Since my last post over 8 days ago I have been going non-stop to keep up with my world.

And that did not include posting on my blogs. Glad I gave up the idea of having to write on them both daily.

The Art Festival and the “Old Spokes” gallery show have needed a great deal of attention and work. But I also slipped in two really good hikes just to keep me sane and moving a bit. I have to admit, I will be really happy to have the “Old Spokes” show up and the opening over.

And finally got up to the Festival Storage unit today with the Zebulon Pike Boys to look at the feasibility of creating signs with Fab Lab to get people aware of the Art Festival that won’t be located in a very visible place. So can we get signs painted in a way that draws attention to the idea there is an event that visitors want to stop and jump on a shuttle and go to that weekend? That is my hope and vision.

I also worked Commonwheel Artists Co-op shifts twice this month that were not in my schedule. One I get to trade for a Summer shift. Yeah! That gives me a little break in August when getting close to the Art Festival time. The other, today’s worker barely got to her home last night driving through over 6″ of snow up the pass and didn’t want to drive down this morning. I had to arrange with the second shift worker to come in a bit early as I was meeting the Zeb Boys at the storage unit before the morning shift ended. She was agreeable to this, so I took the shift for pay. And I did get a bit of Facebook posting for the “Old Spokes” show done while at the shop. It was a very quite day. I don’t think I saw 10 people come into the shop. Not good for sales with that few people. Hopefully with the sun shining in the afternoon more people came in and shopped.

I had a meeting with a reporter from on small town newspaper and have a very large picture of me and a nice story about the “Old Spokes” show in last Friday’s paper. I would have liked him to have used some other pictures of the art work we sent him, but can’t argue that it was a good story and should get people’s attention to help Commonwheel celebrate its Ruby Anniversary all year long, starting with this Friday’s opening.

We have had a couple of wild snow storms recently. 60 degree or higher weather one day, then 4″-6″ of snow when we wake up the next day. Then sunshine and it melts quickly. We do need the moisture and I have been happy that I didn’t have to travel on those days.

I had a Commonwheel Association meeting the same week as the Festival committee meeting. Made for a busy time to be sure I had reports and agendas all done. The Commonwheel meeting was a bit contentious. Our President is trying so hard to keep us on track after the flooding and our retreat, but there was some really negative energy that came out at this meeting. It is hard to work with that and feel like we are progressing and doing what we can to keep Commonwheel healthy mentally and financially.

And keeping up my own enthusiasm for creating the Art Festival when so many people have left or will be out of town so making it harder to get some jobs handled . . . Makes me a little bit crazy some days.

Then there was my getting distracted by working on a graphic using the human spokes that had been carved by Sophie Cowman and were part of the original symbol/logo for Commonwheel.

Wasn’t sure what I was going to do with them at first, but have posted them a few places just for fun and gotten some interesting feedback. And some of them just look so joyful and glad to be out in the world again, just had to post it. Then I added hands from a 1977 newsletter and placed it on the logo, just kept messing around as if I had time to spare.

Ellis Fab Brush Mowers sold the piece of used equipment they had me put on the web site which was good news. And they have another one that I replaced the sold one with last night. Haven’t heard back with changes I am sure they will want. I am not always sure how to write up and place photos for this type of equipment, but get a good start, then wait for their suggestions to fix it to their liking. And the other one did sell off the web site, so something is working there. Anyone need a used New Holland 9030 Tiger Tractor with lots of extra pieces of equipment?

I went to an opening at this ritzy gallery on Saturday night. There was no free wine, had to purchase it. And the artist had posted “Who has great food? Potatoes.” So one would have thought at least the food would have been good there, but it also was for purchase, and not cheap! Strange concept in my mind or I am just spoiled? The show was a father and daughter event. It was beautifully presented and their work was fabulous. They complement each other very well artistically.

My friend Ann was there with her mother who had just gotten moved from her long time home in Kansas. Ann’s husband suggested they should go across the street to an Italian restaurant that had a gluten-free menu. Since I was hungry and I was going to the Millibo Art Theatre for the Six Woman Play Fest and didn’t want to drive home to eat, I joined them. It was fun spending time with these lovely people and catching up a bit. And I am so grateful that I have a little spare cash that allowed me to do this. Plus Ann wanted to share meals, which is a very Wright family way of enjoying dinners out together.

Her Mom made me think of my Mom and a bit of sadness came over me for being an “orphan” now. I have always enjoyed her Mom when she visited in the past and plan on spending some time with them both for a game night occasionally which will resonate with me for the times I spent with my parents playing cards and Rummikub. And as a bonus, I will get to spend some time with my friend who I have missed greatly as she had been focused on her son and his needs up until this year when he headed off to college in Denver.

The plays were all interesting and thankfully ended on an up note this time. I much prefer to leave the theater laughing than crying. Had a very decadent brownie for desert and supporting them. Just glad it didn’t keep me awake as it was very sugary, but tasty too.

Tonight is a full lunar eclipse. I am not sure I can stay up until it happens. Or maybe will set my alarm and crawl out of bed at 2am. There isn’t a cloud in the sky right now and the full moon is shining brightly above on this very chilly night. Just not sure my energy level is such that this will work for me, but it is a rare occurrence. And then there is the nickname for when the Pink Moon turns into a “Blood Moon”. That seems a bit eerie and not exactly a comforting thought to watch it.

And since my last posting I have attended four Tony Laidig Webinars that keep me inspired and looking forward to the time that I can focus on writing for myself and not just for Commonwheel related postings and advertising pieces.