Listening in

I signed my will and all of those legal documents, had the attorney do the house probate stuff and I feel so relieved to get that over with. 

I visited Costco to find/order glasses for my new prescription. He says I have cataracts in both eyes now and the glasses might not help with the night/light/blurriness, but I am willing to give it a try. The next step, would be a surgery option. Mom had it years ago and I remember her doing okay. 

Then I gave myself the big talk, DO NOT GOT INTO THIS STORE! But I had the cart, and well, I thought I would saunter over the wine section. Then mayyybbbeee to see the cheeses. Of course I could not resist the spring green box that last forever but is such a bargain. And some lady talked me into buying a 6-pack of lentil soups. And mushrooms, again, a bargain. And olive oil, the only thing I really needed. The good news is I managed to be under $100, that is a first time for me. The bad news is, I had parked in a place impossible to push that cart up to. Anyway, after hauling those boxes up all the stairs into the house, I have decided my Costco shopping days might be over and is something I send the kids to do for me.

Then I decided I deserved a Panera chocolate croissant, right across the street from Costco. I spied a soup I have to go back to try, Chicken Tikka Masala Soup. Maybe I will take to kids out to dinner there. 

I noticed something different and interesting about myself today at Costco. It is not so much I was listening to people's conversations on purpose, but I was picking up conversations as I passed them. Two guys were commenting on how good some product was, one of them told the other one, I can make it for you in the most loving way. Two elderly women were talking what sounded like gossip. And many others. I have never noticed that I do this in the past and I started wondering if it is because I am so alone and silent all day, not really saying a word to anyone. To the point when I answer the phone, I find my voice gravely and cracking. I have to explain it is the first time I have used my voice today. I guess it sort of like talking to yourself, which I do much more of now. I also talk to Pixie more, too bad she does not hear me.

I ran across this on some random blog and thought it was interesting. Insects in Art and Religion: The American Southwest.

Buggy brooch

These are created by Spanky Spangler Design on Etsy. Wesbsite and Instagram. ]

"I recycle broken watches/bulbs and turn them into wearable pieces of art. I use vintage and antique clock and watch parts, movements and cogs for my creations, along with vintaj brass and sterling silver charms, chains and findings and anything else I can find."

Someone is coping wings onto Transparency Collage Sheet, brilliant.

More Perfect Union

I got sucked down the Kunhardt rabbit hole last night. They have many films I want to watch. The David Brooks documentary was so good.  

Kunhardt Films specializes in documentaries about the people and ideas that shape American history. The company, founded in 1987, is run by Peter Kunhardt and his two sons Teddy and George. The Kunhardts have won 8 Emmy Awards, 2 Peabody Awards, a DuPont, an IDA, and two NAACP Image Awards. 

I am watching Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union. It was hard to find a place to watch but I found it on HBOMAX. 

When Words Fall Short

I met Amanda years ago when we both worked at MSNBC in the infant years. I feel in love with her and we remained in touch since then. Such a talented artist with very little ego. She is always searching for her art to sing, different ways to make it sing. David and I had visits with her in our recent trip to Arizona. She chastised me the other day via DM for not painting. She also had hard heard about David and I had to break that news to her. She wanted to share that she has a show coming up in Texas soon with her new set of paintings and her ceramic. I miss seeing her! Also her Instagram.

Such an inspiring story and interview. I definitely see David Brooks with a different lens now.

Russian propaganda gone wild

You wonder where trump gets his propaganda ideas? Just state an outright lie, repeat it over and over and over again. And the dumbest among us will also start repeating it. 

  

  

 

Henry Mancini

I am sorry David could not have watched this. He loved the Peter Gunn theme song. Seems Henry Mancini was the epitome of cool. 

 

  

This was always one of my favorites! 

 

 

  

 

Brimming with life

Incorporating aspects of South American folklore, mythology, and religion, Berlin-based artist Olaf Hajek depicts thoughtful portraits of women and men infused with elements of life—often in their hairdos. Website (his website is fabulous) and Instagram.

It's time for cake

We have had two snowy, cold days here in the PNW. Just a light covering of snow but it is cold and dark. As I speak there is a light dusting happening. I had the kids over to spend the night, then all day Monday. What a fun, hand full they are. We baked brownies and Mason loves to conduct "experiments" in the kitchen of flour, salt, corn starch and food coloring. I mean, who could say no, she is so engrossed in mixing concoctions and molding into balls. 

I hope everyone caught the orange joke in Ohio talking about football and how the train disaster could have been a lot worse, Oh, the good part is ... he is sending in help via "trump water". My S-I-L snagged one of these in NM that they were handing out during the fires and I got my very own for Christmas. It is a 12oz bottle! HE IS SUCH AN ASSHOLE.

 

 

 

 

This is the only way I keep my sanity in these insane times. 

 

 

If you want to get sick to your stomach, here is the entire video on CSPAN. It is going to be a very long campaign listening to this crazy person.

Sun Sprinkles Shop found via Brown Paper Bag

The unexpected

The multi-talented Maria Carluccio. More art on the i spot and Instagram.

“I try to create images and narratives that inspire- sometimes these are messages of hope and sometimes they are simply reflections of ideas or themes that resonate with my own personal experiences. I always try to infuse my artwork with the sense of playfulness and curiosity”.

Hunting Dinosaurs

Why does Mother Earth tempt us with so many places to visit!  This is just 14 hours from my house. Really! How I would love to see that in person. For now, Google will have to be a substitute.

Dinosaur Provincial Park, public park located in the badlands of southeastern Alberta, Canada. The nearly 29-square-mile (75-square-km) park is best known for its extensive fossil beds, within which have been identified some 35 different species of dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Epoch (about 100 to 65 million years ago). There are also fossilized remains of Cretaceous fish, reptiles, and amphibians. The area, originally created as the Steveville Dinosaur Provincial Park in 1955, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 for its diversity of plant and animal life as well as for its paleontological value.  

10 Fascinating Stops on the Dinosaur Trail in Alberta

Found via Fossil Hunter 

Un poquito diferente

The whacky and wonderful world of Jaime Haydon.

 

  

 

Chris branches out

Chris Kenny was born in London and studied art history at the Courtauld Institute. He has been exhibiting since 1985 in Europe and America and is collected internationally. 

Chris Kenny works with humble, found materials: fragments excised from books or maps, discarded photographs or books, and fine twigs. He transforms these constructing fragile pertinent worlds that provoke wonder, humour or pathos. 

He also constructs other interesting  collages using maps, pins, nail, text

His Instagram