Cats and Modern Design

She looks like a throw rug with legs and a tail!

My Father used to s ay: "No good deed goes unpunished."  Sometimes when life is twisting and turning as it does.  I can hear him saying that.  A friend of my son's had to give away an adult female cat.  I know a woman who has a neurological disease who is now a shut in.  She lost her dog a few years ago. Her daughter got her a kitten, who was not a nice kitty and they brought it back to the shelter.  So when I heard about this 6 year old calico, who is sweet, and used to apartment living...I thought it was a perfect match.  However I visited my friend yesterday, and she is unsure about getting a pet in her condition.  As I watched her struggle with basic functions, I understood her hesitance. Even though I know this cat would sit on her lap and love her...well it might not happen.  Bob and I had been looking for another Maine Coon kitten to replace our beloved Columbus.  This kitty is a far cry from a MC cat.  But she needs a home, and at this girth, I doubt the shelter would find a home.  She needs to be put on a diet.  She can hardly walk!

Buddy the dog was quite excited about this new cat.  The cat however, was not happy at all. So there would be socializing.  And Francesca our senior 7 pounder would/could be crushed by this gal.  So, I too am on the fence.  I hope I can bring the cat to see my friend, and she falls in love.  Bob says she is a beautiful girl. I know he would want keep her.  I had hoped for a male, kitten. 

While all this is going on, I am designing mid century modern shapes to be laser cut out of carbon fiber and G-10 for belts, and bracelets.  Here are a few of my sketches.

 

We'll see how life plays out.  And we will need a name if we decide to keep her.

Thanks for reading.

Each day is a gift. Open now.

xo,

Suz

I Built A Wall Of Basil

Ready for the freezer...30 1/2 cups of pesto.

When one is married to an Italian...you grow basil and tomatoes.  I harvested pounds of basil.  Most of the leaves were removed for pesto.  But I had so much that I put some in a vase and the kitchen is filled with the smell of fresh basil.  There will be more made in a week or so.  What this means to me: is in January when I can't think of what to make for dinner...pesto.  Bob is always delighted and amazed by this.

Basil, green chili, eggplant, tomatoes, eggs, and feathers.

Above is yesterday's harvest.  I will freeze the Monzano plum tomatoes and when I defrost them the skins just slip off.  I discovered this by accident, no more dropping into boiling water.  This method is much easier.  

Bantam eggs fill a bowl that I made with Bob in ceramics studio.

Thanks for reading.

Each day is a gift. Open now.

xo,

Suz

Kitchen and Coop

Tassels on top mean corn starting on the bottom.

It's the middle of August, and everything is ripening.  I picked about 5 pounds of basil, which equaled 30 cups of leaves, and a bouquet for the kitchen table.  Tomatoes and green chili are bountiful. Bob helped me carry 20 pounds of tomatoes, and about 5 of green chili into the house last night.

Cukes on the right, and basil on the left.

12 pints of refrigerator dill pickles

The "Coop Mahal" is slowly progressing.  Bob is getting ready for a show, so that is his focus at the moment.  But here are a few pics of the progress.  The large door will have the metal mesh open in summer, and cleverly hinged with a piano hinge closes in winter.  I don't know if I have ever seen a coop with a piano hinge.  We had it, so Bob used it. 

"My" door to the Coop Mahal

The chicken door to their yard. Not open yet.

 Morning mash...love those tail feathers.

The girls continue to bring daily joy to my life.  I bring my set chair in early in the morning, or at dusk for some socialization.  Many hop on my lap for lovin'.  They all preen me, and pick at my clothes. We get about 4 eggs a day right now.  They are all bantams...as that's who is laying.  Irma, the black cochin has a comb that is soooo red, that I know any day, she will be laying.

Thanks for reading.

Each day is a gift. Open now.

xo,

Suz

Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Ladies

Today my dear friend Melissa picked me up and wheeled me to the last day of the Tiffany Exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum.  Since I moved to New Mexico there have been few exhibits that have moved me the way this did.  The NYC Historical society produced the show.  I learned that Clara Driscoll was the driving force of design in Louie's shop.  I was inches away from some of the most beautiful stained glass lamps ever made.  Form and function married with bronze organic shaped lamp bases, and exquisite jeweled glass shades.   Antiques and Fine Art reviewed the show in the link below.

http://www.antiquesandfineart.com/articles/article.cfm?request=769

Driscoll designed the famous Dragonfly lamps.

As someone who makes things with her hands, I loved seeing the templates, sketches, and the studios these ladies worked in. Letters Clara wrote to her family told the story of her designs for Mr. T. and her constant need for his approval.  She, like most artists and craftspeople struggled with the daily battle of putting a roof over one's head and artistic compromise.  She churned out designs that will stand the test of time.  For me, good design in everyday things equals a perfect painting in a museum.   Some artists would argue that fine craft is not art.  I believe there is just a much art in making something useful for the home or bodily adornment.

I just ordered the above book:"Clara and Mr. Tiffany."  There was also another book that the gift shop had sold out of. "A New Light on Tiffany." Below is the Amazon link to it.
http://www.amazon.com/New-Light-Tiffany-Clara-Driscoll/dp/1904832350

Thanks Melissa, I was truly inspired.
Each Day is a gift. Open now.
xo,
Suz 

Farm and Garden

Salad

12 banty eggs are in the fridge.  So cute, so small.  Here are a few photos.  I haven't time to write much. Tomorrow is pickle day: refrigerator dill and bread and butter.   Bob should have the laying/nesting coop finished enough to introduce it to the girls. 
I continue to use my kneely walker...whizzing down the front hall!  :-)

Chicken tail: they really have their bustles and petticoats.

The buff cochins are really filling out in weight as well as feather.  

Thanks for reading.

Each day is a gift. Open now.

xo,

Suz

Eggs and Feet

The first egg.

We've got eggs!  Yep, the bantam hens started laying the last day our grandson was here.  He saw the first egg.  :-)    Of course these eggs are tiny...3-4 of these would make one large egg.  The clucking and gabawking that comes with laying hens was audible from the patio.  You know, they have to tell us they are laying. 

On a different note, I am back in my boot, with a wheelchair and a new wheely kneely walker that allows me to scoot along on flat surfaces.  It was expensive to rent, but truly wonderful! Of course Blue Cross and Blue Shield would not okay it.  Some days I wonder why I have insurance.  But, that's another blog.

Thanks for reading.
Each day is a gift. Open now.
xo,
Suz

Coop-Mahal Day 1

Former costuming wagon, turned to paint wagon. :-)

Just a few photos of beginning construction.  Bob and Alex really work well together.  I am the resident painter and designer. We discovered a local lumber yard that delivers, and even cuts pieces with a phone order at NO charge: Hunter Lumber.  I will be happy to take down the ugly green shade cloth (the only color they had when I really needed more).  Somehow Bob went from a 12' to a 10' length...so he'll be putting the nesting boxes on the outside, which will not be easy.  I want my girls to have enough room to roam inside in cold weather.

The floor/base that I polyurethaned yesterday.

My son's face is blurred at his request. Bob makes sure they are really accurately measured.

The end sides on top of the patio table.

Coat 1 on grooved plywood.

 And so here comes day 2.  I will be the painter.  Still looking for small windows that are reasonably priced.  I think we will end up making them ourselves.  Of course the girls clucked and called to the guys the whole time they were building the floor.  And some are VERY loud. :-)

Thanks for reading.  Each day is a gift. Open now.

xo,

Suz