Work in Progress

 

This is from the Zentangle Shell Symphony Workshop  taught by Stefanie van Leeuwen, CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher) from the Netherlands.

This was a live online class, but I didn't have all the necessary materials though I played along as much as I could. Students have access to videos of the class forever.

Because the piece is done on a round, 4 5/8 in. paper tile, it's called a Zendala. (a portmanteau of Zen, Zentangle and mandala)

I used Strathmore Tone Tan paper cut into a slightly smaller circle as the cutting machine wouldn't go to 3 decimal places.

This part of the lesson involved Prismacolor pencils to color the pearl and inside bottom of the shell.

Next up: Coloring the sea and sky

T Stands For Tea Sampler

Another Tuesday. Another tea from the tea sampler. Harney and Sons Paris. Described as a fruity black tea with vanilla and caramel flavors and a hint of lemony bergamot." I wasn't sure what to expect. Black tea and Bergamot are usually and Earl Grey blend. I thought this tea might be a take on Lady Grey.

I added a splash of sweetener and Silk Sweet and Creamy creamer. What I got was a delicious cup of tea. Not quite as bold as Earl Grey, but with a hint of vanilla and caramel as described.

Put another tick mark in the I like it column.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Monet and Me

got a rush job of lettering in two baby books for a baby shower yesterday. Actually, I did the lettering while Monet supervised.

The books were presents from a great-grandpa. Initially, he wanted me to write in the books. To Baby Name and From Great-Grandpa.

I have written in books before, but it's quite scary as there's no room for error. When the books were delivered, I told Great-Grandpa, I wouldn't be able to write in the books as the pages were printed on glossy paper. My ink wasn't going to adhere.

What to do? We brain-stormed a few ideas, and he liked the suggestion of a bookplate. I cut a scrap of Arches 90 lb. watercolor paper to the size of a business card (3.5" x 2 ") (It was a relief to know I had more paper to use when the pen caught in the paper and dragged a fugly, thick line of ink instead of the graceful ending to the letter "e".)

The area on the front piece (verso or left page) wasn't large enough to fit the two lines of writing.  He decided the bookplate  could be glued onto the title page

and that's what I did

Finding a spot for the book plate on the second book wasn't easy. There wasn't a front piece or a title page. There were felt flaps, but again, not large enough.

On the last page there was a felt cloud which when pulled down revealed a mirror. Since the left page had a square cutout so part of that blue felt could be seen, the bookplate had to go on the inside of the cloud. Problem solved.

Job dusted and done.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

The week began with a staring contest between the chipmunk

and the hawk

I thought this was going to be the Bleeding Hearts, but nope. The plant identifier app decided it's a Smooth Blue Aster.

The Mission Impossible squirrel leaped from the top of the wishing well

to the baffle on the bird feeder. He climbed the pole and pulled himself onto the bird feeder

He couldn't figure out how to get at the seed. There's a hole by the perch just large enough for a bird's beak. The squirrel jumped down to try again.

The hawk came back but no sign of the chipmunk

Out by the woods a lone daffodil. From the kitchen window it looks like a grave.

How does your garden grow?

Happy, Little, Time Waster

 

Tour of Boston's Public Garden

The Friday Five Good Things

 Five good things that happened this week.

1. On the way home from his workout, Himself stopped at Harry's. I thought we were getting fish and chips because the Knights of Columbus weren't doing their fund raiser because of Good Friday services at the church. Himself got me a full belly plate (fried clams) as a surprise.

2. Easter Sunday was quiet with just the two of us as the Eldest had to work at the hospital. Good food (roast leg of lamb), Easter egg bread, hot cross buns and we watched another Holy movie.

3. The Young One received her Easter box. They both got a kick out of the plastic "eggs" shaped like game controllers.

4. The order I placed that said it would arrive on Friday, was delivered the day after I put the order in!

5. Teague found a new place for lunch. Mak's in Franklin with awesome roast beef sandwiches. We'll be going back because they serve breakfast all day!

How was your week?

TBT Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

 In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

The Devil You Know

It always seems the grass is greener on the other side, but is it? I was musing what it would be like to deal with different Weebles. Would it be easier?

What would it be like dealing with Ruth Martin, Timmy and Lassie's mom?

"Bark, Bark!"

"What's that Lassie? Mom fell down the well again? Oh, for the love of...."

Hmmm, might be difficult haulin' the old lady out of the well.

Ok, what about Maureen Robinson from Lost in Space: "Danger, Mrs. Robinson! Danger!" Hmm, might not be so bad. The Robot could follow her around. Though as I recall someone was always yanking out his power pack. Not good.

And for you Big Valley fans, can you imagine having to deal with Victoria Barkley? Even before she hit the full blown OPD stage, she had all her children under her thumb. It only got worse when she started dressing like Nick in her short black leather jacket and tight trousers.

Victoria destined her daughter, Audra, to spinsterhood. After all, what young man in his right mind would call on the girl after Victoria shot and killed creepy Evan Miles? Yeah, I know she was trying to protect Audra from being raped, but she didn't have to use deadly force on Evan. She could have just whacked him upside the head with the rifle.

She treated Nick like a four year old. Remember in The Brawlers when Callahan come to the house and Nick is yelling at him? "Nick! You sit over there. I said!"

And poor Heath! Oh, stop groaning you two, you know I'm a Heathen! Poor Heath tried to be a gentleman by taking the reins and driving Victoria home after she had been buried under the church during an earthquake. She insisted she could drive and took over the reins. Heath ended up with an overdose of OPD and walked off the set. Missy wouldn't speak to him for 3 days. When she did it was only to ask if he had learned his lesson. To which he replied, "Yes, ma'am." Smart boy.

Her taking over the reins nearly got him killed when the wagon fell on him in the episode By Force and Violence. Heath should have walked off the set that time.

Off the top of my head, I can't think of an instance where Jarrod had to deal with her.

Ma can be very opinionated and demanding, but I don't think she's nearly as bad as Victoria Barkley. Ma hasn't caused a wagon to fall on me. Guess it's a case of the devil you know.

Work in Progress

 

This is the first part of the Zentangle Shell Symphony Workshop  taught by Stefanie van Leeuwen, CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher) from the Netherlands.

This was a live online class, but I didn't have all the necessary materials though I played along as much as I could. Students have access to videos of the class forever.

Because the piece is done on a round, 4 5/8 in. paper tile, it's called a Zendala. (a portmanteau of Zen, Zentangle and mandala)

I used Strathmore Tone Tan paper cut into a slightly smaller circle as the cutting machine wouldn't go to 3 decimal places.

So far, I have completed the first 3 lessons.

1. Transfer Stefanie's design to the paper. She used the pencil transfer method. I used Saral paper. 

2. Using a brown Sakura Pigma Pen, outline the shell and using a black Sakura Pigma Pen outline the pearl

3. Using a combination of the black and brown pens, fill in the shell with Zentangle patterns Stephanie chose.

Next up: Adding color.

T Stands for Two Old Ladies Luncheon

Teague purchased a meal kit with shrimp and rice, but her husband wasn't going to eat it. She asked if I liked Limoncello Shrimp which I thought was a take on Shrimp Scampi. Sure!

Last week, Teague cooked dinner for us. Limoncello Shrimp served over coconut rice. I love coconut so this was a nice change of pace from shrimp and pasta. I had an ice tea and she had water.

The day was nice enough that we were able to eat lunch and hang out in her sunroom.

In the afternoon, she made chocolate chunk cookies for afternoon tea. The ending to a perfect day.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Monet and Me

Monet and I are admiring the Easter centerpiece from the Eldest

and happy mail from Nan. I love how she matched the gnome on the card with a gnome on the envelope. Deliver to the Egg-selent. I love puns and that one cracks me up. Did you see what I did there? Thank you, Nan.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Last Tuesday around 5 pm, there was a weird light

to the sky. The ominous clouds had

a greenish tint to them. Tornado? No weather warning and the clouds blew East . A different weather at Teague's house. The winds were whipping the trees. Several trees came down across roads which caused traffic headaches during rush hour and the electricity went out for a little while.

A new visitor to the feeder. I've been seeing the crow.

Happy Easter, Happy Spring

Himself up righted the wishing well and planted some flowers

The Forsythia suddenly popped

An almost daffodil in the woods.

A riot of daffs by the driveway

and a pot of petunias for the front stoop

Look at the outdoor temperature! I'm in Heaven!

And check out the outdoor temperature and time! Unusual at this time of year.

How does your garden grow?

Happy, Little, Time Waster

 

How the Lindt Gold Bunny is Made

The Friday Five Good Things

 Five good things that happened this week.

1. Our of the blue, a third cousin sent me an Easter wish

2. A phone call day with another cousin and a friend from high school

3. I saw two Red Wing Blackbirds at the front bird feeder

4. I picked up my new eyeglasses. Next time around, it will be cheaper to get the German Shepherd Seeing Eye Dog

5. Calli and Quill turned 4 years old on Tax Day

How was your week?

TBT: Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

 In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Mea Culpe, Mea Culpe

I wait in the dark trying to remember the opening words. The panel to the privacy screen opens with a quiet shoosh, and still I wait peering into the darkness. There is a cough on the other side of the partition, my cue to begin. I sain myself. "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been," I mumble an indistinct sound hoping it sounds like a vague number of weeks, not years. "Since my last confession." I hear a tsk, another cue to continue. "I have been disrespectful to my mother. For these and all the sins of my past life I am heart'ly sorry." I rush through the phrase using one breath.

I hear a sigh on the other side of the partition. " For your penance, say a good Act of Contrition and take your mother shopping at Market Basket on Friday. I absolve you of your sins....."

It's my turn to sigh. I should have gone to Father Murray. No matter what grievous sins or errors you've committed, penance is always the same. "Father, I took some candy without paying for it."

"Say three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys."

"Father, I murdered 13 people with an axe."

"Say three our Fathers and three Hail Marys."

Next time, I'll go to Father Murray.

Happy Bill Paying!

 

How an artistic accounting clerk brightens patients' day

T Stands for More Than A Drink

 

Tea is more than a drink, but a lifestyle.丨Liziqi Channel

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Monet and Me

 

are trying to bring the Peace Lily plants back to life. I'm not sure if the plant was killed with kindness because one watering I also add a splash of plant food, or if the studio got too cold. The plant was not looking happy.

On a trip to the Dollar Store, I bought 2 new pots, added drainage holes, some rocks, potting soil and split the plant into two. I also relocated the plants to the kitchen.

It's been about 3 weeks since the transplant and the Peace Lilies aren't dead, yet, Jim.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I was hoping these shoots were the Fern Leaf Bleeding Hearts. Nope. Pl@nt.net identified them as Red Maple.

Full moon with a halo. That means snow

This is what we woke up to on Friday morning. A dusting of snow

This is what we woke up to on Saturday morning. Nearly 4 inches of snow!

This is why I don't do a countdown to the First Day of Spring

Spring in New England wet and cold like Winter, just not as much snow

I'm glad I didn't put my snow shovel in the garage

I hope the daffodils make it.

On my way to fill the back birdfeeder, little birdy feet. 

Calli was sitting very still. At first, I thought she was sleeping sitting up. It took me a little bit to see what had captured her interest. A mourning dove was hanging out in the Japanese Maple.

How does your garden grow?

Happy, Little, Time Waster

 

Swan Landing

The Friday Five Good Things

 

Five good things that happened this week.

1. I enjoyed the Shell Symphony class. 

2. The rest of the art supplies needed for the class arrived

3. I transferred the design and now I'm ready to add color

4.We are still watching Holy movies and enjoy the ones with Finlay Currie who keeps popping up in a bunch of them. Finlay Currie best know for his role as Balthasar in Ben Hur and Cedric, the father of Ivanhoe.

5. The weather was nice enough that Teague and I got to have tea in her sunroom

How was your week?

TBT: Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

  In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.

Saturday, October 28, 2006

You Rang?

There are certain times of the day when the ringing of the telephone tolls bad news. When the phone rings at 2am, you can bet a wooden nickel you're not being notified you won Megabucks. A phone call an hour after you delivered your little people to school, is usually to inform you that said little person is tossing Cheerios in the nurse's office.

My telephone buzzed at 10 pm. I wrinkled my nose in annoyance as I thought the call would be from one of the election parties asking me to endorse their candidate. Caller ID flashed the Weebles number. An icy fist clenched my heart. A phone call from the Weebles at 10pm could not be good news. I wondered which one had fallen or had been taken by ambulance to the hospital. Adrenaline is coursing through my system. I can feel my heart pounding against my rib cage. I grab the receiver and bark, "What's wrong?"

Ma is on the other end of the line. "You didn't put the handicap parking card back in my pocketbook!" (This last is pronounced "pock-uh-book")

I look at the receiver in my hand as if I'm holding an object I have never seen before in my entire life. A glance at the computer clock indicates, it is indeed past 10 pm at night. Thoughts flash through my head at lightning speed. It's 10 pm, where the hell are you going now? You and your girl friends heading up to the Golden Banana? Why are you calling me about this NOW? Why didn't you call at 4pm? Or after supper?

To recap: Twelve hours earlier I had taken her to Target to pick up refills on her prescriptions. I had tried to tell her I could have Himself pick up the stuff on his way to school. She insisted she had to sign for them. As I headed up the road, she informed me "Your father doesn't go this way." (i.e. You are going the wrong way) I try to keep my voice light. "This is the route the number 9 bus takes. If you don't like this route, you can wait on the corner for another bus to come along." At the pharmacy desk, I ask the pharmacist if anyone could pick up a refill for Ma. We are cheerily told "Yes, you can even call ahead and we'll have it ready for you." I had the urge to stick my tongue out. So there!

"I put the card in your purse."

"Well, it's not there! I looked."

"Look again, because I put it in your purse." She puts the receiver down and goes to take another look. Pocketbook or purse is really a misnomer for the item Ma uses to carry her personal belongings. It is made of leather and that is the only resemblance to a pocketbook, purse, or handbag. It's made of leather and is roughly the size of a steamer trunk. It also has a thousand different flaps, pockets, nooks, and crannies. Some are open, close with a snap or a zipper.

"You put it in the wrong place!"

Mind you, my heart has been pounding and adrenaline has raced through my system. I can feel my short fuse now being ignited. "I put it in your purse." My reply is said tersely through my clenched teeth.

"What are you getting upset about?" I didn't give her a chance to finish with "You only made a mistake."

"Because I'm sick and tired of being told I go the WRONG way, and I put things back in the WRONG place. I put the card in your purse. If you don't like where I put it...." I can taste the word 'shove' on the tip of my tongue, and I quickly swallow it. "You can put it where you like."

She hung up the phone. Why didn't I just answer the phone, "Sorry, wrong number?"

Doodling for Stress Reduction

 

On Mondays via Zoom, I participate in a class where we spend  a half an hour doodling our stress away.  Last Monday, the class was cancelled. Bummah.

Last Friday, I signed up to take a Zentangle class. Besides a .pdf for the class, the instructor also sent a .pdf for beginning Zentangles. (If you're not familiar with Zentangles, you can read about the process here.) It's been awhile since I played with Zentangles so I practiced some of the patterns from the instructor's notes along with various "strings" (the pencil pattern to divide the paper called a tile) like the peacock.

Have you tangled with Zentangles?