Curly Girl Chronicles

Today's Laugh

2011-11-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

Best. Stick. Ever.

2011-11-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

Just ask Koko...

At the dog park near my house in a carpet of fall leaves.

Pumpkin 2011

2011-10-27T13:11:00.000-07:00

Here is this year's pumpkin carving effort. I was going for a happy smiling pumpkin, but it came out on the creepy side. Just as well for Halloween! Sorry for the quality of the pictures - these are cell photos.

Today's Artistic Inspiration

2011-09-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

Too much fun! Joe Hill's pavement art.

See much more here.

Ghost Blue

2011-08-31T21:27:00.000-07:00

I've had these patio chairs for very many years. I've moved them. Twice. They were a little worn - the original Hunter Green paint was chalky - and it was time for a refresh. After mulling over the myriad colors in which Krylon spray paint is available, I settled on what they call "Blue Ocean Breeze". But I call it Ghost Blue. I love the color on these chairs. It makes me happy. And, they will go with the colors I'm going to paint the house without being too, you know, matchy matchy.

The table, which is what Hunter Green looks like, will also get a new paint job just as soon as the strawberries finish fruiting. The trouble is that a few of the stringers grew through the table, so a fresh coat of Hunter Green will have to wait until those strawberries are eaten.

Sunflower Light

2011-08-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

sunflowers caught by the morning sun. cell phone pictures.

Text 'AID' to 27722 to Help Save a Life

2011-08-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

The United Nations estimates that a 1.5 million Somalis are displaced within the country and more than 100,000 of them have fled to Mogadishu in the last months due to the crisis. Hospitals in Mogadishu have been overwhelmed with new arrivals. The US government estimates that some 30,000 children have died in southern Somalia in the last 90 days due to famine and drought.
(left) Halima Hassan holds her severely malnourished son Abdulrahman Abshir, 7 months, at the Banadir hospital on August 14, 2011 in Mogadishu, Somalia.
(All photos by John Moore/Getty Images)
This link is a list of organizations working in the area. Please give. http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/interaction-members-respond-drought-crisis-horn-africa

Bucket o' Spuds

2011-08-15T17:39:00.000-07:00

Last year, I planted red potatoes in the garden. We did not this year, but we have had several volunteers* and decided to leave them grow. We have four or five robust plants. Unfortunately, since we didn't actually plant them, they have come up in some not-necessarily-convenient locations. With the garden in full bloom, one can get a bit tired of having to step over the giant potato plant that happen to come up in the path. After the umpteenth time, my lack of patience gets the best of me and I pull them up. This picture is the bucket o' taters I reaped from one (yup one!) of the plants. The big one in the middle is probably over 4" long.

*I'm guessing the volunteers are from tiny taters I missed when digging out the potatoes last year. They got spread around when we turned the soil and added compost this spring.

Hiking the Gorge

2011-08-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

The Columbia River Gorge from a Cape Horn overlook.

Went hiking the other day. While it was an ok hike, it was actually sort of a strange and not one I would necessarily recommend. With so many stunning places to tramp around in the gorge, there are tons better. But, we tried it and now we know...

More Bounty From The Garden

2011-08-07T21:49:00.000-07:00

Well, the-world's-greatest-neighbors and I are just tickled pink at the produce the garden patch is pumping out this year. And to think it looked like this just a few months ago! Now it's bursting at the seams. Here are a few pics of the lovelies I have eaten this past week.

I do love me some artichoke! The most perfect vehicle for warm garlic butter. This is the first one of the season (more are on the way) and a right good size. Yum.

These were the main ingredients for a lovely cold zucchini soup I made. Wonderful onions, heaps of fresh mint and a zuke that measured in at 14"! We have had several of these monsters already and needed to come up with something - besides zucchini bread... - to not let them go to waste. With a little creativity you can use a mess o' zukes to make this soup. Very tasty and perfect on a hot summer day.

And last in this little photo tour is the sweet corn that we just started to harvest this week. I was so excited, I peeled it and started eating it while literally still standing in the garden. Couldn't resist! As delicious and juicy as it looks. Pretty thrilled that the corn matured properly this year as it was less-than-stellar last year.

I currently have red potatoes, eggplant and beans in the fridge waiting for my next culinary adventure.

Today's Laugh

2011-08-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

Raspberry Sorbet Fail

2011-07-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

Heap o' raspberries.

I'm thinking the cuby part
isn't supposed to be sitting
directly on the base.

It's been a bumper year for raspberries at Le Jardin du Curly Girl. Koko and I have been eating as much as we can right from the bushes and I've been harvesting the rest. This week I decided to try making sorbet. I borrowed an old ice cream maker from the-best-neighbor-in-the-world since I didn't have one and just learned that you need one to make sorbet. TBNITW had never used it as it was handed down to her and had been since sitting in her basement. I even found the user manual online, read up on what I needed and I thought I was good to go.

I love this juicer! It's from my mother's
house and goes perfectly with the
color I painted my kitchen.

I don't even know why I have paper cups
in the house, but I'm glad I do.

I went out and picked a heap o' raspberries, juiced an orange (ok, it was a Cutie, but since I only need a couple of tablespoons it would more than suffice), zested a lemon and combined all the prepped ingredients in the freezer bowl of the maker. I then layered the ice and salt in the maker to the top like the instructions said. Turned it on and zippo, immediately realizing that there was some major piece of the ice cream maker that was missing. I think it needs the blender bottom part between the base and the maker cube. TBNITW wasn't home and wouldn't be for the rest of the day. What's a Curly Girl to do? I broke out the paper cups I happened to have in the house and the bamboo skewers I happened to have in the house and (hopefully) rescued my failed sorbet by making popsicles. It'd be a damn shame waste of a quart of lovely, fresh-off-the-vine, organic raspberries if they don't work out. We'll see in a few hours... Next up: Raspberry Buttermilk Cake!

Today's Reality Check: Starvation in Somalia

2011-07-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

"Two-year-old, Aden Salaad, looks up toward his mother, unseen, as she bathes him in a tub at a Doctors Without Borders hospital, where Aden is receiving treatment for malnutrition, in Dagahaley Camp, outside Dadaab, Kenya, Monday, July 11, 2011. U.N. refugee chief Antonio Guterres said Sunday that drought-ridden Somalia is the "worst humanitarian disaster" in the world, after meeting with refugees who endured unspeakable hardship to reach the world's largest refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya."
(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Here are some organizations you can donate to (clickable):
Doctors Without Borders
UNHCR
The Kenya Red Cross
Oxfam
The World Food Program

I've Been Waiting All Year For This

2011-07-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken moments after they were picked from the backyard
and seconds before they were eaten for my breakfast. Ah, summer.

Easy Peasy (Matching) Coasters

2011-04-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I'm one of those people who still uses coasters. I have a lot of wood furniture and water rings make me sad. Here's a simple, fast, crafty-type project to make matching (or not) coasters.

I recently (ok it was last year and I'm just now getting around to this project) renovated the little sunroom in my house. The floor needed to be leveled and because of the space between the floor and the bottom of the door, I needed to use peel-and-stick tile. There's lots of nice looking options out there and most people think what I used is real tile! With projects like this, you always have left over bits of tile from going around doorways and such. I thought it would be cute to make coasters for the sunroom from the stuff I would just end up throwing out.

What you need: bits of tile, scissors, pencil, sandpaper and cork coaster rounds from the craft store. I happen to have a tin snips and used that to cut the circles apart, but that's not necessary.

Trace out the cork rounds on the back of the tile and cut the circles apart. Cut out the circles as smoothy as possible with the scissors. This tile cuts pretty easily. I found cutting just inside the drawn circle was the best fit. Once cut out, peel the backing paper off and carefully place the cork round and smooosh it down.

This is when I went back and trimmed any little edges that needed it. I decided not to just peel the backing and place the cork first, then cut it out because this can be a bit sticky and it's easier to chew up the edge of the cork this way. Next, I used the sand paper to smooth out the edge. I found using an across and downward (towards the cork) motion best as it kept the sand paper from pulling up the paper layer of the tile.

Next, go pour yourself a cocktail and place it on your new coaster. Enjoy.
That's it. Easy peasy! All four (including picture taking) took maybe 20 minutes. The tile I had/used is a bit thicker because the tiles were 18". I'm guessing 12" tiles might be thinner. Any tile could be used. Mix and match! Go crazy!

That was Crafting Corner with Judi for today!

Today's Laugh

2011-04-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

2011-03-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

Catastrophe So Immense

2011-03-14T14:27:00.000-07:00

I can't. Wrap. My brain. Around. It.

If you haven't yet seen these before-and-after shots,
this may clarify the enormity of the devastation.

Today's Reality Check: We've Only Come So Far

2011-03-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Words on the face of a protester commemorating International Women's Day in Mexico City read: "For being a woman, I am hit, I am raped, I am killed."

Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP / Getty Images

Beautiful Glass in my Home

2011-03-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

These are a couple of the glass pieces I have in my home. These photos do not do them justice. Both pictures were taken on winter-in-Portland less-than-sunshiny days.
The top photo is a lovely housewarming-gift mobile from Leah Pellegrini (her Etsy shop is here). I have it hanging from the archway between the living and dining rooms where is catches light from both sets of windows (and no one is in danger of bumping into it).
The lower picture is a fun stained glass banner made by Megan Klepp of Ta-Dah (her Etsy shop is here). While in a perfect world I'd have the perfect in-a-window spot for it, I don't. It currently resides on a wall in my sunroom (I got it specifically for the sunroom). Because it is fairly opaque glass, the wonderful colors aren't lost without the light coming through.
I'm so happy that I know both these delightful ladies and can see these beautiful works of art everyday!

Spring's On The Way

2011-03-07T20:13:00.000-08:00

A sure sign of spring at my house is planning for the garden. Last year was the first year that Karen and Chip - the world's greatest neighbors - and I planted this plot. It's my side yard and a fairly big area for people who don't really know a whole lot about gardening. We planted lots (post about it here) by guess and by golly, and we did OK, but not great. This was partly because of our never-ending cold and wet spring last year and partly because we didn't properly amend the soil before planting. Some things didn't grow, some grew weird and others did just fine through no fault of our own. We learned a lot. This year, we're using the whole plot, are planting less crops but more of what we liked, and have figured better placement for things (Karen's a great one for planning out everything). AND, last Saturday - when I was playing hooky from the opening day of the Saturday Market - we had 4 yards of a compost and sand (the soil is very clay-y) mix dumped in the driveway and the three of us spent four hours wheelbarrowing it from the drive and digging it into the soil. I'm still tired! We are very excited to get started. In the next couple of weeks we will begin plotting it out and planting the earlier crops.

The twiggy things in the back corner are raspberry canes that are already starting to bud out. Since last year, I've also built and installed the two rainbarrels and put in the composter. Almost looks like a real garden!

Just 'Cuz

2011-03-03T18:18:00.000-08:00

Prong Setting

2011-03-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

Being a self-taught metalsmith means that a lot of what I do is trial and error. Unfortunately mostly error! When I do try something new, I often make silly mistakes that a teacher would (hopefully) warn me against. My latest "learning experience" was one of those little mistakes: I tried a prong setting with a tiny little 3mm (did I mention it was small?) cubic zirconia. I eventually succeeded, but the dents in the wall from throwing tools illustrates why you should learn this technique with something a bit larger. The frustration level got pretty high while trying to solder the prong wires in a tiny space, hold the bitty CZ while trying to place it, and set the prongs on the little stone (did I mention it was small?). When will I ever learn to think these things through just a bit before I start off on these adventures?

That said, this cute, little (did I mention it was small?) Sweet Heart Necklace is now available in my Etsy shop.

Delft Clay Casting

2011-02-25T14:32:00.000-08:00

Inspired by my friend Shannon's (rubygirl) sand casting, and wanting to try something new, I bought myself a delft clay casting kit. While it has some different properties, the process is similar. I spent some time watching how-to videos on youtube - and was therefore an expert! The kit came with written instructions and possibly the worse instructional DVD I've ever seen. I was ready to go! Below are pictures of my first successful casting. This after a couple of "learning moment" attempts (fortunately you can just melt those down). The actual process goes very quickly so there's a large portion of instant gratification, a big positive for those of us lacking a large portion of patience. I can see why Shannon loves this technique and I can't wait to do more.

The clay, instructions and a small
crucible for melting metal.

The mold together. This is just
after I've poured the silver.

The mold pieces separated. You can barely
see any metal peeking through. A beginner's
mistake: I almost didn't use enough silver.

Here I've turned over the top of the mold
and you can see the casting and the burned
clay in the bottom.

The shell I used as a model with the casting.

Removed from the mold. This shell casting
is almost a full ounce of silver!

Day At The Beach Necklace

2011-02-24T16:09:00.000-08:00

Another new item available in my Etsy shop. (This could get to be a habit!) A one-of-a-kind stunner: the Day at the Beach Necklace. Sterling, lapis lazuli, and red aventurine. The combination just reminded me of a warm summer day. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking because it's currently snowing out!...

Snowmygod was really Snowbigdeal

2011-02-24T12:30:00.000-08:00

Snow Buddah

Koko prints on the back steps.

This is what it looked like around my house when I woke up. And yes, the schools in Portland were closed because of this "blizzard". The east coast and mid-west have yet to pick themselves off the floor from laughing. It was all melted an hour later. That's snow in Stumptown.

Today's Reality Check: Libyian Protests

2011-02-23T15:50:00.000-08:00

My thoughts are with the brave people of Libya on their quest to self-governance.

Large Spiral Earrings

2011-02-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

Another earring design that I've been making for quite a while (yes, I tell people *I* invented the spiral - and, yes, some people believe me), but have never listed in my Etsy shop. That is until now. Sterling silver Large Spiral Earrings: big, bold, spirally. A popular seller for me at the Portland Saturday Market, now available online.

Sun Flower Necklace

2011-02-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

I've been making this necklace design for a while and often have one for sale in the Portland Saturday Market booth, but (I don't think...) I've never listed it in my Etsy shop. Well, the wait is over. Now available for online purchase, my sterling silver Sun Flower Necklace. Many people like it because, while it's bold and larger - over 2" across - it also has a delicate feel. It's also not too fancy so it's suitable for casual wear, but can still dress up that LBD. I like the way it floats between the chains - something you'll find in a lot of my work. Bring a little sunshine with you everywhere!

Four's Good

2011-02-17T22:22:00.000-08:00

Quite frankly, I hardly ever look at who or how many have "favorited" my Etsy shop.

Today, for some reason, I did and I had 4444. I like numbers like that, don't know why.
I like catching numbers like that too. Something transient about it,

like I glimpsed a moment.

Four four four four.

Molecule Necklace

2011-02-13T17:55:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to be better about listing new items in my Etsy shop. Really. (I'm just lazy about taking pictures is all.) So, here's my stunning, sterling Molecule Necklace. I like bib style necklaces and want to make more of them. With the right outfit, they can be real showstoppers.

For this necklace, each circle is individually made, then arranged and the whole thing is meticulously soldered. While I do recreate this design, each combination of circles and layout is different, making each necklace unique and one-of-a-kind.

Today's Reality: The Egyptian People Have Spoken

2011-02-12T11:51:00.000-08:00

I love this picture of the soldiers dancing! I have my ideas of how this came to succeed, but my heart sings for the Egyptian people and their steadfast stance for their freedom.
Photos nicked from The Huffington Post

Today's Laugh

2011-02-11T10:27:00.000-08:00

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

2011-02-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

This is the first windmill William Kamkwamba built when he was 14.

This is an AMAZING, inspiring story of a Malawian boy, William Kamkwamba, whose parents couldn't afford to send him to school, but whose thirst for knowledge is so insatiable that he taught himself English, how to read and through that, how to build a windmill so his family could have electricity. His story has moved me to tears. I have been to Malawi. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, but people like William know how important education is to alleviating some of that poverty.

Here is the Boing Boing story: http://www.boingboing.net/2011/02/08/the-boy-who-harnesse-1.html

Watch this short documentary on his story: http://missingpiecesvideo.com/kamkwamba/movingwindmillsFINALsubtitle.mov

Today's Reality: The Revolution IS Being Televised

2011-02-04T12:08:00.000-08:00

All photos nicked from The Huffington Post

Caught Necklace

2011-01-24T13:09:00.000-08:00

Back in my Etsy shop in time for Valentine's Day!
Sterling silver, webbed heart Caught Necklace.

Extraneous Adorable Dog Picture

2011-01-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

Koko at her perkiest! I must have had food. I love how her collar looks like it matches the wall. This was taken with my new cell phone. It's a pretty good picture and it's got this great pixilation and technicolor.

Yes, but no ham.

2011-01-11T20:33:00.000-08:00

These were my breakfast eggs. The one on the left was much greener than it seems here.

I was invited out to lunch at my friend, and fellow Portland Saturday Market vendor, Jayne's house. Well, actually I was returning the tile saw she and husband Mario blessedly loaned to me for my work in the bathroom. The saw saved hours of time and a whole lot of my sanity. So I was bringing the wonderful tool back. Jayne's place is out on a piece of family land and they have a very large chicken coop and 13 lovely Spice Girls (all the chickens are named after a spice). When I was leaving after our delicious lunch, I was presented with a half dozen fresh eggs. I didn't look at them until this morning when I went to make my breakfast. They are absolutely lovely eggs. Huge and lovely. I had to take pictures, fascinated by something so everyday striking me as so beautiful. One of the eggs I had this morning was a stunning moss green. Alas, being vegetarian, I had no ham with my green egg.

Wonderful Press! (I think...)

2011-01-04T20:28:00.000-08:00

I recently made a Simple Spinner Ring for a nice customer in The Netherlands. She was very happy with it and took to her blog to exalt her new ring. At least that's what I think it says. My Dutch is rusty, so she assured me it's all good. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when someone is so excited by their new jewelry that they want to tell everyone about it. Thanks Nicole!

Curious as to what some of the comments to the post were, I took to my computer's translation function. I have only now stopped laughing long enough to make this post. I can't read this translation without wetting myself:

"Groovy! I have last at the world shop stand hesitate. But that is frequently large half-measures, I zoek more as an inch ring correctly simply ringvinger-ring.!"

I think this explains a lot of what goes wrong with foreign policy.

Froze His Face Off

2010-12-23T18:47:00.000-08:00

Months ago I found this groovy Buddah-like bust at the Goodwill. I had to have it. I bought it, took it home and found what I thought was the perfect place for it on the back steps.

Last month we had a few days of freeze-your-butt-off cold. The mini-pond iced over. All the plants died. And my little statue froze his face off. It's too bad too. I really liked it and don't quite know what I can do about it.

Word.

2010-12-09T18:47:00.000-08:00

click on the image to (slightly) enlarge

See, you can make jewelry out of anything.

2010-11-19T12:28:00.000-08:00

Demispiral Earrings

2010-11-09T12:43:00.000-08:00

Well, I was trying to break the record for the longest time going without listing anything new in my Etsy shop, but I don't think I made it. Yeah, it's been a while. No excuses, just laziness. But I did it! I finally listed my Demispiral Earrings.

I've been making these for a while and selling them at the Portland Saturday Market. They are a very popular style for me and I've been meaning to get them in my online shop and well... Anyhow, these little beauties are sort of like gauged earrings for people who don't have/want gauged ears. Just slip them in your earring hole and you're good to go. Demispiral Earrings can now be found in my Etsy Shop.

Post Election Humor

2010-11-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

Self Portrait in Pumpkin

2010-10-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

I haven't carved a pumpkin in a long time. This was lots of fun! It looks like me don't you think (see the curl!)? Happy Halloween!

Snowshoeing Anyone?

2010-10-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

A blanket of fresh snow covers Mount Hood Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010, as seen from Portland, Ore.

Photo: Rick Bowmer / AP

They Left the Idiot-House Doors Open Again

2010-10-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Moseley, a Virginia attorney and O'Donnell's campaign manager during the primary, is offering a "$1,000 reward to anyone who can find the phrase 'Separation of Church & State' in the US Constitution." Moseley's press release goes on to assert that freedom of religion can't exist if church and state are separate, that teaching evolution is teaching "superstition," and that many Supreme Court justices agree with O'Donnell that we need to revert to a government by the Constitution as it was originally written.
More here: http://politicalcorrection.org/blog/201010260025

Today's Reality Check: Cholera in Haiti

2010-10-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

A woman screams in agony in the back of a transport truck for the loss of her husband outside of St. Nicolas Hospital after a cholera outbreak hit the rural countryside October 22, 2010 in St. Marc, Haiti.

Photo: Frederic Dupoux / Getty Images

Meet Morty

2010-10-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

This is Morty. He came to live with me recently. I think he's adorable. He's found a comfortable spot for himself in the sunroom.

Morty is the creation of Reed Designs from their Etsy shop. He was featured on the front page and I had to have him (it's the only time I've ever bought anything off the front page). I was also proud to be Reed Designs first sale.

Yup.

2010-10-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

Um, yeah.

Lìo

2010-10-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

Today's Reality Check: Toxic Sludge Wipes Out Seven Towns

2010-10-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

"Burning-hot toxic mud blankets towns: Tunde Erdelyi holds her cat after toxic red sludge five feet high flooded into her home in Devecser, Hungary. A rupture at an alumina plant reservoir resulted in flooding that engulfed seven towns, causing at least four deaths, six missing and 120 injured, in what Hungarian officials are calling an "ecological catastrophe." The mud burned several people through their clothes."

Photo: Bela Szandelszky / AP

Philosophy from Bob the Squirrel

2010-09-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

Reaping Dinner from the Garden

2010-08-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

Stepped out the back door the other night and into the garden to collect a few ingredients for my dinner. The garden is producing some yumminess! For my casserole, I harvested a couple of eggplants, a few potatoes and some basil. Muy delicioso!

I also picked some corn. Although sweet, the ears are pretty small and, um, have issues. Anyone know what causes this and how to make it better for next year?

My Ring is on Design Sponge!

2010-08-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

Design Sponge did an article about DIY weddings featuring Angie and Tyson's great gig. At the very bottom of the lovely scroll of photos is a picture of the Forget Me Not bow ring (available in my Etsy shop) that Tyson bought for Angie for an engagement ring last December. They got married in July. I'm excited to see the great wedding they put together, and to see my ring on Design Sponge!

Great Neighbors and a Growing Garden

2010-06-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

When you buy a house, you can have inspections for almost all aspects of the property. The one thing that you can't account for and that's a total crapshoot are the neighbors. Well, I totally lucked out. I have great neighbors! This one will walk the dog, that one has power tools I can borrow, that one will bring in the garbage cans if I'm away and my best neighbor is Karen (and her husband Chip). Karen is the dream neighbor. She takes care of Koko while I'm at the Saturday Market (that's a whole other blog post!), always offers help with this or that, AND is gardening my side yard. Their yard is completely landscaped, so when I offered my yard for a veggie garden she thought it was a great idea. The two photos to the left are the before and current states of the side yard. It probably was always gardened, but hasn't been in several years. It was all grown over and weedy. Now it's alive with yumminess!

The photo above shows what we planted (I might have missed something or other). We went a bit nuts with all that we put in, but we are learning a lot. As very novice gardeners we are feeling our way along, it's been fun and we are starting to see the fruits - and veggies - of our labor. Because of our cold wet spring, things have been slow to get started, but everything is showing itself and will hopefully take off now that the warm sunny weather is finally here.

Berries In The Garden

2010-06-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

A Teachable Moment?

2010-06-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

This way to the BP exhibit: A worker attaches stickers resembling oil immersed in water to a tank at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa. A new exhibit at the aquarium - intended to showcase the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico with sharks, rays and other fish - will instead be devoid of life to underline the environmental impact of the massive oil spill.

Photo: National Mississippi River Museu / AP

Oil Covered Pelicans

2010-06-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

"Oil-covered pelicans found off the Louisiana coast and affected by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, wait in a holding pen for cleaning at the Fort Jackson Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Buras, Louisiana"
REUTERS/Jose Luis Magana/Greenpeace/Handout

A weirdly beautiful photo of a horrific scene.

Keeping Tradition Alive

2010-06-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

Andean men cross the Qeswachaka hanging bridge across the Apurimac river, at the southern province of Canas in Cuzco June 12, 2010. The handwoven bridge made out of a local grass called "Qoya", spans 120 feet (36 metres) and is rebuilt every year as a communal effort. About 1,000 farmers from the Andean communities of Huinchiri, Quehue, Choccayhua, Ccolana and Chaupibanda take part in the weaving and construction of the bridge, keeping alive an ancient Inca tradition using techniques that have been passed down through generations.

Photo: REUTERS/Enrique Castro-Mendivil

The Vertical Farming Project

2010-06-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

The Problem

By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's population will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim.

An estimated 10⁹ hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming practices continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use (sources: FAO and NASA). Historically, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to avoid this impending disaster?
A Potential Solution: Farm Vertically

Don't miss these other very cool vertical farm designs: http://www.verticalfarm.com/designs.html

Originally found through unconsumption

Today's Reality Check: Pogrom

2010-06-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

"Mass murder in Kyrgyzstan: An Uzbek refugee fleeing ethnic violence with her family weeps as she waits to cross the border from the Kyrgyz city of Osh into Uzbekistan. More than 140,000 Uzbeks have fled a pogrom that began last week in southern Kyrgyzstan."

Photo: Faruk Akkan / AP

If Only It Were So

2010-06-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

'Bout Says It All, Huh?

2010-06-04T09:57:00.000-07:00

"Oil fills a footprint left in the sand on Dauphin Island, Ala. Crude from the gushing Deepwater Horizon well made its first appearance two days ago on the shores of Alabama."

Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images

Today's Reality Check

2010-06-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

"First the volcano, then floods and mudslides: A woman cries as she uses a cell phone following the eruption of the Pacaya Volcano in Calderas, Guatemala. After the eruption blanketed Guatemala City with ash, the season's first tropical storm caused flooding and landslides that left 120 dead, at least 53 missing and thousands homeless."

Photo: Moises Castillo / AP

Today's Very Cool Picture

2010-06-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

River floating season opens in East Peoria, Ill.

Photo: Ron Johnson / Peoria Journal Star

Today's Laugh

2010-06-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

I'm an ex-Florida girl...

Today's Reality Check

2010-05-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Photo: Axel Schmidt / AFP/Getty Images

Today's (Dog Owner's) Laugh

2010-05-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

After I teach Koko to read, I'm going to hang this on the lower part of the refrigerator.

Comfortable Much? or Letting Sleeping Dog Lie

2010-05-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

When I moved into my house, I intended to get a sofa, but in the meantime put my futon in its place. Then I got Koko. The futon became hers. It started with her sleeping on it (see the sheet and little blanket? vain attempt to keep it somewhat clean.)

Next it was her sitting on the top of it to stare out the window and wait for me when I leave the house. Now it's just devolved into her sleeping on the mooshed down part. I've given up trying to keep it "fixed" and suitable for human habitation. The only way to get it back into any sort of shape would be to lay it flat and pound on it. I've put the idea of buying a sofa on hold for now. I guess if this is the worst Koko does, I should be pretty grateful!

Today's Reality Check

2010-05-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

"A stray dog feeds puppies as she shares the space with street children who lie sleeping on the sidewalk in Katmandu, Nepal."

Photo: Gemunu Amarasinghe / AP

Yes, Yes, I Believe It IS Spring

2010-05-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

How do I know? I had on a pair of shorts for the first time this year. Exciting I know! And I didn't even have to wait until the middle of the day. Nope, I put those suckers on at 8 o'clock this morning. Even went over to the dog park in them too! Sorry there is no picture, but the camera couldn't handle the glare coming off of my fish-belly-white legs.

Mother Nature Makes Art Using "Found" Object

2010-05-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

'AT&T's 3G network covers more than 230 million people' - minus those serviced by this AT&T cell tower, the victim of a tornado in Little Axe, Okla.

Photo: Steve Gooch / The Oklahoman

Today's Laugh (?)

2010-05-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

It's Spring Somewhere...

2010-04-28T11:11:00.001-07:00

Photo: David Carson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch

And People In the US Can't Be Bothered...

2010-04-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

"A long wait for nothing: A trail of rocks, bone, boots and boxes marks residents' place in line at a polling station in Juba, Sudan. The group waited in vain for hours for the station to open, but were unable to vote due to a missing electoral materials."

Photo: Roberto Schmidt / AFP / Getty Images

Today's Reality Check or How My Knee Doesn't Really Hurt THAT Bad

2010-04-13T10:47:00.001-07:00

"As if a hole in the head weren't bad enough: A CAT scan shows a live 14.5-millimeter, high-explosive incendiary bullet lodged in the scalp of an Afghan National Army solder. In a harrowing procedure, doctors at Craig Joint Theater Hospital removed the round without exploding it at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The patient is reportedly improving."

Photo: Staff Sgt. Richard Williams / U.S. Air Force

Blew Out My Knee

2010-04-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

Unhappy. Really unhappy.
After a long weekend at the market, I got home and took the dog to the dogpark. It was later and there were no other dogs there, so I was playing with Koko, chasing her - trying to get her to run around a bit. It had rained for about 3 minutes half an hour before and the grass was damp and slippery. I slipped. Found myself on the ground with a grass stain on my khakis, a bruise on my ass and my left leg sitting at an uncomfortable angle, in pain. After I got myself up and hobbled home (a few blocks), I elevated and iced. I probably tore my meniscus or maybe (hopefully) it's just a sprain. While sleeping was fitful and I woke up stiff and unable to straighten my leg, it's not swollen at all and I really don't think it's that bad. I've been icing all morning - frozen peas are great for this! - and gentle working my leg. My hobbling is much better right now! As I don't have insurance, I'm not rushing off to the doctor at this point, taking a bit of a wait-and-see attitude. I'm getting up and down the stairs ok (food, bed upstairs; computer, workbench downstairs), but I don't know if I'll be able to do the market and my bank account is beginning to scream in pain too...
Sorry Koko, dog walks are on hold for a while too.

Today's Laugh (?)

2010-04-04T11:30:00.001-07:00

Dear Spring,

I'm ready for it to not be windy rainy and cold. Thank you.

Still wearing too many layers in Portland,
Judi

Guarding the Backyard

2010-03-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

Koko likes to spend a lot of time outside. Fortunately, I have a nice backyard where she can loll in the sun and protect the world from squirrels - mostly in that order. When it's warm enough, I just leave the back door open and she can come and go as she pleases.
When it's cold/windy/rainy I'll let her outside and close the door behind her. She still wants to check out the backyard, but doesn't necessarily like being in the cold and the rain.Such was the case the other day when these pictures were shot. She's taken to sitting on the back steps so she can survey her rhelm, but the house protects her from the wind. That is until I open the door and let her back in again.

These pictures were taken from my kitchen window and the weirdnesses are reflections from inside. Don't forget to take in the beauty that is the mossy astroturf on the back steps.

Berry Berry Exciting

2010-03-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

The woman whose house I bought was a canner. She had loads of raspberry bushes (and I'm told they are really good berries). Well, spring is springing and the berry bushes have started to bud.

There is also a currant bush that was way overgrown and had a lot of dead wood. I chopped it way back - almost to the ground - and it's come back with gusto.

I've since put in two blueberry bushes, because I love me some blueberries. I was told you need at least two bushes to cross pollinate. I got two different kinds, one that fruits mid-season, and one that fruits later. And in a strawberry pot... strawberries. As it's been so warm in Portland, all the plants are budding and flowering. I'm very excited about the potential bounty this summer!

Bow Wedding Ring. Yeehaw!

2010-03-24T19:59:00.001-07:00

Several months ago, I was commissioned to make my sterling Forget Me Not bow ring in white gold to be a wedding ring. Today I got a great email telling me how much she loves her ring, that they are finally married and sharing some pictures of the big day. She included a link to her blog post about all the things she got for the wedding from Etsy (including, of course, the ring). What a cute wedding! They had a 50s kiddie cowboy theme and went all out. She was able to find a huge amount of items to fit the theme on Etsy. It looks like a good time was had, and I'm happy I could be a small part of their day. Congratulations Julia and Bobby!

Today's Reality Check: Inspiration

2010-03-23T11:07:00.001-07:00

"An armless artist paints good-luck messages on canvas in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong."

Photo: Dale de la Rey / AFP / Getty Images

Numbers

2010-03-16T14:22:00.001-07:00

I don't know if I'd call it a milestone,

but I like when numbers like this come up.
Huzzah!

Parking Karma

2010-03-15T12:28:00.001-07:00

At the Portland Saturday Market, the vendors have a parking lot we can use for free – well, it’s part of our monthly membership. The on-the-street paid parking begins at 1pm on Sundays (yes, Sunday meters - a sure sign of the apocalypse). So yesterday, when there was a race on Naito Parkway and no way to get to the vendor parking lot, I was forced to park on the street knowing full well that I would probably get a ticket. I can’t really leave my booth during the market, particularly not for the time it would take to move my car and walk back. I did the only thing I could think of. I tore off a piece of paper and left a note on my window for the potential ticket-writer.
Here’s the actual note: I had absolutely no hope this would work at all, but of course, it did. When I finished packing up my booth and headed back to my car, I was sure that I’d find a ticket on my windshield. My parking karma was like a protective cloak, keeping me ticket free. I’d like to thank Sunday’s parking enforcement personnel for their judiciousness. xoxo

Opening Day of the Portland Saturday Market

2010-03-06T20:11:00.000-08:00

Today was opening day for the 2010 season of the Portland Saturday Market. The 37th season! It was a perfectly beautiful day and a huge crowd was out. (Some in tank tops! in March!) Also in attendance were some of the local media covering the event. A reporter from the Oregonian came by to chat with me and I was featured in his article, along with a few of the other vendors. It's sweet to be in the paper - even if he didn't get all the details quite right (um, I didn't do environmental work for 20 years, but hey, what's 10 years between friends?). Although it's a ton of work (the constant upkeeping of stock, setting up my booth twice a week, etc), I enjoy the market a lot: the camaraderie, chatting with my fellow sellers and the customers, the instant feedback on my work, and spending beautiful summer days hanging outside. And, most importantly, the Market allows me to make a living, doing what I love, working for myself, with great people in a community that is very supportive of local artisans. I hope today's happy crowds bode well for a prosperous season for all the vendors.
Photo by Oregonian photog Motoya Nakamura

Now's as Good a Time as Any...

2010-02-15T15:54:00.000-08:00

It was about 10:30 last night when I got it in my head that right now would be a great time to start tearing the bathroom apart. I kind of decided that I wasn't going to move forward with the bathroom renovation until I started to deconstruct what was there. I'm one of those that needs to see what the space looks like (more or less) empty before I can start putting it back together again.

Before

One of the beauties of living by yourself in a house is that something like this only effects me. The inconvenience, the noise, the dirt, I don't really mind, and (for now) the toilet and sink still function. Gotta start somewhere and apparently 10:30 was as good a time as any.

Right About Now

Puppy Love

2010-02-12T13:40:00.000-08:00

Valentine's candies brought for me by my friend Mary
in honor of my new pup. Too cute!

Meet Koko!

2010-02-05T20:27:00.000-08:00

This is Koko. Yeah, I know. She looks a whole lot like Kana's little sister, but that's not why I trekked on down to the Humane Society to adopt her. She's the dog that had been at the OHS the longest (3 months), and I don't think an older dog - Koko is 7 - should have to spend time in the hooskow. My new cutie is a sweet, well trained and (mostly) well behaved girl. Here she is hanging in the backyard, gnawing on her new favorite toy, the orange orb. Koko loves to go for long, very fast walks and we are both getting our girlish figures back from the exercise. We also regularly visit local dog parks where she meets and greets all the other dogs, but isn't quite sure how to play with them yet. She's made herself right at home in the house - my futon/sofa may never be the same... Koko has been with me just about 3 weeks now (I know, I'm a lousy mama for not posting her cute mug sooner. These are actually the first pictures I've taken of her.) and we already have a host of nicknames: Koko -> Kokomo -> Kokomojito -> Mojito -> Momo -> Moki.

Today's Reality Check: Eating Dirt

2010-01-29T10:55:00.001-08:00

"Dirt wafers: A woman makes "cookies" out of mud to sell in the Cite Soleil neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. The pies, made of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening, were already one of very few options for the poorest in Haiti even before the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake."

Photo: Rodrigo Abd / AP

Today's Very Cool Picture

2010-01-26T09:30:00.001-08:00

Photo: Filippo Monteforte / AFP / Getty Images

Vay Kay

2010-01-25T09:45:00.000-08:00

Yeah, yeah, I've been absent for a bit. Been busy with stuff: working on the house (more later), went to the Bay Area to visit for several days, adopted a dog (much more later). Stuff like that. It's not that I haven't missed you bloggy, I've just been taking a break from you and my business and all. I got an order today so I guess I've got to get back to it. Reworking my Etsy shop and business, prepping for the Saturday Market's March opening, getting my taxes/paperwork in order, house house house stuff, etc, etc. And, of course, walking the dog.

Crunching Footsteps

2009-12-30T15:46:00.000-08:00

"Is that...?" "Hey, it's snowing!" "It's really coming down." "Yeah, but it never sticks." "I know."
This was the conversation yesterday afternoon standing in my kitchen with my friend Leah looking out the picture window. A couple of hours later, there were inches of snow. Kids were sledding down my street. I ended up walking to a party I went to last night - couldn't drive in the stuff. It was actually quite beautiful. The side streets were pretty quiet and you could hear the crunch of your feet in the snow. It was already starting to melt when I left the party a few hours later. These pictures were taken this morning of what was left. When I went out today, there were some sad, melting snowmen sort of tilting over, their heads really small. Tonight it's mostly gone.

Alternative Energy

2009-12-15T20:52:00.000-08:00

Wish I could harness some of the static electricity in this house to save on my power bill. I could sell the excess back to the grid. It's either static or, as I sometimes believe, this house is haunted.

Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Holiday Sale

2009-12-12T11:54:00.000-08:00

The date has finally arrived!
THE CRAFTY WONDERLAND SUPER COLOSSAL HOLIDAY SALE IS TOMORROW!
Come out to find all sorts of amazing handcrafted goodness!
One day only! Tomorrow! Be there!

Everyday Engineering Miracle

2009-12-11T09:02:00.001-08:00

"Morning dew reveals a spider's web on the outskirts of Bhubaneshwar, India."
Photo: Biswaranjan Rout / AP

Ice Skating Anyone?

2009-12-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

I have a tiny pond in my backyard. With temperatures dipping into the teens last night (and currently in the mid-20s!), the little guy froze completely solid.

A bit colder that we are used to here in Portland, the inside of the house was frigid too. When I woke up, my bedroom was around 42°! I know this because my alarm clock has a temperature gauge on it.

If I had leeeettle ice skates, I would go for a couple of spins around the rink. Watching over the pond is a moss-faced garden gnome that came with the house. The cement blocks in the pond are part of some sort of fountain - I think - which I will hopefully get working. In the spring. When it thaws. And it's not so cold.

Curly Girl Black Friday

2009-11-27T00:27:00.000-08:00

Avoid the mall (like the plague!) and buy handmade this holiday!
For this weekend only
- until midnight PST Monday 11/30 -
I'm offering
FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING
on all jewelry in my Etsy shop.
Just click on the pictures on the right to be
whisked off to the wonderful world of Curly Girl.

Kitchen Calm Blue

2009-11-25T10:52:00.000-08:00

What a difference a $20 can of paint can make! The challenge here was to find a color (uh, not beige) that would go with the wood cabinets, copper tile, bronze-colored appliances, beige counter tops and burnt orange carpet. I wanted to go to the cool end of the spectrum. I wanted something bold and bright, but calming. The little curtain/valances were something I had from my old house and just happened to not only go with the paint color, but actually pulls everything together. Until I can get around to completely redoing the kitchen, I really like what my small investment in paint and time has done. I'm thinking I've brought this kitchen right on up to the 90s!