Modern Phoenix 2010 - Return to Paradise

Had a ball last weekend doing the home tour with Tom & Julia. Lots of good ideas, fun to see the progress people have made on their places since the last tour. Here are the pictures in absolutely no order at all.

Visited the ModPhx Expo today, can't wait for the home tour tomorrow, with our good friends Tom & Julia.

Kate's Booth, ModernCat.

John's booth, Tuomisto-Bell Studios.

Afterwards, we stopped in to see "Knight Rise" by James Turrell. Such a peaceful installation/sculpture. Just love his work.

I left acupuncture today and was paid a visit by my very favorite boy, Bensen. I know he is with me when I hear Elton John's "Bennie & The Jets", it was our song and I sang it to him all the time. It was years after his passing before I heard it, I kept waiting and waiting. Guess I wasn't ready yet? Now I hear it quite often and smile every time because I know it's him saying hello.

My Talented Nephews

Sam and his Bionicles mixed media piece:


Noah and his Abstract:

Punch List

Our five sliders have been hanging over my head since we had them installed, like SIX years ago. They are Pella's and they were only offered in raw wood. I thought "no big deal, we can do this". Well, we did one and it was a total pain so the other four sliders have sat unstained.

When I quit my job in 2005, the first thing I did with my new-found time was start working on them again. I got all of the stationary stuff stained on three doors but never got around to removing the doors and actually doing the slider. The one in our bedroom still needs to be done in it's entirety. It's just such a pain with all of the prep work. So, my resolution is to get these done. Baby steps. One per weekend. So there it is. In writing and published. I have to get it done now, right?

Here's door #1/4. Before, after 1 coat of stain, and before sealing. I did three coats, alternating between dark walnut and cherry. Will seal with Tung Oil tomorrow.

Still recovering...

Wow, what a whirlwind last weekend was, I am still doing laundry and trying to get things back in order. A few pics of my wonderful family who stayed for too short a time.

Jeff explaining snake and reptile vetebrae, connective tissue and artmaking.

The boys loved these bones!

Wildlife World Zoo. The entire reason I wanted to take them was because one can feed giraffes from a tall platform. Wouldn't 'cha know it, this is the first time I've been when the giraffes would not approach the platform!!