Last Weekends Science Breakfast

Last weekend was our Third Annual 'Science Breakfast'. It is really a project of Jim's and if it were me I think I would call it the Astrophysics Breakfast. It started when Jim was introduced to our friend Virginia Kron's (local cello legend) brother. Richard Kron is an astrophysicist who teaches at the University of Chicago and works at the Fermilab. He visits every time this year and Jim couldn't help but think of friends who would just love to pick this guys brain. This post is courstesy of Steve Newkirk who thought to take a bunch of fun photos.

 Lucky for us Richard has been really enjoying the free breakfast, and small interested audiences we provide. I have to admit however after the first year of trying to follow what he was explaining about black holes and dark energy I realized my type of brain just can't follow much of it.

 Jim (and some of our friends no look forward to this all year- here he is in a tie. He said this is as close a thing as going to church for him)

 (Abby of course understands every word)

 On the left is Steve Newkirk our in house photographer (also sometimes known as Mr. Virginia Kron)- Thanks for all the great photos Steve!

 I think Steve was intrigued with 'what goes on in the diaper pail'- fish food of course.

 Richard Kron in the spiffy ironed blue shirt.

 A few of Steve's random photos from around our house. It's fun to see what catches other peoples eyes. Steve is an artist too so he appreciates it.

 Antique replica waterwheel that Jim made. (yes he can make anything in any style)

 Early word processing toy.

And Lucky for me 'Baby' Joe Mueller was in town to keep me company. We sat at the kiddie table to eat then snuck away to work a bit on my new Website. 

Three more Recession Busters

Moving on to some larger paintings now that this batch is done. Doing a very long thin landscape with a gold leaf sky which is a fun challenging size. Jim looked at it and asked if it was for us to keep. I took that as a good sign, but will need to try and sell it if possible. 

 

Joe Mueller (Baby Joe) just added this above painting to website and then emailed to let me know he thought it was an 'important work' and that he needed to have it. Not sure why it's important other than it now being part of the Baby's vast collection. (thanks Joe)

And some turtle love here. We've been doing a lot of very late spring cleaning in the pond lately. (it's quite forgiving but my inner perfectionist always remembers how it was perfectly clear just after we put it in. - It's still pretty good now but more of a real eco-system. 

And one last great pic courtesy of P. Lyn Middleton. This is Buffy checking out one of P. Lyn's handmade platters. 

The Museum of Baby Joe

Well, looking over these photos I've come to the conclusion I need to make another trip down to visit my friends Joe and Pat to a better job documenting the Museum Joe is creating there. And as you will see both Jim and I are prominently featured. What would we ever do without such supportive friends? I think Joe has more of my work than my parents! (sorry Mom)The main reason for the LA trip was to deliver this cabinet that Jim made that Joe is adding to his collection. We thought It would fit a bit more easily than it did in the truck, and barely fit through the door.
Here is the "Bobo" cabinet with it's new parents Joe (left) and Pat.

Joe has a great collection of art. I love this ceramic owl and house.
Antique stove and Joe's collection of vintage clocks.
Every inch has been re-done in Joe's collection of favorite antique and art finds. (He even has added tin ceilings.
A bathroom cabinet Jim made to fit a vintage sink Joe had.

Chris-Jim mirror. (don't remember making this. I's always fun to see stuff you haven't remembered)
The big black framed paintings are by me and I painted the little bird house (years ago)
A collection of birdie like ceramic pieces I love. (I did the paper-pulp creature on the bottom years ago)

A CD cabinet made to order. This was fun for Jim and I.
The bird cage Jim made years ago had a tiny painting of mine at the top finally had to go to make room for the new "bobo" cabinet. They kept the bottom and after removing the painting Joe donated the cage to Jim's friend with birds. (Joe had traded the last of his finch family for cats)

Bobo

Birdies for the Baby

Here are some birdies I made for my friend 'Baby Joe's' birthday/Christmas present.

I played around with some paper mache birds with my niece when she was here at Thanksgiving and I wanted to make some for myself (or rather by myself).

It was fun but for some reason the first was my favorite and the last my least my least favorite, pretty much following in that order as I went along. I finished and thought "Huh? What happened? I thought they were good and then something just sort of fizzled"

But as often is the case not everyone agreed and that helped to redeem them in my own mind. At least Joe said he loved them.





Oh and merry Chris-mas, happy New Year. (now that it's almost February)