#109 - Labels & tags

I realize in my haste to get blogs written and posted, I've totally neglected to label them (or tag them). Absolutely no idea how long this has gone on, but it persists.  Just another resolution to be made and hopefully not broken.

In the quest to organize and purge, I did recently discover a few things from the Vault, but I have no idea if these were from my own Vault, or ones I purchased, or those lurking leftovers from the Vault Goddess.  Labels.  Tags.  Leftovers from another era when people actually canned items, wrote letters, and sent things in this system called the US Mail.

I DO know that they are just what the artist ordered for future collages or scrap art packs to be thoughtfully sold.

And now, don't forget to label the blog post!

#108 - Putting the pieces back together in a completely different way

Well.  No one said it would be easy.  It's a challenge (but a good one) to be reorganizing the "new" kitchen.  I've spent a good part of the afternoon doing a deep cleaning on my vintage kitchen items.  Who knew I had 3 of the same 1930's wooden handled vintage pasta cutter (yes, 2 of them will go up on the new ETSY shop).  I vaguely do recall the ImperialMan giving me one he'd bought at a thrift store.  At the time, I didn't have the heart to tell him I already had one.  Maybe I had 2 at the time, who knows?

I have to admit, it's really wonderful to rearrange and also PURGE the excess.  

And all the time, I'm trying to get through it so I can have room to paint and create.

Ok, another day, another vision.

#107 - Coming back down to earth

It's been a trip, that's for sure.  I had an amazing experience in Portland at an artists' 3 day workshop.  I wanted to learn strategies to feel I could create without any preconceived notions and get out of my head for the process, and I believe I succeeded.  I brought home 3 paintings, two of which seem fairly finished.  One I'm proud of the process I created, and I have no desire to own it, so I think I'll see if I can actually sell it.  One is something I may put up in our bedroom and the 3rd is as yet unfinished.  I so enjoyed the process I learned - THAT I will try again, but on smaller canvases.  And I was so enamored of this artist's work that I bought an original.  Yes, spoke to me (or rather, it MEOWL'd to me, as it was aptly named).

Now that I'm back to reality, it's a mad slow slog to getting the kitchen back in order.  Which we are taking our sweet time doing. Only one more sand and paint session and we will begin the process of moving things back in slowly.  And taking a longer look at what we'll be putting up on the walls. And what will become part of the BabyBoomVintage inventory for sale, or what will become part of the inventory for mixed media art.

Trying to keep my feet on the ground and moving forward.  

Onward Ho (again)!                             

#106 - Doing the limbo

The house kind of feels like living in limbo for the moment.  Odd entrances and exits because of the floor refinishing, and I'll be glad to be off shortly for a creative release for the next 4 days.

After finally prepping the new Etsy shop for the vintage selloff, I'm fully prepped for a creative journey.  I don't know what's in store for the next 4 days, but I do expect to venture out of a state of limbo and literally out of state into a deep dive internally.  With another artistic pal at my side, I can't wait!

We'll see what emerges on the page from the creative limbo I've been in.  And I'll look forward to the return without visqueen blocking the entrances.

And now, a 5 day word from our sponsors.  Back on Sunday!

#105 - Move along, frustration. Nothing to see here.

I spent a frustrating Thursday and this morning on the phone and via email with a large art supply company (real Dicks if you ask me).  Worst customer service experience E V E R.  Hopefully there will be nothing to see here and I will not have to deal with them again. I heartily suggest avoiding them and shopping locally (which is what I ended up doing).

Today we take a commercial break from the action here to traipse to SF for live theatre.  Can't wait.

Tomorrow begins the great shut-down (or shut-out as the case is more properly titled).  Frustration on the part of two small furry beings in the house will commence.

#104 - Onward Ho

I love that phrase.  Penned (or in actuality, often spoken) by my dear friend who always said she was just a hippie masquerading as a Pacific Heights matron. Hope she's having fun on her current overseas adventure, big birthday celebratory trip that was postponed two years due to Covid.

So yes, it's time to "Onward Ho" as we have completed the painting phase of our remodel, and yet, we begin the purging phase of the operation, which commences now and continues through the floor redo.  That part starts next Monday.  Thankfully I'm happy to report I'll be away for most of the outgassing (and not having to deal with the poor kitties who are already confused by all the changes afoot, pun intended).

Apparently, the pesky rodent has been disposed of, at least according to the hubby who found a tiny baby mouse slaughtered in the front entryway.  I've been concerned that one of their little tribe would emerge during the floor remodel and get caught.

Ok, off to meet a friend for coffee.  Onward Ho!

#103 - an Autumnal pause

Thankful that we have completed the first round of painting.  Level 2.0 will began yesterday and today will be Level 3.0 and the completion.

Spet a glorious partner's birthday on Monday in the jungle (at least what comes close to being one here).  A lovely nature preserve with lots of wild animals and a 3 hour tour, most by safari bus.  He loved it and it was well worth it.

Here's hoping we can complete the painting today, and then tomorrow I can do more painting - watercolor, that is. Soon the house will come back together again.  Ok, not for 10 more days but it will be oh so worth it.

Next stop in the artistic continuation?  Permission slips on the play I've written.

#102 - I'm tired!

It takes so long to prep for painting and then - you paint.  We are pretty exhausted after extensive blue taping and visqueen plastic sheeting covering things, followed by TSP scrubbing, water wipe down, vinyl spackle, sanding and now we're changing out the original outlets (which NEVER properly hold plus in) because, well, we're finally finishing the kitchen remodel that started just before covid, when we put in new countertops and a tile backsplash.  Oh, and we ordered the auto body chrome detailing that will be adhered just under the countertop (to cover the raw wood that was there from the original formica install).

Like I said, I'm tired!  Painting will commence shortly and by Tuesday, it will be done (except for the floors).  

Can't wait!  In the meantime, boy are we glad we got a hot tub!

#101 - Hands

I have my mom's pinky.  Not literally, mind you.  I just realized that the original Vault Goddess had the most beautiful hands.  And I don't.  Mine are stubby little short fingers.  She had the hands of a concert pianist.  Long, slender, the kind that could have hand modeled. But yesterday, I looked at my fingers and realize that my pinky looks a lot like hers.  It's not long and but it is slender. And when I look at it, and since I have polish on my nails (that's another post), the shape and length of that pinky nail looks like hers.

I've been doing my own manicures, crude though they may be, as it's helping keep my nails from breaking so frequently. I've only ventured into frosty light polishes, as the errors don't quite show up as much.  I'll probably actually take this polish off so I can. use my hands for painting other things.

For now, my hands need to get back to handwriting GOTV postcards (44 down, 16 to go).

#100 - Who knew?

100.  A century.  A centennial.  A hundo.

Well, at least I know I can write 100 times.  

        I will not forget to write.  I will not forget to write.  I will not forget to write...

Life is very busy and I'm currently culling through my cookbooks.  Taking them the off the shelves one by one.  Wiping them down and getting the dust and grime (what I can get off) removed.  Lots to sell. A few to keep and boy, I'd like to replace the old ikea/cost plus nice but plain wooden book shelving unit with something else. Then again, the entire space will be having a makeover, since we're moving a stable item to another area, and that housed lots of vintage kitchen stock.  What will replace it?  Your guess is as good as mine.

Change is the only constant, and it's time for change, that's for sure. 

Some of these cookbooks bring back lots of memories. Some have well worn, food stained pages.  Those are the ones I cherish the most.  I know the original Vault Goddess had a million recipes (yes, there's a box in the Vault that is just marked "RECIPES"and I'm not sure what I'll discover once I open that).  Probably loads of old magazine and newpaper clipped ones. Maybe old recipe cards.  Hopefully a few wonderful handwritten jewels.  But it will be a while before I can tackle that. There's way too many other things lined up on the tarmac to take off before that project can take flight.  

Anyway, I think I'd find enough recipes to post one every day.  For a century.

Almost time to repent.  Back in 2 days.

#99 - Painting

 Ok, lots going on but it mostly revolves around painting.  Currently clearing the decks for the kitchen redo, and prepping half pans for my new palette.  Many colors, lost of swatches and making some pans of my own and ordered some prefilled.

It's an artistic month, that's for sure.

Gotta get back to it...