Catch-all

 My brother designed and constructed a most excellent drawing table for me.  Half of the surface can be raised at an angle, as shown in the picture, or lie flat.  The other half has a glass pane so it can be used as a light table; to do that I simple place my desk lamp underneath.  My parents drove out to visit me and bring the desk, since he had already left for his new job in Japan.  We stained the desk and set it up in my room.

As you can see, it was put to use immediately.

I've done several drawings at the table since, it is quite satisfactory.  It just amazes me that my bro could come up with such a unique design, and then make it so well.  Fantastic!

In other news, I finally solved the crustacean puzzle that a friend sent me for Christmas. Mmm, langoustines.

Also, I had a stray piece of PVC pipe lying around, so I commandeered it for  Fluffy.  I wasn't sure if he would like it or not.  He did.  He had just shed his skin the day before this picture was taken.  Perhaps he felt extra-safe inside the tube?

Finally, a few weeks ago there was a LARGE fire very near my house.  When I went outside in the morning there were ashes and cinders lying in the street and yard.  It turned out that a big apartment complex that was being constructed just about a block away from my house had burned!  Well, about half of it, as you can see from the picture.   Since it was night-time and the building was under construction, no one was on the site and there were no injuries.

The investigation is ongoing as far as I am aware.  No sign of arson, supposedly, but it burned very hot and thoroughly, so any evidence perhaps could have been destroyed.  The fire was so hot that the building across the street had damage to the glass.  The company is still cleaning up the damage, and working to rebuild the part that was destroyed.

I do wonder how I managed to sleep through all the firetruck and police sirens that night!

May travels

My recent, brief trip to England can be summed up with the following text message exchange:

Friend A: "...so how was the beach?"
Friend B: "Beach was chilly but good, thanks.  Emily borrowed a coat from Mandy and filled the pockets with rotting crab body parts so we had to partially hang her coat out of the car window all the way home to air it out.  It was fun :)"
Friend A: "Oh good, glad you got out for some fresh air."

Also, if you are reading this and you enjoy pickled walnuts, well, I have a little present for you!

And now for some photos:

This is the coat with the crab parts inside the pockets.

 

Observe this adorable colony of guinea pigs.  I miss having some piggies around, they are the cute alternative to a compost heap.

 And now two funny chicken pictures:

When I returned, my garden had survived and grown.  Unfortunately I do not have a "before" picture, but here you can see some bush beans (in the back), peppers (on the left), lettuces (in the clay tubes), and a sweet potato (on the mound).  

 

 Here are some more lettuces.  The lattice overhead is to protect them from the searing and merciless Missouri sunshine.

Did you think I could let a post go by without a picture of The Pie?  Actually, it is a picture of my little pot of English thyme and flowers.

I grew some marigolds from seed and put them in the front porch window boxes.  When I returned they were just starting to bloom a little.