...unless it's a black eye.

I think my daughter could be bi-polar. What else could explain the disparity between her bumper sticker and choice of Christmas gifts? Gandhi, UFC?!?!

Widen my horizons

You know, if it weren't for the internet, I very much doubt that I would have had the opportunity to see so many creative artists. There are tons of recognized artists who have shown their work in different places and untold thousands who's work is shown only in their etsy shop or blog. I am one of the lucky ones who get to see and enjoy these treats. I am especially fond of the artists who work with "found" objects, Michelle Stitzlein is one of those. These moths are georgeous.

Happy Festivus for the rest of us!

Can't wait for the airing of the grievances and the feats of strength.

I've been baking, cleaning and decorating,

NOT!

From deep with the bowels of my laBORatory, I've been creating, not cute little gingerbread men and beautiful Christmas packages, but the kraken. Well he's not so much a giant and really scary cephalopod, but I like him. They do say that "necessity is the mother of invention" and since I didn't have a spare $10K around to shop for an octopus chandelier, I crafted my own. Even if I do say so myself, I LOVE it! Now, I've got a lot of Christmas stuff to catch up on so off I go.

A Very Coral Christmas

Now don't I just love these festive red decorations, this red coral candleholder, this chandelier, this placemat , and this print fabric.

Spirit of the Buffalo

I love my state and it's people (in spite of the fact that they continue to be the reddest state in the country) and we recently celebrated our centennial. I know other states and cities have similar projects, but ours is the the "spirit of the buffalo". Oklahoma artists paint these bison statues and they are placed throughout the state at various locations. Here are a few of my favorites. Of course I really like the skeleton buffalo located in front of the Orthopedic Associates in Oklahoma City.

Dear Santa 2.0,

For a white Christmas I may need these:

Dear Santa,

I don't usually ask for much, some slippers, Earl Grey tea, just a few little things, you know what I like. That is until now. This year I want world peace and an octopus chandelier. These wonderful undersea creations were made by photographer and sculptor Adam Wallacavage. The photos pretty much speak for themselves. I think one of these would be just the right touch for my dining room. Check out these images by Todd Selby, of Adam's home it's a carnival for your eyes. Of course Santa, if there isn't room in your sleigh, at least there is this diy project at Paper Stampede that I can begin working on. Thanks for the world peace thing though.

I know it's a sin, but I...

cov⋅et 
1.
to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others:

to covet another's property.
2.
to wish for, esp. eagerly: He won the prize they all coveted.

3.

to have an inordinate or wrongful desire.

these wonderful creations of Gail Lackey. Never, really I mean, never in my life have I wanted a doll. I just hadn't seen these dolls. They are the most amazing, delightful and a little bit creepy dolls that I have ever seen, each a work of art. She is the Tim Burton of the doll world. There is a book of these dolls called Ghosties and I will have that. But for now I live with guilt, a needful desire to possess these dolls, yes I want them all. I not only covet the dolls, I covet the doll's dolls.

I lied I did want a Chatty Cathy, but she could talk for God's sake. It's pretty early in the day and I've already sinned twice.

British Cooking 101

My daughter thinks he's really cute and I really like fish and chips. She has all of his cookbooks so here is his recipe.

Jamie Oliver's Fish and Chips
INGREDIENTS
2 Pieces Haddock (200 Grams Each, Skin On)
250ml Beer
1 large Free-Range Or Organic Egg (Separated)
Salt Flakes
2L Vegetable Oil (For Frying)
500g Floury Potatoes (Skins Left On Or Off)
Malt Vinegar
150g Plain Flour
Method
Pour the vegetable oil into your deep-fat fryer or a large frying pan and preheat it to 120°C. Cut the potatoes into 1cm thick slices and then across into 1cm wide chips. Fry in the preheated fryer for about 5 minutes until almost cooked, then drain them and put to one side. Turn the fryer up to 180°C.
To make your batter, place the flour in a mixing bowl and add the beer and the egg yolk and whisk together. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white with a pinch of salt until it starts to form soft peaks. Carefully fold the egg white into the beer mixture until it’s just mixed in, making sure you don’t stir it too much.
Hold one of the haddock fillets by the very end of the tail and dip it into the batter. Let any excess drip off and then carefully place it into the hot oil. After a couple of minutes add half the chips and continue to fry for a further 5 minutes, or until golden brown, crispy and cooked through.
Drain, keep warm and repeat with the second fish fillet and the rest of the chips. Sprinkle with salt, drizzle with vinegar, and serve with some pickled eggs and gherkins. Delicious!

Thank goodness I have a fry-daddy.

I Love this Suitcase

This was my dad's suitcase, not one he used for clothes and traveling. There were always photos and mementos stored in it, watches, dice and decks of cards his dogtags and marine service medals. I loved it, for the cowboys, horses, wild cows and flowers on it. It was special to me when he opened it and we talked about the things in it, now I try to remember the stories to tell my kids. When we traveled my dad would sing while he was driving, songs like Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Ghost Riders in the Sky. The tooled images on this bag remind me of those songs and those days. I really miss him.

School Nurses Office

My son went to the school nurse's office today, to get a flu shot. The nurse noticed he was anxious pale and sweaty, she instructed him to blow on a cotton ball, an old nurse's trick to keep his mind off of the injection. After a cup of juice she sent him back to class...he's the teacher and is 27.