ArtPrize 2010

One of the things that makes Grand Rapids one of the Coolest Cities to live in is Artprize. This is the second year of Artprize and our church, Monroe Community Church, is once again a venue. Many of us spent the whole day this past Saturday helping the artists whose work we are showing set up. So exciting!

I took this from up in the lift.

Yesterday in church, Pastor Henry interviewed Brian Whitfield during church and talked with him about his Artprize piece, "Midnight Sunday Morning." He talked about John 17:6-18 where Jesus prayed for his disciples to be in the world, not of the world. Brian's piece, influence by Picasso's cubism, shows images of jazz musicians in a Saturday night club morphing into singers in church on Sunday morning. The line does not always seem clear between the two.

Incidentally, Brian is the graphic designer behind the coolest cities logo! Grand Rapids really is one of these - I wasn't making it up!

Over the next few weeks, I'll feature more of the work we are showing at MCC.

Flash Back Friday 173

Edward, Maria & Bridget, Ashcroft, CO, 2002

Love Thursday

I love to pick Bridget & Jessica up from school every day!

Smells Like Fall

Yesterday, I made these and they are amazing!!

Pumpkin Bars

Beat together 2 C winter squash or pumpkin (cooked, puree’d, or in my case canned), 1 1/2 C sugar, 3/4 C oil, 4 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1/2 tsp salt. Then, mix in 1 C flour, 1 C whole wheat flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon. Pour into a greased 11×17 inch jelly pan. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes.

September Skies

The skies have been so gorgeous in West Michigan lately. i mean really. One evening, I was taking a walk and they reminded me of a Lydia Larson old painting, so I had to take some photos to show her.



This was taken through the window of a moving car and shows that the sky makes even those ugly power transformers look beautiful.



I missed a lot of beautiful ones and today, we just have plain blue. Poor us.

Morning Sunshine

Flash Back Friday 172

Edward, 1995

Thanks to Bridget for picking this one out!

Love Thursday

Here are some faves from our Kelleys Island photoshoot!

View from the Corner of the Pump House

We had supper this past Saturday evening at the Pump House on Kelleys Island and I happened to have my camera with me to use in between bites of my perch sandwhich .

To my left:

Straight ahead:

To my right:

All good!

Happiness on Kelleys Island

Happy Labor Day

To rest from our labors this past weekend, we headed to Kelleys Island in Lake Erie on Friday night. The lake was a little choppy in the dark when we went over, but John took this picture of Bridget & I on the way back. This is what you do when you are only left with one kid at home.

The nautical striped ladies.

We had a relaxing time there. The way that time goes so much slower when you separate your usual life with a trip on the ferry always amazes me. Swimming, hot tubbing, photoshoot with Bridgie, going to the little island church, visiting with my aunt, uncle & cousins, biking, eating out... and definitely one of the highlights, seeing Mom & Dad.

Flash Back Friday 171

1981...2010, Calvin College Suitemates

This year, we moved our daughters in to Calvin College. I haven't seen Kristi since graduation - she has been living in Africa - but we have been in touch a little through Facebook.

And a big happy birthday to John today!!!

last year's celebration...

Love Thursday

Well, yesterday was the big day when I took Maria to Calvin College. I LOVE that place!!! I was so excited in the morning after we loaded the car that Maria told me to calm down. We had to wait for about 25 minutes before we could leave because Maria said they said not to get there too early. Well, we pulled in at 9 o'clock on the dot and we were not the first ones there by any stretch of the imagination.

We were met by a wonderful We-haul girl whose shirt said, "I offer my cart promptly and sincerely." This makes perfect sense if you know the Calvin motto, Lord I offer my heart promptly and sincerely.

Soon Maria's friend Abby came and I could take their photo in front of their dorm.

John came over and met us for lunch since he works at Calvin. We dined also with Abby's parents and her brother.

Then to add to the excitement of the day, I ran into a floormate Paulette moving her son in and my suitemate Kristi who was moving her daughter from Ethiopia (both from my freshman year). We were feeling the excitement for our kids that we felt 29 years ago when we moved in.

First Floor Veenstra reunion

It was a good day!

And She's Off!

Bridget starting 10th grade