Saturday-9:15am

My two books came that I ordered from OAS (Oriental Art Supply)! 100 Flowers and 100 Birds by Yang O-shi. They are approximately 12 X 8 inches and have beautiful colored pages. These are painted spontaneous style and certainly feel like reference books--100 Flowers is about 235 pages and 100 Birds is about 217--they're heavy! They have English translation for everything--which is a big plus for me, obviously. The flowers and birds are all oriental, of course. Each flower and each bird are shown step-by-step and also within a composition--or two! I got a little carried away with the photos, but here they are!! Enjoy! Have a great day!

Friday-9am

Yesterday the office called me about the garage key. Right now they just had the key and don't have the remote, but I will get a new remote eventually. (Maybe somebody left and didn't turn it in?) The other apartment is empty right now, but as soon as they rent it they will need the garage. So they need me to move my stuff ASAP. I went to see the garage on my way home from picking up the key. There are bike hooks in the rafters--cool! Might be able to hang my bike up in the winter. This garage looked narrower to me, but I'm not sure if it is an optical illusion because it is empty? We'll see. Was nice and clean, no dents in the door, and the door worked beautifully with the key. :)

I called Leah when I got home. She said they would probably be able to come for a few hours on Saturday afternoon to switch garages. But--woke up today and it is miserable out!

Can't even see out the screen.
I looked online and it says it is supposed to be raining all weekend--and 40's and 50's for highs! We'd have to hope we could move inbetween showers. I wonder if they will change their minds?

Meanwhile--on a happier note--the cat toys!! Leah tied them using that cool clamp and then coated the thread with this black liquid plastic. We needed to hang them someplace to dry--used my clothespin magnets and the lamp chain.
The two in the center are remade old toys. Redone so they can now be used on the "Da Bird" wand. They didn't fool Karma. She knew they were her "old" toys and had no interest. She wanted the new, exciting toys that Leah had constructed. :)
Anyways, Karma noticed them shortly after Leah left that night. She sat in the chair under them and cried for like five minutes. I kept telling her no. She finally gave up.

Yesterday I took all the toys down--hehe! Karma was crying in anticipation while I hooked them on to the string. Well, Miss Karma was a blur! I have not seen her leaping and moving that fast since she was a kitten! She went berserk!

When she'd catch it--gripped tightly in her teeth at the base--she'd hunker down and fight me for it. Would not let go! I had to really pull to get it away from her--hehe! And the toys held together!

I wore her out completely! She was almost panting between her teeth, but she still wouldn't let go for quite a while after she caught it.
Until I finally wore her out and then I put it away. Karma slept deeply all afternoon--chuckle!
Thanks Leah!!! Definitely a success!!!

Well, here's hoping we get the garages switched tomorrow. :)

Thursday-9:45pm

Leah took off the middle contraption, moved the hinge, and now the cover works! First time have been able to shut the top in over a year--TaDa!!

I didn't feel confident enough to go with and shop--still not sure what these pills are doing or not doing yet. Leah set up the clamp and we made a list. Leah went to JoAnn's, Target, and Lowe's--and called me on the phone for any questions she had. Karma knew something really interesting was happening--but she fell asleep waiting in the chair while Leah was gone.

I forgot to get pictures of Leah working on the cat toys!! Duh! She made a couple of new ones and re-did a couple that had a different connector so I could use them on the "Da Bird" wand. She left around 11pm and I didn't get to bed until almost 1am. Very tired today, but had such a nice time!! :):)

Sun is out this morning--41 degrees. Have a great day!!

Wednesday-9am

Well, yesterday the top to the cat box finally broke. Caroline was vacuuming out the bottom and leaned on the top somehow--and the screws popped right out. Didn't take much--I heard it, of course.

I just mentioned a little while back in the blog how the top has been sprung and hasn't closed but halfway for about a year or more. Well, the screws came right out--pop!
Leah, our "tool girl" is going to take a look at it today before we go shopping. I'm not concerned--the box has been broken for a long time and the top wouldn't close. If we had to remove the top altogether that's okay I told Leah. She said--no way! She'd find a way to fix the top. I'm sure we could remove that center thing that broke long ago (was supposed to keep the top from slamming down) and just move the right hinge over. Might at least have a top that closes again. Karma might not like it--hehe!

I did talk to Caroline about giving me too much in the Bed Bath & Beyond gift certificate--but she insisted. I suppose since I am a client it makes her feel better about it. I was so thankful and surprised! Caroline seemed happy--and the laptop is working fine. Her boyfriend is already talking about putting more RAM in it? Speed? Not sure-hehe!

After Caroline left I went down to the office. Only one lady was there (the one who had been scowly--but she wasn't scowly this time)--she seemed surprised they hadn't already called me. She heard them talking, she said. Since the owners are not putting in any more garage door openers, they came up with a compromise. I would have to switch garages and they'd switch the numbers over the garage. She said she'd have someone call me.

Later the other girl called. I will have garage 202A--which is being cleaned out right now. When it is cleaned out (and I guess it needs a different opener?) they'll give me a while to move my stuff and then switch the numbers over the garages. It is a compromise. They could have said no.

I emailed Dagan and Leah. Leah responded right away and was not happy about moving everything out of my garage. That shelf unit they put in is really a pain to move. I don't know if it can be moved without taking it apart again. It is very heavy. She thought they should put in a garage door opener for me. I wish they would have, but the owners said no--so this is the compromise.

Dagan and Leah are thinking about whether it is worth it to just buy one for me and have it installed...?? They probably regret having given me the car to use in the first place.

I am feeling like a burden today. :(

Tuesday-9am

Three days growth!

No wonder I have to trim it.
Decided to look on the package--duh! No wonder this cat grass doesn't act like regular grass! It is actually barley, oats, and wheat--no wonder--no wonder! Mostly oats. Duh!

Well, I finally got to the video and link that Leah had sent me a while back: The Story of Stuff. Most interesting! Definitely worth your time!!
http://www.storyofstuff.com/

And I joined Freecycle, too. What a great idea!!
http://www.freecycle.org/

You can see if there is a freecycle group going in your area--or you can start one. If you have something to give away--you list it. If there's something you are looking for--you list your request for what you need. All free! People email you if they are interested in what you have to give away. You email if you are interested in something that's listed. Simple!

This is a perfect idea for me. I am always trying to find somebody who can use something I don't need any more. They just come and pick it up! And if I am looking for something in particular--same thing. I just joined--and you can choose to get the digests (about 25 listings at a time in one email) instead of each separate email. if you want. Everything from furniture to clothing to pets--all kinds of items--new and used. Great idea!

Rained all day yesterday. So dark I had to have a light on inside here during the day. Caroline comes today. Sun is supposed to come out this afternoon. Have a good day! Watch the video and check out freecycle!!! :):)

Monday-10:30am

This is what it looks like out my window right now.

Another rainy, dark day. The few trees I can see have turned yellow or red. Supposed to keep raining right through the night, but then the sun is supposed to be out again tomorrow afternoon. I dug around for all my health related paperwork yesterday and made copies. I'll go back down to the office (unless I hear from them, of course--doubtful) either today or tomorrow--as soon as I am able.

Slept late again today. Good sleeping weather. So dark that Miss Karma didn't even start going on and on in excitement about me getting up--not a peep. Even tho she was right there by my bed--she thought it was nighttime still and I was just getting up for a trip to the bathroom--hehe! That's how I get to sleep late on dark days now--chuckle! The darkness fools Miss Karma--who is too polite to bother me unless she knows for sure I am actually getting up for the day. She sure got right into a routine when one showed up in her life, didn't she? Totally food related, of course--wanting her treat. But she is nice enough not to ever actually wake me--so far--knock on wood! But as soon as I am waking up AND it is light out--she is all over that! hehehe!

Been reading and watching a lot of Gilmore Girls. I think I am on season six out of seven. I do like to get things back to people when I am borrowing them, of course. It also feels like snuggle up under a blanket and hibernate pre-winter weather--plus I am totally, totally engrossed in the Gilmore Girls!! Want to find out what happens to them in the end--who marries whom or doesn't--job and family situations--graduation for Rory--etc. :) More tomorrow!

Sunday-9:45am

Yesterday was a good day to lay in the sunshine in the morning...

...to watch the grass grow...

(Only two days growth--possible Karma could actually have been watching it grow!)
...to listen to the grass growing.

Today is a dark, overcast day. Was a good morning to sleep in.

I've been watching the Gilmore Girls and puttering about. Quiet weekend. :)

Saturday-8:30am

Sunny morning yesterday--and again this morning, too. 46 degrees at the moment.

What a difference a day makes, eh?
Here's the stack of books Caroline brought over for me to read. :) I think they call these Chick Lit, don't they? Light, fast reading, anyways.
CashWise came yesterday!
This is what the monthly groceries looks like.
Put all of that away--happily! And washed clothes. That took up my day yesterday. Was a good day. :)

I hope Dagan and Leah aren't freezing at the cabin with their friends! That cabin has no electricity, but I think it has a fireplace or a wood stove? Seems colder than normal for the beginning of October.

I never heard anything back from the office. I guess I'll have to go back on Monday about the garage door--keep nudging them. Next time maybe I should bring with all my paperwork on all my health issues? Good idea. People seem to like to have paperwork--black and white proof. I can give them that. Maybe that will help them convince the owners? I'll have to dig around this weekend in my semi-messy files--hehe!

Anyways, another sun shiney morning--cold, crisp, and clear!! Winter is definitely approaching in this part of the world. :)

Friday-8am

Karma's new batch of cat grass is coming up in the sunny morning! :)

Okay--here's the sliding racks that Leah screwed down for me under the kitchen sink. I love them! So easy to reach everything. Wish I had gotten them years ago. These were the reason I had the empty big lazy susan--and came up with the idea of using it for crafts.
It is not easy to get a picture of Karma's two "da bird"'s without her head in there--hehe! They have interchangeable toys you can clip on to the end of the string.
The one on the left is the original. The one on the right--they started to make the rod in two pieces that kind of screw together. Easier to ship, obviously. They both work great! I had to move quickly and keep telling Karma "no!" before she bit the strings in two! She's quick!
Also difficult to get a picture of the stash from Sportsman's--feathers, bobbins, thread, threaders, and--in the box--a little clamp they use for tying flies. We are going to make a series of little feathery blobs that can be exchanged on the end of the "da bird" toy string. :)
Too sore to do much yesterday. All day the only thing I accomplished was to put the Chinese paints into my porcelain palette.
Some of the colors had separated and I stirred them up with toothpicks. Seemed fine. :)
They are a little different shades than the western paints--can tell that right off. I'll see how they handle compared to the western watercolors.

I have two large porcelain palettes that I have been saving. (I love porcelain palettes!!! Have several tiny ones.) Got them on sale back when they first came out with these large ones! I have known that the round one (has more wells--shaped like my plastic one) I have always planned to use with a set of Daniel Smith watercolors--one day when I have the money to buy the bigger set I want--hehe! It will happen. Maybe this winter? :):) This rectangular one--have always figured I would switch up now and then. So why wait?

It's like saving the good stuff, you know? Like never using the good dishes or having big candles you never light or plastic on your furniture--hehe! I have my set of Holbein paints I first bought and put in the plastic palette I purchased to bring to my watercolor class and that palette is what I have used from the beginning. Until just recently when I started making the Altoid palettes--small--so I could experiment with some other brands. But I had never touched the big, heavy porcelain palettes. TaDa!! About time!! :):)

Anyways, I forgot to tell you that I called Caroline and told her the laptop was ready for her. She came over that night and picked it up--brought me a stack of paperback books to read, too. She handed me a Bed, Bath & Beyond gift certificate! We were standing by the door--I was in my robe--sore to stand--not thinking clearly--so I stuck it under a magnet on my blackboard and didn't look at it. I thought she had given me a $10-20 dollar thank you gift.

Well, I didn't remember to look at it until yesterday. $50.00!! That is just too much! I was going to just give it to her for free in the first place. I can't take that! I will give it back to her when she comes next week. What if she has trouble with it or it dies right away? I'd feel awful! She already brings over DVDs and books for me to borrow. She may feel funny because I am a client--but I would give it away to somebody else. I always try to find somebody who can really use something I don't need any more.

Speaking of--Leah emailed me some information on this website where people find and give away things for free. I haven't been up to sitting and watching videos on the computer yet, but I will watch it and let you know what it is all about. Supposed to be going national, I believe. Great idea!!

We had a frost and freeze warning last night. Only 35 degrees right now. Low 60s expected today. Talk about feeling like winter is bearing down on us! Sometimes when it gets this cold this fast and this early--the leaves don't even have a chance to finish turning--kind of freeze green. I hope that is not the case this year. I love the colors of the fall leaves--even if I can't see much from my apartment and around town. Growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota it is a common practice for people to make the autumn drive up to Duluth--to the "north shore"--to look at the leaves in all their glory!! So every fall--even if I never get to see anything but the few scrawny trees in the parking lots and along the boulevard--I always have that picture in my mind's eye. And it is breathtaking! :):)

Thursday-9:15am

Three men from New Life came to load their truck. The first man who tried to open the garage door couldn't do it. A second larger guy got the door open. Poof! It was empty! Took them only a few minutes!
There are a few more things that will also be heading to specific places--hehe! I swept out that whole corner of the garage. :)

Then I called Leah. She had decided she couldn't take the time out to do a craft night this week because they were going away for the weekend (annual event at a cabin) and she still had to bake, wash clothes, and pack. Leah brings a ton of baked goods to this thing every year. But--we could shop till about 5pm. We will get together for Craft Night next Wednesday night.

We were gone from about 2:30-4:30pm. I needed to come home at that point. We went over to the Sportsman store--and, believe it or not, we spent most of our time there--hehe! I don't think they get too many customers looking for help as to how to tie up feathers for cat toys instead of fly fishing lures--ROFL!! I'll take some pictures today of what we found--and you'll get an idea of what we'll be doing on Craft Night next week. :)

Then we went over to PetSmart. Leah bought a "Da Bird" cat toy (for the best stick--hehe!) and I got some more cat grass seed. Went back to my place and Leah fixed up my homepages on the desk computer--tada! She brought back the old Dell laptop, too. Dagan had cleaned out the brains of it--so it was all ready for Caroline to pick up.

And--Leah brought over a surprise!! A new turntable! We've been using the old wobbly one I bought for under the sink when I left home about 40 years ago--complete with the stains from the assorted can rims from over the years. You can see (upper right hand corner of picture) how the quality has changed over the years--for the better in this case. When I bought mine, it was a really good one--hehe!

So--here's the new turntable in action! We have loved having a turntable on our craft/painting table! When I moved here I bought these drawers that you pull in and out for under the sink. Leah installed them for me--was the first time in my adult life that I wouldn't be retrieving the bottles and cans that fell off of the wobbly, jerky turntable. And--Murphy's Law--they'd usually fall behind the turntable, of course.
Anyways, now we have a bigger turntable, with a rubber grip bottom, that moves as smooth as silk! Awesome!!! Thanks, Leah!!! Isn't she the best?! Always thinking.

We keep small items for drawing, painting, gluing, cardmaking, folding, cutting, taping--you name it--at our fingertips. This one has even more room! So exciting!

Also, I finished that last ink traced painting. Not happy with it at all. It went into the recycling paper bin--but here it is.

At least I've been getting some practice using the various size 8 watercolor brushes I purchased a couple months ago. I am trying to learn how to mix my own colors--but I never seem to be able to get near the colors I see on the original paintings. So--I am thinking it might be time to take out the set of oriental paints I bought from Haiying. :) They may not work as well on the western watercolor paper--who knows? Won't hurt to play, though, right? :):)

From being on my feet for over two hours yesterday--pretty shot today, of course. (Have plantar fasciitis and heel spurs, too.) Not in shape to sit at the computer very long today--have had to write this in sessions, of course. (I'm just a smorgasbord of health problems, aren't I? hehe!) But it is a sunny morning--a beautiful day! :) Karma is sun bathing. The birds are singing. It's a nice, nice day. Hope you have a nice day, too. :)

Wednesday-9:15am

Sunny morning. The people from "New Life" are going to be here this afternoon to pick up all of that give-away pile in the garage. Be nice to have that all cleared out--tada! Leah is coming over afterwards. We haven't had a craft night for many, many months. Going to be a busy day...got to get moving! :)