The Lady with the Alligator Purse

Miss Lucy had a baby, his name was Tiny Tim.  She put him in the bathtub, to see if he could swim.  He drank up all the water.  He ate up all the soap.  He tried to eat the bathtub, but it wouldn’t go down his throat. 

Miss Lucy called the doctor.  Miss Lucy call the nurse.  Miss Lucy called the lady with the alligator purse.  “Mumps” said the doctor.  “Measles” said the nurse.  “Hiccups” said the lady with the alligator purse.  Out went the doctor.  Out went the nurse.  Out went the lady with the alligator purse.   

                                                                                                                                                              

  

 

 As is more common than naught, once again the weekend’s garage sales have launched a search to find out the back story of some of the more unusual items that cross my path.  For just a few years–roughly 1948 through 1951–alligator bags like these were very popular.  Ugly/fascinating is the only way to describe them. 

The previous weekend, a framed picture caught my eye.  After taking the print out of the frame, research on the signature discovered on the back of the print suggests that the photographer lived and worked in this area in the 1880’s.  The holiday weekend stalled any additional progress, but the historical society will have someone in the office on Tuesday.  Hopefully they already know something about his life and work that will fill in the blanks. 

It’s all very interesting.  Just like they told Mikey:  “Try it, you’ll like it!”

Duct Tape Prom Dress Contest

Today, when I heard about this contest,  I was immediately taken with the idea.  I had visions of a series of silver dresses–a surreal space age look repeated in different shapes.  Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong.  These students conjured up some of the most smashing outfits out of the most mundane beginnings–rolls of duct tape.  Vote for your favorite in this year’s group before July 2, 2009 at:    http://www.stuckatprom.com/contests/prom/entries_finalist.asp

Congratulations to all entrants.  They deserve to be applauded for their imagination, hard work and “stick-to-it-iveness….”

The Mighty 198

1302 down (literally, by the way) 198 to go.

There is a side bet going with the contractor–which puzzle will be done first, the jigsaw puzzle or the bathroom puzzle?

Orchid Cactus

The mystery has been solved.  The beautiful flowering plant on my porch is a member of the forest cactus family–plants that came originally came from Mexico and South America.  Specifically, epiphyllums;  commonly known as ”orchid cactus.”  No matter what the name, it is a dramatic and beautiful plant. 

 

 

The Salad

Around this neck of the woods, there is a popular green salad that most everyone has in her/his recipe box.  Memorial Day weekend, my friends who live on a hillside with the best view of the fireworks, had their annual eat-in-style/watch the fireworks party.  My contribution to the meal was the old stand-by with a few tweaks:

The Salad

Break the noodles from 2 pkgs. Oriental flavored Ramen Noodles into small bits.  Reserve the seasonings packets for the dressing.  Toast 1/2 half cup slivered almonds and the broken noodles in small batches in a skillet over medium heat.  (Speaking from the voice of experience, be sure to toast in small batches.  Otherwise, the larger pieces lie on top of the smaller ones, burning the ones on the bottom and leaving the bigger chunks barely touched by the heat.  The toasting contributes mightily to the flavor.)  When cool, toss with 7-8 cups torn lettuce.  

For the dressing, combine:  1-cup olive oil, 1/4-cup sugar, 1/2-cup white vinegar, 3-tablespoons soy sauce and the 2-packets reserved Oriental  seasonings.  Toss with the lettuce and toasted almonds/noodles.

Variations are encouraged.  For this occasion, I added a handful of dried cranberries and 6-sliced strawberries.  

As always happens, the few in the group who did not already know how to make ”The Salad,” hastily jotted their e-mail address on the nearest scrap of paper, mentioning that it would be a great addition to their upcoming graduation party, Father’s Day meal or bridal shower brunch.  Bon appetit!

        

Beautiful Irises

My daughter lives in the city in an old neighborhood that is making a comeback.  Her row house is a bicycle ride from downtown, but unfortunately does not have any garden space.  The point is that I cannot claim ownership of the beautiful irises that are now blooming in my yard.  She gathered the hybrid rhizomes.  I weed….            

                                                                                                                                                 

 

 

Hyper Tufa Revisited

My less than successful first experiment with Hyper Tufa can be visited at http://coco724.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/hyper-over-my-tufa/

Fortunately, I really did overcome the errs of my ways.  My next attempt at making a planter turned out just the way it was planned.  I’m really pleased with the results.

Surfin’ Bird(s)

In spite of having a fondness for watching birds, and a soft spot for feathered, and furry, creatures in general (see http://coco724.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/the-owl-and-the-pussycat/ ), the convergence of three bird episodes in one week has the Surfin’ Bird song playing in my head on a continuous loop.  

First, Mama Robin has decided to build a nest on the top edge of the new pergola.   

A second nest is more problematic.  The contractor who is remodeling the bathroom installed a new bathroom fan earlier in the season, when it was still quite cold and definitely pre birdnest season.  The outside cover for the vent  pipe was left off just a tad too long–a new roof for someone else intervened.  Now a family of wrens has taken up residence in the pipe, which means we’ll have to wait until they are off on their own before replacing the vent cover.  I’m just hoping nothing else gets in–like a nest of yellow jackets!

The third baby bird story gives new meaning to the appelation “birdbrain.”  Not sure if the mother bird found some quirky way to get into my garage, building her nest first, or, if all three of her fledglings managed to fly into the garage en masse, but there were three baby birds flying around in the garage (decorating everything) for about a week.  

Mama Bird would fly in and out of the garage, trying to convince the babies to follow her to freedom.  One ended up trapped inside a box of items waiting  to go to the Fleatique.  I teased the things apart, found the baby bird and put it outside.  The other two were less  cooperative.  I left the garage door open for a week, the mother bird constantly scolding and coaxing, bringing them food.  Not sure if they actually used the water I put in a big shallow bowl, but they worried me for a week.  They were too dumb to fly towards the light. 

A-well-a bird, bird, bird the bird is the word…

Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer Do

Permanent installation along Historic Rt 30 in Somerset County, PA.  Designed and manufactured by students in the local technical scool.  Very cool.

Resistence to Coexistence

How does one express ones disappointment in a tactful, yet, “don’t mess with me way?”  Several months ago, a friendly and true gentleman, who saw me snapping a picture of his bumper sticker, gave me an extra one he had in his van.  See:  http://coco724.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/bumper-snickers/. 

Not being someone who actually puts bumper stickers on my car, his thoughtful gesture sat on my desk in my paper in-box, waiting for the perfect home.  Fast forward to Coco’s, the booth I have opened at the local fleatique.  An “A-ha” moment struck a few weeks ago, and “Coexist” was ensconced on the bulletin board in my booth.  Fun little spot in the corner.  It was the perfect solution.

Sadly, I have to report that someone took my bumper sticker.  I waited a week, in case it turned up somewhere in the building.  Sometimes, people move things, then don’t want to be bothered taking it back to its original home.  Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened.  So, either someone liked the bumper sticker and took it, which goes against the sentiment, or, someone didn’t like the fact that it suggests we build bridges and tolerate all types of religion and people, which also goes against the sentiment. 

Either scenario aggravates the bejeebers out of me.