Hey You! Sit down and Listen!

Over the last few years (specifically, the exact amount of time Tim and I have been together) I have found myself thrust into an environment that I would have never guessed I would be around, let alone a part of. I have always loved music, but I loved it for it's comforts, for it's familiar words and tunes, for it's reminder of love and family and car trips I might have otherwise forgotten.

I never felt that devoted to KNOWING music or knowing and hearing lots of bands. In fact, whenever I went to a concert I mostly just felt bored. I mean, really bored. Not necessarily because the music was bad, but something about that environment just couldn't capture me.

Well, needless to say I've had to get over a lot of that. There's a lot of waiting involved with being in a band. A lot of waiting and then hurrying up. It's taken me a while but I think I've finally learned that the secret to enjoying music and enjoying playing music and simply to allow yourself to enjoy it. So often, I get caught up in the hurried details of having to do this or that or forgetting something or thinking we forgot something, or forgetting the words or the keys or the chords.

This week we enjoyed a house show at our friend Jesse's house, featuring the extremely talented Chris Bell. There's just nothing like enjoying the music of your friends with your friends.

Last Breath of Summer

I think today is the day. It feels like it anyway. This afternoon I went outside to read and that's when I noticed it. The light had changed. It was warm but there was a strong breeze weaving through the overgrown grass of our front lawn.

I walked around. Sure enough, a spider clung to it's dare-devil web while light glinted off of the strands. Our garden stood, blooming and lush, almost bursting, but not quite. Objects stood transfixed by the warm light shining down on them. Even our cat was itching to get out and laze in the heat of it's rays.

What does it mean? Fall is coming. In fact, on the brink of already being here. It makes me want to stretch my muscles and yawn. It makes me want to smell grass and taste apples. It makes me long for picnic blankets, or just any blankets. I always forget how much the seasons affect my mood until one I actually enjoy rolls around. I actually feel relaxed. I actually feel ok about speeding tickets, and love drama, and longing for home, and wanting run away from home, and hating my job, and loving my other job.

So, I reccomend everyone take a moment and take a step outside they're house and just take one breath. Fall is here.

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like . . .

Okay, in all honesty it looks nothing like Christmas. In fact, at the moment, it look s alot like April with all of the rain we've been getting. However, I've been told that this isn't so in other/most parts of the country. In fact, I hear it's rather chilly up there in the Northern regions of the country, and perhaps quite cold in other countries as well. Thus begins my yearly ritual known as the knitting season.

I just can't bring myself to knit during the warmer months, so during spring and summer I focus on other things like felt, which is also quite warm, but I don't make things to wear with it so it's okay.

Actually, this year it was a customer who reminded me to start knitting again, when she came back to purchase more hats and I only had one in the store.

So, for all of you folks who are gettin' cold, I'm looking out for you!

I Have a Dreamcast (And so Should You)

Okay, so there's no denying that me and most of the people I like are overwhelmingly nerdy, and I love that. Well, in order to confirm this nerdy-ness they decided to celebrate the underrated and underplayed gaming system, the Sega Dreamcast.

Tomorrow (9/9/09) is the 10th anniversary of the day the Dreamcast was released in the U.S. In celebration of this we're throwing a party and a show at Go Bar. There will, of course be birthday cake. There will be Dreamcast playing. There will be a raffle to win a Dreamcast. If you are a nerd, and I suspect you are, you should come down and celebrate with us. There will also be lots of good music, including songs about the Dreamcast and other awesome gaming systems.

If you do not come I will assume you are not a nerd and be very suspicious of you.

Animals say the Darndest Things

All of our temporary animals friends have gone to loving and more spacious homes now, which leaves me feeling a little lonesome for their contribution of a little additional daily cuteness. I guess that's part of the reason I started doing these drawings. Also I cribbed the idea from some awesome business cards from the folks over at Berkley Illustration who I met while visitng Portland. Don't worry, the drawings and words are all my own. I've been flipping through my big animal encyclopedia with my eyes closed and drawing whatever my finger lands on. I have to admit, I think these are pretty cute.


I have these and more for sale in my shop and some notecards and things are in the works for them as well.

Fuzz Part 3

Ok, she's definitely cuter than I thought she would be, and much tinier too!

Fuzz Part 2

So, you know about our new friend Rabbit (we haven't decided what to name it yet) but the cute animal finding and collecting doesn't end there.

I am in Portland visiting my friend Emily and apparently Tim is lonely without me because stray animals seem to sense this and flock to him. He called me last night to tell me that a kitten had come knocking/meowing at our door late last night, and when the door was opened he hopped over all the feet blocking the way and made himself at home. Our cat Rilke is going to be pissed. She had just come to accept and live with the rabbit, I don't know if she'll be able to handle another cat in her territory. We're going to try to find it a home because unfortunately we really can't keep this one.

Tim described him as being around a month old, and brown with dark markings. This is what I picture him to look like . . .


I'll post again with a real picture to show you how close I came. The cute animal saga continues . . .