Samuel Hannaford Connection

This is why I love history. I was researching Spring Grove Cemtery for our bicycle trip there on Wednesday. I was intrigued by the information that Samuel Hannaford, architect of Music Hall, City Hall, and the Observatory at Mt. Lookout, designed the chapel at the historic cemetery. We love the Observatory, and have toured that multiple times. Inspired, I then went further on the internet and researched the architect. He was most prolific, and near the end of the list of grand buildings that he inspired, was a Middletown connection. Hannaford not only designed the Sorg Mansion and Sorg Opera House, but also the First United Methodist Church. Who would have guessed? But look at the following photos. The chapel at Spring Grove was built in 1880, our church in 1890.

Camp Colegate: A Children's Paradise

But no photos! A few years ago, I simply stopped photographing my visits with grands, because we were having so much fun. I found myself missing out on great experiences because I was the photographer. I ended up with lots of photos of Bruce with the grands, but none of me with the children, so I simply put the camera down and enjoyed the children.

Last week Julia drove up with her little group. Once again our trails came alive with peals of laughter and shouts to 'follow me!' We reviewed the weather forecast, and spent the first day, the hottest, around here. We went to Caesar's Creek, which has a magnificent playground and Visitors' Center, had a picnic in their shelter, then on to Fort Ancient for a tour of their indoor/outdoor museum. Such a coincidence, it was the summer solstice, which explains some of the locations of the mounds. They swam in the pond and fished for the rest of the afternoon. We also visited Susan Case, our farm neighbor, who let the children feed her horses. The second day, still hot, we went to the zoo, and then on to Kings Island for the last day. We had threats of rain the whole time, but the humidity, temperature, and sunshine were incredible at KI. May I add that everyone of our grandchildren, including the Dalrymples, whom we'll visit in July, is a roller coaster enthusiast, and I hope that we can continue to ride along side them. Oh, and I did snap a few photos.

The squash had been growing so fast that we thought it would be a great 'before' photo for the triplets' arrival.
Grace insisted on being in the photograph, and was such a good companion for the children.



Our 'after' photo at the end of their three day visit.
Who would have thought that squash grows as quickly as grandchildren?



The children enjoyed the wonderful playground at Caesar's Creek,
and the fantastic indoor and outdoor museum at Fort Ancient.
When our Dad was a young man, he and Frankie Chapman would ride their  bikes from
Middletown to Fort Ancient, camping under the stars with a can of beans and a blanket.

Fishing is always a big draw at Camp Colegate, as is checking for eggs in the hen house.

We outlasted the grands at the Cincinnati Zoo, and almost at Kings Island. We did not accompany them on each and every ride, as Julia did, but we did ride quite a few rides with them, including roller coasters.  We probably enjoyed the White Water Canyon Ride most of all. So peaceful and enjoyable, until the last major dousing.
Believe that signage at the beginning of the ride, "You will get wet!"

Julia has requested a painting of her favorite view at Lake Rabun. What a grand assignment for me,
as I love Lake Rabun as much as anyone. I had already picked up the canvas and frame, so that Julia could give final approval, and so that the children could prime the canvas. I took a photo of each child priming their 'third' of the canvas. I'll tuck the photos into an envelope and apply that to the back of the canvas.
That way we can all say we had a hand in painting Julia's favorite scenery of the Lake.

A Second Life for Barnwood

Since I paint or plan to paint what I find around me, either Camp Colegate happenings or scenes from the farms around me, I thought it might be nice to frame them with some rustic barnwood looking frames. I routinely scope out the open back frames at Hobby Lobby when they are on sale, but was very disappointed with the 'barnwood' look frames they carry. While walking eggs over to Todd's one day, I noticed that their old hog barn was falling down. Susan Case had kept her goats in there, so I thought the barn belonged to the Cases. When I approached Susan about my project, she shared that the boundary line is drawn directly through the barn and gave me their permission to retrieve wood. Todd and Nancy also agreed, so oh joy, another project for Bruce on his weekend. Both neighbors advised safety and caution, as old barns are riddled with BIG, heavy, crooked, rusty nails.

For several weeks I contgemplated the possibilities of the old barn long past its prime

We headed over there midmorning. Susan had trampled the grass earlier in the week with her quad to facilitate our access, and Todd had mowed the day before. We had easy access for Bruce's old truck, which concerned me with our lack of four-wheel drive and the saturated ground. We walked around and sized up our opportunities, deciding on the  4-inch boards, which would not require narrowing. We had so much fun, as choosing and pulling our boards was very similar to playing pick up sticks. We didn't have to use our hammer and crowbar at all. We loaded the truck and were home within an hour.

Do you see a painting here?

Our thanks to our awesome neighbors who pull us out of snowdrifts, plow our driveway,

and deliver delightful surprises of food and newspaper articles of interest.

I missed the photos of Bruce on top of this pile, retrieving possibilities

There is only one beam like this, and I'd love to think of a second life for this gem

We were delighted with the absence  of bugs and rotted wood. I was curious as to how much a project pulling the nails would be. I couldn't even begin to budge them. Then Bruce took over, and within 45 minutes he had cleaned the boards I staged for him, with no damage whatsoever to the wood. We stored the wood against the garage door wall for the time being. When I clean the hen house this spring (requireing dry weather), I'll also scrub the boards on the back patio, allow them to dry again, then store them in the basement until we get so bored that it's time to make frames. That probably won't happen until the heat of summer or cold of winter.

I had 'shopped' for 6 frames, but there is a possibility of 7 - 8 frames - I hope

Making Tables One Twig at a Time

We should be outdoors, doing our 3-hour mow, planting our vegetable gardens, weeding, and getting the 10,000 steps in by rounding Camp Colegate multiple times, but no, we stare out the window, knowing that every step we take outdoors is like walking through a swamp, causing more harm than good. I make it out to the hens several times daily, watering, feeding, and retrieving eggs. Oh, and giving them the best of my composting from the kitchen. They are so ravenous.

So completing twig tables with the branches we harvested last fall isn't such a bad thing to have on one's agenda. It is so relaxing to take one's time, working in 70 degree weather, and taking a break midway to walk the graveled lane multiple times. I did happen to startle a pileated woodpecker down by Mike's bridge. That was the closest I've ever been to one. Made me think are these colorful giants going to go the way of the Ivory Bill? I hope not.

We had worked on the tables Sunday, as it takes two people to secure the legs to the table top. Once that is done, I can work with clamps, and spend time agonizing which branch should go there, where the best bends are in the grapevine, which grapevine section has the most tendrils (reminds me of daughter Julia's hair), and if there is anything different that I can do with this recycled wood.

Inventory for 2 Twig Tables

Work area staged for Bruce's arrival
The grill is to remind him NOT to pull in

The birch tabletops come from Lowe's. This branches and twigs are walnut.

The cross pieces really secure and stabilize the wobbly legs
Now ready to embellish with grapevine

I soak the grapevine overnight, but it still has a mind of its own.

I stage the grapevine so that I can grab it easily and work.
I usually sit on the carpeting, as close to the outdoor light (skylight is coming in handy) as I can get.

The finished product.
The tabletop on left is trimmed with walnut. The one on the right is trimmed with grapevine.

Now that we've cleaned the porch and garage of all the stored wood, I'm thinking of future projects. One we'll begin this weekend is retrieving barnwood from the goat barn on the farms next door. Yes, farms, plural. The property line actually runs through the middle of the barn, so I asked permission from Todd and Nancy and Ken and Suzy. The grands might remember this barn, as we walked over there to see the lovely angola goats, who have since departed. This winter I walked my egg contributions to my farming neighbors, and noticed that the barn was slowly falling down. I felt this would wood might make great frames for my oil paintings. I'm drawing my painting inspiration from photos I've taken here at Camp Colegate, and occasionally on their farms. When I scrub the hen house in diluted bleach, I'll add the cedar boards to the bleach, then dry them over the summer. Hopefully we'll find some great boards. I know we'll enjoy the sunshine.

Still Waiting for Spring to Come

Honestly, this is the most wasted spring we have ever experienced. Rain, rain and more rain, then rain after that. We have stayed busy, thank goodness. I worked in a trip down South to visit the grands, have been finishing up my Wilmington College Lifelong Learning classes, and completed another twig table.  We do really need to get out and get started with spring planting, which won't even happen until May. Unheard of. Seeds would have rotted in the ground, which I'm sure is happening with the vidalia onion sets that I planted.

My twig table was not planned. One of the river birches by the porch had dropped a heavy branch this winter. Bruce had cleaned it up and carried it to the back, and I just hated to see it end up on the burn pile. I had him carry it back to the garage, where it spent the remaining winter. I kept looking at it, trying to figure how much usable wood I could get from it, then decided to build another table. Last week I scoured the woods for the remaining braches that I must have tossed to get them out of the way, then dragged those back. These twig tables are so much fun, as each batch of wood offers unique possibilities.

A Lovely Weekend

I don't think I ever left home. Truly, we just hung out around here, other than Bruce's trip down to the Corner Store to buy a Sunday paper. I must admit that Saturday was bitter, grey, and cold, but we persevered and made the day count. I had salvaged branches from our fall cleanup, with the thought that we would make twig furniture on a mild but rainy winter weekend. That weather was not in the game plan, however, and we just tried to keep warm through those winter months. Even though we were chilled and dressed for the rigors of winter, we spent five hours in the garage, cutting and nailing our first piece of twig furniture. We made several errors, had to rethink our processes, but were pleased with our outcome.

The first photo shows about how much wood we need to pick through to come up with what we need for a small table to be used at our bonfires, and/or on our porch down South, especially if the Tugalo Fish Camp idea comes together. Of course, Grace has to be in the thick of things, often sitting down right in front of our saw. She's a sweet little buddy, whom we missed a few weeks ago when she spent the night in the garden shed by accident. I'm ending with the way Grace likes to spend her day, surveying Camp Colegate.

Walnut for our next project.
We had to cut this tree down because it was crowding the Bonfire Trail.

Grace moved too quickly for me, but her favorite spot was in front of the saw.

Our sycamore table, decorated with grapevine.

Grace at rest after a hard day of napping.

Will Spring Ever Come?

Another morning with below freezing temperatures. We have never experienced a winter like this, where we have only one or two days of reprieve from cold, grey and dreary weather. I would never have made it through this winter season without the art. I literally zip through my chores in the AM so that I can spend the afternoon in the basement, painting and listening to my CDs. I am now in the process of moving to watercolors, which I can enjoy upstairs, out on my porches, or outdoors. I'll return to oil painting in the heat of summer. I have finished my last oil of the season, 'Sunset', a companion painting to 'Sunrise'. I merged the two photos into one, looking forward to working with the contrast between the dark clouds and the orange sunset. The orange, however, drove me mad, and made me very uncomfortable, so I had to tone the orange down to pink.

Photo # 1

Photo # 2

'Sunset at Camp Colegate'

It has been my experience in the past that I paint my trees too densely, and don't leave enough sky holes. Perhaps I overdid the airiness of the trees, but it is what it is. I really struggled with this particular painting, whereas the companion 'Sunrise' more or less painted itself.  Every painting, however, is an experience and a lesson to be learned. I might paint this sunset again some day, after I gain more experience. I wish I could move to The Villages and take lessons down there.

The sun is really shining this AM, which will probably change, yes, we will have rain this afternoon. How much can one take? I have lost a hen this winter, one of my Golden Comets, but the rest of the flock seem okay and are back to nearly full production. When I am outside, I hear the signs of spring, meadow larks, towhees, song sparrows, red winged blackbirds, and pileated woodpeackers, so I know that spring is just around the corner, most likely arriving when I'm down South.