"Not" Unlikely

Opening the closet door (or any doors in this house lately) often brings a surprise.  This time it was the hall closet - where the vacuum cleaner resides.  It is probably the least favorite of all of my appliances -- but one must use it occasionally for appearances if for no other reason.

There, seated upon this machine sat an "Unlikely" who was being quite annoying by saying over and over again "vroom, vroom, vroom".  "Okay, enough of that, you're making too much noise".  "But I want to ride this great machine".  

So off we went to the entry way where I vacuumed and he went 'vroom'.  What excitement in such a small package.  After the ride was over I asked his name - turns out it is "Not Unlikely".  I pointed out to him that is a double negative which in this case turned out to be a positive.  I must try to locate him when I vacuum later this week -- he made the whole thing quite fun.

"Its kind of fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney

Guess what...

...the spring/summer issue of PRIMS arrived the other day.  Right on the cover The Ladies of Lickety-Split were announced. Wow!!!

Turning the pages I  soon found their pictures and stories.  What fun to see them again after all these months.

Packing them up back in October was bittersweet.  I actually felt like I was sending my own children off to summer camp. I'm sure when they get back I'll have to listen endlessly to their adventures.  After all, it isn't often that a Lickety-Split lady gets to travel all the way to California. 

They will be arriving home soon now and I imagine the city will want to give them a ticker tape parade.  Oh my, I'll bet I'm the one who ends up cleaning up afterward, perhaps we could think of some other way to celebrate their return.

"The celebration...you cannot practice it or anything.  It's a moment when the excitement of your goal makes you react to the moment." - Peter Bondra

"Quite" Unlikely

What should I find atop the book shelf but another Unlikely.  I’m a book lover and it seemed that she might be a kindred soul.

  

Sure enough I soon found out that “Quite” Unlikely had decided to read her way through all the books on the shelves.   However, she was worried because some of them might not be of any interest to her at all – or she might not understand them due to their esoteric subject matter.  I didn't want to admit to her that I myself had that same thought when I was in high school – to start at the “a's” and work my way through the stacks.  Of course it was a short lived dream, as I recall ending somewhere still on the first shelf.

However, I did have an idea for “Quite”.  I took out my large dictionary (especially large to her) and sat her down atop it. "If you read this one book, all the way through, its quite likely that you will learn all you need to know". 

I left her  studying the pages – I do so hope she gets further along than I did in the library.

"The more you read, the more things you will know,

The more you learn, the more places you'll go." 

Dr. Seuss

Early Spring

I love this time of the year -- its almost made to be for the brave of heart and the givers of promise.

Early spring gives me small flowers -- taking a chance that it won't freeze again -- putting their colors out for for all to see.

Some of them are precursors to the more 'noisy' flowers of summer - such as the phlox.  Taking up great sections along rocks it likes to show off.

Meanwhile, the blue bells move with the spring breezes.

The Dutchman Breeches are so delicately white.

The Blood Root, also white, has a little niche in the side garden.

During this early spring its a treat to step outside each day and look for these small, unassuming beauties.  What a lovely presence they are.

"I am going to try to pay attention to the spring.  I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees.  I am going to close my eyes and listen." - Anne Lamott

"Very" Unlikely

I have found out, since your last visit here, that the “Unlikely’s” are given their designation at birth (I guess there’s some kind of ‘high counsel’ or something) and then sent out into the world with the goal of debunking any unlikely they find.  Once I knew this I was not surprised to see this small creature hiding inside my mail box.

“What are you doing in there?”   “I have always wanted to travel and it seems the best way to see the world would be to put myself in the hands of the US Postal Service”.  

“The Post Office is very particular about the way mail is packaged and you’re not even packaged at all.  You must come home.” At that point she jumped up on top of my mail box.  “It simply seems the quickest way to travel and I’m sure I qualify for ‘priority’ service”.  “That is VERY unlikely.  In fact you’re more likely to end up in the dead letter box!”  “WHAT???”

“Come home and I’ll fix you some tea, spread the Atlas out in front of you and you can let yourself travel wherever you like.”  “Okay, but I get to choose the tea.” 

"Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home." - Matsuo Basho

A Treasure Chest

As a child I always wanted to discover a treasure chest filled with glitter and gems. These days, for lack of a real treasure chest I've been creating my very own using a small suitcase type box.   

At this point the contents are crowded and simply outgrowing the box.  That of course doesn't discourage me from always adding to it.  I've gathered from my stash all the laces, trims, etc. that had been placed hither and yon in my studio.

One of my very favorite acquisitions is crinkled rayon seam binding.  While I use it in little bits and pieces, I love to just look at all texture and soft colors sitting there waiting for me.

Thanks to a dear friend I've recently added some tatting and vintage handkerchiefs, one of which has gone into the dye pot - turning a beige/pink.  I swear, if I lived alone, I'd have these treasures sitting in the living room as a magnificent display.  However, I suspect most guests would think I am just a messy person (or that I have been shopping way too much).

"Our treasure lies in the beehive of our knowledge.  We are perpetually on the way thither, being by nature winged insects and honey gatherers of the mind". - Friedrich Nietzsche

"Most" Unlikely

"Where did you come from and what are you doing here?"  That's what I asked the Most Unlikely visitor to our dining room.  There she sat, big as life, atop the resident metal bird.

"I am going to fly on this big bird and he's going to take me way up in the air."  She sounded awfully confident.  Unfortunately I had to 'burst her bubble' telling her that her dream was 'most' unlikely considering this bird can't fly -- it is metal and really and truly has no wings except these etched in metal.

She seemed to take it pretty well.  I believe these "unlikely's" are used to hearing why they can't do something.  Soon enough she perked up and asked me "do you have a canary or a parakeet handy?"

"The moment when you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever being able to do it." - Peter Pan

"Long Forgotten Folk" - Daryle Cook

There is a doll artist who I've spoken of before -- but once again I want to share his art, his skill and his generosity with all of you.  His name is Daryle Cook. 

 His blog  Woodstown Whimsies  is filled with his wondrous creatures.

Lucky, lucky me -- I actually have three of his dolls right here in my studio.  This is a group that Daryle formed for a separate blog last year.  In the story they were stranded near Nonesuch Creek.  Such woebegone little ones.  I love it that they came to stay with me where although they still look pretty sad and bedraggled, they are warm and dry and getting lots of conversation.  

Recently Daryle has started a new blog  Cloth and Clay Doll Makerswhere he has put up videos on this techniques.  Very comprehensive explanations and instructions. Truly a treasure for doll makers.

 I'd like to honor Daryle -- perhaps give him the 'unofficial' doll maker crown and thank him for both his creativity and his generosity of character. 

"Happiness exists on earth, and it is won through prudent exercise of reason, knowledge of the harmony of the universe, and constant practice of generosity." - Jose Marti