mumasmusings

Five Faves Friday! Movies

2012-01-21T10:50:00.003-05:00

Inspired by Martha Brown, I've chosen 5 movies that made me smile...or scream.

1. Little Miss Sunshine
2. Ghostbusters
3. The Grudge (original Japanese version)
4. Best in Show
5. Jurassic Park

Whimsy is 5 months

2011-09-26T09:05:00.002-04:00

My little girl is 5 months old and not slowing down. Very destructive. Heaven help me and Tayoh.

The daily ritual

2011-09-06T13:43:00.002-04:00

When they both want to occupy the top tier of the tower and fighting is futile, the girls call a truce and snuggle in for a nap. It doesn't last.

Into everything

2011-07-25T14:06:00.003-04:00

Whimsy is into everything. Even blogging, as you can see. There are all kinds of things to rip and pull down. And jumping into the fridge as soon as the door opens - well, that's just too much fun. The aerial pounce on Tayoh,the older sister, is also a riot. How long does this last...?

2011-07-21T11:21:00.003-04:00

Well, it turns out that kitty is a girl! So much for my attempts at sexing. Her name is Whimsy and yes, I am keeping her. Not a lost kitten notice in sight. The vet determined that she's probably 3 months old and is very healthy, coordinated and unbelievably confident. She tried to climb up my leg and has left me in shreds. Now where is that squirt bottle. ..
I tried introducing Whimsy to Tayoh and that didn't go very well. Tayoh is hissing and growling, torn by curiosity and loathing. The little one gave it right back. She's not backing down but is keeping a respectful distance. I suppose this will take a while for them to form some sort a relationship. It's just that I was hoping, unrealistically, that they would be instant friends. I was hoping for a Mabel/Brian response.

Kitten rescued from tree top

2011-07-19T08:19:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, as I was walking home from an appointment, I heard a strange howling from above. I thought it might be a squirrel but lo and behold it was a kitten. He was terrified to move and I was afraid he was going to succumb to heat stroke if he didn't get down. I went home to look up some phone numbers for rescuing distressed animals but could find nothing. So I went back armed with a carrier and a long-armed reacher - the kind used after hip surgery. I thought I might be able to jostle him with it but it turned out he was at least 10 feet beyond the reacher. When I returned to him he was hanging limp from the branch and I thought he had died. So I started screaming and banging on the trunk of the tree and managed to rouse him. After an hour of yelling and coaxing, he finally came alive and started down the trunk backwards all the while wailing. I was able to catch him, put him in the carrier and head for home. He's now in the bathroom, isolated from my resident cat pending his FIV, FLE status. But he's so slippery that he's escaped a few times.
I shall watch for posters of lost kittens and if none materializes in the next week, I shall keep him. I really didn't want a kitten but this looks like some kind of destiny at work. I've given him tons of Tayoh's forgotten toys and he plays like a madman. I suppose all kittens are a bit mad. I'd forgotten that, it's been so long.

Claudine Hellmuth's Composition for Collage: Vignette

2011-06-21T14:11:00.003-04:00

This week's composition was difficult for me for some reason. I find it hard to link together several different images in a meaningful and balanced way. I prefer to use embellishments such as flowers. And even then I was off the mark. This is the corrected version as suggested by Claudine.

Claudine's Composition for Collage

2011-06-11T18:49:00.002-04:00

I too am taking Claudine Hellmuth's on-line class in composition for collage. She's such an excellent teacher and provides lots of examples and exercises. This picture depicts the 'high horizon' background/foreground and is the first exercise that I posted in the gallery. I'm anxiously awaiting Claudine's feedback. I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. Ha. What else is new....

ATC Night

2011-05-22T11:38:00.009-04:00

Friday night marked my return to trading artist trading cards (ATC). I was new to the group of regulars who meet once a month at Bizzy B Stamp and Scrap (in Toronto)to trade their ATCs according to a designated theme. This months topic was 'things French'. Apart from being so welcoming to a newbie, each artist shared the techniques used in making her cards. Some very ingenious women, I must say.
In addition, Tony (the owner) graced the table with enormous red velvet cupcakes and apple strudel. Well worth abandoning the diet for a day. Of course, now I want more.
The following are some of the ATCs traded to me. I regret that my photography skills don't do them justice.

The Royal Wedding

2011-05-01T12:15:00.003-04:00

Photo credit: Hugo Burnand, AP

Yes, I was one of the fans to get up pre-dawn to watch the wedding. And then I watched it again in the evening. I just love this picture with the kids. They were so adorable and well-behaved under the supervision of Pippa, the bride's sister, a beauty in her own right. Great dress though people were whining that the neckline was too low. Hmmm - grow up.
What intrigued me was the 'fascinator', that little bit from a hat that sat poised near the forehead of the ladies. Some were downright ugly. Take, for example, the baby pacifier on the head of Princess Beatrice. Joan Rivers called it an IUD. The raccoon eyes didn't help either.

Photo credit: US Weekly magazine

I'm given to understand that it is a religious tradition in the Anglican Church for women to wear a head covering while men must remove their hats. So when the Prime Minister's wife arrived sans hat, this constituted an egregious error. The invitation even stated that women must wear hats. Perhaps I'm overly critical.
It was a delightful escape from the woes of the world to pass the time watching this young couple (who are so obviously a 'couple')tie the knot.

Zentangles

2011-04-13T11:23:00.004-04:00

Zentangle is a style of doodling with pen and ink that is said to be a ritual that allows one to get in touch with life, solve problems, be innovative and more creative. I don't know about that. I still have a lot of problems. There are specific design elements one can use but basic doodling also seems to do the trick.
I used a rubberstamp of a young girl's face as my starting off point in 'Princess with Crown'. Actually, this is a joke since my doodling doesn't lend itself to titles.
Wonder if my therapist should see these...

Farewell Knut

2011-03-21T10:43:00.004-04:00

This week saw the passing of Knut, the polar bear, at the Berlin zoo. He was only 4 years old.
From the moment he was abandoned at birth by his mother and hand-reared by zoo keepers, he achieved great notoriety. In his short life he starred in his own film and made the covers of German Vanity Fair as well as the American Vanity Fair where he posed with Leo di Caprio. His antics were a great source of joy to the public and he will be greatly missed.

When is spring coming...?

2011-03-02T09:56:00.002-05:00

As I sip my morning coffee and watch the swirling of another mini blizzard with winds to match, I wonder if the weather will ever lighten up. I'm afraid to venture out with the winds so strong for fear of being blown over. And I have things to do out there. My only consolation is the blooming of my miniature orchid. This year there are 2 extra buds despite the plant being so pot-bound. There's nothing like a blooming flower to remind one of kinder, gentler days.

Keeping warm against the elements

2011-02-19T14:17:00.003-05:00

My dog knitting days are over for now and I'm making myself a sweater instead. It's the perfect past-time for sitting in front of the tv.
Last night I tried to ignore the howling wind which was so strong it threatened to push in my windows. They were shaking and rattling in terror. The gusts were 96 km/hr which falls into the definition of blizzard if there had been snow along with it. Since there was no snow it was just called 'windy'. What a joke. Certain streets in the city were closed because of flying debris which included a plaza roof, business signs, hydro wires and little bags of doggie-do. It seems calmer today but that's probably because the wind has shifted to the north. At least I made it out to the grocery store to pick up my favourite marinated artichoke hearts by M'Lord. I'm addicted to them and if I'm going to be a shut-in from the weather, I can chow down on this special treat.
My knitting meanwhile should add further comfort until such time as I have to sew the whole damn thing together. I hate that part like crazy. Wonder if I can pay someone to do it for me. What a coward I am...

2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

2011-02-17T10:19:00.003-05:00

You're looking at the winner of this year's Best in Show, the Scottish Deerhound. A kind-looking dog with long, gangly legs that moved with ease and grace. This year the show was broadcast live on TSN. So many breeds I never heard of including 6 new ones admitted this year to the Kennel Club. By next year, the show will be adding another hour for judging as the field of contestants grows.

Photo credit: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Rick Mercer and the Superdogs

2011-02-05T15:12:00.002-05:00

As a result of Leslie's posting of Rick at the Weather Network, I found this amusing older offering of Rick with the Superdogs at the Royal Winter Fair. Go ahead, have a laugh.

The View From Here

2011-02-02T10:21:00.003-05:00

This is my frosted up window - the souvenir of the 'big' storm we had last night. In fact, it's somewhat disappointing after the news sent waves of panic throughout the city using words like armageddon, apocalypic, blizzard.... Six hundred schools closed for a snow day but I'm still looking for snow. What little there is around here is not ploughed so that poses a problem for getting around. I plan to stay in most of the day. Maybe I'll venture forth to examine things on the east side (the direction of the wind) of the building.

I remember 1999 when we had so much snow the mayor called in the army with tanks to dig us out. Western Canadians had a big laugh over that one. I was talked into staying overnight at work so that there would be staff available should patients show up the next day. For this sacrifice, the CEO gave all employees a movie pass for being so generous. Needless to say, I was pissed since the majority of pass recipients didn't even come into work the following day.

Tayoh examines the outdoors.

Kindle

2011-01-27T10:49:00.003-05:00

This isn't a very good picture because of the lamp illumination

After a year of not being able to read because of lack of concentration, or, so I thought, I whined at my doctor for assistance. He immediately suggested I try an electronic book reader as many of his other patients found them successful in alleviating readers' block. So I ordered a Kindle from Amazon.com and I've only just picked up the basics so far. It's the latest version and comes with WiFi and 3G so I can download books in under a minute without connecting to the computer. They say that the 3G will work anywhere, including Europe. I managed to change the size of the font 3-fold and what a difference this makes to reading. I haven't yet made time to read (being out of practice) but look forward to getting back in the groove. What puzzled me was the image that comes on the screen when you turn the Kindle off. I guess it's some sort of screen saver and depicts various authors or book illustrations.

My first read is the book I left abandoned a year ago - The Girl Who Played With Fire. Any recommendations for my next?

Doggie sweaters

2011-01-14T20:36:00.006-05:00

This is the first time I've seen my sweaters on real dogs. It's such a thrill and this is certainly the year for bundling up. For any future knitting projects, the wards of Happy Tails rescue will be the recipients.

As time goes by

2011-01-08T16:20:00.003-05:00

On Christmas Day there wasn't much going on here so I spent my time cruising etsy and came upon a watch studio that had the most interesting handmade steampunk wristwatches that I found irresistable. This is the one I bought and it arrived from Korea in 5 days! Beautifully giftwrapped. I don't regret this splurge for a minute.
And to caps things off, my second orchid came into bloom. But I noticed that instead of the previous 2 stalks, it now has only 1 and much fewer buds. Beggars can't be choosers....

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T11:35:00.002-05:00

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. Next event coming up is on February 3, 2011 when the Chinese New Year begins. It is the year of the rabbit.
Just in case anyone thought I'd given up my bird fascination, here's to you.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-25T10:38:00.003-05:00

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Dog Sweater Donations

2010-12-22T10:50:00.003-05:00

After a year of stockpiling small handknit dog sweaters, I've made the decision to donate them to a small dog rescue. Happy Tails rescue focuses on bichon frise and maltese although pictures on their website suggest they might take mixed breeds. Some pups have to be shaved because of severe matting and a soft fuzzy garment might provide some comfort. Hopefully I will have a couple of pictures forthcoming.

Flowers for Christmas

2010-12-12T10:50:00.003-05:00

Yesterday's Holly Jolly sale has come and gone for another year. Beautiful goods to be had but few customers. Oh well.
I came home to the first orchid in bloom. I don't remember it blooming this early last year but who's complaining! I have another that's cultivating buds and , for the life of me, I can't imagine what I'm doing to encourage such fertile behaviour. I think it's 'benign neglect'. Yes, that's the ticket. Leave them alone, water little - maybe even spray the soil instead of watering. All those tarantula-like roots reaching out of the pot scare me. I think I'm supposed to transplant but that just might kill them off... I think I'll just leave them be.

Another addiction surfaces

2010-12-07T10:19:00.006-05:00

The first snowfall has lingered and renewed itself on a daily basis. It's not unpleasant except for the blasted wind. I awoke today to my apartment temperature at 66 Fahrenheit (an American thermometer). How did it get so cold?

So it's quite pleasant being indoors and I seem to have succumbed to the making of 'sausage' jewelry. I'm not sure how to name it but Nancy was the first to give in to the allure of wire and beads in an obsessive way. Her work is exquisite. I'm not so productive and have only one and a half pieces to show for my efforts so far. Maybe if I could just apply myself to Viking Knit...

2010-11-25T13:59:00.002-05:00

Xena went back to the vet today where she is actually being boarded by the original owners. Miss Xena, true to her name, was very combative with my little cat. My Tayoh who is so good natured and so terrified of Xena. She was terrorized into living in my closet. I couldn't bear it....Xena had the need to be an only child and I couldn't give her that. I feel so guilty but I'll soon get over it now that Tayoh has the freedom to run around the apartment and can use her own washroom instead of mine. The past ten days have been really trying as I tried to make Xena feel at home. I felt so pressed to fill the void left behind by Amber but now we'll just coast and come to accept the loss.

Jewellery Class

2010-11-24T10:46:00.004-05:00

Last Sunday had our dear friend, Karen, teaching yet another of her talented projects. The Viking Knit taught previously was so daunting and I wondered to myself :'would this class be as scary...?' I did manage to finish the pendant (aka sausage) but the shape was not the same as the example. The beads were not tight enough for my liking. I would still wear it though once I find the right chain. No, there will be no Viking Knit attached to this pendant.
I attempted a second one using 18 ga wire which seemed to hold up the whole mess just fine. But the beads here are too uneven. I shall probably clip them off and start again.

Welcome Xena

2010-11-17T10:16:00.003-05:00

I decided to adopt another cat after Amber's passing since Tayoh seemed so lonely. I happened to find a 13 yr old female waiting a year for the taking at the vet. Her name is Xena, Warrior Princess. What an awful name and quite descriptive of her attitude. So far she's been terrorizing Tayoh who is so sweet and non-threatening. If I recall, it took a year for Amber to accept Tayoh on a certain level but never entirely. Xena is huge - 17lbs and on a serious reducing diet. So far she has managed to consume her own special diet and Tayoh's food as well. Her carrier would house a Great Dane. Needless to say, the cabbie carried Xena right up to the elevator where I could push her the rest of the way.
Despite her size, she is very limber and can jump up to 4 ft high. She needs a serious combing and bit me twice for my efforts. What are the possibilities of clipping her nails.....

I think I should change her name in the hopes of influencing her demeanor in a more positive way. I think I'll call her Lily (after Lily Williamson). She doesn't seem to respond to Xena anyway.
Oh, what have I done... Mind you, it's only been 1 day in her new home. I suppose I should give it a chance.

Holly Jolly is coming to town

2010-11-03T10:11:00.005-04:00

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Really, the venue doesn't look this spooky in colour but it makes for a good Halloween picture. This year's Holly Jolly Christmas sale is being held at the Zion Church Cultural Centre on December 11 from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. It is located at:
1650 Finch Avenue East
(on the north side of Finch Avenue East, one block east of Don Mills Road OR two blocks west of the DVP/404)

So preparations have begun in earnest.

More information about the sale will be coming as the date approaches. Stay tuned.

Viva Carrie

2010-10-16T11:03:00.002-04:00

This video reflects the joy of the Chilean miners' freedom. Carrie, the Golden, hails from Chile and is so adept at the merengue that she puts many of the stars on Dancing With the Stars to shame.

Amber, rest in peace

2010-10-10T11:31:00.004-04:00

I just returned from the Veterinary Emergency Clinic where my dear Amber of 14 years lost her battle with breast and pancreatic cancer. I can't believe how fast this was - 9 days from diagnosis. I'm already missing her terribly and my little cat is feeling the change. She's stopped eating. I consider this ominous but I shall just have to let her adjust to being an only child before concluding that something medical is going on.
Oh, to love and then to lose....

OK GO

2010-09-21T10:56:00.002-04:00

This fun video was made by the group OK GO for their song White Knuckles. The dogs are rescues and all were adopted.

Cesar is coming!

2010-08-31T10:31:00.001-04:00

Tails up - Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, is starting a Canadian tour and will be in Toronto on November 1st at the ACC. Anyone going?

The Last Emperor

2010-08-29T11:18:00.002-04:00

For years now I've been wanting to see this movie again. It's almost never shown on tv. But I remember the day I saw it in 1987 at a theatre on Yonge Street in the freezing cold of winter. We had to wait over an hour before the doors were opened. No Starbucks in those days. This film is visually stunning and so, so sad. It was on tv last night and I still want to see it another time.

Back to boxes

2010-08-25T10:34:00.004-04:00

I'm finding it hard to complete any of the projects I've started. For instance, I've been knitting a baby sweater for months now and I've finally finished the last sleeve. But the dreaded part of sewing all the pieces together is staring me in the face so I've decided to ignore the whole business. This is the part I hate the most. Good thing I made a size 3 so I have a couple of years of avoidance left.

I've been starting back on fabric boxes and, once again, I just can't face sewing the pieces together. Here is the latest...an underwater theme.
And another one I've started to avoid completing the first one. I'm just going to have to find some self-discipline here...

What to do in the deadly heat

2010-08-15T19:30:00.005-04:00

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The first item of business is to shop the Shopping Channel for a new coffee machine. One that exclusively makes cappuccinos, latte macchiatos, cafe mochas and all done perfectly. It's Nescafe's Dolce Gusto. Then buy a new orchid and admire as new buds unfurl. Then check on the girls to make sure they are comfy.

Any more than this would be far too taxing.

The experiment

2010-07-29T10:42:00.002-04:00

After learning how to fashion paper roses out of coffee filtres, I decided to conduct a little experiment. Would the cats approach the paper flowers as they do real flowers and pull them out of the vase? Ha! They do. Is it image recognition that lures them? Whatever it is, I have to hide the paper flowers from their view. What a drag...

My favourite new book

2010-07-22T11:20:00.005-04:00

Carmi's Art Girl's Guide to Paris is full of the sights, textures, and tastes of this beautiful city. The perspective is unique to those of us who make art and view the world as an inspiration for the next piece. It is a diary of sorts and offers an amazing indulgence of the senses. Some of the photos are downright voluptuous. One waits in anticipation of the next installment.

You can find the Art Girl's Guide to Paris blog at www.artgirlsguide.blogspot.com.

Death Valley Days

2010-07-08T10:49:00.002-04:00

No, that's not me - it's the girl (bombshell)in the Perrier melting ad. I've been without air conditioning or a fan since Tuesday. Deathly hot. Even the cats are seeking cool by lying on the floor - not their usual location which is in my bed. This afternoon the technical expert is coming with a new motor and thermostat. In an attempt to not look like a slob, I started vacuuming. What a stupid idea since the vacuum generates its own heat and my muscle activity is generating even more. So I'll look like the slob I am.
Can't wait till bedtime when I will say "to sleep, perchance to dream...."

Ms Fix It

2010-06-29T16:04:00.002-04:00

Well, just when you think you've seen it all... you haven't. En route to an xray for my father, he entered the parking lot and plowed into the ticket dispensing machine thereby knocking off the side view mirror (on the driver's side). The ticket attendent went hysterical. I knew he couldn't drive home without the mirror so repairs were mandatory. Out came my bandaids and dental floss and I managed to suspend the mirror in roughly the correct position using these first aid supplies. To make extra sure it was stable, I made a trip into the pharmacy to buy some adhesive tape and that seemed to keep things from jiggling. Now the mechanic will have to assess the damage to see if it can be repaired or if it requires replacement from the Ford factory. The car situation was far more stressful than the x-ray.

2010-06-02T11:42:00.002-04:00

On Friday I received a registered letter from Industry Canada citing that harmful radio waves were being emitted from my apartment on April 22, 2010. In compliance with the law, an inspector would be dispatched to the premises to investigate. EEK! What does this mean....am I suspected of terrorism? Are there extra terrestrials in the neighbourhood? Will I have all my electronic devices confiscated? Will I have to buy an ipad afterall? Have you ever heard of such a thing.

I phoned the number in the letter and thus commenced an interview and the emphasis was on cordless phones and where did they come from. It seems that devices obtained from other countries operate on different radio frequencies which jam the frequencies being used in Canada - probably aircraft are at risk. It turns out that I cleared myself by fessing up to everything and I don't have to worry about a home visit. It's likely one of my neighbours.

An old standby

2010-05-14T19:02:00.004-04:00

While taking a break from fabric boxes, I tried to get back to making copper book necklaces. I hauled out my big bottle of liver of sulphur only to discover that the stinky solution had morphed into clear water. Now, how did that happen... I quickly headed downtown to Lacy's to pick up a jar of concentrated l of s which smelled suitably foul and I knew I had a winner. Very strong and requires a delicate touch when oxidizing the pieces of copper unless you want it pitch black.
Tomorrow is east coast rug hooking and yet another project will be in the works.

East Coast Rug Hooking

2010-05-10T16:58:00.002-04:00

I nearly forgot about the rug hooking workshop which I signed up for a few months back. I've been waiting for a cancellation in the Saturday class to upgrade my spot from Friday night to Saturday afternoon. Alas, it was not to be. I've done a lot of latch hooking in the past but I gather the traditional method is quite different.
The class is taught by Jennifer Archer whose website is www.hookedbythesea.com and a 'teach yourself' handout can be downloaded here. And the class takes place at The Purple Purl on Queen St.East in Toronto. This is a cozy knitting shop which I discovered while cruising the web. Martha is responsible for alerting all to this class.

Camping In

2010-05-04T19:54:00.003-04:00

When you haven't a specific project that requires a blast of heat, you can always toast marshmallows in the kitchen with your blow torch. Tastes just like the real deal from bonfire roasting. Yum yum. I suppose this may be dangerous to do indoors since you can't see the flame. I'm moving to the balcony just in case.

Back to school

2010-05-01T16:44:00.006-04:00

Being a great admirer of Nancy's work, I thought I would follow her suit and sign up for Marie Otero's Digital Magic class starting June 14th. This will be a big challenge for me since I'm no good at photo editing and seem to be a big fan of the 'quick fix' method. But it's high time I learned how to do things especially since I now have PSE 8 on board. To find out more about the class, click on the sidebar image.

And lured by Martha's achievements, I've signed up for Tosca Teran's class in metal and glass at her nanopod hybrid studio(www.nanopod.tv/nano_classes.html).This class starts on June 22 and I can't wait. The class is maximum 5 students and NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY is emphasized. How perfect is that! Below is the studio's storefront. Quite gorgeous.

I am a snapdragon

2010-04-18T09:01:00.002-04:00

I am a
Snapdragon

What Flower
Are You?

"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh."

Thanks to Irene, I tried this again. In previous years I was an echinacea. I wonder if the questions have changed or if it's me. Probably both.

Work in progress

2010-04-17T14:10:00.006-04:00

I've been working on this fabric box for a long, long time. As suggested by other box owners, I'm going to make a removable shoulder/across the shoulder strap for wearing as a little purse. That might be a problem for me since my ability at perceptual problem solving is hampered. Maybe it's genetic.
Meanwhile, after my 3rd cup of cawfee, I'm feeling sleepy. Ha! I've conquered the effects of caffeine. By consuming so many cups in my attempt at identifying my favourite flavours, I've now desensitized. Good for me. Or, as Karen says, Keurig is dutch for neat!

Airmile rewards

2010-04-16T08:09:00.006-04:00

What is there to do when you have insomnia and need to shop. And you have a lot of Airmiles and nowhere to go. You shop with your airmiles points! Although they tell you it will take a month to deliver, my items were here within 48 hours. The Keurig came with 18 different samples of coffee and tea and it's no wonder I was up all night after sampling almost all of them. The toast is great on bagels and frozen breads of any kind since it defrosts first - if you remember to press that button.

And the deed is done! I've reserved a puppy in the October litter from Cottoncandycotons and should have him/her by the end of December or January. He will probably be called Whimsey and if it's a girl, also Whimsey or the frech translation which is Caprice. Or Whimsey Caprice. Must have a middle name. The dog in the picture is one of the breeder's boys and comes from Denmark. Any colours you see around the face mainly are likely to fade to pure white or just a hint of colour since the white gene dilutes all other colours except if the skin underneath is blue. When Carmi gets back from Paris, we will go visit the dogs and the breeder asked me to bring along some of my dog sweaters in case any Toronto clients are interested. How am I going to wait until the end of December... I guess I'll just keep drinking coffee and watching Cesar, the Dog Whisperer to become calm and assertive. The coffee should have me hysterical and aggressive. Better switch to decaf.

Coton de Tulears

2010-04-13T08:07:00.003-04:00

Well, I've pretty much decided on a Coton. The name is French but the dog hails from Tulear, Madagascar and is considered a rare breed. I will have to come up with a French name for a boy and girl - no, not 2 dogs but it will depend on availability and, from what I can see in the streets, there are virtually no females in sight. I have the number of a breeder in Scarborough whom I must call today if possible. She's already had 2 litters so far this year so it may be unlikely that she'll breed again in 2010. And I'm looking towards the fall for adopting.This is all very exciting. I want to be invited out to meet a Coton in person.
I have one other breeder I'm hoping to hear from in Brampton and that exhausts all the local breeders. Why do breeders always live out of town...?

Puppy Planning

2010-04-07T10:33:00.004-04:00

I am sorely tempted by all of these puppies but I need to plan for a proper adoption. Introduction to my 2 neurotic cats, where will the puppy sleep and eat and other issues, blahblahblah...The long haired chihuahua is gorgeous but yappy as hell at 9 weeks. The only female is the buff coloured poodle but Mr. Personality is the Yorkie for sure. I don't know why I'm so obsessed with a hypoallergenic breed when they are so small, how much can they shed? Besides, it's the cats that are the most allergenic. I remember going to the allergy clinic at Mt. Sinai where the nurse told me to trade in the cats for an iguana.
Anyone have any breed suggestions or even know of a Toronto breeder?

Last orchid to bloom

2010-03-31T17:09:00.004-04:00

Here is the last orchid to bloom. It's a mini and never seems to get more than 3 blossoms but who's complaining...I've had a stellar year in the floral department.
Now, taking the floral theme in a different direction.... Have you ever dropped a big fat blob of tomato-based salad dressing on your favourite pants? I did it last year and tried every non-bleach method known to mankind to rid the offending circle from a pair of heavy linen, khaki coloured pants. Screw it, I thought and reached for the clorox pen. I scratched and scraped and squeezed the bleach all over the stain and it came out!!! Of course, the colour also came out and I was left with a big white circle over the upper thigh. It never occurred to me to dye the pants but I held on to them pending some sort of inspiration. Then, while looking for a space yesterday to house my 500 odd flowers from the 3bird company, I came upon some old-fashioned flowers that I must have ordered as embellishments from Flights of Fancy online store.
(http://www.flightsoffancyboutique.com/). Lo and behold, the bleach stain is now covered.

I think Carmi would be proud.

Afternoon at Belle de Provence

2010-03-28T10:39:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I was at Bayview Village and lured into Belle de Provence by the absence of clashing fragrances and the voice of one of the salesgirls describing pajamas to 2 ladies. It turned out that these ladies were blind and had in tow their 2 guide dogs - a German Sheppard and a Yellow Lab, both female and very feminine. It turns out that the Sheppard always disobeys instructions to head for Loblaws and drags the owner into the shop. She noses around the open shelves at the cash desk and this time she managed to score a rubber ducky. Usually when I see a working dog, I feel so sad for them. They somehow look defeated, moving so much slower than those long leg should be going, head downturned that looks less like concentration than the blocking out of doggie distractions. These 2 dogs looked like the life of the party and their owners had much the same spirit. When the purchase of the ducky had been made, the dog was told to turn left and, on her way, she managed to pull out a back scrubber to check it out one last time. For that day, at least.

Lilith Fair

2010-03-27T10:02:00.003-04:00

The other night I was flipping through the channels out of late night boredom and I happened upon Jimmy Kimmel Live who was interviewing Sarah McLaughlan and Emmylou Harris about the 2010 Lilith Fair. The original was 11 years ago and I sort of found myself there by accident. I went with a colleague and her teenage daughter and her friend. What an amazing experience. So I decided that I had to go, this likely being the last outdoor concert I will ever attend. I ordered my tickets - July 24th at the Molson Amphitheatre - online and, although none of the acts for this date have been announced except for Sarah, I'm sure it will be great. The Florida lineup is amazing! Anyone want to come with me? To Toronto, not Florida.

A Cold Spring Day

2010-03-24T13:58:00.005-04:00

I would dearly love to go outside in the sunshine but I've been ill all night - chills, no thrills, sick stomach, headache...I guess I shouldn't complain. It's the first time I've been sick in over a year. Got to watch Carmi on the Shopping Channel and I ended up ordering all kinds of stuff I don't need. Now I'm thinking that I should have ordered the flowers. Maybe I will.....
Last night I listed quite a few dog sweaters on my etsy shop. End of season sale, free shipping. I subjected Amber to the runway experience and she was furious with me. The sweater was too big for her anyway.
I'm delighted with the perfect timing of my orchid blossoms. As one plant begins to wane, another begins to bloom.
This is my newest acquisition from the plant stand at the Finch Subway Station.
It's an indication that in 2 months, the balcony can be planted.

If it's Valentine's Day, it's the Orchid Show

2010-02-15T14:41:00.004-05:00

Every year, around this time, I make the pilgrimage with my parents to The Toronto Botanical Centre (aka Edwards Gardens)for the Southern Ontario Orchid Society show. The orchids are many and varied - from gigantic blooms to teeny tiny specks. And all are displayed in a landscape design resembling the forest floor with lots of wood, moss and ferns. I was determined to purchase a "paph" - also known as a lady's slipper. But the one's already in bloom were $100. So I bought one that is supposed to bloom next spring. We'll see. I did buy an 'oncidium' orchid in bloom and with lots of buds. The colour is so vibrant. Hope it doesn't die from exposure to the elements although I did bring it into Swiss Chalet for dinner. All the orchid 'breeders' insist on an eastern exposure to provide the correct light. I face west so they'll just have to comply with house rules if they are to survive. So far I've managed to keep 3 of them alive here and the latest ones purchased in the subway are having their first blooming in my home so this is a very exciting event since I've done nothing to encourage growing action. Just lucky, I guess.

Knitting for imaginary dogs

2010-01-31T14:05:00.004-05:00

What was that commercial all about? Incomprehensible yet cute.

The management for my condo refused to allow me to put up a poster advertising my dog sweaters yet they allow moving sales, tutoring and all manner of money making ventures. How is my advertising different... They typed up one sentence for me which was displayed on the bulletin board for 2 days and then it came down in favour of Mandarin Chinese tutoring. I'm so frustrated. I was invited to put up a poster in the Pet Valu store quite a distance from where I live but I think I'll try it. I suppose there's always the option of taping a poster to one of the light standards in front of my building.

Here are 2 more knits.

I rather like the one with the voile daisies and violets. This was actually a way of hiding a fault in the yarn but I think I'll start with the embellishments. Makes them look unique.

Still no room at the inn

2010-01-15T19:16:00.004-05:00

In a desperate attempt to find even just the very smallest storage space, I climbed a stepladder to investigate the upper shelf options in my spare room. What did I find but 2 pieces of art from a class with Lesley Riley in image transfer at the Art & Soul Dallas. One is done on a folded paper bag and the other on a small canvas. There's still no space. I don't seem to be able to cast off my junk. Pretty soon I'll be featured on that A&E program, The Hoarders.
I see that the dollar is way up which means that I can justify cross border shopping on-line. And what would I like? Why, more yarn, of course.

Lazy day

2010-01-04T12:28:00.003-05:00

Well according to my google gadget for weather, it's as bloody cold as it was yesterday. It's probably colder since the sun is shining.

I've been watching in awe as my yellow orchid has come into bloom. All by itself with no coaxing from me. I'm thinking I should fertilize it - the least I could do since it's bringing me so much pleasure. I keep eyeing the other 2 orchids for signs of life and there's just nothing there. I suppose I shouldn't be so greedy. I thought orchids only bloomed once a year. It's a happy sight with the condensation on the window and condo complex in the background. Now I'm glancing outside and I see there's a mini blizzard coming on with the snow at a 45 degree angle from the north. I'll upgrade the forecast to 'bitter' cold. Better turn the TV on to the Fireside channel.

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-03T20:04:00.004-05:00

I cannot believe it's already 2010. Can't wait for the Olympics to start. It will give me a reason to stay shut in from the cold. Today there was a bitter wind and snow squalls off and on. I turned up the heat, tuned the tv to the Fireside Channel where I enjoyed the popping, cracking sounds of the wood burning in the fireplace. I needed the smell of the smoke to enhance the atmosphere and incense just didn't do it. Alas..
.
When I tired of my knitting, I switched over to my precious little book, "Shadow of the Vampuss".written by Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov. It's a retelling of Brahm Stoker's "Dracula" with a cast of felines. The book review warns against exposing the story to under-age kittens. And the illustrations are beautiful. I find it incredible that vampire stories are all the rage. I thought of reading the 'Twilight" series but I think I may be too old for this. When I was about 11 years old, I started reading Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, Brahm Stoker, and Sherlock Holmes. I have no idea how I was turned on to this reading and I'm sure I was even more frightened by not understanding the 'big' words. My grandfather was heavily into Perry Mason and James Bond and he loaned me his books. Needless to say, I didn't miss an episode of Perry Mason on TV. And Hamilton Burger yelling his objection: "Incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial'.
Those were the days.

And to all a good night

2009-12-26T16:00:00.003-05:00

I can't believe how quickly the special days came and went. It's always like that. I hope everyone celebrated in fine style. I can't remember if New Year is the end of something or the beginning of something. Last year's 10 pound pledge was the beginning of something and for my part was exceeded by a whole lot of extra pounds taken on rather than shed. What a disaster. And now I find myself addicted to hot chocolate. Sometimes I make it cold. It's great either way. Martha, got a leftover heart-shaped cookie?
I've just finished Andy's sweater and still am contemplating whether or not to make an actual sleeve. I didn't take that particular measurement and I don't want it to chafe his little armpit. I also have another sweater on hand to see if it might be a better fit.
My personal trainer has commissioned a sweater for her bunny. Now that's going to be a big challenge. I've never seen a bunny close-up but I know they come in many sizes. They are also bigger than chihuahuas. The bunny tried on one of my chi sweaters and apparently fell over, face first, out of sheer terror over wearing a garment. The trials of being a fashionista.
Can't decide if I should brave the rains to visit my Starbucks or continue watching the Sherlock Holmes marathon. Yesterday it was Underdog to Wonderdog on the Animal Planet and I cried the whole time. Basil Rathburn does not evoke that kind of emotion. If anything, he propels me towards Starbucks.

Holly Jolly 2009

2009-12-07T12:07:00.006-05:00

Well, the annual Holly Jolly sale has come and gone.I was in panic mode at not having enough stuff to sell and anxious over having the wrong stuff to sell.I had 10 knitted dog sweaters and only one purchase. It was an apprehensive transaction since one rarely knows the actual measurements of the dog recipient. No problem. If it doesn't fit I'll do a made-to-measure sweater. Martha had her West Highland terrier come by at the end of the show to try on a sweater. It turns out that Andy is a mutant Westie - absolutely huge! And so sweet. So I grabbed my tape measure from my purse and proceded to take down his statistics for a custom garment.
The beaded hearts were also popular as were my fabric boxes.
It was disappointing that so few people dropped by. Perhaps we need a more intensive ad campaign. Or a more accessible venue. Things to evaluate for next year. Meanwhile, I shall have to be creative throughout the year and not the 6 weeks prior to the show.

Chain maille victory

2009-10-28T00:02:00.003-04:00

I am so proud that I was able to finally complete my chain maille bracelet that was started in a class I took on September 20 at the Canadian Bead Oasis Show. My turmoil with this task centred on the fact that I have tremors and cannot control the tools. So half of my jump rings were flung like tiddly winks around the room. I was determined to do a link a night, even if it took me the whole night to achieve this often insurmountable task. It's hard to see the detail because of the reflection on the silver but I love it - it's so fluid on the wrist. Good thing I have a small wrist so there were plenty of extra jump rings in the kit and less overall work for me.

Then it's knit, purl, rip out, cast on again,...nothing but problems with these little dog sweaters. The commission I had for a chihuahua sweater was a failure since the dog is 3 sizes smaller than the smallest size I made. He's a mosquito. And he lives in Peru so the fellow who commissioned me is now back home visiting and will measure every square mm of him and I can work from that. I must get cracking since the Holly Jolly sale is in 4 weeks and I don't have enough stock. So much to do, so little time.

I love this time of year for all the horror films that are on tv. I just saw a 1968 film called "The Power" with a very young and handsome George Hamilton, Suzanne Pleshette, Earl Holiman and a bunch of other familiar faces. And now the original "The Haunting" with Julie Harris is on till 2:00am. I don't think I can stay up that late but the ending is terrific. I have to make it to Fairview Mall's Apple Store to attend a class on how to use the MobileMe feature on my ipod touch. I love this little device but don't know how to use half of it. The Apple store gives one on one tutoring on different aspects of any of their products.

Remember the Roller Babies?

2009-10-08T20:51:00.002-04:00

Remember the commercial for Evian water starring the babies on rollerskates? Now there's a synchronized swimming version.

Gloom

2009-09-28T17:51:00.004-04:00

It was sort of a miserable day, starting off with an ambush of rain and me, on my way to Markham by TTC for a cardiac stress test. The first umbrella I took with me launched itself across the road, using the handle and main stem as a sling shot. Now, how does that happen...? So I stopped at Shoppers Drug Mart for a replacement. The prices make no sense at all - more expensive for a tiny, manual one.

For the past couple of years I've been passing an optical boutique in the underground concourse on my way to the subway. Last week I stopped to look at the frames and discovered the most unique, artistic designs, all from France. How come it's taken so long to come up with such delightful eyewear. So I now have a pair but it's hard to appreciate the 3-d structure from the picture. Even the case is snazzy. I feel compelled to get a second pair with the transition lenses so that I don't always have to change over to sunglasses.

When stocking up on catfood yesterday, I came across a laser light device for making the girls frisky and interested in some play. I don't even have to operate it - it moves the light around all by itself. Tayoh showed a bit of interest and tried to pick up the beam with her paw. Amber fell asleep on the sofa despite the beam landing on her forehead. Too old for play, I guess.

This and that

2009-09-23T12:40:00.004-04:00

I just hate this sudden humidity. So I've shut all the windows and turned on the air conditioning. But I soon have to leave the apartment so my comfort is going to be short-lived. I'm getting irritable.
I am forcing myself each night to do at least one link of the chain maille bracelet. This is taking me 2 hours to actually add a link. At this rate...

The knitting is going much better. I finally finished the turtle neck sweater for the schnauzer. But I now realize that it can only be worn by a female since the underbelly is long enough to completely cover the male anatomy. Back to the drawing board. Every sweater in this one book can only accommodate the female anatomy.

He's a cute little guy, my mini schnauzer. A bit chunky too but the knitting will stretch. I'm now starting on a commission for a black, urban chic sweater for a chihuahua. Wonder if it's a boy dog...

Weekend of Classes

2009-09-20T21:01:00.004-04:00

This weekend I attended some classes offered at the Canadian Bead Oasis Society. Carmi and I were together on Saturday for morning and afternoon sessions. Unfortunately, I just couldn't catch on to the Even and Odd peyote stitch. I was the only one in the class that was useless, much to my personal horror and I tried to cover up the mess I had made every time the teacher came by to help and she had a tremendous amount of patience. I wasn't much better in the afternoon for the Wire Wrap heart. The teacher had to help me a lot. But at least I finished the project and I'm keen to try more.
Today I went in for a chain maille class and it's been about 3 years since I last did this kind of a class. I quite enjoy the repetitive complex patterns - much like aran knit sweaters. But I now have terrible tremors because of my medication and for 2 hours I kept losing my grip of the smallest rings which are critical to making the links. Half my supply of silver rings was launched clear across the room. I should have finished the bracelet instead of making only 5 links. So I shall have to do a little each day before I forget the technique. It's called the 'vertebrae' and lies flat and fluid and is really gorgeous.
On the knitting front, I have completed the green ribbed sweater which Emily is modelling.

I've been commissioned to knit a black urban chic sweater for a chihuahua before the end of October so I must start that soon. I now seem to have several projects going on at the same time. It's fun and alleviates any boredom that may arise with one project or another. I could almost call myself a multitasker.

In days of yore

2009-09-12T10:24:00.005-04:00

Last night while moving things around to search for accommodation for my growing stash of wool, I came across a collection of old magazines that had been bound in hard cover. My grandfather had done that and the magazines are in pristine condition. Liberty was a Canadian weekly publication sold for 5 cents and what I have is the collection for 1941. The ads are fascinating and amusing- lots of constipation complaints (politely called sluggishness, irritability, etc.). Lots of concern about body odours. War related stories, Hollywood news, fiction, and, at the beginning of each article, is a quote of how much time it should take to read the piece. One story was clocked at 28 minutes, 12 seconds. Anyway, I find it all makes me nostalgic for a time that wasn't mine at all but whose appeal makes me wish I had actually lived at that time.
If you click on the image, you can read the text.

Two pups rescued

2009-09-08T15:52:00.006-04:00

Well today I did a good deed and rescued two pups from Science City. I've decided they would make perfect models for modelling the doggie sweaters. I took their measurements at the store and it turns out they're both a bit chunky. Most knitting will stretch though. I couldn't figure out how to dress the mini schnauzer as he is fixed in the seated position and it's hard to pull the legs into the sweater. I guess he'll be showcasing a different type of garment. Can you believe that Emily, the maltese, is shedding! She needs a good combing but now I'm reluctant. Maybe a bit of styling product would help. And Andy - I haven't forgotten you. I just need a few more samples before booking an appointment.

Emily is doing her first assignment in the princess sweater, complete with ruffles and sequins. It enhances her femininity, doesn't it?

Annual Garage Sale

2009-08-23T21:13:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was Marissa's annual garage sale and I had decided to sell off as many rubberstamps as I could stuff into a suitcase. I don't know when I last used a rubberstamp. I thought that I could liberate some storage space but it turns out that I still have too much 'stuff' lurking about. I had priced everything beforehand which turned out to be a good thing since I was fifteen minutes late and Marissa had kindly accepted half the day's income in those 15 minutes. The weather was perfect, the company stellar and I got to reacquaint myself with little Aidan who is such a doll. He has an ease when interacting with new people.
For some reason, Aidan thought it would be better to be photographed behind the screened in window. And that's what we have here.

Here is Aidan in his 'Knights of the Round Table' costume.

It turned out to be a very profitable day for me and the money is already spent. Ha!

Do you believe in magic?

2009-08-19T17:25:00.002-04:00

Many years ago I worked with a doctor who was also a card carrying magician. I don't really know what the card signifies - maybe to swear an oath not to reveal the secrets behind the tricks. He always performed card tricks for us and the final moment was so baffling and exciting that all I could do was laugh hysterically. I could have spent a whole day watching trick after trick. Then I forgot all about it. Until A&E started showing some magic shows. First it was David Blaine whose card tricks for the man in the street were completely captivating. People squeal in disbelief.

Now it's Criss Angel, Mindfreak, I really like this guy. Oh yeah, he's cute alright. But for many of his stunts, he first gives a detailed description of the preparation and dangers involved. You really start to worry. Of course, this is part of the 'game'. His illusions are on a very large scale. God, I'd love to see him live. You don't see a lot of travelling magicians. David Copperfield was here a few times. Enjoy the videos.

Just when you thought it was safe....

2009-08-15T12:41:00.006-04:00

to make a small, simple, straightforward dog sweater, little road blocks appear at every turn. Firstly, Amber removed all the knitting from the needle the minute I got up from the sofa. She is determined not to share me with anything. I'm constantly pushing her aside as she inches closer and closer to my lap which is where all the knitting takes place. The next hurdle is huge!!! I'm supposed to steek. When I googled this word, the first suggestion was "how to make the perfect steak". And then, in visiting the knitting sites and YOUTUBE, I find that all the explanations are in a different orientation and I just don't get it. Steeking is a Norwegian term describing a method of knitting mainly fair isle projects which have hundreds of ends as the colour is changed. It involves casting off then casting on to form some kind of ridge and then cutting the knitting between the steeks. I don't think so...my biggest fear is dropping a stitch or breaking the yarn. They say it doesn't unravel but I'm not taking chances. In the dog sweater, skeeting is used for the arm holes. I shall have to figure out how to do the sleeves the old-fashioned way and that will be a challenge since I seem to need a blow by blow description of everything to direct all my moves.I can't think for myself. Needless to say, I ripped out all of this sweater work so that I can start again on a larger size-makes it easier to work large. Meanwhile I am working on a coat with cable spine and so far it is going well. At least it's keeping me away from the fridge and my usual evening binge.

I wanted so much to add a few pictures here from the book but, in reading the copyright info, I decided I couldn't afford a lawsuit and a huge fine. I have a model lined up for a photo as soon as the coat is complete This is a dog dreaming of the perfect outfit.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIDAN!

2009-08-09T11:50:00.005-04:00

I remember the day that Aidan was born. I was already in Vancouver for Artwerx and Marissa was lamenting her absence from her favourite workshop event. This picture was taken upon my return. Aidan was 10 days old.
This next photo is one of my favourites. Of course, now Aidan is all grown up at 4. He's a great little person and his life continues to be enriched by the love that surrounds him on all sides.

Fifteen Books

2009-08-07T22:48:00.002-04:00

I decided to take on the challenge of finding 15 books that are memorable to me. This is hard for me since I have such a dreadful memory but I do recall the lasting emotional impressions. So here's my version for today:

1. The Thornbirds by Colleen McCullough
2. Edgar Allan Poe short stories
3. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
4. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
5. Collage Discovery Workshop Beyond the Unexpected by Claudine Hellmuth
6. The Art of Annemieke Mein - Wildlife Artist in Textile
7. Material Visions Somerset Studio Publication
8. Awakenings by Oliver Sachs
9. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sachs
10. Birdman by Mo Hayder
11. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
12. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
13. Poetry by Leonard Cohen
14. The Petty Details of So and So's Life by Camilla Gibb
15. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
16. Mr. Sandman, The Romantic by Barbara Gowdy

So I've added another 2 books since it occured to me that I had forgotten Barbara Gowdy. Have you ever read a book more than once? I haven't and I'm afraid I would be disappointed if I recalled too much of the plot. Maybe I should try it at least once.

The knitting begins

2009-08-05T23:37:00.004-04:00

Well I started knitting my first dog sweater and I've ripped it out twice. Doesn't look right. I now have switched to another colour. Amber is trying to encroach on my personal knitting space by lying on top of the needle despite its moving around. Wonder if she wants a sweater....

Lo and behold...someone is cat knitting.

New Projects

2009-08-04T18:25:00.004-04:00

I'm lacking in the concentration department when it comes to my art projects. I can't seem to finish anything. I feel stuck. Since I'm now so organized (ha!), I have plenty of boxes that will house the supplies allotted to a particular work so it would be easy to get back to finishing up.

I haven't knit in about 15 years and I tried to make a baby outfit about 4 years ago with disastrous consequences. I couldn't interpret the pattern. Not sure if it was me or maybe the instructions were just lousy. Some knitting books were on display at Chapters last week and I picked up a few. I'm a hoarder so I can't be content with just one. I've decided to knit for dogs - sweaters, capes, balaclavas and leg warmers for those tall dogs with long, skinny legs that have virtually no fur for protection. I've ordered some supplies on-line because I knew I could only get a certain things in Toronto. And I'm no good at figuring out substitutions and even worse at asking for help. There's a mathematical aspect to these things and I useless at math. I took a trip down to Romni Wools on Queen West and made it through the door just in time. A major thunderstorm right overhead - you know the kind when the flash of lightning and boom of thunder occur simultaneously. Very cozy to be indoors surrounded by fabulous colours and textures. Well, Romni didn't have the brand names I was looking for so I decided to just start grabbing whatever was appealing. Everything appealed to me. I always have to choose those skeins that, in addition to the visual allure,also have a tactile component. Wow - nothing like cashmere - even fake cashmere feels like the real thing.

So tonight I'm going to start an outfit that's been designated easy. A single thick cable right down the centre. I'd better not get into a screw-up situation. I need to boost my confidence. I shall have to locate a dog for modelling purposes. But I'm jumping ahead of myself. Geez, I hope the cats don't go after the yarn.

Birthday girl

2009-08-01T18:29:00.008-04:00

My dear Amber turned 13 today. As usual, she is lounging on the sofa and will soon rotate to the armchair followed by the stroller. Then she will beg for treats and I will succumb, dragging out the Greenies dental treats (dental my eye...cats swallow these things whole. And puke them up whole which provides the evidence for this theory.). As she ages she gets freckles. Her lips are covered in black frecks. Also the rims of her eyes. My vet tells me that red heads are notorious for freckling as they age. All this freckling and no sun exposure. I was racking my brains to think of something special to present her with. Usually I forget about birthdays but this time I decided to get her favourite toy - a realistic looking mouse with leather tail and covered in rabbit fur or something like that. Amber eats the tail first - I find it in the litter box attached to other bodily refuse. So far, she hasn't touched the mouse at all despite my squealing like a pig and whirling the
mouse around in the air by the tail. I guess she's now old enough to not fall for my silly antics.

OMG!

2009-07-31T17:40:00.002-04:00

OMG, I seem to have done it. After days of toiling and I still have yet to figure out how I just did that. Maybe a change of colour is a good thing.

Redecorating

2009-07-31T17:31:00.002-04:00

In a frantic attempt to restore the comment section under my posts, I've changed the template. I don't think this actually does anything except to offer a change of scene. I've printed off all kinds of instructions regarding the restoration of comments and nothing has worked so far. I'm frustrated beyond measure. Bordering on tears. So, there you go. Nothing to say except maybe a prayer.

I can now get emails from my father but they show up in the 'deleted' folder so I dare not empty it before checking. He is an 'approved sender' according to my designation but this seems to make no difference. I wonder if Windows Vista has become all powerful and is showing its dominance over me. I even manage to lose my last post without ever pressing a 'delete' button. How weird is that!

I think it's time to chow down over a bowl of organic white cherries. And then some black licorice.

I seem to be a flunkee

2009-07-04T17:33:00.005-04:00

After much coaching by LJM, I continue to fail my million attempts at trying to have my blog links show their pictures. Why do I not have the same screen as she does when I move about behind the scenes. Remember when I wiped out my entire sidebar way back when...? I think this may be the same situation. Oh well...

What a glorious day it is. My very favourite kind of weather but my hair continues to be huge courtesy of yesterday's humidity. I was feeling so cooped up at home (self-imposed isolation to avoid temptation away from my clear fluid diet) that I thought I'd take a walk to Shoppers' Drug Mart. That should be safe enough. But, en route, I fell victim to the irresistible urge for a Starbuck's mocha frapuccino light and broke my resolve. So I said to myself 'how do I counteract this serious infraction' and, of course, the answer was right there at SDM. I picked up extra laxatives and an extra bottle of the purgative which I've just consumed. So I'm waiting and waiting for my punishment.

I finally put up my Sid Dickens tiles which I bought almost 2 years ago and they have been sitting in a bag ever since. In honour of the new sofa coming, I finally remembered them and how nice they would look against dark chocolate furniture. I have some more tiles coming in a couple of months. I actually saw them being sold on ebay for about 1.5 times what they are at the Sid Dickens website.

Meanwhile, Tayoh has started coughing and that means she will be going to the vet in a couple of weeks. In the new stroller. I can't believe how disinterested both cats have been around this new addition to their landscape. Last night I put a catnip pillow inside and picked up Amber, tossing her in the carriage. She stayed there for about 5 minutes. I guess that's ok. She also has just started coughing as well as sneezing and has a nasty sore on her chin. I think that she too will be making an excursion to the vet. Last night I tried the 'hiding-of-the-lysine-powder' in the pill pockets and by some miracle she's eaten 2 doses. I'm only putting a very small amount into the pocket so there isn't the leakage I had before. Also this is the veterinary version so maybe it has a different taste.

Time to sit on the balcony to enjoy the late afternoon sun with a tall glass of apple-peach juice.

A tribute to Michael Jackson

2009-06-30T15:29:00.003-04:00

I hadn't thought about Michael's music in quite a while but 2 weeks ago I decided to download Thriller to my ipod. Then came the tragic news and it has shaken me somewhat. Whenever a celebrity dies I am suddenly reminded of my own mortality and it just feels disturbing. I came across this researcher who identifies a bird that actually does the moonwalk as part of the mating ritual. A tribute of sorts to Michael's amazing choreography.

It's a day full of thunder and darkening skies. Rain too, of course. And a nice cool breeze . Think I'll go on the balcony with a coffee. After a day of fasting to no avail (the test was cancelled because I wasn't prepared enough) the idea of coffee is so appealing. Too bad I don't have a Coffee Crisp or KitKat to go with it. My balcony looks pathetic with planters overrun with last year's dead foliage. I hauled the 2 cacti out to make it look festive (ha!). And the one with the bent over 'leaves/stocks' is still bent over. I didn't cut them off as Leslie Jane insisted I do. I don't know what it is about that plant but it just scares me silly. I'm afraid it will bleed if I cut it. Or I will be cursed in some way.
I think this year I prefer to get the inside taken care of rather than the balcony. The new sofa and chair are supposed to be delivered next Tuesday.

Look at you- you're all wet!!! (Einstein)

2009-06-25T19:52:00.006-04:00

Needless to say, the moment I left the apartment the sky turned as black as midnight, the lightening started flashing, the thunder grumbling and the rain angled at a 45 degrees. Guaranteed to soak the trousers despite a long raincoat. The umbrella was useless and the rain was falling so fast that nothing drained off the streets into the sewer. It was a deep lake at every corner and I was wearing sandals. This was the 4th foray through the rain for these sandals and they just gave out. I was sliding all around the soles that I vowed to hit the first shoe store at my subway destination stop. In 5 minutes I had tossed away the sandals and donned my new galoshes. I'm telling you, it'll never rain again this summer now that I have the boots.

The weather is always like this when I go to the hairdresser. Today it was the all-important covering of the gray. But no matter how many products are caked on over the hair to prevent frizz, it's just an exercise in futility. I have prickly hair. That's all there is to it and the older I get the intensity of the prickles increase.

So, on the way home I had to stop by the post office to pick up a package. Since I didn't know the size of the box, I had taken along one of those dolly thingies. I think originally they were meant to transport suitcases. Black rods that fold up and have 2 bungee cords attached. While waiting in line I started to unfold it and the bungees were getting all tangled up so I put a foot on the bottom platform to stabilize it and - you guessed it - the wheels started to roll and I fell. In front of 20 people. I told them all to stop staring at me. I've had enough of this embarrassing business. This time I spared my face and glasses and fell on my tailbone. I seemed to try to break the fall with my left wrist so now my entire left side is sore. And the package didn't even need to be transported on a carrier.

I came home to a message that a big box was waiting for me at the gatehouse. It was my pet stroller! OK. All of you have a good laugh. I think my maternal instinct is emerging at long last. I had to do some assembly and ended up putting the back wheels on backwards. But this is a real, big-time stroller with a carriage tray underneath, a big rain bonnet, faux sheepskin-lined bed inside, a tray for coffee cups, water bottles. Now I have to see if I can get one of the girls inside to pose for us.

Oh what a beautiful day

2009-06-23T18:22:00.005-04:00

Just like that song from "Oklahoma"...oh what a beautiful morning....that's the thing about wearing an ipod. You can walk down the street starring in your own movie, complete with soundtrack. I love being in my own little world singing to myself. More like lip-syncing since I haven't much of a voice left these days.

Yesterday I decided to pick up some fresh flowers to try and make a Japanese arrangement. It didn't work. The container was close to 2 feet long and the flowers were sticking out every which-way enticing the cats. So I just transferred the flowers to a couple of vases. Now I have a role reversal in the house. It used to be Amber who was obsessed by the beckoning flora. Now it's Tayoh who is lured by the flowers and yet she is feigning indifference whenever I come into the room. I think a barf-fest may be looming on the horizon.

I'm still mulling over my beaded muse and in the interim I've put together a necklace made of lucite beads in shades of purple as well as Swarovski crystals and silver toggle clasp. I do love purple.

Also picked up a new cell phone. I was lusting after the latest smart phone (the 3G 1phone) and figured that I'm not smart enough to operate such a thing. Plus I don't do business so it would just be an expensive toy. I did get a less smart phone by LG with a slide out keyboard and I am already doomed. The box contains no instructions on how to set the various functions, how to even find the functions. There is only info on how to insert the SIM card. Well, anyone could figure that one out. But how to shut off the beeping every time you press on a key..... At least I figured out how to set up the voicemail. Now, if someone would please call me...or text me.... 416-616-4382. Is this foolish to give out my number? I shall soon find out. Not too many people read this blog anyway.

Gloomy day

2009-06-20T16:43:00.010-04:00

It's raining, it's drizzling, it's foggy, it's an extremely bad hair day. Worse than Kramer on Seinfeld. I can barely get through the doorway. Yuck. But I did get my furniture delivered right on time and now I'm in a dither over what to put in the drawers. So far the cats have skirted around the new shapes but have not ventured onto the steps. I hauled out some of my Japanese flower containers with a view to making an arrangement or two.
(Don't look at the mess on the sofa...oh yeah, you just had to look...)

I'm pondering over what to do for the Beaded Muse Contest. I've gathered much of my own stash in the same colourway looking for inspiration but I'm really stumped. Maybe I should just start moving the elements around on the bead tray. I've decided it will be a necklace with or without matching earrings.

Plus, I find myself stewing over the online bead class I'm taking through joggles.com. I already screwed up trying to access the forum. I read the 29 pages of step by step instructions and still I didn't get it. Some of the students have uploaded their work and I'm nowhere near that league. Boo hoo. Instead of whining I should just get to it. Now I'm distracted by my furniture. What other obstacles to creativity can I manufacture...?

Use the Muse Contest

2009-06-16T17:49:00.004-04:00

My challenge kit for the Beader's Muse Contest arrived in the mail today and I love the colours. I have hidden the actual 'muse' because this aspect of the project is supposed to be a secret until the big reveal on July 18th. Of course, I'm stuck already trying to figure out what I will do. I think that I'm hung up on trying to use every piece in the kit and this isn't necessary. Once I pass on my entry I shall post my work and give a link to the gallery. Meanwhile, should you like to join in the challenge, go to http://www.thebeadersmuse.com/rules/

Woofstock

2009-06-13T19:44:00.004-04:00

I started the day by going for a pedicure and manicure. It was the first pedicure of the season and there was a ton of work to be done on those big toes (post ingrown nail excision). So now the toenail is growing back with spurs that results in a nasty, jagged edge. I tried painting them myself which results in a bleeding look instead of a clean edge. Who am I kidding. I can't even reach my toes. So after much sanding around with a dremel, I have a nice set of painted toenails.

Afterwards I decided to check out Woofstock to satisfy my lust for all things canine. So many bulldogs. And a ton of yappy Yorkies. Many chihuahuas who also were warning off the masses with some fierce barking. Not a lot of goldens which surprised me given the popularity of the breed. This pic is of our girl, Goldoone, in the backyard of our Ottawa home. I couldn't wait to get out my camera and start photographing some of the dogs wearing tinted sun goggles. My camera battery needed recharging so I couldn't even turn on the thing. Waaaah! Can't I remember anything these days? And I never saw so many dog strollers in my life! I really should get one for taking the cats to the vet. So many things to buy these days....

Baby did a bad, bad, thang

2009-06-13T11:40:00.003-04:00

This organizational exercise has taken on a life of it's own. I was up until 3:00 a.m. cleaning up my supply cupboards and only managed to get 2 shelves done. My main motivation is to find the plastic bag filled with suede, ultra suede and Lacy's Stiff Stuff for my beading projects. In 2 years it has not moved from it's place on the coffee table. So where is it now...? I need to find it now and then introduce some new storage space to this dump!!!!!!!

I get a newsletter regularly from Green Tea Design furniture on Carlaw (reproductions of Japanese, Korean and Chinese styles as well as some antiques). Tons of storage! And I've lusted after these pieces for many years. So I went to the showroom yesterday since there was a sale on the step chests and I felt I could justify making myself happy by purchasing non-edible objects. I bought 4 pieces all of which have some nice little storage areas. And I don't feel at all guilty although I know I should. I was stupid for not taking pictures ( even of Ruby, my feline escort throughout the showroom. She looks so much like Tayoh but is actually a main coone. Love the fur tufts in between the toes). I should get my stuff in about 2 weeks.

The model above is the CD step chest - meaning the drawer sizes will hold CDs but there are no dividers inside the drawers. The picture is deceptive as it is the size of an end table - I think 30" high. And since I collect Chinese and Japanese teapots which are tucked away in cupboards, I shall now be able to display them on the steps. YaY. I wonder if the cats will use this furniture as a ladder and knock off all those lovely doodads....

The art of organization

2009-06-09T12:07:00.006-04:00

I can only imagine the pristine results of Carmi's efforts to reorganize her stash of supplies. She has a large storage space so I'm guessing that she has a place for everything. On the other hand, my accumulation of stuff exceeds my living space and threatens to oust me from my domicile. I have not been able to do anything creative lately and find that I am compelled to shop (always online) for artsy things. I don't know if this is a kind of looking for inspiration or if it's actually a replacement activity. Whatever the reason, I don't know what to do with all of my supplies.

I have a gigabyte-worth of seed beads. It boggles the mind just how many colours and sizes there are. I have made an attempt at organizing them by colour groupings using dollar store containers. This is my coffee table....I don't really need a table for coffee. And there's no where to hide the containers. Absolutely no space.

And this is my little work table with the all- important TV remotes and hand cream. Sometimes these items overshadow the work at hand. Ha! I see Tayoh's tail and legs in the upper left corner.

I've signed up for a bead class online that starts tomorrow. Must download the first lesson. I think there are samples to be done to illustrates different techniques and I'll post them. The final project is a biggish deal (for me) which will incorporate all the techniques learned. It's a 6 week course through http://www.joggles.com/

National Ballet of Canada

2009-06-08T18:03:00.002-04:00

Yesterday marked the end of the 2008-2009 ballet season for subscription ticket holders. The performances are spaced in a most unusual fashion throughout the year - every 3-4 months, 2 ballets are shown on consecutive weeks. The previous weekend I saw Giselle and I liked it not at all. The best part was the bow-taking at the end which celebrated Chan Hon Goh in her final performance with the company after a career of 20 years. She's a fabulous dancer and the company must be mourning her departure. Like the leaving of Rex Harrington. I never got over his going - his presence on stage was so powerful and charismatic and no one has yet been able to fill that gap. He returned to the company this year as artist in residence and I had the pleasure of sitting right in front of him for a mini lecture that he gave prior to one of the other ballets. God, he's gorgeous. And rather slight in stature which somehow surprised me.

In my old age, I've turned off of traditional ballet and look forward to new pieces or modernization of the classics. Yesterday's bill featured 2 distinct pieces. The first - Skin Divers - had its North American premiere. It featured the poetry of Toronto poet, Anne Michaels, whose beautiful voice read both Skin Divers and Last Night's Moon. A string quartet blended the rhythm of the spoken word to music as the foundation for the dance.

I can't say enough about Carmen. Absolutely passionate, erotic, every scene cuts to the bone without any of that silly miming business designed to drive the story forward. The choreographer is Italian genius, Davide Bombana. .

What ever happened to Chris Isaak?

2009-05-29T16:09:00.003-04:00

Out of the blue I happened to be thinking about Chris Isaak and wondering what he's doing these days. I suppose I first became a fan back in 2001 when he had his own tv show late at night - 11:00 pm or later. He played himself along with the other members of his band. Inevitably they would play a concert (written into the plot) or rehearsed. Such a great musician. His song, "Wicked Game", was a huge hit and featured a music video with supermodel Helena Christiansen. I couldn't get enough of it. Nowadays you never hear of him. So I decided to google him only to find that he's coming to Casino Rama the end of July. What a coincidence! The decent tickets seem to go for $148 up to $440. This must be some sort of mistake or am I just no longer in the concert loop know how...

Rainy day

2009-05-27T17:05:00.002-04:00

Just sometimes losing the harsh sunlight for awhile can be a comfort. Today was the first rainy day in quite a spell and, since the the rain took the form of a soft drizzle and a gentle pit-a-patting on the umbrella, there was none of that urgency to run for cover. Instead, every footstep brought forth a collision with yet another fresh scent - the heady aroma of lilacs, the sharp snap of juniper needles, the earthiness of moist cedar decks... The greenery is so lush right now and robins are busy plucking the lawns for worms. It's also peak time for the spirea to cascade under the weight of their heavy white flowers. The waning tulips are giving way to the tall straight stalks of purple alium, the stands of irises, and the emergence of budding peonies complete with swarming ants, What's their job anyway. the ants?

The next few days seems to have the same forecast as today. I don't mind it one bit except that I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow and this humidity turns my mop into a frizz bomb. I guess it's a small sacrifice compared to enjoying nature's bounty. Maybe if I wear my dark glasses no one will know me and I won't feel so ashamed of the hair.

The original

2009-05-22T20:50:00.001-04:00

For those who enjoyed the advanced cat yodeling, this is the original.

Cat Yodeling

2009-05-22T18:09:00.002-04:00

Just when you think there's no relief from the dark cloud floating above you, along comes Paul Klusman, engineer, whose knowledge of cat behaviour is daunting.

Everything in 4444s marked down to 333s

2009-05-17T12:54:00.003-04:00

I think it's Marissa's invitation to do the list thing that has brought me back to posting. Some health issues have been getting in the way. Well, let's see how much of the questionnaire I can complete. I seem to be stuck at 3s for this list.

Three places that I go to over and over: Starbucks, parents' place, GoodLife fitness

Three people who email me regularly: Chris, Susan, joggles.com newsletter,

Three favorite smells: coffee, baking bread, Votivo candle - Moroccan Fig,

Other places I would rather be right now: San Francisco, New Zealand, Vancouver,

Three people I think will respond: (am I supposed to email them? or do I just name them?) Leslie, Susan, Chris

Neurological mysteries

2009-04-18T17:26:00.002-04:00

Today I found myself strolling around Chapters with my tall,mocha frappucino light in hand and I came upon a book that I must have read almost 30 years ago....no, that can't be right. Forget the time lapse. This must have been around the time (1990) of the release of the movie, "Awakenings" starring Robert deNiro and Robin Williams. It's based on a true story written by neurologist Oliver Sacks and Robin Williams' character is based on Sacks. If you haven't seen this movie, you should rent it. It is at once heartwarming and heartbreaking. It makes me cry every time I see an excerpt from the movie. OK, so I'm a big baby but I'll bet the majority of you out there will do the same.
Anyway, the book I picked up is a collection of short stories - actual cases - that are strange and mystifying. It is entitled "The Man who Mistook His Wife for a Hat". Now, that should grab your attention.

I did it again

2009-04-11T21:00:00.005-04:00

Sure enough, it's April so I must be due to have a fall. Right on my face. The fellow walking towards me was so worried because I was gushing blood from somewhere and he wanted me to go straight to the hospital. He called upon the two women coming up behind me to pronounce their opinion concerning the forehead gash. One of them called her husband to come and drive me home. See, all the nice people are on Sheppard. To hell with the Yonge St. crowd.

At home, when I had a look at myself, I realized that these people were right. So I hopped a cab to the Urgent Care Centre at Branson Hospital. Several hours later, the doctor came in and revealed that there were areas in the wound that reached down to the frontal bone. OOOOOOh. This is somewhat significant, I think. So I now have an ugly forehead gash and a nose that is misshapen from the swelling and scraped up as well. Woe is me.

I have been trying to work on some fabric boxes but I'm having problems with motivation and concentration. I find myself doing bits on one and then putting it away and starting another. I think I'm creatively blocked.

Not another technological fiasco

2009-04-02T18:08:00.003-04:00

I've just been bumming around on the computer and felt like listening to some itunes. Well, the program wouldn't open and the Task Manager didn't work. Probably at the One of a Kind Show checking out Carmi's cards. I couldn't turn off the computer, not even by pushing the button a hundred times. I finally unplugged it. I had the ipod connected to recharge it and I noticed the the screen was frozen on an image. It wouldn't budge. This is the exact same thing my last nano did before I declared it dead which was at least 2 and a half years after the purchase. This is only two months old and at least I had the foresight into buying a replacement warranty but I think it kicks in only after you send it off to Apple for an assessment. What am I going to do without it......

When I plugged in the tower, I had a message that Windows wouldn't start up but whoever is talking to me said it would find a way. Bless him. And so the startup was completed. Except that it won't recognize some of my programs. And I'm ignorant when it comes to analyzing anything on the computer. Might have to call Dell.

Thank god Amber seems much better. The virus clearly has been spreading around the apartment.

Quiet day

2009-03-28T19:55:00.004-04:00

Here we see little Amber resting up between meals. She has a voracious appetite and is eating like never before. She must be trying to regain her original weight thereby sending the 10 lb pledge into a tizzy. The vet called this afternoon to tell me the tests for feline leukemia and immunodeficiency viruses were negative. No surprise here and cost a fortune. So now we're thinking toxoplasmosis since many of her symptoms are classic. The only thing is that she's an indoor cat and would not be exposed to the parasite. Geez, maybe I gave it to her. Since Amber loves the anorexic food, I'm going to run over to the vet tomorrow to pick up some cans. The vet is both shocked and pleased by Amber's quick recovery.

This morning I was savouring my coffee while listening to CBC Radio 2. Or rather, the radio was on in the background. I have been reluctant to accept the change in programming from strictly classical to...something else. Much of it I can't stand but I suppose it's time to get with the program and open my musical mind to the new and interesting. As I am thinking this, a beautiful song is being played - Sometymes Why is a group made up of 3 women whose beautiful heartfelt harmonies grace each song. There seems to be some difficulty in categorizing their music - contemperary folk, folk noir, and who knows what else.

The song played this morning :Your Heart is a Glorious Machine is from the album of the same name

On the myspace page there is a short list of songs from this new album to the right side which can be played .
.

Of course I've tried 300 times to create a link to the myspace page. Nothing is working so this is the manual version: http://www.myspace.com/sometymeswhy

Amber needs a nursemaid

2009-03-27T18:51:00.010-04:00

A get well orchid for Amber

After failing to develop a successful 'medicating'plan for Amber with that L-Lysine ,the 3 month old upper respiratory tract infection continued to flourish. And then there appeared to be an additional problem. . She stopped eating entirely on Monday night and did not move from the sofa at all. She had this look on her face...depressed, uncomfortable. She dropped a lot of weight - 2 lbs in 2 months. This is like a person losing 30 lbs in the same period of time. So she actually met Carmi's 10 lb Weight Loss Challenge whereas I'm still struggling. Her entire head is so much smaller. She looks great at this weight but illness is not the way to lose. The blood work offered no indication of something systemic. But I had noticed that her pupils were not equal and apparently this can be indicative of one of 4 different problems, most notably being FIV or FLV (aids virus, leukemia virus). It's very unlikely that she has either since she's 12 years old and these are young cats'disorders but I'm having the testing done anyway since the lab has enough blood left to do it.

During the exam the vet opened a can of 'anorexic diet' food, placed it on the table in front of Amber and she ate like she had been starving for days (very funny). So I have 2 cans at home and I am following Amber around the apartment like a stalker. As soon as Amber is finished with her bowl, Tayoh comes running to clean up the leftovers but so far I've been very quick. I'm running into the bathroom whenever Amber goes inside to use the litter box and I'm monitoring her activities there to make sure everything in that department is working. She's been so much better today - maybe from the injections of an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory.
There's nothing that solidifies and bonds a relationship like an animal suffering. I feel so badly for her. But tonight she asked for her Greenies treats and that's encouraging.
I should hear about the viral testing at the beginning of next week. So for now, it's a lot of TLC.

Reading to the subtle beat of the fire alarm

2009-03-17T11:39:00.006-04:00

Yes, it's the annual fire alarm test where the technicians enter the apartments to examine the speakers,the wiring, and the volume of the ringing. Every time the ringing begins again, I jump from my seat. No warning and really loud.I'm sure I'm going to develop high blood pressure before the testing is finished. I don't know if they actually came here yesterday. There's nothing to indicate it but they have 25 floors to do before packing up tomorrow afternoon. So that would tell me that they have to hustle. I'm on the 20th floor.

I just got this book from Chapters/Indigo which was released at the beginning of the month:
Mixed Media Collage Jewelry, New Directions in Memory Jewelry. The author is Janette Schuster. She devotes a chapter to each topic including tools and materials as well as techniques, At the end of each chapter/section she includes a gallery of the works of 12 artists including herself. She showcases a variety of works: necklace, bracelets, earrings and pins and gives detailed instructions for making the objects. The pictures are great too.

Just a quickie

2009-03-14T13:07:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to post this for Leslie. I did find the high school Honour Society prize. It was where it always was. Ha! Nothing like missing the obvious. The medallion is very heavy, made by Birks, and on the back is carved my name. If the picture is small, click on the image to enlarge.