Things to come . . . maybe

I thought I would try something new. I used to do that all the time. I would see something that was a bit interesting and out of my comfort zone . . . and say-oh heck, why not. (This is how I ended up playing bells at church-something I was never totally comfortable doing but did anyway-for years).

I have always wanted to be an artist but something is missing. It's called talent. But why let that stop me! Yesterday I tried fabric sculpting. Or I went goth (I haven't decided yet). Ok, fine, I didn't go goth, that's the fabric gunk. You dip fabric made with natural fibers into said gunk and then put on the doll thing (that I made earlier and everyone in the house giggled at!). Then you sort of shape gunky fabric until it is draping the way you like. Or draping the way you hate.

It is drying. Today (or tomorrow), I will finish it. And then what? I guess my gunky fabric doll/girl thing will sit near me on a shelf.

Here are the steps for gunky fabric girl/doll art thing.

Find a rock

make a doll out of wire, aluminum foil and masking tape

set the doll on rock

slap gunky fabric on doll

let dry

highlight a bit with paint

let dry

smile when family laughs

A picture to follow another day (maybe)

(Oh, MainMan, if you are reading this . . . happy anniversary, honey)

Double. Really??

We have a guest photographer this morning. Yep, MainMan took this picture. I think with his phone. Looking out the front of work.Ohhh, yeah . . . it's a double rainbow.

Did someone really rake???

Remember I said- I raked. And I did. And it rained. And rained a bit more, and then a little more.

Well, darn it, now you really can not tell I raked. at all.

But, that's fall.

MainMan is putting plastic on the windows. He did a few and then said, I understand now why people buy storm windows. Yeah, it's not fun to do. And, I was also thinking . . . I wonder if my hair dryer will make it back to the bathroom OR will it be left outside for the rain. Stay tuned. :)

and the sun broke through the clouds

It was a dark and rainy night . . . (at this point Janny Poo is probably rolling her eyes -hey, I never said I was a writer type person).

I raked, it rained and sort of spit snow. Now, it looks like I didn't rake. Is there a lesson here? Don't rake.

It's fall. Cool, cloudy, sunny, cold, rainy, snowy-all in one day.

The van is back. They couldn't find anything wrong. They have no idea. Me either. The van stalls. Why? Who knows.

My Van

My poor old van. He hasn't been feeling well lately. It stalls. Finally, we decided it was time to find a mechanic.

Hmmmm, how do you find a good mechanic? I asked my neighbor and she suggested her mechanic. Honest, she says. Good. And not terribly expensive. Just tell em that Lisette and Michele sent you.

Okies. So I have MainMan call. The guy who answers says he will have the owner call him back. He didn't call. So MainMan calls again. It turns out that the mechanic only accepts new customers who have a referral from one of his customers. Damnnnnnn. Lucky for us, we have a good referral.

Off we take the van. Bye ba vanny poo.

And then we go to pick up the van. Oh, don't even ask how much it cost. But we needed to have it done. Got it winterized too. They weren't sure if they got the problem but said to bring it back if it stalls again. But they are sure it was the spark plugs, etc.

I get in the van and start to back up.

It stalls.

You should have seen the look on the mechanic's face.

The van isn't home today.

And, while we were out getting the van, it was raining, then it started sleeting, then bigggggg fat wet snowflakes.

Guess we are in the frozen north.

Why God gave me boys

I have decided, I wouldn't be a great mother to girls. Well, maybe just a bit. But . . . then again-nope.

First of all, if my daughters looked like my niece or Michelle, I would just plain lock them in their rooms until they were 35. Of course, I would have to make sure the windows were locked too.

I look at my niece who is just starting to grasp young adulthood. I wonder how my brother feels when he sees boys glaring at her. And you know they do. Does he just pretend it doesn't happen? Or does he freak out like Michelle's mother did-worrying herself sick for a couple years? Nice that she has gotten past that part of mothering (ooorrrr has she?!?)

The other part where I am sure I would fail-the clothing aspect. Emergency clothing aspect. You know, with boys, the options are pretty small. Pants, shirt. Fancy pants, fancy shirt. Yep, that covers it. But . . . girls........ OMG. The selection is endless. Plus accessories. (boys . . . accessories are pretty limited-a watch maybe).


My niece was invited to a special party. She had it all down pat for the day-dress (yep), shoes to match the dress (yep), fingernail polish, makeup, jewelry . . . you know the deal-a closet full for one party. Then the DAY of the party, my niece finds out that long dresses are requested. OMG. She has a short dress. Somehow, her mother (my sister in law, i.e SIL), was able to borrow a dress (not easy when you figure the kid is like a -1 in dress sizes), get new shows and nail polish AND not lose her mind. WOW, super mom.

Where as, I would have melted down and said-sorry kid-let's forget the party and go out for lunch or something. Ah, the reason God didn't give me girls. I would have failed. But HE know who would make it happen. Yep, my SIL. You rock Sue!

Pictures, shoulders and cats

Someone requested pictures. Time to talk frozen shoulder. Man, what a pain. Literally. I finally went to the doctor and he told me what I already knew. My left shoulder is frozen. What does that mean? Well, it means pain. Certain movements cause me to mutter or scream profanities. He gave me a cortisone shot and it did help a bit. I have more range of motion. Now, I have to move it more to get it going. Fun.

And just what does this have to do with pictures? I haven't taken a lot cause I am pathetic and my shoulder hurts. But, I have taken some. Below is sushi. #2 brought it home and it was pretty colorful. The brown stuff is eel. Yep, the type of eel that swims around here. And, nope, I am not going to cook any eels anytime soon. Yuk.

And remember when we were moving in last July? I said that KC fell out of the bathroom window. See how high it is? I am still amazed he is ok. His leg got better in a couple days. After he was better he loved jumping into the window (the side on the left) and knocking the screen out to get in. I always worried that he would miss and fall again so I stopped opening that window. He comes in by the boring doors now.

And finally, this is the old old old doors on the carriage house (we call it the shed). Long ago, someone put siding all around it and left one window and one small door. But they covered the original doors and old window. Not a great picture, but this is old stuff. Think a hundred years old. The glass and hardware are so neat. The same type of doors are in the garage too. And I found out that the garage wasn't part of the original property, which explains why there is a carriage house and a garage. It's cool to try to figure out how things were back in the old days.

Chairs

I like this picture. Not that I really sit in these chairs all the much lately. I should tho. I like the shadows, the partial showing of #2's shoes, fishing poles, the plant inside the sun room, leaves and old weathered porch. Just a little peek into our lives by just looking at chairs.

Ready for Thanksgiving, anyone?

Fall is coming. Or is it here already. Yeah, I think it is pretty much here.

The leaves are achangin. The temps are getting cooler and Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Oh, yeah, you folks below the border, Thanksgiving is in October and on a Monday.

I have the turkey, the fixins and the hungry guys. #1 suggested making a lot more dressing this year. Actually, he suggested beef ribs for Thanksgiving but I vetoed him. Normally, I get a big bird, make lots of dressing and sit back and let them enjoy the left overs. But we always have turkey to throw away and not enough dressing. This year, I went for a smaller bird and more dressing.

Days go by. And its getting a little cooler here. This weekend it will be in the 30's at night. And this weekend we are winterizing the house. What does that mean?

Well, we are sacrificing our youngest to the winter gods. Yep, that should work.

And after the sacrifice, we will put plastic on some of the windows, add a little insulation around a couple doors (for some reason, Canadian Cat likes playing with it on one of the doors-hey, cat, we need that little plastic stuff around that door!). I may even wash the windows before we put the plastic up (basically just shrink wrap).

So, just what have I been doing? A quick run down:
*watching the Cards
*went to an Art show-yeah, it was all French.
*went bowling (I really am bad at this)
*went fishing in the Kayak (still hurts to get out)
*whined about my shoulder which still hurts
*got my medical card (oohhh yeah, in my hot little hands and everything)
*will get my permanent resident card this month (really!)
*ordered something from the states . . . ouch on the brokerage fees)
*seriously thinking of getting a mail box in Vermont
*taking pictures of my neighbors art and sculptures
*wishing the art types up here knew how to email
*talked to a couple of art types about cards
*started a sculpture of my own
*realized that bowling isn't the only thing where I don't excel

Oh, yeah. In case you were wondering about the youngest child here, he has to go UNDER the house this weekend and turn on the heaters, change the windows and deal with cobwebs and webs and spiders (and whatever else might be under there).