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

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

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

Meet Koko!

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

"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

Photo: Filippo Monteforte / AFP / Getty Images

Vay Kay

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

"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

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

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

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

Ice Skating Anyone?

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.