Monday was a very special day.  It was the day that Recliner Man and I went to see the Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Gardens.The day was made even more special because we got to share it with two very good friends.

It was an absolutely beautiful day here in Phoenix. Our morning started a little nippy with the temps in the upper 50s but by the time we reached the garden the sun was climbing high enough to start chasing away the chill and adding dazzle to the glass sculptures.

Halfway through the walk we were able to shed our jackets and enjoy the warmth of the sun. Not to shabby for late November!

The Botanical Garden is a wonderful place to explore. The paths meander through an amazing assortment of desert plants.

There is something to catch your attention no matter where you cast your gaze.

 We arrived early, 8am, so the garden wasn’t very crowded yet. We were free to stroll at a leisurely pace and enjoy the sounds of the birds along with the many visual treats. The school groups didn’t start showing up until just before we were ready to leave.

It was a great day for taking pictures and I took full advantage of it. I came home with 176 images on my camera.

I’ve had the hardest time deciding which photos to share with you.

Editing has never been my strong suit but I did manage to get the list down to my favorite 26 photos.

Sorry folks, that means that we will be on this nature walk for 3 days. Just think of it as the Phoenix version of Gilligan’s Island.

I’m cleaning up some of the folders on my computer and I found these photos that I meant to share with you. They are from a day the girls and I were trying out another technique from Artist Trading Card Workshop. We were stamping with bleach and then using dye inks to sponge color onto the lightened areas.

We also used sequin waste as a stencil and sponged on some Lumiere paints.

I didn’t find an “after” picture so you will have to use your imagination a bit. After this step we also used some spray webbing on them. It was a free for all and we were having lots of fun.

Our favorite part of the process was how the sponged on dye inks looked when applied to the bleached areas. The colors really popped but at the same time they had a very soft and muted feel to them.

So I made this can. Whoop-de-doo. I mean, I like it and all, but what am I going to do with it? There has to be something more to it. Bernie made her can to be a storage unit for ATCs but that idea wasn’t floating my boat. I sat and thought. I was restless. I was frustrated. I got an idea, I’ll add a tag!

Oh yea, now THAT was a major improvement. It makes all the difference, doesn’t it? Dang, who am I kidding, this thing needs some something more.

Something… like… strings hanging from the lid! Yeah, that’s the ticket!

Ah, so much better. But…. is that all there is? Shouldn’t there me more? I don’t know about you but I’m starting to feel like just hanging some jeweled strings is a lame idea. There needs to be something more. Something magical.

Something like… fairies!

 Now, that is more like it! Let me introduce you to the girls. There is Viola.

And  Agnes.

And  Wilda.

And Celeste.

And Polly.

These are good luck fairies, here to grant you wishes. However, I must warn you that they are a bit cranky about having to live in a rusty old tin can. All wishes are made at your own risk.

Every other week we drag an empty garbage can into the living room and fill it up with water. After adding a water conditioner and a bit of salt it sits overnight so that the water temperature will match what is in the aquarium.

Then we siphon out about 45 gallons of dirty water and replace it with the new, clean water. I’d like to say that the fish really appreciate this but, well, they’re fish and fish aren’t too smart. Abbey has to involve herself in everything we do so she has appointed herself to the position of Quality Control Inspector for this chore. She takes her work very seriously.

STRAY CAT
by Francis Witham

Oh, what unhappy twist of fate
Has brought you homeless to my gate?
The gate where once another stood
To beg for shelter, warmth, and food
For from that day I ceased to be
The master of my destiny.

While he, with purr and velvet paw
Became within my house the law.
He scratched the furniture and shed
And claimed the middle of my bed.

He ruled in arrogance and pride
And broke my heart the day he died.
So if you really think, oh Cat,
I’d willingly relive all that
Because you come forlorn and thin
Well…don’t just stand there…Come on in!

One of the fun projects in Bernie Berlin’s book,  Artist Trading Card Workshop, is a rusty tin can container.

Billie was a good sport and volunteered to rust the cans for us. Bernie talks about using a rusting solution that includes an iron paint and a second step that caused the rust to happen. Bernie is smart - we are not so smart. We balked at paying for the two step rusting kit and decided to find another way to rust the cans. A search of the internet came up with a recipe that called for mixing bleach and vinegar in equal parts and then soaking the cans. There were warnings about the fumes this solution gives off but we figured if a “big name” included the recipe in her book that it couldn’t be all that bad. We are foolish.

I saw Billie several hours after she had used the mixture. Her voice was weak and her nose was burning. She told me that even though she had done it outside you could smell it inside. When I saw her today, 4 days later, she was still having a little bit of burning in her nose. I wish we had been as smart as Bernie.

Billie, we owe you one.