Breaking the rules

After several attempts, I think I've hit on the right painting formula for my little clay birds.  Watercolors.  I'm sure watercolor artists would cringe at the thought of using these paints on clay, but I'm OK with that. Here he is before painting.

I wasn't happy with the bold color of the acrylic craft paints.  I had something more subtle in mind.  And I wanted to be able to have one color gently blend into another. This bird is mostly blue, but he has a blue-green head....which is not obvious in this picture.  I have a whole tray of cheap watercolor paints with many color options, so I'm visualizing a big flock of multi-colored birds.  But, of course, I have to finish up in the Witchworks first.  Or not.

Now it occurs to me that I may have too many witches for the October craft fair.  I'm pretty sure it's possible to over-witch.  Maybe I should slow down.  I could start in on the birds and work until I get just to the point of over-birding, and then I could switch to Santas.  You can probably guess where this is going.  But it's all much better than over-eating.....a skill that I've pretty well perfected.

A sketchy sketcher

On Saturday I took the train down to NYC to attend an art-journaling workshop.  It was a beautiful day and I was able to be a tourist on my walk down 5th Avenue.

The workshop was entitled "Everyday Matters" and was led by Danny Gregory, who journals every day about his life using sketches.  It sounded interesting.  It sounded like something new and adventurous for a woman who usually roosts in a well-furnished rut.  I decided to sign up, but only if I could get there on foot from Grand Central.  I am not a subway person.  I'm not much of a taxi person either.

I was in luck.  It was a straight shot, just 12 blocks down 5th Avenue. I signed up.

The materials list was short and I didn't need to shop. I had a sketchbook that was at least 5" x 7" and some rollerball pens with black ink.

Danny assured us right up front that we didn't need to be good artists to draw about our lives.  Many famous artists threw away most of their work and only occasionally produced a masterpiece.  Some didn't even sell a painting during their lifetime (Van Gogh).  The secret was to practice, and most of all to just enjoy the process.

By the afternoon we were doing a few personal sketches.  

Who knows?  It may not be too long before I'm publishing The Macaroni Monologues....the illustrated edition.  But there'll have to be lots of practicing before then, and right now I'm gnarled-knuckled-deep in the Witchworks.

Fashionista

You're probably wondering if I took the mugs with me to buy the shirts, or if I took the shirts to buy the mugs.  I'll never tell, but of all my shirts my favorite is the white one.  I've taken extra-special care of it for several years now so as not to spill anything on it (I'm notorious for not wearing aprons when I cook).  I never wear it when I eat spaghetti.  I'm pretty sure marshmallows would be harmless.  In fact, I've been known to grab a few out of the bag when I'm wearing it.

There's not much going on here at the moment.  I've been making some slow progress on witches, although I did take 30 minutes off to do a speed-cleaning of my work area.  It's amazing how much clutter a person can clear if she sets a time limit and moves at warp speed.

I also made a list of items I'd like to have completed for the old hotel craft show in October.  This should help me stay on some sort of reasonable track instead of going off on one of my usual tangents.

Here's another witch in progress.

Months ago I covered a bottle with paper mache and attached some arms.  My original plan was to make a Santa.  But I've been having so much fun sculpting witch faces I changed my mind.  Do you see that snake skin behind her?  That's vinyl and it's my sewing machine cover.  When I was much, much younger I made most of my own clothes.  I got an idea one day to make a snake-skin raincoat.  I was quite the fashionista even then...

My mom (who taught me how to sew and, more importantly, how to rip out stuff that wasn't right even though I always thought whatever I was making was good enough) and I shopped long hours looking for the right snake skin print.  It had to be just the right shades of black and white.  I wanted something subtle. I finally found it in a fabric store in the L.A. garment district.  I loved that raincoat and wore it all the time.  I wish I still had it; I don't know what became of it.  But from the remnant that was left over I made a sewing machine cover, and it's served me well for all these years.

I loved making my clothes and I'd still be making them today if I could be sure that on Friday I'd be the same size as on Monday... 

Nary a tweet

Usually by now the neighborhood birds are back in full force, but so far not a one.  Winter, on the other hand, will not leave.  I will be patient.  I'm making a bird to see me through.

I haven't decided what color to paint him, but I'm leaning toward blue.  I'm sort of sorry now that I didn't leave an earthquake bird at the Calcondo, since there was a 4.4 quake soon after we left. 

I've finished painting the face on my latest witch. At least, I think I've finished. Maybe she needs a wart. 

Soon I will visit the park and forage for sticks.  I hope by then there will be lots of birds tweeting.

So yesterday was Mr. Gadget's birthday and I think this was his favorite gift.

Some facetime with Big City Girl.  Isn't techno-magic wonderful!

Pilgrimage

My friend, other Marcia, and I made a fiber trek to Massachusetts yesterday.  It was sort of spur of the moment.  Neither of us had anything else on our calendars, and there was no snow in the forecast--ideal conditions for a fun road trip. 

We made our regular stop at WEBS (aka Knitters' Heaven) in Northampton, and then followed the trusty GPS to Easthampton to a place I was most interested in checking out.

The store occupies part of an old 1920's vaudeville theater on the town's main street.

 

Inside the front door is a small shop with all sorts of hand-felted treasures.

A hallway in the back leads to a huge open space (maybe where the theater sets used to be stashed) that's filled with all sorts of fiber goodness.

I soon found the needle-felting fiber I was on a quest for and grabbed up many handfuls to replenish my supply. 

I'm usually not much of a shopper, but this place just sucked my credit card right out of my wallet.  I don't know if it was the abundance of fibery delicacies, or the history of the old building, but I felt an overwhelming desire to sing and dance.

Construction zone

I've begun the face-building process on the witch doll.

I usually start with the nose and build the other facial features out from it.  The first step is to make sure the nose-sized lump of paperclay adheres to the face.  This takes some work with my clay tools, and it's not the time to worry about what the final nose will look like.  Fine tuning comes later.

After the nose I work on the eyebrows.  Once they're done, it's easier to get a good eye placement.  There are a couple of ways I make the eyes.  On this doll I formed an oval shape out of clay and anchored it to the face with my tools.  Fingers work well too, but on something small it's easier with tools.  I then work some of the clay upwards for an eyelid and a little bit downward for the bottom edge of the eye.  I'll put the eyeballs in later.

Next comes the mouth.  It's not the greatest mouth, but it's a witch mouth.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  I've also added a little more clay to her left cheek to fill it out some.  I might do more work on that later.

The beauty of working with paperclay is that more clay can be added after your work has dried.  Just brush on some water and add more wet clay.  Your project will be happy to wait for you while you make lentil soup and a cheese and mushroom quiche for dinner. Bon appetit!

Witchworks open for business

The Witchworks is now officially open, and well ahead of witch season I might add.  I'm doing something very unusual for me.  I'm planning ahead.  Plus, it's lots of fun making witches so I consider it more play than work.

Last fall, you may remember, I made a witch with arms and legs made out of sticks.  I dragged Mr. Gadget with me to the local park to find just the right sticks and then asked him if he wouldn't mind drilling some holes in them so I could attach them to the fabric doll body.  I found the finished doll pleasing, and was happy that someone else did too...enough to buy it. 

It was an experiment really.

So now I've decided to make another one, but one with a clay face.

Here is the sewn and stuffed doll body.  I put some plastic pellets in the bottom to weight it down a bit.  I painted a coat of gesso onto the head to make the fabric more agreeable to the clay application.  Once the snow is gone and the ground has dried out, I'll make another trip to the park.  I'll go alone this time.  Mr. Gadget enjoys an occasional walk in the park, but he's not fond of helping me forage for body parts.

Got butane?

Mr. Gadget and I are now in Connecticut after an uneventful trip back.  Those are always the best kind.  There is still plenty of snow on the ground, but the weather has warmed up....although not in any consistent way. One day it's 50 degrees, the next it's 15.   Mother Nature is up to her usual tricks.

I finished the chef except for a few minor details.  The buttons are just pin heads.  I will replace them with black beads.  She could use a little more rose in her cheeks, and maybe some fingernail polish.  She was fun to make, and I've already got ideas for similar projects.  As usual, I have many more ideas than time so I must pick and choose.

I've signed up for a one-day workshop in NYC on April 5.  I've read Danny's blog for a few years and thought it would be fun to spend a day with him to learn about his process.  I do occasionally draw, although not very well, and I have been know to keep a journal from time to time. The map shows a fairly direct walking route from Grand Central to the Open Center where the class will take place.  Walking is good.  Subways not so much.  I still need Big City Girl to give me a tutorial.

So now we'll be staying put for a while, and I'll have some time to spend in the Treehouse working on some things for future craft fairs.  I have quite a few felted flower pins underway. They sold well last year.  And speaking of felting, my friend other Marcia and I are planning another trip up to Massachusetts soon for some fiber shopping.  We'll, of course, go to Knitters' Heaven, but we'll also be making a stop at Felters' Paradise.  I've never been there, but it might just end up being a regular stop on our route.

Other Marcia has become a very proficient weaver in recent years, and sometimes we stop at a weaving supply store several miles north of Heaven. I'm thinking it won't be long before our expedition requires a two-person tent and a camp stove... 

Time for a toast

The Calcondo re-do is finished.  I'll spare you the "before" picture.  It was pretty ugly.  But here is one of the "after" pictures.

 

This is looking into the bathroom from the master bedroom.  The old sink overflowed onto the carpeted bathroom floor and out into the bedroom and hallway, also carpeted.  All of the walls had to be replaced and also the vanity.  We had the bathroom and hallway tiled, and had new carpet installed in the rest of the place.  It looks wonderful now, just in time for us to leave it.  But, hopefully, it will be clean and dry when we return, and we have appointed scouts to check things out while we are away.  What an ordeal.

I've made more progress on the chef-in-a-mug.

She still needs clothes, but at least she has her make-up on and some hair.  I'm happy with her so far.  Each project is a learning experience.  Next time you see her she'll be wearing her chef's garb.

So now I need to tidy up a little.  We've invited the neighbor ladies over for late-afternoon wine and "the great unveiling."  For 2 months they've been putting up with construction noise.  We'll be sure to keep their glasses filled.  Maybe we should have called a caterer.

A little misunderstanding

Apparently he got the wrong memo.  I told him to dip the COOKIES in chocolate.

Some Springy thingies

 

I know many of you are anxious for Spring to arrive.  Big City Girl was so tired of old man Winter, she ran off to Cancun for a few days.  Isn't it great that flights can be tracked online?  She just landed a few minutes ago, and it won't be long till she's decked out in her bikini soaking up some sun.

These are some felted flowers I worked on while watching the Olympics. The orange one is a snowboarding flower and the yellow one is an ice dancing one.  I didn't make a curling flower.  I've just never been fond of curling. But I do wonder how the idea came about.  There must have been a heck of a drunken brainstorming party.

I finally added the left hand to the chef-in-a-mug, but as it was drying the thumb came loose.  So the second thumb is now drying, and if time permits I will do a little sanding and painting.  He will be outfitted after I get back to the Treehouse.

Meanwhile, I've been brainstorming (soberly) about another clay project....also to include a chef.  I have an old flour sifter about the same size as the mug.  I'm thinking of putting a chef inside and attaching him to the bottom so he will move back and forth slightly when the handle is moved in the sifting motion.

So, our carpeting job was postponed because of the rain.  It will be done next week, and this was really a lucky break because we needed a few days to get stuff organized.  This morning Mr. Gadget and I started that process.  We are happy with the re-do, even though it wasn't on our time schedule.  I guess when life gives you lemons, you might as well make lemon meringue pie.

Cooking up something new

It's another cloth and clay project.  I thought it would be fun to create something as part of an object I found around the house, and this mug was it.

I made a very simple wire armature and wrapped it first with plastic grocery bags.  The ones I get at the store here (you know, where the firemen shop) are very thin and barely hold the potatoes, but they worked well for my dollmaking purposes and didn't go to waste.  Then  I wrapped some fabric strips (old sheets) around it, but not too carefully.  I was impatient to get to the sculpting.

It's a work-in-progress, and probably won't be finished until I get back to Connecticut.  But in the meantime, it's saving my sanity.  The circus that has been going on in the Calcondo for the almost-seven weeks we've been here has turned my brain into cotton candy.  I'm sure the elephants will be marching through soon.

Tomorrow, however, I'll have a little break from the big top.  I'm going to have breakfast with Arizona Barbara and her boyfriend.  They are visiting from...yep....Arizona.  Long ago I mentioned Barbara, my long-time friend and fellow lover-of-fabric, and told you that she had left California for Arizona and a man.  This is that man.  So I'm looking forward to meeting him so I can see for myself what is so terribly exciting about him....and if she had a good enough reason to go off and leave me to do my fabric shopping all by myself.

Quilt show

Yesterday I visited the South Bay Quilt Guild's annual quilt show.  Even though I'm not a quilter (and I have no quilt guilt) I do like to admire the handiwork of other fans of textiles.  Here are some of my favorites:

Turtle

Ground Zero

The big city

Neckties

Ruffled feathers

Black bird might be a little jealous that owl's picture was chosen for the Kleenex box instead of his. Or maybe he's just an angry bird.

I've been busy with small projects while things have been in disarray here at the condo.  Black bird was made by covering a Styrofoam ball with paper clay.  His legs are wire that I wrapped with floral tape.  He stands more easily than my previous bird attempts.  The secret is in the feet. He was a fun little project and he'll most likely have some friends in the future.

The condo repair is coming to an end.  Just a few finishing details are needed before we can finally put things back where they belong....like our clothes that have been hanging in cardboard boxes in the living room since just after we arrived in early January.  All of this, you may recall, was because of an insufficiently snaked bathroom sink drain in the condo above.  It hasn't been much fun, but at least there's no snow. 

So Mr. Gadget and I are having a little tiff.  He's angry at me and I'm basically clueless.  It has to do with the trim color in the newly painted rooms.  He says I agreed to something I have no recollection of ever discussing.  I might have to start keeping better records....since this seems to be happening with more regularity.

It's probably time to wrap this post up, since it's been sitting in my computer, unfinished, for days.  I do have some other projects in the works, and several more brewing in my brain.  The dust and the disorganization in the house is getting to me.  I might find the snow a welcome relief.  Just saying....

 

A random ramble

I never thought I'd find artistic inspiration on a box of Kleenex.  This is actually a replacement box.  The original was damaged in the deluge.

This morning I went to the grocery store....but not specifically to buy the replacement box.  Why is it that each time I go grocery shopping the firemen are doing their shopping too?  They never do a big shopping.  It appears they're just picking up a little something for dinner.  I've never figured out why they need to bring the really big truck just to fetch a few chili fixins'.

It's very unsettling to see a van driving around the neighborhood with the word "Coroner" on the back.

The construction guys have given us a few days off from the noise and dust.  The last time they were here they very considerately tiled just half of the hallway so we could walk around easily while the glue dried.  I like that trait in a construction guy.

This morning after I got up I looked out the front window and almost freaked out. There was lots of white stuff.  Then I realized it was just fog and it would go away by itself without shoveling.

I'm working on a couple of small projects that
should be finished soon.  I've also been browsing artsy websites and I discovered a new dollmaker.  Her creations are whimsical and wonderful....and very inspiring. I would love to take one of her classes, but they are usually far away and they fill up quickly.

I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired of hearing the word awesome.  I really thought it would run its course, like so many expressions do, but it has incredible staying power.

And poor Bob Costas with that annoying eye infection.  I really thought he was trying to make a fashion statement with those cute round glasses.  When I first met Mr. Gadget he wore round glasses with metal frames and I was immediately smitten.  After we got married, he put the glasses away in a drawer....along with his cooking skills.  Mr. G. used to make a mean pot o' chili...and somehow, amazingly, he was able to get all of his chili fixins' home in his sports car.

In the words of Kermit....

...."it's not easy being green."

But if you're a witch in my witchy doll world, you're stuck with it, so you'd better make the best of it. This is celery green, over a coat of gesso, over paper clay that has been sculpted over a stuffed muslin head.  They are fun to make, especially now that I've had some practice and I've learned to allow a little bit of  forehead. 

Things are progressing with the repair here at the Calcondo.  Did I show you this picture?  I can't remember.  If so, sorry.

The workers are making good progress and the whole thing now has new drywall. A little added bonus is that I have decided I'll use that vanity area for my sewing machine (where the Bounty is reserving the space).  For years it's been a place to stash miscellaneous stuff, and the drawers were full of junk from my parents' era.  Sometimes we just need a little push.....I mean a gigantic shove....to become better organized.

Today the construction guys are taking a break while the drywall putty dries, but we did have a visit from the condo maintenance crew who was called in to fix the deplorable job the plumber did next to the outside wall when he connected our new drain line to the sewer.  Mr. Gadget and I were so ready for a change of scenery that we walked up to the Asian market to replenish my supply of persimmons,  but there were none to be had.  I knew we were perilously close to the end of their season, but still, it was disappointing.  I had to settle for a papaya.

Things could be worse I suppose. At least I'm here in California where the sun is shining.  Poor Big City Girl.  She's having to trudge through slush to get to work and back.  She's trying to plan a little getaway to someplace warm for a few days, but picking a flight that won't be canceled is pretty much of a crap shoot.

So today I made a trip over to Joann's to buy a couple of paint brushes (sometimes things I need at the Cal are at the Con).  For one day only they were offering a 20% discount to senior citizens.  I certainly expected to be asked for my ID, but that didn't happen.  I remember a couple of years ago being asked by a young Valley-girl type clerk for my ID when I was attempting to buy glue.  "No one under 21 is allowed to buy it," she said.  But that was before I let my hair go gray, so I guess it stands to reason....

Experimenting

One of the things I like to do after the first of the year, and after a busy craft season, is to try out a few of my new ideas.  One of my favorite mediums to work with is paper mache.

I wanted to make some Santa head ornaments, and I thought I'd try using traditional ornament caps--those little silver toppers you usually see on balls.  I had saved a few from broken ones, and from ones that were old and discolored that I had tossed in the trash.

This is a very rough first attempt.  He needs more work before he'll be ready to paint.  Here's what I'll do differently next time.  I'll save the ornament caps for a different project.  I think the rustic-looking Santa would be better with just a simple wire loop on top. I also need to do a better job of mixing the instant mache.  It was just too sticky and annoying to work with.  There has to be a just-right consistency that would make the project more fun, and give me a better result. More patience during the preparation would help, I'm sure. I will finish him, though, and show you the before and after.  He does have potential.

So Mr. Gadget returned home from his road trip and we've been scurrying around getting ready for the clean-up crew to arrive. They'll open our wet walls and suck out the bad stuff while we stay a couple of nights in a nearby hotel. We like that old adage: When life gives you lemons, make hotel reservations. 

Slow news week

There's not much going on here this week, other than a little progress on the standing needle-felted figure I wrote about earlier.

I've attached the legs to the base and have started covering the wire with padding.  I had an old sweater that I cut up and used to wrap around the wire, and then I applied some fiber to it. The only problem so far is that the figure sways a bit.  Next time I'll use a sturdier wire for the armature.  In fact, I've just learned there is a special kind of coated wire just for this purpose. 

So this past Tuesday I delivered Mr. Gadget to the airport at zero-dark-thirty.  Who knew there was really such a time as that?  It was similar to our trip two weeks ago to JFK...but without the snow....and without me getting on the plane.  I've been wallowing in my solitude ever since, and doing very little housework, hardly any cooking, and adding to my ever-expanding piles of interest all around the house.  There'll be plenty of time to clean it up before Mr. G returns...or not.

Yesterday I went to the Friday afternoon knitting group....which last week was just a knitting duo.  It was me and a very talkative German lady.  When I ran into another member of the group during the week and mentioned the small crowd, she insinuated that this talkativeness had driven a few people away.  I've had this happen in other groups and it's too bad.  There's really no good way to let the talky person know they're spoiling it for others. But this week there were four of us, so it wasn't just me listening to a two-hour monologue.  Although I have to admit I'm much more aggressive, I mean assertive, than I used to be.  That's thanks to living on the east coast for so many years.

I've been perplexed by an intriguing mystery since arriving here at the Calcondo.  I may have to call Sherlock.  It concerns my painted rock turtle--who sits in the planting area next to our front gate.

Last time we were here, and this time too, I've found him with his legs in disarray and some of them missing.  Someone suggested it could be the gardeners, although it doesn't look like this area has been gardened in a while. I guess I could set up a webcam for 24-hour surveillance and discover just who the perpetrator is.  Maybe the time has come to just patch him up again and take him to the nature park and set him free.  I'll be sad to see him go, but I think it's the right thing to do...

Sloshing onward

So I decided the best way to deal with this latest plumbing disaster is to start a new project.  Something portable that can be taken along when we most likely will have to move out for a few days to allow the remediation people to come in and do their thing.

This will be something new for me...a standing needle-felted figure.  It is destined to be a birthday present if it turns out to be worthy of gifting.  I can't tell you much more than that at the moment because I never know just who reads my blog.  But later today Mr. Gadget will drill some holes in the round wooden base and I'll affix the wire armature to it with some strong and dependable glue.  I take back what I said before.  I will show some of my progress...until it becomes recognizable....and I can only hope that it does.

There's a great needle felting website with many recognizable felted people.  This is my inspiration.

So, we're still here in the condo awaiting the next step in the fix.  The wet carpet has been pulled up and the floor dried, and the brown mess in the bathroom was removed.  We have been living here fairly comfortably since then.  The next step is for a crew to come in and tear down walls, remove a wee bit of asbestos, and dry everything out.  For this, we will likely have to be elsewhere.  We'll know more after a visit from representatives of the clean-up company who are scheduled to arrive at any moment.  So I'll put this on hold for now and be back soon with the news...because I know you're all waiting anxiously...

Turns out the clean-up will take only a day or two.  We'll postpone it for a week and a half because Mr. Gadget has a road trip planned with his brother next week.  I'm thinking of spending some time at the spa, but I seriously doubt the insurance would cover it. So I guess I'll have to settle for a few good movies and some needle felting.  And maybe some chocolate. 

When life gives you sewage....

.....I usually start a crochet project.

Mr. Gadget graciously offered to be my model.  The red color reflects my current mood. It's different than the mood I was in when I did the first rendition of this pattern...

...in a nice, soft plum.  I was feeling serene.  For those of you who crochet and might be interested, this is the triangle scarf by Bernat.  The pattern calls for Bernat "Handicrafter" crochet thread, but I worked both scarves in Aunt Lydia's Fashion 3 thread....only because I couldn't find the Bernat thread in my local stores.  One of the nice things about this scarf is it's a stylish, although temporary, solution to a turkey neck.

So Mr. Gadget and I arrived at the Calcondo last Friday morning....after having gotten up at 3 a.m. to drive to JFK in partially blizzard conditions, and then shelling out $20 for the "fast" security line so we'd barely make our flight.

When we walked in the front door we both noticed right away that things didn't smell right.  Mr. G., bless his heart, did the investigating and found that our back bathroom sink was full-to-overflowing with brown water, and the carpeting in the bathroom and much of our master bedroom was squishy.

All this resulted, we later learned, from an incomplete snaking of our upstairs neighbor's sink drain.  From the time of the snaking (just before Christmas) until our own plumber snaked it further on Friday, all of the water she put in her sink emptied into ours.  It actually wasn't sewage, but it might as well have been.

So this was the reason for the visit from our long, lost relatives.  I decided....only just before writing this blog post....to make light of it because sometimes humor helps me deal with the various assaults of life.  Well, that and crocheting.

I've learned in the last few days more of the true meaning of the word "racket".  One comes in the form of a remediation company that tells you...and rather vigorously....exactly what you need to do in a flood situation like this....and you'd better get right on it or you'll be sick.  Another one comes in the form of an airline that most likely tells the TSA they don't need as many security check points open as they used to, and then charges their passengers an extra fee for the "fast" line so they won't miss their flights.  I'm not sure about all this, but you know what they say about ducks....if it looks like a duck and quacks like one, it's probably a duck.

So now Mr. Gadget and I are going over to the farmers market.  It's a beautiful day here and it's going to get up over 80 degrees--which is unseasonably warm.  I guess things could be worse...

Long lost relatives

We arrived at the Calcondo on Friday, and on Saturday....bright and early.....who should show up but Uncle Guzz and Auntie Boozie.  At least that's who they said they were. They said they were my relatives from way back.  So far back, in fact, that I might not even remember meeting them.

I have to say, there's absolutely no resemblance.  They're really short, and they don't have my olive complexion.  They certainly don't have my hair.  But they say they're related, so how could I be so cruel as to turn them away?

They had no trouble making themselves right at home.  They don't eat much, but they sure like to drink.  They've pretty much drunk us dry.  In fact, I'm more than ready for them to leave because, well, it's getting a little difficult to explain their presence to friends who drop by.  They should be gone in a day or two.  I'm just guessing they'll be moving on to someone else's home and professing to be their relatives, and drinking them out of house and home too.

So I'll be back soon with more of the story.  I'll check with our family-tree expert to see if I can find out just exactly who they are. In the meantime, I'm going to keep my lip zipped because I'd hate to offend them.

The cat's meow

Here's another needle-felted project.  He has the same problem that I often have.  When he's sitting on his rear end his feet don't reach the floor.  But unlike my issue, his is easily correctable.  I'll just needle those bottom fibers in a little farther till he's at ground level.  If only my problems were so easily fixed.

So Mr. Gadget and I are about to depart on our winter trek to the Calcondo.  I don't think you can call us snowbirds because those folks go south to Florida.  Maybe snowslugs fits us better. This has been one heck of a winter here in Connecticut so far, and we won't mind missing the rest.

I'm going to start a red crocheted triangle neck scarf thingie on the plane.  I made a plum-colored one already.  Did I show it to you?  It probably got edged out by the felted stuff. I'll take a picture as soon as we get there.  No need for heavy woolen scarves and gloves and hats in the Calcondo neighborhood.  Just a nice lightweight cotton neck scarf and a pair of sunglasses should suffice.  I'd better run.  They're about to close the cabin door...

The blogathon

It hardly seems possible I've been writing this blog for 7 years.  It seems like only yesterday I wrote my first post.  If this was a marathon, I would have just passed the seven-mile mark.  That's quite something for someone who's never been good at doing anything for the long haul. I've even managed to leave a bunch of other bloggers in the dust--those who started before me and were going strong until they ducked out of the race. 

What helps me keep going is that I like to write.  And as you know, I can write about almost anything.  I've even been known to invent subjects. So as long as I don't run out of writing ideas I should be able to power on through to the finish line.  

Sometimes life gets in the way and I don't blog as often as I'd like.  And once in a while I just have to step off the course and throw up in the bushes because life just gets so annoying. But I'm really lucky to have such nice understanding readers who always grant me some slack and wait patiently on the sidelines till they see me rounding the bend.

I'm not one for new years resolutions.  I gave those up long ago.  But I often do think about the year ahead and what I'd like to do differently.  Of course, better eating is right up there near the top.  More frequent flossing would be a good idea too.  And it couldn't hurt to do more good deeds.  Doing something special--or even just ordinary--for someone else makes me feel good.  

So, here's wishing you all a very Happy New Year! Do a few more good deeds in 2014.  Give some thought to signing up for a blogathon yourself. And don't forget to floss.