I started the core of my mudball. I was concerned about getting it compacted enough because of my arthritis, but the dirt being so fine and getting a balance of dirt and water that feels like cookie dough made it easily compact. Layers will be slowly added and the outer layers will be rubbed until shiny.

It feels like a damp rock slightly lighter than a baseball. You don't want me to throw a ball of mud at you! 😄
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Inktober, day 24. I have a lot of items to choose from for an "old key" prompt. I probably could have done a whole month of old keys.
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Inktober, day 23. I spent my childhood around pines, magnolias, and oaks. I only knew this leaf from pictures teachers pulled out for autumn art projects and identified as "example of a colorful fall leaf".

I got excited like a little kid at Christmas the first time I saw maple trees in autumn.

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My sister-in-law brought home one of those "air plants", but the company had GLUED it into a ceramic container! I got it loose, got my Bulbasaur out of his 6 year hibernation, and he has a plant again.

Welp, that's enough things going wrong for one day. I'm ready to just call it done early, go back to bed, and try again tomorrow. That's not actually an option, but I'm ready for it.

Inktober, day 22 - For "Lake Monster" I did a watercolor painting of a Tylosaurus. This is probably the best painting I will ever do. I might even get it framed.
#CoSoArt

Inktober, day 21
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I've kind of been emotionally blocking out tomorrow. And now I can't anymore. It's almost here.

A beloved member of our family has The Final Vet Appointment tomorrow. I always wanted to be friends with a beagle. I waited 38 years, but I got the best beagle friend. I took the first picture 9 years ago when I met him, when he was 8 years old. I took the second picture today.

I don't think there is a word for this grief.

I have black walnut to work with!
I'm going to carve a spoon as a "thank you" for the woman who gave it to me.

Inktober, day 20. "Ancient prophecy" was a difficult prompt for me, but I tried to give it a feeling of how an ancient prophecy would be hard to interpret (or easy to misinterpret) when one is so far removed from how the elements of it would have fit together for the prophet, or prophets.
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Sounds legit.

I hope I'll enjoy the process and keep making them. The ingredients are dirt, water, and patience. I like the idea of being able to present a handful of dirt in a way that will be recognized as beautiful. It's already beautiful to me.

I'm preparing for making my first dorodango - shiny mud dumpling. I'm breaking down and sifting the dirt, picking out rocks and twigs. This hard, clumpy stuff and this fine powdery stuff are the same dirt.
#CoSoArt

Inktober, day 19. I'm getting better at letting my spiderweb drawings be more organic, less human planning. Spiderwebs enchant me.
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Inktober, day 18. The prompt is "magic potion". This might be my favorite that I've done so far. I decided to do watercolor so that it would be made from a magic potion.
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I'm getting black walnut! It's one of my favorite woods to work with for carving! My sister-in-law works with someone who has a tree, and they told her they'll get some branches together and give them to her for me.

Shai-Hulud wiggled off into his cave when I pulled out the camera earlier today, but he's allowing a picture tonight.

Inktober, day 17. Y'all, the "monster under the bed" is probably just a kitty. Let's be reasonable about this.
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There's a Lake Monster book I didn't know about that I will need to add to my library!

https://reactormag.com/a-fish-a-lizard-or-a-furry-mammal-peter-costellos-in-search-of-lake-monsters/

Inktober, day 16. Currently rehersing in my mind explaining to family members that I am not obligated to like what I drew just because they do. This raven has issues. I don't usually draw birds. But I'm committed to doing the drawings every day, not just the ones I'm good at.
#CoSoArt