More fun in the Creek

The boys had a fantastic afternoon in the creek. Asa found a good use for the silty mud on the creek bottom. Body Paint. Jake would have none of that, but he liked dumping buckets of water on Asa to wash it off. The largest crawdaddy I've ever seen was found under a rock. It was freshly dead, and the kids decided they needed to bring it home. This will likely be one of the last days warm enough to play in the creek this summer.

Mud-faced boy showing dad the giant crawdaddy.

John doing another farm job. Doesn't our Dogwood tree look beautiful in late summer?

The gigantic crawdad. Huge!

Room to Paint

Through this door is my brand-new, drenched-in-sun, art studio. John and the boys surprised me today with this wonderful gift. The three of them worked on it this morning while I was mucking out the goat barn. My husband knows that all I need is a little push to get me back to my artwork. I haven't touched the stuff since before Jake was born. Once I became a mother my focus shifted to caring for my child. I completely forgot about all of those things that made me happy, and fulfilled me as a human being. If I could do it all over again, I would not forsake all of my interests to be a mother. I'd try my hardest to make the time to do those things that made me happy; even if only for minutes a day. Keep those things playing some role in my day-to-day life. Anyway, here I am, getting back into my pre-mom interests.

Back in Atlanta, my friend Kimberly, gave me a few oil painting lessons in '95/'96. She is a very talented artist, especially with oils. She was very patient and supportive as a teacher. We had memorable times together painting, listening to great music, and drinking good beer some nights - red wine other nights. Painting, talking, and lots of laughing. Now she's in Ohio and we are in PA. Oh, those were good days!

I've got the basics here to start to draw - to paint. I'm sure this will be a great "before" picture. So neat. So tidy. Just a few things on the table. I can't wait to get in there and make it my place.

Here's my old artbox from college. I studied graphic design - even got my Bachelors Degree (back in 1988)! I can't believe that I still have this old thing. Still has the local band and fanzine stickers that I made on it. Just seeing the charcoal pencils made my eyes widen and my imagination go into high gear. Oh the things I could draw!

August 28 - First Day of the School Year

Asa and Jake at their bus stop on their first day of school. Jake boards the bus alone in the morning.

Asa is in Mrs. McCoy's afternoon Kindergarden class. Our neighbor, Greta, is also in the same class. Jake rides the bus in the early morning; Asa and Greta catch the bus around lunchtime, and then all three ride the same bus home at the end of the day. Jake is in Miss Hoover's 3rd grade class. Miss Hoover is new to Friendship Elementary school this year. She taught at another local elementary school last year. Friendship is closer to her home, so she changed schools. She is getting married at the end of September, so she will then be Mrs. Felix. Jake really likes her so far. He finds her to be very much like his first grade teacher from Catonsville, Miss McGowan.

Neighbor Greta and Asa waiting for the bus together on the first day.

The now-experienced Asa getting off of the bus at the end of his first day of school. He can't wait to return tomorrow!