All the news that’s fit to be typed!
Lots of news lately. First the windows, then my super fun project with Amalah and Alpha Mom went live yesterday. And then we had a very nice and photogenic late afternoon at the beach! How am I supposed to blog about the bits and bots?!! See! This is why I never get anything done around here.
But I can’t complain. I love it when things are exciting.
I could not be more excited about this. I am deeply honored to be in the same web space as Amalah and Alpha Mom. I’m so glad I can finally talk about this! I sold my pregnancy illustrations to Alpha Mom way back in 2006 (hello, that was a crazy year! …as in the year I gave birth!) and I couldn’t really talk about it because they were going to be used for a top secret project. That particular top-secret project might still be in the works but this new pregnancy calendar, written by none other than the most-funny and well-spoken Amalah, is NOT secret! Yay! Yay! Yay!
So the illos are a bit dated. I did draw them in 2006 afterall. You might recognize some of them since they showed up here first. I tried to tweak some of the really out-of-style ones (side bangs! side bangs! my illos need side bangs!) so I’m not too embarrassed but we’ll see how that goes. So far all the comments are from moms about their pregnancies so I guess I don’t need to be so self-centered and vain all the time.
Anyway, I’m very excited and you can see why the whole Mom’s Buzz scandal was such a big deal now because my mom illos are owned 100% by Alpha Mom! Of which I am proud to say I am part. Hooyah! Now let’s go bully some Beta Moms. Just kidding!!!
Now let’s get down to business. The “unfinished business” of answering the this-and-that questions from this post and beyond. I might have to do it in parts because I have way way way too much to write about!
First Up: Forrest the Cat!
We are SO happy that Forrest is in a very loving home. See that fluffy fur? He is obviously well taken care of. AND they let him outside to play in the mud. That is one happy cat.
His new owners do not have a blog but Sarah (his new adopted mom) has written me a few emails letting me know that he is doing very well and I can tell that she spoils him rotten. Here is an excerpt:
“He’s doing well and he fits right in. We love having him around and he’s such a social animal, it’s too cute. He’s always wherever we are – at my feet when I’m making dinner, on Donald’s lap while he reads a book, curled up next to me while I work, in the windowsill when we garden, smack in the middle of the room begging for a belly rub while I paint our bedroom walls, etc. Sebastian (the other cat) is pretty friendly, but not nearly this friendly, he’d much rather sleep the whole day away. Forrest is always following us around, on our heels. He’s also started to respond to his name, which at first he wouldn’t do for us. Now when we whistle or say FORREST! he comes a-runnin’ and stops at our feet, waiting for us to pet him =) He’s a cutie pie; we wouldn’t trade him for the world.”
The best part of her emails though is the little story about baby wipes. Since Forrest has deformed back legs, he sometimes has trouble clearing himself of his poop in the litter box. This is something I was worried might be a deal breaker in finding him a home.
Sarah writes, “Sebastian has taken to helping Forrest ‘clean up.’ For the first few days that Forrest was with us, he had trouble navigating the cat box and frequently ended up trailing poop around on his tail or his hind ankles, but increased familiarity with the set-up combined with Sebastian’s desire to keep everything neat and tidy has eliminated the problem entirely.
“We bought a box of baby wipes at the beginning, but we haven’t needed them in weeks. Oddly enough, the only baby wipes that were available at the store when we went are scented like lavender and Forrest cannot get enough of them. He’ll hobble over to the box and whine until we take one out for him. Then he just wants to lay on it and rub his face and his neck in it. So he always smells good. It’s one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen, but hey, whatever works.”
Now THAT is love. She buys him lavender baby wipes!
I thought it was a silly idea to blog about Forrest in order to find him a home but it really did work. He would have wound up at the pound and probably would have been put to sleep if it wasn’t for you guys. Thank you Sarah! Thank you blog readers. You are such a big part of my world.
Next up: Norge! My red refrigerator!
I wish I had some old photos of me painting this old refrigerator. Not because they would be helpful to the story but because I was HOTT back then. Or at least that’s what my ten-years older self thinks now. I really did look way better when I weighed twenty pounds less and had less chins. But whatever! This is blog is not about aging!
I bought this old thing with a roommate back in 1995 or 1996. We paid 200 bucks for it and had to drive to some unknown part of Costa Mesa to pick it up. My roommate at the time was very resourceful and found us some shady back-room deal where looked through rows and rows of dusty old refrigerators until we found one we liked. I am amazed that it is has held up so long and served us so well. I bet if I bought a new one from Sears I’d have more trouble with it. This is Norge and he WORKS.
Norge was also a very ugly color of mustardy pukey off-brown when we got him. He was dirty and grimy and just plain yucky. We cleaned him up and used him in his natural color for years but when Toby moved in (yes, I lived in sin and am not proud of it) he suggested we paint it.
That’s what’s great about Toby. He thinks “outside the box” (though I hate using that term). I swear his brain is wired inside-out and upside-down compared to everyone else’s. Have you seen the way he writes the numeral five? From the bottom up. He writes all his letters and numbers that way. He’s a freak.
Even though I like to think of myself as the artsy-fartsy artist I probably would have never thought of painting my refrigerator. And if I did, I would have gotten intimidated by “the work” it involves. Painting! How do you do it? I need someone to show me first and then I’ll have a ball. But just breaking out and doing something new. That’s a bit scary.
We had some discussion over the matter when the subject of color came up, Toby said, “Paint it any color you want!” Well… you know what that means. When I’m given the freedom to choose color I ALWAYS choose red! If I had my way, my entire house would probably be red. Though Toby has mellowed me out somewhat over the years.
We washed it down with TSP or something like that, roughed it up a bit with sand paper and then went down to the nearest hardware store and bought some exterior house paint. We rolled it on with paint rollers and amazingly it stuck and has given us no trouble for years and years and years. I think everyone should paint their fridge. It’s great!
One more topic and I’m closing this post because it is getting LONG!!!! Yikes!
Lastly: Bug’s Red Shoes.
Yes, we love red shoes in this house. Bug’s shoes are called “Sadie” from See Kai Run. I bought them off Amazon but I think you can get them just about anywhere.
One of Toby’s sisters bought Bug her first pair of orange See Kai Run shoes and I loved them! They are so flexible and soft. I made Bug wear them every day and wished I had some too. These red ones are not quite as nice because they have a pretty thick rubber lip on the sole and when they were on the big side Bug tripped on them constantly. Now that they fit, she seems to get along in them fine but that was a bit of a drawback in the beginning.
And that is all I can write today because Bug just woke up!
Hope that helps!
26 Comments
DeeJay
Lavender wipes! That’s so sweet! Does the heart good.
I love the fact that your frige is RED! Life is fun when Toby lives outside the box!
bethany actually
I love Bug’s sweater in that last photo…and wow, does she look like a big kid there!
So glad things have worked out well for Forrest in his new home. :-)
Jummy
I love the colour of that fridge and would have never thought of painting it.
And Forrest sure looks happy and loved!
She Likes Purple
Hooray for your illustrations! I was so excited when I saw them up at Alpha Mom (and I would have recognized them anywhere). And I love the red fridge.
Lauren
I think I’m going to paint my refrigerator this weekend! I am so excited! It’s grubby and even magic erasers don’t get up the grub.
but right now I have to go un-part my side bangs.
:)
Spandrel Studios
Ah, I had wondered if the fridge painting was because of a weird base color not matching your decor, or if it was just another inspired idea you got out of thing air… Sounds like it’s a little bit of both… Necessity+Creativity=Great Ideas!
Leah
I am loving your illos for Amalah. LOVE.
ninabi
I had no idea you could paint a fridge. I’m impressed! Love the color- I hate it that all appliances (like a lot of cars) are boring colors. How fun!
familymclean
The illios are awesome, what a secret to keep! You must feel ten lbs lighter!
The fridge, I am inspired!
Dani
I want to go home and paint my refrigerator immediately. My fiance will be horrified. And then I’ll send him here to look at your red one and he’ll tell me I’m out of my mind because we hate that ‘fridge and it’s broken and we’re going to have to replace it anyway. And then I’ll say “if we’re going to replace it anyway, then why can’t I paint it?!”
Also, I was trying to comment on old posts and since I can’t I’ll say that I loved your Bug’s art-cum hearts-cum cards project – they were absolutely beautiful! And a french press is the only kind of coffee maker we own. Fiance had french press coffee at a fancy-schmancy steakhouse a couple of years ago for Valentine’s Day. The following month, for his birthday, I bought him his own and a grinder to boot. I think that’s the day he fell in love with me.
And who can blame him?
Katie
I have an idea why Forest likes the wipes. I can’t remember, but if he’s an older cat, or one who doesn’t like to bath himself, (my old cat Bessie didn’t!) then you’re supposed to wipe down your kitty with a damp rag or paper towel or something, just to clean them up. And of course, I am sure that he finds the Lavender relaxing!!
:)
Mrs. Wilson
That drawing is brilliant! It amazes me every day how creative people (you!) are. I can draw a stick person. That is about it.
I love that you painted your fridge. That is just so cool.
Amanda Brown
Congratulations on landing the gig with Alpha Mom! You are a STAR!
delia
My grandmother wallpapered her fridge in the 70’s with tree bark wallpaper. It still looks exactly the same today, totally odd but oddly at home in her 300 year old farmhouse.
Sarah
I commented on Amalah’s page about how much I love your illustration (pretty please I win the free web graphic contest) anyhoo enough groveling, I too choose red at any chance!
Kuky
I love your illos!
What are side bangs?
~moe~
Excellent choice with the Norge. We had a Norge for over 40 years before mom finally broke down and got a new one. It was awesome!
BeachMama
How exciting that you are working with both Alpha Mom and Amalah. I haven’t stopped by her site in a while, will have to stop by and check in. And I loved your pregnancy illos, they were all so fun and exciting, they completely capture pregnancy.
I always love animal rescue stories, so it is wonderful to see that Forrest is in a good home and loved so much.
And your fridge, how hilarious. It would match my dining room perfectly. If my fridge didn’t freeze everything I would consider painting it, but as it stands it is on its last legs as it is. Nothing like ice cold milk for breakfast. J asks to have the ice taken off his cereal first :).
Love the red shoes, my girlfriend has the See Kai Run shoes, and I think I will get a pair for Apple when the time is right , her little girl loves them.
All Adither
What’s wrong with side bangs?
SAJ says: My bad! Nothing is wrong with side bangs. In fact, I meant (and should have written) that I needed to change the fringe bangs in my illos to SIDE BANGS! I’m sure it’s all in my head. What do I know about bangs? Nothing!
cc
I told you not to worry. They were all great designs, but the pregnancy meter was one of my favorite’s, having it combined with another one really bring sit out though.
Super Sarah
Fabulous newsy post, I went and had a look at the Alphamom site this week when it went live and was super impressed with your lovely illustrations. Great combo with Amalah and SAJ, despite not being pregnant I will be checking in regularily. My fav was the one of the couple sillouetted for the week of ovulation! Also, great newsy post, lots of fun things to read and great pics to look at! Thanks!
Super Sarah
Can you tell I am tired? Huh, can you?
lorimo
Thanks for all of the updates! I especially enjoyed hearing the stories from Forrest’s new home. He is truly loved! It is amazing what can happen with the community here on the net.
Susan
The red fridge is my favorite and the red shoes. My mom has one room in her house that is red. I sit in there all the time.
Kat
I have to say the only reason i am here is those illos. I saw them and was like omg! and i clicked and could vaguely make out your website so here I am!
Saltgirl
They actually make a lavendar spray for cats that you can find at healthier pet stores (i.e. not Petco). You use it to renew your cat’s interest in old toys or encourage them to sleep on their bed rather than the furniture. You might suggest it to your cat’s adopters. It might be safer for Forrest depending on what is in the wipes.