The Panda, The Sloth and The Blobfish...

 

Somehow the topic of spirit animals found its way into a conversation a couple of days ago, and as a result, I set aside the blog post that I was going to put up this week so that I could share this one with you. Now – just in case you are not familiar -- according to one source, a spirit animal may be “… a teacher or messenger that comes in the form of an animal and has a personal relationship with an individual”.  Sort of nice, right?  Right now, as I type in the predawn hours, I can hear my favorite owl hooting off and on from some far away perch. I love that sound. I find it comforting somehow.

Anyway – finding it somewhat amusing that the person I was talking to said that her spirit animal was the sea turtle, it was with the best intentions really that I started to research what mine might be.  Now in her case almost every quiz she took online said that the sea turtle was her spirit animal. I would have felt better about that if she lived closer to a sea, but it is what it is. I had to look up what a sea turtle even looks like.  There are several different kinds actually, and you can even adopt one ... symbolically of course. The adoption kit will set you back $60 - $250 according to the website I discovered, but there are cute gift bags involved. It's a personal choice.  I will not be adopting one. ~~ Somehow, I still don’t quite see the sea turtle for her, but perhaps I am missing something. I am a novice in this whole realm after all.

So – back to my search.  I started with quizoto.com and discovered that my spirit animal is a panda.  Although the panda is cute, I am not comfortable with that (just don’t feel the connection), so I kept looking. Buzzfeed.com identified my spirit animal as a sloth.  Now – I can see slothful characteristics in my tendency to occasionally live in what I call Slugsville and sloths do have cute faces which make them appealing on some level, but – I don’t know -- a Sloth? They just hang around -- literally.  I decided to take yet another quiz. They are remarkably easy to find and I had the time.

It seems to be commonly accepted that you can find anything on Pinterest, so that was my next and final stop in the search. Here is what happened.  This particular quiz identified my spirit animal as a Blobfish. Look it up – not exactly cuddly – blobfish are found in deep waters off the coast of Tasmania and Australia. Never one to find fish of any sort attractive, the blobfish brings "icky looking" to a whole new level. The Pinterest quiz not only identified the blobfish as my spirit animal, but went on to say this about me… and I quote, so please don’t think that I talk like this – because I don’t – well almost never.  It said that I was “f *cking nasty as hell and… ugly. …need nose surgery… and have no friends. Sorry ☹.”  Yep – that’s what it said. It sort of caught me off guard and then -- after the shock wore off -- I found it to be "laugh out loud" funny. I especially love the “Sorry” with the frowny face at the end. Nevertheless, I discontinued the search through online quizzes. Enough time on that. I am thinking that these particular quizzes are about as accurate as Dr. Google.

Here’s the thing. Native Americans have a much more serious and kinder way that one can determine his/her spirit animal. Plus, they only have 8 common ones – so much easier.  There is a lot written about it actually.  So – I have determined my spirit animal.  You can pick one too.  Anyone can.  It’s sort of nice really.  No surprise here – I have chosen the owl. It feels right somehow.

Arts and Crafts

Recently I have been writing/rewriting a short article to submit to an online magazine that published something of mine about a year ago. I am hoping that they might like my work enough to think about publishing it again. We will see.   The topic? Arts and Crafts.  Anyway -- thinking about this topic brought back a lot of fun memories.  I have a sneakin' suspicion that you may have similar flashbacks as you read through this post.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I started young in this creative arena.  There were always projects going on in my house.  For several years I remember my mom having a table set up somewhere in the house for things like making holiday ornaments out of old jewelry. There were other, larger projects as well -- decoupage and "antiquing" old furniture in avocado and cloudy blue stains. There were always "things" going on. Our Mom made her own draperies and taught my sister and I how to sew.  I don't, however, think that I ever mastered installation of a zipper or made anything that actually fit well. I accept full responsibility for this ineptitude. Sewing, in general makes me tense -- (as does playing games, for that matter.) Anyway -- 

The propensity for involvement in projects carries over.  I think it may be genetic, and some of these inherited talents are like riding a bike.  In fact, I think that I may still remember how to fold and weave gum wrappers into a chain. Sometimes I still make my own bows for gift wrapping. I no longer paint or sculpt with metal -- something I did a long time ago, but...  I do knit, crochet, cross stitch and attempt other skills -- most of which would be absolutely perfect to send photos of into Pinterest for their "Nailed it (Failed It) category.

Ah -- Fond memories --  day camp clay ashtrays, pine cone wreaths, macrame hangers for plants. (Now knot tying was one art/craft that I personally spread like a contagion throughout my home and to all family and friends kind enough to support my endeavors and to accept gifts of knots.) Then again there were challenges like embroidery. My sister and I each started quilt square kits when we were in our teens or maybe we were even younger than that. She will remember exactly when.  She is, in great part, my memory of the more important details of our lives. A childhood friend of mine remembers all the other important tidbits.   Anyway -- I know she never finished embroidering her quilt squares because, more than a few years ago, she sent me the two squares she had finished and the ten squares that she had not even started.  She may have done this because at one point I sent her my unfinished kit just in case she wanted to make a quilt twice the size of the original plan. She also returned those to me. Just the other day, I saw all the squares and thread reposing in tissue in a box far back on a high closet shelf.  I wonder if my sister would want them now that her children are all grown. She might have time.  Then again, she is working part time and playing with her grand kids among many other things.   Hmm... she probably would not want them ... but ... it is tempting to send them to her anyway... sort of a "blast from the past" type of memorabilia. Actually I will be visiting her in a month or so. I could take them as a "thank you for your hospitality" gift. Hmm... probably not a good idea....

                                          ~~~~

Wondering now -- does paint by number fit into the category of arts and crafts? It should really. It takes a certain knack (one I have never completely mastered).  What about rock painting? Crayon Art? Plastic canvas Kleenex box covers?  You probably have a list of your own favorites.

If my Arts and Crafts article is rejected by the magazine, I may share the whole thing with you as a blog post. It includes some mention of basket weaving with friends.  It was fun to write.  I am hoping that it will be fun to read. We will see.