Neighborhood Block Party

8-31-10 party brain
Saturday was our annual neighborhood block party in Des Moines. We were blessed with beautiful weather for this event.... just perfect!


We had a good turn out, about half the houses on our street attended this year. We had small kids, teenagers, and parents, and retirees "represent'n"



We even had our own entertainment with Steve on piano, and Maryln on banjo.

Museum of BAD Art

8-30-10 artistic brain
I don’t remember how or when I came across this website HERE, but thought it was weird-interesting and so I bookmarked it. There is actually a Museum of “Bad” Art. Since this is in the Boston area, I think I may have heard about it on NPR since I listen to www.wbur.org (Boston PR)often.

As you can see on their website, there is a “bad” painting of two dogs. This reminds me of an old watercolor painting I came across this summer in the basement as I was cleaning out old art supplies.

Back in the 1994 I bought myself a cheap watercolor set… and knowing nothing about watercolor, I set out to learn. My first subject was my cat Buster.



Well, it became obvious that I needed to take some art lessons, and in summer of 1997 I finally did sign up for my first art class. There I meet a wonderful teacher (Mary Muller) and she said I needed to start with some basic drawing classes. So I began with her class and have taken classes with her for over 10 years now.

I started in charcoal drawing, working my way into pastels, and dabbling a bit in acrylics… I have yet to be brave enough to try watercolors again. But someday I will, since I really do love a good watercolor painting.

I believe, and I bet you agree…. this picture of Buster, belongs in the Museum of Bad Art!

PS: If you are in the Des Moines area, Mary Muller is the best! I'm too busy to take classes lately... but I can highly recommend her work, either to buy or to take classes from. I LOVE her work, and I LOVE her as an inspiring person.

Goldfinch

8-28-10 bird brain
Here is a somewhat better photo of my visiting Goldfinch, eating sunflowers.

Stopping to smell the roses

8-27-10 nature brain
I’m still just feeling tired and worn out this week. I so wanted to take a day to sleep, but been busy at work and thus getting out of bed at usual time.

Anyway, I’m not in the mood to write today, so here is some things I have spotted in my backyard over the last few weeks.

A Goldfinch (the Iowa state bird)… he likes my cone flowers in a vase on patio table. Pictures taken through the window.



A baby praying mattes: Look close, I believe he is eating a fly.



Morning Glory vine is out of control.... and hummingbird feeder with only a wasp eating! I hope to see a hummingbird one of these days. I just cleaned and refilled this week.

The change has started

8-26-10 unhurried brain
A break in the hot humid weather AT LAST! Tuesday and Wednesday have been wonderful. 70 degree temps and even in the 50’s last night….. SUPERB sleeping weather. There is definitely a feel of fall in the air this week. The timing is perfect since school started this week, and we will be having our annual neighborhood block party on our street in DM this weekend.

With the cooler weather, comes the semi-annual “test”…. Wondering if, with the change of season, will I still be able to fit into my old clothes. In the spring, the challenge is to fit into shorts and swim suit. In the fall, the challenge is to see if my jeans still fit OK. After wearing dresses and shorts all summer long, it really feels weird to put on long pants.

I am pleased with myself, and am happy to report, my jeans which are now 5 years old… still fit just fine! It’s not always easy for a woman to keep her weight stable when you are in your 50’s…. but it is possible.

The return to school signals back to routine for many families, as the rush of sports and other school activities return…. But for me, autumn is when I find myself slowing down (running out of energy) and allowing my body to enter into the upcoming season of hibernation and rest.

Looking back this year, spring and summer was my time to accomplish and be productive, and I did make a lot of progress in many projects. Now, I will have to leave some things undone, as I now pull back a bit and use winter to recharge as I plan for future projects when that spring burst of energy returns.

A new kid in the house

8-25-10 hairball brain
Greg and I have been without a cat now for year and a half. Missy died in December 2008, and Buster died May 2006. I knew I didn’t want to rush getting a new cat, since my love was so intense for Buster and Missy, I couldn’t bare the thought of loving something new.

But we are cat people, and it was just a matter of time. Long story short…. This weekend we adopted a cat we had been visiting with for several months at a shelter. Her name is Clover and she is 6 years old, cute black and white cat.



I forgot what it was like to have a cat around the house. I little more work to clean, feed, and scoop the poop… but then there are the rewards. The purring, petting and playing… I could feel my blood pressure lower and felt more relaxed than I have been in a long time.

Clover will be our KC cat. We won’t make her travel back and forth. She seems to be settling in fairly well after a few days.



We thought we had lost her when we woke up the first morning… we couldn’t find her anywhere. Then we discovered her “safe spot”….. she still likes to go sit up high when we aren’t around. She is a "ceiling cat"... and I think we can accept that.



PS: I guess I am more than a "cat person"... I am a cat LOVER! I LOVE everything about cats... their face, the tail, the way they move, that purring.... just everything!

"Little Pretties"

8-24-10 buying "Made in America" brain
Speaking of spending money yesterday.... I bought a lovely piece of jewelry for my friend Molly's Birthday.... I know... Molly doesn't REALLY need one more piece of jewelry.... but when I saw this one particular necklace, it was really screaming her name.... and it is Molly's big 5 - 0 birthday.... and Molly wears bright jewelry so well. I wanted to get her something special.

The creator of this jewelry is a Des Moines artist and I was happy to spend my money locally to help support her talent. Here is her (Cara Veeder) Etsy site "Little Pretties".

Pictured here is a similar, but shorter version of the necklace I gave to Molly, Cara did this custom order for me.... and she can create one just to suit your needs, if you are interested.