May 16
Originally uploaded by Dancing Crow.

She had her cake on Saturday, but it wasn’t until today she really and truly turned nine. In a fit of brilliance I commissioned this mask from a man who makes outrageous masks right next to the building where the circus classes are held.

Alice was investigating last week, and we found this man at work behind what seemed like acres of cow masks. Some were simple black and white Holstein faces, others were, well,  psychedelic. He was very kind about showing Alice how he made the plasticine bases and layered up glue soaked paper and fabric over the top. The cows are for the Strolling of the Heifers through Brattleboro the first weekend in June. He says he’s aiming at Mardi Gras and a handful of other festivals in that area next spring.

I have the mold this mask was made on (he let us take the tiger home not-quite-dry) and I am thinking of building another cat face onto it, maybe a jaguar, and taking it back as a demonstration of what a great employee I’d be. Like I don’t have enough to do.

I had a quiet day at the barn today. The wheelbarrow didn’t mug me again, although it thought about it. I rode the red horse, walking, but decided against the sideways golden pony today. All the muscles across my ribs and upper chest still hurt, and the bruise on my boob is the most astounding colors – complementary purple and yellow at the moment.