We look forward to seeing each other and missing each other is a delicious sort of foreplay that makes smiles brighter and kisses all the sweeter. We sing and dance again, flirt and play. We talk and relish the time we spend together rather than take it for granted or let it slip by unnoticed.

The second biggest change for me was having outside employment for the better part of the last year. I got the chance to learn a bit more about Terese and to grow a little. I still hated working for someone besides me, but managed to make the best of it and remain reasonably happy, if not fulfilled. The job ended last month under less than satisfactory circumstances beyond my control and although it put me back into no small amount of financial insecurity it was also an immense relief and a gift.

Cetandi & Bear

I have housemates here at the ranch for the first time in long and long and am finding it pleasant and helpful after my 8 months of solitude here. They actually live in a small trailer out back with “house privileges” so I still have enough private time and personal space to be content.

The sweat lodge is built and we’ve been using it since January. Being able to sweat and pray has been good for my soul.

And I’m both writing and crafting again. These things are incredibly good for my spirit, and I hope they will prove again to be good for my physical life as well. With Tammy’s support (and while I’m yet working part time outside of my home), I’ve decided to get back to the business of making my living with my art. I am 107K words into my novel and hoping that another 50K or so will bring my story to a close. I began writing a bit on it agin in late September to prep for the insane 50K word rush of November and am committed to finishing and submitting it for publication.

Assemblage Bird Shrine

I did some serious soul searching around whatever blockage keeps me from completing and submitting at least one of my 3 novels in process and learned a few things. The first may be broken. I’m not sure if I still need to tell that story, I’ve lost the tale, I’m afraid. The second, entitled “The Space Between” that I wrote in the immediate wake of the death of our Lil Pharaoh, has been too painful to revisit even to edit until recently, but will be my next task after completing the novel I began in 2008, (working title “The Coming”). This is the story I want to tell. It’s a good story. I think I’m a good and engaging writer. So why haven’t I finished and submitted? In October I came down to only two possibilities and they are both a little embarrassing, but what the hell, “tell the truth and shame the devil” as my Grama would say. What it boils down to is one of these two things, either:

What a bunch of happy horseshit. Whichever it is, I’m done with it. I’m going to finish this novel. I’m going to work on it until it’s done. Then I’m going to revise and edit it enough for submission. Then I’m going to send it off and brave rejection while praying for acceptance.

In the meantime, I’m going to craft and tattoo and find my way back to art from those things. Here I come, 2012.

Hannah & Crystal prep to dance for the GA

So here I am. I managed to get my Peace Globe up, and I’m pleased about that. Otherwise my life is insane (as usual? Maybe…), but good nonetheless. I’m marginally actively involved with Occupy Victorville and in full support of the movement as a whole. I really hope it will continue to grow and gain momentum. It’s time somebody shook things up in this country. So I’m doing my part. Showing up to hold my sign and be present, passing along links on Facebook and good info when I get it.

Yesterday I visited Occupy Riverside on my way home from the Dia De Los Muertos celebration that I attended there in Riverside as a vendor. It was pretty cool. I took a few pics and talked to some great folks. Catherine Williams Took me on the grand tour, walking me between both sites and introducing me around.
There is a bit of division there, as they have 2 occupy sites. They call them “A” and “B”. It seems that some folks resent the involvement of a Union local, but as far as I could see the Union is being supportive and in no way trying to usurp the movement.

They hold a General Assembly every night at 7 PM at site A, the pedestrian mall, so anyone with anything to say can say it. Matters large and small are decided by consensus. They are getting cold at night, and although they’re managing to eat, they could use donations of food and blankets.

I arrived just as about 20 police were leaving. It seemed that it required a sizable force to take 2 tents down. So now the folks occupying there know that they may indeed put up their tents every night, they just need to take them down in the morning. Seems to me that 19 of those cops could have been earning their pay elsewhere while 1 of them let the Occupy Riverside folks know that they needed to take the tents down during the day, but what do I know…

Niles Pierson Reads Poetry

On the home front Thorne is again unemployed (after nearly a whole fucking year! Wow!!) I’m not terribly concerned. I’m writing again, doing, of course, NaNoWriMo and determined to finish up my 2008 Novel and follow through with rewrite and edit. I should be prepared to submit it for publication by February at the very latest. I’ll keep you posted.

I’ll also be doing more art and offering it for sale on Etsy. If you are a reader here at Thornesworld, leave me a comment before you shop my Etsy Store and I’ll hook you up with a special discount.

here’s to hoping there are still a few of my constant readers out there.

Peace, out!

Visit Mimi Writes to add your own globe and view many more!

I’m making a fresh batch today. I think I’ll blend the magickal oils for the new batch for relaxation and comfort and security. I’m going to call this blend “Peaceful Home”, and tint the wax blue.

These things are great if you hate to mess with crumpling paper or ugly, smelly pressed wood and wax starters. It only takes one cone to start a roaring fire, and besides… they look awesome sitting in a basket next to the fireplace until you use them up!

I’m upcycling like a mad woman these days, trying to piece together some fun items for sale, while using up the wealth of materials I have around here. One of my recent projects was this purse made from a pair of tan jeans. I made 3 more small ones, but still have to finish the hand stitching and beads, before I take pics. Not bad, really. 4 bags out of one pair of jeans and a kid sized shirt.

Doing a bit of stained glass as well. Just finished this custom order for a friend who is sending it to a family member in Hungaria!! I’m excited. I think that makes about 8 countries that ThornesArt has traveled to.

Drop me a comment if you’d be interested in How-To’s on any of these projects, n I’ll see if I can get them up.

Right now though, It’s nap-time in Thorne’s World. Too many late nights and early mornings makes Thorne a grumpy grrrlll.

Peace, out!

Here’s the deal, oh Constant Reader. You all know by now that I live the hella out in BFE. And you know from my Desert Gardening and Anti-Pioneer Woman posts (among others), that’s it’s a pretty rough life out here in the desert, and that your ever-lovin’ Thornie pretty much works her ass off just to have a reasonable amount of comfort here in this 1800′s built home on the range.

What you don’t know, is that I’m doin’ it pretty much all on my own these days. The GirlyBoi and I have, shall we say, ceased to cohabit. Don’t cry for us, lovelies. We’re still BFF’s and we still love- in fact, we have simply (in her usual short but sweet words) “broken up to stay together”.

But what that means to Thornie is that it is all on me. The firewood (post on that anti-pioneer woman adventure upcoming soon). The home repairs, the frozen pipes, Mom, dump runs, the garden, the bills, the birds… all of it. ( I needz a Cabana Boi! Bwahahahahaha Please apply using the contact form- Thornie is an equal opportunity employer-gender is not an issue.)

Shit. Rain and there are clothes on the line. Be right back. (Talk among yourselves… Hahahahaha)

Just so we’re clear- I’m not whining. It’s hard, and it’s a lot of work, but I’m up to it. And I love my desert. I wouldn’t leave it for greener pastures.

BUT.

But- there are no jobs out here (even were I so inclined and even were taking care of my Mom and this place NOT a full time job in itself), so I’m once again bustin’ out the artwork and craftin’ my hiney off to try to make enough money to support myself and my rescued critters.

I’m trying to stay upbeat and positive and manifest that prosperity and I’m squeakin’ along… but.

Here’s where you come in, oh most awesome Constant Reader. Share me. Tweet me. Stumble me, like me… promote me, please!! If you see anything you like, please shop with me. If you have something in mind in stained glass or ceramic tile mosaic; a photo or image collage or custom curio box; sewn items like purses, totes and quilts or crochet items and you don’t see it in my stock, please message me. I specialize in unique custom orders of all sorts and frankly it is where I am at my best- designing especially for someone. My Etsy Store is just a click away from here in this post or always on my sidebar.

Like and Share my Thorne’s World Vintage Arts and Treasures page on FB, please. Take a moment to click the little invite friends link on the left sidebar and invite any of your friends and family who you think might like the things I make. Then ask your friends to do the same. Twitter? Please retweet. I’m Thornesworld. StumbleUpon? Thornesworld. Tumbler? Thorne’s World. Kaboodle? thornesworld. (Are you sensing a trend here? hahahaha.)

If any of you can help me better understand how to promote my business online- have tips or tricks to help me get out there, please comment! I can do this- but I can’t do it alone. I need your help, lovelies.

New Hand Made Tapestry Clutch on Etsy

I won’t ask you to donate to help with my bloggy and domain expenses, but I will ask you to click my donate button to help me feed my birds, if you have a spare buck here n there. These six big birds eat a lot!

So that’s it from Thornie today. I have a tote on the sewing table and some magick pine cone fire starters in the kitchen today. (And I will be posting a How-To with images on those. I think you’ll like making them if you don’t just buy some from me!)

Peace, out!