Red&White World

of course, i grew up

within walking distance of a red&white world.

went to basketball games,

symphony concerts,

and plays in a sea of bricks.

we were Brothers people

& bowled at Western Lanes.

 then i left home

for a college that matched my eyes

& looked good with pearls.

the color of the sky.

never looked back.

 though the red&white world

was always there,

reminding me

of the past...

 i had no inkling

it was, actually,

the future.

 of course

it was.

 my children

grew up dressed

in baby blue,

knowing they had

tar on their heels.

 then this happened.

and i find myself

making wolf faces with my fingers

and seeing how much red

i have in my closet.

and remembering

my childhood

in the red&white world.

and howling

(at least on the inside).

 because HE does.

art schmart

i like art that makes my brain

go BOING

the annual At Home Art Show

did not disappoint!

 http://www.sesow.com/

 bedspread of wonders

 local news about her.

 i almost bought this one.

(it's an Amsterdam scene)

maybe i should go back.

(his site)

wall scene ~ various artists

floor scene ~ mainly Minnie Melon (aka Dot Blue aka Janet Schaefer)

sorry, didn't note the artist

 his legit website

 there was another one that i saw later

& didn't get a photo of (it was almost at the ceiling)

liked it better...a landscape with trees

i think this is him.

 i recognize those fishes!

& really like the red rooster.

(Minnie Melon/Dot Blue/Janet Schaefer)

floor scene ~ various artists (including another Eugene Chadbourne)

bedroom art

Medusa by Minnie Melon / Dot Blue / Janet Schaefer

this one was STUNNING!

 don't think he wants to part with it.

who can blame him?

WOW

(official website)

i ended up getting my Xmas present ~

two Janet Schaefer collage paintings!

and BONUS

she was there :)

so i got her picture, too!

the one she is holding is two-faced.

here is the story she told:

"see these two peaks? that's a sailboat. with people on it.

see this? (pointing to pink dot above the eye)

this is a spaceship.  it's coming for the people

on the sailboat.  there are twelve spaceships.

this was not my vision, though."

as for the reverse,

it was inspired by Neil Young's

Heart of Gold.

the collage i'm holding

is blinded by the sun,

but it is Animal Collage

& features a rhino, a peacock,

a monkey, and some dinosaurs

(of course).

go buy some art.

Fun&Games

i enjoyed taking my brother & his family

to some of our favorite urban spots -

both for eats & for feets.

YUM!  Crafted Art of the Taco is a MUST.

we enjoyed trying the bacon jar &

agreed that the caramel was the best.

happy with our taco creations - SLURP!

 then, OF COURSE, we walked a few blocks up town

to check out LeBauer Park!

Samuel with a handful of shaved ice

 the ice-skating rink was in full swing!

Samuel

a little wet on one end, due to the sunshine -

but the stiff breeze helped make it feel a bit like winter.

L-R: Alex, Samantha, & Joseph

there were one or two competent skaters on the ice,

and my two got a bit of a lesson from one of them.

Joseph & Samuel try not to fall

Samantha

Joseph, Alex, (my brother behind), & Samuel

all four cousins on the ice!

Samantha tries to even the playing field

once you've decided you're done with skating,

you can try your hand at a small sledding hill.

the bigger you are, the harder you wipe out.

i spy....

two footballs.

finally,

the teenager had a good excuse

to play on the merry-go-round :)

fun for everyone!

Joseph conquers the polygon

Samantha & Joseph

Alex

Alex, Samantha, & Joseph

Samuel joined us from the skating rink in time to summit the 'gon

how many ways can you go down a slide?

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

on the way back to our house,

my Charleston relatives decided to buy

a North Carolina tree.

my brother stops traffic

and, of course, the required

Family Photo

are you okay?

stand like you mean it

ooooh! so nice :)

trying for fall foliage

yep - got it!

Happy Thanksgiving!