The Glorious Sky

Dog!

abelerowan@gmail.com — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:42:35 GMT

Dog!!

Uriel

abelerowan@gmail.com — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:25:25 GMT

So, this is my Uriel! He arrived some time in October, but he went to my family's house, so I haven't been able to play with him at all until earlier this week, when I visited them for Thanksgiving holidays. Apparently when his package showed up, it was all wet, so the Petite Ai box and pillows were ruined. It's a shame, but at least he was safe, as was his certificate.

And is he not adorable? I love his little ":{" face; he looks so serious! His name is Christopher, but my sister and I keep calling him 'Uru' 'cause I didn't name him until this Tuesday, and that's how we've been referring to him the last month or so. XD

As for quality and all that, I was a bit worried about him arriving as a big mess, after some of the things I've heard about CH when they had their earlier half price sale, but Chris is quite pretty. His faceup and resin and all that looks fine. The only problem I have with him is that one of his legs seems to be shorter than the other!, which makes it even harder than normal to pose him. I might be able to fix that with restringing, though.

Anyway, around the same time he came, so did the Enchanted Eyes I ordered for the babies, so they've all got urethane eyes now! They have a nice quality that allows them to catch light really well, and I think the color looks slightly purer than glass. The three pairs I ordered seem quite dark in ordinary light, so it's nice that they have the ability to sort of 'shine' their brighter color when they're being photographed.

...And, finally, sorry I haven't been around much lately. I have lots of school and nothing to say, so I haven't bothered checking LJ much. But I hope you're all doing well, and that all my American friends had a nice Thanksgiving holiday. :)

Want to see something cute?

abelerowan@gmail.com — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:41:27 GMT

Erin Write Story Part II

abelerowan@gmail.com — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:04:34 GMT

Not but a few hundred years after the birth of the first man and woman, there lived one of their descendants in a small house in the forest. He was a good, kind man, recently married, and awaiting the birth of his first child. Yet, he, as all men, lived in mercy of the goddess of death. It was his greatest fear that either his wife or his child would not survive the baby's birth, for in that day to give birth was one of most common ways to invite the dread deity into a woman's home. So every day, as the wife's stomach grew rounder, the man would visit the shrine of his meager country town, and pray for the safety of his family.

But heaven and earth do not always see eye to eye. Or, rather, no death is something which can be prevented by the natural human desire to live on indefinitely ourselves, and with our loved ones. The night the woman gave birth was one that the goddess of death had foreseen since the wife herself was born. The goddess entered the home unseen and unheard, but felt by all inside. With neither pity nor malice she carefully drew the wife's spirit from her body, and held it in her strange hands just long enough for it to become a substance even she did not understand, and disappear. The woman would never return.

The goddess herself no longer had any reason to remain. She turned to go, to continue her immortal work, when she heard a cry that somehow struck her in a way which such a sound had never done before.

It was the cry of the baby.

She watched as it was taken from its mother; a round, healthy child, with dark wisps of hair, and deep, clear black eyes. For one who had existed as long as she, it would seem strange that there was anything the goddess had not realized. But it seemed to her then that she had never known before what a beautiful thing a living being was. It was something she could not let go.

So the goddess waited. She waited for a long time, though she had no real concept of what time was. How cruel it would have been to give something eternal the knowledge of such a thing. So she waited without impatience, until, at last, she found herself alone with the child. It was awake; its eyes wide, staring at her. It did not make a sound as the same hands that had once held its mother's soul worked their way around his tiny body and lifted him from his crib, to be held against the dry chest of that uncommon creature. And then both he and it were gone.

The man was beside himself with grief. For days he could not even bring himself to eat. And when he was able to eat, he still could not sleep, and would not speak to another human being. He did not care that his actions may cause his own death, for at that moment it did not seem such a terrible thing.

But one evening when all else were in their beds, the man was struck by a strange urge to venture outside. Though the hour was past even midnight, the moon was full, and the way was clear. He followed his own path, without direction, until he eventually found himself in front of the shrine he had visited so often before his child was born.

It was a strange place; it had existed for as long as anyone could remember, built from pale grey stones now held tightly together with vines as thick as rope. They wrapped themselves around the building like a thousand sturdy arms, covered in yellow flowers that the long days of summer had brought to the ground in a rain of petals, which layered the dry grass like flecks of eerie sunlight the evening had forgotten.

Though the sight of it was beautiful, it did not please the man. It served merely to remind him that his gods had not heeded his requests, and he could not even become angry at this. As gods, they had no duty to do what it was he believed was right. If they could be moved by the whims of their creations, then they could not be trusted to care for them. He no longer loved him as he had when he felt they had given him every reason to, but even though he knew he ought, he did not think he could hate them, either. To have the ability only to view a life so impartially, they were pitiable, in their way. Unable to understand the fierce affection their own children felt for it, they would never fully understand, either, why it was they would lose the love of one like himself when it had been taken from them.

The man spent a long time standing before the shrine without thinking of much at all. His dark eyes moved over the bizarre weaving of vines, slowly becoming adjusted to their complexity until he could distinguish in them the small details that were imperceptible when viewing them as a whole. It gradually came to him, an idea that many things were lost inside, trapped in a labyrinth that slowly closed in on itself, until it would disappear into another maze. It was a strange thought, and he recognized it as such, but yet still felt it welling up intensely inside his mind. Unable to prevent himself, he reached forward, and pulled away a mass of young vines which had not yet grown sturdy enough to show him much resistance.

There was only one thing hidden beneath them: it was a bird's nest, made from clumps of dry grey moss, and brittle twigs. It was cradled by the vines which covered the shrine, which it had been built around so that it might stay aloft. Inside of it were the bodies of two large, black birds, and a single, white egg.

Well, I started writing this story quite a while ago, and though I never forgot about it, I wasn't able to make much progress on it, either. But, now, here is a bit more of it. It's still entirely in the rough draft stage, but in some ways I think that version of a story has its own merits.

Wow, Customhouse...

abelerowan@gmail.com — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:33:35 GMT

Am I crazy, or is Customhouse actually saying they are going to have a Buy One Get On Free Sale on DOLLS?

The Magnanimous Queen of the Forest III

abelerowan@gmail.com — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:43:11 GMT

I'm moving tomorrow, so this might be the last doll photo for a while. I'm not sure if I'm bringing any of the girls with me or not.

On to flowers, then, I suppose!

The Magnanimous Queen of the Forest II

abelerowan@gmail.com — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 01:23:13 GMT

Dolls + Spiderwebs > Dolls + Flowers? The answer to that may very well be yes. But Dolls + Flowers + Spiderwebs may be the very best of all.

Bunka Bunka

abelerowan@gmail.com — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:33:34 GMT

This photo brought to you by the cuteness that is my special treasure from Kyoto: Miss Miyako-chan the bunka doll.

Goldenrod

abelerowan@gmail.com — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:17:01 GMT

Extra:

The first two don't match the rest! Actually, they look pretty bad. I messed around too much with effects and saved over the original files before I decided I didn't like the way I was going. I just couldn't find the right balance between the cutesy bright colors I ended up with and the over-the-top ~Mysterious~ look of the first two pictures. Well, I guess I can always edit them again sometime if I think of something.

In any case, Mary Catherine has totally stolen Izzy's wig AGAIN! Really, Mary! Every time I buy a wig for Izzy, it ends up looking so much better on Mary that I let her 'keep' it. When I bought her, I intended for my Anael to have long brown hair and pink eyes, but I have really learned that there is just no point in me planning dolls. When they arrive, they always end up looking cuter in something that 'belongs' to someone else. XD

Izzy in the Ghosthouse

abelerowan@gmail.com — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:26:21 GMT

Yay! The little ladies all got new wigs today. I meant to take a picture of them all three together in their new duds, but, well...I am bad at taking pictures of them together. The only thing I ended up with that was usable was this shot of Izzy. The background used here is my favorite painting in the world.

On the chopping block...

abelerowan@gmail.com — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:20:18 GMT

If anyone's interested, Little Junior Jupiter has been put on Ebay.

Poor little things didn't last long, did they? I really must acknowledge my dolly destiny is, undeniably, Petite Ai. Truthfully, I'd love to have a 60cm girl, as well; it's just the only ones I like are Volks Masha and Carol, and I just can't bring myself to pay their asking prices when I already have so many other expenses, and no steady income. Of course, I can spend that amount of money, it's just not all in one place the way it would be if I bought a doll; somehow spending it on one single object (that then requires more money in the way of wigs, face-ups, shoes, eyes, etc. XD) just freaks me out. Can you imagine how I felt when buying a car?

Oh, the troubles I have!

I was sleeping a long time ago...

abelerowan@gmail.com — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:18:34 GMT

Making more 'vintage' style pictures.

The Grand Tour

abelerowan@gmail.com — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:02:12 GMT

Hello. It's me, Izzy.

Mommy said I should give you a tour.

This is the left side. It has pictures and stuff in it. And my chair. That's important. (Because it's mine.)

This is the middle. My ships are here. I'm the captain.

Be careful while you're here: this mirror is a bad guy! He fell on my head.
(*This is a true story. Also, please ignore the cardboard table for now. I mean to change it into something nicer looking soon. XD)

Okay. This is the right side. Mr. Cat and the birds live here. They're on the toy box. I like the toy box, because it's full of toys.

And here's another picture. This one's gross because it has a boy in it.

Well, that's all. Thanks for visiting. Come and play with me again sometime, okay?

See you soon!

Birdcage & The Ghost House

abelerowan@gmail.com — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 07:16:51 GMT

So here's Mary Catherine standing in the room I built the girls! I just love a doll in a white wig and pale eyes. Mary is such a cutie, but Izzy and Sarah are the 'princesses' of the house, so my sister and I have a running joke about how Mary is always getting "shafted". Right now, though, I've been thinking a little more about her. I actually sold my Little Junior girl, and decided to use the money (against my better judgement, really) to order an Uriel from CH's summer sales event. So when he arrives in six or eight months from now the girls will have a brother! Specifically, I want him to be Mary's twin, because Uriel and Anael seem to make a really cute couple.

...And I was going to write more, but I got distracted, and now cannot be bothered any longer!

Why, HELLO!

abelerowan@gmail.com — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:32:34 GMT

New doggy loved the big puddle of water that always forms in our yard when it rains. She loved it a LOT - certainly enough to get herself all wet and then try to shake off on her owners! New doggy, you are crazy, but I love you.

In other news, I spent the day buying supplies for, then building a sort of display room for the petities. It's quite cute, really, but I didn't get a chance to take any nice pictures of it, since it was dark by the time it was done. Here's a preview of one of the corners, however:

I believe Msr. Chat is a tad concerned to be living next to a pair of chickadees considerably larger than himself.

Old Times Izzy!

abelerowan@gmail.com — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:13:58 GMT

More old fashioned photos! Now with twice the Izzy! I think the effect turned out better this time.

abelerowan@gmail.com — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:34:05 GMT

a new acquisition

abelerowan@gmail.com — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:04:26 GMT

So we have another doggy! Courtesy of some~~jerk~~one who couldn't be bothered to take their pet to the animal shelter rather than dumping her somewhere by the side of the road, but yes! New doggy! She is very cute. And unless someone comes to claim her and proves me embarrassingly wrong about the identity of her former owner, then we shall be keeping her. Right now we're calling her Ruby.

Preguntas

abelerowan@gmail.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:52:34 GMT

Leave me a comment saying "DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT, LEMON DIFFICULT."
I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can get to know you better. Update your journal with the answers to the questions. Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions.

My questions from skyewishes

1. What is your favourite poem?
The Wish to Be Generous by Wendell Barry

All that I serve will die, all my delights,
the flesh kindled from my flesh, garden and field,
the silent lilies standing in the woods,
the woods, the hill, the whole earth, all
will burn in man's evil, or dwindle
in its own age. Let the world bring on me
the sleep of darkness without stars, so I may know
my little light taken from me into the seed
of the beginning and the end, so I may bow
to mystery, and take my stand on the earth
like a tree in a field, passing without haste
or regret toward what will be, my life
a patient willing descent into the grass.

2. What would be your dream job?
Housewife. Really! Although I have no interest in dating/men. XD

3. Do you prefer hot weather or cold?
Hot. I really, really do not like cold weather.

4. Which subject did you hate most in school?
Unoriginal, but it was math.

5. What do you do to relax?
Draw.

Old Time Sophlecles

abelerowan@gmail.com — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:17:39 GMT

Looking through pictures from the 1950s makes me want take my own with a camera from that era. Of course, "photoshopping" is the closest I'll probably ever get to that.

Sophie!

abelerowan@gmail.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:24:05 GMT

Boring pictures, but Sophie has new clothes, so naturally she must show them off!

I know the yukata really draws attention to it, but I still cannot believe what huge... tracks of land the Little Junior body has. Especially since the age I had in mind for Sophie was around thirteen or so. What has she been eating?!

Comida

abelerowan@gmail.com — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:58:48 GMT

2 cups cooked brown rice (Short Grain is preferable. I use brown rice instead of white because it has a chewier texture.)
2 cups soy milk (Or whatever. Use cream if you want to be really decadent. :D)
1/3 cup turbinado/raw/demarra Sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup raisins (Optional. Can be replaced with walnuts. Adding a mushed up banana also tastes good, especially when paired with the nuts. :3)
1 or 2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves

In s saucepan, combine 2 cups cooked rice, 1 1/2 cups milk, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Beat together egg, remaining milk, and cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Stir in mixture along with raisins. Cook 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in butter and vanilla. Serve warm.
Original recipe from here.

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked/canned Red Kidney Beans
1 Medium Onion, Diced
1 Medium Tomato, Diced
1 Crushed Garlic Clove
Chili Powder
Cayenne Pepper
Turmeric
Cumin
Oregano
Salt
Oil

Combine 1/4-1/2 tsp of each: Chili Powder, Turmeric, Cumin, Salt with 1/2 tbsp Oregano, crushed Garlic Clove, and however much Cayenne Pepper you like. (If you're like me, this will be a lot. :D)

Now, in a pot, cook diced Onion in spice mix with about 1 tbsp of oil. Once Onions are soft/transparent, add diced Tomato and cook until it's all mushy and the liquid has mostly evaporated.

Add Red Beans. Cook until heated through, take off burner, put a lid on the pot and let sit for about ten or so minutes. Put the beans over rice. And eat them!

Some Things Which Are Not Immediately Beautiful

abelerowan@gmail.com — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:15:16 GMT

A zucchini flower from my sister and I's garden.

Bell pepper bud.

And the bunny that lives with them! This was a birthday gift from my dad a couple years ago. It's pretty much migrated all over our yard since I received it; I guess it's enjoying itself getting nice and dirty in the garden.

Bunny's turtle friend who used to live by the now defunct pond-of-passing-blame. No one could ever agree who was supposed to take care of it, so it finally got to be such a mess we had to get rid of it. I actually fell in it once while I was walking around the yard at night, so let me tell you, I was not all that sad to see it go.

Peaches that are still hard as stones. Please hurry and get soft enough for me to eat you!

And a fig that's about as tall as the tree it's growing on.

Obligatory doggy photo.

Some strange tree creature whose picture appears here for no particular reason! Ten bonus point if you recognize him.

poem iv: flowers that sleep will wake again

abelerowan@gmail.com — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:22:15 GMT

don't be afraid to leave
you will always return
in one way of another
the flowers that sleep
will wake again in the morning
and will not have forgotten
all the days that came before

Edit: Because I posted a picture of yogurt instead of flowers. Elle oh elle.

Delicious Cake

abelerowan@gmail.com — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:57:23 GMT

You will need:
Delicious Brownie Mix
1 Pint Delicious Strawberries
1/2 Pint Delicious Heavy Whipping Cream
Delicious Sugar
Delicious Vanilla Extract

Make delicious brownie mix and put it in a cake pan. While it is baking deliciously, mix together delicious whipping cream, 3 tbsp of delicious sugar, and 1 tsp of delicious vanilla. Put in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes until delicious sugar is deliciously dissolved into delicious whipping cream. Once deliciously dissolved, whip into delicious whipped cream. Then, once brownies are deliciously done and cooled, cut them into two delicious layers. Spread delicious whipped cream on bottom delicious layer and place a layer of delicious strawberries cut into delicious halves over delicious whipped cream. Place delicious top layer on top of delicious strawberries, then spread delicious top layer with delicious whipped cream. Place remaining delicious strawberries around the delicious edges.

Remember, the final product must be delicious, but it does not necessarily have to be attractive. :D

This post used the word "delicious" a total of 32 times.