An Ozark float trip on the wrong river

family, Travel
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There were some glitches on our trip to the Current River, but moments like this-

And peaceful mornings enjoying the scenery more than made up for it.


Our first issue?  The rental home we got was cancelled, no communication, no notice, a few days before the adventure was set to begin.  We scurried to find an overpriced replacement that had some major issues (lights that wouldn’t stay on, doors that fell off track, washer unhooked, stove wouldn’t heat up, well you get the idea) but fantastic views and private beach.   I think what we paid for was location, not the home itself.

We also booked a six hour float on my son’s favorite river, the Current, up river from where we were staying.

But oops!  After a couple hours of my boy being confused about landmarks, he realized we’d been dropped onto the Jacks Fork instead.

Again, beautiful scenery.  But here is the issue.  This river runs mostly east/west, while the Current is the opposite.  Doesn’t sound like a problem until you figure in the shade which is non existent for much of the one we were on until our last stretch back to the truck.

So it was hotter than expected, and the six hours on the water seemed long at times.  But it was broken up with picnics and swims.

We also hiked over to some spring heads where the air is as crisp and clear as the mineral laden, blue water.  The water rushes from the ground ice cold and tempers the heat, plus they were nestled back into the shade.

All in all, it was a delight.

At the Cake Bake Shop

family, flowers, Food and Drink
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When I first saw photos of the Cake Bake Shoppe at Christmas time at Disneyworld, I knew I had to get there.

At the time, I did not know there was TWO more of them in Indiana, where the owner is based.

I’ve heard getting reservations at the theme park location is almost impossible, and I don’t see the possibility of any visits there in the near or even distant future.

So I was beyond my thrill limit when my Indiana family offered to go with me to this location in Carmel.

Delightful company, amazing food, and darling surroundings.

I’ve heard they redecorate seasonally, so of course, I’ll need to get back to see the new designs.  For spring, there were blue butterflies and twinkle lights everywhere.

We sat by the open window and I was infatuated with all the princesses of all ages   posing in front of the building.   Including this cutie.

When I go back (and I WILL!) I want to check out the neighboring stores.

Not just the one inside the restaurant.

It was tempting to buy all of the delicious foods and  pretty things.   And I really, really wanted the pink hoodie.  But I’m also really, really too cheap to pay that much.

  1. I did buy sweet, pastel cake sprinkles.  Two little bottles are in this big bag.  One was for my Sissy, the other for Sugarwings, in their favorite colors.

    I’m already looking forward to my next trip.

A 50 year reunion

friends
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My high school was celebrating 50 years since graduation.  how could I miss that?

With family still living in my hometown, it was the perfect excuse for a visit.

And a fun night to reconnect with old friends.

Actually, an entire weekend of catch ups.  There was a picnic on Friday, party on Saturday and a day to gossip about, I mean recap the dinner, on Sunday morning with a good friend I do not get to see enough.

There were yearbooks at the gathering and I do not own one myself, so enjoyed flipping through them.

As a member of the yearbook committee way back in the day, I remember working on the pages.  My art class buddy, Matt Golden, and I drew illustrations of the coaches.  I did the heads, he added bodies.

Back in olden times, I loved to doodle faces.  This is a page full of friends that I found tucked into a photo album.

Out of a class of 330, we have lost almost 50 members.  From the remainder, about 90 came to celebrate.   That was a pretty good turn out, and I was pleased to see each and every one.  

It was a lovely evening.  And I’ll be reminded over my morning coffee while using my souvenir mug.  Thanks to everyone there who took the time to plan the bash, and to those who came to visit.

Door prizes

Books, flowers, paintings
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I offered to make a door prize for my class reunion.  Then ended up making two necklaces,  three bracelets, and three hand painted bookmarks.

They are packaged on old book covers, with a note about being inspired by my love of our high school art and literature classes, and my friends from there.  Each includes jewelry and a bookmark.

Vintage photos and plates

vintage paper/collage art
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Before driving to Indiana to attend my 50th high school reunion, I made sure my spot at Good Juju was ready for first Friday in June.

I’m trying out a new crafty idea there.  I’ve added some vintage photos to chippy, old plates.


Most are simply circles, but some are old text with cut outs from the photos added.

I’m crossing my fingers that they go over well, because I’d sure enjoy making more.

Personally, I adore sepia photos, but I’m not seeing them fly out of my booth in the frames.   Maybe they will do better on the plates? Either way, I like the back drop they make for my displays.

At the Art Emergency Studio

friends
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The mosaic group I belong to meets at Art Emergency.  It houses a series of studios, and the founder of our get together has a space there.

I rarely run into the other artists who rent the spots, but I often get to see their work.

Which is a huge plus.  Not only am I inspired but the members of our club and their creations, I am surrounded by various styles and mediums from other artists.

 As a person whose studio is at home and works alone, this camaraderie of talent, of color and design makes for a nice break from working by myself in my pile of vintage pastels.

Thank you, Project Search!

Sugarwings
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Sugarwings completed their Project Search program and we attended a moving ceremony.

Technically,  I only cried once.

Since I had tears in my eyes the entire time.

It’s an extraordinary program for kids who learn differently, and who need a bit of adjustment time between high school and moving on.   The slide shows and videos, kids’ speeches, and the celebration of families for their kiddo, showed how much hard work and devotion went into this last year.

Project Search helped Sugarwings not only learn about the work world, and find a job, it also aided in applications and support for transitioning onto the University of Kansas.

Thanks, Tracy and Mary.  Your caring and efforts in helping our kiddo are so appreciated.

And best wishes, congrats, and kisses to my future Jayhawk!  I’m sooooooooooooooooooo proud of you.

Guncle time part three

antiques/junking, cottage, dogs, family, guncles, Hand painted, vintage paper/collage art
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Besides lots of good food and wine, how was the guncles visit?   Never long enough, for one thing.  We hit the jackpot on junking trips, one full day at Sparks Flea Mkt, two garage sale mornings, and one afternoon estate sale.

This window is from the flea.  I bought it for resale, but, uhm, oops, it somehow got hung in my hearth room.

Molly might not look like she approves, but she is just typically scared of getting her photo taken.  Or maybe she is upset about warning the guys that they shouldn’t be hanging it up, it should go into the inventory stash in the garage?  Oh well, if even the guard dog can’t stop the process, I guess that window belongs there.

Fate.  Beautiful, colorful, fate.  Isn’t that stained glass  ideal there!?

Time flew by, with all the shopping, cooking, eating, laughing, and lots of small chores the guys helped Rich with since I cannot use my right arm for much as it recovers from surgery. (Like hanging my spectacular, new window!)

Randy and I were left with limited time in the studio.  He worked on his handmade cards, and I also made a few, along with some door prizes for my upcoming class reunion.  These hand painted bookmarks will be packaged up with jewelry I am crafting, to make three gifts.

All of us found treasures in Sparks, and I’m hoping this becomes a tradition, and the guncles come back next season too.

Randy made friends there, as always.

Sadly, the cards I made during studio time were not happy ones.  Recently, too many people I care about have lost loved ones.  So I was creating sympathy cards to get into the mail.

There were also many quick trips to the hardware or grocery stores.  While on one run, I snagged Kansas sunflowers for the table for Kevin’s birthday dinner.  I looked everywhere for a cut flower bouquet, but ending up buying a pot full.

The plant has already started to bloom again, and will be a summer-long reminder of the lovely time we had together.  I miss you, guncles!

Part two of celebration week- a chicken party for me

Food and Drink, Hens, We're having a party
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Randy and I got some studio time in on my birthday.  Even with him being here ten days, we got remarkably little time to craft.  We might have spent most of our time garage sailing and eating fancy meals.
Which isn’t bad, huh?

The day began with facials.

And then the guncles surprised me with chicken hats.  I told them all I wanted for my birthday was a chicken party, with dressed up hens catching live bait fish from a bowl.  Some in our household were doubtful, but all got on board, we laughed our butts off at the  silly birds chasing each other to steal fish away from the fowl brave enough to grab them from the bowl of water.

I claimed the pink hat for my own, and tried a couple on some of the gals.  They didn’t seem to think it was as good of an idea as I did, so we let them go fishing without their cute bonnets.

Our two, tiny leghorns (both named Foghorn Leghorn, or Foggy) were the best feathered fishermen.

The three barred rock (all named Cruella Deville) weren’t bad either.  All of the black and orange girls (Hocus Pocus) didn’t even try, they stole wriggling fish from the beaks of the ones who caught them.  A few red hens (15 Ariels) weren’t bad at fishing, but mostly ran off with someone else’s catch.
They were hilarious to watch.

After that, I tried the hats on the rest of the party.

These girls weren’t fans either.  But looked adorable trying.

Honey’s fell right off, but her heart shaped freckle is cute enough, she doesn’t need a hat to look great.

Since no one wanted to wear the hats, we gave them to the chicken figurines to decorate our dinner table and then enjoyed a white wine pairing dinner.

Kevin’s red wine party began the week and my mirrored dinner with whites was at the end.  Lovely bookends for a delightful week with our bros.

A birthday party week part one- Guncle Kevin

guncles
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We had a festive week with the Guncles, celebrating two birthdays.

First was Kevin’s and we hosted a red wine pairing dinner.

Starting with a charcuterie board and La Crema.  I do not drink red, but tasted them all, and this one had a nice, creamy feel, like its name.

I baked Brie in puff pastry with herbs, walnuts, and fig jam.

Randy set the table in a fancy farm house style, with a mix of rustic and elegant.
Plus chickens.

Second course was pistachio, zucchini, brioche, and spinach stuffed portabellas.

The wine was a South American Malbec and I would’ve have remembered it without this photo because it just wasn’t memorable.  Okay, but no one’s fave.  We liked the mushrooms, though!

I didn’t get a pic of the third and best wine, Caymus.   We had it with grilled tuna and lemon pepper asparagus.  Randy bought Kevin’s favorite coconut pie for dessert.

The night was special, the company was the best.  We should make this an annual tradition.

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