Happily Ever After

Today is August 15th. Hence-forth to be referred to as the great awakening. I woke up with a total epiphany, or more accurately I woke up with a series of epiphanies. It was like a cascading pinball darting and spinning's worth of ephiphanies. I will attempt to chronicle my insight, though I must confess it is unfolding as I type -- even before I can articulate it.

Today is the day I awoke to have all 16 illustrations for "Red, White & Blue" complete and in-the-can, so to speak. All of those years worth of considering what comes next and how to portray images, is over. Fini. Complete. That is not to say that the book is finished, but the lion's share of the effort is now in the rear view mirror. Strike up the band!!!! So as my eyelids lifted at dawn, today was indeed the first day of the rest of my life. CELEBRATE good times!!

On a complete lark I opened the drawer on my nightstand to find a favorite & forgotten book. A book of quotations...... presented graphically. I realized again (for the 13th time) I have all of the resources that I need. At my fingertips, no less. There's the book that I own. That I need. Awaiting me in my own bedside table. The book is entitled, "The Simple Art of Success" and is collected together by Kathy Wagoner. It's a book I discover every summer. All over again.

What a joy to discover it all over again this morning, on the first morning of the rest of my life, for the very first time. The quote above nearly expoded with applicability. Like a road map, specifically designed for me. Everything I need to know -- all right there in one brilliantly simple quotation. Virtue is doing it. Virtue is doing it. Virtue is doing it. Virtue is doing it. Focus, Deborah. The finish line is in view. Virtue is doing it.

Not a bad sunset, either.

LUCKY Day/BIG Day!!

This has been a seriously BIG day. A LUCKY day. A BIG, LUCKY day. An awesome BIG, LUCKY day. Whooooot!! Whooooott!!! I started the day with a 12.5 mile bike trek in under an hour. Truth be told it was 59:59 -- but technically that was under an hour. Got cleaned up & then I finished the FINAL illustration in my upcoming book. Firehouse 10 is complete!! Allen had searched all thru Green Bay to find a place to scan it for the book production and was unsuccessful in finding anyone that could handle an image that big, so it is en route to cow-town Columbus to join it's earlier relatives. That was all before noon, as that's when our post office closes.

Then we spent the early afternoon right here at home for our annual Arts Festival. New this year was a raffle. Many of the artists had donated a piece to be given to the public for the time it took to write your name & phone number on the slip. You guessed it. I won!! I won big time!! I won a one-of-a-kind crafted fiber scarf-like shawl. They called me to let me know on our way back from seeing the Indie flick, filmed here in Door County called "Feed the Fish." [We howled often and out loud, a must see for any DC aficionados.]

Anyhow. Back to my big win. Sue Donohoo had selected a black & white wrap for her contribution. Seriously!! Black & white. I stopped by to thank her and received a mini-demonstration of at least two dozen ways to wear her creation. There are some hidden teeny buttons and loops that make sleeves and various other alterations. I've been a long time admirer of her work. Now I will have the perfect wrap for every occasion. I can already imagine wearing it to the airport. It's the ideal weight AND it will go with absolutely every single one of my outfits.

Do you love the license plates? Two of my favorites. Sis Bay in California: a real find. Wis Gigi: don't tell Sarah, or I'll get a lecture about being gone too long.

Memories

Sail on. We were so excited to see the parade, in part, because it reminded us of our honeymoon. Allen being an old Navy man, not as in the store Old Navy, but as in -- in the NAVY, designed our honeymoon adventure to Maine. It included several amazing bed & breakfast stops along the coast, but our favorite memory was our four day cruise on board an old schooner..... it was actually listed on the US list of historic landmarks. It had never been motorized. So we were the working crew. Lift those sails!!

Movie Star & Beauties

Do you recognize the movie star in the first photo? Film buffs? She was built in 1960 to star in an MGM movie. Give up? She now goes by the name "Bounty" and starred in the film, "Mutiny on the Bounty." Her homeport these days is Long Island and she sails as an educational opportunity networking youth from universities & non-profits with a focus on leadership.

Tall Ships Sail!!

Shiver m' timbers!! Ahoy mate!! The Parade of Sail is the kick-off event for the Tall Ship Festival that anchors for several days in the city of Green Bay, but this morning the pride & joy of many a sailor were right at our Door County door-step.... making their way through Stugeon Bay. What an amazing adventure. Seriously breath-taking. We were able to get tickets on the Harbor Lady and literally sweep back & forth between these beauties, at times coming within 25 yards of the rigging.

The first picture features the longest of the 13 ships that were traveling together. The Europa hails from The Hague, in The Netherlands and is 185' in length. It is also the oldest in the parade and was built 99 years ago as a lightship for the river Elbe. You can schedule a voyage on her to Antartica, where she has sailed for the past eight years. Get your tickets now!! The other dainty by comparison square topsail ketch is the Royaliste, sailing out of San Fransisco. [Yes, I am referencing the program to recall the specifics.]

Unbridled Enthusiasm

Everyone got on board the slant-dance song. I told them it's a cross between the chicken dance & YMCA..... hardly any Macarena. Time flies when you're having fun! Seventy five minutes is just enough to hit the highlights, but we had plenty of fun in the process. These fanclub members have already been using my ditties in their kindergarten classroom. I'm told that "Piggy Rap" has been the proverbial favorite for two years running. It's so much fun to hear what different classes choose as their top choice. Can't go wrong with da pigs!!

Sky Writers

It's an afternoon for fine motor development. We get started with "Sky Writing" and everyone channels their very best 'robot' voice to bring the concept alive for pre-writers & writers alike. Hands up high, to the sky...... muscles down, go to town. I am introducing these eager teachers to the songs that I recorded for Zaner-Bloser for their preK & K curriculum to support fine motor developement. Looks like everyone is having a good time. That's good for the kiddos once school gets underway.