Buttons, Buttons

OK, I love buttons - all kinds - old, new, plastic, it  doesn't matter.  I have jars and boxes of them and love to use them on my quilts.  I'm particularly interested in the many ways artists have used buttons, but the work of this woman is truly amazing.  Her name is Ran Hwang.  And I'm wondering where she gets her buttons.  Directly from the factory is my guess.

......I found a blog which has some great links if you too like buttons, but first, be sure to take a look at the work of this artist, Joern Hansen.  I particularly like his LandArt.  OK, here's the blog, Bonkers About Buttons.  This will take you to the interesting and beautiful work of Penny Leaver Green and her work about Koumpounophobia (or Button Phobia, in layman's terms).  Who knew?

San Francisco Bay Area Map

This one is too good not to post.

Hendy Woods Community, Inc.

We are now officially Inc. with a Board and Officers. We are still trying to get the state to negotiate with us to work with California Dept. of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to keep Hendy Woods State Park open. On February 1 there is a meeting where the state may get approval to put out Requests for Proposals (RPFs) to nonprofit concessionaire to run campgrounds in blocks of parks. Hendy is in a block with Standish-Hickey in Laytonville, Russian Gulch on the coast, Austin Creek (in Sonoma County!), and Westport Union Landing in Westport. Having all these parks so far apart makes no sense in terms of trying to operate them economically, nor does bidding out the campgrounds. How will the state run the rest of the park without income from camping. Idiots!

If you want to help, here's the information for contact and sending donations.

Happy Birthday, Rosie!

My loyal and faithful companion turned 13 today.  She's had a little trouble lately with vestibular disease, which presented as severe vertigo and rapid back and forth eye movements.  It seemed to me that she might have had a stroke because she could hardly get her legs under her and couldn't get up the stairs.  This happened just before bedtime, so I waited to see how she was in the morning.  Since she was no better, we got an early vet appointment and she was diagnosed with vestibular disease.  She was appreciably better after 3 weeks and has improved a lot since then, but it seems to have adversely affected her hearing.  When I call her she doesn't hear at all unless I speak loudly, and then she can't tell where my voice is coming from, so mostly I go to her when she's not already waiting patiently for me to let her in or out.  Other than that, she seems as healthy as ever.  Bless Rosie.  What a great little dog she is.

Do you like Dogs?

I love this barking, singing dog video on you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ntDYjS0Y3w&feature

How did they do that?

The Artist

I went with a group of girlfriends to see The Artist. It's in black and white, a mostly silent film which draws you in. It's very well done and I highly recommend it as a totally different movie experience. You keep wanting to hear dialogue, then in a brief moment there is sound and it's overwhelming. After that morning movie, we went for pizza to Rosso's - so excellent. Perfect crust, and a delicious Barbera to go with. We chatted for 3 hours! It was a total play day.

We woke up this morning to no water - frozen pipes somewhere, but luckily Mark could switch to our other well. It got to at least 25˚ last night and possibly colder. The hummingbird feeder was frozen. We covered our citrus trees and I'm hoping they'll survive with all their fruit intact. Brrrrrrrrr.

But then as I was out checking on things this afternoon, I couldn't help bringing in these roses. It's name is Joseph's Coat, but for now I'm calling it Winter Rose. 

My fuchsias and nasturiums were not so lucky.  They are dead.  I've been waiting for it.  We've had such warm weather, my new peach tree was getting ready to bloom.  I hope it can hold off for a bit.

Life of flowers

I love this video of flowers opening.

Life of flowers (Жизнь цветов) from VOROBYOFF PRODUCTION on Vimeo.

And you need to see this video of a mini pig following his humans around.  Too cute.

Happy New Year

I have been remiss lately about posting, but will try and catch up and do better in 2012.  I'm off to a good start, right?  The following was sent by my cousin and it's worth putting it out for all to read.  Sort of a different Peter Principle.

The "Other" Laws of Nature

1. Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.

2. Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

3. Law of Probability - The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

4. Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

6. Variation Law- If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).

7. Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

8. Law of Close Encounters - The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

9. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

10. Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

11.. Law of the Theater & Hockey Arena - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies and stay to the bitter end of the performance. The aisle people also are very surly folk.

12. The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

13. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only 2 people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

14. Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.

15. Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

16. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.

17. Oliver's Law of Public Speaking - A closed mouth gathers no feet.

18. Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

19. Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better.. But don't make an appointment, and you'll stay sick.