The ADU, A princess and purse boy, shopping

A ton of concrete! Nicely done , no worries about watering the garden- there is no garden. I asked the little. girls if they missed their beautiful grassy play area- indeed they do but they are being generous about it all. Now the worry is deer crossing the wet cement- and trick or treaters coming around tomorrow. I remember my Dad pouring concrete in a checkerboard design for the patio that he built- it took forever for it to dry and THAT was in the hot summer of Wyoming. Plus it is supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow and forever more...

I went shopping to avoid the workers activity and their choice of very loud metal music. 

Have you ever heard of this?

I had not, Could I resist the packaging- I could not. I bought the last two four packs in that crazy good box, One for me and one for Emily. The ingredients look OK. I do like a bitter sweet drink.

 

It may be too earthy. Fermented hemp and wormwood? Douglas fir??  I will let you know when I know. 

I tacked Flora's princess dress up a bit so she could walk without tripping on it. She is a tiny girl in a big dress! I advised her to steer clear of flames in jack-o-lanterns- that plastic princess dress would go up like a torch! It is scary enough for Halloween, I suppose. 

Flora has a plan to trick witches- she has magic in her hands and will throw a sheet of ice out on the road in front of her Dad's van. The witches will fall and won't be able to get back up. 

She also informed me that only the mushrooms that are four years old are allowed to be picked. We found some. She took the four year old home and washed it. She kicked the rest of the mushrooms over.They were not allowed to live.

 

Emmett is an accomplished hair stylist as well as purse snatcher. Skills!They got a wooden rocking horse that has legs but no feet. Flora said that his feet got cut off by the witches and now he can't run, he can only rock. I am not liking witches very much.

 

 

I went to the thrift shops, two of them - I bought this candle holder to go with the others like it that were my mom's.  

Not much in that shop - I went on to Value village where I usually find something in the dolly bin.

Sometimes I am lucky- Another gufun Japanese boy who will live with the others in the china hutch. He is in very good nick.

He came with his bedding as well. A little striped mattress , a blanket and a sheet.  All for only a fiver!

An excellent south African fertility doll, about 8 inches tall and in great condition. When I die the amount of dollies that are here is going to make  survivors question my  so-called sanity. I am sure of that. 

I used to sell dolls  in my antique booths back in the day, as well as my ETSY shops,  but now I keep them, all of them. I can not be bothered selling. It is a pain in the neck . Other things from today shopping spree-

 

1916 postcard

shiny thing to wear on jacket

sweet brown chintz plate.

I stopped by the Co op to get something- hay for free- I left it there. 

 Squirrel damage- Flora's Pumpkin. 

So that was a day. Tomorrow is Halloween and there may or may not be children at the door. I have treats just in case- which I will end up eating probably, like every year!  The winter decline and comfort eating starts now!  Let the girth begin!

 

owl from the hood, flowers from Joe's, death is a bitch

 From the neighborhood, a northwestern pygmy owl being about as cute as anything could ever be.

Today has been typical weather wise. On and off sunshine, colder by the minute- I went to Trader Joe's and miraculously found parking! Flowers there are the best in town. I bought am armload and put them together for Peter's Mary. 

Pumpkins and gourds were on sale- I brought some home to marry the one's that Stella and I bought at the farm. They are sitting on the piano looking Autumnal ! I gave my big spider to Flora so the wasp got a chance instead- It works just as well.

I bought food to feed a four year old . Trader's has great options.Flora will be here at noon, ready for lunch and whatever the afternoon brings. She is right on target being FOUR! I remember that age with Erik very well. Suddenly everything is contrary and independent and somewhat bossy.Four is an awake age for sure!

You may remember my friend that I found living in this same town -unaware of each other. I looked for her on google one evening just out of the blue.  She bloody well lives on the other side of town and has done for fifteen years!   We went to college together in Wyoming and were close friends, I dated her gorgeous  brother for a summer and blah blah blah...Anyway, dammit- I got a message from her that her husband had just died! He had been ill for 18 months - had a rough go of it but  dying? really???  That is just taking it too far! 

I will pop over maybe with Trader Joe's flowers mid week or something - it is just too sad. Bill was not an ancient guy (my age) a fabulous musician and poet . There seems to be a lot of death going around these days. I can tell you that I do not like it. 

These are some of the signs Trudy took to  No Kings , to honor  her husband who could not go.

And this is a Winter Creeper , abundant with berries. They do not look edible  but I will try them. What's the worst that could happen?

 And this is a for sure inedible gooseberry that died before it had a chance.  It looks flash frozen-

So that is today- Flora Jane tomorrow, I am sure she will keep me on my toes. The living room is full of Flora toys and things to do but , pretty sure, she will want to go downstairs to see what mischief we can get into. 

See you then.

Oh and just because I like this article about how difficult it is to find living spaces here and how inventive youngsters can be-

https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2024/dec/26/bellingham-family-finds-sanctuary-living-in-historic-church/
 
 

 

 

another death in the neighborhood, halloweeny yards

Activity in the neighborhood, Police have returned - Maggie's house invaded again.  From my bedroom window i noticed that her lights were on in the living room which is highly unusual- that was around 3;00 A.M. I was a wake enough to resister that - "Wait, Maggie is dead". Police were notified by the spy camera. 
 Yesterday there were ambulances in the cul de sac as well. Mary and her grand daughter just came to the door to tell me that our Peter had died.  

Peter and daughter at Village books reading from his just published book about his incredible life. She will be here tomorrow, from The Hague. a memorial  not yet scheduled. Dear Peter....
 

Before all of the cul de sac action and bad news, I went to the cleaners to retrieve the needlepoint "rug". On my way home I snapped the street from my car. Hefty wind forecast which will take the color with it.

 Halloween this year will be especially cold. Children rarely come to the door anymore, just a few.

Businesses offer a Halloween Walk, where goodies are handed out and costumes are photographed . Very organized and safe. 

 Children lined up within a couple of blocks of shops in Fairhaven gathering sweets in their jack-o-lanterns. A sensible option.  

 

Talking pumpkin head-  and walking spook.

Janny just sent  photo from her porch where she is cutting her toe nails... a slice of paradise, I reckon.  They found the best part of the united states in which to live. 

Rest in peace, everyone. Do not wait until you are dead to do so.  I have a couple of CBD bath bombs, one for me and one for Stella. We will be so chill that even the orange dictator will not ruffle us. 

Asperitas clouds , a walk through the neighborhood ,the RE-Store,,

 Unusual clouds called Asperitas, newly named in 2017, wiki info HERE. They sort of flattened  out over the sea. The day looked threatening - it was a bluff. We actually had a day of good weather, walking through the neighborhood with Emmett while Flora was at school.

THE SKY IS FALLING!

Fresh paint!

There is a lot of red going on. The yew tree that reaches up into the undulating Aperitas configuration is loaded with berries that look like kisses. The tree must be very old to reach this girth and height. Sorry I could not get it all in the shot.  Kim and Emmett's chariot in the photo for a bit of perspective. 
 

We walked down to the coffee shop, got a bite and walked to the Re-Store , our usual entertainment. It is well. stocked right now. They have an instagram page as well as a website.

There was so much there today that we lost our minds, thinking about building a cottage perhaps, or buying the old church in Wickersham, so much  exciting potential , but that is what we do. Kim and I, the fantasy queens.  We have been doing this for years- going to "potential" and making up  stories of dreams we have .  We trespass on occasion, entering abandoned -soon-to be- on market places out in the county. Some we will never forget! Hundred and fifty year old farm houses in tact, like the farmer's wife had just gone out to do the milking and shucking. WOW. Always tempted to take a bit of wall paper or a section of old flooring,  old lino, we never do that of course. but down the line we sort of regret not stealing. We know it will all be demolished anyway but still, "thou shalt not!" Well drummed into our being. Dammit.

The Re-Store satisfies our wanderlust  . Kim bought an ancient ringer for felting projects. A beautiful old thing that still works well, rollers in perfect nick.  Put on hold a large section of old rosewood flooring which she will put in their own farmhouse when she removes one of the walls. 

At he entrance there is  a section of  finished projects made by the workers and volunteers there. This time , a case  full of dollhouse furniture, mini things made from old nobs and blocks, tiny sinks from metal drawer grips and whatever else looks sink-ish.  The toilets are genius.

We do love the Re-Store! Emmett was pretty happy about it as well especially when i tipped his chariot backwards and gave him a thrill.

Fifteen months old already! Handsome baby!
 

Loads of stuff , really cool stuff, but won't bother you with all of that because it was just too much.

The pricing is excellent especially if it has been there for over a month! prices dip! 

Ok, well then, just a couple of things...if you insist....

AND these because they are so red and awesome- buy the lot for a few dollars! Set them up in your foyer, have a bunch of children,  keep it tidy! 

next we walked through Halloween yard decor but that is for another day.

 

News from Joanne via Fresca- Joanne had vascular surgery, rehab, and then broke her hip, six more weeks of healing but she will. be back, she promises!  

Joanne wrote:

"Would you believe I took care of the worst of the chronic pain with some vascular surgery? 
Spent 2 weeks in rehab, getting my legs back together. 
Came home for 4 days. Fell and broke my hip. 
Very unhappy. I am effectively laid up for 6 weeks but I'll get through this.

If you know of anybody who's interested, let them know I will return.
Joanne Noragon, Niche Weaver (Thread Bender)

Joanne's woven kitchen towels