Tag: photos

Crafty!

As many of you know, my 200-plus members of the Barbie family are individually wrapped in tissue and stored in my attic. This is because I’m not Anne Rice and can’t afford to buy and restore an old orphanage to house and exhibit my doll collection. On the day that I can purchase such a place, if it’s anything like St. Elizabeth’s, I’m moving in first. The dolls and I will then negotiate.

In the meantime, I need to keep some of my dolls at hand. By all accounts, the dispute over Project Runway has been settled, and the most recent season will finally air this summer on Lifetime. I don’t know if Mark G. Harris, Timothy J. Lambert, or anyone else will be interested in doing PR’s weekly design challenges for the Mattel Top Models. Even if we don’t, I still enjoy designing for special events (the Oscars) and holidays. But the dolls and everything they need were overunning my office and cluttering the Spoil Debby and Sometimes Lisa Guest Suite.

I needed a more organized solution. Lindsey and I were shopping in Texas Art Supply one day when we found a wonderful kit for youngsters who might be interested in sewing and designing for dolls. I didn’t get the kit, but it did inspire a PROJECT.

After some shopping around, I found this cabinet, deeply discounted, at Michael’s:

It’s divided into three cubes:

And then what happened?

Today’s theme is: Blue

Bluesday is brought to you by:


My First Ken® from 1991 and Barbie circa 1997.


When I went walking the other day, I shot photos of some of my favorite buildings in the ‘hood. It’s disheartening to realize how many interesting buildings have been torn down to make room for the monolithic eyesores that brought in more traffic, more people who don’t appreciate the quirky, offbeat character of this little pocket of Midtown Houston, and more strain on our infrastructure. (I’m always marveling that a lot that once had to support one basic bathroom, one basic kitchen, and maybe a washing machine, now may serve nine-plus toilets and sinks, three or more dishwashers, three or more washing machines, an outdoor sprinkler system–need I continue?)


When Tom and I were traveling at Christmas, we found this book in the bargain section of a Barnes and Noble in Dayton. I LOVE THIS BOOK. A longtime admirer of Blue Dog, I couldn’t be more delighted with the hundreds of Blue Dog paintings it contains, more than 160 of which have never been previously published in book form. If you (or someone you know) like(s) George Rodrigue’s work in general, or his Blue Dog series specifically, find and buy this funny, haunting little book.


Finally thanks to several really generous and kind friends and family, I got my birthday present. And guess what? It’s NOT like riding a bicycle. Apparently, if you’ve ridden a bicycle for decades, you develop an instinctive sense of balance and movement when you’re turning or climbing or stopping. And that doesn’t translate to a trike. Who knew? So I’m learning again how to ride.

I love the trike; it’s very light and easy to propel. Going forward on a straight road is no big deal. But turns are dicey, and I’ve nearly tipped over a couple of times. I’m sure it’ll happen sooner or later, but I’d rather it be later if it can’t be never. Of course, all of this is complicated by the aforementioned increase in traffic in the ‘hood since I first began riding my bike here back in, I don’t know, ’96?

I promise to wear my helmet and watch for idiots on cell phones who run stop signs, speed through school zones, pull into crosswalks, and whip in and out of parking lots without paying attention to anything smaller than their bigass vehicles. It’ll be an adventure!

This nearly was mine

While mulling over ideas and possibilities and even some outlines of what I want to write next, I feel increased pressure to do something creative for my own well-being. I mentioned a project I’m working on, but I’m not ready to post photos of it yet (though I’m closer after getting some advice from Lindsey and Lynne last night).

I took my camera with me on a walk on Tuesday just in case I saw anything worth shooting. I took a lot of photos, finally realizing that I seemed more interested in textures than anything else. It’s been almost two years since I did any of my small paintings that I sell to give the proceeds to AIDS assistance organizations, and I’m hoping Tuesday’s photos will inspire more paintings.

I threw the photos into a Flickr set and kept it public, though I imagine the photos won’t be of much interest to anyone unless you, too, can be inspired by photos of not much more than texture or color.

The photo on the left is of part of a two-story duplex in the neighborhood. It was one of two places that Tom suggested I see after he did initial legwork when we were in the market for a house fourteen years ago. I never went inside it, because The Compound bungalow was my one-and-only. As soon as I stepped inside the front door, I knew it was meant to be mine. Still, even though I never looked at the duplex, my feelings for it remind me of certain flirtations from my long-ago past: enduring affection for what might have been mine.

ONLY in the city…

You’ve read from Tim and me many times on LJ about this occurrence. But here it is: photographic evidence that ANYONE will park in front of The Compound.

There were a lot of lawn and garden people working in the ‘hood today. I guess the truck follows their businesses. And what the hell–even in front of my house, I admire the entrepreneurial spirit of A Moveable Feast.*

*Out of deference to Lindsey, I’m giving this rig a nice Hemingway name instead of what people usually call it.

Happy Tails

Today Tim took The Compound Dogs to Happy Tails Dog Spa for the Annual Charity Dog Wash. This year, the dog wash benefited Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston. Happy Tails is also a vital part of the great work done by Scout’s Honor, rescuers of Tim’s former foster dogs EZ, Tyson, and Gypsy.

Some Compound dogs seem to have appreciated the event…

more than others…