Futility Now

Stuff we’ve been grilling.

Of course, we end with a picture of the cat.

So let’s see, what has been going on?

Well, for starters I invented this awesome sandwich

so that’s something.

We also went to the woods again, only this time we made a further expedition to this lake, which was total quality fun. I’m a little leery of camping in general, because I am very serious about personal hygiene, but as a day trip it was really wonderful.

Portland institution Shag has decided to move next to the tattoo parlor across the street, so I guess that’s another exciting sign that the neighborhood is on the way up. We sort of knew that already, since being able to stroll out and get a drink or something has become a bit of a challenge, since everything is packed to the gills most evenings. Unfortunately, you still have to go a couple miles to get a decent loaf of bread. Somebody could really make a mint by correcting this, says I.

So far I’ve been spending my summer in the studio (which keeps getting referred to as “the dungeon,” since it is in the basement — I don’t like the connotations of that reference, though, so I’m thinking about giving “the underworld” a shot) rather than on impressive home improvement projects. I did break down and get some decent curtains for the living room this week, though they currently hang unhemmed, bottom 18″ pooling dramatically on the floor. Yoshi thinks this is a brilliant idea.

The yard, however, would brook no such negligence.  A very wet spring (yes, even for Portland) meant we’d avoided being outside much at all, but once the heat & sun did arrive, our plants seemed to think it might be their only chance to grow — ever.  So they did.  Luckily, “the mum” (as jmags calls her) came up for a visit and provided the guidance and confidence we needed to really tear some things out. As you can see.

All this brute labor convinced us we deserved some sitting-around-in-bars time. When I managed to look away from this suave fella I found some captivating color palettes.

tomato red, pale warmish grey, milky chartreuse, black

goldenrod, slate grey, caramel brown, more tomato red

caramel smoky brown, shadowed orange, black and brick

And I’ve been holding on to colors from an image that I couldn’t catch on film because I happened to be driving when I saw it: stormy slate grey (sky), emerald green (painted side of brick building), ivory and black (striped power cable overhead crossing them both).  I wonder if I’m being drawn to color groups just because of the really marvelous light we’ve had in Portland lately, or if it’s because my own work is so achromatic that I’m working with a vitamin deficiency?

Here is Yoshi staring balefully out of the bathroom window at me.

Here is a raccoon that was asleep in our yard this morning.

Here is Yoshi staring balefully out of the bathroom window at the raccoon.

So, Thursday is when our HGTV episode will finally air. I know you can’t wait. We don’t have a television, so we’re getting a room at Portland’s famous Jupiter Hotel to watch it.