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.

WATERFOWL FESTIVAL 2013

It was Waterfowl Festival weekend, and the weather couldn't have been better. Plenty of sunshine and mid-fifties, so not too warm for all those tourists in their "fresh from Orvis" outdoor gear. Just exactly right. 

Actually, Easton is a charming town to stroll around in any time of year, but never more so than when the leaves are crunchy underfoot and there's still plenty of fall color.

We had such a good time yesterday, that we went back again today and took the dogs.  It sometimes seems, there are as many dogs as people at this event.

Found this beauty among the conservation and green exhibits in the Waterfowl Chesapeake Pavilion.

Stopped at this old favorite for lunch. Mason's.

Their front porch was the perfect perch for people/dog watching.

I have a thing for whiskery dog faces.

Bartlett Pear Inn offered this treat, but we passed.

Tempted by this little house because it reminded me of our first.

And by these. Obviously. Mabel's little lemon bundt cakes are too good for words. 

Stopped to say hello to the yarn shoppe Yorkie.

Fell in love several times, but especially with the many German Short-Haired Pointers we saw, and most especially with this one.

And this old sweetie, because there will always be a special place in my heart for yellow labs.

Spent some time both days at the Delmarva Dock Dog competition. Had such a great time, and got so many good pics, that I'll do a separate post, but here's a peek.

Our neighbor competed (and won, go Sammie!!) with her Springer Spaniel, Samantha.

Each dog has its' own unique style. 

Great food, wildlife art, dock dogs, retriever trials, shopping, wine tasting, duck fat popcorn, etc...I'm thinking you and your dog should probably plan on attending next year.

For more information on the Waterfowl Festival go here. 
If you don't have a four-legged best friend of your own, visit Talbot Humane. They brought some real cuties to the festival.

Later gators!! XO.

ON THE BOARDWALK

Yesterday was a picture perfect fall day. Ideal for the boardwalk in Ocean City. 
Thrasher's fries, Dumser's milkshakes, and Dolle's caramel corn to eat. Playland for games, and Trimper's for the bumper cars. Every year the same. A family tradition.
Trimper's is home to one of the oldest continually operating antique carousels in the country. The figures are hand-carved, and they are magical. The first ride on Trimper's Carousel is a right of passage for Eastern Shore folks, one most of us make as infants.

Beautiful, right? One other very fond memory of the boardwalk? The dime machines in the back of Playland. Oh, what bags of treasures we use to take home from those. Super balls, yo-yo's, bubblegum, whistles...cheap and cheesy. It was heaven.

They're a quarter now, but still. Fun.
Grateful for a lovely weekend with family. It was awesome, big brother!
Just so you know, it wasn't all french fries and caramel corn. Great meals at these three. Sobo's Beerstro and EVO Public House in Salisbury, and Stoked in Cambridge.
Hope you had some good food in good company this weekend. XO.