Photo a Week....

I totally screwed it up last week...and posted the theme for today ... which, on every one else's blog, will be Things with Wings.  So, today I am posting something for last week's theme... got you confused too?  good.... I don't want to be the only one.

It all had to do with the reminders that are sent out...and seeing the one for next week was too much for my pea brain I guess... I went with it immediately ... totally forgot all about the one I was supposed to be doing ..which was "Signs" .... maybe that in itself is some sort of sign.....

The sign I wanted to get for today is too far away to walk to and my wheels are in the shop... so...I'm going with this one....which is pretty cute too.

Several houses down in the alleyway..... 

Somebody has a great sense of humour... also great sense of direction ... and, must have gone to considerable length to look up the mileage, or in our case, the ...uhm.... hmmm ... I guess you just say kilometers instead of adding "age" to it... kilometer-age? naahhh... sounds silly.... 

and... because it is another cold, dreary, moping around kind of day, (because it's too damn cold to swing a golf club or dig in my garden).... I'm posting this for some colour.

I don't know whose it is ... but, I remember it is a guy who paints them....   from a time when I was cruising e-bay buying ACEOs....
It's one of those days when even a cat wants to hug his teddy and snuggle up to a nice warm fireplace with a mug of cocoa...well, maybe not the mug of cocoa...

A giveaway ...from Cheryl....

This is me hoping some good Karma rubs off on me.... but, now, having said it aloud... perhaps it's all just gone right on by me...   somehow in my mind's eye, I see Karma as something like a flying carpet...whizzing around in the atmosphere....

So be it.  I have to tell you, and show you,    ... this little bear.

His name is Sammy and he lives over at Bingle Bears... and... if you go to Cheryl's site and leave your comment and email.... he could be yours!!

I love his little face....

oh, it's absolute hell I tell ya.....

... when the weather isn't co-operating and I can't go out to play.  No golf, no gardening...no anything in the pouring rain and cold.  It's a lousy +5C if you please!!  update:: the rain just turned to big fat wet flakes that splat as they hit the pavement...... sigh.............and it's so dark in here, even if it is the middle of the day, that I have all the lights on .....

And, nobody is home to help with the chocolate... the beaters, the spoons, the mixing bowls...... oh, yeh...  heh heh  ...nobody is here to help.  Gee.  Had to take one for the team and lick them all myself... think I need a glass of nice cold milk now.  Isn't it funny how milk just seems made for chocolate?

oh, and...the spoon and spatula too...let's not forgot those!  hahah.....ooohhh...I'll be giddy after all that chocolate.  But, strange as it may seem...I prefer the "raw mixture" as a friend of my sister's calls it in her broad Yorkshire accent... than the actual baked goodies.  So, I don't eat more than a cookie or two of the two dozen.   Mr. BV knows they are all his.......  but, even so, I have to try to monitor his hoarding and consuming.  I hope they last more than two days.  Luckily, he is slim but, I must guard, (yes, I insist! I must!!) guard against his consumption of too much refined food.   I want him to be around for a long time.  Which is probably why I don't bake cookies too often.... muffins more so because there is a lot less fat and sugar content.  I usually save cookies for the festive season.  Go all out and then, forget about them for a year.  But..today..it's dreary, I felt like baking to warm up the house...and thought about ....cookies........

What I would really like to be doing is golfing.  Well, trying to golf, as I seem to be unable to do anything right so far this season.  Or, at the very least, digging in the dirt ...planting my annuals.!!  I'm definitely not putting them in til next week now.  It's going to snow on Saturday!.  Down to 0 C.  Sheeesh.  We already must have the shortest growing season in the world... and now this ....   see why I had to cheer myself up with some lovely warm oven stuff?  Now...what should I make for supper?

...there they sit.... getting a good soaking of rainwater.... waiting.... just waiting...
although I did keep Basil in the garage.  His leaves got frost bitten a few days ago when I left him out overnight..... I figured the Thyme and Rosemary were a bit more hardy.  I hope.

Want a cookie?  Recipe from Christmas on my other blog.  Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies.

Wordless Wednesday

This is a post from Sheaffer's blog.  He is the little donkey with whom I first became acquainted..and from there I found Sheila's Sanctuary. See photo on sidebar.  These are the reasons I support such a worthwhile project. It's the reason I made a couple of little bears to send for their silent auction this coming week.  It's so worth it to support somebody like Sheila who works so tirelessly on behalf of any animals in distress.  It makes me cry every time I read how cruel some people can be.   I wish I lived closer so I could go in person to visit and help out...but, Canada is a huge country and I am pretty much at the opposite end from her and her little menagerie....
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Sheaffer's recent post is this:


The woman and I are asked quite often how Sheila, who runs the PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary, keeps going day after day. She has seen every possible negative aspect of human nature at work in the guise of the neglected and abused donkeys who make their way to her farm. Still she smiles, never raises her voice and one by one, tries to help the sanctuary residents and educate humans on how to properly care for donkeys in general.

I know some of you have heard me speak of Tabi (Tabolinski), the mammoth donkey who luckily found himself in Sheila's care. He had worked tirelessly pulling logs from the forest, without benefit of footcare for ages. When he was sold, his new owner decided to "fix" his feet all in one go, and the bony structure inside dropped down to his soles, leaving him in agony. Sheila and her vet and farrier and the volunteers nursed him back to health and he was looking shiny and standing comfortably, soaking up the sun and finally leading a wonderful life. One day last week Sheila went out to prepare donkey breakfasts and Tabi had died in the night. She is devastated. We have no details as yet but I know there are many of us, human and donkey, who know how much Sheila's heart is aching right now. I hope she remembers that even though his life was short - he was only in his mid-teens - she gave a great soul the chance to know what loving care is all about. He will be greatly missed.

On a happier note, Theodore, the "dumpster donkey" is thriving in his new home. After having been nearly beaten to death with a shovel by a lunatic who tied him to a dumpster and left him there to die, Sheila was called and he was taken to the sanctuary. To say he had trust issues is a massive understatement. Sheila felt his nightmarish experiences would make him a liftetime resident. One day a teenage human and her mother went to visit the sanctuary. Theodore marched up to the girl and declared she was "the one".

He went to live at her home and from being virturally untouchable, he is now calmly having his feet done by the foot man, being brushed, haltered and led everywhere. Last winter, he and his group of horses came into the barn during a bad storm. Theodore and the humans realized at the same time that one horse was missing. Back out went Theodore, up a steep hill, in the blinding snow, where he moved in close to the horse and led him back down the hill with the horse's muzzle pressed into his furry back. His day wasn't done yet. The teenage human's father found a chicken out in the roadway in the same blizzard and brought it home, fearing it wouldn't last the night. The chicken was put into the warm barn. In the morning the chicken was found fully recovered, nestled on Theodore's warm back. Theodore does not take his new home for granted. He knows how truly terrible humans can be but has the judgement to recognize the good ones when he meets them. That farm is in good hooves with Theodore in charge.

Those are just two of the many reasons we want to make the "Big Day" a very big success. Thank you to all who are working so hard to help my donkey friends and thank you to Sheila for doing, day in and day out, what most of us cannot even imagine. She's a woman on a mission and I gladly lend my name to anything that will help her to keep PrimRose up and running.

photo a Week

Today's theme chosen by Serena is "Things with Wings" ....  I'm not fast enough or close enough with my camera to get a great bird shot.  The plane is in the hangar for repairs... (just kidding ... lol) .... the falcon is over at the brother-in-laws... oh, alright kidding again.... and erm let me see...oh, yeh....forget me trying to do bees and stuff... I don't like them all that much....

So.... check out these cute little wings on the baby dragon Maggi made for me....

Yeh....they're small, but they get me around.....

All of a sudden I find it strange that this is one of the only two dolls I've made with wings....and in fact...they share this pair...hahahahh..... depending upon whose turn it is to have her photo taken. Hmmm...methinks its time to make some wings...

Her buddy Sam the beetle has some wings too... my first experience with free motion embroidery.... some fibers under tulle.....

What the blinkin' blazes? !!

..can't win....

One day it's hot...the next cool.... and it was hot too early...so all the bushes are flowering early.  Look at this .... my  neighbour's double flowering plum.  Well, I think that's what it is. Beeeyoootiful!

Today it was cooler after raining off and on through the night....but, warm enough for golf!  Hah!  So... golfing I went.  My old guys are pretty hardy... plus as they say... who knows how many games they have left so they go rain or shine.  They tell me they don't even buy bananas if they are green...then they laugh their heads off.  They also mention that I better show up every Wednesday too...or else.  One of them will be 91 in a few months...they are amazing old gaffers....

Tonight it is much cooler... some sprinkling...and tomorrow..rain and cooler yet.  Darn it.  I wanted to get busy and plant things.  Usually I don't dare put anything in pots or in the ground before this weekend...which is a long weekend.  As a matter of fact, this is the first long weekend of the summer and everybody and their dogs go camping...and usually get a dusting of snow on their tents..or camper and RV's....hardly anybody actually tents anymore it seems.  Just as well.

Anyway...it is going to be slightly cooler for a few days...but, not cold.  So...I may take a chance and put things in early...

See why I drive my old cargo van?  I need plenty of room.... for all sorts....

oh, let me get a bit closer...

Trees, shrubs, dirt, fertilizer spreader box of wine, flowers, plants, herbs... the list goes on.  We had some shrubs die two years ago...and have been dogging it... didn't get anything planted in the holes we made digging them out.  Tsk, tsk.... this year, the yard will  look a lot better.... and I still need to order some dirt.  Imagine having to order dirt.  Brother.  But... our gardens are getting "tired"...more mulch, compost and even some new dirt is necessary to get things back to where they should be.  I wish my sister lived closer...she makes great dirt.  By composting.... and it's got great horsey manure in it... ooohhh...now that would be good stuff....

I even got me some herbs this year.... Thyme, Rosemary and some Basil... I'm not exactly sure how to grow them...or where I'm going to put them...but, last year I grew little chili peppers for the first time...and they did great!  so... I hope....

Yup.... I do indeed put an ice cube in my wine on occasion.  My Mom and Aunt used to do it all the time... their thought was...it seemed like more..it went further...and it was lovely and cold! Works for me.  I'm not a connoisseur ...but I know what I like.... and that's what I drink. Now, where's that darn sun!?  Maybe I'll wait another week before I plant anything..it'll be fine in pots til then....

Photo a Week

I declare it summer!!  As usual in this area.... we jump straight from snow and cold to +27C ... too hot too soon!  We just have no easing into it..  No spring to wear the cute little booties I bought... darn it.  Now ..it's sandal weather already.  Well, it was earlier today.  Then, at supper time it kicked up rough.  Wind, rain and thunder.  So, I shut down the computer for a few hours til the weather blew itself out.  Now... sunny and calm as can be.  The house is up to +24.5C so I have all the windows open to cool things down a bit before bed.

Our theme this week is our work space.  First... let me show you this sweet, clean looking little vignette.  Why am I showing you this? ......

You'll know soon enough.......

Here's my favourite corner of my craft room as I call it.  It's tidy and organized and I think it looks pretty.  See how I moved my cute little 10 cent garage sale blue vase into the room as I wandered in to take some photos?  That's one of my little snowdrop anemones from my garden... dozens of them in bloom already.  Even if we have the shortest growing season in the world once things get going... they go!  They all know they have to hurry up or else... yeh, I am dawdling....... standing in the doorway... not really wanting to take the pics I guess...but,  here we go...


.......I resisted the urge to even tidy....so, here it is looking at the big picture .... squint a bit and it looks okay...sorta.....

I usually just shove some stuff to one side or the other ... and use about one square foot of space to play in.  Or.... take a handful of stuff out to the kitchen and sit there.  I do love my special room... really I do.  And, I appreciate it.  It's just weird how I gravitate back to the kitchen most days.  Of course, a lot of days I am also keeping an eye on some baking so there is a reason.  And..also... the sun streams in through the kitchen windows...and the birdies are playing in the patio and the birdie bath and little fountain is burbling....  I'm just a spoiled brat I guess.  I have two places to sit.... so.... I do!

I bought a wall to wall Ikea table for the area.  It is a bump out with windows...and the table with both leaves in fits it perfectly.  You can see that I need all the space I can get .... cuz I like to spread my stuff around.  I don't believe in putting everything away in between my visits to this room... I'll just have to spend an hour finding it when I come back anyway.  And...if it is long time...well, for sure I'll forget where I put it.

Oh, I've got lots of stuff in drawers, cupboards and tote bins too... under the table and on the top shelves of my walk in closet which is just between this room and my bedroom, and in the linen cupboard and in the big storage area under this very room.  Sigh.  As a matter fact, when we first began our renovations...this room was going to be a sitting room off the master bedroom.  But..it quickly became a junk room...and then... I decided I need a craft room instead ..so we re-organized stuff..bought the table, a desk and a barrister bookcase and curio cabinet.  All the dolls and a lot of bears are in this room...the little guys and a couple more dolls are in the front room. .. and the foyer...and the... oh, alright..they are everywhere in this house!

Even if I'm not very prolific with the doll and bear making, I don't usually sell them...so the numbers are beginning to add up.....

That is a coffee table sitting in front of the bookcase... blocking the doorway to the bedroom and closet.... I have no room for it... wanna buy a coffee table...cheap?

Back to the work surfaces...

Maggi says she can tell a former dental assistant lives here....

My family lives here too...in the corner.... nowhere else to put this many photos.  So, they're forced to hang out with me while I hang out...

If I was still dental assisting and left my chores undone this long?...I'd have been fired out on my ass.
You know that old saying .... a stitch in time saves 9? ...hahhaha.... This poor little apron has been waiting months sitting patiently on top of the machine  ...maybe even 9 months now.  ...for that stitch.  And believe me...it is only about a row of 9 stitches it needs!  Acckkkkk....terrible!  That's it, I'm fired!

There is a desk under all that... but, it usually looks pretty much like this....

Maybe tomorrow I will tidy a bit... oh...nope...can't... it's Wednesday.  Golfing with my old dudes.  Well, if it isn't raining.

Okay..if it rains, I tidy.

What fun!

Everybody needs an extra giggle or a good laugh...and poor old Lyle definitely provided that didn't he?  I loved making him. Especially enjoyed all the comments.... what fun.  And... I have to say... I'm no sculptor.... anybody can do this.  Dawn makes it easy with lots of photos and great instructions.  It is like a paint by number project... using bits and bobs of clay instead of brushes and paint.  Although..you do use some brushes too! and paint....
I think I need to look for a few more shells.  Manly man shells........ no more frilly bonnets.

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And, speaking of bear making.... we weren't? ..oh.....

Sage and Otis had fun getting ready to fly to Ontario.  They were giggling and jumping in and out of tissue paper.

Arranging it just so in their little bags.....

Enjoying the whole procedure....

ahhhh....got it..... that's perfect now.......

Sage disappeared...down deep into pinks and yellows....

She mentioned how dark it was...but, that she thought it would be perfect for sleeping all the way there on the plane .....

...and murmured something about how her pretty tissue was like special sheets....  and so comfy.....

These two are headed to Ontario for a silent auction in aid of the Primrose Donkey Sanctuary.  If you would like to place a bid for either of them... email me ( vphilion@telus.net) with the amount and I will make sure it is entered on the appropriate bid sheet.  The top bidder (including all the attendees as well as the online bidders) wins the bear.... but nobody knows who that is till the end of the day.  Why not put in a bid and see if yours is the winning bid?   You could win a cute little needle felted bear and help a great cause.  Serious bidders only, please.

If you want to know more about Sheila and the sanctuary ..  my special little cause...... click the direct link on my sidebar near the top....

Sage is 2.5 inches, felted from hand dyed New Zealand Romney wool.  She has black onyx bead eyes, an embroidered nose and wears a little garland of tiny flowers.  She is string jointed for gentle posing.

Otis is a whopping 3.25 inches... felted from Natural Alberta Romney wool.  He has black onyx bead eyes and an embroidered nose.  He wears a turquoise glass bead around his neck...I don't know why, but he stole it from my bead bowl one day and insisted on carrying it around....

beyond curious....

Those were Judi's words as she wondered what I was up to with the shells.... and.... well... he is definitely that alright@!

I totally forgot to take some photos as I was putting on the clay... but, first most of the opening was filled with softened (as well as I could get it softened... ) older clay.  It is great for using up the clay that we just hate to toss.   You know the stuff... getting a bit hard or crumbly and is just no good anymore for sculpting, but, for some silly reason we refuse to throw it out.

Then... cover that with a thin piece of new soft clay and begin to lay on the various bits and blobs and start to make them look like a little face.

He is one of Dawn Schiller's Odd Fae and Autumn Things ..  she calls them Hermit Shellfae.

Little Sage wondered what the heck he was too... although he didn't scare her because I did try to give him a kind face even if he is a bit strange and different.  Sure...he's a bit different than any of my other stuff...but, hey...a person has to try "different" every so often.
                                                                                                    



I have to say though.... next time I must try for a more manly-man shell.  I still have to stifle a snicker every so often because he just looks to me like a little old man wearing a frilly pink baby bonnet!  I'm sure he would disagree.

Okay... by the end of the day....the silliness began.

My shell was pretty fragile...can you believe Michael's still made me pay for it? ...although I did get a discount. The back portion of it began crumbling a bit around a small hole that was already there.  Then, ..... somebody suggested that perhaps I should put some clay in the opening to help hold things together... and maybe even make it a portion of his anatomy sticking out of the hole..... because it would be funny....and that was it.  Well, that and the wine....

So, I made him a bum.  Giggling all the while.......

After baking his face portion....I added the hand... because it was too awkward for me to put the fingers up against the face while the clay of the face was still soft.  Not that my clay is ever "too" soft.  I definitely don't have what they refer to as "hot hands" when working with clay.  Apparently some people have hands so warm that the clay is very soft all the time.  I wish.  Mine never seems to move that easily or feel soft to me, but I wasn't going to risk it after spending hours on his face.

There was more baking .... and then there was painting...with acrylic paints....

And... then... a bit more painting on the reverse...just to give it a bit of colour too...

and voila....

Lyle appeared

and has taken up residence in his favourite plant pot....

Some days he doesn't feel very chatty...and just turns his other cheek.....er...cheeks......

I dunno.... my other shell is pretty BIG...I might not want to make a huge Hermit...but, we'll see.

here is Dawn's Hermit... see what I mean about a more manly shell?

..and look at this cute little one....awww... I love him... you can put them in any shell..... this one is no bigger than Dawn's thumb.... you can check out some of her others at her site ...

Photo a Week

Aackk!  It's Tuesday.. almost Wednesday already.  Our theme for this week... (we usually post the photo on Monday)... was something "Mom" in keeping with it having been Mother's Day weekend.

My weekend days were totally confused with Mr. BV being away ... and when I picked him up at the airport I was thinking it was Sunday...and sort of had it in my mind to pretend it was too... because he missed our Sunday here... so I made a little chicken for dinner...and then...well I reeeeelly did think it was Sunday!  So, of course, Monday went by and then all of a sudden here it is Tuesday ... hahahah .... oh, well...

I decided not to whine this year about my Mom being gone.   Not that I don't miss her all the time...but, who needs to hear more whining...and ...well, I guess I was lucky to have her for as long as I did.  I have one friend who lost her Mom when she was only 9 .... that really makes me think how lucky was I?

My Mom always loved little things... which was good, because we couldn't afford much in the early days and she got very little of anything.  All the shops were full of flowers and when I saw this cute, tiny orchid, I decided to get it in memory of Mom.   She would have loved it.
I don't know anything about orchids... and they had no info on it...which I found strange...but, I'll google it and see what it says.

The colours are absolutely beautiful....

Okay...this is amusing.... that large one? ....is a faux orchid.  Plastics.... but, look how real it looks beside the real thing!

Here's to you Mom.......