Rohling Studios

My Racine

          

I saw Super Woman yesterday as I drove down High Street.  A quick glimpse imprinted her in my mind.  She was small framed, thin, wearing a skirt and a perky white blouse.  She looked to be in her late 80's perhaps even her 90's.  She was mowing the hill in front of her house with a hand mower....and as I continued to drive  I knew I had to turn around and tell her something...I didn't know what but I turned my truck around and headed back.  As I pulled up she was sitting on her concrete step pulling weeds growing on the hill next to her.  She looked up as I rolled down my window.  I smiled and yelled out of the window,"I just had to stop and....". 

"I can't hear you!" she yelled back to me with a look of concern on her face.

I moved closer to the window and I yelled louder, "I just had to stop to....".

"I still can't hear you!", she yelled again....only this time she was smiling.  At this point I was thinking to myself..."Ok...if I drive the truck away now I may frighten her but if I get out and talk to her will I frighten her more???...And... what was it I wanted to say that was so all fired important two minutes ago???"  I turned the truck off and got out.  She smiled and I sat down on the step next to her.   "What can I do for you today?" she asked me. I noticed the frame of her glasses was yellowing with age and she had large thick squared lenses that made her eyes look huge.  And that in turn made the twinkle in her eyes look even larger than life. 

""The freshly cut grass smells so good without the smell of gasoline from an electric mower....I saw you mowing your lawn and I just wanted to stop and tell you what an inspiration you are!"  I looked at her mower.  It was shorter than most mowers and it was made of wood.  The handles were smooth, stained dark from years of use and they were worn with age. 

"I have used it my entire life.  I like to get the yard ready before Sunday when everyone comes."  She pointed to the church next door. 

"Well, it certainly looks great and your flowers are beautiful as well!  I don't know why I stopped...it's just that I saw you working and I just wanted to tell you how nice your yard looks and what an inspiration you are to me!"  I stopped and slowly got to my feet.

"Well....thank you for stopping by today,"  she said as I walked back to the truck.  I got in, shut the door and we waved to each other.  Then I pulled into traffic and saw her in my rear view mirrow waving.  I tooted my horn and that was it.  She really WAS Super Woman I am sure of it!

Arte y Pico Award

                                  

Oh My!  Thank you Sam!  An Award for Rohling Studios!  I don't know what to say...I didn't have any cue cards because I didn't see it coming!!!  Really...Thank You to Sandy Wood...one of my favorite bloggers, head of PFATT...and a very creative friend in my own personal blogland!  Sandy...or Sam...however you may know her is the creative mind behind SAM I AM CREATIONS and she has awarded me the "Arte y Pico"  award.  I am far from speechless!!!!   The rules are:

1. Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of language. (I am taking this to mean Spanish, French, English, etc. not "*%$#@!")

2. Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog so everyone can view it.

3. Each award-winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.

4. The award-winner and the presenter should post the link of the Arte y Pico blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. Please post these rules!

My Nominees are:

1.  Loretta at pomegranatesandpaper who is an inspiration to all of us with her charm, wit and creativity...not to say anything about how wonderfully consistent she is in posting!!!  She is a wonderful artist and writer!...Her blog is a MUST!  It has been great fun getting to know her and learning from her.

2. Catherine at Red Shoes is a shop owner (go see it!!!), blogger, mother and artist!  I am in awe of her energy!  He blog is colorful and fun!  Her work is unique and just as colorful as she seems to be in her writing!

3.  Lori at Faerie Window  who is one of the nicest people I have met in blogosphere!  Her work is every bit as sweet as she is!!!  Go meet her!  She is a pleasure to know!  You will know what I mean when you meet her!

4. Izabella at Izabella's Blue is a most wonderful artist, and creator of a great new group on Ning called "Creative Souls".  It is a wonderful place for us all to network and share.  I am sooooo proud of her accomplishments here!!!!  I love to spend time over there!

5.  Last but not least....saved till the end because she was one of the first people I ever met in blogdom!  The one...the only...the legendary...JoAnnA from Moss Hill Studios ...artist, teacher, publisher, survivor and all around great person!!!  Her blog is an inspiration on so many levels.

Wow! Or should I say Whew!  This was a challenge to my ability to focus!  LOL!  Thank you again...and thank you to each of the above for sharing themselves!  Love ya all!

Vacations, Holidays, Family ETC ETC ETC

   It is Sunday afternoon.  The holiday is over.  My daughter and her family are on their way home.  The vacation is over.  Everything is quiet except my mind.  It jumps from one thought to another.  Snapshots of the last month keep clicking through my head.  I went to San Diego to celebrate the birthdays of my son and grandson.  They were born on the same day in June.  Ben as usual put a lot of thought into it and the time and it was great.  San Diego is a wonderful city!  I love the weather!...and the Ocean!

We spent much of our time by the water.

 

Flocks of pelicans are not something we see here in Wisconsin.  What a thrill!  It is not unusual to see seagulls  because we live on Lake Michigan.  However, in all my years of living here I have NEVER seen a seagull nesting!  So I have to kind of wonder where they nest around here.  I caught this one just as she was sitting back down to keep keeping her babies warm

The sky was full of birds and other things....

The ocean had a few sites we don't see here either....

But the best things that were in San Diego are right here...

the hands of my son holding his son's hands!  That is the very best thing in the whole city of San Diego!  They playfully refer to this little guy as "The Beast"!  It is funny when you see him because he is the farthest cry from a beast....he is sweet and beautiful...but the nickname has stuck.  He will probably be forever nicknamed "The Beast" or maybe "B" for short. 

The day after my return my daughter and her tribe came in from Arkansas.  To say the least I have been spoiled by my children for the last month.  Pictures will be forthcoming!  Of course they will have to be limited to little fingers and little toes but that's ok....pictures will follow none the less.