Dragonwort

Dragonwort

I have taken refuge in the garden this year, even more than usual. Every new flower that blooms is breathlessly anticipated, and hugely celebrated when it finally opens.

I was afraid I had lost this strange and fabulous plant. It was a volunteer from the back yard; it was growing right outside the bedroom window. When we had to put in new French drains this spring, I had to relocate it. But, it was a champ and pulled through, as you can see.

it is related to the Corpse Flower. Thankfully though, Dragonwort (aka Dragon Arum, Dracunculus vulgaris, or Voodoo Lily) only smells like a rotting rat for a day. I love this plant!

THAT, my friend, is a chandelier

light fixture
Originally uploaded by yvettef

Scott and I went to 2nd Use and got this light fixture.

It is missing little crystals that dangle on top. I think I will get these.

I love it.

My favorite things

I was just lurking visiting over at Crazy Aunt Purl's blog, and she spends this entry talking about her favorite things. This got me thinking about what my favorite things are. The things that just make me happy. Now since we are talking things here, the biggies on my happy list, like Scott, and my family and my kitty cats, and my dog don't count.

Now, I have been really trying to have a carpe deim attitude lately, so I thought I would make a top 5 list what makes me happy.

In no particular order:

1. My garden. I try to spend 5 minutes every morning, when it is not raining, being in my garden - seeing what new has bloomed, and appreciating how beautiful it is. No bad thoughts are allowed. I can't worry over why not a single Calla Lilly came up, and neither has my anxiously awaited Mrs Black. Oh well.
   
   
2. My sparkly glasses. Mine are the ones on the upper right.
   
   
3. Survivor. Seriously, I love this show. The guy I want to win always gets voted out at the last minute, (Yau-Man! I loved him!) But Earl winning was okay. And Dreamz back-stabbing was excellent! Even though it was Yau he stabbed.
   
   
4. My palm pilot. More specifically the scrabble game on my palm pilot.
   
   edit: Okay I cannot believe I didn't think of this yesterday, but definitely one thing that is making me very happy right now is our new floor. And there is even more of it now, as Scott has finished the Kitchen. I need to get a picture of that.
   
   
5. Teh innernets. How did I live without Wikipedia? and lol cats? (And Zappos and craigslist and ebay and cruel and blogs and email and google maps...)
   

These are not necessarily the top five things - although I think they are. Just five things I can think of that make me happy.

Still in the running toward becoming America's next top model.

Rocket

So, I tried Dakota for a week - I would have liked to have had him a little longer, but his owner person had a vet appointment and farrier for him this Thursday, so she said if I didn't want him she needed him back before then.

He and I were just starting to get to know each other, and in fact I think had a major breakthrough the night before he went back home. I was supposed to have him until Sunday, but when I told the owner lady on friday I wanted to send him home, she wanted to come and get him the next morning at 8:00am. She was pretty pissed off at me, which was unfair of her I think -- I told her I had wanted to try another horse -- it didn't mean I was not going to get Dakota... But the more I think about it, the more I think I am just done with that whole thing...

I mean I could only try him a week, she was selling him with him needing shots and ferrier, she did not listen when I told her I wanted to try a couple of horses - Did she really think I was going to keep a horse needing a vet check and shoes? No, I am going to send him back, let her pay for that stuff; think about it and then (maybe) realize I liked him better than the other horses and buy him. I tried to tell her cute stories about the adventures we had had that week, but geeze, she was cold and just shut me right down.

OH and not only THAT but when she brought Dakota down to the barn I am boarding at, I bought three bales of hay from her, so he would still be on the same feed duringn the trial. Then, when she came to get him she TOOK THE HAY THAT WAS LEFT BACK. I paid for that hay! But she had a serious stick up her butt, and I decided it was not worth it to make her unload my hay. Besides, I just wanted her gone. Keep the damn hay. Dakota was a good horse, though.

So, what does that have to do with the picture of the horse at the top of the page?

Well, I am next going to try Rocket, and he looks like a super model. He is 17 hands high and only 4 years old. It would not be out of the question for him to top out at 17.2hh. I have only ridden him once, and he acted out a bit then, but there were very extenuating circumstances ( first time in this particular covered arena, had not been ridden for eight weeks, and was on super hot feed, sort of accidentally.)

It does not look like it in the picture, but his black socks are well above the knee and hock. Sexy. And the cornrows don't hurt.

Visual Codec

Oh yeah, and I am in a book.

One Shot

It is very exciting, and I am in great company. Here's a sample of some of the work and a list of the artists.

Look!!

For info on buying a book of your very own, go to Visual Codec's website.

I am test driving a horse.

Dakota was delivered at 8:30 Saturday morning. He did great getting out of the trailer, just backed right out, and then stood there nicely -- no histrionics no slinging his head around, wall-eyed while he pranced like a dork. Very calm and level.

Linda, the owner-lady is lending me her saddle (western) for the trial period, so I at least have something to ride him in, but I just don't like western saddles. I don't get it -- unless I am roping a cow, I don't get the point. Anyhow yeah.

So of course I had a hair appointment in the city that day at 11:30, so I got Dakota comfortable - (I think I my call him Dak; Dakota is too ... meah.) Introduced him to his paddock and everything then went and got my hair done and then drove back to the barn for a ride. I am taking it very easy, mostly walking until I get past the saddle sore stage. I lunged him and he does that really well, however I was not paying attention or something at first and the very first thing I did was get a finger caught in a kink in the line and twisted the hell out of it. So I have had my first injury.

Day two, Sunday:

I got to the barn at about 9:30 - put Dak in the arena so he could have a good roll,
and got to cleaning out the paddock (a daily must at this barn; part of the deal). While I was doing that this other boarder, Leslie, drove up. She is the woman who owns that Percheron gelding I rode a few times until she annoyed me so much I decided it wasn't worth it. She also drives a bright yellow Hummer. She is notorious at the barn for only occasionally showing up, leaving Sharon's elderly husband (OLD man, he is OLD.) to clean Blue's paddock. Well, she saw me there and decided that she was going to groom Blue, then bareback him a bit around the arena. Anyhow she did a thousand little things that just seemed needle-y and annoying, but nothing you could actually call her on; you know stuff where it would me me who was unreasonable, not her.

Okay, so moving on. Eventually I got in the arena and lunged and rode Dak, and he was a little squirrely, and challenged me on a couple of things -- nothing out of the ordinary, and never crazy or aggressive. So she kept going on and on about "Ooh, he is not so docile, is he? You better be careful you aren't sold a crazy horse -- they have this drug that calms them down that takes a month to wear off" blab blab blab.

Sharon, the barn owner, had gone into the loft to find a saddle she was storing in a plastic storage bin, and she hadn't sealed the container completely so a family of mice got in -- so when she opened the bin, a mouse jumped out. Sharon gave a little startled scream. Leslie, who was standing six feet in front of my horse let out a piercing giggly scream that obviously went a beat or two longer than it should have. Not that an idiot standing six feet in front of a new, unfamiliar green horse should be screaming at all. Dak was a champ, though--and while of course he reacted to the loud sound by tossing his head back, he did not crush me as he very well could have in the tie stall. Then, I swear to god SHE DID IT AGAIN. Only a little bit longer this time. Apparently mice you can't even see, across the barn in the loft are worth a FORTY SOMETHING YEAR OLD WOMAN TO SCREAM. TWICE.Unperterbed. Looking like a mule, but still.

Since she couldn't get my horse to fucking kill me, she sort of wandered away, to chat with this other lady who was there. She sat in her Hummer with the engine running leaning out the window for at least a half an hour having a high ol' time yakking it up. Oh, and the best part? She has a yappy fucking dog who barked in the car the entire time she was there.

I guess I have a rich fantasy life.

I dropped by my own blog today, and was shocked not to find a bunch of recent fabulously interesting posts. I pretty much have a running commentary about my riveting life constantly in my head; imagining I have my own camera crew like I was on Ladette to Lady or ANTM or something. Dear God!! Speaking of Tyra, did anyone watch America's Next Top Model last night when Tyra said "I go pee pee mamma, I go pee pee." (!!!!) Holy Crap! Or is that Wholly Crap? Regardless - Astounding! Anyhow, yes back to me. So I was surprised it had been so long since my last entry. I thought I would make one. So here you go.

Geeze Louise

I caught the worst cold last Tuesday. I didn't know I was sick until Wednesday morning when I woke up with shards of glass in my throat (the WORST sore throat I have had for a long time). I say I caught the cold on Tuesday because at Drawing Group I was Not In A Good Mood. Of course it didn't help that everyone was ANNOYING. (Hi Drawing friends! no offense meant - ! I was SICK.) I hope I didn't pass my disease on to anyone else.

Anyway, even before I decided to be SERIOUSLY UNHAPPY at drawing, I had decided that three plus years of drawing group was enough. I announced that April 24th, 2007 will be the last day of drawing at Gallery 110. So. It was fun, and I am happy I did it, but it is time for it to be over.

Next subject: I have one of those $15 cell phones. We got it when we were on vacation a couple of weeks ago so we could check in with the cat sitters. I wrote the phone number down someplace, god only knows where, and now I don't know what the number is. I have pushed a bunch of buttons on the phone, but I get frustrated/bored before I find where the little electronic demon keeps its number. I have no idea who I would give the number to anyway. I hate talking on the phone. I don't talk on the phone at home, why would I want to in public? harumph, my grey hairs are just bristling.

Spring Break

Scott and I went on a roadtrip this past week, we didn't have any certain destination in mind other than "California-ish" (although i was hoping to make it to Big Sur - no such luck). For part of it, the weather was pretty bad, but all in all it was a beautiful and relaxing trip.

We spent the longest time in San Francisco, and did some touristy things - drove down the twisty part of Lombard - and some not so touristy things like an extensive tour of the SF dog parks. I am always surprised at how pretty San Francisco is, and leave wanting to move there.

But my garden is so pretty right now, I guess I will stay here. (even though the french drain has mysteriously stopped working and we have to dig it up and replace it. It's just one thing after another.)

In the Garden

So on Monday it poured all day. This is remarkable only in that I had
planned to spend the day in the garden. Eventually I decided to go out
in the rain anyhow. I got totally covered in mud, and so did the dog,
but Look!! I now have a garden path down which I can easily be led.

The stones themselves are really pretty, they have mica in them so they are sparkly, and also beautiful rusty-red flecks and streaks.

Here is an action shot of the path:


King is not doing it right, he is supposed to have all his feet on the
stones, but the path is still new, and I think he will get the hang of
it. But still, it is not that hard.

And now the money shot:

.
the path leads right by the current Garden Star, my Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis

XXIII. IN THE GARDEN.

A bird came down the walk:
He did not know I saw;
He bit an angle-worm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw.

And then he drank a dew
From a convenient grass,
And then hopped sidewise to the wall
To let a beetle pass.

He glanced with rapid eyes
That hurried all abroad, --
They looked like frightened beads, I thought;
He stirred his velvet head

Like one in danger; cautious,
I offered him a crumb,
And he unrolled his feathers
And rowed him softer home

Than oars divide the ocean,
Too silver for a seam,
Or butterflies, off banks of noon,
Leap, plashless, as they swim.

Emily Dickinson

good dog

please ignore all the junk laying around the yard, we are a construction zone, after all...

Ladette to Lady

Oh my god, one of my very favorite TV shows Ladette to Lady is casting for Spring 2007.

It's a series from ITV1 but in the states it airs on The Sundance Channel and is about taking eight British binge-drinking floozies, and putting them through Eggelston Hall Finishing School. Here is a sample of some of these delightful girls:



Seriously, these girls are vile. I thought I was wild when I was in my twenties, but no.

The school's teachers are every bit as prissy and nit-picky as you would imagine (but in a good way).

Ironically enough, for as exacting as the teachers are, the website is riddled with mistakes. And no, I don't mean "Colour" instead of "color" I mean:

Iin addition to preparing for the Ball...

and

Wearing dresses they have made Eggleston Hall...

Seriously, do these people need a web designer / content manager?
Because I could move to London and help them out with that. No problem.

Maybe I should just apply to be on the show. Maybe they wouldn't notice I was a forty-something married lady who falls asleep at 10:01 pm.

But I would love to take the classes they have the ladettes take in the show: deportment, elocution,(whatever) sewing, flower arranging, etiquette and cookery.

Here is the schedule for the reruns of the new season.

Fantasy

I got an orange tree Peony this year, I am so excited about it, it is going to be just gorgeous....

Someday.

Patience...........

Peonies take at least one year to bloom at all, and three to four to bloom reliably. This is what it looks like right now.

On a "I want my immediate gratification NOW" note, I got this excellent new Urban Compost Tumbler Yay! I don't know why this one is Urban as opposed to, what? Suburban? Are they calling it "Urban" because it is BLACK?!?!? I am just asking is all.

Look!

The bedroom
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Scott has been working really hard on the bedroom, and we are so close to being done. The floor is solid bamboo, and the "wardrobe system" - Ikea, of course.


This closet is just huge, I can hardly stand it.


I have a horn collection, mostly deer, but some mountain goat and antelope, too. They will go on this wall.

beer sale

beer sale
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Right to the point.

aeration

aeration

I have been having a really hard time lately. The wind storm, power outage, Jake's death, snow, ice, the horrible mess that the afore mentioned storms made of the yard... and my mom's illness. I feel like I can't complain about mom being sick, because that is hers - I feel like I am stealing her story or trying to make her sickness about me.

But part of it is about me, this hugely impacts my life, too. M&D are going to Arizona to visit family for a couple of weeks -- I was over at mom's house this last weekend when she told me she was upset because she was going to have to put her old cat, JD down. The boarding facility they use had gone out of business, and she just couldn't inconvenience anyone to come over twice a day to feed her. I was shocked, but suddenly realized that she also has had enough. And one more thing to take care of was just one thing too many. I told her I would take JD while she was gone. JD will have to stay in the basement, because my cats would freak out, but that is ok. M&D brought JD over yesterday, and she is a wonderful little cat. I am glad she is here.

I have a hard time trusting people, so I just don’t ask for help. I can’t trust that they won’t take my vulnerability, my moment of opening up to them and twist it around, or use it against me later. This has happened more than once, after all*. But I guess what I need to learn from this little episode is to know when it is ok to ask for a little help. But that is so much easier said than done. I am not sure that lesson can sink in.

*Yeah, I know I am no saint.

Ok, I have HAD IT.

More snow on the truck

So, more snow today. I am so tired of the weather-related drama. God knows I have enough drama in my regular life, without worrying if I can make it home.

these things could kill someone
There are Icecicles on my house. And I am not happy about it.

Witch Hazel in snow

Witch Hazel in snow
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Here is the photo of the day, for yesterday January 10th. We got about six or seven inces of snow.

It took me an hour and a half to get home, or more accurately, to the bottom of the hill. I had to steer my truck into a snow bank to avoid hitting a jackknifed bus.

Then it took another hour to get the truck chained up, to drive the last block and get up our driveway.

It is pretty, though.

I know you are but what am I?

I attract the crazies. I know you think you do, but no, it is me.

I went out to grab a sandwich at a local shop for lunch; they have one of those "stand in one line and whichever employee is available next will help you" situations. So I am standing there waiting for someone to finish helping the people in front of me, so I can order my regular "3-cheesesandwich on rye, only except for three different cheeses can I just have the Havarti cheese"? Yes I realize that reduces the cheese by one-third, but no one actually needs 1 1/2 inches of cheese on a sandwich.

So anyhow, I am waiting there when a woman two people behind me says "Well I think I am just going to go ahead of you if you aren't going to order anything."

beat

I reply "I am just waiting for someone to be available to help me."

She continues to shoulder her way to the front of the line, looking at me like I am stupid. Now I know I work in Pioneer Square, home of the professionally crazy (aka our homeless veterans suffering fromPTS ) but she was not one of those. This was a Mom looking lady who can afford to have someone else cut and color her hair (in other words a 40-something woman pushing 200lbs with an expensive blond foil job). She stands in line in front of me, trying to get the attention of the harried teenager in the clutches of The Lunch Rush.

The woman behind me (and in front of he line-jumper just moments before) said "I guess she is really hungry."

So while the Line Jumping Lady (LJL)was distracted giving her order to someone who was busy helping someone else, another guy behind the counter took my order. I wanted to give him a little hug, I think he observed this whole thing out of the corner of his eye, and decided the LJL could just wait.

The lunch counter staff helped me and the lady behind me and the one behind HER before LJL. By the time they got to her she was absolutely red and vibrating with anger. I don't know why she stuck around. I would be surprised if she didn't get a little spit in her Turkey Club. You don't want to piss off underpaid teens who have access to your food. Everyone knows that.

bodhi asleep

bodhi asleep
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

This is the 1/2/07 photo of the day. I can't help it, I love my cats. Since Jake died (yeah, I am still on about that), she has become much more relaxed and happy. He was kind of a jerk to her.

Jake used to sleep right by my head, and I still find myself in the middle of the night moving my pillow down to make room. Last night for the first time Bodhi curled up there.

(Obviously this is not her on the bed, it is her on the underside of an upside-down chair, of course.)

This is already getting old

Ok, so I have already resorted to the "I have a lot of work to do" post. But really. that is all that is going on with me.

Have a Happy New Year, you all. I won't post again for a few days, I imagine.


This is what it looks like from the other direction.

12/28/06 - Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is one of my very favorite plants. It's spidery yellow petals with the vermillion florette in the center is all the more beautiful becase it blooms in the winter. This photo is of a fantastic tree in waterfall park. It is just covered in blossoms. I really needed this.

lichen 12-27-06

Inspired by photojojo's a photo a day post, I am going to try this. I tend to have a "follow through" problem with these sorts of things, but I think I would like to see the evolution of what interests me over a year.

I am still pretty shook up over the death of my cat, and was appalled to find out I only have 24 pictures of him, and those are too small to print. I was only thinking of keeping them "polite" for on-line viewing, I never realized how important it would suddenly be to have a small physical representation of him.

I took a ton more photos than that of course, I just didn't bother to save the ones I didn't think were good. I didn't know they all were good.

It makes me all the more sad that I forgot to take my camera over to my sister's house for Christmas this year. I don't have very many pictures of my mother, either.

Thank you, Jake.

Jake was a funny guy
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

My dear cat Jake was put to sleep on December 18th.

He came to us as a two-year old stray, who had been what they call an "intact male" for those first two years. He never did get over being a territorial tom.

Four years ago, he tangled with a car, and 36 hours later somehow made it home. His jaw and cheekbone were broken, he had broken ribs, and lost an eye. We patched him back together, and through it all he was the most loving, happy, purr-filled cat you have ever met.

Nothing got Jake down. He was one of those perpetually happy, hapless beings, tripping his way through life and into emergency rooms.

Scott and i joked that he cost more than caviar. The last time we figured it out it was well over $400 per pound. And that was before the last surgery .

Finally all the scrapping caught up with him, and he was infected with FIV. While there are tons of websites out there assuring you that it is not necessarily a death sentence, they did not know Jake. Jake would not be kept inside, and didn't just yowl to be let out, he went into stealth mode, and just slunk out without anyone noticing ever. He just suddenly would not be in the house. FIV is most easily transmitted from cats fighting - and i agonized over perhaps my cat infecting another person's cat.

Not to mention my other cats.

Finally on Sunday he got another infected wound. His immune system was not working at all and he had a terrible infection that would not heal, even after surgery and two rounds of antibiotics. He was in a considerable amount of pain.

He would not stay inside, he was miserable in the house. he could very well infect the other cats. There was the stress of yet another surgery, his fifth by my count.

Jake loved to be carried, but only on your left shoulder. Scott and Jake loved each other and he often sat on Scott's lap purring so loud you could hardly hear the radio. But Jake was "my cat". As soon as i came home from work, Jake would meow and meow until I picked him up. (his nickname was "Screamer") If he was in the house, he was either on my lap or asking to be held. His favorite toy was one of the long fronds of a palm tree I have in a large pot. He had an enormous love for us and we for him.

Thank you, Jake. We will see you around next time.

Drawing Marathon

detail-interior

I participated in a two-day workshop, eight hours of drawing each day. I really enjoyed myself, it was the first time I was able to really stretch out and do extended observational drawing since grad school. That was in 1998. Wow. The time. It is flying.

I can't believe it's not blogging

I had such high hopes starting this blog, but I see it has been over a month since I updated it. It is odd, because I think about blogging all the time. I see a plant growing out of the side walk and I think "I should take a picture of that and post it on my blog; then make some startlingly poignant observation about perseverance and beauty in the midst of adversity" or some other hackneyed observation. See? See what I just did there? I started with an idea to do something and then promptly talked myself into not doing it because it was not original enough or smart enough or whatever.

So, without further ado, on with the post: Scott has been really going gangbusters on the living room, and it is much further along than this, but here is a picture.


Yes, folks you are correct, the walls are GREEN. As I said, the living room is much further along now, with the window sills done and door framed in. The yellow of the pine looks great. I guess I will just have to post again soon, so you, dear reader, can see what I am talking about.

So, even when I do blog, I blog about something I didn't do and don't have a picture of. And so far, no links. Well, except to my own flickr site, and how egotistical is that? So apropos of nothing, Link!

Montana was great as always

frosty-montana
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

When I woke up on friday, there was frost on the ground. Alot of frost, not just wimpy frost, but the kind that crunches under your feet.

Lisa and I had a great time, we both got to ride at the same time for the first time. Cajun, who was in training the last time I was there, is a big puppy dog. Operative word, BIG. He's at least 17 hands now, and just three years old.

Out for hair

AAArrrgghh! It is Fall

Some unknown (to me) office elves decorate our break room door for what ever season or occasion on the calendar. You know, flowers and raindrops for spring, stars and stripes for 4th of July, Snowflakes for winter.

Well, this morning when I woke up, it was DARK. Dark dark. Not "the sun is up but behind a cloud", not "the dawn is breaking" but Nightime Dark. Oh, yes -- and drizzling.

I am not ready for summer to be over, and technically it is not, not until September 21, which is Eight Days Away. You would think people could wait a lousy eight days to start doing the "yay! fall!" thing.

Whenever you are just unreasonably mad, and it doesn't really match the proportion of the offence, my mom calls that "Out for Hair".

I came in this morning to this:

Scott and I went on a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Oregon Coast last weekend.

We got off to a late-ish start Friday evening after the initial panic of finding a cat sitter, packing, and then realizing we were starving and to eat. The drive down was uneventful, and as we drove through Longview, Scott said "Should we stop here or keep going?" We were both still ok, so on we went.

Next time, we stop in Longview. We got to Seaside around midnight, and there was not an available room anywhere. We gave up around 1:30 and finally just parked, and spent a rather sleepless night in the car with a dog who just could not get comfortable.

We got up bright and early, of course, and drove down to Rockaway -- we found a little cabin a block from the beach, and rented it right away. It was a nice little place, and they allowed dogs, so it was perfect, actually.

We had a great time, and packed in lots of touristy-sight-seeing. We had a great breakfast at The Fern Restaurant. We went to the Tillamook cheese factory to get some squeaky cheese (YUM!). Then we went to the Air Museum which is really cool, but the best part is the building. We watched the big elk herd there, too.

Sunday we drove around to a lot of different places, the most notable being the Whisky Creek Cafe in Netarts. We ate outside; they let King sit with us. They have the best garden burger with fries I have maybe ever had. Melted extra-sharp cheddar and asparagus spears were the burger highlights. Humm, I think I am hungry.

Of course I took photos, and they are on Flickr.

120 mph to zero in thirty seconds flat

So, I was supposed to have a show at Albion College in Michigan this September. I say "supposed to" because I got a letter Monday telling me that due to an "unfortunate accident" my show would be moved to Spring 2008.

After some hastily sent emails, I learned that a steam pipe broke in Albion's Bobbitt Visual Center, and did signignificant damage to the building and seriously threatened their extensive print collection.

So I am calling myself lucky that they decided to reschedule me instead of canceling my show all together.

I did get some new paintings done for the show, though. So that is good. Not all of them are done, exactly. Hey, I still had a week before I had to crate up the whole show and ship them off. Of course I wasn't done with the new paintings. I still had...hours.... to finish those paintings.

See the nearly finished paintings!! yay!

Equine Art Show 2006

I have seen the announcement before; for an "Equine Art Show" at Emerald Downs, the local horse racing track. I have been curious enough to check it out, but never applied because it is such a rip-off. First, the show is only for five days, at a racing track, and costs $30 for one entry, $20 for each additional. Also, they have a cap of 250 entrants. When they reach 250 entrants, they stop accepting work. It doesn't matter what it looks like, in fact they don't accept images with your entry form and check. If your check is one of the first 250 to reach them, you are in. Due to this extremely high cheese factor, last year I didn't enter anything into the show.

This year, however, I got a bee in my bonnet I needed a group show for 2006 on my CV, and this one would look great, right? And who besides me would know it was such a weird deal?

Well now I have done it, so I never have to do it again. First off, the work is hung on those fabric coverd panel things they make cubicles out of. And there was not even a token attempt to light any of the pieces, at all. It was in a dark breezeway thing, in front of the betting windows. Then, there were little yellow stickers with a hand-written number stuck on each entry. Not on the wall beside the work - on the painting. Lastly, I think I was the only democrat in a five-mile radius, and felt more than a little bit threatened. (ok I exaggerate.) But still; Republicans.

I am glad I did it, and even more glad it is over. I took some photos, but not nearly enough. Some were way too dark for photoshop to rescue. Check it out -Equine Art Show 2006.


A lot of the paintings were super sentimental treatments of childeren with horses, or mares and foals. But
people really like to paint horses coming out of the gate.

Blogrolling in our time

I haven't posted anything for a while, because once again I had a whole, intricately linked post, one of my rare wordy posts, full of witty repartee and poignant observation; and when I clicked "publish post" it hung there for 15 minutes, and then erased my whole post.

So

I am going to dip my toe back in the blog with links to some of my favorite blogs.

While I have no children of my own, I like reading about other people's kids. Defective Yeti is a good one for that, because it is also hilarious.

Because I too am obsessed with my weight, love cats, and wish I could travel more She Just Walks Around With It has become a huge favorite.

Crazy Aunt Purl is supposed to be about knitting, but is actually about LA, Cats and Wine. LA Bonus!!

Lounge King!!

The Sneeze is a smorgasbord (whaddayaknow, I spelled that right) of delights.

enjoy.

Big head.

big-head
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

just sharing. Look at that smile.

First Thursday, June 1, 2006

I am finally going to First Thursday this month -- you would think that working in Pioneer Square would make me more likely to "be able to make it" to the openings.

Au contraire, mon frere.

Ever hear of familiarity breeding contempt? Well, by the time I get done at work, the last thing I want to do is walk around the neighborhood where I work. Besides, there is the dog to consider.

I am going with the always fabulous Carolyn Zick, and my equally fab husband, Scott. (He does not like it when I post his picture.)

The main reason I am hauling my carcass out this evening is a graduate from my beloved Alma Mater, Wyatt Landis has had a well-earned honor bestowed, he has been selected to go to Norway this summer and study with the Norwegian figure painter, Odd Nerdrum. Wyatt is having a shindig tonight to help cover the costs of living in Norway for the summer, stop by and show your support for a well-deserving artist. Unfortunatly, I can't find a link to the info I have only in hard copy so, I guess I just have to TYPE it:

610 Western Ave
Third Floor
from 6 - 11 pm

My Parent's wedding album

1 cover
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

I am supposed to have copies made of some of my mother's wedding photos. I have not had a chance to yet, I have only had the pictures for a little over a year. Just haven't had a minute to walk the 3 blocks to the place that does it.

Yes, I am lame.

It finally occurred to me to just take some digital photos, and put them on line. I love these pictures of my parents so young and hopeful.

So, follow the link to my flickr site, and see the whole album. It is great.

Begining of the patio!

begining of the patio!
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Ok, it has been a while since my last update, because not alot has been going on over in Yvetteland. Scottland, however, has been quite busy. He is putting in a patio for me. It is alot further along than this now, I'll have pictures later. (hah! right. when was the last time this blog was updated?) Anyway it is almost all bricked in. it looks great. Humm, This blog is turning into reporting on what Scott is doing. I think that means it is time for me to, uh, do something. maybe.

Thelonious's Memorial Garden

Thelonious's Memorial Garden
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

King and I had a great time putting in this garden for Thelonious. I rototilled, dug, mulched and planted; and king fetched the tennis ball and looked dubiously at the rototiller.

Scott made the bench in the background; the plants include creeping honeysuckle, seven different varieties of hosta, daylilies, rhododendron, and a sprinkling of grape hyacinths. I think it is pretty.

Tulips

alltulips
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Here is a sample of some of my tulips. Nothing exotic, but I just love them. I have some of them planted in upended cement conduit.

obedience class tonight

happydog3
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

King and I are going to obedience class tonight. He is very polite, but he does need some reinforcement on his "stay" which is nearly non-existant.

happydog2

happydog2
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Can you even stand how cute he is?

happydog

happydog
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Here is King in the garden. We had a good time last night putting in a memorial garden for Thelonious, I will have pictures tomorrow, I hope

So-pretty!

So-pretty!
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Ok, I am going to try to keep this from becoming a blog about a dog, but we have only had him two days. So give me a break. King was surrendered by his original family, because they are in the millitary, and they were stationed up here from Georgia, and right after they got here, the husband got deployed. The wife had 3 kids to look after, and King was not getting the attention he deserved. So they surrendered him to rescue. Whoever they were, they were very good to King; he's a polite and loving dog, who obviously has never had a hand raised to him.

King

king_2
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

Scott and I have finally gotten a dog. Officially, we are fostering him; but I am sure we are going to adopt him. His name is King and he is a white German Shepherd. He is so calm around the cats, he is interested in them but not in 'that' way. I was worried the cats would turn into puffed up hissing balls of teeth and claws, but they just puff up a bit, and eventually just walk away.

king_1
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

He is very big, around 90 lbs, and he needs to gain about 5-7 more pounds. He is a bit thin because he has been at a kennel for the last 6 months where he was in doggy daycare every day. So he ran around all day every day with a bunch of other dogs. We are hoping that with a little less exercise we can put some weight on him.

I just love him. He knows all his obedience commands, we just have to catch up to what he knows, and stay consistent, so he won's backslide.

He's a champ.

Pay no attention

DSC00021
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

to the new photos on my Flickr site, they are not really new, I am just moving stuff from my Picassa site to flicker, because Picassa sucks.

Also, I have not had time to put my photos into groups, so they are all just in the photostream.

So, when there is something new to look at, I will let you know. Till then, Nothing to see here folks, move along; move along.