The PUB light's ON! :D

[jbchicoine]

Kinda chilly out here--teens today. Other than that, Good. How many weeks till spring?

[Peerie Maa]

Gee, thanks! I see Nick's been in--I seem to keep missing him lately. Probably turned in for the night by now...
How you doin' Douglas?

Nope, still here, just.
Listening to rain being driven against the glass by 60 mph winds.

What you been up to Ms JB?

[Mrleft8]

Weeks til spring..... Um..... If it's anything like last year...... 28

[jbchicoine]

Nope, still here, just.
Listening to rain being driven against the glass by 60 mph winds.

What you been up to Ms JB?

Not too much...messin' around with paint some..
How are you? Keeping busy?

[seanz]

I'll have what Sean'z having! (that's safe, right?)

Speight's is a local (Otago originally) beer......and MLT is for fans of The Princess Bride.

[jbchicoine]

Weeks til spring..... Um..... If it's anything like last year...... 28

Ha! will there be a tropical island in your near future? like sometime this winter?

[jbchicoine]

and MLT is for fans of The Princess Bride.

Ha! I knew that sounded familiar--Miracle Max's favorite!

[seanz]

Certainly Breezheet! Mutton, lettuce, and tomato on whole wheat (lightly toasted) with mayonnaise. And a Speight's Lager..... Yours, Meez Sheecone, will be served in a chilled heavy glass mug, while Seanz' will be served @ 50f in the bottle.

Botheration, I had to look that up....closer to 40f, thanks. It's a nice warm Summer's day here........

[Mrleft8]

Ha! will there be a tropical island in your near future? like sometime this winter?

Yes. In my dreams, and on the pages of your novel.
I'm broke, broken down, and blind. Maybe next year if I'm more ambulatory, and wealthy.
That reminds me.... I gotta play lotto this week....

[Mrleft8]

40f?...... Is it just Brits, Mics, and Ozzies that like their beer warm?

[Peerie Maa]

Not too much...messin' around with paint some..
How are you? Keeping busy?

Yep, I've just looked at your blog.

I'm up to the same old at work, but one or two other things tat may interest you.

I have got involved on the fringes of a project being run by a local group of artist designers to put together a large cabinet of curiosities to go in the pub on Piel Island. It is to contain anything out of the ordinary from mermaids purses through vintage equipment and tools from the shipyard to a stuffed gannet.
For something in your line, we needed a picture to disguise the serving hatch, so I copied one of Heath-Robinsons book illustrations, from Arabian Nights I think.

[Peerie Maa]

40f?...... Is it just Brits, Mics, and Ozzies that like their beer warm?

Not warm, we just don't like the cold shock shattering our molars. Anyway, if it is too cold it numbs the taste buds, which is probably how you yanks can manage to drink your beers.

[jbchicoine]

Yep, I've just looked at your blog.

Wish I could figure out how to post a picture of my Marlena (mine, not Pascal Gentil's) for Lefty...(I'm not using the right browser or something...

I'm up to the same old at work, but one or two other things tat may interest you.I have got involved on the fringes of a project being run by a local group of artist designers to put together a large cabinet of curiosities to go in the pub on Piel Island. It is to contain anything out of the ordinary from mermaids purses through vintage equipment and tools from the shipyard to a stuffed gannet.
For something in your line, we needed a picture to disguise the serving hatch, so I copied one of Heath-Robinsons book illustrations, from Arabian Nights I think.

That sounds REALLY cool...but what's a serving Hatch?

[jbchicoine]

It's a nice warm Summer's day here........

...Ooooo...tell me more...

[jbchicoine]

I did It--can't make her smaller...For you Doug--Marlena from the tropics...Be NICE to her!

[Peerie Maa]

Wish I could figure out how to post a picture of my Marlena (mine, not Pascal Gentil's) for Lefty...(I'm not using the right browser or something...



That sounds REALLY cool...but what's a serving Hatch?

A hatch in the wall between the kitchen and dining room. We have swapped the dining and sitting room round, so no longer need the hatch.

Cross post. You clever JB you

[jbchicoine]

I'm gonna take mine down--she's too big!

[Peerie Maa]

I'm gonna take mine down--she's too big!

Sounds like a thread of Bernadette's, one that Bigfella messed up on.

[jbchicoine]

Doh! I cant' get it to delete! You all are stuck with twins...

[Mrleft8]

Twins is good!
That's really very nice Bridget!
I won't comment on the size comments because I'm being nice to her....

[jbchicoine]

Twins is good!
That's really very nice Bridget!
I won't comment on the size comments because I'm being nice to her....

You better be, 'cause I know a shipwright who has a vested interest in her...

[Peerie Maa]

Night night children. Time for bed said Zebedee.

[Chip-skiff]

Wonderful painting, JB. Both hair and skin tones are damn difficult in watercolour, and you've done beautifully with both.

Thanks for posting it.

[jbchicoine]

Night night children. Time for bed said Zebedee.

Night Nick--Glad I got to catch up with you a bit!

[jbchicoine]

Wonderful painting, JB. Both hair and skin tones are damn difficult in watercolour, and you've done beautifully with both.

Thanks for posting it.

Aw, thanks! I actually painted her from another artist's oil? painting. I'd love to have had a real live model, or at least a photo of her...she's just as I image her...makes her seem even more real (and you know how real characters can seem in the mind of the creator, lol).

[Chip-skiff]

My mother painted portraits and tended to work mostly from photos. She'd have the subject sit for an hour or so, early on, and then once or twice in the final stages, to get the expression right.

You seem to have the technical part very well in hand, and also the ability to give life to a subject— that's a rare talent.

[jbchicoine]

My mother painted portraits and tended to work mostly from photos. She'd have the subject sit for an hour or so, early on, and then once or twice in the final stages, to get the expression right.

You seem to have the technical part very well in hand, and also the ability to give life to a subject— that's a rare talent.

I wish I were better at paint live models, I've done it, but it's too much pressure to get it right in a short window of time. So I usually have my subject sit for a photo session. I like working alone in my cloistered studio.

[Mrleft8]

Girl spent too much time penned up in a chicken coop in Nebraska..... Needs to get some sun on those cheeks!

[Mrleft8]

Wind is howling, the temps down to 12f, and not sposed to bottom out until it gets around 4-5f with the wind chill factor at -15f.....
Glad I'm not working night shift at the fillin' station tonight.....

[Chip-skiff]

Wind is howling, the temps down to 12f, and not sposed to bottom out until it gets around 4-5f with the wind chill factor at -15f..

Lefty, you rotten skunk.

You done stole our weather.

[Mrleft8]

I would gladly return it with interest paid.....
I don't imagine taking the heavy comforter off the bed until July again this year..... Unless I can get Carter to move us someplace where it's actually weather fit for human beings.... Who the hell was the freakin' genius that decided a place where it never stops raining unless it's freezing cold is a good place to live?..... Freakin' idiots!
I like the 15 or so degrees either side of the equator....

[jbchicoine]

Overnight Chance Snow Lo 18 °F

Wednesday Chance Snow Hi 33 °F

Wednesday Night Mostly Cloudy Lo 23 °F

Thursday Partly Sunny Hi 35 °F

Thursday Night Mostly Cloudy Lo 28 °F

This is my forecast...with that, Goodnight all!

[Chip-skiff]

JB—

To resize an image file (assuming it's in a photo application such as I-Photo or PhotoShop) select it and then choose export (i.e. to the desktop). You should get some sort of dialog box that lets you choose the size (try about 750 pixels wide by whatever). Then you need to post the reduced-size image to a web-hosting site, such as Picasa, Flick'r, etc. from whence you can snag it for the Forum. If it's not the right size, go back and get it right on the second try.

I'd resize it for you, but it's too big for my screen and I can't select the whole thing.

Night.

[Geno]

Crap - the temps are heading for the low 20's here. Just rotten.

A shot of whiskey and a red stripe are in order.

Holla to all that I have ignored. I am never able to do anything right - I apologize.

[Farfalla]

Try this and see if you're happy with it.
No need to resize in Photoshop or those.
Just upload to Flickr, left click on pic, when it comes up in a black screen click on all sizes option in top right corner and then pick your size when it opens up.
Then click on chosen image and drag across into your post. No need to fuss with all the forum pic upload stuff. It's really simple jus copying across like from one page to another.

Beautiful painting, really!!

Sophie There isn't a smiley for green with envy at your talent!

[Mrleft8]

Morning Geno! Morning Sophia! Morning Chipperoo, JB, The restayoo mob!
It's a bit nippley here this morning. Good thing I have on my polar fleece briefs. (Tiger stripe)....
Funny how fast coffee goes cold in weather like this.
Today I get to go to a new doctor.... An opthamologist, who will look at my eyes, and hopefully say "No problem! We can slip in there and fix that in a few seconds, make an appt. for next week!"..... Keep your fingers crossed.
Meanwhile....
We have hot clam chowder, with hot buttered ciabata rolls.
Grilled rib eye steaks with a baked potato slathered with butter and sour cream., and steaming baby green beans with slivered almonds.
Hot roast pork sandwich with a black currant sauce, roasted sweet red peppers, and grilled onions and tomatoes. served with hand cut french fries and a big dill pickle.
Grilled Swordfish steaks, with grilled sweet corn on the cob, and a large baby field greens salad vinaigrette.
Special on tap: Red Stripe (Thanks for the assist there Geno! I was wondering what to put on special today!)

[Canoez]

Got a nice jar of onion/balsamic marmalade for Christmas - goes really, really well with some thinly sliced roast beef, tomato, lettuce and a slice of cheddar... Need to try it on rye rather than whole wheat, tho.

[Mrleft8]

Have you tried to make rye bread yet Noey?
I did once.... It came out like a brick.

[Canoez]

Not yet. Don't have the flour. I'll let you know if I'm eating it or using it for a doorstop.

[Chip-skiff]

I've got some rye flour you can have. It's only about three years old.

[Mrleft8]

I've got some rye flour you can have. It's only about three years old.

Has it got self propelled crunchies in it?....
Just got back from the opthamologist.... Good thing I asked Carter to drive me, because the drops they put in my eyes has made me even blinder than I was.
The good news is that he thinks he can fix my eyes. The bad news is we won't know if they're really fixed until the day after the operation.... But hopefully 2 weeks from now I'll be able to see out of at least one eye!
Now we need to figure out what's causing all this trouble to begin with....

[Glen Longino]

Good news about Bobby T!
He ain't dead yet and will be home in a day or two from the horsepistol.
I'll have a jar of Herradura and a Lone Star for myself and another for Bobby T.
Ooops...I reckon I'll have to drink Bobby's too!
Here's to Bobby Of Tulsa!

[Hwyl]

Gllen give my regards to Bobby of Tulsa. I see that as good news about your eyes Leftster

[Chip-skiff]

I'll drink to that (but not with tequila and beer.)

How about a glass of Gigondas, which is the kissing cousin of Vacqueyras.

Good to hear the Bobster's fixit worked out. As my ancient Auntie Fern used to say, better the Doc Shop than the Crowbar Hotel.

Leftus Magnus— Are you getting a lens replacement for a cataract? Mine worked a treat, as they say. I now have the vision (in my right orb) of twelve eagles or sixteen hawks.

[Mrleft8]

Very good news! Thank you Glen! (I don't care what Bobby says about you when yer not here..... Yer OK...)
Yanno know what?! I'm gonna dispense with the formalities, and just put the bottle in front a you.... Better'n a frontal lobotomy...

[Mrleft8]

I have absolutely no idea what they're gonna do to my eye..... Freeze it and re-grind it with a belt sander maybe?
I "see" it as good news too.....
I was a little shocked that they could do it so soon.... But I figure if he's got an opening that soon, he must not be very good.... I try to avoid people who actually know what they're doing..... I learned that from one of our fellow forumites who lives fairly close by here....

[Mrleft8]

A nice bowl of Gigantordodos for Chippewa...... Kissing cousin of vacuum air hose?

[Mrleft8]

[Mrleft8]

[Hwyl]

I was thinking more "In your eyes"