No winter coat!

Big time cabin fever around here for the last two days because of snow and icy streets, but Cape May got a nice surprise this morning with sunshine and 40 degree temperatures.  I can't believe how liberating it felt to go outside without a winter coat and be able to wear some clothes from my "between season" wardrobe.   I got these pants at a vintage store in Bushwick, Brooklyn a few months ago when I was already yearning for the spring.  They are actually  Frederick's of Hollywood - the sides are cutout (a current trend according to all the recent fashion shows) and I am wearing colorful leggings underneath.  My vest is cozy fake fur which is just right for the weather and I happened to have some furry boots to match since there is still snow on the ground.  The necklace was a local purchase and the fantastic fingerless gloves are handmade from wool socks and decorated with needle felted images of dancers.  They were a gift from my friend Eva in CA.  When I was all dressed-up and ready to go we made our big exciting trip of the day - to the supermarket!!  And now I can look forward to fresh salmon for dinner.  You have to love the little pleasures of a winter day in Cape May.

Outerwear and Small Towns

Just because its winter doesn't mean that we all have to dress ourselves in dark colors, especially in our choice of outerwear.  When skies are gray, then color goes a long way.  It makes people feel better and may even help warm us up. 

I bought this orange coat on sale at Etcetera Thrift Store in North Cape May at the end of last summer.  It was on sale and I paid $3.50 for it.  Shopping for any kind of clothing off season is always a good idea. You can get some great deals.  The tights are from American Apparel and yes, they DO come like that!  I scored this bag last week at the Goodwill. Its actually official "Cirque du Soleil" merchandise. I didn't even know there was such a thing.  It has pockets galore - maybe a tiny dancer will pop out of one of them!

As you may know, after having lived in NYC for 35 years I have been living in a very suburban area of Cape May, NJ for the last 3 years.  These are the decorations that I chose to put in my front yard garden.  One of my neighbors asked me if I was going to "leave the red chair there" and the local librarian asked me if I lived in the "house with the truck."  I said "No, we don't have a truck," and she said "Yes you do, the yellow one."  I found out then that we live in a very small town.  Last year, someone even asked me if I was the lady walking down the street in town with one orange leg and one yellow. By now, however, many people know me and I am happy to report that they totally embrace my eccentricities.  So I have also discovered that a small town can be a very good place to live!

We won!!

"Miss Metal" won first prize in the Individual/Family category at the Emlyn Physick Estate scarecrow contest in Cape May, NJ.  Jeffrey and I made her together.  We also put a scavenger hunt sign next to her with the following text.

CAN YOU FIND IT?

Ok, we'll start with a TEAPOT. I know, that was way too easy! How about some KNITTING NEEDLES? There are 5 of them. What about a CANDLE HOLDER? (Hint: its upside-down.) Two SCOURING PADS? The kind that you use for really dirty pots! A HEART? (aaaw...) A CIRCUIT PANEL? (In other words, that electronic looking thing.) A SOUP CAN? (What kind do you think she likes?) A LOCK and a few KEYS? Here's another easy one. A STARFISH. Oh my gosh, what's that THING hanging in the middle of her body? Ok, here's a really hard one. BEDSPRINGS! And how many SPOONS is she wearing? Its a good thing she always has her SEATBELT on to keep her safe. How about a little BIRD and a little FISH? She's even ready for Christmas with a JINGLE BELL and she has her hair done up in PINCURLS. (Ask your Grandma what those are.) I'm sure that you can find a lot more things that are not even on this list, but we'll end this game with the biggest ZIPPER PULL that you have ever seen! So what do you have around your house that you can make into ART?
  
 She is now living next to our front door to welcome you the next time you visit us! 

Bookends

These days, I am trying to make as many things as I can with my own hands.  Here are some bookends that I made with some scrap wood, yellow paint and two cans of spinach from the dollar store.  I like the way they turned out.  I also like my new life in Cape May.  I  live in a real house, have a studio of my own, started a craft club, and have recently become the artist-in-residence at a local thrift store.  We just survived Hurricane Sandy in good shape and are looking forward to walking on the beach again soon.

2 Poems?

I have been walking to the beach every morning and thinking about things....

Morning walk #1

Pippi weighs 8lbs 13ozs and she barks at the ocean.

I think that she thinks

It will answer her.

Nothing has prepared her for this.

Not the joggers that come too close,

Or the other dogs that get in her way on city sidewalks.

It does not respond to her voice but repeats its own refrain.

The waves roll in and she runs out, creating her own song.  Soon they are dancing together. 

Morning Walk #2

There is time to find beach glass.

No need to bow

Down

Now.

It will be there when I find it.

For now, I look out.

Tall back, long neck,

Shoulders released.

To where

There

Is time.