Year: 2007

Barb at Cats and Jammers has given me a “Thinking Blogger” award.

Thanks, Barb- it makes me want to whip out my Rubik’s Cube and give it another go!
I will endeavor to live up to my legend. Now, I am charged with passing along 5 more awards to brainy bloggers that I know:
(Drum roll, please!)

Kim Norman– a very smart girl, new to blogging, but clearly the type to get addicted to the experience. Kim has a very rollicking, off-the-cuff style of writing, always peppered with smarticisms. You know what THOSE are, right?

Linda Wingerter– undeniably smart, because she’s open to a world of influences and possibilities.

Amy Schimler– a new-found (to me) smart blogger…another girl who’s creativity flows from her keen observance of the things around her, past and present.

Paige Keiser– Paige seems to know no bounds in terms of creativity- she’s always thinking!

John Nez– John is practically too smart for his own good!

Those are my choices, and I stand by every one of ’em.
Now you guys are supposed to pass along 5 more awards.
Use your power wisely.

Sometimes I have to supply…supplies.
Or at least reasonable facsimilies of supplies.
Hey look! Here’s some now!
This is from the August 2007 issue of Highlights High Five.

My lovely critique group pal Kim tagged me for the 8 Things meme recently- and I am finally doing it! I am suposed to list 8 habits/facts about me, then tag 8 others to do the same at the end of the post. Here goes:

1. Almost everything in my house is handmade, reused, reconfigured from parts, or just plain old.

It’s more interesting that way. The studio does have a lot IKEA in it though (for practical puposes).

2. I love bagpipes. The louder the better!

Bombardes and binious rock, too.

3. On a similar note, I love pennywhistles.

I have at least 10 of them; I can play a few tunes on them, too.

4. I usually read at least 3 books at once. Which one I read on any given day depends on my mood du jour.

5. Even though I write for children, almost everything I read “for fun” is nonfiction. Here is a current selection of books pulled from my nightstand:

Yeah, Tasha Tudor and Adam Ant are two of my favorite artists- there are even some interesting similarities between them! Related to #4 above, I am currently reading The Tipping Point, Omnivore’s Dilemma, and Don’t Eat This Book. I haven’t started the WalMart one yet.

6. I don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t take drugs, and never have.

They don’t interest me. It’s not easy finding other adults with this philosophy!

7. I am not particularly girly, and the only jewelry I wear is made out of seed, wooden, stone, or shell beads. Maybe a little silver thown in. I have at least 100 seed bead necklace variations that I have made myself. One for every possible occasion!

I’ve been making them since I was a pre-teen.

8. I luv compost!

That’s a THREE-BINNER, baby! Handmade by the talented Eric.
Alas, the bins are currently empty- the compost is doing it’s job in the garden now. But we’re starting a new batch.

OK, so now I am suposed to harrass 8 more people into participating- and I am going to gang-tag the PBI group.
I challenge you all!
Post on the PBI blog!

Good pal Barbara Johansen Newman had her
book release/birthday/multiple anniversary party last night- what a blowout!
I took some photos as best I could, but there were lots of people and lots to look at!

Here’s Hopalong Barb, with her book Tex and Sugar, A Big City Kitty Ditty.

The dolls were appropriately decked out.
So were the Elvises (Elvi??)

The tacos were flowing!

And so were the beverages. Here’s Shennen moseying up to the bar.

Barb did manage to sign books during the hoedown!

4 members of our illustration crit group:
Laura, Carlyn, Mary Beth, and Me.

This is why adults shouldn’t be allowed to play with toy guns!

Impromptu art was happening at all times: Here’s Eric working on a cowboy picture, and Carol (aka Mom) working on her dream boots drawing.

Here’s Janet, the Fastest Pen in the West (and one o’ the best!)

Some of the cool decorations, and one of the food tables before it got wrecked!

Speaking of cute girls, here’s Nancy and her Mini Me!

More cute girls, and a good-lookin’ guy to boot: Shennen and ALL of her kids in one place!

Great eats, great atmosphere.

Here’s Monica and her Boy Band. Monica didn’t dress up special for the party, she always looks like this!

Mary, Julia and Linda in the Big Tent.

Monica, Sharon and Me blabbing in the back yard!

Thanks for such a great time, Barb and Phil!

A new Gryffindor student at Hogwarts.
Flo doesn’t seem too excited about the prospect…

Holy lagomorphs, Batman! My book cover is up on Amazon:

I’m not sure if this is the really, truly, final version of the cover.

Here is Flo the Cat with a portion of the Expo booty we brought home (minus the things the kids absconded with instantly).
It’s in the process of being “organized.”

Yeah, that’s it. Organized.

This is my favorite non-book souvenir from the Expo-
I give you the DEATHLY HALLOWS BOOKBAG!

Thanks, Scholastic– that’s a rockin’ promo!
It turns out that a Deathly Hallows bookbag fits a flute and a music book very handily- we just tried that out.