Everyday Crafty Goodness

I have long abandoned the Chinese virtue of modesty.  I have no problem tootin’ my own horn when I feel like it.  Last night, I fixed the washer and I’m damn proud of myself.  The washer wasn’t draining for some reason and I had a feeling that something was clogging the hose.  So I bailed water out of the washer, opened it up, unclamped the hoses and eventually dug out a big clump of bathmat lint from the water pump.  Hearing the water drain out of the machine after I put everything back totally made my day.  I felt the same way when I replaced the battery in my car.  I know these are not major accomplishments but coming from a family where no one is handy and having been told repeatedly that I’d electrocute myself if I went near any broken appliances, I think I should be pretty proud of my fix-it skills.  Cars and major appliances still intimidate me but the more I tinker with them, the less intimidated I am.  Plus I’m saving money by fixing things myself…you can’t beat that.  :)

We finally had snow last night for the first time this season.  Molly’s not impressed with the amount of snow at all.  Just look at her disappointed face.  She wants lots of snow so she can run from one end of the yard to the other at top speed. 

Part of me likes the mild winter we’ve been having so far but another part of me wonders what shape the world is going to be in in 50 years.  Sorry Al Gore, I don’t think there’s much we can do about the damage we’ve already made.

I made another squirrel this weekend!  Meet Sophie, the blue bellied squirrel.  

Someone said that I should do a children’s book about my squirrels.  I think that would be fun but for now, I’ll just post weekly adventures of Chester and Sophie. 

Chester and Sophie are best friends and they love to wander around the neighborhood looking for treasures.  What kinds of treasures do they find?  Well, all sorts of things!  Sometimes they find little toys that kids dropped by accident.  Sometimes they find pretty rocks.  Once in awhile they would even find nuts that some other squirrel buried!

More vintage goodies from thrift stores.  I got the left one from Colorado in my early years of thrifting and my friend Celina gave me the one on the right.  I love the colors and these are stackable!   

These are some stoneware mugs I’ve gotten over the years (and I have many many more).  I tend to like clean graphics but there’s something about these handpainted flowers that make me smile.   They also feel good in my hands and lips.  I’m a potter, we notice these kinds of things. 

This is the cutest thing I’ve ever made.  He actually looks even cuter in person.  He’s wearing a felted bag lined with cotton.