City sights

Here's my favorite city sight. Big City Girl (green shirt) and her best friend Jenn. We were taking a little sit-down break after a busy afternoon of bead shopping. Notice that pretty purple flowered bag? That was a souvenir from Guatemala. I'm always happy when BCG actually uses something I bring her.

Here's one of the sights of our money drop. I say one of the sights because there are many bead shops in this part of the city. I like to call it the bead district. Here's some of my loot:

I plan to embellish my angel dolls with these. Heh...heh....just kidding. These are mostly witch fixins'. As I was leaving one of the stores, I noticed the necklace on a sale table. Doesn't it look like a string of boney bits? Definitely haute couture for a witch intent on making a fashion statement.

So tomorrow I'll be on the road again. I'm heading north with my yarn buddies, other Marcia and Karen, to yarn heaven. Oh, and another bead store. It's practically next door to yarn heaven and how silly to miss it, right?

Mr. Gadget will stay home and mind the fort. Did I mention he's getting a little testy? I'm blaming it on Craig's List. Mr. G thinks everything remaining in the old house should go to the dump. I disagree. I think most of it can be recycled. But that process takes managing and managing takes time. I've learned over the years how to deal with Mr. G's occasional bouts of testiness though. A little road trip works wonders, especially if I remember to take my credit card....

Which witch is which?

There's been lots brewing here at Witch Central. Here's my command post:

None of the ladies has a name yet, but all in good time. I do believe naming is an important part of my job as a dollmaker....especially with witches. Can you imagine someone naming a witch Susie or Betsy, or even Barbie? I just can't take that chance....

So tomorrow I'm going to take the train down to the big city to see....you guessed it....Big City Girl. It's time for one of my random eyeball tests. She did inform me she doesn't need any toilet paper this time. Besides, she tells me she has someplace to go after our visit and I'm guessing it wouldn't be cool to take that along. People can be cruel sometimes...

BCG's best friend is going to join us too, so it's going to be, like, some really fun girl-time in the city. We'll have lunch, and then, like, probably do some shopping.

On a different subject, Mr. Gadget and I had once discussed the possibility of burying a statue of St. Joseph in the yard over at our house to help the selling process along. But then I noticed a toilet tank top that got left behind by the less-than-efficient plumber who installed the 3 new toilets (you may remember....Mr. G's birthday presents).

This got me to thinking. Maybe we could bury the toilet top instead, you know, after having it blessed by a certified plumber--a certified, religious plumber. Maybe we could kill two birds with one stone. We'd be speeding up the selling process, and getting rid of an unsightly piece of garbage that would, no doubt, be left on the curb by our garbage man.

But, wouldn't you know. It's looking like we won't have to bury anything. We may have a deal. Now I'm thinking that toilet top might make a nice bird bath....

Got shoes?

The treehouse is starting to look like a frightening shoe store. That's because I'm still working on witches. Halloween will be here before you know it and I don't want to be left in the cobwebs.

Witches seem to be one of the most popular of my characters among buyers, but it's difficult to find a craft fair at a perfect time for selling them. In late September or early October, a few people are looking for Halloween things but aren't yet into shopping for Christmas gifts and/or decorations. November is the best time for those items, but of course by then witches are old news.

No matter what the season, I always make sure I have one witch on my craft table because sometimes I'll attract a collector....someone who loves nothing more than to live among witches all year long.

Here's my personal favorite pair:

These are the shoemaker's shoes. Remember the Grimm's fairy tale about the shoemaker? He had lots of elf helpers. So where are those elves anyway? They should be here doing my housework....

In case you're all wondering what's been going on outside my window all day here in the treehouse, here's the skinny. For one thing, there's been plenty of noise but, thankfully, I don't think it's going to last much longer.

The boys are cleaning up their playground. I think they deserve some recognition for their good behavior so I'm going to write a nice letter to the construction company and recommend a raise in their allowances.

Back from the frozen north

So Mr. Gadget and I have just returned from a short cruise to Canada--where we found things nicely thawed. In fact, the weather was warm and sunny. Good thing I remembered where I'd stashed my sunglasses. Have I mentioned how many days of rain we've had lately?
We assumed our house might sell if we got out of town for a few days, but that assumption was incorrect.

This particular cruise appealed to us because it departed from New York City. But, wouldn't you know, as we pushed away from the pier there was a sudden downpour. So much for a colorful photo op.

By the time we arrived in Saint (never St.) John, New Brunswick, the sun was out and there was plenty of local color.

There was even more color in Halifax, thanks to Owen and his little red wagon.
There are always plenty of characters on a cruise. This one, a towel frog, was compliments of our room steward. The weather was much improved by the time we returned on Saturday morning.


Mr. Gadget reluctantly put on his red hat when I suggested it would serve as a beacon to our driver. How does this man manage to look so trim after a cruise I wonder? I made him swear on a stack of knitting magazines to delete every single one of the pictures he took of me....with the exception of that one above. It's not too bad. It was taken before the warm chocolate melting cake, the eggs Benedict, the special vanilla bread pudding dessert, and the two prime rib dinners. I'm afraid my little container garden is in need of some major rehabilitation.

A little R & R

Tomorrow Mr. Gadget and I will be heading north for a short vacation. Well, maybe not that far north. All the house renovating has taken a toll. We're not as young as we used to be and it's probably a good idea to rest our parts before they have to be replaced.

I'll be back next weekend with a few interesting stories to tell. Meanwhile, maybe you can all finish up that knitting I suggested you start last time I was away.....

Stylin' in the coven

Witches must get really tired walking around in heavy boots all the time. I'm sure they long for a nice pair of casual summer shoes, you know, something that offers plenty of comfort while standing over a hot kettle stirring up the brew.
Don't tell Mr. Gadget I borrowed his brandy glass.

And all that black must get boring. A witch could be quite a fashion plate in a pair of red shoes.

What a lively, festive mood there'd be in the coven with a few floral accents.

What's that? You say I need to make another one? Maybe those black boots are fine after all.

Funny farm

"Am I cute or what?"
"I might just sit around in this chair all day."

"If only I could find a comfortable position." "Ahhhhh. That's better. Now, where's the sun?"

"I need to go shopping for some pretty make-up and glitzy jewelry. A day at the spa wouldn't hurt either."

"Maybe Sherwin and I will take in a movie. What? You expect me to help you clean up this mess? Hey lady! You're the one who threw all these pig scraps on the floor! Next time use a wastebasket why don't ya! If you ask me, I'd say this place is a real pig sty."

Ham Sandwich

Here's my first pig and I'm sorry to report she's a little off. I may have to send her to one of those livestock auctions. Her head is not quite the proper pig shape and her ears are too big. I'm now working on a new, improved version and it's showing real blue-ribbon promise. I'm quite fond of the fabric. It's pretty much what I had in mind when I hobbled off to the fabric store. She wasn't very happy when I told her she couldn't keep the boa. There'll be no need for that at the auction.

So we finally got the old house on the market and I must say it was bittersweet. There are a few things about the ol' homestead that I will miss. For instance, this wall art in Mr. Gadget's workshop.

For years he kept track of Tech Guy's and Big City Girl's heights. He even measured BCG the day she left for college. I think that's the last mark we have for her because future trips home never allowed time for such details. The college years were also known as the era of the revolving door.

Mr. Gadget and I are considering a measuring wall here at the new place, but we fear our measurements will show a descending trend, and that's hardly news to brag about. We might consider keeping a tally of our prescription medications. That trend would likely be an ascending one. Maybe during our golden years we'll just swear off measuring things. It won't disappoint me if I never have to paint another wall.

Going for broke

So my neighbor--the one who prides herself on her front-porch poker skills--made some bold moves yesterday.

She raised me two planters full of geraniums and a garden mallard (on the left in front of the chair). This left me no choice but to call in the dogs.

Two of a kind is a pretty good hand, isn't it?

I'm starting to sense that our penny-ante game is about to end. She has very little space left on her front porch, and I'm starting to get bored. It's been fun though, and I think we've displayed extraordinary sportsmanship.....even though only one of us was aware there was a game going on....

And now from the This and That file:

The basement closet still smells, but less so. The authorities have said they can fill the space up with concrete, but we've said no, since that will eliminate the ability to have an elevator at a later date. Oh, and by the way, we don't want a smelly elevator either.

The old house will have a for sale sign on it sometime tomorrow. Kinda sad in a way. I know we've moved on, but I'm having a hard time letting go. Who will take care of Bob? Maybe I can leave detailed instructions for the new owners. He likes his sunflower seeds fresh and crunchy, and he'll get very cranky if you make him wait.

I found some fabric for my pig and I've been busy stitching in my spare time. I think he's destined to be a real blue-ribbon porker.

My ankle is much better, but I'm not ready to give up the limp quite yet. Mr. Gadget felt sorry for me and bought me some key-lime pie as a special treat. I'm going to try real hard to hold out. I've got a hankerin' for some prime rib.....

Two toad tales

My neighbor over at the old house always offers her warm hospitality to cute little creatures who venture into her yard. We often exchange creature stories. She's heard all of the antics of Bob the chipmunk, and I know how she had to build a second bluebird house because the chickadees moved into the first. Now it seems we each have a resident toad. Go read about hers here.

As Mr. Gadget and I were sweeping around the old front door today, he picked up the conch shell that's been sitting out there greeting visitors for years. A toad jumped out. A hermit toad, I can only assume.

This freeloading toad amused me. You know how easily amused I am. So I decided to decorate his shell....to make it more homey and inviting.See that little dark spot in the middle? It's a break in the shell. It will make a nice picture window, so I painted some shutters on it. Mr. Toad will find it useful for predator sightings....you know, hawks, hedgehogs, or those persistent church ladies who come around with their religious brochures. I'm pretty sure this interesting piece of yard art might attract the right home buyer.

Soon after the toad discovery, I took a flying leap off the front porch. Not on purpose, although Mr. Gadget may have assumed so. Now, wouldn't you know, I'm officially on the disabled list. I'm restricted from doing any annoying tasks over at the house, but I'm free to operate my sewing machine, as long as I don't take any medication that might impair my ability to do so.

I took advantage of this opportunity to sketch up some pattern pieces for my pig doll.

I think these are going to work out well. This pink fabric is much too bright for the pig I have in mind though, but I'm sure they'll have just what I need at the fabric store. It's not like I'm quarantined or anything....

Oh, and today I noticed that my neighbor here at the new place.....the one with whom I've been involved in a frenetic game of front-porch poker.....has made a surprising, yet not totally unexpected, move. She's got skills, I tell ya! This calls for a trip to the basement....

Sherwin, philosophizing

You've met Sherwin before but that was before I named him. Now he's Sherwin Williams, in honor of all the painting I've done lately. He's sitting here next to me while I type, offering suggestions on all the things I could do today on my day off. He thinks it would be nice if I'd make him a gaggle of playmates out of this big bag of sheep wool sitting under the table.

He also thinks I did the right thing telling Mr. Gadget I needed a day off from working at the old house. My request to be put on the 15-day disabled list was a bit drastic he thought, but he definitely thinks my sitting out one game would be beneficial to my mental health.

Mr. G is over at the house by himself today, meeting with the plumber. I may have been overly excited when I finished cleaning up the muck under the fridge yesterday and pushed it back with too much vigor. That may have been what caused the crack in the cold water line to the ice maker. Who needs an ice maker anyway? What's wrong with ice cube trays? So today I'm stressed and I just need to spend some time in the dugout chewing gum.

I know I said I'd start a new doll project, and I invited you all to doll along with me. But then I saw these cute little pigs and remembered I've been wanting to make a pig to go with my beanbag characters. I'd have no problem doing both if I was on that disabled list. I'll have to speak to my manager.

What would Sherwin do, I wonder?