WHAT! Five weeks...no way!

I sure not posting very often...but then again, we're old, so nothing much happens.  

I've finished the Tim Holtz Christmas projects.  It was so fun to work along with him.  These are the finished projects...not quite my style but you always learn something.

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Also, Fodder School 5 has started.  The actual lessons don't start until November, but during October the teachers for the year give a extra lesson on something small.  These lessons come come two or three a week!!  That's fast for this old lady...so I haven't finished all of them and we have a couple more before the end of the month.  This is the only one I took a photo of and it's the most, so far, that's out of my comfort zone.  You do an abstract drawing, then cut it up and glue three pieces to blank paper and make another abstract.  So not me...but for some reason, I'm enjoying it...I especially like using different kinds of mediums on one project.  This photo is after gluing the three pieces on, I'll share the finish later.

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Another fun, artsy thing I do...every three months a new issue of Art Journaling Magazine comes out.  So the first of that month I get my big girl panties on and drive myself to Barnes and Noble and pick up my copy...then, because Starbucks is in Barnes and Noble, I get a Grande Mocha Frappe...it makes my so happy.  And, I might even get a new Dell Logic Puzzles magazine if I'm feeling particularly crazy.  It's the little things, people!  Tho, this month, my wonderful husband took me so I didn't have to drive...he indulges me in all the things that make me happy!  I'm keeping him.

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My friend, Chris, and I do a Zoom call every week.  I love this because we live so far apart it's easy for those connections to fade...but not now! 

One week I opened the screen to this!!  Chris, who has some mobility issues, had fallen in her kitchen and hit her head.  After a trip to the Emergency Room...she was okay but hurting.  Poor Chris!!!

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The best thing that happened this month is that this boy (man) came to see us.  He had to be in Seattle for work but stayed extra days to hang out with this family.  I love him...and miss him!  But glad we got to hang out for awhile.

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Does anyone remember Buffalo Springfield...I loved this song in the 60s and I think it's appropriate for today.

For What It's Worth

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If anyone needs some mental health help from seeing all the things happening in and to this country,
I found this YouTube page that made me very happy.  So, if you love watching birds and animals, like I do, you might want to check this out. 

This Outdoor Theater

Time flies!!!

 Hey All!!!  

Can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted!!  Or maybe I can.

Anyway...here's the news.

The basement turned out just like I wanted...I've got so much more room for all my treasures.  I didn't take pictures but I will next time.  Besides, it's a mess right now because I've been "creating".

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I've been doing some printing with stencils and stamps on some muslin using alcohol inks.  I'm just loving how it turned out because the colors stay so bright.  I've used other mediums but when it dries the colors seem to dull down...so alcohol ink from now on! These pieces will be ripped into smaller pieces and used in journals.

I also did some Eco Dyeing.  I used leaves and blooms from around the yard.  I put them between sheets of paper...stacked the paper between two pieces of wood and bind the whole thing together with twine.  I put them in a pot with water and vinegar and add some rusted pieces of metal.  It all boils for about an hour then after it cools...you have fun eco prints.  I didn't get much color with this batch.  It all depends on the plants you use...some release a lot of color and others not so much.

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On Thursday with the gurls, I've been working on an English paper piecing project.  If you don't know, English paper piecing is done entirely by hand...no machines!!  Some of them wanted to try to do it, but Sherrie wanted to make a coaster rather than something larger.  Susan brought over her English paper pieced king-sized quilt that she made...I didn't get a photo, I wish I had it was AMAZING!  I don't have the patience for that...my project is just throw for the couch!  Anyway, we made the coaster project and I think the gurls enjoyed that...learning something new is fun!  So I suggested we make a pincushion that I had made several years ago for Susan and Linda.  It is also paper pieced then stuffed then glued into an old zinc canning jar lid.  I had purchased the lids on Ebay several years ago when I was collecting old jars and still had some left...perfect!  So here's our fun projects!

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Since I don't have enough stuff started in my life.  I decided to join an online class called Fodder School.  We will be learning how to make fodder.  Fodder is the bits and pieces that can be added to journals, cards...whatever.  There is a new lesson every month for a year and it starts in October.  In addition to that and throughout October, we will get mini lessons from the instructors called the Fodder Challenge.  So they just released the challenge projects and supply lists.  So I got my book together today and need to order a few little things to be ready.  So much fun!!!

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And if that wasn't fun enough!!!  I'm doing a Christmas project with Tim Holtz on September 28.  OK...it's not just me and Tim...lots of people are doing it and it's an online class.  Just one day, making super cute Christmas stuff.  My kit came in the mail yesterday...so excited!!!!

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Earlier this month, Jeromy and Katie came from Montana for Jade's baby reveal party.  They stopped by to get our car which we lent to them while they were here.  Here's Katie, me and Jade.  (Katie, I had taken a photo with Jeromy in it but you would have hurt me if I posted it...looked like you were in the middle of  sneeze.)  Katie's holding her Shield journal that I made her.  It was so fun to see their cute faces!!!!  (Pssst...it's a boy...shhhh!).

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In birdie news....with all my complaining about the Band-tailed Pigeons!

I went to feed the birds one morning and this was what I found!!!!

Nooooooo!! I didn't mean I wanted them to die!!!!!  

It's been a birdie death camp in my backyard this summer!!!

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My birthday and a whole lot of chaos!

Birthday first...

I was able to celebrate my birthday for two days because the Uggens took Jim and I out to breakfast on the 5th we went to IHOP because Susan and I both like that place.  Jim wasn't thrilled, but it wasn't his birthday!!  On the 6th, Mel and Sue took us out to lunch at the Boat Shed...even Kenny showed up.  The food was good, but I'm just getting to the point where eating in a restaurant is almost impossible.  Even with my hearing aids, I can't hear what anyone is saying because of background noise and after awhile my head feels like it's going to explode...it's not hurting just like sensory overload.  I told Sue that maybe from now on we just need to order something to bring home.  But it was nice to be with family

My sweet husband brought me flowers and sweetest card.  I asked him if he read the verse in it before he bought it (ungrateful...I know) he said he had and it's how he feels about me...awwwww.  I'm going to keep him.

Ok...the chaos!

First, I'll explain the setup.  In our basement we have a seating area, a sewing area and my crafting/journaling area.  (Yes, it's all about me.)  Anyway, I told Jim that I wanted to switch my sewing area and crafting areas because I had no space to do my journaling in that smaller room.  OK...so I may have too much stuff, but that's beside the point!  He was a bit skeptical, probably because he know he'd have to do the heavy lifting and he'd be right...we have some heavy furniture down here.  Anyway, I decided, yes, I want to do it.  So the chaos began!!

This is a dresser I found at the thrift store that I repainted and antiqued...it is hea-vy!  My sweet husband called a friend and they got that upstairs to the extra bedroom/office.

This is the seating area that became the catch-all for the move.

This is the "old" crafting room that will now be the sewing room.

And around the corner from the "old" craft room is where my "new" craft room will be.

I took this picture of Jim and told him that I was going to tell people that this is how he helped me! But that would be a lie...it amazes me how this man just goes along with everything I want to do! He denies me nothing!!

I still have a LOT to do...but all the big pieces are moved so it's just organizing and, oh yea, getting rid of stuff I don't need...that's the hard part for me.

When I moved the computer to the new craft room...I lost the Internet.  You can see that it's just a wall away and that wall has no metal in it that might disrupt the connection.  So, after doing all I knew to do Jimmy called me...I told him he "sensed" that I was having problems...it's our deep, psychic bond.  (that's reference to Keeping Up Appearances...if you know, you know).  Anyway, he told me he had the same problem and told me to purchase some "rabbit ears" from Amazon.  So I was without my computer for two days...but they came...I installed them and it's working perfectly again!!  Thanks Jimmy!

I don't have any birdie news...I know...weird!  That's because those Band-tailed Pigeons are constantly eating everything...so I thought if I didn't feed for awhile they might look elsewhere.  

We did have a baby squirrel at the squirrel feeder which was empty cuz...you know...Pigeons.  But he/she was so cute.  Hard to tell it's size without a reference point...but it was just the cutest thing.

Well, that's it folks...I have to get back to sorting and moving.  

I'm back!!

And I have a request...if you choose to do so.  If you're signed into your Google account I can see your name when you comment...thanks Jessie!  But if not, then it just says anonymous.  I love when I get comments...so I really want to know who's leaving them.  If you would add your name to the comment that would mean alot...thanks!!

So what's been going on!

Well, our Caesar has been suffering from itching and when I say itching, I mean constantly...he has pulled out his hair, he's chewed on his tail so much that it's bare...he's left areas of bleeding all over his skin because it itches so much.  I've given both the puppies a flea treatment, just in case.  Tho, Brutus isn't itching at all!!  Well, one day I couldn't stand to see him suffer anymore...he was so miserable.  So I called the Vet and they had just had a cancellation and could I come in....YES!  Well, while our Caesar was on the table...I saw a tiny thing move on his skin...and honestly I didn't think it was a flea because it was so small...but the doctor said that was exactly what it was!  The doctor said he's just hyper sensitive to fleas. So he got a shot to relieve the itching and medicine to take for a week for itching.  We got a refill for the medicine for his bad back.  Plus he wants him on NexGard Flea Treatment Chews from May through December because those are the best on the market...which you can't order from Chewy without a prescription...which come out to cost about $30 per tablet!!  So, we left with two prescriptions, two NexGard Chews (one for Caesar and one for Brutus - tho Brutus isn't itching) and an appointment to come back in six weeks for a recheck on his back.  So after we paid about $350...we left!  This photo is on our way to see the doctor,  I know he looks pretty good in this photo, but most of the damage is where he can reach...his sides, belly and tail.   I'm glad to say, he's doing so much better...everything is starting to heal and his hair is coming back.  I love these dogs so much...obviously!! 

My beautiful purple fuchsia is trying to make a comeback after the Dark-eyed Junco debacle.  It still looks awful, but it has several buds on it and lots of leaf sprouts.  So here's hoping!! 

We've had lots of birds bringing their babies to our feeders.  This was a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers.  A mother and daughter.  

You can tell the difference between males and females this way.

They, of course, love my homemade suet and mom would take some and feed it to her baby.  I love watching that.  The baby is the one with the paler crown...sometimes the babies crown looks like a mohawk...so cute!!

Speaking of birds...these things are the bane of my existence right now.

These are Band-tailed Pigeons!!  They come to my feeders in groups...we've had over 20 of these things on our feeders and they eat EVERYTHING!!  I've use to say that all birdies are welcome at my feeders, but that has changed!!  These are such a nuisance...all the other birds leave if they are around!

I've been looking at thrift store for jeans and fabric stores for yardage because I use denim in my journals...no luck.  Every pair of jeans and yardage that I've found is now a blend not 100% cotton and that just doesn't have the same look as real denim...plus it's stretchy!  So, of course, I've been complaining to anyone who will listen...and guess what happened!!  My friend, and Thursday Gurl, Kathy brought me a whole grocery bag of old jeans and pieces of denim...the 100% cotton type!!!

I guess the squeaky wheel really does get the grease.  Thank you so much Kathy!!!

I recently had my drivers license renewed.  I wanted to update it to the Enhanced License...so I brought all the required paperwork...I thought.  When I got to the window I gave her my birth certificate, proof of residency, etc. and was told that I could not get the Enhanced Drivers License because my paperwork did not match my birth certificate.  WHAT?  I will have to go through the process again but I must bring a marriage certificate.  Has anyone had this happen.  Then I heard some on the Internet about the SAVE Act that has passed the House and is now with the Senate.  It states that the name on your birth certificate must match your voter registration card!  I don't know all the ins and outs of the SAVE Act...but it would seem that I will be ineligible to vote!  Just seemed strange that these two things happened at the same time.

Well, that's it for now.  Hope you are all having a great summer!! (Personally, I can't wait for Fall)

   

Nothing too exciting...

 ...but that just how we like life here at the kennel!!

The weather has been gorgeous here...if a little too hot for an old lady, with a pouf on her head, some days.  But I'm not complaining because Jim and I have been getting things done in the yard that have been long overdue!   We did some pressure washing yesterday.  Jim has a big pressure washer that has too much power for me, so he got me a smaller one that's just right!  We/He got the roof of his shed cleaned off and we got all the cement slabs cleaned...he even got the cement garden blocks clean.  They aren't so much dirty as covered in moss!!  The joys of living in Washington...moss on everything!

This is my beautiful Hydrangea.  For some reason I have completely ignored this plant.  I have never cut it back like you're suppose to, so it's gotten spindly.  This fall the clippers are coming out and hopefully next summer it will be full and beautiful.

*notice that we didn't clean these cement blocks...moss!!*

We've also had a new visitor to the squirrel feeder.  

It's a dark brown/black squirrel.  I've never seen one before and this is what I found out:

"Yes, black squirrels exist in Washington state.  They are not a separate species, but rather Eastern gray squirrels or fox squirrels with a genetic mutation that results in black fur.  This condition is called melanism, and it causes an excess production of melanin leading to the dark coloration."

I thought that was interesting.

I finished Katie's journal and I need to get it in the mail.  It's grungy Katie...but that's how I do things!

This is my favorite page.

Now I need to make a Pearson journal but I have two already in line.  First is my John Lennon journal then it's my Birdie journal.  They have both been waiting patiently for me!

Well, that's it for this week kiddies...more excitement to come! 😏

Sorry this is late...

...but it's been a busy weekend.

In birdie news, we've had a tragedy. You know the Dark-eyed Junco that was nesting in my beautiful purple fuchsia...well on Friday morning I thought she was out of her nest, so I took down the fuchsia to see the two babies...mistake #1. Mom wasn't out the nest and she flew up and was squawking at me...then the one baby in nest (where was the other one?) jumped out of the nest!!! So I quickly scooped it up and put it back and then hung up the fuchsia so mom would calm down. I went downstairs on the computer to see if I shouldn't have touched the baby, but I learned that it is an old wives tale and the mom will be okay with it. So, I go back upstairs to see how things are in the nest and the little baby has left the nest and is sitting on a branch...oh, my heart!! I don't want to touch him again, so I went back to the computer and found out that, by his appearance, he was at the fledgling stage...and they do sometimes leave the nest. I was so worried about him. I kept checking on him the rest of the day and he would move from the branch to the nest and back to a branch. I think he was trying to get up the nerve to jump. Which he eventually did!!! He ran to the edge of deck...so I ran into the yard to get him before he could fall...it was about a 3 foot drop...but I didn't make it and he jumped onto the ground and started running. I was following him...then mom appeared and he ran straight for her and they disappeared in the shrubbery. I thought I was helping...mistake #2...but I realized I was probably scaring them both to death...a crazed old lady with a wild top knot running after them!  I found out that it's not uncommon for this to happen and the mom will stay with the fledgling until it is able to fly. Whew!!

Then I was poop-scooping, as one does when you have dogs, I found the other baby bird! He was laying on the steps of the deck away from the nest. I knew it was the missing one because the other one had just made it's escape with mom on the other side of the yard. So sad. He didn't look like he had been bitten or anything, so he must have just died when he left the nest. I took a photo...so don't look if your squeamish! I wrapped him up and buried him. Poor baby.

I'm not sure I can take this much longer...my heart breaks when this stuff happens.

This is what my beautiful purple fuchsia looked like after all the tragedy.  See the one lone bloom and the bird nest?  I read that Dark-eyed Juncos do not reuse their nests...but I'm leaving it in there in case another bird wants to use some of the twigs and moss.

I cut it back...gave it a good watering and some food and hopefully it will bloom again.

In other news...I got a new toy.  A Worx Hedge Trimmer so I can keep our Boxwood under control.  It's been growing wild since I planted it many years ago.  I have a few Worx garden tools and I love them because they are battery powered and light weight...just perfect for a great-grandma!!

I also hosted our Saturday with Kimberly here this month but I forgot to take any photos.  Since Sharon passed Kim has been coming over on the first Saturday of every month because her aunties are her moms now.  We craft and have good food...it's a fun time.

Just wanted to let you know, if you've been wondering, the Smith family in Texas are all fine.  I talked to Laura and Hannah today and the flooding is about four hours south of them.  Tho, they have been experiencing torrential rains, there has been no flooding.  

Well, that's all the news...I hope you are all doing well and have a wonderful week!!!

OK, I'm a horrible neighbor!

Hi Everyone!!

Well, after I decided not to put my feeders back up, I went into a deep, dark depression!! Ok, so maybe that's not quite what happened, but I missed my birds so much!! So Jim and I talked about it and we decided to just put one of the feeders back up. And we would take the food down in the evening so it wouldn't tempt any marauding bears.

So that's where we are and I'm happy again...and look!

Steller's Jay

American Goldfinch

This guy comes every morning for breakfast...have I mentioned that I love crows? They are so smart. He will even take one of the in-shell peanuts and sit on the edge of the birdbath, dampen the shell and hit it with his beak to get the peanut out. Brilliant! Here he is getting some of my homemade suet...ALL the birds love that stuff!

See what I've been was missing...I'm happy again.

And look who else came to the party!

We have a Dark-eye Junco nesting in one of my fuchsias...look at these eggs!

This is what mom looks like...tho this is actually a male. Males have black heads while females have a dark gray head.

I saw "mom" leave the nest the other day, so I asked Jim to take the fuchsia down so I could take a quick video.

Other things besides birds have been happening around here. We had to take our sweet Caesar to the doctor because he was just not himself and he was having trouble with the stairs. He was feeling better a day or two before his appointment, so I was thinking I would cancel it since taking a pet to the vet is like taking a child to the doctor, but without the insurance! But Jim wanted to take him in anyway and I'm glad we did. The doctor took an x-ray and our boy has a collapsed vertebrae. He said it looked like it was trying to heal itself by building a bridge across the top (not sure what that meant). So, he's on medication for pain and inflammation and he may need that for the rest of his life.

Then, Jim noticed our refrigerator didn't seem really cold...it wasn't! So he called a repair shop and they couldn't get here until sometime in July. The thing is, this refrigerator is only like four or five years old!!! We were both really happy that the two 40-year-old refrigerators we have the garage are working great! Anyway, Jim got a call a couple of days later that the repairman had a cancellation and did we want him to come right over....yes!!! One computer board later...oh, and about $600...our refrigerator is working again.

What I've been crafting lately is junk journals. I'm currently working on number three of the Shield side of the family. I made the original for myself and then Susan wanted one...then Katie wanted one. Susan has hers and I'm almost finished and will get this off to Katie soon. This is the first page and it goes from the Shield immigrants from England to the five sisters then that's the end of the line for my dad's side. He had a brother that had two boys...so the name lives on somewhere. I just have the cover to finish but inspiration isn't coming to me. And, yes, it's grungy...but that's the style I love. I have a couple other projects in the work that I will share later.

Okay, that's it for this week. Hopefully, next week will be calm with no injuries or breakdowns!! Hope you are all well...love ya!!