What time is it? What day is it? Did I fall asleep?

So now every MINUTE counts. Must prioritize. Must stop hitting myself over the head with the "Why didn't I get organized earlier?" Must sleep. Am aiming to be in bed by 2am, instead of 4am tonight.

I'm looking pretty haggard and pale, from lack of sleep and lack of being outdoors. I went out for the first time this morning in three days. Did I tell you I was a mole? Had to go to the bank, to get my floats for the three craft shows I'm doing. I asked the teller for some American $2 bills, and realized in my dozy haze that there are no American $2. The teller then asked me for additional ID. Good thing I at least brushed my teeth.

This is what an exhausted and slouchy crafty person looks like. Ebi is at at the window. So far, neither of the cats have shown even the remotest of interest in my work (I was hoping they could take over the business for me one day); even if there are all sorts of little pieces of potential play things on all my tables, they have never disrupted anything - touch wood. Such well-trained cats. Ha.

Did you notice my big mug of coffee above? My best friend.

I've been on a serious fruit kick this summer, namely nectarines and plums, which have been particularly tasty this year. I have yet to bite into a dry, grimey nectarine or plum - isn't that the worst? I don't mind if my fruit is unripe or hard, in fact that's how I prefer them, but a pasty piece of fruit is just bad. Anyway, JF came home with three varieties of plums on Saturday, and more nectarines. Enough to last me until I leave for Vancouver on Thursday morning. This is one that I had never tried, a pluot plum. So pretty, I had to take a pic. Kind of beige-khaki skin with a reddish undertone and then inside, bright coral red. Just gorgeous. A little bland and a bit too ripe, but good texture. My favourites are the dark purple ones (yellow flesh) when they are firm and just a little sour, mmmmm! Doesn't take much to make me happy.

Nothing quite as lovely as Quebec strawberries at their peak. Haven't had many this year since I've been focussed on the fruits with pits, but in my basket of berries a few weeks back I found this, a kitty berry! I took pictures of it, then forgot about it on one of my tables for a few days. Then it was pretty dried up, purple and not so cute anymore. I couldn't even eat it.

I must be tired. I re-read this post and thought it was funny. Ha ha.

Six days and counting... oh, and it's Friday!

I leave for Vancouver in six days. Oy.

My niece Sarah worked for me yesterday and did lots of packaging and assembling. I think she may have nightmares about those purple split ring pliers you see below.

Above are some earrings, onigiri charms and that other box is filled with the little taiko charms you see below.
So much more to do. Every hour counts at this point. Productivity. Efficiency. Multi-tasking. Coffee. Lots of coffee. I think my teeth are turning yellow.

Friday cat blog bit... July 1st was Ebi's 10th birthday. We had a little party for him, which was just an excuse to get together and eat. I love this picture - Ebi looks like a cartoon character; click on it and you'll see what I mean. Just so you know, this is THE ugliest cake I've ever made.

Hmmm, it WAS kind of an excuse to get together and eat, but I do think it was a reason to celebrate - JF and I have had him for almost two years now and cannot imagine not having him in our family. Besides, 10 is a bit of a milestone for a cat, isn't it? When we got him in 1999 as a birthday gift for my mom (the consummate cat and animal lover), she wrote in her journal, "... they gave me a lovely but at times a real pest of a cat. He is adorable and we named him Ebi."

That about sums it up.

Oh man, is it really July 22nd???

Yikes, time has snuck on me again. Dang.

You'd think I would have learned by now - to be better prepared, to spread things out, to pace myself. But no, I now have terribly sore fingers, hands, forearms, shoulders and neck from working throughout my waking hours. Somewhere tho, it must be working for me, if I keep doing it (bit of Dr. Phil wisdom there).

Anyhoo, it is what it is, and I am what I am at this point. I am preparing for three big events where I usually do really well, so all I can do is keep my fingers moving and try to keep my eyes open. I've hired my niece to help me with some of the tedious stuff (who likes putting the charms on those crazy little cell phone lariats?), and of course I don't know where I'd be without my husband, the Dremel king (he's drilling all the holes in my little okedo drum skins).

Here's some stock that's been put together so far. I really couldn't take a picture of my whole workroom since it's very embarrassing. It's actually been good that my niece has been working with me since it forces me to keep one small table clear for her. One smaaaaall table. As you can see my paper cutter is also being used as a surface to put stuff on. You can click on it to see a little better.

My clay table, yes, my clay table. Sigh. You can click on it, although it's rather scary.

I have to thank you all for coming back to read me little blog. I'll write a couple more times before I leave for Vancouver on July 30th.

Hey, something to look forward to - I can sleep on the plane ...