A sleepy little town

We ventured out this evening and found their main street.  Excelsior Springs, MO - USA

Dinner has been great at the Ventana Cafe.

The shops on Broadway.  Hope I can find a few minutes to explore.

How much is that doggie in the window?

Today I'm taking a break from classes and heading to the Bottom's Up Market in KC. 

 I'll get to spend the day with my sister Susan.  YEA!

Art & Soul KC

Faron and I traveled to Excelsior Springs, MO yesterday (just northeast of Kansas City).  We arrived in the dark at this 100 year old hotel, "the Elms".  I just had to ask.  "Is it haunted?"  Of course the answer was yes but they are friendly.  We will be exploring.

going up...

original floor imported from Italy

fire & water

Another crossroad

Once again life has presented me with another crossroad.  A year ago at this time I was deciding to get off the road, well at least to stop the insanity and the shows.  I had still planned on teaching at a few stores throughout the country but to work more out of my studio and promote the online sales.  

What I thought would be son Travis coming home to just help organize a bit turned into a full restaurant and has plans being made daily on further expansion and events.  I find many a day calling from the road to one of our crew traveling another road in another direction.  Hopefully we will all end up in the same location soon to catch our breath.  Our daughter in law Brooke will be joining us in Kansas full time the beginning of May.  We may not know where we are heading, but at least we will all be here together.  

I've been telling you all that I'm working on the web site.  Well I've been telling you that for 8 years now and I have been working on it for 8 years, but extra hard 15 hours a day for 4 weeks.  It's up!  It is just the beginning and there are some links that broke when we put it online that need fixed.  I haven't had time to load the samples and products on the galleries, but the Artful illusions rubber catalog is a flip book with all the pages updated.  It takes a minute to load, but it is all there.  www.mrsolearysart.com

In 2 weeks we will be teaching in Columbus, Ohio at Artiscape http://europeanpapers.com/category/ART-WS.html 

and 2 weeks after that will be Stamp Asylum in Plano, Texas.  http://stampasylum.blogspot.com

All the classes are sold out in those venues at this time, but we are returning to Stamp Asylum to teach in late June as we will be in Dallas to attend market at that time.  So if you are on the waiting list for the Plano classes watch for the updates as we will be repeating those classes.  

Returning from Ohio we will be stopping at our favorite Junk store to gather decor for the Brickyard as we are redoing the exterior decor.  It will be so cool.  Wait till I send you pictures this summer.  

Sound like I'm slowing down yet?  I reluctantly showed a couple of art retreat promoters some of my class works during some recent trips.  I'm not sure I should be taking this step, but this is the new crossroads I was talking about.   It looks like you might be seeing me at more locations throughout the country teaching next year.  

Hang on!  Here we go again...

Death of the flip-flop...

The animals in our lives keep it interesting and make me not take myself too seriously, but really guys you can let up a bit on the shoes.  Since we travel criss-crossing the states, we have agreed to help some of the animal rescue groups transport their friends.  This is Jersey Girl.  Her owner passed away in January and the family just left her locked up in the house alone without food or water for 3 weeks.  After that she ended up on the streets until neighbors took her into the local shelter.  She was living there well cared for, but her time was up and the next day she was to be put down.  Can you imagine being put down because no one wanted you?  And who wouldn't want this great girl.  A wonderful Dr. from the Houston area drove to Galveston and brought her to us in Brenham, Texas.  We transported her back to Wichita caring for her for the week till she met up this morning with another transport to Colorado.  Her new family is waiting for her there.  It was hard to let her go as she was amazing, but we can't keep them all and there will be another one needing our help again soon.  She was far better behaved on the ride home than my children ever were.

Now the home crew is another story.  You may remember the January story of our blind dog "Baby".

Baby gets around the house and yard just fine.  In fact there are times when I think maybe she can see a bit, but then she runs into a wall if things get hectic and I know to help steer her around the obstacles in our always crazy household.  But Baby has found my shoes.  For those of you that know me, you understand that my shoe wardrobe mostly consists of flip-flops.  I try to remember to put them up on a table or counter when they aren't on my feet, but I inevitably forget and am rewarded with another mismatch pair.  I've decided that one of my summer projects will be to make altered flip-flops so I disguise the damages and make use of my shambled footwear.  

While packing for Texas I found that many of my pairs only had a right or left still in decent shape, so I had to make a quick run into a mall in Plano to get yet another pair.  We made the trip to Texas, shopped antiques for 2 days and returned home at 2AM on day 3.  With going on 3 hours sleep 2 nights in a row I was tired and yes once again I forgot to put up the flip-flops. 

Need I say more???

Round Top, Texas - junking

It was time for our spring trek to Round Top Texas to go junk hunting (and inspiration searching).  We stopped in Plano Texas on our way down to visit our friends at Stamp Asylum and dinner at my new favorite Texas food stop Anamia's for a salad I dream about.  Chicken fajita salad topped with gaucamole that they make fresh at your table.  OK, I'm going to have to demand our restaurant "Public" at home start making this for me as I can't drive to Dallas everyday.

Driving onto Round Top we pass through this cute little town with an even cuter name.  Rosebud, Texas.  Sorry the picture is a bit blurry, but it was dark and I was in the gas station across the way.  I just think it would be so cool to have your mail delivered to Rosebud.

I just love the Texas countryside this time of year. 

While it is still barren in Kansas except for an occasional Pansy, 

there are fields and planters full of wildflowers in Texas.

Destination - Round Top, Texas.

Our time at Round Top was short this year so we had to look fast.  I'm sure I missed some good deals for not taking time to dig through, but alas I have to save something for next trip.  

This last beauty you will be seeing in the Brickyard back home!