Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for December 11, 2012

Ethel’s bid for attention misses the mark.

Pull the suction cups off the arrows and stick them in a pencil sharpener.

You’ll shoot your eye out, kid. (OK maybe his eye!)

Apropos of almost nothing… I leave you all, this morning, with this:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I shot an Arrow into the airIt fell to earth I know not where,For so swiftly it flew, the sightCould not follow it in its flight.

I breath’d a Song into the airIt fell to earth, I know not where.For who has sight so keen and strongThat it can follow the flight of a song?

Long, long afterward in an oakI found the Arrow still unbroke;And the Song from beginning to endI found again in the heart of a friend.

Headed to the Tiki for a nightcap, should anyone care to join me. I probably won’t be commenting till around 9am (est) or so, but feel free to raise a glass, flagon, or goblet with me till then,

Ok, everybody…. whew… hope some of you are still here….Busy evening…. but I would still have been a little earlier than this had I not stopped to get these…

I knew it would happen, you see…. so when I went home this morning I made two more.

I wasn’t going to write anything, but I had leftover decorating frosting…

Not a very brilliant inscription, either…. but I was tired…

C’mon, Bev…. dig in!

Cheers, Linguist…. you’re quiet tonight… deep thoughts?

Essex…. you here?

Yes we do. It replaced our slower magazine feed bows.

Hey guys…. have some cake.

I thought Mona’s had been closed for eons. Has anybody seen her?

Ethel is just having some fun. She hits what she aims at…

Doyle just doesn’t like being the butt of her jokes.

Yeah, X…. the magazine feed was not only slow…it got too expensive for me a few years ago, when magazines started getting smaller and thinner, and the price of subscriptions went up.

Would have been more practical when Family Circle was still cheap.The New Yorker is an expensive way to run a bow.

We’ll join you for a drink but you can go to the land of Nod by yourself.

Red…. sorry…. I stepped out.Guess you left already?

Hi pcolli…. good to see you here.

I have to get to bed soon too….

it’s nice in here, though.

I think I’ll have a hot chocolate…. with a little touch of brandy…..

Oh, Pacopuddy and Six…. you too.

Anybody want cake?We have to save some for Bev.

Briatollah said up there someplace ^..“Pull the suction cups off the arrows and stick them in a pencil sharpener.”

Um…. Brian….I think I’m getting an inkling of what sort of little boy you were….

LOL

Just peeking back in….. I need to be asleep…..but I was walking in the clear night air.

Pretty quiet on Ballard St, and pretty quiet in the Tiki….

I think the Linguist is dozing back there….. shhhh….Is that snoring from him or the Monkey?

That reminds me…..

Note to Monkey....I checked on the night crew... All seems well.Takes two of those little monkeys to serve a beer but they don't seem to mind.

I told Ethel she can't shoot those rubber arrows in here... it scares the bar monkeys.

I'll bring bananas tomorrow.Your haircut is at 3 if that's OK. G'night. :)

And a word to Dazz and x_Tech… You were talking about posting Facebook pictures here… ages ago…. so when I got here tonight I meant to say…I’m pretty sure you can’t do it….for the same reason you can’t post a pic directly from an open message in your e-mail.They’re _online, _ yes….but in password protected locations.Dazz…. when you view an image in the forum, it’s not really here …As I’m sure X knows, you’re actually looking at it on the servers for another site.I can’t see most of the pictures on Facebook cos I have no account and can’t log in.Just like your e-mail messages, I’m not logged into your account, so I can’t see them.When this site likewise attempts to display content from a secure site, it can’t get in either.

anyone else hearing the William Tell Overture?

This is why Ethel was not cast as Katniss for the Hunger Games

Thanks for the info, Susan. I’ll have to use Kodak or one of the other sharing sites, but no more paying for premium service at anything like Webshots. After all those years I had a deadline to move them which I missed ;-(

I do play at archery in SCA but I’m not a good shot (more like Ethel). They meet to practice in the least used corners of obscure parks that are pretty far to drive and usually too early to get myself out of bed. I would be attending the Christmas Shoot (gift exchange and pot luck brunch) but I won’t be here and I missed the Bunny shoot at Easter time this year too. With my little 15# bow, I don’t get targets further than 30 yards anyway. Time to lose Picasso’s eye!

Ethel has a long way to go before she can achieve EXPERT status in her archery club…

My wife and I used to do that with Nerf dart guns. Only issue was when I was done. She was not done. I could hear her loading the thing. The pop on my head. Off she would go laughing. I bought a small one and kept it nearby. I would hear her loading hers and I would get her first. She would go that’s not funny. Still have those things. Will tap the dogs sometimes. Got harder to get them. When you cocked the thing off they would go.

The Hunger Games at Senior Citizen Levels

Relax, at least she gave up the cannon and watermelons. I have seeds in places I didn’t even know I had.

She(Ethel)’s just darting down Ballard Street.

Let me know how she’s doing. She’s probably gone through that cask of brandy, the yak steaks and snickerdoodles that I had the St. Bernards deliver yesterday. If she needs more, I’ll send ’em over.

I was looking for a photo of someone with a rubber dart stuck to his/her forehead.^ That is much better.

Work is the Curse of the Drinking Class !

oh Essex…I am using lots of four letter words today….words like snow, plow, cook, stew, heat, and bath and fire…I have a fire going in the fireplace, and I have a beef stew on the stove top, and yes, its snowing again…but at least the temp is up to 12 instead of 1…ah well, at least we saw the sun for all of 10 minutes I think, yesterday….now I am off to a bubble bath…stay warm and drive safely ya’ll…

Here is one wall of my livingroom with my Chagall, Neiman and Monet paintings of Cuddles:

I now have my Picasso hanging on the high wall in the kitchen (visible from livingroom), because the Jiang that I bought is on the high wall acroos from these.

Cuddles, my model is still lovely in her taxidermy here:

The first photo I was able to post from new photo albums was a cake I made for my middle son’s wedding party at my lover’s in ground pool (over at Dinette Set). Top layer was fruitcake (like the royal wedding of Diana). That was a long time ago with my lover in his swim trunks (I wore a sarong).

One year I took daughter and her kids to a Christmas shoot and made them all wear some Medieval garb I bought in her siize (more of less) from a friend.

Thanks, most of my homages I tried just to use the style of the artist without actually copying, but Picasso has so many “styles” that I just changed the subject matter from pigeons to parrots (and could NOT resist adding one on the back of that ladder).

Any cake left?

Good late afternoon folks!

DAZZ, If I understand correctly, you painted that one picture?

Hello Linda Dean!

Are you all getting the words, “Type your comment here” in the comment box? What’s up with that? Haven’t seen that there in years.

Dry! How was your birthday g/f? I hope it was glorious….I know how bad it sux to have your birthday come close to the holidays….mine is Jan 10….da big 60….thank gawd, no jowls yet, but I am upping the moisturizer….lol….I hope this year is special and remember, you start getting senior discounts next year….free coffee at Mc Donalds…lmaooooooooooooooo….I would give them free coffee not to have to be 60!

Goood mo.. ok, afternoon all….

I’m at the salon…..

Thanks, Monkey..I’m glad you like my work.

You DO look good in this haircut I think… if I may say so.Well, you know I think you’re a handsome Monkey anyway…. :)

And, sweetie… I KNOW how much you love to throw mud…. and how very well you do it….but I think I won’t need you to help this time…. OK?

(Shhhhh …..Don’t tell him, but last time he “helped” it took me 3 days to get the mud out of the carpet, and off the chair and the mirrors. He means well.)

Well, Ms. StelBel, who owns what? Four stores? Five?One of which finds exotic costumes for half of Ballard St., WHILE she sells real estate full time….AND grooms dogs.

You admire MY energy?

I am so glad you admre the meticulous detail with which I produce my cakes…but I have to admit that it takes a system to churn them out at that rate.

So yes, I have a pattern in which I place every stroke of frosting and every sprinkle, just so I can do it rapidly, yet they still attain the perfection you so (claim to) admire. Sniff.

Essex… they sell mud baths at IKEA now?

I missed something….

Meanwhile back at the comic;Doyle’s response to Ethel…

Hey, monkey, what were you doing at IKEA?In the market for crappy furniture?

na na naw Ess!!!!that wuz mah terd therd cuzin Darwin….!!!!Hez awlways struttin his stuff in teh fashun palasis of teh big sittys…. ntoice his fine shearling dubble brested coat…??? Ah used ta aks him fur fahun tips afore ah becum swab and deboner….!!!

Aww monkey… glad you understand. You do help in so many other ways. Including that daiquiri.. I think I need one, thanks.

And Essex.. you… snivel.. don’t need to be .sniffle.. snarky.. just cos your link didn’t work for me earlier.Sometimes I don’t have time for videos, especially for a second try…. or when they have long ads or introductions.

So if they’ re not labeled I miss the point. Yours WAS labeled … sorta… but since I couldn’t see out, I related it to anearlier and made a … joke…

Tiki time!

Bev — if course you can have cake…. I saved about a third of one just for you in the breadbox in the Tiki kitchen.If you don’t know what a breadbox looks like (they’re old-fashioned now) … this one is chrome, and rectangular…and about as big as a….um…a… breadbox.Ah Linguist, right you are….My day not only WAS long, it’s trying hard to be even longer.But I’m stopping in the Tiki to have a daiquiri with the Monkey, and if you’d like to stand me a bit of scotch, neat….thank you so much…I’ll try and mellow out before another errand…and step 67 of my plumbing disaster.

Ooh yeah…. banana boat!

I’ll have mine with chocolate ice cream, please…… and the sauces ….hmmm…… chocolate… and… chocolate….Ok and I guess hot fudge.

A little Creme de Cacao wouldn’t hurt.Too sweet to drink,but good on ice cream.

OMG! I got nothin’! Who can top you guys?

Maybe you should go over to the Crustwood Dinner Theatre and put on a show! I could do the stage sets and lighting and such! Oh never mind, the citizens of Crustwood wouldn’t pay you guys near what you are worth! :-)

I’m getting that silly “Type your comment here” message too.I suppose it’s helpful to anyone who was thinking you were supposed to plant tomatoes in it, or cut it out and boil it for a few hours to make virtual soup.

But to those who already know it’s a place to type a comment….it’s more of a hazard… cos as a computer tutor I’ve had people tell me they tried and tried to erase a message like that so they could type in their own.They end up NOT commenting, frustrated because they think there are already words in the box.

(and yes…. they ask me before they even try just typing in it!)

DAZZ you have a talent there!

My Confirmation Sponsor, and long time friend, kind of my second mom so to speak, was a great artist! She never really sold her paintings, just entered them in art shows and such, gave them away to friends and family, but she had a real talent. Sadly, she has Alzheimers now. And I am SO VERY GLAD I have one of her paintings, which she gave me when I got married! She mostly did landscapes and still life.

gawd, I am such a woosie…………..please, dont be from Courage Center or Red Cross if you call….

Linda… why are you telling the Monkey he sucks, when he just bought you a lovely spa day at my salon?

I certainly hope you’re going to take advantage of it….cos if you don’t …. I’m gonna owe him a lotta haircuts.

And Dry, thanks but…. you do know that in Crustwood a $5 theater ticket is a hard sell?

And any kind of humor besides insults goes right over their heads.

OK…. my next errand beckons…

7:30 in Western Ballard County and the hardware store closes at 9. And if they don’t have what I need, I have to deal with Home Depot.

Wish me luck!

Susan Sunshine said: “I suppose it’s helpful to anyone who was thinking you were supposed to plant tomatoes in it, or cut it out and boil it for a few hours to make virtual soup.”

ROFLMAO!

I suppose the box is big enough to start tomato seedlings in, at least until they sprout!

Don’t mind me folks, I’m just tired, silly and ready to hit the pillows. Didn’t sleep too good last night!

I enjoy the comments and laughter here! Thanks Linda for inviting me here for the Halloween Party.

Good night all, sleep well!

Susan, and Dry, so sorry about being downcast….

Thanks to all who have enjoyed some of my art! I had a Skype call from him and was on almost 5 hours (it was 10PM when he finally left and he had not had dinner yet (and my glass was empty and had not yet had my chocolate or done my Resperate excersize. I can see that Linda likes the dark germanic style that I could never appreciate and Essex likes traditional kitsch (Elvis and dogs with cards). It’s all OK and I have always been a fan of Impressionists and Surrealists. My LR at my last house I once painted in a surreal “creation of the world” subject on an expanse of 10’ on one wall continuing for 5-6’ on the adjoining wall. A description might bore some of you. In any case it is late and I just finished hemming a pair of black velvet jeans for my trip.

I’ll never afford a REAL Matisse or any of my other favs, but I can make my own versions (using my choice of subject matter) just as I have always followed the latest fashions and (especially when younger) made many of my own “knock offs”.

I have not yet posted here any of my Medieval costumes or my work in stained glass, ceramic or jewelry. I’m a jack of all trades and make everything that I need (recipes, curtains and slipcovers). I designed the lighting for my gallery in the LR (replaced the original little ceiling fixtures with a floodlight system on a bank of 6 dimmers that are stratigically aimed on a track in my sloped ceiling (8’ to 16’) to shine on each piece of my art. That includes the tables that I designed and constructed. Livingrooms serve very little use for most people so mine is my art gallery and has also been used for neighborhood meetings etc. One little glass etagere has all my big art books and a few on birds. My big bookcase is in the great room where I spend most of the day. The photo of my LR was originally saved pale colors to use as a background for another project.

Bevs photo actually DOES look a lot like Susan (assuming the cartoonist did an accurate portrayal).

All that mud, somehow just does not appeal to me. I don’t even like swimming with most others (I sit and watch while grandkids are splashing) but in the really hot Phoenix summer a naked dip to swim my laps after dark – just sayin’.

Art that is not my own (many sculptures and such but only 3 on the walls). I have an oil by Vicary that my dad bought in my grade school days, a seriagraph by Jiang that hides it’s erotic nature and the faux feather composition by Peg Kartino in that photo with the birds.

This is NOT my copy of the Jiang but I keep updated on an art site to be sure it does not depreciate. I had mine mounted in an oversized matt and a very pretty light gold frame with a feather texture.

That shows better. I bought for a discounted $1650 and framed for another hefty sum all acid and glare free; with oversized matt is has a better presence.

Almost midnight here ’Nite now!

Must have been an excellent party.

Meanwhile over in Cleveland, the Cliffords are looking for a new car – and Cleo won’t feel cold…

https://cleoandcompany.net/december-11-2022/

Good morning Balladeers, (((((Plods))))) and Miss Susan.