My first try at paper cutting

These are some cute little paper cuts that I did. I got the pattern from one of my favorite artist blogs- www.elsita.typad.com she is a Cuban artist that does so many wonderful things. Anyway, I loved the peaceful cutting away. I used an exacto knife with a number 11 blade. I'm beginning to design my own now, so will post that soon.

The Beast Within

This is kitty, fat-cat, sh--t head etc. He is our resident evil. I gave him to Laney 10 years ago when he was cute and fluffy and innocent. He looks pretty benign no? Just try and walk by that bed, his little outstretched arm will hook you faster then you can get by. He also bites ankles. My favorite thing that he does however, is to empty his bowels where ever he feels like it. Oh sure, he'll go in the littler box but sometimes just for his own amusement he will leave a man sized one on the kitchen floor or when he is in a particularly dismal mood he will pee on things. I've tossed out two chairs, a couch and numerous dog beds. I don't know if you have ever smelled cat pee but it latches on to what ever is was deposited on and clings for dear life through all kinds of wash cycles and scrubbing. Is that all you ask? Well no, he also goes out on the roof through our window and snatches bats and birds out of the air and deposits them live on my bedroom floor at 2 or 3 in the morning! Have you ever tried to grab a bat with your old sweat pants? It looks up at you bearing its little fangs and hisses as you try not to imagine rabies shots in the belly. The birds he sometimes kills. One day I had left the clean laundry on the floor and he dismantled a little bird on top of the pile leaving the feathers to dust the mountain of laundry like a fresh snow. He is a real beauty.....and yet when he is gone I guess we will miss him, for now I keep trying to think of guiltless ways to help him run off into the woods.

Lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners and deep thinking

My family thinks I love to vacuum. This is not entirely true. Vacuuming helps me think and organize myself, don't ask me why...it somehow evolved when I had small children and needed time to myself but also needed to feel productive. Any how, I mowed our little acre and 1/2 with the hand mower the other day...couldn't stop. Then I scrubbed the bathroom with ammonia and borax. I was sweating and very tired. What prompted this insanity? I needed to think. I was thinking about girl friendships. You see I was called on the carpet by a old friend. I had no idea that I had somehow violated our friendship (I don't know all the rules!) and there it was-20 years of friendship down the toilet because of my ignorance and seemed insensitivity to her situation. Well first I was very upset and sad, then I got angry. I had not done anything so awful that I deserved to be cut loose like some puny little bait fish. PLUS I didn't even know I had done anything!

Well the bottom line is girl friendships have always confused me. In Jr. high I just spent every day with my horse, so much easier and a less complicated friendship. In college I roomed with guys. Again, more direct, no hidden agenda, no hurt feelings if we went out with other people or we didn't call each other. Don't get me wrong, I envy girls who seem to have these great forever friendships and I thought I had a few going until, well until I broke some unwritten but assumed rule. I have a few good friends that don't play these games and I am thankful for them. But it still disturbs me. I have a beautiful daughter and I'm not sure Ive been the best role model for girl friendships to her. I also teach and see how at an early age girls begin this manipulative path of communication. I think I will have to read up on it. For now I keep gas in the mower and a new belt on the vac. You never know when life is going to throw you a curve ball.

Technology and Food......Food wins!

I am just beginning to enjoy the challenges of computer communication. Putting up that collage header was BIG for me. I think I enjoy learning about how to use my computer and all of the programs, it's just the sitting in front of a screen for hours that disturbs me a bit.

Have been into Greek food lately. Made spanakopita and stuffed peppers today, made a feta dip and lemon chicken yesterday..very yummy. I also put together some curtains for the trailer from some fabric I picked up at the Brimfield fair. Always fun to spend the day there. I think I enjoy seeing peoples outfits more then I enjoy the antiques...really should have taken some photos.

Another sunny day!

The photos below are all recent shots of what is happening around here, basically from dog to human it's :work on the trailer, lay in the sun, eat something from the greenhouse. Not a bad way to spend the day.

Today I was especially keen on the nap in the hammock. Anthony turned 21 today and spent last night at the bars with his friends. Why is that a ritual that all young men feel they have to participate in? I think in other countries they slay water buffalo's and drink their blood, or go on some vision quest. Not the American boy, no! They dive headlong into a Long Island Iced tea and sing Karaoke at the Oriental Pearl and then wake up in a blissful fog for having attained some sort of manhood. I think I'm just cynical because I stayed up waiting for his safe return and didn't get to bed until 3.

How Toby spends his days

This dog loves a soft bed...in fact he has three! If it is hot out this is his usual position in front of the fan. I envy his lack of shame!

Arugula, beans and lettuce, just picked!

The green house is beginning to produce! I cant get enough of the arugula.

My favorite place to spend the day

 

Flower garden (Chuck built that long wall too!)

Years ago Chuck dragged rocks out of the woods and from under the house and built this wall. What a guy!

The Greenhouse

 

The master craftsman himself

 

This is our cute little 1968? maybe? Shasta trailer. It was a long time finding her, searching on eBay and craigslist. She turned up the next town over behind some old farm just sitting there in a bit of disrepair. Now, getting that farmer to give her up is a story in itself! In fact there seems to be a lot of attachment to old trailers but not because people are using them...it's because they store stuff in them. I think I had 4 trailers that I almost bought but the seller decided not to sell at the last minute all because they were full of stuff!!. Any way at long last here she is in our driveway. YAY!!

Here is the inside after we ripped it all out.

My new blog!

I am far too ADD to deal with facebook on a daily basis! So many postings and gifts and tests! I'm easily overwhelmed. So just one spot to share what is happening around me is fine thank you.

Life right now revolves around pleasing the Sun God so we can have some resemblance of summer. Of course those of you who know I ( I shouldn't say I, its really just Chuck) have been working on the trailer to turn it into a little sno-cone oasis and of course you need heat in order to really appreciate an oasis. Here are some pictures showing you what is going on so far on Chase Road.