Fresh Catch!

I love the musical knocking sound of bamboo wind chimes. Back when I lived in England, I bought some at the market in Camden Town and have hung them at five different addresses since. I finally had to find a replacement after they got beat up in this winter's icy winds, and it wasn't easy. Most of the ones in Halifax shops are mass-produced, flimsy things. But kijiji saved the day. Look what I found! A gigantic carved wood and bamboo work of art...

This heavy sucker is 35" head to tail!

The woman who sold it to me said she bought it at a yard sale in Edmonton and hung it up back home in Hubbards. Now that she lives in the city, she hasn't got a place for it, and is happy it's returning to the water. It's funny how objects can adopt a kind of personality.  He looks happy, doesn't he? I already find myself saying hello to him in the morning.

Giant Sunflowers - Week One

Now that the spring breezes have melted all the snow, we've been thinking about starting a vegetable garden. I've never planted anything in my life (hell, I've never had a yard before) 
so I'm testing my prowess on sunflowers. I decided to start the seedlings indoors and they sprouted within a few days. Apparently these babies can grow up to 14 ft. and now I'm worried I may have started them too soon. I can't safely transfer them outside until after last frost in early June, and at this rate, they'll be busting out of their pots before then!

When I woke up a few mornings ago and saw green, I screamed my head off. "Don't you think there's something inherently creepy about plants?" I said to S.B.

He patted my shoulder and sighed, "City girls." 

Weekend Project: Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Step 1: Buy an outdated old mirror. This heavy bastard was $10 at Salvation Army.

Step 2: Clean it, sand it, update it with a fresh coat of paint in a modern colour.

 

Et voilà !

My Favourite Room

With only one guest room to display many objects and double as my writing nook, the decor has a bit of a personality disorder. Yet, call me crazy, but I think there's an offbeat harmony in the mash-up of By-The-Sea, Girly Vintage Cowgirl and Wordsmith.

The 'Howdy' sign is a souvenier from my Texas road trip.

This wall seemed a natural place for my shell mirror.

The birdcage was a housewarming gift used as

a plant holder. I painted it white and added the
crow to mimic this local art piece.



S.B.'s mother found this wrought-iron wind chime.

My writing corner.

Can you spot all three themes?

Boots. Shells. Flowers.

Why not?

Everybody loves a cowgirl.

But how about a cowgirl writer by the sea?



Vintage Cheese Boards

The first one was out of necessity. The second one I justified by saying, well, it's only $2, and if I use one for cheese, crackers and grapes, I can stick cured meats and olives on the other. By the third, I just have to admit I'm just becoming a cute cheese board collector. Sue me. 

This one came with the original cheese knife, which clips on to the board so
I don't tear the kitchen apart trying to find it in a drunken, cussing, pre-party frenzy.

Sometimes I put toothpicks where the knife is supposed to go. Naughty.

I think the handles are for the kind of hostess who actually walks around
serving guests, saying thing like, "I'm so pleased you all made it over to play
Bridge with us this evening" rather than those who yell from the sofa,
"Grub's over there. Don't forget to put your keys in the bowl!" 

The Tickle Trunk Album

            Left to right: Age of Aquarius, Elves, Wanted Poster.

A friend just asked me, "How the hell did you ever find someone who likes to play dress-up with you?"

Fluke! Bizzare, awesome fluke.

As a kid, I was obsessed with Halloween and costumes, and to this day everything I am drawn to: theatre, roller derby, even writing is an extension of my desire to try on different personas. And I obsess about the details, which is what led to the photographs - all that hard work ought to be shared, right? So before S.B. came along, many scenes from my imagination had already been brought to life on camera.

Breakfast at Tiffany's 'Moon River' scene.

I don't think I even asked him if he wanted to join in my warped little hobby. I think he suggested it. And now that he's in on the photos, they seem to have twice the effect, generating comments ranging from wow!!! to wtf??? (not a week has gone by since Christmas that someone hasn't mentioned our Elves Photo Spectacular, which included shots of us frolicking in the yard, drinking beer and doing calisthenics).

I'm glad people get a kick out of it, at least. The adult world is entirely too serious, and I for one won't ever let it take me. So stay tuned for weirder and more elaborate tickle trunk photos in the years to come. Perhaps I can even convince some friends to get in on the fun.



Sea Glass Mystery #1!

The growing collection.

It's happened already! I have a case to solve.

Yesterday S.B. and I went beachcombing in nearby Blandford where I found a giant piece of sea glass with a bordered triangle insignia embossed in its centre. I thought it may be the bottom of an old Vicks Vaporub bottle, as the company has a similar logo, but the border around the triangle on this one is wider and flatter than those on an antique Vicks bottles.

Can you see the triangle mark?

Vintage Vicks bottle.

Due to its thickness, I now suspect this isn't the bottom of a bottle at all. I did some research and discovered that it may be part of a glass insulator used along Canadian railways and telegraph/telephone lines in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Take a look at this picture of a screw-top insulator made by the Boston Bottle Works Company:

Exciting isn't it? I'm not sure what next. Are there sea glass historians? Could a particularly keen antiques dealer date this ocean-warped artifact? Suggestions welcome.