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altivoMuch more relaxed day than yesterday, even though I did have to work this morning. The library is closed on Thursday morning, so that's generally real easy-going and delightfully quiet.
I did have to give some pointers on boolean searching when constructing database lists in Innovative, the library software system. Now you'd think librarians would have no trouble with boolean logic by this time, but alas, some people get all flustered and confused when confronted with anything resembling math. I don't believe for a minute that it's any kind of intellectual deficiency, though. It's a learned reaction of some sort, driven by past negative experiences.
More interesting though: When I got home, the rest of my back ordered art supplies had arrived. In particular, a small hardbound sketchbook I wanted, and some less common pencils and markers. Because I'm following a sort of series of watercolor exercises on deviantART, I was still in need of a particular pigment (a Thalo or Winsor blue made of PB15, where my usual blues are PB28 and PB27.) I said I was going to drive to Michael's which requires going to Rockford or Algonquin now that the Crystal Lake store has closed. Gary wanted to take another break from his schoolwork and go back to Reprographics in Crystal Lake, which had been closed on Saturday when we were there, so I agreed. I didn't expect what we found. The name and signage had me convinced that it was mainly a printing and reproduction service similar to Kinko's but with a more technical bent. Sure, they said "art supplies" but I figured not to find much there. Boy was I wrong. I haven't been in an art supply wonderland like that for many years. In fact, it's even better than Flax or Utrecht in downtown Chicago. I say this because it's a no nonsense art supply place. No cute stuff, no junk. Just a half acre of pencils, markers, crayons, charcoal, paints, brushes, paper, canvas, and all the rest. The prices were quite reasonable, often better than Hobby Lobby and certainly a much wider selection. I could have spent a couple of hours browsing, but would have been too tempted to spend a lot of money. I did get some soft graphite sketching pencils, the needed tube of watercolor paint, and a small block of Canson watercolor paper. I said to the fellow who took my cash how nice it was to find a REAL art supply dealer and he seemed pleased at that. I suspect they keep the place running with the constantly whirring copy machines and printers though. The art supplies are there because someone cares, rather than as a high profit line.
I haven't seen so many kinds of eraser in my whole life. Or so many kinds of sharpener. Conte crayons, colored pencils, markers in many different brands and hundreds of colors. Charcoal, graphites, inks, and technical pens. Lovely wooden pencil boxes and canvas brush rolls too. Even affordable drawing tables (seemed quite sturdy for under $200.) All right, I'll stop sounding nutsy now...
We saw a large flock of sandhill cranes today, which is much more exciting. A real sign of spring. It was right after I got home at 1 pm, Gary heard them canoogling overhead and we ran outside. Usually cranes fly so high you can't see them or can just make them out. It's the distinctive call that gives them away. Probably due to the low cloud ceiling and drizzle, though, this lot were flying low like geese. I counted about 38 of them as they passed right over our farm heading north. When we were in the car headed for Crystal Lake I spotted four more of them, not by sound, but by their flight pattern. Unlike geese who are pretty constant flappers to keep their heavy bodies aloft, cranes glide for long distances on outstretched wings and have a much more graceful appearance.
Cranes and new art toys and leftover pizza for dinner so we don't have to cook. This has turned out to be a good day.
Oh, and the vet did come while I was at work. I guess she gave Gary a stern lecture about feeding. Usually she compliments us on keeping our horses at the right weight, but this time Archie was "heavy" and Tess was "too fat." Asher, who is normally underweight, was "just right." Only last week, when the farrier was here, I discovered that Gary has been giving them larger portions of hay than I was. He accounts for probably two thirds of all feedings, so that's substantial. Time to put everyone on a diet I guess. Except Asher. And that's tricky, since he and Archie share a dry lot paddock. It means we have to give him extra in the evening, in his stall, where Archie can't snarf it up. And poor Tess is going to be yelling at us for trimming her rations. But soon she'll be able to go out in the pasture and run again, which should help. If I start riding her it will help too. I've been very lax about that ever since she was pregnant, and I really should get her (and me) back into training.
One other side note concerning animals: RikkiTwo is using all four feet when he walks again, most of the time. So he's getting over whatever it was that was bothering him.
I did have to give some pointers on boolean searching when constructing database lists in Innovative, the library software system. Now you'd think librarians would have no trouble with boolean logic by this time, but alas, some people get all flustered and confused when confronted with anything resembling math. I don't believe for a minute that it's any kind of intellectual deficiency, though. It's a learned reaction of some sort, driven by past negative experiences.
More interesting though: When I got home, the rest of my back ordered art supplies had arrived. In particular, a small hardbound sketchbook I wanted, and some less common pencils and markers. Because I'm following a sort of series of watercolor exercises on deviantART, I was still in need of a particular pigment (a Thalo or Winsor blue made of PB15, where my usual blues are PB28 and PB27.) I said I was going to drive to Michael's which requires going to Rockford or Algonquin now that the Crystal Lake store has closed. Gary wanted to take another break from his schoolwork and go back to Reprographics in Crystal Lake, which had been closed on Saturday when we were there, so I agreed. I didn't expect what we found. The name and signage had me convinced that it was mainly a printing and reproduction service similar to Kinko's but with a more technical bent. Sure, they said "art supplies" but I figured not to find much there. Boy was I wrong. I haven't been in an art supply wonderland like that for many years. In fact, it's even better than Flax or Utrecht in downtown Chicago. I say this because it's a no nonsense art supply place. No cute stuff, no junk. Just a half acre of pencils, markers, crayons, charcoal, paints, brushes, paper, canvas, and all the rest. The prices were quite reasonable, often better than Hobby Lobby and certainly a much wider selection. I could have spent a couple of hours browsing, but would have been too tempted to spend a lot of money. I did get some soft graphite sketching pencils, the needed tube of watercolor paint, and a small block of Canson watercolor paper. I said to the fellow who took my cash how nice it was to find a REAL art supply dealer and he seemed pleased at that. I suspect they keep the place running with the constantly whirring copy machines and printers though. The art supplies are there because someone cares, rather than as a high profit line.
I haven't seen so many kinds of eraser in my whole life. Or so many kinds of sharpener. Conte crayons, colored pencils, markers in many different brands and hundreds of colors. Charcoal, graphites, inks, and technical pens. Lovely wooden pencil boxes and canvas brush rolls too. Even affordable drawing tables (seemed quite sturdy for under $200.) All right, I'll stop sounding nutsy now...
We saw a large flock of sandhill cranes today, which is much more exciting. A real sign of spring. It was right after I got home at 1 pm, Gary heard them canoogling overhead and we ran outside. Usually cranes fly so high you can't see them or can just make them out. It's the distinctive call that gives them away. Probably due to the low cloud ceiling and drizzle, though, this lot were flying low like geese. I counted about 38 of them as they passed right over our farm heading north. When we were in the car headed for Crystal Lake I spotted four more of them, not by sound, but by their flight pattern. Unlike geese who are pretty constant flappers to keep their heavy bodies aloft, cranes glide for long distances on outstretched wings and have a much more graceful appearance.
Cranes and new art toys and leftover pizza for dinner so we don't have to cook. This has turned out to be a good day.
Oh, and the vet did come while I was at work. I guess she gave Gary a stern lecture about feeding. Usually she compliments us on keeping our horses at the right weight, but this time Archie was "heavy" and Tess was "too fat." Asher, who is normally underweight, was "just right." Only last week, when the farrier was here, I discovered that Gary has been giving them larger portions of hay than I was. He accounts for probably two thirds of all feedings, so that's substantial. Time to put everyone on a diet I guess. Except Asher. And that's tricky, since he and Archie share a dry lot paddock. It means we have to give him extra in the evening, in his stall, where Archie can't snarf it up. And poor Tess is going to be yelling at us for trimming her rations. But soon she'll be able to go out in the pasture and run again, which should help. If I start riding her it will help too. I've been very lax about that ever since she was pregnant, and I really should get her (and me) back into training.
One other side note concerning animals: RikkiTwo is using all four feet when he walks again, most of the time. So he's getting over whatever it was that was bothering him.
