tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80748792024-03-07T02:14:10.758-06:00Fifi's Graffitialter ego, altered art, semi-fearless diyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-40467727901479567292008-12-04T10:02:00.001-06:002008-12-04T10:02:15.080-06:00weapon of choice<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lomokev/2463400705/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2463400705_ccaa67e06d_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lomokev/2463400705/">the rat bat</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lomokev/">lomokev</a>. </span></div>Imagine thinking you have a rat in your hair as you sleep. Imagine waking up and thinking it was only a dream. Imagine finding out it wasn't a dream.<br /><br />I thought I dreamt a rat played in my hair and then stole my orange earplugs. Last night I found out it really happened. <br /><br />I hear a noise about 2 a.m. I turned on the light. I saw a rat scurry along the east wall, turn and run under my bed. I squealed like the proverbial elephant in the cartoons. My mom got a shoe and rapped it against the wall. The rat ran out. We don't know where it went. I cautiously lifted the bedclothes and peered under the bed. There were my two earplugs, neatly in place and now Gnawed into useless orange bits. <br /><br />I had to sleep with all the lights on.<br /><br />Get me a bat.<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-69137663951134119492007-08-18T11:07:00.001-05:002008-05-04T10:00:39.204-05:00I'mOVER HERE now!Come visit me at my new version of <a href="http://mcirillo.com/">Fifi's Graffiti</a>.<br /><br />I'm still working on the site so things may be dusty for awhile.<br />(achooo!)<br />see, I'm still breathing that construction-site dust!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-68147476096069332092007-08-07T11:38:00.000-05:002007-08-07T11:49:37.895-05:00hot time in the ol' town<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirUoK_aoAMm9KQnCvKbxgefQU_BPBMmqHZhuQ9f09MdvC1DxaKwRtFKfX2SIFFIKYBu7V2A2h-MbBOVMbu-n-2Dqsw6me2qdlPFP13e0t1SHpxgNkPmGrGCBTjmdL2TsKJ0XC/s1600-h/heatgraffiti.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirUoK_aoAMm9KQnCvKbxgefQU_BPBMmqHZhuQ9f09MdvC1DxaKwRtFKfX2SIFFIKYBu7V2A2h-MbBOVMbu-n-2Dqsw6me2qdlPFP13e0t1SHpxgNkPmGrGCBTjmdL2TsKJ0XC/s320/heatgraffiti.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095999229806905122" border="0" /></a>It's finally feeling like summer. It hasn't rained in almost a week (was beginning to think I lived in Seattle again!) and the temperature is inching up towards 100 degrees. It's mighty late for summer to just be starting.<br /><br />Yesterday was one of those fine days that makes me happy to be outdoors. The ground had dried enough so the mowers were able to cut down much of the prairie grasses that border I75 from here to Allen. I had the windows rolled down and just inhaled the sweet smell while the wind whipped my face. A convertible would've been nice. I didn't need the radio. The sound of the highway was all my ears wanted for the 45-minute trip to work. Only one minor slow-down where the poor sandblasters, covered head to toe in their work get-up, were prettying up the low concrete walls of the freeway divider; otherwise it was clear sailing at 60 per. What more could a girl want?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-62472054414114252792007-08-01T11:11:00.001-05:002007-08-01T11:43:21.934-05:00hard worker<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctl4H6f4pxsR6PazYBpY5jaM_jjWppcKC-2SOO1pEb8Gpy6kwfcB9goFBp4GREaXv9C8Im1-xPx12YRPv1iBXWmJGp9N4G_lj_xiZRyIBs9HNy0QsdB8veqgxvNkVCfPsGqMn/s1600-h/hardwk+hydrant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctl4H6f4pxsR6PazYBpY5jaM_jjWppcKC-2SOO1pEb8Gpy6kwfcB9goFBp4GREaXv9C8Im1-xPx12YRPv1iBXWmJGp9N4G_lj_xiZRyIBs9HNy0QsdB8veqgxvNkVCfPsGqMn/s320/hardwk+hydrant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093765597704881938" border="0" /></a><br />The body is a strange and wonderful thing, but when it gets tired the brain gets confused over its conflicting messages. The thunder rolled through this morning, and my brain dimly perceived that it was a good thing to continue sleeping. I did. Later, my bladder urgently prodded my brain, insisting it attend to that bodily function. The brain demurred, or was it the rest of the body? "Don't move," someone crooned seductively. "Get up!" asserted the bladder. "No, sleep on," purred my gentle friend. "Get UP!" shouted the bladder. I listened to this argument for some time in a semi-amused semi-comatose state.<br /><br />Finally I got up.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-87224118123510655072007-07-30T10:22:00.000-05:002007-07-30T10:30:34.144-05:00pair o'pears<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyZfVAcEwOR-25797fkUlk9rRtrYb_AFm6hoCYG9gs_cIHED06-PLqEMtNFbfKUpyLoTZ5nRNzd4K0-seaKSWkZkw941j5U9MJHfK4Ozd6UPY9SspSgoZ9edgQQRe1hXadTjV/s1600-h/pears.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyZfVAcEwOR-25797fkUlk9rRtrYb_AFm6hoCYG9gs_cIHED06-PLqEMtNFbfKUpyLoTZ5nRNzd4K0-seaKSWkZkw941j5U9MJHfK4Ozd6UPY9SspSgoZ9edgQQRe1hXadTjV/s320/pears.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093011165224503042" border="0" /></a>I took my camera out yesterday but it started pouring down rain about five minutes later so here's about all I got. We thought we had a Bradford Pear tree outside the back door; imagine our surprise to find real pears growing on it. The squirrels (or other critters) got most of them so there are only about five left on the thinnest, most precarious branches. These two are the largest. They are 2 1/2 - 3 inches long and hang almost at eye level so they smack us in the head when going down the back steps. Don't know what kind of pears they are yet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-56449666287068265362007-07-23T12:56:00.000-05:002007-07-23T13:02:37.558-05:00fight corporate domination<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxutB1boIoBMvImJF-_9XZku1Zdfg1pgfXrWOMc4DgcXPDueOEtg5Z7okNG5KH-A4lnkOiU8XguHWkt7KljI4_BO2KTxehyABzhe0ja1XuRXDFA1R_Y-aR5hRb8tIkWcbSIQn/s1600-h/corporatefight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxutB1boIoBMvImJF-_9XZku1Zdfg1pgfXrWOMc4DgcXPDueOEtg5Z7okNG5KH-A4lnkOiU8XguHWkt7KljI4_BO2KTxehyABzhe0ja1XuRXDFA1R_Y-aR5hRb8tIkWcbSIQn/s320/corporatefight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090453031163397874" border="0" /></a><br />I've been in the dumps lately because I'm so tired. Yesterday I realized (again!) it's no good having the attitude of "I'm so tired, my brain's so numb, I can't do anything." I knew I'd better snap out of it. Today is Day One of my new attitude. I'm trying to get back to my old routine as much as possible, thumbing my nose at tiredness. It's a fight every day.<br /><br />I did this page in my art journal a few weeks back. I was experimenting with layering rubber stamps & it was the first time I attached tags to a piece (at least I think it was). It was a premonition of how I knew I was going to be feeling after a few weeks of long hours and unfortunately it came true.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-84237255408334172992007-07-17T11:09:00.000-05:002007-07-17T11:16:59.414-05:00altered signal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfSoLlRVe2F5QL4rRF-O4MoTMSs_X74LGmXnblD80t2HWzqN2L3AFR9uz9MhmNHF50Z0waEOgribow8a1r2eVyjKGmn0QpC_Rn8maJjuRJwBqRUhjzlPTqT6OZezthuFqJjhn/s1600-h/rocketman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfSoLlRVe2F5QL4rRF-O4MoTMSs_X74LGmXnblD80t2HWzqN2L3AFR9uz9MhmNHF50Z0waEOgribow8a1r2eVyjKGmn0QpC_Rn8maJjuRJwBqRUhjzlPTqT6OZezthuFqJjhn/s320/rocketman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088198966599247522" border="0" /></a><br />Last week there was an extra-bad backup on the freeway so I exited ASAP and took the "back roads" to work. Along the way I spotted this little character on a corner. I didn't have my camera but I retraced my route a few days ago and captured its likeness. Three good lessons learned: 1) a blocked road can mean opportunity elsewhere; 2) always carry your camera; 3) take an alternate route on purpose.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-48704751614917354292007-07-16T11:03:00.000-05:002007-07-16T11:11:30.056-05:00flower hydrant<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmorh5NyNdvDszpPW6xb7RGprPTH1G5tpQBWrTm9IffRlHHwTIA3HDvRTKIb7MTdMPckM40r6BNw-yD82Tch39uqErspo0OAJ9zFruS0pWkMQwAYq6PRl6HxcVgQiB7I0vDVCS/s1600-h/flowerhydrant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmorh5NyNdvDszpPW6xb7RGprPTH1G5tpQBWrTm9IffRlHHwTIA3HDvRTKIb7MTdMPckM40r6BNw-yD82Tch39uqErspo0OAJ9zFruS0pWkMQwAYq6PRl6HxcVgQiB7I0vDVCS/s320/flowerhydrant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087826326646711954" border="0" /></a>I know I've been neglecting the blog. I'm working long hours and my brain is mushy. I have trouble making decisions. Sometimes I've been able to keep up a journal during the summertime crunch at work, but I'm more tired this year. I think overtime is wearing thin.<br /><br />The sun has been shining brightly for a few days now. Even though the rain has kept temperatures in the low 90s I'm hoping it will go away for a while.....two months would be good for me.<br /><br />I like fire hydrants. Here's one in front of a dentist's office that someone turned into a garden ornament. Is this legal??Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-33918432856664585842007-07-09T12:52:00.001-05:002007-07-09T13:02:47.014-05:00droopy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfWzG77U1EOOm2o6ZRqFhXUG06aUnA5uQdf3r8zCpgHIgBhHc49rUzfIHmLBoTcxwP7kiW1p_mx-hupe-25Q_imj_3zWLdFwTgXyOHIfpFeGjpzIY7ssOQgjVcvTdgKfq1nmB/s1600-h/droopy+sunflwr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfWzG77U1EOOm2o6ZRqFhXUG06aUnA5uQdf3r8zCpgHIgBhHc49rUzfIHmLBoTcxwP7kiW1p_mx-hupe-25Q_imj_3zWLdFwTgXyOHIfpFeGjpzIY7ssOQgjVcvTdgKfq1nmB/s320/droopy+sunflwr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085256748923629634" border="0" /></a>Was there a droopy dwarf in Snow White? Let's see: Grumpy, Happy, Dopey, Sleepy, Bashful & Doc, who am I missing? oh, I'll look it up later.<br /><br />I feel droopy like this sunflower. We've had a couple of breaks from the rain, where we've gone almost 48 hours without moisture from the sky, so that perks me up a little, but I'm still getting used to my summer work schedule. My inner clock wants to wake up at 8 am but my body needs to sleep til about 10:30. Maybe I'll be adjusted by next week.<br /><br />I had to put my art projects on hold as I switched gears to work on the bathroom again. Someday I'll finish it.....<br /><br />I watched an old re-run of The Twilight Zone a few days ago and suddenly realized most of the episodes are about men. I'd never noticed that before. I'll have to keep that in mind if I watch it again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-68302814776421483412007-07-05T10:23:00.001-05:002007-07-05T10:32:13.085-05:00beyond fashion?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrflCA8p2l4xSrk_rvoU_ioEGU6Akoe1ubkNuJOcGzSmXGvbVQp6suMClyLk2QgltrORHpTksCYM5PqkywL635AkxF929kEZXzKZheKbKGNT431uaBe4oIglhgaT415Rd-Tvwo/s1600-h/reinvent.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrflCA8p2l4xSrk_rvoU_ioEGU6Akoe1ubkNuJOcGzSmXGvbVQp6suMClyLk2QgltrORHpTksCYM5PqkywL635AkxF929kEZXzKZheKbKGNT431uaBe4oIglhgaT415Rd-Tvwo/s400/reinvent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083733890959421490" border="0" /></a>"It's going to be <span style="font-style: italic;">beyond</span> fashion." (quote from fashion mag.) Hmmmmm. If we think about just what that might really mean perhaps we don't need the fashion mags or anyone else telling us what to wear.<br /><br />I experimented with some magazine clippings after looking at some of the faces Teesha Moore has made. Mine didn't turn out as well but I'll get the hang of it.<br /><br />I was a little bit appalled at how similar the facial proportions were in photos of the same size. One set of eyes or lips easily replaced those in a number of other photos. It says a lot about the narrowness of the fashion industry's view of feminine beauty.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-17582453246595192302007-07-02T11:05:00.001-05:002007-07-02T11:16:12.434-05:00dreamlight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKNQbk2gtsf5UAJzGzIvJ8Ly0e7hx50PJDr-csKV8Jkbwpdh90HRTtBq-3-m5M46v9I8Vb-b7IKlaCiVIC3It9cNSJuzmzR-WHoR-VQb1fA0A2GgT9IR7VuABqKo8VlUIvW1Q/s1600-h/dreamlight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKNQbk2gtsf5UAJzGzIvJ8Ly0e7hx50PJDr-csKV8Jkbwpdh90HRTtBq-3-m5M46v9I8Vb-b7IKlaCiVIC3It9cNSJuzmzR-WHoR-VQb1fA0A2GgT9IR7VuABqKo8VlUIvW1Q/s400/dreamlight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082631815236169762" border="0" /></a><br />What I came up with for this week's prompt on <a href="http://www.inspiremethursday.com/">Inspire Me Thursday,</a> which was "Light."<br /><br />Dreams and Vision are two recurring themes in my art so it wasn't a stretch to realize "light" is a part of that. This is the first full-page spread in my new homemade journal, made of watercolor paper bound with twisty-ties. I dug out my old set of acrylics to try something other than yellow and red as a background. I like this Phthalo Blue - who comes up with these names, anyway?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-44996105820079056282007-06-29T17:17:00.001-05:002007-06-29T17:31:14.795-05:00Studio Friday: Studio Summer Brunch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxfpMs3jaOP9cL9WaXyN7sAhjeodCcJNeboo3AGANODkVFexBGhSX-cMp8hS2o7wqQ3sXD-aZ2PM3Z1QrUwccxFwB1y4ZaO3nXorEQjMO04VY35fCbBqemfUtsgfkHtnRjkl8/s1600-h/chill.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxfpMs3jaOP9cL9WaXyN7sAhjeodCcJNeboo3AGANODkVFexBGhSX-cMp8hS2o7wqQ3sXD-aZ2PM3Z1QrUwccxFwB1y4ZaO3nXorEQjMO04VY35fCbBqemfUtsgfkHtnRjkl8/s320/chill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081614092670611442" border="0" /></a><br />CHILL! is the motif for my summer snacks and also the cover of my new home-made journal. you can't see it well in the photo but there's a found beer bottle cap that says "chill" on the palm of the hand. I've got to fight that summer heat with cold stuff. My favorite snack is fresh mixed berries when I can get them with yogurt and poppy seeds on top. I also love "nutty buddy" frozen ice cream cones. In the meantime I drink a lot of lemonade or iced tea and maybe an occasional iced coffee. If I get a really big craving for cold coffee flavor I might make a "colorado bulldog". Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass, saturate with kahlua, and fill glass with ice cold diet coke. yummm.<br /><br />Here's a friendly visitor with his snack of choice - a black-capped chickadee with sunflower seed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUVXqQO3HR2lK5snOOTSLPoFoACeKkMPqmai25Luu7839_hvIqiZ0zsg6cSo3hauRF89qazoMone7b1qbUeSG9KWpPsOCx10MrOqOIXPRzB-jJn5dd0uAJ-zjm_7Fn9lXnEyu/s1600-h/chickie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUVXqQO3HR2lK5snOOTSLPoFoACeKkMPqmai25Luu7839_hvIqiZ0zsg6cSo3hauRF89qazoMone7b1qbUeSG9KWpPsOCx10MrOqOIXPRzB-jJn5dd0uAJ-zjm_7Fn9lXnEyu/s320/chickie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081614234404532226" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-86267756347479647162007-06-27T11:36:00.001-05:002007-06-27T11:45:53.915-05:00altered book - kubla builds his dream dome<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflP2ZhZPNI4JmkrT3KgqfM7ro9X6YJtCHIyMa8mJ-FpFLJQr47qIh7Zd5RBS7LjVrAQcoE9rB2zmdA4q3c2gR7idkvShPAoEaSZSTJ6RlEgsKBMtu10ckglT3buE1E82NiSZW/s1600-h/ww.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflP2ZhZPNI4JmkrT3KgqfM7ro9X6YJtCHIyMa8mJ-FpFLJQr47qIh7Zd5RBS7LjVrAQcoE9rB2zmdA4q3c2gR7idkvShPAoEaSZSTJ6RlEgsKBMtu10ckglT3buE1E82NiSZW/s400/ww.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080784416658173922" border="0" /></a>First spread, wherein Kubla decrees his will.....<br /><br />I did this spread with a completely different background and ended up ripping out both pages and starting over. I saved a few elements and re-used them and this was the result. I had been trying to duplicate a cool background I saw in one of my art books and it flopped horribly. I really wish I could attend some workshops on altered books and/or collage. I found a class listed for this past spring at the Dallas Craft Guild and am crossing my fingers that it will be offered again in the fall. I get the feeling Dallas isn't really into this type of craft although I think it's one of the major scrapbooking markets.<br /><br />It's still raining. I don't know where all this water is coming from. This is Texas, for cryin' out loud; it's supposed to be hot and sunny. I think the polar ice caps are falling on us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-6503211771396955222007-06-26T10:42:00.001-05:002007-06-26T10:51:11.223-05:00turns and towers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnsDdSP4DrXpY-wCRW1tj3ub-Gkuj1LTzAX2O1dpeL2S-vigFp1PlGMYGyfhdy-VZyuBpMgDGI8SLQGECd9vVNuI9Sgf4nJLFGzguje0Sqjsgfn3YzkeLWXoQ0KXie1njMK-t/s1600-h/richsontower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnsDdSP4DrXpY-wCRW1tj3ub-Gkuj1LTzAX2O1dpeL2S-vigFp1PlGMYGyfhdy-VZyuBpMgDGI8SLQGECd9vVNuI9Sgf4nJLFGzguje0Sqjsgfn3YzkeLWXoQ0KXie1njMK-t/s320/richsontower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080399215286909970" border="0" /></a>A happy result of the wrong turn I took on Sunday was ending up on the street next to this water tower. I've had a project in mind to shoot a bunch of water towers in this area but haven't had a blue sky for a while as a background. When it's overcast the towers just fade into the background. I've tried shooting when the sky is dark with clouds and those haven't come out too well, either.<br /><br />I can see this tower from the freeway, but had not tried to find its exact location, so this was a doubly good find. I had to enhance the sky in Photoshop but was glad to get the shot. This tower is in the city of Richardson.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-56143861672109354322007-06-25T11:24:00.001-05:002007-06-25T11:37:07.856-05:00altered book beginnings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gD5uOP1al1rPfAcbgIOo9jX25PGTAsj-_fo1NJw8PvtbBDH31ppVJTomVsqF3BsbUL4NGiiO6TDXc-3Z6rqh7ZSkP_k1AIiN13w4nq81KoqJF5Huj-RlskmZmlFiSbDRwpSx/s1600-h/xanadu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gD5uOP1al1rPfAcbgIOo9jX25PGTAsj-_fo1NJw8PvtbBDH31ppVJTomVsqF3BsbUL4NGiiO6TDXc-3Z6rqh7ZSkP_k1AIiN13w4nq81KoqJF5Huj-RlskmZmlFiSbDRwpSx/s320/xanadu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080038734386789378" border="0" /></a>Sometimes it pays to get lost. You think you're somewhere and then you think you're not. Then you know you're not. It can make you nuts, you know? Or it can make you change the way you look at things. That's what happened when I took a wrong turn yesterday.<br /><br />I started work on my first "real" altered book a few weeks ago but have been hesitant to post anything for fear I'd put myself under so much pressure I would run out of ideas. So I've procrastinated with the few ideas I have and have found that NOT proceeding with them is worse than proceeding and failing. I've already ripped out one page and started over on it with no real damage done.<br /><br />Anyway, the book is inspired by the poem "Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Coleridge was addicted to laudanum, a form of opium, and he said he imagined the poem during an opium reverie. The poem is a lovely collection of uneven meter, mismatched rhyme and confusion; and I expect my book will be the same. It should be a fun trip.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-89884966303600871632007-06-21T10:03:00.001-05:002007-06-21T10:18:37.666-05:00Equanimity - or lack thereof<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWcBYiqc9GvpV1nO_UgmvFnSGsTWMWbyvL4jMrDnIGaHPMCGHx690CgetMDz1chWgTHP5PgNublh5Pvn3aSRyLMxZeKttlCP0ti9EnD-mOqmn5trb5GDwOESWXKbH5fdgTn7Q/s1600-h/muddy+brick.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWcBYiqc9GvpV1nO_UgmvFnSGsTWMWbyvL4jMrDnIGaHPMCGHx690CgetMDz1chWgTHP5PgNublh5Pvn3aSRyLMxZeKttlCP0ti9EnD-mOqmn5trb5GDwOESWXKbH5fdgTn7Q/s320/muddy+brick.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078533644702284786" border="0" /></a>It rained hard again last night. A year ago we were beginning to be desperate for rain; now we complain about it. "The lakes are full," we say. "Stop, already!!"<br /><br />We humans can't seem to be happy with things. The weather, our possessions, our selves. We want things to be different.<br /><br />One of the traits Buddhists aspire to is Equanimity, which I interpret as being accepting of any circumstance you find yourself in. Yesterday while sitting on the freeway for almost two hours I realized a traffic jam was a mighty test of Equanimity. At the first stoppage, a wreck on the High Five interchange, I was irritated. At the second stoppage, a tractor-trailer rig stalled in the second lane, I was equable. I rolled down the windows even though the air was hot and muggy because I didn't want to overtax my car's engine idling with the AC on. I found a radio station playing really old country music from the 50's. I let people cut in front of me from both left and right lanes. I thought I had achieved equanimity. At the third stoppage, another stalled car in the 3rd lane, I got desperate. The radio went to commercials and I switched it off. I began to will the car in front of me to "move........move.........move" to no avail. Alas, my brief experience with Equanimity was gone.<br /><br />And today I wish the rain would stop for a while.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-87773745021504894682007-06-20T09:42:00.001-05:002007-06-20T10:16:08.189-05:00why did the turtle cross the road?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oTkWqbF-veu2t_YrGmV_ndLgJRJn5qHk4ztlrGcS6dI7xnqrIwM7yQrhoJJNg76cFkOH0XueLwGahKNRLQwdoUHCfVCOTbYBwyceHztGFX77iJLSd1yOaGpG25jIgh_zBZiF/s1600-h/DSC04427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oTkWqbF-veu2t_YrGmV_ndLgJRJn5qHk4ztlrGcS6dI7xnqrIwM7yQrhoJJNg76cFkOH0XueLwGahKNRLQwdoUHCfVCOTbYBwyceHztGFX77iJLSd1yOaGpG25jIgh_zBZiF/s320/DSC04427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078157281013103554" border="0" /></a>I rescued a turtle on Sunday. I spotted it crossing the road about four blocks from the building where I work. It was huge! It was headed toward the parking lot of a large apartment complex, so I put it in the car and when I got to work I released it in a field next to our building, which is near a large pond.<br /><br />A few minutes later I was sloshing through the water-logged turf with my co-worker, who had volunteered to take the turtle home and settle it in his "atrium". We almost couldn't find the critter; it was traveling at such a high rate of speed it had almost traversed the whole field.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU_hIFROy7tT_mSvfmPTCgh_J9dClysM8fSYle6-wF8VIq1dgDh3kV08i09IfmOFJUf-3VFJ0YfbP6oopqvHDnCvMXZdTPpKn_E8b7r7gxI5H11oVTLMY3lX4wJtciokpkVny/s1600-h/DSC04429.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU_hIFROy7tT_mSvfmPTCgh_J9dClysM8fSYle6-wF8VIq1dgDh3kV08i09IfmOFJUf-3VFJ0YfbP6oopqvHDnCvMXZdTPpKn_E8b7r7gxI5H11oVTLMY3lX4wJtciokpkVny/s320/DSC04429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078160205885832146" border="0" /></a><br />The turtle is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-eared_slider">Red-eared slider</a>, an aquatic turtle common to these parts. It was 9 1/2 inches long and almost 8 inches wide. I don't know what it was doing so far away from a large body of water. Of course, with all the rain we've had lately, it wouldn't be wanting for mud puddles along its way.<br /><br />My co-worker went to PetSmart for some turtle food and found them selling these same turtles as pets. They offered to examine the turtle for any health problems and to determine its age and sex. That'll be exciting. My guess was that it was a male at least 5 years old. I feel like it's "my" turtle, too, even though it seems to be well cared for in its new home. Here's a photo of it with two of its caretakers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7cgXNYIkc3MPeORcKuXf3vJ-2DX-8yev7R3XNK5XhGVo-BvXDLalXpMJrVF8Pttf_brRwqEkPn3_nZrNWmCGvnPgWbpliL-2URQM-My9U6QpJ4FSX8T52iX39xvAI1mGBFFh/s1600-h/DSC04430.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7cgXNYIkc3MPeORcKuXf3vJ-2DX-8yev7R3XNK5XhGVo-BvXDLalXpMJrVF8Pttf_brRwqEkPn3_nZrNWmCGvnPgWbpliL-2URQM-My9U6QpJ4FSX8T52iX39xvAI1mGBFFh/s320/DSC04430.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078163701989211106" border="0" /></a>Its name is Gamara, after the Japanese "monster" who defends against an evil alien.<br />Here's a trailer for <a href="http://p101.ezboard.com/Gamara-The-Brave-Trailer/falteregosfrm26.showMessage?topicID=38.topic">Gamara the Brave</a>, the twelfth and most recent incarnation of the transformed box turtle. Personally, I don't think Gamara's face looks nearly as cute or as menacing as a real turtle.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-17371228800190079092007-06-19T11:07:00.000-05:002007-06-19T11:12:36.495-05:00collage mosaics<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUyzYrVYTdN85l1qKhqeK9P5wTUqHneKjtfApZjWhV_BjuDtmyHGL30ON32lLwgFgUdQhNjElUZkY0XZ4Oc0MYKPjzIORnhKGW2PDVIn0mGNIiaQ1-0E7Oju1be-w-jilq-hm/s1600-h/mosaics.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUyzYrVYTdN85l1qKhqeK9P5wTUqHneKjtfApZjWhV_BjuDtmyHGL30ON32lLwgFgUdQhNjElUZkY0XZ4Oc0MYKPjzIORnhKGW2PDVIn0mGNIiaQ1-0E7Oju1be-w-jilq-hm/s320/mosaics.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077808065812200370" border="0" /></a>I finally got the 3D items glued to my pages for the "Around the World Chunky Swap" on Flickr. This was a really fun project but I got stuck at the end. It was as if I didn't want the fun to end. I put the pages aside, and before I knew it two weeks had gone by and I'd lost my previous enthusiasm. I'm hoping that finishing the project and getting these in the mail will set me back on the road to creativity.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-69599869503505236272007-06-16T13:21:00.001-05:002007-06-16T13:30:39.462-05:00the blahs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjKYHLU7flNXMcrk9wUI5VjcDj4rA_n3Auhs0y_dMeAuN4LV5sAqBtIQ9wIe0ug5J45GYUlUBeFuSbe7PJEJHLVMtwaW5nnMhJv0QsUO19u8PVM5Q5DBnSxu3Az-GBKUm3Vhu/s1600-h/lynx+spider+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjKYHLU7flNXMcrk9wUI5VjcDj4rA_n3Auhs0y_dMeAuN4LV5sAqBtIQ9wIe0ug5J45GYUlUBeFuSbe7PJEJHLVMtwaW5nnMhJv0QsUO19u8PVM5Q5DBnSxu3Az-GBKUm3Vhu/s320/lynx+spider+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076729401955679138" border="0" /></a>I haven't been able to get into a creative groove this week. Things are gearing up at work for the summer crush and I've been spending most of my time at home ripping out the three layers of linoleum covering the bathroom floor. Dare I hope that we're past the half-way point on its renovation? The physical labor is hard on my back and I'm stiff most of the time. Walking hasn't helped much lately. Today I'm not going to work!!!!<br /><br />I worked all week on the the first full spread of my altered book and yesterday, when I thought it would be finished, I realized I hated how it turned out. I ripped out the pages and saved the bits I like so I can try again. At least I still have plenty of pages to work with.<br /><br />I found another unusual spider yesterday. It's a Texan Golden Lynx Spider. Look at those spiky hairs on its legs. It's a hunter and harmless to humans. I used to be terrified of spiders, but I think I must like them, now. I can't get over the variety of species I'm finding in McKinney.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-23689713286665824472007-06-11T11:01:00.001-05:002007-06-11T11:22:42.686-05:00my zoological alter ego kicks in<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoI0EF9avj02LKG2zkS2esPttrQRKlir-jdq0aeQzTSlHBBZdGDzeCAsRPvS_-xqbV7uxxZRBERu2l8eqFqHyZVfjWK1tfAELvrohLIwRs7POMEls8PI5bIwfNOO8nVA_bIGe/s1600-h/stinkbug.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoI0EF9avj02LKG2zkS2esPttrQRKlir-jdq0aeQzTSlHBBZdGDzeCAsRPvS_-xqbV7uxxZRBERu2l8eqFqHyZVfjWK1tfAELvrohLIwRs7POMEls8PI5bIwfNOO8nVA_bIGe/s320/stinkbug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074837825344076674" border="0" /></a>It's got a stinky name, but this pretty little bug is a good guy to have in your garden....maybe almost as good as ladybugs. I saw a tiny spot of red (less than 1/8 inch) moving among decomposing leaves and clods of mud and was able to get a few shots before I lost it. It's called <a href="http://ipm.ncsu.edu/current_ipm/00PestNews/00News5/ornament.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Euthyrhynchus floridanus</span>,</a> or Florida Predatory Stink Bug, and it's one stink bug that feeds on plant pests rather than the plants. This is the nymph phase; the adults are metallic blue with orange spots. I'll have to be on the lookout for them.<br /><br />It was 88 degrees when I got off work at 10pm last night. One good thing about living 30 miles north of Dallas is that it's just a tiny bit cooler; it was 83 when I got home. Now I know summer's here. I'll be shifting to my summer work schedule next week; 3pm to 1am until at least Sept. 1. I'm hoping my co-worker who usually takes the graveyard shift will do so again this year, as we used to take nightly walks to spy on the local wildlife, and to take advantage of slightly cooler temperatures for exercising. My face feels sunburned when I take my morning walks, now, even though I wear a brimmed hat. I'll probably be talking about the heat all summer; it seems to be a "hot" topic of conversation for everyone.<br /><br />I'm also finally starting to work on an altered book project. I bought <a href="http://fifigrafitti.blogspot.com/2005/06/rubaiyat.html">this book</a> almost two years ago and never knew what to do with it. I've recently been inspired, but I'm not going to destroy it the way I originally planned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-61427547692297046752007-06-09T09:38:00.001-05:002007-06-09T09:59:40.296-05:00chunky page<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkZOS4M2_Cjmhq-dnpXSH51JNmkuf6Iae6wZWBx3BszjXv8M9ie-fx9H6rspLYoItouY22a-X7pcllH1o13xi4JdkFiGhunQtntvJlpU-HXXZ0hdlNisA3OfhjXJ9vKlZyDHw/s1600-h/chunkybluemosaic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkZOS4M2_Cjmhq-dnpXSH51JNmkuf6Iae6wZWBx3BszjXv8M9ie-fx9H6rspLYoItouY22a-X7pcllH1o13xi4JdkFiGhunQtntvJlpU-HXXZ0hdlNisA3OfhjXJ9vKlZyDHw/s320/chunkybluemosaic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074074042719894370" border="0" /></a>It's good to have visitors but it's also good to get back to your regular schedule. I'm not good about keeping up a journal when my schedule's all screwy. I've managed to do it a few times while vacationing, but when I read it later it seems to be a pretty sparse piece of writing.<br /><br />Anyway I'm back to my somewhat-normal schedule and I have time to work on some art. I'm working on five 4x4 pages for an <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://flickr.com/groups/worldcraftswap/">'Around the World' Chunky Page Swap</a>. This month's theme is monocolor mosaics. This is my "blue page", which turned out pretty well.<br />I think I need to add some "grout" between the "tiles", as I had a lot of trouble getting the pieces to line up just right. I think I'm square-impaired, as this is the same thing that happened with my tiling efforts in my bath's tub surround (which is still awaiting grout).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaa02Rz68Nu74JCb6sqIuGhC_Dx-TM6hHYzEx_hVHjz8sFA2kDaWbNXWUZai-s-mrfX_p-a0obPnkTTfnQPiEjKLHjc1xp2UNNqHwk-iEDMF1orLtVdwj4YK7Sl80h83jnX1Y/s1600-h/cherry+tomatoes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaa02Rz68Nu74JCb6sqIuGhC_Dx-TM6hHYzEx_hVHjz8sFA2kDaWbNXWUZai-s-mrfX_p-a0obPnkTTfnQPiEjKLHjc1xp2UNNqHwk-iEDMF1orLtVdwj4YK7Sl80h83jnX1Y/s320/cherry+tomatoes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074076890283211634" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-style: italic;"></span><br /></a><br />Here's another mosaic of sorts: four lovely cherry tomatoes from our garden. Yumm! My mom has been going outside every day to cover the plants with an old sheet to prevent sunburn. Yep, the blast furnace weather is here to stay, I think. One brief thunderstorm yesterday morning and now the forecast is for hot and humid from now on. That's ninety-plus degrees during the day and we'll be lucky if the temps fall below 75 at night. The waterlogged earth here is already beginning to crack; such is the temperament of clay soil.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-61359314211294499482007-06-08T10:48:00.001-05:002007-06-08T11:13:48.180-05:00Studio Friday: SP(E)ACIAL!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuLK78UZ0-8rTiLn_Apo3UJguHbp9XIaubnjqyvjBNy94h49LTaU8JJX3_s7IPQfErLi4Zo5jZDF529Hsn7p0GY4u6uZQFhTkLNtPeXna7gkAsrv6rJcm3lchMWVnj-rrROaW/s1600-h/porch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuLK78UZ0-8rTiLn_Apo3UJguHbp9XIaubnjqyvjBNy94h49LTaU8JJX3_s7IPQfErLi4Zo5jZDF529Hsn7p0GY4u6uZQFhTkLNtPeXna7gkAsrv6rJcm3lchMWVnj-rrROaW/s320/porch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073721125257182034" border="0" /></a><em>Take a look around your at your studio space...how much space do you have?<br />Take a look at your art...how does your space influence your art in any way? Do you create small or large art works? Do you see a parallel?<br />Take a look at your dream studio space (yippieh!)...what does it look like? What is the layout? Is it big or small? And most important of all: What art do you create in it? Will it be on a larger or smaller scale than before? And what can you do to get closer to your vision this week/month/year?</em><br /><br />I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but my office/studio is a long narrow room that was a porch once upon a time. Before we moved into the house I pictured it as a cozy workspace; now I feel hemmed in. It may be partly because of the shape, but it's probably more from the clutter that I just can't keep in order. As we're remodeling, this room becomes the catchall space for stuff that's in the way elsewhere, so I end up working at the kitchen table. I have to go through my mom's bedroom to enter this space and that can be limiting, as I sometimes like to work late at night and I don't want to disturb her sleep. Overall, my creativity seems to be hemmed in; that part of my brain is a narrow cluttered place without easy access.<br /><br />I know the situation will improve and that I will have to be patient, so instead of an ideal studio, I'm dreaming about how to make my existing space work. This old window that is currently the wall between the office and the sunroom will be removed and replaced with a french door. That should allow more natural light to immediately begin streaming in. The opening from the office to my mom's bedroom will be walled up and I'll be able to put up another set of shelves to contain the clutter. I'll then be able to lower the work surface so I can sit instead of stand while working. The carpet will be taken out and hardwoods installed over the old porch flooring. Updated wiring will provide me with good lighting and enough outlets to power all my doodads. And proper insulation in the walls will ensure it's a comfortable place to work year-round!<br /><br />I've got to finish the bathroom first, though!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-34875835928799765132007-06-03T11:41:00.001-05:002007-06-03T11:50:22.515-05:00butterflies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY3C5tXtZ9C6g1uu6eJbd5oNhI49zJZOPvkh03YSV2YKgSNg0OV1WmKQsacq44GVgIS7jRYwIbiecRhtSu2FJUxgirBpAl0h30v7lpOMGCOlNropw-hj99QoouHQR3Z63HmzG/s1600-h/crescentspot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY3C5tXtZ9C6g1uu6eJbd5oNhI49zJZOPvkh03YSV2YKgSNg0OV1WmKQsacq44GVgIS7jRYwIbiecRhtSu2FJUxgirBpAl0h30v7lpOMGCOlNropw-hj99QoouHQR3Z63HmzG/s320/crescentspot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071879368297020002" border="0" /></a>We had a day off from the thunder- storms but they returned with a vengeance this morning. The butterflies took advantage of the sunshine yesterday to browse amongst the weeds and flowers in our garden. This is a Pearly Crescentspot, Type A, I think.<br /><br />We've got 4 or 5 whopper-sized tomatoes on our vines, as well as several dozen cherry tomatoes. I've been taking 2 or 3 cherry tomatoes in my lunch every day but am looking forward to the day when one of those whoppers ripens. "What would life be without home-grown tomatoes?" as Guy Clarke wrote in one of his songs.<br /><br />We're expecting company this week, our first out-of-town guests. They haven't seen the house yet so I've been stashing stuff in the closets and tidying up the cans of paint and joint compound so that it looks more like our home than the construction site it usually resembles.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-43567331254285518522007-06-01T11:49:00.001-05:002007-06-01T12:00:20.947-05:00Studio Friday: RE-Cycle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6674DiMDR87m_7WdfZRR1fsJZhw4kS69ZA-4sG70Qb5vLEdiPobQwItQ1iHTcFnYkD0gplu79TH42AcEBKekgqpIpEO95B7g52ykSEgQLjguvqmnx0h0ymTDds_voNXhCmT8/s1600-h/recycled.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6674DiMDR87m_7WdfZRR1fsJZhw4kS69ZA-4sG70Qb5vLEdiPobQwItQ1iHTcFnYkD0gplu79TH42AcEBKekgqpIpEO95B7g52ykSEgQLjguvqmnx0h0ymTDds_voNXhCmT8/s320/recycled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071139328252050002" border="0" /></a><br />This is a no-brainer for me. The majority of the paper I use in my collages is recycled. When people clean out their offices at work I'm there scrounging for paper samples, cards, anything that looks interesting. I pick up used lottery tickets and bottle caps when I'm out walking. In this corner on my workspace are some good examples of things I use, which include clippings from catalogues and old magazines, receipts, price tags, paint chips, and leftover wallpaper from a home remodel project. I save boxes, too, to house my clippings. Part of this is because I like to save money, but as long as I can remember I've clipped and saved pictures or articles that I liked. When I started collaging I realized I could actually use some of those things instead of hoarding them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074879.post-67221868928551513952007-05-31T10:52:00.001-05:002007-05-31T11:29:50.703-05:00the poison path<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtz_fk93ghXlpS-MTU7pcVMZ7k2dxH3FiQzneNsbyl-UgHRxJZ2uS3gPyZHYDKzpeSwV9BQuSiaEHP0NYpb5E7ojMQiMYW4tc8jiybGX3NPWj3DhK2nq27iYmEfbXo2n557lUj/s1600-h/514Q6Y07WKL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtz_fk93ghXlpS-MTU7pcVMZ7k2dxH3FiQzneNsbyl-UgHRxJZ2uS3gPyZHYDKzpeSwV9BQuSiaEHP0NYpb5E7ojMQiMYW4tc8jiybGX3NPWj3DhK2nq27iYmEfbXo2n557lUj/s320/514Q6Y07WKL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070754215714486850" border="0" /></a><br />I've lately become enamored of Dale Pendell, chemist, ethnobotanist, and poet, author of the PHARMAKO trilogy. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pharmako-Poeia-Plants-Poisons-Herbcraft/dp/1562790692/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4258710-3945643?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180626602&sr=8-1">Pharmako/Poeia</a> is the first volume of the series and I can't seem to keep my nose out of it. It's a poetic masterpiece, dedicated to the Power Plants, the herbs and flowers who are both Allies and Poisons. This is an adventure into history, culture, religion, psychology, literature, horticulture and chemistry. He sets the tone in the opening sonnet; here's an excerpt:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">BRING THEM ON, THE POWER PLANTS</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Come on, O rueful Syrians,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> and all you thick-smelling</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> solanaceous plants;</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">You cultivated-in-rows tobacco and coca plants;</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">You maligned poppy plants and worshipped</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> grapevine plants --</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">All forgotten plants, and fad plants:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Come forth, you motley troop --</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> not a gentleman among you --</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Not one that wo't lie, cheat, or swindle</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> a ride --</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Come, all ye ruffians:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Be fruitful, we have need of poison.</span><br /><br />I discovered this book while listening to a podcast of <a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2006/04/21_presti.shtml">David Presti's</a> neurobiology class from UC Berkeley. As a former hippie who dabbled in plant poisons during the 60s and 70s the class is a fascinating description of the molecular changes that occur in the brain when various things are ingested into the body. As a student of cultural anthropology it's even more fascinating to learn about humanity's long-running relationship with plants in general, and poison plants in particular. According to Presti, everything is a poison; whether it cures you or kills you is all a matter of the dosage.<br /><br />I wanted to depict the flavor of Pendell's poetry, but there's so much good stuff on every page, I'm hard-pressed to choose. I will leave you with his description of addiction; in which he admonishes the user to beware the ally-poison:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);">An ally is like a half-broken horse, a horse with spirit. A horse that will carry you many days, only to suddenly knock you off on a low branch. Some allies are the subtle type. Maybe you have an ayahuasca ally. She is friendly. She gives you things. She doesn't seem at all malevolent. Or maybe you have an opium ally. She is more than friendly. She'll call you up and invite you over. And she is voluptuous, so you go. She is so good to you it seems like heaven.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0