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!