Veggies!

[altivo]

We haven't had a killing frost yet, but things are slowing down anyway. Gary brought in the hoses that run out to the garden over the weekend, and today he picked more beans, peas, tomatoes, and squash. The beans and peas are still flowering, so we'll keep watching for more produce. I know there are a couple of smallish zucchini still that he missed, and there are a LOT of tomatoes just starting to turn red. A few okra pods and the okra continues to blossom, but I know it will soon be too cold for that. There are still some root vegetables to dig out, beets and turnips mostly, and we still have lettuces. For the late start that most of it got, we did well on everything except the brassicas. Next year, I must get some BT for those.

A little more work on Argos' head. I'm using a baseball cap as a foundation, because I like the fit and feel of that best and it's easy to attach both support structure and fur to it. It goes backward, with the brim down against the wearer's neck. I don't cut the brim off, but keep it to help balance things out and fill out the neck better. A half globe frame of plastic canvas strips is suspended off the cap, and the upper jaw and muzzle are attached to that now. The actual plastic jawset can be set in tomorrow, I hope, and the ears attached, or at least the "cartilage" part. I use plastic milk bottles for ear support structure, so they don't seem too stiff and will move about a bit. After that, the lower jaw, which will not be movable this time. Once that is in place, I can decide how much additional rigidity is needed, and either reinforce the plastic with additional strips that are attached with hot glue or by sewing them with a tapestry needle and linen cord.

At that point, I can start putting on the fur, which is the really fun part. I'll position the eyes and add eyelids, then layer on the fur bit by bit. He gets a longer fur with some dark guard hairs for the top of his head, back of his ears, and down the back to form a shoulder ruff and mane that will taper down to the root of his tail. I have some long, fluffy white for his cheeks and chest ruff, and shorter white for face and muzzle, and most of his body.

I have to get to a hardware store and get some fat plastic tubing to form the "bones" of his tail. Hands are to be built over white cotton gloves, and footpaws are using half inch thick felt boot liners as a foundation.I'm still debating what to use for pawpads. I plan on leather scraps for the hands and nose, but those might be too slippery underfoot, and I'm hoping to find something rubbery that will give a bit of traction on tile floors. It's the head that must be done over the next week, so I can get him a fursuit badge. Photos needed by the end of the month. I do expect to make the deadline.

Comments

[jairus-greywolf.livejournal.com]

Okra? I didn't know anyone up north planted okra. I love fried okra--that's a real southern thing but boiled okra--yuck!

Argos sounds like he's really taking shape!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I'm Canadian-Yankee but I like grits too. I agree with you about boiled okra. Like boiled peanuts, that's utterly inedible. Okra is good in stir fry, though, and soups and stews in moderation.

Argos has a long way to go, but the wolf shape is now quite evident.

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Whinnyhi.

Argos' shawl will coverhide some of his back too, I would think.

Need to find out just exactly where the hotel is, parking, etc. for MFF so we can meet up on Friday morning (will have to work four tens Mon-Thurs). Oh, does Argos uses a walking stick I forget. OF course a proper Alaska one would be of diamond willow carefully carved and polished but an old ax handle often does and for the tourist, an oosik.

Steed

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, the shawl is part of the standard appearance and should be the only garment he is wearing, but of course I want his back to look good if he drops the shawl. XD

As described in the book, no walking stick, but he might use one sometimes. The stick in the book belonged to Green, and has a specific history. You'll have to explain the oosik to me, I've not heard of that before.

I expect to have much better vision and freedom of movement in this suit.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*bonks you with a curry comb*

I looked up "oosik". No. Not Argos anyway.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Jesus...pick pick pick, thats all Gary does!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Actually, I've done more picking this year than he has. ;p

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Your like an old married couple!

See what you get, wanting gay marriage?

Nag nag...wait, your not a nag...

@.@

XD

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*snorts*

For all intents and purposes, we are an old married couple. As of last June, 26 years together and we were both past 30 when we met.

I may be a nag, but I still pack a good wallop. *cocks rear hoof at ya*

XD

[saythename.livejournal.com]

*backs off*

Hey, I don't have any farrier tools!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

There's a hoof pick hanging on the wall over there...

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Oh okay, but I've never done this before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp3FHA7SneU

*takes your hoof gently...*

^.^

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Whinnyhi.

Oh, our apples are very tasty. Not sure what kind but they are greenish and yellow mottled and there are lots of them but almost all on the West side of the tree only. Of course many are high up out of reach and I do not have an apple picker but we have plenty as it is. Speaking of picking.

Steed

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It seems to have been a good year for apples. Green and yellow mottled with russet flecks or patches would be an old fashioned variety like perhaps Spitzenberg. Very tasty and they keep well too. You could make a picker. Just take a broomstick and make a wire basket for the end of it.

Or use a stepladder, that's what we did to get our few.

[dogteam.livejournal.com]

Scraps of inner tube might be what you want for footpads...although I'm not sure if they'll give more traction than roughout leather in the long run.
I used rubber garden hose for the tail bones, but had to mess with it as it was too stiff...had to slit and taper it to give it good "swing".
I was very happy with the result of using plastic canvas for ear cartilage as well.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Inner tubes are difficult to get down here. No longer allowed in vehicle tires, though I guess bicycle shops might have them.

Plastic canvas is wonderful stuff, and I'm using it in the head structure as I did for the horse three years ago. But I felt it was too stiff in the horse ears and that's why I'm planning to try softer milk bottle plastic this time.

I may try for the moving jaw too. I found some photos of the way one German suit maker does it, and it's not as hard as I'd feared it would be.

Rather than garden hose, which is kinda stiff as you say, I was thinking of the more flexible kind of hose that is used to hook up washing machines and dishwashers. I'll have to see what's in the local hardware stores.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*watches the harvesting of the fresh foods with interest raising his paw to offer a hand*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Sure, you can dig out the beets and turnips if you like.