Jurassic Bone Marrow

Yet another red neck folk art creation of my dad's whimsy. It use to be a perfectly normal porous rock decorating our humble little fish pond. But one to two years ago maybe more, can't remember exactly, my dad decided to make it in to this using some cement that was laying around. Something that looks to me like a giant soup bone. I don't know why he needed to do that but on a whim I guess the need was there. It could have been possibly his love of things drum stick or any bone cooked with meat still on it. I know he always has to be the first to grab those. Its the cave man in him I guess. 
It is pretty cool to look at even though I still have mixed feelings about it. I could plant or someone else could plant some nice pinkish flowers in the hole to represent fresh marrow in a bone? Who knows? So far my dad only has planted some random tulips in the hole thinking they would come back every year (but they didn't) but I think much smaller flowers would do much better anyways. 

 

Sit up Meetso

Yup. Long time no see. Been busy and with some good stuff for a change. 
OK Meetso first. This was taken in early spring on a gloomy rainy day. I was with Meetso on the front porch and he was ogling a bunny munching on some nice green spring grass. (showing that in the next post) Before we had that long dry summer this year. So yeah the pic is kind of dark and I could only get it so bright. 
I had him sitting up so that's why my hand got in the way of the shot. 

 More pics next post. 

Yup its been a craziness year of business and well craziness.  Both of our neighbours now hate us. But I always suspected that they probably already did so. It has something to do with having to replace the central air conditioner during the almost hottest part of July. We had no choice but to have it placed just beyond our fence instead of in the usual spot. Instead its closer to his garage. His sitting during the day spot. He totally freaked over this, basically told us to pack up and get lost. 
Even called the city on us. But the representatives didn't do a thing since we are in code. Some people. They think they're so nice but underneath they have a evil core. A real shame. Classic behavior from Godless people.  Oh yeah the other neighbour decided that she didn't like my kitty passing though her yard, on occasion peeing on her stuff and decided to hose him down right in front of me. >:( Really? I mean every day there's some animal that goes on her lawn and either takes a pee or poops on her stuff. How come she's not freaking out on those creatures? Guess its also typical of people who live by them selves, who are mad at the world and mad at God. She use to go to church when her mother. 
Someone is definitely holding a brick in their heart where her heart should be. *rollie eyes* I mean hay, I have issues, lots of hurtful issues but I don't take it out on the whole world. 

Oh speaking of storms, wow 2 tornadoes and a flood. Over all the weather was pretty dry during the "nice and warm" season but wow when it rains, it pours. One tornadoes are rare here so it was a surprise when we got one and then number two. And an a f2 of all things. We were all right but close by there was some damage. Some blown off roofs and bent steal around utilities. 
Recently well last week we got this rain storm. Lots of roads and basements in our areas got overwhelmed by water. But my mother and I still when to the mall to take care of things. We on the other hand had a bit of water in our basement. Not a big deal compared to a number of years ago when we had torrential Niagara falls like rain come down. Luckily I was up late working on a project so every one was on alert here. That was a year before Meetso came to live with us. 

We also had a perfect storm of squirrels this year. They ate almost everything. The ate all the peaches, grapes, stole tomatoes, attacked our plums and if that wasn't enough, they even tried to gnaw though my bird cages. It was the last straw and caught in succession 7 squirrels in a human-trap and then later dumped them in a forest park well stocked with their natural food. A definite world record for us in catches. We caught 4 or 5 of them last time. Guess the craziness began last fall when there was a bumper crop of acorns last fall. They sure were really fat. 

Hopefully there aren't any more perfect storms coming.  ;)
 

A Friday that was more like a Monday

A Friday that was more like a Monday is what it felt like. I knew I wasn't going to like that day and was pretty much spoiled for me. Well I don't like dental appointments or any other medical related appointments for that matter but it had to get over with. So I got my annoyance over with and like usual I treat my self with a special snack of some sort. I was going to have an ice cream from the new ice cream place on the corner near by, but my stomach was still upset from a few nights before when I tried out this new spicy chicken. I love spicy chicken or anything spicy for that matter but this was a bit too much for me I guess. But it could have been more severe had I not eaten yogurt afterwords. So instead of the ice cream treat to drown out the dental taste left in my mouth, I got a small box of 20 TimBits verity style. They're basically doughnut holes from a place called TimHortons. I'm sure you've heard about the famous Canadian icon. So I brought them home to share and I though that was the end of it. But guess not. Later that night and as usual, my kitty gets in the mood to go out for a stroll. But before that he likes his play time with me and a meal. As we played in my room on the floor near my bed, I started to smell something strange but somehow familiar. Something burning, like burning wire. I started to get a bit frantic and nervous when I first could not find the source of the noxious smell.  Looked at my outlets, nope. Looked at a power bar, nope. Eventually I looked up thinking it might be somehow the ceiling light. The reason why I thought that was earlier my dad was changing the light fixture in the kitchen that was not working properly. Somehow I thought it was connected. Maybe the wire was damaged by a electrical serge? I started to get scared thinking that maybe there was a smoldering wire in the ceiling that was eventually going to lead to fire. After all I did start to see smoke swirling around my light fixture. The smell was getting stronger and overwhelming to my nose. So I started to open windows despite the furnace being on. But that didn't matter at that point. I also wen to see if the smell was in any other room especially the kitchen. Sure enough it was there. Now really panicking, my dad and I went outside and inside pretty much all over that house inspecting and contemplating. But we really couldn't really find any smoldering wires est. 
Just as well the smells were at that point starting to dissipate after opening the windows but we still weren't sure what happened.  It was only about an half an hour later when my mom went to empty the dishwasher when we realized what had happened. Apparently the dishwasher caught on fire and filled my room and the kitchen with nasty toxic burnt plastic smoke. I spent several days getting rid of that nasty smell. But you can still smell it in the kitchen. But then it could have been worse. Luckily the dishwasher only short circuited when I guess a bit of water got in to the electrical components  and burnt the front panel. Yikes and Yuck! But this might have been avoided if my parents heeded the recall warning for that machine a few years earlier. I hope they learn their lesson. Just too bad they're prone to hard headiness and stubbornness. Oh well. 

This Thursday will be my kitty's Monday since its vet day. He has to get his shots. He will be treated handsomely afterwords with his favorite treats. ;)

More moldy leftovers.

Yup you guessed it. More leftovers (pics) from last year. Just as well. I’ve been really busy with stuff that has to get done. Yard work, house work, putting things in jars and my own personal work. Pretty much boring stuff and not worth talking about. But some work is still worth showing off and I'll be showing them very soon at my creative site.

As usual I took a walk. One fall day last year I decided to take a walk in the park. All around the park and I mean the whole circumference of it and its pretty amazing the beautiful things you can find if you just look in the right places in an otherwise uninteresting, abused and neglected park. Normally all you would find are tread marks left over from bone heads that like to drive though and joy ride with their cars and park where you really shouldn't. Then there are people with their dogs again as I said before do not pick up after their dogs. You can tell the park has seen better days, cause I found an old capped off water fountain. Its just a cement spot with a few pipes sticking out of it now. Shame.

Anyhow look at what I found near a fence. Some lovely daisy like flowers. Not sure what they're called but they're still pretty even if they're just weeds.

Ok the next set of pics were not taken in a park but also in the fall. I thought thought it looked cool with a few summer flowers (mostly morning glory) just trying to survive the last bit of nice days that are left with fall leaves in the backdrop. Plus the colours are really attractive.

 

Hopefully I'll have something a bit more cheery and recent to show very soon. 

If not, I'm sure they'll be interesting and maybe fun? Maybe. ;)

 

More Burdock ?

Yep more Burdock. Guess I just had to take a few more eh. Of course they were taken earlier in the season but mid summer. I have a few more pics to show in better weather times but just have been busy with other things just never got around to doing that. For one thing I had to move my whole web site to another more stable place and wouldn't you know it they got bought out by another company and never so much as a simple notification. Guess I moved out just in time. Just never got a chance to use that special “site moved” page. Bummer and it was a neat one too. Then today one of the clip art places decided to sell exclusively only 3D models products thus kicking us 2D makers out. But not a total bummer, I never sold an image there any how. Meh! :p None the less I'm still keeping my account there maybe I'll make and sell those models in the future when I can get some software. I did work with Maya software at one time after all. But I may have to go with a cheaper alternative. 

Just two nuts

Boy, some people drop F-bombs like pigeons drop crap on people's heads or perfectly clean cars.

I heard that there's an app now to know where all the F-bombs are let loose in the world on digital maps and its live too.

Fascinating I know. North America seems to be the biggest culprit. No surprise there.

Anyways on a walk not so recent. Meaning that it was a few months ago when the trees still had their leaves est I found these two nuts close to where the source tree is. They were two black walnuts still with their bumpy green coverings on them. Wow black walnuts! Love those things. Been looking for some for the longest time. But unfortunately the tree is owned by someone. So I have yet to find a park with some. So after I took a few pics, I went to the garage and found a hammer. I gave it a few whacks on each nut which was no easy task and got to the tasty goodness inside.

Oh and for those who have their minds in the gutter and or who are holding on to their pants, just stop, they're just nuts. ;p

Oh look one of them has a happy face. LOL
Found a rock like that once.  ;D;p

Another one of those update posts.

Yes its another one of those “things I have been up too“ posts.
Just finished that former blanket now quilt via up-cycling.
Going to have a really nice quilt this fall/winter cuddle season.  If there are any rips on any of the squares they should be easy to fix. 

 Front

 Also front.

 Back

                                                      Also the back.


For work, still currently hunting for a new gig after the other repeat gig was canceled due to medical reasons via client a few months ago. Definitely not easy hunting down a new antelope er gig.  Murphy’s law. I only seem to have invites for gigs when I’m currently working on an active gig. Why people why? So frustrating.

I also had my first sale at Fiver.com. I sold a set of pompoms that can also be used as a cat toy. Downside can’t do it any more unless Fiver has or makes some policy changes to the “only for five dollars” thing. Just not worth sending it though the mail at above 7 dollars a pop. To make it worth my while I’ll have to charge and provide more of them to make it worth my while. In the mean time I’m selling seedlings of Mimosa, Chinese lantern tree and Wisteria vine there currently. Very beautiful flowering plants that can over winter quite well.  I’m thinking of selling my pompoms at Zibbet.com for now. A really nice place very similar to Etsy.com, only Zibbet is free. You only pay a fee if you go premium and that will get you more stuff like more selling spots other then the standard 50 with the basic registering. Already at my little Zibbet store, so far have 2 other items for sale. A tie-dye tee-shirt that glows in the dark and features a breaching or splashing dolphin. I airbrushed and tie-dyed it my self a number of years ago. Really nice for outgoing people or kids. The other thing I have is a nautical style Christmas ball. It as a net like pattern I made with twine and real shells from Florida I personally dove for and then I painted little sea stars all over in random areas. Also very nice. Can be used as I intended as a ornament for the tree or some one who has this theme in their house.
None the less I will be making more things in the future for sale on Zibbet. Like more airbrushed tee shirts pompoms of course, some special toys I’ll airbrush. Some made by me other adapted. I also try other things as well. Bonus I’ll have some new artworks for my portfolio too. Might as well take advantage of many things like downtime, making money and PR.

Over all, the last few months have been crazy. Lots of things breaking down that need to get fixed. A shed roof, doors, an old van, my poor computer, a small ladder and now our main large screen TV.  No I won’t blame gremlins but old age and obsolescence. Not counting my computer of course. Apparently a video card went ca-bluy . I never even got the blue screen thingy. It just wouldn’t boot up one night before Victoria‘s day. But now all is well……..for now.

Things I will be working on soon. Hopefully a new gig, some of my own things, picking mulberries and making lots of jam. Maybe even pickling as well.

Hoping things will improve soon.
Need to stay positive.

I smell like strawberries!.....

I made some strawberry jam today and boy am I exhausted. It wouldn’t have taken me all night had the counters and table been clean. Sadly no one bothers to help on conquering the filth and unorganization of the downstairs kitchenette/laundry room.  Took me twice as long to do stuff because of all the clean up I had to do. Eventually I got to cleaning and preparing the strawberries right after I cleaned some mulberries I had picked earlier. There wasn’t much in the way of mulberries but for the strawberry jam it was just the right amount.  So I finally finished one batch just before 10pm. Ugh! But at least it turned out alright. But I think it could have been better. I have a feeling its going to be a bit more solid that I would have liked.

Another pic of Meetso. I kind of hope to look all rested like that tomorrow when I get up.
I have yet to take a pic of him with his paws over his eyes looking all hammish. Its kind of difficult to do that since my camera is kind of old and the shutter speed is a bit slow for those kinds of cool shots.
Maybe by a freak of nature I’ll get a shot. 

 

Oh yeah here’s a new Make by me.
It’s a recipe I made my own based on a honey brand muffin recipe. Its called Stale Cereal Muffins.
I came up with the idea because there was a cereal that was just sitting in the pantry that I wasn’t too crazy eating as is with milk. So I thought I try making it in to a muffin since you can do that with regular brand cereal. So I tried it out and it came out really, really good. So I thought I share with you. 

 
Hope it turns out for you too. 

You can find the links at Instructables.com and my web site too.

Boy its been one those of the busiest summers in a long time and that’s not counting the current book project I’m currently working on. That’s priority number one. People and even one new friend pulling you in all directions. Its sort of like juggling a bunch of balls and you have to make sure you don’t exactly drop one because they happen to be eggs.

Anyways yeah been more busier then normal and have virtually no time to really be on line not even to do the little things. Well I am trying to write this latest blog and post it that’s an exception but haven’t really been diving in to the internet, just scanning it quickly among other things.

Only made one batch of strawberry jam and the rest of the local strawberries I had to freeze for future jam making when I can. Going to have to buy a few baskets of local peaches this year if I want to make jam out of that since those darn squirrels took every last peach off of our tree this year. Greedy little things and yet they still go and eat all of the bird seeds I leave out for the wild birds. I’ll probably freeze some of those peaches as well so that when I get the time I can jam with those as well.

Also have some personal things I’m trying to get over with since my mom has been really bugging me to do so. Yet another gorilla to get off my back but it also feels like beating a dead horse too. The personal things, well I really want to keep that between me my self and I because its well a bit embarrassing and it at the same time causes me much anxiety. But it does have to do with a test and the giver of the tests. Me and tests have never been friends. They are my enemy that I would rather shoot and avoid like a plague. Sort of going to the dentist and or doctor or any annoying thing.

Speaking of the dentist, that’s yet another thing I have to get over with but since I have all these things I had to postpone it. Not like I’m disappointed though. My teeth are in pretty good shape any how other then the cracked teeth I have as a result of eating extra hard roasted chestnuts I ate at one time. Haven’t had a cavity in years. Knock on wood.

My birds have been busy as usual and they ended up sneaking in a pair of fertile eggs under my radar. I didn’t catch them right away because of my business and anxiety over coming events. But because I found out too late I let them go. Now I have two healthy roly-poly babies so far. I just hope they don’t end up with splayed legs. That’s when the legs go all funny and they can’t walk like they should. Not fun for any one.

Last but not least I gained an new friend of the furry kind which is pretty unusual in its self. I thought I never see the day unless I got my own place. Yeah I still live with my parents and my dad has this quirky thing about him which make him hard to get him sometimes. But none the less he gave in I guess. The Meowy wheel gets the cat nip. LOL

Any how a few weeks ago well it was the last week of June on a Friday night my mom heard a noise outside. So I went outside to confirm it and find out what it was. It turned out to be a really loud kitten crying. It was apparently coming from across one of our neighbors yard and in the direction of the alleyway. I could have sworn that little kitty was caring a blow horn/mega phone or something cause that’s how loud the mew was. But boy does she have a strong voice box. So I called the little kitty and out she popped out from under some bushes. So yeah I get her and she’s all covered with leaves, burrs and some dirt. So we tried to take her in but she meowed all night in the house so at some point I had to place her back out side. We also had to explain with the neighbors but they seem to be understanding about all the noise. Luckily she still hung around and now we still have her.

So we brought her back in and then she finally quieted down. She still mewing loudly even when I gave her some food I had lying around. LOL It was the funniest thing and at the same time the most pitiful thing you herd.

I kepped an eye out for lost ads at the store and what not but didn’t see any. So since my dad gave in, we as in mom and I got to keep her or is that a he. I still can’t decide since its still sort of hard to know for sure. One the genital aria is small since she still a kitten and also she’s a long hair. So for now she’s a she unless I find out otherwise. She has long hair as I said and has both stripes, spots and is white and orange. On her back legs it looks like she wearing orange striped leg warmers which makes perfect since she’s a real jumper when she plays and looks like she’s dancing. As for her name she’s called Meetsa. Not exactly spelt that way but for your benefit spelt like that on purpose. To me she looks like a butter scotch sundae so I probably would have called her with that relation or many other names I have in my mind but this time it was my moms turn. In my parents language Meetsa is a common name meaning Kitty. So if Meetsa ends up being a male all I have to do is change it to Meetso. No problem. Now I don’t know the exact history of little Meetsa, but to me someone had to have abandoned her. Their lose.

She’s a great and really smart kitty. Sometimes intelligence can get Meetsa in to trouble so I always have to ware her out with playing with her so I had to change my whole schedule just for her. LOL But she is totally worth it. Oh and she follows me around all over the place like a little puppy dog. Makes it easer to keep her where I want her for her safety. Also she loves to go below my butt when I squat, like a chick to a mother hen. I'm not sure why she/he does that but its so cute. Anyways here’s a few pics of her in all her or his beauty. I love to get a few pics where she has her mouth open or in some funny antic. 

The following are pics taken in the first week we got Meetsa before the dreaded bath. 

These were taken a few weeks ago while Meetsa was in her favorite spot for bird watching. 

I think the last one makes her look like a sphinx statue don't you think?

:)

Been rather busy with working on another book in the same line of Sunny the lion cat, some vector art work and a bunch of other things. But since I'm in between things like waiting for my new mattress which was suppose to come last week but had to send it back since it was the wrong size, I like to introduce a neat little forum for fellow localvoures. http://www.wannaknow.ca/ Right now it only features three local areas in Ontario but with more interest it has the ability to extend possibly at your request. Its a perfect place to share all kinds of helpful information and beyond which can be most important to the people living in around your neighborhood. It has a nice family feel to the whole place.
New people are always welcome.

And the mattress, well I really hope I get the right one this week or else, I'm going t be one cranky kitty who didn't get that proper beauty sleep. ;)

Boy, what a difference half a year can make. LOL As I said yesterday I finished Illustrating that children’s book a few months ago and the resulting fruits of my labor were very pleasing to the author. I’m almost done with my “to do” list and since a few weeks ago I upgraded to a new internet service. What a difference. So far so good. It also helps to be wireless. No more annoying cords all over the place for people to trip on and or damage. I also mentioned that I finally got that long elusive package I was expecting in the mail. Who knew it would take that long. So I finally get to upgrade my photoshop.

Besides all that, this year no new peach jam. I guess hot and humid summers are not a good mix for peaches. It was mold and then the darn resident squirrel that did all the peaches in. It was bad enough that he was talking them and then he brings his family along for the feast too. A gray female and two little black kittens or what ever you call two little annoying black squirrels.

Oh and then there were the grapes. These are the kinds the kind that ripen just after my peaches. They’re these super sweet little green grapes with out seeds that are more on the yellow side if they get to that point. But nope. The resident robin that comes back to our house every year decided that they were too delicious for us people to eat and would promptly get rid of them before we had to taste them.
He also brought his annoying family too. So I ended up making this fake hawk out of foam and paper, painted it up and my dad placed it just above the grape vine. Unfortunately it didn’t work since he didn’t hang it properly and it ended up all tangled up on its fishing line est. None the less I still managed to sort of save a few bunches of grapes by placing a few plastic bags with little holes on a few of them. It worked some what since now when they got close to fully ripening but the insects started to have a go at them.
I had to pick them more sooner then I would have liked to.
Next year I’m going to stick those plastic bottles (the kinds used for water)with the tops cut off on to the bunches of grapes with the plastic bags. Maybe that’ll work.

Oh yeah the author and now friend has asked me to post this for any one that is interested and looking for a adventurous and beautiful getaway, also here's the rest of those zoo animal pics. ;)

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p294825

Wow that was fast. Earlier I had ordered these two books with the help of a gift card I earned with Air miles and the next week they're already here. And then come labour day I won some software at Ebay at an phenomenal price of around 61 dollars which would normally cost around 700 when new. How lucky is that. I so appreciate that since I really needed those things but I wasn't expecting to get them so fast. I guess when opportunity knocks, it knocks fast.


Unlike fish tanks, you should never knock on them. It gives the fish headaches. ;)

As you know I haven't been spending a whole lot of time on the net lately. Unfortunately I have been spending it as in life doing a whole lot of worrying about things. Well I can't help it and some how I still manage even if I'm sometimes just hanging on my rope. When I am online, its just checking up on things and just a bit of surfing. On a lighter note I found some cool things that were of special interest to me not to mention very helpful. That is software. Its from an open source and hopeful very useful. I think what I'll do is post the ones that I have already tried that I think are cool and useful that others might find useful as well.

Here's a nifty one that you might like and best of all its free.
Its called CamStudio and what it does it basically records what ever is currently on your computer screen. It has some nice controls as in you can adjust things like pan speed, it records in AVI or flash format and also records the sound just like you would here on the computer.
Its definitely a nice find for Window users. They might make it for Mac's as well but not sure but its cool none the less.