Lost Coasters Review

2012-01-16T21:51:00.000-08:00

Dec 9 was my last post?? I thought I'd posted my birthday dinner here on New Year's Eve. Guess it just went to Facebook :-( Anyhoo, Happy Birthday to me at 5 Guys Burgers. Bon Appetit!

And now for something completely different....

If a diagram is needed to tell you that the baby does NOT go inside the changing tray, then perhaps motherhood is not the appropriate career path for you.
Just a thought.

2011-12-08T21:30:00.001-08:00

Yayyyy! Trader Joe's has finally come to Spokane. It was scheduled for last summer, and now it's December, but everyone was SO happy to be shopping. The Two-Buck-Chuck (which is now Two-Buck-and-Fortynine-Cents-Chuck) sold out in the first two hours, it was an hour wait in line to check out, and almost impossible to get through the aisles, but nobody minded. We just slowly shuffled with the crowd, aimlessly reading nutritional information on the labels and spending way too much money...but no one was grumpy. What a fun shopping day!

2011-12-05T13:05:00.001-08:00

Socks for special friends....and yes, Batman has a mowhawk LOL He's a much happier dog since his dental work this year, but that's a story for another day.

2011-11-27T08:44:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays, everyone! Hope you all got to spend Thursday doing something you enjoyed. I was quasimoto-ed over my digitizer pad most of the day, but I had the last season of The Sopranos running in a split screen, so I was a happy camper (BTW, noon on Thanksgiving in NOT a fortuitous time to shop for a turkey breast). For some unknown reason, Dish blessed me with 3 months of free HBO, so I'm frantically DVR'ing anything that's currently playing (True Blood YAYYY!), and now that I'm home, marathoning through the older serieses(seria, serea?). Today is Season 3 of Deadwood. I am seriously going to miss www.hbogo.com when my 3 months are up, but I do not see Premium Channels in my crystal ball.
Here's a pic of my first felting -- first felting with the fuzzy bits, anyway, not crocheted or knitted. Mira showed me how to do it when I was in Finland, and it was so easy having her take me through the process step-by-step. The written directions always look to daunting for me to follow, and I never would have tackled felting without her help.

2011-11-22T20:57:00.001-08:00

Three weeks and 4 shows since my last post, and I'm finally home for the Christmas break, looking forward to cleaning the house, working on new designs, developing some new classes, and spending quality time with Creighton and the Critters. Our planned trip down to Fort Bragg has been cancelled due to lack of funds. We'll try again in a few months. Disappointing, but I'm also glad to be staying home.Here's our booth from a huge Holiday Festival last weekend. I shared it with Melinda Melvin, another local artist.

This is one of my favorite pieces, but I have to give credit to Melinda. I did the design, but she did most of the work. Not only did she share her technique of gluing and varnishing, but she also completed most of my panels while I was globe-hopping the previous week. My half of the booth would have been pretty empty without her generosity. I'm a lucky girl.

2011-10-31T22:01:00.000-07:00

I'm sure some of you wonder how anyone can tolerate those long hours in an airport. Well, sometimes we do this...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNYSYR2LVPsI'm pretty sure this one was at Heathrow.Something has changed on blogspot, and I can't upload a video, so I put it on YouTube. It doesn't appear to be an active link, so my apologies that you'll have to cut and paste it in the URL line. If anyone knows how to make this more seamless, please let me know.

2011-10-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

I know you've already seen Batman in many poses, including in a suitcase, but tonight as we're frantically pressing rubber and packing, he made me smile. Tomorrow I head to the UK for a show, and Creighton is driving to Fort Bragg to deal with the mess our tenants made of our house. I'll be back in the cheap seats for many hours, and he's going to have a nasty mess on his hands....so yes, it's another picture of Batman. I hope he brings a smile to you, too.
Little does he know that a visit to the groomer is in his near future...that's another pic for next week :-)

2011-09-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

It's been a long 6 months since my last post, and thanks to all of you that were concerned and wrote to check on me. I hit a rough patch on the Road of Life shortly after the returning from Amsterdam. I thought that if I just got through that crisis, everything would be fine, and I'd get back to posting funny pictures and stories...but it didn't work out that way; the rough bumps continue, and the light at the end of the tunnel is very dim....but I really enjoyed blogging, and want to get back to it, so I'm putting on my Big Girl Panties and will pick up from where we left off...on a happy day in Amsterdam with our friend, Jorgan (whose name must be spelled wrong because there is no "I", "U", and only one "J"). He treated us to a wine and cheese tour of the Amsterdam canals on his boat. What a very special day that was.

I leave in the morning for Art & Soul in Portland, but promise to post again next week before I head for a show in the UK.

2011-04-21T21:29:00.000-07:00

I just got home last night from the Netherlands show, and leave for Kansas to help move Creighton's parents tomorrow morning, but I wanted to at least post this peculiar way to display childrens' hoodies at the Amsterdam open market.

2011-03-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

The stamping world has said good-bye to Norm of Polly's Pals. Norm had been one of the "regulars" at the stamp shows for many years, and was on the road to the Portland show when it was time to leave us. His smile and kindness will not be forgotten. Norm, I wish you a safe journey to your next destination.

Our condolences to Norm's family.

2011-03-28T22:50:00.000-07:00

Another quick entry. I got back from Portland late last night and have been frantically packing for the next shows. I don't know why I thought that 7 shows in 4 weeks was a Good Idea, and many thanks to Tami (Allentown, PA), Adrien (Sacramento, CA), and Sandi(Ocean City, MD) for all their help.
Backing up a bit....I was in Albuquerque two weekends ago for the stamp show, and stayed a couple extra days to teach a Visual Journaling class at China Phoenix 2.
That's owner, Nancy, and resident cat, in the back row.
The class was more successful than I'd dared hope, and I'm planning a repeat performance at China Phoenix 2 maybe in October.
And I got to spend some quality time with my BFs, Paula and Teresa (www.paulabest.com). YAYYY!! Paula even was at my class for the first day, but the pic is from Day Two.
I'm at the Coeur d'Alene show this weekend, but will also have a booth at the show, so stop by and say Hi to me, or Sandi in Ocean City.

2011-03-22T20:42:00.000-07:00

More on Indy...We're trying to eat healthier so hitting the better grocery stores rather than fast food. I spotted this

Sounds healthy, and should be good on a salad....but this is what's inside.....

CAT FOOD!!! I would have been better off, certainly cheaper, to have just gone straight for the Fancy Feast. YUCK!!

2011-03-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

I'[ve gotten seriously behind in my blogging (again). well, I've been to Indianapolis for a show. Remember this pic? Well, I did it again. Indianapolis is like part of the Bermuda Triangle. I think they move or rename the streets every year, and my GPS squawks useful directions "Get in the left land and turn right" and "Sharp right turn" when I'm on the freeway. I'd only gotten a couple of miles away from the airport and was already lost, it was after midnight, cold and rainy, and I noticed the rental gas gauge wasn't full. There was no way I could get back to the airport car rental lot, so I took this video of the gas gauge the odometer and the clock. The next morning I called the car rental Customer Support with my story. They thought it was very funny, and didn't charge me for the missing gas. I was so very proud of myself. Well, this gets me caught up a bit. I'll try to write more before I head for Portland this weekend.
...Hours later....Shit! I've tried 4 times to get the video to load. It's only 5 seconds long, and I don't know what the problem is, so I'm going to bed.

2011-02-26T19:42:00.000-08:00

I was packing for the two shows next weekend, and was completely out of any horizontal space in the house...until I remember the obsolete ironing board. Luckily we could still find it.

2011-02-21T22:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back from the San Jose show, with a side trip to see Adrien, Dakota and my mother. I thought I'd dispense a couple of mini Darwin awards this week. The first one goes to Adrien, who had somehow tipped a hot serving spoon onto his arm.
It had a hole in the center, giving him this goofy circular burn, which he slightly humorously calls his "third eye".
The other award goes to myself, but you're spared a pic. My lips are chapped from the cold weather, and when I was packing up the boxes after the show, I bit off the end of the packing tape with my teeth, but the tape stuck to my lip and pulled off the chapped layer....duh...and OUCH! Almost as stupid as licking a cold telephone pole LOL
The weather's kinda icky for a few days, but we plan another ski day later this week, and I hope to get some funny video.

2011-02-14T13:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!
Roses, Reeses peanutbutter cups, and chocolatechip cookie dough!

2011-02-11T14:28:00.000-08:00

And he's up!!!
We've recently taken 3 play afternoons to go cross-country skiing. The picture is not good because I was so clumsey with the gloves -- couldn't really see the viewfinder. Actually took several pics of my palm, one of my ski tips, and even a 1/2 second video (NO idea how that happened LOL). It's crappy weather this week, so we're back to the usual work schedule, but will be back on the mountain after the San Jose show next weekend.

2011-01-27T22:31:00.001-08:00

I guess it's time to bring an end to our sad little tale of injustice and conspiracy inside the Nevada Highway Patrol. Briefly, Mary Kay and I were rear-ended in a hit-and-run accident on our way to the Las Vegas show a couple of months ago. We called the Nevada Highway Patrol, had the car towed, and completed our part of the report, including the license number. Meanwhile, another officer further down the road stopped by and told us he'd had two witnesses stop him with information on our accident, and from both, he read the same license number and car description from his notes. He also mentioned a call to 911. The trooper told me he'd get right on the case (hit-and-run IS a felony!), and would call me in a couple of days, and to expect the completed accident report in 10 days. Here we are, riding to the venue in the back of the NHP car, absolutely clueless on how badly things are going to get.

Well, no call from the trooper, and he doesn't return my calls. Days and weeks pass, and there's no completed accident report. I talk to the trooper's sargent, who says he'll get right back to me, but then also never returns my calls. Finally, more than 6 weeks after the accident, the trooper finally looks at the car that at least 3 of us have identified. There's evidence of front-end damage and repair, but the owner says that this is from a previous un-reported accident....and those two eye-witness reports? They're gone. Now the trooper claims that the witnesses just said "there's an accident back there", and kept on going. And the dispatch call has disappeared. My cousin, who's an accident lawyer, concludes that we had the bad luck to be hit by a girlfriend or relative of the Highway Patrol. He was only surprised that it happened at a State level. Apparently this type of coverup is more common at the City level. Bottom line -- my word against the NHP, so guess who lost. The moral of the story is that just because they wear a uniform, have shiny shoes, and call you "ma'am" doesn't mean they can be trusted. I doubt I'll be contribuing to any future Policemens' Benefits.

2011-01-22T13:53:00.000-08:00

Batman: "I believe it is a good day to chew a foam pillow. Do you think anyone will notice?"

2011-01-20T21:21:00.001-08:00

Back from Mesquite. Great to see friends after the holiday break, but on Friday I had a feeling that the show was going to be good, which unfortunately turned out to be gas. LOL ...And now after 4 days of trimming and packaging orders, I'm back to having fun with projects. Here's some of what I started during the holiday, and sometimes completed....

The styrofoam balls have their first coat, and are successfully stuck on the bed posts. They need something else, but I'm going to live with then for now, and wait for an inspiration. I tried striping the posts with electrical tape, but it's not too interesting, so I might try black polka dots next. The wierd thing behind the crow is a bunch of yarn.

I hung most of my stamp shelves. The doll is almost finished. It was harder that I expected to draw on the raised surfaces of the doll's face, so I might gesso it again and start over. The Ikea drawer thingies are painted, and one has new drawer pulls.
Later tonight it's back to the cards project.

2011-01-10T18:42:00.000-08:00

I'm back from Grapevine (Dallas), the first show of the year. As usual, it was not a clean start out of the shoot. The Mystery of the Whimsical Inventory continues to hang like an albatross around my neck. Just WHAT was I thinking as I packed? Or had the last functioning braincell decided to take a holiday? Fortunately, I'm returning the Dallas area for the Mesquite show next weekend, so I'm regarding it as the Redemption Round to get my product to the venue.
Grapevine did have it's light moments....several of the Marcos' folks and I all needed to be at the airport PDQ, and Mary Kay volunteered to take us all in her 4-seater van, so off we went with 2 booths of boxes, and 4 peoples' luggage jammed in the back, and Marco's Karen wedged on the floor between the seats. Pics were taken, and I'll post if anyone ever sends me one.
Other exciting news is that my BFF Melinda in Spokane saw my journals, and has graciously invited me to share her display space at a couple of local galleries, so I'm making my journal pages into cards. Here's one page before it's put on the card...

It's not a card yet because I, of course, made it the wrong size, and need to re-do them next week.
I'm truly honored and flabbergasted that she would be so generous. I'm a very lucky person.

2010-12-31T19:02:00.000-08:00

A big mug of gingerbread coffee with FROTH! Thanks, Karen, for thinking of me; what a happy surprise! Happy Birthday to me, and Happy New Year to everyone!

2010-12-25T19:04:00.000-08:00

I got some HTML written and reasonably de-bugged this morning, so I celebrated the rest of the day making a really big mess in my studio.

Yikes! It looks even worse in the pic :-(. The doll is coming along pretty well -- just need another run the Joann's tomorrow for more ribbon -- I should have dyed the entire doll black first. The big, round balls are Styrofoam covered with gel medium and newspaper that will eventually be decorated and stuck on the top of the bedposts. I'd considered doll heads, but that was a bit too creepy, so I'll put big feathered crows on the tops, instead (Michael's 70% Halloween discount LOL). I'll post if/when one is completed.

2010-12-21T00:56:00.000-08:00

I was up tonight anyway, so I drug out the camera and tripod for a pic of the lunar eclipse, but by the time I figured out how to do a long exposure and got everything set up, the clouds rolled in and blocked the view....so I took a picture of a candle.

2010-12-19T00:31:00.000-08:00

The snow is falling again, and I'm really enjoying my time at home. I'll be posting some of the projects I've started, and maybe even a couple that I've finished. I went to Stamp Club last night, and made these ornaments....
They're made with heavy watercolor paper that's soaked in water for a minute, then several Adirondack ink colors dripped on it and and left to spread. Then a think layer of Golden bead paste is spread with a pallette, and topped with silver glitter. I forgot to make the hanging holes at the beginning, but they were easy to do later with my handy-dandy Japanese hole punch.

This was a doll that belonged to Creighton's sister, Lynnea, and generously passed to me. Wish I'd taken a "before" pic, but didn't think of it in time, so here's a midway pic. I'm not too sure about the face right now. It may need to be re-done when the rest is finished. I used a Sharpie oil pen, and didn't have as much conotrol as I expected going over the face high and low areas. Maybe having the picture out of focus is a Good Thing--LOL.The body is covered with various ribbons glued on with Fray-Stop.
More project pics to follow.

2010-12-11T09:18:00.000-08:00

We're back from a week in Kansas for an early Christmas with Creighton's family. His parents plan to move closer to his sister in a few months, so he spent most of his time sorting a lifetime of possessions, while I uselessly watched, made inappropriate co0mments, or wisely worked on new designs and socks.

The trip to Belize was a success, so I expect we'll be making an GPS training trip back, hopefully before the show circuit starts again. Here's the last plane going from Belize City to Placencia....

And here's the view of the cockpit from my seat. Great fun to watch all the dials!

We've gotten more snow since, but I got my Flamingos In The Snow pic before they are covered completely LOL

And last but not least, just when you think it can't get any worse, here's Mary Kay at Scott's Rubber Stamp Expo show in Denver.

Yup, there was a booth selling coffins, with little display models...sigh.....

2010-11-27T14:12:00.000-08:00

Ah-Ha! I've finally managed to film and edit two snippets of Cosmos that is long enough for you to recognize a running dog...he doesn't follow directions, and is much more interested in grabbing my gloves.

2010-11-25T10:49:00.000-08:00

Poor neglected blog. Way too many things have been happening, culminating with the death of my PC, but I'll make a quick synopsis of the last 6 weeks, and try to get back on schedule.
Cosmos update - he's PERFECT! I'll post a video when I get him running in the right direction.
Travels - Milpitas was uneventful except for dinner with Rob and Judi, Sandy and Bruce from SAR. I think the next weekend was Las Vegas, when everything started for fall apart. Mary Kay and I were hit from behind by a hit-and-run driver. Car was towed; got a ride to the venue in the back of the cop car. MK got pics, but I'll probably never have those to post, so you'll just have to believe me. We both had the usual whiplash issues, and I've spent a bazillion hours on the phone with assorted insurance people. Still can't get a copy of the accident report. I"ll post an update when this all gets sorted out. So the Dr. says no lifting of standing for the next week, so that put both of us out of the Denver show, and then the show year was finished with Carson.
The next day I had to make a quick run down to Belize to do a GPS feasibility study for a resort developer. I'm hoping to make a GPS sale and return in January to train them.
Tucked in the middle of this was a run down to Albuquerque to teach some classes as China Phoenix and spend a few lovely days with Paula and Teresa.
Weather - Damned cold. Down to -8°F yesterday, that's -22° for you centigrade folks. But I got a pallet of pellets for the wood stove at a very good price, so I'm not being miserly with the heat.
Socks - None lately. I'm trying to use up some of my stash, and bowls are much faster, so bowls it is!
Designs - I'm not plating anything until it's time to get ready for the January shows. I finally finished the zentangle alphabet that I've been dragging around for months (which can't be called "zentangle"). I was REALLY sick of it by the time I got to the last couple of letters.
PC - New one arrived while I was in Belize, so Creighton got stuck with all the setup. Can't say I'm enthralled with Windows7. WAY to much superfluous crap that I don't need or want.
So that brings us up to today, Turkey Day. I'm happily at home, the snow is falling, and all well with the world. Wish the same to all of you.

Linda

2010-10-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

I'm back from the Port Sunlight, UK show, and headed for the show at Milpitas, CA tomorrow morning. Hope to see some of you Bay Area stampers at the Rosewater Hall!
I don't know what I was thinking when I made sock #1 of this pair, but I sure wasn't counting rows. They're going to Judi(www.judikins.com), 'cause she's the only person I know with feet tiny enough to fit in them.

2010-10-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

A bit of marketing help needed here.

2010-10-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

The birth of Border Display, Rev.4

The birth of Border Display, Rev.4

2010-09-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

Alamo car rental sign at the Rhinebeck airport.

The show was a yet another fairground. We should have left a trail of breadcrumbs to the show building...we got lost on our way out, and took a victory lap around the fairground racetrack...and on a similar note -- we were following our GPS directions back to the hotel Saturday night, winding down narrow roads in the dark, so when the GPS said "turn right", we did. The building on the corner had lots of lights on, and several cars around it, so we figured that it was a restaurant. Wrong. As we progressed on a gravel road toward our next direction "turn right in 800 yards" we passed a barn, a shed, fences, and as we came over a small rise, what appeared in the dark to be a cow pond. Uh-oh. So we cautiously turned around in what was now obviously a pasture, and quietly abandoned that route. :-)

2010-09-15T21:45:00.001-07:00

I got back from Germany, but a day late (missed connction in Denver), and am frantically getting ready to leave tomorrow at the ass-crack of dawn for the Rhinebeck show. For thoses of you at StempelMekka, the luggage showed up this afternoon. Everything is in the bag, but aside from the grateful absence of shit, it looked like raccoons had been rooting around in it. I'll deal with your pre-orders when I get back from Rhinebeck. Thanks to everyone at Mekka for your help and understanding.
No time to post further, but here's a couple of pics from the Labor Day fireworks show at St. Maries, Idaho. It was an amazing display for a small mountain town.

2010-09-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a pic from last month that I'd forgotten post. It was Day One to Helsinki, making a connection in Frankfurt. I've stopped a Frankfurt so many times that it really is a no-brainer, but going through transit was a different matter. It's kinda like Heathrow, but not quite as bad -- At Heathrow, the gates for the rest of the day aren't posted until the plane is at the gate and ready for boarding, so the huddled masses hang around the monitors until the gate is displayed (usually Gate 586, located approximately near Hemmel Hampsted), and then haul ass like a herd of wildebeasts down the concourse, with, of course, at least one more security check...but I degress...Frankfurt is not THIS bad. I had 5 hours to wait, so I figured that the United Lounge would have early gate info, so I headed that way, and two hours later, after 3 trips through different passport checks, 2 Customs gates, and 2 security checkpoints, then down 6 flights of stairs to this, dare I say "tunnel"

to learn that my gate was back where I'd started. Sigh.

2010-08-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

I'm back from Colorado Springs, but headed back to Denver in the morning for the Greeley show. Ah, such a glamorous jet-setting life lead. LOL
Here's a recent weekend chez moi. I think this is where they hide the dead bodies!

2010-08-19T18:23:00.000-07:00

I'm heading for the show at Colorado Springs tomorrow morning, so it's the usual last-minute panic this evening. I haven't been to Colorado for years, so I'm hoping that some of my old Stamp Out Cute friends will show up.
I'm teaching a couple of classes and holding a trunk show at China Phoenix2 in Albuquerque on October 22-25. Here's the shadow-box project we'll be making.

2010-08-14T04:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back from Helsinki, but Art Unraveled is right off the list. I was sitting in a Helsinki hotel Friday night reading an email from Paula (www.paulabest.com), and I quote "I'm heading off in the truck. See you later today!." Well, THAT didn't happen. Previously, I've arrived at a show for which I never sent in an application; I've purchased tickets for the wrong date (several times); I've even gone to the wrong venue; but this is a new First. As I bumble my way through the years, and across continents, I wonder just how much more incompetent I can get...and then I surprise myself. Very sorry Art Unraveled folks. I'd been collecting some very kewl stuff expecially for you, that must wait for next year.
I didn't take a camera to Helsinki because it weighed a pound (isn't THAT sad), and my phone battery is very whimsical after 18 months (gotta love (NOT!) Planned Obsolescence), so my one pic was taken by Fred and Ank (www.stampinback.nl). This is one of my classes after the show.

2010-08-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

Yay!!!! Count 'em -- FOUR functioning legs!! Cosmos in his Ricaro-Montalban-Lounging-in-a-Smoking-Jacket pose....and very happy to have the collar and wrappings off. It's been a LONG 10 weeks.
Here's what the mending bones look like now. It's it amazing how they've gone back together. I'd never dared to hope that we'd be this lucky. If Creighton or I ever break anything, we're going to the vet!!

He's not too keen on the leash, but we have to keep him quiet for another month.
I'm off to a show in Helsinki tomorrow, and then down to Phoenix for Art Unraveled, so probably won't post again for a couple of weeks.

2010-08-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

I got a new, cushy bike seat, so Batman and I have been touring the neighborhoods in the evenings. We're up to 6 miles, and were aiming for 8 tonight, but it's just too danged hot.
Cosmos' appointment yesterday was postponed, so we'll be going for our, hopefully, last visit this coming Tuesday. He broke the splint on his last visit -- another $423.00 jab :-(

2010-07-24T18:42:00.000-07:00

Purple Flower, Red Ladybug

Creighton's GPS Professor visited this week, so we took off one afternoon and hiked around Mt. Spokane.
Cosmos update: The vet took the splint off on Tuesday, so he just has a bandage around his leg. It has slowed him down a bit, but we're still encouraged in his progress. He gets another Xray next Friday, and hopefully all the wrappings come off then.

2010-06-27T23:06:00.000-07:00

Time for more Hawaii pics....Shrine with Rooster and Chicken.

2010-06-23T23:33:00.000-07:00

I've been to Collinsville and Orlando. Meanwhile, Cosmos has been back to the vet twice for happy days in the 1960's. Two more pins are out, and he's motoring around on 4 legs.

He still has the Bobble-Head action going on with the Cone Of Shame, but at least the front paw-hop is in the past. Now he is a bit of a "Peg Leg", unfortunately can't get him to balance a fake parrot on his back LOL. I think this means that there is no nerve damage, so we're all happy campers. Batman can almost get lost in the grass. Can't cut it until we have a couple of dry days, which hasn't happened for several weeks. Tomorrow was supposed to be Yard Day, but it's raining again tonight.

2010-06-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

I got back from the West Springfield show late last night. I leave for Collinsville on Thursday, so my two days are pretty much unpacking, pressing, trimming, re-packing....and maybe some laundry.
I took Cosmos to the vet this morning so here's his update....
Some good news, and some questionable. The bones are fusing as hoped, but the vet is concerned because he's not moving the leg or foot at all, so there *could* be nerve damage. Don't know yet, so we're saving that panic for later. He has a new contraption....less pins and wrapping, but added a splint to hold his foot up....Oops, the splint is not in the pic. The vet must have really good drugs.

He had to be carried to the car, then carried inside, and has been like this for 6 hours. We're starting some therapy to move his leg....as soon as he wakes up LOL. Water therapy was recommended, but he so hates to even get his feet wet that I think the stress of getting in a pool (assuming that we can even get him in deep enough to be of value) would offset the benefit.
Thanks to everyone who is following the sage. Coz, I Creighton and the Batman all appreciate your Good Wishes and Healthful Thoughts.

Yes, very good drugs. Cosmos is spending his day in the 1960's.

2010-06-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'm in the Phoenix airport, headed for the W. Springfield show. No new pics of Cosmos, but here's one from the
Audubon Valley on Oahu. The weather was crap most of the week, and we had no money for excursions, but we took a walk through the park one afternoon to see the flowers and feed the mosquitos.

I'm disappointed that the pic is so washed-out looking. Hope it looks better on your monitor. Gotta run for a flight now, so no time to fuss with it. Original looks much better. :-(
Cosmos Update...we've passed the half-way point on his pins and clamps. Only three weeks more and hopefully we'll switch to a cast. He's doing great -- he's gotten used to swinging his leg around so he can lay down on his own, and he's hopping around the yard with no issues. I'd intended to post a video, but it's rained all week, and he hates getting his feet wet, so the trips outside have been short and to the point. I really wish we could take off the Elizabethan collar, but I think it bothers me more than Coz. He looks like a cross between a bobble-head doll and Marty Feldman in "Young Frankenstein". "Walk this way, master". LOL

2010-05-26T11:58:00.001-07:00

I am a Bad Dog.

I pulled off all the wrappings and stuffing out of my bandage, AND chewed off the duct tape my parents put on the exposed clamps last night. I even cut my tongue on a sharp edge. So now I'm wearing this stupid collar again, and we're off to the vet. :-(

2010-05-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

I'm home from the Sacramento show. My booth backed up to Paula Best. I hadn't seen P and T in AGES, so I was very happy to spend the day with them.
I finally finished T's Christmas pedi-socks -- last Christmas, not this year :-( I have made a couple more pairs recently, but gave those away before I took pics.

2010-05-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

Cosmos is doing great on his three good legs. I was going to make a short video of him hopping in the backyard, but trimming/packing for Sacramento overtook the day, so we're going to feature Batman instead. He thinks he's been sorely neglected this last week. Isn't he cute??

But he apparently took exception at being left alone during one of our trips to the vet, and this is how he vented...

Best we can tell, the first 4-5 sheets of tissue came out routinely, but then the enthusiasm grew, resulting in the large flower of tissues still partly stuck inside the box. Wish I'd had a webcam running. This distraction seems to have done the trick, and he's back to his (relatively) calm self.
I'm leaving in the morning for the Sacramento show, and will post Cosmos' video when I get back.

2010-05-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

We're back from the vet after Coz's one-week check-up with good news. Healing well, no infection, he's a Good Dog. We don't need to confine him as much, which will make life happier for all of us. He has a new wrapping --- festive orange this week. Here's a pic with the bandages removed. It looks much better than I'd expected. I was nervous about being a weenie when the doctor asked if I wanted to see the contraption, so I was gratefully surprised to see this.

2010-05-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

And he's up!!

Here's a pic to show what happened, and serve as warning to other people with (especially large) dogs.

Cosmos was bounding back into the house for his I'm-A Good-Dog-For-Peeing-Outside treat, just like he's done a bazillion times, but this time he stepped on the hose. The hose rolled under his front foot, so that his leg went under the bottom step, while the rest of him kept goind forward. You can see on the Xrays how the bones broke at the top and bottom edges of the bottom step. This could have been avoided if we'd put a 2"x4" strip of wood as a "header" beneath the bottom step. If your steps look like this, please consider modifying them.

2010-05-12T22:55:00.000-07:00

Congrats to my RSCVC prize winners!
First - Trish in Alberta
Second - Jerilynn in Oregon
Third - D.A. in Montana
Trish, your box shipped today, but in two packets, not one.
Jerilynn and D.A. - your's will ship tomorrow.
No new pics of tThe Coz tonight - it's late and I still have prizes to pack and rubber trimming for the Puyullap show this weekend, but Cosmos is doing well, and I'll post pics tomorrow. He just doesn't know what to do with that big blue appendage. Best he knows, he took a long nap and woke up with it LOL.

2010-05-12T15:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a good reason to send snail mail.

These postage stamps came out 30 April, but I just got mine yesterday. For once, the PO has not PO'ed me LOL
Help support a good cause while you're paying your bills.
I'll post more later with Cosmos' update, and RSCVC winners.

2010-05-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

He's home!!! Here's what the Xrays look like with all the pins and struts.

Now we just wait and hope that all the broken bits will eventually grow into a big glob of bone.
And here's the patient.

The big lump isn't his elbow...it's wrapping around the clamps. It looks bad, but he's coping well and being a Good Dog. The vet says we can hope for 80% recovery in 4 months. The beige rectangle on his back covers a pain medication patch which he'll wear until Friday.
I was to announce the three winners of the RSC Virtual Convention today, but I've been a bit distracted. All but two orders shipped today, and I'll announce the winners tomorrow. Sorry for the delay.

2010-05-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

Doesn't this look nasty? :-( The vet just called, and Cosmos is out of surgery. He has 8 pins holding his leg together, which will hopefully stay in for 4-6 weeks, and then he'll be in a cast for who knows how long. We're another day older and more deeper in debt, but grateful that he's going to be OK. He comes home tomorrow, and I'll post a pic of the patient then.

2010-05-09T22:41:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, and Happy Mothers'Day. I'd planned on posting some pics of our Hawaii trip today, but we've had a bit of a whoops with Cosmos. He fell on the back steps this morning and broke his leg. He broke both bones in two places a couple of inches apart, and the bones between the breaks are all kinda chunked up. We spent the afternoon at the Pet Emergency Hospital, and left him there for tonight. They say he's resting comfortably, and we'll meet with an orthopedic surgeon in the morning to discuss what can be done. I'll post again when I know more. Sure could use some happy thoughts sent this way.

2010-05-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I've really screwed up. The RubberStampChat Virtual Convention is happening this weekend, and I forgot to post it on my blog. Actually, it started Thursday evening, but it runs until Monday 6pm PacTime, so you still have many valuable shopping hours. If you're not a member, it's easy to register and access the Convention Hall. Just go to www.rubberstampchat.com to take advantage of all the Convention specials offered by a bunch of great vendors.
I just got to San Fran on a red-eye from Honolulu. I'll post vacation pics later this weekend. Gotta run for the final leg back to Spokane.

2010-04-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

First, I want to thank all of you for the get-well emails and wishes. I'm pretty much back to *normal*...just in time for the last round of shows. Since my last post, I've been to Holland, San Jose, and Akron. I *thought* I now had a quiet week to get caught up, but I was surprised to get a "Check in for your upcoming flight" email from United this morning. Oh, sh*t...let the frantic packing begin...but this really is quite funny. I'd intended to do the show in Hawaii and have a few days holiday afterward, so for once I started early and had my ticket, Creighton's, the hotel and car rental purchased ages ago...and then the show was cancelled. So, in the midst of $42,000 of medical debt, what am we doing?? We're going to HAWAII!! And there isn't even a stamp show! HaHa! Even better, I paid for almost everything with airline miles!
...And now to continue with my Around My Neighborhood series, why do Spokanians shop in their pajamas and slippers???

OK, the blue snowflake pajamas pic was shot at the airport. Not quite "my neighborhood", but they were really funny.

2010-04-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

I'm still not getting out much, but wanted to share the get-well gift I got from a couple of my BFF's, Paula and Teresa -- a beautiful handmade book with red pages and purple (of course) leather binding, an activity kit with sketch pad, color pencils AND markers (!), and peeps. Yes, Paula they DID make me smile.
I'm blessed to have such wonderful friends who know just what will brighten my day.

2010-03-22T23:10:00.000-07:00

I've been out of the hospital for awhile, and should let you guys that I've been paroled. I thought I'd be back at the gym by now, and skiing next week, but things are moving a bit slower than I'd expected. I did make it to the Portland show last weekend, but I'm glad I have a bit more time til the next show. This old dog is stll a bit gimpy. The bills are starting to show up. The projected total is so large that the concept of ever paying it off is really beyond my comprehension. I'm not quite sure how things are going to shake out, but I'll post updates occasionally.
Since I haven't been out and about much, I don't have any new pics, so this seems like a good time to launch a series that I've been comtemplating -- Around My Neighborhood. I live in an area that has little zoning control, so I've been taking pics of some of the more unusual, i.e., eccentric, results.
This is a mailbox.

2010-03-05T20:29:00.000-08:00

New nose tube, new nightgown, same problem. As soon as I ate something, the abdomonal pains started again, so I'm back in hospital for a little surgery. At least I'm in Spokane this time...but I'll be missing the show in Indianapolis this weekend :-(

2010-03-01T18:41:00.001-08:00

Nothing like a week in hospital with a tube up your nose to really bring out that youthful glow LOL.

We were on our last leg of the loop through California...Family visited, Adrien retrieved, taxes prepared, Vallejo show over, and we were on our way to Fort Bragg....but somewhere around Santa Rosa, I started getting stomach cramps. We got to Fort Bragg, but things didn't improve in the night, and I was admitted to the hospital the next morning for a blocked intestine. YUCK! Nope, it just couldn't be something delicate like Nichole Kidman's tuburculosis in Moulin Rouge. I had to list burps and farts as "positive" events in my day :-(. Well, they finally shoved enough gunk down that tube to declare clear passage, and they let me out. Creighton and Adrien used foam and sleeping bags to turn the Escape into an ambulance,

and we made the Great Blast back home this weekend -- 19 hours driving for Adrien. We were so lucky to have him along! It was a long and unpleasant week, but it's over, and I'm getting better each day.
Sorry that I missed the Albuquerque show and the classes at China Phoenix 2, but I'll be re-scheduling the classes ASAP.

-Linda

2010-02-14T17:21:00.000-08:00

15 days absent, yet again. Mary Jo had mentioned that Spokanians are fond of going out publically in the jammies and fuzzy slippers. I'd noticed this, too, but MJ inspired me to document these oddities, which I did....but now I can't get the pics off my iPhone...so we're on to other topics until I can get thise pics downloaded. Anyhoo, look at who showed up at the Lawrenceville show last week!!

That's right IT'S THE EVOS, Dale and Ellen!! What a treat to see them. They'd been a staple at the shows for as long as I'd been around, and we've all missed them greatly. Love you guys! We had some fun walking down Memory Lane, and Ellen had "the rest of the story" from a night in Daytona Beach when they damn near killed me...and THEN laughed at me!! It's a LONG, albeit it humerous, story, so I'll save it for another time. Rubber has been my life this last week -- packing for three shows. A picture is worth a thousand words, so here's what used to be a living room. The box in the back is raw rubber that sits next to the pellet stove to keep it warm enough to press.

We're headed for California tomorrow evening. Eye checkup for me in Fresno, tax man in Cambell, then up to Vallejo for the show next weekend. Then we swing by Fort Bragg to finally fetch some of my stuff that was in storage there for 7, yes SEVEN years ago!! Adrien is coming back with us for a visit, so he'll help with the driving 'cause we have to get back here for my flight to ABQ Wednesday afternoon. It's a tightly chorographed couple of weeks. so I have NO idea when I can post again.

2010-01-30T15:30:00.000-08:00

HEEERRREEE'S COSMOS!!
Cosmos's does his Jack Nickelson impersonation.
The door panel was cracked when we moved here, and it's been on our to-do list ever since. We've been making do with the duct tape repair. Cos just gave it a good poke, and moved the job further up on the repair list.

2010-01-25T11:18:00.000-08:00

Sample for a Shadow Boxes class I'm teaching at China Phoenix 2 in Albuquerque on Feb 25.

2010-01-22T11:08:00.001-08:00

I'm home from Dallas from whole TWO weeks -- YAHHH! But here's another pic from the weekend with Mary Kay. MK's hairdresser, Robber, has fixed the hair (I really need to post the "before" pic from when I tried to cut my hair myself last Fall), and the Mac ladies have done their best on the eyes, but I really need some work on the bsasset hound jowls. MK and I were considering a binder clips under each ear, but I have a better idea -- "Will Trade Rubber for Plastic Surgery". LOL

-Linda

2010-01-11T15:14:00.000-08:00

Greetings again from Dallas. Helpful Hint: When it's 18°F outside AND inside, a hot piece of rubber fresh from the vulcanizer makes a useful headwarmer. :-)
...and NO, it's not a dry cold. LOL

2010-01-08T18:42:00.000-08:00

I'm in Texas for the Grapevine stamp show this weekend. Zana (www.stampzia.com) and I came in a day early so Mary Kay's hairdresser, Robert, could fix the damage I'd caused when left alone too long with a pair of plastic kiddie scissors. He did a great job, and I've promised, on pain of DEATH, to back slowly away from the scissors next time I feel compelled to "snip just a few split ends". LOL

So if you're in the Dallas area this weekend, please stop by the Grapevine Convention Center and see how mahvelous we all look!!...And if you can't make it this weekend, next weekend we'll be in Mesquite, so ya'll come down now, ya hear!!

-Linda

2009-12-31T18:06:00.000-08:00

Roses and coffee with sprinkles -- Happy Birthday to Me, and Happy New Year to All!

2009-12-27T11:41:00.000-08:00

Every day is a holiday with gingerbread cookies!

Dakota and I made these last week while I was in Fresno getting my eyes fixed. What we lack in any inate skill is compensated by heartfelt enthusiasm.

Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday and more Prosperous New Year.
-Linda

2009-12-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

Finally home again. We went to Kansas for a week for an early Christmas with Creighton's family. I dropped him off in Spokane and spent the rest of the month in California getting eye surgery and a pre-Christmas visit with my family. I had limited Internet access, so it was too big a hassle to post anything along the way.

The Story of the Christmas Ornaments...
I bought some old tea infusers off CraigsList. I thought that making them into ornaments would be a fun project with the boys, so I hauled them down to Fresno. Here's one of Dakota's....

But the really funny part was that when we opened one of the ornaments, we found a very old, stale bud wrapped in a cigarette celophane wrapper. This isn't a very good picture, but we had to document the event. LOL I'm just glad that airport security didn't spot it. THAT would have been a nasty surprise.

-Linda

2009-12-01T13:16:00.000-08:00

Why we rarely watch TV or movies with animals.....Cosmos and the movie "UP"...

He also has issues with horses, the Cadbury rabbit, the dancing M&M's, Nazis and the Sopranos.

2009-11-29T15:53:00.000-08:00

Still no Finland pics, but I did locate these of early progress in the livingroom redecoration. The pellet stove is working lovely. There's a lot to be said for a thermostat, heat blower, and push-button power. Can't say that I miss all that choppin' and a-haulin' of fiewood. The stove even has a bit of flame for that romantic ambiance LOL

Installing the floor has been a longer ordeal. The crew just wan't up to their usual enthusiam.

Yes, Cosmo was back in his not-so-stylish Elizebethan Collar. He'd taken a bit of a slider on his bum, and simply wouldn't leave it alone....but he's fine now.

2009-11-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

I wanted to post some dog and floor pics today. Couldn't find them, but came across this video that I think is worth sharing, so I figure that Thanksgiving Day is a perfect time for a cat joke, so here ya'll go....

Dear Printer Repair-Man: Please come to my house and check my printer. Every time I use the printer - and I am away while it prints - my papers are wrinkled, even shredded. Sometimes the ink is blurred. I hope that you can find the problem!! Sincerely, Concerned Computer Owner

Dear Concerned Computer Owner: While you were gone today, I checked your printer, and I found your problem. Please click on the attachment for the answer. Sincerely, Your Printer Repair-Man

Happy Turkey Day from Linda, Creighton, and the Critters

2009-11-23T06:43:00.000-08:00

I'm at the Madison, WI airport on my winding way home from the last show of the year. Everyone I know is either asleep or on a plane, so I have some quiet moments to catch up on blogging. Fog delays, and I'm missing my connection, so today I'll be eventually visiting Denver and Seattle in route to Spokane. I made United's 1K tier last week, so at least I'll be able to walk down the red carpet three times. LOL
I'm glad to be going home, but it was sad to be saying "see you next year" and "Happy Holidays" to all my BFFs. I'll miss you all greatly.
I'd been holding off on a post until I had some funny luggage pics taken in Helsinki but they're on Mary Kay's camera. I thought they really represented our lives, so they'll be here as soon soon as she gets them downloaded. Meanwhile here's a pic from my collection of Surprise Photos -- the ones you didn't know you took.

2009-11-12T22:58:00.000-08:00

By now, the Albuquerque show two weeks ago is just a pleasant memory, but I wanted to post some pics of students and projects for a class I taught at China Phoenix 2.

Since then, Mary Kay and I pioneered a huge Arts and Crafts Festival in Helsinki, Finland. Pics to follow when I get them from Mary Kay. I'm back briefly to repack and do laundry, and leave tomorrow for the Carson show. I'm stuck out in the Garden area, so please come look for me.
And for those of you that have had difficulty posting comments, I made some changes to the permissions, so it shouldn't be a problem anymore.

-Linda

2009-10-31T19:53:00.000-07:00

I'm having love/hate relationship with my iPhone. Most functions work, but the phone part (hey, isn't that the main function of the device??) locks up and won't run without a reset, and the volume keeps going to "vibrate only" so I always miss calls. And now it has deleted most of my photos, so I've uploaded a old pic from the Netherlands Keukenhof (Tulip Park) we visited last April after the show in Zeist. The gift shop has an exhibit of hats, including this one that wouldn't inconspicuously slip into my backpack.

I'm at a show Albuquerque Fairgrounds this weekend. For everyone else that needs an immediate "convention fix", check out the Virtual Convention at www.rubberstampchat.net. I don't remember how many vendors are participating, but it's a LOT. It's easy to join if you're not a member. Then click on the RSC Virtual Convention link to see a list each booth's convention special. It'll run until Monday night.

-Linda

2009-10-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

L: "I have no passport"
MK: "And I have no ticket"
It's frigging 4am in Manchester England, we've already been up for 20 hours, and the "hard part" of the journey home is still ahead of us.
And on a positive note...we DID get home, and I'm happy to say that the blog is back!
I'm headed for Albuquerque tomorrow. There's a show this weekend, and I'm teaching a class Thursday. I'll post some class samples when I get back.

2009-06-21T22:04:00.001-07:00

Something's screwed up the dating of my posts (and yes, I did check that my Time/Date setting in Windows is correct). Beats me where this entry will show up, but the pics of the plants that are BELOW the donuts post, should be above it. Let's see what happens here. I've been hugely enjoying being home this week. After 11 shows in a row, the joys of traveling were losing their attraction. I haven't actually debased myself to cleaning, but the sock monkey I dragged home from that dreadful ZNE show last month is now in her permanent home on the wall (the funky stuff at the bottom of the pic is my shadow),
and I've completed, yes, completed, two pairs of socks.
Several more are at that awkward, unphotogenic interim stage so will appear in the distant future.

2009-05-16T21:38:00.000-07:00

Just say No to Donuts.
Ummmm, donuts, I love them all.
As the sun was rising on our recent marathon run from California to Spokane, I stopped at a 7-11 for a dose of caffeine. They were unloading the morning's donut delivery, including apple fritters -- warm, soft in the middle, deep-fried-crunchy on the outside -- yummy. I know that donuts and I do not do well, but I thought that under the extreme conditions of driving, the sugar/caffeine combo might just do the trick, and I was just going to eat half. Yeah, right. Well, next time I want a donut, tell me NO, and when I say that I want to give them just one more chance, tell me NO, NO. As the morning progressed, I finished my half, and as Creighton opted to pass, I eventually ate his half, too. No surprise there....but the lack of sleep, sugar, fat, caffeine had a bad effect such as I have never experienced without the fun of alcohol. So please, next time I'm about to stray, please tell me NO. Although I would forgive them in an instant, they are not my friends.
LOL

2009-05-15T00:07:00.004-07:00

While I've been jet-setting between both coasts to the Syracuse and West Sprngfield conventions, Creighton has been busy moving us up the evolutionary ladder from hunters and gathers to sedentary farmers.Tomatos, Cucumbers and Cosmos
Blueberries, Gooseberries and Batman

Next we'll start working with metals, building temples and developing a system of writing LOL

2009-05-15T00:07:00.000-07:00

You'd think that I'd have something more enlightening to share after two weeks of no posts, but, alas no, I might regress later and come up with something interesting, but tonight I am digging in the the bank vault of Funny Pics for this most amusing, super life-size(and bizarre IMHO) photo from the wall of the hotel where I stayed durng the the show in Holland last month....

I guess their faces just didn't rate inclusion???
OK, it WAS a Sports Hall, but still...... :-)

2009-05-14T23:58:00.001-07:00

Tatoo at the Sacramento show, and a banana slug from the Santa Cruz mountains.
California road trip was finished with a Grateful Dead concert in the Bay Area, and a Back-to-Bataan marathon drive home to press rubber for an urgent order. Heading out again in the morning for the Puyallup show.
If you can't make the Puyallup do-dah, check out the many vendors participating in the Rubber Stamp Chat Virtual Convention this weekend. This link should get you there....or at least close
http://rubberstampchat.net/

Linda

2009-05-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

The journey continues...We've been down to the Bay Area for the ZNE conference last week (high booth fees and very poorly attended. I know that the northern Bay Area has a huge stamping population and those stampers should be eager for a show, as San Mateo was cancelled in Feb, but I saw only a few people from previous shows. Never did meet the coordinator, but I could hear her hawking 50% sales at her booth on Sunday :-( ). Then we were off to Fresno for a few days with my family, and this afternoon, back up to Sacramento for the Stamp In the Hand show tomorrow. I'm backed up to Teresa (Paula Best), and across from Kate and Robert (Invoke Arts), so it should be a fun time.

Home Sweet Home for the next two days at the Sacramento Expo RV Park. Not much on ambiance (aside from the tree), but we have a strong Internet connection for uploading pics, electricity, water, and very nice showers.....and the asphalt will keep dirt off the dogs' feet, so NO complaints. I'll be tucked in bed tonight with my knitting and a DVD. I found the complete first season of HBO's Carnivale in a discount bin shortly before this trip started, and I plan to watch it all this week.

2009-04-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

Sign in a public restroom....

It seems to me that if you don't already know this, you probably don't know how to read, either LOL. OK, that's the end of my bathroom humor...unless I see something else that must be shared :-)

Creighton, I, Cosmos and the Batman are starting a two-week road trip with the Scotty tomorrow. We'll be at the ZNE stamp show at the Alameda Fairground in Pleasanton next weekend, and the Sacramento show the following weekend. Hope to see some of you there. Don't know how often I'll have Internet access in the camgrounds, so may not post until our return.

2009-04-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

Window shopping in Akron.

2009-04-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

A rather travel-worn feminine hygine disposal bag that I hauled all the way home from a gas-station potty-stop on the way to Kuekenhof...

....but what got our attention, and sparked blog-worthy interest, is why the gun is pictured on it LOL

2009-04-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

Every year, Angela, the show coordinator, rounds up all the American and English vendors for a Tourist Day after the show. Last year we all painted wooden shoes. This year we went to the Keuhenhof -- a flower/sculpture park outside Amsterday. Their web site is www.keukenhof.com.

2009-04-05T13:08:00.001-07:00

I've been in Germany and Holland this week for the Art Specially show. My camera died last week, so I just have my iPhone. Others in the group have better cameras, so my intention is to gradually upload some of their photos as they become available to me. So for now, here are some of mine. This is Eddy, Wolfgang's cat.

He's been enjoyng his Schnuckie a bit too much :-)

Linda

2009-03-11T00:16:00.001-07:00

A Public Service Notice - If you're planning to fly out of the Indianapolis airport, allow a little extra time to get there.

Linda

2009-03-04T19:02:00.000-08:00

My Life....Socks, Batman, and some untrimmed rubber.

I've been sick for the last week, giving me time to finish Creighton's second sock (one is a bit shorter than the other, but he says that his feet don't match, either VBG), and the first of the orange pair. Adrien's camo sock is in the middle.
I'm headed for Indianapolis in the morning, and will be teaching a bookboard class Friday afternoon @2:30 at the Heirloom stamp show. The show is Saturday 10-5, Sunday 11-4.

Hope to see you there!

Linda

2009-02-24T20:35:00.000-08:00

As any Dallasite or Texasian will tell you, any Good Time in the Lone Star State starts with a stop at the Buck & Ruck -- your all-purpose beverage-and-more merchant -- beer, wine, lottery, ATM, and check cashing....AND a gracious Thank You on the way in.
Yup, that about covers most needs LOL

2009-02-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

The MacKenzie-Childs catalog arrived. Aren't these the most wonderful drawerpulls? But at twenty-two bucks each, they should be outstanding.

I want them ALL. If I ever win the Lottery, I'm getting one of everything they carry....THEN I'll be philanthropic LOL

Linda
BTW, I'm leaving for the San Jose show in the morning. For anyone that's attending, the show venue has moved to Rosewater Hall, 1180 Murphy Avenue, San Jose. That's only one exit away from the original address. Hours are 9:30 - 4pm.

2009-02-15T17:48:00.000-08:00

Poor, neglected blog. I've been doing lots of stuff, mostly shows, but nothing very interesting. Today I ignored the stacks of untrimmed rubber, and painted the ceiling fan.

Linda

2009-01-02T21:50:00.000-08:00

New Stuff and a Class
Most of the mag plates for my new designs arrived today, and are posted on my website, www.lost-coast-designs.com. A few are on the New! pages, and a completely new series, Die-Cut Divas, has a link at the top of the New! page. They'll all be at the Grapevine show next weekend.
Also at Grapevine, I'll be teaching a 2- hour class on some simple techniques for assembling shrines/tryptics/ accordian books. Here are some examples of what we'll be doing...

It's Friday afternoon at the show venue. I can't get the hot link to work, but if you go to www.heirloompro.com and click on the Grapvine show, the next page has the list of classes and links to register.

Linda

2009-01-01T21:25:00.000-08:00

The Search for the Best Black Varigated Sock Yarn in the World.
I wanted to make a pair of socks for Mary Kay, and she only wears black, so for several months, I'm been on the lookout for a nice black varitaged yarn. Who would'a thought this would become a major issue, but it did, so I was delighted when I found The Perfect Yarn.

I loved the dark teal colors, but boy was I surprised when I'd done about 4" of the leg. The wretched yarn is CAMOFLAGE. Down inside the skein, under the beautiful teals/blacks is BROWN! :-( And the lacy, delicate pattern I'd selected was really at odds with the camo colors. Couldn't think of any man who would wear such a sock, and I'm sure MK is not going to appreciate camo (although she did say she was going to a gun show last week -- not good enough reason to continue), so I just smiled at my silliness and ripped it all out. I do wish I'd taken a pic, but it was one of the moments when you take a big breath, shut your eyes, and RIP. Thus continues the Black Yarn Search Saga....

Linda

2008-12-27T19:51:00.001-08:00

And here are today's pics

I can't get the pic to show the scale, but the longest icicles are about 4'.

It's not that we love Batman more than Cosmos. Despite many, many attempts, Cosmos is always a big black blob against a white background. For example,

If would help if we had some sunlight, but that's just a pleasant memory. LOL
...and to answer Aimmee in Ohio's question re: Batman's heritage, both of the boys are shelter dogs, so there's some supposition involved. We've pretty much decided that Batman is mostly Maltese, with just a touch of Yorkie to explain the black ears. He *looks* like a cute, cuddley ball of fluff, but this just disguises a grumpy old 7-pound man with Little Dog Sysndrome...but we love him, anyway. If you really need unconditional love, Cosmos is your "man".

Linda

2008-12-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

Ouside faucet sprung a leak this morning, so we've shoveled the driveway, and are cuatiously making the one-mile slip-and-slide to Fred Myer for repair parts.
The following diary entries go out to all home-bound Northerners LOL Like my Thanksgiving Turkey story, it's been circulating for a couple of years, but it seems appropriate.
More pics to follow.....

A SNOW DIARY

DECEMBER 4 - 5:00 It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our hot buttered rum and sat by the window watching the soft flakes drift down, clinging to the trees and covering the ground. It was beautiful.

DECEMBER 9 - We woke to a big beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering the landscape. What a fantastic sight. I shoveled snow for the first time in years and loved it. I did both our driveway and our sidewalk. Later, the snowplow came along and covered up our driveway with compacted snow from the street, He smiled and I waved back. I shoveled it again.

DECEMBER 13 - The sun melted most of our snow. Oh well, I’m sure we’ll get more before this lovely winter is through.

DECEMBER 14 - It snowed 8 inches last night and the temperature dropped to about zero. I shoveled the sidewalk and driveway again. Shortly, the snowplow came by and did his trick again.

DECEMBER 15 - Sold our car and bought a 4 x 4 Blazer, so we could get around in the snow. Bought snow tires for the pickup.

DECEMBER 18 - Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway. $139.00 to the Chiropractor, but nothing was broken, thank God. The damned sky is getting dark again.

DECEMBER 19 - Still cold, icy roads, making driving very tough. Slid into a guard rail with my wife’s car. Probably $2,000 damage or so. She’s really pissed off…

December 20 - Had another 11 inches of the white shit last night. More shoveling in store for me today. The goddamn snowplow came by twice.

DECEMBER 22 - We are assured of a white Christmas, because another 7 inches of that white shit fell today and with this freezing weather, it won’t melt until August. I got dressed up to go out and shovel that shit again (boots, jumpsuuit, jacket, scarf, earmuffs, gloves, etc.) then I got the urge to pee.

DECEMBER 24 - If I ever catch that son of a bitch that drives the snowplow, I’ll drag him through the snow by his balls. I think he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling, and then comes down the street 100 miles and hour and throws that white shit everywhere.

DECEMBER 25 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!! They predict 12 more inches of this fucking white shit tonight. Does anyone know how many goddamn shovelfuls of snow 12 inches are?? The hell with Santa, he doesn’t have to shovel this shit. The snowplow came by asking for a donation. I hit him with my ice pick. The doctors think he’ll live.

DECEMBER 28 - We got 11 more inches. I must be going snow blind or have a severe case of depression, becasue my wife is beginning to look good to me.

DECEMBER 29 - The toilet froze and the roof is starting to cave in. If you go outside don’t eat the brown snow.

DECEMBER 30 - I torched the house and moved to Florida.

2008-12-25T16:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Linda, Creighton, Cosmos and the Batman.

Creighton's pic is an old one. Snow is now up to the Scotty door handle.

Nothing like a new hat to put one in a festive mood.

Batman's antlers didn't show up well in the group pic, so here's a closeup of his Christmas ourfit from Mary Kay.

We're spending a quiet holiday here at home, kinda hunkered down and keeping warm. Went for a glorious walk late last night. Then celebrated with Burn After Reading DVD (HIGHLY recomended) and "movie style" popcorn. None of that 100-calorie crap on a holiday LOL.
I finished Creighton's sock about 3am. It doesn't fit :-( If any of you know a one-legged man with long-skinny feet and fat ankles, I could make him a hell of a deal LOL

Wishing the best of the season to all.

Linda

2008-12-22T12:41:00.000-08:00

MORE SNOW!!
I still can't get my boot on, but here are a couple more pics from a few days ago. We've gotten another foot since these were taken, and it's STILL snowing.

2008-12-19T23:39:00.000-08:00

Whoo-Hoo! It's a BIG, BIG SNOW DAY!!
Creighton and I had been on holiday in Mexico, and I'd intended to post some pics of the week, but what's happening here is a lot more interested, IMHO, than another view of a beach. Remember how I'd whined that last year's lengthy snow in Spokane was just a fluke, and I'd be disappointed this year? Well, Creighton is not letting me forget that inane statement. I'm certainly getting my "snow fix" this week. We got back from Mexico very late at night, and were grumbling because we had to chip a few inches of ice/snow off the car before we could drive home (and then were locked out of the house, but that's another story). We were very lucky that we got back when we did. Shortly afterwards, began a "50-year storm" that has dumped over 2 feet of snow at our house. I only have a couple of pics from the car window and the back porch, cause I fell down the steps of the hotel when we left (it was dark, and the steps were black tile) and sprained my ankle. The snow has stopped for now, but another storm is coming in tomorrow night, and I expect to be out documenting it better than these pics. Creighton dug out the car and driveway so we could get to the post office this afternoon.

The bir feeder looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. LOL

Linda

2008-12-03T19:32:00.000-08:00

I was only home for a day after Madison, before heading to California to visit my mother, Dakota and Ariden, so I never got my Thanksgiving Turkey Joke posted. Here is is now....either a belated Tahnksgiving Joke, and early Christmas Joke. Take your pick. It's been around for several years, but IMHO, funy enough to re-visit.

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.

Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.

John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite, words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder.

John, in desperation, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then, suddenly there was total quiet! Not a peep was heard for over a minute!

Fearing that he had hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said..

"I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my unforgivable behavior."

John was stunned at the difference in his attitude and as he was about to ask what had made such a dramatic change when the bird continued..."May I ask what the Turkey did?"

Had a good visit in California. Adrien and I decided to dye our hair purple. Here is Adrien in the "during" stage

and me in the "after" stage.

Linda