120 Rice Brook Drive

I'm done carving the street address sign. Today while I was working on it, I was thinking of making a sign for zulustudio. Why not, right?

Keeping my Carving Skills Honed

Yesterday I started a hand-carved address plaque. The customer chose a rough finished board to complement their log home and wooded lot. It's about 4' long and 10" high and the letters are around 3.5" tall. I will finish carving it Saturday and post another photo when I'm done.

On Wednesday I sent post card files to the printer, and should have them back in 10-14 days. You'll see them shortly... Woo Hoo!

Nora, the Piano Playing Cat

Oh, so what!? She only knows one song!
Cats. They have terrible taste in music.



Check out Nora's other video and more at: The Cats of Raven's Wing Studio
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Happy Birthday John!

Yeah, yeah -- I know I already wished you a Happy Birthday on the phone, but I couldn't resist posting a couple of really adorable vintage pics.

I have the feeling that #43 is going to be an INCREDIBLE year for you! There are so many good and creative things going on... life is unfurling as the adventure it is supposed to be. It's great that you dare to live it with aplomb, it's one of the things I love about you -- you crazy kid!



Cheers! Here's to another year older with a brain that refuses to conform!
(I think it's genetic... let's ask Dr. Rat!)
I love you, big brother.

Magic Monkeys...

Sunday morning at our house usually involves coffee, comics and bathrobes. I had to post this Get Fuzzy strip. Not only does it involve monkeys, but the conversation between Bucky and Rob seems so... familiar. I'm not sure why...

Speaking of bathrobes -- Karen, I love the bathrobe that you gave me for Christmas a couple years ago. It is the softest, coziest robe I've ever owned. Conveniently, it is also a Leo magnet... he becomes an instant lap cat if I'm sitting around wearing it. And since I'm on a monkey kick, here's a glimpse of this monkey in my Magic Robe and Frog Prince Socks! As you can see, it's a Glamor-ific morning here in Epping, NH!

Cynthia & Jason When They Were Little

I almost forgot. I also came across this picture of Cynthia and Jason fighting when they were just wee tots...

Probably a squabbling over who ate the last banana.

Hmmm... this picture should be worth a comment from at least one of those two, right?!

You know I love ya! We're all swingin' from the same family tree...
- The Monkey's Auntie

Oh Erica....

Mr. Pugsly Pants wanted to say "Hello!" Okay, he's not as cute as D-Q, but he's pretty darned funny!

Last night I was surfing for pictures of monkeys for a project I'm working on. During my image search, this pug in a fez popped up and I had to post it for my seeeesteer! Don't ya love it?

I tried to post this when I found it, but Blogger was having issues with photos. They seem to have corrected it now, thankfully! Mr. Fezzy Pug, my blog had a woeful void without you.

Here's a sneak peek at the Scooter Monkey Gang I'm drawing for Carole. There will be a bunch of different primates when I'm done. Here's one...

It Starts With One Square of Paper

Julie and I made these Origami ornaments 1,000 years ago... folded paper is sturdy if you handle it with care! These are child's play compared to some of the pieces John has made -- I would still like him to make me one of those rabbits coming out of a top hat... hint... hint. (It would be an excellent birthday present! An orchid would be nice too :o)

Hold on to your hats (paper and otherwise)! Look at this Origami flag:


One Square of Paper! The picture is very small, so see how cool it REALLY is by watching the video of how Robert J. Lang created his flag to illustrate a NY Times Magazine story.

If you want to be rendered speechless, click on his name and go to his website. Mr. Lang's art is genius. Be prepared to lose yourself for a little while...
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Finally, an Explanation.

We have big oak trees and in the fall they drop multiple wheelbarrows full of acorns, no exaggeration. Ya gotta shovel 'em off the lawn. It follows that we have the fattest, sassiest squirrels I've ever seen. Now I know why. Hajime!

Goodbye, Mr. Vonnegut

"I've had a hell of a good time. I tell you, we are here on earth to fart around and don't let anybody tell you any different."

Kurt Vonnegut

I was very sad to see that one of my favorite writers passed away today. His books influenced me profoundly in high school (Mr. Veitenheimer's English class, to be exact). Player Piano was his first book, the first of his works that I read, and perhaps the start of my political awakening. Not that George Orwell, William Golding, John Steinbeck and others hadn't started the process. Kurt Vonnegut spoke to me with a different resonance. His way of making the most absurd and tragic circumstances emit blinding flashes of insight or white hot irony, reflected something I feel inside myself. That swirling paradox of experience and emotion... it seemed like we had the same tipping point where heaving sobs turn into laughter, similar funny bones triggered by the most unlikely things.

Like so many others, his books made me feel like I knew him, although of course I didn't. Any time he spoke publicly or gave an interview I always tried to catch it. He was the old codger I dream of becoming one day... blunt and insightful, funny and profound.

So long, Kurt.

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The Boston Red Sox

Michael is upstairs right now, glued to the television! Tonight is the first time new Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is playing at Fenway. I would be willing to bet my orange stripey cat that somewhere, Rafael is also mesmerized by tonight's historical game. Those two aren't alone, millions are tuned in. However, Leo is watching the game from Michael's lap and he seems less than impressed...

Yeah, I know I said no more cat pictures for a little while, but you know what a sucker I am for a cute pose.

A Belated Happy Easter!

Cynthia, this photo is dedicated to you, my dear.

I know you're wondering how I got Erica to willingly sit for a picture...
usually she is harder to capture on film than the Loch Ness Monster.

I threatened to delay the steamy hot dinner you see -- unless everyone played nice and posed. What the heck, look at me all goofy looking because I'm cooking! AND posed weird because I was setting the timer and joining the picture. If I'm willing to be captured on "film" looking like that, she couldn't protest too much.

So when you called to wish us a "Happy Easter" and you could hear pots and pans clanging and the oven timer going off this is what it was: Hickory Smoked Ham; Wild Rice Pilaf, Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes in Garlic, Sherry and Butter; and Pineapple Upside Down Cake.

We were thinking of you, kiddo. Especially during the pre- and post- dinner card games.

Oh, you would have loved it. Jason was such an Evil Monkey during multiple hands of Boom-O that nobody was feeling very nice during Mille Bournes. Julie told us a childhood story about her and her brother conspiring to make their dad "The Biggest Loser" at Rook. We decided to pass the Biggest Loser crown to Jason, who spent most of the road race card game sitting at red lights! Har, har, har!

Think of Bing Crosby's Voice...

"I'm dreaming of a Whiiiiiiiite... Easter, would you just look at all this snow."

Here's the view outside our house this morning. Probably 5-7" of snow and lots of downed limbs (look at our driveway). The power went out in the middle of the night and was back by this morning. I'm going to wait a while before I go push the slush/snow around. It's getting warm enough for the snow to fall out of the trees in great big clumps -- and I'd rather not get bombarded while I shovel!

Was that crocus picture REALLY only four days ago?!

Ah yes, Springtime in New Hampshire, it's full of surprises :o)

Boneless Cat $1.99/lb.

Karen, this post is for you.

However, this will be my last post about anything four legged and furry for a while. Too much cats! But just look at this puddle of varmint...
His hind legs were facing one way and his upper body was facing the other way. He was absolutely asleep and didn't care that I was messing around taking pictures. Look at those suspended paws... he looked hypnotised. I should edit the top photo and put him floating on a background of blue sky and clouds... and maybe a little red cape flapping in the breeze! Ta-da! It's a bird... it's a plane... it's ElastiCat!

First Crocuses and Punk Update

Aren't these lovely? Spring is officially here... the crocuses and daffodils are coming up, and we were able to go for a walk today without wearing jackets.


Punk update: He's doing great and back to his usual playful self. Here's a shot I took while he was having some dinner, and a closeup picture for Dr. Zulueta.