Many thanks...

to Rob for taking the fun pictures on Saturday!

#5: Greg

Greg is a cool guy, but more important, he is really nice.
His large workshop attaches to the loading dock, and he needs it. While most of us just carry in the small stuff, he hauls in heavy old lumber, interesting tree stumps, big pieces of driftwood, and bags of clay that he will use to make something amazing. He also finds time to help us with carpentry that many of us cannot do on our own. Greg is often seen zipping around the streets of the Art Works on his skateboard, ponytail flying in the breeze.

Okra

The produce place that I go to several times a week has had some beautiful fresh okra that seems to have come straight from someone's garden. I especially love these small pods as they make perfect boiled okra. I like to simmer them for a few minutes just til tender and then bite them down to the heads. A Southern delicacy!

Lunch today

Some other girls at ArtWorks and I had lunch at a new spot today, a restaurant that specializes in street food from around the world. Since I had just seen a thing on TV about the real Ramen Noodles, that is what I got. Here the noodles are hidden under some good toppings. It was quite tasty and delicious.

Moving forward . . .

The big birthday party/family get together is a memory now, and I am three days into my seventies.
I wish I had some wise words, or great quotes, but I am just not coming up with anything. I can say that I am glad to have made it so far along life's highway, or journey, or whatever it may be called. I am glad to have my wits about me and a body with all working parts. I am glad I still have some goals, hopes and dreams. I am glad that some of the desires of my crazy hormone-driven youth (up to age forty) have been fulfilled, and I am on the other side of them. I am glad to be loved and to give love. I am glad to be a part of God's family. I feel blessed beyond measure.

#4: Shelby

Shelby moved in a few weeks ago and has almost finished fixing up her studio. Don't you love the way she painted the walls to look like the mountains? Here she is standing by her 3D printer, a relatively new way of making stuff that you can read about by clicking on the link. I got to see her use it recently. Yesterday she was distressing some corrugated aluminum siding that she will hang on the outer wall. Creative! Shelby has an art degree from UNCW and works in the film industry in props. The movie and TV business is big in Wilmington, but I have learned that it is inconsistent and seasonal. We are glad to have this upbeat and energetic young woman in our midst. Wyatt met her while he was visiting. She was "dressed up" that day, and her beautiful, long brown hair was cascading down in waves. Wyatt dropped his jaw and stared like he was in love. It was so cute!

Critters

My cat's wail on a couple of occasions called me to see both a raccoon and a possum on my back porch. Sandy was shocked, and so was I! But maybe such animals are to be expected when you live on a marsh, i.e. swamp, so as long as they don't linger, I will take it. I enjoy the songs of birds. I see dragonflies, preying mantis, and other interesting bugs around the small space that is my yard. Occasionally a pretty little green lizard will be on my front door. A neighbor's refined looking black and white cat "went missing" as they say, but after his two week adventure he returned home. Yesterday however, I saw a sign posted at the entrance to the neighborhood. "Missing: Iguana" Now how does that happen? I hope it does not show up on my back porch. I hope I am not the one to find it!

Oh the places we'll go.

For the past five years, I have really wanted a bike.
Last week when Wyatt was here, we were in WalMart shopping for a skateboard. As fate would have it, skateboards were next to bicycles, and I spotted the ONE hanging from a rack in the midst of many. I was excited, but should I?
The next day my mind was made up. I dragged Wyatt to WalMart with one thing on my mind, something big and blue just for me. When I got to the back of the store where the bikes were, the one I hoped for was gone! I was heartbroken, but a nice young employee came to my rescue. He explained that a college student had come by yesterday and bought it, but maybe he could find another in the back. About ten minutes later he came out smiling and pushing this one up the aisle. Thank you!
Wyatt rode it to the car, then we loaded it in the back and took it home.
I still don't feel totally secure on it, but I am doing OK riding up and down the flat streets of the neighborhood. I will be taking it with me into the next decade of my life.

Entertainment

Everything is cool now that the AC and the refrigerator are back in working order.
Wyatt and I went out with friends today, first for pizza and then for a couple of hours at a "bouncy place." Since it has been so wet and rainy, this was a good way to work off energy indoors.
And on Netflix we have been watching Kickin' It, not a bad show for kids.
It is always fun to have someone to play with.

Rain and Relaxation

Yesterday morning, it quickly became apparent the air conditioner was no longer cooling. In the afternoon, we noticed the refrigerator wasn't cooling either. Thankfully the house came with a warranty when I bought it last year, but because of the rain, etc, it will be tomorrow before assessment and repairs are done. Meanwhile the rain continues. The outside temp is cooler than a usual August day, but still...I think I have become a spoiled American. The upside is good however. Some windows are open to the sweet sound of raindrops, the sky is a comforting gray, a small fan is whirring, and my little buddy Wyatt is here. All of that has left me so relaxed that I dozed right off while listening to him on the Wii. And this morning as I was lying in the bed, listening to the unfamiliar silence that replaced the running motor of the AC, I thought how wonderful the still quiet was. I was safe. It was peaceful. Over in the Mideast, people are listening to rockets and gunfire, and are afraid. How hard that must be.

At the Soccer Game

Wyatt is visiting, and Grandmommy is happy. I really wanted to take him to the Hammerheads soccer game this evening, but with the rainy day we were having, I didn't know if we would make it.  I checked to see if it was being cancelled and their website said they would play rain or shine. What the heck. We went. Luckily, it was clear and dry the entire two hours, and we had a great time.

No nurse when I need one!

There are times when I really miss working, or parts of it anyway. Like today for example.

This morning I swept the screened in porch and knocked down the accumulation of summer cobwebs in all the corners high and low. I continued onto the little landing and down the steps to the patio, where, after dropping the broom and picking it back up, I felt a sting on my left hand. Since I had just finished, I came in and assessed. I knew it was an insect bite, probably from a spider, so I quickly began my homespun approach to first aid. The fleshy part under my index finger started turning red, and the bite mark was visible. Jumping to the end of the story, eleven hours later, it is almost gone, and I hope it will stay gone.

If I were still working, I would have gone to the hospital tomorrow and asked the nurses about it, and maybe some doctors, and with all the comments and responses, I would have a clearer idea about what to do. This is one of the benefits of being around so many medical people. Among ourselves, we like to help and share what we know.

It's Rob's birthday!

Happy Birthday to my much loved little brother.

This old photo . . .

shows that I always took pictures of Greenfield Lake.
From the time I got my first camera, one that took size 616 film, I have loved to take pictures. Back then I tried to make each one count. No delete button was on it, and all sixteen were developed, the good along with the bad.

#3: Judy

Early this year, Judy rented her studio on Rembrandt and got to work on it. She painted the faux brick on the outside, hung the wisteria, and did all the other cute stuff you see. Then she tackled the inside accomplishing everything in a short time. She is a nurse and still works about three days a week, putting me to shame on many counts. Judy paints with gusto! What adjective suits her best? Something in the Es like ebullient, exuberant, enthusiastic or maybe all three. Her colorful canvases match her expressive personality.

Second in the Series: Maria

Down the "street" from me in the ArtWorks is Maria, a painter. She grew up in Puerto Rico, moved to New York City, modeled for about seven years, married, graduated from Parsons School of Design, and is the mother of two grown daughters. She paints in oils and acrylics and her specialty just may be botanicals. In fact she always has fresh flowers in her studio. Here she is working while wearing good clothes. I am impressed! But being Saturday, today was Open Studios so she ditched the artists apron while she painted a smaller piece for the visitors. Not pictured, but I love the exterior of her Spanish flavored studio, the stuccoed walls, the ornamental iron work in the windows. Good job, Maria.

Great Egret

As I passed by the dam at Greenfield Lake, I saw a guy with a big camera taking a pic of a graceful heron. Since I have seen many photographers at that same place, I decided to pull into the nearest parking place, walk down to it, and see what I have been missing. The lone photographer was deep in his work, and I said nothing. I just stood a distance, pulled out my pocket camera that I keep on silent, and snapped a few. I am sure his pics were much better as he could zoom in for better clarity. Egrets and herons are popular subjects for art around here, and no wonder, they are exquisite birds. The dam must be a good place for them to catch a quick bite!