big rain–a rare event–in California!, originally uploaded by nor certitude.

Because it is wet here.

It is that time of year again, the calendar displays are popping up and by next month they will all be on sale for $5.  This year I am in search of two calendars, one for the kitchen and our general household use and one for my soon to be studio basement. Yup, you heard that right, Studio Basement! , we are moving this weekend into our first (rented) house and there is a small basement that is going to be all mine! I promise there will be lots of pictures once everything is organized.

The calendar I have chosen to get for the studio is the wonderful new calendar from Nikki McClure. The theme of this years calendar gives homage to crafts and the rhythms of  the seasons, I knew when I saw it that needed a home with me somewhere.

The calendar for the kitchen is a little more tricky; we want it to feel good in the kitchen somewhere, we need space to write reminders and it has to be something both Will and I are happy to look at all year. So far these are my contenders:

I want chickens rather badly, but I think that asking to have them might be a bit much right off the bat with our new landlord so I think this calendar might hold me over for now.

Dear Frida, do you know how much I love you? Frida has always been one of my favorite painters, the way she used color, the way she is so heartbreaking in her frankness. She lived out load and in acceptance of her inner-self, if only we all could do that.

The new house was built in the 1920s in the craftsman style and Mucha very much complements the feel of the house, plus his work is just pretty. There are a couple other Art Nouveau calendars that almost made the list.

The house has got a big yard, part of which I am turning into a veggie garden asap, I already ordered seeds for winter greens that I plan to put in the ground in the next couple weeks before it is to late. I like the idea of a calendar that will help me with my plantings.

So what will be on your wall next year?

Red Wing Black Birds in the back yard.

Chocolate Kopp’s Custard, YUMMY YUM YUM!

Goofing off with my cousin’s wife at the Sow’s Ear, always fun!

A good brew at the Great Dane, WOOF! This is the Stone of Scone Scott’s Ale.

Antique hunting in Cedarburg, always fun.

Wild flowers and open fields.

A wonderfully sweet wedding.

And of course a smiling barn! Where they sell the most wonderful apple pie in the world!

I had a great time seeing my family and as always it was bittersweet to return home when it was time but it is nice to be back with Will and the furr balls and to sleep in my own bed.

Do you remember Captain Kangaroo? Even he got into Shibori/tie-dye.

More photos here.

This weekend we went out to the Berkeley Kite Festival, it was quite a site! I took lots of photos that you can check out on my flickr.