Artwork

This summer we had a few artists come to our door to sell paintings.  Benjamin and Nathaniel are from Israel and they came to America with their art buddies to sell their work.  We bought some paintings a few years ago when their group came around.  Daniel and I have been really impressed with the paintings and the energy of the young artists selling their work.  

They bring in a huge roll of painted canvases from all different artists in the group and show them to us.  If we like it, they pull it aside.  Benjamin showed us a painting and we loved it.  He asked us if we really liked it and after we confirmed that it was one of our favorites, he told us that he painted it!  It was fun to see his excitement at our praise for the work.  We bought this painting and one more big one.  

We didn't have the ones framed from the previous year, so we had them stretch and frame all of the canvases that we had.  It is amazing how the frame can make the picture come alive.  The guy who normally does the stretching and framing wasn't available to do the work, so Benjamin came over and did it.  Here are a few pictures of him stretching the frame.  I have been waiting to post a picture of it on our wall, but I don't have the accessories done to my satisfaction below the painting, so I thought that I'd just post what I have because my decorating is just not going to be done anytime soon.   

 

This painting is my favorite of all of the paintings we bought.  It is very serene and calming.  I love the colors and the texture.  The picture doesn't do justice to the painting.  It was really neat to visit with Benjamin while he was here.  It turns out that his last name is Benjamin and I can't remember his first name, but it isn't an easy name for American's to pronounce, so he just goes by his last name.  

Both times this group has come to our door, they are amazed when they hear my name.  The former Prime Minister of Israel's name was Sharon (they pronounce the 'a' with an 'uh' sound so it is Sha-ron, so it's not like Americans would say the name Sharon like share-un) When they say my name they would say the 'er' like 'uh' instead of 'ur' and they would be so excited that my name is like their Prime Ministers!  It makes a wonderful jump start for conversations about politics in Israel!   

A Post with Random Pictures and Thoughts

Yep, two posts in one day.  If only we could be so lucky everyday!

I gave Seth my camera and he took these pictures:

  

Paul took this picture

I was trying to get Jane to smile

I think that all I did was bore her!

Okay, here are the random thoughts that were promised!

I was listening to the radio and heard this funny line (I don't remember who said it):  "If it weren't for second chances, we wouldn't have re-fried beans".

This is a thought/question: If you are doing all of the work in a friendship, and the lack or reciprocation in the relationship is causing you pain (emotionally) is it okay to gracefully bow out?  Sometimes past memories are not enough to go on. (this is a girlfriend, NOT my husband!)

World War One (WW1) ended this week.  Check out the news article here

Today we went to the pumpkin patch to buy pumpkins (or punkuns as Paul calls them).  I decided that we should get them now while I am thinking about it because we didn't get them last year until right before Halloween.  The boys picked out quite the assortment.  We have a 'regular' orange pumpkin, an all green pumpkin an all white pumpkin, a small orange pumpkin and two tiny orange and white pumpkins.  They look quite pretty all together!  

It was so hot at the pumpkin patch.  Here we are in October and it was 87 degrees!  I'm glad that I thought to bring my hat to protect my balding head!  The boys ran through a corn maze.  I think that we would have spent more time there if it wasn't so hot!  

Man, I have got some cute boys!

I have been super uncomfortable with my body lately.  I have been going to the gym three days a week most weeks, and I am feeling more 'in shape', but I don't like my body shape.  I still don't fit into many of my clothes and it is frustrating.  Bring on the colder weather so I can wear layers, please! 

And finally, I received an email from my friend yesterday.  I still smirk when I think about it.  She sent a few short paragraphs and all of the sentences ended in exclamation points or question marks.  She ended the email with this: 

"Can you tell I've had a hysterectomy?  All this typing, and not a single period!"  What a hoot!

Pictures From the Past

Girl's Camp 1994  

This picture was taken the last day of camp.  We all had dirty hands and faces.  My favorite camp leader of all time, Karen Ogden, was brave enough to put her face in the photo.  She looks so sad, just makes me want to pack her up and take her home (for a nice long shower!)  (Click on the picture for a larger image)