I have a cold and, possibly feverish, I decided it was the saddest thing ever that I didn’t have a tiny little pickle ornament for my tiny little tree. So I decided to make one. Now, bear in mind that, when my beloved daughter asked for a King Kong costume for Halloween, I bought a length of fake fur and cut a head hole in it and made her a mask out of a paper plate and a rubber band.
1) I tore up a bit of newspaper with green ink on it, even though I was going to paint it, apparently under the impression that this would impart the spirit of greenness to the whole project. I also found a metal poky think with a ring on it, perfect for hanging things on things. I soaked the paper in water, then added some flour to make it pasty, some salt (to make it taste good?) and some peppermint oil (because somebody somewhere told me it would keep the papier mache — you know, paper mashay — from going sour). I think. Anyway, I did it.
2) I wrapped the pasty pepperminty paper around the poky thing and let it dry for 24 hours or so. The pickle bit wanted to slide off the poky bit, so I hit it on the head with some craft glue. This picture is blurry, which is what you can expect when taking pictures under the influence.
3) I painted the pickle with green food coloring and rolled it in glitter. It didn’t have quite the effect I had envisioned, but it was green and sparkly, and that will always do.
4) So now I have a pickle ornament, suitably difficult to find. And I’m bound to win the prize for finding it, because nobody else would have the slightest idea what it’s supposed to be.
WRITING PROMPT: Have a character do something reasonably complicated while under the influence of illness, medication, head trauma, alcohol or other mental disruptor. A child underfoot, possibly.
MA
Nancy Williams
December 11, 2010 at 9:19amHow creative. I love your pickle ornament. The best I can do is pine cones, glitter and a messy table. LOL
I tripped over the dog today, no alcohol involved, and banged my head. That is all I can say right now for your challenge.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Marian Allen
December 11, 2010 at 10:00amNancy–Ouch!
Nancy’s head ached, then the pain component faded away and all she felt was something akin to pressure–she knew her head must hurt, but some circuit had flipped to protect her from feeling it. Dear old circuit! What a nice body it was! Fortunately, she had dropped the clippers when she fell, and they were already plugged in. So here everything was, right where it should be: herself, the clippers and the shaggy dog….
Man, imagine THAT. Sucks to be THAT dog. lol!
Tara
December 11, 2010 at 9:51amWow seriously? You just decide to make a pickle ornament and then you make one? Who does that? Also it looks awesome and completely like a pickle. Woot!
Marian Allen
December 11, 2010 at 10:01amTara, THANK YOU! I thought for sure you would send Ken over.
Leslie R. Lee
December 12, 2010 at 12:30amThat looks so good you should now try for a corned beef sandwich ornament ;-P
Marian Allen
December 12, 2010 at 7:34amBwa-ha-ha-haaa! I wonder how feverish I’d have to be to seriously consider that. 😀
MARIAN ALLEN · Friday…Friday…Friday Something
January 21, 2011 at 8:55am[…] I’m hardly languishing at all, anymore. This one has taken me very oddly. The last one made me crafty. This one seems to have gone from my lungs to my head to my fingers, and I’ve been […]