29~ Claws and Soft Bits, A True Story

For the record, I have been sick. And I was cleaning, but got light-headed. Honest. I was only going to rest for a minute, but then I was seized. Forcibly detained. When Mister Foo decides to make you his spot, it's not necessarily a matter of choice, an instance of cuddly, warm, fuzzy engagement. Sometimes Mister Foo's attention can be quite insistent, and intimidating.


In my defense, I sent this picture to Geoff, with a text, so he would understand why I was not up and pitching in: I've fallen, and Foo won't let me get up. And to emphasize the perils of my predicament, I decided to use the new feature I discovered on my phone... because why not let technology help me overshare with TMI, and other humiliating details??

Here's Foo, being "snuggly." I cannot move.

I rest my case.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

28~ 'Cecile Brünner Blossom

Look who's graced us with a blossom... a very first, very pink and adored blossom! It's the potted 'Cecile Brünner rose, a gift from Ruth, that I have been keenly watching over, waiting patiently, hopefully, for. There are bigger roses, and roses as pretty or maybe prettier, but I think I am settled, once and for all, and 'Cecile Brünner is my most favorite darling rose ever.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

27~ Tea and Sympathy

All of the cats were on hand to offer whatever comforts they could for Maria. It's been days and days of tea and sympathy, Vicks and tissues, warm socks, propped pillows, hot soup, and kitty company.


Such a kind, loving vigil.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

26~ Nap Time Now

Sometimes it's nap time, and there's nothing that can be done for it. So you just do it. Right at the top of the last step, preferably in the middle of the stairs. It helps to look helplessly adorable.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

25~ Programmer and Artist

She still talks about owning a restaurant. She still thinks of dancing, writing, gardening, and cooking. There are a lot of things Maria is interested in, for now, for the future. But, consistently, for a couple of years, when anyone asks about her plans, her solid answer is, I want to be a programmer and an artist.

This recent vector line drawing was done using Scratch, from MIT. Her skills grow by leaps and bounds... so much so that she's been invited to teach a course in Scratch programming for Scratch Day, which is a global network of events to celebrate Scratch.

Here is the original photograph she was inspired by...

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

Broken Blues

No new posts... not the sort I'd like to post, anyway. All month I've struggled with new updates to my iMac and iPhone, which have made it slow and frustrating to import my photos. Then we saw that the iMac could take an updated operating system; Geoff installed OS X Sierra. Bottom line, so far: Disasterous. All my iMac can do is reboot. Reboot, again and again. And we cannot tell if the hard drive is getting destroyed or what's happening. The _Geniuses_ at Apple wanted to clear everything to "fix" the issue, or to find the issue. Sigh. Now the computer is at some other place that specializes in data recovery. Do you feel the ring of pain around my head, detect my angst and sorrow? It's real. Probably the real issue is I'm left with all this "free" time that could be used for cleaning my office, doing laundry, alphabetizing our cats' medical records, and preparing three healthful meals a day. It's awful! The pressure. The dread suspicion that the universe has found another way to suggest I quit blogging for keeps, finally, please. No way, universe! I'm no quitter. Break my car, my computer, my piggy bank. But you can't break my indomitable spirit, my obsessive blog habit, my last semi-legit excuse for getting little else accomplished! Heck, even Blogspot's phone app won't stop dying, so I'm scratching and pecking this drivel out through regular online channels... I've got the Broken Blues, but I'm still trying. Do you ever feel like it's all really pointless and a lot of things are rather hateful? (asking for a friend.)


With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

24~ Cha Cha Real Smooth

Meet ChaCha. She was the happiest, friendliest pupper, and patient, too. Just chillin', while her best friend was grabbing some groceries.

I love other people's dogs.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

23~ A Little Picnic

When Maria came home from camp, she found the updates and improvements Geoff and I made in her room, like putting up curtains, adding a desk lamp, and a ledge by her bed. She noticed every detail, and was sweetly thankful, and inspired to add her own tidying up additions, particularly in the doll's home. The kitchen is sorted and orderly, again, and the bedroom got a complete make-over. To celebrate, she fixed a picnic lunch for two dear friends.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

22~ We Got STEAMed

Grant and Alex~

On our way to March for Science... for Science. For Technology. For Engineering. For Art. For Math. For Education! As the Benevolent Order of Makers we couldn't miss marching for STEAM Education, and we couldn't miss bringing out our 12' tall benevolent cosplay, the Laputa robot!

Look at me still marching when there's science to do... I borrowed from Portal and Still Alive, to express the exasperation of marching in defense of empirical data, research based evidence, education, the EPA. I mean, seriously?? And Paul's sign was a brilliant reminder that we cannot let the Anti-science culture get us down. We gotta get STEAM-ED! Not mad. Good stuff, and right in line with my mantra... I'm here, and acting out of love, out of inspiration, out of resistance to tyranny, ignorance, hate, and fear. Love trumps hate.

Hey, it's Kevin S.!

We marched. We marched hard for Science!

It takes a team of BOoM Nerds to bring out this robot, and make our way through crowds, around trees, under overhangs.

We became a Robot Parade within the March, drawing our own crowds and Miyazaki, and robot fans.



In a future time children will work together to build a giant cyborg
Robot parade, robot parade, wave the flags that the robots made
Robot parade, robot parade, robots obey what the children say

There's electric cars, there's electric trains, here comes a robot with electric brains
Robot parade, robot parade, wave the flags that the robots made
Robot parade, robot parade, robots obey what the children say...

They Might Be Giants




The 'bot is a big hit. We stopped for pictures all the time, and we had fresh Happy Earth Day flowers for anyone that correctly identified this big fellow.

The robot is from the animated film, Castle in the Sky, and is the one that cares for the garden. Our robot has been to two Maker Faires, and to Fanime conventions.

He's very popular.

He's popular, big, and benevolent, his eyes are programmed to light in the same sequence as in the movie.

And he makes cool shade.

Amira and Maria were happy to march, to show they are passionate about education, about health, and the planet, about our National Parks, and natural resources. There's a lot to get STEAM ED about!




With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

21~ Some Art of Alex's

Alex has been drawing. And painting.

And sculpting.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

20~ His Spot

You wouldn't think this would be an appealing spot, to stop, and sit... perched on someone who is balancing on a stool, in the middle of a haircut. But cats, right?

Mister Foo sauntered across the lawn, right up to Max, then jumped onto his knees for a face to face visit. Then he turned, and kneaded, and settled right into his spot.


He didn't mind the snip-snip of the scissors, the falling, cut hair. Cats.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

19~ Waiting For Maria

Mister Foo, gazing out the window. Cairo, luxuriating. And Chango, in one of his favorite spots. They are waiting for Maria. We are all waiting for Maria.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.