) Then Open it again and CHeck that the Cookies and Cache are indeed Empty. This is very important. The problem seems to be with corrupt cookies and cache files
6) If that is OK try going to www.blogger.com . Don't login yet, press CTRL-F5 and then try logging in again
7) If that still does not work try logging into Gmail first and then go to www.blogger.com and try again
8) If that does not work try going to this address http://www2.blogger.com/home
9) If that does not work try going to draft.blogger.com
10) If all those fail, try installing another browser to see if that works eg Firefox, Chrome, Opera etc

If those do not work, leave your details on this thread
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=4bd36d5355dbcf8c&hl=en

This from Blogger - "known issues"....hmmmm......

2011-05-28T20:00:00.000-04:00

We're investigating an issue which is preventing login and comment posting for some users, and hope to have a fix released shortly.

Thanks for your patience in the meantime. — latest update on Tuesday, May 24, 2011

What is up with Blogger???

2011-05-28T06:53:00.002-04:00

It appears that I can only leave comments from my home computer - what's up with that? Blogger won't let me sign on from my work computer (during lunch hour!!) or from my ipad. I don't get it...I know KatieJane is having a similar issue - how about anyone else? Any hints as to how to solve the problem???? Does anyone at Blogger give a rat's a**?

Animal Wednesday - a new tenant

2011-05-25T06:39:00.004-04:00

In the Yew Tree by our side door - a cardinal couple has taken up residence. They both go hysterical when we open the door, so I had to sneak around to be able to take pictures. Even with a stealthy approach, whoever was on the nest - and I think it was the male - flew away with a huge flutter.

Here is a picture of a parent on the nest - look at that red.

I got a picture of the nest when he/she had flown away. Pulled back a branch and there it was, cleverly disguised from my eyes. Then I held the camera up and tried to get a picture inside of what I assumed would be eggs. Look at what I found - amazing!!

The male and female were flying around squawking like crazy by this point. I got a picture of the female, but couldn't get the male - he was flying around like a bombadier.

That's it for today. I am having computer problems right now, I don't have a cursor when trying to post....haven't been able to leave comments sometimes....and now the computer has lost the slideshow that I have as a screen saver. Oh well.....have a Happy Animal Wednesday!

Rock Pearls

2011-05-24T06:46:00.004-04:00

I saw an image in a magazine about an underground cave that had "Rock Pearls" formed from dripping calcite or something like that. I loved the image and have been drawing variations of it for days - using it to learn about color and shading. Here is a watercolor work in progress.....I'll probably do more before I stop obsessing about Rock Pearls.

You can embiggen if you click on it

Animal Wednesday - seen in NYC

2011-05-18T18:02:00.005-04:00

All day long I've been feeling like something was missing, that I'd should have done something today but for the life of me I couldn't figure out what I should have been doing on a Thursday. Well...duh! it's Wednesday silly - so better late than never and here is something odd for Animal Wednesday....

I saw this in a New York City subway station - can you believe it? Isn't it amazing? It was hidden and dark and dirty (there were two of them or more) and I would have loved to have rescued it. I found that alot of the subway stations were decorated with wonderful tile work, and this one in particular represented the beaver pelts that made Jacob Astor rich.

The things you can see in New York - amazing.

Happy Very Late Animal Wednesday

What else....bowls!

2011-05-17T06:43:00.002-04:00

I must admit to still be obsessed with making bowls. Little bowls this time and one slightly bigger one - shown below (which in person is a lovely purple color, but looks a bit washed out here) Very dinosaur egg this one.
The ones below are thinner than my usual ones - and the back ones are really redder - like ripe apples. The smaller one has a yellow inside, then painted with gold interference paint and in person it looks luscious, the bigger one is painted gold inside. The one in the front is bluer, with gold interference paint over a light blue paint inside.

More shots below of the same ones - different poses.

I'm sure hoping that there are people at YART who like bowls. KJ - can you please rename the event "Yarbowls"?

It's been raining here for two days - cold and rainy and nasty after a week in Florida. I've got the heat on, and am about to go an collapse in front of a roaring (gas) fireplace.

And nap.....

A Week Later

2011-05-15T12:06:00.002-04:00

I really haven't posted much in a week - except for a little Animal Wednesday - which I set up in advance. It's been a busy but productive week for us - we got much accomplished in Florida - both in chores and emotionally. I actually relaxed - and felt the tension draining out of me for a day or so, and it was a healthy healing feeling.

I think we've all noticed that there is less blog posting going on as spring emerges this year, and to me - it's all part of the cycle. Winter here in the Northeast was impressive and overwhelming weather wise, and the onset of spring has been like a release from a winter cave. I spent the morning yesterday gardening - something that I really haven't done in many years - I mean the intense, digging type of gardening that you do when you have neglected your garden for too long. (ah - metaphors). And it felt good to dig out a plant that had metastasized to all parts of my front garden, and to open the doors to the little shed and air it out. And due to all of this digging and changing and moving and healing - I haven't worried about posting, or tweeting or facebooking or whatever. (Actually, I don't tweet). I treat my blog as a place to share art, thoughts, ideas, adventures - and not as a mandatory "I have to update my blog" place. There are weeks when I post everyday - just cause it's the right thing to do that week. There are weeks when I don't post at all. It's all good.

I have noticed that some people prefer facebook, and while I do check out FB occasionally, I don't find it a good venue for me. Maybe as a quick update - as in "traveling to east nowhere this weekend - see ya" - I like that and find it good. But for posting a real meaty post - nahh - it's not the place.

So what's the point of all this? I guess it's just my reaction to seeing people apologize for not reading the blogs, or not commenting, or just being apologetic in general about their blogging habits. I don't think it's necessary to apologize - just go with the flow of the moment. Post or not - just let everyone who cares about you know that you're OK. I love blogging, I love my blog friends (in person and not in person). I love the comments you all leave, I love knowing that people don't leave comments and just lurk. I love reading other's posts and sometimes commenting, sometimes not. This venue has been - for me - an incredible tool to learn and grow and despite blogger's recent problems - mostly fairly easy.

So to sum it all up - I'm still blogging. See ya when I read ya.

LOVE, Mim

Six Word Saturday

2011-05-07T08:22:00.002-04:00

I am off to Florida today.

Taking mom out to a fancy brunch, doing chores in MIL's apartment (still chock full of furniture) - hopefully some relaxing.

have a lovely week all....

Animal Wednesday - videos and more

2011-05-06T20:44:00.000-04:00

This made me LAUGH

I hope you can all see it - what a good giggle!!

A Dog Story:

Background - I'm subtly working on DH for another dog. Haven't made much headway but I'm still working on it. I think he's thawing out a tiny bit on the idea - at least that was what I felt - I was encouraged!

We got to my mom's house on Sat night and met Scruffy (Sir Scrufulos - my name for the funny little guy) - and he is a well behaved sweet dog. My cousin came over with her puppy - a 9 month old poodle cross - cute also but puppy like. The puppy, Sammy, was very active and excited to be around all new people and another dog. He charged around the house, ate Scruffy's food and in general acted like a pup. The, in true dog fashion, he felt sick from all the food and excitement, so he got up....walked over to where my DH was making a sandwich.....scrunched down next to him and threw up at his feet.

What an offering. Right to the person in the house that is not a true dog fan.

DH was kinda yuck about the whole thing. Thank goodness he missed the part where Sammy pooped at the front door, on the lovely clean wood floor.

Here is Scruffy - really kinda cute and pretty smart....

grrr - I am posting this from a PC and it won't let me put my mr linky in here - grrrr. And if there are spacing problems - blame the PC again - I'm getting MAC addicted.

have a happy Animal Wednesday!!!

Animal Wednesday - Birds on the River

2011-05-04T06:03:00.004-04:00

A few weekends ago we did a Sunday River kayak and I took my bigger camera - which I really don't know how to use well yet. I wanted it because it zooms in much further than my little point and shoot but wow - is it ever hard to focus on a bird, while in a rocking kayak. I have more out of focus pictures than you could believe.

But I did get a few that were worthwhile - wish there had been blue skies but the grey day made for a softer float down then river - and a tough paddle back!

I caught this guy singing (or yelling - who knows what they are saying)

I think this is a grackle - with iridescent colors - see it if enlarges - he's got gorgeous colors on him.

I followed this poor Heron around from place to place. Everytime I got close, he'd fly away. Finally I got some shots using the zoom.

Have a Happy Animal Wednesday - hope the weather if fine where you are. We've had a few days of just gorgeous weather - and today it will rain...which is just fine.

Boston Comic Con - woohoo!!

2011-05-01T07:22:00.007-04:00

Yesterday - on a beautiful sunny morning - I dragged my DH into Boston so that we could go to a Comic Convention. I was not so excited about going as I've heard that it was quite a geek convention, and I am NOT a geek (right?...right???).

But I wanted to see what it was all about and get a feel for what people are doing. Plus it was fun to drive into the city, park downtown and walk around on the fancy streets.

$20.00 for each of us to get in, and we immediately started passing grown men and women dressed as Darth Vader, and Spiderman, Xena and Wonder-Woman. And let me tell you - some of these people should NOT have been wearing spandex. Nope...not a good look for a paunchy middle aged comic lunatic. But I started feeling the fun also, and that was good.

As you might know - I took a comic class about 1 year ago and loved it. And I've been working on getting Miss Em into comic book format all year, redrawing all the individual stories that I have and putting them onto the paper that they use for comics. I have about 39 pages finished, with more in my head. But for some reason, that's where they've stayed - in my head. I've been feeling constricted by the format and constricted by the do's and don't of traditional comic layout and production. I've stopped drawing ! I was with a friend the other day who's in the midst of writing a children's book and we talked alot about format, and breaking out of the mold. And I've been thinking about how to move forward with this project, as I miss my little Miss Em -

Anyway - walking around that convention center - meeting and talking to people got me excited again. And, all of the worry about the do's and don'ts fell away. I realized that the tried and true methods of comic book production are for mass production, Superman and all that. I have absolutely no interest in doing a daily Miss Em comic strip - or worrying about production, or book series. I met a few interesting women who do comics on the side and have day jobs - and their comics are self published and fun. Colorful, and no superhero's to be seen. I met a writer from New York who's working on a comic series with a buddy that he met in camp 30 years ago. Lot's of people telling their life stories in comics. There is a group in Boston that gets together and does critique and discussion - I'm going to try to meet up with them. I want to get more feedback on different formats - and might be asking for volunteers from my loyal reading crowd (that means you!) to look at two different formats and give me feedback.

All in all it was a good day. I feel energized about organizing my work and getting something going again - which is what I was hoping for.

So, I hope it's the end of the stress bowls for awhile... but I thought I'd show you the latest two little ones, aren't they cute? I like the deep colors, but like the shape of the other little one better. I might keep trying just a little bit.....

It's a gorgeous day again here - and I'm thinking bicycles.....

More Stress....hence more bowls

2011-04-27T20:28:00.004-04:00

As we go thru re-organization at work, my stress level rises and rises - at this point I am hovering around the ceiling from all the rising (and yes Virginia, it is made of glass) - I come home and make Hope and Dream bowls (thank you Lo).

The bowl above was creamy white and smooth and chalky. Then I painted it blue and started drawing.

I like it, DH was a bit unsure, felt the shape wasn't perfect for the design, which I sort of agree with but I like the concept.

So I was going to make a small bowl, with a taper and do the same approach, but in the end I didn't.
I made a small bowl and used a used up light bulb for a mold. Worked great until I had to break the glass - what a mess, but I got all the glass out.

Then I sanded it, and painted it an ivory color and then...this is the secret part....I used matt gel in a thin layer, let it dry and then rubbed paint on it so that it all merged and looked good (to me at least). And of course, a gold inside.

I took pictures in my hand so you could see the size. DH immediately claimed it as his.

So I guess I'll just have to make some more......

Cute, it's sort of like a dinosaur egg don't you think?

Too cute videos for Animal Wednesday - probably too many.....

2011-04-27T06:03:00.001-04:00

I don't know how to upload a video from youtube so that it shows here....but can link (aren't I clever?) so here are some adorable snorting pugs .

Also - this penguin is so lovable....

The call of the wild

I wanted to help this little turtle pup....it's cute but help the poor thing up - won't you? Oh thank goodness!!

Happy Animal Wednesday to you all....