Hang the Debt Ceiling!

So, as I write this they're still wrangling about the debt ceiling in Washington.

Republicans are fighting Democrats.

Tea Partyers are refusing to play.

"an no one's gettin' fat 'cept Momma Cass!"

Sorry - 60's flashback. (People under 30, ask your parents.)

Anyway, here's what I've noticed:

I get mail from the Democrats. I see ads from all kinds of political organizations on Facebook. I see the President on TV.

And this is my conclusion:

They'll get it done. We'll all survive. The world will go on. And all this will have served it's purpose.

What's its purpose, you ask?

Money. Of course. This whole thing has been terrific for fundraising and gathering the troops for the next election. Think about it: When people get all fired up about something they get involved - and they send money!

You may disagree, but since this is my blog I get the space up top. Would love to read your comments though.

In the meantime I, unlike those clowns in Washington, am doing something useful.

Like drawing pictures:

Riding Along

That's it, and I hope you're having a wonderful day!

I've been playing with my blog design a bit. Something I've been trying to include is a little game, like "Bubbles" that I had before. I'm not totally thrilled with what I've found so far (see right ----> ).

If you wish to try it and comment, please do. I only know what it does on my computer.

When I was recently on vacation, I went to Boston to visit with my sons. I stayed at the best bed & breakfast in town (thank you Andy) and ate at some really nice restaurants.

But the very best part was hangin' with two of the finest young men in the world! Also, my wonderful daughter-in-law, and another young lady who would be a great daughter-in-law also and - always the star of the show - Penny the pug!

I'm looking for interesting blogs about Boston so I can feature them here. It's a wonderful city.

On the home front, I can't wait to tell you about the terrific coleslaw I made recently:

Wedding Bouquet

Oops, that's not it! My mind wanders.

Let's try it again:

The ingredients: Cabbage (1/2), carrots(4) and apples(2).

The equipment: Tupperware Quick Chef

I chopped everything in small batches and mixed it up with a bit of purchased coleslaw dressing and there I had it - a super simple, very easy salad.

It was so much fun I went ahead and chopped up a couple of raw potatoes, skins and all, for hash browns. The hash browns were good, but next time I'll add an onion - yum!

That's it for now, except I have to say this, to our representatives in Washington: "Why can't we all just get along?" (Thank you, Rodney King).

Therapy, Rest and Relaxation

The sewing machine is always set up and ready to go at Mother's, so of course I had to make a quilt when I went to visit. This is a baby quilt for Project Linus:  http://projectlinus.org/



The Project Linus mission is "to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans."

This quilt, like most of the quilts I make, is about 3 ft by 4 ft, with a very low loft, pieced on the front and backed with a corresponding fabric. I did something a little different with this one. Here's a detail:



I made each 9-patch block, and then I joined the blocks with a thin strip of a red print. It was made by cutting one inch strips, folding in half lengthwise, and placing on the seam when I joined the blocks. I like the effect, so I think I'll do it again.

I machine quilted it on the diagonal. That was different for me and, because I don't do straight lines well, I had to draw every line before I stitched it. I like the way it came out, though, and it was actually easier because the bias of the fabric eases better and doesn't pucker.

Even more fun than the sewing at my Mother's house were the long conversations, about politics, family history, Meadville doings and good books.

She loaned me Dreams From My Father, by Barack Obama, and suggested another book she has read called The Peabody Sisters of Salem. I ordered the sisters from Amazon.com while I was in Meadville, and it arrived today. I love the cover:

So - my suitcase is half unpacked, because we had Beth over the weekend, went to the grocery store, watched movies, etc. And I have a long "to do" list at the house, but I will take time to read.

A good book is the very best therapy, escape, R&R, etc.

Maybe even better than drawing and sewing.

What are you doing for rest and relaxation?

Momma Got Lost in the Cell Phone

Hi.

Odie here. That's me, above, getting my teeth brushed.

I don't talk a lot; mostly just wag my tail and look cute, 'cause that's what pleases my Mommas (and gets me treats).

However, I have to tell you about the terrible thing that happened to Momma Carol. This is the honest to God truth:

Momma Carol got stuck in the cell phone!

It's happened before but she always got out pretty quick. This time she was gone for 12 whole days!

Well, I think it was 12. You see, I really can't count past 2.

Once or twice a day my other momma would talk to her, and she would let me listen, but no matter how hard she tried Momma Carol couldn't get out of that phone.

I listened. I looked at the door to the office, where she is often sitting by the computer. I looked at her car, but she never got out and came into the house.

It was awful.

My other momma said Momma Carol was "at Grandma's house." I don't know what that means.

By all my observations, she was stuck in that darn cell phone! I know it. I could hear her there!

Then one glorious day, just out of the blue, she was knocking on our front door and hollering at me. I couldn't believe it; I was so excited I 'bout wagged my tail off and almost peed on the floor (most embarrassing)!

So, Momma Carol is home again and I can sit on the couch next to here and lie on the bed and watch her sleep. Life is glorious again!

Momma Carol says she has lots to talk about on this here blog, as soon as she gets organized. She's got pictures and all.

Just as soon as she goes through the mail and unpacks her suitcase.

I was sooooo happy to see my Momma back at home!

Escaping Reality

The Reality is I fly out of here on Saturday, headed for parts North.

I need to finish a couple of painting jobs and then pack, but I got my "druthers":

I "druther" draw pictures. Fantasy:



The Leprechaun and the Wolves

 Caroline and I watched a movie called "Skellig The Owl Man," a fantasy based on a children's book. That's what I was doing when I drew the leprechaun.

Don't remember what was going on when this came out:



Old Man of the Mountain Grows a Tree, or
Now I Know Why My Nose Has Been Hurting


And then things started making sense again:

Waiting In Line At The Carousel

All of the above will be available on FineArtAmerica, of course.

And now I better get back to my chores.....!

On Getting Away With Murder

So, a young lady about 20 years old has a baby; no father is mentioned.

Her parents "help" her with the baby. Don't know anything about the grandma; the grandpa is a former police officer.

Casey, Baby's Momma, also has a brother, who seems to be a very emotional kinda guy with a victim mentality.

Casey accuses her dad, the cop, of molesting her; also, her brother.

Casey's in and out of the house, travels a lot with the baby, leaves baby with sitters not known by the grandparents. The child is away from her grandparents for an unusually long time.

The grandparents - and this is the part that shocked me - accept Casey's lame excuses for a month before they start really wondering what happened to their grandchild. What is that about?

My Social Worker instincts tell me that this is a very sick family and a family in denial - about a lot of things, most likely.

My Social Worker instincts also wondered why the lawyer for the defense didn't try to plead mental illness; she clearly is a young woman with - shall we say - issues?

I realize now the lawyer saw how weak the case was and banked on getting Casey off Scot-free.

Which is exactly what happened.

Sad to say, if I had been on that jury I would have voted "not guilty" also - because the proof wasn't there.

My gut says she's crazy and probably killed her baby.

My gut also says she needs a lot of help and close supervision.

And she shouldn't have any more babies.

But I think, probably, she won't get the help/supervision, and she probably will produce more children.

I think the down side of our American freedoms and our excellent justice system is that sometimes this stuff happens. Because people can't be convicted on gut feelings; evidence is required.

In which case I, personally, believe in God, Karma, natural consequences, etc. She'll get hers.

As for me? Yesterday I renewed my drivers license and in the process donated an extra $5 to the fund to help prevent child abuse. It's not much, but if everyone who feels bad about this case puts a little toward a good cause - well, maybe it'll do some good....


“More children 0–4 years of age in the United States now die from homicide than from infectious diseases or cancer.” - David Finkelhor and Richard Ormrod in “Homicides of Children and Youth,” Juvenile Justice Bulletin, October 2001

Froggie News - Disaster Hits Fort Lauderdale

Breaking News From Frangipani Pond in Fort Lauderdale:  Disaster struck today in Frangipani Pond (named after Brad and Angelina Frangipani, prolific propagators of froggie progeny). At about 9:00 this morning, Frangipani Pond was infiltrated by poisonous chemicals, leading to the disastrous demise of thousands of tadpoles and young frogs.

The details - as reported by four young frogs who miraculously survived - are sketchy, but this is what we can report:

The poison spread immediately to every corner of the pond, and froggies and tadpoles jumped and crawled to dry land as best they could. Some faced a second threat, THE NET, but THE NET could not move fast enough to catch most of our folks.

Froggies who survived did so by clinging to the blue and white cliffs on the edge of the pond, and a few clung to a floating yellow island, but many of our brothers and sisters succumbed to the fumes and the strong current which took them down stream and trapped them in a small pool which some know of as THE BUCKET.

Survivors, now homeless, are thanking the Great Frog God for their deliverance, and ask sympathetic readers to send donations to: Frangipani Frog Relief, c/o Faith Shoemaker, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Faith, we are told, is a CAT, but can nonetheless be trusted with the money.



For more news of froggie doings in Fort Lauderdale, we refer you to this story: Daredevil Froggie Kisses Ugly Princess - Disastrous Result.

(Ed note:  We neglected our back yard swimming pool to the point that it became populated with tadpoles. Caroline tried to fish them out with the net, but they swam and jumped away from it. When she finally gave up and put in the chemicals we had a "mini holocaust." It was very sad - and messy. We have resolved to take better care of the pool in the future.)

And how was your day?