2025: Day 71....."I live on an Icy Field"

I like to think I live on a lake.

But in the winter I live on an 

ICY FIELD. 

Right now we are in transition.

Every day is different.

One day there is a thin skim of ice and

the next day it's patchy and almost gone.

Then ice again.

Come on SPRING & SUMMER.

2025: Day 70....."Corn Plant Shows off a root"

It's been months!

So many months I've lost track.

Over 6 months for sure.

But finally....a root!

It's a cutting from a corn plant that reached the ceiling.

We had to cut it or take out an office 

ceiling tile and let it grow in the rafters.

But who wants that.

This is the second try with a 

cutting from this plant.

The first one failed or 

I guess I lost

patience too soon.

This cutting had many beautiful leaves.

It was hard to cut those leaves away 

but I heard you had to but I did it in stages.

I also started it in water then later

changed to wet perlite. 

(the white stuff clinging to it in the photo)

I think cutting the leaves WAY back

and the perlite did the trick.

The stalk looks awful.

But it's alive and

proving it.

And another root looks like it's bubbling up. 

Stay tuned.

This will hopefully be a great success.

I'm patient this time.

I'm also mesmerized and 

fascinated by what plants can do.

2025: Days 67-69: " Old Redford Alley"

I've been getting Matthew McConaughey's 

Lyrics of Livin' every Friday.

You can read it or listen.

I listen because I love the sound of his voice.

Here's a quote from this week.

I've been recording 'my music of life' since Jan. 1.

I skipped a few days here and there but

I'm carrying on so I can remember it later.

Here's some tidbits from this weekend.

Had some drinks with friends and family on Sat.

Sunday we took a mini road trip to visit an 

ART ALLEY.

Apparently there are currently 9 Art Alleys

as part of the Detroit's 

BLIGHT to BEAUTY.

I want to visit them all.

First one we visited is:

OLD REDFORD ALLEY

It's in the process of becoming 

all it can be.

The surrounding area has plenty of blight 

but no doubt scheduled on some list

somewhere to be demolished.

  

But we did find an alley of art & John

who gave us a tour and his wife's

MOTOR CITY JAVA HOUSE.

Beautiful. Colorful. Friendly.

Yummy coffee.

One of the big outdoor alley murals.

Of course we took a picture of the car!

Another beautiful mural and a water leak waiting on the city.

The ceiling fell in so now it's an 

outdoor venue space with a sky view.

Plants with Potential I'd say about this.

I'll bet it will look beautiful in the summer.

I'd say our first Art Alley visit was a success for us and

I look forward to a re-visit and see all that

Motor City Blight Busters 

create in the world.

 

2025: Day 66....."Weird Plants & Pots"

 I like weird plants and weird pots.

So if I can match weird with weird

in the house plant world, I like that.

Stacey found this frog at JoAnn's 

going-out-of-business sale and 

knew I'd like it. 

I put a bunch of 

RATTAIL CASSULA plants in it.

(Also known as Watch Chain,

Lizards Tail, Zipper Plant.)

Pretty weird, huh.

Looks like he's enjoying a big lunch.

Susie bought me this guy because

she knew my style also.

I've taken pieces of his 'hair' and prop them

in this box because I like making

more weirdness.

And I have this little baby weirdo growing to

take to a plant swap in spring because I 

know other plant people like weird too. 

It's always fun to start small and get to 

know a plant so I always take a 

Box of Babies to share.

2025: Day 65....."Jumbo Rollers & Jumbo Love"

One of my all time favorite photos

of my great little model Haley.

She was and still is.... always willing to indulge me. 

She is a natural beauty.... even now as

a big grownup girl.

Jumbo love.

 

2025: Day 64....."Graduation Gift Card Box for Class of 2025"

Grad Gift Card Box

Circa 2025

Here's something interesting.

I made a blog post in 2009  (here's a link if 

you want to see it) and this is how

many folks have looked at it:

All I can say is that 

I'm so grateful for ALL

 that have ordered one! 

But happy that not

everyone did because I don't think

our fingers would have survived

all the foamcore cutting. 

We'd be done in.

Hopefully you enjoyed looking

at our ideas and had fun 

creating one on your own.

But for those that don't want to

do the work themselves....then....

call or email us.

Our fingers are still working!

2025: Day 63....."Are you ready boots? Start walkin' "

'I'll walk right in. Set right down.

Daddy, let your mind roll on."

 Yeah....Like Nancy Sinatra said....

"And that's just what they'll do."

 

Mammogram Part 1,005.

Or so it seems.

Check out those babies.

Version 2025.

TCB.

Because that stuff's important.

Man....I wish I had that ring though.

2025: Day 62....."It's not an optical illusion"

Yes. It really is this oddly crooked.

It's a building in Corktown, MI.

It's also shaped like a triangle.

Here's the back of the building.

We've decided to always check the back.

It can be more interesting than the front.

What a surprise.

Apparently there was once a building

next door that they tore down.

But still. 

Why this shape?

I guess the answer is that this is 

all the space they had so they went with that.

Oddly creative, interesting and weird.

Go on a treasure hunt and see it for yourself.

Hashtag Detroit. Hashtag Corktown.

 

2025: Day 61....."polymer clay ooak doll collage named Tik Tok"

 I made this with person with 

Cernit polymer clay.

It's in a vintage 7" cigar box

with hanging wires on the back.

He evolved out of the clay.

 

Just popped out like he was

inside the clay and wanted out.

The other items showed up too.

Just in time.

2025: Day 60.... "A Pile of Guitars"

 

Look at this!

You have to look deep into this picture

to see what the heck is going on.

Can you tell what's even there?

It's a pile of GUITAR CENTERPIECES.

Red ones and silvery fire ones on 

mylar poufed decorative bases with

variegated glittered stars.

I love these and think they make

smashing centerpieces for a 

Rock Star Party

 or

    any music themed party.

I'm proud to ship these out because

I'm sure they are going to make

someone feel very happy & special 

and 

THAT'S

THE 

GOAL.

2025: Day 59....."No Ice is Safe Ice"

 This is February 2025 out MY window.

 Unsafe ice.

Someone on our lake posted 

this picture here below.

No. It's not safe. 

It has a crack. See it on the left.

It has moving water underneath 

that 13"...AND......someone else

noticed a key point.

Lakes are beautiful and dangerous both.

They need to be respected as such.

You can't drown ON ice.

But you sure can drown UNDER it.

2025: Day 58....."Stag Horn Fern Styles"

 If I lived in Florida....

I'd grow Stag Horn Ferns in every tree.

Just like this picture I took in Florida on a visit. 

A bouquet in a tree.

All living and growing.

These are my stag horn ferns here in Michigan.

One of them is growing in a tree.

A dead tree.

My version of the Florida version above.

Not as glorious as the Florida look.

Note the spray bottle to keep up

the humidity.

There is also a humidifier underneath it.

Maybe in the summer it will perk up.

The other one is in a pot & looking better.

It's in a southeast window.

It also has a spray bottle nearby.

Making an outdoor plant into an

indoor houseplant is a glorious challenge.

I'll never achieve this look below... of the

fern in a botanical garden....

nor would I want to.

It looks like an alien creature ready

to dissolve me in it's innards.

I can almost see a face in there.

2025: Day 57…..” Bonsai Tea Bags”

 

Sunday Funday was partially in the 

MATTHEI BOTANICAL GARDENS

in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I was especially intrigued by this

Bonsai Tree and it's tea bag.

I had to learn more.

Here's a link to learn more if you're interested.

https://www.portlandbonsai.org/scotts-branch-tips/tag/tea+bags

I'll never stop being surprised 

to know what

I don't know.

2025: Day 56....."It's Fun to be One"

Stacey made some stuff.

Stacey made pennants.

Stacey made a sign for the entrance.

     Stacey made a sign for the high chair. 

Then she lost control of herself and

bought a pile of 1 year old specific

toys Mabel can't live without and

because it's fun to be a Grandma also.

That's how she rolls.

2025: Day 55....."Tux vs. Amp"

Foamcore amp boxes were and still are one of the 

more popular things we make but

these Tuxedo Centerpieces are closing in.

They seem to work with many different

sophisticated looks and not just

a Black Tie specific party.

More like a celebration outfit for

a classy birthday or wedding or a

high end corporate event or a Grand Ball.

Whatever the reason or season, 

we like doing them both.

And always.....always.....foamcore guitars.

Rinse and Repeat.