CREATIVE SURGE

I feel a creative surge coming on, which is inconvenient, as I'm super busy just now. I wake in the night with ideas. Still have my handsome new man, Bates, at Timber Grove Farm for training. Visiting him takes a big chunk out of most days. I made the decision last week to give him a couple more weeks of training there. We are still figuring each other out, and last week's rain kept me from riding as much as I had planned. Also, in just two weeks, my guys are embarking on their father-son road trip to LA. I am calling it Mike and Patrick's Excellent Adventure. I am hoping to have Bates home and settled before they leave.

I took advantage of the wet days last week to fling some paint around and stitch. Painted a few background canvasses, and made a new version of one I've used before. This time, I printed it on flax linen, which gave it a lovely sepia tone and inspired my choice of additional fabrics.

Paint and collaged paper on art board.

Mixed-media art quilt with vintage fabric, hand and machine stitching, etc...

Yesterday, we mowed, and I spring cleaned the barn, then went to the farm and rode Bates. When I woke up this morning, I could hardly move, but two ibuprofen and a hot bath later, I was on my bike. We did thirteen miles around Cambridge, before ending up at Stoked, our Sunday place for lunch. I always pedal more cheerfully when there's a nice meal dangled in front of me. It was a glorious day to be outdoors on the Eastern Shore.

Wild roses on the roadside.

The fishing bridge.

Cambridge light house.

Oh dear.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and got to spend some time outside. It was 79 degrees here...a day to be relished. Too soon, it will be stinkin' hot. XO.

ALPACAS AND ATHLETES

Over the weekend we had the privilege of attending two fun fall festivals. The Alpaca Festival at Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm in Preston and Summer Send Off in Cambridge. This year, the Summer Send Off street party coincided with the Ironman Maryland competition. By 7pm on Saturday the athletes were on the last leg of the competition and spectators could cheer them on while enjoying live music, adult beverages, and great street food. 
Let's look at some pics...

Two crias were born in the two days prior to the festival. They are impossibly cute.

My next truck.

Want so many things in the Farm Shop...

Bought this spinner from art welder, Paul Hays.

We felt like such slackers when we realized some of the athletes in Ironman had about twenty years on us. Seriously, this was taken around 7pm, these people had been biking, swimming, and running since 6am. Wow.
I'm also still playing around with spooky Halloween photos. Do you love old dolls, or find them creepy? I find them a little creepy, so....BOO!

Also taking on the Herculean task of cleaning up my workroom, but keep getting distracted by projects...cut my favorite old tattered quilt into manageable sized pieces to reduce the bulk and started this...don't know where it's going but I had to start something because I am so in love with these fabrics.

Even, or maybe especially, the falling apart bits make my heart sing.
Hope you're working on something that makes your heart sing or you're having good fall fun of one sort or another. Lest you think it's all fun and games, I took a cat to the vet yesterday. Good times. XO.

THE BIRDS

"To begin with, you've got to understand that a seagull is an unlimited idea of freedom, an image of the Great Gull, and your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip, is nothing more than your thought itself." ~ Richard Bach, Johnathan Livingston Seagull

 

I got a new camera lens yesterday. It came just before lunch. I tore it out of the box and headed down to Long Wharf, thinking I'd shoot sailboats, and the lighthouse, but these gulls caught my eye. I had a few stale crackers in my truck, and before I knew it, I was surrounded, like Tippi Hedren, in The Birds.

I ran out of stale crackers, but rummaged around and found a bag of gluten-free, organic pretzels. Unopened. Hmm...dilemma, but hey, by that time I was already intrigued by the antics of one little bully, who squawked and crowed, and chased the others. What else could I do? Pretzels for everyone!

To my husband, who sneaked a peek at my Amazon wish list. And ordered the lens. Without a word. You are the wind beneath my wings. XO.

SATURDAY: YARD SALES AND MOSEYING

Went to a couple of great sales today. It's been a little while since I went to a yard sale, but I'm up even earlier than usual these days (housebreaking a puppy, you know). Also, I've been inspired by the finds of friend and artist/blogger, Chris Murray, who has only recently been bitten by the flea market/junk shop bug. Check out her finds and wonderful paintings here.

First stop, St. Paul's Episcopal Church sale.

Had a nice chat with friends, Chris and Jessie, who were working the sale. Running into either of these ladies is always such a day brightener, so already I'm glad to have set out early, but also found some goodies. Bought a Staffordshire teapot, embroidered linens, a Baltimore plate and a set of small Hall Pottery bowls. FUN!
We moseyed down the road a bit to another community sale and SQUEEEE! If you frequent yard sales, you know that sometimes you see nothing but a sad bit of junk, and other times you see the treasures that make you squeal.. Today was one of those days. Found a lovely old, and beautifully rusted hanging planter, a boat paddle identical to the one we just attached to our newly painted shed. Having said, as we attached it, we really need to find another of these. Bought a red polka dot mixing bowl to use with my red Fiestaware, a street sign to add to my metal sign collection in the barn, and a PINK enamelware tub. Yes, I said pink, and I can just see it filled  to overflowing with white petunias or....a puppy. That works.

Scout checks out the loot.

Having spent our last dollar, it was time to mosey  to an ATM. Met this little family along the way...

Then home, to have a cup of tea on the patio and open the last tin of shortbread from our London trip.

Nigel attempting to levitate the biscuit tin with his eyeballs.

Not quite finished with the moseying, we set off again for a stop at the Ace hardware, a browse through Bay Country Antiques, and lunch at the Hot Spot. Hot Spot is a gourmet hot dog and beach fry place that opened about a year ago in Cambridge. Hadn't checked it out (don't usually eat red meat or hot dogs), but we'd heard some good things and decided to give it a try. Had a turkey dog that was actually very good! They do veggie dogs, as well. Also, I'm ashamed to admit we shared a milkshake. It was delicious!

California turkey dog and beach fries at the Hot Spot

Done with the moseying, it's time to do barn chores and spend some quality time with the pups. Hope you're finding fun things to do today. XO