So. We went to Amish Country in Buckeyeland, and there was this shop. Where there was this sign: Supplies for Fairy Gardens. Which look like this:



Mom and I were enchanted. (Not enchanted enough to pay $84, but still.) So she and I spend the next day working on our own. And the day after that hobbling around with sore muscles. Gardening is serious business, folks.

I'll post pics soon.

What I've Been Missing

For several (several) years, we have been in Colorado for the Fourth of July. Now, don't get me wrong. That's been a great--actually, a "zany"--place to be. But there were certain things I missed. I can't go into details, much. There was just a general feeling of missing things with our family and friends.

But I knew I missed the WV Arts and Crafts Fair. We would always go on Sunday (because we're cheap) so we could *maybe* get in for free or reduced price, and find some steals as the exhausted crafter artisans prepared to pack up and head home. Good times.

Since we had to schedule vacation later this year, I was stoked for the Fair. But, gasp! It was shorter this year--no Sunday! I came so close to missing out. (That's another story about me and some wicked angel cake. I won't tell you this story. It involves horrifying gluttony and a humiliating repentance.) But I drove down there myself on the 4th because I could NOT miss it. Who knows when the next time would be?

I had a good time even though I had a cake hangover and was some lonesome. Certain things the same, others different. I bought only food, but I took photos of my phavorites--my best of show, if you will. (Christmas hints!)



These are pendants made from broken china! So neat. Anna's China Jewelry: annaschinajewelry@yahoo.com I really should've zoomed in some but I was being jostled.

Lovely lovely yarns. I must learn to make something other than scarves and assorted squares and rectangles. I have a book from the library on that, but that's tangential, so back to the yarn: Cyndi Bolt Designs: cyndi@cyndibolt.com



This is the quilt that won the show. I'm not generally a multiple-pastel person, but I loved it. I didn't write down the information for this artsy person, but the wvaacf website may list it.


Seriously, someone get me this pottery birdbath for Christmas. I don't even want a stand for it. I just love it resting in among the flowers like this. And a teapot. I want a teapot, too. (All of her pottery can go in the micro, oven, and dishwasher! Wha?!)


Someday when I have a gorgeous home, I picture this somewhere in it. All of their work was...well, have a look at it yourself.

Also of note was Krack's Fiddle Shop. I was pretty sure the cat playing the fiddle was, indeed, the Jake Krack. So I was star-struck because I have this CD. So I just crept around pretending to look at instrumental things I have no idea about while he sat there fiddling and talking to customers. Yep.

And there was a felted wool booth that was totally IT. I think her name is Anne Grimes. Anyone have any more info? Love to have more time to browse her work....

So, Happy Fourth and crafting :)

The West Virginia Writers' Conference

Finished up the WVW Annual Conference yesterday at Cedar Lakes in Ripley. As usual, my brain is bulging with all my new knowledge. Can I be any more inspired? Shoot, no. So many new ideas, new advice, new people. It was a lovely, exhausting--dare I say, super-sweet?--weekend.

Thanks to Granny Sue Holstein's suggestions for Ripley's best restaurants, I found this little gem:




I'm in love. It reminds me of a couple of places I used to work, a couple of people I loved, and a couple of wistful ideas all rolled into one. It's got small-town charm. It's got good, greasy food. And it serves breakfast all day. I love, love, love it. (I'm not sure it loves me, yet. But don't worry. I'll win it over.)

The End Is Near

Just a few short days of freedom left. What did I do on my last day off, while my sweet darling was working?

Here Comes Grace!!!

Got the word on the prayer chain---our friend Sarah is having a baby! AAAaaaghghgh! The suspense is killing me! Her baby shower is (was) this Saturday--she can't have a baby yet, we haven't given her the diapers! Her due date is next month! (hand wringing) And she's in Charleston, an hour away. Aaaaghghgh! Sarah, we are encircling you with prayers, Darlin'! Can't wait to meet Grace!

"Romans 5:20 But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down...Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.

Do You Think This Is Funny?

Because I don't. Well, maybe just a little. This is what happened yesterday.



Me: "La la la, I think I'll get the mail. Because that's one of the things people do. Get their mail. Hm hm hm, do do do."





Me: La, la, la (yelp!)






Okay, the backstory is (before you go lecturing about how this is the kind of thing that happens when your mailbox has no door) that the mail carrier knocked off the door. With her firm technique, with the car, we don't know. Greg buys new mailbox. Carrier rips off door. Greg makes decree: "There shall, from this day forward, be no door on yon mailbox". (Incidentally, the very day this happened, I saw our very responsible neighbors' mailbox door laying on the ground--the latest victims).

So, I think I will leave the nest in there for a while. You know. Just to see what happens. It's one of my social experiments...

Happy Fourth!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Independence Day! Today we watched the parade AND went for a bike ride. Wow. Now that's a vacation.