Tolentreasures

Take a large tub, fill it with sudsy water, (Johnson's Baby Shampoo...no more tears) Add a five year old, a four year old and a one year old... and set them free, then sit back and watch the fun!   Hint: It's also a good way to entertain three small children. They had a ball... such cheap, clean entertainment. The next morning, Gracelyn convinced Papa to let her cook breakfast.  He did supervise, I mean after all, she is only four. A canvas painting, inspired by this dish towel. Two more finished scarves. And more snowmen!

As decorative painters, we used to have a saying, "The wood has to season." That was the excuse for buying wood when we already had quite a bit. It was the excuse for not painting some wood. It was really more like, "I can't figure out what to paint on that." This cupboard door has been in the basement stash/hoard for quite awhile. Four years actually. I remember when and where I had to have it. Construction Junction Shelby was with me and pregnant. Kendall is over three now. It "seasoned" well. It was ready!

JWS came home from town yesterday with peppers. A lot of peppers! He made this pepper relish that is delicious on burgers, chips or just a spoon! I painted, and painted... and painted some more! Jenn wanted to take the boys to see the dam. They had seen the sign yesterday and wanted to know what it was. This is about a mile from our house as the crow flies. As the Chevy goes,  a little farther. So this evening we went for a ride. So close and yet I had not been there for a few years. Mahoning Dam is a Corp of Engineers Flood Control Dam. The boys were impressed. http://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/rec/lakes/mahoning.htm A little friend that we saw on the way in. And the surprise. JWS brought this home for me yesterday. An Ipod! I love it! I spent the evening last night loading music on it. What a guy!

As of the last post, I had returned from a nice restful weekend of painting. Wow, did I hit the ground running! Almost a week of fair preparation, mowing, decorating and even testing my limited carpentry skills. Two DD days, (Dialysis Driver) and Saturday brought the start of the fair. High School Rodeo on Saturday, Horse Pull & Kitchen help on Sunday, followed by the church service and the crowning of a new fair queen. A tearful farewell to last year's queen, who holds a really special place in our hearts. A visit overnight from the Pennsylvania State Fair Queen and her mother. Quick sheet changes.. and in moved Toodles the Clown and her son for the week. Better houseguests could not be found! They made themselves at home, and we enjoyed having them. The fair brings it's own form of exhaustion and we were tired when it was over. However, rest was not in the cards. My Dad was admitted to the

Other than edging and varnishing, I am calling this done!  I spent last weekend in Gainesville, Virginia at the Pampered Palette. David Vernon runs a great program there and between he and Mark, they could not have been better hosts. Tatiana Sholokhova was the teacher and she is an amazing painter and such a lovely person.  It was so nice to sit and paint, to not have any interruptions, to not have the phone ringing, nothing to wash, clean, rake, or mow. I loved it. Now back to the craziness that I call life.