Art on the Lawn

Today was the annual Art on the Lawn event. It is a fundraiser for the library in one of the nearby towns. It is held on the grounds of an old log homestead site. It has lots of shady old trees which makes it a fairly pleasant place to be, even on a hot summer day.






Our booth was right near the front of the yard which is almost taken over with these beautiful large poppies. They seem particularly large and lush this year. Lots of people were taking pictures of them, including me.









During the day, a couple of different artists set up next to us and the poppies. It was interesting to see the difference in how they portrayed what they saw.



Little booths were scattered all over the grounds. Since it was ART on the Lawn, the folks were all artists, selling paintings, pottery, jewelry, wood things, etc..










There was an area where anyone could grab some paints and add to the paintings being done there.



One area had 'quilts in the garden' on display.



There was even a small antique car show.



The woodworker's friend, Gary, always brings his shave horse along so he can make spoons while he is there.



Sometimes the woodworker works as well...or just rests in the shade. See his plane and his workbench there in front of him?



This is a clock he built last winter. It is a replica of the sort of clock that hung in many railroad stations about 1885. The special part of the clock is that it is built out of wood that was reclaimed and recycled from the original transcontinental railway.



We had fun visiting with folks who stopped by. Maybe we'll see them again next year at Art on the Lawn 2012.

Boys Week 2011

We seem to have started a tradition. It didn't start out that way, but now that it has happened, I am enjoying it. I know it won't last forever, so we'll have fun with it while we can. Some of the grandchildren seem to enjoy spending a few days with us during the summer. This week 3 of the boys, ages, 10, 8 and almost 4, have been staying with us. We've been trying to keep them busy. They are ruthless UNO players! They worked on projects in the garage with Grandpa. The older boys made wooden spoons, while the little one made a brontosaurus.

Now that hot summer weather seems to have arrived at last, we had to get out the Slip 'n Slide. (Note to the mothers: Yes, we put sunblock on them!)





One day we decided to make a picnic lunch and go to the shady park here in town.







Before we went to the park we spoke to the boys about the danger in the little creek that runs through the park. With the sudden onset of hot weather, the snow is melting rapidly in the mountains, causing our usually placid little creek to seem pretty ferocious. The boys were very respectful of the water and were careful to stay close to us and observe the water from a distance.



Of course the time would not be complete without a day to spend at the living history farm playing pioneer. The boys worked hard carrying water and using the 2-man saw.

I was amazed how much food they ate after all the work they did. They must have worked up a real appetite.



Of course it is not all work at the pioneer site. You see, there is this marvelous game where you use a cloth ball hung from a tree branch which you use to knock cans off a stump. Such a game could entertain some almost 4 year olds for hours.





On a blazing hot summer day, one job turned out to be quite fun. The cabin needed a bit of new chinking and daubing, so the children rolled up their pant legs and waded in to make some lovely mud and straw mixture to use in fixing up the cabin. It was a good way to cool off.







We even found a special visitor again today:



Later we made a batch of soft cheese flavored with sage leaves for an afternoon snack....and also had some nice cool watermelon.




We finished off the day in grand fashion with rides on ponies and the train.








On the way home, the little one fell asleep almost before we left the parking lot.

Painted Turtle?

Today at the living history farm we were busy cooking, fixing rags to weave into rugs, playing games and all manner of other activities when we became aware of a strange critter walking across the field toward us. We've seen raccoons, rock chucks, and snakes of various kinds, but this one was a new one for us.




We think maybe it is a painted turtle. The problem is, painted turtles are just not native to this area. How on earth did it come to be in our field? We'll probably never know.



The pioneer children picked some succulent dandelion stems for it to eat.



We made a lovely pond for it to splash in.



Since the turtle is not native to the area, the local wildlife people came and picked it up. Did it really live around here? Did someone drop off a pet that had grown to large for them to care for? Did it escape from the zoo and make its way out to us? We don't know.

In the meantime, the peacocks and peahens were active today, chasing each other around and begging for food. One peacock was aloof and above all such behavior. He spent his time strutting his stuff.





At first glance you might think he looks albino, but he has black eyes, so I think not. He looks like a giant snowflake.

You never know what you might find there.

Red Letter Day

A number of years ago we met and grew to love this young man when his father married our daughter.



Recently we were pleased to attend a very special event when our daughter was at last able to legally adopt him. Strangely enough, the event happened in a probate court, so after sitting through several cases related to probate, name changes, etc. it was finally time. After all the legal formalities were taken care of, the judge asked if they wanted pictures and even let Garrett sit in his chair.






Since it was such an important day, Garrett got to choose where we should all eat dinner. His choice was Brick Oven.



I think Garrett enjoyed his meal...but his little sister had just had too long a day!






After a nap she felt re-energized and ready for the evening ice cream party to celebrate with big brother Garrett, family and friends.











Congratulations, Garrett! We love you!