A good old buddy turned 40 this week, so when the recycle dumpster gave me this fantastic vintage cooler I knew exactly who was meant to have it.
Even when you're so old your bottom rots off, you still have worth, ya know?

Spay-on clear rubber to hold all the old in, and to waterproof the exposed foam.

You can't really see what's going on in this one

 

The bottom part is 3/4" cedar that was leftover from the bookcases still waiting for assembly. The edging is a stainless steel sink trim cut to fit; the sides are spar varnished cedar(?) plywood that I found in the road, screwed into the bottom with stainless screws and siliconed onto the sides.

Aluminum corner pieces from the bit my Mr cut out of the screen door
 to put the cat flap in and more stainless screws.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be Excellent to Each Other

 I actually went out into public yesterday, in support of one of the causes I click for so passionately on the internet. I even met people I knew from real life, in the long long ago.

And a merry time was had by all.

Christmas Card for the whole Internet

Tis the time of year when tis acceptable to say Tis (so much easier than it is)

and also the time of year to mail bits of paper and glue at the people I like.

Anyway, some of the best people I've met live inside my computer.

If not for you folks I'd feel utterly alone and abnormal in this weird world. You know who you are.

Rather than stalk after you in real life, I'll just post this.|

Merry Festivus, Happy Hanukah, Joyous Yule.

If'n you want a real card, send me an address; )

So my Syrian friend isn't dead, but his cousin is. Things were bad in Damascus over the weekend.

 Despite the proposed cease-fire for the Eid-al-Adha holiday, government airstrikes killed over 500.
I've no clue what to do about that, other than post a gif of candles for those killed. I'm sad for my friend, and unable to wrap my head around the reality he's living and attending university in.

Saradwyn Does Dali

To Be Carried All Unwilling Into A Nameless Future

 ...by way of Edward Bullmore, googleworthy NZ Artist, who also liked using amorphous human figures.

Dali has always been one of my favorites, and not just for the moustache.  He imported many of his paintings from the faraway land of Hypnagogia, summoning dreams into wakefulness with the chime of a falling spoon.
He was utterly and unapologetically absurd and made a living at it. Quite a talent in itself.

Those are definitely my feet, solid and earthen, though my toes are less mandragorean.
Those are my toothbrush-splatter stars, which find their way into damnear everything lately.
Those are my snapping pennants, because the future is a grand place.

"It may be that when we no longer know what to do,

we have come to our real work

and when we no longer know which way to go,

we have begun our real journey."

Wendell Berry

...which I found at another favorite blog, Donna Watson's Layers

This Shit Is Bananas

extend a Hand to a Friend in Kindness
for Life is a Far Journey across the Howling Desert

But seriously, great gift for the Gwen Stefani fan in your life. Buy it HERE

This is the first thing I've painted in many a day. 

Been slightly distracted by The Best Boyfriend Ever

he's actually much taller than this

and my new job, one whole day a week at the Spay & Neuter clinic. I wasn't sure I wanted back into non-profit, but hey. It addresses the source of so much suffering. And, the people there are not guano loco!

Recent Doings Part 2



Portrait of a friend's Shih tzu

Jack, the King of Hearts



another one for Virgil
ad meioriam mephala gloriam



Portrait to vaguely resemble my friend Cody,

aka Coda Fett

Fett symbol



A New Year's Revolution

Rise and Root

Read more here, 

at another of my favorite places, the Hermitage

An Ornithological Mystery

Who pooed this poo?

Was it an eagle, an owl, a green winged teal?

A linnet, a limpet, a hoopoe, a bat? (Bats=Birds?)

An Ibis, an egret, an egress?

(I know nothing of birds*)

Whatever it was, it was massive.

A moa? A roc? A Pteranodon?

(Dinosaurs=Birds, I have this on good authority)

I'd like to issue a rebuttal of this scathing critique of my architectural prowess, But I've no clue whether to direct my outrage to a Stork or a Sparrow or a Starling.

Any information will be rewarded with slice of Lemon Meringue Pie

(if there's still any left)

I made it last night and had a slice before bed. During the night I think pixies got into it; they helped themselves to another slice. Apparently they liked it, as it is now bedizened with fairy jewels, cabochons of amber and topaz and scintillating citrines. (i know a lot about Shiny Things)

*this rambling is dedicated to the prose of Mr Frank Key, more of which can be heard here

**UPDATE** there's no more pie. Sorry.