september cuff revisited

Here's the chickadee made into an actual cuff. I want to finish each piece each month so I don't have to go back and do a bunch of fiddly stuff at the end of the year. We'll see how that works out, but for now...
I used narrow grosgrain ribbon for the loops and sewed some hand-dyed cotton fabric on the inside to hide the stitches and make it more comfortable for wearing. Issues that will be a problem: my handsewing abilities are limited (messy) and I don't have access to a ribbon store, so I need to plan ahead on the fasteners.

mountain market moment III

So...I have been with out hot water for about a week now. There was a leak that needed to be cut out and pipe replaced...I started the project but was soon in over my head because the pipe had frozen at some point and was swollen to about 5/8" instead of the standard 1/2 inch which means it wouldn't fit in the fitting. I figured I'd just call a plumber, get some professional (not mental, sheesh) help and be done. Nary a plumber in sight was available, all busy, not interested in such a small job or phone disconnected.

Then my market moment today...guy walks up to the register and orders coffee, I write it down and ask his name so they can tell him his order is ready. Gene. We chat. He says "did you buy a place here?" I says yes, up on Piedad. He says "are you Kelly?" I says yes. He says I was just going to call you, I can fix that pipe today. I have HOT water! (cue hallelujah chorus).

Bead Journal Project 1

I've joined the Bead Journal Project for 2008/2009...I'll be making 12 cuff bracelets, one for each month of the project. Here's September, nearly finished except for fabric to cover the back and two loops to go with the buttons as a clasp.


Size 15 beads for detail, wool felt cloth (to be backed with cotton for comfort) and mother of pearl buttons. I wasn't able to capture the energy of a chickadee, but they're pretty lively little birds!

foster to adopt

I went to the shelter today and got a new buddy! Her name is Bela, at least that's the name they've given her and I think I'll leave it in honor of Bela Fleck the banjo player.

She's still in the hide behind things mode, so at the edges of the picture you see parts of shelves and boxes. She lets me pet her when I reach in her hidey hole, so I think we'll do fine. The dog is a little worried, and kept a close eye on her at first. With any luck, we'll all be hanging out by the woodstove together soon.

another market moment

...customer digging in bag for money, glances at phone: "no message from Fabulous Firewood". Yup, the same folks that brought you my full woodshed hadn't called these customers yet. I didn't totally brag, but I said I got my wood, and that Fab. Firewood will call them, they're reliable but had some bad employees. I am SO glad I got my wood.

Big fall storm yesterday and last night, clearish today...classic September here. Weather that beats the leaves out of the trees then apologizes and acts all sweet. Warm and sweet right now...ahhh.

life in a northern town

The rest of the wood came today right after the lady down the road finished mowing the front lawn.

ok...lemme set the scene. The grass is thick and lush, the mist is thickening to rain and the grass is cut. The woman that cut the grass lives about 1/2 a block away and also teaches a painting class in Juneau... classic Alaska, she does about 10 different things in order to live the quiet life here in small town AK. I'm glad to pay her to mow my 'lawn' because some day she might buy some of my art...get it?

So...as she's leaving she yells out her car window "are you expecting some wood?" as the wood truck pulls up the road. Yup. It's the other cord of my wood...an extra half cord because they were having technical difficulties and my other load arrived late and short. Turns out the wood cutter had a bad employee that was actually breaking equipment so he could have time away from physical labor to fix stuff. He actually broke equipment while working for the wood cutter, the wood cutter had provided him with a cabin and fed him meals AND payed him well. Wood cutter comes by my place and gives me an extra 1/2 cord of wood for my patience. This, folks, is why I moved back to Southeast Alaska...if you say thank you and mean it, and pay it forward, you will benefit. If wood cutter ever wanted a piece of bead art for his wife's Christmas or birthday, you bet your hiney, I'd charge him way less than market value...or better yet, I'd say drop off some wood and it's yours.

welcome to my warm house

I had to paint the door red, it's supposed to be welcoming to people as well as to good energy. ..and I really like this particular red paint, it's so bright! I painted it while waiting for wood...and now wood is here, timing not red door magic. I think I'll paint the other door too, but maybe blue or yellow so people are more drawn to the red one.

Before...

...and after. There are two layers of wood on the right, one on the left wall that you can't see and 1.5 on the long back wall! (and another cord on the way) Yippeee for pre purchased warmth! Each day I'll split a few of the big pieces so they dry and are ready for me when the snow is deep and cold.

accomplishment: wood

The ever elusive firewood arrived Tuesday about an hour before I had to go to work! 2 1/2 cords, he'll bring the rest on Monday, an extra 1/2 cord for my patience...I guess I sounded more patient on the phone or something. Any way, it's all in the shed, about half neatly stacked and the rest heaped to be stacked tomorrow. Out of the rain is the most important part of the equation if only because wet wood is heavier than dry.

Friday and Saturday are my days off of work, should I practice soldering copper or go for a drive up the road and check out some different scenery? Oh speaking of scenery, there was some new snow on the peaks across the river. Termination dust...the end of summer. It was spectacular this morning. If it's sunny tomorrow, I'll take the camera out for a walk to see if I can show you one of the main reasons I moved here.

There's a woman here who writes a column for the Anchorage paper and has written a book called (something like) If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name. She was in the store today, and I wished I'd known it was her (irony?) because she looked so much younger and fitter than her picture in her byline! No...she doesn't know my name as far as I know. Maybe I should have chased her down and asked.

fun things to do while I wait for wood

No, it's not here yet and the guy delivering it seems to have an aversion to leaving a message on a cell phone that's not turned on. If it isn't turned on it doesn't ring, it just goes to message...very confusing, ya know.

The fun thing I'm going to do is teach myself to sweat copper pipe, oh boy! I have a leak down there in the spider infested Golum territory under the house. I've always wanted to know how to solder copper pipe...no really, I'm serious! I think it's a good skill to own. So, I'll make another grand entrance at the local good ol' boy hardware and collect up some pipe, torch, flux, and all the other fun stuff involved in making a (hopefully) leak free joint in the plumbing.

Fun day at work yesterday...not. (indulge me in some eyerolling please) I'm not known for my sparkly, perky personality, but at least I try to be civil, eh? I try to say hello with some semblance of a smile the first time I see someone, and if I have to converse with them later I attempt to be nice. This is not the behavior pattern of my coworkers with the exception of the guy that runs the liquor store area. (hmmm, perhaps because he's far from the deli area?) So...being of semi sound mind and body (and over the age of 40) I don't take rude behavior well at all. I am tired of the slouching, slumping arse that I relieve in the afternoon bossing me around after ignoring my greeting. I am tired of the sullen deli girls staring at me when I smile a greeting towards them and I am really tired of the number of "not like that, no that's wrong, you did this wrong" comments not softened by a "good job" of any kind. I told the male half of the ownership that I was fed up yesterday, that his comment was just a straw and that if I'm doing a good job it would be nice to know.

We'll see if I get a "oooh are you ok" touchy feely meeting from the female half of the ownership today. Can the "oops we didn't realize we're being rude" talk, just be nicer.

wood

My firewood was supposed to be here yesterday, appearing while I was at work. I forgot to leave the check out in the shed, and they didn't get it cut because their chainsaw broke.

It's like being a member of a cargo cult, not that I've ever lived in the most primitive part of Africa and worshipped airplanes that might drop cargo. (must have been really old planes?) ...like a cargo cult because I'm so wound up about it getting here, if I do everything right it will show up. I know when it does appear, I'll stand and gape at it for a while. ...then spend a few days stacking it in the woodshed.

Overthinking the whole subject, must be time to walk the dog!