Jamie's doodle from middle school

doodle from middle school
Originally uploaded by spiffydamnpoodle

Somehow I have managed to hold on to this throughout the years. Makes me giggle and perhaps it will you too!

so what up you might be wondering...

...folks pretty much know I've been painting again. It feels good to be inspired and have the time to focus on it. I just submitted an entry to be considered for a group show at one of my favorite art places, Winterstreet Studios. The show asks artists to find their own connection between art and quantum physics, with the theme being "The Door to the Future."

I don't know if I will be accepted, but either way it sounds very interesting and I would like to check out the show. This facebook page tells you more about it:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134036243292761

G has got us both on the Paleo Diet. I was curious about alternatives to grain products like lasagna noodles and tortillas and looked to the Raw Food Diet for some inspiration. I found a couple intriguing little recipes I want to try. One is a mock-bacon that uses coconut meat from a young coco, which is then marinated in Braggs aminos (similar to a soy sauce) overnight and then dehydrated. With some difficulty I cracked open two coconuts this morning and scooped out the meat that is now marinating in the fridge. Will let you know how this turns out in a day or so.

I need to mow the lawn something fierce... the trees are competing with the grass for sunlight.

Sad discovery

A momma raccoon has been bringing her 4 babies here at night to eat for the last couple weeks. This morning the neighbor and I discovered one of the young had gotten its foot stuck in the "Y" of a tree. Despite the struggle it must have put up the poor little thing died hanging there only three feet off the ground. My heart breaks imagining how long it hung there before it eventually died. I wish I had discovered it sooner and could have saved it.

Last week Kate and I decided to get together today and paint something. Unfortunately, her AC went on the fritz and she is having to wait for the AC guy (with a typical ETA of anytime before 4pm-ish). So we have tentatively postponed it until tomorrow, it's just as well because I realized I have birdee bread to bake and frankly, after the awful discovery of that little raccoon I am feeling kinda shitty.

My Sister Cheryl

I just wanted to take a moment to say something to/about you. We have had many recent wonderfully long, sometimes deep, sometimes light-hearted, often stream-of-conscious conversations. You have helped me with creative blocks, garden spots, bad days, low points and loneliness even. Yesterday we dipped into the past and all i can say is I am so happy we have crossed that emotional chasm to get to where we are today. I could not ask for a dearer friend or a better sister. You are marvelously witty, smart, and creative--fiercely loyal, big-hearted, and supportive... thank you, I love you!

Here's to having sisters!

Image118

Image118
Originally uploaded by joelgnyc

orange butterfly on a lavender cat tail..pretty neat find!

You can't REALLY catch leprosy from armadillos...

...or can you?!

I'm just throwing this out there because it is curious.

When I was young I remember being told that you could catch leprosy from armadillos. Later in life, I was told by a health-care professional that in the wild armadillos do not carry the disease. The relationship between armadillos and leprosy came about because scientists discovered the little critters were the only thing they could find that could contract the human disease, which was done in order to study and work on treatments.

I remember "googling" for this and finding a story about a facility in Louisiana (I think) where these studies had been going on and that something went wrong resulting in infected armadillos escaping into the wild. It seems there are questions about wether or not the infected animals were captured or went on the spread the disease to other armadillos.

The medical professional I spoke with seemed to think that the infected ones never intermingled with the wild ones and that catching leprosy from armadillos was a misconception.

Anyway, G's 70-ish-years-old uncle has just been diagnosed with the disease. The Dr.s have told him that he contracted it from years of working in his garden that was contaminated with armadillo feces. The uncle has started a three-year treatment process.

hmmmmm...

Don't let him fool ya...

...he's been eating all my tomatoes!

Yesterday morning with Shadow-bird

Sinkhole in Guatemala: Giant Could Get Even Bigger

This looks like some mad photoshopping, but it is the real deal. Check out National Geographic's article, there is a link at the top of it to a handful more photos of the sinkhole.

Sinkhole in Guatemala: Giant Could Get Even Bigger

Purple Gate

Purple Gate

Over the weekend G decided he would like the gate to be purple... so here it is!