Back among the branches

It's nice to be back in the treehouse...amidst the quiet and the view....and all of the projects I had forgotten about.

Like dolls with faces only a mother could love.  Witch dolls lend themselves nicely to needle-felting....what with all the craggy-warty-fuzzy features.  And how lucky that my mother saved all of my baby teeth. Just kidding. 

This one needs a lot more work, but she'll be a beauty when she's done.  Just kidding about that too.

So we had a good trip back Saturday.  No glitches.  And best of all, we got home before the pizza restaurant down the street closed. I snickered when Mr. Gadget ordered a large while I just went for the small.  But it turns out he was just being thoughtful. He knew I wouldn't feel like grocery shopping or cooking for a few days and he didn't want to risk starving...

There are always a few chores that need doing when we get back. It's my job to get the hand vac and sweep up all the dead bugs.  Why they come in the house as soon as we leave is a puzzle.  It's not like we have a well-stocked liquor cabinet. Mr. Gadget turns the water back on and the computers.  And if there was a power failure while we were away, it's his job to reset the dozens of clocks and electronic devices to stop the annoying blinking.

There are two features I especially like here in the Concondo that the Calcondo lacks.  One is the larger kitchen. The western one is a one-butt kitchen--so-named long ago by dear ol' dad.  The eastern one is a many-butt model.  And while I'm on this subject, it's probably a good time to mention the second feature--the comfort toilets.

Hat chat

Mr. Gadget and I are busy packing up for our return trip to the Concondo tomorrow.  I'm feeling sad about leaving the nice weather, but I'm excited at the thought of autumn leaves.

I've started another needle-felted snowman.

I've been using light yellow fiber for the base shape (to which appropriate snowman colors will be applied), since I ordered it by mistake.  The description on the website said "light" and I assumed that would be more of a natural color (perfect for snowmen) rather than a pale yellow. The white is actually a second coat of fiber.....which I acquired in a serendipitous way...that made me feel a little better about my ordering mistake.

Last Friday I went to the knitting group meeting here at the Calcondo and one of the members.....who I hadn't seen since last winter....came in with several bags of yarn and fiber she was willing to give to any of us who could use it.  And darned if she didn't have a big bag o' snowman white!

I thought it might be fun to give him a striped hat.  Snowmen are fairly simple creatures, but when it comes to their hats, there's lots of room for whimsy.  It's the only way they can make a fashion statement.

This little snowman story reminds me of an earlier time when Mr. Gadget was sick.  It was the middle of winter and there was plenty of snow on the ground.  Big City Girl, Tech Guy and I bundled up and went outside to build a snowman....after closing the drapes to hide the backyard, and to make sure Mr. G. had a nice dark room for a nap.  

After an hour or so we returned inside and had the Great Unveiling.  We opened the drapes and there he was just outside the window....a snowman decked out in a warm furry hat, a scarf, mittens, a hot water bottle and a thermometer.  Unfortunately, the chicken soup had frozen solid.  

Chalk walk

Mr. Gadget and I took a walk along the beach today and ended up at the pier....where there was a chalk art festival going on.  The weather was overcast and cool, which is very unusual for August in these parts.  I'm sure the artists were happy about not having to sit on hot concrete.

There was quite a variety of skill levels--all the way from young children drawing with their families to very talented older folks.  Here is a sampling:

I was intrigued.  I began wondering if I could be a chalk artist.  Then I remembered I can't reach my nicely pedicured toes.  Would I be able to get down and sit on the sidewalk?  More importantly, would I be able to get up?  And now that I've got gray hair, would I be likely to hear a comment similar to one I overheard a child say today?

"That's not too bad for a grandma."

Friday frivolities

So I was going through some old stuff here in the Calcondo and I came across a small photo album with a few pictures of my sister and her friends....and one who was, apparently, not very well liked.

Without a thought as to how I might easily ease into a different subject.....I don't want to imply that I come from....wait, I mean married into...a family that likes a nip now and then, but have you ever seen a bottle like this?

I'm sure it's been in the cupboard (maybe the broom closet?) for several years with party-type people just taking a shot now and then...maybe after a long week of work.  I grabbed it before it made its way into the recycle bin because I never throw away anything that looks like it might have art-project potential.

And here's an update on the rose bush--the one I'm practicing my grandmothering skills on.  I'd spoil it good if I knew how.  I did give it a good shearing, as was suggested by Kathy in the comments.  Did I mention that it was moved to its current spot by some utility workers and not actually teleported as I led you to believe?

The workers have disappeared so I assume they've finished the job, which involved replacing an old transformer, and I've realized that the spot from which the rose bush was moved gets much more sun than where it is now and it should probably be moved back.  But Mr. Gadget told me yesterday, while I was away getting a mani-pedi, that a total of four workers had returned to the scene and they were arguing about whether the new transformer (3 feet underground) had been re-connected.  So I suppose they'll be back for more digging and maybe I'd better leave the poor rose bush alone for now just in case they must uproot it yet again.  I can't imagine a rose bush could survive all that jerking around--even with loving grandmotherly care.

So the mani-pedi was a special treat.  Can you believe I've only had a couple during my whole lifetime?  Manicures are really not very practical for me--what with all my crafting, not to mention the never-ending scrubbing around the house.  But a pedicure is a different story.  My feet pretty much have nothing to do except get me places, so they can look pretty.  And the older I get, the harder it is to reach my toes....and to see them.

I was reminded of two of my pet peeves while I was at the nail salon.  One is loud cell-phone talkers.  For 20 minutes a customer carried on her real-estate business at full volume.  Then there was a mom who had dragged her 2 little girls along to the salon and left them to their own devices (spinning in chairs and squealing).  She wasn't totally irresponsible. She repeatedly admonished them and even threatened that there'd be no trip to Disneyland if they didn't behave. She was hardly a threat to either child since her feet were swirling around in the foot bath while she played games on her phone.

The world would be very different if I was in charge.  I'd insist on no cell phones, no ants, and pedicures for everyone.

Casualties

Here's what I've been up to

since last I was here.

 

Enjoyed a lobster dinner

skillfully prepared by my brother-in-law.

Made another clay witch head

and found space for eyebrows

on the first one.

Changed ear sizes.

Made a couple of whimsical clay Santa ornies.

Crocheted another rock sweater

and started a needle-felted

snowman ornie.

Watched a couple of old episodes of

Downton Abbey.

What a great series!

Who knew?

Continued to wage war against the ants.

Their numbers are fewer this summer,

but still they advance.

Drinking Margueritas out of glasses

with cactus stems

eases the battle fatigue.

 

 

 



Ad hoc guac

We're having visitors later today, so I'm whipping up some guac.  It should complement the chicken enchiladas I slaved over this morning, and the cherry cheesecake I toiled over yesterday.  I have a few recipes that usually come out well....mainly because I make them over and over and over.  I am not a happy cook, but sometimes I make sacrifices for good friends and relatives.

Our bathroom repair is finished, and just in time.

Yesterday, Mr. Gadget and I went out to buy some new towels.  Whereas I would never hesitate to let him go shopping at Costco by himself, I wasn't about to let him loose solo in the linen department.  Mr. Gadget would select something in beige and gray.

"We need some color in there," I told him. "Something with a little pizzazz."

"Why don't you choose what you like," he said, "and I'll walk over to the bank."  Mr. Gadget hates to shop almost as much as I do, so I wasn't surprised....and I was happy I wouldn't have to knock him down and smother him with a king-sized feather pillow to keep him from insisting on something in an ugly shade of tan.

Now that the new towels are hanging in the bathroom, he's happy with my color choices--tomato red and chocolate brown.  And he especially likes the basket with the wash cloths rolled up.

I would probably never have gotten around to buying new towels unless Mr. G. had nudged me...you know, with his cattle prod.  I could have lived very happily with the old towels....and spent the money on a steak dinner, a movie, and a couple of tickets to Las Vegas.

Forehead forethought

So the clay witches are underway, and once again I didn't plan ahead.

There's not much room for eyebrows once her hat is on.  I think I'll just pull the hat down to the top of her eyes and make it look like I planned it that way.  I'll see if I can improve this situation on the next one.

Here's a profile shot and you can see I built up the head a little in the front.  This will at least keep her hat from blinding her.  I'm never sure how the nose will turn out.  I usually start with a pretty big piece of clay, since witches are noted for their big noses.  While I was posing her for this side view her right ear fell off.  I'll stick it back on and patch it up. That's one of the benefits of working with paperclay.

At this stage in the process I'm always disappointed and it's all I can do not to run to the dumpster.  But when she's all put together...with her hair, hat and make-up.... she'll be a beauty.  Or not.  That's one of the benefits of working with witches.  However they come out is just fine.

Louie

So I'm back from San Diego....where I went to see Louie, I mean my cousin Toni. 

Louie is Toni's cat. It had been a long time since I'd had a cat fix.  I'm much more of a cat person than a lover of dogs.  Louie slept on my lap during the evening hours, because during the day he was much too busy playing with his favorite toys--pipe cleaners and tri-colored twisty macaroni.  I had hoped he'd sleep on my bed, but when he started nipping on my toes I had to boot him off.  I was gentle about it though.  I didn't want to jeopardize my lap time.

My two-day excursion to San Diego was very fun and the weather was fine because it's always fine in San Diego.

The train trip south was quiet and peaceful...after the first stop.  Until then, two young men sat in front of me and talked, in loud voices, about the frequency and variety of their recreational drug use, and their sexual exploits while using said drugs.  I could have moved across the aisle, or even to a different car. There were plenty of empty seats.

But I had a seat on the ocean side, and there were no others to be had.  I couldn't get my iPod to work either, so there was no way to silence them.  Thankfully, after about 20 minutes one got off and that solved the problem.  Meanwhile, I got quite an education.

So now I'm back and ready to play with clay.  I need to start making body parts for witches that I will assemble when I get back to the Concondo. I hope the TSA doesn't x-ray my bag and call me in to the back room for questioning.  Maybe I'll be lucky like I was when we left Grand Cayman. They singled out my bag for inspection and called Mr. Gadget in to explain it all. I was very appreciative because I'm never fond of revisiting my dirty laundry.

Should I wear my platform shoes?

I'm off on the train today to visit my cousin in San Diego.  I'll be disembarking at the Old Town station....where she informs me there is just a platform.  I hope I am dressed appropriately.  I'll be back soon with a trip report.  There's no telling what silliness we'll get into.