Sunday, August 23, 2009 Maplewood Cemetery

We visited beautiful Maplewood Cemetery in nearby Gordonsville Virginia this weekend.

We visited this beautiful and peaceful place several times while we were dating.
This bench is where I proposed to my dear wife (and she accepted!).

Sunday, August 9, 2009 Rey...a drop of golden sun

It was late and I was corpsing (applying construction adhesive and stain) the deer with bat wings project, when there was a whisper. In an almost imperceptible, sandy voice she said "They call me Rey and I have come to shine darkness across the land." Her talons clicked on the concrete as she hopped to the floor and she was clear of the garage door with just two beats of her wings.
Caroline came running with the camera just in time to get a few shots before Rey disappeared into the night sky.

Monday, July 20, 2009 Up, Up and Awards

Let me open with an apology to say that the delay in posting these awards is no reflection of my appreciation for receiving them.

First I received the THE GOURDQUEENS SCREAM AWARD from the inimitable Crow (Michelle) at the Studio at Crow Haven Farm. I have always loved her stuff so give her a visit.



Those of you who know the Gourdqueen know that when she sees something incredible or something that excites her, she shows her enthusiasm by typing "SCREAM". This award is to be shared with anyone whose blog you just love. Whether it's their art, their interests, the things they share, you just simply love to visit their blog!


This is what you do:
1. Accept the award then post it on your blog with the name and link of the person's blog who shared this award with you.
2. Explain the award.
3. Then share the award with with blogs that make you SCREAM! Please tell what makes their blog so special to you. Be sure to let them know they have received the award.

Also you can share this award again if you run across more bloggers that make you SCREAM!
2 out of 3 ain't a bad start, is it?


Next I was given the UBER AWARD from Jeanne over at Candy Corn Chronicles. I enjoy Jeanne's blog for her art, variety and beautiful pix.
Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who:

~ inspires you
~ makes you smile and laugh
~ or maybe gives amazing information
~ a great read
~ has an amazing design
~ and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!


The rules of this award are:
* Put the logo on your blog or post.
* Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!
* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.
* Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

Thanks to both Crow and Jeanne!! I am a bad blogger for skipping the nominations but I have a winged deer corpse to work on.

Thursday, July 2, 2009 Old House at Kents Store

This beautiful old house is located at Kents Store Virginia. We wanted to share them with you but only had the cell for pictures.

There is a hole at the base of this old tree. A dark something darted into it as we approached. It appeared to be the size of a small child.

We could hear a faint wail if we pressed our ear right up to the opening and stayed very still.

Saturday, June 27, 2009 Deer Corpse In Progress

We FINALLY have some progress to report on our deer corpse.
Two yards of bathing suit liner proved to be a good wing membrane, and the corpsing of the head and body have begun. Much left to do.

Thursday, June 4, 2009 Monster Kiddie Car

This thing is just too much and I had to post it. From a friend who spotted it on boingboing.

Sunday, May 17, 2009 Deer Wing Test

We decided that the deer corpse needed wings. After some consideration we settled on bat wings, and even found a bat wing calculator (you gotta love the internet) from the good people at Zombietronix.
PVC seemed logical and aluminum worked well for the hinge joints. Though it won't be animated we did want to be able to change wing position to fit her mood. As pictured the elbow and finger joints can be individually actuated. Bruin (Boo) thought he could bring some scale to the photo - he's 70 pounds. He even busted out his psychological thriller expression to add depth.

There is much finish work to be done to turn the PVC to bone and we are still debating the best material to use for the membrane.

Sunday, May 3, 2009 A Bone and his Dog

This little ditty from the Post (full article here) was too good to pass up. Professor Gordon S. "Grover" Krantz with his beloved Irish Wolfhound Clyde.


Krantz was a teacher of osteology at Washington State University and dreamed of donating his bones to the Smithsonian. Indeed, other corpses must view him with envy. First his decomposition enthralls the faculty at the Tennessee Body Farm, and now school kids snicker at his bones.

Saturday, April 25, 2009 More Cool Bones

Another gift from a friend - this monster is large enough to encompass your head. It is the pelvis from a cow. It is heavy and the form, texture and scale is difficult to convey with little pictures.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Deer In Progress

The skeletal deer transforms at a snail's pace. Cleaning every bit of tissue from the spine proved time consuming, but the stench of death no longer clings to the bones.
At this stage the spine is reassembled and structurally sound and the PVC fittings to attach arms and legs are in place. The skull is sporting new blank eyes and fangs - all ready for detailing.

He is whispering in my ear that he wants wings. More to come.