Charles saves the day, again and again, and again!

Isn't it odd how things happen in threes? Just a week ago Saturday, we were set up selling stuff out by the stockyards and....crash! Car meets telephone pole (and another car). Charles called 911, went over and stayed there until the cops-n-stuff arrived. Excitement! and everyone was ok, except being sore from the airbags. Of course, without the air bags they would of been squished, so that is a good thing.

Thursday night- I had been up since 2am working- it was dark out and I was finally persuaded to stop and take a shower. After I got out of the shower, the manz was running through the house (stylishly attired in soft pants, scad shirt and untied work boots, hair flying) looking for his cell phone. A woman had tried to avoid "a black dog" and had crossed the road and upended on her roof across from our house. Again, the call to 911, and directing traffic (I was worried he would get squashed even though they gave him a vest) ..... again, she made it- but they had to jaws-of-life her out of the car.

Then today I was napping until Bear (and ...a...um.... 'episode of flatulence') woke me up) I just got up, fed the doggs (who oddly were not interested in food, or staying inside) when the manz came running in yet again. I thought he just got back from work, but he had been watering the flowers when *squeal-crash* another car flipped over on it's roof and was skittering across the road. 911 again- no one was hurt- the two guys (a dad and son combo) in the car were 'drunker than sh*t' and the cops had been after them since Wilmington. When they flipped the car over (I had never seen that before- the other night it was to dark to watch it flipped over) all this junk came tumbling out... the guys were just sitting on the road by the cop car displaying their lovely 'cracks of dawn' to all who drove by.

I am impressed and amazed by this man of mine. All this chaos and he is the one who was calm, called 911, told them what was going on, stayed until help arrived, helped direct traffic, answered the troopers questions and filled out all the paperwork...... I know that if (god forbid) I ever get in a mess I'd want someone like him there first.

Well, that was his three-time saving the day for this week-n-a-day..... he needs a break!

lalala....

This happy little fellow was at the auction last night, and is exactly how I am at the moment. Grinning wildly, blocking out everything so I can focus- lalala, gotta do it, almost over. 12 days....just 12 days left to get everything finished. All three classes. My National Boards. plus school of course, and the starter-store, one school art show and a sprinkling of auctions. (the auctions are the fun part- I can relax, and while we are set up selling stuff I work work work on school things....my poor students are neglected tho)

In a perfect world I could have the next 12 days off school to focus- but reality is I would probably procrastinate still and be all last minute. Having to get everything done NOW is what keeps me on the straight and narrow. It's like swimming laps or giving birth- focus, focus, focus- come up for air, breathe, then dive back in. The presentation on Monday went well, even though I didn't win (I *hate* not winning, but it's ok) and the thesis defense/review on Friday went well also- thing is, my digital stuff on the web is *so much* better than the physical print outs (in my opinion, the professors liked some of the printouts also-) and everyone loved the altered books. I do to- they are my best work, I think- though I love the narrative web site- when it is finished (12 Days!) I will post the link so you can check it out...... anyhoo, learning curves ahead. Other good things is that Dr. Arnold and Dr. Quinn both want to write articles with me (yay!) and Trish is trying to get them to hire me as an adjunct (part-time on line) professor for art appreciation. That would rock. I'm excited about this-

But I have been neglecting the blog, my family and friends again. I'm sorry- but I have to take a hiatus from writing everyday until this is over. Today I need the break- speaking of which, the poor manz has been working constantly for weeks without a day off. That's the down side of sunny weather- he has been either working on Ms. Ann's houses (reflooring) or helping his dad with Merrel's stuff, selling our stuff, refinishing, yardening, plus all the house chores- and he is off already this morning to work at the auction house and prepping our things to sell. And good natured through all of this (needs to be a saint to work for Ms. Ann.... it's like working for the world's angriest black woman with the world's most golden grill) and he has been putting up with me working all the time, getting up at weird hours and living in my bubble. He knows when I need a stress-reliever cookie, or some breakfast, or a break. He makes sure I eat right, go to bed and get outside some... have some fun...remember to pet the doggs and kitty, do all the things I need to do to be well. I am grateful that he takes good care of me- even when I am oblivious to the world.

It's been a whole year now that we have lived together, and I couldn't be happier~ it's a good thing.

Love you all- bear with me, soon I will be back on the blog-habit!

Mr. Green Jeans

Ok. The jeans aren't green, but the thumb is (and he does have the worlds oldes pair of green work-pants)... anyway, this was last Saturday out at Duplin nursery. We had been driving around, running errands, and we saw the Dad, who had just been out to the nursery to get pollinators for his grape vines. He mentioned the flowers....and off we went!

I loved it, not just because of the pretties, but because it smelled like the Flower Barn back in Johnstown- I used to love to go to the Flower Barn, and I was especially fond of the green houses because they had fountains in them. I've never seen or heard of that again- just another weird Johnstown thing- but I remember one had koi fish, and the other was larger and had some sort of naked angel thing. It was mysterious and green and warm and smelled like dirt and growing- loved it.

Anyway, no inside fountains at Duplin, but greenhouse after greenhouse of goodies. We picked geraniums for the planters (they are the blooming ones in the wagon) portulaca in a hanging basket, a few replacement lantanas(ours didn't make it through the winter...at least they still look kinda dead) some begonias, something that spreads and vines and is brightly colored for the flowerboxes (can't remember the name of it) and a licorice plant that I just *had* to have because I've never seen one before. So all the plants are here, watered faithfully every day, waiting to be planted- the week got incredibly busy very quickly (no end in sight either).... The manz was off everyday working with his Dad cleaning out the barns and stuff, and helping Mr. Wells, selling our furniture stuff on Thursday and today (even as I write) then has to do some work for Ms. Ann...busy, busy, busy manz. Not a day off in ages, and not a one in sight. (unless you count tomorrow, but that is Easter- family time and planting of flowers) ..... I don't know where my time went. I messed about cleaning up some of the stuff from the barns, but that didn't take much time.... and it took me forever to grade the papers/projects for college....I've been making art for my thesis, but it has been slower than normal and I am way behind...and Friday is the day. So, yesterday I was stressed out and scared to death , today I spent the morning with the manz and doing journal work- now I am 'fixin to' get busy with the photoshop. (I did not eat 2 peanut butter cookies. I swear. They spontaneously vanished- it just happened to be in the vicinity of my mouth....) Stress. dieting. bleah. blah. bleah. Anyhoo, still freaking out a bit, but basically just going to put the 'nose to the grindstone' (ouch) and get crackin. I WILL make this happen.

Cauldron!

It's been a crazy week...and still busy. Charles and his dad are cleaning out cousin Merel's house- he died last Christmas- and what a job that is! Merel was a life-long bachelor with an aversion to cleaning and a love of hunting. After the closer kin took everything they desired, they said that Charles/Dad could have the rest if they cleaned it up...... there is a bit of furniture in the house that we will sell, and a slightly tattered stuffed deer head that I'll drag to school, but most of the stuff is outside in the storage shed, barn and abandoned-school-bus storage place. A whole feast of scrap metal (they will cut up the bus and the old grain bins, plus there is just a bunch of metal around), fishing rods and tackle, two porta-potties turned into deerstands (with opening windows and one even has carpet!), assorted tools (we got the rototiller! Yay!) and other stuff that is squirreled away. Or I should say moused away, because everything in the barn has mice all around, and one trip there and I'm sneezing my head off. Worth it though because I got some priceless pictures and.....tada...the CAULDRON!

I have been waiting forever it seems for the right one to come along. I have a small, indoor cauldron that fits in the fire place, it's nice but not old- and I bought it myself. My beloved manz found one at an auction for me- it's iron and large, but it has a broken lip and we are intending it for flowers as it is a bit tired for a working cauldron. This one...rusty and dirty as it is- is in perfect shape. All four peg legs are on it, all four handle/rings for suspending over the fire, no breaks, cracks or weak spots. It will be a job to clean up, but worth it- and best of all it's free!

Not that I didn't have to work for it... I spotted it right off when I went out to take photos this morning. The manz said "Yes, it's a cauldron, but Dad want's it". I teased him that maybe his dad wants to give it to me for Christmas next year~ but no, it was destined to be a something in the yard or museum or sold or (God forbid!) scrapped. Later his dad showed up... Charles kept teasing me about the cauldron: Well what would you do with it? It won't hold flowers- no drainage. And I'd have to mow around it. It's to big for the fireplace...." he kept it up and kept it up until his dad couldn't stand it anymore and told him to stop picking on me- he laughed and said that he said I could have it to start with! (I couldn't very well answer the manz back with the truth- "I'm going to brew up a magic to switch you into a frog if you don't cutitout! (teasing)"

Thank-you, beloved husband. and your Dad. and Cousin Merel.

Anyway, I have this glorious new cauldron- just the way you are supposed to get one. Now I have to figure out how to clean it up, and then I'll work on fixing up some good mojo for everyone!

Spring Things

Last weekend I spring cleaned (kinda) instead of doing school work and so now I am paying the price by doing double time everything. But apparently it was a common habit because everyone else in my class did the same thing... sometimes you just need to stop, breathe, celebrate the season and get things straight.

On my little hutches that don't match, I have all of my precious seasonal things. In a way it doesn't make sense because we don't sit at the table or use the dining area of the kitchen, but it still is meaningful to me and I like it. I suppose the arranging of it with the seasons change helps me to transition, I get to rotate all my pretties around, and I just plain like it.

what we have here is a combination of dollar-store dishes, old white coffee pot and pitchers that were mother's, cow creamer, bowls of stone eggs and spring flowers, a plaster saint that I got at the auction a kabillion years ago, some tins, yellow pitchers/green tea pot, the fish Charles brought me last week on the bottom shelf next to an ostrich egg Daddy gave me long ago. It's the new beginning of the year- I want outside and flowers, fun with the husband, Ms. Ball to visit- but my thesis is due April 9th, my competition presentation is April 5th, the county art show is April 8th, and boards are due by the end of April and I am glued to work..... I don't mind the work- it will pass in good time- but I just worry that everyone will feel neglected. I don't want to neglect anyone- I just lose track of days and tasks, and before I know it another day is gone. But I try to make time to sit on the porch at least a little bit, and I try to be patient with my students even though they are in full-blown hormonal spring fever and must be constantly reminded to keep "Your hands and feet and other parts to yourself."..... that wears on my nerves.

Actually, Spring break is the coming week, and I am longing for it- being at home, cycling between work and rest (with lots of work) but at least I can *watch* the birds and the bees instead of police them!

Our Road Show

Today is the first day of Spring, and the first anniversary of when Charles asked me out- at the estate auction in Warsaw. Never knew what he was getting into- but it's been a wonderful year. Who'da thought it would work out this way?

Today we went up to the stockyard area and set up our 'roadshow' of stuff to sell. We were there from about 8 to 1, and sold quite a bit- this photo was about 3/4 way through. I set up my easel and painted outside for the first time since moving from the beach 3 years ago- it was wonderful! I painted an old tobacco barn in spring-time- that's the painting above, not quite finished. There are daffodils and clouds, I still have some detail to do. A pretty simple painting really, but it felt so good just to have fun and paint and not worry about school, or clients, or anything but enjoying the day. Quite a few stopped and commented on it- makes me happy and the manz enjoyed that as well. (Especially when they bought stuff). This was our first step together towards that someday-store dream- it's going to come true and it's going to be grand!

Now I'm home, he's off replacing windows for the Polish-guy whose name I can't remember (Jak sie masz? it's the only Polish word I know) and I have school work to do (of course) BUT I want to butterfly around, clean a bit (it is Spring, you know) take Mr. Max for a walk (we both need it!) play. It's beautiful out, hard to stay inside, impossible to focus on computer stuff. So.....procrastination or priorities or what? I dunno, but I'm going to enjoy the day!

Thanks, Honey!

My husband loves me. He really, really, really loooooooooves me- enough to pack my healthy snacks of celery and carrots and an orange in an ice-cream container.

Thanks Honey!!!!

ps: I'm cooking tonight- we are having broccoli and turkey delight.