Artiscape, Art & Soul Hampton revisited!

Goodies on our Vendors table at Art & Soul

Wow has time ever flown! In a little less than 3 weeks Mike and I've been all over the place, and visited with friends from around the country!

First, we had a visit with our good friends Kathy from TN, and Andi from WV. So nice they could come in early and spend time with us! First Mike made us his awesome world famous ribs, we enjoyed the comedy styling of John Pinette. The next day the girls and I spent a glorious day stimulating the economy of Dublin Ohio at Miss Biddies Coach House & Tea Room, and then shopping at The Morgan House. Not finished yet, we finished the day with a car full of goodies from The Greater Columbus Antique Mall.

From then the race was on. Artiscape was in full swing, with Mike, Kathy and I setting up and them vending while I demo-ed my new favorite tools, Knead-a-mold and Casting Resin! (More on that later!!!) So all day & night Friday and Saturday we were swamped busy. Our booth was small but mightily filled with goodies, and the shoppers and other vendors were so much fun!

Sunday was my "Happy Bird Sings" clay covered journal class, taking the majority of our day. Had great students, and a lot of fun. Andi shot home after her classes, and Kathy and Mike and I wound down getting Kathy ready for the Airport the next morning.

Upon arriving home from the airport, I was lucky enough to spend time with my cousins Wendy and Laura. Sadly, we lost Laura's mom- my Aunt Linda, and I was heartbroken at not being able to attend the funeral due to my Artiscape commitments, but thank goodness I got to spend time with my girls. We were the closest in age, and so of course we spent lots of time together growing up. I miss my time with my cousins. Now that I'm always travelling, Wendy is in CA and Laura has 5 kids- that time is precious and scarce these days. They kindly helped me re-stock my supplies for my booth and we spent nice times together at the Antique mall and then splurged on Jeni's Ice Cream. If you've never had their Bangkok Peanut....OHHHH MY! Thai Chili Spice, Peanuts and Coconut....ice cream that sets your mouth on fire....I DREAM of it...

Then Easter! And Mike was on the freeway, and a Canadian Goose flew right into the car! Smashed the windshield, dented the roof, and sent glass all over him. The Lord was good and spared Mike from any injury, and other than being shaken and having an un-driveable car, all was well. We scrambled, and Mom lent us her car, as the very NEXT day we were to leave for Art & Soul in Hampton VA.

Mike's Easter Goose Encounter

We loaded the car to the gills, and headed out- stopping at Andi's to spend the night. Mapquest said it was exactly halfway... Mike and I were used to our GPS, and my Mom's was totally different. We ended up going thru the most twisty, turny, 180 degree, one laned roads, but we eventually got there, and we had a lovely, VERY rural drive doing it. We hit an antique store with Andi and found even more goodies, and had a fun dinner out. A nice evening chatting and then off to bed to get ready for the next day. Of course Andi had prepared her WORLD FAMOUS Creme Brulee' French Toast, and so Mike and I waddled to the car and said goodbye, knowing we would meet up with her again in a few days at Art & Soul!

Mike and I went through the Monongahela National Forest & Park, and the George Washington State Park on our way to Hampton Virginia. Lovely all- stomach did not like the curves much though...

Hooray! We arrived at Art & Soul, and I taught 2 full classes of the most awesome and open-minded, creative artists! Each and everyone a happy success story! Fluid Romance and Event Journals Extraordinaire! Can't say enough good about the experience! Everyone was positive and happy and thrilled to be there, enjoying the venue and each others company! Class spaces were wonderfully large and comfortable. The hotel rooms were lovely suites with plenty of space to sit and work and still be comfortable.

I got to spend good down time with my friends Christy from VA and Deb from TX, along with Andi and a new friend Adriane. Seemed I also got to quickly connect and see dozens of friends in the halls and at breakfast every day.

I also was fortunate to meet several of my art heroes- which is always a big kick! I was so pleased to meet Suzanne McNeill, Pam Carriker, Lesley Riley and Susan Lenart Kasmer. Fabulous ladies each and every one!

Vendors Night came, and with a WHOOSH it went, but boy did our booth just BLOW OUT the goodies! Can't believe how many empty containers we had on the table at the end of just 3 hours! I just barely had a few minutes before opening to scour the room, and a few minutes after closing to go back and pick up my treasures. I always have to stop at Lesley and Tom Venables table- they have the most MARVELOUS goodies! And Lesley is an awesome instructor on top of it all!

Finally the sad day came. Art & Soul was over, and we headed home. Mike and I shopped at little out-of-the-way antique shops all the way home to restock our supplies for our vending booth again. And WOW! What cool stuff we found! Can't wait to show you!

Whew! If you've hung-on this long, my thanks. I don't know when I'll get to get back again, as I am leaving for the CREATE Retreat in Costa Mesa CA in just a few days, and I am crazily getting ready for those classes. Unpacking, Repacking, Restocking and Shipping has taken it's toll on the house. Thank goodness Mike will be home this time, to keep things under control!

Angels Unaware

Grandpa circa 1939

As many of my friends out there know, we are in the sad process of watching my 87 year old Grandfather Earl McKnight fade away from the dreaded pancreatic cancer. Less than 2 weeks ago he was diagnosed, and since then we have had to call Hospice in. Even in the midst of this incredible sadness of watching him suffer and slip away, We have the comfort of our strong faith. God has also surrounded us with loving angels here on earth. I am so grateful for their presence in our lives. It makes my sad heart sing to think how wonderful it is to be touched by these special beings when we need it the most.

First of all, our friends and family have come from hither and yon to bring food, pray, help with work, and visited or called for pleasant visits of comfort, prayer, and distraction. My online Artist friends have sent very touching heartfelt words of comfort and Art pieces full of Love, Hope, Kindness, Prayers and caring. They have buoyed my spirits and provided a world to lose myself in thru lovely eye-candy and happy, light-hearted banter.

Second, we have been so fortunate to have the help of Hospice. Every single person we have encountered has been kind, informative and reassuring. They have provided a wealth of information to us, eased our fears and worries, lent a shoulder to cry on when necessary, and provided meds, hospital beds, wheel chairs and walkers at a moments notice. It is such a blessing to have them provide the medicines to control his pain without having a hassle thru insurance.

Third, we have been blessed to find wonderful, caring, round the clock home health care workers to care for Grandma. They are all gentle, patient and experienced with all the many cruelties of dementia and Parkinsons. One in particular is a wonder to me. She is the main night shift care giver, her name is Carol.

Carol has been with us for 3 weeks. Carol is gentle and soft spoken. She is efficient, kind and loving. She is a tower of strength like I've never seen. Carol nursed her husband thru a long illness and his death, as well as her mother and several uncles. She has a disabled daughter with 2 sons, all 3 of whom Carol cares for daily. She takes in and loves up all the strays of any type of animal that comes her way. Unbeknownst to us, her home burned down the day before Thanksgiving and she lost everything. She is basically living out of her husbands truck- the only thing she has left of him now.

Due to a crooked insurance agent who never turned in the paperwork and check to the company she has no insurance. The building inspector condemned her home. She farmed the kids and her daughter out to the only relatives she has, and she moved in with an elderly friend.

That friend passed away, and the bank has foreclosed on the home and given her 15 days to get out. They turned off the water and electric on her. She never mentioned a word to any of us, until my Dad drew it all out of her the other night. Her comment was "you all have more important things to worry about than me." She downplays it all and never mentions it, and always has a quick smile ready.

The building inspector has said if she can get all the smoke damage off of the brick, and she can replace the wood with good wood, he will un-condemn the first floor for her to live in. SO -during these miserable cold wet days of an Ohio spring she has been cleaning off the bricks with a steel brush and her bare hands. She has been trying to replace the lumber as she can afford it.

And she shows up on time every night, ready to help us care for my grandmother's mounting needs so we can concentrate our attentions on Grandpa during this difficult time.

If that isn't the description of the work of an angel, I don't know what is. Luckily, my Hubby is quite handy with a power washer, and he is going to go out to help her, and my Dad is in charge of the local Mission ministry for our church. He is trying to get a church team to help her re-build. We will put her up in our home if need be. There are counselors church willing to help her daughter, and a group to help her with her grandsons. How's that for a modern day example of God's promise in Romans 8:28? "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (King James Version) 'Nuff said!

Rough Patch

Sorry to have dissapeared, but life ate my family whole. Within the last 3 weeks, I've had all 3 grandparents fall and have to go by squad and be hospitalized (Grandpa twice, now being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.) They have needed extensive support resulting in many full days and nights with them. I've had my cousin and her family from CA stay with us for a week, I've had a serious accident, and suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on my hand and arm- resulting in a trip to the Urgent care and several Drs. Oh, and the kicker was our 3 year old water heater had to be totally replaced. During this period, my parents were out of town, my Dad was in the jungles of Central America on a mission trip, almost unreachable. He struggled for 3 days to get home with the snowstorms. Oh- did I mention the 22 inch snowfall and blizzard? 2 stuck 4 wheel drives later...

In the midst of all of this rough patch, I have clung to hope. I have had bright patches. Supportive friends and extended family, Wonderful artists who have volunteered their time to finish swaps for me, a friend who cleared our 1/4 mile long drive after the blizzard, a hairdresser who worked me in since I can't do my own hair with my hand being so bad.

I pulled out these pictures that Mike and I took in January as we played on the beach, and they makes me smile-despite the snow piled high outside.

Good things are beginning to spread!

As I've said previously, I really totally appreciate my art friends. They are so caring and supportive! Who was one of the first people to jump on board this Gratitude Challenge? A dear art friend of course! Jump over to Christy's blog http://artchickadee.typepad.com/art_chickadees_reflection/ and check out her great input into this challenge. She is so eloquent, and has some awesome insight on this matter. She has definitely improved and strengthened and stretched this challenge just by being herself!