Apparently He's Not Taking Your Calls

I am really saddened by the state of the city of Livonia, Michigan. Not only were DH and I residents for nearly twenty years, but I was also a city employee. Right now I am really glad I was able to retire after ten years.

Recently, Livonia laid off twelve employees. It doesn't sound like much, but one-third of them were from the libraries. Since the two branch libraries already were running on skeleton crews, losing more puts the libraries in dire straits. So much so that the branches will be alternating hours.

Patrons upset with this turn of events have called the Mayor's office and he is refusing their calls. Instead calls are being referred to the city librarian. I don't know about you, but if I call the Mayor I want to talk to the Mayor, and not a librarian. How on earth did this guy get elected again. During his last stint as Mayor, he left the city in a shambles!

Several years ago, residents were up in arms about the possible closure of one of the branches. What are they going to do about this?

Autumn Leaves

One of the sure signs of autumn and early winter in Tennessee is the leaf pick-up. Somehow you get all your leaves to the edge of the street - no curbs here - and the city sends around one of the leaf vacuums. Our leaf pile was about 60 feet long and over four feet high. And this is just the first pickup!

What would leaf pickup be without - oh my gosh - the guy getting out of the truck is showing his GIANT BUTT CRACK!!! EWWWWWWWWWWW!

Affordable Art

Over the weekend, DH and I took the opportunity to participate in our 3rd Art Prowl. Always an interesting experience, especially some of the over-the-top art. We were lucky enough to come home with some!


This was done by one of our favorite artists, Wayne Hogan. His art is works on paper. The above small framed collage just appealed to us both.

Chairs is interesting. Most of Wayne's work is representational, although the odd thing will creep in now and then. The chairs shown on top is from his home. Did I mention, he is married to our real estate agent?

This has to be this year's favorite purchase. Marilee Hall is known for her whimsical ceramics. It's an interesting experience to purchase from the artist and have her explain that our little bird is a mistake. And we just thought the texture was interesting.

Art Prowl 2009

This weekend is the 9th annual Art Prowl here in Cookeville, Tennessee! This is also the third time we've attended. And the first one where the temps have been above 60! What more could you want: great weather, great art, and the chance to see some of the artists at work.

Yesterday one of our highlights was going to see the art on display at the Marilee Hall art studio. Debi Wichman was demonstrating how she forms a basket weave pattern for a lid. There was a semi-disaster when a patron missed a step and knocked over part of a display. No one was hurt but there was some damage to a piece of art. Might have been worse if DH and I hadn't grabbed on to this lady.

Marilee does what I call ceramics with a sense of humor. We're hoping some of what we saw yesterday is still available!

I always regret that I can't wear jewelry that isn't 14k gold, because I saw some yesterday that I would have loved to own. Some were done by Teresa Graves and some by Adele Seitzinger, who also weaves.

Our last stop was at Wayne Hogan's studio. Wayne works in paper. We did not come away empty handed there.

Today we are back to Marilee Hall's studio and then to a couple private studios, one that works in wood and the other is from the Appalachian Center for Crafts that will be exhibiting in town.

Fashionista

It's fall in lovely Tennessee. This week the temps have dropped to a more moderate upper fifties to lower sixties. With the sun shining, it is altogether gorgeous.

All that can be ruined by running an errand and seeing a sixty-year-old body in a crop top and shorts.Let me make that clearer.

A sixty-year-old body that has seen better days Plus abdominal surgery and body piercing. Wearing shorts and a crop top.

What was she thinking?