First Buck

After venturing out every single weekend during hunting season, here we have Adam in November, finally scoring his FIRST buck. He texted EVERYONE. And I was glad to have him back on the weekends. The meat has been enjoyed in chili and fajitas mainly, and the antlers were an integral part of the Christmas mantle decor.

Adam has plans to mount the rack. (Don’t know when that will actually happen and I don’t know where it’s going to be displayed and I doubt he does either. Heh.) 

Bionic Woman

Have you heard the news? I’m now a bionic woman!

Every woman with healthcare 40 and over should know what this FABULOUS cape means!

Went in to get my ma’ams grammed and the doctor found something in IN MY ARMPIT, which she’s never seen in that location. (Good eye, good eye. Also, leave it to me to try new things for the medical world to marvel over.)

It’s just a lump, it has been there for years and didn’t necessarily worry me, (poor Adam, he was freaking out) but of course doctors want to be thorough (or do they want my money?) I went in for a biopsy and received a titanium marker—the size of the tip of a ball point pen—as a prize placed in the lump. It must have been weird for the doctor to be working on my armpit, I know it was weird for me. Turns out it’s called a fibroadenoma, a quite common, benign mass made of breast tissue which DOES wrap up into the armpit.

I’m told I’d be surprised how many women have these markers. Sweet! I’m in a secret club.

(Below: Marker not shown. I sneaked a photo of the fibroadenoma before the procedure began. And then watched out of one eye, the proceedings on screen. Ew, David.)

Now a doctor looking at any kind of scan will see this little lump’o mine and the marker is going to shine, shine, shine, shine, shine. And they’ll know it’s already been examined.

Lastly, my armpit won’t be setting off any alarms at the airport. Bummer.

Sweet Tooth Hotel

If you crave colorful surroundings, fiber arts, and making memories...the Sweet Tooth Hotel has a vibrant, bite-size environment for you to step into for about an hour or so. Now, if you think you’ll be visiting sometime soon...I’ve tried not to show TOO many photos, but if you don’t like spoilers, don’t scroll too much further!

Above: “So Cozy” by Hannah Busekrus. She created the hidden world of a cat...by “imagining and projecting what a cat might be dreaming of while it sleeps.” This room was most impressive.

Located in Dallas, the Sweet Tooth Hotel is a Pop Up that is currently showcasing fiber art installations created by seven female artists. Over 2 million feet of yarn was used to create the following masterpieces. If you visit the QR code above you can read about the installations and artists.

If you want to go to the website, here’s a hyperlink: Sweet Tooth Hotel

Above, “Rigged” by Nicki Dionne, is a reflection of a claw machine within a claw machine. Now, of course there is deeper meaning to this, but I’m not going to give it away.

This is titled “Sucre Fleuf!” by Twinkie Chan and is an imaginary bakery in the middle of a secret garden. There are many cupboard doors to open and lots of little charming things to discover in this room. I enjoyed it very much.

Behind a door we found ourselves underwater! Above: “Mermaid Lagoon” by London Kay who was in the middle of crocheting IN this room for this installation when the pandemic hit. She found it a peaceful place to be during all the uncertainty and it motivated her to continue creating.

In the photos above I’ve shown only the floor of the installation “Temporal Jungle” by Molly Sydnor. Which of course the graphic designer in me was attracted to. However, this is one room in which I didn't get a good photograph. Each wall is a different color and has many textures and objects. It is a "push and pull between the real and the illusory, the tactile and the visual. Geometry, color trickery, and texture form an intangible op-art backdrop for a tangible jungle gym."

Er, I need to research how to pose. I’m not an influencer.

Above and below: Joanna Lin “Soft Surprise. Part of her bio reads, “Much of the work attempts to subvert the expectations by elevating low brow humor with high regard for craftsmanship. 

Above: “You (are) Tube

Above: Titled, “An Impossible Reality” by Jackie Lawrence. This is actually part of a very large hanging installation of which Jackie says are meant to feel overpowering yet intimate. Out of everything, this was the piece I most wanted to run my hands over.Above is another of Joanna Lin’s contribution. Low brow humor? Yes Ma’am. Could she sell these with great success? You bet. And she probably does. (This is as adult rated as the show gets.)Above and below by London Kay, titled “New York City” This artist created a new style crochet hook, “a Crochet Hook with a Twist” and has received a patent for the design. There’s a REAL crocheted mailbox in this room where you can post a letter. I wish I’d known! (That’s what I get for doing my research AFTER visiting. Grumble.)The place is small, so if you go, take your time to appreciate the handiwork. There is more in each room than you see at first. Imagine how many combined hours it must have taken all these women to complete their work!

Here’s the link again: Sweet Tooth Hotel

Fort Worth Zoo Date

On a spring day, one of the first in the season, Adam took us back to the Fort Worth Zoo. We hadn’t been since we first moved to Texas so the timing felt right. It was CROWDED. The parking overflowed into grass fields. Texans know they have to fit all their outdoor plans into spring—because when summer hits, it’s too hot to go out.  Did the crowds make me nervous (covid)? You bet! Especially in the reptile house, we walked in and then right back out. 

Above, an indoor atrium. Impressive—huge!

Above: outside the giraffe and other animals of the region enclosure. You can feed the giraffes a piece of lettuce if you’re feeling generous with your money. But watching for free is fun too. There are hardly any photos to mark the day because I already posted zoo pictures several years ago—plus we all know what a monkey looks like and can get better photos just by Googling for them. Am I wrong?

BUT, do you know what a hippo bum looks like in the water? Here’s a unique photo.

The little fish above, in a frenzy, snack on the feces their hippo friends let loose while swimming. I know for myself, and now it can’t be unseen. So here’s to making memories that last. Ha!

The exotic birds were a favorite of mine this year. One inspired me to include in a pattern I’m working on—possibly for a shower curtain in the new bathroom. If it turns out, I’ll post it.