I recently added this cute to do list to my Etsy shop. Unlike the other note pad in my shop, I included lines on this one. I’m wondering whether that’s a good thing or not. So my question is this:
Do you like your note pads/to do lists lined or unlined?
Be mine or I’ll pout! One of my customers who bought this magnet had the cutest comment:
This will be a great V-day present for the husband… to remind him of my powers.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all!
Cats are so emotionally and psychologically conflicted that when you hug them, they’re torn between whether to purr or bite you. If you hold them long enough, eventually the latter will happen. (BTW, Wookie is my lovin’ noogie nickname for my own mentally unbalanced kitty.)
This year, I really wanted to help the Girl Scouts raise money, but I can’t be in the same room with Thin Mints or Tagalongs without devouring them immediately. The compromise was to buy a couple of boxes from a co-worker and dispatch them to the break room, pronto, before they damaged my thighs.
I still managed to stuff FIVE cookies in my mouth before foisting them on the office. To my relief, most of them were gone by the time I got to work the next morning. Now the Girl Scouts are a little richer and my butt is no bigger than it was on Monday. It’s a happy ending for all (so to speak).
I’m always touched by the outpouring of affection that articles about
dogs elicit. A good example is this Etsy blog post from yesterday,
where I’m one of many commenters who can barely contain themselves
when talking about their love of dogs. My two Labrador retrievers,
both of whom passed away within the last year (they were 14 and 15),
were (as my brother put it) my artistic “muses” for many years.
That inspiration came from the joy they brought me every day, even
though their crazy eating habits (toilet paper, kleenex, socks,
dish towels, shoes, walls, leashes, my running pants, my Dalai Lama book
of wisdom, earplugs, camera case, etc., etc., the list goes on
forever), turned my house–and sometimes my life–upside down.
But frankly, my life needed to be turned over a bit to soften my heart and
make me appreciate those things that, at first, make you tear your
hair out, but ultimately make living good. I thank Henry and Diesel
for teaching me that.
Oil painting of Diesel, actual size 16"x20"
Oil painting of Henry, actual size 9" x 12"
Henry loved to be sprayed with the hose!
Most people don’t care all that much about my opinions on things, which is one very good reason to have a blog. After all, on the Internet there’s at least a teeny fraction of an infinitesimal chance that if anyone does care, they may actually find you, as long as your SEO is pretty good. Another good reason to have a blog is to post doodles, if you’re into such things. This little girl has been hanging about in my sketch book for a few weeks and I think she’s cute as a button, so I thought I’d share.
Don’t tell my mom this, but Renaissance art scares me. On Saturday, we (“we” being my mom, step dad, brother, my step dad’s grandson, and me) went to the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in Boston. Now the Gardner is a drop-dead gorgeous place with a lot of incredible works from Renaissance artists like Raphael and Titian (no complaints about quality here). But Renaissance art is so…serious. Everyone looks like they’re about to kill or be killed by someone.
One especially haughty looking fellow was King Philip IV of Spain, who my brother dubbed the “pinhead King” because his head seemed all out of proportion with his body. In Philip’s defense, the giant cape, puffy shirt, and “Look ma, my head’s on a platter” collar did not help matters. Also, he was probably miserably hot in that royal get up, which might explain why he seems so crabby. My brother was feeling a bit less charitable and suggested that Philip needed a good smack to wipe that smug look off his face. Art is so open to interpretation.
After having a terrifically fun time, we all piled in the car, with we three “kids” squished in the back seat. My step dad, who is a devout Catholic, had a bible in his car, which is actually a really good idea if you’re driving around Boston.
P.S. The Gardner collection includes more than just Renaissance art. I was, for example, completely blown away by the etchings of J.M. Whistler and Anders Zorn. To die for.
My mom is visiting this weekend, and seeing as I’m one of those lucky people who have a really cool mom, I’m off to spend some time with her, my step dad, and my brother in Boston. Truly, my mom is the best–creative, smart, strong, beautiful–and I love her dearly (even though she made me wait forever until I could pluck my eyebrows or wear makeup). Here’s a big “hi” to you, mom. Love, the weirdest of your two middle kids and the shortest person in the entire family–Karin.
