Jour de Fete

Bonsoir Mes Amis,

I would like to thank each of you who made me feel so welcome at Ste Genevieve's annual Jour de Fete.  It is unfortunate that, after about 2:00 pm on Saturday I may have forgotten a few names and I would hate to leave anyone out, so, please accept my MERCI BEAUCOUP! It was quite the event:

And where was The Artist during the festivities? She was hawking her wares (hand-dyed scarves and t-shirts)  in front of a local shop, Whatnots and Oddities!  

I attempted to impress upon her the inappropriate nature of selling her work on the street but she actually petted me on the head while mumbling about the rising cost of litter and food.  Yes, this is what I must endure too often.  I'm sure you now understand why I was spending my time in the more gentile pursuit of socializing. 

Since then, The Studio is being taken over by black birds.  The Studio Assistant and I are drawn to birds of many kinds (there are often particularly tasty-looking doves outside out break-room windows) but these black birds are made of felt.  Hopefully they will be assembled soon so they can be considered marketable because, as they are, I personally consider them useless.

Until then, 

Respectfully submitted, 

Houdini

Studio Supervisor

The Artist Reports

Bonjour Mes Amis,

    This week we have been regaled with reports and pictures from The Artist's recent visit to Washington, DC.  I will spare you the regaling and just present images with appropriate comments of mine.  First, photos of The Artist, suitably dressed for once, with her artwork:

Honey and I are quite proud to see our
work displayed. This is titled
"Love One Another"

The Artist and the artwork,
"God, Abram, and a Starry Night"
will not both fit in the frame.
I chose to eliminate The Artist  

The exhibition was SACRED THREADS.  It is a biennial and we here at The Studio are

proud to say that this is the second time our work has been selected to be a small part of this prestigious event.  The liturgical banner was one of 35 that hang in the sanctuary of 

Floris United Methodist Church, where they will remain until October.

It did not surprise the staff that The Artist wandered hither and yon as she is wont to do. 

Some of her photos are quite pleasant:

Here George and Martha, other guests at The Artist's
lodging place, discuss The Artist's plan for the evening.

The evening plans included visiting
some of our national monuments.

This is the Washington National Cathedral,
where members of her BFF's home church were
honored to participate in a service that coincided
with the ladies' visit

Inside the Cathedral; Honey is especially
taken with the colorful light.

Lastly, here is The Artist working in The Congressional Cemetery.  The grave she is 

working with (she would like me to note that she received permission before

proceeding) is that of John Phillip Sousa, composer of many of my favorite marches.  

I am very interested in her plans for this work.  She also has a rubbing from 

the grave of Matthew Brady, one of the first photo journalists.

                                               

Respectfully submitted,

Houdini

Studio Supervisor

2 August 2015

Post script: I am aware I am 2 days late in this submission, 

Hi Everyone!

 

Hi Everyone! I am Honey.  I am writing this week's report because Mr Houdini (Mama and I call him Houdi) is not feeling well.  Please see below :-)

I am very excited to tell you about my new friend, Tane.  I have a picture of him, but I want to tell you about him first.  He lives in...wait for it...FINLAND!!!  I'm not sure where that is but Mama says it's further away than St Louis, so I know it's really far.  Okay, here he is:

  Isn't he handsome?  Mama says he has that pretty coat so he can be warm as toast in the winter.  Do you know what else? Finland is soooo far north (to go north from here you go out our front door and turn left) that in the summer, like now, the sun shines almost all the time!  Amazing, right?

   How am I so lucky to have a new handsome friend from far away? He made a comment on this blog!  He did! You can scroll down and see.  Go ahead, I feel that you do not believe me; I will wait.      See? Told you so! Didn't it make you laugh?  Mama says that "bossy woman" has a name and it is Liisa.  Yes, it has TWO i's in it (just like me, except mine are eyes...but I have two, which is important so I can watch the squirrels that taunt me day and night)!  Anyway, Tane wonders how it is possible that Mr Houdini is in charge of me and Mama.  Tane, it's okay, really, because he is only in charge in The Studio, and there are lots of other places to be in our house.  I have discovered and (sometimes) use them to, as Mama says, find a little peace.  That is not what Houdi calls it. Ha ha!

    I hope to hear from Tane again.  Mama says he can be my "paw pal" which she finds funny, so it must be even if it doesn't seem funny to me.  If anyone else wants to write, I will read those notes, too.

Thank you for visiting,

Honey T Bunny

Oh! Oh! Don't go yet!  I forgot what I started to write, but now I remember:

  Nothing much happened in The Studio last week.

Staff Introductions

Bonsoir Mes Amis!

   I have excellent news to share from this week.  First, and most surprisingly to moi, The Artist embarked upon her trip only 10 minutes late.  Huzzah!  We are blessed to have an ancillary team member, Gina, who not only provided The Artist with transportation to and from the airport, oh no, she also made sure daily that I and the remaining staff were taken care of.  She is most trustworthy and a female of worth.  Thank you, Gina!

   The artist left The Studio 9 July and did not return until yesterday, 14 July.  As is her pattern, she commenced napping shortly after her arrival.  This allowed the staff and I to celebrate Bastille Day unfettered.  The specifics of that celebration will not be included in this report.

    I have been asked to introduce The Studio's Staff.  First, there is my employer, The Artist, whom I also supervise.  This contradiction has led to more than a few heated discussions.  It can be said that, while we are booth very passionate and sometimes volatile individuals, blood has yet to be shed...intentionally.

This is the Artist actually working!

This is the Studio Assistant and
my amoureux, Honey Bunny.
She is paying close attention
to my instructions

And this is, of course, your
humble reporter with my dear one
after a trying day.

Respectfully submitted,

Houdini

Studio Supervisor

15 July 2015

Madness Recedes

Bonsoir Mes Amis!  I am relieved to report that the madness of this past week in The Studio has abated.  Revolution was in the air due to the "finishing" and shipping of The Artist's soon to be exhibited works.  I note the following impediments:
     1.  The Artist overrides my advice.  This is a recurring theme, yet I will continue
     to mention it when it occurs.
     2.  The American Independence Day holiday interfered with any scheduling, 
     most relevantly here in banking and shipping.
     3.  The Artist's seemingly endless need to add "one more bead" to everything.   
     4.  The Artist making and changing, repeatedly, her own travel arrangements.
     5.  The Artist and her BFF in frequent telephonic consultation re travel
     arrangements.  
     6.  Weather. Our Studio Assistant evacuated at the drop of a hat to be found,
     eventually, under a heavy piece of furniture as directed by emergency alerts.
     7.  Insane sleeping schedule of all staff but moi.  
The Artist will begin her journey to the nation's capital tomorrow morning before daylight. If I can get her to complete her arrangements and packing while it is still today, this may be accomplished.

Respectfully submitted,

Houdini
Studio Supervisor
8 July 2015

Reporting Begins

Bonjour Mesdames et Messieurs! Je m'appelle Houdini. I am the Studio
Supervisor of the Studio on 4th Street. Recently I took time from my
challenging duties to review my performance as such with my employer,
aka The Artist. Naturally, I expected only well-deserved accolades. Imagine
my surprise when I was directed to review my employment contract. The
Artist had actually found moi lacking in the area of reporting! She then
"suggested" I begin reporting weekly.

As there is no indication in the contract to whom these reports should be
addressed, I am choosing to report to you, my very dear friends, via this
blog. If The Artist wishes to read it, she may.


Respectfully submitted,

Houdini
Studio Supervisor
1 July 2015