tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68642527969271829672024-03-13T07:37:36.544-07:00Coffee Pot PeopleAnitra's land of Coffee Pot People, and all the other crafts and personalities she loves.Anitra Cameronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16562161581653441019noreply@blogger.comBlogger522125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-71857572967963849092014-05-08T17:50:00.004-07:002021-10-29T11:00:15.477-07:00The King and the Fool 2011, and an edited AppalachianLast one! I don't know what was going on for this show. There were No, None, photos of the full stage with the cast that I could find, and believe me, I looked. I solicited every Reveler I could think of. I scavenged on Facebook pages, and googled every permutation of the words I could come up with. This collage is mostly close-ups of various cast members, and I think there may even be a photo from a different show. But it was a Great show--just wish I had more that reflected it.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jjLer0d16ks/U2wlj6d6n7I/AAAAAAAABPc/2D0Frhgr4sQ/s1600/2011-3rd-King&Fool.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jjLer0d16ks/U2wlj6d6n7I/AAAAAAAABPc/2D0Frhgr4sQ/s1600/2011-3rd-King&Fool.jpg" /></a></div>
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And last (LAST!), but not least, I was concerned about the resolution of some of the photos I used for the Appalachian show, so I changed it up a little. Here's the edited version:<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-647083372445159942014-05-08T17:07:00.000-07:002014-05-08T17:07:09.523-07:00Spanish Treasure, and Christmas in Old EuropeAlmost done with this series of posts--just one left after these two.<br />
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I love the photos from the "Spanish Treasure" Christmas Revels. They really make me wish I'd been in it!<br />
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Now, off we go to Eastern Europe, to the Balkans, with an enormous and elegant clock created just for our Empress, and a story centered around what would happen if we really could stop time.<br />
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Oh, I gotta tell you: The "monsters" are called Kukeri, and the are traditional to the area, in many iterations. Locals don them, and wander the streets. Again, they were created by Barbara Millikan, creature-creator supreme. You can spot Barb posing with three of them in the bottom left photo in the collage.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-12782032983380472982014-05-08T16:52:00.001-07:002014-05-08T16:52:41.677-07:00A French Medieval Celebration, & A Visit to the Scandinavian NorthlandsIn 2006, Portland Revels produced their Christmas show for that year, "A French Medieval Celebration of the Winter Solstice." Here's the photo collage I created for it:<br />
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We've already seen 2007's "Haddon Hall", so I'll move on to 2008, with "A Visit to the Scandinavian Northlands." Check out the awesome trolls and other mythical beings created by Barbara Millikan, who also makes our dragon every year!<br />
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(Just a reminder: These are very large, and I've uploaded them that way. Click on them to see the whole collage, because only a third to a quarter of each one actually shows on this page.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-35049239311905938772014-05-04T23:16:00.000-07:002014-05-04T23:16:39.086-07:00Portland Revels Does Shakespeare; Christmas in Appalachia What would happen if the most famous dancer of the Elizabethan era, Tom Kemp, were sent to a small village with instructions to prepare a celebration for Queen Elizabeth, shortly to arrive? Just for starts, each villager would manage to grab a page from one of Shakespeare's plays, and at the appropriate time (or, more like, inappropriate) would leap up, recite a line from a death scene, and die forthwith (in the acting sense, not in reality!). In this collage, look for a scene where every cast member on the stage, except one woman reciting the line, "And the rest is silence," and the queen's party--every villager--lies dead on the stage.<br />
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Somewhere in Appalachia, on Christmas Eve, travelers arrive at the small church where the locals have gathered to sing, dance, and feast the holiday. The travelers and townsfolk share their folk traditions, stories, and songs. One traveler, however, attempts to steal the music, grabbing it and stuffing it into a bag that grows larger and noisier with each stolen tune. Will he get away with it?<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-66895323215418489282014-05-04T22:05:00.001-07:002014-05-04T22:05:23.175-07:00A Second King and the Fool, and a Scottish showToday's photo collages (with hopefully one or two more to come) are both from Portland Christmas Revels shows set in the British Isles, the first in England proper, the second in Scotland.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-15244472404735548062014-05-04T09:08:00.001-07:002014-05-04T09:09:49.611-07:00Revels Haddon Hall, and Irish in AmericaTwo more photo collages, one set in Haddon Hall in England, and one in Ireland. Both, I believe were set in the 1930's, but the plot for Haddon Hall involves a family buying the Hall and moving in, only to find that when Christmas arrives, the cabinets open, and long-departed inhabitants come out to celebrate.<br />
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This is Haddon Hall:<br />
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And these are scenes from the Irish show:</div>
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I'm posting these collages in aid of our 20th Anniversary Jubilee, and being very brief, because I haven't thought of these posts as "real", but I have to say, each one reminds me what a wonderful Christmas/Solstice show Portland Revels puts on every year, and how much fun and light they bring to my winter world, whether I'm in the cast or on the stage, as I have been for twelve of the nineteen shows. Revels is not just a part of my life, it's a part of my soul.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-13791781093269447612014-05-02T22:02:00.001-07:002014-05-02T22:02:28.903-07:00Celestial Fools, and a Party in ItalyPicture a drab, brown village in the middle of nowhere. Now picture three fantastically garbed medieval clowns arriving, and the party that ensues, along with magic, wonder, song, comedy, and dance. That was 2001 for the Portland Christmas Revels.<br />
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I'm skipping 2002 for now, as I don't have that collage done. I'll be back!<br />
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In the meantime, the solstice celebrations have moved, in 2003, to Italy:<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-61348250371156482822014-05-02T21:43:00.000-07:002014-05-02T21:44:44.339-07:00Portland Christmas Revels shows for 1998-2000Portland Revels has done two shows of a Celtic nature. The first, in 1998, was broader in focus, encompassing traditions from Scotland, England, and Wales. (Don't quote me there--it's been nearly twenty years, and I'm going by memory.) These are very large images; click on them to see what isn't fitting on the page.<br />
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After that came the first French Medieval show, in 1999.<br />
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Then, in 2000, a Victorian Show.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-31369368974823663642014-05-02T21:30:00.000-07:002014-05-02T21:45:41.071-07:00Portland Christmas Revels Northlands show, 19971997 was the year of our first Northlands show, and featured the national choreographer of Norway, a champion pole dancer (it's a folk form, not what you're thinking! Quite an amazing dance, though.), and a quartet of folk singer-musicians from Karelia, in Russia. I loved this show, and enjoyed talking to the choreographer about my name, which is very popular in Norway.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-77659684997181771072014-05-01T22:46:00.002-07:002014-05-01T22:46:39.020-07:00The first full show Portland Revels put on was in 1996, "The King and the Fool". (For those of my readers who still check in from time to time, 2014 marks our 20th year. These collages are part of the celebration.)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-57615504250169256692014-05-01T10:12:00.000-07:002014-05-01T10:12:26.226-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The first Portland Christmas Revels show was produced in 1995. This is a photo collage of shots from that show, which I've heard described as a "sampler". To see the collage in its entirety, just click on it. You can also press F11 on your keyboard to go completely full screen; pressing F11 again will bring back your headers and footers, and whatever other doodads you're accustomed to. Want to see it even larger? Click on the photo again, which will enlarge it to full size. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-87530409813201540862013-02-18T22:04:00.000-08:002013-02-18T22:29:27.686-08:00A Lovely Valentine's Bottle Swap<i>Has it really been a year since I last posted? Google tells me so, and I won't argue. And this post is almost a week later than I'd intended, but I've been waging computer battles of <strike>epic</strike> hair-tearing proportions. (Shhhh. Everything seems to be working reasonably well this evening. Don't even whisper that to the computer jinxing gods!)</i><br />
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Last Thursday was Valentine's Day, and in honor of that I participated in a bottle swap! My sister-I've-never-met-in-person, darling Miz Mollye, over at <a href="http://fruitofspirit-mollye.blogspot.com/">Fruit of the Spirit</a> was our hostess for it. Have you ever tried one? You take an empty 2 liter bottle, cut a trap door in the side, stuff it full of goodies, and then mail it. (I loved the look on the postal worker's face when I placed the one I was sending on the scale!)<br />
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I am here to show off the lovely wonderfulness I received from my swap partner, Terry Lee. (Her blog is here: <a href="http://allthingsterrylee.blogspot.com/">AllThingsTerryLee</a> .) Are you ready? Here's what the outside of the bottle looked like:<br />
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See how she surrounded all the little gifties with pink paper shreds? So pretty! And a close-up of the heart-shaped picture:</div>
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I opened my bottle with a girlfriend who'd come for a visit. We could hardly believe our eyes as we pulled one item after another from the bottle. How on earth did she get all this in there?! And almost all of it was gift-wrapped, so there was the delight of anticipation, and opening each one.<br />
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Whoo-hoo! Lookit all the CHOCOLATE! I have nibbled, and nibbled, and nibbled, and when I'm not nibbling, I'm <i>hoarding</i>. I swear, sometimes thinking about that chocolate waiting for me is as good as actually eating it. (Well....maybe not <i>quite</i>, lol.)</div>
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And so many prezzies! Socks, a bracelet (haven't taken it off since), a little note pad for my purse, a darling hanging heart, decorated box, my initial on a hat/coat hook....</div>
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"AC sweet as can be" (My initials are AC. How darling is that? Not to mention flattering!)</div>
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The sweet card and envelope, and a delightful stamped and decorated cloth tag:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppRs7rZVnEw/USMSEgxC_6I/AAAAAAAABFo/hmK7YuiGNs4/s1600/08-Card-&-Tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppRs7rZVnEw/USMSEgxC_6I/AAAAAAAABFo/hmK7YuiGNs4/s320/08-Card-&-Tag.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
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And last but not least, this metal hanger. I love it, and I'm looking for just exactly the right place to put it.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HUaSi85drh0/USMSEVcYQeI/AAAAAAAABFs/z7x73TcBeoQ/s1600/07-A-Hanger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HUaSi85drh0/USMSEVcYQeI/AAAAAAAABFs/z7x73TcBeoQ/s320/07-A-Hanger.jpg" width="169" /></a></div>
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All I have to say is my swap partner spoiled me absolutely rotten. I have smiled, and smiled, and <i>smiled.</i> Thank you, Terry Lee!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-11422932220489413692012-02-13T08:56:00.000-08:002012-02-13T08:56:32.539-08:00WEIGHTY MATTERS<div class="MsoNormal"><i>I wrote this some time back for another website (<a href="http://www.thinkcrafts.com/">www.thinkcrafts.com</a>), and am reposting today. Hence the "odd" reference to summer heat!</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
Ah, summer. Picnics, farmers’ markets, concerts in the park, camping, and festivals abound, and all the world wants to be outside.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course, with temperatures in the 80’s, 90’s, and even 100’s, we’re also looking for shade, and canopies are becoming very popular ways to take your shade with you. They’re getting better all the time, too, with pop-up types springing up in a matter of minutes, and collapsing into a bundle smaller than a kitchen stool.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The downside? If the wind comes up, a canopy can behave like a parachute with wanderlust, and go tumbling willy-nilly away from your set-up.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The solution, of course, is to weight it down. One way is to fill empty milk jugs with water, tying from two to four to each canopy leg, but jugs can be hard to lug, and I’m one of those people who find it all too easy to trip even on something as obvious as Big Jugs O’ Water In The Corner.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As someone who does art/craft shows, I also wanted something that looked professional, without spending a bundle. My son and daughter-in-law had the solution.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You’ll need:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DRxToe0OBZw/Tzk9HksjTUI/AAAAAAAABEA/rLBrPTgfkUs/s1600/01-You-will-need.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DRxToe0OBZw/Tzk9HksjTUI/AAAAAAAABEA/rLBrPTgfkUs/s320/01-You-will-need.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Four 4’ lengths of 3” diameter PVC pipe</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>8 end caps that fit your pipe</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>PVC primer and glue (It will be in the plumbing supplies area at the hardware store.)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Sand</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Optional: 4 short lengths of chain with S-hooks on each end, and 4 sturdy eye bolts</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal">Start by gluing an end cap to one end of each of the four pipes. You need to use the primer first, and then the glue, according to the instructions on the cans. Protect your work surface! My dear husband spilled some on our linoleum, and the purple stains don’t look like they’ll ever come out! (No worries for me—I’ve already painted polka dots on my floor; this is an excuse to do more!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let the glue dry thoroughly, and then fill each of the pipes with sand, then glue the other end caps to the open ends of the pipes. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You now have four good weights that are ready to use by just standing them next to the canopy legs and bungee-cording in place.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-twaF_0G7ObI/Tzk9H8nk8YI/AAAAAAAABEI/3oBWVB-vATU/s1600/02-4-on-the-ground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-twaF_0G7ObI/Tzk9H8nk8YI/AAAAAAAABEI/3oBWVB-vATU/s320/02-4-on-the-ground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Or you can finish up with just one more step: Drill a guide hole in one end cap of each weight that’s just a bit smaller than your eye bolts’ diameter. Screw the eye bolt in securely. Now you can use those short lengths of chain to hang the weights from each corner.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BUwHmKqkW98/Tzk9ICOSENI/AAAAAAAABEQ/asSKF-7YrW8/s1600/03-One-hung-up.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BUwHmKqkW98/Tzk9ICOSENI/AAAAAAAABEQ/asSKF-7YrW8/s320/03-One-hung-up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-26455537667221374512011-08-19T13:08:00.000-07:002011-08-19T13:08:12.509-07:00FRIDAY FENCE POST #80: Raccoon HighwayIt's been a Long time since I did a Friday Fence Post, and this one is kind of a cheater. It has a fence, the one right outside our bedroom window, but I'm reasonably certain that isn't what will get your attention. I was sitting near the window when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wJjBjIO3LxQ/Tk7BZh3aV5I/AAAAAAAABD4/x1XecdALYNo/s1600/Racoon-on-a-Fence-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wJjBjIO3LxQ/Tk7BZh3aV5I/AAAAAAAABD4/x1XecdALYNo/s400/Racoon-on-a-Fence-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MOtzohSoFMc/Tk7BaVZMwVI/AAAAAAAABD8/PeCqPS2IHJI/s1600/Racoon-on-Fence-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MOtzohSoFMc/Tk7BaVZMwVI/AAAAAAAABD8/PeCqPS2IHJI/s400/Racoon-on-Fence-2.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Isn't it beautiful? I got quite close to it, even closer than these photos. The fence is only about six feet from the wall, and our not-so-little friend here was at eye level. It was only when I opened the window to get a better shot that s/he backed up, away from me. I thought to myself, when it did that, <i>Huh. Apparently, this raccoon understands the difference between an open and a shut window.</i> Now isn't that interesting?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wonder how often raccoons use the top of our fence as their highway....</div><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-85469647338497105402011-07-03T12:15:00.000-07:002011-07-03T12:15:21.090-07:00SUNDAY RERUN: Dad Tells Me a Story<div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lQUrXDsfIls/ThC-cwm-qYI/AAAAAAAABDY/nLuhR1UoHaY/s1600/01-Delphiniums.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lQUrXDsfIls/ThC-cwm-qYI/AAAAAAAABDY/nLuhR1UoHaY/s400/01-Delphiniums.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">This is an entry from my diary, May 12, 2003. It includes a story Dad told me, one which I'd forgotten:</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
There are times I'm intensely aware that any journal is a series of choices--what to record, in how much detail, what to omit. You may even have to choose whose stories to tell. I'm deciding tonight, here in the time-share vacation condo I'm sharing with my parents, Mom's sister Charlotte, and Dad's brother's widow Jewel. Already a week has passed since the fund-raising dinner/theatre entertainment for the new production of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Mother's Day was yesterday, Bruce's hearing with his supervisor's superior was this morning, and I have spent a rare five hours alone with my dad as we drove from Portland, (actually he joined me in Hood River) to Leavenworth, followed by dinner here, a round of crafting stick-pins, and swapping reminisces until Mom and the aunties were too tired to stay up any longer. Dad went to bed shortly after dinner. The trip had worn him out.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Now here I am, sitting propped against the wall, sideways at the head of the Murphy bed. I'm trapped in pajamas, as the living room is my bedroom, and perspiration beads my forehead. Aunt Charlotte was worried some Peeping Tom could see through the vertical blinds. What would she think if I opened a window? I am ready to go out and sleep in the van. Anything to cool off. I am going to open a window.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">I surprised myself by being ready to leave when Mom and Dad arrived this morning. The car was packed, I'd had time to eat, RC had checked the tires and transmission. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Mom rode with me as far as Aunt Charlotte's, in Hood River. We had a brief visit there with cousin Cindy, and a light lunch, and then loaded Charlotte's gear into Mom and Dad's little red Taurus and drove over to pick up Aunt Jewel. Dad was my passenger now. Said he didn't want to get stuck in a car with three gabbling women. He'd told me in Portland he'd switch with Mom. Sometimes I've felt as though Dad and I didn't have a lot in common. I think it's a male/female thing. Duane told me once he always fretted about what to get Mom for Christmas and birthdays, but Dad was easy. It's just the other way around, for me--with Mom, I have to take a l-o-o-o-n-g list of possibilities and pare it down; with Dad I walk around wondering what one earth he might like to get! But there's one thing Dad and I have always shared: Our love of music.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">We sang together for long miles, reminding each other of songs we hadn't thought of in years, resurrecting lyrics in a patchwork fusion of mental filing systems. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">And Dad told me stories. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">He told me of the time he'd been out logging with his brother, (my Uncle Walt) and a couple of buddies. They'd set out from camp one morning, Dad and one of the guys. Uncle Walt was still in camp, and the fourth man was already out in the woods. Dad had a double-headed clearing axe over his shoulder, which they used the way I suppose one would use a machete, to clear brush around the trees they wanted to cut, or to clear a path through the forest. It was honed every morning until it had an edge you could have shaved with.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Well, it was cold and frosty, and Dad stepped up onto an icy log lying in the path, lost his balance, and tried to keep his feet by bringing the handle of the axe down, slicing his neck quite neatly at the base of the skull.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">His buddy managed to get him back to camp, where Uncle Walt hustled them into their old car. Dad's friend had a thick, folded cloth over the gash, trying to staunch the bleeding, but it wasn't working. At the sound of the car's engine, the fourth man came out of the woods wanting to know why they were going back. Uncle Walt jerked a thumb at the back seat, where Dad and his friend were. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">That fourth man took one look at the two of them and said, "Stop the car!" to Uncle Walt, yanked the back door open and said, "Get out!" to the friend, who did, and scrambled into the front seat. Then the latecomer climbed in with Dad and pushed his thumb into the pressure point on the side of Dad's neck, stopping the flow of blood. Without his knowledge and action, Dad would have bled to death.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Now, back to 2011, with the latest photos from the yard:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v-7w9qjt1Dk/ThC-dFjRvwI/AAAAAAAABDc/8Y3Vzgj6GUY/s1600/02-Delphinium-Back-Story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v-7w9qjt1Dk/ThC-dFjRvwI/AAAAAAAABDc/8Y3Vzgj6GUY/s400/02-Delphinium-Back-Story.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P9sZYUloRZI/ThC-dS22uNI/AAAAAAAABDg/QWpOubWUF44/s1600/03-Garden-path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P9sZYUloRZI/ThC-dS22uNI/AAAAAAAABDg/QWpOubWUF44/s400/03-Garden-path.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg5gCgOOGxw/ThC-d2aHAUI/AAAAAAAABDk/O_nn3beup2c/s1600/04-From-the-West-Gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg5gCgOOGxw/ThC-d2aHAUI/AAAAAAAABDk/O_nn3beup2c/s400/04-From-the-West-Gate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xYaNl8T0rYk/ThC-eJNdPJI/AAAAAAAABDo/juW5dbJ3Sd8/s1600/05-Tangled-Heart-of-Rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xYaNl8T0rYk/ThC-eJNdPJI/AAAAAAAABDo/juW5dbJ3Sd8/s400/05-Tangled-Heart-of-Rose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_1PiPj8_q8/ThC-e6xMDUI/AAAAAAAABDs/TQnv2DkDtOc/s1600/06-Massed-Clematis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_1PiPj8_q8/ThC-e6xMDUI/AAAAAAAABDs/TQnv2DkDtOc/s400/06-Massed-Clematis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bU4PWtDSYKA/ThC-fWhlerI/AAAAAAAABDw/hcxsY3Lq1jo/s1600/07-Ruffles-and-Swords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bU4PWtDSYKA/ThC-fWhlerI/AAAAAAAABDw/hcxsY3Lq1jo/s400/07-Ruffles-and-Swords.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-opbmsEC0ImY/ThC-f4SnmsI/AAAAAAAABD0/AxQ473rzjgQ/s1600/08-From-the-East-Gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-opbmsEC0ImY/ThC-f4SnmsI/AAAAAAAABD0/AxQ473rzjgQ/s1600/08-From-the-East-Gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-opbmsEC0ImY/ThC-f4SnmsI/AAAAAAAABD0/AxQ473rzjgQ/s400/08-From-the-East-Gate.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-24758861579273079672011-07-02T21:42:00.000-07:002011-07-02T21:42:33.209-07:00SWAP-BOT SATURDAY: Altered Bingo Card, ATC, Chunky House<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHe-VFQtHTM/Tg_uisvRXdI/AAAAAAAABDM/NGGMZ0FCmAQ/s1600/Sea-Theme-Chunky-Angled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHe-VFQtHTM/Tg_uisvRXdI/AAAAAAAABDM/NGGMZ0FCmAQ/s400/Sea-Theme-Chunky-Angled.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><br />
What? It's been a month since I blogged?! Oh, dear. Well, I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things, and I'll start with a Swap-Bot Saturday post.<br />
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These are the things I sent out this week. I enjoyed working on them, and am hoping their recipients like getting them in the mail.<br />
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This first one is an ATC (Artist Trading Card). The swap theme was "Altered Photograph". I had several to choose from, and was leaning toward a pretty child.<br />
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As I went through my little stash, this one grabbed my attention, as it does every time I see it, but I set it aside. I know my proclivity for the quirky and irreverent. <i>It would be too easy to make fun of her,</i> I thought, <i>and I don't want to do that.</i> There's always been, for me, something compelling in this woman's face. I feel a little sad looking at her sometimes. Her name is Rebeccah. I look at her eyes and mouth, and think, <i>She must have been beautiful as a young woman.</i><br />
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A little while later, I fixed a cup to tea to drink as I worked, and read what was on the teabag's tag. I knew instantly that I'd use Rebeccah's photo after all. The tag is on the ATC. (You may need to click on the picture to read it.)<br />
<i> </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JCeXkJu35Q0/Tg_uh0cVwGI/AAAAAAAABDE/bD13Dqc_XhU/s1600/01-Beauty-Steals-Inward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JCeXkJu35Q0/Tg_uh0cVwGI/AAAAAAAABDE/bD13Dqc_XhU/s400/01-Beauty-Steals-Inward.jpg" width="305" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then came an Altered Bingo Card, my first. I thought at first that I'd do something vintage-y and frilly and feminine, but.... </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r-32bNshc1Y/Tg_uiUSpOnI/AAAAAAAABDI/miL4tY84fDs/s1600/02-Altered-Bingo-Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r-32bNshc1Y/Tg_uiUSpOnI/AAAAAAAABDI/miL4tY84fDs/s400/02-Altered-Bingo-Card.jpg" width="287" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last up, a Chunky House, with the assigned theme of "something to do with the sea". Here's my creation, with the "porthole" closed: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJmZMU8U_B4/Tg_ujGQpqXI/AAAAAAAABDU/6FIAOoN3eOg/s1600/Sea-Themed-Chunky-Shut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJmZMU8U_B4/Tg_ujGQpqXI/AAAAAAAABDU/6FIAOoN3eOg/s320/Sea-Themed-Chunky-Shut.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
And then with it open: <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NkvJfAB6iKk/Tg_uigdUg7I/AAAAAAAABDQ/KQ4jtKKbvSY/s1600/Sea-Theme-Chunky-Open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NkvJfAB6iKk/Tg_uigdUg7I/AAAAAAAABDQ/KQ4jtKKbvSY/s320/Sea-Theme-Chunky-Open.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br />
In two days it will be Independence Day. Already the fireworks have begun. I love that part, everybody setting off firecrackers all over town, in spite of the fact that most of what I can see and hear are quite illegal here! I'm so glad Washington still lets people have big, loud, showy fireworks; what would Oregonians do, otherwise?!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-48450563571760728062011-06-04T23:01:00.000-07:002011-06-04T23:01:48.559-07:00Almost Summer in the Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6aFz9RTmd8/TesYayhGW3I/AAAAAAAABC8/NjcF-bCVQ-U/s1600/11-Sleeping-Fairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6aFz9RTmd8/TesYayhGW3I/AAAAAAAABC8/NjcF-bCVQ-U/s400/11-Sleeping-Fairy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Well, I think I've been brain dead for the last couple of months! Odd what dealing with even a non-threatening bit of cancer will do. (Update: My DH has been through the surgery, and the first six treatments, and is doing fine. No more treatments now until mid-July. As you'll see from the photos, he's feeling a Lot better!)<br />
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Today marked the first real day of spring/summer here, and was it a wonder. We went from day after day of cold drizzle, to mid-sixty temperatures yesterday, with more drizzle, to brilliant sunshine and a high of 90 degrees today.<br />
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There was just one thing to do: Get out in the yard and garden!<br />
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Bob and I had been working for a couple of hours when I looked across the yard and realized, <i>It's finally coming together. After all these years...look how beautiful!</i> I had to get the camera, even though some of the photos are littered with spades, wheelbarrows, and other tools.<br />
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We've lived here now for eleven years. When we bought the place, our main thrust was to keep the weeds mowed. The "lawn" was up to our thighs the first time we mowed it. There were no arbors, no benches, no swings, no paths, no flower beds other than the ones along each of the houses, and they're only about 18" wide. (Unusual property alert: We actually bought five houses on half an acre. We live in one, and rent out the other four.) Now...Well, I'll let the photos do the talking.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYAA-1GDnLc/TesYV5A5VHI/AAAAAAAABCU/CAxNf9-sVes/s1600/01-From-the-crabapple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYAA-1GDnLc/TesYV5A5VHI/AAAAAAAABCU/CAxNf9-sVes/s400/01-From-the-crabapple.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ClymHj_op5U/TesYWb2dv7I/AAAAAAAABCY/R-uKyeXJdUo/s1600/02-Under-the-crabapple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ClymHj_op5U/TesYWb2dv7I/AAAAAAAABCY/R-uKyeXJdUo/s400/02-Under-the-crabapple.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L59qn-HWz9I/TesYWjTje8I/AAAAAAAABCc/4toLNAlaeic/s1600/03-SW-garden-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L59qn-HWz9I/TesYWjTje8I/AAAAAAAABCc/4toLNAlaeic/s400/03-SW-garden-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ot45YD5hF7k/TesYW5qCX5I/AAAAAAAABCg/VWa9m_owxCU/s1600/04-SW-garden-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ot45YD5hF7k/TesYW5qCX5I/AAAAAAAABCg/VWa9m_owxCU/s400/04-SW-garden-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WGlRhZYyqw0/TesYXWU0E2I/AAAAAAAABCk/44mxuooqMeE/s1600/05-SW-garden-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WGlRhZYyqw0/TesYXWU0E2I/AAAAAAAABCk/44mxuooqMeE/s400/05-SW-garden-3.jpg" width="321" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a-moX-YZt60/TesYXyBAmHI/AAAAAAAABCo/e4UDocTZ6UM/s1600/06-Allium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a-moX-YZt60/TesYXyBAmHI/AAAAAAAABCo/e4UDocTZ6UM/s400/06-Allium.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82dcVx5ZB1E/TesYYQDUqFI/AAAAAAAABCs/ZZZ5CPnmEy4/s1600/07-From-Amy%2527s-porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82dcVx5ZB1E/TesYYQDUqFI/AAAAAAAABCs/ZZZ5CPnmEy4/s400/07-From-Amy%2527s-porch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-41YmVyDmiok/TesYYvcAgWI/AAAAAAAABCw/R-fiRgoIByQ/s1600/08-Toward-the-street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-41YmVyDmiok/TesYYvcAgWI/AAAAAAAABCw/R-fiRgoIByQ/s400/08-Toward-the-street.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbnQHwxCbN8/TesYZJdwQAI/AAAAAAAABC0/B-CLMDZaknM/s1600/09-Widening-the-path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbnQHwxCbN8/TesYZJdwQAI/AAAAAAAABC0/B-CLMDZaknM/s400/09-Widening-the-path.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DW0fv5mhQwA/TesYaRhoX0I/AAAAAAAABC4/pwB-JXPr0Oc/s1600/10-New-groundcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DW0fv5mhQwA/TesYaRhoX0I/AAAAAAAABC4/pwB-JXPr0Oc/s400/10-New-groundcover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KoWtzaA-CGg/TesYbOR3ZNI/AAAAAAAABDA/DhOneMkrsj8/s1600/12-King-Ah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KoWtzaA-CGg/TesYbOR3ZNI/AAAAAAAABDA/DhOneMkrsj8/s400/12-King-Ah.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br />
Okay, so what have I been doing? I have a new passion, or an old passion with a new twist: For the first time in my life, I'm taking voice lessons, something I'd always dreamed of doing. The new twist is what I'm singing--opera! Coloratura, to be exact. What's coloratura? Usually soprano, I'm told, and rather acrobatic, with lots of movement and runs and jumps from one octave to another. I am having SO MUCH FUN! Our teacher's master class is having a get-together tomorrow, and we'll all sing for each other. This is one of the tunes I'll be singing:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xPQHrPPxsRQ" width="425"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-83812315689250165172011-04-08T23:23:00.000-07:002011-04-08T23:23:28.772-07:00FRIDAY FENCE POST #79--Child's Eye ViewI'm two weeks past due for a Friday Fence Post. I do apologize for being away so long. I got kind of distracted with the DH's illness, and to tell the truth, kind of misplaced the big WHY of blogging, a bit of lame on my part.<br />
<br />
But I'm here, with some cool fences, and even cooler, several of the shots were taken by my 7-year-old granddaughter, Meggie. She has a real eye, that one, and her own thoughts about framing. I was told, in no uncertain terms, that she did <i>not</i> want me rotating any of her pictures, that she had taken them the way she wanted them to be seen.<br />
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So now, here are some of the fences we shot on our walk today, hers interspersed with mine. I'll tell you which were hers at the end. I think it will not necessarily be obvious.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5RgT51t2uDI/TZ_1AJ_c0ZI/AAAAAAAACF0/g8PAq1FrRYY/s1600/01-Meg%2527s-fence-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="10" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5RgT51t2uDI/TZ_1AJ_c0ZI/AAAAAAAACF0/g8PAq1FrRYY/s400/01-Meg%2527s-fence-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bidjpbYmICM/TZ_1AnKw4tI/AAAAAAAACF4/xDBAVukXS84/s1600/02-Wire-on-Wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="11" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bidjpbYmICM/TZ_1AnKw4tI/AAAAAAAACF4/xDBAVukXS84/s400/02-Wire-on-Wood.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TTjv6lGVtpg/TZ_1A5I3IDI/AAAAAAAACF8/DEFj1yeDaoA/s1600/03-Edgewise.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="12" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TTjv6lGVtpg/TZ_1A5I3IDI/AAAAAAAACF8/DEFj1yeDaoA/s640/03-Edgewise.jpg" width="404" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VY-dCcKNx4/TZ_1BW-WyoI/AAAAAAAACGA/UZSh1jL4i30/s1600/04-Meg%2527s-Fence-Beyond.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="13" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VY-dCcKNx4/TZ_1BW-WyoI/AAAAAAAACGA/UZSh1jL4i30/s400/04-Meg%2527s-Fence-Beyond.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5afsmi4Ois/TZ_1B4wNuzI/AAAAAAAACGE/5K9I1T9Ykq8/s1600/05-Meg%2527s-Angle-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="14" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5afsmi4Ois/TZ_1B4wNuzI/AAAAAAAACGE/5K9I1T9Ykq8/s400/05-Meg%2527s-Angle-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fkUwdoXypZ4/TZ_1CFlPNvI/AAAAAAAACGI/9fx2-cZUqAI/s1600/06-Meg%2527s-Angle-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="15" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fkUwdoXypZ4/TZ_1CFlPNvI/AAAAAAAACGI/9fx2-cZUqAI/s400/06-Meg%2527s-Angle-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ly8U7_f645Y/TZ_1Cs4DJ_I/AAAAAAAACGM/V50KcLQINQ0/s1600/07-Shadow-Fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="16" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ly8U7_f645Y/TZ_1Cs4DJ_I/AAAAAAAACGM/V50KcLQINQ0/s400/07-Shadow-Fence.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axY3twrW0t8/TZ_1DHPDVBI/AAAAAAAACGQ/zfn9lR_977Q/s1600/08-Reflected.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="17" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-axY3twrW0t8/TZ_1DHPDVBI/AAAAAAAACGQ/zfn9lR_977Q/s400/08-Reflected.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br />
The fences are: Meg's, mine, mine, hers, hers, hers, mine, mine. Did you get them all right?<br />
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A word on the last two, also. The next to the last, if you look closely, especially at the right side of the sidewalk, is the shadow of a picket fence. The last is chain link, reflected in rain water on some corrugated sheeting.<br />
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Click on any photo to see it large.<br />
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Your turn! Has spring brought out the fences in your area? Post them on your blog, and drop the link here so I can come see them! And be sure to leave a comment. I love them anyway, but comments in my inbox let me know something's going on over here!<br />
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<div id="preview-09Apr2011" style="text-align:center;border:2px solid #bbb;color:#bbb"><b>Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!</b><br>This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.<br>For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.</div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/easylink.php?owner=CoffeePotPeople&postid=09Apr2011"></script>Anitra Cameronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16562161581653441019noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-70912401155097295022011-03-27T09:35:00.000-07:002011-03-27T09:35:21.264-07:00SUNDAY RERUN: Brain Teasers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tE4w3UI56Mk/TY9kWf8jNKI/AAAAAAAABCM/zGzCuuwD1kw/s1600/Balancing+Four+Nails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tE4w3UI56Mk/TY9kWf8jNKI/AAAAAAAABCM/zGzCuuwD1kw/s320/Balancing+Four+Nails.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brain Teaser: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/68624799/balancing-14-nails-puzzle">Balancing Four Nails</a></span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by</span></span> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/madecontact?ref=seller_info">MadeContact</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="color: black;">Time for a Sunday Favorite! If you want to join the party, click on the button in my left hand sidebar--it will take you to Chari's instructions on <a href="http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/">Happy to Design</a>. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><i>This is an entry from my old diary, dated April 17, 2003. Hope you enjoy the Brain Teasers!</i></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">These brain teasers were sent to me a few days ago by one of my readers. I say, "Thanks, Phil!" And I'm adding one to his, an old (1933) jigsaw that gave you the brain teaser on the back, and then you could put the puzzle together to read the solution on the picture, which they didn't put on the box. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">So, written teasers first, picture teaser next, and answers after that.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Brain teasers that will make you groan ... <br />
1. A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him? <br />
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2. A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over <br />
5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be? </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">3. There are two plastic jugs filled with water. How could you put all of this water into a barrel, without using the jugs or any dividers, and still tell which water came from which jug? </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">4. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away? </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">5. Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday? </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">6. This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so plain you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is unusual though. Study it, and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out. <br />
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Here is the back of the box, with the captions to pictures below:</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QT5lRywL8jc/TY9g8NGa1YI/AAAAAAAABCI/waDEKl8bTVY/s1600/Jigsaw-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QT5lRywL8jc/TY9g8NGa1YI/AAAAAAAABCI/waDEKl8bTVY/s320/Jigsaw-back.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><ol><li><i>Rich princess want to marry a poor peasant. Her father objects.</i><i> </i></li>
<li><i>King decrees on following day he will offer poor man two slips. One reads "marriage", the other "death". Peasant must abide by his choice. </i></li>
<li> <i>Poor peasant is secretly told the night before that both slips will read "death". </i> </li>
<li><i>Peasant goes before court, and after making his choice, marries the princess. HOW DOES HE DO IT? </i></li>
</ol><div style="color: black;"></div><div style="color: black;">Answers to the brainteasers: </div><div style="color: black;">1. The third. Lions that haven't eaten in three years are dead. <br />
2. The woman was a photographer. She shot a picture of her husband, developed it, and hung it up to dry. <br />
3. Freeze them first. Take them out of the jugs and put the ice in the barrel. You will be able to tell which water came from which jug. <br />
4. The answer is Charcoal. <br />
5. Sure you can: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow! <br />
6. The letter "e", which is the most common letter in the English language, does not appear once in the long paragraph... <br />
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Answer to the Jigsaw teaser:</div><div style="color: black;">Peasant swallows the slip he chooses. The King said one of them would read "marriage", and the "other" death, so the peasant must have chosen "marriage", as the one in his hand is "death".</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3jtn-YpCHUM/TY9moVsC-wI/AAAAAAAABCQ/pZujM3_kuHI/s1600/Jigsaw-together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3jtn-YpCHUM/TY9moVsC-wI/AAAAAAAABCQ/pZujM3_kuHI/s320/Jigsaw-together.jpg" width="234" /> </a></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;">Hope you enjoyed the Brain Teasers! Now I'm off to see what <a href="http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/">Chari's</a> got for us today.... </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-20608802773197801572011-03-26T17:30:00.000-07:002011-03-27T18:18:58.504-07:00SWAP-BOT SATURDAY: Mail Art, Tag, ATCShhh. Don't tell anyone, but it's really Sunday. I didn't get the photos taken early enough to do this yesterday, so I'm pretending. And Blogger is so cooperative that way--you can tell it to post something on just any date you want, and it will do it. What will they think of next? Time machines! I know it!<br />
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I got several lovelies this week, beginning with a piece of mail art:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BE-M5_k-ldc/TY_XY-4bM3I/AAAAAAAACFY/uvpF86yUj78/s1600/01-Unicyclists-Mail-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BE-M5_k-ldc/TY_XY-4bM3I/AAAAAAAACFY/uvpF86yUj78/s320/01-Unicyclists-Mail-art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YQoZ45kBRA/TY_XZAMMSnI/AAAAAAAACFc/RWhEg6O4erQ/s1600/02-Unicyclists-Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YQoZ45kBRA/TY_XZAMMSnI/AAAAAAAACFc/RWhEg6O4erQ/s320/02-Unicyclists-Back.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mail Art Envie by MegaMar</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Don't you love it? Let me tell you, I went right out and got myself a unicyclist rubber stamp. Lucky me, too, 'cause Michaels had one for a dollar. Yes!<br />
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I also got this awesome chunky tag, created with a coffee theme because, well, you know me and coffee. That made me smile big.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4p9eg38lFo/TY_X8ekpvMI/AAAAAAAACFg/bgE1RtzcQs4/s1600/03-Coffee-Tag-April.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4p9eg38lFo/TY_X8ekpvMI/AAAAAAAACFg/bgE1RtzcQs4/s320/03-Coffee-Tag-April.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"One Cup Is Never Enough!" by Tootheri</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
And then this darling ATC, with a fairy theme, in a perfectly wonderful holder. I need to figure out how she did that, but she glued it, and I don't want to destroy it in the figuring. Maybe steam? Hmmm...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4PwFBC1QjKI/TY_YV8DSkII/AAAAAAAACFk/G-BplwDAfns/s1600/04-Fairy-ATC-in-holder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4PwFBC1QjKI/TY_YV8DSkII/AAAAAAAACFk/G-BplwDAfns/s320/04-Fairy-ATC-in-holder.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Fairy by BeverlyBling</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
And then, because my little collection of ATCs is growing, I picked up a funky old photo album at Goodwill. (Another $1 wonder!) The sleeves hold photos that are 3.5" X 5", perfect for two ATCs. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8McqdUz8b8/TY_Y05b7kYI/AAAAAAAACFo/JMWvKcpvIgs/s1600/05-Funky-Album.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8McqdUz8b8/TY_Y05b7kYI/AAAAAAAACFo/JMWvKcpvIgs/s320/05-Funky-Album.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><br />
It's not beautiful, which makes me think there's a project lurking, and the sleeves, oddly enough, work much better if you put the ATCs at the back instead of the front, but I like it, because it let's me flip through and see them easily. A person could put four in each sleeve, but doing just two lets you see the back of each one, and who created it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTDLBTVSLxA/TY_ZXqqJQPI/AAAAAAAACFs/VGQkFW0lv1A/s1600/06-See-how-they-fit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jTDLBTVSLxA/TY_ZXqqJQPI/AAAAAAAACFs/VGQkFW0lv1A/s320/06-See-how-they-fit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Also, the fact that the sleeves are double-sized means that ATCs with extras can be slipped in sideways so nothing gets smushed. (Would you believe Blogger thinks 'smushed' isn't a real word? Honestly, that's just silly. Of course, it is!) <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rmGRAFE7bnw/TY_ZXzRGMBI/AAAAAAAACFw/s5BPossr6UI/s1600/07-Sideways-Beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rmGRAFE7bnw/TY_ZXzRGMBI/AAAAAAAACFw/s5BPossr6UI/s320/07-Sideways-Beauty.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time ATC by Veronica</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
What about you? Did you send or receive art this week?Anitra Cameronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16562161581653441019noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-16497670027599457252011-03-25T20:43:00.000-07:002011-03-25T20:43:39.546-07:00FRIDAY FENCE POST #78I love this time of year, when Spring arrives and photographing fences becomes an excuse for taking pictures of what's in front of them! AND I got out of my car! My foul weather fence photography secret is I park across from the fence I've chosen, roll down the window, and shoot from there. What can I say? I have a strong distaste for being cold and wet!<br />
<br />
Today's first fence:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CW3cH6fuLTs/TY1cMidyWUI/AAAAAAAACE8/q4Ci4RZjm3s/s1600/Azaleas-against-grey-fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="97" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CW3cH6fuLTs/TY1cMidyWUI/AAAAAAAACE8/q4Ci4RZjm3s/s400/Azaleas-against-grey-fence.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
At the left edge of the photo above, you can just make out the hellebore in these next three. Isn't it beautiful? I love the new varieties that have come out in the past several years!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f6yDPFJb-NU/TY1cwVQL8UI/AAAAAAAACFM/9U1g2dH90Ys/s1600/Tall-Hellebore-%2526-Fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="98" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f6yDPFJb-NU/TY1cwVQL8UI/AAAAAAAACFM/9U1g2dH90Ys/s400/Tall-Hellebore-%2526-Fence.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-veCx4Y3Nd0w/TY1cvqK-qGI/AAAAAAAACFE/P4Oq_k3hkUY/s1600/Pink-Hellebore-%2526-Cedar-Fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="99" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-veCx4Y3Nd0w/TY1cvqK-qGI/AAAAAAAACFE/P4Oq_k3hkUY/s400/Pink-Hellebore-%2526-Cedar-Fence.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eBPK7_IhzXE/TY1cvZSkDeI/AAAAAAAACFA/6atq-EEt5us/s1600/Pink-Hellebore.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="100" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eBPK7_IhzXE/TY1cvZSkDeI/AAAAAAAACFA/6atq-EEt5us/s400/Pink-Hellebore.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ACjaFhDV688/TY1cwHmOS6I/AAAAAAAACFI/0sTz4SB1thU/s1600/Pink-Hellebore%252C-filtered.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="101" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ACjaFhDV688/TY1cwHmOS6I/AAAAAAAACFI/0sTz4SB1thU/s400/Pink-Hellebore%252C-filtered.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filters R Fun</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>How about bright yellow forsythia against a white picket fence? Is there a brighter harbinger of Spring?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6TkgFbyFtGI/TY1d--hGv4I/AAAAAAAACFU/q48fgmAyh74/s1600/White-pickets-and-forsythia.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="102" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6TkgFbyFtGI/TY1d--hGv4I/AAAAAAAACFU/q48fgmAyh74/s320/White-pickets-and-forsythia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Last one, an "owlish" fence on the next corner:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K3XpKS8YF6A/TY1d-aJBDEI/AAAAAAAACFQ/Kd9-tw3CBrU/s1600/Owlish-Fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="103" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K3XpKS8YF6A/TY1d-aJBDEI/AAAAAAAACFQ/Kd9-tw3CBrU/s640/Owlish-Fence.jpg" width="326" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>These photos are all much larger than they appear, sort of like things you see in your sideview mirror. Click on them to bring them up full-size.<br />
<br />
Now it's your turn! Post your Friday Fence, and come back here with the URL, so I can come see it, too! (Make sure it's the permalink to the post itself, so I can find it.) You've got a whole week to bring back your link, so be sure you leave a comment, so I'll know to look. (By the way, I'd love it if you'd grab the button in my left sidebar for your own blog. Let's get more people, with more fences!)<br />
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</script>Anitra Cameronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16562161581653441019noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-13914922773019775422011-03-24T21:16:00.000-07:002011-03-24T21:16:10.684-07:00BLADDERS ON ETSYNo, this is not an entry about shopping 'til your bladder threatens to pop. It's about finding bladders on Etsy, proof enough for me that if it can be thought of, it will be created and sold on that most eclectic of websites.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mLYhFlGA8Uk/TYwQ4v4WsjI/AAAAAAAABB4/jQvQPnbutXs/s1600/Bladder+patch.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="36" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mLYhFlGA8Uk/TYwQ4v4WsjI/AAAAAAAABB4/jQvQPnbutXs/s400/Bladder+patch.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/33519884/bladder-patch-formaldehyde" linkindex="37"><i>Bladder Patch</i></a> in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/NeitherSparky?ref=seller_info" linkindex="38"><i>Neither Sparky's Shop</i></a></div><br />
<br />
I know what you're thinking. Why on earth would anyone be looking for bladders, on Etsy or anywhere else, for that matter? Well, in my case, it's because my DH had five, count 'em, five bladder tumors removed this Tuesday. There was supposed to be just one, but the CT scan lied. They're cancerous, but the doctor thinks they got all of it, and to make certain of that, they'll do some chemo of a rather strange (to me, at least) variety: A liquid infused with inactive tuberculosis germs will be put into the bladder, causing the DH's immune system to freak out and come rushing to destroy the germs, at which point the white cell minions will discover any cancer cells lurking and destroy them, too.That is the plan, and the doctor seems quite confident in it.<br />
<br />
Three more finds:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SsffLNpz3IE/TYwSIEN1UlI/AAAAAAAABB8/LixkhgfBxjM/s1600/Bladder+cure+bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="39" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SsffLNpz3IE/TYwSIEN1UlI/AAAAAAAABB8/LixkhgfBxjM/s400/Bladder+cure+bottle.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62238037/vintage-antique-aqua-glass-medicine" linkindex="40">Dr Kilmore's Swamp Root Bladder Cure</a></i> (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/maryscrochetnmore?ref=seller_info" linkindex="41">Mary's CrochetnMore</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Sk3Hf8p0ILo/TYwSI7-6lkI/AAAAAAAABCA/YqXJqG3bOqM/s1600/Bladderwrack+pendant.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="42" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Sk3Hf8p0ILo/TYwSI7-6lkI/AAAAAAAABCA/YqXJqG3bOqM/s320/Bladderwrack+pendant.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/20118537/bladder-wrack-pendant" linkindex="43">Bladderwrack Pendant</a> </i>(<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/corryvreckan?ref=seller_info" linkindex="44">CorryVrecken</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Tnmth0roGgo/TYwSJZCO7aI/AAAAAAAABCE/oKAjR3cq7JU/s1600/il_fullxfull.194940289.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="45" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Tnmth0roGgo/TYwSJZCO7aI/AAAAAAAABCE/oKAjR3cq7JU/s320/il_fullxfull.194940289.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62437248/magnet-i-laughed-so-hard-tears-ran-down" linkindex="46">"I Laughed So Hard" Magnet</a> </i>(<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CrossEyedCatGifts?ref=pr_shop" linkindex="47">CrossEyedCatGifts</a>)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Looking for bladders on Etsy taught me another thing: Bladders, unless they're the plant variety, seem to be inherently funny. I mean, honestly, can you even say, "bladders on Etsy" without smiling?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-32453835921031818922011-03-23T07:15:00.000-07:002011-03-23T07:15:43.214-07:00This Week's Project: Fabric EnviesI have a couple of envelopes to show off this week! I was really pleased with them, and they were easy to do, so there will be a tutorial, but it will show up on <a href="http://thinkcrafts.com/" linkindex="8">ThinkCrafts</a> first; I'll post it here later.<br />
<br />
Here they are:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rLg2BRssohs/TYn-GQvHvyI/AAAAAAAABBo/1JD81k5YkJ8/s1600/Cream-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y4Er5LA5BC0/TYn-GuFn-II/AAAAAAAABBs/-a1CD77cwuQ/s1600/Cream-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="10" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y4Er5LA5BC0/TYn-GuFn-II/AAAAAAAABBs/-a1CD77cwuQ/s320/Cream-front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rLg2BRssohs/TYn-GQvHvyI/AAAAAAAABBo/1JD81k5YkJ8/s1600/Cream-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="11" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rLg2BRssohs/TYn-GQvHvyI/AAAAAAAABBo/1JD81k5YkJ8/s320/Cream-back.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0_69JJasiaY/TYn-HcOhWfI/AAAAAAAABB0/DsilAUAFlPI/s1600/Red-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="12" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0_69JJasiaY/TYn-HcOhWfI/AAAAAAAABB0/DsilAUAFlPI/s320/Red-front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mRfbunmS_Wo/TYn-HNohbYI/AAAAAAAABBw/ct50dyrc8s0/s1600/Red-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="13" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mRfbunmS_Wo/TYn-HNohbYI/AAAAAAAABBw/ct50dyrc8s0/s320/Red-back.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I showed them to my DH, and told my Mom about them over the phone. Both of them said exactly the same thing: "Well, can you <i>mail</i> something like that?!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> "I'm pretty sure they'll be okay," I said. "Heck, you can wrap up a crowbar and put an address on it, and the post office will send it!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sure enough, when I laid them on the counter at the post office and asked if I could mail them, the guy didn't bat an eyelash, just said, "Sure. We get all kinds of stuff through here." He did say they were so pretty, didn't I want to put them in something so there wouldn't be any risk of their being damaged? but I told him no, as the object of them was to have something really pretty arrive in the mailbox of the recipient.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Have you heard about the 52 Weeks challenge over at <a href="http://fabricfascination.blogspot.com/p/52-weeks.html" linkindex="14">Fabric Fascination</a>? The idea is to finish a project a week for 2011, and post it. I'm a bit late arriving to the party, but it sounds like fun to me, so now I'm going to post this, and drop the link over there!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh. Forgot to mention: These are my creations for the Mail Art #2 Swap on <a href="http://swap-bot.com/" linkindex="15">Swap-bot.com</a>!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-88474926935599946962011-03-20T23:13:00.000-07:002011-03-20T23:13:14.133-07:00SUNDAY RERUN: Attila the Pillow Fighter<div style="color: black;">It's time for Sunday Favorites, hosted by Chari over at Happy to Design. It's a fun party, and you can get there by clicking on the Sunday Favorites button in my left sidebar. Come join us!</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div style="color: black;"> This is an entry from my personal blog, back in April of 2003. You know, one of the things I most enjoy about re-posting a favorite entry is that I get to reread it myself. I'd forgotten nearly all of this afternoon, and remembering it made me smile. Hope it does you, too.</div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;">~*~*~*~*~*~*~</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Monday is dance class for Jen, after school. Joe and I sit in the waiting room, and usually he does homework while I read. Their mom stands at the wall, watching Jen dance.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AzMHaa6tH6U/TYbqrus19pI/AAAAAAAABBY/W1rg4YCPXQI/s1600/The-Dancers.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="324" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AzMHaa6tH6U/TYbqrus19pI/AAAAAAAABBY/W1rg4YCPXQI/s400/The-Dancers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">This week there's no homework. The school is testing the kids to see if their learning is up to standards. Joe brought his Gameboy, and sat on the bench. I came in after helping Jen into her leotard and tights, and putting her hair up, and sat down next to Joe, with my pile of magazines, searching for yellow, yellow, yellow...</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">I sat next to him, not touching. The moment I was settled, he changed position, put his elbows on his thighs, and his right knee against my left thigh. Each time one or the other of us stood, he made sure his knee was against me when we were both seated again. It felt very much like there was some kind of emotional bond that physical gesture was echoing.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">At home he finished his dinner before Jen, and stood behind my chair, asking, "Can I braid your hair?" "Sure," I said, and he went to work. Of course, just braiding it wasn't enough, and I soon had a pile of hair on top of my head.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">"Oooh. The mean old school-teacher look!" he exclaimed, and we all laughed. I put on my mean old school-teacher voice, half screech, half speech.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">"Sit in your seats and turn to page 37!" I cackled at them. "You will read without moving from your desks to page 700!" They were both already giggling.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">"But, teacher, I have to go to the bathroom!" said Joe.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">"Deal with it!" I shot back.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">"But, I already peed my pants!"</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">"Well, then, you'll be dry by the time you finish!" He's a typical nine-year-old--that had to have been the funniest thing he'd heard all day, and he practically fell down he laughed so hard.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">When their dad got home, we had to go through that whole routine again, and at the sight of Joe standing behind me, hands full of my hair, his eyebrows rose slightly, and he murmured to me, "There's a certain level of comfort being indicated here," and I nodded. It's a good feeling.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">The kids went downstairs to play, and I took a moment to tell their Dad what else had happened at dance class. Joe and Jen's mom had asked me if I wanted a coffee. Joe offered, "My mom's secret is that she likes you. That means she trusts you."</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">I was taken aback, not so much because she liked me, but because I didn't quite know how to respond. Could I honestly say I liked her? The words wouldn't come, she has done and said so much that is harmful to her kids. I sat there, stammering, and finally managed to blurt, "Well, what a nice secret to have!"</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">She didn't seem to notice anything amiss, and as we left the studio and walked together down the sidewalk, we laughed and chatted about...movies, I think. But it was a friendly conversation, and I saw the likeable side of her.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">On the way home, I told Joe, "My secret is: I like your mom, too."</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">I saw his grimace reflected in the rearview mirror. "Why!?" he asked.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Oh dear. What to say to that? I told both kids, "Sometimes people...we all do things that aren't good, but we can still like the person without liking everything they do." Joe was quiet, and I could tell he was thinking about that.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Craig thought I'd handled the situation well, and the kids were standing at the bottom of the stairs calling, "Anitra! When are you coming down? You said you'd come down and play!", so I told him I'd better get down there before they came and got me.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">I tiptoed down. They were hiding behind a wall they'd made of an over-sized hassock, sofa cushions, and a big body pillow. I could see them in the mirror that hung on the wall and faced both the stairs and playroom. Joe's head popped up, he saw me in the mirror, and cried, "Jen! She's coming! Attack! Attack!"</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ksh9g41hj1o/TYbq7-K0IMI/AAAAAAAABBc/Cijd5tw-DPg/s1600/Playing.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="325" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ksh9g41hj1o/TYbq7-K0IMI/AAAAAAAABBc/Cijd5tw-DPg/s400/Playing.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: black;">Oh, man. We had the hugest pillow fight. They were the Chinese, their "wall" was the Great Wall, and I was the Huns. All of them. Joe told me once, "Lie down. You're dead...But there are thousands more Huns, and they all look like you, and they're all dressed like you, so you can get up...aaaaaggghhh!!!"</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Toward the end it was almost more wrestling match than pillow fight, with the three of us grappling and screaming on the floor. Again, the physical contact with Joe seemed to disguise a longing to be touched, a show of affection even when he was flinging himself across my back and urging his sister to do the same.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">We were a tangled heap of arms and legs when their dad came down. He stood with his hands on his hips and said, "Kids, your babysitter is the best sport in the world. I hope you know that."</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">I couldn't find words to tell him, although it should have been easy. I was having as much fun as they were. How could that possibly make me a good sport? </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vQv6uQAoYqw/TYbrCtFHIiI/AAAAAAAABBg/A5HHd74AkR8/s1600/Jen-Laughing.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="326" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vQv6uQAoYqw/TYbrCtFHIiI/AAAAAAAABBg/A5HHd74AkR8/s400/Jen-Laughing.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6864252796927182967.post-58668282144304124282011-03-19T08:10:00.000-07:002011-03-19T08:10:36.442-07:00SWAP-BOT SATURDAY: Mail ArtYesterday, I got a piece of mail that was so wonderful on the outside, I forgot to actually open it! Seriously, I showed it off to my DH, took photos of it, laid it where I would admire and study it from time to time, and it was evening when I realized it was still unopened!<br />
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Isn't it wonderful?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rnafp3QNqms/TYTGXl4vVRI/AAAAAAAACE0/dXI0EDnDZ2g/s1600/01-Thom%2527s-Envie-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rnafp3QNqms/TYTGXl4vVRI/AAAAAAAACE0/dXI0EDnDZ2g/s320/01-Thom%2527s-Envie-front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zttpdF9bFWo/TYTGX6k9sWI/AAAAAAAACE4/BmpFsgzLazs/s1600/02-Thom%2527s-Envie-Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zttpdF9bFWo/TYTGX6k9sWI/AAAAAAAACE4/BmpFsgzLazs/s400/02-Thom%2527s-Envie-Back.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
Click on the pictures to see them full-size.<br />
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You know what I'm a tad concerned about? I think I'm supposed to send my own mail art to this artist. eeek. Well, my salvation is that I can't draw like that, and I know it, so mine will be completely different as to medium. Rescued by apples and oranges, maybe?Anitra Cameronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16562161581653441019noreply@blogger.com7