a bowl of chicpeas

MOVING!

2010-10-02T15:08:00.002-04:00

It's time for a fresh start! Please visit my new digs at: http://abowlofchicpeas.wordpress.com/

I've turned off further comments here, but please feel free to post at my new home!

new day, new art, new fabulousness

2010-10-01T13:55:00.013-04:00

new mixed media peice in the works...

Can it be any more glorious a day? This weekend holds so much fabulousness, it's hardly standable.

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Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market - Featuring a fabulous assortment of fruits, vegetables, wild fish, meat, cheese, and eggs from local farmers. Saturdays, Now Year round!, 8am-1pm. Located between the Prince Edward Viaduct (Bloor/Danforth) and Pottery Road, just north of the Bayview exit from the Don Valley Parkway. Bus from Davisville, and Evergreen shuttle from Castlefrank. ebw.evergreen.ca/whats-on/farmers-market/

The Stop's Green Barn Farmers Market - Great produce, great breakfast and great music in the historic Artscape Wychwood Carbarns Park. Seasonal foods include fruit and vegetables, meat poultry and fish, cheese, honey, bakery delectables, and real farmers having real fun. Saturdays, April 17-Dec. 18, 2010, 8am-12pm. 601 Christie Street, St Clair & Christie. Click here for more info, or visit http://www.thestop.org/.

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche - Toronto's annual sunset to sunrise celebration of contemporary art returns to mark a five-year milestone. From 6:57pm to sunrise, discover art in galleries, museums and unexpected places. From building façades and city parks to alleyways and heritage buildings, choose from more than 130 destinations and chart your own path. Oct. 2-3, 2010, Various locations in downtown Toronto. http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/

Art Down By The Bay - The Beach Guild of Fine Art presents: "Art Down By the Bay", an art show and sale showcasing the artwork of over forty artists. Opening reception: Friday, Oct 1st 6pm-9pm. Free Parking, Free Admission, Gift Boutique, Lucky Draw, Refreshments. Oct. 2-3, 2010, 10am-5pm, Beaches Lion's Club, Ashbridge's Bay, 10 Ashbridge's Bay Road, Coxwell and Lakeshore. http://www.beachguildoffineart.com/

High Park Harvest Festival - Enjoy the harvest in High Park with food, crafts, music, horse and wagon rides, warm cider and more. This year's theme is Pudding, Pies and Preserves. Held at the south end of High Park at Colborne Lodge and the Children's Garden. Free admission to the grounds, merchandise and activity fees apply. Special event admission to Colborne Lodge is pay-what-you-can. Oct. 3, 12pm-4:30pm, Colborne Lodge, 11 Colborne Lodge Drive, South end of High Park, north of The Queensway. www.toronto.ca/museums-events

Liberty Village Farmers' Market - A wide range of conventional and organic fruits, vegetables and meats all from local farmers. Weekly Entertainment. Sundays, June 6-October 31, 2010, 9am-2pm, Green P Parking Lot, 34 Hanna Avenue, Liberty Street and Atlantic Avenue. http://www.my-market.ca/

Distillery Historic District Farmer's Market - Great produce and products from local farmers and artisans. Mill Street and Parliament Street. Sundays, May 2-Sept 26, 2010, 10am-4pm. More info.

glorious gerber

2010-09-29T20:38:00.001-04:00

mid-week glooms... with weekend goodness in sight

2010-09-29T15:36:00.002-04:00

It was an oh-so-gloomy subway ride this morning... full of that icky mid-week feeling. However... this weekend is fast approaching... and will be wonderful!

First, we're changing the size of the pipes into our house to increase our water pressure... so I'll finally be able to run a bath and soak (yipee!)... and second... Nuit Blanche!

In Nuit's 5 years running, the first few years we were still living in Vancouver, and the past few years we were out of town... but THIS YEAR... this year... we. are. there.

Other great current/upcoming stuff...

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Montgomery's Inn Farmer's Market - Runs Wednesdays, July 7 - October 6, 2010, 3 pm - 7 pm. Montgomery's Inn, 4709 Dundas Street West, Southeast corner of Dundas and Islington. Click here for more info, or visit www.toronto.ca/museums-events.

Distillery Art Market - Weekend Outdoor Exhibitions - Featuring up to 15 exhibitors in various outdoor spaces at The Distillery Historic District over the course of a series of six weekends. Come see a wide variety of exhibitors – painting, printmaking, ceramics, fibre art and more! Tours and Open Studios will take place throughout each weekend. Sept. 24-Oct. 31, Fri. Sept. 24-Sun. Sept.26, 11am-6pm. The Distillery Historic District, 55 Mill Street, Parliament Street and Front Street East. http://www.torontoartscape.on.ca/node/927

Toronto Fall Home Show - Prepare to become inspired, enlightened, informed and energized with helpful advice, home solutions and the coolest new products for in and around your home. Check our website often for updates on celebrity guests, cooking stage line up, and a list of home decor, renovation and lifestyle companies who will be a part of the show. Sept. 30 - Oct. 3, 2010, Better Living Centre, 195 Princes Boulevard, Exhibition Place. www.fallhomeshow.com

New Decade ~ New Art - Hungarian Visual Artist of Canada is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a group exhibition at the prestigious Todmorden Mills Museum and Arts Centre in Toronto. The gallery display will be comprised of paintings, sculptures, photography, woodcarvings and enamels. Sept. 29 - Oct. 11, 2010, Wed-Fri 12-4:30 pm, Sat-Sun 12-4 pm. Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre, 67 Pottery Road. http://wx.toronto.ca/festevents.nsf/Warn?OpenForm&URL=www.huvac.ca

Art Down By The Bay - The Beach Guild of Fine Art presents: "Art Down By the Bay", an art show and sale showcasing the artwork of over forty artists. Opening reception: Friday, Oct 1st 6pm-9pm. Free Parking, Free Admission, Gift Boutique, Lucky Draw, Refreshments. Oct. 2-3, 2010, 10 am - 5 pm, Beaches Lion's Club, Ashbridge's Bay, 10 Ashbridge's Bay Road, Coxwell and Lakeshore. http://www.beachguildoffineart.com/

High Park Harvest Festival - Enjoy the harvest in High Park with food, crafts, music, horse and wagon rides, warm cider and more. This year's theme is Pudding, Pies and Preserves. Held at the south end of High Park at Colborne Lodge and the Children's Garden. Free admission to the grounds, merchandise and activity fees apply. Special event admission to Colborne Lodge is pay-what-you-can. Oct. 3, 12 pm - 4:30 pm, Colborne Lodge, 11 Colborne Lodge Drive, South end of High Park, north of The Queensway. www.toronto.ca/museums-events

facelifts + wild lovelies

2010-09-28T09:51:00.010-04:00

Returning after a such a long break away, it feels like an abowlofchicpeas facelift is in order. First I must finish muddling through all my links and sidebar goodies... weeding out all those who have disappeared. Next... a new template. Something fresh and inspiring... ahhhh, yes. It's time.

In the meantime, I'm striving to find time every day to post at least one photo...

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While up North in August, J + I were trolling around in the boat in search of a new fishing spot, and came upon this little guy. So beautiful. It had been a while since we'd seen any turtles up there, so we couldn't resist snapping a few photos!

...and this lovely creature about to take flight!

Happenings in my big, beautiful city

2010-09-24T11:15:00.019-04:00

Always on the lookout for up and coming events in my big, beautiful, diverse city... Here are just a few interesting upcoming event to share!

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Art Gallery Hop - Sat. Sept. 25, 11am-12:30pm. Ontario College of Art and Design, 100 McCaul St.
http://www.canadianart.ca/microsites/galleryhop/schedule/

The 17th Annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup - Sept. 18-26: In Toronto anywhere land meets water, including lakes, rivers or streams. Help protect local wildlife and preserve Toronto's shoreline ecosystems by participating in this annual, nation-wide conservation event. A few hours removing litter from your local shoreline can make a big difference. In 2009, the combined efforts of communities across Canada removed over 160,000 kg of litter from 2,457 km of shoreline. To register as a participant or site coordinator, visit http://www.shorelinecleanup.ca/.

Manifesto Festival - Sept. 20-26 - The critically acclaimed Manifesto Festival of Community & Culture is 7 days of incredible events across the city (including art exhibitions, dance competitions, workshops, free outdoor concerts, film screenings, networking opportunities, seminars, a pop-up arts market, and more), culminating in a massive free outdoor concert at Yonge-Dundas Square in the heart of downtown Toronto. http://themanifesto.ca/festival/

Culture Days - Sept. 24-26, Various locations. One weekend. Thousands of free cultural things for you to do, make, paint, sculpt, act, sing, dance, write, and learn. Discover the world of artists, historians, architects, curators and designers in your community. Inspire the creator in you! http://www.culturedays.ca/

Distillery Art Market - Weekend Outdoor Exhibitions, Sept. 24-Oct. 31, Fri. Sept. 24-Sun. Sept.26, 11am-6pm. The Distillery Historic District, 55 Mill Street, Parliament Street and Front Street East. Featuring up to 15 exhibitors in various outdoor spaces at The Distillery Historic District over the course of a series of six weekends. Come see a wide variety of exhibitors – painting, printmaking, ceramics, fibre art and more! Tours and Open Studios will take place throughout each weekend. http://www.torontoartscape.on.ca/node/927

The Clothing Show - Sept 24-26 - Over 300 booths of new local designers, retailers, jewellery, accessories, vintage, and eco-friendly clothing, including an art gallery and runway fashion shows. Local artists (of any medium) have also been invited to create a gallery and marketplace within the show, which has offered over 1,000 feet of art gallery space. Tix $8 online before show, $10 at the door. http://www.theclothingshow.com/

Black Creek Brews Fest - Sept. 25-26, 11am-5pm. Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, Jane and Steeles. Price range: $20-$29. Enjoy various beer samples, savour local foods, watch demonstrations, and listen to great music. http://www.brewsfest.com/

The word on the Street - Sept 26, 11am-6pm, Queen's Park - 21st National Book & Magazine Festival - The Word On The Street Toronto is a non-profit organization that celebrates Canadian reading and writing, and champions literacy, primarily through a free, annual outdoor festival. Twitter: @torontowots, http://www.thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/toronto

mail love

2010-09-23T20:15:00.007-04:00

Today I have officially re-joined the world of mail art... by securing my brand spankin' new PO box!!! So very exciting. After having been postal MIA for so long, I've been itching to mail randomness into the world once again. The mystery of it... never knowing for absolutley sure that someone has received your mailing... hoping to brighten a stranger's day with no strings attached.

More than anything I'm looking forward to re-connecting with the people who I've been exchanging mail with over the years... I do hope at least some of my addresses are not outdated...

*off to research*!

house, house, house

2009-03-04T21:48:00.001-05:00

Ahhhh, abowlofchicpeas my sweet... you have been put to rest for far too long. But alas... I'm sensing my own internet connection in the near future... in our new house!!!! yeah, yeah, yeah, new house, house, house, full of projects + crafts + lovely little things that make me happy.

After the sudden halt of all my beloved on-the-go projects, and then months & months of living out of backpacks + storage... the end of my crafty hibernation is close... so very cloooooose. I can smell it... + I am giddy in delight!

Hopefully the next week or two will bring the end to a few major jobs being done in our house (I can't believe we have a house), and then we can move into said house (how many times can I type the word house in one post?).

house, house, house.
weeeeeeeeeeeeee!

there is hope

2009-01-26T21:34:00.000-05:00

unexpected new beginnings

2008-12-24T12:19:00.001-05:00

Months back we recieved notice that the Van house we rented in was sold. We had been playing with the idea of moving back east, so moving into another Van rental, only to move again, seemed senseless. So... out-of-the-blue, we began our newest adventure: relocating eastward.

For the first time we paid movers to haul our crap for us, which resulted in a lot less stress in such a big move. A few days + much cleaning later, we gathered up the 3 kiTs, locked the door of our beloved Vancouver home, and piled into the car for our latest road trip.

7 days later we pulled into the GTA, and here we've been, about as settled in as we can be until we finally move into digs of our own. With everything packed away in storage, we've been living out of backpacks for almost 2 months now. Very much looking forward to regular online access, a crafty space of my own + a house full of projects to be attended to...

Happy hollies + and a happy brand new year to all my crafty comrads, my loved ones + of course, my sweet, sweet J. Ü

Vancouver walkabout

2008-10-23T08:47:00.002-04:00

letterboxing + paddleboating, Belcarra, BC

2008-10-10T09:53:00.007-04:00

save the turtles!

2008-10-04T10:26:00.053-04:00

My beautiful sister has been dreaming of volunteering with turtles as far back as I can remember, so we recently embarked on a Costa Rican adventure together....

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After several crappy flights, we waited at the airport in Juan Santamaria for someone from the volunteer head office to greet us + drop us off at the volunteer hostel. After too-long-a-wait, phone calls greeted with an after-hours message, and a setting sun, we decided to give up + find our own way. An hour later we were settled in a bed + breakfast, and were enjoying a delicious dinner in downtown San Jose.

Before the crack of dawn we caught a cab to another airport and flew to Golfito. From Golfito we took a shuttle bus to the water edge in an inlet off the Pacific Ocean, where we payed 3,000 colones (~$5 cdn) each + boarded a boat to Puerto Jiminez, looking forward to the next length of the trip - a quick stop at a bank + a bus ride through the jungle. Greeted by a bank with closed doors, we found a comfy room for an unexpected overnight stay.

After a delicious breakfast + painfully long bank line wait, we made our way to the collectivo bus stop. The collectivo bus (a noisy beat up truck with a crate + tarp on the back) departed from Puerto Jiminez and entered the jungle towards the OSA Peninsula, meandering through bottomless road craters, rivers and bush for a blistering hot 2.5 hours.

Every few seconds the collectivo would smack into overhanging vines and branches, and a new flurry of airborne insects + foliage would be flying at us. With little-to-no understanding of Spanish between us, every time the collectivo stopped, my sister would poke her head out and ask, "Tortuga?" To which the driver would shake his head and mutter something-or-other in Espangol... so we'd sit back + hope he understood where we needed to get off. Eventually the truck stopped and the driver pointed at us, so we gathered our packs and jumped off. We were hot, sticky + buggy, and our backs were bruised from being crushed against the wood slates behind us.... but we had arrived!

We trekked up the path, found the volunteer "field station" kitchen/eating area, met a few volunteers, and discovered an organization that was falling apart. After listening to a long explanation of camp politics and "why people will seem grumpy", and hearing that the majority of volunteers had abruptly left the day before, we wondered how the rest of our stay would pan out.

A short walk from the kitchen we passed 2 unkept curtained toilet stalls (with horrificly large resident spiders), and an equally unkept shower stall (with even more disturbing inhabitants). A little further and we arrived at our sleeping quarters, shared with 2 other volunteers, which would run each of us $25 a night. Our "cabina" consisted of four posts with metal slates sitting (what appeared to be loosely) on top, and netting with gaping holes for walls, 2 bunk beds, no electricity, no plumbing, and no shelves. Volunteering to take the top bunk, I climbed up the ladder to find an ancient beat up piece of foam mattress, covered in grit and fuzzy mold, and a moldy-stained pillow to match. Thank heavens we had brought our own sheets and pillows.

As the surrounding jungle darkened, our new young roomate (Stacey) talked on about social turmoils, and then shared some info to be aware of. Beach patrol morning shifts run from 4am to 10am, night shifts run from 8pm to 1am, and the thinned volunteer staff meant less flexibility, and possible back-to-back shifts. Patrols consisted of documenting turtle comings + goings, measurements, relocating nests when necessary, tagging, and warding off animal (+ human) poachers. No drinking/smoking is permitted anywhere, and since the volunteer station sits on private property, and the kitchen space belongs to the owners, volunteers are only permitted there at meal times.

With the sun setting at 4pm, no electricity, and no common area for the volunteers to gather, we found the idea of spending the whole afternoon-evening-night in complete darkness with no socialization completely rediculous. We were immediately puzzled at the strict rules... after all, we were selflessly volunteering our precious time to this important cause... hello?

A little discouraged, we quickly arranged our belongs, dug headlights out of our packs and followed Stacey back to the eating area for dinner. After enjoying an authentic rice + cooked fruits Costa Rican dinner, we sat for a while around the table and chatted with the remaining volunteers about upcoming beach patrol shifts, what to expect + what to bring. We were so excited to see turtles, that after some persuasion, despite our lack of training, we were added to that evening's shift. We scurried back to the cabina to grab rainjackets and proper footwear, + since disturbing the turtles with photos is a no-no, I reluctantly left my camera behind. We were back at the kitchen by 8pm to meet the rest of our team, which surprisingly consisted of only Stacey and another field assistant.

The 4 of us trekked down to the beach edge + waited for our eyes to adjust. The field assistant explained that we were not to use our red-bulbed headlights unless absolutely necessary. The rainy night kept the moon hidden, so any hopes for moonlight were quickly squelched. As we started to walk down the beach I was overwhelmed by the darkness, unseen critters + jungle sounds. I have terrible night vision (something I should have considered before agreeing to this excursion!), and clung onto my sister's arm as we walked along the uneven sand, logs, rocks and other debris. Now and then I would quickly click my headlight on + off to calm my nerves and grasp my surroundings.

Eventually we came across the most beautiful Olive Ridley digging a nest. We kept our distance until she went into an egg laying trance + then approached the silent giant in complete amazement. The width of her shell spanned close to 2 feet, and her slow, repetitive movements were mezmerizing and somehow comforting, in a motherly sort of way. After 20 or so minutes the last egg fell from her, she covered her nest + then packed the sand down with her fins. As Stacey and the field assistant marked the nest for monitoring, my sister and I followed the quiet giant as she returned to the ocean and disappeared into the water. We looked at eachother, sighed in amazement, met back up with our companions, and continued down the beach to be dazzled once again.

After a few days, we were torn between the living conditions and the wonderful patrols, and decided to cut our visit short. We woke early the next morning, bid a quick farewell + waited by the side of the road for the collectivo to return to Puerto Jiminez.

Our trip continued throughout Costa Rica, full of unplanned adventures, cancelled flights, boats that never showed up, questionable accomodations one night + wonderful the next, and a sea of photographs. A wonderful bumpy adventure, and we both walked away with memories of a lifetime.

R66 Days 12-17: slab-strolls, pickle-toppings + windy love

2008-09-30T10:44:00.060-04:00

In Mt. Olive we found Soulsby's Service Shell Station, a beautifully restored 1926 gas station, + various fabulous stretches of unused older alignments, all within metres of the R66 we drove along. At various points we'd pull to the side of the road + trample over the slim meridian of grass to stroll atop the older slabs + snap photos.

In Springfield we stopped at the Cozy Dog Drive-In (operated by the Wildmire family since 1950), where the corn dog was apparently invented. Neither of us can admit to being huge fans of corn dogs, but we couldn't pass by without stopping into this long-standing R66 attraction. These were definitely the-most-delicious mustard + pickle-topped corn dogs we've ever had. mmm.

With full bellies, next we found Maid-Rite along R66, which boasts to be the first drive-thru restaurant in the US, operating since 1924. Though they've since expanded the table area into a large back-end room, the building still houses the original seating room, a tiny space with five or six ~1.5 ft long (!) tables, each with a bench seat on either side, about the same size of the table (!). The restaurant's menu has not wavered far from its original offerings: Maid-Rites (sloppy-joe sandwiches), frosty mug rootbeers + rootbeer floats, french fries, milkshakes, pop and milk. With nothing priced over $2.79, and us squeezing our not-so-tiny selves around a tiny table, we enjoyed a quick + sloppy bite.

After a visit to the Springfield Lincoln Tomb, we continued on until we stopped for the night in a creepy Braidwood, IL motel. The next morning we stopped for breakfast in Wilmington, and found the local Gemini Giant. This former muffler man has been fitted with what resembles an astronaut (or welders) uniform, holding a Launching Pad rocket. We've seen a number of these fellows while touring R66:

They're big. They're scary. And there are hundreds of them. But where did the muffler men come from?
If there was a single ancestral birthplace of these hulking highway giants, it has long been shrouded in murk. Today's owners, often three or four times removed from original purchasers, had little or no information. Were some really seen in the 1940s, as chronicled in our Sightings Reports? Were they fashioned by "some company in California," or dozens of dead and defunct fiberglass makers? Tantalizing clues, and, to be honest, we didn't dig too deeply. It seemed better not to know....
Enter Steve Dashew, who stumbled onto our Web site in 1999. It was Steve's company, International Fiberglass, that turned out thousands of commercial statues in the 1960s and 70s... [read more on RoadsideAmerica]

Through Elwood, Joliet + Plainfield we were stopping to letterbox intermittently + trying to remain on R66 as much as possible... but after a long road trip through small towns and fields, driving through the outskirts of Chicago felt almost like driving along the vegas strip... so much to see + so hard not to detour from our intended path.

Chicago was much bigger than I expected, and made me realize just how small Vancouver really is. We tried to drive to what we believed was the very end of Route 66, however we were greeted by road closed barricades (how fitting) + were forced to circle a few block radius over + over in hopes of finding a 'Beginning of Route 66' marker of some sort. We never found one, but some sort of signage must exist... + was likely right under our noses! We'll have to search for it again the next time we crave deep dish pizza.

Another completely amazing Route 66 tour... followed by 4 days of play in my newest love: the windy city. Bliss.

daydreaming of roadtrips

2008-09-27T08:46:00.005-04:00

I-40, East of Joseph City, Arizona

64 North to the Grand Canyon, Arizona

A stretch of the mother road, Newberry Springs, California

Unique's Photo Challenge: On the Road Again

R66 Days 9-11: tortoise pee, devil's elbow + rollercoaster madness

2008-09-24T09:39:00.035-04:00

On Day 9 we woke up + continued on, chattering about the wonderous evening before. Just past Vinita we noticed a creature creeping along the edge of the highway meridian. We pulled over and met this shy tortoise fellow, who tried to pee on both of us (unsuccessfully, *phew*). We didn't bother him for too long... just long enough to snap his photo and relocate him to the other side of the highway.

In Picher silence fell upon us as we passed a neighbourhood which appeared to have been destroyed by a tornado. Seeing this sort of destruction on TV + in person are two completely different experiences. As we passed giant uprooted trees resting on living room windowsills, clothing strewn about + foundations where houses previously sat, we were quickly overwhelmed with grief + sympathy.

During our short drive through Kansas we stopped in Galena at 4 Women on the Route, an old R66 gas station which has been restored + converted into a gift shop and snack shack. Out front are 2 fabulous original yellow + orange KanOTex gas pumps, and by the side of the building sits a 1951 Boom truck (which inspired the character "Tow Mater" in the movie Cars). In the shop we spoke with one of the owners, Melba, about the restoration of the buildings, and we learned that Picher had been torn apart by the tornado a mere month before we passed through.

From Joplin to Phillipsburg we passed many great old R66 buildings, signage and overgrown towns, and we stopped for the night in Lebanon, Missouri.

In the morning we continued on until stopping in Devil's Elbow to search for a letterbox (which was, btw, the most fabulous letterbox stamp I've come across yet!). We spent the day driving almost non-stop from Clementine to Eureka, where we splurged for a comfy night at a fancier-than-usual Holiday Inn.

The next day we left the car parked there while we played across the street in the Six Flags amusement park. Wheeeeeee! After a fun day in the sun we hopped back in the 'stang + continued on until stopping for the night in Livingston, Illinois.

R66 Day 8: pa-thungs, R66 mourning + luminescent creatures

2008-09-18T14:03:00.036-04:00

As soon as the sun came up we were in the 'stang + back on the road! Just south of Hydro we passed Lucille's, which is still closed (there's now a sign directing visitors to a new location... was it there before?). The graves across the street have disappeared... or perhaps just been moved.

Past this point we were looking forward to one of our favourite stretches of the mother road, running between Hydro and Bridgeport. An excerpt from my post about this stretch last year:

Continuing on, we discovered a gloriously long uninterrupted stretch of the mother road. The concrete sections resonated the classic sound of mother road we had come to love... pa-thung, pa-thung, pa-thung. Our handbook summed it up perfectly: though the interstate is only yards away, you get a true taste of what cross-country auto travel was like decades ago. Savor it, and remember it after you've returned home. Well said. We did. And we very much do.

A hop, skip + a jump (+ a hundred or so miles later) we approached Stroud and were on the lookout for the Rock Café, looking forward to enjoying lunch in a R66 roadside attraction we had not yet visited... but instead, we found a burnt out building. The newer gift shop next door was closed as well, and we drove on... saddened at the thought of further R66 losses + untold stories.

Just before Depew we discovered some unused short stretches of old R66 + some interesting signage, and in Depew we found the mini shoe tree our trusty guidebook described. Unfortunately we didn't have a pair of shoes we would be willing to part with...

After some successful letterboxing in Bristow, the sun was lowering, and we hurried on towards Catoosa in hopes of visiting one last roadside attraction before night was upon us. The Catoosa Whale greeted us with a beautiful grin, + with about 5 minutes of light to spare... and we wandered in + out of the whale admiring the beached swimming hole icon.

As we spoke of disappointment at the loss of daylight, the sun set, and we were suddenly in darkness... with little flickering lights everywhere... fireflies! Up until that evening I had never recalled seeing a firefly... + within minutes I had seen a lifetime's worth. As we stood in front of the giant smiling blue whale, these luminescent little creatures landed on us + took flight... time + time again.

We were both smiling as we drove away from Catoosa... and a short while later we were reminiscing about the whimsical evening in a motel in Vinita, OK.

R66 Day 7: sun baked warriors, art insanity + withering letters

2008-09-15T12:27:00.036-04:00

In the morning we hopped in the 'stang + headed towards San Jon. A few minutes later J was pulling the car over with me hanging halfway out the window, camera in hand... cursing under my breathe about how I had forgotten my zoom lens at home. Perhaps antelope?

A short drive from San Jon the paved road ended and we sat back + absorbed the quiet nothingness around us, and the sound of stones ricocheting off the underside of the car. After a long stretch of no signage, no buildings and no soul to be seen, we began to wonder whether we had missed a turn off... but after examining our roadmap I was convinced my navigations were solid... that we were in, around or between Bard and Endee... or so I hoped.

Just as the words left my mouth, a motorcyclist waved us down. With no helmet and a sun-beaten naked head, he asked us if we knew R66 in this area, and whether he had missed a turn. I bit my lip as I told him my conclusions (...a wrong navigation in an air-conditioned car with a case of water in the trunk is not exactly a problem... but baking in the relentless sun on a bike... egads). We drove on + drove on, guilt slowly consuming me... + finally breathed a huge sigh of relief when we passed a sign reading Access to I-40 5 miles ahead. We passed + were passed by this friendly R66 road warrier a number of times through the rest of the day, but once we crossed the stateline into Texas he disappeared.

In Glenrio, Texas, we stopped momentarily at the side of the road and turned off the car to absorb the familiar eerie surroundings + the dogs barking in the distance.

Once in Adrian we passed the Bent Door (a former R66 roadstop), and then stopped for a R66 breakfast at the Midpoint Café. The folks at the Café claim that this spot is the midpoint of R66 (1,139 miles from Los Angeles and 1,139 miles to Chicago). If you ever find yourself 'round these parts, make a point of stopping by this lovely little place for a delicious bite + some true Texan hospitality. With full bellies (+ a free bumper sticker to boot!) we continued through Vega, Bushland and Wildorado without stopping.

About 5 miles West of Amarillo we hopped out of the car to re-investigate Cadillac Ranch. Once again we were unprepared... but luckily found some abandoned not-quite empty spraypaint cans to mark our 2nd visit.

In Amarillo we stopped to browse through a consignment store packed to the brim with knick knacks, and chatted with the owner about R66. We asked her about the kitschy sign art throughout town, and (as the broiling early afternoon heat oozed through the open storefront door) she told us stories about the late Stanley Marsh 3, a local folk artist who had lived in her area since her childhood. Apparently Stanley died just recently, and there was an impressive gathering from worldwide travellers to pay thier respect.

Every town has a mysterious character or family about which locals love to dream up scarey stories. As a teen, the store owner + her girlfriends would drive by the foot of the Marsh driveway and "glare up at the mysterious house". On one occasion they dared eachother to touch the house... but only made it halfway up before running off!

In the 1970s, Marsh collaborated with the art group Ant Farm to create the Cadillac Ranch. Marsh has funded other public art projects in Amarillo besides Cadillac Ranch, which include the "Dynamite Museum", an ongoing project consisting of hundreds of mock traffic signs. These signs, bearing messages such as "Road does not end", "Lubbock is a grease spot", and "I have traveled a great deal in Amarillo", may be found
throughout the city of Amarillo. A series of the mock traffic signs are also displayed in Adrian, Texas, about 45 miles west of Amarillo. Marsh was said to have wanted the signs to be placed in towns beginning with the letter "A"....

Despite the attention of the art projects sponsored by Marsh, critics have called them eyesores with little or no artistic value. In response to the criticism, he is quoted as saying, "Art is a legalized form of insanity, and I do it very well"... [wiki]

As we left the store I was clutching my newly acquired metal linotypes... lovely additions for my budding collection. Ü

Just past McLean we kept our eyes peeled for remnants of the RATTLESNAKES EXIT NOW sign, which had been torn half-apart by a storm shortly before our first visit last year. We were expecting all signs of the landmark to be completely gone, but were surprised to find the signage in the same disrepair, with EXIT NOW still visible to passersby. We longed to hop the surrounding fence and scour the ground for fallen rattlesnake letters, but wouldn't dare remove remnants that were meant to wither away exactly where they already lay.

In Shamrock and Sayre we successfully visited 2 more lovely letterboxes. By the time we arrived in Clinton, Oklahoma the sun was setting, so we parked the 'stang for the night... and gave in to dreams of visiting a giant blue whale....

R66 day 6: divided rain, mysterious Mesita + swallow havens

2008-08-21T11:17:00.041-04:00

The 1st stop for us on day 6 brought us to the Continental Divide (rainfall divides at this point: to the west it drains into the Pacific Ocean, and to the east into the Atlantic). Our last drive through this area was in nightfall, so we were happy to have finally staggered our trip enough to be seeing in daylight what we had previously missed in the dark.

Between Bluewater and Prewitt we were looking forward to checking out the Route 66 Swap Meet. I was hoping to exit the car and get some photographs, but the property is surrounded by wire fence, and we were disappointed to find that the side of the building adorned in license plates is totally out of view + facing the superslab, instead of the mother road. Within a moment of pulling to the side of the road, a man emerged from the house nextdoor... + with an unwelcoming wave of his arm, we were once again on the road. hm.

In Grants we photographed vintage motels, and shortly after we were passing the Budville Trading Company. Approaching Mesita we passed Owl Rock, a large rock on the edge of, and towering over, the road. At the edge of Mesita is a large sign which reads:

NO CAMERAS

NO VIDEO TAPING

NO SKETCHING

NO TAPE RECORDING

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL

PEOPLE WHO VIOLATE OUR RULES WILL BE CITED AND FINED

THANK YOU,

MESITA VILLAGE OFFICIALS

We contemplated investigating further, but decided against it... again. What's the deal with this place? Perhaps locals are just sick of road travellers trampling through town. I am so curious about this place and simply must return one day.

Somewhere before Albuquerque we came across this little diner that had been recently painted. Is this an original R66 roadside diner which is re-opening? + if so... when did it close, and who is re-opening it? It's so small, colourful and welcoming... and our stomachs were loud with disappointment that it was closed.

After a necessary stop at Flying C Ranch, we decided against heading Northward towards Santa Fe, and following the superslab we were soon approaching Santa Rosa. As we drove through this stretch I envisioned the breathtaking rainbows we took in during our last R66 tour.

Between Santa Rosa and Cuervo we pulled into an abdandoned gas station. Every knob and button had long since been stripped, and we sat for a while staring at the hollowed buildings as countless swallows circled overhead. As the sun began to set over the horizon I snapped a few pictures to remember the moment, and we were on our way.

In Tucumari stopped at Blue Swallow Motel, met the current owner, chatted about our adventure + took in his R66 stories. He gave us a tour of the grounds and the only available accomodations left - a cozy little room with welcoming quilts and antique phone and fixtures. We snapped a few photographs ... + then our (lack off) funds regretfully re-directed us to a cheaper motel on the same strip.

mail art call

2008-08-21T09:54:00.010-04:00

Calling all artists! Beanie Mouse has recently posted a new mail art call:

Shiloh Horses: Abandon Abuse

If you find the lack of interest by Animal Control officials concerning, here's your chance to make a difference. Send your mail art (any size/medium) to:

KVBC-TV NBC
1500 Foremaster Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89101 USA

For more information, visit the original mail art call on found-art.

resting photo meme

2008-08-17T11:05:00.007-04:00

The abowlofchicpeas photo meme will be resting for a while... but will be back with a vengeance soon. Add yourself to the email list (see sidebar) to be notified upon its return! Ü

Feel free to post photos for previous themes. To find previous themes, click here.

R66 days 4-5: gridlock, letterboxing + bunnies of steel

2008-08-15T23:12:00.030-04:00

After a dreamy sleep on fluffy MGM pillows, we scooted over to pick up the rental car. It's always a bit of a mystery what type of car you'll actually be picking up (although you can "reserve" what your preference is, they don't actually guarantee it). To our relief we drove off in another Mustang... this time silver!

We quickly made our way out of the city, covering the short drive to Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam in no time. Still as fabulous as our last visit, and impossible to pass by without stopping to take it all in. I remembered the drive between the Dam and Kingman as being one long breathtaking backdrop of mountain desert, and welcomed the passenger seat along this stretch so I could sit back and take it all in.

We didn't spend much time in Kingman, and continued on to the Hackberry General Store. Around this area I planned to search out a letterbox for the first time. I sat outside the general store with my carvers & Speedball Speedy-Cut and carved 'R66' inside the infamous US highway emblem shape. A short while later I was stamping it into the logbook of my 1st found letterbox... woohoo! Finding something so random in the middle of nowhere is quite amazing.

The next time we stepped out of the car it was dusk in Seligman, AZ. Repeating our 1st R66 tour, the town stood quietly awaiting our arrival - everything was closed down + silent. Determined to find a 2nd letterbox, we visited a R66 roadside attraction, but after an hour or so of searching we gave up in disappointment.

By the time we drove into Williams it was pitch black + we quickly found a curry-aroma motel for the night. In the morning we headed off the beaten path just before Bellemont to Parks, a small community which was once a hub of tourist activity on old Route 66. After some searching we discovered another letterbox... and yet another in Winona!

Somewhere between Winona and Twin Arrows J noticed an unused portion of the old road that was unfamiliar to us. With cracked pavement and shrubs slowly creeping inward along the edges, we drove slowly and absorbed the scene around us. With the superslab a mere few yards away, the mustang ambled over the windy old road, through enormous potholes, around small cacti and over a history long since by-passed by the I-40. Eventually we came to a canyon where we could go no further, and were forced to return to the superslab to get to the other side.

We stopped again at Meteor City for a quick browse through the merchandise and a few snapshots of the surrounding area, and again in Winslow to check out the former site of the Tonto Drive-In movie theatre. Our visit last year was greeted with a wire fence around the entire lot + we wondered if it would be recognizable upon our return. The wire fence remains + a structure has since been erected at the back of the lot. We were happy to see that the sign remains by the road + hope that it will have survived its surroundings the next time we pass through.

Approaching Joseph City our eyes were peeled for the infamous R66 HERE IT IS sign. With newly painted red letters we saw it from afar, but as we drew nearer we noticed that the line of wooden bunnies along the top of the sign had disappeared. In the Jackrabbit Trading Post we learned that most of them had been shot down by passersby for entertainment, and that the rest had been removed... + are to be replaced with invicible metal bunnies! It's disheartening to find so many changes along the route in such a short passing of time, but also refreshing to see those few people working to keep remnants of the mother road alive.

In Holbrook we passed by the Wigwam Village Motel which seems to remain unchanged since our last drive through. We looked forward to our next stop - one of our favourite spots from our 1st R66 tour - the Painted Desert Trading Post. Other than some further withering away in the sun + some new graffiti adornments, the scene remains unchanged. The huge bird nest we observed last time remains in the rafters, but no mama bird was circling overhead this time. Perhaps she grew tired of visitors and found a new base. Just past the trading post we paid a short visit to the Dead Wash, where the remnants of bullet beaten cars still sunbathe in the dried up river elbow.

In Navajo we found one more letterbox + called it a day in an unmemorable motel room in Gallup. I'd love to post pictures of all the lovely letterboxes stamps we discovered... but alas, that would not be in the true letterbox spirit... so they shall remain a mystery to you until you discover them yourself.

photo meme - No. 10

2008-08-09T15:04:00.005-04:00

flame

_________________________________

Submissions:

_________________________________

share your 'flame' photo too!

1. Post a photo on your blog, flickr, photobucket or website.
2. Click on 'post a photo' below + paste a direct link to your image.
3. First time playing? Read the nitty gritty here.

piece by piece

2008-08-09T14:27:00.014-04:00

:: piece by piece ::
a nervousness collaboration
*please read everything before signing up!*

This wooden geometric puzzle is made up of 40 pieces. Each person that signs up will decorate 5 pieces.

Use any medium your heart desires, but please alter only 1 side (whichever side), so the remaining side sits flush with the rest of the puzzle. Edges should not be interfered with too much, so the puzzle fits easily back together.

Communication is essential to ensure that everyone follows-through + submits thier altered pieces... otherwise the puzzle will have blank spaces. People who sign up must already have participated successfully in at least 1 recent nervousness collection LMAO (a collection LMAO is when "the host collects art or things used to create art from all of the members").

Once you have your pieces, please alter within 1 week (max 2), sign your nness pseudonym on the back of your pieces, + mail them back to me in Canada. I'll put the puzzle back together + post images in the completed LMAOs section + my blog. Feel free to post your own pictures in the nness thread.

nitty gritty to remember:

To sign up, you must already have participated in 1 recent nness collection LMAO.
Post in the nness thread when you sign up + PM your mailing address to me
Post in the nness thread when you receive your unaltered pieces
Alter within 1 week (max 2).
Don't interfere with edges too much + alter only 1 side.
Remember to sign your pseudonym on backs.
Post in the nness thread when you mail your altered pieces.

__________________________________________

Nervous people! (unaltered pieces Rec’d / altered pieces Rec'd)

1. ducky ( - / - )

2. guzu ( - / - )

3. ilovelillies ( - / - )

4. theatrelion ( - / - )

5. Drachenfrau ( - / - )

6. brassinpocket ( - / - )

7. lithodora ( - / - )

8. blueness

lensday.com: The City

2008-08-03T10:55:00.002-04:00

lensday: The City

See it Sunday: Car

2008-08-03T10:47:00.001-04:00

See it Sunday: Car

photo meme - No. 9

2008-08-03T10:21:00.008-04:00

bubble:

_________________________________

Submissions

leafs4vr

LadyNews #1

LadyNews #2

_________________________________

share your 'bubble' photo too!

1. Post a photo on your blog, flickr, photobucket or website.
2. Click on 'post a photo' below + paste a direct link to your image.
3. First time playing? Read the nitty gritty here.

R66 days 1-3: low rollers, watered-down drinks + $18 bliss

2008-07-30T11:05:00.023-04:00

It's high time I sat down to write about our latest Route 66 roadtrip. We initially planned to start this adventure in Chicago and head westward, but after finding cheaper flights + car rental going eastward, easily changed our minds. Big mistake. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is true... including our money. Not a smart start, but fun nonetheless. :)

We finally checkout out the Fremont Experience on Fremont St. The 'old strip' isn't too long, and is lined with older casinos full of low rollers. Just off the beaten path we found The Cortez, a run-down casino with free (watered-down) drinks, and we happily sat down at a $1 roulette table for some hours, and lost our money, dollar by dollar.

A few days later we headed to Las Vegas Boulevard and spent our last Vegas night at MGM Grand. We wandered up + down the strip, and decided to pay a visit to the Bellagio slot machines. Once in the casino I remembered the best breakfast I've EVER had, so we headed over to Café Bellagio, and ordered 2 Maryland Crab Cake Benedicts at a whopping $18 each... ka-pow! Heaven.

photo meme - No. 8

2008-07-26T11:01:00.006-04:00

_________________________________

photo meme theme:

ALIEN

share your 'alien' photo too!

1. Post a photo on your blog, flickr, photobucket or website.
2. Click on 'post a photo' below + paste a direct link to your image.
3. First time playing? Read the nitty gritty here.

_________________________________

Submissions

leafs4vr

_________________________________

photo meme - No. 7

2008-07-19T11:40:00.002-04:00

_________________________________

photo meme theme:

SILHOUETTE

share your 'silhouette' photo too!

1. Post a photo on your blog, flickr, photobucket or website.
2. Click on 'post a photo' below + paste a direct link to your image.
3. First time playing? Read the nitty gritty here.

_________________________________

Submissions

Fawn

_________________________________

camera clicks

2008-07-19T10:58:00.006-04:00

Photo Friday: flight

SpunWithTears Thursday Challenge: Sky

LensDay: flower

Unique's Photo Challenge: purple

canada, eh?

2008-07-19T10:40:00.000-04:00

ShutterDay: Your Country

SpunWithTears Thursday Challenge: Noisy

photo meme - No. 6

2008-07-13T21:30:00.003-04:00

_________________________________

photo meme theme:

BLACK + WHITE

share your 'black + white' photo too!

1. Post a photo on your blog, flickr, photobucket or website.
2. Click on 'post a photo' below + paste a direct link to your image.
3. First time playing? Read the nitty gritty here.

_________________________________

Submissions

leafs4vr

_________________________________

the camera is on

2008-07-07T11:53:00.000-04:00

Shutterday: Shack

See it Sunday: apple

too late to submit on the See it Sunday site :(

photo meme - No. 5

2008-07-05T15:16:00.010-04:00

_________________________________

The 5th abowlofchicpeas photo meme theme is:

LUSH

share your 'lush' photo too!

1. Post a photo on your blog, flickr, photobucket or website.

2. Click on 'comments' + paste a link to your image.

3. First time playing? Read the nitty gritty here.

_________________________________

Submissions

Sharlene

leafs4vr

_________________________________

photo meme - No. 4

2008-06-29T12:33:00.005-04:00

_________________________________

The 4th abowlofchicpeas photo meme theme is:

expanse

share your 'expanse' photo too:

1. Please take a few minutes to read the nitty gritty here.

2. Post a theme-related photo on your blog, flickr, photobucket or website.

3. Click on 'comments' below this post + paste a link to your image.

_________________________________

Submissions

Sharlene

_________________________________

cruisin' the mother road... part deux

2008-06-26T10:47:00.003-04:00

R66 was just as faboo as the last time around. We drove, met people, heard stories, saw so many things, took about a thousand photos, and managed to totally forget about work and all stressful things. Perfection.

Monday brought us to the end of our adventure, and back to reality. It's been nearly impossible to sit in one spot at a desk this week, when all I'm dreaming of is hopping in the car in search of open road.

photo meme - No. 3

2008-06-23T00:18:00.002-04:00

_________________________________

The 3rd abowlofchicpeas photo meme theme is:

fuzz

share your 'fuzz' photo too:

1. Please take a few minutes to read the nitty gritty here.

2. Post a theme-related photo on your blog, flickr, photobucket or website.

3. Comment on the related theme post + include a link to your image.

_________________________________

Submissions

leafs4vr

_________________________________

photo meme - No. 2

2008-06-08T10:20:00.006-04:00

_________________________________

The 2nd abowlofchicpeas photo meme theme is:

warmth

how to participate:

1. Please take a few minutes to read the nitty gritty here.

2. Post a theme-related photo on your blog, flickr, photobucket or website. 3. Comment on the related theme post + include a link to your image.

_________________________________

Submissions

Sharlene

_________________________________

photo meme

2008-06-01T12:03:00.036-04:00

There are various fabulous creative memes out there (check out the Creative Challenges section in my sidebar), but there's always room for one more... :)

And so the abowlofchicpeas photo meme begins... hosted right here, starting every weekend!

These lovely new sidebar buttons will help direct you to current/previous memes:

How to Participate
Take a photo inspired by the theme and post it on your blog, flickr, photobucket or website. Feel free to use a previously taken photo (as long as it was taken by you).

To share a photo, click on 'post a photo' at the bottom of the related post and paste a direct permalink to your image. To avoid spam/inappropriate content, submissions are moderated, and will not post until manually approved.

Please don't link to your main page (ie, http://www.website.com).

Please do use a direct permalink to the page/post where the photo is (ie, http://www.website.com/photo).

Buttons
You're welcome to use this button on your blog or website. Please save the image, host it on your own server, and link it to http://abowlofchicpeas.blogspot.com.

If you've created a custom button for this meme that other people can use, please email it to me, including your name/website for credit.

Email list
Check out the sidebar to sign up for weekly meme themes via email!

Contact
Feel free to email me if you have any questions or to suggest a theme.

The nitty gritty
abowlofchicpeas takes no responsibility for what may be displayed on participating sites. If you're under age, please ask a guardian if this game is suitable for you before participating or viewing submissions.

Although pornographic related links will not be permitted, it is entirely possible that participating sites may display artistic nudity. If you are sensitive to what you view, this is not the right game for you.

abowlofchicpeas reserves the right to not approve a submission, or to remove a submission which may be deemed as inappropriate, without notice.

_________________________________

The 1st abowlofchicpeas photo meme theme is:

antique

_________________________________

Submissions

Sharlene

_________________________________

tranquility

2008-06-01T11:21:00.006-04:00

Cool, Clear, Water - Vegas memories
Unique's Photo Challenge

adventures with sweet pea

2008-05-31T11:34:00.013-04:00

I've really enjoyed swap-bot so far. I've come across a few nervousnessers I haven't 'seen' since the main nness site went down, and for the most part people seem to be following through with swaps they sign up for. The site has a great rating system, which really impacts how well the swaps run.

Yesterday I found a lovely package from jan54wil waiting for me in my PO box for the Postcard & Postage Stamp swap. When I pulled out the 3 postcards, I thought her kitten looks just like my sweet Pea. As I read her note + the back of each card, I realized it is my sweet Pea!

Using this pic of cuteness, Jan created 3 Adventures with Sweet Pea postcards - Mother Africa, Charms of India + Egyptian Princess.

Such a great surprise... and so fabulously personalized + creative.

Thank you Jan... I love them! :)

photo challenge madness

2008-05-27T11:15:00.009-04:00

R66 Shoe Tree, Amboy, Calfornia

SpunWithTears: Pink

A stretch of the mother road, Newberry Springs, California

LensDay: Street

Kitsilano waterfront stroll

Photo Friday: Difficult Shot

en route + about to burst

2008-05-24T11:28:00.016-04:00

cramming as much randomness as possible into a 6x9 envie to mail away for bounteous bubblies.

hosted by yours bluely via nness

...will I be able to seal this thing?

too. much. randomness.

unable to seal.

patch job required, and accomplished.

not a pretty sight... yet!

applying a lovely gold base....

+ some silver painted circles...

cutting out circles...
.

and more + more circles....
.
.

applying the finishing touches...

+ voila!

a beautiful (ready to burst) bounteous bubblie...

now en route to its new home in Florida. :D

21 days + counting

2008-05-17T10:46:00.005-04:00

Route 66 has been calling to us to return, whispering sweet road trip memories in our heads, pulling us to return to its slabs before it crumbles further into the past.

Flights have been booked, a car has been reserved... + the countdown has begun!

starved for light + murdered by the wind

2008-05-16T11:36:00.022-04:00

The day before yesterday while walking to the bus stop (in the rain, fancy that) I heard a *click* above my head. When I reached the bus shelter my umbrella refused to close. With a giggling audience + a bus speeding towards me, I thought about jamming it through the doors and scraping my way through all the people... + then awaiting the impending stream of bad luck. Or, I could just set it down. Set it down I did. Upon my next return, it was gone.

If Vancouver skies rain on my head one more time, I can't be held responsible for what I may do. This never ending fall-into-spring jazz has picked off my extensive umbrella collection one by one. Lost, turned inside out + murdered by the wind, borrowed + not returned, mysteriously disappearing...

1 pidly, half-broken, pathetic looking black umbrella remains in my house. It's wall leaning beside the front door, and it looks frightened.

I can hear birds chirping outside. But I'm not getting my hopes up just yet. My pidly umbrella will be making atleast 1 more trip downtown by my side. Whether he will be returning home remains to be seen, as all odds seem to be against him.

treat her right

2008-05-11T12:09:00.009-04:00

Happy Mothers Day Mom!

Thanks for always being there for me.

I miss you so very much. xo.

Lovely Postage

2008-05-01T12:46:00.009-04:00

:: Lovely Postage ::

I've organized many swaps over the years, but this is the first swap I'm hosting via swap-bot. If you'd like to sign up, you must be a member of swap-bot (it's free!).

Pick 3 postcards with pictures of the city/country you live in. Then dig through your stamps (or make a trip to the post office) and affix beautiful non-sticker stamps to each postcard. You'll be sending 1 postcard to each of your 3 partners. Partners will be automatically assigned by swap-bot shortly after the sign-up deadline.

Remember:

Pick store-bought postcards that have pictures of the city/country you live in.
Affix beautiful non-sticker stamps on your postcards.
Mail your postcards without envelopes.
Many of us swap on various sites, so please write swap-bot: Lovely Postage and your username/pseudonym on each postcard.
Optional: Before mailing, take a photo or scan the stamps ONLY (addresses should NOT be visible), and post images on the swap page.
If you don't receive a postcard from a partner within a reasonable amount of time, communicate this to your partner, and ask if they can re-send.
This swap is international - everyone is welcome. However, if you have recent no-sends, please explain on the swap page.

my own personal fan club

2008-04-13T12:35:00.001-04:00

First they couldn't stop staring at me as I waited for the bus last weekend... and now they're following me home from work...

arrival of spring

2008-04-11T22:28:00.001-04:00

*sniff*

staring problems?

2008-04-08T11:22:00.003-04:00

These fellows, obviously not from around these parts, wouldn't stop staring at me as I waited for the bus this weekend...

return of the bubblies

2008-03-30T01:45:00.009-04:00

:: bounteous bubblies ::

.. no. 11 ..

I set the previous bounteous bubblies up on the old main nervousness site, and they were always a great success... so here goes!

Jam-pack, cram, squeeze, squish and stuff as much randomness as possible into a 6x9 bubble envie, mail it to the person listed below you (in the nness thread)... and receive one from the person listed above you! I'll mail to #2, and #7 will mail to me.

All bubblies should be completely decorated on the outside - none of the original envelope should be visible. Paint, collage, etc - whatever medium your hearts desires. Be creative with this - put in some time and effort... and in return you can look forward to finding some beautiful artwork on a ready-to-burst bubblie waiting in your own mailbox!

To sign up, please post in the nness thread, and feel free to list some interests to give the person sending your bubblie some ideas... but keep in mind there are no obligations to send according to your interests.

If possible, please take a photo of the bubblie you send and post it in the nness thread. If you don't have a dig-cam or scanner, perhaps the person you're sending to will take a photo for you.

the nitty gritty:
:: Please only sign up for this LMAO when you are ready to start working on your bubblie.
:: Postmark your bounteous bubblie by May 25, 2008.
:: Please communicate, especially if there are any delays.

_____________________________________
participants:
1:: core (aka blueness)
2:: othellosmom
3:: ArteMissed
4:: mstrishadams
::5 glitterrati07
6:: Anastasia
7:: horror-of-horrors

earth hour... reducing our human footprint

2008-03-29T22:38:00.009-04:00

In about 22 minutes we'll be shutting of all our lights for one hour to participate in earth hour [wiki]. Please join in!

On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. View cities involved around the world. We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.

Is your city involved?

Aalborg , Aarhus , Adelaide , Atlanta , Bangkok , Bogota , Brisbane , Canberra , Chicago , Christchurch , Copenhagen , Darwin , Dublin , Hobart , Manila , Melbourne , Montreal , Odense , Ottawa , Perth , Phoenix , San Francisco , Santa Cruz , Suva and Lautoka , Sydney , Tel Aviv , Toronto , Vancouver

irresistible goodness

2008-03-28T11:35:00.007-04:00

fabulous copper, silver, gold monochromatic package PIF

rec'd from lise via nness... thank you! :D

curious cuteness

sweet pea

memoirs of R66

2008-03-21T23:06:00.005-04:00

Winslow, Arizona

Thursday Challenge: Experimental

Old National Trail Highway, Mojave Desert, Calfornia

Photo Friday: Found Objects

two peas in a pod

2008-03-18T11:50:00.019-04:00

carving speedball 'speedy-cut' stamp...

1st ink up!

1st stamping!

background ink x 24

practice prints

printing x 24

final lovin' touch stamp

final lovin' touch x24

24 prints completed

signed, titled, numbered... ready to be mailed.

two peas in a pod

traditional printmaking

collection LMAO hosted by anongrrl:

Fine Art Valentines V (five) year 2008

(lj official call)

blue critters floundering in blue seas

2008-03-14T12:00:00.001-04:00

my page in Zhenechka's

Shades of Blue Deco

travelling LMAO via nervousness.org

we <3 nervousness

2008-03-12T12:11:00.028-04:00

:: we lurve nervousness ::

..a travelling LMAO..

The journal. The theme of this pencil crayon journal is our beloved Nervousness.org community. The book is light + postal friendly (approx. 6.5x8 inches) and will travel down the list of participants, each nnesser along the way contributing 1 page/spread.

Once the journal has made its way home photos will be posted in the completed LMAOs section + my blog. If you have a dig-cam/scanner, pls post photos in the nness thread so we can watch it travel.

Your art. Create a pencil crayon spread (marker/pen highlights or outlines are ok too, but be sure they don't seep through the page). Remember to fill out the sign in page + sign your art!

Communicate. Please post in the nness thread when you receive the journal. When you're ready to mail it on, pls post again to make sure the next nnesser is ready to work on it + wait for a response before mailing.

2 week holding limit. If you can't find time to work on the journal within 2 weeks, pls get ready to mail it on (if you want to work on it at a later time you can be moved down the list).

Signing up. To sign up, you must already have participated in a few relatively recent travelling LMAOs successfully (completed your part in the project and communicated well). At this time, 5 spots are open for signups. More spots will open up as the journal travels, to ensure people signing up are currently active nnessers.

________________________

Nervous people! (Rec'd/Mailed)
1. chaoticcrafts (R/M)
2. ilovelilles (R/-)
3. Misty Fied (-/-)
4. Etayne (-/-)
5. shelleym (-/-)
6. home to blueness (-)

breathing spring

2008-03-12T12:02:00.004-04:00

spring is at our doorstep, the sun is (trying to be) bright, the birds are chirping... and with all health worries having been squelched, i'm feeling inspired to create, create, create.

time to breathe life back into abowlofchicpeas... one mailed art item at a time...

de-pebbled, de-threaded + healing slowly

2008-02-10T21:49:00.000-05:00

Last summer after noticing a tiny pebble deep in my hand between my thumb + forefinger, I wondered how long it had been hiding there before I discovered it. By December it had grown into a little stone, and was really starting to weigh on my mind. Last week I made a trip to the hospital where we said farewell, and a few days back I returned again to have the stitches removed.

When I have too much on my mind (still waiting on pathology :/), I usually dive into countless crafty projects... but being down to one hand put a kink into my usual habits, leaving me with too much free time on my hand(s, lol). Over the last few days I've been getting back into the swing of things... and by mid-week I should have a pile of out-going mailing waiting for a trip to the post office. :D

Lens Day: Pretty

2008-01-24T12:09:00.006-05:00

I've already made a post with this photo, however I love it so much that it deserves a post of its own...

Lens Day: Pretty

SpunWithTears: Nature

late night dining, hockey night in Canada + empty wallets

2008-01-21T12:46:00.000-05:00

Last week we made plans to go to Joe Fortes over this past weekend for Dine Out Vancouver, and it was well worth the only reservation spot that was left - a late night dinner: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup avec nutmeg crème fraiche, Grilled Wild Sockeye Salmon with smoked cod brandade and frisee salad + Spiced Okanagan Apple Crumble with cinnamon whipped cream... it was all fabulously mmmmm (though the salmon we BBQ'd this week was even more fabulous).

If you're in the Vancouver area, check out Dine Out Vancouver which runs until February 3, 2008:

It's bigger, better and back for the sixth year running! We invite you to savour Vancouver's delectable food and wine scene. Enjoy a three-course dinner at over 180 of Vancouver's hottest restaurants for $15, $25 or $35** per person...

Reservations are a must, and most of the good dinner times have already been scooped up. But hell, if you want to go to that super-deluxe out-of-price-range restaurant you've been drooling over, it's worth a late dinner followed by a late night stroll through downtown Vancouver to help digest before bedtime.

Saturday evening we went to our first Canucks hockey game. Our seats were at best mediocre, but I was happy to see that GM Place is much like the ACC in Toronto - every seat has atleast a good view. Unfortunately the Canucks lost 4-3, but went down fighting.

In hopes of ending the evening on a better note, we crossed the road and hit the Edgewater Casino. I was disappointed to find a room full of boring un-interactive dealers accompanied by un-enthusiastic gamblers... so going forward we shall reserve gambling for Vegas adventures. A few spins of roulette later we were out the door and walking home with lighter wallets.

We ended the weekend with a few Cypress Mountain runs on late Sunday afternoon... and witnessed the most beautiful coastal sunset. Photos really don't do it justice ... especially since my focusing abilities were hindered by my frozen solid digits:/

I recently joined MyBlogLog to try to network with other crafty soul bloggers. I'm still finding my way around... and can't figure out how get my site to send a feed to my abowlofchicpeas community page. arrrgh. hellllp.

buzzzzz z z z z z z z z z z

2008-01-16T11:53:00.000-05:00

Working, skiing, ice skating, cooking... we've been busy little bees for the last couple of weeks... but I'm never too busy to snap photos along my way!:)

skinny stickless, lost trapeze artists + monochromatic mail

2008-01-04T11:52:00.000-05:00

On Sunday evening we drove down to Seattle to spend the last day of 2007 skiing down Mount Rainier. In the morning I woke up feeling ill, + strapping skinny sticks to my feet + sliding down a hill was the very last thing I wanted to do. We vowed to ski on the 1st day of 2008 instead, and then spent the day browsing around the market, enjoying being together.

We brought the new year in at The Pink Door, a lovely restaurant in Post Alley. We were disappointed to have missed the trapeze artist swinging over the tables, but the live jazz band was beautiful music to our ears. What better way to bring in a brand new year - surrounded by music, fabulous food + wine, and the best of company.

The first day of 2008 arrived + presented each of us with a pounding headache... and alas, we broke our first vow of the year... skiing was off once again. That afternoon we drove home a bit grumpy about lugging around a snowboard + pair of skis without having used them even once! We shall make a 2nd attempt at Mt. Rainier sometime very soon.

Since we drank too much wine + I stunk at taking pictures of our lovely NY's getaway, instead here's a photo of the beautiful snow-scape while driving up Cypress last week. :)

So far 2008 has been a year of mailing many packages... the most entertaining of which was putting together a teal monochromatic [nness pif] package for lise. I'm working on the next one already - this time a bundle of red goodies for hydro.

Happy 2008!

majestic mail art - no.3

2007-12-22T11:02:00.006-05:00

:: majestic mail art ::
(no. 3)
*please read everything before signing up*
(nness thread/mma#1/mma#2)

A white card will travel down the list of participants. Along the way, each person will add some form of mail art to its surface, sign their art, add the next address, slap on some new postage, and mail it on.

Once the card has made its way home to me I'll post photos for everyone to see (in the nervousness.org completed LMAOs section + my blog). If participants have a dig-cam/scanner, pls feel free to post photos along the way so we can watch its transformation.

the nitty gritty:

Please don't use any TAPE, magazine clippings, bought stickers, or anything not handmade/altered.
10 day holding limit. Please post in the nness thread to make sure the next person is ready to work on this + wait for a response before mailing.

I'm opening 10 spots for now - but if it travels quickly and there's still space left, more spots may open as it approaches the end of the list. If you'd like to sign up, please email me, or leave a comment below. If it fills up too quickly, I can reserve you a spot for the next one.

This LMAO is open to anyone!

_____________________________

Participants (card Rec'd /card Mailed)

1. ilovelillies (R/M)
2. whimsey (R/M)
~~3. imconnie~~ - unable to particpate, may join back in later
4. ducky (R/M)
5. Rowena (R/M)
6. Braen (R/-)
7. brassinpocket (-/-)
8. glitterrati07 (-/-)
9. DotMatrixHero (-/-)
10. guzu (-/-)
11. home! (-)

animal spirits, sasquatches, sea bears + marmots unite

2007-12-15T11:58:00.001-05:00

At the end of November the mascots for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games were unveiled, introducing us to Sumi, Quatchi, Miga + their sidekick, Mukmuk.

Sumi is an animal spirit who lives in the mountains of British Columbia. Like many Canadians, Sumi's background is drawn from many places. He wears the hat of the orca whale, flies with the wings of the mighty thunderbird and runs on the strong furry legs of the black bear.

Quatchi is a young sasquatch who comes from the mysterious forests of Canada. Quatchi is shy, but loves to explore new places and meet new friends. Although Quatchi loves all winter sports, he’s especially fond of hockey. He dreams of becoming a world-famous goalie.

Miga is a young sea bear who lives in the ocean with her family pod, out past Vancouver Island near Tofino, British Columbia. Sea bears are part killer whale and part bear. Miga is part Kermode bear, a rare white bear that only lives in British Columbia.

Mukmuk is a rare marmot unique to the mountains of Vancouver Island. While he's not officially a mascot, Mukmuk is considered an honourary member of the team and enjoys surprising his friends by popping up on occasion to share in the spirit and fun of the Games.

The general consensus of Vancouver seems to be that the 3 characters don't represent BC or Canada well, that they are too anime or japan-esque, and that they don't represent the rich diversity that Canada houses.

It's time to recall mascots of the past. Now I'm not saying that since there have been some terrible mascots in the past, we should be happy with any kind of improvement... but taking a trip down memory lane does help keep it in perspective, and appreciate our loveable mascots. They were, after all, designed with kids in mind - and I haven't heard a single child complaining. Have you?

The Van2010 mascots are cute and memorable, and as they're starting to appear regularly around the city, I grow more fond of them every day (though I'm sure the novelty will wear off pretty quickly).

fuzzy wake-up pills + creative skullism

2007-12-13T11:20:00.000-05:00

If you're owned by a cat, you're familar with your fuzzy superior ruling your world... and will likely relate well to the morning I've had:

The lovely mim emailed me a link to Skull-A-Day, and I've been meaning to share it for a while now. The one-a-day concept is always inspiring + I love checking back and see the latest skull materpeices. Check it out:

frosty mornings, annual poo-ism + elferifics

2007-12-11T11:31:00.000-05:00

It's been an odd couple of weeks in Vancouver... either it's been alot colder than usual, or I've finally acclimatized to this place. I don't remember there being this much frosty grass in the winter mornings in the last few years, and waking up to the sounds of people scraping ice off their cars... almost feels like we're back home.

In any case, we purchased our new season passes for Cypress, so all this wintery weather is very welcome. The mountains are already open, but I've been on call for a few weeks - so we have yet to make it up there. As of this Friday I'm free... so aches + pains, here we come. woooot.

Vancouver has been stricken with (what's becoming annual season for) turbid poo-water [2006 flashback]. The water is foggy + grey, and those without access to a watercooler at work must either be constantly dehydrated, or surrounded with piles of plastic water bottles. Last year it became a problem only when the stores ran out of bottled water... suddenly this resource we take for granted was worth gold. Quit cutting down our trees! I say no more.

If you needed a little mornin' giggle like I did this morning, check out Elf Yourself. The KiTs are none the wiser that I've been killing myself over their most hilarious elf debut.

natural born bands + chop suey nausea

2007-12-06T14:52:00.000-05:00

Being big fans of the actress Juliette Lewis, J + I have been curious about her band for some time. Out of the blue, my sister bought tickets for all of us to see Juliette and The Licks at Richard's on Richards the weekend before last. I was psyched to see her up close more than anything else... I am, after all, a huge fan of Natural Born Killers and Kalifornia, to name just a few.

Juliette put on a wild show - thrashing around on stage, loving the audience, talking with them, holding hands with those reaching up. I'll admit, there were 1 or 2 songs that didn't totally woo me, but overall she rocked it, and J + I had a blast.

The next evening, at the very last minute, J + I decided to catch another Licks show at Chop Suey in Seattle... at 8pm. We packed up and hopped in the car, and after a 45 minute wait at the border it seemed certain we'd miss the opening bands (Scissors for Lefty and Suffrajet)... and likely miss the Licks too. We arrived well after 9:30, and the first band was just starting to set up. Right on.

The venue was small and cool, but as soon as the 1st band came on we knew we'd be leaving with less hearing than we arrived with, and at the end of the show we walked out onto E. Madison St. almost deaf. Being an all ages event also meant that anytime we wanted a drink we had to squish into a sardine can bar area. Not the most enjoyable drink when you have to pound it back just to get the hell out of there again.

1 or 2 bodies back from the foot of right-centre stage, I was determined to hold my ground until the end of the show, but by the 2nd Licks song my ears were ringing and my toes were stinging from the chick thrashing around in stilletos infront of me. We caught the rest of the show from the back of the room, where we could actually hear the words, resting my aching trampled feet.

Every local review we've read on each of the shows completely trashed the entire band. But I have yet to read a shitty review written by someone who is a fan of the genre. I haven't looked too far mind you, but that's beside the point. Juliette rocks... enough said.

bonne fete, my sweet J

2007-11-23T01:16:00.000-05:00

crawling through eastside culture

2007-11-18T13:14:00.000-05:00

The 11th annual Eastside Culture Crawl is on this weekend - starting on Friday and ending later today, Sunday.

The Eastside Culture Crawl is an annual 3-day November/December event that involves artists who live in Vancouver's Eastside in an area bounded by Main St., 1st Ave., Commercial Drive, and the Waterfront. Painters, jewellers, sculptors, furniture makers, musicians, weavers, potters, writers, printmakers, photographers, glassblowers; from emerging artists to those of international fame... these are just a sampling of the exciting talents featured during this unique chance to meet local artists in their studios.

We spent Saturday milling through the halls of 1000 Parker St., admiring the works of artists we have become familiar with over the last 3 years of attending the crawl.

Each year we search for studios displaying new works of artists we remember, including Arleigh Wood. This year my sister refused to let me walk away without a purchased piece, so after we had left she doubled back and bought one I had been admiring. She presented it to me over dinner, and it's completely fabulous. I love it... thanks R!!! :D

hallow's eve on the drive

2007-11-15T22:51:00.000-05:00

On the Saturday before Hallowe'en the Public Dreams Society hosts the Parade of the Lost Souls in our neighbourhood. This year the parade's route changed to accomodate the growing mass of ghouls + goblins - starting at the track/field behind Brittania, down Williams St., McLean Dr., Kitchener St. up to Commercial Drive and North to Grandview park.

In the morning my sister + I volunteered, signing in performers and volunteers for the event. Next I was in the track/field helping with pre-event set up; setting up shrines and fantastic decor previously built + painted by . J joined me in the afternoon, and we hung flags + signs along the parade route through the streets, hung bats in trees (7 foot long bats!) + other fab decorations. Other volunteers helped with setting up the many intricate installations - such as the giant oyster shell on a street corner with a life-size dead mermaid in a tree above, or the graveyard at the end of the parade route. Through the afternoon fire-breathers/jugglers/performers were practicing in their designated spots along the route.

An unbelieveable turnout - what used to be a small-knit community event has grown to atleast 20,000 people parading through the barricaded streets. The costumes are intricate and spectacular - any odd character you can imagine - you'll see in the parade.... and more!

There are a handful of giant puppeteering costumes that have been made by volunteers throughout the years, some towering 10ft overhead, some with hands to be moved by people walking alongside. No had had claimed the Goddess , so I picked her up to test her weight, and ended up carrying her through the parade. This goddess was certainly not light on her feet (has no feet at all actually) + my poor little feets carried her weight around, all 25 or so lbs of her, for 3 hours or more. My feet still ache thinking about it... but it was worth it.

J was Freddy Crougar, and throughout the evening people were continuously asking to have thier photo taken with each of us - with the Goddess towering overhead, or with J pretending to gouge them with his razor hand... it was hilarious. T'was a faboo day! :D

R66 days 9-12: elvis kitsch, kosher pickles + alligator puffs

2007-11-10T13:14:00.002-05:00

The next morning brought us to Memphis, Tennessee, where after refusing to pay the steep admission fee we were stuck (happily) admiring Elvis' estate from the street. We ooooed and awwwwed at the countless scribblings of admiration on Elvis' wall around Graceland, milled around for a while in the gift shop next door buying kitchy Elvis magnets, and got back on the road.

Through Mississippi we left the highway only once in Batesville to fill up on gas and grab some lunch (a rather uncomfortable 45 minutes of locals glaring + whispering). We always seek out the local mom + pop joints, more often than not proving to have better service, atmosphere, prices + food than the food chains by far... but not this time. J ordered catfish - relatively yummy, though it would have have been substantially yummier elsewhere. We didn't experience much of Mississippi... but we did pick up a packaged zesty garlic kosher dill pickle at the gas station! lol.

We didn't pull off the highway again until we stopped for the night in Hammond, Louisiana, where we immediately checked into a cheap motel and hit the sack - eager to get to sleep and awake in the morning to drive into the birthplace of jazz.

Driving across the endless Manchac Swamp Bridge (a 23 mile-long bridge passing over endless swamps, forests and marshes between Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain) was impressive... and never-ending! Once in the city we beelined to Vieux Carré (the French Quarter), took a quick drive through, checked into a hotel, and ditched the mustang to tour on foot. We remained in the The Quarter for our entire stay in New Orleans, wandering the streets + shops, gambling and eating in local food joints.

On our last day we wandered along the local artisan displays in Jackson Square and stopped to chat with one of the artists about the remaining signs of Hurricane Katrina's presence - the various buildings still boarded up, the Katrina inspection notices displayed in storefront windows. She admitted her frustration at the continued low numbers of tourists passing through, describing how full the streets of The Quarter were before the onslaught of Katrina. She asked us to spread the word back home that "the French Quarter does still exist, and is flourishing, so please visit!"

On Saturday we awoke to the realization that the drive from New Orleans to Forth Worth, Texas is no short trek... and we were going to have to get back on the road asap if there was any hope in catching our flight home the next morning. We packed up the car, returned the hotel key, and hit the road. We made pretty good time out of New Orleans, talking about how we should have taken a swamp tour after all. Driving over swamplands, I suddenly turned to J and said pull off the highway, this exit - take this exit! At the bottom of exit was a lovely SWAMP TOURS--> sign which led us into a nearby parking lot. It was meant to be!

The next tour didn't leave for 1.5 hrs. Anxious about missing our flight, we hummed + hawwed about whether we should chance it. J was disappointed at the idea of not even seeing an alligator, so the friendly lady behind the counter reached across her desk, grabbed a bag of marshmellows and headed for the door. We looked at eachother in puzzlement and followed her out. "I'm sure we can fix that," she said as she approached the shoreline. "He's a bit shy," she said as she unravelled the bag and plucked a plump white puff from within, "but he can't resist." She tossed the puff onto the waters edge a few steps from our feet... and after a few moments... CHOMP! Just like that... right in front of us! We were hooped - instantly deciding to pay and wait for the tour to start. The next hour crept by painfully slow as we anxiously lingered along the shoreline, just out of harms reach.

The tour was great - we saw a ton of alligators, fed racoons out-of-hand (how odd to do this on a swamp tour) and photographed turtles and tiny lizards in trees. The tour guide dazzled us by (foolishly) hanging his legs off the side of the boat and teasing the gators, then dangling raw chicken parts at the water surface, with gator teeth narrowly missing his fingers with each bite. J + I each took a turn feeding them ourselves - with a peice of chicken at the end of a stick, held down with a string, which you let go of when the gator bites... eeeeek!

By the time we got back on the road any hope of arriving in Dallas, Texas with enough time to check into a motel overnight was long gone. We drove all day, nibbling at snackfood accumulated from various states along our trip, with no time to stop for a meal. We finally reached a gas station just outside the Fort Worth, Texas airport at about 2 am, where we filled up, cleaned out the car and jammed everything into our packs. With an hour or two to spare, J snoozed behind the wheel in the parking lot, while I watched the clock and chatted with people coming and going from the store in the night.

After waking J, we brushed our teeth and washed our faces in the store washroom, drove to the car rental drop off, and made our flight. And we were awake, fresh and cheerful... or not. ;)

Harsh ending + all, it was a fabulous adventure. After driving 3,538.9 miles it's been hard to stay in one spot since. I've got the road trip itch. Where to next?

R66 day 8: graffiti, rattlesnake memoirs + sombre endings

2007-11-07T09:39:00.004-05:00

In the morning we backtracked to finally leave a marking of our presence along Route 66 - at Cadillac Ranch. A few R66 bikers were ready to get back on the road and happily relinquished their spray cans to us. woooooot. With a vicious whistling wind tearing at our ears, it was only a short while later when we returned to the car, mildly deafened.

Cadillac Ranch is a public art installation and sculpture in Amarillo, Texas, U.S. It was created in 1974 by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels, who were a part of the art group Ant Farm, and it consists of what were (when originally installed during 1974) either older running used or junk Cadillac automobiles, representing a number of evolutions of the car line from 1949 to 1963, half-buried nose-first in the ground, at an angle corresponding to that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.[1] The piece is a statement about the paradoxical simultaneous American fascinations with both a "sense of place" — and roadside attractions, such as The Ranch itself — and the mobility and freedom of the automobile.
Cadillac Ranch is currently located at 35°11′14″N, 101°59′13.4″W. It was originally located in a wheat field, but in 1997 the installation was moved two miles (three kilometers) to the west, to a cow pasture along Interstate 40, in order to place it further from the limits of the growing city.[2] Both sites belonged to the local millionaire Stanley Marsh 3, a supporter of the project.[3] [wiki]

The Cadillac Ranch holds that quirky character that R66 travellers seek, and never tire of. We made a quick stop in Conway at the Bug Ranch (a parody of sorts, with Volkswagon Beetles instead of Cadillacs) for a few more photos.

In Groom we passed the Giant Cross and the Leaning Water Tower [wiki], and a short while later the 66 Super Service Station in Alanreed, with a sign reading 'Built by Bradley Kiser, 1930, then in downtown Alanreed'.

Just East of McLean, in the vicinity of Lela, we scanned the roadside searching for a RATTLESNAKES EXIT NOW sign with hopes of visiting an long-stading point of R66. Apparently back in the day, motorists would stop at the Reptile Ranch to visit the open rattlesnack pit. We managed to find the sign, however it was apparently blown down in a severe storm early this year and sadly, is barely recognizable.

Entering Oklahoma, we passed through Texola, Erick, Sayre and Elk City stopping only a few short times for some photos. We finally stopped for lunch at Heapin Helpins in Weatherford, which left us delightfully lethargic and temporarily car-ridden. In Hydro we dragged our full-bellied-bodies out of the car to go into Lucille's, only to find yet another locked door greeting us along the mother road. Across the road, facing the building, are the graves of Lucille Hamons (1915-2000) and Thomas Teague (1913-2004). In 2006, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association erected a marking beside Lucille's building:

Provine/Hamons' Station:
This rural RT. 66 filling station with an over the drive design, was built by Carl Ditmore in 1929. W.O. Waldrop bought the business/home in 1934 and renamed the place, The Provine Station. A small tourist court was added for overnight stays. In 1941 Lucille and Carol Hamons became the new owners. They raised their three children Dene, Carl Jr., and Cheryl here. For 59 years, Lucille operated the business. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. "What constitutes a life well spent? Love and admiration from your fellow men is all that anyone can ask." -Will Rogers

Continuing on, we discovered a gloriously long uninterrupted stretch of the mother road. The concrete sections resonated the classic sound of mother road we had come to love... pa-thung, pa-thung, pa-thung. Our handbook summed it up perfectly: though the interstate is only yards away, you get a true taste of what cross-country auto travel was like decades ago. Savor it, and remember it after you've returned home. Well said. We did. And we very much do.

In Oklahoma City the skies opened up and poured down on us. The combination of rain and rush-hour traffic encouraged us to carry on without much of a looksee. We snapped a few photos of some great vintage neon signs along the route through town, and continued on towards Ft. Smith, disappointed that the last stretch of our R66 adventure consisted of sitting in a giant puddle of traffic.

Shortly after leaving Oklahoma City we giggled as we passed the turnoff for Kickapoo St. (hee), but from that point to Arkansas the road was quiet and uneventful. Our adventure took a sombre turn as soon as we left the mother road - it was disheartening to leave it behind without seeing it through to the end, but time was working against us + our flight plans. We plan to finish the rest of the route to Chicago sometime soon... along with hopefully re-driving the whole stretch of Route 66 one day.

R66 day 7: fresh air, un-squished tortoises + furry horror

2007-10-23T11:13:00.001-04:00

In the morning we jumped into a newly washed sparkling red mustang. Trying to steer clear of the superslab we detoured on a side road, hoping it would lead us back to the mother road. After driving along what seemed to be an endless road for who knows how long, we realized we had likely passed a necessary turnoff by a long shot... but the surrounding beauty convinced us to continue on eastward, southward, eastward, and eventually northbound back to the I-40.

Along this route we passed through Jordan and Quay (must have blinked twice - missed 'em). We pulled over a few times to aborb our surroundings... ahhhh, to be in the middle of nowhere, breathing fresh air + hearing only the sounds of flowers blowing in the wind + birds playing around them... it's a lovely feeling. A few little critters to greet us, but otherwise, no one to be seen for miles + miles.

In Tucumari ("too-come-carry") we stopped for a most delicious tacos and salad lunch at La Cita. With full tummies, we drove down the street to Things, a store full of vintage this and that... just the kind of treasure pot I love to kill time combing through, opening drawers of trinkets and investigating every little thing. Ruth, the lady running the shop, spent a good amount of time telling stories about many of the store's contents. We traded a few stories about vintage photographs we'd come across, and our shock at their loss of ownership. A woman after my own heart, I tell ya. I left with a bundle of old bank rubberstamps, a few photos, and a lovely silver bracelet. yum.

There are quite a number of lovely old motel signs along R66 in Tucumcari, however the one that expectedly caught our attention was the Blue Swallow Motel. Apparently built in the 1940s from WWII cabins, the motel drips R66 character. We would have liked to spend a night there, and see the whole strip lit up in the night... but it was time to move on.

Somewhere around San Jon, along a small dusty road, we came to a screeching halt after we passed over a moving bump on the dirt road. We walked back to find Mr. Tortoise #1 silent + still, fearing we had squished him. After a few minutes his head poked out and he continued crossing the roadway... we simultaneouly breathed a sigh of relief. A few quick photos of this little road warrior, and we hopped back in the car. A few minutes later J once again screeched to a halt, and we pulled over to meet Mr. Tortoise #2. The two of us squeal with delight at any wildlife interaction, so this was a real treat. I've held many-a-turtle in my life, but I can't say I've ever touched a tortoise... until now:). A few more photos later were on our way once again.

Crossing from New Mexico into Texas, we stopped in Glenrio to check out the few abandoned builings - a house and a post office. Our handbook described the area as 'deathly quiet, except for the barking of the junkyard dogs that commences a few moments after my arrival'... eerily exactly our experience as well. It also describes Glenrio as having been a bustling place in the 1940s. I was a little creeped out by the area (I had a feeling something scarey was waiting for us!) and decided to wait impatiently by the car and snap photos from afar while J puttered around investigating the ruins.

Somewhere between Glenrio and Vega we started noticing black critters scurrying across the highway. After swerving to miss something on the road, I looked at J in shock as he explained that it had been a tarantula. We were soon spotting the hairy-evil-little beasts (slight arachnophobia?) all along the roadside, and I couldn't help but jump + yelp each time we passed directly over one. A few minutes later (to my horror) J pulled onto the shoulder, turned off the car and got out - abandoning me at the side of the I-40, to photograph the *!?ers crossing the highway. There was no way I was getting out of the car, not with the hairy-scaries all around me - no way! I didn't step foot outside the car until we pulled into our motel in Amarillo. J has thankfully vowed that he will never (ever, ever, EVER) choose critters over me again. lol. *shiver*

R66 day 6: yard sales, rainy hymns + theatres of the skies

2007-10-22T11:31:00.001-04:00

After passing the Budville Trading Company, we drove along a fairly long uninterrupted stretch of clearly marked (newer paved) R66 through Laguna. At the entrance of Mesita we reluctantly got back on the superslab for a short time until we exited on on Route 6 (formerly Route 66) heading south.

In Los Lunas we stopped at a yard sale, where I picked up a silver bracelet and homemade lunch for 2, all for a few bucks. mmm. Turning north on the 25, we passed through Isleta, Albuquerque and Bernalillo, heading towards Santa Fe. Along the way we received conflicting stories (from both locals and pamphlets alike) about whether portions of the actual 66 still exist along this highway, and were disappointed to find only snippets of it remaining. It seems that a good portion was buried by the main highway itself.

In the historic section of Sante Fe (aka La Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asís or Holy Faith) we followed Pre-1937 Historic Route 66 signs through the city centre. Digging up a fistful of change and feeding a parking meter, we took in the character of the town - full of adobe buildings (a mixture of clay, mud and straw, baked in the sun).

Unfortunately we had arrived on a chilly on-off-rainy day (not to mention Jesus Festival day), not the perfect day for exploring by foot. We walked around until sufficiently soaked-through and chilled to the bones, returned to find our meter had already expired, and were on our way.

We drove out of Santa Fe on a windy road dotted with clay houses and lovely landscaping. Zipping down the 285 to Clines Corners (where the 285 + I-40 intersect), and then turning eastward, we were greeted with beautiful rainbows and skyscapes for endless miles. In Santa Rosa spine-tingling flashes of lightening + thunder convinced us to stop for the night. Once we had checked into our motel, we sat in the car across the street (under another motel's wi-fi range, lol), watching the theatre of the skies until they opened up and pounded water on us, washing all signs of our adventure off the car.

R66 day 5: baking bunnies, untold stories + rainfall trivia

2007-10-22T10:26:00.000-04:00

Around Joseph City we stopped at the Jackrabbit Trading Post to check out the infamous R66 HERE IT IS billboard. Across the street a fiberglass bunny bakes in the sun - whom countless mother road warriors have (and will have) straddled for a photo.

Somewhere between Holbrook and Navajo we left the superslab in search of an old stretch of R66 described in our guidebook. Our discovery of this older alignment section was one of the many which left us with a deep appreciation for its survival through the years. Noticing that the gravel road we drove along wore fainted yellow painted lines along its edges, we had to pull over, bend down, and run our fingers along the paved surface gradually crumbling away in the heat.

A fair drive away from the interstate we came upon the Painted Desert Trading Post, which we circled on foot. The walls house years of cracks, withering paint and bullet holes, and peeking inside the remains of the structure we discovered a giant birds nest - so giant that we decided it was time to continue on.

Another short stretch of road brought us to the Dead Wash, a dried up river bed with a handful of old cars trapped in the mud of the river elbow. We mulled around the area, admiring the rusted out autos, full of bullet holes and stories we longed to hear.

Entering New Mexico we were greeted with displays of beautiful endless rainbows against red dirt backdrops - a beauty photos are simply incapable of capturing.

By the time we drove into Gallup darkness had once again fallen upon us, showcasing the many neon signs lighting up the night. Between Gallup and Thoreau we passed the Continental Divide, at which point rainfall divides - to the west draining into the Pacific Ocean, and to the east into the Atlantic via the Gulf of Mexico. We eventually stopped in Grants to spend the night.

Looking back on this adventure, it's difficult to decide which things to post about, and which to not. The mother road holds many memories for us, and those which have been caught in photos successfully are the easiest to share...

R66 day 4: Canyons, taxidermy + pooping movie patrons

2007-10-13T10:37:00.001-04:00

On the morning of Day 4 we woke early, eager to get back on the road and see the Grand Canyon for ourselves. About mid-way up the 64 we stopped for gas at the Canyon Trading Post (est. 1889). Good choice, I might add, since we discovered that we would have payed over $4 at the Canyons! We accepted paying $2.74 gracefully and were quietly on our way.

After paying the $25 entrance fee to the Grand Canyon National Park, we parked and scrambled to the edge, immediately in awe. The view (or rather every view) is completely breathtaking. As a good friend of mine commented on one of my photos, "that's a big canyon. one might even say it was grand." Unfortunately photographs just don't do this experience justice. We walked along the edge of the Canyon snapping photos of views and desert critters for hours. Every now & then we'd stop and watch in horror as one of the many absolutely brilliant tourists dared to inch out on narrow slices of rock hovering over the Canyon. We eavesdropped on a local couple chatting about how it had been only 1 month since someone had fallen to thier death doing this same thing... yet people continue to take the same risk every day. yipes.

I was sad to drive away from the Canyon, thinking that we had just left behind the grandest views we were to see on our adventure... but we were pleasantly surprised again and again along the drive toward Cameron by the countless just-as-overwhelming backdrops. We stopped a handful of times along the side of the road to browse through tables of beautiful native american silver jewellery, blankets and buffalo jerky.

When we reached Cameron we turned South, heading back to the mother road. The drive down was rather mundane + uneventful, allowing an opportune time to absorb and reminisce about the day. In Flagstaff we stopped at the vintage roadhouse, The Museum Club (est. 1931), and went inside to check out R-66 photos, artifacts + taxidermy, and chat with a few locals about the evening events to come.

On our way out of Flagstaff we sat for a few minutes in a construction traffic jam, where we inched by one of the many Historic Route 66 signs... however this one was accompanied by a detour sign. Just the type of thing you don't want to see - but we were slowly already coming to terms with the sad realization that more + more of the old road is being modified, modernized and sometimes totally removed. Whenever we came across signs of this nature, we felt a sort of a mourning for the main street of America.

En-route from Flagstaff to Winslow, we passed through Cosnino and Meteor City. It was late in the day, so after stopping just long enough to snap a few photos, we continued on to Winslow where we planned to stop overnight.

Once in Winslow we tried finding the old drive-in we knew was in the area, but were blinded by the darkness. The next morning we backtracked through town to see all that had been hiding in the night. We quickly found the drive-in, but were saddened to see that the lot is now gated in, with construction machinery situated at the farthest end, presumably to re-claim the lot for a new purpose. The old Tonto Drive-In Theatre sign still sits by the road, home to many-a-nesting (+ pooping) pigeons. I hope the sign survives the changes to come.

R66 day 3: knishes, regurgitated rodents + the essence of R66

2007-10-12T12:13:00.001-04:00

In the morning we peeled ourselves off our motel bed, packed up + headed out to find breakfast before hitting the road. The last thing I expected to find in Vegas was a knish, but unfortunately I couldn't try it... my pounding head + restless tummy were insistent on a sesame bagel avec cream cheese only at Bagels N'More on East Tropicana blvd.

From Vegas we drove back to Boulder City + back over the Hoover Dam, crossing into Arizona. The views all the way to Kingman were simply spectacular, but there were few places to stop to shoot photos.

In Hackberry we stopped at the Hackberry General Store. Outside the store are countless vintage photo ops - cars, bottles, signs, bones, snack vendor machines, cacti, gas pumps, hubcaps, wheels - all strategically strewn about + eagerly awaiting photographers. Inside the store we browsed around for a while, and eventually came to the decision that all we would leave with was a souveneir sticker, and a Route 66 root beer for J.

Somewhere between the Grand Canyon Caverns in Cosnino and Seligman, a giant falcon flew just over our windsheild to grab our attention. He flew insistingly over us for a few hundred yards further, until we finally pulled over to take his photo. How very thoughtful of this beautiful creature to take time out of his day to dazzle us. We watched him as he sat magnificiently atop a hydro pole, in awe of his monster size. This lovely photo caught him with his mouth open... just before he spit up something that fell to the ground - some sort of small rodent. mmm, deeeelish.

In Seligman we pulled over to check out some kitchy R66 shops, but were disappointed to find all the doors locked + closed signs up. One of the hazards of a roadtrip - if you happen to be passing by in early evening, you'll miss out on alot of attractions. There's always the option of stopping overnight for thier opening the next morning, but we decided to trek on and spend the night in Williams.

From Seligman to Ash Fork we sat back + absorbed the mother road experience along the longest unbroken portion of old R66. Just as the sunset reached a magnificient moment, J pulled onto the shoulder and parked. To the immediate east of the brige was another bridge with ROAD CLOSED signs - the previous now-unused R66 bridge. In front of it, the old mother road lies for about 20 yards, until it disappears into the dirt, and presumably meets up with the newer-paved portion which our car sat on. I'm not sure if I can explain why we would be so excited at points such as this in our trip... but this was definitely a highlight for us.

Route 66 was a major path of the migrants who went west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and supported the economies of the communities through which the road passed. People became prosperous due to the growing popularity of the highway, and those same people later fought to keep the highway alive even with the growing threat of the new Interstate Highway System.
US 66 was officially decommissioned (that is, officially removed from the United States Highway System) on June 27, 1985[5] after it was decided the route was no longer relevant and had been replaced by the Interstate Highway System. Portions of the road that passed through Illinois, New Mexico, and Arizona have been designated a National Scenic Byway of the name "Historic Route 66". It has begun to return to maps in this form. [wiki]

In Williams we checked into the Rodeway Inn, dumped the car, and strolled around town. We admired the vintage cars in the streets and kitschy shop windows, and we finally picked up our brilliant ROUTE US 66 metal hwy sign. After taking photos for one another out front, we chatted with a couple from a tiny town in Norway who told us all the wonderful reasons why we should visit thier neck of the woods. Very tempting. Perhaps after we finish up our next R66 tour. :)

We picked a little 50s diner to have a bite, Goldie's Route 66 Diner - unfortunately not the best choice. After a totally non-satisfying experience consisting of crappy service (+ food) from giggling teenage girls, we retired to our room to watch Survivor. I know... how cheesy are we... hehe.

R66 day 2: tourist traps, shoe trees + elvis under desert rays

2007-10-04T12:11:00.000-04:00

a patchy stretch of the mother road

Continuing eastward, we turned North from Daggett towards the Ghost Town of Calico. The town was not at all what we were expecting (hardly ghost-like), however kept us entertained for a while with interesting things to photograph. After expecting a real-life ghost town with tumbleweeds + all, the novelty of the tourist trap, complete with entrance fee + gift shops, wore off quickly, and we hopped back in the mustang.

We headed torwards the next town, Newberry Springs, where according to our trusty mother road handbook, we'd see an old Whiting Brothers station, now named Dry Creek Station. We were bummed to see that not only is the sign atop the station now totally illegible, but the entire property is gated off. The old pumps against the desert backdrop are still a sight to see.

Next we passed through (what's-left-of) Ludlow, much of which is now owned by the railroad, with no maintenance of the old landmarks. Our guide contains a little b+w photo of the old Ludlow Cafe, which still showcased most of the letters on the original sign. It took a few minutes to recognize the cafe, as the remaining letters have since disappeared, and the building is fading quickly. Very disheartening to see how little remains of the old signs. I worried that the whole trip would be comprised of no-longer recognizable landmarks withering away in the sun.

Somewhere along our route to the next town we pulled to the side of the road. I'd developed a pounding headache, and had to dig around in the trunk for my beloved advil gelcaps. R-66 had detoured quite aways from the I-40 at this point, and travelling along the Old National Trail Highway we found ourselves in the middle of beautiful Mojave desert, far from modern civilization, other than a railroad track about a hundred yards off. Despite my headache I joined J + puttered around the area for a while in the desert sun. A few yards from the road we found a some old building foundations, surrounded by rusted out cans, broken bottles, nails + other debris. I was a bit paranoid about critters... all we needed was 1 bite or sting to possibly put us out of commission in the middle of nowhere. A few rattle-type noises was enough to send us scampering back to the car!

As we drove away we noticed something off in the distance... possibly a car stirring up a dust trail? Grabbing my camera, I zoomed in on a handful of little sandstorms moving along the desert floor. J was hoping to witness some tornado action to chase in the mustang. I nervously kept an eye on the dustiness, relieved when they were finally out of sight.

In Amboy we found the Roy's Motel & Cafe sign, and sad to find the Amboy post office was closed (it would have been a fabulous R66 mailing frenzy!). A lit-up neon sign in the window was enough to prove that the area is currently inhabited, and according to our trusty handbook, has recently been purchased by a new owner, who plans to restore buildings, and possibly even re-open the cafe.

Just past Amboy we discovered a shoe tree. Yep... a shoe tree. A tree of shoes. Shoes a la tree. We pulled over to ooh + ahh and snap a few photos. I considered giving up my own shoes to the cause... but was later relieved that I had decided against it. We had only just begun our journey, and I would have been in many-a-pickle with unprotected feets. One should always carry an extra willing-to-part-with pair of shoes. uh-huh.

A short while from the shoe tree we drove through Chambless and past the remains of the (decapitated) Road Runner's Retreat Restaurant. On the north side of the highway are endless messages left by passersby, fastened into the banks with colourful rocks for miles. Jenny loves Tom, Bill+Betty forever, God Bless you. I wanted to leave a mark, but alas, after our time puttering around in the Mojave desert sun, my pounding head demanded that we continue on in air-conditioning without interruption.

We stopped just a short while later at Cadiz Summit to snap a few photos around the remains of what was at one time (per el righteous handbook) a 'tourist complex rest'. The remaining walls are covered in graffiti.

Not much remains in Essex - a few car yards, piles of tires adorned with a sloppily spraypainted tire sale sign, and a handful of old trucks rusting in the sun. Just before Needles we decided to turn north, entering Nevada a short while later. With a night of fun on our minds, we raced up the 95 towards Las Vegas.

In Boulder City, unsure of our route the next day, we made a point of seeing the Hoover Dam so we wouldn't miss it. With darkness falling upon us, I hoped we would see visit again the next day under sun.

Night was in full arrival by the time we pulled onto the Vegas strip. We quickly found a place to sleep, ditched the car, grabbed some dinner, and headed to the roulette table. Although not the most posh hotel, our favourite casino is in the Imperial Palace. By no means big time gamblers, we enjoy this casino where the dealers interact with you (and explain rules when needed, lol) and joke around. Every hour or so madonna, elvis, streisand and michael jackson impersonators perform in the middle of the casino floor. Some hours, too many free drinks and a few extra dollars later (woot!), we hit the sack. Sadly I have no decent photos of our night in Vegas to share... other than a cool shot taken entering city limits.

R66 day 1: happy tastes, shiny red toys + crowbars

2007-10-03T12:17:00.000-04:00

On Sept 18 we flew to Phoenix and connected to LA. Flying over the Grand Canyon was a perfect tease, since we planned on visiting it days later.

Once in LA, anxious to get our hands on a mustang, we quickly found the shuttle to the car rental place. Our jaws dropped at the counter when the lady explained that only a Taurus had been reserved. huh? I think not. We held our ground, and ended up with a shiny mustang as planned... and r-r-r-r-r-r-red to boot. woot!

With car in tow, we found a payphone, dug up some change, and called up one of my oldest, dearest friends. With evening upon us, the intended-to-be-a-short-visit visit was easily extended... and a few hours + a dinner later we were finally on our way. With darkness upon us, we quickly forfeited the beginning of Route 66 (with hopes to return to LA soon for a longer visit), and got on the road.
Welcome to the Cactus Motel (aka ghetto) in Barstow, CA. A photo of the 'policies' posted inside our door was an absolute must, to remember my favourite rule... #7. NO DRUG TRAFFICKING ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY. damn.

After reading the warm, welcoming policies we were quick to carefully check the windows around the room. The back window was oddly nailed shut (straight out of a horror movie, with nails jutting out in every direction), and the bathroom window didn't have a lock at all. A crow bar from the car trunk solved that problem easily. Even with everything locked up, we were unable to rest easy.

This sweet little guy greeted us early the next morning as we were getting ready to flee. J knocked on Maria's (landlady) door to surrender our room key and returned to the car appearing a little shaken. Perhaps the $30 we submitted upon arrival funded a little party overnight. Maria answered the door looking like she had just peeled herself off her bathroom floor, completely nude.

Any souveneirs for our 1st day you might ask? Our little stay in Barstow taught us very quickly to thoroughly check a room & its policies before paying.

cruisin' the mother road

2007-09-30T17:30:00.001-04:00

At the beginning of the year I booked 2 weeks vacation time for the beginning of fall. With no plans of what to do or where to go, September crept up really quickly! At the very last minute we booked flights online - the 1st to Los Angeles on Sept 18, and the 2nd from Dallas (back to Van) on Sept 30 - reserved a mustang, and started packing... and thus began our (1st of 2) Route 66 tour.

Having just arrived back home after a fantastic adventure, I'm dying to post all about it.... but will give in to exhaustion instead. Tomorrow it's back to work, but I'll be sorting *countless* photos, and will share soon. Time to unpack + enjoy some vegging on the couch... :)

mystic mermaids - completed!

2007-09-17T18:09:00.000-04:00

:::mystic mermaids:::

...a nervousness collection LMAO...

::signup blog post::nness thread::nness photos::

For this collection LMAO, 8 nervousnessers (including moi) created a mermaid shrine using a sliding matchbox. Each artist mailed their shrine to me, and I mixed them up + mailed a new shrine back to each.

...the spectacular shrines in alpha order:

arrow:

biker-mermaid:

black_rainbow:

blueness:

duncan:

ilovelillies:

Lithodora:

moo:

group photos:

new mail art goodness

2007-09-11T10:38:00.000-04:00

I'm continuously prowling for new mail arty goodness, so since I read about mailart.org in Amber Fenix's [nness] post yesterday, I've been all over it... + I must start working on a Small Art Project submission immediately!

On another note, this video is absolutely brilliant... I just had to share it:

many moons ago

2007-08-29T10:21:00.000-04:00

When J + I first met I was a late-teen, so young, and so very lost. I yearned to flee Toronto as soon as possible, and within only a few months of coming together we left everything behind and jumped on a plane to this mysterious Vancouver I had heard so much about.

We rented a furnished room looking over Jericho Beach in Kitsilano, and I served borritos and quesadilla out of a tiny local storefront. On rainy days I was shocked to find that we had no customers to serve. I'd spend those days sitting out front, listening to Marley, reading local papers, or just absorbing the oh-so-lovely rain smells, sounds and wetness.

J picked up a job helping people carry groceries to thier cars in safeway bags (oh how I wish I had taken a photo of him in that cute little red vest!). His work was along my walk home, and I'd often hover around the store and parking lot until I'd spot him, and just watch him for a while. Always friendly to every soul, regardless of who they were, polished + unpolished alike. That was where I first understood his kind nature. After helping a wealthy tipper take groceries to thier car and chatting with them for a few moments, he would turn around and dig the change back out for a desperate soul, and then chat with them even longer.

When not working we would walk... everywhere. My beloved teevas really did me justice that summer. When I'd manage to save a handful of cash, we'd walk to Opus on Granville Island, where I'd fall hopelessly in love with the endless shelved supplies. We'd venture to local thrift stores to pick up old clothes which I'd try to alter into new funky outfits. I still have (+ adore) the silly little knapsack I created to wear out dancing with the fabric I bought at Dressew.

Making barely enough to cover our rent, we had to be creative when it came to affording food. First we spun some fishing line around a piece of driftwood, and J grabbed some baity cut-up fishy leftovers from safeway. With deck of cards in-hand, we'd sit on the Jericho Beach peir for hours playing card games with the beautiful mountainesque backdrop, pulling tiny fish out of the ocean waters one by one. In the evening we'd sit by a fire on the beach, wrap the fish up in a bundle of foil with butter + spices, and throw it on the coals. Then we'd sit back with our dinner under the stars, watching the shimmering lights of North Van.

Our best investment was a $7 crab trap from Army & Navy. We'd tie down bait and fling it into the waters, and every now & then eaglerly haul it in. After catching 2 crabs that were large enough to keep (which was much easier back then!), we'd scurry home to feast. Considering we had close-to-no cash, we lived pretty well.

Our lovely Kits life lasted a mere 6 months. We continued our life back east in Toronto for the next 10 years, and after a decade of yearning for more of the west coast, we finally moved west again. Although just as beautiful, Vancouver was nothing like I remembered. Although my first experiences of this city are ones I cherish, they're sadly muddled by the depression I was struggling with throughout my time here. Actually, both times we moved to Vancouver I was completely engulfed by depression. I must hold this city as some sort of a refuge, a way of escaping the realities of what Toronto holds for me. Vancouver has a sort of healing ability - its slower-paced lifestyle and keener responsibility towards the planet and it's natural beauty is refreshing, inspiring, enveloping and soothing to the spirit.