OniOniOniArt

My neighbor, the alligator On Monday I start a new job which leaves me wondering how well I'll be able to keep up with the Bug-A-Day Challenge during this transition (and ultimately long-term consumption of my time). It's been difficult so far and I've only worked part time! There may be a ton of baby mantids posted here! The photo above was taken yesterday, a momentous occasion because before this I had never seen this gator above the waterline. I've seen its (presumable) children out and about, but always, this adult appeared as a disembodied head floating amongst the duckweed. Well, holy hell, it's HUGE! At least 8 feet. I approached a wee bit closer from behind some trees to try and better gauge its size, but it saw me and with lightning reflexes dove into the water. If you can believe it, I think I frightened it. No longer able to see it, I took the cautious route and decided my backyard walk was over.

So I've been neglecting the Dirt Patch during this period of wretched heat, no-see-ums, and thunderstorms, and it's become a bit overgrown. But who cares, I think it looks wild and lovely! Look at all the blooming zinnias! They took a long time to get going; I direct sowed them in early March and the first isolated bloom finally made an appearance at the end of June.  Believe it or not, now is the time to start sowing the winter seeds. In this miserable summer heat, it is difficult to contemplate that cold weather is even possible here (the lengthy FL summer is the main reason I want to flee to the north. Summer in small doses). I was very late getting the seeds started last year, and my winter garden took all season to grow into its own, only becoming full when the heat arrived and it was time to yank them out of the ground. I really have no excuse this year. The seeds are in the fridge, I have the soil, and miracles , I actually have the time. My biggest problem ...

Just looking at this gives me anxiety I finally did it and quit my day job. I've felt it's weight pulling me down with the gravitational force of a dying star for over a year. Time to move on. I've got the funds to float on while I look for something better (and perhaps put the tiny house plans into motion a bit prematurely). My colleagues will be greatly missed. So what is it that I used to do for a living?  Perhaps these work-related photos will shed light on the subject... (WTF Nuvi?) ...or perhaps not. Regardless, I look forward to having a functional brain again. Here are some lovely fortunes and parting words of wisdom:

During a work-related trip this week to Gaffney, South Carolina I was, for once, rewarded for being unable to locate the Fed-Ex drop box: in the church/courthouse parking lot was this gorgeous little historic log house. Its style was common to the mid-Atlantic region of the country during the colonial/post-colonial era. Comparing its size to my current dwelling I can only guess that it is likely around 300 square feet, possibly less, not including its loft. From reading the signs, one gathers that the house has had some restoration work done and is not in its original location, but I'll let the signs speak for themselves... Click on the photo to zoom in for reading There were no signs stating that any furnishings in the interior were original to the house. Plexi-glass barriers at either doorway prevent one from walking around. Mr. Gaffney may or may not have scoffed at such a sentiment, but this house is simply adorable. It m...

They may as well be playing with unicorns... I drew this on the dry erase board at work Friday afternoon in response to the epidemic fever I have witnessed and the myriad mascots which mysteriously appear/vanish/reappear in this very spot. I guess I feel left out! Besides, Fantasy Football needs a mascot. I'm looking forward to its reception at the Monday morning meeting (tee-hee). (I don't follow sports if you hadn't already picked up on that).

My cluttered work space made even more cluttered with fresh prints! My day job makes it rather difficult to keep up with the lino printing, or anything else, really. Sometimes, though, you've got to put your foot down - and so I've designated today Lino Printing Day (I've been meaning to get to these for a month now...and is it wrong of me to be singing "Lino Printing Day" to the tune of "Weasel Stomping Day" from Robot Chicken ? I want you to know I wholeheartedly disapprove of weasel stomping).  Then perhaps next weekend I can work on something new, Hoorah! Sometimes the fact that I know I need to make more lino prints prevents me from starting something else...a bit of human psychosis I can acknowledge but can't seem to work around. Brains are strange things.  Today I will print from four already established blocks. I begin by setting up all of my supplies...my inking "plate" (ETA: originally it was a sheet of acetate, n...

Happy little bonsai It was over a year ago that I sowed the seeds for this dwarf pomegranate ( Punica granatum ). I now forget the variety, but I know it is not Sochi or Nana. S trangely I can find no trace of it online even though that is where the seeds were purchased.  The tree is about 8 inches tall (~20 cm).  Earlier this year, I transplanted this seedling to its bonsai tray and put it in a semi-shaded spot outside.  It bloomed profusely and produced this single fruit: Then I brought it to the office, and despite the sunny window it dropped the remainder of its buds and has produced nothing since (wickedly, I like to think it reflects my general feelings about the place). The pomegranate finally fell off the little tree last week, and curious to see what this tiny fruit, smaller than a grape, looked like inside, I cut it open: All we had was a steak knife! I'm not sure if the seeds turn red or not in the dwarf varieties, but it appears the ...