Children's Festival of Reading

On Saturday we took Sophie to the Annual Children's Festival of Reading at the World's Fair Park in Knoxville. The highlight of the day for her was the public fountain that is a major attraction in the city for kids and adults alike. It turned out to be a hot day so it was a nice time for her.

The other big event was having one of her favorite books signed by the author, Grace Lin, author of the book, Lissie's Friends, among many more, was there! What a thrill for Sophie. She was so excited.

The local Kung Fu team put on an amazing dragon show, I only wish I had known the story behind it.

The drumming was amazing and beautiful.

I love this photo for the artistic quality, done quite unintentionally.

David and I enjoyed a day out with our girl.

Spring update

Sophie with the llamas @ the Earth Day event

Our Maypole for Beltane

The newly created patio decked out for Beltane



Enjoying the sun on our new patio

My momma and I on Mother's Day.











Sophie in front of her pumpkin painting at the Willow Brook Elementary Art Show

Katy and I at the SARG Charity Dog Walk

David and Katy watching the performances of dog tricks

I apologize for the long stretches between posts. I am without internet service at home and I have to go to the library or somewhere else that has free wifi. Anyway, things are going ok for us. Financial difficulties abound still, there are just no jobs in this area.
On the bright side, I am wrapping up with this semester of school, finishing up my honor's program project this week and helping the kids ready for the end of school. We are getting geared up for our annual School's Out Party! The kids are getting excited about summer break, if only we could have some summer weather. Its been in the forties at night this past week and only hitting the 60's during the day. Damn that global warming!

Anyway, I am taking the summer semester off of school so I can relax and gear up for my last semester, I plan to graduate in the spring. Woo Hoo! I will be carrying a full course load come fall.

Here are some photos of the highlights of the last few weeks. Enjoy!

Eye Candy @ Lavender Fest

There were so many beautiful things at the Lavender Festival yesterday. I could not take photos of everything but here are some of the ones that really spoke to me.





Gorgeous, peaceful fountain.








A huge throne fit for a goddess or a Sun God as the case may be right about now.
















A faery house, with yarn faeries flitting above it.













A great planter, I love this!















A fiery salamander/lizard just in time for Solstice.












Peace signs and doves~give peace a chance.














A lovely sunflower made of recycled tin.














A 'cocky' rooster also of recycled tin.














Beautiful green and red glass vases.















Luscious, handmade wooden spoons













Fantastic wind chimes, bells, and flowers.


















A gathering of birdhouses.















A beautiful goddess fountain~oh how I covet her.

Festvals!

Today Sophie and I went to the Lavender and Secret City Festivals. We had a great time together, just us girls. We went with my friend Mare, but ended up doing a lot of fun kid things together. It was so HOT, but that really didn't dampen our enjoyment of the time together, Sophie and I both love festivals! Here are some highlights...more tomorrow.






Sophie admiring the fountain in Jackson Square
















My lovely friend, Mare, in her new birthday necklace.














Sophie walking back from the recycle bin. Such an environmentalist she is.













Mom, it's so hot.














Resting in the shade.











Blow painting at one of two kid's booths..bummer.





At the Secret City Festival, she enjoyed talking to the robot.










Playing in the inflatables.














Petting the barred owl....














The amazing juggler, juggling three flaming torches on a three wheeled unicycle.


















Wow!













A beautiful goddess table that I was coveting.

More Festival Fun

Our city's "claim to fame" is to be the place where the atom bomb was developed. In honor of that the city holds a festival every year, called the "Secret City Festival". Though I have issue with the whole bomb~thing, I do usually take the kids down to see the sights.( we don't view the reenactments of the battles, however) This year we only went for a brief time and let Sophie have a wild time at the kiddie fun places.





A lovely be~ribboned tree.
















Coming down the HUGE inflatable slide!

The TN State Parks had brought a gorgeous Bald~Eagle. A beautiful female.

Sophie's favorite is always the pony rides. I wonder every time if we are helping to keep those poor ponies going in circles..but they seem very healthy and well cared for otherwise.

Sophie got to ride the only girl pony, whose name was Star. She was thrilled!

The camel was at the petting zoo. He was a baby.

Sophie loves the little baby goats and sheep in the petting zoo.

This big guy was available for photo ops. I thought he was amazingly regal looking.

Here we are on our way home, hot tired and cooling off with Italian ices. What a fun time!