Birthday Haul

Here's what I got for my birthday this year.

 BIRTHDAY! Turned 58 (YIKES!!) wasn't too painful. I did make out like a bandit with lots of new toys. My brohan sent me some fun art supplies. Some gelatos, which are a kind of water soluble crayon--very fun to work with, metal pallet knives (so much better than the cheapo plastic ones I currently use) and a variety of gel mediums and gesso. Little Miguel got me a fancy new phone that I have yet to figure out how to use. I've been making due with 2 tins stung together with string, so this thing is quite a step up. I've almost figured out how to make a phone call. AND I bought myself a Midori Traveler's Notebook. More on this in the next post.

Lunch in Sanford

I took the day off yesterday and Mike and I drove down to Sanford to meet Bertie and JT for lunch. We ate at a cute little Italian joint in the historic downtown area. Pretty decent food. Sanford seems to be trying to upgrade. I used to spend quite a bit of time in that city. Can't say I loved it. Chapel Hill/Carrboro is more my speed. So anyhow, James was his usual adorable little self.  Calvin will be home in 2 months. It has been a very long, difficult separation for him and Bertie. She's been a real trouper, but I know it wears on her. Mal will be starting school soon. Only one year to go!! I'll be seeing all the kids and grandkids on my birthday this weekend.

Art Walk

That's my stuff over on the left.

Last Friday was the Last Friday Art Walk in Hillsborough. This was the first event for the  newly formatted Triangle Visual Artists (formerly known as Chapel Hill Art Gallery). Several of us dragged our stuff out in the heat and set up 2 spots on the street. Hillsborough's Art Walk is HUGE. It's more of a street fair with all kinds of vendors. The local galleries were also having receptions. Very nice, arty gathering. I was already exhausted from working all day when I got there, but I managed to sell 2 of my mini paintings, so it was a good evening for me. I mean--I covered the cost of gas and dinner. I probably won't do this type of event again. It's too hot to be out of doors in NC in the summertime. I don't like to sweat. The Triangle Artists have several other events planned for the year. On Saturday morning I went to a church activity. I skipped the craft classes and went to the Bible classes. Very interesting and informative. THEN, I went to Durham for the Triangle Sketch Crawl meet-up. We gathered at Francesca's on 9th Street. Then we separated for 2 hours of drawing and came back at 3 for show and tell. It was so much fun. Thanks, Dan, for coming with. I am sometimes reluctant to try new things alone. Dan was great company and such a wonderful artist.

Lunch with the Kids

Mal, James One, Lila and Jon

I met the kids in Greensboro for lunch at Mellow Mushroom. Ate too much and spent too much money, but we had a good time and a nice visit. Downtown Greensboro was a ghost town when I was in college. It has since been revitalized and filled up with shops, galleries, restaurants and clubs. I like the energy of a buzzing downtown area. It's nice to see. Same thing is happening in Durham. Unfortunately Chapel Hill has become nothing but high rise condos for rich people. There's more action in Carrboro these days. And HEY! even little Pittsboro is starting to come alive. Both the grandboys are in the process of cutting teeth--so feeling a little grumpy. But it doesn't affect their adorable-ness. Being a grandmother is the BEST.

Supporting the Troops

ME! Hard at work and stuffed full of pizza.

Our employee network, VetNet, held a donation drive during May and June in support of the USO, Operation Gratitude, Operation Paperback and the MMIA. There are a lot of very caring, generous people working here. It's very heart warming. We collected a ton of stuff for active duty soldiers and/or their familiies, for veterans at the VA hospitals and MMIA-a local charity that provides assistance to homeless veterans. Thanks Steve for providing the lunch pizza!

Eve of Destruction

Cole Park Shopping Center

The shopping center near the house is getting a face-lift. The kids went to Woods Charter School (marked by the arrow). I think the school moved the year after Bert graduated. They have a huge fancy new building now. When the kids were at Woods it was grades 4-12 and there were probably less than 150 students total. It was great. Everyone knew everyone. I am a fan of small schools. They didn't have all the extra-curriculars, like sports teams, a cafeteria and all that, but it was a close-knit community....too small for gangs and all that other high school weirdness.

Double Selfie

Me and the old man