Fawn Love

Geeking out in fawn bliss….yes…our second spring has brought us a new fawn to admire.  The CC was mowing the lawn in the front when he saw a fawn run up the hill.  He had apparently scared it from it’s hiding place somewhere in the bushes..Oops.  When he came back up the driveway…where had the fawn decided to recover?  In our muddy area under the dogwood at the front steps!

As it stayed under the tree for the rest of the afternoon, we kept watch for the reunion…we sat in the nook at dusk to observe the does arriving in the front yard so we could see which one was the fawn mama.  This little one clambered back over the retaining wall to go to the does.  We couldn’t get any good shots of the doe/fawn reunion, but we hope there will be more visits!

Faux Lacquer for Lazies

Well, as is the way most projects are going lately…these babies have taken awhile to get done.  Remember them when they first came home?

Their humble beginnings seemed to cry for a bit of orange lacquer, but that’s too much work for an impatient one like myself.  Let’s start sanding!

I decided to cheat and use spray primer instead of brushing it on because of all the thin areas…and because I’m lazy.

Then, it was paint time!  We have an HPLV (high pressure, low volume) spray gun attachment for the air compressor that we used for painting.  I bought a high gloss, oil based enamel (a Ralph Lauren color matched in Glidden since Ralph didn’t have high gloss enamel.)  At first we thinned the paint with paint thinner, but it was still clogging in the nozzle.  After a little research and polling of paint pros…I needed Naptha.  It was still early spring and weather made these stages go by in weeks rather than days.

Now, if we were professional-like, we’d set up a spray booth in the garage or something…but nooooo….

….So you get this…now it has to dry, and that bug has to be sanded off…crap!  At least there are multiple coats of paint so it will disappear.

Then after sitting around without glass for a couple of months..I finally got it done.  Glass inserts in…and NO WHERE TO PUT THEM.  I’m sad.  I really want to keep them, but they aren’t working anywhere right now.  If I don’t figure out a place soon, I guess they’ll have to go to the booth…which makes me sad….maybe the attic for future rearranging possibilities?

Sad…and lazy….did I mention the sad?

Chihuly!

So, before we left for our rural getaway, I went to see the new Chihuly exhibit at Cheekwood.  It was a hot, sweaty, and totally inspiring day through the gardens and I cannot wait to return for the evenings.  Much of what we saw will be lit for 2 nights each week while the exhibition is here.  The glass master has graced us with his works to commemorate Cheekwood’s 50th anniversary.

I know you’ll never believe that the Japanese Gardens have always been one of my favorite places in Cheekwood…but the photos don’t do the red bamboo pieces justice.   In the forest…the sunlight…it was fab.

Because he knows all stars should be a triple threat…Dale also has simultaneous exhibits at the Frist and, well, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center had a big gig planned there before the flood, that got saved by TPAC since the Symphony was under water.

Honestly, there were too many photos to put up here, but it was a delight that I hope our locals take the time to savor.  I’ll post again after the evening tour because you KNOW I’m not missing that.  Say what you will about him…it was a hell of an exhibit in person and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Off the Grid

We just returned from a little family time off the grid, and it was just the ticket.  We spent 4 days tent camping in Fall Creek Falls State Park, home to the one of the highest waterfalls East of the Rockies, along with a few other cool falls to boot.

If you look closely, you can see two tiny ant people at the bottom left of the falls.  We hiked to the overlook via a winding, yet scenic trail overlooking the gorges and cascades.  When we finally arrived at the overlook and the Minors saw people strolling up from the parking lot only 200 yards away..they were NOT impressed.  I guess we kinda neglected to tell them that you didn’t HAVE to hike to see the falls.  Oops.

There are suspension bridges scattered over many of the creeks in the park….loved by some more than others….I LOVE them.

Not the smoothest of terrain for hiking, but certainly spectacular.

There’s one way Thing One and Thing Two like for us to make nice after long hikes…..

The chocolate flavored graham crackers are preferred for s’mores by the Things.  Then, all is well with the world, and most is forgiven, but NOT forgotten.

Owlsay

This may be dullsville to some of you….but we are pretty pumped up that we have young owls again this summer.  I’ve heard their immature screech for days, but had yet to see one this spring.  Lo and behold, while hanging out on the back deck with our visiting friends, they got to understand exactly why we love it here.

Did you hear that?  No sighting though until the next morning…..

Beautiful…no?  Yesterday, it was too dark to get good shots of it, but we did a little dance with it…he rocks his head from side to side…we could swear he was mimicking us.  I love them so….majestic, yet cute and fluffy in their juvenile phase.