Golden nuggets, sorting shells, and piercing devil's eyes

[wayfaringwordhack]

 Haven't blogged in the past few days because it seems like not much is going on. Still, make the memories, Quela; make the memories.

So:

• On Sunday we went to a cookout on the beach for Bruno (one of J's colleagues) and his family. I was my usual social self and within four minutes of arriving, I was off taking photos of interesting trees. I wandered back up the bank and socialized 192 pictures later when the camera started wigging out, as it is prone to do. After making small talk and munching for a bit, I wandered off again with my sketchpad and charcoals and drew. Didn't do anything special. Still just trying to loosen up and not get fussy with details right from the beginning.

 

• After months and months of waiting and despair, we have a total of three "Golden Nugget" tomatoes ripening on the vine. That's three tomatoes for about 8 plants. Yeah, I'm excited. The cats killed the bell peppers, thyme, parsley, and lettuce. I need to replant, but there's always something else wanting my attention. I am an indifferent gardener.

 

• Yesterday, while J worked on a video for Bruno, I made a necklace from seeds and seed pods. I think it turned out rather nice. I have had a DremeI for almost a year now and haven't gotten much use out of it because I started by trying to make shell jewelry (thick shells), and I broke a lot of bits.  Next I tried piercing some nice tumbled coral and unfortunately broke bits and coral.  I should've started with seeds first and I wouldn't have been so discouraged for so long. It helps, too, that I finally started using the drill stand that we bought about 3 months ago. Last night, I also chatted with rabiagaleand browsed around on Powell's, Loggia, and Amazon for art books and possible fantasy reads. If anyone has recs, I'm open to hearing them.

 

• Today, I tried to put some organization into my beach finds. My bedroom door-as-table-as-atelier is still a mess, but I did get several seeds, shells, and pods sorted, sanded, and pierced. I reckon I'll continue cutting, drilling, and stringing things tomorrow. The devil's eyes don't smell too nice when I drill them, and I don't particularly care for the red (too orangey), but someone else might like them.  I mention this because I've decided to try to get enough jewelry together to rent a booth for the Christmas market. Can someone please hound me about that decision so I don't slack off?

 

• I sketched out another art project idea tonight.  It is funny that now that I *want* to paint and am actually getting ideas, I don't want to begin because I would like to learn more from Marcel first. I know that one learns by practicing, but supplies are so expensive and hard to come by here that I don't want to indulge in experiments. Still, I could work on studies....

 

• That coral scrape I got the other day was probably from an encounter with a stinging hydroid. The pain lasted for three days. Thankfully it is gone now, but I still have a "burn" mark on my arm.

 

• A census taker stopped by our house today! We have contributed to stastics on Mayotte. Woot. I was just in the middle of making dessert, so J answered her questions. The first one was: Are you a polygamist? His answer: I would like to be, but my wife won't let me. :P She also asked if we had a boat and when J said yes, she followed up with, "Is it a pirogue with a motor?"  No. "So, it's a pirogue without a motor." Er, no... To which she looks at him in confusion and says, "But you said you had a boat."

Where else but Mayotte? :P

Comments

[rabiagale.livejournal.com]

What's a pirogue?

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Quoting from MSN Encarta: dugout canoe: a canoe made from a hollowed-out tree trunk, used especially in southern Louisiana


[Early 17th century. Via French< Carib piragua "dugout"]

Here in Mayotte, mango trunks are used.

[footlingagain.livejournal.com]

1) I'm an indifferent gardener now, too. I wasn't, once upon a time, but I use my energy on other things now. So - many congratulations on your tomatoes. I know how unco-operative they can be.

2) Congratulations on the jewellery and project ideas, too.

3) I read the next bit as an encounter with "a stinging android"...?!

4) When are you getting that pirogue, then? ;-)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

1) That's the thing: There are just so many other things to do. I love the harvest; I just don't care much for what leads up to. *g* Seriously though, it is a pain here because I'm planting in pots and we only get sunlight through one small rectangle in the terrace roof.

2) Thanks. It feels good to be making things.

3) There is the making of a good story there! :P

4) Maybe when our boat gets a hole in it?!?!?

[mindseas.livejournal.com]

It's funny, but for a moment when I was reading about the things on your door I could smell Hawaii, where I used to make necklaces out of sea urchin spines and earrings out of kakui nuts.

[mana-trini.livejournal.com]

"I've decided to try to get enough jewelry together to rent a booth for the Christmas market. Can someone please hound me about that decision so I don't slack off?"

Well I guess you've found at least two people to help you remember about Christmas market...I'll be one and I guess that mindseas will be glad to help me!!!

[rabiagale.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks. :)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Just keep in mind that "reminding" me doesn't mean "fessing" me. :P

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Always happy to oblige

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Speaking of smells, I just love mornings and nightfall here. The air is so fragrant. Do you have any pics of that jewelry? I would love to see it.

[mindseas.livejournal.com]

I don't have any pics, but the jewelry itself is somewhere, stashed away in one of the nigh inaccessible holes in this house. Next time I come across it I'll take pics and post them.

[mindseas.livejournal.com]

Sure I'll be glad to help!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

That would be lovely. :)