Goody Two Shoes

Oh, hey. It's Tuesday. Let me tell you, internet, this three day weekend has really thrown me off. That being said, I want every weekend to be a three day weekend. Especially when I can be as lazy as I was this time around.

But I was not completely idle. I have plans, you see. I'm planning what battle Charlotte and the gang are going to fight. They might be in over their heads.

Part Three:

The spirits were crying.

How to do Alone: Taking A Stroll

The first in the “How to do Alone” series I talked about doing… forever ago. Taking a stroll is probably the most common thing to do alone. Typically, it only requires one person. A brisk 20-minute romp around the neighborhood or nearest nature trail can really change your mood. A meander through the woods or city can reveal new things – a magenta flower hanging wet with rain near a bookstore you have yet to go inside. Strolling is probably the easiest way to remember how to do alone.

What you need:

♥  Yourself and your preferred mode of foot traffic (sneakers, heels, crutches, wheel chair)

This Week in Photos and A Quote

Hello Spatulans. I hope your weekend so far has been a nice reprieve from the past week. This week’s pictures are of a concert by the Missoula, MT metal band Lbs., some apple blossoms in a glass jar, a new batch of bottle cap magnets, and my first packet of Impossible film for the Polaroid.

The quote this week is something I wrote during a weekly writers group. The group is given a list of prompts that include the senses, a month, a season, and an object. We then spend 20 minutes writing as much as we can or want about any of the prompts that inspire us. We can use one or all of the prompts from the list. This is what I wrote.

“Moonshine in the family graveyard is different than anywhere else. Here, it zigzags through the live oak leaves and lands like an ocean breeze on the gravel paths and the ashes of great uncle Drake. Other places I’ve seen the moonshine screech down like a spot light – ice cube cold. But here, in the lilac whispers of family, moon glow rocks us to sleep.”

Here is the list of prompts that was given if you would like to try the writing exercise yourself.

Stand By Me

(photo source unknown)

Gordie: "Do you think I'm weird?"

Chris: "Definitely."

Gordie: "No man, seriously. Am I weird?"

Chris: "Yeah, but so what. Everybody's weird."

Summer Adventures

Gas prices are fluctuating faster than a swooning woman's heartbeat at a Tom Jones concert. The weather is chancy- either sunny or tornadoes. Morale seems to be at an all time low because of the economy. What's a small town girl to do? Go adventuring, of course!

Since the temperature started picking up a few months back I've been thinking about all the things that I could do that are:
a.) Local. So I won't spend too much in gas and my car won't blow up.
b.) Free or inexpensive. Because I'm still working for approx. $4/hr. and...
c.) New. There are a lot of things we have on our bucket lists that can be easily scratched off, and it'd be a shame to not!

Here's the short list of adventures I intend to have this Summer:

1. Go see a movie at a Drive-In Theatre. 

Luckily for me there is such a drive-in theatre within driving distance! I've heard mixed reviews of the theatre itself, but I'm not above seeing for myself. How cool would it be to see Thor on the big screen? God of Thunder indeed. ;)

2. Learn to ride a bike.

It shames me to admit this, but I have not been on a bike in ages. I learned to ride one with training wheels, but as soon as my big brother got his trainers taken off I insisted mine had to go as well. (Not to be outdone by my big bro!)

I've conducted a little research and have found the bike of my dreams! It figures that the bike of my dreams would run me about $500USD. Hmm. I have found a cheaper bike- so we'll see how it goes. :)  Doubtless I will be as cute on a bike as Ellen Page!

3. Have my palm read.

I've wanted to do this for ages- and as luck would have it there are two palmists in the area. Being in a small town I haven't been able to read reviews on either of them, and only one of the two was listed in the phone book. ("Dial your Friendly Psychic Today!") I'm well aware that they might be charlatans and put a gypsy curse on me, but we'll keep our fingers crossed that they aren't. ;)


Well that's the start of my list! How about you guys? Anything you are looking forward to accomplishing this summer?

Riders on the Storm

Quick post tonight. There is a storm raging outside my window. And perhaps, just perhaps, there may be a storm on the horizon for our intrepid trio.

“Haven’t you ever wondered why cities were abandoned?”

Artist Interview: Trista Hudzik Reynolds

"I make pottery because I believe in a return to a simpler time when life wasn't so complicated by technology, society, and politics." Trista Hudzk Reynolds, artist statement.

(photo source)

Hello Spatulans. Today, it's my pleasure to introduce to you one of my favorite artists: Trista Hudzik Renolds. The 34-year-old professional potter from Ashville, N.C. lives in Beaufort, N.C. with her husband and owns a pottery studio at the corner of Live Oak and Ann Streets. A North Carolinian potter since 2001, her work is not only useful, from juice cups to honey pots, it is delicate and beautiful. Her work, inspired by nature and folklore, is colored with happiness. I once had the pleasure of being in an art show with her last year and have since tried to keep an eye on her projects and newest pieces (stalker-like, of course, via her blog, Facebook, and Wix). I hope you find Trista and her work as inspiring as I do. Please to Enjoy.

Tell us what you do.
THR: I play with clay. More specifically, turn dirt into stuff you can use!

Happy Sunday

This Week in Photos and A Quote

Happy Saturday Night, Spatulans. I hope your week was wonderful. What were the highlights of your week? One of mine was this snippett of a conversation I gathered at a coffee shop across the street from my apartment.

"Are you stickin' around for a while? Would you like me to cut you a sliver of this? It's called 'Almond Passion'. We haven't officially introduced it yet."

What's something wonderful from your week? Could you use that wonderful bit or any image, sound, smell, quote from this past week in a short story?

Bypass Doom!

It must be "the end of the world" because S.Kemp is posting. Just kidding. Here is an old video to celebrate the "doom" that was "supposed" to be. Happy End of the World!

Wednesday Words of Wisdom: Molly Crabapple

"The closest one can be to honestly making magic is to keep one's word so obsessively that things spring into being by you saying them. Most people are just talk. If you REALLY climb the mountain/ write the book/ get your sister a job, you're so much ahead of the rest. And just for being the person who really climbs mountains/ writes books/ helps friends when they say they will, others will help you."

Molly Crabapple (Via twitter. Emphasis is my own.)

Welcome Back

I must thank Miss Lucy for giving me the idea for this. I had so been wanting to brings these guys back, but wasn't quite sure where to begin. But, thanks to an innocent little email conversation, I had the starting point. Isn't it funny, the things that can inspire us. Domo, Miss Lucy!

An Expected Trip

“So, whose body are you trying to move?”

Merle's Take

Hey All- After some coaxing from Clara and a swift kick in the pants from Gertrude I've written a bit of a treat. Remember my favorite punching bag, Seamus? Well, here's a new chapter...from the perspective of everyone's favorite cowboy grandpa: Merle.

Chapter 3.141414: Jackrabbits on Speed

If there was one thing I hated, it was tacky hotel rooms. Arthur always insisted on meeting in them. I gave up arguing about it with him long ago.

The walls were lined with velvet- a brocade pattern. Purple carpeting brought out the red in the wallpaper. The cracks on the ceiling were making obscene gesture. Only one light bulb worked in the fixture above the headboard. I could hear the sound of post-coital hissing of cockroaches in the yellow rimmed bathtub. As far as dingy, disgusting dive hotel rooms go- this one was pretty plush.

Rita's Part Twelve

Well, folks, this is it. Mickey's been up all night coming up with this plan. Can he pull it off?

This week's post is a bit wordy, but that's to be expected. I mean, one shouldn't mince words with a fearsome crime boss, right?

Part Twelve: Troll in the Dungeon


It was a richly appointed room. The dark wood and aged leather blended seamlessly with the deep red upholstery. Sitting in the middle of this sumptuous and stately room, in stark contrast to the ornately carved desk she was sitting behind, was a woman wearing a bright yellow dress and powder blue ribbons in her bouffant hair.

Mickey was momentarily astounded by the sight before him. The woman looked up when he entered the room and ran her heavily made up eyes over him a few times before smirking.

Well that just bytes...

Howdy folks-

I hate writing posts like this, just so you know.

My home computer is dead or dying. I'm going to have to sit down and try to fix it, or send if off to Mac for repairs. Or go Office Space on it. Haven't decided.

Regardless, things are going to be quiet on the Spatula tonight. I'm only able to post this from my work computer. (SHhhhh! Don't tell on me!) I hope you'll be able to forgive me. But seeing as how this is out of my hands, you have no choice but to still love me. ;)


Luff & Spatulas,

Lucy.

Rita's: Part Eleven

Wow, is it Tuesday already?

Well, folks, it looks like Mickey may have a plan, but he's not letting me in on the secret. And as soon as I know, you'll know.

Part Eleven: Don't Trust the Horse

There was a stunned silence as what had actually happened began to sink in. Lulu had a vise grip on Ianto’s arm, but he didn’t seem to notice. He stood transfixed, staring at the prone figure of the crime world’s most feared assassin.


The shock quickly wore off, however, and panic set it.