Outside

It's so nice to finally be able to spend some time outside. The weather has been perfect. This is a good time of year to have a puppy because you get to go outside so much. Tonight James and Forest were out so I was on my own. I played with the dogs and then I started cleaning up the wintertime neglect in the backyard. It was a really relaxing way to spend a Friday evening.


I ducktaped up the split parts of the aqua couch. Since I don't need the silver shelf in my studio anymore, I put it outside and put all the yard stuff on it. I like using stuff I already have for other purposes. I am trying to get away from that urge to consume, though it's hard not to want the comfy lawn furniture at Target.

I tried to practice being in the moment when I was sweeping the porch like it was a Japanese tea ceremony, just trying to really focus on everything I was doing. It was hard to hold that focus but interesting to try. I really like how relaxing outside work is though. Pulling weeds is surprisingly gratifying.


I caught Zaphod and Molly playing together a couple of times while I was working!

I heart Flight of the Conchords

I think tv gets a bad rap. There are so many good things on tv. I recently got caught up on a great show called Flight of the Conchords. It's about these two clueless musicians from New Zealand who live in New York. They write funny songs and intersperse videos in the show. Here is one of them:



I love Brett and Jermaine! They just make me so happy.

They were also interviewed on Fresh Air recently. You can hear it here.

P-update

Things with Molly are getting better everyday. We had some seriously stressful days before we finally figured out how the crate system works. We took her in to the vet last week to get her shots and found out that she was still pretty malnutritioned. That explains the poop eating. Now that her belly is filling out a little, she doesn't seem quite as interested in poop. It also helps that we have been removing it from the yard immediately.

I love watching her run with her clumsy stride and mid air twirls. She chases her tail. We bounce the puppy sized kong on the ground and she prances after it. Julie brought her a stuffed squirrel toy and she LOVES it. You can squeak it from across the room and she comes running. We are trying to break her of her biting habit even though they are gentle, playful bites. Oh, and shoes, we are also trying to break her of the habit of chewing on shoes. No shoes have been ruined yet, fortunately.

Zaphod is warming, little by little. Two days ago she lay down next to him outside and he stayed for a couple of minutes before getting up and moving. He may be coming around. We are just trying to show him a lot of love!

It's been so pleasant outside recently - lovely weekend days of sitting in the backyard, watching the dogs play. On Saturday we celebrated the marriage of our friends Melissa and Nel with a picnic in the park. It was such a nice day to be out!

This seems to be a time for new folks in our house! Not only do we have a new dog, I have a new assistant! Julie let me know last week that she needs to go and start preparing to have her baby (yay babies!) so now Marisa will be helping me out here in the studio. Welcome Marisa!

Her name is Molly

...and we are keeping her! She is so sweet and cute! Even though she poops on the floor and then eats it. Seriously though, we are working on it. Man, I did not realize how much work goes into puppy training. We are doing the whole crate thing - another thing I was completely oblivious to. My assistant Julie was like "I'll loan you a crate" and believe it or not I was actually questioning whether that would be necessary.

She makes the cutest little faces when she hears a noise and barks at her own shadow.

The only one who is not completely won over is Zaphod. He's kind of being a jerk about it. But, I can tell he is warming up, little by little. He is kind of being possessive about the toys and you can tell he is totally thinking "why don't I get a treat when I poop outside?" Mostly I think he is just annoyed with her youthful exuberance. When did he got so curmudgeonly?

new puppy and closet cleaning

The little puppy has come to stay with us for the weekend to see how all get along. A woman we know found this litter of puppies dumped in the middle of a rural road. She guesses the puppies are a lab/border collie mix. The one who is visiting us is a docile pup with a sweet and curious nature. It stressed Zaphod out a little at first. Now he is feeling a little more relaxed but he is extra needy. Forest took to her immediately and started calling her Molly. They hung out together all day in his room. Tonight James was playing his harmonica and she started howling along. Oh my goodness, it was so cute. I actually got a little video of it.



I cleaned out my closet and drawers today. Feels pretty great. I loaded up about a dozen brown shopping bags with clothes, hats and old purses for Goodwill. I tried to use that rule that if you haven't worn it in the last year, it had to go. I only broke the rule for vintage pieces. I kept a box of vintage dresses I have collected that no longer fit me. Maybe, just maybe, someday.



Going through my dresser drawers was like digging through archaeological layers. Some of the things I found date back 10 or so year! I threw so much stuff away but in keeping with the vintage allowance, I kept all my vintage headscarves. Vintage never goes out of style.

Excuses, excuses

I have been kind of working my ass off lately and haven't had time to blog. Here is a sum up!

James and I have been cooking more recently.

I've done yoga three times in the last week and I think I am finally starting to relax.

I created a huge new batch of resin collage pieces that are being finished up now.

I am trying to get back to photography but I am having so much trouble with rechargeable batteries!

My jewelry is currently in 15 stores. Woot!

I've had some fun nights out recently - the Parts & Labour 4th Birthday Party was last Tuesday at Beauty Bar. There were break dancers! On Saturday I met a bunch of friends to see There Will be Blood at the Alamo Ritz and had drinks afterward. What a good movie! I also had a boisterous coffee date with Angie and Liz.

It's kind of also been the house of sickness around here. Forest caught two different stomach bugs over a three week period. James had the flu for four days and I had it for 1. Everyone's better now.

We might be getting a new puppy. Eep!