Lea's warrior doll

This dog was made for me in extraordinary detail by the talented Eleni Smith. I have never liked dolls before, but she is awesome. I lack words to describe how intricate and thoughtful the warrior doll is.

Eleni made the necklace of fire herself.

I just love the little stars in her armband.
It came with an little scroll to explain all her totems. The messenger bag was filled with precious things, including (but not limited to) a tiny little notebook with tiny little lined pages and a teeny little pencil.

A close-up of the back, with the warrior's familiar 'tattooed' on her hip.

Another close-up. I could go on and on and on and on with close-ups and details, but I think I'll leave it here. Thanks Eleni, I'm so lucky to know you!
Here's where she sits now in the livingroom where she can survey all with her benevolent smile.

Archimedes singing to Squirrel

lamp at NOMM

This is my last post on the Metal Museum for awhile. I had to share this lamp-thing. It looks like the big stalk is the mother stalk and the smaller ones are reaching for her. Absolutely beautiful.

Robin Bench

From the NOMM. The place has given me a new respect for metalwork. The pieces are so awesome, and yet so detailed.

NOMM, again

I took Kitt to the Metal Museum while she was down. I love how laid-back it feels there.

I fell in love with the place when I spotted this horse-shoe, I think. I'm a sucker for details.

So naturally I enjoy the catfish weather-vein (it does look out on the Mississippi, after all).

The Salmon Dance

here you are Andy, this one's for you. And I know Daniel's going to love it too. And Becky, Alex, my sister (though she'll never watch), probably everyone. Kitt's on her way here to Memphis right now- I'm calling on each of my lucky stars personally and by name to get her here without getting lost.

holy hell!

I know the thermometer works, because earlier today it only read 95, and it's been in directly in the sun for an hour now, but 127F?! (52C?!)

Archimedes

Meet Archimedes, I got him at the bird show this weekend. He's a red factor canary. Bird shows are really... interesting.

updated

I found a homeopathic poison ivy lozenge that is working really well. I just thought I'd show you what the one bookcase looks like today. Went by the bank today and the temperature said 112 degrees F (44.4 degrees C)... Daniel fenced up the yard early today... I wish he wasn't leaving, although I am happy and excited for him too. Im heading back to Carbondale to clean up the old house and say goodbyes...

updated bookcase

what my bookcase looks like today... and I released Gregor the cockroach (think Kafka), and it was more like 3 inches... still fucking huge... and not intimidated of light at all. Creepy.

Where my books live now. I guess.

Well, I've moved. It's about 101 F today with a real feel of 105 (that's around 40 C). It's so fucking hot it makes simple things (like finding my way around) very uncomfortable.
I thought we had big bugs in Carbondale, but I hadn't seen the Memphis bugs yet. There was a 6 inch cockroach in my bathroom this morning. It didn't move when I turned on the light either. I put a huge jar over it and named him Gregor Samsa. I'm hoping it doesn't drag my jar away.
While we're on the subject of Gigantic things I didn't know could get that big: the poison ivy is dreadful. There is a tree (a tree!) of poison ivy in my yard. I've never gotten it before but in taking out a huge patch of runners near the door I must have over exposed myself and I've developed a nasty rash on my forearm. It sucks. S.U.C.K.S. sucks. It seems to be getting worse, too, even though I'm wearing long sleeves and using anti-itch stuff. If it didn't take me 2 hours to find any store I'm looking for I'd head right to the Wild Oats and stock up on the homeopathics... but.... Amelia hates it when I leave. She keeps letting me know she wants to go home. Anytime I let her outside she jumps in the car. Makes me feel hella guilty, especially since I'm a little homesick myself. She'll figure out that this is home eventually, right?

Potato Salad dancers

Moving today... I must remember to breathe. Here's the weirdest song about potato salad you'll hear today!

Lasts

I found this pretty little flowering plant out at Hutchenson's creek today. I'm glad I got out there one last time before I left Southern Illinois. The wildflowers (and consequently the butterflies) were a riot of color. I took a couple pictures so good I'm scared to put them online. I'll probably turn it into a postcard though, so you all can see it.

Mollusk

One last Metal Museum photo before I switch subjects.
I'm all packed for my move to Memphis, basically. A few more boxes of the frequently used kitchen stuff, and I'm ready.