My Latest Project

It came to me the other day that I would like to try making dolls, so I ordered a book on beginning doll making.  It turned out not to be what I wanted because I thought of ceramic dolls.  This was about making cloth dolls, so, always flexible, I decided to give it a try.  This is my first attempt.  I haven't made the body yet, but I found this pretty interesting.  The book has instructions on sculpting faces, hands and feet.  I'm seeing a lot of potential here as I get better with the technique.  This face stayed pretty flat, despite my efforts.  I need practice.  Painting the face was fun, using watercolor pencils. I made the hair out of yarn left over from something else I must have knit...I don't remember.

My mother used to make dolls out of clay that baked in the oven.  They were the size of Barbie dolls and she sewed beautiful period clothes for them, including the underwear.  For that reason I was never interested in doing it myself..........fear of being like her.  I must have gotten over that.....

Strange-looking Bird at the Feeder

Believe it or not, this is the first squirrel I have ever seen in Eastport........he's cute with amazing feet, holding on to the screen.

Delicious Bread

I haven't made bread for a long time, but Thom gave me some wheatberries to try.  I used them in this very simple recipe for Hearth Bread and am delighted with the results.  I ate half a loaf right out of the oven......it's as good as any bakery bread I've ever had.  Yummy.

Blurry but cute Willy with new toy, plus update

I keep forgetting how much fun it is to watch a puppy play.  I bought two squeak toys yesterday, not knowing how popular they would be.  The house just resounds with the sound of squeaking.  Even Patrick is interested once in awhile, particularly when he sees Willy.  The two often are influenced by what the other is doing, which is sometimes good and sometimes bad.

I've been sewing lately, and painting boring pictures.  My days are long, punctuated by depressing, emotional bouts of missing Lytton.  I have not been able to work at the horse shelter because of my sore shoulders, but after a round of physical therapy I am going back for the first time today.  I will be on light duty until I see how it goes, but I hope to be able to go regularly again.  I won't go every day,  but I'd like to manage two or three.  Time will tell.

My Harvest, Plus Patrick and Willy Yet Again

So, this is my crop so far.  My 2x2 foot vegetable garden is doing well except for the dill.  I stepped on the seedlings earlier when I was working on something else, which most likely is the cause of their demise.  The cucumber plants are growing pretty well, but I don't see how they will have time to produce cucumbers........we'll see.

A few minutes ago Patrick and Willie were lying at my feet so contentedly together that I had to take a picture.  Patrick is so jealous and aggressive toward poor Willy that moments like this are rare.  In fact, the reason for Patrick's presence was caused by my playing with Willy.  Patrick was upstairs sleeping on the bed and Willy was downstairs with me.  I took the opportunity to pick up one of the dog toys and start a game.  Willy loves to play, but he's not allowed by Patrick.  I tried to be quiet, but Willy started growling playfully.  Patrick heard him and started barking.  He flew downstairs to stop the game.  I prevented him from beating Willy up, but that was the end of it.  A few minutes later they were together on the floor, but I suspect that Patrick was making sure that nothing concerning toys was going to take place. He's gone now.