Back to Xmas, when Raine, Paige, and Ananth were here! It’s nice when Covid doesn’t ruin a holiday isn’t it? Set of 4 pics below. We had fun applying reptile temporary tattoos.
And now for something completely different:
Let’s get this out of the way: Jimmy didn’t survive the winter. She was acting “off” one day, maybe two, and then she died over night. So we don’t know what happened. We don’t feel it was bird flu because likely then the whole flock would be dead. So now we are down to 4 chickens: Rock Star, Jokic, Isis, and Sisi. At some point, we’ll need to replenish but we haven’t gotten around to this due to other goings-on in the backyard.
The other goings-on was the pool construction—we are DONE NOW!! It’s still very new and we’ve only barely used it yet. The water is still on the chilly side but we have both jumped in for a dip and I did lap swimming once for 30 minutes or so. We have some ability to heat it but until today we avoided using it as the plaster was curing.
The pool and patio is done, but we still have to get the irrigation system back up and running again and then we have a landscaper lined up to put in some plants. So in the meantime, it’s pretty bare back there. When it rains, due to lack of grass/plants, it’s mudbath so we have to put the dogs in the front yard.
The things we hadn’t really thought about at all turn out to have an outsized impact: the bubbler and the pool lights! The bubbler just adds that flair haha and has a calming sound to some. And the lights have MANY COLOR CHOICES!! So far we like the purple the best. I’m obsessed with trying them all out.
There’s been a lot of discussion about the dogs and how they’ll react to the pool. So far, they are somewhat interested, especially in the moving pool cleaner, but they haven’t gone in. When I was lap swimming, they did what they used to do which is watch me and Woody in particular will circle the pool and get as close as he can to me (without getting in).
Tom from Minnesota came to visit us as he was coming to Austin for a film festival as he assisted in the production of one of them. So that was nice and relaxed—listening to records, you know, hanging out!
I’ve been taking an on-line class about gelli printing. I wasn’t as diligent with it as I was supposed to be (we were expected to keep up a journal of our work with detailed—after about 4 pages I stopped). But I did learn some things and upped my game a bit. I’ve got slower drying paint, a better roller, some practical tips, a new way to make my own stencils, and some exercises under my belt. Just thought it would be a way to reinvigorate using the plate.
I submitted an art piece to the Bee Cave show featuring women in visual art. It kind of cracks me up that they are showcasing women in visual art because I don’t know any men that do visual art LOL. I think they accepted everyone that submitted. My piece is large, odd, and probably not attractive to most people. They hung it in an out-of-the-way corner which I completely understand. I think I was able to join this women in visual art group for free —curious to see where they go with it.
I’m still working on my Tarot Deck with that kid camera. I have a pic for all the cards, but there’s always a chance I’ll take a better picture and then I replace the existing image. Also, I bought a sample tarot deck and in this process I learned that every deck you buy has its OWN guidebook! So that got me off and writing an entire (fictitious) backstory to my deck. I’m probably naming my deck Child’s Play (aka Lenora’s Legacy).
I do have one weird very real story related to this deck I’m making. When I was in Sonoma visiting my Mom, I was taking a walk as one does in order to take pics with my kid camera (the old graveyard was one stop). I was crossing over a creek and stopped for a picture. I like to print the pics on the spot because its fun and I can see how well the print comes out. But this picture did not print. So I took another pic and again, wouldn’t print. So then I went into the saved pics (incredibly this kid camera has a memory card inside) and then attempted to print….nope. So eventually I gave up and continued on my walk. The next picture I took worked JUST FINE! So that was weird, and then
a couple months later I decided to get a pic of the deer carcass that had been in our front yard for a few months and so now would be mostly just bones. So I took my first picture, and NOPE, it would NOT print! Same deal where I try other pics/go to camera roll/ no matter what I do, IT REFUSES TO PRINT THE PICS OF THE DEER CARCASS.
I was telling someone about how my tarot-designated camera prints all my zillions of images except these two instances, and they mentioned that water has historically been associated with “washing away” the occult type effects. So what I’m saying is literally this camera seems to be dictating for me what should NOT be included in my tarot deck! It’s really weird and might give you goosebumps. I think I’m onto something!
Speaking of Sonoma, my Mom had surgery to help with her sciatica and they nailed it! So glad it worked out. Below pics from that trip. Lois is definitely going in the tarot deck :)
I spent one morning volunteering for HCMN where a bunch of us gently put baby caterpillars into butterfly cages to be sent to classrooms and businesses. It was neat but also too crowded and kind of chaotic. In rereading that last sentence when I wrote it I meant for the people but honestly it holds true for the larva too.
There also seems to be a new person assigned to the HCMN social media team and we’re having a meeting soon so perhaps I’ll get back to making video clips for them. I haven’t heard any one speak of a lack of funding yet due to DOGE so we’ll see.
Rob and I attended the Stand up For Science Rally at the State Capitol. I think everyone else there was some kind of scientist! Some were wearing their lab coats. After about 1 speaker, I realized I was really hungry so we had to leave early. I gave someone my sign. I got a couple of compliments on my brainscans skirt.
I’m still coordinating the teen art at the library for the art league. It was great that 6 or so kids attended the one led by a local graphic designer. The most recent one, however, only had 2 kids (mixed media). It’s a real struggle to get teens to come, understandably. Next month is mini-tapestries with another guest artist. I’m hoping to work with the librarian over the summer to think of ways to get more kids to participate. I’m also the secretary for our leadership meetings which is great because I get antsy at those meetings and taking notes makes it way easier for me.
People thought it was funny I guess that I used my hood to block the sun :)
We had a roof leak. Check out the stain it made LOL!
This was ridiculously good. Rob’s amazing Brazilian Carrot Cake.