validation and one big knit jumper

There is always a struggle inside, to find the balance between art and living.

I sometimes feel guilty not writing more about art here, although this blog was intended to be about settling into married life.

Art is the hardest thing to write about: it's hard to write about what you pour your soul into and how much soul was poured into it. It's hard to share and wait for critique, or find enough balance to not need the positive feedback. It's hard to keep making things without needing the public validation.

It's hard to know the difference in sharing and bragging.

So sometimes there's no visible proof of art, and I feel like (with having this blog) I'm not a true artist if there is no sign of art making. But I'm making stuff--I'm making memories. I'm making plans. Right now other interests are holding hostage of the output of my hands.

Right now I'm cooking as a direct connection with my community and the earth. Finding the salt of the earth in the most literal of ways. Figuring out how my thread connects to others and the metaphorical technique of a well-knit community. And just how far and how much stretch there is in that community.

* * * *
Cell phones are apparently a hot topic! As are lunch boxes! It will be a strange experience to disconnect in that way, but I think it will be a good one. Reclaim those few seconds I spend looking for it daily. As for the lunch box, still no word from my mom.

This blog is beautiful, the words are poetic and moving. (via Aesthetic Outburst)

love, life, and the pursuit of taxes

The sign up for the punk rock modish gardening swap is up and live! Go sign up, 'cause I'm beginning to think 90% of the gardeners out there these days are NC gals.

(Which is also pretty cool, but you know, it'd be nice to see some other states representin'!)


I spent Friday night and Saturday being super lazy (sort of), just kind of haphazardly making stuff that involved lots of decoupage, but Sunday was the "Do your taxes or else!" day, so I (we) opted for the "or else".

The mister mowed the grass, blew the leaves, and thatched the grass a bit. I cut back the weeds already threatening to take over the fig bushes, made a little hideaway for the trashcan/recycling/compost with a metal trellis.


I finished up a couple Urban Explorer kits for upcoming Spring Craft Shows (unfortunately one of those will not be Renegade Brooklyn). These kits have: a 20 page blank book with a pocket in the front and back, 2 pouches for misc. collections, magnifying glass, tags for identification purposes, 2 pencils, a globe pencil sharpener, and some specimens to inspire your exploration! I, of course, recommend drawing your findings, but you can do whatever you want with them. The whole thing comes in a handy dandy vintage map covered box with a handle and tie closures.

During the leaf blowing, Hi-C found a trapdoor spider home. Although I'm not big on spiders, they are pretty cool, if you ask me.

Smarty pants Taylor's Punk Gardening Manifesto.

Good local food source link: FoodRoutes.org.

Little factoid from them fine fellers:
Farmers in 2002 earned their lowest real net cash income since 1940. Meanwhile corporate agribusiness profits have nearly doubled since 1990. –USDA, 2002

Feeling a little green around the gills

I don't know which is worse: the usual spring experience of dodging canker worms but still having them land on you, or dodging dead canker worms hanging from their silk strings, and still having them land on you. then fall off like a miniscule little lime twig.
I have to wonder what will happen to the ladybugs, too, since it harms beetles as well.

We're several weeks in on having the new family car (aka Smart Car, aka Sippy Cup). When Art School Dropout Jessee asked me what I thought, here was my reply:

"I was pretty wary myself--we'd looked at them since we first saw them in Europe, and just went to go "look" at them one day, they had one in the showroom someone backed out of (4 people out of 60 decided against theirs, they'd sold the others already) so we got it and left with it.
I actually whined a bit--I love the philosophy of the car, but was really attached to my Volvo wagon. REALLY ATTACHED. Several weeks later and I'm just as in love with the Smart Car. Some thoughts:
1) It's not a car for a shy person--I've had my picture taken many times, I have swarms of people stop and ask me about it, Just today someone called it "dinky", people say it looks like a baby shoe, and there are people on the opposite spectrum that really ask the questions I can get excited about--taking only what you need, enjoying the size, etc.
2) when you drive you will not feel like you are in a small car at all--except getting into it or when people stop at lights and ask you to roll your window down to ask questions
3) It shifts hard, like a stick, although it's automatic. That eases up quite a bit as you "break the engine in". It's still more noticeable than in an automatic, but not bad. That's the thing you'll read about most in reviews, but it really does get better.
4) it's fun and zippy! and handles really really great!"

She was wondering why the gas mileage (as always, the Wikipedia information sounds right, but you always need to double check, which I haven't had the time to do) was so much lower than the non-US versions.

I don't have a good answer for that, but I can guess it based on some of the conversations I've had with strangers asking about the car. ("People in places like India and 3rd world countries shouldn't be driving dinky little cars like that anyway. They're hiking up the gas prices for Americans." True quote, I swear.)

Sparrow Chat, a very fun blog, has some speculation answer though.

Click on the stats picture for a full screen view of the stats.

Loving these (via Aesthetic Outburst) and thinking they might replace the paper bags I use for packaging at shows. One trip to the Goodwill Outlet (where you buy by the pound!) should cover a couple shows worth of bags, I'm thinking!

Are bio-bags reinventing the wheel?