Generation

Ladies, you are all so wise! I do appreciate your comments on my last post about my work dilemma. You didn't let me off the hook. Of course, I was hoping you'd all say, Forget the job! Do your art! Live life on the edge!

But you didn't.

You basically told me to be sensible and try to earn some money while I can. Which is wise. I realize I was just completely drained from sleepless nights and stress at work, and was having some bad days. I put in my application for the open position and will wait and see what happens.

In the meantime, we have a teenager in the house. What an experience! I never had kids of my own, and I became a grandmother after only four years of marriage. And now that baby is almost 15, wearing way too much make-up and traveling on her own.

When she was here four years ago with her mum, she met my neighbor's "granddaughter" and they became friends in the span of a few hours. They kept in touch via Facebook, and now have spent the last three days together going to school and camping! I'm so glad she's having a good time with someone her own age, and I'm so glad she's expanding her horizons and seeing what potential the world holds for her.

Since we ended up having the weekend to ourselves, Mr. S and I have been gardening. Not our favorite passtime. One honeysuckle is full of aphids, so I had to cut off a lot of the blossoms. But, the other one is just starting to bloom, and smelling heavenly!

There are snails everywhere.

That's a snail on his belly, not an outie.

Or rather, there were until I relocated a couple dozen of them to the park across the street. Is that wrong?

Tiny, tiny flowers - I love these because they choke the weeds!

Okay, that's enough excitement for now. Time to sit outside with my book and take it easy. Enjoy!

Val

Dilemma Horns

 Oh, what to do, what to do?

You know I've been working on a long-term, temporary job. It's not exciting, but it is a job. It's helping to ensure that I will be able to own a car in retirement - at least for a year or two. After losing a good job last year, any extra money now translates to our level of future comfort.

Besides my temporary work, I've done some freelance editing on the side. Not a lot, but I need time to develop it. I'd also like the time to work on my crafts and set up an Etsy shop (more on that in a minute). Both those strands would be under my control, would not require going to an office, and would be possible to do even in my late 60s or early 70s, if necessary.

So... there's a permanent job available at the place I'm working. It would be full-time, as now, but would obviously pay better and include benefits. It would mean continuing to go in to an office five days a week. Now, I have to mention that the office is over-heated. Seriously, the thermostats in the office read between 76 and 78 degrees! Who does that? I'm menopausal, I have a fan running all day, and it's just too hot.

That may sound minor, but it's a comfort factor. Also, sitting at a computer all day takes its toll on my back, hips and waistline (my home office is set up so I can either stand or sit).

Do I play it safe and apply for a predictable income? Or do I try again to establish my own business(es) and continue to pay for health insurance on my own? It's a tough one.

I hope to get Etsy set up in June, after beautiful granddaughter has visited (we pick her up at the airport tomorrow!). Here's my most recent creation - a Day of the Dead shrine, which will be part of a series.

I think I'm done, but then again, I think it needs a little more gaud (you know, to be more gaudy).

He who lives with hope, dies happy.

Go on, my wise friends - hit me with your opinions on the job dilemma, and also let me know what you think about the little shrine.

Oh, and here's me on Mother's Day (with my niece) wearing a recently thrifted dress. It buttons down the front, but it's too tight on the hips so I wear it as a duster.

I had just dropped a bunch of cookies in the whipped cream - yum!


I'm linking up my creamy cookie faux pas with Visible Monday!

Val

Dusting

Whew, it's a bit dusty here at Muse Fondue blog. At least virtual dust is, well, not real, so I'm not sneezing or having to do any actual cleaning. And I don't know how many visitors I'll have after going into seclusion for so long, so I haven't made any cookies or coffee. I guess I'm just a poor hostess lately, and an even poorer guest.

I do hope everyone is doing well! I plan to look through some blogs again at some point, but I've kind of got out of the habit. I'm working full time and preparing for a visit from our granddaughter and doing craftist things and reading and enjoying the sunshine. Online I mostly look through art pages on Facebook since I have a short attention span.

So can I show you what I've been working on? I really wanted to do some collages and try something different from the mini dioramas, but then someone gave me a bushel basket full of tins, so what could I do?

I'm working on a shrine, a Day of the Dead kind of thing - I can't wait to actually get things glued in on the little shelves!

Mini votive candles made from a plastic straw and tiny pictures from a book.

More little candles and tiny marigolds.

Pequeno pan de muerta made from polymer clay, and painted. Don't they look, um, delicious?

And here's the door before it was glued down, and the papers that went inside. I'll show you some more pictures when it's finished. Then I'm thinking about dusting off my Etsy shop and trying to earn enough money to pay for more supplies - and a shed studio. Sigh.

You may have noticed that this blog has pretty much made the leap from silver-hair style blog to craft blog. I guess I'm just fickle that way, but I think this is a better fit for me. I hope you'll keep visiting!

Val

Primavera

Hello, all, and Happy Easter!

Yes, I'm still here, but have not been inclined to spend a lot of time on social media lately. Guess I'm kind of capricious that way.

I thought I would just stop in long enough to share a photo of my rare tulips.

They're rare because this is the only plant that grew, although I planted a dozen bulbs when we moved into this house four years ago! The "soil" is mostly clay, and I didn't think to add compost when I stuck the bulbs in the cold, hard earth. Gardening just ain't my thing. But I do love tulips, and to get two (and another bud) is quite an accomplishment here on my little patch!

Gluing crap together is my thing, and here's a finished piece of baroque confection that I originally posted on my Facebook page, and linked to 52 Pick-me-up a few weeks ago.

It obviously wasn't enough to just do the collage - I had to glam up the frame, too.

Ray Strauss vintage scarf from The Citizen Rosebud on Etsy

Happy Spring!

Val

Sim Sala Shed Bam Bass Saladu Saladim

I expect you're wondering about that title, huh? The internet is a magical thing!

I remember a strange song my mom sang when we were kids:

High in a tree I heard a crow,
Sim sala bim bam ba saladu saladim.
High in a tree I heard a crow caw.

It goes on to describe a hunter, and it doesn't end well for the crow but I don't remember all the words. However, when I was wondering about this obscure memory nugget, I googled it. And I found it! It's a Danish song (my grandparents were Danish) and I wasn't just making it up.

It fits perfectly with this pendant I made from a Danish stamp.

not in a tree, but in the clematis

I added a little token from the Seattle Transit System, circa 1945.

My dad worked in Seattle one summer after the war because he had an army buddy who lived there. He must have kept this token when he went back to Nebraska - and through various moves to Oregon and Washington. Now I can't wait to visit Seattle again and ride the bus - the token is good for one fare!

Making this pendant is the only interesting thing I've done lately. My craft table got cleared off to repair some blinds, and I haven't had a chance to make it messy again. See how clean (and forlorn) it looks.

I really want a dedicated creative space. Sigh.

I got a bunch of arty-crafty porn from the library. My favorite was the book on top.

I so want a little (or large) shed where I can spread out all my paper and paint and glue and everything that smells toxic. I want windows and shelves and tall tables and bright colors and a floor that I can spill on!

I also want a new computer and a hi-res color laser printer, but now I'm just dreaming.

Sigh.

Have you heard of Meghan Trainor? She's a really fun singer I've been listening to. Her mama didn't sing about a crow, sim sala bim. Her mama told her to find a man who'll love every inch of her.

What songs did your mama sing to you?

Val

gratuitous clematis photo - too bad you can't smell it

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

I finally succumbed to Pandora. I know why they called it that - once you open the box, you can't close it again. Right now I'm listening to Mark Ronson Radio, and I'm lovin' the funk! I've been so behind on new music, and I still can't stand certain "artists" who are more manufactured diva than musician. But I just came from a hip little cafe that was playing some cool funk, so I had to hear more when I got home.

Off The Waffle

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy waffle with bacon and egg, and a cappuccino

It was such a beautiful day.

Clematis in the morning

We rode our bikes into town - it was sunny but brisk, with a north wind. I'm not one to do the Lycra bike suits, or anything that comes from a sporting goods shop, so this is what I wore.

These thrifted jeans are perfect for biking because they're soft and don't fight me when I'm pedalling, and the pegged pants don't get caught in the chain. I layered a camisole and long-sleeved T-shirt under my Target "Little Wing" shirt and Christopher & Banks jacket. The brooch is a wire chaos concoction I made.

No reason you can't look classy when you're riding a bike, right?

The boots are new to me, and the first wearable item I've bought in months. They were half-price at the thrift store, and with my senior discount they were only $6.25!

New boots, and it's time for Shoe Shine at Sheila's! Sheila is getting into the menswear look, too - come and take a look.

As I'm typing this, I'm listening to Amy Winehouse sing "Valerie." I'm digging Pandora!

Val-erie

Failure all around

I broke my unspoken vows. As an Oregonian, I violated the sacred rule that all Oregonians unconsciously abide by. In my last post I - gulp - invited people to move to Oregon. I'm not supposed to do that. It's not allowed. We want to keep Oregon quiet and uncrowded. So just ignore what I said, okay?

I mean, we weren't even upset that the national news only made a slight mention of the resignation of our governor after four (non-consecutive) terms. And they haven't made a big deal about the investigation of his fiancee (Cylvia with a C) for influence peddling. Whew! We wouldn't want everyone to know about that. We're just honest folk out here in Oregon. Our new governor, Kate Brown, is so honest that she admits to being both married and bisexual. That sounds like an admission of adultery, too, but that's between her and her husband, and I think she'll be a fine governor.

Anyhoo, the other failures this week involved footwear. I guess I should have invoked St. Hubbins because I had not one, but two shoe malfunctions this week.

I was wearing my red "alligator" Dexter loafers (seen here and here), and the heel caps starting chipping away - on both shoes.

Then this happened

They're not that old to be requiring the care of Jim the Shoe Doctor. It's a tough blow, alright.

Then the next day I was wearing my boots from JCP when this happened

What are the odds? These boots are pretty old anyway, and I think I can treat them at home with some strong glue, botox and reruns of The Avengers.

Geesh, Mercury is barely out of retrograde, and the Old Mother Hubbard constellation must be in quincunx to the crap nebula. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Val