INK BLOT CHARACTER #3

Mary Roselle Thorn, may she rest in peace, is someone I am sure you have heard of, although you might not have known her full name or her whole story. Remember the nursery rhyme, “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary”? That is her. The poor girl, who could be likened, somewhat, to an earlier times version of Wednesday Addams, was tormented in her mind for unknown reasons. Some say she was born that way, as her whole family was a bit … odd.
She had an unhealthy obsession with the garden – especially thorned specimens. She spent endless nights, driven, it seemed to come up with strange hybrids and sinister grafts. She spent less and less time in any other pursuits or activities, not even coming to the dinner table or speaking to anyone at all…other than her precious roses.
Then one night, she simply disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again. Only the crows and night flying moths see her now… in the garden as her countenance appears in all of her extra thorny rose bushes. She got her wish, but she still looks tormented, does she not?

INK BLOT CHARACTER #2

LUCILLE LARUE has always had a flair for the dramatic. She is an energetic woman who does all things well. She gives killer parties that help zoom her husband up the corporate ladder. As president of the PTA she rocks the fundraisers, which, naturally, are always very successful. She keeps an immaculate house, has a healthy flower-filled yard, and cooks all the latest popular recipes – Beef Wellington, CocaCola Cake, Waldorf Salad. She is quite smitten with the new orange breakfast drink – Tang – that has just come out, and those new TV dinners as well. And naturally, there is always room for Jello.
She laughs loudly, is an impeccable dancer and enjoys wearing her small but growing collection of designer frocks. But this one is a little over the top, don’t you think?

INK BLOT CHARACTER #1

I joined an ink blot character swap on Swap-Bot recently. We were supposed to send two characters and a short bio of them to our assigned partner. But these are too much fun to do. It was hard to stop. I will be posting the three that I sent my partner, over the next three days. I am doing them in order of my least favorite (although I still like Batrick a lot!) to my most favorite.

Batrick is a cute and artistic little bat who lives in the famous bat colony under the Congress Avenue Bridge in the middle of Austin, Texas. He does honor his roots and go the more traditional route for the month of October, usually, but mixes it up a bit for the other months. He attends art gatherings all over town and impresses the other bats with his various costumes such as his bright tie-dyed ones for the Jerry Garcia Birthday Fest held each year in Austin. The motto, ‘Keep Austin Weird’ is one that Batrick believes in.
In this picture you can see Batrick in his Count Dracula costume, on his way to a costume party.

CHRISTMAS REDUX

It's way past Christmas, now, but I decided to go ahead and post these three photos anyway. First up, is Chuck with the girls - Patti-Jo and Coconut - in their new Christmas outfits. ;) They were all taking an afternoon nap on Christmas Eve.
And I had to include this one of Mathieu with the toy truck just like Grandpa's (almost) that we got him. He loved it, and just look at that precious face!
And last, a close up of Patti-Jo admiring one of my Christmas gifts. :)

SPIRITS' HOUSES

I finished the artwork for the Swap-Bot Spirits' Houses Accordian Book. I was even one day early for the mailing deadline. :) It was fun doing this and I almost wished I could have kept this one. But, really, it was made to appeal to my partner's preferences in color and style. One made for myself would have dark reds, greens and golds. Maybe some touches of dark blue and dark purple. And maybe it would have bees flying through it rather than bluebirds... although I like the idea of bluebirds, too. The vintage look - at least the Victorian style - would probably not be used, either... Mine would have herbs, trees, plants, animals, people, saints... But I do like it, and hope 'Bluebird' in NSW will, too.
This swap only required that we do a minimum of 6 panels on the front. Doing back panels was for extra 'points'. I did 8, front and back, and although I was in somewhat of a rush, I wish now I had done a few more. But it's on its way to Australia now, so it's time to turn my attention to my next project - Ink Blot Characters with their life story and a personality description.

But now, it's time to haul the garbage to the dump, go deposit money in the bank and drive to Corpus Christi to pick up Shabree. :)

QUESTION OF THE DAY: In a project like this one, for yourself, what would have been your preferences in colors, style and design?

TOYS

I love toys. A couple of days ago I ordered two of these:

One for here, for Zachary, Shabree and Mathieu (and me!) to use, and one to send to Ashlyn and Alyson in Florida. I found out about this really cool toy from Maggie at http://closeddooropenwindow.blogspot.com/ . It was mentioned and linked in her January 10th blog entry. I read up on it, and ordered it from Amazon.

EDIT: It's a Wild Planet Hyper Dash. Product Description
From the Manufacturer
Wild Planet's Hyper Dash will challenge you to be your best! It takes no time at all to learn, but selectable skill levels and four completely different game modes mean the challenge will always keep you busy. Hyper Dash consists of one electronic tagger and five different colored and numbered targets. The tagger plays pre-recorded music and calls out which targets you need to strike. It tracks the amount of time taken to complete each course. There's no limit to the distance between targets. Farther targets result in more running and exercise. Hyper Dash can be played indoors or outdoors; solo, in pairs, or in teams. As your speed, skill and agility improve, the series of commands becomes longer and more challenging. Level one calls out the colors you need to tag, level two includes numbers, level three adds special commands (Double Strike, Triple Strike, Reverse, Double Reverse) and level four features Compu-Strike (addition/subtraction problems in which you tag the sum or difference of the numbers called out). Other play modes include the memory game of Micro Dash and multi-player relay races that promote teamwork. For a game of Hide ¿n' Dash, let your opponent hide the targets before you begin. Every game has encouraging cheers and upbeat music to keep kids on their feet, expending energy and having fun.

Product Description
It's the electronic game that's as fast as you are. Test your speed and agility in a race against time using five targets and an electronic handheld unit. To start, set up your targets on the table, around the room, around the house or throughout the yard. Then, follow the announcer's commands as you zip around your racecourse to tag your targets with the handheld unit. The fastest time wins. Features four game modes that challenge your speed, skill, memory, coordination and teamwork. Includes ergonomically designed Hyper Dash unit and five labelled targets. Requires 3 "AAA" batteries, not included. Measures 4.5"L x 12"W x 10"H.

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?!

Speaking of toys, our oldest son, Stewart, got us a HUGE wall mounted tv for Christmas. Video games are really great on it. ;) Garrett got Shabree a Wii for Christmas, and although, so far, I don't like it all that much, it was fun playing Cooking Mama (about as enthused as I will ever get over cooking, I suppose.) and Sports on it. Sports - the grandkids all prefer boxing, while Chuck likes the golf, and I like... um, well, anything but boxing, I suppose. Good grief! Shabree wore me out with that one! It is way too much jumping around and swinging for me. Exhausting!
I don't have anything against the Wii, really, it's just that I shop 'games' and then buy the system that will play them. Sports and Cooking Mama - meh... But I do hope she brings the Wii back with her this weekend when she comes. Maybe I can stand a chance to beat her at bowling or tennis or baseball. Maybe...

TODAY'S LIST

Okay, I have nothing intriguing to write about today, but in keeping with my resolve to actually have some kind of entry today, I am borrowing an idea that I saw on http://alexandbeckysmom.blogspot.com/ (Thanks, Mrs. G.)

1. Get into actual clothes. (I looove pajamas!)

2. Do some art. Continue on with the Spirits House.

3. Fold and put up laundry. All of it.

4. Go to supermarket. (Groan...)

Sub List

a. pork neckbones (for the dogs' breakfasts)
b. catsup (DH can't live without it apparently.)
c. A-1 Sauce (Ditto.)
d. potatoes (for beef stew)
e. Stew Starter (Yeah, I cheat.)
f. bacon (for beans)
g. cat food (largest bag I can struggle to the car)
h. 2 - 16oz. pkgs. frozen french-cut green beans (for Cookbook Junkie's recipe)
i. 14 oz. can artichoke hearts (Ditto - http://cookbookjunkie.blogspot.com/)
j. Italian bread crumbs (Will settle for French.)
k. olive oil (We are low on it, or possibly out of it.)
l. garlic (More garlic! Got to have more!)
m. Parmesean Cheese (Low or out...)

5. Stretch out in new recliner and play video games. (Gosh, I have turned into such a slacker!)

6. TV - CSI and ER and is Project Runway on tonight? Or American Idol? (Ditto.)

EDIT: Do they not make Stew Starter any more? I couldn't find it. Chuck likes grocery shopping, and I hate it, so it is a long time between supermarket trips for me. I was shocked last month when HEB told me they no longer carry Chili-Quik! I could not believe it! That stuff is absolutely essensial to chili and has been, for us, for two generations.

Question of the Day: Do any of you play video games or online games to any degree? If so, which ones?

HI....REMEMBER ME?

I feel like I fell off the edge of the world in December. So much to do, so behind on everything, so lethargic towards doing some things...like blogging. Plus, I swear, there was just nothing all that interesting to blog about. I know what you are thinking... "That never stopped you before!". True. Hahaha...

Anyway, I am back. I hope. I can't find the photo I wanted to use, so I took another one this morning. While I am not behind on any of my art swaps, I am only about a half step ahead on the few that I am in. The photo is a project that I just started on last night - a Spirit Houses Accordian Book Swap.
"Every spirit makes its house, and we can give a shrewd guess from the house to the inhabitant." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson Think I'll make the Friday mail-out deadline???
I am so out of practice with the art stuff. It's been quite a while since I even opened a paint container. And it shows. This is only the first layer of what will be multi-layered mixed media. Let's hope it improves from here. :/ After this, I have an ink blot art piece to do, and two zines... a perzine and a spring zine.

Okay, this entry is enough of a stretch for me today. More tomorrow, I hope. Oh! One more thing, since some have asked... The video on that recent entry is just a humorous one I found on YouTube. It is not my family.

Question of the Day: Is anyone still checking this blog? (Even my sister may have given up by now.)