Being outside yesterday was heavenly. I ate my "diet" pizza out on the deck steps looking at my used-to-be garden. At the end of the fall I dumped some of my potted plant dirt in clumps all over my garden thinking the snow would take care of it and decompose and smooth it out. It didn't happen. Now I have a garden full of pot-shaped clumps.
After studying it during my pizza lunch, I came to the conclusion that it was too much work to do at the time. I'll just enjoy the weather and contemplate what is ahead. There is a lot ahead.
I have a garden full of dead hollyhocks and ornamental grasses. I'm not sure what to do with them. Was I suppose to cut them down in the fall? Will those dead-looking stalks come back to life? Do you leave the bleached-out or dead ornamental grasses alone or do you cut them back to the ground? I hadn't even thought about how to take care of them until now.
I'll probably spend the next few days researching for the answers...or not.
So what is an argonaut? Webster's says...an adventurer engaged in a quest. My quest is finding treasures in birds, landscapes and more around Erie.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
From Bended to Mended: New Life to an Old Sole
Subject....wading boot. Felt bottom flopping and kept tearing loose after gluing.
Fix....polyurethane glue, ie Elmers Ultimate Glue.
How I did it. I pulled the sole off and cleaned it well with alcohol. When it was dry from the alcohol cleaning (just in case it would interact with the glue) I dampened both gluing surfaces because polyurethane glue needs moisture to cure. I applied the glue liberally and replaced the sole. I wrapped it in Saran Wrap so I could handle it without getting glue on my hands. Then I used twine and wrapped the boot tight to hold the sole tight. I clamped it down all around to make sure it held tight. The glue expands and "foams" up. When it cures you tear off the Saran Wrap can trim the excess glue that comes out off with a razor. It may not look real pretty but it has held for a year and gives no indication that it is loosening.
The other boot finally gave way so I just fixed it in anticipation of the up coming fishing season. I think there is no end to how long they will last.
The Horse Lover That I AM
I love horses, always have, always will. In high school, every report was about my horse. We were inseparable. Once my teacher asked me to write about something else, not that he didn't appreciate the horse stories. I slept in the stall with my horse at the county fairs, I rode just about every day across the fields in Jackson, CA and I showed every weekend there was one in the region.
Things are different now, I don't have a horse, but I still get emotional when I see a gorgeous horse in a field or racetrack or movie.
I didn't get a chance to see the movie, Dreamer, when it was in the theaters, so when my husband rented it for me yesterday I was excited. I loved Sea Biscuit so I knew I'd love this one. Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning are some of my favorites and it was a nice movie and I did tear up when I saw the interaction between the girl and her horse.
I thought it was strange that I hadn't recognized the name of the horse in the movie. It was advertised as being based on a true story. The extra features explained things a bit differently. That was as loosely based on a true story as anything could be. Just about every movie would qualify as based on a true story if they used that criteria. I was disappointed. There wasn't even a horse by that name. It's all made up except that there was a horse once that ran again after breaking a leg.
But I'm still a sucker for horse stories. I'll still cry when I see a horse run in slow motion. Just as I do when I see a happy/sad dog, cat or rabbit story.
Things are different now, I don't have a horse, but I still get emotional when I see a gorgeous horse in a field or racetrack or movie.
I didn't get a chance to see the movie, Dreamer, when it was in the theaters, so when my husband rented it for me yesterday I was excited. I loved Sea Biscuit so I knew I'd love this one. Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning are some of my favorites and it was a nice movie and I did tear up when I saw the interaction between the girl and her horse.
I thought it was strange that I hadn't recognized the name of the horse in the movie. It was advertised as being based on a true story. The extra features explained things a bit differently. That was as loosely based on a true story as anything could be. Just about every movie would qualify as based on a true story if they used that criteria. I was disappointed. There wasn't even a horse by that name. It's all made up except that there was a horse once that ran again after breaking a leg.
But I'm still a sucker for horse stories. I'll still cry when I see a horse run in slow motion. Just as I do when I see a happy/sad dog, cat or rabbit story.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Time to Fish
I'm champing at the bit to go fishing. I'm sure we'll have our fishing licenses by the end of the week and most likely will be going to Oil Creek this weekend. According to the best source there is on Oil Creek, in my humble opinion (Mike from Oil Creek Outfitters), the water is clear and low and with the weather warming the fish should be active. He is a great source as to what fly to use. We rarely get skunked following his advice. Trout season isn't officially open but you can fish certain special regulations areas. Check your fishing regulations to make sure you are in the areas that you are allowed to fish.
My husband and I have been walking through the house air-fly casting, or maybe you could call it shadow casting. Pretending to be casting with our fly rods (similar to air guitar). We can't help it, it's in our blood. The sun shining and warmer temperatures has awoken the fishing beast in us. Oh, that would have been a good idea for IllustrationFriday.com whose subject this week is "monster".
My husband and I have been walking through the house air-fly casting, or maybe you could call it shadow casting. Pretending to be casting with our fly rods (similar to air guitar). We can't help it, it's in our blood. The sun shining and warmer temperatures has awoken the fishing beast in us. Oh, that would have been a good idea for IllustrationFriday.com whose subject this week is "monster".
Monday, March 27, 2006
The $2.5 Million Ugly Duckling
We use the Blasco Library quite often but only key in on the artwork while in line waiting to check out. They have some large, beautiful paintings behind the desk that I stare at and envy.
All the hoopla over that $2,500,000 painting made me want to search it out. It was upstairs behind glass. I must have walked past it before as I've been up in the microfilm area on the second floor a few times doing some research. No, it doesn't look like $100 let alone millions more. A famous artist painted it and maybe there is something about the color or technique that is so wonderful (but the color is neutral, bland and boring to me.) Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay. If they could sell it for millions then it is worth that to someone.
Even if you think it may be "ugly" like everyone says (and it pretty much is to me, I just don't get it) go up and see it. You'll see some gorgeous paintings right across from it. Beautifully done paintings in a style everyone would appreciate that rivals any in a good museum.
I have recycled my newspapers so I can't find the quote from someone at the library but didn't they say there were some more paintings in storage? Why aren't they out on display? I'd love to see more beautiful artwork and it doesn't need to be worth $2.5 million to be appreciated.
All the hoopla over that $2,500,000 painting made me want to search it out. It was upstairs behind glass. I must have walked past it before as I've been up in the microfilm area on the second floor a few times doing some research. No, it doesn't look like $100 let alone millions more. A famous artist painted it and maybe there is something about the color or technique that is so wonderful (but the color is neutral, bland and boring to me.) Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay. If they could sell it for millions then it is worth that to someone.
Even if you think it may be "ugly" like everyone says (and it pretty much is to me, I just don't get it) go up and see it. You'll see some gorgeous paintings right across from it. Beautifully done paintings in a style everyone would appreciate that rivals any in a good museum.
I have recycled my newspapers so I can't find the quote from someone at the library but didn't they say there were some more paintings in storage? Why aren't they out on display? I'd love to see more beautiful artwork and it doesn't need to be worth $2.5 million to be appreciated.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
How Old is Old?
In the past few months I've come across some blogs that talk about getting old and how awful it is. It made me curious as to how old they are. I checked the profile and they generally are in their 20s. Are you kidding me!
I guess it is all relevant. I remember when I was in my late teens and seeing an obituary that stated the person was 40 when he died. I remember the stunned look on my mom's face when I blurted out "well, at least he had a long, full life". 40 was, like, so far away then.
Now that I see 40 in the rear view mirror, I have a new look on life. I see my dad, at 89, still going strong. He can out hike me any day. There is no way I can beat him at ping pong. Now, instead of thinking of myself as old, ( though I have been there, done that) I see how much is still in front of me. There actually are things left to try, places yet to see. So don't despair you 20 somethings, you've got a long way to go.
I guess it is all relevant. I remember when I was in my late teens and seeing an obituary that stated the person was 40 when he died. I remember the stunned look on my mom's face when I blurted out "well, at least he had a long, full life". 40 was, like, so far away then.
Now that I see 40 in the rear view mirror, I have a new look on life. I see my dad, at 89, still going strong. He can out hike me any day. There is no way I can beat him at ping pong. Now, instead of thinking of myself as old, ( though I have been there, done that) I see how much is still in front of me. There actually are things left to try, places yet to see. So don't despair you 20 somethings, you've got a long way to go.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Internet/technology STRESS!
Our ATM cards didn't work. We thought maybe the metal strip was bad? Two days later our bank calls and tells us our card has been blocked with many others in that pin number scam involving Office Max (I don't know if it is proven it was them with the security breach, but fingers are pointing) The bank let us dangle for two days not letting us know our cards wouldn't work before calling us. We were left out to dry without working ATM cards for a couple of days until the new ones were being mailed to us. They should have called immediately. Good thing we weren't stranded somewhere trying to get gas.
I went online to check our account a few days later just to make sure nothing was out of the ordinary. The bank balances were off on my personal account not related to the account with above scam and they had wrong entries with wrong dates listed. They acknowledged the problem in a red memo on the page and they were working on it. What's going on here?
Blogger was having terrible problems and you couldn't view blogs or upload pictures etc off and on. Then Flickr had what they called "hiccups" and were working on the problem. It seemed like nothing on the internet was working. Then the blog counter site had problems and said my password was wrong but it wasn't. And I would have known that (they emailed about the problem) had I been able to connect to my email but of course, at the moment our email doesn't work through Verizon. It won't connect from your home computer. You have to go online to access your account and then the email. Is there a full moon or something? What is happening this past week? The stress of not being able to send emails, upload blog/pictures, check my bank account and not have access to my bank account's money has made my blood pressure soar.
Sunday I started getting stupid text messages saying "U want2hang tonight?". Obviously a phishing or an advertising scheme. I hope that illegal and they get caught. I got 3 of them in about 12 hours at odd times of the day and did a reverse look-up to see where it was coming from. It is coming from a Dobson Cell company which I believe is Cellular One. Probably somebody with an account there. I called Verizon and had my text message function disabled. I never used it anyway and I'm tired of hearing the beeping when that dumb message comes in.
I'm trying to remember how simple life used to be.
I went online to check our account a few days later just to make sure nothing was out of the ordinary. The bank balances were off on my personal account not related to the account with above scam and they had wrong entries with wrong dates listed. They acknowledged the problem in a red memo on the page and they were working on it. What's going on here?
Blogger was having terrible problems and you couldn't view blogs or upload pictures etc off and on. Then Flickr had what they called "hiccups" and were working on the problem. It seemed like nothing on the internet was working. Then the blog counter site had problems and said my password was wrong but it wasn't. And I would have known that (they emailed about the problem) had I been able to connect to my email but of course, at the moment our email doesn't work through Verizon. It won't connect from your home computer. You have to go online to access your account and then the email. Is there a full moon or something? What is happening this past week? The stress of not being able to send emails, upload blog/pictures, check my bank account and not have access to my bank account's money has made my blood pressure soar.
Sunday I started getting stupid text messages saying "U want2hang tonight?". Obviously a phishing or an advertising scheme. I hope that illegal and they get caught. I got 3 of them in about 12 hours at odd times of the day and did a reverse look-up to see where it was coming from. It is coming from a Dobson Cell company which I believe is Cellular One. Probably somebody with an account there. I called Verizon and had my text message function disabled. I never used it anyway and I'm tired of hearing the beeping when that dumb message comes in.
I'm trying to remember how simple life used to be.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Illustration Friday - FEET
COLD "FEET"
When I received the email that informed me the new IllustrationFriday.com subject was "feet", I sighed. I was hoping for something more fun. But then I started thinking of odd ball ways of using this subject in artwork. I thought of "cold feet" = "you're a chicken" (also, you're scared and yellow) and thought of the runaway bride. So here it is. I had fun with it. Acrylics on canvas paper 8 x 11.
For some reason I can't upload pictures to Blogger these past few days so I'm using Flickr and the size doesn't quite fit in my blog correctly.
When I received the email that informed me the new IllustrationFriday.com subject was "feet", I sighed. I was hoping for something more fun. But then I started thinking of odd ball ways of using this subject in artwork. I thought of "cold feet" = "you're a chicken" (also, you're scared and yellow) and thought of the runaway bride. So here it is. I had fun with it. Acrylics on canvas paper 8 x 11.
For some reason I can't upload pictures to Blogger these past few days so I'm using Flickr and the size doesn't quite fit in my blog correctly.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Napoleon Dynamite Spoof Web Video
If you love the Napoleon Dynamite movie, you'll love this cartoon video spoof. Otherwise you probably won't get it. Go to this link (http://www.newsobserver.com/sports) and scroll down to the thumbnail on the right side that says Chuck Dynamite under the heading "Web Cartoons". I laughed through the whole thing. It was well done.
illustrationFriday-tattoo
The subject for IllustrationFriday is "tattoo". I sketched a picture of a girl with a small tattoo on her neck as I didn't have time to paint anything this week.
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