Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real...The Finer Things in Life...Nature, Food, Art, and Musicals

Winter is still here...

I find such pleasure in watching all the birds that visit my feeder. 

This day a Blue Jay (waiting patiently or not) and a Red Bellied Woodpecker. We also had a Pileated Woodpecker this week but he was there and gone before I could get my camera. I was happy at least Thomas was there to enjoy seeing the prehistoric looking bird.

My oven is randomly turning off...after making some lovely beeping noises of course so at least I know when it happens. The positive side of this is I am trying some new meals. This day pork chops with mushroom and sherry in the crock pot. I also made a new beef stir fry that was amazing. I want to make a master list of my meals so I can do a better job of making different meals and hopefully try more new things. I thought as we enter in to the Lenten season this would be a good project. Thank you God that my stove top still works! Adapt and overcome!

Friday Thomas and I went with the Phillips to the Canton Art Museum to experience the Illuminated Word exhibit. This was a 10 year+ project by St John College in Minnesota and Calligrapher David Jackson of Wales to create a hand lettered and decorated Bible. This was one of those days I will always remember. Thomas and I leisurely and quietly viewed and discussed each piece in the exhibit. Thomas has an eye for detail and impressed me with his understanding of the symbols in the illustrations. 

At lease a dozen times he pointed out things that I hadn't seen. 

Before the exhibit we viewed a video that told the story behind the project. Here is the link

                                   http://www.saintjohnsbible.org/promotions/process/dream.htm
                                         After the exhibit the boys tried their hand at calligraphy.

So grateful for good friends for Thomas!

I bought a pack of notecards from the collection. My mom recently gave me a set of frames that will work perfect for framing 6 of them and hanging them in the eating room (we have never found a fitting name for this room that I like and so have just gotten in the habit of calling it that). There was even one extra frame to frame one of the cards to give as a gift to my dear friend Mary Jo on the occasion of her birthday.

Friday  night John and I went to watch River Valley's musical Wonderful Town. They did an incredible job. I am always amazed at the talent of our young people and the time and energy the teachers and staff invest. Mr. Peterson their superintendent and also the high school principal Mr. Coleman were in one of the funniest scenes of the show (as were Thomas and Michael Starrs). After the show I had the chance to talk Mr Peterson (he coached my brother in high school...small world isn't it) and Mr Coleman and witnessed again how much educators care about our kids.

As a side note I recently found a picture of these three when they were about 5/6 years old in the farmhouse kitchen... all 3 with pans on their heads...wish I had it handy to post here.