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Thursday, May 13, 2010

In the details...

I have been concentrating on things other than my art life lately. Lots of paperwork, organizing paperwork, and then some more paperwork just in case I start to get bored. I am not complaining, this really needs to get done, and will never be so tedious again once I create a system to make it all more manageable. But this post isn't really about paperwork. It is about my silly little tray I painted today.

Due to all of my attention on paperwork the desk was looking really clear for the first time in a long while. I had uncovered this wooden tray that I bought years ago and thought it would be cute on the desk. I tried to think of what I'd like to have on hand and immediately thought of my current journals and fountain pen. Since they are often tucked away they don't get used as much as I'd like. Out of sight, out of mind sort of thing.

I like everything to have a home, because clutter sort of eats at my soul. (Which is why I had always put them away before.) So I figured this tray could serve as the journal and pen 'home' and since it is easy to remove the whole thing in case I need the space, it doesn't bother me to have it on the desktop. And as a bonus the bright colors make me happy.


For fun I brushed on some coats of brightly colored metallic paint that coordinated with the journals and also with the art I have on the walls. The bottom outside is a coppery color since you can't really tell in the picture.

A successful project as not only did I get a dose of some paint and color therapy to soothe my paperwork frazzled nerves, but it also created a journal station that calls out to me to use it. Makes me happy it was rainy and very indoorish weather today so I had time to play around like this.

I've really made an effort this last year to get as much of my art materials in sight, so it gets used. Yet it is always that fine balance between in sight and too cluttered, isn't it? I don't know if I am exceptionally bad at remembering things that aren't in sight or if that is normal. But I am sick of just having things that don't get used. What is the point? Might as well get rid of the stuff and make room than have a bunch of stuff squirreled away.

Speaking of squirrels, my neighbor's squirrels are still in her roof. She didn't even seem overly concerned about it. I sense more squirrel pictures in my near future.

Happy almost weekend!

Monday, May 10, 2010

I spy with my little eye...

I had planned to sort business paperwork today, so of course that led to me gazing out the window aimlessly. And what did I spy while I was supposed to be winnowing away at the paperwork towers that threaten to consume my spring?

Uh, oh - My neighbor has a hole in her roof line. Better get the camera out for a closer look... Nothing like checking out someone else's trouble to put my own in perspective, eh?


Zoooommmm... Yep. Quite a big hole actually. She'd better get someone over to patch that up before she gets critters in her attic.


Oops... Too late? I spy with my little eye, someone else's little eye. Someone found a cozy, dry home under a nice brand new roof.


Correction... Make that a few someones. At least four squirrel babies have found a nice warm home under my neighbor's seven month old roof. I don't know if the sides were left like that when the roof was done, or if she had soffits that blew down over the winter. So who knows how long she's been sharing her home. 


Oh my. They are cute, aren't they? Oh, but squirrels can do some damage, oh yes, yes, yes. I'll have to let my neighbor know. Poor neighbor. Poor squirrels.

Suddenly, paperwork doesn't seem like such a big deal. It could be worse, right?  I could be dealing with squirrels living under my brand new roof. Or worse, I could be a homeless squirrel. Perspective is a good thing.

Happy Monday everyone!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Revisiting my youth on youtube tonight...


Sigh... How I love Fraggle Rock. My husband bought me the whole Fraggle Rock set on DVD one lucky year. I believe the same year that he got me the first two seasons of Northern Exposure. True love. Did you know one of the goals of the producers of Fraggle Rock was to create a show that promoted world peace? I love that.


Dear Animaniacs - Where did you go? Why did you leave us? There are no current kid shows that even come close to your glory. I miss you. Please come back.


How about this one? Might be hard to find commercial sponsors for this episode. lol


Ooooo... this one too! I still sing this one sometimes when in the middle of a chaos sort of day. I'm mad. I'm mad. I'm really, really, really mad. Could have been my theme song for yesterday, huh?

Thank you youtube for existing and giving my kids an opportunity to share in some of my early loves.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Hey, Lowe's! I am appeased.

I am relieved to share that my washing machine nightmare will end one week from tomorrow. Our six month long battle for a working washer is almost over as our new machine is going to be delivered next Saturday (for free, thank you very much). As I promised I am taking down my rant post because it feels way too sour grapes now that the situation is about to be resolved.

I do understand that not everything goes smoothly from time to time and our washing machine drama has been a comedy of errors from the beginning. It seemed whether we were on the phone or face to face we just constantly hit sales, management and repair people on a bad day or something, and it went on long enough to drive me a bit crazy.

One a more positive note, here are some things that I like about our local Lowe's store: The employees are very nice. While some aren't all the quickest to problem solve, or might even be downright slow and pass-it-off-ish, they do so with a kind smile and that is something at least. And the employees that are on the ball are quite efficient, pleasant examples of fine customer service. The store is very clean, well organized and easy to navigate. The selection is wonderful. I kept going back even during our current issues because of all these positive reasons.

So whew! It maybe took longer than I wished, and someone less stubborn than my husband and I might have given up after the mountain of phone calls and visits to the store that this resolution required. But soon, my laundry will be getting done with no more headaches - And that is a happy ending in my book.

For those stumbling upon this blog post and have no clue what I am talking about, I apologize! Short version is we bought a lemon of a washer and it took six months and some tantrums in order to fix the situation. But all is soon to be well and I am embarrassed over my public display of fit throwing. And sort of tired out to be honest.

So happy weekend everyone! It is Mother's Day weekend. I give everyone reading this post permission to not do laundry in celebration.