a new bowl

"Aunt" Julie went to Venture today for fish supplies to save the day for our new boarder as of last night. Here is "Freddie"(alias "Jackie") in her new Anchor Hocking bowl with "Grandma's" vintage marbles!

the birthday dinner

The birthday celebration plans had changed and last night we went out for dinner with our children and grandchildren just to commemorate the day. In the restaurant, there were people returning from the fall fest in Frankfort and at the table next to us were some moms and their daughters with their treasures from the fest. Out of the way, on the floor next to their table, one of the girls had placed a water-filled plastic bag with one little goldfish in it. Danielle had been eyeing their newly purchased headpieces, with colorful streamers on them, hanging on the backs of their chairs and also the little lonely goldfish in the plastic bag. The closest little girl noticed this and said to Danielle, "would you like to have him"? The biggest smile came across Danielle's face and she was thrilled to accept the offering. So off we went with our new "little treasure", and back to Julie's for coffee and a piece of Rainbow Ice Cream Cake. yum. Time to go home and guess who was chosen as the keeper of the fish? Grandma! He/she will reside at Grandma's house. We have named it "Jackie", after the kind little girl who gave it away.

Puppy pix!

"Baby boy" puppy, almost five weeks old.

Yesterday's news, of my brother-in-law being hospitalized, has postponed the birthday party. My husband will be 70 all year and it can wait. For now, we will just be sending all our good thoughts and energy to him for good health. A most important factor, isn't it?

Tired Timber

Timber, very tired after another day of watching Wrigley chase tennis balls.

Lists, lists and more lists

The weather is getting cooler, the morning glories are perky and I am feeling more energetic about household chores. This all comes with Fall. This week is hubby's birthday. His 70th! I have decided to have our family here to celebrate. After all, it's a special birthday. What an incentive to clean house! I will have help on Friday, but I mean the extra things that you ignore like the refrigerator, the freezer, the tops of things that no one can see, the glass and knick knacks to wash, the paper piles to sort. Then there's the artwork that I forever want to get up on the walls. Maybe I'll get a few more pieces hung. And the cooking and baking done with thought and love. Not the "oh, what should I cook today" kind. Pretty hors d'oeuvres and cakes and cookies! Oh...the lists!

Oh Wrigley!

Our friend, "Wrigley", is here for a little stay while his family is away. He loves to play ball and , when we aren't looking, he likes to push it under the fence so that he can try to dig it back. He thinks that is so much fun! He has also taken a liking to my morning glories. "Wrigley! Please don't eat the daisies!"

"A shore lunch"

Lunch at Julie and Rob's today. A very special lunch! Walleye and Northern that they caught in Canada last month.

Rob cooked it in an outdoor fish cooker and it was yummy! Crunch!

New puppy picture!

" Baby boy" puppy will be one month old on Monday. One more month before he can come home.

poetry

Summer poetry session this morning! Our assignment for this week was to write a poem using the word "precipice". Quickly gathering my thoughts, together with pen and paper, I starting writing last night. After having left it go for a while, I never realize how much I miss writing until I am pressed to do it. And it was a lovely session and lunch with a lovely group!

paper piles!

Not planning on it, I started sorting paper piles this morning. All day! Art stuff, other stuff, all mixed together. Sorting, sorting, sorting. Filing, filing, filing. Shredding, shredding, shredding. An accomplishment for the day. Me and Timber have sore backs and headaches.

Biscuits and gravy for breakfast this morning! Dan is coming. Danielle is still sleeping. zzzzz
A cool morning and I hear the train whistle. Two of my favorite things.

"Early morning hath gold in its mouth." Benjamin Franklin

pages done!

Ready for "Creative Spirits" tomorrow night, I have my assigned pages done! This one is to the theme of "Art Journal". Random thoughts, quotes, pictures.

This one, "Trees, Wood". Colors of trees, leaves, wood. A nature theme.

Starting the week off right

Yesterday, a nice day at The Center with my friend, Peggy, who came to help me put magazines and other supplies into my new space in the newly emptied cabinet there. Thank you, Lois. Ann came too as she had mistaken the time for my workshop the other day, and instead of coming in the morning, was just arriving when we were leaving. We made up the time yesterday.

Today finishing up two collage ledger pages due tomorrow for "Creative Spirits". And want to look through my photographs for inspiration for a collage, like when I did the Newberry one. I loved doing that one and I got to visit it last week at my friend Eve's office, its new home.

"White Kitty" has had a little vacation at Grandma's house. Danielle left her here the other day. I promised I would make sure she was comfortable. "Daddy" and her are coming by this morning for breakfast and I know they will be happy to see each other. You had a nice rest, White Kitty.

projects, projects, projects

Have a long list of projects going. Ongoing. Chipping away at the list and a sense of accomplishment happens every so often. This drawing, done a week ago at our session of summer art, is for the 2009 calendar at The Center. The Herb Cottage's window that I love.

Today continuing with yesterday's pretty good start on ledger pages for the Creative Spirits group.

Out and about

Out to visit Julie's garden today. Lots of colorful zinnias...

Black-eyed Susans galore!

And back home to my Jack Be Littles. Looking Fall-ish around here!

New photo!

Here is baby boy puppy. He will be three weeks old on Monday. Walking, but wobbly.

Nek-Bonz

A very nice morning ride to pick up a beautiful collage that I purchased from a very nice art friend and a very nice visit too! Found another treasure there which I had to have. A "Nek-Bonz", a headrest accessory for your car that fits the gap between your neck and the headrest. Very comfortable! And it's attractive too in the shape of a big dog bone, with Soans' seal of approval. http://www.nekbonz.com/

Oh, Timber!

This morning it's off to the vet for Timber's annual visit. We'll be back home soon, Timber!

Workshop Day!

And now my little books have a home! A classful of nice gals! 9! Home now... and on to the next project.

workshop...

Working on a box sample for my workshop tomorrow. Mine will hold my little books of color that I made. Wording on the top of the box, "A Little Box of Books", taken from a magazine article.

I made some of the background paper by crumpling plain white paper, distressing it with "antique linen" Distress Ink and misting it with water.

I have several floral wrapping papers and some attractive unreadable handwriting on napkins and tissue that I added. Inside it tells of "small pleasures".

Rhinestones to add some glitz to the words "give sparkle to your spirit".

...and feet to change the box from functional to artistic.

A day at home today, and a day to continue working on some samples for my workshop on Wednesday! Collaged boxes to hold little books or special letters.



Watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics in China, that was taped for me, last night after getting home from dinner with my old friends. Wow! Amazing! I found myself making notes, just like my mother used to do, listing all the countries, that walked in the parade of the nations, making their footprints in the paint at the end of the walk. I loved seeing all the faces, each one so different and beautiful. Smiling faces. Wishing it could always be that way. I watched until I knew I better get to sleep and so I still have one more hour to watch.

It's a boy!

Here I am! I don't know my name yet, but I am a goldendoodle.

My Mom is "River". She is sweet and loving.

This is my Dad, "Jake". He is friendly and fun!

It was a beautiful day yesterday and well worth the day trip to see this beautiful family. Happy dogs. Wonderful personalities. Beautiful puppies.

It was a trip out to the country. The sky was blue with big fluffy while clouds and the corn fields were high. We had the country music playing on the radio and I felt like I was on the screen of Cinerama. When we arrived at the breeder, it was more than I expected. A beautiful place, nice people, and oh such happy dogs. A good thing. The puppies eyes aren't open yet and they still need their Mom, so they won't be ready until around the first of October. I have time to tell "Timber".

Guess what?

I have something to tell you...

You know it is over a year now that we lost our golden, "Clifford". There is a big empty spot in the house. "Timber" misses him, as we all do. Well, today we are driving 3 hours to see a liter of "goldendoodles"!

When I was away at that conference, my husband was thinking too much (at least it wasn't about cars!) and looking on the computer for dogs/puppies. We were thinking of going to a rescue, but well, he found someone who sounds like a good breeder, a nice lady, a schoolteacher, and so we just have to think we are still going to rescue one - but a puppy! The goldendoodle is a mix of golden retriever and standard poodle, so it looks like a golden but has curly hair. We saw one once when we were vacationing and he fell for them. I hope the whole situation is wonderful. I'll let you know...

Summer session over at The Farm

"Till next time...horses."

" Thank you for letting me milk you, Nanny. "

Today was the last week of "summer" junior farmers. Danielle is still not sure about the goats and the chickens but she sure enjoyed going every week. She says "yes" she wants to go back in the Fall to pick pumpkins, gather corn and go on another hayrack ride!

Yesterday

Yesterday's summer art session was at The Center with one last chance at creating a drawing for our annual calendar there. I have always been in love with the Herb Cottage. The round window in the front is such a part of it's uniqueness, so that is what I am drawn to. We drew on site for a couple of hours and now I am working to finish that drawing before Tuesday from these reference photographs.

Trees, etc.

A little Katydid visits our backyard this morning.

Searching through my tree books, I have come to the conclusion that my mystery tree is a Green Ash. Hardy, considered one of the best ornamental shade tree selections, twiggy branch structure, provides quick growth which I remember the landscaper said when he suggested it. Small clusters of green to reddish-purple flowers appearing early spring, think I remember that?, and in mid summer dense cluster of green to tan fruits. These clusters are more reddish-brown? Provides wildlife habitat and that is probably what sold me on it. It's a nice little tree. I like it.

Now, grabbing my supplies and off to "summer art".

Today...

In the garden today...

I guess the bunnies are full...

The nasturtium shines through...

The Jack Be Littles rule..

Here they are!