The day is off to an excellent start today. Even though there was a two plus hour break at 2:30 a.m. after Toby used the facilities and we took our nightly stretch, we slept well. Hapi greeted me with a commanding "All right!" and came out to his kitchen perch for an aloe mist spray bath. He bobbed up and down, so I think he likes it. While the food I've been giving the fids is an excellent quality with a good reputation (Roudybush California Blend) I've heard people have great experiences with Harrison's. I tried Harrison's when the birds were babies and it was a no-go. All wasted. As it is significantly more costly than Roudybush, it is hard to watch that happen. I offered it as treats over the years with no positive response. My vet recommended a diet change just in case it might help, so I got a small bag of Adult Coarse and gave Hapi a bowlful this morning as he keeps me company in the kitchen. He ate the whole thing! I have NEVER seen him eat kibble like this. He isn't wasting any, and I swear he is smiling. (His ability to "smile" is one of the reasons I named him "Hapi" -- he has a definite "happy" face he puts on when he feels good.) I just refilled the bowl a second time as he ate every bit. Back to Amazon.com we go for more! Yay! Might not help the feather issue, but at least he is HAPPY EATING, which if he wasn't, doesn't make for a very happy parrot.
The Leg is calming down a bit thankfully but still is a nuisance. I have definite instability when putting weight on it to go upstairs and still fall when I try to do so. If I "lead with the left" and go one by one I can do it, though, so am grateful for that. I'm so glad I am a tough ol' broad like my Ma.
I'm really getting into beading my current piece and can see how it will be when done. It will be physically heavy. I will have to build an internal armature for parts of it, or possibly have foam core pieces that velcro on to hold parts in place. Am grooving on the current Mo Hayder book, and I feel like a little kid challenging their bedtime, wanting to stay at beading at night for just a little longer instead of crying "uncle" and going to sleep. The power of a good book is unlimited. So good to have time to work on my art again, to "go deep" with it, as Eric Maisel says, to give it the time it needs to grow. Never mind fancy vacations -- taking time out from trying to catch up on the frenetic domestic battle is my happy place.
Getting ready for Create's exhibit at the Albion Cultural Exchange. A co-exhibit of work by students and teachers at Create and Kidcasso, both located on Albion Street in Wakefield. Work to be hung this evening, with an opening tomorrow at 5. Cool, man, cool!
For an art link today, here's Melody Johnson's page about writing words with freehand machine embroidery. Dale Ann Potter has a little demonstration video online, too. And, finally, a gorgeous collection of thread drawings of wild birds by Tara Badcock. Stunning texture combinations, here! I love the incomplete nature of the drawings - the partial rendering to create a mix of reality and interpretation. Just wonderful. Cheers. Enjoy this sweltering day!