What a Weekend.

Friday night we attended a concert by Jared Anderson.  He was terrific.  Loved every minute of it.  Here's a link to his myspace.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=33133049
I've posted a video of one of my favorites.  One is the operative word here.  I really love every thing I've heard.  Our worship leader uses a lot of his music.
Beyond that, Saturday night we also went to a fun, funny, yummy dinner sponsored by a fellowship we attend.  It was very good for us all.  I don't know if I can get hold of any of the pictures from the night (especially the one with Louis and I holding the rose in our teeth -yes both of us-one rose) but if I do, I may post some cause it was so fun. 
This afternoon I went to a baby shower for one of my student's mother.  It's a fun story and it was a very fun shower.  They are missionaries in Belise and they have so many culture stories.  When they are stateside, their son comes to paint with me.  He's such a fantastic student and such a good storyteller, but you could expect nothing less of their child!
When I came home, I made toffee cookies and walnut fudge, both of which turned out entirely edible.  I hope I have a few left after tonight. 
So I feel supercharged.  Maybe it was the fun or the inspiring concert or maybe it was the fudge and cookies.  It feels good.  Tomorrow is a new week, but there will be enough.

Inspiration

When we moved into this house in 2004 the fireplace was a large wall of brick ceiling to floor. In early 2005, I built the towers, mantle and shadow box of cedar. When I have settled on a motif for the lamps, I will carve and woodburn the doors on the towers.  I've also begun replacing the crown molding with cedar. One day, God willing, I will rebuild my kitchen with carved and burned cedar cabinets.
This past Friday, My good friend Lea dropped by and presented me a gift of one of his paintings.  He didn't realize how well it fit into the design of my mantle piece.  At first, I was going to hang it next to the cowboy painting where the Taos Pueblo painting hangs, but it was a little too overpowering there, so I moved it to the far left and I really do like it.  I also found a natural cedar frame for it!
The visit was important to me in many ways.  First because I haven't seen my friend in a while.  But also, I was inspired to push myself out of the box a little more.  I realized that if I just keep doing what I do, I will stagnate.

So thanks, friend for the inspiration and for the painting.