Blue Nails, Cake Pops and a Smartphone

People are asking, "Who are you, and what have you done with Andrea?"

I haven't posted personal milestones in quite some time, other than the trip to Greece in April, for day-to-day life's been pretty much the same.

But recently, something miraculous has happened- 'tis the season, after all:  I'm finally feeling more like the way I felt in my 30's.  Not in appearance, sadly; and not in relationships, thankfully; but my get-up-and-go has returned, and the gloom and depression over negative events has finally passed.

THANK GOODNESS!  Ahhh.  I've also finished my work with gourds, at least for the time being.  I've had painful painting sessions because when I ordered my last batch of 30 or 50 ornament-size, I'd forgotten that gourds are sized and sold by the diameter and I'd meant to order 4-6" tall; oh, my aching hands.

I was determined to either paint or throw away whatever remained by Christmas, for I'd felt mentally stiffled from attempting anything new.  Gourds, gourds, gourds for almost 25 years; but they're all but gone now, phew.  I did keep a few unpainted in case the urge strikes.  Here are some of this year's holiday batch:

Santa on Vacation, Margarita in hand, shorts, flip-flops and a sack full of snorkeling gear.  Let's not leave out Mrs. Claus (above) in her turn-of-the-(last)-century bathing suit.  I've painted 'traditional' Santas for so long, I figured it was time to do something different.

 

My first QR scan

So why did I get a Smartphone?  I'm still not sure, but I figured it was probably time; and it turned out my timing was perfect.  Again, no one could believe.

"What kind of phone did you get?"

"I don't know - it's 5G and orange."  It's a Motorola Razr 2024 that I got months ago at a ridiculous sale price through Consumer Cellular.  My decision was based primarily on shape because, same as with the gourds, it's painful to open my fingers wide enough to hold those large phones, and this flip phone has an external screen so I keep it halved.  Took me 4 days to learn the basics.

Here're my Three Wise Men or Three Kings, which I've wanted to paint for myself for more than 20 years.  But I need space for my stuff in storage, so after taking some photos I packed them up and sent them to Miguel, who has a collection.

The plan is to fly east then drive everything back in the smallest size U-Haul truck.  It's only a 5'x5' unit but it's pretty packed and I live in a 27' RV, which doesn't have much in the way of storage.

There won't be time to properly sort through things before heading back, for I'm a pokey driver; weather might be iffy; and I must be back by the first of May.

I usually can't drive more than 4 or 5 hours, so I figured every afternoon when I check into a motel, I'll grab several boxes and drop off 'no longer care abouts' at Goodwills along the way, ala the Pioneers.  That'll be entertaining, and any time I'm tempted to go Ugh, I'll remind myself,

"I only have to do this ONCE,"  and hopefully by the time I'm back, everything saved will fit nicely.

The first week in October I said goodbye to my little teardrop after a 5-month transaction which tested my patience.  I never spent a single night inside. 

When I bought the teardrop in 2020 it was pretty bare of equipment and storage; but I wanted it that way to pick up my stuff, plus BC and I could sleep in it along the way.  Covid halted that, so it became my Corona-project for 2 years, here are the final results.  However,  after BC died I didn't have the heart to travel in it, and it became nothing more than a constant battle with rust.

The buyer, from Tennessee, said she wanted a bed on wheels, which is precisely what this is; but within a month she put it up for sale and already sold it to a woman in New Mexico.  I guess it wasn't what she wanted after all, and it'll hold up better in that climate.

Hobbit House, artist Andrea Jansen

Anyway, it's out of my hair and I got what I paid for it and my additions plus a profit for my artwork, I can't complain.

So think of me if 'It' you see!

Now that I've unshackled myself from gourds, I'm free to start quilting again.  I used to make them using traditional patterns, but after all those years painting different stuff, I'd like to see if I can somehow combine the two.  I like a challenge.

I may regret those words.

I decided to try blue nail polish in honor of Fashion, and days later whipped up a batch of Pumpkin Spice Cake Balls for our Thanksgiving pot-luck.  I'd never heard of them but after watching competitions on Holiday Wars, the online recipe looked like child's play: crumble a cooked cake; mix in frosting to bind; roll into balls; coat with the mysterious Almond Bark.  I cut holes in styrofoam to hold the pops to dry, as suggested; but got coating all over the place and didn't notice I was burning what was left on the stove.

It was grueling. I began at 11am, using the clubhouse kitchen, and didn't finish until 7pm.  Someone said Starbucks sells them, and all I can say is whatever they're charging, they're worth every penny!  I swore I'd never do that again.

1

The experience may have been daunting, but everybody seemed to enjoy them so I made some more for last week's holiday get-together.  THIS time instead of 17 pops I produced about 30, and used a double-boiler for the Almond Bark, BIG difference.  I deserved a reward.

Packaged cake pops

A local jewelry store was closing, up to 80% discounts, so I took a peek without Adult Supervision.  I've long desired a nice Opal ring, my birthstone, to replace a childhood favorite.  I also wanted a decorative band for my right hand, for personal significance I won't go in to here.  I joked I'd get "my next-Ex" to spring for fancy jewelry, but when I received the ad in my mailbox I considered,

"Why shouldn't I buy something myself?!"

Our Lady of Lourdes

I perused the display cases and selected a Fire Opal with tiny diamond accents on the sides.  "I'm not buying another RV or major appliance; I no longer have pet expenses; my budget's under control; and how often does a jewelry store go out of business in your backyard?"  Seemed like manna from heaven to me.

I don't know why I felt the need to justify this purchase for I answer to no one.  I liberated myself so well that when I went back for a watch battery, I walked out with a small two-toned band for my right hand, prettier than I'd imagined.  As I said to Rhonda,

"Between the two, after discounts, it came to about $250 a husband, and that doesn't sound so bad."  Ho Ho Ho !