Planters, Gardens, Father's Day Gifts and more stuff...

Yesterday I picked up two of those upside down tomato planters...the ones I bought were tomato TREES... on stands. I bought one for my Dad for Father's Day and then had to get one for US too to try out!

So this morning, I planted both of them...one on our deck... and the other I took out to Mom and Dad's and put it together and planted it there... I left it with a balloon saying Happy Father's Day, hoping Dad would see it later when he got home, or tomorrow sometime. The one shown here is on our deck... I hope it turns out as good as it looked on the box! But, just incase my plants die, I did plant some in the traditional way in a deck planter..so hopefully in a couple of months we'll be eating some yummy tomatoes! mmmm, mmmmm, good!

Here are some pics of the planters and gardens this year... I need to weed, but so far they aren't looking too bad....now if I can just get the moose to stop eating my daisies..*G* ...they also like to hide in my hosta plants in the rock garden too.



My bed frame planters and flowers... and the front porch chair planter are doing pretty good too!

Now this is an...ummm... interesting assemblage....

John would kill me if I decided to make a car assemblage..*L* But this is what I saw in Milwaukee this afternoon when I went to drop off some old books at All Saints for their Hunger Book Sale.

When I came back home and told Kasey about it, she said it was around waaay back when she went to MIAD, so this guy's been around a long time it seems....

It sure was drawing the stares from people when it drove past them on the street..*L* I think it was promoting many different views on many topics...religion, abortion, child abuse, I think I saw something on the car about girls being the 2nd devil too??...sheesh... and more whacky things as well... quite the eye catcher, that's for sure!

Dumpster diving for organ parts....

Nooo, I am not dumpster diving behind a medical clinic... heh heh...

But I did dumpster dive last week in the Church dumpster.... since we are renovating many things there, one being the pipe organ, there was a pipe organ man there taking out old parts and tossing them so he could remove the pipe organ console to take away to be renovated. Sooo, of course I had to peek into the dumpster to see just what was tossed....

Father Bill had reminded me of the fact that the organ guy was tossing stuff and he knows me too well and figured I would want to grab some of those things to make something out of.... but I had forgot about it until about 8:30 p.m.... and thinking that the garbage man would come and empty the dumpster the next day, I got into some old clothes and headed up to the church. There was a massive piece of an old wooden something or other on top of all the other stuff, I had to prop it up on it's side so I could lean halfway over the dumpster to pull out the piece I thought looked interesting... but as I was teetering half in and half out of the dumpster, (which is inside a wooden enclosure, so no one was noticing my antics), I noticed that huge wooden piece starting to sway, ... yikes!!



Had it fallen, it would have taken me with it into the dumpster head first and no one would know that I was in there... John was heading upstairs to bed for the night when I left... the neighbors probably wouldn't hear my cries for help... all sorts of images were in my mind of how they would find me the next morning..*L*... but thankfully, I pushed myself out of the dumpster with the desired piece in hand before the other huge wooden piece fell down into the hole I'd created from taking out this "THING"...

This part of the organ has some old bellows (I think that's what they are?), interesting other parts too that are all screwed on...not sure how I'll use the piece or the parts, but it's on my front porch right now, and waiting for some inspiration ...and TIME, to be able to do something with it...

.... any ideas, anyone? ... I'd love to hear some....

"Ohhh Lord, Stuck in Lodi again..." *heh heh*

We weren't exactly STUCK in Lodi... but we did head to Lodi after Church today for our niece, Courtney's graduation party. Lodi, WI that is. It was a nice party, lots of people! Lots of kids... of course my sister Susan and Todd have their fair share of kids too (10 of them!).. this was the 3rd graduation party...they still have to do this for 7 more!! EEK! *L* Congrats to Courtney and blessings on your plans for after school too!

After we stayed a couple of hours there, we drove another 20 minutes to see Aunt Evelyn in Portage. She moved back home a month or more ago, after being in a nursing home for 3+ months recovering from back surgery. John and Aunt Evelyn like to share their back surgery things, and find help in sharing with each other too I think? Aunt Evelyn looks great!! She's doing very well, was up and around, showed us her planters outside, and other things she's been doing... it was a nice visit! I sure hope when I'm over 90 years old that I can be so active still!!

Holding to the promises of God...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Holding to God's promise (found in Jeremiah 29:11), especially lately... major bids on the Church Project are due on Friday, June 11th ...thanking God for the few day extension given to the local contractors who weren't notified due to some strange circumstances? John has been putting in many hours looking over the prints and all the paperwork. We are sure hoping that Karstetter Construction, along with other local subcontractors who are bidding on electrical, plumbing, excavating and more, get the work, .....that's part of my prayers....Lord, in your mercy...

Ground Breaking - But work won't start for weeks yet...

Today we celebrated a kick off to the major renovation project at Christ Church...we had a ground breaking ceremony following the late service. We all went back to the Church site, and after a short service, the ceremonial golden shovels dug their first pieces of earth from the area where the new addition will go.
Besides a small addition, new entry way, driveway and many more parking spaces, the whole church is being changed or remodeled or made new in some way... whatta project!







Here are some photos from the ground breaking... we are still praying that our construction company gets some of the work for the things John has put out bids for, but we are also not holding our breath, for the project was suppose to start well over a month ago... and so here we sit, and wait, and wait, and wait.]

Ahhh...memories... Those were the days my friend...

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.

When I was going thru stacks of old floppy disks (thousands of them, I kid you NOT), for the video I am making for a church fund appeal and visitor bags, I found all sorts of photos of my own family as well mixed in with the church photos.

My grandmother..circa 1906 or so.


My mom, circa 1935 or so.




Here, for your viewing enjoyment... or to use to throw darts at.. are some more of the old photos from years past....




Dad, in the Air Force...around 1951 or so.




Me with my dad and mom at Christmas 1953.




At this time there were just three of us kids.... my sisters Chellie and Susan and me... I'm the oldest...






At the Commodore's Ball, 1969... so young, so innocent...I LOVED the summer of 69! *L*



Okay... no time for more... work is screaming at me....

Dead Sea Scrolls...

This afternoon, a group of us went to the Milwaukee Public Museum to view the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. It was pretty interesting. Some of it was awesome too! There was a burial crypt, that was thought to be the son (Alexander) of Simon of Cyrene, who was the man called out from the crowd to carry the cross for Jesus as he went to his crucifixion. Then the pieces of the scrolls themselves, and the way they were found, and kept for so many years... and sold in a newspaper ad for $2500... amazing stories, and awe inspiring to think on as well. But some of them just looked like odd scraps of paper or parchment.. had I discovered them, I might have just tossed them away thinking they were junk...eek!!



After we spent over 2 hours in the exhibit, we decided to get lost in the parking garage for 20 minutes..*L* We finally went back out the way we came in and found the car ... arrgghh!! *L* Then we hit the Ale House for dinner and fun discussions...it was an inreresting and fun time!

New Signs for the New Site

Yay...the other sign for the new site arrived today... and John put it up for us.
This is part of the "art" work I've done lately ... I miss the assemblage art though... hopefully back to it soon!

The signs look great, and can easily be read from the street as you drive by. The new site is looking pretty inviting... stop by and visit sometime!

Memorial Day - Thanking God for our servicemen & women, and their sacrifices...

On Memorial Day each year, our town has a small parade, that features the city dignitaries, American Legion Members, Boy & Girl Scouts, the high school or junior high band, sometimes the choirs from the school also is a part... as well as Gold Star mothers, and others. Some of the veterans wear their uniforms, some their legion hats, some march with the colorguard leading them and the bass drum player drumming out the cadence as they march. Some now ride in vehicles, no longer able to march the 14 - 17 blocks or so, thru town to the cemetary. There is a guest speaker, music, the roll call of those veterans who have died since last Memorial Day, the presentation of a wreath at the Civil War monument where everyone gathers, a 21 gun salute, and then taps is played - that always brings a tear to my eye.






This year, the guest speaker was our nephew, Aaron Nieuwenhuis, son of my sister Peggy and brother-in-law, Mel. Melvin is also our city mayor. Aaron served two terms over in Iraq in the Army. He gave a wonderful speech, giving thanks and remembering the sacrifices of many soldiers through the years who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. We were/are so proud of Aaron, he did a great job, and we are thankful for the service he gave for us too.





Here are some photos from the ceremony this morning... my Dad has marched in this parade for as long as I can remember..when I was a little girl I remember being proud of my Dad who was part of those who marched...Dad used to play the bass drum as they marched, but after needing numerous knee surgeries, he had to give that part up. Thank you to my Dad too, for his service in the Air Force and the sacrifices he and his fellow airmen gave!





Aaron with my Dad (Papa), and with his wife, Amanda, daughter Hailey, and his parents and brothers and sisters.

Lord, please keep those who are in danger's way, some peace, keep them safe, let them know the appreciation of so many of us who hold them all in our prayers, in Jesus Name...Amen.

Yard Work, a Memorial Day Weekend Tradition...

Today was/is a great day... sunny, warm (actually pretty HOT in the sun!), and a beautiful day to be outside! So, as is tradition around here, many are getting their yards in shape for the summer. I usually wait until this weekend to start planting flowers too (frost still can happen here in WI even at this late date!).

So, this morning I decided I was going to tackle the front hedges, something I neglected big time last year. Usually I am good about getting to them, but last year I didn't even trim them once.. and it showed!

Here's a photo showing one of the three bushes trimmed... and then the completed three. They look pretty sparse after the trimming, but they'll regrow and look better in a few weeks. My dad would be proud of me..*L*



I was thankful that John came home and brought out the bobcat and helped rake the trimmings into the bucket to haul away. He must have taken 8 loads of stuff away.



Sooo, that job is done for the year... hurrah!!

I also planted a couple of my planters, and later today, when it cools down again, I'll do some needed weeding ... It's nice to have a long weekend to be able to get things done which have really been neglected waaaay too long.... Thank you Lord!

ECVA's Newest Call for Art Entries....

Justice and Peace...

In this exhibition, the third in our Baptismal Covenant series, we invite you as artists to respond to these lines from the covenant:

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people,
and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God's help.

Though our call to justice and peace flows directly from Jesus' prime commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves, it is surely not unique to Episcopalians, or even to Christianity: a concern for justice and peace, and compassion which is the root of that concern, are common to all faith traditions. The Dalai Lama has written:
Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.


And yet, despite our common call to compassion, the indignities of war and injustice are experienced daily throughout the world without regard as to nation or faith.

How can we, as artists, echo and illuminate Jesus' call to love our neighbors as ourselves? What might we create to encourage a renewed commitment to justice and peace? How can we communicate and inspire a respect for the dignity of every human being? And can we portray the joined concepts of justice and peace in images that require not a single word of explanation?

Deadline for Entries is August 15, 2010

You can enter up to three entries to this call, but with NO written artist statement this time, they want the work to be able to explain what it is saying without words.

Check out the complete call and other info at the ECVA's website under Calls for Entries.

Decadent Pizza... Hawaiian Lobster Pizza

Breakfast decadence .... left-over pizza makes a great breakfast, yes, BUT left-over hawaiian pizza with a left over lobster tail (from John's dinner at Tubby's that he brought home for me) added to the top, makes it DEEEEELICIOUS!! Yummmmm....
Great way to start out a morning, eh?

ECVA's Latest Online Exhibit - Check it out!

ECVA’s Call for Entries "I Will, with God's Help: Fellowship & Communion, Part II, ECVA Baptismal Covenant Series" recently posted the work of those who were accepted as part of it.

I am honored to have one of my assemblages that I submitted last month as part of their gallery showing. I haven't had time to make much art lately, but I submitted one of my first assemblages for this call... My Portion, My Cup.

Check out the wonderful art of many artists at this latest gallery showing at The Episcopal Church and Visual Arts (ECVA) site.

Look for their next call to artists coming out soon too!

Thank you ECVA for including me!!

Happy Pentecost - Come Holy Spirit!

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.

Balloons, Doves, Kites, Praise, Prayer, Worship, wearing the color red, Fellowship and Celebrations were what filled our morning worship services this morning on the feast of Pentecost.
(Doves are symbolic of the Holy Spirit, and the color red symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit)








We made dove cutouts and people wrote prayers, inspiring messages and scripture passages on them. I filled over 100 helium balloons, attached the doves on ribbons and we had them hanging in the worship space during the services, afterward we went outside and released them all.

Prior to the service, members of the parish used the dove kites we usually fly during our processional when we were in our regular church building, the ceilings there are very high and it's fun to use these dove kites there, but at the new temporary site, the ceilings don't allow that...but they did gather interest as they were flown outside.

Shredding 18 Years of Work ....

Today I took over 18 years worth of old records (after sorting thru those things I needed to keep forever), took them to the Walworth State Bank, where they said they would shred, for free, papers people brought in... So the guys loaded up the back of my van and away I went...

BUT, once there, I found out they wouldn't take it all from a "business", which they consider a Church to be. They would only take 4 boxes of the 20+ boxes I had. Arrggghhhh!!

The lady there did mention that if I wanted to come back at 11:30, they MAYBE would be able to shred more of my boxes if the truck wasn't full. So I headed back home, tried to consolidate some of the boxes, just incase they'd only take a few more, and headed back an hour and a half later...

Unfortunately, they would once again only take 4 more boxes ... so home I came with 12 or so boxes left... luckily for me, I was able to get ahold of John and he came to the rescue! A friend has a large burning pit and he said he would take the rest of our stuff and bury it under the other stuff there and burn it all later this weekend... Thanks Dan Boss!!

Sooo, that's pretty much what I did for 5 hours on my Saturday morning off today ... fun, fun, fun... what did YOU do for fun? *L*

An Assemblage of Potted Plants for Pentecost

I haven't had any time to make my art assemblages, and I am SOOO missing that!

This coming Sunday, May 23rd is Pentecost. The Christian feast of Pentecost (from the Greek word pentekoste, meaning fiftieth) is celebrated fifty days after Easter and ten days following the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. It is also call Whitsunday in some churches because of the white robes some wear when they are baptised. Pentecost commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit into the lives of the disciples as related in the Bible, Acts 2:1-6.
The coming of the Holy Spirit into their lives so strengthened them that they were said to have baptized three thousand people that day. Pentecost is thus known as the "birthday of the Church", because it was the presence and power of God, the Holy Spirit, that transformed them so.

Each year, our Church sends a vase of flowers or a plant to other churches in our community as a gesture of being One in Christ, one in the Holy Spirit... One Body, the Church, brothers and sisters in Christ.



The last few years I have found plants that I decorate, add a small card to and then a few of us deliver them to the area churches. A kind of cool thing about these particular plants is the name of them...they are an Asiatic Lily called "Tiny Ghosts", it fits the celebration of the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit as some now call the 3rd person of the Trinity).

So, here are this years assemblage of potted pentecost plants... this is about as close to making an art thing as I've gotten the past month or two... *sigh*

Processional & 1st Sunday in the new space...

Today we had a ceremonial procession from the old church site to the new temporary site 2 1/2 blocks away. It was pretty cool... people carried items we had planned for them to bring, like kites, candles, chalices, banners, balloons, photos, books, and more! We had a bagpiper (Blaine McQuinn), who led us with several songs, one was Amazing Grace.., it sounded really cool on the pipes!


My Dad was the thurifer, swinging the thurible and having a great time doing it!



Kasey K Photo took a lot of photos and I added a few too of different parts of the procession. When we arrived at the Church, Fr. Bill said some prayers, dedicated the space, and we entered, set the altar, and started our worship.

Everyone was really impressed with the space, and how we had it set up. It's an exciting time for us all... it will be a challenging time in ways too, but today it was a celebration time, one of our first steps in the new things God has planned for us to do.




Some more photos from today ... music ministry, deaf ministry, part of the service and more...

Yummm... lots of good snacks for after the service too!!