Thankfully there are nice things in the area to distract me from the dreaded moves, like this produce stand along my way home from work.
Darcy Blue the Wonderpooch LOVES to go to the lake (click to enlarge) so we set out the other morning while it was still cool and breezy and made the 2-mile walk. We had the place to ourselves, aside from a sprightly WWII vet who was launching his boat for the first time this season, on a quest for perch and bluegill. Not sure what a bluegill is so I need to do some research. I miss fishing.
While Darcy chased sticks and kept the geese at bay I strolled the shoreline and was very surprised to find this tree, freshly felled by what I'd guess to be a beaver. Only they're supposed to be very rare in this area and I've seen no sign of other beaver activity. I do, however, know of some beavers living in a small pond along I-75. I think.
Spent some time on the couch with a good book this afternoon (Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger. Highly recommended!) but inevitably found myself "on the nods". A strange, repetitive sound eventually roused me from my stupor so doglet and I went outside to investigate. I was stunned to see what appeared to be a HUGE hot air balloon hovering just above the house across the street as the pilot tried again and again to fire it up.
Said pilot successfully maneuvered the thing to a clear spot behind my neighbor's house and set it down without incident. The pooch and I set off on foot to investigate, along with every other dog walker, cyclist, runner, skater and scooter in the vicinity. A van pulled up as we were hoofing it around the block to ask if we'd seen a runaway balloon. When we arrived it was being deflated and was eventually whisked away in the van. The poor pilot roundly ignored all questions and left without a word.
Made these icicle dolls for a swap on Bad Babies. I've finally realized that I only get things done when I have a deadline so the only way to keep myself from drying up creatively is to join a swap from time to time. Otherwise I'm always planning to play in the studio when I get my other stuff done, only I never seem to get it all done.
That reminds me of one of my very favorite movie scenes, from the very terrible movie Bubble Boy. A cow is run over on the highway and a distraught Indian man woefully kneels down to lament the incident. When the kid makes a dismissive statement the guy declares, "I have transgressed against Shiva. Have you ever been karmically bitch-slapped by a six-armed goddess?" I've felt karmically bitch-slapped a time or two in my life. What doesn't kill us we might as well learn to laugh at!
Stopped on the way to my friend's house to admire a field full of porkers and little piggies.
Is there anything cuter that a piglet? They just make me laugh with their silly antics. This bunch was very curious about me, in spite of Mama Hog's warnings and watchful eye, but jumped and squealed at my slightest move. Then immediately turned around and came back for another sniff. TGIS(pring)!
Instead of Easter eggs, my sister-friend Patti (the lovely lady pictured above) and I colored heavy paper and file folders. I'm taking a fab stenciling class from the amazing Mary Ann Moss of Dispatch From LA so we spent the afternoon spritzing spray paints and inks and figuring out all kinds of nifty objects to use as stencils and masks.
Much more fun than eggs!
While still pretty chilly, it was much less windy today so we were able to work quite a while, at least as long as the sun was shining brightly enough to keep us warm.
Made a only a handful of cards this year but here's a glimpse at a couple.
Hope your Easter is joyous. He is risen!
Really enjoyed the ER retrospective and series finale last night. It managed to pay homage to many of the show's high points without becoming schmaltzy and even worked in a few nice surprises. And avoided any absurdities, like falling helicopters. Well, aside from the fact that the enormous Carter Center seemingly sprang up from the ground since last week's episode. Did I miss a prior reference to it during a bathroom break or was that a really awkward element? I understand that a plot device was needed to reassemble some of the older characters but this was a most unbelievable aspect. Carter's status-conscious parents wouldn't have been on hand for the dedication? And I won't even go into the whole absurdity that is Kem.
