creative endeavors...

DH's ship in progress

Have I ever mentioned that DH builds ships? Can't remember. Well, he does.  It's a pretty neat hobby and he's done it for a long time. Now of course since he's retired, he has more time for it. We have always had at least 4 - 6 ships (sometimes in various stages) throughout the house. My daughter has one at her place and the kids destroyed a really large one years ago with a soccer ball.  We have two in glass cases.  DH likes building ships and putting together large (3000 piece) puzzles.  We have several of these  framed on the walls upstairs.

close up

Couldn't think of anything to blog about this afternoon. So, hope you enjoyed these photos of DH's hobby.

As for our pottery project, I've just started working on *chess pieces*.  Haven't decided on anything for sure yet, but may do a 'cat themed' chess set... with a cat king and queen... and I don't know, maybe birdhouses for the pawns, scratch post for the rooks, etc.???? Here's a picture of my first quick sculpt for a cat queen. It's hard to tell as it's only a little over an inch (maybe and inch and a half) square - but I didn't want to use crowns.  However, she is laying on  a pillow and the pieces will be on a base. Thinking that its difficult to sculpt so small that I will use the 'gesture' method... quick study that implies movement. I think that's the term.

All suggestions are welcome!  Criticism too...

kittens and chess sets...

I recently posted an old photo of my now almost 12 year old grand daughter taking home one of the kittens we took in (our original 5) when she was 3.  Came across this one today where she was playing with the whole group.  My daughter kept telling her that they were not taking any of them home... until the little 'Siamese looking one' (in the foreground) climbed up and over that baby gate when she was saying goodbye and onto her shoulder. Yep, that's the one that went home with her. They are all still with us (except the grey tabby who got out of my son's house and disappeared a few years ago). And Cocoa (that's what she named him) still sleeps with her.

OK... my pottery/ceramics class has now started for Spring 2013.  Our main project this semester is to make chess sets.  My first thought was... "Really? chess sets?" Now it's not that I don't like Chess (actually I'm not a game person). But as games go, Chess is interesting.  But for me the interest is in its fascinating pieces - not the game strategy. I mean, seriously, some chess sets are *art*. 

Next subject:   If you read my last entry on my other blog, "Cats, Coffee, and Chocolate", you know that I was recently approached by someone who wants to use my "7 cats in a bed" photo on a brochure about a product called Feliway for cats.  After checking out the product with our Vet, I agreed that it was OK for them to use the picture as long as it didn't mean that I endorsed the product (I can't endorse something I have never used and know very little about).  So I did email the photo and 2 others that showed our multiple cats cuddling together. If any of you have used this product, I would love some feedback. From the info I received from our Vet's office, it is a legitimate product and is sold in Veterinary Hospitals.

Think we can get to that milk?