Monday - day of rest? September 3rd?

After a busy weekend, Mr. T wanted to climb Pack-Monadanock with friends of ours. I chose to drive to the top and fiddle with art work and my handy traveling bag. Did this little ATC, which I have posted on Monday ArtDay ATC's. Fun. My nephews helped me when they got to the top, with suggestions on color and fish placement - I loved it!

My singing group starts tonight - so I am off to sing start rehearsals for Haydn "The Creation". Have never heard it, but I bet it's wonderful

Continuation of the post below

I saw a beaver dam and mr and mrs beaver (how anthropomorphic of me) and a heron and lots of little tunnel - trails that some animals must be taking at night. It is tough to paddle and take pictures at the same time. By the time I see something I want to photograph - it's past me and I am pulling out the camera from the dry bag and paddling back, trying like hell to be quiet and not scare the animal.

I saw a leaf in the water that looked like stained glass, it was so beautiful. I tried to take a picture in the water but it didn't work out so I struggled to get along side this little leaf to pick it up. I finally got it and here is a picture, but it was much more beautiful in the water, floating just below the surface.

It's been one of those weekend (so far)

Yes, I did start out the day at Sears buying a new sewing machine. Got the floor model for $102.00 and it normally is $250.00. I saw the same model on ebay for $239.00 so I think I got a good deal - its a Shark Euro - something. I was going to buy a Singer but all the reviews I read said to use Singer as a boat anchor. So I steered away from poor old comfortable Singer. The new one is electronic and has a quilting foot and can free style embroider - which is what I wanted. So I'm happy. Haven't set it up yet, haven't even gotten it in the house but it will be fun to try.

Went bike riding yesterday - still sore from that but it was fun. Went kayaking today and saw lot's of my favorite prehistoric animals - turtles. They were basking in the sun and were really soaking up the sunshine so I could get pretty close and take pictures. I felt like they must know that summer is ending and that they have to soak up as much sun as possible in order to make it thru the winter.

The day was so beautiful, not a cloud in the sky and slightly breezy, but warm. Warm enough to be in tee shirt and shorts yet not so hot that you didn't want to have your PFD (personal flotation device - we used to call them plain lifejackets) on.

I am trying to upload a video of a short non-paddling drift down the river - hmm, blogger seems angry - but see if you can hear the birds and chirpy bugs on the river.

Blogger won't let me put any more posts on this one, so I will start another one and just show them a thing or two.

September 1st anniversary

My folks got married on September 1, 1949. That is a way lot of years to be married. Happy Anniversary M & D. Love you both,

Sewing Machine - HELP!!!

My 40 (or more) year old Kenmore sewing machine is giving me shocks (literally - it tingles when I touch the bobbin cover)! I can probably get it fixed, but am really ready for a new one. I'm looking to buy one under $300.00 if possible and would love anyone's recommendations!!!

Thanks

I think I made chenille

Like the kind that grandma used to have on her bedspread. I took a patterned fabric and layered two other fabrics beneath it, a yellow sort of organza and a purple pattern on the bottom. I stitched parallel rows across the entire piece, then cut between the rows, threw it in the washing machine, fluffed it up and dried it. I like the way it came out, and will use it for an accent on a bag or something like that. It's almost a pity, while I like the finished piece, now looking at them together I like the non cut piece also. Well, it's an experiment, and the thicker finished piece will add color and texture to whatever I use it on. Meanwhile, my sewing machine is giving me shocks. I don't think that's good.

Illustration Friday night - August 31st - Hopefully Temporary

When I first started doing artwork I started with Decoupage and decorated a birdhouse with newsprint, mini babies, and my great-grandma, Marianina Alesso (straight from the old country). I very very carefully cut her out of the picture and used her as a little paste up on the birdhouse. She looked great on the birdhouse, but I realized that the negative of her was even more interesting. I've had it up for awhile, and it seemed to fit this weeks theme - my premise being that it was only temporary that she is missing from the scene.

Can you imagine what a little old Italian lady, born in about 1850 in Sicily, would say if she knew her non-picture was on a computer blog.