And now we are ending August.

Fin.

Finished a project, a utility box in Reseda, CA.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/chloe-and-ivan/albums/72157652109400216

Back to normal for me to be painting outside in the Summertime.
Back home in New England, public projects are all racing the weather.
I had a few Summertime murals.
Over here in Cali, like the year round growing season, there is a year round painting season.
Only this year they are predicting an El Nino, so I'd better be quick with the next box.
Taco pictures are interspersed with pictures of the box.

Those beautiful tacos were usually $1.85.
There is no fast food chain that can compare with those tacos.
On the day that I ordered my taco the woman who often has put my to go plate together spoke to me. My Spanish is not good.
This was the first time my taco place said that they knew where I was going and what I was doing.
She asked if I was the painter.
In Spanish.

I told her yes, Si.
I can understand and read more Spanish than I can speak.
It was heartwarming to hear her speak of the box.
She thanked me, and I thanked her.
My neighbors. Neighbors of the box.

One day soon I will take the real camera over there and document.
Most of this was shot on the phone.
I work all day, 6 days a week. So the project took forever, painting after work.
Not a schedule I would choose.
But the box is done.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chloe-and-ivan/20826090165/in/album-72157652109400216/
Antigraffiti coating coming up.

The sketch for my next box has been approved.
Have a friend nearby whose box has raised the bar.
Onward!
♥

Fishing In The City With Or Without A Bobber

So.
I am getting ready to go fishing before work in the morning.
Saturday mornings I have an extra half hour.
Friends gave me a present of a collapsing fishing pole.
I can be all incognito on the bus with the new fishing pole.
Although this Saturday, I think a friend is coming to pick me up.

I discussed the fishing situation with my son, who said,

He was pretty adamant about it. I made a blackboard about not using the f*ing bobber.
I am working on a blackboard project right now for Fun A Day.
Actually I am always working on the blackboard project. https://www.flickr.com/photos/chloe-and-ivan/sets/72157632006116638/
I just decided to do a bunch more of them for Fun A Day this year.

Now that I was closer to the fishing day, I called him up again.
We talked about top-fishing and bottom fishing and all kinds of fishing.
I was still unclear about where the weight and the bait went.
So he said he would draw a picture.
I waited on the phone while he drew.
Ping*
Picture came over from Massachusetts all the way to LA.

Do you see what I saw?

A red and white f*ing bobber.

He had some explaining to do.
Anyway, he explained and explained.
He made another diagram.

I have also called up Fisherman Dan at the gun store in Reseda.

They probably prefer to refer to themselves as a hunting and fishing store.
http://www.turners.com/storelocator.cfm?locRad=100&locZip=91335&locSt=CA

Fisherman Dan is waiting to hear a report about the fish near me.

We have spoken a couple of times now. I did not tell him about the f*ing bobbers
or not f*ing bobbers because I have not met him yet, just talked on the phone.

They are not restocking the trout until Feb 8. https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishPlants/
"Planting" fish! That made a crazy cartoon in my head.

In the meantime, Fisherman Dan said that there were other fish in there.
He said fish the bottom for catfish. Oh man, I do not like cleaning catfish.

I want the trout! Tomorrow will be a good day to try out the rod.

I can also time how long it takes to get to work from Reseda Park.

Come what may. Catch as catch can. Any day of fishing is better than a day of ___________.

Fishing In The City is a real link! https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing-in-the-City

♥Chloe

Tilly on the September issue

As in, on her September issue of Vogue. 

She hadn't made up her mind about what she thought of mouse ears on the model.
She had been working her way through the magazine looking for inspiration to update her look.
Tilly saw that her pink bow was showing some wear.
Now that the mice were in Lala Land, she wanted to try edgier accessories
to stand out from the rest of the talent.

Previously, living in Providence surrounded by designers and Artists had been challenging enough.
In Los Angeles, that competition is multipied by the whole entertainment industry.
New talent streams in every day from all over the country, hopeful and enterprising.
Tilly knew she had to step up her game.

She bookmarked the page for black lace with the soft white sheer dress.
She thought that black lace ears might be too literal for mice.

The rest of Marcus and Tilly's story is over here http://www.flickr.com/photos/chloe-and-ivan/sets/72157623001687695/ ♥Chloe

 

Bright green relish at The Stand

Bright green relish at The Stand, a photo by chloe & ivan on Flickr.

Almost made me want a Hot Dog. But this is not Chicago, and we were on a burger mission.

Mission accomplished.

They do hot dogs for a dollar on Monday nights. You need a Stand card, it's free.
www.thestandlink.com/events/
Dollar hot dogs.
Oh man.
Might be back for the bright green relish.

Knitting and Lucky Bunny

Chose the blue & white cotton yarn to be all Aegean.

So I can pretend I am vacationing in Greece when it is 110 here.
Works as a coaster too.
You know how cold drink bottles get all wet with condensation?
The cotton yarn absorbs it.
And I can stash it in my purse and take a drink on the bus without getting busted
or getting the inside of my purse wet.
Hot or cold.

Don't think anyone would think my green crafty washable cotton water bottle holder would be transporting alcohol, do you?
It fits all the containers shown here because it is knitted, stretchy.

Any serious knitters going what the heck kinda stitch is that?
I pic the back of the stitch holding the yarn in my left hand for utilitarian knitting.
It makes me think about when a community could pick out a knitter's stitch.
That's me, with the slanting ridges on all my kid's snow hats in New England.
No need for Winter hats here in the desert.
But we do need to carry water. Seriously.

But what has this got to do with Lucky Bunny?

http://www.luckybunny.net/

This.

Shut Up and Do Something - Poster

$35.00

People love complaining but few ever do anything to change things. So I call this my “Shut up and do something” poster. Keep creating, keep fighting, and for the love of god quit complaining.
The black is screen printed, the red standing bunny and red type are spray paint stenciled on. The tagline reads, “Wack name, tight game.” It’s my tongue in cheek way of making fun of making fun of my cutesy name.
Print come rolled in a sturdy cardboard tube to frustrate the postal goons who crush mail.
Size: 18×24
Medium: Screen print, spray paint.
Edition: 50, Signed not numbered.
Support: 110lb cover stock.

Sold Out

I own one of these sold out bad boys, nicely framed, thank you very much.

My own personal reminder to shut up and do something.

I have been complaining quite a bit about being banished to the desert.

This is not the life I would have chosen for myself.

So Rich's admonition 

 "Keep creating, keep fighting, and for the love of god quit complaining."

is kicking my butt.

I'm here, Los Angeles.  

The knitted water bottle holder is a small step, but I'm standing up.

I also am lucky enough to have one of these-

Which is the first thing I hung up 

to personalize my room at my sister's in the Valley.

Feeling pretty lucky.

♥ Chloe

* Images from Lucky Bunny used with permission thank you very much