Stayin' In

Back when this monkey business started, LOIS, put this line in my head.......and NOW I go around all day singing it.
It is TOTALLY her fault, and I am holding her responsible.
And these guys.  Of course.
Little pink and purple pole dancers.

Now that YOU have the silly song in YOUR head......I feel better.

Even though it was in the 90's today, when you walked into the studio, it felt like the AC was on.
Which of course is impossible, since there is no AC.
So we were thrilled that the old house stayed so cool.

While we tried to get something done, the cats were lying around like the heat outside was killing them.
But then, they always lay around that way.

Do you need a close up??

Jinksie always gets the poshest window seat, and leaves the cobbled up one to Miss Puss.

We decided on a colorful warp for the Union 36.  Now there's a surprise.

It's going to be totally fun to weave off.

But after a long day, I am feeling pretty much like this.......
I just don't look as good doing it as she does.

Meet Amanda.

Monkeys.
They have finally settled down.
They were making quite a racket.
Look, how innocent they look.

Today the one little lonely monkey was joined by 9 more, so there were 10.

Then 2 got set aside for someone, and then there were 8.

I am going to put them on my web site, tomorrow.

So if you are in desperate need of a MONKEY, email me tonight, and I will send you pictures of the ones I still have, and then YOUR monkey can fly United.

Or whatever........UPS, I guess.

Otherwise, you will have to wait.

Now I know you all think I walk on water.    

What?

You don't?

Well, ok then.

But I DO kind of present myself as having more energy than the energizer bunny.  But that was before, and between, HH.

And getting older has totally helped me see that I really can't do everything.

So when I came up with the sock monkey venture, I knew I needed help.

Thank heavens for bloggers.  Suddenly I had an email from a lady in Arizona, who said, "I want to make the monkeys".

Huh?  Really?

She assured me that she was not a weirdo.

So I took a chance.

I may not walk on water, but sometimes, my gut feelings are the best.

Like this lady.  She is the best.

When I asked her, in an email, "How the heck did I ever find you?"

She answered, "The monkeys found me."

Aren't we a pair???

So without further ado, let me introduce Amanda.  Shall we call her the Monkey Momma???

Cause she makes the monkeys.

Not only does she do a fantastic job, she is creative and adventuresome.  I have loved every monkey that flew to my studio in New York from from her sewing room in Arizona.  

She is also an accomplished weaver.   Check out her BLOG.

Now if I can only convince her to quit her job and be a full time monkey maker.

Sydney says:

Two things.

First, quit spending so much time with the riff raff outside, and you KNOW who I'm talking about.

Second, you better KEEP that Amanda.

Just sayin'.

Kitty love.

All church and mother related commitments filled.
Weekend almost over.
Whew.

I can't say that I got anything else done, but that's ok.
It's just the way it is.

I went to the studio for a little while this afternoon, more to make sure everything was ok, than anything else.
After giving love to the four needy cats INSIDE, I took my cuppa tea out on the porch.
I don't know why I find this cat to be particularly sweet, but I do.
And anyone who says all cats are the same, well, that's just dumb.

 He is always happy to see me.

For awhile, he took a rest by the bottom of my chair.

But he is always ready for some love.

Thank goodness for my Iphone.  I could never have done this with my camera.

I think he was trying to hold my hand.

Easy with the claws there, buddy.

This is going to be a busy week.
Weaving weekend coming up.

There is always a lot to do to get ready.

Which poses the question, why am I wasting time playing with Nexxie??

Well, I should think the answer would be quite obvious.

It isn't monkey love.

It's kitty love.

I am wasting time, because I can.
And because he is so obviously enjoying it.

Silly boy.

 Well, OK, I am enjoying it too.

But honestly, could you refuse this guy?

He is a love bunny.

He's a boob.

I have never been adopted quite so thoroughly.

 I often think that cats have a better perspective than any of us do.

 Here's a perspective.........whiskers and feet.

Oh, sorry.

 Ah, tomorrow is Monday, and there will be plenty of time to get all the things on my list done.

There won't be so  much time for these shenanigans.

So I've been to church twice in two days.

And yet somehow.........

spending time with a cat that USED to be a stray, is more meaningful to me.

Guess I'm a pretty hopeless case.
What do you think, Next???

Weekend blues

OK, so I am not having the best weekend of my life.
It happens.
I am sure you all have them, right?

I have spent the last two days in the car with my mother, whom I love dearly.
But truthfully, she tests my patience.
Same questions.  Same stories, things that don't make sense, neediness, a little whining.
Oh, I know, she is old, and she gets to be that way.  And who knows, I may be as bad, or even worse.
But trust me, it doesn't make it easier knowing that.

Today, memorial service for a family member that passes away a couple of months ago.  Tough reality that he is really gone, forever, from this world.  I tell ya, it's a mine field, this life.

Tomorrow, my turn to take my mother to the Salvation Army.
What the heck??  Am I a bad person, or what??


On the brighter side, today I tried strawberries, sprinkled with a little raw sugar, spritzed with a little balsamic vinegar (mine was pear infused).  Let them sit for 20 minutes.

Oh my, they were simply divine.

And maybe it's me, it probably is......but I will never understand organized religion, never, as long as I live.
Thankfully,  their churches are often quite lovely, which I find makes going there bearable.

I have been on the road three days this week, and I am really looking forward to NO traveling this coming week.  I am honestly looking forward to MONDAY.

And did I tell you, that Roy is SO spoiled, that even though I only have ONE FREAKING MONKEY in the studio, even though there are lines of people waiting for them, ROY has his very own.

MONKEY LOVE.
It's a wonderful thing.

Roy is actually doing quality control.
Right Roy???
Roy???

Daily Grind

We have one, a daily grind. 

 Stuff that needs/has to get done.  Not the most FUN stuff.

Like the "looper dance", which entails us opening box after box on a white tarp in front of the barn, for the purpose of mixing up the colors.

Periodically, it has to get done.

So far, 28 monkeys have FLOWN out of the studio.
If I'm not careful, I will be MONKEYLESS.
Oh, God help me.

I really couldn't get into anything today.  The phone kept ringing, and I kept getting interrupted.

And to tell the truth, I wasn't feeling all that motivated.

You know when that happens??

I did tie fringe on two rugs I finished yesterday.

Tomorrow is Friday, and I'm glad.
Hopefully, next week will find me more inspired.