erin kobie

2010-01-05T19:07:00.000-08:00

nspiration is a funny thing. It comes in so many shapes and sizes. These days I'm trying to drink it up because I had a dry spell and while at first that is frustrating, after a while it just pisses me off. But it's there. I was thinking I should name a couple things that tingle my artistic spidey senses.

Death is a good one. People, yes, but I've noticed that lots more people have shown more than a passing interest in taxidermy and I can't help but smile since those dead, but somehow frozen-in-time animals have always held a great deal of fascination for me. My dad used to laugh about it. My husband, the hunter, finds it somehow gruesome that his vegetarian wife would want actual animal parts. The hide. The skull. The tail. He is all for the meat, and the rest, as far is he is concerned, the butcher can have to do with what he will. Which means, sell it for some one else to take. But the animal.. the breathing animal that was more than the muscle than gets eaten. It lay in soft grass and sometimes knew fear. What did those ears hear? What did it want to say? Don't you want to hold it and have it say it to you?

Dancing makes for good seeds of creativity... my sister and I are obsessed with So You Think You Can Dance. Hells yes, I said that. So yes, the strange growth of a dancer through the many forms of dance, but also-- Oooo. There are moments in dance. All dance. You see something. A movement that is sometimes big and sometimes would be otherwise mundane. A leap of joy or perhaps the way a dancer's shoulders fall in defeat that conveys such powerful emotion that you, watching, feel your own body react. You shiver or cringe. Maybe your heart skips a beat. All art should be like that, right?

Of course, there is more, which I could talk about endlessly if I wasn't exhausted:
The abundance of color that exists where least expected.
Tracks in the snow. Kafka leaves perfect circles of his bounding run. You can tell his demeanor just by looking at them.
I love the way the afternoon sun bends into the dead tree in my back yard. It was hit by lightening a few years ago and the entire thing died. It's huge, and leans threateningly over our two ridiculously old crab-apple trees.

I tend to focus on the natural things, I guess. The nature that surrounds us. The nature that we draw from within. Instinct. How we interact.

As a side note, I'm looking forward to getting back into posting more photos soon, but my camera is currently taking a break for some extra camera-person loving.

Kafka says, "Hi! Hi! Hi! Hihihihihihihihihihihi! Hi!" And licks the computer. Oh yes, he does. Enthusiasm all over the place for you! Don't you feel loved?

2010

2010-01-03T19:15:00.000-08:00

appy New Year! How have you been? Did you make any good resolutions?

I had someone remind me very recently that you are only as good as your last blog post, which made me sigh heavily, and then laugh. How very true. And considering the amount of ideas/photos/projects I have stored up, I should be able to practically fill your Google Reader with them.

So I thought I'd use the new year as an excuse, and resolve to give you an actual blog. Cheers. Here's to sticking to resolutions.

drop cap via type rock star Jessica Hische 's Daily Drop Cap.

Eye Candy

2009-07-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

I love looking at Left Hand Cuts The Right. Every entry is a stream of visual awesomeness.

Weekly Kafka

2009-06-29T17:51:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Birthday Puppy!

I bought him a nice ribbon to tie to his collar, but he was only interested in chewing on it, which was not surprising at the least.

Six things I have learned this week

2009-02-05T11:10:00.000-08:00

1. On Facebook, way too many of your friends will ask you to post a note of 25 random things about yourself. Just give in, because then it will be over. (I will say, however, that reading what my friends have to say is so interesting that I want to make a list of my 25 favorite random things my friends say about themselves.)

2. Not moisturizing hands = cracking skin. Ugh.

3. I really like pea soup, as long as it doesn't have ham in it.

4. This is the first winter of my entire life that I have officially been ready for spring to come. I find myself day dreaming about moving to a place that has a more forgiving climate. The whole idea makes me a little melancholy, as I love the snow, and I love Rochester... I have just been too cold this winter, even with all the toasty, cozy fires we have been having.

5. You can indeed force your way through a creative blockade. It might take a while, but you can do it. Just relax and stop thinking.

6. Randomly, when I stick Diet Cream Soda in the freezer at the Desk Job, it starts to grow its own body parts. Including nipples. Disturbing, but admit it... oddly fascinating.

today is a day unlike any other

2009-01-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

Today we welcome the new hope, and sweep the cobwebs and dust away.

Congratulations, Mr. President, on not just your new job, but also your ability to transcend race, gender and party issues.

iconic Hope poster by Shepard Fairey

a long winter and it's not yet over

2009-01-18T18:50:00.000-08:00

My grandfather, Bumpa, otherwise known as Daniel Meagher Jr., passed away on the first of the year.

Bumpa was Lois' husband; a charismatic dapper man who met my grandmother during WWII when he was the leader of the AirCobras, an Air Force band, and my grandmother was the singer. They had a life together that could have been a movie: both of them beautiful, musically talented, and absolutely, positively head over heels in love with one another.

While it was sad to see him go, it is nice to know that my grandmother has him with her now.

This picture was taken in Chicago right around the time they were married.

So it's been quite a holiday, what with my sizzled computer (still acting up, with no Mac in sight), family visits, and this sad piece of news. I'm glad now that things have settled though and you and I can start having conversations again.

woe is my computer.

2008-12-09T17:26:00.000-08:00

I want to throw my computer into the Genessee River. It has been coughing and hacking along, but tonight I believe it bleeped its last pathetic bleep at me. Now, if I had ever been attached to it emotionally, I would be sad, but the truth is that the whole time I typed away on it, my heart was unfaithfully lusting after a mac.

Honesty is the best policy, right?

Well, perhaps my computer didn't think so because we argued and I said some really mean things and it spitefully ate a couple of files. Or rather, made them completely inaccessible. And then began a slow and maddening descent into the realm of Complete Meltdown.

Taunting me is not going to win back my heart, Lenovo. Oh no it's not.

At least all of my scans are safe and sound, backed up six times in a couple locations. Who me? Paranoid? Huh?

So I have no Weekly Kafka as of yet, but I do still have a phat sale going at the shop. Prints are still buy one get a pack of holiday cards free OR buy two prints get the third free.

Rock on, babies. Hopefully I'll have more of the pup up for you soon!

take advantage of me for four days. please.

2008-11-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the madness of the start of the official holiday season, I am having an enormous sale in my shop.

Everything is on sale but most prints are 33% off, and there is free shipping to anywhere on every order. Buying one print gets you a 5 pack of holiday cards. Buying two prints entitles you to a third for free.

I also have a new card for you:

I realize that if all of you fabulous people from Australia order stuff, I may eat it on the shipping, but my Etsy shop is relatively new and I need all the exposure I can get. So take advantage already and get someone a handmade gift and save some cash all at once!

Weekly Kafka

2008-11-23T18:38:00.000-08:00

Two random Kafka facts for you:
1. He now has a blankie that he carries around. It's his dog blanket that we put in his crate. This weekend he has insisted on going into his crate, grabbing the thing, and parading around with it. He loves it.
2. Kafka loves to lick. Not anything specific, although I have to fight him off and run away once I put on my lotion. He will lick anyone or thing, at any time, regardless of race, creed, color, smell, texture, temperature, etc. etc. etc. He truly is all about equal opportunity. The opportunity to introduce his tongue to everything. on. earth.

Loves to ride in the car and drink coffee (see cup).

And yeah, he's getting big. About 40 lbs and about 5 1/2 months old. And he is immensely exuberant. This evening, my sister and husband and I all watched as he casually leapt onto the top of his big-dog crate. Holy shit. I thought it was going to CAVE IN.

We all yelled, "NO!" and he half slipped off and ducked with his tail in between his legs.

It's alright though, because then his blankie caught his eye and he pounced on it.

(This is his Kong Frisbee, not the blankie, but I think you get the idea.)

Photos are all before the snow came!

Holiday Cards!

2008-11-21T06:12:00.000-08:00

When I got married, I made all of the paper items myself-- the invites, table numbers, escort cards, programs, etc., etc... but I have now officially begun my foray into the realm of cards for other people. I know. I'm so brave.

My first of four different holiday cards has now been listed, so we'll see how that goes. I hope to have the other three up by the end of the weekend, but given my tendancy to procrastinate by being distracted my small shiny objects, legos with the Meep and ducking a bounding Kafka... like i said, we'll see.

The textured paper I chose for the cards hasn't been showing the detail as much as I'd like, but I'm still generally pleased with the way they turned out. I'm hemming and hawing about the possibility of cutting these out of art paper and attaching them to the textured cards. What do you

I've started watermarking all my scanned images, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I understand that it protects the image, but I hate the way it looks.

Regardless, I very much like how the back of the cards turned out!

Even though the image is small, I think it came out beautifully.

What do you think?

Shop update and bloggy-blog stuff

2008-11-18T06:08:00.000-08:00

Flower Chain. Now in the shop.

I'm in the process of doing some secret blog rearranging, which is proving to be a little bit of a struggle, if only because of time. I will need to dedicate some solid blocks of time to it and that has been what I'm struggling with. If I get into ye olde codes and get torn away for something, I inevitably lose my mental place and flub for half and hour trying to get my head on straight.

Regardless, I'm excited about the upcoming changes. Let's hope it's not six months until I get them out (fingers crossed fingers crossed fingers crossed). :)

In other exciting news, the Kafka-nator is scared of snow. It's been snowing lately, just not sticking.

This morning I took him to the back door where he could see the blanket of snow covering our backyard. He looked, then padded across the room, sat down, and gave a little whine of discontent. When I opened the door for him, he walked tentatively to the doorway, gave the ground a brief sniff, then tore into the kitchen, then the dining room, then the living room, where he cowered under Ricky Bobby Spike's terrarium table. I had to put on my coat and boots, pick him up and take him (kicking and whiny-barking all the way) into the backyard, where I set him down and watched him sniff in circles for almost 10 minutes before he decided it was safe to pee.

Good job doggy.

Camouflage

2008-11-14T04:53:00.001-08:00

Because sometimes you'd like to hide. And sometimes when you want to, you can't.

Available in the shop.

Weekly Kafka

2008-11-11T18:47:00.001-08:00

A short tale with pictures. Humor me while I pretend to know exactly what Kafka is thinking.

Gosh I like the fall.

There are leaves on the ground. I like leaves. They are almost as tasty as sticks.

What is this? A stick? With leaves?

I had better try it out.

Say... this is good!

Soooo gooood.

Within the past week Kafka has lost all of his baby canine teeth, and some molars too. He would be chewing on something (invariably something we didn't want him to chew on), and I would hear something skitter across the hardwood, like a little pebble. Then he would run after it and try to eat it. Yum. Teeth.

His new teeth are less sharp, and much more substantial than his puppy teeth. He is looking more and more grown, which is about right as this week he is five months old (I have no idea how many weeks he is any more because I have lost count and am too lazy to count again).

Still loving Obama

2008-11-07T23:00:00.000-08:00

Karey lives in Jordan and writes beautifully, which makes me need to direct you to her sometimes.

Go HERE, because now is one of those times.

Pr-I-vacy, please.

2008-11-07T19:57:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week so I'm sorry for the lack of updates.

In the meantime, I got an email from someone asking why I didn't talk more about my husband and, in particular, the Meep.

Not everyone is comfortable being an open book. I don't really mind, but JJ likes to keep it on the down low, so that's why there's not a lot about him.

But the Meep is different. He is our dearest heart. Our most prized possession. And so although once in a while I will throw out a little bone in the form of a story or anecdote, there won't be pictures like there are of the dog (believe me, my son is waaaaay cuter). He is my one secret of secrets, and I am protective of him. I love you Meepie.

Back to Kafka and art soon, I promise.

Dia de Bloglandia ~ Dia de Los Muertos (2)

2008-11-05T19:38:00.000-08:00

III.
I wanted to tell you a sort-of ghost story as part of my Day of the Dead entry, but truthfully, I struggled with how to do it. How can a Dia de Los Muertos ghost be only sort-of? If they're alive.

There once was a girl who didn't much care. Didn't. She didn't take care of herself or the people she loved the way she ought to. She took much of life for granted. She walked through it without connecting-- simply blind to much of what the world and life have to offer.

Then she became ill, and went down a long, painful stretch of time where the world turned inside out. Days bled together with uncertainty and frustration. People hovered. Breathing was hard.

Slowly, s l o w l y, the misery of those days began to chip away at the not-caring girl. Her eyes opened little by little, and that life-for-granted, self-indulgent, blind person was peeled off of her. That girl died, and beneath her skins, someone else began to draw breath. Someone for whom life was magical. Someone who somehow took quiet note of each moment as it passed with reverence.

Now, life isn't always nice. It's not clean. It can be mundane. People are horrible to one another. But life is possibilities. A moment can lead in a million different directions. In times of pain, there are still trees; still wind and mountains; still fancy cars speeding by and chocolate.

Exactly ten years ago, on Dia de Los Muertos 1998, I went to the hospital and descended into the strange world where doctors don't have answers and illness and uncertainty become routine. And when I came out of that time, I had changed. It wasn't easy, and I'm certainly not saying that now I'm perfectly in tune with everything and everyone (I had a sharp reminder this weekend of that), but I do know that all in all, I am better off for living through it. The ghost-girl is gone. And although this day is meant to celebrate the life of those who have passed on, today I celebrate that it has been ten years, and I did not pass on. I grew strong, got educated and started taking note.

This is not sad at all! This is part of what made me who I am and I would not give it up for anything.

And so I celebrate that I am, like so much of my art, a work in progress.

So go here to learn a little about something that affects approximately 1 in 5,000 people.

www.hht.org

And remember to open your eyes.

Dia de Bloglandia ~ Dia de Los Muertos

2008-11-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

I.
My mother's mother loved margaritas. We called her Clancy, although her real name was Lois Meagher. She came from a big family and grew up poor in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee. "Clancy" suited her better than "grandmother," although I'm not sure why I called her that. She sang like a bird. She could be as silly as a girl but undoubtedly the word I've heard most to describe her, in any circle, has always been "classy". She wore ironed gloves and her hair was always perfect. She was infinitely poised.

She was beautiful. Really beautiful, with a killer smile.

My mother has told me that when she was little and they would visit Tennessee, the moment my grandmother's foot touched southern soil a southern accent would spill into her speech like honey. When I was young and we were alone for a day, she would watch All My Children with me and let me paint my fingernails with her army of polishes. She fed me Dixie cups of mini marshmallows and had the cleanest house I have ever seen. She would take me to the pool to swim and would look Fantastic. She always had plenty of cheddar Goldfish crackers. She collected owls.

She died gracefully, which was not easy, but my grandmother was the strongest woman I have ever met.

When we see rainbows we say, "there is Clancy," and at my wedding, the weather ran from blustery to foggy to rainy and hot, but she made an appearance after dinner, reaching from one end to another across the sky-- a pure stretch of almost solid color against the steel gray of the clouds. It was so vivid. I didn't even think to make sure someone got a photograph. But I'm not upset about it. It was still a perfect moment.

I won't be having a margarita, but I will be drinking some wine. I also will be cooking a full dinner, which she did almost every day. It's a real rarity for me. I love you Clancy. She also made the best pecan pie, and I thought you might like to have the recipe for it yourself. It's ridiculously easy and always tastes like a dream.

Clancy's Pecan Pie

3 cups whole pecans
1 cup light corn syrup
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
3-4 eggs (depending on size)
5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375 F. Line pie pan with dough and refrigerate. In a large bowl, lightly mix all of the ingredients except pecans. Once they are well blended, fold in pecans. Pour into the chilled pie crust, and bake on the lowest rack in the oven for 50-60 minutes. Let cool for 5-6 hours.

I don't know why there is the whole unsalted butter/additional salt thing going on, but I do know if you use salted butter it doesn't taste the same.

II.
Brian made me laugh when I was feeling my most geeky and alone (ninth grade). My all-girls school and his all-boys school had a mixed show choir and that's where we met. We were both awkward. He had a beautiful deep voice. He loved to cook.

Years later, I ended up hanging out with Brian on an almost nightly basis. He still made me laugh and feel at ease. He still loved to cook. He had a huge heart that he wore on his sleeve. He did not give himself credit, and he didn't allow himself a break, although he deserved one.

To celebrate Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Stephanie from Rodrigvitz Style and Susanna of Susanna's Sketchbook came up with a blog celebration Dia de Bloglandia. What a wonderful way to celebrate life!

There was a part III, however I changed my mind and will write it up as a separate post later

shop update

2008-11-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

Supernatural has now arrived.

my new fave.

2008-10-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

Remember those wasssup guys from that beer commercial? Eight years later, this is wonderful.

Happy Blogtoberfest! I know this will be my last post and it's been a blast! Don't forget to thank Big Cat!

One more week!

2008-10-28T06:19:00.000-07:00

And vote early if you can!

Weekly Kafka

2008-10-27T19:56:00.001-07:00

This week, Kafka won't have his puppy class . He'll be sad, and so will I. He likes to learn and with most things picks stuff up within a few minutes. Besides three accidents, he was house-trained in two days. I'll miss it because it's one day out of the week where I know that he will listen. I think he likes to show off a little, because when he's at home, his puppy-adolescence prohibits him from paying attention %50 of the time. As always, pictures are from this past week.

Kafka continues to grow and grow and grow. Unbelievably, he also seems to gain energy as each day passes. He runs, he jumps, he flies.
Now that our yard is covered in dead leaves, he is thrilled. He will tear through the carpet of leaves and turn to catch them as they scatter into the air. It is endlessly entertaining for both of us.
He is still ready to lounge everywhere and anywhere. Especially if he can climb on someone to do it.
What a dog.

Oh my!

2008-10-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

I have been a VERY bad Blogtoberfest blogger recently, and am feeling ashamed.

Between the desk job, the art job and home I have been busy busy busy, and last night, while attempting to at least get up the Weekly Kafka, I fell asleep at my laptop. Nice. I'll try and stuff that in a little later today!

I did however, get a little over a foot of hair cut off on Saturday.

Silence

2008-10-21T18:39:00.000-07:00

My brother, who already was in Iraq three (maybe four?) times, got out of the military about two years ago. Now he has to go back to the Marines November 3, most likely to Afghanistan.

Please remember to vote on November 4.

Silence is in the shop.

Weekly Kafka

2008-10-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

Well... late Kafka is better than no Kafka.

He really knows how to relax.

He wants to eat all the time.
All the time.

I love this dog.

He loves balls.

Flying Dutchman

2008-10-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

I needed some inspiration, because I've had a long day.

Then, Drewzel over at Blog Portion notified me earlier that she had decreed today Blogtoberfest Fave Friday, and wanted people to focus on one or a couple of their favorite songs. That's tough for me, because I have so many favorites, however, I thought it would be good to highlight a song that , while perhaps not my favorite song of all time, has the best Youtube cover ever.

Witness PS22 in their glory:

Can you stand it? How fabulous is that?? Don't you love how INTO it they are? It's funny and disarming and wonderful, and lucky for you, you can see more at the PS22 blog.

And if you need to hear the original Tori Amos version, you can find it here.

p.s. Drewzel has the coolest car.

Thursday Haiku

2008-10-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday. I need
a new haircut. The falling
leaves tangle my ends.

it's too bad I couldn't get an appointment with my girl until a week from Saturday.

Blog Action Day 2008 - Local Poverty

2008-10-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

Some years ago, after a long night of drinking and dancing, some friends and I went to a local (then open 24 hours) landmark restaurant, Nick Tahou's, and each ordered their famous Garbage Plate. When we were done I had eaten maybe a third of mine ( I was already full with beer) and, as this was still in the days when you could smoke in restaurants in New York, we lit up (yes, yes, I know... I quit a long time ago) and all began knocking the ash onto my partially finished meal because there was no ashtray on our table.

About twenty minutes later, we were still talking, smoking and ashing all over the same plate when a homeless man came up to the table. Thinking back, he must have been in his 40s, was missing several teeth and must have been wearing at least six layers of clothes. I think he had been sitting across the aisle from us most of the time we were there, nursing a coffee, but none of us had really noticed him.

"Excuse me," he said, holding out an ashtray and pointing down at my plate, "can I trade you for that?"

We looked at each other, and I slid the now grey, ashy plate across the table to him, as he set down the actual ashtray with a breathless, "thanks!"

He then sat back down across the aisle, dumped ketchup and hot sauce on the whole pile, and began to eat.

"Wait", we said, "there are cigarette ashes and butts all over that!"

"I know," he replied, between bites, "that just fills you up more."

I have never felt so much like a fool as I did right then.

Poverty is not just about countries devastated with famine or choked by war. It is about your city, town and neighborhood. It is about the people that desperately look for help at churches and community centers; it is about children on the school lunch programs who lack adequate medical care.

You don't have to go far, so h ere are 88 simple ways to fight poverty.

supernatural

2008-10-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

I sketched this slippery guy a while ago, but never got around to getting him down... well, now he's here. This isn't a great picture of him, but I'll post some more when I scan him.

a giveaway worth clicking on!

2008-10-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

The Indie Fixx Autumn Cornucopia Giveaway has two unbelievably generous and wonderful prizes, so you need to go there right away and comment that you read about it here. Just look at the fabulousness you could win:

* Prize #1 (valued at $389) *
1. Sublime Stitching embroidery patterns.
2. Print from The Happygirl Shop
3. Necklace from Starving Artist Bazaar
4. Soap from Feto Soap
5. Necklace from Karalee Designs
6. Bag from Becky OH!
7. Journal from Ex Libris Anymous
8. Goodies from Mau Studio
9. Wall Vinyls from studiojk
10. Shea Butter Sugar Scrub from Bidwell Botanicals
11. Print from Berkley Illustration (not pictured)
12. Goodies from Sprout Studio (not pictured)
13. Lace Knitting to Go (by Andrea Tung), Home Sewn (Kaari Meng) & “Little Notes” card set (by Susie Ghahremani) all from Chronicle Books

* Prize #2 (valued at $386) *
1. Print from The Happygirl Shop
2. Earrings from Kutuu
3. Soap from Boh Bon Soap Co.
4. Bag from Faite Designs
5. Journal from Ex Libris Anymous
6. Goodies from Mau Studio
7. Bag from IMOOI
8. Baby tee & cards from Goh Girl
9. Print from Berkley Illustration (not pictured)
10. Goodies from Sprout Studio (not pictured)
11. Shea Butter Sugar Scrub from Bidwell Botanicals
12. Scarflette from Marketta New York
13. Little Stitches for Little Ones (Amy Butler), Picture Perfect Knits (by Laura Birek), Sublime Stitching Craft Pad (by Jenny Hart) all from Chronicle Books

What are you waiting for?? Head on over and win right now!

Monday Monday

2008-10-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

So I got some stuff done yesterday, but not as much as I would've liked. I was hoping to finish painting my sideboard into the sun and even though I worked my butt off, it was not to be. I was painting the molding on the drawers and cabinet doors and the black enamel I've been using is simply not giving me the coverage I was hoping for. Eventually I gave up for the day and moved on to a painting I've got in the works. I got maybe one drawer finished, but everything else is only partially finished because of the number of coats I have to lay down. UGH.

Here is a little piece of mine that I have yet to post:

Shadow oil pastel, graphite, paper on canvas.

I have an obsession with beetles, and this is just one of a large series that I did on them. It's quite small-- I think 4x6 inches if I'm thinking correctly, but I really like the way it came out. The beetle is from an old National Geographic and I love him dearly.

Kafka's day yesterday (as there seem to be a large number of you interested in his daily goings on) consisted of eating sticks and dirt, and then throwing up a little, which of course didn't phase him at all. Ah, the joys of puppy hood. :)

Happy Monday!

a word on sundays

2008-10-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

Football.

I would leave you with more, but today I very much need to finish some projects and spend the day engrossed in the games with my husband. See you tomorrow. Love, me.

Weekly Kafka

2008-10-11T06:06:00.000-07:00

I figured at this point I better give you some Kafka candy and that it would be best if I tried to make it regular, so allow to to introduce to you the weekly Kafka. I also thought it would be a good time to test out Picnik. It is so much fun to play with it's ridiculous. If you haven't tried it yet, go there as soon as you have soaked in some Kafka attitude.

These were all taken this week.

So freaking cute when he wants to be.

Kafka has an excellent, if sometimes inappropriate, sense of humor.

And he can fly!

don't kill me.

2008-10-10T02:38:00.000-07:00

I have been trying so hard to keep up with Blogtoberfest. Not only posting everyday, but visiting the blogs of the other people participating, because there are so many creative, wonderful people enjoying Big Cat's fest! So remember this, because last night when I fell asleep with my laptop open before I could put up a new post, it was not for lack of trying.

This morning, because I am tired, I will rely on older photos that I haven't posted here. I have so many other things I want to post, but need to get to work, so I will go out of my way to make it up to you later!

Horse. Watercolor, pencil, and cotton embroidery on canvas.

Have a wonderful day!

Hallelujah!

2008-10-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

1. I feel so much better today! In fact-- I actually was able to go to work. And I was super excited about it.

2. I got some work done on a piece that I have been avoiding because it wasn't going that well. Now, I rather like it. More on this in an upcoming post.

3. My friend Amy sent me this picture:

Right, Sarah and that jacket do not play nicely together. But tell me , is that girl in the circle Gov. Palin's daughter? Let's look at the close up:
Bigger picture here.

Nice middle finger, kiddo. This is totally something I would've gotten caught doing.

4. Out of curiosity, what do those of you outside the U.S. think of this whole election thing? And what about Palin, anyway? I'd just like to pick your brains because it's so hard to imagine what it would be like looking in on this, so don't worry that I'm going to argue with you or haunt your blogs or anything. I really am curious, so come on, gimme your thoughts!

4. I got the sweetest card today from a friend of my mother's who basically was like a mom to me. It was so beautiful and heartfelt that I cried. And I didn't do one of those lady-like cries either. I gave it the old ugly cry. Believe me, this letter deserved an ugly cry because it was Just That Good.

5. The mailman came:

hells yes, Lindsey.

My day? Made.

Otterific

2008-10-07T17:10:00.001-07:00

I put him into the shop!

feet!

I really like the way he leans. His shape is good. The original was a present for a friend who then told me she would be honored if I made prints out of it. Amanda studied otter poop and played rugby. She would still study otter poop if there were any near her, and she sure as hell would play rugby if she had any health insurance.

sicky sick sick.

2008-10-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

Ugh. Today I stayed home from work because I absolutely needed to. I am in a horrible mood, made only worse by the fact that I am horribly uncomfortable.

I thought I would tell you that there are three things that make me feel a little better:*

1. JJ calling to tell me he loves me.
2. a hug from the Meep.
3. the thought that someday soon, a wonderful package will be arriving from the creative hands of Lindsey Carr of Little Robot.

Aw hell yeah! I never win aaaannnyything, so I am, of course, endlessly thrilled. However, this is Lindsey we are talking about, and I remember very clearly when she first blogged about the headband she had made because it was soooo cool (like absolutely everything made by Lindsey).

Now I've got to go back to bed.

We are part werewolf and other things.

2008-10-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

So today I had most of the day to myself, which is unusual. I wasn't, of course, completely alone. Kafka was there, as he always is. Catherine came over for a while after recovering from that nasty bug that has been galloping around the city. It was so, so , sooo good to see her. I asked her to take some photos for me in about a month. She has a great eye, and a great camera. I forgot actually to ask her about it today. Once the photos have been taken, I'll talk about them. Until then, hang tight!

My sister Autumn came over as well for a while tonight too, so I could pluck her crazy eyebrows. You know how some families all have the same nose? Well, we have that, but we also have a bad case of the crazy eyebrows. And by crazy eyebrows, I mean the kind that will grow several inches long, and threaten to take over your face. Like we are part werewolf. Thanks a lot, dad. If you let them go, not only do they get long, but they literally begin to grow in from our outside eyes into our hairline. Let me just point out, right here, that despite what you may be beginning to imagine here, we are not a hairy family. Between my sister and I, the eyebrows are the only thing that allude to out beastly background.

I pluck my own (wax does not work as well to tame these monsters), but my sister is convinced that she can't do her own, so I am honored to do them for her. They looked magnificent when she left. In three days... well, we'll see.

BLOGTOBERFEST!!

2008-10-04T18:12:00.001-07:00

As often is the case, I was fashionably late. This time, it was for Blogtoberfest, which is hosted by Big Cat over at Big Cat's Emporium. Blogtoberfest involves blogging every day in October, or at least making an attempt to. Big Cat has already hosted a giveaway, but I believe we are looking at an art swap too, which is ALWAYS awesome.

So pop on over to Big Cat's Emporium, sign on to blog your ass off, then grab a banner from the always-awesome flossy-p, and join in the fun, even if you are fashionably late!

Lily

2008-10-03T06:41:00.000-07:00

Lily is now available in the shop.

Then and Two weeks ago

2008-09-30T19:17:00.000-07:00

From Kafka's first two weeks with us:

And then two weeks ago:

I need to load more pictures. Rest assured, you'll see more.

Deer in the Woods

2008-09-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

You must be pretty sure I've been hibernating, but I haven't been. It's been summer people! The weather in upstate New York has been wonderful! There's a puppy to take care of! Some updates for you:

1. Name that Puppy Update: His name is Kafka (Chindi's Metamorphosis) and Anne, who commented in with that suggestion, received a series of puppy kisses pictures, and a short, puppy-tongue filled video. And now he has almost tripled his weight.

2. I've finally opened an etsy store. More in a later post. I've got a number of new drawings to post too.

3. I love my blood sister, non-blood sister (in-law) and my best friend, but I don't spend nearly enough time with them. I love the men in my life too (I have brothers galore), but sometimes a girl just needs to get with her ladies.

4. If I have learned one lesson this summer it is to take more vacations.

5. Sarah Palin. WTF?? Please don't vote for someone because they have a vagina. Please vote because you agree with their politics and are sure that they know what they are doing. Something to consider: She doesn't believe in the theory of evolution or that mankind has anything to do with global warming. And that doesn't even scratch the surface of her grand "Alaska is close to Russia" argument for foreign policy. When McCain unveiled her, I didn't sleep for three nights because of Palin nightmares.

6. The deer still come around. This morning, not 35 feet from my living room window, stood an enormous 10 point buck. Incredible.

I'm all right.

2008-07-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

Hell yeah, I am.

Yesterday, my friend Amanda and I ran the Boilermaker 15K road race, one of the most well-k. Then we drank some beer at the ginormous after-party located at the F.X. Matt Brewing Company, home to Saranac Beer. Mmmm. Pomegranate Wheat Beer.

It was better than awesome, even though there were some technical difficulties and my results didn't register, so that now the only proof I have of actually finishing the race is my finisher's pin. Even though I felt like sleeping on the sweaty grass of the reunion area afterwards. Even though my brother John and I had to drive back to Rochester so that he could start roofing Dad's house. Even though my sister-in-law Shelley had to drive downstate after the race to start class on Monday instead of coming back with John and I. Even though we couldn't stay and hang out with Amanda's amazing family and drink more beer. Even though we had to drive 40 mph on the NYS Thruway on the way home because (although dry for the race) the rain was that bad.

Thanks Amanda for convincing me to run it! Yay knees!

The "What Do We Name Him" Contest!

2008-07-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

I'm a lover, not a fighter.

So what do you think?
Not Spot, Fido, Wind Waker (that's from a video game, and is the Meep's favorite)... I was in favor of The Dude, but JJ shot that down. He didn't like The Big Lebowski, either.

Rules:
1. The "official" name can be pretty much anything, but we're obligated to started it with "Chindi's", so if you liked the name Harrison Ford, the whole name would be "Chindi's Harrison Ford".
2. The name has to translate into an everyday name (i.e. Chindi's Harrison Ford could be Harrison, Harry, Ford etc.)
3. Remember that the Meep has to be able to call the dog by it's name, so don't suggest stuff like "Lick Balls" or "Ass Master". To the people who already suggested those names, you know who you are. I've got my eye on you.
4. You may enter as many times as you wish. Karl Barx has already been entered.

Winner Receives:
Many sweet little kisses from said named puppy, either in person or on film. Said puppy is not slobbery yet, and smells extremely good, so it's not the regular dog tongue-lashings. These are PUPPY kisses, people. Kisses will be available some time after August 4th.

***

Update! Here are some names thrown into the hat via email, phone, or visit (thanks mom):
Rufus
Bacon Bit (or even better in French, Petit Lardon... the little lard)
List Whistler
Watson
Ferdinand
Holy Mother Terrence (aka Mother Teresa b/c his sweet face can do no harm)
Hershey from the house of Kobie
Polonius
Charles Bronson (aka Charles, Bronson, Charley, Chuck, but absolutely NOT Bron Bron)
Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum
Brownie
Reginald
Zorro
Oreo
Jack the Kerouac
Ernest Hemmingway
Kirby or Hoover (because surely, he will be vacuuming up any crumbs)
Bobby B(rown)
Sir Poopy the Puppy (!!! thanks to my fabulous sister for that one. you are so cool.)
Wu-Tang Clan
Zero
Mighty Mouse
Mr. Tumbus

Brief News

2008-07-07T05:19:00.000-07:00

The end of fiscal year at work has finally come and gone. Whew!
Still several weeks left of summer classes (and tests).
Next weekend I am taking a little trip to run the Boilermaker in Utica, NY.
I hope your 4th of July was wonderful.

2008-06-25T05:32:00.000-07:00

I know, I know... I've been neglecting you! Well, once in a while, that's what I do. I promise to make it up to you, because I've got loads of stuff to post. I've been busy thoroughly cleaning house, with class, the meep... JJ was in San Fransisco last week, so I had a little extra to keep up with.

To make up for my procrastination , may I present to you some PUPPIES!

Click on the pictures to get closer to the puppy goodness!

look at that little yummy puppy leg hanging out on the left. What a pork chop.

I normally don't always go in for cute, but I'll make an exception in this case, since one of these beautiful boys will be coming home with us in August. That's right folks. We're going to be puppy parents. Look at their parents!

See that little guy with the spot right in the middle of his back? I'm sort of in love with him, although I suppose we should MEET them first before falling in love with a picture.

Oh my gosh, get a load of that face.

By the way, it's fun to talk to breeders. The good ones are sooooo careful about who they sell to, and ask you a million questions. The best part is when they say "bitch" and I have to stifle a giggle. Bitch as in, "she's a solid bitch," "this bitch's litters are are winners," "I've got the best bitches you've ever seen!" However, my favorite was, "really lady, that bitch is gosh-dang FINE." Yeah, we're not getting a dog from that guy.

Father's Day

2008-06-15T23:51:00.000-07:00

My husband is amazing. He gives and gives and gives. And we take and take and take.

I am selfish and willful; bullheaded and hot under the collar. High strung, they call it when discussing horses. I can be very... unpleasant. That was a polite way to describe it, believe me.

The Boy is prone to typical nine year old behavior, like wanting to devote his life to Game Boy and Wii, as well as tearing holes in the knees of all of his jeans within a week of them being purchased, not always brushing his teeth thoroughly and throwing the occasional fit for ABSOLUTELY NO APPARENT REASON.

Not only does he put up with us, he loves us. Takes care of us. My husband always, no matter what, in any situation, has our best interests at heart. He is constantly gathering the three of us into a united front. The Boy is in love with him. I am in love with him.

He is all I could ever hope for for the two of us, and so much more.

Happy Father's Day, baby.

Dragon and Phoenix

2008-06-15T20:35:00.000-07:00

My cousin Dan was married today to the beautiful and hysterically funny Sarah. Their ceremony was outside, the weather was beautiful, and later the cake was awesome. I ate too much of it.
Sarah's got a thing for Asian art, so I thought I'd try my hand at the old dragon and phoenix. The dragon and phoenix (or Fenghuang) are another common metaphor for the yin and yang, and in Chinese culture represent the harmony of the union between man and wife. The red circle with the Chinese "love" character is actually cut out from their bright wedding invitation.

Congratulations guys!

Dear Michelle DaRin, (redux)

2008-06-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

I was reminded by my freaking awesome sister last night, Michelle, of your awesomeness. And so, to rejoice in it once again, I decided to repost this from my all but abandoned other blog:

Let me remind you of our meeting:

Sunday, September 9, 2007 in the damp of the Clothesline Festival at theMemorial Art Gallery in Rochester.

I had a Blow Pop. You, Michelle, asked where I had gotten it.

I drooled a little over one of your beetle bracelets.

You had to go somewhere, and said if my sister or I needed any help, your friend could help us. We watched you walk away and my sister said, "She looks so cool. I want to be her friend." And I said "me too." (Then she and I had a brief discussion about how if you want to be friends with someone, saying "you look so cool, I want to be your friend" normally doesn't get you anywhere, even if it is the most direct approach.)

We should have bought something, but we didn't, because we are hoarding our money. My sister is saving for a grand scheme that will go unnamed here. I just spent an unmentionable amount of money on my Totally Kick Ass Wedding. And in the next year Doc & I are going to buy a house. (*update* - yeah, we totally bought that house)

Yes, we realize now that money is not all it's cracked up to be when faced with your magnificent creations.

Now I have non-buyer remorse, and will have to rectify this by trying to find the awesome earrings we fell in love with at the MAG.

Sigh.*update* - Michelle, my sister and I bought your incredibly beautiful turquoise bird earrings for each other Christmas this year. We ordered them separately through the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, and they are perfect. When you sent the set she ordered, I think you were unsure about the color they had asked you for, because you also sent a second, deeper blue set. I had to go back later with Christmas money and buy them too, because... well, because I have an art-crush on you. Just sayin.

all images from www.MichelleDaRinJewelry.com and are by David Broda & James DaRin

Perspective.

2008-06-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

If you do anything today, you should read this post from Mackin Ink.

Even if you don't feel like it now, your heart will grow three sizes today, just like the Grinch.

Late Baby

2008-06-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

At first I was going to post her for Illustration Friday, but then the week squeaked by me and still, no Baby. Besides, I wanted to give her just a little color. So here she is, no longer for Illustration Friday. Instead, now she's just for you.

late afternoon sun

2008-06-07T17:26:00.001-07:00

click either to make it larger.

Enjoy your evenings!

tease

2008-06-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

click for a larger image.

True story

2008-06-05T06:11:00.001-07:00

A cut and paste of a conversation I had this morning with my friend Aubrey (whom I have known since we were five, who I also dated in high school, whose wedding party I was in when he married my best friend, and who was in my wedding party when I married my fantastic husband):

Aubrey: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=35469477

Sent at 8:29 AM on Thursday

me: i saw it last night. it's sad!

Aubrey: that was funny as hell

me: btw, this morning i saw a male duck chasing a female duck through the air

and then the female flew SMACK! into a third floor window of the library and fell.

so i ran around to see if she was ok, and when i got there, the two of them were on the ground having sex.

Aubrey: LOL

me: i had to drop some stuff off in my office and go back out to my car to get something

and when i came back out to go to the car

the male was still flapping around on her

Aubrey: nice

did we tell you about the ducks we saw in california?

me: this is right next to the sidewalk, by the way, so i thought that i'd better chase them away

Sent at 8:39 AM on Thursday

me: so i walked over and shooed them

and when he got off, i saw she was dead

Aubrey: ugh

me: he was (having intercourse with)* her dead body.

or attempting to

Aubrey: duck necrophilia

me: so i did chase him away, and he comes back, and i chase him away, and he waddles back. he kept trying to mount her!

Aubrey: we saw a duck gang bang in cali

me: finally i had to run after the (horrible, confused male duck)* until he flew away.

i felt so bad

gang bang! necrophilia!

ducks are (really crazy)*

Aubrey: word

Sent at 8:42 AM on Thursday

Aubrey's new status message - I'm not here right now 8:51 AM

me: I'm cutting and pasting this chat on my blog.

Aubrey: boobs

me: but i'll *cut out the bad words.
Aubrey: ( . Y . )

Indeed. Humor-wise, my friends are pretty much 14. Young at heart, kiddies... young at heart. Yes, it's a sad story. Also it was truly disturbing to see the male desperately try to hump the dead duck. Ugh.

Pictures later, folks. Have a grand day!

silence is golden.

2008-06-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

got any ideas?

2008-06-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

Mmm... Monday. I've been a little out of sorts the last few days, and I need to snap out of it. Things I have tried:

A massage (I know that as soon as anyone reads that they are going to think I'm spoiled, but it's been at least three or four years since the last one I had, so I was due.)
eating cake
exercising
reading
sleeping in
hanging out with my mom
a mojito. Okay, I lied. Mojitos.

None of them have worked. So what else can I do? Tell me! I need your help!

life with flowers

2008-05-30T03:53:00.000-07:00

I hope you have a nice day.

shadow

2008-05-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

I hate the word abscess. And dentists. Or rather, having to see them.

I'm looking at this and it seems so faint. Dentists must have secret x-ray vision.

I still like rugby!

2008-05-26T20:35:00.000-07:00

The otter went home with my good friend Amanda the other day. She studies river otters, and gets really excited over finding otter poop. Well, this one likes rugby, and unfortunately for her, I do think he'll be pooping any time soon. Sorry Amanda!

Click on the picture to make it larger. There is a close up of his face here.

Also, I never grow tired of bubble wrap. It begs to be popped.

Memorial Day antics

2008-05-26T20:18:00.000-07:00

The weekend was nice and longish. We had some friends over yesterday for dinner (steak, crab and hamburgers for children), and then when they left, the men of the house had a camp out in the backyard.

The Meep was all for ghost stories, but instead they resorted to... movies on a laptop. Part of me here says what a great idea! The other part thinks that camping is something you do without a tv. Er, laptop. Whatever. You know what I mean, but do you agree??

Anyway, son and husband both went right to sleep after movie watching.

Today I spent cleaning, drawing, and just plain lazing about outside. It was fabulous. What a good day to smell flowers.

crabs smell and so do my hands.

2008-05-25T17:42:00.001-07:00

Four things I've learned today:

1. Eating outside is effing awesome. Especially if I get to eat crab and drink mojitos with good friends.

2. That may be mint in my backyard, but it is elderly mint. And what I mean by that is that it's not very minty.

3. Our boy is even better with little kids than we imagined. He played hide and seek like a champ and STILL said please and thank you. We should have company every day.

4. My husband and my best friend seem to be the same person, simply with different parts. This is why I love them both so much.

turkey on the lawn

2008-05-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

We were driving down a quiet street last night on the way to the boy's fencing lesson, when low and behold, we spied a female turkey casually walking down the street across people's lawns. She picked her way through the grass, and every now and again gave off a low cooing cluck. Not quite a chicken noise, but she most certainly wasn't a dove either. She was completely indifferent to my car as I slowly drove along next to her, and unafraid of the group of people sneaking along behind her with cameras in their hands.

my one blurry picture of the event

It was a lovely, unexpected thing to see on a busy Tuesday evening.

i like rugby.

2008-05-20T20:25:00.000-07:00

in progress, for a friend.

Skipperdoo says he spilled his wine.

2008-05-20T04:08:00.000-07:00

Poor Skipperdoo.

gone baby gone

2008-05-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

After a full weekend, the in-laws have departed, having helped us fix our small and yet very heavy toilet AND cleaning the bathroom afterwards. The good news is that the visit forced us to clean and organize our house, and because of that, now we are intent on keeping it that way. I wonder how long we will be able to keep that up, but if it's through the week I'll be mighty impressed.

Saturday we had delicious strip steak that the husband grilled on our newish grill, fabulous pasta salad and baked fried prepared by moi. It was a good meal, but after tonight, I am going back to being a vegetarian. It's been a lovely trip back into animal meat country, but I've been feeling the effects a little too much. I have to wait until after tonight because I still have one Zweigle's white hot left and I will be eating it THIS EVENING. Mmm, delicious white hot made of pork and veal, I shall miss you so even though you are made from piggies and baby cows. Truly, I will. Once the white hot is gone, I may be missing out on sirloin and bacon, but I'll feel better physically. Not as tired and weighed down.

In other news, I was able to complete one of my twice weekly drawings - a bear that I'll be posting this evening. I was pretty convinced I wouldn't be able to get another one out this week, and I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. The Meep named the bear Skipperdoo, which in my opinion, is a fabulous name for a bear. I also, on request, drew a flower with two blooms for the step-father in law, but neglected to snap a picture before they left. I was glad to get a chance to do them both.

between paint and painting.

2008-05-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

The kitchen cabinets are all hung and now only missing hardware. It makes quite a difference in the kitchen, and I'll post pictures soon. In other good news, I may have stayed up late, but I did clean off my drafting table, and even unpacked an entire box of supplies!

I am beginning to miss painting. I have spent weeks painting walls, cabinets, drawers... but no canvas. I have piles of it neatly bundled in the basement, and have had no time to get to it. On top of this, I'll be starting class again in a couple of weeks, so I'm only going to get busier. I'll have to start digging around for some time!

This zebra ended up going to a lovely, quiet man in California. It was the first painting I ever sold, and I loved it. I hope he's enjoying it.

drawing day & the half the in-laws.

2008-05-15T08:50:00.001-07:00

Today would be, by all accounts, one of my drawing days. Two days a week - Tuesday and Thursday, I set aside time to both start and finish a drawing. My unspoken pact with myself says I must complete two a week. My in laws, however (one half of them = husbands mother & stepfather) are going to be here from out of state tomorrow and my house still looks like we moved in last week. I love my in-laws, but I am a little ashamed of how disorganized we currently are. There are boxes everywhere and I am still finishing painting the kitchen cabinets.

See that thing covered in boxes in the corner there? Yeah, that's my drawing table. Here you can see various painting implements, one cabinet door and three of the drawers that go to our $60 VOA buffet table for the empty kitchen wall.

So it looks like I will be spending a large amount of time this evening finishing the cupboards, unpacking, and decorating. I'll let you know how it goes!

Deer me. Dragons and Deserts too.

2008-05-14T20:27:00.000-07:00

We had two deer in the back this evening, both smaller than the one we had yesterday. One was quite skinny, and appeared to either be limping or just have very stiff hind legs, almost as though it might have gotten hit by a car. Watching them, the meep said, "do you think that's why he's eating our delicious crab apple leaves? to get his strength up?"

Ricky sometimes likes to get a little feisty in his tank. Once in a while I'll walk into the room to find that instead of his usual, ridiculously lazy self, he has decided to climb up the wall. I can't imagine what he is thinking of his strange glass house. Sometimes I think he dreams of deserts.

He never knew one, but some other bearded dragons, somewhere down his family line, did. Maybe he somehow remembers it.

A little pen and ink Ricky, telling you he'd like to be out in the wild.

Deer O Rama

2008-05-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

Look what I found in our back yard today. We've known that we had them back there, but they have pretty much been keeping to themselves since we moved in.

Why, hello there. Just so you know, your crab apple branches have delicious tender leaves. Mmm... I sure have enjoyed them.

Isn't her coat gorgeous? I believe she's shedding her winter coat so right now it's not brown or gray, but almost a calico. It was absolutely beautiful, and this last picture I was able to take from quite close up. The deer let me come all the way to the back corner of the yard, and when it left it took its time. It wasn't scared, it just meandered away. What a great moment.

I moved

2008-05-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

All of my posts, that is. So I didn't really write all that are below this one on the same day, i promise.

I cleaned the old site up and trashed a LOT. I basically put a smack down on ebay, for one. Maybe that way I'll be a little more organized. Ha ha. I crack me up. I keep moaning internally about the time it will take me to repost paintings and so on, but chin up!

So take heart-- I will not procrastinate as much as I'd like, and gradually the blog will look better and be refurbished again.

home again home again jiggidy jig!

2008-05-13T09:08:00.001-07:00

Thank goodness it's Friday. Ricky sure is glad:

and, as promised a better picture of the mice:

slovenly, but at least interesting.

2008-05-13T09:07:00.001-07:00

Seriously. I wish that I had that neatness gene that makes my mom whirl through rooms and leave them spotless, but I just don't. This is actually pretty clean, above. I feel better just looking at it. That's not even a picture of the turkey tail and FOOT that my co-worker mounted and brought in for me that is on the other end of my desk (which wraps completely around my office). I'll have to add a picture later. It is definitely disturbing, and weirdly impressive.

In other news, drawing is going well, although I haven't been painting or making anything. As previously mentioned, too much house stuff going on.

Ick... phone pictures. Better ones later. Lately I have been drawing conversations. These little mice are having one. Stinky cheese and cats-- who doesn't love talking about them?

Meh.

2008-05-13T09:06:00.001-07:00

The new house feeling is suddenly wearing off. I stayed home today for an appointment with a plumber to replace two of the four spigots on our house, and after three hours, some banging and drilling, discovering that my dishwasher drain is rigged with duck tape (yes, folks, tape) and said duck tape catching on fire ever-so-briefly-- our water refused to come back on. I had to call the water authority to turn it off at the street so that the plumber could take apart the main water valve coming into the house and drive to the plumbing supply place to pick up another one. It was fabulous. At least he fixed the kitchen sink while we waited for the water authority. sheesh.

2008-05-13T09:05:00.001-07:00

Warmer weather is here, the trees in my yard are in bloom, and i wake up at 5:30 every morning to birds talking to each other outside our window.
The new house is amazing. We talk about how it's almost like living in a vacation: the big back yard framed by woods, the quiet, the old people, not knowing where everything is (boxes, people... everything is still in boxes).
Really, it is quite lovely.