Practice.  Writing random names and words.

10 Random Things in my Office (right now)

1. Seamus

 2. Glitter

 3. I stole these from the post office (kidding! they're free)

 4. Clown hat

 5. A snack

 6. Bucket o' corks

 7. Lip balm

 8. Hair clips

 9. Pretty label

10. Sponge Bob

How to address a German envelope

If you think filling out an American 1040 income tax form is bad,
you should try addressing a letter in Germany.

I am addressing envelopes to Germany.  My husband pointed out that I might have to write "Germany" in big letters in the lower right hand corner.  Really?  I remember doing that for my grandmother when she used to write to her sister.  I'd always add SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA in block letters across the bottom of the envelope.

So I looked it up.  And guess what I found?  A diagram of a properly addressed international envelope to Germany.  Is this a requirement or just a strong suggestion?  Because this could seriously cramp my style!

Scrap Paper

Paper Scraps.

My Messy Desk

Here are random shots of my desk when I haven't put anything away.  Hmmm, I think I need to clean up.  Of course I think messy desks are much more fascinating to look at.

Linocut Block

I am taking a typography class.  As a calligrapher, I find it all very fascinating.  In our first class, our teacher had us cut a design in a linoleum block.  Later we went to the letterpress studio and printed it on an old letterpress.  Very cool!  I wish I had the presence of mind to pull out my camera phone and take some shots of the studio.  Oh well, here's a picture of the final product.

She came back!

BTW, the cat came back!  I was in the kitchen making food when I looked outside and there she was, fast asleep near the bushes!  I'm glad she's so comfy there. 

Surprise in my Backyard

This morning my husband found a cat was grooming herself in our backyard.  We were so charmed, we snapped pictures of it.  She must have heard the shutter go off because then she looked right at me.  No fear, no scurrying away.  She just stared at me for awhile.  Then she went back to grooming.  Later, when I tried to open the door, she gently padded away and burrowed herself through the hole under the fence.  I hope she comes back.

So Cool! You have to see this!

 

This is a Japanese commercial for a cell phone, I think.  I wonder how long it took them to build all of this in the woods.  It made me feel so zen. 

Cherry Blossoms!

April always reminds me of cherry blossoms.  It makes me think of D.C. and how gorgeous the tidal basin is this time of year.  This year, sadly, it makes me remember Japan and how much they are struggling with hit after hit.  They are in my prayers and thoughts.

Photos of Neighborhood Things I Never Notice

Very Funny

http://theoatmeal.com/blog/handwriting

This is a hilarious site!  This entry is about how our handwriting changes through our lives.

Signs of Spring

On Saturday, the clouds parted for about 30 minutes and we had some blue sky.  We saw the first signs of spring.  Then the dark clouds came rolling back and blocked out the sun, so we went to a coffee shop nearby and I saw this. 

my hubby,reading.

Grey Day

Another grey day (is it our third one?  I've lost count.)  I've been consumed with documenting our weather patterns.  Not that there is a pattern to the weather here in the Pacific Northwest.  I call these "Twilight" days.  Ever seen the Twilight movies?  There's a reason they set a vampire movie up in Forks, Washington.  I have to say, we do try to keep a positive attitude about the weather and look forward to our sunny days, but sometimes you just wanna gripe. :O)

Meanwhile, here's some new stuff I've been working on.

I like topiaries.

Green Thoughts

This is a very cool recycled wood card I bought from Borders for 50% off.  A little difficult to write on (wouldn't recommend it for calligraphy), but very green.  I have never been great at recycling things.  But living in Seattle, I am gently prodded (by peer pressure and my tree-hugging husband) to recycle.  It's really not all that difficult once you get used to it.  In a weird way, recycling seems good for the soul.  First, it makes me slow down.  I have to think twice before tossing that aluminum can into the trash.  And it gives me a chance to think and breathe, instead of mindlessly running from place to place.  My thought for the day.

Messy Desk

Here's my desk after a long night of writing.  My snacks of choice are gummy bears and jelly bellies.  BTW, that bottled water isn't for drinking.  It's for thinning out the ink when it doesn't flow.