This and That Weekend

6-18-12 reporting brain

Greg was in DM this weekend and one of our priorities was checking out the Dale Valley Vineyard (DVV), which is located west of Des Moines near Stuart.... So I believe it was about 40 minutes away.

This winery is owned by a couple who Greg knew the guy- Ed, through Greg's job at the Federal Building. They had seen my interview on TV and contacted Greg.

So message to Peace Sisters- and any other girlfriends reading this:
Girls Weekend on July 14th will be moved to the DVV...... $10 admission will get us into the (basically) MUSIC Festival they call "Winestock: Peace Love and Wine"...... I think we should dress hippy "60's"......  We can take in a picnic, but no extra beverages. If the weather is decent, I will set up a small booth to show off/ sell  my Peace Art.

This winery is located in a very pretty rural setting with the grapes growing up on the hillside and a great view of a lush valley. An old school house was moved to the location and serves as their shop and this is surrounded by decks and tents. Let's hope it is not 90+ degrees with wind.... like it was last weekend and is suppose to be today!  If so, we'll change our plans.

We got some much needed rain over the weekend, coming mostly Friday evening. This allowed me the perfect opportunity to do some weeding of the front garden Saturday morning.... but only for about 80 minutes. I've come to know that the days of all-day gardening are up. My body just can't take it.... so the rest of the backyard will just have to wait. My lilies usually are blooming in July, and they are now soon passing. There won't be much left to bloom this summer/fall. It has really been a weird season.

Sunday afternoon after Greg left, I worked on framing these 4 Peace Art which I sold to a gal who is a therapist/councilor and setting up her own  new office in Johnston. She saw my art at the Acupuncture clinic months ago, and took my business card..... and now the timing was right for her to buy some for her new adventure..... SO HAPPY to report that peace is slowly spreading in Iowa!

Wednesday GUEST Blog from Ann

6-13-12  exploding brain
Oh yes, yet another "project" for Ann and I! Creativity is alive in Iowa. Who knows what Ann will bring back from her trip out West! ~ Judy

Re-purposing, What a Concept
Man, do I have a lot to write, but that will have to wait for a couple of weeks. You see, today I’m midway on an 11-day road trip out West. The things I’m seeing, the people I’ve met, and the things I’m doing. I’ll keep you in suspense for a few weeks. In the meantime, here’s something I ran across. Hope you like it.

My co-worker brought a piece of yard art into work last month and I immediately fell in love with the art work. Glass dishes glued together to make a flower for the garden. After seeing hers, I met-up with the artist and bought four of them. Here are some pics.

Two of the pics were “Americana” themed and I knew right away who to give one to, Marine Dude John and his bride, Jean. I think they love it, sweet.

Judy and I are on a kick, commissioning a few pieces for the artist to glue together. So as I’m garage hunting (even in Bozeman), my eyes are peeled for colorful dishes and glass votives. Gotta run, off to Yellowstone from Sky Country, Bozeman, MT.

Chat Later, That Girl
Ann Marie

Weekend Report

6-12-12 summer brain
I'm up early this morning listening to the birds sing. First the robins, then the cardinals, then the wren.... so I have a few extra minutes to finish my blog about the weekend.

Friday afternoon I took an hour early off work so I could ride with my KC neighbors up to the opening reception in St Joseph at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art.  This was my first time in the old river town of St Joe. I believe I had a great aunt and uncle on my Dad's side of the family who lived in St Joe.

My KC neighbors, Wil and Susan are quite the dynamo couple- don't let their size fool you.... they are so full of energy and life. You can't get a picture of Susan without her laughing or talking. Wil and Susan are artists and spend half their time in a home in Belize. (they own two Mini Coopers too!)  I enjoy hanging out with them and learning more about the "real" art world out there.

Here they are with their friend Jane who had the opening to her art exhibit. Bold colors and large sized paintings!

Greg then met up with us for dinner at Weston Mo, a small  historic town on our way back to KC.  A very fun evening for me.

Saturday we had a lazy- relaxed morning, then we went down to the Plaza area of KC. First we watched Molly play in a tennis tournament for awhile. It was pretty hot out, so we found some shade. Then we went over to the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum to see a display about the World Fairs, which was interesting. Gee, I just realized this was an "art weekend" rather than a "car show" weekend..... however Saturday night we did go out to the T-bones baseball game with the Mini Cooper KC Club and Sunday Greg did attend a car event without me. 

My new sunglasses... with bifocals..... way too much money for these! But know I can read my iPhone without changing glasses. 

Molly is dressed in white. They lost, but didn't feel too bad about it for their first doubles tournament. Molly is really getting into tennis and plays 3 to 5 times per week! 

Back in DM

6-10-12 happy brain
Back in DM this afternoon in time to participate in my church's booth down at the Pride Festival. I didn't make the parade, but spent 2 hours in the booth with 90 degree temps and strong breeze. The wind both helped and hurt. Had a cooling effect or affect (I can't remember Renee which is correct), but also the winds dried you out. So I came home and ate ice cream.... a whole pint! OK, so tomorrow, back to no sugar foods.

I had a fun week in KC with Greg, and I was in the mind frame again of enjoying my split life, appreciating what each city has to offer.

In KC, at one of our usual weekend breakfast places, they bring your bill to your table in an old book. We've seen some interesting books cross our path. This Saturday was my favorite one so far. It was called The Prophet written in 1923 by Kahlil Gibran. The book was a college graduation gift to someone by the inscription  in side cover.

There was a great section on Love.... and I liked the few pages on Marriage! The owner of the book had written in "Best Advice Ever".   I liked the words above that..... "let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you"...... fits Greg and I!

I'll write more on the weekend report tomorrow.... I sure hope we get some rain tonight. It's dry here in DM. Storms are forming out in western Iowa, so I'm hopeful!

We R what we EAT!

6-7-12 healthy brain
I am enjoying a productive work week in KC. I'm away from "my art stuff" for the most part this week and enjoying the not-too-hot-summer weather with evening walks. No TV viewing this week. Last night Molly came over and we walked, then Greg, Molly and I went out to eat. Greg was busy working with a guy who was fixing the sprinkler system.

Mostly we have been eating at home this week- which is a bit different, but I started a no-sugar eating just after Memorial Day until July 4th. When I'm back in my hometown over the 4th we tend to do as much eating of good food as we do at Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I want to go into the 4th holiday under control.

It's been 10 days so far, and I've done pretty well..... even more than just NOT eating sugar foods... I've been eating healthy foods and I must say, I'm feeling better and pretty steady energy- thus I am able to be more productive at work I believe.

Here is one of my favorite breakfasts: microwaved Yam (about 4 to 5 minutes in a covered dish) then add a bit of butter and cinnamon. Steamed spinach, pouched egg with pepper.

Here is a typical lunch: tuna with 1/2 avocado; on steamed spinach and strawberries.

I'll sure be looking forward to the homemade Ice Cream, special Flag Cake, Chips, Cookies.... etc which make of an important part of the 4th July vacation time.... no wonder Americans are increasingly overweight!

Wednesday GUEST Blog from Ann

6-6-12

More This n’ That

Judy is correct, May flew by like the wind and before I submitted a request for an “administrate hearing” for the parking ticket n’ tow. Here’s a brief summary:

As explained in the attached request form, I received a illegal parking ticket and my car/jeep was towed from the 200 block of Court Ave. **Note the ticket says 200 block but the tow ticket says 300 block.

I was the 10^th car parked on the 200 block of Court Ave (north side, furthest parking west parking spot). When I parked, I did not see a “no parking sign Friday and Saturday, nor did I see a Tow Sign” on the meter or in front or behind the parking spot. Since there were 9 other cars, I assumed the red parking sack was for the farmers’ market as the whole block had the sacks on the meter.

I attended a live show at People’s Court and when I came out at 11 pm, to my SHOCK, my car along with the other 9 cars were gone. No vehicles were parked there. I asked the officer “where are the cars that was parked here, my car was right here, he said “after 9 pm, it’s a no parking/tow zone so the Party Busses could park/drop off”. I was still in shock since there were no immediate sign in front or to the rear of where I parked. The officer said “it’s midway in the block, up high”. He said all 10 cars were ticketed and 5 were towed.

Again still in shock when I asked how to get my car, he said I would have to go to the police station, pay to get the paperwork ($20) then go to the impound lot ($60) not to mention the $15 ticket. I asked if the station was open and he said no, it opens up at 7 am.

So there I was, alone, without my car, unable to get it for 8 hours and I live in Ankeny. I had to find a ride, stay in Des Moines, went to the station at 0800 only to find out they “towed 5 cars and he says it happens every weekend, people like you who come down for a show, not been on Court Ave, get towed”.

My Appeal is based on the following:
1. Why the block is a “no-parking” block from 6 pm to 3 am on a Friday-Saturday night? Does the Party Busses have priority parking? Are there no other spots for the Busses to park? What kind of message does this say that Party Busses have more rights than the average citizen?

2. Signage, do you really think I or someone else would purposely park in a “no-parking/tow zone”? There should be, at the minimums signage at the beginning, middle and the end of the block.  If cars are routinely ticketed and towed every weekend, does it not beg the City to clearly put up more signs, maybe attached to each meter? Does the City want to help the citizen have a good taste of Court Ave versus a ticket and a tow?

3. What does the City think of how the citizen is to get home and get their car? Can you imagine, coming out looking for your car and finding out it was towed, no way to get home or get back to town to get the car? Do you not think maybe the citizen has a place to be either after their evening or in the early morning?

Additionally, I don’t understand the ordinance 114-361.15. Please help me understand what I was ticketed and towed for. I walked all over Court Ave, downtown, around the Federal/Court House and Police Station and I find no “special no-parking zone during special hours and I found NO tow-bans in the same area”. Again, I am stumped and mortified that the City Council approved a special “no-parking/tow zone for Party Busses”.

 I will keep you posted on the outcome of the hearing. Remember, it only took one person to expose the City of Des Moines illegal utility tax (they now owe 40 million dollars). Maybe I can be that one person to expose this “tow trap”. Gotta Run!

Chat Later, That Girl
Ann Marie

Choosing Less?

6-4-12 happy brain
I had a nice weekend in KC with Greg. We didn't have too much on our schedule, so I was able to relax and veg out a bit. Off and on Greg and I were discussing my eventual move to KC once I retire.... probably a few years out yet. I had always said I wanted to add on an upstairs bedroom IF we were to stay in this KC ranch house. This weekend we played around drawing up some plans..... but we couldn't quite figure out where to but the stairs to go up to a 2nd floor.

Then we both came to the same conclusion. We shouldn't bother to spend our money on upgrading this house. We can live here perfectly find together, with a few improvements- like new windows. This is the time of our life where we don't need to be "expanding" and collecting more stuff.... but we need to be living more simply. Who wants to be house rich and cash poor?

So I've taken a big step to come to except this KC house, and I believe I can slowly start to make it my own. In fact I was inspired on Sunday to rearrange our bedroom, and in the process dusted everything thoroughly and washed the curtains. This was after I went for an hour walk. Sunday was a perfect day out- being overcast and kind of "dreamy out", with mild temperatures.

We got to see Molly briefly on Saturday, and then Greg and I attended the Prairie Village Art Show. Someday I think I could see myself selling at this show, but still I have much to learn about the business of art. I did get two ART SURPRISES over the last few days. Thursday, a guy Greg use to have work connections with in Des Moines, who now owns a Vineyard in a small town west of Des Moines is interested in my Peace Art. He wants me to have a display and he is willing to sell my art. Also Friday, I got an email from a gal who saw my art at the Acupuncture Clinic and wants to commission several peace pieces for her new office which will be opening in July.  Boy! I'm going to be busy, so I will savor my relaxed upcoming week in KC and just focus on my day job.

I didn't bring my paints down to KC with me this time, but Saturday afternoon, I was working on cutting some pixels to start a new pixel artwork.... but this might have to be put on hold for a few weeks while I concentrate back on framing some more peace art.