Ernie the girl, conjoined twins, a fancy car and thrifty finds.

 

Before Ernie lost her hearing and her ability to know which way home was, she came to the door most days in the summer. If the door was open she politely stepped inside and sat , looking at me on the computer or in the kitchen. She got  a pet, a "good girl" and a buffalo biscuit and then she  meandered back home. It has been a couple of years,   for her own safety,  that she has been on a lead and kept indoors.  I have missed her visits very much. She is the sweetest girl! happy all of the time and so well behaved- a gem of a pooch.

Last night a knock on the door and there stood  Ernie and her human, wagging and smiling and glad -to- see- you...there to report that this is going to be her final day on the planet. She will be going off to Flora Jane's idea of what happens after we die. Brought by to say our goodbyes to a very good girl and a prize of a doggo, our Ernie.  she is older than I thought- I thought that maybe she might have been eleven tops but she is nearly 15 and her legs are not working, she has other issues as well and it is time. She will not suffer the wheels coming entirely off- been down that road with other pets and it is not pleasant, not forgiving, to linger in a shite state.  Difficult thing to do for your beloved  but admirable that while she is still wagging and being lovely, her humans are giving her a break. The love is big.

"The doctor gives you a shot and  your mom puts you in the earth and then you get to go to the underground place where you can play all day with ALL of the dogs and cats and children and eat treats and there are more stars than what we have" - Flora Jane , age 4 3/4.

 

 

Ernie, nearly 15.

This morning I saw purple foot prints on the deck, The raccoons walking on purple petals that have blown from the flowers dyed their little feet. They are feeling goth.

When Stella and I left Clarissa's place we met a large gnome carved from a tree-

We followed this vintage car which was probably headed to a car show of some sort, all shiny and manicured. Looking like a great drive in movie car ,with an amorous boyfriend -back in the day. 

Stella, of the best ideas , parked by a really fun vintage shop where she bought a sweet metal basket for her deck flowers and I bought wooden spools, an old tin with dead people on it, and three peculiar dolls.  The granny is celluloid , fragile , paper thin, and has a hefty hole in her head. I may remedy that with something...vintage cotton bandage?

 

-dead people on a tin - 

Three days of Stella last week has been SO LUCKY!! She is the BEST! as you know, and we balance one another in that she can't hear and I can't see . Together we make a complete person.

This morning Jan sent photos of her children- the conjoined twin daisies. They are stunning aren't they?

Full bloom and probably on the way out as we all are. Cared for lovingly by our Jan, a Bonny Lass! Good to the core!

It is mid day now and still 59 degrees. The flowers on the deck are loving this cold summer. They are leggy but perky, I picked some for Clarissa, to take to her opening. I found a rainbow basket at the thrift store, of course. Perfect for Clarissa.
 

 

  

Too many photos of a day well spent

STELLA AND I WENT TO OUR FRIEND'S YESTERDAY, OPEN HOUSE , ART SHOWING, A GATHERING.

The entry is mosaic mostly of pieces that she produced in her kiln and from other pottery projects from the past. 

Clarissa has been a friend for a very long time though we rarely see one another. She is busy! She has done many artist residencies in several different countries over the past few years. Teaching as she goes. She complains that her brain NEVER stops, ever! She is exhausted but can't make it shut up! Her house and yard and projects speak to that beautiful noise!

 

Every wall has several features of her making. 

She gathered every little stone from several beaches, in a bucket over months , set them in sand concrete while on her knees bent over the would be path. She said that was the only project that quieted her mind. That is my toe in the photo. You can still see the pretty -much- healed - injury from dropping a vase on it when I painted the bedroom. It was one of Clarissa's vases- shattered, there was BLUD! " Was this a message from Clarissa?" I think it may have been "get thee to the house of beauty, eat a cookie and give a hug !"

Every step taken in Clarissa's yard is an event of interest, of color, of clever art . It is all very organized and fluid, Everything is as it is- belonging to one another though in another's world there seems to be no relationship.  Clarissa's art is inclusive- side by side harmony, just like her diverse family.  

 

Mirrors in bottle caps surrounding Mary-

She made this virgin from clay,, glazed and fired,  added tiny glasses . I appreciate that especially. There are  many eye  things about- I appreciate that as well. Visually impaired reality can be art!

Chandelleirs , long stings of pearls, crystals and brushes hang from tree branches in a pleasing way. Loads of Mary's here and there  and a Joseph squatting in the bushes. She has the most beautiful chickens in the world living in their own large house, kept well . Elvis , the house chicken ,lives indoors with the cat. they sleep together. Elvis wears pants that Clarissa designed to keep poo from hitting the floor. her oldest chicken, Pearl, is eight. 

The path to the shed and the chicken house;

There is a swing large enough for two butts. Flowers all around, sunflowers  in the "courtyard" at the back growing up  past the chimney, held up by rebar. I have never seen such freakishly tall sunflowers!

Her mate, Chris,  made a gypsy wagon that they live in when they go to the California desert during the dark months of rain up here. In the desert Clarissa does art installations , never stopping with her creativity, her mind always on full blast. 

There are about fifty more photos but blog can only deal with so much, you know. Tomorrow I may post more because all of it is gob smackingly gorgeous! 

There are remarkable women in this life. How am I so lucky to know some. 

this made my morning do able

 

Thrifting with Stella down south, conjoined heads, and a murder machine.

I went south with Stella. she was on a mission to take 1930's HS annuals to their hometown to see if they might sell down there.  While there we had a look around at every thrift store in the area. I bought a house ( Nippon luster ware plate)

And an icing gadget that will come in handy  for fancier cakes than just a pile of glop on top. The woman on the box is utterly mental- What is she going to do to that cake?

I bought a velvet banana slug for Flora Jane.

See if you can find Stella in this photo, HINT, she is the color of the sofa. 

We had a chat about this little drawer thing, in excellent condition, the real deal  with lovely old metal toggles. It was only 29 dollars and just the right size to fit into Stella's car but neither of us have a place for it at home. Such a deal, a little beauty. On casters which made it even more difficult to pass up. 
 

Stella bought three pretty frames and some mini 50's things for her mouse house. This is my haul:

All of that  excellent shopping made us hungry- exhausting doing  the best shopping in the world...We went to the Trainwreck and split a salad of the most remarkable kind!  Tender juicy strips of chicken , avocados, cucumbers on crisp romaine. Peppery dressing. 

Back to Stella's where I got into my car and drove  home before the sun went down.

Modesty in Stella's garden.

 This morning Jan sent me a photo of the conjoined daisies that she has growing in her kitchen- She had sent the first photo a few days ago and we, both, were very curious to see how a conjoined daisy would mange...

This morning it showed its skill for blooming in spite of  head sharing.

Freak! Curious how the top petals compensated for lack of space. You may remember Jan from the little Japanese doll she gave to me, and the tea that Dennis prepared in a gigantic tea pot ?  I tried to find that post but failed. Jan sends the best stuff in emails. It is always a delight to wake up in the morning and find an email from her.  Clever and lovely is Jan. AND, bonus, she has a conjoined freak daisy! 

Today I took my Cpap machine in to have it checked  and questioned about it's intent, which is to kill me in my sleep...Replaced a few parts ,  the fixer upper sent me home, and said to get back to them on Monday if I was still alive.

 It has been my best friend for a year and now all of a sudden murder is its agenda.  Damn machines.  Anyway, new parts may snap it out of its disagreeable  turn. 

night night little freak;
 

( thanks Jan!)