Resist Bad Coffee

Hello Everyone!

Ahhhh, summertime and sometimes the living is easy and sometimes it isn't. And sometimes when we realize our harvest (or the fridge) is close to nil, nada, zilch, T and I go to the Athens Farmers Market. Found a lovely Russian Black heirloom tomato this time (to the right there, and they are as good as they look!) and a butternut squash with a delightful butternut squash and apple soup "receipt", and some great soups and breads. The apricot scone at the bakery tent was delish! and filling without being heavy.


While there, T and I checked out each and every tent including Slow Foods U.S.A. , which is where we picked up this fabulous postcard.


I have to tell you. This is how I see America, getting 'er done, tromping thru the fields with a terrible swift sword of her own, only it's not a sword. "Get out of my way, I got kids to feed. Stand up or stand down, Mister!" Isn't this concept great?!

I might have to duplicate this outfit for November's election night. THIS gal is who we need to vote for, imho. To find out more go to http://www.slowfoodsusa.org/

And I had a delicious cup of coffee (again, fair trade, etc.) called Aldo's Coffee where I picked up THIS postcard from 1000 Faces Coffee. Resist Bad Coffee!

LOL. No kidding! Now I admit, I have been drinking coffee since I was four or five. Yes. Years old. They put cream and sugar in it to cut the caffeine -- they thought this was good -- totally forgetting about the zippity-doodah effects of the sugar. No wonder I never wanted to take a nap! And that is how I drink it now.

We gave Joe one of these too, a couple of days later. He is a coffeehound from the word "Go." So is Pita. You might remember seeing them on this little blog before. We meet them at Starbucks (I know, I know) once or twice a week among other places, so we thought they would get a big kick out of the "Resist Bad Coffee".

YUM. Now I personally prefer Community Coffee & Chicory New Orleans Blend, when left to my own devices. But I do have to admit, Aldo's is good to the last drop, too!

This weekend is going to be an incredibly busy and artful weekend for Me. Busy in a good way. I am finishing up the ShadowBox and also doing some fun stuff I haven't talked about. Cross your fingers! I still will probably drink a pot of the most illustrious java (to the right here) before Kitten comes over for Our Art Day Sunday.

Until then, I plan on getting more of what I love.

You do the same.

Later, Candace

Hanging On For The Weekend

Hello Everyone!

This poor fellow found his way into the rafters of my basement office and could not/would not come down until completely exhausted and dying. We finally found him panting on the floor in a corner, the end obviously nearing. He goes to Kitten who will know what to do with him. I found a cicada for her too, drowned in the extraordinarily torrential rains we've had here during the last 24 hours. She makes gorgeous jewelry out of these creatures, which can be seen here.

Look at this sweet little pin T made of Sculpey. I wish there were more like this to show but alas, this is it! I think I am going to put a nice back on it, and wear it on a textured scarf this fall. "Home Sweet Home", indeed. Don't know if you can tell but it's 3-D as T built upon each layer and color with a new one, instead of making it of one piece and painting it.

T is very talented, also, as is Kitten and another couple of pals I wish would step up to the plate and just knock it out of the park. Sometimes, however, I think the art which people do for themselves is more than enough. It's not about anything or anyone else, not about fame and glory (as if), or getting ahead in some crazy drama or some rat race.

Remember: Get More of What You Love!

Later,

Candace

Three Ring Circus 4AM

Hello Everyone,

Where is Androcles when you need him? As if work itself does not make me brain dead by Friday.... Molly had one of her infamous tears and kept me up till -- mmmm. FOUR AM. The Boys became very active, practicing for the Animalympics so enjoy, dear reader. How do people with little babies manage? Oh wait. They don't.



This is what I felt like the house turned into in the middle of the night. Somehow I managed to work today but thank God nothing really overtly demanding popped up other than the usual. I had to take a long ass lunch and that meant, not lunch, but an N.A.P.

Will check in Sunday. All sorts of fun this weekend.

Meanwhile, get more of what you love.
Candace

How Beautiful A Day

Hello Everyone!

A quick look at The Baby -- she's coming along nicely. Kitten said, "Don't overdo it, Miss Lady."
I hope I haven't and am sure someone will tell me if I have. Will I listen? Uh -- no.


The birds indeed have those jeweled eyes I promised and jeweled flowers await The Baby in the Garden of How Beautiful A Day. I have one of the flowers missing a petal but WAIT! There it is on Baby's wrist... like an invitation. Or a ticket, maybe, or like a retelling of those old faerie tales of crumbs -- or bling!!! -- left on the forest floor for Our Young Heroine to follow and find her own way.


Perhaps I should have made The Baby's dress pink but I don't think This Baby wears pink. You'll see her again in another more elaborate piece called "Outside The Box", and maybe I will put her in pink there...


with this bit here to the right! Say, some punkin, huh?!?

This was a postcard from a Paris gift shop presented to me some years (20?) back on opening night of a world premiere play I helped with. The director gave it to me because she said -- and it was true -- "She looks like you."

You'll see her again in "Outside The Box" also with The Baby (as mentioned) and The Girl (not seen here yet).

Hopefully, all of you have enjoyed this little glimpse into "How Beautiful A Day". And while I myself am not sick or under the weather these days (being simply peevish!), I do know some of you have been and I pray and trust you will be up and at 'em before you know it.

On the other hand, if you simply need a good laugh, go here and/or here. (Forget anything you know about cooking. And forget everything you understand about retirement planning.)

I guarantee you'll forget that there supposedly "ain't no cure for the Summertime Blues", never mind the Who, the Heat and the Tired Tired Trail to November.

And on yet another note -- since I am running out of hands! -- I'll be kicking it Old Skool this weekend and you'll see the fruits (and nuts) of my labor in a few days. Yes, it's still a bit of a secret, but wish me luck anyway!

Get More of What You Love.
Candace

Whew!

Hello Everyone!

Wow, what a busy weekend. I'm almost too tired to post... well, that would be like being too tired to talk and of course, that's not going to really happen! As my mom used to say, "Your mouth's going to be the last thing to go on you." I guess it could be worse, though.

On top of working Saturday as well as taking a one-day roundtrip to SC the same day for family biz, T and I met friends on three separate occasions. First, a light supper Friday night w/ Tony and Faye, but no pictures. Dang! The Trappeze Pub is pretty cool, too. Sharing later because I am so going back there.

To the right here is my friend and coworker Michelle (any day now) and the Hubs, Chris, whom we met today for Sunday Brunch. Dig that art on the walls! I'll get back to that in a sec.

You may remember these guys from a March post when I mentioned she had just found out she was going to have -- TADA!!! -- their first baby, whom I called Little Mister until two weeks ago when she and Chris finally decided on the name for their boy. Devon. It's Irish and it's perfect and this is going to be sweeeet!

We met our two lovebirds at The Last Resort, my (and Michelle's) favourite eatery in Athens. No kidding -- good food, excellent prices, good staff and a lovely lovely atmosphere. Everyone was happy and quite stoked about everything in general. It was great seeing them. Last Resort always has local artwork up, as does Walker's Pub and a few other places in Bulldawg territory. For a place that is mostly about sports, I find Athens embracing art on a more or less continual basis.

Well, it's a college town. So... I guess they can afford to be generous.

Then a little more work at home and a few hours later, on to the Golden Dragon to meet Ron and Allison. I ate very little -- and made good food choices. Fresh fruits and steamed vegetables... water... white tea. Yum. It was delicious as well and I will recommend it to anyone.
Then back home to continue more work. blech...

On a more mundane note, I did find the type milk I need (in SC) for the butter Kitten and I are making again. Plus she is growing kefir grains and as soon as they are up and at 'em, I will be making kefir.

Enough for now! Back to Artwork Shenanigans!
Later,
Candace

Let's Get This Baby Off The Ground!

Hello Everyone!


Here are a few in progress things I'm working on. And having a ball doing it. I want and need to get a couple of smaller projects wrapped up before this weekend which will be busier than usual, even though I'm basically doing what needed doing last weekend.


Wanted you to have the first gander at the process I go through sometimes.

I want the baby to look like she has just stepped out of wherever, and entered the world awaiting her. Hope these photos get the idea across and you know very well you will see the finished product when all is said and done.




I copied the baby from an old black & white photograph and made a colour copy of the birds from the circular at a popular food market here. I know, I know. Credit must be given, as if I wouldn't...







A slightly different shot here in this last photo
but essentially the same --

The dress and hairbow will be painted and other tricks of this wonderful trade will show up, such as "jewels" placed in the birds' eyes, maybe, fabric over the flowers... or even a paper dress over the painted dress in the next step.

Really, "The Sky's The Limit"... or is it?

Should it be "To Infinity and Beyond!"?

Maybe I'll let the birds take it away! Let's Get This Baby Off The Ground!

So now, work over, dinner eaten, dishes put away, the Girls walked, I can go do what I really love. Tramp around in my colours and papers, some of that "shiny stuff", paints, wax, buttons, cloth and fabrics -- mmm. how'd THAT happen??? -- relax, read and write! If I am lucky, bed before too much longer.

Later, Candace

Quick Note, Gotta Go!

Hello again


Am I the only one -- I know I'm not -- who goes to the thrift stores "just in case"?

It's amazing what one can find there as well as places like Hobby Lobby, Michael's, et cetera.

As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. And I have found some lately that are going on the art project I have begun...

Meanwhile, life and work (blech) goes on. The tummy trouble improves and then returns so I am on probiotic kefir and such... Kitten and Don were ill. Thought at first it was food poisoning but now we are none of us sure. Don was having the same symptoms -- okay. Not. Okay. Not.

A box or two to alter and give as gifties -- one in memoriam. One just because. And someone mentioned a fundraiser -- here. A couple days ago, there was an interesting suggestion on Jeanne's site, read the August 6th post. Real food for real thought...

Later,
Candace