I Love A Parade!

A typically typical small rural town July 4 parade, on Interstate 395, which they close for the days festivities. These photo's are the work of Asa Gilmore . Fire trucks, ambulances, kids on horseback, atv's, strolling re-enactors, clogging girls on flatbed trucks, a grouchy deputy.....you know. Fun and exciting for the kids, because so many of them are in the parade, wildly waving their flags and throwing candy at us. Everyone should be in a parade at least once in their life. These are just a few that were taken.

Do you suppose he was wearing sunscreen?

Clint Eastwood and our Ridiculous Roses

Many years ago, parts of our property were used to film the movie, "Honky Tonk Man" starring and directed by Clint Eastwood.
The roses were in bloom during filming ; Clint Eastwood asked that they be cut back. There were too many of them, he said, and they wouldn't look real on film.
This has been a good year for our roses, we've had to tie them back and will have to build an arch in the fall to support the growth over the gate. When I say they are "ridiculous", I do mean that affectionately. Sometimes I stand back a look at them and think, there are so many, they almost don't look real.....It's been a good year for cherries too. I have probably picked about 100 pounds so far, and there's still plenty for the birds and foxes.

Saturday Chatter

I spent the better part of these early morning hours photographing things to list on ArtFire. Ron was up very early and hitting the yardsales as usual, because of my still hurty back there was no way I could jump in and out of the car at the necessary speed, so I didn't go. Naturally I was very disappointed to find that ArtFire was down, really down. I haven't experienced that before. Though they're in Beta, I've never had issues so I hope they work it out. It feels kindof sad, like missing a good friend! I have two studios there right now.http://cobwebpalace.artfire.com/ (my handcrafted items) and http://bonjourmadame.artfire.com/ (supplies, vintage and antiques). I have neglected the latter studio and intend to remedy that as soon as the site is back up. I have more stash than a body can justify and need to clean things up and out. Surely someone will be inspired by the stuff I don't want, hmm?

View from the Chair

Finding the time to blog has been an annoying issue with me, because I know I will enjoy it. I simply haven't had time to focus on it, but I find that suddenly has changed. First of all, earlier in the week I flew around a corner to let my old dog Mac out, smashed into a flat iron that Ron had used as a doorstop, and came away with a very broken toe. Then I had my very first no-kidding-this-is-the-real-deal migraine attack. I was home alone and was in the most unbearable pain for over 6 hours. I knew it wasn't a stroke or aneurysm, because I was definitely conscious. No fun at all, and a real eye opener. I hadn't quite recovered from that, feeling shaky, and rather wondering why a migraine at 51, with no prior history of headaches of any kind....and yesterday while baking cookies for a grad party, I injured (?) my back somehow. Bad. I can't walk and it's almost hysterical. If there isn't an improvement by tomorrow, obviously it's to the doctor.

All this aside, I am glued to this chair now, or on my back and so no excuses. I wish I had a little bell here so I could just tinkle it, and have someone to get my camera, a dish of raspberries, and some fresh tea. I can see all the cobwebs in my parlor that need removing, visualize the laundry in the washer and the dryer, feel the weeds taking over my radicchio and peppers, hear my little parrot squawking for attention, imagine with horror dishes piling up in the kitchen sink....and there's not a damn thing I can do about any of it.