In which I clean. Sorta.

So, I've been on a staycation this week. (Jealous?)

And while it hasn't been nearly as productive as I would have liked, I'm proud to say that I've been watching TV, eating brownie batter, bubble bathing, reading, reading, reading and sleeping to my little heart's content.

Of course, I've done less organizing, cleaning and sewing than I hoped. But I don't go back to work until Tuesday, so there's still time.

When I was taking pictures of the fruits of my power tool labor, I thought I'd take a few pictures of my FINALLY clean bedroom and show off some of my favoritey little things.

OMG! ISN'T THIS THE MOST EXCITING THING EVER!?! .... Or, uh, something.

Up first. What I'm reading right now. And after being forced to read it in school, I've got to say, I'm pleasantly surprised. In fact, I sorta love this book. Go Bronte sisters.



Next we go to who I came from. Ish. This is a pictures of my great grandmother on her wedding day. Next to it is some fancy pants letter press of a fiddle (an instrument I occasionally play, if given enough alcohol first), made by Yee Haw Industries and sent to me by the always awesome Currer Bell as a birthday present last year.



Speaking of Currer Bell, here's a great lamp she and some of my Chattanooga besties bought me for a birthday many many moons ago. See that stuff in the background? That's the 8 gazillion inches of snow that fell in Chicago.



The lamp lives on my desk, which for the next 10 minutes will remain organized. Or so I hope. I spend more time than is healthy here. Occupational hazard, and all.



Next, some desk lovelies. Some make me laugh. Some inspire me. Some are just, well, crude. But then again so am I. It's why you heart me.

A Christmas card I couldn't bear to send and instead I try to remember the message all year. Look closely: You can see a Noodles in the reflection. Aww.



My little desk Jesus!! He hangs out next to the post card. Yes. I love to be weird. In fact, I delight in it.



And then finally, my beloved bulletin board. Made by my grandfather when my mom was little, it's a stalwart.


The end. Please, tip your tour guide.

Grawr! And necklaces!

This afternoon I used a power tool! All by my cute little self! Ok, technically I used the cordless drill I've owned for years and used every so often. But whatever. I'm always impressed when I manage to measure twice, drill once successfully. Especially when I do it with all my digits intact.

Anyway, I've had a wall hanger thingy for years that I got God knows where. Back in the fall I painted it and just haven't gotten around to hanging it. Until today.

Behold! The perfect necklace organizer.




Of course, I lack the abilty to take just ONE picture of something. Here's a close up of one of my favorite necklaces that I got a cool store in Milwaukee. Any guesses why I love it so much?


(Fact: The necklace behind it is an old typewriter key with my first initial.)

And since it's Valentine's Day, here's a close up of my red necklaces. I like this because the Asian-themed one is a piece I bought in Chinatown during my trip to San Francisco. The other one belonged to my grandmother, who died last month. I got to take home a few pieces of jewelry that she had and I love it. It's a little long for me (what with the ginormous boobs and all), but I like knowing that it belonged to her.)


For the record, I have more necklaces on it now, so it looks less, uh, weird. Anyway, yay for the power drill!

Home

There's been a death in the family, so I'm back home on Maryland's lovely Eastern Shore. I used to hate this place growing up and left when I was 16 to go away to school. I visited after that, but never really came home. Despite the years and the travels that have taken me across the country, it's weird how you never really can leave home. (Or maybe home never leaves you?) And almost 14 years after I first left, I realize that I sorta like this like place. Actually, I sorta love it.

It's weird and quirky and sometimes backwards, but it's teeming with its own unique heritage (Two words: Oyster Wars!) It's a weird town: similar to a small suburb, it's the only city in the area. And outside of resort spots that balloon on summer weekends, with 28,000 residents, it's the only game in town.

It's changed since I left. There's a Starbucks now. And more big box stores. And houses along the coast are being sold at Sotheby's for more money than I'll ever make in a decade.

But its rural roots are everywhere. Which leads me to this.




For the curious:
a) Muskrat on the menu is a seasonal fare. You'll only find it in the winter months.
b) I just stopped to take a picture. Not take a bite
c) But I hear it's tasty.
d) Don't believe me? Here's a list of muskrat recipes.
e) My favorite, in name only, has to be either smothered muskrat (with onions) or muskrat casserole.
f) $10 says this post is NOT going in the direction you expected.
g) For the record, during other parts of the year, I'm fairly certain some places serve nutria.
h) Which, P.S., are super cute little invasive species.

Addendum: My friend Doug says I should have called this post Muskrat Love. He's probably right. Well, crap.

Pretties!

I've been focusing on sewing baby quilts for the 8 gazillion pregnant people in my life. But after Lido sent me his super-awesome pictures of the baby blanket he knitted, I couldn't resist.



I truthfully have no idea what I'm making.




But damn if it isn't fun.