Time affords...

Yesterday's posse and I had lunch with the folks. 

During this time of transition aforementioned, I have had time to do a few things that one can only do with time. 

Yesterday Max and Stuart were my sidekicks. We dug out the duplos and I even got down on the floor to build a house and garage. 

Then we headed into town to visit these folks. I figured I should share the boys' smiles and good cheer with them, plus I had a pan of leftovers to share for lunch. We even got the clocks and pictures hung on the wall while we were there. 

It was a good visit. 

Other stuff I have had time to do: 

1. Be Ron's sidekick on his errands. We got new baby calves, so we ran around picking up gear for them. And I have assisted with feeding. 
2. A whirlwind trip to St. Paul for Sadie's state dog show. Hit Mall of America and Como Zoo at a run. Ted accompanied us this year. 
3. Take lots of naps. I get tired during season change. I have come to expect it, and I have not been let down. 
4. Co-lead the new 4-H ambassador group in our county. These are high school age 4-Hers. We had our first meeting this past week. 
5. I have also taken on the coordinator position for the county's 4-H Shooting Sports and Wildlife project. This includes scheduling instructors and gun ranges, finding educators for learning about wildlife. I am attending a seminar in October to find out what else it involves. Part of my motivation for doing this is that I want my kids to learn safety first at the range, and learn to be good sportsmen (and women).
6. Cook. My kids eat. It seems like every time I turn around, we need groceries. 
7. Dabble with some collages. I realize that I have a complex about being a collage artist, but that it's really who I am. Though it seems that collage has gained credibility in the past ten years, I kinda am embarrassed to admit that's what I do. Like you're not really an artist if that's what I do. Especially when you have relatives that paint, draw, etc. and do stuff that people think artists do. How do you explain that you steal other images and combine them into a mess on a canvas or paper- and that really you're trying to make a statement about something with all that. Especially when it evolves at a really subconscious level for me. Really. I work from my gut on this stuff...I am trying to figure it out. And really, I am trying to get together a decent portfolio of work, so I can pursue other stuff. There, I said it. It has been hard to commit my brain to that.