I could walk these country roads for miles just takin' in the beauty of the changin' leaves around me. The good Lord above sure does have the best color palette, doesn't He?
To celebrate this wonderful season, I will be offerin' my one of a kind paperclay creation on The Humble Arts.
So I sat down and started to talk to him. My first question was "What happened, did you get knocked out of the nest?" Boy how I wish critters could talk.
I was amazed at how unafraid he was. He came within a foot of me, just starin'. My Polish upbringin' kicked in and I immediately felt the need to feed him somethin'. So I brought him out some bird seed and a lil' bowl of water.
He started to eat the seed. He then hopped into the bowl of water and sat in it as he drank. What a precious sight that was.
All afternoon he hopped around the porch, venturin' down a few steps only to come back up to where he felt safe. His parents keepin' a watchful eye on him.
When dusk came, I said goodnight and closed the front door.
The next mornin' I went to let our dogs out and check on my new feathered friend. As I opened the door, there he lay lifeless in the same spot I saw him the evenin' before. His head was gone. My heart sank.
I knew the cat. I have been chasin' him off my property for weeks. I know, I know... "That's what cats do, its nature." That may be true, but as long as I'm on watch, I do my best to keep that from happenin'. He was so innocent, so sweet so vulnerable. I had failed my new lil' friend.
When I went out on the porch later that afternoon, I found a few of his tiny baby feathers. I took them out on our property, opened my hand and watched them blow away in the wind. He was finally able to fly.
Today as I walked around our land, I came upon this delicate and fragile empty bird's nest. It was just laying in the grass. Not a tree or a bush near it. It was so strange. I gently picked it up and smiled. Was it a "sign"? Who knows... But I'd like to think so.
:> )
Make sure y'all mark August 1st on your calendar folks. We at The Humble Arts are havin' our first themed eBay group launch. The theme is "Underneath The Falloween Moon". It is also the theme for our website "The Humble Arts" come the 1st of August.
Oooooh, I can't wait to see the wonderful offerins' from this talented group of artists. Just remember to type HARTS07 in your eBay search.
Looks like its time to raid my hubs trouser pockets and get my biddin' finger ready...
Ya see, back in my early 20's, I was crossin' a street in Lake George, New York and *smack* I was hit by a car. I didn't break one bone in my body, but I did need some stitches in my head which meant the ER doctor had to shave some of my hair off. What??? Then he pipes up, "You didn't break anything, but you're going to wish you did."
Gee thanks Doc, that's just what I wanted to hear. Not only will I wish I broke every bone in my body, I now have a bald spot AND a scar like Frankenstein. Great. Needless to say I was out of work for 4 months and Lake George is not on my list of favorite places to visit.
So here I am 20+ years later with the same pain in my neck. I occasionally have two pains in my neck, but my hubs hasn't been annoyin' me lately.
Usually my chiropractor does wonders but my visit with him yesterday didn't do much to alleviate the pain.
As I chatted today with my dear friend Blondie/Vintage Primitives she told me about an overdoor cervical traction device. She said it really helps. She also mentioned I will look like an idiot in it, but it's worth the blackmail from my hubs. Well heck how bad could it be? Besides I'm so desperate, I'm ready to try anythin'. I got on the horn and called into town to see if the medical supply store had one. They sure did, so hubs stopped and picked it up on his way home from work.
When he walked in the door he said "Oh, I can't wait to see you in this thing." At first it looked like some medieval torture contraption. My head is supposed to go in there? Its got metal bars, straps and pulleys. I don't think Houdini could get out of this one.
So tonight I will try this "device" and see if it helps relieve some of my discomfort. But first, I must hide the digital camera. I can't afford to be blackmailed.
Now before you wrinkle up your nose at the thought of 'em, ya have to try 'em first. Especially if ya like Italian flavor. This is an old recipe. They never measured anything back in the good ol' days.
Green Tomatoes In Olive Oil
Thinly slice green tomatoes.
Put tomatoes in a large bowl cover them completely in a layer of canning salt.
Place a plate on top of the tomatoes with something to weigh them down. I also place a towel over the bowl. Let set overnight.
Drain all water from the bowl and rinse thoroughly and squeeze out excess water.
Place tomatoes in a large bowl and cover completely with cider vinegar. Let stand for 4 hours.
Drain vinegar.
Then stack tomatoes in canning jars adding a pinch of oregano and chopped garlic (or more than a pinch if y'all are trying to keep the vampires or your in-laws away) on top of every few tomatoes. If using fresh oregano, add more than a pinch.
Fill jars completely with olive oil. (don't substitute with any other oil)
As you do this, gently place a butter knife down the sides of the jars to get out any air.
Cap and let stand for 4-6 weeks and ENJOY. These are delicious on sandwiches, hamburgers or top your favorite steak with 'em. But remember not to breathe your "dragon breath" on anybody after you have some.
Do you recognize him?
If you're thinkin' he's that Freddy from Chico And The Man or the lead singer from Queen, guess again.
Why its Freddy Krueger from Nightmare On Elm Street, of course.
I'll be listin' Freddy on eBay in the future. So keep your peepers peeled for him and more from my Halloween Firewood Folks collection.
I never realized how fast I could move until we had a bat in the house. The only thing my hubs saw was smoke comin' from my heels.
I reckon I could have won an Olympic gold medal, beatin' out that Michael Johnson feller in the 100 meter dash if a bat was chasin' me. Even wearin' his gold Nikes, he wouldn't be able to pass.
But thank goodness for our badminton racket. It's not just for shuttlecocks.
So in celebration of my new found agility, I stitched up this vampire bat. He's bein' offered on my website.
Try and stay cool folks.
:> )
So my next Paperclay dollie will be a maple leaf-head.
I know she's lookin' a lil' pale at the moment, but I'll have her gussied up in no time. I'll keep y'all posted.
I've got the ol' ball and chain outside cuttin' up logs with his chainsaw and I'll be out there wieldin' my axe. Boy, that sounds like a horror movie doesn't it? Well I guess it could be if I go out there without a stitch of makeup on.
As always, my one of a kind Firewood Folks are signed, dated and numbered. You can scoot on over to my website and join my email list if ya would like to be notified of my new pieces. While you're there, click on the "My Gallery" button to see my previous Firewood Folks.
Oh and don't forget the first week of August The Humble Arts family will have our first eBay launch. Its titled "Underneath the Falloween Moon". In the eBay Search type HARTS07. Ooooh, I can't wait to see what this talented group of artists will have to offer.
The heck with control top Lycra wears, why not use camouflage duct tape for my middle section? Not only would it keep my stomach flat, you wouldn't be able to see it anymore.
If I could find duct tape in gold, I'd make myself a set of those stunnin' arm cuffs like Cleopatra wore. They would be attractive yet keep the flab under my arms from swayin' in the wind.
No need for a bra, I'd just make the letter "W" underneath 'em and I'm good to go. The same goes for my back end too.
Ya know as much as I complain about these tired old bones, I'm happy with them. They have taken me through life's journey, both good and bad. Besides, I'd much rather keep all these wrinkles on my face than look like I got shot out of a cannon doin' 100 mph.
But just in case, I'm off to the Home Depot for some duct tape...
Same thing with "crow's feet" around my eyes. Well isn't that a "lovely" expression.
Now I've got a lil' bird stomping across my face when I least expect it.
Laugh lines? Who says they're funny.
When did I get so old?
Or have you found yourself singing along to the songs in the grocery store?
That's as bad as elevator music. Who would have thought I would hear "Stayin' Alive" as I strolled down the canned fruits isle?
But I did and I still can't hit that high note like those Gibb brothers.
When did I get so old?
So the bottom line (I guess) is you're as young as you feel. Well, I still feel like a kid but when I look in the mirror I keep seeing my mama staring back at me.
Sigh...
Here's the Countryfolk homestead.
Here's a happy lil' Black Eyed Susan.
When ya can't beat 'em... join 'em. (I'm so tired of weedin')
I am truly blessed because my mama saved some of my childhood toys. I haven't gone through the boxes in awhile, but I think its time to go through them again. All sorts of emotions hit me when I do so I usually keep a big ol' box of tissues near me. I still hug my dollies like I did as a young'un and talk to them too. They don't talk back, but I know what they're thinkin'.
I have a very special bear. His name is Ted. Ted has been around longer than I have. Ya see grandma bought this bear for me when she heard I was comin'. But grandma passed away before she got the chance to meet me. Which is why I have this very special bear.
One of my favorite childhood books is called "Bonhomme" by Laurent de Brunhoff. Its a wonderful story about this adorable lil' feller who lives under a tree at the top of a mountain. I was thrilled to purchase a copy of it a few months ago. I have it displayed so every time I walk by it, I smile.
See, he made ya smile.
:> )
