Father's Day...

Happy Father's Day Jimmy!!!!

...and so it began...2 peas in a pod!

To all you awesome Dad's, a very Happy Father's Day!

Triple 'D'

Bacon cheeseburger w/ unbelievably delicious fries..

...and stacked, ready to be eaten...

Jimmy and Edward each received a clean plate club sticker!!

The clean plate club sticker pole...full from top to bottom..

We heard he was here for his show 'Diners, Drive-ins and Dives', other wise known simply as 'Triple D'! None other than the all too adorable and keep it real, Guy Fieri. Jimmy went last month, and today, while out and about we decided to head into downtown Colorado Springs and twist Jimmy's arm to have another amazing burger. Edward was game, more like drooling. For me, well, I was just praying there would be something on the menu that I would eat. Eggs, always safe and good at any time of the day. So, we went to King's Chef Diner. A burger 'joint' around since 1956. We know, for sure that Al Roker was there, click on the link for a video. But, for me, just the idea that Guy had been there ('they' are sticking by their story. I looked all over the internet and could not find the episode...maybe 'yet to be aired') was good enough. This is far from our 'normal', but hey, every now and then, going off the beat and path w/ our good eating habits is fine...we had a great time and the food along w/ the novelty was all worth it!!!

The Gift That Keeps on Giving...

rock #1, front

rock #1, back

rock #2, front

rock #2, back

The sun is just a bit lower in the sky. It is starting to 'feel' like summer is slipping away, although it is still August, albeit, the 20th. Today was one of those days at the ocean which can only be labeled perfection. Not a cloud in the sky, a slight breeze, the sun warm, not hot, the tide up most of the day, the beach rocks, laid out so perfectly along the mile or so stretch of shore. I am like a kid in a candy shop, eying the stones for that elusive stripe which goes all the way around, sometimes so very subtle. I look for pure white rocks, or textures and designs which 'pop' when I see them. I 'ooooh' and 'ahhhh' to myself as I drop these precious findings into my yellow bucket. 'Good one', I will say to myself, and then show Jimmy the really special ones when I get back to our slice of the beach. So, here are a few of today's amazing gifts from the ocean deep at Matunuck Beach. I was especially 'taken' with the 2 rocks which were so completely different on either side. I think, as always, 'How on earth did this rock happen, how did this come to be????"

Awesome, totally, awesome...

Beach Rocks Came in Handy Today....

New banner!!!

My shady, windy corner display..

Looks like a geology table!!!

Hey, it's all natural!!

The strings, ropes, and bungee cords hold up the display!

A peek down the street.

My tent neighbor didn't show up...but, the street was full.

The gifted young people from the RI Kung Fu Club

Drumming out the beat...they were terrific!

Today was the 'Whole Foods 3rd Annual Block Party' on the East Side of Providence. It was everything you would think a block party would be...lots of families, dogs, people with their bicycles, some with babies attached to the front of the handlebars, a great D.J., lots of hamburgers and hots dogs, plenty of water to go around. Doing an outdoor event is always a gamble. Will the weather hold out, will it rain, be too cold or too hot, will there be a gusty wind? The vendors are checking the weather reports very carefully all week. Well, I knew that it was going to be a hot one today...sweltering, in fact. BUT, I was assigned a spot under a tree, completely shaded from the blistering sun. WOW, somebody up there likes me, in fact, loves me...this was great. However, the wind was so gusty, that I needed my beach rocks to hold down the cards...many of which did blow down the street before I had a chance to get everything in place. Jimmy and I rigged up 'something', with string, rope and bungee cords, tied around (and around and around and around ) a tree, wrapped on a leg of the tent, all to hold up the framed pictures on the display. Glory be, it worked!!!! We were very impressed with ourselves. So, it was a good day of sales, the entertainment from the Rhode Island Kung Fu Club was energetic and colorful. A perfect addition to our day. Thank you Shawna for a well run event....and on to the next project, as they say.

Another Opening of Another Show..

Yesterday was the 'virgin voyage' for the Craftopia creators. It was a good day. The event was well organized, the organizers were very thoughtful, the space was airy. I did 'okay'. I think that, as has been said by many a vendor, doing shows is unpredictable. I also think, however, the economy had alot to do with all the compliments, all the lookers, but not too much cash being doled out. It was the first show of the year, maybe not close enough to Mother's Day. Who knows. There is always a learning curve. I was happy to see some friends come out and enjoy the venue. My husband, as always, was and is invaluable with his support of my art, but also with the down and dirty task of lugging of tables, and crates. I could not do all of this without him. Thank you Jimmy, you are so appreciated.

Thank you again, Ladies of Craftopia. May this be the first of many shows for you. A job well done!

As a postscript, I must add, that many vendors did very well on Sunday!!!!

The Fish and the Loaves, The Traveling Plate!!

I was having dinner at the DC Coast restaurant, in Washington D.C., last Monday night, with some dear friends I had not seen in many years. While catching up a bit, we began talking about Israel and how they were thinking about going next year. I shared with them this story (among others) about our traveling plate. This is from the archives, but, certainly bears repeating!

This plate of the Fish and the Loaves was given to us by our friend, Iddo in 1995. Iddo was our tour guide when we went to Israel in 1990. Edward was an infant at the time and Iddo helped make our visit so special and forever memorable. We connected with him, not just for the 10 days we traveled together, but now, 19 years later, we still have a story to tell. This plate, the miracle of the Fish and the Loaves, represents feeding the multitudes. Jesus blessed the two fish and fives loaves, and miracle of miracles, 'there were about 5000 men who ate aside from the women and children.' (Mat.14:21). Iddo and his beautiful wife, Irit, gave us the plate to bless our household, and it did. But then, a few years later, his household needed a blessing, with tourism in Israel at an all time low, he needed some help. I thought, let's make a deal. We'll send him the plate for 7 years and then wherever we are in the world each of us would share the plate for 7 years at a time. Well, his time was up, (and then some), but, yet again, miracle of miracles, Iddo was coming to the States, New York City, to be specific. Lo and behold, my husband had to be in New York City at the same time! Jimmy and Iddo met in mid-town Manhattan and had a wonderful reunion over coffee @ Starbucks, catching up like two old friends who had known one another forever! Our household has had many blessings now that we have our plate back, and we are certainly always expectant! Iddo's business of tourism and lecturing is thriving. He loves telling the story about the traveling plate! We all realize that the plate is just a plate, but, it has great meaning to us and it's ours until 2015!!!

Happy Father's Day!!

...and so, fatherhood began...
2 peas in a pod!!

Jimmy & Edward, September, 1988

A very blessed Father's Day to all you fabulous Dad's!!