Poor Brando……no poor me. We drove up to Possum Manor West yesterday, and Bando got car sick. Want the gory details? If not, stop reading. He was in the backseat when he decided he had to throw up. So he put his head inbetween the front seats and let go. All over my shirt…all over my shorts….all over my right arm. I stopped to see if I could clean things up (thank heavens I already had a sheet on the front passenger seat for Xena to sit without having he seat become covered in hair.) When I got out of the car, I realized that it was also down inbetween the seat and the console, including all the mechanics of the seat belt. I could not clean it up in the gas station parking lot, so why put on a clean shirt. I had about a half hour of travel left, so I opened the window and gagged all the way. He felt fine.
SOME ODDS AND ENDS
I am having breakfast in a coffee shop in Bryson City. I brought my MIni, figured out how to change the connection, and am enjoying a strong cup of coffee, actually a second cup. I might stay here all day.
I just noticed this yesterday morning. This is bear claw marks on the deck rail. I don’t know if they are from that time I took the photos, or maybe they are new.
I took Boogie to the vet yesterday, just for her annual expensive stuff. She is fine, but needs to have her teeth cleaned. She is the sweetest, laid back cat in the world. So, while we waited I unipped the carrier and she looked out. I snapped this picture with my cell phone, but did not realize what the flash would do. Pretty funny I think. I made it the background on my phone.
It’s super moth…..at least six or eight inches across. I was in the hot tub and thought it was a bat diving at me last night. I called to Ann, who opened the door, only to have it fly into the house. Oops! I got a photo of it this morning, while it was clinging to the ceiling with a friend. I got it outside after the photo shoot. It is really very beautiful.
His little buddy:
RD is sick. We took him in to have his toe nails clipped, and the vet wanted to Xrays to see if he needed anti-inflamatory for his hips. What they found is tumors..one on his spleen and one on one of his lymph nodes. They did a needle biopsy and he has lymphoma. RD is fifteen years old, and we are not going to submit him to treatment that would reduce his quality of life. So, the vet is going to put him on steroids, which he said will shrink the tumors and give his a pretty good quality of life. It could be a few months; it could be many, many months. We will keep an eye on him, and the moment we see him uncomfortable, we will re-evaluate. Needless to say, we have been quite upset here at Possum Manor.
He is still a handsome boy:
We have also been working on putting gutters on the shed. We went out and bought the wrong elbow, so we will finish tomorrow.
PS I am back to using my good camera. I ordered a new lens, which arrived today. I am still going to have the other one fixed, if they ever get the part, because the lenses are really different, and I could have two!!!!
Honest. That is what she said to me when I showed her my first tiny, itty, bitty ankle flower. I hate to think what she would say now. So this is going to be a tattoo blog. If you are channeling my mother, please leave the site immediately. Honest.
When I told my sister of my first tattoo, she said, “Thank God, now we do not have hear about it anymore.” This was not a negative comment, actually; it was fact. I had been talking about getting a tattoo since I was a child. When we would have to hand in our Christmas lists, (before Thanksgiving or my mom said she could not promise Santa would get it on time) I would always list: tattoo, right after the yearly request for new coloring book and crayons. I never got the tattoo.
A million years later I got my first, a tiny, and I mean tiny, set of flowers on my hip. Figured if I hated it, it would not show. I did not hate it. I have slowly and not so slowly, collected “ink.” Only the one on my wrist is visible at all times. I have done that on purpose. The one on my shoulder shows a bit with some tops, and when I wear shorts or capris, you can see the ones on my legs.
This is not for the faint of heart or the people who are going to tell me I should not have done it. Too late. I am already a slut.
The ankle flower turned into an ankle bracelet. The flower that started it was done by Paul Booth, when he was starting out. That is a big deal now. He is like the number one tattoo artist in the US, if not the world. He would be embarrassed with me showing off a flower, since he only does gruesome death like things now, and only in sepia. Whenever I go and have a tattoo, people are more than impressed that I have a “Paul Booth.” Google him, go on….you will see.
This is on my wrist. It first was just the vine around, but I had the flowers added later. Remember that Pam? (no more details please….lol)
Hmm, what next? Well, Ann and I got similar tattoos on our backs. Mine is yellow and orange; Ann’s is purples. I like these, and I wish I could actually see it.
Ah, then on to bigger things. I had an Amy Brown fairy “Fairytude” put on my thigh. I swore then never to have another one done. It was not a pleasant experience, but I went back for more!
Ah, then I began my memorial tattoo. The first part is made up of my mother’s favorite flowers (She would still not approve.), which were Impatience and Fuchsia. The “L” and “E” are my parents’ initials in the vines.
Then I thought I should have something to symbolize my step-father, Jack, who was an important part of of our lives for a very long time. He was an amazing man, and I always think of the cottage up north when I think of him. So, I saw a fern tattoo once, and I copied the idea.This is out of order, in case any of you are taking notes for the time you might see my mother on the other side. I just had the fern done last week, so it is not healed yet. I had my shoulder done in between these two, but I wanted to put them together.
I am saying that, after that fern, I am done. It was agony, and I really do not think I want any more. So I say now. Oh, I found an interesting Paul Booth interview from MTV about pain. Just click on the blue “interview” and it will come up.
The shoulder was done in three stages, and I have to say was my least painful area. I just sat there and did not flinch, not at all like the fern where I contemplated calling 911.
First I had the stars, then the cat, and then I had it made into one piece (to use tattoo jargon) by adding the night sky. Those orange things are leaves not moles, by the way.
I think that is all we took pictures of..minus the little, first one which came out blurry.
So, tattoos are not for everyone. My cousin once gave me a t-shirt that read, ” The difference between tattooed people and non-tattooed people is that tattooed people do not care that you don’t have tattoos.”
Enough said.
We had a good time, except for the night time barking at invisible bear. Actually, one was visable, and it takes them all days, or should I say nights, to forget.
Donna and I play marathon Hand and Foot. We invented a version that can be played with only two, and we play and play and play. Usually Donna goes home the over all winner, but not this time. Oh no not this time. This time we were tied!!!!
Donna’s little dog Jack was a lot of fun. I started watering the plants on the deck, and he started attacking the hose. So, what do I do? I take video!!!
Ann took hold of the camera, which means more photos that even I take. Here is Donna:
And me:
Donna is on her way home now. I40 was closed in both directions due to a toxin spill, and she was routed two hours out of her way. Ugh.
Come back soon Donna!!!
I happen to think this is pretty darn funny.
I had planned a Father’s Day blog, but I did not organize my photos, so it will be belated. I too have a memorial tattoo, and I had the part for my stepfather added the other day. I will include that photo when it heals, along with Ann’s (which is looking fantastic).
The bear came back last night. We were just going to bed when the dogs went nuts. I was trying to quiet them down, but they kept running upstairs and barking out of the side window. Then they would run downstairs and back at the back door from a distance of at least fifteen feet, as they are loud but not brave. At one point I glanced in the direction of their barking, and there it was walking down the driveway, away from the house. Needless to say there was not a lot of sleep to be had at Possum Manor last night.
We traveled to Possum Manor West yesterday where the garden is really amazing. We brought back broccoli and peas. The flowers are in full bloom, and the chickens are spoiled. I have not told them they are moving out of the county yet; we will break it to them slowly.
Peas:
And lots of flowers I cannot name.
We have bees at Possum Manor West. We don’t raise them; we just have lots for them to eat!
Please do not expect a post every day, because it will not happen….nor will the insect dance Pam!!!!!
First let me tell you that I got a new toy. I needed it..I really did. I bought a Dell mini, which is a tiny laptop or netbook. It is wireless, and it will also do Bluetooth, which will allow us to get internet from the cell phone when we travel.
Isn’t it cute? I bought the flower skin to put on, which I think is just soooooo pretty. I am doing this blog while sitting on the front porch with my coffee. Our friend, Donna, is here visiting from southern Illinois.
The big news in the Possum Manor front is that Carrie is moving to Oklahoma. She will be leaving Possum Manor West in September, after the garden harvest. We are sad, but hope she will enjoy going back to where she once lived. She is taking her three dogs and one cat, but not the chickens. So, big dilemma, what to do with the chickens. There was no way I was just giving them away, and I could not handle a dozen here, so I put on my thinking cap. Here is what I came up with, with the help of Ann and our up mountain neighbor Maria. I am going to take the Silkies and the two Barr Rocks. Maria is going to take the rest of them. She already has chickens and she and her husband are building a new, winter proof coop. I can relax knowing the chickens will have a good home, and they will never be eaten.
As for mine, I found a guy who builds these coops that can actually be moved. I am hoping that by next spring we could level out a place to put the coop and also fence it in to give them more room. For now we will have the coop pictured below. It is 12 feet long and 4 feet high. It is plenty big for six chickens. The guy said one woman wanted to put 12 Rhode Island Reds in one, and he would not sell it to her. The poor chickens would have been crowded. He even puts a hook in the house area, so that in the winter I can hang a light, and they can be warm. I am excited. I only hope that five chickens is enough for Cecil. 
Ok, back to Chicago. This was in Millennium Park. These faces would look like a photograph, and then they would move. About every ten minutes they would pucker up and spit water down on the kids. They were having a blast. Olivia and her friend Ava are down there squeeling. I have other photos too, but I have not asked my sister for permission to put Olivia on the blog. I am funny that way, I always get permission.
I am now taking the controls from Ann, who is recovering nicely from her tattoo in a sanitarium. I had my leg tattoo completed yesterday. Not at all the work that went into the poor crippled leg of poor Ann.
My trip to Chicago was wonderful, aside from making myself sick yesterday on Garrett’s popcorn. Oh my is it good. Mixed cheese caramel corn. Oh did I say it was good? Did I say I made myself actually sick?
I was there for the Old Town Art Fair, which partially runs right in front of my sister’s house. My niece, Olivia age 8, and a few of her friends had a lemonade stand until the fair closed them down for not being a licensed vendor. In the hour and a half they illegally sold the lemonade they made $93. Can you believe it? They donated part of the profits to Paws, an animal rescue.
We too a river cruise, which was very interesting. This is on top of what use to be the Woolworth Building, I think.
The photos are a bit gloomy because it really started to rain while we were on the cruise. This is a parking garage, and I would have nightmares about having to park here. Anyone who knows me knows I cannot back up to save my life. I put my car in the ditch and knocked off the side view mirror trying to go backward down our road. I would land in the river here.
At Millennium Park they have this silver “Bean.” It is really rather interesting. My sister Diane and I are center in this photo. I am wearing a green sherbet color jacket. My niece Olivia and her friend Ava are the girls at the bottom of the bean.
This is taken inside the Bean. I can be seen because of my jacket. Actually I can be seen about fifty times.
This is my sister and I inside the Bean. We were drenched, but it is still a pretty good photo. We don’t look much alike to we?
Chicago was in full bloom. They have gotten as much rain as we have. I loved walking around so much. I can walk forever, but at home walking the mountain roads is a bit dangerous. I could actually live in Chicago without a problem. It is really a friendly, clean, walkable city. I understand why my sister likes it so much. It was a wonderful trip.
Hi! This is Ann, taking over Kathie’s blog while she visits family in Chicago. My assignment is to entertain y’all during her absence. So….here is the story of my afternoon:
Today I got a new tattoo at my and Kathie’s personal tattoo studio, Freaks and Geeks Tattoo Sideshow. Yes, we have one, much like one would have a lawyer on retainer. We have our priorities in order….thank you very much! It is a memorial tattoo, dedicated to my parents. A hammer and nails (my father was a carpenter) and a cluster of flowers (my mother loved to garden). Over 2 years ago I talked with Tiffany, our PERSONAL TATTOOIST, and a good friend of ours (did I mention she is a saint?) about what I wanted and she worked up a sketch for me. It took me a long time to work up to the emotional level I needed to be to have it done. Well, today was the day!
Did I happen to mention that my pain tolerance level, on a scale of 1-10, is 0. And, when I recently had surgery on my leg my doctor said he had never seen nerves so close to the surface of the skin. So, he was kind enough to give me a vial of “skin numbing salve” for my full calf, multi-color tattoo.
It didn’t work not a damn bit!
I cried…..and that was just for the outline. I twisted, moaned, cursed, cried, groaned, cursed, twisted some more, cried some more, groaned some more….well you get the point. I was soaked in sweat, much like a GITMO detainee after an afternoon of torture. Wait, I forgot….the USA doesn’t torture…..right??? The entire afternoon was full of my unimaginable pain, drowned out by Tiffany and Gabe laughing their butts off and Tiffany telling me to suck it up, shut up, stop being a baby, more laughter, more mocking…..just like GITMO!
At one point I told Tiffany that I could not stand it any more, that the pain was too much and I needed her to stop. She just held onto my leg, told me to shut the ____ up and kept dragging a pulsating needle through my tender, thin skinned, nerve-endings exposed calf. All the while she is laughing herself silly.
Well…..when the afternoon of torture was ended, and I saw the result, I cried like a baby. It wasn’t from the pain that still surged through my body. It was because it is truly the most beautiful tattoo I have ever seen and it means all the world to me! It really stands for something….it is not just a folly of ink or a cute design. I already have those. This is in honor and in remembrance.
I know 2 things for sure:
1. I wouldn’t trade the pain of getting that tattoo for anything.
2. Tiffany is a brilliant, gifted, tattooist saint. A foul-mouthed sadist saint but one none-the-less.
OK….here it is…it will look different in a month when the swelling and BLOOD goes away and the color settles in. I am so proud:
THANKS TIFFANY….FOR EVERYTHING!
Asheville
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