Tag: Houndstooth

Button Sunday

The Astros are the World Series champions. I did watch the game, but I also took a page from Lynne’s book (literally, as she gave me the journal I was coloring in, and by example, as she’s been coloring while she watched the World Series) and worked on the coloring page I started yesterday. I finished it this morning with the hour the time change returned to us. Writing, coloring, cooking, and cleaning will be my go-to things over the next few days because elections are hard on my nervous system.


(covered up what I wrote in my journal, because it’s a journal 😄 )

Hump Day

Let’s see. This week I’ve managed to vote (oh, the things I could say, and may say, but not today–except to note that the people who work our polls are helpful, upbeat, friendly, and I appreciate them so much) with Tom, Tim, and Debby. Tim was kind enough to take a selfie with my phone.

I’ve composed a two-page letter with 11 attachments to try to resolve a situation that has caused me abundant stress for the last seventeen months. You don’t want to see any photos of that–including how I look when I wake up at 5:00 AM and decide there are a few more things I need to do before that packet can be faxed.

Every day, I take on a small household task in addition to the routine bedmaking, straightening up, meal planning and cooking, and cleaning up after four dogs (who yesterday were stuck inside because it drizzled all day and it takes a village to get them outside in the rain, and I am but one person). Also, my Instagram posts take a little time to set up, shoot, and then put everything away.

Yesterday’s small task was giving the inside of the refrigerator a good cleaning and organizing it better. I’m not sure what today’s task will be–after I have breakfast and then take a nap since I woke up way too early.

I spotted this photo of actor Viola Davis this morning in my Instagram feed of accounts I don’t follow but show up because of other accounts I do follow. I think she’s pretty fabulous.

But what made me pause and screencap was that her fashion reminded me of an outfit I made for my first Runway Monday final collection in October 2008 based on characters in my novel A Coventry Christmas. Here’s Keelie in the same color palette.

Enjoy the middle of the week! Gonna leave you with this old Crowded House song I love.

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.

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.

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.