I’m going to have those needy little eyes following me all the long holiday weekend.
Happy July 4th Everyone!
Janie4July 2, 2016 / 9:13 am
Cuddles!
dubravkamcvmdJuly 2, 2016 / 9:17 am
Line to give cuddles forms on the right.
BirdcageJuly 2, 2016 / 9:17 am
Happy Canada Day Long Weekend, too!
NancyJuly 2, 2016 / 9:46 am
You have most certainly come to the right place for cuddles, little sweetie!!
murkle46July 2, 2016 / 9:59 am
Murray C.July 2, 2016 / 10:12 am
Awwww, – this whole thread is Awwww-some, isn’t it?
LauraJuly 2, 2016 / 1:29 pm
It really is! And there’s something so sad and needy about tiny kittens’ faces, isn’t there? They just melt everything meltable with their little expressions!
YadreJuly 2, 2016 / 10:00 am
after a documentary about The Carpenters I really needed something to cheer myself up, so I go over to Not that Mike, and what do I find,? This kitten 🙁 Did I mention there is no one around to hug me?.-o Pretty bad I am not as cute as this kitten 🙂
@dubravka: do you happen to be from Croatia?
Murray C.July 2, 2016 / 10:13 am
We send you virtual hugs – it’s a terrible thing to be hugless – I remember going through a time like that.
6rabbitsJuly 2, 2016 / 11:30 am
How about…
Murray C.July 2, 2016 / 11:41 am
☺️Sweee-e-e-et.
dubravkamcvmdJuly 2, 2016 / 12:28 pm
My family is from Croatia (except for one Italian great-grandmother). I have cousins there, in Zagreb and Kastela, and I’ve visited a couple of times. You recognized the name I guess. And you?
taraJuly 2, 2016 / 10:22 am
I can’t believe the Corgi Snatchers haven’t nabbed this one up. Where are you guys!?
( I love when y’all fight over the Corgis – you are so clever! 🙂 )
Since you must still be snoozing – I’ll do it. *grabs wand* Accio Kitten!
6rabbitsJuly 2, 2016 / 11:22 am
Hey!
*kicks wand out of Tara’s hand, grabs prosh kitteh, throws on cloak of invisibility, RUNS!*
taraJuly 2, 2016 / 11:55 am
Ha! Well played! 😀
debgJuly 2, 2016 / 3:39 pm
Wingardium Leviosa! (Kitten says, “I can FLY!!!!”)
alleinJuly 2, 2016 / 4:23 pm
Well, I just got here. And my snatching is not limited to Corgis, just for the record.
RechercheJuly 2, 2016 / 10:50 am
Are you trying to start a riot and/or string of thefts over this kitten?
6rabbitsJuly 2, 2016 / 11:25 am
Ya know THAT’S gonna happen! Can’t we replicate/duplicate her or something?
taraJuly 2, 2016 / 11:56 am
Great idea!
But how? Polyjuice potion might work?
Ahmm – I might have spent too much time on Pottermore last night…
6rabbitsJuly 2, 2016 / 12:29 pm
I’m leery of polyjuice potion. Seems there’s lots of ways it could go wrong!
debgJuly 2, 2016 / 3:40 pm
Just finished Deathly Hallows audiobook while painting the kitchen! I can’t believe it’s been 9 years already. Still love those books so much.
debgJuly 2, 2016 / 10:58 am
Kitten, you certainly picked the right crowd. We’d love to cuddle you! (Way more fun than painting the kitchen, though the kitchen will look great when it’s done.)
FlowerfanaticJuly 2, 2016 / 11:12 am
Wrapping arms around monitor for BIG cyber hugs for you, cute little one!! Happy 4th to all of you in this group.
PattyJuly 2, 2016 / 11:18 am
I can’t imagine that kitten having problems finding cuddles.
Today is my grandson’s 5th birthday. I am giving him a telescope. He is obsessed with space, and likes to tell me all about the planets. My husband volunteered to dog sit his friend’s dog, which is only an issue because he is a young rat terrier and he has way more energy than I can handle. It’s good that he will only be here a day and a half. Poor Milo is already a bit freaked out because they moved last week, now his mommy and daddy left him in another different house. His parents will be home to deal with him during the fireworks, at least.
Blue FairyJuly 2, 2016 / 12:59 pm
Patty, Good luck dog sitting! My boyfriend moved in a few months ago and he has a rat terrier/jack russell. Even at 12 years old he can wear out everyone! The cats hate him unless he is sleeping. My mama cat takes every opportunity to put him in his place. My most skittish cat gave up and moved to the basement. At least you get to send yours home.
PattyJuly 2, 2016 / 6:13 pm
Ugh, the husband volunteered to dog sit, it’s HIS friend’s dog. However, each time Milo whines to go out, he ignores him and waits until I go take him out. Milo is used to living in the country, so leashes are not his favorite thing. He weighs twice as much as my Pomeranian did, and pulls 4 times as much. I told him, “This is why I said I do not want another dog.” All he wants is the petting and snuggling and none of the work. My bad knee can’t take that kind of dog walking.
LauraJuly 2, 2016 / 9:35 pm
You might try a gentle leader head collar. It doesn’t hurt them; it just teaches them not to pull on the leash. We used one when we adopted our lab years ago, and it worked like a charm to teach him to walk politely.
DuckieJuly 2, 2016 / 4:49 pm
I agree, Patty. Once kitteh’s eyes opened, I doubt he spent more that a minute on his own footsies. I know I’d be packing him everywhere, in one of those apron-sweatshirts.
Trip to Dublin with 16 18-year old boys to practice their English went off without a hitch (except I need to write a letter of complaint about an incompetent bus driver who left us 1 km from the nearest train station so that he could get to his next job). However it seems we brought the rain back with us…
Murray C.July 2, 2016 / 2:23 pm
Makes a rat terrier/jack russell mix seem positively tame by comparison!
debgJuly 2, 2016 / 3:41 pm
Wow, N. Fritz! What was the boys’ native language? Did they like Dublin? I would love to go back–didn’t have enough time to explore the first time.
Phred's MomJuly 2, 2016 / 4:24 pm
Dublin is flat -out fun.
N. FritzJuly 2, 2016 / 5:22 pm
The boys speak German and I am their (American) English teacher. We were there a week and everyone had a fabulous time!
6rabbitsJuly 2, 2016 / 4:11 pm
Confused: Why would you go to Ireland to practice English?
Very rude of bus driver!! Hope you weren’t the only chaperone/supervisor with that many students! Glad the trip was successful.?
Phred's MomJuly 2, 2016 / 4:21 pm
Why not Ireland? They speak English and are very hospitable folks.
Also, they are part of the EU, which probably makes it easy. Except
for the low-rent bus driver. I believe his class is from Austria, nicht war?
6rabbitsJuly 2, 2016 / 6:49 pm
To go to Ireland _specifically_ to practice English when England is right next door was what had me curious. I’m sure the Irish are LOVELY people, and I did not intend for my question to imply otherwise.?
Phred's MomJuly 5, 2016 / 7:01 am
No offense taken on behalf of the Irish.
Offense never occurred to me. Maybe
they just like Guinness?
Murray C.July 5, 2016 / 10:17 am
I love the idea of a gang of non- English speaking kids learning English with a distinct Irish brogue!!!?
Phred's MomJuly 5, 2016 / 11:56 am
I bet a good time was had by all – Irish and Austrian!
6rabbitsJuly 2, 2016 / 5:11 pm
Was not meaning to impugn Ireland, btw!
N. FritzJuly 2, 2016 / 5:25 pm
The students are from Austria and only have two 50-minute English lessons in their school per week. They take their leaving exams next year and need all the practice they can get!
N. FritzJuly 2, 2016 / 5:29 pm
They were even good sports when the bus driver lost his way again and again…. and again. And no I wasn’t alone. I was one of four adults traveling with them.
sugitomoJuly 2, 2016 / 4:15 pm
I need one of those restaurant buzzers to alert me when it’s my turn for cuddles with the kitten.
alleinJuly 2, 2016 / 4:35 pm
Let’s see…what’s going on this weekend…
? Took yesterday off and went nowhere because they guy came to replace my water meter in the morning and it stormed all afternoon.
? Going to my best friend’s for a BBQ tomorrow. Said I’d make brownies, which means I need to go the store for ingredients. It’s 4:30 and I haven’t even showered yet.
? Going to my parents’ for homemade pizza on Monday (my dad’s siblings are visiting from Texas and North Carolina and I don’t know why he decided to do pizza but I’m not complaining since he hasn’t done it in years).
? Kept hearing a strange buzzing noise followed by a small “kerthunk” and finally realized my ice maker has been trying to make ice. It is not hooked up to a water source, but I keep my ice trays in the ice bucket and apparently I accidentally turned it on when I took one out earlier.
? My aunt posted this video on my Facebook page and I thought I’d share (hope FB link works; couldn’t find it on the Tube of You). https://www.facebook.com/top13.net/videos/636601863156416/
dubravkamcvmdJuly 2, 2016 / 4:44 pm
What a terrifically brave and frolicsome kitten, and what a calm and tolerant dog.
Murray C.July 2, 2016 / 5:04 pm
Hilarious – I loved the comment someone made about if the kitten could giggle she was sure it would be giggling like mad.
alleinJuly 2, 2016 / 7:23 pm
Now I’m hearing a little kid giggling in my head as I watch again.
6rabbitsJuly 2, 2016 / 5:08 pm
Awesome video!
amylizJuly 2, 2016 / 5:02 pm
You will get more virtual cuddles than you know what to do with from all us peeps, dear little kitty! I am more than ready for this 3 day weekend. My town always has a jazz fest the first weekend in July so I will take that in tomorrow. Today has been devoted to housework and laundry so I can just relax and enjoy myself for the next two days!?
Just back from a day out with friends, we went to see Independence Day : resurgence. My husband wanted to see it ? I let him win once in a while, keeps him pliable ?
Weather was crappy, cloudy and cool so indoor activities were best anyway.
P.S. If you’re wondering how I like the movie, I’ll just say the sequel make the original movie looks like it could win an Oscar. ?
LauraJuly 2, 2016 / 9:37 pm
Yeah, I saw it, too, Gigi — as I told my husband, I wanted to see something mindless that had lots of things blowing up. It was seriously mediocre. But there were indeed lots of things blowing up, so there is that. 🙂
KarJuly 2, 2016 / 7:08 pm
Trying to be productive this weekend, we’ll see.
Went and saw The Purge 3: Election Year. Good enough as a thriller but some questionable holes.
I’ve been to too many cons. Every other scene I’m imagining someone cosplaying as this or that. Can definitely see a lot of Freak Brides at Dragoncon.
FayeJuly 2, 2016 / 7:08 pm
I declared today to be PAJAMA DAY. I’m still in them at 7 pm.
Sudsy dishes in sink. Not ready to bother to rinse yet.
Dog and cat have food/water so…
All art and only art today.
BBQ tomorrow with no input required from me but eating and drinking one beer.
Alone Monday as young person I live with has a day at Adventure Land planned with her mother and grandparents. So: All art again. But I’ll probably get dressed cause it’s a holiday. Hoping for leftovers.
Murray C.July 2, 2016 / 8:57 pm
Faye! I was wondering where you were! I’m envious you were doing art all day. I never get to do that much. I worked in the garden a good portion of the day, weeding, planting a couple of new finds from the nursery: got a room ready for a bunny boarder who is coming tomorrow for a few days; bought makings for offerings for a party tomorrow and one on Monday. I’ve been making these delicious nut bars for a lot of different events – very easy, short crust, 4 ingredients, topping is only about 6 ingredients. I’m starting to think about different ways to make the toppings, but I think I’ll wait until the fall. Our kitchen isn’t air-conditioned and it gets purty toasty using the oven.
Everyone have fun this week end!
FayeJuly 3, 2016 / 12:41 am
Murray, thank you. I finished one drawing. Then worked on another that was in first ink stage. Finished second inking and began color. Totally satisfied.
Indulged myself for hours and hours.
I ran across an artist that I had never heard of. He works in pencil, ink and graphite. Exquisite combination of Steampunk and Surrealism. Macabre and Science Fictiony.
John Fenton: FB, YouTube and JohnFenton.com. I now stand in awe of him. See what you think.
Murray C.July 3, 2016 / 10:11 am
I looked up John Fenton – he died in 1977, is that correct? He IS wonderful – I love his aquatints! And I like his figures very much – great gesture in his line.
Faye, I’m getting closer to my art vacation! School officially ends on Friday, July 8 here in Austria. On July 9 I leave for Vienna to work on a long term creative project for a week or so. In August I hope to be in Grand Marais, Minnesota , an artists’ colony on the shores of Lake Superior. Do you post your art anywhere (I’m not on Facebook)? But I do have a Flickr account for the few things I get to a year.
FayeJuly 3, 2016 / 8:26 am
Hi N. Fritz, Right now my art is focused on treatment I’m receiving for PTSD. I am collaborating with my therapist and he is posting my work on his website. A bit too personal to provide link here. Eventually I will be organizing a blog to showcase older work and then new as my work widens out a bit.
What medium do you work in?
N. FritzJuly 3, 2016 / 10:45 am
I draw mostly… I guess it would be considered Urban Sketching. I also doodle with Sharpies and am looking forward to doing a watercolor course in Minnesota. Art is a relatively new hobby for me and I haven’t taken the time to make it into anything bigger.
Murray C.July 3, 2016 / 9:53 am
How wonderful! An art vacation – something I’d love. And, to echo Faye – what is your favored medium? And subject matter. That’s always my bugaboo. I was an illustrator and was expected to produce what was asked of me and now I can’t seem to think for myself. I am pretty traditional in my likes – I love watercolor and I love flowers so that’s where I sit right now. I’m still not a *good* watercolorist – I teach it to beginners because I know how to use the medium and have lots of good tips. Someday I’ll post some of my things – definitely my Christmas card when the time comes. I do that in scratchboard.
N. FritzJuly 3, 2016 / 10:51 am
Murray, I haven’t even had time the past few years to do my own Christmas cards. But I’ve already bought materials for this year so I hope I can pull it off (the plan is to make “stained glass” cut outs filled in with translucent paper).
Murray C.July 3, 2016 / 12:14 pm
I don’t do anything that hands on – I just do the artwork and have it printed. WE had gotten o the point of sending out so many cards it was getting too pricey and too labor intensive just to score and fold, so now we send out most by scanning and emailing. Hated to do it but we have over 300 people on our list. One year I made some little paper houses – I’ve always coveted those little German paper houses and figured I could make them. So I did, in miniature, and gave them to a bunch of people. Then I got the idea to make them the next year and the next – 6 years in total – different design each year – so at the end everyone (26 people) had a little village of tiny paper houses. It was a big hit. How I found the time I don’t know! but it’s so much fun!
LauraJuly 2, 2016 / 9:42 pm
I’m having a working weekend, alas. I procrastinated myself right into it, though; I had 20 business days to get this transcript done, and ignored it for 15, so it’s my own fault. But we’re going to a baseball game Monday, which should be fun.
In other news, our two pups are doing fine together. They’re still not actively playing with each other, and competition is limited to very small things, but we can tell they’re not going to be a problem. It helps that (a) both of them are submissive in character, (b) neither one is food aggressive or eats the other’s food even when they leave half of breakfast sitting around for half the day (our lab was a garbage hound, so when our golden retriever was done with his dinner, Isaac would inhale the remainder — I’m not used to a dog leaving the other one’s food alone like this, but they both do!), (c) both of them are incredibly gentle when taking a treat, and (d) they’re both good with any and all people.
We learned that there was another man from the therapy dog list who was very interested in Sebastian, but too bad, he’s MY boy now! He’s a great lap cuddler, which I love. He just adores snuggles and so do I, so everybody’s happy. His former human should be able to get out and visit him again soon; she’s moving apartments this weekend, poor thing, But she’s always a text away if we have questions, which is wonderful. Not that we’ve had many.
And finally, I’ve started folding 1,000 origami cranes. I’ve wanted to ever since visiting Nagasaki 20 years ago; there are many strings of them hanging at their ground zero in the Peace Park. They fold quickly once you get into the rhythm, but that’s a LOT of cranes. Traditionally, you’re supposed to do it in a year, though, which should be plenty of time even for little ol’ procrastinating me. I read that apparently that was one test for cosmonaut candidates back in the day, see if they had the patience to fold 1,000 origami cranes. It’s an interesting test. Not that I have the nerve to strap myself atop millions of pounds of highly flammable chemicals to ride into outer space, much as I would love to see the Earth from orbit!
And speaking of procrastinating…back to work. This transcript won’t finish itself. 🙁
EmJuly 2, 2016 / 11:45 pm
Laura, They say that when you fold a 1000 cranes, your wish comes true. “Gambatte” means work hard, be industrious–so gambatte on your senbazuru–1000 cranes!
LauraJuly 3, 2016 / 10:43 am
Thanks, Em. If I can get them done before November, I know *exactly* what wish I’ll make. 🙂
EmJuly 3, 2016 / 11:34 am
Thank you Laura.
Murray C.July 2, 2016 / 10:38 pm
A friend of mine was doing origami boxes and putting them over fairy lights – it was so effective. She happened to use photocopies of music which was lovely, but the possibilities are endless.
EmJuly 2, 2016 / 10:47 pm
Did a little illustrating this afternoon. My block has an annual party on July 4th, with a tiny parade. We decorate the bikes, strollers and ourselves from a box that one of the neighbors has. Then we walk from one end of the block to just about the mid-point–that’s where the older neighbors are sitting under the trees waiting for us (we call this the viewing stands). Most years, the Block Captain, (that’s me at the moment) says some of the most important events that our neighborhood experienced since the last time we got together. Then there’s a lot of group photos. Then we eat and hang out until the sun goes down. Does anyone else have neighborhood customs? I’d love to hear about them!
Murray C.July 2, 2016 / 11:02 pm
Em, that sounds so wonderfully, perfectly middle America from a century ago – how completely charming! The town I grew up in had an all day event in the playground with three-legged races, some rides – sponsored by the likes of the Ladies Auxiliary and the Fire Company and then the fireworks occur once it’s dark. Straight out of The Music Man. I can still smell the sticks of punk that we lit to fend off the mosquitos, and the smell of fireworks hanging in the air as the whole crowd slowly made their way home afterward. And, of course, the sound of sirens as the fire company put out the inevitable fire that started in the roof of one of the houses near the firework staging area.
LauraJuly 3, 2016 / 10:48 am
The little town I went to high school in had a homegrown 4th of July parade. Our block made our own float every year for it. Every fire truck and police car in the county, it seemed, would join the parade, sirens blaring. And people would also contribute in strange ways to the parade. One year one of my friends walked his two pet ducks, which he had named Function and Gullible, on leashes, with little flags painted on their wings. They were very popular. 🙂 And another year we dressed up in our best red, white, and blue and passed out copies of Mark Twain’s “War Prayer,” which is a highly anti-war piece. (This was during Vietnam.) We were not met favorably by a lot of people, although by dressing so patriotically most folks would happily take the paper before seeing what was on it. It was quite entertaining. Ah, my misspent youth….and we misspent it so well!
The town also had a street carnival for several days leading up to the 4th. One year a bunch of us high schoolers persuaded the bouncy house guy to let us have it without any kids in there, and then we spent a few minutes trying to kill each other. It was hilariously crazy! I’m talking major tackles and tossing people around and anything else you can think of. We all got bruised from head to toe, but no broken bones, and it counted as one of the highlights of the street carnival!
The local class reunions are always held over the 4th, too. My class’s 45th reunion is going on right now. I opted not to go; my two closest friends were a year older, and I only went to school with that crowd for a couple years, not my whole life like so many of them did. I might go for my 50th, but I don’t know. I have a few years to decide. 🙂
YadreJuly 4, 2016 / 2:04 pm
@dubravka: no wonder I recognised this name: I was born in Dubrovnik :). Actually dub means oak tree, Dubrava is an oak forest, so Dubravka must be someone from this forest:). I was named after the Adriatic Sea which is Jadran in Croatia, a suffix ka was added to it which leads to Jadranka :). Sorry if you have already known about this stuff 🙂
Sorry for off topics, guys!
FayeJuly 4, 2016 / 2:11 pm
Good to know!
dubravkamcvmdJuly 4, 2016 / 8:59 pm
Dubrovnik is beautiful as is the plavi Jadran!
Murray C.July 4, 2016 / 10:58 pm
Yadre, that is so sweet – but do you see how “off topic” we go??? that’s part of what I love about this site, the little byways that the conversations take and the great little tidbits of information we learn. I think t’s OK to go off topic as much as you like – especially on Open Thread week ends! I’m all for cross-pollination!?
I’m going to have those needy little eyes following me all the long holiday weekend.
Happy July 4th Everyone!
Cuddles!
Line to give cuddles forms on the right.
Happy Canada Day Long Weekend, too!
You have most certainly come to the right place for cuddles, little sweetie!!
Awwww, – this whole thread is Awwww-some, isn’t it?
It really is! And there’s something so sad and needy about tiny kittens’ faces, isn’t there? They just melt everything meltable with their little expressions!
after a documentary about The Carpenters I really needed something to cheer myself up, so I go over to Not that Mike, and what do I find,? This kitten 🙁 Did I mention there is no one around to hug me?.-o Pretty bad I am not as cute as this kitten 🙂
@dubravka: do you happen to be from Croatia?
We send you virtual hugs – it’s a terrible thing to be hugless – I remember going through a time like that.
How about…
☺️Sweee-e-e-et.
My family is from Croatia (except for one Italian great-grandmother). I have cousins there, in Zagreb and Kastela, and I’ve visited a couple of times. You recognized the name I guess. And you?
I can’t believe the Corgi Snatchers haven’t nabbed this one up. Where are you guys!?
( I love when y’all fight over the Corgis – you are so clever! 🙂 )
Since you must still be snoozing – I’ll do it. *grabs wand* Accio Kitten!
Hey!
*kicks wand out of Tara’s hand, grabs prosh kitteh, throws on cloak of invisibility, RUNS!*
Ha! Well played! 😀
Wingardium Leviosa! (Kitten says, “I can FLY!!!!”)
Well, I just got here. And my snatching is not limited to Corgis, just for the record.
Are you trying to start a riot and/or string of thefts over this kitten?
Ya know THAT’S gonna happen! Can’t we replicate/duplicate her or something?
Great idea!
But how? Polyjuice potion might work?
Ahmm – I might have spent too much time on Pottermore last night…
I’m leery of polyjuice potion. Seems there’s lots of ways it could go wrong!
Just finished Deathly Hallows audiobook while painting the kitchen! I can’t believe it’s been 9 years already. Still love those books so much.
Kitten, you certainly picked the right crowd. We’d love to cuddle you! (Way more fun than painting the kitchen, though the kitchen will look great when it’s done.)
Wrapping arms around monitor for BIG cyber hugs for you, cute little one!! Happy 4th to all of you in this group.
I can’t imagine that kitten having problems finding cuddles.
Today is my grandson’s 5th birthday. I am giving him a telescope. He is obsessed with space, and likes to tell me all about the planets. My husband volunteered to dog sit his friend’s dog, which is only an issue because he is a young rat terrier and he has way more energy than I can handle. It’s good that he will only be here a day and a half. Poor Milo is already a bit freaked out because they moved last week, now his mommy and daddy left him in another different house. His parents will be home to deal with him during the fireworks, at least.
Patty, Good luck dog sitting! My boyfriend moved in a few months ago and he has a rat terrier/jack russell. Even at 12 years old he can wear out everyone! The cats hate him unless he is sleeping. My mama cat takes every opportunity to put him in his place. My most skittish cat gave up and moved to the basement. At least you get to send yours home.
Ugh, the husband volunteered to dog sit, it’s HIS friend’s dog. However, each time Milo whines to go out, he ignores him and waits until I go take him out. Milo is used to living in the country, so leashes are not his favorite thing. He weighs twice as much as my Pomeranian did, and pulls 4 times as much. I told him, “This is why I said I do not want another dog.” All he wants is the petting and snuggling and none of the work. My bad knee can’t take that kind of dog walking.
You might try a gentle leader head collar. It doesn’t hurt them; it just teaches them not to pull on the leash. We used one when we adopted our lab years ago, and it worked like a charm to teach him to walk politely.
I agree, Patty. Once kitteh’s eyes opened, I doubt he spent more that a minute on his own footsies. I know I’d be packing him everywhere, in one of those apron-sweatshirts.
Trip to Dublin with 16 18-year old boys to practice their English went off without a hitch (except I need to write a letter of complaint about an incompetent bus driver who left us 1 km from the nearest train station so that he could get to his next job). However it seems we brought the rain back with us…
Makes a rat terrier/jack russell mix seem positively tame by comparison!
Wow, N. Fritz! What was the boys’ native language? Did they like Dublin? I would love to go back–didn’t have enough time to explore the first time.
Dublin is flat -out fun.
The boys speak German and I am their (American) English teacher. We were there a week and everyone had a fabulous time!
Confused: Why would you go to Ireland to practice English?
Very rude of bus driver!! Hope you weren’t the only chaperone/supervisor with that many students! Glad the trip was successful.?
Why not Ireland? They speak English and are very hospitable folks.
Also, they are part of the EU, which probably makes it easy. Except
for the low-rent bus driver. I believe his class is from Austria, nicht war?
To go to Ireland _specifically_ to practice English when England is right next door was what had me curious. I’m sure the Irish are LOVELY people, and I did not intend for my question to imply otherwise.?
No offense taken on behalf of the Irish.
Offense never occurred to me. Maybe
they just like Guinness?
I love the idea of a gang of non- English speaking kids learning English with a distinct Irish brogue!!!?
I bet a good time was had by all – Irish and Austrian!
Was not meaning to impugn Ireland, btw!
The students are from Austria and only have two 50-minute English lessons in their school per week. They take their leaving exams next year and need all the practice they can get!
They were even good sports when the bus driver lost his way again and again…. and again. And no I wasn’t alone. I was one of four adults traveling with them.
I need one of those restaurant buzzers to alert me when it’s my turn for cuddles with the kitten.
Let’s see…what’s going on this weekend…
? Took yesterday off and went nowhere because they guy came to replace my water meter in the morning and it stormed all afternoon.
? Going to my best friend’s for a BBQ tomorrow. Said I’d make brownies, which means I need to go the store for ingredients. It’s 4:30 and I haven’t even showered yet.
? Going to my parents’ for homemade pizza on Monday (my dad’s siblings are visiting from Texas and North Carolina and I don’t know why he decided to do pizza but I’m not complaining since he hasn’t done it in years).
? Kept hearing a strange buzzing noise followed by a small “kerthunk” and finally realized my ice maker has been trying to make ice. It is not hooked up to a water source, but I keep my ice trays in the ice bucket and apparently I accidentally turned it on when I took one out earlier.
? My aunt posted this video on my Facebook page and I thought I’d share (hope FB link works; couldn’t find it on the Tube of You). https://www.facebook.com/top13.net/videos/636601863156416/
What a terrifically brave and frolicsome kitten, and what a calm and tolerant dog.
Hilarious – I loved the comment someone made about if the kitten could giggle she was sure it would be giggling like mad.
Now I’m hearing a little kid giggling in my head as I watch again.
Awesome video!
You will get more virtual cuddles than you know what to do with from all us peeps, dear little kitty! I am more than ready for this 3 day weekend. My town always has a jazz fest the first weekend in July so I will take that in tomorrow. Today has been devoted to housework and laundry so I can just relax and enjoy myself for the next two days!?
Just back from a day out with friends, we went to see Independence Day : resurgence. My husband wanted to see it ? I let him win once in a while, keeps him pliable ?
Weather was crappy, cloudy and cool so indoor activities were best anyway.
P.S. If you’re wondering how I like the movie, I’ll just say the sequel make the original movie looks like it could win an Oscar. ?
Yeah, I saw it, too, Gigi — as I told my husband, I wanted to see something mindless that had lots of things blowing up. It was seriously mediocre. But there were indeed lots of things blowing up, so there is that. 🙂
Trying to be productive this weekend, we’ll see.
Went and saw The Purge 3: Election Year. Good enough as a thriller but some questionable holes.
I’ve been to too many cons. Every other scene I’m imagining someone cosplaying as this or that. Can definitely see a lot of Freak Brides at Dragoncon.
I declared today to be PAJAMA DAY. I’m still in them at 7 pm.
Sudsy dishes in sink. Not ready to bother to rinse yet.
Dog and cat have food/water so…
All art and only art today.
BBQ tomorrow with no input required from me but eating and drinking one beer.
Alone Monday as young person I live with has a day at Adventure Land planned with her mother and grandparents. So: All art again. But I’ll probably get dressed cause it’s a holiday. Hoping for leftovers.
Faye! I was wondering where you were! I’m envious you were doing art all day. I never get to do that much. I worked in the garden a good portion of the day, weeding, planting a couple of new finds from the nursery: got a room ready for a bunny boarder who is coming tomorrow for a few days; bought makings for offerings for a party tomorrow and one on Monday. I’ve been making these delicious nut bars for a lot of different events – very easy, short crust, 4 ingredients, topping is only about 6 ingredients. I’m starting to think about different ways to make the toppings, but I think I’ll wait until the fall. Our kitchen isn’t air-conditioned and it gets purty toasty using the oven.
Everyone have fun this week end!
Murray, thank you. I finished one drawing. Then worked on another that was in first ink stage. Finished second inking and began color. Totally satisfied.
Indulged myself for hours and hours.
I ran across an artist that I had never heard of. He works in pencil, ink and graphite. Exquisite combination of Steampunk and Surrealism. Macabre and Science Fictiony.
John Fenton: FB, YouTube and JohnFenton.com. I now stand in awe of him. See what you think.
I looked up John Fenton – he died in 1977, is that correct? He IS wonderful – I love his aquatints! And I like his figures very much – great gesture in his line.
Faye, I’m getting closer to my art vacation! School officially ends on Friday, July 8 here in Austria. On July 9 I leave for Vienna to work on a long term creative project for a week or so. In August I hope to be in Grand Marais, Minnesota , an artists’ colony on the shores of Lake Superior. Do you post your art anywhere (I’m not on Facebook)? But I do have a Flickr account for the few things I get to a year.
Hi N. Fritz, Right now my art is focused on treatment I’m receiving for PTSD. I am collaborating with my therapist and he is posting my work on his website. A bit too personal to provide link here. Eventually I will be organizing a blog to showcase older work and then new as my work widens out a bit.
What medium do you work in?
I draw mostly… I guess it would be considered Urban Sketching. I also doodle with Sharpies and am looking forward to doing a watercolor course in Minnesota. Art is a relatively new hobby for me and I haven’t taken the time to make it into anything bigger.
How wonderful! An art vacation – something I’d love. And, to echo Faye – what is your favored medium? And subject matter. That’s always my bugaboo. I was an illustrator and was expected to produce what was asked of me and now I can’t seem to think for myself. I am pretty traditional in my likes – I love watercolor and I love flowers so that’s where I sit right now. I’m still not a *good* watercolorist – I teach it to beginners because I know how to use the medium and have lots of good tips. Someday I’ll post some of my things – definitely my Christmas card when the time comes. I do that in scratchboard.
Murray, I haven’t even had time the past few years to do my own Christmas cards. But I’ve already bought materials for this year so I hope I can pull it off (the plan is to make “stained glass” cut outs filled in with translucent paper).
I don’t do anything that hands on – I just do the artwork and have it printed. WE had gotten o the point of sending out so many cards it was getting too pricey and too labor intensive just to score and fold, so now we send out most by scanning and emailing. Hated to do it but we have over 300 people on our list. One year I made some little paper houses – I’ve always coveted those little German paper houses and figured I could make them. So I did, in miniature, and gave them to a bunch of people. Then I got the idea to make them the next year and the next – 6 years in total – different design each year – so at the end everyone (26 people) had a little village of tiny paper houses. It was a big hit. How I found the time I don’t know! but it’s so much fun!
I’m having a working weekend, alas. I procrastinated myself right into it, though; I had 20 business days to get this transcript done, and ignored it for 15, so it’s my own fault. But we’re going to a baseball game Monday, which should be fun.
In other news, our two pups are doing fine together. They’re still not actively playing with each other, and competition is limited to very small things, but we can tell they’re not going to be a problem. It helps that (a) both of them are submissive in character, (b) neither one is food aggressive or eats the other’s food even when they leave half of breakfast sitting around for half the day (our lab was a garbage hound, so when our golden retriever was done with his dinner, Isaac would inhale the remainder — I’m not used to a dog leaving the other one’s food alone like this, but they both do!), (c) both of them are incredibly gentle when taking a treat, and (d) they’re both good with any and all people.
We learned that there was another man from the therapy dog list who was very interested in Sebastian, but too bad, he’s MY boy now! He’s a great lap cuddler, which I love. He just adores snuggles and so do I, so everybody’s happy. His former human should be able to get out and visit him again soon; she’s moving apartments this weekend, poor thing, But she’s always a text away if we have questions, which is wonderful. Not that we’ve had many.
And finally, I’ve started folding 1,000 origami cranes. I’ve wanted to ever since visiting Nagasaki 20 years ago; there are many strings of them hanging at their ground zero in the Peace Park. They fold quickly once you get into the rhythm, but that’s a LOT of cranes. Traditionally, you’re supposed to do it in a year, though, which should be plenty of time even for little ol’ procrastinating me. I read that apparently that was one test for cosmonaut candidates back in the day, see if they had the patience to fold 1,000 origami cranes. It’s an interesting test. Not that I have the nerve to strap myself atop millions of pounds of highly flammable chemicals to ride into outer space, much as I would love to see the Earth from orbit!
And speaking of procrastinating…back to work. This transcript won’t finish itself. 🙁
Laura, They say that when you fold a 1000 cranes, your wish comes true. “Gambatte” means work hard, be industrious–so gambatte on your senbazuru–1000 cranes!
Thanks, Em. If I can get them done before November, I know *exactly* what wish I’ll make. 🙂
Thank you Laura.
A friend of mine was doing origami boxes and putting them over fairy lights – it was so effective. She happened to use photocopies of music which was lovely, but the possibilities are endless.
Did a little illustrating this afternoon. My block has an annual party on July 4th, with a tiny parade. We decorate the bikes, strollers and ourselves from a box that one of the neighbors has. Then we walk from one end of the block to just about the mid-point–that’s where the older neighbors are sitting under the trees waiting for us (we call this the viewing stands). Most years, the Block Captain, (that’s me at the moment) says some of the most important events that our neighborhood experienced since the last time we got together. Then there’s a lot of group photos. Then we eat and hang out until the sun goes down. Does anyone else have neighborhood customs? I’d love to hear about them!
Em, that sounds so wonderfully, perfectly middle America from a century ago – how completely charming! The town I grew up in had an all day event in the playground with three-legged races, some rides – sponsored by the likes of the Ladies Auxiliary and the Fire Company and then the fireworks occur once it’s dark. Straight out of The Music Man. I can still smell the sticks of punk that we lit to fend off the mosquitos, and the smell of fireworks hanging in the air as the whole crowd slowly made their way home afterward. And, of course, the sound of sirens as the fire company put out the inevitable fire that started in the roof of one of the houses near the firework staging area.
The little town I went to high school in had a homegrown 4th of July parade. Our block made our own float every year for it. Every fire truck and police car in the county, it seemed, would join the parade, sirens blaring. And people would also contribute in strange ways to the parade. One year one of my friends walked his two pet ducks, which he had named Function and Gullible, on leashes, with little flags painted on their wings. They were very popular. 🙂 And another year we dressed up in our best red, white, and blue and passed out copies of Mark Twain’s “War Prayer,” which is a highly anti-war piece. (This was during Vietnam.) We were not met favorably by a lot of people, although by dressing so patriotically most folks would happily take the paper before seeing what was on it. It was quite entertaining. Ah, my misspent youth….and we misspent it so well!
The town also had a street carnival for several days leading up to the 4th. One year a bunch of us high schoolers persuaded the bouncy house guy to let us have it without any kids in there, and then we spent a few minutes trying to kill each other. It was hilariously crazy! I’m talking major tackles and tossing people around and anything else you can think of. We all got bruised from head to toe, but no broken bones, and it counted as one of the highlights of the street carnival!
The local class reunions are always held over the 4th, too. My class’s 45th reunion is going on right now. I opted not to go; my two closest friends were a year older, and I only went to school with that crowd for a couple years, not my whole life like so many of them did. I might go for my 50th, but I don’t know. I have a few years to decide. 🙂
@dubravka: no wonder I recognised this name: I was born in Dubrovnik :). Actually dub means oak tree, Dubrava is an oak forest, so Dubravka must be someone from this forest:). I was named after the Adriatic Sea which is Jadran in Croatia, a suffix ka was added to it which leads to Jadranka :). Sorry if you have already known about this stuff 🙂
Sorry for off topics, guys!
Good to know!
Dubrovnik is beautiful as is the plavi Jadran!
Yadre, that is so sweet – but do you see how “off topic” we go??? that’s part of what I love about this site, the little byways that the conversations take and the great little tidbits of information we learn. I think t’s OK to go off topic as much as you like – especially on Open Thread week ends! I’m all for cross-pollination!?
How can you go off topic when there is no topic?
Much more succinct – thanks, Allein.?