Sweet tiny lantana flowers.
Tag: Houndstooth
Just a Saturday
Every day, I seem to feel a little and do a little better. If I could tame the dragon formed from my anxious thoughts, maybe it would go easier. But I mostly live in the real world; the unreal world is for managing characters’ anxieties, not mine.
For a long time after last year’s freeze, I thought our ruellia was gone, but it did come back. We had some cool trellises out there, but they were so tall that other vines and weeds took them over and were smothering our beautiful purple flowers. Tom cut all that out and put up some lighter, shorter fencing to give support to the plants we want.
It has a bit of a wild look, but we think that’s what makes it attractive to the butterflies and hummingbirds that visit in season.
I’ve mentioned before that in October, I do a daily Instagram post with my skeleton, Lord Cuttlebone, who I’ve shown on here a couple of times in previous years. This year, he was wearing an Astros tiara from Lindsey and Rhonda’s stash of costumes and goodies when the Astros won their first playoff game. At that point, I was told by Lindsey that he had to wear the tiara every night the Astros played. He did–and it seemed to work because they swept the playoffs, beating the Yankees four games in a row. Which meant, I was told, that he must continue to wear it every day there’s a World Series game against the Phillies.
I photographed him with it yesterday for that first game–and the Astros lost! I asked if that meant he should stop wearing it, but Rhonda said NO! Since there’s another game tonight, I shot a selfie with him today for my Instagram, and I’m putting it here to explain my mask.
Actor/entertainer/comedian/singer Leslie Jordan, who unexpectedly died this week, was a HUGE part of keeping my spirits up in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. I followed him, and kept following him, on Instagram for his “pillow talk” videos, which often began, “Well, shit… How y’all doin’?” When he started selling merchandise, I ordered that mask. As I said on Instagram, each time I wore it on my rare outings, I felt like a little of Leslie went with me, because it always made people laugh.
Like millions, I’m going to miss all the laughter and kindness he brought to each day. He’s one of the rare testaments that social media can be used for good.
Weird Wednesday
Once again having computer/Internet issues here at Houndstooth Hall. Hopefully this will get resolved sooner rather than later. It’s getting tiresome.
Hope you’re all doing well. Here’s a photo of petals on one of our ruellia (“Mexican heather”) plants.
Keeping a sense of humor
Sometimes it’s really hard for me to find the humor in a situation or event, but I do think it’s a survival technique. I’m on a text thread that includes Rhonda, Lindsey, Timothy, and Tom, and very often when Lindsey tells us news that could be worrisome, she says something like, “I’m fine. It’s fine. Everything’s fine.”
Each time she does that, I’m compelled to share this gif (I hope this link stays good):
While it’s been a challenging week, we’re all fine. And able to laugh.
Traveling Painter Redux
My painting by Ron Edwards. It still hangs in the library at Houndstooth Hall today.
Back in January of 2006, I wrote a post called Traveling Painter. It was about an artist I saw at the student center my freshman year of college, Ron Edwards, and his unique technique and style. My then-boyfriend bought the above painting and gave it to me for Christmas.
Through the years, several people have commented on that post when they’ve searched “RonArt” and “Ron Edwards” and mine has been one of the few references they can find. Other college students from those years in several parts of the country shared their recollections of seeing Ron at work, buying his art, and sometimes losing track of their art pieces (in one case, losing one to a California wildfire). There’s so much history and goodwill toward the artist in their memories.
Commenter Debbie T was also a college freshman when she bought this Ron Edwards painting she still owns.
Although commenter Jamie no longer has the painting he bought, he was kind enough to send a photo of a Ron Edwards painting owned by a friend.
It’s been cool to connect like this. Though there have been only a few of us, it makes me hope there are more who’ll seek information, find this newer post, and share their stories, memories, and photos of their paintings. Maybe one day, someone will tell us more about Ron Edwards himself, especially if he’s still painting and where he is. One commenter has unsuccessfully looked for his art to buy on eBay, so there are surely other collectors looking for sellers.
This photo of Ron Edwards at work was published on the Internet by artist Gil Pollard.
Tiny Tuesday!
Can you spot all four dogs in this photo? Even the tiniest one?
More random thoughts
The last time I was able to work on my current novel was September 25. Today, I’m going to try again, and I’m creating my own setting to help with my writing’s setting. There are only a few chapters to write before I can finally leave 1974 behind!
Water, music, encouragement from candles all in place.
Meanwhile, cleared my phone of some of the things that have struck me as I’ve perused Instagram while I’ve been down and out, and I share them with you here for your amusement or musings. The first couple made me laugh, though my characters have mostly been kind enough to leave me alone so I could rest.
Dog Shots
Eva the Six-Pound Badass ran all the other dogs off the big bed then gave them her death stare to keep them from returning. Delta is sad. Anime just wants Jack’s toy.
Anime was elsewhere when Eva, Jack, and Delta supervised Tom returning the recycle and trash bins to the carport.
Always one to jump on a meme, Delta says, “It’s corn!”
Tiny Tuesday!
Last year in October, I got Paulus, pictured on the left, from Body Mind and Soul after their buying trip to Denver. They made the trip again this year, but I’m not sure that Bard, on the right, came from that. I picked him up last week. After looking at the differences between their tail feathers and sizes, I’ve decided Paulus is more accurately called a crow, and Bard is the raven. (I have a compulsion to repaint Bard’s eyes. ETA: I have modified the eyes since this photo and this post.) Either way, they’re corvids and fit right into my imaginary world as discussed in last year’s post. I also finally have a name for the house that could soon make its first appearance in the novel I’m working on.
More than ever, my imaginary world is a lot more pleasurable than the one we inhabit, though (a) I’m very fond of the people in the real world, and (b) I’m at a frozen point in writing. I’ve revised and inserted change pages into all the drafts of the first five books, so maybe I’m thinking Mercury needs to get out of retrograde for me to resume new writing. At least I’m THINKING, all the time!
Since I’m heeding a message from my coloring journal, I’m also trying to do more, which probably explains all the organization projects that have been happening around the Hall.
Two surprises: Not reading at all this month. Thinking of a possible novel outside the Neverending universe and wondering if I should start simultaneously working on it when winter sets in.
ETA: Added to my Numbers Photo Series, No. 10.
Tiny Tuesday!
It’s been a long time since three of my old watches have been on display. I had to do a bit of cleaning and adjusting, but they are now hanging in the writing sanctuary, which is in many ways the most retro room of the Hall.
A closer look:
Spiro Agnew watch from 1970, Bicentennial watch from 1976, and AIDS red ribbon watch from 1990s
I’m not sure which of my other watches I still have, but they once included a Mickey Mouse watch and a Winnie the Pooh watch. I think I still have the first watch I was ever given–probably a Timex. I remember the resurgence of watch-wearing in the ’90s with Swatches, but I guess these days, getting a fun new watch isn’t a thing unless it’s a smartwatch connecting the wearer to the entire world. (Okay, Boomer.)