riding

another beautiful day. It wanted to rain but, the sun came out. i got 24 miles in today, My incentive is my middle. i am turning 51 next month. I'm having trouble keeping the fat off, mostly around my midsection. So, i go out and hop on that bike in hopes it helps. It gets harder every year. Keeping that fat off. i don't feel 50, i do think it because i have NO KIDS. They age a person. I have never regretted that choice. Hallelujah!!!!!

smells great!

The flowers are beautiful and smell wonderful!! i love bridal wreath, iris, Oh what a treat it is. i have'nt been up to much. cleaning out my studio(if that what it is) mopping floors. the house smells like dogs. riding my bike, another 20 miles. We went to a flea market in bentonsport, iowa saturday. BAD, real bad. cold and windy and not to many people selling. We saw "iron man" the new movie out with robert downey jr. I give it a thumbs up!! i liked it alot. recommend it if you like marvel comics. next, indiana jones, i can't wait.

Down memory lane

Wow, I've really been taken down memory lane,after reading the comments I've received on "Grandma" my fortune telling machine. I loved Iowa city in the 70's. There were so many cool shops. The walmarts and big shopping malls hadn't taken hold of our country yet. Anybody with an idea and some ambition, could go out and open her own shop and make a go of it,and they did. "Red Rose Old Clothes, Ivy's, Bushnell's Turtle, (they had the best carrot cake) and how about nemo's and buc leathers. Epstein's book store and the portable buildings all lined up when the town was doing alittle rebuilding after a fire. I still have some vintage dresses i bought from red rose, beautiful vintage rayon dresses. i really hit the mother lode.
I rode a motorcycle around town back then and believe it or not i was 1 of only 3 women that had one. i rode the streets on my little honda twinstar. dressed in appropriate motorcycle attire. Halter tops and short shorts, and lace up sandals boy was i a site. My blond hair blowing in the wind. I was also the disco queen. i frequented fieldhouse and maxwells and woodfields. In my crazy clothes and danced the night away. I sure had fun!!!!!

weekend ride

Saturday i headed out north on my bike. i rode to hills, and then to Iowa city. i had head winds the whole way out. but, was blown home. It took me all afternoon. The Iowa river is way up after all the rain. There was a weekend ride with some of the ragbrai teams. it was starting in north liberty. I really wasn't in a drinking mood. Since that's usually what those rides are for. i declined. i really just needed to get some miles in,and come home and get some other stuff done. I call those group rides "day ruiners" since when i get home all i want to do is lay on the couch. All because i drank way to much. Total miles around 35.

Morels

Bill went out early this morning and filled a very large bag with mushrooms. He was so happy.What he doesn't eat he gives them to friends, i don't eat them. I'm going to try and send some to my mom, by using overnite shipping. It was a good weekend for finding them. Just the right amount of rain and warm nights.

did a little better

Today was Gorgous. I got out this morning and rode my 20 miles and hopefully will get more miles in this weekend. We are putting in a short wall to divide the yard. A fire pit is in the planning stages. We have a burning ban. We can get around that by having a fire pit. All my bank statements etc... will go in the pit. It's funny, dig a hole and border it with some stone and add some seats around it. It become a fire pit and not a burning barrel.
Every thing is growing like crazy. Unfortunately for bill so is the grass. Seems we are actually getting a spring. it has'nt gone from 30 to 40 degrees to 80 and 90's. like it has been doing. Love it!!! i also made my 1st rubarb crisp. WHAT A DELICACY OF SPRING> i can't get enough. Tomorrow I'll need to make a couple of more.

new artwork

When the weather doesn't let me out side. I'm in the house at my table conjuring up new things to paint or put together. I have so many obsessions, making art is just one of them. I started a book, where every page has a female in some form. It's my "Book Of Women". Here are 2 pages.

great new vintage floor cloth

Another fabulous linoleum floor cloth "SAVED". I thank barb from sister's in kalona for recognizing a wonderful thing when she sees it. I picked it up on Wednesday, and was alittle afraid to roll it out. i bought it without seeing what kind of shape it was in. But, voila, It's beautiful. i am very happy. These aren't to plentiful. They usually ended up in the dump. What a great idea they were. indestructible,with alot of pets, that's a plus. i now have one in most of the rooms in my house. They were real popular in the 20's and 30's.

fortune telling machine

We bought grandma from a unique store in Iowa city,Iowa called "Things Things and Things". they went out of business and she was for sale. Bill and i just had to have her. she's in perfect working order. and was made in 1927. the owner of the store bought her in new york in the sixties, (i think) She's beautiful and the ultimate antique. We are very lucky to have her.

shelly shellshock in all her glory

I finally finished Shelly. It's taken couple of months. So she will take her permanent place on my dining room table. There isn't any other available place. Now I'm on to my next big project. A large mosaic, a portrait of an Indian. It will probably take all summer.

biking

I'm just trying to keep track of my miles. Today i rode 15 miles. i got a late start. I had to take jimi and pickles in for there shots and heart worm test. Uneventful

rape in the congo

rape in the congo
Originally uploaded by picklepoo12

This collage was inspired by an HBO documentary,called Rape in the Congo.It was horrific. it made me sick to my stomach. Once again my idea we are reverting back to savages.All the women were raped and torn apart from the inside out. (literally) but, could still manage to sing. There were GOOD souls. The men on the other hand were like reptilians. they were killing and raping and torturing every thing in site. No compassion of ANY sort. They were"nt human. There were afew good men. All i wanted to do was sweep all the women to a safe place.I want to know how i can help them.

bike ride pictures

It's a beautiful day today. went out for a short ride today. i logged just a measly 15 miles. We have had so much rain lately, that it's hard to get out there. short ride short post.