Donkey Tattoo Sketch

Another first for me! I am working on a tattoo commission. This is just the sketch and I can't wait to spend some time outlining it with ink and adding color and shading. This was all done digitally on my bamboo tablet, like everything else. I am really happy to be doing this although the idea of my artwork being a permanent tattoo is kind of scary but exciting!

- Rachele

We Are Large, People. Blog Makeover

Rebecca, from we are large, people., is an adorable and talented personal stylist from Seattle. She asked me for some help with HTML on her blog and so my first blog makeover was born! Stop by and say hello to Rebecca and take a peek at her new blog look. She is on vacation, but hopefully will be back soon!

P.S. I also guest blogged at Paper Sparrow and shared a yummy fall vegetarian recipe and cute kitty illustration to go with it.

- Rachele

Music Monday: Shannon and the Clams

I've been having a real appreciation for retro-sounding bands like The Like and The Pipettes. If you like them, you will also enjoy Shannon and the Clams. Their rockabilly vibe meets Patsy Cline has drawn me in!

- Rachele

10 Things I Love Sunday #43

1. Piles of Polaroids.

2. Pretty illustrations and mixed media.

3. I need this dress made in my size please!

4. Sweet buddies.

5. Until next year!

6. Mushroom terrariums.

7. Floral prints and this lovely lady.

8. Can you tell I am over summer?

9. I dreamt of having a vespa once.

10. Sean Young's Polaroids from Blade Runner.

- Rachele

52 Weeks of Polaroid: Week 4

I cut my hairs today! I didn't want to go all the way short but needed something more manageable and flattering. It is an asymmetrical bob with asymmetrical bangs - a little more sassy for this sassy girl. I was inspired by these haircuts and you can see more of mine on my Tumblr.

- Rachele

Blogiversary!

Today is The Nearsighted Owl's one year birthday! I started this blog to have a place to share and express my creativity. I am so happy that I have gained some friends along the way too! I planned on doing something a little more exciting for my blogiversary but the last couple days have been hectic. You can read about what I have been up to on my Fat Acceptance blog. Let's just say I feel a little like Maude and have turned into an activist of sorts. But you can check it out if you are interested. Have a good weekend owlets!

- Rachele

Camping 2011: Part 2

I'm back with some more photos from our camping trip! The beach was warm and busy and a little unusual for the Oregon Coast.

The family played a few games of dodgeball. Yes, we have organized games, raffles and a potluck. I have a big family! This little puppy waited patiently on the sidelines.

We enjoyed laying in the sand, eating candy and getting some sun.

I got only a little burnt but nothing too bad. Please excuse my messy hair, this is what happens without the blow dryer and straight iron.

My sunglasses are not prescription glasses but I like wearing them on the beach. As long as I don't wear them too long or I will get dizzy!

We came back to the beach for a fire and there was this log that people have been building fires in. Because it is in the knot, it didn't burn the actual log up. It was like a little oven and was super warm on a chilly night.

And then possibly my favorite part of the trip - cheese factory!

Mmmm...look at those blocks of cheese. I was apparently staring down at it with a crazy look on my face or something because the worker waved up at me.

And where the cheese is made.

Where cheese comes from.

Then we went to a French cheese company with a petting zoo. We also did some cheese tasting and wine tasting.

We fed them too. The mister wasn't paying attention for a second and this guy snatched up his food bag!

LOL! I love this photo! They were crazy for food and to be petted.

It was a great vacation and I had some well-deserved time away from work, computers and phones.

I came back refreshed but probably slept 20 hours in my own bed!

Part 1 / Film Part 1 / Film Part 2

- Rachele

Camping 2011: Part 1

tunic : target

shorts : thrifted

flipflops : old navy

Can you believe we got all this stuff to fit in our little hatchback car? We have a tent, canopy, table, stove, coolers, sleeping bags, air mattress, lamp, chairs and more! My family is always impressed after we set it all up.

I should mention that my family camps every year, since 1980, for our reunion. I remember going when I was little and then we stopped camping and just went for the day. But when my grandma passed away, we promised her that we would camp and spend time with each other. Now the mister and I camp each year.

Here is the mister setting up our tent. We have become pretty good campers and want to camp on our own too.

We camped at the coast and were surprised to see that the ground was sand!

We had a beautiful view of the mountains and a five minute walk to the beach.

More of our little "house." I love cooking up yummy meals and enticing people to come over and eat with us at our campsite :)

The camping trip also doubles as our anniversary trip. I love that boy!

This is me on the last day, after no showering and a little bit ready to go home! But still enjoying it and drinking my coffee.

I will miss sitting by the fire each night. I took these photos by using a long exposure and capturing the sparks as light trails. We snuggled up under the afghan and warmed up and waited.

There was supposed to be a meteor shower that night so I was practicing using the long exposure. We ended up only seeing a couple shooting stars so I didn't take any pictures of it.

Part 2 coming soon, you can also see my film photos here and here.

- Rachele

How We Got Our Cats

You can call me cat lady! I love that the term cat lady is not restricted to lonely old ladies in big houses with 50 cats anymore. It has become a term of endearment that I am proud to label myself with. The mister and I have three indoor-only cats in our tiny little house. We are happy and cozy and love our cat babies like they were our children. They each have their own unique personalities and place in our family. We got our first cat Sandy on the way home from our honeymoon. We were at the coast and named her appropriately. We found her at a pet shop and fell in love instantly. I remember her crawling up my chest and sitting on my shoulder. We were so excited to start our new life together in our home and a cat was a perfect addition. The mister grew up with cats and I grew up with dogs. But I always wanted a cat!

Sandy is a tortoise shell with big round eyes and a taste for string cheese. She is also not the most graceful cat. The expression that cats always land on their feet does not apply to her. But she definitely has 9 lives! We used to live in a second story apartment with a balcony. When the weather was nicer we thought it was a great idea to let the cat out there. She enjoyed the fresh air and a view of the birds and neighbors. One day, we heard scratching and meowing and peeked out the window to see what she was doing. Low and behold, there was Sandy, hanging to dear life on the outside of the apartment! She must have been trying to jump from the balcony to the window. But the window wasn't open and there wasn't a ledge to jump on. She had her claws stuck into the siding and was using her back legs to hang on. I have never seen the mister act so fast! He jumped out to the balcony and grabbed her just as she was about to fall. She was saved! And balcony time was immediately eliminated.

We had Sandy for a year or so and decided it was time to add a second. She needed a buddy and we thought each person should have a cat. This time, I answered an ad and chose from a colorful litter of orange tabbies, siamese, white and black kittens. I was drawn to a very tiny black cat with blue eyes and lots of energy. She was adorable! We named her Wednesday Addams since it was around Halloween and she reminded us of the little girl in The Addams Family. The first couple days were a little scary. Sandy was not too happy about her new sister. But they got used to each other and now they chase each other and play. 

Our plan was not to get another cat but fate had another plan for us. It was my birthday and I was having a Marie Antoinette themed party. We share the same birthday and I had just seen the Sophia Coppola movie and was immediately inspired. We noticed a little white fluff ball on our front porch. I thought it was a bunny at first. Until she jumped into my arms and I realized it was a sweet little kitty. She was skinny and hungry and had crusty eyes. The mister had noticed her a couple days before so we realized that she had been out there in the cold for some time, living in our bushes. We took her in and fed her and waited for someone to report a himalayan kitten missing. She was probably around 3 months old. We started noticing that she had issues with eating and closing her mouth. The vet told us she had a misaligned jaw and that somebody probably abandoned her after discovering her birth defect. She was so sweet and we were attached! So we spent $500 to have her teeth fixed. Luckily, she didn't need jaw surgery and had some teeth removed and filed down to help her close her mouth. We immediately could tell the difference. Soon she could eat and meow. She really makes the funniest sounds I have heard from a cat. She sounds more like a pigeon! But since she was fancy and was my birthday present, we named her Marie Antoinette.

I have always had pets and can't imagine my life without them. They can be costly at times and there is some work involved. Marie requires daily grooming and eyedrops. And forget about having a pair of black pants! They are just fur magnets. But the rewards far outweigh all that. They sleep with us at night and cuddle on the couch during movies. They follow us around the house and miss us when we are gone. They can be entertaining and make great photo models. We have always been spontaneous when bringing cats home but I would recommend planing more than we did if you are unsure about it. You should consider the commitment, money and work that is involved. Pets, even hamsters and hermit crabs (yes, we have had these too), will enrich your life and are worth it! You can read more about our cat's and their personalities here.

- Rachele