Grateful For: Friends

Maire Dodd: Gifts From Friends and Strangers

for a while now, i have been wanting/needing a larger anvil in my work space... i had learned that a tree stump was the ideal base for it, as it absorbs the blows... but i didn’t know how to begin...

one day i realized that my daughter’s friend’s father worked for a tree trimming company... so i asked him if i could buy a stump (on sesame street they teach that the only way to find anything out is to ask questions... if that advice is good enough for our children, certainly it is good enough for us... reread dr. seuss and find out the same thing...) he said he would bring one over... not only did he bring me a stump, he brought me a certain kind of wood that wouldn’t rot... he had considered what he gave me...

my dad suggested we go to a local auction to look for an anvil or piece of railroad track... we learned that they are hard to come by... not just from the lack of them, but from those who knew... one man we were speaking to saw his friend and called out to him... he asked him if he knew of anyone selling...

‘no,’ he replied ‘but i have one in my garage and you can have it.’ not only that, but he was practically a neighbor!

and so once again i am humbled by the generosity that is ever present in our world... and how each day is really a series of opportunities to help others... and to give our best...

these men have unknowingly given me an opportunity to explore my craft further and to embark upon challenges i hadn’t been able to prior... like ripples in a pond...

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you can learn more about Maire Dodd on her blog, maire dodd

Riki Schumacher: Lucky Girl

I recently returned from a fabulous art retreat, Art Is You in Petaluma, CA.  I don’t get to go to a lot of retreats, due to expenses involved and usually distance.

But what I was reminded of, aside from the amazing teachers, absolutely fun classes and projects, and the beautiful facility, was that being there, was about being with friends.

It wouldn’t have been the same if my friends weren’t there with me, to bring the sugar free chocolates…to supply that last little something needed for a project in class, and to say a warm good night, when missing my loved ones at home.

Yep! Friends.  I’m a lucky girl to have them.

Thank you Connie, Diana and Susan for making that trip richer.

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You can learn more about Riki Schumacher on her blog, Riki Jewelry