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Since my main P.C. died and my new one doesn't arrive until next week, I decided to spend my time working outdoors and checking off things from my summer to-do list.
I've been meaning to build a garden in front of the house for some time now - one of many side projects to improve this place so it will be easier to sell once we find land, and this was part of that (other stuff is more boring like painting door frames and washing window wells). I called some local landscaping places and they quoted me around $850 for the 32 sq ft garden with retaining wall, built up bed, and a couple of shrubs. Crazy! So I went on the hunt for materials to do it myself, which ended up as the great stone hunt. Since I don't know anywhere where I can legally collect a bunch of stone, I tried a big construction materials company in town that sells mostly to contractors. They wanted $400 for the stone I would need to do the job. Blergh.
Since southern MN is practically made of limestone and I see them dynamiting and hauling it away from construction sites, I was determined to find a place that had reasonably priced stone. I finally found it - an actual stone quarry just a little outside of town.
Marrok and I went on our great stone adventure today, which involved wearing a hard hat and lining up (in my little Pontiac Vibe) with a stream of semi-trucks and belly loaders to weigh my car and then clamboring all over a pile of limestone 'chimney rock' to pick out pieces. 600 lbs of stone (for $9!!) in my tiny car and off to nurseries for plants.
After dropping off stone, I picked up 400lbs of organic humus fill and some bushes and spent the next few hours putting everything together. I'm impressed how much easier it is for me to haul around rocks and 40lb bags of soil - aikido is really helping me to shape up a lot. :)
For a total of $50 and 5 hours of my time (most of it wasted being slow because I spent too much time shopping for plants and rearranging rocks) and I have a really nice little garden in the front of the house! The more I'm learning about construction (I talked to the people at both the construction supply and quarry extensively about stone home building, concrete forms, veneer, and masonry, the more convinced I am that I'll be saving myself $30,000 and being my own home contractor. I don't devalue the use of a good contractor, but I think with the architect overseeing the general work I'll do well enough myself finding people to subcontract for all the important things.
Rocky had a blast scampering around at the lumber yard and wandering the nurseries with me. After that he played in the sprinkler while I gardened and then after dinner Mbala and I took him and Kimahri to the local dog park. I'd never been to the one closest to us - it is only partially fenced so I'd been avoiding it (Kimahri isn't an off-leash sort of dog, being a shiba inu!). However, much to my delight, partially fenced means there are two huge fenced areas and then a big partly fenced trail system with a river. There were a ton of people and dogs there and we all had a lot of fun. We'll definitely be going back regularly.
I love being tired and covered in dirt. :)
This weekend I've got a bunch more things to do outside, hopefully the weather will cooperate. It hasn't lately, either thunderstorming or being 100 degrees (it was 95 all day and I was about dying all day though determined to tough it out) - apparently if things keep up this year could easily be a record for the hottest year ever recorded in the state. I picked up the things I need to fix some chips/spots on the cars - I've never done auto refinishing but I read a lot about it, so will be giving that a try. Again, I got quotes of close to $1500 to get the cars done but it cost me $30 in paint. It sounds like a pretty easy process - sanding down little rust spots, priming, sanding, painting, painting, painting, and clearcoating. I got the paint directly from the car manufacturer so it should match perfectly, if it doesn't it's not really a big deal. We'll see how well I can do!
I wish I had time just to learn to do everything myself. :) I know some things it's really worth the money to hire someone else, but unless I was making $150+ an hour, doing these things myself seems a no-brainer.
Aikido is going to kick up to longer sessions during the week so that we can progress faster. I'm already pretty tired after the classes are done, so this will be a great challenge! We've got weapons class tomorrow morning, looking forward to that as usual. I know weaponry isn't 'really' part of aikido but I love it. There's just something so cool about the movement of staff and sword.
A long soak in the tub and book sound really good about now!!
I've been meaning to build a garden in front of the house for some time now - one of many side projects to improve this place so it will be easier to sell once we find land, and this was part of that (other stuff is more boring like painting door frames and washing window wells). I called some local landscaping places and they quoted me around $850 for the 32 sq ft garden with retaining wall, built up bed, and a couple of shrubs. Crazy! So I went on the hunt for materials to do it myself, which ended up as the great stone hunt. Since I don't know anywhere where I can legally collect a bunch of stone, I tried a big construction materials company in town that sells mostly to contractors. They wanted $400 for the stone I would need to do the job. Blergh.
Since southern MN is practically made of limestone and I see them dynamiting and hauling it away from construction sites, I was determined to find a place that had reasonably priced stone. I finally found it - an actual stone quarry just a little outside of town.
Marrok and I went on our great stone adventure today, which involved wearing a hard hat and lining up (in my little Pontiac Vibe) with a stream of semi-trucks and belly loaders to weigh my car and then clamboring all over a pile of limestone 'chimney rock' to pick out pieces. 600 lbs of stone (for $9!!) in my tiny car and off to nurseries for plants.
After dropping off stone, I picked up 400lbs of organic humus fill and some bushes and spent the next few hours putting everything together. I'm impressed how much easier it is for me to haul around rocks and 40lb bags of soil - aikido is really helping me to shape up a lot. :)
For a total of $50 and 5 hours of my time (most of it wasted being slow because I spent too much time shopping for plants and rearranging rocks) and I have a really nice little garden in the front of the house! The more I'm learning about construction (I talked to the people at both the construction supply and quarry extensively about stone home building, concrete forms, veneer, and masonry, the more convinced I am that I'll be saving myself $30,000 and being my own home contractor. I don't devalue the use of a good contractor, but I think with the architect overseeing the general work I'll do well enough myself finding people to subcontract for all the important things.
Rocky had a blast scampering around at the lumber yard and wandering the nurseries with me. After that he played in the sprinkler while I gardened and then after dinner Mbala and I took him and Kimahri to the local dog park. I'd never been to the one closest to us - it is only partially fenced so I'd been avoiding it (Kimahri isn't an off-leash sort of dog, being a shiba inu!). However, much to my delight, partially fenced means there are two huge fenced areas and then a big partly fenced trail system with a river. There were a ton of people and dogs there and we all had a lot of fun. We'll definitely be going back regularly.
I love being tired and covered in dirt. :)
This weekend I've got a bunch more things to do outside, hopefully the weather will cooperate. It hasn't lately, either thunderstorming or being 100 degrees (it was 95 all day and I was about dying all day though determined to tough it out) - apparently if things keep up this year could easily be a record for the hottest year ever recorded in the state. I picked up the things I need to fix some chips/spots on the cars - I've never done auto refinishing but I read a lot about it, so will be giving that a try. Again, I got quotes of close to $1500 to get the cars done but it cost me $30 in paint. It sounds like a pretty easy process - sanding down little rust spots, priming, sanding, painting, painting, painting, and clearcoating. I got the paint directly from the car manufacturer so it should match perfectly, if it doesn't it's not really a big deal. We'll see how well I can do!
I wish I had time just to learn to do everything myself. :) I know some things it's really worth the money to hire someone else, but unless I was making $150+ an hour, doing these things myself seems a no-brainer.
Aikido is going to kick up to longer sessions during the week so that we can progress faster. I'm already pretty tired after the classes are done, so this will be a great challenge! We've got weapons class tomorrow morning, looking forward to that as usual. I know weaponry isn't 'really' part of aikido but I love it. There's just something so cool about the movement of staff and sword.
A long soak in the tub and book sound really good about now!!
Come with me to Peru, Part 2
Jul. 20th, 2010 09:03 pmA belated continuation of my travels to Manu National Park in Peru.
Me posing with a wild tagua palm. I was so, so thrilled to be able to see tagua in its native habitat and to get the chance to learn so much more about it.
A raw tagua nut – still in liquid state. And my blue dyed avatar hands. The dye was from a native fruit - a really interesting material. The fruit juices were clear when we put them on - in a few hours the dyes reacted with our skin and turned us deep indigo blue. Everywhere. It was supposed to last 2-3 days but instead lingered over a week - making going through customs/security to get back into the U.S. quite entertaining.
( Lots more photos under the cut! )
Me posing with a wild tagua palm. I was so, so thrilled to be able to see tagua in its native habitat and to get the chance to learn so much more about it.
A raw tagua nut – still in liquid state. And my blue dyed avatar hands. The dye was from a native fruit - a really interesting material. The fruit juices were clear when we put them on - in a few hours the dyes reacted with our skin and turned us deep indigo blue. Everywhere. It was supposed to last 2-3 days but instead lingered over a week - making going through customs/security to get back into the U.S. quite entertaining.
( Lots more photos under the cut! )
Prince Puppyfeets
Jul. 5th, 2010 01:40 pm
Since I didn't formally introduce him here before - meet Marrok (Rocky for short) - the most awesome puppy in the world. :)
( Lots of pictures under the cut! )
Dogs dogs dogs
May. 17th, 2010 03:25 pmI apologize for being a bit backlogged on posting much of anything, the spring show season has started up again for me and I've been amazingly busy of late. I've got lots of new art and photos to show (including the rest of the photos from Peru) and I will get to those as soon as I can. :)
However, I did manage to snap a few photos from my most recent show, the Bernese Mountain Dog nationals in Wisconson, so I thought I would share! They are just quick pics from my phone, but pics nonetheless!
Gotcher face!
Puppy!
( Pictures under the cut! )
However, I did manage to snap a few photos from my most recent show, the Bernese Mountain Dog nationals in Wisconson, so I thought I would share! They are just quick pics from my phone, but pics nonetheless!
Gotcher face!
Puppy!
( Pictures under the cut! )
Andes to the Amazon.
May. 4th, 2010 01:54 pmI think that, perhaps, the most amazing thing about travel is perspective. When you spend so much time in one place, especially when that place is part of a very steadfast routine, it is easy for your world to become a very small place. Even when you flit in and out of it, the walls become very defined, finite. When you travel somewhere so far out of your comfort zone, your realm of experience, your ability to imagine, it can't help but leave a mark.
Going to Peru was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It's a place I've been drawn to for years, something that has become a recurring theme in my life which has just become stronger as time goes by. When things fell into place and allowed us to go, I was thrilled. I really didn't know what to expect so I left without real expectations and just surrendered myself to the experience that presented itself. I'm beyond glad that I did.
I have heard people (ones that have traveled the world for much of their lives) tell me that if you could pick one destination and no other, to go to Peru. The country has just about everything - from deserts to snow-capped mountains, huge metropolises to the most remote areas in the world, complete with uncontacted native tribes. Cities, culture, rainforest, wildlife, history, architecture, cuisine. Everything with its very own unique flavor.
It is impossible to really do my trip any justice by trying to describe it. Mbala took almost 2000 photos and I will post a bit of a narrated visual blog once we've sorted through those, but for the most part I don't have a lot to say about my trip except that it was incredible and I'm really glad that I went. A lot of it, for me, was about taking a leap of faith, letting go, and learning to relax. To open your mind and self to life and everything that it means, including it's extremes. Pushing yourself to the limits and enjoying the ride.
We spent a week traveling in Manu; a part of the reserve area of the world's most pristine tract of rainforest where less than a thousand visitors a year pass through. I had the intense privilege of seeing a mating pair of wild jaguars. We walked through the jungle at night and saw scorpions, tarantulas, birds, bugs, monkeys, and all sorts of amazing creatures. We watched giant otters circle their lake and make unearthly, mournful cries. I found wild tagua and was able to drink from the ripening plant.
We did what seemed like a million other things, and culminated our journey hiking the four days from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. It was a grueling hike, with thin mountain air 14,000 feet up, past tiny villages living on the edge and the bones of people who had died on the trek. The journey itself was even more powerful than the spectacular ending - entering the 'lost city' via the Sun Gate and getting to sprawl in the grass at the incredible ruins.
I am back home now, thankful for the experience and the changes it brought into my life. Slowly getting myself back into a normal work schedule, less stressed and more determined.
Pictures soon, I promise. :)
Going to Peru was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It's a place I've been drawn to for years, something that has become a recurring theme in my life which has just become stronger as time goes by. When things fell into place and allowed us to go, I was thrilled. I really didn't know what to expect so I left without real expectations and just surrendered myself to the experience that presented itself. I'm beyond glad that I did.
I have heard people (ones that have traveled the world for much of their lives) tell me that if you could pick one destination and no other, to go to Peru. The country has just about everything - from deserts to snow-capped mountains, huge metropolises to the most remote areas in the world, complete with uncontacted native tribes. Cities, culture, rainforest, wildlife, history, architecture, cuisine. Everything with its very own unique flavor.
It is impossible to really do my trip any justice by trying to describe it. Mbala took almost 2000 photos and I will post a bit of a narrated visual blog once we've sorted through those, but for the most part I don't have a lot to say about my trip except that it was incredible and I'm really glad that I went. A lot of it, for me, was about taking a leap of faith, letting go, and learning to relax. To open your mind and self to life and everything that it means, including it's extremes. Pushing yourself to the limits and enjoying the ride.
We spent a week traveling in Manu; a part of the reserve area of the world's most pristine tract of rainforest where less than a thousand visitors a year pass through. I had the intense privilege of seeing a mating pair of wild jaguars. We walked through the jungle at night and saw scorpions, tarantulas, birds, bugs, monkeys, and all sorts of amazing creatures. We watched giant otters circle their lake and make unearthly, mournful cries. I found wild tagua and was able to drink from the ripening plant.
We did what seemed like a million other things, and culminated our journey hiking the four days from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. It was a grueling hike, with thin mountain air 14,000 feet up, past tiny villages living on the edge and the bones of people who had died on the trek. The journey itself was even more powerful than the spectacular ending - entering the 'lost city' via the Sun Gate and getting to sprawl in the grass at the incredible ruins.
I am back home now, thankful for the experience and the changes it brought into my life. Slowly getting myself back into a normal work schedule, less stressed and more determined.
Pictures soon, I promise. :)
Bruises and bumps.
Mar. 5th, 2010 12:08 pmThough there are many paths
At the foot of the mountain
All those who reach the top
See the same moon.
-Morihei Ueshiba
At the foot of the mountain
All those who reach the top
See the same moon.
-Morihei Ueshiba
Czechia: Part Deux
Mar. 3rd, 2010 08:16 pm
Detail of a coat of arms at Kostnice Ossuary. Yes, those are real human bones!
( Come with me back to the Czech Republic for another tour )
Czechia : Part 1
Mar. 2nd, 2010 08:46 pmSo... this has been overdue since 2006, but I finally finished processing photos from our trip!
Catching the last light at Hluboka castle.
( Come with me to the land of castles, beer, svickova, and gothic architecture! )
Catching the last light at Hluboka castle.
( Come with me to the land of castles, beer, svickova, and gothic architecture! )
Year of the Tiger
Feb. 24th, 2010 08:08 pmI was lucky enough to ring in the New Year (a few days early) with the company of some zodiac representatives.
Minced, mauled, and never happier about it!
( Come with me... )
Minced, mauled, and never happier about it!
( Come with me... )
As I was driving home from the gym this morning I realized I am actually quite sad about the disappearance of the Pontiac brand of car this year. I think they were massively underrated vehicles. I've dealt with three of them in my lifetime - on old 80s Bonneville, a 98 Grand Am SE, and my current car - a 2007 Vibe.
The Bonneville lasted 250k miles with NO work beyond typical maintenance and at 250k needed rubber tubing replaced since it was literally disintegrating from age... but still working. And some brake work - it was sold at that time and still running fine. The 98 Grand Am went to 150k miles with no major work - just at that time (over 10 years old/150k miles) it needed some work done but then was fine until it was totaled by a random guy on a cell phone and its life cut short. Our current Vibe has some 44k miles on it now and has never had any issues - it's a really good little car. All of these got GREAT gas mileage - the Grand Am, despite being a 6 cylinder and reasonably powerful little car regularly was in the 34-35 MPG range. The Vibe can hold a kayak or giant 8 ft log, comfortably fit 4 large/tall passengers and cargo - gets over 30 on average. I know in their time they made some goofy cars (like the underpowered Sunfire but what do you want from a 10k car?) but in general they were really impressive. I'm sad to see them cut.
Since I'm unlikely to ever end up with my dream car (a Lamborghini Diablo - haha!) I'd like to someday have a Pontiac Trans Am. I was sad when they stopped making those, too, but I've seen some in great shape come up for sale (this sort of model version: http://photos.webridestv.com/datastore/images/user/314f01c180adad528da94912782d4b75/Pontiac_Trans_Am_143445_20081011.jpg ) - if I have one of those I'll be in driving heaven. :) Despite the fact I drive like an old grandma.
This is probably the most you'll ever hear me talk about cars - in general I don't care about vehicles, especially luxury ones - but I have a strong appreciation for the mechanical wonder that they are, and how they allow us such mobility and options living in such a spread-out country like the U.S. So, hat's off to Pontiac, I'll miss you!
The Bonneville lasted 250k miles with NO work beyond typical maintenance and at 250k needed rubber tubing replaced since it was literally disintegrating from age... but still working. And some brake work - it was sold at that time and still running fine. The 98 Grand Am went to 150k miles with no major work - just at that time (over 10 years old/150k miles) it needed some work done but then was fine until it was totaled by a random guy on a cell phone and its life cut short. Our current Vibe has some 44k miles on it now and has never had any issues - it's a really good little car. All of these got GREAT gas mileage - the Grand Am, despite being a 6 cylinder and reasonably powerful little car regularly was in the 34-35 MPG range. The Vibe can hold a kayak or giant 8 ft log, comfortably fit 4 large/tall passengers and cargo - gets over 30 on average. I know in their time they made some goofy cars (like the underpowered Sunfire but what do you want from a 10k car?) but in general they were really impressive. I'm sad to see them cut.
Since I'm unlikely to ever end up with my dream car (a Lamborghini Diablo - haha!) I'd like to someday have a Pontiac Trans Am. I was sad when they stopped making those, too, but I've seen some in great shape come up for sale (this sort of model version: http://photos.webridestv.com/datastore/images/user/314f01c180adad528da94912782d4b75/Pontiac_Trans_Am_143445_20081011.jpg ) - if I have one of those I'll be in driving heaven. :) Despite the fact I drive like an old grandma.
This is probably the most you'll ever hear me talk about cars - in general I don't care about vehicles, especially luxury ones - but I have a strong appreciation for the mechanical wonder that they are, and how they allow us such mobility and options living in such a spread-out country like the U.S. So, hat's off to Pontiac, I'll miss you!
Because happy days need happy birds. :)
Vegas says she's smarter than you. The Megaminx dodecahedron rubik's cube is nothing to her advanced psittacine brainpower.
I put up a page for Vegas on my website here: http://foxloft.com/exotics/vegas
- Sorry these always take me so long and I'm slow to upload pictures - I always mean to take more, since people ask - but it's quite a time consuming thing to do!
In other news, I just got back from a wonderful trip to visit friends in the Toronto area - I will be posting pictures soon. I came home with tiger bites in amusing places and I realized the other day at the gym my arms make me look like a battered woman candidate. ;) More on that later!
Vegas says she's smarter than you. The Megaminx dodecahedron rubik's cube is nothing to her advanced psittacine brainpower.
I put up a page for Vegas on my website here: http://foxloft.com/exotics/vegas
- Sorry these always take me so long and I'm slow to upload pictures - I always mean to take more, since people ask - but it's quite a time consuming thing to do!
In other news, I just got back from a wonderful trip to visit friends in the Toronto area - I will be posting pictures soon. I came home with tiger bites in amusing places and I realized the other day at the gym my arms make me look like a battered woman candidate. ;) More on that later!
General Update
Jan. 15th, 2010 03:37 pmAfter the holiday crazy died down, I started a new gym routine, in preparation for a trip to Peru I'm going to be taking later this spring. Mbala and I, hopefully EK (<3), and possibly some other friends will be going out for a tour of the amazing country from Cuzco to Inca ruins/Machu Picchu to the Amazon rainforest. It's a trip I've always wanted to do and I'm really looking forward to it! However, I needed to be in better shape for it (days of hiking in really high mountains will tax the best of us living at about sea level and used to flatness).
A really nasty burn on my leg stopped me for awhile, but it's healed nicely (other than a quite impressive scar) so we've been going almost every morning during the week. I generally prefer to exercise outdoors or at home, but the lure of fancy strength training equipment and convenience (going in the morning means Mbala doesn't have to walk in the freezing weather and take the bus into town) won me over. The gym is quite posh and has personal T.V.s on almost all the cardio equipment as well as a large, fancy digital technogym setup for strength training. I would really like to get my arms toned to get tattoos - that's a long term goal for me over the next year or so. They have fancy machines called 'alpine climbers' and 'crossramps' which I'm using to build up my stamina for climbing. I also imagine that the upper body strength will come in handy when we eventually have land and I've got 40+ acres of fencing to install. :)
In an effort to make life better in general I've been absolutely scouring the house. I've been getting rid of everything non-essential to the business or general life (with the exception of a small collection of zuni fetishes, some skulls/pelts, and books). I've also been cleaning - the sort of good, obsessive cleaning like a tooth brush to the mineral stains sort of cleaning. Room by room and piece by piece I'm helping to simplify our lives. I don't like clutter, I just tend to be a packrat - so it's things like bird magazines from 1993 and childhood mementos (no, I don't need a pencil shaped like a cactus or a pegasus straw). Also stripped closets of old clothes and took over bags of things to goodwill. It feels good to do and it's giving both Mbala and I more energy.
I've also been clearing out all my old general obligations and streamlining the business. It can be hard, being self-employed, I tend to work all day and then after dinner just work some more... since I've got things to do and I'm here anyways... I want to cut that out and get a better work/life balance. However, unless I have something specific to do it's hard not to justify working ridiculous hours. So I'm trying to find something social to add to my schedule - to force myself to 'relax' and get out of the house more. (Don't get me wrong, I love working from home and by myself, it's just gotten really extreme). I have been enjoying playing the banjo but it will be some time (i.e. at least a year) before I'd be comfortable/good enough to play with any little group.
I'd love to get into obedience/rally and dog events, but it will be some time before I have a dog... I doubt we'll be getting a shepherd puppy this year. It's possible but unlikely, will probably be next year.
I've been considering volunteering for the Mayo Clinic - they need people to run art tours and other things that might be quite enjoyable. It's something I could do once a week or every other week pretty easily. I am tired of being too busy to do anything - there's no reason for it except overextending myself on my own work. I think I'll be more productive and less stircrazy if I allow myself time for something like this. I'd like to meet more local folks as well. :)
I did go in for a really thorough eye exam to see about getting LASIK (well, PRK) done - something I've been considering for years. I found out, however, that if I did the surgery that I would sacrifice my really good near vision for good distance vision. With what I do for a living, that isn't acceptable. I am finally breaking down and going in to get contacts - something I've avoided for years. It might be slightly more convenient for when I travel or am doing things like skiing, hiking, etc. It's disappointing but also a relief, I guess. Good to know, regardless!
I am absolutely enjoying the little bit of time off from shows that I have. I am sad not to be going to F.C. as far as seeing friends goes - but I'm really glad I'm not scrambling to prepare for that convention right now, either. I don't have another show scheduled until April (yeaaah!) so I can hunker down, get caught up on things, and be really prepared for a rigorous spring schedule. I'll be doing a few breed specialty shows across the midwest.
This year so far, and hopefully continuing, is going to be about organization and restructuring. Of my life, my business, my schedule, myself. Change is hard, but it's good.
So, that's where I'm at right now! I think when you feel like you're spinning your wheels, waiting and waiting for things to happen the best thing you can do is what you can where you are. There's always something to be done. :)
A really nasty burn on my leg stopped me for awhile, but it's healed nicely (other than a quite impressive scar) so we've been going almost every morning during the week. I generally prefer to exercise outdoors or at home, but the lure of fancy strength training equipment and convenience (going in the morning means Mbala doesn't have to walk in the freezing weather and take the bus into town) won me over. The gym is quite posh and has personal T.V.s on almost all the cardio equipment as well as a large, fancy digital technogym setup for strength training. I would really like to get my arms toned to get tattoos - that's a long term goal for me over the next year or so. They have fancy machines called 'alpine climbers' and 'crossramps' which I'm using to build up my stamina for climbing. I also imagine that the upper body strength will come in handy when we eventually have land and I've got 40+ acres of fencing to install. :)
In an effort to make life better in general I've been absolutely scouring the house. I've been getting rid of everything non-essential to the business or general life (with the exception of a small collection of zuni fetishes, some skulls/pelts, and books). I've also been cleaning - the sort of good, obsessive cleaning like a tooth brush to the mineral stains sort of cleaning. Room by room and piece by piece I'm helping to simplify our lives. I don't like clutter, I just tend to be a packrat - so it's things like bird magazines from 1993 and childhood mementos (no, I don't need a pencil shaped like a cactus or a pegasus straw). Also stripped closets of old clothes and took over bags of things to goodwill. It feels good to do and it's giving both Mbala and I more energy.
I've also been clearing out all my old general obligations and streamlining the business. It can be hard, being self-employed, I tend to work all day and then after dinner just work some more... since I've got things to do and I'm here anyways... I want to cut that out and get a better work/life balance. However, unless I have something specific to do it's hard not to justify working ridiculous hours. So I'm trying to find something social to add to my schedule - to force myself to 'relax' and get out of the house more. (Don't get me wrong, I love working from home and by myself, it's just gotten really extreme). I have been enjoying playing the banjo but it will be some time (i.e. at least a year) before I'd be comfortable/good enough to play with any little group.
I'd love to get into obedience/rally and dog events, but it will be some time before I have a dog... I doubt we'll be getting a shepherd puppy this year. It's possible but unlikely, will probably be next year.
I've been considering volunteering for the Mayo Clinic - they need people to run art tours and other things that might be quite enjoyable. It's something I could do once a week or every other week pretty easily. I am tired of being too busy to do anything - there's no reason for it except overextending myself on my own work. I think I'll be more productive and less stircrazy if I allow myself time for something like this. I'd like to meet more local folks as well. :)
I did go in for a really thorough eye exam to see about getting LASIK (well, PRK) done - something I've been considering for years. I found out, however, that if I did the surgery that I would sacrifice my really good near vision for good distance vision. With what I do for a living, that isn't acceptable. I am finally breaking down and going in to get contacts - something I've avoided for years. It might be slightly more convenient for when I travel or am doing things like skiing, hiking, etc. It's disappointing but also a relief, I guess. Good to know, regardless!
I am absolutely enjoying the little bit of time off from shows that I have. I am sad not to be going to F.C. as far as seeing friends goes - but I'm really glad I'm not scrambling to prepare for that convention right now, either. I don't have another show scheduled until April (yeaaah!) so I can hunker down, get caught up on things, and be really prepared for a rigorous spring schedule. I'll be doing a few breed specialty shows across the midwest.
This year so far, and hopefully continuing, is going to be about organization and restructuring. Of my life, my business, my schedule, myself. Change is hard, but it's good.
So, that's where I'm at right now! I think when you feel like you're spinning your wheels, waiting and waiting for things to happen the best thing you can do is what you can where you are. There's always something to be done. :)
Musilicious!
Dec. 14th, 2009 10:02 pmSo, for some time I've been meaning to learn the banjo. I played guitar for years (along with a host of other instruments; the clarinet for over ten years, marimba, oboe, piano, etc.) but it was another ten years almost since music was really in my life.
I started taking lessons, my teacher is a cool guy who had a gig in New Mexico playing for a country band. He has an Earl Scruggs edition Gibson banjo (the stradivarius of bluegrass) which I got to drool over (and play with) and I'm picking it up enough to sound like I'm playing something recognizable, so I'm quite pleased.
Lessons are a lot of fun as an adult! I was more competitive with it when I was a kid - playing often for hours every day and working my way through ranks and traveling competitions - I really burnt out on it. But now, just doing it because I want to, it's really relaxing and full of joy. :)
I just want to be able to entertain people around a campfire. :) Mbala is taking violin lessons so he can fiddle along with me.
I want to be a proper hillbilly rocking in a chair on my porch, playing the banjo, sipping tea (perhaps out of a little brown jug), and watching the caribous roam across my skyline. ;)
I'm getting there. It's just across the horizon.
I started taking lessons, my teacher is a cool guy who had a gig in New Mexico playing for a country band. He has an Earl Scruggs edition Gibson banjo (the stradivarius of bluegrass) which I got to drool over (and play with) and I'm picking it up enough to sound like I'm playing something recognizable, so I'm quite pleased.
Lessons are a lot of fun as an adult! I was more competitive with it when I was a kid - playing often for hours every day and working my way through ranks and traveling competitions - I really burnt out on it. But now, just doing it because I want to, it's really relaxing and full of joy. :)
I just want to be able to entertain people around a campfire. :) Mbala is taking violin lessons so he can fiddle along with me.
I want to be a proper hillbilly rocking in a chair on my porch, playing the banjo, sipping tea (perhaps out of a little brown jug), and watching the caribous roam across my skyline. ;)
I'm getting there. It's just across the horizon.
A very husky christmas
Dec. 2nd, 2009 07:57 pm
Two huskies doing one of the things huskies do best - playing in the snow!
The guys at Sofawolf Press have printed up really nice holiday cards with this image - they are available here: http://www.sofawolf.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=110
I also have prints of this - http://foxloft.com/store/prints/
In case your holidays needed more husky :)
Art Update Pt. 2 - Yin Yang Dogs
Nov. 29th, 2009 05:30 pm
Our all new t-shirt shop is now live in time for holiday shopping! :)
"Double Trouble" - Yin Yang Dachshunds
( Lots more yin-yang images under the cut! )
Art and Life Update pt. 1
Nov. 28th, 2009 12:53 pmThe last few months have been packed full of busy for me - I did back-to-back shows in Oklahoma and Missouri - the Golden Retriever Nationals and then the Akita nationals. I came home and barely had time to breathe before MFF in Chicago - I was graciously invited back as a Guest of Honor again this year (since they were doing a special 10 year anniversary show and invited back the guests from previous years). The convention greatly exceeded my expectations - and though I had considered having to drop the show from my schedule, I will definitely be going next year and am pondering (planning) for AC this summer. :) Thank you so much to everyone who made the con such an awesome event! I'll post more about that when I put up some art I did for the event.
Commissioned nouveau-style rat and ferret tattoo designs.
( Click for some backlogged art updates! )
Commissioned nouveau-style rat and ferret tattoo designs.
( Click for some backlogged art updates! )
Too happy for my legs!
Nov. 14th, 2009 05:30 pm
Just thought today needed a happy horse!
Zues, half-friesian, half-warmblood with his mother, Ruuby. Taken by my mom on my parent's farm.
My birthday is tomorrow, get to visit the horses and go hiking a bit. Can't believe how quickly the year has gone by. I'm getting to be such an old lady. ;)
