New Frontiers

Not a Good Day

Today is not a good day.

Danny's company called a meeting yesterday, and slashed everyone's salaries. Paychecks will now be 20% less. (and, with the pay period lag, it's retroactive.) Of course, he's not expected to work 20% left. And they've instituted this just before the holidays. Did I mention they're flush enough to have hired new employees in Danny's department in the last few weeks?

Vertis is the Grinch that Stole Christmas. We'll get a few presents for Zoe, but no one else. We don't know if we'll have a Christmas tree.

We're also pulling Zoe out of art class, at least until things improve. Tomorrow will be her last day. How do you explain to your 3 year-old that you can no longer afford it?

The worst of it? My cat has cancer and needs surgery and additional treatment. Where is that money going to come from? (And yes, I've been trying to get a job since we moved. But employers are currently paying less than daycare costs.)

I'm thinking about sitting on a street corner down on the mall, with a sign that says "Will Paint for Vet Care."

Sorry about the  griping - I know there are people worse off than us.  But it has come as a very unpleasant (and, I think, very unethical) surprise. We were catching up after the move, now we're struggling to get by.

Expect this blog to disappear in the next few days (after I've had time to back up all the entries.) I pay for the Typepad blog. Soon, I'll be posting only at redeftstudio.blogspot.com, which is a free platform.

First Snow!

We woke to the first dusting of snow today. And by 7:30, both Zoe and the dog were outside romping in it. Danny and myself? Not so much. The coffee was calling.

Here's a pic of Zoe enjoying the snow. (The dog had already retreated to the warmth of the house.)

 

And not to worry - fall isn't gone yet. It's supposed to be 63 again by Sunday.

Oh, and here's another picture of Zoe from two weeks ago, on a walk in what passes for woods around here.

Artist Trading Card

This is going to be sent into Strathmore for their holiday ATC swap.

If you're not familiar with Artist Trading Cards, they are tiny. 2.5" x 3.5". Original art, not copies. Apparently they've become quite the phenomenon.

This is going in the mail today. I can't wait to see the card I get in return!

Pileated Woodpecker, Watercolor

The pileated woodpecker is one of my favorites.  I miss seeing it. Seems like there were quite a few around when we lived in New England, but Colorado is outside their range. We have the Northern Flicker instead, which isn't nearly as impressive.

Saturday Sketch

This chameleon began as a doodle, and turned into a fairly detailed sketch.

Saturdays are perfect for sketching - relaxed, with shared parenting, and a happy family.

We actually had to get up early this morning, to take Zoe to the pediatrician for her flu shot. She was very brave - no crying at all.  Danny actually fusses more when I make him get one.  I get mine tomorrow, and I'm sure Zoe will tell me, very seriously, not to cry. LOL.

How did it get to be the middle of October already? Fall is my favorite season, and it's ending all too soon. Sigh.

Spring and fall are far too ephemeral.

Buy This Book

I discovered a fantastic book yesterday, Trick of the Tale, by John and Caitlin Matthews, and illustrated by Tomislav Tomic. It may be the most beautiful book I own.  It consists of various trickster fables, and every page is filled with unbelievable intricate illustrations. If you have anyone on your Christmas list who loves fables, books, or beautiful art, I can highly recommend this. (Though not for me - I already bought it.)

 

Red Eft

Red efts are the juvenile stage of the eastern newt.  When I was growing up in New Hampshire, we'd catch these in the grass after spring and summer rains.  Being bright orange, they were very easy to spot in the grass.  Sometimes we'd catch 7 or 8 in one morning. (And yes, we always let them go.)

Red efts are a big part of the remembered magic of my childhood.  This one was done in pen and ink, with a watercolor wash.  He is going to be part of my illustration portfolio.

Oh, For a Riding Crop

Last night we went downtown, and while we were there, we updated our voter registrations. (Since we just moved.) At the table next to the registration booth, there was a guy with Obama buttons and bumper stickers. Zoe, of course, loves all forms of adornment, and just had to have her own button. So we got her one.

Then, wearing the Obama button, she just had to ride the elephant at University Bikes. Oh, what I wouldn't have given for a nice, big riding crop for this photo.

Ah, the Joys of Parenting

We've had issues with Zoe sticking tissue up her nose. Several times, I've had to go after little wads with tweezers.

It's pretty horrible, but at least she's restricted herself to tissues. I've heard plenty of stories about kids putting marbles, beans, wheels from toy cars, etc., up there.  And those often require a trip to the doc for removal, so I suppose I should count myself lucky with the tissues.

Last night, about half an hour after she went to bed, she started screaming for me. I found her with a self-inflicted bloody nose.  She sheepishly admitted that she'd put some tissue up there. I took her into the light, and couldn't see anything.  But she was adamant that there was tissue up there.

Still not sure this wasn't just a delaying tactic, because she didn't want to go to sleep (after, perhaps, already removing the tissue herself), I brought her down to the kitchen and went for the flashlight.  The batteries, of course, were dead.

So I stood her in the middle of the kitchen floor, asked her not to worry, and to keep her fingers out of nose. Then I started ransacking the newly unpacked house in a search for batteries.  After a few minutes I heard  a massive snort and a satisfied "A-ha!"

Went back into the kitchen to discover a surprisingly large wad of bloody, snotty tissue on the floor. Ewww....

Her response?  "I got it out. Aren't you proud of me, Mama?"

Ah, the joys of parenthood.

  We need to buy a rake. Fall has arrived, and our lawn is littered with bright yellow maple leaves. The apples are crying out to be made into pies. Now, when do the mosquitoes die off?

Available Art

Original ink and watercolor painting. A smallish faerie rides her favorite squirrel through the trees, overseeing the autumn turning of the leaves. $35 Buy now, at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14753569

Not Me!

Danny was watching a show on future tech tonight. Robots running our homes, lives, health, etc. How robots will reason, and we'll have to have computer chips in our brains to keep up. Robot butlers. Robot dogs. Etc., etc.

He thought it was all so cool, and I could only think that it was hell on earth. If that actually comes to pass in my lifetime... well, I'll be heading out to a nice patch of woods, or an island, to found a nice artist colony, sans robots.

That's just not a world I want to be part of. I want humanity, nature, beauty, and community. I want to think for myself. And, to some extent, I want to do my own work. I don't mind machines - I love washing machines, dryers, microwaves, cars, and even computers.  But I can't imagine a world where I don't have to do anything myself. Imagine how quickly we'd become useless.

(Picture to thanks to dwinton, under a creative commons license.)

If you could go anywhere, right now, where would you go?

I'd go to Maine. Teach Zoe how to find hermit crabs on the beach. Eat a lobster roll. Watch the moonlight on the waves breaking against the jetty. Go deep into the woods to look for Ladyslippers. (lather ourselves in bugspray) Watch for moose. Catch frogs in the pond.

(Photo courtesy of FreeFoto.com)

To be a happier parent, spend some time by yourself.

Tonight I got out, just for an hour. Went to the Farmers' Market, bought some cukes. Visited a new art gallery, fell in love with some blown glass pumpkins. Walked around downtown, and actually had time to think. Saw these beautiful flowers. Cosmos?

And... came home in a much better mood.

Two days ago it was 92 and sunny, and Zoe was pretending to be both a mermaid and a shark. Sometimes at the same time.

Today it's 50. We've had rain, hail, and more rain. Not to mention a flash flood watch. Did I mention it's August?

(site disclaimer - I just redesigned the layout and configuration of the blog. For entries prior to today, there may be significant muddling, and photos that don't appear to go with the entry. I can't figure out how to fix that, other than by deleting older posts, which I don't intend to do.)

A Conversation In the Ritzy Neighborhood Pool

My friend was looking for her sunglasses, which her daughter had dropped into the pool.

"There's a spoon in here. Why is there a spoon in the pool?"

"Oh, they use that for scooping out bees."

"It's solid silver!"

"Welcome to the neighborhood."

Bitten

Looks like Zoe might have been bitten - repeatedly - by a spider last night.

As if the allergic contact dermatitis wasn't enough... poor baby.

Still Here

We're moved. At least for this month.

We lost the cats in the hotel, for nearly two hours. (they were hiding in a hollow arm of the couch)

The prior tenants weren't moved out the day we were supposed to move in.

And we've got to do it again in 26 days. Urgh.

But we're here. And while this place is only temporary, the view is incredible.

And on Sunday, Zoe and her friend Ellarie went to the Teddy Bear Tea Party at the Dushanbe Teahouse. It was HOT, but much fun.

Hopefully we'll be settled in enough for me to actually start posting again soon. But no promises....