The Search for DecopageSaurus

Downtown Harrisburg decided to do an outdoor art exhibit that revolved around dinosaurs as part of promoting the arts.  After seeing the first dinosaur, I was hooked. I needed to find them all and capture them. They had a certain amount of charm and whimsy and I think every needs more dinosaurs in their life.

 My friend, Lizzy joined me in hunting this big game and listen to me make stupid Jurassic Park jokes along the way.  I love the dinosaur and enjoy seeing the different spin each artist put on them.  Each one is unique and fun and reminded of the cow parade from a dozen years back. (I miss you hamburger cow).  There are a total of thirty Dino's that can be found and some of my favorites include:

Rockem Sockem Dinos and Sugar Sarus. Choco Saurus and Dine-o Saurus also made me laugh.

 Despite might best efforts of running back and forth across second street, I was not able to find all the dinosaurs.  I found 29 out of 30.  The only one that we could not find was DecopageSaurus. There is a map on the website that gives the locations of all the dinosaurs, but sadly Deco was not in its assigned location.  I wasn't sure if maybe it wandered off or perhaps it might have melted in last nights thunderstorms.  I don't know.  Decopage and rain are natural enemies. I do know that I will probably spend a little more time down town this summer looking for my missing dino and hoping he didn't go extinct in the rain.   

 Please enjoy Rubber Duckasaurus until DecopageSaurus can be found.

Sewing Cats

I don't think of myself as creative. I think of myself as someone that can for the most part follow instructions.  This talent of being able to follow instructions is what is leading to a hobby in sewing.  It has first started with a book quilt for a baby shower.  Then there was a giant squid for the White Elephant Party and then swiftly there were several dinosaur tails with only one of them bring haunted and an impressive Nessie that soon followed.

I never thought that I would love sewing.  In fact it was something that I learned as kid, made a couple of disastrous skirts and refused to pick up again except for heming pant legs and fixing pockets. I am quickly finding myself in fabric stores drooling over fabric patterns and trying to talk myself out of purchasing stuff off of the clearance rack.

I think part of my joy with sewing is my sewing companions.  You would think that sewing would be a solitary hobby. I am never alone at the sewing machine.  There is always at least one cat that is vastly interested in what I am doing and may try to help me cut out a pattern or watch me from the other side of the machine.

 I think that it is healthy for my cats my cats to take an interest in my hobbies. It makes them more rounded individuals and gives thems something unique to chat about when I am not around.  That is assuming that my cats talk about me when I am not around in nice terms and not that large slow thing that feeds us the stinky wet food that is delicious.  I don't know what sewing projects are in the future, other then a few secret ones that I can't talk about because they are gifts.  (Dad, don't read this post.) I do know that my sewing buddies will be there, and getting into things, because curiosity is also one of their favorite hobbies. 

Mushroom Hair

I think that my father might be one of my favorite people to talk to. Mostly because he is weird. Somehow we can start with a really normal conversation and before I know it, it has gone off the rails some where.  The other week we were talking about how old he was getting and how he is more snow on the roof top than anything else.

Dad: I read some where that the copper in shiitake mushrooms will help you regain hair color.  

Me:What? 

Dad: Something about how as a person gets older they lose minerals and hair color retention has to do with diet. 

Me: Why can't you just eat a penny?

Dad: You don't digest pennies and they aren't made out of copper anymore.

Me: I know the new ones aren't, but I am sure you can get an old penny.

Dad: I think I would rather take my chances with the mushrooms.

Me: I have never heard that about shiitake mushrooms. 

Dad: It would be nice to have a little bit more color up there.

Me: You could always dye it.

Dad: Then everyone would know. It isn't like a touch of gray.  The mushrooms might bring it back more naturally.

Me: Do you need me to send you some mushrooms?

Dad: I am pretty sure I can just get them at the grocery store.

Me: Yeah, but you have a lot of white up there. 

Dad: Brat.

I have no idea if copper in shiitake mushrooms is true.  A quick google search on them, tells me that they were used in herbal medicines and are fabled to promote longevity. I don't know if that applies to hair color.  With this being said, my dad might be getting a delivery of dried mushrooms in the mail for Father Day.  Who says I don't listen? 

Orb of Blue Mystery

Sometimes weird things happen.  Sometimes they don't.  Weird things always happen when you are not expecting it to. I suppose it wouldn't be weird if you were expecting it.  Last night was weird.  My brother sent me a small video of my nephew enjoying the dragon tail that I had made him. My nephew is super cute, how ever that was not the most interesting thing about the thirty second video.  The odd thing about the video was the blue orb that seemed come out of no where and fly at camera.

Maybe it is a dust mote.  Maybe it isn't.   I just know that when you slow it down to 19.5 seconds it looks like there is a face.  It is a blue face and it seems to have eyes, and a gaping maw with a tongue that seems to curl.  If you wait a second or so more you see it flying at the camera phone.  Then again, maybe I am just seeing a reflection of the light at a weird angle. I don't know. It is just a weird thing that seemed to happen for no apparent reason.  What ever it was, it certainly livened up a Monday evening.