9/11 Installation Tribute

Christ Church is still going through some renovations. More lighting is going to be installed in one room, and so the electricians set up some scaffolding a week ago to complete that work (since the ceilings are so high), but, the light fixtures were delayed, and so the scaffolding sits in the room that leads to our Chapel where our Labyrinth Peace Walk in remembering the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 will be happening on Sunday.



Rather than just have some ugly scaffolding there, Fr. Bill gave me the go ahead to make an installation of sorts, a Memorial to 9/11 ... he suggested we use the old cross that had been on the roof of the church as one focal point, and then I added twisted metal siding, old bent screens, papers, wood, material, old chairs, and other assorted junk...

Also added a TV screen with a video slideshow of photos from the tragic events of 9/11/2001, as well as some of the rebuilding and memorial efforts.



I found pictures of art that children had drawn following 9/11 and added some flags, and prayer cards. More pictures from our Sunday School class will be added on Sunday, along with more written prayer cards from parishioners and those who stop by for the Peace Walk on our Labyrinth.



I was also thinking of asking our local fire chief if I could borrow some old firemen boots and helmut...but, since I also have to clean up all this stuff after the Peace Walk on Sunday (so the electricians can actually use their scaffolding on Monday morning), I may pass on that idea.


Here's a short video of the installation ... (click off my playlist song on the right before starting the video.)

ECVA's Current Online Exhibition - "Under Abraham's Tent"

The Episcopal Church and Visual Arts just posted the current online exhibition of art and artists. Check out the wonderful art at the link here.

Thank you, also, ECVA for including a photograph I submitted to this Call for Entries too!



An Altar to the Lord; Media: Photography

"Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool upon them." Deuteronomy 27:5

Even on vacation, it's in an artist's spirit to create and honor God. What better place to build an altar to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob than at a place named "Devil's Lake" (a state park near Baraboo, WI).


If you haven't seen the latest Call for Entries (Imagining the Sacred Art of Chant) for the next competition, check it out at the ECVA website!

Tribute to 9/11 & Labyrinth Peace Walk

This assemblage is titled "As We Forgive", a tribute to 9/11 that I did a few years ago. Underneath it is The Lord's Prayer in Arabic that our priest, Fr. Bill, brought back from Saudi Arabia, where he had gone for 6 weeks about 6 - 8 years ago.

The Episcopal Church and other religious leaders are planning interfaith events to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when almost 3,000 people perished after hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, PA.

The Executive Council, at its June meeting, invited all Episcopal communities "to open their doors" during the Sept. 10-11 weekend to commemorate the anniversary "with acts of prayer & remembrance, service, creativity, interfaith cooperation, education, community building, & fellowship, offering our institutions as active, accessible sites of healing for our local communities."

In remembering the upcoming 10th anniversary of the tragedy of the events from September 11, 2001, and with prayers for peace, Christ Episcopal Church, Delavan, WI will be hosting a PEACE WALK ON THE LABYRINTH, in the Chapel on Sunday, 9/11.

Come anytime between 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and walk our labyrinth, meditate, and offer prayers for the state of the whole world. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Celebrating Brad - A Tribute to Art in Flux!

I am honored and most happy to be a part of this worthy cause and tribute to my daughter, Kasey's dear friend, Brad Germata.

Celebrating Brad - A Tribute to Art in Flux (click on the link to their website here for more info)

Saturday, October 15, from 5 p.m. - 11 p.m., held at Flux Design, 811 East Vienna-Milwaukee.

The Celebrating Brad Foundation will be hosting a variation of the original ‘Art in Flux’ – join us while guest artists/designers create their pieces…Bid on the art as it evolves! We’ll have steamroller printing again, plus awesome food from our ‘foodie’ friends and a special brew thanks to Brenner Brewing. There’ll be live music throughout the evening and our Goods & Services auction will feature dining, drinking, and entertainment packages.

Jesse Meyer, Dave Hinterberg, Phil Belair, Roberta Kartstetter, and John Kowalczyk are confirmed ‘live’ artists. Jeremy Shamrowicz, Heather Eiden, Jenie Gao, and MIAD printmaking students Janson Rapisarda and Lucas Ruminsk are confirmed steamroller printers…Check back at the link above to see the updated list of artists, designers, steamroller printers, and sponsors!

All proceeds benefit the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center and fund the 2011 Bradley Germata Scholarship (supports a communication design student at MIAD).

Tickets are: advance $15 / at-the-door: $20 / with current student ID: $15


Hope you can come to this event.... a great evening of art, fun, and tribute to Brad, as well as a great benefit for worthy causes!

Kaine and Jorden are here!!

Had a nice week and part of the weekend with our son and granddaughter. It's always nice having them here from upnorth!

Jorden was especially lovey to everyone, giving hugs and kisses!

She's such an angel ... and LOVES her strawberries!




She also loves the swaddling game with her Daddy ... silly girl! *lol*






And Auntie Kasey always has fun with Jorden and Kaine too!




They had to leave earlier today... miss them already and can't wait till the next time! xoxox

Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater Comes to Mind... *L*

Our son grows large pumpkins...GIANT pumpkins!

The one this year, which he had to pick early, because it split from growing too fast, weighed in at 700 pounds! Click HERE to see the post about that!

Unfortunately he had to carve it to harvest the seeds because it would be turning to mush soon because of the split. But FIRST, he decided to see how'd he fit inside it! *L*

He has another one, that he is still growing, and hopes it will be over 800 pounds! In a few weeks he'll be picking that one too!

The Chaos that are My Family's Mass Birthday Celebrations

My side of the family is pretty numerous... with all the sisters and brother and their spouses and kids and their kids spouses or boyfriend/girlfriends, and all the grandkids and my Dad and Mom (Papa and Nana), we number well over 75+ ... (yes, I've lost count..and they are still multiplying too!) *L* So, we celebrate the many birthdays for all a few times a year... usually we've hosted the party for all the August and September birthdays... since all three of our kids and myself have birthdays in those months.

This year too is a special celebration because my Mom turned 80 in August. We provide some liquid libations (others add soda and juice boxes for the younger crowd), and this year we provided bratwurst and sloppy joes for 75+... enough for two or three even! And the other members bring a dish to pass, which makes for a grand feast!



Here are photos from this year's celebration... a fun time, excellent weather and many happy birthday memories! Not everyone could be here who had a birthday in Aug. and Sept...but fear not...we ate their cake and icecream and celebrated for them too! This photo is some of the birthday celebrities!


Come in, celebrate...leave your shoes at the door! *L*



Every person for themselves to find a place to sit and eat! *L*



Evidently it was too warm for some to sit outside on the back deck...plenty of seating there!



Hurry, get your meal before the Nieuwy's get here!! *L* (family joke)





Cupcake lovers ...especially the kids!





The imfamous "ball/fan game" provided entertainment for young and old....





Check out the video of the fan/ball game too...




A fun day ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYONE!! xoxoxox

The Dining Room Table is Clear Again... A Miracle of Unhoardingness!

I use my dining room for all things besides dining in. It's been a place for homework and bookkeeping, a workshop, a bedroom when hubby broke his back and couldn't do stairs, and the last year and a half I swear I haven't seen the dining room table or the floor clear of treasures and junk that I've stored there!

But, we had an upcoming mass birthday party celebration scheduled here... and all those hoarder shows on TV had been getting to me... so, over the course of a couple of weeks, I have finally gotten my room back!! Here are the results....*don't look too close, you'll see a few bins still there*..*L*





We have my inlaw side of the family for Christmas this year at our house...wonder if I can keep it clean that long? *L*

New Call to Artists at ECVA

The Episcopal Church & Visual Arts has calls for entries, open to all artists of all faiths (not just Christian), check out the latest call just posted at the link below.

All that is required is to be a part of the Artist Registry at ECVA, and it's free to do that... easy peasy! *S*

Be sure to check out the latest call to artists titled, "Imaging the Ancient Art of Chant"!

Happy 80th Birthday Mom!!

My mom turns 80 tomorrow, and today, my Aunt Shirley treated Mom, and all her daughters, to lunch at Millies Pancake Haus. It was a fun time, delicious lunch and great celebration for Mom!

My Aunt told us we all had to wear hats, gloves were optional... *L*

Here are some photos from today's party.










Thanks Aunt Shirley for such a wonderful party for Mom!! xoxox

And Happy Birthday to my Mom, and many more!!

Happy Birthday to my "TWINS", born 9 years apart!

Today are our older son, John, and daughter, Kasey's birthday. They were born on the same date, but 9 years apart!

Doesn't seem like 37 and 28 years ago that they were both just babies... time flies fast for sure!



This is a photo from John-John's 9th birthday, that he celebrated at Nana and Papa's because his sister, Kasey was being born and we were at the hospital.

Happy Birthday to my TWINS!! Love you!! xoxoxxo

It's the GREAT pumpkin!!

Our son, John, developed a hobby last year....growing giant pumpkins.

His last year's first attempt produced one that was just under 300 lbs! (298 or so) We thought that one and the other that was close in size were humongous and wonderful!

But this year, John has more than doubled the weight of his pumpkins! He had to pick one earlier than he had hoped since it started developing a split (from growing too fast he said). So, he picked it from the vine, and my husband brought over the skidster/bobcat, and they devised a way to get it onto a flatbed trailer to take down to the local grain mill to weigh.

Here are some photos that Janel took of the guys and grandsons from this afternoon....
















The scale reads 728 pounds, but that is with the wood pallet underneath the pumpkin, which weighs about 28-30 pounds, so the pumpkin itself is approx. 698-700 pounds!!

Now that's SOME pumpkin, eh?!!

John still has a couple more on the vine and growing fast! If they don't split or the vine doesn't get damaged, he hopes to have them over 800 pounds! Still a couple more weeks to go and we'll see! Congrats on this one John-John!