'ROUND THE YARD

Two weekends ago we went to the Watertown town-wide yard sale + came away with nearly everything on our wish list including a push mower ($20.00!) for all the grass on our property (what an amazing upper body work-out). Next year we want to plant an organic vegetable garden, but until then we have started a compost + we'll rely on friends who already have theirs planted. Tomorrow morning I am going to Coca-Cola, in Nashville, to pick-up a few 55 gal plastic barrels for the rain water collection system we are installing. We have so many plans + we have to pace ourselves because there just are not enough hours in the day, but it all makes me SO very happy.

We have recently been the beneficiaries of random acts of kindness.

First act: Someone trimmed the edge of our front lawn! I have no idea who to thank.
Second act: I found these dirt balls on my front porch, which are actually filled with wild flower seeds- plant- water- watch them grow! I figured it was from one of two friends + when one of them turned red when I asked if she was a "flower fairy" I knew who to thank this time.

Have you seen In The Realms of The Unreal? You should.

AND this weekend Beth + I are going to play dueling presses in the demo tent at the Spring TACA crafts fair. I'll have my proof press + Beth is bringing the table-top lever press she got for X-mas.

Come out + say hi if you are in the area.
I'll have photos on Monday.
It's only Wednesday, but have a great weekend!

HERE'S TO GOOD [BLOG] FRIENDS

I'm spending another Sunday morning at Panera with my laptop because we did not get the cable/internet installed yesterday. We don't have jacks in the wall + did not want to go the "quick + dirty" route of drilling holes in the hardwood floor, so we are drilling holes in the wall + will have to reschedule installation. In the meantime...it's yummy food + free Wi-Fi at Panera!

Yesterday I received a package from Marissa @ Vanillabean Knits + my boy had to tell me not to cry!

I first became a fan of Marissa when I saw that she was knitting her own French market bags + she sent me two for a house warming gift! But that's not what made me tear up, it was her card. She also does pen + ink/ watercolor drawings + she drew our house based on my blog posts.


I also received a package from Amy @ Papa Studios + let me tell you that my blog could easily become an Amy fan site! We share a mutual appreciation for 50's kitch (+ Social Distortion) + when I saw her Pee Wee print, with an obscure quote from Pee Wee's Big Adventure, well that sealed the deal in terms of my admiration.

As you know, everything looks better in person that on blogs or on Etsy + when I actually got to study the details of Amy's carving + registration I was in awe! Seriously, I have to take a trip to Atlanta + meet her.

THANK YOU MARISSA + AMY!

I need to get back into regular posting + communications + plan on stopping by Panera more than once a week until we get internet at the house.

THANK YOU FOR STICKING AROUND THESE 2 MONTHS!

YAY!

We are scheduled to have cable (with internet) installed Saturday morning between 8 and 11. As my boy said, "it's been really nice," but we will resume service because NBA playoffs are under way, I miss keeping up with all of you + I do love falling asleep with Jon Stewart every night!

See y'all on Saturday.

I HAVE NOT ABANDONED MY BLOG, I SWEAR...

I just have not made arrangements to have the cable guy (or girl) install cable so I can have regular internet access. SO it's another Sunday morning at Panera.

We have been busting tail on house stuff + learning that every project will cost twice as much as budgeted + take twice as long to complete. With that I present the new studio floor...

The seller installed carpet in this room + we wanted hardwood floor. Hardwood floors cost far more than I ever would have expected so we had 2X2 ft. pieces of finished plywood installed in a checker board, alternating grain pattern. We sanded + stained it dark walnut + this weekend it was dry enough to move into.

There is more floor space than I have ever had in a studio (170 sq ft) but little wall space so I had to get creative with furniture arranging + did not realize that I created a double-decker gazing spot for Monk + Dex.

This is as far as we got before we pretty much dropped (3 shelving units not shown). I have some events I have to prepare for,

• Beth + I are doing a linocut/ letterpress demonstration at the Spring TACA show.
• The Book Babes will have a booth at the ON The Beaten Path crafts show, the companion show to the OFF The Beaten Path studio tour.
• We are preparing for our annual backpacking trip in The Sierras.
• I also really want to plan a trip to Atlanta to meet Amy @ Papa Studios + visit her letterpress studio (there is also a Trader Joe's in Atlanta!).
• Then there is the sofa we need to pick up in St Louis (+ there is a Trader Joe's in St. Louis too!).

I cannot leave without thanking everyone who has e-mailed me + inquired about house progress + other things going on in my life. I'm enjoying my internet/TV break + actually reading entire books, but do feel SO out of touch. Keeping me in-touch is sweet Susan @ Sulu-design, who sent me house warming earrings! Don't you love that?

LALA dex press needs to get up + running SOON + now that my studio is almost set-up I have NO EXCUSE.

Be well!
Now to catch-up on e-mails.