My Outdoor Cat Needs A Name

 

Bulkhead art: isn't it fun?

 

Decluttering Continues

I am making good progress decluttering! In the process I came across this artwork from years ago. I posted on a Middle Kingdom Facebook page, and hope to locate a Kingdom Historian or someone who will treasure it.

I bought it at an auction that was in support of ... I don't recall, probably the Pale ... on the impression that I was getting original signed artwork, but it is merely  cover from an issue of the magazine, signed and matted. I was disappointed but not going to complain since it was an auction for a cause, but I do like to get a little original art now and then.

However I haven't done SCA in decades and this really should go elsewhere.

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My walk today was to a chip drop on Donovan where a neighbor used all the chips they needed, and needed the rest gone. I did five trips of 2 buckets each, picking blackberries on the way and gathering apples from a neglected tree. I froze the berries and tomorrow I'll have to process the apples I guess.

 

Trolling West Seattle

 

Seattle Parks & Recreation baits trolls with picnic tables, as shown here at Lincoln Park. The #troll hides nearby to catch picnickers, and is humanely trapped for relocation. No trolls were harmed in this process.

More information: ArtSEA: Seattle gets trolled by a Danish environmental artist | Crosscut

Art Near The Junction

 

I am trying to get back into the habit of posting a picture a day; this one I called "Another young couple strolling through West Seattle" although it's really some art near the Alaska Junction.

A Nice Cat Picture From The Sierra Club

Ok, it is not my original work, it's a card from the Sierra Club, but come on who could resist those expressions!

On Tuesday, I was filling out GOTV post cards (for the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election). I was going through some free notecards that charities, such as the Sierra Club, send to encourage joining. I've been a member for years (probably decades) so I do not at all mind tearing off the picture so it makes a nice postcard, and using it for GOTV. I have plenty of normal "VOTE!!!" cards also, but I think people may be more likely to pay attention to more attractive cards. It is kind of unknowable.

Art by Carlos Espinoza

 I'm not sure what to do with this beautiful piece by Carlos Espanoza, but it's a gift so I want to care for it. Does it go inside or outside?

White Center Art

 

There's all sorts of art to see around here, if you just walk about

Pandemic Payment Challenge

If (like me) you are fortunate enough to still have a paycheck & are wondering what to do with the $600 (a matter of survival for some), I suggest: spend it on a small business' website TODAY! Let's get that money back in the economy and helping our neighbors and friends survive. Today I spent (or rather invested in my community) as follows: 

• My niece's art studio (recommended!): https://www.winnieweaves.com/
• My nephews's art studio (also recommended!): His Etsy Shop
• My favorite book store (recommended!): https://www.pegasusbookexchange.com/
• West Seattle Foodbank (I'm sure you have one in your area): https://westseattlefoodbank.org/

Updating as I find places to go - where would you suggest?
Where are you putting that money? Give me recommendations ...

Refi 2 Tuesday and Art

Sunday more boardgaming, Monday getting not much done because I'd left the schedule open for the refinancing notary, which got delayed to Tuesday.
Picture taking is a bit weak, as decorations are coming down, most plants are hunkered down for the winter, and such flowers as there are (a few dandelions and the occasional nasturtium) look out of season.

I got an adequate haiku Monday:

Winter In Seattle,

Short On Both Flowers And Snow,

Finds Beauty In Moss.

I set up my cafe table and chairs on the porch, which the notary  found perfectly adequate. I might leave it there, as it is charming enough and a promise of something nice for spring. I never sit at it indoors anyway. 

The refi paperwork went smoothly enough; it was chill but not too cold, and not wet. We had to be outside to reduce the risk of COVID, of course. I'm happy to have the paperwork done; I'll never know if I could have squeezed in even a lower rate somehow but since costs were covered it makes sense to make this move even if there is theoretically a better one somewhere.

I took another walk and stocked the last of my available carrots at a pantry, but was still not find a good photo til I got home. I resolved to take a picture of myself so I can get over my appearance of age, and unexpectedly found one of the most popular pictures (going by Facebook likes) I've ever done.

Me and My House Numbers

One of my first art projects was upgrading my house numbers, repurposing cracked plates. I'd actually done this some years ago but the image was today. I guess art and crafting is something a lot of people relate to!

Thursday Rewriting

I've been getting a lot more hits on 4freeCLE lately, possibly because there's a lot of COVID19 free CLE, and perhaps from a calendar I sent the Low Bono listserve. However, Adsense earnings are still very low, perhaps because I haven't put an ad at the top of the page; it seems to detract from the charitable and educational purpose of the blog. Maybe I need to get over that; everyone expects a reasonable number of ads.  I did break up the calendar feature, putting ads between the months. We'll see.
This afternoon I re-wrote the Toastmasters Club 832 (West Seattle) VP Education handbook, basing it on the outline of duties in the official TM handbook and organizing our special materials around that structure. I wish I'd had this version when I started the gig, although to be fair I could have just mentally retained the information the TM handbook; its format induced total MIGO. Perhaps what I will do with my next role is rewrite the Club handbook?
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This morning I brought a radish to show Hannah and Julie, because I'm happy with how well my little gardening effort is going. We walked the crow route this morning: head to where the next crow is cawing. These days, that's in any direction you want.
There was a huge morning gathering of crows in a tree on our route, and an occasional bird bellow of another kind. Maybe a predator bird was bothering them although we could not tell what kind, if any.
I have seen many parking strip gardens, but I especially liked this one with a wavy border. If you're not going to garden the whole thing, you might as well have a playful border.
There was plenty of found art and constructed art in this ally, well-integrated with a Little Free Library too!

Camp Long, through the fence

We headed over to Camp Long, which I had never visited before. It's not open yet, but perhaps when I retire it will be a good destination for biking.

As we crossed back over I-35, we saw another well-painted traffic signal box. Maybe I'll start collecting those, too.

Another Hummingbird Nest!

Is Ginny Eating Chard???

The twisted masculinity of pro-Trump art

The eyes of a follower can be blind to the reality of the cult leader.

Read "Portraits Of A Fascist As An Old Man: The twisted masculinity of pro-Trump art"
 by Talia Lavin

Marine Grade Art

My nephew does great art, combining images of food, sea life and humor - at honeycombwinnie.com

Arthur is a patron of the arts

Nancy Calos-Nakano offered this and two other pictures on "Buy Nothing Highland Park", a group I participate in to give away stuff I don't need. At first I put in my bid for this intending to give them to a family member, but they fit so well into my home that I decided, heck, why not keep something nice for ourselves!