Yes, you are a creep.

"Hello, Hi," said the man in the dark colored sedan who pulled up along side me, a young woman walking alone along a residential street at midnight on a Sunday, "Not to be a stalker or anything, but I thought you have a wonderful style and I wondered if I could say 'Hi'."

I waved and said "Good-bye."

He drove ahead and turned at the next intersection, and I ran the rest of the way home along, what seemed for the first time, streets that were entirely too well lit, all the while listening for a car following me.  I thought I could hear him driving up and down blocks in my neighborhood.

Sir, whatever your intentions truly were, you were creepy.  You ruined my evening.  Why did you think that was OK?  Was I supposed to be grateful that some dude I've never met thought I looked good in the dark?  Does that line ever work?

Dog Report IV

Pepper can be periodically seen in this fenced yard, playing with half a ball - and any passersby who might take notice.  She (or he) will run up and down along the fence in a pretend game of chase.  Until I walked up to the fence and looked at her tag, Boyfriend had taken to calling her Bolt.

This dog was getting some gas - and enjoying the process entirely too much.

Whiskey "Dolla Dolla Billz" Burkle may not technically be a dog - but she did used to enjoy playing fetch!  She likes to spend sunny days under our tiny Japanese Maple tree, pouncing on any dog silly enough to trot by.

Dog Report III : My Backyard

Churchill likes to bark at my chickens and my cat. They don't really pay him any mind, and it makes him feel important.

Zelda, his mother, sometimes plays along. She's a little more realistic about it though.

Both of them move a little too quickly for my camera.

Dog Report II : Kenton Street Fair

Crayon and I went to the Kenton Street Fair today!  I had a delicious Pear, Brie, Mint and Marmalade sandwich with a Hazelnut Italian Soda from Posies, and Crayon met a few dogs.

Xena was slightly more interested in my chips than in meeting Crayon.

Bonita was a little shy. She's still a puppy, and had been recently manhandled by a labrador. Crayon was a perfect gentleman - and I hope he restored her faith in men.

Dog Report I

A new on-going feature:  Dogs I meet around Portland.

First Report

Crayon "Cash Money" Cortez peed on this tree for 20 minutes.  True story.

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day likes to eat whatever she finds on the ground.

I once found Bodhi a few blocks away and had to walk him back to his home whilst holding his collar and walking Sunshine and Crayon home too.  I think Bodhi weighs more than I do.  Luckily for me, he wanted to go home.

Sage (who lives with Bodhi) just follows me home on her own, for kicks.

***Commercial Break***

My friend Andromeda makes amazing things out of high polymer clay.  Things in the shape of octopuses, flowers, jellyfish, squids, clover - and whatever else your heart desires.  She does custom orders.  She has reasonable prices.  And I suspect she undercharges for shipping.

These treasures can be purchased at her Etsy shop "Octopus Stew". You can see a gallery of one-of-a-kind and sold items on her Facebook page. And "like" it while your there, why don't you.

Now, enjoy these pictures of things she's made for me!
(All images belong to Andromeda)

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/47281130

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/47281131

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/45609436/

Wheelbarrow

Last weekend we decided that it was time to get started on our 2011 garden.  So we went to Fred Meyer to get the necessary supplies: a heavy metal rake and a wheelbarrow.  Our chickens have been busily making nutritious composty soil for us all winter, so we planned to muck out their coop and move it to our raised beds in the front yard (where the sun likes to hang out).  We quickly found a decent cast-iron rake for $10.  But when we found the wheelbarrows the miser in me just about fainted.  Nearly $70 for a bucket with wheels?!!

So we built one.  Well, Boyfriend built one.  We had to buy a wheel - $2 from the Rebuilding Center.

Pretty sweet, right?  We're gonna paint it bright red with silver accents.

The fruits of our labor.  And yes, our raised beds are made from wine bottles.  And no, I didn't drink all that wine by myself.