Tornado Alley

Extreme weather we're having in Middle Tennessee.  Just found out there were tornados early this morning west of Nashville.  Too close for comfort.  The wind really kicked up here last night, and it's howling again today.  They don't call it Tornado Alley for nothin'.  Sun's out though, so it's nice enough for a drive.  We have the battery charged for the camera and plan to take a few pics of the countryside.  The fall colors are pretty (but not as nice as in New England I'm gently reminded), and it's been way too long since we've ventured out on a weekend. 

It's always sad to hear of death and destruction by these nasty tornados.  Hope things calm down soon.  For an update on what happened earlier, click here.

12:20:28 PM     

conFUZED in RadioLand

Recent additions to my weblog include links to previous posts and the Blogroller thingys.  Having a little trouble with Radio's macro for recent posts, but hopefully I'm getting close to figuring it out.  Also..I've realized I don't need to title a post if it's only a news story - save the titles for general posts. 

Yesterday, Radio suddenly and inexplicably reverted my homepage to the old template.  This was just after I posted something both to the homepage and a category page simultaneously.  The category pages are the old style template, and I wonder if that created the problem.  Thank goodness Scott had saved my new template on the computer.  Took some tweaking but he was finally able to get it back.  It's a damn good thing he has more patience than me...I just stomped off, cursed and took my fury out on a pile of clothes to be folded.  One thing's for certain.....Radio makes you scrimp and scrape for any little bit of help. Here's the macro I inserted in my homepage for the recent musings: <%radio.macros.recentTitledBlogPosts (maxPosts:8,maxTitleLength:50)%> I found it here.

11:55:39 AM     

Out of the Attic

American folk art is coming into its own. Collectors are paying high prices for beauty, individuality, and technical virtuosity
By Anneli Rufus

At Christie’s Rockefeller Center last January, a late-19th-century weathervane shaped like a squirrel came up for auction. The molded-copper creature sat on its haunches, sharp ears erect, nut clenched between its paws, with a great plume of a tail arching high above its head. Patched bullet holes formed stark white scars against a minty patina. Someone—maybe several someones—had taken potshots at the squirrel. Nevertheless, it sparked the day’s biggest surprise, launching a fierce bidding war and finally selling for $292,000.           FULL STORY HERE.

I've been buying and selling antiques for a few years now, and anything folksy has always appealed to me.  It's a wonderful statement of life in America over the years.  What's ugly to one person may be beautiful to another.  Funny, the things I've been able to sell.  I've never specialized.  My collection is electic.  And the prettiest piece of pottery or glassware might sit on the shelf for months and not budge, while a strange-looking handmade toy or painting would sell in a matter of days. 

I have an old painting in the original frame done by a local lady back in the 50's.  Bought it at her estate sale, along with several hand-painted plates.  I sold the plates, but kept the painting (it's on the floor under my bed where it rests comfortably after I removed it from the wall when my new bedroom furniture was moved in).  Barn-red sheds and little houses painted in the snow.  Needs a good cleaning - but for some reason it is so endearing to me.  I've often wondered if this is a scene from her childhood, her imagination or what she saw looking out her back door.  

"But in these implements—and in all the tools, toys, advertisements, and time killers that now fill galleries and museums—lies the irrepressible, candid charm of the unschooled. Those carvers, weavers, painters, and sculptors who for the most part will forever remain anonymous would have hesitated to say they were making art."

I think it's time to rehang the painting....

10:28:54 AM