Puppy in the offing, Art Shaped start, winnowing, and other excitements

Yesterday a couple of calls from Gary mainly about my getting some food supplement items from his fridge and delivering them across the street to unwell neighbor struggling with chemo. No problem, done. 

Then he called with the other news: a new puppy in his life from tomorrow. French bulldog/Boston terrier mix.  Whenever he gets back I'll get to meet my new seven week old neighbor. Can't wait. Especially since he gets to train and care for it, I get to visit and play with my grandpup. 

Yesterday's winnowing was dull and vital. Paper files. Auto insurance dating back six years, different car, agent now retired.

I'm very good at filing in the right place, not very good at updating though. That mass of paper I soaked in soapy water till nearly pulp, drained, recycled. Much easier than hours shredding, and none of it very sensitive.

Today though, I decided on a mystery basket in a bottom drawer. And found, look at that: useful cardboard and tubes. 

Originally for spinning and plying, now exactly what's needed for the current artwork in progress.

Out of it this is now offered on Freecycle

Speaking of art in progress, it looks as if my freezer and kitchen island are the current studio, tall enough to stand at, good light, near water.

So here is the beginning of the beginning of what I think, hope,  will be a big piece. 

The circular pieces are coffee filters dyed, left from when I was spinning paper and weaving it, making miniature book covers.

 

Cut One, here we go, using the mailer the book came in 

 Then bend, add and tape the scraps to create eyes and nose, then cut off and reattach the bottom part to create a mouth.

Covered with the coffee filters, now drying before probably painting tomorrow, after a couple more changes to nose and mouth.

Then I'll create a head, attach the face and more things will happen.

At this point I was about done in. Partly there's a lot of physical effort which you don't notice at the time, then there's the constant mental exertion and multiple decision making, all great and all very expensive in energy. 

Darrell, who wrote Art Shaped, is into it

Meanwhile, the jigsaw puzzle is done

And I have lab work Wednesday in the building next to the puzzle library, so I'll return this one and see about borrowing another.

Another kind of winnowing is planned for. Friday, knitting group day, different library. Meg our Leader, would like to populate the library with plants. And I just happen to have a candidate I grew from cuttings

So if she wants it, and I can get it in the car and the weather's not too cold, and I make it there..

Last night I took out some recycling and, clear night,  looked up and caught the Moon, Venus and Jupiter in a straight line, very cool display. Nice to go to all that trouble for me.

Before I forget the Haggard Hawks puzzle answer

BAG BEG BIG BOG BUG!

I see these similarities: all three letters, all with initial B final G, vowels in alphabetical order. Any more?

Have you seen this beautiful swords into plowshares artwork?

Happy day everyone, look for whatever constitutes a sunflower in your life, even when surrounded by shell casings.