Best - After spending a little time watching Justin work on his double Sal chow I did get a chance to do some geocaching today with Scott while the kids were in the care of the camp.  We followed a road that was a little rough for my van, shades of our geocaching adventures in France, but did manage to find 5 of the 6 we looked for.  I also got a chance to get out on the boat to watch Kaelan barefoot using the boom. 

Worst - Kaelan wants to stay the rest of the week and it's really not affordable to leave him.

Funniest - Watching Kaelan's body disappear instantly when he fell while bare footing.

Heading home tomorrow, and wondering what's been going on at the store while I've been away.  Even though things have been left in great hands there is always an accumulation of work that is the penalty of going away. 

Gender transitions are difficult to get used to.

Best - It's been a few days and I have several so to take a glancing blow off the top...  the exhibit looks amazing and hopefully the reviews rave!  We have have just travelled to Huntsville to bring Justin to camp and the facility so far is excellent.  Scott and are are staying for 3 days for a mini holiday at which point we will leave Justin behind, so far the kids are having a great time. The owners have also been so very kind as to allow Kaelan to bunk in the cabin with the boys his age instead of hanging with us old folks. We look forward to watching Justin skate tomorrow.

Worst - It's so late and the drive really took it out of us causing us to quickly rethink travelling to France in a few weeks for a  holiday.  Save it for next year.

Funniest - Justin has a pet cockatiel named after his favourite skater Jeffery Buttle.  This bird lives in our living room and we all talke to him every day.  Well... yesterday Justin came running to find me yelling "Jeffery just layed an egg, he just layed an egg!!!!"  Hahahaha  I guess a he, he is not!  Now we have to get used to calling him a her and instead of Jeffery Buttle, she is now Joannie Rochette.  After 2 years this transition will be difficulty to get used to, but hey, I can always use more girl power in the house!

The camp we are at is called Winning Techniques, a specialty sports camp with all the traditional camp experiences to go with.  Justin is taking figure skating for the week but he will still get to do the climbing, archery, boating, skiing, crafts and and other such activities.  We are staying for 2 days so that Kaelan may do some extreme water sports and finally learn some tricks on his wake board and possibly barefoot waterskiing.   There is the distinct possiblity that he may learn what the underside of the surface looks like and we are fine with that.  Tomorrow will be a great day, watch my Twitter feed for pictures.  When this mini holiday is over I look forward to getting back to painting.  Did I mention that there will be an awesome new piece of equipment waiting for me at the shop when I return, just wait and see.

All ready for Friday.

Best - Everything is ready to hang tomorrow for the Blyth exhibit.  Pictures are printed, laminated and stretched and wall labels are made!

Worst - Summer is almost over and all I've done is work!

Funniest - Our bird is squawking his head off, annoying but funny.

I've just finished preparing all the maps and wall labels for the exhibit.  My dad is pleasantly surprised that  I am ahead of schedule, believing for some strange reason that I would still be doing things minutes before the deadline.  I will be glad once everything is up and I can view it as a whole.  I've become to accustomed to the individual images and the appeal has gotten lost on me and so I hope the whole will have the impact that I have been planning.  I have chosen 22 images based on composition, season, and region within the Huron County, 15 of which are printed at a full 40x60 inches.  I went so far as to create a scale model of the gallery space (back to obsessive) and have planned the location of each image to be sure that they all fit.  Now all I need is a crowd for Friday night to fill the rest of the space.

Everyone should paint on their sandals.

Best - I finalized the paperwork on my new mat cutter today.  We will be able to do ANY shape opening even names and speciality details on this baby.  It's all computer driven and everyone knows how much I love my tech.

Worst - No change in Scott's condition from the accident.  Still no feeling down his left arm and hand and lots of pain in the neck, literally.  We have 2 MRI appointments for him and saw the lawyer today.  All we can do now is wait.  He's been off work for what seems like forever.

Funniest - One of the students in the class today was showing off his new sandals.  He hates wearing shoes so he painted on a pair to be able to get in and out of stores before anyone noticed.

Sid was forced to the Sally Ann to get a pair of shoes to be able to take the class though as it would be wrong to drop a red hot enamel piece on your foot without any protection.

Obsessing over the details.

Best - Hosting Brigitte Wolf's stained glass class and Catherine Crow's enamelling class here at the gallery provides for great conversation and a break to the everyday.  The people that attend the Celtic college courses are always happy, fun and interesting.  I enjoy having them here.

Worst - Obsessing over the details.  Stymied by the variability I am told that I tend to obsess over the details in all I do.  Everything I put my hands to has to be just so, adding extra work, time and cost.

Funniest - Justin was allowed to create an enamel piece today while the class was working and he did a great smiley face.  Someone else while working away proclaimed "Oh Shit!" at some error and Justin with impeccable timing responded "child here" causing everyone to laugh. 

The worst thing about obsessing over the details is that they are probably details that no one else will notice. I have printed sample after sample of different variations of black and tested various laminates to arrive at hopefully the best choice.  The problem is I have all these taped to the wall and I am unable to determine which is the best.  This is just the latest in the long list of decisions that have delayed the process.  BTW  the picture of the river below did not translate well to black and white... in my opinion.