Friends

On my way to Vendor Night last night.  My sweet friends came out to say hello.

Short Train

It wasn't a long wait ~ short train ~ engine and caboose!!

Sunday Morning

In my back yard this morning ~ enjoying some "alone" time.

Nativity of Mary

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mother Mary!!

Eco-Dyed Fabric

This bundle of  GORGEOUS "eco-dyed by Deb Taylor" fabric arrived from Texas yesterday!!  This fabric has been Solar Soaked * Moon Bathed * Kissed by the Sun * Danced in the Wind.  I cannot wait to start stitching some art!

I was at my Dr. appointment yesterday.  This sign is hanging on the wall.

PAINT

"PAINT WHAT YOUR EYE CAN SEE AND GIVE IT A SOUL, YOUR SOUL, AND LET NOT THE ONLOOKERS MAKE JUDGEMENT ..... FILL YOUR MIND WITH THE WIND AND THE AIR AND COLORS OF EVERYTHING KNOWN TO MAN AND ANIMAL ALIKE."
~Fabriozi 
artist 
1471 - 1502

Artist Trading Cards

I was recently accepted into a private Artist Trading Card group.  I just received my first card from Maggie Goodwin who lives in the UK.  I am excited to receive 7 more and to send mine off to the members.

Thank you, Maggie, for the warm welcome into the group.

Tech Support

On My Fireplace Mantel

Change

It's okay to change.
It's okay to retreat, then join back in.
It's okay to leave and never come back.
It's okay to leave and come back differently.
It's okay to close doors and open others.
Gracefully, for yourself, and for others.
~Orly Avineri

I love this, Orly!

My Sunday Morning High

Our Virginia Sky

 Our sky out front last evening.

 Our sky to the west last evening.

I couldn't sleep late Friday night.  So, I watched the heat lightning.  It was beautiful.

Memories of Canton, Ohio

While in Canton this month, I drove around my old neighborhoods.  Looking at the houses I lived in while growing up brought back many wonderful memories.  The houses aren't looking too great these days, but I could picture them as they were when we lived in them so many years ago.  
The Canton City Bakery Building sits empty on the corner only a block down the street from our house.  I can almost smell a loaf of that warm bread as I carried it home.
Thinking back on my years at St. Paul's Catholic Church and School will always be dear to my heart ~ The formation of my faith, first friendships, and a loving stable parish ~ these things will be with me always.
I drove past buildings that housed little neighborhood grocery stores that we went to often ~ Some buildings gone, others empty or used for something else now: Thomas Grocery Store and Stillo's to mention a few.
Lehman High School was not far from where I lived at one time.  Right in the middle of a residential neighborhood, it now sits empty and in ruins ~ windows broken and ivy growing up the sides.  Many of my friends went to school there ~ it must hurt them to see it as it is now with memories locked inside those walls.
I always stop at the little grotto built in honor of Rhoda Wise (my mother knew her).  The grotto is built right behind her house.  The process has begun to one day canonize Rhoda as only the 4th American born saint.  You can read The Rhoda Wise Story online.
Another stop was made at Sancta Clara Monastery where the Poor Clare nuns of Adoration live.  The monastery and grounds are SO beautiful.  I feel at peace when there.
I also viewed the spot where 77 Colonial Lanes once sat.  I bowled there for many years and it held fun wonderful memories.  How sad it was to see the building gone and a new building that houses Duluth Trading Co. in that spot.
I drove down Serpentine Hill by Mercy Hospital.  It has been redone and is less dangerous than it once was.  Many years ago, Brother Patrick and I slid down that hill backwards in a snowstorm in his VW Bug, holding our breath till we came to a stop.
And of course, Central Catholic High School.  Lifelong friendships were built in this building and memories that will forever warm my heart.
Too many other places and memories to mention.  I smiled, I cried, and I remembered.

1637 Edwards Ave. NE * I loved this little bungalow ~ it was pale pink when we lived there and in better condition.  Many memories of fun times spent playing out in the street with my brother Patrick, and the neighborhood kids.  Those were great years.

 1719 Roosevelt Ave. NE * This was my Grandpa Kopka's house.  We lived with him there when we moved from Edwards Ave.  I loved this yard.  Back then it seemed SO big.  There was a huge willow tree in the middle of the yard that I loved to sit under.  There was a cherry tree and a garden.  This is where "Chippy", my brother Patrick's pet chipmunk, lived and died in a cage in the garage.

 1433 Ferndale Rd. NW * This is where we lived for a few years after grandpa passed away and we sold the house on Roosevelt.  Mom took her time looking for a house for us.

 610 - 23rd Street NW * This is the house mom found and bought for us.  We had many happy years in this house.

 Canton City Bakery

 Canton St. Paul's Catholic Church and School

 Thomas Grocery Store

 Lehman High School ~ this is where Casey's dad, Jim Fish, went to school.

 Lehman High School, now boarded up and in ruins.

 The grotto in backyard of Rhoda Wise's home.

 Sancta Clara Monastery on Market Avenue in Canton.

 On the Sancta Clara Monastery grounds.

 Serpentine Hill

 Duluth Trading Co. now sits where 77 Colonial Lanes was.

Central Catholic High School in Canton, Ohio

Saint Teresa of Avila

"Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul."

Day 4

Day 4 on the couch with this crappy gout!  I managed to hobble around the kitchen long enough this morning to make a big pot of spaghetti sauce.  We had a good lunch!

Another Gout Flare-up

Our sky over the mountain tonight.  I am happy to see the pretty sky as I am laid up with a gout flare-up!  On the couch with an ice pack on my foot.  There was no Vendor Night for me tonight.  I hope this will be short lived.

Full Moon

Tonight's August Full Sturgeon Moon over my house in Virginia.

Home

Made it home safely last night at 6:00 ...  to My Mountain, My Man, and My Dog!

Headed Home

Headed back to Virginia this morning!  I had the BEST visit this trip.  Saw many friends, including some I hadn't seen in many years.  Spent quality time with my sister and brother-in-law and shopped for items for my consignment booth, too.

I am VERY eager to get home to see Mr. Magic and Jake.  I have to thank Mr. Magic for not minding my going on these little jaunts and for staying home and caring for our little furbaby.

The Twisted Olive

 My sister and brother-in-law took me to dinner at The Twisted Olive this evening. Nice place ~ my first visit there. The chipotle potato soup was to die for!

A Visit with John Sokol

 Yesterday, I met good old friend John Sokol for lunch at The Mustard Seed in Akron.  We had a great visit!  I really enjoy getting together with my friends when I'm here in Ohio.  They are part of the foundation that made me who I am today and they are important to me.

I was fortunate to view a lot of John's paintings after we ate.  Wow!  I couldn't choose just one favorite.  He is good and just keeps getting better!!

 The Mustard Seed Market & Cafe

 Beautiful hydrangea-like flowers in front of The Mustard Seed.  We were happy to see many bees enjoying these flowers.

A Visit With An Old Friend

Audrey and Tom at TRENO RISTORANTE in Kent. It used to be PUFFERBELLY. 

Another exciting day!! After a couple of years of planning, old friend Tom Stephan and I met up for lunch yesterday at Treno and then he took me on a tour of the Kent State campus.  Tom and I have known each other since we were young and were in plays together at the Canton Players Guild, lived a few streets apart for a while, and attended KSU together.  It had been 50 years since we saw each other.

Korb Hall was my dorm as a freshman and Tom lived in Manchester Hall in the Eastway Center Complex which is directly across the street from Korb Hall.  We went into Korb and I got misty-eyed and left. The dining room was in Eastway Center where everyone congregated for entertainment, bowling, studying, snacks, etc.

Tom was the perfect host as he knows the names of all the buildings ~ old and new.  Living nearby in Stow, he frequently has meetings at Kent for various groups he belongs to.

The old looking grey house is off-campus where I lived with 9 other girls the remaining years I was in Kent.  Seeing it again sure brought a lot of memories to mind.

I took too many photos to post.  The campus has grown SO much and the new buildings are beautiful. It was a most enjoyable afternoon.  Thank you, Tom, SO much for a memorable day.  It was great seeing you again and I enjoyed our catching up!!

KORB HALL ~ The dorm I lived in my freshman year at Kent State University ~ Room 512

One of the many fountains on the campus.  This one is very long with water falling over KENT STATE UNIVERSITY.

Sculpture in front of the KSU Library.

Black Squirrel sculpture (wearing back-pack, t-shirt, and beads), donated by Past President Lefton and his wife.  See plaque next photo.

Donation by Past President Lefton and his wife.

Another Black Squirrel sculpture.

Beautiful landscaping is found everywhere across the campus.

Two of them were there visiting yesterday ~ Audrey Gallagher and Tom Stephan

Tom says we still "bleed" Blue & Gold!

It is an everyday sight to see Black Squirrels running around the campus.

Eastway Center Complex is directly across the street from Korb Hall.  A dining room and social hall is at the center of the complex which is connected by 4 dorms ~ Manchester Hall, Fletcher Hall, Allyn Hall and Clark Hall.

EASTWAY CENTER

A small portion of the beautiful front campus.

213 University Drive

Off-Campus Housing. I lived here for several years with 9 other girls.

Oh, the memories!!!

This is the building where I worked in the Alumni Office.  At that time, the Bookstore and the HUB were also in this building.