and some days you just have to stop and eat the flowers.

I've been running on full speed for a while now- but when I looked up and realized I was missing another beautiful day, I decided to go for a short walk and admire what we have planted.

Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera, so you'll have to use your imagination.

Went exploring under our Big Tree (because I was hoping to find morel mushrooms.... some people have all the luck) and found these pretty flowers, which I plucked from their homes so I could admire them while I work work work work... sorry. Got on a loop.

No luck identifying them with my nifty wildflower app.

Cooper offered to taste-test them.

This is why I can't have pretty things.

I went batty.

I'm not someone who usually decorates my home for holidays. I should be that person. I WANT to be that person, but I'm just not.

However, this last Halloween I went batty (pun intended) and cut creepy-crawlies-and-flyies from scrap cardstock and hung them around the room with thread and tape. (My favourite trick is to tape them on the inside of a lampshade so they surprise you when you turn on the light. GAH! SPIDER. Oh right, I did that.)

Oh course, the cats removed them, one-by-one, so all I had to do after Halloween was pick them off the floor and put them in the trash.

Are you a crafty decorator?

of the way cats nap.

Seriously, how can he sleep like this? How is it possible? I am jealous.

it's another cat post.

Cooper's name at the shelter was "Goofy." We knew we wouldn't keep it (even though we kept Jovi's) because WHO WOULD NAME A CAT GOOFY? That's so mean.

Sometimes it's clear they had more wisdom than we gave them credit for.

It doesn't get much goofier than laying on your back in the sun, with your tongue hanging out.

Jovi brought her "Looking spooky for Halloween" act over to see what I was doing. Cooper punished her for her interest.

of cat naps. I know I am.

The key to getting your cats to do something you want (for example, sleeping adorably in wooden boxes) is not telling them about it.

Success!

there's some clubbing going on...

Check out the beginning of our Adventures in Making craft club.

this is just a distraction.

Remember that night when we played with the kitten till he was exhausted...

and he started panting, but just couldn't stop playing with the cat-wand?
Well, I think we went too far. I think he's broken...
because today I found him like this.

(Cats are weird.)

that everything is a cat toy.

I had a lot of "help" as I was getting some new cards ready today. After trying several methods of distraction, I cut a piece of scap cover stock back and forth to create a long springy strip, then taped it to the chair next to me.

Thankfully, I was granted a few moments of relief– till he tore it to pieces.

and guess who else like the couch?

Cooper Does.
Yes, He's Cooper. As in Alice Cooper, Agent Cooper, Anderson Cooper, Hanging with Mr. Cooper, Cooper Street and let's not forget, Cooper the Pooper.

because I have a kitten.

I decided to say yes to the mewing of my biological clock, and we have recently acquired this fellow.

I know, he's just hideous. We haven't named him yet- waiting for the right name. I wanted to name him Baskerville...

but it just didn't stick.

He's currently in a room by himself, which the other cats are watching all the time. Should be fun when we introduce everyone.

He is VERY vocal, VERY friendly, and VERY playful. It is difficult to get a good shot.

Anyone have any name suggestions? We've been considering Booth (after david boreanaz on Bones) because Angel is named after "Angel". All suggestions welcome!

**Edited- Acquired is now spelled correctly, and a new photo was added.

in the meantime...

I know, I know, but my sister said "Don't you name it Owlbert," so I had to.

More radio silence over here... for a couple of good reasons. ONE, the weather is horrible and I can't seem to shake the "it should be summer" blues. TWO, I'm assigning myself (and my helper) big projects to get the season rolling.

First project was a little kitchen repaint that Patrick did. (I will reveal what shade of Alisonblue it is soon.)

Second has been to address the reupholstery of this little mid-century gem. The upholstery was necessary because the moment we brought it home it was sat upon and mishapen by the cats. (Can you see the cat imprint?)
Additionally, the upholstery fabric made Jovi do this...
Which seems like the first line of a very sad story.

Anyways, we just have a couple of steps to go to finish the arduous task. Then I'll show you the final piece, and maybe a couple of progress shots.

(BTW, this burgundy fabric is the result of an unwise recovering. Originally, in 1966, it was covered in avocado green vinyl and had 5 lovely buttons on each back cushion.)

and you might wonder where I've gone.

Hi! I'm back. Sorry I was gone for so long... lots of little complications. You know. Life got in the way of my blog.

So, I'm here now, and I will try to be around a little more in the future (for my sake as much as yours.) Do you have anything you want to see? (Besides more pictures of my evil kitties.)

of this cat toy

Rachel over at Camp Smartypants is making these awesome catnip hearts. It would be an understatement to say that Jovi is enjoying it-- but of course it's impossible to get a good picture as she thrashes about with it.

She doesn't have them on her etsy shop yet-- but keep an eye open, because they are tons of fun, for cat and spectator alike.

Just don't try to take it away.

my Halloween meant fun with cats

With the absence of any other plans Halloween night, Patrick and I made our own fun. Namely, fun with cats and zombie shooters.

Doesn't Angel look fantastic in her costume? Let me tell you, SHE LOVED IT. She showed that love by trying to remove it at any cost.

Unfortunately, none of our other Halloween Night photos turned out, so we had a reenactment the next day.

This photo shows Angel in a more accurate light...

Jovi decided to be a princess. I think she liked all the feathers and tulle that she could attack.

Oh, I dressed as a housewife, and made this stew (minus the celery, gross.) It was FANTASTIC! (I made the pieces smaller so it would cook better.)

Hope yours was great, send me your dress up photos!

of trash painting

Jovi would like to show you what I've been up to today.

Since I am incapable of keeping anything alive (including my apple whose power cable just bit-it) and the season is about to change to fall (which is, coincidentally, what my spirits are doing- falling) I decided to use some of the trash I've saved to paint some little made-up plants.

This wood was the surface of my book cutter before it was left out in someone's yard. I love the way the wood weathered, and after a quick sand, it was easy-peasy to paint on. (I used gouache for the first time, and I may be in love.)

While Jovi is helping me style the trash-art, Angel is working on a plot against Apple. While I don't support her 100 percent in her plans (which could get someone hurt) I understand her motives. I mean, replacing a power cable for a laptop under warranty should be easier than

(a) driving to Bellevue tomorrow which is the earliest a genius can see me, to wait 20 minutes for them to get to me and say "Yep, the power cable is not working. You were right. Let me just disappear to the back for an hour and see if I can find one of the hundreds of replacements back there."
(b) waiting 5 business days for them to send the part to me. 5 days!

(c) or (this is my favourite) "You can come to the store in Bellevue, buy the part, use it till a genius can see you in a couple of days, then return it." Oh, did I mention they have a restocking fee?

It should be mentioned that Angel doesn't have anything in particular against Apple. She just needs a target for her kitty-rage; and I'm not even so mad anymore because really, what am I doing on the computer all day?

I should just paint more trash.

and you want an adhesive gun.

Trust me when I tell you that you really want one of these.
A Scotch ATG 700 puts down adhesive strips on the back of all your paper/object needs. It may look like a massive pricing gun, but really it's a thing of wonder that lives in one of my adhesive drawers.

That's how the adhesive (think the sticky part of tape) is laid down on your paper. It makes a pretty great bond. While the price of the gun is PRETTY high for a glue toy, the small cost of the massive refills makes up the difference.

I use it mainly for gluing things together, but it can also be used for closing envelopes, wrapping packages, etc.

(glam cats)

I tried out the Tombow Mono Adhesive (above) before I used my employee discount to invest in the ATG. It's nice, but the refills cost the same as the dispenser, and you get barely any coverage. (I keep it in my art bag now, so I can glue things into my books.)

**btw- I'm sorry if this entry is a little weirdly written, I'll probably rewrite it later, but I am working on day three of a massive migraine that I think has shorted out my brain a little.

because, you see, I can change my wardrobe

It might be hot outside, I can't tell. 

The black cat is seeking shelter from the sun. Too bad she can't change into a tanktop.

(I would like to point out that we have a furnished basement that is about 20 degrees cooler, but this will not do. I think she's a cabana cat.)

my cats aren't photogenic.

It was a sunny day today (still cold as a witch's... you-know-what) and the cats were both laid-out in the sunbeams. I got the camera; they decided it was time to move.

Some people can get great pictures of their cats, but my photos consist of blurs, disembodied cat-parts, up-close eyeballs, and the occasional look of irritation (see above.)

I can only think this means my camera is inferior.

It must be the camera.

(more examples here)