Wonderful West Virigina

We got back last night.

LATE last night. Rolled in around 11:30. Late night for a LG who has school the next day.

But it was a lovely weekend in WV.

I had the urge the entire time to break out into song

Take me home, country road....

(No, its not really home, never was - I'm not from WV. But I could imagine it being home! The scenery was lovely, the air, although hot - was clear, and the people were very friendly and fun to talk with. It was a really nice get away. )

Back to the song

dark and dusty.......

painted on they sky

In reality though, I can assure you that you don't want to hear me sing.

Really, you don't.

We had about 10 minutes of rain on Saturday night.

No big deal, until we saw what happened next. . . . .

Pretty, isn't it?

Its some big sky up in those hills.

the rainbow was gorgeous and my daughter took some wonderful photos of it (I'm sure you'll see more of those later). She really has an eye for photography. I believe she took all the photos that are making it into this post!

I'd take a photo of something and then she'd grab the camera and take the same photo, only better. So I guess its not the SAME photo - just the same subject matter.

She just has a great eye for composition.

We were in WV for an Arts Festival.

It was hot. VERY hot.

And Saturday was a REALLY long day. We got in late Friday night, went to bed, and the tall one and I rose early on Saturday to go set up my booth. After that, she ditched me in favor of the pool at the hotel. They had a great time while I sat and sweated in my booth! I had a good time, but it was a SLOW weekend for me. Not a heap of traffic and few sales. Enough to cover the expenses I needed to cover, but thats it. :( And then of course there was so much to spend my hard earned money on!

Like this 'tattoo' for my LG.

Very cool really.

Done by Black and Blue Temporary Tattoos

Very fun!

My daughter (AKA: the tall one) also picked up a piece of artwork. I'll have to get a photograph to share with you all. Its a very trippy inkpen drawing.

I very much wanted to pick up a piece of artwork. You have no idea......but alas, that purchase must wait until I have a little more cashola in the pocket.

I was particularly impressed with the

Porcelain artworks of Ridgetop Pottery.

Is that not gorgeous?

I want one.

or two or three or four.

And they are completely functional! With the most secure, stable lids. No rocking or teetering. Everything is a secure fit.

The craftsmanship is amazing.

I have more to tell about our adventures in WV but I'm still playing catch up so it will have to wait for another time!

HAPPY MONDAY!

~Janice

Momentum

I'm trying to keep the momentum here with the posting so I thought I'd update on my upcomign events and share a few WIPs (Work In Progress).

On June 12th I will be showing at The Gunpowder River ArtFest in Monkton MD.

If you are anywhere nearby, come out and see me!!!

I've never done this show but it appears to have some fabulous artists and there will be music, food, demos and even a painting workshop.

Sounds like a good time for the whole family.


THEN, on June 19 & 20 I will be showing in Morgantown WVA at the Arts on the River

Again, a show I've never done. I also don't know much about this one but thought it might be a nice weekend getaway for my entire family. So we're most likely all packing up and heading to WVA on the 18th.

I've been trying to get together a few new pieces so I can properly fill out my tables at these shows.

Unfortunately I've not been able to get a lot of bench time, or I just haven't MADE time.

In the time I have put aside, I have been working on the pieces to the left - almost done.


And I have a handful of pendants from the past month or two that just need chains. I will create a few more pieces before the 12th. Probably my 'made in metal' pieces, fold forming and my lines line. And then I'll just hope for the best!

If you come out to see me at a show, mention my blog by name for a 15% discount!

HAPPY FRIDAY to all! Hope you are looking forward to the weekend. We have a baseball game at 8 am tomorrow - we have to be at the field at 0730. BRIGHT AND EARLY! After that I am going to try to set up my show tables and see how I might arrange my displays. Sunday will be church and a few errands and hopefully some bench time. Seems like I am forgetting something but I don't know what....

So what are your plans for the weekend? Leave me a comment and let me know whats going on in your world. :)

~Janice

Shake me up!

I totally need a good shaking!

I need to snap out of it.

What 'it'?

a mood

The mood.

That dark, heavy, icky, pissy mood.

The one I've been in for the past few days -- some of you are familiar with these moods - the ones that come on, unannounced, unbidden, unwelcome and try to make themselves at home from time to time.

I am determined today to shake myself out of it, its been about 3 days and I'm totally sick of it.

I know many who read here don't share my particular faith so I won't belabor it, but for me - everything (all of life) is faith related, so whether its a good mood or a bad mood - I need to talk to God about it. Right now that means more prayer, more time in the bible. . . .more reliance on God. Gotta love these repetitive reminders of my need for grace. Starting last night instead of reading my current novel in bed - I went with the bible. I've read several devotionals today already (short passages of bible with some commentary).....and while these things aren't out of the norm - I can (and do) get into periods where its more infrequent and less meaningful.

Part of my current mood, I recognize stems from 'life', parts of which are too private for blogsphere, but one thing I realized today is that even though it IS overwhelming and it IS a lot to bear and much of it is out of my control....I need to take responsibility for what I can control and I need to buck up. I think I've been letting (to a large degree) life happen to me lately rather than engaging fully.


So, as of now (and for now, today is all I can commit to) -- eyes open, focused, head and heart aligned - engage life. No passive BS.

As for what I can share on the blog....I am not even sure I can remember everything thats been going on the past couple of weeks.

Lots.

LG had his Spring Strings Concert



and his Spring Choral Concert

I only managed to have the camera on hand for the choral concert.

And he saw me having the camera on hand

and it was fun to smile and wave

until I kept trying to get him to slide left two steps so I had a clear shot





That is when I remembered how much he likes to follow the rules. He apparently had been coached to stand in the EXACT spot in which his two feet were FIRMLY planted

and my charades were getting old




and he wasn't having any of it

Then there is Pedro.

You may remember him from the bath

or the bad breathe

or the surgery.

well, here he is again - looking quite forlorn

He had an injury to his foot (paw) which required a trip to the Animal Hospital.

(where I had visions of Missy)


And he has looked quite pathetic...with his bandaged paw

and its hard to walk




our chunky monkey is a little hop-along.

or was.

He now has the bandage of and his foot is healing nicely. :)

In addition to all this running around - I've been busy trying to get ready for two shows this month. First larger shows that I've done.

I purchased a tent and am trying to re-configure my displays.

In addition to making some new items to fill out said displays.

I'm les tired.

so take a nap and then fire ze mizzles!

oh never mind.

The holiday weekend went by in a blur as we cleaned windows (and I do mean CLEANED as in scrubbed, inside and out, top and botton, frames, sills, screens) and attended other chores.

I am so thankful for that extra day off. So nice.

LG had a friend spend the night Sunday night.

They chased fireflies and caught a frog, roasted marshmallows and ate 'smores.

Posed for the camera.......

Watched a movie, played some games and went to bed promptly at 1am.

They arose at 7am.

Then they had b-fast and played and ran in the sprinkler and ate lunch and then went to the pool

and then friend went home around 4:30.

They were les tired.

Happy Wednesday all! :)