tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578753654761193592024-03-05T06:26:56.594-06:00Dispatches from LongearsI have gardened at Longears, my idyllic suburban patch since 1987. My original garden plans did not include rodents of any kind, but I find, year after year, my gardening contributes greatly to the well-being of RABBITS! I am sweet-tempered under normal circumstances. However, rabbits in the garden are NOT normal circumstances! I have chronicled my adventures in one of the sets on my Flickr site.Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-44260053306613250832014-03-17T09:59:00.001-05:002014-03-17T09:59:43.129-05:00Not enough of a packrat??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Is it possible to be a little too free with the trash can?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGszRHQq4Sydd2_wmQM_J8dSkZQ9Kjyzu0TJji8fx14dbuJvDJJdymzpbbkOtJBOnhSvJ_dHpDMex8RaSdvRhCbSkMnwWpb8aZ-aYnDe7m8M6_nfHYxBPux2VvBBsjSkJ5d7OYEMate0/s1600/IMG_8424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGszRHQq4Sydd2_wmQM_J8dSkZQ9Kjyzu0TJji8fx14dbuJvDJJdymzpbbkOtJBOnhSvJ_dHpDMex8RaSdvRhCbSkMnwWpb8aZ-aYnDe7m8M6_nfHYxBPux2VvBBsjSkJ5d7OYEMate0/s1600/IMG_8424.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This was the only compact I could find at Longears, despite the many, many compacts I have had over the years. This one is at least 10 years old. Frankly, those days when I did powder my nose, it didn't need it. Now, I am far beyond the power of powder to improve!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGmP7S_uWpcFOE8SpQ2EU96Uf5mlYpubIoHdtUj99SQhRF7cj95VSPWMSa8bomna0wHYu3mIPxY7O5qLbeNCJUdLBFhhMk3l9F9ElFG_oa2DutvPiD1B5QDzDXJvcaP8aHGgylSlPccg/s1600/IMG_8423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGmP7S_uWpcFOE8SpQ2EU96Uf5mlYpubIoHdtUj99SQhRF7cj95VSPWMSa8bomna0wHYu3mIPxY7O5qLbeNCJUdLBFhhMk3l9F9ElFG_oa2DutvPiD1B5QDzDXJvcaP8aHGgylSlPccg/s1600/IMG_8423.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Well, at least I found one "free" compact for my embroidering craze!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVofxzgIg_R4B8z-smq_iZA3mNa-x0zTb2lel81AnWr1qKd35ZvJDDASqtzhXglLrljNlHWnFqm79XeBiQ0sYDpHF37I5e7U43gMIuIbHyBxZza5Fmmj0vgvinCJWP0LFIvdjmRT1UBlw/s1600/IMG_8451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVofxzgIg_R4B8z-smq_iZA3mNa-x0zTb2lel81AnWr1qKd35ZvJDDASqtzhXglLrljNlHWnFqm79XeBiQ0sYDpHF37I5e7U43gMIuIbHyBxZza5Fmmj0vgvinCJWP0LFIvdjmRT1UBlw/s1600/IMG_8451.JPG" height="299" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the center is a silver bezel with a pressed floret from Queen Anne's Lace embedded in resin.Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-8157162013790770702014-03-11T19:18:00.000-05:002014-03-11T19:18:17.279-05:00A good Rabbit is hard to find.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tFXh9uR8OPhouvPRN3P91VZox15V6ZWZu2U10lid3u-7MRfxXpdak_Dzg5sRF4e6CoIuprTNdv9SeeCMlRqmBe4q9ou3XNcEVRWD0dmvZ4pzvQ3Ihqfxo4G8bK3ySNuheSQ85ojQN3U/s1600/google+fiber+rabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tFXh9uR8OPhouvPRN3P91VZox15V6ZWZu2U10lid3u-7MRfxXpdak_Dzg5sRF4e6CoIuprTNdv9SeeCMlRqmBe4q9ou3XNcEVRWD0dmvZ4pzvQ3Ihqfxo4G8bK3ySNuheSQ85ojQN3U/s1600/google+fiber+rabbit.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
Flannery O'Conner said it best in her short story, "A Good Man is Hard to Find". A good rabbit is just as hard to find. <br />
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Longears is in the Kansas City metropolitan area, and I gleefully hailed the news that Google chose KC for the very first installations of their new, super-high speed Google fiber network. No more waiting for my Flickr uploads!<br />
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Google started with a few communities nearby, and then expanded out toward Longears. Each city would receive Google Fiber based on the percentage of the population willing to sign up for it. Naturally, I signed up faster than a rabbit running from my <strike>shotgun sights </strike>Airedale. <br />
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Sadly, the city I live in had some concerns about the wording on the Google contract - you know the kind of thing you find in so many documents, similar to the "hold harmless" clause in every school filed trip permission slip:<br />
"I will hold the school system harmless for any injury befalling my child".<br />
I always added, "I expect reasonable care and supervision to be provided." Not that I believe it is legally possible to sign away your rights, but just in case they ended up dropping my son off at the local strip club with a fake ID, I thought I should clarify my intentions. But I digress.<br />
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My city became so concerned with the contract wording (that same wording that a dozen or so other local cities had blithely nodded and agreed to) that Google announced they could not wait for my city to agree, and they moved off to other areas. So I will be without that good rabbit. <br />
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The irony is not lost on me.Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-80157684543253505162014-03-08T16:45:00.000-06:002014-03-08T16:45:12.909-06:00My chances are 50:50<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Embroidery thread comes in adorable little hanks like this:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG5tb5-HsZFLax7WX5UXlEeUAA-Wm21Os-EwYOhhAVdRtymX1P8hs8QOKzlK9c72zbui22E_LAaYbAnwPhoc3xmXJqtFAKe5HAW32gH0N29QABK-GR1M5UCA8mE0mkL2Y5uZm_sUSRsE/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG5tb5-HsZFLax7WX5UXlEeUAA-Wm21Os-EwYOhhAVdRtymX1P8hs8QOKzlK9c72zbui22E_LAaYbAnwPhoc3xmXJqtFAKe5HAW32gH0N29QABK-GR1M5UCA8mE0mkL2Y5uZm_sUSRsE/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the 2 loose thread ends. That's where you pull out the thread as you use it.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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One end, when pulled, dispenses lovely lengths of thread ready to be used. The other end, when pulled, results in a huge tangle. Obviously, my chances of getting it right should be 50:50. Then why am I getting <b>this</b> with far greater frequency than 50:50?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-PpMI5M7Dv_ar1uWB2ylDb2H6S_bjvZk9O22Xj1xuCM24lpXLYuE4nSfCt2XDCzGObWx2M8_lbj2wmfZFAhx1D_4PWRlxtbBJdDhq6kEMyM8fV-WrBqD8Z92hp97CdkW-0bd0Z7jN9Y/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-PpMI5M7Dv_ar1uWB2ylDb2H6S_bjvZk9O22Xj1xuCM24lpXLYuE4nSfCt2XDCzGObWx2M8_lbj2wmfZFAhx1D_4PWRlxtbBJdDhq6kEMyM8fV-WrBqD8Z92hp97CdkW-0bd0Z7jN9Y/s1600/photo.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
It feels as if I'm caught in a version of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern where, instead of all heads, I'm getting all tails. Tangled tails at that!<br /><br />Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-28570648975588961232014-03-04T19:05:00.000-06:002014-03-04T19:05:42.050-06:00Not scheduled for an appearance on Hoarders ..... yet!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WgTNnM7hzphm_XDVlUik4DECLj-BhPXROtGlzn9snjT8kUYVcochDSngdVn7ZGD3dNs2eUMGFerZioipt8mwovu6QlPVqYGxY-gZwMYGtoNublZz5eI3LzugjNgHZXSJ4erBotqsvPE/s1600/IMG_8385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WgTNnM7hzphm_XDVlUik4DECLj-BhPXROtGlzn9snjT8kUYVcochDSngdVn7ZGD3dNs2eUMGFerZioipt8mwovu6QlPVqYGxY-gZwMYGtoNublZz5eI3LzugjNgHZXSJ4erBotqsvPE/s1600/IMG_8385.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I added the words "Knot: A Secret Garden" to the lid of this tin.</td></tr>
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I bought this Chesterfield Cigarette tin before 1975 and dutifully carried it with me in all subsequent moves. For a while, I kept match books inside, but no one at Longears smokes, and I prefer those really long matches or a long automatic lighter for starting the gas in the fireplace, so the tin has been gathering dust in the piles that could, one day, qualify me for an appearance on Hoarders. <br />
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This month, I finally found purpose for this tin: it holds an embroidered and stump-worked (is that a word?) miniature garden. Using my new books on stump work, I designed a miniature garden and re-purposed one of my late mother-in-law's old linen napkins (another victory over Hoarders or is it more ammunition because I've held onto the napkin all this time?)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqxM3gkT5GHyOP_IOKFlfppdaAXfG0P7zEnlUh3H8OYZuuRACMFDMjoRzsh_kc3kL0J-EPE8mN0BOnfiazWw7m-n6dLgi5L63H_m9xOcP_qql76oQQ9eDrUU6Vc2x4bBSa-6Cx5eP6LQ/s1600/IMG_8386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqxM3gkT5GHyOP_IOKFlfppdaAXfG0P7zEnlUh3H8OYZuuRACMFDMjoRzsh_kc3kL0J-EPE8mN0BOnfiazWw7m-n6dLgi5L63H_m9xOcP_qql76oQQ9eDrUU6Vc2x4bBSa-6Cx5eP6LQ/s1600/IMG_8386.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I used the "berry" making technique from Jane Nicholas' book to make the round "topiary shrubs", which consists of french knots and beads. I learned stem stitch, long-armed cross stitch and turkey stitch for the rest of the garden furnishings. As a girl, my mother taught me french knots, lazy daisy and backstitch, and the only stitch I retained was the French knot, so this was a big learning experience.</div>
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Perhaps I may now be known as someone with foresight....not a Hoarder?</div>
<br />Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-13330338134925034482014-02-20T16:59:00.001-06:002014-02-20T16:59:32.428-06:00Adding your own QR codes!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh528-ADk-RzWp10V4jX6nLQ1rM0acbrUUm8rfdeCBqYwoUxLEI7mUnfCnr2442brWUygZcNoqt7M47VfmaViCtQ7aD8qPTBaUggST3Sat-0LoEvEzRw__km4S9lkxhKjugIDzbZFbzoTE/s1600/ink+drw_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh528-ADk-RzWp10V4jX6nLQ1rM0acbrUUm8rfdeCBqYwoUxLEI7mUnfCnr2442brWUygZcNoqt7M47VfmaViCtQ7aD8qPTBaUggST3Sat-0LoEvEzRw__km4S9lkxhKjugIDzbZFbzoTE/s1600/ink+drw_0003.jpg" height="302" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">My packrat tendencies provide me with plenty of fodder for drawing</span></td></tr>
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I cannot stop picking things up when I walk. I bring them inside...to draw or decorate with....and then they end up in jars all over the house. On the plus side, I find them endlessly inspiring.<br />
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Recently, Quilting Arts Magazine included an article on how to add QR codes to your work. You simply download an app from Stickr.it.com and while you are there, order some QR patches. They come in sticker form and in cloth form so you can sew them onto the back of your fiber pieces. When you scan the code and you can upload photos and record information that you'd like to include about the piece. So much fun!<br />
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A brief online search shows other services for this king of thing, and if you try another one, please let me know how you like it.Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-44617745153559844462014-02-15T16:33:00.001-06:002014-02-15T16:33:31.138-06:00Think creatively to save work and time...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0ImUBB5QRWS2YLzMcqx1Zy916tVEpeT_71PYX8ZI3TPFJCR_uwCu04M7e4eIEau-dMzpmUst8YpluGGWsbjwV3TfUN77HV6L7cIqti5FJ98JRSexnjfl1pepZ7tucn-ppl7PJLUbvzQ/s1600/IMG_8373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0ImUBB5QRWS2YLzMcqx1Zy916tVEpeT_71PYX8ZI3TPFJCR_uwCu04M7e4eIEau-dMzpmUst8YpluGGWsbjwV3TfUN77HV6L7cIqti5FJ98JRSexnjfl1pepZ7tucn-ppl7PJLUbvzQ/s1600/IMG_8373.JPG" height="400" width="327" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn"<br />Edith Sitwell</td></tr>
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I've chosen Edith Sitwell's optimistic quote to title this art quilt (you can read it on the left side of the quilt) and to serve as inspiration for all of us who have experienced this miserable winter. In general, I <b>love</b> the way things look in winter, all sparse and full of subtle color, but this year I need to believe spring is coming! Somewhere beneath all that snow are the seeds that will bring back my beloved Queen Anne's Lace.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RRnJ_bElvRUHHEvCVPFh9jOv0dTmnb1ohXqmUCmrv1tyrzQKBLcQidx__wkXE2tPZ4u0pNgsGlw45NczxMFusabf_YQTtAfwHItXDWl6f0WkhO7c2yrkBj8cuoLTqBY_dSigfAPIwLQ/s1600/IMG_8378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RRnJ_bElvRUHHEvCVPFh9jOv0dTmnb1ohXqmUCmrv1tyrzQKBLcQidx__wkXE2tPZ4u0pNgsGlw45NczxMFusabf_YQTtAfwHItXDWl6f0WkhO7c2yrkBj8cuoLTqBY_dSigfAPIwLQ/s1600/IMG_8378.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone inclusion - gift from a friend and an old sketch printed on silk organza<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgnlea3IToEXGCmtkJ35mhZsxu0J3VflLRLu_np9PtQyR49Og3fSGcj0TiSjMpd-_cksZMAxme710I3laGq3A-7JUmBiGWQnNh6ogN3wyaEcJUzr03upw7Hmm-wcVtWzrrmaC52pHnog/s1600/IMG_8379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgnlea3IToEXGCmtkJ35mhZsxu0J3VflLRLu_np9PtQyR49Og3fSGcj0TiSjMpd-_cksZMAxme710I3laGq3A-7JUmBiGWQnNh6ogN3wyaEcJUzr03upw7Hmm-wcVtWzrrmaC52pHnog/s1600/IMG_8379.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried redbud seed pods, coated with resin for strength, <br />and a pressed ginkgo leaf<br /><br /></td></tr>
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So what about the time savings? I called this an "art quilt" because it is made of sandwiched layers of hand dyed silk organza, organza printed with drawings, linen, cotton batting and a backing fabric, the entire sandwich embroidered and stitched. A real quilt would require finished edges, but the word "art" allows me to leave the edges with curling pulled threads. And of course, the stitching is nothing like the precise work a real quilt requires. Time and sanity saved!<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7J7dF3j975_1pWJyIfcjhgmHtD8kfaiIvnCAFhFYR6o3nInFzbKd6TY2a1lJhnYx7kvXLGtCpxUF7Dc-QTvsiseP-evZCksibtvX_7HqI9AlN-twfMV_lsaR2k_omXNWmsLVpLdW8x8o/s1600/IMG_8381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7J7dF3j975_1pWJyIfcjhgmHtD8kfaiIvnCAFhFYR6o3nInFzbKd6TY2a1lJhnYx7kvXLGtCpxUF7Dc-QTvsiseP-evZCksibtvX_7HqI9AlN-twfMV_lsaR2k_omXNWmsLVpLdW8x8o/s1600/IMG_8381.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspred by Jane Nicholas' book <b>Stumpwork Butterflies and Moths</b>,<br /> I took the liberty of showing the seed stage of the Queen Anne's lace.<br />The change from blue/brown to green/white signifies the arrival of spring.</td></tr>
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<br />Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-61820076093252978712013-10-16T20:03:00.000-05:002013-10-16T20:03:07.165-05:00The 5 Stages of Gluttony<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCN_byfta3N5pauLOFRc8eqwJCqpYx1H2be3u00lQb_HZUvH-1H_od9hb9Fglj6pyrPYw70O54AjswC4oAN_ajvJzPa4YK67CZ8mgl5Ni_cP4u8aneh0GjAX6T2LU2CD0ZqMC020YqTys/s1600/IMG_8048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCN_byfta3N5pauLOFRc8eqwJCqpYx1H2be3u00lQb_HZUvH-1H_od9hb9Fglj6pyrPYw70O54AjswC4oAN_ajvJzPa4YK67CZ8mgl5Ni_cP4u8aneh0GjAX6T2LU2CD0ZqMC020YqTys/s320/IMG_8048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Stage 1: Denial</div>
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I will just fill a bowl with candy corn and peanuts to make the house look festive. Of course I will eat a little, but only a few morsels each day, so it will last till Halloween. Besides, it looks so cute and festive on the counter. It gives me a chance to use that adorable dish I won at the Office pumpkin carving contest one year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH4y-Ew5BOyU4UR5-l13owZIsEh-QSHqkOgdsozWvCi7bk_4O6dZfzykMCxDdePA2ReA_KrP5jVG_E-w05nPoRumYKrWpj8V0_o0sKHQc5fWjKp4pKGO-okbb_qXlJDgT4_zynellp9s/s1600/IMG_8049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH4y-Ew5BOyU4UR5-l13owZIsEh-QSHqkOgdsozWvCi7bk_4O6dZfzykMCxDdePA2ReA_KrP5jVG_E-w05nPoRumYKrWpj8V0_o0sKHQc5fWjKp4pKGO-okbb_qXlJDgT4_zynellp9s/s320/IMG_8049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Stage 2: Anger<br />
I can't believe I ate it all so fast! It just disappeared. I'm so mad at myself! And I think<br />
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my husband is helping himself to the dish way too often! I'm going to have to get another bag of candy corn. (See stage 1:Denial. It is still operating though I have moved on to Stage 2.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDKVQYtqxm1r_Gu7jz25fNpstf23ZrXQJmFXlFoPBjgReR7zH-ktnfbyPGO1znezxsHWWoS9V0PexX6F-Red5CQDuEHQBDEhIjIlzUWi67pqenhVryA6qj58bGZOlrohQ2Wb4gU9phHU/s1600/IMG_8046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDKVQYtqxm1r_Gu7jz25fNpstf23ZrXQJmFXlFoPBjgReR7zH-ktnfbyPGO1znezxsHWWoS9V0PexX6F-Red5CQDuEHQBDEhIjIlzUWi67pqenhVryA6qj58bGZOlrohQ2Wb4gU9phHU/s320/IMG_8046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Stage 3: Bargaining </div>
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I promise I will only eat 10 candy corns a day and I will skip putting peanuts into the mix. If I give up the peanuts, the temptation will be cut in half.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH4y-Ew5BOyU4UR5-l13owZIsEh-QSHqkOgdsozWvCi7bk_4O6dZfzykMCxDdePA2ReA_KrP5jVG_E-w05nPoRumYKrWpj8V0_o0sKHQc5fWjKp4pKGO-okbb_qXlJDgT4_zynellp9s/s1600/IMG_8049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH4y-Ew5BOyU4UR5-l13owZIsEh-QSHqkOgdsozWvCi7bk_4O6dZfzykMCxDdePA2ReA_KrP5jVG_E-w05nPoRumYKrWpj8V0_o0sKHQc5fWjKp4pKGO-okbb_qXlJDgT4_zynellp9s/s320/IMG_8049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Stage 4: Depression</div>
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I can't believe I have now eaten a whole pound of candy corn. I have nothing but an empty dish. I am fat. I don't have any friends. I will never lose weight. That song keeps running through my mind, "Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I'm going to eat some worms..."</div>
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Stage 5: Acceptance</div>
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Ok, I am not capable of resisting the siren call of candy corn in October. I'll start my diet in November. There is no way I'm going the whole month of October without candy corn. I'll just be fat. And that dish will be empty again before you finish reading this post! </div>
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Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-14973774395873227082013-10-04T17:03:00.000-05:002013-10-04T17:03:02.392-05:00Make your own wash tape - tutorial!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EKLso9zDVdcMFOHUBgB7r_exWqhwBYxIJMaIgELPjotXIrM8gohzM4idHGcPmh_EQVbV3pTgJYnAsIubARYU-saJkf5zjpdvVaWrSOUmcFZWWqGE4IlXpBC72ugKL6FrLfSVbLS4bLY/s1600/IMG_8020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EKLso9zDVdcMFOHUBgB7r_exWqhwBYxIJMaIgELPjotXIrM8gohzM4idHGcPmh_EQVbV3pTgJYnAsIubARYU-saJkf5zjpdvVaWrSOUmcFZWWqGE4IlXpBC72ugKL6FrLfSVbLS4bLY/s320/IMG_8020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commercial Washi tapes</td></tr>
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If you aren't familiar with Washi tape, it's a paper tape made with Japanese Washi paper patterns. The tape has gotten so popular that now it's available in all kinds of patterns. The backing on Washi tape is not very sticky and I often have to glue it down to keep it in place. Since it's a paper product, it has a translucent quality that plain printed tape does not have.<br />
I got the idea for making Washi tape from a <a href="http://www.joggles.com/">Joggles</a> tutorial, which showed making Washi tape with tissue paper and rubber stamps. However, <i>this</i> tape is made using your own art images. And the best thing about it is that it takes advantage of the <b>Thumbnail Principle</b>. You know what I mean, in the old Flickr system for posting things your work initially appeared in a small thumbnail size version, and, voila! It was instantly improved and way better looking. I consistently call myself the Queen of the Thumbnail (as well as the Mistress of Longears - one cannot have too many titles!)<br />
Here's how it's done:<br />
Use Photoshop, iWork Pages or Word or Excel to make the vertical height of your image equal to the desired width of your tape, anywhere from 1 1/2 inches to 1/2 inch or narrower. Copy the image over and over in rows on a printable document. It helps to space the rows so that they nearly touch each other. That will make cutting the strips easier.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArnEyen_MznlqwU1eg6TSd4mx9qTtmr_yghYoKQp1zVqVtljiCuNVEyWtNNOUqCOgdYq9uSQeSeF7bLBAKSCjLCDMEOTszI-rCoWXSg54H_OZDQ9U4PR0vPwt9mCqvPgxKFh8coH1sQU/s1600/IMG_8022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArnEyen_MznlqwU1eg6TSd4mx9qTtmr_yghYoKQp1zVqVtljiCuNVEyWtNNOUqCOgdYq9uSQeSeF7bLBAKSCjLCDMEOTszI-rCoWXSg54H_OZDQ9U4PR0vPwt9mCqvPgxKFh8coH1sQU/s320/IMG_8022.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Printed without photo editing - a bit pale!</td></tr>
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Print the page on your printer. If the image is pale like the one above, scan it into a jpeg and edit it in Photoshop or i Photo to intensify the colors. <br />
Then print it on paper. You can use several kinds of paper, but I prefer the translucent papers. I used vellum which had a white leaf pattern printed on it, plain laser print vellum and tracing paper. My printer had a hard time handling the trace paper. It had no problem at all with the leaf-printed vellum, which is technically not recommended for laser printing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFomhJf6TIQJ962AEesNM9TRtkusq1BmFxfMxAob4lWLLtHAXG_cia-Qxfw8Aeph5IPT4hOGUKvWMNWgmNtVOtkUCJueY6NvKztNVweP9AAIvOqtx-FZSRDlvXZnnkhnirR6syxN8k2KI/s1600/IMG_8024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFomhJf6TIQJ962AEesNM9TRtkusq1BmFxfMxAob4lWLLtHAXG_cia-Qxfw8Aeph5IPT4hOGUKvWMNWgmNtVOtkUCJueY6NvKztNVweP9AAIvOqtx-FZSRDlvXZnnkhnirR6syxN8k2KI/s320/IMG_8024.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first row is 1 1/4 inches tall and is printed on the leaf-patterned vellum . The row below is printed on laser vellum, ordered from Amazon. Paper Source used to have it, but have not had any for a while. The first row was printed without intensifying the colors in photo editing.<br /><br /><br />Next, apply a double-sided tape to the back of the printed page. For this, I used 2 different products:<br />Scor Tape - available from Joggles and Peel-n-Stick that I bought ages ago at a JoAnn's or Michael's store.<br />To apply the tape, just peel off the protective coating from one side and stick it down to the <b>back</b> side of the printed page. Cover the entire back with tape.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmZ76FO79k-CQr6vW8GlD4qJzTihMjv1CP5BDu6hY2wk00kFU0x3vUpgNgMW5eIjNqe4LV0wm4IC2eDxzeC96J-zdwCOmOPTHcklLGe9OO4P1pJx9r5Zn7snVfhkMsKuor0CajM9Ys8g/s1600/IMG_8026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmZ76FO79k-CQr6vW8GlD4qJzTihMjv1CP5BDu6hY2wk00kFU0x3vUpgNgMW5eIjNqe4LV0wm4IC2eDxzeC96J-zdwCOmOPTHcklLGe9OO4P1pJx9r5Zn7snVfhkMsKuor0CajM9Ys8g/s320/IMG_8026.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Finally, turn the page to the right side and cut the strips of washi tape! When you want to use it, just peel off the other protective paper and stick it down! This tape is a bit thicker than the real thing, but it has your very own imagery! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykHN_3Op5rHrNL9IV94EUn43ddyxXGiqUzNIvmZnUn0Nd3BNMMm8KZtCBScEHhpeKWVHWpUaLX_4GQj3TGHBZNT8qcrEJ8ddRpYRtJwNCbvTmEZIAVa5fKXytkupZOMc9Y5ID-oImNuM/s1600/IMG_8025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykHN_3Op5rHrNL9IV94EUn43ddyxXGiqUzNIvmZnUn0Nd3BNMMm8KZtCBScEHhpeKWVHWpUaLX_4GQj3TGHBZNT8qcrEJ8ddRpYRtJwNCbvTmEZIAVa5fKXytkupZOMc9Y5ID-oImNuM/s320/IMG_8025.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the final tapes<br /><br /></td></tr>
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If you try this, please post your results! I'd love to see them.<br />
<br /><br />Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-62890618329754466622013-04-09T10:41:00.000-05:002013-04-09T10:41:22.988-05:00So THAT's my problem!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zEoihxhpLcwkrxN70V3kphnCHaKD8_vDqIg3RSDapJH3FrY_u6VistX5cCxpQ9bxOQtwHoEI3WLpasKJRrf8GDpadE10aYDFVN4MoslEubijm-x8OmBxMoyJNZ01ZcajL9w5nXuiJxg/s1600/IMG_8199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zEoihxhpLcwkrxN70V3kphnCHaKD8_vDqIg3RSDapJH3FrY_u6VistX5cCxpQ9bxOQtwHoEI3WLpasKJRrf8GDpadE10aYDFVN4MoslEubijm-x8OmBxMoyJNZ01ZcajL9w5nXuiJxg/s320/IMG_8199.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring crop at Longears<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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I subscribe to <a href="http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2009/09/the-happiness-project-book/">Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Daily Moments of Happiness</a> which seems a bit greedy of me since I am so very happily retired. But I do it anyway! This was today's message:<div>
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“He who chases two hares will catch neither.”<br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" /><em style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">-</em>Publius Syrus</h1>
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Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-72903799787173944902013-01-20T19:16:00.001-06:002013-01-20T19:16:11.479-06:00Referencing all those journals - the lazy way<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzzeDM9x3uJGtYRfUORZQaIzbyrI0RoIcfywOk42UbC9c9rjrgxt7iiGSNRzzVGcmpkyL8d2q2Yedvv2bfX_jkYrUhXKNLkM3XCuztx7tU5cREDuEbQvKUhU3IPr_oTJVXkcrZKG73kI/s1600/journal+index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzzeDM9x3uJGtYRfUORZQaIzbyrI0RoIcfywOk42UbC9c9rjrgxt7iiGSNRzzVGcmpkyL8d2q2Yedvv2bfX_jkYrUhXKNLkM3XCuztx7tU5cREDuEbQvKUhU3IPr_oTJVXkcrZKG73kI/s320/journal+index.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A page of thumbnail shots from one of my wildflower journals</td></tr>
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I recently had reason to refer to something in an old journal, and it took me only 3 minutes to find it. Knowing you journallers as I do, you, too have many, many volumes to keep track of. I know there are people who have the discipline to number pages and create indexes but that's not me, and that's not how I recall information.....I recall events by the pictures I drew of them. So, upon completing each journal, I photograph the cover and all the pages and print a contact sheet with thumbnails of every page. I label the pages and pop them into a binder, divided by category (regular journal, garden journal, travel, etc.) I can flip through those pages and find what I want very quickly!Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-7115512867092415872012-11-21T15:40:00.002-06:002012-11-21T15:40:42.306-06:00A happy Thanksgiving to you!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi4mJ8dnVmxmRxqkFcaxwkBPQz5k6SFFoq0wVwm6qrZEVbMxkeOON44yIuJSXQkj-egtiMTX9Q_MRkQgewCqUtoLfC68n-IMY8Ly750QpKYaGu74csF2U0wPSrIDyUg0tz3TIxtAwygo/s1600/IMG_5535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi4mJ8dnVmxmRxqkFcaxwkBPQz5k6SFFoq0wVwm6qrZEVbMxkeOON44yIuJSXQkj-egtiMTX9Q_MRkQgewCqUtoLfC68n-IMY8Ly750QpKYaGu74csF2U0wPSrIDyUg0tz3TIxtAwygo/s320/IMG_5535.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Butter box journals have been very trendy among online journalists and I have finally found the most apropos subject for the butter-box journal: my Thanksgiving prep guide! After all, I use more butter for this meal </span><span style="font-size: small;">than I have used all year.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfabsfa3Qg7aWmZz2qqkc78AJAWOX3710WnqFaBE7M1xJl_Uh9e2pamRBZv4UFNiJttaOVFkZeNlNJ2Hm5cg2Mg9H4eu9_CuidZ3YVmuTO8lwROAkNR6kSNZm5QGdYfd5raQtekRaYVbk/s1600/IMG_5539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfabsfa3Qg7aWmZz2qqkc78AJAWOX3710WnqFaBE7M1xJl_Uh9e2pamRBZv4UFNiJttaOVFkZeNlNJ2Hm5cg2Mg9H4eu9_CuidZ3YVmuTO8lwROAkNR6kSNZm5QGdYfd5raQtekRaYVbk/s320/IMG_5539.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If only my real to-do lists looked this nice all the time...so much more motivating!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCYn8Niq4Voe9zOYIC3YBsjJ9vEw823s-ikH3b4kmTCsWGfbgc9xAuucsPPL5ELv7nT8md5L0bugfkeqpvO-_ggm4dwrIcxfx-2ErAvMTLdUurETODnwaFIRR0HvXotZfAzwxunWGT4I/s1600/IMG_5543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCYn8Niq4Voe9zOYIC3YBsjJ9vEw823s-ikH3b4kmTCsWGfbgc9xAuucsPPL5ELv7nT8md5L0bugfkeqpvO-_ggm4dwrIcxfx-2ErAvMTLdUurETODnwaFIRR0HvXotZfAzwxunWGT4I/s320/IMG_5543.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've incorporated the stickers and labels from the meal and included a critical path timeline for Turkey Day activities. Once an architect, always an architect. Like Eisenhower planning D-Day, I have given a lot of thought to this plan. As a result, the beaches at Longears are safe for Freedom and the American Way. (Remember, I live in Kansas!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NbWr7ImrbpP7nkLdEnG7oeI9HSdowxc7bk0thqDlLDBLP4FC5whpyySqYwUM8GF3A4fkt4jc60WmWlnIWSMl3hD3y3E7mqazspIpvBcR2O0tFVCfp0Y0_b0-B1UrvtimP7jrakGSZEY/s1600/IMG_5541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NbWr7ImrbpP7nkLdEnG7oeI9HSdowxc7bk0thqDlLDBLP4FC5whpyySqYwUM8GF3A4fkt4jc60WmWlnIWSMl3hD3y3E7mqazspIpvBcR2O0tFVCfp0Y0_b0-B1UrvtimP7jrakGSZEY/s320/IMG_5541.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And for those well-intentioned people who want to help, I am holding a turkey feather drawing...on the back of each feather is a last-minute task just waiting for someone to accomplish.<br />I hope you and yours will have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!</td></tr>
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Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-30563613866689457452012-10-10T10:48:00.000-05:002012-10-10T10:48:50.642-05:00Ready to go: but not packed!When it comes to packing for a trip, I've never gotten it right: always too many of one thing and not enough of another (yes, it's fun to shop for a missing piece on holiday, but often that means missing too much other fun!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEAeeSX6O7ZIdJx7jeRc9dM_JYzqyYOjlDJGbxGgsK-JnRkwPkFWceb5SDWCeuJmseMn44NSjqNNHJOkhKRk-HuUtfVcnN7dM_eKgiwzY200rqR9hYBbrqGYf5Sam6BH9aPCR03HgLrI/s1600/IMG_5186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEAeeSX6O7ZIdJx7jeRc9dM_JYzqyYOjlDJGbxGgsK-JnRkwPkFWceb5SDWCeuJmseMn44NSjqNNHJOkhKRk-HuUtfVcnN7dM_eKgiwzY200rqR9hYBbrqGYf5Sam6BH9aPCR03HgLrI/s320/IMG_5186.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
On my last trip, I started to emulate other journal keepers who start a trip journal by illustrating a trip journal with all the packed contents. I shortly learned why I never went to fashion design school! Determined to find a better way than to draw each and every piece of clothing, I did a black and white cartoon drawing of basic wardrobe shapes. Then I made copies and cut out pieces and colored them!<br />
I arranged outfits for each day, coloring multiple copies of pieces I planned to use more than once. Then I copied the finished page and tucked it into my suitcase. Voila! The most successful packing I've managed to date!Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-58879115272808229082011-10-06T16:00:00.000-05:002011-10-06T16:00:39.019-05:00I dreamed I went to Paris with Carol of Paris Breakfasts.And if you don't know <a href="http://parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com/">Paris Breakfast</a>, go over and acquaint yourself right now!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqijaSIu-ERM0jSTNRiDsywK5jdSQbhs2snKAp_h8_K_KYeBrsy32HnhJd6QrfAXFq7jhpzSm36HcNEHCgV9ie68qnY_X16twb9Kramen43TLQJfbsf7Ut00KftPEXD-vgt_BLxSiAg4g/s1600/IMG_2340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqijaSIu-ERM0jSTNRiDsywK5jdSQbhs2snKAp_h8_K_KYeBrsy32HnhJd6QrfAXFq7jhpzSm36HcNEHCgV9ie68qnY_X16twb9Kramen43TLQJfbsf7Ut00KftPEXD-vgt_BLxSiAg4g/s320/IMG_2340.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were immediately drawn to this window. Is it? YES! My first Parisian macaron tower!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ejRIwKhyphenhyphenhFkGx_sy1GIkRSV6mjh8nJpuRQKRkO96iCcFu2_keESIGyN1PtIsNOtIz9_cBboEJxSvK6A9z9DA4e7D02c4wS-YN0ag33MKnekYFArsDSrUopHcPKKnpuAsI711ep-vXKI/s1600/IMG_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ejRIwKhyphenhyphenhFkGx_sy1GIkRSV6mjh8nJpuRQKRkO96iCcFu2_keESIGyN1PtIsNOtIz9_cBboEJxSvK6A9z9DA4e7D02c4wS-YN0ag33MKnekYFArsDSrUopHcPKKnpuAsI711ep-vXKI/s320/IMG_2349.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pastry case was filled with strictly ordered rows, as any Parisian case is arranged.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QaIMrCR7EoShsGMF9vgmMecq-gyUmQJYFZlFbKuPIF76sFTMwpeT02e-nbwcbE8Oqp86mcUS8dl0ejDPsKgcMUTca-RhXOGXl_UQF94ID1djAAb8Bb69BZQPcvuY3vp4IrShHJz8_mg/s1600/IMG_2345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QaIMrCR7EoShsGMF9vgmMecq-gyUmQJYFZlFbKuPIF76sFTMwpeT02e-nbwcbE8Oqp86mcUS8dl0ejDPsKgcMUTca-RhXOGXl_UQF94ID1djAAb8Bb69BZQPcvuY3vp4IrShHJz8_mg/s320/IMG_2345.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though the macs were a bit depleted!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiFMlE9ZymRs0iUICmGvkzEQxdvnLHFM_LPLX8crmpS7oye3wCUrwWQWEo0gX4wO2y8QgoiCcWqfw14hVFuOEJsUIBQ2ZrSRuVNE-rMgZNyCSuymW7pFAfxDPefKlo2-sWK-LuNIpiKg/s1600/IMG_2344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiFMlE9ZymRs0iUICmGvkzEQxdvnLHFM_LPLX8crmpS7oye3wCUrwWQWEo0gX4wO2y8QgoiCcWqfw14hVFuOEJsUIBQ2ZrSRuVNE-rMgZNyCSuymW7pFAfxDPefKlo2-sWK-LuNIpiKg/s320/IMG_2344.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They even had Carol's beloved guimauve! (marshmallows)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzv7fqX2YZUf7ANL_0-o8aCJZIgp0Q_CN5H9vsiI9teuGefT9HLYKPPT_tBFGQgnkhL95FNueiKN2X3MX-aB05bK1SeRaf8ZPbIGan0jzHODIV0H9qPECQ-EVlUqhumeUFeS3wXGKE98/s1600/IMG_2351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzv7fqX2YZUf7ANL_0-o8aCJZIgp0Q_CN5H9vsiI9teuGefT9HLYKPPT_tBFGQgnkhL95FNueiKN2X3MX-aB05bK1SeRaf8ZPbIGan0jzHODIV0H9qPECQ-EVlUqhumeUFeS3wXGKE98/s320/IMG_2351.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boxes were so elegant! Shades of Laduree?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oIb-8yfqhbU7tO1-TtXrQSkLSmJZlolwQuO3P0rgJXK9iudmk0MqP1goyKz9g6ER6XMIQhgx1TDL61wl2WfSglPhaQ0LEIwmxMc8Dw4a4k4CoAg3SrXGqes9ozaOqivxtU9w0-rxsAU/s1600/IMG_2368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oIb-8yfqhbU7tO1-TtXrQSkLSmJZlolwQuO3P0rgJXK9iudmk0MqP1goyKz9g6ER6XMIQhgx1TDL61wl2WfSglPhaQ0LEIwmxMc8Dw4a4k4CoAg3SrXGqes9ozaOqivxtU9w0-rxsAU/s320/IMG_2368.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boxes are dressed in beautiful silk ribbons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-souwPEqf3dfs7NUcv1CALJPc5zto0HEF0tGz9ozHwdDF6RldLyL-k9sdw-0VsuEd9L1b3ZrI-KsgZNULvqc9JYNPr3WaKFxoCwEsSrvvRsKaDm5ZYwcEkQc48e5NBJIu_FIXLgC-1v8/s1600/IMG_2362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-souwPEqf3dfs7NUcv1CALJPc5zto0HEF0tGz9ozHwdDF6RldLyL-k9sdw-0VsuEd9L1b3ZrI-KsgZNULvqc9JYNPr3WaKFxoCwEsSrvvRsKaDm5ZYwcEkQc48e5NBJIu_FIXLgC-1v8/s320/IMG_2362.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This chest provided an elegant station for coffee and tea condiments.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQTnegA5hvU74pzYLm8ewqkMnHAYS9Ryx18tTJ5gVpj6HGZHiZwk9uVt4GF9BfRyY4G_L62xzJNMLU6Ql2M2oalm_DlUMkW7SN3nHnNQqkusEW1Pj4xy0W3ogo04cIdvu6oIeu0PgnN4/s1600/IMG_2363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQTnegA5hvU74pzYLm8ewqkMnHAYS9Ryx18tTJ5gVpj6HGZHiZwk9uVt4GF9BfRyY4G_L62xzJNMLU6Ql2M2oalm_DlUMkW7SN3nHnNQqkusEW1Pj4xy0W3ogo04cIdvu6oIeu0PgnN4/s320/IMG_2363.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The napkins and plastic to-go ware nestled beautifully inside the drawer in pink linens.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxi7MuCgFu3iTF8xlDCTLLw2ZRXkXFzViJEyyosAc5NxVEAnQ60vas65AfCJ8fs7k9B2DQLmS6S25FxABhE-uXdaWXRVdDQr1GB3BatxQfuW7ag8rc3D6jGYJGxAlPbJCPfMDZhQAmOrI/s1600/IMG_2348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxi7MuCgFu3iTF8xlDCTLLw2ZRXkXFzViJEyyosAc5NxVEAnQ60vas65AfCJ8fs7k9B2DQLmS6S25FxABhE-uXdaWXRVdDQr1GB3BatxQfuW7ag8rc3D6jGYJGxAlPbJCPfMDZhQAmOrI/s320/IMG_2348.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the plastic ice cream bowls were tres chic!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qzrQhrcAP1drefRLYCX9NbQdWInu2ZCJ632SJ-p9CjuK6hUciyo9ZGQVTZ-xCv_Oc6D79lDwhPOwgovverCMGSPbAv08XwT-J8UFH6dZdJsvbqNwO4RVqG8zvahrN7tYtgrrqfYvt0o/s1600/IMG_2357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qzrQhrcAP1drefRLYCX9NbQdWInu2ZCJ632SJ-p9CjuK6hUciyo9ZGQVTZ-xCv_Oc6D79lDwhPOwgovverCMGSPbAv08XwT-J8UFH6dZdJsvbqNwO4RVqG8zvahrN7tYtgrrqfYvt0o/s320/IMG_2357.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We decided to sit on this lovely period piece.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwuMbHYKsLJMYMaF2GE0RduoZ1XKLLJCbSRl9CKFEMnGnkROq-23tk_AYt8eYTmrZRbVk3stoP4bqqKj2-pDUmoVNW174YZySFB36A25ly9cFO0A22cUOaEopcSiKHmhihi87UykHeoM/s1600/IMG_2367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwuMbHYKsLJMYMaF2GE0RduoZ1XKLLJCbSRl9CKFEMnGnkROq-23tk_AYt8eYTmrZRbVk3stoP4bqqKj2-pDUmoVNW174YZySFB36A25ly9cFO0A22cUOaEopcSiKHmhihi87UykHeoM/s320/IMG_2367.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mariage Freres tea was perfection!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7r0gbBQqAep3NOSpJEpiVKvuFMlmo3KokDzVm57q5NLgdi2No7vPW4naokaKl3OCLmMk5JVZw-lEVZDhW035agK49_FV5o3qNO0Nu1mT0HisKMhHK2wwkJ43O3c7R5O0qO9mQfNnzUU/s1600/IMG_2353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7r0gbBQqAep3NOSpJEpiVKvuFMlmo3KokDzVm57q5NLgdi2No7vPW4naokaKl3OCLmMk5JVZw-lEVZDhW035agK49_FV5o3qNO0Nu1mT0HisKMhHK2wwkJ43O3c7R5O0qO9mQfNnzUU/s320/IMG_2353.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I paid the bill, I glanced down to the countertop and saw the shop's card. Natasha's Mullberry and Mott! Why, that's not in Paris at all! We were in Kansas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-74212432489503425772011-09-21T16:25:00.000-05:002011-09-21T16:25:51.335-05:00Confessions of a would-be Travel JournallerI confess! When I travel I always <b>intend </b>to draw and paint in my fabulously illustrated hand-made journal, showing all the places I visit and the meals I eat. Reality often intervenes: The tour guide gives me exactly 3 minutes to explore after he finishes talking....I start dinner with a lovely glass of wine, and suddenly, my sketching is a bit wobbly. Or it's too dark to <b>see</b> what I'm eating, let alone <b>draw </b>it!<br />
Undaunted, I <b>take a photo</b>! Then, back at home, I can make the journal page at my leisure.<br />
Sometimes this approach actually results in a new approach. Take this photo from the Rookery, a Chicago building designed by Burnham and Root in the late 19th century and renovated by a young Frank Lloyd Wright several decades later:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNl1GoMRnNfK3hwnl3jjuE-u6OpTjdEYFNw9akEhOojEimbJTSPIUPZKP0l3z0lQ2T1mTY9lE7akk_ENPFZP_xUMHdxUy426QxJv9C_ZRybbRZuYrIf8chr0Lp5s1yiEUvgC46ve4dJA/s1600/col+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNl1GoMRnNfK3hwnl3jjuE-u6OpTjdEYFNw9akEhOojEimbJTSPIUPZKP0l3z0lQ2T1mTY9lE7akk_ENPFZP_xUMHdxUy426QxJv9C_ZRybbRZuYrIf8chr0Lp5s1yiEUvgC46ve4dJA/s320/col+photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Wright clad the dark iron columns of the original building's atrium with white marble and added a gold leaf pattern. This is not what we tend to think of when we think of Wright's work but it did brighten the space considerably. The tour guide did not allow us any time to linger after his brief talk, pointing out various features, so I took a photo. When I got home, I considered drawing this detail, but I wanted a visual cue to remind me of the gold leaf, so I printed the photo at a size that would fit on my page. Below, you can see part of the photo in the top half and the cut out area in the bottom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdp-MJiUSx6_afU68l-vyYB3VyS5yn5s6ER9JQLEeYnj27gsd4D0UR-3VlqDVy4UDGHtjOFFm2nkL-bevl3CpkIX3F86b2CW4fzR__oy23rD4P0Uaa4QvDW9-8sqwcuhJTzoosLorGv6o/s1600/stencil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdp-MJiUSx6_afU68l-vyYB3VyS5yn5s6ER9JQLEeYnj27gsd4D0UR-3VlqDVy4UDGHtjOFFm2nkL-bevl3CpkIX3F86b2CW4fzR__oy23rD4P0Uaa4QvDW9-8sqwcuhJTzoosLorGv6o/s320/stencil.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used an Xacto knife to cut out the pattern. If I had planned to use this stencil again I would have printed on card stock or a clear transparency sheet, but I only needed to use this once, and printed it on plain paper, which was much easier to cut than any other paper. Laying the stencil on my page, I printed through it with a metallic gold stamp pad. I was out of gold leaf, but if I'd had any on hand, I would have sponged the gold leaf adhesive through the stencil. Note that I didn't bother cutting out the pattern on the entire photo, just enough to get one full repeat of the pattern. That left a bit of space on the page for me to draw in the dark iron column inside the marble cladding.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybcSRBZ98NYOPplvcT5IIOgmZTdLVWo-mNZ4MzzbqU6ybis9LuHYfQUbhozDPa4b_fk7W2U36wtfGZ_qnNEMaGsfCwlseIFUAMA7Nzg90DOvN9l6becbfINcA5Z5_9NqjVykQV-gkHtA/s1600/journal+page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybcSRBZ98NYOPplvcT5IIOgmZTdLVWo-mNZ4MzzbqU6ybis9LuHYfQUbhozDPa4b_fk7W2U36wtfGZ_qnNEMaGsfCwlseIFUAMA7Nzg90DOvN9l6becbfINcA5Z5_9NqjVykQV-gkHtA/s320/journal+page.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One additional benefit of leaving some journalling to do after returning home: I get to prolong the pleasure of the trip!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-29205490081787495592011-08-20T10:26:00.000-05:002011-08-20T10:26:48.576-05:00Trader Joe's Macarons - or What are friends for?<br />
If you don't know <a href="http://parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com/">Paris Breakfast</a> you MUST run over there at once! Paris Breakfast travels to Paris several times a year in order to keep us on the cusp of everything French, with a particular emphasis on French pastries and macarons. She selflessly researches, photographs, paints, and shares her findings with us. <br />
When I recently told her that I now have access to Trader Joes, she mentioned that she has never tired TJ's macarons because she has to use public transit to and from TJ's. I recognized my duty at once: I went straight to TJ's and bought this box of vanilla and chocolate macarons.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLTn_oSHQO0Vl2eFn_TS6hyy4satRK9jNHcKmalVp7lBlqx-7OK7zod5-wWNiJtM78bZk45YsTPJNyDuKvco2Ju2qLUraoEFd3d6QDH49hM8KK6Tn89txHfOHbCpD-6CQ4hxpdrfXSjs/s1600/IMG_1943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLTn_oSHQO0Vl2eFn_TS6hyy4satRK9jNHcKmalVp7lBlqx-7OK7zod5-wWNiJtM78bZk45YsTPJNyDuKvco2Ju2qLUraoEFd3d6QDH49hM8KK6Tn89txHfOHbCpD-6CQ4hxpdrfXSjs/s320/IMG_1943.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">By the time I got home with it - 20 minutes at 94 degrees- they had defrosted, and I carefull removed one of each flavor from the box. Please note that the macs are NOT a uniform size. Hmmmm. Uh-oh! The vanilla shell top crumbled as soon as it touched it! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtuVNZLNNJlfTfWaBUG6Hs5H6HXBX_aOno2mcSGjfSlZ0gcxBNs7x8qepoNZUgmRk8BlyXDjDNa59_DQF1SVmf4l6Vxe63igP685GjB3L8bztS5EgZKLdJgO0zPNPRJV9GXsfMxUQ5jc/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtuVNZLNNJlfTfWaBUG6Hs5H6HXBX_aOno2mcSGjfSlZ0gcxBNs7x8qepoNZUgmRk8BlyXDjDNa59_DQF1SVmf4l6Vxe63igP685GjB3L8bztS5EgZKLdJgO0zPNPRJV9GXsfMxUQ5jc/s320/IMG_1944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I put them both to the taste test. They were OK, a bit too sweet but I think that is because they're vanilla and chocolate. I've never had a vanilla mac or a plain chocolate macaron. Half the fun of macs is the gorgeous colors and exotic flavor combinations. I think the flavors (like pistachio, passionfruit, chocolate with blackberry filling, etc.) cut the sweetness and add a bit of tang.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But back to that collapsing vanilla shell: would a second mac crumble, too? I tried it, and it DID! Now I was on a mission, and I had to remove all of them from the package. Egad! Every last one of the vanillas crumbled. You can't serve crumbled macs to guests. I had to choke them all down. Then I noticed the irregular sizes of the chocolate macs. Those, too, would have to go. Can't serve guests irregular macs. But, hey Paris Breakfasts, what are friends for?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-73790627522051452232011-08-18T20:30:00.000-05:002011-08-18T20:30:45.976-05:00Polymer clay Altoid travel tin - in which I save you from all my mistakes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEAaBMKcTXU4y57uXDStHGJoKhfWfT9t4KmaZ89k1yWnqz8o74M5nuQ3JBLBaGNF38hUXrkkLMqHzRbEnj_0RaaBgKxNbnzsMl4xeUf42eFRntjvGEDnPcFaiOU5RyQESgM-tAPvLeLg/s1600/altoids+paint+tin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEAaBMKcTXU4y57uXDStHGJoKhfWfT9t4KmaZ89k1yWnqz8o74M5nuQ3JBLBaGNF38hUXrkkLMqHzRbEnj_0RaaBgKxNbnzsMl4xeUf42eFRntjvGEDnPcFaiOU5RyQESgM-tAPvLeLg/s320/altoids+paint+tin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My home-made Altoids travel tin is traveling in France! Sadly, I am NOT traveling in France. I gave it to a deserving artist, who filled it with these watercolors and is giving it a good workout. Photos to be posted later.<br />
If you're interested in making one, here's what I did...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_xyfPGwEeU7zbNM5_g_t0DAdDL4r3pKQkOd331tgjsosCmDbIfHJHjosnSIwSUIcihXrV5wdyT7gnRdedt_FcqDup4Ebv_EtAnjLDU5ZLsvcAU8Y27YiVYpMHBinZe7MSRbf7AOHCOI/s1600/IMG_0883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_xyfPGwEeU7zbNM5_g_t0DAdDL4r3pKQkOd331tgjsosCmDbIfHJHjosnSIwSUIcihXrV5wdyT7gnRdedt_FcqDup4Ebv_EtAnjLDU5ZLsvcAU8Y27YiVYpMHBinZe7MSRbf7AOHCOI/s320/IMG_0883.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First, trace around the outside of the tin 3 times. You are making a template for 3 layers of polymer clay. Draw the pans you think you'd like to make. I drew a couple of designs before choosing one. If you use a fat marker (like an old Sharpie) it will make a line about 1/8 inch wide and that is the thickness you need to leave around the outside of the template and between each pan. You can make the pans any shape and size you like.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhjTJyjhoPUzvqcYBTABktRNz-gZGAoo7WIxFxL6VcqLP91an2D5G-8JLuIX2sN9WUlTdieC7Vs4SGibDOfeCLvXLWOpvAxN5iUDQlr7OnY7ySXDx5x8i9lCM8viyzZTwMfo2a62p7-A/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhjTJyjhoPUzvqcYBTABktRNz-gZGAoo7WIxFxL6VcqLP91an2D5G-8JLuIX2sN9WUlTdieC7Vs4SGibDOfeCLvXLWOpvAxN5iUDQlr7OnY7ySXDx5x8i9lCM8viyzZTwMfo2a62p7-A/s320/IMG_0885.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Condition your clay and roll it out a the thickest setting. Cut 3 pieces from your template. I chose a very white clay with a bit of sparkle. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDw_Jv15_xwYEXm0f7T571q8W6GzFe171XEtXVYzzKE4mPn4GzCJ94d98idKJutHj7ZaF4XIzvxt1HWaso6bDKop5CCI4v8PFL_5r8R5moWd8U1_ADly10ypTD-0HOBtx_sN9Ml2TN4s/s1600/IMG_0888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDw_Jv15_xwYEXm0f7T571q8W6GzFe171XEtXVYzzKE4mPn4GzCJ94d98idKJutHj7ZaF4XIzvxt1HWaso6bDKop5CCI4v8PFL_5r8R5moWd8U1_ADly10ypTD-0HOBtx_sN9Ml2TN4s/s320/IMG_0888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyX_rCn8POIIza1xVDEkHqokqQWU_gA8ed73nBBVMcqM-zoId22LRISpO4AaCFO5iGZiYy0EVXgOiBLZS5J_4nayNUMTGC8os4aPX6BsasxQNT3MSEti6Ch3Va5g0elCfU6N6u14DXHsE/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyX_rCn8POIIza1xVDEkHqokqQWU_gA8ed73nBBVMcqM-zoId22LRISpO4AaCFO5iGZiYy0EVXgOiBLZS5J_4nayNUMTGC8os4aPX6BsasxQNT3MSEti6Ch3Va5g0elCfU6N6u14DXHsE/s320/IMG_0891.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typically, using cutters like these cookie cutters will give you the best cuts in polymer clay, but these were not the exact shape and size I wanted and since I had to cut both remaining layers identically, I ended up with some very wonky holes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZxhjHG96ytsTwTUkMWaaoZpRJUH0ViSu4bx8GJYonFsK0MYinwSRECBCiOmgNSUtSqKj_B2FWiDXLN-lll1iagS4nnkhUs9Fn5Ke4HGYjEWoFiuUoxNAH5BsmsSJSr1AzQLwFSUktQg/s1600/IMG_0945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZxhjHG96ytsTwTUkMWaaoZpRJUH0ViSu4bx8GJYonFsK0MYinwSRECBCiOmgNSUtSqKj_B2FWiDXLN-lll1iagS4nnkhUs9Fn5Ke4HGYjEWoFiuUoxNAH5BsmsSJSr1AzQLwFSUktQg/s320/IMG_0945.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found that using the blade cutter to mark the cutting lines worked best. First I lightly marked them, then I cut out the openings with a craft knife. If you wish, you can lay the tracing paper template right on top of the clay to mark it. Repeat on the other layer and put them both into the tin. You now have a stack of 3 layers - one is not cut at all and the top two are cut identically to form paint pans.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQheuhx0O8Wt0j2RatdTJRGhPmwFVksfYF355nHRvqvTZ_9o_xQFrNBsVvzS6wL0o_02pnnMvRTmZ7cLfusl0gHv5yta6-iPMEer78YC_XRehuxcpTrIu5p9Kf9QON_szcpJVoXcJ7J6s/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQheuhx0O8Wt0j2RatdTJRGhPmwFVksfYF355nHRvqvTZ_9o_xQFrNBsVvzS6wL0o_02pnnMvRTmZ7cLfusl0gHv5yta6-iPMEer78YC_XRehuxcpTrIu5p9Kf9QON_szcpJVoXcJ7J6s/s320/IMG_0947.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Use a clay tool to square up the edges and smooth the openings. Manicure tools would work, too. Roll out a very thin snake of clay and using the tool, press it into the void between the clay and the edge of the tin. This will keep water from slopping down the sides into the bottom. Fire per manufacturer's instructions, cool it and fill!</td></tr>
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Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-15053765348384719762011-07-18T16:28:00.000-05:002011-07-18T16:28:16.747-05:00Tube watercolor is different from pans!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7Kwg3BpGw02PNIjr_FCLCMMs9NI7kWHbbSLSJG6NS5TFHIrERECnWKJ9NVOvR1EH3GERlChCubKAnjZzlIS_dSZsPNjafGsjNdri3OS8zH5_tvwBxyBfHeNlpUw4XwfehXORpULWjfQ/s1600/winsor-newton+lag+pans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7Kwg3BpGw02PNIjr_FCLCMMs9NI7kWHbbSLSJG6NS5TFHIrERECnWKJ9NVOvR1EH3GERlChCubKAnjZzlIS_dSZsPNjafGsjNdri3OS8zH5_tvwBxyBfHeNlpUw4XwfehXORpULWjfQ/s320/winsor-newton+lag+pans.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Carol Gillot of <a href="http://parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-07-14T12%3A41%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=5">Paris Breakfasts</a> recommended the new winsor-newton large pans. She sent me to this You-tube video:<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPOf3_fxWd0<br />
The nice man said that tube colors are formulated differently than pans! Who knew? Tube paint loses it's dispersant and conditioners when it dries and can be hard to re-wet without the conditioner and dispersant.<br />
Another video explained that tube paints do not contain the preservatives that pans have.<br />
With a wonderful 50% off coupon for my local art store, I bought 2 colors:<br />
<br />
<ul><li> Burnt umber because it cracks up when I dry it in pans and is very hard to re-wet</li>
<li>Cobalt because I've had trouble with it getting moldy in my old plastic palette with a rubber seal to keep the paint moist.</li>
</ul><br />
<b>I am in love! </b>These colors come in a very large white china pan, 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/4 inches. They rewet instantly and make a wonderful creamy wash in just a few swipes of the brush. The pans can stack and there is also a nice wooden holder for the pans. They <b>are</b> pricey; you're getting a lot of paint in this size pan. I'm saving my pennies for more colors!Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-49637760571575439252011-06-27T19:18:00.000-05:002011-06-27T19:18:55.307-05:00Pantry capers for the tea tippler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">These tea tins should look familiar to you: I've posted most of the pictures on the tins on my Flickr pages.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSR5HmiMQPozzrVzq89c67U0oADDXRZ-qqPu40g27kNuuLogH30Y3deeD5ZZ5ytB_nU1DnxmCLCe2EVNsV9NvLo_Z2ejxHRUQmWTqSPD2URV2r-9wjXjLalajZZBuKEUnUfzncvDzuBU/s1600/IMG_1721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSR5HmiMQPozzrVzq89c67U0oADDXRZ-qqPu40g27kNuuLogH30Y3deeD5ZZ5ytB_nU1DnxmCLCe2EVNsV9NvLo_Z2ejxHRUQmWTqSPD2URV2r-9wjXjLalajZZBuKEUnUfzncvDzuBU/s320/IMG_1721.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished tea tins</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I'm a tea addict AND a tea tin addict. I simply can't resist great packaging, like this one from Republic of Tea:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRsuXtyemsZ8Uc12h6AJQatFgB0N_kzNBaZLVCm0fqvo7UMswWsYOHigQMDVcIhk6Vvk1PPahWNTP0i7F1sMvvIBhB4lpVqhSx1IrmZ51p-SCnnA3odGwH2J-lor8J4eiCo6du2p_MBA/s1600/IMG_1562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRsuXtyemsZ8Uc12h6AJQatFgB0N_kzNBaZLVCm0fqvo7UMswWsYOHigQMDVcIhk6Vvk1PPahWNTP0i7F1sMvvIBhB4lpVqhSx1IrmZ51p-SCnnA3odGwH2J-lor8J4eiCo6du2p_MBA/s320/IMG_1562.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There is nothing like a message from the Minister of Tea to convince me I need yet another tin. Over the years I have accumulated quite a few empty tins (Please don't let me show up on the next episode of Hoarders!) This summer I was inspired to make them over with my own drawings and photos. Here's how I did it. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First, remove the paper label. This will leave some very sticky residue and I removed it with Goo Gone, though I have also used cooking oil and peanut butter, both of which take longer and require more elbow grease.</span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujN9knz3TmDw64pSEgwy5Dk6rBc4KsIEGKshvDn9aHqs6OU3hyphenhyphen5F1Lyurh9xM0G0ovq6q7Lpkf8in_-h3qlkeXRhplm2cy7hcEGdxC0dxkhmSY_gg07fHdAdmz1hPKDnouaYtn-Zg7dY/s1600/IMG_1563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujN9knz3TmDw64pSEgwy5Dk6rBc4KsIEGKshvDn9aHqs6OU3hyphenhyphen5F1Lyurh9xM0G0ovq6q7Lpkf8in_-h3qlkeXRhplm2cy7hcEGdxC0dxkhmSY_gg07fHdAdmz1hPKDnouaYtn-Zg7dY/s320/IMG_1563.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Part of the lid sits inside the top of the tin and is made of plastic to give a good seal. Wrap it with Press and Seal, being careful not to put it on the dark painted area:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvac9qQy3Zj7Bor-Xl9_ikSAIrkl3axb9xIDDYQeXJMwpLYuMqAvnZTZJbz79IgLdClM9oy4PfKPh2PSFzFh92iLMwQ9DmkIzN8wrLhkJFvwKbneb-CIte4zu5_2M1H6x7c6x1oUVwfr4/s1600/IMG_1564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvac9qQy3Zj7Bor-Xl9_ikSAIrkl3axb9xIDDYQeXJMwpLYuMqAvnZTZJbz79IgLdClM9oy4PfKPh2PSFzFh92iLMwQ9DmkIzN8wrLhkJFvwKbneb-CIte4zu5_2M1H6x7c6x1oUVwfr4/s320/IMG_1564.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wad up the extra Press and Seal, making a little bundle:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCkGZzJLxgq_uONtDQR1lPttWBRAhyphenhyphenZjtl0iBUpV5ViBJ_nyIeGnnngXLrJs1saWPNwX9CGz1CM2CzUOuCpPObcnf0B4CfWb2orx0Zv15p59c0uWojV2TM9peV0XvfiGbu-g5PmhFvKA/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCkGZzJLxgq_uONtDQR1lPttWBRAhyphenhyphenZjtl0iBUpV5ViBJ_nyIeGnnngXLrJs1saWPNwX9CGz1CM2CzUOuCpPObcnf0B4CfWb2orx0Zv15p59c0uWojV2TM9peV0XvfiGbu-g5PmhFvKA/s320/IMG_1565.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spray paint the lids and cans white. Oops, wash them in the dishwasher first - hand washing was not enough as you can see from the bubbled up paint I got on my first go-round:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2lhiEMro7aJjIV0wLQ6SqOs0eJBg1mjtmrpoY4HMscqxeNsQZN8aNEMJ3Pa1jj9SFa27E70dzye68U53c7YEyPwRgIeuzt2Qv54uGLamSxDEcpVNP6114wYL8l05RyNAnFll4FOuZw4/s1600/IMG_1666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2lhiEMro7aJjIV0wLQ6SqOs0eJBg1mjtmrpoY4HMscqxeNsQZN8aNEMJ3Pa1jj9SFa27E70dzye68U53c7YEyPwRgIeuzt2Qv54uGLamSxDEcpVNP6114wYL8l05RyNAnFll4FOuZw4/s320/IMG_1666.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now for the fun! Scan and print art work or photos onto "waterslide decal paper". I used "inkjet clear" since my printer is an inkjet. I got mine at the local big box office store, but if that won't work for you , you can get it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Clear-Inkjet-Decal-Sheets/dp/B0013P6VX6/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1309219551&sr=1-2">Amazon</a> .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Print the art work or photos onto the paper and let the ink dry for an hour or so. Then spray them with Crystal Clear Acrylic per the decal directions. You'll find it in craft stores with the Krylon spray paint cans and at hardware stores. Let the sheets dry. Cut out the part you want to put on a tin. I cut closely around the edges of the images at first, but then changed to just cutting a rectangle. The clear part hardly shows on the tins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGubeWTLkJnC_UsHVGtbY4nyWiLiiCVd9RypqN_n7Uu3fAKZCoRCxpMTQLZ7xqQIciQIX2TDPQiuoHyDHdIaZOaW9FoZ2fAZkqyfYeCO2ADYKosYYa5dpmIRCFABsitV3BhMMq1YcCoh4/s1600/IMG_1559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGubeWTLkJnC_UsHVGtbY4nyWiLiiCVd9RypqN_n7Uu3fAKZCoRCxpMTQLZ7xqQIciQIX2TDPQiuoHyDHdIaZOaW9FoZ2fAZkqyfYeCO2ADYKosYYa5dpmIRCFABsitV3BhMMq1YcCoh4/s320/IMG_1559.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Put the decal you've cut out into a bowl of water, with the paper backing attached. In about 1 or two minutes you will be able to slip the backing paper off. Put the image on your tin and use a wet dishcloth to smooth the image down, starting each stroke from the middle of the image and working your way toward the edge. If you decide it's crooked, you can lift it up and re-place it. Voila! Now you can take a turn for the obsessive if you want.....you can use chalkboard paint to paint a circle on the lid and then use washable chalkboard markers to label the tins, but I just put P-Touch labels on mine since I didn't like the look of the black chalkboard paint I had on hand. Yes, I know it comes in other colors, but I still wear my new shoes out of the store like a grade-schooler, if you know what I mean. Instant gratification is hard to resist.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-42529978973534531792011-06-23T20:20:00.000-05:002011-06-23T20:20:13.974-05:00Milkweed Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I find wildflowers in the woods and in the new wild part of the local park while walking my dog. When I observe a wildflower, I make basic notes on site and take reference photos, while holding my Airedale, Ozzie, in check and trying to avoid the ticks and mosquitos. I return to my computer to upload photos and refer to my collection of books and the internet to identify the flowers. This is what my initial notes look like:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8StLqBMp-4jr8XEpGCQNlqnoHj8MBSOg2NFwOcaJO5erynJkUCitRo22RyyQN4LHGEIFbvZuTed-nfZ2HYjnF-oLAWnAbXM_aJ9BPXNdZ-tQZAse7f71Q-VcEJ_VOmhLALh6oE3l4Fn4/s1600/IMG_1687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8StLqBMp-4jr8XEpGCQNlqnoHj8MBSOg2NFwOcaJO5erynJkUCitRo22RyyQN4LHGEIFbvZuTed-nfZ2HYjnF-oLAWnAbXM_aJ9BPXNdZ-tQZAse7f71Q-VcEJ_VOmhLALh6oE3l4Fn4/s320/IMG_1687.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At this stage, I usually find I have missed observing some key point of information, so I re-check the plant on my next trip, using a different color of ink each trip. Sometimes I end up with 4 or 5 different colors! This one was fairly simple because I had identified it before. Finally, I do a pen and ink wash like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofs-FJOVdLtkIoqKOJf3usbwOizN8K2rhvHlu_G1oPe_mqbnzmqEoUXm1RShHoi2Cc8IthtjjcDa3cWujb5t-I4lkUq9pDaIgsm7UNZgbhzu-O9tQerJcSqALIhBKUsP-4fZpitRCSSo/s1600/IMG_1688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofs-FJOVdLtkIoqKOJf3usbwOizN8K2rhvHlu_G1oPe_mqbnzmqEoUXm1RShHoi2Cc8IthtjjcDa3cWujb5t-I4lkUq9pDaIgsm7UNZgbhzu-O9tQerJcSqALIhBKUsP-4fZpitRCSSo/s320/IMG_1688.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This, like many milkweeds, has sticky white "Elmer's Glue" type sap and is poisonous throughout. Most animals have the good sense not to eat it, though I have found instances on the internet of cattle or sheep eating it and becoming very sick or even dying. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Monarch butterflies get the benefit of all that poison: This is a host plant for monarchs and the poison has been detected in the bodies of both the butterfly and the larvae, which they consume when they eat the plant parts. The poison doesn't affect the butterfly, but it doesn't agree with butterfly predators, who soon learn to "Leave the Monarchs alone! they'll make you sick!"</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><a name='more'></a>Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557875365476119359.post-53789046440948557822009-05-17T16:57:00.005-05:002009-05-17T17:08:03.754-05:00Hydrophyllum virginianum?<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/longears/3539636973/" title="Hydrophyllum virginianum? by Mistress of Longears, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2332/3539636973_c7c2f2d06e.jpg" width="343" height="500" alt="Hydrophyllum virginianum?" /></a></span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial;font-size:12px;">Virginia waterleaf- probably. I consulted my favorite on-lin site: <a href="http://www.missouriplants.com/index.html">www.missouriplants.com/index.html</a> It's run by the Missouri Department of Conservation. My doubt arises from this delicious post from Kate: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cathy-johnson/3537475660/">www.flickr.com/photos/cathy-johnson/3537475660/</a> Her drawing looks remarkably similar in technical details and is a fascinating contrast in watercolor approach. Kate's painting is lyrical with movement, while mine is more the approach of the butterfly-pinned-to-the-board-in-the-collector's-case.</span><br /></span></div>Jeanette, Mistress of Longearshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815875437992974233noreply@blogger.com0